subtle-sounds

"We used to live here?" Ryker asked, breathing heavily as he trudged through the overgrown vines and bramble on the ground. The thorns that were no larger than the head of a pin were the worst part of this walk. He could see the barriers of old paths and possibly old gardens, but their edges were so skewed by these slightly terrifying examples of nature that they were nearly invisible. "I can't believe Mama would allow such an untamed landscape." "It didn't look like this when we lived here," Erard chuckled. Being back in Charleston had already colored his voice, bringing out the deep, sticky Southern lilt he worked so hard to control. As wa

There was a chill in the air that was characteristic of autumn on the island. Brysen was born inside the walls of the resort and knew the island better than most of its inhabitants who had been brought to live within this establishment from towns and cities on the outside. He envied them their lives away from the resort: he had never stepped outside the gates. He knew the secret spaces of the island, had witnessed its wonders and its horrors firsthand. He had been inside the Holding Grounds and lived to tell the tale. "Should we even be here?" Kira shivered against the wind, his leather jacket around her shoulders doing nothing to defend her

come closer dear, for my hands are warm. a comfort to your soul they'll be as you wage this war inside your mind. a prison where there is no key. come closer dear, for my kisses will heal your broken heart; a sanctuary I'll be in your world of despair and hate I promise one day your happiness will be great.