American dream

colorful kite in deep blue sky

“The sky was deep blue. A blue that hurt to look directly into, a blue that threatened to swallow you whole." So began Isabel’s tale.” Wrapped in a light woolen blanket, she sat on a high hill, beneath a tall oak watching her great-grandsons flying their kite. Their shouts and laughter lifting the rainbow triangle … Continue reading American dream

A grievous reality

abandoned block building

A crowd gathered outside of the chancellery waiting for news about the stranger found unconscious inside an abandoned building in the woods at the edge of town. Visitors to Shambles were a grievous rarity, a remedy to tragedy. Strangers only appeared when a villager died out of sequence and new stock was needed. This man’s … Continue reading A grievous reality

Another man’s wife

cemetery

Goodwood Duxford tales… Goodwood Duxford approached the somber burial crypt with as much anxiety as the first time he went out to wrangle a wayward Gramberly spirit. Knocking on the heavy iron gate, he wasn’t sure if the dearly departed Grace Leighton would answer his entreaty. She had earned her long, peaceful rest. What Goody … Continue reading Another man’s wife

Divine retribution

church black and white

The acrid taint of burning incense did nothing to mask the rancid stink that permeated the desecrated sanctuary. Reavers had crawled over the walls and altar like leather beetles, stripping the trappings of the sanctuary like flesh from bone. Taking their pickings, reavers left their leaders to bask in the profane overthrow. Their chief, Rolf, sprawled … Continue reading Divine retribution

Repository

piles of old books

Sitting among the old and crumbling books, Jacob lovingly laid his hand on the tallest stack sitting on a wooden cart. Sounds of marauders filtered through the hundreds of shelves of abandoned stories. The raucous ruins now the antithesis to his once somber and silent sanctuary. The last remaining phantom library, the Grand Canton Repository … Continue reading Repository