Short Story
Ermaline's Feast
As her wings shifted ever so slightly, the great beast turned, heading for the sun. Ermaline looked down on the people miles below and wondered that something so small and insignificant could be so tasty. Damn shame they fight back, she thought, wincing at the fresh scar on her side that had blistered from the heat of their torches. It was a bad burn, and not for the first time did she wonder why she was not fire proof outside as well as in. But it would heal, and she would be back, these humans were too good to resist.
By Heather Ewings3 years ago in Fiction
Hell's Gate
Hell’s Gate: A Short Story Brian J. Pehrson Night infiltration course, better known as Hell's Gate, my first real test as a Soldier. One hundred and fifty meters of barbed wire, dugout fighting position, hidden artillery simulators, and continuous M60 machine gun bullets flying just feet over our heads. To make it all better we just completed a forced 8-mile ruck march carrying 50lbs of gear and it is 2300 at night. Drill Sergeant Thorpe says that tonight at least one of his 75 privates will die a glorious death on the simulated battlefield by gunfire or explosions if they are lucky. I think he is just full of it though. At least I hope he is full of it. I am not too sure sometimes with him. He always has flashbacks to someplace called Kyrgyzstan fighting an unknown enemy there.
By Brian Pehrson3 years ago in Fiction
THE SUBURBAN SECRET
Carl was always a little unsure about moving into such a suburban area. All these cookie-cutter houses right next to each other were strange to him. Every yard was neatly manicured with an excessive number of flowers in their yards. All the cars were perfectly clean and the neighbors seemed just a bit too happy and friendly. It was as if none of them had lived in the real world where people can be mean, cruel and Home Owners Associations did not exist to govern the appearance of one’s house and yard.
By Brian Pehrson3 years ago in Fiction
To Feel Him Loving Me
They modified the brains of the murderers first. That was the basis of the whole idea. If they could rewire people’s brains to feel the emotions of those around them as strongly as they felt their own, if they could feel the terror of their victims, could feel their pain as they hurt them, maybe they would stop.
By Megan Irwin Harlan3 years ago in Fiction
The Shutdown
The voices were loud – harsh whispers of frantic panic drilling ragged holes into Avery’s thoughts – but her footsteps were louder. The heavy click of her ugly, leather school-shoes on the glossy tiled floor echoed all around her, bouncing off the walls of her skull like a game of Pong.
By Alyssa Potter3 years ago in Fiction
Walking in LA...
Georgana adjusted her pack as she walked in the direction she hoped would lead to the only water source within a 50 mile radius… at least, according to her half moth eaten map. It was missing some chunks, but still served her purposes most of the time. Georganas’ shoulders were strong but not yet accustomed to the pressure and roughness of the straps. She wistfully remembered a time when her shoulders were free to feel the sun and the wind instead of the sweat and accumulated dirt between her skin and the pack, which held all that she owned. Shaking off the memories of a sweeter time with the reminder that she needed all her senses alert in this new world, she made a fist with her hand and peered through the tiny hole made between the curl of her fingers and her palm. Her self-made tiny telescope gave her a clearer view of the horizon. She scanned left to right, a habit she had acquired to watch for dangers. If she spotted people or animals far enough off, she had a chance of dropping to the ground to hide before they saw her. In the scrub brush and scattered rocks, she could still make herself scarce… even in the flat, desert terrain of what used to be Los Angeles.
By Anah Reichenbach3 years ago in Fiction
An Astronaut’s Point of View
I read through the print-out the doctor had given me again. Common symptoms include nausea, stomach and back muscle cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea… All relevant to me. I couldn’t really dispute the diagnosis. Sighing, I placed the pages beside me on the bed and ran my fingers through my hair.
By Alicia Brunskill3 years ago in Fiction
B.S.D. Broken, Shattered, Destroyed
Walking down the stairs Mr. Cash held his gun close to his side. Peeping around the corner he scanned for the intruder. At first glance, Mr. Cash hadn’t seen any movement. Moving his position, he hid behind the kitchen island. As Mr. Cash poked his head around the corner of the island, he heard a noise coming from the spare rooms on the right. Watching the area of the spare rooms, he saw a man peeping in the bedrooms holding a shiny black pistol. "Get the fuck out of my family’s house," said Mr. Cash as he looked down the sight of the gun. "This what you finna do so you don’t end up with a couple of bullets in your ass. Put the gun down now, walk back with your hands on your head, and lay on your stomach," shouted Mr. Cash. Placing the gun on the ground the intruder took a couple of steps back then stood still. "What makes you think you should live here in our neighborhood? This neighborhood has represented a beautiful blank canvas that shines in all seasons," said Jimmy. "Excuse me, get your ass on the ground," said Mr. Cash.
By D.C. Senju3 years ago in Fiction
Seed of Hope
I saw the spire looming in the distance as I quickened my footsteps and kept my gaze fixed forward. "Just keep moving." I spoke out loud to myself. The darkness began to creep across the dirt road in front of me. There was so little light during the day. I had to eke out a living on 6 hours of light a day. Our food was in short supply. The Earth seemed to turn a dusty grey. It was like a corpse in repose, slowly rotting with each passing minute. Earth was in decomposition and those few of us left were subjected to the horrors of watching this decrepitude and ultimate death of our world. I let my thoughts drift to happier times but kept my stride swift.
By Becky Byrns3 years ago in Fiction