It's the Substrates That Matter

My posts have dwindled to essentially nothing in the past few weeks due to starting work on another novel. This new novel is set to satire my first few years of college (in all its glory).
Currently, the project itself is titled "Substrates and Killer Tones" (the title hasn't been set in stone), but I thought I might as well share the short story that sets up the entire book. As I finish more of the book, I'll be posting more details, either on here or on my Tumblr account.

If you really enjoy what you read, let me know. I'm still looking for some opinions on the first few chapters and am always open to new readers.

"Substrates and Killer Tones"

“They say it isn’t possible. Why is it impossible? How can it be impossible?” I snicker at the thought. The wheels on my chair squeak against the stained floor as I push back from my desk. “I just have to think hard enough. Yes, hard enough.” The smile upon my face would delight even the most cynical of beings. Only realizations of the highest degree could bring on such happiness. Realizations that are born from the ideas of the brilliant—yes, the brilliant. They may say I’m crazy—that my ideas are crazy—but they don’t know! So blind…Yes, so blind…

Eyes wide. Pupils focused. Saliva dripping from my mouth in waiting for an occurrence. All of my focus sits on the blank, dirty wall before me in the dim, dim light of this damn dorm room. A cube. Yes, a cube! That’s what I want! I’ll create a cube! I’ll show them what’s ‘impossible!’ My brain strains anxiously and water seeps from the corners of my eyes. A square pops into my visual field. Super-imposed upon the wall. Intangible and translucent, its figure hardly blocks any sight of the wall, but it’s progress. Delicious progress!

Almost there! My concentration hardens. My eyes grow wider. Small tremors kick my head in anticipation. Slowly but surely, the square pops out. I can see it! Its four edges emerge from the grimy wall, bringing eight more behind it. A cube! Yes, it’s a cube that I want! It’s not long before my brilliance has birthed an object from nothingness. But…something’s wrong…

Why can I still look through it?! Anger seeps into current thoughts as my eyes keep wide, straining to keep the object from dissipating. With a shaking hand, there’s a commitment to testing the cubes tangibility. It must be real this time… How can it not be? How could it be impossible? Tremors shove my hand in such a way that even entropy could not accurately describe. But, still, I reach for it.

I’m almost there. Just a few more inches. Surely it’ll be real this time.

Shaking horribly, my hand reaches were it should be, but nothing activates my mechanoreceptors. I feel nothing.

“Goddamnit!” I yell. My eyes snap shut, drawing the tense energy back into my body. The force of it all throws me back, throws my chair sideways. In a clatter, both of us crash to the floor hard. Now still, my hand grasps my unclothed, aching arm while I wince in pain.

The cube is gone. Watery eyes won’t quit. Now I have a headache. “Just, fucking wonderful…” A sigh escapes my exasperated lips long before I lie my head down upon the floor, upon the small streaks of blood that had helped to calm me before the attempt. “Regular focus doesn’t work. Stimulants don’t increase the tangibility. Pain-induced focus doesn’t have enough bite. Even sacrificing life energy doesn’t come close.” Another sigh. Soft thuds from the floor or my head hit the air as I bang my head against brown tile. “Idiot…And they call you a genius! Ha!” I snicker in self-hate. What good are the doubters?

I gradually come to pull myself up and place the chair up-right. “Just because they say something is impossible, doesn’t make it ‘impossible.’” I wipe a hand over my arm to remove some of the blood, but my skin seems to be stained. “Nothing is ‘impossible.’” I smirk at even the slight notion that I’ll never succeed. “I’ll try again.”

As I sit down upon the chair, there’s a simultaneous knock at my door and window. I glance right at the door, then left at the window. “Here we go again.” I sigh and stand up.

Opening the door, I find a young woman standing before me. Slightly shorter than I with medium-length, dark green hair—a dye job—light-brown eyes and a “cute” face. Maybe I’d find her average physique and fashion sense more attractive if her “concerned” personality wasn’t so goddamn annoying.

“What is it, Sarah?” I ask, letting my annoyance slip easily. Her eyes capture mine with the affective glare of an innocent young girl.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I called you earlier, and you didn’t respond. Lately, you’ve been so caught up with your experiments…I’ve been…worried, especially when I heard what people’ve been saying.” The emotion in her voice feels thick, almost overwhelming. I could almost hug her. Any other person would have gotten the sarcastic: And…what have they been saying? But, for some reason, I can never truly bring myself to be so callous with Sarah. Just because they call me a “demon” doesn’t make me heartless. “What’s that?!” She reaches out a shaking hand to touch the blood on my arm. When her fingers come back died with crimson, the look of terror on her face says it all.

Freezing in place, I watch her reaction as she pushes the door open a little more. Such a gentle soul; what could she do? Her eyes waver a bit as her mind seems to hone in on the smears of blood my body had left upon the floor. I guess the bloody pocket knife on the desk doesn’t make the sight any better either…

“Are you okay?” she squeaks with all the worry written on her visage. Goddamn, that face…Why must she look like that?

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer easily with my best, beguiling smile. “I was just trying a new angle on one of my theories. It’s really not as bad as you think, I promise.” I laugh lightly, and her overall mood seems to shift for the better, making the moment slightly less awkward.

“Okay…” she mutters.

“Look, how about this?” I start to lead her away from the door, into the hallway. “Go back to your room. I’ll clean up, get dressed, and I’ll meet you for dinner. How’s that sound?” Her original innocence sparks into action as a sweet smile spawns upon her face.

“That sounds wonderful!”

“Give me an hour or so, and I’ll text you with the details?” She nods her head in agreement and starts to walk away. It doesn’t take her long to glance back at me.

“Just be careful, okay?” Once more, the sincerity in her voice could kill a man.

“Yeah yeah yeah…” I wave her comment off with another smile. She seems satisfied enough—that is, if her leaving is any indicator.

I sigh once more as I close the door behind me. Thinking passively at how many times I tend to sigh, I wonder if Sarah actually realizes what I’m trying to do. How could I possibly be careful at a time like this? Regardless…

“You’re late.” The words fly out of my mouth flat, emotionless.

“Who ever said a demon had to show up on time?”

“Samuel, when he first contacted me.”

“Pssh…Samuel’s too uptight.” I guess he would know. Before me stands Israel, Samuel’s right-hand man—well, one of them at least. When I first met the guy, his name brought back memories of Sunday school, but, obviously, he and Jacob aren’t exactly the same type of person.

Black suit. Red dress shirt. Crimson necktie. Black shades. Blond hair, white skin, and dark-red eyes—in the brief glimpses I’ve received in the past. All the demons seem to wear the same get-up (hair and skin color being the exception). Honestly, I find it all strange and unsettling.

“Are you going to actually tell me what you’re here for or stand in front of my window all night?” The open window behind him lets in a constant flow of cold air. It only makes me hate him more.

Israel smirks. “I hear you’ve been attempting energy creation again,” he remarks casually, hands in his black trouser pockets. “Didn’t Samuel tell you that that power is reserved for Gods?”

“He also said that tolls had to be paid for humans attempting it. I’ve been paying my tolls; he shouldn’t have any problems.” I guess the grimace on my face actively displays my discomfort, because his smile widens. Motherfucker….

“Yes, yes…I just wanted to warn you…” Now at my desk, he plays with my pocket knife. His hidden eyes seem to contemplate the blood on its edge. “It’s dangerous manipulating life energy like that. Also, one wrong move, and maybe what you create won’t be due to your toll. Ever think of that, smartass?”

I remain silent with clenched fists at my side. What else could a genius do?

Leaving my knife back to its resting position, he heads back for the window. Silence impedes the air as he puts a leg outside the window. My nerves can’t take it anymore. “Is that all?!” I blurt out. He snickers in the same, arrogant sort of way all demons seem to snicker. God, I hate them all.

“Just be careful, okay?” In an instant he’s gone, leaving only a scene Columbus at night; the window drops back down with a soft thud.

Beyond pissed off, I sit back down on my chair, my head rested in my hands. Who does he think he is? They don’t have anything on me. I smirk, knowing how awfully clever I am. But, when I look up, I realize a mistake.

Before my eyes, sitting on the floor in front of the wall, is a solid cube, almost translucent, but unmistakably there. “Shit…” I mutter, before shaking my head and heading to the bathroom to clean up for Sarah.

~Chris

A Trial by Fire

"Flying" by *MindTuber

For anyone following me on Tumblr, this may not exactly be a "new" piece, but it's too relevant to leave to one blog alone. 

Life often leaves us in scenarios too dangerous to stay. It's unfortunate that we may stay in them regardless. To that point, I continue writing and fleshing out why it is that such pain is all too enjoyable. Yet, regardless, the heart which beats in my chest can't possibly hold out against such misery for long. 

Maybe that's why the title of this piece makes so much sense...

"Fuck..."

The times, they flew away
With the sanity I’d been holding
For two people, me and you

It’s no walk in the park
Only a jury by fire, with acts
Like you never knew

Tired thoughts, drift away
To the sea containing hope
Or painful years lost

With one word, it’s all lost
And, no, I can’t take the tears
Or the unbelievable cost

~Chris

A Heart's Dream

"Dreaming"

A heart in one hand, a dream in the other. The dream once rested upon the branches of the largest tree Eden had ever seen. The heart, barely identifiable from the scars it displays.  

 But a heart and a dream, nonetheless, exist I'm such proximity that the latter consoles the former and the former teaches the latter. In such a way, a life is formed; a bond is shared. Love would be soon to follow.  

I guess, not love in the traditional sense, but a friendship lingering on the fence and tilting ever so slightly to one side. Knowing the joys of Eden, the dream could never accept anything else; knowing of the heart's pain, it couldn't bear to indulge in anything more than the friendship, of course.  

"What a shame," thought the heart, "what I have to give is more precious than these scars our the branches of any tree. The paradise which runs out my veins trumps any sensation a dream could ever want." But the dream doesn't see. No, only the clouds grace its vision; memories slant its future.  

"It is time," said the dream one day, "to return home." And with that, their time was lost and a hand was left empty. Unable to bear such a trial, the heart removed the stitches governing its scars, in hopes to join the dream in the end.  

 But, no, no heart nor dream is to be found. 

Blood

"My Life" by DarkRaven

Cutting is a controversial issue with which I know all too well. As I've gotten older pain has strangely become more pleasurable in a way that I can't describe. Luckily, cutting is an action I've left to my past.

However, I thought it might be interesting to write about the issue in a different light. Let me know what you think.

"Reminiscent Stains"

I take the blade between my fingers. How cool the metal feels. How much my mind yearns for its bite. Still, it's reassuring to have solid mortality squeezed between my digits. “Maybe just once more,” I think. “I want to remember.”

My palm against the casing, the tip of my finger pressed hard against the back of the blade, my focus drops to my hip. The caring blade kisses my skin, leaving a touch of red love as it slides down a few inches. I squeeze my eyes shut and my heart skips a beat as the rush of endorphins fills my brain with a pleasurable sting. “Yes...”

Looking down at the wonderful mark, I smile happily before I carefully make another, horizontal mark near the top of the blade's trail. A crimson cross stands out upon my light-tan skin. Liquid life trickles in tiny, timid drops down my side. My mind rejoices at the new addition to my canvas.

 




Life hates my pleasure.

~Chris

Going nowhere

"Lost" by iNeedChemicalX

Hey guys it's Aulene!!!

This is my new piece. I am feeling very confused at where I am in my life right now. I'm at a rough spot in my life and don't really know what to do or where to go from here. So, I am just lost in my thoughts.

Have you every been in a situation like this? Please comment and let me know. Tell me your experience with this. I would love to know I am not the only one who gets lost some times.

Buy our book! Life In Fiction: Words From the Underrated.

Thank you all for your wonderful support!!! <3 font="">

“Going nowhere”

Can you feel it?

(We're going nowhere)

That feeling

Of running

But you can never find it?

Yet you still try...

...To run...

...To jump...

...To crawl...

Just to get there

To that one goal

Maybe it's a spot on a team

An “A” on a paper

Maybe your other half

You always feel so close

But just out of reach.

That look in your eyes

Of loss

Giving up and losing the fight

It's almost over

Your eyes close

Then you just drift...

...Drift off into blind bliss...

Give up

We live our life,

As if we are ready to die,

But it's almost over.

You don't want to give up—

Not yet—

Not when what you desire is so close

Signal the sirens

Wake up!

FIGHT

For what you want

For what you need

You may feel like you're going nowhere

But that's only if you give up the fight.



~Aulene

~APLIW



Leaving the Nest

Hey guys it's Sabrina Black, this weeks piece is about moving out and graduation I can't believe it's finally time. Its gone by so fast it feels as if I was a kid yesterday. It's time to say good bye.

"Growing Up Blinded" by Machihuahua

“Special Place”

I think back on the past
Time is flying by too fast

Is it really time...
...time to grow up?
...time to venture out into the cold world...
...without a warm hand to guide me?

The bare ground beneath my feet is paved with decisions
And a long journey creates the bumps and cracks.

In a few months I'll leave this cage forever...
...to freely breath the sweet air as it touches my face
I'm scared but I'm ready to face a journey alone...
...leaving everything behind.

Never looking back, except when I mean to
Remember people who have a special place in my heart

Those memories are locked in a locket
With time frozen on the inside

Faded, into revealing.

"You're not who you were. "

Friendships change and you find out why certain friends ever stuck around. A lot of times, not all the time, they are staying for greed.


So look up! Its not that you aren't enough for someone to stay, it's that you are more than enough. Whether they only be into their own self interests or not. You are of so much worth that you were chosen as part of their life even if for a short time. The way I see it, they would've chosen anyone. But you are special. Whether that be a nuisance to you for being a pushover or not it's still the same.

Don't stick around getting your hopes up for these people, no, but go with the flow and believe that you are still strong, with or without someone by your side.

Taking Notice

"Sometimes we focus so hard on what others think of us and we don't even examine ourselves. What makes us think they are right anyway? Its all prejudice or opinion. Do what you do and be proud of who you are."

Remember

Recapping memories can be a sad time and a beautiful time. They will always be with you in flash backs even if you don't want them to.

"How Memories Behave"

Remember... Remember... The word sings like a chant in my head. What is the word remember anymore? It's just a key to the past. Repressed memories, sadness, joy, and loneliness play as symptoms saying the word. The past never seemed so alive and welcome as it disguises itself as a memory it plays in your head like a movie. Then you take off its mask and it's just another tear that comes out of your eye.

The happy feelings are gone just remembering the moments, they never feel the same way as they happened. Trying to create new ones just seems to fill the void, replacing the old. Getting the same dose. One moment it's there and the next it's gone. Why does it have to end? Why did it happen? Why do I have to realize the pain?




~Sabrina Black
APLIW

New Beginnings

Hey guys this is Aulene!!!

"Colour my world" by MsMysterious

Today, I bring you a new piece about new beginnings.

At one point in everyone’s lives they have wanted to start over—have a new beginning—with no judgment and a clean slate.

Let me know what your guys’ New Year’s resolution is and how you plan to make it happen.

Have a great New Year’s, and remember to make it count. Make this a great year with no regrets!

Good luck! Thank you so much for all of your support!!!

Also, remember to purchase our first publication—Life In Fiction: Words From the Underrated, available Jan. 2—to help us kick off the new year!

“New Beginnings”

Every now and again you wish

Wish you could start over

Get a new start

A new beginning

To forget the past

Forget all the mistakes

And just try

To be someone new

For better or for worse

Be someone you want

Not what people make you

Be a new you

Create a new dream

Make a new friend

Do something...

For someone else

Make this new year count

Look in the mirror

Do you like what you see?

If not change it

Everyone can do it

It just takes a little thought

To be a better person

And make a difference

Help someone to cross the street

Volunteer at a shelter

 Do something you normally wouldn’t

Just try something new

Make this year the best

Make it count

No regrets

Make your own luck

Make a resolution

Fall in love

Shoot some fireworks

Live like there is no tomorrow

Dye your hair

Get a tattoo

Get a piercing

Wear something different

Paint a picture

Write a song

Take a dance class

Learn a language

Say goodbye

To those who hold you back

And hello

To those who will push you forward

~Aulene

~APLIW

Fall Out

This next piece is a short free-write from yesterday.

"Looking Down"

Look out toward the world

Subtract the lines

Subtract the colors

Remove the air

And the Earth

All I know is falling

Through time

Through space

To nowhere

But my death

Oblivion starts today

            Forever starts tomorrow

            All of life ends tomorrow

                        If Fate is believable

                        Or luck is on my side

Fate drives me.

~Chris

Bells

"Solo of Bells In Autumn" by Viv Leoni

At Ohio State, a bell tower stands near the center of campus. Every hour, it rings out beautifully through the air.

A few days ago, I walked through downtown Cincinnati with my dad and heard the same type of bells. The purity of such sounds is marvelous, and I'm truly surprised I haven't written something about them sooner.

"En la hora..."

Bells toll in the distance

Another hour has passed

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Life flies with the time

No doubt could ever enter

An hour closer to death

But an hour still alive…

            …Nonetheless.

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

The clear sound brings tears

To eyes that’ve lived the hour

To the future all terrors flee

Forth through time…

            …The bells toll.

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Ding-dong

Fate drives me.

~Chris

One Last Word About Christmas

Yes, Christmas is over, but late stories are better than no stories at all!

I had a pretty decent Christmas. Good food, good music, and a family less shattered than usual all helped to make it special. I hope everyone had a similar experience. After all, Christmas is supposed to be a happy day, right?

Anyways, here's one last post about Christmas to hold you over for another 364 days. 

I hope you enjoy it and keep coming back each day for more poetry and stories from the eyes of Alex Arlington.

Photo by Kristen Nicholl

“Regalos para mi”

“Merry Christmas!” she shouts.  My step mother stares at me with hopeful  eyes while my father plays with a new gadget on the couch. She slides a large box across the floor to me.

Bright-red wrapping paper with green stripes and a sparkling blue bow; all I can manage to do is stare at it. If there’s a hidden secret to this mysterious box, I haven’t caught it yet.

“Open it!” she insists while holding her smartphone in picture-taking position. For a few moments more, I contemplate the gift before I move my hands to tear off the colorful wrapping.

Maybe… Hope fills the back of my mind as I tear the last bit of paper off of the box. Stark-white without a single mark to indicate its contents. Just maybe… I open the box slowly and pull out its contents. A new game system, fresh from Sony, is now clasped between my hands. I guess not…

“I wasn’t sure what to get you,” my step mother states, “but the man at Best Buy said that this was a popular item this year, and I knew you liked video games.” Three games sit in the bottom of the box with some candy that’d been thrown in to fill space.

I don’t let out the sigh which comes up my throat. I don’t let my frown show. How could she have known? I can’t blame her. Instead, a smile is put upon my face. It’s sincere, even if not my first emotion.

“Thank you!” I say brightly, bringing satisfaction to her worried face. “I’ve been wanting this for a while.” I hold the console up a bit and force my smile larger. A few shutter sounds indicate the pictures she takes.

“I’m glad you like it, sweetie,” her relief and smile never fade, even for a second. “Who wants brownies?” She stands up as my dad grumbles something from the couch. She leaves the room, taking my excited look as my consent.

Still, as she turns away, I look down and lose my smile. My eyes take in the new game console. I guess I shouldn’t complain. I had wanted this too, right? But my thoughts are little comfort against my wish for Audrey to suddenly appear…For the contents of the box to suddenly be some sort of sign that she’s come back…

“Brownie time!” my step mother exclaims cheerfully as she enters the living room once more. A silver tray covered in brownies brownies rests upon her upturned hands. Instantly, my smile returns, and I silently promise not to let it fade for the rest of the day.

Christmas Eve

Photo by Kristen Nicholl

It's the day before Christmas here in Ohio, and I can practically feel the excitement in the air.

People have rushed into stores, grabbing as much merchandise as possible. So much greed has been shown these past few months...but, somehow, tomorrow everyone will turn into "saints." Caring will replace hatred, and, for one day, I'll have faith in most of the human race.

Oh, what a great day it'll be!

Today's piece shares that feeling from the eyes of Alex Arlington. This week will be full of similar posts, stop by each and every day to read them all and join us on tumblr for the delayed post of each piece and special views of each of our Christmases.

Happy holidays everyone!

“Cuando era niῆo…”

I awoke to sunny  thoughts of the frigid air outside. Every year, when I was younger, I’d awake to snow-covered seas of frozen fields. Now, the scene has been replaced by the sight of cars as they pass by on the highway below my bedroom window.

“One,” I whisper the command to split into another form of myself. For seconds I sit on both sides of a border between the past and present before I come back to my regular self. Slowly, my face starts to mimic the happiness of the child I’d seen a decade ago.

A mask over my cynicism it may be, but the thrill is real. Only a day is left before Christmas. Soon the presents will come, and love will sweep the world. I can’t help but feel the overwhelming pleasure of peace soon to be realized.

Slipping out of bed, the feeling fails to fall from me. No. The feeling shall never fall from me.

Fate drives me,

hate divides me,

but love keeps me grounded.

~Christopher Shorten

Tumblfy

Hey everyone, I've got some big news to share!

Life In Fiction is expanding to Tumblr! 

Whether for good or bad, the new Tumblr page (reallifeinfiction.tumblr.com) will allow us to post extras posts, pieces, or tidbits that may never make it to our main site. I guarantee, if you check it out, you'll definitely enjoy it (especially as our number of posts grows in size).

This week, I bring you the first original piece to be posted by me on Tumblr. Enjoy!

"Pessimism For the Night"

I take these breaths only to live one more day.
But, life isn’t worth living.
The unforgiving world that surrounds me
Just doesn’t understand…
No, how could they possibly understand?
That I live not for life,
But for the sake of holding her one more time,
Placing my lips upon hers,
Feeling her skin beneath my broken fingers…
It’s been far too long…
Yet, I’ll still breath, not for the sake of living,
But to simply see her
One more time.

By the way, don't forget to follow me, in all of my nerdiness, as well. Look for Living Fiction (alex-arlington.tumblr.com) and don't forget to always put life into words.

~Chris