Six Sentence Stories – The Contract
Hector’s hand hovered above the paperwork, unmoving, uncooperative, disobedient to the urging in his mind.
He knew the contract was bad from the start and he never should have started the project; no one agrees to terms like these, but when a man is just desperate enough he’ll agree to anything. Well, almost anything…there are some things even the most corrupt of men cannot bring themselves to do and he was grateful to have dodged that bullet.
They’ll never forgive me, he thought, but he had to take the chance, no matter how they might remember him. When you’re desperate enough, driven to choose between yourself and your family’s safety – your family’s life – well, you make those dark choices … and this arrangement was far less difficult to swallow, far less sinister than some he could have made.
“Sign,” growled the other man, as Hector forced his hand down to the page, doing what he knew he must to protect them.
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This has been a Six Sentence Story.
Each week, the lovely and talented Ivy Walker hosts a link-up challenging writers to spin a tale in six sentences – no more, no less. Click on the link right here to find out more and link your own post. While you’re there, click on the blue frog button to find more stories from some wonderful storytellers.
This week’s prompt was CONTRACT.
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Surely signing something under duress is non enforceable and clearly as the as the narrator implies may well be a criminal act.
It could be criminal, Old Egg, you’re right. That’s definitely implied. It could also be something else…and oh, it will definitely be enforced. 😉
Great minds …
Definitely! 😀
Six sentence stories are such fun! Thanks for sharing such a good one!
Thanks, Shari – they really are fun!
Your story leaves me with questions, and that’s a good story.
I always think that, Val. I would rather leave a story, whether written or on screen, thinking about possibilities than have a neat and tidy package to walk away with.
Oooh, good one… I wanted to read more. 🙂
Thanks, Kimmie!
Hmmmmm….i wanna know more….
One can only imagine…
Lisa, as ever, you’ve written flash that leaves us hanging on the edges of our seats, panting for more. Who is he protecting? What does he have to do? Who is forcing him and what do they stand to gain? It’s fantastic stuff!
Well thank you, Sondi. That’s great praise! 🙂 I think I like writing things that leave the audience hanging. You used the word protector – so did you get that I picked the character’s name for that reason? I wondered if anyone would. Hector means guardian or protector.
As for who is forcing him…well, think the most evil scenario you can. Mwah hah haaaahhh….
Yikes! Contracts so often feel as if they have a dark element and apparently this one surely does. I often wonder what we would be willing sacrifice for the wellbeing of our families, and I think you told this chilling tale very well. Now, of course, I want to know more!
I definitely went vague on this one, Josie, but that allows you to leave it up to your imagination. My idea here? Very sinister. Very.
WHAT DID HE AGREE TO?????
Think about it for a minute…
Amazing the content you can put into six sentences….brilliant!! jodie
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Thank you, Jodie. They are a lot of fun and a great challenge. Hard to whittle down what I want to say into just a few lines!