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    103 Results in the "Burned Cover" category


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      26 – The ______ of Maggots

      26 – The ______ of Maggots Cover
      by Tower Curator “This is why I wanted napalm,” Erika hissed, staying well back from the opening. The Warrior pulled a card from her pocket, flung it toward the hole leading to what she assumed to be the Mother of Maggots, and snapped her fingers. It grew until its edges hit the walls, blocking off most of the hole. A few small gaps remained along the thinner ends of the playing card, but it would stop people from slipping and falling in. “I’m not sure I have the firepower to take out that,” she said,…
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      25 – The Ziggurat

      25 – The Ziggurat Cover
      by Tower Curator Black bile splattered across the steps of the ziggurat. Chunks of viscera arced through the air, flung from the end of Erika’s bat. Each turned into a projectile in its own right, splattering every maggot in the way. Grime coated every inch of her face. Erika opted for garbage clothes knowing she would end up getting dirty, but she hadn’t quite realized just how messy the night would become. Her hair felt tangled and greasy, a rat’s nest despite pinning it in a neat bun to keep it out of the way.…
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      15 – Moonlit Encounter

      15 – Moonlit Encounter Cover
      by Tower Curator Erika shooed out the last of Varn’s regular customers, locking the front doors for the night in the process. The idea that an arcade could have customers, let alone regulars, still shocked her every time she offered to watch the place. They weren’t many, but they existed. Alone for the evening, Erika did a little light cleaning. Rick did not pay her enough to get her working hard, no matter what kind of friendship they had. He had a rare prior engagement tonight, and nobody else was available, so…
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      23 – i – The Hermit

      23 – i – The Hermit Cover
      by Tower Curator Tucked away in the heart of Hyde Park, concealed behind a nondescript brick façade, Ren lounged in her small slice of paradise within the otherwise chaotic city of Chicago. To the uninitiated, it appeared as little more than an aging townhouse, but to those with the right eyes—or the right introductions—it opened a door to a whole other world. The heavy scent of incense hung in the air, mixing with the violet smoke that wafted from her long pipe. Carefully cultivated flowerpots hung throughout the…
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      21 – Breaking the Bounds of the Ethereal Realm

      21 – Breaking the Bounds of the Ethereal Realm Cover
      by Tower Curator Erika’s good mood did not last long. As if attracted by the fight with the pale-tattooed man, flocks of metallic birds swarmed overhead. If there had been a sun in this place, they would have blotted it out. As it was, Erika didn’t know why she could see with no obvious source of light and, frankly, did not care. “Reload!” Erika shouted, passing her spent gun to one cultist whose name she still had not learned. They took it from her and passed her a loaded gun in return, which Erika snatched up,…
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      We All Wear Masks18 – We All Wear Masks, Metaphorically Speaking

      18 – We All Wear Masks, Metaphorically Speaking Cover
      by Tower Curator “Honestly? It’s insane.” Daniel sat at the arcade’s new folding table, staring down at an entire posterboard he had created. It looked like an elementary school science fair project that was mostly done by the parents, except instead of science, this board was more like one of those red-string paranoia boards. He had his elbows on the table and his fingers digging through his short brown hair. “Someone just shows up and knows what you’re talking about? I don’t know half of what you’re…
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      04 – Got a Live One Here

      04 – Got a Live One Here Cover
      by Tower Curator “Just got the word over the police scanner ten minutes ago,” Rick said as Erika hurried into the back of his van. “They haven’t even deemed it a ‘gas leak’ yet, publicly.” Erika let out a small sigh as she buckled herself into the seat. Being around other people certainly felt better after that little scare in the park. She was a bit surprised at how many people she was around, however. Leslie wasn’t here, but Anna sat in the passenger seat, and Sofia was next to Erika on the rear…
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      03 – Breaking the Golden Rule

      03 – Breaking the Golden Rule Cover
      by Tower Curator “So… Who is The Art?” Erika asked as she let a small box of clothes drop onto the floor of what was to be her new room. She opened the cardboard flaps and started placing articles into the closet. They were finally moving into the rental home. Nine days after they went out with an agent on Carter’s birthday, they finally had four walls and a roof that wasn’t a hotel. Erika wasn’t sure if that was fast or slow relative to someone normal needing a rental place in an emergency, as she had never…
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      02 – Urban Exploration

      02 – Urban Exploration Cover
      by Tower Curator Erika pulled her long coat around her a little tighter as she walked down the streets of Chicago. A few days into November, and the winter chill was really starting to hit hard, but her movements were more unconscious. A desire to wrap herself away, not from the frosty air, but from the people. People moved along the sidewalks, going about whatever duties they had. A salaryman carried a small case while keeping his phone pressed to his ear. A fast food worker sat around the side of the building,…
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      01 – House Hunters

      01 – House Hunters Cover
      by Tower Curator “Happy birthday, dear Carter. Happy Birthday to you.” Carter leaned back, drawing in a breath. People were supposed to make wishes when they blew out their birthday candles. The wishes never came true. Or, if they did, it wasn’t because they were wished for. Carter knew why people wanted things, but he had never understood why people wished for things. It was tradition. Another concept that he got but at the same time didn’t really understand. Carter liked routine. He liked when things were…
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