Horror
What Happened to Kari
Months had passed following the annihilation of the world. Nearly all life, from plant to animal, was taken away. Billions of men, women, and children ceased to exist that day.
David PinsonPublished 3 years ago in FictionLeda's Dream
Leda startles awake in pugilist form, tangled with sweat-soaked sheets that have clawed a tight grasp on her torso. She falls to the floor, her head making sharp contact with the bedside table. Grunting, stream of consciousness expletives rolling out on a hard exhale, as she tries to loosen the sheet’s cloying hold made more arduous by the bloated cotton fibers and the sweat still secreting from her pores. The tangy scent of adrenaline blended with fear waft from the wad of sour sheets as she slowly extricates herself. It’s a little past three in the morning. The moon hangs low in the sky, it’s ripened state casting elongated shadows on and around her body. Leda remains on her back while the rapid drumming of her heart slows as the epinephrine vapors of last night’s dream dissipate. Her eyes trace the length of shadows as they writhe on the ceiling to the sway of the soft breeze outside the barred window. The silence once longed for when the world was bustling and alive, now like a cavernous yawn that consumes, should you succumb to its stark whispers. Leda stares at the dead ceiling fan, now an appointed dust collector of yore since the sound of generators attract danger, willing the sheen of sweat to evaporate amid the stale air. As her body finally begins to cool, the dark void creeps in, leaving her shivering and restless. Leda works through her mind, sifting through the remains of the dream that awoke her.
God's Command
“This proclamation comes directly from the Holy One himself, God’s Chosen, the Prophet of Ages. God speaks to him, and we humbly listen - amen. We pray to make a fair and ordered society, but human nature binds us to the ways of the earth. We are forgiving of errors because we understand their source. We understand that covetry and greed are human instincts, instincts we share with lowly animals. We understand that these instincts come from our bodies, at the cost of our souls. We understand because we are like you. However, a mild sin propagated for too long turns into a dangerous vice. We take small steps to aid the body in adjusting to the humble heavenly order we’ve established on earth. Therefore, today, by official proclamation and God's command, we forbid the coveting of Aquinian lockets. We know some among our great town possess Aquinian lockets. There are only a small number of these lockets left on earth. Their beauty lures us, and demands we hold them private and dear. But this is a sin. A desire of the body. Like all desires of the body, we must suppress it and supplicate ourselves. We, with the power invested in us by the Holy One, request that any and all Aquinian lockets be brought to the Great Temple by Noon.”
Sympathy for the Devil
They dropped the bombs in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington D.C. on Independence Day. It must have been some power move on the part of the President: dropping bombs on the highest infected populations to protect the life and liberty of uninfected Americans.
Paola VanessaPublished 3 years ago in FictionThe Locket
Steffen woke confused and worried. Even with being weak he sprung from the ground and grabbed the man who was standing over him. Trying to defuse the situation the man stated his name. “I am Travis but everyone calls me Tray. I know this seems crazy, but I’m not here to hurt you. I watched as you were hit by a truck. Everyone was in a panic after the sirens went off. I ran by you but when I seen your chest heave I stopped to check if there were any survivors. I just couldn’t leave you there, I quickly checked and you had a pulse and was still breathing but your family did not make it. I’m sorry. This is all I found with you” and he hands Steffen a picture of his family. Steffen’s grip loosened as he fell to his knees. “Are they up there?”Steffen asked. “They are about four blocks out” Tray replied. Steffen rose back to his feet and placed the picture in his pocket. “I have to see them” he said. Tray stood in Steffen’s path so he couldn’t get through. “It is still too dangerous out there. The gasses are still on the surface.” “I don’t care, they are all I had. I have too see them” Steffen said pushing through Tray. Not turning back he continued to walk towards the door. Once he was past it there was a small room it was long and narrow. A bigger man would not have fit though. He looked back at tray. “Thank you” Steffen said. Tray just nodded as he shut the door to the room Steffen was in. It was dark. The only thing Steffen could see was a little bit of light at the end of the room. He placed each hand on the walls to the sides of him to guide himself to the door. He hesitated once he made it to the door but was determined to find his family and make sure they were really gone. When he finally opened it the smell of burnt hair and flesh overwhelmed him. Not able to control himself he vomited all over the doorway. At the same time tears fell from his cheeks. All these people are just gone he thought. He took a few steps out. He seen a body laying on the ground. He bent down to peer at it. Even though it was mostly bone he could still see the fear on its face. Steffen’s heart dropped to his stomach. He couldn’t imagine what all these people went through. He just hoped the death was quick. He viewed each body as he continued to walk deeper out. In the corner of his eyes he seen something shine. It was a little golden heart shaped locket. He bent down and picked it up. He opened it. There was nothing in it, not even a picture. He reached into his pocket and took out his only possession, the picture of his family, and placed it in the locket. He hung it around his neck. In the distance he saw three figures walking towards him. One was tall and shapely and the other two were small and their antics were familiar. Instantly he knew who they were. His heart started to race. He ran towards them. Tears fell, “I love you” he said as he hugged them. “I never thought I would see you again Ellie” Steffen said, “Tray said he was only able to save me.” He bent down to his little boy and girl and kissed each of them on their heads. “I missed you both so much” Steffen said, grabbing and holding them tight. “What happened?” he asked. “Where were you?” Before they were able too answer he remembered it was unsafe. Tray’s words continued to echo through his mind. “It is still too dangerous out there. The gasses are still on the surface” The smile he had on his face quickly faded. “We have to get back” he said. “It’s not safe out here”. He grabbed Maddie and Elijah’s hands. He called to Ellie to follow him to safety. They started heading back to the bunker. They went through the first door and Steffen closed it behind them. Once at the second door he pounded on it vigorously in his excitement hoping Tray would let them in. All the effort he spent made him weak and before he knew it everything went black. When he came to he seen that tray was standing over him. “Welcome back my friend” he said. Steffen gasped for air. “Where is my family?” he asked. His voice was quiet and raspy. Tray could barely make out what he was saying. He looked confused as he replied, “You were the only one at the door”. Steffen tried sitting up but fell back to where he was laying and winced as he felt the burning pain in his lungs suddenly, but he continued, “They followed me back; Where are they?” He was able to speak a little louder, but it was forced. Concern was etched across Tray’s face. Again he spoke and repeated himself “you were the only one at the door Steffen. I am sorry.” Steffen lifted his hand, struggling with even the slight movement, he placed it on his chest. “Where is the locket?” he asked. Tray tuned around to grab it from an old table. “I took it off of you as I was giving you CPR. You blacked out right as I was opening the door for you. I need to tell you , it was hard to get you back and I believe you’re still suffering from the gas inhalation. I… I don’t know how much longer you have…”. Steffen looked at Tray as he laid the locket in his hand and smiled a small smile, which was all he could muster, “It was worth it all to see them again.” Steffen then opened the locket up to see the photo once more. Steffens hands dropped. The locket still dangled on his finger. His eyes slowly closed. There they were again, all together and at peace.
Gaige TaylorPublished 3 years ago in FictionAll Heart
In a colorless shell of a once thriving world a masked traveler wearing a black hooded trench coat walks labored carrying all he owns on his back. As he approaches what seems to be a pile of debris a glimmer of light shines through. He sifts through the rubble in anticipation of what he’s stumbled upon. After a few moments he unearths a heart-shaped locket.
Scott LangPublished 3 years ago in FictionThe Deepest Kind of Love
Fiery, searing pain assaults my consciousness much like… well, much like the filthy rubber boot that literally assaulted my skull. I wait for the ringing to stop. It always takes a minute. And you know what? I’ve learned to enjoy the wait. To return to my senses is to return to the unique, personal hell created for me by a skeleton team of torturers commissioned by my own government.
Brad ThomasPublished 3 years ago in FictionTen
My sister's voice haunts my sleep. We thought they couldn't find us this far out from the city. We thought we were safe, but dreams morph into nightmares mirroring reality.
Elena BurnsPublished 3 years ago in FictionFlickering in the Sky
It was Tuesday. They always came on Tuesday. ”They still haven’t fixed the flickering,” Venilia said, gazing up at the dark shapes in the sky.
Greg LemonPublished 3 years ago in FictionMaria
"But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
Abbott 5000Published 3 years ago in FictionBaby Earthworms
The rain felt predatory, falling down in packs and nipping at his skin until it started to feel hot. The sensation brought him back from his daydream and remembering where he was he wiped the backs of his hands on his trousers, tucked his socks into his boots and tightened the collar of his coat. Clipping the rusted seal around his neck rendered him a little bit breathless, but it was a breathlessness he could cope with – a seared nape he could not.
Patrick Bernardo GleesonPublished 3 years ago in FictionTime to Visit the Lions
Amanda slid her finger along the jagged edge of the heart pendant she had worn for the last seven years. Her mother Beth had given it to her the last time they visited the zoo.
LUCINDA M GUNNINPublished 3 years ago in Fiction