Picture 2
Lizzie Koch’s Picture Choice: 2
Title: Evening the Score
Strained and tired eyes squinted through the darkness. Doug hadn’t passed another car for a while now on his long journey south. He hadn’t stopped for a while either but nature demanded he do so. Pulling off the main road, Doug parked in a remote spot and turned off the engine. A heavy silence fell before his ears adjusted to the sounds of the night. He inhaled the cool desert air, enjoying the cricket chorus, the unspoiled starry night and the emptiness.
A series of dull thuds proved a sharp reminder of the job in hand as he marched to the boot of the car, banging it with his fist. Silence fell. Jumping in the car, Doug sped away, back on the mainroad, radio blaring to block out the renewed banging.
Through the rearview mirror, streaks of orange bled into the night sky. Doug was nearing the end of his journey. At least the noise had stopped.
By the time he stopped the car, Doug had to shake awake his cargo, pulling off the tape from her mouth. He pulled the bleary eyed girl from the boot, keeping a tight grip on her trembling arm. Even in her weakened state, he wasn’t going to risk her making another break for freedom. Freedom didn’t exist . . . for either of them.
“Please, let me go.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Please. I have money. My father has money.”
“What have I told you? Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to know anything about you.”
She sobbed as she glanced at her surroundings, noticing the small, stone, rundown building, a sign above the door a clue to her fate.
“Please, you don’t have to do this. Whatever these men are paying you, my father can double, treble!”
“If it was just about the money, I’d consider it. But it’s not. So stop wasting your breath.” He pushed her forward towards the building. “Forget your life. This is your new life.”
She just had time to see another girl, bruised, frightened and semi naked before she was thrown into a room with the sound of the door locking behind her.
Doug collected his money. “And now we’re even, ” he said, leaving the building without a backwards glance.
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I dream of sharing my work with the big wide world one day as a published author. Right now, I share flash fiction with a wonderful community of writers and friends. If you liked this story, then why not visit my blog at http://40somethingundomesticateddevil.blogspot.co.uk/ for more. Thank you. Love Lizzie x
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What a dark story. :( How terrible.
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