The waters swirled off the coast. A dozen men dressed in night pulled their catch in.

The net writhed with a half-fish, half-girl. She hissed with fangs one moment and wilted into herself the next.

Her green tail would be mesmerizing, a picture of smooth scales and wispy fin tips. If not for the rope sawing across its body.

The men grabbed the net, yanking it off a wagon bed as she was flung ont...

I want her in my arms. I want her eyes to ever look at me. Should she even blink, I want to bring the world to ruin....

There are only three. A “WELCOME” banner billows over the alcoholic punch. Three familiar ladies sip quietly. The empty and hollow gymnasium echos my heels.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Until I’m in front of my best friends from high school. Stephanie quirks a grin at me, Andie rolls her eyes at my late (but understandable!) entrance, and Mel sidles up for a hug.

“Quite empty, isn’t it?” I can tell Mel’s c...

Wracking, wretching sobs.

Clawing themselves up

My throat.

Still, I’m silent.

Thick agony

Fighting to be free.

Rich, such potency.

It’s not

even me.

But, my attempt

In her

Life and shoes

Has, pathetically,

Left me

On my knees.

Alone, all alone.

A bird left

With her broken eggs.

Secret, so quiet.

Taking off

A scared mask.

Subject, dejected

To another

“Deserved” discipline.

Heartbroken, ...

Is this all I’m capable of? Crying? Weeping over my decided fate? Yet I lack the strength to stand tall, reach 18, and die audaciously.

A family curse, the firstborn is to die the first day of his eighteenth year. A simple heart attack. Here and gone. A dandelion seed passing by.

At fifteen, you could say my parents broke the news, but really, the news broke me.

What have I done? Where is the...

Hours after the mall lights turned off, Steven and I still stayed. We stared at the faint outline of the arch, intricately carved shapes blurred in the darkness. We lay there and talked.

“Remember when you called Mr. Flader ‘Dad?’” I’m certain he blushed.

“Yeah,” he mumbled. A pin dropped in the minute of silence.

“I kissed Zion in ninth grade.”

Steven did a double take. “Nah. You’re messing wit...

I elbowed my backpack back onto my arm before smelling the chill fall air. Leaves streamed and swirled, performing a dance of their own. I added a small hop in my step, inspired.

“Emmie!”

My best friend, Villa, quickened her steps to match mine. “Hey girliepops,” she smiled. Her rich, vivacious brown hair was down today. Peppy, light blue eyes begged to tell me something.

“So yesterday I had p...

There is a species who have long inhabited the earth. Their presence is not undetected as humans flitter over them, but their intentions are. Their small bodies inching along, their so-called “metamorphosis” after the case of the munchies. Concerning, it is, how easily mankind can fall unaware without realizing it.

Of course, whom I speak of is none other then the catepillar. Prickly to velvety, ...

Rays of light warped its way to two shadows on the sea floor. Two tails flicked sand. Spare ropes, now a poor sailor’s only remains, rustled with movements.

One shadow moved upright. “I want to leave.”

Mercy met her eyes, incredulous. “Is your head in a clamshell? Feeling alright?”

“I’m being serious, I think it’s good idea for me to stop…” Lucy distressed, “Stop suffocating myself.”

An overh...

If a pigeon, thyself would soar beyond the heavens. Skies, seas, deserts explored. Thy cloudy-colored wings mark airs above, releasing screeches of such ferocity from my weird-palette throat. Beady eyes and misunderstood threats at those distasteful, freakish, two-legged butts.

However… indeed they do build stone blocks in particular shapes, providing worthy perch to establish sovereignty.

Glory ...