The Areson Stories

Already Dead E. M. Areson Standing outside the theater looking at the posters made Adrienne want to be sick. Superhero movies were popular this year, they had been popular for the past twenty years, but now she knew. Hundreds of thousands would flood theaters just like this all over the world. Yet, in many ways, they were liars, unknowing hypocrites. They idolized their heroes; aliens, accidents, dark souls, saviors, the flawed, the near perfect, all accepted. “Shame they don’t treat us like that.” She looked down as a little tear leaked out. Nard took her hand in his, under the fake skin she could feel his cybernetic hand. He looked so normal with his charming green eyes and black hair. Not like she did, under the hoodie she was unnatural. Unlike Nard, she had been normal once. She had gone to the movies with friends, attended school, and had a family. Now, all that was gone. Nothing was left but to hide from the  Agency for Protecting Personal Security or A.P.P.S. ...

The Lava Warriors  By E. M. Areson Ash falls around me and I wonder why I’m here. Yes, my people have done this for over nine hundred years but this is silly. Go out for a day to an island with a volcano spewing hot lava and all you get is a bow and quiver. This is your final test before you join the tribe, don’t die for a day, or if you do die well…you’re dead, no being a member of the tribe than. Realistically though, apart from jumping into the lava not much can happen out here…Right? I turned to my friend Nome, “This is crazy. Whoever thought would be a good test was ridiculous.” He shrugged, “Traditions sometimes have no visible meaning… but yeah, this a bit silly.” “A bit?” “Okay, a very silly, not as much as you though.” “Hay!” I playfully reach over and hit his arm. “Ow.” “That didn’t hurt,” I said as I turned and walked off. “Where are you going?” “To explore the island, what else would I do?” Nome sighed, “Wait for me.”    ...

The King By E. M. Areson It had all been determined long ago they had told me. They said it was my destiny to overthrow him and start a peaceful empire. What they had never told me I’m a monster. The very things that made me a hero also make me a terror… at least it’s what I think now. The monks never meant for to find out; it was all my fault. Everything’s my fault.         After a lifetime of training, I had finally earned the right to wear the red vest, the same my father and his father had worn. Looking back now I wonder why the thought never occurred to me that if my father and grandfather had lived just like I had, without ever meeting a woman before their twentieth birthday, which they both died on, how I had been born. I just excepted it was truth… and murdered accordingly.         The night I did it was a blur, so much fighting. I was careful not to kill anyone or harm any civilians, just like...