Writing Challenge for Speculative Faith!

This was incredibly fun!  I don't usually do writing challenges (probably some perverse fear that I'll need prayer and therapy for in the future!) but I couldn't resist this one.

I came across it on www.speculativefaith.com, a website dedicated specifically to Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy.  They gave the first sentence and you had 100 - 200 words to come up with a short story.  There were some really intriguing submissions!  Below is mine. Enjoy!

No matter how Amos tilted his head or scrunched his eyes, he couldn’t see past the growing shadow that obscured the distant mountains and the road that led to them.

“You’re going to ride into that?”

“Directly.”  Valentin leaned forward in his saddle, almost reaching for the gloom.

“Are you mad,” Amos asked.

“A little, yes.  But that’s beside the point.”  Amos shook his head.

“Why in the name of Ori are we doing this?”

“I’m the Beacon, Amos.  Stepping into the scary dark place is my job.  No one needs a torch in the daylight.  Although…,” he paused.  “I can’t for the life of me figure out why you’re going in there.”  His eyes twinkled and the corners of his mouth quirked.

“Right. Like I’m going to let you come back with all the heroic tales. No sir, not after the last time!”

“Is it my fault that you hid in a tree the whole time?”

“There were snakes! EVERYWHERE!”

“Well come on then!”  Valentin spurred his horse forward.  “Do try to keep up,” he called over his shoulder.

“Sometimes I really hate you,” Amos yelled and urged his horse to catch up to Valentin.  So this was his life now, riding with the Beacon into darkness again and again.  Still, it could be worse. There could be darkness AND snakes.  “Please, Ori. Let it just be darkness this time?”