Cigunpa Part 1

 Cigunpa

Once upon a time, long, long ago. There lived a poor boy from the countryside. The poor boy was smart, and loved by everyone. So much so, that the church helped his mother raise money for his education.

The boy excelled, and along with his mother he grew into a handsome young man. He became an entrepreneur and started a construction company with help from his new found friends.  His business boomed, he was able to make his mother a new home in the city and repaired the broken church. Yet even though everyone loved him he never felt truly happy. In seeing this, his mother told him he should go back to their old home by the countryside, and find himself a simple wife one that would make him happy, and be lovely as day.

So the young man returned to his old home. Upon his return he found a pretty bird a Cigua Palmera, who song was so beautiful he felt compelled to feed it. As soon as it ate it flew away. Though he was sad to see it fly away he knew that the pretty bird would return but for now he was on the hunt for a bride. He unpacked his things, which weren’t much just some clothes and some knickknacks for home. He walked around the house reminiscing on things that had passed. How his mother would pick the fruits from the trees and plant plantains for them to eat in the morning. Later on, in those days with her cart she would walk miles to the city and sell her flowers and homemade candles he had help her make the night before.  He walked into his old room and touched the old hammock his father had made him before he left and never came back. It was cold yet comfy it allowed the air to flow even in the hottest of days. He remembered swing on it even while doing homework with his friends who would always came by. 

He lay soundly in his old bed, reminiscing those days. Until he fell asleep. A sad song played in his head, stroking his thickly curled hair, chilling his bones.  He tossed and turned until he got up once more to get a light blanket the song never stopped just kept playing even as he fell asleep once more.

Soon after his arrival the word was all around the town, and women lined up at his door bearing bake sweets, and fresh fruits. The bird also came back and enjoyed the collection. From the morning till dusk he spoke with the women of the village. But as soon as the sunset they told him not to leave his home in case a cigunpa were to take him away forever.

The young man laughed at such an old wives tale, and he promised he would be fine. Once again he fell asleep to the sounds of the forest and a chilling song. He dreamt of a beautiful young lady with almond shape eyes and long black hair that shined as if it were bathed in hues of blue. She called out to him in a singing voice, “Ven aca.” Her voice melted his heart, his feet floated off the ground directly to her while she sat still and pretty like a statue of a goddess. Her river blue skin reflected the light from the fireflies and the river of amber to her right. She sat patiently waiting for him on a flat stone, legs placed out before her feet within amber waters. He kept floating to the sound of her voice and she batted her long eyelashes repeating the same words like a chant. She raised her hands to great him her eyes bright and seducing made of anthracite coal. He reached out to her and when their fingers touched they reviled a smile filled with razor sharp teeth. 

The next day the little bird returned as did the women from the previous day, and some new women. One face stood out to him, he remembered her from the day before, “Nereyda, how are you?” In saying that he singled her from the line, happily she walked in front of all the other girls. The women seeing this left the line and went home. “I am fine thank you.”

“I remembered you made the best cherry pie.” He smiled at her; she smiled back smelling of sunflowers.

“Oh, well I’m glad you enjoyed it. How have you been sleeping since you’re so far from the city life?” She giggled slightly her eyes lowered and her smile widening into her dimples.

“Ah, well honestly not the best,” he noticed that they were just standing in front of his home, “would you like to come inside?” A light breeze blew her hair out of place and many curly chestnut brown strands went flying. She quickly attempted to put them back into her high ponytail that reached her shoulders while still holding her tan basket. “Well I don’t think that would be such a good idea, I don’t think that it would look too good of me, or you to be alone in a house together,” Her cheeks blushed red.

“I understand” he said looking down at the basket.

“But we can still enjoy some food together, just get a blanket.” He ran inside and got a nice pink blanket him mom use to use. They walked a bit south from the house so the coconut tree could cover them and give them a little extra to eat and drink.

They sat and spoke all day eating pastries and drinking coconut milk. She told him about the people in the town and her family, and he spoke about his mother and his story. He eyed her the whole day the way she snorted when she laughed, how her hands moved when she spoke, and her olive skin tone competed with her honey brown eyes. He enjoyed that day much more than he had in years and his face hurt to prove he hadn’t laughed so much in a while.

When the day started dwindling down she wanted go home so he offered to walk with her, she smiled and accepted. He walked with her across the plateau to the beginning of the high ground. Her house was identifiable made of red and yellow bricks and not wood as his old home. Tiny but cozy, they said their goodbyes and they kissed each other on the cheek. Now the sun was almost gone and he began to make his walk back home, the little cigua followed him humming. “Where were you all day?” He asked the little bird, and as if it could understand him the little bird whistled a happy tune.  The suns last rays dimed and the little bird flapped its wings disappearing into the night.  Dishearten that his trip would be made alone he began to walk quickly he kept think about Neryda and how they were going to meet tomorrow again and this time to make thing official. As he reached closer to his little home he noticed something odd. The ground had footprints leading away from his home. Blood flushed to his head, in fear of a home invasion he picked up a branch from the ground. He began to follow the footsteps into the forest.  Over the rocks ducking the branches of the trees he found a cave but his fear got the better of him and he walked away straight home looking over his shoulder to get no surprises.

The next day he courted Nereyda again, this time they went to the city to see his mother. His mother had told him she would be on her best behavior so he agreed to bring her home. She rode in his car looking into the streets of the city. The people walked around quickly and impatiently, and he looked at her face curiously looking at everyone. “Did you know yesterday after I brought you home I saw from footsteps leading from my house into the forest?”

“No, that’s odd.” She gave him a questioning look.

“Yes I know so I followed it.” “Are you crazy,” she interrupted him. “You could have been hurt, what if someone was trying to lead you somewhere?”

“No I was fine but I found a cave in the forest it seemed to lead underground, in way I’m curious to see what’s inside.” He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She looked doubtful yet she didn’t say a word.

 When they arrived at his mother’s house she was sitting on porch her back leaned on the white metallic chairs next to her small table decorated by white lilies. “Hola, mi amor. How have you been?” His mother greeted them from her chair yelling at the top of her lungs as they walked through the gate.  The man chuckled and Nereyda giggled slightly as the got closer. He had constructed the plans himself on how to build his mother’s house; it was big and white with soft pink details on the doors and in the walls.

“I’m okay I have someone for you to meet.” He kissed his mom on her cheek, and she smiled brightly, she was of a richer dark tone and her teeth were always as white as the carnations she would sell. Neryeda also kissed his mother on the cheek. “Turn around lets’ see you girl.” His mother said. She turned gently her dress flaring slightly below her knees golden yellow. “Ah, que bonita.”

“Yes mama this is Neryada she is a girl from the village she is very nice and pretty.” Neryada smiled brightly. The whole day was spent between the three of them. His mother and Nereyda got along perfectly and for this he couldn’t be happier.

 He dropped her off at home and parked slowly walked towards his home before he heard it. That sound he had been hearing since he arrived, that voice peaceful yet gloomy sound in his ear. He lowered his defenses and opened the door as soundlessly as he could. He crept into the kitchen and looked around but no one was there, in the bathroom no one was there, in the living room no one was there but the voice kept singing. He knew it had to be the bedroom so he slowly pushed the door open and there she was. The women in his dreams the sound in his ears there she laid right upon his bed. The strange new woman’s eyes directly looking at him, no shyness just long straight hair covering her bare body, and her blue skin shining. He froze that’s not his dream, he stepped back but her song was so enchanting he found his body moving on his own. Her lips stabbed upwards creating a cruel but beautiful smile. He avoided looking her in her eyes.”Ven aca,” she sang. He began to scream as he got closer, trying to stop himself. The little bird flew in with a branch in its mouth to attack her. She was so bothered she stood her feet; the man stopped walking and dropped to the ground. His breath ran hard and wild but his body would not get up.  His eyes stared into her features and he noticed her feet were deformed. They turn the opposite way than they are supposed to.

 His heart played the rhythm of the Congo in his ears, until his body felt to heavy and his eyes folded like curtains.

Golden rays burned away the darkness, making the black shades red. The man awoke opened his red eyes shot. The man attempted to lift his body from the floor but every single muscle ached. 

Slowly be lifted off the floor.  His head softly thumped but he willed himself off the floor and collapsed his body on his bed. Perhaps it was all a dream he turned himself on his bed and looked onto the floor where he saw the branch of the night before and too long strings of black hair. His blood begin to boil squeezing his hand into a fist. The palm of his left hand rose to massage his forehead.

What was that last night? What happened, was it waiting for him? What did it want with him? He remembered it, it had seen to be a woman with long hair, and a voice that sounded like angels all singing at once. Involuntarily shaking he couldn't help but to want to see her again. With all his might managed to get himself up and willing himself to walk out of the door to see if there's any trace or trail she left behind. Strangely he only saw the footsteps of her coming inside his house. Cleverly he thought if I follow wherever she had come from she might still be there. The sun seemed to have been up for hours but it didn't matter to him, he went back inside his home and filled a small bag of the food he had been given and took a quart of water with him. Changing into a pair of comfortable pants and a white t-shirt he prepared to leave.

Ding-Dong.  He went to the door and to the peephole saw Nereyda. Quickly he open the door. "Hola, how are you" he said leaning against the door.

“I’m okay, where you going somewhere? “She looked at his clothes.

"Yeah I kind of was.  Just going to go have a walk through the forest." She looked back onto his face, her facial expression a bit confused.
“You must to be careful in the Forest I don't really believe them but they say there's a thing called ciguapas that love there and they tend to go after young men."
The young man leaned closer. “So what else do you know about them.”
“Not much, but I do know that they say that even witches avoid the forest here. Ciguapas are said to be very strong and very seductive and lead good men to their deaths.
How he asked

 

Well I'm not too sure but some say they eat man or they take their souls

Spanish short story In between the sun and the beach

Hoolly Rodríguez

                                                            Entre el sol y la playa

Cuando yo era una señorita joven yo me iba por las nubes en el verano. Abría mis alas grises y me iba volando a una isla abandonada, era mi paraíso. Pero un día cuando pisé la arena blanca, sentí que algo estaba raro. La arena blanca había sido movida y había Flórez rosadas flotando por el agua.  Me fui a investigar lo que había pasado. Empecé a volar sobre los árboles hasta que encontré el río. En el río el agua estaba moviéndose en círculos sobre un cuerpo.

Me acerqué para ver un muchacho con alas negras como la noche  vestido con una camiseta blanca y pantalones negros. Las alas mías seguían agitándose pero no estaba segura si acercarme o irme. Pero en ese momento él me vio, y sus ojos me asustaron, porque eran tan afilados y profundos que me impresionaron y caí pero él me agarró. En ese momento, mi cara se puso rosada de la vergüenza. Oí su voz reír ligeramente, lo empuje y volé a mi playa pero él me persiguió. Caí a la arena. “¿Qué quieres?” le pregunté.

“Lo que quería, era estar solo pero de la nada aparecisteis, y caísteis.” Él comento,” Pero no es para qué te sientas mal, pero ya que estas aquí porque no estar juntos.” Me quise ir pero me quedé y hablamos de todo, de nuestro pasado, familias, y de nuestros sueños. En eso se fue el día y paramos cuando vimos el sol empezarse a retirar sobre las nubes. Decidimos volvernos a ver mañana por la playa.

El próximo día nos volvimos a ver pero esta vez me vestí con un vestido negro, largo, y con una canasta para colectar frutas para comérnosla. Fuimos caminando, recogiendo fresas, manzanas y hablábamos sobre nuestras favoritas historias evidentemente me preguntó sobre mi nombre, y se lo dije y él me dijo su nombre. Los comimos las frutas, hicimos jugos, y jugamos.  El verano se nos fue así como un soplo de una pluma, en el último día nos prometimos vernos otra vez pero en la ciudad, afuera del paraíso.

Nos juntamos en septiembre en la universidad, como si fuera el destino. Cuando terminábamos las clases volábamos para la isla y hacíamos la tarea juntos, debajo de un árbol con sus brazos alrededor de mí. Con la brisa frasecita como si fuera nuestro testigo, y así pasaron los años.

Chains of Fire

Hoolly Rodriguez

                                          Chains of Fire

        The band played loudly enough to drown the sounds of laughter. The music was soothing, and a melted off Michael lips, breathing slow and heavily. The warmth spread to his throat, chest and legs. His hands were still cold from the icy grasp of the winter’s night. The dancing of the people should heat the room soon, he thought. His eyes wandered through the selections of wine, beer and rum. His eyes focused on the labels and their dates, and the selection wasn’t bad but he had a full glass of Scotch in his right hand. Michael slowly sipped his Scotch, tasting the bitter sweetness, warming up his gut.

         “Hey there bud. You got something on your mind?” A chill sprinted towards his chest, as if waking from a dream. Michael looked around confused. He laid his eyes on a shadowy half-smiling face, with a brown fedora. The man looked around ten years older than himself, wearing a light brown trench coat with an olive green suit. Michael sat silenced for a second and said “well, just a woman.”

          “Don’t we all? Our minds float where our hands cannot or should not touch,” said the old man. The corners of his mouth perked up just slightly. Michaels’ lips followed, and his eyes dropped to his now half-empty cup. The dim light gave him some comfort. He thought of his wife Francis. She was probably out with her sister tonight. Her sister was pretty, very delicate with her mousy features. He remembered when he communicated that to Francis. She became a little irritated, but she knew her sister didn’t interest him.  “I fell in love once. I had it all, but now I have nothing at all,” Said the old man. His voice deepened with an eerie sorrow. Michael snapped out of his memory. The old man continued, “I believed I had everything. Well that’s what they told me. You’re well off; you have a family and a stable job. That’s it, that’s all you need. Therapist tells you, everything else is unnecessary. Who needs attention, or passion? Those things are for youth.” He shook his head and asked the bartender to fix him a dry martini.

          “Well I have everything I need,” said Michael as his face turned a little sour, and he downed the rest of his Scotch.

         “Yeah, I thought I had it all as well; a good looking wife, a pair of kids, and a job where I am respected. But I became bored with that dull life. Every day like the last, the children were a bore and I couldn’t stand it. So I moved on, got a new wife and overtime she bored me to. I talked to experts, they all said I just needed to reconnect but there was nothing to connect to, but bills and a silent home. Then one day through some strange declaration of faith, I found everything I ever wanted. The passion, attention and the magic, it was all there but it slipped from my fingers. Gone like Lucy in the sky. Yo tenia.”

             Michael replied “Well unlike you, I’m too busy to be bored. I don’t like to go behind my wife’s back just for a little sex.” Michael shrugged his shoulder casually and the bartender came to refill his cup with Scotch, but as he poured his hand slipped and his drink overflowed.

            “Perhaps you’ve had too much?” The old man chuckled, with a wicked glimpse in his eyes. The bartender swiftly apologized. The old man turned turned to Michael, “He’ll be alright, wont ya’ bud?” he asked. Michael nodded.

              “My name is Michael,” he said extending his hand. “Professor Kugelmass,” said the old man said. They shook hands lightly as if his skin was paper thin and as cold as the wind outside.

“Let me ask you Michael, how long do you think that excitement will last?” Michael turned his chair to directly face Kugelmass, with his silky jet black suit collecting on the knees. He removed his black jacket, placing it on the back of his chair. His eyes wondered from focus, as his breath became deeper as he placed his hands back down on his pants. Kugelmass continued, “Not say there’s anything wrong with keeping yourself busy, but how long can you keep that going?  What happens when you’re alone together and sex isn’t happening?”

             “What any regular couple would do,” Michael said. “Perhaps pick up a book and read, or go outside. We don’t have children, but I have a nice home, a good job, and rows of books to read from. I have everything I like.” Satisfied with his own answer, he drank from his cup. The music faded; the band announced a five minute break. The noises of the crowed began to fill the room again. The lives of so many people enjoying themselves with little thoughts of regrets.

            Kugelmass breathed deeply and started, “To like and to love are different. I like my kids but I love the thrills of mortal pleasures. To love and to like, are very, very different. The thrill that sex gave me took my breath away, it was addictive and consuming.”  Kugelmass laughed quietly, remembering the run, the feel of human flesh burning with desire. The secrets he had to keep to play his games which consumed him. They filled him with life, a life he would never be able to have again.

               Michael replied, “Some say we suppress our desire for true intimacy to fulfill the requirements of our time. Sometimes being an adult means sacrificing love for the necessities.” Michael looked away to analyze the liquor on the wall. A rumbling laugh as deep as the sea roared from Kugelmass throat.  People turned from their conversations to observe Kugelmass.

           With a tear in his eye Kugelmass said “But if intimacy is not a requirement or happiness or satisfaction what’s the point of fighting to reach a level of intimacy? To grow old together, does talk about nothing bring you peace and happiness? Plus, what’s the point of taking a risk, one which leaves an open wound exposed to someone who might not even love you? Is it for them to use it as a weapon? The risk is higher than the reward.” Michael felt the will to argue going away. The reality of the cold truth removed what little warmth he retained in his blood. “What you need is a pretty girl at home, one that cooks and cleans from a good family, so she may give you a family of your own. Then once that’s settled find a blood boiling lover, one who will keep you entertained. That way you can have your cake and eat it too.”  Kugelmass’s words made sense to Michael. He wasn’t wrong but even that had its risk; the bills, the hiding, the: organizing. But those risks made life fun in a way vacations could not. But he had much to lose his wife, his home, and his wealth.  The music came back, chairs were moved and people returned to the dance floor to swing to the music.

            Kugelmass inspected Michael. He continued “Of course you don’t have to do such things. You can live your life at home bored. Playing life safe with a pretty girl you like. Your appetite will stay on inside of you, growing, but your body will be held by a leash of marriage. That’s fine too.” Michael shook his head as he remembered that pretty young lady whom had walked passed him not so long ago, with her pretty red hair, rosy cheeks and bright green trench-coat alluring him without a word.

            “I think I’m good where I stand.” Michael murmured, the words stumbled from his mouth with a struggle. His mind flew into the memories of his lust, the blood boiling excitement. Yet the weight from his responsibilities dragged down his shoulders making him slunk. Kugelmass laughed this time like a whisper of a summer breeze.

            “Don’t worry, I was only playing one of my own little games with you. I like to mess with those whom look troubled by their decisions in life, since my judgments weren’t always the best. I like to call it playing devil’s advocate.” Michael looked directly at Kugelmass with a questioning expression on his face. “So this is a farewell, but Michael, you haven’t seen the last of me.” Right before his eyes Kugelmass began to fade into the darkness. Kugelmass features less visible, until he could no longer see flesh just darkness in a dim room filled with music and dancing lovers.

Lovers Dagger

Angelic Luperana

Hoolly Rodriguez 

                                                Lovers Dagger

The lover

There was something very important on her mind. If she didn't say it, she would walk around feeling gutless. She waited for her lover, Alex, to get out of the shower. She paced the floor, shaving the wood beneath her. But she couldn't wait patiently any longer. She walked up to the hollowed out door, knocked, and quickly pushed her dark brown hair from her face.

"Are you done, darling?" She asked with a sweet smile, not that Alex could see her, but her nerves threaten to send her to the moon.

"Not yet." Alex shouted over the haze from the shower. Mariah walked away from the door and entered the main college dorm area. The room was dark with a ray of sunshine trying to peer through the heavy, rich purple drapes that covered the majority of the window. The back wall mostly consisted of the windows, aside from two shelves on each side of the room. Mariah’s shelves contained pounds of makeup and hair products: lipsticks, blushes and brow fillers to hair dryers, curlers and wraps. This was a very colorful sight in the gloomy room, compared to her roommate’s side whose colors consisted of camouflage, dark green and brown. Alex’s shelf consisting of a few arrows heads, a small metal compass, and a guide to surviving in the woods. The room was just big enough for two twin size wooden bed frames, the mattresses of course, and a table stand in between them. The only space left was for two desks on either side of the room, each desk was covered in books, papers, and writing utensils.

Mariah stood at the mirror on the wall closest to her way-too-small closet, and stuffed her white button down shirt into her baby pink, high waist skirt. Her flurry skirt flowed when she walked and fell right below her knees. She parted her brown hair, out of her face, with a clip, and folded away her apron in her shoulder bag.

"Knock, knock. Hey girl, did you get the newspaper today?" A red head, Rikki, came storming in shoving to shove the paper in Mariah's face with one hand and holding a bowl in the other.

The head line read "Still without a Trace, twenty-five Men Gone". She skimmed the article to please her neighbor who often asked to borrow cereal, and always returned the favor. Mariah was not greatly concerned with the disappearing young men in her neighborhood. She knew no one that had died and didn't socialize with males very often. The only reason why Rikki was so interested in the topic was because her fiancé had been working on the case for a few weeks now. These men went to clubs with a few guys, split up and disappeared. With not even a shoe left on the steps, so many men, no evidence left to investigate.  It was kind of odd to her, but what was she supposed to do about it. Her lips puckered slightly to the side as she thought about why anyone would purposely go after those young men.

"Just tell your husband to be careful. Whoever is up to this is pretty sly and can really act. Who can kill people consecutively, keep the bodies hidden or get rid of them, and still be in society and appear normal. I don’t understand. Not to mention really clean with all the messes they caused. I don’t know a single person who can do something so wrong and still be able to function again. That’s really phyco." Mariah walked to her desk and filled Rikki’s bowl with sweet colorful cereal. Rikki nodded her head. She looked around the room. “Alex is showering,” Mariah said laughingly. Rikki smiled, “you know you really should invest in some cereal considering you’re planning to be a wife someday. Or at least write in an agenda book to get yourself organized.” Rikki rolled her eyes and smiled brightly taking her big bowl of cereal she left the room reading the rest of the paper.

"I'm finished dear. Are you okay?" Alex came said stepping out of the shower.  Her short blond hair and twinkling green eyes stood out in her pale winter skin; With only a towel wrapped around her athletic frame, water dripped from her body showing how muscular, tall and thin she is. But she looked beautiful in her own way like a prince.

"Alex, you're wetting the floor, I told you to use the slippers I got you, so you don't leave tracks everywhere." Mariah said as she sat on the bed. Alex’s scrunched up her nose and she shrugged her shoulders. She walked up to the small dining area, following Mariah slowly inching forward to kiss her forehead. Mariah thought to herself: is this the right time to tell her parents about their relationship? Alex and Mariah had just started making thing official, since college started they had been together, but there was something special about Alex that Mariah had fallen for.  Alex inched down to kiss Mariah’s neck. But Mariah didn't react she kept look at the wall.  “Just get ready okay, we have to go everyone will be waiting for me.” Mariah’s voice lowered. Alex swiftly turned around and walked towards to her closet in silence.

Screens of passions

Mariah looked down at her feet the whole way home as Alex drove in smug silence. Mariah's mascara had ran down her face, and smudging under her eyes. Even leaping onto her white shirt. “I guess that movie really had its effects on you huh?”  Mariah was too sad to respond. They finally arrived at the dorm, Mariah sat straight up on her bed looking at the floor why didn’t Alex say anything to make her feel better? She just sit there as thoughtless as a rock. She showed no determination toward Mariah. And she wondered was she as loyal as she said she was? Was Alex happy in the relationship? Alex never said anything before, about a future. Alex was always kind of cold not heartless, but collective and impossible to know what she was thinking. That was just her. Mariah started to question their relationship. What was so special about Alex that trapped her? Mariah stood up on her chair she thought about the movie she had just seen Rosemary's Baby, that poor lady surrounded by people who just used her and did such horrible things. She unknowingly fostered a demon from hell. And her husband he just let all that happen, all the witch craft all the lies just for money. He didn’t care about her, or what she wanted.

"Do you love me?" she said. Alex turned around from her desk to face the crying woman, ready to pour her heart on the floor. She faced Mariah and starred into her eyes. She picked up her arm and tugged on her sleeve, to wipe off the black makeup that had spilled down Mariah's face. At that moment she thought about the husband and how he had pretended to comfort her while sacrificing her for his own selfish need.

Alex grabbed her by her feet and pulled her forward, Mariah fell forward and she grabbed her by her waist and whispered in her ear "Don't worry my love. Everything will work out for us. We aren’t going to end up like that stupid movie." She hugged her lover. Mariah lowered her defenses and for that moment felt warm in her lovers’ arms, she tossed away her tears and embraced the moment.  

 The time has come     

  A week had passed, and she had managed to convince Alex to meet her parents. Rikki had even stepped in to help Alex prep, on how to behave for the special occasion. She was giddy with joy knowing how much effort Alex was putting into everything.

“Are you ready?” Alex questioned for the twentieth time. Mariah finished lining her lips and looking straight at Alex raising a questioning brow. Alex nostrils flared, so Mariah rolled her eyes. Alex sat on the bed her newly purchased violet dress melting on her pale skin, her fine short golden hair styled up with a fedora. She couldn’t thank Rikki enough for picking out the dress, at such a good price. “I’m done,” Mariah spun in her flowing navy blue dress with a white bow; her ox blood lips in a bright white smile, curls swinging around her shoulders, and eyes twinkled with the remaining sunlight. “You look beautiful honey,” Alex said, Mariah giggled.

“Are you ready to meet my parents?” She said patting down her dress. Alex walked towards her, “I am as ready as I’ll ever be,” she shrugged her shoulders and headed towards the door.

“Well maybe after this I can meet some of your friends.” Mariah said running after her. Alex opened the door and walked down all the steps to the sidewalk, it was busy with people walking around.

Already too late the night air felt cold, no one outside except for the oddities. Alex drove in silence facing away from Mariah whose cries hadn’t stop since they left her parents’ house. She had wiped the tears away from her lips and smudged the already fading ox color lipstick, making it bleed out of the corner of her lips. They finally arrived at the dorm. Mariah's vision had blurred, Alex placed her hand on her back to lead her in the right direction. The dorm house was dark, all the girls were already in their rooms recovering from their party to get ready and do homework for the next morning. They walked inside the house, Mariah dragged herself to the bed. She sank into her body looking at the floor, thinking to herself.

Alex broke the silence, “Your brother doesn’t seem to like me too much.” Alex sat on her bed looking down onto the wooden floor. No one really reacted to her news only Brian, and he wasn’t the highlight of the night. Mariah stood up slowly but all she wanted to do was growl on the floor for an hour.

Alex grabbed her by her waist and whispered in her ear "Don’t worry my love. Everything will go as planned. I will fix everything." She hugged her lover. But how could she, her whole family had barely even acknowledge them. Her father looked disgusted and her mother was jumping out of her chair just to not mention their relationship. She felt Alex run her fingers through her hair soothing her. Lean fingers feathered on the surface of her cheeks lifting her face forward as Alex bent for a kiss. In bed they comforted each other taking out their frustrations on the flesh, burning with fire in the colors of blue and violets.

The next night, Mariah paced back home, her feet aching in her heels.  The sun had already passed; the heat of her body diminished. She felt the shivers travel down her spine. Clutched her bag, her bright red nails pressed into the leather.  She hated walking home in the dark, alone, the street lights were her only companions. Once she got to the front doors, she had no reason to catch anxiety. A few more feet and flight of stairs and she would step into the hall that would lead to her dorm.  That night, however, the steps didn’t look as it did before. The light on the door was old, yes, but was always replaced immediately after the first sign of fading. She saw the flashing light and new bulb on the little side table but was oddly confused as to why no one attended to it. She tried to remember whose chore that was in the house, so they could take care of the matter. Thinking heavily, the wooden steps beneath her feet grabbed onto the heel of her right shoe as she walked.  She didn’t notice the motion until her feet kept moving, without a huge chunk of her shoe and she stumbled backward. Finally realizing she had a broken shoe, she limped up the stairs, dragged her foot down the hallway and got to her room door, her head down in shame.

She turned the door knob and walked into a silent, pitch black room, so she quickly turned all the lights. Alex was probably out with her friends, Mariah thought. The dorm felt so large even colder without her, she took off her heels and unleashes her hair from her high bun. As to not feel so alone she turned on the radio, of course the Beetles were playing bringing a slight smile to her lips. She stripped off her clothes to the song I Want to Hold Your Hand her hips swayed to the music she knew Alex liked it when she danced for her. She hoped into the shower. The heat of the water didn’t take her mind off her mother. The radio played in the background but now the radio from the rowdy girls from the other room washed out the sound of her small radio. She ignored them and began to lose herself to her own mind. The question of who were these friends of Alex. Alex always went out with them but never bothered to introduce them. Shaking off all her worries she prepared for bed.

She held her head in her hands, elbows on her knees, fingers tangled in her brown mane. She sat on her bed not wanting to be in her room but with Alex and her friends. Alex was keeping something from her, and she was determined to find out once Alex got back from her nature retreat. 

Please Take Me Home

”So you heard about Brains' disappearance?” Alex questioned Darren. They walked along the streets together in a slow pace.

       "Yes, you wouldn't happen to know anything?" Darren faced her, is uniform wrinkling at the neck, his reply was a solemn shaking of Alex’s head. “How is Rikki doing, honestly I haven’t been around too often since all the disappearances, she must be worried.”

“Well that crazy red-head is alright she does miss you, so she burgess all over our dorm when she is feeling to lonely and just eats all our food,” Alex and Darren laughed. "But I do need your help I have a campsite in the woods and I'm afraid to go alone, since all this stuff is going down.  Plus I found a car not too far from our site. If you want to look around?" Darrin shrugged then stretched a little, his officer uniform mad him a little tight.

         "Alright, lead the way little lady." Darrin breathed hard the climb had taken a lot out of him. He held on to a sturdy branch. Trying to catch his breath, “Is this it?"

        "Yes dearie, come inside I think I have some water."  He slowly followed her as she entered through the door. He stepped well into the room then the door slammed behind him. He turned around to see who it was, but no one was there. He heard her faded footsteps inside the cabin, a sliver shadow flung around the right side of his head back and he hit the left wall with a thud followed by the clash of the chains. The blow to his head made his sight too blurry to see straight or to walk. She chained Darren up and two girls came out to carry him. They took a rag and tied it around his head and mouth. He opened his eyes to see where they were taking him, since screaming wasn't going to help. They opened a long ice box, where they put Darren inside. Before they could close the lid Darrin's eyes bugged when he saw the head of Brian starring back at him. Saliva poured from the rag chocking noises was all he could make were gaggling sounds so he fought, swing himself furiously the image of brains head, his wide eyes staring at his back. The lid closed the girls used their weight to lock it in place leaving him there to freeze.

“Well done sisters.” A women with curly brown hair said, she chuckled,” dinner is almost ready, and I got a special piece for you.”

“Thank you sister, now let us get the table ready.” Two women placed the rectangular table in the center anther women brought in a box filled with candles, another brought a silky violet table-cover. Alex watched them decorate the table and the room, she decided to take a look into the kitchen. The girl with the curly hair reached into a blue cooler she took out a man’s arm and washed him in a wooden bucket filled with water. Another girl with a long black dress took the clean body parts and slice them open. To roast over the fire.

Good Daughters like You

There was a crash at the door. Mariah jerked her head up to see what was going on. Then Rikki swung the door wide open with her hand to her forehead. Her body swerving back and forth, trying to recover from running into the door she thought was open. Her curls had fallen down to her ears, instead of perfectly "Gone...Mariah, ...gone!" Rikki gasped for air, grabbing Mariah's shoulders for support.

"Girl, your cereal is on my desk. Just take the box, I don’t care anymore." Mariah sat back down, elbows to knees, palms to face.

"Not the cereal, Mariah...Darren is missing. He was supposed to call me when he got home from work, but he never did. So I figured he just fell asleep, but when I called the station this morning they said he is M.I.A.”

“I need to find that's horrible things I have to go find Alex, I hope she's okay. He's a little do so let's go to the cabin the woods in wild Baltimore, I'll go see if she still okay." Mariah started packing a small bag.

"Perhaps I should go with you, maybe she will know something." Rikki ran to her dorm room to pack.

They walked up the hill shoving away branches and leaping over rocks, the cool breeze when through their jackets to rise all the hairs for the nape of their necks and their arms. Shivers ran up their spines and down their arms and legs as if to tell them to return. But they ignored their senses and kept going walking silently only ever looking at each other for strength. After twenty-five minutes they were deep enough to see the small stream of smoke in the air and a sight smell of something unfamiliar. They walked closer to the cabin.

“Thank god we are almost there, this place is supper creepy.” Rikki mention as she swatted away a firefly. ”How anyone could like camping, is beyond me.” Mariah shrugged her shoulders and continued the smell became stronger like a sweet charcoal that made her sick to her stomach. She forced herself to continue. ”Do you smell that? It smells awful, ugh.” Rikki clung to the fabric of her light blue and white checkered dress pleading the fabric into her midsection.

“You know what you should go home I can get Alex myself, maybe Darrin is already home. Plus it would be useless for us both to get ourselves caught in the woods.” Mariah suggested.  Rikki hesitated for a moment, she looked at the little cabin just a few feet ahead.

“Alright you’re almost there anyways. Just come back home as soon as possible.” Rikki looked at Mariah with worrisome eyes.

“I will, go.” Mariah walked on. She heard the fading footsteps of Rikki behind her, feeling a little anxious she rushed her pace. “Alex! Alex! It’s me Mariah” She screamed into the Cabin door. Alex and her friends panicked looking into each other’s eyes. The women with thick raven hair nodded the six women stood still right beside their food.

 Alex and her friends panicked looking into each other’s eyes. The women with thick raven hair nodded the six women stood still right beside their food. Their wine glasses filled with thick red blood, and there food was dismembered human flesh that they knew anyone would be able to smell. The head of her brother Brian stood promptly up in the center of the table surrounded by fallen leaves of orange-golds. His veined face had begun to become green and blue. The women with bright red hair faced Alex and passed her a dagger. Alex thin fingers wrapped around the handle she pressed it to her chest.

“Alex, Baby?” Mariah knocked on the door. Alex place the blade in her jacket pocket. She jogged to open the door. Mariah arms flew at her and she hugged her tightly. “Alex I was so worried.” Mariah backed away her eyes flinging across the room. The heads of people were placed on the shelves lined around the cabin. The smell she had been resisting laid on her tongue it was the smell of burning flesh.

“Shh Mariah, shh” Alex pulled her closer. Squeezing her waist pinning her in place. “Don’t worry baby I love you.” Mariah felt a sharp pain in her back she screamed but Alex’s mouth covered hers kissing her deeply. Alex’s hand raced up her back and grabbed a handful of her hair. Pulled it back slightly as she heard Mariah’s breathing became uneven. Alex’s hand ran down Mariah’s smooth face as her eyes became whiter, Alex’s fingers left a trail of blood tracing her features.

The last flame

Alex’s tears poured, dragging her mascara down her face. Wrinkled hands reached out and grabbed her shoulder.  Mariah’s mom hugged Alex, the pain apparent in her light brown eyes.

Alex held the hem of her pure black skirt. She slowly rose with the mother still holding on to her; desperation in her shaky hands. Alex walking through the isle heading out of the church, the family behind with all their heads bowed down. At the altar, stood the most recent picture they had. Mariah smiling looking into the air, smile as bright as the stars. The colors of the glass and candles made her look like an angel. Davids picture was right next to her his looking serious, eyes straight forward. Rikki barley breathing gasped for air. She had white roses in her hands the thorns torn the fabric of her black gloves and pricked her skin, fresh blood spotted the stems, but her grasp wouldn't loosen.

The doors opened, light poured through the window, and outside waited the reporters. Alex closed her eyes and walked out of the church, her boots muddy as she gently walked out of the church, her friends followed behind the family Rikkis muffled cries echoed through the church. She stepped down the stairs her eyes looking forward. "Hey, there can you tell us what happened?” "When was the last time you saw her?" Is it true you where lovers?" Questions attacked left and right all the men and women with paper's or recorders.  Alex eyes narrowed, " I don't know what happened, and yes we were lovers, but she is gone I don't know what happened. Please, please if anyone knows anything please help us. Please, I loved her."

college is it worth it

College is it worth it?

College is a difficult road to take and is often expected of people especially in developed nations but there are tons of professions available but very few are actually profitable. Plus college could cost you anywhere from 3,500 a semester to $32,405. That’s not including personal care items such as food, clothing, just life needs like rent or gas/metro cards.

Many people are pushed into college without even knowing what they want to truly be or do with their lives but pressure makes people jump to attempt to invest in their lives. And sometimes you end worse than where you would have started, since at the end of the day a degree doesn’t always guarantee a 401k or a union or even a well-paying job. The reality is people start at an entry level job, and hopefully without a giant loan growing behind them. And you are competing with other qualified candidates some who may know people, for example internships. Internship are horrible and beneficial all at the same time they allow you to claim experience and get to know others in the companies and in fields but they are devastating economically. That job that an intern is doing sometimes for free or getting compensated very little, for a job that someone else could do and get paid for. Those who can’t to internships because they have families to help support or even just simple bills they have to pay like metro cards, and their phone bill, they don’t have time to waste working for free when they have bills and classes to take. Yet this puts these people at a disadvantage when it comes to applying for jobs, because the internship/ volunteer box is empty.

Yet even when you do volunteer that doesn’t mean you have “full-time” experience. But who has that? The people who have full time experience often aren’t the ones in school for an extra 4 years they might go for 2 years and take a break or not go at all. Yet their experience triumphs over your education. Because one thing is the ability to read books and be tested on a multitude of subject and another thing is to have years worked and experience in the field. Yet experience can only get you so much people need degrees to fill up certain requirements. So you might be asking well what’s the right thing to do? Honestly the best thing to do is follow your judgment. Universities will always be around and now in the new age we have online courses and thing that make education accessible. You don’t have to go to a fancy university, you can go to a local college some professors can work in an arrange of universities, or help give you real life lessons on your choice of profession. Plus you can do part-time enrollment which is not the fastest but when living a busy life, it’s a decent option.

Overall it’s a tough decision to go to school again but there are also accredited trade schools like; cosmetology, law, nursing, dentist assistant, pharmaceutical schools, and administrative/accountant certifications that take the place of a college degree. Overall the decision is yours to make hopefully you discuses payment plans, scholarships and whatever maybe available to you don’t jump in blind.