💯 STORY CHALLENGE | FICTION
Oh Dear, Did You Call Me Weak?
№12 of 💯 — A wordless woman. A useless boyfriend. A bounty and a supernatural talent.
“Look, Cynthia, I can’t lie to you he said this bounty wouldn’t be suited to a person with your talents, your… um…unique skills. He said the next one that fits would be all yours babe!”
Ryan responded to her quizzical expression. He avoided her after hanging up, this told Cynthia everything she didn’t need him to say a word, knowing they wouldn’t even consider her for the job.
“Unique skills” must be code for someone who can’t speak…
Cynthia sighed, rolled her eyes then signed veraciously ‘I am perfect for that job and you know it! You should’ve insisted I was the only choice!’
“We will get the next one. What’s the big deal?”
‘But I wanted this one. I had this one, easy. Oh, and The money could’ve set us up for nearly a year! For Fucks sake Ryan why do you allow them to convince you so easily. Babe. ’
She responded in sign, sarcasm seeping from her pout. She was heavily regretting dating her translator right about now.
“Babe, the boss said you’re a great person to have on the team or whatever but this one job needed someone who could talk, someone with um… you know more oomph, less delicate. He’ll probably go with Jane or Dina or something. Seriously, we will get the next one p — ”
Ryan said, ready to be done with the conversation. He couldn’t yet read all the details bouncing from her eyes but felt the dig from her forceful babe.
Before he could make more empty useless promises Cynthia snatched the keys to the ute off the dinner's perpetually sticky table and walked out the bell ringing rudely as she pushed through it. She’d get the bounty herself. She was done with these fucking idiots. Done with Ryan. Forever underestimated and dumped with prejudice.
I mean, Someone less delicate?
What the actual fuck did that even mean?
Sure, Jane and Dina were alluring and could get the guy in their palm quick but she had a strength they’d never have, Cynthia could enthral anyone. Her tiny 4 foot 6 frame was fascinating she had a unique talent that's for sure…
She’d tried to explain it to Ryan but he couldn't see it. Not a soul believed her. They assumed her results were born from luck or pity. The only way to force their beliefs being a memory wiping hypnosis technique presented her with too much wasted time. Cynthia ended up not bothering to explain anymore.
She could trap people with the turn of her head, and hypnotise them with the flick of her wrist.
As a kid, she began studying faces, foreign languages and non-verbal gestures and mastered these along with lip-reading — which one way or another led to hypnosis.
She could literally make anyone believe anything. All without saying a word.
The day dragged on Cynthia had been surveilling the bounty (some rich-white dude) for hours now. Ryan wondered why she bothered with surveillance if she apparently could capture people as she told. Thank fuck he wasn’t here she thought. What she did was an art form. Beautiful, intentional and strong.
She had a careful process:
First, watching them from a distance absorbing every minute mannerisim and seeing how they presented themselves to the world.
Then, it was time to place herself in their path. Inserting herself into a strong interest and playing on the studied insucurities.
Walking them into her trap like it was their idea.Cynthia would get them alone. Look deep into their eyes, place her hand on their shoulder.
Finally, Carefully removing the stylish pen from her tight bun and releasing the long thin blade she would slide it into the side of their neck. Without a drop of blood or cry for redemption.
Draining them of life.
The hours alone were a gift. A gift of change she wouldn’t return. The company had paired her up with Ryan to help her communicate (help them ignore her, discriminate and disregard her she thought). Spending so much time together they ended up fucking one night, full of adrenaline from catching a crook no one else could find. Cynthia found this guy of course. It was a relationship out of convenience and lust more than anything.
If Cynthia went back to Ryan she might end up draining him of life!
No, She’d pick up her cheque and find a new gig. Find a new gig where she could communicate through writing only, they’d never even have to know she was wordless.
Her so-called weakness was powerful beyond all outside recognition. Without Ryan maybe a couple of jobs in and she’d never need to work again!
Her talent was too efficient, too meticulous to be wasted and stomped on by fuckheads who saw her only as the
‘Delicate tiny blonde girl who don’t talk’.
❤️🔥 This story was inspired by a powerful one-time interaction with a wordless woman shattering societal expectations and of course the 100 story challenge on the Microcosm Pub.
If you enjoyed it these stories might tickle your fancy ❤
By Jann Christoph von der Pütten —
By Preeti Ramachandran —
Bridie. Wording myself together ✍️ Founder and Editor at Younessness 🌻❤️🔥
