🍀 Novels Event 🍀 A Lucky Encounter (Chance to win 30,000 Ink!)

Soooo.... does one need to have an existing novel on Tapas to qualify for this? I'm technically a novelist, but I only have a comic published on Tapas....

My creators wall link is https://tapas.io/CuzWhyNot1
Here is a quick one-shot based off my novel, For the Love of Satan:

I was running late for my class because I just had to get some coffee, but it was totally worth it. What can I say, the Shamrock Shake only is out one day a year, and it just happened to be today.
Just as the class started I slid into my seat.
"Did I miss anything?" I whispered to my best friend Ash.
"Not really, do you want to come to my house after class though? I'm having a St. Patrick's Day party."
"Sure."
After class ended I ran to my car and texted Ash that I'd meet him at his house. He was the only one of us who actually had a house instead of staying in a dorm, so he hosted most of the parties.
Before I could leave the parking lot, I almost crashed into someone. I jumped out of the car, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I don't think I've seen you around here though, who are you?"
"I'm Haven, and you are?"
"I'm Sam," he responded, "I have to go, I'm running late for a class."
"Okay, here's my number, text me later just so I can make sure you're okay," I said.
"Yeah, sure, thanks, gotta run!" he pinched me before he ran, guess that's what happens when you don't wear green on St. Patrick's Day.
I ran into my car, and continued my way to Ash's house.

Sam: Hey Haven, it's Sam, I'm still fine, lol.
Haven: Good to hear im so srry i almost ran into u earlier
Sam: It's all good, maybe you could make it up to me over dinner ?
Haven: Sure when are you free
Sam: I'll be free around 6 next Tuesday, does that work for you?
Haven: Sure see you then
Sam: Text me your address tho, I'm driving.
Haven: lol i didnt think i was that bad
Sam: You are.
Haven: Fine, happy st patricks day. Ill see you on tuesday

Thank you for the opportunity! (ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ

Link to my profile (•◡•)--> https://tapas.io/littlegrim
I'll give it a shot ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

Title : Lucky

“Impatient old man! I told him to wait until the end of month. Why do you think I mowed your fuckin’ huge yard last week for? It’s a bribe, you stinky old man!” I cried and then one shot my last drink.

I can only afford three of the same cheapest drink among other pricey menus in this high class club.

If it’s not because of their excellent security, I wouldn’t even think of entering here. Strictly no underage, guns and drugs so I feel safer if I ever gonna get drunk alone.

But I knew I wouldn’t. Being high tolerance and low on money is just impossible. I’m aiming for getting light-headed, it’s enough.

Today was a shit day. After a couple weeks living the best of my life without a single conflict, finally today is the breaker.

I’m fired- no, I quit my job. I’m a waitress in one of the famous maid cafe for almost 3 years and today is the last string of my patience towards dirty customers. Those perverts love to sneak their wrinkled hands under our skirts but usually we just shrugged it off or playfully resist them.

But not this day. All I see was red when he boldly went for my front and I immediately threw a punch right on his smug face. I swear I heard bone cracking and I’m sure I broke his nose but I didn’t regret it. I’ll do it over and over again if I can.

To make it worse, my landlord shorten the duration for my rent to next week after everything I’ve done to him. He’s a stinky old geezer.

Now I’m jobless and have no money to even survive another week. How am I suppose to pay my rent? I can’t tell my family either since I lied about working at a big company here in California.

I’m basically screwed.

Without solution, I got up and decided to leave. Sitting here longer aren’t going to wash my problems away.

I was walking the empty hallway towards the exit with the train of thoughts still harassing my head, visiting every single space in it and I’m pretty much oblivious to my surrounding until something or someone bumped into me, hard.

“Ow!” I screamed. It was so aggressive that it made me fell to the floor. I was ready to fight this person but when I looked up, I saw a beautiful man in a suit with slick back hair style, glaring at me.

“G-Get out of my w-way!” he stuttered. Body desperately leaning on the wall as if he’s going to fall any moment.

Even though he’s being rude to me when it’s clearly his fault, I didn’t get angry because it’s weird. He’s panting like a marathon runner, sweating like one too it’s drenching his lavish clothes.

And more importantly, he got a boner. A massive one.

“Sir, are you okay?” I asked as I got up from the floor, reaching for him in pure concern but slapped away by him.

“None of your b-business.” he stutter again yet his legs probably weaken as it gave out and I just go for it, wrapping his arm on my shoulder, helping him to stand despite his rejection. He’s so weak that his slap only came as a brush now.

I’m familiar with this, he’s definitely spiked.

“Sir, you-” I got panicked when I heard footsteps coming towards us and I just opened a random door near us which then I realized it’s a store room with a bundle of maroon sheets on the floor. Locking the door behind us.

As soon as I locked, he went completely limp and fall down. Luckily for him, he went straight in the piles of sheets. Running to him, I helped him turn his body around to lie on his back.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Shaking his body as I ask, just to make sure he didn’t die from that fall or something.

“I s-said… uh… filthy hands o-off… s-slut….” he moaned.

“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. I just want to help so shut up before I punch you, okay mister?”

Though he glared at me, I ignore him. I’m actually used to this since sometimes we do get drugged too by perverts so it’s not really surprising for me but I thought no drugs allowed here.

“A-Are you… giv… handjo-” he panted.

“No, gross! Wait here.”

I left him without waiting for his respond, going to the bar and got back minutes later to a knocked man on the floor with a bucket of ice I got from an abandoned table.

“Good.” Now that he passed out, I can finally work in peace.

I grab one of the sheet, putting a huge amount of ice in it before tying it up into a ball and place it on his boner. I’m not sure whether it’ll work but it worth a try.

Waited for quite some time, making sure it helped calming the rock hard bulge down and thankfully it did. Since he’s still out, I replaced the ice to a new one before decided it’s fine to leave him.

I informed one of the bouncer about him which he immediately ran to the store. I leave him to it and head out. Are they always that kind to their customers? Maybe, anyway I walked to my apartment with the same stack of problem in my head. The incident before completely pushed back.

It’s been five days since I’m jobless. I’ve searched for a new job, going to countless of interview but failed every time. Don’t get me wrong, my grades were pretty impressive but the reality is people are anxious to accept a Japanese woman into their company, afraid for the language barrier.

Dude, I obviously communicate with you in English fluently during interview not Japanese whatsoever. It’s impressive how creative they are in making excuses.

I’m currently sitting on a bench in the park near my apartment building, feeling disappointed after turned down again. Not gonna lie, I’m almost lose hope. I only have enough money for a couple sandwich and I might have to just face the music later, telling the truth to my family.

“Ugh!” I grunted, ruining my neatly tied into a bun hair in frustration manner. If I failed another interview, I have to consider my last option.

[Ring]

I immediately took out my phone out of my blazer’s pocket and saw an unknown number calling. Without hesitating, I answered in hope that it’s the company I went for interview yesterday.

“Hello?”

“Are you free?”

I went to the direction the man on the phone told me and it leads me to a skyscraper on the other side of the town. I almost got lost on the way here.

I was greeted by a man in suit and guided me to the top floor of the building. I didn’t remember going here for interview but I also gone to numerous interviews these few days so I’m not surprise if I forgotten some of them.

Entering the mahogany door with a gold name plate carved ‘President’ in it and lumbering straight to the only destination possible, the massive desk. I’m actually nervous that the president wanted to meet me so sudden but at the same time curious.

The president had their chair to the back so I don’t know if it’s a he or her and I think they still haven’t noticed me coming. Collecting my courage before finally introduce myself.

“Good evening, president. I’m Hira-”

The chair turned around halfway to my greeting and the person sitting on the throne is more than enough to make me speechless.

He smirk, “You’re here.”

It was few minutes later when I found my words again. “Where’s the president?”

“You’re looking at him.”

I’m confuse. “You’re British?”

“I apologize on behalf of my past self. I was not in the right mind at that time and it’s rude for me to do that to you. I’m sorry.”

“You slapped me really hard, you know.”

“I’m aware, that’s why I reached out to you. I know I should have done it earlier but unfortunately I’m actively occupied until today.”

“Hm, but I don’t remember you possess such a beautiful accent before. Maybe that’s why I didn’t recognize you on the phone.” I asked genuinely out of curiosity.

“Do you even hear me? Of course, I was stuttering back then. I have a hard time uttering a word let alone promoting my accent.” He said, pouring his accent thicker into his words.

“So it’s really you.” Somehow I feel like he’s not going to make things easier because if not, why did he had to call me all the way here?

“Is there any reason I’m summoned?” I asked again when he remain silent.

He chuckled to my respond. “So your name’s Hirata Yui?” I simply nodded. “But your demeanour doesn’t match your name? I thought Japanese was suppose to act lovely and soft spoken.”

“I thought English men were suppose to have excellent manners. Did you left them in UK or something?” I blurted out. Fuck, it slipped my lips mindlessly. I didn’t mean to go that far.

“Ouch, you hurt me.” he said with hint of sarcasm. Luckily, he didn’t take it personal.

“Don’t act vulnerable, mister... Wait! How did you know all of these? I don’t recall us exchanging information to begin with.” I don’t even know his name but how come he knew mine?

He sighed while massaging his temple, looking all frustrated then stare back at me. “Are you foolish?” he growled.

As much as I want to respond to my heart’s content, I don’t think it’s a good idea to bat word with him. I can almost feel the air thicken.

“My name. I’m Lucky Griffiths, the owner of this Four-Leaf Clover inc.”

I nodded, yeah I knew that but the other one. I didn’t dare to ask yet I guess it’s written all over my face. “Oh my god, you’re slow for a Japanese lady.”

“Hey, stop being racist. It got nothing to do with my race.”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way. You’re twisting my word.”

“Yeah, because our first encounter aren’t the best. Not the best I mean sucks.”

“The drugs made me defensive, okay? I thought you’re the culprit that’s probably the reason I acted that way. Would you even blame me for being careful?”

“You’re a total asshole so blame me too for being defensive on you now. I’m easily traumatize.”

He sighed again, “Anyway, all I’m saying is the club you went is mine. It’s my name. Lucky nightclub remember? It’s mine.”

“Wait, is it? So you got mine from their data or something.” This time it’s him who nodded. “Oh, that explains why the bouncer… oh okay, okay.”

“At last. The purpose of me desperately finding you is because I want to give you a reward for helping.”

“You don’t have to. It’s not really a big deal. I only iced it, that’s all.”

“I insist. I’ll give you money.”

“I’m fine. I got money to-”

“Don’t spit those lies in front of me. I know you’re fired and you still haven’t paid your rent. I know you need this. $20,000 enough?”

“What? That’s more than enough but I’m still declining it.”

“Why? It’s an easy money.”

“Because it’s easy money that I won’t accept it. I’m not a ‘slut’ as you would titled me.”

“No one labeled you that.”

“The past you did.”

“The past me was an embarrassment. The me now is… forget it. Please, just accept it.”

“No, it doesn’t make me feel good. You knew all I did was icing it until it goes down. I don’t deserve that much money or need any of your money.”

“Fine. Since you don’t want it, you’re accepted.”

“Accepted what? I thought we’re done here.”

“You got the job here.” he smirk. Chin in the palm of his hand, watching me confused all to myself.

“Wait, wait. That escalated fast.”

“You’re working here starting next week.”

“Hold up. Can you do that? I don’t need to go interview or something?”

He laughed. “As the President, I got all the power to do anything. Why go through all that when you got a free pass or is it you’re addicted to introducing yourself?”

“No, um, I didn’t expect this coming.”

“Expect the unexpected, Yui. Just take it as luck. You’re lucky you encounter a Lucky.”

I was left wordless by this man. Like having two personality and I thought he’ll give me hard time but in fact, it’s otherwise.

I can’t believe I walked in jobless and stepped out with not only a job but a decent workplace that I can finally tell my family. I was left standing in daze, staring at him when his words brought me back to reality.

“You may go.”

“S-Sure, thank you so much, Mr Lucky. I appreciate it, I’ll work hard for you.”

He chuckle. “I’ll email you the letter.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll give you-”

“It’s fine.”

“But you don’t know my email address. I’ll give you-”

“Do I?” The infamous smirk landed on his face again for the hundredth time.

Yay!

A Spot of Luck, a Comet and a Sinner

Naturally, there was a comet in his way.

After centuries of torment, Melchior had finally fled the Eight Hells--and there was a comet in his way.

He stockpiled ichor, hid it away from Lord Asmodeus to nurture his phantom wings, and exploded from his hiding place upward. The full power of the unbroken wings--his wings--spiraled him into the ashen sky. He muscled his way through the gate. The free cosmos coated his flame-wreathed face.

And then, there was a comet in the way.

A flash of brilliance, a spell of darkness, followed by another flash of brilliance when Melchior opened his tearing eyes.

The brilliance came from a golden boy leaning over his twisted body.

“Sebastian,” the golden boy bleated. “My poor Sebastian.”

And he opened his golden arms, threatening this Sebastian... No, threatening him, Melchior, with a hug.

A shiver ran down Melchior’s spine. He risked his life, passed through the planar gate on his wings, lost half his ichor to never be touched again. Touched, palmed, groped, dug into, dangled, smothered against stonewalls, hurt or caressed. None of it. Period. Even an incubus has his limits.

“No touching!” Melchior cried out, spooking the cooky angel. With this perfumed radiance, it could only be an angel.

The golden boy hopped away like an imp. “I am sorry, beloved Sebastian. You are hurting.”

No kidding, he was hurting! Every bone in his body was hurting, and every tendon. Not to mention the phantom pain in his phantom wings.

And… Beloved? That would be the first. Melhior had a long list of both lovers and abusers, but nothing angelic ever on it. He was not that popular. And who in the Pits of Fecundity was this Sebastian? He peered right and left, but the asteroid looked blissfully devoid of more angels.

“Leave me alone,” he suggested to his would-be suitor. “Shoo?”

Like that’s going to work...

The angel hung his head, letting shining curls stream down, veiling his face in pretend modesty. “Of course. I will not intrude, Sebastian. Your task is holy.”

If only it had always been this simple. He’d live in Hells as he was born to do, and enjoy it too.

The angel’s wings (golden, etched with holy white light) unfurled. One or two beats, and he will take himself off Melchior’s asteroid.

“Wait. Don’t go yet. How did we get here?” We, meaning Sebastian and the hopeful Angel.

The angel beamed, folding his wings, so eager to be useful, that Melchior almost spewed. “You don’t remember?”

Melchior shook his head in denial of all knowledge, earnestly.

“It was a spot of luck that brought us here,” the angel started, his eyes hooding with memories. “A spot of luck, a comet, and a sinner.”

Melchior propped his chin on his hand and prepared to listen. This was going to be either very long, or very good.

Here is mine! It's actually only the first half of a chapter because character limit. T-T

Link: https://tapas.io/episode/12436191
Profile: https://tapas.io/jennydinhxiii

Good luck to everyone!

My entry for the "lucky encounter" prompt

It was just a glance and a smile, but it was enough to change my life.

I had gone to my favorite coffee shop and put in an order for my regular meal and cup o joe.
I moved to go sit in the corner, away from most people as I always had.
I loved to people watch as I waited.

It wasn't long before he caught my eye.
I knew almost all the faces in there, from coming in daily, even if we had never spoken.
But his face was new.
And he was staring at me.

I nervously smiled and looked away, but the tall man took it as an invitation. He slowly stood up, being so tall he almost bumped the light fixture. And he walked to me, which didn't take him long with those long legs.

I felt fear as he walked to me, I had no idea why. Maybe it was the predatory gleam in his eyes or the confident smirk on his painted purple lips.

He sat across from me and leaned closer, blocking my view of everyone else in the shop.
I leaned a bit away, ready to bolt, but then he spoke, and I was suddenly unable to move.

"Be still. I finally found you..."

His voice was strange, and made the colors around me begin to blend and drip like everything was painted.
I was fully panicked by now but he simply reached over the table with his impossibly long arm and grabbed my hand in his enormous one.

"Dont be scared....Im here to save you. This world is fake. They have trapped you here to control you. But I finally have you. And this game is ov-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as suddenly alarms began to blare through the melted room and giant men in lab jackets began rush forward.

The tall man, still holding my hand, growled and pulled me to him " we will meet again little one. Your destiny is not in here-" he growled as the giant grabbed him and yanked him from me " YOUR DESTINY IS WITH ME!!" he screamed before the world turned black as the giant men reached for me.

I woke in my bed with a scream, Startling my dog awake. I looked around in a panic, as did she.
After calming down I began to shake from that terrible dream. It felt so real...what was that?

My dog came to me and laid her head in my lap to comfort me. I hugged her tightly " sorry rose...I just had the craziest dream...."

"you and me both" replied my dog , much to my surprise,
I let go of her and leaned back in surprise, just staring at her and she stared at me blankly, tail wagging innocently.

"Did you just talk?"

The dog shook her head.

" Did you understand me!?"

The dog sighed "knock her out again...the script is still broken. "

And my world went black.

That day, the day i met the dark clothed tall man, was the day my life began to get very strange.

The Life of my Dreams (story for Novel Event)
I've always wanted to be a famous Youtuber. I've just wandered throughout my house feeling the smoothness of the wall. So smooth and kind of soft... So.... delicate. Beautiful even. As I wander my house, I think of what my life would be like as a Youtuber. Being outside recording stunts or being inside gaming... oh the possibilities! I have a youtube channel with 5 subscribers or something like that... no one knows me... no one sees me... at school I'm invisible, not very many friends. Life seemed so down hill for me, but then there was a man who claimed he could take me to Vegas to become a star. He said he would make my life goals be true, he said I could be a legend, a myth... anything I wanted to be. I felt in that moment like a bird soaring through the sky finally free from the nest in the tree, free to roam and explore endless possibilities. This was all because of him, that man, that lucky encounter, that nice sunny day. My life was so much more interesting. My life was so jammed packed. I wish I could have a break now, but I am living my dream which is all I could ever hope for.

UN ENCUENTRO AFORTUNDO
LA MALDICIÓN DE LA LUNA ESCARLATA.

—¿Estás solo amiguito? ¿estas herido? — era bastante ridículo ya que los perros no hablaban, pero yo trataba de entablar una conversación con uno, estaba claro que era una perdedora.

saqué las salchichas y le ofrecí 2, pude notar su lento movimiento era evidente que algo le dolía, quería ayudarlo y llevarlo a casa, pero eso disgustaría a mi padre el odiaba a los animales.

— Puedes comer esto también, perdóname no puedo llevarte a casa. — seguí platicando con él, no sabía si me entendía, pero hacía mucho tiempo que no hablaba con nadie.

—Woof Woof—dos pequeños ladridos me contestaron, mis ojos se iluminaron este cachorro podía entenderme. Sonreí y le deje 2 salchichas más, luego olvidando mi regla de oro lo acaricie en ese momento sentí un tipo de energía eléctrica subiendo por mi palma solté un grito de la impresión, trate de calmarme y razonar comenzaba a asustarme porque ya estaba oscuro no debía temer, este pequeño era muy adorable lo más lamentable se encontraba solo igual que yo, es por lo que esperaba verlo mañana para poder darle más comida.

Seguí mi camino a casa sin despedirme, no había llegado a la mitad de la avenida cuando un camión cargado de gallinas dio la vuelta bruscamente, no pude reaccionar el sonido de una bocina se escuchó, pero me quede paralizada solo pude cerrar mis ojos con fuerzas y esperar el impacto si esto no me mataba probablemente me destrozaría todos los huesos del cuerpo.

Mil pensamientos cruzaron por mi mente, el repentino recuerdo de mamá, las enseñanzas que me dio y sus deliciosas galletas, los hoyuelos de sus mejillas cada que soltaba una carcajada, las veces que soplo mis heridas mientras con una voz dulce me cantaba, lo amable y cariñoso que era mi padre cuando ella vivía, también la promesa de ser muy feliz, pero como puedo ser feliz, cuando un camión de carga sale de la nada y quiere matarme, cuando una alcantarilla no está bien puesta y caigo en ella, cuando un árbol se cae repentinamente matando al gato de mi vecino en frente de mí después de acariciarlo, cuando mis cumpleaños se han convertido en los días que más odio o cuando no pasa un solo día en el que no vea fantasmas y demonios.

¿Cómo es que ella sonreía? solo en su lecho cuando estaba muriendo actuó de forma extraña.

Continuaba pensado en estas cosas, cuando note que el impacto nuca llego, abrí mis ojos lentamente y note que estaba sentada en el pavimento muy cerca de mi casa, me levante con las piernas temblorosas, ¿Qué era lo que había pasado? mire a mi alrededor, no había nada extraño yo estaba temblando de pies a cabeza.

Empecé a revisarme palmando mi cuerpo por todas partes, ¿Cómo era posible que siguiera viva? No tenia ni un rasguño o era posible que ya estuviera muerta, me pellizqué a mí misma para ver si sentía dolor, el ardor que sentí me tranquilizó aun así no lograba explicarme como había llegado al otro extremo de la avenida.

—Woof — un pequeño ladrido me hizo brincar, al bajar mi mirada a mis pies note que, el cachorro estaba ahí sentado a mi lado se veía saludable su pelo estaba esponjoso y estaba más gordito, estaba claro yo me estaba volviendo loca...

Si alguien me hubiera dicho que ser salvada por un cachorro cambiaria mi vida, lo habría llamado loco en ese entonces, este cachorro se convirtió en mi mejor amigo, mi protector y mi guía en los momentos más oscuros.
Fue el momento mas afortunado de mi vida lo llame Alin ya que es tan adorable que llena mi corazón de una emoción inexplicable, pero guarda tantos secretos en un futuro puede que sea mas que mi mejor amigo.
Su amigo es un cuervo que también es adorable y muy parlanchín.

I was actually thinking about adapting this history i created around 2013 into a Novel or comic, so... That's perfect excuse see if somebody think it's interesting...

Hi,
This is my submission. I hope you all enjoy it.
-Author
Tapas page: https://tapas.io/lostemail0023
Content warning Strong Language

This text will be hidden

For as long as I could remember, I've been a dog. A trash-eating, leg-humping dog. They called me Rex. I'd sit when they told me, shut up when I'd bark too loud, and only shit outside, even in winter. It was a simple life. Boring, but nice. I had that terrible condition to love anyone who fed me. I'd learn soon enough that no matter how much I loved them, no matter how much I listened. They would never love me.

My simple, boring existence would all come crashing down on me the day I turned two. They who'd pat my head and call me a "good boy" would split my head open and shove a microchip inside my brain. They who'd play fetch with me would put me in a ring with other robot, brain-dead dogs and make me play their stupid sick games.

They who thought I was just a simple and boring dog would learn my bite is way fucking worse than my bark.

"Rex!” The call was muffled at first, like it was trapped in a glass jar. “Rex! You lazy dog. Get your ass up!”

I let out an involuntary whine and put my paw in my specially designed gun holster. It didn’t need damn thumbs to work.

“Marcus,” I said with a growl. “Call me a dog one more time and I will make sure you can never walk on two legs again.

I didn’t have to see Marcus to know he was rolling his eyes. He huffed, “Is your brain glitching, or are you having another woe is me moment?”

“Marcus!” I barked and caused the boy in front of me to take a step back. He wouldn’t show the fear in his face, but his scent gave him away. I toned down my aggression, but kept the authority in my voice, “What do you want?”

Marcus pressed his lips together stubbornly before speaking. He knew he let his own fear get the better of him. And I knew the human part of him hated that it was me that caused it. He finally let out a sigh, “We’ve received a distress signal on-”

“No,” I said, cutting the boy off. “I’m on vacation.”

“But!” Marcus tried again.

“Fuck off, Marcus. I just finished getting the stench of Ezeerb guts out of my fur.” I buried my head in my paws and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to go back to sleep.

“It’s in the eighteenth quadrant. On the planet Loon.”

My ears twitched.

I kept my eyes shut as I spoke, “Is that the bird planet?”

I could hear Marcus’ smile widen as he said slowly, “Yes.”

I popped up on all fours and strapped my gun on my back. Marcus looked small next to me. Standing proudly, my head could easily reach his chin- not including my ears of course. We probably weighed about the same, but Marcus was mostly made of skin and bone, whereas I was made of pure muscle and a cunning brain.

“Well, come on those poor pigeons need our help,” I said trotting over to the command deck of the ship.

“You can’t eat them, Rex!” Marcus called from behind me. He walked around me and opened the display of our coordinates. “It would be counterproductive to make an oath on protecting the universe and then eat the beings we were supposed to help.”

“You made that oath,” I remarked as I hopped onto the captain's chair. “I just joined the guild for the guns so I-”

“Can destroy the monsters that turned you into a monster.” Marcus sighed as he set up the ship for hyperspeed. “Honestly, I’ve heard this a thousand times.”

“And you’ll hear it a thousand more. And then when I do kill them you’ll hear that two thousand times too.”

“You’ll keep me around long enough to see that happen? I feel so honored.”

“Shut up and punch it.”

Two large eyes blinked down at us. First the right, then then the left.

“Is it sentient?” Marcus whispered.

“I don’t know,” I took a step forward, but the ostrich-like creature only blinked a couple more times.

“Hello,” Marcus said to the bird. Again, the bird just stared.

We landed on a part of the planet covered in sand. The air was hot and dry, but every now and again a small breeze would come by. When Marcus finished his tests to make sure the planet was safe to enter without much protective gear, we walked outside. All we were greeted with was this dumb bird.

“Fuck this,” I said crouching down. “My paws hurt and this thing ain't talking.” My eyes grew wide with excitement.

Marcus sensed my change in mood immediately. “Rex, no”

“Don’t tell me no.” I barked at him and then charged at the bird.

It squawked and fluffed up its feathers.

“Lunch,” I said before charging after it. My tongue flopped out of my mouth and the planet wind felt good coursing through my fur.

“Rex! The oath!” I could hear Marcus shout behind me.

Fuck the oath. Fuck order. I could feel my body shaking with excitement. I let out a howl.

It was only after I was done howling did I realize my body was still shaking. I stopped and watched my lunch run out of my reach. In the next moment, I was thrashed to the side by Marcus.

My face was covered in sand and my mouth was filled with more of it. I spit out, “What the hell, Marcus that-”

My anger quickly turned to shock as the earth opened up right where my lunch was standing. A large pale mouth that was at least fifty feet wide with jagged teeth consumed the ostrich with ease. There was a loud crunch and the bird was gone.

Marcus and I screamed.

We screamed hard and loud.

And just when we thought things couldn’t get worse, a black eye the size of a small asteroid looked at us like we were his main course.

Marcus was still screaming when the beast started to move. And it moved quickly.

“Get to the ship Marcus!” I shouted as I stood on my hind legs. I pulled the gun off my back and started shooting.

Marcus scrambled to his feet and I shot a few more times at the beast, which was causing minimal damage at best. I let out a curse and caught up to Marcus.

“Holy shit! It has wings!” Marcus shouted looking over his shoulder.

The ground had stopped shaking and a large black shadow turned everything around us dark.

“Of course it does,” I said pissed off. “We’re on a fucking bird planet.”

It was only a matter of seconds before the creature was going to attack us and the ship was barely in sight. If I timed it right, I could charge at Marcus and throw him far enough away that he wouldn't get eaten at the same time as me.

I gritted my teeth.

Humans.

The beast above us let out a screech as it swooped down at us.

Even after all this time, I still cared for them.

“Marcus,”

The boy turned around.

“I’m lucky I met you.”

Here’s the chapter 1 from my story, which has the same topic as given
https://tapas.io/episode/20554824

Some days I watched the waters swell
Looking for a glimpse
Of silver blue

Some days I hear the gulls
So proud a flock
On driftwood

Some days are in autumnal paint
Beautiful for the moment
They lasted

Some days are below winter sky
Raindrops on the gray sand
Water’s footsteps

Some days are filled with spring
New green on trees
Flowers sweet

And some days are summer drunk
Bright and warm and filled
With butterflies

I remember mercury eyes
The days plodding by
The glimmer

The world I could always taste
The salt of sea
Blindly sweet

Cruises in the distant waves
Ripples come to me
To my shores

The odd things I glimpsed
In the corner
Of my eye

I remember the glint of a penny
Rusted and green
Old wishes

How everyday I’d skip to
The lonely sands
Waiting there

Looking for a child’s wish
Summer smiling back
White lace dress

The water’s always empty
But sparkling
Nonetheless

And I remember how one day
I saw ocean’s fae
Before me

How the waters came to life
How my little heart grew
Fairy wings

So I’ll wait and wait and wonder
Til dawn and dusk
Fall away

Waiting for
Just one more
Lucky day

Here's my entry! Good luck to everyone

https://tapas.io/episode/20924802

Here's what I got.
https://tapas.io/episode/2094443

This is the link to my Short Story. I appreciate this event!
https://tapas.io/episode/2094561

Entry chapter: https://tapas.io/episode/2094580

Creator page: https://tapas.io/risingshards

This was a lot of fun to work on!

Here's my profile page:

.......Leon stood on the street corner, whistling to himself as he waited for the light. He stopped whistling when he heard the clip-clop of heels coming up behind him. The heels parked themselves next to him and he looked up to see a very tall woman in a green dress. He waved politely, and she waved back, less politely.
.......Despite trying to keep his eyes on the traffic lights, Leon found himself very distracted by the woman to his left. Her hair was the color of grass and flowed over her left eye. Her eye shadow, lipstick and even her blush were also in various shades of green, and sparkling.
........She’s probably a performer he thought and turned back to the light, hoping she hadn’t caught him staring. It was Las Vegas, that kind of thing wasn’t weird enough to warrant prolonged (and likely unwanted) attention on the street. The light changed and Leon stepped off the curb.
........“Stop.” The woman commanded. Startled, Leon froze in his tracks, and just as he did a large red car sped through the spot where he would have been had he taken another step. He felt the wind rush by his face and the sound echo in his ears. Leon stumbled back onto the curb and pressed a hand to his chest, trying to steady his now pounding heart.
........“That…” He huffed, trying to speak, “That almost hit me!” He looked up at the woman. “If you hadn’t…” He struggled, “If you hadn’t stopped me I’d be…” He looked up at the woman square in her only visible eye, “Thank you.”
........“It was nothing.” She shrugged. “Just catch you breath, you’ll need it for the day we’re going to have.”
........“W-what do you mean?” He asked, standing up, “Who are you?”
........“I’m Lady Luck.” She stated, “You can call me L.”
........“Lady Luck?” He asked, “Is that, like, a stage name or something?”
........“No.” She said, sounding a little annoyed, “I am literally the physical embodiment of good luck. And it’s your lucky day.” She explained as if she were discussing the weather. Leon stared at her incredulously.
........“What?” He finally managed. She let out a long sigh.
........“Look kid, everyday is someone’s lucky day. That means that they get twelve hours to do whatever they want, and I make them have perfect luck for that whole day. Today is your lucky day, understand?” She sounded as if she had given that spiel many times before.
........“Um… I think I can wrap my head around that.” He said slowly. “But I’m not a kid, I’m twenty seven.”
........“That’s cool. I’m over two hundred thousand.” She snarked, and Leon took a gulp at the implications.
........“It’s Ten AM. You got until Ten PM to do whatever you want with perfect luck. If you have work today, take the day off.” She looked down at him expectantly.
........“Uh-u-um… o-okay.” He sputtered and took out his phone. “Wait, no it’s Saturday, I don’t have work.” He said and put the phone back away. “Sorry, I’m just really- my mind is spinning.”
........“Yeah that’s great. So what do you wanna do? Slots? Cards? What are we doing here?” She asked briskly.
........“The comic raffle!” Leon said excitedly. “Tha-that’s where I was going! I was going to the raffle at the comic shop!” Now it was L’s turn to look incredulous.
........“You live… In Las-fucking-Vegas… and you want to use infallable luck… in a comic book raffle?”
........“Well, yeah, I mean, I’ve been going to that shop’s raffles for years now and I’ve never won. It would be really cool to actually win.” He explained somewhat bashfully.
........“Alright, you're the boss.” L shrugged. The two continued on Leon’s original path. On the way Leon found a twenty on the ground, was given a free ice cream sample, and when a car ran through a puddle it managed to splash everywhere around him, while he stayed perfectly dry.
........“You really weren’t kidding about perfect luck, huh?” Leon asked.
........“No.” L said flatly. Leon was almost bouncing by the time they got to the comic store. He dove in with L following close behind. The shop’s walls were lined floor to ceiling in all manner of nerdy paraphernalia. Enough boxes of comics to build a tower to the moon filled every available space. What little room there was to walk around was taken up by a cluster of twenty or so people ranging widely in age.
........A young woman sat behind the register with her combat boot-clad feet up on the counter. She was reading (what else) a comic book, but looked up from it when Leon stepped in.
........“Hey Leon. I was wondering when you’d show up.” She said nonchalantly.
........“Hi Martha!” Leon greeted, “S-sorry I’m late I kind of almost got hit by a car? I missed my light- is what I’m trying to say.” L rolled her eyes and muttered sarcastically at his awkwardness. Leon suddenly seemed to remember she was there.
........“Oh, sorry, this is-”
........“She can’t see me dummy.” L cut him off. He shut up immediately.
........“This is what?” Martha asked as she stepped out from the counter.
........“This is… the day I win.” Leon stumbled, “I can feel it!” He smiled tightly. Martha shrugged.
........“I’m rooting for ya.” She said and held out her hand. He gave her the dollar for admission and she gave him a ticket with a number on it.
........“Alright people. Let’s do this.” Martha called out. She was small in stature but commanded the room with a powerful presence and strong voice. “Everybody got their numbers?” She checked and then plunged her hand into a promotional lunch box and drew out a small folded paper.
........“Number 14 you are our winner!” She announced. Leon looked in disbelief at his card which did indeed read 14. “That’s me!” He said excitedly.
........“Well I’ll be damned, he finally won!” Martha said with a grin. The crowd dispersed, some leaving a few tooling around the shop.
........“Well Leon, you know the prize, ten free comics. Go make your selections.” Martha winked. Leon nodded and raced to the back of the shop giddily. After he had been combing through comics for fifteen minutes without choosing anything, L finally spoke up.
........“I wouldn’t waste time if I were you. Your luck clock is ticking.”
........“S-sorry I just…”
........“Just what?”
........“I’m all caught up in everything I follow… I want to try something new but I just don’t know what to choose.” He explained. L responded by pulling her hair away from her left eye, which was revealed to have green sclera and a white pupil. The eye began to glow brilliantly. She pointed behind the awestruck Leon. He turned around to see that ten comic books were also glowing. Nine of them were together in a cluster, and one was on a different shelf entirely.
........“What did you do?” He asked, amazed.
........“I gave you the luck of a perfect decision.” L explained. Leon picked up and leafed through the nine comics that were together, which were revealed to be the first nine in a new series.
........“This looks good!” He said.
........“They should. They’re literally the perfect choice for you.” L said and handed him the last comic, the one that was apart from the others. Leon’s eyes went wide as he took it from her.
........“Oh my god! I’ve been looking for this forever!” he exclaimed.
........“What is it?” L asked, sounding genuinely interested.
........“It’s the second issue of Artemis and Sunsetter!” He said with glee.
........“You don’t have that one?” L asked.
........“I did, but…” Leon blushed a little, “I kinda spilled coffee on it.” He looked up at her with joy again, “It’s the only one I’m missing!” His grin threatened to encroach on his ears’ territory.
........“Can I see?” L asked, sounding almost surprised at herself. He handed her the comic and she glanced through.
........“Geez, this is violent.” She mused, “Didn’t take you for the type.” She handed it back to him.
........“Well… don’t judge a comic book by it’s cover.” He said and took the stack to the counter.
........“Jeez, I thought you’d be back there for at least an hour.” Martha grinned as she rang him up. She paused for a moment. “You know, you’ve entered that raffle enough times to pay for these several times over.”
........“It’s the spirit of the thing Martha!” Leon convicted. Martha chuckled, then suddenly stopped when her eyes wandered out the large window.
........“Uh-oh. Dean O’clock.” She said, “Hit the deck if you don’t want to be seen.” Leon dropped down onto the floor and waited with his hands over his neck like there was going to be an earthquake. L watched in confusion as a person in a tie-dye shirt walked casually past the storefront.
........“Are they gone?” Leon whispered.
........“They’re gone.” Martha chuckled and handed him his comics as he got up. He thanked her and walked out with L.
........“What the hell was that?” She asked.
........“Oh, that was Dean.” Leon said, scratching the back of his neck.
........“Yeah, I got that, but why’d you duck and cover?”
........“I um… I sort of have this thing for them I guess. I get really nervous around them.” Leon sounded really embarrassed.
........“Damn man, that’s pathe- that sucks.” L surprised herself again by catching herself about to be mean to him, "I have to tell you that you could use me to have a conversation with them, and it'll go perfectly." She said.
........"That sounds kind of manipulative." Leon responded.
........"It is, isn't it?" L said, sounding an odd mix of proud and regretful.
........“Yeah…” Leon said uncomfortably. There was an awkward silence. L mercifully broke it.
........“What do you want to do now?” She asked. Leon thought for a moment. Then his face lit up.
........“So you can help me make the perfect decision on anything?” He asked.
........“Yup.” She responded. He made an excited noise and started running down the sidewalk.
........“God dammit Leon! Tell me before you just start bolting down the road!” L shouted and chased after him in her heels. She caught up with him when she was stopped outside a dog shelter.
........“Oh, so this is the big decision, eh?” She asked.
........“Yeah, see I’ve wanted to get a dog for months but I always get overwhelmed and then I can’t make a decision, and…”
........“You have a real problem with decisions.” L commented, then remembered the situation with Dean, “Or rather, just doing anything you mind do wrong, am I correct.”
........“Uh…” Leon looked up at her like a deer in headlights.
........“Let’s just go pick out a dog.” They walked in, greeted by a man who seemed equally used to Leon as Martha had been, but significantly less patient.
........“You know where they are, Leon.” He groaned, “Though I don’t know why you keep bothering.” Leon went to the room filled with dogs in their cages. He looked around a bit before turning to L.
........“Well, which one?” He asked. She once again pulled up her hair and set her eye a-glow. In the corner a small, scared looking spaniel shivered as it began to glow green. Leon peered into it’s sad little eyes and his lip quivered.
........“Yeah,” He said, his voice breaking a little, “She’s the one.” They headed back to the front room and up to the counter.
........*“Let me guess,” the man behind it said, “You couldn’t pick one.”
........“A-actually I did. The spaniel in the corner. Please.” Leon said sheepishly. The man behind the counter looked aghast.
........“Well blow me down.” He whispered. “You actually picked one.” The man handed Leon some paperwork and told him to come back the next week. Leon was positively twirling when he and L walked out. He looked her in the eye.
........“Well, that’s everything I want to do.” He proclaimed.
........“That’s it? That’s all?” L said, bewildered, “That can’t be all. You have ten more hours left!” She grew exasperated, “Decade upon decades have gone bye without anyone telling me they were done after two measly things!”
........“That’s all I wanted.” He shrugged, then thought for a moment. “What do you want to do?” he asked. She looked stunned.
........“No, no, no. That’s not how this works. It doesn’t matter what I want. It’s your lucky day, you're supposed to do everything you want to do.”
........“Well, I already did that. So what do you want to do?” He repeated. She wracked her brain. She thought through the zillions of other people she had worked for and all the near infinite things they had wanted. What did she want? Her face grew contemplative, then sad.
........“Can I tell you something Leon?” She asked quietly.
........“Sure.” He replied.
........“I’ve done this for a lot of people. More than you could ever imagine. Not all those people have been… good.” She winced. “I have to help them do.. Whatever they want, no matter what that is.” She looked almost ready to cry. Leon put a hand on her shoulder.
........“I’ve helped murderers, drug lords, war criminals, abusers,you name the atrocity, I’ve seen it, I’ve helped it happen.” She began to hyperventilate, then breathed long and deep, “I want to do some good in the world, you know?” She asked. Leon’s gaze grew sympathetic. His heart heavied at her pain.
........“I don’t want pity, I want action.” She said, “If you want to, that is. You're still the one with free will, after all.”
........“Yeah, let’s do it.” Leon nodded, “What did you have in mind?” Now it was L’s turn to let him chase her to a new location. This time as she ran she felt free, she enjoyed the wind against her face. She could do something, she was real, No matter that no one but Leon could see her, no matter that she didn’t eat or sleep or go to the bathroom, she was real now, and maybe ever.
........Meanwhile, Leon thrilled at this, at doing something good and at that he had decided to do so without question. He was doing something real, and he wouldn’t let himself be his own obstacle. He would do this, for her, for the world, for himself, for everything.
........They stopped in front of a casino, the biggest flashiest one around. L looked up at it in disgust, and Leon in confusion.
........“What are we gonna do here?” Leon asked.
........“See him?” L said, pointing to a gilded statue of a smug looking man, “I helped him once. He’s a real bastard. He makes his money taking advantage of addictive personalities with rigged machines.” She turned sharply to Leon, “Plan is for you to go in there, win as many jackpots as you can before ten, and then after I’m gone you donate it to all the charities you can. You in?” She asked. Leon paused, then resolved to abandon any indecision.
........“I’m in.” He said strongly, “But won’t I get kicked out if I keep winning?”
........“Perfect luck, remember?” L grinned.
........“But what about after you're gone, I can still get caught.” He asked, trying not to sound too unsure.
........“Nah, anything you do today is free.” She said. Then scowled up at the statue, “For better or for worse.”
........Several hours of very successful gambling later, the two once again stood in front, now with more money than Leon had ever fathomed, and more than L had seen in a while. He was shaking from exhilaration, and she was grinning emerald earring to emerald earring.
........“I can’t believe I just did that!” Leon gasp-giggled, “I can’t believe I fucking did that!”
........“You did good. Or you will, once that’s all in good hands.” L said serenely.
........“I have five minutes left,” Leon said, checking his phone, “You got anything else to tell me about?”
........“Uh… let me see.” L looked to the sky in thought, “Book a dentist appointment soonish. Uh, don’t go to work on April third, just trust me on that one. And… your doggy is gonna like the food with the shooting star on the package.” As she finished a glittering green door appeared behind her. She opened it and was about to step through, but paused.
........“Thank you,” She said, “For today, it was fun, more fun than I’ve had in a while.”
........“Same here.” Was all Leon could manage.
........“Do good things with that money,” She said, “But keep some for yourself. Spend it on that doggy. And talk to Dean for God's sake!” She winked and then she was gone.

Thanks for this opportunity!

I'm Idris

Luck Be a Lady

Asha DeMornay met her soulmate on a street corner. Well, that's what she tells her friends, but in truth she met her soulmate on a crosswalk, in the hair's breadth between the sidewalk and the truck that very nearly ran her down.

The day had been typical. City-hot, muggy and smelling of car exhaust. She loved her big city, thrived on its sights and sounds, and even its awful smells. She had on her face mask, rendering the smoggy reek almost tolerable to her sensitive sinuses. She planned to see her sinusologist the minute his office started taking appointments again. It had been the better part of a year since she'd seen any kind of doctor at all.

She pushed past a throng of day traders outside the New York Stock Exchange to get to the traffic light. She pressed Walk and waited with all the other sharp-dressed professionals sweating in their N95 face masks between errands. She had a lunch date with her best friend. Tapas and margaritas to tide her over during her upcoming nerve-wracking acquisitions meetings. She had good books to buy, if only she could get the Powers That Be to loosen the purse strings.

Her mobile phone trilled in her handbag and she scrambled around in the clutch for the blinking mobile. She was putting out fires all day today. Authors tweeting madly, agents behaving badly. She was just an editor who wanted to buy and sell good books, make some readers happy as these books made her. Come on, guys, make this easy on me.

An email marked URGENT caught her eye and she groaned. It was from a reporter at Vox. Forget the margaritas. This calls for wine.

Just as Asha as debating the merits of deleting the email unread a sports-jacket clad venture capitalist bumped her from behind on his last-second dash across traffic. She swore and tipped off the curb, pointed heels first.

In that instant, the crosswalk signal switched from WALK to WAIT.

Asha flailed, dropping her face with a crash. She was rapidly losing her battle with gravity.

The traffic light turned green.

Oh shi-

A delivery truck roared toward her, the driver gazing down at his lap, preoccupied by a text.

Asha closed her eyes, thinking Definitely not gonna make that meeting and began to fall...

A pair of strong arms grabbed her around the waist and lugged her bodily out of the path of the racing diesel vehicle.

She landed on her feet. She felt her body. All the pieces were there. I'm alive? I'm alive!

She spun around. There was a surprisingly petite woman dressed from head to toe in athletic wear. Sports bra, running shorts, and expensive sneakers. She had arms like tree branches, legs like tree trunks, and the most gorgeous smile Asha had ever seen.

"You okay," she asked Asha.

"I guess so. Thanks for the rescue."

"No problem." The buff woman offered her hand. "Hey, I'm Lucky. Well, Lucretia, but everyone calls me Lucky."

"Asha," she replied. "And now that I've met you, I guess I'm pretty lucky, too."

Asha met her soulmate on the crosswalk where she nearly died, but she got to know her on the street corner. She'd never live down that pick-up line.