Blessing Day: Part 3
_ **Part 3** _ _(Sam)_ The living room sounded awkward enough from out in the kitchen. Not much sound to be heard. Even less chatter. But it took actually being there to fully get how cold the atmosphere had gotten. Only the TV saved us all from...
Blessing Day: Part 2
_ **Part 2** _ _(Sam)_ "Thanks a lot," I called up to our taxi driver, prepping to descend the exit ramp. "Hey, no problem." The rabbit peered over his seat at me. "Don't forget ya bag." "Oh!" Back I rushed, grabbing my backpack from beside my seat...
Theatre of War
Theatre of War "Move, move!" People rushed past me, running for their lives. "Keep going!" Screams of terror cut the air. "Don't stop!" A clap of thunder overtook us all. The asphalt rumbled. The screaming got louder. I fought hard to stay...
Foundations: Part 6 (AaO Side Story)
_ **Part 6** _ _(Alen)_ What remained of Saturday came and went at a staggering pace. That afternoon, I joined Jonas and his family on their trip to Kastenic, a larger town just along the coast. The pool that Mirko had suggested to us back in...
Small-scale Surgery
_ **Small-scale Surgery** _ '_Stopping off at the store later. What would you like for dinner?'_ My husband's text half-distracted me from the patient file I'd almost finished up with. I'd not long since scoffed down some lunch, but that didn't stop...
Hangover
_ **Hangover** _ "Hey," called Dan, arriving back at our table with a beer in one hand and a metal tray balanced on the other. "Which of you got the rum and lemon?" I waved up at him. Easier than trying to shout above the noise of the dusky bar...
Breaking News
_ **Breaking News** _ Some lunatic in a truck swerved into our lane, right in front of us. Mick, the wolverine in the driver's seat, pumped the van's brakes. Finn, the white shepherd in the middle seat, swore blue murder at the truck's rear...
Blind Date
_ **Blind Date** _ A wave of noise and a blast of heat crashed into me the moment those automatic doors slid open. I ducked my head to dip inside and escape the gloomy, late-November cold, allowing this new 'VRcade' place I'd been invited to fully...
The Climb
_ **The Climb** _ I'd overpacked my grocery bags. I knew that from the moment I had to lug all four of them out of the store. The decision to do an extra-large after-work shop, thereby granting myself a day off from that part of my weekly routine,...
Rock Bottom
_ **Rock Bottom** _ I stretched my legs, then my arms and back, grumbling as I stirred in this makeshift bed of mine. A faint bar of light seeped between the gap in the giant door ahead, saving me from total darkness at the bottom of this wardrobe I...
Perspective
_ **Perspective** _ "Purpose of your visit?" I'd been standing silent in line so long that I'd almost forgotten how to talk. Jet lag had my head all kinds of mashed up, too. No matter. The ultra-formal, no-nonsense crow glaring at me from behind her...
Torchbearer
_ **Torchbearer** _ Blake sank to his knees, placing a paw to his battle-felled brother's chest. The pain-stricken grunt it drew threatened to pierce his own. Blood oozed between his fingers. Drenched his palm. He recited a silent prayer for any and...