The Luminous Dead

by Caitlin Starling

Like the fact that early teams that went down to establish mines or take samples ended up dead. Ninety percent failure rate. Big groups, small groups, solo explorers . . . it didn’t matter. Something always killed them.

A cave monster

Gyre watched her for a moment, transfixed by the gentle curve of her cheek, the slight parting of her lips, before she realized her heart was fluttering in her chest. Her pulse was quickening, and she hated it. It wasn’t fair. Not only was she—stupidly—considering helping the other woman, even after everything that had passed between them, but Em was just her type. She was smart and driven and beautiful, and so unreachable that she could’ve been halfway across the galaxy.

Gays are hopeless ...

“I’m a stubborn bitch who knows best.

I’m sorry for taking steps to protect myself and keep you from doing this to somebody else? I’ve been fantasizing about you, I hate what you’ve done to me, but I can’t stop needing you, I’m so angry, I’m so sorry, I wish we’d met some other way, I wish you weren’t crazy, I wish I wasn’t an idiot?

Lesbians... We are insane

If we’re apart, we’re alone. I don’t want to be alone.” “I don’t want to hurt you again. Ever again,” Em whispered. “Come with me,” she repeated. She couldn’t articulate the rest of it, how Em leaving would hurt, how her staying would hurt, how there was no way either of them could ever win. But she wanted Em there, with her. She wanted to experience the pain together, to struggle together, to hate each other and need each other, maybe even to love each other when the rubble cleared. She’d thought about it every day since waking up, and so many days before.

TOXIC YURI!!!!!!!!!

They had broken each other open down in the dark, and now that their wreckage was splayed out in the light, Gyre recognized every inch of Em, and Em knew every inch of her.