This story is by Mike Conradt and was part of our 2025 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Emily Harper arrived in Sandy Creek during the height of summer heat and moved into the only available place, a small cottage near the Missouri River. Its four rooms were tiny but more than enough for her needs. The front porch faced the river, and the steps leading into the yard were closer to the river’s edge than she liked, but she loved the view of the river as it flowed gently by, which might inspire poets to write romantic sonnets, though none ever did.
As the new school principal, Emily had little time to prepare for the upcoming school year. She needed to unpack her belongings and set up her furniture in the cottage. At school, she had to prepare for the teachers’ in-service days and start on paperwork.
During the initial staff meetings, Emily introduced herself, trying to appear as professional as possible, but at the end of the day, she confided in Margaret, the school secretary, her misgivings.
“So, how do you think I did?” asked Emily, shyly biting her lip.
“I think you did just fine,” said Margaret. “In fact, you looked poised and competent,”
“Thanks, I needed that vote of confidence,” said Emily.
“Uh, Emily, may I have a word with you?” Margaret asked quietly.
“Sure, what’s on your mind?”
“Let’s head into your office. There are some things you need to know.”
“What things?” asked Emily, with a frown on her face.
“I don’t know how to say this,” said Margaret, closing the door to Emily’s office.
“This town has secrets—deep secrets—about a conspiracy to kill government officials, starting with the governor.”
“What?” said Emily in disbelief.
“Listen to me,” said Margaret. “This is very real, and this group would kill you if you tried to stop them. This town has lived in fear for years. This group of individuals has anti-government plans and will stop at nothing to carry them out.”
“I… I don’t know why you’re telling me this?” Emily looked into Margaret’s deep brown eyes. They held fear. Deep-seated fear.
“Because you are part of the administration. You have access to everything in the school.”
“What?”
“There are rumors that they plan to assassinate the governor during his visit to the school.”
Margaret’s bluntness frightened Emily.
“I am sure someone will contact you, discreetly,” said Margaret.
“Who and when?” Emily asked suddenly, feeling defiant. Margaret sensed Emily’s rebellious attitude.
“Emily, please be careful. They have already killed a loan officer at the bank and the principal from last year. He wouldn’t cooperate. Don’t be the next one,” Margaret said as she got up to leave. “They have threatened me, physically.”
“Call the police, the FBI,” said Emily.
The police are involved. The FBI thinks we’re crazy.
Margaret walked out the door with tears in her eyes. Emily didn’t know what to think.
Once school started, Emily thought about Margaret’s warning. No one had reached out to her yet, and she hoped they wouldn’t. But one evening, as Emily pulled into her driveway, she saw a man sitting on the bench across the street. She went inside and watched him from the window. He was dressed neatly, wearing a suit coat but no tie. His hair had gray streaks and was longer than most men’s. His stare toward her house made her feel uneasy. She locked the doors and kept watching him through a window. He sat for a little while longer before leaving.
Again, the next day, when Emily came home for lunch, the same man sat on the bench, staring at her with that same ominous expression. He didn’t seem like a parent—maybe a grandparent Emily didn’t know. He disappeared before she could gather enough courage to confront him. When she returned to school, Emily asked Margaret about the man.
“Margaret, I have something to ask you. There has been a man sitting on the bench across the street from me. He has a scary stare, like a stalker. Do you know anything about him, or do you know him?” asked Emily, feeling embarrassed to ask.
“What’s he look like?” Margaret asked.
“Grayish hair…”
“Will Carter,” interrupted Margaret. “He is the leader of the group I mentioned to you. If he were to disappear, then the conspiracy would fall apart. Emily, be careful, he is a dangerous and powerful man.” Margaret reached out and touched Emily’s wrist. “Please be careful.”
That evening, as Emily headed home, she looked for Will on the bench. He wasn’t there. Maybe because of the threat of rain or because he lost interest, but she could feel his dark eyes watching her. She hurried inside and locked the door, keeping a watchful eye out the window until it started to rain.
It rained heavily for a couple of days, causing the river to swell near flood stage. Eventually, the rain let up.
“Emily, you really should go home and get your things,” said Margaret.
“The river’s not that high, is it?” asked Emily.
“They have a flood warning out,” Margaret said.
“I’ll look after school.”
“Well, if you need any help, just holler,” said Margaret.
After school, Emily went home, went through the kitchen, and stepped onto the front porch. To her surprise, the river had risen to the top step. It looked angry, with swirling whirlpools and sticks floating in the fast-moving current. Frightened, Emily quickly went back inside. A wave of panic swept over her. She had to move everything to higher ground immediately. She turned toward the porch door. The water had already crept onto the kitchen floor. She hurried into the bedroom to grab some items and take them to the car. When she returned to the kitchen, Will Carter stood in the doorway that led to her car. Emily gasped and dropped her clothes and her alarm clock.
Speechless and wide-eyed, she backed up to the other side of the kitchen until her back touched the wall. She felt like screaming, but she thought it would only push him into doing something regrettable. He walked up to the kitchen table.
“What are you doing here? Who said you could come in here without knocking?” said Emily, trembling with fear.
“I just want to have a word with you,” said Will, his voice steady and non-threatening.
“What about?” Emily already knew what he wanted.
“I’m sure Margaret told you. She’s a blabbermouth, and I guess she’ll disappear after this is all over,” said Will.
“She didn’t tell me anything,” said Emily.
“I think she did, and I’ll only ask you once, and if you refuse, well, I’m sure you know the consequences,” said Will.
Will moved toward her. Water sloshed around his feet, and he noticed the water slowly covering the kitchen floor.
“I’ll be blunt. When the governor speaks in the auditorium, I need to have a man in the projector booth with a rifle. I need a way to get him and the gun inside without raising suspicion. He must be hidden from anyone checking the booth, and then I need a way for him to escape. You are the one who can get this done,” said Will matter-of-factly. Emily wondered if he understood the full scope of his request. Maybe it wasn’t a request.
“If I refuse,” said Emily.
“Then, well, you’re very pretty, but I’ll just have to cut your throat,” said Will as he pulled out a large hunting knife from its sheath inside his jacket.
“If I do it, you’ll kill me anyway, so I refuse to help you,” cried Emily, tears running down her cheeks. Will smiled and walked toward her, the large knife in hand. Emily screamed and ran through the rising water toward the porch door.
“Please don’t kill me. You don’t have to do this. I won’t tell anybody,” sobbed Emily. She looked behind her. She had nowhere to go but into the river. She could hear its roar, its anger. Will came closer, rubbing the knife’s edge across his finger, testing it for sharpness.
“I can’t take that chance,” said Will. He raised the large knife, moving closer.
Emily panicked, her thoughts jumbling and swirling in confusion. Is this it? Suddenly, in an instant, Will charged at her, swinging the knife toward her neck, but Emily ducked just as the large blade sliced through the air above her head. She rose and rammed her shoulder into his chest as hard as she could. He gasped, hitting his head on the door frame. Emily slipped behind him as he tried to catch his breath. Then, with her small foot, she kicked him onto the porch and into the swirling waters of the river. She ran to the door and looked out just in time to see Will thrashing around, trying to swim to shore in a river that was unwilling to give up its victims. Then he disappeared below the surface.
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