When we returned to New Phoenix, Alice lead me to a strange statue of iron and concrete. “Looks like the devil’s playing chess.”
Alice grimaced. “This was made by Frank.”
“Frank?” I stared at the statue. “Who was he?”
“The first mastermind.”
A strange man in a trench coat, carrying an umbrella approached the statue. He stared at it, his hands on his hips, and declared, “I’m not afraid of you.”
I read the plaque on the statue’s base. “When Fear Wins.”
“Frank made this to honor Jessica.” Alice took my hand, “Do you know who Jessica was?”
I shook my head.
“The first to speak with the animals.” She pushed me before the statue. “She always asked one question.”
I stared at the chessboard, and the devil. Alice continued. “All her descendants know it.”
“What are you afraid of?” I grasped Alice’s hand. “What are you afraid of?”
149 Words
@LurchMunster
This is part 28 in the continuing story I’m working on for Angela Goff’s Visual Dare. Please read the other entries in this week’s Visual Dare challenge.
The entire story, from part 28 to part 1, is located here.
My Soul's Tears 
“What are you afraid of?” —- ah, the most horrible open-ended question of them all! So glad to see you continuing Taran and Alice’s story. What do you plan to do with it when you finish?
Time will tell. 🙂