"Upon a starry night, I stood aboard a floating dream pirate ship. I know what you're thinking—I laug..."

"Morning arrives softly. I lean toward my nightstand, glance at the clock, then out the window. The s..."

"The ship had begun its course, with Hollow and Malachi taking turns at the helm, discussing directio..."

"Morning passed into afternoon, and I stepped onto the main deck to check in with Hollow and Malachi...."

"Within an hour, our destination came into view. From above, Gemville looked breathtaking—its rooftop..."

"I had been slumbering in a high‑tech pod for three years. The last thing I remembered was chaos—a li..."

"The shooting range echoed with sharp cracks of gunfire, muffled by my headphones. I hadn't noticed a..."

"A few hours later, I woke up feeling refreshed. I picked up my phone and typed:Hey there stranger, w..."

"Soft music drifted from Toby's speakers, the kind of calm melody that meant he was awake and paintin..."

"Here we are—home sweet home. Everything looks futuristic and clean, nothing like the worn streets I..."

"Night settles over the city; neon signs flickering against spotless streets. I close the poetry book..."

"I couldn't believe I'd been away from home for three years. So much had changed since the explosion,..."

"I was only fifteen years old when I died, taken by tuberculosis in the 1800s—a time when no cure exi..."

"It is present day in New Orleans, the year 2022. I am only a ghost now, a shadow from the past, ling..."

"Morning arrived, and the house was already alive with noise. The eighteen‑year‑old girl and her youn..."

"The sun dissipated as the moon rose slowly into the sky, turning day into evening. Owls drifted onto..."

"Hmph... I'm still an active spirit in this house, wandering while everyone sleeps. I don't know what..."

"When my big sister Maribelle passed away in her bedroom, I didn't understand at first. I thought she..."

"Back home in Louisiana, the family of four continued living their busy, lively days, enjoying the ti..."

"“Howdy there, sir…” I slapped my palm down on the center of the table, tipping my hat as I stumbled..."

"Morning rose slow and hazy. I saddled my Morgan mare and rode to the doctor’s office. Inside, the nu..."

"The desert stretched wide and empty. I passed families traveling with their children, desert plants,..."

"Kirwin was quiet, half‑empty. The sheriff approached us.“What brings you two here?”I asked about the..."

"Four hours later, we reached Atlantic City. We tied off our horses and walked into the sheriff’s off..."

"Griffith Park wasn't supposed to feel this dark."Layla, where are you?" My voice barely carried thro..."

"Sunday morning came with a loud knock at the door.Layla dragged herself out of bed and opened it. Sa..."

"I drove to Griffith Park and parked in the lot, texting Willow before stepping out:"Hey! I decided t..."

"A couple of hours later, I was back in the valley, sitting in my apartment and telling Sam everythin..."

"After Sam left, I checked my phone again. Willow had texted earlier:"Hey! Sorry I can't join you, I'..."

"Sam was sitting outside near a small bonfire when I walked out. He looked over and smiled. I quickly..."

"The alarm blared."BEEP... BEEP... BEEP... BEEP..."Five straight minutes of torture.I groaned, rolled..."

"Later that day, after work, I was at Willow's place. We were hanging out in her living room when I t..."

"At some point, Sam shifted uncomfortably. Willow had been giving him looks again — the same ones she..."

"Eventually, exhaustion caught up with both of us.We decided to call it a night.Willow climbed into h..."

"The sun was beginning to sink as we drove. The sky shifted from a warm orange to a deepening purple...."

"Jackson reached for her. "Willow, stop."But she didn't.She pushed the door open.The room was pitch b..."

""WILLOW!" Jackson dropped to his knees, pounding on the floor. "WILLOW!"Sam grabbed him. "Jackson —..."