The murmur and clatter around the arena began slowly but crescendoed as people started to panic over what they had just witnessed.

Sedition, and in the presence of the Prince no less.

Groups formed and people began talking to each other, some stood as if preparing to leave.

I was no less in shock over what had just happened. A man had run on stage, interrupting the performance, and screaming the words "Dethrone the tyrant king".

What's next ? And it may begin today.

I'm adding an introduction and reposting my story from 2016 about Thumpism in the hope that there might have been an improvement. On the basis of his recent rants, shouts and to my mind outrageous suggestions as to some aspects of policy ... I think progress has not been forward. I wasn't able to see any, er, improvement to the story in 2020 or even after January 6th. Hey-ho. I so want to be able to make this a slightly humorous parody.

----------------------- I've tweaked the original text somewhat

Hope's Light

Chapter 8

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Eight - Knives

We rode for at least a couple hours if not more. At the speeds the trucks could reach, the wind’s whipping past in all the tunnels made further conversation with the guy next to me impossible - though before we’d pulled out he’d introduced himself as Santiago.

I’d told him to call me Jane, and neither of us were rude enough to point out that we’d obviously given aliases.

Chapter 3

When the girls joined me, they had several bags. I bought them all a lunch and we acted as if we didn’t have a care in the world. While we were eating, I had a text from Abbas to go and see him in the afternoon. We took the bags back to the hotel and then took a taxi to the Museum. In his office, he sat us down and showed us some paperwork.

Composite
A Short Science Fiction Story
By Maryanne Peter

Which of us died? It must have been her. Yet she seemed to be uninjured. The sight of her body looking so perfect staring at me in disbelief from the mirror. It was just the arms and the shoulders and the chest that seemed out of place, and as it turned out, the heart and the brain, and the spinal cord.

The company are recovering in a hostel in Bibek. Eriana decides that she wants to hold a traditional Norse celebration and consults Simbran. On the night of Midsummer all gather at a nearby country estate where a large fire has been built - and ale and meat are freely available.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

93 - Midsummer's Night

Someone

Mending Bridges
By
Rebecca Anna Coleman

I took a deep breath as I walked into the dinning room of McDonald's. The air inside smelled of greasy french fries, freshly brewed coffee, random pieces of cow that had been ground up and smashed into hamburger shaped patties. And mystery parts of chicken that had likewise been ground up and formed into nugget-like shapes that had then been deep fried in three or four week oil at temperatures that would boil the skin from your bones. All in all it reminded me of my childhood.

***Author's note: I found the missing section, and I hope that this makes the trip in the water makes more sense.***

The following day, I brought my dad to school, hoping to finally get some clarity on what I was. Together, we walked up to Principal Elara's office, my heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. When I knocked on the closed door, the Principal's voice called us in, and I led the way.

Unknown Island, South Pacific:
“That’s the last of this batch.” Nick wipes the blood off his hands.

Now that all of them were back in their bodies. They weren’t relying on their weapons or tricks like before. This time they were relying on skill alone. All thou, Nick does notice Cheshire is more deadly than ever.

“Same here.” Jack tosses the two men he killed away from him.

“Count these three assholes as dead too.” Cheshire was dragging two guys and carrying one guy.

Orphan Petal

December 2023 - Part 1

Chistmas is coming and Shirley has never been happier

Chapter 2

The more I looked at the satellite view, the more I wondered if he was right. There was one area, with a high cliff and a flattish plateau below, which could be a good camp site. I pointed it out and he nodded. His finger moved over the cliff face.

The following day, I brought my dad to school, hoping to finally get some clarity on what I was. Together, we walked up to Principal Elara's office, my heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. When I knocked on the closed door, the Principal's voice called us in, and I led the way.

Part 24

Within a few more seconds, Chris was completely bare below the waist. At this point, enough time had passed since puberty that he couldn’t even remember how he used to look before he had body hair. Something like this, obviously. The worst part was, he was already below average in terms of size, and now looked significantly smaller without anything to frame things down there.