The Sancerrois had defended their town valiantly. Artillery and bombs had been pounding the walls of the city early in the occupation, but to little effect. The enemy had suffered more so than the villagers during these attacks, despite the menacing presence of canons, explosives, slings and other war machinery. But the success of repelling enemy advances would soon give way to despair and destitution. The siege became a slow poison, seeping into the very bones of the town.
Read MoreDetective Isabella Ramirez leaned against the balustrade of her Santiago apartment, the city below twinkling like a sea of stars against the canvas of the Andean night. The rhythmic beat of salsa music drifted from distant clubs, a reminder of Santiago's vibrant pulse. Yet, tonight, a different melody lingered in the air too—something ominous and cold, carried down from the very peaks of the mountains.
Isabella's phone buzzed, cutting through the night's tranquility. The voice on the other end belonged to Captain Mateo Ruiz, a grizzled veteran who had seen Santiago's underbelly in all its shades.
"We caught one." He said.
"It's a big one."
"Anyone I know?" Isabella replied.
"I think so. It's Fuentes…Alejandro Fuentes."
"The art dealer?!" Isabella said.
"Mmm" Ruiz mumbled.
Read MoreDear Santa Claws,
Greetings from the Monsterland! I hope this letter finds you in good cheer and surrounded by the warmth of your workshop. My name is Sunny Sprout, a little white and yellow monster; well I am actually not that little, but I am not big either, so…
This year, I've been on my best behavior. I've helped my fellow monster friends and family. We've been practicing our cutest roars and perfecting our snowball-throwing skills for the upcoming Snowy Spectacle Festival. I thought that was very fun. Now, Santa Claws, I know you're used to dealing with elves and reindeer, and those other those other things called hoomans. But I thought I'd drop you a letter with my wish list, just in case.
Read MoreThis is Captain Elara Rodriguez transmitting from the surface of Seraphia. We have moved the mission to the break-point between the permanent night and day zones to investigate the flora, fauna and animal life in the transition between these two parts of the planet. Our exploration has been proceeding well, but the mission was hit by an accident a few days ago when Dr. Sierra was was found incapacitated one mile from the main station. Dr. Sierra has come into contact with a parasitic organism that seems unique to the planet. The organism has attached itself to his face. It manifests as a series of intricate filaments intertwining with his epidermis. We initially attempted to extract the parasite but decided against it as we feared Dr. Sierra would incur tissue damage in the process. Our initial attempts to remove it was with resistance, as the filaments seem to embed themselves deeper into its host's skin when subjected to external force.
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