No Time for Chickens and Other Strange Stories

By Xander Mullins

The six stories within NO TIME FOR CHICKENS AND OTHER STRANGE STORIES explore the human experience from several perspectives.

In the story “Bad Guys” a murderer has taken two lives already, and Rachael White, a police detective and mother, must find whoever is responsible and bring them to justice. But does she have the strength to do what needs to be done?

“Stellaris” follows the unpredictable hired muscle Noelle, and the ambitious mastermind Tyler as they attempt to steal a very particular painting from an art museum. Can Tyler rely on Noelle or will the loose cannon spell the end of their brief career?

In “Pills” It’s a regular day for Frank and Hannah as they spend their time studying for class together in Hannah’s room. The two best friends have always been inseparable, but is heartbreak inevitable when Frank forgets to take his medication?

The “Infected” walk the flooded streets of this destroyed city. Alyssa, a lone girl with a mysterious past, wanders alone, trying to avoid both the infected and the City Watch. Hector, a tired old soldier, tries to survive on these waterlogged streets, and escape his history. How many dead has this city claimed, and will these two be next?

“No Time For Chickens” is a humorous tale following Paul, a proud young man who is running late for work. Paul must decide on what is most important to him, his job, or his pride. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, but what happens to the late chicken?

“The Drop” is a sci-fi re-imagining of Beowulf. Captain Beowulf and her team are dropped behind enemy lines to take out the meanest SOB out there, the chieftain of the alien forces, Grindle. Can Beowulf and her niece lieutenant Wig survive the icy planet Heorot and kill their target, or will the hostile world get the better of them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xander Mullins
• Release date: Mar 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005276942

Xander Mullins

Alexander Mullins is a novelist from Dallas, Texas. Who writes action-adventure fantasy and science fiction. He is enrolled at Full Sail University for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He is a member of Phi Theta Kapa honor society and is an autism advocate for children and students like himself. You can find him on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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No Time for Chickens and Other Strange Stories

Xander Mullins

Copyright © Xander Mullins, 2022

All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Bad Guys

Stellaris

Pills

Infected

No Time For Chickens

The Drop

About the Author

Bad Guys

What a mess. Detective Rachael White stands over two bodies, looking around. The odor of decay has not set in yet. Tell me again, what did the witness see?

An officer in full uniform yawns and replies, The tenant of this building heard a gunshot from this alley and called us, then he heard two more and rushed outside. The bodies were on the ground before he got here. He admitted it was hard to see in the dark, but he swears he saw a goblin running down the alley, old Kook. He also says that he saw it throw something.

Goblin, huh? Detective White asks, and then chuckles. All I care about is catching the bad guys, human or otherwise. The bodies are real enough. Any ID?

The officer hands Detective White two wallets. The kid is, or was, named Nathan Brown. And the man was Rory Lopez. Neither has any kind of criminal record.

Detective White looks at the ID in her hands. Two driver’s licenses, the kids is a learner’s permit. 15, the same age as