The Jungle Tamers
The hallway alone was impressive. A series of grand, sweeping staircases stood at the end of the corridor; above us was a ceiling so high it almost felt like a cathedral. Intricate stained-glass patterns decorated it with thick wooden beams supporting it. Irene stared around in astonishment, stars in her eyes, and I had to fight not to do the same.
This one’s untitled as of now:
Glass shatters, and Lyla instinctively hurls herself out of the way and covers her head. She’s too preoccupied to see Tristan land, but she hears it, hears his grunt as the air is knocked out of him and the loud string of curses that shortly follows.
Well, there goes the element of surprise.
Next word: alone
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“It wasn’t a request,” Spyros snapped. “Leave,” he ordered the woman, who seemed all too happy to oblige, leaving him and the minister alone in the room. Spyros stepped towards [name_m]Ioannes[/name_m], who had hastily stood. “I am the king,” he said. “You will speak with me when I command it.”
[name_m]Ioannes[/name_m] nodded vigorously. “Yes sir! Permission to speak freely?”
“Denied! Tell me everything you know about Caleb’s death.”
The minister swallowed. “You received my messenger, then.”
[name_m]Leon[/name_m] entered the throne room, wondering what could be so important as to call him away from his sage soup. The king was pacing in circles, not seeming to notice him.
“Um. . . sir?” [name_m]Leon[/name_m] said after a moment. The king turned to him with a start, and [name_m]Leon[/name_m] could see dark smudges under his eyes.
“You’re going to Ferria,” the king said without preamble.
[name_m]Leon[/name_m] started. “Alone?” The order was so unexpected, it was the only thing he could think to say.
The king seemed to consider. “Would you like to go alone?”
Hell no, [name_m]Leon[/name_m] almost said, before switching to the more appropriate “No, sir.”
Next word: soup
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Shock Value
Instead, she swiped angrily at the table, sending the bowl of soup crashing to the ground. Broth splashed against the wall, noodles and chicken laying limp against the floor.
“Roxana!” Dr. Strickland roared, but she was barely listening.
She stalked out of the room, fists clenching and unclenching, electricity crackling all around her. Lightbulbs flickered as she passed by, the air pulsing with static.
She could still hear the doctor screaming after her, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. She never cared anymore, about anything.
She supposed it was because caring was a human trait.
And she was no longer human.
[name_f]Delta[/name_f] [name_f]Langley[/name_f] is NOT the Main Character
The line was as quick as usual, the cafeteria workers setting strips of dried beef on her plate alongside potatoes that were oddly soupy, and a pile of wrinkled peas.
“I hope your nose gets better soon, doll,” said [name_f]Mae[/name_f] with a smile. A kindly old woman, she had a soft spot for [name_f]Delta[/name_f], always slipping her an extra strip of beef, or another tiny roll.
Next: human
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(ooh, Shock Value is a great pun title) (I’m also sorry that I can’t shut up about Spyros)
“What’s the difference, though?” Spyros mused. “What does being human actually mean?”
“Love,” said [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], “of any kind. Thought? Life, I suppose.”
Spyros said, “All very nebulous. What is thought, really? And I wouldn’t say my dad’s not a human even though he’s not alive. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have to love multiple people? Be loved?”
“That was. . . three points you made?” [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] asked. Spyros nodded. “Okay, I’m ticking them off on my fingers. One: Yeah, “what is thought” is a tricky question to debate. We’re not philosophers or psychologists, and it might be best to leave that one to them. Two: Your dad’s properly dead, presumably. Three: [name_m]Just[/name_m] one, I think. Although my claim might be better repudiated if it were decided otherwise.”
Spyros shrugged. “All I’m saying is that it’s hard to tell.”
“You’re only human, Darius,” [name_m]Leon[/name_m] pointed out.
“Am I? I thought I was a sentient pocket watch.”
“You certainly keep good enough time. I don’t think I’ve ever known you to be late to anything.”
“A shame, too,” [name_m]Darius[/name_m] agreed, “seeing as it’s apparently so fashionable.”
Next word: time
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Shock Value
[name_f]Roxana[/name_f] [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] Alvins
[name_f]July[/name_f] 15 2006 — [name_f]September[/name_f] 9 2021
[name_f]Beloved[/name_f] Daughter and [name_f]Sister[/name_f]
[name_f]Roxana[/name_f].
Her name had been [name_f]Roxana[/name_f].
“Have you seen enough my dear?” Dr. Strickland asked from behind her.
“Who was she?” The girl asked.
“She was you.”
“Who was I?”
“A girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Dr. Strickland said. “Insignificant until your death.”
[name_m]True[/name_m] Colors
“What? Are you going to kill me?” She laughed humorlessly. “You don’t have the guts.”
“I don’t have to kill you,” he said. “Time will do that for me. But I can hurt you.”
“Try it,” she spat.
Next: guts
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Jem’s fist landed in Milo’s gut, and he doubled over. It wasn’t very hard, but it was enough to wind him. Yup, he thought hazily. I’d definitely believe he’s mad at me.
Teuling looked at him skeptically. “Are you really planning to kill me? I don’t think you have the guts.”
“I definitely do not,” [name_m]Sanya[/name_m] agreed. “But I do have this magical metal chain. See you at the palace!”
Teuling’s eyes went wide with surprise as the chain wrapped around her, then hit her on the head hard enough to daze her.
Next word: hazy
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