S. A. Molteni is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.)
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
Under Water
by S. A. Molteni
This was a new, state-of-the-art aquarium. It was supposed to be safe. Yet, Ariel was sloshing through the carpeted walkway trying to get as far away as she could from the small crack that appeared only minutes into her hourly guided tour.
Thankful for her employee training, she eased her way through the crowd of tourists and quickly, but calmly said, “Attention everyone, please go to the nearest exit. There appears to be a breach in the glass near the entrance to the viewing tunnel and all visitors must exit the area immediately.”
After all ticket-holders had been accounted for, the maintenance crew began the arduous task of locating and repairing the crack.
“Ariel, I cannot see where there is a breach in the glass. Can you come over here and show me?”
“Jason, it is right there, next to the seam on the lower right corner. See, right there?” She pointed.
“You mean this strand of hair stuck to the glass? Come on Ariel, you’ve got to be kidding me, that’s not a crack.”
“Jason, why would the carpet be wet, then? The water had to come from somewhere.”
“Good question. I don’t see a crack anywhere along this wall.”
As Jason pulled the stray piece of hair from the glass, a deafening crackle filled the tunnel and gallons of sea water poured through the corridor – sweeping Ariel and Jason to their watery graves.
The next day, the headlines read, “Hair today … Gone tomorrow”.
