Jackal Civil War

April 20, 2024 - 9 mins read

Fantasy
Dark

Ahri Moonchild swept her hand over her hardened Harrow deck. Six ornate cards floated from the stack and slotted themselves into the form of an upside down crucifix floating in the air in front of her. The meaning of the reading flooded her mind as she channeled the beyond. “Your fate is looking rather grim Farouk,” she said as with a flourish she sent the cards flying through the air toward the armored man.

First Contact

April 13, 2024 - 4 mins read

Radio static buzzed as Jim Hawkins held down the transmit button inside the glove of his space suit. “Hawkins to control.” Jim continued to work as he waited in silence for mission control to respond. “Go ahead Jim,” the scratchy response came from his headset. “I’m just about finished out here,” Jim said as he tightened one last bolt on a cover plate. “Please confirm array status,” he said for the third and hopefully final time.

Deadly Rain

February 17, 2024 - 3 mins read

The warning klaxon droned to life, its signal the sound of a dying animal to my ears as it warned of impending death should you not heed its warning. This was not my first time, but if I didn’t hurry it very well could be my last. We were taught as children to drop whatever we were carrying and run. As a result many of us carried only what we could fit in pockets and prayed the storms would not strike with arms full of groceries.

Lighthouse

January 31, 2024 - 15 mins read

The clock on my dash read 2:03 AM when it shut off. Actually everything shut off including the engine, which let out a small whine as it spooled down and went still. I managed to get the old Chevy off into the shoulder before she came to a stop, but I had to fight the wheel without power steering to help me. I shifted into park and just said quietly, “Fuck.

Tensor

January 13, 2024 - 3 mins read

I have worked through some of the toughest conditions known to man. Whether rain or shine, my work was never put on hold. I worked for one master through a time of peace, and another after a time of war. I worked for yet another master after that one died. I have known no loyalty other than to my work. News of goings on in the galaxy swirled around me as I did my work, but I did not pay any more heed to the news than was necessary for me to listen for orders.

The Door

December 16, 2023 - 4 mins read

My hike took an unexpected turn when I found the door. There are some types of doors I might expect to find in the middle of the forest; the kind that lead into cabins, or the kind that might lead into a sealed-off mine, for instance; but this door had no building or mountain connected to it. It just stood bare, a dark red door alone in a small clearing. There wasn’t even a frame around it.

The Dwarf in the Flask

November 23, 2023 - 18 mins read

Evan’s fingers rested gently on his keyboard. He willed them to move, to begin tapping away at the next chapter of what he hoped would become his first masterpiece. If he could just get his fingers to start moving, maybe his brain would wake up and start churning out the words. “There was,” he began typing. He stopped and let the cursor on his monitor blink a dozen times before backspacing the two words.

Kidnapped

November 18, 2023 - 2 mins read

Flash Challenge

My eyelids fluttered open as the sunlight from the uncurtained window finally forced me from sleep. I tried to keep them open, but they were heavy blinking back against the light. A few minutes more wouldn’t hurt. I rolled over onto my side and became painfully aware that I was not in my warm, soft bed. The surface beneath me was cold and had no give. Above me was only air and the clothes I still wore.

Ticking Clock

September 30, 2023 - 5 mins read

Tick, Tick, Tick… The incessant noise of the old grandfather clock was beginning to drive me mad. What time was it even? I think I had laid down to sleep around ten, but sleep for whatever reason had not taken me. Tick, Tick, Tick… Looking over I saw that the faintly glowing face of my digital clock read 11:59. Should I get up? Should I lay here? There was some melatonin in the bathroom, but I had somewhere to be early the next day and that would leave my mind cloudy.