Planet of Corrigan, home to the World Order Western Fleet. Grand Admiral Lim awakes from his sleep. While washing up, he has an uneasy feeling. Being a veteran of previous conflicts waged by and against the World Order, he knows what caused these conflicts and currently the galaxy looks like its heading towards another war. Recently, the World Order joined the Galactic Alliance, partnering with its former enemies the Cryo Federation and Hermer Union in response to the growing aggression of the Holy Solar Empire towards its neighbouring states. Immediately after the creation of the Galactic Alliance, the Holy Solar Empire created the Holy Solar Alliance with its allies. 'With skirmishes across the territory occupied by these superpowers, it won't take much for a galactic scale conflict to occur.' Grand Admiral Lim thought. The Grand Admiral then headed for breakfast. 'Hurry up you maggots!' screamed Sergeant McKenzie. Sergeant McKenzie was also a veteran of the Hermer Union-World Order War also known as the Farragut War because most of the conflict was fought on the planet Farragut. Sergeant McKenzie served in special forces and now leads one. Sergeant McKenzie then took his team for breakfast after this routine training session. Meanwhile in deep space, the cloaked missile frigate WSS Archer was secretly monitoring activity at the space border between the World Order and the Holy Solar Empire. The captain of the WSS Archer, Captain Flynn was monitoring his screen when suddenly the screen began shouting at him and his crew. 'MULTIPLE VESSELS APPROACHING' the screen said. 'All hand battle stations!' Captain Flynn said to his crew. He then asked the screen to identify the ships. The screen then responded with 'HOLY SOLAR EMPIRE WARSHIP' Captain Flynn turned pale white when he saw his screen, before immediately shouting at his communications officer to send a message to Fleet Command. The war had just begun. Grand Admiral Lim was having his usual plate Nasi Lemak before being abruptly interrupted by Lieutenant Nagara who then ask the Grand Admiral to report to the command centre immediately. The Grand Admiral hesitantly stood up and began walking to the command centre. Sergeant McKenzie and his special forces team consisting Krueger, Miller, Mira and Andersen are trash talking one another as they have their breakfast. Then Mikhail, an ace pilot joins them as the Grand Admiral leaves the cafeteria. As Grand Admiral Lim enters the command room, he is immediately informed about the WSS Archer's sighting. Soon distress signals began pouring in from outposts near the border. Colonel James bursts into the room and informs the Grand Admiral that the first line of defence has been breached and that Holy Solar Empire forces are headed for the planet they are on. Grand Admiral Lim runs to his office and hits the hidden button and calls World Order High Command. The base alarms go off as ground crews prepare fighters and crews return to their ships. The World Order Western Fleet flagship WSS Invincible powers up and do its escorts. Soon Holy Solar Empire forces enter the atmosphere of Corrigan and begin their attack runs. World Order fighters begin shooting them down and engaging in dogfights. Point defence cannons on ships roar on as more enemy ships appear. The air defense frigate WSS Hope blows up after taking 7 torpedoes to its hull and losing its entire crew complement of 250 men and women. The aircraft carrier WSS Defiant and heavy cruiser WSS Riga takes three torpedoes hits. Soon most of the fleet is in orbit and begins engaging with Holy Solar Empire warships. Soon the Holy Solar Empire fleet withdraws. Grand Admiral Lim calls a meeting to discuss further action. 'We to have initiate Operation Icarus' Grand Admiral Lim said. There were gasps in the room as Operation Icarus would be a massive undertaking. Grand Admiral Lim heads towards the phone and calls World Order Space Command. 'Prepare the Grand Fleet and transfer it to my command. Initiate Operation Icarus.' said the Grand Admiral.


Annabelle vs. the Monster Under the Bed “OK, Belly, it’s time for bed.” Mommy closed the book she’d been reading and stood up, plopping Annabelle on her feet. Annabelle really wanted to hear the rest of the story, but she yawned before she could complain. Maybe Mommy was right. Annabelle started to skip down the hall to Mommy’s room before she remembered. *“Big girls sleep in their own beds, Annabelle,”* Mommy had said. *“Don’t worry about monsters. I’ll check under the bed and keep you safe.”* Annabelle had pinkie-promised Mommy that she would sleep in her own bed tonight, and everybody knows you can’t break a pinkie promise. Annabelle had only made that promise after Mommy said she would let her wear her Batgirl costume to bed instead of her jammies. Batgirl was brave, and Annabelle wasn’t afraid of anything when she was Batgirl. At the end of the hall, Annabelle took a deep breath and turned into her own room instead of Mommy’s. She glared at her pretty, white bed with its fluffy, pink comforter. “I *am* a big girl,” she grumbled. “Yes, you are.” Mommy came into the room behind her. She smiled and gave Annabelle a hug. That always made her feel better. “I’m so proud of you.” Annabelle smiled. She liked making her Mommy proud. She took off her hearing aids, or “ear buddies,” as she and Mommy called them, and brushed her hair. Mommy tucked her in, and they said their nighttime prayers. Then it was time for Mommy to check under the bed. Annabelle’s tummy gurgled, and she shivered. She snuggled deep under her covers and refused to be scared. Even if there was a monster under the bed, her Mommy could take him. “No monsters under there!” Mommy announced. Annabelle was happy at first, but then she remembered something. Benjamin at school had said that grown-ups can’t see monsters. She pouted, and Mommy laughed. “I promise, Belly, no monster is going to get you.” She kissed Annabelle on the forehead and tucked the covers more tightly around her. “Love you, Princess.” “Love you too, Mommy.” Mommy turned out the light and shut the door, leaving Annabelle alone for the night. The room looked different in the pink glow of her nightlight. Shadows seemed to dance on the wall, the floor, and the ceiling. Annabelle felt her tummy gurgle again. She squeezed her eyes shut tight. “I’m a big girl. I’m not afraid,” she whispered to herself. She pulled her blanket over her head. Then she heard it. There was a soft rustling noise under the bed. She tried to ignore it. Mommy said that sometimes when we’re scared, our imagination tricks us. Annabelle didn’t think that was very nice of her imagination. She tried to force herself to fall asleep, humming “Let It Go” over and over in her blanket cocoon. It was no use. The rustling kept getting louder. Suddenly, Annabelle was angry. This was *her* room. Who did this monster think he was? She was a *big girl*. More than that, right now, she was *Batgirl.* Annabelle kicked off her covers and hopped onto the floor. She crouched down and glared into the shadows under her bed, hands bunched into angry fists. “Hey, turd-butt!” she hissed, not wanting to wake Mommy. “This is *my* room. I’m not some baby you can scare off. I’m FIVE!” She thrust her palm forward, fingers spread wide. “You have to leave, right now. I’m not afraid of you!” Big, orange eyes blinked open in the dark, and Annabelle jumped back. She didn’t scream, though. She was startled but not scared, because the eyes weren’t actually scary. They...they looked like a cartoon! “You’re not?” A small voice whispered. At least, that’s what Annabelle thought it said. It was hard to tell in the dark, when she couldn’t see its mouth move. She told the monster to *wait there* and ran to the dresser. She popped her purple, sparkly ear buddies into her ears and turned them on. “What?” She asked. “You’re not afraid of me?” “Oh! Nope!” Annabelle popped the ‘p.’ “I’m a superhero. So you better go scare some other kid.” “But I don’t want to scare anybody,” the monster grumbled. Annabelle sighed, exasperated. “Look, can you just come out here? I’m having a hard time hearing you in the dark.” There was a shuffling noise. A bright green hand flopped out from under the bed and then another. They almost looked like paws, Annabelle thought. They were fuzzy, with four stubby fingers tipped with tiny claws. She saw its arms next. They were long and yellow, skinny like noodles. He pulled himself out from under her bed. The monster stood in front of Annabelle, orange eyes blinking owlishly in the pink light. He was shorter than she was, with a fuzzy red body shaped like a big potato. His arms reached all the way down to the floor, where his green hands rested next to his bright green feet. Annabelle couldn’t even see the monster’s legs through his fur, he was so short. She burst out laughing. The monster frowned. He turned to go back under the bed. “Well, if you’re just going to make fun of me…” Annabelle felt bad and stopped laughing. She didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. She grabbed his soft, green paw to stop him. “No, don’t go, I’m sorry!” she cried. “I didn’t mean to laugh. Benjamin just said monsters were big and scary, and that they ate little girls because they have cooties. But you’re not scary, you’re cute!” Annabelle thought the monster blushed under his fur. He even seemed to smile a little. “Who’s Benjamin?” he asked. Annabelle shrugged. “A boy at school.” “Well, Benjamin sounds stupid.” Annabelle giggled and clapped her hands over her mouth. She wasn’t allowed to call people ‘stupid,’ but maybe the monster’s Mommy said that was okay. “What’s your name?” she asked. The monster looked confused. “I don’t think I have one of those. Do you?” “Of course! I’m Annabelle,” she said. She had never heard of somebody not having a name.“If you don’t have a name, what do your parents and your friends call you?” “Oh, I don’t have any of those either,” the monster said. That made Annabelle sad. She wanted to give the monster a hug, but she knew it wasn’t polite to hug people without asking. She guessed the same was true of monsters. Then, she had another idea. “I can be your friend, if you want,” she said. The monster perked up at that. “Really?” Annabelle laughed. “Of course! We can play games and tell each other stories.” The monster grinned. He had two big teeth, one on the top and one on the bottom. “That sounds like fun!” “You’ll need a name,” Annabelle said. Annabelle loved naming things. She had named her puppy, Leo, and all of her stuffed animals had their own names too. She looked at the monster for a few seconds, thinking hard. “I think you look like a Roger!” Annabelle did a motion with her hand when she said it, her first and second fingers crossed. The monster looked confused. “What is that?” He made the same motion with his paw. “It’s your name!” Annabelle did it again. “Roger, in sign. Sometimes it’s hard to hear people talk, so I use my hands to talk too. Like this: Your name is Roger!” The monster watched her hands move with wide eyes. “That’s so neat!” he said. “Is there a sign for Annabelle?” “Yeah, I’ll teach you!” She showed the monster how to sign her name. He grinned his two-toothed smile. “You’ll have to teach me how to say more things in sign!” Annabelle smiled. “Of course, Roger!” She suddenly realized she hadn’t asked the monster if she could call him that. “Is that OK? Do you like that name?” “Oh!” the monster exclaimed. He’d been so interested in learning the signs that he had forgotten. “Yes, it’s a very good name. Roger. I can be Roger.” “*Awesome*.” Annabelle said, emphatically. “I’m glad that you’re not a scary monster, Roger.” Roger laughed, a low, pleasant, rumbly sound. “Me too!” She and Roger stayed awake for a little while longer. They sat on the floor and played with Annabelle’s stuffed animals. She showed Roger her ear buddies, and she taught him how to sign more words. She told him all about kindergarten, and her Mommy, and her puppy, Leo. Before long, her eyes started getting heavy, and she leaned more and more to the side. She almost toppled over, but Roger caught her with a noodly arm. “I think you should go back to bed, Annabelle.” Annabelle pouted, but she knew he was right. She couldn’t stop yawning, and she had to get up early for school tomorrow. “Will you come back tomorrow night?” she asked, hopefully. “Of course! Now that I have a friend!” Roger said. He helped her stand up and tucked her back into bed. “That’s good,” Annabelle sighed. Her eyes were already closed. “I’m glad I met you, Roger.” “Me too, Annabelle,” he said. “Sleep tight!” He patted her hand with a big, fuzzy paw. Annabelle smiled, and Roger slid back under the bed, to wherever monsters go to sleep. Annabelle couldn’t wait to tell Benjamin that he was wrong at school tomorrow. And Mommy would be proud of her for making a new friend! No longer scared of monsters or the dark, she drifted off to sleep to dream about new friends and big, orange eyes.


Terra Camillo opened the door to the apartment Kyle Redding and her were living in. While walking through, she continued the argument she was having with Kyle by saying, “You embarrassed me Kyle. You got drunk and acted obnoxious in front of my friends.” She wore an ocean blue women’s winter jacket, denim jeans and leather riding boots. On her ears hung small, gold earrings. She dropped her Michael Kors purse on top of the entryway table, walked to the coat closet and waited for Kyle to step inside. It was 10:35 pm, on a Saturday evening. Kyle walked in and closed the door behind him. He wore a black snow cap, a dark-brown bomber jacket, jeans and sneakers. “Why do we need to travel through Europe? So we can watch other people do the same things we do but in a different language?” he asked. He walked up behind their cream-colored, leather couch and sat down on the left-hand end. Terra opened the coat closet, took out a hanger and began taking off her coat. “Don’t try to change the subject. You sounded like a moron tonight.” She hung the coat on the hanger and returned it to the closet. She was wearing a soft, white turtleneck sweater. “You didn’t even try to stay interested in what others were talking about,” said Terra. Kyle sat and stared at the wall in front of him. Terra continued with, “I watched how your eyes would glaze over when anyone was talking to you and you we’re getting drunk so you didn’t have to listen.” She walked to the armrest opposite of Kyle and stood over it. Kyle turned to her and said, “I listened to every word they said.” “You didn’t keep up with any of the conversation. Like when people had to explain the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland,” retorted Terra, “It was painful to watch.” “How was I supposed to know that Budapest was in Hungary?” asked Kyle. “Of course you didn’t know that Budapest was in Hungary! Two years ago I wanted us to travel there during Autumn and you refused. So instead we went camping, again.” Terra walked from the couch to their sofa chair and sat down. Their oak coffee table was placed between them as she sat on the diagonal away from where Kyle was sitting. “Are you able to tell me what you did on a Friday night two months ago?” asked Terra. Kyle’s eyes moved across the room but when they returned to Terra he didn’t say anything. “Of course you can’t remember. Why should you? You’re content with just living out the same Friday, month after month: going to Cord Cutters and drinking and hanging out with Jake and Jon. I don’t even know why you came to the party tonight.” “I came because you asked me to,” said Kyle. “Don’t you listen to anything I say?” asked Terra. Kyle looked at Terra and said, “Of course I do. I listen to everything you say.” Terra stared at Kyle. “Maybe not everything but I listen to a lot of what you say,” said Kyle. “I just don’t understand what you’re waiting for,” Terra said and looked away from Kyle. “I never understand what you’re talking about when you get like this,” replied Kyle. “Maybe that’s my fault,” said Terra. Neither said anything until Terra said, “I asked you to come because I wanted to expose you to people that would share experiences that would be new to you. To understand what other people outside of Seattle are doing. You always want to talk about sports or wood working but when people try to change the subject to traveling or social injustice you would tune out and just start talking about the weekend when you got lost in the woods.” Kyle threw his hands up and said, “I’m sorry if I don’t find politics interesting yet! Who doesn’t like a story about surviving in the wilderness?” Kyle got up from the couch and walked over to their oak desk and said, “Do you imagine that Europe is some fantasy land with dragons and knights that speak in old English? When did everything become about status with you?” Terra got up from the chair and walked to the coat closet. She opened the closet door and while reaching in for her coat said, “I’m going to a friend’s house.” Without turning his head to look at her, Kyle said, “You’ll find any excuse to visit him.” After putting on her coat, Terra opened the front door and said, “Any place is better if you’re not there,” and slammed the door behind her. “*Rico, pause. Did you say friend’s house? I heard Fred’s house.”* *“I said: friend’s house. I needed to get out of the apartment.”* *“Wow, you could’ve made that a little clearer. I was fuming after you left because you were so open about seeing him.”* *“I’m sorry you misheard me but I didn’t see him.”* *“Okay, it’s fine. Did you mean what you said afterwards?”* *“I wanted to.”* *“I wasn’t sure if you meant it. I wasn’t sure what we were arguing about when we got back. We had gotten into so many arguments recently I just couldn’t keep up.”* *“We have been arguing a lot and I’m sorry.”* *“Me too. It’s so weird looking at yourself.”* *“Yeah, it takes some getting used to. I forgot that during that night I wore those earrings you made me.”* *“Where did you go afterwards?”* *“To Janelle’s place. Rico, skip to an hour later, prepare for upload.”* Terra sat next to Janelle in the middle of Janelle’s leather couch. In Janelle’s living room, they were joined by Janelle’s boyfriend Marcus and their mutual friend Samantha. Both sat on the couch opposite to Terra and Janelle. Janelle was rubbing Terra’s back. “I don’t understand how to get through to him. He just frustrates me so much now. We used to be so happy together,” said Terra. “Does it feel as if he is even trying to listen to you?” asked Janelle. “No, honestly it doesn’t. He pretends to listen and tunes me out whenever I have something to say that he doesn’t want to hear. He has himself convinced he’s got me fooled. I don’t know what to do.” *“Rico, pause. You knew I wasn’t listening?”* *“Yes Kyle. I’ve lived with you for over 3 years.”* *“I’m sorry. It’s how I’ve been handling those situations lately.”* *“I know. We need to discuss it later. What did you do after I left?”* *“I went to meet up with Jon and Jake at Cord Cutters.”* *“How unusual.”* *“I’m not sure we need to see where I went.”* *“Kyle, we need to give each other’s perspective.”* *“Fine. Rico, switch narrator, prepare for upload.”* Kyle sat at a table with Jon and Jake. The bar was busy with people talking and laughing. There were no televisions in the bar. “All she ever seems to do now is look for ways to get upset with me. I know she’s looking for me to make one mistake so she can pounce. That’s why I just tune out when she gets like that,” said Kyle. “Does she know you’re not listening?” asked Jon. “Nope. I put on a good listening face,” said Kyle proudly. Kyle continued with, “I just can’t put up with her when she gets like that. She never acted like that when we started dating. I don’t want to make things worse and it’s really the only defense mechanism I have. She’s still the one I want to be with but it seems as if I’m living with a different person.” *“Rico, pause. I’m not sure I can do this.”* *“Kyle, we have to give this a try. The user reviews on the Reconciliation program were impressive and Angela said it saved her relationship with Malcolm. Also, you know we can’t afford couple’s therapy.”* *“It’s just that it’s such a violation of privacy.”* *“I agree, showing someone else your memories is personal but you’ll be showing them only to me. All we are doing is giving each other our own side of the story.”* *“I keep remembering the evening we walked through the snow after the snowstorm.”* *“At Discovery Park?”* *“Yeah. How long ago was that.“* *“About three months after we met. It was the same winter we met.”* *“Rico, reset to three months after we met, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle walked through the snow at Discovery Park. The snow came half-way up past their shins. Terra walked ahead of Kyle. Terra said, “C’mon! You gotta keep up!” Kyle said, “What’s the rush?” Without looking back, Terra shouted, “It’s cold out here! You have to keep moving to stay warm.” Kyle said, “Hold on. Terra, slow down.” Terra stopped, turned to Kyle and said, “What?” Kyle said, “If you’re getting cold, I’ll keep you warm.” He opened up his bomber jacket and Terra stepped inside to hug him. Terra looked up at Kyle and they kissed. They kept each other warm until they returned home. *“There was something special about sharing the silence with you. It felt right.”* *“That day was special, but everyday wasn’t perfect. Rico, skip to a year and a half after we met, prepare for upload.”* Kyle sat in the middle of the couch reading a book on ancient Greek history. Terra came into the room smiling. She held up her phone to Kyle and said “This is the website Angela was telling me about. These places look amazing.” Kyle placed the book to his right. He accepted the phone from Terra and started browsing the screen. Terra sat down to his left and looked over his shoulder to see what he was seeing. It was a post on a popular travel blog about the author’s recent travels through Europe. In the post the author catalogued her experiences and impressions about Brussels, Istanbul and Budapest. Kyle began to wear a look of surprise and confusion as he continued to read. Finally, he put down the phone. Kyle turned to Terra and said, “When did you want to do this?” Terra looked at Kyle surprised and said, “I’m not sure, maybe this Fall?” “But we already agreed to go camping at Deception Pass State Park this October,” responded Kyle. Terra sighed and said, “I know but I really want to travel to these places.” “Let’s set a date for next year. This year I can show you how to start a fire and how beautiful the night sky becomes. After that we can decide where we want to go next.” Terra nodded in approval and said, “Alright, it's a deal.” *“I remember you talking about that trip but it seemed like something we should do later in our relationship. You enjoyed the camping trip though. Rico, fast forward to October of that year, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle laid on top of their sleeping bags at Deception Pass State Park. The embers from fire that Kyle showed Terra how to make burned low. They stared up at the stars against the clear night sky. Kyle held up his phone displaying a celestial map in his left hand while Terra traced the sky. “Does that look like Perseus?” she asked. “It does,” Kyle said, “And I’m pretty sure this is Camelopardalis.” With his right hand he traced the constellation. “I’ve never seen the sky so clear,” said Terra. “Without the light from the city, we’re able to see what it actually looks like,” replied Kyle. They continued their search for constellations until they were satisfied and Kyle put down his phone. “How long have you been coming here?” asked Terra. “Since my Dad took me here when I was a kid,” responded Kyle. “The air is so fresh out here,” remarked Terra. “That’s why he brought me out here. That and he liked to fish. Fresh air and fresh fish as he calls it,” replied Kyle. Terra asked, “If you had the chance, would you live out here?” Kyle paused before saying, “Camping is a way for me to get away from the city for a few days. It’s slower and I’m able to appreciate what’s in front of me but I couldn’t live out here. I would get bored not being able to see anyone else and tired from using leaves as toilet paper.” “I’m sure living off of wild berries and rabbits would get old quick,” said Terra. “If I lived out in the woods, would you join me?” asked Kyle. “Yes,” said Terra, “so I could drag your ass back to Seattle.” *“Rico, pause. Sure. That was a great vacation. But we did that the last two summers. Do you remember the train ride we took?”* *“Yeah, of course. How could I forget?”* *“Do you remember what we said?”* *“Yeah, we talked about how amazing the country looked and I said this was a great idea that you recommended.”* *“We also talked about our dreams. Do you remember what I said during that conversation?”* *“You wanted to start a family.”* *“Yes and this: Rico, skip to June of the following year, prepare for upload.”* Terra sat in a window seat of a train with Kyle to her left. The train was passing by wheat fields to the right and left of the tracks. She watched as the afternoon sunlight reflected off the tall, golden crops. She watched the fields they passed by change from wheat to corn. Kyle squeezed her left hand and she looked over to him. “See, I told you we would eventually take the train ride,” he said. “I’m glad you finally made the effort to try something different. I’m always amazed watching so much pass by so quickly,” said Terra. “I still don’t get why you wanted to do this but watching so much pass by makes me consider what is important,” he said. Terra looked at him encouragingly and said, “Keep going.” “I dunno know where I’m going with this but it just seems like the right time to say how important these years together have been.” Terra gave a warm smile of amusement and said, “There’s still hope for you yet.” The train left the fields and entered a forest. “Yeah, so as I said, what’s important to me. As far as I can remember, we never talked about what your dreams are.” Terra turned back to the window and watched tall pines pass by before turning back to say, “My dreams are changing. They’re different from a year ago and I can feel them change.” “So can you talk about one at least?” asked Kyle. “I want to start a family. I want to be a mom and give my kids the best life they can have. What about you?” Kyle took a moment to answer and then said, “Eh… it’s okay. It’s not that big of a deal.” “No. Kyle, if it’s important to you I want to hear it,” said Terra. “There’s this dresser drawer I’ve wanted to make. It came to me after work about a year ago. I sketched it out and it would be, without a doubt, the best work I’ve done yet. I just haven’t been able to get started.” The train entered a tunnel and the dim light in the cabin provided the only source of illumination. Terra waited to speak and they both looked out the window. The train sped through the tunnel until it emerged into an open grassland. Terra looked at Kyle and said, “I want us to fulfill all our dreams together.” “So do I,” replied Kyle. *“Rico, pause. We have been fulfilling our dreams together. We can make this work and stay together. We just have to figure out what went wrong. You agree, right? Terra? Terra, what’s wrong?”* *“I need to review a memory. Rico, fast forward to winter of that year, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle held hands as they skated around the ice ring. They were accompanied by others that skated around too. Terra wore a light blue snow cap and kept a scarf around her neck. She wore a winter jacket and jeans. Kyle wore a black snow cap, his brown bomber jacket and jeans. They skated past a young mother teaching her child how to skate. Terra watched the two interact until she had to return her attention to the people skating in front of her. They continued to skate around for a few more laps until Terra said, “I’m going to skate ahead for a while.” Kyle looked surprised but said, “That’s fine, I guess.” Terra let go of Kyle’s hand and skated forward. Terra noticed another couple in front of her. Terra noticed the designer winter jacket the woman wore and how bright her smile was. She took notice of how her soft hair shined under the ring’s stadium lights. She watched her smile at her boyfriend and he smiled lovingly back. *“It was hard for me to tell in the moment but now seeing myself as an observer, I know it for a fact. Rico, fast forward to the summer of that year, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle sat at a table in Cord Cutters. They were accompanied by Janelle and Marcus. Terra sat across from Kyle and next to Janelle. They ordered drinks and Kyle began to tell a story from work. “So my buddy is working on a dining room table made from Brazilian Rosewood for a client. He stops and leaves for lunch,” said Kyle. While Kyle told his story, Terra looked off in the distance and turned her attention to the outside window. She saw a group of people standing, talking and laughing. Terra returned her attention to Kyle as Kyle said, “So when he takes off the cover and reveals the table, the client asks him why “For Julie” is inscribed in the middle.” Everyone at the table laughed except Terra, who gave a faint smile and started to let her eyes wander around the room again. Kyle began to tell another joke and Terra returned her gaze to the outside window. She looked across the street to see a group of people entering an upscale restaurant. One member of the party held the door open so the others could enter. *“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice you were so unhappy. If you could’ve told me what the problem was I would’ve listened.”* *“Kyle, something I learned very quickly about you is that you have a hard time seeing what is in front of you. Just watch.”* Kyle finished his joke and everyone at the table began to laugh. Terra stared directly at Kyle. She was laughing harder than Janelle and Marcus. Kyle noticed that Terra was staring at him. Terra said, “Wow, it’s not like I haven’t heard that one before. You make that same mistake again and again. Most people learn not to make the same mistake twice.” *“Rico, pause. You’re wrong Terra. I have noticed how you’ve changed. I just don’t know what to do.”* *“Yes, you do Kyle. Just tell me why you’re so opposed to change?”* *“Because I remember nights like these. Rico, rewind to the winter of our first year together. Prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle sat on their couch watching the movie *Blade Runner*. Kyle was seated at the left-end of the couch, with his right arm placed on the armrest. Terra rested her head on Kyle’s shoulder. As they watched, snow began to fall. Terra noticed and turned her attention from the television to the outside window. She watched the snowfall intensify and after a short while looked up at Kyle and said, “You want to watch the snow?” Kyle looked from her to the window and nodded. After the lights were turned off inside, the room was only illuminated by the soft-yellow light provided by the streetlamps outside. The two watched as the snowflakes fell and their shadows danced on the floor. Kyle sat at the left-end of the couch and Terra laid across it. Her feet rested on the cushions and her head rested in Kyle’s lap. Kyle took Terra’s right hand in his and gently squeezed it. *“We don’t need to travel the world and follow the latest lifestyle advice. We’re able to find happiness just being together.“* *“When I laid there, it occurred to me that I never trusted someone as much as you but we can do more than that.”* *“Watch this and tell me if we are doing more. Rico, fast forward to three months ago, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle were arguing in the kitchen. “Why are you so concerned with what Fred does? He is one the smartest colleagues I’ve worked with and he has taught me so much. You could learn from him.” “I don’t want to learn from him,” responded Kyle, “He looks like he belongs in a Burberry catalog and he doesn’t shut up about social causes because he knows everyone in the conversation will agree with him.” “Your wrong Kyle, as always. Fred cares deeply about the causes he advocates. I bet you couldn’t even name one in detail.” Kyle gave a long pause before saying, “I’m not playing this game. I know what I see and he’s a SJW looking for the next popular cause to join.” “I wish you were a fraction as aware of the world as he is.” “Why? What good would that do? So I can self-righteously post something on social media? Believe that I made a difference from the comfort of my office desk?” “You’re wrong Kyle, as always. Words inspire action and knowing what you’re talking about and what you’re fighting for encourages others to do the same.” “I’m not saying fighting for a just cause is wrong. I’m saying that doing it to make yourself look better or build a cult following is disingenuous.” “Fine, but that isn’t what he does.” Kyle threw his hands up in the air and said, “I give up. I’m getting ready to go to bed.” Later that night Terra and Kyle slept in the same bed, with their backs turned against each other. *“By then we hadn’t had sex in weeks.”* *“It’s strange Terra. When you get really upset like that, I remember the night we agreed to move in together. Rico, rewind to six months after we met, prepare for upload.”* Terra and Kyle held hands as they walked through a neighborhood. They passed single-family detached homes. Some had front porches while others had front gardens with Double Early Tulips, Hosta Roots and Hydrangeas growing. They had stone facades and lights along the walkway that led up to the front door. “So… my lease will be up this month,” said Kyle. “Really? That’s funny, because mine will be up in two months,” replied Terra. “Are you going to renew?” asked Kyle. “Not sure yet,” said Terra. “Well, if you decide not to renew, maybe we could look for a place together?” “I dunno, that’s a pretty big commitment. You might as well be signing away the next year of your life to another person,” replied Terra. “Yeah, but you get all of this for a whole year,” said Kyle while gesturing to himself. “It’s a tempting offer,” said Terra. “Is that a yes?” asked Kyle. “Hmm… I guess it is,” replied Terra. Kyle gave Terra a big smile before stopping to kiss her. They released and continued to hold hands while walking around the neighborhood. Engaged in conversation, Kyle looked straight ahead while Terra looked at every house they passed by. *“Rico, pause. Just please tell me why you’re so afraid of expanding your horizons.”* *“I’m not afraid.”* *“Then I don’t understand what it is. How can you be content with the same routine and lifestyle.”* *“Rico, rewind to the first month after we met, prepare for upload.”* Kyle sat at the bar in Cord Cutters. He waited at the bar until his drink was served. *“It was your lifestyle too.”* A few minutes later, Terra greeted him by wrapping her arm around his neck and kissing him. *“You were fine living this way before.”* *“You can be more. We can do more together and live a better life.”* *“Such as?”* *“Starting our own company.”* *“Not this again. Terra, you know all the headaches that come with starting a business. Why do you want this so badly?”* *“For our children! So they can live a better life than we did! I’m tired of the same life and I don’t want them to relive it. I want them to aspire as well. And I want you to be their father so they know how great of a person you are. But you know this already Kyle, why are you refusing to accept it?”* *“We’re just not ready to take on that kind of challenge. I’m not ready to assume a leadership position and I’m not sure I’m ready to be managed by you. You should accept that we will be lower-middle class. I’m fine with where I am. Rico, rewind to when we first met, prepare for upload.”* Kyle sat at the bar in Cord Cutters with Jake and Jon. Kyle drank a lager while Jon and Jake drank an ale. Jon turned to Kyle and said, “Samantha is bringing some friends with her tonight. They’ll be here soon.” “Who is she bringing?” asked Kyle. “Janelle and Terra. You met Janelle before and Terra is new. I haven’t met her yet but Samantha tells me she is relaxed and open-minded.” “Good to know,” replied Kyle with an approving nod. Kyle, Jon and Jake talked until Samantha arrived with Janelle and Terra. The men got up from their stools and introduced themselves. After saying hello to Samantha and Janelle, Kyle introduced himself to Terra by extending a hand and saying, “Hi, I’m Kyle.” A smile grew on Terra and she reached out to shake Kyle’s hand. “I’m Terra,” she said. The group moved the conversation to a table. Terra took off her winter coat before sitting down. Underneath, she wore a plain, navy blue cotton sweater. Kyle sat in the seat across from her. “What are you into?” asked Kyle. Terra gave a short laugh and said, “Snowfalls. I know, it sounds childish.” As the night progressed, Terra and Kyle separated from the group’s conversation and formed their own. *“You were quite the charmer that night.”* *“You looked so happy.”* *“I was, I had found someone that I was comfortable opening up to.”* *“We got along so easily. Every joke I told, you found funny.”* *“Uh, I laughed at every joke you told so I wouldn’t offend you. Although, some were pretty good.”* When everyone was getting up to leave, Kyle asked, “Can I give you my number?” “Sure,” said Terra. Kyle told Terra his number while she entered it in her phone. “How about lunch tomorrow?” asked Kyle. “Maybe,” responded Terra with a playful, wait-and-see attitude. The group walked to the front door and left the bar. *“It’s hard to believe we used to get along that well together. Now you don’t find anything I say funny. The same smile I used to give, you now meet with disgust.”* *“When I find any trip or adventure I want us to go on, you’ll find an excuse to stay. You will always find an excuse not to venture beyond your comfort zone.”* *“I will just want us to appreciate what we have in front of us and you will get frustrated.”* *“I will just want you to learn something new and you will refuse. I know you're capable of more but you’re just not ready to see that.”* *“We could start a family and give our kids a good life, the same kind we had.”* *“But it won’t be the one that I want for them.”* *“I’m not ready to let go. To lose you. I’m not ready to give up on you.”* *“I’m not ready either.”* *“We can save our relationship. Right?”* *“Kyle, we’re not going to be able to go any further. We’ve become different people.”* *“I wanted us to work this out. To figure out the problem and how to overcome it.”* *“I’m sorry but we’ve become different people than when we first met and are no longer compatible.”* *“This is the end, isn’t it.”* *“It is.”* *“What will you do without me? Will you finally travel to Prague?”* *“No. That was a trip I wanted us to go on together. I will travel through Europe though. What about you? What will you do?”* *“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll start by finishing that kitchen cabinet I started working on last month.”* *“Goodbye Kyle, I will always miss you.”* *“Goodbye Terra.”* *“Rico, close channel.


There was a marsh that bounded part of the woods behind my house, on the edge of which, at high tide, Dad and I used to stand and fish for perch and minnows. Birds chirped in the trees and they’d clam up when the eagles came around. In some places, it was hard to walk. The forest floor was so slick and the swamp so full of trees that there was no way to tell where one stopped and the other ended. In consequence, when burly hunters stomped through the woods they sometimes found themselves knee-deep in slippery mud, as black as oil. That wasn’t us, we knew our way around. By trial and adaptation to the rhythm of the tides, it was like instinct for Dad and I. I knew every tree and every boulder; where the eagle’s nest was and the cave that sunk into the ground and filled up with water at high tide. “You got the bait, boy?” Dad asked. I nodded my head and held out a tin can swimming with worms. You might like to know something of his character. He was well-built, of middle stature, and quite ingenious. He could draw well, was a skilled musician, and he had a mechanical intuition too. But, his greatest attributes laid in his perfect understanding and solid judgment. He ran for town sheriff a number of times, winning twice. I remember frequent visits to our house by the mayor and other leaders who consulted him for his opinion in the affairs of the town, long after his service with the police department had ended. We walked over the path of wood beams he’d made by hand to get across the marsh as the tide rose. The tide turned the ground around us into mush. Dad noticed some eddies and splashes a little ways out and said Son, I think there’s a big one out ‘ere today! And he smiled at me. When we got to the pier he took to arranging the fishing line and we sat with our feet dangling over the water. There was an enormous splash some distance out. Wow! Dad said, and I looked up to him in awe, as if he hadn’t seen what I’d just seen. A frog ribbited in the swamp somewhere, and then we heard a *plunk* and it went quiet. Little ripples washed towards us, chopped up by the waterlilies and the cattails. I lurched forward and I realized something bit down on my line. “You got one!” he said, and he helped me reel it in with real difficulty. We spun and spun the rod as hard as we could. The hook churned up the water around itself. The fish flapped about and swayed among the reeds. We thought it might be a catfish. I imagined myself posing with it for a picture, telling Ma, look at what I did! I caught a water droplet with my eye. We pulled and pulled and pulled and soon it got real easy to reel in the line. I thought it was my dad’s strength. But soon we got it up above the surface, and the fish was gone. Nothing but a sliver of lip remained on the silver hook, and a cloud of blood muddied the water.


As Serial Saturday here on has concluded, all that’s left to do is spotlight our fantastic authors. It’s been such a treat to watch people evolve their flash fiction serials with us and bring arcs to a close that have been with us for quite a while. For a good handful of writers on Serial Saturday, their stories are continuations of serials started on Theme Thursday weekly threads. One such story comes from /u/LitcityBlues. LitCity’s focus on research and keeping his story true to its setting and context was a highlight of this serial. That focus helped ground us in the story, and make it feel that much grittier and more immersive. But don't take my word for it! Here's a small teaser: >Living in Kinmen, murder is rare- but when the daughter of the local party boss from Mainland China just across the water is found on a beach in Kinken with a knife in her belly, it’s up to Detective Pei-Shan and Officer Wei-Ting to solve a murder that’s a landmine of political problems just waiting to explode. Finding the truth, however, turns out to be more complicated and dangerous than either of them were expecting. For our first run of Serial Saturday at it was important for us to get author impressions of how their experience went with us, and give readers a peek at the "behind the scenes" of creating a flash fiction serial. Here's u/LitcityBlues’s take on that: >This began life as a Theme Thursday over on r/writingprompts for the theme ‘Vulnerability’ and I remembered learning about various political crises over the Taiwan Straits in college and remembered Quemoy (Kinmen) and Matsu- but I didn’t realize just how close to China Kinmen actually was. I couldn’t imagine living in a place- that to me, anyway, seemed like it would feel vulnerable *all the time*. > >A simple five hundred word prompt response and the feedback I got demanded more story and then more story and then suddenly I was migrating from Writing Prompts to Short Stories for Serial Saturday and 22 parts later, it was done. I *loved* all the feedback that I got-- and I’d like to think that I at least absorbed *some* of it. This story also taught me the importance of research. Never having been to China, this piece required a ton of homework and I hope, in the end, that I at least captured some essence of the place and the people who live there. With the tale of *Murder In Kinmen* at an end there is only one thing left to do: show off this newly finished story for obligatory bragging rights here on . Let the bragging begin! Without further ado, here's u/LitcityBlues’s Table of Contents. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **TABLE OF CONTENTS** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ You can check out more of u/LitcityBlues's work by going to their subreddit, r/LitcityBlues. Congrats on finishing your serial, LitCity, and we can’t wait to see what you do next. <3 from the team at , , and Serial Saturday. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ *For more information on the Serial Saturday program feel free to check out our* *.* We have members from all around the world and who have all kinds of schedules, so there’s usually someone awake to talk to. We also have scheduled readings, oration critiques, spur-of-the-moment story time, or even just random hangouts over voice chat.


Alyssa dreamed of feverish lights and dancing swarms. Her feet covered in sand, her heart beating to a song that rang familiar and yet unknown. The crowd around her, lost in blissful euphoria, blended and fused, turning into an amorphous shape. They could not know what was about to happen, she thought as her heart beat and faster. How the fluorescent lights by the beach would be overshadowed by a skyward gleam, blinding and encompassing all. How they would all be lost in that light. She woke up to the sound of her vibrating phone. Had she not put it in silent mode? Her boyfriend lay asleep, his snoring unaffected. *No, I am not going to check it*. A minute passed and the phone vibrated again. And again. She sighted and clumsily searched the bedside table. A few messages from the same number stating: “*BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL”* It gleamed before her eyes, like a lighthouse on the evening shore. After a few seconds, the phone’s screen turned black and she had to press the home button to check it again, make sure it was real. Alyssa scratched her eyelids, partly convinced it was a prank being played by one of her boyfriend’s friends. Her phone suddenly rang, but she did not pick it up. Then another message, but now from a friend: “Omg Ali they said it will come down in 25 minutes. PICK UP THE PHONE” Alyssa suddenly realized she had not breathed since checking the cellphone, that her lungs would not constrict nor expand; only stood still. Thirstily, she gulped for air. It took a few moments for her to overcome the feeling of asphyxiation. It couldn’t be true. She thought about checking the news, calling the police, anything to disprove those messages. Yet something deep inside her convinced her otherwise; a muffled voice crawled from her belly up towards her throat and escaped her lips ringing: “It is real” She thought of her mom who was thousands of kilometers away in Pará. They’d have a call every two or three days but didn’t last night. She imagined her mom alone watching the evening news, drawing internal anecdotes about how things never improved in Brazil. Repeating old sayings to herself as though they were mantras. She remembered her at catechism wearing a humble beige dress whilst standing at the church’s entrance facing a small march of children in white garments and dark shoes. Her face wet with tears but bearing a warm smile. Alyssa looked at her phone again – 21 minutes remained.  . . .  While Alyssa still slept, her neighbor laid awake. They would exchange pleasantries as they bumped into each other on morning jogs, but Alyssa did not know the man. His name was Silvério - he was older, quieter and had a certain sad demeanor about him. Right then, a few houses down from hers, he grunted at fixed intervals, his torso moving up and down. His cheeks red, his back damp with sweat. He was about to do the fiftieth crunch of the set, which would then be followed by twenty-five push-ups and thirty squats. The muscle pain and rigidity of his body were clear reminders of his age. Nevertheless, it wasn’t to keep fit that Silvério exercised but rather because he felt like drinking. Over the past three years or so, he discovered that exercise kept old demons at bay. It was weird, but a mix of sweat and endorphins worked better for him than any other measure he had tried before. His was a specifically difficult case because he was – and deep down prided himself being – a highly functional alcoholic. He kept his job as a health science consultant for several years while ingesting a ridiculous amount of alcohol on a weekly basis. It didn’t cost him his career but it did cost his two marriages and a son. The awareness of his problem only came to him four years back, when his ex-wife told him that his youngest son did not want to see him anymore. He had already alienated an older son, and his own father had been a stranger to him at best. The glimpse of yet another nauseating cycle about to repeat rushed through his eyes. It was then that he decided to, for the first time since early adulthood, get his shit together. He joined A.A and moved to Kaunakakai to be closer to his son. Ever since then he had had not relapsed and overall managed to almost feel proud of himself. Sure, it was not great to deal with his ex-wife’s coach surf partner but he could be in his son’s life. When he considered it, there had been mostly good days in his alcohol free life. Only rarely did he feel tempted to drink again. Today had been one of *those* days. Days when his progress seemed futile and his senses would deceive him. When he smelled gin though there was none in the house; when he drank coffee and tasted a hint of whiskey. When he remembered that the closest bar was only two point eight kilometers from his house; that he could drive there in no time or even get a jog out of it. His lips would feel dry and he would see a bartender smirk as he placed the glass on the counter. Trying to lose sight of that smirk, he finished the last set and rubbed a small white towel against his sweaty face. In his kitchen a few moments later, he filled a water bottle and drained it with delight. His Adam-apple drew an arch with each gulp and, seconds before the bottle was empty, he heard his phone ring back in the living room. “Gotta be Jim again” he grumbled to himself. But it wasn’t. His mobile screen showed the same message that Alyssa would read a few seconds afterward: “*BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL”* Silvério checked the number – it was a government one. Search results on his mobile led to forums filled with anguished posts debating the message’s veracity. Was it real? What could be done? When the U.S president openly antagonized a dictator in hold of atomic weapons on a platform reaching 330 million, what else could be expected? A new Pearl Harbor. What a legacy to leave behind. There could have just been some glitch or cyber terrorism, Silvério pondered. His heart beat fast, his white tank top still wet in cold sweat. But what if it wasn’t? What if his timer was really set and he had but twenty minutes left? To his eternal shame, upon facing that possibility, it was not towards his son that his thoughts went but to his Belgium neighbor’s cabinet. Silvério hurried outside, leaving the lights on and the front door opened. He took anxious steps, moved by the forgotten frenzy and immutable smell of alcohol that wasn’t there. The grass under his feet felt soft and humid, the air warm and calm. He paused before his neighbor’s backdoor. *I am better than this. I should be.* He sighted, crouched and lifted the mat which read “Welkom” in bold. Underneath it shone the house key against the moon light. *Bingo*. The door opened silently, a damp stain left on its handle. It was not necessary to turn any lights on – he knew he was in the kitchen and that the silhouette of the door ahead led to the living room. From there, taking the right he could go to the room where the cabinet stood. While having coffee with his neighbor, he often lost his gaze at that very room, pretending he did not know what it hid. The Flemish man would laugh and resume his tales, but, to his merit, never had any alcoholic beverages at display when visited by Silvério. The timer on his mobile phone showed he still had 18 minutes. How many bottles could he down in that time? *One thousand and eighty seconds don’t seem like that long*. His hands trembling with excitement, Silvério grabbed the first bottle he found. It was rum and he quickly drank over half of it. Dark liquid ran down his lips, his neck and stained his tank top. The first time he ever drank rum was at a house party when his fifteen-year old self tried to impress a girl. It tasted pungent then just like it did now. That taste, accompanied by the dreamy buzz and the warmth of her body had been ingrained in his memory. Bitterness, excitement, youth. A better version of himself. He paused for a moment, coughed a few times and finished the bottle. The second bottle he chose was a vodka one. It tasted bitter and heavier than remembered. For a single moment he was caught by a future image of himself lying unconscious amidst empty bottles, just before being disintegrated by an explosion. He stared at the two-thirds left of the vodka bottle, thinking of his youngest son as he took another sip.  . . .  The deep beat reverberated across the beach. From afar, kilometers of emptiness from left and right converged into a crowd dancing bathed in a mix of moon and neon light. Every so often a subtle breeze blew, drawing waves at the near sea and lifting sand particles that stuck against wet shirts and damp bodies. Tim danced with a girl he had locked eyes with a few moments before. Her body swayed from side to side. Her mouth mumbled the song’s lyrics in an almost smirk. With more clumsiness than charm, Tim tried to follow her dance tempo whilst sipping his beer. He placed the plastic cup on the ground and took a single step towards her. Her smirk grew larger. From the small bag that hung on her shoulder, she took what appeared to be a pill and gently placed it in her mouth. To his surprise, she came closer. Then a little closer – just enough for a kiss. Her lips were sweet and soft. As they kissed, she delicately placed her hands on the back of his neck and played with his hair. He moved his mouth from hers to her neck and back while trying to control his own hands. Eventually, she stopped, took another pill from her bag but this time placed in his mouth. It was then that a wider range of feelings emerged for Tim – a combination of anxiety, arousal and release. They resumed kissing for a while, lost in an ecstasy of sensations and the never stopping beat that trembled their chests. Before he took a break to ask her name, a stranger bumped against them, almost making the girl fall. It was then that Tim noticed that something had gone wrong – those who had been dancing around them were now staggered checking their phones. A couple appeared to cry while others started to push against the crowd in a desperate frenzy. When the music went momentarily lower, Tim could hear a scream: “Die, we are gonna die!” Fear spread across the rave like wildfire. It engulfed and surrounded much of the crowd, even those who were not fit to comprehend it. As many began to run in incidental directions, some were trampled and screams ensued. A handful drunken fights emerged and a small group headed towards the water while taking their cloths off. A couple held closer together, exchanging inaudible words. Once the mass had divided into scattered and less violent groups, a myriad of cigarettes were lit and smoke flew up to the night sky. There were some people who even resumed dancing as though the chaos had been nothing but a transitory nightmare. Tim hugged the girl whilst the violence broke down and took her away from the larger groups. As the pandemonium subsided they went back to kissing and feeling each other’s body. Neither bothered to check their phones. The ever so loud beat never stopped.  . . .  Alyssa gave herself three minutes to cry. She was cold enough to time it. Once she was done, she dried her face and took a deep breath. Her boyfriend was still snoring as she walked to the kitchen. Once there, she placed the coffee pot on the sink, added water, four and a half teaspoons of Kenyan coffee and took a package of sugar from the cupboard. Then, she placed it on the stove and waited for the water to heat. She thought about leaving her mother a voice message but could not define what she wanted to say. When the familiar smell began to pervade the house, her mind went blank. As she stood there unaware of which thought might come next, she felt a slight touch on her shoulder. “Hon, it is almost three in the morning” her boyfriend said in a voice both tired and confused. She turned to him, smiled and their lips touched for a second. She then put the coffee in two cups that had been drying. Followed by his perplexed gaze, she added one tea spoon of sugar to each and mixed it. She kissed him again but now for slightly longer. “You are crazy” he declared after a yawn. Alyssa laughed a sad laugh, as far as she knew her very last, and took a slow sip.


It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. I could smell the damp bark of the trees around me as I continued running. The crunch of the leaves beneath my bare feet shifted into a soggy squish as the clouds' fractals settled into their new home. They began to turn the cold in my toes to numbness, but I knew I was close. I had to push through. A branch seized my black hair, but I didn't stop and allowed it to keep the long tresses in its grasp. My determination overrode brief pain in my scalp. I could see a violet light just ahead, and no amount of inconvenient agony was enough to stop me. Behind me, the approaching thunder of heavy boots and clinking steel pushed me faster. As the distance closed and the light grew, the scent of lavender flooded my nostrils. My pursuers were closing in; however, I was not going to let them take me back to that prison of a home. I glanced over my shoulder against my own advice, and I could see several armor clad individuals tearing through the forest. Just as one of them reach out to snatch my hair, I dove into the lavender aura. The first thing I heard was the trickle of a stream, followed by the soft flutters of feathers as singing birds took flight. My tattered legs felt the almost invisible touch of insect legs taking a rest on my skin. My eyes finally adjusted for me to stop shielding my face, and I absorbed my surroundings. A brook of teal water tumbled over translucent stones of various colors that shimmered in the scant sunlight. A great white buffalo was standing in the silver sand of the water's bank and drinking deeply. Whilst I had questioned the quality of the water, seeing the beast made me realize how thirsty I was. I scrambled through long blades of impossibly soft purple grass and cupped the water into my filthy hands. After a few gulps, I looked at my reflection in the water in my hands, studying my freckles, absorbing the massive three claw marks going across my right blue eye. The left amber eye carried its own scars unseen by anyone else, and, for a moment, it once again saw the slimy stone walls of her cell and a dilapidated bed with mold in the mattress. A hefty puff of warm humid air on my head pulled me out of my past with a start. I looked up into the dark eyes of the buffalo staring right at me. My callused hand reach forward of its own volition to its massive snout that felt like wet leather. The buffalo tuned and walked away, so I followed it for reasons I did not yet understand. The water was a comforting temperature as I passed through it. I was initially concerned about the gems under the surface would be harsh to step on, but it was as though every one of them had been strategically placed to help me pass through. On the other side were numerous trees shielded with blue bark touched the teal sky with leaves of varying hues of violet. Small lights of different colors flittered around us as we passed through. I held out my hand to one of the lights, and it came to me. On my hand landed a woman no bigger than mouse with cerulean skin and golden curls. Wings of pure starlight sprouted from her miniscule back. She knelt down and traced the lines in my palm, smiled up at me, and fluttered away as a blue wisp leaving shimmers in her wake. Butterflies as big as birds and birds as big as wolves passed by with quiet curiosity as we continued through the botanical menagerie. We trod along until we came upon a ledge surrounded by waterfalls pouring into a pool far below. On the ledge was a young lad with dark skin and a dark purple ponytail. His eyes were steel grey and pierced through my bones. I avoided them. "Salutations." His voice was deep and made of gravel. I didn't respond. Instead, I just nodded feebly as my brain refused to look him in the face. "I see," he said. "My name is Sebek, and I see our world found you. We've been in need of an assistant with your blood for some time. Tell me, are you in a hurry to return, or could you help us? The powers that be demand a volunteer." I had no idea what he was prattling on about, but I was willing to do just about anything not to return. I nodded. He grinned. "Splendid. Follow me." Follow him I did. He led me through a cave with walls of crystals that was like walking through a geode. After what felt like hours, we stumble upon a pedestal with what looked like a blue diamond that was taller than me hovering over it and rotating slowly. A deep feminine voice echoed from within the stone, and it glowed brighter with every syllable. "Welcome, mortal. What is your name?" I didn't tell her. "Very well. Our world is at risk. There is an unknown entity sweeping across our lands, and it brings sickness and madness to everything it touches. You are an anomaly from the outside and within, a bridge created by your father from our world and your mother from the outside. You'll be able to navigate the lands freely, yet the sickness may not recognize you as a threat. Will you help us without our influence that would lead it to you?" ...I nodded. Death by unknown forces in this place was favorable to going back. I had known my parents were shamed by both their families for me and, therefore, paid with their lives when we were found out when I was fourteen. I hadn't known of this place, only that I always saw the light in the woods and was forbidden from entering the forest for the past fifteen years since my parents were executed and I was imprisoned. I often wonder why they didn't kill me. "We are grateful beyond measure; however, I can not guarantee your safety or your success. Sebek will accompany you on your journey. Make haste!" We left the floating stone and returned to the white buffalo that had waited patiently at the entrance. Sebek hopped onto its sloped back and offered a had out to me. I hesitated. "Don't be afraid. Her name is Nokoni, and she's been my friend for a long time." Nokoni snorted as if in agreeance. I leaned on her side and listened to her bellowing heart beat. Her rhythmic breathing was as soothing as her cotton fur. I let Sebek help me up behind him. Whilst I was accustomed to riding horses, riding a buffalo was foreign to me. The lumbering stride as Nokoni began moving jostled me about at first, but I found a seat. "How are you feeling back there?" Sebek asked after a while. I gave him a thumbs up. "Good. We need to pick up the pace." Nokoni picked up a lumpy lope that I thought I might tumble from for a few minutes, but I eventually regained balance. The great animal carried us effortlessly through the terrain onto something new. Good or bad, I did not yet know. All I knew was that it was different. That was enough.


“Maybe we’ll get home before breakfast,” Morris complained aloud to spark conversation with anyone near enough to hear. “It’s well worth the wait. Best ride in the park. Waiting on this one is the best decision you could’ve made today,” a man some twenty years his senior boasted with a salesman’s smile. “So you’ve ridden it yourself?” Morris questioned. “Well… no,” the man was slightly embarrassed, “but its reputation speaks for itself.” The line stretched from the top of the colorful, enclosed building that housed the coaster all the way down the ramp and even wrapped around the walkway towards the rides ignored. Every minute the line added to its length; for who could resist the allure of the unknown? The warehouse was a massive slab that cost at least a fortune, spacious and towering over the land like a Gotham skyscraper. There was no way to determine the design of the coaster besides getting through the double doors at the front of the line, which unquestionably added to the enticement that inhaled whole crowds into its jaws on a daily basis. Morris was spotted nearly in the exact center of the line, standing on the third ring of stairs that allowed an elevated view of the park. Strangely, tumbleweeds wheeled through the rest of the rides with blank employees their only audience. He scoffed at the foolish majority that was so infatuated with the main attraction that they would wholly dismiss all other rides until realizing that he too had been roped in. In fact, he came to observe that every piece of the populace was gathered for the single ride, and every one that wasn’t was either entering or exiting the park. It was, at least, the perfect day to wait in such a line. Perfect temperature, and when the sun shone for longer than welcomed, even if for only a minute, the clouds would move in to close the curtain on the overstayed star. Mother Nature was in rare form, perhaps even flashing her aptitudes in the same manner as a boastful child. Her pride was evident, and her talents welcomed. A chilling thought abruptly took hold of Morris: there was no exit. Thousands of people had entered, and none had been seen again. One after another the smiling faces had piled in through the doors only to be replaced by more of the same. He laughed at his paranoia, writing it up as the product of his imagination sparked by boredom. Families flooded the park every day. If there was something ominous at work hidden in the shadows, someone would know by now. In time, he entered a meditative state amongst the inactive madness. The hours became minutes and the minutes milliseconds. The sun was nearly retired before Morris exited his trance and found himself nose to nose with his reflection in the glass doors. A giddiness arose, creating a connection of sorts between him and the eager little boy just a few paces behind him that would surely be on the same ride as himself. He wanted to turn around and give a nod of similarity to the young man but felt it a bit unbecoming. At last, the twin doors folded open and vessel-less hands took his own and led him into his prize of patience. There was no light besides the decorated signs directing traffic. Gripping the railing, Morris led his group down a narrow alley until arriving at a large, open circle that reminded him of a garbage chute. The sign above it read “COUNT TO 5 MISSISSIPPI BEFORE ENTERING.” Yet something about the system made him reluctant to throw his body into the hole. He turned around, debating if he should opt for the walk of shame, but the smiling, jittery faces coerced him to going in legs first. He slid down the slide and felt a suction pulling at his shoelaces. He winded down until being plopped in the very last cart underneath the returned lighting. One by one, the fifteen people that had been granted entry through the doors were sucked down into the appropriate seat until the ride was full. Looking ahead, Morris saw another circular chute on the wall that apparently led down and out of the ride, confirming his conviction of an overworked imagination while he was waiting. A short man with a clean face stood at the lever that started the ride in classic carney attire, a red and white striped shirt and a round hat of straw with a red ribbon around the bottom. He wore the smile of a menacing clown and shouted all at once “good luck!” As most roller coasters that are worthy of the title, the first incline was slow and steady, building anticipation and breaking the butterflies from their cocoons. Once at the peak, the ride nosedived into a pit of darkness and bended up along the wall into another. They flipped at a speed that Morris never thought possible while he held onto the contents of his pockets for dear life. The ride raged on, finding range of motion and movements that would turn the average thrill-seeker’s head white. Finally, as the starting point came into view, they entered into a circular pattern that imitated the coating of a candy cane, wheeling back to the eccentric gentleman controlling the ride. “Talk about being worth the wait,” Morris gasped, still trying to regain his breath. The ride had taken what little energy remained, and while grateful for the experience, he was excited to leave and rest before finding the next adventure. “Did we have fun?” the employee asked, answered with a resounding “yes!” “Again! Again!” the boy that was behind Morris in line begged. Morris couldn’t help but to chuckle at the lad’s enthusiasm. His smile faded into oblivion when the employee’s eyes and grin widened. “One more time!” he yelled, kicking the lever down and starting the machine once more. “No! I need to leave,” Morris pleaded unheard, and the ride was in full swing once again. As it ended for the second time, Morris began to feel ill. Thank heavens it was finally over… or so he thought. “Again! Again!” the boy wailed for the second time. “The boy’s a programmed android!” Morris thought to himself in disbelief. He was, under no condition, riding the trap again, and he told the worker as much. “Just one more time. Where’s your spirit at?” the man laughed as he shifted it into drive for the third time. On and on the process continued. For a fourth, fifth, twelfth time until Morris lost count. He was becoming adjusted, and suddenly the once intricate design had morphed into slow, flat circles. The repetition had become maddening, but eventually, Morris had grown quite fond of the ride. He couldn’t help but to note his gratitude at finally becoming acclimated to the coaster that he was once weary of. They pulled into the starting station again. “Alright, I think that’s enough,” the employee grinned. “Again! Again!” not the boy, but Morris began to shout.


My eyes narrowed as I saw the checkpoint leading into the business sector. I had passed through here many times before on my way to work. But the sight of the checkpoint and guards always spiked my adrenaline. One wrong move or one wrong answer and I would be taken aside for questioning, and if they didn’t like my responses there was no telling where they would take me. I stopped for a second to adjust my suit before continuing down the street towards the concrete buildings and armed guards. As I did I spotted a familiar looking sign posted just before the entrance. “ATTENTION: A smile must be maintained at all times. Failure to do so will result in detainment and questioning by authorities.” I stopped a second time to massage my cheeks, and made an attempt to smile even wider before continuing on. The line was shorter than usual, and thankfully it wasn’t long before it was my turn. “Next citizen.” A monotone voiced guard called me over to his booth. I did my best to walk over as normally and unthreateningly as possible. “Name, and place of work” the guard said almost robotically. “William Miller” I replied “Astro Data and Systems Management” The guard placed his finger near his ear and a low mechanical hum began to emit from him followed shortly by a loud click. I had been through this process many times before, but the sound of a supposed human being humming and clicking like a machine never failed to make me uncomfortable. I tried not to let this show though, and made sure my smile never faltered. The guard spoke again, “Mr. Miller, based on the time of your arrival at this checkpoint, you are projected to be 2 minutes late for your scheduled start time. A total of 5 points will be deducted from your citizen score, and you will be unable to access your alcohol rations for today. Do you understand?” A brief spike of anger welled in my throat, before I quickly squashed it into my stomach, and I calmly replied “Yes sir, sorry sir.” The guard nodded, and motioned for me to go ahead. As I walked I pondered the unfairness of the situation. I could easily make it to work on time, all I would have to do is jog down the street. But running of all types was strictly prohibited on public streets because it “showed urgency”, and according to our government, no emotion was to be shown except for contentment and happiness. “The new world we are building has no room for negative emotions.” The words of our president echoed in my head. “A new age demands a new attitude, and it all starts with a smile!” In my thought, I let my smile droop. Panic shot through my body as I corrected myself and smiled wide once again. However it was too late. A cold hand gripped my shoulder as a monotone voice came from behind me. “Law 147-A, a smile must be maintained at all times, please follow me, my superiors would like to ask you a few questions.


I remember small details easily. I can't say the same for important stuff. Ask me about last Thursday, I can tell you what colour the pen was when I was writing my essay for English, but ask me what the essay was and I'll go blank. It's not inconvenient any way, but I'll try does make me look like an idiot whenever my parents or friends ask me for something/someone.  Because of this, I've been recently thinking about something my English teacher said when I was in 8th grade. We were studying Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and looking at how darkness correlates with horror and thriller. I asked my English teacher why do horror stories have to be based around the absence of light, and my teacher said maybe it had to do with how light symbolises hope.  Even to 21 year old me, I find that bullshit. Light has never, and will never be my friend. All of my greatest ideas, best moments have come from darkness. My family find it weird that I never open my curtains, at least that's the vibe they give off. They've never told me it directly. They probably would think I'd forget it.  I lived in Maryneal, Texas growing up. I went to Highland and I'd have to walk my way to school for 30 minutes. We weren't exactly rich. Whenever I'd walk to school with my brothers I'd hold their hands because of the 'coyotes'. Truth is that there never were coyotes, and my brothers were messing around with me knowing full well of my phobia. They never meant harm, did Jack and Rak.  It was the middle of summer that it happened. I had to go summer school due to me lacking in Maths. "Beware of rapists, murderers and all of the sort. Everyday a child falls victim to their lies, and everyday a mother like yours cries her eyes out when her child disappears," was what my daddy would say. "Stay with your brothers, they'll help you on the way of life." They did. Until they couldn't. 4:57pm. I was running so late, my lazy ass had overslept. I was walking with both of them on that hot summers evening. Their bellies were full of Mama's scrambled eggs, mine rumbled like a 8.2 on the Richter Scale. The heat was overbearing. I'd stopped sweating on account of the fact that I had no more liquids in me. My brothers fed me some hot bottled water as we went down the road. My hair was plastered to my face when it happened, but my ears were clear.  Some distant howling could be heard from in front of us. The school wasn't far from us, something like 55 metres, but the heat made it seem like a thousand. The tumbleweed crossed over the road in a typical movie fashion. I paused for a second to see if I could hear the howling again. I heard it so many times that day, it was crazy. At first, the natural assumption was made that my brothers were pulling my ass. I looked at Jack first then Rak and told them, "I swear you two gonna kill me one day. Stop that howling or later on, I'll kick your butt's." They looked at me with a frown, probably thinking the heat got to me. I'll never know what they were thinking, those two had the mindset of a perpetual motion machine. They told me that I was exhausted, and that maybe it wasn't a good day to go to school. So we turned back, my head still down and hearing the howling. I slowly lost touch in my fingers since so much tingling was going on, that I didn't notice when they let go. When I decided to lift my head, they were gone. From the bottom of my heart, they just disappeared. I panicked, and mustered energy from my reserves to walk to the school entrance and get a teacher to call my parents. When the phone was answered, my words were mixed, but I'm not sure that my message got across because my parents started laughing. My daddy had to give the phone to my momma who had composed herself. She told me in the sweetest voice I've heard her say, "Darling, Rak is right here with us, and Jack is upstairs napping." And sure enough, I could hear my brother calling for the chickens in the distance. I told them that I felt sick, and wanted to go back home. They managed to get the principal to drive me home (some foreign family connections that I'll never understand).  I woke up halfway through the car ride, and heard him mumble about some goddamn coyotes in the area.