Alec's Creatives

Here you'll find links to all my 30 Days Has September 2025 writings. As all posts are written to develop my OC Lily, with random themes, each piece jumps from one point in time to another.

Each piece is under 500 words and a few have Content Warnings. If CW tags are insufficient, please let me what they are for which piece(s) so I can edit them accordingly. Thank you.

Word Count: 415

Three weeks. The work trip took three weeks instead of two. Sitting in the car, returning to the city, Lily rested her head on the window. She thought back to recent events.

The overarching goal was not the inventory or audits of the bookstores, but to keep the managers in line. Gregorovic may not have been able to leave the boundaries of the Repository, but he ensured he held a heavy influence over his assets. Lily was his tool this time.

She was observant. She possessed an attention for detail, when she knew what to look for. She also possessed a unique ability she made use of during the excursion.

At the first bookstore, the manager scoffed at and dismissed her. She was too young to take seriously, being dead for less than a century. With a steadying breath, and a no-nonsense expression, she reminded them of who she represented and who she directly reported to. While they painted themselves in a good light as she looked over the books, Lily often responded with an “I see,” and a knowing smile. She always wrote in a notebook immediately after. They thought nothing of it the first few times but quickly grew unnerved. For every “I see” immediately followed a false statement, and it was her way of saying “I know you’re lying.” Because she did. She could see, hear, smell, and sometimes taste their lies.

She heard murmurs as she worked and eyes of malice on her back. She reminded them of the hell they would face should anything happen to her. She was there because of Gregorovic. He may be far, but his reach was wide. Between her calm, unsettling confidence and the intimidating aura of her chauffeur, part-time bodyguard, the manager quietly cooperated.

The subsequent stores had their problems, but they were smooth sailing in comparison to the first. Between five stores, she spent an average of three to four days at each. Taking into account travel time between cities and her hotel rooms, it was a busy three weeks.

Lily glanced at the briefcase next to her. It was filled with copies of ledgers and other necessary paperwork. These and her reports would go to Gregorovic as soon as she arrived. Looking back out the window, the Repository of Knowledge, sitting on top of the hill, came into view. The tension in her body melted. She could finally stop acting. Lily smiled, knowing this trip, this experience, would come to an end.

CW: Blood

Word Count: 428

The thick, red liquid swirled in the wine glass. Once odorless, when it made contact with air, it developed a faint, metallic scent. Sipping it, the tang of iron spread across the tongue. Lily shivered in delight, sighing. Her drink was of the highest quality to date.

She reflected upon her journey to this moment. She recalled herself suffering from stomach pains and headaches until that euphoric moment when she first tasted another’s blood. Her concerns for the moral implications associated with ingesting part of another humanoid was short lived. Her logic based reasoning? She was not tearing into and eating the flesh of another like a cannibal. She was simply drinking their life’s wine. Or was it their afterlife’s wine? Lily chuckled to herself. If this was Earth – the land of the living and the birthplace of one’s soul – the flesh would not regenerate, but the blood would in mere weeks. Simply put, it was a renewable resource. That was the distinction she focused on. That was the difference between cannibalism and vampirism in her mind.

Tired of curbing her cravings with the now inadequate blood of the temporarily deceased, she used her earnings to better her experiences. She spent time at a nearby hospital, befriending some nurses. After many discussions, they agreed upon a system for her blood acquisition.

Lily was giddy when she brought in her first feeder, Trevor. She bought snacks and sports drinks at the vending machine as he was taken to a sterile room where his blood was drawn and bagged professionally. She sat with him afterwards as he drank and ate. When he was stable enough to leave, he took the money promised and happily set up their next appointment. Her only stipulations were that he maintain his health and avoid blood loss. He said it was worth it for the free money and how nice it was someone was concerned about his well-being, regardless of their intentions.

They went their separate ways, and Lily paid the hospital for the supplies used. She carried the blood bag home in a small, insulated chest with ice to chill it.

When her next craving hit and she drank, she saw stars. If the average person had C-tier blood, Trevor’s was A-tier. She needed to find more people and build up a collection of quality blood to drink whenever she wanted, rather than needed. And so, she did.

Word Count: 402

When you have an eternity and you don’t have an afterlife partner, the friends you make might soothe your loneliness. But often times, they have lives where they are more involved with others. For stretches of time, you may have their attention, but sometimes, you sit at the bottom of the totem pole of their priorities. This is not always the case, as all relationships – platonic, romantic, or otherwise – are different in their own ways.

Some people are susceptible to loneliness. Others may be content being alone. Regardless, many feel the need to have the attention and closeness of another. A desire to fulfil an emotional bond. If people cannot always be relied upon, then a pet is usually the answer.

However, it’s not always easy. Getting a pet should not be a spur of the moment decision. Do you have the finances to care for your new responsibility? They must be properly fed. They may have unexpected medical expenses. Do you have adequate space? Some pets need a lot of room to roam to maintain their mental health. Some may need outdoor time. Do you have time to dedicate to them? It would be unfair to trap them in an enclosed space, alone, for most of the day as you work and enjoy time without them outside of the home. They need your time, your focus, and your attention or they may fall into the loneliness you yourself were trying to avoid. A pet may only be a short part of your life, but you might be their entire existence.

Sitting in a café chair, with tea and a half-eaten pastry on the table, Lily’s finger slowly drew shapes on the pet bed next to her. She was trying to coax a shy, furry critter into playing. There was something about the small beast that called to her.

The questions bounced around her mind. Lily had enough money. However, due to work, she didn’t have the time. Also, her tiny apartment was barely big enough for herself. “It would be unfair and selfish,” she whispered. She desperately wanted a pet. Someone to bond with and pour her affection into.

Word Count: 455

She startled at every reflection, still not familiar with her new form. Barely acknowledging and accepting her own drastic, physical changes. She jumped at every explosion or gun shot heard in the distance. Her breathing grew quick and her eyes wide, darting from side to side, as she remained wary of her surroundings. She spooked and ran anytime someone stepped too closely. Her fear was fueled by either the realism of their unnatural forms, which were not always humanoid, or their vibes. Most passersby ignored her or gave her a quick glance, but some seemed to look at her as prey.

Searching for a safe space, she grew increasingly frantic with each passing minute. Unconsciously, her ears swiveled without resting, catching any sound that might mean danger. She hugged her arms tightly, her claws pricking the skin beneath her fur. The pressure and pain did nothing to ground her.

The sights, sounds, and smells of this new place were overwhelming. She could not think. Her anxiety only grew worse as she began to hyperventilate.

She found a dilapidated building. She moved on instinct to hide inside before she passed out. A hand grabbed her wrist as she reached for the door, causing her to scream and pull away to no avail. She felt herself grow dizzy as her quick, shallow breaths failed to oxygenate her lungs.

The being who kept her in place was shrouded in darkness. They wore a high collar coat and hat, but she could not see any facial features. “Oh? And what’s your name?”

She stopped breathing. The world went still. In that fraction of a moment when all was quiet, her mind reset. There was something about the question that triggered her logical side. Her name? She remembered her name. But she would not speak it. Not to this stranger. They had no need to know. Besides, in religious stories, mythology, and folklore, there were tales about the power one could hold over another if they gave their name. Which could include owning the named’s soul. She would not permit such a thing.

That thought meant she finally acknowledged this place as her new reality. This new realm played by different rules. Rules she did not know. She needed a new name to hide the old one. Just to be safe.

She glared at the stranger, baring her teeth, and clawed at their hand. The abrupt change in her demeanor startled the stranger, causing them to release her. With her ears pulled back and a low growl emanating from her throat, she slowly walked backwards, putting distance between the two until the stranger turned away.

With a clearer mind, as she searched for shelter, she thought over her new name.

CW: Body Horror

Word Count: 396

It had been several days of chaos in the Repository of Knowledge. There were more patrons than usual visiting. Every moment was filled with assisting one patron after another or running between floors to stop anyone who dared to disrespect Gregorovic’s book collection.

CW: Blood, Mentions of STDS

Word Count: 397

Two weeks after that fateful day – having given into such a grotesque temptation and discovering her new hematophagy cravings – the ache returned. The awful feeling was at first confused with regular hunger. However, normal food, once again, could not sate it. Lily still had more to learn about her new body.

Since she finally correlated the divine scents she sometimes smelled to be the blood coursing through the bodies of others, Lily focused on training her nose. She spent her hours outside of work walking around the city to seek, to sniff, and to learn.

The afterlife was filled with chaos and lawlessness. Afterall, a second death was only temporary and at the best of times an inconvenience. So, Lily found her fair share of lifeless, bloody bodies strewn across the city for one reason or another. She begrudgingly taste-tested the ones that smelled palatable, curbing the ache, but quickly learned not all blood was equal.

She found most people to be average or below average. The scent of their blood was either neutral or disgusting. Lily finally put two and two together after she ran into some sex workers one night. She found three of the seven to have terrible blood. She held no negative thoughts towards them or their work, but she knew how they could easily contract venereal diseases from clients. After some curious, yet respectful, questions, her concerns were confirmed. She learned the quality of blood correlated with health. Lily had been scared she would eventually catch something from someone she fed on, but her sensitive nose could smell the sickness or disease in a person, protecting her.

With this new knowledge, she became picky. Moreso than before. She refused to bite anyone, feeling the action to be too personal and intimate. Besides, anything on their skin could potentially alter the taste of the blood. Also, animal blood was not a substitute. So, she stuck to the back alleys. Her options became obnoxiously abysmal. The pickings for the freshly dead with decent blood, when she needed it, fell to single digits. If she was lucky.

Word Count: 374

Yet again, Annette had an acquaintance who was throwing a party, and of course, she dragged Lily to it. She at least gave her poor coworker a week’s notice so she could mentally prepare herself. Lily had grown irritated with the blatant disrespect she received from a few of these ‘acquaintances’ simply because she never came from a life of money. However, the food offered at these events made them tolerable.

An hour into the event and Lily found herself sitting at a table with two esteemed guests. Somehow, she had been roped into judging an impromptu cooking battle between the event’s chefs. She only knew there had been a heated argument filled with insults that started at the buffet table. It had ruined the atmosphere. The host, looking for a way to salvage their party, suggested the chefs duke it out in the kitchen. They would get an answer as to who was the better chef and the guests would be entertained.

Lily stated she had never trained her palate, so she didn’t know how well she could judge the dishes. The host reassured her and said to choose whichever dish she found more delicious. Afterall, if a chef couldn’t appeal to the majority, then could they really call themselves the best? Plus, Lily was in neither chef’s pocket, so her judgment would be impartial. Lily made a mental note and placed this host on her “Good Acquaintance” list.

Word Count: 479

The scent of sausage filled the air, waking Lily. Cracking an eye open, she stared blankly ahead. The furniture was blurry in her groggy state. Closing her eye, she pulled the blanket around her tighter, enjoying the warmth.

After ten seconds, she jumped out of the bed with a start. She finally processed that this wasn’t her room. She had only died a couple of days previously and had yet to find a place of her own. So where was she? Racking her brain, she recalled finding shelter at a library. Was she still in the library? The small bedroom seemed an odd addition to a building dedicated to knowledge.

Glancing at a dresser, she noticed a stack of fabric and a note. ‘Eat, bathe, and don your new uniform. I want you presentable before we speak. Gregorovic’

“Right, I have a job now.” Lily lifted the clothing and found a blouse, vest, and long skirt. She looked herself over in the nearby mirror. Her clothing was stained and tattered. She brought a sleeve up to her nose and sniffed, recoiling immediately. She then glanced at the bed, noticing the filth she had left behind. “Gregorovic,” she mumbled, assuming the name matched the elderly, dapper gentleman she recalled from the previous night, “I’ll need to thank him.”

Taking a long, deep breath to quiet her mind and nerves, she sat down at a desk to eat. Lily picked at her food, cautious of any hidden additives. When she felt enough time passed without any ill effects, she devoured the food.

She was startled by a knock as soon as she set her utensils down. “Yes?” she warily asked, slowly standing.

The door opened. A woman a couple of feet taller than Lily stood on the other side. “Well, aren’t you just precious.” The stranger stepped into the room, causing Lily’s tail to puff up and her ears to fold back. The reaction was met with a chuckle. “So, kitty’s a scaredy cat.” She picked up the uniform, noticing Lily’s eyes trailing after her. “Or just cautious.” She spun on her heel and walked out the door. “Come along, let’s get you cleaned up. Vic expects you soon.”

Lily suddenly realized there was only one door and no attached bath. She had no choice but to follow. Halfway down the hall, the stranger turned around to face Lily but kept walking backwards. “You should know, Gregorovic is the law here as he owns everything you see. There’s no council or committee. He consults no one and makes all decisions. If he says you do something, you do it. Understood?” She received a hesitant nod. “Good, now a word of advice, don’t disrespect his books. Ever. You’ll die a second, albeit, temporary death. Regenerating is said to be excruciating. So, be smart and attentive.”

Lily swallowed at the warning, nodding again.

Word Count: 341

An invitation written in immaculate cursive sat on the staff table. The border was elaborate and covered in gold leaf. The thick parchment was handmade with flower petals mixed into the paper fibers. The familiar heavy scent of a floral perfume had been spritzed on the invitation.

Annette’s eyes were filled with hopeful anticipation. “You’ll come with me, right? I know it’s only been three weeks since the last party and you said no more than one a month.”

Lily continued to stare at the invitation. It made her stomach turn. “This is the host who had the big hair, avant-garde dress, and gawdy jewelry right?”

“You remember!” Annette excitedly said. “Wait, was it really gaudy?”

The question was met with an immediate sneer. “Money does not always equate to taste. It detracted from the dress. Sometimes, less is more.” Lily nudged the invitation. It agitated the obnoxious perfume, causing her to pull her ears back in distaste.

“Are… you okay?”

Lily’s brows remained furrowed as she did not look away. “This is the same person who derided one guest for wearing wine red instead of crimson. Poured a glass of wine on them and laughed, saying “No one could tell.” Mocked me for not knowing some obscure detail. Was utterly disrespectful to myself and other guests. And we can’t forget, she humiliated the poor server WHOM SHE PURPOSELY TRIPPED AND THEN FIRED!” Her outburst caused Annette to move away. “And she gets away with it because she has money. She has a name.” Lily’s claws splintered the wooden tabletop as she seethed. “Because people never call out her abhorrent behavior and cater to her whims, her toxicity continues. She’s the definition of money does not buy class. May I never have the misfortune of crossing paths with that wretch ever again.” She could not contain the growl deep in her throat.

After a few moments filled with long, deep breaths to calm herself down, Lily looked up to Annette. “She’s on my “Bad Acquaintance” list. I’m not going.”

“I understand.”

Word Count: 350

Lily surmised drinks were not the sole purpose of tonight’s outing. Annette had both been vibrating and down all day but had remained silent. Sitting down in a booth, the dim lighting and soft music created a comfortable atmosphere in the lounge.

Four drinks later, to Lily’s one, Annette was animated to say the least. She enthusiastically spoke of a person who had caught her eye. She gasped, gushed, and swooned as she recalled events of their meeting.

After the fifth drink, she collapsed on top of Lily, causing them both to fall on the booth seat. “Oof! Will you get off, you’re… a lot.”

“Are you calling me heavy?”

“No. You’re just… tall. A LOT taller than me.”

Annette pouted but hugged Lily’s body tightly instead of getting up. She fell into a long silence, which was a stark contrast to her enthusiasm earlier. The once cheerful atmosphere became somber. Lily looked off to the side, catching sight of other lounge guests, as they were engrossed in their own conversations. She began to gently stroke Annette’s hair. “I’m sorry. I promise I wasn’t insulting you.”

“You’ve ruined me.”

“What?!”

Annette lifted herself up with one arm so she could look down into Lily’s eyes. “You’re always so damn pragmatic. I can’t fall head over heels for anyone anymore because I have your logical questions rattling around my brain. I barely know them, how can I trust them? Do they make me feel safe?” She laid back down and hid her face to hide her forming tears. “What’s their personality like? Do they ask me questions? Are they curious about my interests? How do they treat wait staff? All of your stupid, stupid questions. They make me think instead of feel.”

Lily wasn’t sure how to respond, so she continued to stroke her friend’s hair to calm her. After the quiet sniffling ceased, she spoke up. “So, we have tomorrow off and I’m all ears. Do you want to gush over the one you fancy, or cry about a love lost too soon?”

Word Count: 327

Nervousness and hesitancy, those were the two things keeping Lily rooted to the ground in front of the car. She turned to look back at the people behind her. “I really don’t think I can do this. I’m not ready for this responsibility.”

Annette sighed. “We’ve been over this. The usual guy is missing and none of us can leave, but you can.”

“I know! You all have specialized abilities. It’s not like I’m unwilling to do your jobs, I just simply can’t. But two weeks? Or more? I understand the importance behind conducting an inspection and audit at the associated bookstores,” Lily made eye contact with Gregorovic, “but am I really the right person? I’ll mess up and the managers won’t take me seriously.” She gripped the handle on her suitcase tighter.

Gregorovic, an imposing, elderly man, walked down the steps he had been standing on and stopped at the edge of the library boundary, unable to take one step more. “I am aware you are more concerned about leaving the city than the responsibilities I have placed on you. Know that all my bookstores are built with the same layouts, so, regardless of which city you are in, you will find familiarity. Just remember, should anyone bother you or refuse to listen, my name carries the weight of both respect and fear in this region. Use it, if necessary,” a soft, calming smile graced his lips, “you will be safe. Now, go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you will return.”

Word Count: 137

Word Count: 262

“What’s that look for?” Annette asked as soon as Lily clocked in.

“I’ve never seen someone manifest before. It was… strange, grotesque, yet fascinating.”

“Ah,” Annette nodded knowingly. “To be in the right place at the right time to witness a new soul’s arrival is quite something. That reminds me, how long have you been here now? Eight months? Ten?”

Lily tilted her head. “I believe… a year and four months. Next week?”

Annette gasped as if she had been insulted. “A year? You never told me your deathiversary passed!”

“Jeez! Dramatic much?” Lily held a hand to her chest at the spontaneous attitude change. “And I forgot. I didn’t know it was important. Why is it important?”

“It’s the day of your death and rebirth. When you become a new you. Some people call it Rebirth Day and others ignore it to celebrate their original birthdays. To each their own, I guess. But Lily,” Annette grabbed both of her coworker’s hands, “it’s your first year. Your first milestone of eternity. Belated as it is, we must celebrate.” She let go and twirled around the room, a gleeful smile on her lips. She started muttering to herself about venues, guests, themes, and more.

Word Count: 474

For the two hours Lily spent helping people use the library’s magic pedestals to search for the books they needed, she had felt someone’s eyes on her. As soon as the last patron wandered off Annette stepped into view. “I’ve decided, you’re my plus one.”

“Pardon?”

The older woman stood tall and poised. She no longer gave off the younger vibe she usually portrayed. “Some acquaintances are hosting a ball next month and I don’t have a date. I don’t want to show up alone and you need to get out and live a little.”

Lily slowly blinked as she processed her coworker’s words. “A ball? People still have those?” She received a single nod in return. “Wha-what does that have to do with you stalking me today. It was unnerving.”

“Watching. Not stalking.” Annette heard a mumbled ‘close enough,’ but waved it away. “I wanted to know how much work I’ll need to put into you. You carry yourself… well enough? But I’ll have my work cut out for me with your etiquette lessons for the next month.”

“Excuse me!” Lily practically shouted. She clasped a hand over her mouth as patrons looked up from their books. Lily pulled Annette by the arm and dragged her to an employee’s only room. “What lessons? Why? I never agreed to this!”

“The hosts are snobbish. They pride themselves on their prestige and will tear anyone apart with their flowery words who don’t meet their standards. They’re annoying, but the parties they host are worthwhile. Fortunately, you have a backbone. You’ll be there for the experience, not to cozy up to them. Greet the hosts, share some brief pleasantries, and enjoy the ball.” Annette looked the younger woman up and down again. “We’ll work on your posture, walk, and curtsy. Once you’ve mastered those, we’ll work on other etiquette requirements.”

Lily’s mouth had dropped open in disbelief. “This is absurd. I never agreed.”

Annette gave a knowing smile. “They always provide extravagant and exotic foods.”

Lily crossed her arms and huffed. Her glare received a laugh in return. “How long have you known?”

“That you’re food driven. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.” Annette chuckled, tapping Lily on the nose. “Pack an overnight bag, you’ll be staying with me starting tomorrow. I want to make use of every minute we have.” She lifted a hand to silence the younger woman’s obvious protest. “I promise I won’t be a tyrant. I know you know how to say no, but what do you say?”

Lily let silence fill the space between them. She smirked when Annette began to fidget. “Fine.” She was met with a sigh of relief. “To lift a pinky, or not to lift a pinky, that is the question.”

“Cute. But current trends say not to.”

“And so, the guidance begins.”

Word Count: 268

It was after hours and Annette rushed outside. She caught Lily by the shoulders and spun her in the opposite direction she had been walking. “Don’t bail on me! I asked you to help.”

“And I told you to have more faith in yourself. I told you what questions to ask and what visual clues to look for. You don’t need me.” Lily tried to shimmy out of her coworker’s grasp.

“Yes, I do. My track record has been crap this past century.”

“It’s not my fault you fall for the worst people. Now, please let go.”

Annette relented and released her grip. “Dinner’s on me. Just listen and let me know if they’re lying or not.”

Lily paused. Food was always a motivator. “I could lie. I could use you for a free meal and leave.”

“You seriously think I’d fall for that? You’re too honest for your own good. Usually too good for your own good.” Annette received an odd look that seemed to question if her words were a compliment or insult. She ignored it and placed a hand on Lily’s back to guide her to their destination. “It’s probably why you’re a living lie detector. If I had your power, there’s so much BS I’d never have put up with.”

“As beneficial as it is, always knowing the truth isn’t as wonderful as it seems.”

Word Count: 353

“Looks like you’ve had a shadow for a few weeks now.” Annette bumped shoulders with Lily.

“And it looks like you’ll be as busy as ever with new translations.” Lily stated, looking at the cart filled with pens, parchment, and books her older coworker was pushing.

Annette ignored the change of subject. “He’s cute. I’d almost say hot.”

“Is he?” Lily responded indifferently, as she continued walking.

“He’s been asking about you… respectfully.”

“Hmm.”

Annette huffed at the lack of interest. “You’ve been here for what? Two years? Three? You haven’t dated once. You also never take anyone home to…” she immediately cut herself off. She knew the glare she received at her insinuation was her only warning. “I’m just saying, you always go home alone. To an empty home. Isn’t it time? I’ve never met someone who wasn’t at least looking.”

“Never is a stretch for someone from the 1400’s. And I decide when it’s time.”

“Come on, Lily. When I spoke to the guy, he sounded so sweet and thoughtful.” The older woman sharply jerked her cart to cut off her coworker’s path. “You should put yourself out there. Give him a chance. Don’t you remember your crushes and how you yearned for them?”

Lily pushed the offending cart out of the way. “First, the rare crushes I had were filled with infatuation, not yearning. I didn’t pursue them nor want to date them.” She received a skeptical eyebrow raise. “Second, I’m not obligated to accept someone’s advances. The reverse is also true. And third, I feel nothing towards them. I’m simply not interested.”

“You were married.”

“Yes. When I was alive. And?”

“Don’t you want that again?”

Lily turned to face Annette. “Perhaps. One day. But for the foreseeable future, I’m not interested in intimate relationships nor the expectations that come with them.”

“There’s no convincing you, is there?” Annette asked, exasperation filling her voice.