Edd Baker

“The Photograph” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #244

CW: Language and some sexualityThe Seattle rain and ashen clouds that had accosted the rainy city denizens the past three days had finally let up, like the story of Noah a dove landing on Dan Porter's penthouse window ledge as if beckoning that the storm was over. Sunlight streamed in like flood water, and there was no need to turn on light as the bedroom was fully illuminated.It was a Monday, which Dan much like everybody else despised, but he would be remiss to not admit the improved weather hoisted his usual dower mood a bit. He looked ov...

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“Horsetooth” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #240

CW: Language and drinking throughoutThe breeze had picked up just moments ago, brushing Rachel's face and tickling her nose with the smell of water, the aroma intertwined like lovers with the rock and dirt of the Fort Collins Mountains. Even though cars passed by like city people, to and fro down the winding mountain road, the air had a certain calm to it. Reassuring, and warm."It's nice", Dan said, his window rolled down fully and the wind blowing his dusky hair back. "The weather, I mean."Rachel rolled her head from the window to Dan, a sm...

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“The Incident” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #238

Leonard stared at his chipped and faded CU Denver coffee mug, the vortex of Columbian ground beans almost a black hole of doom that threatened to pull him in. Though he didn't consider himself old (only recently turning thirty), he noticed that time moved faster the farther he progressed in age. This last week, however, seemed to crawl at the pace of a snail in a race determined to lose. To be fair, Leonard usually felt this way. Since back when he was a boy even. A creeping expectation of nebulous dread. That at any time, for any reason, so...

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“It Burns From Within” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #238

CW: Strong violence and gore, as well as some sexual themesThe rain had lessened somewhat, the heavy battering akin to the beating of war drums now but a gentle chatter. This was a blessing for First lieutenant Wright, not because his clothes would not get further soaked, his unform already drenched as if recently baptized, but because his line of vision was now clearer, and the less muddy the already dewy ground became, the better for travel. He looked up at the full moon, the light peeking through the thick canopy through whatever cracks a...

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“The Defiant Worm - A Millennium Vertere Story” by Edd Baker

CW: Some violenceGilbert had, just very recently in fact, stumbled across something. Something he shouldn’t have. Something big, and massive. Something so Herculean, the scope of it was perhaps immeasurable. And he believed that his life was now in great peril.Though, he couldn’t prove this. Actually, his life seemed to be going pretty good at the moment. It was March, nineteen-thirty-five, and along with fresh snowfall that had just begun last week and hadn't let up, he and his wife of fifteen year, Le...

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“Seasons in Change” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #234

The seasons had started to change a few weeks ago, slowly at first. Leaves shifting from green to orange, red and yellow, the gentle autumn breeze making for a prismatic snowfall as they fell from now naked trees to the Tacoma streets below. An oddly pleasing crunch accompanied the last of the moving trucks which pulled up in front of Susan's house, large men in boots and winter caps coming out. Harold, Susan's father, had been barred by Susan's mother, Rachel, from moving any more furniture out by himself, a few days ago tearing a ligame...

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“The Great Hot White” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #232

CW: Brief descriptions of violenceThe harsh winter wind had deepened in severity, the gushes feeling colder, and gaining force, each blow by feeling like a scorned slap against the boys now ruddy cheeks. He sniffed, pulling the snot back into his nose before it became icicles. He couldn't see ahead of him, or behind him, a raging tempest of white encompassing him. A faint orange glow emerged out of the white behind him, with it talk that was muffled by the wind. The boy knew he had to go faster. The boy looked at his fat...

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“Mountain Dogs ” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #230

CW: Violence and brief swearing March fourth, 2024 - Things to accomplish, and various thoughts - Art's Jewelry Shop on the corner of thirteenth Avenue and Bram Street - Survey surrounding area. This includes: - Nearby and adjacent shops, stores, offices and restaurants - Go by Larry's for vehicle, as well as a few more details about the job....

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“Millennium Vertere” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #227

CW: Some strong violence and languageThe buildings history was quite young, owing its pregnancy to nineteen-twelve , when after the Second World War had ended, and the Axis powers claimed their victory, Polish-Jewish navy man, Daniel Nowak, fresh from the haze of war and sting of defeat, now found himself alone in Europe and bereft of most of his familial connections, came by ship to New York. He worked as a simple shipwright, they say. Toiling away on the boat, tucked away and hidden in his quiet. When they arrived at t...

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“Frankincense and Myrrh” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #226

Frankincense. Myrrh. Lavender. Only but a minuscule number of the flowers, plants, herbs and resins the ancients would burn in far bygone days. When conviction in the ethereal wasn't a belief strongly held, but an inherent knowing. When man still feared the passing shadow, and gazed at the firmament with awe and terror at the raging tempest. Though it spanned many cultures and tribes, in a Jungian sense, this practice us...

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“Pinyon Jay” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #224

CW: Very brief swearing.The sun hadn't even risen when Richard awoke Jean, the raging star still hidden beyond the firmament under the black of the void."Up up, kiddo", Richard said, his midwestern accent visible through the monotone gruff. "Emma apparently saw a sighting or something a few clicks north of here, but she's not sure. I doubt it's anything, but we're heading out that direction either way, so we might as well check it out.”Jean tried to mask her excitement as she tripped o...

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“The Tome” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #223

CW: Some drug related humor, sprinkled swearing and brief disturbing imagery. Between an old, tattered hardcover of Dostoevsky‘s Crime and Punishment, and a paperback of Captain Underpants. That's where Steven said he had  stashed the shroom chocolate bar. When Jeremiah had asked Steven earlier that day why he hid it in the university library of all possible places, he responded that it just made sense at...

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“Cronus” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #222

CW: Sparse, brief language.The building itself was old, owing its origin to the mid eighteenth century. Though it had been bought, owned and sold for well over a century by various buyers, its Victorian architecture was present, always hidden underneath. A constant presence. As one stood on the main floor, gazing up at the mural covered celling of bygone religious convictions, and was in particularly low spirits, or themselves lonesome, you could almost imagine yourself as some archaic lord or vampire. Which is how Leona...

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“Into the Great Mystery” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #220

The storm was fierce, rainfall battering down against the concrete like war drums, wind howling through the night air as if being ridden by unseen wraiths. Of course this was Seattle. Emily had, by her count, been taking refuge under the bridge for well over an hour, the dank concrete den proving to be a spot of good reprieve from the raging tempest outside. It was Friday n...

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“The Strange Travellings of the Archangel” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #216

This story contains brief descriptions of gore, as well as implied suicide.Journal entry, August fifth, 1712. It has now been, according to my count, three days since that mighty and terrible tempest descended upon us on our voyage eastward across the Atlantic, being already pursued by the relentless Captain Jericho. The storm threw us off our course and inflicted great damage upon the Archangel. With what little skeleton remained of our once great beauty, we drifted until the break of the new dawn, pulling upon the shor...

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