hey guys
I plan on decimating this blog
As soon as I find out how
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Untouchable
Untouchable
Once there was a civil war. The land had fought with itself for so long they had forgotten that at a time their land was one. Both sides could not keep fighting or they would engulf themselves into oblivion and extinction. So one side decided that the only way to save them was to start a fire in the enemy’s capital city, for it would destroy their pride to surrender or make peace as their fathers before them had told. So their plans succeed and they lit a fire, but with that came all the hate and despair.
The fire spread throughout the land. It consumed all because it was no ordinary flame; it was a flame of hate, pride, and a desire to kill everything in its way. It spread through the desert even though there was no fuel, it spread through every forest, and it even burned the oceans as if it were oil. After a month the thing left unhurt was the small town of Chaz.
It was in the middle of the chaos like the eye of the storm. The only problem was the eye was slowly passing. The people of Chaz were in panic because there was no way out and they were the last survivors on earth out of chance so they held a town meeting. “We must find a new safe haven,” said the mayor. So they sent ten scouts to find a place to stay. Only one came back sadly, but he filled the town with joy. For he spoke of a wonderful place that was filled with animals and it was safe. They did not know whether to believe him and go to this tree or stay and except their doom. They went and many didn't make it, but some fought the heat. When they found the heavenly tree it was surrounded by black fire, but not even touched. Under the leaves there were no flames and it was comfortable and cool. The fruit gave the liquid and the animals made great food and did not bother them for some unnatural reason. There they stayed until the fire subdued.
Pride and hate destroyed the world, but they survived to begin anew.
Kinda Cheesy but I thought I could start out big.
Once there was a civil war. The land had fought with itself for so long they had forgotten that at a time their land was one. Both sides could not keep fighting or they would engulf themselves into oblivion and extinction. So one side decided that the only way to save them was to start a fire in the enemy’s capital city, for it would destroy their pride to surrender or make peace as their fathers before them had told. So their plans succeed and they lit a fire, but with that came all the hate and despair.
The fire spread throughout the land. It consumed all because it was no ordinary flame; it was a flame of hate, pride, and a desire to kill everything in its way. It spread through the desert even though there was no fuel, it spread through every forest, and it even burned the oceans as if it were oil. After a month the thing left unhurt was the small town of Chaz.
It was in the middle of the chaos like the eye of the storm. The only problem was the eye was slowly passing. The people of Chaz were in panic because there was no way out and they were the last survivors on earth out of chance so they held a town meeting. “We must find a new safe haven,” said the mayor. So they sent ten scouts to find a place to stay. Only one came back sadly, but he filled the town with joy. For he spoke of a wonderful place that was filled with animals and it was safe. They did not know whether to believe him and go to this tree or stay and except their doom. They went and many didn't make it, but some fought the heat. When they found the heavenly tree it was surrounded by black fire, but not even touched. Under the leaves there were no flames and it was comfortable and cool. The fruit gave the liquid and the animals made great food and did not bother them for some unnatural reason. There they stayed until the fire subdued.
Pride and hate destroyed the world, but they survived to begin anew.
Kinda Cheesy but I thought I could start out big.
Reality Bound
Reality Bound
As I busted through the floor with my boot, wood shattered like glass. I reached into the hole I had made as far as it would go. Something that felt like silk brushed my hand. At that time the air froze as if energy itself was taken from the room. I snatched it and found that the silk strand had writing on it. It read, “The past may be the key to the future, but the present is the key to the past.”
After what seemed to be years the floor gave way and led me down a dark, depressing hole that seemed to stretch towards the earth’s core. The last thing I saw was an owl. It was watching me fall. As I fell the strand disembodied itself and my blood froze, burning my bones. Then, I woke. The dream made no sense at all.
I brushed my hand through my straight black hair in annoyance. Dreams like these have been coming lately, but not a single one had an owl in it. I looked around and noticed that I was on the ground. A mirror that lay next to me showed a messy young man with mud in his face; he wasn’t me. I was an average height of 6 1” with gray eyes like most people in Climath. I stood up, looked at my bed that I had fallen from and looked back at the mirror. There I was. I saw that the sun had already risen.
The heat from the sun was fantastic, but I had no time to embrace it. I had no time to lose. Getting to the butcher’s place as soon as possible was a must. I shoved on my pants, boots, and gloves then grabbed a random shirt. I had to get there by eight o’clock or Harold would fire me again and I would be out of a job for a week. The only reason he keeps on rehiring me is because he’s an old drunkard that can’t remember anything.
I ran towards the dresser for the horse hair brush Ellyn gave me as a present, I don’t remember the occasion. I tore it through my hair trying to think of something I had forgotten. Nope nothing. I put the brush back and ran towards my door. Once I reached it I opened to see the beautiful sunrise. I walked out a little bit then looked at the house I had built out of some kind of white tree and bid it farewell.
Running half a kilometer I found myself in town. Happy voices came from Tilnight Garden and the Marketplace for the Spring Festival which was coming to celebrate the ending of winter and the beginning of spring. Spring was a beautiful thing but the fools were celebrating for the sake of to get drunk and flirt with girls without getting slapped; they had lost sight of its true meaning. To celebrate life.
I walked into Harold’s house trying to act calm. “Hello,” I yelled throughout the house looking for the bald man that’s temper will be the end of me. Suddenly out of nowhere his voice slurred, “Where have you been, Owl? You never get here on time. Why shouldn’t fire ya right here? Give me one reason I shouldn’t fire your sorry behind right now…” He was drunk again. I blocked out the rest of his lecture because I wasn’t in the mood. Yet he cursed on and on.
“Fine, fine I get it,” I broke in.
“Well, your fired.” he said as I stomped out the door.
“Thanks a lot.” I was pissed. I didn’t know why it was getting to me so badly. I walked to the bakery. I would hate seeing Edna. She was a short brunette who is always the first to know everything especially bad news.
She was standing behind the counter counting her money greedily. Her head snapped up as I walked into the hot but humid room. “What, Jack? You lost your job again? Well you better get out of here.” I tried not to yell at her. “Get out of here before I lose customers. Shoo. I said go. You’re just standing there like an idiot. People are starting to walk away. Leave.”
“You’re as stubborn as an ass. And the name’s Owl!”
“How dare…”
“How dare you!” I slapped eight copper coins onto the counter and grabbed four loaves of bread and a bag from the shelves.
I slammed the door behind me. I heard someone say “He actually spoke.” Most in the town think I don’t talk much, but I think they talk too much. Only say what you must. Words have more power than we know.
Once home was in my sights I tripped and apparently hit my head on a rock. The last thing I saw was bread flying everywhere.
I was in a nice big bed. Its soft pillows made me want to stay but I had to find out where I was. I couldn’t put my finger on whose room. John’s voice shattered the silence, “Hey, Ellyn, where are you? Your acting weird hiding from me.”
In the mayor’s house, I was in Town Hall. John was a friend of mine and son of the mayor, Witwood. God knows what he’ll do if he finds me in Ellyn’s room; Ellyn is my age so he could take it any way. The doorknob shook and I got ready for the worst. “Stupid doorknob always sticks.”
Finally he managed to open the door. It all seemed so familiar. Then I woke up.
“Owl are you okay? You gotta wake up.”
“Yes.” I replied. Opening my eyes I stared into her deep green eyes. “Ellyn where am I?”
“Uh, must I answer that question?” All I did was give her a look that answered her question. “You’re in my room. I came looking for you after I heard what you did at the Bakery. I found you collapsed near your house and I had John carry and made him promise not to tell anyone.”
“Thanks for not telling anyone. I’m on everyone’s bad side.”
“You always on someone’s bad side,” she chuckled. “Your welcome.” Someone knocked on the door. Her curly red hair bounced as she jumped.
“Is anyone else in there? I thought I heard someone else,” said Ellyn’s dad, Witwood. Ellyn replied negatively. “Okay. Got it.”
Once the foot steps faded Ellyn continued, “We have to get you out of here or my dad will have us both hanged.”
“Kay.” I said getting up. “You go out the front door.”
“Where will you go?”
“Out the window of course. Don’t want your dad seeing me.”
“But this is the third story.”
“What about the tree.” She rolled her eyes. Then I heard a hoot from the distance. It was here. I grabbed Ellyn’s wrist and pulled her out the door. When Ellyn’s dad saw me he gave me the most awkward look. There are no owls in this part of the world expect one.
We ran across the bridge away from the forest where a crowd was forming. At the Bakery we found Edna’s limp body. Tears swelled in Ellyn’s eyes. Death does not go well with her. She didn’t think anyone deserved it. Everyone started staring at me.
“I’m going home,” I whispered in Ellyn’s ear.
“No stay with me I need to ask you something. Plus you don’t need to be cooped up in that house all by yourself.”
“Just ask now.”
“No, not with all these people.”
“What would you ask then that you couldn’t ask now?”
“Many things,” she said in a whisper. I was in awe.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.” We walked to town hall silently. She seemed thoughtful when we walked through the huge door. She seemed ready for something while we climbed the flights of stairs.
“I have to get changed so stay out here,” she exclaimed at her door and walked in. What was she making me wait for? Footsteps walked to me then John and Witwood appeared. “What are you doing here, Boy?” Witwood seemed like he was spitting vemon.
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
“For your daughter.”
He gave me a sad look and waved for John to leave. “You know that she’s…”
“Don’t say it.” I opened the door and walked in turning my back on him. Ellyn was in a beautiful blue dress.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You are going to get yourself hanged without my help,” she chuckled.
“That’s great. Now what do you want to ask me?”
“I want to leave here. Will you come with me?”
“To Tilnight Garden?”
“I mean leave town, leave Climath.”
“Really? I’d love to but I must ask why?”
“So we could finally be alone.” She blushed.
“We need to gather supplies. Give me a day.”
“I want to leave now.”
“You know we need supplies.” I smiled at her.
“Ok.” She smiled back.
“I’m going to go to Tilnight Garden. Goodbye.”
“Why must you leave now?”
“Because I need time to think. You know you can come?” She shook her head so I left. I passed Witwood with tears in his eyes. I felt sorry for him.
I walked through the huge grand doors that led outside. They creaked shut as a farewell while I walked by houses feeling like something was wrong; like something I knew wasn’t real. Fear crept over me like shadows creep through the night. My blood froze and my muscles burned. These cramps had been happening recently. I walked to Tilnight Garden after it was gone.
It was a beautiful place. Flowers everywhere in unimaginable shades and colors. I walked through the gorgeous trees and flowers on a narrow path that not many take. I heard a scream from near Lover’s Fountain. I had to run.
At the fountain I saw a wolf attacking Harold. I ran to the wolf and tackled it. We rolled towards the fountain and I managed to get up. I threw the wolf into the water, it pounced at me. I dodged it but it ran at me and took me down. Harold took a knife from work and slid it to me. HE BROUGHT A KNIFE WHEN HE WAS PROBABLY DRUNK! What a smart guy. I took the knife. The wolf didn’t live very long with a slit throat.
As it fell I swear it whispered to me. “Follow your dreams and you will live.” What was that? It rotted in a few seconds. All that was left was a skeleton and then that evaporated.
“Whats wrong wit ya?” I heard from behind me. Harold was drunk. “You killish it, we were just havin’ a drink.”
“I just saved your life,” I yelled.
“Why sho violent? Ya know what? You killed Edna. You never really liked her to much. I can’t believe I haven’t noticed it yet!” His voice turned to roar. “YOU KILLED HER!” Tears swelled in his eyes. He had always loved her. He was drinking his pain away.
“It wasn’t me.”
“YES IT WAS, YOU MURDERER! I will kill you for that. MURDERER!” he screamed at the top of his lungs as he threw himself at me. His huge muscles flexed as he tried to break my neck. We were both crying. I pushed him away. He fell over with a knife in his chest. He looked relieved. I didn’t do that, I couldn’t have. The owl hooted as he closed his eyes. I someone screamed and I saw a girl staring at us.
I ran away tears flooding my vision. I was only twenty-three and I had already killed someone.
Ellyn’s reply was shock.
“Are you sure it said ‘follow your dreams and you will live’?” She asked.
“Yeah.” I wiped the tears away.
Witwood walked in and didn’t even look at Ellyn. Nobody every really did for some reason.
“I heard what you did…”
“I didn’t do it. It was the owl! Ellyn knows.”
“Ellyn is gone!” he yelled. He was right Ellyn was gone! Where did she go? I started to cry.
“Where is she? What did you do to her?” I screamed.
He looked down. “Somewhere else.”
“Where?”
The room got cold and menacing. “I’m going to have to hang you.”
I was shocked. “What?” I felt so weak, as if everything had gone to hell and me with it.
“You’re a danger to everyone around you.”
“It was an accident. I will make it better.” I sobbed.
“If it was up to me none of this would happen but it’s not.” He seemed so strong and sad at the same time.
The next day I spent in a prison cell. I just felt so angry and sad and just hopeless. I kept on telling myself the owl was trying to kill me and that I would survive. The hangman looked at me with sorrow as he let me out of the cell.
“Your coming with me buddy… I’m so sorry.” He looked down. I picked up a brick when he turned his back. I hit him in the head and he collapsed limp. I don’t know if he survived.
The owl was trying to get me killed. I ran and ran until I was at my house. When I walked in I took a deep breath.
As I busted through the floor with my boot, wood shattered like glass. I reached into the hole I had made as far as it would go. Something that felt like silk brushed my hand. At that time the air froze as if energy itself was taken from the room. I snatched it and found that the silk strand had writing on it. It read, “I will provide for you. You will live to meet me.” It was the owl who wrote it. Then Ellyn appeared in front of me.
After what seemed to be years of us just staring at eachother the floor gave way and led me down a dark, depressing hole that seemed to stretch towards the earth’s core. The last thing I saw was Ellyn. She gave me a little smile. As I fell my blood froze, burning my bones.
I woke up with a headache. I looked at my house. There was nothing left but ashes. I didn’t care. I could feel in my blood that I would never see it again. Unable to remember last night I walked to town. It was supposed to be the Spring Festival. It wasn’t.
Everyone was in panic. People screaming and crying. Everyone I walked by shrunk away in fear. I didn’t care. I had to see what was happening. Somehow I knew what I was going to see.
I walked to the center of the town. Witwood was in the fountain. The water distorted by the blood. Someone must have stabbed him multiple times in frenzy. There was a bloodied knife on the ground. I put it in my coat.
Suddenly everything was in a whirl. I was in a forest. The silhouette of a giant owl stood in front of me. I was sweating and the humid air made my clothes stick to me. The trees seemed to glare down at me. I felt the knife in my coat. I was scared but this was what I had to do.
The owl took a step towards me. My blood froze for the last time. Its black eyes examined me. I examined it.
“You, boy, speak,” it said in a terrible and thunderous voice.
“You killed Edna and Harold.” I trembled and was shaking.
“No, you did. But your little heart can’t stand it.”
“Liar,” I sobbed. “It is all your fault.”
“No I’m just your sweet release, your escape. And I’m wondering why you want to kill me.” He snickered. “I’m the only reason you’re still alive.”
“No I escaped the hangman’s noose myself.”
“Don’t lie to yourself. And I wasn’t talking about that. Remember when Ellyn and your family died.”
“WHAT?” I didn’t believe it.
“Yes remember. Now close your eyes.” I did so.
I was in a different place but it felt like a memory. I felt distant.
I was waiting for Ellyn in her room. It was quiet. John’s voice shattered the silence, “Hey, Ellyn, where are you? Your acting weird hiding from me.”
God knows what he’ll do if he finds me in Ellyn’s room. The doorknob shook and I got ready for the worst. “Stupid doorknob always sticks.”
Finally he managed to open the door. “Jack,” he was surprised to see me. “What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting for Ellyn,” I said.
“Okay. Do you know where she is?”
“She left a second before you came in. I think she’s downstairs talking with my mom and dad.”
“Let’s go down there then.” He smiled.
“John, I’m so nervous.” I was sweating.
“I know buddy. You’ll survive.” He was a great friend.
We got downstairs and I saw Ellyn sitting at the table with my parents. She got up and ran to me. She gave me a hug.
“I can’t believe we’re getting married. It’s so… wonderful,” she whispered in my ear. We were getting married. It was wonderful. We all heard the explosion. But I didn’t understand what was happening until it was too late. A giant piece of shrapnel was in my stomach. Ellyn was right next to me. I got up with great difficulty and picked up Ellyn with even more. I watched her eyes close. I turned around to see a regular owl.
I was forced back into reality. “NO IT CAN’T BE TRUE.” I tried to scream it into truth.
“I truly am sorry,” The owl said but it meant nothing.
“No… I can’t live in a world without her.”
“Which is why you imagine she is still here.”
I raised the knife not knowing what was happening but I knew what would. Everything turned dark. Then I saw Ellyn. She reached out her hand.
The town gathered around the corpse. John could not bear to look at his old friend. Jack was dead. A knife in his stomach. He had put it there himself. Jack had never been completely right ever since Ellyn had died. It had been a freak accident but it left Jack broken. From then on he talked to an invisible Ellyn and called himself Owl. It was what he focused on ever since it happened. He had killed Edna, Harold, and Witwood because of his pain and confusion. John was never the same since that day. He didn’t go crazy like Jack but he was broken-hearted. Nobody was the same.
That night John was in his room. He couldn’t sleep; tossing and turning. The ghosts of what had happened trying to tell him something. Once he finally fell asleep something woke him. The hoot of an owl.
Kind of a failure I know but this is how we begin.
As I busted through the floor with my boot, wood shattered like glass. I reached into the hole I had made as far as it would go. Something that felt like silk brushed my hand. At that time the air froze as if energy itself was taken from the room. I snatched it and found that the silk strand had writing on it. It read, “The past may be the key to the future, but the present is the key to the past.”
After what seemed to be years the floor gave way and led me down a dark, depressing hole that seemed to stretch towards the earth’s core. The last thing I saw was an owl. It was watching me fall. As I fell the strand disembodied itself and my blood froze, burning my bones. Then, I woke. The dream made no sense at all.
I brushed my hand through my straight black hair in annoyance. Dreams like these have been coming lately, but not a single one had an owl in it. I looked around and noticed that I was on the ground. A mirror that lay next to me showed a messy young man with mud in his face; he wasn’t me. I was an average height of 6 1” with gray eyes like most people in Climath. I stood up, looked at my bed that I had fallen from and looked back at the mirror. There I was. I saw that the sun had already risen.
The heat from the sun was fantastic, but I had no time to embrace it. I had no time to lose. Getting to the butcher’s place as soon as possible was a must. I shoved on my pants, boots, and gloves then grabbed a random shirt. I had to get there by eight o’clock or Harold would fire me again and I would be out of a job for a week. The only reason he keeps on rehiring me is because he’s an old drunkard that can’t remember anything.
I ran towards the dresser for the horse hair brush Ellyn gave me as a present, I don’t remember the occasion. I tore it through my hair trying to think of something I had forgotten. Nope nothing. I put the brush back and ran towards my door. Once I reached it I opened to see the beautiful sunrise. I walked out a little bit then looked at the house I had built out of some kind of white tree and bid it farewell.
Running half a kilometer I found myself in town. Happy voices came from Tilnight Garden and the Marketplace for the Spring Festival which was coming to celebrate the ending of winter and the beginning of spring. Spring was a beautiful thing but the fools were celebrating for the sake of to get drunk and flirt with girls without getting slapped; they had lost sight of its true meaning. To celebrate life.
I walked into Harold’s house trying to act calm. “Hello,” I yelled throughout the house looking for the bald man that’s temper will be the end of me. Suddenly out of nowhere his voice slurred, “Where have you been, Owl? You never get here on time. Why shouldn’t fire ya right here? Give me one reason I shouldn’t fire your sorry behind right now…” He was drunk again. I blocked out the rest of his lecture because I wasn’t in the mood. Yet he cursed on and on.
“Fine, fine I get it,” I broke in.
“Well, your fired.” he said as I stomped out the door.
“Thanks a lot.” I was pissed. I didn’t know why it was getting to me so badly. I walked to the bakery. I would hate seeing Edna. She was a short brunette who is always the first to know everything especially bad news.
She was standing behind the counter counting her money greedily. Her head snapped up as I walked into the hot but humid room. “What, Jack? You lost your job again? Well you better get out of here.” I tried not to yell at her. “Get out of here before I lose customers. Shoo. I said go. You’re just standing there like an idiot. People are starting to walk away. Leave.”
“You’re as stubborn as an ass. And the name’s Owl!”
“How dare…”
“How dare you!” I slapped eight copper coins onto the counter and grabbed four loaves of bread and a bag from the shelves.
I slammed the door behind me. I heard someone say “He actually spoke.” Most in the town think I don’t talk much, but I think they talk too much. Only say what you must. Words have more power than we know.
Once home was in my sights I tripped and apparently hit my head on a rock. The last thing I saw was bread flying everywhere.
I was in a nice big bed. Its soft pillows made me want to stay but I had to find out where I was. I couldn’t put my finger on whose room. John’s voice shattered the silence, “Hey, Ellyn, where are you? Your acting weird hiding from me.”
In the mayor’s house, I was in Town Hall. John was a friend of mine and son of the mayor, Witwood. God knows what he’ll do if he finds me in Ellyn’s room; Ellyn is my age so he could take it any way. The doorknob shook and I got ready for the worst. “Stupid doorknob always sticks.”
Finally he managed to open the door. It all seemed so familiar. Then I woke up.
“Owl are you okay? You gotta wake up.”
“Yes.” I replied. Opening my eyes I stared into her deep green eyes. “Ellyn where am I?”
“Uh, must I answer that question?” All I did was give her a look that answered her question. “You’re in my room. I came looking for you after I heard what you did at the Bakery. I found you collapsed near your house and I had John carry and made him promise not to tell anyone.”
“Thanks for not telling anyone. I’m on everyone’s bad side.”
“You always on someone’s bad side,” she chuckled. “Your welcome.” Someone knocked on the door. Her curly red hair bounced as she jumped.
“Is anyone else in there? I thought I heard someone else,” said Ellyn’s dad, Witwood. Ellyn replied negatively. “Okay. Got it.”
Once the foot steps faded Ellyn continued, “We have to get you out of here or my dad will have us both hanged.”
“Kay.” I said getting up. “You go out the front door.”
“Where will you go?”
“Out the window of course. Don’t want your dad seeing me.”
“But this is the third story.”
“What about the tree.” She rolled her eyes. Then I heard a hoot from the distance. It was here. I grabbed Ellyn’s wrist and pulled her out the door. When Ellyn’s dad saw me he gave me the most awkward look. There are no owls in this part of the world expect one.
We ran across the bridge away from the forest where a crowd was forming. At the Bakery we found Edna’s limp body. Tears swelled in Ellyn’s eyes. Death does not go well with her. She didn’t think anyone deserved it. Everyone started staring at me.
“I’m going home,” I whispered in Ellyn’s ear.
“No stay with me I need to ask you something. Plus you don’t need to be cooped up in that house all by yourself.”
“Just ask now.”
“No, not with all these people.”
“What would you ask then that you couldn’t ask now?”
“Many things,” she said in a whisper. I was in awe.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.” We walked to town hall silently. She seemed thoughtful when we walked through the huge door. She seemed ready for something while we climbed the flights of stairs.
“I have to get changed so stay out here,” she exclaimed at her door and walked in. What was she making me wait for? Footsteps walked to me then John and Witwood appeared. “What are you doing here, Boy?” Witwood seemed like he was spitting vemon.
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
“For your daughter.”
He gave me a sad look and waved for John to leave. “You know that she’s…”
“Don’t say it.” I opened the door and walked in turning my back on him. Ellyn was in a beautiful blue dress.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You are going to get yourself hanged without my help,” she chuckled.
“That’s great. Now what do you want to ask me?”
“I want to leave here. Will you come with me?”
“To Tilnight Garden?”
“I mean leave town, leave Climath.”
“Really? I’d love to but I must ask why?”
“So we could finally be alone.” She blushed.
“We need to gather supplies. Give me a day.”
“I want to leave now.”
“You know we need supplies.” I smiled at her.
“Ok.” She smiled back.
“I’m going to go to Tilnight Garden. Goodbye.”
“Why must you leave now?”
“Because I need time to think. You know you can come?” She shook her head so I left. I passed Witwood with tears in his eyes. I felt sorry for him.
I walked through the huge grand doors that led outside. They creaked shut as a farewell while I walked by houses feeling like something was wrong; like something I knew wasn’t real. Fear crept over me like shadows creep through the night. My blood froze and my muscles burned. These cramps had been happening recently. I walked to Tilnight Garden after it was gone.
It was a beautiful place. Flowers everywhere in unimaginable shades and colors. I walked through the gorgeous trees and flowers on a narrow path that not many take. I heard a scream from near Lover’s Fountain. I had to run.
At the fountain I saw a wolf attacking Harold. I ran to the wolf and tackled it. We rolled towards the fountain and I managed to get up. I threw the wolf into the water, it pounced at me. I dodged it but it ran at me and took me down. Harold took a knife from work and slid it to me. HE BROUGHT A KNIFE WHEN HE WAS PROBABLY DRUNK! What a smart guy. I took the knife. The wolf didn’t live very long with a slit throat.
As it fell I swear it whispered to me. “Follow your dreams and you will live.” What was that? It rotted in a few seconds. All that was left was a skeleton and then that evaporated.
“Whats wrong wit ya?” I heard from behind me. Harold was drunk. “You killish it, we were just havin’ a drink.”
“I just saved your life,” I yelled.
“Why sho violent? Ya know what? You killed Edna. You never really liked her to much. I can’t believe I haven’t noticed it yet!” His voice turned to roar. “YOU KILLED HER!” Tears swelled in his eyes. He had always loved her. He was drinking his pain away.
“It wasn’t me.”
“YES IT WAS, YOU MURDERER! I will kill you for that. MURDERER!” he screamed at the top of his lungs as he threw himself at me. His huge muscles flexed as he tried to break my neck. We were both crying. I pushed him away. He fell over with a knife in his chest. He looked relieved. I didn’t do that, I couldn’t have. The owl hooted as he closed his eyes. I someone screamed and I saw a girl staring at us.
I ran away tears flooding my vision. I was only twenty-three and I had already killed someone.
Ellyn’s reply was shock.
“Are you sure it said ‘follow your dreams and you will live’?” She asked.
“Yeah.” I wiped the tears away.
Witwood walked in and didn’t even look at Ellyn. Nobody every really did for some reason.
“I heard what you did…”
“I didn’t do it. It was the owl! Ellyn knows.”
“Ellyn is gone!” he yelled. He was right Ellyn was gone! Where did she go? I started to cry.
“Where is she? What did you do to her?” I screamed.
He looked down. “Somewhere else.”
“Where?”
The room got cold and menacing. “I’m going to have to hang you.”
I was shocked. “What?” I felt so weak, as if everything had gone to hell and me with it.
“You’re a danger to everyone around you.”
“It was an accident. I will make it better.” I sobbed.
“If it was up to me none of this would happen but it’s not.” He seemed so strong and sad at the same time.
The next day I spent in a prison cell. I just felt so angry and sad and just hopeless. I kept on telling myself the owl was trying to kill me and that I would survive. The hangman looked at me with sorrow as he let me out of the cell.
“Your coming with me buddy… I’m so sorry.” He looked down. I picked up a brick when he turned his back. I hit him in the head and he collapsed limp. I don’t know if he survived.
The owl was trying to get me killed. I ran and ran until I was at my house. When I walked in I took a deep breath.
As I busted through the floor with my boot, wood shattered like glass. I reached into the hole I had made as far as it would go. Something that felt like silk brushed my hand. At that time the air froze as if energy itself was taken from the room. I snatched it and found that the silk strand had writing on it. It read, “I will provide for you. You will live to meet me.” It was the owl who wrote it. Then Ellyn appeared in front of me.
After what seemed to be years of us just staring at eachother the floor gave way and led me down a dark, depressing hole that seemed to stretch towards the earth’s core. The last thing I saw was Ellyn. She gave me a little smile. As I fell my blood froze, burning my bones.
I woke up with a headache. I looked at my house. There was nothing left but ashes. I didn’t care. I could feel in my blood that I would never see it again. Unable to remember last night I walked to town. It was supposed to be the Spring Festival. It wasn’t.
Everyone was in panic. People screaming and crying. Everyone I walked by shrunk away in fear. I didn’t care. I had to see what was happening. Somehow I knew what I was going to see.
I walked to the center of the town. Witwood was in the fountain. The water distorted by the blood. Someone must have stabbed him multiple times in frenzy. There was a bloodied knife on the ground. I put it in my coat.
Suddenly everything was in a whirl. I was in a forest. The silhouette of a giant owl stood in front of me. I was sweating and the humid air made my clothes stick to me. The trees seemed to glare down at me. I felt the knife in my coat. I was scared but this was what I had to do.
The owl took a step towards me. My blood froze for the last time. Its black eyes examined me. I examined it.
“You, boy, speak,” it said in a terrible and thunderous voice.
“You killed Edna and Harold.” I trembled and was shaking.
“No, you did. But your little heart can’t stand it.”
“Liar,” I sobbed. “It is all your fault.”
“No I’m just your sweet release, your escape. And I’m wondering why you want to kill me.” He snickered. “I’m the only reason you’re still alive.”
“No I escaped the hangman’s noose myself.”
“Don’t lie to yourself. And I wasn’t talking about that. Remember when Ellyn and your family died.”
“WHAT?” I didn’t believe it.
“Yes remember. Now close your eyes.” I did so.
I was in a different place but it felt like a memory. I felt distant.
I was waiting for Ellyn in her room. It was quiet. John’s voice shattered the silence, “Hey, Ellyn, where are you? Your acting weird hiding from me.”
God knows what he’ll do if he finds me in Ellyn’s room. The doorknob shook and I got ready for the worst. “Stupid doorknob always sticks.”
Finally he managed to open the door. “Jack,” he was surprised to see me. “What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting for Ellyn,” I said.
“Okay. Do you know where she is?”
“She left a second before you came in. I think she’s downstairs talking with my mom and dad.”
“Let’s go down there then.” He smiled.
“John, I’m so nervous.” I was sweating.
“I know buddy. You’ll survive.” He was a great friend.
We got downstairs and I saw Ellyn sitting at the table with my parents. She got up and ran to me. She gave me a hug.
“I can’t believe we’re getting married. It’s so… wonderful,” she whispered in my ear. We were getting married. It was wonderful. We all heard the explosion. But I didn’t understand what was happening until it was too late. A giant piece of shrapnel was in my stomach. Ellyn was right next to me. I got up with great difficulty and picked up Ellyn with even more. I watched her eyes close. I turned around to see a regular owl.
I was forced back into reality. “NO IT CAN’T BE TRUE.” I tried to scream it into truth.
“I truly am sorry,” The owl said but it meant nothing.
“No… I can’t live in a world without her.”
“Which is why you imagine she is still here.”
I raised the knife not knowing what was happening but I knew what would. Everything turned dark. Then I saw Ellyn. She reached out her hand.
The town gathered around the corpse. John could not bear to look at his old friend. Jack was dead. A knife in his stomach. He had put it there himself. Jack had never been completely right ever since Ellyn had died. It had been a freak accident but it left Jack broken. From then on he talked to an invisible Ellyn and called himself Owl. It was what he focused on ever since it happened. He had killed Edna, Harold, and Witwood because of his pain and confusion. John was never the same since that day. He didn’t go crazy like Jack but he was broken-hearted. Nobody was the same.
That night John was in his room. He couldn’t sleep; tossing and turning. The ghosts of what had happened trying to tell him something. Once he finally fell asleep something woke him. The hoot of an owl.
Kind of a failure I know but this is how we begin.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)