Stray Books Novels & Stories

But she… didn’t flinch. Lena walked over to a little table display and picked up a thin, cloth-bound book. She walked over to him, holding it out like an offering. *The Quiet Between Lightning Strikes.* A poetry book. The cover was old and nubbly, the title scribbled in fine silver ink. Julian stared at it like it was an alien thing. "What's this?" "A book," she said, smiling. "I told you. I don't—"

Carla froze for a moment, then quickly rushed downstairs to open the door. As expected, an elderly man with a refined aura stood outside, slowly shaking his head with a sigh. Carla stared at him in shock. The fortune teller walked inside and said, "Give me the straw." Amanda quickly handed it over. He took one look and said calmly, "The soul belonging to the long straw is no longer in that body. He may be dead, or he may be asleep. Either way, he is gone."

Just sneakers and a light jacket. The city was unusually quiet. I ended up at a small antique bookstore tucked between a florist and a tailor. It had no flashy signage, just a brass bell on the door and a handwritten welcome note in cursive. Inside, the scent of old paper and cedar wrapped around me like a story waiting to be told. I let myself drift between the aisles until a book caught my eye—Letters Never Sent. It was a collection of real, unsent letters from women over the last century. To lost loves, estranged mothers, unborn children.

The sound of their heavy breathing filled the air. I smirked coldly at their entangled bodies and pressed "save" on the recording, thinking, "James Fullman, enjoy the calm before the storm."

Their expression was calm but tinged with urgency. “You’ve come far,” the stranger said, their voice layered with echoes that reverberated through the very fabric of the room. “But your journey is far from over.” “I’m tired of riddles,” Jessica shot back, her voice rising slightly. “Tell me what I need to do.” The stranger tilted their head slightly, as though considering the question. “Do? There’s nothing left to do. Only to decide.” Before she could respond, the books began to fall from the shelves, each landing open at her feet. Pages flipped rapidly, revealing fragments of lives lived and lost, choices made and undone. Some showed moments of triumph; others depicted failures so profound

Despite not having read anything since losing my job, it still saddened me to encounter discarded books. This house had thrown out hundreds of books, neatly sorted in cardboard boxes. For the first time since I started scavenging I felt the urge to rescue them (though I wasn’t planning on reading them), so I wanted to get out of there before I succumbed to the temptation. As I rounded the boxes a name jumped out from one of the covers, halting me in my tracks. Ray Bradbury. Above it: The Illustrated Man.

Love you all! Hope magkabati na sila! Care to read also my availbale books sa mga new comers. *Your Stranger *Doctor Alucard Treasure *CEO's Lucky Charm *Alpha King Checkmate *The Devilish CEO Have fun everyone!

STRAYS' POV - THE REAL PLANS The stray camp was hidden deep within the forest, far from the watchful eyes of the pack. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint rustle of leaves, the shadows of the towering trees casting a dark blanket over their camp. The strays moved silently, their bodies tense, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. They were always on guard, always prepared for the possibility of an attack.