Charlie C.

Joined June 2021

42 stories

Bio

Attempted writer.

Achievements (1)

Second Place in Behind the Last Window Challenge

Stories (42)

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Tooth and Scale
“There weren’t always dragons in the valley.” Rurik sat in the shade of a hostel balcony, letting the crier’s speech float by. He tilted up the brim of his hat to inspect the man, then spat between his teeth. A typical city-dweller – not used to the realities of this new world.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Firebringer
“There weren’t always dragons in the valley.” The children huddle around to hear Old Jarka’s story. “I’m old enough to remember the time before – before the Firebringers.”
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Greg Diggle: Chosen One
“There weren’t always dragons in the valley…” David Attenborough’s voice floated from the living room. Sprawled out in the basement, Greg Diggle lifted his throbbing head from the concrete floor. Why had he even come down here?
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Wildfire
“There weren’t always dragons in the valley.” The veteran’s tone was heavy with weariness. He led Kali through the sprawling war camp at an infuriatingly sluggish pace, dragging one leg in the dust. The deeper they went, the more Kali ground her teeth. The scrutiny of hundreds of Wildfire troops was like pins scraping her skin.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
The Scorched
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. By the tombstone-grey palls of smoke unfurling toward the blackened sky, Shad knew they were too late. The Scorched emerged onto a shelf of rock overlooking Maera’s Valley, and any hopes he might’ve harboured were snuffed.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Lord of Dusk
Autumn has come. Already, the grasslands are vibrant. The old and weak taste their death in the bitter cold. The unprepared panic, scrambling for food. Like ripples on a pond, the sounds of my subjects make patterns in the dusk. Some are so desperate they crash through the grass with no instinct for stealth.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Seven Steps to Perfection
“Are you ready to achieve the real you?” asked the attendant, all painted grin and shining enthusiasm. Barney Coyle nodded before his vocal cords complied. His voice emerged soft, weak, croaky and strained. “Yes.”
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
The Parasite
“John Townley,” called the doctor. John Townley got up from his chair, the familiar scuttling of nerves under the skin of his arms.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
New Money
Sam Howes rolled himself to the end of his bed, groped for the waiting glass of cider, drank, then groaned. It had been three years since he won the lottery. So much money. And even more since then.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Company Memo, RE: Macaw Situation
Dear work family, We all know and treasure Tony’s work-support macaw, Dazzle. After all, not many companies have a CEO with a work-support macaw! I know I can’t be the only one who’s been having a bad day, gone into Tony’s office, seen Dazzle’s incredible scarlet plumage, and felt a little better. As we say in upper management, we wish more of our beloved employees would pop in and have a chat.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Drowning Kate
It was the same childish ghost story Matt always told whenever they stayed out anywhere away from civilisation. Still, with cheap beer in them, they all giggled as if he wouldn’t end it with the same twist.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction
Last One on the Submarine
The plan was too simple to fail. It failed. The plan was to get this thing as far out to sea as we could, then evacuate onto another sub and leave this one to sink. They didn’t even tell us what we were carrying.
By Charlie C. 4 years ago in Fiction