Flash Fiction Friday: The Night I Escaped Sean
Prologue
In the middle of Shepherd's Bush Green, the sweet smell of candy floss mingled with the hum of generators.

It was the annual fair, a fleeting escape from the dull routine of everyday life. Amid neon lights and swirling crowds, a young boy stood still, lost in thought.



Trigger ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Warning!

1980
We loaded the Dodgem cars onto enormous red lorries. Grease coated our hands, mixing with the sharp scent of oil and petrol. Sweat slid down my back, and the weight of skipping school gnawed at my conscience.

At thirteen, I felt older than my years. This was my first real job. Sean, the fairground worker, stood beside me, his weathered face lit by flickering lights. His thick black hair tied in a ponytail, he carried the menace of a lifetime on the road.

“Jump in, kid,” Sean’s deep voice cut through the clamour of the fairground.

I clambered onto the worn seats beside him, leather and cigarette smoke wrapping around me.

We were bound for Windsor, the distant lights of fairgrounds shimmering through the rain-swept night.

As the heavens opened, doubts crept in. Thunder and lightning cracked across the sky. Was this adventure worth the risk? Should I have stayed in school?

The storm raged harder. A police car pulled alongside, its presence strange and watchful. Sean’s expression darkened. With a heavy sigh, he pulled over.

“Listen, kid,” he said, regret softening his voice, “you should head home. Your parents will be worried sick.”

He pressed a crumpled £5 note into my hand. “You’ve been a good worker. If you ever want to return, look me up next year.”

I took the grubby note and muttered a thank you.

He leaned over, opening my door, his hand brushing against my arm.

Frightened, I leapt into the rain-slicked street, hood pulled tight. What was his game?

I hurried towards the bus stop, mind racing. Adventure, yes—but relief to be going home.

When I glanced back, the police car had vanished. Sean beeped his horn and waved. His eyes pierced through me, a sinister intensity lurking beneath his face. I shivered as he licked his lips, hungry for… who knew what.

Years later, rumours reached me of Sean’s arrest for unspeakable crimes.

That night stayed with me, a shadow over memory, a stark reminder that danger often hides behind familiar faces.

In the end, perhaps it was luck that brought me home safely—escaping a fate I could never have imagined.

Have you ever had an adventure that scared you but changed you forever? Share your story in the comments below.

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