Going Home By Dire Straits Novels & Stories

His strength was unnerving. “What is you mean?” I swallowed hard, still trembling. “We—we were supposed to have a retreat in Bantayan, but there was a seaquake. Our barge sank. We washed up here.” “You is the telling truth?” “Yes! Please, we’re desperate! We need help! Please, just—” My voice cracked as the weight of everything—everything I’d been holding back—finally crashed over me. The fear. The loss. The exhaustion. I couldn’t hold it together anymore.

She called him relentlessly. "Hey, Zeke?" "I told you. Don't call me anymore!" He treated her poorly. Even though he took the call, he showed no willingness to talk. "Zeke, I'm living here all alone, and it's tough. The apartment is too small, and the food doesn't sit well with me. I miss you so much. Please, let me come back, okay?" "If I recall correctly, your living conditions abroad were far worse than what you have now, Sophie. If you can't handle this, I'll terminate Winifred's services and the apartment lease.

Something else entirely. I’m going home.

Leslie shot back, "Get out of here. I've got plenty of stamina. I can go three days and three nights straight when I get back. My wife won't suspect a thing." One by one, every man on that bus took a turn with me. By the end, I was completely drained. My legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand. Behind me, the men chattered noisily, their faces full of smug, satisfied grins. "Leslie, you'd better cover your tracks when you get home. Don't let your wife find out." "Oh, shut it. Nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth." The bus lurched and rattled until it finally pulled into the village entrance. The door hissed open.

"I don't want Mom's belongings anymore. I don't care if you sold it. I just want you to come home. So, call me now!" Unfortunately, she received no reply to any of her texts. Her breathing became heavy. She tried to get up but knocked over the glass of water next to her. The glass fell to the ground and shattered into pieces with a crack. Her brow twitched, and she crouched down to pick it up, only to cut her finger on the sharp glass. Blood splattered against the glass, causing her to hiss in pain. Yet, her gaze drifted, seemingly into a daze.

Not braced. Not ready. Stunned. The lights dimmed. The glass beneath the creature’s hand began to crack. One thin line. Then another. Then another. The sound filled the bar, soft and terrible. Tick. Tick. Tick. Like ice splitting over deep water. Damien’s voice dropped into command. “Everyone back.” This time, even I moved. The creature’s mouth opened. Its voice filled my skull one last time, soft as rot beneath snow. Come home, little heir.

At the same time, she could not help but sneer at her own predicament. "What a cruel life this is," Tang Yazhu muttered as she floated about gloomily. Tang Yazhu had no choice but to subconsciously think, 'Is this truly how I will end? Is this happening because I've killed too many that I don't even have the right to live anymore?' While Tang Yazhu was busy contemplating about the current condition she was in, she heard a loud screeching sound coming right before a "bang!" She looked around to see where the sound came from and saw lots of people circling around. Going a tad bit closer, she understood that there was an accident.

--------- --------------- A week later . . . --------- --------------- Robbie and Natasha were both cranky as hell by the time the Strays arrived at the slaughterhouse. They had gotten a message on Natasha's cell phone on where to go, but then her battery went dead so they couldn't call back. They had returned the car, taken cabs out to the nearest gas station and then hiked back in. Lothar got help carrying the heavy magical jewel all the way. His magical battle had taken a lot out of him. That, and not having ever been to this new Den before, prevented him from teleporting.

Since he would not be let out, he had to sneak out instead. His room was on the hospital's second floor, and he managed to climb down the side of the building by clinging onto the pipes for support. I floated behind him as he hobbled down the street. I did not know what he was about to do. I followed him to Jasmine's rental unit, where she stayed after being banished from the house. Jasmine was so shocked to see Connor, looking utterly disheveled by his many injuries, that she took a few steps back in fear.