Mystery
The Healing Mist
In relocating to the Scottish borderlands, I found a very inexpensive home listed in the papers. I called the listing agent and agreed to see the property. The agent and I showed up at the property, she opened the house and stayed outside while I walked in, exploring every room and hallway. Finding the light switches easily, I turned on the lights in each room, then turned them off as I left. One particular room with a bay window seat caught my eye. “This would be perfect for my writing room,” I said to myself. The lights went out for 5 seconds. When they turned back on, there was a note stuck to my window. It said one word, "RUN."
By Emily A Dinwiddie3 years ago in Fiction
A parcel of mystery
A parcel of mystery One day, new life. It was breakfast time, in my life that is just after 8 am. I had just sat at my table, steaming coffee, bacon and eggs and today’s newspaper. Heaven must be like this. Then “Rosy” my dog, began to bark furiously at something as yet unseen, at the outside of my front door. Reluctantly I went to see what the fuss was about, no post on the welcome mat, then, through the glass panels on my front door I saw what looked like a gigantic spider float up and shoot off down the drive. I grabbed the door handle and rushed out nearly falling over a box placed on the top step. I managed to sidestep this as I watched a drone leave at very rapid pace. The box was addressed to me but did not have all the usual carrier labels stuck all over it, in fact when I examined it, the only markings on it were my name and address! I picked up the package, called Rosy to heel and went back to my breakfast. Unannounced parcels are not allowed to disrupt this most vital meal of the day Order and quiet restored, I finished my meal and turned to the mysterious box. It was not very heavy, it did not rattle, when shook and it was very clean. It was also absolutely undamaged, not a single sign that it had been though a distribution centre. No postage stamps, no carrier labels nothing. Whoever sent this had done so privately, they must have flown the drone, or at least controlled whoever did so. I removed the outer layer of brown paper and started on the cardboard box. No letter, no note to indicate the sender, no marketing leaflets, all getting stranger and stranger. I opened the box and inside was a book, covered in bubble wrapping plastic, as if it was so fragile. I laid the book on my dining table and examined the packaging to make sure I had not missed any indication about the sender. The book was well used and obviously old but cared for. The spine was not broken, no pages were loose. As I turned some pages, I could see some handwritten notations in the margins but these all orderly and neat, done with care. The cover was cracked black leather with a faded gold embossed title, it was such a simple title; Seek, was all it said. I looked at the inside cover pages expecting to see the usual publishers and copyright declarations, but nothing not even the authors name. The paper was thick and yellowing with age. The numbers 1437 were handwritten in a copperplate style, faded but visible. I turned the pages with care, this was a printed book but if the numbers were a date, it is too early, since according to the usual history, the printing press was not invented till 1439.
By Peter Rose3 years ago in Fiction
Eli's Project
The shadows of a building are helpful when you are trying to hide, and tonight, the moving shadow of the young woman was very concerned about sticking to the darkness. Sarha slunk along, carefully avoiding the large circles of light underneath the parking lot poles. Moving as fast as she dared through the damp puddles, with the outer wall of the building at her back, her golden eyes were darting to and fro, scanning in front, behind, and all around her. Where WAS he?? She HAD to get off this Dock and away from the Port. She had to find the Greyhound station to get her to Vegas. But she had no idea where she was concerning the gate, entrance, or any other way out. She should never have come here. She should have just saved up the extra money and flown into Vegas Airport like any other normal person. But she had thought it might be fun to travel a bit. To see Los Angeles before going north to Nevada. LOTS of college-age people, all over the world, backpack, hike, travel by bus, or hitchhike. And when she found out that passage on the ship was ½ the price of airfare, well, it made the decision very simple. But, "Hindsight is 20/20" and all that. Stupid, stupid, stupid. That was a Fomorian at the Ship. She knew it. As soon as they made eye contact, she SAW him and she was certain that he SAW her. He had screwed up everything. But why and how could a Fomorian be in this place, escorting the passengers off the ship, in the transport van? This was supposed to be a secure place of safe passage. What was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime had just become way too adventurous.
By Angela Mabry3 years ago in Fiction
Cryptogram
Cryptogram I started my day in the usual way: wake up at 6:30, dress in running gear, leave the house by 6:50, and try to run a 2-mile course through the park in under 15 minutes. My routine came to a halt the moment I opened the front door. A drone with a small package hanging from a grappling device was descending about ten feet above my head. Startled, I jumped sideways. The miniature delivery device continued to within a few inches of the ground, dropped its cargo, and sped away.
By Mark Gagnon3 years ago in Fiction
Be Careful What You Wish For
It's been seven days since the package arrived. I was gone for the first 5 days, on vacation. However, I checked in on it daily, via the security camera, as it sat there on the front porch, waiting. Day one, was a brief check of my front porch security camera when I quickly skimmed through my many messages as they swarmed into my inbox upon connecting to Wi-Fi in Heathrow. I assumed that I had ordered something and forgotten about it, as has happened countless time before. I went about my day, settling into my hotel, with just a passing concern that I hoped no one would swipe it while I was gone. Since I wasn't expecting any packages, and knew no one in my new neighborhood, I hadn't asked anyone to pick up my mail for me.
By Emily E Mahon3 years ago in Fiction
Deadly Aquarium
Today is going to be a good day. You and your family are going to the Aquarium for the first time. You and your wife have never been. It will be a cool experience to go for the first time with your kids. Usually you have to beg Anna and Jacob to get up, not this day, they are up and at the breakfast table when you come down stairs. You eat your breakfast and wait for your wife Hannah to finish getting ready.
By Jeremy White3 years ago in Fiction
