100 Words a Day 1187

Even with the moisture mask and hydration suit, I was still parched.

I swallowed a thick glob of saliva and said, “I gotta have another sip.”

Ajax stopped and turned. He pulled his mask off.

“I could use a drink myself.”

The area around his eyes was sunburnt. My skin stung as I removed my own mask.

“You’re burned as shit,” Ajas said before taking a gulp of his water.

“You don’t look much better,” I said.

Thirst quenched, we re-donned our masks and resumed walking. It wasn’t long before we needed to drink again. I couldn’t believe the heat.

100 Words a Day 1186

The peacock walked out of the lurid dreamscape where I had found myself. It stood before me and spread its great tail feathers. Then it turned its head, to look at me with one of its black eyes. I examined the feathers. I was surprised to see that, as I moved my gaze from one side of its tail to the other, the “eyes” of the feathers followed me. I even saw one of them blink. I looked back at the peacock’s head. It was staring at me with its other eye. I tried to walk around it, but couldn’t

100 Words a Day 1185

After hours of painful needling, the tattoo was complete. Ichita stayed on her stomach, despite the discomfort caused by the rough table. The tattoo artist put down her needles and picked up a small jar. She slathered on enough to cover Ichita’s back. She sighed as the cool unguent soothed the hot prickling left by the needles. She applied several other pastes to Ichita’s back and sent her home.

The next morning, Ichita returned to the old lady’s house where she removed the paste. The tattoo under the paste was vivid and bright. It looked like it was coming alive.

100 Words a Day 1184

Sara alighted on the ground and resumed her human form.

“Did you see anything?” Hugora asked, staring into Sara’s green eyes with her own enormous brown ones.

“They’re gone.” Unlike most people, the giant eyes of the dvergr didn’t make her uncomfortable.

“So we can go in then?”

“Yes, and finally put an end to this.”

Hugora spit on the ground and picked up her two-handed axe. She turned to Arnold.

The gnome nodded and patted his small pack. The explosives were ready to go.

The trio looked around continuously as they approached the silent gate. It was slightly ajar.

100 Words a Day 1183

“Sure would hate to have this happen on my honeymoon,” Bill said, binoculars trained on Greg Stone’s room.

“Really? You wouldn’t want to be murdered on your honeymoon?” Jeff replied, screwing the next piece of his rifle on.

“Yeah, I mean. You’re on your honeymoon and then, BLAMO! You’re dead.”

“Maybe they should’ve thought of that before running off with all those drugs.”

Bill lowered the binoculars. “I’m not saying I don’t get it. I’m just saying I’d hate to get shot on my honeymoon.”

Jeff shrugged.

“What about the wife? Might be awkward to explain to her new in-laws.”

100 Words a Day 1182

There was another officer heaving in the corner where the hallway turned. He ignored the man as he passed. Nobody wanted to be recognized in that state. The stench hung heavy in the air after he passed though the next set of double doors. He tried breathing through his mouth; it helped.

There was an officer outside the door where it all had happened. He nodded at Jason and open the door for him. The miasma that invaded Jason’s nostrils made him stumble. His eyes watered and his stomach started to turn over. He just made it to the bathroom.

100 Words a Day 1181

“Ugh, what’s that smell?” John wrinkled his nose.

“The man who arrived last night. Keeps calling himself a paladin of Neros.” Gregory responded.

“Who the hell is Neros?”

Gregory shrugged. “Some god.”

“Tsk. What sort of god wants followers who smell like that?”

“I heard it’s some sort of god of the dead.”

“The gods don’t exist. And even if they had existed, they all died in The War That Split the Land.”

“How can you believe in that if you don’t believe in any gods?”

“I don’t. I’m just saying that if there had been any gods, they’re dead.