To the north and down east there is a mountain range known as the Sawsip mountains. On the valley below, no matter where you are, you can see the mountains jutting up and looming. Northwest of the Sawsips is a large city, which the founders of named Dravos. Standing in the city center is an enormous black tower which contrasts sharply with the rest of the city. It looks out of place amongst the ot...

Ember is small in stature, barely standing at five feet. She is thin- this is caused by years of malnourishment. She was given enough food to survive and stay alive. She has long, straight black hair that nearly reaches her knees. She has never had a haircut. Whenever she could, she keeps it pulled back into a bun or ponytail and out of her eyes. Her the irises of her eyes are a dark green color- ...

She was running away- running from a nightmare. From the darkness that surrounded her and enveloped her. She didn’t know where she would go, or what she was truly running from. She had to get away.

As far as she could go, until she could go no further. She had to get away, from him, that tower, and from herself.

Alone and scared, she finds herself in a dark forest, where secrets are waiting to b...

He stood, overlooking the battle below him. Sword was drawn, and he held it loosely at his side. He hated this, every second of it. He had never planned on attacking them. He didn’t want revenge; he didn’t want war. Then they brought the war to him.

“Are you ready?” His best friend, Matthias, stands to his left, also watching the battle below.

“I am never ready,” Eli replies. He turns to Matthias...

[Don’t be afraid.]

I stop dead in my tracks and look around. What was that? All around me is nothing but trees and the forest. I hear forest creatures all around me, moving about and doing their own thing, but that’s it.

After a moment I move on. It’s a peaceful day, a wonderful day. I’m heading to my cabin for the weekend to reflect, unwind from the week, and maybe do some writing.

I am almost ...

January 23, 1997

It is 2:37 AM. I don’t think I’ll be going back to sleep for the rest of the morning. I’m shaking from head to toe, and I can barely hold my pen because of my hand shaking so bad. There is something in my house.

I woke up not ten minutes ago, suddenly. You know that feeling you get where you feel like you are falling? That sudden jolt? I felt that, and when I woke up I had this u...

I left 15 years ago and swore I would never come back. Now I find myself sitting in my car idling in the school parking lot. My hands grip the steering wheel, white knuckled and full of dread.

It was well and fine two months ago when I accepted the invitation to come speak to the school. It seemed so far away at the time. As the days crept by I started to realize just what I’d agreed to do and anx...

If they knew the truth, it would break them.

Everyday I come to work with a smile. The kids love coming to my class. It’s high energy, engaging, and intense. The learning environment I have worked so hard to create is a place where students want to come in and work. They learn something new everyday.

It’s also exhausting and a lie. My smile is false, my energy is a fabrication and a wall that I ...

Everything was prepared and ready. It would happen tonight at midnight. All day I have been on edge; it seemed as if all eyes were watching me. It was as if everyone knew, knew the dark deed I was plotting to attempt. Paranoia set in. I was found out!

Day turned to night, and 11:30 finally arrived. I could feel my heart beating in my chest as I got everything ready. I followed the instructions to ...

She always came back. It might be a few days, sometimes even a couple of weeks, but she always came back. I waited for her return; I knew she’d come back to me when the time was right. I am always so joyous to see her. I run to her, calling her name, and she always does the same. I don’t know if she has a home of her own, but it doesn’t matter. What matters to me is knowing she is safe. She is oka...