Three brothers ran through the field to the cover of the trees beyond. Their father’s words still echoed in their minds even as they heard the explosion behind them. “Don’t look back. And whatever you do stay together.” When they reached the woods they kept going. None of them looked back. Three special boys with very different gifts. And their father had taken the time to nurture each one. ...

Sunset was the best time of day. The time when you can imagine the smog was just clouds drifting by. And on my swing I could fly above it all, like the birds of old. A hand came down on my head. “Does your Papa know you’re here, piccolina?” I looked up at my cousin. Unlike me he wasn’t wearing a respirator. But the smog didn’t seem to bother him. Instead he breathed normally. Frowning, I ...

I tried to focus on the board as the teacher tried to explain long division. Math had always been hard for me. I’d barely passed through it last year. If it hadn’t been for Dad I’d never have reached the fifth grade. So for his sake I tried hard to pay attention. But the numbers were getting blurry. The teacher’s voice faint. Even the world began to tilt. I blinked into the bright sunlight. Bri...

“To think she’d collapse like that.” A voice echoed through the darkness. “And during the new governor’s acceptance speech too.” Another voice answered as something loosened its grip on my arm. “These are normal too. Do you think it was due to stress?” “Had to be.” The first voice said. I could recognize it as female now. “Governor Woodrow brought in all sorts of doctors to do tests. And the...

I laid in the hospital bed trying to ignore my throbbing arm. The tv only provided three channels. The news, sports, and a Spanish soap opera. I sighed. The surgery was supposed to be today but some politician had taken my spot. And what’s a fractured arm compared to a heart failure? At least they gave me worker’s comp. As if the job wasn’t already killing my brain cells. Laughter echoed throug...

I sat in silence as my therapist stared at me. His pen tapped the desk. A rhythm quickly grating on my nerves after ten minutes of silence. “What do you want me to say?” I blurted out. Dr Zingle set down his pen. “Let’s start with the nightmares. What do you remember about them?” “I never told you that I was having nightmares.” Suspicion snuck into the back of my mind. I’d started seei...

I stared at the bullet wound as more shots rang out. There was so much blood gushing from my teacher’s stomach. More than I’d ever seen before. Bullets hit the side of the baggage handler that we were hiding behind. It shook but the suitcases inside took all the damage. “Enara…” my teacher gasped as blood trickled out his mouth. I scooted closer. My hands hovered over his wound but I was afr...

I rode behind the three knights ignoring the randy song Emil was singing. Makari rode beside him sharpening one of his blades. And Hadrian lead the way letting his wolf mount sniff out the crown prince’s trail. It was then that I noticed the silence of the forest. I stopped, jumping down as I opened my senses. And ignoring the insults Emil threw my way. The mana of the forest was taunt as if so...

I awoke with a start. And sunlight flooded my eyes. I looked out the window to see an endless field of poppies instead of the expanse of space. Had they really landed without telling me? I ripped myself from the bedsheets. But my heart squeezed just as I reached the hallway. I leaned against the wall not daring to make a sound. It wouldn’t do to show the others how sick I really was. The pain w...

It started with the rain. My worst enemy. And yet my greatest power. But I was still drowning as I watched it through the bar window. “Captain!” Spoons burst through the door. He was soaked through and yet he carried an umbrella. He spotted me and stole my drink. I dodged the splatters of water. “Are you just here to steal my whiskey?” “Sorry, Captain.” He set down the empty cup. “The...