“Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.” Hunter S. Thompson Gillian settled into the ratty chair behind the sales counter at her mother’s vintage store and propped her feet up on the edge of the register. Don’t think about it, she told […]

I’m not sure how Mrs. Maupin managed to guess the exact last thing I want to be doing on a Saturday morning, but I suppose she’s just that good, because here I am. The old prop house reeks of asbestos and stale egos. The previously-maroon carpet is now brown with black mildew speckles, like a […]

Jenji held her fan delicately, her nails reflecting the sun. With short, stiff motions she directed the feather forward. It levitated once, twice, jumping the sticks I’d laid out as obstacles. My fan was folded, pinched tight in my sweating hands as I watched her feather pull ahead of mine. The dry breeze blew her […]

I never get this much attention. So, after the second girl points at me, eyes wide, and half-whispers to her friend, “Look,” I figure either I look like a clown, or a clown is following me, and I accelerate. My Doc Martens pound the tile to the beat of my heart as I hustle to […]

The hours of operation printed on the door said Closed on Mondays. It was, of course, Monday. The “CLOSED” sign confirmed they shouldn’t be there. Adam read the invitation again. VALENTINE’S DAY OFFER ONE FREE ESCAPE ROOM EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AND ONE GUEST GUARANTEED ROMANCE AND THRILLS ONE COUPLE WILL WIN $100 For use on […]

Greta’s always got my back at parties, even last week when I cried about the tuba player in band who doesn’t love me back. She put a breath strip in my mouth before I walked home so my mom wouldn’t find out I was drinking. That’s the difference between us: I’m more likely to fall […]