Likes: 5
Words: 200

Liam and his grandmother sat, hands tense upon their laps. It was the Day of Animavore—the devourer of souls—and this year, it was their turn.

The golden letter had arrived only yesterday.

My mother cried as she squeezed me too tightly, like she might break my back. But Grandma was there, as usual, setting things right. She spoke her Polish words, the ones she always cooed.

I think she said, "Take care my child. God is with us."

We waited outside our door as the golden cruiser slid to a stop, the driver beckoning us inside. It was already full, except for the last seat. No one seemed frightened.

I gripped Grandma’s hand. She squeezed back, humming her soft calming tune, whispering oo-koh-WEE-sahch.

It made me smile despite being terrified.

Above us, several Animavore swam through the sky like giant angle fish, silent and menacing—baskets filled with the chosen ones. My heart fluttered.

Grandma's strong, I can be too.

The lady beside her suddenly jumped up, aiming her camera at another Animavore hovering twenty feet away, its cage lowered.

She shouted. "Here, I'm here." As if she wanted it to take her.

I huddled closer to Grandma.

Mary has expanded on her story with a much longer version here: https://maryzuelke.com/f/soul-eaters-author-of-ya-dark-fantasy

by Neviena Dēls

Likes: 4
Words: 231

Author Note: Sorry, 231 was the best I could get the word count down to.

“Dad, are we really going to miss it?” Tommy asked, clutching his brass-framed slate. George kept one hand on the steering lever and glanced at the sky. “Only if this old motor decides today's the day to die.”

The children laughed. Even Margaret smiled, though her eyes never left the giant dragonfly airship drifting above the city. Its amber lights shimmered through the mist, turning the rain-slick streets to molten gold. Around them, crowds gathered beneath the clock-tower, every face tilted upward. Some recorded the moment on pocket cameras. Others simply stared.

“It looks alive,” little Elsie whispered.

“It nearly is,” said Grandmother Rose. “Your grandfather helped build her engines.” The children turned toward her. She rarely spoke about the old days.

Rose watched the airship glide across the skyline. “When I was your age, we dreamed machines would bring people together. Faster journeys. Wider worlds.”

“And did they?” Margaret asked softly.

Rose considered the question as the vessel's shadow passed over them.

“For a while.”

Silence settled over the car.

Then the airship sounded its deep departure horn. The crowd erupted in cheers. Tommy lowered his slate and leaned against his sister's shoulder.

As the great vessel disappeared into the clouds, the family remained where they were, listening to the fading note and wondering whether they had just witnessed a beginning, or an ending.

by Eolas Pellor

Likes: 3
Words: 200

"Hurry up and get into the Tour-a-mobile, Maggie," Uncle Trevor said as the four-row vehicle pulled up in front of the hotel. Aunt Maggie found a seat in a middle row, and Gran and Gramps sat in the back with Billie-Jo and I.

The driver tooted the horn and we drove off, speeding through street damp with the fog, and glistening under the streetlights. The air seemed yellow and Smokey but it cleared as we sped past the elevated trolley way.

Suddenly, looming through the clouds and smoke I saw it. The meganopter hovered over the harbour, but even at the distance of a mile we could feel the air stir under its might wings.

"Oh, Lord!" Aunt Maggie said, lifting her hand to her mouth in disbelief.

"The wonder of the age," Uncle Trevor said. "Just 48 hours by air to Japan." Granpa shook his head.

"If God had intended man to fly, we'd have been born with wings!" he said, shaking his head.

"How does it stay up?" Billy-Jo asked. I wondered to, and was glad she asked. I wondered too.

I glanced up and saw people in the windows, looking down at us and waving their hands.

by Jesse R Traynham - Author

Likes: 3
Words: 200

One day, we were minding our own business. Next, we're stuck in 1915. Life isn't fair. Now, Cynthia from Tours Through Time LLC has us "touring" the past. Sure, we've seen some spectacular events. We watched the Titanic launch, Rome burn, and the Berlin Wall crumble. Oh. The Hindenburg explosion. Insane.

But it's not home.

It all started one night in June 2028. I was flash-charging my EV at the local Snak-n-Fly. Some rando took the next bay. He wasn't there long. It happened so fast. A black van screeched off the highway, into the parking lot, and squealed to a stop. Six guys jumped out and gunned the dude down. I was so scared I nearly... Well. I was scared. I crawled under my EV and hid.

Once they were gone, I figured I was in the clear. My charge was full, so I climbed in and headed home. The police were waiting for me. Turns out those were really bad dudes. Known for cleaning messes. My entire family had to enter witness protection.

Now we're stuck hiding through history in this crazy touring car to stay safe, but really, I just want to go home.