Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.
Hope – Chapter 12: by Chris T. Kat:
Hope shoved tiles this way and that way, but after five minutes curiosity fled me. He was playing—nothing more, nothing less.
I went over to the dropped boxes and scattered game pieces to collect them. It took me almost a quarter of an hour to clear up the chaos from the floor and stack the games back on their shelves.
“Now come on, Hope. We really need to—” I cut myself off after turning around.
Hope sat on the coffee table, his chest pushed out with obvious pride, and barked.
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Controller – Chapter 9 : by Jon Keys:
I wiped the sweat off my face as I sat down the box and looked around the room. How in the world had I managed to gather up this much crap since the beginning of school. I’ll never get all this junk back into my car in May. I slid into a chair to rest for a minute, when a bang came from the doorway. Eli leaned against the doorframe, his knuckles white from trying to hold onto the box his arms were wrapped around.
“Man, I’m sorry. I zoned out. Let me help you.”
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Sunrise: by Victoria Adams:
Ian bit back a giggle as he pulled the Taser leads out of J’dol’s leg. He stuffed the gun into his pack back and gave J’dol’s head a tap with his foot. It lolled to the side.
Thunder crashed overhead. Ian glanced up at the forest surrounding him. Probably not the best spot to be standing during a storm. Pulling his green camouflage rain jacket tighter, he stepped out of the edge of the trees and looked for shelter. Boat house. Perfect. I’ll just dump him there and be done with him. He rubbed his hands together then returned to J’dol.
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Tom and Ben’s Wonderful Life: by Lily Sawyer:
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings was heard coming from the TV speaker. Tom and Ben were sitting on the couch, alternating between crying and laughing. A box of tissues passed between them as the pile of used Kleenex on the coffee table grew.
“Gosh, that movie gets me every time, Tom.” Ben got up to dispose of tissues in the kitchen trash.
“Me too” Tom joined him in the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove to warm up some water. “Do you want marshmallows in your hot cocoa?”
“Of course, do you seriously have to ask that question?” Ben answered.
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Pancakes and Passion – Chapter 2 Hide ‘N’ Seek: by Lily Velden:
Don’t ask me how I ended up in King Edward Park playing hide and seek with him, because, in all honesty, I wouldn’t be able to tell you.
One minute, I was blowing my budget and having something like my tenth cup of coffee while waiting for him to finish his shift—yeah, I know, fat chance of getting to sleep later—and the next I was looking at him leaning against one of the big old pines with his hands over his eyes, slowly counting to twenty…
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A New Beginning – Chapter 10: by Andrew Q. Gordon:
“You did all this to get me here?” I never thought I’d be so angry at Griffin that I wanted to hit him. “Do you know the innocent lives you put at risk?”
I sensed the changes in his body, enough that I knew he understood the implications of what I’d said.
“Yes Daniel, you would be the guilty if that had happened.”
“It wasn’t just to get you here. They needed proof.”
Yes, they. “When?”
Griffin shifted his weight, looking over my shoulder into Barrington’s house. “Can we have this discussion inside?”
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Trapped in Time II – Chapter 9: by Julie Lynn Hayes:
If I had expected the inside of this hotel to be any more presentable than the outside, than I would have to say I am disappointed by what I see once we are herded inside. I am under no such illusion, however, and am not surprised by what I see, considering the time and place in which we find ourselves. As well as the company. And yes, by that I do mean Shaughnessey. And I still dislike him immensely, a feeling which has not lessened any since he pronounced us to the sheriff as being part of his acting troupe. But for now I am helpless to do other than go along with the charade, in order to allow me the freedom to search for my Vittorio.
Such is the power of love. Under its influence we do things that otherwise would not merit our consideration. But I would do anything for Vittorio, including this. So be it. At least for now.
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Nighttime Promises – 22: by M.A. Church:
Bryan didn’t waste time. Two hours wasn’t much and he needed every spare minute he could get to put as much distance between him and Daroshi as he could. Night would blanket the land soon, making travel nearly impossible due to darkness. Moving at an easy jog, he covered the rocky and barren land. The sooner he could get to the forested areas, the better. He was at a disadvantage out here in the open.
He smirked as the tree line came into view. Who am I kidding? He didn’t have a prayer and he knew it.
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Darkest Before Dawn: by – Shelly Schulz
“You can wade and explore, just make sure you don’t go too far okay?” Rose said. “I’m going to read so just yell if you get into any trouble.”
“Yes Rosie,” Ben flapped a hand at her, and she watched him over the edge of her book for a while. He disappeared around a bend in the creek, and she could still hear him splashing away and playing around in the water.
The worn wood of the picnic table had absorbed the morning sun and the warmth felt good against her back
Uncool: by Tali Spencer:
I’m such a loser I wake up on Christmas morning, look out at freshly falling snow while smelling cinnamon and coffee—and wish my naked body was cuffed, collared, and kneeling at the foot of a leather-clad stranger’s tree. It’s not that Master Stewart’s guest bedroom is lacking; the townhouse is warm and cozy and everything a home should be, except it’s not mine. It’s Stewart’s home, and Jase’s. Because they are the couple here and it doesn’t matter how many times I stay over or wake up in this bed to see pictures of covered bridges on the walls, I’m still just a guest.
I left off the link because it’s always going to be the same from now on. But if you would rather I include it every time, just let me know. 🙂
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Catherine’s Revenge – Ch 9: by Nephylim:
Ash was dancing. At least, he was moving; swaying, with his eyes closed and his arms raised, as if encircling someone. All he was holding was air.
“Ash?” Emma asked tentatively, as she took a step forward. A hand on her arm stopped her.
“Wait. Something’s going on, and it’s not good. Be careful.”
Emma nodded and took another, cautious step forward. “Ash, are you okay? It’s me, Emma.”
Ash ignored her, dancing with someone that didn’t exist, a rapt expression on his face. Emma took another step forward. “Ash?”
Finally reaching her brother, Emma put a shaking hand on his arm and gasped.
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Take Flight: by Cia Nordwell:
“Stop them!” Sayer gasped when a hand grabbed his ankle, yanking him down. “There’s more than one!”
Sayer strained his wings but couldn’t break free. He held Birch closer and protected his head as they tumbled to the floor. He landed on his back with a thud. Birch cried out.
“Don’t move, or I’ll shoot!”
The man who’d captured Birch stood over them, his feet spread wide. He pointed his shotgun at Sayer’s face. “I’ll do it, demon.”
He was insane. “I’m not a demon!” Sayer protested.
“What do you think I am? An idiot? Your filthy tricks won’t fool me.”
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Noah’s New Plan – Chapter 15: by Rob Colton:
“I’m serious. I’ll blow a hole in your head. Noah! Call 911.”
Noah scrambled out of bed. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Frantically, he dug through the pile of clothes looking for his phone, which was still in his jeans. Where the heck did Eli throw his pants?
“Yes, Noah. Call 911.”
Noah froze. He knew that voice. Shit. He let out a long sigh. Why the hell was Derek here so early on a Monday? Pulling his pants from the pile, he yanked them on, then found his shirt.
He walked out into the hallway to find Derek and Eli having a staring match.
“Noah, please tell your gorilla to put some clothes on.”
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Diventado: Becoming; by JC Wallace:
Owen stared up at Turk. This was worse than a nightmare. Maybe he was hallucinating. But if that were true, wouldn’t Turk be doing something Owen would enjoy? Like kissing him? Nope, not hallucinating because Turk was standing in the door, scowling, his jaw twitching as a war of emotions crossed his face. Owen wanted to speak to him, ask him what the hell he was doing, but the memories from when the entity had seen Turk were strong. There had been feeling of excitement and fear. There had been…recognition. What the fuck had that been all about?
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Thwarted – Part XX: by Renee Stevens
Pants.
Socks.
Mark stuffed each item in his bag as he mentally checked it off his list.
Underwear.
No way in hell was he going commando at Trey’s parent’s house. He shoved them in and reached for the pile of shirts on the bed. He stuffed them in and zipped the bag closed; leaving room for the smaller shaving bag that was on the bathroom counter. He couldn’t put it in until the morning since he still needed it, but everything was together and ready to go. He was determined to be ready before Trey got there and not wait until the last minute. This way he could be reasonably sure he wouldn’t forget anything. Like his cell phone charger. Shit!
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Defining Freedom: Grace R. Duncan:
Wednesday Briefs 