Jerusalem 38 A.D. Demas drummed stubby fingers on the polished table surface and flatly stared at the distraught woman seated in front of him. She reminded him of a mouse—small features, sharp dirty face, and piss poor. "I do not know what to do. He hasn't spoken or eaten in days. The other day—" the... Continue Reading →
THE BROTHER
Dele's scream echoed from wall to wall as each strike of the hammer drove the dull iron nail through his wrist. Sweat mixed with tears rolled down his cheeks as blood pumped from the wound. "W-why are you doing this?" His question came as a plea, voice scratchy from all his screaming. "Why am I... Continue Reading →
SACRIFICE
SACRIFICE ...all "good" things come to the desperate... Somewhere in West Africa 1679 “It's a girl,” the midwife mumbled in a raspy voice. She was a short woman with a bent back, and withered skin much like dates—shrivelled and brown. Nneka smiled a little then turned her face away. She wasn’t sad, but at the same... Continue Reading →
JUNE
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. You would have noticed it's a bit stormy and the wind is against us. We require a steep manoeuvre through the storm clouds. Passengers are advised to be belted up..." As the captain's voice droned on mechanically, June's heart sank. Murmurs erupted as each passenger... Continue Reading →
THE BOY AT THE SHED
Theo felt his wife’s hand rest on his shoulder as she dropped a cup of coffee on his working table. Elizabeth smelled of vanilla today, he liked it. He also noticed her movement was hesitant, something was bothering her. “What’s the matter?” When Theo heard Elizabeth sit and sigh heavily, he braced himself for whatever was... Continue Reading →