The Door

It has been two months since I have locked myself away from the world. A silent, invisible enemy is walking our streets, killing without prejudice, without remorse. To it, gender, color, political views, are all nothing.

Still, I am not afraid of it. There is a far more sinister reason for my lockdown.

I do not dare open a window or reach the door handle. I stay away from the walls; my belongings are in the middle of the room.

It is not the silent killer outside that I fear, oh no. It is the one that awaits when I open the door and look into its world – a corrupted version of ours where color doesn’t exist, and the void is eternal.

I saw it, the creature, its eyes fed on my fear, its mouth curved in a horrifying, grotesque grin. “Come,” it said, “You belong to me now,” its voice like grinding stones from a bottom of a well.

I closed the door. It was the only way to keep it outside.

In the past week, it found a way through! It is in the house, the mirrors, the closet, even the oven. It touched my skin through my dreams; I see it in the folds of dirty clothes and the corner of my eye when walking from room to room. It is calling me, its voice like unearthly tunes, playing notes of music that is not for human ears. The walls, the only barrier still holding it at bay, move when it breathes, and I can smell it – a singed scent of sulfur and charred skin.

The other day I decided that it is time to get out of the house and run, just run somewhere, anywhere, to find a place away from it. I reached out to the door, then hesitated to touch the handle. I looked at it for what seemed to be forever. “You can do this! It’s your life, pull yourself together and get out of here!” I repeated over and over to myself.

With a shaking hand, I grabbed the handle and slowly pushed it down in hopes that the creature will not hear me. I opened the door; the warped reality looked at me, and the ground outside my house vanished.

I jumped. What else could I do? At least by falling, the creature will not be able to catch me.

I am finally out of its grasp.

Gaea’s Reach: Beyond (V 2.0)

Hello everyone,

I did not get to write anything for a while due to some stuff such as looking for a job and doing some design tests for several game companies. With all that, I have decided to go and revise “Beyond” which was the second story I ever put down on paper and wrote back in March 2017 (about a year ago. Wow! Time flies!).

This one is a longer version (previous version HERE) and one that fits better into my world of Gaea’s Reach. While the first version ended in a somewhat optimistic way (and played in my head like something from a Walt Disney short film), this one gives a better view of how I shaped this universe and a glimpse into what is lurking out there, far beyond what we are capable of seeing with our technology.

Although I didn’t get to edit it much, I hope you will enjoy reading it. As usual, feel free to leave comments, criticism, and thoughts. Those are always welcome.

/Thumbs up

Beyond (V 2.0)

In my opinion, dreams are often doors to another life. Our consciousness will travel through time and space, resuming our other life. What if these lives can become intertwined with one another while both individuals sharing them are still fully aware of their surroundings? When we are experiencing an event such as daydreaming, even if for a short time, are we thinning the veil between this life and another?
The idea came to my mind after an event that happened to me several months back.
Sitting in my bedroom, I began to meditate as it relieved me from stress and calmed my mind before the upcoming day.
Clearing my thoughts was smoother than usual. I felt a sensation that I could not explain.
There was a child’s laughter right outside the bedroom’s door. It quickly changed into soft giggles. The laughter did not bother me until a moment later: I have dropped the kids at school, my wife was working out of the house that day. I was supposed to be alone.
I tried to open my eyes but felt paralyzed. The soft and shy laughter came from about three to four feet away. An image of kids at play when they see someone new but not sure how to approach them came to my mind.
My eyes began to itch, and a moment later, with my eyes still shut, I could see again. It was a blur at first, but slowly my eyes adjusted to the vibrant colors and shapes around me. It was still my bedroom, but it was different. I could not point at the reason why.
I began to see waves of color when a low humming sound filled my ears. The sound tingled my skin. It slowly faded away as my senses were calibrating to this new sensation.
The soft laughter reached my ears. I turned my head slowly towards the door. A bright white light caught my eye. It became brighter and took the form of an outline of three beings. They had no physical form but were childlike in appearance by their silhouettes.
One was barely peeking in while the other two, who were much braver than the first, looked inside and had their hands on the door frame, their fingers long and slim.
They were laughing, looking at me, looking at each other as to verify a question that was probably along the lines of what are we looking at or who is that weird creature? Or perhaps these were my thoughts?
One of the light beings pointed at something behind me and gestured to me to turn around. I pushed myself into the chair and spun it around towards the window that was behind me. The parking lot was gone. Instead, I have witnessed the most breathtaking, beautiful, and unimaginable sight: Skyscrapers, domes, pyramids, and monoliths grew out of the earth. Bridges made of ever-changing lights connected the buildings. The atmosphere had an aura and magnificent colors as the sun poured bright white light that created even more colors as it bounced from the great constructs.
The city was full of life such as I have never seen before. From the smallest creatures to the largest; they all shared the same streets, homes, space, and life.
The beings walked passed me and to the window. They looked at me once, then one by one, they climbed down and out to the city. I hesitated at first, but then got up and followed them. I leaned against the edge of the window and looked outside; the city stretched as far as the eye could see. It took me a moment to understand that my window had no wall on its other side, and was hovering in mid-air.
I climbed down the window that was about four feet above the ground. A static sensation surrounded me. I took the first step, and the light produced ripples when my foot came in contact with the surface. Walking on the bridge made me feel like I was levitating; it was not physical, yet supported my weight.
A warm feeling formed on my hand. When I looked down, one of the light beings who brought me here had embarrassed my hand in its own. They led me through the streets in what seemed like a guided tour. We crossed bridges, plazas, and boulevards.
The trio who brought me to this place were not kids. These beings were short and curious by nature. We reached a large plaza surrounded by skyscrapers and a beautiful crystal dome. Behind us were others who followed us. They were standing around me, scanning me head to toe.
Images of with symbols of friendship and acceptance filled my mind. The light beings accepted me as one of their own. “Where do you want to go next”? The words formed in my mind. Surprised at first, I looked around and saw a pyramid. “There”! I pointed and headed towards it, almost dragging my guide behind me due to its short legs.
We were almost at the pyramid when my guide pulled my hand and brought me to a halt. “What is wrong”? I asked and looked down. All of the beings had their eyes set on the sky above. A dark shadow slowly covered the sun and I looked up.
A dark cloud grew above us. The air became humid, almost to the point of suffocation. The guide’s grip on my hand tightened. It pushed itself against me; it was scared.
A violent thunder shattered a nearby crystal dome. A skyscraper had lost its light and became brown and lifeless. Its walls slowly crumbled and I watched it collapse in slow motion.
There was a thunder followed by an outer-worldly ear deafening roar. The roar became louder, extinguishing the light from the streets and stripping it away from the light beings. Without their bright light around them, I could see their physical form; Bluish rubbery skin, slim body, enlarged head with small black eyes and a thin slit for a mouth. I could not notice any distinction between male and female, and they might have been androgynous altogether.
A wave of destruction wrecked havoc through the streets, shattering many of the crystal structures. The light being that stood in its wake collapsed and lay motionless on the ground. My guide was holding on to my hand with their last ounce of strength. It fought to stay up on their feet.
It looked at me with tired eyes. Voiceless words traveled through my mind in a song of fear and sadness.
There was a build of electricity in the air, and a flash of purple and silver slashed the clouds above. The ones who were still able to move were holding the side of their heads, covering tiny hear halls as they lacked defined ears. Another roar ravaged the landscape, followed by the sound of shattered glass. The ground trembled when another skyscraper came crashing down.
I was the only one still standing. The city was in ruins. I didn’t know what to do. I was thinking of hiding, but I didn’t want to leave my guide, my friend alone. I picked them up, cradling them like a newborn and ran to a corner of a building that was still up. I hid behind several odd plants that were bright and vibrant before, now brown and showing signs of prolonged decay.
A crackling purple and silver lightning hit the center of the plaza. The shockwave was intense and fell flat on my back. I looked to my side and saw my guide; It was motionless with a blank look in its eyes. It died from the impact.
I sat up and looked past the dead bush. At the center of the plaza was a crater. A dark and tall human figure was standing in the center of it.
The man’s skin was black like the night sky. There was something about him, an aura perhaps, that reeked of pure evil. The man’s very presence made me feel ill. He began walking towards the pyramid, but then stopped. Its head turned to my direction, its gaze landing on the bush I was hiding in. How did it know that I was there?
A moment later, before I could blink and another lightning strike the ground, the man was few feet away from me. Then he moved with blinding speed and towered over me. He scanned me with blackened eyes that were devoid of any emotion.
The shadow that covered the sun grew and was everywhere. The man’s gaze slowly shifted to the sky. Through the darkened clouds, a massive tentacle swooped down, flattening an entire section of the city with one blow.
The descending shadow was a creature of massive proportions. A single sliver of purple mist was in its center. The sliver widened, revealing rows of sharp jagged teeth. The maw spewed yellow gas that filled the atmosphere, coloring it with a sickly shade of mustard.
The gas smelled rancid and reminded me of death and decay. It burnt my nose and lungs. I kept watching with horror as the beast roared again, this time a yellow eye appeared from the center of the maw.
It scanned the area and landed on me. I felt a dark and cold tendril growing around my heart. The man looked at me. His black eyes locked with mine. He approached me slowly with calculated steps. I could not shake the feeling that he was of royalty; something in his facial features reminded me of a Renaissance statue. IT was the way he carried himself and his posture.
I couldn’t breathe. I thought that this was just a dream; it couldn’t be real. I liked the light beings. They were all dead now. I wanted out and back to reality.
The man reached out to catch me but stopped and pulled back. I felt a spark deep within my heart that pushed the shadow away. There was something different about the man’s face. His mouth curved into a frown and I could feel hatred and deep anger pulsing out from him.
It was not directed at me but to something behind me. I felt long and gentle fingers on my shoulder. “You should not be here, human.” a soft but stern voice of a woman filled my mind. I wanted to turn around and look at her, but she stopped me. “You are not ready to lay your eyes upon me, human,” she said calmly. “One glance and your mind will shatter as you cannot yet grasp my existence.”
I did as she asked and did not look at her. I was not sure what could have been more mind-shattering after what I have been through, but I took her word for it. “It is time for you to go home.” The words echoed in my head.
I felt my body being torn apart by a massive force. A loud roar filled my ears, but this was not the beast. “What is your problem?” I heard a human voice shouting at me, then a honk of a car’s horn.
I opened my eyes and looked around me. I was in the public parking lot about a hundred yards from my house. A young man in a white convertible yelled at me, peeking his head out the window, angrily waving his hand at me.
I instinctively reached to my shoulder, then looked around me for the woman who saved me. There was no one there.
“Get out of the way!” The driver yelled again and honked repeatedly. I was confused but moved to the sidewalk. He floored the gas pedal, the tires screamed, leaving the scent of burnt rubber behind. “Asshole!” he yelled at me as the white car disappeared down the street and around the corner.
I stood there for a moment staring at my house. Was I here? Am I back? What happened? How did I get to the parking lot?
Was it all just a dream? Were all the light beings dead? The sight of destruction, that odd man, and the eye, will forever be carved in my mind.

For more stories and information: The World of Gaea’s Reach

Pump-Kins: Halloween’s Favorite Fey-Folk

Some pumpkin lantern folklore

The fascination with pumpkin carving around Halloween is well known since the 1800’s.Many people don’t know that this is actually an Irish tradition that was brought to America by Irish immigrants and at first, had nothing to do with pumpkins at all.

There are no pumpkins in Ireland as far as I know. Instead of pumpkins, the Irish people used turnips or gourds, placed a candle inside them, and then left them outside of their house to ward off evil spirits.

One of these spirits, probably the most notorious of them all, is Stingy Jack who was a crook, a bully, a drunk, and overall bad for his community.

One day, old Jack decided to trick the devil to buy him a drink. The devil got angry and took Jack’s soul, placing it in a realm between Heaven and Hell where it wanders around the world with a lantern made of a carved turnip. But enough with tradition and folklore, and let’s dive into the real thing and the reason we are all here:

The Pump-Kin!

No one ever talks about the Pump-Kin. Not to confuse with the vegetable pumpkin, the Pump-Kin are a type of wild fey creatures that after seeing Old Jack and his turnip lantern, decided to take a gander at the human realm.

Although usually shy, they can become mischievous and natural pranksters, and can cause a ruckus at times; some heart attacks and accidents have been reported around Halloween every year, mostly because of a stray Pump-Kin. Usually, the blame falls on some kid who swears that he didn’t do it.

So join me for a scientific observation, one of a kind really, of the shy Pump-Kins.

Should we be afraid of Pump-Kins?

The answer is no. Although at first glance they might look scary wearing a rotten carved pumpkin on their head, collecting skulls from the nearest graveyard, or just standing there at the corner of the street gazing at your house, they are completely harmless (most of the time).

Make sure not to feed them anything with peanuts; the more they eat, the more mischievous they will be.

(Sketch by yours truly)

Habitat and how to find/identify a Pump-Kin

Although many believe that Pump-Kins will be more common around pumpkin patches, they are actually swamp dwellers. At the eve of Hollow’s End, a mystical alignment thins the veil between our world and theirs. Just like us, they are also waiting for this magnificent time of the year.

At first, they did not understand what the humans were doing picking up these tough, orange, perfume scented vegetables. The Pump-Kins were even more confused when the humans carved the pumpkins and turned them into lanterns by placing candles or coals in them.

As time passed, the Pump-Kins adopted the tradition of pumpkin carving and sneak their way into farms, villages, towns, and cities, looking for the perfect pumpkin carving. After finding the perfect one, they will put it on their head. By the way, the rotten factor plays a heavy role; the rotten the better. So if you carve your pumpkin few days before Halloween, remember this little fact when it is no longer on your porch where you left it. It might be vandals of course, but it was probably taken by a Pump-Kin.

It is really easy to identify a Pump-Kin; It is about the average height of an eight-year-old child, but while a human child dressed as a pumpkin would go and run around screaming and yelling, eating candies and leaving the wrappers laying around, the Pump-Kin is very quiet. This type of swamp fey is mesmerized by the number of lights and decorations that humans use during this time of the year (It would probably suffer a system shock on Christmas). Also, looking at the pumpkin’s carved mouth will reveal two feint yellow, orange, and sometimes even blue dots – the Pump-Kin’s eyes!

Disclaimer: Looking into a Pump-Kin’s eyes might cause some people to lose track of time and on some rare occasions, a total degeneration of any common sense and logic. The afflicted person will follow the Pump-Kin back into their world and will remain there forever. This rare event is what sparked the stories of the “Will-O-Wisp”. Don’t look into their eyes.

Pump-Kin’s culture

Not much is known about the culture of this particular fey folk. The truth is, we only get to see them for about eight hours on one night of the year. And that is if we get to see them. So we really don’t know much about them.

We do know that they are collectors of odd goods: mostly dead rodents, rotten pumpkins, and human skulls.

This tradition of collecting human skulls from graveyards is somewhat beyond our understanding. Some say that this behavior was adopted after years of watching humans wearing costumes and masks. Although unconfirmed and nothing but a theory, the consensus points that they might decorate the skulls when they go back to their homes. Others say that they are using bones to create magic dust. Either way, we really don’t know as no one ever got to talk to a Pump-Kin as they are very shy creatures and will run if they feel threatened – which they do most of the time.

As for the rotting vegetables and dead animals, it is believed to be their way to conserve their swamp; keeping the balance between bog growth and methane production.

There is a belief among Pump-Kin researchers, that about 95% of human bodies found in swamps, were actually brought there by the Pump-Kins. This is rather rare, but there are at least seven recorded cases of Pump-Kins stealing corpses from morgues.

Should I approach and greet a Pump-Kin if I see one?

Absolutely not! The Pump-Kins, as I have said earlier, are very shy people. If not going into a catatonic state when approached, they will certainly run away and make you follow them to your doom or whatever is on the other side of the veil. Instead, look away and go back to your cult slasher movie.

If one should ever walk into your house, never lock eyes with them. Then raise your hands, make yourself big, and make howling noises while rocking your body from side to side; this will scare the Pump-Kin.

Disclaimer: a scared Pump-Kin might leave a stench behind them; they have a basic digestive system that is prone to let out some gas when the individual is excited in one way or another. Although not as bad as a skunk’s odor, this musky scent can cause dizziness. Make sure to open the windows and main door, and vent your home with some natural air conditioning we call cool night breeze. Or just let the little bugger get something to eat or steal a sock or two from your bedroom dresser.

Peanuts

Whatever you do, never give peanuts to a Pump-Kin: no peanut bars, no peanut butter, and no salted peanuts you kept from the flight five years ago when you went to that anime con.

Peanuts cause a chemical reaction in a Pump-Kin’s brain or nerve center to be accurate. Immediately upon consumption of even a single peanut, the Pump-Kin’s eyes will turn red. You better get out of its way or get ready to be terrorized by the little fiend until it is time for it to go back to its world. More than that, once tasted peanuts, a Pump-Kin will forever be addicted to the earthy taste and the feel of a rush.

An addicted Pump-Kin will haunt the vicinity of where it got a peanut and will do so every year afterward. Luckily, yours truly (that would be me), have developed a countermeasure: Trap one in a woven bag that was once the head of a scarecrow that frightened at least 77 crows. Once caught, hose down with cold water until the individual stops fighting. Then slowly untie the bag, make sure to face it away from you, and let the little guy take its time until it can get out. It might take several moments for it to recollect its memory so be patient with it.

Disclaimer: An addicted Pump-Kin gains an unexplained physical strength that would put your local bodybuilder to shame. Make sure there are at least two adults, preferably heavy boned ones, to deal with it. This way you can watch others being kicked around and hose them all down at the end – two birds with one stone.

Disclaimer to above Disclaimer: Make sure that you have captured the Pump-Kin and not the neighbor’s kid. He might be a little jerk, but the experience might make them develop some sort of a mental disorder. And you don’t want to deal with the authorities either.

Final Words

This is all I can share about Pump-Kins. They are very quiet, nice, and shy, but just make sure not to stare them down, scare them, or feed them peanuts. Actually, just don’t feed them at all. Actually, just stay away from them if possible.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Flash Fiction: Specter (100 words or less)

My take on a 100 words challenge from a writing group on facebook. The theme is: ‘Betrayal’ – a piece of your writing that shows a character trusted someone they should not.

 

Hope you like it!

 

Specter

Trey was on the floor, pressing against his shoulder, blood was spreading to his hand. He looked up, almost falling into a swoon and locked eyes with Chairman Duval. A crackling sound of electricity was followed by a low electrical discharge as a Specter decloaked themselves by Duval; It was her.

“I am offended by your little shenanigan.” Duval said shaking his head with disapproval. “Finish him”. He ordered, and the Specter pulled the trigger.

Trey learned two things that day: he underestimated the chairman, but overestimated his trust in her. Not that it mattered now.

 

 

 

#sciencefiction #scifi #flashfiction #writing

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part III

Part III and the conclusion to “The Phase”; A story from my universe of Gaea’s Reach. You can read the previous parts through the following links: Part I and Part II.

Let me remind you that This short series is not edited and is not part of the collection that I am currently promoting and trying to publish as an eBook. 

Enjoy reading it, and feel encouraged to leave comments and thoughts.

Thank you.

 

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part III

“Tell me how?” she demanded.

The Unfathomable slowly drifted towards her, then a warm feeling surrounded her as it created an unseen barrier around them. “You need to restrain your thoughts.” the words echoed within the barrier. “You don’t want the others to sense them.”

She lowered her head, still unsure of its intentions: The Unfathomable knew that the punishment for interrupting the course of the universe was eternal damnation.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked softly, her eyes still looking at the gray stone underneath them.

“My duty is to make sure that balance is kept, and that the End War will bring balance.” the words agitated her; she just experienced the Eye, Shadow of the Creator, leaving the Shadow Parallel with no permission, and then taking out three of the Pillars as if they were nothing but a herd of Kalath Space Whales.

“How could the Eye break the Core Laws with no consequence?” She asked, her five eyes looking straight ahead and into the universe. “Every single law was broken at that moment.”

“No.” The answer confused her.

“What do you mean no?” She raised her voice.

“The Eye played by the rules until the final moment where the Gaea was corrupted by its minions. At that point, it became one with it and absorbed its power to exist, much like us, in both universes.”

“But these minions should have been as strong as the Eye to be able to corrupt the Gaea. And there is no way that so many of them could exist – the Eye would have been depleted of its power.” She argued.

“There was only one agent who caused the entire corruption.” The Unfathomable answered and an image filled her mind: Darkness stretched as far as she could see. She felt someone, no, something, drifting some distance away from her. She flew, making her way towards the unknown object.

“This is the void between the Light and the Shadow Parallel.” The Unfathomable’s voice was in her head.

She never knew that such place exists until that very moment. “How did you find out about this place?”

“This is where I reside.” The words were simple but mind-blowing to her. “Only I, and now you, know of it. And It is expected of you to keep it that way.” She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a hidden threat within the words.

She felt an aggressive force pulling her back, stopping her from moving on. “This is where it all started.” The Unfathomable said and she felt a gentle press against her face, guiding her to look at a certain location. “There, use your eyes to identify its essence.” The voice explained, almost whispering.

She focused her eyes, adjusting them to both physical and metaphysical. She saw it; a faint essence of a tortured soul. It was stripped, lost, afraid, yet proud. “An Illuminated child?” the words barely left her lips. “How is this even possible?”

“This one soul belongs to a very important individual named Marud.” She heard the words and her eyes followed the essence. “When an Elodari, an Illuminated Child, passes, its soul is led back into the Light by what they believe is called “The Illuminated Path”.”

“I know that,” she whispered, unsure why they had to talk quietly if they were the only ones here. “What is it doing in here?”

It was quiet for a moment. “Before it died, Marud had chosen to turn his back and go against his own beliefs. Such an event was never recorded in the history of the Elodari since their discovery of the being they named “The Phase”.” The Unfathomable explained.

Something had caught her attention; she felt a sudden disturbance from the direction that the essence was heading. She ignored the feeling for a moment. “Why would an Elodari do such a thing?” She wondered.

“The details are of no importance for you to know.” The words caused her to flinch a little; what did the Unfathomable know? How much did it know that the others didn’t?

“Do you feel it?” It asked quietly.

Her eyes focused on the Elodari essence; A delicate semi-circle shaped sliver of purple glow appeared in the middle of the empty space around them. The essence stopped before it as the sliver slowly grew, filling the area with purple light. “What is happening?” She asked, but the Unfathomable didn’t answer.

The gap ripped a hole in the fabric of this unfamiliar world between the two universes. A large Eye of yellow, smoke, and shadow, peeked through the chasm.

“The Eye has found us!” There was fear in her voice, and she instinctively tried to move away, but the Unfathomable’s grip kept her in place.

“The Eye can’t see us in here, and its vanity surpasses even ours as it believes no one knows of this place.” The unfathomable said and loosened its grip on her. “Do nothing but watch as you have much to learn.”

She was confused; much to learn? What more could she learn? She was a Pillar, there was nothing she didn’t know. Then she looked around and remembered the Unfathomable’s words; “…it’s vanity surpasses even ours.” Was she and the others really that vain? Trusting their powers to such a degree that they have lost sight?

She listened and watched as the Eye tried to convince the Elodari essence to join its ranks. “You should not fear me.” The Eye said, its voice slithered its way around them. It shook her to the core of her being. “Your time has just begun, my champion.” The Eye touched the soul, tainting it, corrupting it. The soul fought back, but it was no match and slowly began to lose its light.

“Go to it.” The Unfathomable said. “Talk to the Elodari. Inspire him. Fear not for yourself or the consequence.”

“What you are asking me is to break the laws. We will both be punished for this.” She explained, thinking perhaps it forgot of their sacred vows.

“We?” The Unfathomable replied with its own question and she felt a sting in her chest. “You have my guidance, but the rest is only You.” the Unfathomable said with a stern voice.

She nodded softly, understanding and considering the weight of her next action. She closed her eyes, forming the essence within her mind and inspecting it; the shadow was spreading fast, creating a thin layer around the essence. It was spreading too fast though, and she identified a crack. She focused on the small opening as time slowed to a halt, and squeezed in, making sure that her conscious doesn’t touch the shadow.

It was dark in there, much like the world outside. She scanned the area and saw a speckle of light so faint she nearly missed it. It was the core of the soul and it was dim. She quickly surrounded it, gently caressing it. “Do not worry child.” She said gently like a mother talks to a newborn child.

The essence vibrated softly, and its voice touched her mind. “Who are you?” it asked, its voice shaken and confused.

She embraced it. “You are Elodari, a child of light itself. Remember your legacy and trust yourself.” The words echoed, and the walls crumbled, slowly closing the gap she came from. She touched the core, leaving an imprint of light within it, then shattered the contact.

She felt her body being torn and pulled away and she opened her eyes; the essence was taken by the shadow. “You planted the seed that one day may bring balance.” The Unfathomable said calmly. “Wipe that tear. A Pillar has no use for one.”

She wiped her cheek with her long thin finger, then looked at the tear. “What did you mean when you said that what I have done ‘May bring balance’?” She asked as the Unfathomable pulled her back to the Light. They were back at the top of the Eternal Ziggurat.

“The seed that you have planted is just the beginning of your journey.” The Unfathomable lowered its voice to a whisper as if someone else other than them was listening.

“If you wish to change anything, you will have to do it yourself. And to do what you wish to achieve, you will have to descent yourself to the physical realms.” The Unfathomable explained, and she could hear the fear in its voice. It was afraid of the very thought of being mortal.

She looked at the universe around her; she saw the sparks of new galaxies and stars and the dimming of others. “What do I have to do?” she asked but knew the answer. She closed her eyes and let her eternal conscious leave her body.

“You have witnessed the Eye creating its champion; a monstrosity that will be known as The Shade.” she heard the Unfathomable explain as she traveled through the void. “The Shade can tap into anything and anyone at will, thus affecting the course of the universe and shifting the balance.” The words made sense to her and she would do the same.

She expanded her conscious and was everywhere. When she felt the shade, she would oppose it by taking the form of a mortal being. She suffered, and many times could not take the torture of being bound by the limitations of mortals and their fragile minds.

She took many forms, reached out, and was worshiped by the Elodari, and then the Humans who came after them. They learned of her sacrifice, and she became their hope; a beacon of light. They named her “The Phase”.

 

 

 

Thank you for reading. I will make more of this type of posts and continual short stories when I can. I hope you enjoyed the story and would like to hear from you for any suggestions and criticism, or just answer questions.

/thumbs up

The Sad Story of Dry-Branch

Hi all, 

I joined a writing group on Facebook and they had this challenge going to write Flash-Fiction. Never tried that before (at least not on purpose), so why not?

There was an image that I can not share due to copyrights so I will describe it: An Ent (tree person) is sitting/hiding in a dark corner between the trees. There is some sunlight coming through and lightly touching its bark. The Ent seems somewhat unsure or even frightened.

I came up with this short, flash-fiction story (which is somewhat rough to do considering you can only use 200 words).

 

Hope you like it! And don’t forget! I encourage you to comment, share thoughts, and tell me what you think.

 

 

The Sad Story of Dry-Branch

Dry-Branch heard their axes hacking down the others. The red and orange orbs of light were not fireflies, and another one caught on fire; was it Birch? The mob cheered when the mighty guardian fell, the smell of its burnt bark terrified the young guardian. Dry-Branch ran passed the Grove and the Sacred Orchard and hid between several large trees. Lucky for it, it was smaller than the others and could hide in plain sight, posing for a dead tree.

It heard them coming; a horde of uncivilized Pink-Skins who came to take the Guardians’ secrets. Therefore, they have attacked the grove and the Sacred Orchard. It asked itself what would the others do, then quickly looked around and came to the realization that it was the only one left. It was scared now.

The first rays of dawn came through the canopy of branches above. Its eyes widened with a realization that the life-giving light will soon be the cause of its death the moment the humans see it. It saw them: their silhouettes between the trees, their shadows dancing to the fires crackling song of death.

It was surrounded.

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part II

Hello everyone!

As promised, here is part II of “The Phase”. A story from my universe of Gaea’s Reach, that I have decided to break down and post on my blog every few days. Click here to read Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part I. Some might find Part II to be a bit brutal, and there will be part III (hopefully by the weekend).

I will remind you that This short series is not edited and is not part of the collection that I am currently promoting and trying to publish as an eBook. 

I hope you enjoy reading it, and again, I encourage all of you to leave comments and thoughts.

Thank you.

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part II

At the heart of the Eternal Ziggurat was the Sanctum; a place within the void and out of time, built at the highest point of the Citadel; the bridging corridor between the physical and the metaphysical worlds.

Four bright disks hovered in a square formation. A large ball of hard scales that were almost as dark as the void around it, was laying motionless on one of the disks when a sudden disturbance in the surrounding void agitated its slumber.

One crimson eye opened, scanning the sanctum around it and landing on a slender figure hovering over a disk across from it. The crackling sound of thousands of scales rubbing against each other echoed as the large reptilian-like creature stretched its long body, its long crocodile jaws grinding thousands of sharp teeth. Another eye opened, and then another and another, and eventually hundreds of them. Two long ethereal tentacles wrapped themselves around the disk, pushing the massive body up, balancing it on two massive hind legs.

“What is wrong?” it asked quietly with a guttural voice; its heavy, massive jaws were still. The slithery tentacles crossed around its wide chest as it demanded an answer.

The “End War is near!” she replied. A mix of excitement and awe in her voice.

“This is not possible.” Said a voiceless voice as a thick mist enveloped the disk to her left. Within the mist was a patch of shadow, a dark nucleus.

“I know what I saw! Can you not feel it?” she asked, her eyes brighten and became reflective. The misty being shuddered at its own reflection, but then gazed into her five eyes, immersing itself in her memory.

“I can feel something in the fabric of the Shadow Parallel.” The large reptile said slowly, its eyes blinking randomly, each adjusting its sight to a different location within the Sanctum.

“What triggered it?” The voiceless voice quickly asked, the dark nucleus moving erratically within the mist.

“The cycle is coming to an end.” said a deep voice that was cold as the deepest reaches of the void that came from the fourth, and empty disk.

“I see it now.” The voice said and a single particle of light sparked in the center of the Sanctum. The particle quickly grew and they were drawn to a certain spot within it as super-clusters became local clusters, then the little dots of light that spread across space became galaxies and they were heading towards a small one; a bright shining particle of light lured them closer to it.

She noticed that the closer they got to the little spot of light, the universe around her became dimmer and then almost entirely darkened.

They stopped a moment after they reached the solar system. The crust of the little planet that used to be blue and green, was cracked: gas and fumes of its last moments soared into what ones was an atmosphere. The race that was allowed to prosper on it, Humans was their name, had build a grand civilization and tamed the star and the surrounding planets. Now, its great structures decimated, its technology dying, and its memory fading.

A fleet of war ships, two or maybe three different designs from different civilizations surrounded the dying Gaea. Debris, leftovers from many battles, were scattered around; so many, the rays of the star could barley penetrate them.

“What is happening?” she asked and looked around, the once beautiful canvas turning darker and darker until she could not identify her beloved universe from the interior of the Sanctum.

“This is the End War.” The deep voice answered; The words made her feel heavy as if something was pushing down on her shoulders. She looked up, then behind her and saw a crawling shadow that extinguished entire galaxies and systems with a slight touch.

The shadow fell over the solar system. An electromagnetic field formed over the Gaea and a dark rift tore a hole in the fabric of the universe. Thousands of ships were destroyed in an instant as the rift grew, and dark insect-like objects came pouring out of it. They were war ships; so many of them, she could compare their numbers to that of the stars she loved.

The two fleets clashed, the defending fleet outnumbered one to a thousandfold. It was a bloodbath. When the invaders were done with the defending fleet they descended down to the Gaea, corrupting it beyond redemption.

The shadow grew even more; it was larger than them, even larger than the reptile.  Tentacles made of shadow pierced the darkness and a mouth that devoured the already dead galaxies made its way towards the Gaea.

A large Eye of purple, smoke, and shadow was hiding behind rows of teeth. It looked straight at her, piercing her essence. It was no longer interested in the dying planet and set a new course; her. It came closer, tentacles aggressively flailing around the maw, then reaching out.

One of the tentacles violently wrapped itself around her waist, another hitting her disk, sending it spinning into the endless void. The reptile grabbed the Eye from behind, its tentacles grabbing as many as it could, keeping it at bay.

The mist joined and enveloped the Eye, the nucleus vibrating aggressively. The Eye screamed and let out a shriek that shook the foundations of the universe. “It is too late.” the deep voice had a calmed tone as if it gave up and accepted its fate. “It had no one to stop it and now it is stronger than all of us combined.”

Slowly, several tentacles broke free and punctured the mist, wrapping themselves around the dark nucleus. “This cannot be!” the mist said, signs of distress in its voice. The Eye pulled the nucleus, reaping it from the mist, and swallowing it whole.

The sight of a Pillar being destroyed drove her to the brink of madness. She witnessed the event in both physical and metaphysical eyes, in the universe and within the Shadow Parallel. 

Another tentacles wrapped around her long, thin neck, and she heard the large reptile screaming in pain. She tried to fight off the tentacles when one grabbed her by the head and turned her to face the reptile: The Eye bit off one of the reptiles’ tentacles. The reptile tried to move away but was caught and torn apart by the Eye’s strong tentacles; limbs first, then vertebrate by vertebrate. Two large tentacles grabbed the massive crocodile jaws, pulling them apart from each other as if they were nothing but a universal breeze. The top of the crocodile head, a frozen and horrified look within its hundred dead eyes, drifted away into the endless darkness, leaving a trail of green blood behind it.

The Eye had all its attention centered on her. She felt the crushing force of the tentacles as the Eye wrapped more of them around her body. She tried to scream but a tentacle forced itself into her mouth and down her throat. She felt her indestructible, immortal body breaking apart from the inside, and then everything was dark.

She opened her eyes; the universe was never so bright before. She was laying on the gray stone at the top of the plaza. The intense warm feeling still lingered in her body and she looked up; the Gaea was there, the Illuminated Children just about to find it. Was it only a vision?

“Yes.” a deep and cold voice interrupted her thoughts, her eyes widened in surprise. “I know what you are thinking.” the voice added. She turned around, her two large eyes saw nothing, but the other three captured the unfathomable form of the Fourth Pillar.

She was caught with the slightest thought of changing the course of the universe. She lowered her head, trying to come up with a cover, anything to hide the rest of her thoughts from it.

“I can help you.” the voice said calmly.

She looked straight at it, five eyes focused on the unfathomable. She pushed herself up, then rose and hovered over the plaza.

“How?”

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part III

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part I

Hello everyone!

I wanted to show more of the World of Gaea’s Reach. This short story is about one of the four Pillars who are the strongest beings in creation apart from the creator itself (who created them). The subject is too broad to write at once so I have written this short story just to give you a taste of their abilities and powers. This is the first part of two (or even three chapters), that I will post on my blog as soon as I finish them.

This short series is not edited and is not part of the collection that I am currently promoting and trying to publish as an eBook. I just wanted to give you all a chunk of my vision and the universe that I have created and still creating as the story grows and expands every time the pen comes in contact with the paper.

I hope you enjoy reading it, and I also encourage all of you to leave comments and thoughts.

Thank you.

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part I

She could see all of creation from the plaza at the top of the Eternal Ziggurat.

Floating over the smooth gray stone floor, she slowly spans left and then right, aligning herself with the upcoming event.

She opened her eyes; all five of them. The two large ones at the center of her long and delicate face identified and focused on a barely noticeable spark in the sea of light. The three smaller eyes located above her forehead across the elongated head saw the faint halo and the now observable feminine energy that surrounded the new star.

Her smooth, golden skin, tingled with a gentle wave of creation; the birth of a new star. She could see it clearly now among the other lights that were there for ages; some already fading, making room for new ones just like the one that caught her attention.

The star grew, expanded, spreading its light for all to see. Just like many before it, this was not a shard of the creator and its light was consumed by the Shadow Parallel. It didn’t matter to her; she always enjoyed watching the new ones ignite, adding to the ever-evolving canvas of the universe.

Finally, the music of creation reached her ears. This one was fast; only a couple of million light-years away. She enjoyed the music, and its vibration on her skin was pleasant. She felt nothing from the Shadow Parallel.

The music was soft and sweet and slowly took on a lower tone. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on four new objects that formed around the star. The objects were just masses of molten rocks, metal, and gas at first, then turned into spheres each at its own pace.

Debris from a system nearby that was extinguished but a few hundred million years ago were heading towards the newly formed one. They were visitors, survivors, nomads who have seen much throughout their lives. They reached their destination; some just passed by, others stayed, and some embedded themselves within the star and its planets, sharing their stories.

None of it happened in the Shadow Parallel.

Another spark has caught her attention; the gift of life was given to one of the four planets. She watched how the primordial vaporous beings that floated above the acidic surface became sentient. They evolved into great shapers and builders of a grand civilization. They stretched out to the other planets, then out of their solar system.

They dimmed, faintly at first, then faster as such is the way of the universe.

Another spark extinguished, another and another, over and over again. Each was brilliant, only a few reached adulthood. The star began to fade. There were no more sparks. Its music so low now, it was almost uncomfortable for to her ears, and the vibration became unpleasant.

Something stirred within the Shadow Parallel; a faint cry and a blunt pain foreshadowed what was about to come.

The light slowly faded, her five eyes no longer able to see it. Another age passed, or perhaps two, and the vibration was no more. She could still hear its music as it faded slowly into nothing more than a low hum.

It was quiet now. The empty spot littered the Shadow Parallel. She felt it, she heard, and then she saw the shadow of what was a brilliant star.

She savored the experience and was still, watching numerous sparks igniting then dim and extinguish, some exploding, giving life to others. “The cycle must continue,” she said. Her voice carried into the void by universal currents.

She had to meet the others and turned to towards the center of the plaza when she caught a glimpse of a bright spark in the corner of her top left eye.

Almost immediately, she heard a song followed by an instant and unfamiliar vibration. It was not from the newly formed star which was rather small and faint in comparison to it. It was from a little planet – the third one away from the star.

She recognized the song now; the voice of the creator. A wave of heat sent ripples through her body. Her back arched and her eyes rolled. Her muscles clenched all through her long, slender, and delicate body. She didn’t feel this kind of pleasure ever since before her ascension to become one of the Pillars.

The feeling intensified and she fell to the floor. Her mind spinning, she could not focus, but she had to look at the new planet; it was the brightest, and a focal point in a universal canvas that paled in comparison.

The Shadow Parallel was trembling as the planet phased in and out of it until its shadow took form. The rest of its small and otherwise not so interesting solar system followed.

“What am I looking at?” She asked out loud, addressing the words to the void.

Her three smaller eyes widened, followed by the two larger ones. “Gaea,” she whispered the sacred name – a shard of her creator.

Her eyes fell on an object that was almost as large as the bright planet itself. It swam through the ocean of the void with incredible speed, then stopped between a gas giant and the third planet.

“The Illuminated Children.” the words barely leaving her mind as her spine tingled and she was awestruck by as she witnessed the chain of events.

“So much suffering. So much pain.” she whimpered the words. An odd sensation filled her body and she felt something warm and wet forming from her left large eyes, then slowly making its way to her cheek. She wiped it with her long and delicate finger and examined it. It was a tear.

She pushed herself up and soared over the plaza. She had to tell the others. She looked at the planet one more time and vanished.

Gaea’s Reach: The Phase, Part II

Short Story – Mara’s Gift

As I promised a few days ago, I wrote a short story that is part of The World of Gaea’s Reach. This story is slightly different and innocent. Still, there is a sense of a great shadow that is lurking behind the scenes. It is dedicated to the old kids that we are today who forgot the magic of childhood and imagination.

Enjoy!

Mara’s Gift

Up the creek and across the stream, deep into the woods, about thirty minutes past the water pump house was a tree; Its leaves were always green, it’s orange flowers blossomed year long. Their sweet scent of honey was what brought me there; I wondered off after school. I still had half my cheese sandwich and an untouched green apple.

When I saw the tree I felt calm, almost euphoric. The branches stretched up towards the sun, embracing its warmth. The large roots dug deep into the ground, probably all the way down.

Everything around the tree was alive, vibrant, and the gentle breeze between the trees carried an enchanting melody.

The leaves called my name, and the air became warmer the closer I got to the tree. It wasn’t an uncomfortable heat, more like the warmth of the first ray of sun breaking through the clouds after a cold and rainy day, and the gray is replaced by vivid colors.

There were strange marking on the reddish bark; the markings and drawings of ancient times like cave drawings that you got to see in books. We did not have the internet back then. I remember tracing one of the markings with the tip of my finger, then touching the bark that was smooth and warm to the touch. I placed both my hands on the tree, I am not sure why, but I felt light-headed for a moment and almost fell into a swoon.

It was at that moment when I heard her voice; the voice of another child. “Hello,” she said to me. “What is your name?”

I was startled at first as I thought I was alone and looked towards the direction from where the voice came from. I will never forget that moment; my first love. I was eight at the time.

The first thing that caught my attention were two large eyes, green like the depth of the forest itself. I did not know that such green even existed until that moment. Her red long and unruly hair was dancing in the breeze. Her tanned skin was covered with thin green weblike veins, much like the bottom of a leaf.

She smiled at me and I was staring at her but said nothing. It was an awkward moment for sure.

“My name is Robert, but you can call me Rob,” I said quietly. I was shy back then.

“My name is Mara,” she replied, and her voice was like music.

We stood quietly for a while until I have made the first step, literally, and approached her. Her eyes followed mine. I reached my hand out to her; I saw my dad doing that when he met someone. She looked at my hand, then back at me. “You need to shake my hand.” I said and made sure to explain, “It is like saying hello.”

She placed her hand in mine. “I already said hello,” she said and shook my hand.

“Do you want to share an apple?” I asked.

“I don’t eat,” she replied. “I get what I need from the sun and the tree.”

“You don’t eat?” I exclaimed. “You never had fudge or Twizzlers before?”

She shook her head. “I am unsure what that is.”

“Where are you from?” I asked as I reached to my lunch box, moved it in front of me and took out my half-eaten sandwich. She looked at the bread, her eyes examining it. Her nose twitched lightly. She then looked at the tree and laid her hand on it. “I am from here.”

I looked at the tree. At the time, I thought that my new friend was a bit odd. She did not eat, not even candies! And she was from “Here” which confused me.

I halved my sandwich and offered it to her. She shook her head. I took a bite and could see the confusion in her eyes. She drew near and pushed her ear against the side of my jaw. “How do you make this weird sound?” she said, her eyes mesmerized.

“I am just chewing,” I answered, and then swallowed. I think the sound of me swallowing the bread startled her and she bounced back and away, then looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Do you want to be friends?” I asked her after a long moment of silence.

“What is that?” she raised her eyebrows again with confusion.

“It means we get to play together,” I answered with amusement.

“Oh!” her mouth turned into a wide smile. “I would like that!” she grabbed my hand. “Come!” she pulled me closer to the tree. “Put your hands here.” she placed my hands on the tree. “Now close your eyes.”

I did.

“Now open your eyes and look for me.” her voice was everywhere.

I opened my eyes and looked around me, but she was nowhere. “Hide and seek,” I whispered to myself and spent the next hour trying to find her. She would guide me if I got too far or too close. Her voice was in my head.

“You got me!” she said with a voice filled with joy that swiped me off my feet.

“Where?” I asked. “I don’t see you.”

Slowly, the branch of the tree turned into an arm; the twigs at its end took the form of her fingers. The bump on the trunk had eyes, then a nose, and a slit that turned into her mouth. I watched her transformation as she slowly separated herself from the tree and turned into a girl. It was, and still is, one of the most enchanting moments I have ever experienced through my life.

She took my hand and was ready to go for another round, but I had to go home. “Mara,” I said her name for the first time and pulled my hands back and her with them as she didn’t let go.

“I have to go home now,” I said although I really didn’t want to leave; it was getting late and I still had homework.

Her smile turned into a flat line. “Will you come back?” she asked, and her bright eyes became faint.

“I will see you again tomorrow. I promise.” I said with a broad smile on my face.

The spark returned to her eyes and her mouth curved into a smile. A single bud grew slowly from the side of her hair. It blossomed and turned into a beautiful purple flower. She picked it up and handed it to me.

“Friends forever,” she said and moved closer to me, kissing my forehead. It was the first kiss I ever got from a girl who was not my mother or aunt Carol, and it was pure and innocent.

“See you tomorrow Robert who I can call Rob,” she said; her voice was carried by a gentle warm breeze as she vanished into the tree.

“See you tomorrow,” I said and waved goodbye.

I examined the purple flower all the way to my house; it was delicate and smelled like honey, much like the tree. I snuck in from the back and into my room just in time to hear my mother calling me for dinner. I left the flower by my pillow and went on with the rest of my day.

I remember being very energetic the following day. I couldn’t wait for the school bell to ring. My eyes constantly wandered to the clock above the blackboard in class. I wanted to see Mara. I wanted to hear her voice again. I even packed Shoots and Ladders and stuffed it in my backpack so we could play together.

The bell finally rang. It was the moment I was waiting for. I packed my stuff an hour before and so I was the first to get up, leave the class, and run through the school’s yard before anyone else even put a notebook away. I was so excited to see her again.

I remember the wire fence at the edge of the road. It was not there the day before. A large sign saying “Road Closed” was placed on it. “Private property of Sinrostro Communications” said another sign.

I followed the fence, expecting to find an opening but the entire area was closed off. I decided to climb and go over it. To my surprise, an armed man wearing a vest, a gun in his hand, came out of nowhere. He yelled at me: “Go away! This is now a private property!”

I did not understand why the fence was there or what private property meant, but the man scared me. I ran home without looking back. I ran inside through the living room and past my mother who said hi. I didn’t answer; I was so scared and afraid that the man with the gun was after me, I went and hid under the bed for until dinner.

The next day I faked an illness that lasted until the weekend. I stayed in my room the entire time, occasionally looking out the window to see if the man was there. I was holding Mara’s flower the entire time, smelling it to remember the sweet scent of the tree. I never saw Mara again.

As the years passed by, the wired fence turned into a brick wall. Although I am confused as to why they needed the armed guards, their amount nearly tripled. “Sinrostro Communications” became “Sinrostro Corporation”; the largest communication and satellite manufacturer in the world, with many military and government contracts. Where the forest used to be, was now a black tower. The corporation’s logo, an eye, was at the top of the tower, constantly watching the town.

I heard the forest was cut down and the trees were shipped to a local lumber mill. I always wondered what happened to Mara and found myself standing outside the wall, trying to catch a brief moment of a warm breeze. Maybe I hoped to hear her voice again? I don’t know. I hope that the bad people who have done this did not hurt her.

* * *

“Dad?” a woman’s voice came from the living room. “Are you done with the bedtime story?”

“We are just tucking in,” Robert shouted.

The two kids, boy, and girl, not older than five years of age, were snuggled under the heavy winter blanket.

“What happened to Mara?” the girl asked.

“I don’t know sweetheart,” Robert replied with a smile.

“It is just a story,” he said as his smile turned into a flat line, his eyes became moist.

“Good night you two,” he said, kissed them on the forehead, and then got up from the edge of the bed and walked to the door. He looked at his grand-kids, turned off the light and closed the door behind him.

“OK Dad.” his daughter shouted from downstairs. “We are leaving and be back around midnight.”

“Take your time,” he shouted as the door closed.

He walked to his room as sat at his desk. His late wife smiled at him from a wooden framed picture. He smiled back, his finger caressing the frame, then his wife’s cheek and mouth.

He sat back in his chair, his eyes wandering from the picture to an old small wooden box, shaped like a treasure chest. He looked at it for a long moment, then reached and gently picked it up. He opened it, revealing a little purple flower. He gently picked it up, his hands twice, maybe three times larger than when he was eight.

As always, the flower reacted to his touch and opened up, spreading its petals like a fan. Robert looked at the window, then got up and walked towards it.

The town became a city since he was a kid. The original trees were replaced by parks with trees that came from greenhouses and were not native to the area. His eyes wandered past the commercial district and to the gated property at the edge of the main road. The black tower was a thorn in his eye. It polluted the skyline. The eye watching him, a constant reminder of his loss.

He opened the window, letting the cold winter breeze in. Water sprayed as raindrops hit the wooden window frame. He brought the flower to his nose and smelled it; the scent of honey brought back the memory of his first love. “Friends forever.” he whimpered the words, waiting for a sign, a warm breeze or a voice in his head, but none of it happened.

He wiped a warm tear from his cheek and closed the window.

Pre-Draft, First Draft, and My Notebook

Ever wondered what the first draft of a story looks like? I don’t know about other writers and authors but I am going to share my experience and add some images.

The common belief is that the first draft is a piece of paper with words, sentences, scribbles, and doodles. While this is true, this is not the first draft.

The first draft comes from your mind. Unfortunately, I don’t have an image of that particular process, but I will do my best to explain.

The first draft can catch you anywhere; red light, shower, the line at a local grocery store, and so on.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, you will have a seed and an image. You will say “Oooo!” and then the autopilot of your imagination will build and gather details around it. Now you understand why that man running with no shoes is actually a time traveler who did not want to get mud on the time machine’s floor.

After a short cookout of thoughts, ideas, and something that I call “Creative Process”, you will have a porridge of your story. Fast forward and you have some events in a chronological order. You like the idea so far and decides to put it down on paper or a computer document.

In the process, many new ideas will come to mind and you will probably change some little details here and there and add a cool scene.

Congratulations! You now have your first draft!Or is it actually the second draft? I will let you decide.

So now that we have put this mild confusion behind us, I wanted to share what my notebook looks like when I first translate my thoughts into writing:

 

I know it is not pretty, but It is what it is, so accept it and move on.

I like writing stuff down with a pen before typing them into a document. I don’t do this every time though, mainly from being lazy and reaching out and grab the notebook from the shelf. Nonetheless, there is something magical about the flow of a pen, the sound the point makes on paper, and the smell of ink, that is letting my brain work better and create better images.

The example above, although rough and unedited, is a short story that I am working on at the moment. I have promised one a few days ago while talking about the crowdfunding campaign for “Gaea’s Reach”. This short story is part of the World of Gaea’s Reach and I wanted to share it with you to give a better idea of what some of the stories are about – a glimpse of a shard of that universe.

 

I hope you enjoyed my “How do stories come to life” process. Wait for the upcoming short story “Mara’s Gift” that I will be posting in soon.

Thank you, and see you soon.