This post was inspired by today's 5-minute writing prompt in the Freewriters Community - 3 June 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2392: design something new
Enjoy !
Trigger warning - some profanity....
Image created by AI in NightCafe Studio
"What happened John ?"
Maria looked at her boyfriend; he was clearly distressed, his face scratched and jacket torn.
"Bloody muggers. Jumped me in the alley, took my wallet and phone. Nothing I could do, there were three of them, all with knives."
She shook her head sympathetically. "Someone's got to do something. The police won't, they're only there for the rich and powerful."
John nodded grimly. "Yes. I think I've got an idea...."
For the next three days, Marie could hear noises from the garage that John had turned into a workshop. Sawing, drilling, metal on metal.
Finally John emerged, holding something in his hand. It was rectangular, about two thirds the size of a brick but flatter. It looked like someone had wrapped a segmented frame around a chunk of grey matt-finish steel.
"What is it ?" she asked.
He grinned grimly. "Well, if you meet someone with a flick-knife, you think they're an insecure asshole. But you meet someone with an axe, you think 'Fuck, it's a maniac !'"
He pressed a button, and the frame sprang open, straightening out and locking together. The rectangular lump of steel was revealed as a wicked hatchet blade.
"So I designed something new. I made the world's first flick-axe."