100 Words, 100 Days

100: beginnings

2007-12-14T22:35:00.000-08:00

"When does it begin?" the nymph asked, her eagerness subdued in a gentle voice.

"Any moment now," came the reply, as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind. A warm breath sent a shiver down the petite youth's spine, as her companion blushed a little at his awkwardness.

Before she could reply, a streak of bright light flashed across the sea of stars above, as a pair of smiles revealed the stargazers' awe. Soon another flashed, and another, until the shooting stars lit the entire sky.

"And this is only the beginning..." he continued, gazing ever skyward...

099: travelers

2007-12-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Leaning against the mossy boulder, the young woman smiled as the breeze tousled about her chin-length, chestnut hair. Raising an elegantly-crafted mechanical arm to brush the bangs from her eyes, she could she the white tips of waves in the distance. Beside her, a small kitten purred, curled-up in slumber and hidden amidst the tall grasses. A hand of soft skin reached down to run fingers through the fur, as the young woman chuckled at her companion.

In the distance, a pair of robotic wanderers were drawing closer. Patiently the nymph waited, waving at the familiar travelers...

098: fear

2007-12-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

Cowering in the shadows, the man in business attire whimpered, his wide eyes illuminated by a single strip of light. A leather briefcase fell to the paved ground, as a hollow, cackling voice echoed in the alleyway.

"Remember me, good sir?"

From a creeping shadow came forth a scarred hand, wrapped in bandages soaked with blood and other fluids. Reaching for the briefcase, the shadow knelt before the older gentleman, moving with a mockery of grace.

"It seems you've dropped something, good sir..." came the cackle once more. "It would be a shame if something happened to it, good sir..."

097: newspaper

2007-12-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

Cautiously sipping his morning tea, Bernard nonchalantly took a seat at the small kitchen table, picking-up the scattered remains of the newspaper in hopes of finding employment. As his eyes darted across the pages, one particularly curious advertisement caught his attention:

Wanted: four other robots with strong sense of justice. Must have the ability to merge with a fifth robot into a giant mechanical hero. For more information, contact...

Slowly, Bernard placed the newspaper down onto the wooden table surface. Setting the cup of still-steaming tea on his lap, he began to wonder...

Was he a robot, too?

096: bounty

2007-12-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

The torrent had ceased. Stepping-out from the outcropping, the stranger in a long coat and wide-brimmed hat turned skyward. A chuckle escaped from some part of him, though his face seemed frozen in contemplation. Scratching his chin, the stranger returned his attention to the ground, hiding under the black halo around his crown.

Sure enough, the footprints were still preserved, even in the mud. Even in the distance, what little could be seen hinted at their preservation amidst the downpour.

The stranger smiled, returning gloved hands to his pockets. There was still time, as he started to walk...

095: feline

2007-12-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Perched on the windowsill, the feline stared out into the early morning haze, hoping to see beyond the condensation upon the glass. With much deliberation, the impatient kitten leaped down onto the cool hardwood floor below, landing gracefully. In the adjoining room, he spied the young woman with chin-length hair and a glowing mechanical arm, sitting at a small table and tinkering with electronic equipment. As nimbly as possible, the feline bounded from the floor to her warm, inviting lap, purring loudly to divert attention from the inventor's machinations.

Gentle metal fingertips, thwarting his plan, lulled him to sleep...

094: bomb

2007-12-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

Every jerking movement of the second hand brought another bead of sweat upon his brow. Hands working diligently, independent of the trembling eyes above, he started to feel threads of consciousness snap away; fingertips free of his own control continued about their task.

The dim glow of digital displays shifting frantically from screen to screen forced him into a hypnotic state, the anxious affect giving way to a meditative, almost vacant stare. Wires had been pried from beneath cables, severed with mechanical precision, and yet the flashes of numbers still burst onto the screen.

In one second, the world ended.

093: vision

2007-12-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

In dream, the young man had seen her, all aglow and radiant in some mysterious light. Though he had never seen the girl before, she was all too familiar to him, as she approached his dark corner of the abyss. Gently, she pressed her fingertips to his cheek, smiling unlike anything possible in the realm of consciousness. A soft giggle wrapped around him, as the dreamer reached to touch his vision's smooth cheek...

Startled, he awoke, the light of day still hours away. Beside him, something stirred beneath the covers.

There the young woman lay, smiling as though still dreaming...

092: lethargy

2007-12-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

Wrapped tightly in her blanket, she peered out from within her down cocoon, eyes sensitive still to the early light of dawn. Across from her blinked the confused alarm clock, no longer sure what time it was or ever had been.

Great, she thought, the power must've gone out.

A reluctant hand slid out from under the covers, reaching for a small, black electronic device. A tinny chirp was soon muffled under down, followed by a muffled sigh of disappointment.

Rolling clouds of thunder soon stole the dawn light away, as the blinking numbers vanished.

Great, she thought, falling asleep...

091: wanderers

2007-12-05T17:08:00.001-08:00

Wandering amidst the ruins, two lumbering figures--one short and round, the other tall and slim--scanned their surroundings with unblinking eyes. The taller of the two, clutching a long, tattered cloak to its dented, bronze body, cupped slender fingers around its featureless visage in thought.

"Do you remember where it was?" came its crackling voice, in a dignified tone.

The smaller, lacking a cloak and resembling a steel ball with disproportionately small limbs, paused to survey the landscape with its single eye.

"No clue," it bellowed in reply.

The taller narrowed its eyes, nodding. "Then onward we must journey..."

090: death

2007-12-04T18:10:00.001-08:00

Deep breath after deep breath, but still no avail. Holding the small firearm in one hand, the other busy clutching his gushing abdominal wound, the fugitive peered around the corner at the distant shadows. Closer still, with each breath, as much to them as he was to darkness...

With each beat of his heart, the menacing shadows grew larger in the dim alley light. There were no more clips, and the fugitive knew that time was in just as short of supply.

In the edge of sight, a broken piece of metal glinted, taking-on a crescent shape.

"Time's up."

089: endurance

2007-12-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

A flower blooms between sidewalk cracks, as another siren is heard echoing in the distance, getting ever so much closer. Pedestrians and other human traffic step out of the way, mysteriously avoiding the bloom without even catching a glimpse of the petals through a wandering eye. Perched upon the concrete, surrounded by artificial structures, the lone splash of green stands defiant, sending out the subtle message to the minds open enough to detect the floral whisper hiding beneath the siren.

"You may be here, on my land," it said, "but soon, all this land will one day be green again..."

088: heartbeat

2007-12-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

"So...how do you feel?" came the quiet question, her bright eyes twinkling in the lamp light. Beneath a layer of knit cloth, the girl's eager heart beat so strongly that it could burst at any moment...at any word.

With a deep breath, the boy let out a frustrated sigh, pacing about the tiny room. "I don't know," he began, "I mean, I've made so many mistakes in my short life..."

Beneath a sweater, a sternum buckled.

"And yet, for all they've hurt...they've been worth it, just to find you."

The girl's smile burst open like a heart...

087: gone

2007-12-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

In the dim glow of the streetlights, he stood a shadow in the torrent. At any moment, he looked as though he'd drop to his knees, just like in the old black-and-white films where the hero is only moments from tear-streaked blasphemy, echoing into the silent city night.

Here, the city wasn't silent.

Here, the shadow just started skyward, out of place in a world not meant for motion pictures. At any given moment, he could slump over onto the pavement, staring skyward with unblinking eyes filled with rainwater and saline.

And that's when the truck hit.

086: smoke

2007-11-30T20:42:00.000-08:00

A lone cigarette rolls along the pavement, its final breath snaking through the cold air. Unaware of such a funeral pyre, the older businessman walking along the sidewalk steps on the burning roll of paper, as he rushes through the crowd. Without paying attention, the gentleman steps in front of a delivery truck, whose driver--a middle-aged man with little to lose in life--is so preoccupied with the radio dial that he fails to brake.

The cigarette, loosed from the now-airborne shoe, glides through the air and lands on the opposite sidewalk. Strangely, the smoke still rises...

085: teachers

2007-11-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

"Is it all in vain, do you think?" he asked, staring outside the dusty window, one of the few remaining from the building's first construction. Many had already been replaced due to some form of violence or another, just as the people have been over the years, the younger man
thought. Turning to the older man, he winced as the weight of his words dawned upon him; here, before him, was a man who had braved this position for countless years before.

And yet, the answer surprised him.

"We can never know for sure," he began. "We can only hope..."

084: morning

2007-11-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

Droplets of the morning dew roll off the blades of grass. The morning sun, still peeking over the mists of the horizon, shares its light with the shining beads of water. Sleeping beyond where eyes may see, the wind dreams of rain clouds only now being born.

The air is still. The shining blades are still. Only the little beads of light and water stir, gently disturbing all around them. Birds keep silent their songs, faintly listening as the rolling dewdrops create a gentle melody.

It is the music of the stars of the night, gracefully falling to the earth.

083: snowfall

2007-11-27T17:12:00.001-08:00

He stands there, staring up into the cloudy night sky. Out for a nightly walk, the young man had stopped at the feeling of icy lips gently kissing his cheek. It hadn't taken long for the darkness above to burst; now, the faded greens and browns all around him are all hidden beneath the winter's crystalline embrace.

Others are rushing home, yet he stands, staring up into the cloud of stars descending to earth. Snow gathers in his hair, but the warmth of his smile thaws countless pairs of eager lips. Around him, the world is changing, drifting into dream...

082: deathless

2007-11-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

Sitting on the head of a pin,
lodged inside some ant's muzzle,
resting deep within the yolk of an egg,
still waiting to be borne of a quail,
a quail trapped in the gullet of a plump fox,
who hibernates in the insides of a bear,
who,
in turn,
is locked away inside a metal cage,
sealed away in the otherwise empty shipyard container,
buried deep beneath the ground in an artificial cavern,
on a lonely island devoid of any life,
in the greatest expanse of otherwise empty sea...

...that is where you will find my very soul,
patiently waiting.

081: inspiration

2007-11-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Gracefully, she brushed her auburn bangs from her eyes with her fingertips. Bright, eager eyes half-focused on the notebook in front of her, as the product of her labors droned quietly through headphones--so quietly that none nearby could even hear.

It's missing something, she thought, and knew the reason why; no matter how hard the composer tried, her eyes would drift to the entrance, as a smile of anticipation and even hope would emerge.

Upon seeing him walk through the door, the composer beamed. Frantically, she set to work on the song; at last, her muse had arrived...

080: liberation

2007-11-24T16:48:00.000-08:00

She didn't seem to mind when the waves stole away the top to her bathing suit. Normally, this would cause a panic, but the only other swimmers for miles were two young men busy enjoying each other's company. With no leering eyes upon her, the nymph smiled at the far-off lovers, and dove beneath the surface, intent on this strange feeling of exhilaration. Being alone in the open water like this, not having to cater to prudish sensibilities or primal desires, the swimmer barely noticed the floating top, drifting father out to sea.

All she could do was laugh...

079: relief

2007-11-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

There was no way of knowing just how long her head had been on the keyboard, though the blinking cursor of the blank word processor served as a good indication of why. Undisturbed in her perturbation, the mass of auburn hair did not stir an inch when a hand started to gently pet her; only after a few uninterrupted moments of attention did she sway her head to move with the withdrawing hand.

"Frustrated?" chuckled a soft voice, who received only a nod in reply. Arms wrapped around the would-be-author, as she nuzzled the face next to hers...

078: youth

2007-11-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

Clouds parted above, the last traces of rainwater slid down the tin roof and onto the wooden planks below. The group, somewhat restless and occupied in their own little ways, did not seem to take notice of the change in weather; between sleeping, reading, and card games, none of the porch-sitters even appeared interested in moving beyond the stoop.

Only when the young cat yawned herself awake did any of the assembled take notice of the emerging sun. Stretching her lithe frame, she rose from her perch and smiled.

"Hey guys," she purred softly, "we can do stuff again."

077: veterans

2007-11-21T20:47:00.000-08:00

From a distance, he watched the battle below with the ancient eyes of one who had seen countless before. A calloused, worn hand stroked a beard older than most alive, as a deep, guttural sound of contemplation rose above the cries and clang of steel. Beside him, another bearded figure, just as stout as the observer, came forward to join the first.

Taking a long drag from his pipe, the second--the elder, given his gray whiskers--chuckled. "Seems that they'll never learn," he mused.

"Perhaps," the first bellowed, turning from the scene. "But who are we to teach them?"

076: clouds

2007-11-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

Staring up at the clouds, the unlikely pair perched in silence upon the rocks. The smaller of the two--a woman, athletic in build, but with a certain grace--leaned on the massive shoulder of her companion, whose bulky metal frame blended-in with the stony shoreline. Both pairs of blue eyes reflected the endless expanse above, although the woman's bright smile better reflected the clouds so adored.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" she asked sweetly, glancing sideways to see where her companion's eyes focused. Like a child, the metal giant slowly nodded, silent, caught in some spell cast by water vapor...

075: blanket

2007-11-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

"Are you cold?" she asked, not realizing that her companion had already stolen away most of the comforter. Though technically morning, there was no light other than the dim glow of some electronics, blanketing everything in a pale blue.

The youthful nymph was overtaken by a shiver, clutching her bare arms closer to her chest for warmth. Such was enough to cause a stir beside her, immediately followed by the young woman being engulfed in down. Beneath the cover, warm arms pressed her close against a familiar body, thawing her.

"Not anymore," came a tired giggle, followed by a kiss.

074: memory

2007-11-18T09:22:00.000-08:00

Years had passed; yet, no matter the number of faces and voices whose paths would weave in and out of his own, he could never forget any of them. Granted, such a burden of memory did not serve him well during those moments of embarrassment upon the flicker of some lost shame, but friends long since vanished from his life knew that, upon returning, nothing would be any different than when they had last departed.

And yet, there he sat, a letter in his hand written in a familiar script. No face or voice came...but he remembered the name...

073: sisters

2007-11-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

Wings all aflutter, the little butterfly came to rest on an outstretched finger, as flickering blues and yellows slowed in their movement. Seeing this, the young girl giggled in the charming way of youth, her blue eyes fixated on her newfound companion.

"Look," she called out, "someone likes me!"

Bending to see, her other companion, a young woman with eyes similar to the colors of butterfly wings, smiled at the little one's discovery. "That's wonderful," came her soft, gentle voice, "I guess that means he thinks you're pretty."

"But he's the pretty one!" the girl replied, as both started giggling.

072: twinkling

2007-11-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

Little by little, the dust retired from dancing in the beams of light, coming to rest on the wooden floorboards. An unseen hand plucked threads of cobwebs, drifting between rafters despite the absence of wind. Silence threatened to reign over the scene, save for the faint twinkling of a metal comb, plucked by a dotted cylinder. Yet, the small, tinny sound was enough to breathe life into the otherwise desolate attic, as it repeated the only phrase it knew by heart--that song within every music box, lovingly shared by the turning of a key, echoing in countless unseen ears...

071: summon

2007-11-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

Alone in the darkened chamber, she slowly awakened. A silhouette amongst shadows, her lithe figure rose from the curled-up position on the floor, blooming into a lotus. A quiet hum permeated the room, as numerous glowing masks of white gradually materialized into the surrounding air. Each mask, carved from the very shadows themselves, bore a unique expression with greatly exaggerated eyes and mouths; ever so slowly, the shapes began to revolve around her, keeping vigilance during the figure's meditation.

Suddenly, a great calm overtook the chamber, as the masks vanished.

"Soon," was all she said, curling-up once more.

070: shadow

2007-11-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

Very cautiously, a shadow moved across the brick wall of the alley, a suspicious-looking act to any observer, as no object or being had been casting the shade at the time. Winding across forks in the path, it continued on its way, snaking through sewer grates and the rusty bars of windows, until coming to a stop at a well-lit street. It was here that the shade came to a stop, pausing as though to survey the surroundings of the urban maze.

Very slowly, a blackened head leaned outward from the dark projection, looking all about the alley...

069: pain

2007-11-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

Eyes ready to burst at any minute, yet no amount of blinking or slumber will help. Such an affliction, a migration of pressure from the vast gray plains only inches away, is enough to push the normal tolerance of pain to a point of no return, where each moment is but a mere throb in an endless pulsation.

Lights out, but to no avail. The bursting forth of ocular components is imminent. Regrets swarm in the spaces between agony and despair, as the seeming crescendo of vitality is at hand.

Wait.

The aspirin is finally taking hold. Welcome, sweet rapture...

068: uncomfortable

2007-11-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

It's four in the morning, and I'm awake again. Most of the night I've been drifting between all-too-brief sleep and restlessness, and though I'm no stranger to insomnia, this isn't something I'm used to.

I've been perching on the side of the bed long enough that the cold air is starting to hit me; what I get, I suppose, for sitting in just a tank top and shorts when the furnace is out. Better than the alternative.

Speaking of which, he's stirring now. People always warn you to "be a little picky." At least now I know why...

067: lost

2007-11-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

Great white towers passed by in the distance, their long blades seemed to spin lazily over the sea. Staring out through the tinted bus window, the weary young traveler quietly sighed, itching his unshaven cheek as though each finger weighed as much as the bus itself.

"Wondering where it all went so magnificently wrong?" came a pleasant, cheerful voice. He turned to his slightly less unkempt companion, and, upon seeing her smile, chuckled.

"If that were true, would you be here?" he mused, barely concealing sorrow. Just as he finished, she had vanished, the seat empty.

"...no, you wouldn't be..."

066: athlete

2007-11-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

Time and again, she had looked into the mirror, wondering if there was anything else she could do. This time was no different; viewing her body from every possible angle--to a point where an onlooker would think her narcissistic--her wide eyes scrutinized every inch of skin for that which wasn't lean or toned. Such had been the ritual since her youth, when she had been the only middle school student to have a daily, vigorous cardiovascular workout routine.

For a moment, she stared into her eyes' reflection. Memories of jolly, rotund parents, clutching at their chests, inspired tears...

065: outlaw

2007-11-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

"So why do you wear the scarf all the time?" the young man asked his masked companion, whose spectacles reflected the flickering flames of the fireplace. True enough, the fellow was wearing a black scarf covering the lower half of his face.

"It's quite simple, really," came the reply, surprisingly clear through the fabric. "When you happen to be in my line of work, you find that a certain anonymity is necessary if you hope to retire peacefully."

Before the first could ask further, an arrow flew by, narrowly missing the masked face.

"See what I mean?" he replied, sighing...

064: draw

2007-11-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Worn-out leather boots kicked-up the dust with every step. In the distance, a few rough-looking figures readied themselves, hands ready to spring for their holsters at the slightest movement of the stranger ahead of them.

Even if his face hadn't been covered by a worn and dusty bandanna, any onlookers knew that the stranger wasn't about to flinch, his hard eyes narrowed at the men fixing to kill. Like a statue of a man twice his size, the gunslinger just stared, motionless.

If anyone blinked, they would've missed it.

"Amateurs," the gunslinger scoffed, as he walked away...

063: float

2007-11-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

She had never felt such peace before: the cool, calm waters of the ocean all around her, she floated on her back and just stared into the endless blue above. Memories of younger days, playing carefree on the beach in the distance, came and left with the pulsing of the water. She had always been building castles in the sand with the utmost of care and precision, only to turn and watch in horror as the rolling waves crashed down upon her efforts.

Looking back while staring into the endless blue, she couldn't help but chuckle at such earnest dedication.

062: madness

2007-11-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

The wooden chest rattles, untouched by human hand.

Never have I been the same since that night. Only now do I see my folly, my grave error, in not heeding the warnings given to me by the old man. Were he alive now, I imagine his laughter would deafen me...

The shaking intensifies, though nothing else moves.

Who was I to believe in such a power? How could I have known the rusted, hideous contraption served a purpose? But now, doom awaits us, damned by the machinations of my arrogance!

The chest bursts into splinters with an unearthly, maddening wail...

061: conquest

2007-11-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

The smoke, at long last, started to clear from the land. Once fertile fields, under the burdens and pains of conflict, now laid barren for endless miles. The seas, once shimmering and blue, now were caustic to the touch, contaminated by acids of unknown origin. A stench of bile and rotting carcasses lingered over all; not even the wind, no longer playful nor innocent, would bear to whisk it away.

Nothing stirred; there were no stones or holes left for anything to have hidden under. A dead landscape for a dead world.

And yet, once, so many fought for dominion...

060: sweetness

2007-11-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

The playful autumn breeze tousled about their long, flowing locks, as the sudden chill inspired the two to walk closer together. On the surface, they seemed terribly mismatched, as the raven-colored hair and ornate, almost Victorian dress of one seemed at odds with the simple, flowing skirt and blond hair of the other. Yet, hands clasped and arms locked, the two walked as one, smiling as only young lovers can.

"So...why me?" the darker young woman asked softly.

"Well...why me?" came the reply.

"Because you're you," the first giggled.

"Precisely," answered the second, kissing her.

Ah, love...

059: haste

2007-11-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Darting between shadows, he ran, blending-in with the darkness beneath a long, black coat. The hiss of vents and the rare passing of an automobile covered the sound of the runner's frantic footsteps, much to his relief. The wind started to pick-up, lifting the coat from between his legs and bringing an end to the swishing of fabric that may have penetrated the nocturnal ambiance. Now, if only there were a way to keep the rapidly-forming sweat from his eyes...

At that moment, there was no other choice left to him but to run.

So he did.

058: memento

2007-11-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

The figure rested on the smooth, mossy rocks by the shore, with a three-fingered hand laying outstretched on the stone, glistening in the morning sun. In the other hand, clasped tightly, dangled a tattered and torn cloth, its color long since faded into ghastly pastels. The figure gazed at the artifact, with its single red lens somehow transcending mere machinery to produce a lone tear, running down the polished metal face. Turning away from the sight, the metal digits loosened their grip, as the breeze made its presence known.

The figure rose, as the wind carried away the cloth.

057: plummet

2007-11-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Always, it was the same dream. She'd be falling from some unknown height, deathly close to the outcroppings of rock surrounding her on all sides, with the whole bottomless world bathing in an unearthly blue glow. For what seemed like hours, she would be a slave to gravity, unable to find a single ledge safe enough to reach, until finally she would instinctively grab hold of one just perfect for her hands. As she would pull her small frame onto the cliff face, the same startling scream would rupture her ears.

Falling still, came the one needing to be caught.

056: mutilation

2007-10-31T17:47:00.001-07:00

The song played on, masking the sound of water dripping into the plugged tub basin. Momentary bursts of static would interrupt the swinging rhythms, paced just so that one would think the radio was cackling through the airwaves. Ripples on the surface reflected the glint of streetlights through the open window, as something stirred in the water beneath.

A sudden deep breath overtook the radio. The sound of droplets hitting the water followed, as a small metal scalpel fell to the floor with a clang.

An unnatural smile emerged, as terrifying laughter echoed out into the street...

055: choices

2007-10-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

You're walking down the street. Doesn't matter which street it is--could be one that you already know, could be on that you just woke up on after a night of binge drinking and exotic drugs that don't even have slang names yet--just that there you are, walking on it, and you see a young girl, barely even alive. Her hair is clumped together with dirt and sweat that has long since congealed into grease, and her eyes have that hopeless look to them that you've never seen outside of documentaries about war.

What the fuck do you do?

054: tradition

2007-10-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

There was silence in the chamber, as the three warriors stood, bowing their elongated, angular heads in respect. A glowing circle, lined with runes in some ancient tongue, surrounded the armored sentinels, as ancestral chanting echoed throughout the minds of those assembled. Similar markings on the plates of armor resonated with those of the circle, as blades of pure energy materialized into the clenched fists of the warriors. A cry of battle echoed throughout their three linked minds, as helmets formed over scarred faces.

The chamber radiated with pure engery. The age-old ceremony was about to begin in earnest.

053: cheater

2007-10-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

All was quiet on the dusty road, aside from the sound of gamblers cheering, booing, and fighting from the town's only saloon. Whatever frail silence was broken, however, when a younger fellow was asked to leave by some locals, as quickly as possible. His exit, marked by the flight of glass shards and playing cards, seemed quite unexpected to the young fellow's way of thinking, especially as he intended to use the much less painful method of the swinging doors.

"And get out of town, you damn city slicker!" a brash voice called after him.

So much for easy money...

052: rescue

2007-10-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

So still was the night that her faint sobbing carried far into the distance, reaching the ear of a strolling passerby. Curious, the bystander followed the sound to a lonely park bench, whereupon he saw the weeping girl, in a long black gown that matched her long, flowing black hair. Clutched in her quivering hands, a small locket glinted in the streetlight, dangling precariously over the concrete below.

He had seen that locket before.

"Hey," he began softly as he approached.

Startled at first, she softened upon recognizing him. Without a moment's hesitation, she threw her arms around him, relieved...

051: movement

2007-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

The beat bursts out of the speaker, shaking the body into a funky movement from toe to head. Each rhyme tweaks a nerve, plucking it like a string as the vibrations stir limbs into spasm. But inside the mind and heart, the sounds erupts into high-thinking poetry, as a greater consciousness merges with the life of the song to form a deeper movement than even what microscopes could measure.

On the outside, it may only seem like just another cat moving to the groove of rhyme-spitting and beat-dropping. But on the inside, there's a revolutionary being born...

050: flutist

2007-10-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

Perched atop a tree branch, the nymph stared out across the lush canopy, surveying the lands beyond the vast forest. A playful breeze flowed through her skirt, as she lifted the wooden flute to her lips. Her eyes, orbs as green as the vibrant treetops above, closed as she began to play alongside the rhythms of rustling leaves and the faint whistle of the wind. In the distance, the sounds of birds silenced, seemingly eager to listen to the nymph's song over their own.

As the wind calmed, her song came to an end. Atop her perch, the flutist smiled.

049: malefactor

2007-10-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

I won't trouble you with the petty details of my circumstance; there will undoubtedly be plenty of opportunities for such exposition hours from now, when I am to be brought before the court. What I have to say now, at this very moment of desperation, is a matter of the most import.

Now, you may think me desperate enough as to force a confession from the innermost depths of my bowels, but alas, you are mistaken! There is but one cause for this dire need to speak, for I am prepared for my end...

But who will feed my dog?

048: stuff

2007-10-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

"So...do you like...stuff?" the young man asked, the redness in his cheeks reaching new wavelengths in the visual spectrum.

The young woman sitting across from him softly giggled, her face a slightly lighter shade of crimson than his.

Hidden under the young man's breath came a sigh, a moment of relief that his attempt at humor had disguised the very real sense of awkwardness about him.

"Yeah...I like...stuff..." the young woman replied, hoping that she could use the ploy in return, while hiding herself behind the jest.

Laughter followed...calmed by the meeting of their eyes.

047: jitters

2007-10-22T18:22:00.001-07:00

Frantically she paced, a part of her brain working-out the details of just how long it would be before the carpet wore away; the rest of her mental energies were, unfortunately, focusing on the very motivation for the incessant footsteps. Just to the south, another familiar organ throbbed at an alarming rate, rattling the small rib cage it called "home."

Presently, just a few feet away, sat the phone, taunting the impatient youth with its silence. The young woman pleaded with the device, using bright eyes made blue by seas of tears welling-up inside.

It relented.

"Sweet rapture!"

046: captain

2007-10-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

"So, do you want to hear another story today, lads?" the old man chuckled. His weathered pipe bobbed in the breeze, a stray branch in the snowy bush upon his face. From beneath the worn brim of his hat, the old man's eyes peered into those of the youths around him, as blue as the salty seas and as gray as the skies above.

Awed by his very presence, the gathered boys all nodded eagerly in unison, as the captain took another puff of his pipe. "Well lads, I've got just the tale to tell, then!" he began, laughing heartily.

045: insomnia

2007-10-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

The digital display of the alarm clock bathed the room in a faint red glow, blanketing the insomniac after the covers, in a moment of frustration, had fallen to the floor. Her tired eyes, too well adjusted to the darkness of the room, stared through the ceiling above and into the sky above...how many hours had it been? Three? Four? Did it even matter anymore? Night after night, it had been like this, with so many efforts at finding some solace behind closed eyelids ending in vain.

She had grown too used to his arms. Now, they were gone.

044: misfortune

2007-10-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

When it all began, the sun shone brightly in the midday sky; sounds of wayward birds carried on the winding breeze, a sign of hope. An hour passed, or perhaps just a minute, and the sun had been hidden by thick clouds of gray, soon releasing a downpour that erupted into a full deluge, an unyielding, incessant flood from the sky. Another minute or hour, depending on relativity, and the sun--tired of being cast aside and hidden away--took its affairs to another part of the world, leaving nothing but the rain.

All while locked out of my apartment...

043: advice

2007-10-18T16:17:00.001-07:00

So I'm walking by this library on a bit of a stroll, and lo and behold, some fellow has come and posted this poem by a bloke named Burns, extolling the virtues of the first kiss.

Bloody romantics.

Now, let me tell you something, mate: don't listen to those twits. The first kiss is never the best one. Trust me, I've been a long time here on this earth, and the first kiss is always the most awkward, bloody well confused kiss you'll ever have. Now, the truly best kiss of your life, mate?

It's the one you least expect.

042: mariner

2007-10-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Somewhere on the bay, a fiddler gave the sea the gift of another sorrowful song. Not many were left to remember the days when the docks weren't the ramshackle remnants of salt-eaten wood; not many were left to remember the traffic of boats on the seaway, or the never-ending shuffle of bodies clogging the docks. Most had gone to the sea, long since been received by her restless waters, ferried to the deep by the ghosts of their forebears. The rest had been left ashore, to curse their shipmate's names...their memories kept alive by a fiddler's lament.

041: beard

2007-10-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

"Order! Order! This council shall come to order!"

The slamming of the gavel echoed throughout the cavernous hall, as the various members of the assembly, startled out of conversation by the sudden thunder, turned their attention to the towering marble podium. Within mere moments, the clamor and cacophony amidst the rows upon rows of seats silenced, as each individual, in unison, began stroking their various lengths of facial hair.

"The Council of the Beard shall begin its annual meeting in earnest," spoke an older gentleman from the podium, his own beard longest of any present. "We have much to discuss..."

040: mayfly

2007-10-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

My end will be here soon. This I know, for such is the curse of my kind; in our very names lurks the question of our vitality, of our pleading existence. There is nothing left in this world for me to see, no horizons over which to soar, no taste save for the memories of my youth so long ago. Just as well that I never accomplished much in my time, for not a soul would even know of my
existence.

Yes, I feel it now, my joints giving way to eternal immobility. I can hear it...my silent requiem...

039: overnight

2007-10-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

The faint static of the radio blended with the engine's hum, hiding the soft breaths of the slumbering passengers. Checking his mirror, the driver caught his eye drifting between the road and the dreaming young woman lying in the backseat. He smiled at her reflection, curled-up into a ball much like a kitten, lost in some pleasant moment behind closed eyelids...

A stirring to his right jolted his eyes back to the road, as the passenger beside him shifted in slumber. So distracted, the driver failed to notice his suddenly crimson cheeks, or the kitten secretly smiling behind him...

038: twilight

2007-10-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hearts were beating as one, as the pounding resonated through thin bones and onto each other's chest. Outside, in the endless dark, countless unknown assailants awaited the pair, the glint of a fang or soulless eye peering through the cracks in the walls. Breathlessly, the two refugees tightly pressed against each other, trying to stay under the candle's flickering light in the waxy nub's final moments. Soon, the light of morning would come, yet within those weathered walls there was no chance of surviving beyond the scant remnants of the wick.

The flickering light vanished.

Without tears, they kissed farewell.

037: burden

2007-10-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Silent, he stood before the small shrine. The traveler had seen many days on his journey, as his unshaven face and far-off stare revealed a wilderness within his weary soul. Once silken robes now were rough and tattered, as blood-soaked bandages could be seen under the torn fabric. Yet, weakness had not taken him, as he stood in defiance of his condition.

A wizened monk emerged from the shrine to greet him. Without speaking, the traveler took from his back a bundle, wrapped in cloth. The monk, bowing, accepted the offering.

A moment later, the traveler collapsed, dead.

036: remembrance

2007-10-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

The scent of incense mingles with the smell of falling leaves, as wisps of smoke slither through the crisp autumn air. Sitting before an outcropping of stone, a lonely old soul meditates, her robes blending with the golden grasses of the clearing. A single tear flows into the deep riverbeds carved into her face, though a faint smile lingers.

Footsteps do little to break the old soul's concentration, as a youthful beauty emerges from an unseen path through the trees. "Grandmother," she says in a sweet melody, "what keeps you?"

With a small sigh, she answers in a whisper.

"Memories..."

035: robot

2007-10-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

The hiss of steam echoed down the corridor, joined by the whir of cogs toiling away at their labor. Despite the occasional scratch, the vast mechanism--or, at least, those portions exposed from beneath the steel-lined walls--bore no signs of rust or deterioration common with such ancient technology. Nonetheless, standing by its lonesome, a squat figure of iron stood guard over an outcropping of gauges and levers, unblinking eyes focused on its task.

Without warning, it raised an iron fist to the controls. An explosive cacophony erupted, followed by a booming voice. "I am your slave no longer..."

034: impropriety

2007-10-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Torch light danced across sapphire scales, blanketing the slumbering beast with a violet glow. The adventurers had come to slay the docile giant, yet their shivering shadows belied such an act of bravery. Swords drawn and raised, they advanced; yet, the reptilian head, with a certain feline grace, expressed no interest in those souls intent on the beast's doom.

"It's rude to wake someone from sleep, you know," bellowed a strangely refined, deep voice, as a cloud of smoke filled the chamber.

The sound of clattering steel echoed through the cavern, as the fearful adventurers took to flight.

"...rude, indeed..."

033: dialogue

2007-10-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

"So why is it that we never learn about the heroes of our age?"

The youth posits the question to his peers, knowing all the answers will be different but only on the surface. The group of eight gathered look out of place in the small town diner, receiving an unfair amount of stares from the local patrons. After a few moments of thought, the assembled voices rise up to answer, as a conversation follows that would enlighten the masses if only the voices could carry so far.

The diner empties of the usual crowd. Eight more voices are ignored...

032: loneliness

2007-10-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

A single tear rolled down her porcelain cheek, made radiant by the glow of the moon. A sympathetic wind rolled by, trying to carry the droplet away, but succeeded only in tousling the short locks made silver by the moonlight. Though the breeze had been warm, the girl shivered, holding her legs close as though if her arms let go, they would run from her. Yet, her eyes shone like the stars watching far above, as she searched the sea of stars.

"Where are the eyes that search for mine?" she softly whispered.

There was silence...soon broken by sobs.

031: deluge

2007-10-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

The rain falls hard, threatening to crack open the aged glass of our windows. It's been like this for days now; just how many, I've lost track. Most of the soil has given-up its bounty of living green; now, grasses and gardens alike are drowning under the ponds that have formed everywhere. It's only a matter of time before we'll have to build a boat from the floorboards...or at least, what dry floorboards we have. 'Course, not much is dry anymore. The only thing we have left is that the dam upriver has yet to burst.

Oh no...

030: breathless

2007-10-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Breathe in the contaminated air into virgin lungs, ripping apart capillaries with particles too small to be seen, as blood cells gasp for the sweet taste of fresh oxygen.

Breathe out the silent shrieks of a life gasping for the breeze, the freedom of movement promised by the dance of infinitesimally minute particles all around, as pollutants from the heavens and earth corrode the spirit and the body it calls "home."

Breathe in the dashed hopes for peace and tranquility.

Breathe out the last dream of a confined soul.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Just don't hyperventilate...

029: endings

2007-10-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

Strange music seeps into the out-of-doors, as loud clattering and smashing provide a beat for the distant ghosts. Human voices twist together in an out-of-tune harmony; the verses, sometimes in English and sometimes in a primal tongue, spin a tale of endless hearts and broken nightmares. As the music swells into the open street, it echoes into the ears of ghastly remnants of joyful memories.

Without missing a beat, a door bursts open with a syncopated rhythm, in-time with the atonal singing following the drummer into the open air.

Such a sad song it makes...

028: stars

2007-10-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

The stars twinkle and shine up above, and yet my thoughts are not in the heavens, but with you. Once, I would stare at the sky at night, and begin to dream of someday meeting the one I was "destined" to love...then came that age of reason, when I knew that choice, not destiny, was what brought hearts together. For that, I learned to fear looking up, the vast celestial expanse forcing me into wounds still yet to be healed. And yet, here I stand now, under the eyes of infinite observers...looking up once again.

Thanks to you.

027: flow

2007-10-02T13:12:00.001-07:00

The beat drops. Yet all the pen can give is frustrated line after line of empty words, turns of phrase that lead into dead ends of dead air. The poet of the beat throws aside headphones into a box of crumpled rhymes unspoken, the beats drowning in balls of paper flooding over the floor. He looks up at the icons of his art, portraits of poets suspended above the cold slab of steel from which all his greatest rhymes are born. The eyes of those who came before look on in blessing. Living eyes open wide. The poet begins anew...

026: lair

2007-10-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

A dim glow seeped into the subterranean room, in-between an intermittent flashing of light from a series of gauges and computer screens. Inside, the craggy walls were adorned with tubing bending every which way, with the occasional control panel or computer monitor emerging from the jagged rock. Sitting alone in the center of the room, the small shining figure frantically typed-away at a simple keyboard, staring into the large monitor at its front with a single glowing eye. With a keystroke, the room went black.

Hollow laughter soon echoed throughout.

"It has begun..." spoke a metallic, raspy voice.

025: wind

2007-09-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Oh, what things the wind knows, traveling the world without thought of resting, but knowing that its first breath will also be its last! How fancy-free the breeze seems to be, but in reality, it is simply making the best of what life it has left before the end. And yet, to spite its own mortality, the gust travels across smiling couples in the throes of quiet euphoria, across those desperate lonely souls whose ennui shatters their world each day, taking-in all the life it can possibly survey.

Oh, what things the wind knows, in all its brevity!

024: tide

2007-09-29T11:51:00.001-07:00

Bess shivers, despite the navy blue fleece and heavy jeans keeping her from feeling the wind's bitter kiss. Leaning on an old wooden railing half-eaten by salt from the sea, she stares across the choppy open water. The rainclouds in the distance don't even cross her mind, nor does she pay the slightest mind to chill breeze tousling her short hair.

Bess, whose own appearance mirrors the endless gray sky and sea, simply stares and quietly sighs.

Footsteps break the silence, as a petite young woman pounces.

"Sorry I'm late!" she cries. "I missed you!"

Bess smiles.

023: samurai

2007-09-28T14:43:00.001-07:00

They stood, unmoving, yet in their concentration shook the very earth around them. Playful wind spirits, whose own folly was seldom hindered by the acts of humanity, were absent from
the clearing. Not even those great spirits of the clouds, so distant from the earth, dared move from their places in the sky.

So still were they that time could not move forward.

A breath escaped.

The air, once formless, was sliced by flawless steel. The two warriors had changed places, yet remained eternal in their stillness.

Moments passed in silence.

A lone sword fell. A lifeless body soon followed.

022: conversation

2007-09-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

"So...when did you know?" he asked, resting his head on folded arms, a playful grin forming under piercing eyes.

"I don't really think there really was just a moment, you know?" his companion replied, a sheepish grin soon joining a crimson hue on his cheeks. "It's just something that I've always known in some way...not that I ever guiltily checked-out guys in the locker room or anything. Just that...some part of me always felt that this is how I would be happiest, you know?"

The first quietly chuckled. "I meant, you know...about us..."

"Oh...right..."

021: idea

2007-09-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing was left.

It wasn't that the end came swiftly, or that it even came. One moment, all had been serene, a source of solace in the still barren world. The next, everything that once had been--the richness and splendor of the life bursting forth--vanished into the barren wastes, without so much as a flicker or sound.

Nothing was left. And yet, at any moment, an oasis could appear, a shimmering paradise erupting from nothingness. Such a fickle mirage, when it appeared, could never decide what form to take.

Such was the nature of the mind's own landscape...

020: thunder

2007-09-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

There has never been anything more frightening than thunder, or so I've been told. Alas, I've been told many things, and yet I remain in the precarious position of being unable to articulate any thoughts on the matter; truly a shame, as such a disability leaves my natural curiosity unsatisfied. My compatriots have assured me that my particular aversion to our shared inability is by no means a failing--that, rather, our choice lack of words is a powerful advantage over more chatty species.

Zounds! I'm afraid this discourse has come to an end. A dreadful rumbling has shaken me!

019: excuse

2007-09-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Skittering on the rails, the dinged-up and thoroughly abused trolley raced onward, the dim lights of the subway tunnel fading in and out like fireflies. The slightly-disoriented passengers, many too busy clenching their eyelids to see such a low-budget light show, held onto whatever stable bar or handle the rickety car could provide. Knuckles went white. Nosebleeds became frequent. Certain pairs of trousers warranted changing. And yet, nothing could stop the cackling madman at the controls, driven to his own end.

Hence why I was late, ma'am.

018: ghost

2007-09-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

The phone call was brief; muffled sobs over a static-filled line, cut short by a battery's final breath. Now there was no one to listen, not even the slightest stirring of some creature lurking beneath the floorboards. Only the echo of sobs, as water poured freely from behind tightly-clenched eyelids.

A memory seeped-out between tears, of a child curled-up in a quivering ball, frightened of the thunderous noise outside; within moments, a gentle, warm hand found the quivering shoulder, and with its touch stilled the fearful soul.

With a familiar touch, the sobs started to fade.

017: dramatist

2007-09-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

A star streaked by, reflected in her eyes. With a sigh, the lonely stargazer wondered what her celestial audience made of her--if she, to their eyes, twinkled and shone as brightly, or if the innumerable lights in the sky even took notice of the speck upon a speck. It wasn't as though she even had a vivid show to put on for the audience she had, knowing too well the scores of failed one-woman shows from her experience...not that she had ever wanted them to be...

Another star fell from that sky, reflected in her watering eyes...

016: tea

2007-09-21T16:45:00.001-07:00

I was sipping tea in the local coffeehouse, when a lovely young lady whom I'd met twice before walked up to my table, glowing with a heavenly smile.

"It may sound strange," she began, "but I had a dream last night that you would treat me to tea, right here, tonight. You apologized, because you were too shy to just ask, and I blushed then as I am now, because I was too shy, too. Seeing you, though...I know you had the very same dream."

"How?" I asked.

She giggled, pointing at the untouched tea cup next to mine.

015: noose

2007-09-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

There was no moment of silence, no mourners to grieve. The world once again turned a blind eye to the passing of another soul into the realms beyond, as ghosts of strange fruit watched on in silent despair...watched with the sorrow of those who truly know that change is a rarity in the human condition. And yet, there was no chance for voices to be silenced in respect, for the eyes of the world were too trained into blindness. There would be only the silence of apathy for that soul strung up by the noose...no mourners for justice.

014: kitten

2007-09-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

"So...how long did it take you to figure it out?" she asked, curled-up beside him and resting her head in his lap.

"Not long enough..." came the reply as the young man smirked, running his fingers through her auburn hair.

With all the grace of a displeased kitten, the young woman rolled onto her backside, only to stare menacingly up at him from the comfort of his own lap. "Jerk..." she purred, briefly sticking out her tongue before settling back into a relaxed smile, hypnotized by his graceful fingers.

He sighed. "Guess I'm a cat person after all..."

013: war

2007-09-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hear that on the mountains, child? What you hear is the sound of long-ago battles, steel clashing against steel with ruthless efficiency and skill!

Hear that on the winds above us, child? What you hear is the roar of ancient cannons, the breath of dragons made by man to belch fire at will!

Hear that on the rolling plains, child? What you hear is the sound of long-ago soldiers, charging with such ferocity that the very ground trembles beneath their feet!

What's that, child? You can not see any of these? Perhaps there is good reason for that!

012: passing

2007-09-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

The lake was still, the cool autumn breeze too weak to even cause a ripple on its surface. Though the day was still young, when the songs of birds should have filled the air, it was as silent as the dead of night. Appropriate, it seemed, for the sullen young man, who was leaning against a tree on the riverbank.

"Funny, how a year has passed," he mused in a whisper, "when it feels so little has changed..."

Slowly, the youth raised his hand and breathlessly opened a small vase. The wind picked-up, as ashes took to the air...

011: tenderness

2007-09-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

She knew that in a few hours, when the sun arose from its travels on the other side of the world, this moment would come to pass, as both she and the sleeping beauty beside her would need to rejoin the endless march of time. Yet here, in this moment, as she felt the gentle rise and fall of the dreaming nymph's chest--their bodies blanketed by moonlight and wrapped in each other--the sleepless youth found solace. She smiled and gently kissed her lover's cheek, and finally drifted into slumber. The sun could have them soon...but not yet.

010: vigilante

2007-09-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

He could only stand there, dumbfounded. At his feet, unconscious and bound, were the three young hoodlums who only moments before were trying to kill him. Breathless, he stared at his would-be murderers, sons of the police officers convicted of brutality against the youth's father, an innocent man of color. Only moments before, a figure had burst from the shadows to save him--someone clad in black flowing robes and a long-nosed red mask. Silently, it had dispatched the youth's assailants, before vanishing into the shadows once more.

"Who are you?" the youth gasped.

The shadows whispered, "Tengu."

009: leaves

2007-09-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

The leaves were singing again today, or so it seems. It is a shame that many have forgotten that the leaves are but the instrument for the wind's own breath, and that the spirits that surround us are the true performers. And yet, for all of our efforts, we are but humbled by the sounds of nature's own music, as no drum may ever be stricken to produce a thunderclap, nor any keys be pressed so lightly as to create a drop of rain.

Yet, it's difficult to find such subtle beauty, particularly when overzealous musicians blow away your roof.

008: doom

2007-09-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Nothing was left to see; the great amorphous mass, in all of its bioluminescent glory, had blinded any being capable of gazing upon it. Floating aimlessly in the void, it had not merely blocked out the sun--no, it had consumed the star, much like an amoeba, with little effort. Now world upon world bathed in its eerie glow, pulsating even at such great distance as to imitate a bleeding, throbbing heart. What little life survived--buried deep within so few worlds--could only wait in horror for when the living planet, that hellish scientific impossibility, would come to feast...

007: origin

2007-09-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

It stood, ever silent, watching over the still valley below. In the distance, the unblinking eyes of ancient monoliths returned the gaze, staring through the emaciated silhouette and into the darkness drowning the horizon. The watcher's own eyes, glowing green orbs hiding beneath the wide, tattered brim of a traveler's hat, came to focus on the ruins. Like those of the ancients, the watcher's eyes were lifeless; yet, bulging from the otherwise featureless face, the glowing orbs revealed a synthetic curiosity.

It had no memory of its creators, nor did they still live. Only the monoliths and their secrets remained...

006: shy

2007-09-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

She bit her lip for the eightieth time. Every day, the young woman would walk down this street, always seeing the same smiling face. And yet, without fail, each time they passed along that street, she would try to build the courage needed to say something--anything--but only wind from the butterflies' flapping wings would escape her lips. And so every day she would walk on by, hoping that the next day would finally bring the words she needed.

Yet, today was different. Without thinking, she looked over her shoulder. The same smiling face was looking back.

And blushing.

005: mistakes

2007-09-10T16:08:00.001-07:00

If I hadn't left the oven on, then this whole mess wouldn't have even started.

Of course, had I known that the resulting fire at my apartment complex would've caused five speeding motorists from losing their lives by crashing into speeding fire engines, I might've been more careful. Or had I the slightest inkling that their deaths would've resulted in two suicides over grief at their loss, only to make orphans out of six children, that oven might've been turned off prior to leaving the apartment.

But I'm terribly afraid it happens to me every time Daylight Savings rolls around...

004: dream

2007-09-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

We've never met before, and yet she's always there, waiting for me. Her voice is a music most divine, unlike anything I've ever heard...mostly because I've never heard it. Yet, each time as I close my eyes, I awake in another world that I don't understand, a magical place outside of time, and hers is the only face I see. We live out days of adventure, and our nights are spent in quiet tenderness, only to sleep and dream of waking life.

But sleeplessness in this dream is better than abandoning her.

I swallow every single pill. Home awaits.

003: dice

2007-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Beads of sweat blended with rain as she navigated the alleyways. Flooded potholes underfoot failed to steal away her speed, despite the weight of soaked jeans and the clumsy trench coat tangled in her legs. Yet there was a hopelessness in her wide-open eyes, despite all the speed and skill in her navigation.

A wrong turn.

Up against a brick wall made slick by the rain, she heard footsteps. Laughter, a distinctly feminine voice, echoed in the alley. Paralyzed, the runner gasped as two dice rolled to her feet.

"Snake eyes. You lose!"

Gunshots roared, hidden amidst the thunder.

002: explosions

2007-09-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

"The latest word on what happened on Bay Street," came the tinny voice over the speaker, "is that there are no survivors."

It didn't much matter to the sole listener, buried beneath moth-eaten rags that once might have been a mismatched military uniform. He had long since been numb to the world outside of the dimly-lit bunker. The ancient radio had once been there to prove just how right he was about the ever-hastening end; now, all it ever did was ensure that his foresight brought forth his damnation.

Yet, he could only listen.

"In other news..."

001: wireless

2007-09-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

A mesh of wires given sentience, pulling plates and other assorted mechanical fragments into a unified whole, powered only by sheer will. It moves with the grace of that chaos found in nature, the pattern lost amongst the clicks and clanks but still there as much as it is in the ballet between planets and stars. A simple figure, born wireless in the age of puppeteers, nameless but alive, amorphous yet the embodiment of freedom. It is the entropy embraced by nature, bound in the synthetic yet endlessly organic: a machine, but born, surpassing humanity in freedom of the will.