magisternihil's 100-word story for May 4, 2026

magisternihil wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on May 4, 2026. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

For the forty-second night in a row Wally sat in the middle of the field behind the Wilburson’s barn and studied the readings. The array he constructed from materials gathered from neighboring farms was crude, but it functioned well enough so long as he was free from interference. This would do. He stared up into the vast canopy, trying with all of his accumulated knowledge to pinpoint exactly where he should focus his attention. The futility of it was almost unbearable, but he still persevered. If that long-fingered muppet can call home from here, he should be able to, too.

Want to write flash fiction like this? Join the daily challenge at Hectalex.com and discover how powerful 100 words can be.