A father-son fishing trip drifts into dark waters when the skipper’s secret call reveals a sinister “cargo.”
First Line
The salty breeze carried laughter until a single overheard word—“cargo”—changed everything.
Flash Fiction Prompt
The sun shimmered across the Gulf of Mexico, painting the waves gold as a father and son cast their lines with childlike anticipation. It was supposed to be a perfect afternoon—fish on the hook, memories in the making. But then, as the boy leaned against the rail, he caught the skipper’s voice drifting from a cell phone call.
“We’ll drop the cargo overboard before dusk,” the skipper said, his eyes scanning the horizon.
The boy froze, his small fingers tightening on the rod. Cargo? He looked at his father, who smiled, oblivious, untangling a fishing line. Was he the cargo? Was Dad? Or was this boat carrying something darker—drugs, weapons, something that could drag them all into danger? The boy’s heart raced as he weighed the choice: tell his dad, or keep silent and pretend nothing happened.
The line on his reel suddenly jerked. Fish—or fate?
3 Questions for Readers
- How would you escalate the suspense once the boy overhears the skipper’s call?
- Should the “cargo” be the father and son—or something illegal that endangers them anyway?
- How would you end the story: escape, rescue, or a chilling twist?