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The hunter stalked the high school dance like a panther stalked its prey. Through the foilage, he peered at the festivities within. He brushed aside golden curls and watched the roiling sea of taffeta and tuxedos amid a riot of streamers and tinsel. A lone banner declared it was ‘A Time to Remember.’ On the building’s west side, the social outcasts grouped together, casting furtive glances at the dance floor. Spiked punch did little to alleviate their anxiety. One awkward teen looked especially forlorn as the object of his desire crossed the makeshift stage to accept her crown. Perfect. Outside the gym, the camoflauged youth pulled a gleaming silver arrow from his backpack, fitted the deadly instrument into his bow, and waited. The crowned couple descended the stage and danced amid a wide circle of admirers. The King spun his partner westward, and the hunter loosed his arrow – into the heart of the unsuspecting girl. She stumbled, fell from her partner’s grasp, and was caught by her most unlikely suitor. Amazed, he pushed his horned-rims up the bridge of his nose and helped the girl to her feet. “You fell…” She looked into his deep brown eyes and smiled. “Yes, I did.” Then the King pushed the outcast away, grasped the girl once again, and resumed the dance. It was too late. Eros’ shaft had hit its mark. The god slung his bow over his shoulder, zipped up his hoody, and smiled. |
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A Time to Remember by Catherine Russell
Filed under Catherine Russell
52|250 A Year of Flash 
Eros wears a hoody! Nothing should surprise me these days, but the gods always do.
Eros helping out the little guy and wearing a hoody. Love it.
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Puts me in the mind of Eminem having turned over a new leaf. Great visual, thanks for the story!
Being the outcast at high school myself… well, I guess it did happen in the end. It didn’t survive the first year of college, but I owe Eros a beer if he ever pops by!
Thoroughly enjoyable and very evocative.
Using his powers to correct John Hughes-inspired wrongness. Thank you.
Nice one, Cathy! I’m with John there. Eros with a hoody is definitely amusing. heh
Oh I loved this! I like to see that Eros is keeping up with the times.
This was a delightful read! The story starts so darkly: a stalking hunter hidden and alert, the reader waits with bated breath. We watch the hunter watch the prey and feel complicit in a crime-to-be. We witness a hunt, a fall and for that split instant we mourn the loss of love only to be rewarded a moment later with it rebirth. What a wonderful ride. :)
– Karla
Eros was great and that, but I think the highlight was the underdog pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, a very charming moment.
Love it! Didn’t happen for me until much later; thank you for the gift of prose.
How clever! As an archer, I was squirming a bit at first at the idea that one would point the weapon at another, and was delighted by the ending.
The silver arrow threw me, I thought it was a werewolf story until the ending. :)
I thinkj Eros would quite suit a hoodie too. :)
Very amusing!
An unusual combination of folklore and modern prose combine to make this stunning: scary, fascinating, familiar, haunting, funny, charming.
Leave it to hoody Eros to take care of the matter!… Enjoyed this little story of suspense. :-)
that was pretty unusual and quite clever. nicely done.
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Superb work Cathy! You did an excellent job of fooling us into thinking we were about to witness a massacre and then smoothly showed us the truth. Bravo!
The begining had a sinister feel to it with the hunter stalking the dance. Nice turn around.