Monthly Archives: May 2016

Drabble: Hope in Immortality – by Timothy A. Wiseman

by specklit

The immortal walked. There was little else to do. Humanity had been gone for an eon. Many other species had vanished along with humans, and new ones arisen.

He had been bored for centuries. But then he saw an animal using a stone to crack a nut. Humans were far from alone in using tools, but this was the first one he had seen in centuries.

He followed the fuzzy thing. Perhaps he could teach them, encourage them to evolve intelligence. Perhaps, eventually, he could have a conversation with them. If nothing else, trying would give him something to do.

Author’s Note: Immortality could be extraordinarily dull, but an immortal could act as a light cast to the future to help provide later species a start on developing civilization.


Drabble: Superhero Origin Stories: Baby Raye – by JB Starre

by specklit

Breaking news: Queen Quell and Fred “Muscle” Jones announce birth of healthy baby girl, Raye Glenda Jones. Anonymous hospital employee reports that baby has presented with powers similar to mother’s; sources close to the family speculate that baby may end up being more powerful than Queen Quell herself. Will Baby Raye be the next Super?

Update (9 pm): Queen Quell has confirmed baby’s powers. “We are overwhelmed by the love and well wishes that have come our way,” Quell says. “We ask that you respect Raye’s privacy until she comes of age and we learn the extent of her powers.”

Author’s Note: Even the Queen might not be able to quell such strong powers.


Drabble: You Have Been Selected – by Leanne Olson

by specklit

It’s just spam. It must be. I’m a savvy user: yes, I’m a grandmother, I received my first computer three days ago, but I don’t believe in wealthy Nigerian princes or creams that take twenty years off my skin.

But this. How did they get my email address? How do they know both my middle names? What kind of scam targets my innermost desire?

I type into Snopes.com, “You have been selected for an all-expenses paid wizard school” and nothing comes up.

Sometimes you have to take chances.

My fingers shake as I type a reply. I pack my suitcase.

Author’s Note: You’re never too old to learn something new, whether it’s computers or magic.


Drabble: Racing The Dead – by Richard Mark Ankers

by specklit

When they rose, I ran. I hurtled through the graveyard skipping over the tombstones like a stone across a pond. Into the streets I raced; they were there. They were everywhere.

There are times when you might fade, capitulate, and that might have been mine. It wasn’t. I was stronger than that.

I turned tale and sped back whence I’d came. Leaping the open coffins, shimmying in silence, I shot back to the one place I always felt safe, and they could do nothing.

“Why won’t you let me be,” I whispered, as my coffin lid slammed shut. “Not ever.”

Author’s Note: I thought it might be scary to not only run from the dead when alive, but when you were dead, too.


Drabble: Space Travel is Boring – by Matthew C. Ryan

by specklit

Grimm bounced his rubber ball off the ceiling. He loved mercenary work, but the travel between planets was killer. They were en route to investigate attacks on Phobos’ mining facilities, and the flight from Venus took three days.

He glance at his elf partner, who was playing with his mobile communicator. There’s no signal in hyperspace. They’d been partners for years but never connected off of the battlefield.

Grimm bounced his ball again and his partner turned and opened his mouth. At that moment the alarms sounded.

“Exiting hyperspace, assume battle positions, prepare for orbital drop.”

Saved by the bell.

Author’s Note: I’m sure that I would not be the first person to be intrigued at the idea of fantasy elements in space. I mean, picture an orc squeezing into a space craft, or a dwarf with a blaster rifle.


Drabble: The Bad Thing – by Angela R Sargenti

by specklit

Today’s the day the bad thing comes.

It always starts off the same. The milk goes off and the wind stutters and jabbers in horror, as if it’s too shocked to howl.

Someone’ll die. No doubt about that.

It’ll come slavering into town and houses will be invaded, people sucked through windows. God alone knows how many or which ones. It’ll smite half the town and there’s nothing any of us can do.

A virgin’ll be sacrificed, but it won’t do a damn bit of good.

It never does.

It just makes our fool elders feel like they’ve done something.

Author’s Note: I don’t know where the idea for this one came from. I just like monsters, I guess.


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