Rule number two of being a successful thief: people will forgive almost anything if you make them laugh.

Rule number one: don’t get caught.

Which is why, as I dangled upside down from a museum skylight, watching my prize get whisked away by a security guard, I was re-evaluating some of my life choices.

“Hey,” I called down. “I think you took something of mine.”

The guard jumped about a foot in...

I fold my arms across my chest and glare at the floor. The principal’s office smells like old paper and black coffee, and the leather chair beneath me makes an awful squeaking sound every time I shift. Across from me, Mrs. Talbot, the school’s counselor, leans forward with her hands clasped like she’s about to offer me some great wisdom that will change my life.

“You know why you’re here, don’t y...

The air smells like fire and rain. Smoke clings to the streets, winding through the ruins like a ghost searching for a body. I step carefully over the broken stones, my boots sinking into the mud, my breath shallow as I listen. Always listening.

The city is dying.

The war is still here, thick in the air, pressing against my skin. But the worst of it has moved on. The enemy is retreating. Or mayb...

I never was an early riser.

Before everything changed, I would hit snooze at least three times before dragging myself out of bed. Mornings were for other people—people with ambition, with purpose. I had neither.

Now, waking up late could mean death.

The sky outside my shattered apartment window was the color of rust, the sun buried somewhere behind thick, toxic clouds. The air was stale, heavy ...

Eleanor sat rigidly at the head of the grand oak dining table, her hands folded delicately in her lap. The chandelier above cast golden light over the polished silverware, the scent of rosemary and roasted lamb filling the air. Laughter and idle chatter swirled around her. yet she barely heard a word. Her gaze rested on the wine in her glass—deep crimson, swirling gently with every slight tremor o...

In the golden light of afternoon,

A child plays on the playground,

Laughing and running without a care,

But suddenly, a shadow looms.

A stranger approaches with a smile,

Promising candy and toys,

The child's innocence blinds them,

As they follow without a second thought.

The playground empties, the sun sets,

But the child is nowhere to be found,

Parents cry out in panic and fear,

Their precious ...

In the darkness of the night,

When nightmares grip you tight,

And fear is all you've ever known,

Dreams can be a frightful thing.

The shadows dance upon the wall,

Whispers echo through the hall,

A glimpse of hope, a fleeting light,

But still, the terror grips you tight.

In dreams, the demons come to play,

Their twisted forms in disarray,

They haunt your thoughts, they cloud your mind,

Leaving yo...

“What do you think happened to him?”

The man paused but not before glaring at the young boy.

“None of my business.” He tossed him a shovel and was amused when he fumbled with the handle.

“Our job is to dig, not to ask questions," the man said, walking over to the site where they were to start digging.

The cold wind whipped threw the grass and sent shivers up the boy’s spine. He was appalled...