Stepping Out of the Shadows Crime will become so rampant by 2050 that most of humanity retreats into virtual reality. Lack of participation in governments grew, and those in power began cracking down to lower crime. This becomes harsher and impedes people’s freedoms. As a result, humanity retreats in increasing numbers. Though some choose to ...

Part One Part Two Part Three Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse- If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7​, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). When she was willing to overlook the rumors about me, I thought she might be the one. I kept her at an arm’s ...

Part One Part Two Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse- If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7​, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). After she ran away, the rumors flew around him. I didn’t listen to any of them; it would be silly. Rumors are nothing but that, ...

Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse- If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7​, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). Part One I don’t understand why she couldn’t listen. When I told her I loved her, she didn’t pay attention. She said she wanted to leave me. How could ...

Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse- If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7​, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). When I was younger, you told me I could do anything. I didn’t listen. I didn’t feel like I was capable of believing that. There was no way I ...

We spend the majority of our formative years waiting to grow up. Then we grow up enough to be able to do everything we wanted to do as children and all we want to do is go back to having naptime after lunch. I recently turned 30 a few weeks ago,  and I have been ...

“Ah, do you just love the sound of bones crushing?” “I was finally enjoying this town,” Mr. Irwin fussed as he dug his hand saw into Sally’s right leg. “Why do you have to keep ruining my life?!” “Don’t blame me,” the voice screamed. “You have chosen this path before I ever came along! You ...

Read Part One, here.   The whirring of the air conditioning clanged to a stop, the only sound left was the reverberation of Gina’s words in Wren’s brain. Never has a client, or anyone caught her by surprise. Well, first times and all that, Wren thought. “It can’t be done,” Wren deadpanned, keeping her composure. ...

Reporters are trained to develop a sixth sense, a nose for when a story smells fishy. And something about this one was not right. First, the police seemed to be hiding details of the murders that had taken place recently. Ten years ago, there had been numerous reports of missing persons. When no evidence could ...

When the knocking came, Wren was picking at the last bits of her soggy, wilted salad. What should have been greens were more like grays. One hand was equipped with a fork, which she used to stab through the grays, hunting for those last good bits left. The other hand held a pen, which she ...