Daily Flash Fiction

The Only Witness

Greg shoved his lunchbox into his locker, flinching as the metal door slammed shut like a rusty cage. Big Toby, the schoolyard bully, loomed behind him, a sneer twisting his lips. Greg knew the drill - muttered insults, tripped feet, maybe a shove for good measure. But today, something was different.

As Toby sauntered away, Greg noticed a figure slipping into the Principal's office. Mr. Morel, the gentle history teacher with a passion for ancient Rome. He seemed nervous, agitated, unlike his usual calm demeanor. Curiosity gnawed at Greg, urging him closer.

He pressed his ear against the thin wall separating the locker room from the office. Voices, muffled but tense, drifted through. Principal Weaver, his voice tight with fear, and Mr. Morel, his usually soft tones laced with a steely edge. Money, threats, a hushed exchange that sent chills down Greg's spine.

Then, a gunshot. A deafening crack that shattered the silence. Greg's heart hammered against his ribs, a trapped bird desperate for escape. He stumbled back, a gasp escaping his lips. He'd seen it all - Mr. Morel clutching his chest, eyes wide with shock, and Principal Weaver, gun smoking in his trembling hand.

The world spun. Run, disappear, hide. But his legs wouldn't obey. He was trapped, a witness frozen in time.

"I saw the whole thing," he whispered, the words barely audible. The echo hung heavy in the air, a declaration that shattered his silence. He wasn't just Greg the Fizzle anymore. He was a witness, a shadow holding the key to a deadly secret. And the Viper's Nest, his schoolyard jungle, was about to get a new predator. One born not of fangs and claws, but of fear and a burning need for justice.

WORD COUNT: 289 Words
WRITTEN FOR: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  | "Winner for 1/22 and prompt for 1/23"  
PROMPT: Write a story that includes the line: “I saw the whole thing.”