Don’t cross the line. — Sand as far as the eye could see, that’s what greeted Jason each morning and tucked him into bed each night. The tan granules infiltrated every part of him, from his toes to his ears, there wasn’t anything it didn’t touch. He was tired of living in Novalei. …

Escaping an abandoned building shouldn’t be this hard. — Benji sputtered and coughed as the dust billowed up around him. “That’s the last time I listen to you.” He waved his hand, trying to clear the air as he glanced around for his friend. “Steve?” “I’m over here, under the pile of cardboard.” The pile of boxes that once…

This takes loving a spider a little too far — “Look at this one! The red and yellow is just gorgeous.” Martha pointed through the glass at the spider resting on a log. “Very nice. Can we go now?” Cindy stepped back, away from the divider separating them from the eight-legged creatures inside. “We just got here.” “Well, when you…

Stay out of the water should apply to all planets — The water was the prettiest color of blue Tara had ever seen. It hugged the rocky cliffs surrounding it like a child clinging to its mother. This is what a vacation was supposed to look like. The warm sun on her back and cool water brushing against her feet. “Tara…

I want to remember — I fell in love with the rhythm of the lights. They danced across the sky in an array of gold, orange, and pink, mesmerizing my soul. I felt at peace. As if watching the beauty of the sunset would somehow make everything right with the world. Three weeks. That’s how…

Who doesn’t love a good party — Morning sun streamed in through Janney’s window. Her stomach twisted with the knowledge that tonight was the night everyone had been waiting for. Once every twenty years, that’s how often the festival of green twilight happens. A part of her wished it would never happen at all. She planted her…

What are your family traditions The holidays are filled with so many traditions for me, starting with Thanksgiving. At five, my son is getting old enough to understand and participate in them. Thanksgiving has always been a time of family gathering, and we had a tradition of playing rock, paper…

All she has to do is get away — The silence was both soothing and terrifying at the same time. If she couldn’t hear anything, did that mean they had given up? They were no longer coming after her? …

Without the leaves they cannot go — One large oak tree stood in the middle of town. If John had his way, it would have been cut down with the rest of the trees. Pain was all that tree, and its leaves, brought to this place. …