

If you are only here for the #WEPFF, please scroll to the dove at the song portion of today’s post.
My THEME for the A to Z challenge 2017 is an ongoing speculative fiction story featuring telepathy.
Each letter post is titled and inspired by a commonly misused word or phrase.
The story started with All Intents and Purposes.

Hunger Pangs
Ora huffs as she scoots away from me. “It’s rude to scream while someone is talking. Are you a bad person?”
“No, I’m not.” Is she a telepath? Is this why we’re both here?
“Why did you ask me about my favorite book if you didn’t want to know?”
I check my chain and find no weakness. It’s secured with a bolt thicker than my finger. Can you hear what other people are thinking?
Ora doesn’t answer at first. I hear her move, her chains jingle as she repositions. “I’m not supposed to talk about that.”
Can you think about it?
I’m privy to memories playing in her head. Adults tell her how dangerous it is for people to know what she can do. I’ve heard the same lectures.
Ora, have you called out to those grown-ups?
“No one can hear me anymore. The bad man took my gift.” I relive more memories with her. Every strike, the click of lock on her chain, her hair being pulled, the first time she wet herself, and the time passing alone in the dark.
I’m going to be very loud. Maybe louder than anyone you’ve ever heard in your head. Don’t be afraid, okay? She agrees, but I feel her fear intensify. I dial up my internal volume. My every breath vibrates my whole body. It’s like standing in front of a massive speaker at a rock concert. I scream for help in my mind. I scream the name of every telepath I know, and a few who I’ve only heard of in passing. Ora cries and stomps her feet.
Sorry, sorry. My inner volume dialed back down, I slide as near to her as I can. She rolls against me. I stroke her hair as she cries.
They can’t hear you, either, can they? He took your power.
I close off my mind while I think. I know I still have my powers because I can hear her. This is all new to me, being blocked from the world. What are my options?
My thoughts are interrupted by growling gurgles. Ora apologizes for the sound of her hunger pangs.
“When did you last have something to eat or drink?”
She cries. The darkness makes time imperceivable.
If I had the courage, I would chew off my leg to break us out of here. Would that work? I don’t even know where here is, who the abductor is, or why we’ve been taken. Is this the work of the Homeland Security Mind Task Force?
“Would you sing to me?”
I brush her hair with my fingers as I sing a Bikinis for Eskimos song.
So little love
they’ve not taken away.
My need for peace,
it grows more with each day.
Please tell my heart it will be okay.
This fight will end,
and we’ll see again,
that every wish wasn’t wasted away.There’s so much more
than fighting these wars.
Please understand that we are the same.
Our goals are yours.
Just with different names.
Understanding
is what we need.
Then more peace and harmony.
You give more love,
and I’ll give it too.
This world is made
for me and for youSo little love
they’ve not taken away.
But with more peace
we’ll grow stronger each day.
Then our hearts, they’ll be okay.
We’ll end their fight.
We’ll do what’s right.We are the light.
We are the light.
We are the light!
We are the light!
We
ARE
the
LIGHT!


Word Count (of the song only) : 149 FCA
Yes, that song is by me. That’s my fictional band in another story.

A pang is a feeling of emotional or physical pain, and is the correct term to use for describing hunger. It is a pain, but there is technically more going on in the body, and that is why pang is more accurate.
What would you do if you had the courage?
by J Lenni Dorner
Reference and Speculative Fiction Author
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Operation Awesome Debut Author Spotlight Organizer


27 comments
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You are really good at this!
Janet Miles has this post to share April 2017 – #Atozchallenge – Now to N
Hi J Lenni! I’m loving your spec fic story. And I love the poem. You’re a pretty talented guy! Thanks for the song/poem. It fits the WEP challenge so well. Yes, ‘We are the light!’ Alright!
Thanks for taking part in WEP during this busy month. Much appreciated!
Denise 🙂
Denise Covey has this post to share P is for Poetry. Write…Edit…Publish — April challenge — Peace and Love — my flash fiction. Peace and Love and Pomegranates, set in Afghanistan.
Find on Twitter: DeniseCCovey
Great poem. Yes, we are the light. I hope…
I really, really hope that we are the light.
Loved this – and thank you.
I loved reading this. I just wanted it to go on and on. Wonderful song too.
Find on Twitter: kalpanapster
Sounds like they are in a tight spot, if no one can hear them. Maui Jungalow
Courtney – Maui Jungalow has this post to share Ollie Dog and Olukai – Street Art
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I think the bad guy might be someone gifted too… Happy A-to-Z-ing.
Ronel Janse van Vuuren has this post to share Playful Phoukas #AtoZChallenge
Find on Twitter: miladyronel
Author
Is it the fellow writer thing, or are you a super hacker? LOL.
*high fives you*
It’s a writer thing 🙂 Evil government agencies are fun to write, but having someone in your own situation being the bad guy is even worse.
Ronel Janse van Vuuren has this post to share New Divide #ShortStory #AtoZChallenge
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Yes, so little light and we are the light but a light without vision only brings darkness.
A beautiful poem that I enjoyed reading.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Pat Garcia has this post to share WEP Submission, April 19, 2017, The If of Peace and Love by Pat Garcia
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Bungee jump or skydive. Neither of which is ever happening.
Phillip | P is for Paper Bags
I’ve liked every post of this story I’ve read, this one is no different – enjoyed reading. The poem added an extra dimension. Kudos.
Nilanjana Bose has this post to share P is for…hang on…P? not legally Permitted!
Enjoyed the addition of the poem indeed. Peace and harmony and giving a little more, sure can turns things from shore to shore.
You created quite a dark dungeony image, J. Lennie Dorner, then left me humming about bikinis and Eskimos.
I’ve given you a small shout out on my blog this week. Enjoying your A to Z.
Find on Twitter: cleemckenzie
Hunger pangs are tough to deal with.
We are the light & all will be fine!
Anita has this post to share Princess To Queen #AToZChallenge
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I hope his message got through! He has some power left, lovely song.
Hope is sometimes all we have left!
Very well done, thank you!
Yolanda Renee has this post to share WEP – A LIfe Stolen
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Great way that you have created this suspense by painting them into a corner.
I also like the song – nice effect.
A Piece of Uganda
Find on Twitter: moondustwriter
Lovely poem with the last sentiment, we’re here for light.
Nancy
Such beautiful lyrics. And I loved the story too. That little girl will be a force once she is released.
If I had the courage? Hmm, not sure what I’d do. There are so many causes in the world. Perhaps if I had courage I’d pick at least one to put all my energy into. Sadly, I’m not a champion.
Donna L Hole has this post to share WEP: Peace and Love
Really like the story. I always wish I had telepathy, or at least the ability to read minds. I’m guessing I may be missing out on some of the bigger picture, so I’ll have to try to revisit when having time.
I thought it was cool we both used “pangs” in our fiction for P.
Thanks for swinging by and good luck with the rest of the challenge!
Find on Twitter: JakCryton
I’m enjoying reading your entries for the A-Z and the song/poem for WEP this month is great.
I love your entry this month, it really builds up, fantastic writing.
Find on Twitter: lauraclipson
An interesting take and an enjoyable read. Whenever we don’t trust something new, we seem to want to put it in a cage. I’d like to know more about what happens to these two and who is the offending ‘bad man’. . .
DG Hudson has this post to share WEP April Challenge – No Love Nor Peace, Part 2
I loved the story, but the poem was just beautiful and so moving! <3
Find on Twitter: sylviavbruggen
Some kind of blocking device… interesting! I have a theory of who the “bad man” might be, but I’ll wait and see how it plays out. I’m really loving your story! 😀
Natalie Westgate has this post to share Partner (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)
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Enjoyed reading a portion of your story and getting a lesson on the word pangs.
Beautiful work! I love the song. And the story is great, too.
🦁🌻🌅
Jamie has this post to share #AtoZchallenge Try Pigs-in-a-Blanket Today
Find on Twitter: penminion