WHAT HAVE I BECOME 1Outside the reception hall, the air was cooler and the space was quieter. Out here, everything felt more real than the facade that was meant to be a feast for Ryan's memorial. The parking area stretched wide, dotted with sleek cars of different features and brands that reflect the dull sky above. From where he stood, he could hear the distant hum of the busy city–a city oblivious to all that was happening here. Damien walked slowly toward the line of cars, his glass–now filled to the brim–occasionally reaching his lips. A half-empty bottle swung in his other hand–a refill in case he needed one. Every time he took a gull, the wine burned its way down his throat, warming his insides before the thought of Ryan's dead body filled him with chills again. Sighing softly, he grabbed the bumper of one of the cars in a bid to steady himself. He leaned lightly against it, resting an arm lazily on the top of the car as he took another long sip of the wine. He welcomed the

LINES THAT CANNOT BE ERASED 1The monitor flickered on and the dim glow traveled through the room, lifting up the dark space. The officer then inserted the tap and clicked play. The screen came to life with the camera footage as the tape spinned with a soft whir. Jim stood still in front of the monitor. His arms were folded tight across his chest and his jaw clenched so hard they felt like they were about to lock. The rest of the room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the system and the low murmur of officers working beyond the glass walls outside. And what played on the footage was a recording from the previous day. As the image sharpened into focus, a single figure appeared on the screen. Damien. He was leaning against one of the cars parked in the lot just outside the reception hall that was holding Ryan's memorial feast. He was obviously drunk from his stance and constant swing at the bottle of wine in his hand. He talked to himself, laughed at his own jokes… but then every

STITCHES AND SILENCE 1The faint scent of antiseptic mixed with the dull metallic smell of blood, clinging to the air that filled the hospital. It had seeped into every wall, skin and hair, until everywhere he turned to carry the stomach-churning stench. Jim stood outside one of the treatment rooms as he rubbed his freezing palm together. He breathed into them and ran them down his face, brushing past his moustache and stopping just briefly at his throat where the faint bruise from Brooks' grip still lingered. He rubbed it, wincing slightly before rubbing his palms again. Still, nothing he did could settle the storm of chaos that was his mind. Sighing, he turned and walked into the room. His gaze dropped on Damien laying on a narrow hospital bed. He was bare, and the cool air sweeping out of the air‑conditioning left goosebumps all over his skin. His shirt sat crumpled at a corner by the bed, darkened with a blood that wasn't his. At least part of it wasn't. He flexes his knuc

A QUIET ROAD TO RUINThe car sped through the traffic, cutting cleanly between cars like a blade wading through still water. Dusk had begun to settle in, bathing the road in a golden glow as the streetlights flickered to life one after the other. Thankfully, the roads weren't as crowded as they usually were at these hours. Still, there were the usual movements of vehicles sliding past each other, loud truck horns blaring from a distance and the low hum of life going on without a pause. Inside one of those vehicles, the air that had settled felt say… off. It felt muted and heavy. Sebastian kept one hand on the wheel, fingers curling around the leather skin as he rested his other hand loosely against the gear. The vehicle was brand new and that fresh car smell still lingered. How nice of Vanessa to gift him the Hellcat Challenger for his birthday. Sure, it gave a dent on the company's account, but none mattered to Sebastian. That is, if Vanessa hadn't decided to destroy the mood.

DEALS IN THE DARK 2The young girl leaned casually against the wall, twirling her hair as her soft voice beckoned on Vanessa's attention. And Vanessa's attention, did she get.The girl was barely dressed, the only fabric covering what dignity she had clung to her in ways that left little to the imagination. Her bra-less breasts jiggled beneath the cowgirl shirt that revealed part of her areola and barely hid her nipples as she rested one hand on her hip. The other held a lollipop between her fingers, one that she slowly brought to her lips and caressed with her tongue.Her eyes moved lazily over Sebastian first, a smile curling on her lip. But the expression faded easily as her gaze shifted to the disheveled woman standing by his side. “You two look lost," she said in a thick western accent as she returned her attention fully to Sebastian. She slopped on the lollipop, letting it slip in and out of her lips as she tilted her head slightly. “Y'all in need of directions? This place ai