Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
Jinx
A shaft of early morning light drilled through a gap in the damaged ceiling of the old shop, growing in intensity with each passing minute. The hazy illumination afforded her a cursory examination of her surroundings. Machines of unknown purpose stood stoically in the middle of the space, unfazed by the passage of time. Workbenches lined two adjacent walls, meeting at the corner. Tools, trash and other debris littered their surfaces and the oil stained floor. A layer of dust coated everything. She heard, more than saw, a small creature skittering away in the direction of a darkened corner. It was otherwise vacant. It would do.
By W. T. Leaver5 years ago in Fiction
A Terrible Knight
Schlap. Schlap. Schlap. Dozens of grimy feet slapped through the abandoned warehouse, kicking up dirt and guck. Incomprehensible, angry chitter filled the air, bouncing off the rickety walls. Little green and gray heads with large, pointed ears began to pop up from seemingly nowhere, to welcome home their families, and see what all the fuss was about. Goblins rushed through the warehouse, baring their yellow, saliva-covered teeth in angry defeat. One small goblin, with rough gray skin and little wisps of white hair ran up to another, tugging on the ripped and stained tunic she adorned.
By Alana Stickles5 years ago in Fiction
Painless
At night, when her mind wouldn’t rest, Norah would put the gun on her stomach and let the weight of it soothe her to sleep. She kept the barrel empty so that, if she wanted to, she could lay her fingers on trigger, the last place that Mark’s hand had touched. The last place that Thomas’s hand had touched. And, perhaps, the last place that Norah’s hand would touch.
By Sarah Nathan5 years ago in Fiction
All Because of a Silver Locket
All Because of a Silver Locket Trapped in my own little world, as I laid asleep in my bed dreaming of a beautiful world full of love, happiness, and freedom. I imagined my wings unfolding and taking flight in the beautiful sky. The birds were so graceful, you wouldn’t think they were real animals. Then suddenly the skies filled with dark, angry clouds, and all of the birds disappeared. I awakened to the all too familiar snipping sound of the surgeon pinioning my wings. Fear filled my entire body to the tips of my wings. Before I could stop it, I was falling endlessly into the dark abyss. The clouds thundered loudly and lightning so close I was sure I would be stuck.
By Sabrina Waldron 5 years ago in Fiction
THE OLD WORLD
"David!" I exclaimed. "Are you serious? I wish I had never found Grandma Ann's books, it will be the death of us all! You know, they will not allow our house to be different than the others." "I know," David responded. "It was just nice to think about. Maybe someday. Regardless, if there is a change, I will be ready!"
By Sandy L Moore5 years ago in Fiction
Population: Women
The year is 3011. We made it here – but barely. The world had crumbled heavily into a cataclysmic environmental crisis about 4 years ago. We knew it was dark before this, we even knew back in the early 2000’s but action was too delayed, and now we have ended up here…
By S R H _ L O U I S E 5 years ago in Fiction
The Flash and the Locket
The Flash and the Locket Mark A Noble The Sun, yes, it's good to feel the Sun again, now that we are in the After. We are almost through the hard part. No Food...Little Water...Bad Air... but that is not the worst of it. The Flash...it causes great damage to our sight. Seems like the only ones left that can make out this world really don't want to. Why would they want to see what we have become? Me...I'm OK with it...hit reset...slow down...time out for Humanity. Now it's the little things...things we used to take for granted...as we moved through life. Not me, I'm not getting caught up in that way of life...more more more...and it's not enough...it's never enough.
By Mark A Noble5 years ago in Fiction
The Heart Shaped Locket
The world was different for the survivors. Deep in a forest, once abundant with life, now a petrified and dead land permanently scarred by the war of man. A young woman struggles to grasp a rope leading a bucket down to the bottom of the well for the last of the uncontaminated water in an area abandoned by others, long ago. The sky is fading into darkness and she knows that one of a continuing line of storms will soon be upon them, and with it, the acid rain. She sharpens her focus on the rope and lowers her arm further into the abyss. Finally, the effort pays off as she fills her bucket. Tightening her grip, she begins the retrieval. By now, the rope has twisted into her hand like serrated teeth. She feels a sense of dread as she slips on the uneven ground, fearing that she cannot complete her task. As the weight lessens and she steadies herself, the bucket emerges half full. She thinks, "This will have to do." With little hesitation, she packs her belongings, covers the bucket, and returns to her shelter.
By Devon Royer5 years ago in Fiction
Karmin’s Night Out
It was Karmin's first night out in nearly 2 weeks. With the recent materials shortage, Ludvick had been ordered to ramp up production which meant longer hours for those on shift who actually did the work. So she decided to spend tonight at The Black Hole, a local dive this side of Deck 26. Walking up, it was the same as ever, the same crooked sign reading 'Happy Hour 4-9' still in the window, though every regular knew that Dain hadn't had even a happy minute in weeks. The same illuminated 'Open' board shone its pink letters bright on the dark pavement in front of the homely facade you would miss if you weren’t looking for it, the door slightly ajar. Coming from it were the sounds of the live band entertaining the patrons inside, clinking drinks and conversation. Sounds like ‘Raising Illuminations’ we’re playing tonight. She missed it. Her favorite drink, The Booster Rocket and and it’s overpowering tanginess. Ordering a round of The Black Hole's 'claim to fame’, it’s Shooting Star shot; A dark liquor poured in a shot glass which was then disturbed by a shimmering liquid that sunk to the bottom of the drink, leaving a trail that created the illusion of a falling star. Best thing Dain had done since opening the joint. But for the next 8 hours, Karmin could be happy, be herself, be free.
By Austin Kirwan5 years ago in Fiction
Souls Unlocked
Thunderbolts, lightning - very very frightening - comets, fire and ice all rained down upon the land. Wind tunnels whipped up pieces of the earth, hurling them through the cosmos like a plaything, a surging panic elevating within the people all the existential turmoil they’d suppressed, a people mind you, who had been progressively losing all of their freedoms in the time leading up to this post-apocalyptic, cataclysmic, transduction of terror that was ransacking the town and leaving no one alive in its wake, not even a fly.
By Sophia Laurel Pack5 years ago in Fiction
