Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
Spit & The River
He started by saying that the fastest way to die is to worry about things that have already happened. The old man spoke through wrinkled lips. I licked the rum off of my own and begged him to continue. He looked at me once and then sighed reluctantly. The story, he said, began small.
By Jess Sambuco5 years ago in Fiction
Harmony's Locket
The smell of burning wood along with the sound of flowing water awoke him. Aside from the sun showing through the black clouds, it was the start of a normal day. He yawned as he stretched out his scarred, thin arms, The man’s clothes resembled rags closer than they did a garment. He stood up from his cold blanket that he called his bed and began to tend to his raft. He went to his fishing net and pulled up a couple of guppies, a good breakfast in his eyes. Looking off into the distance he could see the smoke coming from what remained of land. He picked up his broken hand mirror that he kept around and began to talk to himself, or at least attempt to. His face looking lifeless, he stuttered out, “H-hello, sir.”
By Elijah Villa5 years ago in Fiction
Memories of the Heart
The year is 2050.The world has ended. A new airborne virus, T5-N2, has emerged and spread around the globe killing most of the human population. A global quarantine in effect for the survivors of the pandemic. News reports from leading scientists claim it is unlikely that an effective vaccine or cure would be developed within the next 20 years to protect the rest of the survivors as the virus has continued to mutate quite rapidly causing the virus to become more virulent and lethal as a result. The news reports indicate that humanity is on the brink of extinction. I knew that I was going to die from this virus I had contracted.
By Lincoln Anthony Defreitas5 years ago in Fiction
Still & Silent Earth
Still & Silent Earth By: Chanteyl LeJoie I heard the rustle outside and immediately I knew they were there. Had they found me? Or was this just a general search and they’d happened upon my hiding place? I wasn’t sure, but I held my breath and waited, still listening to determine which direction they were headed in. The earth was dark these days; no streetlights, no real stars, and you hardly ever saw the moon anymore. There was no more noise anymore either. They’d cleared out the bugs—trying to kill the pests—it actually started with the bees. Slowly but surely our ecosystem deteriorated, until now there was no noise of crickets in the evening or birds in the early morning. The food chain was destroyed, and now there were only us. I say us, but I was not one of those people out there. Those people had formed gangs, factions, and entire new governments. There were wars and everyone lost someone; most lost everyone. My parents were young and fit, so when the draft was called my parents were both called up, and they dropped me and my baby sister off with our grandmother who we hadn’t seen much of in most of our young lives. She wasn’t a traditional grandmotherly grandma; she was cool and young in her own mind, and never had time for knitting, cooking, or storytelling. You know, grandma stuff. She didn’t exactly want two small children either, but times were changing drastically. Even so, I remember eavesdropping on the conversation and having heard my mother beg my father to talk to her, and in turn he had to beg his mother to keep us. Options were limited, or, better yet, nonexistent. Begrudgingly she kept us, fed and clothed us, and in her own way she prepared us for the world we were now living in. I’ll never know how she knew so much about what would happen. She was so paranoid, but now I appreciate her for it. Because now I’m hiding out in the trunk of an old, rusty sedan, listening for what—or who—made that rustling sound just outside. What did they even rustle against? This was an old salvage yard full of rusted out vehicles. The cars stopped running once they tapped out all of the fossil fuels, and everyone seemed surprised when the power grid failed. It started with bombings and hackings, until eventually it was too far gone for repair, and we were all left in a world of darkness. My grandma wasn’t surprised. She’d been telling us it would happen all along and giving us tips and lessons on how to navigate and use the dark to our advantage. That was a good thing, because there was nearly only darkness and painfully long nights that were teamed up with sweltering days that were hot, and too bright to see in. The sun was not your friend, it was your mortal enemy. Many people learned the hard way what solar radiation was, and how quickly heatstroke can occur and claim a life. It wasn’t worth it to even try and venture out during the day. There was no grass, no trees, no bugs, no dogs. Nothing made noise anymore except for potential enemies. All that remained were variations of what used to be human beings who were now left to their own devices to figure out how to run things. We, as a species, were not doing well at all.
By Chanteyl LeJoie5 years ago in Fiction
Subtext
My Sweet Doe Kjyka, I’m a dentist, ok?! That’s many years of college. Many dollars out of pocket, ya hear me?? I’ve spent too many days hunched over the mouths of people who stuff ‘em full of disease so they can feel like they have the cure to the sickness of dying since birth. Lemme tell ya: the American Dream Option is a fricken joke. I hate my job but I love what I do, mien Reh (sigh)…
By Isaiah Black 5 years ago in Fiction
Holographic Memories of the Heart
Cinta’s memory flexes backwards, landing at 8 years. She is perusing adult insights on anything televised through her mother’s news story translations in trending child-level terminology. “But Mama, what will happen if they don’t just kill those bad men?” she asks of a report of violent criminals being imprisoned, like in ancient times.
By Shayley Blair5 years ago in Fiction
Orion Shelter
Journal entry #48 March 25, 2450 It's been years since I've awoken from my self-induced slumber, roaming this planet looking for answers and survivors from the old world. To my dismay, the only things I've found waiting for me are monstrosities reminiscent of ancient times. Along with cannibals, lacking in human decency, and lastly, a madman who considers himself a god using the same technology that has destroyed this world to control the masses within the Orion shelter. This world is bleak, unforgiving, and chaotic, but I must continue to push forward. I must find a solution before the next wave of aether turns this world into living void energy.
By Oren Forest5 years ago in Fiction
