Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Earth.
Disaster and Redemption
Commander Jared Prescott was flying the orbiter at hovering velocity and very low altitude. This mission was envisioned for years and was now a reality. Its role was to assess if earth could be restored. The global catastrophe had been a life-extinction event. It was not caused by a rogue asteroid or external attack but by human folly and ignorance. Its mind-bending scope was to restore human, animal, marine and plant life. It could take thousands of years. Considering earth’s life base was gone, this was an optimistic project.
By Leonard Hay5 years ago in Earth
The Shift into Darkness
The Shift into Darkness Later coined “The Shift,” the strange set of events that would characterize the moments when humanity “turned,” happened quite abruptly and suddenly. The majority of the people on earth were affected, leaving only a small remnant that could be recognized as the former human race. The shocking incidents began on a hot Summer evening in August 2021 with a loud, blaring buzzing noise, the location or source of which could not be pinpointed. The buzzing was simultaneously experienced throughout cities all around the world. Then news broadcasting stations announced that many, many people were dropping dead suddenly from unknown causes. There were no populated areas left untouched. And soon reports of additional sinister phenomena were widespread. Many described incidents where groups of people had begun to act strangely. They would appear confused, aimlessly stumbling around, sometimes emitting growls or other unintelligible sounds...some even attacking and biting others. Still others became unresponsive to passersby, appearing to be engaged in their own internal world where they were receiving thoughts and impulses perhaps through radio frequency waves. And finally, there was the inexplicable disappearance of a myriad number of people, and resulting chaos as planes and cars crashed.
By Roxann Drake5 years ago in Earth
The key
Captains log: Star date… I can’t remember I can’t remember the date? %^*# “We’re in trouble.” I think to myself. I maintain my composure around the crew. Smiling and greeting them as I would normally. “Pull it together Hayden, girl-wash your face!” My thoughts continue. I take long deep breathes as I walk. Centering myself.
By Dani Davis5 years ago in Earth
The Vessel
“But, why wouldn’t she know?” Seth asked curiously. “Did you know? Seriously Seth you are the epitome of a walking talking cautionary tale, and you’re the only one who doesn’t know it!” “This from a guy named Zen, who just happens to emulate the very essence of the word neurotic. Listen Zen, during my last journey, I gave her that locket, it wasn’t just a heart shaped locket…it was my heart, my actual physical heart.”
By Thomas Walker5 years ago in Earth
Terra Nova
Two hands hold a semi-broken heart shaped silver locket. To anyone else, the locket was a piece of junk but to John Wilder, it was the last remaining memento of his recently deceased wife. Alone in the darkness and illuminated by candlelight, John stares at the locket as he opens and closes it with methodical timing reminiscent of a man on the brink of losing his mind. Inside, is a scratched up photograph of his wife and son smiling and hugging. He is now a man lost to his mind, lost to his memories and lost to his hatred. He keeps replaying the events that brought them to where they were today; living in fear, living under total surveillance and complete control by an alien race that took the world by surprise.
By Michelle Tasker5 years ago in Earth
The Book of John
I hadn’t been glued to a TV like that since 9/11. How did it end so quickly? On December 3, 2027, or as we now call it, one-two-three, it showed up. Something like three skyscrapers long and four skyscrapers wide and looking like, well, about what you’d expect a spaceship to look like if you watched movies—metal and such.
By Ben Gentile5 years ago in Earth
My Brass Heart Shaped Locket on Angels Wings
The face of my brass heart shaped locket was encased in a clear glass and through it, I saw depth within the geometry, particularity and entanglement of the designs inside. There were three gunmetal pins set into the shape of a Z that met the edges of the brass to form the shape of two acute triangles inside of an upside down parallelogram for the midsection of the heart, thus dividing the brass edged heart shape into three main sections. The section below the Z formed an upside down triangle and the top section was formed into two opened half circle shapes that met to form the top of the heart. I noticed a specificity of the triangle on my left view of the Z and the triangle below the Z; in both triangle sections there was a small silver gear placed just below each end of the Z and a larger golden half circular gear mounted along the adjacent side of each of those triangles. However, the two remaining parts of the heart, the top section and the triangle to my right view of the Z, were filled with disarray of countless tiny brass and gunmetal gears. (The year 2015) As I observed these features my gaze into the heart shaped locket became so mesmerized with thought and imagination of infinite possibilities for the future of humanity and all life as we know it. I examined the configuration of the design as well as the disarray of the metal gears inside and began to imagine each piece of the design as a specific significance for something more that I needed to understand. It was like my mind was somehow being transported into an alternate universe. I could see the pieces coming together as the inside of the workings of something powerful, yet mysterious and deeply complex.
By Julia Hampton5 years ago in Earth
She Akin to I
Dew drops onto my nose from the bush which hangs over my den. Eyes fluttering open, I stretch my legs forward, claws extend and lightly graze the dirt beneath me. The birds sing and speak to one another, about the sun, the worms, and the fresh scent of rain. Another drop splashes onto my paw, and I shake it off lightly. Rising to arch my back, fur bristling, jaws extended in a yawn, my gaze turns up toward the sky.
By Raven Malachite5 years ago in Earth
Fiskars Project Orange Thumb: Investing in the Future of Community Gardens and Urban Farms. Top Story - June 2021. Created with: Fiskars.
I’ve never been food insecure. Every day of my life I have had access to nutritious meals three times a day (if not more) and there was always food somewhere in my house. The act of eating became a leisurely activity; something I looked forward to for my own adventurous culinary pursuits and social outings with friends. I never viewed it as a means of survival because I simply didn’t have to, but as I’ve learned to grow my own food and immersed myself in our food system, I’ve discovered just how privileged I was and still am.
By Farmer Nick5 years ago in Earth
Early Shore Mornings
As I step out of the wind tunnel and into the coarse sand with my bare feet, I immediately feel the sun start to warm my shoulders and face. The beach has looked different, ever since Hurricane Sandy. What used to be a view directly to the ocean has changed to a seemingly endless sand dune. The massive dune has a clear path in the center to reach the beach, but the rest is covered in dune grass. The grass is about a foot high, and a pale green shade. It changes direction and shape as a light breeze sweeps through it.
By Emily Schatz5 years ago in Earth
