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RUNNER
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Kaugnay na kabanata
SHE•SHIFTER CLARA
It’s the sound of her devastating cries that bounce off the stone walls, seeming to echo throughout the room. Mother Zyte, the wife of the leader of our small village, was given heartbreaking news early dawn. She had barricaded herself in her chambers, alone. Her sobbing would quiet only for a moment, and then gradually increase in sound and pain. It was heart wrenching. The house maids would go about their business, participating in every daily chore they were given. The guards held their posts, not showing a crack in their strong, never changing demeanor. And our Commander, Father Zyte, was off to search for an Inini Man… a healer. Leaving I, Ms. Clara Florence, a house nurse from The Grove, here to try and be some help to the family. I respected Mother’s Zyte’s wishes to be alone. I prepared many servings of brewed Valerian Root infused with passion flowers, something to help calm her nerves and put her into a restful slumber, but she refused. Afraid of missing something i
SHE•SHIFTER PREY
I can feel it. When someone is paying too much attention to me, when their eyes are examining me… I can feel it. It’s a low rumble in my stomach. It’s the boom of every heart contraction. The little hairs on my arms and neck stand tall. You can call it paranoia, but I’ve been experiencing it for the last three years, and I’m never wrong. Someone is watching. It’s late, I shouldn’t be out this late. My stomach may be growling, begging for more than water and crackers, but I shouldn’t have risked it. No matter the reason, I should have waited until I crept away to the next forgotten town. This truck stop I stumbled across smelled of sweaty men and corn chips. It’s revolting. I had no choice. This was the only place within walking distance. I sat on an old crooked stool, eyes peering into a tall cold glass of water. The only thing on my mind was food. Something hot would be nice. My fingertips felt cold, so a soup would be good. I’d settle for a hot tea even. Something other than wa
SHE•SHIFTER 1,095
I stumbled into the shack that I was temporarily calling home. I had wrapped my arms around my body looking for that comfort that I once had years ago. My breathing is shaky and my body felt small tremors as I tried to gain control. My face is hot, but my tears are hotter as they come streaming down the skin. I can’t explain what just happened. When I climbed into that truck, I knew what I was going to do. I knew how things would play out. The time before a kill, I am calm. I know what demeanor I should carry before approaching them, or having them approach me. I can change my body into someone they can’t deny. I purposely fall for their traps and tricks. Anything to get them alone. And then I wait for them to show me who they are. Yes, I have seen the past through their eyes in my mind, but I always want to be sure of the visions I’ve seen. Once it is confirmed that they are indeed monsters, I unexpectedly turn on them. It’s all very calculated. The first bite is the sweetest. N
SHE•SHIFTER FOLLOWER
POV WILL I put my hands in the pockets of my long trench coat, being sure to keep my head down as I walked onto a crime scene that was taped off, a small crowd gathering around its perimeters. The fake credentials I had on me was enough to get me in, but I know my time was short. I was hot on her trail for awhile, just waiting for the perfect time to approach her. By the time I had gotten the courage too, she was already spooked and took off long before I realized that she had. I lost her in a bigger city, and thought that I had failed.I was close to giving up on this solo mission when a call came in. A call that was similar to all the other calls. An older man was found dead in his truck just off a solo highway. At first, I was going to turn my head at it. But then something was said… It was an animal attack, but there was also some kind of chemical found as well. The cops and the detectives were very open with their thoughts. Chatter boxes if you will, amongst those that were i
SHE•SHIFTER MY NAME IS AMELIA
Every once and a while, I luck out. I stumble across good people who want to help me, asking for nothing extra in return. Sure the young girl at the counter still wanted the $200 for a one night stay, but her kindness continued on after she showed me to my room. She handed over the key and gave me a promise that she would be back. It left me in confusion, but I was sure that I wasn’t going to be here long; just to shower and rest in an actual bed. I stood silently in the bathroom. Initially I had glanced around to see how clean the room itself was, and it was a pleasant surprise to see that it was practically spotless. Most rooms I’ve had aren’t held in such an impeccable manner. Staring at myself in the mirror, I could see why it was she thought that I hadn’t bathed in days. No matter if she was correct or not, I’d rather look like I was able to take care of myself. I removed the green cap from my small head, letting my hair fall loosely upon my tensed shoulders. My bright blond
SHE•SHIFTER ESCAPE
The eyes that stare back at me belongs to a man that stands tall.. Everything about him is bigger. His arms were bulk, his chest swollen as if there was too much air in his body. He is a heavy man, manly in every way that I’ve seen. His jawline is strong, his eyes permanently glowering at everyone. He was so serious and so scary. We had run into each once before, and I had the pleasure of being trapped in his beast-like hands. He gripped me so tight I was left with bruises for weeks. At that time, I was sure I was a goner, but lucky for me. He is a man. And he had one weak spot that every other man had. His balls. I kicked them once, as hard as I could kick, and used that as my chance to escape. If he was smart, which he probably was, he planned to protect his manhood this time around. Our eyes locked. “Which way am I supposed to go?” I asked, trying to cover up my panic with the fake fear that there may have been an early morning fire somewhere in the building. He grunted as if th
SHE•SHIFTER SIR HENRY
“My dear Clara, You’ll never know how beautiful you are to me. It’s not just the amber in your beautiful locks and your bright eyes. It’s not just your shy smile when you’ve seen that I’ve stolen glances at you. It’s not your kind words or your patience. But it is your heart….There is so much goodness in your heart. Your heart is what captivates me and makes me wish I could be your other half…” I was forced to lay back and listen to my father read a private letter that I had intended to gift a woman that I had barely known. I stared up at him, trying to read the facial expression, to understand how he felt about what he was reading. The gray hairs on his face were prickly, surrounding his lips, covering his chin and cheekbones, rising up to his nose. He has dark eyes, and I’ll admit that behind them doesn’t lie kindness. My father is a menace if you ask me. His only soft spot is my mother. I was an only child, born to carry the family line. With my being sick, any hopes of future gen
SHE•SHIFTER CAUGHT
The world around me feels unbalanced. My head pounds, and it strays up and down as I try to bring my body alive. I feel groggy. The last memory in my mind, clouded like a dream. There is a powerful throbbing in my skull and a stinging sensation running throughout my body, lighting my veins on fire. I want to yell at the pain but all of my energy is drained. I can’t seem to catch my breath. I find myself panicking more. Not only am I disoriented, but when I open my eyes, I see nothing but darkness. “Who… are… you?” My words struggle to escape my parched lips. How long had I been out? I took a deep breath in an effort to calm myself. I could feel the fabric of whatever it was over my head, trying to lodge itself into my nostrils. “Take this off of me!” Suddenly the cloth is removed and a beaming white light surrounds me. I winced and groaned as my lids quickly shut, tightening them to try and fight the watering of my eyes. It’s so fucking bright. I can hear the humming of the electri
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SHE•SHIFTER SHE SHIFTER
The bullets fly through me. So many at once. At first, they weren’t noticeable. I feel myself falling backwards, arms flailing helplessly. I had planned to catch myself, but the blasts of their weapons were unexpected, and hit me harder than anticipated. Lying on my back, I watch as Athena stays law, trying to crawl her way over to Elias. I feel the warming of my skin and I know immediately the bullets are laced with Inferno. Don’t think about the pain. Get up! I grunt and moan as I find my way back on to my feet. The Zyte soldiers have made their way out onto the lawn, picking and choosing their targets. I keep my eyes on Athena, trying not to lose her and dodge the flying lead as well. Just as I am about to reach down and grab her, I’m thrusted backwards. I land on my feet, catching myself. My eyes lock with Elias. He breathes, heavy, his shoulders and chest rising and falling together. The glowering in his eyes tells me I may be in for trouble. “I got a bone to pick with you,” h
SHE•SHIFTER OPPOSITE SIDES
I ran up the stairs, heart thumping out of control and my mind flooded with negative thoughts and what ifs. Will and Teyana are behind me, and I can make out their panicked breaths as well. The commotion we heard before had quieted down. I pushed myself out of the secret door, into the kitchen. I see people still in their pajamas crowded in the foyer, worried expressions showing on all of their faces. I find the guard in charge of this particular side of the house. Sam. He stands at the door of the main entrance, eyes fixated on movement happening at the gate. I push my way through the crowd, wanting to get a good look myself.“What’s going on?” I asked, at the same time seeing a row of armed men, standing tall and waiting for a command. “The Ma’zhee?” Sam nods their head. I assess the situation. “They blew the gates, there is nothing stopping them from entering.” I can see small grass fires and the iron gate broken over. “What are they doing?” “If I had to guess,” Sam’s voice is lo
SHE•SHIFTER THE FINAL PIECE
I stand directly beneath the shower head, the pitter patter of the water silencing the world. The colder temperature cools me down quickly. My eyes are closed, my head filled with images of Will and I being lost in our kiss, in our feelings. I part my lips to catch my breath, knowing I could live off this memory for a while.Was our relationship always leading up to this? My memories took me for a spin. I remembered when I couldn't trust him, and when he turned into my only friend. I remember when I thought I could hate him, but realized I could love him. I wondered if my feelings were being driven by this supposed heat that Teyana mentioned. Should I bring that up to him, or would that hurt his feelings? "I like to look at you too. You're beautiful." His compliment is searing itself into my brain. Wait, does this mean he likes me? Are we together now? I bring a finger to my lips, touching them as softly as he kissed them. It was such a rush.The memory suddenly begins to alter. A
SHE•SHIFTER DESTRESS
So, this is where the cafeteria is. I stood outside its doors, staring in through the glass trying to get a sense of the people. Everyone seemed very comfortable with each other; talking, laughing and having a good time. The large room was full of the young and old, everyone so lively. This seemed to be more my speed. In our dining room it was always just me, Lana and Will. Most of the time we didn’t engage in conversation; just eating quietly, sitting properly. I have been here for more than two months, and this is the only time I’ve come to the common area. With all the commotion last night, I thought it would be a good time to show my face. Will explained that this part of the compound was for the people. It was like segregating the rich from the poor. I've never been considered a rich person, so this whole thing was odd to me. Here, everyone ate together, lived together… did everything together. It was its own community. When I walked in, everyone went quiet, staring me dow
SHE•SHIFTER A DEAL WITH THE DEAD
SIR HENRYS POV My father found her, floating in the creek where our favorite spot used to be. I wondered how long she’d been there. I wondered if she was waiting for me. I tried to romanticize it in my head, as if that would make it better. I had to come to terms that my precious Clara was gone. Maybe that was why my health took a turn. I felt her leave me in the world alone, and my soul wanted to follow her. Without her, what was my reason for existence? Athena and I are already married. A child, my child, will be born into this world. Would it be enough? ATHENA’S POV He barely said anything these days. Ever since they confirmed the death of Clara it was like he had given up. He wanted to succumb to his mysterious illness. Well, I wouldn’t have it. Clara had him in life, she would not have him in death. I must call upon the dead. I must call upon the Gods. "Invoco eos, qui ante me vixerunt, obscuri vigore pleni! Coniuro missas et misters ter ter. Da mihi
SHE•SHIFTER LOST BLOODLINE
SINCERES POV I felt a sharp pain penetrating the skin of my chest, digging in between the bones of my ribcage. It slides through to my heart, and my eyes open in fury and torment.How do I go from sleeping so soundly, to experiencing a pain like death. A deep throated growl is emitted from my voice box, coming out loud enough to wake the house. I swing my arm against the traitor who snuck into my room in the middle of the night. They fly in the air, through the paper like wall, landing in the hard tub.Light spills into the room, just as I reach out and grab the handle of the sword used against me. “Oh my god!” Teyana yells, ready to fall apart. “That does not look good.” My mind goes blank, and I can feel me slipping away. That dark side of me is coming, and it is enraged. WILLS POVA roar seemingly coming from a beast wakes me from a deep sleep. I heard the panic sounds of the others in the main hall, just as concerned and confused as was. “WILL!” I recognize Teyana’s voice in a
SHE•SHIFTER HIDDEN CHILD
ATHENA’S POV I shared a peck of a kiss with Sir Henry at his bedside. Our fathers clap and our mothers are in awe as we are officially man and wife. Henry’s body appears to be giving up on him yet again, and our fathers refused to call off the wedding. It didn’t matter to me where or how we got married, just as long as we did. At the beginning I was against this, but somehow in the mess of things, I fell for Henry. The child also helped push things in my favor. I looked down at my husband, feeling my cheeks blush. He stares back up at me, and though weak, I can tell he wants to speak. I lean in to him, letting him have my ear. “I love you Clara,” he whispers. My smile is gone. I keep my anger hidden. I step away from him, looking over at our parents. “He asks for his rest,” I lie. They nodded in agreement. “It has been a pretty big day,” his father is overly cheerful for someone who has a dying son. I follow them out of Henry’s chamber, requesting to speak alone with my f
SHE•SHIFTER CONTAIN
I was too late. That was a hard thing to acknowledge. Though I came back as soon as I could, ready to fight everyone for Elias, he was not there. I left the others in Teyana’s hands, wanting her to provide them with showers, clothes, and food. I had plenty of questions for them, but they would have to be asked in the morning. Tonight, I was done.I wanted to be alone and work out the emotions I have. From anger, to sadness, to guilt. I held up in the boxing room, but instead of hitting a punching bag like a normal person would, I released everything into the walls. It did hurt, but I think that was exactly what I wanted to feel. My knuckles cracked, my fingers popped, and I yelled out my pain. “AAAAAAAHHHHH!” I roared. I continued until my hands were bloody, and then I fell down to my knees, letting my tears stream down my face. I feel arms wrap around my upper body, squeezing me. I recognized the scent immediately. I feel his lips at the nape of neck, and he whispers my name. “S
SHE•SHIFTER THE MISSION
I stormed the house. Walking as fast as I could to find Will. Teyana was right behind me. She was not on a warpath like I was, but I felt she was more concerned for Will’s safety. The guard outside the compound said that Will was having tea in his favorite room. Sure enough, there he was, sipping from his mug without a care in the world. He looked up at me when he heard the doors open.“Where have you been?” he asked. Oh no, he was not going to question me. I smacked the ceramic glass out of his hand, letting the hot liquid drop over him. “What the hell?”“Did you know that The Grove had Elias?” His face drains of any color he has and I can see his panic. “God damn it Will!” I want to strangle his neck. I want to physically hurt him! I want to cry. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” he stood up quickly, ready to beg for my forgiveness and explain his decision to keep me in the dark. “I know you’d want to rush in and save him, but we couldn’t do all of that. He’s one person!” “He i
