Phillips pressed himself against a wall. The alleyways of the old town were the ideal place to confront his pursuer.
He had noticed her in the bar earlier. He flattered himself that she was paying particular attention to him out of personal attraction.
She had followed him when he left. Hitmen were becoming dangerously attractive these days.
The footsteps drew closer.
‘Are you willing to negotiate?’ Phillips called out.
‘My employer will accept only one outcome.’ Her voice was smooth as silk.
Phillips consoled himself that this time was self-defence.
He raised his switchblade to neck height and stepped out of the shadows.
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
The character of Phillips previously appeared in my short story OLD FRIEND.
He made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Actually, it wasn’t an offer. He shot him in the face. 🙂
Nicely done
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Thank you
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Dear Iain,
Tense little story and a fatal attraction. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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That is a good thriller…
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Thank you 🙂
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Oooo I like this story! You pack a lot of plot into this, and I love the way it ends – leaves me to imagine the kind of epic face-off the two would have!
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Thank you, much appreciated 🙂
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Intriguing!
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Thank you
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Well, it’s kill or be killed in their world – she’d understand! Savage little tale, Iain, nicely told
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Thanks Lynn
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My pleasure, Iain 🙂
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So that’s where knights have been hiding – in the alleyway! Great story, Iain!
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Thanks Annie 🙂
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I can’t imagine a happy ending here – unless….err, no!
Please click to read my FriFic
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No, I think it’s too much to hope for!
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Hm.. which one will die?? Good one!
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Thanks Courtney 🙂
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Wonderful writing as aye. Sorry I have been so busy I have not had time to leave comments last few posts xxxxxxxxxxx
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No worries, I know you are always watching 🙂
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Oh there are blogs I never miss.
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Great job! Though.I wasn’t ready for it to end.
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Best to end while the going is still good! Thank you.
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Ha Ha! True. 🙂
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Nicely done.
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Nicely done. How did you get such a dark tale from a such a sunlight scene?
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I know. At least I’m not the online, there are a few dark takes from such a nice photo. I see narrow alleys in an old town and I immediately think spy thriller! 🙂
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Love the third paragraph – well, the whole story really. Except for the knife part. That made me shudder.
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Thanks Alicia, I’m glad the knife part had an impact as it was designed to.
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Dark, dark — like the alley shadows.
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Thank you Christine
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Suspense–and leaving us to create our own outcome 🙂
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Thank you
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I sense he may have brought a knife to a gunfight.
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A classic mistake to make.
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i’d like to think he’s got the upper hand, but i’d been mistaken so many times. 🙂
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Thanks, someone walks away from this encounter, bit who? 🙂
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I like how he assumes she’s attracted to him… may she be swifter! 😉
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She may well be, both swifter and attracted to him 🙂
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Super thriller.
This can become a book or maybe a movie
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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Thank you, definitely a character I would like to write more about.
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Oh dear and I thought they would end up having an espresso together.
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Not this time unfortunately!
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I also thought that they would end up having a coffee together after a dammed good fight,🤕
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No happy endings here I’m afraid.
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Oooo who will leave that battle alive? They might be well matched. A lot of good tension in this one
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Thank you Laurie, glad you liked it.
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Got some good suspense and action going on here. Very cool, Iain. Personally, I would have used a gun instead of a switchblade. Their clean and knives get messy. 😀
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Guns attract attention and not so easy to conceal. Our man is old school 🙂
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I meant “they’re” not “their.”
And here I complain about people’s grammar …
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That’s a dangerous world they both live in. I just finished reading “Orphan X”, reminded me a bit of that. Nice one!
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Nice compliment, thank you.
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My kind of story, short, brutal and well done. Excellent.
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Thank you, appreciate the praise.
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So impressive what can be done in 100 words! I liked the smooth as silk voice. And the open ending! Nicely done
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Thank you Rebecca
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Thrilling read. Would love to read more about Philip.
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Thank you. I think he will pop up again in future stories, if he survives this encounter! 🙂
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Well done, Iain! Love the whole mood. :o)
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Thank you 🙂
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Dear Iain, I’m glad Phillips was prepared – lucky for him! This story is so good, I truly enjoyed it – very Cloak and Dagger! Nan
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Thank you Nan
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Such an engaging and terrifying encounter. Glad he was prepared! Nan
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The moment when the hunter becomes the hunted. Clever twist at the end. Well done. Cheers, Varad.
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Thank you, much appreciated.
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Evil little back alley tale well told.
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Thank you
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Oh dear! I hope they only kill each other with their gaze 😀 Nice little cat-and-mouse tale!
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That would be nice! 🙂
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Oh! Great job leaving us hanging! Who succeeds?
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I hadn’t really thought what happens next, but Phillips is a character I can see returning, so I guess he gets out of this one!
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Handgun cancels switchblade. *BANG*
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So crude, there’s no artistry in a handgun! 🙂
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It’s effective.
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Don’t you remember the scene from Indiana Jones where this fabulous swordsman shows off and then Indie swears, pulls out his gun and shoots him? It IS very effective. 🙂
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And also very crude…and funny! 🙂
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Great story. So concise. I semi-expected her to pull out a gun or to ambush him somehow. One should not underestimate just because she’s a woman. 😉
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I’m sure he doesn’t underestimate her, hence his preemptive move.
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🙂 I’m not good at chess.
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It’s a dog eat dog world out there, isn’t it? Well written, as usual, Lian.
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Thanks Neel
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Got to look after number one, after ll she had her chance
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I love the penultimate line and that assassins are becoming dangerously attractive!
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Thanks Clare
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Who won?! An engaging thriller Iain 🙂
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Maybe I’ll put it to a vote to decide! 🙂
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Good idea!
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Great thriller, Iain. He sounds quite experienced. I wonder how many other hitmen/women he’s run into. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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He’s managed a long career in an industry that is notorious for a short life span!
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Good piece of work 🙂 Does this come before or after “old friend” I love it how you manage to include things from your other writers in friday fictioners!
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I hadn’t thought of an exact timeline. I would guess after. Thank you 🙂
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maybe I should go back and read lol
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Intriguing end, wonder who survived in the end? Nicely done.
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Thank you
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I love this suspenseful ending!
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Thank you Dawn
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Round 1. FIGHT! Well done, Iain.
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Thanks Miles 🙂
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The story unfolds….intriguing.
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Thanks Vivian
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