002 - O.W.L.

 “Knock when the boss heads back.”

Alma stood wide eyed while Tyrone slipped into the office and stepped towards the computer. A shake of the mouse revealed a screen saver image of orange and black butterflies. Smirking, Tyrone entered “Manoarchs100.” Into the password. A second password block the access to the emails. Tyrone’s eyes roamed the screen for clues, noticing an old email was queued to the top with the subject, ”Town on Friday. 2 nights stay. Back on Friday?”

“Fr1day1sh0rse!” let him into the system. Tyrone searched for the email from him proving he had written the recently acclaimed article. The file labeled Originals was password protected with a bizarre riddle. Tyron blanked. Knowing time was precious he opened a chat on with O.W.L. (Online Writing Lab) and typed out, “What is the shortest sentence in the English language?”

“Go.” Pinged back.

Tyrone entered capital ‘g’, zero, period. His original email and the attached article, “Magic Mirrors – Revealing True Selves,” sat among a host of other pirated articles secretly locked away. He quickly opened a new email to the editor and clicked attached the file as the door was shoved open.

“Move away from the computer and I won’t arrest you and your sister.”

“I’ve already sent the editor the email.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can explain it. They won’t fire me for one article, but you will be.”

“Will they for 28?”

***

Prompt from Fairytale Plot Generator on Springhole.net

“The story is about a brave queen who must defeat a tyrant, find a magic mirror and solve 3 riddles to save the kingdom. Things are complicated by the villain kidnapping the main character’s sister. Assistance comes in the form of a magic owl.”