The old shaman, her face etched with lines of wrinkles, wisdom and weariness, let out a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her years. "I can't believe, at this ripe age, with my meager pension, I must resort to such costly methods," she lamented. Her fingers trembled slightly as she extracted a small, worn pouch from her cloak. She moved around the battlefield, her movements deliberate yet frail, as she scattered a fine, shimmering dust from the pouch over the rampaging werewolf. The dust, a concoction of 25 rare herbs and a very expensive material called "stardust," worked as a slow-acting sedative, designed to soothe the beast's wild frenzy. "All my savings going to waste on this nonsense..." she muttered under her breath.*** Hidden in the dark forest, a woman clad in dark, stealthy attire urgently whispered into her earpiece, her voice a blend of tension and resolve. "Sir, shadow troops have arrived at the battle location," she reported. Her leader's voice crackled t
There was a long silence, during which she was certain she wouldn't receive any answer. She continued, “Sir, the young man, Ethan, just ran away from the target house after kissing her. Do you want me to take him down?” Her voice was barely audible in the quiet of the night. “Negative,” I answered. “Maintain surveillance on the target house. Protect her.” “Understood, Sir.” After a moment of static, a more personal request came through. “Sir, may I speak privately?” “Permission granted.” “Alex, we're relieved to hear from you again. The troops have been awaiting your return to lead us in our world conquest. Why are you hiding here?” The question was tinged with both respect and curiosity. "Don't worry," I replied, reassuring yet authoritative. "This place is destined to become the center of our global subjugation. The girl you're watching is crucial; she's the eye of the storm. Several powerful Alphas have already begun planning to come to this town, each aiming to win her heart a
Xander 14:45 PM. I was deep in slumber amidst the cluttered chaos of the school laboratory when someone came and kicking me awake from my single thin foldable bed.“What?” I mumbled groggily, fumbling for my glasses to focus on the figure looming over me.“Aurora asked you to go to the town hall. Why haven’t you checked your smartphone?” Lucas's voice was edged with impatience.Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I glanced at my smartphone, only to be met with a barrage of notifications — 53 missed calls and 65 messages on W******p and messenger, all from Aurora. My heart skipped a beat, and my face turned pale.‘Damn, I'm done. Aurora will kill me this time. Last time I did something like this, she almost broke my bone.’“Did something big happen? I heard the locals have convened an emergency meeting in the hall. The school declared an unforeseen holiday for today. Isn't she attending the meeting?” I asked.“Don’t reply. Just go there,” Lucas instructed tersely.Without time for a bath,
Xander “Please everyone,” Aurora, her voice steady but infused with urgency, sought to calm the agitated crowd. "Mr. Xander discovered our existence two years ago when he traced my blood donation in the city. He figured out I was a werewolf but kept it secret from everyone, including the government. He's been compensating me for my blood bi-monthly donation for his research. And he's even willing to offer compensation for your blood." An old widow, her eyes a peculiar blend of skepticism and keen interest, stepped forward. She brandished her old shotgun, its barrel ominously pointing towards Aurora and me. The wrinkles on her face deepened as she spoke, her voice a reflection of her financial desperation, "How much is he paying?" "$5,000 for a pint," Aurora answered promptly. The room erupted into a symphony of shocked murmurs. Some still thought it was a good price, a family could live on only $2,500 a month if they were frugal. Meanwhile, some of the younger people were thinking
Xander Aurora, her voice tinged with protest, conveyed to me all the injustices she felt the community had unfairly imposed upon her. I, the professor, wore a grave expression, attentively absorbing every detail of the troubles attributed to her by the community, attempting to appear sympathetic to her pain. After spending five minutes intently listening to Aurora's perspective, I realized I needed to intervene; otherwise, Aurora might continue sharing her emotional grievances for hours without finding a solution. She was repeating the same points, especially those where she felt emotionally hurt. ‘She is like a breaking dam.’ I rose to address the crowd from the podium, making eye contact with each individual. I announced, “If we all work together, we can resolve all of these issues in just 15 minutes, ensuring happiness for everyone.” “Great! Wonderful!” The central party quickly clapped their hands, uncertain whether it would really take only 15 minutes. They didn't care; as lo
Within the vast, dimly lit expanse of the repurposed factory, now transformed into a makeshift prison, an air of palpable tension hung heavily. The two-story building was segmented into numerous private cells, each imprisoning individuals from four towns – a mix of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas ensnared during the operation. These cramped quarters, typically housing two or three captives, bore the weight of their fear and uncertainty. In one such cell, a family of four huddled together, their faces ghostly pale. "Alpha Jack, what are they doing?" asked a woman with a pale face. She was comforting her two children, who hadn't awakened from the tranquilizers. "I don't know," answered the man, peering outside from the jail bars. "We will find our way out; just be calm for now." *** Lucas I was standing in the center of the factory inside a small arena, visible from all the cells. I could see all the prisoners from my place, their expressions a mix of fear and defiance, peering through th
Aurora Amidst the cool night breeze, I sat barefoot on the grass, feeling its softness against my skin. Around me, the famous Oakhaven camping site, right on the edge of the forest, buzzed with life. Members of the community gathered in the field, their silhouettes illuminated by the flickering lights of fifty or more bonfires. I discovered comfort in the expansive field, illuminated by the gentle glow of a half-moon and a canopy of countless stars. In the midst of the chilly night breeze, I hummed along to the melody of Coldplay's song, "A Sky Full of Stars." 'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars I'm gonna give you my heart 'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars 'Cause you light up the path I don't care, go on and tear me apart I don't care if you do, ooh-ooh, ooh 'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars I think I saw you 'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars I wanna die in your arms, oh, oh-oh 'Cause you get lighter
Aurora As the nocturnal sounds of the forest filled the air and the cold wind blew, the heat from the bonfire tried to reach everyone. Yet, the air around the bonfire crackled with a mix of emotions as Nathan turned his gaze to me, his eyes softening. "We'll go to Europe as well," he promised, his voice low and sincere. "When you're ready, I'll take you there. All expenses are on me." ‘Finally!’ I responded graciously, my smile warm and appreciative. "Thank you, Nathan, you're wonderful," I said, my tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "I would love to." ‘Since I haven't chosen you yet, I won't be going with you for sure, but with Xander, I'll make sure to get the most expensive travel package from him, or I'll never sell my blood to him anymore.’ Xander turned to Selena. "How about you, Selena?" Selena a spirited young woman in her twenties radiating the essence of a protester and a free-spirited hippie on a journey of self-discovery. I realized that her prolonged friendship and