The air in the room turned heavy as an ominous presence slithered through the cracked window, infusing every corner of my home with an unsettling chill. A shiver crawled up my spine, a reflexive response to the unseen specter that had invaded my sanctuary. The once-familiar space now seemed distorted, transformed into an eerie realm where shadows danced with a malevolent glee. The dim light cast f...

In the year 3000, the world had changed beyond recognition. The skies were filled with flying cars, robots walked the streets, and humans had advanced beyond what anyone could have imagined. But despite all these advances, some things remained the same. There were still stories of magic and wonder, and one such story was that of Pinocchio.

Pinocchio was a robot, unlike any other. He had been buil...

Lila had always been a bit of a sentimental person. She cherished the things she owned, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem to others. But when she moved into her first apartment and bought a set of cleaning supplies, she didn't expect to feel any attachment to them.

Then she met the toilet brush.

At first, it was just another tool in her cleaning kit. She used it dutifully, scr...

Grey, the color of ambiguity,

A hue that holds a duality,

Neither black nor white, but in between,

A color that's rarely ever seen.

Grey, the shade of stormy skies,

A color that makes us realize,

The power of nature, wild and free,

A force that we can barely see.

Grey, the color of concrete walls,

A symbol of our urban sprawls,

A lifeless hue, devoid of joy,

That we all too often deploy.

Grey, ...

The truth never lies

Truth can despise or exercise

The truth can bring freedom

The reason can be found

What goes around? Proof?

What is truth?

I was 8 years old when the world broke

There I was feeling it slip away but

Begging it to stay the same

Even though…the same meant

I got to play ‘don’t wake daddy’

And - no - not the board game

Although there was a sizable board involved

It hurt but it ...

Somewhere strange as a stranger

Glances come and glances go

No sparks yet; impatience makes her

Second guess the absence - no!

Waiting will be worthwhile remember?

The real reward requires watching

Without wasting wisdom or reason

“Resist” replays as a relentless word

The sweat running down her back

The strength felt in the consensual attack

Resist replaced by wondrous release

And only now does ...

Thomas sits in a room wearing a dirty gown. Waiting. Watching. Wishing. Wishing he’d never been born. Wishing he’d just said “No” the first time. Watching the door. Waiting for him to return.

The life Thomas has led has been short relative to the average, but the amount of “bad” choices would outshine any 80 year old. All of those choices have led to this point. Sitting in a room. Waiting. Watch...

The setting is San Diego County in 2068 - a smaller town in the northern part of the county. The world in 2068 is one of predictive technology and quantified automation. Everything is tracked.

Everything is controlled.

Everything is predictable.

Nothing is exciting.

Nothing is free.

Nothing dies.

Free radicals are readily replaced and aging is distant memory. Humans and pets can live however lon...

Mary has always been a Neo-Liberal, Consequentialist Rambler. Her parents are Neo-Liberal, Philagnostic Ramblers, and her grandparents on both sides are Neo-Liberal, Escapist Survivors.

As a Neo-Liberal Mary believes it is the responsibility of the strong to protect and care for the weak - no matter the cause of their weakness. As a Consequentialist Mary is guided by the idea that what is “right”...

The sun shines on Mary Casper the same way it does every morning she sleeps at her own house. Mary is lying in her bed basking in the warmth of the San Diego sunshine, but today is not everyday. Today is the annual Lockdown. Mary is a traveler and only finds herself at home when she needs to recharge her own batteries or when it’s mandated by The Alignment.

The annual Lockdown is one of the manda...