After The Silence 1996 Novels & Stories

I reached for the handle. Stopped. There was a sound, muffled but unmistakable. Then a hush…a ragged exhale, not quite a gasp, not quite a scream. It was the sound of someone trying not to be heard. Then silence. But not the silence of relief, of resolution. It was the kind of quiet that follows a decision. The kind of quiet you find the second after a coin lands on the table, and everyone at the table realizes which side is up. I didn’t knock.

Cassian had never heard silence like this before. It wasn’t peaceful or calming. It wasn’t the kind that lulled people into rest. No, this silence roared in his ears like an accusation. It was the silence that came after someone had screamed all the truth they could manage and walked away—not because they didn’t care anymore, but because they’d cared too damn much.

Shiloh hadn't wanted everyone knowing about her divorce from Manuel. It was private, and she wanted it to stay that way. But when Tony warmly invited Manuel to stay a few more days, she couldn't keep quiet. "Commander Ruffin, that won't be necessary." Shiloh forced down the emotions rising inside her and kept her voice even. "We're divorced. There's nothing between us anymore." The room went dead silent. Manuel's face darkened. He swallowed his anger.

This is bad, I sigh inwardly as I feel myself tighten. “Did we die?” She returns to her seat, her eyes still closed and I chuckle. “You’re not getting away from me that easy missy.” I say, smiling as I ruffle her hair and the silence returns. From the first time we met, silence seems to be her comfort. Maybe getting involved was the best decision I’ve made in my life after all. Smiling to myself I take her hand again and we drive in the warmth of the stillness that envelopes us, before we reach our destination.

"Janne?" I shake my head. "No. She's getting too attached." I say and he nods. I enter my dark room and the door closes behind me. I bet by the morning Meave will be gone. ○○○☆○○○ I woke up Naked between two Naked girls. My mind immediately goes to Maeve and as I start to get out of bed. My door opens and in comes Anessa. "Jesus! Clothes please." She exclaimed covering her eyes.

The entire pack hall fell instantly silent. The doors burst open with a bang, and Nolan stormed in, the full weight of the Silverglade Pack’s leadership trailing nervously behind him. The moment he threw me a heartbeat's glance, Janine, who was still holding the knife aloft, was flung violently across the hall by an invisible force. She smashed through three support pillars and landed embedded deep in the far wall. Despite being Silverglade’s top warrior, Aiden had already collapsed into a trembling heap on the floor. Faelan, who was finally free, leapt up and ran to Nolan, sobbing as he threw himself into his father’s arms.

At that point, I just switched my phone off, no longer having any energy to reply. Meanwhile, the doctor helped me into the consultation room with my medical report in hand. Shaking his head, he said, "Your condition is still quite bad, Miss Palmer. You have to be mentally prepared. Don't let your emotions get too intense, or else you'll…" I smiled and nodded lightly at the doctor as I shoved a handful of pills in my mouth. "Yes, I understand. I've been using this artificial heart for years now, after all." Six years ago, Scott and I went overseas on vacation. However, enemies of his family had set an ambush in advance, and the two of us got kidnapped.

The night was cold and Lena kept shivering, she was famished at the same time. She looked around hoping her abductor would at least get her something to eat but nothing. She saw no one and nothing happened. No movement, only silence. From a distance she could hear sounds of leaves and trees waving, the sounds of snakes, birds and cricket. The warehouse back door was opened, the cold and sounds from shaking doors and windows made Lena shivered in fright, the cold was too much as she keep grinding her teeth.

The silence after chaos was worse than the chaos itself. At least during the attack, there had been noise—gunshots, shouting, movement. Something to focus on. Something to react to. Now? Nothing. Just the aftermath. I stood in the middle of the hall, my body still frozen, my mind struggling to catch up with everything that had just happened.

August repeated to the silence. ​---