The Stand Novels & Stories

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a jawline carved like marble—a stranger whose beauty clashed with the dread pooling in her stomach. When her eyes met his amber one, her gaze dropped to the floor out of embarrasement. "leaving already?" His voice was amused, yet carried a cold edge. She nodded, unable to meet his eyes. Her mind screamed that this couldn’t be real. a one-night stand with a man she didn’t know? It wasn’t her. It wasn’t possible. He crossed the room and picked the stack bills from the nightstand. "Take your money and go.” His tone turned rough. “Don’t show me your face again. I don't sleep with the same woman twice, especially a woman like you."

Then when I saw him. Nathan was standing about thirty meters from me, leaning against a lamppost, like a character from an old movie waiting for his beloved. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he looked at me with something that seemed like a mixture of interest and amusement. He was wearing a jumper and jeans, his hair was perfect as if he had just had a fresh trim. Pathetic: maybe he ran to the barber to soothe his nerves. We kept staring at each other without a move. Nathan's lips curled. I cocked my head to the side.

Elara saw Kazimir standing in the distance, but as she reached for him, he turned into a swarm of black robotic spiders, their eyes glowing with Sarah’s cold, black light. At the base of the monolith, the reality of the Last-Stand Valor was far more brutal. Kazimir stood knee-deep in the gray voxel-dust of fallen Sentinels, his Glitch-Blade flickering so violently it threatened to explode. He was surrounded by the remaining Vessels—the mercury-tank pilot, the fiber-optic humanoids, and a smoking, barely-stable Jun. They formed a desperate circle around the monolith’s base, a final wall of flesh and chrome against an endless wave of Exterminator-Sentinels.

"It’s how we live here. No torches, no lanterns. Just flip the switch, and it’s light." Stan stood motionless in the center of her modest living room, looking absurdly out of place. His broad shoulders barely cleared the doorway, and his torn, blood-dusted ancient robes dragged slightly against her clean linoleum floor. He smelled of rain, old iron, and something ancient—a sharp contrast to the familiar scent of citrus detergent lingering in her small kitchen.

Stan is standing in front of me. “How did you get in here?” I ask quickly looking to the door. It was not smashed in, but it was closed locking everyone out of the room. “Does it matter?” Stan asks angrily. “What are you doing?” he asks. “Packing a bag. I need some space,” I say as I try to move around him. “No,” he replies.

"What's up?" "Hey..." I spoke nervously. "About the other day... in the shower." I felt unnerved by Barry who was staring intently at me. "I... am sorry I left. I just... was afraid someone would see us. But, is there anyway that I could... get another chance?" Barry crossed his arms and looked me over. "I knew you'd be back," he said with a smirk. "Come over to my house in exactly one hour. We can sort this out over there." Barry stood up and walked over to the other side of the gym.

“Close the door fully and feel free. I’m not a monster. My name is Ethan. The first time I saw you at the bar, I wanted to come meet you. You were very beautiful to be looking so down that night. But when I saw that man from earlier approach you, I had to stop. I waited, watched and listened instead.” I just stood there listening to him with shame burning in my chest. My face felt hot. I remembered that night too well. The drinks, the one night stand with Mark, the bad decisions, how I paid him and left. Now this stranger knew details I wished I could forget. I didn’t say anything. I just listened, arms crossed tight over my chest.

Sapphire's POV I snapped back to reality and lifted my head up to see a tall, dark-haired man standing in front of me, his hand extended towards me. I looked at him, taking in his handsome chiseled features which were Brad-Pitt-like. It seemed like almost all the men here were good-looking and should either be on the runway or in showbiz.

The guards lunged at Howard, stun batons at the ready. However, Howard was quicker. With a mere flick of his wrist, he unleashed a powerful blast of air that sent the guards flying like ragdolls, slamming into the walls. They crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain, ribs clearly broken, and promptly passed out. Joseph and Sophia gasped in shock. That was beyond belief! "Stay back... What do you want?!" Sophia stammered, her body shaking as Howard approached them with an intimidating presence. "Stewart... Mr. Stewart is the big shot of the Mendorra Stewart family. You mess with him, and you'll have the Stewarts to answer to!"

Mia nodded coldly, the smell of cheap but strong perfume from the assistant standing in front of her made her nose hurt. A small company should only be located on three floors, Mia went to the third floor, the assistant went inside to inform the man and then she went out: "Miss Joan, please come inside." Mia walked to the front door of the study, the transparent glass made her see him inside. As a director, this man is holding a gaming phone. Mia's heart beat very fast, and panic surfaced in her mind again, she still clearly remembers the image of this man beating several people to death at the same time but he still smiles, the smile of madness, the smile laughter of perverted and twisted p