3 Short Stories

I used to in a band called A Separate Peace and one day my singer asked me too write up some short stories based on some of the songs we had written. The idea was to give our fans some back story to what we were trying to say with our songs. I ended up quitting the band and they broke up so we they never got to use them. I thought I might share them with you to hear your thoughts. I can also give any of you cds of the songs that go along with each story if you like. Also, I just want to say this is not my workshop writing. My Workshop one is called The Cellar and it is further on down this page. I just wanted to clarify so no one misunderstands. Enjoy.


The Darkest Truth


By Jacob Kutnicki


I hear a scream in the dark, loud enough to shake the flames from their wicks. I fear our nightmare will in fact manifest itself into tangible terror. I thought we would have more time before the Grays break down our door and begin to take us away.

In the train I stood next to a boy from my school. He was greatly fatigued and fell in his spot. Due to lack of space, his had twisted into an unnatural angle and I could have sworn I heard bones cracking but the sound was blanketed by the high pitched wail of the train whistle. I glanced out the little window of the train and I saw the camps.

I know in my heart that some better fit and healthier group than ours are fighting back. They must be….They must.

Time is strange in the camps. All the days seem to be getting longer yet nighttime and meals seem to be happening less and less as each day passes.

I heard the guards talking of my father with a morbid enthusiasm. His death had been cruel and undeserved for a man of his stature. My sister too is dead.

I was told once that our souls leave our bodies before the pain can reach us. Lack of sleep and food has made my body weak. I feel I have become diseased and there is blood when I cough. I feel warmth in my chest, like a foreign fire burning next to my heart. I fall, hoping they will let me sleep. As I glaze up at them I feel as if I am dreaming. The ground is wet and red. I know I am awake because I start to shiver. A figure steps over me and says something, then there is a bright light and then…warmth. They were right, there was no pain.




A Stalkers P.O.V.


By Jacob Kutnicki

I think she looked at me yesterday. I was across the street from her and she looked out the store window and I think she was looking at me. That is the fourth time this month.

Some of my favorite times we have spent together have been when I watch her listening to music. Sometimes, her curtains are closed so I can only see her silhouette, but most of the times she leaves them open for me. I love the way she moves, silently gliding as she mouths along with the words. I wonder what she listens to. We have so much in common already I think I can assume we have the same taste in music, after all our relationship is built on assumptions.

Her left tire in the front of her car needs air. Maybe I should tell her. No, she hates when I don’t mind my business. I am sure it will be fine.

It’s a good thing I took her cell phone bill because otherwise I wouldn’t know her new number. She is so funny. I could never get that number out of her.

The first day I saw her, she walked into my store. She was just looking around so I didn’t approach her. And now look at us, our two year anniversary is right around the corner and I’m getting happier every day.

I know she doesn’t cheat on me. I remember she was interested in the guy who owned the store across the street from mine. I took care of him so that even if she wanted to cheat on me with him, it would already be two years to late.

I wonder what it will be like to grow old with her. I wonder what our kids would look like if we had any. I wonder what its like to hold her. I wonder what its like to kiss her.




Among the Ashes of Millionares


By Jacob Kutnicki

You know how sometimes you see a woman and you can tell that you will do just about anything to be with her. That’s what she was like. Tall, great body, eyes like the sky, and hair that you could get lost in.

Our time together wasn’t all that bad. It was the end that was the problem. I had heard all the rumors about her but I disposed of them as jealousy. Even the trail of corpses she left in her wake could not persuade me to leave.

I was blind to what she was doing. A month ago at the restaurant, they told me my credit card had been declined and subsequent attempts with the same card and others had proven futile as well. I wrote a check instead which bounced due to insufficient funds.

In hindsight I clearly see how she worked me. I was just one of the many pawns that this queen had taken. My wealth has been burned down to nothing, fallen away like the ash on the tip of a cigarette. Everything ends, so I must put it out.