paddling in time, tracing tranquility’s lines.  rowing upstream,  or flowing downstream– no matter.  time floats in no direction. time hears no commands. time flies in the sky. time is not a passenger. time neither says hello nor goodbye. time never dies.  Editor: Erynn Crittenden

Elizabeth would’ve sold a kidney for a slice of pie and some ice cream. She pulled up to Bunsen’s Burgers in her Toyota Camry and barely waited to throw the car in park before she opened the door. She’d just gotten out of the gym; her hair still wet from the shower. Something about exercising ...

I stumble to the Hydra, clinging to Sophie’s arm. My vision swims as crew members rush to ready as many available submersibles as possible. I blink away my tears as my seatbelt clicks into place. Xander and Nathan are talking, but I can’t discern them past the ringing in my ears. A loud pop pulls ...

Something is on fire. The alarm sings its wailing song through the Griffin. “We’ve got a breach in the bow.” A crewmember barges into the room, soaking wet. “I’ve sealed the affected compartments. It should hold for the time being.” “That’s good. Keep me posted if anything changes.” Xander exhales as the alert cuts off. ...

Eddie drums his fingers on a nearby AUV. “Did you guys see it? Is it dead?” “We did.” Xander smacks his lips together. “Not hardly.” I struggle out of the Hydra, Xander catching me as I stumble. “You okay, Em?” “Yeah, missed a step.” I smile, my cheeks warm. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Xander plants ...

We hit the surface with a loud thwack, my heart leaping into my throat. I force down the granola bar still clutched in my shaking hands, washing it down with water when it gets stuck in the back of my throat. “You should have eaten breakfast, babe.” Xander glances at me with concern in his ...

The Hangar is teaming with activity. Crewmembers weave in and around the submersibles. “Wow, this is as busy as I’ve ever seen this place,” Sophie comments. She sidesteps two crewmen carrying an underwater drone. Nathan nods, watching groups of three stock each sub with torpedoes of every size. “We started when Xander messaged me what ...

The following silence is deafening. I try to wrap my head around this information. Nathan frowns. “Are you sure?” “I’ve been staring at that thing for the last two days.” Sophie swallows. “I’m sure.” “Christ. Aren’t they extinct?” Xander runs his fingers through his hair. “How are they in the sixteenth century?” Eddie clears his ...

We stand around the Command Center, staring at each other with uncertainty written on each of our faces. “Now what?” I say what I’m sure we are all thinking. Eddie blows out a breath. “We wait until the next super storm?” “We have to,” Xander sighs. “That one is gone.” I look out to where ...

Salty air nibbles my cheeks as I step onto the Lido Deck, the sky moving in turbulent waves above my head. Xander and I follow Eddie past the abandoned cabanas and pool to a set of stairs that lead to the Command Center. “They’ll be joining us anytime, too.” Eddie hasn’t stopped talking since we ...