Each week, I send out a story via my email newsletter. Each story is around 1000 words, sometimes less, sometimes more. The stories are in a variety of genres: supernatural, thriller, sci-fi, horror, and sometimes romance, and all of my stories typically feature a gay protagonist.
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This is story number 20 of the series. Enjoy!
Bargain Hunt Nightmare
Jake huffed as he maneuvered through the sea of frenzied shoppers. Black Friday madness had descended upon Millbrook Mall, transforming the usually calm shopping center into a chaotic battlefield of bargain hunters.
“Remind me again why we’re here?” Jake grumbled to his boyfriend, Matt, who was eagerly scanning the store windows.
Matt grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Come on, babe! We talked about this. It’s our chance to snag that new gaming system for half off. Plus, your mom’s birthday is coming up, remember?”
Jake sighed, running a hand through his messy brown hair. “Yeah, yeah. I just hate crowds, you know?”
As they pushed their way towards the electronics store, Jake couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Maybe it was the way people seemed more aggressive than usual, or how the security guards looked unusually tense. He chalked it up to Black Friday jitters and tried to focus on the task at hand.
The couple finally made it to GameZone, joining the throng of people waiting for the doors to open. Jake checked his watch – 11:58 PM. Two minutes until midnight when the sales would officially begin.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Jake muttered.
Matt squeezed his hand. “It’ll be fine. We’ll be in and out before you know it.”
The store manager appeared, megaphone in hand. “Alright, folks! Remember, no pushing or shoving. We’ve got plenty for everyone!”
As the clock struck midnight, the doors swung open. The crowd surged forward, and Jake found himself swept along with the tide of eager shoppers. He lost his grip on Matt’s hand and panic started to set in.
“Matt!” he called out, but his voice was drowned out by the cacophony of excited voices and blaring store music.
Jake stumbled into the store, his heart racing. He scanned the crowd for Matt’s familiar mop of red hair but couldn’t spot him anywhere. Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the noise.
Time seemed to slow down as Jake turned towards the sound. Near the video game display, a woman was on the ground, clutching her leg. A small pool of blood was forming beneath her.
“Everyone, stay calm!” a security guard shouted, rushing to the scene.
But calm was the last thing on anyone’s mind. The crowd began to push and shove, desperate to get away from the injured woman. Jake felt himself being jostled from all sides.
“Matt!” he yelled again, fear gripping his chest.
As he fought against the tide of panicking shoppers, Jake caught a glimpse of something that made his blood run cold. A man in a dark hoodie was weaving through the crowd, his hand concealed beneath his jacket. Jake’s cop instincts, honed from years on the force, kicked in immediately.
“Stop! Police!” Jake shouted, reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there. He was off-duty, unarmed, and in the middle of what was quickly becoming a dangerous situation.
The hooded figure turned, locked eyes with Jake for a split second, then bolted towards the back of the store. Without hesitation, Jake gave chase, his heart pounding in his ears.
He followed the suspect through the stockroom, dodging boxes and confused employees. “Call 911!” Jake yelled to a startled worker as he raced past.
The chase led them out a back door into the service corridor of the mall. Jake could hear the suspect’s footsteps echoing off the concrete walls, getting fainter by the second.
“Dammit,” Jake muttered, pushing himself to run faster. He rounded a corner and found himself face-to-face with the hooded figure, who had apparently hit a dead end.
“Freeze!” Jake commanded, adopting his best authoritative tone despite being out of breath. “Show me your hands!”
The suspect slowly turned, raising his hands. As he did, something fell from beneath his jacket – a knife, its blade glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights.
Jake’s mind raced. He was unarmed, facing a potentially dangerous criminal. He needed to keep the suspect talking until backup arrived.
“Why’d you do it?” Jake asked, trying to keep his voice steady. “Why attack someone on Black Friday?”
The hooded figure let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about Black Friday. This is about sending a message.”
Before Jake could respond, the suspect lunged forward, reaching for the fallen knife. Jake reacted on instinct, tackling the man to the ground. They grappled on the cold concrete floor, each fighting for control.
Jake managed to pin the suspect down, but not before feeling a sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see a growing red stain on his shirt.
“Jake!” A familiar voice echoed down the corridor. Matt appeared, his face pale with worry. “Oh my God, you’re hurt!”
“I’m okay,” Jake grunted, maintaining his hold on the suspect. “Call for backup and an ambulance.”
As sirens wailed in the distance, Jake’s mind whirled with questions. What message was the suspect trying to send? And why target a random shopper?
The next few hours passed in a blur of police statements, paramedic check-ups, and worried looks from Matt. Jake’s wound turned out to be superficial, requiring only a few stitches.
As they sat in the hospital waiting room, Matt clutched Jake’s hand. “I can’t believe you chased after a armed suspect on your day off. You could have been killed!”
Jake smiled weakly. “Sorry, babe. Guess I can’t turn off the cop in me.”
A detective approached them, notepad in hand. “Officer Martinez, how are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better,” Jake admitted. “What’s the story with our suspect?”
The detective’s face grew serious. “It’s bigger than we thought. Turns out he’s part of an anti-consumerism group. They were planning a series of attacks on major retailers during Black Friday. Your quick action may have prevented a lot more injuries.”
Jake felt a chill run down his spine. What had started as a simple shopping trip had turned into something much more sinister.
Matt squeezed his hand. “You’re a hero, you know that?”
Jake shook his head. “I was just doing my job. Even if I was off-duty and shopping for video games.”
As they left the hospital, the sun was just beginning to rise. The streets were quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of a few hours ago.
“Some Black Friday, huh?” Matt said, a hint of humor in his voice.
Jake chuckled, wincing slightly at the pain in his side. “Yeah, not quite the bargain hunting experience I was expecting.”
They walked in comfortable silence for a moment before Matt spoke again. “You know, I think I’m done with Black Friday shopping for a while.”
“Oh yeah?” Jake raised an eyebrow. “What about that gaming system you wanted?”
Matt shrugged. “Some things are more important than deals. Like, you know, not getting stabbed.”
Jake laughed, pulling Matt close. “Fair point. How about we do our holiday shopping online this year? Less crowds, less chance of foiling terrorist plots.”
“Sounds perfect,” Matt agreed, leaning into Jake’s embrace.
As they made their way home, Jake couldn’t help but feel grateful. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he was safe, the bad guy was caught, and he had Matt by his side. It might not have been the Black Friday deal they were looking for, but in Jake’s book, it was a win nonetheless.
In the days that followed, as the full story of the foiled attack came to light, Jake found himself hailed as a hero. Interviews, commendations, even a medal of valor – it was all a bit overwhelming. But through it all, Matt was there, a steady presence keeping him grounded.
One evening, as they cuddled on the couch, Matt turned to Jake with a mischievous grin. “You know, there’s one good thing that came out of all this.”
“Oh yeah?” Jake raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
Matt’s grin widened. “Well, your mom’s birthday present is taken care of. I mean, what could be better than having a hero for a son?”
Jake groaned, burying his face in a pillow as Matt laughed. Some things, it seemed, would never change – Black Friday chaos or not.
The End