Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

You have until June 15 to post a story, and from June 16-22 we’ll vote for which one we thought was best!

Please post directly into the topic and not a link. Please don’t use a story previously used in this group. Only one submission per person is allowed.

Your story should be between 300 and 3,500 words long.

REMEMBER! A short story is not merely a scene. It must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

This week’s topic is: Final Seconds.

The rules are pretty loose. You could write a story about anything that has to do with the subject/photo but it must relate to the topic somehow.

Most of all have fun!

Thank you to C. J. for suggesting the topic!

AUTHOR: James Meadows
TITLE: The Countdown
GENRE: Contemporary
RATING: G
Word Count: 1082

"10"

I stared at the board in front of me, with its multicolored lights and small display, slowly ticking away the final seconds until all was lost. My mouth had gone dry and I could feel sweat building on my brow. In the distance, I heard the quiet muttering of the crowd, watching me in nervous anticipation. No one was leaving. No one was panicking - no one but me. I wanted to panic. I wanted to run. The pressure was too much. But I knew, there was nowhere to run, nowhere to go. This was my challenge. If I failed…I couldn’t think about that right now.

"9"

Another second gone. I had to concentrate. I needed to focus. I needed to act! Of all the times for my brain to fail me, how could my brain freeze now, at this crucial moment. I had dreamed about this moment ever since I was a child. I had spent hundreds of hours practicing and training for just this day. Just getting to this point required passing numerous trails, tests, and obstacles meant to weed out the unfit. I had passed them all. I wasn’t flawless but I had consistently excelled above my competition and earned a status most would never achieve. How could I let myself fail now?

"8"

Time was ticking. The weight of the moment pressed down upon me. Even with hundreds of eyes watching me, I felt completely alone. I didn’t start out this way. Originally there were three of us, three experts specifically chosen for this mission. We were chosen for our skill, for our cleverness, and for our elite decision-making. Our directors believed we could overcome any challenge, riddle, or obstacle our adversaries threw at us. In some ways we did. We overcame every person, place, and thing our opponents devised to stop us. Yet, by the end, I was the only one left. I was alone with no one to guide me or assist me. I faced the penultimate task with no help, no friends, and little chance of victory.

"7"

I wracked my brain, trying to come up with some solution - some distant lesson, saying, or phrase that might hold the secret to surviving this final diabolical trial. Unfortunately, the more I struggled to think, the emptier my thoughts became. Again, my mind drifted to my former companions. What would they say if they were here? Would they know the solution? Would they know what to do, what to say, or what to think? I shook off the thought. My former companions could no longer help me. This was my battle, now. The fate of the mission was mine alone. Victory and defeat rested purely on whatever decisions and actions I took next. That was presuming I could somehow snap out of my current stupor long enough to actually take any action.

"6"

I opened my mouth, trying to force myself to act, to speak, to do something. But no words came out and the only action that I could manage was to nervously wet my lips with my tongue before reclosing my mouth. I tried again, raising my hands and flexing my fingers in an effort to get my blood flowing. Yet the only thing my hands managed to achieve was a swift trip to my head where they plunged through my hair in frustration, as I continued staring at the display in mental paralysis.

"5"

The murmuring of the crowd grew louder in my ears. Just like me, they had nowhere to go. They could try to leave but, with so little time remaining, they weren’t likely to get far. None of them could help me, either. I was the only person who could get out of this mess. And if I couldn’t, it would be ‘game over’ for all of us. If I failed, there would be no second chances. If I made the wrong move, there would be no consolation prize. Everything hinged on these next five seconds. And they were disappearing fast.

"4"

The murmuring increased. The people were growing restless. I knew they had to be wondering what I was doing. Why was I just standing there? Why wasn’t I doing anything? Why wasn’t I saying anything? One of the spectators was so close he was almost touching me, but at least he was being quiet. The rest of the crowd was the problem. I knew they didn’t mean to be distracting. They were just anxious. So was I. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any answer for them.

"3"

Only a few seconds left. If I was going to act, I needed to do it now. I looked at the display again. This time, something seemed to click. There was something I hadn’t noticed before - something familiar. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but I focused on that thought. What was my mind seeing? Where had I seen it before? Suddenly, I knew.

"2"

With only moments left, my brain kicked into gear. My eyes began scanning the board taking in all of the information in a flurry of random thoughts and inspirations so swift I could barely follow them. Everything was coming together. My eyes darted to the clock. It was now or never.

"1"

One second left. My breath caught in my throat. What if I was wrong? My hands trembled. My nerves shattered. I had to do something!

"Run for your lives!" I screamed in desperation.

Sirens burst out around me. Flashing lights filled the board. Shout and cries went up from the crowd.

The next second, triumphant music blasted from the speakers. The man beside me shouted, “You got it!” And letters began filling the display, revealing the words, “Run for Your Lives”. A woman beside the board was clapping. The two former contestants, who started the game with me, sprang from their seats in applause. Balloons and confetti started falling. I couldn’t believe it. I had done it! I had won!

“That is impressive,” the man beside me announced. “I thought you were in trouble when you didn’t get many letters showing, but I guess you didn’t need them. Let’s see what you won."

With those words, Pat Sajak flipped open the Wheel of Fortune prize card in his hand. Staring down at it, he gave a big smile.

“Oh, I think you’ll like this,” he said. With those words, he flipped the card over and revealed my prize.

Hi guys. I see my buddy CJ posting in this group all the time so I got interested to and stopped by. This is my first time writing in this group so hopefully I didn't mess anything up but I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you like it.

Word Count 343, Final Seconds

The change. I can feel it in the air. The silence of the night, the rising of the moon, the change creeping under my skin like the slow crawl of a maggot in my flesh. The night calls to me like a gentle breeze in a humid room.

Inside holds only my heart, my mind has already wondered through the window. My wife and child lay still, peaceful, unaware of the looming presence of death standing over them. The sound of their pulse drums softly inside my ear while the smell of their breath beckons drool to overflow in my mouth.

Fighting the urge I can feel the bite festering on the back of my arm, angrily it commands me now to strip and run outside, but I cannot give in. My body randomly twitches, try to convulse at my authority. It fights me while I reach for my shotgun.

I know in my mind that there is no time to run far enough away. There is also no time to wake them, to prepare them for what is happening. I swallow again but there is so much saliva. The smell of my daughters fat is mouthwatering.

Hot tears stream down my face as I watch, waiting too long, looking over at my loved ones. Why did this happen? Where was my faith when I was out there protecting them? Who will protect them now? Why did I wait so long? Why am I still waiting?

Then I feel it like a jolt in the stomach. Out the window the Moon is full and bright, my eyes begin to dialate, my teeth shift in pain, oh the pain. I almost drop the shotgun. My family is no longer visible through the blur of tears welling in my eyes. With a deep breath my chest rests against the barrel of the weapon.

The Moon calls but I am scared. Fear prevents me from pulling the trigger but my heart aches at the thought of eating my own child. The moon orders me to obey.

Andres wrote: "Hi guys. I see my buddy CJ posting in this group all the time so I got interested to and stopped by. This is my first time writing in this group so hopefully I didn't mess anything up but I look fo..."

Hello Andrew, thanks for posting and sharing your story. I hope we will get many more posts and stories from you in the future. The story is very interesting. You create nice suspense at the end as the reader is left wondering what is going to happen. Certainly, it is not as easy to commit suicide as one thinks (even to save one's family).

Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for your kind words.

Andres how are you??

I had a lot of ideas but they never got past the idea stage. But still I will try, let's see....

Hi CJ. I've been doing great, writing and writing.

Yeah, todays the deadline, throw something on here.

Title: Life Shift
Author: C. J.
Word Count: 1,115
Rated: Possibly PG-13 has some thematic elements

Story:

Joe grunted as he tossed and turned in the cloaked darkness. He hated the harsh peering of the red digital alarm clock next to his bed.


Knowing any moment he had to get up he hopped up in his boxers and turned the device on his nightstand to see the numbers.


7:03.


It would be about an hour when he would get up. He should go back to bed but a constant feeling surged in his body that made him go downstairs.


It was the need to smoke. 


He charged downstairs and cursed to himself. There was only one left.


There has to be more. Please!


He ran back up to his room. He opened the blinds letting the brand-new light of the day into his room.


"Come on. I used Dave's tactic. 'Keep them downstairs.' Don't get it that they're gone still. What, did I sleepwalk and eat 'em…?"


He then took a frustrated shower, shaved, dressed and then called his buddy.


"'David, it's your mother.' Haha I know that joke sucks. Do you want to walk to my work with me? I don't have enough for the bus."


---


His friend Dave stood in front of the house as he heard a loud noise. Joe shouting at himself.


He adjusted his carry bag around by its strap as Joe loudly opened the door.


Joe jumped down. "Hey Dave. You sure are dresed down today."


"I decided not to go to the gym today. Though I do regret walking all the way here in this."


Joe noticed his friend's green khakis and dress jacket. He was either going for a job interview or hiking with Elon Musk, Joe joked to himself.


"What's with the getup?"


"Oh I have a new person I hope will help me get my idea off the ground. Let's hope he can really make this venture take off!"


 "Uh huh." 


"You remember what my idea was? Do you even know?"


"Sorry I was distracted."


"Why?"


Joe sighed. "You know why."


"I am concerned about you. You really should quit smoking. It's bad for you."


"So what if it's bad for me? I die and that's that: I'm only hurting myself…"


There was a brief pause as they walked.


"Actually it's fairly common for non-smokers to get lung cancer." 


Joe gave a sudden look to his friend disbelievingly. He shrugged as he defended his thought. 


"I guess it's because they are around so many others that do smoke even if they themselves don't."


"True. I hate other smokers. They only want one thing. Speaking o' that, can you get me a pack of smokes? If only you had some I would've paid you for one…"


"This stuff is bad. Are you going to smoke till the last seconds of your life?"


"Yeah sure. They will be smoky times but also nice and smoot."


"Hey be serious!"


As they trotted to Joe's work they got into talking of other things. He felt his friend wasn't quitting getting off his back about his habit so it was a relief they got off that subject. Soon they walked up to a train track crossing.


Joe wanted to cross as the lights turned on but Dave held him back.


As the loud heavy machine passed him Dave quipped, "Well.. aren't you glad I stopped you?"


He shook his shoulders and craned his neck. "Eeh… whatever."


Soon from a short distance the last car of the train disappeared from their sight and the store came into view.


It was still about twenty feet away but they recognized the strip mall. It was mainly a grocery store, the one Joe shopped at.


But something made both of them stop in their tracks.


Sitting in front was not the usual food truck or fire truck from a fighter on break looking for lunch. Joe would have even expected a customer rudely parking there to be a circumstantial nuisance.


It was an ambulance. 


Maybe someone slipped and got hurt, Joe wondered. 


As he walked in minutes before his shift he joked at the front desk.


"Did a customer fall cuz they wanted to sue and get an expensive car?"


When he looked later at his coworker his smile faded. He barely recognized his coworker Sadie because her countenance had a grave look sprawled across it. He hadn't noticed at first and continued.


"I was just j-- oh. Oh gosh. Everything alright?"


"It's Velma. She… she was standing there and… she just, just fell over. The paramedics say she passed away."


"No way. Velma is healthier than me! I mean I have a gut and smoke like a chimney but---"


"I was here. She was taken away already. They have her outside because I guess the managers didn't want to upset the customers."


"Wha---? Do they know what happened?"


"No."


"But she was doing fine and dandy yesterday!"


"Yes. True."


"Just what in the h-"


He stopped himself because his voice cracked and his eyes started to get glassy.


"I can only imagine how you are feeling. This has been a shock to all of us."


He almost jumped because Dave, who was still standing next to him, spoke up.


"I think she is still lying in the ambulance."


"I figured that! She was here, one of the first people I ever worked with. She was here twenty years. She was about to retire. I don't get it!"


Dave spoke sensitively. 


"We can never know how much time we have left on this earth. All we can do I think is we need to use that time wisely."


Joe ran over to one of the managers hiding his tears.


He barely remembered how the day went. Customers came and went, his friend went off to do what he needed. Then he was about to leave.


He was a foot away from the door.


"See ya tomorrow Joe."


He kept standing there.


How do I know if I will even be here and alive tomorrow?


He went back in and chatted with his coworkers. Suddenly they became more to him than before.


It was two hours past him clocking out that he finally left.


A guy near him said "Hey maybe we can all hang out at that bar down the street sometime."


"I don't drink."


"They got smokes!"


"Eh, I might cut down from that now."


"Oh. Or we could all go to that restaurant. The one we keep hearing about on the main road. We don't have to sit in the smoking section."


"Yeah, good idea."


Right before he crossed the parking lot a woman in a dress walked up and handed him a pamphlet.


It showed a cross and said, "Will You Be Ready for the Final Seconds of Your Life?" He glanced at it by the trash can and pondered. Then he pocketed it and headed home.

Why is it when making posts here on mobile it sometimes pops up twice?

You're story is very realistic. Are you saying you used to smoke?

Hi Andres. I will probably post about the true stuff in this but in a different thread. No I have never been addicted to smoke but I have been around it a lot which kind of scares me.