Nevermore

by Wil Wheaton

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The birds did not scatter as Roland expected. Instead, they fell silent and still.

Leaves crunched beneath his feet as he walked through the flock, each step marked by dozens of unblinking black eyes.

A gust of wind surrounded him as they beat their wings and took flight. They circled, and became a swarm.

Roland was about to learn why a flock of crows is called a murder.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. Nevermore

    Lone Writer's Buddy Icon Lone Writer

    Posted 9 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Ooh. Spooky. Very, very spooky!

  2. Nevermore

    Wil Wheaton's Buddy Icon Wil Wheaton

    Posted 9 months ago

    Thanks!

    This was inspired by a walk through my neighborhood this morning, when I walked through a flock of crows. It was so creepy that dozens of them fell silent and just . . . watched . . . me, like they knew they had me outnumbered, and, uh, out-beaked, I guess.

    I wondered what I would do if they decided to go all The Birds on me, and started writing.

    I was going to call this “Murder” but I thought it would sort of spoil the ending, so I decided to pay homage to Poe.

  3. Nevermore

    kwatz's Buddy Icon kwatz

    Posted 9 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    I pictured a man in a cowboy hat wearing a low-slung pistol in this story. I think your juxtaposition of the name ‘Roland’ and black birds triggered the “Dark Tower” section of my brain.

  4. Nevermore

    Amaster's Buddy Icon Amaster

    Posted 9 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Reminds me of when the college swans come out of the lake ad walk by the paths in perfect synchronization. That is the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  5. Nevermore

    SKermitgorf's Buddy Icon SKermitgorf

    Posted 9 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Wil your comments were as good as the story, well written,atmospheric,

  6. Nevermore

    Hunting Beauty's Buddy Icon Hunting Beauty

    Posted 8 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    This is so good. You did a wonderful job portraying what was happening. As I read what was going on I pictured a young teenage boy walking along a path and coming upon a flock of crows not scattering as he walked through them, but instead watching his every move in an extremely creepy way. And then, all of a sudden he feels a gust of wind swirling around him and at the same moment the crows take off swarming him.
    I’m sure that’s exactly what you were trying to portray too. Very creepy.

  7. Nevermore

    Pat J's Buddy Icon Pat J

    Posted 8 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Nice and spooky, though, like Kwatz, the name “Roland” is associated with the Dark Tower in my mind, forever.

  8. Nevermore

    Pat J's Buddy Icon Pat J

    Posted 8 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Also: Great title.

  9. Nevermore

    Zac Bentz's Buddy Icon Zac Bentz

    Posted 8 months ago

    I also picked up on The Dark Tower. Methinks “target practice!”

  10. Nevermore

    Pisces Girl's Buddy Icon Pisces Girl

    Posted 8 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    nice work!

  11. Nevermore

    Lone Writer's Buddy Icon Lone Writer

    Posted 8 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I get the prize 4 first comment! (yay me) Also I agree with Kermit.

  12. Nevermore

    THX 0477's Buddy Icon THX 0477

    Posted 8 months ago

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Yikes, very scary.

  13. Nevermore

    Yeah Write!'s Buddy Icon Yeah Write!

    Posted 8 months ago

    creepy! i read this because we just read Poe’s “the Raven” and I recognized the “Nevermore” so great title!

  14. Nevermore

    The Wait Child's Buddy Icon The Wait Child

    Posted 8 months ago

    Makes me think of King’s The Dark Half.
    Very suspensful – and of course, great title.

  15. Nevermore

    White Hat's Buddy Icon White Hat

    Posted 5 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Short and deadly. Love it.

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