short story
Eyes from the Deep
The anticipated message lit up Genna's screen at exactly 8 o'clock a.m., on the seventh day of her isolated quarantine. Her previous hours staring at the dome ceiling above her, had brought her to contemplate the heavy black water above. She wondered at how everything could seem so calm. How could the unimaginable pressure of the Atlantic Ocean above her seem so still and unmovable, but in reality, it was a seething beast, just waiting for any chance to rush in and crush Gennas body with its immense weight.
By Cheyela Effinger 3 years ago in Earth
Coyotes in the Wild
My fascination with coyotes began when my ex and I would drive out to Stinson beach, to have bonfires, smoke pot, and talk about life. We would always hear coyotes during our night walks. I found their calls thrilling, terrifying, and fascinating.
By A Modern Mexican 3 years ago in Earth
What is that smell?
“What is that vile, atrocious smell?” I hollered as I rushed past my companions into the dense growth of the tomato forest. The air around me felt heavy and pungent; that awful smell enveloping every pore of my being until I felt I could barely breathe. I was suffocating and starting to feel disoriented. I started to panic, my head felt fuzzy and I stumbled. I yelled frantically to my comrades but my words came out discombobulated and seemed to buzz around my head in the heat. I tried to move but I bumped into some others crowded around an especially juicy Cherokee Purple tomato. How could they be trying to eat right now with that stifling stench? Maybe I could avoid the smell or at least discover where it was originating, so I got very close to the ground near the roots and stems that thickly populated this fruit haven. I was dismally disappointed when I could only find more of the same all-encompassing smell. How could this be? Where was the tantalizing smell of the tomatoes that usually surrounded me?
By Nikki Christakos3 years ago in Earth
Green
It wasn't the first time Mia had noticed the light. It had been in her presence a few times before, but only for a second. Then, it was a small pocket of green hue that she didn't think anything of. Presently, she gazed across the vista, observing how it had grown across the billabong into a glowing, misty green haze, hanging mysteriously above the water. She could no longer ignore it.
By Kate Ashforth3 years ago in Earth
The Bull and The Road
This bull is a massive animal. Huge and muscle-bound, built to thrive on the violence of life. Big horns, piercing eyes, sinews and muscles that bulge from beneath tough, leathery skin, and a large wet nose, constantly sniffing out edibles. A huge frame, a hulking beast that can be slow, ponderous, almost docile one moment but thundering, angry, and fierce the next.
By Keihsi Urmuud3 years ago in Earth
Beyond the Marigold
It was a chilly , windy day on the beach. The wind blew the dew because the dew leaked the leaves by accidentally falling onto the sidewalk. I rubbed the soft leaves of the trees as I slowly made my high the trail . “I take a deep breath,” I said aloud, gasping for breath as my dog sniffed the nearby tree. He lifts his leg to try to to his business. I inhale, exhale. I await him to end while the sparrow sits on a foreign branch peeking through the leaves from time to time.
By Queen Olivia3 years ago in Earth
Lamentation
The roar of the crowd is deafening, pulsing all around me. I cannot see them. These four crudely built wooden walls are all I can see, but I know they are out there; I can smell them, feel their hunger. I have never been here before, but I know it is not a good place. It is so hot in here, and it smells of fear and hopelessness and old blood. My eyes bulge. I desperately search for a way out; there is none. I am scared.
By Jessica Gordon3 years ago in Earth
Monkey, Sloth, Bull and the Temple of Love
In the oldest of times the animals were the gods. They were all beautiful and sleek and swift, and the swiftest of all was Jaguar – king of the animal gods. He was a proud king and all creatures struggled to gain his favour. Every animal found their place in his hierarchy according to their speed.
By Kurt Shean3 years ago in Earth
The Painter of the Gods
There is something about the village all abuzz with excitement that I find exhilarating, even if I am not directly involved. The crowd of men and maidens press against me as I struggle forward. For a moment, there is a break in the crowd and I half notice a movement from the corner of my eye. My hand, almost involuntarily, jerks upward and snatches a small stone from the very air and, in one fluid movement, launches it back to where it originated, smacking hard against my brother’s head. Anger contorts his face as he grips his ear, blood already trickling down his neck. Stealing myself for the expected assault, I relax as his friends start laughing. He joins in, still gripping his ear and sending me a sideways glance that lets me know that this isn’t over.
By Daniel Charles Porter3 years ago in Earth