Disoriented
March 15, 2023 at 10:12 am 32 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 17 March 2023 2023
 |
| Photo Credit: Rowena Curtin |
|---|
It was early evening. Feeling adventurous, she left the hotel where the tour group was staying. It didn’t take her long to find herself disoriented.
“What are you doing in this alley?” A kindly man asked as he approached her. “It’s not a safe place for a young woman like you.”
“I think I’m lost,” she said feeling anxious. “I can’t find my way back to the hotel.”
“Don’t worry, I can help,” he reassured her. “But first, let’s bring this bag of groceries into my apartment.”
The following morning, the tour group left without her and reported her missing.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, Daily Post, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction.
Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
Iain Kelly | March 15, 2023 at 10:25 am
I feared it was going to end that way, I wanted it to just be a kind, helpful man!
2.
plaridel | March 15, 2023 at 1:51 pm
iain:
me too.
3.
James Pyles | March 15, 2023 at 10:36 am
Decades ago I lived in San Francisco. While walking on the sidewalk, I saw an older Asian woman crying out “help” repeatedly. She had a small cart of groceries next to her. Turns out she needed help carrying it up the stairs. I guess this was her method. We got to the top, but she shooed me away before she unlocked the door.
4.
plaridel | March 15, 2023 at 1:50 pm
james:
what a charming lady. sooner or later, karma will bite her rear end. 🙂
5.
James Pyles | March 16, 2023 at 5:55 am
It probably did. She was old back then.
6.
plaridel | March 16, 2023 at 9:31 am
james:
🙂
7.
msjadeli | March 15, 2023 at 11:09 am
Charisma is how many bait their underlying nefarious intent. Always travel in twos when far from home!
8.
plaridel | March 15, 2023 at 1:50 pm
msjadeli:
i agree. twos better than one especially when traveling in a foreign country.
9.
neilmacdon | March 15, 2023 at 1:24 pm
We make those instant judgements about who is trustworthy. Not always wisely
10.
plaridel | March 15, 2023 at 1:50 pm
neil:
sadly, we’re prone to mistakes and suffer dearly.
11.
Tannille | March 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Terrible. Tourists are easy targets.
12.
plaridel | March 16, 2023 at 9:31 am
tannille:
true that.
13.
Sandra | March 16, 2023 at 6:11 am
Trust is a wonderful thing. For the person with evil on his agenda.
14.
plaridel | March 16, 2023 at 9:31 am
sandra:
well said.
15.
Keith's Ramblings | March 16, 2023 at 7:19 am
I hoped it wouldn’t end that way, but felt it might. Sad.
16.
plaridel | March 16, 2023 at 9:31 am
keith:
i know. one has to be careful nowadays especially in unfamiliar places.
17.
Dawn M. Miller | March 16, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Scary.
18.
plaridel | March 17, 2023 at 3:10 pm
dawn:
you bet.
19.
Ordinary Person | March 16, 2023 at 11:37 pm
This is dark and unsettling. You can never trust strangers. Sadly, this sort of thing happens often.
20.
plaridel | March 17, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Ordinary Person:
sound advice.
21.
poetisatinta | March 17, 2023 at 5:44 am
The moral of the story being – never help a kindly man in an alley with a bag of groceries – good story 🙂
22.
plaridel | March 17, 2023 at 3:10 pm
angela:
i couldn’t agree more.
23.
Bill | March 17, 2023 at 9:49 am
Naivety can be deadly. Well done.
24.
plaridel | March 17, 2023 at 3:11 pm
bill:
i totally agree.
25.
rochellewisoff | March 17, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Dear Plaridel,
But he seemed so kind. Tragic story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
26.
plaridel | March 17, 2023 at 3:11 pm
rochelle:
she seemed so trusting too. dangerous combination.
27.
CGraith | March 18, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Lots of creepy! Never trust the kindly old man…stick with the guy who has tattoos up his arm.
28.
plaridel | March 22, 2023 at 11:32 am
clare:
that’s funny. 🙂
29.
GHLearner | March 19, 2023 at 6:04 am
The reality of women everywhere. Avoid dark alleys and don’t trust strangers. I like how you told it so matter-of-fact.
30.
plaridel | March 22, 2023 at 11:32 am
gabi:
great advice.
31.
granonine | March 20, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Good heavens! Drop the groceries and run! Screaming!
32.
plaridel | March 22, 2023 at 11:32 am
linda:
not a bad idea. 🙂