Heartbeat

 

LEA26 Resonant Osmosis

“Hush,” he said.

“They are coming.” The fear was palpable in her voice.

They could hear her, the interceptors. They could hear her breathe. They could hear her heartbeat. The vibrations of their humming resonated on the walls.

He covered her with his body. He used to be like them, intercepting to drown the resistance.

But she'd changed everything. Her eyes. Her smile, despite everything. And in a heartbeat, he wanted to protect her, to keep her alive.

The humming became distant.

"We're safe for now".

And she smiled that smile that almost made him believe he had a heartbeat.

100 Word Stories

Paranoia

 

Betelgeuse 5

He looked at the dark building. Why had they called him in? Not a transfer, he hoped. His Sector was busy but he liked it there, especially since Steve, the new mutant, had arrived. Steve always tried to outsmart the local gamblers, but he was hopeless.

"Next," someone shouted. The implant reader confirmed his ID. "Room 3, Terminations." Terminations? The door opened and there was Steve.

"OMG, Steve, am I fired?"

"Yes, you are." Steve smiled.

"But why?"

"I need someone paranoid enough to be my shadow."

The relief washed away his paranoia.

But he didn't tell that to Steve.

100 Word Stories

Broken Lightbulb

 

Time Remains - Fenris Isle

At the thrift shop, he spotted an artist's mannequin with a lightbulb for a head, leaning against a tarnished mirror. It's broken, they said. But he bought it anyway, and placed it on the mantelpiece. There was just something about that small fragile wooden figure. The next day, the mannequin was gone. Who took the mannequin, he shouted. Not me, everyone replied. He searched the whole house, and found the mannequin leaning against the full-body mirror in the bedroom. He could've sworn that there was a faint glimmer in that lightbulb. Perhaps the mannequin wasn't that broken after all.

100 Word Stories

Sharp Scissors

Milk Wood

She decorated the scissors with a tussle. Sharp but innocent-looking. Don't forget the... and she looked out the window. The sun was so beautiful. The birds were chirping. Are you listening? She wasn't. Don't forget the pack of sticky note pads of all possible sizes. One hundred of them. And don't forget to bring them in different... Colors, yes. Annoying... They would have sticky notes all over the place with sticky messages packed with stupidity. The scissors came in handy when it was time to get rid of the sticky problem... It was messy, but it was worth it.

100 Word Stories