http://slow.writerscafe.org/ahorst The original writings of author Angela Horst en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776070264 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 Iwoke before Julianna. I was lying on my side, my back to her as sheclung to me as if afraid I was going to vanish upon the morning. Igently unclasped her arms from around my body and shifted away towardthe side of the bed, stopping to look at her a few moments. She gavea deep, satisfied .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958912/ Iawoke before Julianna. I barely noticed the churning of hunger as Ihopped off of the bed and hovered near hers. Her body was so still,and her skin so pale. I frowned. It was just a dream, right? The realJulianna hadn't died in Wandergirl's arms, with me kissing herquickly-cooling lips... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958910/ WhenI awoke, the scene had already materialized. I was caught by surpriseat the surrounding backdrop. I was in an dingy alley; a dumpster satnear the entrance, trash littered the floor, and looking up I saw amile of winding metal stairs leading up the side of the buildingssurrounding me.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958909/ Iawoke, customarily stuffing my mouth with potato chips. I thenimmediately went outside for a smoke. Guinness followed me, lookingconcerned, which was not a good look for him seeing as he was alwaysfeigning an uncaring, gruff personality. “Ihope everything is alright. Maybe t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958907/ WhenI awoke, I was in a colorful scene once again. This time, however,the cartoon world was drawn better. A bear stood not four yards fromme. At least he was a bear from the torso up. His bottom half was aspring, which he bounced happily on as he turned to look at me. “Hello,.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958905/ Iawoke with the worst headache I had ever experienced. I groanedloudly, rolling over and thudding to the floor. Oh, right. I fellasleep on the cot in the basement, and it wasn't very wide. I heard asimilar groan come from inside a nearby cardboard box. “Guinness?”I croa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958903/ Iawoke with a start, my arms held above me in a vain attempt to shieldmyself from the fall. It took me several seconds to realize I was nolonger in the memory, and that I was Noah once again, lying on myback. Guinness stood off to the side, eying me with concern, whileMnemosyne blinked .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958902/ Thescene materialized quicker than usual. I was disoriented for a timebefore realizing my point of view was all wrong. Usually I waswatching the scene unfold from my body... but now, now there was noNoah. There was only Morpheus, and I stared, wide-eyed, from hispoint of view. .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/958901/ I slumped to the ground, onto my knees and then back onto myrear/posterior.Guinness quickly approached me, placing a gruff hand on my shoulder. “Hey,it's okay. Maybe we don't need her anymore. You realize you are thegod of dreams, don'tcha?” Ishook my head stiffly. &ld.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/955645/ Iwoke up, but I was not ravenous like I usually was. I guessed being aspirit had its advantages. Hades was sitting on his throne, awakealready and staring at me with a touch of amusement on his visage.There was something else on his face, well-hidden... was it surprise? Guinnesssa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/955643/ Ididn't get a chance to survey my surroundings when I awoke in Hades'dream. A shadowy fist came out of nowhere and caught me in the chin.I stumbled to the side and fell to the ground, which was covered in athick layer of lush grass. Ashadowed form darted to the side, bouncing from .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/954597/ Thesmell of musty dankness greeted my nose when I awoke. I was lying onsomething unstable, the sound of lapping water echoing in my ears. Ichoked. The taste of metal on my dry tongue caused me to gag. Turningmy head to the side, I coughed and spat out something that glistened.My hockey st.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/954591/  It was after one of the fiercest Russian winter storms I had seen in decades; the kind where the wind is something dangerous and tangible, where the conifers would have no choice but to bow and splinter to its might. Our little cabin shook and groaned with such force, my wife, Yelena, thought .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/920471/ “Whatare you going to do?” Guinness asked me, concern lacing his voice. Wehad awoken in the basement, and I could hear thunder outside as wellas the faint patter of raindrops. “Pills,”I said matter-of-factly. “Pills?” “I'mgoing .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/912347/ WhenI awoke, I was lying on something soft and moist. Something spongy, Inoted in dismay. I quickly got up, brushing myself off as I lookedaround. Ihad been lying on a giant carpet of green and brown moss. I was in acave, as was evident from the stalactites that clung to the ceiling.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/908771/ “Noah!” Guinnesswas shaking me and slapping at my face. I started slapping back athim defensively. “Cutit out, I'm awake.” “Oh,”Guinness bounced away out of slapping range, “You were screaming inyour sleep. Was afraid your neighbors were .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/908767/ World of Warcraft Fanfic http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/908621/ Completeand utter darkness received me as I fell into the depths of slumber.It seemed like an eternity passed before I could finally see apinpoint of blurred light. “Morpheus...”came a voice. I recognized it as Icelus', but it sounded far away,muffled as if under water. .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/907336/ Iawoke with a start, sweat beading my forehead and a nauseous feelingin the pit of my stomach. Guinness was asleep on the floor next to mybed, snoring uproariously, as he was apt to do. I tentatively touchedmy head, recalling the first dream I had ever had. Icelus? Ares? Areswas easy, I.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/907335/ Thesky raged. Lightning split the sky, revealing the two warring figureswho were slick with sweat, each roaring with the thunder that crackedabove them. “Icelus!”called one of the beings, heavily armored in a breastplate andleg-plates of shining gold and a helm .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904116/ Iawoke to the gentle sound of flowing water. I moved my head ever soslightly to view the therapeutic rock fountain I had bought Guinnessa few weeks back. My head spun, and I couldn't get the scent of rosesfrom my nose. “Thatwas... interesting,” Guinness said next to whe.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904115/ Iawake to a world of color. Bright magenta, neon orange, and electricyellow suggest a sunset in the background. The sun, half vanishedbehind the horizon, has marks undulating off of it, giving it theappearance of sun beams that a four year old would draw. “Ohno,” I mumb.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904114/ “Youdid it,” came the elated voice of Dorothy as I awakened. I flashedher a smile before swinging my legs around and jumping from the cot. I tried to keep my smile steady and not bothered, but inwardly I wasdistracted and a mess. “Mr.Clifton, you have no idea how .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904112/ “NOAH!”came a frenzied yell as I arrived into the dream world. It soundedfar away, muffled. “Noah,hurry!” Closerthis time, and not as muffled. “NOAH!” Finally,I emerged into the scene, my brain still muddled a bit from fallingasleep so re.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904045/ Guinnesswas down in the basement when I entered the apartment. I ran into thebathroom and splashed water on my face, looking at myself in themirror. My eyes were bloodshot again, and I had bags under them.Yeah, I just hadn't gotten enough sleep lately �" that was it...that i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/904042/ “Oh,dear,” I heard an heavily-accented voice say. Mr. Morris hadawoken, and was rubbing his temples. “I saw everything; well done,lad.” Istuffed handfuls of pretzels in my mouth, desperate to fill mygrumbling stomach. “Thanks,”I mumbled through.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/903438/ Guinnesshad beaten me again to the 'in between', the space of darkness thatappeared while the client wasn't dreaming. I floated in thenothingness, clutching my hockey stick, wishing a pack of cigarettescould cross over with me as well. “What'sthis one about?” “At.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/901511/ Iawoke early the next morning to a knock at my door. And by early, Imean noon. “Justa minute,” I yelled from inside, rushing to brush my teeth, lookpresentable, and pick up the empty beer bottles and kibble bagsGuinness had left after an early morning of kids shows. I w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/901508/ “Seeif I take you anywhere anymore,” I yelled at Guinness when we madeit back to my apartment. Guinnesswas silent, his stubby arms crossed over his stout chest as he glaredinto the distance. My words hung in the air for several momentsbefore the gnome finally said, &l.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/901503/ “So can I go?,” Guinnessasked hopefully. He was clipping his toe nails with a clipper, and Iwatched in disgust as the nails bounced away from him and onto mycarpeted floor. “I hope you plan on pickingthose up,” I muttered, sipping on my coffee. &ldqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/818991/ I awoke ravenous. This happenedevery time; a serious case of the munchies without the fun of thehasheesh. I kept a few bags of potato chips and pretzels by mymattress for occasions such as this. I tore open a bag of Lays andbegan stuffing my mouth. It was as if I hadn't eaten in th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/818989/ Guiness was already there when Iarrived. He tapped a dirty toe in obvious irritation at my tardiness. “What?” I asked sheepishly,“I can't help it if I'm gaining an immunity to sleep medications.” Guiness just shook his head. Heindicated the misty grayness.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/817047/ AsI opened my eyes for the first time in my undeath, I felt thestirrings of hunger. I suppose I should use a different word, for itwasn't like any hunger a mortal could know. It was a needing �" acompulsory demand for something to fill my body, something that nolonger fl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/791563/ Guinness was asleep when Ientered the basement, snoring loudly on his bed of lichen. He had aBreathe-Right strip across his bulbous nose; he may have been agnome, but his nose was the size of a sixty-five-year-old obeseman's. Obviously, from the boisterous snoring that somehow emittedfr.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/731487/ World of Warcraft Fanfiction for Blizzard Internal Writing Contest - Runner Up http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/584306/ It was stormy that night, aparticularly bad combination with my line of work. Sleeping was theonly way I could stay in business, and the rain that raged outside,not to mention the deafening thunder, did not bode well for my task. It was time for my concoction.It was something I was ex.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/548284/ Inthe end, I guess I got drunk enough to listen to the now-worldlygnome in my basement. I decided against the yellow pages because,let's be real here, no one uses a phone book now-a-days for anythingother than propping tables up. I created as serious a web page as Icould manage, and left.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/548283/ It was one of those moments youtake a step back from your life and ask: howthe hell did I get here?I was standing in an aisle of my local grocery store, completelyalone and feeling like an idiot pushing a cart full of cheap beer.Here I was: middle aged, hadn't shaved for a week, and con.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/548282/ A nightmare exterminator isn't exactly available in the yellow pages.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/ahorst/548281/ A young supermarket employee contemplates his life amidst a cast of colorful characters. 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