| General Fiction posted November 14, 2022 |
  |
flash fiction
Man in the Mirror
by Bill Schott
Surprise Me Contest Winner
Christine stepped into the dressing room. She noted that the lock was broken; one more thing to add to the list. She crossed over to the makeup desk, sat in the arm chair, and began looking into the large, attached mirror.
It had been a rough theater season, what with the strike, the virus, the phantom, and what have you. Her accessories and essences had been set, haphazardly, on the table, so she needed to arrange the bottles, jars, and tubes in an order which would streamline her preparation process.
Finding the paraffin, she unscrewed the cap and scooped out three fingers full. Liberally applying the ointment, the makeup, which felt tight as a drum on her face, began to dissolve and smear into an opaque swirl.
Having removed the painted countenance of the last character she played, cold cream now found her cheeks and pate, returning some moisture which had been leached out.
There was a creaking sound from the shadows in the back of the dressing room. In the mirror she saw her killer. It was Erik. Removing a pistol from the purse in her lap, she fired a shot into his head.
Later, as the ambulance carried Erik’s body to the morgue, police questioned other members of the cast. No one was able to come up with a reason why Erik, the great female impersonator, would shoot himself.
Christine stepped into the dressing room. She noted that the lock was broken; one more thing to add to the list. She crossed over to the makeup desk, sat in the arm chair, and began looking into the large, attached mirror.
It had been a rough theater season, what with the strike, the virus, the phantom, and what have you. Her accessories and essences had been set, haphazardly, on the table, so she needed to arrange the bottles, jars, and tubes in an order which would streamline her preparation process.
Finding the paraffin, she unscrewed the cap and scooped out three fingers full. Liberally applying the ointment, the makeup, which felt tight as a drum on her face, began to dissolve and smear into an opaque swirl.
Having removed the painted countenance of the last character she played, cold cream now found her cheeks and pate, returning some moisture which had been leached out.
There was a creaking sound from the shadows in the back of the dressing room. In the mirror she saw her killer. It was Erik. Removing a pistol from the purse in her lap, she fired a shot into his head.
Later, as the ambulance carried Erik’s body to the morgue, police questioned other members of the cast. No one was able to come up with a reason why Erik, the great female impersonator, would shoot himself.
|
Writing Prompt This is a flash fiction contest. Write a story that has a surprise ending. Since it is flash, the word count must be between 200 and 600 words. The ending can be funny, sad, shocking, etc. But the reader has to be surprised. |
Surprise Me Contest Winner |
The broken lock and creaking sound are red herrings.
© Copyright 2024. Bill Schott All rights reserved.
Bill Schott has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
