100 Words a Day 875

The passengers’ teeth chattered as the train surged along the elevated tracks shaking with speed. Some of them smiled, exhilarated by the speed or the belief that the government had finally decided to make the trains faster. As the train rattled towards a sharp turn, and there was no noticeable application of the breaks, the faces of the smilers slowly morphed until they mirrored the consternation of the other passengers. The train roared into the corner and the wheels on the inside left the track. The occupants had scant time to scream as the train tumbled to the ground below.

100 Words a Day 874

Everyone exclaimed in amazement when I entered the classroom. I wasn’t surprised; I was the first person any of them knew to have it done after all.

“That’s so cool!” Greg said. “I can’t believe your parents let you do it.”

“Yeah, it took a lot of convincing,” I responded, running my hands over the fresh, green scales adorning my arm.

“What was the operation like?” someone asked. I recognized them from class, but didn’t know their name.

“No problem. I saw the snake when they took me into the room. They put me to sleep, now I have scales.”

100 Words a Day 873

The great serpent wound its way up the massive tree. The beast’s large nostrils flared, seeking any warm pretty that might be about. Reflexively, I crouched lower behind the foliage I was peeking over. The snake stopped suddenly, as though it could detect my presence by some sixth sense. Its head moved back and forth, up and down, tongue lashing about. Eventually it resumed its ascent; its head disappeared among the leaves, followed slowly by the round body covered in bright green scales. Once its tapered tail had vanished I realized I had been holding my breath and exhaled loudly.

100 Words a Day 872

The great serpent wound its way up the massive tree. The beast’s large nostrils flared, seeking any warm pretty that might be about. Reflexively, I crouched lower behind the foliage I was peeking over. The snake stopped suddenly, as though it could detect my presence by some sixth sense. Its head moved back and forth, up and down, tongue lashing about. Eventually it resumed its ascent; its head disappeared among the leaves, followed slowly by the round body covered in bright green scales. Once its tapered tail had vanished I realized I had been holding my breath and exhaled loudly.

100 Words a Day 871

When I first saw him stumble out of the blizzard and into camp, I thought the old man was a werewolf come to feast on us. It wasn’t until he shook his head out from under his wolf-fur cloak, covered in frost, that I realized he was human. Once I could see him fully, I realized his feet dragged, leaving two lines in the snow. It took him several moments to realize where he was, at which point he collapsed in the snow. The men in camp rushed to his side and carried him inside, placing him near the hearth.

100 Words a Day 870

Cyrus kicked himself again for having left so late. He walked as quickly as he dared along the narrow trail, branches pulling at his arms and legs. The character of the trail changed and he breathed a sigh of relief; the foliage pulled back their clinging limbs and moonbeams filtered down through the trees. He quickened his pace, but stopped when he heard a twig snap off the trail. He looked around the silent forest. No movement. Not so much as a branch swaying in the wind. Blood pounding through his veins, Cyrus listened like his life depended on it.