First Campaigner Challenge

Rachael Harrie has come up with a great challenge to kick off the Campaign:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

In the Closet - 200 words (entry #243)


The door swung open and I sucked in one last breath. The room was small—it wouldn’t take long for them to figure it out.

Tap, tap, tap. Loud shoes were good, and bad. I’d know where they were at all times. But they weren’t idiot thugs in sneakers.

Just as I’d thought, they went to the guard first. They’d find his keys still on him then my time would be up.

Two armed men. One gun. Three bullets.

I never missed, though. Never.

“The closet.” The man didn’t bother to whisper.

Tap, tap, tap.

My hand squeezed tighter over the girl’s mouth. She bit me. I didn’t flinch. Didn’t even let out my breath. She needed to be behind me, though, so I let go of her mouth and pushed her backwards. She kept quiet, which meant she believed my warning at least.

God, if I only knew their heights-

One.

Two.

Three.

The girl screamed, recoiling against the wall.

I bent to check pulses, finding none. The shorter guy should be thankful I never missed. Bleeding out wasn’t a pretty way to go.

I tugged the girl’s sleeve and urged her outside. Behind us, the door swung shut.