True faith is a fascinating concept, and religion is the titanic (and matriarchal) force with which it is almost always paired. Wondrous and selfless acts have been performed by people in the name of faith. The duo have moved masses to undertake innumerable arduous pilgrimages to various hallowed grounds, or shrines of sacred icons. Wars instigated by the fe...
CH. 01 00:00:01 A cyan blue grid stretched out into an infinite horizon. A silver M flew into the center of the screen. The M was sliced from top to bottom by a pink laser, shaving off a duplicate M. A flash of lightning zapped the rest of the letters into place: MASTER & MARGARITA Home Video This film has been modified from its original version. It ha...
Because I hadn't been able to sleep, I'd jumped out of my hotel bed and left for the airport at least an hour early, afraid I'd miss the plane. I talked to the cabdriver for thirty minutes straight. I couldn't stop myself from rambling. I looked everywhere and commented on everything: the color of a passing car, a pedestrian's skirt, the sign in front of a b...
Sheridan Avenue runs the North Shore and makes a few twists and turns onto Lake Shore Drive. I always raced there, it was like a highway in the middle of the city. I didn't know any of the LCs and I had the Camaro and the Viper with me. To my chagrin the Viking had muscled his way in and that made four cars in three lanes. Fucking tough. I'd called at 30Gs...
So far as "Good Catholic girls" go, Tiffany Mitchell embodied all that might be associated with any true young lady of the faith. Even at eighteen, she still exhibited a child-like innocence, an expression of chaste simplicity and an air of well-mannered breeding. Always dressed tastefully, even her year-twelve school uniform managed to bridge effortlessly,...
Nick Larkin and I were tripping our nuts off on some really good blotter when we saw her sauntering through the crowd of revelers, most of whom were just as buzzed as we were. No doubt about it; she got some stares, even for a Mardi party. It was the Saturday before Mardi Gras in 2001. I was still single at the time, sharing a house in Mid-City with Nick,...
Chapter 4: Power, Submission and the Blue Tattoo A UFO seeking a hospitable landing site need only locate the night lights of Las Vegas. Billions of megawatts beam their message to all life forms capable of cognition – "Welcome!" "We're Tolerant!" "There's plenty of room to land the largest space craft." "Play! Spend!" Quickly scan the creatures walking the...
He sits in his chair, elbows cushioned by the plush arms at his sides. His fingers feel the fibers of the paper at their tips, while his eyes devour the words before them. Ever the voracious reader, he cherishes the full sensory experience of his pastime. The soft rustle soothes his ears as he flips to the next page of his novel. The scent of pressed paper,...
The following is an absolutely true story, except that the names have been changed to protect the debaucherous. The story is probably too long, and I'm sure most readers will stop believing it at some point. Whatever -- I'm writing this for me anyway! And it is a damn good story, if I do say so. My name is Tim, I'm 42, and I've been fantasizing about advent...
Josie McKellen woke up to sunlight filtering through windows without curtains. Eyes trying to focus she hardly recognized her surroundings, this not being her home. A chill over her body she realized that she was still naked. Sitting up swiftly supported by her hands behind her on the floor she looks around. "Wrong direction. Over here." Came the sweet tone...