Shifters and Psychics

By Cindy Borgne

This is a short story collection with bonus content from two novels. 

Stories included:

Portals of no Return: In the future, gaming is taken to a new level where one's mind can enter the illusion of a better world. Cleo seeks to bring her fiancé back to reality, but will she come out of Realm of Heroes alive? 

TransShifter: Adelya imitates both men and women in the shifter games – whatever is to her advantage at the time. One day a soldier named Chad saves her life. She falls in love with him, even though it's forbidden to be with a human. Will this stop her? 

ThunderSnow: Marla goes snowmobiling during a strange snowstorm in April. She finds something unexpected in the woods. Will she end up stranded with an alien in a snow storm? 

The Old Lady and Winston: A mysterious storm brings two people together. 

Includes bonus chapters of Native Shifter and Seer of Mars: 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy Borgne
• Release date: Sep 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386520092

Book preview

Shifters and Psychics

Short Story Collection

Copyright 2017 © by Cindy Borgne

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

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

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Contents

Portals Of No Return

TransShifter

ThunderSnow

The Old Lady and Winston

Native Shifter Sample

Seer of Mars Sample

Portals Of No Return

Dear Cleo,

A miracle has occurred. I became bored with the Realm of Heroes and said goodbye to my clan. I’m packing and will soon leave the sanctuary. Then I will meet you at your place tomorrow at three p.m. Perhaps we could work together once again on our music. I miss hearing your sweet voice. Let me know if you’re interested. – Denny.

What a crock! Cleo sneered and hit the delete button on her cell phone.

Three days had passed without any word from Denny. As Cleo expected, she found him lying in a gaming cubicle at the local Realm of Heroes sanctuary. Wires hung from a hole in the wall, leading to headphones, which contained tiny wires. When activated the wires went through the ears and attached to the auditory nerve, sending signals to the brain and taking the customer far away into a more exciting world. A thick layer of stubble covered his cheeks. His dark brown hair looked like it was three months overdue for a cut.

Cleo twisted her engagement ring, wondering why she hadn’t taken it off. She thought the letter had meant he’d finally outgrown the game, that there was a chance of at least being friends again. Something had caused him to get dragged back into the fantasy world. She tried to come up with a reason, and realized the creators of the game were always adding campaigns, new graphics, and other carrots to keep people hooked, all to stuff their pockets with money.

So that’s him? asked Simon, the game station attendant.

Cleo twisted with her long, black ponytail. Yep, that’s him.

She doubted Simon remembered, but about a year ago he’d awkwardly tried to ask her out as they often took the same bus. However, she was dating Denny. Other than that, she’d usually see him in a coffee shop with his eyes glued to a laptop. As usual, his brown wavy hair was uncombed. He wore a wrinkled ROH white shirt with the logo on the front pocket. She guessed him too lazy to shave or do laundry. Even if she hadn’t been with Denny, she preferred the creative, artistic types much more than the geeks. 

Meanwhile, too many people chose to waste their money on the game, turning their backs on their crumbling overpopulated society. The sanctuary had no windows for a reason. Nobody wanted to see the homeless, the wandering poor, or the decaying homes surrounding this towering glass-plated building. 

Simon fiddled with his keys. You can’t just stand there. You have to either rent a station or leave.

Give me a minute, okay? As usual, she had taken the bait of yet another empty promise from Denny. She often tried to figure out why she continued to believe in him. For some reason they had a mental connection. Together they brought out the best in each other’s music, but this game, this fantasy-generating sanctuary, ruined everything. It was rare for her to bond with someone the way she did with Denny. Could you turn this off for a moment? I need to talk to him.

I’m not allowed to do that unless it’s an emergency. Simon looked at a small monitor on the wall, which displayed Denny’s vital signs and game information. His session ends in three hours. You’ll have to wait.

Yes, I noticed. She clenched her fists. But can’t you make an exception? I haven’t been able to talk to him in two weeks.

Sorry, it’s against policy.  

Nobody will know. 

But I need this job. His eyes darted from Denny to the door.

It would be dangerous to yank the headset off, but perhaps the wires could be pulled out of the wall. Yet, something had made Denny change his mind. Perhaps it wasn’t entirely his fault. Cleo wasn’t going to let this geek stop her. She charged into the room and reached for the wires.

Hey! Simon rushed up behind her and grabbed her arms. You’re not allowed in there!

She spun around him and pushed him back. It’s all your fault! Cleo snatched the wires.

Let go or I’ll call security! He pulled a radio off his belt.

You turn people into addicts and get rich from it.

He looked at her as if she was crazy. A sudden shift out the game could cause memory problems.

She glanced at Denny. What’s worse? A memory problem or addiction?

His fingers hovered over a red button on the radio. Don’t make me call security.

She couldn’t risk getting thrown out and slowly released her grip on the wires. Thanks for nothing.

Simon nudged his head toward the door and stared, keeping the radio tightly gripped in his hand. With eyes narrowed, she slowly stepped out of the room. Once she cleared the doorway, Simon quickly shut the door behind them and locked it. Rows of doors lined the narrow hall. Behind each one a person connected to the game.

Cleo needed time to think. She walked toward the lobby with Simon following and found it hard to stop scowling. They passed through a lobby with several elevators, leading to more gaming rooms above. The aroma of steak reached Cleo’s nose. Steak - while the rest of the country was eating compressed patty rations of mock chicken. Her mouth watered as she glanced to the left of the lobby where another large hall let out into the restaurant and bar section. After all, the gamers sometimes had to eat and drink.

Simon opened the door to the reception area that contained two desks each surrounded by monitors. Some of the monitors viewed the outside of the heavily armed building. Guards patrolled the perimeter. Others manned weapons on the roof and other posts. Protesters had once tried to overrun this building, but they never had a chance.

A stout gray-haired woman sat at one desk sipping from a mug and keeping an eye on the screens.

I know it’s none of my business, Simon said, but some people never get tired of this game. If they have the money, they’ll just spend till it’s gone. Maybe you should just wait.

Cleo knew that would be a long time. Denny had inherited a good deal of money when his father died. She sighed with a mix of a huff and chuckle. 

Take it from me, hon, said the lady. All the guys who play this game are losers. He’ll leave here broke sooner or later.

He is not a loser. He’s a talented musician. She reached into her purse and pulled out a flash drive. Play this and you’ll see.

Okay. Simon took the drive and put it into his computer.

Music drifted over the tiny speakers that didn’t do it justice, but it still sounded okay.

Simon’s eyes widened at hearing her voice. Is that you?

Yeah, and that’s Denny on the guitar.

It was a beautiful piece, and it pained Cleo to hear it because the man she loved was swallowed up in a pretend world. She missed their conversations and his sense of humor. With him gone, it felt like a piece of her was missing. The Denny she once knew was not cruel enough to tease her about his return, but she didn’t know if that person existed anymore. She considered running out of the building and vowing to never see him again. Yet, she wouldn’t let such a gifted person throw his life away. The thought of putting on those headphones gave her a chill.

You’re good. Simon’s blue eyes lit up. Have you made much money with it?

No, we used to play for people at a shelter where we volunteered. But we were trying for more.

Maybe you could make music for the game? said the lady. The artists are paid well here.

I’m not encouraging these addicts. She frowned and clutched a small change purse in her pocket. Perhaps if she went into the game, she could understand more about why he was so addicted and find a way to help him? 

I want to go into the game and talk to him.

Do you have any money? Simon asked.

Yeah. She pulled of the change purse, opened it for a second and showed him the fifty dollars left over from her last payday. 

That would cover a few hours. Plus you would be at a beginner level. Most likely you wouldn’t be able to get into the same area as Denny.

There must be a way around that. She winked at Simon.

The old receptionist frowned at her.

Simon looked from side to side. Um, maybe, but I can’t.

Of course, not. I’ll have to manage somehow. She put the money in his hand. Get me into a gaming room. I’m going in.

AS CLEO LAY ON THE bed in one of the gaming cubicles, the tiny wires from the headset tickled at first as they wove their way through her ears and toward the auditory nerve. After a brief twinge from the sides of her head, a log in screen appeared in her vision, partially blocking the view of the room. With her mind, she filled in the account information and password. Everything went black for several seconds, except for the word Loading rotating in the middle of the darkness.

Cleo appeared in the central station – a large domed room full of players. Being a level one mage, she had a beginner blue cape, novice wand and clothes that didn’t provide much protection against attacks.

Everything moved in slow motion as the game continued to load. Glowing portals lined the walls with players jumping into them. The portals all had labels above them indicating their destination and time period. It was an artificial time machine, transporting players to simulated worlds based on places like ancient Rome and Egypt. Monitors along the wall allowed players to access information.

At last, the pretend world moved at a normal pace. People wore armor, cloaks, military fatigues – a wide variety of clothes depending on the type of character they played.

The bright colors were an overwhelming contrast from the real world that brought tears of happiness to her eyes. Some of the female characters wore skimpy clothes revealing perfect little bodies. When she touched the wall, she felt cold brick. The scent of incense drifted through the air from candles burning along the ledges of the walls. A few of the players were drinking red wine, giggling and stumbling about.

Cleo didn’t know how she could compete with all this beauty and perfection. Dazed, she walked around amazed at how it felt like she was here in person. The computer was able to simulate just about anything in