TCSI Class Magazine 10A E2 2021

'Great art presuppose the alert mind of the educated listener' Arnold Schoenberg

PATRON

PUBLISHER EDITOR

The legend of Alynthi Rumors Enigmatic world Nature Identity Deserted the thirteenth

2021 till now

Brain Teasers Trivia Questions Solutions

the legend of Alynthi “One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other”, read young Mary and nodded. She finished her sentence with the most captivating name “quoted

by Jane Austen”. Mary closed the book and got up from her cozy swinging chair. She then swung open the delicate doors of her windows open and allowed the soothing brisk air to caress her long black hair like a raven’s wing, clipped with an alabaster brow. “Oh John, how I long to see you”, thought Mary in her loud head.

John was her lover, handsomely fashioned with the most equipped custom ware clothes and shoes, tall, ferocious, brave, and endearing. It had been 7 years since she last saw him. She had no one left besides her grandmother and John. Suddenly, a call of her name entered her trusty ears “Mary! Mary!”, cried, grandma. “Oh grandma, what’s the matter? Would you like some tea and biscuits?” The old yet graceful lady looked up to Mary’s shiny crystal blue eyes and whispered in her ears “Mary, I think my time has come. I must go and let the spirits finally carry me. I can go rest assured now that I know that my young Mary is all grown up to be a proper young lady. Be blessed, child”, she then slowly closed her eyes and fell into the most eternal melancholy sleep you could ever imagine. “Grief-stricken, was the only word that could have expressed my emotions clustering up inside. The one person I had loved the most, had left me and I was all alone.”

After a couple of weeks of mourning had passed, Mary tried her hardest best to survive in this world and have some hope left for herself. She decided to go on a vacation to Italy to relieve all those inner emotions and bestow rest and calmness on her heart. She took out the most beautifully elegant vintage suitcase from under her bed and starting arranging all the variety of multicolored dresses along with “Great Expectations”, “Pride and Prejudice”, and “Anne of Green Gables”. These were all of her favorite classics. She started blushing her pale white complexion with some rogue her grandmother gave her. She then went and baked blueberry muffins, which were grandmother's favorite. After all the packing was done, she closed the doors of her house and went to board the train at last. When she had arrived at the station, it was booming and buzzing with people everywhere. It’s almost as if she was not alone, but was boarding the train with whom she had crossed paths before.

Mary’s seat was 43B, the coziest and beautiful seating area you could ever imagine, with a table to put your snacks and Knick knacks, etc.

She sat down and set up my luggage in the compartments above. She then stared outside the window, saying goodbye to her hometown for a little while and going away from everything. Right then, a tall young man came and sat in front of her. He had auburn glossy hair and wore a monotone-colored beret. He almost looked, French. They both stared at each other for a while and then changed direction.

The train was moving at quite a fast pace. Mary was excited to explore someplace other than London. She had spent all of her life in those dull and stuffy corners of the gloomy streets. Whilst the train was moving, the beautiful scenic animations were seen through the window of Italy. It was a breath-taking view. Mary was enthusiastic to visit so much more. When they had finally arrived, Mary took out all her luggage and headed straight to the taxi. She went to Italy’s finest hotel “Alynthi hotel and resorts”. The name had attracted Mary the most. She rested for a little while in the great grandeur suite of the hotel. It looked quaint and homelike.

After a restful nap, Mary went and explored around the hotel. Mary noticed something new in the signboard. “Hotel Library- 9th floor”. “That’s strange. I have never heard of an in-hotel library. I can’t wait to see it”, said Mary to herself. She then went to the elevator and the 9th switch was the most uniquely designed one. It was intricately designed in golden and ombre colors. The moment she clicked on it, it straight away fled to the 9th floor.

When the elevator opened, a whole new world was before her. The ceiling was at least 100 feet high. The spacious grandeur of this magnanimous library was just remarkable. The shelves were as long as giants and each shelve covered tightly with books. It was so high, you had to walk on a ladder to get to the top. The sunshine rays were shining through the window onto the books and there were comfortable couches to rest upon whilst reading it.

Mary walked around and went to the “Fantasy” section. There was one book that started shining out of nowhere. Mary took it out and read the title “THE LEGEND OF ALYNTHI”. She then opened it, but it was so forcedly closed.

Finally, when it opened, it shone too brightly from inside that it could practically blind a person. In a moment of seconds, she had gotten sucked into the book.

Mary found herself sitting on a big area of grass and flowers spread out everywhere. When she looked above, the sky was a strange mix of cotton candy colors. Suddenly, the ground started shaking and a large shadow appeared on the grass in front of her. When she turned behind, she saw the most divine and phenomenal creature ever. It was similar to a reindeer.

Except it was a bit massive and had longer horns and it had rainbow-colored eyes, which was the weirdest thing of all. That wasn’t all. It had wings. Mary stood up from the ground and tried to approach forward to the creature. The creature continued walking towards her as well. She slowly started to touch the head of the creature and the creature found solace in her touch. She then saw a name attached to the collar “Alynthi”. “This must be the legend. You’re the legend”, gasped Mary. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Mary then slowly sat on the creature. And the most wonderful thing happened. It started to fly majestically. Its wings were the size of a giraffe’s neck. She had the clouds surrounding her and the cotton candy sky was swirling simultaneously. Finally, the creature landed in a small cottage. Its roof was decorated fully with flowers and there were rabbits, squirrels, and many animals everywhere outside. “Where have you taken me Alynthi?”, Mary asked the creature, expecting no answer in return.

Alynthi nodded his head forward. She then followed her into the cottage. It was a wonderful home.

An old lady started to come from up the stairs. “She oddly resembles my grandma”, thought Mary.

“No, it can’t be. It is my grandma”, cried Mary. “How are you, Mary? I see you have met Alynthi”, said grandma. “Grandma, is it you? It can’t be. Am I in Heaven?”, cried young Mary melancholily. “Oh, my Mary, yes it’s me. No no, this isn’t heaven. This is Ellesmere, the land of the spirits. You, my dear, have been granted a chance by the spirits to visit Ellesmere. They chose you”, said grandma in a holy voice. “They chose me? But for what and why?”, said Mary. Grandma chuckled. She grabbed her hand and took her upstairs.

Suddenly, the top of the roof had disappeared and the sky was showing, all of the animals and nature could be seen from there. It was so magical. “Your parents had built this library in the first place.

Their last wish was for you to see this land and meet your spirit animal, Alynthi. This is their gift to you”, said grandma while grinning. Mary was starstruck at that very moment. She realized that her parents had left her the most brilliant gift anyone could ever ask for- Alynthi, “the bestower of gifts”.

Mary hugged her grandma goodbye and was pleased to hear that she was in a safe and magically protected environment. Mary wanted to see her parents as well, but they were in another realm, Ravaryn. It was right then at that moment, that Mary had left the library alongside Alynthi. Nah ah not like that, but in a necklace shaped in Alynthi’ s figure and it had an emerald, which had her power stored. This necklace carried the greatest power on Earth and could fulfill any wish of Mary’s. It was something she never even dreamed of, would happen. Mary and Alynthi walked side by side in every adventure, country, and place. Their aura glowed so much, no one would dare to come forward to talk to them. Mary was known to be the “Princess of Ellesmere”, named by her mother soon after. Till then.

THE END

Rumors “The rumors about that ghost” “They’re still dying?”

“Yes Mark, 5 people in the past month” “Holy, What’re we gonna do.”

“Only one thing left to do: Go check it out” “Are you crazy Joe, Were going to die!”

“Well then, let’s go to old man Rick” Rick had been the only survivor from the Wishing Well Incident. It all started about 6 months ago, when a little boy went to the wishing well. Soon, after arriving, he fell inside. Found by Rick, hours later, the boy was dead with limbs missing.

Old Man Rick was shocked, and destroyed contact with people he was close to. He barely went outside, only for essentials.

Now Mark and Joe had been friends from childhood, now reach the ae of 20 they were bored and wanted to fulfill their lives. Quickly, they both and tried to find whatever was in the Well. They left the local café and headed towards the well.

“I don’t like this.” cried Joe. “Relax, will you? They are just rumors. They aren’t true.”

“Ok, if something happens I swear to-“ “Just chill,” Mark cut in

After about 20 minutes which seemed like an eternity to Joe. They arrived at the well. Located outside the town in the wood, the well seemed off. A gruel smell filled the air. As soon as they got 15 feet from the well, they felt something. Something – that didn’t feel right. Joe immediately turned back.

“Stop, its fine as long as were near each other nothing will happen.”

“Nah man, I’m out” 16 feet out, and Joe held a scream.

“Help man, something got me.

Joe watched as Mark slowly got pulled closer and closer to the well, it was something invisible.

Joe watched helplessly as his best friend tripped and fell into the well. *Crunch* followed by screams, Joe could just stand there. After regaining conscience, Joe ran towards the screams. The Well was filled with blood and the scent of gaur. Joe was horrified. He watched as his best friend was losing his limbs to what essentially looked like air.

“Ah, Heelp dude,” “I’m Dying. It hurts”

Tears falling from his eyes.

Joe tried to throw his shoes, anything would help at this point “I’m trying just hang in there.”

Joe wasn’t the hero type, he was slim and short and couldn’t do much with his physique.

Frightened, the slim man tried his last effort, He jumped in.

“I’m going to kill youuu” Hitting the weird air outline. He slammed his fists again and again and again.

Both of them fighting for their lives it seemed help had arrived.

“Old man Rick, is that you?

“Please help me” Mark blurted with tears.

“You fools, isn’t it strange how I found bodies but never got caught” “Please help us,” They cried while hitting a force field.

“You guys are pathetic, even the kid put up more of a fight.”

“Easy meat” The men both died, reported to the police by Rick once again.

Police never got the clues.

People kept going missing, and even the town heard about the stories, each one of the deaths were considered as suicide.

Enigmatic world In a mysterious world of wonders, where the most mystifying phenomenon occur, lives our main characters, completely clueless of the bizarre events awaiting them. There’ve been numerous accounts around the world of people experiencing things backed by nothing but their astonishing claims. Will our characters be able to finally prove these claims or will they be left as perplexed as any other who experienced them?

On a windy Sunday morning, woke up Lydia to her loud alarm. Getting up slothfully, she prepared herself before leaving for school. “Lydia Miwaku!” called out the teacher for attendance, to which she replied glumly indicating her presence. “Seeing that everyone’s here, I’d like to remind you all to stay careful after school hours, if met with any danger or suspicion do not hesitate to report back, have a delightful day ahead.” She smiled before starting the lesson. In spite of the warning Rico, one of Lydia’s friends had other plans in mind.

The bell rang, signalling the end of another school day. As Lydia walked out with her other friend Jaliah, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. “How’d you like to take a trip to the meadows,” Whispered Rico to the two. “Have you lost it!

After all the unearthly stories I’ve heard, just speaking of that place sends chills throughout my body,” Snapped Jaliah, “true,” agreed Lydia. However, Rico hadn’t given up on convincing the two just yet. “You’ve got to trust me on this one, imagine the type of adventure we’d be having there, would you rather stay home and do nothing.” “Well, you’re right but it’s risky especially at this time of the day, I’ll come along but we’ll head back if things get weird,” conditioned Lydia. “OK!” exclaimed the other two in unison.

Carrying an old-fashioned torch, some sticks and a polaroid camera, the youngsters headed to the meadows outside their small town. They felt misplaced in the scenery of fog-laced hilltops and endless fields of grass, but they continued marching deeper into the unknown. Their wary movement came to a halt as the wind howled and the leaves whistled aggressively. “What’s going on, why did the weather change so suddenly?” Questioned Jaliah in fear.

“I don’t know and I have a bad feeling about this, it’s probably time for us to head back” replied Lydia. “No wait, can you hear that? It sounds like something huge but what could it be? I need to take a picture or at least a glimpse of it if we’re leaving so soon,” Yelled Rico over the windstorm's howls. “Rico no! It’s too dangerous, we need to leave before something worse happens,” cried Jaliah, but it was already too late as the young man ignored her wails and ran towards the bafflingly huge silhouette.

The two girls stood frozen as the silhouette moved closer, its heavy steps echoing throughout the meadows. It looked like an over-sized reindeer, its luminous eyes glowed a murky green, and its form getting clearer as it got intimidatingly close, meanwhile Lydia and Jaliah struggled to shield their bodies against the forceful wind. “Where did Rico go, and what on god’s Earth is this monster, what’s the use of running now,” sobbed Jaliah, “we’re so dead!” exclaimed the two consonantly. As if the current situation wasn’t terrifying enough, the hilltops on either side of the reindeer snapped due to its paramount power, forcing the girls to run as fast as they can chasing the chance that they can make it out in one piece. The deer hurdled after them, its deafening screeches wrecking their nerves and filling their eyes with anxious tears. Just as they neared the town-meadow boundary, the screeches only got louder and out of nowhere Rico came running parallel to them, in his hands a few polaroid pictures.

The two were too busy running for their own lives to notice his presence.

“Lydia Miwaku, Rico Hernandez, Jaliah Harmon, you humans have trespassed the spiritual ambit between your realm an ours and for that you shall suffer the consequences of your mishap,” said the monster as it continued following them, until an idea popped in Lydia’s head. “This thing just talked and said something about an ambit or a boundary, if crossing it meant entering the spiritual realm, them leaving the meadow might mean going back to our town,” explained Lydia, her breath hitched when Rico and Jaliah just nodded too worked up to even reply. They sprinted until the small townhouses were sighted once again. As they got closer, the deer’s fast paced hurdles slowed down, the wind tranquilized and the loud screeches accompanied by the storms sounded far. They finally left the traumatizing scene and sighed a breath of relief as they left the green meadows, and as soon as they’ve caught their breaths, they ran to the local police, the pictures Rico capture in hand as evidence for what they’ve witnessed.

The head officer eyed the children’s appearance and took the polaroid photos for photoshop examination, while the three sat down and explained the event in detail. “You sure do look like you’ve been in a storm and those pictures passed the test, proving that they’re real, I can tell you’re saying the truth because investigation cases were getting filed day and night regarding people entering certain places and vanishing or returning empty handed and you can’t fabricate pictures using such an old camera. Before I begin scolding you for risking your lives like this, I need to congratulate you for your quick thinking and tactfulness,” expressed the head officer as the kids beamed happily. “Thank you, sir, we’ll be more careful moving on, and we request you to publish this case to prevent anyone from repeating what we did,” requested Jaliah. “Sure will. I now ask you to head home and rest, we’ll also be needing your help in our investigation so expect some calls over the next few days,” finalized the officer as he walked the kids home.

Although this case has been well tackled by our characters, there still remain hundreds who weren’t, and many more to come. Thanks to this adventure, governments around the world started concentrating on this issue and working to solve the mysteries know to a few. It took the trio a day or two to comprehend what they saw, it sure wasn’t a dream and the thought of its reality continued fascinating them. A week later they walked down on their way to school discussing several things. “I think the moral of our adventure is to never trust Rico’s picnic ideas,” said Lydia laughing as they reached school. The true moral of this story however, might be to look at the world from a different perspective, to not lead by your curiosity blindly and maybe to believe that there’s a lot to the world than what we see and know.

The most abundant area of the world has been surrounded with the most horror and breath-taking stories, it is what we call the ‘dark nature’. No one thinks of going in there nor is there any restriction from entering this place. But it is different today, six friends have planned an unexpected adventurous trip to dark nature they know the dark stories behind it, but they believe in the place being more than what it is described as.

They walk on the route which enters the area, the only board which is visible is right in front of the orchards, it has bold words written on it ‘CAUTION, Hazard ahead.’ They were aware of what lies in front and continued the journey. Minahil and Heebah the youngest of the group are left behind and nowhere to be seen, Afifa noticed and was startled and instantly told the other friends about it. Minahil and Heebah were running in hope to find their friends they were exhausted and sat down near a tree, sitting there they realised that they were in this forest for couple of hours and as they went further in the forest the light intensity increased. ‘It just felt that as long as we travel further there is going to be no change except the light intensity and we are goanna be just on the same route with the same surrounding’, said Minahil.

After few minutes they heard the sound of movement from nearby they rushed there finding their friends who they looked for, at that moment they gave the journey another thought. They started to return from their but at that moment they heard a swamp making a beautiful sound it was enough to make them continue their journey in the forest. IN the forest the darkness became a factor which decreased as the distance they covered increased. They suddenly started to hear many more sounds of animals and saw one of the best visuals they ever captured they saw colourful swamps in the lake, as they moved on the lake continued. Pink female orchid mantis was near the trees, their appearance was eyecathching and fooled bugs to get close to them and gobbled them.

Their journey continued and they saw thousands of different, unique and beautiful creatures. Covered in green, turquoise, and black feathers, the green-headed tanager hails above them making them amused and happy at the sight which bestowed in from of them. “its like we have entered into a magical and out of the blue planet’ said Omaima. “I agree but, it seems to be more like another world which is undiscovered for its own good,” said Maham.

It was about three hours into this place and they have started to discover more and more creatures here and none of the harmed them. They sat near mountains for rest, one of the members went to discover more nearby but it started to get windy and the sky turned into green and bluish colours the other members rushed near her and what they saw was amusing, it was a giant dear with masmerising eyes. That moment all of them were shocked and were still, the feeling of being hurt by him was no where to be seen. The deer came near them and sat down and start to welcome them, at first the friends were amused knowing that creature could hear and talk to them but they continued there discussion, The deer was called the “Mythear’ and he was not the only one with such an appearance. The journey which they took to this place was just for them, no one in this world is allowed in this area. Entering here as an unknown person will just lead you to the same path. What they entered is the land of fantasy and myths. The journey which they took is not just till here the Mythear has just arrived to welcome them to the real area and land.

As I made my way through the forest my eyes locked with Jacob’s, as he stood there behind the large window. I felt a sudden chill through my spine not because it was a cold dreary winter night but Jacob’s strangled expression. Boom! The noise caused a ripple through the still night.

The news of the tragic nuclear power plant explosion had spread like wildfire but when time runs its course all is forgotten. I am now a millionaire with successful hotel chains around the world. I had humble beginnings for in my early twenties I started as a plumber, but I was ambitious and young. Soon I studied and landed a place as a nuclear engineer. I worked at a newly built power plant which was situated in an isolated forest, away from civilization. I worked for three long years before I struck rich.

“Brrrrrring” ‘Yes” “Good afternoon Mr. Oliver, this is the Mayor speaking” the voice on the telephone spoke.

“What a pleasant surprise Mr. Mayor to what to I owe this pleasure to” I said.

“Well, you remember the nuclear explosion, the place is a rundown and I think we can turn it into a tourist hot spot. I will send a team of engineers together with them you can fix up the place and build a fancy hotel there. The profit will be high, and you don’t need to buy the land. Sounds like a sweet deal?” the Mayor spoke without a pause.

I could see this would definitely bring in lots of bucks, so I replied, ”I am ready!”

I went with a team of engineers into the thick of the forest. We had to see how much radioactivity was there and neutralize it. I had my camp set up and hit the hay.

“Ahhhh” a shrill voice screeched.

I woke up suddenly my heart pounding hard with beads of sweat on my forehead. Something didn’t seem right. I slowly crept up and unzipped the tent. Nothing! All the other tents had vanished! I tried to fight back the rising panic. “thump thump thump” my heart raced, and my stomach felt queasy. My mind raced back to a newspaper I’d read a few years back. Oh, how could I be so foolish! As my neurons made connections, I remembered the bold headline: “Dead bodies found near the abandoned nuclear plant” I had to act fast. I spotted a jeep then as quietly as a mouse I made my way across but then I stopped dead in my tracks.

Grinning at me, I saw a man with unmistakable hazel eyes that seemed unfocused, it was not a happy smile or a sad one it was a smile that spoke volumes and it spelled revenge. He grimaced and his lips twitched, but only the right side of his face did that because the other half was gone! I got into the jeep, but the keys were missing, without a second thought I jumped out of the car and ran as fast as my legs would carry. Not once did I look back.

“Thud” I fell into a narrow valley. My head throbbed with pain and to make matters worse down came sliding a huge boulder. My arm was stuck! I heard footsteps crunching the dry leaves beneath them. How’d he get here so fast!

I bit my lip. I had to get out of here.

A gruff voice spoke, “You thought you could just leave like that Oliver, Ha!” I knew time was ticking and this was the best choice I could make.

“Crack”

I bit my lip. I had to get out of here.

A gruff voice spoke, “You thought you could just leave like that Oliver, Ha!” I knew time was ticking and this was the best choice I could make.

“Crack” Ripples of pain went through my body and my arm bled like a waterfall. The voice screeched “Oliver, how could you do this do me! We were never friends I realize that, now you’ll face my wrath.” I slowly heaved myself up with one arm and the voice continued, “I know your dirty secret; you made a bet that the Nuclear plant will fail and when it didn’t you cheated. You went and exploded it. But you see your wealth won’t mean much to you after I’m through with you” he laughed maniacally.

He was not in sight, I slowly crept and rested myself against a tree. The pain was unbearable. Then suddenly arms wrapped tight around my neck. The skin was grey with muscles exposed. I couldn’t breathe. I was desperate so I bit the arm and the voice screamed in agony.

I bolted, and the only place to take shelter was the broken nuclear plant. I hurriedly opened the small back door and stacked old furniture. I panted and my lungs burned due to the strenuous exercise. I caught my breath and looked around. There was radioactive material everywhere. I was only going to survive for a few more hours, even the protective suit I’d worn could not last. I squatted on the floor ignoring the pain and the bones sticking out of my arm. I wondered how Jacob had survived the blast.

I recalled his distorted face and my expression twisted in disgust.

My mind travelled back in time to the day of the explosion. Few months back I stumbled into a room to fix the pluming. It was a very dingy and smelly room. There were four people sitting around a small table. But the surprising thing was that there were huge sums of money on it. The people looked surprised and one of them stood up and spoke angrily “Hey who are you? What’s your business?” I recognized them as some government officials. I looked at them and said confidently “Want to make a gamble?”

They all looked interested and asked what I had to offer. And so, I said that if the new Nuclear Plant fails, I win, a million dollars. They looked at each other uncertain and agreed and said if we win “You’ll have to offer the same amount.” By the time we shook hands an intricate plan had already formed in my head.

It was going to be a long journey but it was the easiest way to wealth. I didn’t feel guilty at all this was my chance. I had to get a fake degree. And that wasn’t much of a difficulty. Next, I had applied to the nuclear plant three weeks before it would open. Then my first day started. I learned the blueprint of the plant, I memorized all the exits and entries. I was an assistant to a man called Jacob. We really clicked from the beginning and we would have discussions about everything. Fast forward, I worked for three years and Jacob became a real friend of mine, but I had stayed loyal to my plan.

That day on a still December night I caused an explosion in the plant. The next day I demanded my money and I got it. The officials didn’t believe that the poor plumber won! I threatened them, if they didn’t give me my prize, I’d let the whole town know about their activities.

“Bang” My train of thought got disrupted. Somebody was opening the door! I got to feet but there was nowhere to run. The door opened and there was Jacob. He said “Well, this a nice reunion, old buddy.”

I slowly backed away. He lurched at me! Pain was the last feeling I would ever feel. I lost all. I lost my wealth and my life.

3 days later: ‘Millionaire missing, and a man found dead, causes yet not identified.’

BY

Ahmed Mohammed hilal !

Friday the thirteenth is viewed as an unfortunate day in Western notion. It happens when the thirteenth day of the month in the Gregorian schedule falls on a Friday, which occurs at any rate once consistently yet can happen up to multiple times around the same time. For instance, 2015 had a Friday the thirteenth in February, March, and November; 2017 through 2020 had two Friday the thirteenth each; and the years 2021 and 2022 will both have only one event each. Friday the thirteenth happens at whatever month that starts on a Sunday. One Friday the thirteenth my companions amna, sara, Victoria, ella and I visited my new ranch house for seven days it was superior to the more established one it has a major ground to play football or any most loved games of our own and a pool.

This was the first occasion when we were visiting my ranch house. We went into the grand ranch house and got so energized to see the magnificence and the climate was drizzly and cold. We began running to a great extent having fun to the fullest since we were truly worn out and languid, we chose to sleep. Out of nowhere the snarling thunder woke us up. We as a whole came down to check whether the others woke up as well. Since we as a whole love downpour we chose to cycle to the closest lake everybody concurred. We took our cycles and began the race. The safety officer cautioned us not to go close to the well but rather we didn't payed consideration regarding what he said. we made an arrangement the victor will choose what we will do the entire day. We began our race Ella was winning since she is a wellness crack. She came to approach the lake first. We were 10 minutes late. Ella was acting strangely she wasn't in any event, answering to what we said she was standing glimpsing inside the well. We as a whole got befuddled. one of us chose to proceed to mind her

. Victoria moved forward and pulled her towards us we saw a stunning site which gave us goosebumps. Ella’s eyes were draining, and her entire body was blue. It seemed as though somebody was chocking her; she was wheezing for breath. We heard an abnormal sound on top of us when we as a whole looked there was a peculiar animal on a major ragged tree an animal with long dusty hair and red torn garments with bruises everywhere on her body. We as a whole moved frightened to death and ran off to save our lives. We arrived at home as quick as possible and told monitor the entire occurrence he called the police and went with them to discover Ella. The thunder turned out to be noisy and it was falling down in buckets. A few hours they returned with Ella. She was improving yet we all could feel something other than what's expected and unusual in her which we disregarded when she began talking ordinarily. We revealed to Ella the entire occurrence and afterward she began clarifying us what truly befell her. At the point when she came to there, she saw a sparkling animal by the well sitting and crying. She ventures forward to perceive what happened she sat by her and put her hand on her shoulder.

She took a gander at her, Ella got hallowed she was startling she yelled on top of her lungs yet because of outrageous thunder she wasn’t discernible she snatched Ella’s hand and attempted to stifle her Ella couldn't breathe so she got oblivious. What we saw there wasn't Ella it was another person most likely that strange animal as Ella. Things were getting typical consistently. We as a whole improved and chose to rest after this bizarre, rushed day however in one room so ella doesn't feel strange or in the event that anything happens we will be together to confront it and to discover an answer. Definite at 11:11 we a colossal beat on our front entryway we as a whole got terrified our hands were shuddering. Amna yelled " who’s there?" yet nobody answered. This time I moved forward I opened the entryway with wavering and saw nobody outside when I pivoted a body fell on the ground it was our gatekeeper dead canvassed in blood. He was attempting to prevent that ladies from entering inside so she slaughtered him. She came in and got Ella and was attempting to drag her outside while we were holding her tight. at the point when we asked her the explanation, she advised that she use to live here once when this farmhouse won't ever exist. While building this farmhouse they deserted her home. She didn't let out the slightest peep or hurted somebody and moved to that well she use to track down that serene. she was anything but an awful individual she became savage when Ella encouraged her little girl escape from that place. Ella knew this however never revealed to us she concealed that thing from us. We as a whole resented Ella. In any case, more than outrage her life was significant we mentioned her to leave her and excuse her and guaranteed her that we won't ever visit that lake again. She concurred and left doing a few harms to the house out of frustration she broke the windows and the large wooden pendulum clock. We as a whole chose to leave there and afterward; we gathered our sacks and enroute pack to our old neighbourhood. At the point when we came to back home, we chose not to enlighten our folks regarding this occurrence as they are never going to accept. The police never discovered our gatekeepers’ dead body, so they announced him missing several days and examination later proclaimed him dead. They broke windows and clock gave them the possibility of somebody breaking I not that house.

We never remedied them we let them all accept what the cops were saying. A couple of days after the fact paranormal things began occurring. Like hearing somebody get down on your name when they really aren’t, seeing somebody close by, awakening in the evening, having odd bad dreams. This all turned out to be truly typical and we became use to it. At whatever point we meet now we don't specify this entire rate to anybody understanding one thing everlastingly Friday the thirteenth is the most noticeably awful day of our lives and we began trusting in those notions with respect to it.

The man hurried along the busy, London streets, ducking around and weaving between pedestrians, briefcase hitting against his leg with every step he took. Although the man was very organized and neat, like he is every morning, he still stayed up throughout the night finishing his report for the Monday morning meeting, Of course, it was today, of all the days of the week--- even of the month! – that the bus was stuck in the usual early morning commuter traffic. He burst through the looming steel doors of the ‘Bank of London’ building and hurried through security and on the main foyer, not noticing any of the small details around him, like a youth loitering in and un-characteristic way.

As the man drew closer to the elevator, he smiled at the familiar ‘Bank of London’ logo, etched into the dull steel doors. He jabbed at the button and was preoccupied with the sales pitch he had ready that he did not notice the elegant logo, split in two as the matte grey steel doors parted ways, something that, on a normal day he would looked out for. As the man entered the small, square lift the ‘new car pine freshener’ smell enveloped him in a wave of his future ambitions, like buying a new car for his family to commute in… well, when there was no traff- a flicker of light of the overhead lights did not disturb him the slightest bit. But when the lights cut of and the constant yelling, and maybe breaking glass, coming from what he thought was the lobby. He tried to convince himself that it happened all the time, right? And that someone might have just dropped something, or that one of the front windows broke, but on the inside, he knew.

And this was one of these times he regretted ever excepting the job years ago to join, what was it? “ THE BEST BANK OF LONDON?” yeah, that was probably it, or some cruddy slogan like it at least. Outside the elevator, the din subsided and an eerie silence rung in his ears. “There we go” he thought “they have solved the problem”. At one his thoughts were abruptly halted when a lone bullet came tearing through the steel elevator doors and shattered his lower jaw, sending its mangled remains flying to the other side of the elevator, splattering against the wall dripping to the ground in lumps and shards.

Gunfire rattled in the lobby and sirens wailed outside the building, traffic of course, It was a moment until the pain hit, well, enough time for him to notice all the blood. He collapsed to the floor, crushing what remained of his jaw and under him, he began to feel nauseous and dizzy. The blood pooled around his neck and his hair become drenched with the lake of blood that was forming around him.. He only noticed how close the sirens were when he heard the shouting outside the elevator, and he was partially distracted from the excruciating pain when there was a yelling in the lobby only this time he could tell it was less aggressive, and seemingly more comforting to his dying soul. The lights flickered back on and the sudden lowering of the lift forced fragments of his jaw into his lower back, drawing pool of blood lower down his aching back . The noise outside stopped again, well except for the sirens, which paired along with his recollection of sound of the lone gunshot, rung in his ears for what felt like an eternity.

What little vision he had left at his old age, faded to a dense black, only returning every now and then. The ringing slowly faded from his ears, “almost silent now” he thought. The screech of the lift coming to a halt once again reverberated in his ears, but faded quickly, almost as quickly as it took for the steel doors too open once again, except this time he wasn’t preoccupied with the meeting, actually, he hadn’t thought about it since, well, the incident. The silhouette of a person adhered his view to the lobby, the fades in his vision now in time with his heart beat, too fast for someone as unfit as him.

His eyes began too glaze over and the silhouette moved in closed, the man tried to flinch, but was unable to, he started to feel his torso, well actually he was starting to not be able to feel his torso. “ there’s one over here” the words rung in his ears like a set of chimes, just like the ones his kids got for Christmas, it was dark like his soul.

DANIA MALIK

Once upon a time in the summer vacation, three friends wanted to go somewhere for camping but the last time they planned a trip their parents got angry because they didn’t ask them for going so they already knew their parents wouldn't allow this time and also they are busy so can’t go with them either. Yet they still wanted to try camping as they were really bored at home, so they made a plan to just go camping about around the hills and valleys while their parents are at work so they wouldn't find out. They searched a bit about the areas near them and checked if they are open for camping and according to what they found on the internet they were open.

They planned to start their tour on the next day and beginning it by meeting in a mall nearby exactly at 8:30 right after their parents leave for work. One of them, James , didn't show up until 10am and said that he almost got caught by his parents so he had to wait for a long time to make sure no one is there.

They were all disappointed because they had to be back by 3pm and they were already late for James.

They rode the bus station to a station that's around 10 mins of walking from the mountain.

As they arrived, the bus driver asked them what they are doing over there and he looked a bit surprised to see 3 kids in this area without any guardians, they told him they were going to camping and were confused to as why he looked shocked. As soon as they stepped out of the bus they knew why the bus driver was shocked, the area was completely empty with no one walking or any cars passing by, all you could hear is the bus engine fading away and after that, silence.

At this point some of them got quite worried but Bryan, the oldest of them, said that it's ok as this is a public hiking spot and we will meet people in there. They started walking in this path they found and all of them missed a sign hidden partially behind trees saying “area closed”. They were all really happy walking around nature and talking with each other. They found a bridge that looked quite rusty leading to the other side. Jason, the joker of the group, said let's go why are you guys scared and started to run towards the bridge.

Bryan stopped him and said we don't know if it's safe. Jason ignored him and continued towards the bridge and didn't listen to his friends shouting behind him. As soon as he stepped on it the bridge started shaking and his foot broke through a plank but he was lucky that he caught a rope on time. His friends started worrying and they didn't know what to do. One of them went to hold the rope to make sure he doesn't slip.

The other started running towards the road but didn't find anyone for a long time.

They all thought this is the end but then one of them went on top of the hill and started to shout for help.

In the city people heard the sound and noticed that there is someone in the area and informed the police at the earliest who then started to make their way around. By this time Jason could hold no longer so he fell into the stream but it wasn’t that deep and managed to hole up in cave. They waited for around 30 minutes for the police to arrive and get them out from this situation. Their parents were called and the police told them that they have to arrest the boys because they crossed into an area which was closed by the government but the boys claimed they thought this was a hiking spot and had no idea it was closed because of the information they found on the internet.

The police then let the boys go and told them that this place was closed around 10 years ago for safety reason and no one is allowed to visit and they shouldn’t do something like this in the future as it can cause them to get into trouble. The boys were shocked because they didn't see anything on the internet saying that the place was closed so they figured that the website just wasn’t updated since then. They went back home learning a big lesson for the rest of their lives and promised their parents about not doing anything like that in the future.

Javed Ahmed

“Ugh mom I don’t want to go visit Aunt Jane.” Groaned Kate as she fell onto her bed. “Kate, I know you’re mad because you couldn’t go to your school trip that’s why I’m arranging this trip for you” replied Kate’s mom gently. “If you felt bad about me not being able go to the trip than maybe you shouldn’t have stopped me from going in the first place besides I didn’t know I had an aunt you never said you had any siblings!” Kate yells looking at her mom. “Kate I already told you the trip was too expensive you can’t expect me to pay so much for a 3 day trip.” Replies her mom sternly “You are 16 now so stop acting like a brat!” Kate gets out of bed and pushes her mom out the door “whatever just get out of my room I don’t want to see your face right.” She slams the door shut on her mom’s face and immediately goes back to laying on her bed.

Kate looks up at the small cottage with disgust “I have to stay here for three days? This is even worse than I thought” In the end she was forced to come here because her mom threatened to cut her allowance. Sighing she walks up to the door and knocks on it hard it takes a few minutes, but Aunt Jane opens the door and smiles brightly when she sees her “Kate I’m so happy to see you you’ve grown up so much since the last time I saw you!” Kate looks at her confused Aunt jane just smiles and continues with “Sasha is out hunting in the forest right now she’ll be back soon so you can sit in her room till then.”

It takes two hours for Sasha to come back “You’re so stupid you knew I was coming to your house today and yet you’re still late!” Kate yells at her cousin annoyed “Sorry hunting is hard you know I couldn’t just come home empty handed otherwise we wouldn’t have had anything to eat for dinner anyways Kate since you’re here we should open this weird book I found in the forest oh and maybe we can take a walk around the forest while mom makes dinner!”

Kate just looks at her weirdly “why is she acting like we’ve been friends for ages when I just met her today?” she thinks silently judging Sasha

“Wait….what book?”

“This is just gibberish!” hisses Kate as she snatches the book out of Sasha’s hands. Sasha just shakes her head and takes the book back “it’s not like I knew what was written inside I told you I was waiting for you to open it and besides how do you know it’s gibberish maybe it could be some sort of ancient language-hey! What are you doing! Stop!” Sasha cries out as Kate starts ripping the pages from the book “You are so annoying!” Kate yells as she stands up and leaves the room. Kate makes her way to the kitchen where her aunt is cooking something “Did you and Sasha fight? I heard screaming.” Her aunt asks looking at her concerned “It’s all Sasha’s fault.” Kate snaps sitting down at the dining table “Anyways when is dinner going to be ready?” her aunt looks at her clearly disappointed with the way she’s treating her cousin. “It’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

After dinner Kate goes out to walk in the woods mainly because she can’t stand being in that cramped cottage, Sasha wanted to come with her, but she left before her annoying cousin could even ask. “Honestly does she have no self-respect?” Kate thinks to herself “She’s being so clingy even after I yelled at her.” Kate continues walking down the path marked by the trees, her aunt told her that Sasha marked the trees so they would be able to find their way back to the cottage.

Suddenly she feels a sharp piercing pain in her head which almost makes her fall over “oh god did I touch a poisonous flower or something.” She thinks panicking, the pain in her head does not stop and instead increases to the point where it gets unbearable “I need to go back before I faint!” is the only thought in her mind as she sluggishly starts walking towards the direction, she came from, but she is instantly stopped dead in her tracks as she feels someone grab her shirt.

Kate knows that it’s not a tree branch as she can feel the fingers grabbing her forearm she slowly turns around and what she sees is something her brain takes a really long time to process…are those humans hands coming out of the trees she finally comes back to her senses and pulls her hand out of tree monsters grip. She can feel something staring at her as she runs back to the cottage, but she doesn’t make it far as she feels something hard colliding with her head than everything goes black.

“Kate! Kate! wake up!” she hears a panicked voice call out to her as she slowly regains conscious Kate can see Sasha’s worried face looking at her. “thank god here can you stand up” Sasha asks Kate slowly nods as Sasha pulls her up by her arm. Kate leans on Sasha the whole way back home.

“I’m telling you both I saw something weird it tried to attack me!” Kate yells frustrated that her aunt and cousin won’t believe her. “Kate ghosts aren’t real you must have passed out from dehydration.” Is her aunts predictable reply as she offers her a glass of water, “But aunty the ghost attacked me how could I dream that all up.” whines Kate as she drinks the water, “Okay if it attacked you than how come you have no injuries and how come you were able to get out of the forest unscathed if this ghost was actually real?” aunt Jane sighs “Get some sleep you’ll feel better tomorrow” and with that she leaves the room.

“Kate I believe you!” Sasha immediately perks up as soon as her mom leaves the room “you know what I think I think the book we opened was cursed maybe we angered a ghost?” Groaning Kate covers her eyes with her hand “Sasha this isn’t some horror movie there’s no way something like that could happen in real life.” She mumbles “But then how can you explain what happened to you?”

Sasha questions “Maybe your mom was right maybe I just passed out from dehy-“Kate doesn’t get a chance to finish her sentence as she sees a black figure staring at her from the corner of the room “S-Sasha do you see that?” she whispers her voice shaking “See what?”

Sasha asks raising an eyebrow “T-The corner of the room.” Sasha looks around still confused “Kate there’s nothing here?” “Can’t you see it? its right there staring at me.”

“Kate if its really a curse because of the book than shouldn’t I be able to see it too?” Sasha ponders but she immediately jumps up as if she had solved a big mystery “Kate you ripped the book you angered the ghost!” Kate clutches her head in her hands as she feels the headache coming back “I don’t want to stay here anymore tell Aunt Jane to call my mom and tell her to pick me up.” Sasha just shakes her head “Your mom didn’t pick up the phone no matter how many times we called her.”

“I don’t care!” yells Kate as gets out of the bed and immediately starts making her way out the room “Kate where are you going?” Sasha follows her out to the living room “I’m calling my dad he can come pick me up!” snaps Kate as she picks up the telephone. Kate is in the middle of dialing her dad’s number when she feels a burning sensation on her back, she slowly turns around to see Sasha holding a knife covered in blood “Is that my blood? Did she stab me?” her question is answered once Sasha stabs her again this time in the stomach.

“S-Sasha?” Kate manages to whisper as she lays on the floor “Yes it’s me.” Sasha sneers “Your mom paid us to kill you, she said she was sick of you always acting like a spoiled brat and I agree you’re such an unbearable person I only spent half a day with you yet I wanted to kill you every time you opened your mouth and yes we’re not actually your real family though I guess you should have figured that out by now, it’s just too bad you had to die so fast I even made up that whole stupid story with the book and brought hallucination inducing drugs just so I could see you go crazy but you just couldn’t sit still could you? Oh, she already died.”

SAVING THE TWINS

My grandfather grew up on a chicken farm outside of Krakow, Poland. He passed away a few years ago at the age of 82. A few days before his passing on, due to an aggressive form of stomach cancer, he sat me down next to him in his old rocking chair and said in his familiar polish accent, “After I took the boat to New York, I promised to leave this story behind.”

He didn’t look up as he spoke to me, simply staring into his cup of black coffee. “It’s been 70 years, and I must tell someone before I meet God.” “I was born in a small, quaint, empty town, which, despite the Nazi occupation, still functioned. We lived in this two-bedroom farmhouse, my father, mother, and my brothers Michal and Igor. I’m sorry you never got to meet any of them. Anyway, Michal and Igor were twins – identical twins actually – and we had heard rumors of the Nazi fascination with identical twins. This forced us to be even more reserved, even though we already lived in a private part of the countryside, in the last occupied house in the town. In order to avoid going into the occupied towns, we basically ate only chicken and eggs for every meal, and whatever else Mama could gather from the garden. It was lonely, but we survived.

“The thing that was most difficult for me was the fact I had to sleep in the basement. Due to Michel and Igor being toddlers, they required my father and mother’s attention. The basement was cold, with only a small window, and the moonlight was the only light I got.

Because of this, I always delayed going down there until I was absolutely exhausted, so I wouldn’t have to lie there awake. On the nights that I couldn’t manage to sleep, I would look out of the window, which gave me a small view of the garden and the large, abandoned water well. This was my daily activity throughout those lonely war-torn nights. In general, it was boring and uneventful, but occasionally I would catch a glimpse of a family, or even just a man, or two lovers, sneaking their way through our garden up to our front door. They always looked rushed and frightened, and sometimes wore tattered uniforms. What would follow were horrible sounds of banging and pleadings for whoever lived there to open up, followed by an argument between my father and mother over whether we should let them in.”

He moved in the chair to adjust himself.

“You see, son, we didn’t know it – well, at least I didn’t – that we lived fairly close to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, and that those people were escapees.”

“Well, did your father let them in?!” I asked impatiently.

“No,” he said. “It would have been a death sentence for them as well as for us. The Nazis didn’t like Poles, but they tolerated us, and it was easier to hide Michel or Igor than an entire family. My father did what he had to do in order to keep his family alive. As the war went on, fewer and fewer people began showing up in the middle of the night. That’s about the time our chicken and vegetables began to disappear. Losing our only supply of food would not have been tolerable, and at that point, my father suspected it was the escapees, so he built a fence around our property. Despite this, the chickens continued to disappear. They weren’t killed; they were simply gone. Just vanished from their cages and pens.

“One night, I decided to stay up myself in order to see if I could find out the answer. I battled my tiredness until the wee hours of the morning, and despite the poor lighting and rain, I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a human figure run across the garden. I rushed upstairs to tell my father, and he ran outside with a knife, the best home-defense weapon we could afford, but we found nothing. No one.”

“The next day we did find something, though. Footprints. Leading from the chicken cages to the water well. They were made in the wet mud from the rain, and they were of bare feet. No shoes. No socks. Just feet. My father had mercy on the man who was trying to find refuge and left him a note, indicating that he had two days to leave and then he would begin to seal the well.”

I waited impatiently for my grandfather to tell me about the fate of the man.

“The following night, I got the idea to take a blanket down the well to the man since winter was creeping in. I waited until my parents were asleep and I snuck outside. I shouted something friendly down the well, indicating to the poor man that my intentions were benign, and I began my descent, clinging hand and foot to the pegs attached to the stones. As I neared the bottom I smelled something absolutely horrific, and I pulled my father’s flashlight from my pocket to try and shine it on the man. It was then I came to the realization of just how large the well was, having been used to supply water for the entire town and its families in the past. Families which no longer remained.

“But I found no man, only a hole. A gap in the stone, where the wall of the well had collapsed, opening up to some type of crevice only two meters wide and three meters deep and tall. Inside sat not a man, but an entire family, of which only a single skeleton-like creature survived. The light reflected off of its sunken eyes and gray skin. Blood covered its face, and chicken carcasses were strewn everywhere – a pile of decomposing poultry beside a woman and what I suspected had been her son and daughter, children who couldn’t have been much more than five years old. And they seemed to have been dead for weeks. The man, if he even could be called that, just gazed at the light, and I stared back, incapable of breaking his stare. I did not feel threatened by him, for he lacked any aggression whatsoever. He simply crouched motionlessly, without a sound, next to the putrefying bodies of his loved ones and the chickens that must have been his source of water, as their meat was uneaten.

“He was empty, devoid of whatever in us makes us human. He should have realized the members of his family had died long ago, but he was still bringing food for their corpses. He couldn’t accept it. He did finally turn his head, though, when I shone the light back onto the corpse of his daughter. He stared at her, and then sat down closer to her, and continued his vigil. “’You can leave now,’ I said to him. ‘I’ll open the gate so you can escape. My father will seal the well in the morning. Please leave now.’ My young voice and advice seemed to have no effect on him.

“At that moment I decided it would be better for me to just climb back up the well and leave, and hoped the man would follow and escape. As I began my climb, I shone the light on him one final time.”

“What did you see, Grandpa?” I shuttered.

“I saw a tear fall from his eye. He had become a man once again. He was only able to break free from the delusion after seeing the body of his daughter, which had until that time been obscured by the darkness. He realized then that he had been bringing food not to his family, but to corpses.

“That night it rained again, but in the morning when my father returned to seal the well, I found no footprints leading out of it.

A shrill echoed in the mist engulfing Astrid, not a sign of life as far as the horizon stretches. All hope has been lost, the terror continues. “Why? Why did it have to be this way?” he grunted. The tears were escaping, his teeth grinding and clenching. He gasped for breath on the verge of losing consciousness.

The year was 854, in the hidden Alps of Scandinavia, there was a town named Astrid. A bewildering breathtaking town, filled with youth and glory, elderlies and nature, the area was called Astrid for a reason. The town was a true embodiment of the Norse Goddess herself. It was a common site to see children running and Ladies selling fruit, the men hunting and pounding down the wood. “Ymir, Ymir!” his tone increasing, “I’ve been calling you mate, in which world are you lost brother?” “Ah, Arne, sorry I spaced out a bit, what is it? “ Nothing brother, it’s about time we head to the church, Mr. Gorm would be displeased if we arrive to the prayers late”. “Tch, he irks me too much”, “(laughs) His name is Gorm, what would you expect?” “Indeed a true believer!” (Both laugh) “Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” Arne nudges Ymir, “How long before Mr. Gorm finishes?”, “Shhhh! don’t disturb the prayers! Let him say Amen at least!” “And forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, Amen” “Finally, Amen! “ Arne you should start to appreciate Father Gorm more, what would your Mother say?” “ She’s out of town, so I get to rest a bit” “ There’s no helping you” “ By the way, you don’t respect him either!, if Mr. Yeager doesn’t put you in a pinch, there’s no way you’d be here mate! “ Hmm? What is this fuss about?” “Father Gorm!” “Please pardon us Father, we have caused a ruckus in the church” “Oh my, such pleasant children, it is well my child, don’t stress it” “Thank you Father”.

“Ymir” “Father? What brought you here?” “Oh, Mr. Yeager, how are you? “ Hello my child, I’ve come here to take Ymir, we have to prepare dinner together” “Sure Mr. Yeager, if you’d excuse me” “Arne, make sure to tag along with me to the bonfire tomorrow, meet me at the Jötunheimr statue!” “I sure would, farewell brother!”

Ymir, a smart, cool headed child lives a peaceful life in Astrid, alongside his Father, Yeager. His comrade, Arne, is a fuzzy, empty-headed child who lives with his grandparents, his name represents his family history, who trade falcons.

Father, have you heard about the legend of the immortal Caribou?” “The Caribou? No son, what is it?” “In our veins runs the blood of the Vikings, even long before them were the Norse, Our true creator, Lord Odin fabricated 9 realms in the grand tree of Yggdrasil, among them was the realm of the Jötunheimr, The land of the living Titans, it was ruled by the Immortal Queen Caribou. Legend has it that she still lurks around the northern summit of the Alps, devouring any being who crosses through her path.” “Oh my, (laughs) Ymir my child have you not been reading the old texts too extensively? Son, these are only myths, our ancestors had liberty and power, with a touch of a finger their desires were fulfilled, you shouldn’t focus much on the old days, now, help me cut the Lamb”. “It’s bizarre Father, I’ve heard these days, the town residents have been going missing in the woods, Arne told me his cousin has yet to come back” “ You can’t expect much living in the Alps, precarious acts will occur despite restrictions”. Seated on their old mahogany wood chairs, the men munch away on their goods, the dim candle flickering out a golden flame. “It’s quite cold out there isn’t it, Ymir?” “Certainly is”, “I reckon I could flash freeze a cup of tea!” “That is quite a good observation, Father” “(laughs) I’ve still got it, I guess I just get better with age!” “Father we should hurry up, it’s getting late, the Church lights have already went out” “Oh, sure, I’ll get those plates for you”. The Yeager’s drift off to sleep in their mattresses, being embraced by their beige blankets, they fall asleep pondering about the legend of the Norse Queen.

The dazzling rays of the Sun fell on the Fichte trees, the air filled with a crisp scent and the birds chirping away into the sky. The winter months were harsh, but today was an exception. “Great weather we’re having today, don’t you think so, Ymir?” “It definitely is a great deal compared to the usual days”. “I have to hurry up, Arne should be arriving at the Jötunheimr district” “Sure, have a ball out there Son!” “Goodbye, Father!” He bolted out of the cabin, running through the dense woods into the Town bustling with life. “Good day brother, how are you today?” “Quite delighted” “So, let’s hit the district!”

The children make their way into the district of Jötunheimr, mesmerized by the scale of the statues and shops, “Arne, what about your cousin, how is he now?” “No mate, no sign of him yet, the search is still going”, “Oh, is that so?” “Isn’t the weather a bit odd?” “Your right mate, it was blinding in the morning, it turned gloomy in a trice”. “This feels like a bad omen (laughs nervously)” In a swift moment the ground shook tumbling the children. “Hey-y, that’s weird, was that an earthquake?” “Hey! Ymir, Ymir! Are you listening? Ymir was paralyzed, stuck in his position, staring at the Alps. The residents slowly realize the situation, their faces fall into fright, they drop their belongings, men releasing their axes, kids rushing to their mothers, screams and agony following soon after. The shadow of a creature casted the town of Astrid in an eerie way. Danger lurks at every corner, it just waits for fear to overcome them. The bone-chilling site of a 78 meter Caribou was enough to make a grown man wither to tears. Der Horror! The men cried.

It was as if the devil screamed, as if the sun set in the east and as if the dead rose to life. People fleeing for their lives, like ants scrambling away from a human. “What are you doing Ymir?! Run!” Arne cried out. “Arne!” A stampede of humans streaming out from the town “Look out!” Ymir pierced his voice. His eyes speechless at the site of his friend’s body, being crushed to a pulp from the stampede. “ARNE!!” he watched in horror as his body slowly disintegrated, reducing into fragments “Move out of the way kid!” a man pushes Ymir as he escapes, plummeting him to the rigid ground, crashing his head against the sidewalk. A stream of crimson red blood pooling from his head. He laid still, shivering in shock.

The legends were real, always had been. Those who deny suffer, those who believe prevail. The man eating Caribou had been angered, she rummaged through the people like a prisoner awaiting his last meal. Religious chants shrilled through the area, children gripping on their mother’s clothes, men suppressed beneath the feet of others. “A time to be born and a time to die, a time for war and a time for peace” an elderly man breathed out, clutching his cross and blinking his eyes one final time. The Caribou demolished everything, houses, roads, schools, churches they all now ceased to exist. A shrill echoed in the mist engulfing Astrid, not a sign of life as far as the horizon stretches. All hope has been lost. “Why? Why did it have to be this way?” he grunted. The tears were escaping, his teeth grinding and clenching. He gasped for breath on the verge of losing consciousness.

“How is he doctor?” “Mr. Yeager I’m afraid his condition keeps on worsening, Ymir has shown no signs of recovery, and his MRI scan confirms his state” “Doctor, is there no treatment for my sons condition?” “I hate to inform you but schizophrenia has no treatment, his sense of reality has degraded to the size of a pea, he hallucinates and fabricates delusions around him, what he’s seeing is a reality that never existed, it was a world his brain tricked him into thinking, he’s unable to differ it. “Your son is living a lie, a lie which haunts him, the only memory that remains in him is trauma. It is a lifelong brain disorder, even in the modern world, there is no therapy for it” “What are the odds, doctor?” Yeager’s eyes setting on the doctor, his face distorted with fear. “I fear that they are high, his chances of survival are miniscule…” Yeager’s face falls into misery, the thought of losing his son made him devastated.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, may the soul of the faithful and departed, through the mercy of god rest in peace, Amen”. He wiped his tears in sorrow, “Goodbye, my son”.

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