Nemesis

Sometimes, we are enamored by our own brilliance. We tend to over-estimate ourselves and tend to underestimate others. This is what the Greeks called hubris. Sadly, hubris also leads to nemesis. While thinking about these concepts, I chanced upon a scenario where one person was betrayed by what he thought was a brilliant plan.

Yukino

"What are you doing in the dark? Come with me, so that nothing else can hurt you,"
said the mysterious woman that emerged from the dark winter night."

Blood of a Hunter

Being a hunter seems to be a much-coveted role both in the animal and human world. It denotes that the hunter has more power compared to the hunted. However, can we always assume the same thing? What if the hunter is the unwitting prey of what he thinks is a seemingly easy meal? Last night, on my way home, I imagined a scenario where the role reversal -- the hunter becomes the hunted -- proved to reveal something horrific and fatal.

Midnight Society Membership

We all want to belong. We strive to gain acceptance from our parents. We also try to look for a set of friends to click with. We even go through the proverbial hell just to be accepted. However, is it really worth it? Sometimes, this wish can come true -- with deadly consequences.

Counting Steps

After a power outage, one of my friends and fellow writing consultant, Noel, gave me a piece of useful information. He said, "Chad, did you know that when you take the stairs, just count 8 steps before a landing? Then, 9 before you turn, 10 again before the landing, and 11 steps to reach the ground floor." I considered the information carefully, and I realized that it could be useful if I can't see the steps. I just need to count them so I wont fall over, especially because of the phantom step effect -- you know, the falling feeling that people get when they assume that there's an extra step when there's really none. However, after further musings, I realized that it could also be a very scary thing, counting steps.