Stranded Novels & Stories

Not strain. Not expansion. Something else. Something wrong. My breath catches. Because I feel it immediately. Deep in the system. Not here. Not in the clearing. Somewhere else. Far. But connected. “Elara,” Adrian says, his voice sharp. “What is it?” “There’s a disturbance.” “What kind?” “Not like before.” “How is it different?” “It’s… structured.” That’s the only word that fits. Not chaotic. Not random. Deliberate. Controlled.

Idiot, I’m such an idiot. I have no real plan for getting home to Newhaven. It’s the best part of a ten-mile hike, and the odds of making it back without either succumbing to hypothermia or stumbling into the sea are slim to nil. I’m sure I should be more freaked out than I am, but I feel strangely nonchIt’sy, it’s more numb than nonchalant. Maybe I’ve had a few too many tequilas myself, or maybe it’s the sorry knowledge that I have nobody who cares enorealizeI’ve been strandedstrandstranded stranded out a penny in my pocket.

Ivy’s POV "I need your help”, I said immediately the call connected after the third ring. “Why are you calling me at this time of the night?” a thick and distorted voice said at the other end of the call making it obvious that he was sleeping by the time he picked the call. I decided to call Caleb and talk to him about how I am feeling because he is still the only one that seems to understand me on this island. “I have something important to discuss with you”, I said hurriedly as I walked toward the door that leads to my room.

didn't have the luxury of a retreat. "We’ve got two more coming through the alley, Matriarch," Jax said, his voice cutting through the mechanical hum of the sterilizer unit. He didn't look up from his multi-screen setup in the corner, his fingers dancing across a keyboard stained with dried motor oil. "They’re not ours. They’re Strays. Kaelen’s unit took a hit at the southern water reservoir." "What kind of hit, Jax?" I asked, snapping on a fresh pair of latex gloves, the sharp *snap* echoing off the high ceiling.

At this point, it's safe to say, I've overstayed my welcome. Through the shit storm, the only solace I've found has been on this bike. An impulse purchase I made after arriving home with no job probably wasn't the brightest move, but it is what it is. There's something about the wind hitting my face, the inability for anyone to reach me, and no one calls my name. Sitting behind the handle bars, I just become one with the road, and that road will take you wherever you want to go.

Maybe I could tolerate it for one night. The cold night air bit into my bare skin, causing goosebumps to erupt on my arms and legs. I crossed my arms over my chest in a feeble attempt to preserve warmth. Occasionally, I stepped on something sharp and winced in pain. I wished we could stumble upon some human campers and borrow—or okay, steal—clothes and shoes from them. It was an emergency; perhaps they'd understand. Unfortunately, there was no sign of any life, and we were stranded in isolation.

We are the exact definition of stranded. Standing up from the chair, it felt like my breath was beginning to seize. I held the chair tightly to steady myself. I envisioned me building a beach house and everything collapsing with the waves visit. I want to assure myself that it would be fine, that a miracle would happen, but it's a dead end. There is simply no way out. “Kamara.” I heard someone call in a distant. It's almost hard for me to reach the voice. “Kamara!” I couldn't hear anything any longer, my body softened and everything turned black.

Outside, loud music blasted—a tradition when our group of friends gathered. I screamed and shouted, but no one heard my cries. As he smeared sticky saliva over my face, all I could do was struggle to grab a lamp from the bedside desk, smashing it over his head. Then, I made a run for it, stumbling towards the window. Jeremy was like a monster, relentlessly chasing me after he recovered. I threw myself over the windowsill, and as I hit the ground, I clearly felt warm blood gushing out between my legs, as if a life was slipping away.

I could practically hear him glaring at me from the phone “You called me. You never call me. So I’m going to ask you one more time before I hang up. What?” That insufferable angel of death, if I was in a better situation I’d consider insulting the shit out of him before I cut the call, but desperate situations calls for desperate measures. “Are you in trouble Phoebe?” Yep that’s Jeremy rubbing off on him “I wouldn’t say I’m in trouble,” I hedged. “More like…stranded. I’m not near public transport, and I can’t find an Uber.” “Where are you?” I told him. “What the hell are you doing there? That’s two hours from campus and the city!”

It was a strategic choice, allowing them to gather their strength and embark on the passage with clear minds and a refreshed spirit. Tritan and Finrir, assuming their positions for the first watch, gracefully hovered amidst the tranquil currents near their campsite. The abyss echoed with a stillness that was occasionally broken by distant rumbles, heightening their senses. Naida, drawn to the opportunity to share this time with Tritan and Finrir, chose to join them, her presence bringing comfort and companionship during the serene, nocturnal hours. Together, they hovered on the threshold of the Pillars' Strait, ready to face the challenges that awaited them, their bond growing stronger with