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)

Finally Alone

-Hi Jenny! Where are you going?

-I’m going home to see my mum, she’s ill. Why?

-Nothing. I’m going the same way.

-Great!

Ren had been in love with Jenny for months. All he wanted was to get her on his own, to have a chance to tell her how he felt, a chance to kiss her.

They walked by the Cave, just outside of the village. It wasn’t really a cave, just this great hole going down into the ground. No one knew where it led, except it was deep. You couldn’t see the end.

The ground started shaking. A sound came from the hole.

-What the…? Ren looked over the edge. He could see something move far below…. (more)

Past Demons

Outside the sun was shining. Some small children were playing a game down by the park, rolling a wheel over the grass. A beautiful couple was walking by, holding hands. She could see their eyes, glimmering with love and affection.

Inside everything was dark.

They were always there. Her demons. The memories from times that should have been in the past, but never let go. Treason, terrors, fears… (more)

Deep Roots

They lived under ground. They had been for as long as anyone could remember, for as long as their legends and myths could tell. Outside the moon was shining, creating beautiful silhouettes of the tree tops towards the night sky.

They were waiting. Waiting for the sign.

-The roots will some day speak, the Elder said, as he had done so many full moons. -That’s the day we will move out into the open.

-How do you know? a little child asked… (more)