Recent stories

  • Hot Lead

    All signs pointed to a rather violent end. The lights were off, the windows smashed. Curiously, the internet had been disconnected. Why would someone disconnect the the computers if they were going to blackout the house? I suspected that the intruder was …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Insubstantial

    I can feel it happening again.

    It's been a while...

    Of all the worlds - I've lost count - that have truly captured my soul, only two stand above the rest.

    One is a world of masks, the other is a world of monsters.

    The rest, whether created by others or my…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • The (Meta) Drama of the Game

    “Why are you kicking me out? What did I do?”

    Jack wouldn't quite meet my eye, staring just past my shoulder. He looked so pathetic standing there, shoulders slumped, hands stuffed in his pocket. I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

    I didn't respond though…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • An hour in the park I truly did not expect

    Bliss.

    Lovely summer day, I could finally read undisturbed on my favorite bench in the park. Until suddenly...

    „Here, this is for you.”

    I looked up from my book, startled. A large, round plate appeared in front of me, with a huge chocolate cake on it.

    „Uh…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • On a Breaking Bridge

    Story is marked as mature

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Wine and Memories

    "I don't think you should be alone. You need to rest. Do you want to go to your sister's, your place, or mine?" I offered.

    He blinked at me, processing what I said at the same time as he was processing his emotions and the events that just unfolded.

    "I'…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • All About the Baby

    She explained how this pre-natal nurse had come to see her everyday in the hospital, since she refused to leave the babe and insisted on a private room. He was handsome and did everything he could to appease her. He wasn't supposed to keep helping the bab…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Names

    The houses here were like high rise apartments lining the steep walls of the caldera. The buildings in the bowl were community buildings. I took my friend to the hospital, on the trail of his wife and the baby she risked it all for.

    His name was Charlie.…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Processing

    Operations came in the night. They gathered up those who were gaining entry to the caldera and led us through the giant steel doors. The tunnel was dark and dimly lit by torches. The pair of uniformed men at the rear of the procession snuffed out the torc…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • The Dam Breaks

    "I will help you find your wife. I promise. I will not let your parent's sacrifice be in vain." Tears sprang to my eyes then. I thought that I was incapable of feeling after so much time spent distrusting, pushing people away.

    "We're definitely getting i…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • I Had Hope

    They gathered around me, wide-eyed.

    "I told you that once you enter, you cannot come back out, right?"

    They nodded.

    "It's true. Unless you are a Seeker. I've been inside. I helped build Operations. I put people in place and I set up the rules. But I re…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • At the Base

    We reached the bottom of the mountain the next day. It's steep sides were impossible for climbing. the entrance was dug into the base. Operations had been notified of our number waiting outside. The tunnel entrance was blocked by a steel door, sealed, imp…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Speak To Me

    He did not speak. Not for days.

    His dad refused to go with us. He sat in the ravine for a week refusing food and water. He cried until he had no tears left for his wife. He laid down beside her and swore he'd never leave her, a promise he kept.

    He was …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Fever

    When the storm abated, we emerged to tie things down and try to get a fire going to dry some clothes. I carried chunks of wax in paper egg cartons for fire starter and we found plenty of downed sassafras, which burns when wet. Mom and her covers were stil…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Storm

    The journey was tough on the elders. His mom had the worst time. She needed to stop and rest often. By the time we reached the base of the mountain the summer evenings had begun to cool. It would turn to fall soon.

    We had made camp and were settling in. …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Broken Heart

    He looked careworn, faded. His face was slack, his posture slouchy. He didn't say much after I answered his questions. He missed his wife. Even though they had argued and she left impulsively.

    "She didn't leave you," I tried.

    "She wanted that baby more …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Small Hope

    I was left with a choice. I could go back and use my skills to get the rest of the family safely to the caldera to find out if they were worthy of entry, or I could give up and enter the caldera myself. Operations dealt with 'leaders' who couldn't do the …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • One Way Only

    I had no choice but to bring her. We hiked over hill and valley, across ravines that grew deeper as sides grew steeper. We had to stop and rest more often as we neared the mountain.

    "We go up that waterfall." I pointed.

    "We go UP a waterfall?!" She thou…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Stubborn Defiance

    She took to the baby. Held it, rocked it, cooed at it. I gave her the supplies I had, but they would only last a week. I told her that the baby had to go to the hospital inside the caldera. I told her it was temporary, but I knew she'd make it permanent.

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Distress Call

    My job was to escort the right people into the caldera. If I came across the wrong sort, well.

    As a 'leader', I carried a radio for contact from Operations inside. I got a distress call. Midwife needed, several miles away. Leaving the hometown crew, I hi…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Desire in Her Eyes

    She wanted something more than anything in the world. I saw the hungry desire in her eyes. She had tried to have one of her own, but the time was just not right. I saw the resentment in her eyes as she looked at him behind his back. She didn't show him th…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • The Power of a Promise

    Driven by a promise, through the dark and twisted tunnels of the Dewar and the misty mountains of the Jian, through shrouded wood of the Elhu and the gray hillocks of the Hob, I have come. Step by heavy, faltering step I have traversed such distance and b…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • The Ent. Is Near! (2/2)

    What did weevils do, Curly? I hear you inquire.

    Do they truly, maliciously fight fire with fire?

    Can I trust an exterminatress with such dire

    And harmful suggestions to be on the level?

    .

    Well I tell you, my girly, that what I maintain

    Is true to the …

    Posted 7 years ago
  • The Ent. Is Near! (1/2)

    The weevils of autumn are coming

    Protect yourselves! Learn how to fight!

    Be aware of their evils and cunning

    When you see one, take action and SMITE!

    For the weevils, you know, do not mean any harm

    They will gather together to hug and stay warm

    But they'l…

    Posted 7 years ago
  • Starlit Sepulchre

    There! in the glist'ning starlit sepulchre,

    Floating along by the gaping aperture--

    There was Verandah, my love of yesteryear

    As if alive, but she's gone. Then she drew near

    Gently caressing my neck like a whiff of mist

    She made me wonder, was I a som…

    Posted 7 years ago