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Challenge: Write a story based off of the element of Earth
Ink's story has been taken down for editing.

Earth Magic

A forest can always be a frightening place. With tall trees and pathways that turn into mazes.  They told me to never go into the forest because the forest was a bad place.
I asked them many times why the forest was so bad. “That forest has monsters Lydia!” My older sister Claudia would say. I asked my mother why the forest had Monsters. “The forest does not have Monsters Lydia, it has bears. You can get lost in a forest like that.” My mother would say. For years I believed that only bears lived in the forest. I didn’t know how wrong I was.

“I DARE YOU!” Gregory points into the trees. We are ten feet away from the forest and my heart is pounding. “NO! I’m not getting the stupid ball.  There are bears in the forest, my mother told me!” I tell him, my face heating up. He scoffs at me. “Bears? Please! That’s a myth.  What are you a chicken?” He asks. I furrow my brow, and I can feel my cheeks getting hotter. “NO!” I yell at him. I want to throw a stick at his face.
“Then get the ball! I DARE YOU!” He says again. I shouldn’t let him bully me around, but deep in my stomach I can feel my curiosity bubbling. “Fine!” I say and turn on my heel. I take one last look at Gregory, who now has a shocked expression. I smile and continue closer to the forest. The trees slowly sway in the afternoon breeze, and I take a deep breath before I enter. Twigs crunch underneath my feet as I walk. I look for the ball as I walk. The forest is eerily quiet and soon my curiosity turns into fear. I turn around to yell at Gregory, but he’s gone. The entrance is no longer there, but instead rows and rows of trees. My heartbeat picks up as I begin to panic. I swivel around, looking for the entrance, but all I see are trees. “GREGORY!” I try yelling. I am met with silence and I can feel my eyes begin to water. “GREGORY!!!” I yell again, louder this time making my voice crack. The tears are warm on my face as they begin to fall faster. I yell until my throat becomes sore and finally I sink to the ground.
The only sound is my sobbing and it echoes up into the trees. I’m lost and alone and I believe I am going to die. A twig snaps and I whip my head around to face the sound. A boy stands near the trees and I scream when I see him. His eyes go wide and he runs behind the nearest tree and hides. I stand up and start running, but I have no idea where I’m going. I whip around to face him again. He peeks out from behind the tree and I stare at him. He stares back at me, his eyes moving up and down. “Who are you?” I ask. My voice startles him. “Gabriel.” He whispers. He seems as scared of me as I am of him. “Do you know how to get out of here Gabriel?” I ask. He comes out from behind the trees and I stare at his clothes. He’s wearing a green dress shirt and dark brown pants and his feet are bare. He shakes his head and shrugs. I sigh in frustration. “Of course not.” I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes again. He comes closer to me. “Don’t cry.” He says wiping away my tear with his sleeve. Up close I can see his eyes, they are a stunning shade of green. They remind me of the leaves that populate the trees. “I just want to go home.” I sob. He grabs my hand and his palm is soft in mine. “Then let’s find home.” He says and we begin walking.
We walk for what seems like hours, passing more and more trees. The sky above us stays the same. We are silent as we walk. Up ahead we see the smoke from my chimney and I scream with joy. “THERE IT IS! The Entrance” I yell. We begin to run, hand in hand. He smiles at me and we begin to laugh. The feeling of panic that once overcame me now dissipates and is replaced with relief. We’re almost to the entrance when I see something red, laying by one of trees. “Hey there’s my ball.” I let go of his hand and rush over to it. At first it seems like nothing is wrong, but when I get closer I notice the changes. The ball is half deflated and it looks as though it’s been sitting here years rather than hours. “Gabriel..come here.” I say. He walks over to ball and stares at it with curiosity. “How can it be like this? It’s brand new! I just got it yesterday…” He grabs the ball from my hands and turns it over. “I’m..I’m not sure.” He says. “Maybe an animal got to it?” He suggests.
“Hm I guess so.” I say. He drops the ball back to the ground, once again grabbing my hand. “Come on let’s get out of here.” He replies. We half run half walk the rest of the way to the entrance and I sigh when we finally reach it. Gregory is nowhere to be found. I look over at Gabriel to say thank you, but it gets caught in my throat. The thirteen year old boy is no longer standing beside me, but in his place is an older boy. He is wearing the same clothes as Gabriel and he has the same looks. He is staring back at me with the same shocked expression. I look down at myself and gasp. My hand-me-down dress that used to be too big for me is now tight. “What-What happened?” I ask. Gabriel bites his lip as if he knows something. “I’m sorry..I’m so sorry.” He replies. “We’ve been in the forest longer than we thought we were.” He says, looking back towards the trees. My hair that once was short, brushes against my shoulders. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!” I protest. He frowns at me. “We haven’t been in there hours…we’ve been in there years.” He  says. My legs feel wobbly and I want to scream and tell him he’s wrong. But deep down I know he’s right. I am much taller than I was before. I am no longer thirteen I am much older. I don’t know how I know, but I do.
My eyes roam over the eerie forest until they land back on Gabriel.  “Who are you?” I ask him once again. He looks at me and I stare into those green eyes. Those eyes that seem so much like the trees. “Someone who shouldn’t exist.” He confesses before turning and running back into the forest. I stand there shocked, watching him disappear into the mysterious forest.
“Lydia! Are you going to get the ball?” I turn around and Gregory is standing behind me. He is the same as when I left him. He looks at me confused. “Are you okay?” He asks. I look down at myself. I am thirteen again, but my mind..it feels different. My body is young, but my mind is older. It was as if it never happened, as if I never went into the forest at all. I turn back around to stare into the forest and I will myself to remember him.  “Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel.His name was Gabriel.” I chant his name over and over in my head. “I will not forget Gabriel.”  I push past Gregory. “I don’t feel like playing anymore.” I say as I head back toward the cottage. He calls me a chicken, but I ignore him.

~~~

Every year I go to entrance of the forest. I stare into it and call his name. “GABRIEL!” It echoes between the trees until I can no longer hear it. Each year he does not show.

~~~

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LYDIA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!” My family sings and claps. I smile and blow out the candles. Today I turn twenty and it’s the first time since the incident that I actually feel my age. We pass pieces of the cinnamon cake mother made me. After we eat I open my presents. I thank everyone for my presents, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing. As if sensing something is wrong, my sister pats my back. “Lydia, you must cheer up! It’s your birthday after all!” She says. I give her a smile, but it doesn’t feel genuine. “I’m fine Claudia. What makes you think I’m sad?” I ask. She gives me a look and I sigh. “Okay, Okay..I guess I do feel a bit off today.” I confess. She grabs my hand and looks into my eyes. “Tell me.” She urges, her eyes filled with sympathy. I’ve never told my family about that day, nor have I told them about Gabriel. “I just have a stomach ache is all.” I lie. I know she doesn’t believe me, but she doesn’t push the matter. “Well alright. Happy Birthday Little Sister.” She kisses my cheek before walking to the kitchen. My mother insists that we at least play a game, for what is a birthday celebration without a game? But before we can’t start there is a knock at the door. My father over to the door and when he opens it my heart drops. There standing in the doorway is Gabriel. He is the same as when I last saw him, and in his hands is a present. Suddenly I feel light-headed as If I’m going to pass out. “Hello, sorry I’m late. I’m here to see Lydia. I was told it was her birthday today.” Gabriel says. My father turns to me. “Do you know this boy Lydia?” He asks. It feels as though the room is spinning. “Uh..y-y-yes.” I stutter. My father shakes Gabriel’s hand and invites him inside. I jump to my feet and almost fall over doing so. Gabriel grabs my arm, helping me balance. I look up at him, his eyes are the same vivid green as I remember. “Gabriel.” His name comes out in a whisper and he smiles at me. “You didn’t think I would forget today did you?” He asks. My heart is pounding so loud that I can hear it in my ears. I feel my cheeks getting warm. He hands me the present. “Happy Birthday Lydia.”
The present is wrapped in a paper made from different leaves and petals and it is tied together with dried grass. I carefully unwrap it. Inside is a leather bound journal with a tree burnt into the cover. My eyes begin to well up with tears, but I swipe them away quickly. “Thank you Gabriel. It’s beautiful.” I say. “I wrote on one of the pages and I hope that it will help explain everything.” He says before kissing my forehead. My family is torn between staring in awe, and looking away. He turns toward the door.
“Wait!” I say, grabbing his hand. “You can’t leave again.”
He taps the cover of the journal. “Unfortunately I must. But don’t worry, I’ll see you again in seven years.” With that he says goodbye to my family and walks out the door. Everyone’s eyes fall on me, but I turn and run up to my room, locking the door behind me.  I jump on my bed and flip open the journal, turning the pages until I get to his page. I read the entry and smile. My heart fills with hope and I look out my window to where the forest is. “Seven years.” I whisper.

 If you want to read Gabriel's Letter you can find it here: 

 http://thefeatherofhope.blogspot.com/

Challenge #15

For the next four weeks we shall be tackling the elements! This week, the challenge is to write a story revolving around the Element: Earth!
If you would like enter something for Fan Friday, please do! Art, Poems, Short Stories! We'll take what you give us for Fan Friday. All you need to do is e-mail us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!
See you Wednesday!

The Sword Lily

            Three days had passed, and Genevieve had yet to show. We agreed to meet where we had our first date, the river walk near the movie theater downtown. We had been seeing each other for three weeks and I knew she was the one. I knew it in my bones, in my blood, in my heart. Every thought I had was of her, and us, and our future together. She thought I was going too fast, because three days ago I told her I was in love with her. But I knew she felt the same way.

            I knew because she kept wearing that perfume that I loved, that she knew I loved without me having to tell her.  And she kept wearing pencil skirts, which she knows I love on her. And she kept delivering my mail, too. She works in the mail room at the company I work at, and I got up the nerve to ask her out last week. I mean, to go out out. Before, we only talked at work, but we had been dating for three weeks. I know it has been three weeks because that’s when she started working at the company. It was love at first sight.

            “James, I don’t want to see you anymore. We’ve only known each other for, like, a week,” Genevieve said, keeping some distance between us as she spoke.

            “No! We have been seeing each other for three weeks, remember?” I tried approaching her, but she just kept backing away, looking at the crowd that was around us, as if for help. I didn’t understand what she was doing. Was there someone else? Did I do something wrong? Was her family keeping her away from me? Before I could ask she said good-bye, ran to her car, and drove off. I really didn’t get it. But I knew I could get her to come back to me.

            Four months have gone by and I haven’t gotten her to come back. I did everything I could. I got her evicted from her apartment, so she would stay with me, but then she went to stay with her friends. So then I went and killed her friends, when she wasn’t there, of course. But even that didn’t work! After that, she went to stay with her family! I knew it had to be her family that was coming between us. I should have gotten rid of them first. So after she quit work, because of the stress she was under from the police, I went to tell her that I was still there for her. She wasn’t happy, in fact, she seemed really freaked out. And then her dad came round the corner and asked who was at the door.

            She said, ‘No one’! I wasn’t ‘No one’! I was her boyfriend! I was her lover! I was her life! Just like she was mine! So I went, later that night, to burn the house down. Unfortunately, I got caught. She shot me! Genevieve fucking shot me! Do you know how much that fucking hurt? She shot me right in the fucking heart! But that’s okay. I know she was just confused. She must have meant to make it a murder suicide. She . . . Must . . . Have . . .

Taken Down For Editing

challenge: story based off the meaning of a flower
Feather's story is taken down for editing

Challenge #14

Hello everyone! The challenge for this week is to write a story based off of the meaning of a flower. So, pick a flower, and then write a story revolving around the meaning of the flower you have chosen. If you would like to submit something that fits with this theme for Fan Friday, do! Send it to us via inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com! See you on Wednesday!

Taken down for editing

Challenge: Write a Challenge around a carnival

Ink's story has been taken down for editing.

The Final Ride

“Benji what the hell are you doing?!” Elektra shoved the gun into Benjamin’s hands. It was loaded and Benjamin stared at it, his hands shaking. The group of undead began to approach faster and faster. “Son of bitch, I guess if you have to do something-“She shot three zombies in the head “-You have to do it yourself.” She finished.  Benjamin aimed the gun toward an approaching zombie. It was a girl, who looked around the age of 12. The gun wobbled back and forth in his hand, he couldn’t get it to straighten out. “BENJI! SHOOT GOD DAMMIT!! SHOOT!” Elektra yelled firing at the two zombies in front of her. He pulled the trigger, sending the bullet whizzing past the dead girl and into the arm of the zombie behind her. He wasn’t made for this; this wasn’t what his life was supposed to be. He was supposed to go to College, meet a girl, and get married. You know the usual stuff, not killing zombies with one of the sexiest girls he’d ever met. Okay…maybe he didn’t mind that last part.
One month ago, Elektra and her crew had found Benjamin holed up in his house, barely surviving off the food he had. The rest of his family was in Florida, presumably dead; while he was stuck here in Illinois, with his uncle who was now a zombie. Elektra grabbed him out of his bathtub, told him if he wanted to live he had to come with her. (And when he made a joke about the terminator, she kneed him in the balls.) Now they were back at the base. Old Mason’s Carnival Attraction which like all the other places on earth was abandon and broken down. Elektra and her crew were on the south side, They made camp in the fun house.  Now they were on the North side, fighting zombies. Although Benjamin wasn’t doing much of that. He’d never held a gun in his life.
He raised the gun one more time, taking a deep breath like he’d seen people do in the movies. This time when he pulled the trigger, the bullet slid right through the girl’s head and out the other side. He felt like he wanted to puke. “Benji come on, there’s too many.” Elektra yelled. She and the other three began running toward the gate. They were supposed to go hunting today, but that didn’t happen. After locking up the gate, they made the trek back to the fun house. “Thomas, do you still have Ammo?” Mikey asked. “No man, I used it all. There was more undead today than yesterday.” He said. Elektra sighed. “Well I’ve still got my ammo.” Doug said looking through his fanny pack. “What about you Benji?” Mikey laughed. They knew he still had Ammo because he didn’t even use his gun. He used Elektra’s. “Shut up Mikey.” Benjamin said half-heartedly. He walked faster, ahead of the group. He didn’t feel like dealing with this today. Elektra caught up with him, her strides matching his. She was quiet and he decided to keep his mouth shut. He snuck a glance at her, her long hair was tied up into a tight bun. The setting sun turned her cheeks pink and Benjamin took a deep breath. “What?” She asked. He was caught. “Uh nothing..uh do you want your gun back?” He asked. She looked down at the gun in his hands. “No, you keep it. You fire better with that one than the other one I gave you.” He gulped. “Wow..uh thanks Elektra.” He said. She smirked. “No problem Benji Boy.” She was the only one who could call him Benji without him getting irritated. Once they reached the fun house the other three went to their special spaces. “Benji you’re taking watch.” Thomas said giving him the binoculars. He wanted to protest, especially since it was his third time this week. But he knew there was no point; it was like digging a hole deeper and deeper until finally they pushed you in. “Fine.” He said. He climbed the old net that led to the second tier of the fun house.

 It looked out over the rest of the old carnival. The stars were beautiful like always, with no light around to mess it up. He stared up at them for so long, he didn’t hear it when Elektra came up. “Benji.” She said. He turned quickly. “Hey..sorry..Uh I was just looking at the stars.” He said nervously. She looked like she was about to cry. “Elektra..what’s wrong?” He asked. She plopped down on his sleeping bag and began to cry. He had never seen her like this. She was always Elektra the fierce. It was the first time he ever saw her like a real seventeen year old girl. She wiped the tears from her face, but only more fell. “I-“ She sobbed. “I have to show you something.”  She began lifting her shirt and Benjamin’s eyes went wide. His palms were sweaty and his heart beat faster. Then he saw the bandage. It was caked with dry blood. She slowly undid the bandage, revealing a bloody wound where skin was missing. “Holy shit.” Was all he could say. The bite was unmistakable. She only sobbed more. “What am I gonna do Benji?” She asked, her eyes pleading. “When..when did it happen?” He asked. She sighed, placing the bandage back on, and pulling down her shirt. “Earlier today..when I was looking for more batteries. One of them got in. I didn’t see him..and..and.” She choked on her words. Benjamin pulled her into a hug, careful not to bump her wound. They stayed like that for several minutes. He was quiet while she sobbed into his shoulder.
“You have to shoot me Benji.” She said quietly. He pulled away from her. “What?!” He asked. Her eyes were red but she looked as fierce as she had hours ago. “I’m serious. You have to. I have two days left before it happens. I need you to..to take care of it.” She said. He shook his head frantically. “Me?! I can’t do that Elektra!” She tsked. “Of course you couldn’t. I don’t know why I asked.” She began getting up. “Hey what a second. What’s that supposed to mean?” He grabbed her arm and she winced. “Sorry.” He said. “We both know what it means Ben. You aren’t like the other guys. You’re to compassionate.” She said. He was angry now. “Are you calling me Weak?” He asked. She was quiet. He was stunned. “Oh my god Elektra! You are so stupid!” He yelled. She was stunned silent. No one in the group talked to her like that. “I’m stupid?!” She asked annoyed.  “YES! YOU’RE STUPID! I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU BECAUSE I’M WEAK! I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!” He said.
 His face was hot with anger, and his fists were balled up at his sides. He didn’t know he loved her, but the thought of her not in this world with him made him scream inside. He did love her, and it scared him. She just stood there and looked at him. “Well…aren’t you gonna say something?” He asked. She lifted her head and kissed him lightly on the mouth. She leaned back and smirked. “Oh Benji..I don’t know why you love me. I’m a mess Benji. I can’t love you. Because this isn’t the kind of world anymore where love is welcome. Look around you Benjamin.” She gestured to the rest of the carnival. It was rusted and in the distance you could see the gate. “I don’t care.” He said. “Ben..you can’t love me..because in two days I’m gonna be a monster. I’m not even gonna know who you are!” She started to cry again, the tears slowly falling down her face. “So you have to do it Benji, please if you love me..you have to.” She grabbed the gun on the floor and shoved it into his hands like she did that morning. “Please!” She pleaded. He started to cry.
He hated this stupid world. He wanted to go back to the world before, when this place was a real carnival with rides and games and happiness. He wanted to throw darts at balloons and win Elektra a giant stuffed bear. He wanted to hold her hand and kiss her. “If you go..I go.” She began to protest, but he stopped her with a kiss. A real kiss, the ‘take that Romeo and Juliet’ kind of kiss.  After they parted he put the gun down, grabbed her hand and led her to the edge of the fun house roof. They both looked down and calculated the distance. They looked at each other and nodded. Elektra stood on the edge and Benjamin joined her. “Are you sure you wanna do this?” He asked. She squeezed his hand. “I’m ready for the final ride Benji Boy.” She smiled. “Fuck Zombie Apocalypses.” He said smirking. Together they  jumped and for one small second Benjamin really believed he was on a ride at the carnival. He could smell the funnel cakes and hear the people screaming on rides. He held onto Elektra as tightly as he could as they fell to their deaths. 

Challenge #13

This week that challenge is Carnival! We must write a story that takes place in or around a Carnival! If you would like to join us, do! Submit to Fan Friday! Send us something awesome with this theme in mind to inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com! See you Wednesday!

Attraction

Their creeds, however, were in many ways opposite. Where one found only confirmations of his faith, the other could find nothing but reasons for doubt. –Charles Brockden Brown, Wieland 

            Charles sat at the hearth, stoking the fire with the iron poker and waiting for William to come in with the chili and bread. It was Chili night and, like every Chili Night, William was humming and dancing around the kitchen like a wisp in the woods. Charles sighed, his stomach rolling around in his stomach as he waited. It had been thirty minutes since he had gotten home and he had expected dinner to be ready, however, he should have known better.

            Unlike Charles, William was like the wind and the sea. He was like a forest nymph and Charles was his shepherd. Charles liked structure. He was like a mountain or a tree. Charles was rooted while William was free. Charles liked classical music, beef, drama movies, and was a devout Christian. William liked pop music, teriyaki chicken, romance novels, and was an atheist who believed that you need to make this world and this life count for something before you are nothing.

            At first they had been enemies, arguing about religion, what constituted as good music, and how much of an idiot the other was. But then they started to agree on what the other was saying, could find respect in one another. It wasn’t until William came out of the closet to his father and got the tar kicked out of him that he and Charles really became friends. They were in their twenties when this occurred and started to live together. Charles’s church didn’t understand, though he was like his William and tried to get him to repent, it was one of the few times that Charles lost faith. That night, Charles and William went to dinner and were sitting across from a family that was celebrating the coming out of their daughter. They were proud of her being able to be herself in front of them. That was one of the few moments that William had faith.

            They were both now in their eighties, and Charles wondered how the time had flown by. His wife passed away three years ago, they had no children due to Edith being barren. But that was alright because William was like their child anyways. He kept them on their toes and kept them laughing and together. William, himself, never settled down. But whenever he broke up with someone, or had been broken up with, he would always go crying to Charles and Edith as though he were their fifteen year old daughter.

           

            William set the bowl of chili down in front of Charles and scooted into his recliner in front of Charles and the hearth. His glasses were perched on the edge of his nose as he looked down at his food with a gleeful smile. He heard Charles sigh, and looked up startled. He then snapped his fingers.

            “I forgot the bread, again! Don’t take one bite, you! I’ll tan your hide if I see you munchin`!”

I'll Protect You

“Show me that you're real and not just my own madness”

― Alexandra Monir, Timeless

Milo awoke with a start. He had the dream again He sat up, looking around the room which looked so startlingly different than his dream. His body was drenched in sweat and his heartbeat was in frenzy.. He reached around to where his right arm used to be. All that was left was half of his shoulder and scars. They felt smooth beneath his fingers and it reminded him of that day. 

~~~~

Milo and Tristan had been best friends since Milo could remember. 

“Milo..who are you talking to?” Milo’s mother asked. Her face was contorted in confusion. 

“Mommy I’m talking to Tristan!” Milo would say, a smile plastered across his face. Tristan would wave at Milo’s mother. But she couldn’t see him. “Oh your imaginary friend?” She asked. “No, Mommy he’s real. He’s right here.” But she brushed it off. He was only six, of course it was an imaginary friend. 

When Milo was thirteen they went to the beach. Like always, Tristan would come along. His family always thought of Milo as a loner. They didn’t want to believe he was crazy, they told themselves he was quiet and soft-spoken.  While everyone else was making sandcastles Tristan and Milo would put their feet in the wet sand and let the waves wash over them.  “Come on Milo let’s go for a swim!!” Tristan said encouragingly. Tristan ran farther into the water and swam underneath it. Milo laughed at him, thinking he was crazy. Several minutes passed before Tristan came back up and Milo became worried. He jumped in after his friend.  He swam farther into the water, but couldn’t see Tristan. He couldn’t see the shadow that loomed behind him. The bull shark was fast, bumping into him first. His body spun and swayed as he became disoriented. The shark attacked, grabbing on to Milo’s arm it shook him violently. Milo tried his best to fight back, kicking and punching the shark. Finally the shark ripped Milo’s arm away and swam off. Blood turned the water a deep dark red and Milo was convinced he was going to die. Everything started to go black. He could only see bits and pieces of the world around him. He could feel arms grabbing him. He could feel his lungs taking in oxygen when they finally reached the shore. He could he the screaming in the distance. The last thing he saw was Tristan looking down at him, his face pale and then finally Tristan vanished. As if he never existed.  

After all the blood Milo lost, he somehow still survived. All the Doctors were perplexed and all his family was curious to know who had saved him. Milo tried to tell them over and over. “It was Tristan! It was Tristan! I swear it was him!” But no one believed him. He never saw Tristan again after that day. 

~~~~

Milo hated the dream, because it wasn’t a dream. It was a memory that replayed over and over in his head. It was more like a living nightmare. For some reason he was having the dream more than usual. He was also beginning to miss Tristan more than usual. He would see someone with Tristan’s dark hair and would have to glance twice. After all these years his heart still hurt. He didn’t know what this feeling was inside his stomach. It would bubble up whenever he thought of him. He would tell himself it’s just because he missed him, but deep down he knew it was more than that. Him and Tristan used to be so close, Tristan was his only friend. He got out of bed and shivered. The heat wasn’t on and he was only wearing his boxers. He cursed on the way to the bathroom. When he got out of the bathroom, Tristan was sitting on his bed. Milo jumped back, screaming some as he did. He tried blinking once and then again, but Tristan was still sitting there. He had on a black dress shirt and was wearing black jeans. His hair was longer than Milo remembered. Tristan got up from the bed and made he was over to Milo. “Hello old friend.” He said smiling. Milo couldn’t believe it was him. It couldn’t have been, everyone told him he wasn’t real. He was just an imaginary friend! “Are-are you real?” Milo stuttered in disbelief. Tristan nodded. “But..But you can’t be.” Tristan looked down at himself before patting his chest and legs. “Hm..well I certainly feel real.” Milo couldn’t help but laugh. Even in hard times, Tristan could always cheer him up. Milo gives Tristan a quick hug with his arm. As if he’d been waiting for it, Tristan hugs Milo back. “I missed you.” Milo whisper’s into Tristan’s shoulder. “I missed you too.” Tristan says back. When they pull apart Tristan has a pained look on his face, as if he’s holding back tears. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you before…before..” Tristan is looking down at where Milo’s right arm used to be. “It’s okay, I’ve always been a lefty anyway.” He laughs, trying to lighten the subject. Tristan hugs Milo this time, it’s a tight embrace that catches Milo off guard. When he pulls away Tristan looks deep into Milo’s eyes. They stay like that for several minutes and milo can barely breathe. “I’m sorry I left you..” Tristan finally says. “After what happened..I had to go away for  a while. Figure some things out..” He says looking away. “What things? I’ve wondered all this time if you were really real. Everyone says I’m crazy. I even have a therapist now. Her name is Brenda.” Milo says. “What are you Tristan?” Milo says after a short pause. Tristan looks back up at Milo. It takes him a minute. “I’m..I’m your protector.” He says finally. Milo’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Protector? Like my guardian angel?” He asks. “Yeah, something like that. You see the problem is that when you’re a protector, you cannot by any circumstances let your charge see you. You saw me right from the get go Milo. I don’t know why or how, but It’s unheard of.” Tristan says running his hand through his hair nervously. “So I got scolded for that and that’s why I’ve been gone so long..I was put on probation from protecting you.” Milo could barely take all of this in. “They had Carmen watching after you. Until I came back.” Milo was trying his best to keep up. “Carmen? Whose Carmen? I haven’t seen anyone around lately.” Milo says putting his hand in his pocket. “That’s because you couldn’t see Carmen. You can only see me..” He says. “Why is that?” Milo asks. Tristan swallowed before speaking. “I think it’s because we’re connected somehow..” He says, his face turning pink. Milo’s stomach began to explode as if it turned into a million butterflies. “So why are you back now? Why isn’t Carmen still..uh..protecting me?” He asks. Tristan bites his lip, briefly glancing down at Milos mouth. “It’s because I had to see you. I broke the rules Milo. All of them. I wasn’t supposed to still be watching you after I was on probation, but I did. I wasn’t supposed to come back here and see you, but I did.  Milo…I..I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you..but I did.” Tristan said. His face was red and he looked at Milo expectantly. Milo let the words sink in. It felt like the sun shining on his skin after he’d been in a shadow.  It was warm and sweet. Without thinking, Milo leaned up and kissed Tristan hard on the mouth. Everything he’d been feeling poured into that kiss. His loneliness without Tristan there, his anger of Tristan leaving, his desire of seeing him again. Tristan kissed him back with all the same force. He ran his hands through Milo’s hair, occasionally grasping hold of it, not wanting to let go of Milo ever again. When they finally parted ways Tristan laughed. Milo’s breath was coming fast and his heart beat was out of control. “I’m such a Rebel. I’ve broken another rule.” Tristan said smiling, his face red. “I just can’t believe it. I’m so glad your real and I’m so glad your back.” Milo said, holding back his tears. He never cried, not even when the shark took his arm. “I’m so glad to be back. I promise I’ll never leave you. I don’t care what he rules say. I’ll protect you till the day I die.” 

Challenge #12

The challenge for the next week is Book Quote! We will be choosing a quote from a book, any book we like, and writing a story around that quote.

If you would like to join us, please do! Send us something amazing for Fan Friday! All you need to do is whip something up that follows this week's challenge and send it to inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!

See you Wednesday!

FAN FRIDAY SUBMISSION!

 Movie Quote: "I choose to be alone. I choose to jump face first; to not just kick back and enjoy the ride. I choose neither my future nor my past, but my present, my now"  -Dakota Skye

"I don't like this, Georgia. Why are we here again?" the little voice asked. A more mature, and irritated, voice responded with

"Well Lizzie-Beth we are here because some whack job thinks that Georgia needs to talk about our situation."

"Scarlet! Be nice to the doctor is sitting right here." Georgia softly chastised. The doctor wrote in a notebook and waited for an opportunity. He explained he wanted to speak to each of them privately starting with Lizzie-Beth then Scarlet ending with Georgia. They complied, with minimal complaint from Scarlet. Lizzie-Beth talked about her dolls and tea parties. Her voice softened into a frightened whisper as she clutched a pillow while she talked about the Monster Bear. Her and Georgia,or Georgie as she called her, had been together so long she was afraid to be apart. Scarlet breezed in confident and still slightly irritated. She was brash at times but it was only in her persistence to toughen Georgia up a bit. Other than that the doctor was surprised at the adventurous self assured woman who sat in front of him. She had her issues as well, which he brought up and she brushed aside saying she had gotten past that part of her life. Finally Georgia entered and sat nervously on the couch tapping her foot and biting her fingernails. She was lost in the world, stuck wondering who she truly was and what she wanted to do. Finally the doctor asked the question she had been dreading.

"Georgia, do you want Lizzie-Beth and Scarlet to go?" his eyebrows raised slightly at the expression on her face. "I see your hesitation. What are you afraid of if they leave?" Georgia sighed and shrugged. "Well they won't leave quickly. It won't be like tomorrow or maybe not even this year but if we keep talking we might be able to find the Georgia that I believe is inside. All you have to do is make that first step." Georgia studied his face, kind trustworthy eyes and a genuine smile. He really did want to help. Eventually Georgia smiled and nodded.

Two years later Georgia woke up and they were gone. She was the only person in her head and body and it was peaceful.

-D.S.