Chapters

10 minutes “What’s wrong?” “He isn’t crying. Babies are supposed to cry.” “Let me see.” “J- just don’t do anything.” “Like what?” “…” “His motor functions are fine. He’s reacting to light and sound.” “You’re not a doctor.” “Oh? And why is that qualification important? If I were to cure your headache, would that make […]

The light from the surface grew smaller, becoming a small circle, then a pinprick before vanishing. The air I fell through grew thick and moist, warming me like someone was breathing all over me. No, no, no. I couldn’t think straight. Everything was going wrong. Chase was still out there and I was nowhere near

I failed. That’s all I could think as I watched the Earth from a million miles away. My Shaping was gone. I felt cold space invade my chest cavity. My skin cracked in this soundless hell and I knew what would be next. Blood boiling and freezing, tissues expanding. I would become a balloon of

“Everyone who is under my influence, use any means necessary to kill yourself.” With those words, I flung my sixth sense as far as I could reach, expanding my perception to its limits and seizing hold of every living thing within it. It felt like I’d been flayed open and stretched across space. Chase’s half-eaten

Chase flicked the tip of the sword back and forth, catching what little light remained on its oily black surface. He spread his feet and raised his off hand, imitating a fencer. “Don’t feel like talking? C’mon Nick. Remember how things used to be? We used to have discussions. I loved those little nicknames you

Blood beat inside my head, urging me to do something, anything to stop this moment from happening. But it was already too late. Chase’s face was smeared with dirt and the vestiges of the Marquess’ fluid body. He panted heavily and his tongue was black. The dark crucible groaned, wood splitting as it curled ever

Relief flooded my body and my legs started to wobble. “Gimme a sec,” I said, flopping unceremoniously onto a bench in the underground mall. Cecily stopped walking. Her body was still see-through in places, but her innards no longer glowed with power, and she looked thinner and shorter. “You okay?” I huffed a laugh. “I’m

Chase’s voice seemed to come from every dark corner of the hazy forest, “Where to start? I want to learn all I can from the man who was my most precious benefactor.” “My Goddess…” The Marquess called out quietly in my mind. “She is busy right now and you are spent. There’s nothing more you

Our doom bore down on us in the form of a wave cresting over the tops of skyscrapers. Giant sword blades thrust forth from the wave, as if an army of deific soldiers ran behind it. People screamed and pushed past me, running for cover. Neve’s face was pale as the wave’s shadow passed over

Tom unfurled a roll of paper towel, holding it like an ancient scroll.  “It’s the good shit. Three times the absorbing power of an undisclosed competitor’s.” The absurdity of the situation bubbled up in my gut and I let out an involuntary laugh. “There we go,” Tom said with a sparkle in his eye. “Relax.