“Crashed” Part 17
“Crashed” Part 17 The palm beam glimmered. Just as she feared, the energy was insufficient to generate a force strong enough to erase the animal. She forced what little power remained into the emitter and triggered the charge. The beam struck the dog. The animal dropped. But it had not been erased. Cellima grabbed the […]
“The Shoes”
THE SHOES Billy Payne hated mornings—except on Saturdays.No school. No bullies. Just him, his video games, and his old, scuffed sneakers, the ones worn thin until the soles bent like flaps. He wanted the new Gaylor Day X1s more than anything. Every kid who mattered had them. But his mom worked hard just to pay […]
Crashed Part 16
“Crashed” Paret 16 Five hundred feet now separated Cellima from the road she had detected — five hundred feet from the one called Patty. For the first time since escaping the basin, she felt the beginning of something she had not felt in several hours. Relief. Not safety. Not yet. But enough endurance to continue […]
“Crashed” Part 15
Crashed Part 15 Ken checked his rearview mirror, scanning for any reaction to the sound.He knew it was Cellima. Still, he hoped he was wrong. “People are turning back around, honey,” he said, forcing calm into his voice. “Yes, I see. We should go back too,” Patty replied — her tone leaving no room for […]
Crashed Part 14
“Crashed” Part 14 She had put enough distance between herself and the humans to risk stillness. The forest thinned here. Old growth. Rotting wood. She lowered herself onto a fallen log, its structure failing beneath her weight but holding long enough. Long enough to try. She reached inward—toward the quiet signal. Toward the one that […]
“CRASHED” PART 11
“Crashed” Part 11 “Good morning, Mr. Miller,” the young MP said as Ken brought the pickup to a stop. “We’re going to give your vehicle a quick once-over, and then you’ll be free to go. Sorry for the inconvenience, sir, but my orders are to check anything coming or going.” Ken nodded, doing his best […]
“Crashed” Part 10
“Crashed” — Part 10 “Ken?” Hayes’ voice crackled through the radio. “You there?” “Ten-four,” Ken replied. “My team just pulled in,” Hayes said. “I’m not trying to rush you, sir, but do you have an ETD? I’d like to get this sweep underway as soon as possible.” Ken already knew what the call was about. […]
“Crashed” Part 9
“Crashed” Part 9 Patty and Ken packed a few essentials into their suitcases. They had no idea how long “a few weeks” would really be, but they figured they’d deal with that when the time came. Enough clothes for a week, some toiletries, and a shared feeling of uncertainty. Hayes had given them a number […]
“Crashed” Part 6
“Crashed” – Part 6 Tom stood on the porch, watching the military trucks roll in one by one. Hayes had left only fifteen minutes earlier, but not before warning him: “We’re bringing in specialized tracking equipment. For your safety — and your wife’s — please stay inside. We’re fairly certain there was a living being […]
“The Ride”
“The Ride” It was an old run-down truck stop café, the kind that looked like something out of a horror film. But Tom and Angela went in anyway. “Coffee, please,” Tom said, raising his hand as the waitress approached. They had been on the road for thirty-seven hours, only stopping for gas, and this was […]