Sci Fi
2032: The Costs of Liberty
2032: The Costs of Liberty By Will Jorgenson Today I celebrate my 50th birthday, on July 12, 2032, alone in the wilderness of what use to be known as northern Saskatchewan, Canada, but is now part of the U.C.R.S.R. The only reminder of the life I once lived is a silver heart shaped locket with a picture of My Wife, Our Two Daughters and Me. Staring at their beautiful faces fills my heart with despair and longing for what once was, but will never be again.
By Will Jorgenson 5 years ago in Fiction
The Critic
Things have been pretty good for me since the aliens named me an Ambassador of Aesthetics for the human race. The gallarians invaded at the end of a big year for my career. Between the biennial buzz and the Kanye cosign, I was beginning to make the leap from critical darling to household name, and people were talking about my "meteoric ascent" right up until the first ship landed and rendered such phrases passé (we know now that descents bring far more change.)
By David Schaefer5 years ago in Fiction
Stolen Future
Stolen Future "Did you lock the truck?" "No, didn't you? What's the worry? Whoever's coming is in too much of a hurry anyhow." Benny leaned up on the limestone bluff overlooking Wind Valley and squinted up at her. Serena reached for her blouse and slipped into it.
By Stephen Vernarelli5 years ago in Fiction
Pretend It's Just Another Day
I couldn't tell you when the explosions started. Sometimes I count the sounds of them at night, as if they're fireworks from that bygone age when loud noise wasn't the coming of some threat to our shores. At night, each bomb blast ignites the sky with fire, but so far they are just warning shots—the sign to tell us that the invaders are out there and that they know they can come to us any time as if there's an outstanding invitation.
By Jillian Spiridon5 years ago in Fiction
Before the universe dies. Top Story - June 2021.
“Do you think they’ll find us in time?” She blurts the words out as if she’d been holding them for hours. They’d been walking in silence for the past few kilometres, and he’d heard her stifle, swear and snort quite a few times behind him. He knew she had something on her mind. But the question still sounded strange. Unreal.
By Clemence Maurer5 years ago in Fiction
And It Was Beautiful
The sky beams fuchsia. The sun beats like a heart. Willows weep roses. Pale shades of pink scatter through long strands of cotton candy-colored grass as they stroke against my skin. My body lends into the earth, still soft from the daily New Earth Agrituals.
By sleepy drafts5 years ago in Fiction
Widow's Mite
The markets, if you could call them that, were in a state of ramshackle decay. The thoroughfare of shops was once a lovely center of commerce in small-town America, but now was a dusty collection of wooden planks and tattered canvas. Miles away, through the low-hanging clouds, the lights of the colossal towers leered and lorded with pompous stillness.
By Connor Caughman5 years ago in Fiction
Graphene Hearts
Clicking another X1 round into my antiparticle pistol, I drew one final breath of xenon-laced smoke before flicking embers from my fingertips. The rosy fireflies danced along the dreary, blackened room and were at once silent. I exhaled red-tinged smoke, setting my claustrophobic surroundings aglow. I feigned a smirk as I tapped the circular ring fixed at my nape, and a familiar bombastic voice stunk inside my cerebral cortex:
By Daniel Lokovich5 years ago in Fiction
Nuclear Change
My stomach dropped the moment I saw the aftermath. I'd always heard about what a nuclear bomb does to cities. I'd seen the pictures from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Buildings leveled, people burned to death, barely any trace of humanity left. But it wasn't until I came back that the damage truly sunk in. Ash covered the ground. Every building I'd grown up by was gone. I knew that I was probably absorbing radiation the longer I stayed there, but I didn't care. My city was gone. My home, my neighbors, my family. I was the only one left.
By Jamie Lammers5 years ago in Fiction
