Prompt Tuesday #35

Every Tuesday I post a writing prompt and my response. It gives me a chance to exercise my writing muscles outside of my WIP, and hopefully inspire you to write. So enjoy my flash fiction piece and post your own in the comments!

p.s. I just noticed that Saturday and Monday's posts did not go out. I published Saturdays and will save Monday's for another time.

Prompt

Source: Creative-Writing-Solutions.com

A stepparent has placed his/her ancient family portrait in the characters house. Describe the portrait.

Response

Alice gazed up at the giant portrait spanning a third of the hall. The people in the portrait were nearly life size and their staring eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

I tall, gray haired man with a haunted look in his eye, stood in the center of the painting. His sharp chilled features and stern stance made Alice step back a pace. His left hand was wrapped around a cane and it looked as if at any moment he would raise it an strike her. His right hand gripped the should of the young woman seated in front of him.

The woman had long black hair. Her soft features were made harsh with lines of worry. She smiled but her eyes were sad. In her arms she held a small boy in her lap. The child's arms were out stretched as if to snatch at Alice. She took another step back.

Standing next to the woman was a little girl, the spitting image of her father in every detail, save for the dark hair and green eyes. Alice studied the girl. There was on odd smile on her lips that spoke of mischief. A defiant sparkle in her eye.

"Alice!" her stepmothers sharp voice cut through the silence.

Alice started and turned to face the woman. She could see the little girl in the frightening woman standing before her. But she could also see the stern man. For one moment Alice thought maybe she understood her step mother.

Then the cane which her stepmother held descended and all thoughts of understanding fled and were replaced by pain.