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Weekly Contest #372
A demon stood in the dark, watching me as I pretended to sleep again. I peeked through my lashes and watched its shadow grow in my periphery. My chest felt full of cement. Run? I couldn’t even wiggle my toes. My body was numb except for the crushing pressure on my chest. The room was silent. The demon was hidden, but its sinister smile was palpable. It must have felt glee when I finally stopped pretending to sleep and gasped for air like a fish out of water. It must have felt a sick pleasure like a boy who tears the legs off a grasshopper, b...
Weekly Contest #361
He struck her lighter repeatedly in his swimsuit pocket while waiting. A knot had formed in his chest and a pit in his stomach hours ago. Summer had come and gone, and the beach house had become home. Leaning left to look around the family, he caught sight of her in her red polo. How did she look that good in a burger place uniform. He couldn’t say everything right then, but the conversation needed to start somewhere. A text didn’t feel right. He shook his head to clear his mind. His long curly hair fell onto his broad shoulders. Last summ...
Weekly Contest #318
"And that's not the only thing we're going to do!" The crowd surged to its feet, a roaring ocean of signs stamped with one word: ROAK. "When you elected me, I promised you a safer city. And what have I delivered? Crime is at an all-time low!" Applause thundered. "The slums are cleaned up—yes, they are! And it wasn't just crime. Look at our schools: the best in the state!" Another cheer. Roak lifted his hands, basking in the roar as it rolled over him like a wave. "Give me four more years, and not only will our city stay safe, and our school...
Weekly Contest #317
He did it. He looked at the limp rat body and then back at the screens on the cluttered desk, then back at the chamber where the rat lay. I wasn’t dead, He wasn’t even sure if it qualified as sleeping. Ethan would explain it as the conscious mind leaving the body and relinquishing control of the autonomic system, which then maintains all necessary bodily functions. At the same time, the conscious mind shifts to another time. The numbers over the chamber door counted down from three minutes. Ethan watched with anticipation, reaching for his ...
Weekly Contest #316
I remember the wind drying my tears as I cried over my ice cream. If I had just been patient and waited for the perfect pitch, we would have won. That’s all I wanted. Well, that’s not true. I just wanted to make Dad proud. He was my hero back then, and I wanted to be just like him. He must have noticed I wasn’t inside with the rest of the team. I remember watching through the front window as he made his way to the door. His coach’s whistle still hanging from his neck and dangling like a silver dot for the I in Giants. He was so big compared ...
Weekly Contest #315
Manuel watched the rain work in the dark. Another year older and nothing to show for it. The Uber sign burned in the corner of the windshield, and a Dominican flag hung from the mirror. A fan of losing scratchers lay on the passenger seat like dead leaves next to a birthday card. The book on the radio told him to rise at five, make his bed, and that you were only a victim if you chose to do nothing. He nodded along in agreement as he worked on his scratchers. Half past midnight. The plane should be down. He wrote the name on a whiteboard in ...
Weekly Contest #314
It was the hottest day of the year. Covered in sweat, I watch the fan blades spin in the moonlight. They spin like the wheels of her bike. Where was she? Still feeling the bottle of bourbon I had for dinner, I sit up and steady myself to the ground. I’m successful after steadying myself on the bedside table, but my badge and gun clash to the floor. Screw it, I’ll pick them up later. I make my way to the kitchen by sliding down the wall. I should turn on the light, but why? Even when we put a light on all the evidence, it didn’t matter. We ne...
Weekly Contest #295
“You stole them you little whore.” Marge sat in her yellow tweed rocking chair stroking the doll that sat in her lap. Her wrinkled hands were gentle, a stark contrast to the scowl she gave to the woman before her. “What are you accusing me of now mom?” Christine sighed as she leaned her body against the door to close it. She struggled to keep her balance while hugging a bag of groceries. She was flush and out of breath from the summer heat. Sweat had begun to bead near the grey roots of her metallic red hair. “Do you ever just say it straigh...
Weekly Contest #292
Trigger warning: this story contains death and suicide. Gloria has eyes that follow you anywhere in the room. Posed with her hands folded in front of her slender body. She sits with quiet patience with a hint of a smile on her youthful face. She wears clothes from an era long gone, elbow-length satin gloves, a large pearl necklace, and a red fedora. She is my husband's great, great grandmother. Gloria is my new companion in the drawing room. She sits above the mantel on her ancient canvas and watches in silence as I pour through the papers o...
Weekly Contest #291
Tom’s whole body hurt, or at least the parts that were still attached. He stared down at the two red backs of the cards in front of him with tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to play anymore; he had no choice but to. He reached out with his three-fingered right hand and checked what he was dealt. The Nine of Diamonds and Nine of Hearts gave him a wink.“You’re awfully quiet now, Tom.” The man with all his bits and pieces said from his comfortable leather chair as he lit a cigarette. “What are you putting in this time?” The man asked as he let...
Weekly Contest #289
Viper couldn’t tell if they were stupid or toying with her. They had followed her since leaving the restaurant and hadn’t been very sly about tailing her. She weaved her way through the dark allies of the city and was sure of the tail now. She was young but not a rookie. She knew the protocol. She took her phone from the coat of her long jacket and sent Mother the picture of herself in a red dress. Mother’s response was a thumbs up and the words “See you at Club Chaos.” Viper shook her head at the response. Of course, he would choose Chaos....
“Welcome to the Nursery.” Debera said behind her mask. “Thank you, I’m excited for my second year as a Healer.” Ava answered behind her own mask. “I’m glad to hear it. I can tell just from looking at you that the Council chose you well when they assigned you as a healer. Come let me show you around and get you familiar with your duties.” The older woman led the way. Her figure was healthy with a straight back and black head wrap. Her steps were smooth, as though she was floating through the ward. Ava was less graceful. Full of excitement and...
In the heart of a corrupt land was a town full of thieves and bandits. A fierce and psychotic leader ruled it. He was once fast, strong, and handsome. Yet, the years of ruling and many assassination attempts had aged him. His body grew old and feeble. His mind did not weaken. It grew colder, more paranoid, more cunning. The town was full of criminals, but there was no crime within the walls. If subjects violated the Lord’s rules, they suffered a cruel and sinister punishment. The Lord favored philosophy, preferring to leave punishments to ...
Disclaimer: This story involves actions that can be associated with pedophilia and online grooming. There are no violent or sexual scenes. However, the dialogue is intended to be uncomfortable to read as someone on the outside sees the events unfold. This story does not promote or glorify pedophilia. Nor attack those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.--He didn’t look like much. He was quiet and meek despite his lengthy frame, and he didn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. He wore glasses that matched his cheap haircut. His clothes were as...
The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here. The last thing I remember is… is… I don’t remember anything. Panic begins to run through my body as I take in my surroundings. I tilt my head down to see my naked body covered in goose skin from my waist up. A crisp white sheet covers me from the waist down. The sheet matches the rest of the room. Everything is either bleach white or stainless steel. The room reeks of sterility. The only light comes from the overhead lights.Three of my cell walls are concrete painted white. A thin drape co...
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