In the darkest shadows of my home

Two chilling silhouettes lurk alone

I try to catch them, but they are quick

They never fall for any of my tricks

Their amber eyes are bright with fire

Their razor claws sharper than briars

Black as night, they hide in the dark

I try to ignore them, but really it’s hard

They watch my every moment, no matter the business

Whether I’m working, resting, or up doing f...

ASHLEY’S SPACE JOURNAL

October 1, 2043

I wasn’t expecting that my first entry would be describing a terrifying crash rather than a safe landing, but here we are. The goal of this solo trip was simply to arrive on Mars and snap some photos, but inexplicably my ship crashed when I was only about halfway there. To my immense gratitude, I ended up crashing not into an asteroid or comet but another ...

I have never been so nervous in my life. I regret agreeing to this, I should have just told her I couldn’t do it. Sure, she’d have gotten upset, but she’s one person. Here, the eyes of practically everyone in school are trained directly on me. I wish I’d at least gotten time to practice!

Well, I’ve finished tons of English essays under pressure and passed with flying colors. How hard can giving o...

“Hi, Cory! Do you wanna play with us today?”

The fourth grade boy hesitated, then shook his head and mumbled, “No, thanks. I’d.. rather not.”

“Are you sure?” the girl standing before him asked hopefully. “You’re always by yourself. Don’t you wanna hang out with us sometime? We’re really fun, I promise!” The three kids behind her nodded as if in confirmation.

“I…” Cory swallowed as he stared int...

When I fell from the sky

And crashed into your backyard

With a twisted leg and a broken wing

I thought it was over, that I’d lost everything

Then your face appeared from the window

Astonished and dismayed

In your pajamas and slippers, you stepped outside

And took me in so I would not die

I didn’t understand, at first, what your intentions were

Were you a friend, here to help me, or a predator co...

“Rise and shine, sweetheart.”

Victoria’s eyes flew open at the annoyingly raspy tone. She stared up at her kidnapper, furious but unsurprised. “You again!” she tried to shout, but her voice was muffled by the balled-up sock in her mouth. The man before her grinned, and Victoria looked down at his shoeless, grimy feet to see that he was wearing only one sock.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve ...

Home to kings and queens

With walls, gates, drawbridge and moat

Yes, castles are grand!...

Frank and Brianna are an unlikely duo.

They first met each other at the age of six, finding a bit of comfort in one another as a horrible fire was ravaging their neighborhood. Surrounded on all sides by the flames, they huddled together hopelessly, certain that their short lives would be coming to an end. And then, just in the nick of time, a firefighter swooped in to save the day, and ever since...

Su N. Flower is a cheery young woman

Always bright and beaming

Her warmth is never an illusion

And with kindness she is teeming

Her skin is as dark as night

And her messy hair is of gold

Her green boots and gloves, they glitter in the light

Along with her dress of emerald

Su loves helping the families in need

And so she provides food for many

To the Hammsturs and Berds, she gives her seeds

And t...

Rapunzel shrieked in terror as the ground grew closer and closer.

She had only meant to lean out the window a little bit to catch sight of an adorable baby bunny that had wandered just below the tower, but one clumsy trip later and she now found herself headed straight for the deadly thorn bushes.

She braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut and covering her face with her arms. But instead of cra...