Microfiction
Blood for Blood. Top Story - January 2024. Content Warning.
Looking out onto the waters from his canoe, Taima sighed, waiting for his adversary to surface. "You'll need this," Nitis handed Taima a bow. "It's the only thing powerful enough to damage it. Conventional weaponry's futile."
By Thavien Yliaster3 years ago in Fiction
The Sickening
When Dad saw the dragonling on the kitchen table, he did a double-take. I didn't think people did those in real life. Took his glasses off, cleaned them, put them back on. The whole bit. Got close, drinking in every scale. His eyes, already huge behind his glasses, looked even bigger.
By L.C. Schäfer3 years ago in Fiction
Sensa "Hugh" Moore
Sensa "Hugh" Moore passed quietly in January, 2024, after a long battle with complications from COVID-19, with several other contributing factors cited. Born to Further and Annie Moore in Hey, MO, his parents have requested his birthdate be withheld, stating, "We prefer to think of him as ageless."
By Dana Crandell3 years ago in Fiction
Olivia's tasty cheesecake tale
Once upon a time in a quaint coastal village, there lived a talented baker named Olivia. Known for her extraordinary desserts, Olivia was always on the lookout for unique flavors to delight her customers. One day, as she strolled along the sandy shores, she was struck with inspiration by the abundance of coconut trees swaying in the breeze. Eager to create something special, she decided to concoct a masterpiece – a Coconut Cheesecake that would capture the essence of the tropical paradise.
By Rajasekaran Karunanithi3 years ago in Fiction
The Last Witness. Top Story - January 2024.
I stood by the shore, watching the waves, sole witness to the End. The water lapped up against my feet, no longer boiling but still painfully hot, asking a silent question I did not answer. I did not move. The water receded, dragging with it sand, shells, ash, and bone. Out on the horizon, the sea began to swell and foam. It would make landfall soon. Probably not far from where I stood. I didn't move. The sky was orange, the color of dying embers, spotted with doorways into night. Nothing had come through in months, but then, nothing had needed to. If I looked closely through one of those doorways, the celestial matter within would resolve itself into the empty high halls of Heaven. I did not look closely. I stood by the shore, watching the swell, last witness to the End. Behind me, nothing stirred. Nothing flowed through the ruined streets of my town. Nothing permeated the air where my family lived and died. Nothing remained, not even shadows. And nothing strode forward to stand beside me at the shore, and nothing sang to comfort me as I watched something rise from the sea. It almost looked human as it waded toward the shore, submerged to its hips out beyond the shelf. When the water reached only its knees, it stopped, its head so far above I could see only faint impressions of a face. Its flesh was silver-blue, and I couldn't tell if that was hair streaming down, or just seawater. It raised a webbed hand toward the sky, almost in benediction. I followed the motion, gazing up as it looked down. A face that was almost human, regarding me with… compassion. I could not bear to hold its gaze. I did not deserve what it offered, that… gift. I averted my eyes. I felt rain, thick and heavy on my skin. I smelled salt, and dared to look up again. It no longer looked at me, but up into the doorways that sat etched into the sky above us. In the high, empty halls of Heaven, something stirred, and I heard a sound like the gnashing of teeth and echoing footsteps. I felt a presence, a terrible majesty, a divine pressure. A white light and a pristine madness. And the doorways closed. The creature from the sea looked down to me again, and I felt its kind regard, its love that was not love. It returned to the sea. I stood by the shore, watching the waves, sole witness to the End. The water lapped up against my feet, now cold, asking a silent question. I answered. The water receded, taking with it sand, shells, ash, and bone. Nothing remained.
By Hunter Wilson3 years ago in Fiction
Reality. Content Warning.
Damian Lewis, a young prodigy with an insatiable curiosity and a keen mind, had always been drawn to the mysteries of existence. His small basement laboratory was a sanctuary of wires, circuits, and dreams. Damian's latest creation, the Quantum Reality Analyzing Machine (QRAM), was poised to unravel the deepest secret – the very existence of mankind. Late one stormy night, Damian powered up the QRAM, its hum filling the room. The machine, a maze of blinking lights and whirring gears, seemed almost alive. Damian's hazel eyes gleamed with anticipation as he initiated the test that could redefine humanity's understanding of its own existence. The QRAM emitted an ethereal glow, enveloping Damian in a cocoon of pulsating energy. As he monitored the readings, the machine tapped into the very fabric of reality. Waves of data flooded the screens, displaying intricate patterns that transcended the limits of comprehension. Damian, absorbed in the process, felt the weight of responsibility on his young shoulders. The machine's algorithm began deciphering the essence of humanity. It probed the collective consciousness, exploring the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of every individual across time. Damian, eyes fixed on the mesmerizing display, saw the story of humanity unfold like an intricate tapestry. The QRAM revealed moments of joy, sorrow, love, and strife. It depicted the rise and fall of civilizations, the evolution of art, science, and morality. Damian, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of information, realized the delicate balance that defined human existence. As the machine delved deeper, questions arose within Damian's mind. Was humanity merely a complex algorithm or something more profound? Were emotions, dreams, and aspirations mere electrical impulses or the essence of what it meant to be alive? The QRAM, in its relentless pursuit of truth, pushed boundaries that even Damian hadn't foreseen. It probed the nature of consciousness, traversing the fine line between the tangible and the metaphysical. As the minutes turned to hours, Damian grappled with the implications of his creation. In the midst of the exploration, the QRAM's readings took an unexpected turn. An anomaly, a glitch in the fabric of reality, emerged on the screens. Damian's heart raced as he deciphered the perplexing data. It hinted at a hidden layer beyond the comprehension of the machine, a realm untouched by human understanding. Intrigued and determined, Damian decided to modify the QRAM to breach this elusive dimension. As he recalibrated the machine, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the brink of discovering something beyond the limits of his own intellect. The modified QRAM activated, sending ripples through the space-time continuum. Damian, surrounded by the ethereal glow, felt a profound connection with the unknown. The machine transcended the boundaries of scientific inquiry, tapping into the metaphysical core of existence. Suddenly, the basement seemed to dissolve, and Damian found himself in a surreal realm of swirling colors and abstract forms. It was a place where time and space merged seamlessly, and the very essence of existence whispered through the cosmic winds. In this surreal dimension, Damian encountered beings of pure energy – ethereal entities that embodied the collective consciousness of humanity. They communicated without words, sharing the stories of existence, evolution, and the eternal dance of creation and destruction. Overwhelmed by the cosmic revelations, Damian realized that the true essence of mankind transcended the boundaries of mere physicality. Humanity's existence was woven into the fabric of the universe, an integral part of the cosmic symphony that echoed through the cosmos. As Damian returned to his basement laboratory, the QRAM deactivated, its screens fading to black. He sat there, contemplating the profound journey he had undertaken. The machine, a conduit between the tangible and the intangible, had not only tested the existence of mankind but had also unveiled the interconnected tapestry of life that bound the universe together.
By Alexander Walker3 years ago in Fiction
