Novels by Nixanthy

I’d already been running for a while, far enough that my lungs were burning and my legs felt like they might give out. For a second, I thought maybe I was in the clear. The streets were quiet, except for the sound of my own feets stomping as I ran. Then the sound of gunshots cracked through the air behind me. My heart jumped into my throat, and I almost tripped out of fear. I didn’t stop to look back, just pushed myself to keep going, even though my chest felt like it was about to explode. I tripped over a root sticking out of the dirt and hit the ground hard, scraping my hands on the gravel. My knee throbbed and tears threatened to leak out. I cursed at myself, forcing my legs to keep moving even though they were at their limits. My mind ran wild with endless questions. What if he was dead?What if someone found him before he had a chance to escape?Why was he in samucha a bad state? Why does he keep saving me in odd situations?What if I could’ve done something?The guilt wa

CEDRIC POVPhiladelphia was a grand city, no doubt about it. But underneath all that old cobblestone alleys to the shiny skyscrapers downtown, was a battleground. A perfect place to run every dirty business under the radar. Each family had their slice of the pie, and the fight to keep it never stopped. The Alvadores ran the south like royalty. Old money, old connections, and a smug sense of entitlement to go with it. They didn’t need to flaunt their power; their wealth and ties to the city’s elite spoke loud enough. They enjoyed leaving all the dirty work to their dogs and lived a life where they couldn't care less of who is involved or not. All they wanted was control, and never cared how messy things got to get it. So long their reputation was still intact.The Vendicare family couldn’t have been more different. Bold, loud, and unapologetically reckless. They thrived on chaos and made sure everyone knew it. Every move they made reminded the world that they had power, and they knew

The moment the automatic door closed behind me, I crunched down on myself and silently screamed.That was fucking humiliating.Ms. Rachel was really sweet for trying her best to comfort me after my little crybaby meltdown. She stayed by me till I was able to feel a bit better. But of course, it didn’t stop there. Apparently, we had an audience watching nearby. A couple of old granny had been sitting and watching the whole thing, and as soon as Ms. Rachel finished, they swooped in like they’d been waiting their turn. One of them patted my arm with a warm smile and said, “Oh, sweetheart, we’ve all been there. If you haven’t cried in public yet, you’re not living.” Obviously aware I was uncomfortable and ultimately embarrassed at my situation.I stared at her, caught somewhere between mortified and amused. Before I could even process it, her friend chimed in, cracking some joke about how they’d seen worse meltdowns at church bake sales and bingo night fiasco. And, honestly? It worke

I never realized just how much I hated hospitals until I’d had a few days away from them. The smell of antiseptic hit me the second I walked in, sharp and cold, like it was trying to scrub away any trace of bacteria life existing. Just being back here made my skin crawl. Hospitals have this way of making you feel small, like you don’t belong unless you’re bleeding or wearing a badge. Or better yet, dead.“Name?” the receptionist asked without looking up, her fingers flying over the keyboard like she had somewhere better to be. Ms Rachel isn't on duty today. Having her around made me feel at ease and I won't have to feel so nervous about coming in to sign off his cremation process. I Miss her already,“Lyla Harrison,” I said, gripping the edge of the counter. “I have an appointment. I’m supposed to sign some papers for a…. Diseased family…. member.” Her eyes flicked up briefly, her expression as from being bored to somewhat remorseful as it was polite. She handed me a clipboard,

The restaurant was ridiculously fancy. Marble floors that shone like mirrors, gold-trimmed walls, and a chandelier so massive it looked like it belonged in a palace. The tables were draped in crisp white linens, with crystal glasses and polished silverware neatly arranged like they were expecting royalty. Even the waiters gilded around like they were trained in a dance studio. I tugged at the gold dress Romona had shoved me into. It sparkled under the soft lights, but it didn’t fit right. It was unbearably tight at the waist, loose at the bust, and itching like hell. Fuck, it felt like I was sharing the dress with a bunch of termites it made my skin crawl. My dark brown hair was pulled into a neat bun, with a couple of Romona’s sparkly hairpins stuck in to make it look fancier than it really was. I mean it meant to look that fancy, seeing that we spent three whole hours on the damn hair. The whole place screamed luxury, and I felt like I was the only one who didn’t belong. The marb

It was well past midnight by the time I finally dragged myself up the rickety stairs to my apartment. The hallway light was flickering again, making the already depressing place feel even more like a scene out of a horror movie. Room 304. My front door had a well cased dish wrapped in foil, waiting for me. My mind instantly went to Mrs lauretta, the landlady. She was a sweet lovely lady in her late forties who genuinely cared about me. Dropping off dinner at my door steps once in a while. And today was no different. Guilty cause though, remembering that I still owed her rent yet she is still as nice as ever. Picking up dinner, I dug into my bag for the key and Instarted it. Wiggling till I hear the click from the door lock and shoved the door open with my shoulder, pushing my way through.Home sweet home or whatever you’d call this dump. The smell of stale air mixed with a hint of dampness tugged my nostrils. That off smell that never seemed to leave, no matter how many times I