Short Story Archives - Page 2 of 5 - James Kirst Short Story and Novel Blog

Short Story Saturday: Pizza Guys

Posted on September 21, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Pizza Guys. It is inspired by this prompt: https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts/pizza-delivery-driver. Please enjoy. Also, if you haven’t already checked out my FAQ on my upcoming book, Magic Once Removed, please check that out as well. Thanks again!

The haze fades as my eyes blink themselves awake. It must have been a wild night. I’m sure I was at a party or something though I don’t even remember going to bed.

Wait a second, there wasn’t a party and this isn’t my bed. I’m sitting on a chair bolted to the floor. My ankles are attached to its legs with some sort of adhesive. I’m guessing duct tape. Both arms are behind me. I struggle frantically to move my limbs. No dice. It seems my hands are literally tied, probably duct tape again as well but I’m not sure.

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Short Story Saturday: His Princess

Posted on September 14, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled His Princess. Strap in as it is perhaps the longest story I’ve written on the blog thus far. Please enjoy. I am currently listed at #16 on feedspot’s Top 20 Short Story Blog page. Please check it out. Also, if you haven’t already checked out my FAQ on my upcoming book, Magic Once Removed, please check that out as well. Thanks again!

People were surprised by my sudden retirement and have been distraught over my subsequent behavior. Most have blamed mental illness but I assure you that I am not suffering from a defect in the mind. Rather, I am cursed with knowing the truth. Perhaps a discussion of my last case is warranted as it’ll help enlighten how a hardened veteran police detective became a disheveled mess sitting alone in a cheap hotel. This may be my last chance.

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Short Story Saturday: Dream Girl

Posted on September 7, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Dream Girl. Please enjoy. I am currently listed at #16 on feedspot’s Top 20 Short Story Blog page. Please check it out. Also, if you haven’t already checked out my FAQ on my upcoming book, Magic Once Removed, please check that out as well. Thanks again!

“I dreamt of her again,” Mark said.

“Jesus, really?” Stan replied.

Mark proceeded to tell his best friend about his latest dream. It once again featured a young petite Asian woman with auburn eyes and thick jet-black hair wrapped into a ponytail. He was also sure to add her thick black-rimmed glasses every time he mentioned her. He was really into that for some reason. Then he, as always, proceeded to describe in vivid detail how he’d kiss those thick pink lips before the two of them went much further. Dirk always stopped him before he could say more.

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Short Story Saturday: Run to Daylight

Posted on August 31, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Short Story Saturday: Run to Dalyight - Photo by Adobe Stock on Pexels — Photo by Adobe Stock on Pexels.

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Run to Daylight. Please enjoy. Also, I have a few announcements to make. I am currently listed at #16 on feedspot’s Top 20 Short Story Blog page. Please check it out. If you haven’t already checked out my FAQ on my upcoming book, Magic Once Removed, please check that out as well. Thanks again!

They swarm me. A sea of hands reach out to me, claw at me, attempt to clutch me in their hands, and fiercely bring me to my knees. These twenty-two eyes have observed me for a while. They have only recently been moved to a manic frenzy. They are now more feral beasts than men.

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Short Story Saturday: Melody Wiles

Posted on August 24, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Short Story Saturday: Photo by Wyron A on Unsplash — Photo by Wyron A on Unsplash

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Melody Wiles. To me, this feels more like the first chapter of something bigger than a full story so maybe something bigger will be made from this in the future. Regardless, Please enjoy.

In all my years, with all my experience, I have never quite met anyone like Melody Wiles. Her bright eyes, wide smile with cute dimples on an innocent face coupled with her sweet voice belied her true nature.

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Short Story Saturday: The Hands That Move

Posted on August 17, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hands That Move: Short Story Saturday - Photo by Amar Saleem on Pexels — Photo by Amar Saleem on Pexels

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled The Hands That Move. Please enjoy.

Introduction by Harold Koonce, police sergeant, Evergreen, Washington

So a lot of people want me to talk about this story and post it online. But to tell you the truth, I don’t find the story all that interesting compared to how we found it. You see, I was just sitting in the station talking to my pal Murphy when suddenly this man busts through the doors like a bat outta hell.

He starts talking about how he and his friend decided to do some exploring over on Douglas Island right off the coast of Evergreen. It’s supposed to be off-limits as ordered by The Douglas Island Natural Area Reserve on account that it is one of the few places that have all those Ximuce trees. Though now that I think about it, I’m not sure why that’s so important. We got plenty of them in mainland Evergreen.

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Short Story Saturday: Thing That Must be Done – An Abecedarian Story

Posted on August 10, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Short Story Saturday: Thing That Must Be Done - Photo by Tom Adams on Unsplash — Photo by Tom Adams on Unsplash

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Thing That Must be Done – An Abecedarian Story. This story was inspired by https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts/abecedarian. It was done mostly for fun but I wanted to see whether I could make a compelling short story using a restrictive format. Plus, there were a couple of other short stories I am in the middle of writing that for one reason or another I could not finish “in time” (i.e. before Saturday) so I posted this story instead. It is also the reason why this story is shorter than usual. Regardless, please enjoy.

I stalk my prey late at night. Jumping from shadow to shadow, the city’s large and looming skyscrapers serve as the perfect cover. Killing a man is never a pleasant prospect. Letting him continue to perpetrate his nefarious deeds, though, was something I could not allow, especially after what I had learned.

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Short Story Saturday: Out of the Blue Corner

Posted on August 3, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Out of the Blue Corner. Please enjoy.

His legs wobbled as he struggled to keep his bloated body upright. Both fists felt like blistered hams underneath his gloves as he raised his sore arms to attempt and emulate a fighting stance. His eyes winced due to the brightness of the lights above, so bright that his skin became dry and flaked. The canvas felt like concrete beneath his soles. Smells of cigarettes and cheap bourbon assaulted his olfactory nerves as they wafted in the air.

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Short Story Saturday: Veiled Intentions

Posted on July 27, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Veiled Intentions. Please enjoy.

My wife and I found the place on an unassuming four-way corner in University Place. We were in town to visit family. I wanted to drive on but my wife insisted we pull over and if you knew my wife, you’d know it is often best to do what she wants. The name was what appealed to her. “Magick Sanctuary.” Melinda could never resist the lure of the so-called forbidden arts. I’m certain she really believes in magic.

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Short Story Saturday: Birth of a Mercenary

Posted on July 20, 2019December 3, 2023 by jkirst

Hello everyone! As part of Short Story Saturday, I have posted another short story, this one entitled Birth of a Mercenary. Please enjoy.

“Help! Help!” Her cries spurred him to action. The young man loved her and would do anything for her. It didn’t matter to him that she did not reciprocate.

He dropped his hoe and dashed into his humble cottage. There he pushed his meager cupboard and removed a straw floor mat. It revealed a hole where he hid his broadsword. Perhaps he should have returned it to the royal military after the war was over but then again, he feared no repercussion from his action. Considering the scores of weapons pilfered from the mass of fallen soldiers that were to be sold on the black market, no one was going to notice a single missing broadsword.

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