Look mama! Shes nice!

No! No no no! Mae, remener what mommy said.

Mama said Stay away from the robots. But this ones nice.

No shes dead! Come on Mae lets leave.

I shouldn’t feel this way; but I do. That nasty sinking feeling. Like I should be happy for him. But I only feel sad. Everyone is telling me “good job” but if that was my best, it wasn’t good enough. I have to show everyone I am fine, so they don’t think I am weak. I hate this.

“But why do you get to hold the sword?”

“It’s a long sword West. You need two hands to hold it.”

“I still think I should hold it.”

“You’ve got the keys, remember?”

“That’s not exciting. A sword on the other hand…”

“West, so help me, I ought to break your other arm!”

“Bracken, tsk tsk, manners.”

(intense glaring)

“Here! Finally. This door.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Open the damn door West! You’ve got the keys!”

“Alright alright, sheesh. Calm down. Someone’s gonna hear you.”

“click”

“Good, now you go look for the crown, West. I’ll stand guard.”

“Thank you West for opening the door for us. We would be completely lost without you. You so underappreciate my work Bracken.”

“Fine! You guard the door with the keys and I’ll go look for the crown!”

“I’m goin’, I’m goin’”

“rummage”

“rustle”

“BAM”

“Could you be any louder?”

“I’m concentrating, hush, Bracken.”

“We don’t have all day.”

“Don’t I know.”

I rip my sword out of the dead man’s chest. Blood sprays onto my midnight armor. My crazed eyes search for another opponent, catching on a tall bearded man in the white armor of the enemy. I stalk towards him, heaving my sword up and behind me into the sheath across my back. Walking faster now I reveal two long knives from my hips. The man sees me now and he twirls his sword readying himself. But instead of immediately attacking me, he speaks. His voice is deep and rich. “Sael of Qelmsen, a worthy opponent.” I bristle at his boastful tone. As if he were a great, unbeatable beast. And I was something worth playing with. I hiss at him, baring my pointed teeth. “I see you have slain a mighty number of my men.” I stop, straightening. My men, he hath said. Then this was their great king of Roran. King Dominic the Merciless. Fear tries to weasel into my heart, but I shove it back killing it. I am not afraid. “Where is you famed sister? I supposed you would be fighting side by side.” My beloved sister, Gael of Qelmsen. Somewhere in the fray Gael had become lost to my eyes. Then I see the horrible expression scrawled on the kings face. My heart skips a beat. No. He is just trying to find cracks in my armor. “Gael hath slain countless of your numbers, as have I. You are alone. Surrender.” Dominic laughs, throwing his head back. “My pride does not let me sink as low as to surrender. It is you who will surrender.” The king lifts his sword ready for a fight. His hungry eyes disturb me. I ready my knives. I am smaller so I will use speed to my advantage. Hence, my using smaller weapons. We circle on another slowly. A horn blares in the distance, drawing both of our attention. A soldier in white comes running over a nearby hill. He comes up gasping. The king lowers his sword and looks at the soldier, but his guard is still up. “My lord, it’s your son.” At those words the king stiffens. “He is battling Lady Gael, and losing terribly my king.” King Dominic’s gaze turns to me again. “Shall we?” I don’t let him finish. I run for the hill. If Dominic gets to Gael before I do, he will kill her. I will not let that happen. I hear the kings heavy footfalls behind me, ever coming closer. Smoke from fires burning in the horizon burns my lungs, slowing me. But not significantly. I see the two shapes of black and white. One looks sluggish and their form is terrible. Maybe they are tiring. The other is a whirl of night striking first and striking strong. Gael. I run to her aid, when I eye catches on an archer on a hill. My heart drops. “GAEL! The archer!” Gael doesn’t hesitate she begins moving faster and moves the fight out of range of any arrows. I smile. Gael heeded me for once. Suddenly a sharp pain in my shoulder causes me to stumble. “Sael!” My sister screams. In my distraction, I moved into the range of the archer. Cursing myself for losing my concentration, I continue running towards Gael, albeit much slower. The kings catches up, grabbing my shoulders and yanks me back. I hit the ground hard, the air in my lungs leaving me. Gasping I try to stand. The boy who had warned the king push’s me back into the ground. Glaring, I roll away and stand farther away. “Do not stop him. He will only kill you also.” I jump forward and sink my knives into the boy’s throat cutting him off. He sinks to the ground. I spit the blood out of my mouth and eye the arrow sticking out of my shoulder. I grit my teeth and wrap my hand around the arrow and yank it out. I’ve dealt with worse. I turn towards Gael and the prince of Roran. Gael has tried to knock the prince to the ground, but what the prince lacks in skill he gains in strength. Dominic has almost reached my sister. Panicking, I change course charging towards the archer. Coming around behind the man I swiped a knife across his throat. The archer falls to the ground with a choking, bubbling sound. I grab the crossbow aim haphazardly towards the king and fire. The arrow misses, and the king doesn’t notice. Taking more care, I reload and aim again. This time my arrow flies true, striking the kings lower back. The king crashes to the ground. I aim again, striking the prince through the the heart. The prince’s eyes bug, and he falls to his knees. “No!” The king roars. He staggers to his feet and limps over to his son. Catching his body before his face hits the soil. I run as silently as I am able over to Gael. “Well done.” Her smile is tired. We both turn towards the king. “Surrender, Your Majesty. You have lost.” The king is staring at the ground, unmoving. His eye is twitching. “I will never surrender.” He whispers. I sheath my knives and draw the sword from my back. Gael stops me. I turn to her, surprised. “You need to leave, Sael.” “Wha-“ “Now, Sael.” My sisters eyes are cold steel, “Tell King Gradis of our victory.” My frown deepens. “Gael we have not won.” Gael looks towards the king again. “I will finish here.” She nods as if reassuring herself. The king shoots to his feet, but sways. “I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!” He screams. He grabs Gael and drives his sword into her stomach. I strangled gasp escapes my lips. The king twists and a Gael screams. He shoves her over revealing a freshly bloodied sword. I charge him and body slam him, and he rolls down the hill. I turn back to Gael, her face is quickly losing color. “Go.” Her breathing is uneven. “I will not leave you!” My eyes search for something, someone, anyone. Gael grabs my arm then pull me close and whispers. “Jsoybej fra toteimpal.” Look to the stars, always. She’s puts her hand to her bleeding stomach and drags it down the front of my chest plate. Leaving a smeared bloody handprint. Then she slides one finger from my forehead through my left eye to my chin. The mark of a warrior. I hear the kings labored breaths as he tries to climb back up the hill. “Stay mighty.” She rises shakily to her feet, “Tell Gradis I died a warriors death.” I nod sharply. Turn and run. Never looking back, not even when I hear her scream.

My hand is a Winner My poker face Set

The dealer Deals

My oponents watches Curious

My hand wanders for my Cup

The glass cold against my Lips

The gratifying Burn

Burn Burn Burn

My glass is Set

My oponent watches Triumphant

The dealer Deals

My hand Falls

I have the firm belief that one should always make a first judgment of another.

Meeting a new person is a groundbreaking moment of ones life. Someone could become ones greatest friend, or greastest enemy.

I believe I have a foul proof system. I avoid the horrible people of the world and keep close to the good ones.

See, there’s you.

Your hair wasnt done; showing signs of unruliness. Your shirt was on backwards. It’s giving crazed. You had a slightly confused, but hostile expression on you face. Your whole demeanor was practically a warning sign. Demanding people stay away.

Naturally, I follow the signs. But then, suddenly, you were in my seat on the train.

Now, I know what you are thinking. There is not assigned seating on the train. But, as you know, I have firm belief that if one rides the train everyday they are perfectly in their own right to have the same seat everyday.

But there you were.

When I managed to compose myself enough to confront you, I braced myself for a snappy response. Of course you would put up a fight. i walked up to you and was about to speak my protests.

However, I was surpirsed when your face changed. Your eyes brightened. And you sat up straighter.

You smiled at me.

I must’ve looked like a goldfish; gawking at you like that. If im being completely honest, i wasnt sure what to do.

“Can I sit there?” I point at the seat next to you. Your smile brightens.

“Of course!” The chipper tone if your voice catches me off guard. This is not right. You…you had a grouchy, stubborn, diificult look about you.

You pull out a book and begin to read. I catch the title. “A Man Called Otto” i believe it read. Of course you would be reading my favorite book. I muster my courage.

“Good book?”

“It’s one of my favorites.” Of course it is.

“Ride this train often?”

“First time.” Ah, that explains my seat. I nod and start to turn away when…

“This sounds strange, but as this is my first time riding, im glad i have someone nice sitting next to me. Especially soneone wirh good book taste.” I blush. My system is crumbling betore my eyes.

And its all your fault.