142 Results in the "Burned Cover" category
-
Chapter
09 – i – The Strategist
“The Prescient’s abilities continue to perplex, and the nature of The Director’s genius remains shrouded in mystery.” The Strategist leaned back in his seat, ruminating on the report he had received. While it was true that The Stalker was not particularly adept at the art of writing reports—the entire thing was written as if it were a middle school book essay—her lack of practice had forced The Strategist to develop his own skills in reading between the lines. It took some effort to filter…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
08 – The Dragon and the Fire
“The Sears Tower?” Erika stared up at the tallest building in Chicago with a heavy frown on her face. Of course, the shadowy organization that ran the entire city made its headquarters in the most prominent building around. She should have guessed. Headed by someone who called herself The Emperor, Erika could just picture her standing with her arms clasped behind her back, staring out over her city. “The Willis Tower, technically,” The Art said, turning the large SUV down into a sub-level…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
08 – Precaution Upon Precaution
The Castle’s lounge looked every part the comfortable venue for a posh party in the late nineteen twenties. Dark wood panels climbed the walls, polished to a sheen in the flickering incandescent light. Large portraits filled empty space, their occupants staring down with grave expressions. A phonograph on a table set to low volume put a layer of swing under the heavy tension in the air. “I am so sorry.” Anna—the real Anna—folded her arms across her chest. She leaned back on a short sofa,…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
07 – Interview with a Mimic
Erika stepped into the clone’s interrogation room, accompanied by The Maid. Her eyes trailed over the fake Anna, searching for any hint of deception, of any sign of a beguiling nature hidden under those familiar features. It was the first time she had seen this Anna without the mirrored glass in the way. Not a single twitch on Anna’s annoyed face looked out of place. “Finally. I need to get back to my mother,” Anna said, pressing her hands to the table as she stood. Arcing her back, bringing…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
07 – i – The Mind
The massive man, suspended on wires and chains within a fragile glass cube, itself suspended over a bottomless pit leading to the depths of The Castle’s asylum, turned his head the moment The Mind looked in on him. He always did. Most of his bones were still broken, and enough sedatives to kill an elephant coursed through his veins, and still… he knew. The Mind held his gaze a moment longer than was comfortable, then looked away. The rest of The Castle required attention. The corridors of The…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
06 – Seeing Double
In a game of spot the difference, Erika figured the best solution involved blurring her eyes—going cross-eyed like she was looking at a Magic Eye illusion—at which point the differences would jump out. In a picture of a room, the potted plant overlaid on top of a stack of books became obvious when they were laid on top of each other. Not that she was an expert. Erika doubted she had done a spot the difference puzzle since elementary school. Now, eyes flicking back and forth between two cells…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
06 – Haunted
Erika strolled into Varn’s Friday evening, glancing behind her every few steps for any sign of pursuers. Her eyes found every reflective surface, every glimmer of movement, and every flutter of white cloth. She slipped past the sparse crowd and, with nothing more than a wave to Daniel as he manned the arcade’s prize counter, barged into the back room. Glassware rattled on the table as she clapped her hands to its surface. Sofia, present for once, jolted back in surprise. Rick and Anna turned away from…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
06 – A Proper Investigation
“So, I call you on a Friday, and you can just come right out and hang?” Daniel shifted in the passenger seat of the old pickup, looking uncomfortable. “Sorry,” Erika said, not taking her eyes off the road. “Didn’t mean to imply that you had nothing better to do. But… did you not have anything better to do?” “My… family likes to go out on Friday nights,” he said, still looking distinctly uncomfortable. It was probably the worn seats—though the passenger seat wasn’t half as…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
05 – Fortress of Doors
Erika stalked down the halls of the asylum, accompanied by The Butler, The Maid, and one of The Mind’s creepy monster things. “Ahead, next left hall, immediate left door,” the monster spoke, words dripping from its maw. “You should find yourself in the atrium.” Should, he said. The hostile architecture of the asylum fought against its owners and was only kept stable by The Mind, from what Erika had heard—but she still would have preferred a little more confidence. “What about…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
05 – Family Matters
“Adjustment!” Erika said, surprised with herself at being happy to see the spider-woman. Maybe it was that The Adjustment had come down to Varn’s on her own. If The Eclipse was pissed off about the whole maggot thing or the bird thing or The Puppet thing, they probably would have shown up in force, rather than just sending their usual liaison. That meant good things for The Hunters. “Agent,” The Adjustment grumbled, pushing right past Erika into Varn’s back office. She dragged out a chair…-
487.8 K • Ongoing
-
- Previous 1 … 4 5 6 Next