Sun Is A Tank On Fire

Today was the first day, in over a year, that I didn't go straight home after work. I tried. Heck, I had every intention, but Harry pulled up in front of my car, killed the ignition on his motorcycle, and thumped the kickstand down with some kind of purpose. I peered at him through my bug splattered windshield, leaned my head out the driver side window and whistled.     "What are you doing, old man? Need me to show you how to ride it?" I bantered with a grin. Harry smiled and hunched forward to adjust something on the side of his bike before replying. He was wearing black shorts, black shirt, work boots, and a Harley Davidson doo-rag.     "Come have a drink with me at the sportsman club, Mickey." For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why he started calling me Mickey, but it started soon after he got hired on. As I sat there, my brain sorted through excuses for why I couldn't join him, but my spirit animal kicked in and growled for even considering sa...

        “Why are you here?” Bruce asked while fidgeting with some buttons and dials on the large machine he was standing at.     “I was instructed to observe you during this transition,” Brian answered matter-of-factually.     “Okay, but why are YOU here?” Bruce repeated, this time with emphasis. Brian looked away, searching for solace in a nearby wall. There was none to be found. He could feel his brother still staring at him, and it felt as though a hole would penetrate his chest soon.     “Brian!” Brian's gaze snapped back.     “W-what?”     “Can you not answer a simple question? Why are you here instead of, oh I don't know, any of the other hundred people you work with?” Bruce demanded. “Did Mother Euphoria send you? I have a difficult time believing this is random.”     Brian shuffled. Beneath his breath, he cursed their Mother for placing him in this uncomfortable situation. He didn’t wan...

"Sir, the boat is coming back around. Over there, fifteen clicks northeast. See it?" Anatoly lifted his binoculars and scanned the ocean. The weight of them equaled the heaviness inside his chest. His heart beat hard and his breathing airway constricted as he focused in on the Russian warship approaching. He lowered the binoculars and sighed. "These pricks, I swear. We can do nothing. They come again and we talk again. End of story," Anatoly said. It was Marynia's turn to sigh. "But, sir.. we don't even have anything here. Nothing of importance. We barely have any weapons! Surely we present no danger to them." "It's not about what we have, Marynia, it's about where we are and where they are headed." "But sir, you're not implying..." Marynia exclaimed. Anatoly raised his hand slightly. "We musn't assume anything at this point, but we must also be prepared for the idea that they were not bluffing...

    Calvin set his backpack down on the end of the bed and opened it. He hovered for a minute, quietly staring at its contents, then zipped it shut. He looked around the hotel room. It was basic. A bed with horribly colored quilt and sheets. A small desk fastened to a wall with a swivel chair too high to slide beneath it. A knee high fridge, small bathroom and shower and that was pretty much it. He walked over to the window and looked out at the view of the wall-side of the next building over. He checked his watch and noticed the time. He turned and looked at the hotel phone; it began ringing. He waited until the seventh ring to answer it.      "Hey you!" he said. "Yep, I just arrived," he added. "Okay, I'll meet you in the hotel restaurant."      Downstairs, Calvin navigated the ground level of the hotel until he found the restaurant and bar. He approached the entry and was immediately greeted by an employee.      "Mask, please. An...

     Edgar used his knife to carefully cut the tail away from the body and then tossed it over his shoulder. It slid across the tile floor and came to rest near the others. Together, the tails looked like a pile of mismatched discarded feather boas. Edgar paid them no mind, but instead remained focused on preparing the rest of the carcass for dinner. He inserted the tip of his blade into the crotch area and began pulling the knife slowly through the abdomen, splaying it in two. As he reached the neck he suddenly heard a crashing sound coming from somewhere outside. Pulling the knife out, Edgar walked over to the window, leaving a trail of blood droplets across the dining room floor behind him. He peered out, his eyes scanning the lower level of the complex for anything unusual. He noticed a large tree branch had broken beneath the weight of the snow and crashed down part of the fence beneath it. He nervously looked out past the perimeter for any signs of advancement, but ...

(a short story) "Babe, where is my electric razor?" Rupert asked while taking a final survey of the master bathroom.      "It's packed already, hun. It's in the blue suitcase with all the other bathroom crap and our socks and stuff. I promise, it's in there," answered his wife from the bedroom where she was busily folding and stuffing a weeks worth of outfits into a large grey luggage case. She pulled two bikinis out of her dresser drawer and held them up for comparison.      "You're sure the hotel has a swimming pool, right?" she asked. "It won't be like last time?"      Rupert walked into the bedroom and over to where Abby stood, still holding up the swimsuits. He placed his arms around her waist from behind.      "I like the green and yellow one; you look super sexy in it," he said while kissing her neck. "And yes, I triple checked with the hotel. They assured me the swimming pool area is open and filled with...