FFF Winner: Mindy Saini!

Congrats to this week's FFF winner, Mindy Saini! Mindy is 22 years old and lives in Australia (where it is currently blazing hot and bushfire weather, not subzero like it is at my house.) She is an aspiring paranormal writer using the pen name S. K. Saini. If this week's entry is anything to go by, I think she can drop the 'aspiring!' You can check out her blog at www.sksainitheauthor.blogspot.com.

I have to tell you, out of all the Flash Fiction Fridays we have done so far, I think this week was by FAR the most difficult decision to make - there were some truly fantastic, amazing entries! It was incredibly difficult to choose just one, and my congrats to all the entrants on some well written stories.

Mindy's story won me over because of her voice and tight use of tension. For someone calling themselves an amateur writer, she has a very professional grasp of those skills, and it makes her story a fun, easy read that bounces right along. She gives strong emotion to her characters. She can take this piece of tight flash fiction, very short, and make it spine-chillingly creepy with the way she flips the tables in the end scene. You go from feeling so much empathy and concern for the stranger on the plane to feeling downright terrified of him!

This is her story, starting from the prompt where a stranger on a plane grabs your arms and asks to clear their conscience:

"Clear your conscience?" I said cautiously, trying to move my arm discreetly to rid his hand from my arm. The stranger only deepened his hold as his eyes pleaded with me to listen.
"Please, I need to tell someone!" The stranger begged pitifully and I looked around myself to make sure no one was watching. I turned back to face him. His expression was full of sadness and his legs fidgeted with his nervous disposition.
“Well, what’s wrong?” The stranger gave relieved sigh and put his face closer to mine, ridding me of my personal space. I tried not to move away and stayed rooted to the spot.
“My name is Adam and my family was taken from my home three days ago. These men forced me to do things for them.” He whispered hurriedly as if he was about to be taken any moment. “They forced me onto this plane. I shouldn’t be here!”
“So, you and your family were kidnapped and forced to obey their orders?” I whispered back. I couldn’t believe that this man’s family was kidnapped from his home and he was forced onto a plane. It just seemed too surreal and unbelievable. The man named Adam nodded agitatedly, his eyes darting around the plane. I decided to go along with it.
“Why did they put you on this plane? What did they ask you to do?” I stared at Adam, wondering if he was faking this charade or if he was really genuine. He let out an exasperated sigh.
“I’m not supposed to tell you. I shouldn’t even be telling you all this.” Adam stared at me and moved his hand from my arm and onto his lap. He knew he had my attention. I sighed impatiently.
“Look, you wanted to tell me. So just spill it or stop playing games.” Adam’s eyes poured into mine and I diverted my eyes away as he was starting to make me uncomfortable. What he whispered next made my heart sink.
“There’s an explosive device somewhere on this plane.” My eyes snapped back to Adam’s face, his expression was petrified and my heart was smashing inside my chest. Shit. This couldn’t be happening. Why does this have to happen to me?
“You have a bloody bomb on this plane?” I whispered with an alarmed tone to my voice. Adam’s eyes started to tear up as he nodded. I let out a frustrating sigh. I couldn’t believe it. This had to be a dream or maybe I was stuck inside a movie and I didn’t know it? What the hell was I going to do now? I’m no bomb expert!
I grabbed Adam by his shirt and pulled his face closer to mine. Adam grabbed onto the seat to steady himself.
“When is it going off?” I whispered furiously, letting go of his shirt. Adam sat with his back to the window and stared at me.
The nervous stare that Adam wore previously had now vanished. Instead, his face contorted into a malice smile that sent shivers down my body. His pleading eyes had disappeared and turned mischievous. My breathing quickened and I stared at Adam in astonishment.
“Now.”