“While we wait to be granted an audience with the King, I’ll start teaching you the layout of the palace. You’ll need to know it like the back of your hand, so you can deliver messages along the fastest route possible. And once you’ve pledged to the King, I’ll even show you the secret tunnels,” Tarc wiggled his eyebrows, and […]
“The train is coming today,” said Ren as she kicked a pebble down the sidewalk.
“Oh yes, the mystical train to whisk us away to a fantasy land,” I rolled my eyes at her.
“You see, Boy, I’m in charge of the royal household and all its servants. And the King is in need of another runner to take messages back and forth in the palace.” The man knelt to be eye level with Mouse. “Would you be interested in that job?” Mouse nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes Sir. I’d take whatever job you’d be […]
The girl stared out her window, the night sky glimmered as soft rain drops padded against the glass. Her tears matched the raindrops, gently falling onto the sill. Suddenly, a bright light streaked across the sky and headed straight towards the girl.
“Well, Mouse, you need more than 5 lives if you want to last long out here. You’ve got to find a way to earn more,” Zeno looked at him reproachfully. “And you’re not to play Russian Roulette again.” Mouse just nodded, staring at the ground. “Do you have any skills?” The boy looked left, then right. He whispered, “I can […]
This is part 2 of Clever’s short story. Click here to read from the beginning. … “Thank you, Mister,” the boy said shyly as he stared up at Zeno. “Zeno, you can call me Zeno,” he replied. “What’s your name, boy?” “Mouse.” Zeno stopped walking and turned to the boy. “I’ll not be calling you…” He had planned to ask […]
As the Elder finalized the cleansing, he began to approach as I knelt before the throne. I glanced up at the heads one final time before making my choice. Their eyes bore into me, but the voices ceased as if they were all holding their breath, even though they had no lungs to take in air. The Elder stepped in front of me and raised the crown above my head, chanting the final sentences to complete the ritual.
The man slapped the revolver onto the table in front of Zeno with a rough chuckle. Zeno stared at the gun, waiting another minute for people to get extra bets in. He’d already placed a bet on himself. He grasped the revolver and placed it to his temple. His hand was steady and breathing even. This would be the fourth […]
The throne was glistening, and the stench of ichor and blood filled my nostrils as I drew nearer. Daunting in not only size, but the eyes of each head that made up the throne followed me with their haunting gaze.
After my morning reading, I decide it’s time to tackle some larger projects. The backyard has been overtaken by weeds, so I start there. I trim back the worst areas with a weed-eater, then yank the rest out from around my flowers with rapid intensity. I marvel at the garbage bags full of trimmings as I race them to the […]
