flash fiction

Trained to do It

I sat in the corner chair.  The beer opened with a hiss and cool vapours rose up into the hot air.  Droplets of condensation ran down the bottle as the two temperature’s mixed.  Taking a long sip from the bottle I let the bittersweet liquid fill my mouth before I swallowed.  Putting the bottle down on a coaster I looked down at the set of four feet sticking out from the floor at the foot of the bed.  One set belong a very cute woman.  She was in her mid-thirties; the other set belong to a man in his late forties. 

There was the tiniest spot of blood on the woman’s ankle, the man’s left foot was covered in it.  I didn’t know their names, didn’t care to know them.  I didn’t even know what they had done.  I simply got a phone call followed by a job offer and a dollar sign.  Then it was up to me to decide if I wanted to take it or not.  The pay day was too good to pass up and I was already in town by chance.  What town you ask?  That I can’t exactly say, or you’d report me and then I’d be running from the authorities.  That is something I had never had to face yet and didn’t want to.  I took another sip from the bottle and as I stared at the four feet I couldn’t help but wonder what they were trained to do.

Every day I passed people on the street that had normal jobs.  I ordered my chai tea latte from the same barista you might.  You know the petite dark-haired girl, probably in her early twenties.  Always smiles, even behind the mask I’m sure she was still given that cute heart melting smile.  I wondered how many men came back here every day at the same time just hoping to see her.  She was trained how to use the machine to steam the milk, how to make the drinks, probably had to study the steps to making everything on the menu.

Doubt that her trainer showed her how to stalk a target.  To not rush into it.  Assassination was a fine art, like painting or writing.  It took years to get good at it and if the man or woman that helped you learn was a competent killer you could rest easy knowing the skills you’d learn would keep you alive and out from behind bars.  A bad trainer would end your career before it started.  In the business we don’t call them trainers or mentors, nothing like that.  We have our own names for these people, which I cannot share, being an assassin is also like being part of a secret society.  Think of it as being a Freemason, you can know a little, but you never really know anything for sure.

I’m sure if we had monthly meetings it would be rather interesting and bloody.  Probably a few fights here and there and not to mention the egos that would be in the room.  Hell, there probably wouldn’t be any room to sit with all those egos.  We assassins are a proud bunch.

I finished the beer; didn’t worry about the DNA that I would leave on it.  I didn’t exist in any database anywhere, so I wasn’t worried.  I’d be a ghost that the authorities would be looking for and never find.

Standing over the bodies I looked down at them.  Another story of two people that I ended.  I wondered that if I had been adopted by a nice family maybe I’d be the barista working beside the dark-haired cutie.

The End.

Outside the Window

Hello 2019, yeah I know I’m late to the party. I have laid out 52 prompts for this year and plan to create regular content for you all to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the first short story of 2019, next week I’ll be working on the short story titled, The Unrequited love poem

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Outside the Window

               I looked outside the window, the palms of my hands flat against the glass.  The dead of space put an oddly beautiful twist to the horrifying vision of war, there were no sounds, no screams, just a view of twisted pieces of metal twirling and the rare spark of light.  The escape pod I floated slowly away in was part of a much larger ship.  One that had thousands of people call it home and now there was just me.  I thought about the friends I had lost, the pain they felt as they had died.  Either being sucked out into the vacuum of space or feeling the heat of the explosion as it took them. 

                “Guidance system failure.”  The voice was loud and unexpected, it caused me to jump.  “Guidance system failure.”  Turning away from the view of the dead and dying I looked for a control panel.  “Guidance system failure.” 

               “I get it okay, guidance system is failing, where is the control panel for guidance systems?”  The escape pod was not very big, it was white, a brilliant white, like when you walk in to a hospital and it almost feels like you are surrounded by the light of heaven.  It was kind of like that. 

               “Cannot comply…guidance failure now imminent.”

               “Computer, show me where guidance systems are located?”  Asking again as I turned in a tight circle not understanding how this panel could be hidden from me.  If I raised my arms to the side I could touch the wall on each side of this egg shaped pod.

               “Require security password to unluck guidance system panel.”

               I fell back into the small chair.  “Computer my name is Chris Jensen, ID 45-6-4-MM, security level Delta Beta.”

               “Security clearance denied.  You do not have proper clearance to access guidance systems.”

                “Computer, the ship UPF Vengeance was destroyed, you were part of that ship.  From what I know I am the only survivor.  How can I access guidance systems in emergency circumstances?”

               “Computer error, please run diagnostic.”

               “Computer, how do I run diagnostic?”

               “System degrading, 70% operational, ETA until full system shut down five minutes.”

               I was starting to get frustrated with the computer, it was not answering any of my questions and I had no way to access the guidance system but didn’t appear I’d need to worry about the guidance system much longer.  “Computer what can I access with my security level?”

               “Unknown code in kernel, system down to 50% operational.  Shutting down life support to protect internal system power.”

               “No keep life support on you idiot!  Why would you shut that down at 50%?  Shut down giros or interior lighting.”

               “Life….suuuu…pppport shu…ttt…ing …d….ooown”

               Great now the computer was stammering  “Fuck…computer can you show me our trajectory?”  Slowly the hologram of the system popped in to view.  It was out of focus and stuttered like some child was shacking the optical signal.  “Where are we heading?”

               “We…we…we….we…are heading to…to…to…binary st….st…star  Al..Al…Alpha One Zero.”

               Holy fuck. “Are we on collision path with a star?”

               “Yes…yes we are.”

               “What will the cabin temperature reach?”

               “Error…error…information corrupt.  Fatal error.”

               I ran my hands through my hair that was already beading with sweat.  “Fatal…no shit.”  Slumping in to the chair I sat with my hands holding my face.

               “Warning….Warning…Temperature rising on hull.”

               Not what I wanted to hear.  “What is the temperature on the hull?”

               “Temperature…is reading…fatal error…fatal error.”

               “Do you know anything!”  I yelled out

               “Computer running at 10% efficiency.”

               Great, a few more seconds and I’d have no computer, no information, and no control.

               “Firing giro rockets, prepare for burst.”

               “Wait….what?”  I felt artificial gravity give way and before I could secure the seat belts the rockets fired and I was sent flying.  Hitting the top of the pod rather hard with my head.  I felt a wound open up on my forehead and hot blood poured over my face. 

               “You require first add, vitals suggest slight concussion, please rest…please rest…please rest…please rest.”

               “Would you shut up!”  I put a hand to my forehead and felt the sting of the salt as I tried to apply pressure to the bleeding.  I looked out the window and the view had changed, I was now facing the star.  “Computer are we still heading towards the star?”

               “Yes…access….access guidance system immediately.”

               “Computer how would…”  Before I could finished the computer responded.

               “Error…system error…shutting down.”

               “Would be nice if I had gravity!”  I yelled out but there was nothing I could do.  “I guess now I just wait…and why the fuck am I still talking out loud?”

               I couldn’t take my eyes off the star as it grew in size.  Sweat started to drip from me and as minutes passed the heat grew and grew until it felt like I was sitting in a very uncomfortable sauna.  This was going to be a slow death, being cooked alive inside an escape pod.  I knew when I join the military that I would probably die in space.  It was either the military or jail time on an off planet detention center. I picked the military and now I was wishing I had taken up hard time instead.

               It didn’t take long until I found it hard to breath.  I hoped that the shutting down of life support system would end up knocking me out so I don’t find out what it’s like being a hard boiled egg.  My vision started to black out.  A few seconds would pass where I felt like I would pass out and lost all vision and then it would come sliding back in a kaleidoscope of color.  This happen a few times until I took my last breath, saw the star for the last time and blacked out.

               I woke to a white room  “I’m dead right?”  I heard laughter.

               “You are not dead.”

               I turned my head to the side.  “Where am I?”

               “You got lucky son, we warped late, battle was over.  We ran a sector scan looking for survivors and found you.  Seconds away from burning up in the star.”

               “Thank you.”  I said.

               “Sure, but you need to rest, you did suffer some trauma.  The your left arm was pressed against the side of the pod and it was suffered 3rd degree burns.  We had to amputate it.”

               I took a deep breath. 

               “But you have been supplied with a state of the self healing self repairing Nano-limb.  This beauty will still be repairing it’s self even when you are in the grave.”

               “Wow, that makes me feel so much better.   Where are we?”

               “We are in the Holvic System and safe from the Mongers.”

               I laid back with a sigh of relief, looking to my left hand that looked like a streamlined machine of gleaming metal, but damn did it look sexy.  “What now?”

               “We report back, you rest, then we fight back.”

The End

Unexpected Entry

Throughout the years that I have been writing.  I have always enjoyed doing prompt writing.  No time to write outlines or think of a plot or characters, you just get a word or a phrase and off you go.  All the stories I share on my blog are stories that have been inspired by a prompt.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

Unexpected Entry – By F.C. Janes

I stood crouched on the wall, looking down into the restricted area.  This place was for Kings, Queens, Lords, and Ladies.  A man like me would be killed on site if I was caught here.  Knights Templars walked in pairs, there were two right below me talking about a holy treasure and the meeting that was to take place between the Pope and Cardinals.

I had grown up listening to stories about powerful weapons that were infused with the power of God.  My religious nut of a father like putting the fear of god in his two children.  That usually meant beatings me and my poor sister being molested by our father.  I survived, she didn’t.

All the stories my asshole of a father told ended with a great man wielding one of these artifacts and having the power of God in his hands.  I preferred the power of money.  The tavern owner who I used to fence my goods told me that he had a buyer for this so call treasure.  He promised me that if I could get my hands on it he could pay me a sum that would allow me to take a nice long vacation.  How could I say no to that?

I let the guards below me pass and when it was safe enough I leapt down from the wall, landing as quietly as I could.  Keeping to the shadows, my black cloak keeping me hidden I trailed the guards until I found my opening to break free from the depths of the shadows.  I had entered the yard from the West.  It was a stupid move.  The building had been made by Freemasons and I should have known that the entry way would be on the East side of the building.  Patiently I followed the guards around until I saw the entrance, which held another surprise.  Two templars stood outside it.  I was not going to get in that way.  I kept following the guards until we turned down the North side.

Spotting where I would make my climb I left the comfort of the shadows and sprinted across the finely cut lawns.  Sliding on my climbing tools that would assist with getting a grip on stone I leapt up and grabbed a hold of the stone windowsill.  The metal claws I slipped on bit in to the stone and allowed me to pull myself up.  At the top of the windowsill there was a ledge about two inches out form the wall just large enough for my foot to take hold and offer some support as I reached for the next window.

It was difficult but I managed to climb window to window only scratching the stone work slightly.  The building was so beautiful I thought I should apologize to someone for leaving scratches on what was probably hours upon hours of work.  Maybe after I stole this treasure I’d show up unannounced at one of the Freemasons secret meetings and see what treasures they had.

Pulling myself up over the lip of the roof I put my climbing tools away.  At the far corner there was a hatch and I walked towards it.  That is when I started falling, the roof of the building had fallen out from under me.  I was now a slave to the fall.

I should have been more careful.  The fucking Templars and their traps.  They were notorious for elaborate traps and flood tunnels protecting their treasures.  I only had myself to blame for being this careless.

I landed hard on my ass, I wasn’t sure how many flights I had fallen but I was okay and nothing was broken.  After doing the body check that consisted of wiggling my toes, grabbing my dick as it is the most important part and I wanted to make sure it was still there, and checking the rest of me I realized the room I was in was lit up and around me sat four Templar Knights.  I bet you anything that this entry was very unexpected and it appeared I had interrupted dinner.  I jumped to my feet brushed myself off and waved.  “Hi ah, anyone know where the exit is?  I seem to be lost.”  They had meat laid out on the table with bread, butter, and wine.  Damn it looked good.  “Can I get something to go?”

There was an awkward silence before shit hit the fan.  Chairs went flying as they stood up and they reached for their swords.  That was my que to leave.  Daggers were thrown at me and imbedded in the wooden wall not far form my face.  I looked over my shoulder at the man who had thrown it, smiled, pulled the dagger out of the wall and threw it back.  That is when I noticed the door behind them and it was the only door in the room that I could see, I had to get behind them.

With my small sword in hand I did my best not to hit or injure any of them, using my sword to block and my fist to push and punch I slowly made my way around the room.  The last thing I needed was the murder of a Knights Templar on my hands.  If that happened I’d have to find a way to become a woman and even then I may not be safe.  “We can settle this all friendly like and I can just walk out the door, no need for violence.”  No one seemed to be taking me up on that offer.

I continued to move in a circle and did my best to  kick chairs over, flip tables over, and break everything that I could to try to slow them down.  I did manage to make my way to the door, two daggers embedded into it at head level.  I stopped waved and opened the door to find myself standing face to face with a Templar Knight.  “Kiss me?”  That confused him long enough that I was able to use my shoulder as a battering ram and slammed in to the Templar.  The force I hit him with knocked him down, tripping over the knight behind him which triggered a dominoes effect.  One by one they all fell over.  Dodging blades and leaping over bodies I managed to find the staircase.  I looked down then looked up.  Footsteps echoed from below me, which left me with one choice.  So up I went.

Moving my eyes side to side to make sure I was alone I pushed the hatch open and pulled myself out.  A hand reached out and grabbed my ankle.  Grabbing the top of the hatch I slammed it down on to the templars head, his hand let go and all I heard was the sound of a man tumbling down the latter and bumping in to all his friends.

Standing on the hatch for the time being seemed to be the safest place as I wasn’t sure where I had fallen through the roof and it was bloody dark out.  I decided the only safe bet was to walk on the lip of the stone wall and stay off the roof.  I stepped off the hatch which burst open and Templars started to crawl out.  I dropped down to the stone ledge that surrounded the windows but without my climbing tools it made for a quick descent.  I did my best to look graceful but it was more like a four story tumble than anything elegant.

My feet hit the lawn followed by my ass, I then hit the road and ran to the wall.  Sometimes I wish thieving involved open doors and running down hill.  I looked quickly over my shoulder at the templars chasing me, they were yelling for me to stop, to give up, to halt.  All I heard was faster, run faster, must ran faster!  Reaching the wall I climbed it so quickly I almost tricked myself in to thinking I jumped over it.  Once down the other side I quickly disappeared in to the shadows of the town and left the prize to his hidden location and the templars scratching their heads and their balls.

Later that night I sat in the Rusty Rooster and sipped on a pint of ale that was nearing its expiration.  I had a mouthful of salted pork when the door opened and two Templars walked in.  I spit my food out nearly choking.  One of them looked at me with a suspicious look on his face.

“We found one of these.”

Templar handed the tavern owner one of my climbing claws, when did I lose that I wondered.

“A thief’s tool, we know this is a fence for stolen goods, just tell us who this belongs to and we wont burn your tavern to the ground.”

Standing up I promptly left through the back door and decided to head home where there would be no traps and no Templar, thinking to myself that maybe I need that vacation.

The End

The Color Yellow

The world had literally fallen apart, not from nuclear war or the crash of any stock market. No, it had come from space and now it was going to end everything we knew and took for granted. For years now media outlets had carried programs with scientists specializing in the how and when the impact would occur and what we could expect. You could say the lucky ones would be mere miles from the impact of the asteroid. They would be vaporized immediately, their brain wouldn’t have time to comprehend what had happened and in seconds they would be…gone.
New reports showed huge masses of people making a pilgrimage to the projected impact site. Religious groups called it Armageddon, God cleansing the world of weeds. People had stopped going to work, there was no point in it. Who wanted to spend their last few days sitting in a empty office? I’m sure a few did, finding comfort in routine.

I spent most of my life avoiding people. Staying in doors playing video games and so I figure why not go out that way. But it was getting harder and harder to connect to the networks as the asteroid got closer and closer.

It was the day of the impact and nothing worked. I could have spent it with family but they never cared much about me.
Looking out my apartment window I could see people gathering in the streets. All with their heads looking up. I followed their stare and sure enough you could see this object moving through the blue sky. Some people hoped that it would break up as it entered Earth’s atmosphere. However that theory was proven wrong as we all stared at the asteroid.
There was no way to prevent this from happening. With all the technology in the would and all the great minds working on this single problem the time to act had come and gone, and now the time to watch and die was upon us.

The asteroid moved across the sky heading towards the horizon soon it would be out of sight and all that would be left to do was sit and wait. It disappeared over the horizon and was quickly followed by a bright yellow flash. It was happening for real, this was no movie, no video game, no hero to save us all. We were witnessing the end.

I closed the book and laid it on my chest, looking out the window. I looked up to the blue sky and wondered what life would be like here should the world end by asteroid? Lifting the book up I continued to read the last few pages enjoying end the story.

The End