Your Cross To Bear Novels & Stories

He shouts in shock "Where the fuck did it come from is it? He fires a warning shot into the air and causes the bears to hesitate long enough for the train to pull away. We reach the other side with a head start. The train is very long, so we have a few minutes before The Fox Hounds can cross the tracks to finish the job. ‘Stay still. Let's end this nightmare here.’ With a growl, my bear ignores me and runs into town. Of course, damn it. What did I expect? Really?

« Next group will come in one hour. We might have enough time for me to prepare you for what's to come. » Bianca put her chin in her hands and blinked. « You are in Crossroads Café. » « Ooooooh… » she said in a surprised tone. As if to mock his words. But Mat did not stop. « Crossroads Café is a place specially made by the Wind Tribe. My tribe. It took a lot of spirits and magic to build that place. » « Magic? » Bianca frowned. « Yeah… magic. » Mat stopped as he watched Bianca's face.

Anything that could be carried across separately was removed while men brought planks forward to cover the worst gaps. Someone handed me a sack. I caught it against my chest. It was heavier than it looked. Beren took the other end. “I have it.” “You have half of it.” “I had all of it before you touched it.” “Badly.” We carried it toward the bridge together. The timber creaked beneath the first people crossing. I looked at the far bank. Not the water. Definitely not the water. My bag rested against my hip. Needle. Thread. Buttons.

Her touch gently pressed against the air, keeping us inches apart. “You can’t cross to me. Not anymore.” Tears blurred my sight. “Mama… please… just hug me—” Her voice softened. “If I hold you now, you won’t return to your body. You’ll stay with me.” The meaning hit me like a blade— This wasn’t some sweet dream. This was a crossing. A warning. “Mama, I don’t understand.” She looked past me, her face dimming. “You let something old bind itself to you.”

I led Gracie to the machine I decided to use next. The cross is a standard in many playrooms, but usually these require three strong people working together to use effectively, and they often injure somebody getting the occupant into position. Plus they never do what you expect. A lot of risk for not much results. However, I have a motorized cross that does an excellent job for one-man operation. It looks a little strange to folks who see it collapsed, pre-embrace. But once occupied and erect it is unmistakeable.

I stand up, but immediately double over again as the pain burns anew. The bear roars triumphantly and stamps the ground. It doesn’t waste any time, immediately continuing its deadly charge. The enormous grizzly bursts through the bush. Its face is soaked in Heiwa's and Scorch’s blood. He tries to stop when he sees I’m closer than he thought. His gargantuan paws slide on the ground, trying to get traction.

"However, many who are last will be the first, and many who are first will be the last." They all laugh at Ericka, who appears unsure and perplexed because she already knows what she wants. Then, another message appears that says, "If you are not sure yet, Carry your own cross now!" Ericka became utterly silent till the seminar was dismissed and they all returned to the city to take on new challenges in life since the phrase Cross kept bringing up became a mystery to her. "I'm still not sure how those signals relate to my life goals and what they mean to me? I need to properly discern what God wants me to do and ask His blessings for my plan if He is delighted: They said to me.”

Chapter 128: Decisions Bear stood in the bow of the boat, wagging his tail, as Blake made the crossing from the mainland to the island. He'd brought with him a toolbox, extra glass panes, and a piece of plywood. He wondered if Shasta was still watching from the cabin's deck, but he didn't turn around to see. It had been a long time since he'd wanted something so badly, and the thought that it might not work out gave him a literal pain in his gut.

“Huh.” Lightning flashed beyond the clouds and ochre light blossomed, illuminating the Rock River and its steep mossy banks. Thunder rolled echoingly. “Come on.” Truitt leaned close to him. “My Aunt Cass used to pray for me. Tells me for years and years, ‘Do something with your life, Thomas. Make a difference.’ She even said it when she gave me this cross. Well . . . I’m doing something, you pesky old broad. How do you like it?” He grunted. Laughed.

“Maybe Cross has deeper pockets than we thought.” The glass in Kane’s hand shattered before anyone realized he’d squeezed too hard. Blood trickled down his palm, unnoticed. “Cross doesn’t pay loyalty,” Kane snarled. “He buys cowards. And if my men are cowards, then I will remind them why they fear me more than they’ll ever trust him.” He turned, eyes blazing. “Double the punishments. Anyone late, anyone short, anyone whispering—drag them into the street. Make an example. Let the city watch them drown in their own doubt.”