Mena had been in the shower for nearly an hour when the water-heater spit out the last drops having any semblance of warmth to them, prompting her to quickly shut off the flow before that damn chill

An army of birds sat in the branches of an old oak tree. She walked quickly, carefully, quietly, cautiously, cradling the duffle bag she held in her arms like a mother cradles her child. In front of her,