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Innanzitutto ti chiedo di porti con maggiore calma. Poi, vale ciò che ti ho detto un anno fa, a maggior ragione adesso che gli utenti che non vogliono passare dallo smistamento possono postare in Work in progress e proporre le proprie opere direttamente agli altri utenti -
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"All right, children." Miss Spencer clapped her hands. "It's circle time."
The preschoolers sat on the big rug in the middle of the church basement floor, in a rough approximation of a circle. "Today we're going to play a game called Telephone," Miss Spencer said. "I will whisper a message to Benjamin. He will whisper the message to Emily, and Emily will whisper it to Nathan, and we'll go around the circle until the message gets back to me. And then we'll see if the message is the same or if it has changed. Ready?" She leaned down and cupped her hand around Benjamin's ear. "Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye," she whispered.
The children passed the message around the circle, giggling, their heads almost touching as the secret was whispered into their waiting ears. She smiled down at the boy on her left, the last link in the chain. He listened intently as a girl in striped leggings gave him the message, softly, her chubby hand hiding her mouth.
The boy was new, and Miss Spencer didn't know his name. He must have arrived late, after the good morning song. She was surprised the director hadn't mentioned that another child would be joining her class. His dark brown eyes were serious in his solemn face. She tilted her head encouragingly. "Would you like to tell us the message?"
"Sing a song Miss Spencer, you put him in the lye," he said.
The children shrieked with laughter as Miss Spencer struggled to maintain her composure. "That was certainly different!" She finally managed. She picked up a book. "It's story time."
"Nooo!" A chorus of high voices shouted their disapproval. "The game! We want to play the game!"
She hesitated. "All right. One more time." She set the book down slowly, thinking. "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them," she whispered in Benjamin's small, downy ear.
The message passed quickly around the circle, to the little boy with the dark brown eyes. Miss Spencer waited uneasily for him to speak.
"Brittle bones sleep and fester deep 'cos she doesn't know how to grind them." His childish voice rang out clearly.
"And why did the last teacher leave?" The young woman asked, after the director had shown her the facility. The director shook her head. "She had an...episode. A breakdown, you might call it." The director sighed. "Most unfortunate. Her fiancee went missing. I suppose she couldn't handle the grief."
"How sad," the young woman murmured. -
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“There never were any damn snakes in Ireland,” the stranger said, pounding his mug on the bar. Flecks of flat green beer slapped Moira across the face.
“Easy there, champ,” she said. “It’s just a legend. Need another?”
“Please,” he said, pushing the mug across the bar. “And it’s not a legend, it’s a lie.”
Moira grabbed the mug and reached for the tap, but she hesitated.
“This is, what, four already for you? You sure I shouldn’t cut you off?”
The stranger bowed his head. Moira couldn’t help but notice a yellowish-green tint to his skin. The whites of his eyes were a sickly piss yellow, as well.
“Jaundiced,” she thought.
“I’ll quiet down,” the stranger said. “I don’t mind St. Patrick’s Day. It’s just that particular damn story.”
Moira filled the stranger’s mug and pushed it back to him.
“Yeah? What, you got a pet snake or something? Herpes-ologist or whatever?”
“Nothing like that. First of all, St. Patrick had nothing to do with anything. He was a wizened old missionary. The natives humored him. They sprinkled a little Christ on top of their celebrations to keep the money flowing from Rome. St. Patrick brought money to build churches, dig wells.”
“You talk like you knew him,” Moira said.
“It was all fine until the money stopped coming. St. Patrick’s, ah, cavalier attitude toward conversion had been noticed. Rome cut off the gold supply and left St. Patrick in a lurch. He’d promised ransoms to the Norse villages to keep raiding to a minimum. That’s when a few of the locals near Au’ Myrterie told him there was plenty of gold to be had in Ireland, if you knew where to look.”
Moira leaned across the bar. The stranger smelled like cheap beer with a tang of something else – an old purse, leather gone bad.
“The Green Folk had gold, the locals said. They hoarded it in a cavern near Loch Purslane. A natural overflow from the loch showered the caves below with mist. When the sun hit the mist just right, it created rainbows.”
The stranger drained his mug. Moira refilled it instinctively.
“The Green Folk lived in the caverns surrounding Loch Purslane. They were half-fish or dragon, some said, due to their green scales and yellow eyes. It was half a leap from there to calling us devils. They came with nets and pikes. Few survived.”
“Us?” Moira said.
“Us. Aye,” said the stranger. “They took our gold from those shimmering rainbow caverns and left the lot of us to rot by the shores of the loch. I don’t know when St. Patrick got directly thrown into the story – he was miles away haggling with the Norse. The Lep’reckin, we called ourselves. Imagine what that got bastardized to.”
The stranger sighed and reached into his pocket. He flicked a heavy gold token on the bar.
“That ought to cover my tab, and more,” he said. “Just remember – there were never any damn snakes in Ireland.” -
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“Heeelllloooo, my busy little worker bees! This is your C.E.O. Wendy Addams, yet again giving out another progress report! Now that you’ve entered hour four of this lovely little death match, let’s see who’d literally kill for that promotion! Haha- get it?
“Firstly, Anne, creative use of the company-provided staplers! I’m not naming names, but it seems a few individuals just couldn’t handle it! Haha!
“And Gregory. Who knew under that soft, nerdy exterior there was a complete monster? You sure cleared out floor three, didn’t you, Gregory? Those assholes in the Engineering Sector won’t be bothering you anymore, that’s for sure!
“While we’re on about engineering, I’ve noticed that while Tom’s odd little contraption made from the printer did do the trick for a while, he was no match for Tammy’s gun. Sorry, Tom. I’d tell you what you did wrong, but you’re dead!
“Props to Tammy for finding the hidden armory, but Tammy-dear, your aim could be better. Tom suffered for exactly six minutes, two seconds because you didn’t get the quick headshot you were hoping for. One tip, Tammy: Aim slightly above your target if you can’t achieve point-blank. Good luck with that!
“Now, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. Those hours at the gym paid off, didn’t they? One thing: be a little more forceful, will you? Excellent use of company fire extinguishers. However, optimum killing momentum allows for just one impact to kill. This saves precious energy on your part. Remember our company motto, and ‘Be efficient,’ Jeremy!
“Ah. Feeling tired, Sharon? Maybe pick up a snack in the cafeteria. Or not. Jason’s guarding the fridge.
“Oooh, sorry, Jason! I just gave away your position, didn’t I? Why couldn’t you be more clever like Harriet, who’s hiding in the basement?
“Whoops.
“Ahem. Um, Nancy, the way you took out that intern was EPIC! Can’t clean up his own mess, poor thing, after cleaning up all of ours. But the bitch probably deserves it. Perhaps the next intern will know the difference between decaf-mocha and decaf-java. Honestly.
“Now, pay attention, my little worker bees! Our population has been reduced from six-hundred to two-seventy five, with approximately forty-three being due to suicide. Shameful, right? Those forty-three do not properly represent this company. Be. Sure. You. Do. And don’t forget our other motto: ‘work until death!’ That is all!
“Actually, wait, wait, wait, one more thing. A special Congratulations to floor five worker Emerson Jones for his fabulous kill count of one-hundred and forty-seven! Watch out for this guy!
“Oh, duh! Wish Phil and Mark a Happy Birthday! Or… just Mark. That will be all until I give out the progress report for hour five! Keep slaying until then, my little worker bees! This is Wendy Addams, signing out.”[/SPOILER]SPOILER (clicca per visualizzare)[SPOILER]https://redd.it/60aaap -
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Damn, the woman next to me is beautiful. I know I'm wrong for cheating but she's incredible. I'm just lying here with her after some great sex, staring at her sexy figure, pretty face, and blonde ha.."FUCK!!", I shouted. "What's wrong?" she said, looking at me puzzled. Sorry, just got a bad pain in my foot, no big deal." "I should get going though, my wife is expecting me." As I left, I stubbed my toe. This is the thing; I can feel the pain of an injury before it happens. I don't feel the full extent of it, but it is definitely not comfortable. Like when I was lying with my mistress in bed and I got that jolt of pain in my foot, I knew something was going to happen within 12 hours. Sometimes it is minor, other times its not.
I finally got home to my wife. She is so beautiful, and yes, I love her. We are quite the power couple. We have a wonderful family, a big white house with a fence, and I have a great job. Things people strive for. I know, I know; why would I cheat? I have no good answer for you, but I will deny it up and down. Anyways, at about 12:30 am, I start holding my head. My wife asks me what's wrong, and I tell her it's nothing, but the pain is unbearable. I tell her I have to go lie down. I've never had sudden pain this strong before. Normally, it is brief and manageable. But this is much worse. I see a shadow in the doorway, and hear my wife's voice say, "it's happening isn't it?" She knows about my ability. "It will go away soon," I told her. "That's what you said after the burn on your hand and your back problem!" Doesn't the anticipation kill you?!" It is difficult to understand what I go through, but no, I would rather not know how the pain is going to present itself later. I just told her to go to sleep, and I'll let her know how it is tomorrow.
I woke up at about 9 am by the nudging of my wife. "Get up, we have a busy day today, how's your head?" "Better, just like I said it would." "Yeah, well this better just be a routine 'knocking your head on a lamp' situation; you can't afford to fall and get knocked out or something." I suppose we will see soon. It normally happens within a 12 hour span. However, the longer it takes, the worse the injury I'll sustain. I'm not scared. I feel invincible. I'm just going about my routine. I look at the clock and see it is about 11 am. I hear a knock at the door. It's probably the secret service. "I'm almost ready," I said. "Your car is ready Mr. President, parade starts soon." Hopefully I can make it through the parade without a headache. -
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Two very important things happened in the year 2075, The first was that humanity discovered a way to get to heaven, and the second was the apocalypse.
It turns out that on Pluto there is a region of immensely strong gravity. Strong enough that light shouldn’t have been able to escape it. But from that place on Pluto, a bright, pure light shone. It’s how we found it in the first place. Pluto’s too far away to see from the earth even with , but even in daylight everyone on earth could see that light.
Now the apocalypse was an entirely different matter. That came from under the earth and oceans. Tall creatures with smooth carapaces, and black unblinking eyes. They stood upright, but when they moved they skittered around on the ground like cockroaches. They were quick and their exoskeletons were tough, they were strong enough to tear an average human male in half and no matter how many the army killed, there would always be more to take their place.
Countries were already planning manned expeditions to investigate the anomaly on Pluto, but with the appearance of these creatures an expedition was fast tracked. I was one of the few priests chosen to accompany the astronauts on their interstellar journey to heaven. My official role was to provide morale support for the crew, but I think we all knew us priests were being sent to somehow convince whoever was on the other side to help us.
I have been steadfast in my faith, even with the apocalypse. But something I heard before we left keeps bothering me, no matter how hard I try to forget it. It was a quote that went, “I saw the face of God, and it was weeping.” I guess it upset me so because I was scared it would be true. What if when I saw God, he was weeping because he couldn’t stop what was going on. What if we were already doomed and something stronger than God had us in it’s power. These thoughts so troubled me that I half hoped our craft would crash, so I wouldn't have to find out for sure. But we made it to Pluto, and we went through to the other side.
On the other side we saw what could only be described as angels and a being that had to be God. He was immense, like us but unlike us. As we got closer, I saw that he was looking at the earth. I somehow knew he could see everything going on. As I watched him, all my previous worries were replaced by a terrifying realization. Because I saw what he saw, I saw the creatures ripping soldiers not old enough to drink apart, I saw them crush small children’s heads like grapes, I saw them dismember entire families. I saw his face as he saw all this.
I saw the face of God, and it was smiling. -
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I am blind and drowning. I wander, unsure of where I am, looking for my son, spitting metallic-tasting liquid out of my mouth.
It's been six days since the rain started. As the hours dwindled and the seconds went, I couldn't help but to want to go outside.
My husband went out on the third day, but he never came back. I worried, not only about him, but for the safety of my child and I. You'd think phones wouldn't work, but they're actually still up and running.
I tried calling him, but he never answered. I have the sickest feeling in my stomach that he's never coming back.
A day ago, my mother messaged me, telling me to pay attention to the news. I was sitting in my house. Waiting for more information, with my child by my side.
The news was finally on. But as I was watching, I felt that the sound of rain was calling to me. Beckoning to me. It was as if saying that whatever the news was saying, it didn't matter. We were already headed for the door. I gripped my child's hand tight, making sure he would never let go.
But he did. Ano now I'm wandering in the rain, searching for him, blind and drowning. There are others in the rain too, confused and struggling. I can hear faint wails, but they pale in comparison to mine. I stumbled to the pavement, trying to remember the news anchor's words that were dulled by the rain's sound.
Do not go outside.
It's been six days since the rain started. Three days since my husband left. I wished I had convinced my husband to stay with me. I wished I had stayed in the house. With my husband and my child, watching the news and learning why this godforsaken rain hasn't stopped.
And more importantly, why the rain looks so much like blood.
Edited by DamaXion - 2/11/2020, 10:00 -
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Benvenuto! -
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E io che mi lamento se, dopo un'abbuffata, sento un peso sullo stomaco per ore: figuriamoci tre chili e quaranta centimetri di feti calcificato per decenni :o -
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Eh, tra qualche mese sono sei anni, è un'infinità 
Fa piacere anche rivedere volti familiari, dato che spesso si avvicendano vere e proprie generazioni di utenti e anche i frequentatori più abituali poi scompaiono -
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Ciao Mogoros, è sempre un piacere ritrovarti 
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We arrived in the ambulance and got out as quickly as we could.
"We need a neck brace and a stretcher," said Rick.
"I'm on it," Stuart replied.
I looked at the mangled body on the road, seeing it gasp for breath, knowing it was probably too late. But for that one time in a hundred, I crouched down next to them.
"Don't worry, we're here now. Where do you hurt?" I soothed.
The body just breathed; they appeared paralysed.
The other paramedics returned with the stretcher and placed it next to the man, the victim of a hit and run.
Rick placed the neck-brace behind him and closed it shut.
"Help me lift him on, be careful, I think he may have broken his back or neck."
Stuart took one end and I the other. Over the loud speaker I heard the announcement.
"It's time for your mandatory pleasure period; have fun for the next 15 minutes."
We dropped the body in unison and began laughing and joking.
"Hey, guys, he's dying, please help me?" Rick pleaded.
We feigned a smile.
"What did you do last night, Stuart?" I asked.
"I had so much fun with the family," he responded smiling.
"Good, I had a lot of fun with my family too."
"Shit, I think we are losing him," Rick said panicked.
"Stop it!" I demanded, "Have fun!"
"Hahaha, I love it here. Do you know, I'm going to ride a horse after work?" I said laughing.
"Oh that does sound like fun, I'm going to," Stuart began before the sound of machine gun fire broke through our conversation.
The bullets landed in Rick in quick succession. His body lurched forward onto the man in the road.
"I think his dead body is suffocating the man," Stuart said cheerfully.
"Haha, I think you are right. I love our job."
"Me too!" Stuart replied, trying his hardest to hold back the tears. -
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Sally sat on her front porch, casually sipping her iced tea and watching as the Empty waited at the edge of her farm.
No-one knew what caused the Empty to appear, or why. All anyone could tell, it has just popped up in some tiny town called Harmony. Probably why no one noticed right away. At the time, it was just a small mass of pitch black nothingness, about the size of a tire. It was a big deal at the time, with all the eggheads and boffins coming down to poke and prod it. Turns out that if something goes into the Empty, it doesn't come out. It just simply ceases to be. Doesn't matter how strong it is, or how durable, or even how big, the Empty consumed it all.
Then those people noticed that it was growing. About five miles a day, more or less. And that's when everyone got really scared. In one day, it consumed Harmony and the surrounding area, along with all those nosy scientists. Some people think they activated it or fed it, but who really knows?
And now Sally's farm, a farm that she had gotten from her dad, who got it from his dad, was about to be consumed within the day. The old barn where she'd milked the cows. The fields where she'd run and play when she was a kid. The house she'd grown up in all her life. All would be consigned unto oblivion by sundown.
Sally knew that she should have evacuated by now, moved as far away from the Empty as she could. But what was the point? Nobody could stop the Empty from growing. Nobody could even explain what it was, since all attempts to even analyze the thing ended in failure. It would be slow, but the Empty would eventually spread over the earth.
Of course, some people suggested that they should evacuate to space, like in the movies. But that was a pipe dream at best. Humanity couldn't be asked to field enough ships to evacuate a viable population into space. And even if they could, The Empty was growing up as well as out. It would probably consume anything in orbit. It would just take a lot longer.
In the end, the choice was simple. She could join the fleeing population, eventually being corralled into a mass of panicked humanity as oblivion consumed them all bit by bit. Or she could simply wait, surrounded by her favorite things in her own home, and go out on her own terms.
It really wasn't that hard a decision.
And as the Empty crept, slowly but surely, onto her farm, she took another sip of her tea. She noticed the pitcher was empty. But that was alright. Sally figured she had time to make one more batch. -
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"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"Do you think catapills know they're gonna be buh-flies?"
"Do you?"
"I unno. I think they wake up one day an' are like 'oh em gee I can fly what is this???' you know?"
"Indeed. Would you like to fly, child?"
"Someday."
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"How long was your nap?"
"Many years."
"Like, more than ten?"
"Many tens."
"That's a long nap!"
"Indeed."
"Do you ever need to sleep again?"
"One day, perhaps. A long time from now."
"I napped almost a whole day one time!"
"Most impressive."
"I was soooooo hungy when I woke up. Are you hungy?"
"Very."
"But you're not gonna eat anybody, right?"
"Correct."
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"Look how high I can jump!"
"Astonishing."
"Have you ever played jum prope?"
"I cannot say that I have."
"You should try sometime, you'd be good at it."
"I shall keep that in mind."
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"How come everyone's 'fraid of you?"
"All tend to fear that which they do not understand."
"What's that mean?"
"I am old and powerful beyond humanity's comprehension."
"What's that mean?"
"I am before your people's time."
"What's that mean?"
"I come from a place you cannot see."
"Why not?"
"You lack the ability and have not yet invented the technology to compensate."
"What's that mean?"
"Your scientists have not yet discovered other dimensions, despite their many theories."
"What's that mean?"
"All in due time, child."
"Why?"
"Perhaps you can show me how high you can jump again."
"Okay!"
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"How come everybody looks at me all the time but not everybody else?"
"You are special."
"Why?"
"Time will tell."
"So like... why can't anybody else move things when they look at them?"
"You have evolved beyond the others."
"What's evol'd?"
"Evolution is the process by which organisms... you are special."
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"Are there more like you down there?"
"Many."
"An'... will they like me?"
"They will worship you, child."
"An' they'll do what I want?"
"Indeed."
"Do... do you like me?"
"More than you know."
"Hey, thoo thoo?"
"Yes, child?"
"Tell me the story 'bout the ah-tah-puss princess again."
"Very well." -
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Panico proveniente da