A Cold Sin Too Far
“She’s prime for the taking, boy,” spat Eustice, his milky eyes leering with a lust of a much younger man. “Yer a sick old man, uncle.” “Boy,” the elder shot…
A Fool's Regret
“Hello we’re representatives...” I couldn’t even really process what I was saying. Partly cause I was saying it in a foreign tongue and partly cause she was…
Repayment
A bed of Shimeji mushrooms was a perfect place to rest at the end of the day. The tops rolled like clouds across the ground, a nap here could melt anybody’s…
To be a Musician you need— (part I)
*To be a Musician you need* Pride a desire to show off because you are good, and you know it because the music – your music – is good, and you want the…
Casting Stones
The game was complete. He’d been working on it for so long. He would create the first character before the game even went on the market. He created a priest…
Arson
The city was ablaze. No one knew who started it, or why; it wasn’t of the greatest importance now. Saving the city was now; the petty criminals would have to…
To Take Away
He had seen the boys through the threshold. He watched them pluck and shake the tree. The leaves came down in a blizzard of green and red. The fruit mashed…
The Bronze Beast
Sweat rained off his forehead as he drew his sword. He couldn’t swallow. He could barely breathe. The bronze creature towered above him, exhaling hot and…
Free From Life and Sin
“You got my money, boy?” Hands outstretched, Paul turned to face the question, no answer but a faint smile. He regarded the bloated bear of a man and felt…
Coming Darkness Above Purvis Creek
An hour before the appointed time, Paul stood at the midpoint of the Route 13 bridge, Rankin county to his left, Smith county to his right. The yellow-brown…
Religion and Motivation
Mae hollered, like women of her ilk were want to do, “Paul, you sad sack, where you been?” Paul stopped well short of the screen door held open for him…
No Easy Day
Paul squinted at a sky made hazy with humidity, just a hint of blue. The day was not going to go easy on him. He picked at his shirt, clingy with sweat, as he…
Whiskey and Sin
The music occupied any and every space not occupied by the seething mass of gyrating bodies, all alcohol-fueled libido and swagger. Reston was as out of place…
Sin by Numbers
Cruising along at 83 mph, Carl gave a bemused smile to the religious billboard, 5 of the ten commandments. He knew on his return trip he’d be treated to a view…
Atmosphere
I stare at the ceiling for no reason at all. I have memorized it crack for crack, categorized each water-damage mark like a map of the stars. My stars. My sky…
I Am
I am no beggar; I take no handouts. I am no saint; I sin. I am not steel; I bend, and break When tried, and tried again. I am no dog, I do not take A beating…
Wait... He Killed The Guy?!?!?!
I struggled to get out of the bag I was trapped in. It was a big burlap sack. I screamed and cried. I didn’t want to die by suffocating in a sack. Suddenly, I…
Closer To God
Just because it’s my fault doesn’t mean I’m the only one who has to, or should, pay. We’re all prone to occasional bouts of imperfection; of sin. As the man…