Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
As the World fell
We were all told this would happen eventually—the world was bound to come crashing down but we hadn’t expected it this soon. You see, it had been nearing the two-week mark of my father lying in an ICU bed. We had started this journey full of hope but there was an inkling of doubt in the back of my mind. It started out as a tickle, the welling of tears as my throat squeezed tight with panic. I hadn’t registered reality, my dad was dying and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I clutched the small heart shaped locket—a vintage piece full of intricate swirls that he had gifted me some odd years before as I stared down at his beautiful face. I couldn’t fathom what was happening, how he could be here one minute and gone the next. I joined my siblings on a small couch under a window near his bed as we flipped on the television—I didn’t care what was going on outside of these four walls. The world could have burned down around me and I wouldn’t have known.
By K.H. Obergfoll5 years ago in Fiction
Faith
“We always thought that we ourselves would end the world. That there would be some nuclear disaster, a war lasting minutes, and then not much of anything else. We didn’t account for nature to destroy itself, like a snake biting its tail-“ Faith cut herself off, pausing the radio transmission to reach for a handful of crumbs out of some unbranded, grey military bag of chips.
By Sam Maccallum5 years ago in Fiction
Go ahead and lie
It became very clear that Roran couldn’t stand Hanny. And that Hanny took great delight in getting Roran all riled up. There seemed to be nothing that nothing could stand about Hanny. The way that he laid sprawled in the sun with those soft and tender gray eyes, comfortable in his own skin and fur as he gnawed on a bone. He would snap and spit at Hanny anytime he acted the least amount dogish. But what could you expect from a dogman?
By Vivian Crane5 years ago in Fiction
The Magic Arrow
The wide cargo bay of dirtship rode so high that the trees seemed half as tall on either side of the Old 40. Gathered around EJ, and scattered across the top of the canvas-covered cargo, were three types of faces—the drained, the bored, and the unconscious. He held up a jug of shortwater and deck of cards. “The game’s three jack,” he shouted. “Who’s in?”
By The Page Collective5 years ago in Fiction
Tales of Bette: Reunited 2020. Part 1
INCLUDES MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "BETTE ON IT: WEIRD ADOLESCENCE." YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Bette Arrives... Bette and Mark had been talking for months after they got back in contact in June 2020. They texted each other almost daily. They video called each other a couple nights each week. Mark was able to do so more often when his children were with his former wife: every other week. Bette had concerns about Mark having an ex-wife and children, but over the months it became clear: Shannon had been someone he had loved as a friend; she was his partner in raising their children. He told her their romantic love had faded fast in the early part of their marriage and they were both much happier now. He had nothing but kind things to say about her as a friend and mother.
By Tinka Boudit She/Her5 years ago in Fiction
Olivia
Startled by the flashing image of what looked like an enormous white, yellow, orange, and black mushroom filling the sky eight-year-old Olivia jumped to her feet in search of her mother to tell her of the horrible dream she had. Olivia was shocked to find nothing, but dark ash filled skies and sporadic fires. She continued the search for her mother. What seemed like hours had went by, the skies fell darker. Olivia was exhausted and desperate to find water to quench her thirst and hopefully remove the awful taste in her mouth she familiarized with that evening she hid a coin in her mouth she had taken from her father’s coat to buy an ice cream. Just as her knees began to fall limp like the Fettuccine noodles mama made for supper what Olivia believed to be the night before there was a loud boom. Frightened Olivia regained her strength and began sprinting away from the sound. Not getting far Olivia tripped over a rock or piece of wood; she did not know which and was not concerned her concentration was on the burning pain she felt on her knee. In tears Olivia rocked back and forth while clutching her scraped knee. Olivia wiped away her tears and rose slowly when she noticed a shine in the darkness that was not emitted from one of the fires. Afraid, but curious nonetheless she walked to the shining object. Olivia kneeled and picked up the most beautiful heart-shaped locket she had ever seen. Olivia was fascinated by finding such a beautiful, untarnished locket amidst such destruction. But what was most intriguing finding a picture of her mother and father in the opened locket she had never seen before. Tears cascading down her cheeks she smiled as she whispered mama. Using the preposterous amount of light, the heart-shaped locket gave off and thinking her parents must be near Olivia decided to continue her search. Somewhere down the line her exhaustion must have gotten the best of her. Olivia’s eyelids began to separate as she gazed around in confusion. Mama? Papa? OLIVIA, her mother, and father shouted. Slipping the locket into the pocket of her night dress Olivia jumped up. MAMA! PAPA! She yelled running in the direction of their screams. Cracking sounds, arms flailing Olivia let out a fearful scream as she began falling through the ground. Squeezing her eyes shut just before she hit the ground; her eyes popped open as she fell into his arms. Bursting into tears PAPA! She cries. I was lost in the dark with fire looking for you and mama. I was so scared, all alone, please do not ever leave me like that again. Calm down Olivia it was just a dream her mother said while taking her into her arms. No mama it was real, I know it was real! Her mother laid Olivia’s head on her shoulder, as she stroked her hair. Olivia, sweetheart what happened to your knee the dad questioned? I fell when I was running to find you and mama. And when I was holding my knee, I found this; Olivia pulled the untarnished locket out of her night dress. Her parents gave one another a puzzling look. That is beautiful dear but where did you get it? The mother asked. I told you I found it when I was looking for you. Maybe you lost it when you were looking for me. Olivia honey you have been in bed, none of us have left this house and I never seen that locket before! Sweetheart have you seen this locket before, the mother asked while looking at her husband. No, never! Olivia this is not funny just tell us the truth dear. Mama I told you I found in when I was--A thunderous BOOM, a wave of fire in the form of an enormous white, yellow, orange, and black mushroom, dark smoke filled the skies. The ground was heaps of grey ash, no buildings, no sign of life anywhere. Nothing. Complete destruction of mankind.
By Carmila Player5 years ago in Fiction
House of Endless Days
Food never spoiled in that kitchen. I once left a gallon of milk on the counter and, when I returned to throw it away, condensation coated it still. In the same span, the orchids in the library had blossomed and wilted. That was four days for me. I don’t know how long it was for everything else.
By Robert Currer5 years ago in Fiction
