The few seconds between bungling her over-practiced landing and actually slipping the black ring onto her finger were the most precarious of Hodja's entire life.
Hodja
Many girls in many dimensions, one mysterious piece of jewelry…
Millie
The first time Millie was suddenly cornered by several black SUVs, hooded and herded into one of them by burly men wearing suits, sunglasses and earpieces, she'd reacted as you might imagine anyone would…
Quinne
Quinne walked alone in the wilderness, initially in an attempt to forget her troubles—troubles acquired during her previous attempt to not be alone. But the further she wandered, the more she felt she was moving toward something unknown rather than away from anything she knew…
Zofya
Zofya had long ago achieved a level of fame at which everyone knew her last name, but rarely felt a need to use it. She was a singular talent, a fact made all the more evident by the unprecedented scope of her interplanetary concert tour, and her insistence on traveling to perform in the flesh, rather than relying on the industry standard remote holographic projections. Still, by the last leg of her year-long journey around the galaxy, she was as ready as anyone would be to get home to Earth and take a break.
Zubaida
Zubaida, glowing and feeling at home on the playa…
Renata
Renata, trying to stay dry after the show, beginning to wonder what's taking her driver so long…
Astraea
Astraea, in her backyard, on Mount Olympus, presumably…
Saffron
What Saffron missed most about smoking was having a reason to compel her to take smoke breaks. So she started feeding the birds…
Dizonia
Dizonia was not fooled by the assorted spirits' blatant attempt to throw her off their scent…
Lilith
Lilith, listening carefully for the next instruction from the black ring…
Julietta
Julietta was proud of herself for making it up into the tree without injury, though considerably less proud of the reasons that prompted her to climb it in the first place…