The Guard's Debt
Theresa Mullen, thirty-four years old and tired down to her bones, locked the last door on the south hall and stood there for a second…
Breathless and eager nonhuman stories
Stories in NonHuman tagged breathless and eager, ranked by how many readers finish them. Reads run 19 to 23 minutes. Writers to know: Signal of Velvet, Harbor Engine and The Ridge Record. Readers usually start with “The Guard's Debt” and “The Diner Debacle”. Some are free to read in full; the rest open with a free preview.
Breathless and eager nonhuman stories, ranked by readers
01 02 The Diner Debacle
My name is Lorraine Baker, I'm thirty-four years old, and I've worked security at Hollis Feed and Seed for six years.
03 Rooftop Eaves
*This one started with the image of summer heat on a tar roof and the question of what would happen if you only had one night to explore…
04 Trail Light
Sandra saw the sign for Aspen Hollow as the last light faded behind the ridge.
05 After-Hours Anatomy
Russ Payne was twenty-four and mostly good at his job.
06 The Vet and the Alien
Tabby cleaned her house on a Tuesday in late May, which was something she had not done for a date in three years, and she was honest…
07 Thirty Seven
The jukebox was playing that same Counting Crows song it always plays.
08 Welder's Break
The alarm went off at 5:40 and I was already awake.
09 Jaw Trap
Angelica was 44 years old and had been a dentist for twenty years, which meant she knew the weight of every box in her office by feel.
10 The Saffron Taste
Sweat was running into my eyes again, so I wiped my forehead with the back of my wrist and went back to checking the risers.
11 Locker Room Warm-Up
Karin had been a security guard for nineteen years, which meant she noticed everything.