Ghostface Writer
Bio
Writing stories in my spare time. Daydreaming all the time. Welcome to the world inside my head.
Stories (23/0)
The Reducers
"The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window." Sarah couldn’t figure out what possessed her to come here in the middle of the night. Something drew her in. It was the overwhelming urge to find out what happened to her sister. There is nothing left to fear if the worst has already happened. At least, that’s what she would like to believe. So when she heard a voice call out to her in her sleep, she had to act. It only occurred to her now, that perhaps, she should not have done so without concern for her own safety.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Fiction
My Dad’s Journey
To some people, this story will probably sound familiar. A professional like a doctor or lawyer migrates to North America from a country that is considered “third world” and because their education and experience are not recognized locally, they end up taking a job as a taxi driver, or some other job that is unrelated to their field. The same is true for my dad. When we migrated to North America, his education and experience as an engineer were not recognized locally so he ended up working odd jobs. His very first job here was as a lotto ticket salesperson. He subsequently worked as a book salesman, pizza delivery person, and in a hotel as a food server, then later, as a kitchen steward/dishwasher. Despite not being able to use his education and experience as an engineer, I don’t think he was bitter or resentmentful about working these jobs. They’re honest work. Besides, when you’re an immigrant, the last thing you want is to be accused of stealing the “good” jobs from the locals. Working odd jobs has also shifted my dad’s perspective about these more modest occupations. The prestige may be absent in them and the level of pay made supporting a family more challenging, but as we’ve seen during the pandemic, some of these “lowly” jobs are the same ones that ended up being considered “essential.” Someone has to work them no matter what, and they deserve just as much respect as the careers that have become more traditionally known as prestigious.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Families
The Savage Sanctuary
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. The first time I saw one in real life was a moment of terror. It’s sheer size and monstrosity was something to behold. I was at a safe distance, but a feeling of recklessness burned in the back of my mind, and soon I desired more. I wanted to be closer. I wanted to touch it. As fear gave way to curiosity, I found myself going up to it. Slowly, I made my way until I was close enough to feel its breath, the heat making the air around it shimmer, like standing in front of a furnace. It just stood there, not bothered by my presence. Why should it be? I was unarmed and tiny. I was not in the least bit threatening to this massive beast. As I studied it up close, I was impressed by how a creature so dark and ferocious could still appear so regal and majestic. Its wings suddenly snapped open, in preparation to fly. Without thinking, I screamed at it to “WAIT!” It paused and looked at me with its fiery red eyes. Despite how demonic it looked, its eyes held no malice. I imagined it saying, ‘what do you want with me, you tiny, insignificant creature?’ I couldn’t think of what to say next. The dragon was mere moments from taking off. It stretched its wings once more, crouched down, then launched itself up into the clear blue sky. I wasn’t prepared to let go. Quickly, without thinking, I hurled myself onto the end of its tail. I held on tight and closed my eyes. The cold wind from its massive wings was a cyclone around my body. The giant tore through the heavens like a black dagger splitting a stream of water. When I was finally able to open my eyes, I could no longer recognize my surroundings. We glided over mountains. Carved within the mountains was the entrance to a giant cave. I thought maybe this was where the dragon lived, but it continued flying past it. Then we came across the ruins of a castle. I wasn’t sure which castle it was in particular, but it looked just like one of the castles in my history books. Just when I thought I couldn’t hold on much longer, it started to descend. Was the castle its destination? When the dragon landed, it curled its tail and placed me gently on its back. I was able to grip one of the many horns lining its back. I found my new seating arrangement far more secure and comfortable than hanging on by the tail. I looked the dragon in the eye and nodded in gratitude. It nodded back in understanding and we resumed our flight. I could finally see where we were headed. We were heading towards… the city? I could make out the skyscrapers in the distance, the glass and steel glistening in the sun. Just then, the deafening roar of jet engines buzzed over our heads. Before we knew it, we were being stalked by a pair of F-18’s. They were so close, I could see into the cockpits. The pilots looked shocked to see me holding on for dear life onto the dragon’s back. Three more F-18’s rushed at us. They slowed down to our pace and glided around us. We were surrounded. The dragon looked at each jet in turn, but seemed unbothered by them. Desperate, the pilots started dispersing flairs into the air. One by one, the flairs burst into red flashes showering the sky ahead of us. Suddenly, a loud bang in front of us startled the dragon. It jerked backwards and I got ejected into the sky. I was in freefall. I couldn’t breathe. That’s when everything went black.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Fiction
That ‘90s Girl
I met Melanie in grade seven. My family had recently moved to a new city so I was the new kid in school. I guess you can say she was the first girl I ever met there. When the time came for the teacher to assign me a seat, the spot next to her was the only one available. The seating in the classroom was arranged so that students were either in groups of three or four with one exception: for some reason, my seating arrangement with Melanie was the only one that was in a group of two. So we ended up sitting together, just the two of us, with our desks joined, facing each other, on my first day of school, while everyone else sat in groups of three or four, and it stayed that way for a while. I don’t quite remember my first words to her nor her first words to me, but I do remember her catching me trying to copy off her. I was surprised when her reaction was to lean back so I could see her work, especially when we barely knew one another. I might’ve said thanks quietly and there might have been a quiet acknowledgement on her part. It was so simple, the way it began, and before we knew it, it would grow into something more.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Humans
Japan’s Best Kept Food Secret
When you think of Japanese food, sushi or ramen instantly come to mind. But the best food discovery I’ve made in Japan is neither of these. In fact, it was actually their take on a western food - the pancake. And when you think of Japanese pancakes, your first thought is probably those super fluffy, thick but delicate, pancakes that jiggle in those instagram videos that people post so much. But I’d like to argue that the best pancakes in Japan (that I’ve ever tasted, anyway) are actually from a convenience store - 7 Eleven to be exact.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Feast
Naked Edamame
I’m usually a pretty shy guy when it comes to nudity. Somehow, I’ve managed to avoid the showers throughout my years in high school. Disgusting? Yes. If anybody minded, they sure did not show it. It just wasn’t a thing in our (probably stinky) school. Besides, I prefer to shower in the privacy of my own bathroom at home. That’s just the way I am. I feel awkward in the presence of naked people and I feel awkward being naked in the presence of other naked people. That all changed when I took up swimming, where my fear of germs overtook my fear of being naked. I was ok using the showers, as long as no one I knew saw me naked. That became the new dividing line that I dared not cross. That is, until I ended up in a public bathhouse with my friend on a trip to Japan. It was one of those things where you fear being in a situation until you are already in it. At that point, the fear of the unknown disappears as it is replaced by firsthand knowledge of the experience. There was really nothing sexual about it, if you’re heterosexual. The male and female sections of the bathhouse were separated so there was no chance of seeing any naked women. It was all dudes in the nudes. The trick is to keep your eyes trained on your friend’s face when you’re talking to them and to avoid looking down. Also, there was a small washcloth to cover yourself with, so that helped. But you were required to put this washcloth on your head when you enter the bath so it only helped partially.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Filthy
I Hate Summer
When I’m watching a coming of age movie where the male protagonist gets his heart broken, I can’t help but feel insulted by the idea of a movie about heartbreak. The movie, (500) Days of Summer, immediately comes to mind when I’m thinking about this subject. Everyone goes through heartbreaks, but what makes their heartbreak so special that it deserves its own movie? Not only do I find the protagonist’s misery annoying, but I just don’t get what they see in what they believe is the perfect girl. She’s a bitch - just move on already! Just kidding. To be fair, I feel that each of our own story of heartbreak is so personal that its full significance is apparent only to ourselves. After all, even my own friends have been annoyed with me for being miserable after a breakup because they don’t understand why I can’t just move on. So maybe I’m no different from these heartbroken protagonists and my resentment of their story is misplaced. But why do these kinds of movies keep getting made? Is it really because the filmmaker arrogantly thinks his story of heartbreak is so important that it deserves to be told? If I were to give the filmmaker the benefit of the doubt, I would argue that the point of coming-of-age movies involving heartbreak is not to seek validation for their own personal story, but rather, it is an attempt by the creator of the movie, not just to entertain, but to help themselves, and the viewer, understand and come to terms with their own heartbreak.
By Ghostface Writer2 years ago in Humans