Fires ignite in the belly of the beast, roaring to life in the twilight stars. A midnight owl flies from its perch atop the cone of the vessel while it calls a warning to the nearby forests. The General watches the rocket scream towards the heavens with a knot in his stomach and his heart in his throat. The souls on board are his responsibility, and he cannot let them down or those on the Earth. A crimson light flashes and he holds his breath, still watching. The hull is engulfed in flame, and the vessel turns to dust. Failure!
About the Creator
Gunnar Anderson
Author of The Diary of Sarah Jane and The Diary of Sarah Jane: Between the Lines. Has a bachelor's degree in English from Arizona State University and currently resides in Phoenix with his wife and daughter who inspire him daily.
Keep reading
More stories from Gunnar Anderson and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Hammers and Nails
If walls could talk, I would tell you that, unlike children, I am put together without a heart or mind or soul. They begin with my bones; two by fours and two by sixes nailed together and covered in a rough but easily penetrable skin they called drywall. The clothes they put me in was a plain white gown of paint and a lining of flat baseboards. My brothers and sisters were put together in much the same way, but some of them were closed off to me when they sealed the other rooms off from us. I got to see them from time to time when they put in a door in my sibling. We were able to see things out of a glass box they cut out ahead of me. The sights were less than colorful with the only thing visible was a cinderblock wall and the smallest of triangles of the roof next door.
By Gunnar Anderson3 years ago in Fiction
If You Love Me, You'll Do It
I met Jason when I was five years old. I could say that I loved him from the moment I saw him. He was so handsome to me and I felt in awe by his presence. When they introduced him as the new kid in school, I wanted to be his friend right away. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember his smile and how he didn't seem shy. He appeared confident and ready to learn. I waved at him and said "hello," before anyone else could even say a word. He sat next to me, and I asked him if he wanted to be friends. He looked so happy as he said, "Yes!"
By Sidney Smith (Sid Smith)6 days ago in Fiction
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH5 days ago in Critique
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.