A Short Story : A Story?

Twisted wisps of thought whirled around in his head, an endless helix of memories threatening to strangle his sanity and haunt the recesses of his consciousness. Consciousness which was losing the mental crusade against the ebb of drowsiness. Opening his eyes was a futile effort. The darkness would consume him and offer no refuge from the inferno inside his mind. The world no longer made sense, if it ever did. Though obfuscated by darkness, the relentless tick-tock of the clock changing its evidence resonated in his ears. Time would drain his sanity like sand from a hourglass until nothing but mirages

"No!" Screeched Traviata as she sat up straight sweat beading down her face and panting heavily.

Wake up Jax, wake up! This was the first thing I heard before a hefty bucket of water was discarded on to me. I woke up with distraught, complaining that it was a Saturday and that I needed more sleep. I turned on my phone, noticing that the date on the screen read May 7, 2022. That was when I realized, today is going to be one of the biggest days for me. I am going to be taking both my Math and English SAT. I felt ready, yet I also had an uneasy feeling stuck inside me. I had been studying for the past 3 months, taking PSAT’s and what not. I didn’t have to go to my school to take the SAT’s for another 3 hours, so I decided, why not take a little nap before I go? JAX, IT’S 1:15 PM, YOU ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR SAT’S! “This is just a dream,” I thought, “I’m going to keep sleeping, there’s no way I slept more than 3 hours already.” Then it came, Slap!

She quickly jumped out of the X-Wing and headed for her room instantly. Even though the mission was successful, everything still ended horribly wrong. Too many of the Rebellion fighters had lost their lives, more than there should have been. It was meant to be a quick mission but it had ended becoming a never ending battle that lasted for hours.

“Stop, stop, our satellite is telling us that the ancient pyramid is below us us!” I

I must have dropped off, because when I opened my eyes, the sun was beginning its descent, causing an orange hue to cascade on the aged walls like vibrant painted patterns. I splash my face in the bathroom sink. Theres a claw footed tub inside. I imagine wicked nights of smoking and cognac ala Edward G Robinson while stewing in its recesses. I put on my peacoat and lock that door to my secret chamber. No sooner do I go out than I see a figure resting in a lobby chair. An older woman. An American. She tells me she in en route to Geneva to speak at a conference about water pollution. Her name is Miranda.

The dirt men marched into the valley of death, they had just retreated from a bloody battle in enemy territory. Their enemy, the forest men. They stopped in a small cave as the sun sunk below the horizon.

We were eating dinner when I asked how we were supposed to afford a three week trip to New Hampshire. We weren’t exactly well off, and winter was by far the most expensive time of year.

“Do it this way. Clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, ‘Roderigo! Save me! Save me!’ and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling.

I quickly unpacked the few things I had and laid them on the bed. I walked around the room, seeing if there was anything special about it. There wasn't much, but it was enough. The bottom trim was lined with cheap gold. The bathroom door was covered in hand-painted lilies. I walked over and admired the intricate designs. I opened the door and walked in. It was just a bathroom. Shower, toilet, sink. It was all there. Simple. Their entire house was. My house was a mess of old paintings and stains on the wall, reminding me of my childhood. On the back of my old room door was two hand prints. Exal and me. I realized I was staring into the simplicity and snapped back. Just as I was heading back into reality the door creaked open. "Hey." I looked over my shoulder expecting Exal. Her mom was standing there instead. "Um, hi." I knew she could hear the slight disappointment in my voice. " Listen, I know it's hard now, but it'll be okay eventually." I didn't know how to respond. "That's what you say, but it doesn't feel like it at all." I whispered it through hard breathing. It seemed as if we had an understanding, so we stood in silence for a few moments. "If you need to talk, about anything, let me know." Her words were soothing and I nodded as she left.

Gavin hands me a cup with a lid,wrote on a piece of tape says ‘Gavin A.’ “Well if this doesn't work let me know,I’m next door after all” I kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you for your...um...contribution...” He blushes and touches the spot where I kissed him. “It's no problem.I mean it's our duty to society,so what do I do now?” “Well I was about to go to the store...so I guess leave maybe?” He gives me a hug, turns to leave but stops “Hey if you ever need a friend I do live next door so maybe if it's OK with you,we can have lunch sometime?”I nod,smiling,he leaves. I head to the bathroom and look in the mirror. I take down my braids.My brown hair is a mess,it's wild and untamed. It's curly because the braids I had in earlier. My blue eyes become an ocean as I began to sob thinking about my family. I turn on the shower.

Flashback:.Michelle sat down on a bench, next to a woman. She was very skinny with pale skin and her face was covered with the shadow of the cape on her head .The woman pointed her large, skinny fingers towards Michelle .She muttered some words under her breath.Without a warning, the woman disappeared and left no trace of her existence there.Michelle had knots in her stomach and felt like her head was spinning. She could not understand what happened and why the woman was pointing at her.

It was a cold darkening night when Fredrich began walking down the street of Warsaw, late at night when the city was as dead as a graveyard not a gunshot or cannon could’ve woken the dead, he was planning an escape on how to leave to America. He walked through North Avenue plotting every detail of his plan. Fredrich came across someone he did not recognize at all he thought to himself, “Who was this strange and dark figure,” because fredrich could not see his face, but only the shadow that dwelled there, had this menaced and restless feeling. The dark figure walked along the street. Fredrich decided to follow him regardless of the warnings inside him, but Fredrich’s curiosity got the best of him not knowing if this dark faceless man was dangerous. He followed the figure for about 30 minutes and it just disappeared into the night.

My legs won’t stop jittering in the passenger footwell of Jacob’s ute. I’m so nervous. I haven’t been back to the city since I left for Hope over three years ago. It has been easier to ignore the life I left behind when it was over a six hour drive away. But now here I am, sitting next to man too handsome and kind for his own good, heading straight back into that lion’s den. It’s not that I didn’t have a great life there. I did. However it’s a completely different life to what I want and what I live now. And I haven’t been away long enough to forget how bitchy and snobby my old friends can be. To be really honest, I’m not sure what I’m more nervous about, facing my past or my past meeting Jacob. Jacob squeezes my thigh, interrupting my thoughts, “Hey over there, you alright?” He asks.

The smell of antiseptic filled my nostril as I gripped my coffee tightly. Swinging my bag over my shoulders, I watched as the other nurses and doctors walked into rooms checking on patients. The sound of familiar beeping rang through the air, as I strolled past the front desk into the hospital break room. I opened the doors and heard the voice of my coworker.