77 Results in the "Burned Cover" category
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Erika slipped between clusters of laughing kids and the glow of arcade cabinets, the air thick with the scent of popcorn and sweaty teenagers. She paused beside a pinball table, watching the silver ball ricochet under neon lights, then caught sight of Rick hunched over a malfunctioning cabinet, screwdriver in hand and cardboard tube on his back. “Need some help?” she called, raising her voice over the thumping bass music that she had picked out—royalty free, despite her doubts that any big music…-
279.2 K • Ongoing
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“Heya,” Erika said, forcing a smile. “Who’s this?” Daniel walked up to Erika, where she was leaning up against the side of her pickup. He wasn’t alone. At his side, a girl who reminded Erika of a younger version of herself shuffled along. Not in that she looked like a smaller version of Erika, but that she seemed to be going through a phase that Erika had once visited during her middle school years. She wore a black dress with tiny white polka dots, dyed hair in short braids that rested…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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“So, about your parents—” Erika stopped Leslie before he could begin, holding up her hand. “The Fixer said they knew what they were doing, that they had escaped these kinds of situations before, and that they didn’t have time to elaborate. It’s been three days. I have seen no sign of them or Leah, and I don’t know what to do beyond trust that they’ll show up again, eventually.” As far as Erika was concerned, there was nothing more to say on the subject. Leaving like she had pissed…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
15 – i – The Warrior
Jasmine Vasila looked around the old laundromat. It was a dingy, depressing little hovel. Boarded up, barred windows were covered in a thin layer of paint: spray-painted symbols, tags, and other graffiti—all related to mundane gangs. An aged For Sale sign hung from the door, peeking out from under several other posters advertising everything from garage sales to fruit stands. Hardly a respectable meeting place. One day, Jasmine reminded herself. One day and we’ll be in charge. When that day came,…-
279.2 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
14 – The Hunters Reconvene
The atmosphere within Varn’s suffocated Erika, making her feel like she was walking on eggshells. Not everyone was present. The Fixer still hadn’t made a peep since ordering Erika away from the motel; Erika tried sending texts, emails, and even tried calling up The Church to see if they had any idea what might have happened—in all three cases, she got no responses. Anna was the other glaring absence. Although The Castle had released her, she was at home with her mother. Erika approved, having…-
279.2 K • Ongoing
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“Morning, Mom,” Erika said, failing to fight off a yawn. Leah, fake or not, could put on an intense glare when she wanted. “Out all weekend. No calls. Texts ignored. Do you know how worried I was?” Probably would have been a whole lot more worried if you knew what I was up to, Erika thought as she rolled her eyes. That was the wrong move. A familiar look of anger crossed Leah’s face. That pinch of her lips and that slight twist of her mouth to the side, it was exactly as it always had…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
14 – Focus on What Can be Done
Two days into Erika’s second research project at the H. Finch Bibliotheca, and Erika felt like she was getting the hang of using antiquated methods of information retrieval. She hadn’t wanted to admit it to Anna, but she wasn’t just unfamiliar with the card catalog, the Bibliotheca was the first real library she had ever set foot in. Her school had a library, but she honestly couldn’t recall if she had ever been inside. Books just weren’t her scene. Why go dig through physical books when all…-
279.2 K • Ongoing
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The first Wednesday of December was a particularly cold and unpleasant day. Winter in Chicago was never pleasant, but a moist, westward wind dragged down what should have been a relatively mild day as it swept over the top of the lake. Cold air wasn’t supposed to carry much moisture, and yet, Erika still felt like she was being lightly glazed over with a layer of ice. Driving her pickup in these circumstances was among her least favorite activities. It was an old junker with rear-wheel drive and next…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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“Why didn’t you text?” “No signal in this place.” Rick did not look happy with that response. Erika wasn’t all that happy with it either. The whole reason she had come here was to get a better feel for these ghost hunters… and to help out and maybe see something interesting, she supposed. Mostly, it was for evaluation. The fact that they had been out here for almost an hour without checking in didn’t bode well. Erika wasn’t all that happy to disparage her gender, but Rick seemed…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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The Historical Gallery and Cultural Museum hadn’t changed much since Erika’s last visit. They had to put a wall back together here or there, but Erika hadn’t actually caused all that much damage to the place. The authorities shut down the entire building later that evening, citing ‘gas leaks’. This indicated that some intruders might have gotten in despite her shutting down the portal. If they had made a mess, cleaners had long since tidied it up. The incident made her wonder how they handled…
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279.2 K • Ongoing
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