(based on a prompt i found lol) Last words... The hero and the villain stood face to face, as the age-old tale goes. Well, I say stood, but only the villain in this context was actually standing. The hero, however, was tied to a chair dangling over a bubbling volcano. “I’ve got you now, and this time there’s no one left to save you.” Malice cackled, his dark eyes glinting in the fiery light of the volcano. He swept up the edges of his long dark cloak and paced around the edge of the cliff, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Oh yes, there’s no one left to save you… yes, no one… there’s only you and me now, HAH!“ The hero, Aquila, was the picture of defeat, after all this time, fighting war after war, now surely beaten as they hung their head in shame, their face obscured by their long dark hair, yet they suppressed a grin as if amused by this last comment. Malice, of course, didn’t notice the look of amusement as he continued to pace around the cliff edge. “It’s all over for you now. There’s no one left! I destroyed everyone. What left have you to live for?” Malice mocked, “I thought of everything this time. I even killed the love of your life… or did I forget to mention that one?” Aquila frowned. “You may have mentioned it.” Malice narrowed his eyes and lent over the edge, staring Aquila straight in the eyes. Aquila stared back, their murky eyes gleaming like a sun speckled lake. “You killed many. I believe this is because you don’t know any other way, but you’re wrong, you know,” Aquila said. “you did kill an innocent woman, and I did care for her, but she was not the love of my life. And try as you might, you’ll never be able to take everything from me. Especially my will to live. Aren’t you sick of it all? This constant war, it’s all we’ve ever known, and what good has it ever amounted to? Is this what you wanted? Because I’m tired of it all, the fighting and losing everything to someone who doesn’t even know what they do.” Aquila paused for breath and Malice snorted. “Anything else, princess? You know there couldn’t possibly be anyone left that you care about. I killed them all! You’re bluffing and you’re also stalling.” He walked towards the lever that the rope was attached to. “But no matter. This is where it ends, once and for all!” Aquila sighed. “Go on then,” and this time, they did sound defeated, and Malice seemed almost disappointed. He scowled and gripped the lever, his knuckles turning white. “Any last words? I would choose wisely if I were you,” He sneered. Aquila lifted their head wearily and, with a sigh, whispered. “I love you.” Malice’s face dropped and so did Aquilia, Malice’s grip having loosened on the lever. And so the hero tumbled into the depths of the volcano and the villain ran to the edge, falling to his knees; too stunned to even think. but Before Aquila could reach the bottom, a golden light shot through the volcano as they shed their skin, transforming into a golden eagle. Malice scrambled to his feet and watched as Aquila flew through the night. He sighed regretfully. “I love you too.”

Dear future me, Heyo, I wonder how life is like in ten years, assuming that is when we’re reading this email or if we’re the one reading it at all. For all I know, you could be a family member reading this because I died or something. If that’s the case, hi, I hope it was painless, lol. Anyway, I’m not sure why I’m writing us an email for the future. I’m just bored, I guess. I mean, it’s not like I don’t have heaps to do, but that’s all work stuff you know and I don’t have many hobbies or really just fun stuff to do besides. it would probably help if we’d made more friends when we were younger, it might have made everything a lot easier, because when you’re constantly at work your colleagues are the only people you have an opportunity to make friends with, so it just feels like another area of the job. I’m actually thinking of taking up running. It might be a good way to release this everyday stress. Well, I guess you already know how that will turn out, but wish your past self luck, you never know, it might work. Apart from work, money, health and all the other things which can cause a person everyday stress, what stresses me out more than anything is the feeling that I’m not alone. I don’t know if it’s normal. Do we still have this? I just always feel like someone’s watching. It’s probably just my imagination, but I can’t help but notice a few familiar faces on the way to work every day. Maybe they start at the same time as me at some other place, but I swear there always seems to be someone watching me. They look away when I notice, but something feels off. I don’t bother making an enquiry at the police or anything, because what have I got to show? Just uneasy feelings and a few familiar faces. I’m scared and maybe that’s why I’m writing to you, myself that is, I’m hoping that right now, you’re laughing at how silly this whole thing is. Anyway, can’t wait to meet you. -With hope, Marcy I send it to myself putting the future date as the subject, and just when I’m about to close my laptop, a new email comes in. It’s from my own email address but not the message I just sent… Dear past me, I know you’re a bit confused, but time is running short and you’re right about a few things. You are being watched and the police won’t do anything about it. The familiar faces, the looks, nothing about it is coincidence you won’t understand for a while, and that’s okay, but you’re not safe and you need to get out. I’m trying to keep this as brief as possible but you need to be hasty, any second now you’ll hear a knock at the door, DO NOT OPEN IT, sneak out the side door, climb over the back fence and yeah it is time to start up running; you were right, and nothing could be more important than this. there’s a pounding at the door. I know, I remember. Someone just knocked. You need to go now. Run and don’t look back, ok? And you’ll be running for a while, so good luck. -Wishing you the best, Marcy I shut my laptop and listen to the knocking, but I don’t open the door. I sneak out the side, climb the fence, run and don’t look back.

Ah yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. Because it was. It was a bright winter's day, the sun burning brightly above the clouds, yet the air had that slight chill, a perfect breeze teasing the coming of spring. I was so excited, my stomach fluttering with butterflies as I walked down the busy high street, making my way to my partner’s apartment. Today I was going to propose. I’d thought about it for ages. We’d been together for years and I always worried that something might change or that we weren’t ready. A lifetime is a long time, but when I thought about it, there was only one person I wanted to spend it with. I smiled and inhaled the sweet scent of the winter wildflowers I had bought just for the occasion. I was nearing their apartment block, and I took a deep breath, slipping my hand into my pocket; squeezing the small box for reassurance. I was just minding my business, walking under the apartment blocks windows when I heard a disturbing creak and splinter and the last thing I saw before it went dark was a grand piano falling straight for my head. ——————————————————————————————————— I’m not sure how long I’ve been standing here, before this large, shining gate that spirals into the sky. It seemed so long ago, but it must have been only yesterday, and here I am today. Maybe a lifetime wasn’t so long after all. I sigh. There’s no point in waiting around. Whatever lay beyond those gates would always be there, and I would always be dead whether or not that would turn out to be a good thing. So I take one step, then another and another and there’s something huddled by the gate, crying? I’m not sure, but I recognize the shadowy figure. “Ellis?” I choke on my laughter as I pick up the pace running towards my best friend in the entire world, (Not that the world is relevant in this context) and they look up at their tear-streaked face creasing into a smile. “Spencer!” they scramble to their feet and I fall into their embrace. “I thought I’d never see you again.” “Wait-” I pull away. “How did you die?” “you mean no one even told you? I’m sure I’ve been here for days. I haven’t been able to bring myself to walk through those gates.” “No one told me…” I shake my head. “I think it was a crash or something, I- it was over so fast. I was going to your house. To well, you know. I mean, I was going to propose. Not that it matters now.” “No way! I was going to your house to propose when I died! Just yesterday, walking under the apartments when a grand piano fell from a window; Knocked me out cold.” Ellis blushed, “oh err, that would be mine. I suppose they were moving things out of my house. You know those apartments never stay empty for long and the piano must have fallen down the staircase right out of that large window on the landing. I always thought that was a weird design.” I burst out laughing and Ellis joins in and we stand under the gate like this for a solid five minutes howling till tears rolled down our face, gasping for breath. I hooked Ellis’s arm in mine. "Alright then, together?” The gates creak open, Ellis smiles “Together! to the start of the end.” and we walk through the gates arm in arm.

(lmao this is the kind of nonsense that comes from not having any ideas) Mum had confiscated everything, including my phone. I was banned from all technology for two weeks. Give a kid a break. How was I going to live? My friends and I huddled at the edge of the schoolyard, flicking through memes and watching YouTube; occasionally passing a phone around when an exceptionally funny piece of media was discovered. I leaned over and craned my neck, whatever I could do to get a piece of the action, but clearly I was already behind. Ryan burst out laughing. “What?” I said frantically and Ryan explains though fits of giggles, shoving his phone under my nose. “I’d completely forgotten about this clip. It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen all week!” He has YouTube opened, and a video plays, some dude laughing or was he crying? Suddenly, he turns and stares straight at the camera with a completely emotionless face and says, “Cheese toasties.” I stare blankly at the screen and everyone burst out laughing. “That was the funniest part of the whole live stream!” Simon spluttered through fits of giggles. “What livestream?” I sigh, getting frustrated and really sweaty. It was so hot but it was the middle of winter. Suzie raises her eyebrow. “you know the collab cheese muffin did with raybaconburger?” I knew I was about to dig myself into a deeper hole, but I asked anyway. “who’s CheeseMuffin and RayBaconBurger?” Olivia groaned, “you know? I sent ray’s channel on the group chat 2 days ago and CheeseMuffin is that guy who pretended to be homeless for a week. George sent that video last night. Boy, are you behind.” but I wasn’t listening at that point “Why is it so darn hot?” George shrugged “hey Suzie? have you seen that new video? The inferior quality, horizontally flipped, mirrored, spinning rat?” Suzie scrunched up her face. “The one with the distorted version of hey ya playing in the background?” george added. I look up at the sky. It was blood red. “YES,” Suzie said, her eyes shining, “and there was a Shrek jump scare at the end!” “Um guys-” Simon burst out laughing. “lol yeah, wasn’t that the sequel to spinning distorted amogus with a twist? How were those even connected?” Olivia giggled and said. “Obviously you haven’t seen part 3! It came out like 10 minutes ago, where the fish falls off the building in slow motion while the Mario theme song is playing. They promised in the description that part 4 would make it all connect.” “GUYS WHY IS THE SKY SO RED?” everyone looks at me. “Cause the sun is setting dummy,” said Ryan “anyway those videos aren’t nearly as good as that gif where the world blows up and it says, this will drastically affect the fishing season, you can honestly use if for any context…” I stared helplessly at the darkening sky. What did he mean? the sun was setting? It was only three thirty. The sky was darkening by the second and all I could do was watch helplessly, a low rumbling shaking the earth. “Hah! L + ratio + bald + skill issue,” Simon cackled at some context I missed. “I can’t believe you didn’t get that george! I mean, it’s the most obvious thing. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.” George made a face at Simon “Says the one who still listens to among us trap mixes.” The rumbling grows louder and the school buildings shake, and that’s when I realized we were the only ones in sight. Where had everyone gone? “I’m not kidding,” I say desperately. "Something’s wrong” “They’re doing construction next door,” Olivia huffed, her face lit up by her phone screen, shadows falling over our faces. “jeez you need to take a chill pill.” “Hey Suzie,” Ryan laughed and I watched, mortified, as a huge fiery fall of flame hurtled towards the earth. "So I went to see my doctor yesterday.” He continued trying to hold in his laughter while I held back a scream, flames erupting from the school while a heat wave whipped past our faces, fire raining from the sky. Ryan flicks a spark from his hair. “I went to my doctor, and he diagnosed me as morbiusly a BEAST." I sigh as a massive wave erupts from the earth, coming right for us and, in the words of my friends and maybe me, if my mum hadn’t so cruelly taken my phone. It was morbin time.

Just another day… Tomorrow is the day. I know it, it just has to be. Tomorrow, everything changes… no more procrastinating, no more wasted minutes; I can do this. Time to put my life in order. And there was only one way to do this. I pull out my day planner (2021) and flick through what was probably hundreds of empty pages and my finger lands on august. Alright, tomorrow is August twenty-nine, time to get cracking. About an hour later of concentrating hard on writing my day down, (more energy spent on it than I would usually spend on the actual tasks) I now have an elaborately designed plan, with everything from detailed homework to dos, all the way to daily water intakes. I chuckle, like notion but on paper, then quickly regretting that thought, I add to reassure myself, but better of course… 5:01am Hmmm, I peer at what time I had planned to wake up, 6:30am “Right” I scratch out the six and place a nine in its place. Eheheh, this is perfect, now I can sleep soundly… ———————————————————————————————————-- I sit bolt up in bed and groan, blinded by the sunlight that streams through the cracks in the curtains. I look at the clock. 10:08am Damn… well, I can compromise. It can’t be that hard, so I cross out breakfast and daily intake of water #1. I could probably skip getting dressed as well and showers are overrated, so I open my laptop, ready to get stuck into some trigonometry. Math hurts, but I’m sure if I try hard enough, it can be fun. I mean, I don’t believe this, but maybe I can work on becoming an optimist. Yes, things are looking good. I open chrome and am loading up my math homework when one of my siblings burst through the door. “The new series of doctor who just came in the mail, we’re going to have a marathon!” I look at my math homework, ready to print, then glance over at the planner perched on my desk. “I’ll get the popcorn.”

I polish the mirror till it shines, the bronze glinting in the bathroom light as I hang it above the sink. I love old things, my house is littered with them, they simply fascinate me. I’d found this mirror when I was out shopping at a flea market (not as gross as it sounds i promise) and it sort of caught my eye. Literally. I would have sworn I saw a flash in the reflection as I walked past, though not many people were about. i walked closer, then noticed the beautiful edging of the mirror and the delicate detail on the bronze. A little dirty, but it looked as if it belonged in a museum, so I walked over to the stand that was selling it. It leaned against a table that was filled with watches. “Excuse me sir,” I said as I walked towards the stall. “How much is that mirror?” The man that was running the stall shook his head. “I am not selling the mirror. I am afraid that would be the woman over there.” he pointed to an old, bent over woman who was hobbling over. “she comes every day, only to sell the mirror." That was a little bit odd, I thought but I approached the woman and talked to her about the mirror. She seemed eager to pawn it off to me yet reluctant that I would take it before she told me about it. The old lady seemed burdened by this strange yet beautiful mirror (which by the way i just wanted to take home i didn’t need a whole backstory) she told me that i might not believe her but that it had cursed her family, eventually killing them all but sparing her so she could pass it on. She was afraid that if she had broken it or thrown it away she also would die. I kinda felt sorry for the old lady. I guess losing everyone and everything can make you a little bonkers. She told me that it was discovered many years ago in an ancient tomb. A priceless work of beauty certainly as old as the ground beneath our feet. The woman explained that it was immediately exported to an English museum but never made it on display, rumors spreading that all who had come in contact with the mirror had mysteriously disappeared. I stifled a yawn “how much do you want for it?” the woman sniffed, clearly offended “80 dollars not a penny less.” “Fine.” I grumbled, although a little bit pricey, the mirror was far too compelling, I just had to get it. I straighten the shining mirror above the sink. “There. Perfect.” i smile when something flickers past me in the reflection. i turn around and there’s nothing there. Huh weird. I turn around again and look at my reflection. I gasp. Behind me is a huge shadowy figure and it towers over me, almost doubling in size, but when i turn around there’s nothing there. What kind of sick prank is this i think, backing away from the mirror. The figure steps in front of my reflection and the sides of the ancient mirror glow slightly. the shadowy figure reaching a hand from the surface of the mirror, beckoning me and i scream. A scream that would never be heard.

You dread doing something though you know it must be done, so you delay the inevitable. Then sooner or later time will float you by, your mind forever chewing on those endless predicaments, until it’s too late. A late summer’s day, a single plane ticket, and no return trip. Time forever betrays me, the clock ticking over and over till there’s none of it left. With such a lack of time, I don’t wait. I use the spare key under the rug and enter. She’s eating lunch on the bench. Surprised to see me, she smiles, then my face reveals it all. Slipping through my fingers, no time to say what needs to be said, so with a brief explanation I say how I didn’t know how to explain before, but here I am now. So, with nothing and so much to say, i wait. She seems lost for words, maybe without enough time to be confused, disappointed, annoyed, maybe even heartbroken, like I was. What kind of monster am I for doing this, coming to say I was leaving, just like that? I say goodbye. She says it too. She seems uncertain of what to do, so skips the conversation part and hugs me goodbye. No time for any reactions or explanations. I return the awkward hug, keeping it brief, though I would have preferred to stay there forever and not go anywhere. Why was I leaving? I’d already forgotten. Did I assume she’d always be there even if I flew away? I wanted her to say no, and I wanted her to stop me, but she didn’t, so I left. I linger outside the door for half a second, but leave before I change my mind. Now as I drive to the airport, I feel strange, like I’m not really here. I’m still lingering outside her apartment, waiting for the right moment to burst in. To take everything back, I had said only moments ago, And as I board the plane I walk through her door, because we both know there is no place in the world where I belong apart from with her, and no place would be home without each other. And so I suppose in years to come I’ll still linger outside that door, wishing I might have entered differently, and for any other reason than to say goodbye.

(CW death i suppose) It was daytime now; the sun having risen to a different world. Darkness had swallowed the fields and spat them out before first light, endless fields now left as ugly scars and gashes on the face of the earth, the remains of endless warfare and bloodshed. The sun beat down on the barren lands, swarms of flies gathering to feast on the littered bodies that lay in the mud, And a young boy, ragged and dirty, hopped from one corpse to the next, pocketing what little valuables he could salvage. After all, what good were possessions to a dead man? The bodies and the blood didn’t faze him much. In a world so cruel, life and death weren’t so different. By now, he had filled his pockets with watches, spare change, and other seemingly valuable trinkets. Then something gold caught his eye, something that glinted in the sun. The boy ran to the source and approached a man with his back to the boy, face half in the mud, a gold ring on his finger. He leant down and attempted to pry it from the soldier’s finger, but without luck. The soldier’s hand felt warm. He must have died only recently. The boy pulled harder on the ring, twisting and pulling. The man’s hand twitched. Frightened, the boy let go. He was still alive. But hardly. So, plucking up his courage, the boy knelt in the mud and rolled the soldier onto his back. He didn’t appear to be alive, but now and again his chest would rise slightly, then drop. Barely clinging to life. A little relieved, the boy continued his pick pocketing, reaching into the soldier’s breast pocket and pulling out a small envelope. It contained a letter, but even if it was in his own language, the boy wouldn’t have been able to read it. So he puzzled over it for a few seconds before noticing a photograph tucked in the folds of the paper. A young man looked at the camera, and a woman smiled beside him, a small child between them. The boy thought the child looked a little like himself and then wondered whether he would still be smiling now that he didn’t have his dad. Then he thought of his own drunken father most likely passed out some place in the streets. The boy wouldn’t miss him if he died in battle. Covered in blood (though the boy could not tell the source of it or if it was even his own), the soldier seemed more dead than alive. And knowing he wouldn’t last much longer, the boy tugged one last time, slipping the ring from the soldier’s finger and tucking it into his own pocket. Then he looked once more at the small photograph, the young man in the photo hardly identifiable as the one who lay at his feet, left for dead. A twinge of guilt stabbed at the boy’s gut; he reminded him of his own brother, who had long disappeared to fight in far off battles. So he crossed the soldier’s arms over his chest and tucked the photograph in his hand, the man’s fingers closing over it. A simple act, but one that seemed to satisfy his guilt. Sweat was dripping down the boy’s face. He should have moved on long ago, the sun burning brightly in the midday sky. So, with one last glance, the boy sprang off, out of the fields and towards the wood with his treasured possessions. The day wore on and the soldier remained left in the mud, flies swarming over his warm body that soon turned cold as he drew his final breaths. His grip slackened, the photograph, the only remaining piece of his lost world slipping to the mud. And there in the mud he remained till the day faded into night and the rats came to finish him off.

I tiptoed across the ship, the soft pattering of my feet echoing through the corridors. The crew was sleeping. Everything was silent. Although it wasn’t night, we had to track our waking and sleeping hours. Day and night seemed such a foreign thing now that I was out in the universe. Everything was always dark, silent and endless, almost eternal. Eternity… What did it mean? Could anything really last forever? Did not everything come to an end? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe what is eternal is the legacy that continues on from generation to generation. I reached the flight deck and flopped down onto one of the pilot seats, staring into space through the large window that spanned the front of the ship. Space seemed to pour out in front of me, stars burning far away; galaxies swirling endlessly. The idea that space never ended both frightened and amazed me as I stared into the endless abyss. I’d always wanted to leave my home planet and go out and see the stars; be a part of something bigger. I had felt so trapped. But now that I was finally here, I felt smaller than ever. What significance did my life hold in something as infinite and eternal as the universe? Maybe that was the beauty of it. Every little thing I didn’t really matter, my mistakes were miniscule, but then how tiny were my successes. Did anything I do really matter? I took a sharp breath, and the floor beneath my feet shook, vibrations echoing through the walls. It was time. I smiled. This was the best part of the millennia, or so I’d heard. The ship shook and bounced, a slow mournful sound resounding through all of space. Or so it seemed. Then I saw the first whale as it passed the ship, slowly but so sure of where it was going and soon after, the rest of the pod appeared, following close behind their leader. It is known that the graceful creatures travel through the cosmos, and have been since the start of time, each generation carrying on the journey from where it left off. Legend says that they are looking for the end of the universe. That they always have been, their song reaching into the far corners of eternity; their call a cry of great mourning, but to anyone who listened, a song of hope that followed the ancient beings throughout time and space. I watched mesmerized, until the last whale passed and till everything was still, the song only a distant memory. I sighed and wondered, but not for the last time, how anything could be so sure of where they were going.

(the reason this is late is cause i posted in the wrong link but it was on time) Death day. I had made sure to mark it in my calendar just so I would see it everyday and be reminded of all the things i had done, and all the things i deserved. It couldn’t be helped of course, death as they say is inevitable, i just didn’t think it would be like this but it’s the same old game, if you know too much then there'll be consequences, as there are to all our actions, i just wish this could have been avoided but no one really has much of a choice in such circumstances. Death. Such a dangerous word. Such a dangerous game. And so i marked off the days and as weeks past the day came closer. I had run out of time. today was The day death came to visit. I mingled among the crowd of the party, acting casual trying to hide how nervous i was, well i tried anyway. Then i spotted them the one who had started it all; who had put that date on my calendar, who had ruined everything. But nevertheless it would end tonight. I was scared, but it was today. written in stone; it could be no other day. I took a deep breath walking into a back room where the mysterious person had disappeared. We were alone. They seemed surprised to see me but this was no happy coincidence meeting. It was always going to happen, but before i could rethink or hesitate, was this really right? i had already brought the dagger down. They didn't even have time to scream.

Bottles littered the tiles, and the entire room swam before my eyes. I knew I was done. No one could save me now; I was way beyond that. I fell to the floor with a soft thud, or something louder. I’m not sure. Maybe I wasn’t listening, and maybe i coudn’t feel a thing. People wonder about their funeral, who will be there and what they’ll say and all that, but at that moment I was wondering whether there would be a funeral at all. How long would it be before someone noticed I was missing? How long till someone came looking, if at all? And even then, who would care? I was tired; exhausted, but as I lay in the dust, a memory came to me, as if this wasn’t the first time I’d felt like this, like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Then a numbness swept over my me like an ocean and everything went dark.  I opened my eyes. Everything was blurred, but I wasn’t dizzy like before; It felt different. I looked up into the smiling faces of two unfamiliar people. I did not smile back. But remembering at that moment, I knew I had done this before, many times in fact, and here I was again, another lifetime and I wondered how long it would be before I would mess this one up, too. The faces frowned. They seemed disappointed that I hadn’t smiled back, laughed, or even cried. The weight was still so heavy, but I knew it wasn’t long now. I could feel my old self slipping from me, a familiar sensation, and I wondered how many times I’d done this. Memories were fading; fuzzy round the edges. Then I looked back at the strangers, realizing that I was an infant, weak and helpless and at the mercy of my parents’ arms. But before I could cry, it was gone. The crushing weight that was life had lifted from my shoulders. I blinked. The lights were bright, but so were their smiles. Who were they? I wasn’t sure, but I hoped they wouldn’t let go. One of them laughed, and I had little idea of what that meant, but the laugh was warm; comforting, so I smiled back.  It was only another lifetime after all…

Nevermore. Ground, I swore never to tread. Nevermore. Where lost things go, promises, habits and long-lost lives, left behind like a snake sheds its skin. Nevermore. A place I thought only a dream, a place where the trees were as tall as mountains, bent close over the path. Boxes and trunks lay askew beneath them, like brightly wrapped presents under a tree on Christmas Day. Only these were old, dusty and battered, forgotten but not lost, some in better condition than others. The land merely a resting place for some. Nevermore. A place that was crumbling, overrun by cracks in reality. Nevermore. A lost idea, now found. Growing, growing, growing. Nevermore. Where I now find myself in hopeless days overrun by the lost and forgotten. Nevermore. Where nothing can be contained forever. Nevermore. The dam that no longer held, The hiding place that no longer hid. A place for all things you dare not think of, nightmares, you dare not relive, thoughts, acts, the looks- The world in a place that you wouldn’t have to see. Nevermore. A haven reduced to rubble. Nevermore. the savior that will no longer save, save you from the world and all it’s shared with you, all its secrets, all its woes. Nevermore. It’s bleeding through the cracks and it wants to relive your pain. To remind you of broken things, of promises, and hearts, of broken people, and reflections of a broken you. NEVERMORE. A place we trust to hide things, where we choose to lock ourselves away; into the ocean, we throw the key, but the lost always find a way.

I stand in a shadowy place. It doesn’t matter that all I see is muddled tricks of light, because I know it’s a garden. Seeing isn’t always believing, right? Anyway, as I walk through the shadowy place (which is definitely a garden) I notice other figures, like wisps of smoke, but I know what they look like. I talk to a woman who wears a shadow dress that appears to be white with red polka dots, or maybe it was the other way around. I also had a friendly conversation with another wisp of smoke whom I’m sure was a tall and skinny man, like my neighbor Mr. Skinner. But who also had the face of my younger brother with my mother’s hair and my cat’s eyes. Of course, these were all completely ordinary people, who I found quite interesting, so interesting in fact that the garden became a little boring for us. So we moved indoors, well we didn’t actually move, but we did. It’s just like that, you know. Indoors; socializing with each other, and all round having a blast, I decide to go say hello to my dear departed aunt, but on the way out, I am met with a sound. It’s something like a small bark and I look down and there’s my dog, well, any old dog, but I like to think it’s mine. Though in all reality it appeared to be a cross between my neighbor Mr. Skinner’s dog, my cousin Maisey’s dog, and maybe some sort of llama. I couldn’t be sure... But it might be mine. I play with the dog for a while (I call it Daisy) before realizing that I’m late for my train. I arrive at the train station (though I don’t need to travel, I just travel, you know?) and it’s shrouded in mist, or maybe it’s just a trick of the shadows, but as I am about to board my train, an alarm goes off. This frightens me because it’s not something I predicted. I take a step back and the train doors open. Agents dressed in black suits walk out, flashing their identification cards. “There’s been a bomb threat on the train,” One of them says. I can’t hear them over the alarms, but I know what they say of course. Is it time to wake up already? That’s a pity. I’m quite enjoying this dream even though there’s a rumor going around that there’s a tsunami queued which is scary, but not surprising, there usually is one. Besides, I haven’t even said goodbye to daisy. As if also sharing my thoughts, an agent reassures me, “Don’t worry, we think it’s a hoax. The bomb won’t go off for another five hours, but it’s up to you to deactivate it,” they say. “And you need to switch it off so there are no more false alarms.” I nod. It shouldn’t be too hard of a task; I shut my eyes and remember myself lying in my bed and I put myself into that body. I inch my arm over the edge of the bed, then reach down to pick up the alarm. It might be tricky to deactivate while my body is unconscious, so instead of figuring it out and waking up, I flick my arm, tossing the alarm clock on the floor. it stopped beeping. I almost heard it sigh. The clock failed its mission, but that can’t be helped. I have trains to catch, daisy to play with and many more people to meet in the shadowy realm of dreams, much more important things than simply waking up.

Mealtime. I pushed my beans around my plate, separating them from my sausages and mash. My mum sat at the head of the table, my dad beside her and my younger sister Phoebe next to me. Silence hung around the room, disturbed only by the sharp sound of knives and forks scraping over plates accompanied by unified chewing slow and deliberate. “Um mum,” I said “I have some homework to catch up on so-” “No” “But-” “I said no.” her face was set in stone, showing little emotion and I knew my mother well enough that she wouldn’t budge. “Fine,” I grumbled, swallowing a mouthful of potato. Phoebe sighed. “Mummy,” she groaned, “am I done yet?” mum pursed her lips “Honey, Is there food on your plate?” Phoebe looked down at the beans piled high on her plate “Buuuut I’m fuuuuull,” Phoebe whined. Mum gave her the look. “Fine,” Phoebe grumbled, taking a mouthful of beans, wrinkling her nose in disgust. The scraping continued for a few minutes before Dad, having finished his food, pulled out his phone. Mum elbowed him, widening her eyes and dad sighed, replacing the phone in his pocket. Seeing an opportunity, I pushed the last mouthful of beans into my mouth, then picked up my plate, pushing my chair out. Mum looked at me. “Has everyone finished? She asked “But-” “No buts.” “Alright, alright,” I said, sitting back down. Mum was the only one with food left on her plate, the rest of us waiting impatiently. My sister was chewing on her hair. The ground rumbled. I looked at my glass and it rippled. “Um… mum?” “No.” The ground seemed to move beneath us as the rumbling grew closer and closer, my plate vibrating across the table. Mum stopped her own plate in its tracks, taking another mouthful of sausage. I noticed the worried expressions on my family’s face when something burst through the wall, sending debris in all directions. A chunk of plaster landed in my mother’s mashed potato, and a gigantic dragon poked its head through the hole in the wall. The dragon was covered in huge shimmering scales of emerald green with a fiery spark in its eyes and my mother stood up, pushing her chair back with an equally fiery spark igniting in her own eye. “No,” she whispered. The dragon ignored her and let out a mighty roar, a flame forming on its tongue. My mother gritted her teeth “NO,” she roared back. “WE ARE HAVING A FAMILY DINNER.” the dragon’s eyes widened in fear, taking a step back before hurriedly retreating through the wall. Mum lowered herself into her chair and sighed with a slight: “Heh,” As if a dragon hadn’t just burst through our wall. She casually removed the chunk of plaster from her mashed potato and smiled at us. “This is lovely, isn’t it? We really need to sit down as a family more often.” And so me, my Dad, and my younger sister Phoebe remained seated at the table, waiting patiently while Mum resided at the head chewing on her mashed potato, a slight breeze blowing through the gaping hole in our wall.

The daffodils danced in the breeze; bathed in the sun’s golden rays, the green grass shimmering in the soft light. The oak’s gentle whisper lifted through the air, The birds singing sweetly for all who would listen; The park filled with the laughter and shouts of children. We believed the day would never end, but the sun grew tired of play and went off to seek other adventures. And so a shadow fell over the earth, the golden light snuffed out like a candle, the daffodils dancing no longer, pulled violently by the harshening winds that tore through the empty streets, the green grass turned silver with frost. Wailing mournfully, the great oak creaked and groaned, the birds scattering in search of a safe place to roost. The swings creaked eerily in the gusty wind; the playground all but deserted. It ended so quickly, the day, no one would have seen it coming, but everyone knows the day simply goes on until it doesn’t. And it was on that same day that I strolled in the golden light, a goofy smile spread over my face like butter, when the shadow crossed over my face, leaving me in darkness. A feeling of hopelessness numbed my body, and I was fine until I wasn’t.

I was going to die. i had known this for a while, but if there’s one thing we’re all afraid of, it’s dying alone, and that’s exactly what was going to happen to me. Maybe I should have called them, but maybe I didn’t have the guts; I kinda wish they had called me, which is absurd. How could they know? I haven’t seen my family in years. My children hated me for a while after the divorce and my partner hated me thus why the divorce happened, to begin with. It’s funny how you can look at someone and think that there’s no way you could ever not love them and then one day you don’t. They forgave me, of course, The kids, at least they pretended to, but it wasn’t easy for them. It wasn’t easy for any of us. Life isn’t just isn’t easy, but I guess everyone knows that, In the end, they all left. I suppose I didn’t do enough. Of course I tried, I mean, I really did, but that never seems to amount to anything. I used to see them every now and again, Christmas and all that, but even my own grandchildren were strangers to me. None of us really hated each other. We just never learned to be a family. The nurses and doctors nag constantly about contacting my family and, on occasion, have tried to contact them and failed, but I am very stubborn and I tried my best to explain that it was better this way. I mean, it wasn’t, but I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t want my family’s pity. All I ever wanted was their love. I keep telling myself I should have tried harder, but I don’t know. I don’t know if anything matters, not anymore. So now I lay in bed with only the hospital staff for the company; they try their best to be kind, but I honestly believe I’m a lost cause, so I just tell them I want to be left alone. Even though I don’t. My hours grow shorter and I’m aware of every second. It’s getting harder; all I want to do is sleep. I sigh and turn towards the door, closing my eyes. There’s a knock and my youngest daughter walks in. Amelia, her partner is with her, and a little boy. I think his name is Noah. I wasn’t sure about her partner’s name, though. Everything’s a little fuzzy, but Amelia could reintroduce us, it would be fine, so I beam at them. Amelia comes over and holds my hand. Hey mum, she smiles. I squeeze her hand. I love you, I say, but she just stands there staring. I open my eyes to an empty room. A room that was always empty and always would be empty, at least for me. A numbness spreads over my body, but I don’t cry. I close my eyes. I’m sorry.

(a little rushed lmao) This Autumn Autumn, like all the seasons, All the years, Splattered into one. And it always starts all over, Just when we thought it done. The rain trickles through the streets, Moss bulging in the cracks of the paving; Burnt autumn leaves dance through the storm, The wind wild and misbehaving. The evergreens stand tall, unwavering, Undisturbed by the chaos that ensues. The people trudge in silent thought, frowns on their faces; pebbles in their shoes. The gusty wind whistles through the eaves, Taking autumn in its stride, And so quickly it passes Like the turning of the tide. Leaves of oranges, yellows and red, Turn sluggish brown, lying in the gutter; Thinking of brighter, breezier days, the sun melting on their leaves like butter. The trees shiver naked; bare, Winter will end, but doesn’t it all? flowers bloom then wither and die, every tree will stumble and fall. And far away the ocean calls. In a fitful rage, the waves weep, Crying out to all who listen. While down below, the fishes sleep. The seasons were ever changing, never still, As we grew old with the trees. But we didn’t always have the chance to change, Before, we withered with the leaves. And i often wonder how it was, When that same breeze blew through, Hundreds of autumns ago, When it might have felt brand new. Ancient and forever there, Like the soil beneath our feet, Like the sun that warms our back, What makes our world complete. Treading that soil, breathing that air, Like all that came before. Lost but determined, As we fought war after war, And did they think ‌it would ever end? The weeping, the cries in the street- Did they know that war would carry on? But that autumn would be just as sweet.

(this is the definition of no ideas and no time lol no time for any sort of editing or anything, maybe not even grammar lol wouldn't recommend eheh only sending cause i can't lose now actually quite embarrsing don't read please eheheh) Beep… beep… beep… I groaned rubbing my eyes, was it morning already? I reach over and grab up my alarm, 10:00am What? I didn't set my alarm for ten… I stumbled out of bed and pulled back the curtains. Pitch black. Hmmm something wasn’t right and not just with my alarm clock. I walked over to my draw, pulling out my watch, but unlike my alarm my watch was a direct link to the appropriate timeline so I was pretty confident in a slightly more accurate time representation. 5:02am That seemed about right. This couldn’t be too hard, it was my job after all, I was the keeper of this time line and I'd had extensive training so I should have been alright. But first I needed a little more evidence of possible collisions. I was just about to pull my equipment and measuring tools out when there was a sharp rap at the door. I sighed. “Who is it?” i called The knocking continued. Grumbling, I dragged my feet to the front door, time was off the essence and that knocking was really annoying. Irritated, I opened the door. “Yes?” a short stout man stood at the door, who appeared to be a reverend of some type wearing a black robe and a small black rimmed hat which he removed with a smile revealing his shiny bald head. “I’ve come to collect your earnings for the church.” he said “Excuse me?” i spluttered in complete confusion He sighed “I said I've come to collect your earnings for the church, we haven't had a contribution from you in awhile, so I thought that I would take the liberty of paying you a visit.” “uhhh sorry… I'm not a member of any church and I'm a bit busy at the moment.” i said “WAIT” I closed the door on his face Finally a little bit of peace. With a sigh I went back to my room pulling out my measuring equipment. 6 minutes later, I'd just about finished setting up my telescope when another knock came to the door. But this one was louder and more urgent. “OPEN UP” I jumped, who on earth… the knocking boomed through the house. And I'd just painted that door… Before my paintwork could be further damaged I ran to the front door pulling it open. Two roman soldiers glared at me, the reverend squashed between them grinning like the cheshire cat. “Is it true you refused to pay the taxes you owed this man?” one of the guards barked “I’m sorry is this some sort of prank..” and that’s when it hit me how could have i been so stupid? The time lines.. They were converging.” “You’re coming with us’ “Wait” I protested but the guards grabbed me by the arms pulling me out the door. They dragged me down the steps towards a waiting taxi on the kerb. “please “ i laughed shakily “you’ve made some sort of mistake..” “SILENCE” “Yup ok whatever” i mumbled They were about to push me into the taxi when one of them noticed the watch around my wrist “What is that? You can’t have that.” he ripped it from my arm. great now i had no way of contacting head office, this timeline was a mess and it would converge with further lines if i had no way of getting word to HQ. i noticed the roman soldier had a sticker stuck to his bronze chest plate HELLO MY NAME IS…. Felix :) “Hey listen uhh felix” i said sweetly “something is wrong with time and i really need that watch…” Felix raised an eyebrow and pulled out a pair of handcuffs “Oh please, is that really necessary? OW that’s too tight!” i whined The other roman pushed me into the back of the taxi “You have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law you have the right to an attorney if-” “Yes yes” i interrupted “i am aware of my rights” Felix started up the engine of the taxi, it shook a little and I quickly realized the taxi was rising from the curb. Jeepers this was worse than I first anticipated… The taxi rose through the air and began flying over towards the city center. I avoided looking out the window. I get airsick pretty easily. It wasn’t long before we had arrived and were parked by the community center. If only I could get my hands on that watch… a few more roman soldiers were waiting for the taxi, others keeping back a crowd, maybe protesters. they threw a blanket over my head, smuggling me into the building. When we entered the shouting grew louder and I heard the soldiers whispering something about the peasants having another revolt. The soldiers pushed me to my knees and removed the blanket from my head. “Well what do we have here?” said a woman who sat on a makeshift throne from plastic community chairs and crates. I instantly recognized the small woman who glared down at me as Queen Victoria. I groaned. “Look if it matters that much I'll pay taxes to the church ok? just let me go please, I need my watch, or we’re all going to die!” “And you expect me to believe this scandalous lie?” the queen said, frowning. “I-” “What if he’s telling the truth?” Felix interrupted. “Give me this watch this man wishes to possess.” the queen snapped, Felix ran over and bowed offering the queen the watch “hmmm, seems worthless, what is its value?” I opened my mouth but before I could answer a booming roar sounded making the ground shake beneath our feet. The peasants were hushed then screams of terror erupted louder than the former protests. “Look, I know you think I'm just some evil man who doesn't pay his wages to the church, but trust me, Please! Just whatever you do don’t click the side button on the watch” The queen clearly not trusting me only hesitated a second before clicking the side button, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for. Suddenly a T-rex burst through the building sending chunks of wall in every direction. The dinosaur looked around before letting out the mightiest bellow. I ducked as it swooped towards me with its huge teeth and I covered my face terrified. Silence. I looked up at the frozen dinosaur suspended right before my face, I could almost see right down its throat. I quickly removed myself from that dangerous position and came face to face with one of the time officers. She saluted “Came as quickly as i could sir, but why didn’t you alert us sooner of the converging timelines?” I sighed “It’s complicated.” “This world is in complete shambles, we’ll need to make an immediate evacuation, but even then we might not make it in time before it crashes into further time lines.” she said out of breath “We don’t have time” i said “we’ll have to erase the whole line there’s no time for anything else” “But sir the people.. Billions of people.” “We must do what’s necessary for the greater good.” i hesitated “no buts we need to leave immediately. I followed the officer through the portal which she came through and i noticed Felix standing not far away and although he was frozen temporarily time locked, he looked frightened. "Are you sure this is what you want sir?” the officer said nervously “Immediately” i replied “As you wish” the officer pulled a small device from her bag setting it up before pulling a trigger and throwing it though the time portal. I watched as the surroundings were pulled inside by a major implosion and the portal sealed. I walked down the spotless hallway with the officer towards HQ. I'd grown quite fond of that time line. Pity.

Bedtime. The sun has set, The day has gone; Suppers up, You start to yawn. It’s time to sleep, To rest your head Full of dreams, Upon your bed. You brush your teeth, pyjamas, soft and clean. They’ll tuck you in bed, It’s that same routine. Now your comfy and cosy, Now all is well, safe from the cold; There are tales to tell. You snuggle up ready, For the stories to begin, Of villains and heroes, Where good guys always win. There’ll be stories of bravery, Of family and friends- Adventures and fun, You’ll be sad when it ends. You’ll beg for another, You might even weep, But your eyes grow heavy It’s time for sleep. So say goodbye To your fictional friends. You might meet again, It all depends . Now the stories are over, they kiss you goodnight; Walk out the door, And switch off the light. Now Eyes wide awake, Not even sleepy, Silent and still, The room turned creepy. The monsters awaken, Shadows crawl, Shadows creep. Evil grins, silent scuttles, Will you ever get to sleep? It’s coming to get you- A creak under the bed. Your body goes stiff, Frozen in dread. Don’t move a muscle , Not a toe over the side. Can it hear you breathe? You could have cried. You’re so very afraid, Of that thing beneath you. Creeping and crawling, What must you do? The door will be ajar, Just a tiny bit. So you have to do What you see fit. you jump from the bed, you run through the door, Creep silently, Across the floor. You climb on the bed, They’re fast asleep. Tuck yourself in, And count the sheep. And They’ll be adventures had, When off you fly, When you’re lost in those dreams, Under a starry sky.

Midnight They say midnight is the hour that never ends, unbeknownst to all who sleep. Yet I do not rest when the hour strikes twelve, for I am afraid of what lays wake. I wait out the hour. I stay alert, my senses sharp and as keen as ever, I lay and I wait for what feels like days and days and perhaps that’s exactly what they were. Unfortunately, some nights lasted longer than others, and that midnight was no exception. The wind whistled through the eaves, the whole house seeming to tremble and quake beneath the harsh breath of the storm. And I was frightened. Midnight ticked on and on, the hour never changing. I grew hungry and weak, but didn’t have the courage to leave my bed. Lightning flashed through the cracks in the curtains, and thunder boomed from the distant hills. The night seemed to beckon to me, but I was frozen in fear and could not be tempted. The storm grew harsh with my resistance and a gust of wind forced itself through the window and I covered my face as shards of glass shattered in all directions. Jumping from my bed, I ran through the house, looking for an escape. The storm calmed to a low whisper, beckoning to me and I burst through the door, inhaling the fresh night air. The whispering ceased, but I had broken my only rule. I was tempted at the hour of midnight. My breath hung heavy in the cold air, and the silence was cruel. I looked around, waiting for what would find me, when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I turned and stared into the penetrating eyes of the lone wolf; it slunk round the side of my cabin, its coat of white shining in the light of the full moon, its bright eyes searching my soul. I screamed, and the ground began to shake. The wolf bounded off into the night and the ground rumbled louder and louder; the earth cracked, trees shooting out of the ground, tall and looming. I ran, but they followed me, the trees appearing all around till I was in what seemed like a forest. I heard the lone wolf's cry from far away; the shadows creeping closer, and I covered my ears, falling to my knees. I woke drenched in sweat; the room flooded in darkness; the clock striking one. A wolf howled in the distance and that’s when I realized I had done the worst thing imaginable. I had slept through the hour of midnight.