Swamp Hole

-I don’t think anyone has ever been this deep into these swamps, Mark said, looking at the crocodiles between the roots of the trees growing out of the water.

-Probably not. Quite an adventure, this…

-Turn! Fucking turn!

The boat cringed. Mark pushed the stick down into the soil. Pete and Billy held on to the edge, fighting to keep the boat straight.

A mountain of flesh and greenish skin emerged out of the water. It rose between the trees, mud running down its body. The stench was unbearable.

They got the boat half way around. The waves made the boat jump like a bob.

-Hold on!

Splash. They lay in the water, the boat dipping nearby…(more)

Size Matters

-Almost there, little friend!

-Great! Thanks for the ride, giant man. If I was to walk all this way I would never arrive.

Mandar had met the little green creature by the road. She was hitch-hiking, sitting on a tree stump.

“Hello, little thing,” he had asked. “Where are you going?”

Tindai had made some squeaking sounds.

“Hey hey hey! Not so fast, little one! I can’t figure out a word of what you’re saying.”

Tindai giggled. “Big things, always so slow.” Still fast, but understandable. “Anywhere which is not here would be fine. I’ve been waiting for ages!”

“I’m going to the lost city of Dentrar, he said. You can come with me if you want.”

She had accepted, and jumped up… (more)

Stalker

There she was, in a distance. He started walking faster, followed her just out of sight. Once in a while she looked over her shoulder. He stopped. Waited. Then he walked faster.

He remembered the first night he saw her. Swaying hips and her head high. Their paths had crossed. Sparkling eyes met his. A hint of fear.

He fell in love. Obsession. He wanted her.

He started looking for her at night. He found out when she walked by. The route she used to take from the train station and home. Some day he would talk to her. Some day she would be his

He saw her go into her house, always looking over her shoulder when she went in. Did she think about him, when she was inside, when she went to bed? Was she afraid? Curious? He was hoping the last, but he didn’t really believe it. But yes, he was sure she thought about him.

He got this strange feeling, an absurd feeling that he was the one being followed, that someone somehow was watching, staring at him from the darkness. Had she called the police? He shrugged it off. It wasn’t illegal to walk the streets at night.

Every night the feeling grew stronger… (more)

Penalty

-Over here! George ran down the long side. Pike passed the ball. George went in, alone with the goal keeper. Kicked as hard as he… Mike came sliding in. Kicked him in the leg.

The ball hit the pole and bounced back. Rolled some feet and stopped abruptly. George lay on the ground.

-Penalty! Pike said. -Damn Mike! Are you OK, George?

George got up on his feet. -I’m fine. And this means we’re winning.

He went to pick the ball up up.

-That’s strange… there’s some kind of weed growing around it.

The others gathered around. It grew fast, like the hand of some kind of dirt monster coming up from the ground. It grabbed the ball, held it.

-What the… What is that? Pike said in astonishment. -It just grew up from the soil… just like that!

-It has our ball.

-Well, we need it back, George said. He walked closer, reached out towards the plant.

-Wait… Mike was too late. The plant closed its grip around George’s hand… (more)

Congratulations

Congratulations, Mr Johnson! It’s a boy! …or… I think it’s a boy… oh, wait. That’s something else. Congratulations it’s a baby!

Roger looked down on the creature in his arms. It wasn’t crying. It was making a strange gurgling sound, hissing fiercely. It was green, and had a hideous mouth wide open. Sharp teeth.

Babies don’t have teeth, do they? Roger thought.

It was the kind of mouth you wouldn’t want to get your fingers too close to. He looked at his wife.She smiled towards him, looking tired, yet immensely happy.

They took the baby home to their place, their love nest where they had made everything so cosy for the new family member.

It didn’t cry.

They put it in its bed, tucked him in. Roger didn’t say anything, and Mary seemed totally unaware of the horrible aspect of the little creature.

-Here, hold him! She said. The little monster hissed towards him, snapping its teeth… (more)

Burning Bridges

Danny had been sick of it all for a long time. The people around him. Traffic. His job at the factory.

He manipulated the heating system. Stashed all the pallets into the same room, lit a candle. Barred all doors.

-Isn’t it very hot in here today? Mr Rachman said to his secretary.

-It is, she answered. -It is quite hot. She looked out of the window. It had been rather cold in the morning.

Down on the floor Parker looked over at the door to the storage room. -Why is the gate closed? We’re supposed load the truck!

-I have no idea, it was open last time I checked.

-And where the fuck is Danny? Get the… (more)