“Tap twice knock once. Tap twice knock once.” Alice repeated under her breadth as she made her way out the door. After turning each of the three locks, her middle finger tapped twice against the door’s center panel followed by a quick wrap of her knuckles. She repeated the pattern twice more before stepping back and smoothing her hands hands down her red, black, and white plaid skirt- three times ...

“I think I’m in love with you.”

The confession hung between us on that warm August night. The next day, she would be gone and every memory of us would fade to make way for new ones. That was the only reason I dared to confess my feelings that night.

A pause, then, “Oh Sylie,” she whispered. “I don’t, I can’t-“

“I know.” I didn’t dare look her in the eyes. “I don’t expect anything back, or for u...

Medar was going to lose his fingers. Or he toes. Maybe even both with how long he had to be in this godforsaken place. He wouldn’t call his gloves thin- in fact they were the thickest his village had to offer- but after an hour they did little to stave the stinging numbness in his fingertips. His toes weren’t fairing any better. His mother made him put on three layers of sheep wool socks and cowhi...

He knew he should wait, but the line for the neurotransmitter simulator request module was far too long for his liking. No one would notice if he tweaked his neurolink a bit. Just a tiny change really. He was’t going for something as explosive as anger or as noticeable as joy. No. All he wanted was to feel content. Just a little bit of happiness, of peace. He wasn’t addicted. Addicted would mean h...