The storm had been raging for hours. There was no electricity.
Thank goodness I live at the top of a hill, Cora mused. At least I won’t be flooded.
Her house was surrounded by a high fence. She felt secure there, even though she lived alone.
Her battery radio gave up the ghost. The spare batteries were in the kitchen.
Suddenly Cora heard a voice.
“For God’s sake, open the damn gate!” the voice pleaded. “Open the damn gate! My wife’s having a baby and our street is under water.”
The gate normally opened electronically. But not tonight. Cora grabbed a torch and struggled down the driveway through the storm to the gate. There was no one in sight.
“Where are you? What about the baby?” she shouted, noticing that she was still holding the knife she had used to open the battery holder.
Someone reached out from behind her and grabbed her.
“You fell for the oldest trick in the book, lady,” the intruder told her, tightening his grip.
Cora struggled and managed to turn her body and free her hand for long enough to sink the knife into his groin.
The man sank to the ground.
Cora bent down, grabbed the man’s hands and dragged him towards the fishpond.
“You won’t mind not being alone down there, will you?” she speculated.
Then she went back into the house and poured herself a stiff drink.
Unwanted guests
This is a twisted tale for the star twister on the theme “The Gate”
Please read the revamped version at “Unwanted guest”. I have tried to incorporate the kind suggestions made in the forum competition section where it was an entry for the challenge and I hope the new attempt is better writing than this original, which was written rather hastily to comply with the deadline! The plot has not been changed!
carin berger, 2 months ago
Excellent! I really like this! Congrats
Faith Puleston in reply to carin berger’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks, Carin. It’s literally last minute!
olgadmy, 2 months ago
Faith, I always feel I need a continuation – very interesting!!!! – thanks!
Faith Puleston in reply to olgadmy’s comment, 2 months ago
Ah! That’s feast of a comment, Olga. It’s always useful to have a fishpond in the garden – a really deep one! I think we know who’d be the next occupant!!!!! :-) LOL
Faith Puleston, 2 months ago
I have posted a new version of this story! It’s called “Unwanted guest” now.