He shifted the pawn forward and sat back.

He undid the top button of his shirt and took a slug of the oaky scotch.

‘You don’t have to hide, I know you’re here,’ he called out to the empty room.

A head of chestnut hair rose silently from behind the chessboard. How had she managed to get so close?

He looked into the frozen stare. ‘Who sent you?’ he asked.

She answered by raising the silenced gun barrel.

‘You know, my whole life…’

His last reverie was interrupted by three bullets. One to the head, two to the heart.

And then she was gone.

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.

Gabriella is a central character in my first novel, ‘A Justified State,’ a political thriller set in an imagined future. The Kindle edition will be released on the 3rd of November (this Saturday), and is available to pre-order now through Amazon. The paperback edition is available to order now through Amazon in most territories: UK / US / GER / ITA / JAP / CAN. More territories to follow soon.