Short Stories

Seven Words

Edwin sunk slowly into his seat, staring at the screen in horror. The words glowing in front of him didn’t make any sense, nor did the booming, overloud announcements: “Water butter mouth Popcorn! Time wait now no snakes, fun go to movies! Candy! Candy! Candy!”

The Penalties of Pirating

“Don’t look at this negatively,” the man told him. “You’re on the brink of your greatest experience. In a few minutes the pain will be gone and you’ll see what it’s like on the Other Side.”

Justification

In your own handwriting, justify your existence in 500 words or less.

Explosive Harlot

Laura was an IBM but a newer, more modular design — her parts were incompatible. The other girls were all Mitsubishi, Panasonic, or Intel. Completely different inside and out.

95 Metronomes

A note in the box simply read: May your timing be perfect.

Elko The Potter

“Sir Oscar Wilde said, ‘History is merely gossip.’” Kafka took a step toward the student who spoke, pointing the stick right at him. “Precisely!”

Eat or Be Eaten

His friend Randy had a gun collection, and Brad often thought about borrowing one of his hunting rifles — the kind with the big fat ’scope — and just pick Dale off as he walked by a window. Or — better yet — out at the golf course while Dale was giving lessons.

Reflections in God’s Eye

Clem sat there a long while, listening to the bird squawking and screeching, hoping Holly would show up. One last word. Maybe one last kiss. He was leaving, he’d been accepted. He was going to the Moon, the big step, and from there the future was wide open.

A Long, Curved Blade

Doug turned and dropped, raising his rifle. He could see it — it was light brown, looking like a bundle of thick branches moving quickly toward him, with two shiny black blades that rose on thick, strong arms, ready to strike.

Strong Metallic Arm

Her current thought, the thought that was in her mind as she became aware, was her ahnya-ha; the last conscious thought she had before death:  He killed me.

Voodoo Computer Healer

I conjured all the positive energy I had stored up in my body and levitated the professor’s computer through the air and into his hands. He grasped it, astonished…

Opposite Ends Meet Here

The woman, with a look of disgust, picked up the big knife and walked quickly to the prone figure. She jabbed it into his back several times. Kyle stared at her with his mouth hanging open. “Lady!” he yelled.

DNA Propector

This couldn’t be a demon. This couldn’t be anything supernatural. It was just an animal. Just another animal…

SCUBA

Then the car tipped sickeningly and the water washed over the windshield again, but this time did not run off. Oh god, he thought. The car is sinking…

Albert’s Doorway

The officer stared at them, dumbstruck. Albert threw his beer bottle at the man, yelling, “You big dumb jerk! Come and do your job!” With that Albert tromped down on the throttle and sent the Viper rocketing away, leaving twin tails of dirt and gravel.