I shifted for the umpteenth time, sending a restless creak through the quiet hall.
I cursed the old, uncomfortable chair as an assortment of eyes turned towards me, again. I could feel a variety of emotions being born on those stares, irritation, indignance, anger. I endured it all with my gaze averted, a look of discomfort on my face.
The Chant Leader stopped his drone and the choir followed suit. Before long I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. The old man leading the chant raised a wizened hand, pointed a boney finger at me, and parted his cracking lips.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
100 Words a Day 336
The soldier ducked as I swung. My sword slipped from my bloody, sweaty hands and sailed into the swirling melee. My opponent smiled, his teeth a sharp white against the earthen grime and blood that covered us all. Eager to press his advantage, the man rushed me, ax raised to deliver a crushing blow to my skull and spill my brains. I met the rough haft of his ax with crossed forearms. He thrust his spike-plated knee at my groin, but I bumped it away with my own knee, and then proceeded to shatter his ankle with my heavy boot.
100 Words a Day 335
The soft breeze announced her coming, carrying the myriad of strange scents that hung around her into my chamber. She entered without announcement, as was her right.
I turned away from the map I had been studying in time to see her arms, sinuous and smooth like two snakes, stretch towards me eagerly. I felt her flesh, cool and sensuous, encircle my neck. She gently pulled me towards her enticing smile.
I wrapped her up in my own arms and embraced her greedily. It wasn’t until I tasted the serpent’s poison on her lips that I realized what was happening.
I turned away from the map I had been studying in time to see her arms, sinuous and smooth like two snakes, stretch towards me eagerly. I felt her flesh, cool and sensuous, encircle my neck. She gently pulled me towards her enticing smile.
I wrapped her up in my own arms and embraced her greedily. It wasn’t until I tasted the serpent’s poison on her lips that I realized what was happening.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
100 Words a Day 334
“There was an audible crack as my ax entered his skull. I hardly noticed the jarring that occurs when your blade enters a man’s skull, having split so many skulls and, at the time, being fortunate enough to be possessed of an ax of exceptional quality. Unfortunately, my ax became lodged in the man’s head. I delivered a thrust kick to his companion with my heavy boot before planting it on the dying man’s chest. I freed it with a grunt, receiving a spattering of brains for my trouble, and turned my attention to the man’s companion who was recovering.”
Saturday, July 27, 2013
100 Words a Day 333
Turning away from Joaniffer, who lay naked in his bed, under the silk sheets, disheveled from that morning’s romp, Preston put his hands on the alabaster rail of the balcony and took in the sparkling ocean view. The blue water sparkled in the morning light and the air was crisp. He inhaled deeply, smiling as the cool, salty air filled his lungs. When he couldn’t take any more air in, he exhaled loudly, feeling his muscles relax. The sun warmed his body where it wasn’t covered by his robe and he said to himself:
“Man, it’s good to be rich.”
“Man, it’s good to be rich.”
100 Words a Day 332
They sat on the couch. He took comfort in her silent presence. She put a comforting arm around his shoulder; he reached up and took her hand.
“You know, when I was her age, she once told me she didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was twenty three and living at home and I should have a job. I was in school full time at least.”
He swallowed before continuing, “I’m happy she’s realized that things don’t always turn out the way you think they will, but I wish it hadn’t taken this to teach it to her.”
“You know, when I was her age, she once told me she didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was twenty three and living at home and I should have a job. I was in school full time at least.”
He swallowed before continuing, “I’m happy she’s realized that things don’t always turn out the way you think they will, but I wish it hadn’t taken this to teach it to her.”
100 Words a Day 331
The two adolescents fumbled on each other in the dark. She, because she had never undone a belt from the front, and he because he had never even seen a bra strap. After a few false starts, they managed to undress each other with trembling hands and red faces, blessedly hidden by the darkness.
The pair was a frantic tangle of limbs when the boy began searching for his pants pocket. Finding it, he extracted the smooth wrapper and began struggling to open it. Eventually, the girl took the wrapper from his sweaty hands and tried to open it herself.
The pair was a frantic tangle of limbs when the boy began searching for his pants pocket. Finding it, he extracted the smooth wrapper and began struggling to open it. Eventually, the girl took the wrapper from his sweaty hands and tried to open it herself.
100 Words a Day 330
People often describe the dance floor as a sea of bodies. It would have to be the choppiest sea ever. As Sara looked down from the balcony, she thought the people undulated far too much to be compared to the sea. They were more like a writhing pit of snakes, intercoiling with each other in a frenzied search for the warmth of another body.
Once in a while, a mouse, innocent and wide-eyed, would wander onto the dance floor and be immediately swarmed by the serpentine mass of flesh. If they were lucky, they escaped with a few bite marks.
Once in a while, a mouse, innocent and wide-eyed, would wander onto the dance floor and be immediately swarmed by the serpentine mass of flesh. If they were lucky, they escaped with a few bite marks.
100 Words a Day 329
She wore that same skirt she always wore when they had a test. Tim thought it was quite flattering, falling to just above her creamy knees. He had come to class early to get a seat next to her; she always sat in the same seat in the back corner.
As the test went on, he glanced over at her a few times. About half way through, he noticed her skirt creeping up her thigh. At first he was excited, maybe she liked him back. His hopes were instantly deflated when he saw the math formulas written on her leg.
As the test went on, he glanced over at her a few times. About half way through, he noticed her skirt creeping up her thigh. At first he was excited, maybe she liked him back. His hopes were instantly deflated when he saw the math formulas written on her leg.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
100 Words a Day 328
She tore open the envelope with such force that it left a jagged tear along the length of the paper. It was from her first choice college. Holding the torn pieces, she began scanning the letter’s contents with frantic eyes, hope and worry warring within her.
After a moment she deflated with a sigh. Her arms dropped and shoulders sagged. It was simply a form letter to let her know her application was still on hold.
She threw the paper on the kitchen table in disgust and went upstairs, her feet making irritated scuffings on the floor as she went.
After a moment she deflated with a sigh. Her arms dropped and shoulders sagged. It was simply a form letter to let her know her application was still on hold.
She threw the paper on the kitchen table in disgust and went upstairs, her feet making irritated scuffings on the floor as she went.
Monday, July 22, 2013
100 Words a Day 327
Sleeping in someone else’s bed was always uncomfortable. The firmness of the mattress was never what he wanted and the sheets always rubbed the wrong way.
He rolled over to escape the unfamiliar lights seeping through the edges of the window that were not covered by curtains. His attempt was largely in vain, the blinking lights of the bar painting neon flashes on the dark walls.
The noise from the street also kept him up as well. The foreign sounds were nothing like the quiet calls of forest creatures or the susurrant shaking of the trees he was used to.
He rolled over to escape the unfamiliar lights seeping through the edges of the window that were not covered by curtains. His attempt was largely in vain, the blinking lights of the bar painting neon flashes on the dark walls.
The noise from the street also kept him up as well. The foreign sounds were nothing like the quiet calls of forest creatures or the susurrant shaking of the trees he was used to.
100 Words a Day 326
His eyes were drawn to her immediately when she entered. They started at her high-heeled feet, ran up her legs, over her skinny torso, and arrived finally at her hair, which was styled in a fashionable and time consuming manner.
She wore a little black dress with lace trim and carried a matching bag. The whole effect was to make her look even skinnier than she was, which was what he liked. A long slit on the side of the dress exposed her ribs. He felt if he watched long enough he might be able to see more than that.
She wore a little black dress with lace trim and carried a matching bag. The whole effect was to make her look even skinnier than she was, which was what he liked. A long slit on the side of the dress exposed her ribs. He felt if he watched long enough he might be able to see more than that.
100 Words a Day 325
The salt sat lonely on the counter. The red cylinder was a few inches short of a foot and fit comfortably in the hand. About a third of the way up was a dark blue band. One side displayed the logo, in bold letters, while the other sported a bit of persuasive copy.
A blue sky topped a blue ocean and contrasted nicely with the red of the cylinder. A whale surfaced in the foreground, causing white foam to spill onto label. It wasn’t a white whale, but it made for a better story if one imagined it that way.
A blue sky topped a blue ocean and contrasted nicely with the red of the cylinder. A whale surfaced in the foreground, causing white foam to spill onto label. It wasn’t a white whale, but it made for a better story if one imagined it that way.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
100 Words a Day 324
“$20.32,” the cashier said.
Ed opened his wallet and counted all the bills, sixteen even. His pocket clinked as he pulled out a handful of change, nowhere near four dollars.
He sighed and said, with a reddening face, “um. I guess I don’t need the milk,” before pushing the carton towards the cashier. She took it sympathetic reluctance.
Ed felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw an old woman holding a five dollar bill.
“Take this,” she said. “I remember how hard it was on my mother that we didn’t have enough food. Your mother’s worried about you.”
Ed opened his wallet and counted all the bills, sixteen even. His pocket clinked as he pulled out a handful of change, nowhere near four dollars.
He sighed and said, with a reddening face, “um. I guess I don’t need the milk,” before pushing the carton towards the cashier. She took it sympathetic reluctance.
Ed felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw an old woman holding a five dollar bill.
“Take this,” she said. “I remember how hard it was on my mother that we didn’t have enough food. Your mother’s worried about you.”
100 Words a Day 323
Baraka surveyed the field. He recognized numerous warriors of renown among the rank and file, by reputation if not personal interaction. Some wore banners, some ornate helms, some were simply giants, but there was an empty ring around each of them, as though their own men were repulsed by their savagery.
Several of the men Baraka recognized from the Great Meet. He had shared both meat and mead with them, and respected them, but he wouldn’t call them friends. When they met on the field, he would do his best to kill them, that was his purpose on the field.
Several of the men Baraka recognized from the Great Meet. He had shared both meat and mead with them, and respected them, but he wouldn’t call them friends. When they met on the field, he would do his best to kill them, that was his purpose on the field.
Monday, July 15, 2013
100 Words a Day 322
“NO!” she screamed.
“What happened?” her mother called from the kitchen. “Are you okay?”
“It’s fine,” her brother replied. “She just lost to the worm boss again.”
“Fucking worm boss! I hate it! He keeps knocking me off the platform.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Zelda, mom. It’s one of the bosses. She’s just having a hard time with it.”
“Well yeah. The damn thing keeps knocking me off the platform! I keep falling in that stupid hole! Who designed this guy?”
“Obviously someone who thought it could be beaten by a first grader, and therefore a twenty year old.”
“What happened?” her mother called from the kitchen. “Are you okay?”
“It’s fine,” her brother replied. “She just lost to the worm boss again.”
“Fucking worm boss! I hate it! He keeps knocking me off the platform.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Zelda, mom. It’s one of the bosses. She’s just having a hard time with it.”
“Well yeah. The damn thing keeps knocking me off the platform! I keep falling in that stupid hole! Who designed this guy?”
“Obviously someone who thought it could be beaten by a first grader, and therefore a twenty year old.”
Sunday, July 14, 2013
100 Words a Day 321
“Let go of my baby!” she screamed, launching herself off the ground and seizing the leg of the man nearest her. He went down with a grunt, releasing the daughter, who began striking the other man with her free hand.
Her daughter’s half-freedom gave the mother a burst of adrenaline and she hauled herself up the prone attacker, ascending his legs and leaving bloody gashes with her painted nails. The man screamed in pain. Red lines appeared on his abdomen before she started working on his face and eyes.
Seeing this, the other man abandoned the young girl, and fled.
Her daughter’s half-freedom gave the mother a burst of adrenaline and she hauled herself up the prone attacker, ascending his legs and leaving bloody gashes with her painted nails. The man screamed in pain. Red lines appeared on his abdomen before she started working on his face and eyes.
Seeing this, the other man abandoned the young girl, and fled.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
100 Words a Day 320
The pounding had been going on for days.
There was plenty of food in the compound.
They had a well for water.
The things outside would beat themselves to mush before breaking the door down.
They had everything they could possibly need to survive.
Except a way to stay sane.
No one was sure which was worse, the boredom or the banging. They hadn’t thought to bring much to do, just an old pack of cards. Not having anything to do left them with plenty of time to listen to the growing number of zombies beating on the compound door.
There was plenty of food in the compound.
They had a well for water.
The things outside would beat themselves to mush before breaking the door down.
They had everything they could possibly need to survive.
Except a way to stay sane.
No one was sure which was worse, the boredom or the banging. They hadn’t thought to bring much to do, just an old pack of cards. Not having anything to do left them with plenty of time to listen to the growing number of zombies beating on the compound door.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
100 Words a Day 319
“Come on, come on” Ed said, the sputtering growing to a cough. With a final shudder, the car died, starved for gas.
Ed closed his eyes, sighed, and let his forehead fall against the wheel. After a loud swallow, tears gathered in his eyes before overflowing down his cheeks.
He’d been so close. There was no way he’d make it on foot and would lose the job. It meant he couldn’t pay his rent or buy food.
Ed sat in the car, unsure what to do. He couldn’t even call anyone; his cellphone had been turned off two months ago.
Ed closed his eyes, sighed, and let his forehead fall against the wheel. After a loud swallow, tears gathered in his eyes before overflowing down his cheeks.
He’d been so close. There was no way he’d make it on foot and would lose the job. It meant he couldn’t pay his rent or buy food.
Ed sat in the car, unsure what to do. He couldn’t even call anyone; his cellphone had been turned off two months ago.
100 Words a Day 318
I’m sorry for the long radio silence. I’ve been without internet for about ten days, should be fixed soon.
My friend Jason has recently self-published a novel The Flight of Collin Honorfell. You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR5IABG. The novel tells the tale of the titular character who has had his natural heart replaced by a clockwork one. He is forced to flee by rough men seeking the creator of his heart, sending him on a journey not only to find the key needed to rewind his ever-slowing heart, but to reawaken a legendary order that once protected the land.
My friend Jason has recently self-published a novel The Flight of Collin Honorfell. You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR5IABG. The novel tells the tale of the titular character who has had his natural heart replaced by a clockwork one. He is forced to flee by rough men seeking the creator of his heart, sending him on a journey not only to find the key needed to rewind his ever-slowing heart, but to reawaken a legendary order that once protected the land.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
100 Words a Day 317
The fireworks were the best they had seen. This may have been partly as a result of the alcohol, no one was sure.
They were sure that it would be a great idea to shoot fireworks of their own off the roof however. The notion that this was a bad idea briefly danced upon the minds of most of the partygoers, but the alcohol cut in, leaving the notion a wallflower, alone and forgotten.
The first few fireworks flew flawlessly. The final few, not so much, careless laughter upset a stand.
The next thing anyone knew, the roof was burning.
They were sure that it would be a great idea to shoot fireworks of their own off the roof however. The notion that this was a bad idea briefly danced upon the minds of most of the partygoers, but the alcohol cut in, leaving the notion a wallflower, alone and forgotten.
The first few fireworks flew flawlessly. The final few, not so much, careless laughter upset a stand.
The next thing anyone knew, the roof was burning.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
100 Words a Day 316
He tapped his foot. He looked around. He checked his watch. He stood at the bus stop. They were supposed to meet at noon. It was twelve thirty.
He was hopeful and continued waiting, stretching his neck and looking down the road, anxious for the next bus to arrive.
Buses came and went, but not her. His eagerness slowly turned to disappointment.
The anticipation turned bitter, but not an angry bitter. It was worse.
He grew more inconsolable with each step on the way home. He went straight up to his room, grateful no one was there to see him.
He was hopeful and continued waiting, stretching his neck and looking down the road, anxious for the next bus to arrive.
Buses came and went, but not her. His eagerness slowly turned to disappointment.
The anticipation turned bitter, but not an angry bitter. It was worse.
He grew more inconsolable with each step on the way home. He went straight up to his room, grateful no one was there to see him.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
100 Words a Day 315
Sara was the last person on the bus. Not because there were no more who needed to get downtown, but because there was no more room. She couldn’t reach anything to hold on to, but there was nowhere to fall as the bus lurched onto the expressway.
The air was a mix of odors, the various scents the women, and some of the men, wore, and the general reek of bodies, some unwashed. The strangers she was pushed up against as the bus rocked were similarly varied in the texture of their outfits and the degree to which they sweat.
The air was a mix of odors, the various scents the women, and some of the men, wore, and the general reek of bodies, some unwashed. The strangers she was pushed up against as the bus rocked were similarly varied in the texture of their outfits and the degree to which they sweat.
Monday, July 1, 2013
100 Words a Day 314
He walked out of the office deflated. He’d never been fired before.
Once the shock wore off it was liberating. He was worried about the rent, sure, but he was free of that terrible, terrible job.
The first thing he did when he got home was email the temp agent, since he was back on the market and needed money.
After that, he looked into monetizing his blog. He’d always meant to do it, but he didn’t have much incentive. Now however, he had the greatest incentive of all, Rent. And, the greatest obstacle had been removed, a Day Job.
Once the shock wore off it was liberating. He was worried about the rent, sure, but he was free of that terrible, terrible job.
The first thing he did when he got home was email the temp agent, since he was back on the market and needed money.
After that, he looked into monetizing his blog. He’d always meant to do it, but he didn’t have much incentive. Now however, he had the greatest incentive of all, Rent. And, the greatest obstacle had been removed, a Day Job.
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