The tattooist uses ink and fog mixed together. It feels cold and clammy, as needle touches skin. The letters of your name settle as smoke.

Socially anxious, Suzie hated how the wolf attack drew attention to her. “Ohmigosh! Did it bite you? Let’s see!” “No, no. Just a #scrape. It’s nothing.” And it really was. They didn’t conceal their disappointment. But then, they’d no idea how crazy fast it’d healed. #vss365

They were both exhausted by the time they found the hotel deep in the woods. But when they’d checked in & went to fetch their cases, Tina still found the energy to scream. A deep #slash marred each of the car’s tyres. A grinning porter held a blade. “Enjoy your stay.” #vss365

The pills promised an awakening of sorts; a realisation of #self. But the morning after the party, Carl felt something major had shifted. “Never again,” he told Lucas at lunch. “Up to you, man. But last night? That you—Her—that’s the most fun I’ve seen you have. Ever.” #vss365

She’d only shot him to slow him down, but wounded clumsiness had ensnared his leg in a trap. He growled at her approach, as she lay down her rifle, offered her arm. It’s a #primordial hunger, isn’t it? To be more; to change. “Bite me,” she said. “And I’ll free you.” #vss365

He woke to a clamour of alarms—red lights glaring as he donned pants & boots and raced to the cockpit. “Roxy, status? And cancel that noise.” “Meteorite strike, boss,” the AI bleated. “I’m losing cargo.” In the quiet then, a #susurrus of escaping air. “Oh. And that.” #vss365

“What godforsaken #realm is this?” The great hall was in ruin, the banquet’s remains swarming with flies. “Yours, my liege.” His page’s voice. The King’s chest was wet, his limbs leaden. “Am I asleep, boy?” A grinning corpse staggered into view. “Quite dead, Sire.” #vss365

He told mom how she’d waltzed in on her first day; how other girls—chic, quiet, no matter—buzzed around her; how the boys circled like sharks. “You stay clear,” warned Mom. “That girl’s a #vortex.” A freak storm rattled the shutters. Even so, they heard the doorbell. #vss365

Like everyone else, Jake’s #parallel was born at the same time, so that they’d grow up together. When faced with decisions, Jake got first choice. It hadn’t always been the right one. Nearly 18—with Convergence approaching—he wondered how much of ‘Jake’ would survive. #vss365

His friends once warned him the worst outcome would be to end up in the ‘friend zone’. They said nothing of the #liminal zone, wherein he hears himself asking: “What are we?”; “who am I?”; “what are you?” And hears her playfully respond: “Let’s not spoil the surprise.” #vss365

Sahti’s an #enigma, but Erin loves her for it. That, and everything else. “Where are we going?” “You’ll see.” “An adventure?” Erin grins. “A safe one this time?” “Maybe… but with a surprise at the end.” “Oh?” Sah stops to gaze at her, eyes twinkling. “You’ll see.” #vss365

Mikey doesn’t just ‘blush’ when embarrassed: his cheeks turn a vibrant #crimson, as though he has some affliction, rather than shame. But he isn’t home now, isn’t being balled at for failing at ‘boy’ jobs, or ‘boy’ games. It’s Prom night—and Jay is asking him to dance. #vss365

There’s a #sparrow at your door: long legs; slender waist; bright eyes; playful smile. She unzips uniform jacket like it’s a come-on—slides thumb-drive stashed within across your desk. “That’s us even now, Hawk.” She doesn’t linger. “Use a frackin’ pigeon next time.” #vss365

I am but a shadow, he thinks, form without substance: lurking and ethereal And she is a shining thing her bright lines clearly defined: her eyes, sapphires skin, sapphire her mouth, sapphire lips, sapphire— and somehow, some how She is drinking away his blue #vss365 #sapphire

It was going well—he thought—until the girl at the bar plucked a strand of his hair, tasted it, & beamed. “What—” “Your being here tonight may be #happenstance, but mine is not. I’ve been waiting,” she gushed. “For you. The saviour of my people.” Got rid of him quick. #vss365

There's a #mystical allure to the impractical, the improbable, the 'thought that was impossible'. Like, what d'ya mean you can eat a 72oz steak in 1 hour? Feel a rainbow? Fly away if I don't love you? Then: The clean plate; The goosebump caress; The flutter of wings. #vss365

“What does it even mean, ‘fly on the #wings of love’?” “That love makes you feel like you’re flying?” “Does it?” He grinned, picking her up, twirling her. She slid down within his arms, breathless. His kiss was fairground wheels and fireworks; her heart in her mouth. #vss365

“We’d like to… reframe the narrative: get away from this idea of wanton destruction, and get back to, y’know, beating down bad guys.” “My client—” “Is under intense public scrutiny. So, how about… Beat? Tenderise? #Pummel?” A snort from the beast. “Hulk… Pummel?” #vss365