Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
Leaving Blue
Peter’s eyes opened slowly, the sound of the rain splashing down against the ground above him. He looked to the empty seat to his right where his wife was sitting a few moments before and felt shattered glass in the side of his face. With his injured right arm he reached to the belt buckle that had him suspended upside down, wincing at the pain from the movement, and released himself. His good arm helped to lower him slowly onto his shoulders instead of his head, but the glass cut through his shirt and into his forearm as his weight fell upon it.
By Kenta Barrett5 years ago in Fiction
Weathered
The hollow ache in her chest swelled as Tess carefully watched the deserted landscape. Her heart fluttered dramatically as rich sunset tones crept over the mountain range. Such a beautiful sight for a land so dead. Thunder rolled in the distance but it wouldn't rain, not now. The glow of the full moon was already casting odd shadows in the dusky light and the air was cooling. She tugged at the sleeve hems to cover more skin, usually they were rolled up for the heat, but she was always prepared; the weather here was unpredictable. With a sigh, Tess let her fingers reach out past the shadow line to the remnant of warm sunshine before she turned away.
By Elise Richmond 5 years ago in Fiction
Scrap
The sun was low and red in the hazy sky by the time he crawled back out of the hole. His breath was hot, thick, each one a struggle in the respirator that concealed his face. He’d been all day in the hole, fumbling around in the Waste, the shadow of an ancient time.
By Greg Garcia5 years ago in Fiction
Red Star Kachina
I hope you never read this. I hope that by the time you’re old enough to understand what these words mean, I’ll be the one to have taught them to you. I hope that when you think of Dr. Gonsalves, it’s as the nice old man in the turtleneck who lives down the hall. I hope that if you ever do hear about this mission, you’ll understand why I had to take such a risk.
By Walter Lane5 years ago in Fiction
No Okies from Oklahoma, or Bennies from New Jersey.
Phil Baider is sweating, in his apartment, over a blue 2009 Prius on Queens Craigslist. It’s the end of the world and the seller listed it as not only "excellent,” but with “new tires. Under 100,000 miles." A steal in a constricting market. He and his wife Trudy had been locked inside their apartment for over three months because of city-wide quarantine.
By J. E. Sullivan5 years ago in Fiction
The Open Door
My footsteps echoed through the halls as I ran in a full sprint. An alarm rang. The Enforcers barked orders at each other and small groups began to search, most marching towards the origin of the wailing siren. I heard a squad of Enforcers coming and ran to the nearest door. I dove through it as soon as it opened. I held my breath until they passed. The clamor of Enforcers waned, the pounding of my heart slowed, but still, I waited.
By Dylan Mongold5 years ago in Fiction
The Night Shift
It’s not my ideal environment, but I’ve been to worse clubs. The first detail that I notice is how well it’s been hidden. It’s incredibly exclusive; you can only find it if you’ve been to the club before, or if you know someone who’s been to the club before. I, as part of the latter, pick apart the text message that details where I’m supposed to go. ‘In the Old Marina Boat Yard, the third warehouse to the back.’ The big metal structure is empty, save for a manhole cover in the front corner. ‘Open the cover and go down the stairs.’ They’re rusty and dripping with condensation, but that’s how everything is in Western Seattle. The stairwell leads to a dark and damp intersection of tunnels. ‘Take the left turn until you reach the door. Tell the bouncer you’re meeting me.’
By Harper Hargis 5 years ago in Fiction
Adira's Heart
Adira’s Heart Adira rode her vintage vesper as fast as she could toward her house to bring her family the news. She had been in the town center to purchase items for her mother and heard about the ruling. Adira’s dreadlocked braids were flying in the wind like a banner advertising her urgency to get back to her home on the outskirts of Legacy, a town about 50 miles from the city of Anarch.
By Nedra Epps5 years ago in Fiction
Drowned
The hum of the u-vulbs was monotonous in the extreme. The light they threw around was wasteful and offended my ego as much as my retinas. They were everywhere here and their persistent existence was enough to make me pull my hat down over my eyes just to eat lunch. I could get away with it most days, as the Captain was usually too busy to bust me for a uniform infraction.
By I.T.O. Tails5 years ago in Fiction
