I enjoy writing c: I hope my little stories are able to make you smile, laugh or make your day just a bit brighter. Thank you so much for checking out my works, I hope you enjoy them (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
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Welcome to my blog c: Here, I will post the random stories I've written over the years! Originally, I wrote these as fanfics but I wanted to re-create them as original pieces. I hope my stories bring a smile to your face or brighten your day just a bit.
I have been writing since about 2005. This blog was established on 4/1/2026.
I follow back & reply from my main blog @jianghutiger.
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Check out my ultimate Baldur's Gate 3 writing challenge, Dice Rolls & Ink Spills! It's a fun and unique writing challenge that takes inspiration from the BG3 character creator c: It's inspired by BG3 but you can write anything for it.
/•᷅•᷄\੭ What are you in the mood for?
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/•᷅•᷄\੭ Looking for a Holiday special?
All Holidays | Christmas | Easter | Halloween | Thanksgiving | Valentine's Day
/•᷅•᷄\੭ What about a special event?
All Events | Sicktember (2023) | Whumptober (2023)
/•᷅•᷄\੭ What point of view do you prefer?
First Person; I said, my food.
Second Person; You said, your food.
Third Person; She said, her food.
The dividers I used were made by @pixopix. More specifically, you can find the post for the stars here and the snow here.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I wasn't sure I could actually finish this challenge, especially when life started to kick my ass. I was stressing over it, for sure, because I started it way too late. But I actually did it.
I completed the challenge and wrote 31 fics for each day of May! It's a great relief to me and I felt some weight lift off me when I finally got the last one in the queue.
Thank you to everyone that read my fics and thank you to @may-lancholy for hosting the challenge. I'm sorry if these felt rushed or incomplete, I did my best under the circumstances (you can read more below the cut.)
Table of Contents: A Season for Falling Apart
Tag: Maylancholy 2026
So, long story short, we were evicted and given just 8 days to find a new place to live, pack everything, move everything and figure out what we're doing with the cats. We are low on money and just struggling to make it through the day.
As I write this, we have just a day and a half left. We still haven't found a place to live. We're still packing.
I'm fucking terrified and I have no idea what I'm going to do.
So yeah, I'm sorry if these fics are short or seem rushed/incomplete. I did my best under the circumstances and will zero will to write.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I stood atop the roof of a tall skyscraper, looking down at the city. So many bright lights. So much noise despite how late it currently was. Wind whipped around me, so strong that it forced my body to shift back and forth. It was as if mother nature was encouraging me to jump. Not that it would do anything other than traumatize whoever was unlucky enough to be down below.
“There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you.”
I sighed deeply, not bothering to turn and look at him. “I'm not sure what it means where you're from, but where I'm from, ‘leave me alone’ means leave me the fuck alone.”
“Oh, don't be like that!” Kai’s boots clicked on the cement as he approached. “I know this is a big adjustment but -”
I turned quickly, glaring so hard at him that his red eyes widened. “A big adjustment?” I repeated in disbelief. “You fucking made me immortal against my will!”
He pouted, arms folded over his chest. “Most humans would be grateful and excited to be immortal and have the strength you now possess.”
“Yeah, well, I ain't most humans.” I muttered obscenities under my breath as I turned back around to face the city. This place was my own personal hell. It had beaten me down for years, kicking me while I was down and defenseless then rubbing salt in my wounds.
I closed my eyes, trying to forget about the creature standing behind me. It wasn't an easy feat considering our souls are connected - I am always acutely aware of his presence at all times. It was annoying as hell.
“Will you come down off the ledge before you fall?”
“What's it matter? Can't die, remember?”
“Yes but the council will have a fit if humans start reporting on the miracle girl that fell from a 30 story building and survived. Ugh, I can picture the stacks of paperwork already!”
I scoffed. “Not my problem.”
“Rain~,” he whined, closing the distance between us. His hand gripped the back of my hoodie, tugging softly. “I know you hate me and I'm sorry, but the past can't be changed! We are bound forever, like it or not. We should at least try to get along, no?”
“I haven't looked for a way to kill you yet. I'd say we're getting along fine.”
“What do you mean ‘yet’?” He groaned, bringing a hand to his face. “I sure know how to pick them…”
I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, turning around to head for the door. “This is your punishment for having a savior complex.”
He huffed, teal eyes following me. “I won't apologize for seeing someone in danger and trying to protect them!”
I said nothing, choosing to slam the door behind me. “Stupid fae,” I muttered under my breath. “Some people don't want to be saved.”
Careful Who You Trust (A Season for Falling Apart)
Information
Genre: Angst, family, crime
Word Count: 2,578
Point of View: First Person
Prompt: Stabbed In The Back
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
“Woah, this place is huge,” I breathed out as I leaned forward to see better out the windshield.
“Yeah, for real,” said Ray from the driver's seat. “You said this was a house, not a mansion!”
“That's what I was told,” I replied with a frown. “Are you sure this is the right address?”
“Google seems to think so.”
The car slowed as we approached a large, wrought iron gate. A small guard house sat to the left of the road and, when we got close, a man appeared in the doorway. He was tall, dressed in a guard uniform with sunglasses covering his eyes. He reached up to the radio clipped to his shoulder, saying something into it.
Ray stopped the car, offering the man a nervous smile. “Good morning, sir.”
The man leaned down so he could see both of us and, for a moment, he said nothing. “Names?”
“Ray Bracken.”
“Jae Winchester.”
“We've been expecting you, Miss Winchester. Welcome home.” The man straightened his back, returning to the guard house. There was a loud buzzing followed by the squeaking of the gates as they slowly swung open.
Ray and I exchanged a look. “Guess the address was right, after all.”
I sat back in my seat as the car started forward. “I guess so…”
“Are you not excited?” He glanced at me, quirking a brow.
“I think I'm more nervous than anything. Plus… I guess I feel like I don't deserve this.”
He hummed, fingers tapping the steering wheel. “You never knew your dad, right?”
“That's right. Never even met the man so I don't understand why he would leave his house to me…”
“Does he have any other kids?”
“No idea. I know nothing about the guy.”
He shrugged. “Best not to question a good thing.”
“I guess so.”
He pulled the car to a stop in front of the large double doors. A man dressed in a butler's uniform was waiting by the door, one arm behind his back and the other over his middle. His face was full of wrinkles, his hair neat and silver.
I pulled myself out of the car, offering him an awkward smile.
“Welcome home, Miss Winchester.” He bowed at the waist. “I am Mark Michaelson, the head butler here.”
“Oh, um…” I returned the bow awkwardly. “Nice to meet you. I'm Jae.”
“Please follow me.” He bowed again, then turned to Ray. “Someone will collect your bags in a moment, sir.”
“Oh, uh, okay.” He looked at the open trunk, hesitating for just a moment before following us into the house.
The entryway was huge, the ceiling towering above us. A crystal chandelier hung in the center, shimmering with expensive looking jewels. A grand staircase sat at the back of the room, branching off on either side to the second floor.
Two lines of people stood on either side of the staircase, dressed like maids and butlers. They all smiled at me, bowed, then chorused, “Welcome home, master!”
My mouth fell open. How does one even respond to such a thing?
Mark turned to me. “You must be tired. I hear it was a long drive from where you were previously living.”
I could only nod. I was, indeed, quite tired. I hadn't slept much since I heard the news and the car ride was nearly twenty four hours. I drove the first half and he drove the other half. Even then, I couldn't bring myself to sleep.
I had too many thoughts bouncing around my brain like kids on a Halloween sugar high.
“I will show you to your room.” Mark motioned for me to follow him up the stairs.
I could feel the other staff staring at me as I passed them, their eyes following me. I kept my head down, focusing on the red carpet that covered the steps.
When we reached the landing, Ray moved closer to me, his voice a whisper. “These people are creepy.”
I glanced over my shoulder, seeing them still watching. “Yeah, for real.”
“Are you sure it's safe here?”
A frown tugged at my lips. “How am I supposed to know that?”
“Well… on the bright side, if we're brutally murdered here, someone will probably make a horror movie about it.” He grinned, folding his hands behind his head. “We'll be famous!”
I didn't reply, choosing instead to send him a deadpan look.
“This is your room, master,” said Mark as he held his arm out toward a set of double doors.
“You really don't have to call me that,” I told him awkwardly. “Jae is fine!”
He frowned, the wrinkles on his face becoming more prominent. He seemed troubled by this.
“Or, um, if you feel more comfortable, master is fine, too…”
He visibly relaxed, offering me a nod. “Very well.” He then turned to Ray. “Follow me, please.”
Ray sent me a look, miming himself stabbing a knife into his stomach.
I shook my head, heading into my new room. It was larger than my entire apartment!
On the right was a mini library, several tall shelves filled with books. There was a bay window in the center of the wall and I could picture myself sitting there for hours with a good book.
In the center was a huge, four poster bed. The sheets were red silk and there were several fluffy looking pillows against the headboard. Sheer silk curtains hung from the posts, half covering the bed.
On the left was a walk-in closet, a large wooden desk and two comfortable looking couches in a dark blue color. There was also my own personal bathroom.
I threw myself onto the bed, a sigh of content passing my lips. The mattress was so soft that it felt like I was laying on a cloud and the sheets were ice cold.
My eyes slid closed as my body completely relaxed.
A knock on the door woke me from my slumber and I slowly lifted my head, yawning loudly.
“Forgive me for bothering you, master, but dinner is ready.”
I glanced at the door where Mark stood, wiping the sleep from my eyes. With the door open, the smell of the food came wafting in, tickling my nose and making my stomach growl.
“Be right there,” I said through another yawn.
He nodded then left.
I freshened up in the bathroom before heading downstairs. The dining room featured a really long table and a fireplace. Ray was sitting at the head of the table closest to the door, drinking a glass of what I assumed was alcohol of some sort.
When he saw me, he raised the glass with a grin. “Have a good nap?”
I sat down beside him, grabbing a breadstick from the basket. “Brother, I haven't slept that good in… ever!”
Something flickered through his eyes but it was gone too quickly for me to be able to name it. “That's good!”
The kitchen door opened and out walked a handful of servants, each carrying a tray of food or pushing a metal cart with food. It was a literal feast and, by the time we finished, I felt like an uncle at Thanksgiving, eating so much that I nearly had to loosen my pants.
“That was… amazing,” I stated, patting my stomach. “I'm stuffed!”
“Yeah, it was basically a buffet!” He pulled himself to his feet. “I think I need a walk after that. Wanna explore with me?”
“Sure.” I stood up, stretching my arms above my head.
For a while, we just walked around, exploring every room we came across. Every now and then, we'd run into a staff member but, for the most part, the manor was deserted and quiet.
As the sun began to set, we found ourselves in the back garden where a giant hedge maze sat. I glanced up at the sky. It was dark, the stars hidden behind dark gray clouds.
I frowned at Ray who was already standing by the entrance to the maze. “Maybe that's not such a good idea.”
“Oh come on,” he pouted. “It'll be fun!”
“You know I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag.”
“True, but this isn't a paper bag,” he teased. “Besides, you just gotta always go left! Or was it right…?”
That did little to boost my confidence but I caved, following him into the prison of leaves. He decided that left was the proper direction, so we always turned left whenever the option was presented to us. It led us into several dead ends and, as time passed by, I was beginning to believe we were lost.
Thunder was rumbling overhead now, the wind picking up, though it was mostly blocked by the walls of hedge.
“Maybe we should head back,” I suggested, glancing toward the sky. “I think it's about to -”
Before I could finish my sentence, the sky opened up, pouring cold sheets of rain on our heads. I cried out in surprise.
“This way!” Ray grabbed my hand, tugging me this way and that through the maze.
“Where are we going?” I called out over the sound of the pouring rain.
When we turned the corner, a large gazebo came into view.
“There!” He exclaimed and we picked up our speed.
Once under the cover of the structure, we took a minute to catch our breath.
“How'd you know this was here?” I wondered.
He seemed startled by the question and it took a moment before he answered. “Oh, uh, I saw the top of it sticking out over the maze before we entered. Plus, every hedge maze has one!”
I frowned, wondering why he was lying to me. I didn't want to confront him about it, though, I'm sure he has his reasons. Instead I turned to lean on the railing, watching the rain fall from the sky. The gazebo was surrounded by flowers of all types and colors, their stems bending as the rain pelted them. It was a peaceful and beautiful sight.
I blinked, confused as pain suddenly sprung from my back. It steadily grew worse and I winced, reaching for my shoulder. I turned quickly, seeing Ray standing close. Only… he wasn't my best friend anymore.
His expression was cold, eyes dark and full of malice. Gone was the playful demeanor he often had with me. In his hand was a knife, blood dripping from the blade. My once cold clothes were growing warm at my back.
“Did you just… stab me?” I managed out, reaching for the railing for support. I was beginning to feel light headed, pain flooding my system. “Why would you…?”
He scoffed, taking a step closer. “Did you really think I was your friend? Don't be stupid.”
“I don't… understand…”
“Of course you don't. You never were very smart, were you? Well, let me break it down for you, then. You,” he pointed the knife at me. “And me,” he then pointed it at himself. “Are half-siblings. Two of many, actually. Father never could resist the call of a beautiful lady.”
“I…” my mind was swimming with questions and it was getting harder to focus. My knees were beginning to shake.
“They were much easier to get rid of, honestly. Always out partying and living dangerously. No one questioned their little… accidents. But you,” he shook his head, taking another step toward me.
I tried to back away but my legs gave out beneath me and I fell to my ass, wincing as it made contact with the hard wood.
“You're just so… boring. You rarely leave your house. You have no friends and no fun. I had to force my way into your life and pretend to be your friend. It was agonizing.”
It's true. I had always found it strange that he had been so insistent on hanging out with me even when I showed no interest but I had been lonely so I just kind of accepted it. I thought I had finally found a true friend, someone that would accept me for who I am. Tears stung at my eyes. I fought them back, blinking rapidly.
“Why?” was all I could manage and I hated how my voice cracked.
Ray scoffed and a look of annoyance flashed across his face. “Because that old bastard kicked me out and refused to name me his heir. If I got rid of the competition, though, everything he owns would default to me - his only living child.” He held out his arms, a smug look on his face.
“Competition?” I echoed in disbelief. “They were human beings! They were… were your siblings!” Realization hit me and I was unable to hold back the tears any longer. “My siblings…” Siblings that I would never get to meet or have a relationship with.
He rolled his eyes. “Trust me, I did the world a favor. They were all losers.”
“The only… loser is… you,” I ground out through gritted teeth, leaning back against the railing. My vision was getting blurry.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, my dear little sister, you wound me! But not as badly as I'm going to wound you.” His eyes met mine, glinting with malice as he approached me.
‘Is this really how my story is going to end…?’ Through blurry eyes, I watched him raise the knife. “Please…” I begged softly.
“I'll see you in hell,” he promised with a grin.
BANG!
His eyes widened, knife falling from his hand and clattering to the floor. A circle of blood was beginning to form at his shoulder, steadily increasing in size. His hand shook as he reached for the wound, stumbling backward.
“You're the only one going to hell, I'm afraid.” Mark appeared from the hedge maze, gun raised and trained on the younger male. “You truly have fallen far, Redonia.”
“Don't call me that!” He growled angrily, his grip on the wound tightening.
“True, you do not deserve the name your father gave you.” He shook his head. “My lord suspected the deaths of his children were no accident, but none of us would have thought you capable of such an act of cruelty.”
“You were always underestimating me," he snapped. “All of you were!”
“You may have gotten older, but you certainly have not gotten wiser. It is truly a shame that it has come to this. I am only glad that my lord is not alive to witness such a betrayal.”
“Stop your blabbering old man. You won't kill me! You can't -”
BANG!
The bullet hit Ray in the center of his forehead, right between the eyes. For a couple of seconds, he stood still, blood dripping down his face. He swayed, then dropped to the ground, his body unmoving.
Mark hurried over, kneeling beside me.
I tried to move away from him but I didn't have the strength.
His expression softened. “I mean you no harm, master. I failed to protect his other children, I will not fail you, too.” His arms slid beneath my body before he lifted me up, carrying me back into the maze.
My eyes drooped, head falling against his shoulder. Despite everything, I had this strange feeling that told me I could trust him. Though my track record for trust is hardly a shining example. Not like I had much choice right now.
I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer and darkness claimed me.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
“You have nine days to get out or I'll have the cops remove you.”
I stared at the cherry blonde standing before me, my brain trying to process what she just said. “W-Wait a minute… can't you just give me a bit more time? M-My check didn't come this month because -”
“I really don't care,” she replied cheerfully, a smile on her face. “You didn't pay.you gotta go. Nine days!” She then turned on her heel and headed down the stairs.
I closed the front door, leaning back against it, suddenly feeling very weak.
I've only been here for a year and the post office hasn't been delivering my mail. Because of that, I never got the paperwork from the government asking me to update my disability information. When they didn't get it, they cut my money which meant I couldn't pay rent.
I got it taken care of pretty quickly, yet they were taking their time to submit the paperwork and reinstate my payments.
How in the fuck am I meant to find a new place to live, pack and move everything with no money and no car in nine fucking days?
It felt like the world was closing in around me. Tears stung at my eyes as the heavy weight of anxiety tried to push me down. I was barely hanging on as I stumbled to my bedroom, using the wall for support.
My hands trembled as I picked up the razor. I sat on the end of the bed and, for a moment, I stared at the metal.
I felt like a boiling pot on the stove, the lid shaking from the force of the liquid inside, threatening to explode.
I pressed the razor to my skin, pressing down as I slid it to the side. Blood rushed to the surface, my skin stinging.
After doing this a few times, creating a mismatched pattern across my skin, I started to feel better. It was as if someone turned the burner down and removed the lid, allowing the steam to escape. Some of the tension that had been building inside me slipped through each cut.
I fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I tried to clear my mind, to focus only on the stinging in my arm or the blood sliding down my skin.
I felt numb.
Scared.
Overwhelmed.
I had no fucking idea what I was going to do or how I was going to do it.
I turned my head, clenching my fist as my eyes raked over each cut. I know cutting is bad and it's not a great way to cope with stress, but it's better than doing drugs or, you know, losing my fucking mind during a mental breakdown.
My cat, Leo, jumped up onto the bed, meowing softly as he looked at me. With my uninjured arm, I reached over to run my hand across his shiny black fur.
“It'll be alright,” I told him through my tears, my voice cracking. “I'll figure it out, I promise.”
I didn't believe it for a second but, as long as he did, that was enough.
He reached his paw out, brushing my cheek as if trying to wipe away my tears. It only made me cry harder and I sat up, pulling him into my arms, careful not to get any blood on his fur.
I sobbed into his neck, tears sticking to his fur. “It's you and me against the world, buddy. Just you and me…”
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
When I heard the front door opening and closing, I hurried down the stairs to greet my step-mother. She looked annoyed, as usual, and was slightly swaying where she stood. Her cheeks were tinted red, no doubt from the alcohol she had consumed.
“Welcome home,” I greeted her, forcing a smile. “How was the party?”
She sent me a glare. “Stop speaking so loudly!”
I had been speaking softly, though… “I'm sorry.”
“You should be.” She huffed, tossing her keys onto the table by the door before she made her way into the kitchen.
I followed, keeping a bit of distance between us. I stopped in the doorway, watching her as she grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filling half with sweet tea and half with alcohol.
She downed half the glass in one go before sending me an annoyed look. “What do you want, huh? I'm not giving you any money.”
“No, I…” I shifted awkwardly, lowering my gaze. “Was dad there? At the party, I mean.”
“Of course he was. It was his party. Surely you can't be that dumb.”
I tried not to wince at her insult. I really should be used to them by now. “Did he… ask anything about me?”
“Oh, honey.” She set the glass down before approaching me, cupping my cheek. “Of course he didn't. I don't know why you keep pining for his attention when he doesn't love you at all. He left you here with me, after all.”
Her words stung like a dozen hornets, bringing tears to my eyes. I knew it was true, yet it still hurt to hear them.
“Like it or not, kid, I'm all you got in this world. Your mom didn't want you. Your dad got tired of you. I'm the only one that loves you.” She slapped my cheek lightly. “Now get your ass upstairs before I abandon you, too.”
I nodded, turning on my heel and darting up the stairs, trying to control my tears. All I wanted was my father's attention and love, yet he hated me for some reason. I’ve spent so many nights trying to figure out what I did or said to upset him. I've sent him so many letters asking what I did wrong, yet he hasn't responded to a single one.
I threw myself onto my bed, muffling my sobs with my pillow.
I sat on the steps, watching my step-mother as she put her arms through her large, fluffy jacket. She was humming a tune as she picked up her keys and threw the purse strap over her shoulder.
“Um… can I… go with you?”
She paused in the doorway, half-turning to look at me with narrowed eyes. “This is a party for adults.”
“I'm 21,” I muttered with a frown. “I just want to see my dad.”
“You truly are a pathetic girl, aren't you?” She sighed, sending me a pitying look. “I've already told you, he doesn't want to see you.”
“How do you know that?”
“He told me so. When he left us. Because of you.”
I winced, lowering my gaze.
“Now no more of your nonsense, girl. You're going to make me late!” With a sweep of her short blonde hair, she left the house.
For several moments, I just sat there trying to compose myself. I was suddenly filled with a sense of determination that I hadn't felt in years. I jumped up from the steps, grabbing my jacket before hurrying out of the house.
I knew where she was going because I had overheard her on the phone yesterday talking about it. It was a twenty minute walk from the house and, by the time I finally arrived, I was huffing and puffing.
‘Man, I'm so out of shape,’ I scolded myself as I leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath. My eyes fell on the two story house across the street. ‘This is where the party is being held. That means my dad is inside!’
I was so overcome with nerves and excitement that I didn't even realize at the time that there were only two cars in the driveway. I paused in front of the door, biting my lip. Should I knock? Should I just try the doorknob?
I had never been to a party before but, from what I've seen on TV, there's usually loud music playing. The house seemed pretty quiet. With a frown, I approached the window and peered inside. The curtains were closed yet I could see through the small crack between them.
A man was sprawled out on the couch, a glass of wine in his hand. I had never seen him before. Had I gotten the address wrong? I was sure this is the address she said on the phone. I was about to turn away when someone appeared in the archway of the living room.
It was my step-mother, a smirk on her lips and a bottle of wine in her hand. She made her way over to him, swinging her hips dramatically as she did so. When she sat on his lap and started kissing him, I quickly moved away from the window.
I had so many questions and no answers.
Frowning, I started to make my way back home, pulling my jacket tighter around my body. I had been so lost in thought that it took me a minute to realize I was home. As I climbed the steps, I considered just going to bed.
I paused at the top, though, my eyes going to my step-mother’s bedroom. After debating with myself for a moment, I decided it was time for answers.
I pushed open the door, scanning the room for her laptop. It was closed on her bed. I was afraid she'd notice if I sat on her bed and messed up the sheets so, instead, I picked up the laptop and sat on the tan carpet.
There was a password but it took only a couple of tries to guess it - Tea&Whiskey12.
The messaging app was up already and, when I clicked on it, I found several unread messages from my father. My hand trembled as I clicked on his picture.
‘How is she, Samara? Is she eating well?’
‘Have you asked her recently if she wants to see me?’
‘I want to see my daughter. Can't you bring her to the next meeting?’
‘Let me talk to her, at least.’
My eyes widened. My dad… wants to see me? But my step-mother said…
A new message came through. ‘Don’t ignore me, Samara.’
To my surprise, she responded. ‘will u plz stop being so desperate? its not a good look, darling.’
Then another. ‘i only told u, ur kid hates u, said she never wants to c u again give up & move on’
“That's not true!” I cried out as he typed his reply.
‘She is my daughter. I will never give up or move on.’
Tears gathered in my eyes and, before I could think about my decision, I was typing a message to him. ‘Dad! I'm here and I want to see you, please! I miss you so much!’
She responded quickly and I could feel her anger. ‘u bitch, get off my laptop!’
Father replied, ‘Rae? Is that you? Call me 924-681-4xxx.’
Before I could read the last three digits, the conversation was deleted. I tried to open a new one, but she changed the password to her account, forcing all devices to log out.
“No…” I whispered, tears flowing down my cheeks. I knew she was probably on her way home so I did the only thing I could think of - I ran.
I ran out of the house with no real destination in mind. I just knew I had to get away before she got home.
All this time, she's been lying to me about my father. She's been lying to my father about me.
Why? What did she gain from all this? I had no idea and, honestly, I didn't care. I wouldn't play her game any longer.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I held my knees to my chest tightly, trying to control the shivering of my body. My teeth were chattering loudly, sounding as if they might break. Despite wearing a thick hoodie, the cold easily seeped through the fabric and to my very bones.
I slowly looked up as tiny snowflakes fell from the pine needles above me. How could something so beautiful be so deadly?
I held back a groan as I buried my face into my knees, trying to protect my face from the stinging wind. My fingers were numb despite being stuffed inside thick wool gloves and I also couldn't feel the tip of my nose.
The other campers have to be out searching for me, right? Surely they've noticed my disappearance. I just have to hang on a bit longer and they will come for me.
That's what I told myself, but that little voice at the back of my mind was telling me I was fucked. No one would come for me. No one would save me.
I'm going to die here.
I was starting to feel light headed, my eyelids like lead. I tried my hardest to keep them open but it was getting harder with each moment that passed me by.
I heard rustling in the bushes across from me but I didn't have the energy to look up. I heard the snow crunching as something approached me. I could hear sniffing and it took my sleepy brain a moment to realize it was a wild animal.
It took far more effort than it should have, but I managed to lift my head just enough to see what was standing before me. It was a giant white tiger, its blue eyes staring right at me. I didn't feel afraid, though. Something told me this creature was not here to hurt me.
Though I had never seen a tiger in person before, it seemed so much larger than that of a normal tiger.
My eyes dropped again.
My breathing was slowing down.
My muscles were stiff and sore.
I just wanted to sleep.
The tiger suddenly roared loudly, making me nearly jump out of my skin. My heart rate sped up, eyes wide. It reached a paw toward me, one single very sharp claw extended. The claw grabbed hold of the front of my hoodie, tugging hard. I fell forward into the snow with a groan.
Is it better to be mauled by a wild animal or to freeze to death? Which hurts less?
I truly did not want to know the answer.
To my surprise, the tiger did not attack me. Instead, it laid its body across my own - enough that I could feel the heat of its body but not so much that its weight crushed me. I found myself curling into myself, enjoying the heat this massive creature offered. It was as if I had my own personal heater.
My eyes closed again, this time of my own free will.
“There she is! Hey, wake up! Can you hear me?”
My eyes fluttered open, finding one of the men, Oliver, that had been at the campsite. My head was fuzzy and I felt confused. I tried to sit up, finding my limbs to be weak and shaky.
“Don't move yet. Wait for the others.” He shrugged out of the puffy blue jacket he was wearing, throwing it over my body.
When the rest of the campers arrived, one of the larger men put me on his back, carrying me through the woods. The others followed closely and, though they were whispering, I could still hear their words.
“How is she still alive?”
“I don't know. It was below freezing last night.”
“It's a miracle!”
As we walked through the snowy forest, I caught sight of something lingering between the trees - shining blue eyes, watching us like a hawk.
The night before came back to me, making my eyes widen. It hadn't been a dream, after all. A tired smile came to my lips.
‘Thank you… for saving my life. I don't know why you did it, it's very unusual, but thank you. I owe you my life.’
As if knowing what I was thinking, the tiger nodded once before turning and disappearing behind a thick tree.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I fell to my knees, feeling numb. Pools of blood surrounded me, as did dozens of lifeless corpses. I held my trembling hands out in front of me - they were covered in blood. My sword lay next to me, the blade glinting under the low light. It, too, was bloody. There was blood everywhere - the walls, the ceiling, my clothes.
“Raven, we need to get going. The cops will be here soon.” came Jason's voice over my earpiece.
I sighed, grabbing my sword before pulling myself to my feet. I felt nothing as I looked at the bodies scattered around me. I was so used to it that it no longer bothered me. Well, that's not entirely accurate.
The bodies themselves don't bother me anymore. To me, they're not even people. To be fair, most of the people I kill are pretty bad people - murderers, kidnappers, drug dealers, rapists. The worst of society. No one will truly mourn for them.
It's hard to explain what I feel. I'm just… tired of it all. How many lives must I take? How many times must I watch the light leave someone's eyes? Why me? Why was I born as a fucking weapon?
Jason was waiting outside by his car. He frowned when he saw me. “Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, did you?”
“No.” I slid into the passenger seat, staring blankly at the window.
He slid into the driver's seat before reaching into the back to grab a towel. “Here.”
I took it without a word, wiping the blood from my face and hands. The silence was thick and heavy as he raced away from the scene. I could hear sirens wailing in the distance, steadily getting closer.
Part of me wishes they would catch me, lock me up and throw away the key. Maybe just shoot me dead on the spot. But I know they won't. You can't catch someone that shouldn't exist in the first place.
You can't catch a ghost.
I closed my eyes, leaning my forehead against the cold glass. It felt good against my heated skin. My brow furrowed as flashes of my latest victims filled my mind.
I could see their pleading faces covered in blood.
I could hear them begging for their lives.
‘I have a family! I have kids! Please don't do this!’
I opened my eyes, scowling at my reflection in the window.
It's always amazed me how quickly someone's tune can change. At the beginning, they act like tough shit, like nothing scares them and nothing can hurt them. By the end, though, they revert to sobbing like scared little kids that got separated from their mother.
No one truly wants to die and, when confronted with their mortality, even the hardest of criminals will beg for mercy.
There are exceptions, of course, but they are few and far between.
The bedroom door creaked open, flooding the room with light that nearly made me wince. “Raven?”
For the first time in weeks, I felt something stir inside of me at the sound of my best friend's voice. I sat up slowly, looking at Jackson. He stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the hallway light behind him - like an angel reaching into the dark abyss.
He has always been my saving grace, whether he knows it or not.
“Hey.” My voice cracked from lack of use and even I could hear just how dead I sounded. Like a zombie just trying to make it one more day without being totally destroyed.
He frowned, stepping farther into the room. “Jason said you haven't eaten anything since the last mission. We've talked about this, Rae. You may be stronger than a normal human, but you still gotta eat.”
“Not hungry.”
“You still gotta eat something, even if it's just a piece of bread.” He stopped beside my bed, hand on his hip. “You look paler than usual.”
My lips parted to tell him I was fine, but my body did not obey. A choked sob escaped me, my shoulders trembling as tears ran down my cheeks. Flashes of faces flickered through my mind like a movie reel. Hundreds of victims, most without names.
What have I become?
When did I lose my humanity?
When did I become a mere husk of my former self?
“Oh, sweetheart.” Jackson threw his arms around me. His embrace was comforting and warm. “What's wrong?”
I clung to his hoodie like a lost child. “I'm tired, Jacks. So fucking tired. I… I just can’t do this anymore.”
He was quiet for a moment, rubbing my back as I cried into his chest. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “Let's run away. Far, far away. We'll start over, become new people.”
I knew such a thing was impossible for someone like me, yet his words were like a tiny spark of hope inside of my dark soul.
“We'll go somewhere where no one knows who we are or what you are.”
“Will you… stay with me?”
Jackson hummed, holding me tighter. “You're my best friend, Rae. You couldn't get rid of me if you tried.”
Despite everything, I smiled.
It was small but genuine.
Jackson was the light at the end of a dark tunnel. The guiding light that gave me a reason to keep going, to keep living.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I stifled a yawn as I walked down the street, dreaming about crawling under the cool sheets of my bed and drifting off for the next day or so. I had just finished up a contract that had taken me far longer than it should have and I was feeling drained - both mentally and physically. It was time for a nice, long vacation.
A gunshot rang out through the quiet night, making me pause. I glanced around the street, finding it completely deserted - everyone was tucked away in their homes out of the cold. I closed my eyes.
‘Just ignore it. It’s probably some gang shit. It’s none of your business.’
It was true. My targets were far more dangerous than just local gangsters fighting over turf or getting butthurt because someone looked at them wrong. It was none of my business and yet…
‘I’m starting to think I’m just too nosy for my own good.’
With a sigh, I headed in the direction of the shot, hearing two more as I went. As I rounded the corner, someone bumped hard into me. He was dressed in all black, hood pulled low to cover his face. He tried to run but I kneed him hard in the gut, grabbing his arm as he leaned over in pain. The gun fell from his hand and I slammed him down next to it.
“Bitch -”
“Shut up.” I ordered, grabbing the back of his head before slamming it hard against the ground. His body stilled. I picked up the gun, turning it over to inspect it in the low light of the streetlamp nearby. I hummed. ‘Not a bad piece. Can probably sell this down in the market for a pretty penny.’
I removed the bullet from the chamber before pulling out the clip, removing all of the bullets before re-adding the clip. I then put the gun into the waistband of my jeans as I stood. Time to see what this loser was shooting at. When I turned the corner, I cursed.
Lying in the middle of the street by his car was a cop and he wasn’t moving.
‘Fuck. Dealing with lowlife scum is one thing, but getting tangled up with cops? My life is hard enough as is.’ But I couldn’t just leave him there, either. I groaned, hating myself for what I was about to do.
I hurried over, kneeling down beside him. Blood had pooled under him on the asphalt but I couldn’t see where he had been hit. “Oi, you alive?” I called out, waiting for a response. When I got none, I took him by the shoulder and rolled him onto his back. A groan passed his lips, head swaying to the side. “Good, let’s keep it that way, yeah?”
I tugged at the buttons of his navy blue uniform shirt, tugging it open. The white undershirt he wore was soaked red around his left side and, when I pulled it up, I found the bullet hole. I slid my hand to his back and cursed. No exit wound, which meant the bullet was still inside him.
I pulled off my jacket, bunching it up before pressing it against his wound. He groaned again, eyes fluttering open. They were a pale blue, nearly teal in color, and they were unfocused. Sweat covered his face and his olive skin was pretty pale.
“Who…” his voice cracked.
“Don’t talk, idiot. We need to -”
“Freeze!”
My head shot up, finding another officer standing at the end of the street, his gun aimed right at me. Where was this prick five minutes ago? If I would have known he was nearby, I wouldn’t have bothered stopping to help. “You might wanna call -”
“Shut up!” he snapped.
I quickly realized that his hands were trembling. ‘So, he’s either never shot anyone before or he’s never seen someone get shot before. Great.’ “Let’s just calm down, okay?”
“I said shut up! Get the fuck away from my brother!”
‘They’re family, too? This just keeps getting better and better…’ I held my hands up in surrender, slowly rising to my feet. “Let’s not be hasty, yeah? I was just trying to -”
“To what?” he demanded, his voice quivering. “It wasn’t enough to shoot him, you had to rob him, too?!”
“I didn’t shoot him.”
“You have the gun!” He motioned with his own gun and I glanced down, cursing.
“Listen, man -”
“No, you listen! You filthy animals think you can do whatever you want without consequence! You run around hurting anyone that gets in your way and you don’t give a fuck who you hurt! My brother…” he choked on his words. “My brother is a good man that gave you assholes more chances than you will ever deserve! And now he… he’s…”
“He’s alive,” I supplied, glancing down at the man. “Though he probably won’t be for much longer if you don’t call someone.”
“Alive?” He lowered the gun a bit, eyes wide.
“For now,” I commented. “He’s kinda bleeding out so you might wanna -”
Anger flashed through his eyes as he lifted the gun.
Bang!
The bullet pierced my shoulder, making me hiss in pain and grab at my shoulder. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
The sound of a siren rang out through the silent night, red and blue lights flashing brightly against the brick buildings on either side of the street. Two cop cars and an ambulance arrived on scene.
I held back a groan as the cops swarmed me, barking orders at me. I closed my eyes, holding up my arms despite the pain in my shoulder. The gun was yanked from my waist before my hands were forced behind my back, handcuffs being put on far tighter than they needed to be. They didn’t hold back and handled me quite roughly as they all but threw me into the back of a cop car.
The cops in this city left a lot to be desired, but one thing they had in excess was loyalty. If someone fucked with their own, they fucked with the entire department. As far as they knew, I was a cop shooter and they would treat me as such.
I leaned my head back against the seat with a sigh. ‘This is going to be a long ass night. And all because I couldn’t just ignore it and go about my business.’
“Why did you shoot him?”
I sent the female detective a deadpan look. “How many times I gotta say I didn’t shoot the guy, huh?”
“You were standing over him covered in his blood,” she pointed out. “You were caught with the gun that shot him on your person.”
“I already told you, I attacked the guy that shot ‘em and took the gun.”
“And what would possess you to do a thing like that, hm?”
I couldn’t exactly tell her that I planned to sell it on the black market, could I? “Should I have left the gun with the bad guy that shot a cop? Sounds like the worst option of the two.”
“Right.” She clearly didn’t believe me. “Listen, if you just tell me the truth, things will go a lot smoother for you.”
I threw my head back with a sigh. My shoulder was still throbbing like a bitch, dried blood caking my shirt. It had been a clean shot and the bullet had gone straight through, so I had the pleasure of feeling blood dripping down my chest and my back. It was a lovely feeling.
When I first arrived, I had asked them to do something about my injury. Hell, I even offered to do it myself if they’d just give me some thread and a needle, but they refused. I was the attempted cop murderer, after all. I’m pretty sure they’d be happy if I just bled out in the chair right here and now.
Unfortunately for them, my body is a bit tougher than the average human being. It may be hurting like a bitch, but it had stopped bleeding an hour ago. As long as I don’t move too much, it should stay that way.
“Did he catch you breaking into a home?”
I said nothing because I had already said my peace. It was obvious she had no intention of believing me.
“Giving me the silent treatment will not help your case!”
“Can you just throw me in a cell, already?” I sent him a blank look. “I’m tired of hearing you yap.”
Anger flashed across her face, lips parting. Her words died when the door creaked open and another detective entered. He leaned down whispering into her ear.
She nodded. “Thank you for letting me know.” Her brown eyes then fell on me. “Well, you’ve escaped a murder charge, it seems.”
I sat up a bit. Last I heard, the man was being rushed into surgery to try and save his life. “He survived?”
She sent me a disgusted look. “You’re a good actress, I’ll give you that. I almost believed you were relieved. Almost.” She then stood up, gathering the manilla folder. As she opened the door, she paused to send me a smug look. “This city looks after its officers. You'll most likely get a life sentence or, who knows, maybe even lethal injection.”
I scoffed. “Your intimidation techniques need work, lady.”
The smug look fell, replaced by sheer anger and annoyance. When she left the room, she made sure to slam the door like an angry teenager.
The silence in this room was maddening - the kind that makes your ears ring and makes you feel like you’re losing your mind. They didn’t even give me a damn phone call, man.
Twenty minutes passed before the door opened again. Two cops approached me, standing on either side of me while one undid the cuffs keeping me tied to the table. They didn't even tell me to stand, they just grabbed my arms and yanked me up. I held back a wince, not wanting to give them the satisfaction. After cuffing my hands behind my back, they practically dragged me down the hall toward the holding cells.
Normally, they would lock someone inside before removing their cuffs. For me, they didn't even bother undoing them, sending me smirks of satisfaction.
The cuffs were tight, digging into my wrists. It was also putting pressure on my shoulder, making it hurt every time I moved. I could feel fresh blood beginning to ooze from the wound.
The cracked out looking woman at the other end of the cell looked at me with wide eyes. Her hair was sticking up in all directions, skin covered in dirt. She looked like a fucking witch. “What’d ya do?”
I ignored her, trying to get comfortable on the stone bench. After shifting a few times, I ended up sitting sideways with my uninjured shoulder leaning against the wall. I rested my head against it, too, the cool stone feeling good against my aching head.
“They really hate you, don't they?” She cackled. “I can heal yer wound if ya want. For a price, o’ course.”
“Hard pass.”
She clicked her tongue. “Ain't got no money, huh? S’alright. I'll pray for ya.”
“Oh goodie…” I muttered, closing my eyes.
The clinking of keys woke me from my sleep. Well, sleep isn't the right word. It was more the state of being between asleep and awake. I assumed it was just another criminal being brought in so I ignored it, trying to re-enter that state of rest.
“Miss Sayers?”
I was too tired to sigh so I just turned my head, glancing at the male detective now standing in the cell. Two cops stood outside the door, though they refused to look at me.
“Are you able to stand?”
With a grunt, I pulled myself to my feet.
He stepped closer and, to my surprise, he undid my cuffs. My arms were stiff, my wrists red and raw. He frowned at me. “My name is Detective Rayaz. I'll be taking you to the hospital to get your shoulder taken care of.”
I didn't fully believe him, though I didn't have much choice in the matter. I expected him to cuff me again but he didn't. He led me down the hall into the main office where dozens of cops were milling about. Most of them refused to look at me, some looked at me then quickly looked away or they just frowned at me.
‘What in the world is going on now?’
He led me out of the station and to his black vehicle. I wasn't sure if it was his undercover car or his personal one. Instead of opening the back door, he opened the passenger seat. Normally, I would have hesitated but I was starting to feel weak so I just went with it, settling down on the leather seat. I angled myself toward the door so I didn't get blood on the seat.
He climbed into the driver's seat, starting the car before pulling away from the curb. At first, the only sound in the car was the soft hum of the A/C. A few minutes passed before he spoke up, his voice soft. “Are you okay?”
“Peachy,” I muttered, leaning my head against the cool glass.
“There will be an internal investigation. Guilty or not, they should have dealt with your wounds first.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter, shaking his head. “Holding you for nearly twenty four hours with an open bullet wound… what the fuck were they thinking?”
I said nothing because I didn't have the energy to waste my breath. My eyes grew heavy and I struggled to keep them open. Finally, I stopped fighting it and let my eyes slide closed.
I woke to the annoying sound of beeping. My eyes were heavy as they fluttered open and it took me a moment to figure out where the fuck I was.
‘Is this a hospital room? I hate hospitals.’
I grunted, pushing myself up. My shoulder was wrapped with white bandages, an I.V stuck into my arm. The beeping was the heart rate monitor.
‘I’m not cuffed to the bed. I should just run while I can.’
Before I could give it any real thought, the door opened. It was a cop I didn't recognize, though he looked vaguely familiar.
“You're awake,” he said in surprise, pausing in the doorway.
“Unfortunately.” I laid back down with a sigh. At least whatever they were pumping into my I.V had taken most of the pain away. Now it was just a dull throb that I noticed whenever I moved. “Come to take me back to jail, have you?”
He shook his head, stepping farther into the room. “You don't recognize me?”
I turned my head to look at him better, squinting. It wasn't until our eyes met that realization washed over me. I quickly sat up, eyes wide. “You're alive.”
He chuckled softly as he settled down into the chair beside the bed. “I am, thanks to you.”
I scoffed. “Because of me? Nah. That psycho brother of yours was right behind me, you woulda been fine if I kept on going.”
“You're wrong. It's because you put pressure on my wounds and slowed the blood flow. It might not seem like much, but the doctors said it helped.”
“Whatever you say.”
A moment of silence fell over us, broken by the squeak of his chair as he shifted. He seemed a bit nervous.
“I'm sorry…”
“For?”
“My brother shot you,” he frowned. “And everyone treated you like human trash… is it true they didn't seek help for your wound?”
I shrugged my uninjured shoulder. “They believed I killed a cop. Or tried to, at least. I'm surprised they didn't put me down there and then.” I paused, offering him a tired grin. “Well, that brother of yours had the balls to try, though he's a shit aim. If you're gonna kill someone, always aim for the heart. Or the head.”
The man sighed, shaking his head. “I'm surprised you're able to joke about such things. Most people would be livid over such treatment when they're innocent.”
“Yeah, well, I'm not most people. I'm used to getting the short end of the stick, so to speak. It's the world I've lived in my whole life.”
“Not anymore.” He reached forward, hesitating for a moment before his hand found mine. It was warm and oddly comforting as he gave it a squeeze. “I've explained everything to my superiors. There's an investigation currently ongoing.”
“You'd sell out your brother like that?” I looked at him in surprise.
“I was hardly conscious when you were shot. I told them so.” He looked down as if ashamed. “But if you want to tell them he did it or if you've already told them, I don't blame you. I… won't be angry at you. He was acting out of love for me but he should know better. An officer shoots as a last resort, not out of vengeance.”
I turned my gaze to the ceiling, humming softly. “It was pretty dark. Hard to say who shot me, really. You cops all look the same…”
From the corner of my eye, I saw his head snap toward me and the grip on my hand tightened.
“You…” he breathed out, seeming to struggle to find the right words. “I… thank you. I owe you so much.”
“I think I can live with a cop being in my debt,” I grinned at him, making him laugh.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
“You are insane. This is insane.”
I sent George an annoyed look. “Will you shut up already? If you don't like it, then leave. I'll do this on my own.”
He scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. “Yeah right. Greg would never forgive me if I left you alone here. Let's just get this over with, yeah?”
“Sure, whatever.” I kneeled down, pulling out my lockpick before getting to work on the lock. “Can you hold the light still?”
He clicked his tongue in annoyance but did as I asked, though his head continued to move back and forth, looking for any sign of movement. Somewhere in the trees above, an owl hooted loudly, no doubt wondering what we were up to.
The lock clicked and I grinned, pushing the door open. “We're in, let's go!”
“Hurry up before someone sees us,” he hissed, practically shoving me inside before pulling the door closed. “Where are we going?”
I pointed to the right. “End of the hall, door on the left.” The door in question was not locked so we hurried inside. “Look for a safe.”
“Okay.” George went straight to the large self-portrait hanging on the wall, moving it to the side.
I sent him a deadpan look. “Really?”
“What?” He looked offended. “The bad guys always hide their safes behind their ugly ass narcissistic self-portraits!”
“In movies, maybe, but not in real life. It's too obvious.” I put my finger on the top of a book’s spine, tilting it backwards so I could see the back of the bookshelf. I grinned. “Bingo.”
“Behind the books, really? That's so lame.”
“Not as lame as behind the self-portrait.” I pulled the books from the shelf, stacking them on top of the desk so I could see the safe.
George came up behind me, frowning. “That safe is pretty small… is it even worth it?”
“Do you know what else is small?”
“If you say my penis, I'm leaving.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jewelry, dumbass. You've seen him, he loves his jewelry.”
A sound out in the hallway made both of us pause, attention on the door. I waved frantically and George hurried over, twisting the lock seconds before the handle started to jiggle.
“Shit,” George cursed, rushing over to the window to unlock it. “We gotta go!”
The doorknob jiggled harder now, someone banging on the door. “Who's in there? Open this door right now!”
I grabbed the safe, lifting it with ease before hurrying over to the window. George was moving too slow so I shoved him out the window, following soon after. The door slammed open, armed officers rushing into the room.
“Freeze!”
“No thanks!” I called back, hoisting the safe up onto my shoulder as I started to run.
“They're over here!” An officer rounded the corner with a group of others behind him.
“Shit,” cursed George, skidding to a halt before turning in the opposite direction. “How the fuck did they even find us?”
He sent me an annoyed look. “You should have known about something like that before going in!”
“Just get us out of here,” I scowled.
“Yeah, yeah.” Taking a deep breath, a golden glow overcame his body, traveling toward his back. The light shifted outward, forming large wings on his back.
I threw my arm around his neck, his arm around my waist. He then kicked off the ground, flapping his wings hard. He grunted, face twisted in concentration.
“That fucking safe is heavy…” he complained, voice strained from the effort.
“Just stay focused!” I looked down.
The cops were gathering below us, but that's not what grabbed my attention. A woman was standing on the roof of the building, dressed in a black suit. She raised her arm up, fingers pointed toward us.
My eyes widened. “George!”
But it was too late. Black chains shot out from her hand, whipping through the air like heat seeking missiles. I felt them wrap tightly around my ankle and I cursed, gritting my teeth. Her fingers curled around the chain, tugging hard. George’s flight was stopped dead, nearly losing his grip on me. The safe fell from my grasp, gravity pulling it down hard and fast. It just barely missed one of the officers, splitting the ground open.
His wings flapped hard and fast as he tried to pull me free to no avail.
“You gotta let me go.”
His eyes widened and he shook his head. “Are you crazy? If the bureau gets a hold of you -”
I grinned. “Don’t worry, I can handle the bureau. Now lemme go.”
He hesitated for a moment, frowning.
I felt the chains tugging harder and I shoved him away. I was swung through the air before being slammed into the brick fence that surrounded the compound. I grunted in pain, pieces of stone falling around me. As I pulled myself away from the hole, I was surrounded by officers pointing their guns at me. The woman jumped down from the roof, holding both hands outward.
The chains snaked through the air, dodging officers before wrapping tightly around my body, arms stuck to my sides.
I offered them a lopsided grin. “Come on, boys. Isn’t this a bit much for a few pieces of jewelry?”
One of the officers lifted his rifle, slamming the butt of it against my head. My vision blurred before everything went black.
“Wake the fuck up!”
I felt something hit my face hard, making me groan. My eyes fluttered, taking a moment before being able to focus. I tried to move, finding myself tied to a chair with black chains. I was in the center of a dark warehouse, surrounded by people dressed in black. Standing before me was a man with black hair and eyes to match, a long, jagged scar running the length of his long face.
“Boss, she’s awake!”
A door at the end of the warehouse opened, flooding the dark room with light. His dress shoes clicked on the floor as the tall man approached, dressed in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back. Dark eyes observed me from behind square glasses.
“Rae Winchester. It’s been a while.”
I quirked a brow at him, relaxing against my bonds. “Who are you? Have I threatened you before?”
One of his goons slapped me again. “Shut the fuck up, bitch!”
“I may be a bitch, but at least I don’t hit like one.”
“You arrogant little -” He cocked his fist back but the man in the suit held up his hand and, reluctantly, his goon backed off.
“I have a few questions for you. And you’re going to answer them. Honestly.”
“Oh? Am I?” I quirked a brow.
“You won’t have a choice, I’m afraid.” He held up his hand and a different goon stepped up.
This one had snake-like yellow eyes and, when he opened his mouth, I saw thin, sharp fangs dripping with some kind of white liquid. My body tensed as he leaned closer and I tried the old turtle technique, tucking my head as close to my shoulders as possible. The other goon grabbed me by the back of my hair and yanked hard, forcing my head to the side. My neck was exposed and the snake man wasted no time.
I hissed in pain as his fangs sunk into me. A searing warmth spread throughout my body, setting my veins on fire. It was hard to sit still, sweat forming at my temple. Did they just poison me?
“What is your name?”
I opened my mouth, prepared to say something smart but my lips formed my name. “Rae Winchester.” What the hell? That’s not what I wanted to say.
“And your age?”
88. “28.” Huh?
“What is your ability?”
To give you the worst nightmares possible. “Super strength.” My brow furrowed in confusion.
“The truth serum is working.” He pushed up his glasses, a smirk on his lips.
I glared at him, trying to hide how nervous I was suddenly feeling. This is bad. Very bad.
“Do you know how Isaiah Brookens died?”
No! “Yes, I do.” Fuck!
“Do you know who murdered him?”
Fuck you! “Yes.”
He leaned forward, glasses glinting in the low light. “Who killed Isaiah Brookens?”
I bit my lip hard, hands clenching around the armrests of the chair. I put everything I had into keeping my mouth shut. My body trembled from the effort, blood filling my mouth as I split my lip open.
“Answer the question!” he snapped. “Who killed Isaiah Brookens?!”
I tried really hard to keep my mouth shut but it felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out.
“Who?!”
“I did!” I was breathing heavily, eyes wild.
He straightened his back, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Did you hear that, detective?”
My eyes snapped to the door as it was pulled open. Out walked Detective Brookens, his face blank, jaw tense. In his eyes was a storm of rage and pain.
“Let me explain -”
He raised his arm and backhanded me so hard that I could taste more blood on my tongue. “You looked me in the eye and said you didn’t know what happened to my son,” he snapped, tears in his eyes. “I trusted you and you lied to me! I always suspected that you knew more than you were telling, but to find out that you were the one to kill my son…”
I spat the blood out onto the ground before sending him a pleading look. “If you’ll just let me explain -”
He hit me again, so hard that the chair toppled over. I grunted in pain as I hit the ground hard. “You will pay for this, you bitch. I will never forgive you for taking my son from me!” He cried out, kicking me hard in the stomach.
“He killed Cheyenne Droggle!”
His foot hesitated mid-kick. “What did you just say?”
The suited man cleared his throat, approaching quickly. “I’m afraid the truth serum has worn off. You cannot trust what she says anymore.”
I knew that was bullshit because one, I could still feel the shit coursing through my veins like fire and two, I was telling the truth. Though I suspect he knew it. I lifted my head, meeting the detective’s eyes. “He was going to kill again. I tried to stop him but -”
It was the other man that kicked me this time, making the chair scrape across the ground. I coughed loudly, trying to break free from my bonds but they held strong. “Detective, please -”
“You should leave her to us, detective. We will ensure she gets what’s coming to her.”
Detective Brookens hesitated, frowning down at me before shaking his head. He turned on his heel and walked away, slamming the door behind him.
The suited man squated down in front of me, head tilted to the side, a manic look in his eyes. “Oh, we are going to have so much fun getting to know each other better, Winchester.”
I scoffed, sending him an annoyed look. “You’re going to regret this, you toad-faced mother fucker.”
He chuckled, standing up and straightening his suit. “Get her boys.”
The group of men jumped me, punching and kicking me without holding back. All I could do was grit my teeth and wait for it to be over.
It’s incredible what sheer rage and a desire for vengeance can carry you through.
Genre: Angst, post apocalyptic, zombies, vampires, family
Word Count: 3,507
Point of View: First Person
Prompt: Long-Term Captivity
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
The lock clicked, the wooden door creaking open. I glanced up from the book I was reading at the bay window. In walked Mikael, dressed in his black butler uniform and carrying a silver tray. He set the tray down on the desk before lifting the silver dome lid up, revealing a plate of food.
The smell was honestly heavenly, my mouth beginning to water and my stomach twisting with anticipation.
“I have brought your lunch, mistress.”
“Not hungry,” I replied simply, returning my attention to the book, pretending to read.
“You must eat something, mistress.” He replied and I could hear him frowning. “You skipped breakfast, as well.”
I shrugged a shoulder, making him sigh.
“Please try to eat at least a little bit. Lord Drago will be worried to learn that you're not eating.”
I snorted. “The only thing that jerk cares about is himself.”
“I assure you, my lord cares very deeply for you, mistress.”
“Whatever.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“No.”
“Very well. If you need me, please do not hesitate to ring for me.” Mikael folded one arm behind his back and the other over his stomach before bowing to me. He then turned and left the room, the lock clicking once more.
I closed the book, scowling at the door. I waited a few minutes for him to reach the stairs before I stood up and approached the door. My fingers curled around the doorknob, turning it in an attempt to open the door. It didn't budge, making me click my tongue.
I wasn't surprised by this at all. I was prepared this time, though. I pulled out the bobby pin I had stolen a few days ago, inserting it into the old lock. I have never done this before but I read about it in the mystery book I'm currently reading. I don't have high hopes, but I have to at least try. I'm tired of being locked in this damn room, in this damn house.
I just want to be free.
I slid the pin into the lock and started to wiggle it around while jiggling the doorknob. This continued on for several minutes to no avail. I was just about to give up when I heard a click. Carefully, I twisted the knob and pulled the door open just a crack so I could peer out into the hallway.
I could hear Mikael moving about downstairs and, despite how big the manor is, he's the only servant. Drago’s room was down the hall from my own, but he was always fast asleep during the day. It would be hours before he woke.
‘I have to get out of here before that happens,’ I told myself, feeling determined.
Mikael may be spry for his age, but he's still quite old and I felt confident that I could escape him if it came down to it. I don't want to hurt him, though. He's always been kind and patient with me. Plus, he's just following his master's orders.
I grabbed the backpack I had hidden under the bed, quickly slipping it onto my back before heading out the door. I was thankful for the ugly red carpet that muffled my footsteps. I couldn't say the same for the wooden staircase, though.
I leaned over the railing, straining my ears. It sounded as if he were on the other end of the house. Still, I wanted to be safe rather than sorry so I took my time, descending slowly. At even the smallest of creaks, I froze and waited a moment to make sure he hadn't heard.
It took longer than I would have liked, yet I made it to the bottom of the steps without incident. I was nearly free. The door was right there, kept securely closed by three different locks, a chain and a bolt. I cursed under my breath as I carefully undid each one.
My heart was racing in my chest as the final lock clicked. I tugged the door open, squinting at the bright light that flooded the entryway. All of the windows inside were covered by blackout curtains, the glass tinted gray to block out the light. This was the first time in a very long time that I was seeing the full brunt of the sun without a filter.
I glanced over my shoulder just as Mikael rounded the corner. His silver eyes widened, a look of alarm on his wrinkled face.
“Mistress, please don't!”
I darted out the door, the hot wind whipping across my face as I ran.
The manor was per head atop a large cliff that overlooked the sea meaning there was only one path in or out and it was a long one. Small pieces of rock broke away from the path as I ran, tumbling down, down, down toward the ocean. We were up so high that it made me feel a bit light headed.
The path slowly began to slope downward and I had to slow my speed to stop myself from tripping and falling. At the end of the path was a line of dense trees, towering high into the sky. I didn't hesitate to enter the woods, dodging low hanging branches and thick roots that stuck out of the ground.
I ran until I couldn't any longer, a stitch in my side and breathing heavy. I leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath. It was hot as hell out here, sweat covering my body and making my clothes stick to me.
Once I caught my breath, I started forward again, this time slower. What was my plan here? I suppose I just wanted to get away from Drago. I wanted to no longer be a prisoner.
‘I just have to find a road, then a town and tell the cops I've been kidnapped. Unless he intends to kill everyone there, I should be safe.’
I paused for a moment, wondering if he would kill everyone to get me back. He was certainly strong enough to do so, but he's never shown any aggressive or cruel behavior. To be fair… Drago has always been really nice and patient with me. He's never gotten mad or raised his voice. He's never hit me or hurt me.
Why did he kidnap me all those years ago? Why does he not let me leave? I've asked these questions many times to both men, but neither would answer me. I shook my head and continued on. None of that matters now.
After what felt like hours, I finally found a road. It was cracked in multiple places, thick foliage pushing through the asphalt. It looked as if it hadn’t been used in ages. With a frown, I glanced back and forth, trying to decide which way to go. Finally, I chose to go right, following the road in the hope that it would lead to a town or city.
The sun was beginning to set, casting orange hues across the sky. I cursed, picking up my pace. As soon as the sun was gone, Drago would be awake and he would be hunting me down. I was running out of time.
I started to run, trying to ignore the intense heat that weighed down on me. The manor was always so cold so I assumed it was cold outside, too. It was like night and day!
The moon was out by the time I saw civilization, large and full. It cast an eerie light over everything, making the town seem to glow as I approached it. Even though it was getting late, I expected to see people out and about or, at the very least, driving home from work.
I saw no one.
The road was just as fucked up. Cars sat on the road, unused and broken, covered in layers of dust and rust. Shop windows were shattered, pieces of glass covering the sidewalk. There was trash everywhere, scraping across the ground in the breeze. The town was as silent as the fucking grave, making my ears ring.
Where in the world was everyone?
Maybe they were all asleep.
I approached the first home I saw, climbing the short steps to the door. My knuckles rapped against the wood and, to my surprise, the door creaked open. It hadn’t even been fully closed. With a frown, I pushed it open, wincing at the loud creaking sound it made.
“Hello?” I called out to the darkness, listening for any sound of movement. “Is anybody here?”
Silence.
I didn’t feel comfortable entering someone’s home so I turned around and started down the street once more. The police station sat at the end of the street, though it looked just as bad as every other building. The front glass was shattered and thick boards had been put up to cover the holes. I tried to push open the door but it wouldn’t budge. It didn’t appear to be locked, so why wouldn’t it open?
I slammed my palm against the door. “Hello? Is anybody in there? I need help!” I heard footsteps inside. “Hello! Please open the door!”
When I received no response, I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Carefully, I stepped over the glass sticking up from the large front window. I checked each wooden board, finding one that was loose. I threw my shoulder against it, grunting at the pain. Afew hits and it came free, flying back into the station. I peered through the hole I had created, finding only darkness inside.
What the hell is going on?
Has this town been abandoned? But why?
“Hello? I know someone’s in here, I heard you!”
I heard shuffling to my right and I squinted, trying to figure out what it was. Suddenly, a hand shot out, trying to grab me. I cried out in surprise, stumbling backward, tripping over the raised edge of the window. I landed in glass, feeling it piercing through my arm.
The arm shot out through the hole, slashing wildly. I could just make out the bald head of… was it a person? The skin was yellow like old paper, torn and blistered in multiple places. The eyes were white and milky, darting around wildly as if it couldn’t see me. Its teeth kept gnashing as if trying to bite the air, black and rotted.
“What the fuck…” I muttered, heart hammering inside my chest. I turned my head to get a better look at my arm only to see movement from the corner of my eye. When I turned, I saw another creature rushing toward me. I cried out, scrambling to my feet just seconds before it crashed to the ground where I had been.
I didn’t hesitate, turning on my heel and running down the street, trying not to trip over trash or the cracks in the asphalt. ‘What do I do? What do I do?!’ I glanced over my shoulder to see the creature gaining on me. How in the hell was it so fucking fast?
I looked forward too late, tripping over a thick vine that was sticking out of the ground. A cry left my lips as I hit the ground hard, knocking the wind from my lungs. I turned over, eyes wide as the creature dove at me.
There was a flash of black and red before the creature’s head was sliced clean off, rolling across the ground. Its body dropped just inches from my feet, black ooze dripping from its neck. What… just happened?
“You are injured, my dear.”
I reconized that deep voice instantly. My eyes snapped to the right where Drago stood, tall and proud. His pale skin seemed to glow under the light of the full moon, pale blue eyes observing the fallen creature. The red cape he always wore fluttered behind him gently in the breeze.
“It seems you had quite the adventure.”
“D-Drago…” my voice trembled and I couldn’t find the words to express how relieved I felt to see him again.
His eyes met mine, softening a bit. “I am sure you have many questions. Come, let us return home first. It is dangerous here.”
“You… you won’t answer them… you never answer them!” I replied as I pulled myself to my feet, trying to ignore my shaking knees. My legs felt like jello and I couldn’t stop trembling.
For a moment, he was silent. “You are right. I have not been very honest with you. I believed that, by doing so, I was protecting you. I see now that I was wrong. Forgive me, my dear.”
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, expression hardening. Before I could process what was happening, he had launched himself in my direction. I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking he might be about to punish me for my insolence. Instead, I heard the high-pitched cry of something behind me.
Slowly, I peered over my shoulder.
Yet another creature fell to the ground, its head taken clean off its body.
Drago sighed, flicking his hand with a look of disgust. “Such nasty creatures. Please, my dear, let us return home.”
I nodded slowly, resisting the urge to fire a million questions at him. “Okay…”
He offered me a smile as he approached, easily lifting me into his arms. “Close your eyes, my dear,” he whispered.
I did as he ordered, clutching tightly to the front of his suit. I felt a strange sensation wash over me, as if I were being pulled in one direction too fast for my brain to register. I could feel the hot air whipping around us and I couldn’t wait to take a cold shower.
And then it was over.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
I opened my eyes, seeing Mikael in the doorway, bowing to us. I felt guilty just looking at him. He must have been worried… would Drago scold him for not watching me properly.
“Will you prepare the bath, please, Mikael?”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Wait.” I called out, making both men pause and look at me. “Please, I… I just need answers.”
The two exchanged a look before Mikael cleared his throat. “I’ll make some tea. Is honey milk tea okay, mistress?”
“Yes… that sounds lovely,” I replied softly, unable to meet his gaze.
Drago carried me into the manor and Mikael closed and locked the door before disappearing into the kitchen. I was brought to the living room, set carefully onto the couch. His longer fingers wrapped around my arm as he inspected the cuts.
“Are they… bad?” I wondered, too afraid to look. It was throbbing something terrible.
“It does not appear so. However, we need to clean them as soon as possible. One moment, my dear.” He offered me a smile before leaving the room.
I frowned, listening to the tick, tock, tick, tock of the grandfather clock by the fireplace. I felt so… confused. And tired. So very, very tired.
Drago returned with a first aid kit, settling down beside me before angling his body so he could better reach my arm. “This will sting, I am afraid, but please just bear it. It will last only a moment.”
“Okay.”
“Good girl.” He placed a cotton ball at the top of the alcohol bottle, titling the bottle until the ball was wet. He then gently dabbed at the wounds.
I hissed at the sharp sting, feeling each cut beginning to throb.
“I see no glass inside the wounds. You were lucky.”
Lucky… yeah right.
He was just wrapping my arm with a white cloth when Mikael appeared with a silver tray, carrying a single cup of tea. He sat the tray down on the coffee table before handing me the cup, warning me that it was hot. He then left the room.
Silence settled over us.
“What were those things?” I questioned softly, watching the steam rise from my cup. The warmth of it between my hands was oddly comforting.
“They have many names,” said Drago as he made himself more comfortable. He sat up on the couch, one leg crossed over the other. “Walkers. Shamblers. The rotted ones. The walking dead. Zombies. They are humans that have been twisted and warped by a virus. There is no cure. Not yet, anyway.”
“Zombies…” I breathed out in disbelief, leaning back against the couch. I remember seeing those kinds of movies when I was a kid.
“That is why I took you,” Drago spoke softly, his eyes focused on the dancing flames in the fireplace.
“Why me? Out of all the people in this world, why choose me?”
“Do you not remember?” he asked in surprise, turning to look at me.
“Remember what?”
“The day we first met.”
“Of course, I do. You came into my room while I slept and -”
He shook his head. “Not the day I took you. The day I met you.”
My brow furrowed as I tried to recall the memory. “I… don’t remember.”
“I am not surprised. You were only eight and human memory can be quite fragile. I was injured, resting in an alley until I regained some of my strength. It was raining that night yet the streets were filled with people. They saw me, of course. I saw them glancing toward me. I heard them speaking of me because they thought I could not hear. No one cared enough to see if I was okay. To offer their aid. No one… but you.”
My eyes widened as the memory started to surface, like ripples on a still pond.
“You approached me without fear,” he chuckled, softly. “At the time, I thought you a fool, though I was grateful for you. When you realized I was injured, you even ran home to get the first aid kit. It did not seem to matter to you that you were soaked by the rain. You cared only for making sure I was okay. You shined so much brighter than all the other humans around you. I knew then that you were special.”
“I didn't want you to be alone,” I said softly. “You seemed so scared.”
His hand found mine, fingers threading together. His skin was like ice compared to my own. “You said the exact same thing when I asked you back then why you chose to help me.”
I was quiet for a moment. “Did you know? That this was gonna happen. Is that why you took me?”
“I sensed it as soon as the first human became infected. This is not the first time this has happened nor will it be the last. This infection takes hold and wipes out most of humanity every 200 years or so. Perhaps I made an error in my judgement, but I could not simply sit back and watch such a sweet girl be devoured by such a horrendous curse.” He gave my hand a squeeze before bringing my hand to his lips. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” I replied, looking at him in disbelief. “You saved my life. Multiple times.”
“While that is true, I also took you away from your friends and family. I locked you away inside my home without explaining anything to you. Everything I did, I did for you, but that is no excuse for the distress I caused you.”
I exhaled deeply, leaning my head on his shoulder as I held his hand to my chest. Could he feel my heart beating beneath my skin? Could he hear it? “I resented you for a long time before I didn't understand. I didn't know the horrors that were waiting outside for me. At the same time, you've always been kind to me. You've protected me and given nearly everything I ever asked for. I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. I've said some… mean things over the years.”
He chuckled softly, leading his head against my own. “It is okay, my dear girl. I understand why you said such things and I cannot blame you for it.”
“Are there… other humans out there that have survived?”
“A few dozen are scattered across the globe, clinging to hope and the last shred of humanity.” He paused for a moment. “Do you wish to be with your own kind?”
“No,” I answered honestly. “Not really. And for the record, Drago…”
“Yes?”
“I had no friends and my family was… complicated. I'm still sad they're gone, but… I don't feel as if I lost much. However, I feel like I've gained a lot.”
“You are… happy here? With me?”
“I am. I'm sorry for running away, I just… I was tired of feeling like a prisoner.”
“I see. If you so wish, I will accompany you when you wish to leave. I forget that humans are not used to being in one place for so long. A change of scenery will do us all good, I believe.”
A smile tugged at my lips and I nodded. “That sounds good.”
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
When I first joined the Knights of Neordia, I was really happy to be there. I felt wanted and needed for the first time in my life. I trained hard under their rogues to be someone they could be proud of. I did my absolute best, but my best, it seems, was not good enough for them.
I tried so hard to follow in their footsteps, to become a legendary rogue whose name everyone knew. Try as I might, I just couldn't keep up. I was probably the worst rogue in the guild. I mean, how can I call myself a rogue if I can't even master something as basic as stealth?
I never gave up, though. I kept trying, kept working hard. I always believed that they saw my efforts and respected me for it. They still included me in missions and I was even awarded the role of officer where it became my job to help look after the guild hall and help out new members.
It wasn't perfect, but life was good for me for a while.
Until it wasn't.
“Morning, Ray.” I smiled at the taller male as I entered the shop.
His brown eyes lit up when he saw me and he rushed over, voice far too cheerful for how early it was. “Oh my gods, hi! How are you? It's been ages since you were in.”
“I just got back from a mission,” I replied. “I've been good. And yourself?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically. “I hate it here. Same as always! It's so boring and full, ugh! I'm going to die in this shop.”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Well, what if you join K.O.N? We're always looking for new members.”
“Me? Join a guild?” He seemed to consider this for a moment before shaking his head. “No way, I could never! Auntie Marie would never allow it. Plus, look at me, girl, do I look like an adventurer to you?” He motioned toward his skinny body with a deadpan look.
“I wasn't either, at first, but they took me in anyway and taught me how to fight. Now I'm strong enough to go on solo missions!”
“True,” he replied without hesitation. “Gods, you were so pathetic when we first met, remember? You couldn't even fight a single Muskiin without being winded!” He laughed loudly, clutching his stomach.
I forced a smile, trying not to wince at his harsh words. It's not like he was saying anything untrue, but that didn't make it hurt any less. ‘I’m just being sensitive, is all.’ I cleared my throat. “Right… I'm here to pick up the grocery order for K.O.N.”
“Got it all ready for ya!” He grinned, disappearing into the back before returning with a large wooden cart. Several burlap sacks were shoved into one end while the other was piled with several wooden boxes. “Don't worry, I triple checked the order to make sure it's all there. Wouldn't want you to get scolded in the street again.” He laughed, covering his mouth with his hand.
I winced at the memory. It hadn't even been my fault. I was just to pick up the order, not go through and ensure it was correct. That was the job of the grocer who, at the time, was Ray’s cousin. He got the order completely wrong and, when I told the guild master that, Kent had been sent to fix it. Only Ray’s cousin was already gone and Ray promised that he, himself, had not made such an error.
The guild has been ordering from them for years so they believed him without question. I had to work extra hard for a month in order to regain their trust and favor. Yet here Ray stands, laughing about it as if it were nothing.
I forced another smile, taking the handle of the cart. “Thanks. Well, I better get back. Bye.”
“It was so nice seeing you, girl! Don't be a stranger!”
I didn't reply as I pulled the cart through the door. The thing was pretty heavy and it was an especially hot day today, meaning it would be a miserable journey back. I felt something cold pressing against my hand and I glanced over, a smile coming to my lips.
Standing beside me was a giant brown bear, looking at me curiously. His name is Meatball and he's my companion that I've been raising since he was just a cub. That's just yet another way I've failed at being a rogue.
Rogues are supposed to be lone wolves. They don't have companions, especially not ones that fight by their side like he does. It's kind of hard to hide from the enemy or scout out an area with a giant bear lurking over your shoulder. If I had left him in the woods that day, though, he would have died. His mother had been hunted and killed, put down as if she were a rabid, dangerous dog. She had only attacked one person and that's only because he was trying to take her cub.
That didn't matter to the guild, though. All they saw was a commission for a deadly animal and a hefty reward for putting it down. I was able to hide him for a while, but he was growing like a weed and they eventually found out. They were not happy with me and they made sure I knew by not allowing me to go on any missions for a solid three months. So, instead, I focused on raising Meatball and teaching him that humans are not food.
He’s been loyal to me ever since, though everyone says he will eventually turn on me. I’m not a hunter, after all. I can’t form a bond with animals like they can.
Meatball gently pushed me out of the way before slipping under the handle of the cart. He stood on his hind legs, gripping the handle with his front legs. Like this, he towered over me, gaining the attention of passersby who sent him curious, amused or scared looks.
“Thanks, buddy.” I patted his arm before we started the trek back to the guild hall. It was situated in the mountain outside of town, the path leading to it treacherous and long. It was one I had traveled many, many times over the years so it no longer bothered me.
The path itself was surrounded on either side by tall trees, their leaves forming a canopy that allowed only small slivers of sunlight to stream through. Bright green snakes slithered among the branches, hanging down to watch us curiously with red eyes.
About a mile in, the trees gave way for the mountains. Rock walls climbed high above, forming over the path like a protective barrier as the path itself started to slant upward. Bats clung to the ceiling in clusters, munching on the glowing blue berries that grew from the vines on the walls.
Another mile and the cave opened up to a large clearing in the middle of the forest. The dirt path became stone, leading us across a bridge that sat over a deep stream. Large crocodiles filled these waters, living among colorful fish and frogs. The stone path went on for half a mile before splitting into three directions - two on either side of the guild compound and one directly through to the front gate.
It was a gorgeous guild base, in my opinion. Way better than some of the other ones that had been built in the middle of large cities or villages. I preferred the solitude and the quiet of the oak father that surrounded us.
I patted Meatball on the shoulder. “Better let me take it from here, buddy.”
He growled in reply, falling back to all fours before crawling under the handle and retreating into the nearby woods. It sucked seeing him go, but the guild didn’t trust him and, honestly? I didn’t trust them with him, either.
I gripped the handle tightly, grunting as I began to pull the cart toward the gate.
“Listen up, everyone!”
I glanced up from my plate toward the front of the room where our guild leaders stood. They were sisters but opposite in almost every way.
Sally was tall and thin, always dressed fashionably and decked out with jewelry. She was loud, outgoing and quite sure of herself.
Gloria was short and pudgy, usually wearing the same clothes with slight differences. She was quiet, tended to avoid people, and was clearly unsure about every decision she made. She just recently ended a ten year relationship, too, which only made her even harder to talk to.
“We have a new member joining us today. He's a hunter! We've been needing more of those for a while.” Sally brought a hand to her mouth, giggling. She was also a hunter, one of the few that the guild had. “Let's give him a warm welcome!”
The mess hall erupted with cheers as the door on the right opened up. My eyes widened as Ray stepped into the room, dressed in adventurers gear. He held his head up high, looking as if he belonged.
His eyes met mine and he waved frantically before approaching Sally. “Hello, everyone!”
I smiled, happy that he had taken my advice. He was one of the very few people I considered a friend, so it was nice that he was in the guild with me.
At first, we did everything together. I helped him adjust to guild life, introduced him to everyone and we never went on missions without each other. We had agreed to only take contracts if we were both free to go.
Things were going well.
Until they weren't.
He started to take contracts without me. High paying, S ranked contracts that I had never even considered touching. I had tried it a few times when I first joined but all I did was hold everyone back and nearly get myself killed.
They stopped inviting me after that and I was okay with it.
I didn't even know Ray was going along on those missions, he never told me. I felt hurt, honestly, but I didn't want to create drama so I just left it alone.
As weeks turned into months, I started to notice a shift. He was always included in everything the higher ranked members did. He was always being included. Meanwhile, no one ever included me or asked me to join them. If they did, it was only because no one else was available. I was just a filler.
The people I thought were my friends just didn't seem to care about me anymore. All they wanted to do was hang out with Ray. Even when I was there, they barely acknowledged my presence. It made me work harder to try and prove myself. Not that it mattered at all because no matter how hard I trained, the distance between me and them only grew.
So did my resentment.
“Hey, girl! We just got back from the craziest job, you won't even believe it.” Ray settled down across from me in the mess hall, a bright grin on his face. “It was so funny! Kent and Orvelle were fighting the whole time to see how many enemies they could defeat!”
I said nothing, frowning at the chicken leg on my plate.
“Hello~ are you even listening to me?” He waved his hand in front of my face.
“Yeah,” I replied half-heartedly.
“We met this one girl during the trip. She chose to become a Werepire! Can you believe that? It's so cool.”
“That's pretty dangerous,” I commented, moving my carrots around with my fork. “Werepires have a lot of problems in life and their life expectancy is pretty low. I don't understand how anyone can willingly become one.”
His face fell, an expression of disbelief coming across his face. “I… can't believe you just said that. I just lost so much respect for you.”
I scoffed, looking over at him. I expected him to be joking but he was deadly serious. “What? All I said was that I don't understand it.”
“It's a valid lifestyle! If someone wants to become a Werepire, that's their choice. I can't believe we've been friends all this time and I'm only just now learning about this…”
“I mean, yeah, people can do whatever they want. I was just saying how dangerous it is. There hasn't been a single case of Werepireism that didn't end really badly.”
“Oh my gods. Those stories are all made up. No one can prove that there's any negative side effects to being a Werepire!”
“Aside from all of the studies that have been done, you mean?”
“The Scenara Institute can't be trusted with shit like that! All they do is lie!”
I blinked dumbly at him. “Their entire reason for existing is to prove or disprove things. They live for educating people and spreading truth.”
“Their truth, maybe.” He rolled his eyes as he stood up, sending me an annoyed look. “I can't even with you right now.”
After that, we stopped talking to each other and I became more isolated.
Without even getting my side of the story, Gloria asked me to step down from my officer position. She said I couldn't handle it anymore, that I had been distracted and moody. Do you know who took my place? Ray did.
Things started to feel awkward and tense between me and the other members. They sent me weird looks that had me wondering what in the hell he had told them.
Due to this, I reached out to the leader of the Cloudscape Union guild - it was a brother guild that was part of the same alliance as K.O.N. He agreed to let me join so long as there wouldn't be any issues.
I talked to Sally and Gloria. They didn't try to convince me to stay nor did they seem sad that I was leaving.
“We'll always be here if you want to come back. We're a family, after all.” Sally had told me, though something in her tone had me questioning it.
The move to the new guild went well. Everyone was nice and they treated me like one of their own. They weren't nearly as competitive as K.O.N. and the members weren't constantly fighting each other over who was the best.
Four months into the move, I received a letter from my mother. She was sick and needed me to come home and help her out until she got better. I let the guild leader know, got his approval and then left.
She had contracted some rare disease while at work. She wasn't the only one that had contracted the disease. Several other workers died from it, though she was one of the lucky ones. It took months for her to finally recover but she did heal fully from it.
Once I was sure she was safe, I returned to Cloudscape Union. It felt good to be back home and I was excited to start taking contracts again.
Only… when I tried to return, I wasn't allowed inside. I was forced to wait for the guild leader to come speak to me.
He didn't look pleased when he saw me. In fact, he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else at that moment. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks.” I shifted awkwardly, glancing at the guard by the front gate. “Did something happen? Why is security so tight?”
Skyler sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I can't let you in. You've been blacklisted by the alliance.”
“I… huh?” I stared at him with wide eyes, confusion and hurt crashing over me like waves. “What did I do?”
“K.O.N. was worried that you would start drama with one of their members. Ray, I think.”
“That's why I left K.O.N., so there wouldn't be any drama! I haven't started anything. Have I not been a good guild member?”
“You have.”
“Then why didn't you stand up for me when they blacklisted me?”
He sent me an annoyed look, hand on his hip. “Because you left and I didn't think you were coming back.”
“I left because my mom was dying! I told you that and you said it was fine!”
“Don't raise your voice at me. You're the one that caused trouble at your own guild.”
“I didn't do anything. Ray did.”
“Then why did you leave?” He quirked a brow, not looking convinced. “Usually, it's the guilty party that's forced to leave.”
“I wasn't forced. I left because I didn't want to create any issues for everyone…”
“If you're creating issues, you're guilty.” He sighed. “Look, you chose to leave and you weren't here to defend yourself. It's not my job to do so.”
Does the guild leader not take responsibility for his guild members? Is that not part of his role?
“Anyway, there's nothing I can do for you, sorry. Don't make this weird.”
I was speechless, tears stinging at my eyes. I felt… betrayed and hurt. I thought these people were my friends. ‘We’re a family, huh?’ I thought bitterly as I turned, walking away from my home. How could they blacklist me? Just what had Ray been telling them? And why did they believe it without a second of hesitation?
Tears slid down my cheeks as I walked away from the guild hall. They had left me behind, thrown me away like I was nothing more than a piece of trash.
Something cold brushed against my hand and I looked down, seeing Meatball through my tears. I fell to my knees, throwing my arms around his neck as I sobbed into his fur.
Prompt: Doomed From The Start > Alt 9. Electric Shock
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I was jolted awake when I was thrown from my cot onto the hard metal floor below, a groan passing my lips. My eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to focus on my surroundings. I was in my room, sprawled out on the floor staring at the ceiling. What had woken me? I was tempted to just go back to sleep, but something was nagging at me.
I may not be good at a lot of things, but my instincts are usually on point.
With a sigh, I pulled myself up so I could stuff my feet into my boots. My bedroom door slid open and I stepped out into the hallway, boots clanking on the metal floor. It was suspiciously quiet. Was everyone asleep? I checked my watch. It was only half past eleven at night and the crew tended to be nocturnal like me. The only reason I had still been asleep is because I just got back from a weeklong mission where I didn't get to sleep much.
I turned the corner into the living room. It was a mess, as usual - empty cans scattered across the table, various food wrappers and articles of clothing thrown haphazardly on nearly every surface. I needed Lucas to hurry back from his mission because he would have this place spotless in minutes.
As I reached the opposite side of the room, I heard hushed whispers coming from down the hall. I followed the sound, careful not to make too much noise. The door to the cockpit was opened just a crack, allowing me to hear those on the other side.
“What are we going to do?” cried Coco. She was the navigator - a four foot six woman with brunette hair and eyes to match.
“Calm the hell down!” snapped Grant. He was the freeloader that did nothing but cause me problems - a six foot tall skinny guy with blonde hair and brown eyes.
“Captain will not be pleased. Not be pleased at all,” murmured Cairo. He was in charge of keeping an eye on our supplies to make sure we didn’t run out - a five foot tall young man with blue hair and green eyes.
“She doesn’t have to know! Right?” questioned Jax. He was our resident thief, able to pick any lock in the galaxy - a five foot eight guy with blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Of course she doesn’t have to know!” Grant snapped again, his voice annoyed. “We can fix this before she wakes up and she’ll be none the wiser.”
“That is not wise plan. Not wise plan at all,” murmured Cairo.
“Oh gods, what do we do?” groaned Coco, fear in her voice. “The captain is gonna kill us! We’re toast! Space trash just waiting to be ejected!”
Jax groaned. “Of all the times for Malacai to be away on a mission.”
I quirked a brow at that. Malacai is our mechanic and expert on pretty much anything made of metal. Why do they need him?”
“This is fine,” replied Grant, seeming to try and convince himself more than the others. “We’ll just go wake up Kai. I’m sure he can solve this mess.”
“Kai is just the pilot, though,” replied Jax. “He may know how to fly this ship like a pro, but he doesn’t know anything about fixing it.”
“How do you know that?”
“Uh, hello? Did you forget that we are childhood friends? We grew up together on Asat-9. He is the least mechanically abled person on this ship. Honestly, it’s a miracle that he’s such a good pilot.”
“Then… we’ll contact Malacai!”
“Impossible. Impossible indeed,” said Cairo. “No service on Edenth-6. No service at all.”
“You guys are sure quick to shoot down my ideas, but I don’t see you offering up any of your own!” snapped Grant.
I had had enough so I slowly slid the door open. “I have a suggestion. Why not tell the captain what stupid thing you’ve done this time?”
“What a dumbass idea -” Grant’s words died in his throat when he turned around to face me, annoyed expression melting to one of fear. “C-Captain, good evening!”
The other three stood at attention, bodies rigid and expressions grim.
I crossed my arms over my chest, quirking a brow at the group. “Would one of you care to explain why the ship is idling in the middle of space instead of heading for the Calsinth warp gate? Or have you forgotten that we have a deadline for the cargo we are delivering?” I took a step closer to him.
“W-We didn’t forget -”
“Or did you forget that we will be docked 1,200 marks for every hour that we’re late?” Another step.
“H-How could I possibly forget -”
“Then explain,” I demanded, stopping in front of him and slightly enjoying how he was sweating under the pressure. He liked to act all big and tough, but he was quite weak and tended to fold like tissue paper in water.
“It was her fault!” Grant cried, pointing an accusing finger at Coco whose eyes went wide. “She’s the navigator! She navigated us right to a mine field!”
“Mines?” I echoed, leaning to the side to peer out the front windshield. “I don’t see any mines.”
“We managed to get through…” replied Jax hesitantly.
“Without Kai?”
“Well, you see…” Jax rubbed the back of his neck.
“I-It was a freak mine storm,” Coco explained, nervously wringing her hands. “I’m sorry, Captain! I didn’t see it in time to course correct, we were heading straight to it and there was no time to get Kai so Grant -!”
The male in question slapped a hand over her mouth, looking nervous.
Dread settled over me like an unwelcome blanket on a hot summer day. “You three dipshits let Grant fly my fucking ship?”
The three winced at my tone.
“We tried to stop him. Tried, we did,” commented Cairo with a frown, his blue skin seeming to glow under the low light of the stars outside. “He is very stubborn. Stubborn, indeed.”
I reached over, pressing the light switch by the door. Nothing happened. “And just what kind of mines were these, exactly?”
“E-Electric mines, captain…” replied Coco softly.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly to temper my desire to throw all three of these idiots off my ship. “Jax, go wake Kai immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He saluted, clearly happy to be allowed to leave as he nearly ran from the cockpit.
“Coco, get to monitoring the weather feed. If there’s so much as a chance of another storm, you tell me immediately.”
“Y-Yes, captain!” She turned around, taking the seat on the left side as she began to type away on the monitor in front of her.
“Cairo, are you able to assess the damage?”
“Assess I can. Assess, indeed.” He nodded a couple of times before leaving the room.
“Grant,” I growled, eyes narrowed at the blonde. “Whatever damage you’ve caused to my ship will be coming out of your cut until I’ve been paid in full. With interest.”
He winced but offered no complaint.
“You’re also going to help me fix it.”
His eyes widened, mouth opening and closing as he tried to find the words needed to weasel himself out of this situation.
I turned on my heel, heading back into the living room. Cairo had his hand on the wall, eyes closed as his body glowed a faint teal color. Every few seconds, he would nod to himself. I waited, resisting the urge to tap my foot or tell him to hurry the fuck up. He was a slow creature, living at his own pace - everyone else be damned.
Finally, he opened his eyes and removed his hand. “Mines are stuck to ship. Stuck, indeed. They feed off power bank like hungry Grant. Hungry Grant, indeed.”
“Why me?!” he cried indignantly.
I sent him a blank look. “Because you’re a fucking greedy pig. Now suit up, we’re going out.”
He groaned loudly, stomping his foot against the ground like a child that got told no when asking for a new toy.
I ignored him, heading toward the loading bay where the oxomasks were kept. These handy dandy devices allowed us to breathe while out in open space, but the oxygen store was limited. I grabbed my blue one, pressing it over my mouth and nose before securing the wide straps behind my head. I kicked my boots off before switching to the mag boots which would allow me to walk along the ship without floating away.
Grant was muttering under his breath as he did the same thing, though he chose to wear his orange jumpsuit over his current clothes because it made him feel safer. His words, not mine.
I approached the loading bay back door, pressing the panel on the wall to open it up. “Will you stop dragging your feet and come on? The longer you take, the longer we will be out there.”
Clicking his tongue, he moved a bit faster, meeting me in the small room. I closed the door behind us, tugging the heavy metal handle over to securely lock the door.
“Ready?” I asked as I reached up to press the button on the side of the mask, activating it. I then leaned down to do the same to the boots.
“No.”
I waited for him to activate his own equipment before I entered the code into the keypad by the door. With a creak and a hiss, the loading bay door started to open, sliding outward to create a small walkway - usually it connected with whatever docking bay we had entered but today it just met empty space.
I started forward, grunting under the weight of the heavy ass boots. They stuck hard to the metal and I had to use a lot of force just to pick my feet up. I climbed onto the side of the ship, slowly making my way toward the top. I could hear Grant behind me, groaning with every step. Maybe I should have left him behind because he was already getting on my nerves.
“Captain, can you hear me?” Kai’s deep voice came over the communication channel.
“Yes, I hear you. Glad to finally have someone around with a brain.”
“Rude!” Jax yelled in the background, voice barely audible.
“Cairo says you’re almost there, captain. They are located at the rear on the opposite side of the bay.”
“Copy that.” I continued on my way, already feeling exhausted from the heavy weight of the boots. As I approached, I could see sparks of electricity flying up into the air.
“Captain, are you sure about this?” whined Grant.
“We have to get rid of ‘em or we'll be stuck here. Not only will we lose our commission, we'll be fined a bunch of marks, too.”
He threw his head back, whining again.
I finally made it to the other side of the ship, cursing under my breath. Three large mines had embedded into the hull, each one sparking dangerously as they sapped the ship's energy. At this rate, they were going to completely fry the engine.
I reached into my pocket, pulling out a set of thick rubber gloves. I slipped my hands into them, taking a deep breath before I got closer to the first mine. The static made my hair stand on end and made goosebumps appear on my arms.
I reached down, grabbing one of the spikes that made up the mines. I gave it a hard yank but it didn't budge, making me click my tongue. Repositioning myself, I planted my feet on either side of the mine before trying again. I grabbed it firmly, yanking with everything I had. It slid out so quickly that I fell backwards.
“Captain!” Grant hurried over, reaching out his hand to me.
I took it with a grunt of thanks, righting myself so I could get the second mine. This one was the largest of the three. “You're gonna have to help with this one.”
“But you're so strong and brave and -”
I sent him a deadpan look and he sighed.
“Fine.” He moved closer until he was right beside me, planting his feet firmly. He was already wearing the rubber gloves so I didn't need to wait on him before grabbing one of the spikes. He grabbed the same one and, together, we pulled as hard as we could. It wasn't budging.
“Stupid thing!” He muttered, carefully lifting his boot before slamming it hard against the mine. Sparks started to shoot up from it and it started to pulse rapidly as if it were about to explode. “Shit!”
I resisted the urge to call him an idiot as he started to pull again. The urgency of the situation gave us strength and we were able to dislodge it, tossing it out into space. Seconds later, the thing exploded, making the ship shift its position.
The third and final mine was the smallest one and I made the mistake of assuming it would be the easiest. It was glowing red by the time I reached it, the color pulsing in and out. Had it been activated by the explosion of the previous one? If so, that wasn’t good. I had to get rid of it quickly.
Without hesitation, I grabbed hold of the largest spike only for my body to tense up as electricity shot through my body. It felt like all of the energy had been drained from my body, vision going blurry and head swimming. I could hear someone screaming my name but it was muffled and I couldn’t tell if it was Grant or someone else.
I felt something slam into my body, forcing my hands from the mine. My body fell limp, suspended only by the boots sticking to the side of the ship. I felt hands on my shoulders, shaking me violently. My fingers twitched, head feeling like it was splitting in two.
“Captain! Captain! Are you okay? Speak to me! Captain! Cap -!”
I punched Grant in the gut because I couldn’t quite form words yet and he was making my headache worse.
He doubled over, clutching his stomach, his voice strained. “Yeah, she’s fine…”
“What happened?” I recognized Kai’s deep voice, calming and grounding. “Are you okay, captain?”
I exhaled, closing my eyes as I tried to collect myself. My muscles were still twitching and contracting of their own accord. I managed to croak out a soft, “Fine.”
“Grant, did you get all three mines?”
“We did.”
At his reply, I slowly lifted my head. Sure enough, the mine was gone, leaving behind a charred indent where it had been just moments ago. Had it come free when Grant tackled me?
“Get the captain back into the ship. We need to ensure she’s okay.”
“On it.” Grant wrapped his arm around my own before reaching down to deactivate my mag boots. He held me tightly as my body started to float, slowly dragging me back toward the loading bay.
My body was sore and I felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was to crawl back into my bed and go back to sleep. I closed my eyes for a moment and, next thing I know, my body is slamming into the cold metal floor of the loading bay. I groaned, using what little energy I had left to glare at Grant.
He offered a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “I forgot about the gravity…”
‘Idiot. How do you forget about gravity.’
Arms slid beneath me, carefully lifting me up off the ground. “I’ve got you, captain.”
I looked up, meeting the calm teal eyes of Kai, his onyx hair falling over his forehead. I sighed in relief, leaning my head against his shoulder and closing my eyes once more.
The lights of the ship flickered on and off a few times before staying on, the engines roaring to life.
“You did it,” Kai whispered softly.
“Someone had to,” I muttered. Why had the last mine shocked me, though? I lifted my trembling hands, noticing a tiny cut in the left glove. It must have been cut when we removed the second mine and I hadn’t even noticed it. I clicked my tongue, closing my eyes again. “Annoying.”
“I’ll see to it that they are properly punished for this,” said Kai as he gently set me down on my bed. “Get some rest and leave everything to me.”
“Thank you, Kai.”
A gentle smile came to his lips as he leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. “You’re very welcome, my precious captain.”
Genre: Magic, supernatural, medieval, angst, fantasy
Word Count: 3,228
Point of View: First Person
Prompt: Magic with a Cost
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I stifled a yawn as I stood up from my desk, my back sore from the uncomfortable wooden chair. I started for the kitchen to brew up a few potions when the front door slammed open.
“Miss Healer! Please help!”
I stepped around the corner, brow furrowing at the two men standing before me. I recognized them from the nearby village.
The older male was named Granthem and he was helping to support the younger male, Kiayle. His arm was thrown over Granthem’s shoulders, free arm clutching his stomach.
“What's happened?”
Kiayle moved his shaking arm, revealing his bloody shirt. His skin was pale and clammy, eyes unfocused.
“Lay him down on the table, quickly!” I ordered, helping him carry the younger male.
He groaned softly as we laid him down and I knew he wouldn't last much longer. I kneeled beside the table before I tugged at my necklace, pulling the diamond-shaped green gem from beneath my shirt.
With a sharp tug, the rope came undone, falling from my neck. I wrapped it around my fingers until there was just an inch of space between the gem and my finger. I pushed up his shirt so I could see the wound properly - it was a stab wound, not too deep but dangerous if left untreated. I held the gem over the wound and took a deep breath.
“Lord Caravantis, please grant me your strength so that I may heal this young man.” The gem started to glow brightly and I set my free hand flat against the man’s stomach as the glow extended to my hands. Slowly, the wound started to close, sealing itself up as if it had never been there in the first place.
He sucked in a deep breath before slowly exhaling. His eyes were wide, the color returning to his face. “The pain is gone…”
Granthem released the breath he had been holding, shoulders relaxing. “Will he be okay, Miss Healer?”
I offered him a tired smile, sitting back on my heels. “Yes, he’ll be fine. I suggest getting some rest, however, because the magic can be a bit draining.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Kiayle grinned as he slid off the table. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re very welcome. If I may ask, what happened?”
His cheeks turned red and he lowered his head, clearly embarrassed. “I got into a bar fight…”
I shook my head, holding back a sigh. “Let’s not do that again, then, hm?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We don’t have much, Miss Healer, but,” Granthem dug into his pockets, producing two silver coins which he held out to me. “Please accept this as thanks!”
“And if it’s not enough,” added Kiayle. “We can bring you more once I get paid, ma’am.”
I smiled warmly at the two men, taking one of the two coins. “This is plenty, thank you.”
They exchanged a look before the older male asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Your kindness truly is something special, Miss Healer!”
I bid the two men farewell, shutting and locking the door behind them. I leaned back against the door, slipping my hand beneath my shirt. When I pulled it back, my fingers were covered in blood. I wasn’t surprised by this in the slightest, not anymore at least.
With a sigh, I dragged myself into the kitchen, grabbing the wooden box that sat on the counter. Inside was a spool of thick white thread, a sewing needle and a bottle of alcohol. I took a piece of cloth, setting it on the table with the needle on top. I then poured a bit of alcohol over the needle, wiping it carefully with the cloth. Once satisfied, I threaded the needle, tying it tightly before tugging up my shirt, using my chin to hold it in place.
Taking a deep breath, I slid the needle into my flesh and began to stitch up the wound.
Ever since I was a child, I had always wanted to be a healer. It’s not something you can just learn, though, it’s something you must be born with and, while I had been born with enough magic to heal small cuts and scrapes, my magic simply wasn’t strong enough to be a true healer. All I could do was learn to dress wounds and keep people alive until a real healer could come and fix them.
Our village was along a main road toward the kingdom, so we had many adventurers and travelers coming through, all with stories to tell if you asked. As a teenager, I worked at the tavern, helping to serve customers and clean up their rooms once they had gone. I overheard many different stories, from fights with a clan of trolls to dragons that liked picking flowers. I heard of grand adventures through the mountains, fishing trips that ended in death and powerful mages that turned evil.
There was one story in particular that caught my attention.
The storyteller was an older man that had to use a wooden staff as a cane because his leg was messed up. He was drunk off his ass, face red and words slurred as he exchanged stories with another older man sitting across from him. “Did ya hear about Caravantis?”
“Never heard of ‘em,” replied the other man before downing his drink.
“They say he’s the lord a healin’.”
This grabbed my attention and I froze, eyes falling on the pair, ears strained to hear them over the ruckus of the other patrons.
“Huh? Healers worship ‘em or somethin’?”
“They should, but most don’t. I ‘ear we humans only have the power ta heal because of ‘em. Granted us the power, he did!”
“Hogwash,” the other man waved him off. “Why would a god do a thing like that?”
“Who knows. I ‘eard he’s powerful, though. Powerful enough ta heal any injury and even bring people back from tha dead!”
“Ya can’t believe everythin’ ya hear, ya old fool. That would be necromancy and that be illegal!”
The man shrugged. “Maybeh. A group o’ adventurers were headin’ into tha dark woods to search for ‘em.”
I quickly approached the two men, offering them the mugs of ale I was carrying even though they were for a different table. They didn’t question it, taking them and downing them. I smiled at the balding man. “This lord of healing you mentioned… Cara something.”
“Caravantis.”
“Yeah, him. You say he’s in the dark woods? Where exactly? That place is quite large, you know.”
He eyed me suspiciously. “Why you askin’?”
“I wish to seek him out myself,” I replied confidently. “I wish to become a proper healer.”
The man just shook his head, sending me a pitying look. “‘Tis a fool’s quest, kid. Yer gonna die like all da rest.”
The other man nodded, his eyes glazed over as he hummed his agreement. “Why you think that place is full o’ bones? Few people be survivin’ that place.”
“I don’t care. Just tell me where it is or I will go in blind. Surely my chances of survival will be even lower that way, no?” I quirked a brow at him, arms folded over my chest.
The man sighed deeply. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya, kid. I ‘eard he lives in a cabin somewhere in da East. Look for da crows.”
“The crows?”
“‘is pets, they are. Guards ‘em. Does ‘is biddin’. That sort a thing.”
“I see. Thank you, sir.” I bid them farewell, barely able to contain my excitement for the rest of the day.
After my shift ended, I had rushed home to pack my things. I lived alone with no family there to fuss over or try and stop me. I have no idea what happened to my parents. I had been raised by an elderly man that refused to tell me what happened to them and he’s long since passed on.
I made it to the forest with no issues, though I did start to feel a bit nervous upon entering. It was just so dark - unnaturally dark. Bones littered the ground, both animal and human. It certainly did nothing to fill me with confidence, yet I continued on, determined. I would either leave those woods as a true healer or I wouldn’t leave at all.
I found the crows easy enough. They were sitting high up in the trees, watching me with their beady black eyes. It felt as if they were seeing through me to my very soul and it was quite an uncomfortable experience. I pushed through, though, following them to a small cabin nestled in a clearing. It was pitch black save for a single lantern hanging beside the door, the candle flame casting eerie shadows as it flickered back and forth.
I knocked, listening for any sound at all. The forest itself was dead silent - the kind of silence that makes your ears ring. The only sound came from the occasional caw of the crows. I knocked again. With a frown, I reached for the handle, slowly turning it until I heard a click. The wooden door slowly creaked open, the inside somehow darker than the outside.
The crows started to caw even louder, forming a cacophony of sound that made me wince. I turned to see what had disturbed them, eyes widening at what was playing out before me. The crows were gathering in front of the cabin, creating a swirling vortex as they flew in circles quickly. They started to blend together, seeming to melt into one another until they were a mass of pure darkness. I held my hand up to block the wind from my eyes.
Just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The vortex faded, revealing a tall man standing there in a smart suit - the kind that the super rich wore up in the kingdom. Proper people with proper educations who could win any fight with just their words alone. Black feathery wings stretched out from his back, much larger than his own body.
“You are either very brave or very foolish,” said the man, his voice deep. He regarded me curiously through brown eyes, holding a smoking pipe to his lips.
“I hear that’s a very fine line,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I had never before seen someone with wings before and I just knew this man was not human despite taking on the visage of one. “Are you Lord Caravantis?”
“I am, indeed. Why have you come to seek me out, child?” Though he phrased it like a question, something told me he already knew the answer.
“I wish to be a proper healer,” I told him confidently, straightening my back. “My magic is weak, see, and I can only heal very minor injuries. I am as good as useless! I heard you can grant people the ability to heal proper.”
“I can, indeed. However,” he paused, climbing up the small steps of the cabin to stop in front of me. He was so tall that his head nearly hit the ceiling and he had to shift his wings to either side to make them fit. “Great power comes with a great cost. Are you willing to pay?”
I frowned, reaching into my pocket to pull out my coin pouch. “I don’t have much, you see, but I can work hard to repay you if you just give me a chance!”
The man laughed, throwing his head back. “Silly child. The payment for such power is not money.”
My brow furrowed, confused. “If not money, then what?”
He raised his hand, the tip of his finger resting over my heart. “True power requires true sacrifice. I will grant you the power to heal any wound, though it will come at a cost to you. Do you accept this offer?”
“What is the cost?”
A smirk tugged at his lips. “That is something you must discover on your own, for I cannot tell you. I will offer you a friendly piece of advice, however, since I like you. This power may just end your life.” He paused for a moment before chuckling. “Or perhaps not.”
Closing my eyes, I thought on it for a moment. Then I opened them, meeting his gaze without fear. “If this power shall kill me, so be it. I will die knowing that my life had meaning, that I was able to heal the injuries of others.”
Caravantis hummed, stroking my cheek. “I haven’t seen such innocence in a century. While it is a shame that you have come to make such a deal, I simply cannot refuse. It’s far too tempting. Very well. I shall grant you some of my power, child, and you will become the best healer of the last few decades.”
“Yes, sir!” I couldn’t help the excitement that coursed through me as he held out his hand.
A large book appeared out of thin air, open to the center, the pages looked old like an ancient scroll. On the right page was ancient looking text that I could not understand for it was in a language I had never seen before. Looking closer, the text seemed to be glowing a faint, maroon red. The left page was blank.
He held the book upright between his hands, facing the pages toward me. “If you agree to this deal, place your left hand on the left page.”
I did so without hesitation, the page feeling warm against my skin.
“This will sting a bit but make sure you don’t remove your hand. Are you ready?”
“I am.”
“Excellent.” The book started to glow a bright green, growing warmer against my hand. I felt a bunch of tiny pricks against my skin, as if someone were stabbing me with a bunch of sewing needles. It was uncomfortable but not particularly painful. I could feel blood being pulled from each puncture, being absorbed into the page, tinting it red. “Remove your hand.”
I pulled it back, turning it over to inspect it. There were dozens of tiny holes dotting my skin, tiny beads of blood rising to the surface.
Caravantis turned the book back around, the spine in his palm. His free hand was held above the book and he began to chant in an unknown language, eyes glowing green. The pages started to flip as if moved by the wind, yet there was not even a breeze. When they finally stopped, I noticed a diamond-shaped green gem printed across both pages. He flexed his fingers and one of the gems began to shift, wiggling in place as if to free itself.
My eyes widened with amazement as the gem lifted off the page, slowly turning from just a drawing into a real gem, the candlelight flickering off the shiny surface. It floated toward me and I held out my hand, watching as it pressed itself flat against my palm. The tiny droplets of blood were absorbed by the gem, turning it red for a brief second before returning to its original bright green hue.
“This stone is now bound to your very soul. If you lose it or it should break, you will die. Think of it as… another heart, if you will. You must guard it like your life depends on it.” He paused, quirking his head to the side with a lazy smile. “Because it does.”
My fingers curled around it, surprised by how warm it felt. “I can heal with this?”
“It possesses small traces of my own power, though it cannot be used on its own. Only those who already have the power to heal may wield it.” He held his hand up before I could reply. “Small as it may be, you do possess that power. Using this gem will bolster your own magic and make you able to heal any injury imaginable. I must warn you, though. The worse the injury, the higher the price. Do be careful, child.”
“Thank you for this, Lord Caravantis.” I offered him a genuine smile which seemed to surprise him for a moment before he returned it.
“You are very welcome, child. Now, go. Show the world how great you are, in my name.”
And I did just that.
It didn’t take long to realize just what that price was.
He hadn’t been completely honest when he said I could heal any injury. It was transferance magic - transferring their injury to my body. Technically, I was healing them while cursing myself. The healer magic I possessed made the injuries less severe for me and, with the first aid knowledge I had, I could easily tend to my own wounds. It could be draining, though.
Caravantis’ magic was powerful.
Most of the injuries were minor yet they still took their toll on my body.
If I had to pick one, I’d say the worst was the poison case I had a few months back. I was sick for weeks, barely able to get out of bed. Because I hadn’t taken on any clients in that time, the nearby village grew worried and thought I had died. When they discovered I was ill, they did not judge me for being unable to heal myself. Instead, they helped to care for me until I was back on my feet.
“It’s the least we can do, considering you’ve saved half the village at one point or another!” one of the young men had said. He was barely twenty but was the best fighter the village had, acting as their protector.
“You always care for us, deary. Allow us to do the same for you for a change.” Miss Betty was an older woman, nearly eighty, I think. She helped raise the children of the village while offering advice to anyone that would listen.
I remember being so touched by their kindness that I started crying. I stopped charging them full price after that. I would have made it free, but I still had to make a living. Healing was all I had. I was willing to accept more than just money, though. Food, clothes, herbs, potion ingredients - whatever they could offer.
When I finished wrapping the wound, I glanced up to find a crow perched on the windowsill, head tilted to the side as it watched me curiously.
‘Tell me, child. Do you regret your decision?’ It was the voice of Caravantis, echoing inside my head. ‘Do you regret the power you now wield?’
I smiled at him as I cleaned the needle before packing everything back into the box. “I don’t.”
‘Not even a little?’
“Not one bit.” I said firmly, standing up so I could approach the bird. I crossed my arms on the countertop beneath the window. “I’m happy to be able to help others, no matter the cost. I thank you for giving me the chance to do so, Lord Caravantis.”
‘Truly a unique mortal. You continue to amaze me even after all these years.’ He paused for a moment, his voice softer. ‘If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. Farewell for now, my child.’
A smile tugged at my lips as I watched the crow take flight, getting smaller and smaller until I could no longer see him. “Farewell for now, my lord.”
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
Lightning flashed across the sky followed quickly by a loud clap of thunder that rattled the windows. Rain was falling in sheets, so heavy that I could barely see the cars in the parking lot. It had been this way for about three hours and, according to the weather report, it wasn’t gonna let up any time soon. A hurricane was brewing, after all.
There was a loud boom outside before the lights started to flicker a few times. It seemed like it was holding steady until they finally went off, plunging the rest stop into total darkness.
“Oh my god!” cried the blonde woman, clutching the arm of her husband. “I can’t see!”
“Calm down, Georgia,” replied her blonde husband as he took out his phone. The screen lit up his face before he turned on the flashlight, setting his phone face-down on the table. A cone of white light shot toward the ceiling.
“Mhm, I was waitin’ for that.” A plump middle-aged woman with brown hair tossed her hand of cards onto the table with a sigh, glancing at the brunette man sitting beside her.
“Took longer than expected.” He nodded, setting his own cards down.
I stepped away from the window, sitting down in a chair far away from the group. I pulled out my phone, frowning at the lack of signal. The highway was closed due to the storm, forcing all of us to take a deserted road that led to this rest stop.
The blonde lady had already tried to call the cops when the storm first started, despite the protests of her husband. I guess the two are well connected and quite rich.
I could feel the temperature rising with the AC off. Even during a storm, the humidity and heat were high as fuck. It was only going to get worse. ‘Why did I think taking a road trip was a good idea? I should have stayed home.’
“Honey~ I have to go to the ladies’ room,” whined the blonde, tugging at her husband’s arm.
“Then go.”
“I can’t go alone!” She glanced around at the three of us before pouting. “Not in the dark! Come with me.”
He sent her an annoyed look. “Georgia, please, you will be fine.”
“I’ll go with ya, darlin’,” called the brunette lady as she stood up, throwing her purse strap over her shoulder. “Needed to go for a while but wanted to finish my game.”
Georgia looked disgusted by the idea but, judging by the way she was squirming, her need to pee was urgent. With a whine, she sent her husband a glare before standing up, tugging down her pink mini-skirt. With her heels, she easily towered over the short woman.
“That’s a cute name you got, darlin’. Me and my brother are from Georgia, ya know. Great place to live.” The brunette continued to ramble as they made their way to the opposite side of the room.
The blonde kept throwing glances over her shoulder at her husband, no doubt wishing he would save her, but he wasn’t paying her any attention at all. He had picked up his phone and was scrolling through it with a furrowed brow.
With the two women gone, the room fell silent.
I finally felt like I could relax for a minute and I leaned my head back against the cool glass. Being an introvert, I don’t like being around people, I prefer to be alone and keep to myself. This trip was supposed to be me visiting a remote cabin in the woods where I could be completely isolated and relaxed.
I looked over my shoulder at the near empty parking lot and sighed. ‘Well, I got my isolation but I’m far from relaxed. When this storm passes, I think I’ll just go back home and -’
My body tensed up when a scream suddenly tore through the rest stop.
The husband jumped up from his seat, body tense. “Georgia?”
The woman in question came running from the back room, blood soaking into her white shirt. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her mascara beginning to run. Because of her high heels and tight skirt, she wasn’t able to run very fast and her foot caught on the rug, a yelp escaping her lips when she fell. Both men rushed over to help her.
“What happened? Whose blood is that?”
“Rebecca?” called the plump man as he started toward the doorway only to pause when a shadowy figure appeared there.
It was clearly a male wearing a hockey mask, but something was… off about him. His body wasn’t quite solid, shifting like smoke and black as ink. In his hand was a thin knife, blood dripping from the blade.
“What the fuck…” I muttered, eyes wide.
“Rebecca!” cried the man, worry filling his voice.
“Get up!” snapped the husband as he all but dragged Georgia to her feet. The pair darted toward the front door but, as soon as they tugged it open, lightning flashed across the sky and a shadow man appeared before them. He was a carbon copy of the first. “Shit!”
He threw his arm out in front of his wife, pushing her behind him right as the shadow creature’s arm shot outward, the knife slashing across the male’s throat. He clutched the wound, blood spurting across the windows.
“Oh my god!” Georgia screamed, reaching down to tug her white high heel off before throwing it at the creature. Instead of hitting him, it passed through him as if he weren’t even there. She screamed again, turning around to run.
Shadowy tendrils shot out from the creature, flying through the air like missiles before piercing her back in multiple places and exiting through her chest.
“W-Wait, no!”
My head snapped to the side where the middle aged man was. He was slowly backing away, hands held up in surrender as the creature advanced on gim. It didn't even walk like a human being, it was floating a few inches off the ground.
It raised the knife, bringing it down into the man's chest. Once. Twice. Three times. He then picked up the man by the neck, tossing him against the bookshelf. Dozens of books fell around his unmoving body, half burying him.
I pressed myself back against the plastic chair, wishing above all else that I could be invisible. The chair squeaked from the movement, both of their heads snapping toward me.
When people talk about fight-or-flight, they mention only those two options. I, however, fall into the third, lesser known category - freeze the fuck up. And that's just what I did, unable to move as the two slowly floated toward me.
I swallowed hard, heart hammering in my chest. ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck. What do I do?!’
They stopped in front of me, towering over me. For a moment, they just stared at me with their hollow eyes. Shadowy tendrils rose from their bodies, the top looking far too sharp. Lightning flashed behind me as the tendrils shot toward me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling as if I were falling through the air. Another crash of lightning and my body jolted, eyes snapping open. I was breathing heavily, sweat on my face and heart racing.
The creatures were gone.
With a furrowed brow, I scanned the room. No dead bodies, no blood. No sign that anywhere had been here.
I nearly fell out of the chair when thunder cracked loudly, lightning lighting up the dark room. Rain was pounding against the glass as if begging to be let in.
“What the fuck…” I muttered, running a hand down my face. Was it all just a dream? A hallucination? I had no clue.
The only thing I was sure of was that I was utterly, completely alone with no sign that anyone had ever been here.
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
I shifted nervously as I sat in the hard, plastic chair. There was a single light shining brightly overhead, giving off more heat than it should have. The small room was hot and humid, so much so that I was beginning to sweat.
My hands were handcuffed to the top of the table, making it impossible for me to move them more than a couple inches. On my left was a wall of black glass and I knew there were people back there, watching me. No doubt analyzing my body language.
I did my best to appear calm and collected, yet I knew my nerves were shining through. I just wanted to go home. I nearly jumped when the heavy steel door was opened, the hinges squeaking ominously. In walked two detectives, one of whom I recognized. I met Gabe’s eyes and he gave a subtle, barely noticeable nod of his head as if to say, ‘I’ve got you, don’t worry. Everything will be okay.’
I trust him, of course. He’s the only reason I agreed to come down to the station in the first place, to clear my name so he doesn’t look bad. After all, being a detective and having your cousin accused of multiple murders isn’t a good look…
“Miss Sears, let's just cut to the chase, shall we?” Detective Jenson was a large man full of muscle and a bald head. From the short interactions I've had with him, he's a no nonsense kinda guy. “Why did you do it?”
My eyes widened. “I-I didn't! I would never, I could never do such a thing!”
He sent me a blank look, black eyes cold. “So you say, yet we found you covered in blood with multiple dead bodies surrounding you.”
“I already told you, I woke up there shortly before you arrived!”
“You have to admit, it’s quite a convenient excuse, no?” He quirked a brow as he leaned back in his chair, tapping the table with his finger. “You just so happen to wake up mere minutes before we show up?”
“I’m telling you the truth, you have to believe me.” I said, sending a desperate and pleading look toward Gabe. He was standing by the door, his face a blank mask that I couldn’t read.
Jenson glanced at the younger male over his shoulder before looking back at me. He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “This isn’t your first brush with the law, is it Miss Sears?”
“I’ve never been arrested before!”
“But you were suspected of a crime before, no?” He quirked a brow again.
“I…” The words died on my tongue. How did he know about that? It happened when I was a teenager and my record was supposed to be cleared. “I was never convicted of anything. There was no evidence that I…”
“Killed someone.” He finished. “You got away with it once so you thought you could do it again, is that right?”
“No!” I cried, looking at Gabe. “Tell him!”
“Oh, he already did.”
My eyes snapped back to the detective, brow furrowed. “He told me all about the incident. I didn’t even have to ask, he volunteered it. Even your own family doesn’t believe you.”
“Gabe?” My voice cracked, eyes meeting his. He finally looked at me, his eyes cold. “Why would you…?”
“No one is above the law,” he spat, venom in his voice. “Not even family.”
“You… you really think I did this?” I asked, falling back in my chair. Shock and hurt filled me. All this time, he thought I was guilty… my own cousin didn’t believe me despite there being zero evidence that I was guilty.
“Betrayed by your own family. Now that’s a damn shame.” Jenson shook his head, unable to hide the smirk that tugged at his lips.
Tears stung at my eyes as reality started to sink in. “I didn’t do this!”
“Repeating yourself doesn’t make it true, I’m afraid, and it won’t convince us, either.” Jenson stood up. “Claire Sears, you are formally being charged with murder.”
His words became muffled. My body went numb as I checked out, unable to focus on what was happening around me. My cuffs were undone just so they could put my hands behind my back, cuffing them again. The detective grabbed my arm roughly, marching me from the room.
As I passed by, Gabe smirked at me.
It felt like I had been struck by lightning as a flash of memory came to the surface - Gabe handing me a can of soda, already opened, with a malicious smirk on his lips.
I hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. Why would I?
Now I get it, though.
This had all been a meticulously planned set up and Gabe was the mastermind behind it.
Through Rose-Tinted Glasses (A Season for Falling Apart)
Information
Genre: Angst, friendship, comfort
Word Count: 3,460
Point of View: First Person
Prompt: Broken Heart
Set: A Season for Falling Apart (Maylancholy 2026 / @may-lancholy)
People talk about love as if it's a saving grace. As if it can heal any wound and solve any problem. They also say, ‘it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.’
Those people… are full of shit. My life was better, easier, before I fell in love. I'll admit, life did seem a lot brighter when I was in love. I felt happier, like I was on cloud nine.
The aftermath, though…
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me start from the beginning…
One Year Earlier
“I'm finally done,” I sighed in relief, sitting back in my chair.
Several massive piles of clothes sat atop the table I was sitting at, newly priced and ready to go out to the sales floor. It was the new fall collection that had just arrived a few days ago. Apparently, there was an error with the manufacturer and they priced them wrong, so we had to go through and manually fix all of them. And by ‘we’ I mean mostly me. A couple of my coworkers had helped out with a few pieces, but the majority had been done by me.
Not that I'm complaining. Sure, it was mind numbing and boring, but I got to sit on my ass in an air conditioned room all day and didn't have to deal with a single customer. That's a win in my book.
My phone buzzed so I tugged it from my pocket, answering it with a simple, “What’s up?”
“Heyo, it’s your favorite little brother.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. He wasn’t actually my brother, but we had been close for years and I had kind of adopted him. He didn’t seem all that for it in the beginning but has since accepted his fate. “Hey, Jake.”
“The boys are getting together tomorrow. You in?”
I was not, in fact, a boy but I probably should have been one. I’m a tomboy through and through with zero feminine qualities - I don’t do makeup, I don’t care about clothes or what I wear, I don’t do heels, I can’t cook or clean to save my life, I cuss like a sailor and I don’t mind getting dirty or dealing with bugs. I’m also a huge gamer - the more violent, the better.
“Sure, sounds fun.”
“Great! I’ll come pick you up around noon. See ya.”
He hung up the phone before I could even reply. At least now I had something to look forward to tomorrow instead of just sleeping all day.
When I pulled the car door open, I was surprised to see two men sitting in the backseat. Neither of them I recognized. I slid into the passenger seat, nodding at Jake who was driving the car.
Jake pulled away from the curb, waving his hand toward the backseat. “This is Carl and Eban. Guys, this is the girl I was telling you about, Jay.”
“Nice to meet ya,” the red-head grinned as he pulled himself up between the seats, offering his hand. “I’m Eban. Heard a lot ‘bout ya from this guy.”
“All good things, I hope,” I laughed, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Carl leaned over, lifting his hand in a wave. “He mostly just talks about how much fun you guys have playing video games.”
“That we do,” I nodded in agreement. “He’s usually carrying my ass, though.”
“Nah,” Jake waved his hand again. “It’s a team effort. You’re just more of a support role is all.”
“True, true. I can live with that.”
For the next twenty minutes, the four of us chatted about how we had all met Jake and then about our favorite video games. These two were pretty chill and I liked them instantly. I wasn’t really surprised because Jake himself was a chill guy that attracted the same sort of people.
The destination was the rich side of town where the houses turned into mini mansions, most of which were three stories tall and had large gates surrounding them. Jake was quite well off himself so he was used to such things, yet I was not. I wasn’t poor, true, but I wasn’t exactly living the easy life, either.
I didn’t want to look like a loser in front of these guys, so I did my best to keep my jaw off the floor as we approached a white brick house at the end of the street. The wrought iron gate was open already, allowing us to enter the driveway without an issue. Several cars were parked in front of the house, each one looking brand new and expensive.
Carl and Eban didn’t hesitate to jump out of the car, racing each other to see who could get inside before the other. Eban won pretty easily due to his long legs, doing a little victory dance in the doorway. I followed Jake in after them, glancing up at the high ceiling and the expensive looking chandelier that hung above us. It looked to be made of crystal, casting soft rainbows on the tan walls of the entryway.
I could hear the familiar sound of gunfire from a video game being played quite loudly. We headed down the hall and through the archway on the right side of the room. A huge TV hung from the wall, speakers mounted in every corner of the room. Several large and comfy looking couches were placed in front of the TV and there was a coffee table filled with snacks and drinks.
Two men sat on the couch directly in front of the TV, both of them holding a PS5 controller. The game was Call of Duty, though I couldn’t be sure which one since those had never been my go-to games.
“Behind you, watch out!”
“Got ‘em.”
“Good shit.”
The end screen played, showing off their characters and stats from the match, along with a victory message. The two high-fived each other as we stepped into their view.
“You guys started without us? Rude!” Eban grabbed a soda from a metal bucket filled with ice before plopping onto the couch without a care in the world.
Carl was a bit more polite as he did the same, sitting farther away from the group. “Looks like Jason carried you again, huh?”
The brunette on the left scowled at him. “He did not. I got five kills, thank you very much!”
“Were those assisted kills?” Eban chirped with a smirk, making him flush a bit.
“S-So what? A kill is still a kill!” He turned his head away with a huff, brown eyes meeting mine and then he scowled. “I thought this was supposed to be a boys day. Which one of you losers brought your girlfriend?”
I shifted awkwardly beside Jake. ‘That’s a bit fucking rude, isn’t it? He’s acting like I’m not even here.’
The black-haired male beside him punched him in the arm, sending him a look. “Dude, don’t be a dick.” He then turned to me, blue eyes meeting mine.
I’ve never believed in love at first sight. I don’t believe you can suddenly fall head over heels for someone you know nothing about with just one look. However, I certainly felt something stirring inside my heart when our eyes met. It was a desire to get to know him better, to be closer to him.
He smiled at me, shaking his head to shift his bangs away from his eyes. He then stood up, towering over me, with his hand extended. “You must be… Jay, right? Jake has mentioned you a few times.”
“Oh, uh,” I quickly shook his head, cursing myself for acting like a fucking schoolgirl. ‘Get it together, loser.’ “That’s right. I’m this guy’s older sister! In spirit.”
The brunette scoffed, rolling his eyes. “What does that even mean?”
“It means,” answered Jake, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “That I have been adopted by her and that’s fine because she’s cool.”
I appreciated the compliment and it made me feel more confident and less nervous. “I suppose he’s pretty okay, too. Sometimes.”
“Rude,” he laughed, pulling me closer into a half hug. “But true.”
“Make yourselves at home,” said Jason as he sat back down. “Who’s ready for some Baldur’s Gate 3?”
The brunette sent him an annoyed look. “There’s six of us. How’re we gonna play that?”
Carl raised his hand, glancing up from his phone. “You can count me out, I hate that game.”
All of us looked at him like he was crazy and I couldn’t help saying, “That’s fucking wild.”
Jason laughed. “Right? Carl is our little weirdo. Doesn’t like any of the mainstream, popular games.”
Eban nodded. “He only plays indie games.”
“I’d rather support the small companies than the big ones. I’m not ashamed of that.”
“Still too many,” complained the brunette. “And I'm not giving up my spot.”
“No one is asking you to, Grant. Stop being a drama queen.” Jason rolled his eyes.
“Don't worry, I don't mind watching.” I told them, forcing a smile. “It'll be like watching a live stream.”
Jason looked at me in surprise. “You sure?”
“Yeah, it's totally fine.”
Jake sent me a look I couldn't quite understand, though he remained silent.
I settled down on the same couch as Carl, just at the other end, watching as Jake joined the other three on the main couch. It took them a while just to get through the character creator.
Grant was finished first and he made a snide comment about how slow the others were. His character was a male dwarf sorcerer.
Jason was second and he had made a beautiful high elf male, choosing to be a paladin.
Eban was third and he had chosen to make the ugliest halfling possible. He chose a male bard.
Jake was, of course, the last to finish. He was also the only female character, making a gorgeous drow cleric.
The introduction to the game was pretty boring since I had seen it a hundred times. Things didn’t start getting interesting until they came to their first battle at which point they started arguing over if they should be good, evil or neutral.
Jake wanted chaos, Eban wanted evil, Grant wanted good, and Jason was fine with anything so long as it didn’t break his oath. They argued for about twenty minutes before I grew tired of listening to them.
“Why not just use a wheel and let fate decide?” I suggested.
“That’s a stupid idea,” said Grant at the same time that Jason said, “That’s a great idea.”
They ended up doing a chaotic neutral playthrough, something which Grant was clearly unhappy over and made sure to let all of us know about it every time there was a decision to be made. The boys played for hours and, most of the time, they were just arguing about this and that and barely making any real progress.
After a while, I slipped out of the room, making my way to the back garden. It was a cool day, the sun hidden by clouds and a nice breeze making the flowers dance. I found a stone bench near the koi pond and settled down, allowing myself to relax.
A couple of minutes passed before Jason appeared, a soft smile on his lips. “Hey, you okay? What’re you doing out here?”
“Oh, sorry if I’m not allowed,” I replied, quickly standing up and rubbing the back of my neck. “I just needed some air, is all.”
“You’re fine, don’t worry.” He sat down, motioning for me to do the same. “Trust me, I get it. Those guys can be a handful.”
“To be fair, Jake on his own can be a handful.”
“True!” he laughed.
I expected him to go back inside but he didn’t. He stayed with me and we ended up talking for hours about whatever came to mind. The more we talked, the more I wanted to know about him. I really enjoyed talking to him and I loved his voice, especially when he was saying my name. It just made my heart flutter in a way it never had before.
Per his request, I started to hang out with them more often just to see him. I tried not to make it too obvious while trying to get closer to him. If he noticed, he didn’t seem to mind because he was always trying to include me in whatever it was they were doing, even if it was just asking for my opinion.
Weeks turned into months and I’m ashamed to admit that I fell quick and hard for him. I wasn’t the first one to speak this aloud, though, he was. We had snuck off to the garden once more after Eban and Grant started to bicker over the best car in Need for Speed Unbound.
We were just talking about the last show we had watched when he suddenly turned to me and said, “I like you, Jay. A lot.”
“I like you, too,” I replied softly, feeling my cheeks grow warm.
“Good, I’m glad. Make sure you only look at me, okay?”
“Of course.” I didn’t even have to think about it. This man had quickly become the center of my world and, by the time I realized it, it was far too late to stop it.
I stirred awake, turning over to reach for Jason. He wasn’t in bed beside me. I was feeling thirsty anyway so I crawled out of bed, stifling a yawn.
As I reached the bottom of the steps, I turned to head into the kitchen only to pause when I heard muffled voices behind me. Was Jason having trouble sleeping again? I headed toward the voices, ending up at the study. The doors weren’t fully closed and were open just a crack.
I was about to open them when I heard my name being said.
“That Jay girl is a real idiot, huh?” It was Grant, sounding amused and slightly drunk.
“Yeah, she tries to act like she’s different from other girls but she fell for Jason just like the rest of ‘em. It was so easy, it was disappointing.” That was Eban.
I frowned, feeling a bit upset by their words. Why were they talking about me in the first place? If they have a problem with me, why not just come out and say it to my face? I had tried really hard to be friendly with all of them, to help out whenever I could and to not invade their space. Had I really ruined everything just because I’m not a boy?
More importantly, does Jason know about this? What about Jake?
I turned to head back upstairs when a third voice made me freeze in my tracks.
“I thought I would finally get a challenge, but one look in my eyes and she was wrapped around my finger.” Jason laughed, sounding smug as hell. It was the complete opposite of the kind, gentle nature I had gotten used to. “It was far too easy.”
“How long’re you gonna string this one along for?”
“I guess I can keep her around ‘til I find someone prettier.”
“That shouldn’t take too long.”
The three started to laugh, followed by the clinking of glasses.
Tears slid down my cheeks and I covered my mouth so I didn’t make any noise. Just a few minutes ago, my heart had been overflowing with love and warmth because of Jason. And now it was cold, shattering into a million pieces like a sheet of ice.
I hurried upstairs, gathering my things before heading out of the house. It was nearly one in the morning and my apartment was far as shit but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get as far away from Jason and his friends as humanly possible.
Thunder rumbled overhead, making me curse as rain started to fall from the sky. I hugged myself tightly, seeking shelter under the nearest bus stop where I sat for the next couple of hours, crying over how stupid I had been.
‘It’s just my luck that my first love turned out to be a total asshole… love is such a fucking joke.’
I sighed deeply as I folded the thirtieth t-shirt of the day, resisting the urge to just toss it back onto the table. Why the hell do customers have to dig through them like this and u fold every single one? The sizes are clearly labeled on the tag and on the front of the shirt with a sticker. Are they blind? Or can they just not fucking read?
“Girl, I swear to god if you sigh one more damn time, I am going to kill myself.” Bry, my co-worker, sent me an annoyed look as he dropped another shirt onto the pile. “I don’t know what’s more annoying, your sighing or these damn customers.”
“Sorry,” I muttered, holding back another sigh. There was a tap on my shoulder and I was not in the mood to deal with any customers. I continued to fold the shirts, trying not to sound too annoyed. “I’m sorry but I’m new here and can’t help you find whatever it is you’re looking for. Please find another employee.”
“Is that any way to treat your younger brother?”
My shoulders tensed at the sound of Jake’s voice. I’ve been avoiding him for weeks after overhearing Jason because I just assumed he was either part of it or was aware of it. He’s been texting and calling me, but I’ve just ignored them all or replied saying I’ve been busy.
Bry looked between us, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I smell drama~”
I sent him a glare before tossing a shirt at him.
“Rude!”
I cleared my throat. “I can’t talk right now, I’m working.”
Jake shifted so he was standing beside me, making it very hard to miss the frown on his lips. “You don’t seem to have any time at all to talk. What’s going on, Jay?”
I glanced at Bry. “I’m taking my break.”
“Ooo, maybe I should take mine, too! I bet we have popcorn in the break room.”
“Piss off, will you?” I rolled my eyes, tossing another shirt at him before heading walking away.
Jake followed close behind, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“Let me clock out and I’ll meet you out front, okay?” I didn’t wait for a response before disappearing into the back room. I was tempted to just run away and avoid the confrontation, but I knew I couldn't avoid it forever. I needed to know the truth.
Jake was leaning against his car at the curb and, when he saw me, he offered a smile. “Wanna grab some lunch?”
“Not hungry.” I answered honestly. My stomach was twisted into nervous knots.
His smile dropped. “Jay, what's going on? You know you can talk to me, right?”
I took a deep breath and told him everything that had happened. By the time I finished, my shoulders were trembling, tears stinging at my eyes.
“Holy shit,” he muttered, reaching out to me but I took a step back.
“I need to know,” I breathed out, voice cracking. “Did you know? Is that why you brought me there?”
Hurt flashed across his face. “You really think I'd do that?”
“No,” I answered honestly. “But I didn't think Jason would, either…”
“That's fair.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I promise you, Jay, I had no idea.”
I looked into his eyes, finding only sincerity. “I believe you.” And then the dam broke, tears flowing down my cheeks.
Jake didn't hesitate to pull me into his arms, hugging me tightly as I sobbed against his shirt. There are no words to express the relief I felt at still having my best friend.
When I finally calmed down, I stepped back, using my shirt to wipe my eyes. “I'm sorry…”
“For what? You did nothing wrong.”
“I shouldn't have ghosted you…”
“True,” he grinned. “But I get it.”
“Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Of course! You're my big sis, after all. Now, I have a serious question for you.”
My brow furrowed as I nodded. “Okay.”
Jake took me by the shoulders, giving me a serious look that didn't suit him at all. “Do you want me to kill them?”
Despite myself, I laughed, making him crack a smile. My heart may have been broken by that douchebag, but at least I still had my best friend to help me pick up the pieces.
And possibly commit murder for me. We won't talk about that, though.
