Our Voice Volume 7

Our Voice Volume 7 Page 13

by Scot McAtee

  ***** I smiled as another thud hit its mark some 200 feet away. I could only rely on my ears for this, as all the lights had been turned off, really practicing my skill sets. I pulled another dagger from my belt and put the blade in between my fingers, focused completely. That is, until a voice behind me irked every nerve in my body, making me jump.

  “My stomach’s got the rumblies only my shurikens can satisfy.” I ran my hand through my hair, glad Kane couldn’t see how badly he scared me in the dark. I let a shaky breath escape my lips. The only person with enough skill to sneak up on me was my brother.

  “Well you should’ve eaten the oats and fruit I laid out for you. Did you even bother to drink that protein shake? You need your energy today..” Silence answered my questions and I could practically hear his eyes rolling. A quick whiz and thump told me Kane was hurling his shurikens toward any target in his path with a killer aim. Using throwing stars as your weapon of choice, I guess you’d have to have almost perfect aim since their damage was no match to my razor sharp daggers. I strained my ears to focus on Kane as he pulled a star out and delicately placed it between his fingers. I brought a dagger up, poised and deadly. If I wanted this to work, I’d have to time it just right. I heard a slight exhale and a sweeping of air as he let loose a star. Replicating his exact actions, I sent a dagger shooting toward his weapon. A metallic klinck filled the air, followed by the sound of a star and a dagger falling on the concrete floor. I had hit his star in the complete dark.

  “What the hell?” Lights filled the room blindingly as the target area was illuminated. In the middle of the range, a shuriken lay lopsided with a dagger in the center of it. Kane trotted over to it, his floppy hair catching air as he went. As he turned his gaze to me, anger filling his every pore, I smiled modestly and cleared my throat.

  “Family meeting. In the kitchen. Work on minding your surroundings next time, little brother.”  I grabbed my dagger, gently caressing the blade of it. You did so good, and not a single dent! I turned on my heel, filing out of the target room as a faint voice behind me made me roll my eyes.

  “Okay Onii-chan.” A sigh escaped my throat as I put the dagger back into my belt.

  It was way too early to deal with Kane.

  Kane swept around me as we entered the large kitchen of our estate. To my distaste, he nimbly pulled himself on top of a countertop and sat poised on the balls of his feet. I shook my head and pulled a stool out. To my dismay, a heavily bruised apple rolled out from behind my seat and tumbled its way just under where Kane was perched. He seemed to interested in the ceiling to notice me rolling my eyes. At 17, you’d think he’d be able to clean up his own messes. “Kane, I got a message from headquarters this morning.” The boy’s eyes lit up with a sense of hope that killed me. I knew what he wanted to hear, sadly this was not it. “It’s not about dad..” Kane slumped back down and stared intently at his feet.

  “Oh.” I bit my lip looking at the broken hearted look on his face. He did such a good job of keeping his feelings locked up, but even at his best I could read him like a book.

  “Yeah so… sorry.” I cleared my throat awkwardly. A bit of silence ate at my mind as I recalled the lack of sympathy in my voice. Just because I had accepted our dad’s disappearance, didn’t mean Kane had.

  “It’s okay….Onii-chan.” The tension around us lifted with the return of my brother’s sarcastic tone. I looked into his eyes, still red-rimmed, framed with a smile that overtook his face; the only thing prevented him from growing up.

  “Stop calling me that, please.”

  “But onii-chan-“

  “Kane.”

  “Takashi. We’re Japanese. Gotta speak it sometime.”

  “Nope.”

  “You’re just a Debbie downer.” I stared at my brother in total disbelief. I could easy throw a dagger and cut his tongue, prevented his constant talking. “And plus, mom was American.”

  “Yeah, but dad wasn’t so-“ I looked at Kane, waiting for him to finish. The playful look in his face was gone again, replaced by the scared little boy who still needed his big brother to tie his shoes for him.

  “Look, Otouto, I know it’s been hard on you since dad has been gone, but at least we-“

  “Like it hasn’t been hard on you? Stop acting like it never happened and that you’re fine!” I readied my retort as heavy steps behind me made me forget everything. My mind raced with images of enemy assassins finally coming to return the favor and strange creatures awaiting their morning snack. Without hesitation, I let a hidden blade drop from a resting place on my forearm fall into the palms of my hands. Catching it, I lifted to me feet and turned on my heel, ready to defend my home.

  “Sir?” Thail stopped in his tracks and turned his gaze the blade, poised numbly in my fingertips. I cleared my throat, once again and slid the blade back up into its holster, letting a fake smile ease the tension. Being a trained assassin made you constantly on edge.

  “Ah Thail, sorry about that! Just a bit jumpy I guess!” I let out a slight chuckle and turned to Kale for backup. The boy slid off the counter, silently landing on his feet. I use to call him a cat when he was younger, his slender build and swift reflexes making him excel in almost every physical obstacle he came across. I almost let a smile stretch across my lips as I remembered how he retorted back, calling me a stupid ox, referring to my thick biceps and raw strength, needed for throwing daggers and blades.

  “Uh, yeah Thail, what’s up? Lame. I shook my scruffy head, shooting Kale a look of disbelief. He shrugged and allowed a slight smirk to curve his mouth.

  “Sir, do you wish me to write a reply concerning the letter you have received this morning?” I began to say that there was no need when Kane cut me off, yet again. He was so good at that.

  “Oh yeah, what letter? What happened? This was a family meeting, remember?” Kane’s eyes suddenly became larger as anxiety of what he didn’t know settled in. Of what I had been trying to tell him this whole time.

  “Oh, oh, I’m sorry.” I glanced at Thail, who looked taken back at Kane’s always empowering tone. “I didn’t realize that you guys were discussing something. My apologies sirs.”

  “No wait, Thail, you’re fine. Honest.” I walked over to where my brother stood and put my hands firmly on his shoulders. He tensed suddenly, coiling away from my touch. The way he use to when dad tickled his shoulders. Only this time, he looked like he wanted to yell instead of laugh.

  “Kane.” He looked back at me like an angsty teen would look at their mom. I cringed, hoping to never receive that look again. “We uh.. have some things to talk about. The letter was another job for me. Only this time, they gave me two targets, addressing one for you.” From the corner of my vision, I saw Thail sag his head and exit the kitchen. We had talked earlier today; he thought Kane wasn’t ready for his first assassination. I shook my head and returned my gaze to Kale. He looked, for the first time in a long time, at a loss for words. I never really explained to him the family business. Our father is-was, from Japan. Raised in the ways of his father before him, he became a lethal weapon, an assassin, taking on orders from his headquarters to take out petty thieves and spies. My father, at 18, was the best-known assassin in the whole continent, although very few had ever seen him. He kept to himself and was always so quick to move around, his build resembling Kane’s. When the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki hit, my father fled, sneaking into the borders of America where he conformed under a new American headquarters who vowed to keep his illegal immigration a secret as long as he took out anyone they asked. Later down the road he met a woman, cliché as it is, and fell madly in love. Together, they built our mansion in the money my father collected form bounties, and had Kane and I. My mother, blind of the job my father really had, soon was overwhelmed with questions that my father simply couldn’t answer. She left him, and with that left me and Kane. Still, my father’s work persisted leaving Thail as more of a fatherly figure than ever. I remember the night my dad got his last tar
get, he looked utterly exhausted. His hair was thick and distraught, in need of a cut he’d never have time for. His eyes usually so full of life were dull. As he slung his satchel over his shoulder, and turned to face me. I tried so hard to seem like a man, as I puffed out my chest and cast a blank expression across my face. He only sighed and shot me the half smile he always did. “You’re growing up too fast for your own good. Take care of your otouto.” That was my father’s last words to me, basically his dying wish. After a few weeks without a word from him, we accepted the worst. Thail took me to the side, telling me that my father had died. He told me not to tell my brother until he was ready. My mother, still unaware of how and why my dad died, moved back into our estate. That’s when I got the letter to uphold my dad’s oath to the headquarters, which I quickly accepted. I began to train vigorously, choosing the throwing knives as my weapon. All of this, I tried my best to keep away from Kane as best as I could. But, of course, you can only keep the disappearance of your father a secret for so long.

  When Kane was 15, I finally told him. The childish boy soon matured too quickly, and he joined me in the target room. To my disapproval, he chose the weakest weapon, throwing stars, used mainly for temporary handicapping a target rather than execute them. Kane had no idea our father use to be an assassin, nor that I was now. He had no idea the weapons he trained with so vigorously every day would sometime save his life. But with each day, Kane’s assassin blood showed more and more as he learned the shuriken more than I could ever. Still, duty calls, as I collected more and more letters stating my next targets. Mother moved out shortly after I stupidly returned home after an especially exhausting assassination involving platform jumping and throwing blades at a target almost 500 feet away with lacerations covering my body and an arrow shaft still lodged in my calve. Thail, then, took over the parenting role, raising Kane like one of his own, knowing one day he’d be recruited for the assassin brotherhood. What he didn’t realize is that they’d ask for him at such a young and innocent age of 17.

  And still, Kane stared into my eyes, and smiled. I took a double take, glancing off once to register the what exactly was happening. This life was so cruel, sucking what individuality you possess, changing you into a killing machine that’s fed targets by people you never met. And for some reason he was smiling. I turned back to my brother and searched his expression for any sign of fear, apprehension, oh god please. What had he drilled into his head that told him that decided to give him what he wanted.

  “The task is easy; locate your target without being seen, keep as far away as possible, kill as fast and stealthily as possible. That means you’d have to use one of those quick spins to the jugular I showed you how to do on those dummies.” I stopped and drummed my fists on the counter as Kane nodded attentively, drinking it all in. Why him? “You’re target,” I motioned to a thick manila folder beside a half empty protein shake, “Is a good first-time kill. A teenager who got a little too lippy with what he said. He is accused of being an insider for an insider on the enemy side. He’ll be easy to spot because of certain… appearances.” Kane’s eyes furrowed, but I held up a hand before he could add a word. He could figure out what I meant later. “I’ll take the bigger of the targets; a big man involved in the black market. Something about him and the headquarters having a disagreement about a contract, but whatever. I never get into the backstories. Too many, there’s just too many. I could write biographies with the amount of information they give me about each target. I mean, is showering schedules really necessary?” I stopped, realizing I was rambling, and looked at my little brother who suddenly wasn’t looking so little as he squinted at the picture of his target. I traced along his facial features, begging for just a hint of remorse, but yet again was let down. Kane caught me staring after a few seconds and let a smirk take over his mouth. Well, at least that’s some expression.

  “This one mine?” I cringed, realizing how nonchalantly he made it sound. Like he had no feelings about killing another human being. I had been doing it for 5 years, almost 6, and I still wasn’t comfortable with the idea of it.

  Not wanting to see the sickening attentiveness on his face, I nodded slightly and looked away, finding a new pattern in the kitchen tile. “Purple hair? Really? Aw man, this guy’s hilarious. Oh no, look! It’s the evil boy with puuurple hair! Aaaah, help run!” I watched as he rose his hands like a man surrendering and waved them around. Stop it Kane. Can’t you be serious for just a moment? I glared at him, concurring a way to express how idiotic he was, and how he won’t get anywhere with that better-than-life attitude, but of course, he cut me off before a single word escaped my lips. “Chauncey, eh? Alright when do we start?” Kane’s eyes quickly shifted up to mine, but I knew he wasn’t done with his little spiel. He glanced back at the folder. “Says he allegedly a sidekick, has done all these things as a said sidekick, bla, bla, bla, he’s a skilled fighter, last name is unknown, parents are unknown, he braches off from his partner a lot, supposedly to run errands for said partner, unknown, unknown, unkown, says he’s…..around 18.” Kane’s voice trailed off. I felt a hint of guilt I felt at the pained expression finally on his face. He was finally getting it, these were people. Most not much older than I was. My brother glanced up, seeing my worried expression, and flashed one of his toothy grins. I knew it was an act to put me at ease. I refused to meet his eyes.

  “We leave tonight. Based on his daily schedules the headquarters gave you, you’ll need to pinpoint where they are and stalk them until an execution is able to happen. And Kane…” The boy looked up, his eyes more focused than ever before, “Mind your surroundings.”

  I rounded the corners of the hallways until I came into the doorway of my room; of our room. Despite the many vacant rooms, Kane and I mutually agreed we’d feel safer sleeping in the same room. That meant I would give up organization and have to deal with Kane’s extraordinary smells to have the satisfying feeling I was protecting my brother from enemies he didn’t even know existed. I crossed the room, eyeing the shirt I threw on my brother this morning being absorbed by the mass of crumpled tshirts of my brother. He can’t even fold his clothes, is he even ready for this? The anxiety of realizing how ill-prepared my brother was for this ate me away as I opened a thick, metal door of my weaponry. I undid my leather belt, equipped with all my practice blades. In its place, I clipped on a lighter, darker belt. The blades on it were deadly sharp, each a haunting shade of black that glistened red in the light. I reached into the back of the closet and opened a briefcase filled with specialty poisoned blades. I, myself, was immune to the poison as I had been taking it in small doses for years to build immunity. As was Kane, taking his doses in bread and pastries, something I knew he actually eats. I swept a light, grey cloak from a rack and knee high boots and greaves, in case I would need to platform jump again. I shuddered at the thought of it. The last time, police were on my tail and finally cornered me on a ten story building. I can still imagine the sickening feeling of falling without reassurance of ground under your feet, and the shocking tremble as the concrete roof slammed into the heels of your feet. My greaves absorbed most of the shock, but I still limped for weeks afterwards. I slipped on the boots and greaves and other armor and loped toward the window. Might as well warm up, aye? My leather-gloved hands pushed open the window and without thinking too much, I propelled myself out of it. I soon was falling, the ground becoming closer and closer. A faint smile overcame my lips as I ducked at the last moment, executing a perfect barrel roll finish. The soft grass left no sores as I rolled back onto my feet. I crossed the courtyard where I had landed, to the cobblestone garage where I kept my baby. She was gorgeous, my own buy I’m proud to say. After father died, I sold his McLaren to cover her cost. Or, cover some of her cost I should say, as my girl cost almost double Kane’s Hennessey Venom GT did. Eying the protective keypad, I typed in the 35 number code and waited for the garage door to lift revealing her sleek, black body. I blew out a cool blast of air as the Bugatti Veyron g
listened in the sun, all 1,200 horsepower of her.

  “Hey baby… you look gorgeous this morning..” I cooed softly, reaching into my pockets for her key. I unlocked the door, and slid into my black, cool seat. I shoved the key into the ignition and popped it right, and smiled menacingly as the engine purred. Like a kitten I recalled the car dealer saying. Automatically, a soothing barrage of brass and wind met my ears. I always insisted to listen to classical music before a job. I could only guess Kane would be blaring his crazy EDM hits, taking his mind castle into rave mode. I turned up the music a few levels smiling, I really like this symphony, and ran through mental notes of my target in my head. By the time I got to West Virginia, it would be dark. My target would be at the bar until 11, and then he’d take a cab to the street just before his estate. I’d take him out just before he entered his home, shooting out the light fixtures to make more of a cover. I grimaced as I thought of the whole scenario in my head. It seemed too easy.

  Driving for more than an hour, my mind replayed scenes of that morning in my head. I realized, then, how unprepared Kane probably was. Did he understand how incognito he had to be? A pang of guilt ate at my throat as I realized I had left him so abruptly. I guess I sort of forgot there were now two assassins in the household. I decided to give him a call as I left my right hand on the wheel and pushed a phone button on the steering wheel.

  “Call. Kane.” I demanded in a monotone voice. Immediately I heard a ring. Another ring. I listened to the continuous rings, drumming my hands on the wheel impatiently. Why wasn’t he answering?

  “Hey, yeah.. Miss me already?” Kane’s sarcastic tone on the other end only fed my frustration even more.

  “Why did it take you so long to pick up, Kane? You know, missed calls while on a job could mean you’re either A) Dead or B) Captured. Do you understand how important this is-“

  “Yo, stop, I get it. I had some phone complications, that’s all. You know its said that using your phone while driving is extremely dangerous even if it’s just a phone call. What’s so important you had to call me?”

  I closed my eyes tightly and pursed my lips in frustration. He wasn’t mature enough. He wasn’t ready for this. I let a cool breath escape my lips before continuing. “Do you have everything you need? I’m sure you can borrow some of my clothes if you haven’t already. Don’t wear any of your flashy band shirts please. I’d rather have my little brother not be a walking target, your hair is already a pretty dead giveaway-“

  “Relax, I found my stuff and I’m wearing one of those pull over hood things, so my face is covered. It’ll all be fine.” The determination in his voice was almost convincing. There was no way he was prepared for this. I wasn’t even prepared for this, and I’ve been doing it for over five years.

  “Okay.. okay. Just promise me you’ll answer next time… And put your phone on silent!” Too late. The line went dead on the other end, indicating Kane had hung up on me like always. Classy.

  After the fourth hour in my car crept close, I had already replayed my classical music cd five times. I became accustomed to every octave of the flutes and the steady harmonizing of the brass. A smile draped across my face as I remembered driving little Kane around in my car, blasting classical music through the open windows just to embarrass him. Of course, no one really paid attention to the music as the car itself was enough to hold your attention. Still, Kane’s face would blush as he popped up his collar and ducked at every pedestrian in his view. God, I missed moments like those. I hummed along to one of my favorite ballads as I pulled my car into where David, my target’s name, would be drinking in about three hours. Three whole hours. I sighed and flipped my Veyron into park. Might as well wait in position, aye? Pulling the hood over my features, I popped open my door. The bar’s parking lot was in need of repair, but posed as great camouflage. I pulled my cloak around me and crossed the lot to a small crack in a cement wall, deciding David wouldn’t focus hard enough on the crack to notice me crouching in it. I sat on my heels, and began to go over the plan in my head, over and over, correcting something new each time. Time crept past, as it always did in gut wrenching moments like these, and soon darkness fell. My mind, at this time totally focused on any movement around me, picked up on a slight engine sounding down the road to my left. I pointed all my senses in that direction without moving a muscle. Yes, there would be a car pulling into the lot soon. I sniffed the air around me, picking up a strong smell of diesel. David drove a truck, diesel of course. Obviously he didn’t care about the ozone layer at all, my mind raced as thick smoke framed a pair of headlights pulling into the lot, parking sloppily next to my car. I swear to GOD if you put one dent, if you even touch her… Luckily, the fat man rolled out of his truck, glancing back at my Veyron multiple times, but didn’t touch her. My hand instinctively went to my belt, grabbing a blade at my side. I could do it here… I could kill him now and then go help Kane. Kane needed me. Kane was alone. Kane is only a kid.

  No. I realized how much I almost convinced myself as I saw the blade poised and ready for flight in my hand. That wasn’t my way. I never rushed an execution. It wasn’t fair. I hastily put the blade back into my belt and watched as my target walked into the bar, escaping my range.

  Yet again, I found myself going over my plan in my head. Having Kane in mind, I shortened the process. I decided it technically wasn’t rushing it was simplifying. In reality, I couldn’t shake the idea of Kane out there by himself. Not my little brother. I’d take David out just before he entered his truck with a poisoned blade. I could knick his ear, a wound basically invisible to the human eye. The poison would still be totally deadly and he’d look like he fell on his head to hard while drunkenly ambling into his truck. A quick, effortless plan, I praised myself as the heavy metal door of the bar swung open. Out ambled an even fatter David and, to my delight, no one else. A couple people had strolled in during my time waiting, but they would still be in there for a bit.

  “S’not my truck… THETS’NOT MY TRUCK..” The drunk man pointed madly at his own truck, denying his ownership. I shook my head; it almost seemed cruel to take him out in a state like this! Still, the man zig-zagged toward the truck that “wasn’t his” and pulled a keyring from his pocket. Better now than ever. Quick as flame catches gasoline; I snapped into a standing position and drew a blade from my belt. I aimed silently, drew back, exhaled, and let it loose. There was a metallic ring as it flew through the air, followed by a quick thwwt. I smiled, knowing my target only had seconds. It had hit it’s mark perfectly. Before David could look up to what hit him, he crumpled to the floor like a ragdoll. Quickly, I sprinted to across the body and snatched my blade, replacing it into my belt. I averted my eyes away from what use to be David as I made my way to my car. I hated the look of dead bodies, even more so when I knew I was the one who killed them.

  Igniting the engine, music filled the empty space around me. Unlike before, it felt too loud and intrusive. I couldn’t think, as I had been in silence for too long. Instead of taking the road I took to get here, I veered right sharply and put more pressure on the gas. Anxiety crept into my mind as I imagined David’s lifeless body being replaced by Kane’s. Oh god. Oh my god is he doing okay? “Of course he is. My little brother is fine. He isn’t stupid.” I answered myself. Still, images of finding Kane on the ground with a faraway look made my heart beat too fast. I’ll just call him. When he answers, I’ll play it off as cool. I pushed, no slammed the phone button on my wheel basically yelling “CALL. KANE.” Immediantly, the phone rung, a good sign. Oh, he’s fine. Stop working yourself up!” More ringing. I slammed my fist into the side of my leg, trying to focus on the pain instead of the dread in my gut. Ring. Ring. Ring. “Yo, it’s me. I’m probably ignoring you but odds are, you’ll leave a message anyway so wait until the beeping thing-“ Slamming my fist on my wheel, I put more pressure on the gas reaching 110 mph with ease. Kane was in trouble I convinced myself. That Chauncey brat got him. Keeping one hand on the wheel I reached into
the backseat and felt around for the extra files I kept on every target. I picked one up, bringing in front of me and smiled as I saw Chauncey’s name sprawled neatly across the top. I drank in all the information, immediately memorizing everything. He would be gambling at bar, the place where Kane would most likely take him out. I punched the address into the gps screen on my console and, yet again, put more weight on the pedal. I could easily be put away for years for going this speed, but they’d have to catch me first.

  Beside me, a metallic ring echoed around me, causing me to jump and veer off the road slightly. My heart raced as I saw Kane’s name on the front screen. I was almost a half hour away from his location. I picked it up hastily and slid the screen to answer it. “Kane? Kane are you alright?”

  “Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just come get me.” His voice seemed small again, like the little boy asking me to leave the hallway light on while he slept. It sounded so weak, the opposite of what it did this morning. Not wanting to break anymore, I nodded to myself.

  “Yeah… Yeah I’m almost there. I got a little tense when you didn’t answer me the first time. Stay hidden. I love-“I stopped suddenly, awed that the words fell out so easily. They felt foreign, unsaid between us for years. My face lit up in embarrassment. “I’m… I’m just really proud of you Kane.”

  “Oh- yeah, thanks.” He said shortly. I hung up, and threw the phone on the seat next to me. Whatever happened to Kane tonight, I was still glad he was alive. Above myself in relief, I flipped on the music again, humming loudly to the brass section. I slowed down to the speed limit, which seemed incredibly slow compared to the pace I was going before. My brother survived his first job. He did it.

  Rounding a sharp, left turn, I pulled into the lot where I assumed Kane had done his work. I put my car in park, pulling the keys from the ignition I popped open the car door and began to cross the parking lot. A movement in a dark alley to my right caught my eye and I drew a blade from my belt. It was in the shape of a crouched person, seemingly rocking or shaking. I sidestepped closer, barely daring to breathe. I strained my ears, but could only make out a cricket calling for a mate and the faint rasping of air. Kane? I drew my blade half-cocked, mutually, not knowing if the person was friend or foe. I drew a quick breath before running straight on to a wall, running up it with ease, and caught my knees on the roof, pulling myself up. Now that I had the advantage, I crossed the distance between me and the figure looking down on it. It was a boy, rocking back and forth on his knees. I squinted at a faint glint by his side; a shuriken.

  “Kane?” I jumped down from the roof, landing a foot in front of my brother, making him scatter sideways in fear. I stepped back, giving him space. “It’s me, Takashi… Are you injured?” I began to scan his body with my eyes, I was extremely adapted to the dark but his dark clothes made it an obstacle for me.

  “No.” His voice still sounded strained. I sighed, extending my hand to help him to his feet.

  “Let’s get out of here.” I pulled him to his feet.

  …

  “My God, what is that?” I reached my hand to Kane’s face, tracing along the start of a black eye as big as a fist. He cringed, batting my hand away. My curiosity was replaced with anger as I realized he his target made contact with him. “You mean you got close enough to let him do this? Kane! You were supposed to stay hidden! You could’ve gotten killed! What were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t thinking, onviously. I didn’t mean for him to see me. What, you think I wanted him to deck me in the face? I’m sorry, but if I recall correctly you told me he’d be an easy first time kill.” I bit my lip in frustration.

  “You know what my first kill was? A governor. Do you realize how hard that was? And, if I recall correctly, I warned you to mind your surroundings. You weren’t ready for this. I shouldn’t have let you gone.”

  “No, Takashi, you weren’t ready for this. You didn’t even prep me. You just took off and, what, called me to see if I was okay halfway through the way there? Did you just expect me to pull this off flawlessly like you do? I’m sorry I can’t be like you.” Guilt welled up inside my throat and I cursed as I pulled my car off the road, parking it in a cornfield.

  “Kane… you don’t have to be like me.” I said quietly, turning to face him. “You think I got training when dad died? I didn’t even get someone to call me halfway through. I’m sorry that you felt so unprepared, but no amount of prep would prepare you for the real job. I know this now. I don’t want you to this anymore. I mean look, you’re shaking!” Kane’s face looked appalled and looked out the window. His voice came out surprisingly calm.

  “You remember that night when you came home covered in blood all freaked out and then mom kicked us out afterwards? All that? You can’t tell me I’m not ready, or that you don’t want me to do this, because you weren’t ready either.” His voice grew quieter, almost drowsier. “Look, I’m just going to go to sleep now. We can talk about this tomorrow. Also, we need to go get my car. Poor thing is all alone.” I smiled as Kane positioned himself comfortably on his seat. “Oh , and one more thing Onii-chan, I love you too.” His voice trailed away and I knew he had fallen asleep. A permanent smile plastered my face as I watched his outline rise and fall in a constant pattern. I popped my car into first, and stepped on the gas to take us home. In my head, my father’s words to keep my little brother safe replayed in my head.

  I promise ,dad, I promise.

  Night

  Poetry

  Vanessa Ford

  The afternoon is dropping to its knees

  For the ever shifting sorrows

  Burden the light with oily tears

  Dripping slowly onto a pillowcase sky

  No one questions the way wind blows

  Or asks a bird to stop its song

  But when the day becomes too weak to bear

  The earth is pulled down with her

  Vanishing the laugh of the playful day

  She lets out a cry of pain

  But only stars come out to hear her melody

  The emptiness confronts her

  Perched on the descending sun

  Her absence creating places so dark in your head

  You must never visit

  Choice

  Vanessa Ford

  I was not supposed to remember the day they stripped my grace away from me. Gabriel swore to me through gritted teeth they’d rip every last memory from inside of me and leave me blank and afraid. After he pushed my face into the chair and muttered a curse word in a forgotten tongue, my last memory is falling. And even remembering falling is hard, I know I fell for centuries and no time or weather could match my speed. I’ve had a lot of time to try and think back, to desperately scratch at the wall dividing me and my memories.

  Gabriel must’ve known I’d try to do this. I’m smart and powerful but he knows. When I glimpse at the massive, pink gashes down my back, painful, red-hot surges crush my thinking pattern. That’s how Gabriel makes me stop remembering. Every time I think back to a certain point, (usually before the fall,) he sets my mind on fire. No matter how much I prepare myself, the blinding pain cuts through the flashbacks, scattering them to pieces. And with them went the hopes of finding who I am, or who I was. That is, until I found Gabriel’s loophole.

  There is only one place in your mind no one can control, no matter how hard they try. The only place that bends physics without actually leaving reality; your dreams. Dreams are you, like your bones or your DNA. Dreaming is how I see myself as I use to be. I was beyond beautiful, as all of us were. No human could make eye contact with us without instantly becoming self-conscious. I use to walk down a cobblestoned alley every night. I had control of Italy. My only job was to monitor the human activity and recall my findings every century to Gabriel.

  The particular night I get flashes of every night when I sleep was dreary. The whole night was chilling from the thick fog to the gray surroundings. People huddled with each other, blowing out clouds of air and teeth cha
ttering. Like usual, I stood out from the mortals. My porcelain skin and slender build too foreign to the dark skinned Italians. I noticed many of the flush cheeked pedestrians swivel their view as I steadily walked by. Neither the temperature nor the lighting bothered me, but I made my way to a tiny store just to get away. “E 'inumano, un diavolo forse!” I heard a man mutter behind me. I showed no sign of annoyance from his assumptions of me being of devil blood. We weren’t burdened with petty human emotions.

  The tiny shops heavy wood door was skillfully etched with carving of bears and humans. The mammal’s paws threatened the small humans and made sure they knew how much power they held. I remember thinking that the bear was much like Gabriel but the reasoning is just out of my memory’s reach… I swung the door on its hinges and stepped in. My left wing, invisible to the human eye, hit the narrow doorway and I turned sideways in disgust. The doorways in my world were so large that you could walk through them with both 9 feet long wings outstretched fully. Once in, I gathered my surroundings. A short man sat behind a desk with colored paste all over himself. I started to think of how foolish this man was to still spill things on him until my eye caught on something. Rich, full colors of autumn and winter gathered on the desk where the man sat. My amber eyes must’ve been the size of tiny worlds as I clambered towards it. The man was no longer at his desk. He stood behind me, marveling at my looks and aura but I paid no mind. I was hypnotized by the man’s work. He seemed to of caught a full fall’s day with crisp, clear skies and golden rays of sun onto a single stretched piece of cloth. The delicately detailed leaves lay scattered on the fading grass and golden tree trunks held the color of thousands of changing leaves. I would’ve drunk in this amazement all day if I hadn’t noticed the man, still behind me, groping one of my wings.

  . . .

  When I first started dreaming, I was confused. Never in my holy state have had I experienced such a treasure. I disregarded them as just another human mind game until they started fitting together like puzzle pieces. While the details were still fresh in my mind when I woke up, I’d draw them until the flames in my head began. I did this for 9 years, only being able to draw a few lines before Gabriel noticed and repeating dream was pushed back so far into my mind; every night was like the first night experiencing them. If he knew how vivid my dreams were and how much memory I received from them, I’m almost certain he’d murder me right on the spot. But dreams don’t actually happen in the mind, more on the sub consciousness. Gabriel only realized I was remembering when I woke up. The night I attempted to draw the painter holding my wing was a pain I have never experienced before. The pain so white it seemed to melt my brain inside its skull. Whoever the painter was, Gabriel did not want me to remember. After months of only scratching out a few lines of the man, I finally completed it.

  . . .

  I swung around so fast, the wind my wings created knocked not only the painter to the ground, but also several artworks and vases. I pulled a long, thin blade from inside my leather sheath and dropped down so I held it just under the man’s neck. Gasping he mumbled out incoherent words and put his shaking hands palms up as if it would stop me from beheading him. I stared at him with the amber of my eyes glistening with anger. “How do you see them?” I spat coldly at him in their ugly, mortal tongue. The man shook his head violently until I pressed the blade, so thin it could cut through diamond, harder on the man’s clean shaved jugular. “HOW. DO. YOU. SEE. THEM?” I practically screamed at him through clenched teeth. Powerless, the man gave in. He sucked in an uneven breath and seemed to choose his words carefully.

  “At first I only sensed their presence. Your, er, wings,” I clenched the blade harder as he confirmed the word. “They gave off an aura of beauty. I only guessed that something was there, I swear to the Lord I can’t see them! I only sense them.” My mind fluttered around the painter’s words. He sensed them? He was the first mortal who could even come close to seeing my full grace. Yes, the raw beauty and glowing eyes were noticeable to everyone, but my wings were supposed to be permanently hidden unless upon my command.

  “Liar.” I breathed as I put even more pressure on the blade. A thin bead of blood showed where the metal touched skin. “What are you? One of Lucifer’s spies? A Halfling? A fallen angel?”

  “No one!” He screeched, “Just a simple man!” I couldn’t taste a lie in the air and his blood was definitely human. Cursing in a dead tongue, I lifted the blade and lifted to my feet. How could the man sense my wings but be only but a simple man? I turned around quickly and heard the man gasp as one of my invisible fore feathers dragged across his body. My eyes searched the room for any signs of sorcery or black magic. Sometimes, mortals bargain valuable teeth for the chance to catch a glimpse of an angel’s grace. The painter didn’t seem to be the type to steal the canines of a virgin. On the floor an orange glow caught my gaze. I strut over to the color and stared down at the autumn’s day that drew me in before. Some of the wet paint was now smeared from the fall but the picture was still hypnotizing. If the man could recreate something as intricate and breathtaking as this during a bleak winter’s day, maybe he could sense the beauty of my wings. I shook the idea out of my head and spun around to see the man quickly take his gaze off of my wings.

  “I’m simply going to have to erase your vision and your memory.” I spoke coolly. The man went white and backed away slowly.

  “Please! You don’t understand!” He pleaded softly, “My vision is the only way I can make a living. I have to see to paint and sculpt! Stealing my eyes is practically killing me!” I beat my wings a single time and swept towards the painter.

  “Would you rather I take your life? Foolish mortal, I’m doing you favor! If I was Gabriel you’d be nothing but a smoldering pile of bone and ash!” The man cringed and tears filled his eyes. I stood above him, extending my hand to take his vision and mind, when he did the unthinkable. He grabbed my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine.

  “Dear angel. Your power is greater than a team of one thousand horses. One simple touch and my skill will be lost forever; a skill that took me just a blimp of a time for you, but a lifetime for me to achieve. Please,” The man rose to his feet and stepped closer, “Please allow me to paint one last time; a final hoorah.” The painter pointed toward the autumn canvas. “You liked that one, oui? I can make another one, a better one. For you. I wish only to paint you in full grace before it’s all lost.”

  . . . .

  The painter did paint me. It took a few hours of persuasion and me holding the blade to his throat one more time, but I finally, reluctantly allowed it. Surprisingly, he didn’t flinch when my wings were unfolded to the eighteen feet width. The painter only lit up and began mopping his brush over the canvas. He worked for seven days, only stopping to occasionally eat or use the latrine. He slept briefly for a couple hours every day but never too much. I stood in the same position for every hour of every day. I lacked all feeling and needs so the stay was barely noticed by my body. Not a single word was exchanged throughout the seven days. For me, not a single thought filled my mind. I stood there dormant. Never did I realize the penalties for showing your grace to an unqualified mortal.

  . . . .

  “Fin.” The painter rasped. I quickly snapped my wings and hid their visibility making the man jump violently. It was like a still statue suddenly coming to life and walking towards you. The painter gestured towards himself and I picked up the symbol to proceed towards him. He weakly lifted up the canvas and flipped it slowly around. As more and more of the painting was revealed I became even more amazed. My fingers made their way slowly to the painting and traced along the dragging fore feathers of the perfectly replicated angel. Her neck was long and slender meeting a face so cold and so gorgeous it hurt even to look in the painted eyes. Long, wispy silver hair draped elegantly across the middle of her back and the wings seemed to sprout out of her skeleton on massive, feathery trunks. Each individual feather was painted so precisely, it looked like
the painted angel could fly away at any time once you lost her gaze.

  “I am ready.” The man said, suddenly pulling me out of my dream. He was down on his knees, face towards the ground. The mind fumbled for the correct actions to rip away his eyes but nothing came to me. How could I destroy the creator of this godly creation? I picked up my canvas and ran my fingers down its cool surface. I couldn’t destroy this man. Everything in me screamed to do it, to steal his gift. Perhaps I could keep it for myself? My mind teased. Perhaps I can create wonders such as this. No. I was Gabriel’s messenger and had my duties to fulfill. I looked down at the trembling man beneath me and extended my arm.

  . . . .

  The man kept his vision. His memory was stripped clean but he kept his gifted eyes. I only remember when the time came for the angels to inform Gabriel of the human activities of our region; I presented him with my canvas, now over one hundred years old. Other angels gathered around and marveled at its beauty. Many of them have never seen something so detailed and live like in their many lifetimes. Over the chatter of the angels, Gabriel seized the painting and connected the dots. I had broken the one law we had. I showed a mortal my grace. In a split second, Gabriel had me in his massive hand speaking through heavily gritted teeth that he was going to tear out my grace with his bare hands and leave me as an ugly, foolish human with not a single memory.

  Then, I fell. When angels fall, they carry time with them. My broken mangled wings and feathers once so beautiful landed on the ground with me, centuries later. At first, I was of the intelligence of a newborn baby. I quickly followed instinct which brings me to where I am now; scared and confused. Writing this took every inch of power I had left in me. Now, I am almost immune to the white pain of Gabriel. Being almost one hundred in people years, I fear my time is coming for me. Also , I fear Gabriel will reincarnate me as new and make me go through this horrible, painful experience of remembering until the world is no more.

  I wasn’t supposed to remember, and sometimes I wish I hadn’t.

  Pin Cherry

  Roll a Story

  Vanessa Ford

  People say the most peaceful you can be is when your memories and thoughts are absent and you’re left with total whiteness. I ponder for the truth behind this statement as I struggle to penetrate the wall in the back of my mind. For the past several minutes, I’ve laid in the cool shade by a lake where I woke. I attempting to unveil any clues to who I am, why I have absolutely no memory, and what happened to me. Sighing, I squint as I struggle with the most basic question; what is your name? Throbbing pain explodes from a migraine as I put my mind into overdrive, searching for my answer. Feeling no progress, I miserably open my eyes accepting my defeat. Not knowing anything was the weirdest feeling. I felt like a half drawn sketch that was abandoned by its artist a long time before, leaving it sketched but blank.

  I struggled to my feet, swaying slightly as dizziness overtook me. Pain stabbed at the back of my neck and I reached a hand back to investigate. The site felt wet, and severely swollen. I brought my hand back to reveal thick, dark blood on my fingertips. I had been hit. Something hit my neck. What hit your neck? I quickly forgot about the question in fear of hitting another wall. Turning now away from the lake toward the forested area behind me, I spotted a small, barrel chested pony happily chewing its food. You know that horse. Come on, think! My mind begged. Shaking the thoughts away I ambled towards the animal.

  “Hey there girl. I won’t hurt you.” Hearing my voice, the horse turned its head at me. It then whinnied softly and crossed the distance separating us, resting its muzzle on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around the friendly pony and smelled her large neck. Laughter escaped my lips as she let out a low rumble, vibrating my chest. Again, my mind came back, this time in a pleading tone. You have to know her! She’s your best friend; you two escaped so many close calls. She protected you when you were unconscious. Think for god’s sakes! I exhaled slowly and leaned my forehead against the horse’s thick neck. Memories flashed brightly making me cringe. Her unmatchable speed, our undying bond, how She has an extreme love for pin cherries… Pin Cherry! I let go of the horse’s neck her held up her small head. Pin Cherry, yes that’s it. Her name was Pin Cherry. I called her Pin. Satisfied with my achievement, I turned toward the lake, Pin’s reins in hand, to wash the blood of my neck. If I could remember her name, could I remember mine? The pony whinnied, almost as if to answer my question. Memory was unpredictable and I couldn’t rush it.

  “Who am I, girl?” I asked, looking over to the Fjord walking beside me. She shook her cropped mane, and I patted her side. For the first time since I woke up, I was content. My memories would come back in time, no need to rush them.

  “Oh my god! You’re alive!” A booming voice behind alerted my senses as I turned on my heel. My hands robotically grabbed a long bow hooked to the side of Pin’s saddle and I reached behind me for an arrow. The whole process took only a few seconds as I stood there, arrow knocked and pointing at the voice. When did I learn how to shoot?

  “Easy there friend…” The man, now only 20 paces away, sat on a sorrel horse almost two hands taller than Pin. I squinted down the arrow shaft and absorbed in the figure with skillful eyes.

  He was hooded in a dark navy cloak, the brim hiding the majority of his face. On the left of his saddle dangled a long sword and a set of throwing knives. I raised my bow higher, right on the man’s head. It wasn’t his appearance that made me tense, it was his voice. Almost nervous that he found me alive.

  “State your purpose for your arrival.” The rider nodded slowly and lifted back the hood to reveal thick, brown hair.

  “You don’t recognize me? You must’ve fallen off that fat pony of yours hard, eh?” Do I recognize him? I focused my mind on his sharp features, searching for a clue to who he may be. Could I trust him? My memory was blank to who he was, but still, there was something about him that made me apprehensive to lower my arrow.

  “I lost my memory in the… fall. Remind me again of who you are. Lie and I’ll add a new hole right between your eyes.” The rider’s mouth twisted into a smirk so small, no one but me would be able to notice it. He then threw down his reins and swung his leg over the saddle, landing on the grassy floor.

  “Me and you go way back… Eh, friends since we were young you could say. We took the same horsemanship class together. That’s where I picked out ol’ Cobalt here.” Cobalt let out a slight rumble in recognition of his name. His voice still seemed so nervous.. and careful. “You got lost in a pursuit and that’s when we saw that clumsy cow of a pony of yours trip and fall down that rocky cliff up there.” The rider pointed to a sharp break in the land, full of rocks. It was a dead end cliff, leading only to fall to off the side. Why would I be riding that close to the cliff end? I looked over to Pin, a sturdy Fjord, bred for taking on mountainous, uneven terrain. His story wasn’t adding up.

  “If I fell, why didn’t you come help me?” The rider exhaled slowly and threw up his hands.

  “Look, I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

  “On the way to where?” I met the gaze of the cloaked man who let out a forced laugh. He turned to Cobalt and mounted quickly.

  “I guess you won’t find out if you don’t follow.”

  Pin walked slowly behind the tall quarter horse ahead of us as we made our way through the forested path. Not a single word was exchanged between me and the rider but he kept glancing back quickly. Sweat paraded down the back of his neck aside the cold fall air. Nothing was adding up and I soon became more lost than when I first woke up. As I tried yet again to reveal anything I could about the man, I felt a sharp pain on my leg.

  “Ow!” Pin let my leg go and let out a low rumble. Yet again, bright lights went off in my head as memories surged back. Pin Cherry and I had an elite language. I sifted through the fragmented memories and remembered once when we were on a trail together and Pin had nibbled my leg and let out a low key rumble only seconds before a bear ambled across o
ur path.

  Pin was warning me. Slowly, I exhaled and patted the horse’s neck, letting her know I got her message. I then gathered up my reins and slung my bow across my lap for easier access. Pin had more knowledge than me at this point and if she thought he was dangerous, he probably was. With a slight shift in my weight, the skilled horse pivoted and shot the opposite direction with surprising speed. I heard a loud yell behind me with the sure sound of rhythmic hoof beats. Pin expertly dodged through the thick trees and bounded over ground obstacles. The pony’s minuteness made a killer defense in escaping with speed. As we rounded a turn, a loud thud turned my attention to a trunk near me. A silver dagger lay bedded deeply in the wood. No friend of mine would throw knives at me. I spurred Pin Cherry who collected herself more and lengthened her strides. I turned my head to see the figure only a few hundred feet behind us. The larger horse seemed to be tiring fast, not built for running for long distances.

  Pin neared the last tree in the forest as I pulled an arrow up to my drawstring. The lack of natural cover would leave too many blind spots. I tapped Pin twice on the neck, putting her into autopilot. She could run at this pace on autopilot for hours. I swung a leg over the saddle to sit backwards for aiming purposes when a blinding sssskk rang through the air followed by a meaty thug. The knife hit but I felt no pain as I searched my body for the hilt. A deafening whinny wxploded as I felt Pin Cherry loose her footing and tumble to the ground. As I hit the ground, I rolled over to see my best friend laying next to me, unmoving.

  “Pin!” Fear flashed through my eyes as I looked from my grounded horse to the on coming rider. I quickly raised my bow, took aim, and fired. I heard a satisfying yell of pain as I dropped to my knees beside Pin Cherry. Blood raced from a silver hilt imbedded in her girth. The horse raised her thick neck up to the wound and nudged it with her muzzle, before letting her head fall limp back to the ground.

  “Pin Cherry! No, no, no, come on girl. Stay here. Come on.” I tore the saddle off her and searched through a saddle bag for medical equipment but only found a few pieces of bread and berries… Pin cherries. Tears slid down my grimy face as I held the favorite fruit of my horse in my hand and watched the breath fade from her tan belly. She was gone. Killed saving my life. I closed my eyes tightly and laid the fruit by her side, getting up to my feet. I grabbed the bow and quiver and took a long glance at my fallen friend.

  An arrow knocked to my string, I padded along the side of the lake. Tears stained my cheeks and stung the wound on the back of my neck. I had no horse, no memories, and no direction, but I knew I had to go somewhere. I had an enemy, and although I apparentally had elite skill with my bow, there was no way I could hold up against more than one with a single weapon and no mount. I winced as my drifted back to my only friend I could remember dying for my wellbeing. Come on. Focus on living, for Pin.

  After about an hour of scaling the lake, a thick, wooded area came into view only a few hundred paces ahead. I stopped walking for the first time since I started and dropped to my knees. If I wanted more protection, instinct would drive me into the forest. But that would also lead to easier access for anyone to surprise attack me. I let my mind chew on the options as I scooped handfuls of crisp water into my dry mouth. The splashing must’ve distracted me from the hoof beats behind me as a group of mounted men approached behind me.

  “Ah, Declan. We thought we lost you back there you foolish idiot. Such a move, throwing you and your horse off that cliff instead of surrendering to me.” I spun on my heel, grabbing my already loaded bow and hustled to my feet. My eyes met seven other pre-drawn bows, all pointed at my head. My attack would deem useless.

  “Look, I don’t know who you are and why we are fighting, but please just let me go and I won’t bother you again.” The man who spoke earlier sat on a long-legged white mare and had a large smirk on his fat face.

  “Yes, I heard you bumped your head pretty hard during the fall. I looked down to see you laying limp, I assumed you were dead but…” His beady eyes scanned over my body and he pursed his lips. “Something’s missing… Ah yes! Where’s that fat pony of yours, Pin Head is it? I have to say, this would be the first time I’ve seen you without it, that stupid-“

  “She’s dead.” Assuming that the first rider I encountered was one of his men, I didn’t want to allow him the pleasure of knowing he killed my horse. “She… died in the fall.” Pure shock overtook the man’s face for a split second, but he quickly recovered letting out a faint chuckle.

  “Well, you might as well of died in the fall, boy, would’ve saved me the ammo. Alright men, aim-“

  My stomach went cold as I saw the arrows all raise slightly. He couldn’t kill me, I don’t even remember him!

  “Sir, there’s been a misunderstanding you see, I don’t know who you are!” The man sighed, obviously annoyed, and turned his head to me.

  “You insignificant idiot. You are Declan What-a-what. You and your fat donkey use to illegally explore and destroy my land for the fun of making me mad since that stupid animal had some speed and you with your… okay aim. It’s my right to kill you, now shut up!” I swallowed a lump in my throat, not allowing myself to believe a word he said.

  “Ready men? For god’s sake nock your arrows you fools!” How could I be the bad guy when their only aim was to kill me? I gripped the fletchings of the arrow on my lowered bow tight.

  “Aim!” My mind finally settled on the answer; I wouldn’t go down easily. If I was a sworn enemy of them, I needed to live up to that. The world seemed to spin in slow motion as the fat man mouthed the words to fire. Being a quicker shot, I quickly raised my bow within milliseconds and took aim right between the man’s eyes and released as I felt the barrage of arrows penetrate my skin, spilling out my life. As the earth blackened I strained my ears to listen for the impact of my return fire, praying it hit its mark. Why was everything in slow motion? Am I falling? No I’m on the ground. I’m dying. Focus your ears you idiot. Pulling out of the deathly consciousness I pulled my hearing out with the last of my energy to hear where my arrow hit.

  THWAP.

  Recognizing the satisfying sound, I let out a smile as my lungs deflated for the last time.

  Danielle Meiggs

  First Lines Two

  It Happened

  I sat quietly in the back of the room as I silently prayed nobody would notice me. There was one minute until the tardy bell and still nobody said anything to me or sat near me. Then just as the bell rang, he walked in wearing an old faded Killers t-shirt with curls flying everywhere. He turned towards me; his bright hazel eyes looked tired. That’s when I felt the world stop…

  I used to be loud and outgoing. I used to smile and laugh, but that all stopped three years ago. I used to have a younger sister. She was only one year younger, so basically we were like twins. We were both healthy and living life to the fullest. We both had the same friends, but our best friend was Tony. It was obvious that Stephanie, my sister, had a major crush on him and it was cute until she asked a billion and a half times if I thought he liked her back. That was three years ago, though. This is now.

  I never thought that my life would turn upside down. My sister was obviously my sister, and she meant the world to me, so when I found out she had lung cancer, I kind of freaked out . . . a lot. Every day I would see her grow weaker, lose her hair, and most importantly cry. She knew that it broke me to see her cry, so she would try to act all happy, but I knew. She was scared, terrified even. She didn’t want to die. She was only thirteen. Her life had barely even started.

  That day was our end of all hope. It was a routine doctor visit for Stephanie. She got everything checked and it seemed okay. At the end of the appointment, the doctor asked my mom if he could talk to her in the hall. My sister only had seven months to live.

  Eight months later, she died. We were so hopeful when seven months passed. She seemed to be improving. We thought she was going to be okay, but clearly it wasn’t. Nothing
was okay. At all.

  The eight months were okay. We knew she was dying, and after her death, we knew thing were just going to get worse. During those eight months, while she was still alive, we tried to think positively and act normal. Besides the cancer, many things happened to us, some good, some bad. Obviously, Stephanie still got all red and shy whenever Tony came around, that much didn’t change, but he changed a lot.

  We would all go hang out in the hospital, so something seemed normal to Stephanie. One day, though, Tony didn’t show. It wasn’t a big deal. I mean we knew he had a life outside of us, but it was weird that he didn’t call or even text us to tell us that he wasn’t going to be around. We thought it was just a day he didn’t want to come, but boy were we wrong.

  The next day came normally. I woke up, got ready, and then headed to the hospital to go visit Stephanie. Once I was at the hospital, I walked straight to Stephanie’s room, already having memorized it since she had been there for three months. Standing outside her door, I heard three voices, one Tony, a strained voice of Stephanie, and the last one some girl. Walking through the door, I see Tony and some overdressed, over made-up blonde hanging off his arm. Instantly snapping my head towards Stephanie, I saw her trying to secretly cover her tears up. I thought it was just a small crush, but apparently it was more to her. Anyways the whole reason of Tony even coming was to tell us that he is moving. Apparently the girl was his new neighbor and now new girlfriend. Yeah, Stephanie didn’t take that well.

  Anyways over the past couple of months, we only saw Tony two times. Both times, though, he was accompanied by the blonde; I never did learn her name. The last time he came, I told Tony that I wanted to talk to him out in the hallway.

  “Tony, you do know you coming here with her is just making Stephanie feel worse about herself, right?!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh dear lord?! You really don’t know that Stephanie is basically in love with you!”

  His face grew red once he heard what I told him. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes!”

  He was our light. He would make everything feel better. He would laugh, make jokes, and tell Stephanie stories of things that happened while she was in the hospital. Once he went away, it was just dark. There was no light in the visits with Stephanie. It was just the dark waiting knowing that Stephanie wasn’t going to make it. Reality hit hard, and it hurt everyone.That was the last time I saw him. Well, until now I guess. After my sister’s death, I became a shell. No emotion, no feelings, even to the point of where I don’t talk to anyone, not even my parents. They made me go to therapy, but clearly, that didn’t work.

 

  He walked in and looked at me. He looked absolutely horrible. He had bags under his eyes and his hair and clothes were all disheveled. I quickly looked back to the front of the room, not wanting him to sit in the chair next to me, but apparently I didn’t give him a big enough sign that I didn’t want him to be anywhere near me because the next thing I know, he is sitting down in the seat to my left. All class, I tried to avoid his staring eyes, but I couldn’t focus. I was too scared of what would happen after class. I hadn’t talked to anyone in a while, and I didn’t want to start now especially with him. After the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I ran out of the class room hoping I wouldn’t have to talk to Tony. I spoke too soon. All of a sudden, I felt a hand grab my elbow tugging me back.

  “Danielle, how have you been?”

  Silence. I refuse to speak to him, so I just looked down at my feet not saying a word.

  “Danielle?” He kept trying. Clearly he didn’t understand that he left when my sister and I needed him most. After my sister’s death, I needed someone who knew what I felt, who understood my actions, but no, Tony was too busy with his girlfriend to even know that Stephanie died, and his next statement proved how much he cared. She has been dead for two years. Two whole years!

  “So how is Stephanie doing?” I ran. I couldn’t handle it. She was dead. He didn’t even know she had been dead for two years. He thought she got better. She was dead. Stephanie was dead.

  Running, I hear the faint sound of Tony screaming after me telling me to slow down, but I couldn’t. I ran all the way home, locking myself in my room and crying my eyes out, once I got there. Then the doorbell rang. Obviously, I knew who it was, but I didn’t answer. Minutes later, I hear a pounding on my window and Tony shouting my name out. “Danielle, I don’t know what I did, but can you please open the door so we can talk. I shouldn’t have left you guys. I know Stephanie needed me. You needed me. I hope we can all be friends still.” That was the last straw.

  Opening up my window and staring straight at a shocked Tony, I shouted, “SHE IS DEAD, OKAY?!?!? DEAD! NOW JUST LEAVE ME ALONE. I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU!” That was the last I heard from Tony that day. I think he was trying to process everything because the next day at school he was waiting for me at my locker. He had blood shot eyes, telling me he stayed up crying all night something I did too.

  “I thought I made it clear I didn’t want anything to do with you,” I say in an emotionless voice. My answer was just a hug. We stood in the middle of the hallway hugging. It was what I needed, no words just comfort. I needed to feel okay. I needed something. We cried together. The loss of Stephanie was still too much. I just needed someone to be there for me.

  “Why did you leave?” I asked with my voice shaking from the tears.

  “I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t want to think that the person who I loved so much was going to die. I didn’t want to think about it,” he said with his head tilted down as if he was ashamed with his actions.

  “I-I thought she was going to get better,” he stuttered out.

  “We all did,” I said trying to clear up my tears, “but she is gone, and she wouldn’t want us to live like this.”

  “I loved her…” he trailed off.

  Danielle Meiggs R3

  First Lines One

  Is it Really Worth it?

  I never thought things would turn out like this. Looking from side to side, I see black. I never thought this is how it would end. I thought there would be better things out there. I never thought it would come to this. Of all things this! I should’ve blended in and closed my mouth. My head is beating. I can’t feel anything, not even the pain. I’m numb. All senses gone. It’s only a matter of time.

  I’m just an average girl living the average life. I have dorky glasses, brown frizzy hair, brown eyes, freckles, and the biggest thing of all, no social life. Honestly, I have one friend, Sadie Marks. I have a feeling, though, that she is really only using me to do her homework while she goes out and parties. Next week I turn eighteen and then after that I graduate high school…finally.

  Today is a Friday, and I’m so happy that I don’t have to deal with stupid people from my school for two whole days. Right now, I’m in my AP Chemistry class taking a test while Sadie copies my answers down. See what I mean, I feel used. Anyways, after I turn in my test, I am free to leave so that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

  Within the next hour of getting home, my phone starts sounding like it’s having a seizure on my desk. Looking at the ten new notifications I have, I see I was invited to Sadie’s weekly party. I’m surprised that I’m actually invited this time considering Sadie kept calling me a buzz kill the last party she had. Checking the time, I only had an hour to get ready and be there. Hurriedly, I shower and fix myself to look somewhat decent. Driving to the party, I think to myself, this is my senior year, am I going to tell my kids that I was a boring smarty pants in high school. Pulling up to her house, I already see the front yard littered with red cups and hear the blaring music. Locking my car, I walk up to the house ready to find Sadie. Within minutes, I find her dancing in the living room with many unfamiliar faces.

  “SADIE!” I screamed over the music.

/>   “Sadie, hey I’m here,” I said once I got her attention.

  Sadie just rolled her eyes and slurred, “We all know you are just gonna go hide away in a corner, so why did you even show up?”

  “Um, I was actually going to ask you where the drinks are because tonight I need a change,” I said confidently. All Sadie did was sickly smile at me as she made her way to the kitchen expecting me to follow her.

  “Here you go,” Sadie said after having mixed about five drinks together.

  “Thanks,” I said downing the whole cup welcoming the burning sensation down my throat.

  “No problem,” Sadie said as she walked away.

  Waking up the next day didn’t feel normal. Something felt off, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Last night was completely blurred out of my mind, so I expected a major headache like Sadie always complained about having, but everything seemed peaceful, almost too peaceful. Now that I’m wide awake, I look to see that I was sleeping in Sadie’s bed by myself, thank goodness. Quietly creeping down the stairs, I see almost every single person from the party here passed out on the floor. Tip toeing over to Sadie, I accidently nudge some people, but it seemed as if they didn’t even notice. Almost like I never even did it. Getting over to Sadie, I start to shake her, but it’s like I have no strength to do so. She isn’t even moving when I tried to wake her up. This is getting weird. Quietly, I leave the house, get into my car, and get ready to go home. Driving home, I get horrified glances. I mean I know I didn’t fix my appearance before I left, but I couldn’t look that bad, could I?

  Hours went by with me scrolling through all my social media while watching Netflix when something caught my eye. RIP Sophia Night you will be missed. They have to be talking about a different Sophia Night, they have to be. I can’t die like this. Honestly, I don’t even know how I died. That’s when it hit me. Sadie drugged me. I overdosed without wanting to even do drugs. I’m dead because my “best friend” killed me. I don’t know why. What could I have done to her that made her want to kill me? I know that sometimes we have our differences, but that’s just being friends. I don’t understand. I knew that I shouldn’t have cared about what people think of me. I had my whole life ahead of me, but now, now I have nothing absolutely nothing.

  I remember what exactly my last thoughts were while I was alive. I never thought things would turn out like this. Looking from side to side, I see black. I never thought this is how it would end. I thought there would be better things out there. I never thought it would come to this. Of all things this! I should’ve blended in and closed my mouth. My head is beating. I can’t feel anything, not even the pain. I’m numb. All senses gone. It’s only a matter of time.

  I’m dead…

  Danielle Meiggs R3

  Roll a Story (dice story)

  Where Did You Go?

  Life seems clear right, well what happens when you can’t remember anymore. I couldn’t. I couldn’t remember anything. Nothing. I woke up in woods as weird as that sounds and what’s even worse is that I couldn’t remember how I got there. All I remember is that my name is Joseph Clairic, and my best friend’s name was Meg Nell. I’m always with her no matter where we go. I wonder where she went.She would never leave me out here in the woods, alone. Wandering around the trees, I tried my hardest to remember how I got here and why I lost my memory, but I couldn’t remember anything. It was around fall, so the leaves were all changing into bright yellows, reds, and oranges. Meg loves the fall, I thought to myself smiling. I haven’t had the guts to say it to her yet, but I love Meg. And not just as a friend. I haven’t told her yet because she has this huge, stupid crush on the popular boy at our school, named Jordan Ellis. I always remember it being her and me playing together in elementary school, and now all she talks about is Jordan. I have started to hate him.

  I’m lost. I was thinking so much about the only thing that I can remember that I have completely gotten myself lost in this dark, dense forest. I can’t really see anything and to make things better, it decides that it’s going to rain right now. Pulling my jacket over my head, I run underneath a tall tree to keep dry.

  Two hours later and it decides to stop raining, but it, of course, has to be night, so I wander around a little more looking for a place to sleep. After a couple minutes of walking around, I stumbled upon a lake. This whole scene looked so familiar, and that was when I realized that this was our lake, mine and Meg’s. This was the place that we went to whenever we had enough of the world. And then I heard it, the sobbing. I walked to the other side of the lake where I heard the heart wrenching sound from. And there, I found her. I found the girl I was looking for. I saw her long, brown hair and her shaking body. Why is she crying, I thought to myself. I went up next to her and wrapped my arms around her. Instantly she froze and looked up.

  “What are you doing here Joseph?” she asked in a harsh tone.

  “What are you talking about Megsie?” I asked her using her nick name I used to call her all the time.

  “Don’t ever call me that again,” she said angry. “Just leave me alone,” she said defeated.

  She started to walk away, and I was so confused. I just wanted to be with her. “Where are you going?” I questioned her.

  “Away from you,” she said harshly.

  “Meg, what did I do?” I asked her seriously

  “What didn’t you do?” she asked back sarcastically.

  “Meg, I don’t understand. Can you just tell me what I did?”

  “Joseph, stop following me and go away. You have made it clear how you think about me, and I don’t need any more pain in my life. Just go away,” she said sadly.

  “Who’s hurt you?”

  “You,” she said in an icy voice, “and your stupid friends.”

  “What are you talking about; you are my only friend,” I said getting frustrated. I didn’t know what I did to make her hate me so much, but I would take it back in a heartbeat if she just told me what I did.

  “We aren’t even friends,” she said with tears welling up in her eyes.

  “Meg, we are best friends. How could you even say we weren’t,” I said stepping closer to her. I just stared into her eyes. Her tears were rolling down her cheeks, and soon enough mine were doing the same thing. We just stared at each other; the only sound coming from the little waves of the lake and our deep breaths into the cool air.

  “Joseph, just pretend this never happened, okay?” she pleaded in a small voice.

  Letting out a depressed sigh, I agreed to not talk about it the following day at school.

  I turned and we split ways both heading back to our houses. The lake was like a middle point for us. It was right between our two houses. I walked slowly through the forest trying to remember exactly how to get back to my how considering my memory was still a little foggy. Luckily, I got back home before the next night. As I walked into my house, my mother and father were there just about to yell at me when they saw my tears that still hadn’t stopped yet. They just let me go up to my room where I continued to think about what happened this weekend. I know for sure, tomorrow, I’m going to get Meg to talk to me.

  “Joeeee,” my best friend yell as we were running around the playground, being the little kindergarteners we were.

  “Whaaattttt?” I asked back in the same childish tone.

  “You can’t catch me. Nan a nan a boo boo,” Meg said as she started to run faster trying not to get tagged by the best tagger ever, me. Pushing my little legs, I ran and pushed her slightly signally that she was it.

  “Joe, that’s not fair, you’re a boy, you run faster,” she whined as I hurriedly turned around to start running.

  “What are we doing this weekend?” I asked Meg as she was playing on her x-box.

  “Dude, I don’t know. I thought we were just going to stay at my house,” she said sorta looking at me but clearly keeping focus on her ga
me.

  “But we do that every weekend,” I said sneaking up behind her.

  “And you never-AHHHH! Joe, what in the world,” she said glaring at me as I ripped the game controller out of her hand. She stood up and looked like she was about to kill me.

  “You. Made. Me. Lose. My. Game,” she said emphasizing each word.

  “Oh I did, didn’t I?” I said backing away not wanting to get the wrath of Meg that I so well know.

  “Joe, what are you doing with a loser like that?” some girl with a cheerleader uniform came up to ask me.

  Looking down, I saw Meg looking up at me with her big blue eyes. I thought about what I should do and making a stupid choice, I said, “I’m not really sure. She keeps following me around like a stalker.”

  I looked back down at her and saw her eyes glistening with tears.

  The girl in the cheerleader uniform came closer to me and grabbed my hand, starting to pull me away from the person who once was my best friend, I knew this was a bad decision, but I thought she might like me just like she liked Jordan. “Good,” she said, “we don’t need any lowlifes in our group of friends.”

  “Hey Joe, what’s up dude, I haven’t seen you in like forever,” Jordan shouted over the beating music.

  “I’m good. How’s life?” I said not really caring. I lost all respect for him when I found out that he accepted a dare to date Meg and then break her heart.

  “I’m fantastic,” he said stumbling all over.

  He was a bit drunk, so I just ignored him and kept dancing with Tori, my girlfriend.

  “Hey Joe,” Tori screeched, “Can you hold this for me, so I can go to the restroom.”

  “Um…sure,” I said uncertain as to why she can’t carry it. I was never a fan of drinking. I didn’t really like the taste or the hangover the next day, but today I just felt like I needed to forget everything wrong in my life. With thinking that, I downed whatever Tori had in that red cup. Beep. Beep. Beep. What in the world is that, I wondered as I looked around the room. Beep. Beep. Beep.

  Shooting up in my bed, I remembered. I remembered everything. I remembered ruining mine and Meg’s friendship. I remembered drinking way too much, and something in one of those drinks probably made me lose my memory. I knew what I had to do. I can’t believe that I was such a jerk. I watched her get bullied and abused for four years, and I sat there and did nothing. Absolutely nothing. I guess I just didn’t want to be in the line of fire. I was too worried about my reputation than doing what’s right and helping the girl that was my best friend. I was so blinded. I have to make it up to her.

  Running into the school, I ran straight for Meg’s locker. I had to make everything straight. I couldn’t lose my best friend. I couldn’t lose the girl that I loved. I made it to her locker just in time to see her opening it and getting drenched in a blue paint. Scanning around the area, I tried to look for the person I knew was responsible for this whole disaster. And just like I said, Tori Lavit was leaning against the wall with an evil smirk on her face. I ran to Meg. I had to help her. I grabbed her hand to try and help her up, but we both ended up falling back down in the blue puddle of paint. We both laughed. I loved her laugh even if it sounded like she had been crying before. Her laugh is the kind of laugh that is contagious and makes you want to laugh along with her. She looked up at me with her tear filled blue eyes and jerked her hand away from mine. “You did this, didn’t you!” she screamed in the hallway.

  “Shhh,” I tried to calm her down, “why would I ever want to hurt you?”

  “Well that didn’t stop you from hurting me before,” she said standing up carefully before walking away quickly, most likely to go home.

  “Why did you help her?!?” the screechy voice said.

  “Why,” I laughed. “WHY?! Because she is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I let her go just so I could be liked by people who don’t even really care about me.

  “What are you talking about, you said that I was the best thing that ever happened to you,” Tori asked on the verge of tears. I really hated making girls cry, but I figured she has made Meg cry more tears than she ever would. Speaking about Meg, I have to go find her.

  “Well, sometimes people lie,” I said as I was walking away.

  Running throughout the town, I made it to Meg’s house. I walked up the steps and was about to knock on the door until I saw it was open. I ran up the stairs and straight into Meg’s room. Something about this whole thing wasn’t right, and right when I opened the door, I realized why I had a horrible feeling. Meg laid on her bed limp with her wrist all red and cut up. I put her in my lap as I called 911. The person who answered the phone said there was an ambulance on its way, so I just sat there rocking back and forth with Meg in my lap as I kept whispering, “Stay with me.”

  Danielle Meiggs R3

  Ten Questions Story (Bus Story)

  Running

  My eyes nervously darted around the bus. I don’t know how I made it this far, but I’m not going to ask any questions. At this bus stop, a few people got on. I was sitting at the back of the bus, so I hoped none of them would sit by me. And, of course, someone had to sit right next to me. He kept asking questions like where was I going and what I was going to do there, but I just kept my mouth shut. He finally got the hint that I wasn’t going to say anything, so he pulled out his phone and started to read something. He looked up at me, and his eyes widened. “You…you are…you’re,” he shouted out to the whole bus. Everyone looked at me suspiciously, and I froze. The bus stopped.

  I was a convict, key term “was.” I ran. I didn’t even do anything to be put in jail. They didn’t have any proof. Why would I want to kill my own sister? Their logic was flawed. I was sent to jail two years ago for the murder of Jamie Fouler, aka my sister. But here’s the thing, I was the troubled child; the one who did everything wrong, and Jamie, she was perfect. Our parents and everyone loved her and forgot about me, but we had a bond. No one could ever replace her. We were best friends, but everyone thought I was just jealous and killed her. I’m not even violent. I don’t even understand how I was put in jail. I just have a feeling everyone thought I looked really guilty because it was only her and me at home that day. She left, though. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

  “Hey…Emma…” Jamie said with a sickly sweet smile as she walked into my room.

  “What do you want now, Jamie?” I said as I pulled out one of my ear buds.

  “So there’s this boy…” she trailed off.

  “Here we go again,” I said rolling my eyes. Jamie is the popular one, who gets all the boys not that I’m complaining, but every week she has a new boy who she is in like love with. It is really quite sickening if you ask me, but anyways.

  “Please cover for me. I’ll be back before mom and dad come home,” she pleaded.

  With a sigh I said, “They are never going to believe me.” That was the truth, they never believe anything I said so why would they start now.

  She looked at me with pleading eyes and so that night she left.

  She left, but she never came back, we never saw her, and we never heard from her. And I was to blame. Everyone just thought it was me. I didn’t even get a chance to prove my innocence. And now two years later, I’m running. I was tired of living my life in jail. I changed everything about myself. I dyed my hair, stole clothes, and got big sun glasses that covered my whole face.

  “You…you are…you’re,” he shouted out to the whole bus. Everyone looked at me suspiciously, and I froze. The bus stopped. Everyone looked at me. I was in another state. No one could know me. He sits down in his seat, like he didn’t just scream through the bus, and everyone looks around confused, not knowing what is going on. The bus jerks forward. Everyone goes on with their small talk, and the stranger passed me a note. I was so scared. This person could ruin my whole escape. Hesitantly unfolding the note,
I saw what he wrote. You are Emma Fouler. I froze, terrified. I look up into his brown eyes that looked at me with pure sympathy. There were so many answers I wanted to know. Looking down at me, he told me the thing I never would have expected.

  “I was there the night your sister was killed.”

  I couldn’t believe it. I would finally get some answers about that night. The bus stopped again, and the stranger motioned out the window. Looking towards the window, I saw the red and blue lights flashing all around. They found me. I’m done.

  I sank down in my seat as the stranger’s phone started to ring. He picked it up and started to scream in a different language to the guy on the other end of the line. He glared at me as he got up and walked off the bus. I was too worried about the cops to even think about not getting the answers about my sister’s death and why he glared at me. The bus started again, but I stayed down, not wanting to be seen. After ten minutes, I rose back up into my seat and drifted my gaze to the place where the man with all the answers to my questions sat. There sat another note. Unfolding it, it read you’re next. And suddenly, it was all clear that man was the man that killed my sister, and now he was after me…

  I couldn’t believe this. I was running from the cops and my sister’s killer. I rode the bus until I thought I was safe. A seven hour bus ride and I was at a place I once called home. I was walking the streets of this small town, Monticello, when I saw him, the strange guy who sat beside me on the bus. He was with a group of people that used to hang out with my sister. I sneakily walked up to a place that I could watch and hear them but also not be seen. I could only make out a few words though.

  “I found …and followed…here…we need to…rid of…”

  I ran fast and far. They wanted to kill me. That strange man followed me all the way here. I ran as fast as I could all the way down the abandoned road to my old house, and when I got there, I couldn’t grasp what happened. The windows were all bashed in, the outside looked like a graffiti bomb went off, and the yard looked like a jungle. This place has surely gone to h*ll and back since I lived here. Walking through the already broken down door, all I see is shattered, broken, and torn things. Going further into the horrid house, I started to see blood and lots of it. Rethinking my decision of even being here, I hesitantly walk through the long hallway. Taking a turn into the living room, I let out a blood curdling scream. There lying dead are my parents. The dull, lifeless bodies sitting on the couch with the words you’re next written in their dried blood on the wall behind them. I couldn’t think. All my family was gone. I sat down with my back against the wall just looking at my parents in pure horror.

  All of a sudden, I heard footsteps. And they were coming fast. You could hear every little creek that the floors made. Silently, I crept behind the couch in hope of not being seen or heard. Making it to behind the couch just in time to hide, this person came through the entry way of the living room. I didn’t know who exactly the person was, but I had a good idea. My brain just froze, I didn’t know how to get out of this situation. I just had to stay hidden and hope for the best.

  “I know you’re in here. Just come out,” said a voice identical to the stranger’s. I stayed extremely still not wanting to be heard. I could hear the man’s deep breaths like he was right in front of my face.

  “Liam come here,” said a girl voice, “she isn’t in there.”

  “But I swore I heard something in here!”

  “Well just hurry up we have to leave before the cops come,” the girl said in an annoyed voice.

  Liam huffed and continued to walk around the living room searching everywhere. I was holding my breath not wanting to be heard. It was quiet for a while, so I looked around the edge of the couch just to see where he was at. Looking around I didn’t see him, so thinking it was safe, I walked out from behind the couch. And at that moment I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Standing there with a gun pointed directly at me was Liam.

  “This needs to end now,” he said resting his finger on the trigger.

  I dove back behind the couch trying to dodge the bullet he shot at me. It hit me in the leg. I had to get out of that house. I couldn’t end like this. My life was already ruined enough.

  “Why are you doing this?!” I screamed at him as he started to walk closer.

  “Your family ruined my life, so I’m going to ruin yours,” he said raising the gun.

  “You don’t have to do this. If you let me leave, I-I swear I won’t tell anybody what happened,” I said my voice shaking with the fear that has built up in me. It was quiet for a minute like he was actually debating on letting me go, but I knew he didn’t need a choice. I was going to die.

  “I’ve come this far already,” he said. He walked up and blocked my exit way. Suddenly an enormous boom echoed through the house. That’s it, I’m dead, I thought, but I looked up to see Liam collapsing next to me. In the door way stood my sister.

  Danielle Meiggs

  Depression

  The feeling is always there

  Never going away

  I feel like I’m nothing

  No one can help me

  I can’t get away

  The darkness follows me like a shadow

  Always there no matter where I go

  The bitter taste always in my mouth

  The cry for help always escaping

  But never being heard

  The Corner

  In the corner of the cellar

  The musty smell surrounds me

  I see what I don’t want

  What I became

  In the corner of the cellar

  Something looks like me

  But it acts nothing like it

  I don’t want to be who that person is

  In the corner of the cellar

  I find reality

  Alone

  You must never visit

  Alone, you will be harmed

  Sucked into the ways of this place

  Together, you will be pulled away

  The smell of terror fading

  The Darkness will try to come

  But together you have each other

  Alone you will not survive

  The Darkness will creep up

  And you won’t even know

  Together, you are strong

  Alone, you are gone

  Portfolio for Adrian Guerrero

  Zed Argus

  (Roll a Story)

  I sprinted hoping to lose the madman chasing me, though it’s quite hard running from a time traveling assassin, despite being a time traveler yourself. Any time or place I go, he would follow me and it’s a pain having to go from time to time and planet to planet trying to run from a trained killer. I picked him up by accident by hitting on his wife on planet Brutus but to be fair she didn’t tell me she was married. He walked in on us ‘talking’ and he was furious. He grabbed his guns and said I have 10 seconds to run so I quickly traveled to somewhere else to avoid death. Luckily, I had my watch set to instant so I would not need my password. Little did I know he also had a time travel watch and used it to detect my time trail and followed me. At some point he put a tracker on me so he can find my general location and time period. So he following me went on for a total of about 3 years and that’s how I end up here, on planet Arin.

  I bottled necked myself in a strange formation on Arin. There was only 1 entrance and the assassin was just coming through it so I trapped myself. I ran towards the outskirts of the enclosure to trip and for once falling flat on my face wasn’t so bad because I fell into a cave. It was very small and had a round, thick stone in the middle. On the stone was half of a note in an envelope that said ‘From Ali’ in the top left corner. Many words were hard to decipher; I could only understand the date and the words ‘baby, alive, sick and Ben’. Just those 3 words and the circumstances in which the note was found was enough to get me interested and I wanted to know the rest of t
he story. I risked the chance of being detected and followed and went back 536 years. I opened the latch on my watch and a robotic voice asked for a thumbprint and I code. I put my thumb on the blue screen and said my passcode which is also my name ‘Zed Argus’. Then, it read ‘ACCESS GRANTED’ on the top screen then prompted me to say how far back I wanted to go or the exact year. I said 536 years and then the watch closed and all ambient noises disappeared. The small cave began to get very cold. Then hands went over my eyes, but they were not my hands. It happens to everyone who travels back in time and no one knows who it is. People have tried everything to see who it is. From recording it to having two people go back while looking at each other, all have ended in failure. Some say it’s The Grim Reaper trying to take your soul, others say it’s The Gods of Time and Space, Vertigo and Alpha, sending you wishing you well in the past. What is known is that it only happens when something significant is going to happen and you cannot return to your current time or move through space until it has happened.

  The hands move to show where I had ended up. It was a hospital but it looked somewhat primitive. I walked outside of it to reveal that it looked like the western era of Earth. I walked back in and approached the lady at the desk. “Can you tell me where a girl named Ali might be?” I asked with a smile hoping it would better my chances of her telling me. She gave me a blank expression and opened a book. Then she wrote on a piece of paper her room number and floor and pointed at the stair case. “203’ I kept repeating to myself going up to the 3rd floor. I knocked on the door and a female voice said come in.

  “Hello Zed. I trust you got the note?”  The women I assumed to be Ali said.

  “Yes, I did. I must assume you are Ali and you are a Voice, aren’t you?

  “I am how, did you figure?

  “Only Voices have the cool, red pupil and blue iris thing”.

  “My, you are observant aren’t you?” She gave a slight giggle. “I apologize but I have no more time to talk. I have a grave sickness and I don’t have much time left.” She then pulled out a note from her pocket. “Please, give this to my husband, Ben and tell him of my death. He looks like you.”

  I nodded and as I was about to walk out the door she stopped me.

  “Here, take these.” Ali handed me a scythe and a black cloak with a hood. The Time God, Vertigo, also informed me that if you don’t wear these, you will get killed by an assassin named Kira. Good luck, Zed.

  I put on the cloak and walked out of the room, not realizing I looked like Death himself.

  It was not to long before I found Ben. He owned a shop simply called “Ben’s”. I went into a shop a walked up to the counter and asked for him. He was looking down reading a newspaper and looked up from it. Ali was right, he almost just like me. Ben’s eyes widened and then took off out of the shop at the speed of lightning. I chased after him for miles. I was not too fast of a runner but I have an insane amount of stamina. He ran himself into an ally and I began to approach him slowly.

  “Please Reaper, just my life without pain.” He said in a low voice.

  I looked at him and just threw the note at him and began to walk away but I still could not move through time.

  The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air. I turned in time to see Ben get shot and fall on the ground. I ran toward him to take him to the hospital but he stuck out the note.

  “If you want to help, please, just read me the note.

  I did as he said and unfolded it. It read:

  “Dear Ben,

  I don’t know how to say this so I won’t beat around the bush. If you are reading this, I have passed on. But please, don’t mourn over my death for with it comes life. Our child survived and is healthy. Raise him well.

  Goodbye My Love,

  Ali”

  Ben giggled and clapped as he coughed blood.

  “He lives!” He kept repeating to himself as he began to cry.

  He stopped laughing and looked at me.

  “I can’t raise a child if I am with my Ali in the afterlife.” He began to cough up blood. “You must raise him; it is my dying wish…” Those were his final words.

    I knew I couldn’t deny him is dying wish. I walked to the hospital slowly and went to where they keep the newborns. There was a door in the back that had a sign that said “Voices”. It tried opening the door but it was locked. I then charged into it, knocking it down. The baby in there began to cry. I walked up to him, knowing this is now my son. I picked him up and the watch turned back on. “Judas,” I repeated “Your name is Judas.”

 

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