Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
The Kir Files
Chapter 1: ***Third Person*** The first day of school is always filled with chaos, from the freshman panicking over how to find their classes and making friends, to the lively upperclassmen comparing their schedules and talking about their summers. Magdalia Academy is no different than other schools on the first day....well except for this year that is.
By Kayanna Hansen5 years ago in Fiction
The Unnamed Child
The planet was dying, and Ward Ad1 welcomed it. She longed for it, especially in the evening when consciousness returned to end her drug-induced slumber. She fumbled for the eyedropper next to her bedroll, opened the face shield on her helmet, and winced as the moisture coated the lens of her eyes. Pink tears slid down her cheeks as she sat up and took her first painful breath of the day. The oxygen from her tank pierced her lungs. She sipped stale air, eventually gathering enough strength to sit up, the sharpness of her breathing slowly subsiding. She nudged the lump in the bedroll next to hers and elicited a soft but unmistakably angry grunt. Ward Ma3 cracked her dry, dust-encrusted eyelids open just enough to glare at her bunkmate.
By Erin Benson5 years ago in Fiction
The Tree Sitting Contest
“Vern would tell you I enter a lot of contests,” Betsy said, as she stabbed a needle through her needlepoint hoop. Even though it had nothing to do with the question I asked, she kept on talking. I let her. I just let her talk, even though it told me nothing about why she came and what kind of help she needed.
By Keith R Wilson5 years ago in Fiction
The End
The world looks different now - duller. Like one of those old world photos, the western style ones you’d get taken at a theme park and then would put in a draw for years to grow dusty as forget about it. That same coating of dust is everywhere, it saturates the surfaces of our town, thick and powdery, footprints cut through it and it almost makes me laugh. It reminds me of the first snow of the year when everyone would race outside to their gardens to leave defined footprints. Snow doesn’t fall these days. These days the world only has one setting; hot.
By Karla hardiman5 years ago in Fiction
The Thing With Feathers
Hope strained her muscles and pushed the pedals of her bike the last 200 yards to the safety of the shade of the former four-stall car wash. The idea of wasting water for vanity's sake was a ludicrous notion to Hope. Still, her people had put the building to better use. A grow house. It warmed her heart, thinking of all the plants that large of a building could maintain. The solar panels appeared cared for, and the roof was of special greenhouse glass. The air purifier was attached to the side building. The old "Holiday" sign still stood, beckoning long-dead travelers to its doors. Not much for travelers these days. This location was a part of H.O.P.E. Heal Offer Protect and Educate. A last-ditch effort for the survival of life on earth. Their fight was an uphill battle. Some chose a nomad lifestyle, trying to survive however they could instead, often stopping through posts to trade goods, news, and even act as a postal service. Nomads were always a risk, and special precautions were taken with those that had not taken the oath. A nomad could become a scavenger if they grew desperate enough. While H.O.P.E. was against the destruction of any living thing, those that preyed on others were a cancer that could not be tolerated. Even names were safeguarded against strangers. Hope was the name of all that brought it to others.
By Jessica Spates5 years ago in Fiction
First Sunday
That first Sunday had faded from her memory just as its recording had slowly sunk into the memory banks of her somewhat dilapidated desktop. However, she had already reconstructed much of what had come before. She had only recently realized that the motivation for that first Sunday had been brewing for years. It had started as a nagging restless feeling, occasionally mutating into irritation, even outbursts of frustration, sometimes climaxing in feelings of disgust and, eventually, anger.
By Jerry Smeding5 years ago in Fiction
Semi-Scarred Dirt
The dilapidated house stood forlornly against the grey horizon, the lone dark sentinel keeping a careful eye on a dead world. John looked at it as the last dredges of daylight slunk below the horizon, rapidly turning the pasty grey frame of the sky a hungry mauve, then a deep velvet black. He sighed and rubbed his hands together out of habit, wondering if the winter weather gear in the box by the front door was still full. He could use a good pair of gloves for the future; especially one’s knitted by his mother.
By Patrick Davin5 years ago in Fiction
De-Unification
We were digging up the potatoes when Maggie-Mae collapsed. She slipped silently to the ground between the neat green rows - I don’t think anyone else saw. I didn’t want to draw attention, so I kept digging as I moved closer to her position, near enough to see she was still breathing. Her soft, gray hair clung damply to her cheeks, and she made a rasping, phlegmy sound with each shallow breath. It was clear she was unfit for work.
By Angel Whelan5 years ago in Fiction
