The sun was high in the sky surrounded by large clouds that sailed across like battleships. The cicadas drowned out the sound of the saw against the wood. Tools, lumber and furniture lay all over the yard. Shoji, wooden panels with milky white translucent paper screens, lay stacked against the large wooden house. Sett had bought the place on a whim. Trying a change of pace, he had heard of cheap houses strewn around in the country side of Japan. He knew the language from his studies of Japanese business and History, two subjects he was deeply interested in. One day bored again of his life back in the states he saw the opportunity. He didn’t have to much money, which is why the deal looked good to him. He could fix it up, and live cheaply, commuting to the city for his new found translation job.

The house was large. Two stories, traditional Japanese style and a hefty plot of land to go with it which was surrounded by a dense forest. Partially covered in trees and rocks and the other with bamboo sprouting up. He had over estimated the work, but he had time. The tatami floors needed to be replaced, along with the wooden support around the kitchen. Much of the wood needed to be sanded and stained. Heat and air conditioning needed replacing and basically anything that he could see, had an issue. But it was his and he was going to make it the best he could. Sett reached for his wooden hammer to knock together some of the support beams, but it was absent from where he placed it. He stood up and walked around peering under all the internals of the house he was working on. Nothing. He scratched his head and looked around for anyone. Then he saw it. Propped up against a tree near the edge of his yard. He strolled over to it.

“How did you get over here” Sett said picking it up. Wind blew through the forest and clouds covered the sun. It suddenly felt very cold and dark. He glanced into the woods. It’s branches and leaves waved back at him in an eerie fashion. Beckoning him in a way.

“Come on in” it whistled at him. “Return to nature”

Sett backed away. The sun returned and wind died down. This wasn’t the first time his tools had gone missing. Through out the day, things of his would be there one second and gone the next. Each one ending closer and closer to the forest. His hammer now being the closest. It hadn’t bothered him till now. He just thought he kept misplacing, but now a feeling crept up on him. He looked back all the work he needed to finish. It was never ending. This house was calling on him to finish it, restore it, and live in it. There had to be an explanation. Once he got further along with the house he would take a serious look. He returned back to the wood and hammered away.

Lanterns hung from the beams on the outside of the house and blazed with fire which he lit every night. Another fire, an Irori, blazed inside the house warming a pot of soup hanging above it. The night air was hot and sticky. Sounds of animals and bugs swirled around to make a symphony of nature. Sett sat on the edge of his deck by one of the wooden columns. The deck wrapped around half the house and Shoji panels could be slid open to expose the house to the outside. He took a sip of tea and peered into the sky. It was cloud covered and black as ever. The wind started to pick up again. The forest waved back and forth at him. He then noticed the lantern furthest away form him growing dimmer and finally going out. He stood up to relight it, but noticed that the next lantern was doing the same. It’s flame slowly receded and blew away into smoke. The symphony had stopped too. He turned to take shelter by the irori, it’s flames raging now reducing to embers which glowed brightly then were reduced to a smokey haze that drifted towards him. There were four more lanterns to him, he looked out, but it was all darkness. Then a thump. His head snapped towards the fourth lantern which was now dimming. As it went out another loud thump came towards him. Something large. Each movement hitting the wooden floor, just beyond his vision, just beyond the lanterns light. The third lantern dimmed and died. Thump.

“This has to be a joke, right” Sett stammered “Who are you?”

The lantern in front of him flickered in a response then immediately went out. The thump was so loud and he could feel it so close to him he jumped back under the last lantern next to the wooden column.

“What the fuck do you want” he screamed, wide eyed, searching, straining to see anything in the pure darkness. Now even the wind stopped. The forest sat still. No longer waving hello to him, or was it waving goodbye? He wanted to bolt, but fear weighted him down and crushed him under the light. He put out his arm and reach a bit into the darkness. Nothing. He pulled back and as his arm reached the edge of darkness a hand grasped his wrist with incredibly strength. It was pure black, intensely cold and caused fear to course through every fiber of him.

The last lantern ceased to shield him, and he screamed.

Inspired by all those cheap houses in Japan in the country side. I often think of doing the same as Sett. Buying one and fixing it up. Japan has a ton of demons, ghosts and mythical stories. I will say that most ghosts stories in Japan are pretty scary. Their voilence is baseless, unrelenting, and emotionless. If you cross one, it’s already to late. Stay safe out their among the light. A if the forest beckons, you might want to run.

The universe is vast. Filled with the unknown, the crazy, the unsightly. Out among the stars that hang and project their light into the eyes of the willing,sits a large floating colossus stone and metal structure. On top of an asteroid caught in the orbit of a small star the building rotated and spun with the turn of the rock. It looked like giant cone. The outside was carved with groves that wrapped around and spun to the top of the needle. Windows cut the wrapping and painted horizontally around the whole building. Large holographic adverting illuminated the darkness and floated around the needle. Near the base, wrapped around was a space port. It looked like a metallic wave stuck in time crashing away from the structure. Each window corresponded floor which was staffed with rows and rows of old style wooden desks. Each one had two draws on the left side, dull grey metal handles, and a holo typewriter which sat on the desk. One could look up and see another person fiercely typing away or drinking the copious amounts of atomic coffee that flowed through all the writers. These rows of desks rested on the floor and on the ceiling. While there was no need for them, large columns connected the floors. They interrupted the continuous view from one side to the next. As you moved up the cone to the top the offices got smaller and nicer. Some writers had their own fully furnished space and when you got to the top you ran into the big boss. A room decked in all the luxuries space could offer.

At one of the wooden desks a women sat with her feet propped up. She was wearing a tight fitting space suit of blue and purple. Small golden accents polished her shoulders and boots. Her hair was a dark shade of purple and ran down her shoulders like a silk water fall. A black headband sat in her hair just before her poofy bangs which covered her whole forehead. A holo panel was lit up before her eyes and she was swiping between panels and news from the the far galaxies. News was always in, but important news was harder to find. A man stood in front her desk which she didn’t notice till he slammed his hand at the base of her feet. She slid her feet off and turned off the music which was blasting in her ears.

“Amanda” The man shouted “I have been standing here for five minutes, Mr. Gerryheld needs to see you, now”

She stared at him blankly then lookd up to the desk on the ceiling from her. A lady stared wide eyed then returned to her writing.

“Reason?” Amanda turned the holo panel off.

“Does it matter? Come on” The man started to trail off and she hopped off her chair and followed.

In the middle of the room sat a single office. Frosted Glass which seemed to drip from the ceiling surrounded it in a circle. The man phased through and she did the same. The sounds from the large room deadened and classical music of Jupiter bells and Martian pianos replace them. The room was seemed much bigger on the inside.

“Mr. Gerryh-“ the man started, but was cut off my Mr. Gerryheld putting up his hand.

“shhh, a single moment please” Mr.Gerryheld looked young. He had ash blue skin, black hair which was cut and smoothed to the sides. His eyes were a dull grey, but his features were soft. He sat and they both stood waiting for the music to finally crash and die out. Mr.Gerryheld nodded and ushered them to sit.

Mr.Gerryheld took in a breath and looked over a panel to his right then leaned forward towards them. “Amanda”

“Yes sir”

“What stories have you published in the last six months?” he stared intently.

“Well sir, I have been working on so-“

“How many published” his stare grew more intense

Amanda searched the ceiling with her eyes and bit her bottom lip “None”

“None, that’s right” Mr.Gerryheld nodded. “You have publish nothing in the last six months, no article about wars, love, the new trash of a restaurant, Burger Atoms, nothing. You know this is a news service, we supply news across the galaxies. No matter how small or big. So tell, what have you been doing? If not publishing”

The room was silent. Amanda ran through some of the stories she had tried writing. One about some asteroid snakes, another about a man who thought he could read minds, A sand biker who fell off a cliff and into another dimension. Nothing had stuck and she had grown bored
and unable to finish anything. It also didn’t help that others beat her to the punch.

“I’m sorry sir, but everyone always gets to the stories before me. Or at least they publish before me” Amanda said throwing her head back.

Mr.Gerryheld propped his head up with his left arm and yawned. “Okay okay, you have a month. A single month. Get a new story, publish it, and if. IF, it does well, you might get to keep your job.”

“A single month” Amanda stood up “That’s to short, it will take me that long to travel somewhere interesting”

“Well then you should pack your bags, because you, Amanda Elara, need to get started as soon as possible.” Mr.Gerryheld smiled.

Amanda scowled “You know what?” Mr.Gerryheld shrugged “I’m going to give you the greatest story you have ever known, it’s going to slay ratings” she took a breath and stomped off towards the frosted wall.

“You just watch me” she yelled before slipping into the large room.

The man that had gone to fetch Amanda remained.

“Why didn’t you just fire her now, six months, she should have hundreds of pieces published in that time, and just one in a month? Sir, I just don’t get it”

Mr.Gerryheld leaned back into his chair and clasped his hands behind his head.

“Miss Amanda Elara has not been publishing because she has been doing other sorts of things. And I would say they are a lot more interesting then the garbage we put out here. Shes a golden ticket up this corrupt pin we reside in.” Mr.Gerryheld smiled and a gave a laugh “Many secrets that one has”

Inspired by Space Slaves of Venus Cover by ALY FELL I read what that comic is supposed to be about and it talks about a Galatic Newspaper and I thought that seemed pretty cool. Also the girl on the cover looks like a badass.

I fumbled a bit with this and I might actually rework this character in the future. I would like Amanda Elara to be more swashbuckling. Someone who enjoys adventure and saving planets and danger. She could also be a reporter as well. Elara is one of Jupitars Moons

Flashes of her mutilated, broken body swiped his focus again. He took another hit of whiskey. The room started spinning once again. He was trying to make it never stop.

“All accounts, we find Jeremy Stevens, not guilty” The mans smile spread across his face and he looked back. Their eyes met. He was pierced by sheer devastation. He couldn’t move, speak, even blink. The man turned back around and hugged his lawyer. As he walked out he blew a kiss at him. Falling. That’s all he could feel now. Spinning out of control, drowning in unfairness, betrayal, humiliation and absolute devastation. It had been a week since that day. Since then he had lost his job, spent the last of savings on alcohol and taxi fair. He would ride and just look at all the people enjoying their lives, getting away with happiness. He would of cried, but all the tears had left him. When they found his sister. Devoid of any recognition. He cried then, but then he thought justice would give some solace. It didn’t come. He cried again. Now only dry sobs. His whole body convulsed and he fell to his knees. He had to get out. Be broke for the door. He hobbled out of his apartment and onto the midnight air. It was cool and sobered him up a bit, but the city still swam a bit. He wandered. Stumbled. Then he came an alley way and leaned against he inner wall, sliding down it to sit on the concrete. He squeezed his eyes shut and took in a broken breath. Would he just die out here? Alone, broken in the cold? He opened his eyes and looked towards the sky. It was dark, cloud covered and filled with light pollution. Yet, he could feel the stars shining through, poking him with an existence. Why should one get away, if my life is over, so is theirs. Anger dripped over him like a syrup, slowly filling all his being, rage followed, but then. What he really needed. Purpose ignited. He bolted up and caught himself on the wall. He would kill him. That son of a bitch. He would torture him for days, months, years, how ever it took to make the pain go away. Everything he did to his sister he would send back an infinite fold.

He turned to leave the ally and felt something that took the wind out of him. A figure stood a bit back in the ally that he had slumped in. It had to be at least ten feet tall. A black trench coat draped its huge figure and a wide brimmed black covered it’s head and eyes. This is one of those moments a person should run and thats what his body started to do. Then the hat tipped forward and their eyes met.

The figures eyes glowed red, light illuminated from them and as it walked closer, silently he could see them more clearly. The eyes were black, with red glowing rings moving from the outside of the eye and into the center like an infinity mirror. It got close and look down at him. Those eyes hypnotized, he couldn’t move, then a voice came.

“Samuel Millson” The figure had no mouth, just a gray plate that bent around its chin and below its nose. It’s voice was deep like an anchor being drug against the ocean floor. “Vengeance has stirred a purpose in you. Do you want vengeance, a deserved justice?”

Sam whetted his bone dry mouth “Yes” he croaked

“Then you will help me and I shall help you get your justice. Seven days you will help me and then you shall have your justice.” The figure held out it’s hand. The fingers were long and sinewy and it had skin which was a thick black leather. Sam clutched the figures hand. It’s fingers wrapped around his whole wrist and then slid off.

“Monsters exist, Sam. You have just made a contract with one. Come, we have work to do”

Inspiration came from thinking about old fairy tales and that it seems humanity has gotten a little too hubris. Back in the day tales of monsters and hell kept people from doing bad things to each other. I got to thinking that the world might need monsters. Something out there to make sure that humans don’t get to much out of line. That peopel that murder (on purpose) and get away with it have something to fear.

So I thought of this figure with glowing red eyes. Specifcally like an infinity mirror. He would be ominous, shrouded in mystery, kind of like the Butcher from the Midnight Meat Train, but have a purpose and being basically older then time and lurking in the shadows. Wise and calculated, unrelentying and always infinite steps ahead. I might write the whole story of this character. I have an ending to this story. One day.

I tap my fingers against my chin watching her. She sits there on the porch reading another one of her romance novels. Yellow flowery dress whipping around in the wind. Damn she looks great in yellow. She teases me, always when the sun is high in th sky and no clouds to be seen, she wears yellow. It is so bright every time I get near a window it catches my eye and I just cannot pull my eyes away from it. She flips the page. To the contrast of the yellow dress her nails are coral color. It matches her lipstick. She matches so effortless. Every time I see her, always put together. Perfection at its highest order. I break away from her and move towards the door. No reason not to greet a perfect sunflower, right? It’s hot outside, but a cool breeze brings some relief. I walk towards the edge of my yard to inspect my shurbs. I do that a lot. They need to look good, or at least be trimmed to keep sight. I inspect. I cut them in the night, I know they are perfect. I looked up to catch her glance, but ignore. I am not that desperate for her attention. Bending down I take a look at the roots and dirt. These shrubs need to be healthy. When I stand up I smile towards her and give a wave. She puts down her book. I got her.

“Beautiful day is it not?” She speaks like that sometimes. Poetic, but small talk.

“Yes, I often worry sometimes of the heat for my yard, not much rain lately” I respond. I wish we could get off the fucking weather and into her house. My cheeks are burning from the sun and my wide stretched smile.

“Plants are more resilient then we know. I do wonder about you Tim.” she laughed brushing her golden hair off her forehead. Please don’t stop “I see you in your garden more then I see you in your house”

“I like to keep a cool front, I guess” If she only knew. Each angle was optimized. The trees were cut to see through, the shrubs were sheered to peak above.

“Well, we are having a party this weekend. How about you come on across the fence. I am sure a lot of my friends will be impressed with your garden. It’s how you say, unique” My smile gets bigger if that is possible.

“I.would.love.too” I have to use all my energy to not burst out in happy laughter “Thank you” I lick my lips and return my smile. It’s to fucking hot out here.

“Starts at 4, but your welcome to come to help set up if you like. Never too much help”

“Of course, it would be my pleasure” I wipe my forehead “well I will see you then, enjoy your um” I point to her lap “book” She picks it up and waves at me with it.

“I wouldn’t worry about that, see you then”

When my door closes. I let out a large breath.

This was inspired from the album Famous Last Words - Two Face Charade I wrote this a while ago and I would say that the show You kind of this vibe as well.

“Were going to blow him up!” a man shouted in a small crowded room

A women turned from the window “what? blow him up? I thought we were just going to write a complaint?”

“No no no, blow him sky high” The man yelled and the rest nodded.

“all the way to the moon” one said

“To mars” a small girl yelled

The lady nodded with the group. “So Mr.Dem, we blow him up” they all nodded again “then what?”

“Take his money or something, look it doesn’t matter. He was the one who ran into my bike, he is the one that needs to be exploded”

“blown up”

“percisly”

“And where does Mr.Dem live?” The women asked.

“1450 West Tilman street” the man answered confidently.

“You sure?” she questioned. He had been wrong about things before.

“Of course I am sure, Why don’t we just go over and check how he is doing then” The group nodded along and the women shrugged. The group put on their coats and hats and marched out of the tiny room, through the apartment and out into the wintery night.

They walked a bit, around a corner or two and arrived at the stoop of fancy brown stone. The women stepped up and knocked.

“What are we going to say?” a person in the back said

“What if he recognizes us” another piped

The women shushed them and the door opened.

“Hello” a man with a monocle and mustache said. He was dressed in a warm thick robe of red and gold.

“Hello, Mr Dem, we just wanted to make sure that you didn’t need any chimneys swept or stoops cleaned” she said

The man gave hearty laugh “Close, but Mr.Dems lives over there” He pointed to the house next door “1451 West Tilman” he emphasized the one in the address.

“Oh” The women laughed and turned a bit to glare at the man and bunch behind her “Sorry sir, we will move along then, sorry to disturb you”

The man waved and shut his door. His booming laugh continued from behind the thick wood.

The women stomped down the steps “We almost blew up the wrong
house” She exclaimed in a whisper.

“I-uh - I swear it wa”

“shut it, cmon” She stomped down the street to the next house. It looked just like the one before, but it’s door was cast-iron. She knocked.

The door opened and a man with a long white beard stepped out. He was dressed in high class clothes and even a top hat adorned his head. He took one look at the group and let out a gasp.

“Sir” Mr.Dems stepped down past the women and to the man “I tried to find you gentlemen, your bike, I destroyed it” The man opened his mouth “I was so shocked at the damage I was a bit taken back, I saw you, but you sprinted off, here, one moment” The man waded through the group and back into his house.

“You ran?” The women cranked her head at the man. “I thought you said he chased you away” Mr.Dems reappeared and she brought her smile back.

“Here you go lad” Mr.Dems slapped a large stack of money into the mans hand “Look, I would like to talk more, but I have been hearing some disturbing things from my back yard”

“Oh, what things?” The man stumbled to say, his eyes fixed on the money in his hand”

“Well, these cretins back there are talking about blowing me up” Mr.Dems gave a laugh “Could you see that?”

The whole group of people laughed nervously with Mr.Dems.

“Uh, I think it might be a joke or something” The women stepped to Mr.Dems “Like an expression, you seem like a fine man”

Mr.Dems scrunched up his face “Maybe, but- “

“You know what” The women lit up “How about we go talk to them, you helped us out tonight, let us return the favor”

“Well it was more me paying the lad back for his bike, I don’t know”

“No trouble at all, please, let us help you out, we know some of the folks over there, we can smooth it out for you” She said

Mr.Dems smiled and shrugged “Alright, If you know them, thank you. Again, sorry for the bike lad, that should cover it and more. Good night to you” He waved and returned to his house. The group waved and as the door shut all eyes went to the man.

“Well, you know it was all fuzzy” he said

“Come on, let’s get back” They wrapped the corner and another. They all went in and back into the small room. The women looked at the back window. It was wide open and beyond it was Mr.Dems back yard. She rolled her eyes and closed it.

We almost blew up the wrong guy.

Inspiration for this came from the thought of a bunch of people talking nonesense. Making light of blowing someone up and that the whole story is totally oddball. I could hear the dialouge in my head and it sounded sort of funny. One women of reason among a bunch of people that just went with things.

Happy 2022 Everyone!

She pulled her hood up around her. The air was cold and the winter whipped her from all sides. It was impossible to see anything a few feet in front of her, but she trudge through the snow anyway. Evergreen trees rose in all directions. She zig zagged between them to avoid some of the torrents of wind. It was dark, but something outlined the trees and surroundings for her, she looked up. Just dark clouds and snow. Angie you are so stupid. You should of waited for someone to come help you she thought clutching her self harder. She stumbled now. The snow was piling up incredibly fast. Now it covered just above her ankles and each minute it seemed to stack more and more. How does one feel so boxed in out side in the open? Angie stepped forward and a she could make out a wall of some sort. Behind it, light shined dimly into the sky. As she got closer she realized it was a wall over evergreens. Perfectly in a row blocking any vision past them. She looked one way and they disappeared into the flurry of snow fall, the other way was the same. As she got closer to the wall she could hear something from the other side, music? Her arms pushed through the limbs of the trees and they racked against her. Warm, light and cinnamon rushed to meet her on the other side.

A village, no a city. Buildings with a Bavarian and Scandinavian architecture spread out all around her. Cobble stone covered the ground and Christmas trees lit up the darkness. Lights hung from the roofs and over the different pathways and the square which revealed itself to her. A large fire was roaring in the middle. Food was being cooked and roasted all over on mobile carts. Some small people rummaged around and then normal people went about decorating and cooking the food. Some drank out of large wooden tankards at long picnic tables. Laughter, cheer and glee swarmed into a delicious cocktail of delight. She stumbled out onto the cobble stone.

“Yo” A girl called over to her. Angie was still thawing out and her ears had stopped ringing from the torrents of wind from beyond the wall of trees. She turned slowly. A girl with teal hair and a pink and purple jester hat sat holding a large tankard. Her ears were long and elf like. She was tall though. Her long slender legs crossed as she leaned back against a large wooden drink cart.

She stared for a moment “Hey” she finally said moving slowly towards the girl. “um- uh” Angie looked around one more time before slowly sitting down. Faintness and tiredness was setting in. How long had she been lost among the snow? “Where is this? Last time I checked I was in Canada somewhere”

The girl with the teal hair burst out laughing and took a large swig of what ever it was in the tankard. It smalled warm and cinnamon.

“Oh boy, well your not in Canada anymore. Human huh, interesting, wonder what door you came through.” She stuck out her hand “Amy, you?”

“Angie” she said weakly

“Angie, you have stumbled upon Christmas Town, a holiday town. The one and only dedicated to the Holiday of Christmas. Now you might be saying, “Amy, not everyone celebrates Christmas” and my response is, true. Christmas comes in different forms though. Toys, decorations, holiday spirit, lights, a lot of lights, are all made her and shipped across time and space. Here” Amy handed Angie a tankard of her own “Let’s get fucked up”

“Mouth! Young lady” a voice called somewhere

“Yeah, yeah” Amy waved back “drink up it will make you feel better.”

The liquid which wished around the tankard was warm and smelled sweet. A cider of some sort. Steam rose and small little sparkles shimmered up to her nose. Bottoms up. She took a large gulp. It was thicker then she thought. Cinnamon and vanilla swirled around her mouth and down her throat. It burned, but in a good way. The warmth spread quickly through her body and she felt her self vibrating. Instantly she felt revived. Fatigue faded and all tiredness dripped out of her.

“wow, what is this? It’s incredible” the old lady behind her held out her hand “Yes please”

“Get it girl” Amy laughed also getting another round.

Angie swam in pleasure and warmth, then a thought hit her.

“Am I dead?” she asked her self. Cider sprayed all over the cobble stone. Amy choked besides her, laughing.

“No you are not dead, is this your heaven?” she laughed and wiped the cider off her chin “well, I guess someones heaven could look like this. Nah, I will show you around a bit, then it’s back to Canada for you.”

Amy chugged the last of her drink and handed it back to the old lady behind the cart which they sat at.

“Come on Ange, leave the drink, there’s plenty more where we are going”

Angie thanked the old lady and stood to follow Amy. She didn’t know what was going on, but she was glad whatever it was. She didn’t know if was her thinking that or the cider.

This was inspired by an idea of Holiday towns. I imagine each Holiday have it’s own town that inspires and makes alot of things we see. The ultimate spirit is kept there. Sorta like Nightmare befre Christmas, but the towns are huge, planet size, and there are people that do all kinds of jobs. More on this idea later.

“I regret to inform you sir, that you are dead”

The man sitting on the red velvet chair looked around and then at the sharply dressed butler. “You sure?” he replied.

“Most definitive.” The butler returned.

The man scrubbed his face with one hand and a smile spread across his face. “Hot damn” He stood up and started to shake the butlers hand. “I’ve waited for this moment for my whole life. Every single second I waited, damn, never thought I would see the day”

“Sir?”

“Wheres your boss, he around” The man rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck “You know, the big boss. Scary dude, eleven feet tall, sickle or something , I don’t know.”

“The grand Master”

He snapped and pointed “Thats the one”

“He is only found when he wants to be seen, which is never when looked for” The butler moved back against the wall stiffening. It was a large room draped in curtains of dark blue and gold. The poles and sheets extended into a ceiling that one could not see with their eyes. Two chairs facing each other, one red, the other blue, both velvet sat in the room. Floor, green with a hint of fuzziness. The man moved towards one of the draped walls and moved it aside. A long corridor all made out in marble ablaze with torches stretched into to endless leagues.

“Thanks for showing me the way pal, till next time” The man said while moving into the corridor. His shoes clicked loudly on the marble and the flames danced casting shadows.

He walked.

Then walked some more.

And walked a little more.

The butler appeared again. This time, finally at the end of the corridor where a large brown door stood behind him.

“Sir” the butler said. “The Grand Master would like to see you”

“Now was that hard?” The man scowled as he pushed past and into the brown door.

The sound of pool balls cackling together and glasses being toasted greeted him. A large window over looking some sort of city lay behind a group of people. A large pool table was being racked and off to the wall was a bar with liquor stacked into shadowy heights. Velvet chairs and couches spread across the room where some mingled. He approached the pool table at the center of the room. It grew silent.

A large man stood chalking his pool stick, his back turned to everyone.

“So, death has finally claimed you. And how might he have done that” the man rubbing the pool stick said in a deep voice. He turned around. “Gods, are not so easily killed these days” The mans eyes glowed a sapphire blue. His skins was dark like the night, but his features were gentle. He threw the pool stick.

The man caught it.

“If you can beat me” he nodded at the table “Maybe I will tell you”

Inspired by the opening sentence and a pool hall. Is death just a transition?

Katie dotted around her kitchen checking on the different dishes she was making. Bread was in the oven. A salad was being mixed on the middle island. Cookies were being frosted across. Pots and pans stacked in the sink foaming from the ingredients. Soft jazz played over the speakers and she danced from one spot to the next. She checked the time. 1:30 p.m. Plenty of time before her guests arrived for the night. She was having get together with all her high school friends. They were a tight group. Five of them had weathered all of lifes storms together. It brought them closer and even after thirty long tough years, they still supported each other. Katie picked up a small bowl and turned to put it down next to the sink. As she turned she came face to face with a figure.

The figure wore a white sheet over itself with two large black eyes cut out. It draped upon its body and ended just before its feet, which were an inhuman black. They did not touch the ground, but rather hovered completely still a few inches from it. Her hands lost the bowl and it came crashing to the floor as she screamed and backed up. The figure moved as she moved. Silently. Nothing motioned on it. She couldn’t take her eyes off it,wide eyed with tears forming, she stepped back a bit and it floated the same space towards her.The soft jazz still filled the air, but now accompanied by her panicked breath. Katie stood still, waited for moment to collect her self, then bolted towards the door. She opened it and in panic flailed outside to run to the neighbors house. She screamed, cried, flailed her arms for some one to help her. Her whole body cranked towards where she thought some one might be. She did not dare turn around. There was no noise from her pursuer, but she could feel it. Hovering just above the ground, inanimately chasing her. She fell violently to the ground from tripping over something. She scuttled, tears running down her face, thoughts and speech incoherent. She rolled on her back screaming wildly as loud as she could to scare the haunt.

There was nothing there. She cried. This time from joy. What ever it was, was no longer there. She stood up and looked towards her wide open front door. She stared. Her mind blank, body exhausted, her breathe was still trying to calm. Katie stood for a long time. So long that night fell and her friends arrived. The house would never be the same.

This is inspired by a short film I would like to make. The thought that monsters and ghosts only come at night doesn’t make sense to me. It would be much scarier if a ghost was there during the day.

Also when the ghost chases I would remove any sort of music. Movies often bombared watchers with music to create mood. But in real life the tension is there with no music. Sometimes less is more. It would be katies exhileration and panic that could be heard while the camera stays infront of her. Showing her panic face and the ghostly figure following her with a uncanniness.

At first he thought he might be dreaming. In the distance among the endless black sea, behind a veil of fog an outline of something rising out into the sky shown. He couldn’t move, his eyes narrowed and the tower became slightly clearer. A base and the tower, not a tower, but a lighthouse stood on it. It was the color of sand and peaked into the clouds. The top, from what he could see, had a cut out that stared at him, but no light shine through. It was daytime why would its lights be on? The sea’s thick black waves rose and fell covering the base from his sight and in a slow minute it faded into the fog as it came about. He stepped forward grasping for another sight of it. Another sight of something that shouldn’t be there, something that teased him, exposed a question to him that was never posed. And in the middle of his curiosity something switched in him and a voice posed a command. It said “Drain the Sea”.

He didn’t remember getting promoted to CEO of the Carnival. Victor worked hard at his job and when the opportunity came up he accepted with out thought. He no longer left the park at night. He was given the penthouse in the steel and glass tower that over looked the entire island. He now had rows of perfect fitting black suits and white shirts with multicolored skinny ties. Pants made out of the finest material and shoes shined so spotless and clean that he could style his hair in them. The penthouse had everything he would need. Bed , kitchen , office and even a gym. He dressed for the day and combed his black hair to the side, trying to avoid his horns. It was still a bit messy, but had definition to it at least. It was earlier in the morning and he looked down toward the entrance to see the employees starting to enter the Carnival. He went down one level to where his executive staff worked. As he exited and walked towards his office he was greeted by Sarah. The company ran the entire Island, which was the Carnival. He had a second in command, but in reality it might as well be Sarah. She was his receptionist, but she could handle any task that came her way with a cheerful glee that was infectious. Her hair was pink that came into curls just above her shoulders. She always wore a shade of purple on her lips to match her hair. Red eyes glittered at him as he approached.

She stood up giving him a large smile “Good morning Sir” she said handing him some folders.

“Please, call me Victor” he laughed taking the folders and entered his office. She wouldn’t call him by his name, but he always tried. His office was right under his bed room. Floor to ceiling windows ran each of the “walls” only one side had any view. The other looked out into the endless black sea and clouded horizon.

Victor looked out past he carnival into the endless black ocean. He gazed hoping for another glance. Sarah approached from behind and stood next to him looking out.

“Sarah have you -“ he paused and rubbed his eyes “Never mind”

She looked at his reflection in the window. His dark amber eyes peered out intently. She knew what he was going to ask. She had seen it too. The same day he had seen it. She saw him breathless staring out of the windows one day. She looked and at first didn’t see anything, but then. Out there. Floating in just beyond the fog. A lighthouse. For just a moment. She knew she was seeing what he saw. She went to say something, but closed her mouth. Maybe one day.

“I will get you some tea sir, please try and relax for a moment” she said giving a small bow and leaving the room. Victor peeled him self from his window. It would show up again. One day, it would appear and when it did. He would go to it.

Inspired by the large windows in my old office. It over looked a large garden and the windows filled the whole suite. I often pictured a lit up ferris wheel rotating by and then the black ocean itself.

The crowd bustled from platform to platform. Each person trying to get all their things together before the next train left the station. The station was new. Brand new. Red carpet lined the platforms, clean orangish tinted lights illuminated the whole cavern of regal art deco architecture. Thomas leaned back into his seat looking at the mounds of people going here and there. He would be on this train for a while. He didn’t mind. The service was top notch, inside was vibrant, and the company was nothing to sneeze at. He looked over to his right. A lady with short black hair cut into a bob sat. She was dressed head to toe in perfection. Tight blazer and semi long skirt the color of white cream. Upon her feet were black heels. She smiled at him, her red lipstick striking his heart. The train shuttered and the conductor announced they would be heading off. He had a sleeper car in the back, but Thomas spent most of his time in the observer, cocktail car near the front of the train. There you could find the best company. The train moved out of the station and into the sprawling metropolis. Buildings whirled by in a gray and black blur.

Thomas took out a cigarette, lit it, then leaned over to the women next to him.

“Would you like one?” He offered a cigarette to her. She took it and he offered her a light.

“Thank you” she said, smiling through the smoke. Thomas clipped his lighter returning it to his pocket and took a large inhale. A waiter came by and he waved at him.

“Another whiskey on the rocks and for the lady “ He said motioning to her.

“A martini please”

“and here” Thomas pulled out and paid the waiter “keep the rest”

Thomas took a gulp of his remaining drink and handed it to the waiter. The city started to fade out and green hills and trees started to fill the windows.

“Soo whats a gorgeous lady like you heading out of the city for? You got family out there?”

The women’s face lit up in a smile “Well, yes in fact, I do have family out there. What about you stranger, what calls you out to the country?”

The waiter returned with their drinks aDnd Thomas cheered before taking a sip. He had a silly look to his face as he looked around and said

“Truthfully? I just murdered my wife and I am on the run”

The women burst out laughing “You too? I just killed my wife too”

Thomas chuckled along with her laughter.”How did you do it?”

The women shrugged taking a sip of her martini and said “An axe obviously, you?”

Thomas gave her a surprised look and shook his head in disbelief “Chainsaw, only way to do it. The body?”

“Hacked in pieces” the women made the gesture of chopping with an invisible axe, swinging it up and down.

“No? A girl like you?”

The women flexed her arm “You damn right a,women, like me”

Thomas nodded and raised his glass “Cheers, to a new beginning…..waiter, another one” he gestured at both of their glasses and gave a thumbs up.

The train entered a valley and poured out onto a bridge. Water cascaded outside the windows and blue filled the cabin car.

“You know, this train, it might be just a train, but when I thought about what I was going to do. I knew this train was going take a me away. Somewhere, somehow. How did we not get caught?” Thomas said. He crossed his legs and leaned back into the seat.

“A train of dreams”

“Yeah, a train of dreams”

They both looked at each other. Eyes shining blue. Fate was set. Who would strike first?

Inspired by 20th Century Limited Train