The window erupted in a spray of automatic fire, lighting up the hallway in a spectacle of twinkling glass and hot death. Gunsmoke trailed out from the hallway,and we sprang into action instantly, diving into cover against the wall. A shard of glass slashed across Hands face, but she slammed an invisible appendage over her … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 13)
Someone had put a lot of time and effort into making the front doors the building more welcoming. Paint was strewn across the courtyard, popping up in a variety of locations. Statues here and there. Some archaic. Some just human, and a few more esoteric pieces consisting of chains and wire and chairs. It looked … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 12)
y eyes were tightly closed. Pressed tight enough so I wouldn’t get blood in my eyes. But even though the gunshot had echoed out around the street, I couldn’t feel the warmth of blood licking down my face. Couldn’t tell if Hands had been hit. I cracked open my eyes and stared at the bullet, … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 11)
The second patrol in the last hour sidled out towards the explosion in the distance. My com was muted at my side, but it went off, vibrating quietly. Hands shot me a desperate look, then stifled even that noise in the invisible hand she possessed. It floated in front of us, both staring at the … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 10)
Dauphin island was a beautiful place at the best of times. Rare birds rested there after weeks crossing the gulf of mexico during migrations. Scenic beaches whirred their way past civil war fortresses, partially restored to their original structures. Aquariums bubbled to keep track of the gulf’s unique ecosystem at all times, lest it be … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 9)
The girl sitting next to me held her phone in front of her without touching it with her hands. The touch screen blipped as if fingers were brushing against it, flicking across news articles- “Red alert still.” “Nothing new, Hands?” I asked her, wearily. I didn’t want to look at mine. Didn’t want to look … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 8)
I didn’t tune the radio to the emergency stations that night. Call it a moment of weakness, or call it a need for respite. Instead, I slowly sifted through the gift bags and baskets and pieced together the fan letters and sat down to read them. So many people. So many individuals looking at me, … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 7)
The table was rimmed with glasses of tea. I was pleased. Not pleasantly so, as that would mean there was a clear leader among them, but the people who had joined me were more than the few capes that had showed up to help with the rubble yesterday. A few older men and woman has … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 6)
Excelsior was gone in the morning. Gone like the hope I had for the day, for the week, or even the month. His communicator, however, twinkled on the table. A light flickered across the face of it, every few seconds. It didn’t match the thump of my heart, or the waves of rising bile in … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 5)
The rubble shifted to the side as I stared into the wreckage. A few buildings had collapsed, and now came the time to pour through them. Piece by piece. To see if anyone had been left behind. Excelsior heaved with his arm and flung the debris to the side, where it joined the pile manned … Read moreGale Rising (Chapter 3)