**_NOTE: I changed the prompt from something the character can’t see to something that ONLY the character can see. _**

The hairs on the back of my neck spike up, my eyes darting to all the people on the street. _Who’s watching me?_

My hands form fists in my coat pockets, my breaths coming out more frenzied with each step. I had already looked behind me twice, and upon finding nothing b...

Maybe it was the lack of the sound of pans banging around downstairs that sent me back to when I was seven. The silence was louder than anything.

The carpeted stairs I used to slide down, wincing at every sound that was made so early in the morning, were gone, replaced with new, wooden ones. The news that once was a low hum on the TV, was silent. The walls were painted an off-white, despite the ...

This was supposed to be easy. Infiltrate the gala and swap the codes. Don’t pay attention to the spy. The cute and charming one. The one whose eyes draw you in like a bird to the sky and a flame to air.

_What was I thinking?_ I drew my eyes away from his and trudged to the edge of the dance floor. I looked around for an exit and found one almost immediately—the gala was held in the middle of ...

The ground shakes, the trees swaying in the breeze. Even with cars racing on the streets, there was an eerie silence. No one was outside.

The air carried the faintest hint of petrichor and humidity. I breathed in deep, closing my eyes. The little wind chimes on the back porch clinked softly together and I smiled.

The birds, who usually chirped day and night, were nowhere to be seen or he...

NOTE: Not today’s prompt but one from a while back.

I know I wasn’t supposed to see the unsent text. I know I was only supposed to text her mom for her while she was making dinner. I had accidentally tapped on my contact instead. The text I saw…it shattered my heart.

_Hey. I know what you are. You don’t have to hide from me anymore. I…don’t know how to say this, but I don’t know if I’m comfo...

“So, who’s going to die today?”

I clenched my jaw, my eyes narrowing at the sight unfolding before me. I hadn’t known they were going to invade. I hadn’t been prepared for the bloodshed that now left more than half our people dead. Distant screams could still be heard even when I tried to shut them out.

“How about you, little one?” His voice rang clear among the remaining survivors. W...

“We’re in this together, but I’m not sure I can trust you,” he confessed under his breath.

I inhaled sharply, stopping to turn and look at him.

“You don’t need to trust me in order to get your brother. I’m here to right my wrong. You just happen to be involved.”

He stared, silent.

I sighed and continued, “Look. I’m going to get you inside the compound. I’m even going to lead you where they’r...