From darkness, swim the muddy swamp, From hurricanes, my love, revive, Come back!

From underground, break now the seal, From hell, bend over iron gates, Come back!

From vivid nightmares, breath again, From curses, incantations, spells, Come back!

From deep down, grasp the fragile grasses, From fear, climb over hills of dust, Come back!

And if there’s hate instead of love, Cravings for blood, instead of tears, If I am nothing but a prey To bite, to break, to kill…

I’ll love the monster you’ve become. Come back!

I grasp the top of the grassy cliff after what feels like an eternity of agonising climbing. My body falls limp as I finally feel the adrenaline leave me and I glare at the early morning sky. While I stare, my thoughts battle going over how this could have happened to me, I wince at the flashes of memories that had me free falling over the edge of the cliff. Sitting up, I start to feel like I’m coming out of a daze and a new mission is clear in my mind.

I waded through the thick grassy landscape that I had become familiar with these last few years of my life, my fond memories threatening to be ruined by the actions of another. As I walk further through the gloomy landscape, a laugh escapes my lips as I see a truck right where it’s supposed to be. I approach it cautiously not knowing if you were lurking in the tree line. I get into the drivers side and feel my body slowly sink into the leather while my eyes roam the space around me.

I think back to earlier this morning at the cliff when you told me you didn’t love me anymore, the frenzied look in your eyes and the last thoughts that went through my mind before I hit the ground. You had just found a necklace in the glove box, a necklace that had been all over the news worn around the neck of a missing woman in the area.

Truth be told, I thought you’d be my next but I have never encountered someone that held that same look in their eyes; a mix of excitement and adrenaline. Images of those eyes fill my mind as I start the engine, ready to scour the entire earth to catch a glimpse of them again. Excitement fills my veins as I drive through the streets of the dying town that was once filled with life. I eventually end up in the bar where I first saw those eyes, although then I mistook the chaotic glare for something more innocent.

Right as I’m about to leave I catch a glimpse of something under the dim light in the corner of the room. A sparkle draws me in closer and I lose all connection with my limbs as I keep moving. The same feeling that ran through me earlier comes catapulting back as you lift up your head and stare madly into my eyes. Time slows as I sit in the empty seat facing you, I can’t comprehend the beautiful sight in front of me. The necklace around your neck sitting just like it was made for you makes me come to realise I just think you were made for me.

You move closer to me over the table and whisper, “you can’t get rid of me now…not now I know exactly what you are.” And in that moment I realised you are just like me.

His knees are bleeding and he’s begging me to free him from his porcelain prison, and though I may be a God, I have no mercy for the weak.

If I disappeared What would they find?

Would they see my journal and say that I was depressed? Look at the books I read and say I had a dark side? Find my clothing and think that I was creative?

If I disappeared What would the cops tell you? Would they say there’s no evidence? Would they ask if I had any close friends? Would they ask you if we were close?

If I disappeared What would you tell them? That this isn’t like me? There’s no way she would run off? Or would you say that I’m a mystery That you never truly knew me?

If I disappeared Who’s the person you would believe me to be? What’s the image you will create?

If I disappeared And never came back What would you think walking in my old room?

• • • • I didn’t write this around the photo prompt but I needed to find a way to post this and thought this would work. Thank you for reading 💙

A cold breeze rattled my bones as I held onto the rough hay straw as if my life depended on it— because t did. My hands where bleeding all over the hay straw creating deep puddles of red. I wanted to let go, if I did I wouldn’t have to feel pain like this ever again. Pain from losing a loved one and pain from wounds that cut my skin so deeply, but if I were to let go I would surely die from falling off this mountain and landing in the harsh sea where the waves crashed against the shore taking out everything in sight. And if I didn’t die from the impact, I would die by drowning.

I grabbed onto the hay tighter than ever. Sharp edges of the hay poked why wounds sending a wave of pain throughout wu whole body, but I didn’t pay attention to that, I tried to foucus on using my upper body strength to host myself up and onto my feet. It was no use, I was too weak if I kept on trying I may to to weak to even hold on the edge of the mountain which would result in my death. I had to be extremely careful one false move, one little mistake could take my life. Tears began to pour out of my eyes, wiping the dirt and mist off my face and damping my greasy light brown hair. _Why me? _I repeatedly asked myself this question. _Did I do something wrong? _I couldn’t die just yet, I am only 14, I’ve barely even begun living. And as my life flashed before my eyes I barely saw anything. I couldn’t end. Not yet, anyways.

June 21, for two months now, I’ve been living with my grandparents at their farm. When I first arrived at my grandparent’s place, I wasn’t too content about living on a farm, I’d lived in the big city my whole life— or atleast until my parents where killed in an auto reck. During my time in the big city, I’d heard some not-so-nice things about farms, but as time went on I learned that I quite enjoy the country life, it was quite and peaceful, and I got to spend my time in nature. Which was much unlike the city where there was never any peace and quiet, just yelling a the honking of a car’s horn.

I went outside on the balcony to enjoy the sunset. I sat on the porch swing with a cup of hot chocolate in my hand. “KENNETH!” The wobbly and deep voice of my grandfather called out. Suprised, I had spilt the hot cocoa all over myself. It stared to burn my skin, but I didn’t have anytime to react to the burning pain because my grandfather’s voice called out one more, “Hope in the car, quickly we need drive over to the hospital, NOW!” My brian didn’t have time to process what was happening. I bolted down the rocky path that lead to the drive way and hoped into the car. “What’s going on, grandpa, why are you home so early?” I had never being good at hiding my emotions, my voice shaked as I asked. My grandfather looked at me. “It’s your grandmother, something’s wrong, I don’t know what yet, but Julie drove her to the hospital already.” I started at my feet. I was sad, what if something terrible happened to her? Could I deal with the pain of losing someone else I was so close to? Whatever happened, I tried to comfort myself, couldn’t have been that bad, grandma was healthy and in good shape.

When we arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, I emedently dashed out of the car. And checked into the hospital. “I’m looking for my grandmother,” I told one of the nurse there, “her name is Elliot O’Brian.” The nurse looked up from her computer, “I’m sorry,” she looked at me sympathetically, “She can’t have visitors right now, she needs more time to heal.” “Ok.” I replied then quickly turned around to leave. I didn’t want the nurse to see me cry. The death of my parents had left a hole in my heart a pain so great I felt as if I couldn’t escape it and now this. A single tear trickled down my face, it would be the first of many soon to come.

My grandfather drove me home and told me he was going to wait in the hospital room, no kids where allowed. I didn’t want him to leave, but I knew he had to, so now I sat alone. Minutes ticked by slowly and no longer could I wait. I got up to go to the edge of a cliff where not to far from the farm where an old bench layed. I figured that looking at the ocean from there Whould maybe calm me down. My grandparents don’t allow me go go there, they said it’s dangerous, but they weren’t here and I needed this, besides I wasn’t I child, I knew not to get to close to the edge.

I had reached the bench within two minutes, it was closer than I thought. The bench was old, wooden, and molding, but I didn’t care. I sat down carefully to advise the moldy spots. For a long time I just sat there staring at the beautiful ocean that sparkled in the night sky. I was about to get up to leave when I noticed something from the corner of my eye. It was a beautiful purple flower blooming just in the edge of the cliff. I had to get that flower for grandma, she’d love it. I walked over then keeled at the edge of the cliff and carefully reached my hand out to grab the flower. That was my fist mistake. I bent down to close the the edge a slipped.

As I began to fall my instincts kicked in. My first thought was to try to grab a hold of on of the rocks sticking out from the edge. I extended my arms and tried to grab on to a rock. I did. I was alive. My hands and arms were cut badly, and probably would become infected. But I was alive and holding onto a chunk of rock just big enough for me to hold onto. That was close. To close. But now I had another problem. How would I get to safety? I didn’t know all I knew in this moment was that I needed to hang in there, literally. I begun to think about my life and life in general. Had my time finally come? Was it going to end like this? If I died would there be pain and sorrow or peace. My hands grew sweaty and once again I began to slip.

There was a cold breeze and then loud splash that shook the earth. Water filled my lungs. I had survived the fall, maybe I wasn’t as high up as I’d thought, but not that didn’t matter, the current was pulling me further and deeper I to the sea. Everything became blurry and a darkness surrounded me. I couldn’t feel anything.

I gasped. My lungs filled with air and I coughed up water and blood. What happened my brain was fuzzy. Right now I didn’t know where I was or how I had gotten here. “I see your finally awake, kiddo.” A deep voice belonging to a man interrupted my thoughts. Slowly, I turned around to see and old fisherman siting behind me. He had black soaked hair a bright green eyes that brought life to his plain and boring figure. He smiled kindly, “You’re lucky I saw you fall into the ocean and was able to pull you out, or you’d be dead.” I around me, I was on an old boat used by fishermen in this area. “Thank you, sir.” I tried to smile but was too worn out. “No problem, kid, now, where’s your house? I’ll take you home.” I gave him the directions to the farm and slowly we sailed there.

We I rang the doorbell, my grandmother opened the door. My face lit up. “Grandma I’m so hap-“ I didn’t get to finish, my grandmother pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so happy you’re ok, Kenneth,” she teared up, “You- we- I- we came home and you weren’t here, you’ve been gone for over three hours what on earth happened?” I hugged grandma tightly, “I’ll explain back inside, your ok?” My grandma chuckled, “Don’t worry about me, I just feel down the stairs and hurt my leg, I’m getting too old.”

She brought me inside and I explained carefully to everyone what had happened the bench, the flower, the cliff, the fisherman. They forgave me for what I’d didn’t but I was never quite able to forgive myself.

Not just for disobeying their orders, but also for not trying to do more. When I was dangling from the cliff I saw my life flash before my eyes. Now, I understood the delicate balance between life and death. And that if I didn’t live my life to the fullest when I die I’ll regret it. Because you only have one life, and now’s your change to live it.

It was a nice, breezy evening. The home of Smith Lee was quiet, accompanied by the crashing waves of the ocean beside him. He lived alone. Not as alone as he would have liked, of course, but alone enough.

He would have to get rid of his daughter to achieve that goal.

He had forgotten her name; not as though it mattered anyway. She always sat in that swing outside, staring still at the blue, foamy waves. It annoyed Smith to the point where he would drag her into the house and lock her in the room.

Why did she have to be so eerie? Why couldn’t she just act normal?

Sometimes, when Smith called on her she wouldn’t answer, she would not even look back. And the damned girl couldn’t talk either. Smith should have let the girl die a long time ago.

He…had tried…actually, several times.

But each time the girl came back as though nothing had happened. Each time she would return to her swing. Each time she would stare—silent, unblinking—at Smith, as though she knew. She knew!

Smith had stopped trying, but something was off.

Today, Smith went out to feed the thing because he thought she was on her swing. But when he came there, he saw nothing except the empty swing creaking and twisting as though wrestling in the salty wind.

**_No….

_**Smith dropped the plate, practically tossed it to the ground, and ran into the kitchen. There she was, with what he had expected in her small, innocent looking hands.

A knife.

She was cutting herself an apple. No doubt thinking about doing the same to Smith. Smith chuckled silently. He’d just have to kill her again and again and again until she disappeared forever. He wasn’t going to die.

Smith went up to the girl, who looked up at him with a curious glance, knife stilling. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The girl’s eyebrows creased, and she frowned. She placed the knife down and gathered her apple slices on a paper towel. Smith grabbed the knife with a tight grip. The man grabbed the girl, causing her to stumble, to drop her snack, and dragged her flailing body to the edge of the seaside land. Where the ground met the unruly waves.

He’d never tried this before. Usually Smith would just stab and bury here, or burn her in the oven. This would do the trick. This would keep her away from him forever—Smith would finally live the peaceful life he’d always dreamed about when he was young.

The girl was still thrashing, so Smith pinned her down to the rocky ground with a knee and raised the knife high.

He STABBED

And the noise it made was sickening—fantastic—this never happened before either, usually it was a hollow sound. An echoing sound.

The girl’s eyes rolled back.

Her body went limp.

Smith left the knife in, there was no use to get it out, it would be disgusting as her blood would probably stain the knife for eons.

So, Smith just tossed her body into the hungry ocean below him, relief clear on his face.

Finally…finally.

But then he heard a scratching noise, the noise of falling rocks and rubble. Smith shook, he didn’t want to look back…. It couldn’t be possible.

— —— ———

_Something’s wrong with Smith _ He’s so loud, so hurtful I don’t think he knows _Or even understands _ What’s wrong with us both

He doesn’t know

I’m his wife, his lovely Loving wife _I don’t understand why he looks _ At me in such a way As though I’m a stupid child Just because I like to swing Just because I like the quiet Just because I like sweets

I love him I really do _But I think he needs to go _ _Go to a mental hospital _ _For his own health _

_And my safety _

_He’s tried killing me several times _ But each time I’m revived by some strange force _This is why I’m not discouraged _ I will get him the help he needs

But first, I’m a little hungry I’ll cut myself some apple slices Before Smith notices and takes the knife away

Oh, he’s back And he looks…

Frightened?

Oh, I suppose that would be the correct reaction. Seeing the woman you killed over and over again cutting apples with such intensity.

_He asks me what I’m doing. I don’t respond—I can’t. _ He seems to have forgotten that. Smith takes the knife away from me He grabs my wrist rather hard

Ah It’s happening again

I play into the role Knowing I’ll just be revived again _I thrash _ I claw Up until the point where he pins me down and stabs me in my head

…. That…that doesn’t feel right…

…………

——— —— —

Smith watched in horror as pale, dusty hands grabbed onto the crumbling cliff side. The hands pulled some of the grass up as they climbed, closer and closer to the top.

Smith was frozen as the hands revealed a head, then a torso, and so on as it made it fully. The creature stood up, tears in its eyes. A knife deep into its fractured, bloody head.

It was a woman—

No, it was a girl—

A woman….?

A GIRL!

Smith stepped back as the thing approached him with wobbly steps.

It didn’t speak, no, but its eyes were pleading.

Smith didnt want anything to do with that thing, so he pushed it away.

It stumbled with its footing for a moment, then, with wide eyes, it started to fall back.

Down and down and down.

Back into the ocean.

Back where it belonged.

— —— ———

I see now I see that that… That was my last chance

_Time seems to slow _ _As I fall down into the water _ The knife is like an itch inside me But I have no more strength to relieve me of it

My poor Smith _My sweetheart _ Why did he have to read that book Or was it that conference that changed him? Why did he have to think of me that way? Just because I liked the simple things Just because I wanted nothing more Nothing more than his devotion and love

It’s funny how things and feelings can just change like that Forever because of one thing we hear _Or recommended _

Life or Death It’s based off those very things

_Smith had plenty of time _ Plenty of time to realize his mistake _But he never corrected it _ He…he didn’t care about me anymore All he saw was a child _And a stupid thing to feed _

The water is cold It seems I’m fading now _Finally _ Finally….

— —— ———

Finally…FINALLY!

I’m free.

(Really, what we believe and the choices we make create pathways to what will happen next. __ Alice Cullen has no hold on me. __ Thank you for reading and have a good day!)

I dont remember every detail. I woke up late yesterday and quickly ran to the bus stop in hopes that I wouldnt be late for school. As I hit the books and began my studies I glanced towards the window. There across the street I could see the figure of a woman, dressed in a ballroom gown, motioning towards me. I shurgged it off and decided that the late night study session had finally caught up with me.

On my way home on the bus, I saw her again. Standing in the same dress and still motioning to me. Once again, I chalked it up to lack of sleep and thought nothing more of it. As I arrived home and got off the bus, my friends were waiting on their bikes. The plan was to go for a ride down to the beach area and spend some time catching up and maybe fly our kites. The wind was perfect for it and the overcast meant that the sun wouldnt be in our eyes.

As we arrived at the beach area, we noticed that the area was deserted. This was perfect for a few kids that wanted to run and drag our kites across the cloudy sky. We spent hours talking, digging for shark’s teeth, and eventually took to the air with our kites.

While my friends had managed to get their kites airborn quickly, I had faced some difficulty. The string had become entagled and it took some time for my kite to get it readied and flying. By the time I had started to fly my kite, the others were ready to head for their homes. I wasn’t ready though and chose to stay behind to get some alone time to relax. It was calming being near the beach and the sound of the ocean made me forget any problems that existed.

After what felt like an hour or so, I decided to pack up and head back to the house. As I rode my bike up the hillside, I turned to see the women in the dress motioning for me. I decided that I needed to investigate and see why she had been following my with such strong intent. As I rode closer, she began to step back. I quickly dropped my bike and began running towards her, and without paying any attention, the ground gave way to nothingness. I quickly grabbed hold of a root in the rocky cliff and began to pull myself up.

As I slowly dragged myself on to the top of the cliff, I peered down below and noticed the figure of a woman, wrapped in a blue tarp, smashed against the rocky shore. Her bones pertuding from her and a constant red gradient mixed with the water. She was no longer alive, but a shell of what I could see was once a beautiful woman in her early years.

I immediately rode my bike as fast as I could to the local quick mart and phoned the police. When they arrived, I pointed them in the direction of the cliffside where I had discovered the body. As the police looked over the edge they knew exactly who it was.

“It’s that missing dance instructor. She’s deceased. Send over the investigators” is all I remember overhearing from the police as he spoke into his radio.

(This is the other half of the event that led to the story 'We Reunited')

Aaron stumbled into the clearing. In the center, Lucinda and Zane were desperatly holding a squirming Aph back.

"Let me go!" Aph screamed. "He deserves to die!"

Aaron stood right before them, feet away, and held his arms out. "Let her go." He whispered.

Lucinda and Zane look up at him.

"She'll kill you, Aaron!" Lucinda shouted back.

"I said let. Her. Go." Aaron commanded.

Lucinda and Zane glanced at each other fearfully, but released her arms. Aph screeched and ran toward the knife buried in the snow. She snatched it up and sprinted at Aaron. She began slicing the knife across his chest and body.

"You killed my love!" She screamed, continuing to cut him.

Aaron simply kept his arms out and let her.

"Why won't you just die?!" Aph screeched when he stayed standing.

Aaron suddenly pulled Aph into him. She squirmed, but he didnt let go. Aph eventually lost her grip on the knife, and it slipped back into the snow.

"This isn't you, Aph." Aaron whispered softly. "Come back to me, please."

Aph tried escaping again. "This is me!"

Aaron put his head on hers. "I love you, Aph. You love me too. And I know this isn't you. Please come back to me."

Aph screamed louder. "I never loved you!" She leaned down and grabbed the knife again to jab it into Aaron's chest.

Aaron grimaced but softly laughed once. "Stupid potato."

Aph gasped and dropped the knife again. Memories flashed through her mind. She tried shaking them away, but they kept coming. Aaron removed his arms from around Aph and fell into the snow. Blood splattered around him. The scars dripped even more into the snow. Aaron was nearly unrecognizable now.

Aph screamed when she saw what she had done and covered her mouth with her hands.

"AARON!!"

(Inspired by EE and Mundie from Dead Water Club on WEBTOON— please support its creator, very talented)

From the depths he comes Mirrors of my fears From the dead water he rises Reflections of the past

Impersonations of the truth— —or was it the truth? How can I be certain anymore? Make believe and reality have begun to dance together like lovers at a waltz

And yet much more sinister their dance all of it from the depths

My friends— or are they my friends? They falter and flicker Cries and screams echoes in the water

He plays with my mind like a puppet on strings he smiles and lies so sickly sweet

Veiled in shadow hidden beneath he comes to the surface from darkest neglect

I’ve tried to control him to stop him to end but I know it’s no use he’s too far from my reach

He’ll strangle my cries savour my screams eat up my dreams and fill me with lies

He can’t be contained the mirror just holds him but even the cover couldn’t control him

He tears into hopes drowning your dreams soon you will see

Even as you read he’s watching you too pulling you down till the mud fills your body the water your lungs have you noticed it yet? he’s killing you too

It was night, as I was walking through the woods it began raining. The rain was pounding down from the grey night. I kept walking in the forest until I heard lightning strike. I started to run in the direction of my home but the rain was so strong I ended up going in the wrong direction and wound up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. I slipped on a rock and fell over the ledge and fell onto another ledge. I started to climb back up but the grass and mud was to slippery. I dug my fingers into the ground to keep hold. After the rain had stopped I managed to climb back up. I lied there for a while. When I got up I saw someone there.

It was a girl, she had long black hair and icy blue eyes. She was drenched in water. I assumed it was from the storm. I realized the girl was staring at me. “Hello?” I asked I didn’t get a reply. I realized suddenly that it had started raining again and the girl had dissapeared.