Short Story
The Crush
“You…have to…” The Man pauses to inhale deeply and harshly before continuing, “hurry… Can’t hold…it…m-much longer!” The Woman comes to groggily, her vision blurry and her body disjointed. She slowly takes in her surroundings; it’s dark and what little she can see is coated in a fine layer of dust and particulates.
By Amanda Rice3 years ago in Fiction
The Time-Traveling Plumber
The Time-Traveling Plumber Mildred "Millie" Peabody glanced around the chaotic scene with a resigned sigh. The Johnsons' kitchen resembled a scene from a disaster movie, with the sink erupting torrents of soapy water like a mini-Niagara Falls. It wasn't the first plumbing crisis she'd tackled, but this one had a unique twist. The Johnsons swore up and down they hadn't touched anything, and the pipes looked pristine.
By Abdul Qayyum3 years ago in Fiction
Diabolical Dealing. Top Story - April 2024.
Charlene Lind found herself at the home of her therapist, Dr. Alexandra Vech, who she had been seeing for a week. What was supposed to be a session ended up becoming a desperate plea of help from Charlene as she was suddenly losing consciousness. She was cognizant enough to know that she had only a minute left until she would be out like a light.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 years ago in Fiction
Just One Defining, Defiling Minute
Come with me and you will see a world of pure humiliation. As the school bell sounded loudly throughout the modern structure, reverberating off the walls, ceilings and floors as armies of students rushed to their classrooms, one stood out, even from afar.
By Paul Stewart3 years ago in Fiction
Heat Ray
Iraq, 2034 Coolness on their backs mocked the two Marine officers. They both were strapped loosely to metal racks that felt chilly despite the air that felt like breath everywhere else. The heat from the device known as the Active Denial System (ADS) felt like their black feet had been dipped in lava. ADS had been converted into a handheld means of delivering what has been said to feel like being grilled in a hot cooking pan. Their uniforms remained crumpled in the corner with their rank insignia stripped from them. The pain remained intense but left no marks or permanent damage to their skin. No internal ferocity resulted from the direction that the ISIS insurgents used against them. Lieutenant Dexter Foster’s face appeared as if it would shred to ribbons. Captain Ballard “Ballin’” Houseman felt the powerful heat next. He grimaced. The insurgent ceased his attempt at torture. Laughter bubbled up in the Marines’ throats when the experience ended. The insurgents ran away not knowing that the ADS had no lasting effect on them. The laughs sounded whole, clear, true. They looked at their shoddy restraints. Eyes became means of directions to show the way to break free from their captives.
By Skyler Saunders3 years ago in Fiction
Harry & Sue
Lightning slashed a path across the evening sky. In its brief flare, a solitary man examined the small huddle of cottages around a common yard. A child’s wagon had turned on its side, two wheels in the air too rusted to turn. Something was loose, banging in the gusting wind. The man turned toward the noise. He watched an unsprung screen door slap in time with the incoming storm. A fat drop splattered his cheek.
By C. L. Nichols3 years ago in Fiction
8.2 Seconds
They say it takes 8.2 seconds for a guy to fall in love, and I’m sure that they were thinkin’ about moments like this when them guys did their researchin’ and studyin’ of the topic of love. And I was in love. I knew that this was just another jam on the highway – every damn Monday like this – but I guess the stars aligned or somethin’ and I got a glimpse of her. It was a nice way to start off’n the day.
By Kendall Defoe 3 years ago in Fiction
Fuego Burger
Charlie is sitting at the dinner table with his aunt Esther, his cousin Michael and his sister Ella. Sitting in front of him at the table is a big juicy, greasy burger with red sauce leaking from its center. The sauce is his aunt Carol’s famous Fuego Sauce which is said to be so hot that no one can withstand its spice for longer than one minute after tasting the sauce. Charlie who loves a good challenge has been challenged by his family members to take a bite from the sandwich to see how long he can withstand the spice of the sauce before needing a drink.
By Joe Patterson3 years ago in Fiction
The Stranger in the Mirror
Emily stared at her reflection, but the person staring back wasn't her. Same face, same eyes, same hair – but something was off. The smile was different, the expression was different, and the sparkle in the eyes was gone. She rubbed her eyes, thinking it was just a trick of the light, but when she opened them again, the stranger was still there.
By Bartholomew Abuchi James3 years ago in Fiction
Gossamer. Top Story - April 2024.
"Murray! Wake up!" He loved that period between waking and dreaming. To him, it was like entering another dimension; more of a dreamscape than dreaming itself. There was an otherness to it that he wanted to grasp and yet deeply respected the fact that it could never be his totally. This is what gossamer was; flighty and light, a wisp of smokiness, an idea suggested but not fully revealed, a slit in cloth, a copse in the wood.
By Rachel Deeming3 years ago in Fiction
