1680 – Rebecca Wills Homecoming I hear the crackles and spits of the kindling beneath me. Fear places its icy grip around me, squeezing tight. I wait in dread of the searing heat when it reaches the soles of my feet. People in the crowd are jeering and cheering, yet I can see the faces of those who I’ve helped in the past; solemn, sad and silent as they watch on in shock. They know the real me, they know who I am. Tears stream down their cheeks. They trusted in me; trusted th

Literary Titan Book Award What does a teacher do with a teenage student who can’t seem to read, write, speak, or want to mix in with others? What does a parent do when their child is continually bullied throughout elementary school without teachers or administrators seeming to care? Where is a safe place for students with challenges that no one seems to understand? This is a true story. When Liam came to my classroom, I knew something was off. What was I supposed to do with t

Heather’s had her shower and put her towel and swimsuit on the pile of laundry by the full washing machine. Jas is eating a sandwich in front of the TV. She looks tired. Heather knows she’s not giving Jas enough attention at the moment. She’s written the proposed date for Jas’s Caesarean in July on the calendar, but she’s not asking after her enough. Not about the pregnancy or Andrew or any of it. “I’ll call the ward before I get some dinner,” Heather says. Her fingers find t

Picture courtesy of RBTaylor at Pixabay We are brothers, before the masses we stand together. No matter what issue may exist between two members of this brotherhood, all brothers will be united against all others. To ensure our members are joined in unity, we declare the following as the bylaws which we will live by. - The declarative statement of the Bylaws of The Brotherhood - Prologue Steve Baker walks into the lobby of the Galactic Geographic building. He strolls towards

ALIEN RESCUERS BY JANICE SEAGRAVES Rescuer excerpt CHAPTER ONE: SABER Saber Daystar had an itchy, creepy sensation crawling up his spine. His attention swung to a pair of piercing blue eyes, watching him intently through a small hole in the window. He gave a start then scrambled to his feet. Someone’s outside my window? “How did you...? That window is constructed from thick, escape-proof plas-glass.” “Never mind how,” said a female in a soft voice. “Is it true Arcons can r

BROC FER PART TWO THE SOUTHERN PROMISE BROC FER PART ONE THE NORTHERN BOW Extract from: Broc Fer – Part one, The Northern Bow Eldon walked in from his bedchamber with his great sword slung over his back as he always wore it. In the middle of the room lay a big firepit surrounded by long wooden tables and benches. On one of the tables there

They met a flatboat in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and floated the Ohio River down to Maysville. The women and children were left behind at the fortified Goodwin’s station while the men traveled overland to place their claims on the lands at Pottinger’s Creek. Now eight years later, most of the settlers flourished in the new land. Nelson County became part of the new state of Kentucky, but for Earnest, nothing was left of the optimistic man he once was. The hopes and dreams he

Chapter One Captain Pink One minute. Sixty seconds. Blink, and it was gone before you knew it. And in the aftermath, you were forced to live with the decisions and consequences for a lifetime, watching time tick by, never ending, adding to your torture, giving you an unending prison sentence. “Captain Pink!” Ghoul snapped on the other end of the line, yanking me out of my thoughts. I wasn’t sure why I fell down that particular hole, but it had been happening more often lately

Excerpt: This is the story the painter told the boy. . . . Harald Finn would sometimes scrutinize his own big hands with his one good eye as if pondering how he could strangle himself with them. If he bent his fingers and stared at the yellow nails, it seemed as if it was only the sheer intensity of his gaze that kept the hands off him. The very instant he looked away, the independent little beasts with five fingers would seize the opportunity to attack his throat. Yet he cou

Chapter 2 Elena was glad to slip into her comfy nightgown and climb into bed. Her thoughts shifted from anger to excitement at the thought of Tony phoning her. Mob or no mob, I don’t care; he’s hot! Oh, the way he strutted in with those black Ray-Bans and a black leather jacket. And the way he acted as though he owned the place. It seemed as though people froze when he entered the club. Visions of his jet-black hair slicked back behind his ears filled her thoughts. With that,