Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.
With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.
DESPAIR CANYON
Howling wind tore through the awful sharp pillars of rock clogging Despair Canyon, moaning up at the two men who descended into it—other than the uncaring stars gleaming far above, their only light was the lantern Ray carried.
“Why would she have come this way?” Ray said. “Grace knows better than to have gone this way.” He squeezed his Remington in both hands as he wove through the rocks blocking their path. Protrusions reached for them as they squeezed through. “What was she thinking?”
“Said her pa needed the medicine right away,” William said. “She didn’t have a lotta time left.”
Ray kept his shotgun on the twisted rocks surrounding them. Their shapes bent and wound like captured campfire flames. “You know what they say about this place, right?” William didn’t answer. “Those moans,” Ray said. “The spirits of settlers were butchered here.”
“Jus’ the wind.”
“Maybe.” Ray’s boots crunched the dirt and stones as the men paced through caught-still darkness. “Or maybe the Navajo funneled through this canyon.”
“Keep yer eyes open for Grace. She might’ve fallen and got hurt.”
“And then what will we do?” Ray said. “Carry her out?” He shook his head as they entered a denser segment of rocks. “We’d never get back to her ranch in time.”
William squeezed Ray’s collar. “You listen t’ me,” he snarled. “That little girl is depending on us right now. By God, if you’re too busy being scared to see her, you’re getting a whooping.”
Twisted rocks blocked their way. After ten more minutes—each turn of the lantern throwing up sharp shadows—they found the package of medicine Grace had been carrying.
“Eyes open,” William said. “Look everywhere. We don’t miss her.”
“So many shadows. And these rocks in the way. She could be hiding anywhere!” Ray said. The canyon’s high walls funneled them down into the valley. Rocky protrusions like branches snagged his clothing and caught on his coat. “They’re grabbing me!”
“Keep yer eyes open!” William shouted. He turned to Ray, and a rock snagged his boot. His gun flew from his hand as he toppled. Howling moans roared up at him, and his breath hitched. The light from Ray’s lantern swung wildly, and shadows danced as pillars of rock reached for them.
“William! My legs! Something’s got my legs! I can’t get out, William! It’s hopeless!”
William lifted his eyes. As the lantern swung back and forth and the moans howled, Ray’s feet joined to the ground, becoming rock. The change rose to his knees. “Help me! Help me, William!” Ray screamed, reaching. Rock swept up the rest of Ray’s body, up his torso to the top of his head, and his face was frozen in a rocky scream as the lantern fell to the ground.
It cracked, the light went out, and then there was just the moaning and the uncaring stars far above and the twisted, hopeless path out of the canyon and the thousands of rocks just like Ray.
Daniel is a great singer, wholly romantic, and is convinced he’s alive. His work has appeared in over thirty publications, including ‘Havik,’ ‘Defenestration Magazine,’ and ‘Ripples in Space.’ His new ebook ‘Hymnfire’ is available on Amazon. His X account is @Danny_Deisinger, and his website is saturdaystory-Time.weebly.com.
If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash anthology.
Iron Faerie Publishing 