I walk in its shade, its shadow. The sun cowers meekly behind the imposing monolith, a testament to society and order. My footprints lie vaguely in my wake, brushed by the desert winds. My parched throat longs for relief; my legs wail and gnash in pain. W…

Tenever didn't hesitate as muzzle flare lit up the surrounding trees. He threw a hand straight forward over the barrel of his weapon, his mind searching for familiar strands of reality to pluck at. His fist opened and a flash of prismatic light erupted in…

The flash of… cameras? Visual capture devices, brighter than the lean lines of the universe speeding past in technicolor. The roar of voices like the atmosphere, vivid, orange, and angry.

Amplification.

Alien.

“My name is Champion-”

Human. Translat…

They picked up the pace, moving through light brush and loose groups of trees. Astarlane opened.

"What are we looking to escape?"

The elf did not look around, maintaining their new pace without effort.

"The obscurant products in the air are a precursor…

I lay in the bed craving sleep. Even though I’d gone to bed at midnight, I’d woken up dozens of times, turning over and over, back and forth, continually searching for comfort that teased me. I felt groggy and gross. My body felt heavy as stone. I wanted …

After taking in what Sally had shown me, I felt like a dandelion seed who had caught a shimmering wind at long last- I was sad to see my kin still rooted to the stem, but could never return now that I had absorbed the knowledge of the air.

My sweet frien…

It's swirling around them, this confusing mass of tendrils, burning asphalt anger, hot and painful to touch. Fuse has never been safe. They've always been sharp and lean, a knife trying to cut through Spire's water, but now they're hot, steam against Spir…

The elf shifted to draw their attention.

"We must leave. As the ground warms this area will become extremely dangerous."

Sadie looked at the other two expectantly, donned her mask and followed them back out into the haze.

Higher up, where the mist fade…

"Carte noir?"

The label is white.

.........................

She is tied to a rack. The ropes at her wrists and ankles dig cruelly into her skin. Her fingers and toes have long since gone numb. She barely notices. This is as it should be.

Figures move in the shadows around her, checking her bonds, adjusting her ga…

"Are you," the oaf of a child paused for effect, "...in?"

Arlis shifted his weight. He eyed his would-be comrades, an assortment of boys he'd seen in the schoolhouse. Generally, he'd seen them in the back of the room, doing anything but pay attention. …

"Alright, you can only play with it for 30 minutes"

"Ok mum, thats fair enough"

15 minutes later

"Honey, can you do some chores for me? It will only take 20 minutes"

Astarlane stood lazily, as if the sudden appearance of an elf from the aristocratic line of the Firsts was of little consequence.

"Why is he here?"

Sadie fixed her with a stare.

"Desperate times, desperate measures. We can't get through fast enough or …

I drink wine from cereal bowls.

...........................

I’m waiting for the G-train heading to Church Ave. I’m smirking and laughing to myself and clutching my bag in my right hand, the day’s value existing in self-discovery and comic books.

He took the G-train heading towards Court Sq. I watched it disappear…

Why is it,

that when you catch someone licking the cheese dust off their fingers,

that is the person

who, only a minute or two ago,

told you to use a napkin.

Story is marked as mature

inchworm snaked up through the dirt

because he sensed the rain

but when he found himself in a shirt

he found it very plain

he was in a washing machine

"Can we leave?"

"Not until after"

.................................................

"what are taxes"

"DNA is vital"

...........................

He wanted something.

Didn't get it.

..........................

"which flavor cheese?"

"the yellow one."

.................................

"I want answers, and I want them NOW "

"I'm sorry, I... I just..."

"You WHAT!?" "WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK NOW?!" he sighs, "Look, you're an amazing detective and all, but i can't deal with this now. the press is pressuring me for answers, and they won'…

"What's your sign?!"

"Piss off, Elise."

"No. We're not lost."

I despair.

............................