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Archangel - Ch.4

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Novelettes

Silent Majority

In the far future, Earth has abandoned large scale warfare in favor of the tenuous peace found inside Paradigm: a global, massive multiplayer online virtual reality environment. Neighbors, coworker, even friends from the other side of the world all compete in a unified campaign built to satisfy humanity's thirst for blood.

Brett leads one of the most elite teams within Paradigm, but when he gets an offer to join the ranks of the developers' leadership, he discovers a dark secret that flips the whole world upside down.

Grassroots

In the middle of a raging war in Europe is orphaned Siani, adopted by a family who was once her enemy. Years pass, and she quickly finds her place in her new countryside community, but the time inevitably comes for her to leave home and start a life of her own.

When she ventures outside her little village, however, she finds that the rest of the nation isn't as accepting of her as her adoptive family was. If she can't be seen as an equal, as one of them, maybe it's time to start acting like the enemy she was born to be...

Incognito

Just like that, the entire world froze, every single person on Earth, all except for Matthew Harris, a brilliant, young software engineer student in enemy occupied Colorado. At first, it's all fun and games as he takes advantage of what appears to be an incredible opportunity to act without consequence, but as the weeks wear on, he begins to wonder if this is going to be his new reality. There's something off about all of this, though...He just has to figure out what it is.

Desolation

They were supposed to be greeted by bombs and bullets as soon as they hit the shore, but what they found instead was something no one could have predicted. With their ship sunk and no rescue crews forthcoming, the only way off the island is to venture deeper into a mystery from the past, a mystery that might have the power to change the whole war. If they can escape, that is.

Archangel

They roam among us, human, but not not quite. Healers on the one hand and Ravagers on the other, a Yin and Yang bound to each other in an eternal war. When Kat is ordered to assist the Russian government suppress a Ravager-backed uprising in St. Petersburg, she uncovers a secret that will change how the world sees her kind, forever.

Other Shorts

Are you Ready?

Are You Ready?

Back cover description:
What would you do with just an hour left of life? Perhaps Death is not the enemy we once thought her to be.

Original Prose prompt:
You have an hour to live: GO.

One Man's Curse

Back cover description:
Invisibility isn't a super power for some people.
Remember, you're never alone.

Original Prose prompt:
You have the gift of invisibility, telepathy, or flight for the next 24 hours.

We Came in Peace?

Back cover description:
What makes you think humans will be different on any other planet?

Original Prose prompt:
You made the cut and are safely on Mars in your domicile, week 1, staring at the red landscape. On Earth, the certainty of Doomsday made you feel lucky to make the draw, yet Earth is still there. You can’t return home. What's ahead of you?

Lily

Back cover description:
Immunity is a funny word. It gives you the impression that there are absolutely no effects on those who have it. Being immune doesn't mean freedom, though. It doesn't mean you can't be hurt.

Original Prose Prompt:
This is a challenge of FICTION for the sake of art. How would you get away with being a serial killer in 2020?

Didn't Miss Much

Back cover description:
2020. What a year. Well, for most people.

Original Prose prompt:
January. 2021. Fiction or non-fiction. Poetry or Prose.

Hello, It's Earth

Back cover description:
A letter from our Mother. I suggest you read it.

Original Prose prompt:
World Stage. You have the entire world's attention and can say no more than 1,500 words. What say you?

Aschenputtel

ASCHENPUTTEL

Back cover description:
Fairytales don't always come with happy endings included. Especially when it comes to the Brothers Grimm. A three minute modern adaptation of a classic tragedy.

Original Prose prompt:
"Adapt a Brothers Grimm story for life in the ghetto. The harsher the consequences, the better."

As you'll see, I took a different route with this piece than expected...

Forgotten

Back cover description:
You've heard of the principles of conservation of energy and conservation of matter, but have you heard of conservation of thought? I didn't think so...

Original Prose prompt:
Revenge Fantasy. Write a revenge fantasy. Fiction or non-fiction, poetry or Prose.

The Apathy of Time

Back cover description:
Frozen in 1952, awoken in 2019. You'd think the momentum of newfound peace would carry humanity through to great heights. Turns out, we take our time when it comes to progress.

Original Prose prompt:
"You were cryogenically frozen in 1952 as a sacrifice for science. You are awakened summer of 2019, in the preserved state you were in, age 35. You’re walking down a busy city street for your first time. Write a story about your take on humanity."

Time Flies

Back cover description:
Funny how much a single second can change a person's life. Imagine what ten will do.

Original Reedsy prompt:
"Write a story that takes place across ten seconds..."

The Obsolescence of War

Back cover description:
Bit by bit, humans are losing their jobs to technology, even soldiers. That's a good thing though, right?

Original Reedsy prompt:
"Write about someone who still practices a skill that used to be necessary but has long since been replaced by technology...."

Background image credit: Christian Nielsen

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