Conor Thackray

“An Extract from "Kindleborn"” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #95

The Caravan swayed and bumped along the track with rickety creaking noises and everyone in the caravan bumped with it, the plodsteed’s hooves clopping across the cobbled road. There were five children in all Jay’ell, Dazda, Montery, Jasper and Aiv. All of them had the same, slightly reflective bronze coulored skin and golden eyes of Kindleborn, a strange new race of humans who had started to appear over the last 20 years. All of them had been taken by Stirben, under the license of a, supposed, Ashclad; a division formed for the sole purpose ...

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“Behind the Curtain ” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #93

“None of it’s real sweet,” my Dad said to be from behind his growing beard capped with foam from his beer. He gave a reassuring smile and ruffled my dark hair as I quailed behind an untouched box of popcorn. “It’s all just for show. No need to be scared, she’s probably practiced this lots of times.” Dad was a doctor who knew all about bodies and stuff, so I tried to reassure myself with that fact. It was hard however when the whole audience around us in the circular stalls held their breath as a slender woman in full teal body paint slid a s...

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“The Twist” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #91

“Let’s pretend, just for a minute, that I believe everything you say,” Officer Scott Wilde began, pushing the evidence bag toward Nikolaus as he edged about uncomfortably in his plastic chair. “The whole story, from the beginning. What is so special about this.” The clear wrapper of the bag chuckled as he pressed it and Nikolaus flinched before speaking. “It’s too complicated and…” He paused before continuing, “Outlandish for you to understand. If I tried to tell you even half the story, you’ll either loose interest or try to get me sectione...

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“Persuing The Pipes” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #88

It was a miserable wet October night in 1301 when a cripple trudged his way into the market town of Durschtuck. He walked with a cane, and his feet squelched in the mud with an uneven rhythm. The watchman saw his shape on the road and raised a hooded lantern to turn its beam on the approaching figure. “Hallo!” He called out as the visitor squelched toward him. “Who comes?” The stranger raised his face, but its features were unclear in the deluge. He was tall and tried to walk with a straight back but even his long travel cloak could not disg...

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“Okil Steger The Castle in the Clouds” by Conor Thackray

There were only three of them left now. Well, four if you counted Missile, the lame donkey, but the band of thieves had taken a toll to their numbers on their journey up the Cousgarrd Mountains. The word Cousgarrd meant cloud piercer in the language of Giants and it was small wonder that it was they who named it so, because, as far as Lanette was concerned, they were the only ones capable of scaling this ridiculously steep pathway. “It’s been days Gregor! How much further!?” The green skinned figure ahead, turned his tusked face back to lo...

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“The Hungry Tower” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city…” Detective Inspector Steph remarked, pulling her gloves off as she stepped away from the body. “It just gets more brutal by the day.” Detective Inspector Hanlon, trying not to look at the body for too long grimaced at what was left of the man on the floor. The man was dressed in a shirt and trousers, with curly black hair and a stump surrounded by crusted blood, where his right arm used to be. “What do you think did this?” He asked through gritted teeth, his gut churning. Steph shrugged as she threw her glo...

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“The Lady” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #83

“TAKE IT BACK!!” Bedivere screamed from the bottom of his anguished lungs, and with his remaining hand he tossed the sword, end over end singing and gleaming back toward where it had been pulled from. Excalibur, sword of the just, cut the light from the sun that set over the distant hills into blood red ribbons as it arced before plunging toward the surface of the sacred lake. The tall forest trees cast long shadows across the water and Excalibur passed through them like a bird of prey, hungry for a fish below the still water. However, just ...

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“W.H.I.C” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #82

I know when I’m not being taken seriously. I can see it, the eyes glaze, the head nods and the mouth agrees far too much. So, when I told Dr Parsons that I thought I was allergic to my W.H.I.C, I could tell at once that she thought I was talking nonsense I suppose that was understandable. W.H.I.Cs, or Wrist Housed Information Capsules, were made of hypo allergenic, semi biotic matter and were implanted hours after birth in every child and were so small that it barely left a scar. So, for me, a 23-year-old, to be complaining now of allergies ...

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“A Taste for Freedom” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #81

She was hungover again that Wednesday, so I’d had to go in to work for her. She hadn’t been to the office for almost a month now, telling me she still needed some “well-deserved” time off. She’d only had the job for six months. So far on her time off all she’d done was stare at her phone, watch the tele and get drunk. She’d used her trust fund from her parents to pay for me; a Doppel. A clone that could perform tasks for her and also take her place in public without anyone noticing; identical in every way apart from a small metal device in t...

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“The Last Interview with Peter Waston-Lea within the Accounts of the Evelyn Bones” by Conor Thackray

ACCESS TO DOCUMENT PROHIBITTED I.D NO: 2375-1294-2256_ PLEASE ENTER PASSCODE TO PROCEED -:*********_ ENTER ACCESS KEY -: *************_ ACCESS TO FILE “PETER WATSON-LEA” GRANTED “Below is a transcript of the last recorded interview with Peter Watson-Lea. Recorded on the 24.2.22 at Chester County Medical Hospital by ERR. NAMES REMOVED. It is part of a series of testimonies to provide evidence for the existence and potential danger of the artifact known as the Evelyn Bones.” For the tape, my name is Peter Francis Graeme Watson-Lea...

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“Growing Pains” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #78

“Just promise you won’t tell mum.” Evie had me by the wrist now and was pulling me out of the back door. “You know I can’t promise that sweetie,” I replied, trying to stay light-hearted in the face of my daughter’s obvious anxiety. She was taking me toward the garden, with a real sense of urgency in her tone, through the glass doors away from where I had been working at the dining table. I had terminated the call early when, no matter what I did or faces I pulled, she continued to tug at my sleeve. “Daddy! You have to promise! I’m not suppos...

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“The Looking Lake” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #77

A Fragment from the Tales of the Evelyn Bones “Do you skate sir?” I asked Dr Prest as we both enjoyed a cigar and looked out at the falling snow. He took a few slow puffs, adding to the noxious blue atmosphere that shrouded us both like the white curtain outside. “I’m sorry to say I don’t Bartley. I didn’t see you as the skating type?” I watched the end of my cigar smolder for a moment before tapping the grey ash into the ornate tray that sat atop the beautiful, low, walnut table between our two wingback chairs. “I’m full of surprises,” I ...

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“Artful” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #75

“Read all about it! Read all about it! Spring-Heeled Jack spotted right here in London! First sighting! Read it here! Come and get it!” A shilling landed at the boy’s feet in his hat, and he nodded his thanks. His long black fringe flopping over his eyes, “Thank you Kindly sir,” He handed the gentlemen a newspaper, with the headline on the front and he took it without a word of thanks and began reading as he walked, not even looking Jack in the eye. It had not been a good shift so far. Despite the bustling crowds, no one seemed interested in...

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“Co0K!e Monk3y” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #72

There is a black monkey sat on my shoulder. Its toes curl deep into the meat of my flesh, and it’s human like hands, guide my own toward my phone before returning to its work. My monkey watches my screen blink to life first thing in the morning, watches me run my thumb across the faces of people I used to know, shoving their personal accounts up and out of my eyeline. Only when I stop, does Monkey really take notice, he stares at my screen, his big red eyes taking in as much information and detail as possible. When I tap a news item, or a pi...

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“After Harry” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #70

Inspired by the “Harry” by Rosemary Timperly “So, Ms James. You’ve been with us now for… Oh wow, 8 years.” Dr Leighton put straightened her glasses and leaned back in her chair, relaxed. Her white teeth shone in the afternoon light that came through the thick windows, and she wore casual clothes that seemed out of place in such a formal environment. “So, how are you feeling?” Samantha James fidgeted in her seat, her emaciated knees rubbing together like two matchsticks and she lifted her green eyes to meet the Doctors. “I’m feeling, okay. ...

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