Stranded

Kim Fielding

Description

STRANDEDDEFINITION: adjective (of a boat, sailor, or sea creature) left aground on a shore."a stranded whale" left without the means to move from somewhere."he offers a lift to a stranded commuter"###The boys in this collection of short stories have most definitely been left STRANDED!They've been shipwrecked and abandoned.Marooned and cast away.And left helpless and high and dry.But you should never underestimate the tenacity of the human heart...STORIES INCLUDED:CRAVING STAINS Alina PopescuTrapped since birth in a sterile, hospital-like apartment, Wynn longs to break free to experience the world.Enter Doyle.But is Doyle real, or is he just a figment of Wynn's imagination?#SAY CHEESE Michael P. ThomasSitcom sensation Felix Medrano, America's Sweetheart, throws a star-studded surprise party for his sweetheart, beanpole barkeep Grover Shepherd.It's a smash, save for one detail: Shep is a no-show.Who'd have thought it would be so hard to pop the question?#STANDBY Kim FieldingWho'd have thought being stranded at the airport could possibly have some long term benefits?Certainly not Tom.But then he hadn't bargained on meeting Rafael...#THE RAIDER Asta IdoneaThe gods truly do work in mysterious ways as Thorstein found out when he was left for dead on the battle field of a foreign land.#THE BUCKLE Rob ColtonOne ditching and one rescue later, Hayden discovers the use of a telephone isn't the only offer that's on the table...#ARI NephylimBenji and Ari have spent their lives feeling lost and alone, stranded between genders.Can they help each other stop unravelling?#OPPOSITES ATTRACT Lily G. BluntChris and Andreas are opposites in character. Both fear the other wants to move on. Can being stranded on a mountainside resolve the doubt that is threatening to tear them apart?#OUT OF ORDER Eric GoberRob was the one who got away. Trent stumbles upon him during a trip to San Francisco... Right before a deadly earthquake...#DATING FOR DEAFIES Nikka MichaelsIf Evan York keeps hiding from the world behind his laptop he might miss out on something special.Will he find the courage?#ONE SNOWY NIGHT Louise LyonsOne snowy night, Keith Brambles learns that appearances can be deceptive.#THE CLIMB kirifoxJessie went camping with friends expecting to have some fun and maybe drink a little beer.Instead, he found his perfect man... but is he real or just a dream?#DID YOU LEAVE ANY FOR ME Sarah HayesTwo ex-lovers, one hotel room, and one random act of technology.Will they fall out or fall back in love?#SWEETNESS AND STRENGTH jn olsenMiles makes one seemingly small and inconsequential decision that turns out to be not so small and inconsequential after all.

Sujets

• Science fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Wayward Ink Publishing
• Date de parution: 08 octobre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781925222043
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Published by
Wayward Ink Publishing
Unit 1, No. 8 Union Street
Tighes Hill NSW 2297
Australia
http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Craving Stains Copyright 2014 by Alina Popescu
Say Cheese Copyright 2014 by Michael P. Thomas
Standby Copyright 2014 by Kim Fielding
The Raider Copyright 2014 by Asta Idonea
The Buckle Copyright 2014 by Rob Colton
Ari Copyright 2014 by Nephylim
Opposites Attract Copyright 2014 by Lily G. Blunt
Out of Order Copyright 2014 by Eric Gober
Dating for Deafies Copyright 2014 by Nikka Michaels
One Snowy Night Copyright 2014 by Louise Lyons
The Climb Copyright 2014 by kirifox
Did You Leave Any For Me? Copyright 2014 by Sarah Hayes
Sweetness and Strength Copyright 2014 by jn olsen
Cover Art by: Lily Velden in collaboration with Jay s Cover Designs
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other enquiries, contact Wayward Ink Publishing at: Unit 1, No. 8 Union Street, Tighes Hill, NSW, 2297, Australia.
http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com
ISBN: 978-1-925222-05-0
Printed in Australia
First Edition
June 2014
eBook edition available
EBook ISBN: 978-1-925222-04-3
Contents
1. Craving Stains
2. Say Cheese
3. Standby
4. The Raider
5. The Buckle
6. Ari
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
7. Opposites Attract
8. Out of Order
9. Dating for Deafies
10. One Snowy Night
11. The Climb
12. Did you Leave any for Me
13. Sweetness and Strength
Also From Wayward Ink Publishing
WYNN COULD barely contain his enthusiasm. He sat quietly on the armchair facing the window wall separating his living room from the city outside, his clothes perfectly positioned to avoid any wrinkles. He had chosen tight white jeans, a white V-neck tee, and a sports jacket, equally white. He checked the laces on his bright white shoes, and brushed inexistent impurities off his pant leg. His whole body pushed him to fidget and fuss, but he knew a disheveled appearance could be used against him. So nothing but the dazed smile, the sparkle in his eyes, and the rhythmic drumming of his fingers on the armrest betrayed the turmoil inside.
He was going outside, the first time in his whole life! After years of begging, making promises, complying with the strictest diets, fitness regimen, and twice-weekly checkups, his mother had finally agreed to take him outside. Nothing fancy, just a walk around the neighborhood, to see how he felt. Wynn was convinced he d show her he wasn t sick anymore, that the outside world wouldn t attack and kill him the moment he stepped foot outside.
A nervous giggle escaped him and he rolled his eyes. It was hard to keep his emotions under control. Twenty years made for one long wait to finally breach the confines of his apartment. He looked around, taking in the large, pure white room with its scarce, minimal furniture. The wall made of nothing but floor to ceiling windows was his favorite part. Sure, it threw away anything from the sun that was not pure light. UV filters, air cleansing devices, and CDC grade measures all made sure no microbes or bacteria ever penetrated this cage.
Wynn snorted, thinking of how unnecessary it would all become the moment he stepped outside and returned home alive. Only then would these absurd measures his mother had taken be forgotten. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to prove to her he could stay healthy and walk outside. He was tired of the Maid Bot 2000, his computer, his TV, and the books he kept buying. He supposed he should be thankful for the Rise of the eBook , yet he could not love them, not really, not like a normal reader. The TV programs, the news and stories on the Internet, the photos and videos of faraway places, the gripping stories in the books he read, they were all cruel reminders of the life he d been denied. A normal human being, even if they never did go to that exotic beach on the other side of the world, still knew they could. They weren t stranded, abandoned in their own home, with the somber doctor that came to inspect every inch of Wynn s body as their sole companion.
He perked up when he heard the click of the outside door opening. It unlocked when a certain code was pressed into the keypad on its right side. Wynn had seen the process through the security system; he d never been on that side of the apartment. His mother s high heels clicked on the floor, the hiss of dry showers cleansing her followed. Ten meters of different heads pushing air and heuristic nanobots, mixed into the traditional bacteria and virus killing formula. It was all the rage in disease control: microscopic machines programmed to guess what would make a potentially deadly intruder, and isolate the tiny killers before they could be spread. Wynn imagined it cost a lot, but there was nothing his mother wouldn t do to keep him alive. To what end, he could not guess. Maybe she just enjoyed having him a prisoner.
A bright smile curved his mouth, this time reaching his eyes. Wynn did not have to fake his pleasure at seeing his mother; it was as natural as it could be this time around. She was taking him outside. He supposed it made sense to even think he might love her one day. If he got to enjoy a normal life, experiencing the outside world, Wynn was ready to forget everything about how she d kept him locked up and alone for as long as he could remember.
She walked to the armchair he was sitting on, taking step after stiff step. Wynn had always thought he hated the sound of her heels hitting the marble floor, but today it heralded amazing new adventures, so he smiled and stood up. She took his hands in hers, giving them a little squeeze and gracing him with a tight smile.
Moira Brenwood was a beautiful woman, he knew. She was tall and slim, always full of grace, perfect in every detail, from the way her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, to the impeccable line of her eyebrows, and the flawless makeup.
Good morning, darling. How are you today? Her voice echoed in the large room, coming back to him with the same rehearsed warm notes.
I m great, mother. Let s go! he urged, shaking her hands and chuckling.
Wynn! Where are your manners? she hissed through clenched teeth. He saw the disapproval in her look and the way her lips were pressed together. Moira didn t take too kindly to rude people.
He cringed and gave her an apologetic smile. Damn it, don t screw this up! Don t give her any reason to take back her promise of allowing you outside! I m so sorry, Mother. Please forgive me. This is a big day and my excitement got the better of me. Wynn pointed to the armchair facing his, and waited for her to sit down before he went back to his own seat. He sighed softly to himself as she obstructed part of his view of the city. So, how have you been? Any interesting news?
I ve been just fine, Wynn, she said coldly, carefully inspecting her son from his toes to the top of his head. The same news as always, the world is going to hell. There s conflict everywhere, there are almost no resources, and new bio weapons are invented every day.
Wynn winced, knowing there was a strong chance she d use that particular tidbit of information to deny him his walk. If a new bio threat had made it to the news, she d never take him outside. How had he missed it? He had been browsing the news on every channel imaginable, and nothing new had emerged.
Well, that is how our world is, not much we can do about it, Wynn said weakly.
Moira huffed and stood up quickly, in a surprisingly fluid and soundless move. That is precisely the kind of thinking that got us all into this position. She started pacing up and down the room, her hands resting on her hips. She looked lovely in her colorful, tight dress. Her expression, however, spoke of nothing but bad weather on the horizon.
I m sorry, Mother. I see it from the perspective of a man not allowed outside of his apartment. Not much I can do to help save the world. Wynn sighed and relaxed into the armchair. Their conversation was not going very well.
Of course you d say that! You have a brain and several degrees. One would think I paid for those to have some usefulness at some point. She turned to face him, a cruel smile bringing pure pleasure to her eyes. I guess there is not much use in studying history and philosophy, is there?
Wynn clenched his fists and forced himself to breathe. Anger wouldn t help his case, it would just upset her more.
Mother, you know perfectly well those were the only degrees I could get without having to leave the apartment, or have some hands-on experience in labs or companies or some sort of office!
You could have studied languages. I would have made you our corporation s main translator, she suggested with a half shrug, her back turned to her son.
You know I am rubbish at foreign languages, Wynn replied, his voice getting a little whiny.
Well, no matter. We shall make do somehow. She turned to face him and tried another smile, yet only half her mouth complied. It s been lovely to see you, Wynn, as always. I m afraid I have to run along now.
What are you talking about? You promised to take me on a walk around the neighborhood, he shrieked, eyes bulging out.
Nonsense, darling. There are powerful solar flares announced for today. You can t possibly go outside. She cupped his cheek, her cold fingers trying to reassure him.
That is bullshit! Wynn yelled, throwing his ha