Title: My Life is over!
Characters: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Prompt: it's over
Words: 865

:::

„Hey!“ Zeke eyed Casey thoughtfully. „What's wrong with you today?“

The boy didn't bother to look up; he only shrugged.

„C'mon, it can't be that bad. You are a golden boy who never pulls shit!“

Casey huffed. „You don't know anything about me. We share a lab table in chemistry and sometimes the bleachers during lunchbreak. That's fucking all. We are not friends.“

„Okay.“ Zeke smirked, surprised by this sudden outbreak. „Wanna talk about it?“

„About what?“

„Seems as if you are in trouble. Maybe I can help.“

„Geez!“ Casey rolled his eyes. „No one can help me. I'm a freak.“

„You are a bit of a drama queen today, that's all. I would offer you some Scat to wind down, but I know you never touch this stuff.“

„I might change my mind, to forget my fucked-up life at least for some moments.“ Casey blinked some tears away. „I don't even know if I will still have a home when I get back after school."

„Okay, now you are overreacting. Whatever you have done, I am sure, this will never happen. Your parents adore you beyond all reason.“

„That was before they found the photo this morning. I am such an idiot; I knew I should have burned it.“

„A photo?“ Zeke frowned, feeling clueless. „But they know, you are a talented photographer. You even got a partial scholarship for a private art school in Columbus.“

„Not this kind of photo.“ Casey turned away, but Zeke could see him blushing anyway. „A selfie. Me … kissing...“

„Holy shit! That's all?“ Zeke grinned wildly. „You will turn eighteen next month, it's about time that you kiss a girl. As long as it is not Delilah bitch. Tell me, is she pretty? Where do you know her from?“

Casey kept quiet for a long while, but when Zeke no longer expected an answer, he finally looked up and shrugged. „If you want to know. Chess club. His name is Pete. He's a nice guy, and sometimes we hang out a bit afterward. Last weekend it was his birthday, and I'm afraid we both got a bit tipsy. This kiss... it was only a joke, but this doesn't make it better. My parents will hate me from now on.“

„Oh! Understand.“ Zeke looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. So, the golden boy from Herrington High, Casey Connor, who used to wear much too wide jeans and stupid checkered shirts, a photogeek, who loved chess and hated every kind of sport, had some secrets, not even he, Zeke, had known about. And usually, he knew all about everyone at school. You could never know what it was good for.

Casey glared at him. „No, you don't! You are used to live alone; your parents give a shit about you! But my parents care; they love me, my dad is busting his butt at work to send me to the college of my choice. And now I am ruining their life.“

„Because of what? Because of a kiss?“

"I kissed a guy!"

Zeke shrugged. "Well, this can happen."

Casey gasped for air. „But I am not...“ he wanted to protest, but stopped midsentence. Lying to Zeke never seemed to make sense; it was as if he could read him like an open book. „I don't know. Maybe I am gay. Or bi. Or whatever. Kissing Pete was so much different than the fake kisses from Delilah. God, my life is over.“

„Don't be silly. Okay, I will admit, being openly gay in Herrington is not the smartest thing, but I am sure your parents would get over the shock quickly. And when you are moving to Columbus next autumn, the world is open for you. The gay community there is not as big as in New York or San Francisco, but there are some nice places.“

Casey frowned. „What do you know about the gay scene in Columbus? “ he asked.

Zeke grinned. „Let me put it this way: I like variety, and Herrington doesn't have much to offer.“

„This cannot be! You are so not gay!“

„Well, I didn't say that. But I like the gay club scene. You could come with me next time when I am going to Columbus; check out if you feel better there. No one will care about it if you are gay, bi, or whatever. Just be yourself and everything is fine.“

Casey licked his suddenly dry lips. „You and me? Together in a club?“

"Why not? Might be fun!"

"Strange."

„What are you afraid of? “ Zeke teased him. „I promise, I won't tempt you to do things you do not want to do. Though it is said that I am a good lover.“

Silence for a while, then Casey huffed: „God, you are such an asshole. I really don't know why I hang around with you.“

„Because,“ Zeke stepped closer, stretching out his hand, but did not touch the boy who stared at him with his eyes wide open,“ I can show you that your life isn't over yet, but just beginning.“

Title: The Sound of Silence
Characters: Mr. Smith
Prompt: sound of silence
Words: 147

:::

Frowning, Smith opened his eyes. Not a nightmare had woken him from sleep today, but something was different. The rain had finally stopped, and a fresh smell of grass and wet soil filled the air. The sun just started to rise from behind the clouds, promising a beautiful day.

Smith sat up. It was not that. He listened hard. Nothing! Silence!

Since he woke up on the shore of the lake months ago, the booming voice had been in his head. He had tried to ignore it at first, but no one could escape God's voice. It was omnipresent, every hour, every minute. Every day and every night.

And now – silence. Smith relaxed and smiled. He wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad omen. But for the moment, he didn't care. He would enjoy the sound of silence as long as it lasted.

Title: Trapped in a Labyrinth of Infinity
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor, mention of Deliah Profitt
Prompt: Yahtzee - picture of a girl in a labyrinth
Words: 566

:::

„Hey, geek boy,“

Casey barely looked up. “Hi!“

Zeke frowned, alarmed. „Okay, what's wrong?“

„I am fine!“

„No, you are not, don't try to fool me. What is it? A nightmare again?“

"Not exactly a nightmare." A deep sigh. „Do you think we can go visit Delilah today?“

Zeke kept quiet. Not how he had pictured spending the day. Visiting Delilah at the hospital would bring back lots of memories he preferred not to think about. Thoughtfully, he eyed his friend. He was pale; for sure, he hadn't slept well during the last nights. „Will you ever stop tormenting yourself?“ he asked. „It is not your fault what happened to her. It's actually no one's fault. No one was prepared for an alien queen, trying to take over the world.“

Casey shrugged. „If I hadn't hesitated... maybe I would have been at the swimming pool in time to save her, too.“

„If you had been there in time, you would be locked up at the hospital's lab with Delilah now.“ Zeke shuddered visibly; he preferred not to picture this. No one should be forced to exist like that; not dead, but neither alive. A kind of a zombie; Delilah was able to breathe, to move awkwardly. The sounds she made were not human; her eyes, hidden behind thick sunglasses because she couldn't bear daylight any longer, were dark and empty. She had nothing in common anymore with the pretty, smart cheerleader bitch she had been once. And no one, no doctor, no professor, no expert in the whole world had been able to help her so far.

To be honest, Zeke had never been a big fan of her, but even he felt miserable when thinking about her now. Maybe it would have been better if she hadn't survived that night. Better for her, better for the world. Better for Casey. Yes, he would mourn about her, but finally, he would be able to look forward again.

Now? The thought of Delilah tormented him every day anew. Although they had never been close friends, he had worked with her on the school's magazine, and she had respected him for his photography skills. Probably, Casey had saved the world when he finally, when everything seemed lost, stepped up against the alien queen. Everyone survived unharmed; even the infected people returned to their normal selves within a few days. Everyone but Delilah. Probably, she would continue to exist like a living dead until one day she would find salvation. And while everyone else called Casey a hero, he would never stop blaming himself for betraying her.

„It feels as if this is the place where I should be right now. She needs me!“ Casey looked at Zeke with his blue eyes wide open. „I know, you don't believe in this, but she calls for me in my dreams. She is still there, Zeke, and I need to reach out to her, to help her!“

:::

An endless, small way. High walls on both sides, built out of countless steel plates.

A young woman; brown hair, brown eyes, and glasses. Wearing a transparent, long dress. Her hands running over the cold, steely plates.

There was no escape from this labyrinth. She would wander around here forever. No past, no future. No memories.

Casey! Suddenly, a whisper in her mind. It got loud and louder. Casey! Casey!! Ca...sey!!!

Title: Moving on to College
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Stokely Mitchell
Prompt: our song
Words: 329
Note: dialogue only

:::

„So, do you miss him?“

„I always knew that he would move on one day. He is much too smart for a city college in Ohio.“

„Sure, he is. But that was not the question. Do you miss him?“

„Mpfh. That's life. No need to make a drama.“

„Geez, Zeke, do you always need to play the uncaring shit? As if he didn't mean anything to you.“

„We had some fun, that's all.“

„Sure. And that's the reason why you almost freaked out yesterday, when Stan was playing this song? Obsessed with you by the Orion Experience.“

„Pathetic song!“

„Casey told me that you once called it 'our song'.“

„Casey is a geek; he tells a lot of shit.“

„And that's why you miss him?“

„God, Stokes, I am not missing him. He did the only right thing, grabbing the chance to leave this hellhole behind.“

„Hm. And why are you still here? What's holding you back? A job in a shabby garage? Oh, c'mon, that's ridiculous. I am sure, also in Massachusetts, people own cars and need a good mechanic now and then.“

… …

„You don't get it! I am not a guy for a serious relationship. And I don't want to hurt him.“

„You are such a pathetic coward! Maybe you are right. He deserves someone better than you. I've heard he is already very close with his roommate. Wealthy parents, a bit of a macho, but Casey seems to like him.“

„Where do you know this from?“

„Met his mom this morning at the mall. She seems slightly worried. Told me that she wished you had been gone with him, to have an eye on him.“

„Fuck you, Stokes! She is a motherhen, everyone knows this. Casey doesn't need a babysitter."

„Sure thing. But, in case you are going to Massachusetts sometime soon, say Casey hello.“

Title: Gentle Massage
Characters: Abigail Bianchi, Daniel Svensson
Prompt: gentle massage
Words: 242

:::

I closed my eyes and sighed when the warm hands of my half-brother gently started to massage my neck and shoulders. Oh, this was good. The day had been so stressful, and my muscles felt much too tense; I would end up with a massive headache tonight when I wasn't able to relax.

It was not that Daniel and I were very close; we had met for the first time about eight months ago, and I knew, for Daniel, I was more a rival than the long-lost sister. Even more surprising was that he had offered the massage right away when noticing my futile attempt to release at least some tension.

„Where have you learned to do this,“ I asked. „You do better than my last physiotherapist, and I have paid him lots of money.“

„A lifestyle guru in India; I try to visit his seminars at least once a year. I pay him a lot of money, too, but he is worth it.“

A guru?! I stiffened inwardly, pictures crossing my mind of half naked people walking over living coal and sex orgies. My half-brother being one of them. Oh God! I shook my head to get rid of these ideas. As if he could read my mind, I could hear Daniel slightly laughing. His gentle hands kneaded my muscles once more. „You are overreacting, as always. Relax, or you will ruin everything. That's the problem of your life!“

Title: A Future without Casey
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Prompt: regret
Words: 180

:::

„I will miss you!“ Casey murmured.

Zeke put on his smuggest grin. „No, you won't. You are going to live your dream. There won't be much time to miss good old Herrington.“

„I wish you could come with me. MIT together with you would be double the fun.“

Zeke sighed with relief when the announcement at the airport saved him from answering. „Guess, it's time to go, geek boy,“ he said, pulling him in a last fleeting hug. „Don't look back! Just have fun. You deserve it!“

Ignoring the tears in Casey's eyes, he pushed him toward the gate. Inwardly, he could feel regret growing in his gut. All the time, he had tried to tell himself that letting Casey go was the only right thing. But maybe he had only been a coward, much too afraid to admit his true feelings.

Zeke watched him vanishing in the crowd, and turned away. Now, it was too late. All he could do was to dive back into the lonely life he had enjoyed so much before Casey.

Title: A Future for the Children
Characters: Jeremiah
Prompt: 7 days, 7 stories / post-apocalyptic
Words: 672

:::

Jeremiah didn't find much sleep this night. His thoughts were circling around Libby, and Smith, and the future of the world.

Libby, the woman he had loved, so funny, so smart, so pretty. He had trusted her blindly, but she had betrayed him. Not only him, but all the good he did believe in, all the people living on the Mountain.

It had almost broken him. Only his hatred of Smith had kept him alive. Without this weird little guy who insisted on being god's messenger, nothing of all would have happened. Libby would still be at his side, her betrayal never revealed. What did he care about the consequences? What did he care about the world? He would have done all to get Libby back. But this would never happen; all that was left behind was a grave, deep in the woods, no one knew about but him.

Jeremiah stared at the paper in front of him; so much time had passed since he had written the last letter to his father. Only to burn it at the end. A comforting ritual that had kept him alive all these years. Fifteen years since a virus had killed all adults, including his parents.

When Libby stepped into his life, he no longer needed this ritual. He had shared all his thoughts and feelings with her, and he had felt alive like he hadn't since these horrible days. When she died, all she left behind was darkness and hate, much too disturbing to put into words.

Today, though, something unexpected had happened. He had met Rose, Smith's daughter. A little girl, maybe six years old, with long blonde hair, a red shirt, and flap trousers. She had looked at him with her green-brown eyes, so similar to Smith's, and anger, ever hate, had crept up in him. But when he wanted to turn away quickly, well knowing that nothing that had happened was her fault, she had grabbed his hand. „My dad found a kitten mom with her babies in the woods. Do you want to see them?“ And against his will, he hadn't been able to refuse. For the first time in weeks, he had left all pain and grief behind, hadn't had a thought for Libby for some time. So scaring, so confusing, but yet...

He grabbed the last remaining pencil, thinking that he would have to find a new one soon. Dear Dad, he wrote. I know, it has been much too long since the last letter. I lost myself in a dream and almost couldn't find the way back. All you told me once, all that kept me going all the time, suddenly had lost any meaning. But today, a little girl reminded me of one of our last conversations.

Can you still remember your words? Mom was gone, and it was only a matter of time before you would follow her. No chance for the adults to survive. I was young, I was confused and scared, and I asked you to take me with you.

But you put your hands on my shoulder, and told me that giving up is never an option. I want you to live, Jeremiah, I want all the children to live, you have told me. I want to believe that, in the end, something good will come out of war, and destruction, and death. The adults have failed. Maybe the world needs to fall apart to be open for a new beginning. A future for the children, a chance to make it better next time.

Jeremiah paused shortly, re-reading his words. He felt tears burning in his eyes; since Libby's death, he hadn't been able to cry. To mourn about his lost dream, about the woman he had loved. Still loved, maybe he would never stop loving her, despite the dark secrets she had carried around. But finally, he could feel some peace, some hope again.

He put the pencil down, grabbed the letter, and held it nearer to the candle. Watched the flames eating it up. He felt at one with the world around him, dark and torn apart, but ready for the first hesitant steps back into the light. Well knowing that the way would not be an easy one, but it needed to be gone. For the future of the children.

Title: Broken Hearts
Characters: Casey Connor. Delilah Profit
Prompt: 7 days, 7 stories / any, any, These Truths / heartbreak
Words: 571

:::

„Delilah, please, don't make a drama.“ Casey felt uncomfortable, but he knew that if he didn't find the courage now to say what was long overdue, he might never find the courage again, and everything would end in a complete mess for Deliah and for him. „We both knew that it would end like this. It never was a true relationship between us.“

She looked at him with a mixture of anger and disappointment. „How can you say this? We are together...“

„No, we are not!“ he interrupted her. „It's just me and you, Del, no media around. So you can stop putting on a show. We never were the dream couple we made people believe. You never meant me when you talked about love! It was all about the fame and the interest I got,“ he paused and shrugged, „and about all the money the media was willing to pay for our story. The hero who stands up against an alien all alone, to save the girl he loves.“ He huffed. „That's stuff cheap movies are made of, not reality. And you are much too smart to say otherwise.“

„You think I am smart?“

„I think you know what you want and how to get it. And I don't complain. First, it felt good. I mean, since I can remember, I was the geek in school, bullied, teased, and ignored. But then Mary Beth came along, and my world was turned upside down. The police investigation, my parents, who looked at me as if I had lost my mind, the media everywhere. I felt confused and afraid, and I didn't know how to deal with it.

It was good that someone else took the reins. I just let it happen and followed your unwritten script. It was easier that way. But it never was real. And I can't move on like this forever.“

She narrowed her eyes. „Great. And what's with me? Have you ever thought about my feelings?“

„Don't act as if we going separate ways is the end of the world. People might have called me a hero for a while, but let's face it. Deep inside, I stayed the geek all the time. I still love photography and chess, and too much attention makes me feel uncomfortable.“ Casey smirked. „I don't think you'll suffer from a broken heart for long. Jeremy Tremblay has an eye on you for a while already; he is a sports ass, he is goodlooking and it seems he's coming from one of the most famous families in Quebec. To cut a long story short, he fits much better in your future plans than I ever did.“

Delilah wanted to protest first, but then she kept quiet. To Casey's surprise, she was even blushing slightly. „You have noticed it,“ she murmured.

„Yes,“ Casey admitted, „and I guess this was the moment I realized that it was time to bring the charade to an end. The media interest is slowly waning anyway, and without that, there isn't much left for us. Let us do the right thing now; let's bring it to an end without any drama.“

Some moments later, a smile turned up on Delilah's face. „Maybe a tiny bit of drama and broken hearts? For the media and all our followers who are still out there?“

Casey laughed. „Agreed! Let's prepare for the last big show.“

Title: When The Rain Brings The Silence
Characters: Mister Smith
Prompt: rainy day / 7 days, 7 stories
Words: 122

:::

Smith closed his eyes, turning his face towards the rain falling from the sky. No one else was around; everyone seemed to hide inside the Mountain from the stormy weather.

He enjoyed moments like this: the silence, with only some birds chirping in the trees, the wind blowing through the leaves, and raindrops falling in tiny puddles. Alone. Even God's voice in his head kept quiet.

The rain increased even more, and not even his old coat would protect him for long. Soon enough, he would be wet to the bones. He continued to stand motionless. It had been a long time since he had felt so free and peaceful, and he wanted to savor the feeling for as long as possible.

Title: Accidental Confession
Characters: Xander Phillips, mention of Danielle
Prompt: any, any, accidental confession
Words: 200 words

:::

All eyes were resting on him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He didn't care. Only the shock and anger on Danielle's pale face let him cringe inwardly. The woman he had been secretly together with for almost a year.

It had started with a bit of flirting, but soon his feelings for her had grown deeper; she was clever, funny, and sexy - how could one not love her? He knew it wasn't smart. Because the last Danielle wanted was to add some new rumors to the hospital's gossip talk. She was a good, ambitious assistant doctor, wildly resolved to make her way on her own. Gladly, he would have offered his help; it would have been easy to open some doors for her. But even when she almost moved into his apartment after some months, she had always stubbornly insisted on secrecy at the hospital.

At the end, he had accepted it and had taken what she was willing to give. It had been a lot. The last year had turned out to be one of the best of his life. And now, he had ruined everything with his accidental confession. He knew it would never be the same again.