He would always be an outsider in this sleepy mountain town, but he’d stay a while. The innkeeper and his daughter were keen to take his money, no matter whence it came, and no one gave him any trouble. His reputation proceeded him. Annette, who spoke a little English when she had the nerve, brought… Continue reading Drifter
Category: Microfiction
Homunculus
The Phoenix Lord was in the middle of some speech when Jocelyn received the order to strike. Even though she was newest member of the right arm, she was in charge of the killing blow, a complicated manual control that required finesse. The rest of the crew stood around her console, shouting encouragements. She could… Continue reading Homunculus
New (The Fetishists – Secretary)
OBJECTIVE Though new to the working world, Melanie Blackwell is confident she exemplifies the qualities necessary to thrive as a personal secretary. Typing and organizing come as naturally to her as eating and sleeping come to others, and she has always envisioned herself working in an office, answering phones in a courteous and efficient manner.… Continue reading New (The Fetishists – Secretary)
Robustness (part 10)
As the echo of the firearm’s explosion filled the car, Ezekiel waited for some courageous bystander to tackle him and be a hero. That would have felt right. Instead, he opened his eyes and looked around. All the strangers remained inanimate. Bits of glass on the floor left him able to pull the lever whenever… Continue reading Robustness (part 10)
Mermaid
Last time she came to the surface, Meryl found what seemed like a man, but his fins were all divided and strange. For some reason, he’d resisted as she pulled him down beneath the waves, as though his gills worked in reverse, like a dolphin’s. This time seemed less eventful. Though the sun was drying… Continue reading Mermaid
Speaker
He had given enough speeches to know when he was losing the crowd. Now, for instance. While he spoke of dreams and realities, students were flirting with each other, as they do. Some teacher shushed, though hers was the voice that carried. “Now I hear you. I know what you’re thinking. Who are you, up… Continue reading Speaker
Psychic
A friend she hadn’t seen in years sat down on the bus, across the aisle. Claire knew that if they made eye contact, they would speak to each other, and she knew exactly how the conversation would go. “Claire, is that you?” “Mary Ann? I can’t believe it! How’ve you been?” And so on. Just… Continue reading Psychic
Compliment (The Fetishists – BBW)
Shortly after Valerie hit thirty, some of her friends started making playful jokes about her body. “Who’s the father?” was a favorite, and the least subtle. Her friends were terrible and she hated them, but she could not deny the motivational merit of their abuse. She started going to the gym, and even after the… Continue reading Compliment (The Fetishists – BBW)
Advantage
In her recent interview with Success magazine, Ruth-Allen Kapoor related the advice her father gave her time and time again throughout her childhood. “If you give anyone a chance, they’ll take advantage of you.” Following this adage, Kapoor founded her first company, a local bakery, at age nineteen. In but a few years, her cutthroat… Continue reading Advantage
Original
“Thank you all so much, thank you. Thank you. That was I’m Looking Through You, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The Beatles.” Neely wasn’t sure what else to say. Someone gave another whoop when he said that band’s name, the most famous band that had ever been. Epochcalypso was less well-known. Nevertheless, they had… Continue reading Original
Post Modern Existential Horror 