Untold Podcast 71 - Standoff

Story: “Standoff" by Reed Benson
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: PG 

---

A police snake in a mechanized suit of armor faces a peculiar reaction from a hostage during a standoff.

untold_podcast_-_standoff.mp3
File Size:	14149 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

---

(Right Click to Save)

“Let the lady go, Thomas,” I say, my forearm cannon armed and pointed at the man in front of me. “My backup’s already on the way. You’ve got nowhere to run.”

Tom Crougar’s forehead, shoulders, and upper back are covered in jagged, bony protrusions, and a long bone blade extends from his right forearm to press against the neck of his unfortunate hostage.

“Not a chance, freak,” he sneers at me. “You let me walk, or I open her jugular.”

“You’re only wanted for robbery and grand theft auto, Tom,” I say directly. “Adding murder to the list will only make things worse for you.”

“I’ll die before I go back to the pen,” he insists. “You can’t make…”

“Um...excuse me?” the middle-aged woman in Tom’ grasp interrupts, looking at me. “I’m sorry, but...what are you?”

Credits:
"Standoff" by Reed Benson
DeviantART
The Expatriate Act

Works by Reed Benson
"Manhunt" by Reed Benson winner of the 2007 Fiction Award in Scop Magazine

"Standoff" was written and produced for the Good Snakes Flash Fiction Contest hosted by Untold Podcast