Header Background Image

    142 Results in the "Burned Cover" category


    • Chapter

      17 – A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

      17 – A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed Cover
      by Tower Curator — Erika half expected a second meeting with The Warrior to take place in that same laundromat as the first time around. It seemed like an alright place, having a nondescript and unassuming exterior, with nothing pointing it out as anything special, while the interior had been operational enough. She doubted it was anything like Varn’s, where people spent great deals of time, but it was clear some work had been put into maintaining it. It seemed like a suitable meeting place for anyone unaligned with…
    • Chapter

      16 – The Closing of a Door, The Opening of a Window

      16 – The Closing of a Door, The Opening of a Window Cover
      by Tower Curator — Varn’s bustled with activity when Erika finally pulled up to the old arcade. The cramped parking lot out back didn’t even have room for her truck. Rick’s van took one spot, a smaller SUV took another spot, and the final parking spot was occupied by Leslie’s oversized truck. She had to park behind them, blocking them all in. Erika stepped out of her truck in a fresh outfit. A simple tank with black mesh layered on top, a short pleated plaid skirt, and some chunky platform boots. A long trench…
    • Chapter

      16 – The Bench

      16 – The Bench Cover
      by Tower Curator — Erika’s heart skipped a beat as she stepped fully into the chamber, wondering if she should have looked around for a different exit before jumping straight in front of the god again. The Final Judge sat slumped on an elevated platform at the far end of a long room. Pews of dark stone stretched from side to side, broken only where the aisle ran up the center. With its vaulted ceiling, hanging candelabras, and stained glass running up and down the walls, the chamber gave off a church-like vibe. Only…
    • Chapter

      16 – Communication is the Foundation of Advancement

      16 – Communication is the Foundation of Advancement Cover
      by Tower Curator — Erika wasn’t exactly sure how to broach the topic of the cursed sword with Rick. She wanted to break the curse as a little good deed, as a nice little thank you for giving her a place to lie low and, since then, a place to hang out—a little return for them helping her out when she needed it. She needed to figure out something for Anna as well, for putting Leah back together after the museum, if nothing else, but breaking a curse on a sword seemed like a good starting place and a good use of her…
    • Chapter

      16 – A Night of Games to Pass the Time

      16 – A Night of Games to Pass the Time Cover
      by Tower Curator — 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…
    • Chapter

      16 – A Hug and Orange Tang

      16 – A Hug and Orange Tang Cover
      by Tower Curator — “I don’t believe it.” Rick slumped back in his chair, cupping his hands to his face like Erika had broken the news that The Mummy murdered his dog. “They’re Tangers?” “Tangers?” “They want to give everyone a hug and-or turn them into orange Tang. We’re going to get Tanged.” Erika raised an eyebrow, baffled as to what he was going on about, but not altogether surprised. Rick and Leslie both often spouted nonsense. “Is that… some kind of slur?” she asked. “What?…
    • Chapter

      15 – Words Whispered from Beyond Carry Dire Warnings

      15 – Words Whispered from Beyond Carry Dire Warnings Cover
      by Tower Curator — “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…
    • Chapter

      15 – Silence Eternal

      15 – Silence Eternal Cover
      by Tower Curator — Erika realized that she might have been an idiot. With the downfall of two gods notched on her belt, Erika saw another god and figured she could cross a third off her list. The Final Judge wasn’t even a massive monster, just a little, human-sized skeleton—hardly worth raising a bat over. The Monk looked more intimidating, the maggots were more disgusting, even a zombie felt frightening. But it was a god. And Erika was an idiot. The Final Judge stood from the throne with the gravity of a…
    • Chapter

      15 – Repaying Debts and Owing Favors

      15 – Repaying Debts and Owing Favors Cover
      by Tower Curator — “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…
    • Chapter

      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…
    Note