In Her Place Novels & Stories

I didn’t even remember the drive. Her place was minimalist, quiet, third floor of a repurposed factory building. I knocked twice. No answer. I was about to leave when the door clicked open, and she appeared, hair tied up, eyes clear, an expression that said you’re late for a meeting I didn’t schedule. She also looked adequately bored. “Wow,” I said. “You open doors without checking who’s there. That’s bold.” She gave me a once-over before pointing to the glass hole in the door that I had totally missed.

“That last obstacle course of yours was no match for the skill and experience I carried with me. She reached out and turned off the lights. One by one, objects began to appear in this darkness until there was a table in front of us, and two chairs. Then light flooded the room, revealing what looked to be a small stage. In the center was a tiny lectern where she had placed her gun and the letters she had been reading over the days. “Get on the table,” she ordered. “You will never leave this house alive. I have spent decades planning this, and this feeling of elation and vengeance runs through my veins in time with my heartbeat.”

“Not helped them. Not sponsored them. Placed them.” Daniel’s eyes followed hers to the folder. “That word bothers you.” “Yes.” “Why?” Leah thought of the dress form in her old shop, the way fabric had to be placed correctly before a seam could hold. She thought of Margaret placing the veil over her face, Charles placing a threat on Noah’s future, Robert placing Patricia beside her at the reception. Powerful people loved placement. It sounded gentle until one realized the thing placed was not expected to move. “Because people place objects,” Leah said. “Flowers. Chairs. Cards at a table. Girls only get placed when someone else has decided where they should stand.”

The day I found out we had only $2,200 left in savings, I spent $2,000 on a ticket to a piano recital. When my friend found out, he asked if I'd lost my mind. I said without expression, "I just want to see what kind of man is worth her draining all our savings just to buy him a high-end piano. That money was supposed to save our daughter's life. Annie was waiting for it so she could have surgery." The recital lasted two full hours. Everyone around me marveled at the beautiful music. But all I could think about was the man onstage, and—Audrey McMillan, my wife, seated directly in front of him in an expensive evening gown, looking so elegant and privileged that I barely recognized her. Af

She apologized, explaining herself. But I was on the verge of exploding. "I told you to make sure everything was set! How will you turn the camera on when you two get back to the room? You know he can't find out about the plan, right?" "I know, that's why I called to ask for your help," She whispered, clearly keeping her voice down so Dennis wouldn't hear. "The room is unlocked. You'll see the phone behind the rose flower vase next to the closet. Please, help me turn it on before he drinks his last glass," She requested, causing me to frown even more.

She checked the nearby surveillance footage, but soon found that I hadn't shown up in any of the footage. "He even knows to avoid the blind spots of the cameras, just like the rat he is. I doubt I will be able to find him!" I was utterly speechless by her behavior. I couldn't help but ask the system, "I can barely remember what Natalie used to be like after so many worlds. Was she always this arrogant and foolish? Then, why did I go through all that suffering? Does she even deserve it?" The system was silent for a moment before replying, "Do you really want to give up now? You are just one step away from the end. If she falls in love with you now, she will remember everything, and the real h

"She came alone, which is either honest or very well staged. She knew the location, which narrows the field considerably. She's been waiting for approximately four minutes without trying the door herself, which suggests she understands that patience is a better argument than force." "Does she have a name." "She'll have one. I don't know it yet." Zara had moved to my left, already occupying the angle, the poker loose and ready and her eyes on the door. No instruction needed. No conversation required. She just read the room and put herself in the right place, the way she always did, and I was aware in the peripheral way you're aware of things that matter while you're focused on something else

The receptionist at the other desk told her it was probably back at the spot she picked the bicycle from. She nodded her thanks and went in the direction of the last aisle. She'd reached the spot at the end of the aisle when a guy moved into her aisle from a gap in the shelf that joined it to the next. Even though the person was slightly facing away from her she strongly felt she knew that person, his features looked familiar even if she couldn't see the colour of his hair or eyes. But if one thing Taissa had grown to trust her female intuition and right now it said to call after the person who was now at any second going to disappear back to the other aisle.

She was sitting with Charles, her grandfather, and Arabella in the living room. For a moment, he just stared at the lady in between her grandfather and best friend. Her golden locks were locked away, revealing her beautiful face. She looked calm in just a simple white lace dress. Destiny is the perfect blend of sweet, soft, and a slice of sharpness. Even now, looking a bit sick, she didn't lose those qualities. And she is the most breathtakingly captivating woman he has ever met. Suddenly, she began to look around. Ara who noticed that followed her gaze.

“As long as you don’t force me to watch something sad, I’m in.” With a smile, she pushed the door open. “I need to change,” she called over her shoulder before disappearing into the closet. Her fragrance surrounded me as soon as I entered her room. Sitting on the bed, I waited on pins and needles while she changed, bubbling with excitement. When she came back, I pretended to sift through the different channels. She joined me on the bed without a word, and I settled on a comedy, ready to change if she didn’t like it. The sound of her laughter was like music, and I relaxed further. A hard lump formed in my throat.