Glass

By Top Writers Block

Glass can be stronger than it appears. It can hide more than you think. Top Writers Block is proud to present a collection of short stories based on the theme "Glass."

Your purchase of this ebook not only supports the creative outlets of independent authors, but also supports charity. Top Writers Block is an international group of writers who continue to donate ALL of their proceeds to Sea Shepherd in France, an organization that devotes itself to preserving our seas and oceans and the life within. All proceeds from the sale of this ebook goes to charity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Top Writers Block
• Release date: Sep 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311269263

Top Writers Block

Top Writers Block is a diverse and eclectic group of talented writers who decided to write stories together - just for the fun of it! Our collections are usually written with one theme or genre in mind. Each author contributes when they have the time, so some of the collections have as many as twelve authors participating. Every collection has something new, with stories and poems ranging from romance, drama, and adventure to mystery, fantasy, and horror.

Book preview

A Collection of Short Stories

by

TOP WRITERS BLOCK

Written on the theme:

Glass

Copyright ©August 2015 Top Writers Block

Published on Smashwords

ISBN: 9781311269263

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Absinthe in Glass: A Wonderland Tale by Melissa A. Szydlek

The Glass Surprise by John R. Muir

China Doll by Tracey Howard

Gift Glass by Elizabeth Rowan Keith

Birds of A Feather by Suzy Stewart Dubot

Cracks In The Mirror by Tracey Howard

ABSINTHE IN GLASS:

A WONDERLAND TALE

by

Melissa A. Szydlek

Copyright ©August 2015 Melissa A. Szydlek

Melissa Szydlek lives in the United States. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she survived Detroit for many years and has settled into a quieter life in North Carolina. She is an avid animal rights activist and dedicated vegetarian. Her ebooks can be found on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mszydlek

You can also connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MSzydlekWriter?ref=hl

Rabbit Loses An Ear

The Red Card Guards chased him through the forest. Even through his horrible pain, Rabbit noticed the wood losing its luster and fullness. As he brushed passed, he watched as the trees, the flowers, and everything around him was taking on the same dark despair that was slowly engulfing the rest of The Land. As he ran, blood spurted from the stump where his ear used to be, spraying dead leaves with crimson. The Eight of Clubs had purposely NOT used a sharp blade, on order of the Blue Queen, and the ragged mess that was left cried red tears from several openings.

Rabbit held one paw to the wound, trying to press hard and not pass out while his other paw pushed aside brambles and twigs as he ran toward the House, his only way back to the human world. He was too weak to open up a rabbit hole to get to Absinthe, his best friend. He had to get to her. The House used to offer sanctuary to visitors of the Land; a safe place with food and drink and a place to sleep. Now however, it demanded payment for its services. Payment in blood. The whole Land was demanding blood, the currency of the Blue Queen. What the Queen wanted so then did the Land, and eventually so would all of the creatures living in it.

Abby, my friend, my savior, Rabbit wheezed. All he could think of was Absinthe, so innocent, not knowing, not really, how much he loved her. She would help him, save his life. Once the dull axe blade had dropped and his ear was gone, Rabbit had run from the Queen’s court. She had restrained Mouse and Hatter – the only ones left who would help him. The March Hare was missing. The Knave of Hearts, somehow surviving the Red Queens reign, was oppressed even further under the Blue Queen’s rule. He tried to help when he could, in secret, but was too scared to speak against the Queen when she ordered the maiming of Rabbit. He had to get to Abby.

Reaching the House he grabbed for the door handle but it would not budge. The House wanted payment and Rabbit had plenty to give. He released his grip on the bloody stump and let his blood flow onto the handle and the door. The House rumbled as if in an earthquake and the door popped open. Rabbit ran inside and went to the looking glass standing tall on carved wooden legs. The legs resembled lion’s paws. Rabbit approached the mirror, touched a blood-covered paw to the glass, and was caught in the whirlwind that blew him upwards, higher and higher, toward the world of the humans and his Absinthe; his Abby, his best friend.

****

Rabbit Goes Home

I’m bored, Absinthe lied, teasing Rabbit, who sat nearby. She sat on the grass beside the lake blinking up at the sun and twirling her long cherry-auburn hair between her lithe fingers. I’m bored and I most certainly do not want you to go home. She curled her lips into a pout and looked toward Rabbit.

Rabbit, all six-feet of his skeletal frame, was sitting in the shade of a tree, staying out of the sun. He didn’t like the sun because it triggered his migraines and sent him into several days worth of misery. He kept his eyes cast downward, away from the light and twitched involuntarily as if being shocked by an unseen electrical force. He wore his usual purple and black-checkered vest that was tattered with age. His eyes were like puffy marshmallows from lack of sleep and he rubbed them with his paws. His front paws, like the rest of Rabbit, were often dirty and matted and as he rubbed his eyes, dirt transferred to his white furry face.

He stole a glance at Absinthe, a woman now. How she had changed, and grown. At 19 she was striking in her beauty. He hid a smile behind his front paw, huffing at her with mock frustration. Absinthe threw a small twig at him