Finish This #3: The Hero's Tragedy

 The Hero's Tragedy

Wind swept the sand away, leaving only course rocks for him to stumble over. His feet quickly bloodied and his knees quivered with fatigue. Sweat had ceased to drip, and he felt Death breathing down the back of his neck. I'll never make it, he thought. Not this time. He lifted his head lazily and far off in the distance, beyond the horizon and at the very brink of eternity, he saw what would've been his salvation. It shimmered and mocked him with a seductive dance brought on by the heat of the desert. It knew he'd never make it, and so it danced triumphantly, claiming its prize before the battle was officially over. I wish I could have told them, he thought as he collapsed against his bitter deathbed. Never trust a <Finish This>.

Finish This #2: The Arsonist

Are you ready for Finish This #2? Here we go!

Read through the short story and comment below with the words you would use to replace the "<Finish This!>" marker!

The Arsonist

The sirens drew ever closer and a crowd of neighbors was beginning to assemble around her. The cul-de-sac was drowning in the brilliant glow of the flames that consumed her home. She stood watching with her arms folded and fists clenched. The frantic questions and cries of those around her fell on deaf ears as she stood there hoping beyond hope. Sally, her next door neighbor, began to shake her gently but still received no response.

When the first police car pulled around the corner, followed closely by a fire engine, she glanced over briefly before turning back toward the house and fighting back the urge to smile. She used the distraction to crush up the matchstick in her hand and let its pieces sail away on the breeze.
The officers approached her while the firemen rushed to their task of pushing the neighbors back and extinguishing the blaze. The two uniformed men spoke to her gently and their tone made her feel safe at last, but then she saw it--the thing she feared most: <Finish this!> moving toward them through the intense heat of the fire. She screamed and scrambled for the older officer's sidearm.

Finish This #1: Running Home in the Rain

I'm starting a new blog series called Finish This. Each Finish This post will include a short paragraph or two with an incomplete closing sentence, missing piece of dialogue, or other such gap. The gap(s) will be marked with <Finish This>. Once the prompt is posted, it's up to you to complete it in the comments section. Remember, anyone can participate, so don't be bashful!

Here's the first prompt!

Running Home in the Rain

Water exploded under his sneakers. His laces, which had untied nearly three blocks ago, whipped his calves with each stride. The pouring rain hid his tears and for that he was grateful; a man never cries. He crossed the front yard and knocked the old door open with his shoulder. He went straight for his bed, casting his bag against the wall and kicking his shoes off to join it. He buried his head under his pillow and yelled into his ratty blankets and mattress, "<Finish This>!"