Flash Fiction Winner Hanna DePoy - 10th Grade

Off My Axis

The world spun again, like my mind was its axis and my eyes were the twin suns giving light to the

sane people who still roamed freely around the globe. The cool glass that separated the world from me was never warm and never just clear. No matter which window I gazed through there were always little diamonds of thin metal laced through the panes of glass. It kind of upsetted me but my therapist never wanted to know about that kind of stuff. She just nodded, crossed her fingers my brain would heal itself, and gave me new drugs. She wasn't the best, but she was the only one who would agree to meet with me, even though everyone says otherwise, I saw a paper that reminded me that I was a threat to other's mental security. Geez I'm pretty messed up then since I'm the worst of the worst, that always make me giggle, and I guess that scared some people.


I missed the real world, the commotion and chaos, but most of all, the never ending noise. It was far too quiet in my world now, I always had noise in my life and I somehow would find a beat and dance or rap if I wanted. I reached up and stroked the smooth scar tissue where my ears used to reside before the incident, but I really don't remember what happened. No matter what anyone tries to make me remember, nothing ever works, but why does anyone want to know? I was just an average Jane Doe and then I was something to be looked at and poked or prodded whenever someone wanted. I wonder how bad someone would feel if they really knew what happened to me. All too soon I was consumed by a spell cast by the wicked witch called my brain and I remembered it all.


Somehow I was back in the dank dungeon called a lab by some weird professor, strapped down to a cold metal table with huge inch thick leather bands that Hulk may have been able to break free from, but not me. My mad scientist had a proud face with salt and pepper hair and bushy eyebrows that make her kind of look like Einstein but she wouldn't look right without them. She was tall for a woman, but had an obvious limp like one of her legs had to be dragged around.


"You ready to be the next best creation of Mankind than Wifi?" she once asked with an accent I couldn't place but shook my head anyway. "Too bad honey bunches! You are gong to be wether you want it or not."


She took my head and rolled it to the side viciously and stabbed a thick needle into my jugular and I was barely conscious as I saw her pick up her scalpel and rip into my ribcage like a bloodthirsty maniac. It was weird seeing your blood spill, and feeling all the pain, but not being able to move to stop it or scream for help. The world went dark as I focused on the woman's crazy grinning face as she carved another line.


I resurfaced later shivering and wincing as I felt my rib cage and then realized I was in freezing cold water. I started to choke as I screamed and inhaled the water I was surrounded in. Instead of suffering and feeling my lungs reject the substance, it welcomed it and I began to breather normally, while surrounded by water. My ribs moved to the flow of the circulating water and when I looked down at the cuts in my sides, they bristled and continued breathing for me. I was a human and I now had gills. Like a fish. My ears popped and I felt so much pain, but I didn't know why. I was pulled out of my tank then and shot up again before the shooting pain of switching to air could allow me to scream for help, the world was dark before I could breathe without pain.


I woke later, back in my tank with my gills doing their thing while I floated, this time the water was so cold that I couldn't feel the chill on my ears. I reached up to rub a little warmth into them and they were no longer there, just my smooth bumps that covered the once open canals.


Gills, I could hide, but how do you explain why you don't have ears? I floated there in my tank until the mad scientist let me out to check if I could still breathe air. I was placed in my holding cell and the shooting pains begun again as I changed from fish to human being. The scientist looked pleased with herself and stalked over like a predator to my cage as I lied on my back and cried as my lungs inflated.


"Well don't you look--."


I was ripped back to the present so quickly that my sides ache like I was just pulled out of the tank in real life. A pair of overly bright car lights swaying past my window. Bright lights always blinded me at night when my lights already were turned off, not by me though I would keep them on all the time to show the world I was still here, just a little off my axis.


My therapist is in my room now, she looks worried and scared, I reached out and took her cold hand in my warm ones and looked her in the eye. And said my first words to her rather than signing like I have for two whole years--another perk of being deaf.


"It's going to be okay, no need to be scared of the newest Frankenstein on the street. you want to know my favorite quote of Mary Shelley's?"


She barely managed to nod.


"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."


My mind couldn't handle a great and sudden change, so it broke. I hoped I didn't just break my therapist's because she just ran out of my room, leaving the door open, which they aren't allowed to do at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. Especially not with me.


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Flash Fiction Winner Brianna Pollard - 7th Grade

Nowhere to Run

There is no way to escape. There is no way to escape from being tied up to this metal stake, in the middle of a burn pile. I took a desperate look around, for anything. My neck locked mid-swing sending a shot of pain through my neck, once I comprehend what I had seen, a shot of pain tore through my heart. Camdon stood there with a blank look on his face, holding the lighter. Let me back up.

Just like any other day, I was walking to the training center. I was from the eighth generation of people. Of Monsters. I'm not the kind you're thinking of, at least not all of the time. That's why I'm going to the training center. Only mistakes go there. Only I go there. I am different, I have changed. She is waiting, the monster is waiting, the psychopath is waiting. She has control over me. She is Ms. Marybeth Tinning.


"What's taking you so long? Don't make me use the pillow and add your body to the rest of your siblings!"


"I'm sorry, mother. I was not trying to anger you. Please forgive me." I said these things with as much contempt as my weak body could muster.


"I will forgive you, just finish by tomorrow."


There is no way that I can possibly finish these by tomorrow. If I don't, she will kill me the same way she killed all the others who dared disobey her. The same way she killed the family that I had. I had no choice but to work all night, and into the next day. Then she came, like whirlwind of hatred, pure hatred. She began to yell at me before she even checked to see the wonderful work I had lost sleep over.


"You incompetent rat! What have you been doing all this time? Sleeping, no doubt about it. You are entirely, and utterly useless. Where is the incomplete project that you have for me?"


"I have it all done ma'am if you'll look,"


"You useless lier, if it is all done then show me."


I walked towards the cold metal table in the middle of the room, and remove the cloth that had been covering the dead man. The autopsy project had been my assignment, and I had completed it in time. As the monster that served as my mother approached the autopsy table, I knew that she could see the precise V incision on the man's chest. The wonderful incision on the side of his head in order to remove the bullet that had been so deeply embedded in his brain.


"Wow for once in your life you actually completed something. Of course, the autopsy might be completed, but your incisions are sloppy and jagged."


"My incisions are perfectly fine, and you know it. the only thing sloppy here is your, your..."


"Is my what?"


"I apologize for speaking out of turn, if my cuts are not good enough for you, then kill me and find someone else to do this."


"I can't find someone else because no one else knows what to do."


"You cant get ride of me because I know things that you need, I get it now. I am important to you, I am important to your survival. It is too bad you never really connected with me. Then I might stay."


"Why wouldn't you stay, and where would you go?"


"I would not stay because there is nothing here for me to stay for. It's not like my mother cares for me as a child and not as a science experiment. Yes, I've found out about what you did to me as an innocent baby, yes I know. I would get as far away from here as possible. As far away from you as possible." little did she know that I had a gun, friends, and an escape plan.


"Please don't leave I can change, I will start to love you just don't leave me here all alone."


"You and I both know that's not true. As soon as I would begin to trust you the slightest bit, you would stab me in the back, literally, and physically. There will be no changing on your part, we both know this. You always have, and will always be a monster."


"Well, if that's how you feel, then I have no choice but to put you into isolation."


She really does know the best way to punish me. She knows how I hate to be alone. She isn't even really my mother, she's my donor. She donated the ingredient for my life. She did so for one child in each generation. I am different, I have known this for my entire life, yet only now did it dawn on me as to why. I've noticed how my sheets end up torn in the morning, I've noticed how the monitors take a step back away from me. I've observed how the others in my generation cower at the very sight of my shadow. I was a mistake, I came from the birthing pods this way, but worse. She would not let them kill me off, sweet right?


Wrong. She wanted me alive for experimentation. She wanted to find out what made me different, there were no others that had the same malfunction as I do. No matter how many tests, or how much research, there was no reasoning for the way I am. There's no explanation, I am a cold-blooded, sick, psychopathic murderer. And She is my next victim...


I've head it's not unusual for violent parents to get murdered by their abused children, but I am far past abuse.


Twelve Hours Later...


Crouched there next to my mother's cold dead body, something I had read quite some time ago resurfaced in my mind, "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." This isn't the end of my story, but the beginning.


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Flash Fiction Winner Emery Porter - 7th grade

Hopefully Hopeless

As I feel the old pages of the Frankenstein book by Mary Shelley between my fingers I look outside of the fast moving car. I then find a bookmark to a certain page that has a quote highlighted in it. My dad had just given me this brand new book for my birthday and I was confused on why there was already something in it. I then read it, "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." I only had a brief second to think of what this quote might mean when something did suddenly change my life, again.

Earlier that morning


I woke up with the birthday song sung to me by my whole family. I slept in the same room as my two sisters Charlotte and Charlie, they were a set of twins. In the room next to mine is a set of triples, but is occupied by only two, the girls, Bella, and Harper. Then the third triplet Logan sleeps in his own room. All of my siblings are older than me, I'm the baby of the family. I Mya Lee Hope, was thirteen.


I hurried and got dressed and went downstairs for my birthday breakfast that my dad always fixes the birthday kid on their birthday. When I got there I realized my dad was overseas and wouldn't be able to make me a birthday breakfast for me. My siblings all pitched in to try to recreate the special birthday breakfast, but it just wasn't the same. I took a couple bites and each one made my eyes fill with tears. I was going to go to our library when I heard a knock at the door. I opened the door to find two soldiers standing there. My mom came to the door and started bawling. I had no idea what was about to happen.


The first soldier spoke, "I'm sorry Mrs. Hope, but I'm afraid your husband has died in action, they were not able to find his body." My mom just stared blankly at him with tears running down her face. She then closed the door and went to her bedroom and cried the rest of the night.


I on the other hand was sad, but mostly sad that no one would celebrate my birthday because they were all busy being sad about dad. I then got one of those cake in a box type things and baked it. I sat there alone with just a single candle. I then blew out the candle saying this as salty tears fill my eyes "Happy birthday, Mya." I then heard another knock at the door.


"I got a package for a Ms Mya Hope." The delivery man said to me.


"That would be me," I respond as I wipe tears from my eyes.


"If you could just sign here, please." The delivery man said right after I said it was for me.


"Of course." I respond and then sign for the package. I look at the box then I closed the door.


My dog Bailey came to greet me. "I think more people celebrated your birthday than my birthday." I said out loud to my dog, she barked.


I then grab a knife and opened the box. I find two things a book and a letter. The book was called Frankenstein and it was by Mary Shelley. I then opened the letter and immediately I knew it was from dad. I then walked straight to my room and thought that when I was strong enough to read it I would. So, I marched to my room with the whole box, and I set it on my bed. My sisters looked at me strangely, I faked a smile and walked out to finish my cake.


My mom came downstairs and called a family meeting. We all walked into our normal family meeting room. Everyone sat down on the couches in our living room. I offered cake, but no one seemed like they wanted any.


"I know that we all have suffered a big, tragic loss. I've been thinking that we shouldn't dwell on this one moment. We should all move on, and focus on Mya's special day. We're going out to Mya's choice or restaurant. Ok? Everyone get dressed and lets get a move on it's already 7:30." My mother states in a uplifting voice.


"You heard her lets go." Logan reminds everyone.


I get dressed as fast as I can, then think of where we should go. I then stop and think about the Frankenstein book. I grab it then I hop in the car. I'm wearing one of my favorite outfits. I have a nice baby blue shirt on that says believe and a pair of jean shorts and flats. I end up picking The Dusty Spoon. It's a more run down place on the outside but inside is beautiful.


"Hey mom I want to go to The Dusty Spoon?" I say as the rest of my family gets in the car.


"Sure honey wherever you want." My mom responds.


Everyone sees the book sitting in my lap but they don't say anything. We start driving. It's about a twenty minute drive from our house to the restaurant. So, I open my book and start reading. I get lost in my book then we hit a bump and I drop my book on the car floor. I then see something stick out of the book. I turn to that page and find something highlighted in it. I read it, "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."


I thought about it for a second then a big semi came and smashed right into our car. Everyone around me was dead, my family, dead. Ambulances came and dragged everyone out. I didn't remember much because I lost consciousness in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.


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Flash Fiction Winner Amber Barber - 7th grade

The burning is so painful, breaking ribs would be better than this. The burning wasn't stopping. It was supposed to stop. Wasn't it? Trying to speak, more pain came over her like a blanket.

"W-where...am...I-I?"


More pain. I can't bear it much longer! Everywhere just hurts with excruciating pain. The bright white light blinding her as she tried to move then the world went black.


"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change," Was the last thing that was said to her when she was normal.


2 YEARS LATER

"Sitting on the paper and a bed...again." Rebecca mumbled. Remembering was the worst.

"Good afternoon Miss. Clearwater how was your day?"


"Good." Just up to the part when I walked in here.


"Alrighty then lets get started, so you still can't remember what happened October 31st?"


"Nope, just know what you told me."


"So you don't remember getting in the car? Driving with your parents to your grandparents house? Not even the simmi that hit you?"


"Nope" Thanks for being so gentle about it though.


Looking down not remembering how she got her right arm and left leg removed just to be replaced with metal was something no one on Earth could imagine. Later on they told her it was just an experiment, that she wasn't supposed to live was even worse.


"Like I said hundreds of times I only remember the pain of waking up."


"Alrighty then, so all of your attachments are in good condition," looking at his notes, "I do however want to look at your control panel" said Doctor Black moving in his swivel chair to Rebecca's back. The slight tug of the back of my head didn't hurt, but I still wasn't used to it.


"Nothing out of the ordinary but...ah there we go is that better Miss.Clearwater?"


A small sentence came across my vision that said "retina eyesight improvement'


"Yes"


Doctor Black can walk a very fine line of polite and rude. Doctor Black gave me a pat on the back and then swiveled back around to finish up.


"I would like to ask you something very serious Miss.Clearwater, the government ask me to ask you for permission to make more cybors like yourself. If you say yes then you will be saving people from losing their legs, arms, or other body parts, you may even save some lives, but......if not then you will be saving them from, what you personally think of a living burden, becoming a cyborg."


"WHAT!! Why would I have to give permission, NO, never in my life would I have chosen this life. Do you know the stairs I get from people, how awful it is to be able to take my limbs from my own body! I would rather die than be a cyborg! NO, NO, NO."


"Alright jezz, okay calm down I'll say you said no."


I ran out of there as fast as I could. This would be a great time to cry. but I don't have tear ducts, however, I can blush and I felt the heat rising up to my face. After slamming the door to my 2 bedroom apartment I noticed something out of the ordinary.


I thought I closed my bedroom door?


White letters filled my vision '3 heat sources found inside a range of 20 feet...15 feet...10 feet' I didn't know what to do '7 feet' but my network told me to turn around '5 feet' and run the other way. Just as I was turning to open my door the worst pain shot through my back and to ground rushed to meet me.


"......coming to wake up in a minute."


I was on the floor and mentally checking for injuries. 'Arms and legs restrained, zapped by 100 volts, unconscious for 3 hours, 28 minute and 46 seconds.'


"What are we going to do after?" the mysterious voice said again.


"I dunno, let's just wait until we get the answer we need." Another voice.


I opened my eyes. My sensors were blocked by something, probably to far underground to get a signal. So I don't know where I am, what these crazy people want, or how I am going to escape.


"Ah-Miss.Clearwater what a pleasure for you to join us."


"No, no a pleasure would be for you to let me go."


"O, you can go whenever you like as long as you give permission for us to make more cyborgs."


"Why do you want permission to make more monsters, and aren't you the government or something do whatever you want, just leave me out of it."


"Sorry no can do, see I would love to make more cyborgs, but we need a cyborgs permission and signituar to make it official. We need someone who is experienced with cyborg parts. I would go get another cyborg, but your the first of your kind."


"No. Absolutely not"


"I hoped you'd say that! Keep zapping her until she gives in."


A short bald, smiling, man comes up with a taser.


What do I do? What do I do?


BANG.


Heat rushed over her. It burned her some of her human skin.


Great just great.


"GET AWAY FROM HER"


Pop-Pop.


White letters filled her already smoky vision 'grenade, gunshots, 2 bullets, gun identification: 22.'


Trying to see what was going on and trying to undo restraints isn't the easiest this I've ever done. Wheezing in and out, coughing from the smoke I felt the rope fall and slowly crawled to a window.


Strong hands grabbed me pulling me up I made my move to defend myself, a 50 per mile fast puch, when I heard metal on metal. I looked up and saw a metal hand press firmly against her punch. Another cyborg.


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Flash Fiction Winner Ashlyn Brooke - 7th grade

Graduation day

They all thought that there wasn't going to be a future. "Nothing is more painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change". The war going on, threatened our existence, and it didn't help that the war was between the states. There was only so many people that believed we should build the USA back up again. We all split up into colonies. There was already barley any survivors, and there was a disease going around. People thought that it could possibly be the end of the world, especially when the monsters of the disease are lurking and waiting for their next victims beyond the boundaries.

"Oh great it's graduation day, another day from another year," I said sarcastically.


"Oh stop, you could be picked," Amy, my mom, replied.


By the way my name is Jake. I'm 19 and I get to graduate today. I live in a colony that's called Captive Colony. Graduation day is going to be happening in the other four colonies, as well. After everybody graduates there is going to be a representative from Tumbleback City visiting each colony to announce the winner from the graduates to be tested. Only one of the four candidates will pass and be relied on to carry the country, of course there are people from past years too. For the past 3 years they have failed, even with the help of each other. Hopefully this time, the person can do it with the help from the past candidates. Maybe, just maybe, I'll be picked.


As I'm walking up to get my diploma it finally hit me. I'm alone. I'm an adult and have to survive alone. I have to find a job, get my own house, pay for food, and pay bills. Maybe have a family, but I'm not sure. Of course that's only if I don't get picked.


"Hey Jake, sit next to me," Terra, my best friend asked me.


"No. I was just going to sit alone," I remarked.


We both laughed until the representative stood looking over everybody.


"Good evening ladies and gentleman. My name is Thomas and I am the representative from Tumbleback City. This year, one of the graduates will be coming back with me, as usual. Hopefully this year will be better than lasts. Okay, now drum roll please......the person that is coming back with me is Jacob Willis."


At first I didn't realize that he said my name until Terra pushed me. As I started walking it got louder and louder. People were cheering, I was getting high fives and hugs from people I didn't even know or recognized.


"Hello Mr. Willis," Thomas said shaking my hand.


"Hello, please call me Jake," I replied in delight.


"We will be leaving tomorrow morning, and your testing will be starting in the evening. It will give you time to meet the other four contestants," he cut to the point.


"That works for me, happy to see you then."


When I got home I went straight to my room and started packing. After that I went downstairs and had my last family dinner and my last family game night. There were a bunch of tears and hugs. Terra came over also. Even she was crying and she is the toughest girl I know because she never cries. The rest of the night was lonely. Everybody went to bed before me and when I did, it was hard to fall asleep.


The next morning I said all the goodbyes I needed to and left for our town square. Thomas and I got on a train and headed to Tumbleback City. It felt like forever to get there but really it was only like 3 hours. Okay, I guess you could say forever. We were the farthest colony from Tumbleback City. When I got there, there were two other boys and two other girls.


"Hi my name is Jake," I informed them.


"I don't care," the girl with the blonde hair said.


"Okay then," I replied.


"Anyways my name is Rachel," the girl with light brown hair said.


"My name is Luis," one of the guys informed.


"My name is Gage," the other guy informed.


"Okay so what's up with that other chi-," I asked.


"-I don't know but what I do know if she keeps that attitude up she won't even be able to have an attitude," Rachel interrupted.


"Whoa slow down," Luis and Gage said surprised, at the same time.


"Okay listen up!"


We all turn in shock to see that it is just one of the representatives.


"Your testing starts now. What we will be having you do is try to stay alive out of the boundaries for two days. You will get one weapon, one change of clothing, three food packets, and three water bottles."


"What happens if we get the disease?"


"Then you have to try to live on your own."


"Oh, c'mon you have seen what that disease does to you. It takes over your mind, makes you go crazy, makes you turn into a...a monster."


"Well, that's why you get a weapon to kill anything that has that disease."


As he walks away I start to say something.


"I don't know about you guys but that guy sounded suspicious when you brought up the disease. Like, they were looking for something inside us."


"I know. I regret asking him that." Luis announced.


"Well I guess we should go choose our weapon," Gage informed.


I chose the knife. Then, I got my clothes, my food packets, and my three water bottles. I hopped on the helicopter along with the other four and we headed beyond the boundaries. It's a total dead land. With bombs going off, monster looking people and animals walking around, attacking each other. It's all bare. Nothing to look at. It's a...it's no man's land.
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Flash Fiction Winner Johan Jimenez - 7th grade

One winter day I was in class. We were studying poetry and my teacher, Mrs. Dole, had about five

poems that we were supposed to interpret the meaning of. One of which was, "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as great and sudden change." I was skeptical of this and thought to myself "Ya right", "I could think of dozens of other ordeals worse than that."


I soon found out I was wrong.


I guess The saying is kinda evil or something I mean just look at me now. Anyways I had seen a scrap of paper with the saying on it, edged deep into the paper. I thought it was pretty creepy but decided to rip it up and throw it away, as I was unbeknownst to the cruel luck it gave me. It felt like it was watching me but I ignored the strange feeling. Later next hour I saw a group of kids around a part of Mrs. Springfields wall and soon sall it said "Nothing is So Painful" etched into the wall and everyone not knowing who did it. I was the last one to see it as I had been in the bathroom for most of the passing period so people suspected me of doing it and told Mrs. Springfield that I was guilty. Soon I found myself in the principal's office. My mom walked in.


"What is going on here?" she demanded.


Before I could speak Mrs. Springfield snapped.


"Your son just wrote in my wall nothing is so painful with a crowbar for no reason."


"With a crowbar?" I questioned


"Yes Migel found it outside my doorway."


"Is this true?" my mom inquired.


"Of course not" I exclaimed. "Wait I have an idea!", "Check the cameras."


About two minutes later Mrs. Houston (our camera operator) pulled up the tape on a screen and we all huddled around it we watched an empty hallway for a while but when they were about to give up we heard a scrape and and a crash the camera went black.


"See your son took out the camera and then went in my room and vandalized my wall!" Mrs. Springfield shouted.


"But that's not enough proof", my mom returned.


"But think about it it makes total sense."


"That's it." principal Burlington said, "Your are suspended for two weeks"


Soon I found myself in the car going home when "CRASH" My mom hit a tree I called an ambulance. Six minutes later the ambulance came I was unhurt but my mom not so much her spinal cord was broken and had a few broken ribs. At the hospital that night she died from her injuries.


And on the news I had learned my dads work went up in flames only one survived, and it wasn't my dad he was too busy to notice it blocking the exit.


That night I was in an orphanage trying to sleep but I couldn't, I couldn't even focus on anything. My world was changing way to fast I couldn't take it no more so I ran away that night. I ran till I found myself in a dark alley somewhere far away from where I've ever been before. That night I found in sharpie marker "To the mind" scribbled on the trashcan I laid beside.


"What's the deal with that I said aloud", then I remembered the poem in language arts the other day and moved somewhere else for the night pretending like it had nothing to do with my luck.


I was wrong.


The next day I was seeing things my eyes were all blurry and I couldn't see right because everything I see has four words written on it and I see creepy shadow people that say the same words which are Nothing Is So Painful. So if you underestimate the pain of Great and sudden change, guess what? Your wrong.


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Flash Fiction Winner Keely Miller - 10th grade

It happened

Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change. Waking up in a warm bright place is the first thing I remember. The last thing that I remember is pure agony. My life changed so suddenly. I remember walking in the dark, down the street from the town coffee shop. A single street light shines down the dark street.

The air was different that night, for it had a bitter taste and was warm. There was a shadow stalking me. Its footsteps coincide with mine. I was unaccompanied. No one was insight on the dark street, my only thought was to make it home and bolt the door. I was three blocks away from my apartment. The noise grew louder. I picked up my pace. Hoping it wouldn't notice. My apartment was in a secluded area that took some time to get to. I don't know why I'm being followed. I've never done anything wrong before.

I grew up in a small town with the same people I've always known. Wake up; smelling the fresh air and go on with my regular days routine. The same thing everyday in and out. Except for tonight. Two blocks away. I turned the corner of the old book store.


The steps its still growing louder. I broke into a sprint. The concrete under my feet was uneven and cracked.


The warm air stinging my throat. I could hear its steps right next to me. 1 block away.


All I wanted to do was be in my secure home. My eyes were burning with tears as I ran. I ran for what felt like an eternity, never letting up my pace. I could see my garden in front of my apartment.


The steps started to die away from me. I didn't let up. I made it to my front porch. I could barely see. My face soaked with tears. I reached into my bag for my keys. I was trembling with fear. The light from my living room flooded the front lawn. My keys slipped through my fingers and onto the cement sidewalk with a clatter.


That's when I heard its low heavy breathing. I didn't dare to look behind me. The steps drew closer and closer.


I swooped down to retrieve the keys and managed to find the right one and insert it into the keyhole.


I felt a cold hand rest upon my shoulder. I stood petrified with fear. Then it slowly turned me to face the creature. I gazed upon the face of my monster. It had fair skin with sunken eyes. Red flared its cheeks. Its mouth curled into a horrifying grin. "Why are you doing this," escaped my mouth.


"Because it's fun," it said.


I was writhing in pain. My body was in complete anguish. I tried to scream but nothing came out. It looked at me with an apathetic look and turned then disappeared into the night. I tried to stand. Hoping. Praying that I could get to the neighbors.


I felt myself fall to my knees. The pain started to go away. I started to lose consciousness. I could feel myself slipping away. Relief started to flood my body. Had someone come to my aid. I didn't feel anything. I don't feel anything.


I opened my eyes to see a brilliantly white scene. Nothing and no one is in eye shot. I rose to my feet. Glancing around to find the slightest sign of life.


I realized my hands felt caked with something. I peered down to see blood. My blood. I reached for my head feeling the warmth of it trickle down my face. My arms and legs covered in bruises. I went to scream. Nothing came from my throat. My fingers traced my neck. There was a gash in my throat, for blood oozed from it.


From the distance a dot started to approach me. As it drew closers I realized I had seen this person before. The dark figured stopped right in front of me. I mouthed, "What happened."


With a reply, "you died, come it has been waiting for you to join us."


My mind felt as if it had burst with this sudden change in realization. I had really died. And the person who was in front of me was it. My murder.


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