Good morning! Happy Saturday to everyone.
Don't Name the Source for the 12th of November.Today I am contributing a short fiction to @freewritehouse's writing prompt
I know I'm late. But that's just how it be, I guess.
Anyway, this one got my brain'a'chuggin with ideas.
Hope you enjoy!
The Ice Man
John was fidgeting with his phone.
"Can you stop that?"
"Sorry." John said, putting his phone away. "I just..." he trailed off, scratching the back of his neck. I continued typing, ignoring his attempt to spur my reaction. "It's just..." John stopped himself, the words begging to escape his lips. Yet they didn't, and they wouldn't - not without my ascent. So, unable to voice himself, John began tapping his foot on the ground. God he's annoying.
Giving credit to myself, I did tollerate the rhythmless tapping for five, no, ten seconds before I pushed my laptop away. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I threw my other hand up in capitulation.
"What is it, John?" My frustration showed, which I think only made him more nervous. John stammered. " I.. uh, well. You see.." I let out a long, audible sigh. Normally this is where he would give up, but to my shock, John actually gathered himself.
"Don't name the source." John said.
I was taken aback. I looked the man over trying to spot the change in him. He was rigid, almost as though he actually bad a back bone. In all my years dealing with John, with this worm of a man, I had pegged him for a spineless Sally.
"Don't name the source." John said once again, this time with finality in his voice.
At that moment John became a completely different person. Not literally, of course.. but in every other way you can think of. He stood taller, spoke clearer. The way he looked at me. The coldness. A jolt of fear ran through me. I didn't know John at all.
Now I was the one stammering.
"But John, you're the source." I laughed at the absurdity. "John. If I don't name you, then the whistle you're blowing will be a silent one." I gestured toward the laptop. "Do you think anyone will believe this if there isn't a ranking official to back it up?"
John adjusted his wrist watch.
"That was never the point." John stated.
"Release it as is."
"But..." I tried to speak but he cut me off.
"I won't tell you again, Sam. Release it. As. Is. Don't name the source, leave that part out. This will be the spark that will ignite a much larger flame."
I was in shock. John made a quick motion that made me flinch. Was he going to hit me? No, no he wasn't. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it in a single fluid motion. John took a drag.
"You get me, Sam?" He snapped his zippo shut.
I've been in this game long enough to know a veiled threat when I hear one.
"Sure, John. I'll leave you out of it."
I lied.
Instead of his actual name, now I'm calling him the Ice-Man.
By: Simon Tonkin