WE5: Survivor's Guilt
Exhaustion of Surviving, Khalida's new Illustration, and a Sneak Peek
It is January 11th, and it feels like, collectively, everyone in the world is so exhausted with the current state of affairs in 2026. And it is just January 11th. It feels a bit like survivor’s guilt from 2025 has exhausted us, like it is our fault we are still standing, breathing, and willing to demand something from life.
There is something Cursed in how this common experience is uniting us across borders, continents, and cultures. Maybe we ought to lean in to it. Maybe, if we all lean on our Curses a bit more, we will realize we are rather powerful, united as we are by our common exhaustion.
Oh, well.
Always Up to Something
Here is a unique sneak-peek into a first draft for one of Khalida’s future fights. Drafted by the hands of talented Pantelis Politakos, it is not yet the final version - for that, you will have to wait a bit. While writing is my passion, collaborating with other artists is something I really enjoy, so I somehow manage to always be up to something like this.
There are more coming - and if you know (or you are) an aspiring artist who would love to have fun with the Parallel Curses universe, contact me!
Next week on the Curses
Next week, violence will ramp up in the world of the Curses. Demi’s Curse will lead to a crescendo of violence in Again, again, again, Nisy’s will to break away from the Safehouse will have her experience the Starlings’ wrath in No One is Home, and Khalida will follow the crumb trail of her Calling with Aisa’s request in Do Your Job Well.
In case you haven’t caught up with the stories - I get it! It is a lot! (24 Chapters and counting as we speak) But don’t worry. Each chapter takes 8 - 12 minutes to read, designed just for a quick read before bed. And if you want to start Demi’s, Nisy’s, or Khalida’s story anew, all you have to do is follow any of the three links below:
Whispers from Far Away
Nisy's first chapter in her outpost in West Azerbaijan. A story of witchcraft, uneven fights, mysterious visions, and whispers in the wind. Follow her path into cozy nightmares, uneasy dreams, and visions of war.
Another Cursed girl
Demi's first chapter in her travels in Côte d'Ivoire. She is a mercenary on a mission through the jungles of Central Africa, and her story is one of violence, gore, and the occasional undead.
This is the Calling
Khalida's story starts slow, fated, and doomed. She knows she is closing in on lairs of danger in Central Africa, crossing from Libya to Niger, to a vague destination commanded by her Curse. But she does not fear, for she is but a vessel.
Thank you for the recommendation!