The missile tokens rounded the board, each moved by the numbers thrown on the dice. It was a stalemate thus far.

Player One: "I'll trade you New York for Moscow."

Player Two: "Moscow has 5 million more people. Will you consider adding Los Angeles."

Player One: "No way."

Player Two: "Really? It's a good deal. It's still less than a million."

Player One: "Lemme think about it. Roll the dice."

Player Two rolled a seven and landed on the USA USS District of Columbia. He drew a card:

YOU HAVE LANDED ON AN OHIO-CLASS US NUCLEAR SUBMARINE CARRYING 154 TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILES. SURRENDER A CITY.

Player Two: "Shit. OK, take Krasnoyarsk."

Player One: "No way, Comrade. I'd rather have Novosibirsk."

Player Two: "No deal, Yank. Look at Krasnoyarsk again. Hell, it's the second-largest city in Siberia. Lots of aluminum for you."

Player One: "Hmm. OK, we can always use more aluminum."

Player Two: "I'm getting tired. This game goes on forever. Let's just call it a draw. I mean, no one wins until one of us throws the entire board in the air."

Player One: "Then there's no winner."

Player Two: "What's the difference?"

Player One: "Haha!"

Player Two: "Haha!"

I stood outside of an abandoned factory. The hour was late, and so was the person I was expecting. I lit a cigarette, hiding it from the rain with the brim of my hat. Some folks would say I'm old-fashioned, even cliché, but I'm past the age of giving a rat's ass about that sorta thing. I do my job and I do it well, unlike lots of modern gumshoes. Apart from my partner, who was one of the two reasons I was standing in the pouring rain.

"What took you so long?" I asked as I took a drag.

"You have it?" The voice behind me replied.

I turned around and took out a folder from my coat's inner pocket. "Names, addresses, all the dirt. The usual."

"Does she know?" The figure reached for the folder.

I pulled my arm back. "She doesn't. And you will not hurt her."

"You know the price of that."

"I do. And you know I'll pay it."

The figure took the folder. "In due time, Hughes. Just remember – I am watching."

I took another drag of my cigarette as the figure disappeared into the night.

"As if you'll ever let me forget."

Complete and utter blasphemy. I stood there in the rain daring to blackmail and bribe these immortals. How could I... a mere mortal dare to hold power over these beings, these divine creatures who hold so much power they could squash me like an ant.

Standing in the rain. I waited. Would he show? He had to. He couldn't afford not to. Could he? Thoughts stormed in my head like the wind battering my side. Then in a burst of dark feathers, flying coats and the pure force of the winds of the high heavens, he descended.

Clutching my coat closer to my body as if it would protect me from the being of raw power in front of me. I spoke the moment I could, " I need you to do something for me and then I will relinquish my power over your true name."

"Wow, there really is no beating around the bush with you." He chuckled darkly his midnight blue eyes raging. Fear gripped me. It was not a good idea angering a being such as himself, but I needed something and if we feared what the other could do, this temporary alliance should work. I hope.

James

I loved her. I was betrayed. I blame myself and Timothy. I trusted him.

Aaron

She was my sister. I know he did it. James convinced her to go. He forced her. She couldn't have known, now I have to figure out a way to bail her.

Cynthia

I did what I had to do. I do not regret it.

Cynthia

Timothy is in jail. He did it. He did it. He did it.

James

I will capture one of his relatives and ask for enough money to bail her.

Then I will die.

Aaron

I went to his house. He was not there. Who is Timothy?

James

Her brother knows where I am. He knows who I am. He will kill me first.

Aaron

I found him, he has a name, James. We made an alliance. We get Cynthia, then he and this Timothy die.

James

I heard Timothy is in jail, that is not enough. I do not like Aaron, but he is helpful.

Cynthia

They will not find me. I do not want to be found.

James & Aaron

We will find her. Together.

Aaron

I do not care if he lives.

James

Then I die.

Through bloodstone, the East Villagers saw their neighbors as wolves; through obsidian, the West Villagers saw them as vultures. Each generation ground their lenses finer with fear and fury, until children were born expecting monsters across the river.

When flood warnings came, the East reinforced their walls, certain the West would divert waters their way. The West stockpiled supplies, knowing the East would try to starve them out. Children slept in their shoes, ears straining for betrayal.

The river rose on a moonless night, crashing through windows and flooding homes on both banks. In the darkness, hands reached across the divide—pulling, pushing, grasping. Screams echoed until water muffled them. No one could tell which side was which, just desperate shapes fighting for higher ground, slipping beneath the surface.

The lenses cracked and washed away. Righteous people drowned believing they were being murdered. Stubborn souls died saving strangers they'd been taught to fear.

Survivors blinked in the morning light, seeing clearly for the first time. By noon, they crafted new lenses, harder than before. Their children would learn to grind them crueler, knowing the monsters had tried to drown them.

The river kept flowing, carrying old glass and older lies downstream.

Coming to awareness, Seth knew-- he wasn't awake.

What with the last memory seared into his mind had been the dark figures made of-- no that made the shadows in an inventory space. Of what, or why he was in such a place he couldn't quite remember.

And this not dream-- it was suitably unsettling.

A vast expanse of what looked like a sketch work of rolling hills. Far, far into a distant horizon. Of a black nothingness that passed for the sky.

One blink and Seth found the wish granting ghost sitting pretty with his hands on his knees. Looking at him with a too-long grin and the sly eyes of a cat.

"You've... never, come to talk to me," he said of the spirit with blood red eyes.

"No I haven't, but," Hao Gieum shrugged, "I've decided I want you around."

"Around?"

"Alive," he said, "for one, your brother in my space, following me, it's gotten annoying. And you aren't awful company. For someone who couldn't see me otherwise."

"Uh huh," Seth accepted, "but those shadows you talked about. Would you be in trouble?"

"No more than usual," he replied, voice more distant than normal. "So, about Drake..."

Several years ago my friend was in a very toxic and brutal relationship. In the past we were friends with benefits. But it didn't work, we settled for friends. One day my friend called me on the phone and told me that she was being abused by her girlfriend. My heart cried for her that day. The fear in her voice sent anger through my soul. She then tells me that her girlfriend was scared of me because she knew me from the past. Using this information, I came up with a plan to get her away from the abusive female. I convinced her to meet me and I picked her up while the girlfriend was at work. I took her to my house. When the girl got off work, she was on the war path. She found out that she was with me. I asked my friend to call her for me. Although it wasn't true, I told that abusive female that my friend and I were getting married. I told her to never come around her family again. And believe it or not she never came around again. My friend found a new girlfriend and is living happily.