I returned to the store as quickly as I could but I couldn’t find Melody anywhere in the clothes department. There was no evidence of an abandoned trolley full of clothes so I was left a bit perplexed. Where was she?

I began to walk through the main section of the store. As I did so, I scanned the aisles. There was no sign of Melody anywhere until I caught sight of a trolley half full of clothes in the aisle that had the racks of makeup.

I managed a smile as I saw Melody looking at shampoo.

“Your hair is fairly greasy,” I said calmly.

Melody almost jumped out of her skin.

There are some days in the middle of winter that are perfectly described using a single word. That word is ‘Dreich’. It is a Scottish word that means one or more of the following, ‘Bleak, miserable, dismal, cheerless and dreary.' If you add a biting wind that comes from straight from the Arctic ocean and you get the idea about just how it was that day.

If I’d have had any say in the matter, I’d have been in a pub with a big log fire, some good food and more than a few pints of good beer. But I didn’t have any say in what I had to do that day.

Mantra (Malibu Comics) has been learning some very important things about the Mantra of this alternate dimension, but she still needs to know much more. That includes whatever Evie, her own young daughter, might know. Evie had had the misfortune of witnessing the most violent and frightening parts of the crisis that happened only a few days earlier. But children are fragile, and so Mantra and her psychological advisor, Pinnacle, have to question the little girl very carefully while making sure that she isn't additionally traumatized.

It was well after four in the afternoon when I walked into our Office and spotted our visitor. He looked so out of place to be almost funny. He was dressed in a suit that would be ideal for a court in a big city. Custer County is a long way from any big city. He’d stand out a mile. People around here only wear suits for Weddings and Funerals. No one I knew could afford the duds that he was wearing.

“Mr Rieck? Sheriff Matt Harker. Welcome to Custer County.”

Author’s note: This story is sort of a crossover fanfic, although it could perhaps stand on its own. Being a crossover, it includes people from two television franchises. I can safely say that I own none of the people from either of those “worlds” included herein, nor do I intend any copyright infringement.

It was tempting to simply post this as is, but considering how much trouble it was to write without giving away identities, but still have people act at least somewhat correctly, I decided to post it as it really is. Decipher the story within reason, and the title, and you should figure out who these people are.

And now, on with the story!

-=#=-

The Offspring of Backward Rodents Long Journey to the Fabled Land Encircled by their Cousin's Cemetery

Jacked Up Part 16

He led me to the RV in the station car park and I put my bag in the back. As he pulled away he told me that we were to be at a rally about a hundred miles south and that we would arrive at the camp site a day early. As we chatted I warmed to him as, despite his outfit, he was a good guy.

Jacked Up Part 15

I started out by searching through the drawers of the desk. I found a box of peppermints and a roll of fruit sweets. I had already understood that there would be no liquids in this room. There was a door to my left marked ‘Toilet’ and another that had ‘Kitchen’. I made myself comfortable in the chair and picked up the mouse. The chair arm had a hard surface so you could sit back and work the screen.

based on the song "The One" by Brandon Heath

Roberta Rescued
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I will admit it, Robert Kradel Junior was a prick, back when he had a prick. But he did not deserve what he got.

Jose Berganza had reason to dislike his boss, but what he did was way beyond that. It became clear to me that there was real hatred on display. Venal, vicious hatred to warrant this level of degradation.

Yippee-ki-yay! αλογάκι!

Chapter Twelve

Morning Glory

“Hello, Helen, come in. I take it you’ve heard the news and have come to congratulate us?”

Finn and Fiona. Day Six

I got out of bed and did all of the usual ablutions and, showered, shaved and dressed in my suit again, I went down to the dining room for a light breakfast as I had to be at the airport. After going back to clean my teeth and gargle, I went down to the car and drove to meet the incoming managers.

Jacked Up Part 13

By my last day at the Spa the activity across the valley had dropped to a few sightseers standing by the temporary fencing. The 4X4 had been taken away and there had been forensic specialists clambering over the rubble for a while. It would be interesting to know how much more they had taken from the scene but that was nothing to do with me now.

Finn and Fiona. Day Five

I took off my pyjamas and wiped my stomach dry with them before taking a plastic bag that I had brought, just in case, and putting them in before sealing the bag and putting it in my case. I then had a shower and shaved.

Chapter 3

August 30^th, 2021

9 AM

Colonel Johnson sat behind his desk and happily read through the orders he’d gotten from above. The wrecked plane was no longer considered a secret. He was somewhat surprised that the orders came through as quickly as they did, but he wasn’t going to complain about it.

He quickly called Mike and filled him in. As soon as he got off the phone, he knew Mike was going to be making some calls to see if he could figure out anything new.

Mantra (Malibu Comics) has been learning some very surprising details about the last few days. But her informant, Lauren, seems naive about the responsibilities that go along with being an ultra-heroine, which causes Mantra to give her some good advice. But Mantra also needs to find out what her own daughter Evie has been witness to, and that means getting an eight year old to remember some of the most terrifying moments of her entire life.