Short story fiction

Writer’s Prompt: Trapped in the Vents: A Heart-Pounding Flash Fiction Cliffhanger

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Trapped above his killers with only a phone and a prayer, Seth’s survival hinges on a single, silent second.

The Silence in the Vents

Seth Bonner watched the spider crawl over his hand. He knew if he made a sound he’d have as much chance of surviving as a lobster tossed into a pot of boiling water. He lifted his head and peered out through the slats in the air vent grate.

Below, Larry Markus stood in the dim corridor, his breath fogging in the chill air. “Chin, listen up, Bonner’s got all the stuff that will put us in prison for life. We got to find him and feed him to the fishes.”

Chin Corbo adjusted the heavy weapon resting in the crook of his arm. “Relax, he’s got to be in the building. We got all the doors covered.”

Seth pulled out his iPhone. The screen glowed dimly against his face, a beacon of light in the dusty darkness. Did he dare call his buddy, Captain of Detectives, Ella Swan? A single ring could signal his exact location, sending a barrage of bullets through the thin aluminum duct. But staying silent meant waiting for them to check the HVAC unit—a matter of minutes, at best.

His thumb hovered over Ella’s contact name. Down in the hallway, boot heels clicked against concrete, stopping directly beneath the vent. The metallic screech of a rusted ladder being dragged into position echoed right below Seth’s chest. Chin was climbing up.

Seth’s pulse thundered in his ears. He tapped the screen.

The screen flashed: Connecting…

At that exact second, the vent cover squeaked, and a heavy flashlight beam pierced the darkness, blinding Seth completely.

How does Seth’s story end? Does Captain Swan answer in time, or does Chin spot him before the call connects? Write the next paragraph to finish the tale!

Writer’s Prompt: The Perfect Widow: A Tense Flash Fiction Story of Corporate Revenge

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She was the perfect wife until a corrupt CEO destroyed her husband. Now, she’s planning the perfect murder.

The Perfect Widow

Mary Sullivan was a master of symmetry. She always had been—the perfect daughter who never missed curfew, the perfect student with immaculate margins, the perfect wife who kept the chaos of the world at bay.

Then came the black hole.

When her husband, Matt, blew the whistle on the company’s toxic dumping, he thought truth was a shield. But Ron DeSantos, a CEO who wore malice like a tailored suit, didn’t just fire Matt; he engineered a labyrinth of false data, framing him as a corporate thief. He blackballed Matt until every door in the industry slammed shut. Driven into a corner of absolute darkness, Matt broke. The rope left a bruise on the ceiling, but DeSantos left the scar on Mary’s soul.

Now, the mourning period was officially over. Mary sat in the dim light of her kitchen, her movements fluid and precise. On the polished granite counter sat a small vial of clear, odorless ricin—extracted with the same meticulous care she once used for her organic chemistry labs. Beside it lay an authentic, stolen badge granting after-hours access to the executive suites at DeSantos Holdings.

Tonight was the annual gala. DeSantos would drink his top-shelf scotch, isolated in his private balcony office away from the crowd.

Mary slipped into her flawless black evening gown. She zipped it up, her hands entirely steady. The vial went into her clutch. She knew the security blind spots; she knew his routine. She had calculated the risk down to the second.

She pulled up to the glittering high-rise, stepping out into the cool night air. Her heart rate didn’t even elevate. She was the perfect ghost, executing a perfect plan.

As she entered the elevator, she pressed the button for the penthouse. The doors began to slide shut, reflecting her calm, unwavering eyes.

How does Mary’s meticulous plan unfold when she reaches the penthouse? Does she execute her perfect revenge, or does DeSantos anticipate her arrival? Finish the story.

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