《Ghosts Within》Chapter 23: A Well-Worn Shoe
Advertisement
Remy didn’t really remember which night Josie had moved from the couch to the other side of his bed. He didn’t remember the first time they’d had sex either. She’d never asked and he’d never said no. Or was it the other way around? Josie might’ve had a few more curves and a tattoo he didn’t remember from their first time around, but he had more curves too. Remy knew no one would confuse his own life for one of clean eating and keeping fit. It didn’t matter. She was beautiful.
Defining a relationship established expectations. Remy couldn’t define anything about Josie. They each kept their own hours, ran down their own leads, and occasionally came home smelling of smoke, cheap booze, and strange scents. It was like a broken-in pair of shoes, worn down in all the right places. They’d slipped right into the habit. It was easy. Comfortable.
Josie had made fajitas that night. Well, she had warmed up the take-out and added some hot sauce. Remy picked at his own slowly. Tomorrow was Saturday, and they’d been unable to think of any other way into the Freeworker’s basement than straight down the main lift’s.
“I think I’ll have to go back tomorrow then.” Remy said, picking a hot pepper from his plate. “Maybe I can get us an invite to the auction itself. Don’t know how much it’ll help with Franklin already there but it’ll be something at least.”
“You can get one?” Josie attacked her own meal with fervor, though there must’ve been more cheese than chicken on her tortilla.
“Maybe.” He shrugged. It wasn’t much of a hope but his basic plan was just to ask Claire for the code that night. If they could at least get down there, it gave them a chance at something. “Did you have any luck today finding where that dummy Vasc is?”
Advertisement
“Not really. Luis didn’t seem to remember it and shuffled off before I could offer much more.” Remy’d been shot down point blank when he’d asked and he thought a pretty face might’ve stood a better chance. Apparently not. “We’ll find it, though.”
He grunted, chewing a tough piece of replicated chicken.
After dinner, they settled onto the couch and flipped through the channels. There was nothing good on. Josie dragged him to bed after he’d started snoring during the late shows. She pulled his arm over her and nestled in close under the covers. She fits so neatly there. He thought. Remy was still teasing out what her shampoo smelled like when he drifted to sleep.
Comfortable and easy.
Advertisement
The Emperor's Chef
"Cook like your life depends on it, kid. Because it does." Charles had an enviable future lined up for him. Training from the age of five by some of the finest chefs in the world. Schooling at a top culinary academy in the capital. An honorable position as heir to House Boulier, a line of merchant-lords who have charmed the rich and powerful with their cooking for centuries. And in a single night, it all burned to ash. When the outbreak of war destroys his hometown, Charles is charged with escorting his family’s sacred treasure—a recipe book passed down for untold generations—out of harm's way. But his simple mission grows complicated when he’s captured by one of the most feared battalions in the world: the Spears of Mercy. Life as a prisoner in their war camp is brutal and uncertain. Charles has few allies and even fewer strengths to rely on. Only his skills in the culinary arts, honed over a lifetime in the kitchen, are deemed useful enough to keep him alive another day. But he’s not out of hope just yet. With a dash of wit, a pinch of luck, and some very creative cooking, he might just find a way to recover his family’s legacy and take back his freedom. This project is a food-themed fantasy that centers on cooking and chefs. The setting spans a wide world featuring ingredients/recipes both real and inspired by traditional fantasy. I'll eventually be publishing it as a full-length novel (or series of novels depending on length). These are the first draft chapters. I'll likely be re-writing more than once, then editing before publishing, so impressions and feedback are quite welcome. If you like the story so far and you're interested in being an early reviewer for the final product, feel free to message me. I'm looking for an artist to make some concept art and a cover (the cover shown here is just a temporary placeholder). A stand-alone novel for now, but it may turn into a series down the road.
8 185Thundering Dragon
A boy who doesn't like authority, or to bow to any man regardless of title. A boy who will do anything to change his cruel fate, to fight for what he believe in! A galaxy in turmoil, and under the threat of an existence they can't comprehend, a galaxy where Hero's rise and fall just as fast. Join this knucklehead as he travels throughout this galaxy!
8 333Blood Sapphire
Think being a dwarf is all about gold and dragon slaying? Think again. One dwarf's blessing turns into a life-changing nightmare in this thrilling underground adventure. Don't wait, start reading now!
8 234Nameless
To all Anime Lovers and Readers. In a world where magic and advanced science exist, thanks to the man named Solomon, magic was unleashed and a new age had begun. As time went by, science had progressed at an astounding rate. However, as science evolved, so did magic. Magic had turned itself into many different types of energies. Energies that no other human could physically, mentally, magically surpass. That is the world Nameless lives in. Nameless, a boy who was disowned by his parents at the age of five. Nobody cared about him really. When he arrived to the orphanage, he was already greeted and bullied by a few kids. Why? Simply because he had no magic. Where he lives, magic was everything, and if that person has no magic, he doesn't belong there. Day after day, Nameless continues his attempt on surviving in the orphanage. Until finally at the age of 12, he was adopted by a strange and huge man. From there on out Nameless's story began, and a whole new world is discovered. This is a story that will change Nameless's life forever. Author's Say: Discontinued, also, don't read it. It's cringe. Please, for my sanity. SANITY!
8 527The Juggernaut
It's always hard when you are at the receiving end of someone's anger or just plain outlet for violence and it always pain you as you cannot do anything to fight back. That is the everyday life of John and watch how it will change with the speed of light. (New here critics are always welcome)
8 172The Undertaker from Mokvas
I've created The Undertaker from Mokvas as spin-off web series of my previous two books Skoricovnik. The story is taking place in so-called Northern Realm, mainly in city of Mokvas (totally dissimilar to Moscow). The story is part of a greater project called Royal Dirties - the comic books publishing house.
8 168