This is the seventh in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing from 2nd December 2012 until the 1st December 2013. It’s intent is to keep me writing throughout the year, and not just in November. you can find out more about the challenge here. The Thief’s Mission, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 8th December 2012 Word count: 520 Theme: secret agent, suspense, thriller The story:
“Stay low, stay alive,” Martin said to Jack.
“Stay low, stay alive. Stay low, stay alive,” Jack repeated to himself like a mantra, he was afraid.
“Don’t be a baby on me Jack,” Martin warned, last thing he needed was for Jack to break down.
“I’m not a baby,” Jack said annoyed, his anger pushing past his fear briefly.
“Good, let’s go,” Martin pointed the way. He pushed the door open as much as he dared and slithered through looking around him as he went. Jack didn’t follow, so he reached back and pulled him by the arm, which Jack resisted.
“Hey,” Jack started to say, but was silenced by Martin putting his index finger to his lips.
“Target’s there,” he whispered pointing upwards over a counter. “You’ve got to be quiet, there might be guards.”
Jack whimpered a bit. He wasn’t one for getting into trouble, and Martin knew it, it’s why he brought him on these missions.
They shuffled round the floor, it was tiled and slippery, Martin cringed each time they made a noise. He knew if they were caught, they were done for. An operation like this didn’t happen without consequences. Soldiers weren’t afraid, no one saw James Bond turn down a mission because it was too scary.
At the end of the counter he stopped and looked around the side, the coast was clear, so he shuffled round to the end. He looked down the far side, and that’s when he saw the guard, a terrifying huge figure. Fortunately the guard didn’t seem to notice them hiding at the far end, as long as they kept quiet, the guard would never notice.
He held up his hands to stop Jack bundling past him, and put his fingers to his lips, Jack saw the panic in his eyes and started to panic too.
Martin wondered if he should have left Jack behind, it might have been safer, but it was too late now. They just sat there for what seemed like an eternity, occasionally glancing back to see if the guard had gone. They couldn’t guard the target forever, then he would be able to accomplish his mission.
He looked round the corner again, only to be met with the face of the guard waiting right in front of where his face was.
“Escaped again, huh?” she asked.
Martin froze, and Jack began to cry softly.
“You two after cookies again?” she asked standing up, and going over to the jar.
“Uhuh”, Martin said standing up. She pulled out cookies from the jar and handed them over, Martin took two, but then decided generously to pass one to Jack, who immediately stopped crying.
“Now go back to bed, daddy will be home soon, if you’re not asleep he might even read you a bed time story,” she said, giving each boy a kiss on his forehead. “Go on,” she urged.
Martin helped Jack to his feet, he wasn’t very good at working yet, but they ambled back to their bedroom and got into their beds. Still chewing on biscuits, and waiting for their dad to get home.
Once again, no prompt to share.Just felt like writing, and I needed to get my words in before the Leeds NaNoWriMo TGIO (Thank Goodness It’s Over) party today. I like this one, I had to go back and add words to get it to 500 (my target for the daily fics is between 500 and 1000 – and I’m trying to stick to that).
Aspiring 