FF – For the Cause
Here is my story for this week’s Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Peter Abbey.
Not a comedy this week, but not as dark as my preceding stories! To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Peter Abbey
Stefan risked a quick glance back at his erstwhile captors as he made his way gingerly along the tunnel. Ahead, the exchange prisoner approached and further on, the safety of his own troops.
Months of torture and his captors had decided he knew nothing. Sweat broke out on his brow as reality hit – a few more seconds to safety, to divulging the enemy’s plans in detail.
As the two men drew level Stefan felt a blade slide between his ribs.
“Why?” he gasped as his life ebbed away.
“For the cause,” replied the other as a hail of bullets took him down.
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draliman on life 
Poor Stefan! Good story Ali… Kept me hooked till the end…!
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So close to safety. I’m glad you liked it!
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Ah yes. “For the greater good” covers a LOT of sins and crimes.
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Yep, it certainly does.
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Great story, once again! All is fair in love and war!
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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Very tense story!
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I’m glad that came across, I had to cut a lot of words out 🙂
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So much hate. Sad. Well told.
Planned on emailing you, but email does not send. Only receives. Plans to fix.
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Thanks!
Good luck with the email, that can be tricky to fix sometimes.
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I got it. I brought my computer to the Apple Store. In 3 minutes, I was up and running. Guess we know who is the brilliant one.
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Yay!
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Your stories always leave me wanting more. When are you writing a manuscript?
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I’ve tried more than once. I’ve sort of started a sci-fi thing with a sort of “Terry Pratchett” feel to it – one and a half pages in 6 months 😦
I’m glad you like my stories!
And this comment did drop into my spam folder…
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Yeah. I haven’t heard back from the powers that be. I guess until it’s done I’ll be clicking like, but not leave comments.
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Annoying for you, hope they sort it soon.
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Me too
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Oh, wow! That last line is a hard one. Very well done. Alicia
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! I like to finish with a hard-hitting last line.
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Excellent. I was ready for the traditional spy exchange – great twist! Love this.
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Somebody suspected Stefan knew more than he let on…
I’m glad you liked it!
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Excellent! And probably happens more often than we think.
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Thanks! Yes, probably. It’s not the sort of thing which gets advertised!
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Nasty… You really like a twist don’t you LOL whether in the story line or with a knife 😀 Reminded me of the episode Special Relationships from the old TV show, The Sandbaggers
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Ha, yes, it’s all about the twist!
I’ve never heard of that programme but it sounds like my sort of thing (I just looked it up).
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Brilliant series!
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It’s on Amazon on DVD!
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Ooh, is it? I’ll have to have a look.
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Killed by his own?
Brilliant story.
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Technically he was stabbed by the exchange prisoner, but I don’t suppose the bullets from his own side in retaliation helped 🙂
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I’ve always wondered how these prisoner exchange got pulled off without any hitches. This is obviously proof that they don’t. At least let the two have a Mortal Combat style fight before they end up killing each other…
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I bet they go horribly wrong more often than not…
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So cruel, when he was so close to safety!
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A few scant yards…
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Ali, Ali, whatever are we to do with you?
Tense, dark story. Well done, though. If the muse takes you to the dark side who am I to complain? 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I tried my hardest to do a funny one 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it anyway!
Ali
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There’s a fine line between being a hero and a criminal. For the cause? For his own hatred? For suspicion of betrayal? He knew that he’d be shot… you make both prisoners equally fascinating.
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Thanks! I guess either he’ll do anything to gain revenge after his captivity even at the cost of his life, or he really is a hero and strongly suspects Stefan knows enough to hurt his side.
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Chilling! And to think that he was so close to getting away!
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Just a few more seconds 😦
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So close! Another great one, Ali.
When are you going back to writing funny tales? 😃
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Soon I hope. It was supposed to be this week 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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I’m waiting patiently for your funny self to return. 😋
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Me too 🙂
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You must’ve put him in a “safe” place. 😜
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“For the cause”. I think those three words are terrifying to hear. To die because someone believed it was right for their cause…
Great story! 🙂
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Thanks! Yes, scary words indeed, used by so many to justify so much.
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that’s one nasty twist. so close to freedom, but no cigar. a knife between his ribs instead.
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Scant seconds away, and after all he’s been through.
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Not as dark? So awful to come so close…
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Okay, it was pretty dark 🙂
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Tense, terse and dark, but very well crafted.
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Thanks! Though I’m looking forward to getting the “funny” back one of these weeks…
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This was very intense, tightly packed, I loved it!
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the tension!
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Knowing your talent for twisty endings, I should have known poor Stefan wouldn’t make it to the safety of his own troops!
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Yeah, he never stood much of chance, did he? 🙂
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I was hopeful for poor Stefan until the bitter end. Nicely done.
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Thanks. He nearly made it, poor chap.
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This reminded me of the Cold war exchanges across European borders. Really well delivered.
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Thanks! Yes, that’s what I was thinking too. I thought the photo depicted the perfect location for such an exchange.
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That was some twist, but not entirely unexpected. Still there was hope.
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There’s usually a twist in my little stories!
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Yes, and I love that 🙂
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🙂
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Still pretty dark! haha, but well written! Suspense and a complete story–nice job!
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Thanks! Hopefully the darkness will soon recede…
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Good suspense. Did you have to kill the poor guy though and suddenly slide the blade between his ribs? 🙂 That was an unexpected twist. Nicely done.
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Yeah, I definitely had to kill him 🙂 He knew too much…
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A gripping and unsettling story. Great tension and a shock ending – poor Stefan. So close to success and freedom.
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Yes, just a few more seconds. I’m glad you liked it!
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Wonderful, although disturbing, imagery Ali.
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Thanks! Very disturbing.
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Poor Stefan! So close to freedom, only to take a knife between the ribs. A wonderfully dark story. 🙂
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The man who knew too much. And after all he’s been through, too…
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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