When you get to the main stairs, you see a cloud of black smoke rising before you. Moving cautiously closer, you see flames leaping up the stairs!

Good grief, this will never do!

However, though you are frightened of the fire, you see that it is still on…

"Alone tonight?" The bartender busied herself with mixing drinks while I sat at the far end of the bar nursing the drink I'd ordered 40 minutes ago.

"Yep."

"Where's your handsome sidekick?" She meant my best friend. We had been meeting here on a weekly …

There's a little girl that peeks her head out the doors. For a second she almost looked like Viv and I bite my tongue from calling out to her. A woman joins the girl and she looks like she's yelling to someone behind her.

I hear teeth gnashing behind me …

Story is marked as mature

"Do you guys always have to show up with such inconvenient timing?" she asked the monster, not that it could answer or even understand her.

Aria slashed it with her axe, the monster emitting a strained cry as she made yet another gash in its side. Elect…

I'm pretty certain now

That I just can't do this anymore.

It's not some talent I found,

But a skill I had forged

In a fire of restlessness

And self-doubt.

Somewhere i found a voice

Instead of lines on a page.

So I made the choice

To put aside this way

Of…

Story is marked as mature

"Autumn now," Grandma spat, rocking in the tired oak chair. A graying cat sat in her lap, wide eyed.

Sure enough, the trees had become rusty red.

Grandma's children affirmed her assessment with a grunt. They were rooted here by obligation only, and pass…

Aria jumped and slid down the roof, doing another small hop to get over the rain gutter, and landing on the soft, wet grass. She gently shook off some of the water, wet from chasing the monster through the sprinklers. Her least favorite part about fightin…

You are adamant we are forever. That we're the tempest and the anchor. We're each other's sky and flame. And even though I don't want to believe you...

Could it be possible that you are the one that understands the inner squeaking cogs of my ticking hear…

Story is marked as mature

Yindia collected people. She couldn't help it; she was a goddess. Her beauty and reverent nature inspired humans of all walks of life to fall into awe with her. People brought her gifts, offerings of anything from flowers and handmade jewelry to foods and…

The tinkle of the bell as Felicity entered the shop was a warning alarm to her sisters.

"God, I hope she doesn't touch anything." Viciously said her sister, Valerie.

"I'm even surprised she showed up," Venus said, violently ripping apart duct tape to repa…

Hunter didn't know where she was. It was hard to make anything out. Impossible, really given how exceptionally dark it was. There was nothing but the cold, wet floor underneath her, almost slick from condensation. Walking around proved useless, as it se…

They took their passages out. Secret subterranean extensions in the parking garage led them into the storm drain system, then up the drainpipe, down the fire escape, across the building, and safely conveyed them to their vehicles a few blocks away.

They …

"Morning, Aralis!" The blonde girl bounced into the shop, effortlessly slipping behind the counter and slipping an apron over her head.

"You're late," the other teased.

"By like, two minutes! The shop isn't even open yet!"

"I know, I'm teasing. Jeez Kri, …

The next time we'd scheduled a meet-up, my best friend's girl suddenly had a work emergency. She posted pics online of her out drinking with friends and my best friend, late, after work.

We rescheduled but I got sick, and while I got plenty of "that's to…

As soon as you get to the opening of the back stairs, you can see that it's no good. The ceiling has fallen down and there's a pile of burning textbooks blocking the entire stairway. You'd better

go back to the elevator, or try the main stairs

He wanted something.

Didn't get it.

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

“Sure is coming down real hard.” Teeny returned the pot to the burner. “Glad I'm inside even if I am working a double.”

I nodded. It was a familiar story. Long before I had ever set foot inside the Hot Plate, Teeny's husband, Ralph, had been laid off fro…

"Where are the time travelers?"

Excuse me?

"Where are they? Shouldn't they be crawling all over us?"

Oh, you're worried about the Temporal Fermi Paradox?

"Like, 'where are the aliens' but for time travelers? Yeah."

The same things apply, but it's wor…

When we find each component,

We become So that not water, no flame or air or quake could not break us down.

This is how you make sure you love who you are and you stand within your power.

When you know you are:

Powerful

Solemn

Courageous

Determined

Stand …

This wasn't our first date together but I still felt like I had to impress her. I was keenly aware that I wasn't very good looking and constantly reminded by my friends, not to mention the amused looks of strangers, that she was way out of my league. Mayb…

Story is marked as mature

"Anything?" Bantu asked.

"Gimme a sec," replied Shari. With a gloved hand she reached into the mist hovering before her, dipping a small test tube into it and filling it as best she could. With the other hand she stoppered it before withdrawing it and ge…