Light.

White, hot, and blinding.

I squint my eyes. Slowly, I could see greens and blues. Rushing water lay just beyond the greenery.

And then…

After all those years alone…

I laughed.

Piercing the air like a squeaky balloon, I laughed.

I ran, reaching out to graze my fingertips against the harsh, rough bark.

And lost myself into the beauty of the Earth....

The blood…

So satisfying, so beautiful.

But this isn’t me

I’m not in control of my body.

Another being, another soul, took over.

He calls himself…The Darkness....

“Come little children…

I’ll take thee away…

Into a land of enchantment…”

Aubree sung feebly, her voice carrying with the breeze.

“Come little children…

The time’s come to play…

Here in my garden of shadows…”

She danced swiftly and softly, her toes touching the ground with ease as she took a long, deep breath.

“Follow sweet children…

I’ll show thee the way…

Through all the pain and the sorrows…”

A...

Sleep.

It’s the feeling of darkness wrapping around you like a blanket. Exhaustion taking over as you gently drift off into the sleeping state. It’s the friend welcoming you into their home.

But sometimes, it’s the monster dragging you slowly into it’s habitat. Into a torture of nightmares…

Into the endless feeling of dread, sorrow, neglect…...

Flowers and leaves flowed through the air, glowing golden, it seemed. The sky was sapphire blue, and the stars were shining brightly through the wispy clouds.

Crickets chirped, and fireflies flickered in and out.

Small crowds of people walked out of their homes, looking around them and taking in the golden night. But none knew of the creatures watching them…...

The blowfish seemed to smile upon her as the little girl reached her hand up to it.

“Go back to your mother, child.”

Her eyes widened and she stepped back.

It spoke.

The voice was deep, almost overwhelming. She looked up at the blowfish again and it was gone....

His face of horror looked to be a mask, but it was not a mask.

His eyes were holes of darkness, blood pouring out. And tentacles reached out of his mouth, ready to take his next victim.

He haunted Halloween night, scaring little children and giving them nightmares.

But this Halloween, he wore a face of fear. His tentacles from his mouth drooping.

And then he vanished....

“Anna! Come out here! See the view!”

“Coming!”

I pulled my shoes on and ran outside. Seeing my brother sitting on a bench, I went over to him and sat down.

I could hear the insects buzzing, and a few birds here and there chirping back and forth. The night was stunning as well, with the stars starting to appear against the pink and blue sky, and wisps of golden clouds. I smiled as I took a deep bre...

-CARA’S JOURNAL ENTRIES-

It’s grandma’s birthday today! We all gave her plenty of gifts and love. It was nice to see her smile after so long…

My great aunt Brenda said it was even a rarity to see her laughing, which is true.

I also got to see my friends! We had so much fun!

———

It’s the next mor...

I stared at the map in my hands. No signature on the envelope, no date, no note, nothing.

It had places on it I did not recognize, until I looked closely at one of them…

Gasping softly, I gripped the map tighter and my eyes widened when I then realized…

It was a map of my town. How did this stranger know my hometown? Or were they really a stranger?

“Hello, Mona.”

I jumped up, turning around.

“…Mo...