After much time away, I've jumped back into the action. What action you ask? The Absolute Write Blog Chain of course! April's theme offered a random challenge. I hope you enjoy it. When you're finished reading, please take a look at my fellow AWer's posts to see what they came up with. You won't be disappointed.
The hardwood floor under Nelson's feet shook from the resounding applause. As cheers erupted and echoed throughout the amphitheater, Nelson popped a couple more Halos into his mouth. The small pills slipped down his throat like candy and tasted better. Then peeking from behind the curtain, Nelson watched Frank, his drug dealing partner, circle around the tank which held a highly trained dolphin.
"Animal's gonna make me richer than Frank ever did." Nelson looked to the left, then to the right to be sure nobody was around to hear him. The Halos were causing paranoia already. It was an unfortunate side effect, but Nelson craved the adrenaline rush they caused too much to care about anything else.
Nelson rubbed his eyes before focusing on the stage. It was time to get even for all those times Frank took a back seat in the drug deals they'd made. Frank wanted the money but took none of the risk upon himself. Nelson had been stabbed, shot twice, and thrown into Black Canyon. All were separate incidents. Well, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so they say. And once this last job was complete, Nelson would never be seen or heard from again. He could start a whole new life with the money he was being paid.
Frank was preparing the dolphin for another trick. Nelson watched the dolphin's flawless performance. "Funny. No one would ever guess how vicious that animal was." Nelson didn't bother to look around this time. The initial jitters of the drug were wearing off, and now Nelson was ready to spring into action. Just a few more steps and Frank would be between the tank and the curtain. Seconds passed by. Frank came closer. Closer. Closer.
Nelson's hands shot out from behind the curtain, making contact with Frank's shoulders. Nelson watched long enough to feel water soak his shoes, and then he ran from the stage, down a flight of stairs, and out a back door. The audience was silent until the water turned red. Nelson heard the screams but didn't care. As he ran to the waiting car, he said goodbye to each landmark on the strip.
Safe inside the speeding Buick, Nelson allowed himself to laugh. Frank's fans had always asked the same question: why didn't he get in the tank with the dolphin? Now they'd know.
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