Skyuncle

    A new scent briskly crossed his nose as he crouched, sniffing the air for the scents of prey. Semarak tightened his grip on his weapon, a crude, brutal ax, made of the branch of the sacred Entak tree and the keen head made of the bone of the Crasha'oul, perhaps the most dangerous predator in all of Kyemjhar, his homeland. Yet, this was something quite different: It held the air of a predator, a beast that brought fear to its prey and hunted the weak, leaving only the strongest and most adaptable left alive. But it also brought a feel that warped the landscape, tore reality like fabric, stretched essence like rubber, a feeling of raw mana

    What?    That's what crossed my mind first. What was this man doing with the uniform I should be wearing? The plaque I should be bearing? The job I should have? This didn't make any sense. From what I'd heard from other people, it seemed like I was, without a doubt, going to get the job. So, why had he instead?    Mr. Doyle talking broke me out of my thoughts, and I snapped back to reality to listen to what he was saying. "...I was just showing the new-guy everything he's gonna need as the new nightguard. But, uh, you said something about someone and an interview?"    My queue. I stepped forward and politely offered a handshake whil

    My dad pulled up to the curb. "Go on now. I don't gotta hold your hand for this, you can do this yourself. Just like your sister..." He trailed off, regretting mentioning her, and pulled at his collar with his finger, showing just how uncomfortable he was with the subject.        "Thanks Pa. I think I'll be able to walk home, so you won't have to pick me up." I opened the car door and stepped out, letting the cool night breeze brush against my face.    "Right. See ya. And, uh, Good luck on that interview." He reached over and closed the car door, before slowly driving away, waving at me from the window. I waved back, until the lights o

In the darkest corner of my mind, a nightmare sprang forth, tainting my sleep. I was haunted by horrific images, seeing them from my own eyes, unable to move: Long, dark corridors, aged and rotting. Figures within these dark paths, large, menacing, and emotionless suit-like beings, given life by an evil force. I could do nothing but watch, horror-stricken, as they approached me. My eyes flashed to another place, an open plain in the sun's embrace, free of those monsters, a  safe haven. But, as I blinked, it was invaded by a lone, dark, malevolent figure in the distance. Coming closer with every blink. A frantic blink brought me back to the ha