The meteor plummets like a missile from above, deathly silent, until a sharp whistle fills the sky before the ground erupts, scattering debris and body parts aimlessly about.
The blast throws Crisanto into the river. Rising from the water, his ears ring with a high pitch tone drowning out all sounds. In a delirious state he notices scattered chunks of flesh and scorched bits of uniform, confirming the corrupt government soldiers chasing him were no more.
Crisanto’s people fought for peace and fairness; all they received is a malfeasance system. Stumbling through the haze, to the lip of the newly formed crater where a white glow emanates. He imagines it is the light from an angels soul. A pull, as strong as righteousness, compels him to approach. Crisanto pauses, fighting the force drawing him in, until he hears voices singing to him of peace. Falling to his knees, he clasps the foreign rock between his hands and in an instant feels a power greater than he could ever imagine course through him. As the glow dissipates from the stone and envelopes him, he is given a choice to accept or walk away.
He accepts.
Marveling as sparks fly from his fingers, and with a newfound clarity, Crisanto knows what he must do. With a power born from the heavens, he pushes off into the sky, flying towards his destiny.
At the exact same time on the opposite side of the world, a woman approaches a dark orb which crashed moments ago from the blackened skies. It pulsates wildly as red ooze seeps out. Behind, a house burns with her latest victims inside. Keres smiles as she feels her soul devoured by the meteor. Blindly and without thought she welcomes the entity into her soul.
About the Creator
JBaz
I have enjoyed writing for most of my life, never professionally.
I wish to now share my stories with others, lets see where it goes.
Born and raised on the Canadian Prairies, I currently reside on the West Coast. I call both places home.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Identity and the Exhaustion of Grand Ideas
Over the past few decades, intellectual life has been shaped by a growing distrust of ambitious theories that once claimed to explain history and society as a whole. The fading influence of the radical projects associated with the 1968 generation produced a more careful and restrained scholarly atmosphere. Many historians and social theorists became skeptical of large narratives and universal categories, preferring limited scope and methodological caution. In Germany, this shift took a distinctive form through the rise of microhistory, an approach that emphasizes close attention to sources, local contexts, and everyday life. Microhistorians sought to revive the craft of traditional historiography while distancing themselves from older positivist assumptions. Their work often challenges broad concepts such as capitalism, industrialization, and the state, treating them as abstractions that obscure rather than clarify lived experience.
By Gopal Balakrishnanabout 2 hours ago in Fiction
Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts6 days ago in Longevity
Comments (12)
Ooooh that ending was visceral!!
Really impressed with the dual narrative you tackled in this! Really captured a balance of forces and was such a compelling read!
Oooo I loveeeeee Keres hehehehehe. Fantastic story for the challenge!
Very clever take on the challenge, Jason, a balancing of good and evil as foundational myth. Great work!
A brilliant take, creating two hero and villain at the same time on opposites sides of the world. By the way, "A pull, as strong as righteousness" is one powerful metaphor! Well done, Jason!
Oh!! I liked this Jason, the creation of both the hero and their nemesis!! Nicely done!
This is great!
If Epic was what they asked for, you delivered!
Oh, that was fabulous. Really well done.
Whoa!!! You started off sprinting with this one, just the way you should with the word restraint. Nice entry, J.
Superb sci-fi!!!❤️❤️💕
And the battle between good and evil is rejoined! Great entry to the challenge, Jason!