Evil Comes to Mars – Flash Fiction
This week’s photo prompt is provided by pixabay.com.
Evil Comes to Mars
“What is that thing?” Ohm asked as he leaned in close to stare at it.
“No idea. Found it on that crashed craft over there,” Ashm replied.
Ohm ran a hand across the long wires. A melodic screech echoed through the canyon. He jerked his hand away.
“It speaks!”
“But what did it say?” Ashm asked as he too ran a hand across the wires.
The sound alerted the Mayor and the priest who were inspecting the craft. They ran to join the two boys.
“What did you do?” asked the Mayor.
Ohm repeated the process. He ran his hand across the wires. The melody resounded. A crowd appeared. He strummed it until the whole town gathered.
“It’s pure evil!” yelled the Priest. “It speaks the language of the stars, but look at it! How can the stars possibly be in that thing?”
There was nothing left to do. They couldn’t let the evil instrument remain among them. They tossed it on a bonfire with the rest of the craft’s contents.
©2016 Lori Carlson. All rights reserved.
(175 words)
This fun fiction prompt is brought to you by Priceless Joy, Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers and friends. Come join us!
Silly aliens knew nothing ha!
*laughs* thanks for having a read, Jacqueline 🙂
Enoyed… Thought provoking!!!
Thank you 🙂
Ignorance seems to breed fear often. Very good response to this prompt!
Thank you, dear 🙂
You’re welcome!
It’s easier to dismiss the things we don’t understand as evil than to take the time to understand them. Great story. 🙂
I agree.. and thank you, dear 🙂
Yes, the evils of rock and roll and earthlings! Wonderful take on the prompt. A real smiler.
Thank you, Phylor 🙂 I am glad it made you smile 🙂
Great take on the prompt! I love stories that show how something totally normal to us might look weird and mysterious and even frightening to people from another culture and time.
Thank you, Joy.. I had great fun writing this piece. It was quite a challenge with the word count 🙂
I agree, the word count is difficult to manage some weeks. Although since another flash challenge I do is 100 words, 175 is starting to sound luxurious! My initial idea for this picture prompt was involved enough that I knew without writing the first word that I couldn’t get it under 175, so I went a different direction from the very beginning. Aha, maybe I’m learning something!
It definitely sounds like you are growing as a writer..
This is so cute!! made me smile before going to work. I bet this was considered evil for real back int he day 🙂 Great imagination, Lori!
Lol
love this so much.
Made me laugh.
Great twist on the prompt! It reminds me of the history of Earth and how people thought things they didn’t understand were evil. Wonderful story!
Thank you, Priceless Joy 🙂 Much appreciated 🙂
There are probably still people on Earth who believe rock’n’roll is the work of the devil… I love this line: “It speaks the language of the stars, but look at it! How can the stars possibly be in that thing?” Brilliant stuff 🙂
Thank you, Sonya 🙂
Aw, I was thinking maybe this was how rock and roll came to Mars, with Ohm and Ashm becoming overnight celebrities!
*laughs* That was an avenue I explored at first… then the story just went in its own direction 🙂
Brilliant take.
Thank you 🙂
Brilliant, the fear of music as evil. Harks nicely to the initial fear of the evil rock and roll lol
Thank you 🙂 I am glad you caught that reference as I didn’t want to state it directly 😀
It’s a great read!!
I appreciate that 🙂
A fun twist on the burning guitar, aliens who believe it’s sound is evil, as well as the poor crew we landed on Mars. Nicely done!
Thank you, Mandibelle 🙂