Writer's Platform-Building Campaign: Challenge #1

So as part of Rachael Harrie's Writer's Campaign, we were given this challenge:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Well I read some brilliant, creative, amazingly awesome stories by fellow campaigners today, and I know my story is nowhere near as delightful (I did have a little trouble getting my door to swing open). But hey, I did make exactly 200 words, and I had fun!

The Path

The door swung open. Stones embedded into the ground formed a path that stretched out in front of me. Gliding across grassy hills like a speckled ribbon it disappeared into the blackness of a thick forest. I glimpsed the path again beyond the trees as it wound it’s way up a mountain to a peak obscured by misty clouds.

My eyes fell back to the stones just beyond the threshold of the door. I lifted my foot prepared to move forward, when a sound froze the muscles in my legs. Thunder rumbled in the distance and I raised my eyes to the sky watching black clouds gather on the horizon, piercing bolts of lightning striking the ground.

I lifted my foot again, ready for that step, when a gust of wind tore across the path, filling my ears with a mind-numbing roar and whipping my hair across my face. I dropped my foot and glanced back longingly into the room behind me. My eyes fell on the warmth of the fire and the softness of the couch.

Breathing deeply, I faced the path with a racing heart and sweaty palms.

I lifted my foot… and the door swung shut.