Open House 7

By Storm Cloud Publishing

It’s Open House in the Lemur House and this little guy’s popped out looking for his new favourite read. Whether you’re a time traveller, collector, sports enthusiast, lost soul, or just need a little motivation to get up in the mornings, there’s probably a story in here for you too.
With stories from: Elizabeth Klein, Pete Galea, Jordan Anais, Brendan Brennan, Kristoff Verdun, Jack Tucker, Peter Considine, Garrett Wilder and Lucy Marbelone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Storm Cloud Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781925285635

Book preview

Open House 7

Short Story Collection

Open House 7

Copyright remains with the individual authors

Published by Storm Cloud Publishing (2023)

ISBN: 978-1-925285-63-5 Smashwords Edition

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 recipient.

If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please go to Smashwords.com or any online bookstore and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors.

Fiction: Short Story collection

Contents

The Time-Keeper

Elizabeth Klein

The Puzzle Box

Pete Galea

My Best Friend’s Downfall

Jordan Anais

Handle with Care

Brendan Brennan

The Collector

Kristoff Verdun

Running

Jack Tucker

The Rock

Peter Considine

Flickering Candlelight

Garrett Wilder

Motivational Blog

Lucy Marbelone

About the Authors

Storm Cloud ebooks

The Time-Keeper

Elizabeth Klein

It always surprised Lara when her clients wanted to meet in some dark and dingy establishment, like a bar or back corner of a nightclub. It was as if they felt ashamed of the trauma or tragedy haunting their past. But that was not the case tonight.

The girl on the other end of the phone suggested they meet at a place called the Uni Co-op, the local university’s café and bar. The girl sounded young, perhaps one of the students. But, hey, Lara agreed to meet wherever, as long as her fees were paid for services rendered. Fees that were outrageously high and most people found them difficult to afford, except those who were serious about altering their traumas.

Now that she was at the Co-op in the midst of the youthful crowd, jostling either to the bar for a beer or a burger at the café, Lara tripped back her timepiece to blend in, shaving off fifteen years, so that her age wouldn’t give her away.

As Lara twisted a path through the crowd, a guy carrying three cans pushed her against one of the tables, her feet slipping from under her. She just managed to reach out with her hands and catch herself before landing on the floor.

Hey, watch it, yelled one of the youths sitting at the table.

Sorry, muttered Lara and continued scouring the place for her client. She zeroed in on a lone girl who sat against the back wall, looking a little lost and out of place. Lara navigated her way towards the girl, who looked up with shy, flickering eyes.

Are you Mai Song? Lara asked.

The girl nodded and removed her bag from the chair she was minding for her. With a nod of thanks, Lara sat down, aware of the other’s scrutiny.

I thought you’d be older, said Mai.

Lara gave her a wink and lowered her voice. I am. This is because of where we are.

Oh, right.

You’re rather young. Do you know how this works? Lara asked, eyeing the girl’s fine features and pale, porcelain skin, almost translucent beneath the dull lights of the establishment. She looked traumatised. Good. Her past would leave a nice, fresh trail to follow.

Not sure. I’ve… never hired a Time-Keeper before. I didn’t even know you existed until a week ago.

We’re not widely… appreciated, Lara said, keeping her voice almost to a whisper. If the government found out about her activities and what she could ferret out about their dirty laundry, they’d send an asset after her for sure.