Elijah's Lake

Elijah's Lake

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Elijah never had a friend and regarded true friendship as an artform, like so many things people around him took for granted.

His only comfort was the way the sun shined over his scarred face while on a path to a lake and the way its gleam showered over the beautiful trees that flanked the lonely road like a loving mother.

Every moment by the lake felt new and inspiring, blessing him with lucid creativity that helped fill his notebook with characters that spoke to him through nature.

He closed his notebook when light began to wane and started a mile-long walk home.

"I'm proud of you, son," a voice came through a gust of wind before a tear rolled down his face.

This story is linked with Lillie Mcferrin's Five Sentence Fiction 

Dance of Doom

Late to the challenge, he weeped,
until offered one more chance to take.

With his sleek hat and steady feet,
he gave his best under the ominous rain.

He fell once, but later found the beat,
oblivious to tides of boiling rage.

A filthy rat licked at his tired soles,
all while he looked around this newfound murky cell.

He found no crowds, no stage, no claims of gold,
only a shockscape made of everlasting hell.

~*~

This story is linked with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction.

Five Sentence Fiction: Conquer

This story is linked with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction where the word of the week is "Conquer".

Operation Dead Drop

After months of careful planning and observation, all men were in position now while Henry watched from afar, the monstrous creatures shuffling around the compound with their grunts and growls as they loaded trucks with steel canisters.

"What's in them?"

Henry looked at his nephew and said, "Brains--and that's one of many compounds where they are harvested."

"How do you know?"

Henry breathed in uneasily and said, "Because that's where I found you when you were a baby--and if we're lucky--that's where we'll find your sister too."

Five Sentence Fiction: Paradise

I'd like to thank Josie from Two Shoes in Texas  for her words of comfort during my friend's recovery after a motorcycle accident a few days ago, which is why I have been away this past week from taking on any more new challenges. The important thing is that he is alive and well, and will probably have to undergo some extensive therapy as a result of his injuries, but I am confident he will come out again strong as he always has been.

I am linking this snippet of a much larger work of mine with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction where this week's word is "Paradise".

Santos' Quest is a full-scale novel that I have been working on since I was 24, and has been the most challenging writing project that I have ever had on my plate, mainly because of some of the characters that I still have a hard time letting go, but at the same time, have a need to eliminate.

This following snippet has been modified to fit the five sentence requirement.

Santos Quest: New Year's Day 2280

Kaiden Santos let his gaze fall over the trail of marching troops from his seventh floor balcony, watching as a new way of life was confirmed by the overwhelming cheers, leaving behind a defeated tyrranical rule.

The new leading voice blared everywhere from above, promising a paradise for all universal citizens everywhere, a promise that was comforting to the beaming faces in the streets, but Kaiden's only comfort lied in the touch of her hands that gently laid over him.

"It's finally over," her soft voice caressed over his ear.

Kaiden breathed deep with careful subtlety while the image of Amelia, who had been ripped away from both their lives from a supposed military academy accident, still lingered in his mind, and for the sake of keeping the calm, he said, "I guess it is."

Masses of cheering faces were growing larger in the streets now, their hearts and hopes alive with a new vision as Kaiden glared at the face of the ruling voice, plastered on the hovering craft in the sky, the same man he once looked up to...the same man who had to die along with all his lies.

Five Sentence Fiction: Empty

This story is linked with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction where the word of the week is "Empty".

In "Quarter Past Twelve", Roy is struggling to get past his writer's block, but will soon find that a lack of ideas is the least of his concerns.

Quarter Past Twelve

The white empty screen had been pestering his conscious for the past couple of days, the cursor appearing to blink at a faster rate as if to mock him for his creative mental block. It was close to midnight when Roy decided to step out for a pack of cigarrettes and relieve some tension, leaving one simple sentence hanging on the screen that read: Once there was a man named...

Later, as he walked back to his apartment, Roy scribbled a few notes on his notepad. An idea was beginning to brew as he began unlocking his door, and as he sat before his computer to begin typing, he was taken aback by the words on the screen that read: Once there was a man named Roy, whose life had been changed in an instant when a visitor came to him during the midnight hour.

Roy looked at his desk clock, finding that it was a quarter past twelve, just when a knock on the door confirmed the visitor's arrival.

Five Sentence Fiction: Abandoned

This story is linked with Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction where the word of the week is "Abandoned".

It is a sidestory to Lost Lilly, a story that will be featured tomorrow in Paragraph Planet . An email I received earlier in the week told me the news so  you can check it out then. You can also find it on on this blog if your curious.

Have a great weekend.


Photo Source: Gabriella Camerotti

Lost Lilly: Catching Souls



Abandoned by the comfort of fairy tales and a loving home, Lilly roamed aimlessly through the city streets with her only possesions: her wagon filled with dolls.

She wore her white church dress when she visited the park, the one her grandmother bought her back when she lived under a strict God-fearing homestead.

Darkness began to loom when Lilly arrived at the park, but darkness never fazed her, for it was where The Reaper dwelled, and she knew he would always protect her from menacing predators.

Now perched on a patch of grass by the swings, Lilly listened for the voice that later came through a chilled breeze, asking in a firm thundering tone, "You have something for me?"

Lilly held one doll up in the air with a wide grin and replied, "I finally have her soul."

Five Sentence Fiction: Forgotten

This story is written for Lillie Mcferrin's Five Sentence Fiction.

This week's word prompt: Forgotten

The Silent Room

Forgotten memories sprung to life inside her head, reeling memories of spending many summer nights by her side near the open window, where the mild breeze swirled around them, and secrets bounced back and forth between the two links that were once the best of friends.

Natalee turned to the woman who now had posession of the place and asked, "What happened to this room?"

"I guess the loneliness got the best of her," the lady replied and added, "Sometimes loneliness gets the best of us who know it well eventually - making us do all sorts of crazy things."

"Who are you talking about - you mean Lindsay?"

The lady lifted her gaze toward the ceiling, Natalee following along with her own, later discovering the pulsing surface above where a contorted face pressed against it, struggling hard to pass her screams.

The New Vision - Written for Five Sentence Fiction and Two Shoes Tuesday #20

I am linking up this next story with Lillie Mcferrin's Five Sentence Fiction  featuring this past week's prompt "Inspire" and Josie's Two Shoes Tuesday, which will be ready to link up by Tuesday featuring its new word prompt "Aware".

No photo again, as I am still having a hard time uploading photos with Blogger, but I hope the issue gets resolved soon.

The New Vision

Every Wednesday on his way home from work, as he drove past the sprawling parking lot of the closed supermarket, Henry couldn't help but to wonder what purpose served the group's gathering with its members already seated on chairs arranged in a circle under a tent.

One day during lunchbreak at work, he was taken aback when  his co-worker Mellanie admitted that she had joined the group, telling him that she had never felt more "inspired" by anything in her life, and that the whole experience had empowered her with such an "unbelievable sense of awareness".

Eventually, Mellanie convinced Henry to sit in for a session, and at the end of it all, Henry felt no change whatsoever.

He woke up Thursday morning to his usual routine, and while bustling through the crowding hostile traffic, he was cursed at by an angry driver next to him for cutting him off along the lane.

Henry turned to look at the enraged man, shock bringing a chilling reality over his senses, becoming fully aware that the man and everyone else around him were branded with monstrous red-eyed gnarling faces, and the usual upcoming construction sign ahead that usually read Road Work Ahead now read: Inspire a Change for a New Revolution and Destroy an Enemy!



Two - Prompt Story

The following story was written for two prompts that got underway this past week so I am a little late again.

The word prompt for Two Shoes Tuesday this week is Discombobulated (Yes, it's a word.) and the word prompt for Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction is Midnight.

Special thanks to Josie, owner of Two Shoes Tuesday for picking up my suggested word for next week on her site: earworm. Click on the link above and check it out sometime.

Again, this story is dark much like my others just to let you know in advance. Have a great weekend. =)

Lights Out

It was just after midnight when the lights went out all across the town below the hilltop, the same spot where they spent many passionate moments, sharing the same spectacular view on many different occasions.

"That's strange," Megan said, discombobulated by the sudden blackout and added, "I wonder what happened."

"Who cares," Adam raised the duffel bag he picked up from the hood of his car and then said, "This whole damn place will be nothing but a memory after we're off relaxing in some tropical paradise with our huge final score!"

The lights came on, but it wasn't the city lights that came alive, and when the sherriff stepped off the vehicle with his gun drawn, Adam dropped the bag, raised his hands and pleaded, "Please, I'm not resisting!"

"Oh Adam...you're so dramatic," Megan said while picking up the bag, then walked up to the sherriff to plant one kiss on his lips before the sherriff returned his gaze and gun on Adam, shattering his skull into pieces.

Five Sentence Fiction: Joy

Last week, I did not have an opportunity to post any short fiction challenges mainly because I was swamped with other matters. But, I'm back, and this post is another short flash piece for Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence FIction page.

Today's story asks the question of wether Carl is really turning into a delusional alcoholic or maybe he has discovered something far more disturbing.

Have a good weekend everyone! =-)

Carl knew he was not the known for his looks, but once in a while, he did manage to steal a few inviting smiles and gestures from some attractive ladies from time to time, but never from women quite as beautiful as the one that was sitting at a table from a corner of the lounge.

Maybe it was the drink that made her appear to smile, Carl thought as he sipped on a cold ale, but to assure himself, he tapped on a passing elderly waiter and gestured toward the young woman at the corner. "I'd like to buy that lady over there a drink."

The waiter squints and looks over to the corner and looks back at Carl blankly, and when Carl gestures toward the woman again, the waiter tells him, "I'm sorry sir but that corner area has been off limits since 1972, the year that the owner's daughter, Ms. Joy Harris, was killed in that horrible car accident."

With chills streaking down his spine, Carl shot back the last of his ale, waved to the bartender , paid his tab and bolted out of that place faster than his racing heart, promising himself that he would never drink another day, but more importantly, he would never set foot on The Euphoria Escape Lounge ever again.

Five Sentence Fiction: Character

My entry for this week's Five Sentence Fiction hosted by Lillie McFerrin

Photo Credit: Lord Kevinz

Five years had passed since the near fatal acccident that left her paralyzed, her dreams of ever making it as a top-ranking cyclist now shattered, but Julia felt that there was still something inside of her that not even the worst catastrophe known to humanity could ever take away from her; her goal-driven character.

She had realized this through a dream she had while undergoing a surgery, her feet dangling just above the ground, levitating toward a green patch of botanical life she knew well as a child that instilled a sense of being safe and protected.

She was warmed by that feeling, but the feeling grew dull too quickly, and she found herself wanting to shake away that comfort zone, kicking and pushing away with fierce defiance.

The illusion gradually brittled and faded into a white brightness, eventually replaced by a man dressed in white, her doctor, who then leaned close to her ear and said, "Julia, can you hear me...can I get you something?"

With a dry sore voice, Julia nodded and said, "A phone book, please...wanna speak with my trainer about a new plan."

Caleb's Cauldron: Elsa's Guilt

An extension and part three to "Caleb's Cauldron", a short story originally written for

Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction

This is the final part that will use the five-sentence restriction. The next part will be freestyle with no word or sentence limit.

Hope you enjoy and wish you a great weekend!





Photo Credit: dbrekke on Flickr



Caleb's Cauldron #3

Elsa's Guilt 

Elsa Guthrie, after dipping into a warm bubble bath from a hotel three towns away from her own, rolled over on her belly, resting her chin on the rim of the bathtub, and asks herself in a low whisper, "What have I done?"

She loved her husband, much more than the man outside the bathroom door, but the passion had been dormant between her and the man she had chosen in marriage, and it was all about the meetings and political affairs that put a damper on the magic.

From outside the door, she could hear the television airing a news brief, catching those certain words from a female reporter, "..again, Mayor Guthrie, after volunteering to host the grand opening of this event is no where to be found. We will have more on this strange turn of events as we get more updates."

Elsa, feeling a streak of qualm at the pit of her stomache, bolted out of the bathtub, wrapped herself in a robe, and opened the door only to find Ben standing in the doorway.

"Sorry, but it looks like checkout is just not possible right now," he said coldy with the device in his hand that sent a shocking surge into her system, knocking her into faded black.

Coming Soon:  Caleb's Cauldron #4: The Truth about Ben

Caleb's Cauldron: The Ominous Organizer

As requested, here is part two of  "Caleb's Cauldron"  which was initially written for

Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction .

These are another five sentences which will all add up into the big story. Feel free to comment at anytime. =-) 

Caleb's Cauldron #2
The Ominous Organizer

It wasn't a burdening task as much as it was a well-known tradition of the town, hosting new grand openings of  its landmarks, where the average town citizen could easily be elected by event members to host such events.

Mayor Gene Guthrie knew almost everyone he came across in this small, laid-back town, and while believing that it was highly important to keep up with all of the town's affairs, he felt hosting this event best suited that purpose.

"You look a little confused there," Mayor Guthrie said to one of the event organizers that he was speaking with and added, "Maybe that flu bug is beginning to creep up on you as well."

The event organizer, wiping sweat off from a face clearly visible with tension did not reply, and unexpectedly moved up behind the mayor.

Mayor Guthrie jumped to something pressing firmly against his lower back and before he could respond, the so-called event organizer said in a low hissing voice, "You make a sudden move, say anything at all and I will blow you away - understand?"



Continue Reading--->> Caleb's Cauldron #3: Elsa's Guilt

Five Sentence Fiction: Candidate

Written for  Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction where the word of the week is "Candidate".

Caleb's Cauldron #1

Guthrie Goes to the Park

Ben, having been chosen to host the town's grand opening ceremony of its new amusement park, called the chief event coordinator saying that his boss had called him in to work an overtime shift, leaving organizers  scrambling to find a new replacement.

The town mayor later offered to volunteer for hosting duties, and before the ceremony got underway, he commented to one of the organizers about Ben.

"That Ben is quite a guy and good neighbor, helped my wife with fixing her garden many times without ever charging a dime, hope his flu isn't too severe."

"Flu?"

The governor nodded and said,"Yep, my wife was called in this morning because the hospital is understaffed, flu must be spreading like wildfire."

Continue Reading--->>> Caleb's Cauldron #2: The Ominous Organizer