Inka’s Curse Part 22: Found

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…what I can tell, those are not the same spirits assailing us. They seem like just a memory on repeat. Still, I wouldn't want to run into them. They sound physical. They sound real. I take one step at a time hoping to at least make the least amount of noise as possible. 

As I reach down the staircase, all I hear is the sea. Then as I continue to walk, I hear voices. The leader's voice and a considerably more youthful voice who sounds concerned. I hear them get closer, and I run back up the…


By Cristina Collazo

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Looking Ahead: A Worthless Gesture

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Planning ahead only works if you control the outcome.

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…unusually quiet bird watched the squirrel repeatedly half hop, half run from the oak tree to the flower garden near the house. After seeing the bushy-tailed rodent make several round trips the crow’s curiosity surfaced. “What are you doing,” he asked with his raspy voice.

“I’m burying acorns for the future,” the squirrel proudly responded.

“That does not sound like a pleasant use of your time on such a beautiful weekend day.”

“Well, this way I’ll have them when supplies are limited and I need them,” he explained to the crow…


By Robert L. Scarry

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Sweat

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This is a short crime piece I wrote, which is a departure from my usual suspense!

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…steam was especially thick. It was the kind of steam that made you wish that you had gills instead of lungs. It was the perfect steam to melt the toxins out of large, subcutaneous bodies. One such beluga sat, piled on the tile bench leaning his Grecian mane against the dripping wet wall behind him, a thick gold chain draped across his chest, a white towel loosely covering his less-than-impressive unmentionables that were pasted by sweat onto the cool tiles of the…

By a stump

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Inka’s Curse Part 21: Alone In The Dark

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…fear is the parts of the armor are missing. They help me look there the boxes. “Here,” Rachel said. 

Something was wrong. It sounded like Titan was trying to mutter something. I turned to him. I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. Something was assaulting him. But I couldn’t observe it. My whole body tingled. 

“I don’t get this. I don’t sense anything,” Rachel said.

What can we do? How can we defend ourselves against something that we can’t see? Time to think outside the box. Something strikes me from behind. Maybe I can seize the box and run for…


By Cristina Collazo

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Better Pikin

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…first time papa said:

"Son, we’ve a serious talk,"

'Serious talk with papa' an afterthought came as I out-walk from the inner room to the sitting room, from there to the veranda.

I was in the mood of music with the piece in my ears making me go gaga like lady gaga. Papa was actually outside waiting for me as he glanced through The Punch Newspaper, he sat on a chair with his leg crossed viewing a vivid picture of some gang rapist.

"I’m here father."

I shouted as though I whispered due to the earpiece in my ears while…

By Williams A.Beloved

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My First Kiss

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…was a nice night.” May sat in the passenger seat, feeling her body relax as the car’s headlights illuminated her neighborhood sign.

“Thanks for finally coming out with me,” Jake said. “I feel like I’ve asked you out every day for months. Every day since you started Jamison.”

“My mom thinks it’d be good for me to get out of the house.”

Jake stopped the car in front of her house and twisted toward her, smiling.

May looked into his dark eyes, her heart fluttering in her throat.

“You’re beautiful.” He grazed his hand down her arm.

A dirty room…


By L.L. Asher

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Mountain Justice

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…had heard it more times than he cared to. Ted this, Ted that. Well, where the hell was Ted? he thought. Ted was the savior, the new director who would change things and turn them all into geniuses. After the last financial report we were told we were geniuses, he recalled. So why would they even consider a new boss?

“I have just received a call from Ted,” the Chief Of Operations announced over the intercom. What miraculous deed has the Mighty Ted performed now? Bob thought sarcastically. “It appears Ted has opted for a position with another firm. He…

By Robert L. Scarry

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Inka's Curse Part 20: Lost in Thought

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…only we were here to go fishing. Fishing is exciting, and its reward is so delicious that it catches your senses and envelops you in its delights. The exquisite taste of fish makes me love fishing, but what I attached to it is that it's in my genes, as my father could never get away from the shore and I will not either.

I loved the tree under which my father sat to weave our huge nets, my dad told me incredible stories. I could spend hours sitting there listening, but I preferred hearing his stories as we walked in…


By Cristina Collazo

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Picking Up Katie

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…much?” Angie asked her reflection in the rearview.  

She wiped the black mascara smudges from her cheeks, then grabbed a hair-tie and smoothed her tangled locks into a ponytail. She opened her car door, stroking her oversized shirt. Crumbs rained onto the concrete.  

At the daycare entrance, she tapped the code to enter, but the door remained locked. She tapped it again. Nothing. 

The girl at the desk walked to the door and opened it. 

“Thanks.” Angie stepped into the lobby. “You guys change your code?” 

The girl shrugged. “I’m new. It’s 2231.” 

“They must’ve changed it.” Angie leaned against…


By L.L. Asher

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Inka's Curse Part 19: The Shipwreck

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…I wasn't so great, the sword wouldn't be protecting me. It doesn’t matter if I believe in myself or not. I know by heart that I don’t have much of a choice on this.

If the queen earnestly wanted me dead, wouldn’t I be dead? She knows that at least this sword can do it. 

“I can join you, you know. We can survive together.”

“I don’t know. You’ve done enough for me already. You don’t have to join me. In these challenging times, being in a group gets you killed.”

“Maybe sometimes, but it also offers you a possible…


By Cristina Collazo

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