Phoenix Williamson

“Sebastian” by Phoenix Williamson

Why do moths fly to the light? Biologists don't know for sure, but they have a lot of theories. Some argue that moths are drawn to the moon. Others suggest that the insects rely on bright objects to navigate the night sky. One scientist even claimed that ultraviolet light excites female moth pheromone molecules, which lures in male moths. Yeah, that last theory hasn't received much traction in the scientific community. But maybe scientists will find out why moths flock to the flame in the most unexpected way. Maybe the answer will come...

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“A Dream of Time Gone By” by Phoenix Williamson

"'I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal—as we are!'" Porcelain rang against porcelain."Thank you, Isidora. That is enough. Perhaps you could make Miss Franklin another cup of tea?" The child bobbed her head, folding Jane Eyre shut. Her fingers delicately clasped what Miss Franklin had dubbed "Aladdin's lamp." Carmine liquid descended from its spo...

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“A Clean Slate” by Phoenix Williamson

Elio could no longer feel his fingers. "Iraaseng," he hissed, folding his hands into tight fists. Even a fool could recognize that he sorely underestimated the cruelty of the Sempiterne Groves. And if any fool dared to say so, Elio would break their jaw with his freezing, numb, goddess damned hands. The young hunter paused to warm his limbs and scan the terrain. Elms towered around him like swarthy prison guards, their skeletal talons reaching into the plum-splattered sky. Feathers of snow slipped from the air, blanketing the forest in...

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“The Moonlight Man” by Phoenix Williamson

TW: Brief harassment and violence; death Excelsior Business Tower was the most secure building in New Arizona. Its owner, Nicholas Birch, was known to be an extremely paranoid man. Some even swore he would reserve the city's police drones to safeguard his early morning jogs. ("No comment," the police department would always say when the rumor was brought up). "I guess I would rent those bad boys too if I could afford 'em," the middle-aged men would admit as they sipped their whisky. "Especially with that serial killer on the loose." ...

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“Pick Up on Aisle Speed” by Phoenix Williamson

I ignore the three green bags that seemingly appear out of nowhere in the hallway. Mom asked me to come home early since she won't be getting back until late. It's a big concern of hers, wanting someone to watch the apartment at night. Hey, no protest from me. I unlock the apartment door at dinnertime, eager to lay down after a long day. And immediately trip over a green bag that mysteriously appears at my feet. "Are you serious?" I groan. I nearly kick the stupid bag into oblivion when I notice 6-year-old Trinity Phillips standing beh...

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“The Cracks in the Ice” by Phoenix Williamson

Submitted to Contest #105

Trigger Warning: Abusive relationship, mild profanity, death I don't know where I am. Oh. That's fine. I am hiding, after all. I'm hiding where no one can find me: Beneath the brush. In the trees. Under the lake. Above the sky. No one will find me. But I hear footsteps. They crunch over the frozen dirt. Atop dead leaves flaked with frost. Around barren trees. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. I want to yell, "go away!" but then I won't be hiding anymore.  The moon is full and round. Its white light points at them. It seems to shout,...

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“Charging” by Phoenix Williamson

Submitted to Contest #104

In the amount of time it took twenty friends to passionately perform the Friends theme song, Erin Minami was able to pound and yell for her friend, Jessica Morris, to open up her dumb, stupid, jammed bathroom door a grand total of eight times.  All to no avail, of course, because her desperate pleas were drowned out by the worst rendition of Friends to reach another living being's ears. When everyone moved onto Bohemian Rhapsody, Erin finally admitted defeat and flopped onto the bathroom floor. You know, she rationalized, this might...

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