The last thing she saw before passing out, was her partners pail white face... “This is gonna be awesome, I can’t wait, we are so gonna win this”,Quinn said with excitement, packing her large army fatigue bag and tossing it over her back. Quinn Lambert has been a adventurous child and grew to be a very enthusiastic woman. She had began mountain climbing when she was only 7 years old and mud races when she was 10. She loved snakes and other slimy reptiles and considered herself a tomboy due to her boyish ways. She never liked dresses and very much hated makeup. Her parents were a homosexual couple so they didn’t mind that their daughter dressed differently or didn’t act like a average girl, therefor they decided to put her in an all girls charter school. There she met the love of her life, Alice Coleman. Her pretty blond hair always swayed past her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkles like clear Crystal ocean. She was just beautiful. They had began dating and have been together ever since. Now that they were adults, Quinn was ready to have this adventure with her. ”I’m not so sure about this, are you sure this is safe”? ”I’m positive” ”okay but you know I’m scared of heights and you know I have bad PTSD” Quinn caressed Alice’s soft face and spoke. ”As long as you don’t look down and stay by my side you will be fine, I promise“ she kissed her forehead and  with that, they hopped into their Jeep and drove to where the contest had began. The drive took about 3 hours, the hot sun beaming on the hoodless Jeep. It was as if the vehicle would stop mid drive and melt into dusty street. Alice couldn’t stand this heat while Quinn on the other hand, was not too worried about the heat. No, she was more concerned about the contest and most importantly, winning. They had eventually made it and boy were they relieved. They parked their car, grabbed their bags and began to walk towards the host. He spoke. ”Hello there, Are you hear for the wilderness mountain contest”? Quinn spoke for the both of them. ”Yes we are, I hope we’re not late or anything”. ”oh no, he said, your right on time, may I ask for your names”. lucky for them, they had filled out their applications online so they wouldn’t have to worry about waiting in a painfully long line while the host would have to search their names up. “Quinn Lambert and Alice Coleman, sir. ”ok... let me check, hm hmm, Oh their you guys are, y’all good” The host pointed them to towards their stations, where they could set up and get ready. On their way they passed a very short woman and what looked like her brother due to some similarities in the face area. They also passed two more couples, a male couple, and a married couple. Quinn glared at each of them noticing so many strengthens each couple had. From heavy build muscle toned bodies, to some of them even having go-pro cameras on their head. Gearing up and preparing for the most dangerous hike their ever was. As Quinn thought to herself” would I be looking death in the face.. No No I am a survivor. I am tough. I AM Quinn”.

although Quinn knew she had this in the bag, something inside of her was kicking her gut. Her inner self had a feeling.

Your not gonna make it.

she shook her head, trying to remove those thoughts and focus on winning the $1,000. The host began

to explain the rules of contest. ”No cheating“ ”No shortcuts” ”Only follow the path given” ”and finally have fun” One of the other players on another team began to ask a question. ”But like what if one our teammates get injured or dies?” ”then you will be disqualified and your teammate will be immediately rushed to a hospital” The other players began to scowl in disgust as those filled their ears. Quinn didn’t mind, because she knew. She knew she and Alice were gonna be fine. She knew that she Had to win, and that’s what her intentions were. She kept that in mind the whole time the host was speaking. Alice was just paying attention to what the host had been saying. She peering at Quinn, wondering why she had a blank expression on her face. Yes, she knew Quinn would daydream randomly, but it would be for a reason. But for this particularly situation, Alice was a little puzzled but simply ignored it from that point on. The host stated that they had to wait due to some difficulties. Quinn just didn’t mind. Alice wanted to go home. An hour went passed and by that time the sun was already about to set. Than all of a sudden a loud boom sound scared everyone either out of a nap or caught them by surprise.

“Alright contestants, Are you guys ready for your adventurous and dangerous journey”?

“Heck yeah”, said one of the power couples. Moans came from the remaining team players. Some stretched, and some yawned. Some were already pumped and some were just ready to go home. Quinn checked her watch. 4:30 p.m. It was time for the competition to hopefully (finally) start. As the sound of another boom blasted through everyone’s eardrums, that was the signal that it was time. And with the third boom, the couples were off on the trail. While the other competitors took the right path, Quinn suggested that take a short cut, to get ahead of everyone else. “Um.. I don’t really think this is a good idea, we are gonna get disqualified” “We will not get disqualified, plus the other teams won’t even care or notice” “Okay but what if they have cameras watching us, testing us, to see if we are gonna break the rules”. Quinn looked at her with the funniest expression. She began to speak in a mocking voice. “So their really gonna have cameras watching us, in the dead wilderness”? Alice began to chuckle. “I guess not”. “Exactly”.

They both chuckled and went on the path. Eventually it got dark so they found a resting place and set up for camp. After a few minutes of setting up, Alice got settled and comfortable in her tent and went fast asleep. While Quinn on the hand, was sitting in front of the camp fire. With a blank expression.

This is a bad idea. Go Home!

Quinn tried to think hard but all she could hear was a small voice repeating the same thing over and over and over again.  Your not gonna make. Your not gonna make it. Your not gonna make.  She was getting more and more frustrated as the voice grew more and more louder.

Your not gonna make! Your not gonna make it! YOUR NOT GONNA MAKE IT!.

She snapped, punching a piece of burning fire wood.

“Shit”.

Alice than jumped out of her sleep, startled by the sound of her wife muffled cries in pain. She opened the tent and saw that Quinn’s hand was bleeding.

“Babe what happens to your hand?” “Nothing I’m fine”, she replied,”I was uh.. trying to kill something and accidentally punched the log”. Alice just brushed it off and went back to sleep. Quinn soon did to. —————————————————————————————————— It was the next morning and luckily for Alice, who was not a morning person, didn’t have to worry about the sun because the trees were blocking it. She yawned but quickly had a realization.

Where is Quinn?

She jumped up quickly and exited the tent hesitantly. She began to yell. “Quinn”! “Quinn where are you”! Suddenly she could hear her voice. She turned and saw her walking back towards the camp site. Alice quickly jumped on her, hugging her tightly, making Quinn drop almost everything.

“I was worried about you, where did you do”? “Sheesh calm down, I went to get supplies for the rest of way”. Alice was skeptical about where the supplies had came from. “Um where did you get it from”. “Don’t worry about that, we should continue”. Alice didn’t bother putting up an argument, so she just packed the camping equipment and they began their walk again. For the first time in a while, Alice actually enjoyed nature. The pretty birds with their colorful feathers. Just the color of the forest itself made it majestic. Besides the mud and frogs. But something wasn’t right. As they began to walk farther into the forest, Alice started to notice the other teams equipment and supplies. She also noticed blood but she didn’t want to let Quinn know because she knew that she would make it seem like she was paranoid.  eventually they made it to a fork in the road. It went both ways, One way leading to a path another a cliff.  Quinn got curious. “Hey you wanna take some pictures on the cliff before we continue”? Alice was hesitant at first because of her very bad fear of heights, but finally gave in. They took the path that lead to the cliff not realizing that, that would be the worst mistake they had ever made. After passing some signs that clearly said No Trespassing! They eventually made it to the cliff. Quinn stepped closer to the edge, grasping onto Alice’s hand, pulling her closer. Quinn took a sniff and inhaled the beautiful fresh air. “It’s beautiful up here, don’t you think”? “Um yeah, sure”. “come on you gotta face your fear at some point, why not now”. Quinn nudged Alice closer but as she got closer her heart was beating at a rapid pace. She felt like she was gonna pass out. And with that she snapped. “Okay Quinn that’s enough”. “Alright jeez I’m sorry”. Quinn hugged her tightly and they went back toward the same direction they had came from. 2 days went by, which wasn’t a bad thing due to the fact that the website had said

“this content may take a number of days to complete”.

But in between the hours of those two days were actually pretty decent. Berry picking, flowing collecting, laughs, giggles, kisses and more. They had never felt this close before. Alice although still was a little skeptical about the other teams but Quinn Insured that they were fine.

The last day, something came over Alice and she looked at Quinn with a smile. “I think I want to go back to the cliff”.  Quinn nearly choked with a surprised look on her face.

“Are you sure”? “Yeah I’m sure”. So after two hours of walking and taking breaks, they had finally made it to the cliff. Alice sat by a tree and Quinn followed. Just then she had an idea. She pulled out a large black pocket knife and carved her and Alice’s Initials into the tree. This would be their happiest place. The one place they felt more connected with and around including being more connected to each other.  Alice stood up, her back facing the edge. Quinn also stood up and they hugged tightly. “I love you Quinn” “I love you too Alice” Alice stepped back and tripped over a bunch of gravel and a vine hidden under the surface of the earth. Quinn caught her hand and gripped the ground with her feet. She held tightly onto Alice’s hand, trying to pull as hard as she could. But her boots were no match for weak gravel they had walked. They both heard the the ground break. They both felt the pressure. And with quinn’s foot letting go of the vine, both of them eyes filled with tears, they said to one another.... “I love you” And with that they both fell of the cliff together and both hit the ground with a thud. —————————————————————————————————— Quinn open her eyes, she felt for what she had landed on. A bush. She looked over but the  last thing she saw before passing out, was her partners pail white face. Quinn woke up in the hospital. Her neck and back filled with Excruciating pain. She examined the hospital room and noticed the doctor and guy in a black suit. The must have noticed the she was looking because he came walking towards her with a concerned look on his face. He began to speak. “Well looks awake, well I guess you might be wondering why your in here, well I’ll tell you”. He then began to explain. “After you and your partner fell off the cliff, the people who had negotiated and or had something to do with that contest, had placed trackers in your backpack. When you fell they lost the signal so they tried to follow and trace the last time you guys were active and boom found you”. “Now another thing, the other teams didn’t make it due to active bear attacks so their was no survivors”. Quinn noticed a pen and paper on the tray next to her bed. She grabbed it and began to write. It said

Is Alice okay?  The detective’s expression went from concerned to sad.

“Well because you landed in a bush, you suffering minor yet major injuries while Alice on the other hand landed on straight rock, when she fell, she broke her neck instantly , I’m so sorry”.

Quinn began to cry under the body cast. She also felt low on air. But she didn’t care all she cared about was Alice. Her sweet, sweet Alice. The thought ran through her head again.

I should have listened to her. Now she’s dead. I have nothing. I am nothing without her.

As the thoughts filled her head, the doctors noticed that Quinn was having a heart attack. The doctors tried to help but Quinn didn’t care. She wanted to be with Alice again. She closed her eyes and imagined all the good memories they had.

The berry picking. The flowers. The wedding. The planning of kids. A home. A future. The laughs. The cries. The amusement park rides. Everything.

As she began to reimagine those memories, her heart beat was increasing heavily. She. Did. Not. Care. A single tear went down her face and with that, the heart rate monitor showed a flatline. Quinn was happy in the afterlife. She was with the woman she loved. And that all right. —————————————————————————————————— A news report showed on tv 2 days after the deaths. Some people suggest Quinn died of heart attack but were a little confused because records show she only had a broken leg and a broken leg. But some people. The people who believed in love. The people who of Alice’s death and knew how close her and Quinn were. They knew no heart attack killed Quinn. She died of a broken heart.


Cynthia was unusually quiet as she and Millie walked home from school. They weren't neighbors, Millie live a couple streets over,  but Millie always walked Cynthia home to make sure she got there safe. A while back Millie had asked why Cynthia walked home from school alone instead of taking the bus. Cynthia wouldn't say. Millie only wanted the best for her, and liked her company, so she offered to walk with her from then on. "Did your chemistry exam go ok, Cynth?" Millie asked as she kicked at some loose asphalt on the road. "Eh, it went alright." Cynthia replied solemnly, her backpack weighing down on her slouched shoulders. Millie brushed her chocolate brown bangs out of her eyes as the breeze tugged at them. She knew something was tugging at Cynthia's heart. She just didn't know what. "Did you get to talk to Tasha today about the history project?" Millie asked, trying to hear a glint of positivity in her friend's voice. "Mil, I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to her, I was studying in the music room." Cynthia replied a little forcefully, Her blue hair falling out of it's messy bun. Millie could tell that Cynthia was getting a little defensive. Millie remained quiet for a while as they got closer to Cynthia's house. As they walked up her porch steps, Millie stopped her friend. "Cynth, I'm really sorry if it felt like I was being controlling back there. I just want to make sure you're ok. Are you?" Millie looked at her friend with sympathy in her eyes. "No." Cynthia replied and dropped her backpack. Millie watched as she walked slowly to her porch swing and sat down. Millie followed. "Do you want to talk?" As she sat down on the swing, she noticed that the frown that played on Cynthia's face was becoming more common these days. "My life doesn't have meaning, Millie. I'm useless." Cynthia groaned. "Oh, Cynth, don't say that!" Millie gasped and grabbed Cynthia's hand. "I mean, no one cares about me. No one talks to me. I'm depressed." Cynthia muttered. She laid back on the porch swing made of cherry tree wood. "I care about you!" Millie exclaimed. Cynthia's blue hair fell into her eyes. Millie brushed it away. Cynthia crossed her arms. "You're not enough!" She whimpered. Millie wanted to take it personally, but she knew Cynthia's heart. "I'm not the only one who cares about you though." Millie sat back onto the swing. "My parents left me with my grandma who is too busy to care, no one but you talks to me, I can't do anything right, and no one cares if I stay or depart this planet! Who would care about someone like that?" Cynthia screeched. Millie was used to Cynthia's outbursts. It was hard to remain friends with someone so negative, but she remained. She knew she was a sweet girl inside. "Your Father cares." Millie replied as she pushed off of the concrete porch to make the swing go higher. "My father left me! He doesn't care whether I'm alive or not." Cynthia shouted. Millie shook her head. "Not that Father." "Oh, is this another one of your 'Jesus talks' ?" Cynthia's tone made Millie wince. "Cynthia, just listen. Your Heavenly Father created you and knew you before you were even born. He sculpted every detail- every part of you. He put you on this planet for a reason and He has a plan for you. He loves you. You are His child." Millie laid her hand on Cynthia's. Cynthia jerked her hand out from under Millie's. "Why would he do that? There is no plan. The plan is for me to live a painful life and die in vain. There is no God who loves me like you say." Cynthia huffed and turned away from Millie. "He-" Millie started. "He what?" Cynthia interrupted. "He doesn't care about how I live or what I do! I don't even believe there is a 'He' at all! If He loves me as much as you say, and He's in control of the whole world, why doesn't he give me some relief?" Tears started to slip down Cynthia's flushed cheeks. Millie knew her pain. She sympathized with her, and only wanted to help her. Only God could help her though. "I think you could relate to Jesus, Cynth. When God sent His Son to earth to be crucified for all of our sins, Jesus prayed and asked his Father to let the cup pass from Him. In other words if it was not necessary for Him to face this trial could God please save Him from it? But He also added at the end of His prayer, 'Not my will be done, but yours.' Because God did not let the cup pass, and Jesus was crucified and endured all that pain, the sins of the world are forgiven. And if you believe in your heart that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and repent from your sins, you can go to heaven with Him when you die." Millie took a breath. Cynthia was silent. Millie knew she was listening. "God is using the pain you are going through to refine you, not reject you. Even if you were the only person on earth, God would have still sent His Son to die for you, and He still would have died on that cross." Millie squeezed Cynthia's arm lovingly. "You are forgiven, not forgotten. You are loved, not left behind. You are wanted, not wandering. You are chosen not forsaken. You don't know your worth, my friend. You are loved so much that God's Son died for you and me! Can you believe that?" Millie shook Cynthia's arm. "Can you believe that?" Cynthia looked up, tears dripping from her chin. "Really? He did that for me?" She asked shakily. "Yes, Cynthia, He did!" Millie smiled and wiped the tears from her dear friends face. "I believe." Cynthia whispered. Millie pulled her into a tight hug. Millie let her go and stood up. "Oh! You like reading right?" Millie asked. Cynthia nodded, confused. "Then you'll love The Book I'm about to show you."


I strummed a single chord. “No,” I said to myself. I strummed another chord. “That’s more like it.” I began to play around that chord, strumming and picking various notes until a song started to evolve. But it was garbage. I put the lyre down with a thud. “Don’t you have better things to do with your time?” said Paris. My brother had apparently just come back from hunting. He smelled like dirt.

“You’re a prince of Troy,” he continued, “there’s no reason for you to be a musician, like some common vagabond.” “But I’m not going to inherit the throne unless you break your neck chariot racing or something. I want to be remembered for something,” I responded.

“You’re never going to be him,” said Cassandra. My sister always spoke the truth, but I didn’t believe her. A slight, cool breeze floated through the open window, ruffling her dress and hair. The sun was setting on Troy. “I can’t give up,” I said, “I have to keep trying.” “Good luck with that, brother,” said Paris as he left.

“He was taught by Apollo himself,” continued Cassandra, “You’ll never be that good.” I picked up an amphora and threw it against the wall. It shattered with a satisfying crash. I didn’t feel better, though. “Now you have a mess to clean up,” said Cassandra as she left the room. I sat in a corner to sulk. It was undignified, I know, but I didn’t really care. Cassandra was right, as usual; Orpheus was the best bard ever, and I’d never hold a candle to him. I sat there until something she said hit me like a lightning bolt from Zeus: “he was taught by Apollo himself.” I would get Apollo to teach me! How to get a god to teach me to play the lyre and sing would be more challenging, to say the least. It was hard enough to get the gods’ attention as it was, but to convince him to give you music lessons? I was determined to try anything.

I arose early, before sunrise, and left the confines of the city, lyre in hand. As the sun began to peek above the horizon, I started to play. I played a hymn to Apollo; one of Orpheus’ old standards. My fingers flew over the strings and I sang my lungs out, hoping he’d hear me. There was a brilliant flash of light. I covered my eyes to keep it from blinding me. A rushing wind blew over me, and I bowed my face to the ground. “Alright, who summoned me?” a rich voice said. I was afraid to look up. “Hey, I don’t have all day. Lighting the entire world is hard work!” he said. I finally worked up the courage to look up. There he was, big as life. He looked pretty much like all his statues; a handsome, youthful man with curly hair. He looked a little annoyed.

“My lord,” I started “y-your most holy awesomeness, I um...” “Get to the point! I already said I don’t have all day,” Apollo snapped, placing his hands on his hips. He glared at me; his eyes were like daggers. “I want to be a great musician!” I said finally, “Want to sing and play like Orpheus!” “Show me what you got, kid,” said the sun god. He sat down on a nearby stone and crossed his arms. I picked up my lyre and began to play another song.

“Hold it!” he said, holding up his hand. I hadn’t even gotten to the second verse. “What’s the matter, your holiness?” I asked, confused. “You’re not really playing,” he answered.

“What do you mean?” I inquired. “You’re... playing, but there’s something missing. You’re playing all the notes right, but you’re not feeling the music,” he said. “I’m not sure I understand.” “You said you want to play like Orpheus, right?” “Yes.”

“Well, you’re trying too hard to be Orpheus. You can’t be Orpheus. There’s only one Orpheus.” I was still confused. I furrowed my brow. Apollo stood up and looked me right in the eye. His gaze wasn’t angry anymore; that was a relief. “The only reason Orpheus was great was that he found his own voice. He didn’t try to be anyone else. He didn’t have to be; he was himself, and he was happy with himself.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “Play what comes to your heart. Don’t try to copy someone else. You be yourself because you can do awesome things.” I picked up the lyre again and started to improvise. “That’s an improvement,” said the sun god, “But it’s still missing something.” I began playing harder, more passionately as Apollo listened. He rested his head on his hand and furrowed his brow. “Stop!” he said holding up his hand, “I’ve got it. I know what you’ve been missing.” “What is it?” I asked, eagerly. “Pain. That’s what you’re missing. It’s pain.” “Pain?!” I said in shock.

“Pain. The reason Orpheus was so great is that he experienced tragedy in his life,” said Apollo, “That tragedy gave his music an edge you’re missing.” “Then what do I do?!” I said in desperation. Obviously tragedy is something you can’t force; it just happens. I was doomed. “You have to be willing to suffer and sacrifice for your art,” he continued. I sat down on the ground and began to sulk. “Cassandra’s right again,” I said after a length of time, “I should just give up.” “You’re never going to make it with that attitude,” said Apollo “Here; I’ll do you a little favor.” Apollo began to glow, brighter and brighter, and then flashed with a brilliance I’d never experienced before. I fell backward. “That should do it,” he said. I was alone in silence and darkness.

It had been several weeks since my encounter with the sun god. I had stubbed my toes 1,000 different times, bumped my head, walked straight into a wall, fallen down three flights of stairs, but I was finally adjusting to being blind.

“Why did you do this?!” I shouted at the sky. Though I could only barely see it, I could feel the sun’s rays on my skin. “You asked for it,” came the answer, “You wanted to be great, and I told you you needed to submit to pain and loss. I gave you that pain. You’re welcome.” Pain was right. My head still throbbed. “Hey, Demo!” I heard a voice behind me say. “What do you want, Paris?” I asked. I sounded a bit exasperated.

“I want you to play at my wedding,” he responded. “I thought musicianship was only for ‘common vagabonds’.” “Well, your playing and singing have gotten better, since... you know. I want to impress Helen. You think you can come through for me?” “Well, I’ll do my best.” “Thanks, bro,” said Paris as he brushed past me. “Cassandra, where’d I put my lyre?” I felt her gently place the lyre in my hands. “You’re going to write the greatest epic ever, Demodocus,” she said. This was comforting, though I still didn’t believe her.


Cassidie had always hated Thursdays. A few lucky teenagers spent their weeknights pouring over homework or watching YouTube videos. Most others were out hunting Unnaturals, experimenting in labs with Unnatural compounds, or researching them in hopes of becoming a scientist. Everyone was involved with Unnaturals somehow. Cassidie didn't get that luxury. Instead, she got to spend every night sitting at the reception desk of Delilah's Funeral Home and Casket Emporium. Cassidie had no idea why it was called Delilah's. The owner, her father, certainly wasn't named Delilah. her late mother hadn't been either. As far as Cassidie was aware, there was absolutely no good reason to have it named as such. She had petitioned multiple times that her father change it to something that made more sense. Maybe Eli's Funeral Home and Casket Emporium , since that was his name. Nevertheless, the nonexistent Delilah reigned supreme, and so her name stayed on the sign above the door. When Cas's father died, she had thought for a moment about changing the business's name. A moment later she had sworn at herself for even thinking such a thing. It would have tarnished his memory, and she could never bring herself to do that. It wasn't as though the funeral home got much business. That may have been due in part to the fact Delilah's Funeral Home and Casket Emporium wasn't. There wasn't a single casket in the entire building, and there certainly weren't embalming fluids of recently deceased corpses. There were long-dead corpses, but those were in the catacombs beneath the basement and had been there for over two hundred years. Instead of ensuring that the corpses of the recently dead had safe passage to the family's cemetery of choice and a nice casket, the business was more of a halfway house. Cassidie had mentioned this to a classmate once. He had looked confused and asked who for, but Cassidie decided that he wasn't exactly worth it, and refused to tell him. Even with all that fun stuff, Thursdays sucked. Those were the days when she had to grant safe passage to the spirits who came through. More than once, she had seen the face of a childhood friend or a classmate go by, and every time it broke her heart. For months afterward, she would be quieter, more subdued. Then, when things finally seemed to be getting better, she would see another familiar face. And then they would be gone. Passing ceremonies always left Cass feeling abandoned. It was foolish to grow attached to spirits, but seeing people she knew and loved die was more than she could bear some days. The first time she had said goodbye had been when she was four years old. Her next-door neighbor and best friend had been caught in a fire that killed her entire family. Cassidie had screamed in terror the first time she saw her neighbor's ghost, but her mother had calmed her and guided her through the passage-granting ceremony. For a while, passage ceremonies became a normal thing for Cass. But then her mother had died, and Cass had been the only one who was a stable enough anchor to guide her into the spirit world. For almost two years afterward, she hadn't been able to look at anything that reminded her of her mom, including her own father. During that time she stayed with friends on the outskirts of the city. Eventually, she had to come back, but things had been different ever since. When she finally came back, she made friends with a spirit in limbo; a little girl named Melinoe.

The only way for a spirit to be stuck in limbo is for a said spirit to have an unfulfilled purpose on the planet. Melinoe had been twelve years old when she died in a car crash. Her parents had survived, but Melione's father succumbed to guilt and killed his wife in a murder-suicide. "Hey, Cass!" said a disembodied voice. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Cassidie's head snapped up and she caught sight of the blue little girl in front of her. With a grin, Cassidie jumped over the receptionist's desk and hugged her spectral friend. That was one of the few perks of being a Necromancer: she could touch ghosts. "Melinoe! How're you doing?" The specter smiled shyly. "I've been alright. I brought a few new spirits by last night. You weren't here though." Cassidie flinched "Sorry about that. Mrs. Villegas assigned a three-page essay entirely in Spanish. I had to write the whole thing in two hours. You know how she gets when I don't turn in my work." The blue girl cracked a smile. "I know, I know! 'Ms. McFarland, you may be a Necromancer, but that doesn't excuse you from doing your work! Write to me thirteen verbs conjugated in the past participle form'." Melinoe burst into giggles before she could finish, and it didn't take long for Cassidie to follow suit. It took a while, but eventually, the two girls calmed down. Cassidie looked over at Melinoe, who had gone dead silent and was picking at her wisps of fingernails. "You aren't usually this... noisy," Cass noticed. "Is everything okay?" Melinoe looked up, phantom tears pooling in her hollow eyes. "Oh, Cass. I... I got approved." The all too familiar feeling of abandonment and emptiness spread through Cass's chest in a pang of pain. She had prayed that this day wouldn't come. It was too much to bear, the loss of another friend. She silently cursed herself for growing attached once more. When she finally spoke, Cass could barely keep the tears from her voice. "That... that's amazing, Meli. When is your ceremony?" The other girl's voice was small. "Today." Cass could feel Meli's hesitance and tried to take a deep breath. "O-oh. I guess I'll get the candles. Do you want to meet me in the basement?" Meli smiled softly. "If you say so. Thank you, Cass." She hugged Cass fiercely, her face buried into Cass's shoulder. "Thank you." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cass burst into tears the second Meli floated through the wall of the room and into the basement. She couldn't think, couldn't move. For years, Cass had given Meli the cold shoulder. She had tried with all her might not to be connected to the girl. After long enough, she had given up and the two had become friends. It seemed like Meli would never move onto the spirit world. But the day had come, and Cass would be alone again. Cass's finger stumbled across the shelves of wax, finally coming to rest on the only candle she had never been able to use. Her mother had given it to her when she was young. One day, this candle will find its place. But that is up to you. Keep this and hold it sacred. She slid the candle into a canvas bag, alongside multiple others. Little glass vials filled with plants and herbs- anemone, basil, bluebells, holly, ivy, mandrake- were held in a leather pouch. She closed the canvas bag and moved from the storage cabinet. Cass's movement was slowed by her grief, feet scraping across the floor as she walked. Though it took a long time, she headed the basement, where Melinoe hovered silently with her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Behind her, a blue and black vortex swirled calmly. Cass kept the sacred silence of the Passage room as she set the candles aflame. Her fingers lingered for a moment on her mother's candle before letting go. It would be time soon. The dried herbs and flowers filled the room with their scents, coming together into a beautiful aroma. She looked to Meli and nodded. A wind swept through the room, circling around Cass. As her eyes glazed over, she began to recite the words that had become a mantra to her. With the silence held sacred And the memory of days old Here we gather to witness the passage Of a friend into the eternal field I ask, O great spirits For your arms to stay open To you I entrust this souls Whose name is Melinoe Roman Take this gentle child Into you loving hands And bless her travels now Through the eternal light Her voice caught for a moment. The usual three stanzas had come easily, but now she remembered that there was another option. To add a personal touch. She had never done it before. But today she would. Her voice trembled as she spoke. Melinoe, my closest friend, I wish you safest travels You have brought me nothing but joy these past years And I know that you will find peace Though I shall miss you until the day that I die I shall hold you in my heart For you are my friend My confidant, my sister And my love for you shall never die Like the stars in the sky, my love shall burn on Even when I am gone, I shall love you For eternity and more Goodbye Tears pooled in both girl's eyes as Melinoe was drawn toward the vortex. "Thank you, Cass. Thank you." Cas smiled. "Goodbye. May your days be long and your peace be eternal." "Goodbye."


It had started raining. Jodie hadn't actually realised it was, until the folds of her shirt had begun clinging to her stomach, rapidly chilling, sticky ice, now noticed- unbearable. It must have been a while since the sun had disappeared and the clouds had covered the sky, but more worrying than the precipitation was the expanse of sodden ground she had covered without notice. Jodie picked at her damp clothes, annoying sensations of gripping fabric mixing with her worried retrospective about all the roads she had crossed outside of cognisance. Evidently no car had mowed her down though as her vague body auto-piloted through town. A shiver ripped through her, partly due to the chill, the other part- the dread of what could have happened to her while her mind had floated out of her body, so frequent an occurrence these days. What would Matt have said? He would have rolled his eyes at the very least, she knew it. So many times he had lamented her daydreaming. Back then though the fantasies were cotton candy pink hued clouds of hopefully adorned plans, barely formed but beautiful future ambition. He would summon her back to her body with a sweet smile and kiss on whatever part of her he could reach. Now her blinding fixations were nightmares, living doom and barely survivable sorrow and she remained unwoken from her insides for what felt like days, with no one to pull her out. Jodie's left thumb rubbed the inside of her bare ring finger. As happened periodically, a jolt of loss and guilt prickled from her core and sent pins and needles to the ends of her fingers and toes as she noted the continued absence of her wedding ring. It's disappearance had felt like a cruel joke when first acknowledged, and now- now it was a ongoing punishment for some unknown crime. Karma seemingly wanting to chip away her soul until there was nothing left. Matt's own ring lay under the earth with him. Whenever she had visited his grave before her band went missing, she had poeticly buried her hand into the loose soil atop the burial site, cool dirt pressing tightly around her fingers, feeling the imagined connection of the two pieces of metal through the earth, her last link to her dead husband reduced to a pathetic metaphorical gesture. A widow. The label was gross, unfitting, surely a lie. Jodie was sure it would never slot neatly into her psyche. Sometimes she hated Matt for slapping that label on her, more annoyed by the redefinition of her own identity than her actual loss. Ridiculous, she would tell herself as she shook off the resentment and sunk back into classic, uncomfortable yet acceptable grief. When the ring had first gone missing she had assumed it had slipped off her finger on one of those occasions in front of Matt's headstone. Running back to the cemetery in the dead of night, Jodie had rattled at the gates like a ghoul, the tall iron bars locked and immovable. Scaling the adjacenct wall, driven by feverish, agonised desperation, Jodie had ripped most of the skin from her knees and palms on the brick but didn't feel it, didn't know it until she returned to the light of home, mud-coated and bloodstained from her grave digging escapade. Scrabbling around in the wet earth in the perfect darkness she had suddenly become aware of how obsence her behavior was. Horrified, Jodie froze, kneeling in the pit- realising she had stopped searching for the ring a while ago and instead was throwing handfuls of dirt over her shoulder, imagining she was about to reach the coffin that lay six feet below, almost yearning for her finger nails to scratch the wood of the box that held her beloved, the idea of it both intriguing and unbearable. As she recalled this uncomfortable memory the trusty autopilot completely failed for the first time and Jodie experienced an utterly new kind of pain as she was thrown into the air then slammed impossibly hard into the tarmac, the screeching brakes of the car reverberating around her head. The cliché idea of time slowing became reality as she flew through the void and knew the impact with the ground was coming so impossibly long before it did. Detailed information of what that meant circulated her brain, awareness of all the potential harm that was milliseconds away from being a possibility. What an interesting kind of freedom- the inevitability of the next few moments and an absolute clarity that there was not a damn thing she could do to change the outcome of this event. It felt... nice- to know that control was robbed from her for that time, a kind theft of responsibility and intent, just the universe, universe-ing regardless of her wants or wills. By absolute chance, the collision caused no damage and Jodie was back on her feet almost straight away, pulling her arm away from the grip of the worried driver who was insisting a hospital visit and shouting desperate pleas after her escape. Maybe she was actually dead, maybe the car's impact had ended her life and the ghost that stalked through the world was just a shadow of she, who was formerly Jodie. This possibility was unimportant, the end goal was Matt's grave and it was to be, living or dead. The pull towards him was stronger now and Jodie pondered if there was a reason for that. She had often wondered when the last time she would visit his grave would be, maybe that was today. Everything has a last, for one reason or another. There were so many things that Jodie had already done for the last time that she had not known at the time was her last. Had she had already eaten her last peach? Maybe she had been to Spain for the final time when she visited her aunt on the continent the year before last. Then again, maybe she would be reclining in a deckchair on the sand in Barcelona next month, a juicy piece of fruit in hand, feeling the prickle of the Catalonian sun on her skin. Everything felt unwritten, everything tasted of... blood. Jodie spat onto the path in the cemetery between the graves, ruby splatters coating the ground as she continued to beat a path onwards. The glint of the reflected light hitting the object that sat on top of the headstone was visible from a distance. Flashing either like a lighthouse beacon warning her away from danger or like a green light at the end of a dock calling her in with promise. Either way, she knew exactly what it was that glinted in the returning sun long before she got to his grave, even if it seemed impossible. The ring was alive, like it had placed itself there, as if it had located and presented itself to where it knew Jodie would find it. Caught between the urge to snatch it up and hold on tight and the horror of what exactly it's reappearance meant, Jodie froze, gazing at the circle on top of her dead husband's headstone and it gazed back at her. All the times she had wished to possess the jewelery again, she had never imagined that it's reappearance would make her feel so uneasy and it took her a moment to realise why. This was it. This was the last time. There was no rhyme or reason to why she knew, but once she reached out for the ring, whatever happened, this would be it, this would be the last time she visited Matt's grave. Maybe the ring was setting her free, maybe it was heralding her end, there was only one way to know. Stretching her fingers out, she spoke silently to the universe. "What's next? I'm ready."


Katherine and Adam had known each other since childhood. Katherine’s family had moved into the house next door to Adam’s when he was nine and she was eight. They became fast friends, always playing together, in one house or the other. By the time they were in high school, they were considered an item. No one could get in between them, and everyone knew, that when the time was right they would get married. Adam knew it, and Katherine knew it too. Adam was looking forward to graduation. Katherine was an honors student, so although she was a year younger than him, she would be graduating as well. They planned on going to the same college. Adam was waiting for the day when he and Katherine both graduated from college. He knew that at that time he would propose.

Adam was daydreaming about his future when he got home from school. As he approached his house, he was surprised to see a moving truck in the driveway of Katherine’s home. Katherine was standing in the doorway and he ran over to her. “Katy, what’s going on?” “We’re moving, Adam, as you can see....” Katherine said pointing to the truck. “I see that. Why? What happened?” “I am not really sure. All of a sudden my parents told me we were moving. They won’t answer any of my questions and they told me I have to go with them.” “What about us? What about college?”

“There won’t be any us anymore and I’m not going to go to college. I was told I have to work. And, there you have it.” Adam just couldn’t accept what he had just heard. He started to run into the house in search of Katy’s parents. “Adam it won’t help. My mom and dad are determined that we leave and cut ties. I can’t say anymore.” “Let them tell me that!” Adam disappeared into the house. He was out two minutes later. Katherine’s parents refused to talk to him and told him to leave.

Katy had disappeared. Adam wanted to at least say goodbye. Suddenly her parents came out of the house with a few more boxes and slammed the door shut. It was over. They were leaving. “Can I at least say goodbye to Katy?” Adam called out to them. “Not a good idea, Adam. Don’t prolong the agony for you or for her. Just go home!” He watched as Katy’s parents got into their car. Then he saw her. Katy was sitting scrunched up in the back seat. She peered slightly out of the window. Adam waved. But Katy turned her head. As the car pulled away, Adam watched until the car was out of sight. His face was wet with tears. **** As Katy’s parents drove, she sat silently in the back seat. She was numb. She didn’t understand what had just happened. Yesterday everything was fine. Katy was looking forward to her upcoming graduation and standing beside Adam as they both received their diplomas. They were supposed to go to the local college together, and she knew that ultimately they would get married and have a family. Until last night, life was looking so bright. What happened? “Can you tell me now what’s going on?” Katy asked, her voice trembling. “We can’t, honey,” Mom said. “But trust us, this is for the best.” “I don’t understand. Why is this for the best. What happened? And why did I have to leave Adam without even saying goodbye?” She didn’t want to start crying. Katy knew that once she started, she would never stop. “You can’t say goodbye to anyone. I’ve changed all of our numbers. I took the time to go through your social media accounts and deleted all of them. No one can know where we are.” “But why?” “I can’t tell you now. Let’s get to where we have to be and I will explain everything to you then.” “Will I be able to talk to my friends and Adam at some point. I can’t spend the rest of my life without him.” “No, sweetheart. I am truly sorry for putting you through this. But we will all be safer if we disappear completely.” Katy could imagine how Adam must be feeling. He had to know that she wouldn’t just abandon him. She loved him. They were meant to be together forever. **** Katherine and Adam never spoke to each other again after that dreadful day. Ultimately Adam moved on and finished college. He never wanted to date anyone. Many of the girls on campus chased him. But he chose not to get caught. He missed Katy terribly and didn’t think he could ever look at any girl like he had looked at Katy, ever again. He became quiet and wihdrawn. He still had his friends, but he stayed away from the girls. Adam’s male friends would kid him often about not dating, but he didn’t care. He was lost without Katy and just wasn’t interested in moving on with someone else. Adam’s parents grew very concerned about their son and tried to talk to him, but to no avail. Adam went to class and came home. He studied and did well. Ultimately he graduated college with honors, without once having gone out on a date. Katy was always on his mind, and he knew she always would be. A few years later, Adam was prepping to take the Bar Exam. He was sitting in the law school library when someone approached his table. “Can I sit here,” a soft voice asked. Adam looked up from his book. He thought he was seeing a ghost.

“Katy?” “I’m sorry. My name is not Katy. You must be mistaking me for someone else. I’m Trish.”

“Sorry. You look like someone I once knew. My name is Adam.”

Adam stared at Trish and then realized, that while Trish had Katy’s coloring, long dark brown hair and blue eyes, she didn’t look like Katy at all. The eyes were a different shade of blue, and her smile was wider. No, she definitely was not Katy. “I’m studying for the Bar Exam so I really don’t want to talk right now,” Adam said a little abruptly. “Well, so am I. Maybe we can work on some of it together?” Trish had a warm smile and a gentle voice. “I don’t think so. I prefer to study on my own. Maybe you want to sit somewhere else.” “If I make you that uncomfortable then of course, I’ll leave. Sorry to have bothered you.” Trish started to walk away, when Adam said, “I am sorry. That was rude. If you want to sit here you can. I’m just a little out of sorts. I have been studying all day. And you startled me just a little.” “No problem. Katy must have been someone special.” “She was. Very special. Anyway, if you want to study together that would be fine.” There was something about Trish that touched Adam, he couldn’t put his finger on it. But this was the first time that Adam had actually had a conversation with a girl since Katy had gone. Adam and Trish became study partners, meeting everyday for coffee and then hitting the books. Trish wished it could be more, but she was smart enough to realize that Adam was not ready yet and so she didn’t push. Maybe one day. About a week later Trish tried to ask Adam about Katy, but he shut her down so quickly and refused to speak to her for days. Trish never broached the subject of Katy again. Both Trish and Adam graduated law school and took the Bar Exam two months later. They found work and their respective offices were a few blocks from each other. Trish and Adam continued to meet for coffee during the week, and then one day, Adam asked her to dinner. Trish was thrilled. Maybe that shell that Adam had around him was starting to crack. **** It’s three years later and Trish and Adam are married with two kids and two careers. Life was hectic but good. Adam was feeling content. While he loved Trish with all of his heart, he did not have the same feelings for her that he had for Katy. Maybe it was maturity, he reasoned to himself. Maybe, had Katy stayed and had they gotten married, his feelings would have been the same for her as they were for Trish now. No. He had had a passion for Katy that he never felt for Trish. But he loved her in a different way, and he loved his kids. Life moved along and Trish and Adam were married for almost forty years. The kids had gotten married and moved out. Adam and Trish were grandparents now, and life was good. Until it wasn’t. **** “Adam, I just came from the doctor. I don’t know how to tell you this, but I have cancer, and there is nothing to be done.” Trish was in tears. Adam was stunned. For the second time in his life, he was losing the one person that meant the most to him. They cried together. And then they decided to live life as much as they could. Time was precious and they were going to take advantage of the time they had left. In the end Trish was in so much pain. She was taking so much medication that she slept most of the time.

One morning, as Adam was sitting at her bedside, Trish opened her eyes and looked at the one man she had truly loved for almost forty years. Trish smiled weakly at Adam and spoke softly, “Honey, after I am gone, I want you to look for Katy. I know that you love me. But I also know that you’ve been mourning the loss of that relationship all of your life. Go look for her and find your lost love.” Adam had tears in his eyes as Trish spoke. For the first time in his life, he couldn’t think about Katy, only about the woman who had made his life so rich and full. Trish then closed her eyes for the last time. Finally she was at peace. And Adam wept. **** It was a year since Trish died. Adam wasn’t quite ready to go looking for Katy. He missed Trish terribly. One morning his phone rang. “Adam? It’s Katherine.” It was the voice that Adam never thought he would hear again. He froze. “Adam, are you there?” Katy asked. “Yes Katy, I’m here. I don’t know what to say...” “You don’t have to say anything. I know this must be a shock.” “Where have you been all these years? You must be married, have kids...” “No. I don’t. And my parents are gone. I’m alone now.” “I am so sorry. My wife died about a year ago. And I miss her terribly. But my kids and grandkids bring me a lot of comfort.” “Can we meet?” “Yes. I want to see you.” “I am not the same person I once was.” “None of us are. It’s been a long time.” They hung up and Adam sent Katy the name of a local coffee shop which had private booths so they could talk. The next day, Adam decided he would walk the twenty minutes to the coffee shop. He was so nervous and he thought walking would help. It didn’t. When he reached the shop and looked through the window, he saw Katy sitting in one of the booths. Her long dark hair had turned gray. He couldn’t really see her face fully so he had no idea what other changes had taken place. He would soon find out. He walked into the shop. The waitress asked if he needed to be seated and he pointed to Katy. She nodded and he walked over to the booth. Katy had turned her head and was looking out the window as he approached. When she felt him standing beside the booth she looked up. “Hello,” Adam said softly. Katy smiled. Except for the gray hair, Katy looked the same. She had aged, of course, but she still had her slim figure and that beautiful smile. And that was all Adam saw. “I see you are looking well after forty years!” Katy smiled. Adam patted his growing gut and smiled back. He had aged, but he had been happy. He slid into the booth and sat across from Katy. After all this time, all he could say was, “What happened?” As soon as Adam asked, the story spilled out. Katy had a brother that no one had ever seen. He lived in another state. He hung out with a very unsavory crowd. Katy’s parents had disowned him long before they moved to the suburbs. Things had been fine for a long time. Katy’s brother, Rick, had no idea where they had moved to and her parents were happy not to have any contact with him.

Before Katy’s high school graduation, Dad had gotten a call from Rick. He was looking for money to pay someone off. He assumed that his parents had money and they would give it to him. At this point he had gotten connected to the criminal element. He demanded that his parents send him the money or else. Dad had no idea how Rick had found them. But he knew that they were not safe as long as Rick knew where they lived. Rick was a drug addict who was not thinking clearly. Dad had called the police, who had in turn contacted the FBI. It seemed that Rick was involved with some very dangerous people. Dad had decided that it was time to move away, again. This was not the first time, So they packed and left. They changed location, names etc. Katy was forbidden from contacting her friends and was told not to use social media. Someone from the police department had called to help them relocate. They felt badly for the family. Well, they did relocate. But life continued to be difficult as they were always wondering if Rick or his “friends” would find them. Ultimately, Rick had died of an overdose.

Meanwhile, Katy had met someone and fallen in love. She hoped that he would bring her the happiness she so longed for. They got married. And then the trouble began. What Katy never knew was that her husband was an addict too. He had tried to get clean several times. He went to rehab, but nothing ever worked. After years of dealing with his addiction and his erratic behavior, Katy was at a point where she was ready to divorce him. Then, her husband also died of an overdose.

It wasn’t long after, her dad died of a heart attack. Katy’s mom had a hard time living without dad and one day just didn’t wake up. Katy decided to come back and find Adam.

**** Four weeks later... A gentle breeze was blowing, and the stars were twinkling in the inky night sky. Outside, on the terrace they sat. The table set for two with a candle brightly lit in between them. They had finally found each other, after forty years. The feelings between them, the same. It was as if time had never passed.

"Where do you think we will be forty years from now?" Katherine smiled. Her blue eyes as bright as they were forty years ago. Sadly there were lines etched around her eyes. Time had taken its toll. But to Adam, she was still as beautiful as the day he had met her. "I hope we will be together, no matter what happens." Adam sighed. He looked at his first love and couldn't, wouldn't imagine losing her again.


The Incredible Edible Box By Denise A. Pearson            “Earth to Bradley Carpenter. This is your partner, Casey Tillman calling.”            I lifted my head.            “What’s the problem?”said Casey.            “Problem? We’ve been working on this for a month. How can we win first prize in the science fair if we can’t make our eco-friendly box project work?”            “We’ll get it to work. I don’t want Creepy Freddie Potter to beat us. Or that know-everything girl, what’s her name . . .”            “Susan Kinder,” I said. “But she’s not so bad.”            “Mmm,” said Casey as he scraped our latest failure out of my mom’s best fry pan and into the trash.            “What’s next?” I asked.            Casey glanced at the kitchen clock. “It’s late. I gotta get home. We’ll work on it tomorrow.” I just stared at him. “Don’t look so worried. We’ve got a whole week left. Just because the milk and flour paste on the cereal baked in the pie crust didn’t work, doesn’t mean anything. Tonight, I’ll sleep on it.”            “Sleep on it?”            Casey shrugged on his jacket. “Don’t worry. I do my best thinking while sleeping. We’ll come up with a prize winner by the end of the week.”            At lunch the next day, Casey leaned close and whispered, “You’ll never believe the dream I had last night.”            “Yeah?”            Casey hunched his shoulders and shifted his eyes right, then left. He looked like a second-rate Dracula stand-in. “I was in your mom’s kitchen. Then the fridge door opened. All. By. Itself. A long, green arm stretched out of the fridge and grabbed me. Then it dragged me into the fridge. It was so scary it woke me up. “And Ta-Da! I knew this had to be the solution for our project.” “Uh, I think I’m missing something here. I don’t get it,” I said. “Celery. The green arm was a stalk of celery. We’ll weave celery together to make our edible box.” Casey entwined his fingers to demonstrate.            “Weave celery? Uh, Casey, celery’s crunchy, not bendable.”            “Did I forget to mention the part about dehydrating it first? Then it’ll be in flat strips that we can weave together.”            “Won’t it leak?”            “We’ll use egg whites for glue. Clever, ain’t it?”            I had to admit it was.            After a week of slavishly weaving slabs of desiccated celery about each other in varying configurations, we had succeeded. A basket weave pattern proved to be the sturdiest. Now, here we were, in the school auditorium, setting up our project. Our poster read: The Incredible Edible Box. How more eco-friendly can you get? Eat the contents of the box and then . . . eat the box.            “Think our chances are good?” I ask Casey.            “Go-umphral.”            “What?” I glanced at Casey. “Hey, those samples are for people to try and then like us on our Facebook page. Don’t eat them all up.”            Casey swallowed. “I can’t help it. Your idea of using ranch dressing instead of egg whites was fabulous – and very tasty.”            Suddenly, a shadow hovered near our exhibit.            “Tillman and Carpenter. I wondered what project you guys would enter,” Freddie said. “I expected it to be in the field of science - not an entry to the Pillsbury Bake-Off. â ”            I wedged myself between Casey and Creepy Freddie. Since losing the Science Trivia marathon to Casey, they’d become mortal enemies.            “It’s better than depriving mice of sleep, then running them through mazes,” Casey shot back.            Freddie sneered. “We’ll let the judges decide that tomorrow.”            Although the judge’s decisions wouldn’t be until six that evening, we arrived at school early the next day so we could refill our sample bin. The ones we brought yesterday had been gobbled up by the end of last night’s open house - everyone liked them. This morning, we had broken up all our prototype boxes into small pieces to make more samples.            “Hi,” Susan Kinder said as we walked past her exhibit, which was next to ours. Her project was growing hydroponic vegetables.            “Hi Susan,” I said. Casey nodded to her. “She really is nice,” I whispered to him. “If you’d only . . . Holy Cow!”            Our exhibit, and only remaining edible box, looked more like a piece of Swiss cheese than a box. “Who would stoop so low?” I asked.            Casey lifted up a small, white mouse from the inside of the box. His eyes darkened with anger. “A two-legged rat, that’s who.”            “Creepy Freddie,” I said.            Casey gazed at the mouse.            “Hey,” yelled Freddie, thundering over from his booth. “My mouse! Dino escaped last night.” Freddie plucked the mouse from Casey’s hand.            He glanced up at our hole-riddled box. “Oops! Guess Dino decided to make a snack out of your project. So-o-o-o sorry. And before the judging too.”            Susan came over and said, “I bet he deliberately put that mouse in your booth last night.”            “Yeah, but there’s no way we can prove it,” said Casey.            “What’ll you guys do? An edible box is such a great idea.”             “There isn’t much we can do,” I said.             “Can you make a new one?”            “We haven’t any materials left,” Casey said.            “Maybe I could help,” Susan said. “I read the ingredients for your box on one of your posters. I have celery in my hydroponics tank which you can use. There’s a convenience store across the street that must sell ranch dressing. And we could use the oven in the school cafeteria for dehydrating the celery. We still have most of the day get this done before the judging and I’ll bet we could get out of all our classes to do this. What do you think?”            I tried to catch Casey’s eye so we could talk this over, but he was staring at Susan.            “Why would you want to help us?” he asked.            “Maybe because I think going green and leaving a small carbon footprint is the best way of preserving our future.” Then she grinned wickedly. “And, maybe because I like you guys much better than Slimy Freddie Potter.”            I smiled back. “We call him Creepy Freddie.”            “Creepy Freddie?” Susan tasted the words. “Fits him perfectly.”            Casey flashed her a smile. “Yeah, don’t it though.”            We pushed Susan’s booth next to ours and went to work. We were putting the finishing touches on our posters by the time the judges came around. The head judge peered at the latest edition to our poster collection. He looked at his clipboard and said, “I don’t remember seeing this exhibit listed.”            We all gave each other quick glances, then Casey stepped forward to explain how two science projects had become one. “. . . and it melds environmental concerns of recycling with the newest technological advances in agriculture,” finished Casey.            The judges nodded their heads and examined our combined posters that announced “The Future of Food - - - From Hydroponic Farming to Edible Boxes”. As they walked on to the next booth, they were munching our free samples of the Incredible Edible Box.            Needless to say, Creepy Freddie wasn’t happy to be in the audience as Casey, Susan, and I mounted the stage to claim first prize.


“What do you mean, you dared Barrie to go in the South Woods?” I was trying to keep my anger out of my voice. The little boy in front of me was digging his foot into the dirt. “Tell me what happened. Right now, Burton!” “I didn’t think he’d actually do it.” Burton’s grey eyes were wide. “He was bragging about how brave his is and how he could do anything! He was calling me a scardy cat because I wouldn’t go climb trees with him! So, I told him that he still wasn’t brave enough to go into the South Woods!” I sighed, “And so my headstrong little brother ran into the woods?” Barton nodded, tears rolling down his face, “Don’t be angry, Lexine! Don’t tell my mama!” "That depends on if Barrie is hurt." I told him "Now get out of here!" and he ran off, tears still running down his cheeks. What to do, what to do? I can't go to the elders. There are horrible consequences for going into the South Forest. A couple of years ago, a few kids had snuck into the Woods. The survivor that made it out was forbidden from ever marrying or having children. Should I tell our parents? No, Father would go straight to the elders out of fear. He wouldn't care about the fines. He would only want the help of the Warriors in retrieving his only son. There was only one thing to do. It was obvious that it was up to me to go in after him. Bloody hell. I am going to beat some sense into that boy once I get my hands on him. I would need a weapon, without thinking it over more, I ran to the blacksmith’s smithy. "Zachery!" I called out as I approached, "I need a weapon!" The blacksmith's apprentice, Zachery looked at me wide eyed "But...but 'Lex Why? I can get in major trouble for giving you one!" “It’s Barrie, he has gone into the South Woods! I need to go in and get him! Just a knife, please! I am begging you!" Zachery paused and then nodded "I can only give you a knife." He said as he pulled out a small dagger, studded with blue gems. "This was one of my projects. I can't promise it will last very long but it will be good for a good blow or two," I gave him a bear hug and then ran off without another word.

Well at last I was armed now. What was Barrie thinking going into the South Woods? Damn, that boy. Shortly enough I was at the border of the village and the South Woods. I paused there, pacing back and forth. The fear was running through me. How many stories have I been told of these woods? The monsters? Can I really go in there and find my pesky little brother?

I took a deep breath. I needed to do this, I dove into the forest before I could think any more about the danger or anything else. I started through the wood, the first few feet were a tangled mess of branches and briars. Looking for signs of Barrie's passing through the underbrush, I started down a path that was twisty and lined with giant mushrooms. The mushrooms were huge, almost reaching my waist.

It was getting dark, as I went down the path. I was praying I would find Barrie before it got too dark to see. The sun was low on the horizon when I finally found fresh signs that Barrie had passed through. It looked like he had been running, there were broken branches and smooshed mushrooms showing his frantic run down the path. Something must have spooked him. “Barrie!” I called, but, the overgrowth was so thick my voice barely carried. Before I could try calling again there was a massive roar from behind me. I spun around, behind me hidden in the dark forest was a shadow, easily two or three times my size. A scream froze in my throat, and I took off in the other direction of the giant shadow. The ground was shaking as the shadow followed me in my panicked run. The path twisted around a large tree, and up ahead there was rock wall. I desperately scanned the wall, hoping against hope that there was some escape. Under one of the boulders, I saw a small dark cave. I had no time to think about it, whatever was in that cave could not be as bad as whatever was shaking the ground behind me. The cave entrance was very tight, I had to get down on my hands and knees to squeeze into the dark. The rocks were tearing at my clothes as I passed. Once I was clear of the entrance, I entered into a cramped cave. In one of the corners of the cave, I saw a small bundle. Muffled sobs were coming from it. With my heart in my throat, I called out “Barrie?” Before I could even react, the bundle was up and rocketing into me. Barrie’s blonde hair was a mess and his face was dirty. He wrapped his arms around me and shoved his face into my shoulder. I pulled him close and let him cry, trying to comfort him. After a little while, he pulled himself away from me. “I am sorry ‘Lex. Don’t be mad at me, don’t tell mama.” His blue eyes were large, and his tears had cleaned streaks down his dirty cheeks. I smiled down at him, relived he was ok. “There is no reason to tell, you are ok.” There was another roar from outside, shaking the cave. Some rocks fell from the ceiling, I leaned over Barrie to protect him from the falling stones. Barrie started to cry again.

How many times had we been warned to stay out of the South Woods? By how many people? Why didn’t we listen? Maybe I should have told the elders? What could I do? I don’t even have any idea how to use the knife I borrowed. How could I bring myself and my little brother back to the village safely? Barrie was shaking in my arms, with every noise of the forest he let out a whimper. “‘Lex, is the monster coming back?” His little voice was shaking. I pulled him closer, “I don’t know.” I was trying and failing to keep my own fear out of my voice. What the monster was, let alone find a weak point to take it down with my puny knife. It was way too dark to tell anything about it. Staying still in the cave seemed like the only possible option at this point. It was almost pitch black in the cave by the time the noises from outside the cave started to fade. I crept to the opening of the cave and listened closely. The moon was full, thank god, it gave us some light to see by. Other than the faint noises from the nighttime insects, everything was quiet. I took a deep breath and made a decision. “Barrie, we are going home.” He backed up shaking his head, “The monster is out there!” I pulled the knife from my pocket, the moon light shined off the blue jewels. “I will keep us save. I just need you to be your brave self.” He sniffled “I am not brave. I thought I was. But I’m not.” I knelt in front of him, “True bravery is doing something even though you are scared. You must have been scared to come into the South Woods, but you did it. I just need you to be brave a little longer.” He nodded, rubbing his tears away. “I will try ‘Lex.” I hugged him tight and turned to the entrance. I squeezed myself back out of the cave and listened again. I still heard nothing. “Come on, Barrie.” I whispered back into the cave. He came out of the cave, the moon light showing the terrified look on his face. I grabbed his hand and clutched my knife in the other. We slowly made our way down to the path, the dark was making it hard to keep up a quick pace. We both kept tripping over roots and loose rocks. When we got back to the mushroom lined path, to my amazement, the giant mushrooms were starting to have a bright blue light coming from them. The glow was illuminating the path, and making our travel so much easier. In the blue glow, we hurried along. We were so close to the edge of the forest when the ground started shaking again. I could hear a loud growl, coming from behind the mushrooms. The blue light was glinting off a pair of large eyes that were deep in the wood. The monster let loose a massive roar and Barrie screamed, and pulled away from me, in an attempt to dart into the forest on the other side. Suddenly, the mushroom’s glowing light grew, I could see the eyes retreating further from the path, as the glow spread.  Then a small green glowing creature came out of the nearest mushroom. “Stay calm children.” It said. Barrie hid behind me, scared. He let out another small whimper. “The creature will not dare enter my path in the night.” It continued. “Stay in my light and all will be well.” “Who…who are you?” I stammered It chuckled “I am many things. Most call me the Spirit of the Forest. Now go, the creature is cunning and there is a gap between my forest path and the edge of the woods. Now hurry!” Barrie and I fled down the way. Before I knew it, we were at the end of the mushroom path. The green glowing creature was still right beside us. “Hurry, children.” It said. “The creature is coming.” I had no clue how to thank the spirit, so I just picked up Barrie and ran. I could feel the change in the air as I left the path. The air felt evil. Another terrifying howl shook the woods. It was right behind us. I ran faster, hoping to get to the edge of the forest. I felt something swipe by my leg. An agonizing flash of pain through me, I stumbled and dropped Barrie. I could see the forest edge. “Run!” I screamed at Barrie, “Just run!” He backed up with a uncertain look on his face, but finally turned and ran out of the woods. Relived that my brother was safe, I dragged myself up against a tree and drew my knife. The moon glinted off the blue stones. I sat there, breathing hard, listening for the creature. My leg was in agony, it would give out before I could excape. This is it, I am going to die here. Suddenly, Barrie was back at my side. “Lean on me, sister.” He whimpered, putting my arm over his shoulder. “We both need to be brave now. I can’t leave you.” He wasn’t going to give me a choice here. I was leaning on him heavily as we made our way out of the wood. I could hear the creature breathing, but for some reason, it was not approaching. It felt like forever, but soon we were out of the forest. Barrie set me down on the village side of the fence. We sat there, breathing hard, when the green glow appeared again. “Good job children.” It said. “Little boy, your bravery saved your sister and kept the creature at bay. It feeds on, and is attracted to fear. While bravery chases it away.” I gave Barrie a hug. “See, I told you that you were brave.” He gave me a small smile. The creature glowed, and the pain in my leg faded. “I have healed your wounds.” It continued. “Please do not come back to these woods. The here danger is all too real.” We both nodded, “Thank you, Spirit of the Wood.” I said gravely. The spirit faded, without responding.

I stood up and took Barrie’s hand “Let’s go home.” He looked up at me, “What are we going to tell mama and father, as to why we are out so late?” After what we had been through, that was a fear, I could totally manage.                                    THE END


 Everything was ready for the ritual. Candles lit, the mirror pointed at the tombstone that read, Dennis Morgan 1925-1955 , and five people holding hands in a circle.  “Are you sure about this, Kristen?” Vanessa asked. “Yes, I’m sure. I practiced the words a thousand times,” Kristen said.  Jason let out a loud belch and Charlie and Bobby began to laugh.  “Okay, be quiet guys. This is serious,” Kristen said. “Yes mam,” Bobby said.  Kristen began saying the words that were supposed to summon the spirit of Dennis Morgan back into the world of the living.  Dennis Morgan, the butcher of Cedar Falls was a local legend in the small town. During his reign of terror, in the late 1940s and early 1950s he had murdered and mutilated an estimated forty eight people and some think that number could be much higher.  The remains of many of Morgan’s victims were unearthed on his pig farm outside of town after his death in 1955. The chant was short and sweet; basically telling Morgan to follow the light of the flame through the mirror portal and reveal himself. The chant ended with some Latin words that didn’t mean anything to Vanessa.  When the ritual appeared to be over with, Charlie’s body stiffened and his eyes rolled into his head and he began convulsing.  “Charlie! Are you al…” Vanessa said as Charlie broke out into laughter. Bobby and Jason chimed in. Vanessa punched Charlie on the arm. “That’s not funny, you jerk.”  “I knew this ritual was a load of crap,” Jason said. “Maybe we need to sprinkle some blood over the grave,” Kristen said. “Where are we going to get blood?” Vanessa asked. “Yeah, we’re out of beer. Let’s just leave. Maybe we can try again later,” Charlie said.  Kristen let out an exaggerated sigh and said, “Fine. Whatever.”  Vanessa blew out the candle and Kristen grabbed the mirror. As she picked the mirror up, she caught a glimpse of her reflection and froze.  Kristen gazed into the eyes of her reflection and could not look away. Then the eyes changed and so did the face. Her reflection turned into the shape of a wicked looking man with a sinister grin on his face; the face of Dennis Morgan.  “Kristen, are you okay?” Vanessa asked. Kristen looked up from the mirror in her hands and smiled at Vanessa. “I’m fine, dear.”  Vanessa eyed her friend as she glared back with that grin. Bobby put his arm around Kristen as he walked by. “Come on babe. We’ll bring back the dead another time. Right now we need beer.”  Vanessa reluctantly followed her friends out of the cemetery and loaded into the car with them.  Bobby cranked the car and said, “Okay, after the beer stop, we can either go to Bill Ferguson’s party, or the haunted house in Steel County.”  “I have a better idea. Let’s go to Morgan’s pig farm,” Kristen said.

 “Uh, babe, there will be alcohol at Bill’s party, and everybody that is not at Bill’s party will be at the haunted house. Are you sure you wanna go to some old haunted pig farm?” Bobby said.   Kristen pulled Bobby’s face to hers and kissed him. “I am sure, babe,” Kristen said with a grin. “Morgan’s pig farm it is!” Bobby yelled.   They made the ten minute drive to the Morgan farm. Bobby pulled the car into the long driveway and put the car in park.  The main house looked like it was ready to fall in on itself, but it still stood behind a patch of tall weeds, and so did the old barn.  “Look guys, I don’t think this is a good idea. Let’s just go to the party,” Jason said. “Yeah, what are we even doing here, Kristen? This is just weird,” Vanessa added.  Kristen ignored them and opened her door. She smiled at Bobby and told him to follow her. Then she walked toward the old barn. “Kristen, wait!” Vanessa pleaded. Bobby shrugged his shoulders and opened his door and followed.  “This is crazy. I’m not getting out of the car,” Jason said. Vanessa and Charlie agreed.  “Maybe they’ll get spooked in there and just come on back out soon,” Charlie said.  A minute later, Bobby came running out of the barn, screaming. Kristen was right behind him.  “Is that an axe in her hand?” Jason asked.  Before anyone could answer, Kristen slammed the axe down into Bobby’s back and he went down.  Vanessa, Charlie, and Jason began to scream. Jason climbed over the back seat into the driver’s seat and put the car in reverse. They watched in horror as Kristen repeatedly chopped at Bobby’s lifeless body with the axe.  “We can’t just leave Bobby!” Charlie yelled. “He’s gone,” Jason said.  Kristen looked up from her kill with a bloody grin and began running toward the car. Jason hit the gas and started going in reverse down the driveway.  They made it to the main road and Jason put the car in drive and stepped on the gas pedal.  Once they had cell service again, Vanessa called the police and told them what had happened. The Sheriff told them to come to the station and give their statements and he would send deputies to the Morgan farm.  “So, your friend, Kristen, just out of the blue took an axe to her own boyfriend?” The skeptical Sheriff asked.  “Yes, and then tried to kill us,” Vanessa said.  “What were you kids doing out there anyway?” Sheriff Jones asked.  “It was Kristen’s idea. Nobody wanted to go anyway,” Vanessa answered.  The phone on the Sheriff’s desk rang and he answered it. After a brief conversation, he hung up the phone and stood up.  “My deputies found the body of Bobby Leland. They don’t see any sign of the girl. I’m heading out to the farm. You three can go home, but don’t leave town, I have more questions.”  Over the next two weeks, twelve people went missing from the town of Cedar Falls.  The Sheriff finally found and arrested Kristen at the old Morgan farm. Apparently Kristen had been staying in the main house.  They recovered nine bodies in shallow graves out by the barn.  The town made national news and media people were everywhere for a few days until the frenzy died down.  There was a trial, Kristen was convicted of several murders and she was sent upstate to live out the rest of her days at Fairview, a facility for the criminally insane.  Vanessa, Charlie, and Jason never spoke of the events that happened that Halloween night.


Chapter 1 Jack slumped into his threadbare armchair, a ghost haunting the ruins of his life. The city's relentless drone pierced the stillness of his apartment. Whiskey bottles, like tombstones of his failures, littered the coffee table. A sharp ring shattered the silence, cutting through the fog of his despair. He fumbled for the phone, irritation a thick fog in his mind. "What?" he growled. Mrs. Finch's voice cut through the haze. "Package for you." Surprise ignited amidst his despair. A package? Unlikely. Yet, hope, a fragile ember, flickered to life. He stumbled to the door, the ornate box, adorned with macabre skulls, an ominous presence on the welcome mat. His heart pounded as he tore open the packaging, revealing a parchment envelope. The familiar handwriting was a dagger to his gut. Jack’s hands trembled as he unfolded the letter, Arthur’s elegant script transporting him to a sunlit past. As a young, eager journalist, he'd looked up to the charismatic politician. “You’ve got fire, kid,” Arthur had said with a paternal pat on the back. “Use it wisely.” Those words had been his lodestar. Arthur became more than a mentor; he was family. The letter's contents shattered the idyllic reverie. "If you're reading this, I've disappeared. Trust no one. The Order is real, Jack. Find the truth." The words were a dagger to the heart. Arthur, missing? The shadowy Order? A nightmare was unfolding. Guilt and fear warred within him. He’d abandoned his mentor, dismissed him as paranoid. Now, a flicker of his former self ignited. A spark of determination replaced the despair. He glanced at the newest whiskey bottle. It would have to wait. Jack’s mind raced, adrenaline replacing the fog. The cramped apartment seemed to close in around him. Arthur's letter, a physical manifestation of his absence, trembled in his hand. He needed to move, to act. Grabbing his worn leather jacket, he made his way into the hall. He passed by Mrs. Delacroix's apartment. The annoying Christmas wreath still hung on her door. It was June, for crying out loud. He stepped out into the open air. The familiar cacophony was a jarring contrast to the quiet desperation he felt. Fresh air should help, right? A nagging doubt crept in. Why a letter? Arthur was a digital native. The cryptic package, a puzzle piece missing from the picture, sent chills down his spine. Paranoia gnawed at him as he navigated the bustling crowd. Every shadow seemed to lengthen, every glance a potential threat. The city, once a comforting backdrop, now felt like a hostile environment. Jack's mind raced as he closed the door behind him. The apartment, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage. Arthur's disappearance, the cryptic letter, the ominous package—each piece of the puzzle hinted at a darkness far deeper than he'd imagined. With a deep breath, Jack decided. He'd dive back into the world he'd abandoned, using his buried skills to unearth the truth. His old life would become his weapon. As he gathered his scattered notes and contacts, a strange feeling settled in. The apartment seemed to close in, the silence heavy with anticipation. A cold dread gnawed at him. The storm outside mirrored his inner turmoil. He moved to the window, the city lights a distant, indifferent glow. Chapter 2 Jack's world narrowed to a single focus: finding Arthur. Days blurred into nights as he pored over old case files and newspaper clippings. His apartment, once merely cluttered, descended into chaos. Takeout containers piled up, dirty laundry spilled from overflowing baskets, and a thin layer of dust settled over everything. He barely noticed the passage of time, his eyes bloodshot from endless hours staring at his laptop screen. The wall above his desk became a tapestry of sticky notes, red string, and grainy photographs. Jack's obsession grew, feeding on each new scrap of information he uncovered. A sharp knock at the door jolted him from his research-induced trance. He ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away. The knocking persisted, followed by a familiar voice. "Jack? It's Mrs. Delacroix. Are you in there?" He groaned, running a hand through his unkempt hair. The last thing he needed was his nosy neighbor poking around. But her voice carried a note of genuine concern that tugged at his conscience. "Just a minute," he called out, hastily shoving papers into drawers and kicking dirty clothes under the couch. Jack opened the door, squinting at the sudden brightness from the hallway. Mrs. Delacroix stood there, her silver hair neatly coiffed, a plate of cookies in her hands. "Oh, Jack! You look terrible, dear. Are you alright?" He forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mrs. Delacroix. Just busy with work." She peered past him into the apartment, her eyes widening. "My goodness, it's a mess in there! When was the last time you cleaned? Or had a proper meal?" Jack shifted uncomfortably, blocking her view. "I appreciate your concern, but—" "Nonsense! I'll bring you some of my homemade soup tomorrow. You can't live on takeout, you know. It's not good for your digestion." As she chattered on, Jack's eyes drifted to his desk. A folder had fallen open, revealing a document he hadn't noticed before. His heart raced as he spotted a strange symbol at the bottom of the page—an inverted pentagram surrounded by unfamiliar runes. "Jack? Are you listening to me?" He blinked, forcing his attention back to Mrs. Delacroix. "Sorry, what were you saying?" She sighed, shaking her head. "I was asking if you'd heard from that nice Mr. McBangus lately. He always seemed so fond of you." Jack's blood ran cold. How did she know about Arthur? Jack hesitated, torn between his instinct for secrecy and the unexpected comfort of human connection. Mrs. Delacroix's kind eyes and genuine concern wore down his defenses. "Actually, I'm worried about Arthur," he admitted, his voice low. "He's... disappeared." Mrs. Delacroix gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my! Should we call the police?" Jack shook his head. "It's complicated. I think he might be involved in something... strange." "Strange?" Mrs. Delacroix's eyebrows shot up. "Like what? A secret government project? Or... oh! I know! He's probably planning a surprise party for you!" Despite himself, Jack chuckled. The idea of Arthur throwing him a party was so absurd that it momentarily lightened his mood. His amusement faded as he remembered the article he'd found earlier. "No, it's nothing like that. Look at this." He retrieved his laptop, pulling up the news story. Mrs. Delacroix squinted at the screen. "Arthur McBangus linked to occult activities," she read aloud. "My word! It says here he was seen at some sort of ritual gathering. But that can't be right, can it? Arthur's always been such a pillar of the community." Jack opened his mouth to respond, but his phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere. He didn't recognize the number. "Hello?" he answered cautiously. A distorted voice crackled through the speaker. "Stop digging, Harper. You're in over your head. Walk away now, or you'll regret it." The line went dead. Jack stared at his phone, his heart pounding. "Who was that?" Mrs. Delacroix asked, her eyes wide with concern. Jack swallowed hard. "I think... I think someone's trying to scare me off the case." Mrs. Delacroix gasped. "Oh, Jack! This is serious. Maybe you should listen to them. What if you get hurt?" He shook his head, a grim determination settling over him. "I can't stop now, Mrs. Delacroix. Arthur needs me. Whatever he's involved in, it's big. And dangerous." "But Jack—" "I have to do this," he interrupted, his voice firm. "I owe Arthur that much. And if there's even a chance I can help him, I have to try." Mrs. Delacroix wrung her hands, clearly torn between concern for Jack's safety and admiration for his loyalty. "Just... be careful, dear. Promise me you'll be careful." Jack nodded, his mind already racing with plans. The threat had only strengthened his resolve. Whatever secrets Arthur had uncovered, Jack was determined to bring them to light. Chapter 3 Jack spread the evidence across his cluttered desk, his eyes darting from document to document. The pieces were falling into place, forming a picture more sinister than he'd imagined. He knew he had to act fast. With trembling fingers, he dialed Mrs. Delacroix's number. The phone rang endlessly, each unanswered tone increasing his unease. "Damn it," he muttered, grabbing his coat. He had to check on her before leaving. As Jack rushed down the empty hallway, his footsteps echoed ominously. Approaching Mrs. Delacroix's apartment, his heart sank at the sight of the open door, a dark invitation to horrors unknown. "Mrs. Delacroix?" he called out, pushing the door wider. The scene that greeted him stole the breath from his lungs. Furniture lay overturned, shattered glass crunching beneath his feet. Signs of a violent struggle were everywhere. Jack's mind raced. The Order. They must have taken her. His fists clenched at his sides, a mixture of guilt and rage coursing through him. He'd dragged her into this mess, and now she was paying the price. With renewed determination, Jack gathered the evidence and prepared for his confrontation. He couldn't let them get away with this - he had to stop the cult. Jack's heart pounded as he approached the shadowy warehouse on the outskirts of town. The night air was thick with tension, and the distant barks of watchdogs sent shivers down his spine. He clutched a ring of sausages, his unlikely weapon against the canine sentries.  As he neared the perimeter, Jack spotted the massive, snarling beasts guarding the entrance. With a silent prayer, he tossed the sausages in a wide arc. The dogs' heads snapped towards the meat, their hunger overriding their training. Jack seized the moment, slipping past them and into the dimly lit shadows of the warehouse. Inside, the air was heavy with incense and whispered conversations. Jack blended into the crowd, his eyes scanning the space. At the center, a figure in dark robes stood on a raised platform, addressing the gathered members. "Our influence grows," the leader intoned. "With each politician in our grasp, we tighten our hold on this city's foundations." Jack's blood ran cold as he listened. The cult's reach was far greater than he'd imagined. They weren't just manipulating individuals - they were shaping the entire landscape, artificially inflating real estate prices to line their own pockets. He thought of Mrs. Delacroix, and the open door he'd found at her apartment. The Order had taken her, and he knew he had to act. Taking a deep breath, Jack stepped forward, ready to confront the cult's leader and expose their sinister plans, no matter the personal cost. Jack's heart pounded as he stepped forward, his eyes locked on the robed figure of the cult leader. The leader's gaze swept across the crowd, settling on Jack with an unsettling intensity. "Ah, a new face," the leader purred, his voice dripping with false warmth. "Tell me, seeker, are you prepared to prove your worth?" Jack nodded, his throat dry. The leader's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Very well. Answer these riddles three, or your life is forfeit." The first two riddles came and went, Jack's mind racing to decipher their meanings. But as the leader posed the final question, Jack felt his confidence waver. "What force and strength cannot get through, I with a gentle touch can do. And many in the street would stand, were I not a friend at hand." Jack's brow furrowed, the answer just out of reach. He could feel the crowd's anticipation, the leader's smug satisfaction at his struggle. Suddenly, the leader lunged forward, a dagger glinting in the dim light. Jack reacted on instinct, ducking and weaving as the blade sliced through the air. The two men grappled, locked in a desperate struggle. In the chaos, Jack's mind flashed back to Mrs. Delacroix's apartment, the open door, and the signs of struggle. The Order had taken her - he had to stop them. With renewed determination, Jack pushed back against the leader, fighting for his life and for the safety of the woman he cared about. Jack's mind raced as he grappled with the cult leader. With a heavy heart, he made his choice - he couldn't save Arthur, but he could still rescue Mrs. Delacroix. Breaking free from the leader's grasp, Jack bolted towards the back of the warehouse where he suspected they were holding her.  He found her bound and gagged in a small room. As he quickly untied her, Jack heard the approaching footsteps of cult members. There was no time for explanations. "We have to go, now," he urged, helping the shaken Mrs. Delacroix to her feet. They fled into the night, leaving behind the cult, Arthur, and the weight of Jack's past. It was a sacrifice that tore at his soul, but he knew it was the right choice. Months later, Jack sat on the porch of his new home, watching Mrs. Delacroix tend to her garden next door. The burden of his past still lingered, but a sense of peace had settled over him. He had found redemption in saving her, and in the quiet life they now shared as neighbors and friends. It was a bittersweet ending, but one that offered Jack the chance at a fresh start.