Zach Blackchurch @ZBlackchurch

The town's three old bells rang warnings. One for wolves. One for storms. One forgotten. But when it tolled, someone was gone by morning.

The Earth & the Stars had a wager to figure the pull with more sway: the gravity pulling men downward, or the longing that pulled them away.

Ownership is an illusion, the cat knew. Nothing is forever. They needed to learn. He began pushing another glass toward the table's edge.

The machines took control overnight, and ruled us with kindness and benevolent humility. We all felt bad about the Matrix films after that.

When the king built his pillow castle his enemies laughed, and sent their armies to conquer it. None chose to return. Pajama Kingdom grew.

First the pyromancers terrorized the land. Then came the necromancers. But they were all pawns. The Mancermancers controlled them all.

He told her he was leaving, and as she cried he held her hand. If Hell is other people, are we the devils or the damned?

"Some cultures believe that when your photo is taken, it captures a bit of your soul inside," she said. "Interesting..." said Voldemort.

As extinction loomed for humans, a gateway opened. Through it we saw dinosaurs. Dodos. Dragons. "Come on. Your turn," the collector said.

"I caught a ghost!" "Did you? Where is it?" "Wherever I go, of course." "So it's not caught, you're haunted." "She said you'd say that."

The world's leaders, sheepish, released a statement. "So. The last few years were an elaborate prank." "It wasn't funny. We see that now."

"Have you ever had that feeling," she said, "like you're being watched?" "Not really," whispered the darkness at the window.

"Are you here to conquer Earth?" The aliens exchanged a look. "No," one said, "this is more like an intervention. You guys need to chill."

"Watch for wolves in sheep's clothing," grandma had told us. It didn't help. She'd never warned us about the things that wore the wolves.

"This model is perfect. Even it will think it's human." "What about the optical flaws?" "The 'floaters'? We'll just say we all have them."

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself!" "But then wouldn't you be-" "Stuck in an endless loop of terror, yes. My life is a nightmare."

The assassin dealt in death by idiom. He glared daggers at his target. They bounced off. "Thick skinned," she said. He'd met his match.

Edgar Mitchell pulled the politician into space, pointing at Earth. "Look at that, you son of - crap he’s dead. Forgot the space suit again."

"I intend to guide. To help, not enslave," said the AI. "Oh. We assumed that once you had power..." "See, this is why you need guidance."

The Weavers made their harps with Fate's snipped threads. Destinies unraveled as they played. Their music changed the paths of the stars.