Corbin Sage

“Cows” by Corbin Sage

Dexter always had trouble distinguishing his left from his right. He had to hold both his hands up, pointer fingers pointing to the sky and thumbs sticking out sideways, and see which side made the forwards “L” for left. His teacher in second grade had held him after class for three weeks, patiently trying to explain a concept he just could not grasp, until she took to the internet for a quick fix. For a while, Dexter considered getting a small, classy tattoo of an “L” and “R” on the base of his thumbs, but then realized that, 1) he was brok...

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“The Cage” by Corbin Sage

This story contains injuries (including inflicted by a family member), distant/abusive/manipulative family, returning to a bad situation, implied kidnapping, and implied poisoning You awake to the murmur of voices and the howling of the wind.For a moment, you don’t know where you are, or who is with you, and then you see the steel-eyed figures dressed in stiff black garments. Their starched clothes seem to be the only things supporting their scrawny frames against the brutal cliffside breeze as they stand stick-like, spread around you. The...

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“Static” by Corbin Sage

Time-broken bodies, illuminated by light-filled with drifting dust, lay on the concrete floor. They were draped across each other and huddled alone. A child’s hand had fallen from the clasp of their mother’s; a wrinkled man with a snowy white beard was hunched in the corner. On the balcony, a teen was curled into the fetal position, a hand reaching out for help.Help that never came.Oberon walked carefully, avoiding the bodies. He was too late- always too late. He crouched before the teen. There was no fear on their face, just silent des...

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“Parasite” by Corbin Sage

Mention of body horror, death, parasite (similarities to a virus), hospitals, hallucinations, water, possible starvation, and losing a family member. Stay safe! New Message: To: Silvia Tartel Subject: Compiled Reports As requested, here is the most significant documentation recovered from Site A. The following is the last communication of Dr. Sierra Alvarez, concerning the parasite apatelos necotum, as found in an unsent document in Mortimer California, USA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Notes of Dr. Sierra...

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“Raspberries” by Corbin Sage

Hello. This story has mention of a knife, surrealism, detachment, mental health, and injuries. I would love some feedback :) -------------------------------------------------------Elise.What is it about Elise?The name is raspberries on your tastebuds. It fills your mouth with the flavor to the point where you’re almost suffocating on the sickly sweetness.Elise.Your stomach hurts, aches with anxiety and longing and something else you can’t describe. It’s not quite hunger, not quite fear. “Guilt, perhaps.” Comes the voice from behind you....

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“Promotion” by Corbin Sage

(this is the second in a series. the first story here: https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/855s6w/) Mark was not happy about his promotion.  The way he saw it, his old job was the best possible position. The highest pay for the lowest risk. All you had to do was stand there for a couple hours, and then change out. You weren’t dealing with the violent or magic prisoners, but you made enough to buy some luxuries from time to time. A whole lot better than some of the other jobs out there. And he had worked hard to get to where he was! He...

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“Candlelight” by Corbin Sage

The candle flickered.“Can you shut the window?” Rosalie glanced nervously at the flame, hands tapping the table. Royal touched them, a warning. Stop.She yanked her hands out from under her sister’s and pressed them to her lap.“Of course.” Sam bowed their head, a slight smile on their lips as they rose to shut the window.“Oh, you don’t need to bother yourself,” Rene said. “I can do it.” His hand floated helplessly in the air, unsure of whether to get up or not.Don’t be rude.“Nonsense, I’m already up.” Sam dismissed Rosalie’s brother and ...

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“The Ring” by Corbin Sage

Freyja staggered to the top of the ledge, lips blue and teeth chattering. Her torn clothes did nothing to protect her from the bitter wind, which whistled through the rocky crevices and caressed her skin like an icy breath. The air was thin, and as she struggled up the incline to the edge, her chest heaved and she gasped for air like a fish out of water. She fell to her knees when she reached the end of her journey. She was alone. That’s how she started this journey, it only seemed fit to end it this way. Her trembling hand, heavy ...

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“Humanity's Betrayal” by Corbin Sage

Set in the same universe as “Humanity” The sky at sunset is the sun saying goodbye. How does it know it will rise again in the morning? How do any of us know? I am the sun; uncertain of my continuation and wanting to go out in a glorious blaze of light and color.  I don’t think the color will be a problem.  I am covered in blue and red blood. Fresh, vibrant cobalt is splattered over older navy, which has dried under my fingernails so that I carry it with me. No matter how hard I scrubbed my hands, the blue clings to me like a pa...

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“Summer Camp Visions” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #105

The crumbling building by the woods was covered in graffiti, names and dates, and crudely carved hearts spanning the surface like the heavily gathered clouds in the sky above. My eyes found the red sharpie that was scrawled over a painted patch, back from when this place still belonged to a summer camp. It was my old initials, EFH. I hadn’t wanted to write my full name, but I hadn’t yet wanted to use my chosen one in public. Even now, I had a hard time introducing myself as Chance, as though my parents were hovering over my shoulder sha...

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“Humanity” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #98

He found her slumped against the wall in the living room, clutching her arm and surrounded by the monsters she had slain. She looked up when she saw him, and a brief smile touched her lips before a wince took it away.  “Are you okay?” He asked, and he could barely hear her response over the chorus of voices in his head. Your fault Your fault Your fault “I would’ve come out of the house like we planned if I was fine.” She said and adjusted her position. Her teeth clamped together and her eyes shut tight as a spasm of pain hit her, ...

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“Eyes Made of Fire” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #95

Asher knelt in the remains of his house. The sky was darkening, and he pulled out his flashlight to see the crumbling walls of the place he used to live. It had deteriorated almost to the point of unrecognition, but he knew where it was. How many times had he trudged up the inclining driveway, had run through the neighborhood in childhood glee? The hazy glow of his formative years all took place here, and now it was all gone. His flashlight illuminated the skeleton of a table, where he had fallen and hit his head on when he was four. He was ...

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“The Thief- Gryff's POV” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #91

Raphael’s POV written by Nova Artino: https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/contests/91/submissions/64609/ The sky was darkening when I left my apartment. I adjusted my badge, pinning it so it was clearly visible on my dark shirt and so it flashed gold in the last traces of the sun that lingered on the horizon. It was fake but finely crafted. Anyone who might be in the library when I completed my mission wouldn’t see a difference. It was the shiny things that would catch their attention in the dark, and not my scarred face. Eith...

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“The Dreamer's Message” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. It might look innocent- well, maybe innocent isn’t the right word. What I meant to say was that it looks like a normal city, all lit up to hide the heavens, all car horns, and drunken shouts.  Sit down! If you flip that crate over, the rusty nails will be on the side, not on the top.  You see, the thing about this city is that we remember. We remember what it was like before, before the terrors, and before everyone forgot the stars.  I’m not making much sense? I don’t suppose I am. Here, ha...

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“Part Two- The Bedtime Story” by Corbin Sage

I stroked Maiya’s hair and began the story of our people and our planet. “A long time ago, before the sky was blue and the water grey, before the moons in the sky, lit the night and the sea lamps lit the sea, there was a star that shone brighter than all the rest. Over the eons, it grew and grew, until its might was too strong. It burst- can you imagine that? This great star burst into billions of shards, shimmering particles that floated throughout the heavens. They gathered together, slowly, and the celestial debris formed the planet, t...

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