Planning a Future
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

The possibility of two graves on the property presented DCI Pascoe with another huge problem.

“Constable, please go and tape up the ground around the suspect areas. At least 5m away from the possible graves. Red tape that and add another yellow ring a further 10m away. And be sure to keep everyone’s size 15s off the yellow area until we can get the scientists involved.”

Maltese Escape
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They called ours a family, but it was not as you understand that word. A family is supposed to be a safe place to bring a child into the world, to nurture that child when very young, and to support him or her in at least the first part of a journey through life. That is what a family is supposed to be – not a money-grubbing enterprise where every member is expendable.

A TURN OF THE MOON
Day Six
by
Jessica Drew

My spoon clinked against the bowl as I finished off the fresh yogurt and strawberries. It was a brighter day today. The rain clouds had moved on and the morning sun lit up the kitchen just the way I liked it. I sat at the counter in my peach PJs, with one thigh crossed over the other, gently swinging my dangling leg.

We sent people to explore the empty ships right away. And we found... more documentation. In the parts of the world needing cleanup over the facilities, all the large bodies capable of helping with the cleanup were deployed that way. But here, I was free to participate in another document translation effort.

Chapter One

The Hormone Revolution
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

“You think we’d plan to dress like each other?”

Call of the Canijo
A Short Western Story
By Maryanne Peters

The bullet had entered his chest and pierced his lung. Captain Glenn Kilbourne had been told that he was one of the last Union officers to fall in the Civil War. It was April 1865, and it seemed a cruel thing to be told that his survival would be a miracle, but he fought hard to heal himself. The surgeon was skillful but told him that recovery would take a long time, and a New York damp fall and cold winter were now his enemies.

Chapter 20 October 20th 2025

Whit pulled up behind an ambulance. There was a loud quiet inside the Emergency Room at Mud Creek’s small hospital. Whit and Lucy helped Grace limp up the counter. Heads turned, Grace had a bloody towel against the side of her head, her big pink Hello Kitty sweatshirt was stained with blood, and her pink tights and short skirt looked out of place in the blue green fluorescent lights.

The woman at the desk didn’t react outwardly. She glanced up once, took it all in, and stood immediately.

“Head injury?” she asked.

With eternity to explore, improve our bodies, and learn, we did everything. Hundreds of new games were invented and shared over the internet, using equipment that could be easily acquired.

Chapter 55: New Balance in Life

The rest of the week in the cabin passed like a quiet dream. Each day began with the gentle crackle of the fire and the smell of pine drifting in from the woods. Yuqi would wake to the sound of her parents humming softly in the kitchen, the sun filtered through frost-laced windows, casting golden patterns on the worn wooden floor. Outside, icicles glittered from the porch roof, and the snow piled so high that it muffled even the sound of footsteps.

Chapter 56: Return of the Queen

[Sunday Evening]
The Chief Constable was looking very awkward and uneasy. Assembled in front of her were eight officers, all clad in black and looking eager to get the job done.

The Right Guy
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

It was not the Rufus was a bad lover, he was just not like me, or the way I was then. Lydia liked being fucked by Rufus, but she liked the way that I made love to her too. Is that wrong? I don’t judge her for being unfaithful.

I always knew that I was number two in her life. A girl needs a man who can provide for her, and Rufus was that. I was definitely not that man. I don’t judge her for that either. She made the right choice. Rufus is the right guy.