This is my Flash Fiction for the Advent Calendar Stories Train. I’ll admit, despite this being my project and that I chose the theme, I struggled. Short fiction pieces are still not in my wheelhouse, but I hope it’s still enjoyable. (I no longer like the title of this piece, but it was too late to change it. lol)
Hero
The building shook, raining chunks of ceiling plaster down and threatening to topple the large Mammoth exhibitions. Everyone screamed and moved towards the walls for safety. Moments later the tremours stopped and a strange smoke enveloped the room, slipping between the exhibitions, giving them all an eerieness they hadn’t had for years.
The soft glow of light pulled everyone’s eye to the centre of the room. Stood beneath the giant blue whale skeleton that was suspended from the ceiling, was a man. Or at least, it looked like a man.
The being had silver-glowing eyes and a grey pallid skin tone. Strange robes draped around his spindly form, and the thick bellow sleeves looked too heavy for his fragile arms. In one hand, he grasped a wonky-looking staff and above its apex, hovered a crackling ball of green light.
One sharp rap of the staff against the floor and the smoke was driven out. All around, students on their field trip huddled against the walls and behind exhibitions. Their eyes wide as they clung to each other for comfort. Some were brave enough to pull out mobile phones and start a shaky recording.
“Do not fear me,” the being called out. His voice full of haunting echoes. “I seek the Chosen One, the Hero who will be given the Gift, a power destined to bring this world out of its coming darkness!”
For a long time, no one moved then a nearby security guard reached slowly for his baton. The silver-eyed man turned, tilting his head and blinked. Instantly, the guard collapsed. Screams rose up in a cacophony of panic.
“Calm yourselves, he is not dead, merely sleeping.” He gave a sniff and strode forward, each footstep sounding like the low toll of a giant bell. “Now, the Chosen One.”
The field trip group from North Rowe High School shuffled backwards as he approached. Someone screamed when he thrust out his staff and aimed it at the cluster.
From within the huddle, a boy with a crooked smile rose up and stepped forward. His backpack was covered in superhero patches and he puffed out his chest ready to take on any challenge.
The being frowned. “No, not you boy.”
The smile fell and the teenager looked behind him. The other kids around him glanced at each other. Someone nudged the tallest lad, pushing him forward.
“No, no, no.” With a sigh, the being slams his staff onto the ground. A pulse of power washed through them all and moved the kids aside. A small, waif of a girl stood there. Her hazel eyes looked huge due to the overly large glasses perched on her nose. In her hands, she clutched her bookbag tightly. Fear painted across her face and though she was shaking, she straightened up her shoulders and gave a determined look.
“No, not you,” the being said pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration before pushing her rudely aside with his staff. “You!”
Mrs Wetherly stared into the glowing eyes of the robed being before glancing around at her students. The motion made her frizzy mop of greying hair shimmy around her head.
“Not… one of them?” asked the 46-year-old History teacher, waving her hand at the wide-eyed students who surrounded her.
The being roared with laughter and sparks flew from his staff. “A teenager as the Chosen One? Really? What a terrible idea.”
© Ari Meghlen 2022
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Welcome to the Advent Calendar Story Train, where you can read through 24 stories under the theme The Gift. Thank you for reading today’s story. The next one will be available to read on December 3rd, titled “The Dreamer“. This link will be active tomorrow when the post goes live.
If you missed yesterday’s you can go and read it here.
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Happy writing
Author Ari Meghlen Official Website 
Brilliant! 😁 There’s way to many teen chosen ones out there! And I read a lot of ya so this is happening all the time in those books 😂
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A great story!! Like everyone, I love the twist at the end.
Aww thank you, Darlene. I am happy you liked it. 🙂
Such a great idea and loved the twist. It feels like the perfect opening to a longer story if you decide to pursue it. Excellent.
Thanks for reading, Ian. lol I think most of my short stories are like that. I never feel right being “contained” to short stories, they always have expansive feelings to them 😀
This story made me laugh out loud, literally. That was great and after reading way too many stories about teenage chosen ones, it was so refreshing. Great story!
Thanks for reading. I believe the idea came to be in 2021 when I was browsing Netflix and all the movies were “Teen hero” “a high school student gains powers”… and I was just getting really annoyed! lol
Kept me wondering till the end. Nice little twist on a well-used theme.
Thanks for reading, Christopher. I’m glad to hear that, I was hoping the ending wouldn’t be too obvious right at the start. 🙂
Loved it, Ari. Such a fun take on an overdone trope!
Awww thank you Kate, 😀
Brilliant! I love it!
🙂 Thank you, Clare
🙂
Hahahah. A great ending quip. So tired of middle-school/teenage ‘heroes.’ I like how you made us feel it would be the nerdy girl, but it wasn’t. I did hope that we find out more. This could serve as an intro to a longer piece of work. I’m wondering what her superpower will be. If you think short stories are not your thing, think again.
lol exactly! I was struggling to think of an idea for this story, then I found a silly note in my phone from 2021 about a teacher who becomes the Chosen One. I think I wrote that note after scrolling through endless movies on Netflix of teenagers saving the world and I am so over that right now.
Thanks, Goldie, for your kind words 🙂
I love it that an old note prompted this story. I try to save those, too. Sometimes it just isn’t the right time. I’m hoping that one day I will stumble upon an old note, write a bestseller and just live off of the $ forever.
Now that is the dream 😀
I love it! What a great twist at the end!
Aww thank you, Anne. 🙂
Your ending caught me by surprise and made me laugh. I totally agree!
Yay! Thanks Suzanne. I was hoping it wouldn’t be obvious when I wrote the ending.
Ha ha, what a great twist! Finally saying what everyone’s been thinking.
lol exactly! No more angsty teen heroes! Thanks, Wilmar
What a perfect ending to this piece! Love it. ❤
Aww thank you, Jaya. I really appreciate that.
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