The trail here narrowed and dropped steeply down; one side a sheer cliff cut by the rapids and the other side a wall of rock. The base of the trail widened and flattened beside an old, sturdy pin oak tree.

From here I watched a family carefully pick thei…

The hut was stifling. Sweat dripped down my back. Still the natives paraded their woes before me like peasants before a King. At least I was in the shade and still alive. The cannibals on this island eat anything that is not useful, or more useful as food…

"Popcorn!" she announced, hurdling over the back of the couch, microwave bag securing the salty, buttery snack from spillage. She landed next to me.

"Ready?"

"If you insist," she sighed and pulled open the top of the bag.

"Star Wars is a classic and yo…

The child sits at the base of the tree, silently weeping. Her arms are crossed over her upraised knees, her face buried in her arms. Tears fall from her cheeks, staining her pants and the soil on which she sits. A few even land on the tree roots.

A gentl…

My ring grew ice cold. I hid it under my leg. I wasn't sure if it would glow in the dark theater, but I wasn't about to chance it.

I leaned towards my boyfriend, laying my head on his shoulder until the ring warmed up. He knew I had it and what it meant,…

"...Hello?"

"Where are you right now?"

"In my car. I'm driving home from work."

"Are you alone?"

"I'm talking to you. You're in my car, so I'm not alone. Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in days."

"Hmpf. Well, maybe that's because I'm ma…

We ran. It had been a narrow escape. The police drones were stopped by the casino doors and the security cameras didn't cover the alleys well. Two buildings over we climbed the fire escape to watch the cruisers scream and screech to a halt, too late to ca…

I stared at the blinking cursor on my screen. Like a tapping fingernail upon a counter top I felt it impatiently waiting for me to use it.

"I can't take this silence. You wanna listen to some music?" Daniel reached for his phone, eager to oblige my whims…

The house was silent and dark. It was the dead of night after all. Something woke me, but I knew it wasn't a sound, nor a smell. Something deep inside me told me it was time. Time to arise.

I felt it in my bones just as clearly as I felt the soft carpet…

I stood at the fence around his property. From here I could see inside his two story farmhouse. The dusk meant the lamps inside gave me a clear view of him moving about, lovingly touching his girlfriend as they set the table together and served each other…

I was picked for the interview. Of all the applications I imagined were stacked in some in-box tray, mine was one that was chosen.

The realistic part of me said it was because I had filled in every box and attached a resumé. I knew that companies often s…

"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. …