As tempting as it is, I'm not going to tell you what overall concept that got this story moving is, because I think the story speaks for itself. So, without further ado, here is:
Cliché
By Megan Hands
The call came in late one lazy, summer afternoon, and
immediately Thomas Cruiser was out the door and rushing headlong into the fight
for justice. The police car’s sirens flashed and wailed as he raced through the
streets. Cars pulled over and people stopped and stared in awe as Cruiser
pulled off a sharp turn that would have made a professional NASCAR racer weep.
Before he knew it, he was in front of the endangered bank. As his steely eyes
looked through the window, he saw the hostages on the floor as a man with a
mask and a gun raved at them. Soon the other police cars were pulled up as
well. They looked to Cruiser. Cruiser’s chiseled features were somber with the
burden of duty. Then he nodded, and the officers pulled their guns as Cruiser
kicked his way into the bank.
“Stop
where you are, scum!” Cruiser shouted, tracking the culprit with a gun and
steely blue eyes. “Don’t move a muscle!”
The
robber didn’t listen. They never did. He hauled a busty, luscious-haired woman
to her feet and pressed the gun to her head. “If you come any closer, I will
pull the trigger!” he menaced, spittle flying from the hole in the mask where
his mouth was. The woman closed her eyes, silently crying with terror.
“Try
it,” Cruiser said with ice in his voice, “I dare you.” Before the robber could,
Cruiser aimed his gun low and shot the culprit in the foot. Not quite protocol,
perhaps, but Cruiser didn’t play by the rules. Screaming, the robber dropped
the woman and fell gracelessly backwards, staring at his foot, which now had a
hole welling with blood so red it was black. Within a second, he was cuffed and
being escorted roughly to the police car. Cruiser helped the woman to her feet
as the other hostages rose unsteadily.
“You
saved me,” she said softly. Cruiser didn’t waver, though the woman made his
heart stir. “It’s my job, miss,” he replied, and led her outside, where
reporters were waiting with flashing cameras and heroic headlines.
What
he didn’t know was that the robber had cried when he’d put his dog down, and
couldn’t kill a person to save his own life.
What
he didn’t know was that the robber had two children, who had gone on a ship
with their grandparents and never returned.
What
he didn’t know was that the robber had a wife who was starving herself with
grief.
What
he didn’t know was that the robber needed money to launch a search and rescue
for his children, and every bank and person had turned him down, calling it a
lost cause.
What
he didn’t know was that the robber would have done almost anything to see his
children again.
But
what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. And now, neither could that nasty, evil
robber.
And just for the record
this was 484 words.
Take THAT, arbitrary word limit!
[SPOILER ALERT
IT'S THE AMBIGUITY OF MORALITY AND HOW WE COLLECTIVELY AND UNQUESTIONINGLY ACCEPT THE MORALITY OF THE VICTOR AS THE CORRECT ONE OKAY THERE I SAID IT I SPOUTED THE THEME I COULDN'T HOLD IT IN I'M SORRY IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO ME.]
[SPOILER ALERT
IT'S THE AMBIGUITY OF MORALITY AND HOW WE COLLECTIVELY AND UNQUESTIONINGLY ACCEPT THE MORALITY OF THE VICTOR AS THE CORRECT ONE OKAY THERE I SAID IT I SPOUTED THE THEME I COULDN'T HOLD IT IN I'M SORRY IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO ME.]
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