The two young girls played vivaciously in the cool water by the glade. As they splashed and frolicked, their laughter echoed around the mountain valley. The surrounding trees, comprising primarily of larch, beech, and spruce - and, of course, oak – gently whispered their approval. They were safe here. Locals knew not to disturb them. The sisters were special – as was the valley. The power and magic that resided in the tre...

The stalk of your sensuous shadow, haunting, the carnal essence of my soul's absolution. Absolving my lusting eyes as I repent the sins of my poetic gangrene penned by the Tarot. In the dark shade of this Gothic cult the griffin whispers through loveless mascara, sotto voce, under breath.

“Eddie’s dead,” said the female voice on the other end of the line. My caller did not identify herself, but I recognized Emma Lawrence’s voice. She was engaged to my old friend Eddie Blake. “What happened, Emma?” I asked, dreading the answer. “He went paddling on the lake, Alan,” she said quietly. That alone was enough to make my face turn pale, but I let Emma go on. “I told him not to. I refused to go myself. But he stil...

It was time. I looked at the tense, frightened faces around the circle and knew what they were feeling. I’d gone through my own first Hunt at their age and lived. But it was important that they knew what they were getting into and how important it was; that was my job as Chief. “Tomorrow, you will all participate in your first Hunt, which runs for three suns. That much you already know. But this darkness, I need to tell y...

A flicker of blonde, that I once believed was gold. A heart seemingly full of kindness. Yet now there only seems to be a hole. A pretty face masking the ugliness underneath. I believed time would bring compassion, yet now there is only more hate. * Wrapping your arms around me, suffocating- No. Hugging me. Your hands are cold, your touch affects me no more. You believe this is kindness. Yet, affection does not excuse your...

Is one's essence defined by the age of the body, their culture, economic status, or gender? What are we without the context of time, gender, and culture? Tara's mother underwent a metamorphosis. Mildred wore different costumes of the mind. Each costume was unique, stemming from a different time in her life and drawing upon various life experiences. Alzheimer's disease sponsored Mildred's time travel. Tara remembers Mildre...

No matter how long he stared at the fuel gauge, he knew that it would not budge. Out here in the middle of the countryside, in the middle of a forest, in the middle of the track that doubled as a footpath and road, he was stranded in his brand new Vauxhall, faced with a long walk. He'd even forgotten to bring his mobile phone, so there was no way of communicating with anybody unless he walked to the nearest phone-box, or...

[Helsinki/FI-27.5.2050-Containment05] [Subject: 6648] The video feed clicked on, blurring, and then sharpening to perfect quality. It showed a single humanoid figure strapped down to a metal medical table that had been repositioned to sit nearly upright. The overhead PA screeched and then crackled to life. “Day three, interview two. Subject 6648.” The figure didn’t move. “Are you ready to cooperate?” Silence and an audibl...

Gardens are generally understood to be neutral ground. For all. Mortals. Immortals. Mankind and Monsters. Why else would so many myths feature them? Cannot get any more neutral than Nature. But what makes one a monster or a man? Why is mortality a thing at all? Why aren’t we all immortal? It seems unfair, doesn’t it? Well, it's designed to. And before you judge the poor mortal woman of Abrahamic legend. It wasn’t her faul...

Cold in this studio, sweet hypothermia with rigor's cummerbund. Curling around me coldly misty shadow, touching. Rising to the moonlight a little death-chilling. Laying me down in a land of dreams, spilling the skeins. Naked in my darkest dreams collaborating with 12 degrees, before freezing.

A brutally honest reflection forecasts my nearing end, but at four years and a hundred, I can't complain. My head is bald and mottled; my beard rivals the snow; wrinkled folds for eyelids obstruct my vision. All memories have long since abandoned my decaying mind, yet thoughts of it (for I never knew its name) still linger. Curious as to how one thing can take root in one’s mind, mushrooming until it consumes all other th...

“You wanted to see me, Sir?” The middle-aged man behind the big oak desk, looked up as Robert Mitchell stood to attention and saluted smartly. “Ah, Pilot Officer Mitchell. Yes, indeed I did. At ease, relax.” Mitchell moved his feet apart and removed his hat. It wasn't the first time he had met the station commander, Group Captain Griffiths, but it was the first time he had been summoned to his office. Sitting back in his...

~ I opened my eyes ~ To find your tears Raining down from heaven. ~ You fought the good fight With all of your might Until heaven called you home. ~ Every day, Every night Your smile shone bright Now your loving Star Shines from heaven, bright. ~ With every raindrop falling We all shall be knowing You’re thinking of us, wholly. ~ As our teardrops fall We are, forever more, ~ THINKING, LOVING AND MISSING YOU ~

In the eyes of the dark now pale of the bark to be from the leaf of old mothers death hangs from the Tupelo gathering the thorns with the last breath of Autumn falling into the shadow of the veil in the eyes of the dark

Their Dad came home from work in a great mood. He hugged his two girls and then kissed his wife and the newborn in her arms. "I have a surprise," he said with a smile and the girls crowded around asking what it was. "Taa-Daa," he said and produced three tickets to Kings Island. The girls squealed in delight as they stared at the tickets. "Freebies from the owner," he stated as the girls started at the laminated tickets he...