Break From Reality. Daily.
“What’s wrong, kid? Ya look terrible.” “Nothin’, Sarge, it’s just…” Sergeant Grimes had seen that exact look on the faces of hundreds of young soldiers. “Got a ‘Dear John’ letter, eh?” “Yeah, and my name’s Eddie,” he said, trying to laugh. “Ya gotta forget her, kid. That’s what I do.” Eddie laughed for real this…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2025 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. “We found a body, ma’am. It’s—” Joanne Shepard’s knees buckled at the words. I caught her in time and guided her to the yellow velvet sofa. She looked at me like a…
From atop the towering gallows, the hooded hangman inhaled the mingled scents of damp dirt and fresh-cut timbers and smiled. It was a crisp, beautiful morning, perfect for a hanging, and no one deserved the punishment more than the notorious outlaw Henry Slade.
The manacled prisoner danced a carefree jig in the muddy street below. No one ever hurried to ascend the stairs leading to their execution, but Slade was the first to sashay up the foreboding thirteen steps.
The townsfolk gladly constructed the gallows overnight in a downpour, to rid the territory of the evil plague embodied by Henry Slade. They expected him to tremble with fear and beg for mercy, but the outlaw did not oblige. Instead, he cackled with glee from the elevated platform.
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. “Hello, David.” “Are you kidding me, Dad? I was as stealthy as a ninja. How did you know I was here?” He shifted his view from the shimmering lake to me and…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2022 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Clay Tucker rubbed his sternum where the bartender shot him the last time. It still burned, but it made Clay remember to duck as he went inside the saloon this time. The…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2022 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Colonel Hank Lassiter possessed the uncanny ability to sense when someone was watching him. Like now. Fresh snow crunched underfoot as he approached his remote mountain cabin. He stopped mid-stride near…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 10th Anniversary Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Who IS this girl? 13-year-old Tommy Frye made it his quest to find out. The year was 1949 when the rural town lad walked to the store that sunny day to…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2021 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Foreclosure loomed and the money from donating plasma barely filled the gas tank. Penelope closed her eyes a moment, breathed in deep, then exhaled slowly. Something had to change in her…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2020 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. William Curry turned 18 today and that meant changes. Big changes. He closed his eyes to mentally prepare for an arduous day. But first, he had a party to attend! Seated…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2020 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Miranda placed her gun into Tommy’s palm and gently wrapped his fingers around it. She whispered, “You’ll need this for the fight, sweetheart. Don’t ask me how I know, I just…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2020 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Miranda placed her gun into Tommy’s palm and gently wrapped his fingers around it. She whispered, “You’ll need this for the fight, sweetheart. Don’t ask me how I know, I just…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2019 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. Jessi Pyke stood tall, proud and naked, while four men, all armed, stared at her lithe body. Meanwhile, she evaluated them…to determine the kill sequence. Earlier that morning, after her seven-mile…
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2018 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. “Hey, neighbor, got an ax?” The man with the gruff voice was mostly hidden by the trees separating the campsites. “Sorry, no. We bought wood at the campground entrance,” Rob lied….
This story is by David Elderton and was part of our 2018 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here. “I don’t want your body found, kid, dig it deep!” Tony and two unfamiliar bodyguards, one fat, one skinny, snickered as Marco dug his own grave. “Tony, I -” Marco started….
