Crown’s Plank (six) Shanty Town Floor

The conversation looped. Each time it thrummed inside Tobi’s skull, her grief slipped a little further back to make way for her fury. Her breathing became labored and erratic, her eyes scanning the floor for anything sharp. She would prefer a carpenter’s...

Crown’s Plank (seven) Dissecting Leer

Despite her frantic search, Tobi could find nothing with which to unleash her demons. Each individual second spent with her own lies burrowed itself savagely into her skin like a bloodthirsty parasite. She prayed to thin air that she wasn’t being watched. She...

Crown’s Plank (eight) Translucent Cubes

Tobi could sense Miss Antonina inwardly shouting for obedience as she stood before her at the top of the stairs.  She tried to keep her lids from closing as she raised her chin to meet the Mistress’s eye, but was unable to remain in control when the nearly...

Crown’s Plank (nine) Guise of Strength

Tobi heard whispering coming from the other girls. They had gathered in the living room, beside the stairs, in a huddle where they waited anxiously to see what would happen next. Instantly, rage thundered inside her. Violent colors exploded beneath Tobi’s...

Crown’s Plank (ten) To The Stream

Tobi turned to the others and swept her eyes over them, daring them to hurt her with their contempt. “I’m sorry guys, I guess because of me we don’t get to go to bed yet.” The other girls knew better than to retort.  That was exactly what Miss...