I've posted a short story Momentary Comfort on your project.  You said to send you a message if we'd like you to take a look at it, so I am.  Hope you enjoy it, and I hope it fits in with your vision for this project.  If not, i can remove it, just let me know.  Thanks, Heather

Hi my names Janetta, and I'm trying to learn how to write short stories. I've been kinda away from this site awhile and havent really felt. like writting for days. I dont know why i'm telling you this...
Well dispite my writers block I'm willing to write some short stories that are life worth reading and inspireing to make you get up and go.
I'm terrible at grammar and spelling. I guess thats why i have a pc.

Anyways here I go.
NeddaLain

I sat alone. My heart thumped irregularly, every now and then halting. I tried to breath but I didn't want to. The air was suffocating me, but I choked it in. They were everywhere. White lights. White lights glaring down at me, white lights exposing me. I flinched. I tried helplessly to run my trembling fingers through the thick mass of tangled orange hair. Trying to unsnarl the snarled locks. Trying to disentangle the tangled knots. Trying to extricate why, why it had had to be me?

I kept my eyes cast down, staring at at the cold marble surface of the counter. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in- I started. I felt someone looking at me. I looked up. It was the waiter. He's hand grazed my wrist. I jerked back, my eyes rolling in fear. He looked at me.

"Sorry miss, I didn't mean to startle ya. I was just asking what ya wanted to have." He looked at me again and I felt myself tremble. He knew. I tried to cover the scratches upon my arms, the purple bruising on my wrists, the fingerprints embedded around my neck. I tried to cower within myself, to hide from his knowing gaze.

"Ya look freezin' miss, perhaps a cup of coffee will warm ya up...what do ya think?" Eyes averted, I nodded. I tried to smile but it felt like my lips were made of steel. Stiff and immovable.

Somewhere in the distance, I heard a bell ring, a door open, a man come in. He was tall and smartly dressed, wearing a gold band on his fourth finger. The fourth finger of his left hand. From under the hat I could make out thinning black hair. His eyes were green. This morning I would have found him attractive. Now I was just repulsed. I bent my head, hiding my face. He hesitated a moment before coming to sit on the bar stool next to me. I bit my lip, trying to shrink away from his presence. He was too close. I could feel his curious gaze. Sizing me up. Judging me. I could feel his eyes as they raked over my body, undressing me. I could feel his appreciation as he took in the enhanced chest, the nipped in waist, the bare skin. I felt bile rise up in my throat. Swallowing, I pushed my knees together. The lights were too bright. Just...too bright.

The coffee came. I'd lost my appetite. But I still took it within my icy hands, allow its warmth to spread through me, allowing it to melt the icy glacier I had built up around me. I felt myself choke. I drank. It was too hot. The creamy liquid sliced into my unsuspecting tongue, scalding my taste buds, hurting me. I gasped, trying to swallow but I couldn't. I allowed it to dribble out, scorching my tender skin, seeping through the red dress. Staining it. The waiter looked up. I looked down. I felt my bottom lip tremble, my throat clog up, blocking my air holes. I staggered to my feet, wincing at the pain which shot through my legs. I stumbled across the room, trying to find the bathroom. I felt like a trapped deer. My eyes moved wildly, searching until I found it. In my haste I stumbled, falling to my bruised knees. I sobbed. No hand reached out to help me. No hand reached out to console me. The men just sat there, waiting for me to get up. Not understanding. Quietly I got up.

I reached the bathroom, carefully locking the door behind me. I walked over to the sink, turning the taps on. The echo of water running filled the room. I dipped my fingertips into the swirling liquid, quailing as the chilled ice water struck me. Cautiously, I pulled the dress up above my thighs. I looked tentatively and recoiled at the sight of dried blood. A sense of shame welled up inside me, and for a moment I swayed, squeezing my eyes shut in disgust. And then I scrubbed. Wildly and savagely I scrubbed. Not caring at the sharp pain the bitterly cold water brought to my raw skin. Not caring as my nails shed more blood. My blood. The scabs fell away but I still carried on, washing myself. The dirt I was trying to cleanse was more than skin deep. I tried and tried to rid myself of the feel of their grimy fingers upon me, the saliva of their tongues soaking me. But the dirt remained. Helplessly I looked down at the pristine, soreness of my naked thigh. It was still there...I just couldn't reach it. It was too deep. The blood I could wash away, but this? This I couldn't. I couldn't take away that feeling of obscenity. That feeling of self-repulsion. That feeling of loss. Loss of empowerment. Loss of control. My head began to spin, making me feel nauseous. I stopped. I let down the dress, watching the tattered hemline fall and cover the gelid floor.

I looked into the mirror. A young woman looked back. Her face was pallid and wan, almost colourless. Her grey eyes were beautiful. Beautiful and vacant. As if someone had wiped away all hint of emotion...all glimpse of love. Red lipstick was smeared around her cut mouth. Her eyes were surrounded with black make-up . Black make-up which appeared to have been smudged with salty water. Some people call them tears. My eyes were inane as they took in the bites upon my neck, the purple bruising. I knew I should stop looking but I just...couldn't. Curiously I gazed at the orange hair. It was thick. Almost to much for the slim, creamy neck to carry.

"What beautiful hair...mm, and it smells good too" I shook my head, quivering at the memory. His thick fingers touching my hair. His thick fingers prodding me, hurting me. That sneer which never left his face, any of their faces. The darkness. The narrow streets. The skeleton trees. The laughter. I heard a piercing scream. It wouldn't stop. It was mine. I gagged my mouth, trying to stop the cries coming from my cracked lips.

I collapsed onto the floor, weeping. Convulsive gasps racked my body, over and over again. I slammed my hands over my ears, trying to block out all sounds, trying to smother all memories. But they just kept on coming. The nail-bitten hand smothering my mouth, suffocating me. The sickening taste of his beefy flesh, as I tore at it with my teeth. The sour taste of metal on his fourth finger. The stinging slap which sent me reeling. The blurred faces, peering down at me. The pungent smell of beer as their wet mouths covered mine, as slimy tongues thrust themselves through my throat. The iron grip of their hands as they forced my legs open. The violence with which they hurt me, over and over again. The sound of their pitiful gasps, the weight of their obese bodies as they pinned me down to the cracked paving stones. Then empty darkness. The shuffling of feet as they walked away. Taking with them my pride and security. The laughter. The singing. The silence.

Tears ran down my cheeks, as I lay there, cowering in the corner of the bathroom floor. Darkness seemed to encase me and I struck out wildly, smashing my cracked knuckles into the concreted walls. Everything seemed to be shrinking. Shrinking in on me. I tried to keep my eyes open but I was so tired. Just...so tired. The darknesses was complete. Perhaps that was better. Then no one would see me. No one would pity me. No one would feel ashamed for me. No one would ask why...why you?

I felt vomit rising from my stomach and I heaved. It splattered my red dress, my pale face and spilled to the floor, joining the crusts of dried blood. I heaved again and again, splattering the walls. And then there was nothing. I held my breath, waiting for more. But non came. Empty, I fell back against the wall. Breath in. Breath out. I felt so confused. Everything was so disoriented. Did I deserve it? Did I ask for it? Was it my fault for wearing that dress, for not taking the taxi? Why me? Why? Gently I rested my bruised and broken head in my quivering arms and closed my drooping eyes. Breath in. Breath out.

you suck. thats all i have to say.

I am not submitting anymore work

Yes you may still contribute.

Jim Maz

Am i allowed to contribute? or is it too late? =S

This sounds like a really really cool project!!! And thanks so much for asking me to participate...I only wish I had the time to contribute something. However, I really can't take on anymore at the moment, so I'm afraid I have to decline. Thanks for inviting me, and sorry I turned it down, because this looks really cool!!!

Thanks--
~CL~ <3

I'm sorry I must decline my schedule is packed at the moment.

A human being is (as far as I can tell) the only  creature who can conceive of possibilities other than the "realitiy" he currentlly faces.  What he is stuck with is what he may deny. What he chooses as an alternative may, or may not, "be" himself.

would like to be in your project. autumnthoughts

I have to say I think the talent here is top-notch.  I removed an initial submission and submitted two more I think are a better fit with the quality I see here.

hey, it would be great to see this project published!!

This looks fantastic! :D I have a few good short stories that fit your criteria well; when I find them I'll post them here! :)

Could someone take a look at the story i have submitted with no comments on, will return the favour, thanks:-)

This looks great! I've got an old story that fits the criteria perfectly. Maybe I'll try to find some time to revise and submit it.

Thanks for the invite. This sounds like a great project to be a part of. I'll read what's here and see if I can contribute anything, which I'm sure others will do to me

thanx for the invite ill have a read of the stories so far and see what it is ur after

Thank you for the invite. I know not if I can write a short story. But I will se what I can do......

two more stories submitted for you

Thank you very much for inviting me to join your project. U hope that I will be able to make a worthy contribution.

I'm going to check it out.
I love stories that make me think. Stories that have double meanings.
You can never get enough of those.
They're like riddles, but in long (or short) story form.

Thanks for the invite I really like the sound of this and I will contribute to your collection as soon as I get an idea....lol! Good luck! :D

Thank you for the invitation, I'll see what  I
can think up to contribute to this project :)

normally i would join, but i have a lot on my plate. Best wishes to you and the project  : D

Got your message am still contributing

Thanks for the invite. I'm very honored. However, I know I will not have time to contribute. Sorry.

I won't submit anything else to this project as your review of my story upset me.

I really want to post something here, but I can't think what it should be about. Oh well, I'll get an idea sometime.

This project is ready to be published

jimmaz --
this is honestly one of the most active projects i'm a part of (even if only a feedbacker). everytime I come back to webook, there are at least 5 new submissions i'm being notified about.
props to you my friend!

Thanks for the invite but i am a bit busy at the moment.

thanks jimmaz for your invite, I am currently working on three other projects, I'll may have to check back later although I like what you're doing.

altho this is well writtem i dont like it as much as 15 mins.  i feel as if ive been left hanging because of the wy u ended it. and i dont understand what the principal characters are abot really.why and how they came to that point in the story. it just seems like it was part of a much longer story. and the middle part at that.

Thanks for invite got to much at the moment

Lil

Thanks for the invite. I'm not sure if i will accept just yet. I'm having trouble with my other projects, but perhaps i will keep thinking.

uh........maybe I'll do it, thanks for the invite.
I don't know with all the other projects I'm doing.
:D
~MarCiaRem

Thank you for the invitation, I'm not sure if I'll accept or decline the invitation just yet. I'm going to see if I can come up with anything and then I'll let you know.

Zizefia

Thank you for the invitation. although i feel i lack that certain edge you seek, i could see what i could create!

Melixarxx

thank you for the invite I will start writing asap. So, please look for it.

thank you for the invite and i will take a lot of time reading it. i cant wait

Thank you for the invite. I've added Confessions of an Addict to your archive here. It may possibly be past the edge that you are speaking of. At any rate, enjoy.

Claire

Thanks for the invite!  I'll see what I can come up with.

Mark

Thanks for the invite i will definately try to come up with something

Sarah

Thank you , I have a bit too much on my plate right now ~c

Hey
Could you please read my friends story "The Biz" ? She's been working really hard on it and she would like somone to read and comment on it :) My friend Rosalie and I are illustrating for it as well , it's actually going to be a manga .

Thank's a lot

curious. i hope to contribute. <3

Thanks for the invite.  I will definitely keep coming back here and reading and submitting when I can.

Thanks for the invite. I've been thinking of a couple of short story ideas, so I'll work on them and see what comes out. I'm better at essays than fiction, but challenges are a good thing.

Sorry thanks for the invite but really bogged down with other stuff and really cant afford the time. Good luck all the same

My writing is a little too long for short stories, but when I get a chance to write something other than the novel I am currently working on than I would give it a go. For now I am a bit busy, but I will definitely try to write something. Thank you for the invite. :]

~ Rain

was thinking about writing stories, doing some longer writing :o)
thanks for the invite.....I'll give it a go!! :o)

Sorry I must decline. I will however check in from time to time and offer feedback.

Thanks for the invitation but i've declined this time. Good luck with the project.....I'm off......to teach myself short story writing!...

I have to decline for now, I have so much to do with other projects, but thanks for the invite; good luck.

I'll give it a shot.

thnx for the invite. i will try but i am sort of concentrating on my book

Thank you for the invite! As soon as I get a chance, I would love to post a short story! Or, if you just want me to give feedback, then that's fine too. But otherwise, thank you for including me in "Short Stories with an Edge"
:)

thanks

Thank-you for the invite.  This is a good projct and also like that there is not a set word limit!

Thanks for the invite! I'm currently working on a short story, but the second I finish, I'll come and take a look at your work and see what I can contribute! Thanks again!

Thank yoiu for the invitation.  I'm very busy and running late finishing my novel but I shall check in when I can and try to contribute.

I'll see what I can come up with...thanks for the invite...edgy isn't usually my thing, but it's always good to stretch your boundaries, right?

Definetly sounds interesting, I'll try to muster up some time to check this out later on. Thanks for the request ^_^

Thanks for the invitation. I'll try to dredge up something gritty to contribute. (If I wander off and forget to wander back tap me firmly on the shoulder and say WTF)