Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #38 — Catalogue

Welcome to #38 of the Friday Fiction Writing Challenge! Here’s a complete list of all the posts so far. Feel free to join in.

I decided to challenge myself this week. No matter what the word, I was to write another installment of Amy and Kelvin’s story. It wasn’t the easiest word to work with, but I managed to get there in the end.

This snippet picks up right where we left them last week. Again, I went over the word count—I’m going to review the limit in the next couple of weeks. (Here’s a page with all their story links, in order.)

Before getting into the meat of the post, I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful husband, Jez, for taking the time to create the featured image for this post. ?

While I’m in the shout out mood, a big thanks to Chris for sharing her response to last week’s prompt. Check out her site, you will be entertained.

Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge 38 -- Catalogue

This week’s random word is: Catalogue

Liquid heat coursed through Amy as they knelt, kissing on the dirt floor of the cave. She wrapped an arm around Kelvin’s neck, the other around his back, pulling his body closer to hers. It wasn’t enough, she needed to feel his skin against hers. She’d never wanted anyone like this before, it was an all-consuming fire that scared and excited her in equal parts. She eased him onto his back and straddled him, ready to give in to the maddening need pulsing around her core.

Kelvin hissed in pain. “Easy.”

Reality barreled back with a slap. What the fuck was she doing? He was the enemy, the cause of all of her latest woes. It was a moment of weakness, an error in judgment—another to add to her catalogue of fuck ups. It was a simple case of gratitude; he’d saved her from being gutted…He’d killed for her.

Amy glanced at the body. Was that what he was now, a body, a corpse? She should feel something, shouldn’t she?

“Look at me, Amy. It was him or you.” Kelvin caught one of her hands and kissed it, his lips scorching her ice-cold hands. “As much as I’d love a quick fuck, we need to go.”

That shook her out of her numb stupor. “That will never happen.” She yanked her hand free and pushed away from him and the dead man.

Kelvin winced again.

Now she could see why, blood stained his jacket and into his jeans. “You’re hurt.”

“It doesn’t matter. We need to get going.” He rolled the body over and stripped it of outer clothing, weapons, and other things she couldn’t make out.

“I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t think you should either.”

He stuffed the scavenged items into his backpack. “We need to move, they’re still after the box.” Kelvin ripped the sleeve off the shirt he’d taken from the body and proceeded to wad it up over his wound. He tossed the stolen coat to her. “Put this on.”
Sickened, Amy let the coat fall to the ground. “No. I’m staying here.”

A cold smile twisted his lips. “Feel free to hang out with our friend. Get a good look at your future.”

Amy didn’t relish the thought of staying in the tiny cave with a corpse. But, she wasn’t leaving without some knowledge of why her life was in danger. “Why do they want the box? Why are they willing to kill for it?”
He sighed. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Make time.”

He bent awkwardly to retrieve the coat and placed it over her shoulders. “It’s safer if you don’t know.”

She shuddered in the toasty coat. “You mean, it’s safer for you.”

“Lives depend on the information in the box.” He grimaced as he put on the backpack. “That’s all I can tell you.”

He gripped her arm, but he seemed to be holding her for support, not to guide her. “Let’s hope he left the keys with the snowmobile.”

“You can’t drive with your wound.”

Kelvin paused at the mouth of the cave. “You’re right, you drive.”

Uneasiness sunk low in her belly as they headed away from the safety of the cave.

Amy and Kelvin’s story continues »

Thanks for reading! Stay safe out there, and have a fantastic weekend!

How To Join In:

  • Using the prompt, write a maximum of 250-ish words of fiction. (This can be a scene, flash fiction, some dialogue, a bit of description, etc.)
  • Link to this post in your post.
  • Add the tags ffwc, genre scribes, and the genre your post is in.
  • The deadline is 6 PM the following Friday.

Full information is on the Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge page.

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Hi! I’m Scottish author Susan Tippett Braithwaite. I craft romantic suspense stories featuring Sex, Lies, Scots & Spies where danger and desire meet with explosive results.

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13 responses to “Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #38 — Catalogue

  1. bushboy Avatar

    From hot and steamy to sensible……I was with every word Susan 🙂

    1. Susan T. Braithwaite Avatar

      Thanks for the great feedback, Brian!

      1. bushboy Avatar

        You’re welcome Susan 🙂

  2. Chris Hall Avatar

    Great story Susan! You have me well and truly hooked 🙂
    Now, away to ponder ‘catalogue’…

    1. Susan T. Braithwaite Avatar

      Thank you, Chris. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

  3. Violet Lentz Avatar

    Brilliant addition. I love how you weaved in the words. Perfection.

    1. Susan T. Braithwaite Avatar

      Oh, thank you, Violet!

  4. Photos by Jez Avatar

    Cool; love the rapid shift in emotions ?

    1. Susan T. Braithwaite Avatar

      Thank you! ?

  5. […] Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #38 […]

  6. […] again. I decided to challenge myself to continue Amy and Kelvin’s story from where we left them last week. (If you’ve missed any of their story, you can find all their links […]

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