Bonus Fiction: The gods were playing
This month's Fictionistas story prompt goes to story cubes for inspiration.
This short story is part of the Fictionistas' February Let’s Write Together Prompt Party. Thanks to them for facilitating it.
Fictionistas Prompt. February 2025
The Prompt:
Write a story using your interpretations of the images on the cubes above. I will describe the nine images from left to right, top to bottom.
a castle tower, or a rook
comedy and trajedy masks
an arrow pointing in a south-east direction
a flame
a cresent, perhaps a cresent moon
an airplane
a die, with three pips on top, five pips facing downward, one pip on the left (these are the only faces of the cube we can see)
a worried face
a house with one door, two windows and a chimney
Authors Note: This story mentions recent tragedies. These are not meant to play glib or light with events that have devastated lives.
By Vince Wetzel
Copyright Vince Wetzel and OT Press
High up in the celestials, resting along the clouds of the Milky Way, sat the adolescent gods Dox, Roe, and Jel. It was early in the millennium, and their parents were long asleep in the castle next door.
“What do you think about what the earthlings say about free will?” Dox asked. He, though they had no gender, was lying back on the couch, a little tipsy from the Force wine he stole from the cabinet.
“Tells you what their tiny brains can handle,” Roe said. “They cannot even fathom past that fourth dimension. I mean, most even worship this one grandfatherly all-knowing God.”
“That fad has lasted longer than I thought,” Jel said. “The best part is when they’ve used this God to justify some of the worst things possible. Humans are a weird bunch.”
Roe smiled before standing up suddenly and going into Orion’s Belt to fetch his big surprise. He had waited to introduce what he found in his parents’ black hole last week. It was big.
“Where are you going?” Dox said, but it came out mostly slurred. “I’m getting tired, and 2025 is about to start.”
When Roe came back, Dox and Jel immediately sat up. Roe knew it would perk them up. Life in their celestial castle had become so dull. It was time to spice things up.
“What? The die of fate? Where did you find that?” Jel asked. “They usually keep those safely locked up so we don’t get access.”
“I know,” Roe said. “But I was looking for a galaxy to hide my dimensions homework, and I found it. What do you say we play a couple of rounds?”
Dox sat back, worried. “I don’t know. Playing with fate can really mess up a lot of human lives. I mean, I am not a big fan of their arrogance and disregard for Earth, but remember when Tich played around, and humans created the atomic bomb.”
Jel chastised Dox. “Oh, come on. Live a little. Let’s see if we can shake up 2025 a little. Besides, I remember when my parent rolled and discovered a whole new continent that changed Earth as we knew it. That was wild stuff, man.”
Dox shook his head, still unsure if this was a good idea. He was the most conscientious of their trio, but he was as bored as everyone else. The last eight years had created chaos on their own. What harm could it really do to humanity? It could do some good.
“OK, but we have to agree, if the die comes up bad, we have to roll again to make it even,” Dox said. “One time, my parents rolled the black plague but rolled again and produced Shakespeare.”
“Well, yeah, but remember, a second roll makes things worse,” Jel said. “Remember there was Jesus, but then came crucifixion, followed by the Dark Ages and the Crusades?”
Roe agreed with Dox. “That rarely happens. Agreed, we’ll roll again if the outcome isn’t that good.”
The three adolescents came down to the floor, their knees – in human form – touching. Roe took out the die. It was glowing, its power magnificent. None of them had ever held a die of fate before, let alone roll it. This was one step closer to becoming a “capital G” god. They looked at each other, anxious but also excited. Roe looked at Dox and Jel for one last confirmation.
“Do it,” Dox said.
“Yep,” Jel said.
Roe threw out the die. It landed on the floor, bounced, and rolled before hitting Jel. That was never a good sign. They gasped as “Fire” came up.
“Oh no. Oh no. Oh no,” Roe said. “That’s not good.”
Over their shoulder, they felt the warmth of fires ravaging Earth. They looked at each other. Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe they weren’t ready to be a Capital G. But like they agreed, another roll would be needed, and perhaps all would turn out OK.
“Roll again,” Jel said. “Quickly.”
Roe rolled. This time, a white house appeared. OK. That might work. Over the last century, that side of the die generally provided positive outcomes. It ended the genocide of a people by an oppressive regime. It advanced technology to put someone on the moon. It also brought prosperity to many on Earth.
“That was close,” Dox said. “That old guy wasn’t the best, but…”
“Wait, which old guy?” Jel said. “Didn’t they switch old guys?”
“Oh crap,” Roe said.
They noticed a plane go down and watched world confidence begin to plummet.
“What’s going on over there?” came a booming voice from the next room. One of the parents must have noticed turmoil erupting. “What are you doing?”
“Quick, hide the die,” Jel said.
“Too late now,” Dox said. They looked up.
Fury reigned down.
Want more bonus fiction?
Flash Fiction is a great exercise for creativity. Taking a prompt and having to write about it helps me avoid writer’s block. Participating in these prompt parties also allows me to experiment with genre, style, and more. To read other Bonus Fiction, check out my Flash Fiction section of the Substack.
You can also read my books from OT Press. Lose Yourself is the award-winning novel about six people making the most of their opportunity, set against a baseball game. Friends in Low Places shares the value of long-time friends in good times and bad.
If you’re tasting the Salted Wetzel for the first time…
Welcome! My name is Vince Wetzel. I’m the author of two novels and write this weekly Substack, which includes fiction, fridge philosophies, interviews with other authors, and more. Enjoy, and be sure to subscribe to stay up to date.