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Vista Street, Part 5
A gust of river wind whistled through alleys and gaps between shuttered doors. Dew clouded the storefront windows. Only the steady light of neon signs informed the three boys what sort of businesses they were passing by. Here was a clothing boutique. There was a book shop. The name Harbor Harvest caught Sakari’s eye. He
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Vista Street, Part 4
Beyond the gate, Sakari found a wide street that ran parallel to the scenic river walk. The pavement here was cloaked in fog too. Every street lamp flickered, their light never truly touching the ground. Sakari noticed — or thought he noticed — the shadows moving on their own as he waded through them. A
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Vista Street, Part 3
Panting, heart pounding, Sakari ran through the market, scanning the area for any sign of movement, growing more desperate with every stride. He finally saw something — a swarm of shrimp scuttling up the central aisle. They were too bright a pink to be normal animals. He remembered the mission. Sakari summoned his sword and
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Vista Street, Part 2
The thoroughfare led them to the district’s famous fish market. The sour tang of stale fish and rotting kelp greeted them as they approached its iron gate. Overhead, a metal sign in the shape of a fish swung on a single hinge. The paint peeled away to reveal rust beneath. David stopped in front of
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Vista Street, Part 1
The rain had stopped by the time Bern, Sakari, and David emerged above ground. The station opened onto the eponymous Vista Street running along the south bank of the river. Thick mist clung to the water’s surface, blurring the city’s glittering nighttime skyline. Bern stretched his arms to warm up while they had a few
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Friday Flash 18: To the Capital
Night had fallen. The moon peeked through the window of the train compartment. Silas sat on the bed, his back against the wall of the car. He closed his eyes, taking in the welcome quiet.
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Rendezvous at Stone Crossing
Unlike the bare concrete and steel of stations like Coldessi Boulevard or Paulownia Square, Stone Crossing had a grand street level lobby. White fluted columns held up the arching roof. Old ticket booths lined two walls, their windows barricaded with gilded brass bars. Advertising posters hung over every free section of wall space: shows that
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Friday Flash 17: Sanctuary
Loneliness — that’s what it is. That feeling nibbling your ears and tugging your hair. The desire to have someone next to you. Company is the one thing you lack on this beach. You don’t know how long you’ve been here. The darkness does funny things to time. But it must have been long enough
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Dinner in Silver Arches, Part 7
Bern, Rianne, Nico, David, Sakari, and Shavonne walked through the drizzle toward the Silver Arches subway station, stepping in and out of pools of bright light produced by the street lamps towering above them. It wouldn’t be long before Bern and Rianne split off from the rest to head home to Sable Heights. Nico told
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Dinner in Silver Arches, Part 6
Rain pattered against the windows as everyone finished dinner. Mia and Rianne washed dishes while Cara put away the few leftovers. Shavonne pitched in by wiping down the table and kitchen counters. She also returned the folding chairs to the laundry closet. The boys gathered in the living room to stay out of the girls’