#3

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Shining in Misty Sea......

          “The diamond was said to be still in the deepest depths of Misty Sea. Waiting, to be discovered.”

          Ethan Brown loved hearing fantasy stories and myths from his grandparents. He couldn’t get enough and always persuaded for more. Like this time.

          “I’m sorry Ethan but it’s way past your bedtime. Maybe some other time. Remember, you’re going scuba diving in Misty Sea tomorrow, you don’t want to oversleep, do you?” Ethan’s grandmother said in a soothing voice and gave a toothless smile. Ethan’s eyes lit up at the sound of his upcoming trip to Misty Sea and jumped of the couch without a moments hesitation, and rushed to his bedroom faster than the speed of lightning. 

          Ethan looked like he ate a whole jar of sugar the next day. He could not stop talking about all the fun things he might see in Misty Sea, could not keep still in the car and chattered all the way to Misty Bay. There the Brown family put on scuba diving gear. Ethan the first one to finish preparing, unsurprisingly. After a few minutes, they were all ready. The Brown family stood with scuba diving instructors at the age of Misty Bay and together...                                                                              ...they jumped in to the cold and sparkling waters of Misty Sea.

          Ethan’s breath had been taken away as soon as he plunged into the water. Colourful fish were swimming by and there were beautiful corals standing upright on the sea grounds, showing off their outstanding colours in the morning rays penetrating into the water. There was also anemones swaying with the gentle water current. This was not expected by Ethan at all. This was so much more breath-taking and astounding.

          They swam around, passing by colourful fish and even took picture with a turtle with an underwater camera. It was such an amazing experience. Just then, a clown-fish passed by, which wasn’t unusual if the clown-fish didn’t stop to take a look at Ethan. Ethan caught it staring and stopped to stare back at its black eyes. The fish’s mouth was gaping open and close repeatedly, almost as if it was saying something but no words were formed. The clown-fish then turned its orange head around to face the back, and turned back to face Ethan, mouth still gaping open and close, as if it was saying, “Come with me.” The clown-fish suddenly turned its orange striped body to the back and started swimming deeper into the ocean. And of course, Ethan had to follow, but by doing so he had broken one rule: Always stick together.

          Ethan swam curiously with the clown-fish as a guide. He didn’t realize that he had strayed away from the group. Then he sensed light. It was different from the morning rays. No, it was brighter and whiter. Curiosity burned inside of him like a bushfire that just pushed him to find out what the strange light was. And he saw it.

          There was a huge and sparkling diamond sitting in the middle of the waters. Light reflected of the beautiful diamond and it was gorgeous. Ethan remembered the myth his grandmother told him the previous night, was it actually true? The sparkling diamond standing right in front of his eyes, could it be actually true?

          “Ethan! There you are! Where have you been?” Ethan’s head whipped around and saw his mother and father swimming after him. They stopped when they saw the outstanding beauty of the diamond. One of the scuba diving instructors giggled and said, “Looks like your son has found the amazing work of art in the sea.” Ethan widened his eyes. “So it’s not from a giant’s diamond ring?” The same instructor laughed again and said between laughter, “Of course not! It was just a myth the town made up.” Ethan felt very ridiculous and stupid right then. He thought it was from a giant’s ring when it was just an amazing work of art in Misty Sea.

          Nevertheless, it didn’t ruin his day and brought back memories and photos of the scuba diving trip in Misty Sea.

          And, who knows, maybe there is a sparkling diamond that fell from a giant’s ring, somewhere deep in Misty Sea, still waiting to be found, shining its beautiful light......                                                                                                      ________________________________________________________________

One sentence summary: A myth in which a diamond from a giant’s diamond ring fell in to the sparkling water of Misty Sea, or was it just a myth?

One paragraph summary: A  myth in which a diamond from a giant’s diamond ring fell in to the sparkling water of Misty Sea, or was it just a myth? Ethan finds out the truth as he scuba dives into the sparkling waters of Misty Sea.

photo courtesy of New York Times

The Painful Truth                                                                   

“BANG!”    “BANG!”    “BANG!”

Three swift kicks was all it took for the rusty hinges to break and the cobwebbed door gave in. As it crashed onto the ground, breaking the eerie silence, dust particles danced in the air as Lucas shone his only source of light- his phone- in all directions. A three-legged chair appeared in the powerful beam along with a silhouette of a piano in a distance. Lucas took one step in, and a plume of dust danced up at where he stepped. The tall, lanky boy coughed, and slowly walked in. His footstep inaudible, due to the many layers of dust in the abandoned house. A drip of sweat rolled down from his forehead.

A shimmer of light caught Lucas’ eye. He whipped around and saw......

Another Lucas staring at him, the light illuminating the impostor. Or so he thought. Lucas approached the impostor and saw brass. It was a large mirror. Lucas was looking at his own reflection. He groaned in annoyance. He stared at his reflection for a while.

His reflection smiled. Lucas’ eyes widened.

A bloody hand immediately shot out of below the mirror and gripped Lucas’ ankle tightly. Lucas’ shrieked and fell back. His phone clattered onto the floor, his shadow dancing on the walls of the house. He frantically shook his leg, trying desperately to free it. But the bloody and bruised hand had an iron grip on his ankle, like a chain connected to a metal ball. Slowly, another as bloody and bruised hand appeared out of the mirror. A leg, the other leg. Then, the whole body appeared, towering over Lucas’ immobilized figure on the floor. 

It was a boy that looked exactly like Lucas. Except that this boy was bloody, and his clothes were stained with dried blood. A large bloody stain stained the middle of the boy’s chest. A wide ‘Cheshire-cat’ grin was plastered on his face. He stared hard at Lucas, and said in a deep voice that filled the room, “Hi, my brother.”

Leo!? Lucas was dumbfounded. “W-what! Leo! What happened to you? Where have you been?” Leo’s smile vanished immediately. He laughed a humorless laugh and said, “Oh. Mother murdered me. Just because I found out her littllleeee secret.” Lucas shook his head in disbelief. “NO. This is a hallucination. You’re not real!” Leo sighed, shaking her head. he knelt down in front of him. “Tell me Lucas, my brother. Why do you think Mother comes home late? Huh? Don’t you see a drop of blood anywhere on her? She’s an assassin Lucas. An assassin.” He emphasized those two words,and smiled. Lucas couldn’t move. He remembered the other day when he saw a red stain on her blouse. He widened his eyes. Leo never lie. 

Leo got up and held out a hand. Lucas shakily held out a hand and placed on Leo’s icy hand that send cold shivers down his spine. Lucas got up and followed Leo uncertainly. Leo opened a door Lucas had never seen before. A rotting, putrid smell immediately wafted out that small room. What Lucas saw made him run. Out of the door of his abandoned house. With rage fueling him.  

Lucas burst through the front door, and ran to the kitchen. He held something that brandished in the moonlight. Once he held that cold brass handle, insanity possessed him. This is your punishment Mother. You Killed Leo! KILL. KILL. Those words repeated in his head as he stealthily approached a wasted woman on the couch, surrounding it were alcohol bottles. 

“Bye Mother.” Lucas lifted the knife.

He stood over her body. Her eyes were shut, almost as if she was she was sleeping......peaceful. 

He smiled and aimed the knife at the center of his chest. 

______________________________________________________________

One sentence summary: Lucas stumbles upon his very old house and finds out the truth behind his brother’s death.

One paragraph summary: The twin’s mother is an assassin who killed Leo without Lucas knowing as Leo found out his mother’s dark secret. Lucas and his mother moved into a new house and Lucas soon forgot about Leo and runs away in tears when he got into a fight with his mother. He stumbles across his previous house and meets the spirit of his brother who told him everything. Lucas returns home, filled with rage and had no self-control, killed his mother and then himself.    

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Sneakers

           Timothy walked down the pathway of his neighborhood, which was on Kangaroo street. Colourful leaves littered the pathway and danced along with the wind. Timothy wore a black cardigan and a red scarf and blue pants. Typical autumn evening.

          “Garage sale! $20 for one sneaker!” Timothy’s friend, Nate, yelled out from across the street. He was holding a garage sell, again. He always held that every month, that sneaker-head. Timothy shook his head and headed towards his house. Nate spotted Timothy immediately and motioned him to come forward. He has eagle eyesight, I swear. Timothy grinned at that thought and pushed his way to Nate through the crowd. Nate then yelled, “Alright! Garage sale is closed! I repeat, garage sale is closed! Make your purchases now!”

          Soon, everyone had parted like waters and the streets were almost quiet. Rustling of leaves and the sound of the wind whistling were the only sounds to be heard. Only a few cars would pass by, breaking the almost peaceful silence. 

          “Quiet. Isn’t it?” Nate commented. “Yeah... It’s peaceful.” They sat at a nearby bench and watched colourful leaves fall ever so slowly, carried by the wind. It was so quiet, and that was how it was in autumn. Timothy closed his eyes and immersed himself in the almost-silence. I wish it would be this silent. Timothy thought, grinning slightly to himself.

Till Nate ruined it.

          “Alright. Quit the drama, you idiot. I wanna show you something cool.” He got up and started walking to his house. Timothy sighed, annoyed, but eventually followed, unwillingly.

          They entered the sneaker-head’s bedroom, which was full of the different kinds of sneakers you could ever imagine. Nate had shelves and shelves of sneakers, enough to open a small store of his own. He even had a small storeroom to keep extra sneakers he can’t wear anymore, which he then put up for the garage sell to sell them. “Wait here, I’m gonna get something.” He then disappeared into the storeroom. Timothy sat on the bed, and looked around the room. Nothing had changed, but he swear that he did not see the ‘10+ sneaker’, which was one of the many sneakers Nate adored the most. You grow out of em’ real fast. Timothy looked out of the window, apathetic.

          “Here they are! Thought that you might fit in these.” Nate rushed to Timothy, in his hand holding a pair of shiny sneakers. Blue edged the sole of the shoe and on every side of the shoe was a strange symbol. It had a two snakes coiled up, eyes closed like they were sleeping. It was in good condition and a really nice one. Timothy’s style. He tried them on, it fitted! “Nice shoes dude! Where did you get em’?” “Oh, some lady sold them to me, surprisingly cheep.” Timothy looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. Nate held up his hand and gestured to the shoe. “What? It’s good. And glow-in-the-dark!” ”Whatever. Thanks dude, how much?” “Nah. It’s for free!” Timothy jumped up from the bed. “Thanks a lot dude.” They shook hands and Timothy headed home.

          What Timothy didn’t know, was that these shoes were magical. An he’ll be take for a ride.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

A Cold Autumn Night

          “ I sat at my favorite blue, wooden table, arms folded, a small red teacup filled with warm milk tea sat in front of my folded arms. Though I was at home, it was still surprisingly cold, and I liked it.

          It was a cold autumn night, 11.34 p.m. Soon it would strike 12 midnight, and I would had to dive under the warm covers in bed. I looked up at the bright crescent hanging in the night sky. It was shining especially bright that night, beaming at me. Outside, a bare tree stood lonely at the sidewalk. Around it were leaves that were once green and lush, growing on the strongest branches of the tree were now falling and dead. Soon winter would come and snow would cover them.

          Then, I spotted a lone star shining in the ink-black sky. I smiled at the star, and shifted my long, red hair, out of my eyes. To watch the star. Outside was silent. Everyone had went to bed. ‘Misty neighborhood’ was silent, and I immersed myself in it. I sipped my milk tea but felt nothing. My house was dark and quiet, the only light that shone was the moonlight. 

          I looked at my watch. 11.55 p.m. 5 more minutes. Might as well finish the tea. I picked up my red teacup and drank the rest of the tea and set it down on the cold table. Tomorrow at 8.30 a.m, the kids would be coming to listen stories. Again. I smiled at the thought. I glimpsed at my watch, 11,59 p.m. Time to sleep. I put my cup in the sink and went up the green staircase.

          As I heard the clock strike 12 midnight, I heard the bark of the three legged dog, leading my neighbor for his usual walk.”

          Jewel closed the book with a thud and looked down at 20 curious faces staring back at her. “But Miss Jewel? I did not see anyone next door.” Jewel smiled at Thomas. “You just didn’t look harder enough. He’s always at home in the mornings.” Thomas beamed at Jewel. Then someone knocked on the door. And soon, all the kids were sent back home.

          Jewel sat at her blue table, arms folded, a red teacup set in front of her. She sighed. If only the kids knew the truth. A newspaper clipping was being carried by the wind. And on the newspaper clipping read the headlines:

Poisonous Gas Released in ‘Misty Neighborhood’ At 12 Midnight. Residents Died In Their Sleep!

Photo courtesy of New York Times

The Secret Room

          When Janice turned eight, she was at the age where she was curious and adventurous. She loved to run around and poke around with her sister and brother. Out of her 4 siblings if you ask them who was the most active and curious they would simultaneously point to Janice. She was also very clumsy, often tripping over her own feet, tripping over invisible rocks on the ground. She had gotten use to the pain of scratches and bruises on her legs and arms. Her mother always thought that her curiosity would be put into good use in the near future so she encouraged Janice to be more curious. Her father said otherwise. Janice did not care, she continued being curious and adventurous just like what her mother said.

         One day, the family decided to move into a new house about a state away. Janice wasn’t particularly happy about it but she also saw it as a chance to explore the house and neighborhood. As soon as they stepped into the new house, Janice rushed around, opening doors and exploring them. Her father rolled his eyes playfully while her mother giggled at Janice’s reaction to every room she opened up to. 

          But nothing could compare when Janice opened a door to what seem like heaven itself.

          Shelves and shelves of books filled the room. There were two bean bags, a table and chairs and even a window seat! It was like a paradise to Janice. One look at the books, the warm and inviting room and the sweet smell of books, she knew that she was meant to be in this house. Janice rushed up to her mother and father, who were unpacking their luggage, gave them a big hug and screamed, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Her four siblings came up and wondered what the commotion was all about.

          A few months later, when the clock strike twelve, Janice immediately threw down her pencils and raced to the ‘Library’. She shut the ‘Library’ door behind her and roamed the shelves, looking for the perfect book to transport her to a wonderland. As her eyes roamed from title to title, her eyes glued to one captivating title. ‘The Secret Room’. It sounded like the book ‘The Secret Garden’ which was Janice’s all time favorite books. Her eyes lit up and she reached out a hand to take the book out.

          It wouldn’t budge. Janice raised an eyebrow and tugged at it. It still wouldn’t budge. Janice forehead wrinkled in confusion. Is this book glued to the wall? She gripped the book with both hands, took a deep breath and tugged hard at the stubborn book.

          CLICK!

          The book tilted abruptly but stopped all of a sudden, sending Janice stumbling back and falling on her butt. “Ow...” She got up and dusted herself just in time to see something extraordinary.

          The bookshelf with the tilted book swung open to her very slowly. Like a door. Janice’s eyes widened in both fear and excitement. She took a tentative step towards it and peered inside and gasped.

          It was a room! It had a blue bed and a picture of cherry blossoms on the wall. Janice couldn’t breathe. She stepped inside and swung her head wildly. There was a desk at the end of the room. She tiptoed towards the room and found a purple velvet book with a rusty key next to it. She picked up the purple book and blew the dust on it away. Janice started to open it but realize there was a strange lock on it, the same colour as the key......

          Janice sat on the blue bed and flipped to the first page. “The Secret Room. Wait, it’s that book!” Janice exclaimed excitedly, just as her mother called her for lunch. Janice reluctantly got up and turned the key, locking the book. After putting the book back at where it belonged, she stepped into the familiar ‘Library’ and shut the bookshelf. Janice grinned.

          No one will ever find that room. No one will ever enter the room. No one will find out what is hidden. Because it is mine. And mine only.

1. One sentence summary: Janice was a thirteen year old girl who found a secret room behind a bookshelf in her new house.

One paragraph summary: Janice was a clumsy, adventurous and curious thirteen year old girl who unintentionally stumbled upon a secret room behind a bookshelf a few days after she moved in her new house. She decided that this room would be hers and no one should find out about it.

#12

Truth or Dare

“Truth or Dare?”

Hah, I'm no chicken! “Dare! Let’s do this.”

My friends chuckled evilly. I put on a brave face, but was screaming on the inside. Hopefully they don’t make me do anything embarrassing.

Oh man I hope…

The next thing I knew someone blindfolded me, without giving me any heads up. “Guys w-what are we doing?”

They shuffled me to... a table? My hands felt the texture of the wooden table in the kitchen. They made me sit down.

“Put your right hand on the table.” I heard Connor’s voice.

“Hehe, couldn’t you guys just tell me what’s going on.” I said as I slowly put my hand on the smooth, cold surface of the table.

“Spread out your fingers.” Connor ordered again.

I obeyed, nervous.

There was silence for the next few seconds.

Then I heard Miso say, “If you really are our friends, then prove yourself, do not resist.”

Before I could even get a word out, I felt something go “thunk” on the table.

Right between my fingers.

“Guys no! You don’t have to do this!” No one responded. The only sounds were the “thunk thunk” sounds of the knife stabbing the table, right between my fingers, and my heavy breathing. Cold sweat formed on my forehead, and my eyes were filled with hot tears, threatening to let loose! I shook my hand, desperate to stop this but it was no use, someone was holding my hand down like an iron shackle. I used my other hand to pry loose of that iron grip but all efforts were in vain, I was going to be dead meat.

Why did they have to do this?

I lost all hope...

Then, a plan formed in my head.

I timed the knife plunging into the wood, and as soon as I heard the next ‘thunk’, I immediately shot my head down and bit as hard as I could into the ‘iron chain’, I heard a familiar screech and finally, my hand was free!

But.. maybe I should have timed the knife better...

The knife plunged into the flesh of my finger, I immediately started screaming. I tumbled to the floor from my chair, shrieking my throat raw. I clutched onto what was remaining on my injured finger. I could feel warm liquid spilling on to my left hand. “Please guys! Help! Call an ambulance! Do something!”

They made the most horrifying response.

They laughed.

“You thought we were your friends?”

“You’re a good for nothing to us.”

“Good luck, and good night.”

“No please!”

And just like that… they left.

“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!”

But no one came.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Another Chance

          My mom passed away right after I was born. My father was devastated, but he didn’t tell me anything about her death. I was too young and innocent. But of course, I found out sooner or later. I wasn’t that sad though, to be honest, I did not see my mom at all except in photos. Didn’t mean I was all that jolly either.

          I respected my dad. He wasn’t abusive or anything. He was nice, though he was a bit distant. It broke my heart to see him so depressed and sad, when he looked at pictures of mom. But I couldn’t help him. I tried, and it went horribly wrong. I told him it was alright and that mom was in a better place. He practically screamed in my face and threw a vase at me. It might’d flew an inch from my face. I felt the wind of it go by. Let say I didn’t say anything after that.

          It might be somewhat fine in the household, but high school, was hell.      

          I was 15, starting a second new year of the same school, with same people. I walked through the packed hallways with my head down and hood up. The kids there know me by a lot of names. ‘Emo Freak’, ‘Loser’, ‘Quiet Freak’, ‘Idiot’. You name it. I was the quiet kid of the school who barely had any friends. You think I should had speak up or something, right? I did, in fact. But it also went horribly wrong.  I tried speaking to some people, and tried to make friends but it just got me more enemies. I didn’t know why they hate me so much. But I could guess the suspect to be my eyes. Their purple, and they think is the sign of death. Which is stupid. I tried telling teachers, but they won’t do anything.

          Then on the 20th of October. Something life changing happened.

          Dad’s mental health must had gotten worse without me knowing. I come home to find dad...                                                                                                                                 ....in a pool of blood.

          News spread like bush-fire. Soon nearly the whole school knew that the ‘Emo Freak’s’ father had committed suicide. And what was disgusting is that they find it funny! The bullying got worse day by day. I got more depressed each day by each day. The demon and taken over my head and there was no more angels singing in my head. I grew colder and colder. Till the point where I started to think that grabbing a knife and killing everyone was better off. 

          I got up from bed and walked to the kitchen. Then something had happened, but it was a blur before I fell into darkness.

          I woke up in a bed. It wasn’t mine though. All around me was blue. Peaceful blue. I stood up and caught a door in my sight. It was blue except for the doorknob, which was sparkling gold. I timidly tip-toed towards to the door and opened it. I was immediately blinded by bright light.

          I shot up from my bed. The covers flew of my body. I was sweating profusely. It was all just a dream. I ran a hand through my hair and heard a familiar voice calling for breakfast. “MUM! DAD! Oh my god I’m so glad you’re alive!” Both gave confused and amused laugh and glances. “I had this dream and... Nevermind, It’s not important.” I smiled and ate my pancakes with my loving family. Then a voice sounded in my head, 

“You’re not hopeless Mandy. Don’t listen to others. Purple can represent anything. For you it would be hope. I’ll give you another chance to live. To change.”

#13

A Normal Family

“Wake up, honey! Or you will be late!”

Oscar’s sits up, and slides off his bed. Marching over to Oscar’s wardrobe, he opens the drawers and takes out a blue shirt, and dark blue jeans. Oscar puts the clothes on his bed and takes off his pyjamas. Then, Oscar looks at his clothes, takes them and puts them on his cold body.

After doing so, Oscar exits his bedroom and walks down the stairs. Oscar goes straight to the blue dining chair and sits down on it. His mother, Melissa, comes out of the kitchen as soon as Oscar sits on his chair, and places a bowl of cereal directly in front of Oscar. Oscar looks at the blue spoon and picks it up, scoops up some cereal and eats it.

After Oscar takes his first bite, his father, Nate, comes down the stairs and says, “Melissa, I am going to work!” When Nate reaches the end of the stairs, Nate suddenly stops walking and his head tilts downwards, the light in his eyes dims. Oscar keeps scooping cereal and eating it.

Melissa comes out of the kitchen exactly a minute later, and walks towards Nate. Melissa grabs Nate and turns Nate around. Melissa places a hand on Nate’s back, some lights flashes and the light in Nate’s eyes lights back up. Nate’s head tilts back up, Mellisa walks back to the kitchen, and Nate walks out the front door.

Oscar takes the last bite of his cereal, puts his spoon down in the bowl, pushes his bowl a centimetre away and stands up. Oscar walks towards his blue backpack and picks it up and puts on his shoulders.

When Oscar reaches the front door, Melissa appears at the entrance of the kitchen.

“Honey, when grandma asks how is your day, tell her everything, but do not tell her about Dad losing power.”

Oscar’s eyes turn red, then turns back to its usual black colour.

“Okay Mom. I will not tell grandma about Dad losing power.”

Oscar opens the front door, steps outside, and closes the front door.

End~

#8

Shake my Hand

He strolled up to me and shook my hand, gave me a small, toothless grin and walked away. Okay, maybe not strolled instead he limped rather heavily and used his cane to support him. Very queer. He looked like an 80 year old, his skin was all wrinkly, he had dark eye bags around the bottom of his eyes. I think he had insomnia. Poor old man. He lost most of his hair, only left a few strands barely even surviving on his rash covered head. Judging by his appearance, he must have lived all alone, with no one to take care of him. I shook my head, I pitied him. The old man probably lost all human connection, maybe this was his first handshake in years. I smiled to myself, I hope he’s happy. I love making people happy.

“Stop with that stupid grin! Go back to work!” I rolled my eyes and grumbled, obeying reluctantly.

“Poof!” I collapsed onto my soft, welcoming bed. Finally home! What an exhausting day. I slid off my bed and sat on the floor, appreciating the peacefulness of my room at last. I opened my eyes and saw something on my skin. On the palm of my hand, there was a black, circle-like shape mark. It had black hook-like things around the circumference of the circle.

“What the hell is this?” I rubbed the strange mark with the heel of my hand, not even a smudge. I ran to the bathroom and washed it with soap and water till my skin turned raw. It was still there. Nothing changed! How the heck did it get there anyway? It’s like someone drew on my palm with a really strong permanent marker. Dammit! I must’ve spent at least half an hour trying to get rid of the stubborn mark. But nothing got it off my palm, it was still there, just like how I found it.

In the end, well I just gave up. I was starting to get really dizzy and my head was throbbing. It was already really late, so I decided to just go to sleep, praying that the mark will disappear by morning.

“I’m sure it will.” I said to myself drowsily before falling asleep.

It’s. Still. There. It seemed bigger but I dismissed it as my imagination.

Besides, I had a rough sleep as my headache prevented me from sleeping. I tried getting rid of the mark but all efforts were in vain. It was still the same as before. I scratched my neck. What the hell is this? Is someone trying to pull a prank on me?

On the way to work it was still there.

During work it didn’t even fade.

Even at the end of the day, once I got back home, not only did it not fade, it seemed to have gotten bigger, it was about 3cm wide! I kept staring at it, trying to catch it growing larger, but I never got to see it. What if it spreads to my whole palm? What if it spreads to my whole arm? What if… I scratched my itchy neck, the skin of my neck had gone red, something must have bitten my neck. Suddenly, it felt like a thousand hammers were hitting my head. It was throbbing madly, it was so painful and I could feel it right behind my eyes. “I...I need to go to sleep” I coughed, scratched my arm and got ready for a restless sleep.

I didn’t sleep at all. I kept coughing and sneezing. My throat felt so dry, water only helped for a little while. Luckily it was the weekends, no work. I took some pills to help with the headache and lay down in bed, exhausted. I looked at my palm, the mark seemed to grow a bit bigger. Despite this, and everything else, I drifted off to sleep.

“Wow… I am really tired.” It was already nighttime. I was still, so damned exhausted, I could barely move, my limbs were like jelly. I just slid off the bed like a slime. I coughed, sneezed and scratched madly for a few minutes, before I got my wobbly feet underneath me and stumbled to the bathroom, using the walls as support. Glancing at my palm, I saw that it had almost taken over half of my palm, but I could barely react to that, I was still, so, so weary. I looked into the bathroom mirror and saw dark eye bags around the bottom of my eyes. My neck was red with all the scratching, and so was my arms and legs. I touched my face. It seemed dry? And rough. I looked at my arms, they were a little wrinkled.

I collapsed onto my bed and opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I let my head tilt to the left and saw that my pillow had a lot of hair… my hair. Weakly, I lifted my hand and gently pulled at my hair, there came out a concerning number of strands. I let my hand fall limply onto the bed, as tears trickled down.

What’s wrong with me?

I bit into an apple and ripped out two teeth. More hair dropped from my head and everywhere felt itchy and uncomfortable. I was so sick and tired that it came to the point when I stopped going to work and lay in bed for the entire day. The mark on my palm had covered my entire palm by the time I started hallucinating things. Everything scared me from them on. I isolated myself in my room.

I was dizzy, with unbearable headaches, exhausted beyond belief, so ill, my skin was rough and dry and wrinkled and red, I had lost most of my hair, my teeth were starting to drop out, and I was seriously on edge.

I felt like I was on the brink of death.

~~~~~

I woke up without realising I had rolled off too near the edge of my bed, and before I could react, I fell off. I landed hard on my arm, and let out a small gasp. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak. Electric-like pain was coursing through my broken arm. It was unbearable. Unable to scream for help, I caught a glimpse of my phone on the desk.

I had to try. I rolled onto my back, wincing at the pain. Luckily the pain was slowly numbing. With my good but weak arm, I grabbed the edge of my bed and held onto the fabric. Slowly but surely, I pulled myself up bit by bit. I used the same arm to grab my phone and call a hospital. After all that effort, I dropped my phone and fainted.

I woke up to the strong but pleasant smell of the hospital. Everywhere was white, so white it might have hurt my now-sensitive eyes. An amiable young nurse smiled at me as she checked my arm, which was now in a cast. I did my best to hide the black mark. I did not want to show it. They would never believe me.

“Good afternoon Mr Leon. I hope you’re doing fine now. The paramedics found you passed out on the floor. About your arm, it’ll heal in about 2 months time, nothing to worry about!” I smiled weakly and my head went limp on the soft pillow.

Then, all at once, it started again.

It was as if they left my body for a while only to come back stronger than ever. The pain in my head was unbearable, the itching got worse, and I cough so loudly and harshly that nurse looked concerned.

“I’ll get you some medicine, old age can make you more prone to sickness.” Old age? I’m only 33!

“Ma’am?” My voice was so hoarse. Somehow the nurse was able to hear me. “I think I have a virus..” She smiled and asked what symptomes I have. “Well you see, I have had a lot of headaches lately, it itches everywhere, I have been coughing and sneezing a lot, I was too weak to move so I couldn't go to a clinic and I lost a lot of hair, also I have been hallucinating but I don’t know why… I’m sorry this is a lot to take in..”

“It’s okay, is there anything else? I looked at my palm and considered my decision for a moment.

“Also… I have this on my palm ever since the headaches began, It’s been growing bigger and bigger.” She stared at my palm, and raised her eyebrows.

“I don’t see anything sir.”

“No, it’s there. It’s a large black mark covering my palm. It’s there!” I looked at my palm to be sure, and turned it towards the nurse. She just smiled sadly.

“It might just be a part of your hallucination. I’m very sure I don’t see any black marks there. It’s alright, elderly people often hallucinate.” And before I could even utter a word, she turned and walked away.

No. It’s there! Why can’t she see it? I did the exact same thing to the patient on my left. He had the same reaction, he couldn’t see anything on my palm. Is..is it invisible? But it’s there!

I suddenly thought of the old man I saw so many weeks ago. How he shook my hand, I didn’t see any black mark either! A wild thought appeared in my head. Is this some kind of sickness? Could I pass it on and be free of all the symptoms? This wasn’t any normal illness, it couldn't be. Could I just pass it on...by shaking hands with another person? The nurse came back with some bottles.

It was now or never.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Moving

          “Isn’t it boring here, Noah?” Elijah complained.

          “Patience Elijah. Soon enough, a huge wind is going to blow us away from here.” Noah reassured him for the umpteenth time with an exasperated sigh.

          Both Elijah and Noah had been in Antarctica for many years, standing in the great vast of water, only moving a little by the winds that could have knocked any human down. Due to their great size, they haven’t been moving a lot recently. Elijah had been very impatient. He was just a bit smaller than Noah, he really wanted to explore the world.

But the winds weren’t cooperating.

          “Seriously Elijah? It’s better here. We can survive here before those dreaded humans come and destroy us.” Peppy piped up indignantly. She was the smallest ice berg there was. She was always annoyed with Elijah, for all he kept talking about was to explore the world and complain how boring Antarctica was.

          “I don’t think all humans are that bad! And I hate all the boring white here...” Elijah continued on and on and on. Peppy and Noah sighed in defeat.

          One day, Elijah and Noah were just chatting about their day. It was one of those rare days where Elijah wasn’t complaining the ice off about how boring Antarctica was.

That was when the howling started.

          It wasn’t audible at first, the wind wasn’t too strong, nor was the water current. But slowly, is started picking up faster and faster. It was like a blizzard, Noah and Elijah could barely see anything. Then they started moving little by little. They saw Peppy speeding past them, screaming as she went. Elijah and Noah started moving faster and faster. It was the biggest storm they ever had.

Then all light had disappeared.

          “Elijah! Wake up! Look where we have arrived!” Elijah groaned and woke up to bright light and warmth. It was really unlike Antarctica. Elijah gasped upon finding out where they were.

          They were floating in warmer waters next to colourful land! Well, not really colourful, but it wasn’t white! At last! Something other than blue and white! Elijah stared in awe. A red house stood further away, and another white house peeked from behind. What humans called ‘cars’ were standing around on the land. Human were looking at us and talking muffled words. “I think they’re talking about us!!” Elijah exclaimed excitedly. Noah didn’t say anything.

          They floated in the warm waters, not moving. Soon, night came and all the human went home. Elijah and Noah stood floating in the waters all alone. “Hey Elijah, I think I’m starting to melt...” Elijah looked over in a panic just in time to see a small chunk of ice falling down from Noah. It dropped own and splashed loudly in the sea.

Both looked at each other in horror.