CONTENT WARNING
Gridiron Grub
Football. It's more than just a sport; it's a cultural phenomenon. From the roar of the crowd to the last-second touchdown, it captures the hearts of millions. But let's be honest, there's another undeniable star of game day: food.
Brid ItukaPublished 30 minutes ago in ChaptersA Perfect Rose pt. VI
Thanks for reading my first short story. You have made it to the final chapter. If you haven't read the other chapters make sure you go back and read them all! You can find links to all of them here.
Anthony TerryPublished a day ago in ChaptersHeaven's Embrace: A Tale of Redemption and Love
CHARACTERS Cielo: Female immortal angel in her mid 20s, has wavy brown hair. She has the power to sense sadness and when someone is in danger.
Diani AlvarengaPublished 3 days ago in ChaptersChanging the Game Act 1 chapter 1
Chapter 1 Taking A Loss 1:00 am 5:5:2025 Beep. Beep. Beep. My alarm goes off yet another morning, so early under the stars. I like to work at night, mostly. It’s a big day for me and the team. today is the day me and my crew have been building towards all this time. Today I announce, that we are going “Legit!” Three years have passed, since the year of my father's disappearance. That could have meant something we could have lost everything. He was always leaving home on some mission or something for the government, or for his crew… Before he disappeared, my dad was not happy I was working against his particular notorious street gang’s interests. But somewhere along the lines, he forgot the goal “We” were working towards, his goal of taking his team from our gutter to the pros. Now my crew has enough of our own bread to feed the bureaucrats and start our own private security company. I have been training, we have been training. We’ve taken all these jobs off the books, protecting the little guy, from larger criminal organizations, that are squeezing the life out of the communities of this city. We even caught a few vigilante charges from the cops, that won't do anything. We didn’t win them all, but most. We are more like community activists. We at least try, “intent is everything,” my dad uses to say. I roll out of bed and into pushup position. I begin my regimen “one… Only one ninety-nine to go...” After that, I roll over one shoulder into Guard position on my back and I begin Crunches “One... Only three-hundred to go…” When I’m settled up with my routine. I have a light breakfast. Coffee, some toast, OJ, two slivers of bacon, and a bowl of oatmeal. Hmph... “Yeah, you call that lite? Looks pretty skimpy to me?” My Co chief Matter asks, as I’m imagining him in my thoughts... He’s a bit of a health nut. On some back to Africa stuff, so herbs exercise, ancient history stuff. None of us understand what he’s saying most of the time. However He’s trustworthy, and doesn’t speak without a good reason. It doesn’t help that Matter is a huge African-American. A simply monstrously sized black man. Most of the squad just nods with no disagreement. He was my dad’s right-hand man in the streets. Though he decided too leave with me and ‘Easy’ when I walked. Matter is an all-around righteous dude. Period. Glad too have him with us… After I shower and then meditate It’s something to do while you mostly drip dry. My dad taught me how to clean the junk out of my mind. He taught me how to block out the world. After about a half hour of this higher consciousness state. I get dressed. I grab a few of my choice protection tools. I head out the door. 3:08 am Stepping out of the old building on my block feels good now, not like before. People feel safe and it’s all thanks to my crew cleaning up the neighborhood. Two females on my 10:00 They smile wave, and stop to speak. It’s Ava and Debora. They work the corners and bars in the financial district for Realistic. He’s the piece of crap that took over my Dad’s Gang since he disappeared. He’s scum. They're both smiling. Ava says “Hey, Solomon, baby, how are you?” We went to high school together Debora smiles and adds “Hey, Solomon” I respond, “Hey ladies no working on the block. They half frown and half smile. In unison they reply “We know!” Ava without skipping a beat adds “Jealous?” I smile at that question, and jokingly come back with “Always.” Not true and they know it, but they appreciate the compliment and move on. Watching them leave I'm reminded of the time when we pulled a bad boy, off Debra in an ally. A bodega owner called us. Me and Matter were close by. So Easy routed us in first. By the time we could get there he had finished beating her quiet. Mostly, she was limp. He was kneeling over her and about to make it worse. I grabbed him. Lifting him to his feet as he was about to protest. Matter moved in with a Taser to his family jewels. And. …lights… out. I begin my 25-minute jog to the stash house. Gotta meet up with the crew. We don’t like banks. We don't really trust them. Sooner or later I guess we will have to start. Easy handles the books first thing my dad did when she graduated high school was put her in the best collage he could afford. SOB picked out all her classes, but paid it up front just like with me. Dad was a G. Aside from running a powerful Gang, my dad was some kind of special forces hero. Forty-two and he was still active. Before he disappeared that is. He raised me, and my sister on his own. He built his own Gang and worked for the military. Easy was called that, because everything was for her, just that Easy. I can do some stuff she can’t though. Like Parkour is easy, well it is for me. My dad picked up the idea when he was stationed in France. As soon as he got home, he showed me the way. I’ve been doing it ever since. I start running. It's a jungle out here, but I move like a tiger chasing prey through the back alleys of the streets. Nothing slows me, I move over garbage bins like they’re not even there at all. I practice silence when passing through debris like broken glass, cans, plastic bags or whatever else is down there. I'm a ghost here in the shadows. A swift ghost just like dad taught me. Fence? No problem. I begin my ascent running up the side of the building wall. I push off with the foot farthest from the fence at about eight feet. The closer foot then steps out for the top of the metal link obstacle, metal fences are unstable at the top. I make the necessary balance adjustments and I'm over it. 3:38 am It takes me about 20 minutes to get to the stash house. The crew works shifts to make sure it’s protected. We got a network, and just about all you would need to get it on with the best in the city! Hell, we even got a few armor lockers with a specific non-lethal weapons locker. That was Matter’s idea. Me? I’m the head honcho. You might liken me to a Team Leader. Or maybe, a CEO. Or at least I will be, soon enough. I’m doing what my dad always wanted to if he had the chance. If he could let go of the military, and the street, we would be doing it already. Part one of our muscle is Matter. He called himself that, he says because “All we can touch and see was made of that.” I don't know maybe he was trying to remind the crew or everyone which is a scary thought. I don’t know. Easy was my adopted big sister. She left the gang my dad built with me. Followed her little brother back to the old neighborhood to clean it up. Ya know, start from scratch, as they say. She handled the books. With her smarts. Of course, she did. Easy had mastered quick drawing her weapons. As well as becoming one hell of shot, rifle or pistol didn’t matter… My dad's first child marksmen. I learned most of what I know from her. She made damn sure that I learned what our dad was trying to teach. Between his missions she stepped up. She fed me. And after mom died from Cancer, Easy made sure I ate hot wonderful meals, and took baths, did my homework and handled hers on her own. She still managed to graduate with honors. I buzz the door. No answer. Funny I always get an answer from someone right away. I buzz again. I should’ve got something by now. Nothing of it. I get out my card key and swipe. Moving through the door at almost the same time. Caution Mode in play. I take the stairs to avoid others. Avoid conflict if at all possible. That’s what Pops taught me. I get to the fifth floor. I peek out the door. No one in sight. But, moving through the hallway, my senses are screaming something is wrong. “RUN!!!” But I second guess this. We secured this building ourselves. We have a system. It is fool proof. Or is it? Card keys for tenants and members. I get to the door. As I’m about to swipe, the door. I’m reminded, just as I’m starting to let my guard down. Something my father ingrained in us is not to be done his exact words were, “Your guard is Never down, even when you sleep.” The door opens gingerly, as if it was not fully closed in the first place. “What the hell is going on ‘round heerree...” I start saying on my way in. I get cut short, when I slowly survey the scene. I see nothing but carnage. They were all dead! All of them…. I had called the meeting today. They were all supposed to be here. And they are, but all dead. Except... What the Fuck! Where is Easy...? I had an eight man team here. But there were six bodies. I hear some gurgling sounds. Somewhere over near the office area. I move quick noticing the safe. As I enter the doorway, it's open, and it's empty. At my feet is a bleeding Matter. My best guy. Gone. He’s just gone. Like the rest of ‘em. Wait no he’s still alive 3:46 am I kneel down to eye level with Matter and try to speak to him. To let him know I’m here he’s not alone. “Matter! Matter! It’s me Solomon! Matter, talk to me man! What happened, who did this Matter!?! Matter c’mon man stay with me!” He looks up at me and mutters blood spilling out his mouth, “they came for the bread Solo.” He means our stash. He puts his bloody hand on my face, for the last time taking in my features. He gurgles, “They was Pro’s. like your dad. No doubt. They weren’t bangers! Just walked right in and started shooting up the place with silencers. Gack, gurgle!” I’m surprised and devastated at the same time. How? We have card key access for the whole building. “What do you mean they just walked in?” I’m confused and scared. “Must have had a card key. I don’t know. We didn’t know they was coming.” He looks around at the bodies. “Your dad knew you’d leave I told your pops that I’d put my life on the line looking out for you and easy little man.” He’s fading fast. “Matter!!! C'mon maaaan!!! Matter!!!” His eyes close and open “They took her. Easy. They took her! I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them.” He goes limp a second later. “Matter who!?! What’d they look like? Did they say anything...” But my questions are too late. He’s gone. I get up. I try to think clearly. We’re responsible for the building's security. Part of the rent deal. All security cards are ok’ed here and go to the hard drive on the server. Easy always keeps a thumb drive in her desk. I can use that to download the security log to find out who’s been swiping what. Someone let them in. I need to know who. But it makes no sense. Anyone on the inside would be dead too. I dash for the desk get the drive insert it into the USB drive on the server and hit a few keystrokes. I remove it, pocket it, and head for the door. All this blood man. At least no one called the…. The thought trails off as soon as it began. “Bang! Bang! Bang! Open up! This is the Police!!! We got a call about fighting in the building!!!” How the hell is everybody getting in this building? Did, I lock the door? I move for the window, and as I get it open, they try the knob... Damn! it’s open, and they’re coming in… 3:53 am The cops rush through the door with guns drawn. One looks me dead in the eye. I’m out the window before he can speak to the others. He yells to the other cops. “He’s going down the fire escape.” Practicing “Parkour” taught me too descend a building in moments using the fire escape system, so I'm down in a few leaps and bounds. I move through the ally like the wind is carrying me. But it is just fear. Primal and guttural fear. I hear a cop around the corner. He tells his partner to move around to the other side, so as to cut me off, he’ll flush me out. Really do they still do that? I hide at the corner of my building in a shadow, as soon as he moves around it. I grab him! It's only about 15-25 seconds squeezing him until he’s unconscious. He shouldn’t have struggled so much. That only makes you go down faster. He should know that. I place him in the ally against the corner, and I peep around the same corner, I hear more cop cars heading my way. “Why did they pick today to start working?” I keep telling myself, you can make it. If I cross the street, then hop the fence, and follow the tracks. There’s a car near the fence. It’s now my springboard. Over the fence. Once I’m over I’m gone. I’m free. No one can catch me now. On my way back, I get a call on my cell. “Don’t go home Kid, the first place they gonna check is home.” I pause my stride. Never heard this voice before in my life. He sounds like a grumpy and gruff older man. He probably smokes and drinks with his raspy tone. “Who is this!?!” I ask “I'm a friend of your dad’s. That’s all you need to know for now. Don’t go home!” There is a click and he’s gone just that quick… Start writing...
Michael VegaPublished 4 days ago in ChaptersI Can Think of Nothing More Republican Than Murdering a Puppy Because it Misbehaves
Did you hear this story about the Republican who murdered her puppy and then bragged about it in her book? The thing is, I grew up with people like this, and this story is so emblematic of how they think. These are people who get themselves all worked up to do something absolutely horrific, and they use it to justify a delusional self-image of greatness.
Petter JohnPublished 4 days ago in ChaptersDescent: Part Seven
Mary pressed tighter against me, I could feel the ragged staccato of her breathing as we stared into the perfect darkness. Straining my eyes, I tried desperately to see anything; going truly blind has always been a massive fear for me, and now, I fought down a rising scream.
Alexander McEvoyPublished 5 days ago in ChaptersTHE BULLY 2
The bully 2. Emmanuel has been acting really stubborn lately, constantly refusing to do what he's supposed to and attempting to sneak out of school. When everyone was called to the dining hall for dinner, he was nowhere to be found. We searched high and low, even sending the security guard to look for him. Eventually, I decided to take a walk around the school and saw him lying there with bruises on his face. It looked like he had been in a fight with someone outside the school.
echi monday echemPublished 6 days ago in ChaptersA Perfect Rose pt. V
It was another normal day at EastSide High. It was getting close to the end of his freshman year and Cam couldn't wait for summer to start. Cam was excited to hang out with his friends on the basketball court after school. The sun shone brightly in the sky, making it the perfect day to shoot hoops with the boys. He was a very competitive person and always would play to win. There was no let's play a quick game for fun with Cam. He was not very good at losing and would break ankles to be sure he would come out on top. He had a solid group of friends who would play a few basketball games on the courts every day after school and everyone who played had the same competitive mentality as Cam.
Anthony TerryPublished 7 days ago in ChaptersChapter 2: Sacrifices!
The girl sitting in the room, Sashi tending to the burns. “Chto-to ingekho, Ize.” Sashi said. “Utsho imeyesh' v vidu?” Ize replied puzzled, “Ycinge? Kak oni sebya vedut, bakwinto ethile ne nravitsya.” Sashi growled venom dripping from her words. “Ndiyaqikelela; oni slishkom schastlivy videt' nas zdes'.” Ize replied timiledly. In the five years they’ve been together she’d never seen her like this. “Yiloo nto ndiyithethayo. Etot chelovek khotel, chtoby ne pomylis' i odelis' opredelennym obrazom.” Sashi said, gesturing to their state of dress. Just then two men burst into the room and grabbed the girls. “Sashi!” Ize cried fighting to get loose. “Ize!” Sashi cried fighting to get to the only sense of family she had left. The girls were put in separate cells but close enough for them to hear each other. Sashi could hear Ize crying out loud. “Ize, Kulungile; YA zdes'. Ukhuselekile!” Sashi said, trying to reassure her. “Sa-Sashi?” Ize said through sobs “Ingaba ty?” “Da. Ndim. Vy udarilis’?” Sashi whispered. “Hayi: Ty?” Ize replied in the whisper.
Allie and EmmyPublished 8 days ago in ChaptersGoogle Play
Google Play is a computerized conveyance stage worked by Google that fills in as the authority application store for Android gadgets. Clients can peruse and download a wide assortment of utilizations, games, music, motion pictures, Television programs, and books from the Google Play Store. It offers both free and paid content, and clients can get to and deal with their downloads across various gadgets connected to their Google account.
mahfuz ahmadPublished 9 days ago in ChaptersDescent: Part Six
The discarded cane that I still held was so heavy as I stared at the fires that ringed the room. Around me, the other Saint Martha’s students muttered to each other, questioning where exactly they were and what all this had to do with the assignments. A few even asked what the assignments were, causing a ripple of quiet, near-panicked questions as they tried to figure out what we were even doing in the temple.
Alexander McEvoyPublished 9 days ago in ChaptersThe Beast Within
"Amelia!" The Alpha’s voice roars within his study, shattering the stillness of the air; every syllable dripping with impatience.