Inka's Curse Part 17: Request

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…Ellen replied, “Send her in.” She looked up to observe me enter. I wondered what she thought of me. Most people regard me as a helpless weakling. Now was most likely now different as I struggled not to show my cowardice. The queen bore scars on her neck. I was able to see they were lettering. 

I don’t know what she expects, but I’ve been looking forward to this meeting. 

I should just be straightforward with her. “I’m sorry my queen. I know that it looks bad for me, but it was an accident. I didn’t know these things belonged…


By Cristina Collazo

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The Day You Died

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…glanced up from her laptop.

“Sorry to bother you,” The man next to her said. “Do you mind—” He rubbed a thick hand over his face. “I have to ask.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

“Folks, this is your captain.”

Emma gazed up at the cabin speaker.

“We’re beginning our final descent and will be arriving in fifteen minutes.”

“Can I ask your name?”

She looked back at the man. “Um…” She cleared her throat. “Emma.”

He shook his head. “You look exactly like someone I dated.”

“Weird. Did—”

“Allison. She had the same…” He gestured to Emma, his…

By L.L. Asher

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Not As She Dreamed

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Planning a honeymoon and life threw a curveball.

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…and Mrs. William Batts were finally taking their long delayed honeymoon trip. They were recipients of a Caribbean cruise as prize for opening a combined checking and savings account with Patriot’s National Bank.

Lisa planned on completing the novel she was writing...actually “thinking about” for two years. Bill just wanted to put his feet up, drink beer, and smoke his cigar. They joked it was time to consummate their marriage now that their four children were grown and not likely to interrupt.

The laptop and notebooks were stowed in the computer…

By Robert L. Scarry

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Inka's Curse Part 16: Queen Ellen

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…promised me that when we were secure she’d instruct me how to sword fight.

We have been at it for a while, and I was excited to finally learn how to use this thing.

Rachel won most of the sparring matches between them, but I am getting much better than I was. Our swords clacked against each other as sweat dripped from my forehead. Even though I’m slender while Rachel is more muscularly built I think we both were more than a good match for each other. We don’t speak to each other as we…

By Cristina Collazo

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Space

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A story about the last human A.I. battle cruiser Indomitable, referred to as 'Dom' by his crew.

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…battle mode Dom."

"Aye, aye, Captain.", I say and his eyes close at the last.

In the delirium of my battle screens I watched crimson rain of micro beams fall and cyan streaks of plasma cut through the air.

The flash of freshly burnt copper vaporized and accelerated to speeds of light hangs in a haze over my view.

I find myself unable to act for a micro second, caught in hideous beauty of war within a vacuum.

To believe I and…

By RayFed

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Don't Eat the Messenger

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Work intrudes more and more into our home life. Even meals.

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…themselves delicately on the salad. As Collin G watched them, they moved again, and then a third time into a different pattern.

“Damn headquarters. Can’t I even have a meal in peace?” Collin reached into the pocket of his dark blue flight suit for his military-issue pad and took down the message. Studying the flakes, he murmured, “Anything else, Cappy?”

The flakes moved again, paused long enough for Collin to scribe his staccato black letters, then they coalesced into a single dark stack and jumped into his coat pocket…

By Lyndi Alexander

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Jeremy

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…rolls over in bed, legs and arms sore. His head still misty from his day prior. The sun has started rolling its beams of light through the window. His blinds do little against the cascade of morning light.

His dog, Tidus, barks and whimpers at the foot of the bed. Tidus is making it very clear that he wants to go outside, and requires someone with thumbs to make that a reality. Jeremy, however, refuses to donate his thumbs. This is a day that he wants little to do with.

The night before had been busy. Jeremy was in charge…

By Jason Garden

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Golden Bangle

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This is all about a family life where golden bangle plays a major part in their distress

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…my subsistence drew closer both rundown and lavish clientele. I dole out for all to meet the requirements of the human race. From the golden hands of the artists to the much caretaking merchant’s shelf and from the shelf to the wrist, my journey ends in the furnace to be re-shaped for future use. I bear within me the entire world. From parental home to in-laws, the ride leaves behind footprints of reminiscences. The destitution of its donor on one hand and imperceptible…

By Mushtaque B Barq

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Inka's Curse Part 15: Practice

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…I guess. You haven't been the oddest creature so far. Not even the centaurs... I think I saw a mythical dragon recently. The forest had instantly frozen in fear as he latched on to the dead bear. He proclaimed to me that not all creatures are bad like not all humans are good then he flew away with a bear my sword killed.”

“That had to be a fantastic dream. Dragons are extinct or at least they have vanished from this country.”

“I know. The last time anyone encountered a dragon has been over a hundred years ago. It…

By Cristina Collazo

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Fear

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…stared hard at her. “You don’t look that scary.”

She snickered and tilted her head to the side, as if to acquiesce. “I get that a lot.”

She waved her hand nonchalantly in the direction of the Ferris wheel that had suddenly appeared. “After you...”

“Uh...wait. Hang on. I take it back. You’re extremely intimidating and... and... WAIT. NO!” He shrieked as she gingerly rested her hand on his shoulder and he begins to walk towards the carnival contraption against his will.

His eyes rolled back in his head and he begins to wail in earnest as his body…

By L.E.

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