Let you know how I make out. See ya."Abby was going to be out of town that evening so I thought I'd go to D's Place for a burger and a beer. "Might ev...n meet some old friends," I said to my truck.The Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis was basking in a resurgence of development. As in other historic areas of the city people were moving back to the old neighborhoods; they were revamping and rebuilding the houses. Most of the newer residents were young up and coming couples, a few senior citizens. When her eyes rose slightly to look above the tops of those nearest treetops, she absently noted the scattered white plumes rising here and there.White smoke meant the fire, which had burned its way up to the very sky, had been put out. It meant it had somehow ended almost as quickly as it had begun. If the fires yet burned, the smoke would be billowing darkly.She stood there, stunned for a second. She was still alive. The world was still alive.Was the princess still alive?One step. Two.Left.. “What the hell was that?!”“I’ve no idea,” John admitted. “That’s the third dream I’ve had like it.”“That wasn’t a dream, that was some kind of horrible fucking nightmare!” Alyssa said vehemently. “Why didn’t you tell me about them?”“I told you about the first one, but I haven’t had any for the last few weeks. The last time was just after we rescued Jade from those pirates,” he said, thinking back to when he had previously experienced one of the nightmares. “I’d hoped they were just a temporary. With one of the dozen roses carefully pressed in the book, she sat down to enjoy her chocolate. As always, her emotions ran high, prompting her to turn in early. Her toy again replaced her unknown lover to lull her to sleep in the warm afterglow of a powerful orgasm.Marie started her morning with a chocolate and a lingering sniff of her roses. After running her fingers over the petals for a few moments, she retrieved her paper — which was on time today, though still out in the snow of her yard.