Short stories & poems

"We have to act on it soon before it's too late!" Achilles shouted, "I'm tired of waiting!" "But you must think! The prophecy-" "Damn the prophecy Patroclus! We have to act now or else we will all be dead!" "Achilles. I can't lose you too." His voice trembled as he spoke. "I need you" Achilles slipped over his tunic and sighed, looking away for a moment. "I have a meeting. We can discuss this after. I'll see you later, okay?" He said before kissing Patroclus' forehead and leaving the tent. He just sat there as he watched the boy leave. He clenched his fists and wiped his eyes. Achilles had always been too stubborn for his own good and rarely changed his mind once it was set. It made Patroclus mad but, at the same time, it was one of the things he loved most about him.

It was a rather warm day out, nicer than the past few. Patroclus made his way down to the creek in the woods and found a nice patch of shade underneath a tree, resting for a moment. "Hey," A familiar voice said. He turned around to see Briseis and nodded at her. "May I?" She asked, gesturing to the spot next to him. "Of course," And with that she sat down with him, facing the creek. "What happened?" She asked in a knowing tone. "What makes you think something has happened?" "I know you Patroclus. I know you only come down here when you need space to think." He chuckled at that, picking up a stone and throwing it. "I guess I do that a lot huh." He offered her a stone to throw. She gladly took it and chucked it into the creek. A few moments of silence passed between the two. It was comfortable nonetheless, the soft rustle of the trees and the water from the creek creating a comfortable atmosphere. "It's Achilles. He's seriously just thinking about barging in." "And you don't think this is a smart choice?" She asked. "It could risk us all death! I mean we could all die. He could die. I can't lose someone like him. I love him Briseis," She looked at him, her eyes soft and tender with understanding. She walked closer to him and kneeled, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Patroclus you and I both know Achilles would put you before anyone, even himself. It would probably be the same if you were in his shoes. He will only want whatever is best for you." "What if he dies? What if I die?" "He will give you death, and you will still love him for it," Patroclus stopped. He knew she was right. "Talk to him," She said. "He may not listen to others but I know he will always listen to you." He nodded and looked at her. "Thank you." She smiled back, squeezing his shoulder slightly. "Now go. Lover boy's waiting for you," He smiled and hugged her before running out of the forest.

Set on foot identifiying on the darkened path. The wisps that are haunting will escape. She will save them, she's their hero. Its her dream to walk back and from. She had to go... Drifting into seeing or hearing of her again. Well lit path and her only life brings them back to life. They lose hope further inside the mysterious woods. What's there are lives have been seen a spirit lasting impressions. They kept talk with her they seen her and know her. She will be back this time she was seen and slaughtered to death. Her very own sight will give them their life back in a frame set by herself. They all needed to know what she of all seen its her new home; she went home. Her happy place is her own world, something that can only understand her and only her. They never met inside taking her life and making this world her way to understand, it was not her being imposed or invited. Of all that needed to rest set aside her own path and tired paws; nothing to rest a shoulder. Lifeless to her encounter. Of all can see the hearing of the winded forest of death and sports and know it like she does. the memory of her last visions ended giving her own life to plead to know what was always there going on in unknown communications. Unknown and unfamiliar awareness to what was strange making struggle to not be able to identify with the only one can be needed. Reached at out of the woods caught into a fragile state. The last spirit realm deserted without her died and screamed without her there keeping them safe. She vaguely remembers victims by name and scratched by ill fated gore. One by one put to their own death. Nothing ever rested, Nothing ever escaped. She seen the most explanation of death to their pure life and things to lose. All life treasured and used and lived growth was a path into her world. Leave it all- it was all a trap to keep them from the start. Making them wail and lose their senses in darkness. The darkened path set a frost that burned to the touch. All pry to set themself free what attempt made them slip into their life burning visible to her screaming and wailing vanish into a mist. Now they all are wandering mists. Any life they were to her was not clarifying near her own fatal captive death. The unfriendly approach made by what grabbed her betrayed her (a cat)...

The hospital room Mike was in after his heart surgery was quiet except for the beeping of the many machines around him monitoring his vitals. Mike was barely awake when he saw a bright light in the doorway to his room. He raised up slightly and saw a dark silhouette standing in the doorway.

“Who is that?” he mumbled. His strength was diminished due to the surgery, but he felt it start to return as the figure moved closer to him. He appeared to float across the floor towards him, and a fog seemed to follow him. “Who is that?” he said in a much louder and stronger voice, but still the figure didn’t answer. Then as it approached his bed he at last realized who it was. It was the one person people feared most and had been the subject of many a horror movie in his youth, the Grim Reaper.

“What…This can’t be happening I have to be dreaming?” he said. The Reaper looked at him and moved in close enough that he could see the light in his eyes and skeletal face with a wicked smile, and he finally spoke in a much friendlier voice than he expected, “Time to go buddy”. Mike felt himself become light and strong. He felt all of the wires and probes that were attached to him pull away, he was free. He stood up and felt better than he had in ages.

“Come with me my friend and I will show you wonderous things.”. Mike was more than happy to follow and began to follow his new friend out into the hallway where he saw the nurse sitting at her desk, with a look of panic on her face as she ran to the room he had been in. He then saw the doctors run with the crash cart. “Apparently there is an emergency,” Mike said as he laughed and smiled

“We have many things to see Mike,” Old Grim said to him, and with that, Mike found himself in what appeared to be a dive bar. There was something strange about the bar though, and he couldn’t put his finger on it till he stood up and ordered a drink. “I’ll have a whiskey and sour please.”. The bartender poured his drink and said “It’s on the house buddy.” and laughed.

Mike began drinking, looked around, and then figured out what was wrong here, all of the customers were dead people. In one corner he saw Mark Twain and Hemingway drinking together. In another corner, Jim Morrison tipped his glass at him and started talking to Marilyn Monroe. He just couldn’t believe this was what death was going to be like. He looked at his new friend who slapped him on the back and said “Drink up.” then tossed back a shot of tequila, “Don’t worry there are never any hangovers here…one of the perks since we never go to sleep.”

As the days went on the two of them traveled the world from Paris to London just to watch the people, they quickly became the closest of friends. They would sit on benches and laugh as the Reaper would pick out the next ones to join their group. They had Presidents, actors, and writers with them. The Reaper always said that Mike was his best friend.

He took him to all the great dead hangouts. The places he never took any of his other victims, though he preferred to call them his clients. He always said he was taking them to places they never would see in life and trying to make the transition easier…he really did seem to enjoy his job.

One day while they were sitting in Central Park, not too far from the hospital Mike had been they were enjoying one of the great New York hot dogs when all of a sudden there was a bright flash. A flash like the one the night the Grim Reaper had taken Mike. He felt this pull on his body and yelled “What’s happening?”, the Grim Reaper smiled and said, “I’m sorry Mike it just isn’t your time, but I’ll see you when it is.”

The next thing he saw were the lights of the nurse at the desk and the doctor standing above him. He let out a big breath and heard the doc say “I thought we lost you.” He didn’t pay much attention to that but saw his friend smiling behind him with that bony hand and bright eyes, and then disappeared.

Helen stared out at the rapidly darkening sky, eyes glittering like stars in an onyx night as she watched the red and amber stripes fade to a more mundane obsidian colour, as if someone had grabbed the batter to a dark chocolate cake and swiped it over a goldenly baked cake. “I don’t understand, I’ve never met anyone like you before!” She sat on the widows walk above her bedroom, legs dangling over the railing. Despite the danger a mortal might sense, she only felt a feeling of comfort. She could hear the faint noises of a television playing downstairs, and her father, Jerry, laughing at the football.

“You should be grateful for that.” Lucas mumbled quietly under his breath, unable to look at her even though he wanted to so badly. “Scions are both dangerous and helpful people, Helen. As you know, I’m from the House of Thebes, a somewhat descendant of Poseidon, as you’ll know from Hector who almost drowned you last night. Now, Helen. You may be stronger than us, but Creon is a huge factor in the House of Thebes. Menoceus looks nothing like him, but Hector sure damn does. His mother is just a mortal, but his father is a long gone man despite still being alive.”

“Helen…” his throat was strangled as he tried to turn to her. “None of my family knows what house you are, but you’re connected to Zeus, that’s for sure. Now, I know none of this coming from my tongue makes sense, but the Iliad should explain it better. And if you’re still struggling…well. Well find a way.”

“But, Helen, the truth is, you’re a scion now, you can’t hide into that shell forever. I get it, it’s a lot to adjust to in just a week. But these women and possibly tantalus is coming after you, you need to be protected.” His jaw clenched and a shadow crossed his forehead and to his eyes. “Just stay safe, Helen. And go to bed.”

“You won’t be cold?” She said quietly as she stood.

“No,” he lied, unwilling to add the part where he tells her how he truly feels. “I’ll be fine.”

“Goodnight, Lucas,” she said softly, her voice dreamy.

“Goodnight, Helen.”

And so the two souls, though trying to merge into each other and bind like soulmates, the mortal mind had more sensibility than the souls. So their bodies had silent arguments and shared scowls as they separated for the night, each in their own thoughts with sweet smiles on their faces.

Everyone knows the story of Alice in Womderland. Her stumble down the rabbit hole that led her to this bright and colorful world; that which led to her inner awakening of who she truly is. Alice ultimately ends up conquering the Queen and is bathing in her power. What no one talks about though is her re-entrance to the human world. Returning to her snobby family and mundane exsistence after being surrounded by magical creatures and talking animals was a jarring experience. Alice was given word that one of her family members was on the way to the next life, so she thought I’d only be plausible if she went to say her farewells. Alice did not really give much thought to what this truly meant. She would have to face everything she left behind, face the reality of her situation. As Alice entered back into the human realm her heart began skipping beats at such an irregular pattern. All the memories from her past bubbling up to the surface. Her gut twisted into an irreversible knot, causing her to feel nauseous. She felt her knees go limp as she stood tall after crawling out of the dark tree trunk. But Alice then remembered who she was. She slipped back into her habitual patterns that she had worked so hard to be liberated from. Alice took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and focused on the sound of her own breathing until she felt grounded again. Reeling her mind back like a magnet pulling in metal for a close hug. Alice was so used to the random methodical creatures approaching her that being here felt barren. She got stuck staring at a tree waiting to make a quick acquaintance when her Aunt coughed saying “Alice, what are you doing staring at that tree?” Alice replied “Oh I thought I saw something.” Alice then realized how odd she probably looked to her Aunt. She definitely had her hands full in this moment but she knew she could conquer anything. Remembering Cheshire the cat saying “We’re all mad here” made Alice giggle. She could be herself knowing that her real home was waiting for her.

♣︎♣︎♣︎

“Fear, truly, is not something to be frightened of. Fear warns you if something is not safe; Fear feeds your adrenaline when you must run.”

♣︎♣︎♣︎

YANT

I did not go down to dinner.

After what that servant told me, I don’t think I’ll be able to get out of bed any time soon. Levan left me as well, following the same servant as they led him to the guard’s quarters. So it’s dark in my room, the candles full and untouched, and the moon screams at me from the sky, howling in laughter as though my death amuses it.

I’ll die if I stay here, I’ll die if I play along, and I’ll die if I make it to the end. I wasn’t expecting to fight while being here—or a possiblility of dying, the real danger here—the King truly told me nothing.

“Oh, Grandma.” I sigh, tucking myself deeper under the covers to entertain my thoughts to the object of sleep. They decline, sadly, being spurred up by this whole situation. Then, they go to the person who is destined to kill me once my time here has ended.

Prince Venus Heart. Why does someone fated to end me have to be so beautiful?

I think about the other royals. The Damsel and the High Prince. Both seem to be on bad terms with the Prince—and with themselves. Both seem unstable, in their own ways. They also obviously find me less than, and I certainly don’t want them near me when my paint falls off. Levan may help me, but I’m still not certain about where he stands in all of this.

A plan, I think as my eyes start to droop, I need a plan if I am to get through all of this. Always a plan. Some structure will help me.

I can’t live without it, for without structure, there is only the fear of what to come.

♣︎♣︎♣︎

♡♡♡

“No one must know. So keep quiet, and stare at the sky ignorantly.”

♡♡♡

BLACKJANE

I stare at the gentle moon, wondering how this majestic sphere of light can handle the wickedness of this side of the world, as I pour the soft, sweet smelling liquid into the cup of Elder Prince Dianthus.

He lays in his bed, long dark lashes framing his purple eyelids that flutter ever time his eyes move restlessly; his dark curls are matted on the sides, for he hardly ever moves from the bed. His thin lips pressed harshly against each other in pain even in sleep, wrinkling the black heart resting beside them. For some reason, I feel regretful to wake him, though, I know myself, and that is not the only thing that I shall regret.

Three black hearts rest on my right arm, where my shoulder and upper arm meet, signifying my ranking. The ugly black of it stares at me, jeering at me in joy for allowing it to take away my original color.

After I’m done filling the cup halfway, I shake the Elder Prince gently, handing the cup to him as he rouses. “Ah. Jane.“ He nods, taking a sip without hesitation. The trust he gives me is not what I deserve, but he is less perceptive than his younger brother and sisters because of his sickness and how he was raised.

He hands me back the cup once he finishes, and I place it on the desk near the head of the bed. “Shouldn’t you be asleep, Jane?”

I shake my head, holding my tongue to stop myself from repeating the question back to him. A verbal tic, the doctor said when my mother called for him, should start to disappear as she grows up.

But it’s still here, and once, it almost landed me dead.

I shake my head and respond with, “Doctor Grand told me that he forgot to give you your dose today.” Which was true. What was in the cup wasn’t his dose though. By his face, it seems he can’t tell the difference. “I should be off now. Goodnight, your majesty.”

I make my way towards the door, but a weak grip holds onto my naked wrist. I start to shift into a defensive stance, but I remember where I am and the part I am meant to play, and I hold myself.

“Please don’t leave,” the Elder Prince’s voice is faint as he drifts back to sleep, “We haven’t talked in a while. What’s that about anyway? Do you find me boring now, because I sleep all the time and the sick, almost-dead prince isn’t what you’d thought he’d be?”

I look back, sigh, then walk back to the bedside and place his arm back over the covers. “No, you are everything I knew you’d be.” Another truth. But I was supposed to know everything about him so that he’d like me.

The Elder Prince smiles at my words and leans back against his pillows. “Okay. Talk to me, Jane, tell me again about the stories your mother told you? Those are my favorite.”

I look down at his weak form, regret rising up inside of me once more. But I distract myself from it, I do as he asks. “I’ll tell you my favorite one. Did I already tell you about the Dealer?”

He frowns, opening one eye to say, “That is not allowed in these walls.”

“I know, but this is a different kind of story. This is how the Dealer was created. It is not something for the faint of heart, and there is a lot of death surrounding it. And of course, as you said, the Dealer is a horrible thing. If you think you can’t handle it, though, I’ll leave you—“

“NO!” He shrieks, surrendering to a coughing fit after. I do not know if he really is two years older than me; he seems and acts like a child. “Tell me the story. Tell me now.”

“Alright then,” I look back out the large window and take a breath. “From the Jesters to the Hearts, a story always starts, then, of course, it must depart—The Birth of the Dealer.”

Then the words flow freely from my mouth, though I have to pause several times to stop myself from repeating.

Oh, how I miss the red, how I miss my Own.

♡♡♡

I was never good at confrontation, Leon had known this better than anyone.

It made sense that he wouldn’t say these words to be face because I likely would have broken his.

His use of the words pathetic and weak are especially prominent, he seemed to know the way to dig deep into my heart and tear it right out. I had not seeked his validation, but when it seemed like I had earned it felt pride. Now it was all crushed.

I crumple the letter and toss it into the fire, if he truly felt this way then I would prove him wrong.

The hazy light filled the air. I paddled the kayak a little faster. All I could see was grey fog surrounding me. Creatures bumped into the kayak and it gently swayed. I felt a gentle bump as my kayak jolted, almost knocking me out of the boat. I made my way through the swamp, trees and vines extending out of the water, damp and wet. Something gripped my paddle. Piranhas.

My heart raced as the piranhas gnawed at my paddle, ripping it to shreds. I forcefully pulled the paddle out of the water, but then they began to gnaw in the kayak. I scrambled to move my paddle faster through the murky water. My heart sank into my chest. I didn’t have a paddle anymore. Fear gripped my heart, and I wasn’t just about to stick my hands in the dirty, disease-filled water. I acted as if nothing had happened. I didn’t pull my phone out of my pocket. I continue to flow through the murky water, now increasingly slow. 
My heart began to slow down. The intense heat burned my skin. My hat slid off my head. Something long bumped the boat. And I was taken to somewhere new. A cave, no, more like a cavern. A man, shaggy, dark beard and rustled eyebrows greeted me. He had a fire going, and I was wrapped in a slimy blanket. 
“You’re awake,” he said. 
“Who are you?” I demanded. 
“Don’t worry. You looked like you needed some saving, so I had my eel help you,” he said.
“I was going to get somewhere new, not in here!” I shouted.
“Relax, your destination is just beyond this cavern,” he added.
I got up. Throwing my blanket toward him. He caught as it gracefully fell onto the ground. I walked through the dark corridors of the cavern, before a large archway with pillars was before me. Gates flung open with a cobblestone sign that said New Tower. The tower was right in front of me, it rose up into the air, delicate and intricate designs. 
“Name,” a robotic voice asked.
I stared up at the long, protruding tip of the tower, and I proceeded to tell the robot my name. 

The journey had been completed after all…

In a dim dark room, we see a young man sitting chair and having his hands on his head, it looks like he is thinking about something important, then the room becomes bright and a voice comes from the door, "Babe why are you always making the room dark, it kinda creeps me" the man who was sitting now called Alen, get up on the chair and go to the door where the voice comes, it was a girl she had long green hair and was wearing big glasses and sleeping clothes and had two books on her hand, and then the man hugged her, and said, "I tell you many times, I just love the dark, I'm superhero you know." The girl looked at him and shook her head." still delusional aren't you babe, I advise you to stop reading so many novels" Alen laughed and changed the topic, "So what are you doing with those big books are you again studying those science, professors" he said teasingly and the girl looks at him in the eyes with annoying and pass him and lay down on the bed and opened her book, and then alen said, "Alright babe I'm going I'm saving people" the girl look at him in disbelief and said "whatever I think I will need you to go and see a therapist" and Alen said, "oh, come one don't be too harsh".

A burly sailor sits at a bench holding a well worn notebook “You know every half educated quack telss ya that keeping a journal helps deal with the stresses of life as you keep it recorded.” He hacks and spits out the porthole next to him onto whatever remains of the deck above the water. “Don’t do ya much o good taking time to write down your worries when they may be the death of yer”… the oddly calm crewmate sitting across from him replies “it also would help if ya stopped SHOOTING THE OCTOPI WITH A 12 GAUGE!”… gruff man “yer right when yer right, but what if the next one is a cthulu?” Crewmate creases his eyebrows as he holds his hand to his face “for the last time Mcdoogal that doesn’t happen twice… yah already got the weirdo before”… Mcdoogal:…. “Oh… can I still shoot the sharks in case of them being a leviathan Jeffery?” Jeffery:……………..”yeah sure, just stop aiming at the boat”…