Suddenly - silence. The noisy room just went dead silent, and everyone turned to look. A titter, choked off in embarrassment, then more silence. You can feel your cheeks alight, blazing red. How DID you

Fair warning - some slight squick in this one.... She hacked a wretched cough as her family let the healer into the hut and closed the door against the bitter cold. "How long has she been like this?"

Spawned by @not-a-bird 's previous post... Gremlins get into everything. That's their greatest curse. Can't help it, the lil darlings. Someone able to aim one - well, they'll be rich, if they don't get

Here is where I saw it.... Another crash. Not unusual, but still unpleasant. It’ll rot your soul if you let it. Can't let it, though - it happens too often. It was just a matter of cleaning it up, now.

....sounds like a fun challenge. . . The lights flickered on, another annoying sign of decay in what was once a pristine palace of perfection. I just sighed as I walked into the room, knowing there were

From by @mariannewest .... Let's see what hash we can make out of THIS topic! It wasn't me, I tell you! Honest! No, I don't know who did it, nor how they did it, but it Was. Not. Me. I was just standing

I guess I was surprised. How often do YOU have a spitting image of yourself open your own door and come walking in as if he - you! - owned the place? Surprised is a pale hint of the emotion I felt at that

From - and somehow I can hear her laughing.... "ohgawd, ohgawd, ohgawd," he chanted as he jogged as quick as he could in his condition. It clearly was not a good day. Of course, the door was

One thing we tend to get in Sci-Fi and Fantasy are a lot of "bumpy-headed humans" as aliens. This is relatively easy to do, as we more or less have preconceived notions of what humans want, need,

From I swallowed. It hung just at the back of my throat, stuck by phlegm or friction or just plain cussedness. Gagging a little, I grabbed a drink and slurped some down - and it was done. Peacefully, I

from "FIRE!" - the cry that always gets my adrenaline running. This time it woke me out of a sound sleep, as it'd been a very long day. I heard lots of people hurriedly getting geared up as I

A common trope across sci-fi and fantasy are immaterial shields which still manage to stop things from harming those within. Occasionally these will cause my suspenders of disbelief to slip a little, leaving

From - a fun, if icky, challenge.... Icuma sneezed. The breeze passed out its nose and dissipated. ** rewind - play ** "Icuma's in the next room, you know." "I know. That sneezing demon

This is the beginning of a story I'm in the process of writing. If people like it, I'll share more, and work more vigorously at finishing it. If not, that's OK too. :) In the beginning, there was only

A friend of mine was driving home late one afternoon in his little shovel-nosed coupe, taking back roads and moving a little quick. He had someone waiting for him at home, and was anticipating a bit more

Mirror, mirror, on the wall Mirror, mirror, before a great fall Show me now what I may see Tell me now what I must be Mirror, mirror, hanging still Mirror, mirror, floating free Your view makes me thrill

Been a while since I've written a poem. A couple whole days - shocking, I know. So - here's a closed rondeau titled "Myself" My faith is weak, morals loose My mind is scattered hither and yon

Well, hello! Welcome to this home away from home! Well, hello! You're welcome here For now, from far or from near. Well, hello! I, your host, Am nothing to special. I, your host, Invite your insight, Your