Mark's Time

As the seconds were ticking by, it seemed every one was taking a little longer than the last.

I assumed it was because I was focusing on my work, but then I knocked a wire off the bench and its fall was slow, delayed. I reached out and grabbed it, and it felt heavier, as if my taking it changed something about its make-up.

It had to be the machine before me doing it, I theorised, and with my new found time I set myself to trying to work it all out.

Then time snapped back, snapping me with it…

Marking Time

The invite to my Class Reunion had, as well as the invite, a hand written letter from Sophie, who had been Class President and all that. Her letter was to the point, as she said she wanted to make sure I understood that she, along with everyone else, would love to see me there. And that she understood how I hated marking the passages of time, how I never celebrated birthdays or wore a watch or anything, but for everyone else’s sake, would I please attend?

I crumpled them both up. What good is marking any time to an immortal?

The Circumstances Around Choice

Despite the best efforts of historians, and despite how popular culture eventually remembers such things, you can't separate events into one single person, one single decision. No matter how powerful the person or influential the decision, every action has dozens of factors playing on it, no one person is truly solely responsible for their actions. The circumstances of every choice share just as much of the credit, good or bad, as the person or people that make it.

At least, that's what I tell myself every day. And yet every day I see their faces, and I feel the shame.

A Passage Of Rites

My long, dangerous job done, I now just had to watch over the Creature as the Mage slowly drew the circle of runes around it. But even I had my limits of boredom.

“So where did you learn this ‘Rite of Hellfire’ anyway?”

He didn’t look around, just tossed an old book at me.

I opened it up, flicking through the pages.

“I didn’t know you read Ancientia.”

“I don’t, but I can translate Runes just fine.”

“Um, wait, doesn’t Ancientia go upwards? Because you seem to be writing those down the wrong way, facing out rather than-“

Everything burned.

Wake And Bake

The smell of freshly baked bread filled his world as he woke. It had been years since he’d last smelt it. Mainly because it had been years since he’d last met anyone.

So he took his time, silently pulling himself to a crouch, picking up his laser shotgun and his lightsword, and then moved as fast as he could without giving away his position, he looked down into his kitchen.

Several large hunters were making themselves at home, with his face rotating in one of their holoscreens.

The smell was coming from one of them, genetically modified sweat glands probably…

Closeted Feelings

Greg was the receptionist in the foyer, while Suzi worked in data validation. Ever since he was hired, the two of them had been actively avoiding each other, due to the intense and obvious attraction they had for each other since the first time they saw each other. Greg was in a committed relationship, Suzi was heading into her second year of marriage.

And then the Holiday Season parry happened. Both of them got drunk…

Afterwards, they both agreed that it had been a mistake, never to be repeated.

At least, they began to, before they went at it again.

What Happens Just Outside Vegas...

I let the engine run, looking at my phone as if I was studying a map, but the road was clear for miles either way. So I killed the engine, got out, and slowly walked to the rear of the car, lighting a cigar before I opened the trunk.

“Now, I know you probably don’t quite understand what’s going on here son, and I suppose the kind thing would be to explain to you what you did and who it royally pissed off.”

I took a long drag.

“But I ain’t paid to be kind.”

I flicked my switchblade open.