The stands were filling up as the contestants stretched. Today wasn’t like any other day. Today was the big banquet of the year, ‘The Symposium.’ Lots and lots of people come to these events every year all over Ancient Greece. The winner takes a grand prize, although not many people have made it to the finals, what, with all the violence and competitiveness. Only a champion could go through with t...

I am the coin of sliver the price of his life. 30 pieces of me for how much they pay for his life. The price of a slave the same price for the king of the world.

I am the torch that lead the way through the garden I lead the soldiers to him.

I am the rope that they used to bind him.

I am the the court yard where he stood silently. As they brought lier to come and speak lies about him.

I am the...

The deafening roar of the crowd vibrated through the arena as lights flashed, and banners waved. The annual "Titan's Gauntlet" was the most prestigious competition in the country, drawing warriors, scholars, and performers alike. This year, it was personal.

Theo Blackwood stood at the edge of the ring, his pulse pounding like a war drum. He had fought his way through every round, every rival, unt...

Two large eyes stare deep into my soul—dark pits, empty and menacing. I can't look away. Sweat crawls down my brow and drops to the floor with a tiny plop that echoes in the silence. He doesn’t blink, just keeps firing daggers into my gaze.

I grip the sides of my chair. My knuckles bleach bone-white, matching the color-drained mask of my face. Pain prickles behind my eyes like spiders marching ac...

Ready set go

Start your engines

On your mark

Get set

Go go go

It’s all for show

To and fro

Let’s just stop

Rot

It’s your lot

Not good

For food

Clue...

Born just 13 months apart, they competed over everything: grades, attention, sports, who got the front seat. Their parents tried to be fair, but fairness sometimes felt like favoritism. Lena was quieter, more introspective, good with words. Max was loud, athletic, magnetic—he soaked up praise like a sponge.

By high school, their rivalry had hardened. Max teased Lena constantly. Sometimes it was j...

The crowd buzzed with excitement at the Valleywide Invention Tournament. It was the final round, and twelve-year-old Maeva Lin stood across from her rival, Edgar Trumbull. His sleek exosuit flexed its mechanical limbs; hers was a small wooden box with copper coils, quietly humming.

Edgar smirked. “Hope yours doesn’t catch fire this time.”

Maeva said nothing. Her invention, built from a design sh...

My sword falls to the ground. I look the lion before me in the eyes. They look human, just like mine.

“Citizens! Who will win? Place your bets!”

The announcer draws me from our connection, and I see the patrons standing in their seats, looking down at us. We’re nothing but meat to them; never were any more. I look up at them and see no connection. They are not my brothers, my sisters. You, tho...

Verdant leaves waving me on; the maple moaning.

I’m left gaping at the sun grasping hip still groaning.

I’ll make it. I only have miles it seems to go.

Back breaking. Feet stinging. Calves buckling. Oh no....

The clock struck five

And we were off to the start

I ran all I could

Then the pain in my heart

I fell over the finish line

Won my first place

I marveled at my medal

The blood left my face

As my wife held my hand

All thoughts left my head

I saw the angels weeping

I’d won, but I’m dead...