Contest Ends, a Free Short Story and some news Wanders in

A few items of interest, in numbered list form for maximum power.

1. The Helena's Empire eBook giveaway has officially ended and the winners have been selected. Congratulations to those who won, and for those who didn't, you can still buy HE for 99 cents for your eReader or in HTML / PDF for reading on the computer. In addition, I've got a little consolation prize prepared...

2. For those who didn't win the contest - and for those who did, and for people who just like this kind of thing - I'm releasing one of my never before published flash fiction stories, the paranormal romance Picnic at the End of the Universe, as a free read on this site. Enjoy!

3. Wandering Stars, from World Castle Publishing, now has an official release date of September 15th. More on this soon!

Picnic at the End of the Universe

PICNIC AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE
by Marlon Pierre-Antoine

     "When the Sun has said its final goodbye, giving way to endless night, we will still be together." Zack's musings came sober and deliberate, almost meditative.

     Julia snorted. "Ha! What a load of -"

     "Stop it right there," Zack interrupted, throwing his hands up in a mock display of defense. "I think I know where you were going with that."

     The two laid back on the grass together, watching the small glowing specks in the sky, or at least what few were left, dim and then disappear one by one.

     Julia turned to face Zack. "Why the sudden decision to become a poet, anyway? Shouldn't we be... I don't know, running, or something?"

     Zack shrugged. "Run," he repeated slowly, as though to taste the word on his tongue. "From what and where to? As far as I'm concerned, all we can do is wait for it and enjoy our last meal here for as long as we've got left."

     Julia peeked into the picnic basket. "All the sandwiches are gone."

     "Oh."

     Night was growing darker, swallowing the land and moving ever closer to the hilltop that the last two humans rested on.

     "Hey -"

     Julia's words came more slowly now, the omnipresent silence draining everything, even the sound of her own voice, into oblivion. "Remember in Seventh Grade when I said I wouldn't date you if you were the last guy on Earth?"

     Zack nodded. She had to struggle to see him do it.

     "I'm starting to reconsider," she continued.

     Zack couldn't say anything in return. His words evaporated into the air as soon as they left his lips.

     As the last of the stars went away and became nothing, the void devouring all that once was, Zack took Julia's hand. She clasped it tightly.

     Zack couldn't have asked for more.

Copyright 2011 Marlon Pierre-Antoine. Story may be shared and reproduced electronically or in print providing byline remains intact, no profit is made and a link appears either to original post or to www.marlonpierre-antoine.com