The pillar of smoke climbed ever skyward, far beyond the shattered remains of London’s docklands. Donovan’s knees went weak at sight of it; all those people, just gone. He gripped the railing at the edge of the roof top tighter through the thick fibreglass gloves to steady himself. The heavy bulk of the sealant suit and its backpack mounted CO2 collector threatened to drag him to the floor, or was it just the sight of it?: the third town the Americans had hit in just over a week. ...

Beyond the empty window frames of the ruined face of the experimental biology building, a great column of smoke climbed toward the atmosphere.Wow. They really did it thought Donovan. He gripped the railing tighter to stop himself from falling down. Amidst the shattered remains of London’s docklands, between its battered skyscrapers and crumbling infrastructure, way beyond the deep channel of thick green ooze that had once been the Thames, a towering mushroom-shaped cloud loomed. Backed ...

Build a world... forsake this one?

They said I was a peace maker. Huh, what did they know? I was seven years old when I first killed a man. I could tell you that William made me do it and I wouldn’t be lyin’ none. But the truth is I killed him because it’s what I do. XXX “Hey Kid. That’s right am a talkin’ a you! Don’chu walk away from me boy.” Frank wasn’t always an asshole, but he was an outright bastard to William. There was jus’ no point in trying to talk the ol’ man out of it. So I just kept quiet. “What’s it gonna be kid...

Through the fusillade of rain, the lifeless form in the alleyway drew his eyes magnetically. Two large ravens postured on top of it. Wings outstretched, they defended their claim. It was clearly too late to help. The once lilac dress and pretty white bonnet appeared grubby but dry, thanks to the overlapping roofs above. He wasn’t far from home, and this was his route to work. Perhaps he would recognise her up close. Gingerly, Campbell began to move closer. A curtain of dark hair had escaped t...