Havok Publishing

Archive - December 2020

SS - Staff Saturday featured image

The Monastery’s Treasure

Wherever Tovar looked, flames engulfed his monastery home. He shielded his eyes and raced for the abbot’s dormitory, praying his mentor hadn’t been killed in the attack.
He found the abbot lying face down. “Abbot Cralin, what happened?”
“Tovar? Is that you?” The abbot turned toward him, clutching a wound in his side.

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S2 Fantasy Friday featured image (season 2)

Higherlight

“Come.”
The voice rumbles through my dreams, calling me to the waking world. Cool, wet wind swirls over me, flowing through the open shutters of my arched window. When I went to sleep, those shutters were locked and bolted. A smile creeps up from my soul. They should know that locked windows never stop

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S2 Thriller Thursday featured image (season 2)

The Unseen

Mercedes held her breath as the airship landed, its solar sails radiating energy. A gangway lowered toward a long line of eager passengers with tickets in hand.
First: board the airship.
She exhaled a slow breath. It had to be this airship, heading for the district housing the prestigious Leric Institute.

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S2 Wacky Wednesday featured image (season 2)

The Nerds Strike Back

Bang!
My shoulders slammed into their favorite indentations on my locker, and I gazed up into Rex Norman’s baby blues for the fourth time since second period. What does Dino King want this time? He’d already taken all my money, my math homework, and my secret snack.
“Hey, dweeb, homecoming pep rally

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S2 Techno Tuesday featured image (season 2)

Unseen Stain

“I don’t see why we need to have it around, Paulson,” Merrik grumbled. “Damn bug gives me the crawls.”
The sergeant stomped his boot hard against the tunnel floor. The wet thud echoed up and down the cavernous hollow, touching off ripples along the scattered patches of bioluminescent algae.
“Shut it. You want

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S2 Mystery Monday featured image (season 2)

Illusionary Friends

“Shape-shifter!”
The words echo in my ears, but this time, they’re not aimed at me.
I’m not a shifter, merely an illusionist. It’s people’s eyes who change, not me. We can take on a few characteristics of the animal, like super-speed, flight, or deep-sea swimming. And even if it weakens my other senses,

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SS - Staff Saturday featured image

Buried Alive

A bitter breeze rakes over my cheeks as I step from the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, but it’s not the cold that sends shivers skittering through my gloved hands and up my arms. It’s excitement.
Up ahead, my best friend, Brandon, faces me, a wide smile plastered on his face. He signs the words,

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S2 Fantasy Friday featured image (season 2)

Serpents

Sometimes I stand gazing into my mirror for hours, hoping (fearing?) I’ll fall victim to my own trick and end this pain.
It never works.
I’m now surrounded by mirrors. The sunlit courthouse glitters, every judge and juror holding one. They cannot look at me, so they use the mirrors to glimpse my reflection.

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S2 Thriller Thursday featured image (season 2)

The Cost of Sight

Molly checked both ways before she skittered across the street. Jack kept pace on her right, his hand a warm support on her lower back. Within minutes, the two had traversed several smaller avenues and alleyways, burrowing deeper into the unsavory part of town. 

Molly stumbled as her vision wavered, split between two worlds,

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S2 Wacky Wednesday featured image (season 2)

The Crisis Before Christmas

“I come bearing grave tidings.” Suraeldor the elf swept into the workshop, clutching a candy cane-striped telescope. 

Tiggles set aside a half-built jack-in-the-box and focused on his friend. “Can I guess why? Is it because you stole the big guy’s Kringlescope?” 

The tall elf handed the device to Tiggles. “Fear not—I will

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S2 Techno Tuesday featured image (season 2)

The Lucifer Project

Green light emanates from my skin, illuminating the deep-sea darkness. Flicking my scuba fins, I swim deeper into the underwater cave and scan the walls for any hint of scarlet. 

“Can’t make that light any brighter, can you?” Gino’s voice echoes in my comm. 

I scowl. “You know I can’t control it.”

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