Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Earth.

The Big Show
The Big Show June 28th, 2021 As we neared the end of the world, it seemed that nobody noticed or even cared. It was business as usual, and the sound of endless beeping became a familiar sound as the final hour approached.
By David Katz5 years ago in Earth
Blackberry Summer
She kicked the gravel under her feet, turned her head towards the sky and took a deep breath in. The sun was making its way behind the rubble, before disappearing for the evening. She pulled an old magazine clipping out of her pocket and tried to imagine life then. An ad for The Smoky Mountains National Park from 2019 that showed the sun setting over the mountains which made the sky look like it was on fire. Her grandmother had always told her stories of what life was like before. She would always talk about her mother’s garden and the way the blackberries tasted right off the vine. Yarrow was distracted when she heard her name over the loudspeaker, and it made her jump. She looked up the side of her tower and saw her lieutenant leaning out the window of the 10th floor, waving for her to hurry. Yarrow quickly ran inside to make her way to her post. “What even is a blackberry?” She said to herself as she started to climb the ten flights of stairs.
By Ashley Fairbanks5 years ago in Earth
Enchanted Land
My name is Seryna Laurenz. I’m fourteen years old and traveling with my uncle, James Sutter. We are traveling in an old gas engine car because the world has gone to hell according to my uncle.
By Robyn Fleming5 years ago in Earth
The Heart that Wasn't a Heart
Thump-thump, thump-thump… Such a heavy weight around her neck, she could always feel it like a brand against her skin. She kept it hidden away, for if anyone knew what it was she possessed in this tragedy of a world. She’d end up like the rest of them. Once, years ago, beyond thought and most memory it had been different. What she had that now felt like some sort of albatross around her neck was mere commonplace. Before humanity forgot that it was humane. Before they fell into such despair. She knew there were others like her. But they were few and far between. Difficult to find. And even if you did stumble across one, they were even more difficult to communicate with. Such was their burden. Shared but infinitely alone. She, that is to say, the heroine as only some would come to call her was so very Other, nothing could have prepared this new world for her. Elenor was a bright flame that had been hidden for far too long in the shadows. Her time had come and with it a time for all to either be reborn or pass into the afterlife. She hoped they chose wisely and that whatever choice brought them the peace lacking in life.
By Sarah B5 years ago in Earth
thoughts of a young deer
He hit the ground with an indignant bump. He looked like a wet rickety folding chair. He had a heart-shaped locket on his neck just over his legs. Instinct made him stand. Instinct and love made his mother lick him. Instinct, love, and evolution had him running at nearly thirty miles an hour fifteen minutes after he was born.
By Cellestine Aggrey5 years ago in Earth
I couldn't be a deep-sea diver.
I find it insane that we know more about space than we do the depths of our oceans. Truly, the fact that we know so much about the skies above us to the degree we have multiple chocolate bars named after the contents of our galaxies and not a single one about anything below sea level is intimidating.
By CJ Francis5 years ago in Earth
Clean Earth
Clean Earth This morning Sophie, half asleep, roused as usual by the yowling of Keith the cat, enters the kitchen of her apartment. It’s just another morning until she startles, feeling stings, little pinpricks, on her feet and up her ankles. She looks down.
By Martha Allen5 years ago in Earth
Disaster and Redemption
Commander Jared Prescott was flying the orbiter at hovering velocity and very low altitude. This mission was envisioned for years and was now a reality. Its role was to assess if earth could be restored. The global catastrophe had been a life-extinction event. It was not caused by a rogue asteroid or external attack but by human folly and ignorance. Its mind-bending scope was to restore human, animal, marine and plant life. It could take thousands of years. Considering earth’s life base was gone, this was an optimistic project.
By Leonard Hay5 years ago in Earth
The Shift into Darkness
The Shift into Darkness Later coined “The Shift,” the strange set of events that would characterize the moments when humanity “turned,” happened quite abruptly and suddenly. The majority of the people on earth were affected, leaving only a small remnant that could be recognized as the former human race. The shocking incidents began on a hot Summer evening in August 2021 with a loud, blaring buzzing noise, the location or source of which could not be pinpointed. The buzzing was simultaneously experienced throughout cities all around the world. Then news broadcasting stations announced that many, many people were dropping dead suddenly from unknown causes. There were no populated areas left untouched. And soon reports of additional sinister phenomena were widespread. Many described incidents where groups of people had begun to act strangely. They would appear confused, aimlessly stumbling around, sometimes emitting growls or other unintelligible sounds...some even attacking and biting others. Still others became unresponsive to passersby, appearing to be engaged in their own internal world where they were receiving thoughts and impulses perhaps through radio frequency waves. And finally, there was the inexplicable disappearance of a myriad number of people, and resulting chaos as planes and cars crashed.
By Roxann Drake5 years ago in Earth
The key
Captains log: Star date… I can’t remember I can’t remember the date? %^*# “We’re in trouble.” I think to myself. I maintain my composure around the crew. Smiling and greeting them as I would normally. “Pull it together Hayden, girl-wash your face!” My thoughts continue. I take long deep breathes as I walk. Centering myself.
By Dani Davis5 years ago in Earth
The Vessel
“But, why wouldn’t she know?” Seth asked curiously. “Did you know? Seriously Seth you are the epitome of a walking talking cautionary tale, and you’re the only one who doesn’t know it!” “This from a guy named Zen, who just happens to emulate the very essence of the word neurotic. Listen Zen, during my last journey, I gave her that locket, it wasn’t just a heart shaped locket…it was my heart, my actual physical heart.”
By Thomas Walker5 years ago in Earth
Terra Nova
Two hands hold a semi-broken heart shaped silver locket. To anyone else, the locket was a piece of junk but to John Wilder, it was the last remaining memento of his recently deceased wife. Alone in the darkness and illuminated by candlelight, John stares at the locket as he opens and closes it with methodical timing reminiscent of a man on the brink of losing his mind. Inside, is a scratched up photograph of his wife and son smiling and hugging. He is now a man lost to his mind, lost to his memories and lost to his hatred. He keeps replaying the events that brought them to where they were today; living in fear, living under total surveillance and complete control by an alien race that took the world by surprise.
By Michelle Tasker5 years ago in Earth