The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
After leaving the army, Jarad has made a life for himself as a translator. He waves goodbye to another of his rich students, and attempts to settle down by the fire with a nice cold beer and a book. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine recovered enough to join the siblings in the morning. Her illness hits her in waves. At the moment she is able to walk, and feels better than she did the night before. Alex, Farokh and Heyem watch on as Katherine, somewhat like her old self, attempts to help their quest. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand has returned from the bedroom after kissing goodnight to a very sick Katherine. She joins her siblings, hoping that they can support her at this difficult time. This episode is dedicated to David Prosser, who asked me a few weeks ago if the next issue could be “a bit more hopeful.” CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh has carried Katherine to her bedroom, and retreated to the living room to join Heyem. Alex sits beside Katherine, and they attempt to enjoy their first moments alone together for five long months. However Katherine is feeling very sick, leaving Alexand no option but to inject her with the inhibitor and with a high dose of morphine. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine is woken by a familiar voice, after a long journey to reunite with Alexand. This issue is dedicated to my dad who died 19 years ago on 2nd December, a day after my 21st Birthday. My dad was a very clever and talented man and I constantly miss him. This is for you Dad. My stories and my world are dedicated to you. You died before I was old enough to know who you were. I will try to find you in my stories, to go to places far away from this world, to search for you. Maybe one day I’ll know you again. Until then I’ll keep writing. I’ll never forget you. (Happy Birthday to Alexand and Heyem, who were, or will be, born on 2nd December 3966) I have started a personal blog called, Unbound Boxes Limping Gods Behind The Writing, which you are welcome to read. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand has appealed to Heyem to help save Katherine’s life. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine and Alex sit in an army carriage, along with Heyem and Farokh, heading back to Saskatoon Military base. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine waits at the docks along with Farokh and Heyem (who has travelled from Hong Kong) to greet an injured Alexand, as her ship arrives at the harbour. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand wakes up in danger, after sleep walking over the edge of a cliff. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Heyem Merek has made a successful life for herself as a doctor of Herstory in Hong Kong University, but being an identical twin has its drawbacks. Sometimes she can sense if something has happened to her twin sister Alex, even though Heyem has tried her best to distance herself from her troublesome twin. Heyem has woken up after a strange dream, that she was tumbling down a cliff. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
It is the night before Alexand’s ship is due to set sail back home to India, but she can’t sleep. Although the inhibitor is slowing down the progression of her symptoms, Alex is getting night fevers and experiencing hallucinations. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine’s health is declining, but she is still trying to keep herself active. A letter has arrived from Alex and despite her failing eyesight, Katherine is able to read it. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
A ship leaves the port for India in the morning. Most of Alexand’s brigade is scheduled to leave for home. As the commanding officer, Alex has orders to remain in Australia for the second part of the tour. It is night time, and she has finished her duties for the day. She lies in her tent, writing a letter to be brought home to Katherine. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine waited a week, not expecting to be visited by a future version of Juba Apfvarzian, but after a spate of feeling very sick, there was a knock on her apartment door, and standing there was a man, with dreadlocks, much older than the boy she’d seen performing magic. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine is taken to Mogadishu, Somalia, by the Guild Master’s General, to observe a young magician called Juba Apfvarzian. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine attempted to buy a lift back home to Saskatoon military base, but was turned away, due to her illness. The driver told her she shouldn’t be out in public spreading her disease about. She was left standing in the rain, as the first part of the monsoon winds hit. The local landlords also refused her a bed to stay. She found a place to shelter, in a tree house, built for local children. Dripping wet and freezing cold, she sat inside, attempting to shelter from the rains. This issue is dedicated to Fayesal Siddiqui, who has been a great support to me throughout the course of sharing these stories. You’re welcome to read “A Fellow Blogger,” with his thoughts on Unbound Boxes, on his website, “Ho-Hum … well we’re going to die anyway!” Thank you, Fayesal. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After leaving the laboratory, Katherine retreated to her apartment, and sat staring at the wall for what seemed like hours. Once she’d stopped staring, she packed a bag of overnight supplies and set off outside, with one particular place in mind. After a few hours of traveling she found herself outside her father’s mansion, hoping somehow this would be enough to satisfy her need for closure. With, Inajda and Anesidor unreachable, Alex in Australia, her laboratory occupied, and her appetite for reading diminished by her failing eyesight, Georges and Kavita De Somme are all Katherine has left to turn to. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After convincing Farokh to keep silent, Katherine makes her way slowly to her laboratory, in an attempt to continue her research into decoding the catalyst. Unfortunately without her writer she has no means of contacting Professor Sumian, and must rely on the rudimentary technology available to her in Saskatoon. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine tried to get rid of Farokh, but she needs help, and somehow he convinced her he might be useful. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After having tidied herself up after her shower, Katherine returns to the lounge to confront Farokh about the map he accidentally saw when he found her lying unconscious. Farokh has opened up the book, and the map has been projected onto the wall, where it had been before Katherine collapsed. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine walked to her bathroom, hoping that Farokh would leave by the time she’d finished having a shower. She locked the door and dumped all her vomit-covered clothes on the floor, still confused and slightly traumatised by her collapse. Her short-term memory is starting to become affected by her illness, and she is missing Alex very badly, wishing her writer hadn’t been taken. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Before Alex had to leave for a five-month tour of duty to Australia, she asked her brother Farokh to make sure Katherine was looking after herself properly. (She gave him a spare key to her apartment.) Two months have passed since Farokh was asked, and he hasn’t visited, due to the fact he forgot, and is also mildly frightened of the rather austere Katherine. Guilt overrides Farokh’s selfish reluctance, and he makes his way towards Katherine’s apartment to carry out Alexand’s request. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
It took Alexand’s division just under a month to reach Australia by boat. She has been there for a week and has been administering the plague victims with their own supply of injections, as part of a trial to see how much longer Katherine’s serum adds to the lifespan of this control group. Attempting to perform her duty, Alex has found it difficult imagining Katherine at home, getting sicker. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The night before Alexand has to leave for Australia, the Guild Master’s General sneaks into Katherine and Alexand’s bedroom whilst they’re asleep. He has one more task to complete, and he’s not very proud of himself. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
(It’s been 4 years since I began sharing this series of stories with you on WordPress. CLICK HERE to read the first issue. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, encouraged, commented and liked. Without you, I’d be scribbling on walls, like a socially challenged lady with too many cats and not enough wool. Thank you. You know who you are. This story is dedicated to YOU, readers past, present and future.) A month has passed and Katherine had developed an inhibitor serum, which slows down the advance of her symptoms, and successfully tested it on willing volunteers. She and Alex both take the inhibitor every day, whilst Alex continues to familiarise herself with the Project Ghost Ship plans. It’s early morning and Alex has been up most of the night. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Guild Master’s General takes Abouna Panak forward in time to the year 4002, where Alexand has discharged herself from the military due to alcoholism, and is heading for Goa to lead a healthier lifestyle, along with her husband, Jarad and their three children, Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia. To make money, Alexand plays in music bars, along the way. The Guild Master’s General has taken Abouna Panak into a crowded nightclub; Alexand is playing. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Abouna Panak stands in his office listening to a recording, which has been handed to him by a familiar man, (the Guild Master’s General) who had tapped Katherine De Somme’s apartment. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Katherine and Alex have spent the evening going over the plans of the Amanojuko base, but it’s getting late. Katherine got tired, so to relax, she and Alex started drinking wine in their living room. Katherine is getting a little self-depreciating as the alcohol takes effect and her feelings about what’s happened to her emerge. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alex and Katherine discuss the enemy base plans, which Inajda has secretly given them, in an attempt to help save their lives. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
A few weeks have passed and Katherine has been recovering from her surgery at home. Field Marshal Panak arranged for her and Alex to have leave. She has been very fatigued but is beginning to feel a little better. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Two weeks have passed since the consultation with Dr Bhati. Katherine has undergone revolutionary surgery to replace her kidney and lungs with cloned organs, she has had a mastectomy and radiotherapy and lays unconscious in Doctor Bhati’s recovery ward, with Alexand sitting beside her, reading, waiting for her to wake up from the anaesthetic. (CLICK HERE for next story in the series)
Katherine and Alex went to see a research scientist involved in diagnostics for ancient (and extinct) diseases. (Her name is Dr Bhati and she is also working for Field Marshal Panak. Her laboratory is inside the secret Christmas Island hideout the resistance have acquired.) CLICK HERE for next story in the series.
When Katherine and Alex returned home, Katherine went straight to bed as she felt exhausted. She and Alexand lie next to each other, contemplating their future. (There are five stages to Katherine’s illness, hair loss being the third; her immune system is starting to attack healthy cells.) (CLICK HERE for the first story in this series) CLICK HERE for next story in series
Alex and Inajda walked to the laboratory and met up with Katherine and Anesidor. Katherine and Alex returned home to Saskatoon military base, (as Katherine was feeling really unwell) leaving Inajda to report back to her superior, Field Marshal Panak. Field Marshal Panak has been building a secret army, to counter the coming Amanojuko threat, and Anesidor has traced him to his operations base on an abandoned Christmas Island, leaving Inajda to report back to him. (CLICK HERE for the first story in this series) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After returning from infiltrating the Amanojuko base, Inajda and Alexand walk back to Professor Sumian’s transient laboratory, with Alexand full of questions. (CLICK HERE for the first story in this series) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Inajda and Alex paid the six coins to the guards at the city gates. The city is being made from stone and wood, and appears to be a deliberately medieval throwback. (CLICK HERE for the first story in this series) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After having crossed over the bridge, Inajda and Alexand run into a socialite the other side. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Dressed as socialites aspiring to become Amanojuko, Inajda and Alexand prepare to infiltrate an enemy base. (CLICK HERE to read the beginning of this long story) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story.)
Inajda and Alexand materialise in a forest, in Russia. Inajda leads Alexand down a pathway towards a place, which will help explain why she has been absent from Alexand’s life for so long. (CLICK HERE for the beginning of this long story) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Alexand has told Inajda about Farokh joining the army. Inajda blames herself for his behaviour due to her absence. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine has added Amanojuko blood to a sample of her own. Five minutes have passed but nothing has happened. (CLICK HERE for the beginning of this story) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alex and Inajda have left the scientists to their work, (to catch up on a lot of lost mother and daughter time.) Meanwhile Katherine and Anesidor discuss the Amanojuko virus. (The Amanojuko mentioned are Ichitumbu Jalhavi and Helga Ritter.) (If you have missed this series and would like to start reading from the very beginning of this story, please visit Issue 110: Farokh Merek Part 3) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After analysing samples of her own blood and that of Helga Ritter’s, Katherine attempts to translate her findings to an expectant Alex, Anesidor and Inajda. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After Alex recovered from her injuries enough to see again, she and Katherine asked for Inajda’s help in locating the illusive Professor Anesidor Sumian. Sumian had mysteriously disappeared from radar due to the dangers faced by the resistance. Inajda has brought them to Sumian’s transient laboratory, so that Katherine has a greater chance of analysing the blood samples, with Sumian’s state of the art (and very illegal) technology. CLICK HERE for next chronological story
On board the Floating Asylum, Helga Ritter reports back to her superior, Lord Filius Anderson. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine treats Alex for injuries suffered during a failed attempt to find out the identity of Helga Ritter. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Whilst attempting to find records leading to the identity of the woman who infected Katherine with ‘plague’, Alexand has been ambushed. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine had already analysed the hair attempting to find out something about the identity of her attacker. (See issue 118: You’re In The Army Now Part 8) After arguing about keeping the information from her, Alex insisted she helped locate the mysterious attacker and demanded Katherine provide her with every scrap of evidence she has, which could lead to an identity. Fearing the task too dangerous, but unable to dissuade Alexand from her new quest to save her life, Katherine left Alex with her findings, warning her not to do anything without consulting her first. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand returns after having tried to reason with Georges De Somme but is still determined to find the identity of the woman who infected Katherine. It’s ten at night and she sits in the bar with Katherine. (Happy New Year everyone!) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Georges De Somme’s mansion is well guarded. One of his security guards has approached him, warning of a potential intruder. (I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine lies in bed, listening to Alex and Farokh talking in the other room. She feels too tired to get up and join them. Instead she contemplates her steadily deteriorating future. (The post-human man refers to Ichitumbu Jalhavi, See Amanojuko issues 1 , 2, 3 and 4. The woman who infected Katherine is Helga Ritter, see Amanojuko Part 3) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh has arrived at Alexand and Katherine’s apartment after having to negotiate his way past the barrack guards. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine fell asleep as she and Alex sat together talking and watching the ocean. A few hours pass and she wakes, finding Alex running towards her. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand has taken Katherine to a deserted beach in Hong Kong, to give her a break from her endless research. They sit on the sand together, staring out to sea. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh has left the laboratory, leaving Katherine and Alexand alone to conduct more research into the illness afflicting Katherine (which was injected into Katherine’s bloodstream by Helga Ritter, see Amanojuko Part 3) Katherine hasn’t slept for 24 hours. She spends most of her time in the laboratory, trawling through research journals, taking blood samples from the victims in her sick bay, and from herself. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After a week of intense training, Farokh has finally managed to get some free time to locate his sister, Alexand, and tell her that he has joined the army. (This story is dedicated to everyone affected by hurricane Haiyan, in the Philippines. If you would like to help save lives, please visit the Disasters Emergency Committee UK) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
(This story is the first in a long series, which will continue on into the New Year. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading!) Farokh has lived with his uncle Antun, after the death of his father, Eric. (The absence of the rest of his family, Alexand, Heyem and Inajda, haunts him). He spends a lot of his time wandering the streets, dreaming of escaping his claustrophobic village. He has just turned fifteen and is waiting for a chance to ride to India so he can join the army to be with his favourite sister, Alexand. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba sat in front of a huge meal prepared by a very concerned Alexand. She gave him clean clothes, a bath and healed the wounds on his feet with a strange contraption she called a writer. He has told Alex of his wife and Son’s death. It’s mid afternoon, Abouna Panak’s gone and Alex has given Juba some wine to comfort him. She sits nursing contractions, attempting to figure out how to help her old friend. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Abouna Panak transports a very disorientated Juba Apfvarzian away from the Nevada Desert, (See issue 105: Post Asylum Blues Part 2) to a more comfortable place. (Alexand’s army apartment.) Hopefully, Juba will now find the help he’s been searching for. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After being ‘rescued’ from an army cell, by the rather sinister Field Marshal Panak, Juba Apfvarzian finds himself unexplainably transported to the desert. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian was released from the floating asylum, and found that his wife Lucy and son Ayo died during an influenza pandemic. With no one else in the world to turn to, he has traced the one person who he believes could help him clamber out of the mess he’s in. Traveling from Somalia to India, he has found Alexand’s location. He discovered she is back in the military, living in a base called Saskatoon with her husband and son. Unfortunately security didn’t let him in because of his asylum record and he is being held in a detention cell on the outskirts of the city. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eldenath stands in the gardens, pruning rose bushes. She has been promoted to a junior National Guard and looks forward to starting her duties in the coming weeks. Her new duties will mean she gets to go outside the gates of the House of Plenitude and Mirth, to guard the public from bad things. To celebrate the 100th issue, and to thank you for your support these past three years, this story is set just before the first manuscript, which I hope one day will be available for you to read too. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Inajda Rekaya sits in Professor Sumian’s home, waiting to be handed whatever item Abouna Panak requested her to retrieve from the particle physicist. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After agreeing to sail to Maryland, (to retrieve an important artefact for Field Marshal Panak) in exchange for the safety of her daughters, (Alexand and Heyem) Inajda Rekaya is nearing her journey’s end. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Inajda Rekaya works undercover for Field Marshal Abouna Panak, and has not seen her daughters, Alexand and Heyem, or her son Farokh, for years due to the nature of her espionage. She has been asked to his office to discuss her next task, but she has an ultimatum. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After Baio-Yujia’s Ghost tried to kill Alexand, (see issue 93) Alex runs to the only person who could possibly help her. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand fell asleep after Katherine placed the recorder next to her bed, in an attempt to ‘discover’ the cause of the apparent haunting. Alex is unsure if what happens next is real or imagined. (See issues 91 and 92 Baio Yujia’s Ghost Parts 2 and 3) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After promising Alex that she would help find the cause of her haunting, (See Baio-Yujia’s Ghost Part 2) Katherine had collected a film recorder from her own room. She and Alexand are now in Alex’s room preparing to ‘capture’ the Ghost of Baio-Yujia Sun. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After another restless night, Alexand was woken by what she believes to be the ghost of her friend Baio-Yujia Sun. Unable to sleep, she retreats to the one person (Katherine De Somme) she hopes could help her find out the cause of the apparent haunting, or at lease empathise with her nightmares. This story is dedicated to everyone who has followed, supported me, commented on, shared thoughts, liked, read this series, critiqued, re-blogged, awarded, made friends (and on occasion fallen in love) with the characters, over the past three years. Without you I’d be writing to and drawing at imaginary people. You help to keep these stories alive and encourage me to one day get the first manuscript published. Thank you, without you, my characters are ghosts inside my head, scribbled on paper. (This story follows Baio-Yujia’s Ghost Part 1.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Samuel Merevija is tempted to escape from The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Eldenath Balsara, but they are both afraid of what could happen in the world outside. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After a near death experience, (see issue 84: Ancille Merevija part 3) Ancille is angry with her mother for making her attempt to fly off Mount Kilimanjaro. This story is dedicated to Lee J Tyler from The Point Of The Quill, who requested an Ancille story. Thank you, Lee. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being taunted by her identical twin sister, (Anastasia) who isn’t really there, Ancille has been taken for some ‘time out’ by her mother, Alexand. Alex believes an adventure may be a temporary remedy to the voice in Ancille’s head. (Ancille was left deaf when her brother, Sam and sister, Anastasia were taken by The Amanojuko and has problems with memory, due to her injuries. Her mother Alexand does her best to help her daughter recover in the years afterwards) This story is dedicated to Lee J Tyler from The Point Of The Quill, who requested an Ancille story. Thank you, Lee. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Baio-Yujia Sun had been accidentally killed in a crash. (See issue 25: Baio-Yujia Sun) Her three surviving friends Alexand, Heyem and Jarad were found responsible for her death and sentenced to military correction. (See issue 26: There’s No Place Like Home) Three years have passed, and Alexand Merek still has vivid nightmares about Baio-Yujia’s death. Things have escalated and Alexand now sees her dead friend’s shadow at night, when she’s alone in her room. Next chronological story here.
Gianti Dincrind has been charged with the development of Project H, turning humans into wraiths, called Haernyarn. The Haernyarn are proposed to act as future guards for the growing number of Amanojuko Lords and Ladies, privileged enough to have been granted immortality. Gianti is not yet an Amanojuko, but has been promised a chance at being selected if she manages to successfully create Haernyarn from the prisoners on board the Floating Asylum. Unfortunately the process is unstable, and usually results in the subject’s death. Gianti is looking for a way of transmitting the virus from a haernyarn to a human, by genetically altering DNA and is about to make a breakthrough. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being given the option to take a pill which stops ageing, the group of Abouna Panak’s rebels decide whether or not to take the life altering drug, SIR2HX. (Thank you so much to Pamela Spiro Wagner, a very talented poet and artist, who inspired and encouraged me to finally complete a series of stories rather than tease the reader into gouging out their (and or my) eyes. This is dedicated to you, Pam.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho has been offered eternal youth, by the mysterious Field Marshal Panak. She has also been shown a bleak future, and has ten minutes to decide her own fate. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After her cousin Alexand, brought Toreth to Christmas Island to save her life, (See issue 67: Toreth Rek-cho) Toreth witnessed a projection designed by a race of Amanojuko, who apparently plan to take over the world in the near future. (This story follows issue 71: The Other Side Part 3.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After breaking into a high security room onboard the Floating Asylum, (see The Other Side Parts One and Two) Abouna Panak and Heyem Merek, race to retrieve proof of an Amanojuko takeover plan. (Note: Back on Christmas Island, the resistance includes (Alexand Merek) Inajda Rekaya, Juba Apfvarzian, Jarad Vijay, Anesidor Sumian and Toreth Rek-cho.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Abouna Panak has brought Heyem Merek with him to The Floating Asylum to prove to her that an Amanojuko conspiracy to take over the world, exists. (See The Other Side Part 1) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Abouna Panak has brought a disbelieving Heyem Merek to the Floating Asylum to show her proof of an Amanojuko conspiracy to take over the world, in the near future. The Other Side Part 2 will be released same time next week. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Heyem was asked to meet up with her sister, Alexand, on a matter of urgency. (See Heyem Merek Part 2) She has very important things to do and isn’t impressed by the intrusion, as it breaks into her work schedule. (Painting on the wall behind, based on a print by Käthe Kollwitz, “Woman With A Dead Child,” 1903) (Note: When referring to Alexand’s ‘brood’ Heyem means Alexand’s children, Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia Merevija.) This story is set a few hours after and is directly related to Toreth Rek-cho, (issue 67) and will continue, (by request) with “The Other Side” (Parts 1 – 3) and conclude with “Toreth Rek-cho Part 4” (A special thank you to Pamela Spiro Wagner for encouraging me to continue this story and to stop taunting for once! On this occasion the reader gave life to a story and the writer kept it alive. Thank you Pam, the forthcoming issues wouldn’t exist without you.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho is an astronomer, and spends most of her time in an observatory she built, in the Sahyādri Mountains, India. (She is the eldest child of Antun Rekaya, Inajda’s brother and is Alexand and Heyem Merek’s first cousin.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
(HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!) Alexand Merek has been unable to return to the army, due to her asylum record. She spends most of her time very isolated and alone, as her husband, Jarad teaches English to rich Indian families and often spends day’s away working. She is not accepted in her community and cannot get a job teaching music because of her conviction. Her son Samuel is unable to go to school, due to the stigma attached to her imprisonment. Alexand spends a lot of time teaching him at home, but is sinking deeper into depression and alcoholism. One day a knock at the door changes her family’s prospects. (Note: The ‘writer’ is a transportation and storage device common amongst the resistance, and was created by Anesidor Sumian.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand and Katherine have travelled to Alexand’s home village to get married. (As Alexand has a very large family, who couldn’t afford to travel to India, and none of Katherine’s family replied to the invitations) Alexand’s younger brother, Farokh is one of the guests. Heyem is Alexand’s “best Woman,” much to her delight. Even Alexand’s mother Inajda has managed to find time from her very busy military schedule to be there. Unfortunately Farokh sees through what should be a happy occasion to things disintegrating beneath. (From left to right: Inajda Rekaya, Jarad Vijay, Farokh Merek, Katherine De Somme, Alexand Merek and Heyem Merek.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Octavia Vijay’s husband cheated on her and left her to raise her two sons, Jarad and Jove on her own. Feeling bitter and cheated, Octavia grows angrier. Isolated and resentful, she lashes out at her younger son, Jarad, who reminds her of her husband. (Also featuring Alexand and Heyem Merek) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine finally relented to Alexand’s charm. (See Love In A Box Part 1) The morning after, Alex is asleep, and Katherine lies, wondering about their future. Note: Katherine was injected with a virus, by Helga Ritter, to silence her (See Amanojuko Part 3) after discovering a government induced plague, was genetically engineered and that some members of the establishment are attempting to live forever. As a result of being injected with “plague” Katherine is dying. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After returning back to Saskatoon military base, from her father’s funeral, Alexand Merek ponders her future. She lost the fingers on her right hand when a man in a balaclava sliced them off, (See The Guild Master’s General Part 1) She sits redundantly by the piano in the entertainment bar, wondering how she will ever play again. (Also featured in this story, is Alexand’s close friend and superior officer, Katherine De Somme) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Ancille lost her hearing when her brother Sam and sister Anastasia were taken by the Amanojuko as children. (See Ancille Part 1) Despite her mother, Alexand Merek’s constant encouragement and reassurance, Ancille can’t help being haunted by her absent mirror twin. (Note: The haernyarn are wraiths that serve Amanojuko lords. You can read about their conception in The Floating Asylum parts 2 3 and 4) Special thanks to Katharine Griffiths for an enjoyable interview. She asked me about my work here. You should go and check out her review and interview site, The Thiessen Review, on wordpress. You can read my interview if you’d like too? It tells you a little about why I write. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anastasia Merevija has been a concubine of Lord Ichitumbu Jalhavi since the age of twelve. Anastasia believes she was abandoned by her parents (Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek) and rescued by the Amanojuko as a child. She has been given the most honourable task of making ‘what could be’ (an immortal child) out of ‘what isn’t.’ Unfortunately, the couple have had to spend their lives moving from Amanojuko castle to castle, running from Anastasia’s aunt Heyem and mother Alexand Merek. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After injecting herself with the blood of Ichitumbu Jalhavi, (see Amanojuko Part 4) Helga Ritter stands on her balcony onboard The Floating Asylum, contemplating her own meaning. She is now an immortal and it feels so good. Next to her is fellow scientist, and Amanojuko Lord, Professor Filius Anderson. (Whom Alexand later calls, Dr. Grim) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Falling asleep at night is hard for Alexand Merek. She’s desperately trying to function as she did before The Floating Asylum. However, she’s changed, and this is having a devastating affect on her husband, Jarad, who is trying his best to help her adjust back into family life. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After waking from a catatonic state, (due to her imprisonment in The Floating Asylum) Alexand is recovering at home with her family. Unfortunately for Alexand, her identical twin sister, Heyem has arrived, eager to ‘help’ Alexand recover from her trauma. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After her daughter, Alexand was released from a Floating Asylum, Inajda spent six months helping Alexand’s husband, Jarad to care for Alexand. Alexand returned in a catatonic and emaciated state, but eventually woke up. A month after Alex woke, Inajda is trying to help her daughter come to terms with what has happened to her. Unfortunately Inajda wasn’t there for most of Alexand’s childhood, but is trying her best to make up for the missing years. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Doctor Heyem Merek, takes pride in her achievements, and likes to be in control of her life. Unfortunately her identical twin sister, Alexand has asked to meet with her at work (on a matter of urgency.) Heyem is nervous about the other lecturers and students learning too much about her background. She has no idea what Alexand wants, but she is going to make every effort to prepare for social war. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand left the sick bay, after promising Katherine she wouldn’t tell a soul about Ichitumbu Jalhavi. Katherine attempts to negotiate with her American contact, Professor Anesidor Sumian. (Note: The Writer is a device, which allows its user to quickly travel anywhere around the world. It’s also used for communications and storage. It was developed by Anesidor Sumian, and smuggled from America for the resistance in India by Alexand’s mother, Inajda Rekaya, on command of her superior officer, Abouna Panak, who has established links with the American resistance.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After showing Alexand Merek the plague victims in her laboratory, (see issue 33: Amanojuko Part 1) Katherine De Somme is about to share a dangerous secret with her young cadet. (Please note, the ‘nightmare’ is a reference to the girl (Baio-Yujia Sun) Alexand accidentally killed. A girl who still haunts Alexand. See Baio-Yujia Sun and There’s No Place Like Home.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Five years have passed since Alexand Merek was sentenced to serve ten years in a military correction facility, for accidentally killing her friend, Baio-Yujia Sun. (See issue 25 and issue 26) When Alexand was seventeen she was selected to work for Dr. Katherine De Somme, a micro biologist and has worked in her laboratory for the past three years. However, Alexand was up late, playing piano in the entertainment bar, celebrating the release of her sister, Heyem and friend Jarad, and has turned up uncharacteristically late to work. Despite this, a friendship and trust has formed between them, allowing Katherine to share a terrible secret with her young cadet, when she eventually arrives. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After losing her hair, Alexand Merek has been removed from her cell by the scientists who have been experimenting on her for the past four years. She has been taken to an isolated room, where all she can hear is the sound of inhuman breathing. (See The Floating Asylum parts One Two and Three) There’s an uneasy feeling in the lower deck. The wallpaper is peeling, and Alexand feels very exposed and frightened. She has no weapons and her body is close to collapse. Hopes of returning home one day, and seeing her husband, Jarad and son, Samuel, are replaced by a strong need to return to the safety of her cell. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After returning from the science laboratory, (read The Floating Asylum 2) and further experiments, Alexand and Juba manage to remain together, but something is happening to Alexand, and she needs Juba to help her as her hair begins to fall out. This story is part of a series which concludes next week, and is taken from Juba’s perspective. (Trivia: Hair-loss is associated with a ‘plague’ sweeping through communities on the outside of the ship. Alexand’s wife Katherine De Somme died from it after being ‘silenced’ by the military, but Alexand is convinced this is not the same condition.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand Merek and Juba Apfvarzian have survived inside a floating asylum ship, whilst being experimented on by scientists. Others have not been as fortunate. Most die after a few days, and neither Alexand nor Juba understand why they are still alive. (See The Floating Asylum Part one) Alexand has been in the asylum for almost four years and her hopes of returning home to her family are now a distant memory. This story will be told in three parts. This is the first instalment from Alexand’s perspective. (This story features Helga Ritter, known to Alexand as ‘Ophelia’.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
