Akira 2023

A K I R A

Copyright©2023bySt.PiusXHighSchool

AkiraisacommonJapanesegivennameanddirectlytranslatesto"brightlight."

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HOPE

"Atrueheroisn'tmeasured bythesizeofhisstrength butbythestrengthofhisheart"

~Zeus

Aclouddescended

Thick,impenetrable Looming.

ItremindedmeoftheSecondComing, Amysteriousdarkmist

Chokingouttheevil

Stiflingtheircries

Suffocatingthem

Thenclearingaway

Foranewbeginning Ofgoldenraysandazurebeauty

Goodnessandmercywillfollow

Whereevilisweakandhollow

Godsavesusfromsorrow

Whenthepeoplecameandsaw

Theyreactedwithanawe

Ittakescourage,selfcontrol

Determinationtoreachagoal

AsDisciplinesparksthesoul

MayGodsaveusfromahole

BornwithlotsofKnowledge

Aswestrivetograduatecollege

Throughblessingsandlove

TeachmeGoodness,DisciplineandKnowledge

TheEnd.

AnastasiaRomero

Lent Lentisatimeforprayer

Reflectionandthankingoursavior

Wemustgivesomethinginreturn Sowecanhelpotherstolearn

AxLujan

I’dliketowriteanodetoyoursunbleachedhair

Thegapinyourteeth,andthechipinyournewnails

Anodetothesnortinyourlaugh

Yourfreckles,andthewayyourdetergentsmells

I’llwriteasongaboutyourclothes

Yourstupiduglysweaters,andyourgiantglasses

Asongaboutbeingsweetandgentle

Andhidingjusthowharshyourpastis

I’mwritingastorytocaptureyourtemper

Whenyoukickmeoutblindly,notknowingwhattodo

Astoryaboutthewayyousaysorry

Aboutforgivenessandlove.Mylove,mymuse

Thisisanodetoyou, Yourstubbornness, Yourpathologicallying, Yourrecklessbehavior

It’sanodetothepersonyouoncewere Beforeyouleftmylife

BeforeIevenknewyou

Thatinnocentgirl, Thathopefulboy, It’smeantforbothofyou

Youwerethereasonformyfrustrationsandmyaffection

Whenyoucameback,itfitlikeaglove

Justhowit’ssupposedtobe

Butyoushouldn’thavecomeback

Ikeepchasingyou, Thepersonyouoncewere Insteadoflookingatthepersoninfrontofme

Irefusetodoit

Idon’twanttoadmityou’regoneandstillhere

Idon’twanttoseeyougoneandIdon’twanttoseeyouhere

Let’sremembertheolddays,

Wherewefoughtoverthingslikestealingmyerasers

Wheresharingaroomtogetherincollegewasouronlygoal

WhereIdidn’tworryaboutyoueveryday

Whycan’tyoubehereandstaywithme?

Where’sthelightinmylifewhenyoursisdim?

What’sthepointinhopingifyou’realostcause?

Rememberme

Rememberhowweusedtobe

RemembermyOdetoYou

SelfPortraitofan'OldStarvingArtist' RobertWillits

SelfPortrait

IsabellaSanchez

TheGreatOregonOcean

CarlosSaucedo BelleFleur

ChasingBlue

AnastasiaRomero

Chasingblue

Ourgoalwaschasingblue

Ourdeterminationremainedtrue

Rediswhatwereceiveduntilnextyear,youwillsee

AnnaliesseNunez

Sketches

Manuel Morales-Hernandez

-Superman

Ghosted

Theleavesblewfranticallyacrossthesidewalk,tossedupandthrowndownbythewind.Thistimeoftheyearis supposedtobefestive,fullofkidsdressedupinavarietyoffreakishclothes,theirfacespaintedgrotesquely.This timeofyeariswhenkidsgettoeatallthecandyandchocolatetheycouldeverwant,andtheadultscan'tstop them.Thistimeofyeariswhenyougoagainstyourparent’swishesandsneakofftoa‘hauntedhouse’,wearing pentagramsaroundyournecksandcarryingbloodyaxes. That’s how it’s supposed to be, Iremindedmyself.ButI hatedit.Ihatedeverypartofit.ItjustremindedmeofwhatIdidn’thavenowthatIwasnolongeralive-I couldn’tpartakeinthesweets,couldn’tdefyanyparents,couldn’tevenhauntahousebecausethat’sagainstthe rules.

Stupid rules. Nohauntings….No one can see or hear you, how would I be able to haunt? Youcan’tgototheLandof theLivingifyouhavehadanincidentofhaunting.NocommunicatingwiththeNon-Spirits.Thatonewas alwayshard,withtheamountofkidstryingaOuijaBoardeveryHalloween.Iwastemptedtojustgivethema kickintheheadjustforbeingalive. But NO. It’s against the rules (although,thatdidn’tstopmefromshovingmy fistinpeople’sfaces). Nostandinginpeople.Yes,literally….ifyoustandinsideasolidpersontoolongtheycan noticeyourpresence. And we can’t do that, can we? Iseethed,kickinganearbytree,butofcourse,myfootslid rightthroughasifitwaswater.

Inallhonesty,Halloweenwasn’treallywhatmademeangry.Ireallydon’thaveanythingelsetodotherestof theyear-youjustdriftinaspaceless,timelesswaitingroom,broodingaboutyourhumanlifeandallthemistakes youmadealongthewayduringit.That’swhyI'msoenviousoftheLiving.Theywouldliveanddie(mostof them,anyway),andyetIwasstuckwatchingtherestoftheirstupidlivesplayout.Itwasmaddening.Icouldn’t evenrememberwhenIwaslasthuman,IjustremembersmalldetailsabouthowIdied.Asharppaininmychest, thendeath.IassumedImust’vediedfromaheartattackorsomethinglikethat,aroundmyearly‘20s.

“God,I’msohungry”agirl’svoiceinterruptedmythoughts.Iwatchedtwogirlsappearatthecornerofthe cemetery.Automatically,Iduckedbehindaheadstone. Oh, right. No one can see you. Istillcouldn’tbelievethat afterhalfacentury,IstillforgetIamnolongervisible.

“Doyouwanttogetsomedinnerlater?Iwanttohitacouplehousesbeforenightfall”

Youknowhowstrictmyparentsare,”theothergirlreplied.

Girl#1rolledhereyes.“That’ssostupid.It’sbarely6:00!”sheprotested.

IfIcouldstillfeelhunger,Ibetitwould’vegrowledinresponse.Ihaven’teatenanythinginover50years…can you believe that? Thetwogirlsstoppedjustoutsidethegateofthecemetery,peeringin.

“Mygrandpawasburiedhere,”thesecondgirlsaid.

“Ithinkthewholetownisburiedhere”thefirstgirlscoffed.

“MaybeIshouldvisithisgrave,justonce,beforeweleave,”thefirstgirlsaid,ignoringthecondescendingtone.

“Lola!Yousaidweweregoingtodinner!”thesecondgirlwhined.

Lolaignoredher,hereyescombingthegravesinsearchofhergrandpa.Curious,Isteppedoutfrombehindthe headstone,standingbesideatreeinstead.Iwatchedherfromadistance,wonderingwhythisteenagegirlwasso interestedinfindingagrave,whenmostkidswanderfromdoortodoor,stuffingtheirfaces.

“Lola,it’sgettingdark!I’mgoingtodinnerwithoutyou”herfriendcalledout,pretendingtoturnandwalk away,butrealizingLolawasn’tgoingtofollow,sighedandhurriedafterLola.

IshiftedmyfocusbacktoLola.Shewasstill,standinginashadowhalfobscuringherface.Imovedcloser,trying tomakeoutthelettersonthestone.Withoutwarning,Lola’sfriendwalkedthroughme.Ishuddered,rubbing myarmsandtakingafewstepsbackward.Istillhatedthefeeling.

“Isthathim?”Lola’sfriendwhispered.Lolanodded.

“Ineverknewhim.Hediedalongtimeago”

“Diedyoungtoo”theothergirlnoddedatthedates.Ilookedcloser.Shewasright.Onlythirtyoneyearsold.

“Sorryfortakingoff…Ijustwantedtosee-”shebrokeoff.

“Lola,whatisit?”herfriendasked.

Itoremyeyesawayfromtheheadstone,distractedbystudyingit.That’swhenImadeeyecontactwithLola, lookingpastherfriend’sshouldersandstraightatme.Shestumbledback,almosttrippingoveraheadstone.I mirroredher,startled.Hereyeswidenedandhermouthpartedinsurprise.Therewasnomistakingit,shewas seeing me.

LoneWolves

HOW can she see me?

JacquelyneNguyen

“Takethemoneyandleavemysonyougolddigger!”Aladywithperfectlypermedhairandpristine clothesandgoldjewelryexclaimsaswoncomeflyingfromherfingers.Anotherwomanonthefloor crying,but“Ilovehim.”GrowingupwatchingKoreandramaseverynightwithmygrandmotherwas aritual.Eachepisodeconsistedofarollercoasterofemotions,elaborateplotstwistsandofcourse sinistermotherinlaws.WhileotherkidsgrewupwatchingDisneymovies,learningaboutthe importanceoffriendshipthroughthemagicoflove.Ispentmyweekdaynightssittingontheedgeof mygrandmother’sbedenamoredofthedayIwouldlandmyselfanattractiveSouthKoreanCEO.For meitwasbecauseofthesenights,thatenabledmetobecomeclosertomygrandmother.

MygrandmothercametotheUSin2012.She,likemostimmigrants,didnotspeakmuchEnglishand unfamiliarwiththecustoms.Butsheheldthegleamofhopeandopportunityinhereyes.Iremember ourfirstencounter.6yearoldme,holdingabouquetofflowerswaitingattheairportanticipatingthe arrivalofmy“bangoai”.Within20minutes,anelderlycouplearrives,apetiteVietnamesewoman accompaniedbyanoldthintallVietnamesemanpassesthroughtherevolvingdoorsoftheterminal. Proclaimsofrejoiceaccompaniedbyhugsandkissesandhappytearsquicklyfollowedasmyfamily reunited.Theoldladyscoopsmeinawarmtightembrace.“Chaconlonquá!!”Ilookedather blankly.TheonlywordsthatIcoulddecipherwerebigchild.

Atfirstmyrelationshipwithmygrandmotherwasdifficultandtherewasamajorbarriers.Tomethis wasfarfromgrandmathatIhadportrayed.Grandmasweresupposedtobakeapplepies.BaNgaoi madeweirdvietnamesebananabread.Grandmasweresupposedtogotosugarcoatthetruthandcall theirgrandkidslittleangels.BaNgoaiwouldscoldmeforscrapingmyknees,“whoaskedyoutobe recklessandrunningaround”asshetendlerlyplacedabandaidon.Butmostimportantlygrandmas spokeenglishBaNgoaididnotThelanguagebarrierwasahugecontributortotheearlybumpsof ourrelationshipsShespokenoEnglishandmostoftheVietnamesethatIlearnedwaslosttoEnglishonlyfirstgradeCommunicationconsistedofmuchpointingandfrustration

Buttherewasonethingthatalwaysbecameacommongroundformeandher;Koreansoapoperas. Everynightaround6pmorafterdinner,beforethetimeofstreamingservicesmygrandmawouldpick upadictionarythickdvdboxandplaywhereweleftoffinourcurrentdrama.Wasitgoingtobethe typicalcharismaticattractiveCEOandlowincomebeautifulsecretary?Ormaybeitwasabouta mysteriousspywhoworkedforasuspicoulsbutcrazyrichfamily?Lookingback,theplotswereway overthetop,buttheybuiltthebridgebetweentherelationshipbetweenmeandmybangoai.Iwas abletoputtheputtogetherandconnectheVietnamese-dubbeddialogueofthecharactersandexpand myVietnamesevocabulary.ThechangesweresmallbuttheprogressedthroughquestionsthatIasked mygrandmother.Eventuallythebondbetweenmygrandmotherdeepened.Languagebarrierswere broughtdownandinthesemomentsweretimeswhenitwasjustagrandmotherandhergrandaughter bonding.Myperspectivepivotedfrommyculture,IwasnotlongerjustAmerican,IwasVietnamese American,andIamproud. 12

Planets/Stars

GabrielMcElhanon

JimmyRayBates

ABrightFuture

GabrielMcElhanon PiusFallScene

DerekMondala

VintageCollage

CarolineMadrid

JulianaDixon

ThePeak

GabrielMcElhanon

YouAreNotAlone

LittleFlamencoDancers

NativeAmericanPottery

LenaHernandez

SavannaJiron

A leader is a dealer of hope

"Courage.Honor. Loyalty.Sacrifice. You'rebraverthanyouthink."

Ana, Ana Anonymous

After years of fighting

I threw Ana out

Me a shell of the person I was

Skin and bones, hollow inside

A heart barely strong enough to keep me alive

Hungry for more, hungry for less

Craving you

Tell me I’m pretty

Tell me I’m redeemable

Ana, you’re all I have

An addiction, holding me back

One more day, one more week

As long as you’ll stay

You’ll wear me away

And when I die, and when I die

You’ll tell me I’m finally beautiful

Stretched so thin

You can see right through me

Ana, Ana has to go

Far out from my mind

Self-destructive, parasitic

Ana, leave me behind

There is no love in misery

There is no beauty in pain

Ana made suffering religious

It’s time to heal. Never again

Never again.

Fruit of Temptation

Brianna Lucero-Brown

I Am Not Batman

Evangelynn Cruz

This Town Full of Gloom..

Joseph Sanchez

This town full of gloom

Where the flowers never bloom

Citizens live in fear

The visions are clear

When the bank vault goes boom

The Hero’s cape goes Floom!

Villains shed a tear

Except this one

As the Hero goes in full gear

The villain has no sign of fear

On the rooftop they go

With a hard decision at hand

The choice is clear, The vision is clear

To save his town, his town of gloom

He makes the unfortunate but right decision

The Hero jumps with the villain in hand

They Go

They Tumble

Never to reappear

With the town now safe

The safe will not be opened

But with every Hero there must be a sacrifice

With every Hero there must be a ending

There is always a Villian that stays following

And sometimes to do what's right is something

You don't wanna do

Maidens

Neil Silver

5 1/2 furlongs

9 minutes to post and Slew's Fast Lady already twitching and foaming at the mouth so I bet a $6 combo just so I can tell the boys

"I had this filly in the 8th and she died in the stretch" Then when they give me those so whats the big deal looks I'll be able to say "No really she was moving along the rail when she faltered then fell and died right there in the stretch

cost me 50 bucks"

But my luck being what it is she ran wide placed 7th 2 lengths ahead of Mr. Jet's Girl the favorite

My Last Connection

Lena Hernandez

TheShower

GabrielMcElhanon

“Breaking News! A meteor shower is about to enter the atmosphere. We and authorities advise everyone in Flagstaff, Arizona to evacuate and seek safety. Again, everyone in Flagstaff, Arizona evacuate and seek safe—”

“Demetry c’mon we gotta go!”

“Why?”

“Are you deaf?! You heard the news! We gotta go! We’re leaving in 2 minutes!”

Demetry said under his breath: “So we move all over the place, find this perfect city and now it’s gonna get destroyed? Perfect! Just perfect!”

“C’MON!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“CAR, NOW!”

“YEAH I HEARD YOU!”

Demetry ran outside quickly with only a few things: Some snacks, his phone, and his watch. As soon as Demetry closed the door, Kyle drove away.

“Kyle, what’s gonna happen now man?”

“I don’t know. We just need to stay opptimist–”

“LOOK!”

Demetry points to the sky where dozens upon dozens of meteors are falling towards them.

“Kyle, the bridge, the bridge!”

Kyle took a sharp right and sped to the bridge. The both of them began to hear massive explosions behind them. Demetry looked to see what happened and saw a wall of fire blocking his view from the houses. A large noise was heard to the right of the car. They both witness a meteor fall ahead of them causing a massive explosion.

Kyle stopped abruptly.

“DEMETRY, UNDER THE BRIDGE!”

They both hurry. They make it under, then Kyle hears screaming near them.

“Demetry, stay here okay?”

“What, why?!”

“I’m going to see if I can help anyone out!”

“Are you CRAZY? You’re gonna die out there!”

“Just trust me.”

“Okay, I trust you.”

Kyle went out looking for people. He brought several people down to where Demetry is. One of them didn’t look too good. The rest were a little bruised up, but overall in good condition. Kyle heard another scream. As Kyle began to run towards the screaming, Demetry stopped him.

“KYLE! NO MORE! IT’S TOO DANGEROUS!”

Another loud noise. They both look in the same direction where a meteor struck near Demetry sending him flying.

“NO!!!”

Kyle ran to Demetry and he’s knocked out cold and was bleeding profusely from his leg. Kyle took the belt from around his waist and wrapped it around Demetry’s leg. He picked him up and ran under the bridge. Kyle began putting pressure onto his leg to stop the bleeding.

“You need to apply pressure there” said one of the survivors, it was the very injured one. “What!?”

“You’re putting pressure on the wrong spot, there” she points and Kyle does as she says.

“You a nurse?”

“Doctor.”

“Oh...okay what now?”

“I’ll apply pressure to the wound. What’s his pulse?”

Kyle tries to feel around. There is no pulse.

“No pulse Doc!”

“Chest compressions! Chest compressions!”

Kyle began to perform chest compressions on his little brother. “Don’t die on me now! Don’t do it!”

Kyle cracked some ribs while doing the chest compressions. 4 minutes later.

Kyle was crying and pounding his little brother's chest with all the strength he had. The Doctor put her hand on his shoulder and tried not to cry.

“I’m sorry. He’s–he’s gone.”

Warrior

Robert Willits

It'sNotYou,It'sMe SanaaGivens

I am a firm believer in the fact that funerals are the most intolerable gathering of individuals on the face of the earth. I would certainly return from my own grave and haunt my family members should they plan one after I am dead.

True, funerals are important as someone’s life has just been snuffed out and the ceremony allows the world to say goodbye. Still, I hate them. Almost as much as I hate orange soda, cinnamon muffins, and graphic novels. And yet, the water that rushed into my nose and throat as I somersaulted through the current might ensure that I attend my own very soon.

I hoped my friends were yelling for me above the waves, but I was unsure if they knew of my impending doom for two reasons. One: the current had dragged me meters away from shore. Two: my father’s real estate salary was unable to cover the cost of waterproof hearing aids.

I did not care much. I hated how the darn things felt anyway and without them, I did not have to listen to my dad and Aunt Jia’s bickering over my grandfather’s medical bills.

Firm hands gripped my underarms and dragged me upward. My head broke the surface and I fought the urge to gasp and sputter until I was well out of the water.

I gripped Spencer’s arm as he shuffled me onto his board. He was saying something, but he knew well enough that I could not hear him.

Once oxygen graciously returned to my lungs I stared at his lips. He was asking me if I was all right. I nodded once and scanned the surface of the ocean. His grip was firm enough that it took some effort to remove myself from his arms, but as soon as I spotted my own board my escape efforts doubled. I did not spare him a look back as I floated to my abandoned board.

Spencer had helped me. Saved, was a bit of a dramatic term as I had not been truly dying yet, but he had helped me. I know that we agreed to still be there for each other, but given those same circumstances I would have gladly let my former boyfriend drown.

Maybe then he would not consume every one of my waking thoughts. No! It was worse than that. I often dreamed of him as well.

I grip my board and clench my jaw. Not for the first time since we broke up a month ago, I was grateful that I have never been able to hear because I was sure he had sensed my aggravated demeanor and was swimming toward me.

I paddled back toward the rest of our group as quickly as the choppy water would allow and it hurt.

Not the water. Turning my back like that. But I wanted him to hate me because maybe then he would stop being nice to me. Maybe next time he would hate me enough to let me drown. So I would make that sacrifice.

I would be a jerk. Be annoyed and dismissive if it allowed him to get over what we were. If I had to look at his gorgeous and kind face angled at me like he cared one more time my resolve would crumble.

It would make it all worthless: the pain that we had both suffered for the last month, him stretching himself thin to keep his full attention on his scholarship and our relationship simultaneously. I could not ask him to risk something as important as his future for me.

If the price for his eventual happiness and success was a few months of broken hearts and feigned hatred then I would gladly be the rudest ex-girlfriend on the face of the earth. Even if it killed me.

Yeah, I may be attending my own funeral sooner than expected.

Ice Cold Expression

Carlos Saucedo

The Weighing of the Heart

Caroline Madrid

PAIN

"Ichosemypath,youchosethe wayofahero.Andtheyfound youamusingforawhile,the peopleofthiscity.Buttheone thingtheylovemorethanahero istoseeaherofail,fall,dietrying. Inspiteofeverything you'vedoneforthem, eventuallytheywill hateyou.Why bother?

~GreenGoblin

"trapped"

ifeeltrapped isatthere countingtheyears countingthedays untilicouldfinallyleave butididn’t istayed barelyremembernow it’seasiertojustforget toshutdown butyou’restillthere

Victim36x60

RobertWillits

isitinsilence youtellmei’mdisrespectful how?

showanyemotionandi’mjustbeingsensitive you’reright i’mwrong gotit peoplehaveitworseyoutellme idon’thaveareasontocry youtreatmelikei’mstupid

i’mnot iknew peopleknew butnobodydoesanything nowyoucan'tevenbeartospendtimewithme youcrytome tellmehowmuchyoumessedup andifeelguilty andapologize fornothing butyoudoitagain andagain andagain

andyouwonderwhyiwon’ttalktoyou you’retheadult i'mjustakid butit'sbetternow mostly notatall howisitfair? it’sfine i’mfine ionlyrememberthefeeling buti’mstillhere counting waiting justafewmoremonths theni’mfree butiwon'tleave i’llstay

Eclipse

NathanMathews

HeadintheClouds

AxLujan

Theweatherreflectsmymoodtoday. Mymindrunsineveryshadeofgray

Andtheskyreflectsthembackatme. Mylimbsarenearlifeless.

Paleandpurpleandfreeofwarmth, Asifsuckeddrybythedesperatewindthatrattlesthewindowpanes, Andmythoughtsareliketheendlesscloud, Layingdauntinglyoverthecity, Threateningtobreakopenbutneverdo.

Theonlyremedyburiedbehindlayersandlayersofemptypromises.

"HiddenDemise"

SharynaDeCastro

May22

AxLujan

Summerwinters

Astretchoftimebetweenplans

Spentaloneinthedarkwithyourthoughts Airconditioningfreezesthetearstoyour pillow

Fourblanketspiledup

Thinenoughtoseetheoutlineofyourbones Achinginsidefromanemptyspacebranded “hope”

Andthesunhiddenbehindtwovaporous mountainsofdrydeceit

Somberingthecooleveningbreeze Coveringthelandscapewithundertonesof yourmindset

Younearlycrackfromthedrynessofitall Softbreathsleakoutofyourmouthlikesmoke Easilyseenbutrarelyheard

"OnItsOwn"

IsabellaSanchez

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn"

~HalBorland

"GoneandStillHere"

EmmaOrtega

Theydidnottellmeithurtlikethis

Noonewarnedme

Abouttheheartbreakweexperiencewithfriends

WhereareallthealbumsIthought

Therewerenosongssungforit

Icouldnotfindthehymns

Orreadthebooksdedicatedtowritingthegrief

Wefallintowhenfriendsleave

Itisthetypeofheartachethatdoesn’thityoulikea train

It’saknifeslowlypiercingintoyourskin

Thekindthatyoudon’tseecoming Buthurtssobadwhileit’shappening.

Trainorknife

Itallendsthesame

Friendorlover

Itallendsthesame

Thatpainissomethingunlikeanyother AndjustwhenIthinkit’sgone, It’sstillhere

"Death" JulieGonzales

SerafinaApodaca

Don’tsayit, Don’tsaythose4littlewords.

Icantellit’swhatyou’rethinking, Butseriously,Idon’twanttohearit. Sheleft,Iknow, Youwereabletopredictit.

Youwereright,youarealwaysright. Isthatwhatyouwanttohear?

Areyoulookingforpraiseonyour correctassumption?

AreyouassumingthatIwillthank youforyourwarning?

Doyouwantmetokneeldownand kissyourfeet?

Areyoureallyaskingforthatwhile I’mstandingherecrying?

Iamsobbingandyouare applauding,

Iamgrievingthelossofmymother,

Butyou,youcouldn’tcareless.

Sothankyou,thankyousomuchfortheforewarning. Thankyoufor“caring”aboutmyfeelings. See,youanticipatedherleaving, Butapparentlyyoucan’tanticipatemysorrow. Youaresupposedtobemyrock, ThepersonIturntoforcomfort. But,atthemomentyouarejustanotherobstacleIhavetoavoid, AnotherpersonaskingmequestionsIhavetododge.

Iamswervingawayfromyourpridefulsmirl, Itisjusttoodaunting.

Sopleasedon’tsayit, Atthismomentintime itisthelastthingIcould everneed. Please,don’tsayItold youso.

JulieGonzales

NightPrayer

EmmaOrtega

WhenIwasyounger

Thethoughtofstayinguplateexcited me

Ifeltlikeabigkid

Stayinguppastmybedtimeandhaving fun.

Now,Ican’timagineanythingworse Layingdownalone

Alonewithmyownthoughts

Theworldsoquiet

Mymindsoloud

Itryanddistractmyselffromallthe thingsIhaven’tdone

DidIturninmywork?

WhatwasthatthingIhadtodo?

Ishestillupsetwithme?

What’swrongwithme?

Mychestismovingupanddown

Likeachildonatrampoline

Oh,howImissthosedays

ThedayswhereIdidn’thaveacareinthe world.

Myonlyconcernswere

WhatkindofjuiceboxdoIwant?

HowshouldIdomyhairtoday?

Mom,willyoubuythistoyforme?

Night’shavebecomemyhell

They’vebecomesomethingIdreadwith mywholebeing

AllIcandoispraythattheygobyfast.

~JamieAnderson

"Grief is just love with no place to go "

AbigailRael

Prettyenough?

That’ssomethingI’malways wondering

Doesmyhairlookcute enough?

Doesmymakeuplookgood enough,isittoomuch?

WhatdoIwear?

PrettyEnough "Hypnotic"

Ithastobeflatteringbutit can’tlooklikeI’mputting myselfoutthereforeveryone.

Ismystomachthinenough? Myarmshavetoomuch muscle?

Aremylegsmuscularenough?

Aremyhipsbigenough?

Ismybuttroundenough?

Aremyteethstraightenough? Skinclearenough?

IhavetolookgoodbutIcan’t looklikeIputtoomucheffort intohowIlookbecausethat isn’t natural.

Fakeiswhateveryonewillsee.

Buthowdoyoulookpretty butnotputanyeffortintoit?

Whatisprettyenough?

Isitjustsomethingwemake up?

Whodecidedwhatpretty enoughis?

WillIeverbeprettyenough?

~SørenKierkegaard

"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom"

GraceAragon

14years

That’showlonghe’sstruggled

Movingheretothere

Hehasfriends

Andthenhedoesn’t

Becausenothingispermanent Atleastforhim

He’sbecomeaccustomedtothis, Butnowthereisdesperation

Hopefulphonecalls, Whereitkeepsringing

Jobinterviewsthatneverhire

Friendsthatbreaktheirpromises

He’ssleepingwhereverhecan

Onabaremattresswithnoblanket

Onadirtycouch

Onamakeshiftcot

Inacold,darkroom

Hewantstoescapehismisery Butwhere?

He’srunningfromhisproblems, Butwhocanbesuretheywon’tfollow?

Itdoesn’tmatter

Hehasnopassportandnomoney

Alwaystired, Alwaysstarving, Buthecanaffordcoffee-that’sonly50cent Hesitsalone

Peopledragtheirchairsawayfromhim Butdonotworry

Whattheysayhistrue, Andeveryoneknowsit

Hewillbeputoutofhismiserysoon

"EveryoneisJudgingYou"

DidYouEvenLeaveatAll?

Myforeheadpressedagainsttheice-coldwindowpane,shieldedbymythickhood,asI inhaledmoreoftheuncleansmellthatfilledmytinyone-roomapartment.Dirtyclothes werestrewnacrossmycheapfurnitureanddishesoverflowedoutofthesinkontothe counter.Aprayerforhelpescapedmylipsinacontinuousmurmur.Irubbedmyhandsasif washingthemwithwaterinafeebleattempttowarmmyselfup.Evenwithallthewindows closed,thecoldairpassedthroughthewallsasifthereweren’teventhere.Istaredatthe continuouslyfallingsnowoutsideasitsettledonmysadexcuseofafrontlawn.Myeyes shiftedfocustomyreflectioninthewindowwheremydreary,sunkeneyesandgreasyhair wereondisplay.

Thequietsceneallowedmetoreminisceaboutmychildhood.Myownparentsshoved nonsenseinmyheadeveryday,takingmeto“religious”meetingswhereIwassubjectedto psychicbombardmentfromtheirridiculouslessonsofthe“true”creatoranddenouncements ofdocumentedhistory.The“Solosis”theycalledthemselves,Icanstillrecitetheirprayers eventothisday.

TheyrobbedmeofwhatevernormalchildhoodIcould’vehad.Theyisolatedmeandmade mealientotherestofsociety.Fearranthroughoutmybodyandmyeyesstartedtoburn withresentment.Icalmeddownbyreassuringmyselfthattheycouldn’ttouchmeanymore. IberatedmyselfforlosingtomyfeelingsagainandgotupfrommychairsothatIcould collapseontomycouch.Itossedthewrinkledshirtsasideandwasabouttoletgravitytake mebutthechimeofthedoorbellcaughtmyattention.Idraggedmyfeettowardthedoor andcrackedthedooropentoseewhoitwas.MywholebodyshiveredinrealizationasIsaw thattheyhadfinallytrackedmedown.

Igraspedatthedoorknobtightlyandreadiedmyselffortheconfrontation.Theywere nevergoingtoleavemebeifIdon’tmakeitclearthatIdon’twantanythingtodowith themanymore.Icrackedthedooropen,“Getoffmyproperty”,Idemanded.

Afamiliarvoicerangloudlyontheothersideofthedoor,“Now,nowcalmdown.Ijust wantedtoseewhatyouwereupto.”

Kennedy,oneoftheleadersthatfoundedSolosisandmademyparentsjoininthefirst place.Athin,tallmanwithsharpeyesthatcouldfakeanyemotionperfectly.Ihaveonly everseenhimwearinglongfuneralsuitswithhistielooseandbarelyshowingthroughhis trenchcoat.Despitehislooks,hehadquiteawayofusingwordstogetwhathewantedor touncoversecrets.

“Hey,Iknowit’sbeenhardeversinceyou’vebeenonyourown”hecontinued.“Iknow howitfeelsbuttherearepeoplewhocansupportyou,Icansupportyou.Youdon’thaveto bearitaloneanymore.”

Iarguedback,“WhatmakesyouthinkIwouldevergoback?I’vebeendoing betteronmyowneversinceIcutyouallout.”

Kennedyscoffed,“Doingfine?Lookatwhereyoulive.Lookathowdirtyyou are.Canyoueveninteractnormallywithotherpeople?”

Hewasright.Iturnedtolookatthetrash-filledroomwhereImademylivingin. I’vebeenbarelylivinganymore.Idon’tknowhowmuchlongerIcouldtake untilIshattercompletely.Atthatmomentofrealization,mygriponthe doorknobbecameloose.Kennedytooknoticeandshovedhiswayin.

HelookedaroundandIknewhewasmockingmeinhishead.“Isthiswhatyou call‘doingbetter’?”Heturnedtomakeeyecontactwithhiseyesfeigning sympathy.“Comebacktous,”Kennedysaid.“Comebacktousandyou’llbe neededagain,you’llbepartofafamilyagain.”Hepleaded,“Takemyhandand I’llsaveyoufromyourdisgustinghomeanddisgustinglife.”

HestaredatmeasifIweretheonlypersonintheworld.Iwantedhimtoleave andnevercomebackbuthiswordsmademedoubtmyself.EvenifIhated Solosis,theyweretheonlypeopletoeverbearealpartofmyliferight?Right?I couldfinallybeinawarmhouseagainfullofpeoplewhowouldacceptme.My conflictingthoughtsandemotionswhirledaboutinsideme.Timestoodstilland hisever-invitinghandwasstillstretchedout,waitingformetomakemy decision.IdecidedthatIwantedtoescapefrommycurrentlifesoItookhishand andgraspeditfirmly.AsmilefullofsatisfactionformedonKennedy’sface,“Good choice.”

"Self"

GraceAragon

My biggest fear is that eventually you will see me the way I see myself

-Anonymous

"Aftermath"

AxLujan

Thecottoncandyphonecase, Drowninginthepastelpoolofjeans.

Distressed.

Fallen,frayedhoneyhairsscatteredfromstress, Stresscausingcreasesonthetightlywrappedpeachesandcreamskin, Skinsinkingunderthepressure. Andtheeyes, Chocolatekisses, Cavingdownintoshoppingbagsabouttorip. Loadedbucketsofoceanwater, Becauseasachild,onebelievestheycanmovemonuments Withnothingbutaplasticpail. Shefailed. Butthesouvenirstuckupunderhereyes.

"ConflictingEmotions"

AngelinaAcosta

"Failure"

BriannaLucero-Brown

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

-HenryFord

Since1996we’veallfeltthepainyearafteryear. We’rethe1seed,loss, We’vegotthebestoffense,loss, We’vegotthebestdefense,loss, We’vegotthebestoverallteam,loss, It’souryear,loss.

Whydowestickwiththisteam?

Isitbecausewearealwaystrickedintothinkingwearegoingtowin?

Isitbecausewearedelusional?

Isitbecausewearethemostvaluableteam?No,it’sbecausewewant1996back.

Iwasn’tborninthe90’sorbefore,butI’vestillseentheclips,thehighlights,theendgoal, andIwanttoliveinamodernday1996.

I’mholdingabeautifultrophy.

Icanfeelallthepreviousplayerswhohaveheldthesametypeoftrophyandthehistorical feelingofit.

It’swarm,it'scomforting,allthehardworkI’vedonetoliveinthisverymoment.

Ilookatthetrophy,Ilookatthebeautifulsilverfootballontheverytopofthetrophy.

IputmyhandsinbetweentheseamslikeI’mholdingafootball,andIliftituptothesky to showtheuniversewhatwehaveaccomplished.

SuddenlyIwokeup,Iwasdreaming.

Thisiswhatweallhavetogothrough,thethoughtofholdingthebeautifultrophythat31 other teamsgoafter.

Wehavetoenvisiontheendgoal, We’retheoneswhoalwaysbelieveintheteamyearinandyearout, Wearetheoneswhoafterthegame,arefilledwithcompletedisappointment. Wearen’tbeingpaidmillionsofdollarstoholdthebeautifultrophy.

Whydowestickwiththisteamthen?

Whydowekeepbelievingwewillwinoneday?

Whydowestickwiththeteamthatmakeslittlechildrencryandadultsrage?

Becausewewanttolivein1996again.

EthanHernandez

"Obscurity"

BriannaLucero-Brown

"Things are more beautiful when they're obscure"

~VedaHille

Lovecoach

SanaaGivens

Mimi~

Iamdead.No,notliterallydead,butmyheartispoundingsoviolentlythatIbelieveit's closertovibratingthanbeating.Thebackofmyneckpricklesuncomfortablyandmycheeks sting.ThatmustmeanIamdead.Right?

Somethinginmystomachsloshesaround,andinthemostunattractiveway,Ihavea violenturgetothrowupalloverhislettermanjacket.Thatwouldbehumiliating.Moreso than thecurrentblabberingthatIamdoingabout,ofallpossiblesubjects,Astrobiology.

“Beforethehumanracecanhopetoventureintothediscoveryof‘otherworldly’species, wefirstneedtounderstandtheoriginsofconstellationsandenvironmentalinteractions. Andyes,thosetwosubjectsdoplayintooneanother.Didyouknow ?”

“Dude!”myfriendorders,clampingonehandovermymouth.“Seriously?”Hisforceis unnecessaryandIbiteoneofhisfingers,causinghimtoreelback.

“Whattheheck,Mimi?!”hegrowls,nursinghisinjuredappendage.

“Me?”Idemand,scowling.“Whatkindofapersonforcefullyshutsuptheirbestfriend, Will?”

“Asmartperson.Onewhocaresenoughabouttheir best friend toshutthemupwhen theystartbabblingaboutextraterrestrialpossibilitiesandtheenvironment.”Hesighsbefore continuing.“YoucannotdothattoZachtomorrow.Theguyisanidiotandhiseyeswill bleedifyourmouthopensspewingallofthatintellectualstuff.Onafirstdate,noless.”

TheweirdfeelinginmystomachreturnsashisfeaturessoftenandIamonlywillingto callitanger.Itfeelssuspiciouslylikenerves,butthatwouldmakenosense.WhywouldIbe nervouswithWill?MaybeallthistalkaboutZachhasgotmyheartallflutteryandridiculous.

“Tryagain,”hesays.Igroan.Wehadbeengoingatthisdumbrole-playingexercisefor overhalfanhour.IfIhavetopracticewhattosaytoZachonourcoffeedateonemore timeIamgoingtohaveananeurysm.Irefusetodiscusstheblisteringweatherorwhy mymiddlenameisCandiceorhowmanysugarpacketsIenjoyinmycoffeeonemore freakingtime.

“Donotlookatmelikethat,Mimi,”Willscolds.Hisgreeneyeslookadorablewhenheis annoyed.Notthatitmatters,itisonlyamindlessobservationonmypart,ofcourse.

“Now,let’sstartagain.”HestraightensbeforedonninghisDumb-Zachsmileagain.

“Hey,Mimi.”

“Hi,Zach.”

“Whatdoyouliketodoinyourfreetime?”

“I Thisisstupid!Iamjustgoingtogoonthedate!”

Willraisesaneyebrow.“Andwhatifhetriestokissyou?Areyougoingtotalkhislips offwithgalacticcommentary?”Hesmirks.

“MaybeIwill,”Isay.IknewIwouldn't,butifitwipedthatsmileoffofWill’sfacethenI wouldhavetotry.

Will~

Iamnotreligious,butIamprayingrightnow.

Prayingthatshedoesrambleonaboutsomething, anything thatmakesZach’sheadspin tomorrow.AnythingthatwouldruinthatdatebecauseIamhoping,praying,thatshedoesnot kisshim.Why?Iamnotquitereadytoaddressthatquestion,butIjustknowthattheyarenot allowedtokisseachother.Ever.

Soplease,God?Please,donotallowMimitokissZachtomorrow.

Um...Amen.

"Silence"

GraceAragon

"TheOnesWhoForget"

GabrielMcElhanon

Whatdoyouthinkaboutwhenitcomesto poverty?

Doyouthinkabouttheirlivingconditions?

Doyouthinkabouthowtheygothroughtheir day?

Doyoueventhinkabouthowtheyfeel?

Maybesomeofusdo,buttherestofus wouldn’tcare.

Wouldn’tcare,youask?

Almosteveryonesays“Yeah,Ifeelbadforthe poor”and“SureI’lldonate!”

Yetwhenyouseethemonthestreetbegging forfoodormoney,you’reprobablythinking ‘thankGodI’mnotoneofthem’.

Infact,nowadayswedon’tcaremuchaboutthe pooranymore.

Wecareaboutmoney.

Abouthowwewillgetthroughourday.

Abouthowwewillgetourfood. Abouthowwearefeeling.

Allofasuddenwebecamesoselfishabout ourselvesinordertosurviveandstoppedcaring abouttheoneswhoareinneed.

AndasI’msayingthis,youmightbeagreeing withme.

But1minutelateryou’regonnaforgetallthat issaid.

That’sthesadpart.

Welisten,weagree,thenforget.

JoshuaRobbins

"WoundedVampire"

DerekMondala

Isawherlyingthereinthedark

Thelightflickeredoverherbody

Thebodycoveredinblood

Herupperbodyroseslowly

Theflickeringlightrevealedherselftome

Herhairshininggold

hereyes;bloodredgemswiththesameluster

Despitethestateshewasin Itsetanairofdistinctionallaroundher

Thealluringsculptureofherface

exudedconfidenceandtenacity

Shenoticedme, Focusedonmelikeabeasthuntingtheirprey

Thosecelestialgemspiercedmysoul

Shecommanded, “Offeryourselftome”

Herwordsrangthrougheverycorridorofmy body

Itriedtorunaway

Everyinstinctinmybodyscreamedatmeto run

Butmybodymovedinvoluntarily

Slowlyinchingtowardsher

Controlwastakenfromme

Icouldn’tdoanythingbutwatchasIapproachedher

Idroppedtomyknees

Presentingmyentirebeingonaplatter

Shegraspedmyshoulders; Breakingthem

Andbroughtmecloser

Shepushedmyheadaside

Exposingmyneck

Hermouthlatchedontoit

Twolargeneedlespiercedmyskin

Extractingmyblood

Painflowedthroughoutmybody

Mylimbsbecamenumb

Onceshefinished,sheletmecrashtotheground Anddisappearedintothedark

Mybodywasignoringmycommandstogetup

Mygriponrealitybecameslippery

Theworld’sshapebegantomeltbeforeme

AllthatIhadeverlivedforendedinthesefewminutes

Shedirectedmyfateintobeingnothingmorethanfoodforher

Allinasinglesentence

Aweightofdespaircrushedmysoul

Theworldfadedintonothing

AllIhadleftinmewastoweep

Chile ElenaSutulov

1Homeformefoodnameforothers

2Howisit,alotasktomeandithink

3Enlacordilleradelosandes, 4Marraquetasbutespeciallyinmyfamily

5Butmaybeifyouaskotherstheywillansweryou

6Acountrywithamazingnaturebutcrazypeople

7Maybebecauseofourfoodorforthepersonalitythatweshare

8Formethat’smypeopleandwhenIhearthemIhearmy“accent”

9Butoverthereitsnota“accent“isjustthewaywetalk

10Nobodyasksme“whereareyoufrom”theyjusttreatme

11Likeme.WhyIamalwaysdifferenthere!andsomeonesays

12youarenot“american“andIsaid“Iam“!

13BecauseAmericaisacontinentnotacountry

14ThiscountryiscalledUnitedStates!NotAMERICA!

15Butyouarenotlatinayouarewhite.YesIam!

16Wedon’talllookthesame,nobodysaidwedid.

17YesIalmostdon'thavenativeblood

18Butthatdoesn'tmeanIwasn'tborninCHILE!

19Ifeelthepressureinthiscountrybecausehere

20HereIrepresentacountry,aculturenotjustaperson.

Family

SanaaGivens

Carterwashorrified.

Nothingterrifiedhim,theentireworldknewthat,butatthismomenthewishedfor nothingmorethantocurlintoaballandretreattotheothersideoftheplanet.

“Youareinshock,Enya,”hetriedtoreasonwithhissisteragain.Hisattemptwasfutile asshehadstoppedlisteningtohimoveradecadeago.Butthen,ithadbeenforsneakingout afterdarkorspeedingdownthehighway.

Now,itwasworse.Shehatedhim.Everyounceofoxygenthatoccupiedhislungswasan insulttoherAsthoughhewastheonethathadruinedherlifeandnottheotherwayaround. “Inshock?”Enyacackled.Cartershiveredatthewayhervoicegrateddownhisspine. Run,avoiceinhisheadpleaded.Thatvoice,hedecidedtocallhis“willtolive,”would havetowait.

“WhywouldIpossiblybeinshock,Carter?”sheasked,tiltingherhead.Herdarkhair spilledoverherrightshoulder.RightoverthepatchthatCarterknew,atonepoint,hadheld themoneyshehadstolen.

From their company,noless.

Enyawasolderthanhimbynearlyhalfadecade,butsheactedlikeanovergrowntoddler mostdays.Allbecauseshecouldn'tletthepastgo.Thatrealizationstungsomethingin Carter’schest,buthebrusheditoff.Thingslikeregretandsentimentalityhadnoplacein theirfamily. Theyneverhad.

“Perhapsyouexpectmetobeworriedaboutmyupcomingimprisonment?Oryour frequentbetrayals?Truly,Carter,boththingswerehardlyphenomenons.Andnowherenear detrimentalenoughtosendmeintoastateofshock.”

Enyastraightenedthesleevesofherdarkpantsuitandcrossedherlegsbeneathheroak desk.Shepulledatanfoldertowardherandwavedhermanicuredfingerstowardthedoor, signalinghimtoleave.

Carter’sheadswam.

“My betrayals,Enya?Youcannotpossiblyblameoursituationonme.”

Shehatedhim,andnow,hewasdone.

“You embezzledfunds!”Hisvoicerose,justbarely.“You embezzledfunds. You ripped offyourloansharks. You willgotoprisonforthat,notme.”

Sheblinkedathim.One.Twice.

Herfacewasblank.Theonlyemotionhecouldevertwistfromherwasloathingforhim. “Youaredone,brother.Getoutofmyoffice.”

Yes,hewasdone.DonewithfightingtheentireworldtokeepEnya’sheadabovewater. Hismotherhadmadehimpromiseyearsagothathewouldlookoutforhisobstinatesister, buthecouldnolongerfightforher.

Theywere done.

CarlosSaucedo

One lonely night, that's all it takes to completely break you. -Anonymous

"Youbreaktherules andbecomeahero. IdoitandIbecome theenemy. Thatdoesn'tseemfair."

REVENGE

TheRevenge JamesLockhart

OncetherewasaheronamedMarcuswhowasknownforhisbraveryandsenseof justice.Hehadalwaysstoodupforwhatwasrightandfoughtagainstevil,usinghissuperhuman strengthandincredibleabilitiestoprotecthiscityanditspeople.Helivedasimplelifedespite hisgreattalents,focusedonhistrueloveandtheirthreechildren;Colt,Dara,andthebabyHarry. Marcushadmadeapromisetohisfatherthenightbeforehehaddied:hewouldneversacrificetime withhisfamilyfortheneedsofothersjustbecausehehadabilities.Hehadspenthislifetrying tokeepthispromise,thoughsometimeshehadtobattletheoverwhelmingpullofpeopleinneed.

Oneday,however,everythingchanged.DarkShadowappeared,threateningtodestroy everythingthatMarcushelddear.Inafiercebattle,hiscitywasknockeddownlikeahouseof cards.Mostofthepeoplefledatthebeginning,makingcampattheedgeofthecity,trustingthat Marcuswouldbevictoriousandsavethemall.Thebattlewentonfordays,butMarcuswasable todefeatDarkShadowandsavethepeople,butintheprocess,helostthemostimportantthing tohim hisfamily.Whilehewasabletolocatemostofthepeopleinthecity,somehadscattered andtooktimetoreturntothecity,othersleftforever.Witheachpassingday,hewouldaskthose whoreturnediftheyhadseenhisfamily,seewheretheyhadrunto,seeiftheywerestillalive. However,theanswerwasalwaysthesame;noonehadseenthem.Thegeneralbeliefofthe peoplewasthattheywerekilledinthefirstattack.

DarkShadowhadbeenworkingwithapowerfulorganizationofvillains,andtheyhad targetedMarcusspecificallybecausetheyknewthathewoulddoanythingtoprotecthisbeloved cityandfamily.Butwasthereanotherreason?Marcuswasconsumedwithgriefandrage.He wouldleavethecityunprotectedfordays,hidingfordaysinthedeepestpartsofthesurrounding forest.Theonlysignofhimwouldbethecirclingbirdsinthesky.

Aftermonthsofsearchingandreflecting,Marcuswasdeterminedtoseekrevengeon thosewhohadtakenhisfamilyfromhim.Marcusleftthecityandbeganaquesttotrackdown themembersofthevillainousorganization.Heusedallofhisskillsandresourcestofindthem onebyone,strikingoutagainstthemwithaferocitythatwasfueledbyhispainandangerand withnoregardforthecivilianscaughtinthecrossfire.ThiswasnotMarcus,notwhohewas before.

Asheprogressedinhisquestforvengeance,Marcusbegantorealizethathisactions wereleadinghimdownadangerouspath.Hewasbecomingmoreandmoreruthless,andhis thirstforrevengewasthreateningtoconsumehimcompletely.Alltheseyears,hisfamilyandhis promisetohisdadhadbeentheforcethatkepthispowerundercontrol.Hehadnotlearnedthis control,itwascreatedbyhisloveforhisfamily.Now,withthemgone,Marcus’spowerswerein charge,makinghimthesuperhumantheyintended.Marcusfearedthathispower’sintentions weremorenefariousthanhecouldhaveeverimagined.

Afteraperiodoftime,Marcusreachedtheleaderoftheorganization,Ceptor,whohad beenhidinginaremotelocation.Initially,thebattlewaswhathesoughtfromMarcus,butafter watchingMarcus’spowerstakehold,herealizedthatDarkShadow’sprovocationhadonly strengthenedhim.Inafinalconfrontation,Marcusfacedhisnemesisandwasabletodefeathim, buthealsocametoarealization.Hisquestforrevengehadnotbroughthimpeaceorclosure-it hadonlyledhimfurtherintodarkness.

Withthisunderstanding,Marcusreturnedtohiscityandbegantoworktowardshealing andrebuildingwhathehadlost.Heunderstoodthatthewaytohonorhisfamilyandhisown heroismwasnotthroughvengeance,butthroughcompassionandforgiveness.Heneededto focusonthelovethathadkepthispowersundercontrolandthememoryofhisbeautifulfamily wouldbehisguide.Hefocusedonthehopethathisfamilywassafeandhealthysomewhereand thatonedayhewouldbewiththemagain.

Determinedtomakeamendsforhisactions,Marcusbegantoworktirelesslytorebuild thecityandrestorethetrustofitspeople.Themonthspassedandthecitybegantoheal.Hewas hailedasahero,notjustforhissuperhumanabilities,butforhiscompassionanddedicationto hiscommunity.

Oneday,asMarcuswasrepairingthedooronthehomenexttohis,hecaughtsightofa glimmerinthetreesnexttotheproperty.Afamiliarmanemergedfromthecrackintheairthat wasforming.Itwashisfatherandbehindhimfollowedthewarmgigglesofhischildrenandthe warmsmileofhiswife.Marcusfelltohiskneesinshock,howcouldthisbe?Hisfather explainedthathispowerwastobeabletomovethroughtimefreely.Hehadknowntheattack wascomingandhepulledhisfamilythroughthetimecracktoprotectthem.Hekeptthemsafe knowingthatitwascriticalthatMarcuslearntocontrolhispoweronhisown,ratherthanrelying ontheloveofhisfamily.

Marcus’sfatherslippedquietlybackthroughthecrack.Thiswasnothistimenomatter howmuchhewisheditwas.Marcushelpedhisfamilyandtookthemhome.Hefeltaweightbeing liftedandheknewthelovewascarryingpartforhim.Heknewthathehadthestrengthand couragetofacewhateverchallengeslayahead.Andhevowedtonevergiveuphispowersagain,no matterwhathefaced.

“Revenge is Always Sweet, it's the Aftertaste that's Bitter.”

~Anonymous

NoahFaux

TheNightSilenced

SanaaGivens

ReportFiled:10January2006.Writtenby:SpecialAgentDelaneyLane. Note:AgentLaneenterstheinterrogationroomat1600hours.

Lane:“Helloagain,Miss.Beckett.Iwastoldthatyouwouldonlygiveyourfullconfessionto yourarrestingagent.Whyisthat?”

Note:HarlowBeckettdisplaysnovisiblesignsofanxiety.Nodiscernableindicationofnerves. Beckett:“Whydoyouthink?”

Lane:“Idonothavetimetoplayguessinggameswithyou.Pleasebeginwhenyouareready.”

NotebySpecialAgentDelaneyLane:

ThefollowingstatementmadebyHarlowChristineBeckettconcernssensitiveand disturbinginformationonthehappeningsduringthe“NightofTerror''inBoston,Massachusetts;6 January2006.CrimeSceneInvestigatorsandgovernmentofficialshavesincebeendispatchedto confirmtheclaimsofthesuspect.

**Caution:Thestatementbelowisnotfortheviewingpublic.**

Beckett:“Now,youknowthatIdonotrevealthefullnamesofthoseIhavesilenced.Onlytheir firstinitialandwhereyoumayfindtheirshell.Idonotknowpreciselywhereyouwishmeto begin.Icouldbeginwithmychildhood,Isuppose.MyfloodedbasementwhereIburned rosemaryonacandlewickbecausemyparentsweretoounconsciousandtoounemployedtopay theelectricitybillandrunourstove.IcouldbeginwithMarcel’sdeath.Mybrotherwasasweet kid,sure,butasannoyingasacricketinacemetery.WhenIwas—ohIdonotremember.Hewas tensoImusthavebeenfifteen.HisvoicewastoomuchtobearandsoIremovedit.PeoplesayI hurthim,butIdidnot.Thatisalie.AllIdidwasshuthimup.Removehisannoyinglittlevoice boxandtossitintotheneighbor’sgarbagedisposalthenextmorningbeforemyclasses.Would thatsufficeasabeginningtomyconfession,AgentLane?Thefirsttimesomeonediedbecause ofme.WouldyouratherIskipaheadtothispastJanuary?Yes thatiswhatyoufedswishtodiscuss

anyway.Verywell,Iwillhumoryou.Intruth,A.Wrigleywasanaccident.Hewasmerelythe victimofhisownoveractivetestosterone.Ibelievethatcontinuingtoflirtwithsomeoneafter theyhavealreadywalkedawayis—howshouldIsaythis?Tactless.LikeMarcel,hisvoice begantograteatmymind.Yousee,mymind?Ithatesvoices.High-pitched,gravely,anything. Theonlywaytosilenceitisto forlackofabetterphrase silenceitsowner.A.Wrigleylost hisvoicethatnightonthecornerofAbbeyandClaren.Afterhim,Iguesstheadrenalinewas coursingthroughmybloodandIwantedanothervoicegone.ThatwasunfortunateforL.Cloud GateandM.Millennium.AndthenC.RiverandO.Ferry.AndthenIandPMagnificent.Before dawn,thevoicesinmyheadhadquietedtoalmostnothing.Butstill ”

Lane:“Wait!”

AgentLaneinterruptsthesuspect'sconfessionat1612hours.

Lane:“Thatisseveninitialsandsevenlocations.WefoundA.WrigleyorArthurDonovanatthe easternendofWrigleyField.WefoundLaurenMyersperchedonabenchnearCloudGate,Mia ChuintheMilleniumMile,andCarterMarkonthebanksoftheChicagoRiver.”

Beckett:“Yes.”

Lane:“WhoareIandPMagnificent?”

Beckett:“Youhavenotyetfoundthatcouple?Iamtrulydisappointedinyou,DelaneyLane.”

Lane:“Whoarethey?Theirfullnames.”

Beckett:“Well,thatisyourjob.Notmine.Goodluck,darling.Theirbodieswillnotbetherefor long.Alas,Iwonderifitwillbetheratsortherainthatchewsthemupquicker.”

Note:AgentDelaneyLaneexitstheinterrogationroom.HarlowBeckettgrins.

Classified NeilSilver

Forsale:WeddingGown

Sizesixneverworn

$100ortradefor38Special Shestandsinthescreenedporch

Revolverdanglessmokingatherside

Thesmellofsulfurrecalls

FourthofJulyatthecampground

Buttodaytheneighbors

Arerunninginslowmotion

Andthatsonofagun

Isn'tmovingatall

ThinkBeforeDo, ItMightComeAfterYou

JamesLockhart

Revengeisabitterbrew, Apoisonthatconsumesanew. It'saflamethatburnswithin, Athirstthatcan'tbequenchedbygin. Thedesiretoeventhescore, Tosettlethedebtandevenmore.

Itwhisperssweetnothingsintheear, Andfuelsthefireofangerandfear. Butrevengeisadangerousgame, Onethatoftenendsinshame. Itmaybringtemporarypleasure, Butleavesbehindalastingmeasure. Foroncethedeedisdone, Andthebattleisfinallywon, Thetasteofvictorysoonfadesaway, Leavingnothingbutregretanddismay. Soifrevengeiswhatyouseek, Ibegyoutotakeamomenttothink. Isitworththecostandthepain, Orisforgivenessamoreworthyaim?

Therainwasburning.

Thesunrefusedtorisebecauseevenitknewthatyouweregone.

Thescorchedgrassmademykneesache,butIdidnotmove.IdeservedthepainforallIhadlet youendure.Withthatthoughtanewwaveoftearsgracedmycheeks.Icouldnotbreatheasthe blanketofcloudsabovesuffocatedme.

“Notyou,”Ibeggedthesky. Theworldcouldn'ttakeyoufromme.Notagain.

“Anything,”Ipromised.“Iwilldoanything.”

Emberstickledtheairandurgedmetorise.TofacethecarnageIhadleftbehindme. Ididnot.

Ididnotcareformyvictories.ForallthatIhaddestroyedinordertofindyou.

Mywailcleavedtheskyintwo.

“Foryou!EverythingthatIdid!”Ishoutedatnoone.“Please!”

Ihadlaidcitiestoburnatyourfeet.FamiliestornapartandcenturiesofhistoryIhad demolished. Obliterated foryou!

Now,wherewereyou?Simply,gone?

ThefirsttimethatIlostyouitwasbearablebecauseitwasnotyourchoice.Thedevilsofthe worldhadtakenyoufrommeinthedeadofnight.Butthistime?

Thistimeyouwalkedaway.

YouleftofyourownaccordbecauseyousawwhatIhaddone.ThepiecesofmysoulthatIhad gift-wrappedtoDeathinordertofindyou.AndyoucouldnothandlewhomIhadbecome.

MymindracedandthenIlaughed.Theraucousnightmaresound,thepolaroppositeofmypain fromonlymomentsbefore.Iwaslyingtomyself.

Youwerenot gone.Andyouwerenot taken.

SanaaGivens

Youhadleft. Chosen toabandonmeoutofsomethingasjuvenileasyourfear. Apartofmyheartachedasitweptforyou.

Could I live without you? Thatvoicewasdesperateandbroken.Thatvoiceneededyou.Itneeded whatweusedtobe.

Irefusedtolet that voicebemyown.

Andso,thatday,Ishutitout.Thatvoiceandthat want. Youhadleftanditservednopurposetohopeforyoutoreturntome. Instead,youwouldbetreatedlikeadeserter.Likeatraitor.

Aswithallmyenemies,youwouldfall.Foryourbetrayal,forthispain.Foritall. TheadorationIcarvedfrommysoulforyoudiedthatdayyouabandonedme. Thedayyouleftmetodrownintheburningrainof,whatusedtobe,ourlove.

~FrankSinatra

The best revenge is massive success

TheSilenceisLoud

JulianaDixon

Itfeltgoodtoseethelastembersdiedownandthesoundofsilence.Ihaddoneit.Ihad donewhatmyfamilycalledmetodo,anditfeltexhilarating.Ihadaccomplished everythingmyfamilywishedtheydid!Nowdoyouregrettryingtodrownme,Mother?

Tryingtopoisonme,Father?

Irelishedintheirscreams,theslowandsteadydrip-dripofbloodgatheringintoapool. Thevoicesoffearandpanic.Theworldwasmine,andIcouldtakeanyoneforgranted. Theybeggedformercy,butIhadnonetogive.Theyofferedmeservitude,buteveryone knowsthekeytothesuccessofworlddominationwastocompletelyisolatethemselves. Youcannotbondwithsomeonewhowillconvinceyouotherwise.

SoIkilledhim,Ikilledher,Ikilledallofthem.

Takingonelastlookovermyshoulder,Islippedintothepeacefulriver.Thewaterwas bitterlycold,butIhardlyfeltit.Iwatchedthewaterstainitselfred,cloudsofitbillowing aroundme.Whoknewmassmurdercouldbesodirty?

Usually,youhearstoriesofthevillainaccomplishingsomething,andimmediately envelopingthemselvesinregretorself-pity.Notme.Thesilencewaswonderful,andthe firesburnedcomfortingly.

WasitbadthatIjustwantedsomethinggoodformyself,justonce?Theycallmepsycho, andIwearthelabelonmychestwithpride.

SqueezingthewateroutofmyhairIsatontheriverbankandgazedatmydestruction. Itwassupposedtobeglorious.Buttome,itfeltunderwhelming.Sure,theshouting, desperation,andneedlesssacrificingoftheso-calledheroeswereriveting,butwasthefinal outcomeimpressive?

Absolutelynot.However,didIsetoutandreachthegoalIhadplannedout withcarefulconsiderationandcalculativeness?Yes.Sothat’sallthatmatteredtome.Imagine thehistorybooks….the‘villain’winsagainstthegoodguys,whowerenevergoodenoughto defeatasingularpersonandwerenever“good”tobeginwith.

Oh,right.Therearenohistorianstowritethem.Iponderedthisforaminute,aprickling anxietybuildinginthebackofmymind.Well,I’lljustwriteitthen.Problemsolved.Theother voicearguedback,whowillreaditthough?Istoodup,unsettledbymyownthoughts.Whatis WRONGwithyou?You’renotsupposedtocareaboutothers…wheredidthiscomefrom?I stoppedbythenearestbody,lyingfacedownandcoveredinmud.

Icringed,notoutofsympathybutoutofdisgust.Irolledthebodyoverandturnedthe facetowardme.Theeyeswereunseeing,thefaceexpressionless,themouthunmoving,noteven alittlesneerinmydirection.Dullandboring.Ilikeditbetterwhenhewasscreaming.

“Irememberyou.YousaidIdeservedeverythingbadtohappentome.Nowlookwhere weare.I’dratherbeinyourposition.”Isighed,shovingthebodyawaycarelessly.

Solitarywasgood,right?Everyonewasgone,noonetoaggravateyou.Icoulddo whateverIwanted,wheneverIwanted,however,Iwanted.Stopit.You’regonnagoinsaneifyou keepthinkinglikethis.Whatareyougoingtodo,resurrecteveryone?ShutUP,youidiot!I straightenedmyback.

“Well,whatshouldIdo?Robabank?Thatwaschild’splay.I’vealreadydoneeverything.Igotmy wish.Whatelseistheretodo?”Iquestionedmyself. Theemptinesswasstark,andthesilencewasgettinglouder.

Igotonmykneesandkneeledatawomanwhowasonherside,facestilltearstained,but theotherhalfthatwasonthegroundwasbloodyandbroken.Therewasaknifestickingoutof hersideandmyeyesgleamed.

“Scuseme,mayIborrowthis?”Iaskedmockingly,slidingtheknifecarefullyout betweenthebonesinherrib.

Itookitinmyhandandsawmyreflection.Thevillaindies,doesn’tshe?She’ssupposed tocollapseandbegforforgivenessatthefeetofthecitizen’ssavior.Buttherewasnosavior.I won.DoIgettolive?DoIWANTtolive?Igrippedtheknifeharder.Silencedidhaveasound–itwassomethingbetweenarollofthunderandaheartbeatwithoutbeingeitherofthosethings. TherhythmofitbeatfasterasIranthoughtsthroughmyhead.

Thereisareasonvillainsaresupposedtodie,getdefeated,captured.

Iwasnodifferent.Buttodieatmyownhand?Cowardly!Iputdowntheknife.No.I’m notgoingtopitymyselfandquiteverythingI’veworkedtoundo.What’sdoneisdone.Ihaveto livewithitandIWILL.Pointlessandstupidformakingmefeelinsecure…

BeforeIcouldeventurn,beforeIcouldevendrawanotherbreath,someonehadpicked uptheknifeIthrewtothesideandplungeditintomyback.Takingasputteringgasp,Itried turningmyheadtoseemyhero.Myhero.Thereitwas,mydefeat.Thehistoriansallwriteabout it,andstill,storiessaythatgoodconquersevil.Icantellyouinthatmoment,thatisnottrue. Silenceconquersevil.Itsneaksuponyouanddrivesaknifeintoyourthroattostealyourvoice awayandchokeoutallyourfoolishideasandreasoning.

Ismiledassheyankeditoutandslitmythroat.

“Here’syourwish”

DamientheDragon

"I'd killed him in the end, but revenge only makes things all better in the movies...

EvangelynnCruz

...In real life, once the villain is dead the trauma lives on inside the victims."

Zias StephenArmijo

FBIAgent

Casenumber30624.EvidenceTag10.Recordingasfollows.

Lara

Iamleavingthislastpostto…Idon’tknow…letpeopleknowwhat…ormaybewhereIam.IfI havedisappeared,thatis…Idon’tknow,Iamprobablycrazy,butthenagainIhaveneverbeenmore sureofsomethinginmylife.

Likeyouknowthatfeelingofultimateclarity,likethisiswhereIamsupposedtobe,whatIam supposedtobedoing,whomIamsupposedtobe,thisfeelslikethat…butwhatif…nevermind. Iamcurrentlyonmywaytoamesa,somewherenearShiprock.

Somethingawaitsmethere…andIamexcitedandscared…and…

Static

Whenthisstarted,IwasdoingmyPh.D.inAstrophysicsatEasternNewMexicoUniversity.Iwas workingonfindingnewstars…Easytodowithnewtelescopesandtechnology…Iwasuplate workingonmydissertationwhenIsawit…aweirdpatternofstars…brightstars…ARedGiant withfoursmallerstarsnearby.Icheckedtheearliertimelogsofthisquadrant,andyet,nothing,but todaysomething…Itriedtozoomin,buttheyweregone.Thenextnight,thesamethinghappened. Thesamefourstarsreappeared,brighterthanbefore.

Thiswouldbehuge,thesestarswereclosetooursolarsystem.Icheckedandrecheckedstarrecords andnothing…

Nightafternightthesamestarsappeared….Iwouldseefellowstudentslookoverthesesamestar chartsandyet…nothing.Noreaction.Noneofmypeers.Noneofmyprofessors.Nooneeven noticedthesestars.Whichburnedbrighterandbrighternightafternight….

IwaswalkingtoclasswhenIsawthem.Zias…Ziasinthesamepatternrightinthelibrary.Istood lookingatthem,andwhenIblinked,hourshadgoneby.

Idon’tknowwhatishappeningtome.

Ibegantoseethepatterneverywhere.Thesamestarsoverandoveragainandagain.Indropletsona window.Cupsonatable.Flowersinafield.Overandoverandoveragain.

TillfinallyonenightonthehorizonIsawthem. Myzias…thesesuns…theyseemsocloseandyetsofar…

Igotinmycaranddroveallnighttowardthem…andwellhereIam… Iwanteveryonetoseethis…Ihopeyoustarttoseeit.Itissowonderful.So… Static Larasoundsmorehaggard. Ithasbeendays…orrathernights,thesunhasnotrisenfor…alongtime.Butmyzias,mystars,their redglowlightsmypath.IamsureIcanfindmywayoffthismesa,buteverytimeIfeellikeIam gettingclose,Iambackinthemiddle.

Ilieinthemiddleofthemesaandlookupatthestars.Theyareclose…theredgiant,Ifeelasifit staresatme…

Thegroanofsomethingwhalelike,followedbystatic,screams,andhorrificnoises.

Static

FBIAgent

ThistapewasfoundnearabodyonamesainNorthernNewMexico.Thebodylayincarefullycut pieces,inastrangepatterndirectlyinthecenterofthemesa.Inadditiontothedismemberment,the headwaspositionedupward,thevictim’seyesseeminglyburnedoutoftheirskull.

~Mr.Keleher

"Revenge is best when it arrives on its knees"

Thereisareasonitisnamedacrush. Andthosestupidmovieslie. Itisnotbutterfliesinmygut. Morelikeirrepressiblelittledevils.

Sufferingshouldbepain. Itshouldbeanxiety.Tragedy. Instead,suffering?Itwaslaughter. Teasing.Friendship. Sufferingwasyou. Theirreplaceable,infuriatingyou.

Godforbid,Icapsizebecauseofyou.

Intruth,Iwouldratheryoutellmethatyouhate me.

Yourindifferenceerodesmybrain. AlmostasmuchasyourgrinwhenIamnotits cause.

Myhandsdonotsweat.Instead,myvisiongoes blurry.

Mybreathdoesnotcatch,butmyheartpounds. MaybeitisbecauseIamfinallyusedtoit.Halfa decadeofyou.

Ihopethiscrushesyou.

Destroysyou.

Thoselittledemonsinyourbelly,gratingyour gutwithmypresence.

Mysmiles.

Myindifference. Ihopethiscrushesyou.

Derek Mondala

Our Heroes

Gabe McElhanon

EmmaOrtega

James Lockhart

Our Villains

Sanaa Givens

Carlos Saucedo

Ax Lujan

Julie Dixon