A no-name, aspiring author who can’t stop writing. Looking ahead, he strives for perfection. Shackled by various forms of entertainment, he dreams of success. Most stories here are an invitation to YOU, to join me in creating new stories, new worlds, and a different tomorrow.
Stories
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These Long Nights: Caged Men
As he pressed the teacup against the edge of his lips, Max paused. A strange sound slid down the hallway. The noise repeated in a steady tap, tap, drag. Tap, tap, draaaaag.. It stopped outside the parlor. Max put his cup down and stared as the door han...
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These Long Nights: Acceptable Hospitality
On the whole, Max found the sitting room rather depressing. It didn’t look like it hadn’t been used for a while either. Moira returned a few minutes later bearing a tray laden with a steaming teapot and a pair of tea cups. She unloaded the ...
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These Long Nights: Preparing the Parlor
Moira gave a long suffering sigh but let Max step inside. “I should be turning ye away until the morn.” “You’ll be glad that you didn’t. I assure you that my business is of the utmost importance and cannot wait.” Max...
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These Long Nights: Disturbing the Disturbed
A scant three stairs separated the front door from the ground. Next to the white double doors an iron plaque read Westchester Asylum, Saltaire followed by an inscrption: True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the bo...
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These Long Nights: The Edge of Civilization
As tempting as it was to take a pull from his flask, Max wanted to face the asylum with his wits about him. The coach rolled on into the night, moving over the train tracks of the Shore Line and into the farms that populated the outskirts of Saltaire. ...
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On Patrol: Desire's Shadow
Caught off guard and wearily tired, I didn’t know what to say. I managed to croak out a “thank you.” As I turned to go relieve the crew, Firus’ voice stopped me. “You wouldn’t know anything about a ship following us,...
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Universally Respected, According to Custom
My sanctuary is a place of options. It has both a cold tile floor and a fluffy rug to stand or kneel on. Art hangs on three of the four walls and ranges from merely pretty to thought-provoking. A small wicker basket of pot-purri provides a pleasing sce...
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These Long Nights: Maddening Times
Max left Frederick’s pyramid shaped form standing on the foggy dockside streets after getting him to agree to meet the next night. Surprisingly, Frederick had insisted on a pub renowned for its chess players rather than one of the less reputable ...
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Dawn of the Iconoclast (3): Forsaken
“I won’t be a part of this any more, Traian!” Bethseba shouted. “I used to believe in you but the last of that belief has been stolen by the crows that shadow us waiting for us to feed them. We were warriors once, not executioners, and this but...
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These Long Nights: Spurious References
Under the piggish eyes of the massive Frederick Duke, Max continued his investigation. The detective frowned as he peeled off the corpse’s long sleeved shirt, revealing soiled and baggy underclothes prominently stamped with a monogram. “Of ...
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These Long Nights: Digging In
Judging from the sturdy clothes, the victim had been a dockworker too, but none of the men with Max recognized him. Although, in Max’s opinion, they didn’t look very closely. He couldn’t blame them. The face wound was ghastly. As the ...
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Tales from the Sidewalk: Lost and Alone
Shelly was terrified. Nothing looked familiar. She had no idea where she was or where her mom had went. All she could do was keep walking forward, tightly clutcing the bone charm her gandmother had made for her. She felt tears coming and shook her head...
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Tales from the Sidewalk: On the Run
Oliver ran as fast as he could. If he kept up the pace, he was sure he could reach one of the safe houses by nightfall. Something smeared along the handle of the briefcase was making it slippery. He switched hands and smelled the right one. Nothing. He...
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Tales from the Sidewalk: A Gap in the Hedges
Beyond the sidewalk, there was a place where two different hedges met, leaving only an ovoid shaped hole, like an egg precariously standing on the wrong end. The darkness inside the gap was always black as night and bitterly cold, regardless of the bri...
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Dawn of the Iconoclast: Forsaken
“I won’t be a part of this any more, Traian!” Bethseba shouted. “I used to believe in you but the last of that belief has been stolen by the crows that shadow us waiting for us to feed them. We were warriors once, not executione...
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Tales from the Sidewalk: Toeless
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Tales from the Sidewalk: The Don
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Barren of Life, Abundant in Inspiration
Stephen walked home, bent under the weight of his backpack. The sidewalk was cracked and barren, reflecting the worst parts of the area. Stephen didn’t mind though. He saw every step as an opportunity for adventure. A grim-faced mafia don rides b...
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From the Library of Failure (Branch 1, Part 10)
The open terrace of the transport bay was reassuringly familiar. White fluted columns regularly interrupted the rippling bronze of the walls. Wide, flat steps, descended down to a tiled terrace that led to three rounded elevator-looking doors. Strangel...
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Dangerous Boundaries: One Door Closes-
Sirach’s voice drifted over Lukas’ shoulder. “So Midden was expecting you but when he found Jearom asleep in your usual bed, he decided to make an example out of him?” “That’s my guess, unless you’ve been hosti...
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A Resting Place
A fish flopped around on the ground, uselessly gasping for air. Crabs scuttled back and forth, occasionally fighting eachother for the chance to scavenge the dead flesh that loosely gripped the earth. They had been prisoners once. Some of them still wo...
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On Patrol: A Capable Crew
Every available man was put to work and, to a man, they worked hard. Unlike other ships I had served on, there were no complaints. Everyone knew their job and were vitally aware of the stakes. I guess whiners and lay-abouts didn’t last long abord...
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One Last Smile
“I can handle it. Take her and go.” Benny said as the red-eyed elephant demon lumbered closer. When it saw them, it trumpeted in victory. James was torn. It was his duty to protect Daphne but he didn’t want to leave the clown here to ...
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1's and 0's Can Melt Your Brain
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A Wasteland Job Interview
The scientist was a man named Mary. He was small and thin, with a compass strapped to his wrist and a dirty backpack on his back. More importantly he wanted me to take him into a no-no zone. First things first. “Payment?” It wasn’t po...
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Iron Elements
Humid air gathered the collective stink of Hong Kong and exhaled it back, hot and wet, onto the humanity below. Summer nights were often miserable. Qiao wrinkled her nose as she ran swiftly across the roof, her bare feet barely touching the tiles. She ...
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The Wandering Ant
Redgar, at least he thought his name was Redgar, had been travelling a long time. His memory had holes in it. He knew that much. Was he running from something? Was he cursed? Redgar wasn’t sure. It was frustrating not to know but he did know one ...
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From the Library of Failure (Branch 2, Part 9)
Closing her eyes, she gripped her stuffed tiger, Mamoru, tight. Curling inward, she nuzzled her face against the remnants of his fur, and inhaled. There was always something soothing about the way he smelled. She had had him since she was eight and he ...
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On Patrol: A Moment of Truth
“It’s not pretty, is it? I hate it when my baby’s hurt.” Firus trailed his hand along the contoured metal of the wall. His voice was heavy with regret. It reminded me of my grandfather’s voice. “Then why do it?”...
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A Mere Breath on the Wind (Poetry)
These cool Summer nights remind me of you, That brief time when I held you tight in my arms, We watched the stars march across the sky, Until the false dawn broke the spell