Сај-Фај

As he fell, he was waiting to hear the sound of crunching bone, and maybe to feel the last pain in his life. His thoughts jumped to thinking how he should really try to turn around and maybe his arms would break the fall enough to…. Stupid idea. From the height he was falling, his body will turn to mush on impact. So he just closed his eyes and anticipated that crunch, maybe even some sloshing? And time slowed down, he felt almost like floating, and then… And then he opened his eyes, and he was in his bed, bathing in his sweat. He was dreaming something, just he no longer remembered what. The midday July sun was piercing through the window and was slowly cooking him. “Fuck, midday already?” he muttered to himself as he stumbled out of bed, trying to unstick himself from the drenched sheets. “Fuck summer.” The ice cold shower he prepared for himself did just enough to bring some semblance of good mood into him, that quickly evaporated as soon as he reentered his room. He really ...

This must be it, she thought, as they approached the cabin, the little boy clinging to her arm. The cabin was surrounded by a white-fenced yard, itself enclosed with the same scarlet-leafed trees that made Rotwald what it is. Except these were adorned by flowers that gradually shifted in glowing colors, giving a surreal illumination to the whole garden. It was a beautiful sight, nothing like the old man had described. Maybe the witch wasn’t as bad also? Surely an evil being cannot create something this beautiful. While she was lost in admiration of the garden, she felt the boy’s grip tightening around her arm, hiding his little body behind her leg. And then she felt something wet on her thigh. The warmth and smell that came with it told her that the boy had just pissed himself. She was ready to admonish him when she noticed the creature in front of her. It looked like a tall slim human covered in feathers, large head impossibly balanced on a bird-like neck. It’s beak was open, sh...

You now that feeling, the one that comes to you while you are sprawled in front of your TV in your underwear, covered in all kinds of crumbs from snacks with dubious nutritional value, the one feeling that tells you that everything is gonna change soon? Well, I think I had that exact feeling on that fateful day. There I was, content that the boring overdrawn week at work is finally winding down to three days of me catching up with my shows and trying not to die from being too lazy to breathe. And in that moment of bliss, I get the wild idea of ordering a pizza. Right now surely you are thinking: “Wow, this guy thinks ordering a pizza as an adventure, this story is surely going to be riveting!”. But before you drop this book, or whatever you are holding right now, and go do something better, I’m asking you to hear my story, for it gets better. So, pizza time! I grab my phone, lying there conveniently at arms reach, and order up a Capricciosa from my favourite place. “Gosh, even hi...

Krystabald was soaring through the Penoxion nebula in his Kreutz S-9000 at three times the theoretical speed allowed by the LGCPA (Local Group Civil Protectorate Agency). It was quiet, all indicator lights were blinking in harmonious way, and he could just relax on his stomach and let his new tentacle-tail massage his back. It was a wonderful bargain, a treat long overdue after all his space adventures. It was grown from the stem cells of an Ralexian salt worm. The rugged, yet soft material did wonders when he needed his back scratched. Not to mention the wonders it did to his more private parts… Those pleasant thoughts were interrupted by the blaring of the ship's alarm. “Object in path, advice course correction.” “Stop the racket and do something about it, you miserable waste bucket!” He screamed at the panels in front of him, but then he remembered he sold the AI to the CyberSlavers on Gibson Alpha. “Stupid digital piece of shit.” he muttered as he corrected the course a...

Running comes easy to me. At least it used to be like that. Part of being a soldier is running circles in full body armor around the walls of the city, your trusty weapon and shield by your side. But for me it wasn’t simply part of the training; it was the best part. I like the adrenaline rush, the resistance that my legs give as I push them more and more, my heart pumping at ever faster rate, my lungs expanding to the limits. And I can outrun my peers easily, I’m the fastest in the entire regiment. And that’s the main reason why I am in the current situation. Running not only for mine, but for the lives of thousands. I am running for ten miles already, unarmored, barefoot. Ten miles is a milestone, the mark when my body no longer cares it’s running, and just surrenders to my will. I can cover three times that, and more. And I had done it, many times. The only obstacle can be boredom. I’ve found that once my mind wins the battle against the rebellious organs, it reverts to the triv...

I’m part of the First King Brigade, the chosen ones who were destined to be victorious against the scourge that had taken the smaller neighboring kingdoms in one swift move. ‘We are Syngenia, the land of the Ascended Ones,  descendants of Malakir the Great, and we will not fall prey to some bug infestation!’ - King Simon shouted at the Palace Square, before his five brigades and the common folk that managed to gather around to witness them. And his speech was supported by cheering from the crowd and the warrior roar of the fifty thousand soldiers. I shouted too, feeling the battle cry of my mates in my bones, filling me with optimism and lust for victory. And we marched and galloped towards the northern border, full of determination, full of arrogance, full of the righteous power bestowed by the Ascended Ones. And we were cheered by the farmers, housewives, and the children ran besides us, often reaching up to touch their shiny heroes off to fight against the terrible enemy that ...

I am now running away from Wegrand, sweat starting to leave my forehead and threatening to invade my eyes. I take the towel from the belt to wipe it off, reminding myself that the real heat is yet to come. It was still two to three hours before the worse came, though, and i had plans to be in the reach of the capital by then. I take a sip from the water and increase my pace slightly. My thoughts again, are not on pleasant things. I am thinking about the burden on my left side, placed there to balance the water I carry to the right, but just heavier enough to feel my body compensating with each step. It wasn’t causing me fatigue, but it felt weird… like the pouch was somehow heating my left hip. But I smile at my stupidity. Whatever I am carrying, it cannot be hotter than the great ball that heats the whole planet and it just happens to be at the same side. I shrug off the feelings, and I try to think about the barmaid at the Gentle Giant. Maybe I could finally make a pass on her, a...