Nickolai squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the high pitched meow of this short and stubby cat, Lucifer. ... His fur was puffed up and he wouldn't move; Nick just decided that Lucifer could hear the neighbors dog and it was freaking him out. Lucifer had been a part of Nick's life ever since he was ten years old. That was ten years ago. ... My wife decided that she was tired of me and used my money to hire a hitman to take me out. ...

• Word Count: 2774
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

I knew war was going to change my life but I never thought it would be this dramatic of a change. My name is Axle Steele and I served in the United States Marine Corps from the years 2002 to 2008 in active duty. ... I was neither the strongest man nor the biggest, but I've always told myself, "It's not the size of the dog that's in the fight, it's the size of the fight that's in the dog.... This is where my life would be changed forever. ... He was in shock that I saved his life by taking a bullet for him. ...

• Word Count: 2540
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School