Pick one, my mother always told me. But who can stop love when it tears you both ways? I met a swan and a fox, one dainty and the other carefree. Both bore their charm that held my wandering gaze.

The swan, a delicate beauty who shone with grace. The fox, a fierce fire that could not be tamed. Swan built a resounding bond that none could erase. Fox's seduction left my heart needy and maimed.

My desire for both grew hungry with time Until I was granted the gift of marriage's rite. My mother's protests, was their love such a crime? Like the sun and moon, I greedily fed off their light.

Their devotion and passion consumed my life, Pouring every ounce of adoration in my soul. I knew that one heart would be left beyond strife To return a pure love that I wrongfully stole.

Beneath the moonlight, we met with a kiss She smiled with such love, looking stunning as ever But her eyes knew that something was amiss I told my darling the truth, a farewell forever.

My tears never ceased watching as Swan shrunk, Ripping the heart of my lost lady dove. There, I let her go, back to her pond where she sunk. Her cruel death tore me all in the name of love.

As I made my way home to my scarlet Fox, The words buried themself in my head, Haunting me like a predator stalks, Swan's broken heart on her deathbed.

Tell me, when does a man become a monster?

An eerie silence and icy breeze, Folks whisper that something isn't quite right. As the dark trees shudder in displease, Tonight is not your ordinary night.

As the moon darkens to a sinister red, the stars flare out in warning, screaming, pleading for those to flee with dread Just enough to survive until morning.

Because years ago marked a day in infamy, when the Reaper would return to sow with wails of terror like a twisted symphony, what was stolen from him so long ago

He appears in a plume of fire and smoke, As villagers start to run With a fiendish grin, he throws off his cloak Meaning the prophecy has begun.

Run, run, as quickly as you can, For any hope of survival To the place where it all began But not fast enough to stop Death's arrival

Screams and pounding heartbeats lead the way, leading the Reaper's advance In one clean swipe, their bodies lie gray They never did stand a chance.

Except for one clever girl, silent within the grass, Perhaps guarded by the stars in the sky, She hides, frozen, until alas Even the stars' light cannot stop Death's vie

He seizes her, soaring into the night, As she thrashes desperately for life He halts beneath the red moonlight, His face revealing hesitant strife

Stars hurtle toward the ground with a whine Sending their last light to their work of art The girl clings to it like a lifeline, Just enough to penetrate Death's stone heart

Gently, he flies her back down His features soothing, bathed in maroon Morphing the lifeless, fallen stars into a crown Dipped in the crimson blood of the moon

He places the crown atop her head Finally reaping what was lost to him years ago His love, who died on her deathbed Earth's wicked people dealing her final blow.

Just enough light to stop the Reaper's wrath She accepts it silently, her only resort An unexpected intertwining of paths Daughter of the stars, now Death's consort.

Golden hair and baby-blue eyes I knew, at first sight, I had to make you mine But you always hung with other guys Looking like you were on cloud nine

Don't worry, baby, it didn't faze me I like my girls hard to get You will become my she Or it'll be your biggest regret

If we're to one day be wed, I should meet my in-laws, right? So I found where you make your bed Your graceful sleeping was quite the sight

I introduced myself to your mom at her work She was shocked and more than furious Screaming that I was berserk Did you never tell her about me? I'm curious

Then came the bumps in our relationship The night you brought a guy to your room I watched it all with a trembling lip As I sensed our impending doom

I couldn't bear to let you go So I found the jerk who ripped us apart And gave a knife a gentle throw Watching as it connected with his heart

I'm not proud of what I've done But sacrifices have to be made To be your number one So we will never fade

My city, on fire But not as aflame as my heart When I see the place I used to admire Watching silently, as it falls apart

Wails and screams echo in the skies Crying, Why oh why, does my home die, I've lost my family before the sunrise Someone says their final goodbye

Grimly, I stand from afar On the sidelines, feeling ever-so-small Clutching the lighter and crowbar The cruel devices that started it all

I mourn for those who have lost their life The blood is on my hands My bold decision, causing me strife But that isn't enough to stop my plans

For many do not know Of the evil that this city allows Abandoning the poor in their death throes To protect the people, their forgotten vows

I swore to help those who were suffering and lost Granting freedom to those who cannot take it themselves But at what cost?

It's freezing out. But not as cold as the death that awaits me.
I bolt as fast as I can. Thoughts scatter in my head as I desperately try to focus. Oh, Gods...There was blood everywhere. And that man with the knife, there was a wicked, inhuman feel about him. I cannot concentrate. Cold air burns my lungs. My heart races faster than my feet despite the exhaustion wearing on me. I bite the inside of my mouth as thorns and sharp rocks cut at me, beckoning me to scream. But I know he would find me then.
I spot a forest ahead of me, about thirty feet away. Good. I need to get out of plain sight. I dare to peek behind me, and dread sinks in my stomach when I do.
The man trails close behind, clutching a bloodied knife. He flashes a sinister grin when we make eye contact. He's terrifyingly fast as he gains ground. A horrified scream escapes me, only amusing him further.
"Stop running, little lady. I won't harm you. Unless you want me to."
"You disgust me," I spit out, but the words are laced with uncertainty and fright. Ten feet from the woods. Hope blossoms in my chest as I get closer. I'm going to make it. I'm-
A corner of my dress snags on a sharp rock as I stumble over myself. My face smacks the icy dirt, causing blood to gush from my nose. I immediately get up and desperately pull at my gown. Please. Oh no, I'm going to die. The man grins as he sprints closer as I heave until finally, the bottom half of my gown rips apart, but I'm free. The cold air hits my bare legs as I dash into the woods, hearing sinister laughter not far behind.
The trees are tightly together as I weave through the trunks. I seem to gain some ground as the man fails to dodge the trees as swiftly as me. I know that a village lies ahead. It's just four miles from my home, but how long have I been running? Surely it cannot be much further. Shivers rack my body, so I hold my lantern closer.
My calm turns to dread as my strength wanes. Thorns sink deeper in my feet with every step while my mind slows. I'm beyond exhausted. I'm instantly on alert when broad hands grab my shoulders, pulling me backward with a shriek. My eyes widen as he pulls me to his chest, pressing a bloody knife to my neck. The metal is icy cold, and it's all I can focus on as he examines me with satisfaction.
His breath is hot against my neck as he says, "All that exertion just to be caught. What a shame."
"What do you want from me?" I force out, clamping my eyes shut. I need to slow my breathing, to calm down, but my panic overrides good nature as I hyperventilate. The frigid blade nicks at my neck with each inhale, eliciting a small wince.
"Hmm, what do I want from you?" he asks, feigning confusion. "Well, I'll show you after I carry you with me. How does that sound, hmm?"
My eyes widen as I realize what he wants from me. No, no, no. "I'm not going anywhere with you. Let me go!" I scream. He chuckles, yanking my hair as he drags me backward. I kick and struggle against him, even hitting the knife out of reach, but he only wraps a thick arm around my neck. In a final fight for survival, I smash the lantern into his face with all my strength. It shatters as the flames eat away at his skin, sending him stumbling back in agony. I watch in shock as he screams, trying to put out the fire, but it consumes him, engulfing the air in the reek of burning flesh.
"Gooood rrriddance," I manage to say between slurs. My triumph melts away, leaving only my realization as I sink to the ground in a heap of shivers and blood. I even stun myself when I crawl closer to the vile man, now on the dirt as his screams slowly die. I cling to the warmth of the flames as my mind seems to stop thinking and stop feeling. When he places a burning hand on my wrist, I don't stop it. I welcome the heat as I watch the blaze.
"See you in hell," he hoarsely says as his flame winks out, leaving me in the cold alone.
"Until next time," I murmur as the ice freezes over, leaving me to sink.

I'm sleeping but not resting. Squeezing my eyes shut in hopes of waking up from this nightmare. Only, I never do. Nights spent staring at the stars and an airplane in the sky. Except the plane stays suspended in the air, defying all science. I scream, but no one hears me. I can't even hear the crickets chirping. I am driving myself insane.
But then, everything goes back to normal, leaving me to question my sanity. Was it all in my head? I tried to see a psychologist, but no one could help me. So I let the problem fester and manipulate my life. I am doing this somehow, so I must find a way to control these time gaps.
It went away for a bit, leaving me to ponder whether I finally stopped freezing time. I had a party tonight with my friend, Avery, and for once, I was excited about the future. I dressed in a short maroon dress, adorning myself with gold jewelry.
"Let's go before we're late," Avery said, peeking through the doorway of my room. I quickly tied my hair in a bun and headed out.
It was crowded with people as we first walked into the dorm. Music blasted in my ears as we danced the night away. I laughed, played games, and probably got a little too drunk. We were seated around a coffee table playing truth or dare when the music went out.
"What happened to the music?" I asked. No one responded. I looked up to see everyone frozen and, oh no, this can't be happening. Not right now. I dropped my head in my hands as I trembled, forcing myself to remain calm.
"Someone help me!" I screamed, abruptly standing up and shoving the cups off the table. I was all alone again. I couldn't control myself as I sunk to the floor in a heap. So pathetic.
"That's no way to behave at a party." I looked up at the man standing on the other side of the room. His dark clothes were like nothing I'd ever seen, and his face; he was breathtaking. His skin was so fair, like porcelain, and his eyes were like fire. I quickly rose but was too stunned to approach him.
"Who are you?"
He grinned as he walked closer, his shoes clicking with every step. "Oh, don't be startled. I heard you plead for help." Shame flushed my face as I wrung my hands together.
"But how?" I asked, barely able to form sentences. "How are you here and not frozen?"
He let out a silvery laugh as he stopped in front of me. His presence consumed the room as everything seemed to fixate on him. Part of me wanted to shrink back from his fierce gaze. "Because I'm not affected by time, love. It's so very mortal."
His peculiarity perplexed me. What does that even mean? "Well, can you please help me fix this? I think I'm the one doing this, and I can't stop it." I wanted to cry at my desperation and how stupid I must've sounded, but he didn't act like I was insane.
"You must be so terribly confused. This was carved in the stars long before you arrived. If it comforts you, you can learn to control the time gaps. I'm only glad I found you first."
"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, suddenly irritated with how bizarre this was. He studied me before he spoke.
"Love, I've come to kill you."

Wilfred stomped up the tower steps fuming from the ears. Eleanor paid him no mind, only shooting him an irritated look as she stirred the bubbling cauldron.
"Eleanor! Did you meddle with my potions? I had them neatly arranged the way I wanted them to!" Wilfred cried, pointing furiously at his brilliant green hair. "What I grabbed wasn't my shampoo!"
Eleanor only chuckled, which irked him even more. Turning to her cauldron, she coolly responded, "I needed basilisk blood for my newest concoction, so I lightly rummaged through your collection."
"Why you! How many times have I warned you not to ruin my vials?" Wilfred seethed, combing his fingers through his untamed spikes of hair.
Eleanor sighed a great sigh and rolled her eyes. "I tire of you, Wilfred. 

You irritate me like no other!" Wilfred stormed closer, clutching the half-empty vial in his hands. "Eleanor, we've been married for 400 years. It isn't the first time you've declared this. But permanently dying my hair green is a first!" She snatched the glass from his hands with a magical fist, whirling it midair to examine the label. "Why can't you read the label first?" He used another magical hand to hold up his display of potions, shaking them in the air. "Because I can't instantly read thousands of labels, Eleanor!" Eleanor threw her mixing spoon to the floor and used her hand to grab the potions, but Wilfred held firm. "Give me the vials, Wilfred!" "No, you've caused enough harm!" he cried, yanking them towards him. With a great heave, Eleanor used another hand to pull the bottles closer as Wilfred lost his grip on them. The sudden recoil had the tonics plunging straight into the cauldron with a plop. "Oh dear," Eleanor murmured, rifling through her spellbook on a nearby table. Wilfred followed suit, hurrying to stand next to her. She stopped at a page and backed away in a frenzy. "Erase All of History! A Spell to Start Anew," the page header read. Their eyes fearfully darted to the cauldron, now boiling a furious red. They turned to each other in shock as the world faded away.

 It's been one hundred twenty-one days since I last shut my eyes.

A third of the year since the king cast a spell that eliminated all darkness and eradicated nighttime. I wander through the streets of Nazari, concealing my face with a shawl. Sweat beads on my forehead as I push past the swarms of citizens lamenting in the streets. The constant sunlight scorched the planet and killed our crops. Those who did not cover up suffered untreatable burns. Without night, we could not sleep, so we resorted to herbs for forced rest. The Melanthis blossom, the most potent flower of all, quickly vanished due to uncontrollable demand. I'm on the hunt to find one.

this is unfinished

Hey This is a song I wrote for you Because you're the super to my glue

You're just so distinct and unique Like your off-beat singing And I love your laid-back physique Oh, and don't forget your cool upbringing

I'm the Romeo to your Juliet Minus the excruciating death part So girl, do not fret Because you've incarcerated my heart

Stolen it like a thief in the night Tortured it and held it for ransom A price I can't fight Is my worth really that handsome?

So thanks for beguiling me I love you for that baby And making my life a little less crappy Happy anniversary

My hands tremble as I muster the courage to talk to him, so I squeeze them together. I look up to see his face, so beautiful, and his eyes, innocently studying me. He looks nervous, and I have the sudden urge to hold him, comfort him, and tell him that everything will be alright. But then I recall his lips on another woman and his hands... I don't even want to think about the rest. I steel my resolve as I stand up straighter. "What is it you wanted to talk about?" he asks, reaching for my hand. I tersely pull my hand away, which makes him frown. I keep my words calm and collected. "I was thinking. We've been together for nearly four years, and our anniversary is approaching. You've been with me through it all, from high school until now." He breathes a sigh of relief as his shoulders slacken. "You scared me for a second there, babe." He pulls me to his waist, and I resist the urge to shudder in disgust. I tilt my lips to his ear. "Thank you. For nothing." I push him away. The words stun him as his jaw drops and hurt flickers across his face. I cruelly savor it. Somehow, I manage to keep my temper in check. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out? Of all people, you and your coworker." He sinks to his knees. It's pathetic. "Babe, it was a one-time thing. I was stressed, and afterward, I regretted it. Don't do this, please." I consider his words. The pain in his voice is genuine and it only worsens the hurt in my chest. Part of me wants to pick him off the floor and forget about it. It was only one time, right? No. There's no excuse for cheating. I roll my eyes and turn away. "Get out of my house. You disgust me."