I stand on the rooftop, looking down into the alley some forty feet below. I see her walk in through the alley. Her pace is even, but quickened, as though she wants to get through as fast as possible without looking scared. There are predators out tonight who can taste fear. Three of them find her. They ask for her money, any jewelry, anything of value. She dumps her purse on the ground, telling them she doesn't have anything of value, her voice rising in pitch slightly as panic starts to take hold. As I make my way down the fire escape, my movements quick and silent, they tell her it's okay. She has _other valuables_ they'll take. They move in on her. I leap from the fire escape, landing lightly behind one of them. Before he knows what happened, I snap his neck. I turn, and the other two have guns drawn. Before I can move, they shoot us both and flee. She's dead. I've failed her. The world blurs, fades away... I stand on the rooftop, looking down into the alley some forty feet below. I see her walk... 2008-05-03T15:27:57Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/29271 <p>I love &#8220;circle stories.&#8221; I used to write a lot of them, the old fashioned way. (When I say &#8220;write&#8221; I actually mean <em>write</em>.) This is excellent as usual!! <br />.<br />Glad to see you are still among us. Hate to hear about the hours, but that&#8217;s good every now and then. (Just ignore that <em>that</em> statement is coming from someone 12 days away from two months off work. ;D )</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29271?basename=60199 2008-05-03T15:27:57Z Jenunique http://ficlets.com/authors/jenunique <p>I agree with Amyo and thebetweenspace&#8230;oh the possibilities</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29271?basename=60190 2008-05-03T13:35:51Z Mrs. Robinson http://ficlets.com/authors/rls0802 <p>Thanks, thebetweenspace. It&#8217;s good to be back, though it might be a bit sporadic for a bit. I&#8217;m working 60+ hour weeks right now, and it plays havoc with my creativity. I actually was inspired to write this story while watching &#8220;The Crow&#8221;. Probably a good thing the inspiration hit today instead of yesterday, when I watched &#8220;House of 1,000 Corpses&#8221; and &#8220;The Devil&#8217;s Rejects&#8221; (both excellent movies if you like horror flicks). :)</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29271?basename=60182 2008-05-03T13:01:42Z Capital "W" Writer (LoA's Geekus Awesomeus) http://ficlets.com/authors/capital_w_writer <p>Yes, I like the <em>Groundhog Day</em> element of the story. I wonder how the would-be hero will approach <em>saving</em> her next time. (sidebar: It&#8217;s great to have you back! I&#8217;ve been missing your stories this past week or two) Also, there&#8217;s a typo in the first word of the 3rd paragraph.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29271?basename=60181 2008-05-03T12:51:45Z thebetweenspace http://ficlets.com/authors/thebetweenspace <p>This is really cool! I love the possibilities&#8230; a Groundhog Day situation? A superhero with the ability to turn back time? Sequel please!!</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29271?basename=60177 2008-05-03T12:08:42Z Amyo http://ficlets.com/authors/user_8628