Tag: Fiction

Works of fiction

4:17 – An Apocalyptic Novella

4:17
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4:17 – An Apocalyptic Novella– Read It Now!

4:17

How do you survive when eye-contact can mean instant death?

Set your priorities, recite your mantra, and keep a bandanna handy.

In a world where death is only a thought away, society has collapsed and seven survivors shelter together in a basement stronghold. Each haunted by a troubled past, they struggle through their private purgatories to rebuild trust, faith, and hope for the future.

When one fails to return from a foraging expedition and a stranger arrives in their makeshift sanctuary, the group is forced to confront its fragile equilibrium.

Is the newcomer a saving grace or an angel of death?

My first novella weaves apocalyptic horror and grim mystery into a labyrinth of choices made in the face of death.

Available here – free in the Kindle Library and to Kindle Unlimited subscribers, and only $1.99 for anyone else.

Don’t have a Kindle? No worries! You can read on-line with the Kindle Cloud Reader or download the Kindle app to your favorite device.

4:17 began as a short film conceived and created for the 2009 48-Hour Film Project International Shootout. You can watch it below.

 

The Road to Dthelwyndale

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

“Can you believe it?” Elena’s eyes flashed with glee. “It’s happening! It’s really happening!”

I smiled, trying to jump on the coattails of her enthusiasm, but I lost my footing and landed squarely on my skeptical ass. I shook my head. “This is absurd.”

“It’s only absurd if you don’t believe.” Matthew chimed, as patronizing as ever.

Matthew was the DM, or he was supposed to be. Somehow he’d transformed his role from benign dungeon dictator to a kind of messiah figure. Just-this-side-of-crazy, up to now, but he’d just stepped over that line. Continue reading “The Road to Dthelwyndale” →

Demonstration of Power

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

They predicted the dams would keep generating power for up to a year without any maintenance so long as the supporting infrastructure remained intact.

Strung for the celebration where Phil announced his retirement after 34 years in the Corps and where his daughter Millena had quietly taken him aside to double his joy with the news of his first grandchild (relieving his anxiety about ways to fill his newfound time), the lights in the back garden hadn’t begun their slow fade from bright white to coppery yellow until a full nineteen months later.

No-one remained to witness the demonstration of power’s unexpected longevity.

 

Photo by Nick de Partee via Unsplash
For Three Line Tales, Week 64 by Sonya

World Views #BlogBattle

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

“Hello girl,” Chisholm greeted the Arken’s transom. “I missed you.”

“Don’t get too flirty,” Meredith shot sideways, popping the ship’s hatch. “She’s my baby now.”

Chisholm gave her a black glare. “Perhaps a hand of cards later?”

Meredith’s eyebrows raised in mock surprise. “Do you have anything left to lose, Chisholm?”

He flashed a disgruntled smile, then sighed, surveying the area. “Looks like Davis took off with more than just my bedroll, but I’ll gladly wager the tug if we can track it down. He can’t have flown far.” Continue reading “World Views #BlogBattle” →

Meat Market #3LineTales

Quality Meats in Neon
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Reading Time: < 1 minute

The pungent sting of the ink twitched his nostrils (black always seemed to go to his head) but Daniel waved the marker under his nose for a moment before recapping.

He flicked the switch and the neon fluttered, the electric buzz looming large then receding quickly into the hum of the morning as he hung the Special.

Her eyes flashed an emerald green and Daniel cocked an eyebrow with his smile but her forehead furrowed as she walked past, transforming his grin to a sneer: “Probably a vegetarian.”

Photo by Cathal Mac an Bheatha via Unsplash
For Three Line Tales, Week 60 by Sonya

Bad Air #writephoto

~ carlbystrom@live.com ~ 14 Comments

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Damn,” Meredith’s disappointment felt unwarranted. She’d noticed the signs even before shuttling to the surface, but they’d made the descent anyway. This wasn’t the debris of a Solar swarm. Something other than those bastard Locusts had destroyed this world.

“Not what we were looking for?” Azi chimed, their tone knowing. Continue reading “Bad Air #writephoto” →

A Pleasure to Burn #Flash Fiction

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

She threw the token onto the pile in the center of the table.

Chisholm froze. “You serious?”

“I’m always serious,” she said, letting an amused smile curl one corner of her mouth as the eyebrow above it raised. “Even when I’m playing.”

“Especially when she’s playing,” chimed Davis. He’d folded on the previous round, his tongue, and his wisdom, loosened by whiskey. A tight player when he was sober, Davis had dropped to two gold pieces after ordering his fourth glass. “Serious like a dog star…”

Chisholm shot Davis a glance to shut him up and leaned into the light to pick up the small figurine. Continue reading “A Pleasure to Burn #Flash Fiction” →

Life Lesson

Life Lesson
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The children followed their mother, eager to continue the night’s adventure. She insisted on strict formation, eyes on the back of the one before – she couldn’t really police them, but her children generally behaved. They had already crossed the Flat Black and spent hours hunting small game on the edge of the river. This was their third visit to the water and they’d done well. Ma felt confident in her latest brood – all but the smallest had managed a kill. This next lesson would help the littlest one. Continue reading “Life Lesson” →

Donkey Donkey

Donkey Donkey
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

He missed Cow. Cow always left the biggest dandelions and she always gave him space. This new one hung around too close. And looked at him funny. Like he wanted something. Cow always looked like she wasn’t sure what was going on. That made Donkey feel smart.

“Whatcha doin’ over there?”

That was another thing. Cow never asked him questions. Donkey looked back at the other one. I’m judging you. That’s what I’m doing. He finished chewing. “I’m eating what’s left of these dandelions over here.” Continue reading “Donkey Donkey” →

Two Roses on Concrete

Two Roses on Concrete
~ carlbystrom@live.com ~ 2 Comments

Reading Time: 6 minutes

David felt the sunrise. His window remained dark but the warmth of dawn spread inside his chest. It was a new day, a day for rebirth, a fresh start, the dawning of opportunity. He was ready to put his best foot forward, take Kathleen by one hand, their daughter by the other, and walk boldly down a clear path. Continue reading “Two Roses on Concrete” →