Short Story
Daddy
Daddy is mad again. He got mad last night when he came home and I made them both sad, and I think he’s still mad at me now ‘cause he’s not here and all of the other Daddies- well, Mommies mostly- have come already because they’re happy like Tabbitha and don’t let each other spill cups all over the place and on Daddy’s new shirt. Mommy said it would come out, but that’s what she said about the tomato sauce, and it is all orange down my front now and I remember when it was red, and before that it was white.
By Anna Cunningham2 years ago in Fiction
The Rich Man's Clothes. Top Story - September 2024.
An emperor who had no clothes was once gifted with a rich man's attire. Wearing them seemed like a breeze in the air covering his soul. His steps quickened and the marvellous seemed possible. Even his daydreams seemed remarkable but there was nowhere to put them so he stuffed his hands in his pockets. With no touch to his senses, the world became cloudy - no gift giving his new point of view. Through the mind of an apple, his thoughts grew...if only I can. The apple became a new world he could almost taste. Then he realized that the apple and the clothes were not his own, nor the windswept thoughts between the threads. So he made bare his mortality and walked naked in the sunlight.
By Canuck Scriber Lisa Lachapelle2 years ago in Fiction
Knights of Vocaldom. Top Story - September 2024.
They seemed an endless horde across that morning field. Soulless soldiers of metal, animated by greed, stood row by row as fog filled the narrow valley. The endless ranks of automatons had long assaulted their realm, and yet today they would be held. The enemy bore no banners, for there was no cause nor honor to them.
By Matthew J. Fromm2 years ago in Fiction
Listening to the words of the woodcutter.. the lion went bad!
Once upon a time, deep in a forest, there lived a mighty lion, known to be wise and just. Though he was the king of the jungle, he ruled with kindness, ensuring peace and balance among all the animals. His reputation spread far and wide, and even the fiercest beasts respected him.
By shabana begam2 years ago in Fiction
Nebula's Edge
The Nebula's Edge was not merely a location but a cosmic enigma—a threshold where known reality frayed and the uncharted universe beckoned. Captain Elena Drake found herself on the precipice of this boundary, gazing through the panoramic viewport of The Odyssey into the mesmerizing chaos of the nebula. Years of whispered legends and half-formed theories had led her here. Some spoke of it as a celestial graveyard; others swore it was a gateway to dimensions unseen. Yet Elena was driven not by folklore but by an insatiable quest for truth. "Captain, we're closing in on the Edge," Lyle, her navigator, announced, his voice quivering despite his attempt at professionalism. Elena glanced at him, a young man who, though barely in his twenties, had weathered the rigors of deep space. His apprehension was palpable, but Elena’s curiosity eclipsed any trepidation she might have felt. "Steady, Lyle. We’re just observing," she responded, her voice steady as she continued to study the swirling, iridescent mists outside. The nebula’s gases shimmered in ethereal shades of violet, cobalt, and gold, a breathtaking but foreboding spectacle. For weeks, their voyage had been marked by the silent majesty of the cosmos—stars elongating into lines as they sped through known territories, skirting asteroid fields, and charting familiar realms. Now, the silence had deepened, the Nebula's Edge stretching infinitely before them, an unending veil of luminosity and darkness. "Scanners are picking up something unusual," Zara, the ship's science officer, reported, her eyes darting across her console’s complex display. "It’s... hard to describe. It’s as though there’s something there, but also not there." "Can you clarify?" Elena inquired, stepping closer. "It’s a distortion," Zara said, her brow furrowed. "It seems like space is warping around a source we can’t pinpoint. It’s almost... alive." The notion of something alive at the edge of a nebula sent a shiver through the crew. They had encountered space anomalies before—black holes, rogue comets, even hostile alien factions—but this was different. This was a sentient anomaly. "Proceed closer," Elena commanded, her tone unyielding. There was no turning back. They had ventured this far to uncover the truth, and they would not retreat in the face of fear. The ship advanced slowly, penetrating deeper into the nebula's depths. The once-distant swirl of colors now enveloped them, bending light into elusive patterns that twisted reality. It felt like navigating through a living kaleidoscope, shifting and contorting with every heartbeat. "Captain, we’re losing sensor integrity," Lyle shouted, his hands flying over the controls. "The readings are... erratic." "Switch to manual control," Elena ordered. "Zara, keep tracking the distortion. We need precise data." Minutes dragged by, each one heavy with mounting tension. The Odyssey crept forward, its hull straining against the unseen forces. The crew watched in silence, their mixed feelings of awe and dread palpable. Suddenly, the ship jolted violently. Alarms screamed, and the lights flickered erratically. "What’s happening?" Lyle’s voice was a mix of panic and confusion. "Something’s pulling us in!" Zara shouted, her voice laced with urgency. "The distortion's escalating—it’s siphoning energy from the ship!" Elena gripped the armrests of her chair, her pulse racing. They had crossed into the realm of the unknown. "Engage reverse thrusters! We need to escape!" Lyle’s hands flew over the controls, but it felt like trying to swim against an unrelenting current. The ship’s response was sluggish, almost as if it was being wrestled by an invisible force. "It’s not working!" Lyle’s voice trembled, sweat streaming down his face. "Redirect all power to the engines!" Elena ordered. "We have to break free!" Zara scrambled to reroute energy, draining non-essential systems to feed the engines. The ship’s lights dimmed, the hum of the engines growing louder as they strained against the cosmic force. For a moment, it seemed they might prevail. The ship groaned, fighting the grip of the nebula. Then, as abruptly as it had started, the pulling force dissipated. The Odyssey lurched forward, breaking free from the nebula’s grip. The alarms fell silent, and the ship’s systems stabilized. The crew released a collective sigh of relief. "What... what just happened?" Lyle asked, his voice shaky. Zara stared at her console, the readings still showing strange patterns. "I’m not entirely sure," she admitted. "But it seems like... the nebula was testing us. Like a sentient entity warding off intruders. It let us go once it realized we posed no threat." Elena exhaled deeply, her heart still pounding. "We’ve encountered something extraordinary," she said quietly, her eyes still fixed on the nebula’s shifting colors. "Not merely a phenomenon, but an entity—something conscious." "So what’s next?" Zara asked, meeting Elena’s gaze. Elena’s eyes gleamed with renewed determination. "We head back, report our findings, but this is far from over. The Nebula’s Edge—this is only the beginning." The crew nodded, feeling the weight of their discovery settle in. They had glimpsed the unknown and survived. As the ship charted its course away from the nebula, Elena cast one last look at the swirling lights. They had reached the edge, but she knew this was merely their first encounter. The galaxy held countless secrets, and this was just the start. "Set a course for home," she commanded. "We have a story to share."
By Black Rose2 years ago in Fiction
Ich Lüge
I didn’t even know I was looking for love, someone to share my life with, until that night at the fair. Quiet, reserved, mousy, everyone called me the same names. I was a wallflower waiting to bloom. Sixteen and full of opportunity, but at that point I had little confidence. Every year up to this point, I had trodden the line carefully. I was a perfectionist.
By Elizabeth Butler2 years ago in Fiction
The Hunt
The dragon swoops this way and that, a ghastly searchlight backdropped by the bright stars. Rock dig and scrapes at me from all angles in this cramped hiding place, but even so, I'm struck by the beauty and majesty of the terrible beast. It's astonishing that a creature so enormous can make the sky.
By L.C. Schäfer2 years ago in Fiction
