• Dimly lit Chamomile
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    I open my eyes to the stars. Thousands of them light up the colorful painting of space dust that circles the sky. My hands are tingly and numb, my head pounds, and my mouth is dry. Something soft brushes my hand, making me jolt upright. I spot a tiny rabbit near my fingers and let ...
  • white sandy beach with clear blue water and footprints
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    The entrance to Beverly’s chamber stood partially open near the corridor’s end, emitting a faint metallic scent. I pushed the door ajar and stepped in. Aiden followed.  “Wait here.” I said putting my hands on his chest. “We don’t need our DNA throughout the crime scene. Yell if the captain shows up.” Shadows clung in ...
  • A dark, shadowed bundle of pomegranates with the text Of Lockets and Pomeganates.
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    A frustrated scream tore from Persephone as she threw the golden vase at the wall, the porcelain fragments shattering to the floor. In all the centuries she’d been trapped here, he always came to tell her good morning. He hadn’t appeared this morning. There had been no apology for his behavior yesterday. He was toying ...
  • The text "Zombie Killer Squad by Jessi Hoff" is set against a yellow-green background.
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    Captain Anderson sure loves to talk. My mind drifts; I’m too tired to follow every word, exhaustion pressing in from restless nights. I should speak to Val about these nightmares, about this dragging fatigue-maybe she can help. Around me, Common B fills with crew and the hum of popcorn machines Helen set up. She always ...
  • Dimly lit Chamomile
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    In my first memory, I stand in a doorway. Mother yells, while Dad tries to calm her. My tiny legs wobble as I try to stay as quiet as possible. Even as a child, I knew I needed to listen. “You travel the world, any one of those towns could be her new home. She ...
  • A bright light comes through the leaves in the woods.
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    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 ...
  • A forbidding stone castle sits atop a wooded hill while lightning clashes behind it.
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    Screaming pierces my eardrums. The door slams, and suddenly, we’re all capable of calling light to the tips of our fingers. In the crackling glow, panic flares in Tyrak’s eyes as he turns and nearly trips over me to run to the staircase. Ember grips my hand, and we bolt, Jelric to my side.   We stampede as if Ortha’s body could fly, hands twisted ...
  • The text "Zombie Killer Squad by Jessi Hoff" is set against a yellow-green background.
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    By the time my two days in the infirmary are up, I’m itching to get out. Val and Jamie wait outside, huge grins spread across their faces. Both girls kept me company as much as they could during training and ship duties while I was recovering. Asher would come and go whenever he had downtime, ...
  • A liminal train station with three orange chairs.
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    You open your eyes. Oh! You must have drifted off. You look around, slightly disoriented. The carriage rattles softly. Outside, there is only deep darkness. You are alone. Everyone else seems to have exited the train whilst you were asleep. You swipe a hand across your mouth and try to collect your thoughts. “Please Mind ...
  • A dark, shadowed bundle of pomegranates with the text Of Lockets and Pomeganates.
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    As Hades’ warmth pressed against her bare back, the steady beat of his heart eased her from sleep. Her tresses muffled the soft rumble of his breathing. One arm draped over her hip, fingertips brushing her thigh. Until last night, she’d slept in her bed. Waking up here, with her god pressed against her, was ...