Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Name on the Ticket

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.) 

Today’s prompt: The Name on the Ticket

Your character arrives at a train station and buys a ticket for the next train. Everything seems ordinary until the ticket prints.

The destination is correct. The time is correct.

But underneath the passenger’s name is a handwritten message:

“Whatever happens, don’t get off at the third stop.”

Your character has no idea who wrote it. The ticket clerk insists they didn’t write it.

Then the announcement comes over the station speakers – ‘the next train is now arriving.”

Write 500–1,000 words exploring what happens next.

Consider:

• Who wrote the message?
• Why does it specifically mention the third stop?
• What happens when your character asks the station staff about it?
• Does your character decide to board?
• What makes them ignore — or obey — the warning?
• Who else on the train might know something?

Try to reveal the mystery through dialogue, action and small details. To give yourself an extra challenge, you could give your character a compelling reason why they must take this particular train, despite the warning.

Have fun.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.