It’s time for Monday’s Finish the Story again. This is a flash fiction challenge which asks that we write a story in 150 words from the picture and first line prompt, kindly provided by the host, Barbara W. Beacham.
Here is this week’s photo . . .
. . . and this is my story, including the first line prompt:
When the team heard the dam explode, they knew they had limited time to make it to safety.
Dave made the split-second decision that offered his team the only hope of survival. Ahead lay the series of rapids they’d been preparing to negotiate: too late now to escape the river’s fast-flowing pull. Behind them the raging dam waters neared.
‘Blades down!’ he yelled from the helm, thrusting his paddle into the billowing foam. ‘We’re in this together, so control this baby!’
The raft plunged over the dip … straight into the clutches of violent eddies that sent them spinning into jagged rocks. The raft tilted perilously and water swamped the craft. Two men momentarily disappeared, only practised survival skills preventing them from being swept into the suds.
They hit the pool mere yards from the bank as the deafening roar reached the dip.
‘Swim for it!’ Dave yelled.
‘Great teamwork, guys,’ Greg hollered down as they scrambled up the bank. Sound effects OK? River rescue practice tomorrow …’
Word count: 150
To view other entries, click here.
Millie Thom 
Well done Millie! Full of tension! Thanks for participating again in the MFtS challenge! See you next week? Be well… ^..^
Thank you, Barbara! 🙂 Until next week … 🙂
🙂 Be well Millie!
Hilarious twist at the end… and I was so concerned at first!
Thank you, John. I’m glad the ending actaully worked! 🙂
Excellent twist. I like how you slipped their “practised survival skills” in to make the ending work. Nicely done!
I’m glad the ending worked. I wasn’t sure it would. Thanks, Sonya. 🙂
Nice twist! Thanks to your brilliant descriptions I was right there with them during their (fake) experience 🙂
That was fantastic! I was right there on the edge of my seat then POW, the ending. LOL! You got me! I enjoyed reading this. 😀
Thank you for that wonderful comment! I’m just pleased you enjoyed it, PJ. 🙂
I did!!
What a tense story! Had me gripped all the way through.
Thanks Francesca. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Great take Millie, you took me with you on the journey down the river and thru the bumps and perils then I had to read the ending twice having thought….What? Very well done.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Michael. 🙂
Perfect twist, you had me there! Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad the twist worked for you, Cecilia. Thank you for the nice comment! 🙂
Loved it! A fast paced, action filled adventure 🙂
Thank you, Az. If you found it fast paced, then I’m happy. 🙂 That’s what I wanted to achieve. 🙂
It was awesome!
Great twist, Millie. Looks like they’ll be ready for the real thing if it ever happens. Great description. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne. Yes, that’s the plan. Rescue crews have to be well trained, don’t they? 🙂
good action… I know these have been distracting you from fully focusing on your new novel but we are loving them so please don’t stop 🙂
I’m trying hard to break the addiction, Heath, so stop encouraging me! Hehe. Thank you for liking them, though – which just encourages me more! 🙂
What a tensed adventure! 🙂 I was there all the way until the end I laughed so hard 😛 Great story Millie! 😉
Great to know you enjoyed it, Khloe. Thank you! 🙂
I always enjoy this type of stories made me wanna go for adventure somehow 😀 you’re welcome dear 😉
Me too – I was in there with them! Well done.
Thank you, Bekki. It was tension I wanted to create, so it’s nice to know it worked! 🙂
Certainly did!
Great teamwork they get a star and since you are the coach of the team you get this 🙂 What an interesting turn towards the end. What a relief.
Ah … where would we be if our Rescue Services didn’t train? (Mind you, I doubt if they’d ever have a simulated dam burst to deal with!) I’m very pleased you like the story, though, 🙂
I agree, the real life situations can be difficult to deal with at times.
The theatrics of a modern rescue mission. Gotta love-em.
All’s fair in love and fiction, I suppose. Thanks for commenting, Roger.
Superb tension ~ I thought the ending twist was perfect for the story ~ Action~ Reaction then cut, print and relax
Thank you, John! That comment is really appreciated.
A superb take on the prompt Millie ~ 🙂
I love the flow of the words — like a calmer river. Surprise ending was good!
Thank you for commenting, Phylor. 🙂
I worked myself up and a sigh of relieve – it was only a practice and not the real one. Well written
Hahaha – you love these movie scenes. I love it too.
Well, being so unrealistic, The old imagination can go haywire. It’s good to let that happen, now and then. Thanks, Joycelin. 🙂
Your scenes are perfect, but I love your twists even more. 🙂
Thank you so much for the link! I’m glad you’ve decided to take part in some of these challenges. It will be good to read your stories – and they are really good practice. 🙂
Thank you Millie!