Bad dreams were plenty reason for Zoë to retreat. She didn't have enough energy to rewind the unraveling thread, and she didn't have enough influence to swing opinion over to her side. What Zoë did have, however, was a flame that never died. She counted on that to be enough to fend off the Auditors…

I was too scared to cry. I thought of the pale pink gem hidden in my fist, and didn't know if I should keep it or beg the night to take it back. Either way, I couldn’t bear the thought of someone else possessing it. Death was coming for me, and one magic stone was…

Winds never shifted so soon after finding an exit. Zoë knew before departure this visit was going to be different. She hoped to stay on course and not get lost in the possibilities. Baby steps. Don't try anything complicated. Raindrops kept perfect rhythm as they slapped against Zoë's forehead. It rained wherever she went. The…

Virginia felt as though all the important people in her life were moving on, leaving her to flounder on her own. No one would be there to catch her, or coach her, or tell her when she wasn't making sense. Virginia couldn't even allow herself to think about her best friend who was moving away;…

Following is a translation of the message I received today: Viktor, I need my trowel. Bring it! There are no insiders! That beard of yours wants a Brasilien blowout. Lucky is the wonder who sprints 10 times a day. 3 will pay for an eclipse ending. Our client list consists of readers, writers, angels, and…

Megan got a second chance to write her story. The first pass-through was riddled with poor judgment and lapses in logic. These things are bound to happen when the number of years lived span a handful of chapters. Emotions cut deep when everything is new, and losing one's place is a constant challenge. Megan didn't…

Zoë feared having to start over. Numbers screamed in Zoë's head, and it was all she could do to write them down. She'd amassed so many combinations, the thought of losing her notebooks made her nauseous. Zoë had been busy over the summer, chasing down bits of code and truncated clues, and neglected to notice…

Autumn dropped its jewel-toned leaves onto the busted cement in front of Zoë's apartment. She sat in her bay window and admired the vibrant carpet spread out just for her. She loved the time of year when death dressed in pretty colors, and wanted nothing more than to walk out into the fresh decay. Autumn…

Stephanie was the light to which her friends were drawn. She was not an attention seeker, and never thought of herself as the life of the party, but she knew the value of projecting a positive attitude. It rubbed off on people. A kind word or gesture made the loneliest soul feel invincible, and obstacles…