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Late Start "Rachel! Rachel, come down right now or when I get home tonight I'll be sure and ground you for the next 3 months from your computer!" My mother's voice barely dented the blasting barrier of orchestral music I had put on after waking up. I had still heard her however and finished getting dressed, loathe to lose my computer. I yanked on my buckle-up combat boots and slung my highly decorated backpack over my shoulder before sauntering downstairs. I quickly sped up when I saw my mom though. "Rachel, you know better. To be late for the bus and have me drive you to school every day like this! It's very inconsiderate of you." My mo

Day Ten: "Run" "Run, Kelsey! RUN!" Kelsey's father yelled. Kelsey ran, her breath came in spurts as her legs thrust her forward, away from the destruction being wrought behind her. The raiders hadn't agreed to their usual deal and had seen fit to take what they wanted and destroy everything else. Her parents were still back there but she couldn't risk anything to see if they were alright. A scream sounded behind her and she stumbled for a moment. She knew that there was nothing she could do but -- it wasn't right what was happening. The raiders had never disagreed, considering that the village was very generous and gave them enough to eat a

The Storm The sky darkens quickly as the clouds push out the sun's light. People rush to be inside before the storm breaks and drops freezing rainwater on them. One girl stands quietly, patiently for the clouds to cover the city. She looks up and feels a cold raindrop fall on her face. The crowds have escaped into the warm hideouts, inside the tall buildings, when the clouds open wide and release their weight. The girl is not alone. A boy sits on some stairs while the cold water falls in thick, wet blankets. A young woman closes her eyes and faces the sky with her arms stretched out. A man walks leisurely down the sidewalk. The clouds pass

"Confront" – Day Eight Huri had just gotten in, when Ferin came back from showing Shareeca where she could sleep for the night. "Hey Huri," Ferin said walking over to his friend. "Did you do what you needed?" Huri glanced at him for a moment before resting heavily on a large crate. He didn't respond to the younger man's question, instead he turned and pulled a smaller crate towards the one he was sitting on. When he rested one of his legs on it, Ferin realized that Huri's clothes were covered in blood and forest debris. Ferin's medic instincts urged him to check on his older companion. "You okay, Huri?" "Relax Ferin, it's not mine."

"Perform" – Day Seven My daughter is performing in the kindergarten talent show. She's been practicing for the past month; ever since the talent show was announced in class. All of the kids are performing today and the adults are all applauding their efforts kindly, which surprises me a little. I had thought that the people who lived here all had bad attitudes but surprisingly they are supporting the children equally. "Which charge is yours?" a woman asks me. I turn to the see who asked me and turn back to face the stage, looking for my daughter. "She's right there, on the stairs behind the teacher," I answer pointing to help identify

"Hug" – Day Six "Ugh," I said, taking my backpack off and tossing it on my bed. I followed it right after, and let out a sigh of exhaustion; wishing that the day had gone better than it had. "I can't believe it. I am not going to my classes until Mr. Ugerhman gets the serum that will change me back." I rolled over on my stomach and pulled my pillow over my head. It had been a week since I had drunk Mr. Burderick's experimental mixture for invulnerability and grew a long, furry tail because of the cat transformation base he'd used. I hadn't gone to class until today and after my experience today, I'm refusing to class while I still have

"Attraction" – Day Five I slip on the concrete sidewalk, slick from the rain that has been falling all day, and fail to catch myself. My things scatter, and I lean over to pick up the ones closest to myself when a hand grabs one of my packages. "Hey!" I say as I look up to the owner of said hand. I reach out to grab my package back but the hand pulls back far enough so that I can't grab it. "Give me my stuff!" I say raising my voice, drawing a passerby's attention in the process. Another hand joins the first and grabs a second package, I managed to stand up by now and attempt to grab the packages again when the passerby walks up behind

"Sand Castles" – Day Four "Daddy, look!" I turned to look at my daughter and noticed the mounds of formed sand next to her. "I made a sand castle Daddy!" I smile as I crouch down next to her. "Great job Sophy." I tousled her hair and grinned when she gave me a sharp look; the beginnings of a crooked grin tugging on her face. "What was that look for, little miss?" I ask, nudging her shoulder playfully. "I told you not to mess up my hair Daddy," she said, pouting and patting her hair. She's so cute when she pouts, scrunching up her nose and narrowing her eyes. I almost can't help myself to provoke her 6-year-old anger.I know she doesn't

"Scar" – Day Three His scar always intimidated people who had just met him. The jagged edges of his scar ran from just below his left eye to the back of his neck and shoulder, making a 'v'-shape and his right eyebrow was replaced by a second scar that ran down the side of his face and ended at his jaw line. He was a silent man, who said only what needed to be said when someone else hadn't. His friends were limited to the few people who had known him during the Gurl war and had survived. One, a medic lucky enough to be issued a barrier generator to protect him from moderate fire, another, was a warrior like himself and the third had vani