Copyright – Dawn Q. Landau
Some days he knows he will make it. Other days he wants to give in.
The Maze is endless, miles of hedge and stone, but at the end waits a prize beyond all imagining.
At last. A white sign reads, “Two more steps until you claim the prize.”
Tentatively, he puts one foot forward. The ground gives way beneath his feet: quicksand, the final trap. He steps back, circles around, and enters the hidden door. On the other side
He enters the Maze. He remembers only that the Maze is endless. At the end, a prize beyond all imagining waits.
……………….
Okay skipped a week, mostly due to burnout from juggling several flaming swords at once. Sort of. This is my weekly entry for Friday Fictioneers, where every week we get together and write 100 word stories. To join in, click the link above!
Anne Higa 
I love the way this story comes around a full cycle. It brings to mind a few things, such as the futility of people chasing glittering, out-of-reach prizes, or how they trap themselves in repeat behaviour and can’t find their way out. You’ve succeeded in writing a never-ending story that could be 100 words long or stretch into infinity.
Thanks Sarah! And yeah, that’s part of what I like about writing – or completing any project, however “imperfect.” Being able to say – here it is. Moving on. Writing about someone who can’t is kind of wickedly cathartic.
Sounds a little too much like the daily grind to me. The ultimate prize – another day of survival.
Thanks Alice. And, yeah, pretty much.
I loved the idea of this – that he doesn’t remember that he’s done it all before, that it’s futile, but still he does it.
Thanks Claire.
I picture Indiana Jones looking for his treasure–no matter what it takes. I would not go into that endless maze. I really like this premise. Very smart interpretation of the prompt. Well done, my dear. Lucy
Thanks Lucy
Groundhog Day with a vengeance. You’ve painted a dismal but thought-provoking picture. The maze could be anything, the walker any of us.
That is so true. Thx.
That sounds like one of the punishments dolled out by ancient Greek gods and whatnot.
Yeah. Definitely read too many greek myths as a child.
Dear Anne,
Diligence and hope in the face of futility. I hope there really is a prize for him at the end. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle, me too. Thx. Anne
Dear Anne,
One of those flaming swords fell and burned away the period from the end of the last sentence of your second to the last paragraph…or did you intend that it be that way? Sisyphus revisited. Reminds me of reading Friday Fictioneer stories around about 90 or so. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
Aloha Doug. I’ll have to look on that on my pc. Am typing on the app now. Anne
Dear Anne, This sounds like an episode of “The Twilight Zone” from years ago. Creepy and makes my skin crawl. He’s right – the maze is endless. Excellent! Nan 🙂
Thanks Nan! I love the twilight Zone!
Anne, Happy to see you back. Poor man, caught up in an never-ending maze and not even realizing it. Happy to see he didn’t get caught in the quick sand. Well written. 🙂 —Susan
I feel like I’m in the maze. Good stuff, Anne!
Lily
Thanks Lily. Me 2 sometimes.