The girl walks, quickly, hugging the small bouquet of roses tightly to her chest. Her hand wraps around the stem of one and a sudden pain flows through her body. She attempts to brush back her brown messy hair but only smears blood across her worried frantic face.

Her quick steps are the only noise filling the Red Forest, but somehow they only make the space feel more empty. She knows not of the horror she has created but only of the sinking terrible feeling in her stomach when she plucked the flowers from the dirt.

At the time they seemed irresistible, with their beautiful shiny petals. But the moment her hands dug into the dirt to grab it, the flower sprung thorns. And the petals drooped a little deeper. A cold wind ran across the red trail. The girl was filled with a terrible feeling of fear as she leaped from the ground, still clutching the small bundle of flowers.

She makes her way down the ruby road but she notices when the flowers still in the ground grow larger, their thrones sharper, till they are as tall as her. She quickens her pace, her bleeding hand still dripping onto the ground, with every drop the plants around her grow larger.

A scream lets out around her, a shattering, blood curdling scream that sends her head into a whirl, she can’t tell where it’s coming from and for a moment she wonders if it’s her. But then everything goes silent.

The girl spins on her heel as the roses drop to the floor along with another gush of blood from her hand. She pants and brings her hands to her head in an attempt to get a hold of herself. Then suddenly she sees something rise from the red floor.

A cloak like figure floats up and looks right at her. She is filled with fear as it levitates to her. As soon as she starts to run the cloak speeds up and wraps itself around her wrist. She screams and tries to tear herself from it grip but it only wraps tighter, scaling up her body and around her neck.

She fights back as she rips at the fabric, kicks her legs and screams but before she knows it she can’t find a breath. Her body jolts in an attempt for air but it’s far too late.

She collapses to the ground. The red trail is where she lays in her final moments. She looks up as the roses cover her view of the sky. Tears stream down her face as rose petals start to fall. She wonders why she tried to take one from this terrible, yet beautiful place.

“Nonononononono!” I huff with gulping breaths. I haven’t looked back for five minutes because I know they won’t stop chasing me until I’m dead. My heart is pounding as I sprint through the woods…..when I see her soaring above me in the sky. First I don’t believe it, because I only know her from legends and myths, but then she dips down through the trees.

She is beautiful, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The Grand Golden Eagle. Just like the stories tell. My feet come to a slow as my eyes trace over her body.

She is at least eight feet tall from head to toe……or, talon. Her feathers are as long as my arm and glide over her like a cloak. They are golden and the sun shines off of them casting a glow over the forest floor. She nips at a rodent she seemed to be searching for on the ground when her head turns to me.

I stumble a little bit when I hear loud voices behind me, shouting and screaming my name. Panic fills my head and I’m torn on what to do. When I finally urge my legs to go I am stopped immediately by the giant bird.

She holds one of her wings out and crouches down. I open my mouth in confusion “W-what do you want me to do?!” I bounce my leg anxiously until it clicks. “No, no I can’t do it!” An arrow whizzes past my ear and lodges into a tree just to my right. I let out a yelp and climb onto the bird. Carefully I throw my legs over her back and she quickly rises. “Stop her!!!” I jerk my head behind me and see my pursuers gaining speed. My heart speeds up and just when I’m about to run she lifts off the ground.

First I hear a gust of wind glaze over the forest as she leaps up. I throw myself into her feathers and wrap my arms around her neck as I squeeze my eyes shut, what follows is a brain shattering scream. I feel my hair fly behind me and I grip her tightly as wind drowns the voices behind me out. When I hear a loud noise come from the bird I open my eyes slightly.

We soar above mountains and miles of green. “Oh my gosh, oh no, oh no no no.” We drop down in a series of spins and I scream even louder. I feel my feet lift slightly of the body of the bird and I immediately pull myself back down. I shake my head hoping it’s all a dream, but then I feel us start to slow. When we stop spinning I open my eyes again. In the far distance I see my village. We are much closer to the ground now and sailing at a much slower speed. I tighten my legs and slowly move my arms off of her neck letting myself sit up. I laugh a little and raise my hands over my head. “Wooooo!”

The bird lets out another shriek as we sink to the ground. She flaps her wings and when we touch down I slide off her back. We are back home and I see my little sister running towards me. I can’t say I’m upset that my feet are on solid ground but I turn my head to the Eagle anyway. Her beak is facing me and I smile. I brush my hand over her face when she bends down.

I hear audible gasps from my people as she lifts off again into the sky. I will be forever thankful for her visit because I know I probably won’t be seeing her again. In the far distance I see a bright shine of gold and know I’m safe.

“It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down.” He jeers at me I fight the strong urge to kick him in the face. He is holding my ankles as I hang off the side of the building, peering through the highest apartment window in the city. “If I had a penny for every time I wanted to break your nose I wouldn’t have to rob this building!” I only just met him today and somehow he has convinced me to not only steal thousands of dollars from the richest person in the world but also has made sure that I hate everything he does. “Hey you agreed to this! You can’t back out now.” “I’m not backing out, just making sure you’re aware that we are not friends.” “Yeah, I realized that after you almost killed me this morning.” I look up, exhausted “Well maybe if you hadn’t tried to kidnap me I wouldn’t have been forced to knock you out.”

Meanwhile in the apartment

My guards stand with guns pointed at her head. Out the window I see a girl dangling off the roof and yelling at someone. Obviously not paying attention as I give my head of security the go signal. As I hear the glass shattering behind me and bullets fly by I wonder exactly why someone with the nerve to try and steel my fortune couldn’t have been at least a little better at her job.

(This is a palindrome poem so when you finish you read each line from the bottom up)

To fly backwards in time I don’t think I would want, After all I’ve been through, To make anything different Because all I want is To live in the moment I don’t know how To heal because Regretting things won’t help All I know is I can learn from my mistakes Going backwards

When you wake up in a place where you didn’t go to sleep there is a lot to think about. 1: I don’t remember falling asleep 2: I don’t know how I got here 3: I’m really hungry So that’s the position I’m in. But not for long. To be honest I’m not surprised this happened, in this day and age getting knocked out and kidnapped isn’t your biggest problem, more so trying to avoid the terrifying forces of nature. I jump onto my feet and spin around, taking everything in. First it’s all a blur but then I feel it. Beneath me, tan, warm, grainy substance. Sand. But not like the sand from the storms, this sand is different. After that I smell it, wet and salty. Sending a jolt through my brain. Finally I hear it, rushing and rolling, splashing and calling. Almost like a continued gust of wind by my ear. I urge my legs to move and I carry myself over the small hill I was behind, following the sound like song, till I find it. When I pull myself over the hill my vision is full of blue. It’s everywhere, never ending, except on the horizon a small island where I’m sure others of my kind lay. But the dream has to come to an end as reality sinks in. I’m surrounded by water. The one thing I was taught to avoid, under no circumstance was I ever supposed to reach the water. But those years are behind me as the beautiful liquid reaches my thoughts. The sun pouring down on me and the idea of relieving myself from the heat is strong enough to send me bolting for the water. I sink into the Ocean and let myself be engulfed by the terrifying waves. Almost instantly chills run up my spine and I feel my self float to the surface. I laugh out loud as I kick and splash. The water stings my eyes but I don’t care. I don’t care about the fact that no one else is on this island or that I’m entirely alone because the water rushing over my arms is good enough. I stand up and look at the Island on the horizon, but it seems to me like it’s gotten much larger. I squint my salt filled eyes and the air leaves my lungs. That’s not an island. That is exactly what I have been warned about for my entire life. I know it’s to late to do anything, the rest of my people have probably already fled for the mountains I can see when I look behind me. I have about one minute to run before it’s over but I decide to spend it doing what I have always wanted to do. Play in the water. I laugh and scream and smile until the water gets pulled from underneath me and up into the towering wave above me. Tsunami.

Tick Silence Tick Silence Tick Silence

 The bomb strapped to his chest was nothing of concern for Kyrin. He had been in various situations like this before and had always come out alive. 

Tick Silence Tick Silence Tick Silence

 His primary concern was the fact he had no idea where he was. He could hear thunder around him, but the blindfold and handcuffs made it practically impossible to understand the chill rolling up his spine. 

Tick tick Silence Tick tick Silence Tick tick Silence

Now he was concerned. Kyrin didn’t get afraid much. He was the strongest villain in the lands and his greatest power was immunity. Along with the ability to drain powers from others. Just to use it against them. His greatest weakness was her. The strongest hero in the land with the power of controlling the weather. But that’s not why he was weak. Her eyes were the reason his knees buckled. She dreamed of her and refused to admit his love for his worst enemy. Apart from the thunder, he knew she was close.

Tick tick tick Silence Silence Silence Boom

 A bolt of lightning hit Kyrins chest and he knew it. He had been struck before and could recognize her power any day. Another bolt of lightning hit his handcuffs and he immediately tore off the blindfold. He stared around him taking in every surrounding. The bright blue sky was everywhere as he spun. 

He stopped when he saw the greatest view of all. She levitated to the ground. With regret he pulled out his sword. “Hello Kyrin” she called out

Why oh why did he always fall in this situation. Why oh why did he have to kill his favorite person in the whole world.

He knew the answer to it. He just refused to acknowledge it. “Hello hero” he said with a sad smile

The lights. The applause. It all seems like to much. And everything at the same time.

I stare at the audience and wonder if this is really what I want. I think back to her. I wouldn’t be here without her, but how I wish I was here with her. When I was offered this opportunity I took it without a single thought. Until now. This was her dream not mine. She was the one to tell me to take my first audition. She said to get us there, she said she would meet me halfway. She was the one who I carpooled with to choir. She was the one who said “Join! We can do it together! My mom will drive us. I want to do it… but not alone.” I was the one who pressed play on the karaoke machine. I was the one who applauded at the end of every song she performed in her basement. I was the one who said she had the best voice I ever heard. Our roles switched. I never thought I was a good singer. Until I tried choir. Until I auditioned. Until I took the record label. This was her dream, not mine. This was my best friends dream, and I’ve completely forgot.

—

I look at Clara. She looks amazing on the stage. I wonder if anyone here knows our story. I wonder if she remembers. I do. That’s how I catch it when she starts to cry. I know her. And I’m proud. Yet I wish I could be there with her.

Amidst the roaring applause, a silent tear fell, reflecting the untold story she could never tell.

Marie Couvins can’t bake cookies to save her life. But I can’t tell her that, it would break her heart. So every two days when she comes into the dry cleaners place where I work, I take the burnt cookies with a smile. Today was different. Today Marie brought no cookies. Just a terrifying silence. I attempted to make any sort of communication but was met with a dry response. Okay then. Sounds good Marie. I suppose I will have no cookies today. Doesn’t hurt me. Though I typically take a bite when she is here to see her satisfied. I take the coat from Marie’s hands and bring it to the back. I hear the bell on the door ding and know that she has left. Per usual I check the pockets of the items to be sure nothing will be lost. I reach my hand in and feel two plastic bags. I pull my hand out and find two ziploc bags, one with three terribly burnt cookies, and one with three beautiful cookies.

I run out of the dry cleaners.

I see Marie down the street and call out to her. “Marie!” She turns and walks over “What are these?” I ask with a accusing tone. “Cookies.” “No, really?! I mean why have you been given me burnt cookies when you made these beautiful ones?” She looks at me confused “You were the only one who seemed to like them. So when I got good at making cookies, I saved the bad ones for you.” I walk away flabbergasted.

(Sorry, this one was kinda silly😂”

I kick at the small pebble in front of me, it scatters down the street. As I make my way into work, my friend Avery walks by. Her preppy smile and joyful expression attempt to break through the shield of my frown. She waves. I nod. Far different from our usual giggles and squealing routine. I brace myself and walk through the doorway of the tall office building. Immediately when I walk in I’m shoved by a passerby who refused to move. Shows them right for standing with their back to the door. I hear them behind me quickly apologize. They really should do more. I walk away without acknowledging them. I see Michael walk away from the coffee stand without refilling the water jug. I see Leisal very clearly not doing her job, as she stands next to the poster wall without replacing the old ones. I see broken legged Dan moving the boxes at a painfully slow pace.

“Must I do everything around here!?”

I grab six boxes in one hand, while very ungracfully refilling the water jug and tearing the posters of the wall. After I promptly sit down on my desk. Everyone stares. “What are you looking at? Get back to work!”

I would be anything for you I would change my personality My mind My ideas My soul

I would do anything for you If you asked me to I would If you needed me to listen I would Even if you can’t listen to me

I would give everything for you If you wanted, needed or loved It’s yours Even if it’s mine

I would be anything for you Even if i didn’t want to Even if I couldn’t I would find a way

Even if it hurt me, it helped you

People Pleaser, that’s me.