The neighbors stand on front porches and sidewalks, craning their necks to try to see more but unwilling to move their rooted feet. The screech of the siren, the flashing lights drew them out of their homes, their hushed whispers excited by the subtle shadenfreude of someone else’s tragedy.

They catch a glimpse – only a glimpse – of the stretcher in the long, halogen streetlight shadow of the ambulance, enough to see the sheet pulled all the way to the top. They cluck with sympathy.

There is no one under the sheet. Just guns, three bricks of unused semtex, and a tarnished silver crucifix.

More 100 Words

Fellow Illuminerdus Nook Harper brings us still more 100 Words this week! 

Delivery

75% of life threatening calls must have an ambulance in attendance within 8 minutes. Well, actually a first responder. The actual ambulance has to be there within 19 minutes. That's for the NHS. No idea what targets other places have.

Don't care, really.

This ambulance that gets there in 6 minutes or less. I don't drop off at a hospital, though.

It's a parking garage in the financial district. It's a bit weird, I'll grant you that.

Why? I've never asked, just collect the cash and swallow any questions.

Anyways, we're here now. I'm sure someone will collect you shortly.

The Cue

This week's inspiration for the 100 Word RPG Hook was "ambulance." 

Image Credit: Werner Vermaak