Entries by christinakrieger

New Story from Writober – Zeit’s Grand Entrance

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So… Writober just ended, the anual writing event I participate in every October. So I’ve got a fun new story for you all. I’ll be posting it in segments. I hope you enjoy!

“Where the heck did you come from?” The blond woman from behind the counter says as I emerge from my portal. I’ve arrived in a meager antique bookstore, rows of weathered first editions line my path. How fitting that such books, little snippets of their time, should welcome the arrival of one such as myself.

“The proper question to ask would be ’when,’” I say with a dip of my top hat. “But then that would depend on what timeline you’re perceiving me from, and that is another matter entirely.”

She gives me a puzzled look, one I’ve grown quite accustomed to over the centuries. “Suffice it to say, I am from… I believe you call it England, just a different time period than yourself. My name is Zeit, and I am a Time Walker.”

New from Carlo’s story – Perch

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My first instinct was isolation. After a hit as big as this one, anonymity was essential to survival. I found a perch, as I always do, and continuously scanned the blacktop below for any sign of pursuit. My lookout was an abandoned terminal, the vast windows of its bridge overlooked the runways and airplanes waiting for takeoff. The terminal was dark and blocked off by security, which wasn’t a problem for me, obviously, but would prove inconvenient for any pursuers. I could also see the travelers crossing the fully-functioning bridge in the terminal across from mine. Though without knowing what to look for, they would never spot me. The perfect perch.

My hands twitched in their barrenness. They were incomplete without my rifle. I felt vulnerable without it and the comfort the scope brought to my ever scanning eyes. I would have make do watching the old-fashioned way.

My plane from DC to New York was already boarding. The last thing I needed while being hunted by Detective Foster was to be confined to a cramped plane with no easy exit while people were pouring in. No, I would stay hidden and board at the last possible moment.

Movement on the bridge parallel to mine caught my eye. Foster. He was here quicker than anticipated. Frantic, he zig-zagged in and out of passengers.

I stood stone still. Waiting. Barely breathing.

Make Up Mondays – Writober Part 3

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Air caught in my lungs as I halted my full-out sprint. It hurt to breathe. Worse were their accusations—those ripped at my insides like a hunting knife. People I grew up with, old family friends, turned on me like white blood cells to a virus. Suddenly I was their enemy. Freak of nature, witch, cursed. All words they had hurled at me with stunning ferocity. They didn’t know, couldn’t understand or fathom what had happened. They assumed the worst and practically chased me out of my own home town.

So I ran.

And ended up here… wherever ‘here’ was.

Grounded Book Review

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I realized it’s been a while since I’ve posted a book review, and I’ve been reading and listening to audio books like a mad lady. So here is my review of one of my most recent favorites, The Grounded Trilogy by G.P. Ching, which consists of Grounded, Charged and Wired.

Here is the official synopsis of the first book:

In Hemlock Hollow, life isn’t easy, but it is simple. Things in my community haven’t changed much in over three hundred years, since the time my Amish ancestors came to what is now the Green Republic. I milk my cow by hand, make fresh bread every morning, and hope to be courted by Jeremiah, a boy I’ve known since childhood.

When my father falls ill, the English doctor says a hospital outside the wall can heal him. Jeremiah convinces me to go on rumspringa, to experience the outside world as an Englisher in order to be closer to my father during his recovery. Others have gone before me. They claim it’s an adventure. But adventure turns to horror as an ordinary light switch thrusts me into a new world, and revelations about my personal history make me question everything I believe.

All my life I’ve worked to be simple. I can’t pretend anymore. Nothing about me is simple.

Writober – List of Names

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“Pardon me,” Lisa said while she, as politely as she could manage, climbed over the handsome gentleman in the aisle seat.

“Not a problem,” he said with a smile that made his eyes sparkle.

Taking her own seat by the window, Lisa scratched her temple to hide the sudden flush of her cheeks.

“My name is Dom.”

“Lisa.”

He reached for her hand, but instead of shaking it, he held it for a brief moment. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lisa.”

Whoever said chivalry is dead? She thought. A smile inadvertently parted her lips.

“So, what brings you to town? Business?” Dom gently let her hand drop.

“Excuse me,” an elderly woman said, hovering over Dom’s shoulder and pointing at the vacant middle seat between them. “I think that’s my seat.”

Dom rose to let her in, but not before winking at Lisa.

Was this a dream? Complete strangers just aren’t that charming in real life.

Writober 2015 – Parts 1 & 2

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This year, as in years past, I’m participating in Writober: every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of October, you write something, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, long or short, doesn’t matter. It’s just to keep you consistently writing. Periodically throughout the month, I’ll post some of my Writober installments. Below is last Friday’s and yesterday’s posts. The first […]

Make Up Mondays, Edition 3 – Midnight

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I can hear the echoing gongs of the castle clock in my mind, counting down to midnight when my life may very well end.

I am a princess, though in title only, as I no more sit on a pompous throne than the beast I am about to face.

I stand on the precipice of a cliff, where the only direction to go is forward, across a wooden bridge that will lead me to the dragon’s lair.

There is a stillness in the air, and from beneath my feet, I see his horned snout rise from the shadowy abyss.

I stand my ground, blocking his flames with my sword, unwilling to back down until my people are safe once again.

Wacky Writing Prompt Scavenger Hunt

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It looked to me like Edward was trying to avoid my questions.

“Kielbasa and eggs for breakfast?” He said with a scrunch to his nose. “I would have preferred bacon.”

“Well, this is what we have,” I said, not bothering to hide my annoyance. “You’re changing the subject.”

“Hayley, you’re making a bigger deal about this than it needs to be.”

“What’s in the box?” I glanced at the cardboard cube nestled in the corner.

“It’s complicated.”

I shook my head. “You show up here, like you didn’t just break up with me a week ago, and ask me to store this thing without telling me why or what it is.”

“It’s—”

“Don’t even say, it’s complicated.”

The doorbell silenced our argument.

“Another surprise?” I asked him, but received no reply.

I straightened my white and silver teeshirt and tucked my strawberry blonde hair behind my ear before answering. The warm summer air wafted my face as I opened the door. It was a record high for Colorado.

A man I didn’t recognize barged right past me.

“Edward here?” He said, jaw tense.

“Excuse me? And you are…”