The road before you is perilous What lies beyond the fog is dangerous Legends of creatures ever so treacherous Shall you choose to be cautious or adventurous? Nothing can truly prepare you for this journey You pray that the gods may show you mercy Your hands shake as your heart fills with worry Shall you be triumphant or return on a gurney? Something just moved in the trees, You hope that it was only the breeze Yet your u...

~~~~~~~ “I’m sorry I shouted at you, Bear.” “I’m sorry you shouted at me, too, Girl.” She chuckled, crossing her arms on her chest, and leaning back on him. The two friends sat there, staring at the fire, and listening to the rain pounding on the roof overhead. They were at peace. Even with each other – for once. It was a lovely feeling, for both of them. The next day was a quiet one. They didn’t want to venture too far o...

An abandoned quarry. High-walled stone pit. At the bottom strolling through newfound friendship. Looking up, a bold climber's dream. "Let's do it! We can climb it." Overreachingly confident--young. One led the way. Not too difficult really. Foolish? The next followed. Shorter, smaller, smiling--at first.  One scrambled gaining the top edge, turned about. The other grimaced. So close. Gasping, "Can't do it. Can't make it!"...

In 1986 when I was 23, my parents divorced and my mother, brother, sister and I moved to the city of Fontana which was about 30 miles from where I grew up. We were really struggling just to keep the lights on in those days, so I began to work full time at a Jack in the Box, about five miles from our home.  I couldn't afford a car, so I had to walk to and from work, along two roads that were all but deserted.  The one I to...

My worst fear came true My daughter talked with a strangerDoes she really not have a clueI told her endlessly about danger All people are not considered niceSome would love to hurt youThis would be the ultimate priceI pray I have gotten through A stranger can be good lookingAnd want to be your friendThey will steal you for hookingOr kill you in the end She told a stranger 'hi'I saw her do this yesterdayThank God he was no...

I am not a naturally brave man. I don't, as a general rule, go out of my way to put myself in dangerous situations – or even ones that I'll find very uncomfortable. But I rarely refuse a dare. That's how I've found myself bungy jumping or skydiving despite a ridiculous fear of heights, or ingesting suspicious-looking cheese.And that's how I found myself face-to-face with one of the terrors of the ocean: Carcharodon carcha...

As soon as dinner ended, I excused myself quickly. I needed to be alone or with Aqua. The pestering feeling deepened and I felt guilty, though I had no clue why. I did something wrong, something felt horribly wrong. I made it safely to the stables. The rain stopped, but fog heavily shrouded the area surrounding the manor. I contemplated taking Aqua and riding out under the cover of night and fog. I wanted to get as far aw...

Chapter Fourteen The next morning when Draco woke up he saw Galrin and Lienna sitting around him, waiting for him to wake up. As soon as he started moving Galrin asked him impatiently, “How many more elementals do we have to capture?” Draco thought it over for a minute then said, “Spring is already upon us, meaning we don’t have much longer until the annual tournament which would be our best chance to slip in Ragnarock he...

My mind is a constant battle Of holding strong and wearing thin My thoughts are a constant prattle Of meaningless words and din. My eyes are forever seeking out The lost, the constant, in this place My head forever turned away From any contact with disgrace. My hands are trembling with unease They grip the slipping steering wheel My ears are likely soon to seize The sound of phantoms I can only feel. My stomach is a pit o...

Reader Discretion Advised The story you are about to read contains mature language and themes. By choosing to read this piece, you agree that you are 18 or older and do not object to such content.  * * *A young girl of only sixteen, with no love or care from home. Only knowing anger and hate, parents who never wanted her, she runs. She thinks she'll get all she truly needs, if she does as they say. She seeks comfort from...

My dad told me, when I was a boy, "There is nothing you can do to change or correct the past. You just have to make sure that you do not continue the same bad things in the future. You must move on." This was something I remembered to this day. My family and friends always wondered why I never became angry. I never became angry, because things said and done in anger really cut deep and taking them back cannot ever happen....

Holly departed the following night leaving Carpenter to sit and ponder his next course of action. He had dealt with the hunters many times over the years and he had no qualms about killing if it meant survival, but this was the first really intelligent one he had ever encountered. Keeping a federal marshal as a partner was a brilliant move on his part so there could be no crude attack on him and everything had to be caref...

Chapter 8 By Kari and Khadaj Once Sive entered the bridge, Zlanta got right down to business, showing her the various stations to her new crew-mate. Since most of them looked very much like her scout ship, only much more grand, Sive had no trouble absorbing all the information from Zlanta.  “I think I have the basics down now Zlanta, unless we come across some real bad storms or pirates I shouldn't have to bother anyone o...

Doctor Vincent headed his buggy back to town. As he rode he though about the conversation he had with this man called Carpenter. He was sure that he was one of those that he had sought and destroyed all across the Western states. Be they called Nosferatu, vampire or the undead they must be eliminated.But this time he could not be sure this time as there were questions that he had to find answers to. How could he not be re...

Chapter 7 By Kari and Khadaj At 0600 the comm dinged, and Zlanta's voice came out. "Sive, time fer breakfast an' tha tour of tha ship. Capt'n's already in the cahmon room. You awake, chile?" At Sive's answer the comm clicked off. When Sive heard the comm ding, she jumped up. Pressing the comm button she replied. “I'll be right there Zlanta.” Having one last look in the tiny mirror, she saw something she hadn't seen in mon...