Series
By The Firelight
The vertigo subsided and Claire was able to begin focusing her vision. The cacophony around her filled her ears, but it was all background noise. She was sure that, were a pin to drop on the floor in front of her, she would hear it as clear as a church bell ringing on a bright Sunday morning. Her mind’s eye was still mired in the shock and sorrow of watching Eric die again, the swift incineration of his uniform and skin as unforgettable to her now as the moment he dropped to one knee and proposed to her. Yet, as the world came into focus, there he stood. Where only a moment ago the world was confusion and flame, Eric again stood before his company barking orders.
By Anthony Stauffer4 years ago in Fiction
My Creation Story
Mother's voice sounded breathy as though she were whispering hurriedly. "Glory. I am sad that I am no longer with you. I knew this day would come. Perhaps I should have prepared you better for my end so that you would be more strong on your own. But I felt strongly, perhaps too strongly, that innocence would serve you better than too much knowledge too soon. I have seen it before. Youth rising beyond their capabilities to fight against what they barely understood. And the atrocities men will invoke when they are afflicted with the unreasonableness of fear.
By Pam Reeder4 years ago in Fiction
The Briefcase (version 2)
Bonnie was on a plane, 36,000 feet in the air, nervous about the flight, seated next to a man in a black suit, thin black tie, and a white shirt. He looked nervous as he white-knuckled the briefcase that was sitting in his lap. Bonnie noticed that the man had immediately grabbed his briefcase from under the seat in front of him as soon as the plane was in the air, after they announced that it was ok to move about. Bonnie kept glancing over at his grip on the briefcase. She wondered if she should speak to him, given his state. She decided against it for now, and instead she opened her package of gum, put a piece into her mouth, and closed her eyes. She tried to put him and his briefcase out of her mind and focused on the deep breathing exercises she read about in an online article on how to deal with fear of flying.
By Cathy Money4 years ago in Fiction
Lake of Souls Chapter 11
Previous Chapter I examined the giant stone door in front of me. For as tall as I was it was just a bit taller. I placed my hands on the door and pushed with all my might but nothing moved. I frowned slightly and pushed again, actually grunting with my effort but nothing happened. I stopped and began to examine the door more closely looking for any sign or symbol. I thought I saw something in the middle of the door and so I wiped my hands over it removing dust from it. I revealed six symbols. Five in a circle and then there was one in the middle. As I looked at them I realized the symbols in a circle were for each of the kingdoms and the one in the middle was the same as the one on my chest.
By Josephine Mason4 years ago in Fiction
jack of diamonds
iv “Where are we going? Not that I care. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I had to get out of there,” Nigel said, squinting against the bright morning light; he was holding a hand up and shading his eyes after the soft lights of the station.
By ben woestenburg4 years ago in Fiction
A Series: Chapter 3.
An overcast day, full of dark clouds, the streets still damp from the rain that came, but is now gone. Steve, smoking a cigarette alone, is standing outside a movie theatre while listening to music through his headphones (YMF by Ab-Soul)and watching as couples walk in together. Some giving him snobby looks, probably for the smoking. After stomping the cig out he heads inside and gets behind a young couple in the ticket line. "I'm really excited we decided to do this" The guy says, her arm wrapped around his waist with his hand planted on her ass cheek. "Me too, we haven't had a movie date in so long baby" She replies very whiny and cringe and cutely before kissing him. The guy after the smooch looks behind him at Steve, smirks and winks before turning back around, the smug bastard. Once all the couples in the line get their tickets; every single person in the lineup was a couple, mostly young ones and a few middle-aged ones, one being a secret couple having the movie theatre on a Wednesday as the only time they can escape their marriages to be together. Steve finally gets up to the counter and the usher asks how she may help him "Yah, one ticket for JOKER" is Steve's response. The usher looks at him strangely, like she expected a different answer "Just...the one ticket?" She asks while raising her eyebrows and looking at her co-worker trying to hold a gasp/laugh in. "Yea" Steve replies feeling embarrassed being the only loner in the building "Okay, here you go and enjoy the show...sir" Is the last thing the usher says to finish off the uncomfortable exchange. Steve gets popcorn, again the only person in the line who is alone. One couple laughs together and the woman puts a straw upright in the popcorn her boyfriend bought them and places it directly under the butter machine "What are you doing?" He laughs "Just watch" She tells him, the butter went down the straw going into the middle of the popcorn "See" She smiles at him before grabbing his hand and walking away. Steve walks into the theatre and finds a seat. Inside, seeing multiple couples sitting down, some making out, some cuddling, some laughing, with one couple both on their phones not interacting at all. Steve lets out a "Of course" under his breath before sitting down alone.
By Jackson Picco 4 years ago in Fiction
