9/11 Short Stories

Obtrusively,the thunder bellowed outside and the roaring sound filled the small room like rock music to a broken soul.Amongst the thunder, raindrops could be seen ebbing down the windowsill forming undecipherable miniscule shapes and later sinking down in the wall to gather at the edge.

Out of the darkness, rivers of brilliant light and color began to flow all around her, as if a dam holding back a rainbow had miraculously burst. Then she heard the music... a melody so beautiful it tugged at her very soul. It was as if the euphony clothed her in an impenetrable blanket. She felt warm. She felt safe. Uncontrollably, tears welled up, the hymn gripping her heart, and she was forced to squeeze her eyes shut and instinctively her body curled into a protective ball.

Now far enough away from the night club opening, Jessie could hear the distinct sound of a woman screaming. The heart wrenching sound made her stop mid step. Cold terror washed over her as she neared the corner of the alley and peered around it. There were distinct shapes - someone on the ground writhing in pain, one cowering against the wall, and three that approached her. She heard the poor woman crying out for help and saw one of the advancing shadows reach a hand up to strike her across the face. Nausea broiled in the put of her stomach and Jessie took a cautious step in. For a moment she weighed her options - trying to decide what to do. Did she fight or did she fly? Whatever - or rather whoever she thought she saw obviously wasn't real. There was no Superman. But this woman still needed help. Jessie clung to her phone as though it was a bludgeoning weapon and dialed 911. She took a step forward - about to call out to the attackers - when another shadow landed in front of her.

“But that still doesn’t answer my question as to how you knew that wasn’t my mother?” said Jack. “She was there, at my door, in plain sight!”

It was just for one night, thought she as she closed the window. The wind is howling and the rain is conducting a symphony of drums against the glass. She turns around and starts walking across the room, the white carpet is soft underneath her bare feet, as she walks to her chair, fixing up her mess of long, beautiful black hair into a messy bun. She has the hair of a Disney princess and the school thought she's one of the most beautiful girls in the entire class, with eyes of ice and a heart of gold. Underneath the mountain of clothes she has yet to put away she finds a towel and hands it to Roman. He takes it from her, their hands lightly touch and he flashes that million dollar, white as snow smile. His dad must be drinking again. Why else

There was a mysterious tapping at the window, and a sudden silence fell over the four people sitting by the fireplace. It was as if a cold chill had invaded the warmly lit room to remind them of the threatening storm and dark outside. The two brothers and their wives had been talking of Alan Drake, although they did not speak of him often, for they had little enough to say. He had simply walked away two years ago, leaving a cryptic note:

She took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes while emerging from the damaged spacecraft. Vibrant green grass awaited her along with trees all around and the smell of fresh rain dropping from the sky above. Raegan took a moment to wrap her head around what she had just experienced. It was only supposed to be a mission to collect data about the rings of Saturn. She was aware she went through something queer, something scientists said had only been a theory not yet proved. A wormhole; a fold in space. Raegan didn’t quite know where she was. All she had been aware of was that something went unplanned, which caused her to crash into a planet, perhaps in a distant universe. Anything could be possible in the infinite abyss we call space.

“MUM! Wait!” I yell. My throat is sore, partly from the yelling, but mostly from the running. The thick, night fog blocked my vision of the path ahead completely, only allowing the occasional glow of the street lamps barely come in sight. I don't remember why I’m running or where I’m headed exactly, just that something is going to happen. Something bad; but what? I trust my instincts to guide me through the maze of eerily empty streets and parked cars. I thought I’d seen something move in the corner of my eye, that’s when I hear the deafening explosion to my right. I cower beneath my arms, ready to anticipate the blazing heat of the supposed flames. I don’t feel anything. I realize why. Towering above me, a pair of worried eyes cautiously

‘Beep’
I answered the intercom.
“Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are here regarding their missing son” answered Sally, my assistant.
I signaled her to send them in. They entered with a melancholy look on their faces. Hand in hand they had a puppy like look that I couldn’t say no to. So with comfort and reassurance I urged them to share their horrific story. The story was that Matt; the Taylor’s son was reported
missing a few days ago. He was let go from school but never turned up at home. I assured them that I will do all that I can do and sent them home.

The case wasn’t that unique as there have been many disappearances and kidnappings in this town. Most of the kids are just trying to get out of this unexciting and dreary town or just wanted to get away

The evening was ominous and gray. The cold wind blew softly, and carried a heavy scent of blood through the streets. A loud intense screech pierced the ears of its listener, leaving the body trembling in fear.

They walked in the house and all went to their separate rooms. Calliope’s room was just down the hall from Quinn’s, so they walked up together.

She ran as fast as her feet could take her. The moonlight weaved in and out of the branches illuminating spots she could reach. She did not dare to turn back to look over her shoulder because she knew it is how the killer always got the victim. Her white slip teared when it got snagged against a branch. Her fingers gripped the silk material and held it together by the tattered seams. She quickly began her escape once more and found a clearing from the icy branches.

He stopped; footsteps stunned into silence. His face was drawn; his cheeks sunken. The red stain of his shadow faded as the horizon devoured the sun, engulfing him in darkness. The moon rose higher and the stars came out one by one, their celestial dance glittering in the dissipating clouds. His eyes began to adjust to the darkened surroundings as he took one last glance behind him. In that moment he knew he was leaving his past for good.

As soon as Day opened the door smoke billowed in. She quickly adjusted her mask and closed the door. The smoke covered everything like a thick blanket. For a while the sun and the smoke had fought, but eventually the sun had succumbed to the smoke, like everything else. The only light now was electrical, but unlike the sun they weren’t bright and happy. The lights held no warmth and instead seemed to make the world colder. It hadn’t changed overnight. It was the same cold and dismal place. Day started towards the market. People scarcely walked the streets and instead rode in Machines. The machines had made the world like this, if you could even call it a world.

The fireworks had just ended leaving large smoke clouds in the sky, and the large swarms of people made there way to the front gate. Lauren reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone to check the time. She clicked the lock button on the side a few times before realizing I had died. She sighed heavily knowing she had probably missed Camila’s good night text. Something they had done every night around the same time for the last 4 years.