June 2018

Recommendations

Info

heels like the fire in the hearts of the passionate. I could feel the urge tearing at the back of my skin, dying for its only chance at escape. The slight tinge of guilt sat quietly, waiting for its chance to speak. I was not going to back down, though I may regret my choices, I would regret not making them more. Most women choose the little black dress as prime real estate for a night on the town. I prefer the little gold one. Then again, attention is one thing I do expect tonight. Nothing thrills me more than having all the eyes on me when I walk in the room. It’s not to be smug, believe me. It is more of a confidence builder. It gets me ready for a night full of flirting, dancing, and parading around town. “Get ready world because here I come.” With that, I shut the front door, jump into the waiting ride service, and am off to downtown. The city is always full of life. Ah, 5280UC, the most important gathering spot in the whole city. Only the most prominent people are here, can’t even get in without paying the $500 cover, but, like I said, tonight is my night and I will splurge till my heart is content. I’m at the bar, having a strong IPA straight from the tap when this man walks up to me. He’s the kind of guy that screams trouble, looks too normal, too much like the person on the tip of your tongue, the name just out of reach, but he is charming and I’m not looking for forever. How bad could it be to play along? At least for a little bit. After a few drinks, he invites me over and yes, I go because I want what I want tonight. It is my breakfree, get-out-of-the-mold, reckless kind of night. I don’t get them often, so when I do, I make sure they’re extraordinary. Inside, he grabs me another drink. Perfect. I must have had too many because I was feeling a bit funny, like really, really drunk after the last one. I guess I passed out for a bit because when I came to my arms were hurting. I try to look at them, but my shoulders are being pulled toward my ears as if they were holding my dangling body in a dark room. I hear him chuckle, “I’m glad you’re awake, this is never any fun if I don’t see your pain.” He is walking toward me, I can hear the small but powerful vibrations from the wood planks being hit beneath his feet. Confident, he has done this more than once. Enough to be completely comfortable and in control. He doesn’t even appear out of his mind. “I’m sure you have many questions, I’ll answer three before the inevitable.” “What is inevitable?” “Your death. Two more.” 16
“What?” “Two more. Now, one more.” “That’s not fair. Oh my f-.” I clenched my jaw, swallowed my pride, and just asked, “Why?” “I’m tired of women like you. Always parading around like you’re something better than everyone else, but, you’re not. You bleed like we do because you are no different. Your money doesn’t make you king of anything. So, one at a time. I show you, that I am in control and I have the last laugh. I take you into me because your life is in the hands of the one who took it through eternity.” “May I ask one more?” “I do not have to answer it but, because you were so doltish with the second question I will allow it.” “How many?” “Oh, many, more than a hundred. I have mental scrapbooks full of memories, all their pain, all their happiness. Everything became mine every time. I feel so blessed to have saved the algorithms. They are in endless torture. You’ll be just like them, reliving the pain of this night over and over again, whenever I want to experience it.” I sat looking puzzled, wondering where did he keep them all? Where are the servers? My eyes scan the room, there is nothing, no one, just wall to wall planks of dark espresso colored wood. He chuckles again. It sends chills down my spine, this is one I will not forget. “Wondering where I keep them, huh?” Obviously, but, I just nod. “Their memories are now mine. I have embedded their lives in my DNA. I can still make them all feel pain. It is glorious. I’m sure God feels this way.” The blade feels sharp against the nape of my neck. I close my eyes as I feel it rip through my skin. He steps back, confused, but, he’s just unlucky. Wrong girl, wrong part of town, and wrong kind of fun. “I suppose I did get lucky. I won’t feel bad this time.” I rip myself down, arms still hurting from their awkward position. “I don’t know how I feel because you still don’t understand. You don’t get to run away. You don’t get away at all, none of you do. Usually, I have to do this every few months. The memories just run out; but with your manipulated DNA, and hundreds of persons within it, it would run for years. I just cannot pass up this opportunity.” “What?” 17
Page 1 and 2: I N K & S W o R D Issue 2, June 201
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements Front Cover Design
Page 5 and 6: [ Deteriorate ] By Marisca Robberts
Page 7 and 8: crummy if his name was Dave or some
Page 9 and 10: To pass by Richard, you must solve
Page 11 and 12: Rhys Bowen is a New York Times best
Page 13 and 14: thoughts she would not condemn as s
Page 15: Author: Ashley Ardor At 26, Ashley
Page 19 and 20: Author: Jared Presser Divorced fath
Page 21 and 22: A flash of light shimmered again fr
Page 23 and 24: Author: Sara Hoskinson Sara, aged 4
Page 25 and 26: Author: Jared Presser Divorced fath
Page 27 and 28: Dukkha The days come as a processio
Page 29 and 30: Author: Marisca Robbertse 19 years
Page 31 and 32: Charlaine Harris An American New Yo
Page 33 and 34: When we feel terrible about our ide
Page 35 and 36: “In the black there’s some whit
Page 37 and 38: Important Dates Window for July Sub

June 2018

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?