Mark Gagnon
Bio
I have spent most of my life traveling around the US and the globe. Now it's time to draw on these experiences and create what I hope are interesting fictional stories. Only you, the reader, can tell me if I've achieved my goal.
Stories (123/0)
Life's Rhythms
We are all born with a natural rhythm. It controls our actions and thoughts from birth until death. I know this sounds like an oversimplification because everyone seems so different. Some people may sing like a nightingale or croak like a frog. Others move like they are walking on air while the rest of us dance as though we are wearing cement shoes. No matter where our talents lie, the beat is in us all. Let me explain.
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Beat
The Next Chapter
Chapter 1 Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. I was looking forward to spending time on Earth after a 3-year deployment on Sentinel-4, a large rock orbiting Proxima Centauri. Our mission there was simple. We were to observe all galactic anomalies, collect samples from neighboring planets and asteroids, and, of course, search for intelligent life. We were never sure if the last directive was meant as a joke, since no one in all of our outposts and colonies had ever come across other forms of life.
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Fiction
Family Ties
We found a locked metal box in the basement of my grandmother’s house. I’m sure grandma probably forgot it was even there. Neither of us had ever seen this box before, which was strange since she took pride in displaying her extensive collection of random items throughout her house. Why did grandma keep this locked box hidden away in the basement? We had no clue. There were so many questions, but unfortunately, she was no longer around to answer them.
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Horror
The Jokes on You
Even as a young boy, Oscar was always pulling pranks on his peers. This desire to place other people in embarrassing situations may have developed because of his name. His parents named him after a distant relative, not the Muppet character. Unfortunately for Oscar, the other kids only knew the name from Sesame Street.
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Humans
Watchers
We've all seen them, perched on high wires or rooftops, staring at the world below. Crows congregate in small groups, and when one departs the murder, another quickly takes its place. Have you ever asked yourself what they are looking for and who they are reporting their observations to?
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Futurism
Derailed
A gentle rocking motion coupled with the rhythmic clickity-clack sound that filled the air made it difficult for me to wake from what I presumed was a deep sleep. One would assume that returning from my near catatonic state, I would be well-rested and full of energy, but that was not the case. I felt groggy and listless and my head pounded with a dull pain. Summoning all my energy, I forced my eyes open to take in the surroundings. None of it looked familiar.
By Mark Gagnon8 months ago in Fiction
The Janus Dichotomy
Romulus (named after one of the mythical founders of Rome) went about his normal morning routine, still half asleep. He apparently had a restless night, but didn’t remember anything out of the ordinary that would have kept him awake. Rom shrugged it off, finished his breakfast, and headed for the door. As he stepped over the threshold, Rom almost tripped over a small package lying on the porch. He scooped it up and tore it open on the way to the car. The mystery package contained a pocket-size notepad and a metal refillable pen. He took the package, tossed it on the passenger seat, and headed for work.
By Mark Gagnon9 months ago in Horror
When I Grow Up
I hear the other kids say, “When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter, astronaut, truck driver, doctor….” The list is endless. Most kids want to follow in their parents’ footsteps, but from what I can tell, very few do. It’s hard to know what you want to be at a young age. That’s probably why I’m having such a hard time figuring out what path I will follow.
By Mark Gagnon9 months ago in Futurism
Stop-Please!
Stop—Please! This place hasn’t changed much since I was a kid. My parents would take us here for summer vacations. The boardwalk is longer now, and there is a restaurant at the end, but the water, the beach, even the tall bridge carrying cars high over the waves while allowing boats to pass through on their way to the sea, is the same. The other thing that hasn’t changed much is me.
By Mark Gagnon9 months ago in Fiction
A Dark Light
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The flickering light looked out of place, surrounded by the inky blackness of the night sky, yet it persisted. Its job was simple; act as a beacon in the dark and attract any wayward traveler—beast or human. The owner of the flame had no real preference, however, humans presented more of a challenge. He liked a challenge, but it made no actual difference. Beast or human would meet the same end. Death for them, sustenance for his master and leftover scraps for him.
By Mark Gagnon9 months ago in Horror
Damn Liberals
“Gentlemen, let me start with introductions,” came a voice from a speaker placed in the center of the table. “At the far side of the table is Ramses II, Pharaoh of Egypt during the exodus. To his right Pope Leo X, head of the Roman Catholic Church during the time of Martin Luther and the great reformation. Next to him is King George III, England’s monarch, when the American Revolution occurred. Our next guest is King Louis XVI, the last monarch of France (holding his severed head). Moving on, we have Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, Adolph Hitler and, last but not least, Joseph Stalin. The one thing that you attendees have in common is a distinct hatred of liberals. Am I correct?”
By Mark Gagnon10 months ago in The Swamp
Pretenders
Pretenders If you’ve ever watched “Sunday Today with Willie Geist” you may have seen a segment called “A life well lived.” Each week it highlights a person or persons, recently deceased, that have made noteworthy contributions to our country and, occasionally, the world. The alumni include: Medal of Honor winners, inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs, holocaust survivors, designers, the list goes on and on. Each story is fascinating and inspiring because they are the real deal.
By Mark Gagnon10 months ago in Humans
