Tag Archives: short-story

Shrinking S3 E9

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Spoilers

“Daddy Issues”

There was a feeling of finality in this episode of Shrinking.

Paul convinces Gabby to come back to work and then offers her the practice once again. However, he did not call her out on ditching her dream of setting up a trauma center. Something that Liz came to yell at him about.

Paul kept talking about having one more week before his retirement and spoke about moving. That was not something I remember as a chance and I don’t know how I would feel about Shrinking without Harrison Ford. I am assuming that it is just storyline, but I am not sure.

Jeff Daniels returned as Jimmy’s father, bringing up plenty of conflict from Jimmy’s childhood. When Jimmy found out that his dad was not going to go to the actual graduation ceremony in order to go on a fishing trip, Jimmy was even more down than he was before.

Worse yet, when his father told Jimmy that he really liked Sofi, way more than Tia (who apparently always saw him in the same light as Jimmy did), Jimmy broke up with Sofi, and he did it in a very cold manner. I would not blame Sofi if, when he invariably comes begging back, she dismisses it and kicks him to the curb. Jimmy letting his daddy issues interfere with something that was potentially great is more immature than I thought Jimmy could be. You could see that his father’s presence was not bringing out the best side of him.

Sean got the job as a a sous chef. He hesitated to accept it because of his friendship with Jorge, who worked with him in the food truck, and would cost him that job. Jorge did not take the news well, but Sean did not react with animosity or anger as he would have before, showing his own growth with his mental health.

It was nice to see the softer side of Paul in this episode. I hope he is not leaving at the end of this season, which has only two more to go.

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #95

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#95

Buy Me a Condo

Title: “Gonna Buy Me a Condo”

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: Weird Al Yankovic In 3D

Released: 1984

Style: This is a style parody of Bob Marley and other reggae music

One of the wonderful hidden gems on the In 3D album. Buy Me a Condo satires the American lifestyle.

Lyrics

Gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full ‘o credit cards
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

Wo, used to live in Jamaica But I don’t live dere no more
Had to change me lifestyle
Do t’ings I never done before
So now I’m just a lonely Rastaman
Living in dis American town
Gonna sell me Bob Marley records
Gonna get me some Jackson Browne

I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
And get a wallet full ‘o credit cards, eh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

Wo, gonna cut off me dreadlocks
T’row away all me ganja
I’ll have a Tupperware party
Maybe join me a health spa
I’ll get a bowl of plastic fruits
And a microwave oven, too
Then I’ll have the neighbors over for a weenie barbecue

Gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full ‘o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I get a funny little T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

Ain’t gonna work in de field no more
Gonna be Amway distributor
Ain’t gonna work in de field no more (no, no)
Gonna be Amway distributor

Ja, ja, ja, life is so very hard
I need a (ja) ja, ja, ja jacuzzi in me back yard

Oh, I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full ‘o credit cards, eh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

What’d you say?

I gonna buy me a condo
I gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
Get a wallet full ‘o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

What’d you say?

I gonna buy me a condo
Gonna buy me a Cuisinart
Get a wall-to-wall carpeting
And get a wallet full ‘o credit cards, oh
I gonna buy me a condo, never have to mow de lawn
I gonna get me da T-shirt wit’ de alligator on

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #98

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#98

Jackson Park Express

Title: Jackson Park Express

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: Mandatory Fun

Style Pastiche: Cat Stevens; Harry Chapin

Release: 2013

Jackson Park Express is one of the longer songs Weird Al has done. It runs 9 minutes and 4 seconds. It is an epic love story between two people who see each other on a bus for the first time. The romance lasts until the woman gets off the bus, without ever speaking to the man.

Ah, love.

Lyrics

Tuesday morning, 8:15
I was riding to work on the
Jackson Park Express
Seemed like any other day
Then my whole world changed
In a way I never could have guessed
‘Cause she walked in
Took the seat right across the aisle
I knew we had a special connection
The second I saw her smile

She smiled as if to say
“Hello, haven’t seen you on this bus before”
I gave her a look that said
“Huh, life is funny, you never know what’s in store
By the way, your hair is beautiful
I bet it smells like raisins”

She looked at me in a way that asked
“Did you have a nose job or something?
I’m only asking, cause your nose looks slightly better
Than the rest of your face”
I arched my eyebrow, ever so slightly
Which was my way of asking
“Do you want my old Hewlett-Packard printer?
It still works, kinda
And I got a bunch of ink cartridges left”

Then, she let out a long sigh
Which, I took to mean, “Uh”
“Mama, what is that deodorant you’re wearing?
It’s intoxicating
Why don’t we drive out to the country sometime?
And collect deer ticks in a zip-lock baggie”, oh yeah

I gave her a penetrating stare
Which could only mean
“You are my answer, my answer to everything
Which is why, I’ll probably do very poorly
On the written part of my driver’s test”

Yes, it all happened
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express

I knew she was starting to fall for me
‘Cause she crinkled her nose, which unmistakably meant
“Baby, lets wear each other’s clothes
And speak in a thick German accent
And, maybe someday we can own and operate
Our own mobile pet-grooming service”
I couldn’t hold back my feelings
I gave her a look, that said
“I would make any sacrifice for your love
Goat, chicken, whatever
I could never hold you close enough
Let’s have our bodies surgically grafted together
Oh, surgically grafted together”

She picked up a newspaper, and started reading to herself
Which I’m sure, was a way of telling me
“When you’re cold, I will warm you
When you’re shivering, I will hold you
When your nauseous, I will give you Pepto-Bismol every hour
For as long as the symptoms persist”
Oh, I, I never, ever want to see you cry
So, please let me cauterize your tear ducts with an arc welder
Then, I glanced down, at her shirt, for a second
In a way that clearly implied
“I like your boobs”

Yes, it all happened
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express

I cleared my throat quietly, and then, I looked away
And I’m sure it was obvious to her, just what I was trying to say
I was trying to say, “Hey
I’d like to make a wall-sized mural out of all the dead skin cells
That you slough off while you sleep at night”
Whoa-o-Oh, “I’d like to rip you wide open
And french-kiss every single one of your internal organs
Oh, I’d like to remove all your skin, and wear your skin, over my own skin
But not in a creepy way”

Then, I’m pretty sure, she looked at me, out of the corner of her good eye
And, though, she never spoke a word, this is exactly what I heard
She was saying, “Oh!
I wanna make out with you, in an abandoned toll-booth, in the middle of a monsoon
I wanna ride dolphins with you, in the moonlight
Until the staff at Sea World kicks us out
I want you inside me, oh, like a tapeworm”

I pointed to the side of my mouth, as a way of indicating
“Hey, I think you got something on the side of your mouth”
She licked the corner of her lips, as if to say
“Here?”, I nodded, implying, “Yeah, you got it”

And, then the bus stopped, at 53rd Street, and she got up suddenly
“Where are you going?”, pleaded my eyes, “Baby, don’t you do this to me
Think of the beautiful children we could have someday
We could school them at home, raise them up the right way
And protect them from the evils of the world
Like Trigonometry and Prime Numbers, oh no
Baby, please don’t go”

She brushed my leg, as she left the bus
I’m sure that was her way of saying
“I’m sorry this just isn’t working out
You’re suffocating me
I need some space to find out what life’s all about
So, goodbye forever, my love”

And deep inside, I knew she was right
It was time for us both to move on
And no, I never got her number, oh no no
She never bothered to leave her address, oh
But, as long as I live, I’ll never forget
Those precious moments we shared together

On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express
On the Jackson Park Express

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #100

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#100

“That Boy Could Dance”

Title: “That Boy Could Dance”

Album: Weird Al Yankovic In 3D

Written: Al Yankovic

Release Date: 1984

Genre: Pop Rock or Power Pop

Style Parody: This is debated by the fans. Some believed that this was a pastiche of the Doobie Brothers while others do not agree.

A fun and energetic song that was an early original for Weird Al. It was not listed on some versions of the In 3D album because of space.

Lyrics

We all used to call him Jimmy the geek
He was a dumb looking, scrawny little four-eyed freak
He never used to hang around with the guys
He’d just sit in the corner
Attracting the flies

He wasn’t much to look at
He never was very bright
But at least there was one thing that he could do alright

That boy could dance
That boy could dance, yeah

He was kind of a jerk
He was kind of a bore
But the women would scream when he walked in the door
There’s one thing I can tell you for sure
That boy could dance

Pickin’ teams, he would always be last
He couldn’t run very far
He couldn’t think very fast
If he was on your side, you’d always lose
That guy had a problem
Even tying his shoes

He never passed his drivers test
He was always afraid of cars
And he had a complexion
That resembled the surface of Mars

But that boy could dance
That boy could dance, yeah

Well, his hair was a mess
And his clothes didn’t fit
He smelled pretty bad
And he drooled just a bit
But you gotta admit
Boy, that boy could dance

Now that boy is much older
He got his own dance studio
He got a teeny bopper fan club
Yeah, he got his own TV show

Now he owns half of Montanna
They all call him “Diamond Jim”
And you know I’d do anything if I could be just like him

‘Cause that boy could dance
That boy could dance
That boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance, dance
(Now that boy could dance)

That boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance, yeah
(Now that boy could dance)
I said that boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)

That boy could dance, yeah
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance

Source: Musixmatch

“don’t read the last message”

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      “dont read the last message.”

           Horror story

That message wasn’t meant for her,

 That’s what made it worse.

 At 1:42 AM, Mara’s phone buzzed. She was half asleep, Face buried into her pillow, When the vibration dragged her back to consciousness. She groaned, Fumbling blindly across her night stand until her fingers found the screen. One notification.Unknown number.No name, No picture.Just a message…

Unknown:Don’t read the last message.

Mara blinked at the screen 

“What?….”

Her brain felt slow, foggy with sleep. She checked the time again. 1:42 AM. Wrong number she whispered. She was about to put her phone down, Then paused. There wasn’t a last message..There’s only one. Mara’s thumb hovered over the screen. A weird, Prickly feeling creeped down her arms. Like when you’re being watched. She looked around her room. Dark, Quiet, Normal.

“ Yeah, ok,” Mara whispered. “ Great prank.”

She locked her phone and went back to bed.Buzz. She froze. Slowly… She picked the phone back up.

Unknown: I said don’t.

Mara’s chest tightened 

“Ok not funny.”

She sat up, her heart beating a little faster.

Mara: Who is this??

The typing bubble appeared instantly. 

Unknown: You weren’t supposed to see that.

Mara’s stomach twisted.

Mara: See what?

A pause. Longer this time..Then

Unknown: The last message.

Her grip tightened.

Mara: THERE IS NO LAST MESSAGE.

Three dots. Typing. Stopping. Typing again.

Unknown: There is.

A cold feeling slid down her spine

Mara: Then send it.

The typing bubbles stayed longer now. Like whoever or whatever was on the other side thinking. Then

Unknown: If you read it, It will know.

“It will know?”

A nervous laugh slipped out. “Ok…Creepy.” 

Mara: Know what

The response came slower this time.

Unknown: It knows you’re here.

Her room suddenly felt smaller 

Mara: I am here

The typing bubbles blinked on and off.

Unknown: Not like that..

Mara swallowed.

Mara: Then what do you mean

A long pause. So long she thought maybe they’d stopped responding. Then

Unknown: It thinks you’re still asleep.

Her heart skipped. Without meaning to, Mara started at her bedroom door. Still closed.Still normal. Right?

Mara: This isn’t funny.

Unknown: I’m not joking. Her fingers hovered across the screen.

Mara: What is “It”.

The typing bubbles appeared.Then it disappeared. Then it appeared again. Finally

Unknown: Don’t ask that.

Mara’s breath came slower this time. More careful. 

Mara: Why not.

A longer pause.

Unknown: Because it might answer.

Something shifted in the room. A sound, Soft. Barely there. From the hallway. Mara turned her head slightly. Silence. Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown: Did you hear that?

Her stomach dropped.

Mara: Hear what

Unknown: Don’t lie

Her chest tightened.

Mara: how do you know where i am

The reply came instantly.

Unknown: Because I’m not where you think I am.

A chill ran through her.

 “Ok, no.” She whispered. “Nope.”

The Unknown person called her and she put on headphones.

She swung her legs off of the bed, standing up.

“Im turning on the lights.”

Unknown: Don’t 

She froze

Mara: Why

The response took even longer.

Unknown: Because it will see you.

Her hand hovered over the light switch. Slowly…She pulled back.

Her heart was pounding now..

“ok.. ok…”  

She backed away from the door…She sat back on the edge of her bed

Mara: What do i do

The typing bubbles flickered 

Unknown: Stay where you are.

Unknown:Don’t make a sound.

Unknown: And whatever happens—

Unknown: Don’t read the last message..

Mara started at the screen. Her body shook with fear.

Mara: You keep saying that there is one but there ISN”T ONE.

Three dots appeared, then her phone screen changed.The chat scrolled up by itself. Mara’s breath caught, because now. There was another message. Above all the rest of the messages. A message she hadn’t seen before.. Sent hours ago

Unknown: It’s behind you

Mara stopped breathing

Her entire body tensed up. Her eyes slowly lifted. The room felt wrong… Way too wrong. Too quiet. Too still. Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown: Don’t turn around.

Her throat tightened

Mara: You said don’t read it.

Unknown: I know

Her hands shook

Mara: Then why is it here

A pause, Then 

Unknown: Because you weren’t

Supposed to wake up. The air in the room felt colder.

Heaver

Like something was pressing down on her

Mara: What happens if I turn around?

The typing bubbles flickered, Stopped, came back

 Unknown: It stops pretending.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Behind her. Something moved. Not loud. Not fast. Just enough. A shift. Like a weight adjusting, on her bed. Right behind her Tears filled her eyes

“No…” She whispered 

Unknown: Stay still

She nodded, even though no one could see her.

Mara: What is it?

The reply came slower

Unknown: It learned you

Her stomach twisted 

Mara: What does that mean?

The answer took longer 

Long enough for Mara to feel something else. Breathing. Not hers but someone else behind her. Close

Unknown: It knows how you sound

Unknown: How you move

Unknown: How you think

A tear slid down her cheek

Mara: What does it want

Unknown: You

Her chest tightened

“Please…” She whispered

The bed dipping slightly 

 Something leaning closer 

Unknown: Don’t talk

She clenched her mouth closed. Her whole body trembled with fear, Her phone buzzed again 

Unknown: It likes when you talk

  She stopped breathing

Mara: How do i make it go away

A Long Pause then

Unknown: You cant

Her heart sank

Mara: Then what should i do

The response came slowly

Unknown: Pretend you are still asleep

Mara stuttered

Mara: What

Unknown: Lay down

Unknown: Close your eyes

Unknown: Don’t react 

Her hands shook as she laid down. She turned her head slightly.Facing away. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her phone rested on her chest. The screen still glowing

Unknown: Good

Her breathing slowed. Forced, Careful, Behind her, Something shifted again. Then a whisper. Right next to her ear

“ Mara…”

Sounded just like her voice..Her own voice, Closer

“Your awake”

Her fingers curled slightly

“ I can feel you breathing”

Her heart pounded 

“ I know you read it”

Tears slipped quietly down from her face

“ You shouldn’t have read it”.

The bed creaked. Weight shifting

Right above her now, Hovering

“ I liked it better when you didn’t know”

Her chest tightened

Unknown: It’s trying to get you to react

The whisper grew softer

“ Just turn your head”

Her eye twitched

“ Just a little”

She almost stopped breathing

“ I want to see your face”

Unknown: Don’t 

Silence. Long. Heavy.Then, A soft laugh. From right behind her ear

“ Your not as fun as the others

Her stomach dropped, Others?

Unknown: Don’t ask

Her heart was racing faster

“ I wonder how long you can pretend”
The weight shifted again

Then 

Gone

The bed lifted.

The air felt lighter

But she didn’t move

Didn’t open her eyes 

Didn’t breathe any differently 

Minutes passed 

Or hours

She didn’t know

Her phone buzzed

Unknown: It left

Mara stayed still

Unknown: You can move now

Slowly

She opened her eyes

The room was empty

Normal

Like nothing happened

her chest rose slightly 

She sat up

Her whole body shaking

Mara: Is it gone

A long pause

Then

Unknown: No

Her heart stopped

Mara: What do you mean

The typing bubbles appeared one last time

Unknown: It is where i am 

Her stomach dropped 

Mara: Where are you?

The reply came almost instantly 

Unknown: Look at the last message

Her breath caught

Her thumb shook as she scrolled upThe very first message. The

one she thought started at all, But now, It was different 

Unknown: Don’t read the last message

Below it, A new message

One she didn’t see before 

Sent just second ago

From her own number 

Mara: Its behind you

Her blood ran cold because she didn’t send that

And slowly

Very slowly

She felt it again

Right behind her

Breathing

Waiting

And this time there was no one left to text.

Mara looked around for something, Anything, She needed to get out of there.

She looked around and found a candle

The monster went up into flames, Then somehow transformed into a human and chased mara down the steps.

While mara was running she saw her mother lifeless on the floor as well as her brother and step-father. 

She ran outside but the door was locked but she took out a hair pin and picked the lock. The monster took out a lighter and grabbed mara’s arm, The monster then held the lighter under mara’s arm and watched it burn a little, Mara was screaming in pain hoping someone could hear her, Mara got the chance to run and almost made it, Almost.. Mara ran as blood and pain shot from her arm. The monster started running faster and grabbed her by the collar. The monster then threw her into a fence and Mara went down hard causing her eyes to swell closed. Neighbors then heard screaming from Mara and called 911, Mara could barely keep her eyes open. The monster then hid in the bushes and ran. The monster then found a car at a gas station and fled. Para medics showed up and took mara to the hospital.

“ She needs to go into surgery immediately.” Said the doctor. 

“ But sir! She needs to be on life support.” Said a nurse

“ I don’t care, get the operating table ready right now.” Said the doctor.

“ But Doctor…-.” Said the nurse.

“ Did I Stutter? Go get her on the table.” 

‘ yes sir.” said the doctor.

“The operation went well, but…” Said the doctor.

“ What do you mean but..” Said Mara’s sister. 

“ Well is she ok?” said Amber

“ Yes but she lost half of her memories, Like about her family or friends or etc but she still knows how to do most functions like talking, eating and sleep. The point is she doesn’t remember you.” said the doctor.

“ Oh, well can I see her.” Said amber

“ Yes of course.” Said the doctor

Amber walked in and saw Mara’s body with many fractures and many broken bones. Amber started crying uncontrollably. 

“ Don’t worry mara, I will find out who did this to you and they will pay for this.” Said Amber.

Mara then woke up and got startled by Amber. A few weeks later she was allowed to leave the hospital and Amber took her home.

Amber showed Mara her room and left for work. Mara went to the living room and turned on the T.V news channel. 

“ A new murders happened this morning. The killer ran and left the body with many bruises and cuts. The cuts almost look like axe marks. Goodbye and stay safe.” Said the news anchor.

“ woah.. That’s like a lot of people have been killed this week.” Said mara.

“ Wait, what if it’s amber? Haha no way she’s my sister. What if she isn’t. She didn’t have any ID or verification, and neither did I. I’m overthinking this.” though Mara.
Amber then walked through the door covered in what looked like blood. 

“ Amber, Are you covered in blood?” Said mara.

“Shoot she saw.” Amber whispered so only she could hear. 

Amber then took out a knife and tried stabbing mara but missed. Mara then ran out the door with her phone and called 911. Mara then hid in the bushes and amber passed her. The police then showed up and was amber covered in blood and arrested her.

The police then transferred Mara to child services and then she got introduced to a new home.

                                           Part 2

Years later mara had visions of the monster grabbing her arm, she then lifts up her shirt sleeve and looks at the life lasting scar.

Mara didn’t sleep that night

The phone sat on her desk, Screen dark but it felt like it was watching her

She turned it off three times already. Each time she powered it back on, the same message was still there at the top of the chat. Unknown: You weren’t supposed to read that

At 3:14 a.m, the phone vibrated again. Mara froze under her blanket. Another notification, Slowly she reached out and picked up her phone. 

Unknown: Now it knows you did.

Her chest tightened. Her room was silent except for the ticking of the cheap clock on the wall. 

“ Knows what” She whispered to her self

The typing dots appeared. Three gray dots. They blinked. Then it disappeared. Another message.

Unknown: Look behind you

Maras heart slammed against her ribs

“Nope..” She said immediately, “Forcing a laugh that sounded so fake even to her own ears.”

“Not doing that, I barely made it out last time.”

She tossed the phone onto the desk and rolled over to face the wall. But the silence behind her felt wrong. Heavy. Like something was standing there. Waiting. The phone buzzed again. Again. Again. Finally she grabbed her phone. 

Unknown: You didn’t look.

Unknown: Thats good.

Her stomach twisted

“ Good?” She muttered 

The typing bubbles returned. 

Unknown: Because if you had…It would have seen you.

Mara sat up

“ What would have seen me?” She typed.

  The reply came instantly.

Unknown: The thing in your messages 

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard

“Thats not funny.” She typed back

Three dots appeared, but before the next message arrived, Something else happened. Her phone camera turned on. The screen showed a live video feed of her room but the angle was wrong. The camera wasn’t facing her phone, it was pointing at her. Mara’s blood went cold. The video showed her sitting on her bed holding her phone, staring at the screen, and behind her Something moved. A tall shadow slid across the wall. Mara spun around. 

“ Nothing..? I could have sworn I saw something.” Mara whispered to herself.

 The room was empty. When she turned back to the phone, the shadow was closer now. Standing directly behind her, but she couldn’t see anything in the real room. Her hands shook with fear. she whispered “What is this.”

The reply came instantly. 

Unknown: You read the last message

Unknown: That opened the chat

“ What chat?’’ She typed

Unknown: The one between worlds.

Mara stared at the screen 

“This is a prank.” 

Unknown: I wish it was

Another message appeared 

Unknown: you need to stop responding

The she got goosebumps even though the room was warm.

“ Why?” 

They typing bubbles flickered longer this time. Finally. 

Unknown: Every message you send lets it get closer

Her throat tightened

Mara looked at the live video feed again. The shadow behind her had shape now. Too tall. Its head almost touching the ceiling, its arms were long and crooked, Like branches, And it was leaning toward her, 

“ But if i stop texting, what will happen?” she typed.

A new message appeared, but it wasn’t from him, It was from herself. 

Mara: Don’t read the last message. 

“ There is NO LAST MESSAGE.

Just then her phone scrolled up to this message she didnt see before, But just then she looked back at the video feed and the monster was gone, She look behind her and saw it but it was too late. She was gone

Blackwood

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Blackwood

Chapter 1

The Beginning

The royal family of Rosewood longed for children, but for many years they had none. Then at last, they were blessed with twins—a boy and a girl.

The boy was named Adrian Rosewood, and the girl was named Emma Rosewood.

The king and queen were overjoyed. They spoiled their children with love and riches. But as the years passed, Adrian grew rude and selfish, often mistreating the people of Rosewood.

Emma, however, was the complete opposite. She was kind and gentle, always helping the poor and giving from her own allowance. The people of the kingdom adored her.

The king and queen noticed the difference between their children and were proud of Emma.Adrian noticed it too.

And he hated it.Jealousy filled his heart. For years he treated Emma cruelly. Once, he even placed a snake in her bed just to frighten her. But their mother and father did nothing about it they said boys will be boys

When they turned seventeen, everything changed.To strengthen an alliance during a growing threat of war, Emma was arranged to marry Prince Sebastian Blackwood of the Dark Kingdom.

Chapter 2

The Wedding

Emma stood in her chamber, preparing to walk down the aisle to meet her future husband. She wore a beautiful black gown, and her hair was styled neatly in a delicate bun.

Across the palace, Sebastian adjusted his suit and pushed his dark hair back.In only ten minutes, he would be married. Sebastian had loved Emma for years.But Emma did not love him.

Her heart once belonged to Prince James of Silverwood.When they were children, while the other boys practiced sword fighting, James would walk beside her in the gardens and talk with her. He had been her first true friend.

But when Emma confessed her feelings to him, James revealed a painful truth. He had only spent time with her because his father hoped to gain land from Rosewood through her.

When the King of Rosewood refused, James’s father declared war.The war ended with defeat for Silverbrook, and James was imprisoned for years.

Until the day of Emma’s wedding.Just after Emma kissed Sebastian, the grand doors of the hall suddenly burst open.

Standing there was James, covered in dirt, fury burning in his eyes.He rushed forward, gripping what looked like a dagger.Before he could reach Emma, Sebastian struck him hard, knocking him to the ground. Guards quickly grabbed him.The newly married couple hurried into their carriage and left the palace.

Inside the carriage, silence filled the air.Finally, Sebastian spoke quietly.“If you don’t want this… I understand,” he said. “We’ve only just met. This is a lot.”

Chapter 3

The Carriage Ride

The carriage wheels rolled over the stone roads of Rosewood, echoing through the heavy silence.

Emma stared out the window, her wedding veil resting in her lap. The kingdom she had known her entire life slowly disappeared behind her.

Sebastian sat across from her, watching her carefully.“You still love him,” he said quietly.It wasn’t a question.

Emma swallowed.“I don’t know what I feel anymore.”

Sebastian leaned back slightly. “He tried to ruin our wedding.”“He was in prison for years,” Emma whispered. “What do you think that does to someone?”Sebastian’s jaw tightened, though his voice remained calm.“It doesn’t excuse showing up with a blade.”

Silence returned.

After a few minutes, Sebastian spoke more gently.“I never wanted you forced into this marriage. I agreed to the alliance because I thought… maybe one day you might care for me.”

Emma looked at him for the first time since they left the palace.“You’ve loved me for years,” she said softly. “Why?”Sebastian gave a small smile.

“When I visited Rosewood as a child, you were the only one who spoke to me like I was normal. Not like I was the prince of the Dark Kingdom.”

Something in Emma’s heart shifted.Suddenly the carriage jerked to a stop.Voices shouted outside.Sebastian’s calm expression instantly turned alert.

“Stay inside,” he said.Before Emma could answer, the carriage door burst open.

A guard stumbled backward—and behind him stood James.His eyes looked different now.Almost wild.“Emma,” he said quietly. “You’re coming with me.”

Sebastian stepped in front of her.“She’s my wife now.”James glared at him.“Not by choice.”

Emma’s heart pounded.“No!” she shouted. “Go home! You shouldn’t be here!”James looked at her with a strangely gentle expression.

“Come with me, Emma. We can be together like we always wanted.”Emma’s face hardened.“No,” she said firmly. “I love Sebastian. Now go home and leave us alone.”

Sebastian looked surprised. He had never seen her so angry before.They climbed back into the carriage and continued their journey.

Four hours later, they arrived at their new home.The castle stood tall and beautiful in the moonlight, flowers climbing along its stone walls.“It’s beautiful,” Emma whispered.Sebastian looked slightly nervous.

“I had it designed to feel like both of our homes,” he said. “I thought it might help you feel comfortable.”Emma smiled.“It’s perfect,” she said softly.

Chapter 4

Years Together

As the years passed, Emma and Sebastian grew very close.But on December 12, Sebastian seemed strangely angry.Emma tried to talk to him, but he yelled at her to leave.

Emma left the room in tears. She put on her coat and walked outside into the cold night air.She had wanted to tell him something important.She was going to have a baby.

As she walked through the woods, she practiced how she would tell him.Suddenly a branch snapped.Emma turned quickly, but she saw nothing.Another branch cracked.

Fear rushed through her chest.She ran back toward the castle. Just as she reached the door, a voice stopped her.“Emma.”Slowly, she turned around.

James stood behind her, covered in dirt—just like the last time she had seen him.“You need to leave,” Emma said nervously.James smiled slightly.“Don’t you miss me?” he asked. “I was your first love.” Emma shook her head.“Not anymore.”Then James said something that made her blood run cold.“The baby,” he said quietly. “How do you think your husband will react knowing I knew first?”Emma’s eyes widened.“You need to go,” she said. “You can’t be here.”

Chapter 5

Secrets in the Dark

Emma stood frozen as the cold wind moved through the trees.“I told you to leave,” she said.James stepped closer.“Why are you so scared?” he asked softly.Emma’s hand rested on her stomach without thinking.James noticed.“So it’s true,” he said quietly.

Before Emma could respond, the castle doors opened.Sebastian stepped outside.“What’s going on?” he asked.Emma hesitated.Then she told the truth.“It was James.”Sebastian’s face went still.“He came here?”

Emma nodded.“I needed to tell you something,” she whispered.“What is it?”Emma took his hands.“We’re having a baby.”For a moment Sebastian didn’t move.

Then he pulled her into a warm embrace.“We’ll get through everything together,” he said softly. “You, me… and our child.”But far beyond the castle walls, James watched from the forest.“This is only the beginning,” he whispered.

Chapter 6

Shadows Over Blackwood

The next morning snow covered the gardens of Blackwood Castle.Emma stood by the window, her hands resting on her stomach.Behind her, Sebastian entered the room.“You didn’t sleep,” she said.

“Not much.”“I keep thinking about the baby… and James,” he admitted.Emma sighed.“He won’t stop, will he?”

Sebastian shook his head.“I’ve doubled the guards.”Just then a guard arrived with a letter from the border.Sebastian read it slowly.“What is it?” Emma asked.“Three guards were attacked last night.”

Emma’s heart raced.

Were they killed?No. Sebastian looked up.“But they said the man fought like someone who had nothing left to lose.”

They both knew the answer.James was back.

Chapter 7

A Promise in the Snow

Emma stood in Sebastian’s arms as the winter wind howled outside.“I’m scared,” she whispered.

Sebastian gently brushed her hair away.“He won’t take anything from us.”“Promise me something,” Emma said.

“What?”

“Please don’t hurt him.”Sebastian looked surprised.“He attacked our guards.”“I know… but he used to be my friend.”

Sebastian sighed.

“You really are too kind.”He lifted her chin gently.“I will protect you and our child. That comes first.”Emma nodded.

“I promise I won’t kill him,” Sebastian said quietly, “unless he gives me no other choice.”Later that night, in the war council room, Sebastian studied a map with his advisors.

A silver pendant lay on the table.The symbol of Silverbrook was engraved on it.A message was carved into the back.Sebastian read it silently.

“What does it say?” one advisor asked.Sebastian’s eyes darkened.

“It’s a message for me.”“What kind of message?”Sebastian spoke coldly.

“It says…”

He paused.

“Tell Emma I’m coming for what was always mine.”Far away in the frozen forest, James sat beside a small fire.In his hand he held an old ribbon.

Emma’s ribbon.

“She belongs with me,” he muttered.He stood and looked toward the distant lights of Blackwood Castle.

A dangerous smile crossed his face.“They think those walls can protect her.”

He stepped into the darkness.“Let’s see how long that lasts.” I will get her back she is MY love 

Chapter 8

The Baby

Winter had slowly begun to fade from the lands surrounding Blackwood Castle. The snow that once covered the gardens had melted into small shining streams that ran along the stone pathways. Early flowers had begun to push through the earth again, their colors bright against the dark soil.Inside the castle, the halls were peaceful.Emma walked slowly through the castle library, her hand resting gently on her stomach. The tall windows beside her let warm sunlight pour across the polished wooden floor. Dust floated lazily through the golden light.

She had spent most of the morning reading, though she hadn’t truly been paying attention to the pages in front of her. Her mind had been somewhere else entirely.The baby was due very soon.Sebastian had become more protective with each passing week. Guards now stood at nearly every entrance of the castle, and patrols had doubled along the outer walls.James had not appeared again since the night Emma had seen him in the forest.

But none of them believed he was gone.Emma slowly walked between the shelves of books, trying to calm the nervous feeling in her chest. She had never been more excited in her life—but she had also never been more afraid.Suddenly she felt something strange.A sharp pain moved through her stomach.Emma froze.Then another pain followed, stronger than the first.She inhaled sharply and gripped the edge of a nearby table.For a moment she thought it might pass.

But then she felt warm liquid run down her legs.Her eyes widened.“My water…”The pain came again, stronger this time, and Emma gasped.“Help!” she cried out.Her voice echoed through the tall library walls.Footsteps came running down the hallway almost instantly.

The door burst open and Sebastian rushed inside.The moment he saw her, his face went pale.“Emma!”He hurried across the room and caught her just as another contraction made her knees buckle.“My water broke,” Emma whispered breathlessly.

Sebastian didn’t hesitate.Without another word, he carefully lifted her into his arms.“We’re having this baby now,” he said.Emma clutched the front of his shirt as he hurried through the castle corridors.Servants and guards jumped out of the way as the king rushed past them.“Send for the midwife!” Sebastian shouted.“Now!”

The castle erupted into motion.Doors opened.Servants ran down the halls.Someone rang the small bell that called the castle healers.

Sebastian carried Emma into their chamber and gently placed her on the large bed.Emma tried to breathe slowly, but another contraction made her cry out.Sebastian took her hand.“I’m here,” he said softly. “You’re going to be alright.”Emma squeezed his hand tightly.“You better not leave this room,” she warned weakly.Sebastian almost laughed despite the fear racing through him.“I wouldn’t dare.”Moments later the midwife arrived, followed by two castle healers and several attendants carrying warm water and clean cloths.The room quickly filled with quiet but urgent activity.

Candles were lit.Curtains were drawn closed.The midwife gently helped Emma sit up against several pillows.“It’s time,” she said calmly.Emma nodded, though sweat already covered her forehead.Sebastian stayed beside her the entire time.

Hours passed slowly.The sun set outside the windows, and night settled across the castle.Emma cried out again as another wave of pain moved through her body.Sebastian held her hand through every moment.You’re doing amazing,” he told her.Emma glared at him.“If you ever say that again,” she said between breaths, “I might throw something at you.”One of the healers tried to hide a smile.Sebastian squeezed her hand.“Fair enough.”Seven long hours passed before the midwife suddenly spoke.“I can see the baby,” she said.Emma gathered the last of her strength and pushed.The room filled with tense silence.

Then—

A cry.A small, strong cry filled the chamber.The midwife carefully lifted the newborn child and wrapped her in a soft blanket.Sebastian felt his chest tighten as he watched.“A healthy baby girl,” the midwife announced.

Emma let out a long breath of relief.The baby was placed gently into her arms.Emma stared down at the tiny face looking back at her.The child had soft dark hair and bright curious eyes.Emma felt tears fill her own.“She’s beautiful,” she whispered.Sebastian sat beside her, completely speechless.Emma looked up at him.“Do you want to hold her?”Sebastian hesitated for a moment.He had faced battles.He had commanded armies.

But this tiny child somehow made him more nervous than anything else.Carefully, he took the baby into his arms.She looked impossibly small.Sebastian stared down at her, completely amazed.“What’s her name?” the midwife asked.Emma looked at Sebastian.They had discussed names many times before.Sebastian smiled softly.“Stella,” he said.

Emma nodded.“Stella Neal Blackwood.”The room grew quiet as everyone looked at the tiny princess.The first daughter born in generations to unite the Dark Kingdom and the Flower Kingdom.

Years passed quickly.
The castle gardens that Stella once crawled through soon became the place where she ran freely, with laughter echoing through the walls.She grew into a bright and curious child.
Like her mother, Stella was kind and compassionate. She spent hours speaking with the castle servants, listening to their stories and helping in small ways whenever she could.But like her father, she had a fierce temper.
If someone treated others unfairly, Stella never stayed quiet.Once, when a young noble boy mocked a servant girl, Stella had shoved him straight into the fountain. Sebastian had tried to appear stern when he heard about it. But Emma had caught him smiling afterward.

Stella had inherited both of their spirits by the time she reached sixteen, she had grown into a confident young woman. Her dark hair flowed past her shoulders, and her eyes held the same warmth Emma had always carried. But there was also something else in them—strength.the kind that came from being raised by two powerful rulers.On a bright spring afternoon, Stella walked through the castle gardens with someone she trusted more than anyone else—Sindey of Blackwood.Sindey was the daughter of James. Though few people in the kingdom knew it, James had eventually disappeared from the conflict years ago. Rumors said he had wandered far into the northern lands.

But somehow, long after the wars had faded, his daughter had arrived at the kingdom’s borders.Emma had chosen to take her in, despite Sebastian’s hesitation.Sidney of Blackwood had grown up inside Blackwood Castle. She and Stella had been inseparable since childhood.They studied together.
Trained together.
Explored the forests surrounding the castle together.Now they sat beneath a large flowering tree, sunlight shining through the branches above them.Sindey leaned back against the trunk while Stella rested beside her.“You’re quiet today,” Sindey said.Stella looked down at her hands.
“I’ve been thinking.”That sounds dangerous.”Stella laughed slightly, then grew serious again.

“Sindey… can I tell you something?”Sindey turned toward her.
“You can tell me anything.”Stella hesitated. Her heart pounded in her chest.“I think…”
She paused.“I think I’m in love with you.”The words hung in the air between them.For a moment, Sindey said nothing.Then she smiled softly.“I was wondering how long it would take you to figure that out.”Stella blinked.
“You knew?”

Sindey laughed.“You’ve been staring at me like that for three years.”Stella felt her face turn red.“Well… when you say it like that…”Sindey gently took her hand. I like you too,” she said quietly

Clean Room #2

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Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Spring Cleaning Part Two”

Clean Room #2 is the next book in the Daily Read and it added to the wonders of the first issue dramatically. Gail Simone’s imagination is truly expansive and provided some dark moments of terror. I wonder how much books like this helped us into the current time of comics where we get a ton of horror books from Ice Cream Man to Hello Darkness.

The second issue started off with another cold open that I did not expect. It was a rough one with a man bent into a pretzel. I did not tie it together until I started looking at this post, but the man who had been killed in the first couple of pages of issue #2 was the same man, Mikey, that Chloe found in the alleyway and who tried to convince her to not pursue the Clean Room. He was afraid of Astrid Mueller and he desperately tried to talk Chloe into just leaving it be. Chloe couldn’t do it and went ahead to meet Mueller.

Did this lead directly to the death of this man? When did that happen? Mikey said that he had been in the Clean Room and he described it, in no uncertain ways, as being horrific. He compared Mueller to Satan and prayed for Chloe as she left him to move forward.

The meeting between Chloe and Astrid Mueller was odd. Mueller seemed to be trying to push it aside and leave. However, when Chloe tossed out some questions about the Clean Room, everything took a turn.

Makes one think that this was what Mueller wanted in the first place.

The whole Dwight stuff was weird and somewhat disturbing. It confused me for a bit since it seemed as if he wound up getting his comeuppance, but was that meant to be what Mueller wanted?

After two issues, I am extremely intrigued with what happens next.

These Jenny Frison covers remind me of the variant covers for Hello Darkness.

The Pitt S2 E6

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“12:00 PM”

I have been dreading this episode since the beginning of the season. All the hints and foreshadowing was there, but I tried my best to ignore them.

Then, last week, the show ended with Louie nonresponsive and Robby and Langdon trying to revive him.

Of course, that is where the show picked up this week and we watched as this secondary character died of a pulmonary hemorrhage due t liver failure. Louie had been a drinker, we knew. We just never knew what had led to the drinking.

During the debrief and the chance to say goodbye, Robby told the whole group assembled that Louie had been married and that his wife and unborn child had died in a car wreck and that Louie had never been the same after.

Ernest Harden Jr. played the role of Louie and you can tell how great of an actor he was when he was a side character that only had a bit of screen time and yet his character’s death impacted me dramatically.

This episode featured the nurses of the Pitt more than we had gotten prior, which was a long overdue look. There were other arcs to the episode, my absolutely most hated one was the hot dog competitor. I hate vomit scenes and this had two of them. I really hated that and I am glad he seemed to be a one and done arc.

However, the episode belonged to Louie and the grief that the staff showed. It was poignant when we discovered that the ER was Louie’s emergency contact.

Then, there was Ogilvie, whom I have not liked much this new season, but now I hate him for his callousness tied to Louie’s death. The way he broke the news to Whitaker so carelessly and his comment about “an alcohol abuser” was heartless. I am cheering for this guy to flame out in the program.

Emotional episode and we are still only six episodes in.

The Pitt S2 E2

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“8:00 AM”

Does Dr. Robby have a sneaky, behind-the-typical-treatment treatment for every emergency situation? He sure feels like he has a folksy solution to all kinds of situations, from shoulder dislocations to baby urination. It feels that our new Dr. Al-Hashimi isn’t as impressed as I am.

Dr. Whitaker’s main focus of the day was trying to comfort a Alzheimer’s patient whose husband had died that day. It was heartbreaking seeing him, for the second time, tell her that her husband had died. He took her to see the body and even that did not seem to work as she just thought he was resting. Alzheimer’s Disease is truly a tragic thing.

A man who was choking on broccoli delivered the line of the episode. After they had removed the broccoli, he told about his wife making him count calories in an attempt to lose weight and he said “I never choked on an sausage egg McMuffin.” LOL.

Dr. King got knocked to the ground and struck her head. She spent most of the time worrying over her part in a malpractice case that she would be testifying in later today so I hope that head blow does not come back in a bad way.

Maybe I am getting used to this show as I was cringing and saying out loud “What is going to be in there?” as they started to cut off the cast from the arm of the man who was brought in last week with a horrendous odor. The made sure he showered last week and disposed of his clothes this week. Anyway, back to the cast, I knew something would be coming out of that thing and, sure enough, we has a whole bunch of maggots. Ugh!

We also have evidence that an 8-hour erection is not a good thing. Not sure I needed the dick-shot in the scene. I could have used my imagination.

Another solid episode that was spent more with the characters than anything major in the emergency room. The show blends the cases and the doctors/nurses brilliantly and this is why it is one of the best shows on TV.

A Dark Town

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A Dark Town

In Houston, July 21, 2004, a report came into the Waller County Police Station about a supposed alien siting while a man was sitting in his backyard. The report wasn’t from the man, but from his neighbor, who had called the station 5 other times that week about seeing an unnatural amount of light coming in through his bedroom window, seeing his neighbor just looking up in the sky at nothing, and at one point, he even saw weird non human foot prints outside his house. 

Miguel, who was the man who made the calls, went over to the man’s house to talk about the strange things that were happening. The guy’s name was Dan. They ended up talking a while, and Miguel said that he thought that the aliens were kidnapping people and putting them in their UFOs and taking their places.

When Miguel suggested this idea, Dan agreed but for a second, he looked very surprised that Miguel’s theory was so complex. Dan asked Miguel how he thought this, and Miguel said that he’s been thinking about it for a while and that was his best guess.

Miguel went home and went on with his evening. At 8:04 pm, he heard a sudden scream come from Dan’s house. As soon as he heard it he wanted to hide, but knew that he had to find out what was happening, so he ran to Dan’s house. Miguel stepped inside the house, because the door was open, but when he walked in he saw Dan…his eyes were glowing white and light was shooting out from his limbs. He was making a  terrible screeching sound that almost made Miguel black out right there.

Miguel looked at his watch and he realized that the time passed an hour and it was now 9:03 pm. Dan must be doing this. The sky quickly became dark until it was 10 pm. Dan slowly turned into an alien. Miguel now knew…Dan was always an alien. 

Once Dan was done transforming , a UFO came out of the sky and beamed the stolen residents down. Miguel took the chance and pushed Dan into the beam, and he got sucked up. The hatch to the ship closed too soon, so Dan hit the bottom of the ship. With the force of the hit, the alien’s ship blew up. Miguel saved the hostages and they all went back home.

Out of the Shadows, And Into the Light

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“Stacy, we’re going to be late for the party!!” I yelled. We were getting ready to go to Jaden’s party. Everyone was talking about it for weeks upon end!! We were so excited to go. We just went shopping for new dresses and outfits just for this!!

We were just about to Jordan’s house when a strange light in the distance appeared in the sky. Like a huge fireball, with a strange object falling from the sky.

 “What was that??” Stacy yelled, “I Don’t know?? But That gave me the willys!!”

We drove over there to see what it was. As we got closer, we saw a bunch of people running like they were running for their lives. Stacy told me that we should turn around, but I was curious!!

The tension overwhelmed the vehicle. 

“Hey!! I hear something. Do you hear that?” I said

 “Ya, I hear that too, like people yelling for us to turn around, and hide!!” Stacy said 

“But wait,” I said, I turned down this gravel road and saw these strange creatures falling from the sky. That’s when the thought came to my mind that they were aliens. But I didn’t really think they existed. We turned around and drove down to the police station. The streets were filled with crowds of people and those strange creatures. They looked like ginormous spiders, but with 6 legs and their faces seemed to crack open into 3 worm-like faces with rows and rows of blade-like razor sharp teeth. 

“These creatures must have come from the enormous explosion.” Stacy cried. 

“Y, y..ya, I, I guess you’re right.” I said. 

“Cristal,” she said, “are you ok?”

 “Ya, Ya, I, I, I’m fine.” I said 

“We have to get out of here, we’re not going to make to the police station.” said Stacy 

“I know, but there is no other place to go!!” I said

All of a shudden, there was a loud thump from above our vehicle. “There’s one on our car!! One of the creatures scraped and scratched our vehicle and broke our windshield. I put the car in reverse and ran into a light pole. The creature slid down the car and sliced Stacy across the left side of her face with its large knife-like claws. Stacy screamed. I put the car in drive and luckily we were moving!! I quickly pressed the brakes and flung the creature off the car. As soon as it flung off, I ran it over with the car, and kept on driving down the gravel road to my home. RRRRRRRRRRRR Pat, Pat!!

“No!! Come on, Come on. We’re almost home!! Why break down now??!!” I yelled

“Wait here!!” I yelled “Stay right there!!”

 “What?” Stacy asked 

“I’m not staying here all by myself!!” 

“I know, but you’re hurt. I don’t want you to get hurt even more!!”

“What if another one of those creatures comes?? They would hurt me even more!!” 

Stacy gave me a frightened face that I’ve only seen her make once before after she got the news that our parents got in a car wreck and didn’t make it. I knew I couldn’t leave her there, and I most certainly wouldn’t want her to go through that all over again if something were to happen to me too.

 Come on, run as fast as you can to the house!! I yelled!!

 Stacy swung her hands up, and I pulled her out of the car .

 We ran as fast as we could, but then randomly Stacy fell to her knees and stopped moving. The cut on her face oozed this yellow hue and she all of a sudden she screamed and cried. She wouldn’t talk to me, but I knew something was wrong and we needed to move. The soft movement of the wing blowing the weeds through the field dramatically ceased as a roaring crash breaks the silence. There was one of those creatures again. They followed us.

 “I hear it!!” Stacy exclaimed “The closer they are, the more clear it gets.”

 We ran as far as we could thinking we could out run it, but we couldn’t.

 “Stop!!” I yelled, “don’t move” 

We kept hearing the noises, but nothing was chasing us any more. Stacy cried, and the creature heard her and started chasing us. I held her mouth as it stood right in front of us. It stood there as if it couldn’t hear us. A truck on the other side of the field went flying by, and caught the alien’s attention.That’s when we decided to make a run for it, but Stacy couldn’ t move. She acted as if she were paralyzed for a second. Then she got up like she’s never walked before. I didn’t have time to think, so I placed her on my back and ran. Every little noise I made caught the alien’s attention, but since the truck was much louder, it didn’t come after us.

 We ran as far as we could and made it home. 

The house was quiet, and eerie. Usually there would be loud music playing, or someone yelling at the other team on the tv. There might be someone making dinner, or taking a shower, or  wrestling each other to see whose better, or practicing for a big  ballet recital. There was always some sort of noise in our house. Even at night, Stacy always has the tv on for noise. But there was nothing. The house was empty. Not a peep. No one playing loud music or someone yelling at the other team on the tv, there was no one making dinner, or taking a shower, no one was wrestling, or practicing ballet. Nothing. Noone was there not even my parents. Was I expecting them? I don’t know. Was this all a dream. Would I just wake up and climb into my parent’s arms. Would they hug me like they used to, and would I hear their soft whispers telling me they love me?? 

 I cried but Stacy held her cold deadlike hand over my mouth. 

“Shrrrrrrrr.” She whispered as she pointed out the window. That creature was back. It climbed the side of our house, and onto the roof. I took Stacy to the bathroom, and we went into the closet. That is where we hid from the creature. We heard it crash through the window upstairs. The creature seemed to be crashing, and knocking things over to make us jump. Stacy fell into my arms as if there was nothing left in her. She was sick, and I really needed to get her to the hospital to get her some help.

“I felt her pulse just to make sure she was alive. What?” I thought to myself, I looked down at her and there was this strange look on her face. She looked at me as if she were saying I’m ok, don’t worry about me, but I was worried about her.

I grabbed Stacy and wrists and looked at her and I told her that “I  was going to get her some help, and that I loved her. She smiled at me silently and cried in pain. That’s when the alien-like creature crashed through the door of the bathroom. I really started to freak out. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t leave here without getting caught. The shadows of the creature seemed to creep under the slight crack below the door frame. Something must have happened that caught its attention and it turned around and went outside. 

I cracked open the door just enough to see if anything was there. Luckily there wasn’t, so I slipped out the door leaving Stacy behind, and I grabbed a first aid kit out of the bathroom cabinet. As soon as I grabbed it, the toothpaste fell out of the cabinet. I swung my arm and somehow I caught it in between my pinky and ring finger. I gently sat the toothpaste back and I tiptoed back to grab Stacy. I pulled her out of the bathroom and into my bedroom, where there was a walk-in closet with locks on the doors(as if that was going to do anything). I laid Stacy down and we stayed as quiet as we could.

  Later on that night, we both tried to stay awake. I looked down at Stacy to see if she was asleep, but she was so sick that she couldn’t even really talk much. We both eventually fell asleep, but I got spooked or something and woke up. I looked at Stacy, who was squeezing my arm as tight as she could. She was so weak and her eyes looked around desperately. I tried to scream but my throat felt like it was in my stomach. I knew it was only a matter of time before… It was too harsh to think of. I held Stacy tight and hugged her. That gash on the side of her face started to ooze again. Just like last time, that yellow gue oozed out of it. I grabbed the first aid kit, and poured peroxide on her gash. As I poured it on her face, I covered her mouth with a sweater that was hanging up. She screamed in pain as I poured it. I rinsed it off with a bottle of water from my nightstand in my room. I covered it up with some gauze and tape, along with some pain reliever cream.

Just then, a loud bang came from the left!

“we’ve got to go!!” Stacy whispered. 

I told her that we can’t leave or they will get us both.

“It’s locked!!” I told her “Don’t worry!! 

  “What if they find us!! She whispered

  “They can’t find us if we don’t talk, or make any noises.”  

“Do you think they’re looking for us?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know what they are even here for.”

 All of a sudden one of the creatures busted into my room. It must have heard us talking. We couldn’t move, we were like frozen in our place. 2 figures came out from the shadows, and creeped over to the door. Stacy was shaking uncontrollably, so I held her tighter and tighter to comfort her. I knew that the moment they left I had to get her out of here.

I found my box of nail polish and threw it at the window to distract them. They went outside and as soon as they did, I picked up Stacy, grabbed my stuff and ran. Ran without thinking about making a noise, I had only one thing on my mind. And that was getting Stacy help. I knew we were being chased, but I still ran. My legs felt like jello but I pushed onward, and hid behind this car in the empty parking lot. I closed my eyes and wished this was all a dream. When I opened my eyes Stacy was laying in my arms. She looked around, She looked as if she couldn’t remember what happened. I looked at and at Stacy, then behind the car. I could see now 3 creatures flipping cars, and another crawling in from behind the others. I could see tears in Stacy’s eyes. I couldn’t believe how hard it must be for her. I mean, we both lost our parents, but she is only 14 years old. I mean, Ya, I am 18, but still. She is heartbroken. I scooted over closer to her and gave her a big hug. “Did you hear that? It’s getting louder!!” she cried 

A low humming noise came from behind the car. All of a sudden the car flipped on top of us. I leaped over top of Stacy. The sun roof window crashed on top of us, and somehow we made it in the car. The creatures piled up stacks high on top of the car, compressing all of the air out of the vehicle. The windows were breaking , glass flying everywhere. Every little move is a new pain. Stacy was unconscious and not moving. I held her tighter and tighter?

 I knew that only one of us could escape. Stacy sort of nudged and shook, then went cold. I knew she was gone. My eyes filled with tears as I hugged her one last time, wishing this were all a bad dream. An arm grabs Stacy by the leg. I grabbed a large shard of glass and cut the arm off of the creature. A loud screech from the creature, and all of the creatures piled on top of it.

I squeezed through the small hole of the car window, grabbed Stacy’s arm and dragged her out. I picked her up and ran towards the police station. I pulled at the doors, but they were locked and evacuated. Then all of a sudden out of the shadows, and into the light came one of those creatures. It crashed through the windows and came after me. I ran and hid behind a bush. I heard me and jumped into the bush. I ran but it grabbed me by the arm and its razor sharp claws sliced into my arm. I cried in agony and ran away. I saw a light in the distance. Hoping this wasn’t the end, I followed it. I started to see red lights along with other bright lights. I could faintly read the words “HOESTPITALE”  

AKA– “HOSPITAL” My vision was very blurry. As I dragged stacy, I crawled quietly through a meadow and got onto the cement were someone grabbed me and pulled me into a room and worked on me. I wouldn’t let go of stacy. 

I woke up in the recovering room. I was alive!! But how?? I guess the hospital realized what had happened, so they bordered the doors and windows, staying quiet. They saw what had happened and dragged us in. Stacy sadly died. They said that her face got infected. They also told me that the main reason was from the cut from one of the aliens claws. They inject poison into you when touched. My cut on my arm was very deep. They injected cleanser into my arm, along with anti-fungal, muscle relaxer, and anti-poison. Hoping they didn’t have to amputate the arm, they kept injecting me with new things. 

Today I live with a nasty black and purple scar, with bumps all over it on my arm. I am now 20 years old, and am getting married in April. But even though my life seems to be going better, I will never forget the day I lost my sister because of the aliens.

Blood in the Sand

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It all began on a dark and stormy night, where a dark person waits with a dark purpose.                         

“Nooo! Stay back! Help!”

 “Susan! We’re coming!” said Hanes. 

“Oh my god,” said Tara. 

“What’s all the noise? Can`t you see people are trying to… oh,” said Joyce.

5 hours earlier. “Hello all you wicked wacks listening to all my songs and raps, I got 

another song for you so don’t touch that dial.” said the DJ on the radio in Dave’s car. “The weather is going to be bad tonight with a sandstorm through the night.”

 “Wrong station,” said Dave as he swapped stations to find the right one. “LOUWWWWWW” 

“Take me home” 

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” 

“That’s it. That’s what I’m looking for,” said Dave. 

  “Ahhh, I finally arrived, Brd Manor. It took three airplanes, two buses, and a car with a tree, but I made it,”said Dave as he masked the beauty of the mansion. 

“Dave!” said a familiar voice. All of the sudden a girl comes blasting through the door and ran at Dave. 

“Joyce!” said Dave to Joyce as they did their secret handshake. 

“I’m so glad you could come!” Said Joyce “I have your room all set. So set your stuff in the guest room, and I will introduce you to the family.”

 As he walked down the hall to his room. He heard someone’s muffled voice down at the other end of the hall. When he got to the door he peeked inside and saw a woman yelling at the phone. 

“If you think you can get my fortune you are dead wrong! No! You listen! I am not going to my entire estate to the likes of you, ” said the woman who looked vaguely familiar 

“I see you’ve met my mom, Ms. Susan Brd,” said Joyce. 

“ You scared me, wait, that’s Susan Brd one of the wealthiest people in the continent,” said Dave. “Yes, my crude, rich, never-spending-time-to-see-her-family, mother,” said Joyce.  “You do not want to get on her bad side, trust me. Oh and there are my brothers from other fathers. Jack Brown and Hanes Motov.” 

“Hey Joyce, who’s your friend?” said Jack. 

“I was just showing my old college buddy, Dave here, around the house,” said Joyce. “Can I show him? Only I can give him the best tour around the old place,” said Hanes. “Sure, just make sure you are back by dinner. Today it’s spaghetti and meatballs,” said Joyce. 

“Thanks, you won’t regret it. Come on Dave,” said Hanes.

1 hour and 46 minutes later. Hanes and Dave enter the corridor.  

“I think that’s everything.” Said Hanes. “Oh look at the time, we’re going to be late for dinner, let’s go this way…No…maybe…no.” 5 minutes of tedious searching later. “ Oh, hi Tara. Dave This is Tara Oster, our maid/butler/cook/housekeeper, and most of all, Joyce’s all out friend since her dad was the one who spent time with us. But, he died when she was four and mom sent us off to boarding school but didn’t send Joyce. It was just her and Tara.” 

“And underpaid. Hello master Dave,” said Tara. 

“Hello Tara,” said Dave. 

“I think we better go,” said Hanes. 

They finally arrived at the dining room and sat down to eat. 

“So you finally decided to come and sit down to eat,” said Susan. “You probably got lost in the house again like Thanksgiving, didn’t you?” “No…Yes.” Hanes said as he looked away. “He almost always lies,” said Joyce. 

Many minutes of silence passed by until Dave said. “Great cooking.” And everyone looked at him. After dinner Dave said, “ Let’s play a game.” 

“That’s a good idea,” said Jack. 

“Okay what will we play?” asked Dave. 

“Why don’t we play Guess Who,” said Jack. 

“That is a great idea,” said Hanes. 12 rounds of Guess Who later. “Let’s be done and get some sleep,” said Jack. 

“Okay,” said Hanes. 

“Time to turn in,” said Dave with a yawn. 

“Goodnight,” said Jack. 

There was a knock at the door. As Dave opened the door he saw an ebony silhouette of a man against the dark Saudi Arabian sky. 

“Hello I am John Hathers, my car broke down and I was wondering if I could stay here for the night. Till the car shop opens tomorrow morning.” 

“Well sure John. You can stay for as long as you like. Please, come in,” said Dave. “Thanks,” said John. 

“I’m Dave.” 

“Hi Dave,” said John. 

“Shhh. Don’t want to wake the whole house,” said Dave. “There is your room, please call me if you need anything.” John was very grateful of Dave.

    “Nooo! Stay back! Help!” 

“Susan! We’re coming!” said Hanes. 

“Oh my god,” said Tara. 

“What’s all the noise? Can`t you see people are trying to… oh,” said Joyce. Susan was 

lying on the floor motionless. Everyone stood in amazement. Jack’s eyes filled with tears, and he began to cry. Tara just stood there motionless, looking at her late boss. 

“Is she, dd…dead?” Stuttered Joyce. 

“Everyone get in their rooms and lock their doors. Tara, call 911.”  

“But” 

“No but’s!” Dave said before Jack could say anything. 

“I will call you one at a time to interrogate you.” 

15 minutes later. “Nothing, not a bit of motive and plenty of opportunity for all of them. I might as well get some rest,” Dave thought. “No use staying up all night not finding out anything.” 

As he walked into his room, he found it a mess. His luggage was on the ground, the bookcase was knocked over, and everything else was wrecked. He heard someone running down the stairs so he ran after them. He caught the person and found out it was Jack. 

“Jack what are you doing trying to sneak your luggage out of the house in a sandstorm?” said Dave. 

“I don’t want to be a part of this,” said Jack. “I just wished we had one good holiday before she passed away. The family being away and all we didn’t have many holidays together. Was that too much to ask of God?” Dave locked eyes with Jack and locked the door. 

“You need to leave,” said Dave in a woman’s voice. He walked back to his room and Dave could hear Jack scream into his pillow from Timbuktu.

“AHHHH!” 

“Here we go again,” said Dave. 

“That was Joyce!” said Jack. 

“What’s wrong?” said Dave. 

“Someone went past my window with a gun,” said Joyce. 

“Come on Jack, we can catch them if we hurry,” said Dave. “It’s time for a chase scene montage.” 

5 grueling minutes of chase scene montage with music later. “We lost them whoever they were,” said Dave as he ran out of breath. 

“We can’t stay out here, it’s too…” Jack’s voice could barely be made out in the storm. Once they got inside they couldn’t see. 

“Jack, Hanes, anyone.” Dave called but no one answered. 

“Dave!” called Jack. “Where are we?” 

“I think we are in the kitchen,” answered Dave. “See if you can find something to wipe our eyes off with.” 

“Find something, see, we can’t even find each other and our eyes are filled with sand,” said Jack sarcastically. 

“Ahh, found a towel,” said Dave. 

“Here you go Jack. Now, you head to bed and I will see you later.” 

As he went to the living room he saw someone walking crouched toward the parlor room. 

He followed and  found out it was Hanes. 

“Hanes,” said Dave “ What are you doing up this late?” 

“Nothing.” said Hanes as he looked away suspiciously. 

“Tell me the truth Hanes,” said Dave. 

“Okay we all hated her, we all hated Susan. We held a secret meeting before this event to talk about how we all hated her. We all wanted her to kick the bucket, I never thought someone would actually do this but here we are. In a house full of people and with a dead body.” He said as his voice got more serious and became louder. 

“Cool your jets Hanes. Everyone in this house is safe with Detective Dave Maceade on the job,” said Dave. 

“Someone is dead.” Hanes said sarcastically. 

“I was off the job then.” Said Dave. “Now, you go to bed and get some rest and I will see you and everyone else in the morning.” 

Dong. Dong. Dong. 

“Three’o’clock, hmm. So far so good, might as well get some coffee,” said Dave as he talked to himself. He whipped off the sand on the window and looked through it. “Looks like the storm is over.” 

He grinded the coffee beans and poured them into the coffee machine. 

“Man, last night was crazy,” said Joyce as she walked into the kitchen. 

“Well good morning to you too,” said Dave. 

“Ohh, are you making coffee, in that case. I want an espresso with two pumps of hazelnut, four pumps of vanilla, three marshmallows, extra whip, small bits of chocolate, and a partridge in a pear tree,” said Joyce. 

“Very funny, coming right up,” said Dave. 6 minutes later. “Finished with your espresso with two pumps of hazelnut et cetera et cetera,” said Dave. “Exactlly how you like it, extra toasty.” 

“Wow,” said Joyce. “You have a real gift. You could go places with a talent like that.” “Thanks, but I like it when I am a detective,” said Dave. “I just get so much thrill out of it, solving mysteries, crimes, and murders. It’s just so exciting.” Jack and Hanes came walking down the stairs. 

“Morning you two,” said Dave. “We were wondering when you would come down.” 

“Have a seat,” said Joyce 

“Thanks,” said Hanes. 

“Can we get some coffee?” asked Jack. 

“Write your orders down,” said Dave. 

“I slept like a log,” said John. 

“Oh yes, Everyone this is John Hathers. His car broke down and I let him stay for the night before the whole multi billionaire dying and all that other stuff,” said Dave. 

“So, John, what do you do for work?” asked Joyce. “I am a DJ; I was on the way back from the radio station when my car drove into a sand dune. I tried to back out but I was too stuck, I tried to push it out but I was in too deep,” said John. “So I walked for what felt like forever until I got to this house. When I walked up to the front door and Dave answered, he let me in and let me stay in the guest room for the night. And I’m so happy he did if he hadn’t. Then I would not have met all of you.” 

“Do you think you have met everyone?” said Jack. 

“Because there is one person you haven’t met.” 

“Good morning everyone,” said Tara. 

“That’s Tara,” said Dave. “The butler of her late employer Susan Brd, aka the woman who died last night.” 

“Sorry, for everyone’s loss,” said John. “I know I didn’t know her very well being a celebrity and all but, she must have meant so much to you all.” 

“Actually,” said Dave. “They all hated her.” 

“What?” said John. 

“They hated her, each and everyone of them. They all had a reason for wanting her dead. From her not spending time with her kids to staff not being paid enough,” said Dave when a thought appeared in his mind. “And I think I know who is behind this.”

“Who?” asked Joyce. 

“The only person who isn’t here. You can come out now.” Dave called around the corner and out came Susan Brd. 

“Susan!” Joyce gasped as she began to faint. 

“She’s going to faint.,” said John. 

“Catch her,” said Hanes. 

“I got her,” said Dave. “Fall into my arms.” Joyce fell through his arms and onto the floor. “Opps,” said Dave. “Yes, it was Susan pulling the strings this entire time. Ever since she knew about the secret meeting Hanes told me about last night she was furious with all of you so much that she figured out a plan to pay you all back. She was going to pretend to be dead like one of you knocked her off. But, John and I showed up and really confused things. But she had taken some pills to make her fall asleep for hours, making us think she was dead. And we would have known she wasn’t dead if we had checked her pulse, which is a rookie mistake that no one should miss with a straight train of thought. Which, let’s face it, none of us had that last night. You all were so worried about her and you all cared about her for one of the first times ever.” 

“You all cared,” said Susan as her eyes began to fill with tears and a second later she started to cry. As everyone tried to comfort her Dave remembered something. 

“So I just remembered I called the police so Susan is going to jail, sorry Susan,” said Dave. 

4 minutes later. As the police arrived, put Susan in the cruiser, and left, Dave felt a sense of fulfillment. 
4 short months later. Susan will spend 50 years in prison for faking her death and her evil scheming. Jack and Hanes became the biggest acts in show business to hit New York since Hamlet. Tara started her own fashion line for staff like butlers, maids, cooks, and housekeepers. Joyce went on to start her own tech company called The Most Expensive Electronics and Tech for the Wealthist People. I know a very long name right, like her coffee order. And Dave, well I went on to be the next Benoit Blanc. I went on to start a family and I started this book series which started with the mystery I call “Blood on the Sand.”

Sunday Morning Sidewalk #42

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Spoilers

“The Bent-Neck Lady”

This week’s focus is on Nell and the visions she would have seeing the Bent-Neck Lady.

In what I thought was a fun bit of casting, Nell was seeing a therapist named Dr. Montague and he was played by Russ Tamblyn. What makes that fun was that Russ Tamblyn played Dr. Lawrence Jacoby on Twin Peaks. Jacoby was a quirky and oddball psychiatrist involved with Laura Palmer, a tragic death of a young woman. Very much like the death of Nell in The Haunting of Hill House.

The episode saw the events that lead up to Nell returning to Hill House the night that she died. It made sense with the way the last episode ended with Luke blurting out that Nell did not kill herself.

The last part of Nell’s life was filled with torment. I can’t imagine what sleep paralysis would be like. It sounded horrific and made things all the worse as we see how she suffered during it. Of course, the show implied that it was not just a simple case of sleep paralysis and that it had to do with the visions that she would see.

We see how Nell and her husband Arthur met and his tragic death. Those years for Nell seemed to be so wonderful that seeing him drop dead from the aneurism was tough.

That was not the toughest scene of the episode though.

The ending, where we see the identity of the Bent-Neck Lady revealed as Nell’s future self after she hanged herself from the spiral staircase on the night she returned to Hill House, was unbelievably anguish-filled. Watching Nell see all of these moments of her life, but as the bent-neck lady was something that I did not expect.

Now that we have seen Nell’s tragic final day at Hill House, one wonders where the show goes from here. There are still plenty of feelings of guilt and grief to deal with as this entire family does not seem to deal with what happened to them at hill House.

We flash back to the kids era and we see their father bringing them to a hotel and then going back “for mom” he tells them. That night is clearly something that we need to see more of moving forward.

How will everyone continue to deal with the loss of Nell? Luke, in particular, is a character that I am intrigued to see moving ahead. I want to see more of their father too, as he played some major role that we have yet to see.

This show has picked up big time. Last week’s episode was my favorite of the series so far… that is until this week. I think this was a near perfect horror episode with an amazing payoff to a mystery that we have been wondering, while still leaving plenty of questions to be answered.

Pixels Horror Story

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It was a normal day as I (Sam Brenner) was going to a house to install a Playstation 4 and a new TV. I knocked on the door and was unexpectedly met with a 12-year old kid instead of the parent I expected. I asked the kid where his parents were and he said his mom was upstairs and told me how his parents had a divorce.

His mom then walked downstairs and said, “You don’t need to tell the installation man our whole life story.”

“Alright I’ll hook up this TV and PS4 up,” said Sam Brenner. 

“Yeah you do that,” said his mom. 

“Yeah, she’s struggling with the divorce and all that stuff,” said Matty.

“Yeah, that must’ve been tough,” said Sam Brenner. 

As I finished setting up, I went to get the release form and money for the TV and Playstation. As I knocked on her door, I heard her crying in the closet, and I said I was coming in. As I walked in I asked what the matter was. She said it was the divorce stuff so I was helping her with it and thought we were having a moment. I tried to kiss her and she got mad.

“I thought we were having a moment,” I said.

“Yeah a moment,” she replied.

“I didnt take you for the snobby type,” I said.

She got mad at me. I then got a call from my friend, the president. He told me he needed me over there ASAP! I told him I was coming and rushed to the car. 

As I started driving I stopped at the red light and the snobby girl was following me and she told her to stop trying to apologize and she said she was just going somewhere important. And then the light turned green and she kept following me and as I pulled into the white house she pulled in and they let her in as a lieutenant. As she walked I went in and happened to go into the same entrance as her. She got to the president’s door and they told her to go into the situation room and then told me the president was waiting for me. I then said ohhh somebody’s more important. As the door shut I asked the president what was going on?

 The president then told me that an airbase in Guam was attacked. I asked who attacked it. The president said that’s why I called you. I was then like me? He just told me to come here. I sat down and I saw this:

Wait, is that galaga, like the arcade game? said Sam Brenner.

Yeah they need me in the situation room but I want you to keep looking at this and let me know anything you find. said The President.

Ok can i sit in your chair? Sam Brenner asked.

No! said The President.

Ah gimme a break im sitting in the chair. said Sam Brenner.

Just after looking at it for a while I realized it was not exactly like galaga. It was like if galaga was a horror game and not an arcade game, instead of looking cute and like a fun or chill game to play, they looked

,                                                       deformed!

Just as i realized this i heard what sounded like noises from galaga but louder than a tornado siren, they came flying through the president’s window. I ducked down and grabbed a Darpa light cannon and shot the alien. I then ran into the situation room and said, galaga is here! Right as the general started yelling at me, more galagas started coming into the room and I started shooting them. I then asked if they believed me and they all nodded. I then said everyone follow me. I then started sprinting through the hall while shooting the galagas. 

Where are we going brenner!? said The President.

You’ll see, it will be worth it! said Sam Brenner. 

It better be! Said The President.

Alright everyone grab a light cannon! said Sam Brenner. 

Uhm how do we even use these? said The Army Man.

Just figure it out for god’s sake! said Sam Brenner.

It couldn’t possibly be that difficult if i figured it out! said Sam Brenner.

All the tvs then turned back and a weird man said that round one was over and that they had won, and that there are only 3 rounds in total. Well this is the endgame i was thinking.

Ok we need to figure out a plan to stop whatever round two may be. said Sam Brenner.

Ok well do we know what’s coming next? said The President.

Well the second game we played was centipede so i think we can safely assume that it will be the next game to take over. said Sam Brenner.

Ok well lets get training then! said Mr.President.

Ok first rule of centipede, is to only shoot the centipede’s head otherwise it will split in half and make more centipedes. said Sam Brenner.

 it will make more? Asked the soldier.

Yeah unfortunately you have to be very accurate or else there will be hundreds of centipedes in just seconds. said Sam Brenner.

Ok get gaming! said Sam Brenner.

Ok remember the patterns, memorize them, that’s how you win! said Sam Brenner.

Ok everyone we need to be prepared at all times, you never know when it could happen. said Sam Brenner.

Just as i said this all the tvs turned off and then back on showing the second location being in London and saying sometime tomorrow night. I realized we needed to get on a flight ASAP if we planned on being there in time.

Ok we need to get on a plane or a private jet and get to London so we don’t miss this fight and lose our planet! said Sam Brenner.

Ok well we better there then. Said The Mom.

London (2015)

As the helicopters landed, we all got out and started preparing for the invasion of the centipedes while the president was in the London prime minister office. 

Okay violet how is it out there? Asked The President.

It’s eerily quiet. said Violet.

Wow violet is your real name. said Sam Brenner.

Mr president there coming down now. said Violet.

It is centipede. said Sam Brenner.

Okay everyone DON’T split them in half or they will duplicate! Screamed Sam Brenner.

As they started shooting it looked good at first. But as you thought that, one centipede in half another 2 in half. Then I watched as half our team died so I knew it was up to me. I stole a light cannon and shot through a centipede that was rushing at me. One down just 3 more to go! I started breaking the mushroom things to get a better view. One started rushing me downwards so I shot through that one too. I killed the second to last one by shooting in from the back to the face. Just as I did that I noticed one of them running away. So I chased it onto the road and into a hotel where it trapped itself so now there were zero centipedes left.

Way to go brenner! Screamed The President.

No problem, what’s next? Sam Brenner Asked.

Well what’d you play next in the competition? The President Asked.

Pacman. said Sam Brenner.

Well dont you need ghosts for pacman? Asked the President.

So we need some little ghosts. Said Sam Brenner.

Here follow me to nyc. said Violet.

ok where are we going in nyc? Sam Brenner Asked.

Showing you the ghost. Said violet.

It’s a car? Sam Brenner Asked.

A super charged pacman killing car. Said violet.

Let’s go! Said Sam Brenner.

As i got in the car i saw giant 30 foot tall pacman turn around the corner

Ok well its now or never i thought to myself.

Ok brenner you got this just stay calm. Said the president.

Right as he said I slammed on the pedal and started zooming towards pac-man but he’s always been faster so i made a right turn to hopefully counteract pac-man and get one life down. As I turned the next corner I smashed right into pac-man and now he only has two lives left. Ok I got this  thought. I kept going and pacman spawned on the other side of nyc. I started heading over there going 100 miles per hour and I didn’t notice he was leading me into a power pellet. As he flew into the power pellet I started reversing. As I spun around I started flooring it and turning around every corner possible in order to escape. As the ten seconds were up I slammed on the brakes and pac-man ran straight into me and now there was one more life left. As pacman respawned i floored it for pacman not knowing again he was going straight to a power pellet again. As he rammed into it he started rolling at me as fast as possible. I started reversing into a parking garage and going up floor after floor as he chased me up them. He was getting way too close to me. As I got to the top floor I jumped off the roof heading towards the building, but as pacman was about to eat me the power pellet weared off and we won! After winning I became a world hero, didn’t have to pay taxes and became a billionaire!

Mia’s Horror Story

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Mia’s Horror Story

By Pooh Bear Sr.

There was a girl named Mia, who was a 6-foot tenth grader. She had been intelligent all her life and excelled in both school and sports. There were some people above her in sports, but it was fine because she tried her best to maintain her grades, which allowed her to play the sports she loved. There were these mean girls who judged her for caring about her grades, and she tried to ignore them, but they continued to make fun of her. She tried to make friends, but people just made fun of her height and made her want to quit sports and stop caring about school, just to stop the teasing and bullying.

“They’re just teasing you because they are jealous of you,” said her parents.

“ Yeah, right, what would they be jealous of?” said Mia.

 Her parents were trying to get her to like herself, but she kept thinking down on herself due to the things the girls said to her and how they treated her. The only thing that made her happy was when she played sports, but when she played sports, people made fun of her for her height and not being on the A-team. 

The basketball season just started, and Mia was very excited to play her favorite sport. Her parents were very excited to see her play the sport she loved. Today was their first practice, Thursday, November 13, from 6 to 7:15. When she got there, she was the first one. She put on her shoes and started getting some shots up to be ready for the practice. Mia thought that if she got there early and showed her dedication, she might start and be on the A team. She was wrong. At their first game, she sat on the bench the whole game and didn’t get to go in. This made Mia and her parents really sad. The reason Mia and her parents were annoyed was because this one girl showed up to one practice and got to start.

Mia decided to go talk to the coach about how she picked who plays.  

“ How do you pick who starts or who is on the A-team?” Mia said

“I really pick it off of skill. Is there a way you think I should base it on?” said the coach. 

“ I think you should base it on dedication, because a girl who only showed up to one practice all week got to start over people who went to every single practice and were not late to a single practice,” Mia said 

  “ I understand why you are a little mad. I will consider your ideas,” said the Coach .

“ Thank you for your time,” Mia said. 

  This made Mia a little less mad because Mia realized how The Coach picked the lineups.

After Christmas break, and we were back at an early morning practice. This time, Mia was not the first one there; Mia was actually the last one. This made Mia very confused. 

“Practice started an hour ago, and I was late,” said the coach.

“No one told me practice was moved earlier,” Mia said.

“The girls made a group chat to tell everyone it was moved to earlier,” said the coach.

“ I was not added to any group chat,” Mia said.

Come to find out, they added everyone to the group chat except Mia.

Mia’s coach had a player meeting. We talked about including everyone in anything we did as a team. Then the coach asked Mia to stay after, and Mia said okay. When Mia and the Coach were talking, she asked Mia if any of the players were bullying her or had previously bullied her. 

“Some of the girls have made fun of my height and how smart I am, but my parent just said they were jealous of me,” Mia said.

“ I will keep an eye on them during my practice because I do not tolerate bullying” said the coach.

I was very happy because something was going to happen, and the bullying might even stop. When I went home, I told my parents about the meeting we had. 

“What was it about? said my parents.

“ It was about it we are going to do something as a team, everyone has to be invited or included in the things we do as a team,” I said.

“ Nice, did anything else happen?” said my parents. 

“ The coach asked me to stay so she could talk to me,” I said.

“ What did she say?” said my parents.

“She asked if any people were bullying me or had been bullying me,” I said. 

“ What did you say?” said my parents.

 “Some of the girls have made fun of my height and how smart I am,”  I said.

“ It is okay, I hope it gets better because you told her,” said my parents. 

“ Thank you, love you!” I said.

After basketball season was almost over, the bullying stopped, but like two weeks after it stopped, it started again. Those two weeks I had so much fun, and I made so many friends. I went to three haunted houses and enjoyed them so much. I went to six sleepovers and had my first birthday party, and invited my whole basketball team, and they enjoyed it very much. At one of the sleepovers, we listened to Golden. It was the best part of the whole night. 

Then, after being friends for two weeks, we just stopped being friends and they said that they hated me all along and were just using me for all the stuff I got them and using me for my stuff. After that, they acted like they did not know me. At basketball practice, they tried to be my best friends.

“ Why are you only friends with me at practice and not at school?” I said.

“ I don’t know, when I try to talk to you, you do not talk back,” they said.

“ When I talk to you, you turn around and walk away,” I said.

“We will try not to do that; it was not on purpose,” they said.

“ Okay,” I said.

The next day at school, we were all called to the office. The whole basketball team was called. When we got there, we were so confused. We had no idea why we got called into the office. We realized that someone had told the principal that people were spreading rumors about other people. We all got called in one at a time and were asked some questions; these questions were really weird. The principal said to keep it confidential. I left the office and went back to class. Five minutes later, we got called to the main office, which was very scary, and I was the only one called. I realized that the rumors that they were spreading were about me. Then the principal asked me some questions.

“ Have you ever been bullied?” said the principal.

“ Yes,” I said.

“ Who bullied you?” said the principal.

“ People on the basketball team,” I said.

“ Why did they bully you?” said the principal.

“ They bullied me for my height and for how smart I am,” I said.

“ They are just doing it because they are jealous of you,” said the principal

Then I thought to myself that two different people have said the same thing, and maybe they were right. So for the next few days, I tried to believe them and tried to think that they were just jealous of me. Then, the next few days, the bullies were just meaner and ruder.

“ Why have you been so mean lately?” I said.

“ We have not been mean lately, you have just been so annoying,” they said.

“ Well, that is rude, and you are just jealous of me because I am better at school and sports,” I said.

“ No, I am not,” they said nervously.

“ You are lying, that is why you are nervous and don’t know what to say.”

“Fine, I was, and I am very jealous of you because you are so good at sports and school, and I want to be like you,” they said.

“ I will be friends with you if you actually want to be friends and you are not going to use me this time,” I said.

“ Okay, so we are friends now,” they said.

“ Okay” I said.

Then we were friends, and the bullying stopped, and I had all the friends in the world. When we went to the last basketball game, I started, and it was so fun. I felt like the coach considered my ideas, and it was amazing that I was able to tell the coach how I felt, and she listened to me and considered my ideas, and followed through with them. I feel like sometimes people do not really listen when you try to tell them something important to you. I had not only made an A-team for basketball, but also had many people whom I could call my friends. Sometimes all you need to do is confront someone if you think the thing they were doing was wrong. That is the reason I now have friends and can be free at school and not spend every day and every night alone. “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of you.” By Harold S. Kushner.