Karmissa Ariadne

“The Madness” by Karmissa Ariadne

Note: Contains references to death and swearing. The parchment was becoming badly crinkled but Yolanda couldn’t stop looking at it. Every few minutes she would reach into her pocket, uncrumple the paper and stare in a light panic at the words. “It still says twelve hours, relax, will you?” Torman called after her with a burning urge to rip the paper to shreds. “I want to make sure we still have enough time,” She admitted, in a worried tone. “Time is going to carry on with or without you checking the parchment, just keep moving” Torman grum...

2 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Illusionist” by Karmissa Ariadne

It was the only way we could possibly get past all the guards. We couldn’t fight them. We couldn’t turn back now. “It has to be you, no one else can use that kind of magic, go get us a round of keys,” our leader instructed with an authoritative nod. With slight nervousness from the pressure, I conjured up enough magic to transform into one of the entertainers of the evening and trotted up to the main gate of the royal palace. “Sir! Please!” I yelled desperately, putting on a high-pitched, vulnerable voice, “I’ve lost my group!” I laid my han...

2 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Retrospect” by Karmissa Ariadne

A remarkably dull spirit embodied the young man known as Lucian. He was known for always criticising and calculating the odds against anything in an attempt to take the spotlight and be able to say told you so at the last minute. Both friends and family had known him as a rather unamused person, perhaps even slightly bitter after losing his closest friend. Yet, he carried a longing memory that powered an inner enlightenment in his regard to life, although he never revealed it to anyone. It was Jared’s light-heartedness and fun-loving tempera...

2 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Simple Plea” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #105

Enough. I will not be pushed aside anymore. I refuse to be used like a doormat to the entrance of greatness. No longer will people overlook me. No longer will they completely fail to recognise me and my brethren’s importance in creating a hero. We are the reason you even get your heroes. We support the very path they take. We work hard and align together to show your supposed heroes their destiny. Without us, they would never make it. And what do they do? Wipe their grubby boots all over us as they hurry along the path of fame and adoration,...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Dance with Destiny” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #104

It was always such a hassle to fix my necklace. No matter how hard I tried, the clasp was determined not to cooperate. My eyes fell upon the wall clock reminding me that I didn’t have time to waste battling my necklace. I snatched my phone from the duchess and called Hannah. To my surprise, it went to message bank;“Hey, sorry I’m not available to take your call at the moment. Please leave a message!”A loud beep prompted me to speak, “Are you coming tonight? Just wanted to know if you needed a lift.”I returned to my struggle with my necklace ...

9 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The End of a Journey” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #103

The gravel beneath my feet crunched under the pressure of my body. Step after step I wandered cautiously, searching and scanning every corner of the world. I wouldn’t give up, not now. Not after we had come so far. It was the end of all our adventures, the final journey to find the entrance to the place that would answer all our questions. There was no way I could leave after everything we’d been through. I could sense the entrance was nearby but the world was shy and suspicious of those who came looking and was determined to keep it well hi...

17 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Ship of Lies” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #102

Deep in the never-ending void of darkness, surrounded by stars, gas clouds, planets and lights of distant realms our starship cruised on a course into the unknown. Randal and I picked up a plate of food from the cafeteria and sat down on one of the outer tables beside a window. My tray clanked against the metal surface of the table as we both sat down to eat. The graveyard shift for the engine room was always such a drag, but it was critical to the survival of all onboard. Life upon the Astro Voyager III wasn’t much different to life on Eart...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Unspoken” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #101

Tormin’s eyes begged her for forgiveness, but his truth remained unspoken.“I thought you said you were leaving?” Clara said.Tormin’s face was grim and unflinching. The conversation had gone on for long enough and at any moment he would set foot out the door never to return.“I am. I need some clarification before I go so this never happens again,” he explained.Clara folded her arms with irritation and blurted out that there was nothing to clarify. A long, everlasting sigh escaped from Tormin’s lips, gently breaking the tension in the air. The...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Mind Games” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #100

It was almost time. My eyes darted to the window and back down to the grill; no sign of movement outside. I flipped the steaks over and checked on the vegetables in the oven. I wondered if he would even eat vegetables. I’d never cooked for someone like him before. The steaks made a fantastic sizzling sound as the oil and juices squished between the meat and the hotplate. It smelled great, I thought. My eyes jumped to the wall clock reminding me that I had approximately ten more minutes to serve up and make myself presentable. This was my cha...

12 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Light in the Dark” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #99

It was always dark here, but not solemnly so. Light was only for those who could ascend to its grace. We praised it as much as we feared it and at all costs kept our glowing creations humbly spread amongst the caverns of our world. Many were employed to ensure proper dispersion of lights to avoid angering the gods. Those who disobeyed and were caught were sentenced to the cells of eternal darkness, unworthy of any light. I had been down near the bottom cells before to visit my older brother and the echoes of screams and cries were enough to ...

7 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Thousand Tears Flowing” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #98

Be thankful for it. Worship it. On it goes, without a care in the world. Swirling and pushing through the earth itself, reflecting life and enchanting all around it. Unforgiving and endless it surpasses even my own lifetime breaking anything in its path. It is clever, though, for it is gentle in its breaking and its subtlety often goes unnoticed. It treks the mountains and grassy plains, winding around the landscape like a snake, yet in all its movement I sense it does not really move at all. For its heart does not beat like ours and it ...

15 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Amnesia” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #97

They would call it amnesia. I would agree. They would call me insane. I would also agree. I couldn’t remember what happened, but I came to realise I had been staring at the enchanting paleness of the moon through an old, stained, outdated window for goodness knows how long. I couldn’t recall what had come over me or why I was in limbo simply staring out into the night, and as I regained full consciousness, I tried to search my memories for a scrap of a clue. Nothing. My only memory was staring at the moon. The vague outlines of trees and a c...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“An Invitation” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #96

Its rays of gold cut across the world like a beacon of warmth and hope, stirring almost every being into life. I pulled my coat more tightly over my shoulders to block the unpleasant sensation it gave me. Time was running out and the forests were surely going to be overrun with woodcutters and hunters. Underground would have been an option if there were any caves nearby, but my sonar wasn’t picking up on anything useful besides a basement attached to an isolated home. The basement appeared to be empty from what I could tell, which was most p...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Prophecies” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #95

I had never seen Mandy look sterner. Her hands were aggressively attached to her hips, squeezing tightly as if to convert some of her mental anger into physical pain. Her eyes were watery and her whole body seemed to shake with the wrath of a typhoon. She had spotted Chelsea and I walking together, like we always had. It had been an awkward conversation since she pulled up and stepped out of her car and the dilemma was only becoming more heated. I felt that things would soon boil over – they always did with Mandy. “Well? You can get in the c...

9 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“To be King” by Karmissa Ariadne

Submitted to Contest #94

My brother and I never made it easy on our mother. We were at odds with almost everything since father died and it was only worsening. I could see how much it wore mother down; with each passing month, her face and body grew weaker. She could hardly hide her pain anymore. Dallas didn’t seem to care. He was there to ensure he has his way, like always. I had compromised many times to spare mother the frustrations of having to act as not only a queen and a widow but also a mediator for two stubborn young men. Dallas was a year older, but his wi...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story