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The Grim Horizon

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Just three years ago, this place was my school, its halls stretching far and wide, and its six floors reaching up to the sky; but today, it lies here upon the ground, with only two cloven pillars standing beside one another—a reminder of what we can never have again. As I walk across craters that used to be paved roads, I see my own heart reflected by the scorch marks and fissures that run deep across my homeland. I cannot imagine what could bring someone to commit such acts of destruction. The devastation and hopelessness left in their wake latch on to you and take root, and you wonder if you will ever be free from it. Will I ever be free from it? Yet even amidst the shadow that has befallen us, there still remain glints in the eyes of my younger brothers and sisters in our neighbourhood. Perhaps seeing a few of them laugh and play with one another even amidst the dark rubble that surrounds us gives me some semblance of hope. Perhaps a future to look forward to, even though the horizo...
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The Fifth Horseman

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were uncontested, and God was all but a mere silent spectator as they wrought devastation upon many lands. Countless people were plunged into seas of suffering as plagues and wars ravaged their homes. The fewer numbers that survived were forced to flee and relocate, but the horsemen were relentless; they would not leave people in peace for long. Then emerged a being capable of undoing their carnage as the Unseen Forces of the universe sought to maintain an equilibrium—it was the Fifth Horseman. They helped humans rebuild their homes and regrow their crops, and even helped diffuse lingering tensions that dwelt in the hearts of different communities. They quelled all animosity as much as they healed all diseases, ensuring that prosperity always remained on the horizon even in the darkest of times. Enraged by this new development, the Four Horsemen turned to Heaven and Hell, seeking their counsel. Neither side wished to intervene, saying what emerges fr...
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Strike in the Shadows

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I had solved countless cases as a homicide detective, but my first serial killer case was leading me to multiple dead ends. The case stumped everyone working on it, for it seemed that the killer was always ten steps ahead. The victim count rose to double digits within two months, and we still had zero evidence. No leads, no witnesses, it was as if they were a ghost. Based on the swiftness of the execution of each kill and the subsequent cover-up of evidence, some of us speculated that it was most likely two or more people carrying out the crimes—and we especially agreed on the idea that they most likely had a background, or at least extensive knowledge, in Law Enforcement and Forensics. I asked my mother, the Chief Medical Examiner, about her thoughts on this case, and even she had no direct response. Another month passed, and the case was still leading us nowhere. At this point, our team was sidelined and the case was taken over by the higher-ups. They surprisingly showed faster resul...
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Freedom

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While other noble children her age took great care of their appearances, Ansul danced in the rain and ran through fields, often coating her fine clothes in mud and dust. She would avoid playing with other girls her age because of their fixations; and they, too, disliked Ansul because she paid no mind to how she looked. Ansul would often spar with peasant boys and girls, who welcomed her with open arms whenever she wished to play with them. As Ansul grew older, however, her parents grew tired of this behaviour and often reprimanded her, but Ansul did not let them control her every move. She pushed forward with her free spirit and found herself sparring even with the knights of the city. One day, Ansul’s father threatened her, saying that he would give her in marriage soon if she didn’t change her ways. Ansul was defiant, but knowing how stubborn her father was, she knew he would keep his word. And so she devised a plan to ensure her freedom. That weekend, a farmer saw Ansul being led ou...
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Dark Angels

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As a standup comedian, I attracted many haters as much as I did fans with my political and religious commentary. Those were topics in which I often pointed out the hypocrisies of the people in charge, who consistently masked their cruel actions with a veil of benevolence. This was something certain zealots could tolerate; they often targeted my shows and vandalised surrounding property. I’d often see messages saying I’d soon go to hell, and that I’d suffer at the hands of the devil. I found it amusing. A man who seemed relatively tame with his threats one day attended one of my shows and asked me if I truly didn’t believe in god. I said no and came up with a joke that made the entire room roar with laughter. He said I would burn in hell, and I said I’d choose hell over heaven any day with all the atrocities god would be responsible for if they existed. The man looked displeased. He got up and left without another word. I didn’t think much of the incident, but maybe I should have. Once ...
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Subject Zero

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Growing up, I was told by my parents to never reveal the secret of my blood. I always had to fake prolonged injuries and ailments when I was perfectly fine, since my body was able to mend itself in a matter of minutes. I had to keep my guard up, especially in my teens, avoiding arguments and fights at all costs. I kept just a handful of friends; we were a close-knit group. However, one day, I had no option but to put my secret at risk, because one of those friends was run over by a drunk driver and was in critical condition—and my blood was the only match. Not only did my friend recover, but all his injuries healed in a matter of minutes, just as my body worked. The news spread throughout the town like a wildfire, and I was soon to be held under a microscope. Fearing what was on the horizon, my parents sent me off to live with one of my mother’s friends, cities away and deep into the suburbs, where I could live under the radar at a farm. My mother’s friend got me a new phone to use so ...
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Justice

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Being one of the few people amongst my colleagues who’d finish all their projects with days to spare, there were plenty of people who looked forward to watching me fall. A handful of us were targeted by these displeased parties on many occasions as they sought to tarnish our reputations with lies and deceit. There were many rumours about me selling company secrets, and one time, my email was even hacked to leave a fake paper trail. The culprits were eventually caught, and they swore to get back at me and the others. They especially held a grudge against me, because I was the one who took the matter to the police, whereas my other colleagues hesitated. I didn’t take their treats seriously, but things took an unexpected turn just a week later when my house was broken into while I was out with friends. When I arrived, a note was left on my dressing table. “You can’t escape us,” it said. An investigation was launched, but weeks passed without any results. I learned later through an office ...
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