I could still hear the pattern.

/thump/ … /thump/ /thump/

Was it my heart? Or perhaps the ground against sneakers. It’s deaf under the—

/crackle/crackle/crackle/

I could still smell the incense.

It wasn’t very pleasant, but it was very strong. I covered my nostrils but I didn’t dare open my mouth either.

I could still taste the carbon.

The mucus fueling, charred debris could not be rubbed off m...

Raina,

I shouldn’t have fallen in love with you.

It’s been a week since the incident, and all I can think about it how much your friends miss you. How ignorant and stupid it was for me to let you out of my grasp, and I kick myself everyday for watching your body crisp and shrivel around the fire of my guilt. My mother’s house I had dropped a matchstick in, and let everything I’ve ever regrette...

Eva pushed her thumb between her teeth, trying to stop herself from grinning too much.

Well, Rocco had always been a great support and friend to her since he transferred to her school this year, and her whole life had changed with him around. Rocco’s helped her stand up to her backspitting friends, build her confidence outside of her brother Sonny’s shadow, and learn to grow as a person as well ...

“Just the one?”

The store clerk eyes Sonny as his scanner bleeps the product through. One gallon of bleach and nothing else. Sonny ponders, before reaching for a PayDay bar on the side and handing it over to the guy, as if it were an olive branch.

“Thank you, sir.”

Exiting the store, Sonny had to move quickly. He turned round the corner and started making quick pace back to Anthea’s neighborhoo...