Week 26 Flash Fiction Challenge Winner: Brian Beam

Route 66 Water Tower

Today we’re pleased to announce the winner of the 26th weekly Flash Fiction competition at Indies Unlimited.

The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.

The winner this week is Brian Beam.

Congratulations to Brian, and thanks to everyone who participated – excellent entries! Now, without further ado, here’s the winning entry:

Route 66 Water Tower
Photo by K.S. Brooks

Leaning

by Brian Beam

“Come on, everyone knows that story is just an urban legend,” Marshall chided.

Rick paused in the glow of his Civic’s headlights, remembering his parents’ story of the kid who had fallen from the tower years ago when they had been seniors themselves. Wolves had supposedly gotten the body, they said, making it impossible to know if he had still been alive after the fall.

“Shut up, dude, or I may just leave you here,” Rick retorted, suppressing a shiver and starting after Marshall.

Every year, graduating seniors climbed the famous “Leaning Tower of Springfield”, carving their initials into the water reservoir.

Rick made his way to that tower now, headlights illuminating his path and making up for the cloud-obscured moonlight.

Marshall started up the ladder. With another anxious pause, Rick followed. He wasn’t about to let Marshall give him crap for hesitating again.

Rick pulled himself onto the leaning walkway, grabbing the waist-high railing to stabilize himself.

“Told you it wasn’t dangerous, wuss,” Marshall taunted, pulling out his pocket knife to carve his initials.

Rick’s heart stopped dead when he looked towards his friend. Behind Marshall was a white specter, humanoid in shape and glowing in the light from the headlights.

Before he could make his mouth work, Mashall let out a terrified scream as his body was propelled over the railing to the ground below. As Marshall’s body hit ground with a sickening thud, the specter’s face turned up to Rick with a cruel smile.

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