Even though I continued talking with my parents as if nothing had happened, my mind was churning with thoughts, and my throat was aching to speak. The conversation with Ji-Ah left a powerful impression on me. She made clear that the Great Mother had been listening to my prayers. Was that why the Late Sovereign ...

As the second song ended, the village exploded in cheers. The younglings were too busy catching their breaths, and there I stood, trapped under the Rainbow Mage’s gaze. Those eyes, dark as the night sky, had powers beyond my comprehension — my whole body yearned for her, and the surrounding world no longer mattered. She ...

“Shut up, you loud bunch of hungry monkeys!”  Elder Shu yelled at the top of his lungs, waving his cane in the air. Those who had experienced the Solstice covered their mouths with their index fingers. My parents, like the other adults, whispered for me to be quiet and leaned against the walls to clear ...

I finished my bath and hung the damp towel on the fence outside, a signal I was ready for the evening’s preparations. A few houses away, Frederik copied me, draping his towel over a fence. He was about my age, with reddish-brown eyes, thick blond hair, and more scars from wild beasts than anyone could ...

In ages long forgotten, chaos loomed before the Great Cataclysm. Machines, wielded in human hands, bound society with invisible chains. Through these devices, a collective consciousness emerged–an agent for mischief and deceit. War erupted across the four corners of the Earth. With each passing second, death and hunger claimed more souls. The next phase of ...

“Dress nice, but not black tie,” Lacey reminded herself as she stood in front of the mirror. Syler’s words replayed in her head for what seemed like hours. This was the third and final outfit combination. At last, it felt right. She styled her hair in loose curls, slipped into a green flowy blouse, and ...

At the end of the night, the space grew silent. The booming bass ceased, and loud conversations disappeared. Only sounds heard were Nick and the runners counting the register. This part of the night had become Lacey’s favorite part of the evening: a sensory reset and calm she needed to clean up and go home. ...

“Can you at least tell me where we’re going?” Melissa asked as James handed her a slushy. They’d been driving for a while, stopping only now to refuel the car and grab snacks. James said there were a few more hours to go. “Patience,” he smirked. Melissa rolled her eyes, letting cherry syrup melt on ...

“I didn’t mean to fall in love with you and ruin our friendship. So…I’ll stop.”

Forget the punching bag. His face will do just fine.