Tag Archives: Fairy

Write a Story with Me # 38 – Being Prepared by Ravena Guron

Ravena brings us into the Fae Dungeons.  Will they ever get out?

38 – Ravena Guron

Yoran found his eyes drifting to Sian for the tenth time in the space of a minute. She paced backwards and forwards across the marble floor, her arms tucked behind her back, avoiding his gaze. She seemed to be waiting for something, but since she’d spat on the floor a few hours before they hadn’t exchanged more than two words. Marci had been led out earlier by a guard. And although Sian’s mouth remained in a grim line, she didn’t seem worried for her sister, which put Yoran more at his ease.

The fairy man had mentioned something about meeting their queen. Yoran licked his cracked lips and examined the dirt under his nails.. Why had the fairies saved him? Why were they treating him so well now? Why did they want him to meet their queen?

What did they want from him?

He had a horrible feeling, in the pit of his stomach, that he knew exactly what they wanted, why they needed him to be well fed and rested. And if he told them what they needed to hear, he would be betraying the Establishment. He would be worse than a traitor to his own kind.

“When do you think they’ll come for me?” Yoran asked Sian, his voice too loud, ringing out in the silence. Sian didn’t reply, but he hadn’t expected her to.

He could tell the fairies the truth. The real reason why fairies were persecuted by the Establishment.

He thought back to that moment, all those years ago, when he’d overheard the conversation which had set him permanently against the race of fairies forever. His heart began hammering at the memory, the old hatred coursing through him.

Vermin. Filth.

They’d given him a small knife, to cut his bread with. When Sian turned away, he slipped it into his boot. So when he met the queen, he would be prepared.

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Parts One – Twenty Nine Click Here

Part Thirty — Richard Leonard

Part Thirty-One —Sharon Manship

Part Thirty-Two — Shannon Christensen

Part Thirty-Three — Danielle Ackley McPhail

Part Thirty-Four — Siv Maria Ottem

Part Thirty-Five — Susan Roebuck

Part Thirty-Six — Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Thirty-Seven — Elin Gregory

Part Thirty-Eight — Ravena Guron

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

  Nicky Wells — TAG!  You are “It”

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Write a Story with Me # 33 – What? OH NO! She didn’t! by Danielle Ackley McPhail

Last week Janelle took off — literally, leaving the old lady with Mommy bleeding to death and in a ton of trouble.  What’s gonna happen?  Here’s Danielle Ackley McPhail’s first contribution to our story!

33- Danielle Ackley McPhail – Wait, she’s who?  What?  OH NO!  She didn’t!

Morana watched her unsuspecting daughter go, her lips tightly set and her eyes sad. She remembered more than a time before the faeries were looked on as vermin…she remembered when they had been kin with humans. When all kind were linked and not separate.

How dark and grim the world had become since that time.

With a sigh she turned back to her patient. Poor Natalia, forsaken by all and sundry; all but Morana, and now that the last witness was gone it was time to see to mother and babe.

Queen Morath of the fae shed the weight of her borrowed years, shed her human form, the aches and pains and the blurring of her eyes. All fell away like flakes of skin to dust leaving the most beautiful and powerful of fae standing over the human woman, who sprawled upon the floor in her own blood, the babe’s cord still trailing from her body, wet and glistening.

“tsk…let’s clean you up, my lovely, shall we?” Nearer to human height than the diminutive size the fae had become in the after-time, Morath bent gracefully down, folded the delicate membranes of her wings back and safely away from the mess on the floor before reaching out one ivory-pale hand to trail through Natalia’s hair and down the curve of her back. Magic sparkled in the air at the touch as like recognized like deep within the two races now drastically different. Queen of life and death as well as fae, Morath ordered the woman’s lifeblood back within the confines of her veins and wicked away both sweat and blood normal to the birthing of children, and with it the memory of that night’s ordeal…all of it. Natalia remain unconscious—blessedly so—as the faerie queen scooped up the woman’s son to cradle in immortal arms.

The child cooed and burbled, making the faerie queen laugh before she grew somber once more. “Come, Verval. For your own safety and theirs, you need be the price for my healing.”
And Morath rose in a cloud of glittering motes, secreting the foretold boy away before any harm might come to him or his parents for bearing him.

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Part Seventeen — Bryn Jones

Part Eighteen — Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Nineteen — Shannon Burton

Part Twenty — J.Keller Ford

Part Twenty-One — Susan Roebuck

Part Twenty-Two — Elin Gregory

Part Twenty-Three — Aparnauteur

Part Twenty-Four — Vanessa Chapman

Part Twenty-Five — Ravena Guron

Part Twenty Six — Susan Rocan

Part Twenty Seven — Kate Johnson AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twenty Eight – Julie Catherine

Part Twenty Nine — Kai Damian

Part Thirty — Richard Leonard

Part Thirty-One —Sharon Manship

Part Thirty-Two — Shannon Christensen

Part Thirty-Three — Danielle Ackley McPhail

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Siv Maria Ottem— TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me Part 26: Help for Mom with Susan Rocan

Yay!  It’s Write a Story with Me day!  We started back up Christmas Day, so if you missed out, hop on back to fill in the blanks.  That battle is still brewing… Enjoy the ride!

Now remember, we’ve got a battle on the verge of rocking.  Marci is tied to a table in her father’s ship, her sister is flying out in space, and the very lives of the faeries are on the line.  Mommy is in labor and in big trouble.

What’s gonna happen? Let’s find out!

26 – Susan Rocan – Mother/Birth string

Janelle had heard rumors that ‘the girl who brought us the leaf’ was in trouble. After completing her first round of queenly duties, albeit reluctantly, she now had the chance to slip away and see things for herself. If she could do something to help, she needed to repay her debt.

Heading straight for Marci’s window, she eased the unlocked casement forward just enough to squeeze through into the dark room. It appeared no one was home.

Suddenly, Janelle heard a moan coming from the parents’ room. She peeked in and saw Natalia on the floor beside her bed, holding her huge belly. Understanding dawned and Janelle hurried out the window to the home of an elderly woman down the street. Morana was old enough to remember the before-time, old enough to know the fae folk were not the enemy The Establishment believed them to be. She was also a midwife.

“Sorry to disturb you on this blustery night,” Janelle whispered in Morana’s ear.

The old woman rose, rubbing her arthritic joints. She reached for her glasses on the nightstand and peered at the glowing figure before her.

“What is it, my dear?” Morana asked in creaky voice.

“I need you to help someone in trouble and, please, don’t ask any questions or tell anyone what you’ve done.”

The old woman nodded as Janelle helped her into her cloak. With a few words, Janelle wove a spell into the fabric so Morana would not be seen by the night patrol.

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Part Seventeen — Bryn Jones

Part Eighteen — Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Nineteen — Shannon Burton

Part Twenty — J.Keller Ford

Part Twenty-One — Susan Roebuck

Part Twenty-Two — Elin Gregory

Part Twenty-Three — Aparnauteur

Part Twenty-Four — Vanessa Chapman

Part Twenty-Five — Ravena Guron

Part Twenty Six — Susan Rocan

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

 Kate Johnson —- TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me Part 25: Waking up tied to a table with Ravena Guron

Yay!  Write a Story with Me is back!  We started back up Christmas Day, so if you missed out, hop on back to fill in the blanks.  That battle is still brewing… Enjoy the ride!

Now remember, we’ve got a battle on the verge of rocking.  Marci is tied to a table in her father’s ship, her sister is flying out in space, and the very lives of the faeries are on the line.  Mommy is in labor and in big trouble.  What’s gonna happen?  I DON’T KNOW because Ravena Guron is flipping it back to the Marci Plot!

Arghhhhhh!  So much going on!

25 – Ravena Guron

And now she could feel her fingers again. Marci flexed them with a sigh and made to sit up. But she couldn’t. Someone had tied her to the bed upon which she lay. Her heart began to hammer and lights danced before her eyes.

What exactly had happened? She could remember fragments. She remembered sitting at the tea table and eating scones. And suddenly shivering. Sickness coursing through her. And the fever, the terrible fever, which burned through her system. Then cats dancing, unicorns flying through the air, monkeys swinging down from vines and grinning, fairies all around her, someone whispering, “they don’t know, they don’t know,” along with a low chuckle. “The fairies will be exterminated, once and for all.”

Her addled mind tried to grasp onto that thought, but it slipped away. For some reason all she could think about was seeing the look of concentration on her sister’s face in the cockpit of that Establishment shuttle, the sister she hadn’t seen for three years.

Janosc had said something about being nearly there.  Nearly where? And why did she feel that with every passing second they were flying towards a trap?

Well… Are they?  Huh huh?  I guess we’ll find out!

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Part Seventeen — Bryn Jones

Part Eighteen — Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Nineteen — Shannon Burton

Part Twenty — J.Keller Ford

Part Twenty-One — Susan Roebuck

Part Twenty-Two — Elin Gregory

Part Twenty-Three — Aparnauteur

Part Twenty-Four — Vanessa Chapman

Part Twenty-Five — Ravena Guron

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

 Susan Rocan —- TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me – Part 18 – The big Decision by Jennifer M. Eaton

Yikes!  It’s my turn.  I decided to turn this back around.  “Reign it in” so to speak.  That does not mean that the daughter cannot crop up again later if someone fancies her.  Here we go!

18 – Jennifer M. Eaton

“What is your choice?” Jonasc spat, startling Yoran from his deepest thoughts.

Yoran steepled his fingers and paced the room.  The disgusting bug hovered at his shoulder, beside him pace for pace.  He pushed the hair back from his ailing daughter’s forehead.  Her darkening lips brought a hardness to his heart almost too difficult to bear.

He breathed deeply.  “I have no choice. What do I need to do?”

Jonasc flittered through the air, resting on the child’s pillow.  Yoran resisted the urge to swat the vile creature where it lay.

“You must bring the child to the southern ridge.  The bottom of the precipice.”

Yoran’s blood heated.  His body shook as he took a step forward.  “That is insanity!  No one approaches the precipice!”

The contemptible bug’s lip turned up.  “What?  The mighty warrior has not the courage?  His daughter’s life is not worth the risk?”

Yoran slammed the table with his fist and strode to the window.  The precipice.  How would he explain such a journey? He recounted the jagged rocks, the rolling waterfalls, and the unexplainable electrical charges.  How many ships had exploded just by veering off course and into an unexpected atom stream?

He straightened.  The clouds rolled back, revealing a brilliant full moon.  The precipice… of course.  Where better than to hide a mystical portal!

He turned to the revolting winged rodent.  “When do we leave?”

The creatures lip turned up triumphantly.  “There is one thing you must do first.”

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Part Seventeen — Bryn Jones

Part Eighteen — Jennifer M. Eaton

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

 Shanjeniah —- TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me – Part 17 – What’s the other Daughter up to? with Bryn Jones

If you are looking for the Spooky Halloween blog hop, click HERE

Well, Here’s an interesting switch.  Here’s a look into the life of the rebel daughter from Bryn Jones.

17 (Bryn Jones)

So it turns out that being a rebel has its perks. Three years away from home and Sian’s life was completely different. The Establishment had developed an almost foolproof way of dealing with those who chose to speak out against the ‘perceived’ authoritarian system that ruled Argot and the other city states. Give them a job. Put someone in a position where they have power over the lives of others and almost all will toss their noble ideals to the side.

Sian understood this. She knew she was being manipulated into acquiescence with the Establishment order. The job was difficult and at first had taken a huge toll on her emotionally, but she was good at it. Extremely good. She was now part of an elite unit within the Establishment given responsibility for the cleanup operations that are run once the Planetary Raiders have completed their mission brief. This usually involved inserting new Establishment friendly politicians, but sometimes more drastic measures were required to quash rebellions before they escalated.

Her current assignment was going to be a tough one. Rumour had it that the Council of Argot had been infiltrated by the resurgent fairy population. She would have to return to her home planet to perform a delicate surgical operation and this carried with it the possibility of a chance encounter with her family. If she accidentally bumped into her father, Yoran, things could get awkward. Very Awkward.

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Part Seventeen — Bryn Jones

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Jennifer Eaton—- TAG!  You are “It”
Oh Crud!  That’s me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Write a Story with Me – Part 16 – The Unmentionable by Shannon Blue Christensen

Sooo… The plot thicken this week as Shannon blue brings in the internal thought… and a brand new backstory.  Hmmmmm…. what a tangled life daddy leads, huh?

If you are new to Write a Story with Me, please scroll down to see a list of previous posts.  Catch up on the story and have a great time!

16 (Shannon Blue Christensen)

“Bethany? Don’t just stand there. Help your mother find the herbs she needs for Marci.”

Bethany hovered for a moment, uncertain. She looked again at Marci, whose lips were beginning to turn blue, and hurried after her mother.

Yoran quickly turned back to Janosc, who had hidden behind the door while Yoran gave orders to Bethany. Janosc’s eyes glimmered. His lips quirked in what was intended to be a benevolent-appearing smile.

Yoran believed The Establishment was pure, regardless of sacrifice required. The guidances dictated by the ruling body preserved a peaceful existence for citizens. Like most young men, he was proud to be selected for service. Ridding the world of beings competing for power was noble.

A few years earlier, his unmentionable daughter was taken. She had acted out in school, asking why the Establishment came to power, who decided what was good. One evening his coworkers arrived. A summons signed “The Establishment” stated that they were taking the girl away. Yoran was warned to never think of her again.

Afterwards, his colleagues acted as if the girl has never existed, yet it was months before the usual banter resumed. The hairs on his neck told him that he was being watched. He began looking for others with hollow eyes and hesitation in their step. He wondered.

A year or two later, he met Janosc on a routine raid. He never looked the criminals in the eye, at first because he was sure they didn’t deserve the attention, now because he was afraid they did. As they tossed Janosc in the back of the wagon, the creature spoke, “I know where she is, you know. She’s not dead. They won’t allow it.”

Yoran fumbled the ropes. Janosc laughed, “Yes, wouldn’t you love to know?” Yoran pretended carelessness.

 

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Part Sixteen – Shannon Blue Christensen

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Gryphonboy  —- TAG!  You are “It”

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Write a Story with Me – Part 15 – “What’d he say?” by Sharon Manship

Oh!  I just love these devilish last lines you guys are throwing at each other!  They are not required, but Bam! They are sure making this fun!

Write a Story with Me is an ongoing story written by a collection of authors.  Each person adds 250 words a week, and no one is ever prepared for what they get smacked with.

If you need to catch up on the story so far, scoot on down below for links to the posts.

So… what is Brittany really up to?  Take it away, Sharon Manship!

15 (Sharon Manship)

“Yes, mother.” answered Bethany.  She quickly took the tray laden with tea from her, which had been rattling precariously as it balanced on top of her swollen stomach.

“What are you doing skulking around out here?”

“What’s going on?  Is Marci okay?” she deflected, concentrating on keeping her face a mask of sisterly concern.

“She certainly is not, Bethany.  I’m afraid your sister seems to be in quite a bad way.”

Her mother carried on down the corridor and gently pushed open the door to Marci’s room, beckoning with her hand that Bethany should follow.  On entering, Bethany’s eyes quickly flicked round the room in an attempt to locate the fairy her father had been talking to, but there was no sign of him.  Her mother’s commotion in the corridor had obviously alerted them to their presence.

Bethany, remembering why she was supposed to be there, turned to look at Marci.  She gasped

Want to see more?  Hop on over to Sharon Manship’s blog!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Part Fifteen — Sharon Manship

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Shannon Christensen —- TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me – Part 14 – Plans and Schemes – What will he do? with Richard Leonard

Hello there!  If your new over here, Write a Story with me is a little idea I came up with for my Blogiversary.  It’s a story I started in mid July, and a different author ever week adds an additional 250-ish words to the story.  When they are done, the next person gets tagged and they are on their way!

It’s great fun because it’s a super flash-fiction challenge, because you NEVER KNOW what you’re going to get hit with.  You can’t plan, because you don’t know what kind of curve-ball the person in front of you will throw.

Sound like fun?  It is!

If you’d like to catch up, a list of the previous segments is below.

Today, we have Richard Leonard up at bat.  Take it away, Richard!

14 (Richard Leonard)

Yoran fought the urge to crush the evil little monster hovering just beyond arm’s reach. He guessed Janosc spoke in a falsetto voice to put him off guard, which it certainly did. Staring fiercely at the disgusting wasp-like creature buzzing before him, he knew what was to eventuate and could see no way to avoid it.

“What do you want? Speak quickly, we have little time.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”, said Jonasc in his normal gruff voice. “You’ve seen this before, Yoran. You know it’s terminal. I can help heal your daughter… but only if you help protect my world.”

“How?”

“Well… it involves taking her to through the Portal. However, I’m not sure if I’m prepared to do so. It’s a big risk for us.”

The color of Yoran’s face deepened as the veins in his neck swelled. How dare this vile bug hold his precious little Marci to ransom. Her life traded for the promise of allowing the beetle fairies and their world to thrive in his beloved county? For any other father the decision would be easy. But Yoran can never be seen to have made such a choice. Marci’s sacrifice would be expected of him.

SO… does he save Marci or not?  Hop on over to Richard’s site to read the rest of his section.  Have fun!  http://richardleonard.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/write-a-story-with-jennifer-m-eaton-part-14

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Part Fourteen — Richard Leonard

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

 Sharon Manship —- TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story with Me – Part 13 with Kai Damian – Laser guns? and WHAAAAT?

Here’s part thirteen, also known as HOLY FREAKING COW!

Dang, Kai.  Bring it girlfriend.

Now this is getting interesting.  Glad I’m not next!

“Can’t find anything wrong with her,” said the doctor after prodding and probing Marci’s frail body with a series of medigadgets. Behind him, Marci’s parents watched their daughter lie unconscious, her breath so shallow that they could have sworn no air was reaching her lungs.

“Then why isn’t she waking up?” Marci’s father asked. His wife broke into sobs as she sat next to her daughter and caressed her frozen cheek.

With trembling hands, the doctor packed his medigadgets away. “I’m sorry Protector Sumner, I wish I had an answer for you.” He watched Marci for a few moments, a wave of anguish washing over his face, then finally said, “Let’s give her twenty-four hours, and if she doesn’t wake up, we’ll take her in.”

“No, you can’t take her in, I won’t let you—”

“Natalia, please,” Marci’s father said, ending his wife’s lament with an icy stare. She lowered her gaze back on her daughter, silently acknowledging the mistake she almost made: rebel against the Establishment’s Rules under one of its servants’ eyes.

Nobody can tell the Establishment what they can and cannot do. What they can take. When they can take it. Even if the taken is someone’s child. It was a Rule solemnly recorded in the Tablet of Truth, which no planetary raider had ever defied.

Marci’s father thanked the doctor and showed him out, then rushed back to his daughter’s room.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he said gently, and kissed his wife’s forehead.

Natalia shook her head and squeezed his hand. “You did the right thing, dear,” she whispered and wiped off another tear. “But we need to bring her back, Yoran, before they can take her. I don’t think I can survive another Recall.” She rose to her feet with a pant, holding her belly with both hands. “I’ll go make some tea, you stay with her and think about our options,” she said and left lifeless Marci alone with her father.

He sat next to Marci and caressed her cheek. “Oh poppet, why won’t you come back?” he whispered and leaned his forehead against his daughter’s cold hand.

“Perhaps I can be of service.” The tiny voice reminded him of the crystal wind chimes hanging outside his daughter’s window. Hand on his laser gun, he turned around.

“What the—” were the only words he had time to utter before the sight of the enemy rendered him speechless. Speechless, but not mindless. Because in that moment, Yoran Sumner knew that the creature before him—the one he had learned to hate since he was a little boy—was about to turn him into a Rule breaker.

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton

Part Two – J. Keller Ford

Part Three – Susan Roebuck

Part Four – Elin Gregory

Part Five – Eileen Snyder

Part Six – Mikaela Wire

Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman

Part Eight — Ravena Guron

Part Nine – Vikki Thompson

Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins

Part Eleven — Kate Johnston  AKA 4AMWriter

Part Twelve — Julie Catherine

Part Thirteen — Kai Damian

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Richard Leonard —- TAG!  You are “It”