If Debra responded, Nancy was unaware. Everything around her faded and darkness swarmed in. She had known something like this was going to happen. She had felt it building, as though some force was attempting to prepare her. Her mind immediately rushed to thoughts of her family back in Virginia. The faces of her sisters and father flashed in her mind.
Before she knew what was happening, she felt the light touch of a small hand against her own. It was her daughter, Korina. She momentarily realized they were out of the gym and her other hand instinctually reached into her bag. Her mind faded again. She had never felt such a confusion of emotions flow through her. She feared the news that was coming, yet desperately wanted to know. She needed to know. She barely felt the keys drift out of her hand and the encouragingly light push into the open passenger door.
The drive lasted an eternity; yet was over in an instant. They were here. Nancy saw the door above the porch open and she rushed up the steps. She wasn’t ready to hear the news. Nothing could ever prepare her for the words, but she had to hear them. She had to know. The thought kept replaying in her mind as the faces of her loved ones flashed across her unseen vision.
Paul spoke with a deep mixture of love and pain. He did not want to say the words. They both knew it, but he had to. “Your father and two of your sisters, Loraine and Evelyn, have all been shot.”
It hit her like a flying bullet. He may as well have just pulled the trigger. Pain shot through her entire body and Nancy fell to her knees and screamed out. “Oh God!”
The next three days passed in a complete blur. The details of the news had been conveyed. Loraine and Evelyn had both been shot and had passed on to another place. Nancy’s father remained in critical condition. Nancy’s body was now standing in front of her sister Loraine’s coffin, though her mind was somewhere else entirely. It was not until her form shifted and she stood in front of her youngest sister Evelyn’s coffin that she came back to reality. The young woman resting in the casket had only been 21 years old. Nancy leaned over to kiss her sister’s cold forehead and say goodbye. As she leaned up, her eyes were met by those of her daughter, Korina. Nancy felt a million emotions and thoughts boiling within her but one suddenly dominated them all. “She needs me.”
*
As the Colors Fade
The shots were fired,
The deed was done,
She knew she would never again see the sun.
Her eyes were open,
Her mind was numb,
The act could never be undone.
Never.
The word reached into her soul,
There it took its hold,
An eternity of black,
From which there was no going back.
The pain sank in,
She wanted no more than to die within.
In an instant she watched the colors fade away,
There was nothing left now but shades of gray.
*
Corrie Fischer is the author of the Shattered Skies series. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her two dogs and a leopard gecko.
http://corriefischer.com
*
The Slave Who'd Never Been Kissed
Jess Mountifield
The Captain's First Contact
“All right, all right, the lot of you can have an hour in the market. Then I want you back to your stations.” The man said with an Irish lilt and chuckled. The five people Auraylia had seen badger him for the last few minutes grinned and dispersed into the crowds.
Despite knowing none of them she found herself smiling at their exchange. He wore the uniform of a Unified Federations ship captain, and the deep blue shirt and trousers brought out the blue in his eyes. Complete with the black ankle-length coat and insignia on the right shoulder, he had many young ladies turning their heads in his direction, her included.
She saw him pull out an ornate pocket watch and glance at the time before making his own way into the market area right past her. The scent of spiced aftershave marked his path and tantalised her senses. Intrigued, she followed him.
For several minutes he merely browsed and didn't buy a single item, but eventually he haggled for a small packet of herbs from a specialist stall. It disappeared somewhere into his coat, leaving her no reason to engage him yet. She kept back and continued to watch, only half sure she wanted to approach but convinced the risk would be worth the nerves making her shiver already.
*
Dylan made his way through the pressing crowds, inspecting the wares of many of the market stalls. Although he'd held out on his crew and pretended to be concerned over their wishes to explore the market town, he was pleased at their desire. It gave him the free time to browse alone and gather his thoughts.
The few purchases he had already made were tucked into the deep pockets of his coat and weighed it down a little more than usual, but it helped keep them safe from the little hands that snuck about the place.
As he glanced over some ornate necklaces on one stall and wondered if they would make a good gift for his third officer he noticed a familiar figure amongst the masses; a young woman, barely of age yet dressed in the usual female slave outfit, a pale coloured top and pantaloons, leaving her mid-riff and arms barely covered by the partially transparent organza overlay, to hint at the body that lay beneath. Unlike most of the girls nearby, who wore oranges and yellows to stand out, she wore a pale blue ensemble. Ironically, the contrast made her easier to spot and it was the third time he'd noticed her meandering along behind him.
He frowned but didn't confront her yet. So far she had kept her distance and appeared to be alone.
At the next few stalls he picked up more of the items he wanted, including the necklace he'd spotted and two more books for his miniature library in his cabin. With the newly acquired bottle of wine and jars of his favourite foods he had his arms full and started looking around for something to carry his purchases in.