100 Words a Day 341

The voice on the radio faded. It got quieter and quieter until it was barely a whisper. Then the battery died and there was silence. The silence was then replaced with the terror of utter solitude.

The sound of water dripping from a leak in the pipes filled his ears, blocking out the noises of the urban wild that filtered through the small window. That regular sound, the drip-drip of the water, would have gone unnoticed in the bustling workshop that had been here before.

John was totally alone. The broadcast had been recorded, but it was better than nothing.

100 Words a Day 340

The trees were just hazy shapes emerging from the heavy fog.

“Wow! It looks just like LotR!”

I turned to my little brother and rolled my eyes: “you are such a nerd sometimes.”

“What?” he exclaimed. “It does!”

I shook my head and we lapsed into silence. As we sat, the fog rolled slowly forward, engulfing the shadowy trees. It worked its way up the hill, creeping forward as though hoping to avoid notice.

Eventually it reached the deck we were standing on. We looked down at it as it swallowed up the posts supporting floor, its tendrils twining upwards.

100 Words a Day 339

He finally screwed up his courage and walked towards her. His heart knocked out several hard reps for each unsteady step. His legs were shaking. The other sounds in the room faded, drowned out by his footfalls, which echoed loudly in his ears. He felt like a condemned man walking towards the gallows.

She was standing alone, the friends she was with having gone to the bathroom. He tried to go quickly, but ended up hurrying, bumping into several people. Untangling and apologizing, he found himself next to her. It was his chance. He opened his mouth and began speaking.

100 Words a Day 338

He awoke on the verge of vomiting. Staggering out of bed, he dragged his doubled-over torso to the bathroom. Hands on knees, he stood over the toilet as his stomach coiled and twisted. The sensation of imminent vomiting slowly faded and he sighed with relief. Straightening up, he stumbled back to his bedroom to turn off his alarm, which was blaring. Still dizzy, he leaned against the wall while his head settled and his shallow breathing normalized. Thinking back, he wondered what he had eaten. After a moment it hit him. It was Monday; he had to go to work.

100 Words a Day 337

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.

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.