Short Stories



Here is some of my short story work:



October 2020


"The Pull of the Current"

             The rain drops thumped like a bodhrán drum on her sparkling red umbrella. With every tentative step, her blue eyes glided around to take in the golden autumn colors at her feet. It was like walking on a majestic carpet rolled out just for her. The tree trunks stood as dark as Death and were spotted with lichen. The girl inhaled the pungent earthy scents as she twirled around in her shiny red rainboots, stretching out a hand to hold onto the rain. The trees shook like dogs, scattering red, brown and yellow into the air. Then, the rain began to slow. The girl closed her red umbrella and inclined her head to feel the rain’s last caresses. The red hood fell back, letting her yellow hair shimmer in the watery grey light. With her hands in the air, she swayed to unheard music, eyes smiling at the treetops. Once more the wind picked up, and she thought she heard her name blowing through the trees: “Seeer-shaaaa...  Seeer-shaaa...”

            Saoirse left the path and weaved between this tree and that, laying a gentle hand on them as she passed. A raven sat on a branch and greeted her with a croaking call. Saoirse gave a small hello, wary of the conflicting Celtic beliefs about ravens. She thought it best to, at least, be polite.

Saoirse stood on the creaky bridge where the current below was strong and thunderous. With a toss of her hand, Saoirse dropped a maple leaf into the stream. She gazed down into the depths and mused about how the leaf was pulled along, unknowing of its fate.

            She heard the call again, “Seeer-shaaaa... Seeer-shaaa...”

            She abruptly turned to where she had just come. There was no denying it came from the forest; for several days now, she had heard it.  But who was calling for her?

            Saoirse knew she had best be on her way if she was to be on time for school. She didn’t want her mother finding out that she was late because then, Saoirse would have to admit to being in the forest—a place she was forbidden to go by herself. With one last deep breath, she headed to school.

           * * * 

            Everyone spoke of the murdered boy. It had been several days since the incident in the forest, but gossip continued to be whispered by the staff and children. It echoed throughout the halls and out on the playground, like the twittering of birds. 

            Saoirse heard all kinds of stories and didn’t know what to believe. All she knew was that she missed Ireland, wishing her step-mother hadn’t moved them to America. Most of all, Saoirse knew she couldn’t give up her new home, the forest.  

 * * * 

            That night, Saoirse awoke in a cold sweat from ghoulish nightmares. Images of howling wolves, banshees and the Dullahan preyed upon her mind, and she understood why. She could hear the call from the forest echoing in her room. Sitting up in her bed, she heard the wind’s moans rattling the panes, “Seeer-shaaaa...”  

            Approaching the window, she saw the entrance to the forest far up the road. Still shaking from the nightmares, Saoirse crept out of the house and ventured into the forest, the cries growing louder until she was finally inside her leafy sanctuary again.

            Searching for some sign, Saoirse made her way to the center of the dark forest, and asked in her small seven-year-old voice, “What d’ya need of me, then?

             Something grabbed her ankles, causing her to fall back. A pair of skeletal hands clawed out of the ground, trying to reach her. Another set popped out before her and another. Soon, there were dozens of them. Saoirse watched in cold fear as the zombies broke out of their dirt prison and staggered towards her. She stumbled to her feet, turning to run, but was caught by one of them, their arms wrapping around her.

            “Ssshhhhhh. It’s alright. Ssshhhhhh. We’re not going to hurt you.”

            The wind’s whispers soothed her. She saw that a dark-haired boy held her.

“My name is Adahy.”

“Wha-What d’ya want of me?” Saoirse asked, nervously looking back at the surrounding zombies.

Adahy let her go, “They need another guardian to stop these murders. Someone who will protect the forest from bad people. They chose me as their guardian, but I need help. Please, will you help us?”

Saoirse looked at the zombies, noticing the different ages and genders. Some leaned towards her, putting their hands together in prayer as they bowed their heads. It saddened her to see her forest was a cemetery of serial killings, “I-I don’t know what I can do.”

“Just love the forest as you always have. I will show you the rest.”

“But, my step-mum…”

You don’t have to ever go back, Saoirse,” It was as if Adahy could see into her soul and see how miserable she was. He raised his arms, “Is this not home to you?”

 Saoirse’s eyes watered, “Aye, t’is.”

Adahy offered his hand, smiling, “Then, come with me. I will make you ageless and give you powers, so you can tend to your home with me.”

She smiled, taking his hand. He didn’t know how much his gesture meant to her.

The zombies returned to their unmarked graves, and the earth was undisturbed again.

Something lightly brushed her cheek, and Saoirse saw it was a large oak tree touching her with one of its branches.

“The forest is happy. It thanks you.”

Saoirse may have been from the Emerald Isle, but she never imagined experiencing magic first-hand.

“You will be given an animal form, just as I have,” Adahy explained, “I chose the raven. What do you choose?”

Saoirse thought, looking down at her red coat and boots, “A red wolf.”

Smiling, they left the heart of the forest, disappearing together into the leaves and the wind where they danced and guarded their beloved forest. 

© Samantha Murphy (aka TheRedWolf/TheOnlyRedWolf/Wolfie)




September 2014

The Woman Representative


           As the rays cascade down her, she has struck a permanent pose.  She is susceptible to her owner who can and does reveal her to the world.  The choice is his and his alone.  Showered in brilliance, the owner's dressers drape the female in fineness, operating her like a marionette's master. 
            Should one happen to look at the female's face, one will see a deadness in the eyes, one of which the owner much desires.  Occasionally, however, a fiery fury will flare up in the female, but it is quickly extinguished by the innumerable dressers.  Despite her efforts, a silk shirt caresses her smooth bare breasts and is tied tightly round her torso.  Next, the pocket-less skirt is forced up the female's open legs to hug her hips and keep her in her place.  Now she must monitor her movements lest the skirt ride up.  She is denied a purse for they have none.  As it is, they like her to beg for what she wants. 

            The scarf is wrapped roughly round her neck, reminding her of a noose. 

            Her hair is fixed so it won't move.  No make-up is necessary; her skin is unnaturally unblemished. 

            The female is heaved atop her dais, stuck there till the next change.

            Despite being mostly clothed, the imprints of hands have made their marks on her body.

            As they clear away pieces of the female's skin that had landed upon the floor, they foolishly turn their backs on her, and those who don't, blink continuously.  Every so often they ask each other when they're not serving clients: "Did that mannequin just move?"

© Samantha Murphy (aka TheRedWolf/TheOnlyRedWolf/Wolfie)


March 2014

As the World Falls Down Part 2: To Step Out of Mind



           I ran up the stone steps two at a time, yearning to get out of this horrible place.  Anticipation flowed through me; I was almost there!  Almost at the top.  I had spent days, maybe weeks in this dark world and I wanted out.  Round and round up the tower, I was getting dizzy.  I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and began to think, "Wait, how did I get here?"  I couldn't remember how I had reached the Goblin King's castle.  And for that matter, how had I gotten out of that confusing Labyrinth?  I closed my eyes and like teeth, pulled at my memories for the answers...


            But they wouldn't come.  I opened my eyes and decided that it didn't matter.  I was close to escaping this world anyway.



            I finally reached the top and pushed the door open wide, unable to stop running until I hit the rim of the tower.   This was the place that would lead me to the normal world.  My hands gripped the edge as I panted heavily.  My eyes searched the landscape, then I turned around.  There was only the door that led down the tower; there was nothing else within the small circumference. 


            "I made a mistake!  I took a wrong turn!"

            I took a step toward the door, but stopped at the sight of the Goblin King ascending the last steps.  Now, he blocked my path.

            "You're so strong, Wolfina," He had that smug grin, "Not to mention determined."

            "What did you do?" I said, angrily.

            "What do you mean?" he asked, knowing full well.


            "You did something!  I remember everyone telling me that the only way to get back to my world would be to reach the tallest tower of the Goblin King's castle.  Here I am yet, I can neither see a way back, nor can I remember how I got to the castle," I exhaled angrily through my nostrils, "So, I ask you again: What did you do?"


            The Goblin King purred contently, "I may have threatened them into telling you that lie and I may have erased your memory of the Labyrinth just in case you got away from me again.  I couldn't have you knowing the path of the Labyrinth, now could I?"

            He took a step toward me and I instinctively moved into combat position with my hands up, adamantium claws out.  The metallic sound of my claws sliding out of my hands startled Jareth as if he hadn't been aware of their existence.  His confident disposition had disappeared and he eyed my claws, uncertain. 


            "Wolfina," he whispered, "Why are you afraid of me?"

            "Like you don't know!  You have a black heart and I want no part of it!  Any of this!"

            My words struck him, "Is that all you see?"

            "Oh, sorry.  Your cold, black heart."

            He rushed at me and griped both my hands with his bare ones, holding my claws against his chest, "Then tear it out, Wolfina!  Tear out my 'cold, black heart'!"

            Jareth stared into my eyes, daring me.  I didn't know what to say or how to react, "I...I..."

            "You call this place 'horrible', 'awful', 'dark', and 'evil', and it is.  It is, Wolfina, and so am I," He paused, "But not if you're here."
            I stopped breathing for a second.  I began wondering if this was real, if any of it was real.  I slowly retracted my claws, unsure whether or not I should believe him.
            "You're the light in this world, Wolfina.  Stay with me," I felt Jareth encompass me with his arms, pull me closer, "If I send you back, you will be alone in that hideous world, fending for yourself.  But here... you'll have me."
            I looked into his mismatched eyes and still saw the evil within him.  I felt his soft lips descending upon mine and as we kissed, I understood why he had said we were so alike: he was predominantly evil as I was predominantly good.  I had the Beast inside me and he had light inside him. 
            The passion between us began to grow.  Jareth lovingly kissed my neck and I felt his hands slide down my waist.  I wrapped my arms around him, never wanting the embrace to break.  I had endured centuries of torture and fear and now, I was finally happy.  I felt loved as I gazed up at the orange sky, feeling Jareth move toward my shoulder.  But then, slowly, the sky was beginning to fade.
            "Jareth? Something's wrong!"
            As it grew darker and darker, I felt Jareth letting me go and I was falling.
            "Don't forget me, Wolfina."


*  *  *


            My eyes opened.  It was dark. I was lying on a table and felt my body was naked.  Then I felt that I was cold.  My eyes adjusted and I felt around with my hands.  I knew this place. I was in a mortuary.  For.  The.  Four.  Millionth.  Time.


            Using my mind, I teleported to a skyscraper and at the same time, made some clothes materialize on my body.  It was the dead of night.  I stood on the edge of the skyscraper roof and suddenly, it hit me that all I had been through in that orange-skyed world had been nothing but my imagination as I lay dead and healing.  I felt betrayed.  I had betrayed myself. 


            I let loose a scream of tortured insanity and allowed the Beast to ravage any black-hearted person it came across as we ran through this cruel reality together, saving the innocent.
 
© Samantha Murphy (aka TheRedWolf/TheOnlyRedWolf/Wolfie)


As the World Falls Down Part 1: A Wolfina Escapade


            You can't imagine what it's like to have to endure the burning of your own flesh.  There was a screen of flames that separated me from the little girl and since she was too afraid to pass through the flames herself, I had to extend my arm in order to coax her towards me. 


            "Come on!" I shouted above the crumbling of the building, "It's alright!"


            Coughing from the acrid smoke and getting angry from the pain, I moved closer and grabbed her whether she liked it or not.  I understood her fear and confusion, but I had to get us out of there.  I looked at my arm for a second and saw a good portion of it was charred.  I tried to maneuver to the stairs and dodge out of the way of falling debris and flames.  We could hardly breathe.  In most of the fires I had ended up in, it was always a child I had to rescue.  I never understood that.  And I have not decided whether it's worse to go up or down a burning building.  I've been in buildings when they've collapsed and when they've buried me alive in the basement.


            By the time we reached the bottom floor, I had lost the flesh on my upper arm, parts of my body were charred and I barely had any clothing left.  We got outside and I collapsed onto my knees, coughing and still holding the girl; the cold, fresh air struck my smoke-filled lungs.  


            I looked up and despite my tearing eyes, I saw the parents running towards us, crying for Molly, but then as I expected, the mother stopped short and screamed.  He husband yelled, "Get away from her, you monster!"


            They could see my arm.  Though the flesh was gone, the adamantium covering my bones was very visible and betrayed my identity.  I let Molly go and she ran to her parents.  She didn't seem afraid.  At least, not of me.  It hurt to see them: a family, me: on my hands and knees, almost burned to a crisp and choking into the earth. 


            "Hey, you!"


            Startled, I turned and saw a police officer coming towards me, a hand on his gun.  I leapt up and ran from the scene despite being blinded by my ashy tears.  I heard his footfalls; he was running so I dropped to my hands and sped ahead of him on all fours.  I turned into an alley and climbed the drainpipe onto the roof.  I jumped from rooftop to rooftop, never daring to stop, never daring to look back. 


            When the instinct to flee had died down, I found myself walking on a bridge.  My body shook and I couldn't stop crying.  Those people!  Those humans blinded by fear for the unknown and the different! 


            "Why do I try to make a difference?" I wondered, "Why do I still help the humans after all their venomous words and witch hunts?"


            I gazed out onto the water.  I helped them because I could, because I couldn't die and therefore had nothing to look forward to, nothing to do but to live in a world that hated me.  All I did was hope.  I hoped that, one day, society would see beyond my adamantium, beyond the Beast inside me and say, "You are good."


            With both hands gripping the metal railing, I hurled wolfish roars into the night.  I turned, taking deep breathes when I saw it: a gigantic truck barrelling down the bridge.  Here was my chance to, again, kill myself and hope to never wake up.  I waited.  Timing was everything.  At the last minute, I leapt in front of it.


*  *  *


            The next time I opened my eyes, I was looking up at the sky.  But the sky was a burnt orange.  Sensing something was wrong, I got to my feet and there, down in the valley, lay an intricate labyrinth.  It led into what looked like a city and then beyond that was a castle.  The atmosphere of this world seemed sombre and dark.  I didn't like the feeling.


            "So, what do you think?"


            I whirled around.  A man in black wearing a cape stood beside a dead tree.  His light blonde hair was long and wild, the ends of his eyebrows curved upward, but his eyes, his eyes were the most peculiar.  One was light and the other was dark with the pupil dilated.  Slowly he grinned and I saw his inner darkness.


            "Do you like my kingdom?" he asked again.  I noticed his British accent.


             "Where am I?"


            He advanced, looking past me, "The Goblin City.  Isn't it horrible?"


            "Who are you?" I took a step away.


            "Jareth, the Goblin King, at your service," he bowed, then looked at me, still grinning.


            "Why am I here?"


            "Because, Wolfina, I heard you.  I heard your screams, your shouts, your tears, everything.  And so, I saved you from that truck and brought you here, where I knew you'd be happy."


            "What?"


            "We share a great deal.  I'm sure you can sense it."


            "I don't know what you're talking about and you had no right to bring me here.  Send me back."


            He eyed me curiously, "You want to go back?"


            "Yes!"


            "You're not thinking clearly—"


            "Yes, I am.  I want to go back —"


            "Back to what!?  Back to what, Wolfina?  Hm?  Back to the fear?  The self-sacrificing?  The suicidal thoughts that tormented you?  The sadness?  'You're a freak!'  'You're a monster!'—"


            "Stop it!!!" The tears were starting again.


             He obeyed and looked at me with genuine sympathy, "But here, those names don't exist.  You're safe here."


            Looking toward the Labyrinth and the Goblin City, I was starting to think Jareth was right.  There was nothing in that other world for me.


            "Besides, you suit this place quite well."


            I looked back at him, "What do you mean?"


            "Why, there's darkness in you, Wolfina.  That's one reason why I love you and want you here.  You're like me," And, again, his expression betrayed the evil inside him.


            "I am NOTHING like you!" I went to strike him and realized that there was something in the other world that wasn't here: good... and beauty, and light.


            He caught my wrists.  As we struggled, he laughed, "Oh Wolfina, you belong here and you know it!  You just can't bear the thought of it!!!"


            I pulled away and ran down into the valley toward the Labyrinth, seeking the way out of this dimension.

© Samantha Murphy (aka TheRedWolf/TheOnlyRedWolf/Wolfie)

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