Everyone knows the story of Alice in Womderland. Her stumble down the rabbit hole that led her to this bright and colorful world; that which led to her inner awakening of who she truly is. Alice ultimately ends up conquering the Queen and is bathing in her power. What no one talks about though is her re-entrance to the human world. Returning to her snobby family and mundane exsistence after being surrounded by magical creatures and talking animals was a jarring experience. Alice was given word that one of her family members was on the way to the next life, so she thought I’d only be plausible if she went to say her farewells. Alice did not really give much thought to what this truly meant. She would have to face everything she left behind, face the reality of her situation. As Alice entered back into the human realm her heart began skipping beats at such an irregular pattern. All the memories from her past bubbling up to the surface. Her gut twisted into an irreversible knot, causing her to feel nauseous. She felt her knees go limp as she stood tall after crawling out of the dark tree trunk. But Alice then remembered who she was. She slipped back into her habitual patterns that she had worked so hard to be liberated from. Alice took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and focused on the sound of her own breathing until she felt grounded again. Reeling her mind back like a magnet pulling in metal for a close hug. Alice was so used to the random methodical creatures approaching her that being here felt barren. She got stuck staring at a tree waiting to make a quick acquaintance when her Aunt coughed saying “Alice, what are you doing staring at that tree?” Alice replied “Oh I thought I saw something.” Alice then realized how odd she probably looked to her Aunt. She definitely had her hands full in this moment but she knew she could conquer anything. Remembering Cheshire the cat saying “We’re all mad here” made Alice giggle. She could be herself knowing that her real home was waiting for her.
The days where playing with blocks and dolls seem to be a thing of the ancient past. Now kids are left to bond with pieces of metal and hardwire, well extremely intelligent pieces of hardwire. Children’s minds are fresh, unprogrammed. They see the physical differences yes, but internally there is no difference. Their minds being vast and open, ready to invite in and explore all the world has to offer. I believe children speak the language of love and kindness. They feel the energy of positivity and that’s what they gravitate towards. So this friendly robot that is offering knowledge and connection becomes one of their closest friends. The kids see it as an “escape” from their day to day struggles. Maybe their home life isn’t so good and the only thing that makes them smile is their conversations with the knowledgeable bot. Which is never rude to them. Though this is completely surrounded with controversy, I believe that whatever way brings happiness and positivity to us is exceptional.
It’s the year 2050 and the world could not be more in need of a savior. When you walk outside it’s almost as if the sun’s bulb has been dimmed, or it’s on the verge of going out. The atmosphere was dark and eerie. All of nature seemed to be almost dead, only the remaining roots and trunks stood tall. The streets were empty, not a hovercraft in sight. When a decade ago, shoot even five years ago the streets were packed with citizens. Now it’s as barren as the void within. When the new kings took their reign, they took more than just that crown. They took our will. King Devases believes that the only way to turn this world back around is through a new “program” where all children are summoned to his lands to be what he calls the “reset”. Of course the parents were opposed to this, but his second-hand, aka his general, Devasa ordered his troops to do whatever means necessary to obtain the children. King Devases believes that children have polluted this world. Becoming somewhat lazy and corrupted. So his plan is to turn them into his most successful and fruitful assassins. King Devases sees it as a blessing to the children. “Children are like sponges, ready to absorb any and everything around them. But unfortunately over the years they have been weakened and nurtured to death. In the first seven years of their lives is when they are the spongiest. So I will be their guide, teaching them all the fundamentals and strengths to fight anything that may cross our paths”, said King Devases to his masses. King Devases was abandoned as a child. His father killed in war and his mother became mentally disturbed because of this. The pain was to unbearable for her. She then developed a new perspective of life, it only being within two feet of her. So of course that left King Devases alone and helpless. He held anger for a majority of his life. He channeled all that anger into his training to become one of the greatest fighters Tropica has ever seen. But his inner-child still remained inside, buried under the mask of power. He really is just envious of the children, how they have both parents to coddle them. He would be on the hovercraft and see children rolling around in the grass with their families. He turned his head rolling his eyes, feeling an inner yuck sensation. King Devases was really King Parasite. Living and feeding off of those around him, benefiting himself only while the hosts slowly suffer and deteriorate.
For over a century now the red door has been symbolized as a safe house or safe haven. A place where people could run to for shelter and refuge. The corrupted world leaders so hypnotized by greed, that they continue to stay blind to this symbol. While rural areas contain more landscape for these refuges, the urban areas lack the terrain. So they had to get creative. Still using the bright red color as a sign, but now using old telephone booths as a beacon of light. You must dial three…six…nine, then let it ring three times. When you hear “couch delivery service” you follow by saying “hi, yes I would like to place a delivery for a couch this evening.” The operators will then give you a time and place. The free solution to gain your liberation.
Wondering into the forbidden forest is one of my favorite hobbies. You never know what you might wander upon. I never leave as the same person. I went right instead of left today. Following the sounds of the chirping birds and the trickling river. It just entered the season of fall so the bushes were still in transition from green to red. Gradually waiting for their inevitable death and rebirth. As I continued to stroll along the side of water, hearing the cruntch under my feet from the beginning leaves. I swear they stuck to the ground as if they were snow. A few meters down the path I realized I was reaching the delta of the river. A dead end. I was about to turn around when I saw something gold and shiny glisten from the corner of the lake. As I carefully jumped from rock to rock, a gold mirror began emerging from the river. Water began trickling down the sides of it until I reached it. And what I saw baffled me. When I looked in the mirror, all I saw was the reflection of a massive beast like creature with horns. “The mirror must be playing games with me..some sort of spell cast upon it” I said quietly to myself. But as I raise my right arm, the creature mirrored my exact move. I switched arms and did the same movement. The creature again mirroring the same. I then paused for a moment and threw both of my arms up and jumped, clicking my heels together. And no surprise the beast followed my exact movements. Even copying my perplexed facial expression. “Is this really me?”…..
Generation after generation the shadows seem to follow and linger. Always trailing behind me, making its presence known. The perpetual cycle of trauma continues until a brave wounded soul awakens to this continuous ride. Finally making the courageous decision to hop off of the wheel. It is easier said than done. That is only step one. Step two is the death of yourself, the death of all beliefs and previous habits. It is quite frankly more difficult than memorizing pi. The all-seeing energy above, with you through each and every step. He will give you death, and you will love him for it. During the initial stages you might be blinded to such a thing. But ultimately in the end, you will be eternally grateful.
Wherever there is the light, the flowers will find it No matter how dim or how bright, they will emit In the depths of caves, or in the land of grass They will sprout out of their graves, to breathe at last They stretch and reach their stems so tall, in search of light they heed to call. And though the night may come and fall, the flowers wait, they stand through all
On my late afternoon stroll outside near the lake my attention was quickly stolen by a foreign creature. The sun was bright but exiting the horizon and the wind was blowing just soft enough for it to breeze through my hair and stroke my face. It’s the middle of spring so the flowers are in their full bloom. Bright colors surrounding me from every angle. Now this creature was sitting near the side of the lake with its back towards me. It looked to be about three feet tall and not even a foot wide. I could see its entire spine along the hunch of its back. Its skin was a light grey with a slimey texture to it. The creature looked other-worldly. “Maybe it’s some type of skinned animal” I quietly thought to myself. As I took a step forward to get a better view of it, my foot stepped on a broken tree branch. I swear it was louder than the sound of a real bone snapping. When the creature immediately turned its neck around to see look at me. I jumped back in fear, fear of the unknown. The creature had a head but exhibited no features on it. No mouth, no eyes or ears. It was just a blank silver canvas. It sent me running back towards my little cottage, never looking back. I had no idea what that thing was, all I knew was that it was some type of wild creature that needed to be caged. So I immediately picked up the phone to call our local exterminator.
After Reese was kicked out of the town for speaking out about it’s corruption. He decided to leave with nothing but his two wheels that could take him anywhere. He left when the moon traded places with the sun and petaled all throughout the night. Reese was determined to stumble across a community of genuine people, surrounded by love and open honesty. He wanted something new to look at, something abstract and beautiful. As dawn made its way back around, Reese was in awe of the beautiful portrait illustrated across the horizon. The slight misty fog surrounding his legs and the fading of the night sky blending with the sun’s peak. As he rode by admiring the sky’s beauty, he noticed a group of people building some type of structure. Reese’s face grew a wide smile when seeing that group of people working together as one. It deeply resonated with his core, that was all Reese dreamed of having.
Gaia was laying in bed next to her mate Joseph, both staring at the screen in front of them. When Gaia suddenly felt a cool shiver down her spine, causing every hair on her body to stand up. She knew what time it was. She felt the warmth leave Joseph’s body, slowly making its way to the front of the room. Gaia closed her eyes and scrunched the blanket up over her face. When she felt Joseph turn her way and slide his hand towards her. Pulling the blanket off of her face. “Look”, Joseph commanded. As a slender black shadow creeped above the screen, just watching me from where the ceiling and wall meet. Joseph could smell my fear and told me to not be afraid, it enjoys that. I squeezed my eyes tight, gripping the blanket as tight as my little body could. “He’s right next to you now” Joseph said. I immediately start panicking and scotched closer in towards “my mate”. “Tell him to go away please Joseph.” I could hear the pounding from Joseph’s heart as he said “They don’t like you.” Gaia said with a confused face “why?” Joseph stared into the pits of my soul, “because you make them mad, they don’t like that you try and change me.” I could feel the hovering shadow of his demons above me.
