Third Eye

Written for the Daily Flash Fiction Challenge with a word limit of 300.

The prompts: This story must contain the words: braid, dripping and tattoo

Third Eye

It happened so fast he had no choice but to die; his life force dripping down the front of his shirt.

Lenny stood for nearly a minute before timbering over. A conveniently placed carpet served as his death shroud – the trunk of a Lincoln MKVIII his hearse.

Earlier, this had all seemed so easy.

“Bring me her braid,” was all the voice had said. A texted address followed.

Lenny found the location; a small shop in Asian-Town. No big surprise. The family frequently ordered hits on the Choy Organization. Survival of the fittest was a long tradition in the world of syndicated crime.

This small part of the city was all hustle and bustle. You could get anything from healing potions to sun-dried duck. The streets were packed with buyers, sellers and stealers; Perfect for striking quickly then vanishing into the crowd.

This was the place alright. A weathered sign hung above the shop door.

Psychic Readings

The dim shop was only lit by the light coming in from the storefront window. He sensed a movement from between some back shelves. As his eyes adjusted, he saw her emerge.

This was not what he expected. She was a small thin woman; maybe eighty years old. She came closer and he could see that she was clearly blind. She moved as if she knew where she was, but her clouded eyes told the story. A length of braided hair trailed behind her. On her forehead was a tattoo of an eye.

“Hello Lenny. I have been expecting you.”

“How did you know?”

“The third eye sees all.”

“Then you know why I am here.”

“Yes. You are here to die.”

Her attack was lightening fast and surgically accurate.

Lenny never stood a chance against the Choy family matriarch.

Word count 297