The Distraction

Monday's Knights of MicroFiction prompt was:

Your character is trapped in a space (of your choice).  All they have with them is a broken coffee mug, an unlit candle and a cell phone with a dead battery.  What happens?

Your entry cannot be longer than 400 words and we won't be taking entries after midnight on the 15th EST.

Little correction.

We won't be taking entries after 11:59pm on the 15th.  So, if you haven't posted and you still want to join in, you still have time!

Anyway, here's my entry:

The Distraction

Asha weakly lifted her head.  Every muscle in her body was either sore or bruised and she’d almost given up hope for escape.

Almost.

The prison bars before her were only an obstacle.  What really kept her locked inside was her mind.  Her mental strength wasn’t great enough to hope.  Not until now.

It must’ve been nearing five o’clock.  The guards were less interested in her and more interested in dinner.  No one admitted it, but clearly they weren’t equipped for a breakout.

Asha glanced up at the camera, keeping a constant eye on her in the darkness.  Now was her chance.

Her fingers found the dead phone in her pocket and she placed it on the lock to her prison cell.  She took a deep breath.  This had to work.

She glanced back up toward the camera, making sure it was still watching.  She could only hope the guards behind it were doing the same.  She took a seat in front of the broken glass from the coffee mug she’d mistakenly been given.  Her fingers quietly closed around a large shard and she directed it toward her pocket.

Now, she just needed to light the candle.  In the next cell over, she spied a few rocks.  If she hit them together hard enough, it might create a spark.

Carefully, she reached through the bars and tried to grasp one.

Damn it.

Just out of reach.

She tried again, stretching her arm farther than she thought she could.  Her fingers brushed the rock and she reached further.  The metal bars left tiny cuts in her shoulder as she relentlessly pushed on.

The large door on the other side of the room hissed open.

“Hey, you!” cried the guard.  “Stop right there!”

She laughed to herself.  Just on time.

She pretended to forget the rocks and rushed to the phone.  She lunged for it but the guard was too close, now.  He snatched it from her reach and backed away.

“You turned your cell into a bomb?” He asked, impressed.  “Too bad the batteries are-“

She threw the shard of glass and it pierced his throat with a sickening squelch.  He toppled over, his body convulsing a few times before going still.

She reached for the keys on his belt, smiled bitterly then unlocked the door.  Mission complete.

***

Yeah, mine's on the longer end of flash fiction, so I hope you made it all the way through.

Anyway, if you still want to participate, sign up on the linky list below!  And make sure to check out the other entries :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

--Jess