I gaze at the sagging wooden beams and cracked stone of the abandoned farmhouse, once our safehouse. With a deep breath, I step through the doorway—and it’s as if I’ve walked through a portal. Time has reversed course. I’m back there. I am bombarded. Yet I stand, letting the memories strike me, pulsars of light—images beyond conscious thought. I feel dizzy, but as it passes, I look around, taking in the dust and debris. What clues could I possibly find after all this time?
Then I notice a footprint in the dust by the entryway— a footprint not mine. A man’s footprint. Who else has been here recently? I tell myself it’s some hiker out exploring, but that doesn’t explain the three diagonal lines chalked on the weathered lintel: the old Hobo symbol we sometimes used, “This is NOT a safe place.”
(144 words)
I’m hosting Prosery today at dVerse. This is part of my ongoing spy series. The prompt line is:
“I am bombarded yet I stand.”
From Adrienne Rich, “Planetarium”
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This is chilling, Merril! A former place of refuge has been infiltrated. I can’t help but wonder if it was Paul who left the warning…
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
It might be. . .
So chilling… and I like the continuing story… I feel there is a lot of more story to come. I wonder if there was another traitor among them
Thank you! I don’t know. I don’t even know who left the symbol. 😀
I was so pleased to see another prosery. But, oh, the suspense!!
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
It’s suspenseful for me, too. 🤣
Said the panster??
Definitely! 😀 Though if this was intended to be something other than a series of prosery posts, I’d probably have some idea.
😀 As with all good writing, it will take the form it wants to take.
Thank you! 😀
You’re welcome! 😀
ooh, I love the cliff-hanging ending! I kind of want it to go on, but I kind of like it ending there.
Thank you! That’s so interesting.
I kind of want to find out who left the message, since no one has told me yet. 😏
Now that I’ve gnawed my fingernails off, don’t leave us hanging! Nicely done, Merril!
Hahaha. Thank you very much, Jill! 💙
Great can’t-turn-the-page mystery!
Thank you so much, Beverly!
At first, just a memoir, but then you mantle it with espionage, wonder, and mystery; very clever. Your spy saga comes at us like random jigsaw puzzle pieces, fascinating of themselves, but intriguing as to their cohesiveness.
Wow–what a lovely comment. Thank you so much, Glenn!
Oh be safe. Be safe.
Nice one
Much💛love
Thanks so much, Gillena!
You crafted the scene with budding tension so effortlessly here! 👏👏
Thank you so much, Tricia! 😀
Welcome! 🌺
I like the way you keep adding pieces to the puzzle…(K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
Excellent write Merril! I like the mystery that lurks within your piece.
Thank you very much, Rob!
I like the way your story leads us on and leaves us wanting more.
Thank you so much, Dwight!
Ohhhhh, I love a mystery. Well done, Merril!
Thank you, Charlotte. I know how you love mysteries, so I’m pleased you liked it. 😀
You had me going one way, then (for me) the ending was a major change in direction. Thumbs up for the surprise. 🙂
Yay for surprising you, Frank! 😀
Sounds like there might have been more story before? And hopefully more to come. But this also stood on its own, an intriguing and suspenseful flash.
Thank you. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. I’ve been writing this series for Prosery prompts for a while. It started sort of accidentally, so there will probably be more.
Ooooo full of intrigue and suspense!
Thank you so much, Carol!
Love the footprint and the foreboding in the piece. Yes, definitely wanting more.
Thank you so much! 😀
You’re most welcome. Cheers.
Is there more coming in Part 2?
I’ve been writing these for most of the prosery prompts. It’s kind of a series, and it’s become a bit more coherent over time (I think), so there probably will be a next part. 😏
👋👋
😀
i am wondering about the mark? really enjoyed this
Thank you very much. If you click on the highlighted Hobo symbols, you can see the mark.
I will have a look next time I am on line
I would have included the image, but I couldn’t find one that was definitely copyright free.
This is incredibly fun, Merril ❤ – I love your proseries.
Thank you so much, David! 💙
The ending begs for more. Wonderful! And our memories are not always safe.
Thank you, Mary!
That is so true about memories.
Ooh-er
Hmmmm.
Oh dear! This was fabulous. I was enthralled. And I like to think Paul is the one who is warning her… Where the hell is he?
Thank you, Dale. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. I don’t know where he is–if you find out, let me know!😀
Hah! I shall leave you to your story weaving as you do it supremely well 🙂
Thank you!😀
🙂
Really lovely description, and mysterious end that begs to continue…..masterful…
Thank you very much!
Oh my! What a great write. Hit every right note ~ and I learned something in the process. Those three lines /// beware.
Thank you so much, Helen!
Yes, I found all those symbols fascinating.
so fun! forcing me to pick up the pen again, thanks!
Wonderful!
Skillfully done, Merril. What was is no more. But we’ve been warned.
Thank you very much, Bill!
You’re welcome.
Beautiful. Love the whole idea of a “spy series.”
Thank you, Luanne. It’s something to write for fun. 😀
Oooh, a cliffhanger! Love it, Merril. 🙂 I especially like your use of hobo symbols. I was using them in my mandala practices for a while.
Thank you so much, Robin!
That’s interesting that you used those symbols. 😀