Sunset

The sun is setting as I make my way along the beach. There are no more people in the ocean, but I still see them on the beach. I see them laughing, kicking up sand as they play volleyball, even though it’s getting harder and harder to see the ball. Another group is starting a bonfire. I zip up my hoodie as I feel a chill run down my back and get back to my task. I lean down and pick up rocks. That’s what I do every day. It may seem mundane, but I have my ways of keeping it interesting. Today, I’m only picking black rocks. You’d be surprised at how different the rocks can be from day to day. Yesterday I managed to pick up about fifty rust-colored ones, while Wednesday I gathered a whole bunch of smooth ones. Now there are a whole lot more reddish ones than yesterday, but I’m still not complaining, since I already have plenty of black ones.

The sun plunges into the sea in one, final, swift motion. The lanterns on the promenade light up. I listen to the songs coming from the group at the bonfire. Summer is here. Finally.

Orpheus 17, Captain's Log

March 24^th

Drifting in this void is beginning to get to my head. It’s been three months since we lost transmission with Earth. I find myself visiting the rec room more and more often. For some reason, I don’t really feel like spending time with the others. Our ship is making plenty of noise, but we still haven’t picked up any signal. It’s a bizarre feeling, being so far away from home not even the stars look familiar. I just hope whatever civilization we find has more soup.

March 27^th

Doyle has been acting strange lately. He’s complaining about a scratching noise in his room which no one else can hear. I tried to comfort him by challenging him to a friendly game of snooker, but he was paranoid throughout. I promised to switch beds with him. We’ll see if I can hear that pesky rat alien or whatever it is.

March 28^th

No scratching reported, but now Doyle’s missing.

March 29^th

Found Doyle outside in a spacesuit. He’s feeling well. But how did he get out there?

April 1^st

We found the body of another Doyle outside. The “Doyle” inside is something else. If you find this message – RUN!

The Great

We used to have this Great Dane. His name was Abaddon. He didn’t live for very long, but he was a sweet dog. Great with kids, got along really well with the cat. He was really attached to me. Whenever there was a thunderstorm he would come to me and hide his head under my shoulder or between my legs. For all intents and purposes, he stayed puppy. He would always try to lie in his old bed less than half his size. Confused, he would spin around in it, trying to fix it until it was comfy enough, and then he just lied down and went to sleep with his butt sticking out.

Maybe he wasn’t the smartest dog, but that didn’t matter. Many dog owners claim that their dog’s the best in the world, and I’m no different. But there’s more to it. If it weren’t for Abaddon, I wouldn’t be here today. The big puppy found it in him to grow up at just the right moment. He heard that explosion long before me. And instead of hiding between my legs, he guided me to safety. I’m glad he managed to give his life meaning before dying. 

The Dungeon Master

“You feel an overwhelming heat as you enter the den. The dragon sits on its mountains of treasure. Its crimson scales shimmer, and so does the gold and jewels, in the dim torchlight. You hear a deep growl as the beast bares its imposing fangs. You realize it’s laughing, mocking you. ‘Another group of fearless adventurers willing to slay me for my gold, is it?’” I can feel the sweat run down my forehead. I really wish someone opened the window.

“’We didn’t come here for the gold,’ I say to the beast as I draw my trusty hammer, the Onyx. ‘We have come to put an end to your reign of terror!’” Akiva shouts. He can really ham it up sometimes.

“’Speak for yourself, you goody two-shoes cleric,’ I say as I draw my staff,” says Phoebe. Her deliberately flat delivery always gets me. “’If you don’t want the gold, then I guess there’s at least more for me.’”

“’Now, now, kids,’ I say pushing Giselle back so that she doesn’t trip over her stick and accidentally lose half her HP again,” says Gil in his usual condescending tone.

“Oh, come on. That was one time.”

“Shush, now. ‘We shall put an end to your reign of terror-‘”

“That’s what I said,” Akiva grumbles.

“’-and divide your treasures as we see fit. I swear on my blade, blessed by the god Helm-‘”

“Um, no it isn’t,” I interject.

“Oh, shush, shush! ‘Tonight you die, foul beast!’”

“The dragon laughs, sending chills down your spines. ‘Foolish mortals! We shall see if you can deliver on what you promise!’ Roll for initiative.”

Akiva picks up the 20-sided dice and throws it on the table with such force that it almost falls off.

“Reroll,” he says quickly.

“What? Why?” I try to find the dice, but it’s hidden from view somewhere.

“Because it landed partly on your handbook. You can’t really tell the number.”

I look around the handbook and, lo and behold, there’s the dice. But something doesn’t add up.

“Akiva, this is clearly a one.”

“No it isn’t.”

“Guys, care to take a look?”

“Yeah, that is definitely a one,” Phoebe says in her flat tone.

“Yup, clear as day,” Gil adds.

“You can’t be serious, bro,” Akiva stares daggers at me.

“I’m sorry, man. A one’s a one. That’s always a critical miss. So, as you try and reach-“

“The fuck!” Akiva shouts as he stands up. “I’m not playing like this!”

And with that, he leaves the room, leaving the rest of us sitting there in silence.

“So, uh… Does that mean his character died, or…?” Gil whispers.

“I think I need a drink,” I say as I take a sip of my beer. It’s nice and cold – perfect for this temperature.

Carte Blanche

“Why did it have to turn out this way, Kenta?”

Laylah’s eyes were red, her cheeks wet and black from her mascara. Her sandy hair seemed almost white in the  full moon. I still couldn’t believe this wasn’t the first time I saw her in that white dress, with that magnolia flower in her hair, standing near the beach, crying. Whatever bizarre case of déjà vu I was having, she had it too. I think I was taking it much better than she was.

“Laylah, I…” I saw you die, I wanted to say. Years ago, but not even a minute ago here. What the hell is going on?

“To think that all this ended even before it even had a chance to start,” she said through clenched teeth. “Why does is hurt so much, being around you? Why do I remember things that didn’t happen?! Tell me!”

I couldn’t tell her about the time leaps and that I saw her die time and time again. I couldn’t tell her it was her, or some version of her, that taught me how to do it. It didn’t seem relevant. She seemed to be remembering something I only had a hunch about. I was madly in love with her but when exactly did that begin? Did the leaps mess with my memories or was it someone else?

She was walking away again. Again? Did she do that before? That’s when I saw a shadow move somewhere in the bushes and I knew what was going on. I shouted her name and she turned around with eyes wide with hope, but I was too late. Just as soon as I saw her eyes meet with mine, the life faded away from them. Again I saw her die. Again I screwed up. Again I wanted to just tear through the fabric of time and space and just keep her alive. I need her alive.

I didn’t even care to look at who did it. Now that I think about, I should have maybe checked out the place I saw the shadow. But at that moment, all that mattered was that Laylah was gone in that timeline. And I had no business in that kind of place. I closed my mind and leapt back. Back to where I started, back to the beginning of the semester. I didn’t care if I had to build all my friendships from scratch and study for all my exams again. Nothing mattered as long as Laylah stayed dead.

She's the Man

“So let me get this straight,” Liz said as she leaned over the coffee shop table. Her friends all turned to face her. “You guys are saying that a real man has a wallet on him? What kind of logic is that?”

“According to Eustace,” Hector said, defensively crossing his big, tattooed hands over his chest. The light reflected off his bald head as he adjusted his glasses. Then he went on, stroking his gingerbeard. “I think a watch is more important.”

“Still, what’s all that without a car, eh?” said Lou, looking tall and lanky as usual in the big cushioned chair, his messy black hair almost entirely covering his eyes.

“Can’t afford a car without any money,” Eustace interjected, his prematurely graying curls bouncing on his head as he pointed his finger at the ceiling, more out of habit than to actually point to anything meaningful.

“But how does all that make you a man? It’s just stuff.”

“How else do you impress girls, though,” Hector retorted, the other two nodding in agreement.

“Wait.” Everyone’s gaze turned to Liz again. She spotted a hint of panic in their eyes, which made her smirk a bit. “So what you’re saying is that a real man has a girlfriend.”

“I guess that’s what it all comes down to, yes,” Lou nodded slowly.

“Okay then,” Liz picked up Hector’s latte and finished it up in one gulp. She stood up, turned toward the entrance with a triumphant smile and said “I’ll be seeing you, ladies.”

The Noxious Tower

Dame Isabelle was swinging her ivory blade in slow, composed movements,  although her hear was racing. She was finally nearing the peak of the Alabaster Tower.  She had gotten too far to give up now. And though the hordes of imps and demons, their bodies black as tar, the knight pressed on, determined to release her beloved prince Alistair from the curse.

The hallowed light of her blade blinded the creatures, and the sword sliced through them  as if they were made of water. After a while, the ebony mass was only a smudge on the tower’s cold, ivory walls. The stairwell was quiet at last, and Dame Isabelle could finally reach the chamber where her love lay. The only sounds were her echoing, metallic steps, and her shallow breath.

The top chamber was a black void. The windows were covered with jet drapes, and the marble floor, white and lustrous up until this point, was dark and reflected nothing.

And then she saw it.

The pale, beautiful face. Turning to face her from within the void, it resembled a pale mask suspended in midair, emitting an eerie glow. She dropped her blade and ran to greet her prince. As she neared it, the face rose, then, in a flash,  moved to find itself an inch away from Dame Isabelle’s face. It was a dead face. The half-open eyes were empty sockets, a trail of black liquid running down the lips. It was a mask, fashioned from her prince’s face. The knight froze, having glimpsed what lied beneath the mask.

It was too late for her. The blade could not protect her anymore. Now there was more than terror immobilizing her body. She was embraced so tight, her breaths became more and more sparse. The  face came nearer, and nearer, the black void of its eyes staring into hers. She felt its lips meet hers. For a moment she was thankful she could feel the touch of them again. But then she felt the chill of them, the suffocating darkness, and her breath escaped her.

The darkness of the Alabaster Tower took her.