The Bad Thing never lasted As long as I thought it would. It lodged in my subconscious And Colonised my anticipation. But in real time I realised the Bad Thing could not last forever and has no more stamina than better things, everydays. It’s only fuel was the power I offered it.

The creature that only came out at night was a devastating creature. It had six appendages with fierce claws on them. It had one eye in the middle of its face, and cat-like. It had rounded ears and a short snout with ferociously sharp teeth. It had very soft fur that covered its body. Its inky blue fur shone in the moonlight, as its tail swung back and forth. The creature only stayed in the forest trees and came out at night to hunt for its prey. It made absolutely no noise as it moved and was completely unseen. There is only one of this creature ever, and it has been alone for thousands and thousands of years sadly.

(Part Two, Alex) The sweet sound of the birds singing and the crisp autumn air comforted me as I walked through the forest, yelling Nova’s name. I had escaped the creatures… but she hadn’t. “Nova! Nova!” I called, my hands cuffed over my mouth. ‘I know what I need…’ I told myself. I flicked my ears and swayed my tail as I turned into full wolf, no human. “Much better….” I smiled and kept padding through the forest. I saw smoke rising into the sky and decided to follow it. The smoke was choking thick as I ventured deeper into the forest and I could hear strange sounds. Suddenly, a fiery cat jumped from the bushes and hissed furiously. A water dog and a wind fox followed it. “Who dares travel into element territory??” The fiery cat hissed, his flames licking the air. The water dog and the wind fox take a fighting stance as the fiery cat looks me over. I gulped and tensed, “I-I am Alex, second in command of the Wofurs.” The water dog smiled and brushed up against the fiery cat, “Flame, I believe he is harmless.” Flame sighed, “fine, but what do you need?” The wind fox chuckled, “don’t mind him, he’s grumpy.” I nodded, “I need your help finding my sister. Our camp was attacked and I fear for her safety.” The elements exchanged glances. “What exactly were the creatures that attacked your camp?” The water dog questioned. I thought for a moment, “they looked like normal animals but with glowing auras around them.” The wind fox gasped and Flame looked concerned, “Alex, I believe your sister is in grave danger.” ~To Be Continued

Demons in the form of flashbacks… “And how long has this occurred?” Since I was messed up. “Which time are you referring to?” Fuck. I’m done. So tired. Your shitty questions. Mind your business. You don’t really care. You don’t really love. “Can you… elaborate?” Sure, I’ll give it a shot. I’ll give it a jab, a try. Leave it bloody and beat. The first one comes in, tall and lean. “I’m your worst nightmare,” it says. Within it, I watch my mom die. The second comes in, short and smirky. “I’m your worst nightmare,” it says. Within it, I watch my dad’s heart quit. The third comes in, skinny and long. “I’m your very worst nightmare,” it says. Within it, I see myself forced again, rape. The fourth comes in, tired and hurt. “I’m your meanest nightmare,” it says. Within it, I see myself alone. The fifth comes in, he knows he’s won. “I’m your best reality,” it coos softly. Within it… I don’t see me……………… I’m | | Gone.

In shadows, angels bring eternal losses. While the sun gently sets with it’s reflection cast upon the river - the euphoric feeling of freedom rises within a person’s heart. 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵. Only when there is death is there truly life. Only when there is death is there truly freedom. And only at night, when the moon has made it’s appearance, the creature we all know as Isabel is released. With the eyes of an angel, the smile of a saint, but the grasp of death, Isabel sets souls free. There is no questioning what she does in the shadows. 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮. In shadows, angels bring eternal life. While the sun slowly makes it’s rise, it’s reflection dances in Isabel’s eyes - the euphoric feeling of death shimmering within a person’s heart as it makes it’s stop.

Sitting on my chest, clawing at my throat. Holding my breath, heart thumping against my ribs. Struggling to catch my breath. It’s back again. What’s back? Are you okay? Why are you acting like that? It was a dream, it’s okay. Stop hyperventilating. What are you doing? It’s haunting me again. The shadows that move, the nightmares that haunt me. My past that chases me. These walls, they’re not a home. They’re a prison. What? Go back to sleep. You’re speaking in tongue. I’m not having this conversation with you again tonight. I need you! Why don’t you stay? Why do you insist on leaving me? Am I not enough? Am I not what you want? Help yourself. I’ll opt for the couch. I’m not going to stay in this room while you twist and turn. I’m tired of watching me hurt. I am you. I am you! If I hurt, you hurt. Why don’t you help me? We’re one. I need you. You don’t need the demons. No, you want your demons. We are one yet you continue to push me away. It comes with sleep. I argue with my demons that whisper urgent words of suicide and pain every night. Apparently sleep paralysis is real and very painful. People blame it on my mis-matched eyes, saying that I see more than I tell. They say I see stuff that no one else can. I scare people with a simple glance. So… Until my demons evaporate- I’ll latch onto them and hold them while I sleep, because my demons are apart of me, I’ve come to accept.

Dangerous green eyes, diamond pupils. A slick black coat, wrapped in scars. Sharp white teeth, dripping venom. Quiet prowling limbs. Purring whispers, hissed words. It goes bump in the night, shaking the walls, rattling the windows, quaking the floor. I wait… I wait… I wait… I wait for it to grab me, the taloned claws tap, tap, tapping on the floor as it makes its way to me. I count the steps silently, squeezing my eyes shut as the covers are pried from my fists, and torn below my ankles. Tap. Tap… Tap. I feel it’s breath on my cheek, the tapping coming to a stop beside my bed…

The night terrors And the mirror Each represent something terrible. Or so she believes. Thunder booms As water pours, Her heart guns And it can’t be ignored. Right before she hides, She feels arms around her side. This happens every night, Her terrors and thunder gives her a freight. Year on and year on She wished she saw his face but he never showed even a small trace.

There’s a monster Only I know It comes out at night Softly creeping There’s a monster Unseen Jumps on me so quickly Strangling my cries with a hit This monster comes Each night Teasing me Taunting me And each time I’m left Broken Sobbing A wreck But a survivor. … … … … But there are nights There are nights Where the monster is not alone It comes with a friend Now, this friend, this friend is also mine This friend is gentle And kind This friend soothes me But each time this friend envelops me In her silken glow My arms sting And my legs become damp Oozing And leaking She releases me from a corset That keeps my emotions in check And she drinks this Surrounding me like a barrier So I am protected So I am hidden and devoured Then she leaves And I am exposed And naked I am freezing This friend leaves Yet the monster stays And I always wonder Which of us is truly her friend?

Skin like leather Wings of a bat Talons sharp Eyes pitch black The moon comes out So do they In search for dinner Humans are their prey With sharp fangs They rip and tare Try to fight back If you dare