Story Time

Getting Assigned A Suspicious Kidnapping

The secure floor feels weird to me. All the cybercrime offices and that sort of people, the type that live in the digital world, never experiencing what the rest of us have to deal with on a daily basis. It’s a rare thing for us to have to come down here. Sergeant McMichaels can feel my discomfort, as she swiftly pushes us through the halls and into the chief’s office. The Chief keeps his office pristine and classic looking, despite the surrounding server rooms and cybersqua

J. Joseph

2 days ago8 min read

What Lies Behind the Prickly Itch

I shouldn’t be here. Something is wrong. I can’t sleep. It’s three in the morning. There is this itch, just at the base of my neck, that won’t go away. Not in my apartment. Not on the campus. Always watching. Someone is always watching. Can’t sleep. I’ve tried talking to people. But my advisor doesn’t particularly like me, I don’t think. He sees me as irritating. As a bit dimwitted. Because I’m not an asshole about other people’s time. Speaking of, Heather also knows somethi

J. Joseph

Nov 218 min read

Arrival in the Littoral Caves of the Archipelago

Below the decks, Den enjoys his breakfast while lying back on his hammock. He learned growing up in the kinslums that one should always catch sleep whenever they can, especially just ahead of a big job. And whether their boss was willing to admit it or not, this would be a big job. The last cube was a personal house of some dead guy, and it had several dangerous threats. Assuming the sites that survived to modern day are at least of roughly the same power, the chances of this

J. Joseph

Nov 148 min read

The Storm's Arrival

Seleste is frantically scribbling on her new board as the sky outside is growing darker. Ever since the gun revelation, she’s been investigating our lives, trying to figure out what we might be doing. She’s focusing on the why, adding to her timeline a map of the elevator and a list of our names and known facts about each of us. She also seems to have more listed down than we’d told her, which is a bit concerning. My focus, however, is on the speed at which she’s writing the

J. Joseph

Nov 78 min read

The Overwhelming Itch: A Halloween Story

An itch. That’s how it always starts. An itch in the back of my neck. No, in the deep recesses of my mind, where no conscious thoughts can reach. And it’s subtle, most days. Quiet. Can barely tell that it’s started until the need to scratch it is overwhelming. Until there is nothing to do but tear through my own skin at the base of my skull to reach it. And once I’ve lost all semblance of control, once I’m tearing into the back of my neck like a madman, time stops. Freedom. H

J. Joseph

Oct 318 min read

Detectives Bonheur and Wilton Offer their Aid

I let Marty drag me across the station to the elevators, then to the Homicide division’s meeting room. I see a board, just a glimpse though as they hide it when they notice our approach. Because they know about my habits of poaching cases when I get bored. The head of this particular task force, a gentleman in his late forties who kind of hates me. Well, hate is the wrong word, but he certainly doesn’t enjoy my presence. “Marty,” Detective Stephen Stone says, “What brings Ma

J. Joseph

Oct 248 min read

Greg and Elodie Compare a Year of Notes on the Situation

Waking up is always a slow process. Waking up after a long evening, that’s frequently even more sluggish. On days like today, where I don’t have to deal with the Basilica, normally I don’t really bother pushing myself, but I’ve got a meeting. And a meeting with someone who would realize such subtle details as me wearing the same clothes as yesterday. So, still half asleep, I force myself up and out of the semi-familiar apartment and back across the courtyard to my own. I do m

J. Joseph

Oct 178 min read

Felazo Guiding the Ekzokia to the Archipelago

Leaving port and heading heartward, Felazo is entirely unsurprised by the lack of disruption in the afternoon. While piracy can, at...

J. Joseph

Oct 108 min read

Plans and Theories before the Storm Arrives

Hilary breathes, in and out, her eyes closed. “Okay, unplug,” she mutters to herself. We watch as, for a few moments, nothing happens. Then, slowly, she begins to dim. It’s partway through this dimming, as the room is darkening, I realize that there isn’t any light otherwise in the room. The curtains are drawn shut, the lights are all off, and there is a general air of darkness hanging in the room to boot. Shortly after me, everyone but Mikey realized it, too. The room grows

J. Joseph

Oct 38 min read

The Aftermath and Heading Back to Work

Eating reheated leftover chili, I turn on the television. Switching over from sports to the local news, I wait to see if anything comes...

J. Joseph

Sep 268 min read

An MT215 Study Session

“Shit, I just noticed the time,” Magister Musaev says, as he hastily rushes back to his desk. “Next week, we will be moving into the...

J. Joseph

Sep 198 min read

Alessari's Memories, Daydreams, and Duties

Alessari greets the monastic sister as she steps aboard her new, albeit temporary, home once more. “Sister Hilan,” she says with a hug,...

J. Joseph

Sep 128 min read

New Faces and Bad Memories

Rousing myself from my rest, I head over to the edge of the prairie. Diabla’s wandered away, she does that, I muse to myself as I settle...

J. Joseph

Aug 298 min read

Killing Two Birds with One Triple-Tap

As I walk through the parks of Heavens’ Lane, I readjust my tie. I dislike wearing suits, but if I’m going to blend in up here, I need to...

J. Joseph

Aug 228 min read

Sierra Officially Entering into Maestrohood

It’s warmer than I expected it to be up here, I muse to myself as I finish the drive north and pull into the gravel parking lot. The...

J. Joseph

Aug 158 min read

The Aftermath of the Fall

I leave my room in the morning, thoughtlessly and still half asleep walking towards the elevator. There’s a sign on it, reminding me that...

J. Joseph

Aug 18 min read

A Secret Meet Up at an Open Bar

Getting dressed in my casual clothes, I check my phone. ‘Got something. Will be unpleased. 9 tomorrow.’ The message hasn’t changed since...

J. Joseph

Jul 258 min read

Qasim Ahmad's Introduction to Magisterial Politics

Slowly, I walk into the large, central hall of the convention center. On my phone, I have the list I got of the different people who I am...

J. Joseph

Jul 188 min read

Renalt Selling the Spoils in Hetha

Renalt makes his way to their room. Heading over to a corner, he quickly draws up a note, signed with the seal of some local friends he...

J. Joseph

Jul 118 min read

A Heartbeat and a Dark Purple Light

As we sit, huddled near death in the darkness of the forest, I can hear it. A beating of a heart, but a great distance away. From the...

J. Joseph

Jul 48 min read