Congrats to A.C. Flory

This week’s flash fiction challenge came down to the wire. A.C. Flory and JD Mader received the same number of votes, resulting in a tie.

The 2013 rules provide that in the event of a tie in the voting, the entry which posted earliest will be chosen as the winner. Ms. Flory’s entry was posted on October 5, 2013 @ 4:35 PM. Mr. Mader’s entry was posted October 8 @ 2:45 PM.

We congratulate everyone on excellent entries, but the decision goes to Ms. Flory. As always, the winning entry is recognized 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.

Without further ado, here’s the winning story:

 

Photo by K.S. Brooks

Hell Comes to Breakfast
by A.C. Flory

“Look out!” I cried as I upended the table in Valentin’s face.

The heavy cast iron seemed to float through the air, as light as a feather, but I wasn’t paying it any attention. In that timeless moment of extreme stress my mind was busy ticking things off my internal to-do list.

Shield Valentin with the cast iron table. Check.
Reach for gun in purse. Check.
Lunge out of chair. Check.
Shoot assassin…

Even as I saw my shot go wide, something punched me in the chest. I felt as if I’d been hit by a truck, but there was no pain, only a horrible sense of oops. I had made a mistake. The black ops guy hadn’t been after Valentin at all. He’d been after me.

And then time sped up in a bright red haze.

I hit the overturned table with a crash, and came to rest looking up at the distraught face of my lover. His sunglasses were gone, lost in the debris, and he was trying to say something. I could see his lips move, but no sound could penetrate the silence that enveloped me.

It was over. Us. Being a double agent. The life we had planned. All gone. But as the warmth leached from my body I smiled, hoping Valentin would know I had no regrets. The love had been worth-…

 

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14 thoughts on “Congrats to A.C. Flory”

  5. Oh my god… just checked my inbox and still can’t believe I won. Thank you to the judges, all those who voted, and fate for not letting me be late as usual!

    I dedicate this Oscar to…-cough- Where was I?

    I’ve never won a competition before, especially for anything I’ve written so this is very special. But… JD deserves this just as much as I do. I loved your story JD and I’m proud to be ranked next to you. 🙂

    Massive hugs to you all. 🙂

  8. You pulled the rug out from under me, and I felt bad for the operator. You tricked me and evoked an emotion too. No easy thing. Congratulations.

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