I’ve a few bits of business to discuss before I get to my story the week. I hope you don’t mind.
#1) The Six on the Sixth prompt for this month went live this morning. Stop by, check it out, and join me in writing a few six word stories. I post the prompt on the 5th and my stories on the 6th each month.
#2) I just released a collection of 100 word stories yesterday, entitled “100 tiny tales of terror.” I’ll hope you’ll all consider picking up a copy, or at least help me spread the word about it.
Click here for more information (yesterday’s post).
Click here to go directly to the Amazon page.
Nothing else to see here. Carry on, my dearest minions.
Photo Copyright – Danny Bowman
Hitman
He crossed the barren landscape, one useless leg dragging behind and digging into the soft earth. The mangled cars blocking the road far behind had become an inferno. Of course, that was just a ploy to hide the bullets in the other driver’s chest.
They’d figure out it wasn’t an accident eventually, but he’d be long gone by that point.
Walking across that endless field, he told himself that was his last job. He told himself he was retiring and moving to a secluded island somewhere. He told himself these things, but he knew his employers would never allow it.
—–
This post written for Friday Fictioneers.
Adam Ickes 
March 5th, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Congratulations Adam on the release of the collection of 100 words short stories. 🙂 This 100 words is a great one in the making 🙂
March 5th, 2014 at 9:31 AM
Thanks. 🙂
March 5th, 2014 at 8:38 AM
Dear Adam,
I guess the witness protection program isn’t an option. Cement overshoes are next, right? Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
March 5th, 2014 at 9:34 AM
I don’t think witness protection would be much help against his employers. They’re too well connected. I think he can avoid the cement shoes for awhile yet if he keeps doing what he’s told.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:04 AM
Congratulations on the collection, Adam. Is retirement in your near future? 🙂 As for the story, I don’t think I’ll be looking in this field for part time work. This has a bit of a “Mad Max” feel to it.
janet
March 5th, 2014 at 9:36 AM
I wish I could say yes, but I fear I’ll be stuck being unretired for quite awhile. Not out of choice, but out of necessity. It’s a nice thought though and a dream I’ll keep pushing toward even if I never make it there.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:44 AM
At $2.99/book minus whatever Amazon gets, it will definitely be some time even with a “real” job!
March 5th, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Good story and a great hook for a longer story. Well done.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:59 PM
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I do like this character. I may have to revisit him at some point.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:14 AM
Seems we all have our dreams Adam. Even hit-men.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:00 PM
Indeed. I imagine you’d need some pretty lofty dreams to distance your mind from a job like that.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:19 AM
I liked this one very much, Adam. Of course, maybe it’s because one of my favourite comic book characters of all time is Frank Miller’s Elektra, who, no matter how she tries to get out, can never leave that life.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:01 PM
Thanks, Helena. Glad you enjoyed it.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:50 AM
It’s not everyone who’s got job security… Nicely done Adam, congrats on the book – hope all goes well.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:03 PM
Sometimes people wish they didn’t have job security…. this guy for example.
March 5th, 2014 at 12:58 PM
Many congrats on the book! I like your six-word prompts as well, I’ll definitely take a stab at one of those too sometime.
Also, can’t say I envy the guy. It’s gotta be an exciting life, but there comes a point when putting strategically placed bullets in people and blowing things up just ain’t so fun anymore…
March 5th, 2014 at 2:04 PM
Yeah, I imagine a life like his would get very old very fast. I can’t help but feel bad for him.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:08 PM
I feel his pain, being a hit-man is totally overrated! Great story and congrats on the 100 tiny tales release!
March 5th, 2014 at 2:05 PM
I agree. All the guy wants is to leave a job he doesn’t enjoy any longer, but apparently that’s asking too much.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:39 PM
sometimes it’s hard to be an assassin for hire.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:06 PM
I would imagine it’s ALWAYS hard to be an assassin for hire.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:41 PM
Adam! That’s awesome news, gonna purchase a copy right now. I’ve read a couple of drabble collections and they were like mehhh… but since you’re from the talented FF circle, I know this book is damn good. Congratulations! enjoyed your story, btw, i almost felt sorry for the hitman despite his job.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:09 PM
Thanks for the support, KZ. Now you have me worrying that it’s going to be one big crap-fest. Haha No pressure or anything.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:24 PM
Adam I really enjoyed this one. But perhaps he should have faked his own death during this job and made haste to his secluded island. That may be the only way out.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:05 PM
I doubt he’ll be faking his own death. His employers would not be amused when they finally catch up with him, and they will… they always do.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:22 AM
That is truly the downside of contract killing. You’re never the worst one.
March 5th, 2014 at 2:27 PM
Good story…and congrats on finishing your collection of scary stories!!!!
March 5th, 2014 at 9:06 PM
Thanks, Jan. And now it’s on to the next project!
March 5th, 2014 at 4:47 PM
I feel bad for him, actually. I can picture the scene perfectly in my mind. Great scene.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:07 PM
You and me both. I really like this character… even if he is a cold blooded killer.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Even villains have hearts. No one is all bad or all good.
March 5th, 2014 at 7:29 PM
Mazel again on your sleek new book… it’s very sexy, in a cool, scary book kind of way. Nice use of the prompt here. The main character really gives a scary vibe, and you know he’s not going to retire, anytime soon.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:08 PM
Thanks, again. He won’t be retiring until one of two things happens: A) he dies, or B) he kills his bosses. Neither is likely to happen any time soon.
March 5th, 2014 at 8:54 PM
I see a definite Tarantino vibe here. Next you are going to have a squadron of highly trained Jews kill Nazis? Very intriguing story, begs for a sequel in your next book.
March 5th, 2014 at 9:11 PM
Who better to channel than Tarantino if I’m going to be Mr. Big Shot?
He may get a book eventually, and by “may” I mean “probably will” because I really like this character, but it won’t be the next one. The next one is approaching finished already, whereas his story has just begun.
March 6th, 2014 at 1:56 AM
That’s the problem with that line of work. It’s so hard to get out of it alive. Of course, if he’s got enough money saved up, it might be possible.
March 6th, 2014 at 9:06 AM
It’ll never be possible. They’ve got eyes everywhere and deeper pockets than he’ll ever have.
March 6th, 2014 at 2:37 AM
Sounds like he’s in quite a bind. Of course, that’s what you get when you go around killing people for a living 😉
March 6th, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it… 😉
March 6th, 2014 at 4:58 AM
He’s stuck in it. Hard to feel sorry for him. Tightly written.
March 6th, 2014 at 9:07 AM
On to the next job, after some time and probably surgery to heal that leg of his. Always on to the next job. No end in sight.
March 6th, 2014 at 8:36 AM
Sounds like he might have a permanently impaired leg there and what good is a one-legged hitman to the mob? On top of that, his injury was job-related so he can apply for disability insurance. Might find a way out in the end.
March 6th, 2014 at 9:09 AM
His employers will say it’s just a flesh wound. Put him under the knife and give him a couple months and he’ll have use of it again, even if he does walk with a limp.
March 6th, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Ah,easy to get in but no way one would get out-alive anyway?Terrifying yet intriguing as what he would do next specially if his leg …no job then,,no life as well-shoot the lame horse types? 😉 Congrats on your collection Adam and wish you all the best 🙂
March 6th, 2014 at 9:10 AM
I’ll almost certainly be visiting this character again. He’s up there with Winger in my list of character’s I’ve created. Apparently I have a soft spot for the murderous type.
And thanks for the warm wishes.
March 6th, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Will definitely look forward to it then cos I too have the same soft spot-aren’t we wicked?lol! Hope to be able to buy your book too-dollar is very high against the poor Indian rupee 😛
March 6th, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Hi Adam,
Sounds like a movie, where our hero is drawn into some hideous conflict. I wonder where he will end up out there in the wilds. The back story really makes this one strong. Ron
March 7th, 2014 at 7:20 AM
Glad you enjoyed it, Ron.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Ouch, his employers sound like some sort of tough mafia bosses… scary, dangerous and not to be messed with. I feel read bad for our guy here, he earnestly wants a new beginning but damn his bosses… Maybe he can find a way to outsmart them forever though.
March 7th, 2014 at 7:22 AM
He might be smarter than them, but they’ve got much deeper pockets. Sometimes money outweighs smarts.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:49 AM
unfortunately true.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:49 AM
That’s if he gets away at all with only one leg on that terrain!
March 7th, 2014 at 7:23 AM
I think it’s just a bad break. He just needs to get far enough away before stopping to assess the situation.
March 6th, 2014 at 3:11 PM
HUGE congrats on the publication of your collection – I’ll take a look when I’m done here, although if it’s kindle only I’m screwed as I can only read real books! As for this one, you captured the guys sense of entrapment even as he escapes justice. Nice one.
March 7th, 2014 at 7:26 AM
Thanks! This guy is one of my new favorite characters. There’s just something about him I really like.
March 6th, 2014 at 3:50 PM
I guess the only retirement is with concrete shoes in a harbour… congrats on the book… hmm it’s on my to-do list to release a book someday.. I just hate the thought of going back to edit my old text.
March 7th, 2014 at 7:27 AM
Editing is the hardest part. Nowhere near as far as the writing itself, but a necessary step. Seems that’s all I’ve been doing lately. I need to get back to some actual writing.
March 6th, 2014 at 4:07 PM
Reminds me of some of my favorite Ludlum works. Nice!
March 7th, 2014 at 7:29 AM
I’ve not read any Ludlum. I’ll have to check his stuff out.
March 7th, 2014 at 10:20 AM
He wrote the Bourne series that made the movies with Matt Damon. My favorite by Ludlum, though, was one of the very early ones called The Gemini Contenders. There are some later books which he co-authored that were also fabulous. You definitely should check his stuff out!
March 6th, 2014 at 5:18 PM
he’s no different than most of us. we dream of quitting our day job, but we can’t just do it, with an imaginary ball and chain tied on our leg.
March 7th, 2014 at 7:30 AM
Exactly, just and ordinary man with an unordinary job. Always looking for a way out, but never finding one.
March 6th, 2014 at 7:40 PM
That’s the downside of a hit man’s job. It doesn’t end until he’s done for…naturally or otherwise. Good one!
March 7th, 2014 at 7:31 AM
That’s quit a downside I’d say. Makes me wonder how he got involved in the first place.
March 6th, 2014 at 10:22 PM
Well done Adam. It is making me think of… oh yes the TV version of The Fugitive but from the murder’s perspective.
Congrats on the publishing and I will check out the new word prompt.
Regards
Jim
March 7th, 2014 at 7:31 AM
Thanks, Jim.
March 7th, 2014 at 12:54 AM
The job that never ends! I’m sure he doesn’t want their retirement plan.
March 7th, 2014 at 7:32 AM
Their retirement plan may be his only option someday.
March 7th, 2014 at 12:55 AM
Nicely told, Adam. I enjoyed this one. Too bad our hero is so good at being bad. He might have been a great bartender in another life–a bartender who would listen to the half-drunken rants and keep you from having to field them here on your blog.
(Is it weird that I obsess about half-drunken rants every time I comment on one of your posts?)
Cheers!
MG
March 7th, 2014 at 7:36 AM
I actually enjoy your obsession with half drunken rants. Your obsession with half drunken rants closely resembles an actual half drunken rant itself. Feel free to keep on obsessing. 🙂
March 7th, 2014 at 9:40 AM
I enjoyed your take on the prompt Adam. A shame your hit man isn’t going to get to enjoy any retirement.
March 7th, 2014 at 9:06 PM
A shame indeed. He could really use some down time.
March 7th, 2014 at 1:14 PM
How easily we get ourselves into situations from which we cannot extricate ourselves.
March 7th, 2014 at 9:08 PM
It’s a very easy thing to do, but on the plus side that usually isn’t being a murderer for hire for most of us.
March 7th, 2014 at 4:07 PM
I like this, Adam. I wish I could have wrote it. I like the reflecting, the kind of thing that happens while wandering a barren landscape. Great one!
March 7th, 2014 at 9:09 PM
I think that may be one of the best compliments I’ve ever received about my writing, so thank you for that. 🙂
March 8th, 2014 at 1:12 AM
You’re most welcome, Adam!! 🙂
March 9th, 2014 at 12:00 PM
When you can make the reader feel sorry for the bad guy… well that is an accomplishment for sure!
March 9th, 2014 at 9:31 PM
i love the character you created and agree with Riya’s comment…i feel deep down inside he really is a good person. just doing what he does best and grew wiser over the years as well. great story.
March 10th, 2014 at 9:05 PM
You’ve managed to fit so much of the story in such a short space, Adam! Your character’s despondency creates a strong mood for the whole piece.
March 11th, 2014 at 6:28 PM
Congrats on your 100 Tiny Tales of Terror!
A hitman’s job sounds like a job till death.