Young Adult
The Young Woman Named Thirteen
At the corner of 400 st. and Orchard rd. in West Prylyn, a rundown, fifteen-story apartment-building stands. In that building is a practically one-room apartment with a perfect view of Winter Lake and the surrounding town with the same name. The apartment has running water and electric heating and was for a steal of $275 a month. Walking in, there’s a double-bed with a dented mattress and a small kitchen to the side of it about three feet away. On that bed, my car-keys and cell phone, as well as various receipts for my last shopping visit that were likely dumped out of my purse lay scattered across. My laptop is resting on my pillow amongst the mess.
By Abygael Silvers4 years ago in Fiction
Daxon Lake
Edie sat in the back seat of the car halfway listening to the driver, Trevor, talking about the history of her destination, Daxon Lake. She was taking in the scenery of the hour long drive. The massive snow covered mountains were ominous and beautiful at the same time. She was thinking to herself how hard it would be to adjust to the snow covered ground, after living her whole life in the warmth of the California sun. She was hoping this would be the perfect change for her, a new start to life, when Trevor turned into the snow covered, tree lined road leading to her new place of employment, and home for the next chapter of her life.
By Natalie Vincent4 years ago in Fiction
Skating Free
“Pass it here! I’m open, I’m open!” Todd couldn’t see the person yelling, but he knew to rely on his instincts. With a quick twist of his hips, he shot a pass to center of the ice, where Derek had managed to find an opening in between the two defenders. Derek hammered the puck with a powerful slapshot, and it whistled through the air, over the opposing goalie’s stick and into the net.
By Thomas Kennedy4 years ago in Fiction
Eon's Close Enough
I. It was all a blur. These colliding temptations welcomed such beautiful and tragic opportunities, and my timing was eternal. There was so much to discover. These are only convoluted the desolate recollections I would come to experience during my rotten departure into a world I thought I had always wanted. I never lived, not in the sense of self, not when these conditions mended for themselves. I was not aware of endings, or what I thought was considered real. I had no concept, and I was not prepared for the abuse and the loneliness. I was a great mystery, not knowing that everything would come crashing into me. Watch me calibrate and exist. I never stood a chance.
By Justin Fong Cruz4 years ago in Fiction
Turbulence
The streetlights blurred together as the sound of metal clashing and screeching rang out. My ears did not hear them. They were far away on the island of Kauai listening to the sound of the waves roll through and feeling the warm sand between my hands. I think I was smiling when I died.
By Emma Dahlsten4 years ago in Fiction
The Orchard.
''Stop!'' A commanding masculine voice ordered. It was coming from behind me. I froze in fear and tried not to let the precious pears fall from my folded up shirt. Blood drained from my face, and my lips trembled with terror. Anyone caught stealing food from the orchards could be shot on sight. No questions asked. No mercy shown. A thief was a thief.
By Deborah Robinson4 years ago in Fiction
The Harper Valley Nature Center
I reached my breaking point. I had enough. Storming out of the living room, I shoved on my double earflap winter hat and coat. Grabbed the gloves that were balled up inside of the pocket and forced them over my fingers as fast as I could, then knotted my scarf around my neck. Without saying another word to my parents, I went to the main hallway and stomped outside into the cold night. Every breath created a plume of smoke. Snow sprinkled down to the earth, and it was oddly quiet. Every step felt muted, like a sound studio.
By Randall Cooper4 years ago in Fiction
Monsters: Chapter 3
It was quarter to twelve by the time Gregory had locked the heavy iron doors to the steel mill, behind him now only a strong silence that rang out like the strange knell of a bell. It was always eerie when he had to lock up, as the mill was always a buzz of large bangs and a constant thrumming of smelting machines that filled the ears from dusk until dawn. Now the silence was almost alien to him. It was the first silence he had heard in almost ten hours since his shift started at mid-day.
By Sam Averre 4 years ago in Fiction
A Moment Ahead. Top Story - August 2021.
If people actually knew Esther Ringell, she would have been the topic of every conversation had when there’s nothing else to talk about. Really, it was quite a talent to be someone so odd as Esther yet still avoid being the focus of others’ tongues. When Esther ever pondered this, she would always conclude that her extravagance was such that it was noticed in the moment but forgotten afterwards – especially once she had returned to the safety of her habitual demeanour that had the basic outward appearance of a blank wall. The excuse she loved most when some noticed this stark difference and asked her about it was that she had reserved so much energy (and face muscles) from appearing like a zombie that she could be ‘wild’ and ‘crazy’ with no effort or second thought.
By Caitlin Swan4 years ago in Fiction
Monday's When the Ghosts Perform
“Don’t forget to turn on the ghost light, Maddie!” The stage manager, Ned, shouted at me from across the theatre. It was well past 10 o’clock on the Sunday before Hell Week. Ned had been working at Pascaly Theatre for two months longer than me, which apparently gave him the authority to boss me around. “Tomorrow’s Monday after all, and you know what Monday means.”
By Emy McGuire4 years ago in Fiction
