Writing Prompt

This is from two of my characters in another novel draft I made. It’s based off the Victorian Era of Britain and has a magic system

**_Rayburn

_**I had went to my Aunt Loriene house to seek answers about my specific magic heritage, but instead I witnessed many pressured attempts to get me into their work lives. To help them in the London Magic System.

There are different systems around Britain, some are now being built around Europe.

But I have no interest in those things whatsoever. I just wish to stay with my maternal aunt and Oswald.

Mostly Oswald.

But now I don’t think that’s possible, for my Aunt Loriene has given me an “offer” I can’t afford to refuse.

**_Oswald

_**Ever since Rayburn came back from London, he’s been acting strange. And not _his _strange. In fact it seems like he’s a ghost wherever he goes.

We are sitting in his room at the moment, silent but ultimately together, which I am quite fine with. Though something feels off. There’s something Rayburn isn’t telling me.

Sadly enough, I cannot tell just by looking at his face. He always has that stubborn frown and a dip of his brow. Even when he’s sketching.

He’s doing that now, while I watch from beside him. I know that he hates when people interrupt him, but….

“Ray,” I say, tapping his shoulder.

He gives me a look when he turns to me, our noses almost touching. My heart stumbles from the fact. How much I love him is beyond words.

“Yes, Oswald, what is it,” he responds crossly.

I pause a bit, then reach into his curly golden-brown hair to tangle my finger in a strand. Rayburn allows me to do this and leans into my touch.“You’ve haven’t yet told me what went down during your stay at London. How were your aunt and cousins doing? It’s been a long time since their last visit.”

Rayburn freezes, eyes everywhere but on me. A deeper frown makes its way onto his lips. “They’re fine,” he said curtly.

I think about his answer, staring into his even, gray eyes, smiling when his face grows to be a tomato red. “That’s good. I do hope Charlie has been found well with that muting medicine of his.”

He nods, quiet once more. It seems he doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ll just bring it up later.

I kiss his cheek with a count of four, then scoot closer until our hips are pushing against each other. I point to the sketch on his pad. “So what’s this supposed to be; a frog?”

Rayburn frowns, his eyes radiating his hidden laughter. “It’s a cat, Oz.”

I chuckle, happy that he’s in good spirits now. “Sure, sure.”

Though I still wish to know the cause of his anger and fear. The last time I saw that aunt of his from London, she was rather tricky and unpleasant to be around.

Rayburn

“It’s getting close to the time for you to leave, isn’t it Lanvard?” Aunt Florence is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.

She’s right, it is. After tomorrow, I leave for London.

“I have my bags all packed, so there no need to worry about that.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” she says, “What I’m concerned about is Oswald; have you told him yet?”

No, I have not. But Aunt Florence doesn’t meet to know that. She’ll just run and tell him. I don’t want Oswald to be sad the next two days. I want him to be happy, his normal self, his loving self. To see him smile makes me feel better about my decision.

So that’s why I say. “Yes, I have.”

He doesn’t need to know. He doesn’t. HE DOESN’T.

Oswald

Kissing Rayburn is one of the many blessings in life for me. Rayburn knows this as I have told him many times.

So why does he creep out of my embraces, and turn his head away from my lips?

At first, I thought that nothing really happened on his trip, but now….

I walk around for a while in town square, the dark sky looming over me, thinking about it. That Lady Loriene was something else; a snake in fine clothing whose bite would sting before the poison hits. When I heard that Rayburn was going there by himself, I offered to go with him. He said no, of course, and then made love with me as a promise that he would be back.

Now’s he’s back, yes, but he’s not himself. Something is definitely wrong.

What am I missing?

I blink, turning to see Rayburn carrying a large duffle bag. I yell to him, waving my arms. He turns to me, face paler than ever and eyes wide.

Then he runs.

I run after him.

Rayburn

No. Nonononononono.

This wasn’t suppose to happen. He wasn’t suppose to know until _after _I left.

I hear Oswald behind me. Yelling for me to stop and give him answers. He’ll catch up to me soon. I just need to make it to the train station and the guards will stop him. You can’t enter without a pre-paid ticket.

But then he grabs my arm and spins me toward him.

Oswald is breathing rapidly, huffing in breaths. “Rayburn, what the HELL is going on?!”

He isn’t going to leave until I tell him answers. I sigh.

It’s time to hurt him in the worst way possible.

**_Oswald

_**“I’m leaving for London,” Rayburn says, glaring at me.

Why is he doing that? Did I do something wrong? Why is he angry at me?

“Ray—“

“While over there my aunt tested me for any trace of magick,” he interrupts me, “and it seems I have a…large amount of it.

“She doesn’t want it to go to waste.”

I bite my lip. “W-well you don’t have to go alone!” I say, I can go with you.”

Rayburn shakes his head. “No, you cannot. You would be just extra baggage.”

I still. “What? Why?”

Then he says the words. The very words that break my heart, my soul, my very reality.

“Because I don’t love you anymore.”

I gape, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. I stare into his blank gray eyes, the very ones that used to make my heart flutter at their warmth.

I let him go, and he leaves with, “Don’t follow me, you should have known that this relationship was wrong.”

Rayburn is long gone when my parents find me in the morning curled up on the concrete and crying my heart out.

_Rayburn **** _The train ride to London seems long.

Very long.

I did what I was supposed to do.

Now Oswald won’t be hunted down and executed for our…intimate relationship.

He’ll be safe.

I told him off like she wanted.

But is it what I _really _wanted?

Oswald…. __ __ [These two are childhood friends. After Rayburns parents died in a fire, he went to live with his maternal aunt because of his parents’ will. There he met Oswald and his family. Oswald wanted to be friend with him immediately, Rayburn was stubborn…. They eventually become more, but Rayburn is the most powerful magicker in a century and one of his fraternal aunts wants that power for herself]_ **** _

~Wisteria~

I find that fire is something that I have always associated man with.

Full of flavor and bursting with life. Capable of hypnotism, of drawing you into your death. Chaotically lifesaving and on the verge of mass destruction at the same time.

That’s why I’ve never liked fire. It can’t pick a side. But it’s seductive on a cold winter’s night when there’s nothing else to keep you warm but your thoughts. You just stare at those lapping flames, enticing Mikado yellows, amber oranges, feeling the warmth in your cheeks while memories of love rush to your mind. Memories of late-night tea drinking and warm soups and hugs. So before you know it, you’re head over heels for fire, thinking wow, fire, what would I do without you?

But then you get too close. You singe a sleeve. You burn a finger. You’re reminded of why the word fire fills you with such disgust and rage it’s practically palpable.

Fire.

It’s what I saw when those kid’s parents burned down my home. That beautiful home that I had been raised in. A place that was for me and my mother, a haven, somewhere meant to be untouchable to humans. All because I just wanted a friend. Because I, a ten-year-old then, even though half fae, was fae nevertheless, and therefore a threat to all of Calea.

I was just a kid.

And I can’t tell you how it felt to sift through those ashes, still warm, amid the rubble of my home, raven’s feathers and uneven pots and ancient books burnt to oblivion, with smoke stinging tears flowing down my face. I scorned myself again and again as I knew my mother would when she came back from her scavenging trips and found me.

Fire is what I saw behind Vikriam Nycrow’s eyes when he first saw me. A subtle glow behind that curious visage, like a dying coal that still had life to give. I thought it was love then. Sometimes I like to convince myself that for just a little while, it might’ve been love. But I should’ve known that he had the power to start a bonfire.

How fitting is it now that I’m tied here to a stake in the ground, clothes torn and body beaten, facing my predators, the flames, as I await a humiliating death; burning alive at the stake, while others stare at you like you’re nothing but a pig at a barbecue.

I glance at the tight bindings on my wrists, grit my teeth, and stare out at the large crowd of Fallow members before me. Several of them are yelling directly at me, though I can’t understand what they’re saying. My eyes pick out a pair of soft blue eyes staring back at me triumphantly. The eyes belong to Lois Goldstring, Vikriam’s fiancé, and she’s sneering at me like she’s won something by killing me. Though her mouth is a flat line, I can tell she’s smiling in her soul. That woman is at such a low point in her life that having me burned to death fills her with glee. But I won’t let fire win.

~Lois~

Vikriam is standing now amidst the crowd. I raise my cold hands,_ they’re always cold_ _these days, _to my face, connecting them by their fingertips at the bridge of my nose. I feel like I can already smell burning flesh. Sickly smell.

As I meet Wisteria’s gaze, I’m filled with a sense of victory. Does she know I was the mastermind of all this? That if it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t be burning to death in a few minutes? I hope she knows. I should’ve made it more obvious.

She should’ve learned that the worst you can do to a woman is not steal her man, but attempt to steal him quietly. She really thought that little by little, inch by inch, Vikriam would slowly slip from my grasp. She believed with her half-brained wit that one day I would just look around and finally notice that he’s missing.

She underestimated me very, very poorly. And now it will come back to bite her. I lower my hands and clench them tightly together in anticipation.

“We’re here today for the execution of a fae..” Vikriam, my fiancé and respected Council member, starts slowly and dramatically with that powerful voice of his as the crowd begins to hush. “A fae who has tormented our people for years.”

People around me are nodding their heads. Wisteria is staring me dead in the eye. I’ve never felt such hatred. For some reason, a giddy smile starts to pull at my lips. I press my fingers down at the top of my lip, covering my foolish mouth as I attempt to look as solemn as Vikriam has managed to look today.

“Many of us tried to cope with her. But it all ended when she led that poor child to his death in the Lost. How could we be so foolish? How could we let ourselves trust something that has never earned our trust? Let this moment remind us that fae can be full of nothing but deceit, turpitude, and cruelty.” Vikriam has picked up the pace now, and the crowd is with him. He really is a leader. Will this be good enough to have the Council promote him?

“This fire symbolizes an end to their deceit. We will never let this happen again!”

The crowd is worked up now, shouting violently and ordering Vikriam to start the fire. They’re shouting, roaring, screaming, spitting. I do not partake in such shouting. This is to be enjoyed.

The Head Counsel member, Olen, with his flowing white robe and braided beard, hands Vikriam the torch with shaky hands.

~Wisteria~

I’ve only felt fire once before. When I was eight, I was boiling water over our fireplace. My unaware self got too close, and a flame had licked my sleeve. It caught fairly quickly, and before I knew it I was screaming, patting the fire with anything to try and get it to stop. Eventually whatever eight-year-old senses were in my head directed me to the water bowl, which I hurriedly stuck my whole arm in. Though it had been only a few seconds, the skin had been damaged. The pain was unlike anything I had ever known. This was how they meant for me to die?

As Vikriam lights the brush below me, I can feel pure fear bubbling inside of me. The flames catch fairly quickly, and smoke begins to tease my senses. The crowd shouts angrily, seething and spitting. Evil people.

The flames lap up and touch my bare feet. Pain; pure, searing pain, strikes me as fast as a snake bite as the flames eat at my skin. I can feel my tissue constricting and being melted off. I bite my tongue for as long as I can, but the continuation forces a strained gargle of a scream out of me.

As I scream, I hear something in my ear, a faint whisper amidst the angry crowd: _Revenge. _

That’s all I can hear as the pain continues and my face is flooded with smoke. Tears flood down my face and I sound a constant cry of agony.

Revenge.

I see those cruel blue eyes smiling at me behind the smoke.

Revenge.

I see the man who said he loved me holding the torch that lit this fire.

Revenge.

Oh so steadily, with each angry thought, I can feel power growing inside of me. I have been living in the Lost for so long now that it has given me power outside its grasp._ I am the Lost. _

As the flames travel up my legs_, I cry out through clenched teeth. “_VIKRIAM NYCROW, I CURSE YOU AND ALL YOUR CHILDREN, THAT THEY WILL BE PART OF THE LOST SINCE BIRTH, THAT THEY WILL NOT DENY ITS CALLS.”

Vikriam stares at me with a dead expression.

“THOSE WITH NYCROW BLOOD WILL OWE ME.”

I feel powerful. I can’t feel anything but the darkness surging through me. I spot Lois clamping a skinny hand over her mouth. “AND LOIS GOLDSTRING, MAY YOU DIE AS GRUESOME A DEATH AS I HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DIE.”

I give a huge scream, and I can feel the flames no longer fighting my flesh but fighting my soul, fighting the darkness within me.

They want to consume you, the darkness tells me. _But light cannot touch what is not theirs. _

~Lois~

I watch in horror as Wisteria screams. Black mist seeps out of her clothes and spreads out over the flames. The flames hiss mixes with Wisteria’s bone-shuddering cries of power. With one last final scream, the mist surrounds her body.

With that, we hear nothing but her dark promise reverberating through the air.

The black mist waivers away steadily, like glitter in a pool.

Wisteria is gone.

The fire has been quenched, and the ground is covered with ash. Vikriam and the Counsel members look around in awe. The crowd has gone dead silent, except for the few murmurs in fear, “she’s pulled another trick,” “Where did she go?” “What did she say? About Nycrow?”

The ground around me swivels and rocks. My breath comes harshly and shallowly.

_Wisteria, so far gone to the Lost that Death does not even have a hold of her. _

I’m backkk. This probably won’t make any sense to you guys if you’re reading. (Sorry about that) but this is me writing out scenes in my head to finally GET THEM OUT MY HEAD 😭 so yeah I hope you enjoyed it. Have a great day! :)

I watch as she dumps the whole store out on my conveyor belt. I groan to myself as I see she’s even got a bushel of coupons in her hands. I eagerly look at the clock, “At least this is my last checkout for the day. Even if it takes 20 years.” I mumble to myself. A text message dings on my phone, “Don’t be late to the party Matt!” My girlfriend Lulu reminds me. I click the screen off and start scanning. —— I dump my cart out and watch the while cashier looks impatient. He shouldn’t be, it is his job to scan items. He looks at his phone and sighs as he starts scanning. I get my bushel of coupons ready as I watch the screen. —— Beep..beep..beep..beep.. My wrist starts hurting but I keep going because that woman is scary. She’s staring into my soul as I fumble around her items for the barcode. I speak to lighten the mood, “Did you find everything okay ma’am?” She ignores me and fumbles around with her coupons. I sigh as I watch the long line of groceries coming down the belt. —— I read the boys name tag, Matt, that was his name. I might file a complaint for lack of good service, why? No one wants a cashier who grumbles and complains about having to do their job. I almost smirk to myself as I imagine the yelling at he’d be getting from his manager. —— This lady is really scaring me. She read my name tag and then started smirking, what was so funny? I push that thought out of my mind and keep scanning. Beep..beep..beep..beep..beep..beep B E E P —— My feet start hurting, could this boy take any longer to scan?! We lock eyes for a moment and he looks nervous, I snicker to myself. What a loser. No wonder he’s a simple cashier. Beep..beep..beep..beep.. —— I finally scan the last item and I rejoice. “Your total is $337.64.” I say as the lady begins scanning the screen intently. “Cash or credit?” She pushes out the bushel of coupons instead. “Scan these.” She commands gruffly, and now I start reading them. —— This boy is starting to get on my nerves, first he takes all day to scan my stuff, and now he’s about to read each and every coupon I had?! This was ridiculous! I tap my foot on the floor and will him to read faster. —— All these coupons were expired and I couldn’t use them. I look at the lady stamping her foot aggressively, moving her head to get her blond swoop out of her eyes, and gulp. “M-Ma’am?” I croak out, my voice shaky. She looks up at me annoyedly, her eyes speaking volumes. “Th-These coupons are expired.” I slide them back to her, and she snatches them back. “What do you mean there expired?! I just got them in the mail the other day!” I wince with every angry word she yells. Her hands fly about as she rants and raves. “Ma’am I’m sorry but-“ She cuts me off. “I want to speak to your manager!” I almost let out a groan, looks like it was going to be one of those days. —— The boy nervously looks at me as he speaks up. “M-Ma’am?” His voice shakes and I look at him expectantly. “Th-These coupons are expired.” He shoves them back at me. I carefully take them, “What do you mean? I just got them in the mail the other day.” I say calmly, as I carefully explain myself. “Ma’am I’m sorry but-“ I put my hand up to stop him, “I want to speak to your manager.” The boy rolls his eyes, looks like today is going to be one of those days.

You hated me. I loved you.

Always staring, accusing eyes following my every move. Always caught staring, admiring eyes tracing your every move.

And the sad part was, I still liked you. The sad part was that I knew you could never like me.

I loved you. You hated me.

I’m being watched.

I feel his eyes boring into me, watching my every move. He even changes position to keep me in view as I stand in front of the mirror trying item after item, but after that one adjustment he’s very, very still. Watching. He knows by now that I’m going out, and I’ve said nothing about him joining me. He doesn’t like that. Not at all. ——

It’s starting again. She’s going out without me and leaving me alone. She knows I hate that! She used to do that all the time but I thought I’d made it clear that was unacceptable, and so she stopped. We go out together or not at all, that’s the rule. What is she doing? ——

I’m anxious now and rushed - I’d planned to wear my favorite black jeans with a red top and black chunky heels, only to find the jeans don’t fit anymore, most of my favorites don’t fit. When did that happen? I’m running late, but I’m trying to act casual and cheerful, as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening, hoping he’ll stay calm and quiet. So far, I’m getting my wish. ——

I’m being very still, and very quiet. But maybe I should just beg to go with her? No, I don’t want to go out now anyway, it’s too early. If she knows I’m upset maybe she’ll change her mind and we can both go out when it gets dark. I stay quiet and glare at her. By now she should have come over to ask what’s wrong, but instead she’s pretending everything’s fine. ——

His calm and his quiet are making me wary. I was sure he’d beg to come with me, but this is my night. It’s been two years (two years!) since I hung out with my friends at a bar, played some pool, had a few drinks. He can’t object - it’s just been him and me this whole time and yes, I’ve been grateful for his company even while taking care of his every need. I finally settle on a baggy shirt and dark sweats and the dressy black sneakers.

“You’ll be fine for a while on your own, love” I say as I head out the door, avoiding eye contact. “You’ve had your dinner…I won’t be gone long. Be back before you know it.” I rush out before he can respond. ——

She’s gone. At the last minute I change tactics and try to go to her, but she rushes out and shuts the door in my face. I stand there, stunned. How dare she! And I’m supposed to just stay here and wait for her, staring at the walls, doing nothing? Then I remember how I taught her before. I head to the bedroom. ——

It’s so great to see everyone. Of course we’ve FaceTimed and Zoomed and called each other, at least at first, but it’s not the same as actually being together. Greetings are awkward - is it ok to hug? Did we used to hug? Probably not, you don’t hug after not seeing each other for two weeks, but two years? That definitely deserves a hug, but protocols have changed. Some of us hug, some don’t, we get to the drinks as soon as possible. Lisa and Dave are still together, despite complaints of being trapped in a closet of an apartment. Sarah’s gone - moved out of town and probably won’t be back. They ask about Jack, and I tell them how needy he is, how he won’t let me out of his sight. I realize I actually feel strange being without him, though. ——

I start on the pile she left on the floor after changing over and over. I feel a qualm before I destroy the jeans, but by the time I’m done with them I’m actually having fun. I move on to the red blouse. I’ll save the shoes for last. Where is she? She’s been gone for so long I’m not angry any more, I’m just worried. Am I going to have to be alone all night? Just as this thought occurs to me I hear her key in the lock. I feel a flood of joy and relief as I run to greet her. ——

We had a good time, but it really seems as if we were all ready to leave as soon as we got there. The conversation only took off when we started talking about what shows we’ve been binging, and making recommendations on what to watch and what to skip. As I get home I steel myself for what I’ll find, sure Jack’s been up to his old tricks. But as I open the door I’m only glad to be home again. He rushes into my arms and I hug him tight. ——

I rush into her arms and try to kiss her face all over I know she hates that and I’m not doing it to be rude I just can’t help it I’m just so glad she’s home she’s home she’s home! In a few minutes she’ll see what I did in the bedroom and she’ll get pretty mad, but for now she just seems glad to see me. ——

I go to the bedroom for a damage check, and sure enough he’s made his displeasure clear. I’m not mad though. These rags didn’t fit me and they’re out of style. I change into my other sneakers, grab the leash and turn to Jack. “You ready for a walk, love?” ——

I want to answer her grudgingly, but I feel my whole backside wriggle with glee. Yeah, I’m ready.

[District 7, Neon City]

[Sofia’s point of view]

{Spider Plantation, Individual Homes}

Light hadn’t woken her up as it did the last week or so. Hunger wasn’t a pain frequently pulling at her body. Peace had started to overwhelm her. Comfort was the new normal.

Emond was already gone, his room empty as she stalked towards the stairs. A shuffle downstairs cause her to take a quick breath. Slowing down as she reached the first floor.

“Morning!” A strange looking guy fully bathed in tattoos said, coming to a stop just short of the stairs. “Your decent right?”

He quickly turned around tossing his hands up in mock surrender. She just giggled a bit, and strode right past him.

“One of Spiders goons I presume?” She pulled open the fridge, grabbing a plastic oj container. “What if your wrong? What if I’m here to kill you and all of Spiders men?” He pulled a arm length blade out of actually nowhere, trying to keep a straight face as he hoped up onto the counter.

Crouching like a ninja ready to attack. Then he let out a laugh that echoed through the halls. Nearly falling off the counter top.

“So Emond’s your brother?” Sofia could feel his eyes lingering across her body. She probably should have put on a more modest outfit, but a pair of short shorts and a t-shirt were normally worn till breakfast. Emond never minded and no other guys had come around. “Yeah he is” She mumbled back, ignoring his flattering. “Spider send him away?” She questioned taking a bite of buttered toast. “Yeah, big old secret mission. I think it’s got something to do with that big robbery downtown.” He looked deeply into her blue eyes, not once letting his gaze slip. “We’ll. That’s good for him. I don’t need you gawking around here” She took a few more bites. “So you may leave” Mouth full, she pointed back toward the door.

Turning to grab her juice she noticed he hadn’t moved. Instead he was awestruck at how forward she was being.

“My apologies… I didn’t-“ She cut him off, motioning him back towards the door again. “I don’t trust a perv to keep me safe. So go tell Spider that” She devoured the last three bites, grabbing the juice to chase it. “It’s been a long-“ She cut him off again, raising her hand like in grade school. “Your a man who can’t keep his eyes where they belong.” She huffed, tossing her plate in the trash and moving towards the stairs. “Nice meeting you, but no thanks” “I’m sorry. Your more beautiful then anything I’ve ever seen before. Not just women; in nature, or the world. It’s almost terrible that you hide such a beauty. I’ll let spider know you want another guard” He sulked to the door, opening it and then disappearing out of it.

Sofia stood there for a moment, thinking about all the times men had ogled over her body. Foaming at the mouth or drooling, this hadn’t been that. He’d stolen glances but he wasn’t staring or making comments about it.

In a second she was out the door behind him. “Sir!” She called out into the looting rain, he stood just beyond the stairs. Just before the rain.

“I’m sorry” She groaned, knowing the smile that crept across his face wouldn’t be going anywhere soon. “I judged you harshly and I’m sorry” “I’m Alzec.” He bowed. “Glad you hurried out. Cuz Spider would not have acted kindly had he thought that I disrespected you in anyway.” “I just haven’t had many good experiences with men” She slumped down into the chairs set out into the wrap around porch. “I have a younger sister, she fiercely opposed to doing guard work. Also a bit of a pain in Spiders flesh as of late. But Spider might consider it” Alzec sat beside her, looking out into the rain. “That might be better” Now she wasn’t looking at him; his green eyes, muscular brown skin tone, or all the artistic depictions that hung on his skin. “The art is how we show our devotion to Spider.” He motioned to the black ink wrapping all the way up his two arms. “I am as high as I may go. Fully devoted and have proven my devotion on many occasions.”

It would be disrespectful on her account not to look, especially since he was explaining it to her. So she did. Her eyes traced over the many shapes and designs that started at his fingertips, spanning clear up to his shoulders and beyond.

“Did they hurt?” She questioned, sliding her hand across a depiction of an animal she’d never seen before, a large cat of some kind. “Only in certain spots, overall not that bad” He huffed. “It’s a lion, I’ve only heard stories about them. Spider has books that depicted them” “How long have you been with him?” She looked back out into the rain, seeing a figure headed toward them. “Spider I mean” “Since I was nine years old” He shuffled in his chair, like the memory wasn’t too happy. “I’m nearly nineteen now.” “So he saves kids and teens?” “He trusts us more then the men and women who are left in this world. Once we reach the age of twenty - one, we become advisors and parents to his newer generation” “So when are you allowed to just have fun and adventure?” She stood up and stumbled off onto the banister of the porch. Rain poorer down her back and sides in seconds, causing her to erupt in a squeal. “You won’t melt” He laughed, as she tossed a handful of rain water in his direction. “We don’t do fun. We have an opportunity to keep the children of our district safe and teach them how to defend themselves “

Sofia tossed another handful of water in his direction and it just slapped him in the face and swept across his sleeveless top. He didn’t really even give her a smile or anything playful. A warrior of stone, but she’d crack him.

“Guess you don’t like playing in the rain?” She questioned leaning back and soaking her whole upper body. Only to leap onto him, shaking her long wet hair over him.

“Sofia!” Emond’s voice sent a chill down her spine. “Get off the boy. I’m sure Spider has other plans for his day” “Thanks” Alzec muttered, pulling himself from under her. The taking off into the rain. “What are you thinking?” Emond hissed, stepping into the house and tossing off a plastic-like covering. “He’s cute. And honestly I was bored” “Well stop it. Any other man would have probably just taken you right there. You were giving off enough signs of compliance “ His gaze darted away from the sagging cloth that covered her upper body. “Sorry I didn’t “ She quickly used her arms to cover up her budding chest. “Your not a child anymore…. Your becoming a woman. You can’t be acting like that.” Emond shook his head, resting it in his hand. “Go change. Spider wants us to eat amongst everyone tonight.”

{Alzec’s point of view}

She dipped back into the water showering herself in its cold dampness. Splattering her upper body with water. Quickly he looked away at her eyes, begging him for a reaction. He sighed, keeping his thoughts and mind on her face. Not the slow leaking of water soaking away at the cami. Pulling it down to reveal a growing young body.

The she leaped into his lap. Water poured off her body onto him. She was attacking him, with water. Like they were sharing a shower. Instinctively his hands went up, protecting his manhood from any possible damage. Grabbing her hips.

“Sofia!” Emond’s voice shook the world like the crack of thunder in a storm. “Get off the boy. I’m sure Spider has plans for the rest of his day”

That was his que to get away from this girl. Emond was giving him a way out. He took it, sliding out from under her. Stepping off the porch in nearly a full sprint.

Rain hadn’t stopped, the entire run back to the fortress. It was a large building, two sets of stairs jetted out from the second floor. Of course the bottom floor wasn’t set up to enter from the front. He fell in line after a few people climbing the stairs.

Two men stood out of the rain at the top of the stairs. Each of them nodding to him as he shifted past the waiting people. Probably here to ask for credits or refuge. Neither would be given if they didn’t have more scouts or daughters to further Spiders reach.

Stepping into the meeting room Spider stood up as he slipped in. Bowing he went right to his side as a small group of men stepped into the doorway. A young girl being dragged by a rope around her neck. Alzec winced as the man holding the leash pulled hardly, causing her to trip and choke.

A few of the other warriors took a step forward. Spider waved them off, Alzec nelt right by Spiders feet.

“We have a whore for you!” The first man chuckled, shouting it out. “Nice place yah got here” The man spun taking in all the exquisite things that laden the walls and paintings. “I’m not sure if you know of me” Spider said in a calm cool tone. “You never speak to a woman like that, especially a young lady. Can you unhand her?” “Yes, we want at least two thousand credits for her. My men broke her in” He laughed. “So the whor-“ Blood exploded from the man’s throat, finishing his sentence with the gurgle of him suffocating on his blood.

A dagger tapped the wall somewhere behind him. He fell to the ground lifeless, his two followers unsure of where the attack came from. Alzec holding two more daggers ready to strike.

“I gave him a warning. Women, shall not be talked about like that in my presence.” Spider stood up, pacing over to the young madden, still tied up.

He stopped just short of the girl. Clothes severely cut and torn in places. Dirty and hardly hanging on to her small frame. Tears ran down her face.

“I’m sorry young lady. This is not how my warriors treat women.” His expression dropped as he pulled a blade from his side and cut the rope around her neck. “If these men caused you any harm end them” Spider stood up and moved across the room like a pharaoh of Egypt, leaving the blade at her feet.

Alzec was faster, as she stood to attack. One of the men pulled a handgun. His throat was cut before he even pointed it at the girl. The last man fell to her blade as Spider sat into his chair. Blood littered the floor as she stood up, covered in it.

A scratching sound came from their right, a little old lady pushing a walker. She came into the room slowly, one of Spiders warriors at her side. A few of spiders other warriors already started to clean the scene before them. They all stopped and bowed. Except for the sobbing girl , splattered with blood from her revenge.

“Miho who is the girl? Why does she cry?” The elderly woman stopped, a few feet away from the bloody floor and the girl. “She is free mama” Spider said to all of them. “Freedom is a wonderful thing. Come wipe your tears and I will help you” The woman reached a wrinkled hand out to the girl. “Thank you” The girl mumbled, letting the woman’s warrior help her up.

“How did it go with Sofia?” Spider turned his head back to Alzec. “Must have gone well, the other three warriors didn’t last an hour” He laughed. “She’s a handful “ Alzec smiled. “I think she’s gonna be our first female warrior. I’d be honored if you could train her” Spider looked straight into his eyes. “Are you sure?” “Do you question my choice?” Spiders face was only a foot or so away, looking like he’d just told a joke. “No. I will start working on her tomorrow. With her.” He stumbled over his words and Spider started to laugh. “Emond knows and is slightly against it. She’ll be a great warrior.” Spider nodded towards the door his mother and the newest daughter had disappeared into. “That new girl needs a name, send her to your sister or Sofia. The choice is yours”

Unexpectedly Alzec could feel his chest beating just a bit faster, at the possibility of having to deal with Sofia again.

A few other men stepped into the meeting room, four women of different skin tones nearly naked roped together like prisoners. The youngest looking of them had a red tattoo across her face.

Without another look he disappeared into the hallways that belong to the daughters. His eyes never left the floor once he stepped into the doorway. It was the way, none of the men were allowed unless they had been sent or were going to be one of the Webs warriors.

“Young man? Did my son send you?” The elderly woman’s voice called fairly close. “Spider sent me to bring the new daughter out to Emond and Sofia” He still bowed and she chuckled at his need for normalcy. “You can look up boy. She’s still bathing.” Looking up he saw the old woman’s warrior and her behind a desk. “Noel is her chosen name…. Please sit at the door till she comes out”

James ———— James walked into school full of purpose and nerves as well with 2 weeks left to leave not just middle school but moving to Texas, and with that the mission of confessing to his best friend Eli.

He found her sitting by the Fountain along side a few of our mutual friends each of them greeted James with the usual ho homie or hi, then got to Eli and she gave him her notes for history. She and James talked about a video games that was hot news and memes and before they Knew it they were all alone with 15 minutes before home class started James found his courage wane as he didn’t know how to say it. She stopped talking after 5 minutes saying she needed to go it was only this when James decided to just do it “Eli I think you are awesome girl and I just want to tell you I like you”. He had just say it like that, his embarrassment grew very much that he just waved goodbye and quickly walked to his homeroom classroom without seeing her reaction.

                                           ——————————————————-

Eli ——— Eli had came to school early again today to give her best friend James history notes for the end-of-the-year test. When she set down at the fountain her other friends walk to her and talked about the test and TV. However when the subject of boys came about one friend name Hannah had said that she and James look very cozy together and how it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them hooked up. Eli had playfully shut down any ideas about that but the others decide to plan to leave Eli and James alone when there was a good chance. She again tried to shut that conversation down until James showed up, strangely Ellie froze and while everyone else greeted him she quickly found his notes and gave it to him then found a topic they shared together. As they talked about the gaming news and such things like memes, she had largely forgot about the time as it was an interesting subject. She then found him silent as he looked around which caused her to look around there was nobody around she thought “really guys you do this to me now”. It was about 10 minutes until class started so she had said goodbye but before she could leave he had blurted something out the things he said that made her heart skip a beat but also something that made her very sad.

As she watched him leave she had walked to her own home classroom wondering how to tell him that she did like him but that she was moving away not just to another school but to a different state. That she wanted to keep the friendship going because it would be so sad to break up, she knew today she was going to be thinking about a lot of things.

“God, that thing is such an eye sore,” Gene scoffs as he passes the new billboard on I-20. “The thing does everything but flash it’s tits at you, and frankly I prefer the latter.”

2 exits before his apartment, Gene remembers the flashing gas can on his dashboard. Somehow, though, he manages to fill his car with liquor instead of gas and forgets the light ever existed in the first place. He also decides to take the scenic route home, in hopes of avoiding yet another billboard practically begging him to be anyone else but himself. Especially if he can manage to get injured in a car wreck, too.

Rolling hills, barbed wire fences, barking dogs, clouds of mosquitos. This is where he would like to die. This is where his car will break down, this is where he will say his goodbyes, and this is where he will wake up in the morning and decide to do it all again. No plans except for the bottles in his back seat, and my god, no billboard was going to tell him otherwise.

Passing in the opposite direction, Stuart skids around what is arguably the stupidest and sharpest bend in southeast Missouri. He puts far too much trust in the traction of his 10 year-old tires and crashes off the road into an Autumn-leaf cushioned ditch. Not quite cushioned enough to break the fall of both Stuart and the bottles in his backpack, but he’s glad it was the bottles that broke and not his spine. The pool of liquor starting to form beneath him quickly reminds Stuart that Jenifer was not going to wait much longer, and the sun was going to set soon. He jumps on his bike and hopes that the new billboard will be lit tonight, when he is finally able to tell her. He only cares to see her eyes - God forbid the darkness steal those, too.

I needed his touch. I craved the sensation that would overcome me as he held me. His dirt brown eyes burned holes in my heart. Holes that could only be filled with his touch. His hands left footprints on my body. Our DNA merged almost as if bonded by chemicals. Everything about him called my name. Almost as if he was made for loving me.

  His love shot my heart like those on achilles heel. Nothing mad me more crazy. I wanted to be loved by him and only him. After fourteen years of living, the dull colored world, became bright. The once grey sky became a thriving bright blue. He made life worth living. Once i had left the bright blue sky, i felt imprisoned in empty loophole of darkness. Life without him was one i did not wish to live. 

i grew exhausted of dull skies, yearning for him. I was his. His girl, though he may not know it, I was his. He has cost me my job, but with him, i was like the titanic. Unsinkable. Indestructible. 

*

Her touch killed. Grasping for a Bubkes of air, her shackled to me like a life sentence. I yanked at the chains, trying to even grasp the insane concept of freedom for even a small second.

Her blue iced eyes struck my heart like felt mallet on a parading drum. Like an everlasting headache on a pregnant mother. The pound being so long, creating a mold for itself. Her hands shackled my ankles. I felt like a dog aching for a bone, that was just out of reach. Everything about her pulled me away. I refused her. She suffocated me,

She made life feel like a chamber of torture. She held on, and was bound to never let go. She refused to let go, after i told her no. When i first met the woman, she was beautiful as a rose in bloom. Over time our love became tainted with a fatal acid. Life without her was easy, and except i would never be able to experience this. She was like the Titanic, indestructible

If I do not rise, there will not be much light. If I stay down, there not be much heat. So I do as I must, I rise each day. Each night, I fall down and overtakes me the moon.

I, the moon, must rise each night. For, I must bring the world light when the sun has fallen. Though, my fellow stars do help me much, I do much more than just bring light.

For, being the moon means that I hold the world together. It is I, that hold the worlds gravity in place.

Though, as I am the sun, I help much more than the moon. Without I, all plants will die, and so will the animals, and then humans too. Without I, this world will end quicker than without you.

But, it is me, the moon, that brings light when it becomes night. Without I, nights would be much darker, for there is not one other planet that brings as much light as I do at night.

And, without I, days shall go by much faster. If it were not for I, weather should be much more confusing. Season would be much too extreme, or they might not exist at all.

For, I guess it is you, the moon, that helps the world as much as me. Without the two of us, the moon and the sun, what would this world even be?