Ina's Journey

When we arrived at Barnes’ farm that night it was just around dusk. The sun had started setting and all of the teens were scrambling around to get the luggage off the two charter busses before the sun went down. Once all the luggage was loaded onto carts we headed off in the direction of our campsite. As the group was walking the sun fell below the horizon and the darkness set in. The woods were unfamiliar and treacherous, we had been walking for what felt like hours, climbing over hill, squeezing through trees, and tripping over decaying logs. We were hopelessly lost. When it felt like we would never find our tents we stumbled upon a friend out looking for us. He led us to the tent, that still needed to be set up, and a table of food. We

The boy lay there next to his father keeping each other warm from the chilling atmosphere where they set camp. The air was so moist it turned the dirt into damp mud and the boy could feel his sleeping bag submerge into it. The intimidating glare of an owl examining him sent a tingle up his spine. The sounds of bugs chiming filled the ambience, killing the silence giving him a sense of security. He looked up at the twilight sky illuminated by the blinding shimmer of the full moon gleaming through the forest trees over him. Surrounding it was an array of glimmering stars prompting the sky alive. As his body grew accustomed to the environment, each natural attribute gave him comfort and allowed him to slowly fall into a deep sleep.

Sarah slugged through the early morning work and realized-too soon- that she needed to make a trip to the house. She made her way, clasping her arms around her for warmth in the cold November morning. Painted Girl’s borrowed sweater did not help dissipate the cold air, and neither did the lingering whiskey in her system. A light shone in the window illuminating Grandfather and Dingle, who sat at the table together eating pie. She watched as Dingle grabbed a juicy strawberry from Grandfather’s pie and nibbled at it greedily. Grandfather must have finished his hunt early, Sarah realized. She had hoped to avoid Grandfather today but nature called. There was no choice, either the woods or the house. Sarah did an about turn and went for the

Running into the woods Sarah’s eyes fell on familiar sights. Trees she had climbed as a little girl, old trails her father had made, the old stream she loved to sit by and read poetry. Sweet, delicate memories flowed into her mind like warm, caressing fingers attached from loving angels, as Todd pulled her deeper into the woods. The world outside the community is exciting…but this is my home,” Sarah thought as Todd hurried slowed down to help her step over a fallen log

The door shut behind him and Georgaina walked down the steep, grassy hill. She was near the bottom when a pain, familiar to her, ripped through her abdomen like a dull, serrated knife. She collapsed, gasping for breath and clutching her stomach. Slowly, after what felt to her like hours, the pain went from a sharp knife to a dull ache. Tears had filled her eyes and she blinked them back as she stood cautiously, not trusting her own legs. She took a deep breath, and focused on putting one foot in front of the other, determined to get to the forest that lay around the hill. Her head pounded, but she figured she would worry about it

When she awoke the skies were gray and gloomy, the air suddenly was cold and felt as though it could cut like a knife. Something felt out of place, but Lori could not put her finger on it. Her feet hit the floor, and began looking around only to see that she is all alone.The place that once was warm and welcoming now is all but that. The frail girl screams loudly, when there is no reply, she knew something must be terribly wrong.

Hannah smiled softly when he introduced himself, before he set her free of her chain. She slowly leaned down and rubbed her ankle which had a dull mark on it. Then she let out a thank you before she watched the handsome captain before her. She watched as his huge hat was placed on a hook near his bed and he went about speaking to her about breakfast. She blinked and flushed deeply as the food was brought to her. "Thank you." she said timidly after John had left. She then carefully began to eat her breakfast, only having a small portion, she knew it would make her sick if she ate too much. She then listened as Hook began to speak to her, explaining Neverland and its people to her, however she knew about them from her books.

“No the tent goes on this side of the fire pit! I want it on this side.” “Who cares! Just set it up on this side!” Bree covered her ears and ran back onto the path to sit quietly on a rock. “Don't go too far!” Her mother yelled breaking away from the argument. Bree sat and stared out to the trees. She sighed and wished for a peaceful life like them. She felt envious. How long had she been sitting there? Should she get back? Someone screamed. Her head whirled around. There was shouting, then a moment of silence. She frantically slid off the rock and sprinted back to the camp. Only, no one was there. It was completely empty. “Mommy? Daddy?” Her voice quivered. Where were they? She thought she hadn't taken that long. She was scared. Her tears started to flow. Then by the grassy area, she saw something. It was a shoe. Mommy's shoe! She ran to the spot and brushed the grass away. Bree gasped and fell backward. Her mother had scratches bleeding all over, her head had a large gash, and she could see all the whites in her eyes. She cried. But where was her father? She went around camp searching. Hoping, praying. She couldn't find him. He was gone. Just like that. He just had disappeared into thin air. Sniffling she ran. Water streaming down her face, blurring her sight. She ran. Right into a giant… What exactly was it? She looked up. A man stared down at her. “Are you ok?” He looked down at her worriedly with huge eyes. “Where’s your campground?” “Whaa~?” She felt dazed and fell into a pit of darkness. Bree could hear distant shouting that she couldn’t quite reach. Did someone say hair? Too much she thought and closed her

I rolled over in the mountain of duvet covers to the sound of Dakota giggling. I smiled as I raised my arm to feel for my husband’s hand but all I felt was Bean’s fury leg. I thought about how the children, Lena and Dakota, would react to their Christmas gifts this morning as I jumped out from under the heating blanket. As I rose from my slumber, I could feel my muscles loses their strength. I dismissed what I had observed because today was special, it was Christmas.

Eliza ran as hard as she could. She could not be late to school again. She had overslept at least three times in the past week as well as a few dozes in the middle of class. She thought back to the dreams she had been having during her midday snoozes and sighed. In them, she had been walking through a forest, near trees that seemed to stretch as tall as the sky. There were two other people with her too, they looked at her with expectation and question, which confused her even more. They were strange folk, they had pointed ears, elegant faces that seemed to shine with starlight, and long, flowing blond hair. Eliza stared at them with amazement, just beginning to make herself feel comfortable. Then, all of a sudden they sprinted away… Eliza had

A sound, maybe a chainsaw, weed eater, lawn mower something familiar and annoying -- stirred Amelia from unconsciousness. But it wasn’t like waking up, rather it was slow, confusing, and dreamlike. She raised her hands to rub her eyes, and with a jolt of alarm realized simultaneously her hands were bound, as well as her ankles . Like a glass of water thrown in the face her eyes flew open, but her thinking couldn't catch up. She stared, dumbfounded, blinking slowly, trying to focus on her wrists to see what the problem was. She sensed she was outside but it was full dark and glancing up at the sky she saw nothing; although she knew there should be a moon. Pulling and twisting her arms in front of her, her brow furrowed with confusion, she

Alone one dark Friday winter night, Alley was sleeping soundly cozy under her bright pink comforter. Her single mother, Isabella, had left that morning out of town for a work meeting. Alley’s father had died a few years ago from a mysterious murder. Suddenly she got out of bed and shivered to the door to see what was making this weird noise. Alley opened the door and stepped onto the back porch, looking into the dark night. Listening to the sound of the wind howling and the sound of the harmless crickets chirping. But, nothing and no one was there…

After driving for what seemed like hours Abby finally arrived, she walked and walked deep into the heart of the forest, the day slowly began to transition to night, she began to unwind, through teary eyes, She watched the sun fall behind the trees, painting the sky shades of red and pink, thank God that this day has come and gone. All the pain suffered. All the hurt felt. Everything. Gone. She crawled onto a bed of leaves and fell into a restless sleep. When she woke up to the sound of birds singing a pleasant tune, she rolled over and stared up into the peaceful sky only a few fragments of blue remained like scattered pieces of an impossible jigsaw puzzle. She made her way through the forest and to her surprise she heard footsteps and faint whispers, she’d been found by Marcus Omar, her stomach sunk as she

old canoe and just as Sethe steps in her water breaks. With Amy’s help, Sethe

There was a little rush, and the clank of a chain, and a large yellow-and-white dog appeared at the door of his tiny hut, which was half hidden among the tall grasses and flowers. Louisa patted him and gave him the corn-cakes. Then she returned to the house and washed the tea-things, polishing the china carefully. The twilight had deepened; the chorus of the frogs floated in at the open window wonderfully loud and shrill, and once in a while a long sharp drone from a tree-toad pierced it. Louisa took off her green gingham apron, disclosing a shorter one of pink and white print. She lighted her lamp, and sat down again with her sewing.