Wayward Novels & Stories

Celeste laughed, low and delighted. The road narrowed until the trees scraped paint. Then it opened into a clearing that shouldn’t fit between two pines. A single streetlamp flickered in the center. Under it stood a crossroads sign made of bone and rusted iron. Four directions: NORTH: Where the Veil was born SOUTH: Where the dead still vote EAST: Where the sun lost a bet WEST: Where Coyote keeps his best lies A chalkboard leaned against the post: PARK HERE. WALK THE REST.

Other than the main information, there were no further distracting designs. That somehow made him think of a scene that happened a long time ago, when Ivy was still alive and interning in a dance company. She was designing assorted tickets for them. Every time she returned late at night, Jason could always hear her complain about the dance company, especially about what a catastrophe their ticket design was. Ivy had always favored minimalism, so her ticket designs were spare and elegant. Still, no matter how beautiful they were, they were always rejected. The main reason they gave her was that her design was not decorative enough.

Why are you acting this way when we're just pretending? [Yeah! Besides, you're not our mom. It's none of your business if we're willing to compromise our high results by choosing community college.] [Come on, guys! Don't you get it? She's just jealous that Mona is the most popular girl in school and that James likes her. It's a love rivalry! She really is disappointing, isn't she?] I bit my lip hard and tasted blood in my mouth. I finally realized I had been reborn the day before the university application deadline. I quickly quit the group chat as my hands trembled with excitement.

Vanity said matter-of-factly. “Listen I know what I felt, and I know what I saw, and my eyes changed color. They only do that when they see an Angel, Vanity.” Paul was very combative. “This is bad, this is very bad. We are gonna need backup if there is an Angel involved.” Greed started pacing. “Ornais make the call, and tell mother that we need Wrath back up here and also tell her to send Envy and Gluttony as well.” Greed ordered.

Valery could practically feel the raised eyebrow being directed at her from behind the mask. “…yes. Val-Val. That’s what all my friends call me!” Not technically a lie. It probably was what any close friends would call her. If she ever manages to make any in the future. “Then I request that you take me to the Imperial Pearl, Val-Val. I have… been unable to locate it once more. All the streets of your kingdom are indistinguishable from one another! I would be very grateful for your…assistance. You will be rewarded greatly for your service.”

She could feel the worms wriggling in her heart, the squirming of the worms made her stomach queasy. However, her attention was suddenly diverted as a gust of cold wind swept across her face, and blew her long hair. The gust of wind carried voices whispering in her ear, not the whispers of the surrounding leaves, but other whispers that she could understand. Leah looked left and right, it seemed that no one felt the gust of wind and whispers except for her. Even Mia and Grace who were standing so close to her didn't feel what she felt. The whisper called her name, she was sure. Not the sound of the wind, or the voices in her head, someone called her name