Category: Short Story
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Visiting Hours
The second hand on the clock sliced the crawling time in silent ticks. It was odd to see the motion without hearing anything. Most clocks with a second hand made at least some ticking sound. This clock was an exception. There were other sounds, of course. Muffled voices sometimes drifted in from outside the room,…
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What the Sleepers See
A terrible, throat tearing cry echoed around the small room as the body on the table thrashed against its bonds. It only lasted a few seconds. It always only lasted a few seconds. Then they were still and muttered horrible gibberish. “She’ll be fully awake in a few more minutes,” Dr. Ambrose droned. “Tell her…
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Clearing
Can there be peace in all this noise? Jeth huddled beside the earthen embankment as yet another explosion sent debris flying everywhere, choking the air with smoke and dust. Fortunately, no one was killed this time. His chest and head ached from the repeated concussions but he didn’t have time to pay that discomfort much…
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Waiting in the Cold
Why did waiting rooms for doctors have to always be so cold? Even in the middle of winter it seemed the AC was still pumping out cold air. Kara often asked the receptionists to raise the temperature. They always had similar responses. “Sorry, we don’t have control over the temperature.” “Many of our guests don’t…
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An Uninvited Guest
It was another sleepless night for Asam. His old aches and pains acted up more frequently whenever the seasons were transitioning and he took his current discomfort to mean that Spring was on its way. Whether he stayed in bed or not, he would be in pain, so he threw off the covers and climbed…
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Trying to Remember
“Okay, let’s see,” Phillip said aloud to himself while checking over his gear one last time. His tent, sleeping bag, and foam pad were all tied to the back of the pack. The side pockets had his first aid kit, tinderbox, snacks, and water bottles. The main pouch held his clothes, food, hatchet, and other…
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Beneath the Stairs
I can hear voices upstairs. That isn’t unusual, but I never seem to be able to understand them. I’m not sure if it’s because the sound is too muddled by the time it reaches me or if they’re speaking a language I don’t understand. They never speak when they’re down here with me. From what…
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Collapse
Music blared through the headphones, drowning out all other sounds. Regardless, as Kevin rocked back and forth in time to the music he knew there was noise all around him. He kept his eyes shut as well to block out every reminder of what was going on around him. Cold, damp air blew around, making…
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Battle for Cove City
“Today marked the third day of the conflict between Whirlpool and Backspin,” the news reporter said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Neither Super seems willing to back down yet as they vie for dominance over Cove City.” Her voice was calm and even throughout the story as if this was a weather report, and in many…
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Dream Walking
The smell of burning electrical systems came sharp and acidic and the air was full of smoke of various colors. The war had been waging for years and the final push had come at last. The Komtasi, who had started the war, believed they had been chosen to cleanse the world of all sentient life.…
Bridge of Broken Glass 