Joshua Maggs
Bio
Stories (10/0)
- Top Story - April 2024
Just Sixty SecondsTop Story - April 2024
Oliver sat at a cold, grey steel-covered table. He knew he was next. The longer he sat here, the more confident he knew he wouldn’t make it. His hands were tied to the chair he was sitting on, pushed up against the steel table. A small camera in the corner of the ceiling with a tiny red flashing light was the only thing he was focused on. He felt sick to the stomach. He knew he didn’t have long.
By Joshua Maggs17 days ago in Fiction
The Forest and The Young Boy
Years had passed with exceeding hurry. The forest had become dark and gloomy, with its once vibrant colourful life, hushed out like a flickering flame of a candle. The forest extended for as far as the eye could see. Its edges shrouded with hedges that protected itself from anything from the outside world. The track once walked by many, now barely visible as weed vines overtook it. The forest was once a place of joy and delight – now a skeleton of its former glory.
By Joshua Maggsabout a month ago in Fiction
The Old Station
The old station was as empty as the day it closed. The old asphalt platform with weeds and thorns growing out of the ever-opening cracks made known its age. The railway tracks still laid with perfect precision on their rotting wooden sleepers. The wind blew through the station, creating small waves throughout the overgrown grass. A lone timber seat sat against the brick wall of the station underneath a rusted sign – ‘Platform 1’.
By Joshua Maggs3 months ago in Fiction
The River Flows
The river flowed as it always had. The water calmy drifting along its natural formation while lapping up against the rocks on its sides. Trees adorned the banks of the river with dirt tracks weaving in and out from those who had ventured down to take in its beauty. A gentle breeze blew through the tops of the trees, providing a hustling yet mesmerizing sound. Taylor looked up. It was beautiful. The green, lush leaves on hundred-year-old trees ignited his senses, with the fresh air drifting down onto the forest floor where he stood. He paused for a moment to get a drink of water out of his backpack. He took the bag off his back and knelt down. He pulled out a water bottle and took a few sips, before placing the bottle on the dirt as he looked across the river. He watched for a few minutes as the water moved this way and that, heading down towards a bend in the river that looked strangely eerie. The forest seemed to be darker down there. He felt uncomfortable even looking at it, little lone knowing he had to walk past it to get back home.
By Joshua Maggs6 months ago in Chapters
Wowtigo
Little Tom ran to the front door of the house. The doorbell had just chimed its beautiful tune. He reached his hand up, turned the door handle and swung open the door. It’s almost as if the sun had deliberately shone down its rays of light onto the person standing in the entrance. It was Grandma.
By Joshua Maggs6 months ago in Fiction
The Man, the Cat and the Mouse
Throughout the old, cracking timber walls came the sound of a hurrying little mouse. Its tiny feet click-clacketing much louder than normal as the smell of a tasty cheese wafted through the air. The mouse scurried along the centre of the wall - jumping over fluff and dirt, a sock it dragged through earlier and a half-eaten piece of bread that was thieved from the floor of the kitchen. The mouse stopped. Its little heart racing as it heard the sounds of giant steps from the other side of the wall. Its tiny whiskers twitching here and there as the mouse turned its face toward the wall.
By Joshua Maggs7 months ago in Fiction
- Top Story - October 2023
SpeakTop Story - October 2023
The room was dim and quiet. Dust lay scattered on the windowsill as rain trickled down the glass of the lone window in the room. A tall lamp stood in the corner, with its large white lampshade lit from within with a warm white ambient light. The wooden floorboards aged from years of wear held the secrets of many before them. Two chairs sat in the middle of the room equally opposite from each other with a large rug that spanned from the door to the wall. A small table sat between the chairs with two glasses of water and a book, and a small burning tealight.
By Joshua Maggs7 months ago in Writers
The Cinnawarbler
‘There weren’t always dragons in the Valley!’ yelled Prince Shortbread as he looked back at the enormous double headed dragon chasing them both through the forest. ‘You don’t say?!’ shrieked Earl Brownie as he followed closely on his terrified stallion. The wind rushed past them both as they swiftly followed the trail to the edge of the woods. Suddenly one of the trees ahead, lit up a bright orange, as flames shot through the air and narrowly missed the crown on Prince Shortbread’s head. ‘Help me!’ yelled Prince Shortbread to Earl Brownie. ‘What do you want me to do?’ he yelled back. ‘Perhaps…’ he delayed for a moment, as his heart pounded in his chest and the horse picked up speed. ‘Perhaps… SLAY the dragon?’ he screamed as another burst of flames lit up the undergrowth next to him.
By Joshua Maggs2 years ago in Fiction
Silver Box
The morning sun shone through the lone window of the shack. The rays of light hit Oliver on the face, as he rolled over in frustration. Surely it wasn’t time to wake yet. The birds chirped away outside as they had done every morning. The fire had settled down after burning to provide heat and warmth throughout the night. Oliver sat up, rubbed his eyes and placed his feet on the floor. He went through his mental checklist. Put out fire. Check. Find something to eat. Check. Go find more wood. Must do. Put on gas mask. Check. He gathered his rack sack, bow and arrow and started to make his way through the forest towards the river. There was no means of any communication since the dreaded day ten years ago. He tried to not think about the events and memories of that time. He was only eight, and to be fair couldn’t remember a lot about what happened. It was the memory of his family that hurt the most.
By Joshua Maggs3 years ago in Fiction
Wonder
The room was empty and old. The floorboards had bowed in several places with a thick coating of dust covering the tops of the ancient timber. The windows were covered by heavy drapes which were drawn shut. The only light in the room came from a flickering fire, crackling away in the fireplace. The scent of burning wood drifted through the air as the smouldering embers ensured the continued warmth of the room.
By Joshua Maggs3 years ago in Futurism