Blackmail on Holiday
I'd been so close to falling asleep, just at the cusp of unconsciousness where dreams tangled with reality. The noise that roused me was strange and unfamiliar, a low rhythmic huffing, but when that huff turned to a moan my eyes opened. They came...
The Art of Self Control
**1 – The Interview** Before me the door opened to reveal the huge figure of General Manager Nopal, a man so senior to me in the company we shouldn't have been breathing the same air. He spoke his welcome with a faint smile and a tone of...
A Change of Pace
It all started with jogging, so that's where I'll start. I jog, three times a week, after work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Most people go in the morning but with my hour commute and early start time... well, jogging at 4am is not that fun....
Gator Style
"What the hell… Di.. di..." I swallowed the mouthful of saliva that had suddenly gushed from overactive glands and tried again, "Did you pu… ghk..." more saliva, and this time I couldn't seem to coordinate lips, tongue and throat in the proper order;...
Beast in the Storm
## Ch. 1 Upon the horizon dark brows of the storm furrowed, flecked with flashes of lightning too distant to hear. Where I lay, the wind was still, the sky clear, the sea calm. I tugged absently at my bonds, rough rope drawn taught and cut into the...
Genetic Moon 2017 — Innocent Intentions
## 2017: Prelude to Disaster The notification flashed on the bottom right of my monitor, a new message. This single message as innocent as it was, hid a dark fate. That fate was so fundamentally twisted that any sane person would have smashed that...
3 - The Good Son
_Note: The character name "Itlahtuk" is Kuthalti backwards, named after the egotistical edge lord himself. The pronunciation of it is "It-luh-took" but occasionally shortened to "Ithy" or "Took"_ **Chapter 0: Prologue** "Ten thousand gold bounty?"...
A Brooding Mood
Prologue I had a self destructive interest, a desperate and near hopeless interest that ruled my life. I am unquestionably what you would call ugly, not just plain--ugly. This strongly impeded my interest, for the object of my desire was to be a...
The Depth of Faith
Darkness settled over the snow clad forest. Winter birds trailed off in their lyrical worship of the wan sun. My carriage continued up the road toward the high mountain pass as storm clouds gathered in the distance. I stared hard at them, I bent my...
Xenophilia
“Are you certain? You will not live through this experience. The rest of your short life will be little more than terror, trauma, and pain. There is no turning back either." He told me as he laid the paper on the desk. I looked up at him, jaw set,...
Kuthalti's Lament 0 — The Summoning (Prequel)
**1 – Sacrifice** We chose carefully of the locals. Those who would not be noticed, not missed, not mourned. My first victim was a man I'd found homeless and alone, sheltered under an old oak in the forest. He fought and bled, bled for our God, then...
Writhing Horror
### Frankie I almost made it, another second and the airlock would have closed. I would have been safe and sound inside the ship, away from this hellish world. I didn't though, I didn't make it. As my hand rushed toward the emergency lock button I...