Pictures

Do we only take photos when we know deep down that what we see before us will never last?

View From the Roof

Trees form a craggy horizon as they blend almost seamlessly with the cloudy sky. Light from a single floodlight sends dancing patterns over the asphalt, and the few stray cars clustered at the bottom of the driveway. In the near dakness, the tree looming above me appears naked for its early spring buds are rendered invisible by the hazy backdrop behind it. The air is heavy as the clouds threaten a downpour in the night. If I had no calender I would have no way to know if the night is one cold spring or a warm autumn. My fingers tremble ever so slighty in the cold, but I'm not tempted to return inside. It's bracing, refreshing. The music is soft enough that it allows me to be in contact with the rest of the world, but loud enough that it keeps away the demonns of the imagination in the darkness, the terror of a rustling bush that could be mistaken for an approaching figure, a monster of the mind. The roof is sloped in such a way that it feels like the whole world could be revealed beneath me, feels as if my very seat has the power to tip me into that mysterious world like a mother bird ushering its child from the treetop so it can spread its wings at last. Like the gentle hum of an alarm clock, coaxing me from my dreams, leading back into truth, reality. Life.

Pursuit

I press my back against the tree and attempt to quietly catch my breath. Not an easy feat. I should have found a better place to hide, but I didn’t have the time. I don’t have time. Time is running out. In the distance, I hear a chorus of shouts. My heart skips a beat. So quickly? My comrades have fallen so quickly? Options flash through my mind. I have to assume that I’m alone now. It’s entirely possible that all my comrades are down. I shouldn’t expect help from them. I gradually allow my feet to take my weight again. Now, in the commotion, would be a good time to find a better hiding place. I retreat further into the woods. That’s when I hear the snap behind me. The panic sets in before I can stop it, and I start to run. I know the woods. The woods are my domain. My pursuer can’t say the same. I use the fallen logs, low brush, and tightly packed trees to my advantage. I hear him stumble behind me, but he doesn’t fall back. I’m in trouble now though. This stretch of wooded area isn’t very large. I can’t keep him running around in circles. Eventually his cohorts will come to join the hunt. The hunt for me. A break in the trees reveals an open field up ahead. It seems to be my only way out, but taking this route would mean death. I can stay out of reach in the woods, but in a flat out race, my pursuer would take me out in seconds. I can’t run. I can only hide. I skip around a tree, double back, dodge behind a clump of brush, and pop up near the edge of the woods. I hold still, even hold my breath, waiting to see what has become of my pursuer. He’s stopped, unsure of where I’ve gone. What will be his next move? I can only hope that he’ll go look for me somewhere else. I stare at him, willing him to move on. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, he turns his head, and starts to walk away. I take a moment to slowly catch my breath, and give my pursuer time to make distance. Now that the treat is gone, my only logical avenue would be into the field. In near silence, I pick my way over to the tree line, and into the open. I start jogging at a steady pace. Then comes the telltale rustle. I bite my lip, but other than that, I make no reaction. I continue my easy pace, but I now know that my pursuer has returned. I can’t beat him in a flat out run. I’ve already decided that, but right now, he seems to be stalking me. He doesn’t know that I know he’s got me. If he did, the chase would be on. My only chance is to continue making him think I have no idea where he is. At least until I can get back into the woods. Every second we keep up this game, my pursuer is gaining ground. I can hear almost everyone of his soft footfalls. I’m running out of time. I take the chance, diving into the woods to my right. My sudden move has shocked him, but not enough for more than a second of reprieve. He’s too close now. Even in the woods I can’t lose him now. It’s too late to do anything, but turn and face my demise. My lungs are burning. I can’t run anymore. It’s over. He’s upon me. I’ve failed! I’ve failed everyone! And myself. He tags me, and the game is over.

Parallel Pt. 1

It was as if someone split Milo's vision with an axe. It shattered in front of him, as an apposing force tried to rip his very essence from his body. He tried to hold on, but, like before, it was impossible. He opened his eyes to find he was somewhere new. "I am growing stronger." He said, his voice the same, but his tone far different. As opposed to what he'd just felt, now he felt as though power was flooding into him. "Milo Keypen is slipping away." Whispered Ollem. "Sequire is at my feet."

Prophecy Pattern

The Prophecy Pattern can be easily illustrated by an overly protective parent. This parent fears for their child, they are constantly afraid of bad influences. Whether it be drugs, fighting, or cursing. They shelter their child in every way possible, keeping them from the real world. In the end the child becomes moody and ends up BECOMING one of those bad influences. This is the nature of the Prophecy Pattern. Beginning in Greek Mythology and eventually spreading to modern fantasy, prophecies add intrigue and interest to any story, but almost every time there's the same pattern. The prophecy foretells something dark and sinister, and whenever someone tries to prevent it, they end up causing it.

Greek Mythology

Several possibly theses. I may want to take the influence on modern fiction and literature. Though it wasn't so back then, Greek Mythology really was some of the first fiction. It's focus on morality, good and evil, and dozens of other aspects are still in use now in modern fiction. Another possibility is the many ways the Greeks tried to explain the huge world around them. They didn't have the scientific information that we have now to show them things like why the sun sets and why the oceans move in such ways. Really this was the focus of the entire religion. The gods which they worshiped controlled the aspects of nature that didn't make sense to them. They thought lightning was Zeus's ultimate weapon. They thought that Apollo would raise the sun every morning with a golden chariot, and they believed that the rainbow was really just Iris the messenger of the gods. I also want to look into something that I sort of stumbled upon accidentally. Something called the GREEK DARK AGES. The entire society fell because of a fail in government, a bad economy, and a few pillagers. By the time Greece fell literature, art, music, it was all gone. It has, of course, been rebuilt, but not to what it once was. The last possibility for a thesis is the idea of a focal point. Not in Greece, but in Mythology. Something that led to everything else. Obviously in the beginning there was nothing but Chaos, and no life could have been brought forth without Eros the lord of love. He bound from Chaos Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky), and from them was born everything. Obviously was this Creation to have taken place without Eros? No. I don't mean to have Eros as my focal point because that's too simple. Prometheus? Pandora? Atlas? Aphrodite? Someone here changed everything, and if I can find information to support that. I have my thesis.

The Boxes

All around the world, boxes are found by very specific people. In these boxes are bits and pieces that don't seem to make any sense. Hundreds of these boxes will change hundreds of lives, but not as much as the lives of Glen Aubrey and Grace Hunt. Each are given from their boxes, a vision. They are shown a grand design, a way that all the pieces from the boxes can fit together, but they can't see how it will end. Now Glen has to discover the secret of the boxes and where they came from before Grace can create an ultimate weapon. In the boxes are bits of paper with strange writings, unfinished machines, light prisms, keys, and maps. Grace is on a mission to fit the pieces and change the world. Glen's on a mission to stop her, but everything is not what it seems, as things start to fall into place and the puzzle's end comes into sight. When it happens, the world will never be the same.

The Circle of 4

There is a cycle that exists in our every day lives. This cycle, however, is highly significant. It begins with Creation. In the aftermath of Creation is Peace. Then Chaos. Finally Destruction. After Destruction, Creation is born from the ashes. Creating a circle. Creation Peace Chaos Destruction Creation Peace Chaos Destruction This is also the cycle of the seasons. Spring brings creation. Summer represents peace. Autumn is the equivalent of chaos. Winter is an ending, or destruction. This cycle is the Intro, the Story, the Build-up, and finally the Climax. This cycle is the Circle of 4