Hermit in the Cave

Thanks for the review. I feel the same way, when I find a story where the plot doesn't feel obvious. I've always enjoyed having to figure things out, and it can feel like a rare thing to run into. That was what I was trying for here, and I know it won't be to everyone's tastes, but it is good to know some people have fun with it. Thanks again.

IV He'd always been able to trust his eyes, before. His eyes saw passed the surface level, to the fundamental core of things where lies were difficult to make, if not impossible. Were it only the blond hair, the green eyes, he would've dismissed it as a cruel prank of Strife's, get Canaan to make him sleep in the yard a few days before they all forgot about it. Except... ...it can't be. That strong quiet presence, that once clashed with every outward action, every spoken word, a good man who

If you would like to, you can message me with what, precisely, needed hints and clarity. I immediately think of the point of confusion I hear the most at this point, the introduction of new people, and I admit I'm at a loss for what to do with that. Xander and Strife are not everyone's cup of tea, that's quite understandable (people often seem to really like one or the other pair, and it depends a lot on the site I'm on, too). Fair warning, they're not going anywhere, I did label it dark fiction for a reason. But I think there's a decent balance between the two sets of main characters. Thanks for the review.

III The sky here was grey. Like a perpetually cloudy day, always threatening rain, the sun not visible, brightening the sky from behind its blockade. Strife said it was always like this. There were two children traveling the same road as them (walking, everyone was walking, Canaan had never in his life seen so few cars), their parents were further ahead and they would chase each other down the path again and again with sticks they were pretending were swords, only so far away before turning an

Thanks very much. If you're still confused, that seems to be perfectly normal, from what interactions I've had with readers chapter three is where most of them figure it out. This was, in part, a test to see how well I can cover my tracks, its good not be too obvious. I'm glad you enjoyed this part of it.

I “Well, this is so typical, I'm almost disappointed.” Only partially true, after three days hard travel, all day struggling up a fucking mountain, Strife could've wept at the thought of a roof and bed. “Couldn't have had a nice place out on a warm beach? Maybe staffed with pretty young things that could rub the ache out of my ass?” Canaan, looking none the worse for wear, the miserable bastard, only smirked, “I have a lot of places, some like that. I stay mobile, its how I'm not found.” “Tha

He waited on the dock next to Nilene, watching the boat pulling in. Tallen stood on the deck, sun browned and wind swept, that content smile on his face that a week at sea would bring. (“Okay, you really want to know? Look out there, what do you see? Nothing? Anything. Anything could be coming up there. Its like a...constant state of anticipation, I guess. Even if I've been there before, it'll have changed when I get back, in so many ways.”) He saw the moment Tallen noticed he was there, saw h

III A light laugh pulled his attention out of the book, rescanning the last few lines Canaan couldn't find the cause. “I didn't realize you were following along,” he said aloud. “Hmm. Its been a while, since we read anything.” Trick was still curled up on the other end of the tacky but comfortable red and gold couch, head resting on his folded arms but his eyes were open now, the movement of his pupils slow and steady. “Interesting?” He'd only just picked it up looking for a distraction while

II He is awake now, finally. Eyes bruised and bloodshot, only half focused, staring up at you. His face is drained of color, pale lips parted to emit thin, shallow breaths; at least he was still breathing, that had not been a certainty yesterday. Your jaw tightens as your eyes travel over his neck, the angry red slash sewn closed with thick black thread. Someone had washed him off but patches of blood had been missed, now dry against his skin; no one bothered with what had spilled onto the flo

I There were many hidden paths between; the road he traveled on was red. It was a road with a long memory, every door on the path knew its origins and whispered its secrets along the way: from the great field where armies blue and grey collided, to the street corner where a child on a bicycle collided with one of those motorized vehicles everyone was driving these days. He'd always made a point to spill as much blood as possible in the earliest days; he was not a sadist, it was pure convenien

Here, he had a garden. It had started as a few seeds planted in the back yard; the longer they stayed, the more it grew, until it became a small, fruitful jungle surrounding their home. It thrived, and so did he; in the sun and open air, hands in the dirt, calm and peaceful, day after day. People came, people went; he watched it from the ground, in between green leaves and trunks of trees (a spot of autumn gold in a barren winter sea...a shade of green where should be blue...) (golden finger

VI The house at Fourth and Jefferson was quiet from the outside, probably near empty inside. Almost everyone would be at the Southside location, now that the house had been gutted and remodeling was well underway; this would be the third time Tallen had been personally involved in the process and it always amazed him how quickly and efficiently it all went. No one was trying to take over Outworld, if they did it would already be lost. He recognized his boss's flashy car parked on the side of t

Yeah, sorry about that. Had a few rough months there that made this first draft of this section a total mess, I decided for the sake of my sanity to move on to the next and come back to it when I was done. (So yes, the next part is already done and in editing, shouldn't take forever - consider it an apology ). I don't intend to abandon the story, I'm not sure it would let me even if I tried. Thanks for the comment.

V It was well after midnight and Tallen was seated in the back of the aether block vehicle, staring straight ahead, trying to burn holes in the unseen driver behind the wall in the forward compartment. He didn't know who it was that ferreted him around on these off the books assignments, he liked to imagine it was Sandar while doubting it was true, probably some innocent third party that didn't know nothing about nothing. Someone it would be wrong to drag screaming from the punched out front wi

Two sets of main characters, third chapter returns to first set, and on. They do connect eventually.

Aww, thanks. I took so long getting this posted rewriting big portions of it. Even I need a second read through to catch all the bread crumb trails there are to leave. There was one thing I thought might've been pushing it, but if it wasn't noticed then all good. The pay off for the couch should be interesting. New apartment is still good, thanks for asking. Hope you enjoy your holiday.

IV You are going to love me. Oh? I have something for you. Its going to change your life. I'm intrigued. ;) Are you back yet? Southside or Jefferson? Jefferson. And no. Got another hour. “Hey Handsome, I got something for you.” Tallen quickly tucked his phone away, looking up to catch Sophie behind the bookstore counter, excitedly waving him over. He walked over, passing by Marie wiping down tables, trying to give her a nod that wasn't noticed; he'd worry about it later. “Is it coffee?”

Because for a lot of people running into hot button issues gets in the way of escapist fun? I have heard that anyway. I don't know, I don't get it either. Then again, I deliberately seek out disturbing material, so I might not be the best judge of "most people." There was something you said in a different section of the forum here, society thinks about these things in really simplistic terms, people that have lived through it know it really isn't that easy and write things a little more realistically than your average person really wants to see. Especially when it avoids happy endings, neat closure, seeing the day that everything bad you went through (however horrible, however long term) becomes a total non issue. Maybe those things can happen in real life; not to me, or anyone I've personally known. If I'm going to have a problem with how issues of abuse are presented, its never with the violence itself, but how the character is affected by it. No quick fixes, no far too early recovery, no long term trust or intimacy issues vanishing like dust in the wind the second the protagonist meets some hot guy/girl (I really hate that one, with a passion, maybe because I've seen it once too often). I don't need to see gritty reality, but if you're going to bring it up it should carry some real weight, not something that surfaces only when dramatic tension is needed but otherwise has no significant impact and is dismissed by the end.

What a difference a good guardian figure can make. Nix is an amazing guy and Tallen was lucky to meet him, he might've ended up in a much worse place otherwise. Ah, some happiness will come along there, these guys just have so many problems to wade through. Canaan and Strife probably do look happier in comparison right now, of course they haven't left apartment yet. Glad you're still with me. *Almost* on locations, the explanation will be coming, in another chapter or so.

Close, yeah. And that is certainly Strife's approach, never a moment's hesitation or guilt later on. Its very okay to not agree with his ideas, not even everyone in the story does. I am glad you're still reading. I admit, my own tastes run very dark (much more so than anything I'm writing here) but I am still acutely aware of, and do understand, that its not to everyone's taste. So I'm glad the rest of it is still interesting enough.

Good observations on his character. I'm glad to know that comes across well.

I did enjoy writing that scene. There is certainly a lot of ground between knights in shining armor (or Robin Hood figures) and mindless agents of mass destruction, which is closer to his reputation there.

Finding them interesting was the hope (rather than relatable, or not so much so). Or stirred with erotic, sadistic curiosity, if you prefer. Funny, on the second website I post this story on, its very much the other way around, Canaan and Strife are the preferred couple and I get more feedback when they're around than not. I have enjoyed the change, of the balance maybe between the two sites and the people who read there. Good to know they're all liked by someone.

They don't seem to function very well apart, that they have each other might be the only reason they can be "normal" in spite of everything. I was happy to reunite them.

That was one scene I added because of some reader response, in this case with a few people I personally knew that had Frost - lite personalities, that didn't care for her much in the beginning and found her overwhelming. Since I could see it from that point of view, I felt like some apology and explanation was in order. Glad to know it did what I wanted it to do.