A cheer rose up from the crowd in a wave from all directions. Esden staggered back in shock and weariness, staring wide-eyed at the man he’d killed. 1
Killed. 2
How had he done that? He remembered only brief moments in the struggle, where he’d had to move faster than he could think. The huge man lay like a stone on the stage before him, appearing formidable even in death. How had he done that? The cheering roared through Esden as he slowly bent to take the champion’s badge from the dead man’s shirt. Pulling back, Esden didn’t put the badge on. He simply held it tightly in his fist, turned, and walked rigidly from the ring. 3
The people in the crowd shouted louder as he pressed through them, slapping him on the back and asking him, ‘How on earth did you do that, kid?’ But Esden said nothing. He didn’t know how he’d done it. Surely they, who witnessed it, could tell him what had happened? 4
Emerging from the back of the crowd as the announcer took his place on stage to declare the winner, Esden found people trying to stop him from leaving. They pulled at his shirt, tried to turn him around, and he struggled from their grasp, breaking into a run. They laughed as he ran and the shouting, whooping and applause continued as he fled. There was a jeering edge to the noise, but Esden couldn’t tell who they were teasing; him, or the dead man lying still in the ring.5
Author notes
Ok, so this is actually 254 words.... which is over 250.... but still. I think short stories are harder to write than longer stories, cos you have to make something interesting happen and explain everything in such a short time. 250 words is the shortest story I have ever written....... Are you amazed???? xD Lol ^^
Please don't tell me off for not explaining enough though, k? Cos that was kind of the point. You don't need to know anything about Esden or where he is; you simply have to understand the message of the story.
In a list
A contest entry
- Short short short!! by Thorn-on-the-Rose.
175 points, ended September 28, 2008, 36 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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This was fab.
I loved the atmosphere that you created - I could almost feel it, from the relief mixed with debelief of the kill, through to the mob scene at the end, I felt like I went on a mini adventure with Esden.
Really reminded me of (the few thankfully), times when I've been caught up in a crowd of that many people and the horror of it all. -
I am amazed! And even though it's only 254 words, it's still awesome. ^^
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Short but very descriptive. Well done and good luck with competition
beginning: 2, language: 1, plot: 2, ending: 2, dialog: 1, characters: 1.
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Hi Eph!!
Very interesting. You said alot in 254 words. I was wondering why you would write something this short, I mean 2,000 words is usually as short as your stories get. Very very very interesting.
Good luck in whatever contest this is for.
Love the name Esden, its fun to say.
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