With their obsession of all things three, the Trifecta overlords pulled out all the stops for their 33rd writing challenge, creating a triathlon of sorts for nerds like me. There are three parts to the challenge and the top three winners of each go on to compete in some kind of Super Bowl … or Olympics … or … oh, whatever. You guys know I don’t know about this stuff.
Plus I only managed to participate in one of the three legs:
Write a 33-333 word response using the 3rd definition of the following word:
Sorry, Trifecta. I wish your three-a-palooza didn’t fall during the summer when time is in such short supply. I always love playing and am glad that, with this entry, I at least have a chance of securing one of the nine spots that advance to the swimsuit … the interview … Round Two.
If I win, there’ll be three-bean salad and Three Musketeer bars for everyone!
* * * * * * * * * *
Premeditated
* * * * * * * * * *
He waited, crouched behind a dumpster in the alley. The only light came from a street lamp that illuminated the backdoor to the building. Even the moon seemed to be cooperating as it hid behind a mass of clouds directly above him. He dared not make a move for fear of revealing himself. One inch here or there could cast a shadow. His stomach growled and he cursed himself for skipping dinner. He considered the granola bar in his pocket but dismissed it, realizing the crinkling plastic would be too great a risk. And he needed to stay focused.
The alley was only 33 feet long. He’d have to act quickly to execute his plan completely within its boundaries. He’d planned everything to the second and had even run a few drills in the dark over the last month. His only concern was noise. So he needed to be sure the first thing he took out was the windpipe. He couldn’t afford even a fraction of a distress call. The offices on the 2nd floor always kept their windows open and the after hours cleaning crew would surely hear any screaming.
“How can they stand to keep them open?” he wondered. The rancid smell of the alley was nauseating. He shuddered when what he hoped was a cat ran across his feet. He chose not to look down but to keep his gaze fixed on the door. The firm had been closed for three hours. He should have come out by now.
Why must he always make things so difficult?
He felt a breeze blow past him. Fall was coming. The holidays. He couldn’t let her endure another Christmas, another new year with him. “She wants this,” he reasoned to himself. “She practically came out and asked me to do it.”
Tonight, he would even the score for her. Tonight, he would set her free.
With tears in his eyes, he gripped the rope tightly as he watched the backdoor slowly swing open.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Inspiration for this Entry
I read an old favorite with my son not too long ago. Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. Of course, for my boy, it was the first reading. And he marveled at how crazed the narrator sounded, how meticulously he planned every detail and how he perceived his own actions to be fully justified and rational. Three hundred thirty-three words isn’t much with which to work when attempting to model anything after the great EAP, but I hope I captured at least a fraction of the character’s frenetic thought process.
.
OldDogNewTits 
Well Michelle, you had my attention because of the details. Each breath, each move, or choice not to was described fully. I really enjoyed the read.
Thanks, K.
Oh, he’s a bit disturbed.
As always, you crafted a great story off of the prompt!
Thanks, Guap. Don’t even get me started on your ridiculously good three-part saga. So very, very good.
Excellent story. The twisted things people do for love.
Indeed … and thanks!
This was a phenomenal look at the prompt, and I love that it was partly inspired by the motive in the Tell Tale Heart!!
Thanks, Jenna. I don’t know how close I really came but I was fun trying.
It fascinates me how you can go so many different directions with your writing. Loved the details, and darkness of this post.
Thanks, Kari. That’s very flattering.
P.S. Multiple personalities help. 🙂
excellent attention ot detail, movement and style. This requires multiple readings to absorb the awesome.
Thanks, Lance. It actually took several readings from me before I felt it was consistent and true to itself.
really? it seems really organic and first takeish
That was fantastic! I feel terrible for the ‘her’ he thinks he is doing this for!
ps
I do think you captured the Poe feeling, and I loved the title, too.
Thanks, JQ. Even when I pour my heart and soul out into a piece and am truly proud of it, I often find that I truly suck at titling it. This one, on the other hand, came easily.
I felt like I was in the alley. The details of how he placed himself so he would cast a shadows, the wait time, and then wondering what occurred. Perfectly captured!
Thanks, Mel. I was going for detail. So many here are so good at the smallest descriptions that I thought I’d give it a go myself. 🙂
i do believe it is more for himself than her that he does it. and poe is always a good source of inspiration; he is my mother’s favorite.
Exactly, Renata. Even though I didn’t realize elaborate on it, my initial thought was that the whole “she practically came out and asked me to do it” was all in his head and that his actions were entirely yet subconsciously self-serving.
Yes – this is exactly what I was thinking. Great job – creepy and sad at the same time.
Poe is one of my favorites. You did him proud today.
Thanks, Amy. I appreciate that comment. 🙂
Pingback: Saying Goodbye to a Friend (with the help of Classic TV) | OldDogNewTits