EnglishGirl112

💞Aspiring writer looking for helpful feedback. thanks for reading, I really appreciate the likes and comments!! 💞 She/her

EnglishGirl112

💞Aspiring writer looking for helpful feedback. thanks for reading, I really appreciate the likes and comments!! 💞 She/her

Exposed Top 10

EnglishGirl112

8 min read

I clicked the button on my watch. Four minutes to midnight. I pulled my bulky, dark jacket tighter around my shoulders. Very few nights did I get the opportunity to be free from a mission and have some time to myself. It would such a shame if someone recognized me and ruined it. It was a cool, early fall night, and the sights and sounds of the city were far away from me. I had chosen a secluded place on purpose, a little diner called Charlotte’s Coffee on the lower east side, known for its unpopularity with the locals because of its stuffy, scarcely-decorated interior. Exactly what I needed tonight. I pulled open the door, its bells jingling as I did so, and took a deep breath. When when the last time I let myself breathe? “Any seats in the back?” I pleasantly asked the woman at the counter, who was dressed in cheap mock-’50’s attire, and scrubbing at the counter with a dirty rag. “All yours, hon,” she said in a scratchy voice, pointing to a door that led into a back room. “Alone tonight?” “Yes,” I said, and disappeared into the room before she could ask any more questions. The woman (who I assumed was Charlotte) came in and brought me a black coffee, not even bothering to charge me for it. I was thoroughly enjoying this, sipping my coffee and being at peace for the very first time in months. Soon my head began to relax against the booth, and I felt my eyelids start to get heavy. The bells on the door jingled. I jolted awake and clicked my watch; it was now 2:30am. Had I really fallen asleep for that long? “You’re looking for someone?” I heard the woman at the counter—Charlotte— say in her scratchy tone to whoever had just entered the diner. “Who?” “A young woman who came in just over two hours ago. I’m sure you know who I mean.” My heart jumped into my throat. No no no… “I didn’t let anyone else tonight,” Charlotte replied. I heard the squeak of the rag rubbing on the marble counter. “Just you, sir.” Bless this woman’s terrible memory. Or her stunning ability to judge when it’s necessary to lie. “Are you sure about that?” I listened hard, and when I did I heard him take a few steps forward. “Yes sir. I only—“ I heard a hissing sound, a sound I recognized all too well, and then a thump that told me the woman had collapsed on the floor. The man had stunned her. I let out a breath. At least that meant the man was with the Agency, as only we had mastered the formula for stun serums. I was safe. The door to the back swung open, and the stranger entered. He didn’t look all that frightening; scrawny frame, tall, with dark sunglasses and a thin mat of black hair on his head. Maybe a few years older than me. He was wearing a lot of badges, though, so I assumed he must be important somehow. He slid into the booth across from me and extended a hand. “Dr. David Elwhite. Pleasure to meet you.” “Pleasure.” I shook his hand. “Let’s get right to the point,” the doctor said. He opened up his jacked to reveal a small black booklet. As he opened it, I saw the familiar gold seal of the Agency stamped on each page. He flipped to the one he was looking for and scanning it. “How long have you been with us, Agent Ivanous?” “‘Us?’ I’m sorry, doctor, but you’ll need to elaborate on who you are before I can say,” I said firmly. Even though he already knew my name, I’d learned this much in training; never trust anyone before they trust you first. A small smile played on the doctor’s lips. “Very well. I am the Head of the Sorcerer Hunting Agency, Sector Seven, Division Nine.” He flashed one of the badges on his jacket at me, the 7 and 9 glittering in silver on black onyx. I felt my throat go dry. The head of our division was speaking to me? I didn’t even know the heads ever left their office, let alone talk to the agents. I suddenly felt appalled at my earlier questioning of him. “Oh, oh I—“ He shook his head. “No need for formalities. This is very important, Agent. Now answer me. How long have you been with us?” “One year and fifteen days,” I replied immediately. “And in that year and fifteen days, have you ever noticed anyone following you?” “What?” The question took me aback. I’d never heard of any of the Agents being followed before. “As… as in a stalker?” “Yes.” I was shocked, but I thought back to all of my recent missions. “I-I suppose no, doctor. I’ve been on missions almost every day for the past twelve months. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed someone following me before.” “Really?” He removed his sunglasses, showing me a pair of hollow, deep-set black eyes as he leaned over the table towards me. “So you have no recollection of anyone whatsoever following your every move for the past four weeks?” “N-no,” I managed under the intensity of his gaze. “Then we have a problem. Because if you didn’t notice them, others may have stalkers they haven’t noticed either.” He leaned back and gave me a look. “And not only have I discovered you’re being followed, I’ve also determined it’s not the same face every time”. “So there’s multiple of them?” “No, Agent,” he said as if he was tired of how clueless I was being. “Screw your head on tighter.” I pondered what he was saying. We were part of the most elite anti-magic group in the world; we hunted sorcerers, in an attempt to exterminate them and their ungodly powers away from this earth once and for all; we met only in underground bunkers where no one could disturb us; we hid in the shadows, striking only when we could so so unseen. So the only reason someone might be following me… “They’re shapeshifters,” I gasped, suddenly remembering. “Sorcerers. One of them is after me.” “Took you long enough,” the doctor muttered. “How do you know this?” I asked. “Have you been following me too?” “It’s my job to check up on agents, record their progress and such. And I noticed the stalker the last four times I’ve checked up on you.” “But how did I never notice—“ “I used the invisibility serum.” I tried to hide my surprise. The Agency rarely used the invisibly serum, as its effects were extremely painful and could cause long term health damage. “A tolerance can be built up to it, after a while,” the doctor explained. “But regardless, of the eleven other agents in our division, three others also have sorcerers following them— at least, that we know of. And I’m not the only division head who’s been reporting them,” he added, a hint of disgust in his voice. I looked at him. “So what does it mean?” “It means they are aware,” the doctor replied grimly. “Aware of what?” He narrowed his eyes at me, two hollow spheres boring into me. “Aware of the Agency’s existence.” My heart almost stopped. I started spluttering, words spewing from my mouth in disbelief. “But they can’t be… all the serums and tools and missions… how—“ “I don’t know.” He got a far-off look in his eyes, his gaze drifting towards the dark window. “I really don’t know.” I sank back down into the booth, feeling nauseous. So we’d been Exposed; the day had finally come. Was I partly to blame, I wonder? Had I noticed the stalker and come to my assigned mentors, the people who worked right under the heads, sooner that the doctor realized it, could I have stopped this from happening? “No, Agent. It’s not your fault,” he stated, noticing my expression. “You could’ve helped, but not that much. It’s the mentors— all the mentors, from all sections and all divisions— who are really to blame. It’s their job to take care of things like this.” A pause. So this was bigger than I thought. “So what now?” I asked suddenly. “Why are you coming to me now, here, in this diner at—“ I checked my watch again— “three a.m. on a weekday?” “It was the quickest I could get to you.” The doctor leaned in again. “Now that we’ve been Exposed, everything has changed. No more spying. No more hiding. No more lies.” He pulled out an empty syringe from his pocket, in which a few drops of bright yellow liquid remained. I recognized it as stun serum, likely the one which he’d used on Charlotte. “No more secrecy.” He tossed the syringe into a nearby trash can. “And?” I rasped, the only words that I could get out right now. I thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest, it was pounding so hard. “It means we’re over.” He exhaled, the monstrosity of his words hitting me hard. “All of it. We’re coming out to the world, Agent, starting with the U.S. government at dawn. The decision was made by the Agency’s High Council in Moscow just an hour ago.” He rapped his fingers on the table. “The Sorcerers grow stronger every day, and it’s time we went public looking for recruits. They’ve gotten better at this fight, and we have to keep up with them. One of us triumphs, and one of us dies.” His expression turned grim. “There will be no in between.” I swirled my finger in my coffee, my thirst for it long gone, and said nothing. I’d heard of the Exposure before, but I didn’t realize it could happen so soon. I don’t think any of us did. We sat still for a while, letting the silence hang there like a dead weight, too afraid to touch it for fear it might crush us both. “There’s a meeting at headquarters tomorrow,” the doctor said finally, rising from the booth. He tucked his black book back inside his jacket and turned to go. “Further instructions will be given to you there. But for now, just remember nothing is going to be the same. Not ever again.” He turned on his heel and disappeared through the door. A few minutes later, I heard Charlotte stirring from the ground in the main room, and I knew I should go before she suspected I had been the one to knock her out. I left the coffee shop at dawn, feeling strange. Everything I had been taught for the last year… all of it was useless now. And I knew I was one of lucky ones. Some agents and mentors had been here for ten, twenty, thirty years, at least, wasting away their energy at keeping themselves hidden as they exterminated the Sorcerers. All to try and prevent the inevitable. Suddenly, I came to a dead stop on the sidewalk. I heard something. Something like footsteps. Growing closer. What did it matter anymore?, I told myself. The Sorcerer hadn’t bothered to mask the sounds of their footsteps like their kind often do, nor had they felt the need to keep themselves away in daylight. If they weren’t going to keep themselves a secret, then I wasn’t going to either. Still facing away from my stalker, I slowly pulled out the gun I kept tucked securely in my jacket. I’d never used it out in public before. But things have changed. I listened for the telltale sign of sparks behind me; and heard it. A wand was being drawn. Something inside me bristled, something that made me realize I wasn’t ready to hide anymore. I was ready to fight. Fast as lighting, I whirled around.

Fantasy

Cell 013

EnglishGirl112

4 min read

Holly was running. Faster, faster, faster through the main deck of the ship and down past the oxygen tanks, bursting through the bunker doors and out into the blue-tinted hallway— Holly skidded to a stop. “Hey!” “We haven’t found the cell,” Kell called back, jogging towards Holly. “Damn it,” Holly muttered. She tried to hide her shock. “You know what? I’m not giving up yet. We’re going to the observatory—we can talk alone there. Come on.” She pulled her best friend forwards, down past the next flight of metal stairs, the blue LED’s flickering above them. “I haven’t seen Damien anywhere,” Kell said as they descended deeper into the ship. “He must’ve found the cell.” Holly shook her head. “We would’ve gotten a message.” She pointed to the watch on her wrist. “This thing has been dark since we split up.” “But how do we know his watch wasn’t confiscated?” “We don’t. We just pray he’s fine and keep moving.” Holly pushed forward, ignoring the idea that Dame might be dead already. The two girls jumped off the staircase, rounded another bend, and sprinted faster. Kell cleared her throat. “Haven’t seen any guards yet? Or Ace?” Ace, Kell’s boyfriend, had also gone missing last week, along with Holly’s brother. “Sorry. I didn’t see his cell light come on like my brother’s did,” Holly said, holding up her watch, which she’d also hijacked to watch the cells’ security lights. “I have no idea if they’re holding him captive.” They skidded to a halt in front of the massive doors of the observatory. Kell held up her watch and clicked a few buttons, bypassing the scanner. A chill blew in as they pushed open the door. The only light was a tiny bulb, dangling precariously from the ceiling. “Dame?” Kell called nervously into the shadows. “Ace? You here?” “I can’t believe they still keep this place functioning,” Holly said, her voice low. “Odd they haven’t converted it into some kind of storage facility or something.” She turned her gaze to the towering telescope that took up most of the room. “Earth is a total wasteland. Why would they care about observing it?” She jumped up onto the silver platform and risked a glanced into the telescope’s eyehole. It was dark. Even more strange. “By the way, make sure you close the door, Kell. And lock it,” Holly added. Kell hurried back and slammed the metal frame shut. “Now let’s think. If he’s not—“ BEEEEEP! An alarm suddenly went off, blaring like an earsplitting siren. “What the hell?!” Holly yelled over the noise. Then it clicked, her face turning pale. “Crap. Lock sensors.” She and Kell scrambled together, back to back in the center of the room, readying the laser beams on their watches. It wouldn’t do much against the guns, but it was better than being defenseless. Steam suddenly erupted from a door in the back of the observatory, making Kell and Holly jump. As it cleared, it revealed a gagged boy tied back in a chair, his body limp. “DAMIEN!” Kell screamed. She began to run, but her friend held her back. “Could be a trap,” Holly whispered. Shaking, Holly turned her attention to the doors, where a silver-eyed man in a sweeping black cape had entered, flanked by two burly guards. With guns. One blast and both girls were shot with shining red ropes made of light: laser binds. Holly fell to her knees as her binds burned, the man in the black cape strutting forwards. “Where is my brother?” Holly demanded. “Tell me where you’re keeping him!” “Ah ah Ah,” the man tutted, walking closer. “Criminals don’t deserve answers.” “I’m not a criminal!” She screamed. “I came here to rescue my brother!” She struggled to her feet, leaning her face close to the silver-eyed man. “I know he’s here, you piece of filth. I saw his cell light. That’s his intergalactic ID tag, 013. I know you’re keeping him hostage!” The man laughed, a deep, hollow laugh that made Holly’s blood run cold. “My, we are feisty,” the man crooned. “Did you honestly believe the most powerful empire in the universe would be hunting down and capturing that pathetic excuse for a thief? No, my dear,” he smiled icily. “We care about someone… else.” “Cell 013 is full! I saw the security light go on!” She repeated, panic running through her. “That’s my brother’s ID! I, I don’t understand…” “I made a deal,” the man continued. “I didn’t want to waste my energy on finding your brother. So I did the next best thing.” He snapped his fingers, and Kell’s binds fell. Holly stuttered. “What the—“ “I’m sorry, Holly,” Kell said, rising to her feet. She walked over to the silver-eyed man, her voice breaking. “I… I didn’t know what to do…” “What’s going on?!” Holly heard a rumbling from the other side of the room, and realized the telescope was shaking. Looking closer, she realized it wasn’t a telescope at all. It was a cell. Cell 013. Outside of it stepped Ace. He looked sick and weak, like they’d been torturing him for far too long. Holly whirled to her friend, panic sinking in. “Kell?” “It was the only way,” Kell whispered, tearing up. “He said Ace wouldn’t die if I turned you in.” Holly turned a shade whiter. Anger burned inside her, and she fired it on the man. “You foul, horrible creature—“ Her binds tightened, squeezing the air from her lungs. “For ten years, you have been trying to undermine me,” the man sneered as he watched Holly struggle. “Ten years of pain. Of watching you tell yourself you were doing the right thing, fighting the big corporation like the strong little rebel you are. Well,” the binds squeezed tighter, and black spots clouded Holly’s vision— “Your little game is over. Goodbye, Holly.” The last thing she heard were Kell’s desperate pleas as everything faded to blackness.

Moon Child

EnglishGirl112

4 min read

I gripped the oars tighter as I rowed towards the caves. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the dark water as my oars brushed against the surface. I glanced up at the moon, shining bright like cold fire in the midnight sky, and the thousands of millions of stars twinkling in constellations beside it. I glanced back towards the far-away shore. The lanterns of the village had been extinguished hours before now. Our people were early risers; I was one of the strange ones that liked the night more than the day. I closed my eyes and breathed in the cool, salty air, thinking of the moon children. Grandmother didn’t believe in the moon children-- those born from the stars and who have eternal life. But my childhood friends did, and they had their own stories to tell; tales that their parents passed along, or rumors they’d picked up about the fabled people who lived forever. I never understood why, but when I tried to ask Grandmother about them, I received a sharp “We don’t talk about silly things in this house!” and was told to go to bed. I never hated my grandmother, I thought, letting my hands graze the water. She raised me from the time I was six months old, out of the kindness of her heart, and fed me and put a roof over my head. Still, growing up as a trouble-making only child with not much going for me, I’d always felt a little lost. Grandmother seemed to take that the wrong way. She believed I never appreciated all she’d done for me, the little orphan girl. In her eyes, I was always trying to break free from the safe, sheltered life she gave me and that I’d taken for granted-- and she hated me for it. Still, I got a lot of sympathy growing up as an orphan. It seemed that everyone from the vast ends of the island knew my father had abandoned us long ago, my mother had drowned in a horrible storm, and I was the poor baby left behind. To this day I have no explanation as to why she was out that night. I’ve gathered vague bits and pieces from village gossips (“She needed to get away” or “she was having one of those days”), but I don’t think any of them really knew. Grandmother wouldn’t tell me either. Whenever I asked, I only ever got one answer: “Your mother drowned. Your father left. Now come help me with this...” I opened my eyes and stared up at the moon again, full and white. I’d never really thought about it, but it was then that I realized the moon had phases, passing through one life to the next without ever stopping. As if it were always struggling, always looking for something, never quite sure of itself. Like someone I knew. I picked up my oars and rowed further towards the caves-- toward answers, I told myself, hope; my destiny. Still, I felt like I was missing something. Something that told me this was a terrible idea from the beginning. That I should’ve listened to grandmother, and shouldn’t have broken out of the room she locked me in so I wouldn’t come here tonight. I reached the mouth of the cave and paused. Any farther and I’d be inside. I took a deep breath and rowed on. At first, there was nothing. The cave was cold and dark, and I suddenly wondered if I’d come to the wrong place. I grabbed with the cloth bag I’d stolen from Grandmother and pulled out the carved piece of stone I’d brought with me; On her sixteenth birthday Midnight The caves to the west Tell no one Bring moon child I’d been unsure about the moon children before, but when I found this stone locked away tight in grandmother’s cellar, I knew they were real. I knew in my heart the stone was from Mother-- and Grandmother had no intention of ever giving it to me. And I knew I was a moon child. And I was angry. I rowed further, faster into the darkness. This couldn’t be the end. I was this close to finding myself… this close to finally solving my mother’s death... this close to getting the answers I’d always wanted… I rowed faster, faster, the cave growing darker by the second, my heart beating quicker, my mind setting to panic-- I stopped and slowly looked up. I had rowed myself into a grotto. In my panic I hadn’t realized, but the black water had turned to a deep lapis blue beneath the boat. An arched ceiling stretched miles above me, plastered in glowing stones of pink and turquoise and green, while twisting vines of emerald and gold grew like thousands of hands between the cracks in the rocks. A shore of sparkling sand stretched out in front of me, as the small glowing bodies of fireflies flickered and danced through the air in a parade of light and shadow. I froze, nearly dropping my mother’s stone into the deep. “What is this place?” I whispered aloud. A breathy voice whispered back. “Everything you could ever imagine.” “WHO’S THERE!” I shouted suddenly, nearly toppling the boat over. I hastily rowed to shore and stumbled onto the dim beach. “I- I demand to see...” I was at a loss for words, embarrassed. I spun around, my heart skipping a beat-- “I’m sorry I have to do this to you.” I slowly turned. A woman stood just a few feet away, a ruby red dagger in her shaking hands. Her brown eyes, shining like stars, were wide with fear. “I’m sorry,” she whispered again. “It’s the only way we’ll know.” “M-Mother?” I asked-- “K-know what…” I screamed, and the last thing I remember were my mother’s terrified eyes, the mother of a girl who she prayed was a moon child, as she plunged the dagger deep into her daughter’s heart.

Fantasy

YA fiction

Calla Lilies Winner - 3rd

EnglishGirl112

4 min read

I looked up from the letter in my hand. It was crinkled from the number of times I had picked it up and read it, over and over again, just to make sure it was real. The ink was smeared and fading, and the paper was thin and threatening to tear. Not completely unlike my sanity. This whole thing still felt like a dream. So Celeste was alive. Funny how she mustered up enough decency to tell me. I didn’t think her capable of human emotion anymore. I checked the letter once more for the date and time: Palais du fantôme, minuit. Phantom’s Palace, midnight. A bit of a dark name for a coffee shop, but fitting for the occasion, I supposed. The Paris streets were quiet that night. I’ve found over the years that the deeper you dare to venture into the night, the more silence you’ll find. The only light was the flickering glow of the street lamps; not even a single car could be seen gliding through the rain-soaked streets. There was a stillness to the air, and a gentle haze was setting over the city, not unlike the night I first met Celeste. The night that changed my life forever. I pulled open the door of the 24-hour coffee shop. It was empty and dark, save for the owner, Maurice, who was humming to himself and was busy wiping down the counter with an old rag that should’ve been replaced long ago. Maurice wasn’t quite right in the head anymore, but he was a fine Frenchman, and I never had the heart to talk any bad about him. “Evening, Maurice,” I said, flashing him a warm smile. I’d been seeing him for years, but he never remembered me. Then I flung open the dark velvet curtains to the shop’s only private room, and walked inside. She was sitting at the very back table. A small iron lantern was flickering in front of her, casting an eerie glow along the wall. Her hair and face were covered by a long black veil. She was wearing a dark cloak with a single clasp; a calla lily. A symbol that had come to haunt me in my dreams over the last few years. “Sit,” she said, pointing to the chair across from her. I did despite the way my mind was begging me not to. Celeste had a way of talking to people so that you couldn’t refuse her. So she hadn’t changed as much as I’d thought. “Get to the point,” I said shortly. “I have places to be.” “You have nowhere to be more important than here.” I drummed my fingers on the table. If this was how we were playing the game, I wasn’t backing down. “I left you for a reason, Celeste.” “Really?” “You joined an assassin group and murdered my sister!” I shouted, banging my fist on the table. She drew her pale fingers up to the table and placed them gently over my hand. “Shh. Not so loud.” I couldn’t explain why I listened to her. “There is something about the murder you do not understand,” she whispered. I felt my face heating up again. “There was no mistake. I saw the order. I saw the clasp. I saw what you did.” “I never intended for you to see the body.” “I saw it anyway.” “I tried to refuse the order.” “It doesn’t matter to me.” “I shouldn’t have done it.” “I should’ve killed you before you killed Alexandra.” She squeezed my hand tighter. It wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold either. “I had no other choice.” I shot up from the table. “You had every choice in the world, Celeste,” I sneered. I could tell how dangerous my voice sounded. Good, I thought. Let her feel afraid. And yet she remained gentle and steady. “You must listen to me, Louis.” God, I hated her. I hated how calm she was in the knowledge that my sister, my dear Alexandra, was dead... because of her. She had been the one to wield the knife. The blood was on her hands. I rammed my hand through one of the glass display cases. The crystal shattered everywhere. Mugs, teapots, and saucers went clattering to the floor. “I will never listen to you. I trusted you. I trusted you even after you joined them.” I pointed to her golden clasp. The calla lily. My fingers were shaking with rage. “I trusted you enough to ask you to marry me. I still asked you, even after I found out.” “I understand, Louis.” “You lied to me. You had already lied to me and I was still trusting you.” “I know. I understand.” “YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING!” I shrieked. “I was the only one who understood. I was the only one who stood by your side when the world shunned you away. I was the only one willing to love you, Celeste. And where did that lead us?” I pointed to her clasp. “Calla lily. ‘A beautiful flower, though a hidden poison lurks beneath.’ Well, I’ve sure seen your poison.” “There’s another side to the story.” “That you faked your own death?” I barked a laugh. I didn’t care how hysterical I sounded. “Bah! More lies. Typical for you.” “You don’t know who I am.” “I know exactly who you are.” “Louis,” she said softly. “I faked my own death.” “We’ve already established that, Celeste,” I snapped. “You distrust me.” “You’re my ex-fiancée. I’ll always distrust you.” “Will you?” I gripped the edges of the chair. I was at the end of my thread with her. I was done with her lies. Done with her games. Done with her. “Show your face, you coward. Throw up your veil.” “You don’t know me,” she said again in her soft voice. It only made me angrier. “I know you well enough. Show me your face.” She pulled back her veil. My breath caught in my throat. “A-Alexandra?”

Crime, mystery & thriller