She looked out to the car windows to see the trees growing taller and taller. The mountains behind them started to cast vast shadows on the land. The road they were on started to cut from plains into the deep forests. Less and less cars seemed to pass and towns became a rarity among the trees. Tammy was driving. Her head was resting on her arm that propped up against he window. Pam was her passeger. Laid back asleep with her headphones blaring opera music into her crestfallen ears. They had left the last town about an hour ago and were driving up the coast to Portland, when they decided to check out the sprawling forests before getting into Oregon. Tammy looked around at the vast trees spanning over head and then at Pam. At least one of them was experiencing the forest. As Tammy turned her attention back to the road she noticed something up ahead. As she slowed the car and tried to flash her brights at it, the black mass stood still. As she got closer, it got bigger. She slowed the car to a halt. Four thin legs suspended a fur covered mass and what looked like a head of deer stretching into the air. It’s rack was twisted and sprawled out in all directions. Eyes that looked at her illuminated a deep red. It stared at her. She found the gear shift and pushed it into reverse. She slowly back the car up, but the massive legs stepped forward following her car.

“Pam” she whispered “Pam, wake up” she put her hand over to her friend and the massive beast seemed to respond to the gesture pulling even closer to the car. Could she out run it? How far was it to the last town? The eyes stayed locked on hers as if it was playing chicken. Her hand was still on her friend and she shook her slightly “Pam”

Pam stirred “What is it, are we there?” she pulled her seat foreword and rubbed her eyes. As she refocused her vision the beast sharpened.
“Oh my god” she yelled and screamed as Tammy tried to calm her. The beast opened its mouth. Teeth sharp and slender formed into a sinister smile. Tammy slammed on the acceleration and the car bolted backwards. She heaved her arm over Pams seat and kept her eyes on the road behind her. The hooves could be head cracking into the pavement as the thing kept pace with them. Her heart filled her ears and drowned out Pam’s wild screaming. She didn’t dare look back. They rounded a corner and the hooves stopped. Tammy turned the wheel spinning the car around and put the car in drive and took off back to where they came. She looked over at Pam who sat silent, her eyes wide open staring out the front of the car.

“It’s okay, we made it, we ma-“ Before she could react the smile came out of the forest green.

Inspired by Northern California

The train car swung back and forth as it exited the tunnel and entered into the yellow plains. I peered out the window at the large wheat fields. The wheat moved with the wind acting like a vast ocean with a few green trees sailing among it. I put pen to paper and recorded what I saw. I was nestled in a small table in the dining car. It looked like an old school diner had been sliced in half and crammed into a train car. A couple stools, a display tray, two waitress and one cook that was near the front of the car. Two men dressed in grey suits sat at the bar drinking coffee. One had his head down looking at some papers, while the other one flirted with one of the waitress’s behind the bar. Another man sat reading a newspaper on my left against the wall. I took a sip of coffee and picked up the book I was current digesting. “Wicked Soulless Things”, it was called. It was a mixture of vampires, werewolves fighting Frankenstein mosters. I loved the romantics, but sometimes a girl just needed unrelenting violence in her literature.

She came over prying herself from the man at the bar. “Would you like some more coffee dear?”

I smiled and nodded. “Looks like you might have a bit of trouble on your hands” My eyes darted at the young man and back at her.

“Oh, just a boy trying his best”

Her name tag said Sally. She had curly blonde hair that fell across her perfect breasts. I bit my lip.

“Well, he will get his due sometime. Sally, is it?” I tapped my pen on the notepad running my eyes from her slender legs back up to her blue eyes. She looked at something behind me then refocused.

“Yes ma’m, you can call on me if you need anything while your in the dining car” She smiled at me and I smiled back. I pulled out a compact and checked the mirror. It was just for show though. There was no reflection anyway.

“You know, I would love another slice of pie” I pushed my plate towards her. Her hand grabbed the plate and I could feel the blood pumping through her veins. Another slice of pie, indeed.

Inspired by Blue Plate Special by Jeff Lee Johnson

The pistons from my typewriter smashed black letters onto the page. My story would be of a young man and women, falling in and out of love over a charming weekend. Only for them to both end up dead in the end from a miscommunication. I thought for a second. No, no, that’s Romeo and Juliet.

Aha!

I ripped the page away. What about this. A man, bent on revenge. Man verse nature. The white -. No, that was Moby Dick. I sat back in my velvet cushioned chair and took a drink. There had to be something in my head that was original. I started again and stopped. Odysseus. One more try then. That’s Count of Monte Cristo. I grabbed my drink and pushed the chair away from the small desk. I leaned against the the window sill peering out into the city. Buildings towered into the clouds. Beautiful stone, marble and glass all crafted into works of colossal art. Down below the streets were small black dots moving around. Trees scattered her and there. The air smelled of cinnamon and smoke as it cascaded out of depths and up the side of the building. A large airship was docking to one of the sky scrapers to the right. It’s massive blimp gleaming in the yellow sunlight.

“Okay, Okay” I said, taking another swig of my drink and turning the chair back to the typewriter with a screech. My fingers started punching the keys. Sweat beaded from my forehead. This is it. I got it. I hammered harder and harder. Faster and faster. The rhythm built and formed a sweet symphony of clicks and clacks, followed by the abrupt push of the carriage being pushed back. I ripped the paper from the machine, stood up and read it.

It was bad. Worse then bad. Terrible. A cross between Romeo and Juliet and Moby Dick, that took place on a airship. I sat back down, loaded another piece of paper and started typing again. It was bad, but at least it was something for now.

Inspired by Les oublies de Blossfeldtstad.

“If we don’t get out of here, I’m sorry”

“Were going to be fine, so shut it” They stepped through the large mechanical door and into a large open room. It looked like a large hotel. A reception desk greeted them and behind it was a large atrium with chairs and tables spread all around. Sky lights lit the whole room in a harsh bright light.

“Where is everyone?”

“Not sure” the man with black hair pulled a knife from his hip “Let’s not stand around and find out. “ They past the chairs and tables to the back and into an elevator. “All the way to the top” he said, pushing floor three hundred and sixty nine. The elevator rose with an eerie silence. It moved up the large artium and then passed it giving a glance at the city that spread into every direction. The sun was setting among the bay and it swept light into the concrete and glasses. The elevator entered another chamber and everything went dark besides the internal lights. Then it came to a halt. They both took a breathe in as the door opened. The room had not one sharp corner in it. Everything including the walls were rounded in some way. Glass and marble reflected orange and yellow in all directions. Large half circle windows lay on each side.

A large desk stood at the far side of the room. It was long with a tall white chair rotated towards the window behind it.

“Jean, William” The chair swung around. “I thought you would never show up, I was starting to get a bit worried. Almost sent someone to look for you” The women leaned forward on the desk. She had a matte grey mask covering her face. Clouds had replaced the eyes and a sideways moon smiled at them.

“Where is everyone?” Jean said.

The women stood up and raised her hands in a twirling motion. Then with a sudden jerk slammed them on the desk. Shadows started to cast behind her and block out the sun as they passed by the window. “Oh, there they are” she laughed. Jean covered his mouth and stepped back.

“Son of a bitch” William stepped forward hurling the knife towards her. She slapped it to the side and stepped onto the desk. “Jean, we have to -“ Jean was sprawled out on the floor. His body twisted and blood poured out of his mouth and ears.

“Peak-a -boo” The women was behind him. He tried to pull another knife, but her fist hit him first. Before he reached the ground for impact she grabbed the coller of his shirt suspending him off the ground. “Please, I don’t know what you thought would happen, you two useless sacks of flesh, thinking you can take on me? hah”

“We had to try” he said weakly then pulled another knife from his hip thrusting it into her throat. She held strong as blood poured from the wound and onto him. She pulled him from the floor and up into the air. She half choked and half laughed as he struggled. She said something, but he couldn’t understand it. Her arm whipped him back and then forward toward the window. He slammed into it, bouncing off and onto the floor. He tried to stabilize himself against the window. His vision swam and body started to take in the throw.

“Weak” she disappeared. A force hit him in the stomach, his back smashed into and through the window. He grabbed for anything and a white glove grasped his. The women didn’t say anything, she held on for a moment, then let go. William looked as the grey mask smiled down at him as he fell.

“So, you can wound a god” he gave one last smile.

Inspired by Die Alone by Light The Torch
Calm Before the Storm by Light The Torch

The drink started to hit me , but that wasn’t the thing that was intoxicating me the most. Her red lips smiled with a viciousness and cruel temptation that made my head spin. The party moved into full swing. The five piece band erupted with brass and a high voice backing them up. Champagne popped all over the room. The bar that I was sitting at jumped at every drop of liquer that hit the glass.

“Cheers!” A man lept from his stool and swung his high class cocktail in the air. Her eyes never left mine though. On the other side she set her self, elegantly tipping back a purplish cocktail in a martini glass. Those drinks glided off the glass and into her slightly parted red lips like honey. After each sip she would lick her lips just slightly. I sucked in a breath and then my latest drink and got up.

“This is it! Let’s get to mars” A table erupted in celebrations. I waded through the well dressed men and women that wiggled and waded in their space. A man grabbed me and cheered my invisible drink. A women tried to kiss me and I had to swim across the party goers next to her to get away. As I came close I saw another man talking to the women I was approaching. She smiled at him, then her eyes peaked over his shoulders right at me. He walk away looking dejected. I composed my self and slid next to her and ordered a drink. An old fashioned. I pointed to her martini glass and told the bartender what ever she wanted was on me. She bit her bottom lip and sucked down the last of her purplish cocktail.

“ A Manhattan, please” she said pushing her glass forward.

“So, what do you think?” I gestured to the room that was currently losing its mind. A bang was heard and silver and gold confetti rained from the ceiling.

“This is it” A man was on a table pointing to a large screen that hung on one of the greatly ornate walls.

“If human civilization was about to enter a new era, should I not be excited?” she said. The drinks slid towards us on two thick bar napkins.

“Yeah” I coughed “yes, of course. A little crazy in my eyes. Days, years of work lay ahead for us”

“Indeed” The lights started to rotate and dim, the party was just getting started. I looked deep in her green eyes. As the light hit them they turned a bright orange. It had to be my imagination, but I thought I saw crosses in them. White crosses that peaked into another world, that were hollowed out from the middle of her orange eyes. The lights crossed up and the green returned. Her smile widened and she showed her pure white teeth. “Is everything alright Alan?”

My drink was already half way gone, when did that happen “Of course I -“ Alan? she had said it so confidently. “How did you know my name?” Someone must of told her, the man before? I didn’t know him either.

“I know everyone’s name here” she said circling the glass with her finger. Her eye peaked at me and the cross had returned. “Why do you think tonight is happening?”

“To humanity!” the room burst into a torrent of celebration. Glasses impaled the air and everyone started to cheer together. The women finished off her drink and turned to me. Her orange eyes glowing around the hollowed crosses. She licked her lips, but this time made no attempt to save her lipstick

“To humanity, indeed” she smiled.

Inspired by Imagination by Tillian

“Would you look at a that” The old man said. He sat on the second story of a ryokan over looking the ocean. Outcast far in the distance. Floating above the ocean was a dark cloud. In it swirled grey, white and black with sharp lighting striking through from time to time. He took a sip of his tea and cleared his throat. We sat on the floor with a small table between us. The room had no wall on one side, just a small wooden railing separated us from the outside world. In front, the coast line dipped in and out with rocky cliffs that protruded out from the lush greens. The ryokan was small. Only seven rooms existed which ran along the back of the building facing the mountains. This was a remote place. Up steep paths, screaming across cliffs that went straight into the sea. Heavy and dense, the forest surrounded the whole place. It was private,ancient and unknown. Travelers that came through the mountains seeking different gods and ideas found their way here. In the mountains that nature had kept, this ryokan stood to welcome those who wandered.

I had been looking for something my self. A change of pace. An adventure. A solution to my problems. Or maybe, I was just looking to get lost. What ever the reason was, I had found my self here, in this place, drinking sobacha with an old man looking towards the ocean. I simply sat here. I didn’t have any other cares in the world. I was being.

“Yeah, look at that.” I said quietly then took a sip of my tea. It was warm and dry tasting. Clouds reflected off its golden surface. I closed my eyes and let the warm breeze wash over me.

Inspired by そば茶 Sobacha (Buckwheat Tea)

I drift from one room to the next. Impossible architecture fills my senses, but familier feelings haunt my mind. I step in a large room. White marble pillars span into clouds hanging in the ceiling. I see my self, but it is not me. Or at least I don’t think its me. They run through a scene. Making mistakes. Falling down. Getting back up. This person, this other me, seems stuck in an endless loop till they remain on the ground. Static. Unflinching. I turn to another me. Sitting at a table they negotiate some deal with a shadowy figure across from them. They smile and shake hands. The whole scene freezes with the hands locked. I exit the large room passing by these scenes playing out. Some look like success, others failure and some dont look anything.

As I enter the next room I feel pressure hit me from behind, forcing me the floor. I brace myself, but the pressure keeps building upon my back. I stumble and get to my feet. Again the pressure builds and hit this time harder. This time my arms don’t react fast enough. I hit pavement. I don’t even know where I am anymore. It looks as if I am in an alley way. My vision becomes blurry. What can I do? I try to push my self off from the ground, but a force press upon my mid back. I look forward into the darkness. A figure stands. Looking at me. My eyes meet his. Their mine.

The room is dark. I let out a breath, wiping my eyes with my hands and crank my head to look at the clock. It’s 4:00 a.m.

Inspired by Reject by windwaker

The car turned onto the stretch of highway just before the sun hit the top of the sky. The sky was blue, filled with large clouds that provided sudden slivers of relief from the summer heat. Todd peaked into the rear view mirror. He admired himself, aviator glasses and styled black hair, then looked to the road behind him. Empty. Barren. The scenery was the same. Desert, some trees here and there. A mountain out in the distance keeping watch on him. He kept his eyes on the mirror. His hands kept steady.

Then he saw it. It was large, oddly shaped for a car. Taller then a car should be, but smaller then a truck. Some where in the middle of what one might think is the right tallness for a car. The windshield covered the whole front and then ran along the doors of the car in one solid piece of glass. The front leaned out like a Bentley. The whole vehicle was solid black with a silver sheen. If one was not looking they would miss it. Todd slammed on the acceleration. His heart pounded and he finally looked towards the road in front of him. The desert passed faster and faster. The car shook from the sheer speed that he was mounting. He peaked back at his rear view mirror. The car was right on him. It filled his whole view. He clenched his teeth and shifted gear trying to pull away.

Effortlessly the black car pull to his side and started to pass him on his left. It was silent. Barely moving as it glided next to him. The solid piece of glass reflected his own car and his breathless expression back to him.

“Come on” he yelled. “Come on and get me you son of a bitch” he laughed and smiled wildly. He white knuckled the wheel and turned it sharply. The black car avoided, pulling in front of him. It was long. It was a herse. Todd wiped his mouth and then the sweat from his forehead. The car pulled away even at the speed they were going. He let go of the acceleration. The black car glided into the distance and disappeared.

Todd pulled his car off to the side of the road. He burst from the car, breathing heavily and catching himself on the hood.

He took a in deep breath and looked towards the endless road. “I’ll catch you one day”

Inspired by Jason - The Midnight, Nikki flores

The house was in flames that shot up into the sky and whipped around as the wind picked up. Glass burst from the windows and screams could be heard form the neighbors as people rushed to watch in shock and amazement. Knocking came at the door. Flames spit from the edges but the man knocked calmly.

“Your house is on fire, won’t you let me in” he checked his watch and started knocking again. Wood cracked and part of the house started to sag. The heat burst from the hosue and the crowd back up. Yet the man stood. A firetruck could be heard wailing, but it would be to late.

“Get away from there” A man yelled from the corner. He shielded his eyes as the flames became more exposed. The man at the door turned slightly and knocked on the door again.

And it opened.

A women. Blazing just as her house was, stood as relaxed as possible. She gave a smile which radiated even more and the fire seemed to respond to the gesture, whipping back and forth roaring into the night. It drowned the siren which has just pulled up.

“I was wondering if you would ever open up” The man said leaning against the charred door frame and taking off his hat “well, shall we get out of here? I have reservations for us” he said with a grin. The bystanders and the firefighters yelled and hollered. The house nearly falling over into itself burned hotter and more intense. A firefighter was approaching the man, yelling and calling for him to come away from the door.

The man walked through the door frame and the women started to shut the door.

“Let’s blow this pop stand” The door shut completely the flames burst and the house imploded in a torrent of fire, ashe and smoke. The door frame cracked and fell towards the street. The man and women were not on the other side.

Inspired by Night Skies - The Midnight

Welcome to the small table sitting on the edge of reality. A cup of warm liquid of your choice sits in front of you.

For me, I prefer a honey black tea.

In this place, you will hear stories, stories that might excite the mind and open the senses. As the twilight sets,the spectral fire provides all the light needed.

Sit back.

Drink up. And enjoy these tales from the edge of your own dreams and nightmares.