I pinch my arm in disbelief. Carnage. Slaughter. Evil. I try the feel of each word on my tongue, but none is adequate to describe… “this”. I find myself surrounded by bits and pieces of human flesh and bones. The once green forest floor now painted red. The gore is scattered here and there, but … Continue reading The Last Step
Clouds swarm the sky and, in doing so deny the sun its domain — hindering the life-giving rays of light from reaching its creation. I stand on the ground beneath, watching attentively as shadows creep up the sidewalk, draining away the light in its wake. My hands are outstretched, reaching for the skies, wanting only to offer … Continue reading Cloudy Skies
“Come back here, you good-for-nothing piece of crap.” The son, tears fresh in his eyes and adrenaline pumping through his small body, slams the door shut behind him before running out into the cold of night. Searching desperately for somewhere to hide — a place where he may finally be given respite. The forest floor is wet … Continue reading The Escape
Leaves tremble in the wind — a premonition of a storm forthcome The faint silhouette of a man can be seen underneath the coverings of a munificent tree, a creature of bark and sap that offers both warmth and shelter. Surrounding him are beasts of wind, threatening to disturb his fated encounter. And yet he stands tall, … Continue reading Waiting for a Storm
The servant of one highly acclaimed lady sits in front of his sturdy desk — inkwell and feather ready for use, and high-quality parchment waiting patiently for his confession. The man sighs deeply before putting quill to paper. Dear lady, It is with a heavy heart that I confess, at last. I acknowledge that I … Continue reading I Am Scared of the Dark
Two silhouettes seem but one underneath the setting sun, their hands intertwined as they gaze deep into the eyes of the other. Shhh says the wind, causing strands of the girl’s soft hair to fall over her face. He leans to tuck the golden strands of hair back behind her ears, smiling at her with … Continue reading Singularity
Jacob stumbles inside the room. Fists clenched in anticipation - and yet he is met with nothing but darkness and silence. Tentatively he moves farther into the room. "Slam" Jacob jumps at the sound of the door slamming shut behind him and he puts weight on his bad leg in a stroke of bad luck, … Continue reading The Haunted Cottage #END
"Thump" Jacob falls onto the cold stone floor in a jumble of arms and legs. The fall was not very steep, and yet he managed to fall into an awkward position with his right leg twisted backward. At first, he feels nothing but numbness in the leg, but soon the discomfort starts to slip in. … Continue reading The Haunted Cottage #4
Jacob finds himself with his back to the floor in a place he doesn't know. His head throbs terribly and mind-fog obstructs his attempts at making sense of things. Darkness surrounds him, the only light source being a candle next to the door, casting eerie shadows on the wall in the shape of dancing demons. … Continue reading The Haunted Cottage #3
"Coming" says a woman from inside the cottage. The young man lets go of the air that had been building up inside his lungs and takes a step back to allow the door to be opened unhindered. At hearing her voice he felt relief wash over him, but at the same time, he is surprised … Continue reading The Haunted Cottage #2
Benjamin Bratz 