Fiction
Smartystan
Tunes wafted through the air like the fresh scent of baked bread. The chords, the progressions, the pauses, the rests, all came from Vestin Go’s piano. He still remembered his days at First State Community College where he majored in music exploration. He’d been playing the piano since he could walk and talk. He took it even more seriously as he grew into adolescence and adulthood. By composing a new minuet, he wanted to try out something audacious.
By Skyler Saunders2 years ago in Chapters
The Colors of Odds and Ends
With her brother finally out the door, Charlie sat at the kitchen table and stared out the window at what looked like a perfect day. She thought about going back to bed but was already awake and set in the motions of starting it, teeth brushed and all. She sighed and looked at the piece of paper left for her on the table. Of course this was from her father. Was this passive aggressiveness? That was a concept that she had been accused of at school by people that honestly didn’t do as much as she did. Charlie understood that to move people in a certain direction, you needed to nudge them. That’s what she did at the school paper. As the student editor she needed to assign and ask for updates on stories then put her spin on the outcome, tell the sophomores what quotes to get and who to ask for them. That’s how you manage the paper. Leaving assignments on desks or in the slot organizing system hanging on the press wall, however, was ‘passive aggressive’ per Tyler, the junior that painted his nails black and sucked all the joy out of the room by consistently disagreeing with her assignments.
By G. Douglas Kerr2 years ago in Chapters
"The Quantum Thief". Content Warning.
In the labyrinthine alleys of Neo-Tokyo, whispers of a mythical thief had begun to circulate. He was known as the Quantum Thief, a shadow who could bend the very fabric of reality to his will. Legends said he had stolen the Crown Jewels from a locked vault, vanished from maximum-security prisons, and even pilfered the Mona Lisa right from under the Louvre's nose—all without leaving a trace.
By Cocoto_Junior2 years ago in Chapters
Soul Tied. Top Story - May 2024.
The sun rises in the forest again peeking through the greyness of the clouds in the sky. The same grey as the chain that still lays around my neck. The year is 3000, 2999 is officially over only it didn't end as expected. I suppose we should've known better though. People had the same thoughts in 1999. Fearing the world would possibly end simply because of a new number. Quite ironic actually we used to fear the end of the world we welcome it now.
By Jazmine Ambrosia2 years ago in Chapters
Smartystan
One synth walked up to a learned machine. The synthetic being greeted itself to the machine. They exchanged codes. They talked for a good while. They cajoled. The bluish purple of the synth contrasted the yellow and black of the learned machine. In essence, they had become intertwined due to their makers’ craftsmanship. By keeping in the realm of knowledge, their trade of ideas allowed them both to keep up with systems of mathematics.
By Skyler Saunders2 years ago in Chapters
Salience. Content Warning.
The stranger wrapped his giant arms around Acher's face squeezing the life and fight out of him. Tossing him into the back of his station wagon he wrapped his feet together before closing the trunk door behind him. He took a moment to stand and compose himself looking around the gas station. Quiet. After a few moments of savory satisfaction of victory, he walked to the driver's side gliding into the front seat. Acher struggled in the back of the station wagon kicking against the side panels. The stranger couldn’t hold back his glee and smiled so sharp that blood trickled down the sides of his devilish smile. His tongue quivered as it licked up the small streams and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Acher was lucky not to have to watch this moment for it was certain to not only scare him but throwing up now would most certainly seal his death. The stranger turned on the radio with gargled sounds until soft jazz bounced off the car walls.
By Murry Haithcock2 years ago in Chapters
