Keya J.

“The Desert's Secret” by Keya J.

Author's note: Finally writing a short story after two years was definitely a big task, a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Thank you S. for collaborating with me and giving me the motivation I needed 😘     -----------★------------★------------★-------- A man covered in sweat and mud trapped in the underground labyrinth, lost in a dizzy state of fatigue, resting against the rocks while coughing up blood and pressing his wound on his stomach. But no, he couldn’t give up. Not yet. He willed himself to get up, h...

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“My Encounter With Ghosts ” by Keya J.

Sceneries go blurred as the train moves at an extraordinary speed. It’s beautiful really, the vast infinite expanse of barren land with maybe a few cacti and palm trees stealing the show. It’s as beautiful as the ruby ring on my finger or the little speck of dirt visible on the tip of my flat baileys. Everything seems more beautiful and appealing than looking in the ghost’s eyes that sits in front of me. It’s been like this for the past hour, with me constantly shifting my focus from shrubs to shrubs while the ghost’s intense stare cuts thro...

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“The Four Survivors (Pt. 3)” by Keya J.

A week before…The wind furiously howled, riding down the wrinkles of a barren land. The seemingly flushed clouds scattered across the vast length of sky. Somewhere near the end, a squint of eye might notice the blend between the blue and the brown. The perfect picture of the dry stretch could be captured from the window of the moving train. With a body of a large singular box, the train was painted blue with green stripes. The wheels rolled silently but at a surprising speed convincing the minds of the passengers to fasten their seatbel...

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“The Four Survivors (Pt. 2)” by Keya J.

There were ten when we started. And now, Four. Sharp sun rays cut through the space highlighting the four faces in front of me. Charlie’s sharp nose bows down to his tight lips and hardened jaw. The ocean blue eyes that used to captivate happy times now laid swallowed by emptiness. An uncanny relief rolled over me as I saw Check staring down on the ground. His pale face seemed to suggest as if he had been stretched out like a rubber band, at the verge of snapping. Then there was Sadie, our food collector with a look not better...

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“The Four Survivors (Pt. 1) ” by Keya J.

“Charlie, Lisa, everyone. Come here! Fast.” I yelled with blood on my hands. Thick veils of guilt knotted together in my gut and churned in a painful twist. How could I not have been here? How could have I not saved her! Charlie was the first one to come. His olive brown hair dripped with sweat and his brows arched together in confusion. A thump of worried footsteps spreaded over the forest floor; all meeting with a sudden stop and a gasp of horror. Sixteen pairs of eyes flicked between the lifeless body in my hands and back at me. ...

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“Where is Ashley?” by Keya J.

Ashley D. Gilyard: I can feel it against my skin. The way it tightly binds me. It hurts so much. I can’t move. I can’t breathe.All is dark and stygian. I want to scream but a bitter taste filled my mouth. Where am I? Maxwell Gilyard :It hit exactly five-oh-four when I got the call. I tried to ignore it, my argument being just a work call or an idler reminding me of my debts. The phone buzzed again in my pocket, sending vibrations down my thighs.I didn’t usually get calls from Mr. Hudson, and neither did he call anyon...

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“One Foot Forward ” by Keya J.

“The world isn’t always what’s right in front of you, you know? It’s below, it’s above, it’s out there somewhere. Every burn of every light inside every house I see when I look down from the rooftop has a story. Sometimes we just need to change our perspective” Present My cuts rub against the hardcore of the rock, blood sticking to the outer ends but I let my grip firm. I slowly bend my knee and bring up the right foot, pressing it against another stone and slowly climbing up. A thin blonde strand blows across my face and begins to...

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“Truths in Cursive” by Keya J.

I lay back for a second and wait for the clock hands to strike as one. Just a few seconds and the bird will come out of its cuckoo house and pierce through the everlasting silence. No matter how much I hate it, I know I am going to miss it. I have become more conscious and aware over the past couple of days, caressing my fingers through each and every item of the house, trying to capture these images and store them in the deep pit of my mind. Forever. I press my palm against my back and push it in an arc until the bone cracks. Thre...

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“Last Wish” by Keya J.

Submitted to Contest #129

There are many places to go, many things to do when winter draws by. The cold enveloped our little house and the world had already begun to sink from sight. Hunching over the kitchen sink, my son held the tip of a paperclip over the flame, watching it blacken clean. The light burnt across his winter cheeks, but his eyes seemed nothing, but marbles of sole darkness. I knew he was upset about the morning’s conversation, but this lady had made up her mind. I could see the blueberry cake rise up in the oven.“What are you thinking about, Jan...

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“It's a six!” by Keya J.

I still see myself whining in the car, with May by my side. There was a big dance festive held in our area, the most colourful: Me and May, Mom and Dad were watching from the very back of the crowd in the vast tarred parking lot, because my father always wanted to leave quickly. Even at soccer games, we parked by the exit and left towards the end. Me and May, with our predictable whines, would repeatedly argue. We never get to see the end. But this time, when all flashes in front of my eyes, it is hard to believe. Hard to believe when t...

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“Dead End” by Keya J.

She sits silently. Her foot tapping with a rhythmic pace. Suddenly she stops, closes her eyes and lets the tear slip by. She cries on the next shoulder. She can't cry helplessly when she knows the culprit. ***I walk with padded feet. The days are cold and bitter. The frost painted windows set time back to the eighteen hundreds with the sounds of ancient clocks warming the room. The once nauseous feeling is subsided by the ambrosial roses and tulips. What I see first is the back of his head. His blond hair, not so thick as it used t...

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“Red Ink Stains” by Keya J.

CW: DeathThree years back when my sister died, I felt like a part of me had died, but they just forgot to bury me. I had cried myself to sleep every night, mourning her absence. Little did l know, she was there with me all along. And now, when I have finally given up pain, there is just one regret. It’s like I am in an endless room with thousands of colourful loops swirling around me. There is a wave of tranquillity washing over, but I am too numb to feel anything. There is a voice playing at the back of my head, like a familiar hum, to...

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“WARRIOR” by Keya J.

CW: Strong emotions and provocationA mere girl runs down the streets, her feet possessed by visible crystals of sand and dust. She hears the wail from behind but couldn’t care less. If only she knew how chains felt like, she might’ve cared. She runs and runs until her limbs give out and finds herself begging for air, her fingers cup around her waist in fatigue. The ocean painted sky is now inviting the hues of pinks, swallowing it slowly. She looks at it with a warm glow in her eyes. ‘Surely God’s an artist’ she mumbles to herself. ...

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“Streetwall” by Keya J.

“Listen, listen, hey! Calm down, Chris. We will talk about this later okay? Bye.” I hung up the phone briskly. A whirlwind of emotions travelled inside me channelled in a single pane through agony and elation. Chris was my best friend. We have been together as far as I could kick the walls of remembrance. Rolling down the gradient, stealing icecreams, dancing in rain, midnight sneaking… we had done it all. He was the fuel to my car who had now sped all across the dark clouds, finally pulling its brakes in front of a well-establishe...

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“Save My Love” by Keya J.

“Are you ready, Mr Hayes?”  “Uh…yes, I guess. Is it really necessary, doctor? I mean, we could probably sort it out another way.” “I am sorry Mr Hayes, but this is the best way. Let’s get on board now, shall we?”  Peggy stood calm at her berth. Her elegant features lit up the water, giving birth to an endless loop of ripples, at last fading through the breaths of water. Her polished wood highlighted the beautiful carves, smoothly shaping her body into a marvellous antique. She was the best piece of work, I had ever come acros...

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