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Sacrifices: A Short Story
The story of Xavier and the disasters that follow him.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2021
5 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Scribner
476 books35 followersJoshua Scribner is the author of the novels Mantis Nights, The Coma Lights and Nescata. His fiction won both second and fifth place in the 2008 Whispering Spirits Flash Fiction contest. Up to date information on his work can be found at joshuascribner.com. Joshua currently lives in Michigan with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 14, 2026
This story brought me back to the popular horror series The Twilight Zone. Enjoyable, horrific! Joshua Scribner grasps and hold your attention through every page. I was really curious how it all would end for the wonderboy main character, and the twist was very different from what I thought. Gruesom and scary! 5 stars!
November 4, 2023
A new book from this very interesting short story writer.
It tells the life story of a young man from the age of two who has lived through natural disasters and terrorist incidents to go from child genius into the world’s leading scientist.
It is as though his life has been spared many times over by the intervention of others, often complete strangers working for a higher being and ensuring the boy lives to fulfil his destiny.
In this way he has seen the person speaking to him as an Angel, a messenger from God to ensure his life’s work is accomplished in due time.
The story grips you from the outset; a much loved son who knows tragedy but senses a deeper calling despite his personal loss. It is an idea held by many faiths. The idea of being special, with a vocation in life to follow a path divinely chosen for you.
Of course being a Scribner story it is dripping with a sense of malevolence; many of those who “save” Xavier lose their own lives in these terrible events. This gives rise to the title Sacrifice. It is a strange human quality that even the Vulcan ‘Spock’ logically bought into in Star Trek. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."
But the author here looks beyond that act of sacrifice.
He questions if it is always a positive response to save another? or just a passive reaction to danger and a hope to live themselves. As Xavier grows older and seems more able to influence others you gain a sense of uneasiness that however special, surely others could survive each event.
It gets you thinking about how one life can impact on the lives of others for good and ill. It makes one desire a sense of outside control, divine intervention within a moral code. Then as these ideas form with this unfolding story your reasoning stops as the author plunges a literary dagger into your heart. Classic Joshua Scribner and why I will continue to read and recommend his work.
It tells the life story of a young man from the age of two who has lived through natural disasters and terrorist incidents to go from child genius into the world’s leading scientist.
It is as though his life has been spared many times over by the intervention of others, often complete strangers working for a higher being and ensuring the boy lives to fulfil his destiny.
In this way he has seen the person speaking to him as an Angel, a messenger from God to ensure his life’s work is accomplished in due time.
The story grips you from the outset; a much loved son who knows tragedy but senses a deeper calling despite his personal loss. It is an idea held by many faiths. The idea of being special, with a vocation in life to follow a path divinely chosen for you.
Of course being a Scribner story it is dripping with a sense of malevolence; many of those who “save” Xavier lose their own lives in these terrible events. This gives rise to the title Sacrifice. It is a strange human quality that even the Vulcan ‘Spock’ logically bought into in Star Trek. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."
But the author here looks beyond that act of sacrifice.
He questions if it is always a positive response to save another? or just a passive reaction to danger and a hope to live themselves. As Xavier grows older and seems more able to influence others you gain a sense of uneasiness that however special, surely others could survive each event.
It gets you thinking about how one life can impact on the lives of others for good and ill. It makes one desire a sense of outside control, divine intervention within a moral code. Then as these ideas form with this unfolding story your reasoning stops as the author plunges a literary dagger into your heart. Classic Joshua Scribner and why I will continue to read and recommend his work.
January 6, 2026
Fascinating
Sacrifices tells about a child prodigy boy, who survives many accidents only to find out that there is an extraterrestrial reason for all the inidents. The writing is really good, as always with Scribner. A very good read
Sacrifices tells about a child prodigy boy, who survives many accidents only to find out that there is an extraterrestrial reason for all the inidents. The writing is really good, as always with Scribner. A very good read
November 14, 2023
“Do you believe in angels?”
“Yes.”
“There’s one here now. He wants us to live.”
The story opens with Chris, a single dad, and his two-year-old son Xavier.
Xavier is an extremely gifted little boy. Brilliant from an early age, he takes after his mother in appearance—blonde and blue-eyed.
But Xavier is accompanied by a strange man. A man who *knows* things…a man no one else can see.
Airplane crash. School shooting. Hotel fire. Store explosion. Bridge collapse.
Xavier knows how to survive the calamities that claim his family members—and countless others.
A true child prodigy. Despite the tragedies around him, Xavier graduates early and becomes a scientist.
But still, he’s not alone…
Damn. That’s a mindfuck of an ending.
“May I ask who you are?”
“Not who you think.”
“Yes.”
“There’s one here now. He wants us to live.”
The story opens with Chris, a single dad, and his two-year-old son Xavier.
Xavier is an extremely gifted little boy. Brilliant from an early age, he takes after his mother in appearance—blonde and blue-eyed.
But Xavier is accompanied by a strange man. A man who *knows* things…a man no one else can see.
Airplane crash. School shooting. Hotel fire. Store explosion. Bridge collapse.
Xavier knows how to survive the calamities that claim his family members—and countless others.
A true child prodigy. Despite the tragedies around him, Xavier graduates early and becomes a scientist.
But still, he’s not alone…
Damn. That’s a mindfuck of an ending.
“May I ask who you are?”
“Not who you think.”
November 29, 2025
Sacrifices is a short story about a young boy named Xavier, that tells snippets of his life from ages 2 to 25. It is a short read, and one that will likely stay with you for a while after you finish it. I read it all in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed reading the life-altering tales of Xavier and how he managed to survive by an outside force.
The story is well written with simple verbiage, though I did find a few grammatical errors. I felt some areas could have been better developed. Also, many of the stories were similar and I would have liked to read more about his family.
Overall - eerie, easy read, loved the ending.
The story is well written with simple verbiage, though I did find a few grammatical errors. I felt some areas could have been better developed. Also, many of the stories were similar and I would have liked to read more about his family.
Overall - eerie, easy read, loved the ending.
January 28, 2026
Joshua Scribner’s “Sacrifices” is a short story that follows Xavier through many disasters which he survives. Unfortunately, those who try to cover him and offer him protection from the catastrophic events are not so fortunate.
The book is well-written with interesting characters and plot. The surprise ending pulls everything together nicely.
Good enough to be a Twilight Zone episode, the book sends a clear message that echoes the sentiments of Mongo in Blazing Saddles. “Mongo is just a pawn in the game of life,” sayeth the ginormous philosopher.
“Sacrifices” would have us believe we all are.
The book is well-written with interesting characters and plot. The surprise ending pulls everything together nicely.
Good enough to be a Twilight Zone episode, the book sends a clear message that echoes the sentiments of Mongo in Blazing Saddles. “Mongo is just a pawn in the game of life,” sayeth the ginormous philosopher.
“Sacrifices” would have us believe we all are.
November 15, 2021
A unique series of stories that are really one story. The author brings to life dangerous situations in which young Xavier experiences over his short lifetime. The ending is a reversal of what we are led to believe. Nice job.
The stories are well organize and reach the climax at the very end. Easy to read and follow. What seems like a religious story turns out not to be. Good job. Looking forward to more of your stories.
The stories are well organize and reach the climax at the very end. Easy to read and follow. What seems like a religious story turns out not to be. Good job. Looking forward to more of your stories.
November 27, 2025
Sacrifices is a well-written short story that stays with you much longer than it takes to read it. Even though it's speculative fiction, it makes you think about the forces operating in our world and how little we know about them. In a way, we are all just pawns in a game whose rules remain hidden from us until our last day. A great read, highly recommended.
December 7, 2025
Very well written and makes you think about what’s really behind everything that happens in our world and beyond!
Joshua Scribner also touches on a couple of my own cataclysmic obsessions – but I won’t ruin it for others!
Finally, this book is great for reading in one sitting too – which I have just done on a cold and wet December day, sat in front of the fire with the dog!
Joshua Scribner also touches on a couple of my own cataclysmic obsessions – but I won’t ruin it for others!
Finally, this book is great for reading in one sitting too – which I have just done on a cold and wet December day, sat in front of the fire with the dog!
November 9, 2021
Engaging
This short story was very engaging and well written. It had many twists and turns. The ending will knock your socks off as it is not expected. This story was very thought provoking. Definitely a page turner to the end!
This short story was very engaging and well written. It had many twists and turns. The ending will knock your socks off as it is not expected. This story was very thought provoking. Definitely a page turner to the end!
December 9, 2021
Head scratching Fun
Allow yourself to be distracted by what looks like a string of vignettes to finally see this short unfold. Scribner roped me in just as I grew uncertain of this Twilight Zone like tale. The ending is worth it.
Allow yourself to be distracted by what looks like a string of vignettes to finally see this short unfold. Scribner roped me in just as I grew uncertain of this Twilight Zone like tale. The ending is worth it.
January 10, 2022
The meaning of a life
A very creative short story. Suspense fills most pages as the story of the main character builds. Then the end of the story leaves the reader to ponder a deeper meaning beyond just the meaning of life...
A very creative short story. Suspense fills most pages as the story of the main character builds. Then the end of the story leaves the reader to ponder a deeper meaning beyond just the meaning of life...
November 22, 2025
So far, my favorite of Scribner's stories. It's as eerie as it gets, and although you feel the foul play, the ending still comes with a twist. Good stuff, which reminds me of cosmic horror, but with a modern flavor.
November 10, 2021
The Force is with him...or?
A well written, very short story about a coming of age in a world of good and evil. Which one wins?
A well written, very short story about a coming of age in a world of good and evil. Which one wins?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews