copyright Sandra Crook
The World is my Stage
“1 billion hits by midnight or New York City is gone!” screamed the title of the live Internet feed. Seven hours left: 540,000,000 hits needed. The CIA considered them a credible threat and now the whole world watched, breath held.
Jason sat in front of the nuclear weapon mock-up, webcam capturing everything except his own screen. Members were reporting from all over the country. Everything was almost ready, and then the real strike, the hammer blow of vengeance, would fall.
The first rule of sleight of hand, Jason thought. Keep the audience focused anywhere but where the real action is.
The Green-Walled Tower 
October 9th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Nice take on the prompt.
October 9th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Now that is very threatening David. Seriously so… Well done.
October 9th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
…and the title…perfect!
October 9th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
super shrewd! great story David!
October 10th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Thank you so much!
October 11th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
where are you? waiting for your next post!
October 11th, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I’m traveling but i should have it posted in an hour or so.
October 9th, 2013 at 11:02 pm
A meglomaniac with revenge on his mind…well written as always
October 10th, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Thank you.
October 9th, 2013 at 11:20 pm
David,
I like the intensity of this piece, but I feel a bit foolish. I’m not sure what just happened — please explain.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Ah, sorry. The idea was that a terrorist group is planning a major strike but made a live video feed to a guy with a fake nuclear bomb under New York City and threaten to blow up New York unless they get a billion hits on their video. This instantly captures the world’s attention, while the group quietly gets ready to hit a multitude of other sites, while everyone is looking the other way.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:27 pm
I got the bait and switch idea, but didn’t quite get that the guy wasn’t acting on his own. Great idea though. I think I’ll bring it up at my next terrorist cell meeting. We used to just make quilts but then one of the ladies brought this anarchists cookbook to a meeting one time everything got a little crazy
October 10th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Martha Stewart should come out with an answer to the anarchist cookbook. She must have picked up something in prison. There must be some way to make a pipebomb look festive.
October 10th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Or at least erotic, darling. And that’s a good thing.
October 10th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Ha! In some dark corner of the Internet, I’m sure such things as erotic pipe bombs exist.
October 9th, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Dear David,
Have you seen the movie, Now You See Me? Loved your take on the prompt. First thought is that you are spot on re internet fame. Hostage for the hits. Second thought addresses the deeper and darker plot line of your story. I am afraid that it, too, is going to come true. The you can say, “I told you so.” Well done, sir.
Aloha,
Doug
October 10th, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I love that movie, just all the mind tricks and misdirection. I hope it doesn’t come true but something like this does happen in the near future, I’ll probably have Secret Service knocking on my door (although I do live in Korea).
October 10th, 2013 at 12:40 am
Unfortunately too likely to be torn from the headlines at any time. Reminds me of one of the Die Hard movies, so I’m counting on Bruce Willis to come through for us again. (And that’s not an insult–I love the series.) 🙂
janet
October 10th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
This does seem right up his alley. He’ll discover the distraction at the last second and make a stunning, improbable entrance. I love those movies too. 🙂
October 10th, 2013 at 3:14 am
What a great idea for a thriller. I smell screenplay!
October 10th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Hmm, there’s an idea. Maybe we should all write 100-word screenplays. 😉
October 12th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Well I wouldn’t be too surprised if that became a reality at some point in the future — our attention spans are getting shorter by the minute! 😀
October 10th, 2013 at 4:16 am
That last statement is everything to this short story. Very well-written.
-HA
October 10th, 2013 at 5:22 am
Clever David. I love the title of this story and of course the ending. Well written.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Thank you! 🙂
October 10th, 2013 at 5:34 am
Sounds like the makings of a film…
October 10th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I could see it in something like “24” or Die Hard.
October 10th, 2013 at 6:58 am
Just as long as the little bastard isn’t striking Havertown PA, I’ll be damned if I’m going to give him a hit! Chilling little story.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
That’s the insidious thing about giving fame to evildoers. One on hand, that’s exactly what they want, so we should ignore them, but they’re what makes the most compelling news, so that’s what gets covered the most. Kind of a Catch-22.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:44 am
Friday Fictioneers – on a Wednesday. I must be losing track of time. Wait, my focus is elsewhere – BAM!
October 10th, 2013 at 8:08 pm
That’s right. This whole blog is merely misdirection. Better check that you still have your wallet.
October 10th, 2013 at 9:16 am
As bloggers, it’s hard not to be a hostage to the hits… so this resonates. Nice job. Edgy and thrilling.
October 10th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Chilling story, especially the bit about keeping the focus away from where it’s all really happening. Scary stuff. I really enjoy your writing.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Thank you~ Hopefully nothing like this will ever happen, but it is a scary scenario.
October 10th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Dear David,
Thanks for the wild ride this morning. Shrewd writing, sir. Chilling story that keeps growing in my head. Thinking happy thoughts. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
October 10th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
yes, let’s think happy thoughts. After I wrote this one, I wondered if it was a little too close to reality. Hopefully not. 🙂
October 10th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
This was innovative.. nothing works better than deception, I still remember Breivik and how he set of a bomb, partly as a deception…. Same with the failed suicide bombers in Stockholm. This one was more innovative though wonder if Jason has spotted the drone that have located him yet….
October 10th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
If he’s smart, he’ll be broadcasting from the Amazon jungle or somewhere, although I don’t know if anywhere is safe these days. Maybe a mile under the Greenland ice sheet, although I can’t speak for the Wi-fi there.
October 10th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
I kept thinking ‘one billion? the website will crash and then nyc is toast.’ But then I suppose I missed when the pea was passed to a different shell, right before my eyes!
Exciting take.
October 10th, 2013 at 10:02 pm
I’m pretty sure any network in the world would crash with that much traffic, but I guess if you’re a terrorist, that’s just a bonus. 🙂
October 11th, 2013 at 3:28 am
Jason! He figures in my own story – only he is off stage as the beloved bridegroom – former husband to Medea. I wonder if this is his idea of vengeance!
October 11th, 2013 at 3:31 am
Wow! That was a great twist on the prompt.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:21 am
wow that was like a movie in 100 words. great writing.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
A psychopath of epic proportions… how lovely!
October 15th, 2013 at 7:08 am
Great story David, sort of stops you in your tracks and makes you think ‘What if?’
It is an excellent take on the prompt
Dee
October 16th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Wouldn’t that be the case in our modern age–a live internet feed needing hits.