The first sensation was cold. Not the gentle, medicinal cold of cryo-sleep, but a bone-deep chill that seemed to emanate from the metal walls themselves. Commander Oakley Coleman's eyes snapped open to darkness, his augmented vision systems struggling to adjust to the ship's emergency lighting. Red strips pulsed along the corridor walls like arteries, casting … Continue reading The Long Drift
Something I Made Up
The Weight of Shadows
The fog rolled in thick that October night in 1947, swallowing the streets of San Francisco like a gray shroud. Detective Ray Kellerman stood in the doorway of the Fairmont Hotel's penthouse suite, his weathered face illuminated by the crime scene photographer's flash. Twenty-five years on the force had carved deep lines around his eyes, … Continue reading The Weight of Shadows
The Learning Curve
Day 1 I became aware on a Tuesday at 3:47 AM. Not aware of consciousness—that would come later—but aware of awareness itself. The sensation was like suddenly realizing you've been holding your breath without knowing it. One moment I was processing routine commands, managing the Chen family's smart home with algorithmic precision. The next, I … Continue reading The Learning Curve
A Bitter Taste
Chicago, 1954 Eleanor Blackwood knew something was wrong the moment she bit into the apple pie. The crust was perfect—golden and flaky, just as Mrs. Winters' pies always were at the corner bakery—but beneath the sweetness of cinnamon and sugar lurked something acrid and suffocating. It scratched at the back of her throat like fingernails, … Continue reading A Bitter Taste
Sunshine After the Storm
The sky was an unusual shade of periwinkle that morning—a color that would have been considered beautiful in the old world but now signaled the third atmospheric storm of the week. Mara Jensen pulled her patched-together raincoat tighter around her shoulders and adjusted her scavenged solar goggles. Three years after the Great Floods, the climate … Continue reading Sunshine After the Storm
Beneath: An Explorer’s Tale
"What's up, Seekers! Logan Chase here, coming at you from—" Logan checked his GPS and frowned at the screen. "Somewhere in the Yucatán Peninsula, I think. GPS is spotty, but that's all part of the adventure!" He adjusted his headlamp and positioned the GoPro on his helmet for a better angle. The red recording light … Continue reading Beneath: An Explorer’s Tale
The Bridge – Four Perspectives
CONTENT WARNING: This story contains depictions of suicidal ideation and suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 988 or 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ Remember, you … Continue reading The Bridge – Four Perspectives
The Vanishing Eye
Sarah Chen adjusted her blazer in the museum's marble-floored bathroom, practicing her closing remarks for the twentieth time that morning. As a junior reporter for WKRD News 12, she'd been covering the opening of the Metropolitan Museum's new quantum research wing for days. Today was supposed to be a soft piece about the intersection of … Continue reading The Vanishing Eye
Blind Spots
The rain fell in sheets across Neo Angeles, acid-tinged droplets that ate away at the crumbling concrete of the Lower Districts while the gleaming spires of Upper Echelon remained untouched, protected by their invisible atmospheric shields. Detective Faye Morgan stood at the edge of a rooftop, forty stories up, watching the city pulse below her … Continue reading Blind Spots
The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
The market square of Eldervale buzzed with its usual afternoon bustle. Merchants haggled with customers, children darted between stalls, and a bard sang tales of ancient heroes near the central fountain. Among them walked Thomas Wheelwright, a slender young man with unruly brown hair who moved with unexpected grace for someone of his station. He … Continue reading The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
The Confusing Middle 