“Héan?” Reid whispered into the darkness. “Héan, are you there?” “I am always here, Reid.” Hèan’s voice came from somewhere nearby. Reid’s ears could pinpoint the source. It seemed to be next to him, somehow coming from both his left and his right, but behind him, as well. “Oh. Good,” Reid said. He stared up … Continue reading Héan
Category: Short Story
Din
Khari collapsed backward. She had just enough strength left to turn her fall into something that resembled lying down intentionally, if dramatically. She breathed, great, heaving, inhalations and exhalations that warped her entire torso with their strength. The cool night air flowed through her. She pictured it fighting against the fire within, and losing. … Continue reading Din
The Darkness
They can see the darkness, across the plain, moving toward them in defiance of the sun: a great wall, pure black, erasing everything in its wake as it travels. The sun shines bright from the other side of the world, only a quarter of its way through its trek across the sky, but no matter. … Continue reading The Darkness
White Marble
Cyrène bounced her foot impatiently. The motion sent ripples across the hem of her dress. Cyrène felt a distinct hatred for the garment and its enforced, blatant femininity. She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest in direct defiance of the way a proper lady would be expected to sit … Continue reading White Marble
Mother Earth and Father Ceiling
There was a time, they say, when Mother Earth and Father Ceiling held each other in a tight embrace. They loved each other so that they stayed pressed together, face to face, with only the smallest space between them. Times were hard, then, for our ancestors. They crawled on their bellies between Mother and Father. … Continue reading Mother Earth and Father Ceiling
Her Fight With the Floor
The floor began the war with a small blemish in the northeast corner of the kitchen. Just a small discoloration of the white linoleum floor that no one in the family but she, Annette, would notice. And she did notice that small stain, ambiguously between red and yellow, but not orange. It looked like a … Continue reading Her Fight With the Floor
Trapped, Part 3
Trapped, Part 1 Trapped, Part 2 Bastian spared a glance back at Celia as he moved. Her frustration was clear, not just upon her face, but by the agitated movements of her hair. It buzzed about her head like a nest of swarming bees. He felt glad she hadn’t given up. He was grateful, … Continue reading Trapped, Part 3
Into Goodness
It began with simple mistakes: Andy couldn’t find his keys one day, or he missed an appointment he had scheduled because he forgot to write it down, or he came home from the grocery store with completely different stuff from what Mel had asked him to retrieve. Then it got worse. Andy couldn’t remember … Continue reading Into Goodness
Trapped, Part 2
Trapped, Part 1 Some of the arenas gave the illusion that they had once served other purposes. One was designed to look like an abandoned village, complete with houses full of items that made it seem as though someone had once lived there. One arena appeared to be the inside of an improbably large castle. … Continue reading Trapped, Part 2
Yusun and the Hunters
With a quick, twisting motion of his hands and a rapid succession of words, Yusun finally managed to bind the creature with his spell. A joyful shout burst from the mouths of his companions as the creature froze in place, its eyes wide with panic. Yusun breathed a sigh of relief. He steadied his hands … Continue reading Yusun and the Hunters