Short Story: The Narrow Way

“The Narrow Way” (Liliana Colanzi, 2023)

Lilliana Colanzi touches on the spectrum of speculative science fiction while blending realistic elements of community, and the power of imagination, within magical realism. The story starts on an uneasy tone, being told from the perspective of Susana, a member of a non-specified religious doctrine, sharing the naïve insights from within a religious community. The members of this community follow the preachings of the reverend, with specific rules to follow, such as no electronics, city outside of community holds shame, and over a different way of life.

“the world is made of darkness”, the reverend says, “and whoever crosses the perimeter shall be swept away by the shadows. This is why we must not let ourselves be diverted from the narrow away of our Lord. Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth onto life, and few there be that find it“.

The surrounding fields separates their community from the forbidden city- city of the devil. Unfamiliar normal electric objects appear to be supernatural, with the power of imagination.

“Jonas reached into the hiding place and took out a little metallic ball that gave off a pink glow. The ball picked up a signal from the outside; the guys had given it to him, so they could stay in touch. Fear rose from the pit of my stomach swirling weirdly. Jonas placed the metallic ball on a brick. It began to wake up and blink and make noise like boiling oil. Then the ball spoke with a women’s voice, hoarse, and measured” …” the voice suddenly fell silent, and music burst out making up of whistles, and hisses, animal noises, ringing things falling, or rubbing together. I don’t know how long we spent absorbing that poisoned rhythm, but that afternoon I understood that the metallic ball was the devil‘s work”.

This story displays the world as something to be feared, and to be viewed with surrounding works of the devil, to push the narrative of discomfort and horror.