The Unicorn Challenge.
A magical new weekly writing opportunity from her – Jenne Gray – and me.
Visit her blog every Friday to see the photo prompt, and post your amazing story in her comments section.
Or on your own blog, and stick the link down in her comments.
The rules are:
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.
To hear me read my story, just click here:
Pretty Woman
The hat is Leonard Cohen, Rock and Roll’s most tender, erotic poet.
The sunglasses are Roy Orbison, inimitable, heart-breaking, the voice of an angel.
The only music I play is on my firearms.
The long gun is my weapon of choice.
They say I’ve killed more men than the Russian Army, but that’s unfair.
I’m an equal opportunity assassin; I kill women and children too.
My last job was a fiasco, that I took the blame for.
The intelligence supplied by the client via my employers was horribly flawed, but it was my finger on the trigger.
In this business repercussions tend to be fast and final.
I hear from a friend, codename KillJoy.
She has a figure that stops traffic.
I was her mentor, taught her most of what she knows.
She was a fast learner, a natural.
The word is she wants to retire, but has one last contract to fulfil.
So when she calls me, I wonder.
Am I her target, or is she just saying goodbye?
She appears at my door in classic Private Eye attire, trench coat and fedora.
I show her the gun in my hand.
She smiles and shrugs.
Her left hand slowly unfastens her belt, her right hand is in her pocket.
The coat falls open.
She is wearing black stockings.
Nothing else.
She is magnificent.
I shoot her in her beautiful chest.
She stares up at me in disbelief.
I check her pockets.
Discover I’m an idiot.
Oh no! Sadly it’s too late now.
Laughing.
Lovely to see you again, Bridgette, sorry I upset you!
You didn’t upset me 🙂
You tell these tales in such a convincing way that I sometimes wonder if…. no, hopefully not! I wonder what your blog’s body count is now.
It’ll be one more if you keep blabbing, buster!
Oh no! He got it very wrong there. I want to know just what she was reaching for with her right hand in her pocket. 🤔 Wonderfully laconic tone, just right for this story. Superb ending.
Story of my life, Margaret, I never know what’s in a lady’s mind!
Maybe she just wanted to open the coat with a surprise flourish, hmm?
But you can never be sure in a world of beasts.
Exactly so, Cassa.
He who hesitates is likely to get shot in the face!
Haste makes waste they say. (Note: remember to check pockets AFTER). I liked the hardboiled take on the prompt.
Glad you enjoyed, Michael
Excellent. Great twist!
Thanks, Chris!
Pingback: Secrets – Tales from Glasgow
You idiot! Such fun. Well, maybe fun isn’t the right word — but I loved this piece.
I’ve never been too smart, Sally, especially when the ladies are involved.
Thanks for kind words.
Well, that’s a different definition of a boob job. 😉
Groan!
Oh, that was brutal.
And told by your MC in such a detached tone – which is, I suppose, what makes him so good at what he does.
‘I’m an equal opportunity assassin: I kill women and children too’ – brilliantly horrific.
And the twist, perfect – and equally detached!
Excellent music too.
I like ‘brutal’ and, even more, ‘brilliantly horrific’.
And if you want a killer tune, Roy’s your man!
Pingback: Pretty Spooky Woman Unicorn Challenge | ladysighs
Ah, Blue Eyes.
From one who knows her way around a Sicilian Curveball,
all I can say is “C’est tragique.”
Sound ink.
‘knows her way around a Sicilian Curveball’…
The mind boggles, Green Eyes!
Smiling here.
My favorite line is: “My last job was a fiasco” I would say so.
It will probably haunt you.
I did enjoy the story. It takes a lot for me to be motivated so early in the morning.
I think it’s more likely that you will haunt me, dear Lady.
And my mind is in turmoil at the thought of motivating you in the morning…
What a read, for such a short story that was a wild journey!
Glad you enjoyed the ride!
Perfect. I do love a good twist.
Oh I do like ‘Perfect’!
But where’s yours this week?
We miss you, Misky…
I’m focusing on something else at the moment. If I may … https://saintsnotsaints.wordpress.com/2023/10/05/inked/