Maya sat in her tiny apartment, staring at the holo-display floating above her desk. The news was everywhere on the ship's feeds: "DEATH ON DECK 7 - MANUAL VIOLENCE SUSPECTED." The headline scrolled past again, its red text harsh against the soft blue background that most shipboard interfaces used. She'd already watched the official announcement … Continue reading Death in the Long Dark
Fiction
The Great Raccoon Chase
Ember clutched his clipboard of hand-processed paper, carefully noting the properties of yet another surviving wooden structure. "Pine," he muttered, "approximately ninety-seven years old, minimal degradation despite exposure to—" His scientific observations were interrupted by screaming. "THE NIGHT BANDIT APPROACHES! SHIELD YOUR VESSELS OF SUSTENANCE FROM ITS SACRED GRASP!" Ember ducked behind the ancient pine … Continue reading The Great Raccoon Chase
A Night Among the Living Books
Sarah's head jerked up from her textbook, a thin line of drool connecting her bottom lip to page 394 of An Introduction to Victorian Literature. Her neck ached from the awkward position she'd fallen asleep in, and the library was eerily quiet. Too quiet. The fluorescent lights were off, replaced by the dim glow of … Continue reading A Night Among the Living Books
The Knowledge Keeper
Meadow traced her fingers along the spines of her precious books, arranged carefully on the rough-hewn shelves that Knox had built for her. The faded gold lettering of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone caught the morning light streaming through her classroom's window. Outside, the Rocky Mountains rose like ancient guardians, their peaks still snow-capped … Continue reading The Knowledge Keeper
High Noon and Dark Magic
The sun beat down mercilessly on Dead Man's Gulch as Thomas Cole stepped out onto the dusty street. His weathered boots left deep impressions in the parched earth, each step deliberate and heavy with the weight of years gone by. At forty-five, Cole had hoped his days of dueling were behind him, but fate had … Continue reading High Noon and Dark Magic
Shadows of the Lotus
Neferet's fingers worked swiftly in the pre-dawn darkness, weaving lotus blossoms and jasmine into Princess Meritet's long black hair. The sweet scent of the flowers mingled with the burning incense that wafted through the palace chambers, marking the start of another day in the royal court of Egypt. "They're watching me again," Meritet murmured, her … Continue reading Shadows of the Lotus
The Misadventures of Captain Calamity
Jerry Matthews sneezed, and three garbage trucks flipped over. "Oh no, not again," he muttered, frantically patting his pockets for an allergy pill. The spring pollen count was particularly high today, and being allergic to practically everything that bloomed wasn't ideal when you had super breath powers. He could hear the garbage truck drivers shouting … Continue reading The Misadventures of Captain Calamity
The Time Keeper’s Watch
A choose-your-own-adventure story where different paths may lead to shared destinies. Begin with section [1] and follow the numbered choices to forge your path through time. [1] The antique pocket watch feels heavy in your palm as you examine its intricate golden surface. Your great-uncle Theodore—a renowned physicist who mysteriously vanished twenty years ago—had arranged … Continue reading The Time Keeper’s Watch
The Peculiar Predicament of Jeremiah Hawthorne
Jeremiah Hawthorne, all of nineteen years and some change, wiped the sweat from his brow as he hefted another log onto the growing pile. The Blue Ridge Mountains loomed in the distance, a constant reminder of the wild frontier that lay beyond. It was 1753, and life on the edges of Colonial Virginia was as … Continue reading The Peculiar Predicament of Jeremiah Hawthorne
The Promised Land
Kaelar's boots crunched against the parched earth, each step kicking up a small cloud of dust. The elf's keen eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of movement in the desolate landscape. Behind her, Finn struggled to keep pace, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword. Bringing up the rear, Lyra … Continue reading The Promised Land
The Confusing Middle 