Stuck in the Maze: Part 3

Amelia turned around and gasped as she saw a huge snake slithering up to her.

Summer had reached Annika by now but couldn’t untie her yet because the snake was watching. She didn’t dare gasp in case that gave her away.

“I heard you talking to someone,” the man yelled, “Don’t lie to me!”

“I talk to myself you know,” she said calmly, keeping her eyes on the serpant.

“Liar!” he screamed and jumped at her with sword outstretched.

She did a huge swipe with her sword that she had quickly pulled from the sheave around her waist. He blocked it and landed elegantly in front of her. They started battling fiercely. Amelia had amazing sword skills, that awed Summer and Annika. She was waiting for her opportunity, only blocking his pitiful attempts to kill her. Finally her opportunity came.

He dove at her and his left side was left unprotected and she jabbed, and pulled her sword as he fell to the ground, dead.

A lake of crimson blood started forming around him, but some of the blood wasn’t his. Summer noticed a gash had been made in Amelia’s stomach. Amelia put her hand to her stomach and when she drew it was, it was covered in ruby red blood. She was starting to weaken, slowly but surely as the blood escaped from her body.

“You may have killed my minion, but you will never be able to defeat me,” the serpent hissed sinisterly.

And the snake jerked its head towards her. Amelia brandised her sword, but weakly. Summer quickly untied Annika and told her to stay there. The snake slithered out of sight, calling taunts from the shadows. Amelia fell to the ground, out cold. Summer ran over to her and dragged her over to Annika. Amelia’s head lay limp on Annika’s lap. Annika stroked Amelia’s hair affecctionatley, looking down at her unconcious body, worry filling her eyes.

Summer ran out into the cleaing and picked up Amelia’s sword. It felt awkward in her hands but she had to do her best. All was silent and then all of the sudden out of the shadows the snake jabbed. Summer flourished the sword, missing by a smidge.

“You can never win,” the snake hissed.

He jabbed again and this time she was ready. She jabbed and struck it in the mid section. A loud screech emitted from the serpent and it fell limp on the ground. Summer rushed over to Amelia, who was still out cold, and dropped the sword.

“We have to get out! We may have won but she is weak, she needs medical attention,” Summer said.

“Ok,” Annika replied, nodding her head.

They hoisted Amelia’s arms over their shoulder and supported her to the flashing exit door. They got closer and closer, the sword was now invisible back in its sheave. They opened the door and were out in the sunlight.

“Are you guys ok?” Cary hollered running over to them. Then she saw Amelia’s bloodstained shirt and gasped.

“We have to get Amelia to the hospital,” Summer said.

“Ok, I’ll drive,” Cary offered. They got into Cary’s car, Summer was sitting in the passenger’s seat and Annika was in the back, Amelia’s head still resting on her lap.

Cary drove quickly and they arrived at the hospital and Amelia got rushed in.

The three young women were outside Amelia’s hospital room, pacing. The doctor came out.

“Is she ok?” Annika said worriedly, rushing up to him.

“She will live but she has lost a lot of blood,” the doctor replied.

All three women walked into the hospital room. Amelia looked tired, and had bandages wrapped around her middle. She smiled when her friends walked in. Cary let out a deep breath, and Annika sat beside Amelia and brushed Amelia’s bangs out of her face. “Thank you Summer, not only did you save my life, but you defeated the evil snake. That takes a lot of courage and strength,” Amelia whispered.

“Eh, it was no big,” Summer commented beaming. And they all spent the evening talking and hanging out in the hospital room, until Amelia fell asleep on Annika’s shoulder.

The End

Stuck in the Maze: Part 2

“Come on Amelia we have to leave. Annika will be fine,” Summer said, trying to reassure Amelia.

“She isn’t fine, I know it, she is in trouble.” Amelia whispered, looking Summer in the eye.

“Ok, what do we do?” Summer asked.

“Hide,” Amelia said. They ran as fast as they could to their hiding spot. “Get down,” Amelia whispered.

Summer and Amelia dove to the ground, Amelia lifted her head looking around the room. She saw in the neon light two figures, one pulling the other along, covering the second’s mouth. “Annika,” Amelia breathed. She put her hand on her invisible sword. This sword is an extraordinary piece of weaponry and magic. It is around her waist at all times but no one can see it, unless she draws it out of its sheave.

She kept her hand on the hilt, and signaled for Summer to be silent. She pulled up the pant of her jeans exposing a gun, she took it out and handed it to Summer, to give her some self defense. “Do not use it unless I tell you,” Amelia whispered and Summer nodded.

The man holdng Annika spoke, “Come out, Come out where ever you are Amelia,” he yelled. They had fallen into a trap! They didn’t want Annika they wanted Amelia!

Amelia and Summer stood up, both armed,and ready to fight. But they kept to the shadows, wanting to stay hidden. When they go out of ear shot of the man, Amelia turned around and faced Summer. “Here is the plan, you will free Annika and I will fight. Ok?”

“Ok,” Summer said. They high fived and Summer stuck to the shadows and Amelia stepped out into the open.

“Ah, so you have decided to reveal yourself,” the man said, dropping tied up Annika to the ground. “Where is your friend?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Well, I don’t just want you, I want her.”

“Why?”

“I want the set,” he said simply.

“Set of what?”

“Goddesses.”
“What?” Amelia said confused.

“The element goddesses; fire, water/ice, nature, earth, and air. I know your secret; you are the water and ice goddess, your friend Katie is the air goddess and your other friends, Maggie, Leah and Lauren are the other goddesses.”

Amelia’s brow furrowed in confusion, Katie wasn’t here. Then she realized that he thought Summer was Katie and smiled. This could be a leg up, she didn’t know how but it could. “Well she isn’t here,” Amelia declared smugly.

“She lies!” something hissed behind her.

Stuck in the Maze: Part 1

“Laser Tag! Laser Tag! Laser Tag!” chanted Summer.

“To bad Katie couldn’t come,” Amelia said sadly.

“Oh come on Amelia, cheer up, Annika’s coming,” Summer reminded her.

“Yeah,” Amelia said perking up a little bit but not completely.

They were riding with Carrie in her Prius. Glen was riding with them, which was the only damper. She sat in the front with Carrie, and Amelia, Frances, and Summer sat in the back. The girls in the back got control of the iPod and the car of girls sang along with Lady Gaga the whole way to Laser Quest.

When they arrived they went inside and waited as everyone else started arriving. As soon as Annika arrived, Amelia and Summer were at her side, like Velcro.

They picked their code names and waited at the door.

“What are your code names?” Amelia asked her companions.

“Mine is Siuan,” Summer replied.

“I’m Sunshine,” Annika said happily. Amelia and Summer started cracking up.

“Why Sunshine?” Amelia asked taking a deep breath trying to suppress her laughter.

“I told the lady to pick one and she picked Sunshine.” This reply just started another bout of giggles and Annika rolled her eyes and began to walk away.

“Wait, I’m sorry,” Amelia yelled running after her and giving her a hug.

After a few more minutes of waiting their color got called and then went into a dark neon room to hear the rules. As they recited the rules, Amelia, Annika, and Summer said the opposite of what they were supposed to. The three friends were laughing and giggling as they entered the airlock. Amelia grabbed vest number 15, Annika number 14 and Summer 16. They put them on and put in the card thing that gave the vest your code name. They ran inside to find a good hiding spot.

They kept going shooting left and right, “Q, Q, Q!” Summer and Amelia yelled shooting lasers all around. Annika started cracking up at how weird they looked. After about ten minutes of playing the emergency exit light started flashing and everyone started leaving. It was complete chaos. Amelia whipped around, “Where is Annika?” She asked Summer, frantically looking around.

Candlelight (Part 3)

by Rebecca Clearwater

Katheneria

The rain hit my back hard, cutting into my rough shoulders slightly. I knew it was time to go inside and yet I had a problem. I loved rain but this rain was going to cause me hardship.

I couldn't see for more than three feet around me it was raining so far. This meant that I had to trust my gut and go in the direction that was home. But what if I was wrong?

If I was wrong any of three things could happen. If I went one way I would hit the dreaded forest and surely be eaten by a mysterious beast of the savanna. The other way would present an opposing village where I would surely be held hostage. And lastly the vast ocean where I could only perish, not live.

I rushed in the direction I hoped was home. My bare feet slipped in the mud slightly. It was slippery and I couldn't find a grip. I fell, hard.

My knees scraped against a hidden rock and began to bleed.

That killed me. It made me realize how lost I was. I sat there in my mud puddle and hugged my knees crying. I wished I was home with my mother and sister. But no, I was alone.

Then in the distance I saw a light. It glowed dimly, a beacon in the rain.

I stood up and began to run towards it.

When I got there I was confronted by a white man. He was holding the oil lamp that had led my way. Not my way home but my way to danger.

But maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He was different than my people. I was different than my people. We were both in the same boat. Maybe this was for the best.

Rescue: Part 7

It was the Shaman!

Amelia felt herself being dragged through the tunnel that led to the outside world. Quickly everything was illuminated by the iridescent moon.

The Shaman let go of her, “Fight,” he demanded.

“What? Why?”

“You look just like her. For that you must die. Fight me!”

“You’re raving mad!”

“Fight!” He screamed a battle cry and jumped at her. Amelia barely had enough time and energy to draw her sword. She held it up, but halfheartedly. She was so weak.

She parried his attacks slowly weakening. Finally, when all hope was lost she gutted him.

“You look just like her,” he said warmth abandoning his body quickly.

“Who?”

“Rebecca Clearwater.”

“Who is she?” Amelia said surprise dawning on her face.

“My girlfriend,” he said gasping for his last breath. He groped for her hand and found it pushing a cold, hard item into her palm. She slipped the item into her clock and took a deep breath. Despite what he had done, she regretted his death. And then he died.

The girlfriend who betrayed him, Amelia realized. But why did she have her pen name? And why did she have her daughter’s name? Did it relate or was it just a freaky coincidence?

“Amelia are you okay?”

Katie’s voice brought Amelia back from her wonderings.

“Yeah I’m fine.”

“Your bleeding!”

“I’m fine.”

“Why are you bleeding?”

“Let’s just say I was weakened for a reason. You were right. Can we go home now? I’m tired.”

“Yes of course.” And the six girls piled into the car. They had won!

When Amelia got dropped at home last Katie stopped the car and Amelia was about to get out when Katie stopped her.

“What happened out there?”

“I almost got killed.”

“Yeah but did he say anything?”

Amelia relayed what happened and they sat in silence for a minute while Katie took everything in.

“So what did he put in your hand?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well look.”

“Ok.” Amelia removed the vial from her pocket. The vial was filled to the rim with a airy, silvery liquid.

“His memories,” Amelia breathed.

“Wow,” Katie whispered, “Are you gonna look at them?”

“I guess I’m supposed to. You want to come?”

“You sure? There may be something you don’t want me to see in there.”

“What wouldn’t I want you to see?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re my best friend my life is an open book to you. Come on.”

Amelia got out of the car and hoped Katie would follow. She relaxed when she heard Katie’s car door close. Amelia started walking towards the front door of her house and smiled when Katie caught up with her.

They went into the house and Amelia went into the kitchen and got a flat bowl and then walked down the stairs to her bedroom with Katie close behind. She entered her room and went into her closet and typed in the passcode. 1-4-7-3. The door blew Amelia’s hair out of her face as it opened. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Amelia walked over to the table and placed the bowl on it and dumped the contents of the vial into the bowl carefully.

“After you,” Katie said.

Amelia stared at the silvery, stringy contents of the bowl and took a deep breath. She placed her face on the bowl and was confronted with an icy water feel. Amelia’s stomach turned as she began to fall. After many minutes of the sensation her feet fell firmly on the ground and her head began to stop spinning. Katie fell next to her and grabbed Amelia’s arm to stabilize herself.

They had fallen in on a wedding. It was extravagant. There was a young woman of about twenty-two and a man of about thirty getting married. She wore a long white dress and he a dashing tuxedo. They were exchanging rings and then they kissed with such passion that it brought tears to the congregations eyes. Amelia looked around at the church, they were at Trinity Menlo Park. Her head began to spin but she grounded herself concentrating on the transforming scene around her.

The newly married couple buying a house in Queens, New York and working to make it beautiful.

The man beginning to have affairs and finally sticking to one girl no older than sixteen.

The young woman crying over a pregnancy test. She was pregnant with his child. The young pink bundle being brought into the household of the couple now having been married for ten years. The wife taking pity on the lured in sixteen-year old and taking her in. A toddler of about three standing in a room with her mother, the young woman now nineteen. In a man-free household raising her daughter.

She looked into the girl’s eyes, “I will never leave you, we will be best friends forever.”

A car, holding the young woman, getting hit by a drunk driver.

The ex-wife of the couple breaking the news to the toddler that her mother is gone. The toddler began to wail in agony.

The ex-wife and orphaned child moving to California to begin a new life together.

The man impregnating another young girl eleven years later.

The young woman dying in child birth.

The man sending the child down a river in California naming her Rebecca Clearwater, after the mother of his first child.

And finally the man losing all his money in a harsh lawsuit and moving to the mountains to become a Shaman.

Amelia and Katie warped back and were back in the secret room.

Amelia bent over crying uncontrollably.

“You were the little girl weren’t you?” Katie asked gently.

Amelia nodded.


The End

Rescue: Part 6

She turned the dial on her invisibility cloak and was invisible. She drew her instant darkness powder and activated it around Katie. Amelia drew her sword and ran toward the Ra’zac with wicked ninja skill. She gutted and beheaded the first one, the one who had harmed her best friend, then went to the second one. The Ra’zac gazed around wildly waiting for the blow that never came. Amelia took out her gun and hit him right in the heart. She watched as the red light left the beady eyes under the cloak and he keeled over, dead.

Amelia rushed to Katie’s side and quickly started mending her. When Katie came to herself. Amelia had a glass of river water ready.

“Drink,” she commanded.

“But Lauren.”

“Drink.”

“But Lauren!”

“Lauren is not my biggest concern right now. Lauren is dead, you are alive. Drink!”

Katie drank the water, grateful to feel it refresh her body.

“Ok let’s go,” Katie said when she had drained the glass.

“We can afford to sit for five minutes. It is only ten.”

“Ok.”

“That was really dumb what you did.”

“I know but I couldn’t let you die.”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“Sorry.”

“It was really dumb what you did but I thank you for it.”

“Your welcome.”

“You ready?”

“Yeah.”

Amelia and Katie walked through the forest at a leisurely pace until they reached the mouth of the cave.

“You’re back!” Maggie called.

“Yup,” Amelia said.

“Did you get everything?”

“Yes, now for the last thing on the list,” Amelia commented darkly. “You go on without me. I’ll catch up.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Katie offered.

“Ok, here Maggie,” Amelia said handing Maggie the things her and Katie had collected. “Go let the Shaman start on the potion. We will be in there in a minute.”

Maggie left and Amelia drew one last vial from her cloak. It measured a liter.

Amelia drew a dagger from the loop on her thigh and held it her palm. She took a deep breath and cut into her hand. She cut a long gash from the bottom of her pinky finger to the lower right side of her left palm. The blood flowed heavily and soon filled up the vial. When the vial had filled, Amelia handed it to Katie, and blacked out.

When Amelia woke up she was in the Shaman’s cave her head on something soft and warm. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Amelia saw Katie’s worried face gazing down at her.

“Gosh, I really conked out.”

“Yeah and gave me a heart attack. Don’t ever do that again,” Katie demanded shooting Amelia one of her “I will kill you if you don’t kill yourself first” glares.

“Ah, just in time for the potion ceremony,” the Shaman commented glancing in Amelia’s direction.

Katie shot him a venomous glare but kept silent.

“Do you have the body?” the Shaman asked.

“Well duh, it’s right there,” Amelia said.

“Bring it here.”

Susan and Summer brought the body and placed it in front of the Shaman.

“Now come heal her wounds,” the Shaman commanded.

Amelia stepped forward.

“Are you strong enough?” Katie inquired worriedly.

“Yes mom, I’m fine.”

Amelia bent over Lauren and healed her wounds. She stood up and felt herself sway from the exertion of the healing.

Susan caught Amelia while she swayed dangerously and helped her next to Katie where she sat, lying her head on Katie’s shoulder to clear her head.

“I swear that Shaman guy if trying to kill you,” Katie muttered darkly.

“Maybe so,” Amelia acknowledged.

The Shaman turned out the lights and muttered a few magic words. He then dumped the potion into Lauren’s gaping mouth. He began chanting loudly. Soon Amelia felt the presence of another human.

“Lauren,” Amelia yelled into the darkness.

“Amelia I’m alive!” Lauren yelled.

A big group hug congregated in the middle of everything. But as Amelia tried to join it she felt a sharp pain against her neck. She gasped slightly but then fell silent when she heard a voice whisper in her ear, “Keep silent and no one will die tonight but you.”

Rescue: Part 5

Amelia laced her fingers with Katie’s, took a deep breath and plunged into the darkness hoping everyone would follow.

The cave was long and dark and the passageway as getting narrower and narrower. Amelia saw a light ahead and took a burst of speed, her heart racing. She felt the comforting presence of Katie next to her as they all entered the dimly lit room.

Amelia looked around, taking in her surroundings. It was a wide cave, lit by a single candle. There was a cauldron in the corner and a small waterfall dripping soothingly in the very back. Sitting on a rock, smack dab in the middle was a man dressed in a loin cloth and a fur cape. He had dark skin and dark hair weathered by his nature setting. His eyes were dark and mysterious and sent a chill through Amelia’s body. It was the Shaman.

“How may I help you?” the Shaman asked in a gruff, airy tone.

“My friend was killed and I need your help to bring her back from the dead,” Amelia explained, her eyes filled with pleading.

“Why can’t you? I sense you are a powerful being.” the Shaman murmured.

“I am powerful but not with the power to bring back the dead.”

“Ok, I will help you, but you must gather the materials I need.”

“We can do that.”

“I will make a potion that will call your friend’s spirit back from the dead. To make this potion I need a great many things. I need four pine needles from the owl’s sycamore tree. I need a cup of sand from the spring of life 40 paces to the left of the owl’s sycamore. I need a pebble from the river 212 paces to the right from the spring of life. And lastly, blood.”

“Whose blood?”

“Your blood.”

“How much of my blood?”

“A liter.”

“And where is the owl’s sycamore?”

“You will know when you have found it.”

“How?”

“The owl speaks. He will call your name when he senses your need.”

“Ok, we will do it.”

“I need two of your friends to stay here and help me make preparations.”

“Ok, Susan and Summer can do that.”

“I also need one of your friends to stay outside the cave to mark where you started.”

“I will,” Maggie volunteered.

“And one last catch,” the Shaman murmured.

“What?”

“It has to be done by midnight.”

“Anyone know what time it is?” Amelia called to her friends.

Maggie looked at her watch, “Eight O’clock,” she read.

“And I need fifteen minutes to prepare the draught,” the Shaman added.

“Ok,” Amelia agreed, “how are the paces measured?”

“Heel to toe.”

“Ok thank you.” And with that Maggie, Katie and Amelia raced out of the cave to begin their gathering.

When the three girls went out of the cave Amelia turned to Maggie.

“You didn’t have to volunteer to stay here,” Amelia said thankfully.

“I know but we don’t know if this guy is dangerous or not. This way there is someone who stayed behind who has very good self defense.”

“Good thinking! Ok we’ll be quick.”

“Good luck!”

“Thanks we’ll need it.”

Amelia started running in the direction of where the woods thickened with Katie close behind. She stopped running and slowed to a walk gazing around at the forest surrounding them.

It was dark and an owl hooted in the distance.

“Come on let’s go that way?”Katie suggested.

“I don’t think it’s that way.” Amelia replied shortly listening carefully.

“Why not?”

“I hear an owl farther off in that direction?”

“Why go to the one farther away?”

“It’s calling our names.”

“Then how do you know its an owl?”

“It’s hooting in between each name.”

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Katie said. “Let’s go,” she agreed lacing her hand with Amelia’s.

Amelia immediately relaxed a little bit. And they walked towards the owl. As they got closer it grew louder, “Amelia... hoot... Katie.”

“You want to hear an owl joke?” Amelia asked.

“Ok.”

“Knock knock.”

“Who’s there?”

“Owls.”

“Owls who?”

“That’s right owls hoot.”

“Wow.”

“I know right? Best joke ever?”

“Totally,” Katie said smiling.

Katie noticed Amelia’s hand move toward her sleeve. Katie shrugged it off and kept walking. She walked a few paces then stopped. She heard a noise. The sound of cloth rubbing on skin. She looked down at Amelia and saw her rubbing her left wrist rapidly.

“Amelia!”

“What?”

“I thought you were done with that?”

“Done with what?”

“That,” Katie said pointing at Amelia’s wrist. Amelia looked down and saw that she was scratching. She quickly ceased the action and turned bright red. She pulled back her sleeve exposing an irritated red spot.

“What’s wrong?” Katie said, her voice gentler now.

“I don’t know. I swear I have stopped! I just... I don’t know I’m doing it sometimes.”

“Ok.”

“You believe me don’t you?”

“Of course! Now what’s wrong?” Katie asked sitting down on the leaf strewn ground, signifying that they weren’t leaving until Amelia explained herself. Amelia sat next to Katie and pulled her knees to her chest.

She sighed, “This is gonna sound really stupid...”

“Its ok. What’s going on?”

“I guess I’m worried about the blood.”

“So am I.”

“You are?”

“Yeah, I mean that is quite a bit of blood.”

“I’m just so weak from all my past injuries. Today my mission felt hard instead of the usual ease. I’m scared that losing that blood is going to kill me.”

“Well then don’t do it.”

“I can’t not do it, I have to save Lauren.”

“Even it means losing your life?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you were fighting with Lauren?”

“I am but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to save her. I have to. I would save my worst enemy. I need to do this.”

“Can’t it be someone else’s blood?”

“No it has to be mine.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do.”

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“Why?”

“Your my bffl. I care.”

“I know you do just wanted to check. I’m not going anywhere.”

“How do you know? You just said this could cost you your life.”

“I know but I’ve changed my mind.”

“You can’t change your mind about that.”

“Yes I can.”

“Why did you?”

“You care,” Amelia said sticking out her tongue. “Come on, we better keep moving if we are going to keep the deadline,” Amelia decided, standing up and reaching out her hand to pull Katie up. They kept walking and finally came to the owl’s sycamore tree that was calling their names.

Amelia reached out and tried to take and handful of pine needles, but the tree interrupted her. “Uh uh uh, not so fast.”

“Why not?” Amelia shot back.

“You have to answer a riddle first.”

“Why?”

“Cause I said so.”

“Proceed.”

“A man is lying dead in a field of sunflower’s and he is stark naked and holding a pice of straw. There are no tracks for three miles around him. How did he get there? Why is he naked? And why is he holding a piece of straw?”

“He was zapped there by pink elephants from mars. He is naked because the pink elephants feed their prisoner’s clothing to their purple and green striped piranhas. He is holding a piece of straw because he poops straw cause he is a magical human and the elephants found out he pooped straw and thought he was possessed. So they dropped him from the moon and he fell and died holding his poop and naked cause the piranhas ate his clothes.”

The owl was now laughing so hard that he didn’t notice when Amelia reached up, grabbed four pine needles and started counting her steps heel to toe, moving rapidly away from the tree. Katie realized what had happened and caught up to Amelia.

“Was that really the answer?”

“Of course not.”

“Do you know the real answer?”

“Of course. Him and his friends rented a hot air balloon. They took a joy ride and it started loosing air. They took off their clothes to lighten the load, but of course that didn’t work. They drew straws to see who would be pushed out and he drew the shortest straw. He got pushed out and died.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?”

“He would have said I was wrong. He didn’t want us to get the pine needles.”

“How did you know that?”

“Intuition,” at that Amelia stopped walking in front of the Spring of Life. The spring was a long waterfall at least twenty feet high. The rocks sparkled with a unnatural sheen. The sand at the bottom of the pool was orange and the water as blue as the sky.

Amelia placed the pine needles inside her cloak, which was off invisibility mode right now, and reached in for a cup. She dipped the cup into the spring and came up with a cup of perfectly dry sand. “Hydrophobic,” Amelia whispered in awe.

“What?”

“The sand repels water.”

“Woah.”

“I know right? I’m surprised there is no booby trap here.”

“Maybe the Shaman is on our side.”

“Maybe.”

The two companions turned around ready to leave and came face to face with Wadjet. Wadjet was the protector of all Egypt. She is called the cobra-goddess. While she was one of the main goddesses she made duplications of herself and sent them all over the world. They are tricky creatures and can only be killed when stabbed in the heart.

“The only way you can get past is to elect one of you to fight me,” Wadjet hissed.

“Fine,” Amelia said stepping forward drawing her sword.

“Without weapons.”

“As you wish,” Amelia said sheathing her sword.

“Amelia what are you doing? Are you crazy?” Katie hissed worriedly.

“Trust me.”

“Ready yourself,” Wadjet announced changing into cobra form.

Amelia gazed intensely at the cobra, attempting not to be scared. She locked eyes with the snake and began bobbing her head in time with the snake. The venomous creature began to follow Amelia’s movements exactly. Amelia began to hum a small tune and the Wadjet’s eyes began to droop with sleep. After less than five minutes the huge body of the serpent fell to the ground. Amelia drew her sword and drove it into the snakes’ heart. Wadjet shifted back to human form, dead.

“You did it!” Katie exclaimed running over to Amelia and hugging her.

“It was no big,” Amelia said modestly.

They started counting their paces and reached the river quickly without running into a single creature. The forest seemed deserted.

The river babbled and bubbled the water slapping the shore heavily.

Amelia bent down and picked up a pebble and quickly pocketed it. As she was standing up she heard something in the water. “Run,” she hissed at Katie.

Katie turned and ran and hid behind a tree out of site.

From the depths of the river came the Ra’zac. Amelia gasped and put a hand on her sword. “We have been waiting for you Ms. McKeefry,” the Ra’zac hissed.

“Stalkerish much?” Amelia commented. But that comment cost her. The Ra’zac lashed out a claw with wicked speed and hit her arm. Her arm bled freely and she fell to the ground. Amelia muttered a quick healing charm and mended her arm. She was just about to get up when out of the shadows came Katie, running. She jumped in front of Amelia shielding her from an approaching sword.

Amelia winced when she heard the sword meet Katie’s flesh.

Rescue: Part 4

She soon felt the warmth of someone next to her and she knew it was Katie. Amelia took a deep breath and sat up, it was time to plan their next move.

“There has to be something we can do,” Susan exclaimed exasperated.

“I’m out of ideas. We have done everything, there is no new way to bring her back to life,” Amelia said defeatedly.

“Can’t we reuse an idea?”Katie asked.

“That wouldn’t make for an interesting story,” Amelia commented shaking her head.

“Gosh Katie,” Summer said attempting to lighten the mood.

Amelia laughed slightly.

“I have one last idea,” Maggie murmured.

“What?” Amelia asked urgently.

“Well it is a long shot,” Maggie said.

“Tell us,” Amelia demanded.

“The...” Maggie began.

“Shaman on the Mountain!!!!!” Amelia and Maggie finished together.

“What????” Summer, Susan and Katie chorused.

“The Shaman on the Mountain lives on Mount Lefroy in Canada. He was a rich entrepreneur but he was breaking a lot of laws in the process of making his first trillion. His girlfriend got mad at him and betrayed him to the government. His punishment was he was exiled from the U.S. He fled to Canada and became a Shaman. Shamans practice medicine and spiritual potions. He can contact the spirits and make a potion to revive Lauren,” Amelia explained.

“Cool,” Summer muttered taking everything in.

“Yay!” Susan cheered.

“Katie your gonna have to drive,” Maggie told her.

“Road trip! Road trip! Road trip!” Susan and Amelia chanted.

Summer and Amelia picked up Lauren’s lifeless body and placed it carefully in the trunk of Katie’s car, which Amelia had teleported here.

“I feel kind of like a murder,” Amelia commented giggling.

“I know rite??!?!?!” Summer said laughing hysterically.

“I call shot gun!” Amelia called and ran and hopped into the passenger’s seat.

Susan, Maggie and Summer loaded into the backseat and Katie into the driver’s seat. Katie revved up the car and they were off.

The car ride was loads of fun. Amelia was the D.J. which implies some very interesting music being played. They all talked and laughed as if nothing were wrong.

Finally, after a few hours of driving they reached the cave where the Shaman resided.

They all got out of the car, Susan and Summer lugging Lauren’s body.

“Ew why do I have to be on body duty again?” Summer complained.

“You volunteered dummy,” Amelia said laughing.

“Oh right, well I didn’t think you would let me. I thought someone would say you already did it and take the body and I would get the brownie points for offering,” Summer said.

“That’s what you get for trying to get brownie points,” Katie shot back.

“Oh like you never try to get brownie points,” Summer retorted.

“Oh will you shut up,” Susan requested pointedly.

They reached the mouth of the cave and Amelia gazed through the gloom trying to see anything and everything. “Hello? Anyone there?” she called into the darkness.

“Enter,” a creepy, low voice replied.

Rescue: Part 3

Amelia and Maggie read this and both burst out laughing.

“Yeah turn myself over, hah, I have a better idea,” Amelia said laughing. She looked at the address that was placed at the bottom of the text. It was located in Canada.

“What enemies have you made in Canada?” Maggie inquired.

“I don’t know,” Amelia said shrugging. “Shall we go?”

The two old friends got into the airplane after Amelia had tricked Maggie out with some spy gear. Amelia made a spotless take off and flew straight to Stratford, Ontario Canada. She landed about half a mile from the warehouse they were being directed to.

The two ninjas walked the last half mile and entered the warehouse wearily. The door creaked as it opened and Amelia cringed. They snuck in and stuck to the shadows. They had entered from the north and on the south wall they found a door guarded by two large, buff men. The men wore black crew neck tees, caky slacks, black dress shoes, and sunglasses. Around their waist they both held a twenty shot gun. Amelia went all the way back around and took the east side and Maggie took the west. They each knocked out one guard, using the sleeping darts. They had an hour before the guards would wake up. They had to work fast!

Amelia went into her jacket and pulled out a bobby pin. She placed it into the lock, it was an everyday lock and she picked it successfully; hearing the satisfying click of the door opening. Amelia turned the knob and stepped into the room sneakily, with Maggie right behind her.
The room was simple enough. It had off-white walls and a cement floor. There were wooden crates all along the the walls and one window, that was about six inches by one foot, at the top of the wall. And smack dab in the middle of the room were Susan, Lauren, Summer, and Katie.
Maggie went and untied Susan and Summer while Amelia went over and unbound Lauren and the Katie.

“What took you so long? For a while there I didn’t think you were going to come at all,” Lauren asked as Amelia untied Katie.

“Ye of little faith,” Amelia murmured good-naturedly.

“I knew you were gonna come and get us all along!” Katie exclaimed when Amelia had finished freeing her from her ties.

“Of course you did,” Amelia said hugging them glad they were all safe.

“Who captured you guys? And why Canada?” Maggie asked, not able to contain her curiosity.

“I don’t know,” Susan said.

“None of us do,” Summer said.

“It doesn’t matter,” Amelia commented, “Let’s get out of here.”

“Not so fast, Wilson,” a high-pitched voice said from behind her.

“What have we been caught by a four-year-old?” Amelia asked sarcastically turning around.

“Not quite,” the voice said.

Amelia’s eyes widened in astonishment. Standing right before her eyes was Justin Bieber!

“No!” Katie gasped.

“OMS!!!!!!” Susan yelled.

“OMG!” Lauren exclaimed.

“WOAH!!” Summer squealed.

“Ahhh!” Maggie screamed.

“Wow. Really? What have we ever done to you?” Amelia asked, placing her hands on her hips eying him skeptically.

“Not what you as a group but you as a singular person,” he replied.

“Ok then. What have I ever done to you?”

“Well hmm let’s see. Besides ruin my career...”

“I wish,” Amelia muttered.

“Oh, your little Facebook page against me has over three million members.”

“Really that much already? But why capture my friends?”

“Well, by yourself you are too strong but when your friends are in danger,” he explained snapping his fingers, “you are mine.”

When he snapped his fingers two guards walked over to the group of friends. Amelia who had been standing next to Katie and Susan got in front of them protectively and Maggie got in front of Summer, but Lauren was left to her own devices. The guards went over to her and picked her up. They went back behind Justin and the bigger of the two held Lauren down at gun point.

“Now, if you don’t give me what I want, you can watch your friend die,” he said cackling menacingly.

“Ok, what do you want from me?” Amelia said, her head falling in defeat.

“I want you to take down your page, and make a blog posting how awesome I am,” Justin demanded.

“But I’m not a liar,” Amelia said sarcastically.

That sarcastic comment had done it. A gun shot rang out through the warehouse and the guard dropped the dead body of Lauren.

Amelia and Maggie pulled out their swords. Maggie started rapidly decapitating the guards, while Amelia went straight for Justin.

He quickly drew his gun and held it up. Amelia just held up her sword and in pure rage she knocked the gun out of his hand. The gun fell to the ground and slid across the room. Justin backed away from Amelia until he was flat against the wall. She held him at sword tip and when he held up his hands in surrender...

She jabbed and felt the sword hit resistance and then go through and hit the resistance of the wall.

Amelia watched as the light left his eyes and removed her sword from Justin’s chest. She gazed around the room and saw that Maggie had taken care of everything else.

Amelia felt the sadness wash over her and she let it envelope her. Her knees buckled under her and she fell dropping her weapon. She sat on her knees, head in hands, and cried.

Rescue: Part 2

In a few hours she landed in Russia, where all bad things happen. Why you ask? Two words, Russian ninjas. Amelia landed the plane in a large plain of snow. In front of her loomed a huge stone castle, a beacon of doom in the snow; the headquarters of the Russian ninjas. She hiked towards it and finally reached the west wall. She drew her gun and pulled the second trigger. The hook grabbed onto the top of the wall and Amelia scaled the side of the building.

She got to the top, panting slightly. Her past injuries were taking their toll on her abilities.

Amelia crept across the roof; halting at every sound. When she reached the air vent she bent down and opened up her jacket, exposing the weapons and tools on the inside. Amelia reached in and took out her laser and used it to cut a perfect square in the air vent, just big enough for her to shimmy through. She placed the laser back into its small compartment and climbed into the air vent.

She turned on her glasses and it showed a map of the fortress. The young ninja started moving in the direction of the throne room, hoping it would lead her to her companions.

She slunk through the air vent, wincing every time it creaked. Finally, after a lot of crawling, the map showed she was right above the throne room. Amelia cut a hole with her laser in the side of the air vent and slid out carefully. She was now directly on the ceiling. Amelia found a loose tile and moved it so she could see into the throne room. It was completely empty except for the ninja king sitting in his throne at the head of the room.

Amelia replaced the tile after sizing up the room and moved ten feet to the right. When she reached what she hoped was the far side of the room she loosened another tile. Once it was removed she hooked her grappling hook to a pipe above her head and slid down silently. She kept to the shadows until she reached the king.

She drew her sword quietly, the beautiful blade glinted in the moonlight. The king’s head twitched and he stood up and drew his sword.
“Who’s there?” he called out into the seemingly empty room.

“It is I,” Amelia announced stepping out of the shadows.

“Ahhh, my young ninja nemesis returns!” And at that he jumped at her. He flourished his sword making a grand swipe that aimed for her neck. Amelia reacted quickly and parried the attack. She hooked his sword with hers and twisted. His sword flew out of his weak grip and slid across the room, coming to a halt at the far wall.

He gazed at her in utter amazement at how quickly the fight had come to an end. She took a threatening step forward but he did not back down. He glared at her figuring out his next move, but before he could act she used her advantage. Amelia hooked the heel of his boot with her sword and pulled. He was wavering on falling and she flew at him. He fell to the ground and she stuck her knee into his groin; pinning him to the ground.

“Where are they?” Amelia asked accusingly.

“Who?”

And his utter confusion threw her off. It was pure confusion, so pure that she got up, turned on her heel, and went back into the ceiling. She retraced her steps back to her airplane.

Amelia took off and thought as she flew. Where could they be?

She needed help and though she hated to admit it, she knew it was time to call in some back up.

When she landed back in her hanger she took out her phone and dialed Maggie’s number. 1-4-1-7-7-5-6-1-2-7-8-6. It rang and after the second ring Maggie picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hi Maggie!”

“Hello Amelia! What’s up?”

“Summer, Susan, Katie, and Lauren are missing. I went to Russia and looked there and couldn’t find them. I need help. You want to help?”
“Yeah sure, I’ll teleport to your hanger right now.”

“Thank you.”

And with that they hung up. Within seconds Maggie appeared at Amelia’s side.

“Hello again,” Amelia said cheerily.

“Hi.”

“Ok, so any ideas?”

“No.”

They sat there and thought, bouncing ideas off one another but none of them fit. A few minutes into their brainstorming Amelia’s cell phone buzzed. She had received a text from a private number.

Amelia opened it and it read, “I bet by now you have noticed that Katie, Summer, Lauren, and Susan are missing. I have them neener neener. To save them you must turn yourself over to me within the next three days.”

Rescue: Part 1

It was late on a Saturday afternoon and Amelia was lying on her floor listening to her Evanescence music and thinking, just thinking. She was just in one of her moods, and she was thinking; trying to figure out what was causing the mood.

Finally, she had had enough thinking, she was getting too sad. She took out her phone and texted Lauren, Summer, Susan, and Katie, something very lovely and witty. She waited, no reply. It had been days since she had last heard from them. Where were they?

She called Katie’s house. It rang and rang until finally her sister picked up. “Hello?”

“Hey is Katie there?”

“Who is this?”

“Frances!”

“No actually come to think of it I haven’t seen her in a day or two.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem, tell me if you see her.”

“I will, bye.”

That’s weird, I hope she is ok, Amelia thought. She picked up her phone and called Summer’s and Susan’s house and got the same reaction both times. She was really worried now. Then she picked up her phone one last time to call Lauren’s house.

“Hello?” Amelia heard Lauren’s mom’s on the other end.

“Hey Jen, I was wondering if Lauren was there?”

“Nope I thought she was with you. I haven’t seen her in a few days.”

“Oh, well let me look into it and see what I find out.”

“Ok, thanks, bye.”

Amelia sat on her floor and and thought about where they could be. She took out her phone and dialed Aunt Mallory’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hey Aunt Mal I was wondering if Aidan was there.”

“Yeah hold on a second.”

“Hello?”

“Hey Aidan. I need some mission equipment what you got for me?”

“Ok go to your closet and type in the code. I’ve been working on some new stuff.”

“Ok,” Amelia said and she walked over to her closet. She moved aside her clothes and typed in her code. 1-4-7-3. It slid open quickly and she walked inside.

“I’m in,” Amelia said into the phone.

“Ok, walk over to the weapon wall. You there?”

“Yup.”

“Ok, your gun is now a grappling hook and a gun. The top trigger is the gun and the bottom is the hook. Now before I give you any more weapons walk over to your wardrobe. Now you will see a pair of black yoga pants, a black tank top and a black leather jacket. That is your uniform. And before you make that face saying “well that is stupid” listen to me. There is a sling across the thigh for your phone and a sling across the other for your gun. The phone one is on your sword side, the left, and the gun hook the right. On the inside of the jacket is a bunch of ninja stars, a dart shooter, some sleeping darts, instant darkness powder, a flashlight, a pocket knife, and a dagger. On the floor is a pair of black vans. The vans symbol on the back is a button; when pressed it opens the compartment on the bottom that holds an extra gun. Not one up to the level and technology of your real gun but enough to be of use if you get captured. Hanging next to that is a floor length black cloak with a hood. This is your invisibility cloak that you told me to make. It is just as good if not better then Harry Potter’s. Hanging on the wall next to all of this is a pair of glasses with no lens. These glasses are no ordinary set of glasses. They have built in lights, and a built in GPS. You can also communicate with me through these glasses and I will feed you information. It will feed me what you are seeing and I can send you diagrams that will be projected where the lens should have been. Lastly, your plane. I have added a cooling mechanism in the engine so we won’t have another freezing incident. It can also shrink, become invisible and I added a few extra jets to make it go faster. And that is it.”

“Thank you Aidan.”

“My pleasure, good luck.”

Amelia changed into her outfit and fit the gun into its hold. Everything fit perfectly, a match made in heaven. Amelia went over to the table and grabbed the keys to her plane. She went into the hanger and started up her plane, feeling the exhilaration of being back in the pilot’s seat. She opened up the hanger, pressed the steering wheel forward and pulled up. Her body tingled at the rush of flying. She was off! Hopefully she wouldn’t be too late.

Broken Promise (part 2)

by Rebecca Clearwater

“Oh Amelia,” Katie gasped. “This isn’t good, this is worse than last time.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

“School.”

“I thought you finally accepted the situation?”

“I thought so too...”

“So what happened?”

“The closer the start of school gets the sadder I get. Orientations start this week and I just, I can’t do this. I thought I could but I can’t.” Amelia started scratching rapidly at her wrist and broke into a new spell of sobs. Amelia buried her wet face into Katie’s shoulder and Katie gave her a hug.

“You can do this, I know you can. You will succeed anywhere you go,” Katie murmured comfortingly.

Amelia stood up and wiped her eyes, “I need to clear my head, I’ll text you later.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

“No disappearing?”

“No disappearing.”

Katie stood up and gave Amelia a hug. Amelia took a deep breath and let go of Katie.

“I missed your hugs,” Amelia stated quietly.

“You wouldn’t have had to miss them if you hadn’t shunned me.”

“Shun the nonbeliever.”

“Amelia.”

“Shun.”

“Amelia Wilson! Never again will you shun me.”

“Ok, I never will again.”

Amelia climbed silently over the fence and crossed the deck in a few strides. She opened the wooden gate and climbed nimbly down the stairs. Katie watched the horizon and saw Amelia cross the street and go into the deserted playground.

Katie then hopped clumsily back over the fence and down into the parish hall to join the party. She would give Amelia some space but catch up with her later in the evening.

After two hours or so of being at the party Katie made a plate of food and walked across the street. Katie found Amelia lying on her back under the overhang of the playground.

Amelia heard footsteps on the tanbark and she sat up quietly; she drew her gun. “Who goes there,” she yelled.

“I come bearing food,” Katie yelled back.

“Oh bless you,” Amelia muttered putting the gun down.

“Where’d you get the gun? Wait I don’t want to know.”

“All good ninjas carry a gun,” Amelia commented.

“Of course I should have known.”

Katie handed Amelia the plate and Amelia began to pick at it half heartedly.

“What you aren’t hungry?” Katie asked.

“Yes I am, just a lot on my mind,” Amelia murmured picking a little more on the food.

“I bet, what are you thinking?”

“My wrist hurts.”

“Serves you right.”

“Yeah I know.”

“You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

“I know...”

“I thought you were getting better.”

“Apparently not."

“What can I do to help?”

“Not tell.”

“You know I can’t promise that.”

“You have to.”

“Amelia look at your wrist.”

“I know and I will tell my mom give me a chance.”

“Ok.”

Amelia lay back down and her eyelids started to become heavy and she fell asleep on the playground, feeling the warmth and comfort of having her best friend lying next to her.

The End

Broken Promise (part 1)

by Rebecca Clearwater

“Where could she be?”Katie thought, “She should be back by now.”

It was about mid August in the summer of 2010. It was a big church event that was the sending off party for Austin. Usually Amelia was a social butterfly at these types of events but not this one.

Amelia had been so quiet lately. She was always zoning out, having her head in the clouds all the time. And the look of sadness in her eyes was unbelievable; her eyes were big, blue pools of misery. She had stopped texting everyone, was reading a lot, and barely talked to Katie at all.

Katie searched the church. She was getting really worried. She checked the stairs, all the offices, the furnace room, and all Amelia’s favorite hiding spots. Just when she was about to lose hope she decided to check the roof. She had heard Amelia tell her she liked to go up there to think and thought it was worth a shot.

She went outside and crept quietly up the stairs leading to the deck off the nursery. She reached the far fence and saw Amelia lying on the roof looking up at the star filled sky, silent tears running down her freckled cheeks. She lay on her back, her left arm tucked under her and her right arm hugging her torso.

As Katie drew closer, she realized Amelia’s eyes were filled with terror. She was crying not tears of sadness but of horror, panic, and guilt.
Katie clumsily hopped over the fence you had to climb to get to the roof and walked cautiously over to Amelia and plopped silently beside her. Amelia looked up and just shifted slightly and leaned her head on Katie’s shoulder not saying a word. Katie put her arms around Amelia shivering body and gave her a hug.

After a few minutes silence Amelia murmured something Katie couldn’t make out and pulled away from Katie, “Amelia what’s wrong?” Katie asked cautiously.

“I, I...” Amelia trailed off breaking into a new bout of sobs.

“You haven’t been returning my texts, you read all the time at church, never talk to anyone, I haven’t spent any time with you in days, and you look so sad. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m sorry, I just didn’t want to deal with people,” Amelia replied tears falling hard and fast. “It wasn’t right for me to disappear like that.”

“No it wasn’t. But why are you so upset?”

“I broke my promise to you, I’m sorry.”

“You did what?”

“I broke my...” Amelia trailed off sobbing. “I’m sorry! I just couldn’t help it.”

“It’s ok. Show me.”

Amelia removed her left wrist out from behind her back. It was drenched in bright red blood. And fresh blood was gushing from the lattice pattern of cuts.