She moved silently around the room until she was standing over the bed. She looked down at the only occupant in the bed hatefully before she pulled a small sharp blade from her belt. A vicious smile spread across her face as she put her foot on the edge of the bed and pre-emptively put a gloved hand over his mouth. The man’s eyes flew open and he blinked sleepily up at the woman leaning over him. She saw recognition flicker across his face and she small laugh escaped her. The sharp blade in her other hand glinted blue in the moonlight as she brought it slowly down towards his chest. The man began to struggle but his body was now pinned down by hers.
The woman traced a shallow line across the man’s chest producing a thin red line. The man’s struggling increased and he tried to bite at the hand covering his mouth. She laughed darkly and shook her head at him with the same vicious smile on her face. She took the blade and pressed it against his neck. He looked up at her in terror, silently begging her to stop. She looked down at him in satisfaction before pulling the knife slowly across his throat.
The man scrambled in his bed attempting to put pressure onto his wound. She stood next to the bed, his blood covering her leather clad body, fury still pulsing through her. She watched in satisfaction as his white sheets quickly turned to red. She knew he would soon be dead; it was too late for him to save himself. She tugged at the end of the blanket the man was using to cover his wound, it slipped through his fingers with ease, exposing the gash in his throat. With a final look at the man on the bed, she retreated towards the window she had entered though. With a final look at the man as his eye glassed over she slipped out into the night.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Monday, 18 August 2014
The Tiny Hammer
You wake up the find a package at your doorstep containing a tiny hammer and a note saying "You know what to do."
As Valarie walked outside to pick up her morning paper, she couldn’t help but notice the small package that had been placed on her door step. Curiously, she picked up the tiny package and flipped it over in her hands looking for details of the sender. Nothing. She frowned thoughtfully at the mysterious package and walked back inside, placing the package on the table before heading to the kitchen. Her thoughts bounced around between what she needed to do that day and the package as she made her morning coffee.
Valarie stared at the package as she sipped thoughtfully at her coffee. There was no indication of what was in the package or who had sent it, the rectangle box was wrapped in simple brown paper that smelled slightly musty. She flipped it over again and the contents rattled against the side. Giving in to her curiosity she pulled the package towards her and carefully unwrapped it. Beneath the paper was a shoe box with a note taped to it. “You know what to do,” was all the note said. She read the note again, puzzled by what it meant. Anticipation filled her as she lifted the lid of the box, she had no idea what could be inside, maybe it was her next mission, or one of the new weapons the Rebels were developing. She looked in the box and wilted slightly, a tiny hammer, barely the size of her hand was all it contained. She picked it up and turned it in her hand. What did the note mean she’d know what to do with it? She shrugged and left it on the table as she packed up and left for work.
It was afternoon when she rushed around her house frantically searching for the tiny hammer she’d received in the morning. The sun was beginning to set in the west, spraying colour across the sky. She checked her watch, twenty minutes to go. She cursed as she raced around the house. Twenty minutes before the city would become rubble. She paused and thought about where she had last seen the hammer. Cold dread filled her as she realised it wasn’t where she had left it. She walked numbly to the kitchen table and sat there for a moment. What was she going to do?
As Valarie walked outside to pick up her morning paper, she couldn’t help but notice the small package that had been placed on her door step. Curiously, she picked up the tiny package and flipped it over in her hands looking for details of the sender. Nothing. She frowned thoughtfully at the mysterious package and walked back inside, placing the package on the table before heading to the kitchen. Her thoughts bounced around between what she needed to do that day and the package as she made her morning coffee.
Valarie stared at the package as she sipped thoughtfully at her coffee. There was no indication of what was in the package or who had sent it, the rectangle box was wrapped in simple brown paper that smelled slightly musty. She flipped it over again and the contents rattled against the side. Giving in to her curiosity she pulled the package towards her and carefully unwrapped it. Beneath the paper was a shoe box with a note taped to it. “You know what to do,” was all the note said. She read the note again, puzzled by what it meant. Anticipation filled her as she lifted the lid of the box, she had no idea what could be inside, maybe it was her next mission, or one of the new weapons the Rebels were developing. She looked in the box and wilted slightly, a tiny hammer, barely the size of her hand was all it contained. She picked it up and turned it in her hand. What did the note mean she’d know what to do with it? She shrugged and left it on the table as she packed up and left for work.
It was afternoon when she rushed around her house frantically searching for the tiny hammer she’d received in the morning. The sun was beginning to set in the west, spraying colour across the sky. She checked her watch, twenty minutes to go. She cursed as she raced around the house. Twenty minutes before the city would become rubble. She paused and thought about where she had last seen the hammer. Cold dread filled her as she realised it wasn’t where she had left it. She walked numbly to the kitchen table and sat there for a moment. What was she going to do?
Sunday, 17 August 2014
The Submarine Jouney
"A team of researchers in a submarine is caught in a deadly sea storm. The instruments on board go haywire. They submerge deep into the ocean in search of calm waters until the storm passes. When it does, the sub surfaces but the instruments are still not functioning properly. They can’t get a fix on their location and cannot find land, which should be nearby. Then the researchers realize there are two moons in the sky and the constellations are completely unfamiliar.'
“Sir!” One of the pesky scientists broke my attention from the view of the ocean before us.
“What is it, Kasey?” I replied with a scowl. He looked at me for a moment. Damn, must be the other one.
“It’s Stanley, sir, James Stanley.” He shook his head before he continued, “our equipment is picking up a pretty bad storm heading out way. I suggest we descend to the ocean floor to avoid it.”
“What do you think this is, a space ship? The hull would never hold out against that sort of pressure.” The young man had the decency to look abashed, it didn’t stop him though.
“Sir, we need to descend to avoid the worst of it, maximum depth.” I frowned at him until he finally made the right choice and stopped talking. I set the submarine to descend to slightly above maximum depth. We were still about 2km from the ocean floor, but hopefully deep enough to avoid this storm that was coming.
Without warning, the scientific equipment began bleeping and whizzing as the two scientists rushed in frantic circles trying to stop it. What had I got myself into? For such intelligent people, my two passengers had no brains. They didn’t understand the restrictions of the submarine, how to manoeuvre it, how deep it could go. And worst yet, this Stanley boy kept thinking he was in charge. I frowned to myself and wondered how long it would take them to turn off the infuriating noises.
I flicked my display to show the storm’s location and path, it’d be above us in roughly an hour. I silently prayed to the Gods that we would be deep enough. I flicked the screen to show me an image of our surroundings. It was empty, not a single thing showed up around us, though it should have been able to detect the ocean floor from 2km.
“Sir?” Kasey’s quiet voice broke me from my puzzled musing.
“What is it Kasey?” I sighed, a wave of tiredness washed over me.
“The storm is accelerating, it should hit us within the next-” He broke off as the sub surged forward as though struck from behind. Frowning I turned back to my display, nothing showed up. The sub rocked again, tossed beneath the surface of the ocean.
“The storm must’ve hit us.” Kasey was crouched on the floor next to me, holding on tightly to the arm of my chair.
“Strap in, and make sure Stanley does the same.” I heard something crash behind me and turned to see Stanley standing there, panic written on his face. Maybe he would finally listen.
The storm passed quickly, but not without tossing the sub around like a rag doll. I looked behind me at my passengers, both were white-faced and wide-eyed. They looked relatively unscathed, there wasn’t anything loose in the sub that could have caused injury so it was purely shock that was affecting them. I had to get them to the surface, I didn’t want to deal with the legal issues from the dying of shock down here, even if it was unavoidable.
“We’re heading to the surface,” I announced to the silence. I flicked through the displays on the screen frowning. They must have been malfunctioning still; I couldn’t get a fix on anything. I tapped the screen irritably but the static that was showing wouldn’t clear. I shifted the sub into manual drive mode and began ascending slowly. We were a long way down and it would take us the better part of an hour to reach the surface. I scanned the ocean outside, looking for any obstacles that might cause problems but saw nothing, not even fish. I shook my head, I was probably making a big deal over nothing.
The water began to lighten as we neared the surface. It seemed normal at first, but as we came closer to the surface we saw the light that was penetrating the water above us was an eerie blue in colour, not the usual orange of the sun or pale white of the moon. A bad feel began to settle in me as I cautiously broke the surface. I looked around through the window but could see nothing but ocean as far as the horizon. That was odd, we had been only a few km from the coast when we went down. I opened the lid of the sub and clambered out. I couldn’t even see the boat we had come from. It wasn’t until I looked up that it all became clear.
The dread I had begun feeling inside intensified as I looked to the sky and saw there were now 2 moons. I searched the stars for a familiar constellation, but found nothing. The sky was foreign to me, and I suspected the ocean was as well. I climbed back into the sub to deliver the news to my shell-shocked companions.
“Sir!” One of the pesky scientists broke my attention from the view of the ocean before us.
“What is it, Kasey?” I replied with a scowl. He looked at me for a moment. Damn, must be the other one.
“It’s Stanley, sir, James Stanley.” He shook his head before he continued, “our equipment is picking up a pretty bad storm heading out way. I suggest we descend to the ocean floor to avoid it.”
“What do you think this is, a space ship? The hull would never hold out against that sort of pressure.” The young man had the decency to look abashed, it didn’t stop him though.
“Sir, we need to descend to avoid the worst of it, maximum depth.” I frowned at him until he finally made the right choice and stopped talking. I set the submarine to descend to slightly above maximum depth. We were still about 2km from the ocean floor, but hopefully deep enough to avoid this storm that was coming.
Without warning, the scientific equipment began bleeping and whizzing as the two scientists rushed in frantic circles trying to stop it. What had I got myself into? For such intelligent people, my two passengers had no brains. They didn’t understand the restrictions of the submarine, how to manoeuvre it, how deep it could go. And worst yet, this Stanley boy kept thinking he was in charge. I frowned to myself and wondered how long it would take them to turn off the infuriating noises.
I flicked my display to show the storm’s location and path, it’d be above us in roughly an hour. I silently prayed to the Gods that we would be deep enough. I flicked the screen to show me an image of our surroundings. It was empty, not a single thing showed up around us, though it should have been able to detect the ocean floor from 2km.
“Sir?” Kasey’s quiet voice broke me from my puzzled musing.
“What is it Kasey?” I sighed, a wave of tiredness washed over me.
“The storm is accelerating, it should hit us within the next-” He broke off as the sub surged forward as though struck from behind. Frowning I turned back to my display, nothing showed up. The sub rocked again, tossed beneath the surface of the ocean.
“The storm must’ve hit us.” Kasey was crouched on the floor next to me, holding on tightly to the arm of my chair.
“Strap in, and make sure Stanley does the same.” I heard something crash behind me and turned to see Stanley standing there, panic written on his face. Maybe he would finally listen.
The storm passed quickly, but not without tossing the sub around like a rag doll. I looked behind me at my passengers, both were white-faced and wide-eyed. They looked relatively unscathed, there wasn’t anything loose in the sub that could have caused injury so it was purely shock that was affecting them. I had to get them to the surface, I didn’t want to deal with the legal issues from the dying of shock down here, even if it was unavoidable.
“We’re heading to the surface,” I announced to the silence. I flicked through the displays on the screen frowning. They must have been malfunctioning still; I couldn’t get a fix on anything. I tapped the screen irritably but the static that was showing wouldn’t clear. I shifted the sub into manual drive mode and began ascending slowly. We were a long way down and it would take us the better part of an hour to reach the surface. I scanned the ocean outside, looking for any obstacles that might cause problems but saw nothing, not even fish. I shook my head, I was probably making a big deal over nothing.
The water began to lighten as we neared the surface. It seemed normal at first, but as we came closer to the surface we saw the light that was penetrating the water above us was an eerie blue in colour, not the usual orange of the sun or pale white of the moon. A bad feel began to settle in me as I cautiously broke the surface. I looked around through the window but could see nothing but ocean as far as the horizon. That was odd, we had been only a few km from the coast when we went down. I opened the lid of the sub and clambered out. I couldn’t even see the boat we had come from. It wasn’t until I looked up that it all became clear.
The dread I had begun feeling inside intensified as I looked to the sky and saw there were now 2 moons. I searched the stars for a familiar constellation, but found nothing. The sky was foreign to me, and I suspected the ocean was as well. I climbed back into the sub to deliver the news to my shell-shocked companions.
Thursday, 14 August 2014
A Poem for Mental Health
This is something a little different, I don't usually write poetry but felt like giving this one a go. It is about a part of what life can be like living with a mental illness.
Trapped between the abyss
And the anger in my heart
I hear you calling out to me
But your words can’t bring my out.
I hold my anger tight,
To keep from falling in
That deep and endless darkness
That beckons from below.
You break through like an ocean
Breaking through my barriers
You pour into my heart
Like a tidal wave of love.
The anger slowly fades,
The darkness soon recedes
Now I’m left feeling shamed
As I lay before your feet.
Trapped between the abyss
And the anger in my heart
I hear you calling out to me
But your words can’t bring my out.
I hold my anger tight,
To keep from falling in
That deep and endless darkness
That beckons from below.
You break through like an ocean
Breaking through my barriers
You pour into my heart
Like a tidal wave of love.
The anger slowly fades,
The darkness soon recedes
Now I’m left feeling shamed
As I lay before your feet.
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
The Proposal
A young man proposes to his girlfriend in a hospital garden. She rejoices, but sadness soon sets in as she remembers the truth. He does not exist.
Talyndra sat quietly on a bench in the garden of the hospital. She had been back here for three days. It had only been four months since her last admission. She scratched absently at the bandages that covered her arms as she looked out across the small garden. It wasn’t much of a garden; it was more an overgrown grassy courtyard. She leaned back against the chair and a small smile crept onto her face as she saw him. She admired the way the sun bounced off his golden hair and his blue eyes lit up when he saw her. She wondered idly if she was blushing, but decided she didn’t care.
‘Tally,’ he said as he stood before her, a smile softening his sharp features. She smiled up at him, feeling completeness washing over her.
‘Erik.’ The tall man sat beside her and took her delicate hands in his. He sat looking into her eyes for a few moments, as if deciding to speak his mind. She smiled at him encouragingly, hoping he would tell her what he was thinking. Erik was such a mystery to her; he always seemed to know how she was feeling and what to say to make her feel better.
‘Tally,’ the man began, ‘I’ve been coming to see you for a year now. And I really enjoy the time we have together.’ Erik paused uncertainly and Talyndra wondered if he was about to tell her he never wanted to see her again. Her thoughts raced from one conclusion to another, none of them ending well. Tears had begun to spring to her eyes as she looked at him, unable to form any words.
‘Tally,’ he said again, alarmed by her reaction. He reached out his hand and gently brushed her cheek. ‘Hey, don’t cry. I’m not going to leave you. I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to marry you.’
Talyndra sat staring at Erik in shock for a few moments before she flung her arms around him. Erik ran his hand down her back as she hugged him tightly, overcome with happiness. She pulled her head away from his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
‘Are you sure?’
‘I have never been more sure. Talyndra, will you be my wife?’
‘Yes!!’ She exclaimed nodding her head excitedly. He smiled back her and let her hands go as he began to stand.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked grabbing his hand, suddenly afraid he wouldn’t come back. He smiled at her reassuringly.
‘I have to get you out of here before we can do anything.’ He squeezed her hand reassuringly and she let it go reluctantly. She leaned back against the bench again and watched him walk up the ramp and into the hospital building.
Warmth washed through her as she contemplated what had just happened. She smiled at the nurse who came out to tell her it was time for lunch.
‘What’s going on?’ She asked looking at her oddly.
‘I’m getting married!’ Talyndra exclaimed in excitement. The nurse looked at her with concern and confusion.
‘It’s Erik, isn’t it?’ She said. She had been Talyndra’s nurse for every admission and had heard about Erik on many occasions. He was a personality Talyndra had created to protect herself, in the beginning she would accept this but more recently she was becoming convinced that Erik was a real person.
‘He’s not real, Talyndra. We have talked about this before. You created him as a protector, a way to escape from all the bad things. You know this, we have talked about it.’ The nurse felt bad seeing the crushed expression on Talyndra’s face as she turned and ran to her room before slamming the door.
Talyndra sat quietly on a bench in the garden of the hospital. She had been back here for three days. It had only been four months since her last admission. She scratched absently at the bandages that covered her arms as she looked out across the small garden. It wasn’t much of a garden; it was more an overgrown grassy courtyard. She leaned back against the chair and a small smile crept onto her face as she saw him. She admired the way the sun bounced off his golden hair and his blue eyes lit up when he saw her. She wondered idly if she was blushing, but decided she didn’t care.
‘Tally,’ he said as he stood before her, a smile softening his sharp features. She smiled up at him, feeling completeness washing over her.
‘Erik.’ The tall man sat beside her and took her delicate hands in his. He sat looking into her eyes for a few moments, as if deciding to speak his mind. She smiled at him encouragingly, hoping he would tell her what he was thinking. Erik was such a mystery to her; he always seemed to know how she was feeling and what to say to make her feel better.
‘Tally,’ the man began, ‘I’ve been coming to see you for a year now. And I really enjoy the time we have together.’ Erik paused uncertainly and Talyndra wondered if he was about to tell her he never wanted to see her again. Her thoughts raced from one conclusion to another, none of them ending well. Tears had begun to spring to her eyes as she looked at him, unable to form any words.
‘Tally,’ he said again, alarmed by her reaction. He reached out his hand and gently brushed her cheek. ‘Hey, don’t cry. I’m not going to leave you. I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to marry you.’
Talyndra sat staring at Erik in shock for a few moments before she flung her arms around him. Erik ran his hand down her back as she hugged him tightly, overcome with happiness. She pulled her head away from his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
‘Are you sure?’
‘I have never been more sure. Talyndra, will you be my wife?’
‘Yes!!’ She exclaimed nodding her head excitedly. He smiled back her and let her hands go as he began to stand.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked grabbing his hand, suddenly afraid he wouldn’t come back. He smiled at her reassuringly.
‘I have to get you out of here before we can do anything.’ He squeezed her hand reassuringly and she let it go reluctantly. She leaned back against the bench again and watched him walk up the ramp and into the hospital building.
Warmth washed through her as she contemplated what had just happened. She smiled at the nurse who came out to tell her it was time for lunch.
‘What’s going on?’ She asked looking at her oddly.
‘I’m getting married!’ Talyndra exclaimed in excitement. The nurse looked at her with concern and confusion.
‘It’s Erik, isn’t it?’ She said. She had been Talyndra’s nurse for every admission and had heard about Erik on many occasions. He was a personality Talyndra had created to protect herself, in the beginning she would accept this but more recently she was becoming convinced that Erik was a real person.
‘He’s not real, Talyndra. We have talked about this before. You created him as a protector, a way to escape from all the bad things. You know this, we have talked about it.’ The nurse felt bad seeing the crushed expression on Talyndra’s face as she turned and ran to her room before slamming the door.
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Kellyn's Story
The monks lived a secluded life with hardly any visitors making the long and dangerous journey up the mountain. The monastery was tucked into the mountain under a large outcropped rock. The earlier monks had burrowed into the mountain creating a network of tunnels and chambers that served as accommodation for them. A large room had been carved out in the centre of the network and was where the monks took their meals and practiced their chosen arts. The room was decorated with life-sized stone dragons that always seemed to Kellyn to be watching them. The network of tunnels was decorated with murals of dragons in epic battles, or flying high in the sky. In the flickering light of the torches Kellyn was sure she could see the dragons moving around in the paintings. The only place she seemed able to escape the dragons stony gaze was by squeezing through a ventilation shaft and out onto the snow mountain top.
Kellyn had been living with the monks since she was three years old, the monks told her that her father had offered her to them for training, though she couldn’t remember what had truly happened. She trained hard with the monks, and they taught her the magic of the Old Dragons – the sign magic. She had studied it for years before she was able to successfully perform her first sign. It had been a simple summoning sign but it had delighted her to see the stone bowl flying towards her. Once the magic had begun to flow within her, the signs became easier to master and she was eventually able to even formulate some of her own.
The monks lead a simple life for the most part, they broke their fast with bread and porridge before engaging in morning prayer before setting out offerings to the Old Dragons. They spent the hours before lunch in quiet meditation or practicing their chosen combat arts. The monastery had been around since the time of the Great Dragons and had once been the main training academy for the elite forces of Molthar. It had long been forgotten about by inhabitants of the cities below them, but the arts of the masters that had once taught here remained. After lunch the monks gathered in the main chamber for another round of prayers before they set about their academic pursuits. Many of the monks chose to read through old scrolls containing details of the Old Dragons and their riders, the elite forces of Molthar. In the caverns beneath the monastery multiple large chambers contained shelf upon shelf of scrolls and books that contained the history of the dragon riders.
Kellyn spent most of her time when she first arrived in her small room. Outside her door was a man she saw as a giant. His huge form was covered in hair and scars and his face showed no emotion. She was terrified of him and spent many of her nights cowering under her thin blanket. There was no reprieve when morning came as the woman that had been assigned to her was cruel and merciless. The woman called herself Saavil, a name Kellyn had struggled to pronounce at three years old. Many times she had received a harsh punishment for her inability to correctly pronounce the name. It was during one of those punishments that Kellyn came to know her guard.
It had been late in the evening when Kellyn had been sent to her room for the night. She had gratefully crawled under the blanket on her bed after a long day of fumbling with bows and arrows. She had only been there a few moments when she heard her caretaker’s voice outside arguing with her guard. She had never heard him speak and as his deep voice resonated off the rock walls she thought she heard some warmth in his tone. She saw him move to block her way into the room, but she brushed him aside with a hissed threat. Kellyn didn’t understand why the man didn’t stop her, he was bigger than the woman and must be stronger, and if it came to it surely he would win. The woman stalked over glaring venomously at her. Kellyn looked out at her from behind her legs as she sat on the bed, fear freezing her blood as Saavil approached. Saavil pulled her roughly from the bed with one hand and before Kellyn had found her feet the other hand came swiftly to her face, causing her to fall to the ground. The woman made a sign in the air and invisible knives tore at Kellyn’s skin. Tears ran from her eyes as screams fled her mouth involuntarily. She could hear the woman laughing coldly as she stood over Kellyn’s curled up form. Saavil’s foot found its way to Kellyn’s stomach, knocking the air from her.
The pain subsided slightly and Kellyn thought she heard someone growling through her pain muddled mind but she couldn’t be sure. She lay there curled on the floor in a pool of her own blood, darkness began creeping up on her when she felt someone shaking her shoulder gently and calling her name. It took her a few moments to be able to open her eyes and see the man that usually towered above her kneeling down, concern showing clearly on his face. She closed her eyes again, drifting into the darkness that awaited her.
Kellyn had been living with the monks since she was three years old, the monks told her that her father had offered her to them for training, though she couldn’t remember what had truly happened. She trained hard with the monks, and they taught her the magic of the Old Dragons – the sign magic. She had studied it for years before she was able to successfully perform her first sign. It had been a simple summoning sign but it had delighted her to see the stone bowl flying towards her. Once the magic had begun to flow within her, the signs became easier to master and she was eventually able to even formulate some of her own.
The monks lead a simple life for the most part, they broke their fast with bread and porridge before engaging in morning prayer before setting out offerings to the Old Dragons. They spent the hours before lunch in quiet meditation or practicing their chosen combat arts. The monastery had been around since the time of the Great Dragons and had once been the main training academy for the elite forces of Molthar. It had long been forgotten about by inhabitants of the cities below them, but the arts of the masters that had once taught here remained. After lunch the monks gathered in the main chamber for another round of prayers before they set about their academic pursuits. Many of the monks chose to read through old scrolls containing details of the Old Dragons and their riders, the elite forces of Molthar. In the caverns beneath the monastery multiple large chambers contained shelf upon shelf of scrolls and books that contained the history of the dragon riders.
Kellyn spent most of her time when she first arrived in her small room. Outside her door was a man she saw as a giant. His huge form was covered in hair and scars and his face showed no emotion. She was terrified of him and spent many of her nights cowering under her thin blanket. There was no reprieve when morning came as the woman that had been assigned to her was cruel and merciless. The woman called herself Saavil, a name Kellyn had struggled to pronounce at three years old. Many times she had received a harsh punishment for her inability to correctly pronounce the name. It was during one of those punishments that Kellyn came to know her guard.
It had been late in the evening when Kellyn had been sent to her room for the night. She had gratefully crawled under the blanket on her bed after a long day of fumbling with bows and arrows. She had only been there a few moments when she heard her caretaker’s voice outside arguing with her guard. She had never heard him speak and as his deep voice resonated off the rock walls she thought she heard some warmth in his tone. She saw him move to block her way into the room, but she brushed him aside with a hissed threat. Kellyn didn’t understand why the man didn’t stop her, he was bigger than the woman and must be stronger, and if it came to it surely he would win. The woman stalked over glaring venomously at her. Kellyn looked out at her from behind her legs as she sat on the bed, fear freezing her blood as Saavil approached. Saavil pulled her roughly from the bed with one hand and before Kellyn had found her feet the other hand came swiftly to her face, causing her to fall to the ground. The woman made a sign in the air and invisible knives tore at Kellyn’s skin. Tears ran from her eyes as screams fled her mouth involuntarily. She could hear the woman laughing coldly as she stood over Kellyn’s curled up form. Saavil’s foot found its way to Kellyn’s stomach, knocking the air from her.
The pain subsided slightly and Kellyn thought she heard someone growling through her pain muddled mind but she couldn’t be sure. She lay there curled on the floor in a pool of her own blood, darkness began creeping up on her when she felt someone shaking her shoulder gently and calling her name. It took her a few moments to be able to open her eyes and see the man that usually towered above her kneeling down, concern showing clearly on his face. She closed her eyes again, drifting into the darkness that awaited her.
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
The Angel and God
You are an angel tasked whose job was to watch over humanity for the past 2000 year, try to convince God not to destroy it now that he has seen what it is today.
Light shimmered before me as a man materialised before me. I stepped back, startled. It had been 2000 years since I had seen this man. The humans on the Earth I was observing called him God. In reality he was just like me, only higher ranked. I saluted him.
“God,” I said in greeting to him.
“Angel,” He responded, observing the holographic projections on the table before us. I cringed as I saw the image of a man strangling his wife fading into a group of men surrounding a young girl in a parking lot.
“Destroy them.” God said without remorse, turning away from the images in disgust. “They don’t deserve the freedom I have given them. We are taking the other test subject home and destroying them. This race, these people, they don’t deserve to live.”
I stared at him in surprise. When we first came here and populated this planet it had been God that had believe we could find the good in these humans. We had gone against the Ephisit’s orders and saved the last humans from their dying home world. God had argued that they could be changed, that there was good in them still.
“Sir,” I said uncertainly.
“Silence, Angel.” I frowned, this man was so different to the compassionate scientist I had set out with two and a half thousand years ago. Where had they sent him to change his so much?
“It worked, sir. Your experiment.” I knew I would be in trouble for speaking out of turn, but he had to see what these people were really like. This was his vision, he wanted to save them, how could he condemn them now without proper evaluation. I moved closer to the table and tapped a few buttons.
Images popped up across the table, communities pulling together to help each other out after cyclones, tsunamis and other natural disasters. I showed God the scene of a mother diving into flood waters to save a small child. I looked closely at God’s face, nothing had changed. These people were condemned in his eyes. I sighed, I had been here for 2000 years, and I had seen the way the humans had changed. I had seen the way they had gone from fighting each other with steel weapons to guns and atomic bombs. I had almost lost faith at that point, certain they would continue on just as they had on their last home. They had stopped though. The first atomic bomb had caused them to rethink their weapons. The serum God had injected them with when we brought them here was beginning to work.
“It’s over, Angel, destroy them. They cannot be redeemed. Look at them, they are always fighting amongst themselves. Their countries cannot get along and within the countries there is anarchy. No, these humans have failed to change.”
“But sir, look at them. Look at how they have turned away from the atomic bomb, how they help each other out when they are in need. You can’t forsake them for the few who do wrong. If you must destroy them, allow me to save the ones who deserve it. I have been here for 2000 years, I have seen them grow and change. They can be better. Your serum, it’s starting to work!”
“I have been lenient with you thus far, Angel, but speak out of turn again and I will send you to join these humans you adore so much.”
Light shimmered before me as a man materialised before me. I stepped back, startled. It had been 2000 years since I had seen this man. The humans on the Earth I was observing called him God. In reality he was just like me, only higher ranked. I saluted him.
“God,” I said in greeting to him.
“Angel,” He responded, observing the holographic projections on the table before us. I cringed as I saw the image of a man strangling his wife fading into a group of men surrounding a young girl in a parking lot.
“Destroy them.” God said without remorse, turning away from the images in disgust. “They don’t deserve the freedom I have given them. We are taking the other test subject home and destroying them. This race, these people, they don’t deserve to live.”
I stared at him in surprise. When we first came here and populated this planet it had been God that had believe we could find the good in these humans. We had gone against the Ephisit’s orders and saved the last humans from their dying home world. God had argued that they could be changed, that there was good in them still.
“Sir,” I said uncertainly.
“Silence, Angel.” I frowned, this man was so different to the compassionate scientist I had set out with two and a half thousand years ago. Where had they sent him to change his so much?
“It worked, sir. Your experiment.” I knew I would be in trouble for speaking out of turn, but he had to see what these people were really like. This was his vision, he wanted to save them, how could he condemn them now without proper evaluation. I moved closer to the table and tapped a few buttons.
Images popped up across the table, communities pulling together to help each other out after cyclones, tsunamis and other natural disasters. I showed God the scene of a mother diving into flood waters to save a small child. I looked closely at God’s face, nothing had changed. These people were condemned in his eyes. I sighed, I had been here for 2000 years, and I had seen the way the humans had changed. I had seen the way they had gone from fighting each other with steel weapons to guns and atomic bombs. I had almost lost faith at that point, certain they would continue on just as they had on their last home. They had stopped though. The first atomic bomb had caused them to rethink their weapons. The serum God had injected them with when we brought them here was beginning to work.
“It’s over, Angel, destroy them. They cannot be redeemed. Look at them, they are always fighting amongst themselves. Their countries cannot get along and within the countries there is anarchy. No, these humans have failed to change.”
“But sir, look at them. Look at how they have turned away from the atomic bomb, how they help each other out when they are in need. You can’t forsake them for the few who do wrong. If you must destroy them, allow me to save the ones who deserve it. I have been here for 2000 years, I have seen them grow and change. They can be better. Your serum, it’s starting to work!”
“I have been lenient with you thus far, Angel, but speak out of turn again and I will send you to join these humans you adore so much.”
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
the Death of a Serial Killer
A notorious serial killer is fatally wounded in a encounter with the police. In his final moments, an officer asks him why he killed all those people. Make me sympathize with the killer.
The man before me was dying. I stood staring at him stunned. We had been trying to catch this guy for years. Every time we came close, he was gone before we got there. So many innocent lives taken because we had been too slow. Finally though, finally we had him. I looked down at the man that was bleeding out on the concrete. He could have been anyone, he looked just like someone you meet in the street. I felt suddenly unsure of my decision to shoot him.
‘Why did you do it?’ I asked, hoping he would tell me something to make my guilt ease. He choked out a laugh.
‘So you want to know now? Typical. Shoot first, ask later, that’s how the system works isn’t it?’ He laughed again, a hollow empty laugh. I stood above him in silence.
‘You want me to tell you it was fun, that I enjoyed it. I can see it on your face.’ He spat blood onto the concrete beside him. I shrugged, uncomfortable that he was able to read me so easily.
‘I didn’t do it for fun. I didn’t enjoy it, I had to do it. Why though, why would I kill innocents? I think you know. We aren’t so different, you and me. You’ve got a uniform and the law on your side. Me though, I don’t do it your way, no one wants to know what these people have done. It’s justice, it always has been. We all die for our dirty little secrets.’ He coughed and closed his eyes.
‘I can see what they did, I can see who they have hurt and I made them suffer like they made their prey suffer.’ He paused for a moment, eyes still closed. I thought he might have slipped into unconsciousness.
‘It was justice.’ He repeated again, finally falling into unconsciousness. My mind was already going over the victims I knew about. Some had been on trial for different sexual offences but none had been convicted. If they were guilty it would have made them some of the worst people alive, but they were all innocent, weren’t they?
The man before me was dying. I stood staring at him stunned. We had been trying to catch this guy for years. Every time we came close, he was gone before we got there. So many innocent lives taken because we had been too slow. Finally though, finally we had him. I looked down at the man that was bleeding out on the concrete. He could have been anyone, he looked just like someone you meet in the street. I felt suddenly unsure of my decision to shoot him.
‘Why did you do it?’ I asked, hoping he would tell me something to make my guilt ease. He choked out a laugh.
‘So you want to know now? Typical. Shoot first, ask later, that’s how the system works isn’t it?’ He laughed again, a hollow empty laugh. I stood above him in silence.
‘You want me to tell you it was fun, that I enjoyed it. I can see it on your face.’ He spat blood onto the concrete beside him. I shrugged, uncomfortable that he was able to read me so easily.
‘I didn’t do it for fun. I didn’t enjoy it, I had to do it. Why though, why would I kill innocents? I think you know. We aren’t so different, you and me. You’ve got a uniform and the law on your side. Me though, I don’t do it your way, no one wants to know what these people have done. It’s justice, it always has been. We all die for our dirty little secrets.’ He coughed and closed his eyes.
‘I can see what they did, I can see who they have hurt and I made them suffer like they made their prey suffer.’ He paused for a moment, eyes still closed. I thought he might have slipped into unconsciousness.
‘It was justice.’ He repeated again, finally falling into unconsciousness. My mind was already going over the victims I knew about. Some had been on trial for different sexual offences but none had been convicted. If they were guilty it would have made them some of the worst people alive, but they were all innocent, weren’t they?
Monday, 4 August 2014
Bestoring Godly Powers
A god-like being bestows the reincarnations of her first love with godly powers. The newest reincarnation is not so pleased about having greatness thrust upon them.
“Jason! Jason!” Solyn yells excitedly as she races towards the man that was walking through the front door. Without warning she jumps onto him and clings on. “Jason! Guess what, guess what!”
“What?” Jason asks laughing at her untamed excitement. This was what he loved about her, the way she could express her emotions in a childlike manner that was just so adorable. It could get frustrating at times but in this moment, he knew why he loved her so much.
“I’ve got a present for you!” She leapt off him and bounced down the hall in front of him. He shook his head with a smile and followed after her. They entered the spare room and he saw a small device on the bed. He looked at it in puzzlement as she looked at him expectantly.
“Uh, what is it?” He said in confusion. Her mood faltered for a moment before picking up again.
“It’s done, I finished it, we can finally be together for ever!” Jason looked at her, unsure if she was having a mental breakdown or something.
“We are already going to be together forever, Sol.” She sighed in frustration, the sort of frustration you feel when trying to explain to a child why the grass is green and they just aren’t getting it.
“Touch it, Jason, pleaeeeeeese?” She all but begged him with her adorable blue eyes looking at him like that , how could he say no? He picked up the device and it clicked and whirled before going still and silent. He looked at her puzzled before the world went black around him.
“Jason,” the voice calling his name sounded like an angel. He tried to move but found his body wouldn’t obey. He thought about opening his eyes so he could look at the beautiful woman he knew was standing over him. He could almost see her even with his eyes closed.
“Wha’ happened?” He asked groggily as he finally managed to sit up.
“I fixed the problem, I made you like me. Now we can be together forever.” The excitement was still coming through her voice and he could feel her practically bouncing on the bed as he tried to make sense of what was going on.
“What the heck is that noise?” He asked, looking around for the source of the noise that was assaulting him.
“Oh,” she said thoughtfully, “I guess it will take you a bit to get used to it.” She got up to shut the windows to drown out some of the sounds from the city outside.
“Get used to what, exactly?” The noise was grating on his nerves, it was as though he could hear every sound in the house, every creaking floorboard, the wind finding its way into the kitchen, the fridge buzzing down the hall.
“I made you like me,” Solyn said again as though that explained everything.
“That means nothing to me, Sol,” Jason was beginning to lose his patience, the noise and the way she just expected him to know what was going on was starting to wear him down.
“Every time you die, I find you again and you always die, but now I found a way that we can be together without you dying. I made the device to give you my powers. So now you won’t die, and we can live forever, and be together.” Her voice was so sweet to his ears he almost didn’t hear what she was saying.
“Wait, what? What are you then? What have you done to me? I just wanted to have a normal life with the woman I love. I don’t even know you. Just, just go.” He knew he was probably over reacting, but between the noise and trying to make sense of the situation he just wanted it all to go back to normal. Her face melted into one of uncertainty and sadness as he looked away. He heard her leave the room, and then the house before he fell back on the bed.
“Jason! Jason!” Solyn yells excitedly as she races towards the man that was walking through the front door. Without warning she jumps onto him and clings on. “Jason! Guess what, guess what!”
“What?” Jason asks laughing at her untamed excitement. This was what he loved about her, the way she could express her emotions in a childlike manner that was just so adorable. It could get frustrating at times but in this moment, he knew why he loved her so much.
“I’ve got a present for you!” She leapt off him and bounced down the hall in front of him. He shook his head with a smile and followed after her. They entered the spare room and he saw a small device on the bed. He looked at it in puzzlement as she looked at him expectantly.
“Uh, what is it?” He said in confusion. Her mood faltered for a moment before picking up again.
“It’s done, I finished it, we can finally be together for ever!” Jason looked at her, unsure if she was having a mental breakdown or something.
“We are already going to be together forever, Sol.” She sighed in frustration, the sort of frustration you feel when trying to explain to a child why the grass is green and they just aren’t getting it.
“Touch it, Jason, pleaeeeeeese?” She all but begged him with her adorable blue eyes looking at him like that , how could he say no? He picked up the device and it clicked and whirled before going still and silent. He looked at her puzzled before the world went black around him.
“Jason,” the voice calling his name sounded like an angel. He tried to move but found his body wouldn’t obey. He thought about opening his eyes so he could look at the beautiful woman he knew was standing over him. He could almost see her even with his eyes closed.
“Wha’ happened?” He asked groggily as he finally managed to sit up.
“I fixed the problem, I made you like me. Now we can be together forever.” The excitement was still coming through her voice and he could feel her practically bouncing on the bed as he tried to make sense of what was going on.
“What the heck is that noise?” He asked, looking around for the source of the noise that was assaulting him.
“Oh,” she said thoughtfully, “I guess it will take you a bit to get used to it.” She got up to shut the windows to drown out some of the sounds from the city outside.
“Get used to what, exactly?” The noise was grating on his nerves, it was as though he could hear every sound in the house, every creaking floorboard, the wind finding its way into the kitchen, the fridge buzzing down the hall.
“I made you like me,” Solyn said again as though that explained everything.
“That means nothing to me, Sol,” Jason was beginning to lose his patience, the noise and the way she just expected him to know what was going on was starting to wear him down.
“Every time you die, I find you again and you always die, but now I found a way that we can be together without you dying. I made the device to give you my powers. So now you won’t die, and we can live forever, and be together.” Her voice was so sweet to his ears he almost didn’t hear what she was saying.
“Wait, what? What are you then? What have you done to me? I just wanted to have a normal life with the woman I love. I don’t even know you. Just, just go.” He knew he was probably over reacting, but between the noise and trying to make sense of the situation he just wanted it all to go back to normal. Her face melted into one of uncertainty and sadness as he looked away. He heard her leave the room, and then the house before he fell back on the bed.
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