Amenhotep sits outside his humble shack in the early dawn. His life is in unimaginable ruins. At least, he thinks to himself, he would be free from the 20% tax his kind had long paid. There is nothing to tax. He had been a successful man, as these things went. He’d built a life out… Continue reading Day #33: Darkness
Day #32: The Tour
The 3rd-grade class dutifully lines up single file – just as their teacher directs. Each of them is wearing a brightly colored hard hat. A young man, gaunt and excitable, strides to the front of their line. He is holding a similar hat in his hand. “Welcome, kids!” he announces, in an energetic voice. The… Continue reading Day #32: The Tour
Day #31: The Interview
The kid seems out of place from the moment she steps into the bar. Her face is open, young and earnest. Her hair is a flaming red. Freckles dominate. She’s nervous, but it’s clear she has an easy smile. It’s 11:00am and the place is quiet and dark. Large flat-panel TV screens peer down from… Continue reading Day #31: The Interview
Day #30: The 7th Street Prison
Prisoner’s Diary – Day 1 I don’t know what they’ve done to me. I find myself unable to move. My vision is blurry. Somehow they’re sustaining me with some warm formulation. I am exhausted. I can’t even lift my head. They must have drugged me. I can’t remember how I got here. Nothing is making… Continue reading Day #30: The 7th Street Prison
ADMIN: Delay
I’m going to be a bit behind today. The trips have rsv and one of them, Itai, was having some breathing trouble. I ended up having to bring him to the ER. Everybody’s okay now, but the story pace is temporarily slack 🙂
Day #29: The Group Build
The kleig lights blare down on the small set. The overwhelming hue is blue. There is a small round table and seated at either end of it are the host of the show, the world-famous sportscaster Donald Highsmith, and 5-time Gold Medal Winner James Hodges. Highsmith is a man in his late 40s, of solid… Continue reading Day #29: The Group Build
Day #28: Someplace Familiar?
The man storms past my desk. His face is red with anger. His entire body is coiled with frustration. I shout, “You can’t go in there.” But he does anyway. I shoot up from my seat just in time to see him force open the mayor’s locked door. This isn’t looking good. I chase him… Continue reading Day #28: Someplace Familiar?
ADMIN: Updated Fear
I updated the ending a bit. There was something I couldn’t get in to the last few lines last night – and I worked it out this morning.
Day #27: Fear
Up until that moment, I’d never before been frightened. I kill for a living and I’m very very good at it. Of course, that career has occupational hazards. I’ve been in shootouts and I’ve seen friends killed. I’ve killed a few myself. I’ve grown used to looking over my shoulders to make sure my own men… Continue reading Day #27: Fear