Week 22 Flash Fiction Challenge Winner: Rich Meyer

Today we’re pleased to announce the winner of the 22nd weekly Flash Fiction challenge at Indies Unlimited.

The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.

There were five entrants in the contest this week. The winner (with 50% of the votes) is our own Rich Meyer.

Congratulations to Rich, and thanks to everyone who participated – excellent entries! Now, without further ado, here’s the winning entry:

Search Party

by Rich Meyer

Harvey walked to the end of the pier and looked timidly into the dark water of the lake. He saw nothing but a reflection.

But it was not his reflection.

The face staring back at him was of a young boy. The boy’s eyes were closed. He was wearing a flannel shirt and a baseball cap. The boy looked very peaceful.

On the off-chance that this was a body and not a reflection, Harvey knelt on the edge of the pier and reached down to the cold water. He touched the surface, causing an expanding circle of small waves to disturb the image. When the water calmed, Harvey saw his own reflection in the water.

Harvey got up and took out his walkie-talkie. As he was about to signal that everything was clear there, he glanced back to the water. The boy was back. His eyes were open, staring plaintively at Harvey. The reflection raised its arm, silently pointing to the east of the lake.

Compelled beyond any reason, Harvey ran down the pier, calling for assistance on his walkie-talkie. He headed in the direction that the reflection had indicated. In less than fifteen minutes, he came upon a brush-covered hollow. He pulled the brush away to find all five of the missing campers. They groaned slightly with chilly thanks as they heard him relay that they were alive.

All but one.

Harvey looked closer and saw the serene face of the boy from the lake. He was smiling.

Author: Administrators

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