I watch my children play in the manors grounds through the barred windows of my Kitchen. There faces glow with joy as they chase eachother through the flowers and trees. Sally’s dress blew in the wind as she dribbled through the slender trees. Then I saw her.

There inbetween the bushes a pale face hid. Peaking out beyond the daffodils and roses a young girl. Her black hair draped over her face partially covering her sinister stare. Her smile spread wide as we locked eyes displaying rotted teeth as blood spewed out. Her skelton like hand reached out to grab Sally.

I’ve walked this labyrinth too many times to count. Going from suite to suite collecting the deceased. Reaching from the oldest man with the big gray beard to the newborn boy who was yet to utter a cry. This hospital has become a daily visit. Every girl and boy, young or old have all feared my visit. Except one, Evie. I visit her on the regular. Unlike the others the minute i step foot into her princess decorated suite a smile spread across her face. Without a second to waste she jumps up from the bed, her little golden pigtails swinging left and right as she runs towards me. Every visit she tells me a new story. Stories of her as a fairy princess soring through the skies with her unicorn friends. Last time i visited her was different.

“Evie!” I said before opening the door. “Hello Mr skeleton.” She replied her perfect little smile gleaming bright. She kay on her back with her arm to the side. “What’s wrong little one?” I ask in a worry. She was paler than usual and her heart monitor was slow. Without a word she stared down at the drip in her arm thrn back at me. “I’ll be okay as long as you’re here mr skeleton.” She assured me softly. I sat at the end of her bed as she played with her stuffed bunnies tutu. That’s when i noticed the walls. They were blank. No princess stickers or glittery drawings. “Where is your decoration Evie.” I whispered. Her eyes scanned the room then she crawled next to me. “Mummy couldn’t pay the hospital bills anymore Skelly. So i’m coming home with you!” She whispered while laying her head on my shoulder. Her eyes were stating up at me as tears began to form in them. I felt as her hands intertwined with mine. Carefully i pocked her up. Her teddy still cluched tightly between her arms. We made pur way to the door. I took a final glance around the room before stepping out of it for the last time ever.

I am dead. Before you ask not in the brain eating zombie type of way. I am a ghost and cursed to be so until i “fulfill my unfished purpose”. Which at first sounds nice but the only problem is i don’t know my purpose. Therefore here we are. Stuck in this dirty, old graveyard. Where no one visits and no one even knows exists. This shithole is completely isolated from the outside world. On a tiny island with no people, no houses and no connection to anywhere. You are probably asking how i ended up here. I wish i could tell you but i don’t remember anything about my human life. All i know the number on my gravestone “397” and the two dates “1901 to 1911”. Which i am guessing is my year of birth and death. One of the gravestones near the exit has a tiny shattered mirror. I only noticed it a few days ago but until now I haven’t plucked up the courage to look into it. I am afraid of what i will see. What if my face is as deformed as the rest of my body. Chunks of flesh are missing across my body and where my hands once were is covered in large blisters and scars. I know i am ugly. Need not a mirror to prove that. Pretty girls don’t wear raggedy medical gowns. I fear a lot of things but nothing as much as leaving the cemetery.

The lake ,The place where it started and ended. Summer 1998 where i met Olivia. That summer she dyed her hair bright pink. No wonder her body was so easy to spot. That summer the sun gleamed extra bright against the lakes emerald water. People swam and laughed. Now the dock is showered in tears and memorial flowers of vibrant blues and oranges. If only they knew what happened that day. The last day I ever saw Olivia Grace’s deep brown eyes.

I have been homeless for ten years. Ive watched people of all sorts walk past. They dont even bat an eye. From the most sucessful business man to the young students not a single person has even acknowledged my existence. Blinded by there new technology oblivious to the real world. Oh what i would do for a smile. A sweet smile. I promise i don’t bite. If only Evelyn was here. She would take me home, give me a bath maybe evn some treats. I don’t think ive had a bath in years. I would give anything to feel the warmth of that sweet bubble bath. People stomp and kick me. There faces dont even acknowledge me. I thought i was a good boy. Now i am called a “Chicago mutt” but back then i was “Mummy’s little pup”.

Minutes turned to hours then before we knew it hours turned to days. I have lost track of how long we’ve been walking. Our food supply is being rationed to its last crumb and our feet are raw and flooding our boots with blood and sweat. The long path stretches into a gloomy shadow of mist. My back is aching as the baby in my backpack cries and whales for its mother. Its little head poking out of a gap in the backpack’s top. The path is made of mud and let off and unbearable stench. The fog thickens as we walk further and further. We found this baby a few days ago. She was wrapped in a white knitted blanket with nothing but her face popping out. If it wasnt for Ling begging us to stop for a toliet break we would have never saw her. She was buried beneath a pile of leaves not making a single noise. Inside her blanket there was a note. It read.

“Dear whomever is reading,

I hope this letter has found you in good health. If you have found this letter i am guessing you have found my baby. Her name is Shao. Our hoise is in the woods you can go there to find food and a place to stay the night. The soliders found us. They have already taken my sweet baby Huang. Please take care of my baby.

Thank you so much, Chen Zhou.”

“Dinner’s ready Albin” Albin’s mother, Emilia shouted up the stairs. Her firey red hair blew gracefully against the cold polish wind which gushed through the windows. Young Albin played up stairs with his toy aeroplanes as he guided them up and down throughout the air. He was only four years old but smart for his age. “Albin sweetie dinner is getting cold!” Albin’s mother announced again in a more angry tone. Without a second to waste he leaped and rushed doen the stairs. The smell of fresh coriander flooded the room. Upon the table lay a fresh plate of bean cake. A wide smile spread across Albin’s face from one cheek to the other.
“Thank you Mummy!” He thanked while his Mother wrapped a handkerchief around his neck. His emerald eyes shined brughtly with job as he shoveled peices of bean cake into his mouth. A sheepdog puppy lay underneath with white fluffy fur and black patches on his eyes and ears. “No Toto this is my food!” Albin moaned with a slight lisp. Then everything fell apart.

A siren blasted through the streets. Toto stood up wuickly and began to bark and cry. His wines were loud and flooded the house. Emila picked up Albin and ran out the house into the woods. Tears ran down her face as she ran further and further. “Mummy wait for Toto.” Albin cried while hitting his mother’s back. The small dog ran not so far behind barking at the top of his lungs. “Go away you stupid dog!” Emila screamed, kicking the dog imto a tree. Albin began to ball his eyes. His face shaking as he screamed and kicked. He crawled down and kissed Tpto on the head. Toto was bleeding while he wined in pain. “Albin we dont have time for this!” Emila hurried, grabbing his hand and dragging him. “Mummy stop!” Albij screamed. His face red and puffy as he he was dragged away. The shadow of dying Toto faded into the distance.

Yama pov= The taste of flesh is overmastering. One peice of that delectable human meat creates an explosion of flavour. Eyes are the best. The feeling of the eyeball popping in your mouth as you bite into it or the feeling of the blood running down your throat is heavenly. Not like i know much about heaven. Our kind isnt allowed anywhere near the pearl gates we have been banished to hell. But today is hunting day. Where all demons from all layers of hell purge the human world of its flesh and blood. I can imagine it now. In a little house in lousianna awaits a young girl with a tasty brain. Door wide open i sneak in behind and scatter her skull across her mother’s new marbel tiles. Digging out the brain with my claws as i shovel peices down my throat.

Violet pov= Today is the day. Mother told me about the demons, from their razer sharp beaks to their long tounges they used to gouge out my father’s eyes. Today i get revenge. Revenge for my Mother, Father and all humainty. Ever since the day my family were taken i have been reaserching . Planning how to murder those freakish monsters. Finally i have found the solution. Tonight ill wait and wait unril they arrive. Then when they are here take my Father’s hunting knife and sclice them open from mouth to groin. Then i’ll rip out there hearts and eat them myself. Maybe ill fry them like chicken and have them with some curly fries or maybe ill grill it over a roaring fire and over it in seasoning. It doesnt really matter as long as their hearts are destroyed there dead.

Lady Starling hung upon the wall, her face glaring down on me with a face of heaven itself. White lace ran down her dress, silloutting her figure as her little black bonnet lay comfortabley upon her head. She was slender and ghastly. Her fingers streched far like a long brittle thorn. Big Pearl necklaces wrapped around her throat squeezing tightly, ready to burst at any minute. Tomato juice stained the portaits face with shame and hate. Most say this is what she deserves. Women should not have a wandering eye, especially not the Wife of the King. Women should not strech there smile to wide while conversating with another man who isnt her own. Who would have thought that Lady Starling’s Pearl choke would be replaced with the finest rope noose.

My feeling begin to bubble like a witches couldren deep in my stomach. Posion flooding up ready to burst out and explode. He is my posion and his spell has bewitched me. I can feel the words in the back of my mouth waiting for the right time pounce out and confess my desire. Without thinking my body lunges forward griping the back of his shirt. “I love you!” The words spill out my mouth. His face dropped and began to go pale and green. I watched as his cheeks began to puff up and his eyes squinted. All eyes were on me. Watching me,stalking me. His cheeks burst then flooded out a loud laughter. “Who are you?” He laughed barely being apple to say the words out wihtout toppling over in hysteria.