Celtic

     I don't know why I'd been chosen to clean out this house. Maybe because of all the kids, I was the closest to Grandpa, and I was probably the only person he would've let go through his things- it still hurt nonetheless. The funeral service had been this morning, and I didn't want to put it off, so I came right over to clean up his place and see what was "worth keeping" is what my mom had said. In my opinion, all of his things should be kept and treasured; maybe that's why they shouldn't have sent me. I decided to start with the attic despite the chance that I might catch Ebola or the plague from all the disgusting things up there.
     I started by going through my old dollies, putting the good ones to the side, and the completely destroyed ones in a box to throw away. I could donate the good ones, or even keep them for when me or one of my siblings has kids. I found two dolls tangled together by something silver. When I finally got it from around the doll's neck, I realized it was a necklace with a Celtic Knot. I didn't know much about my heritage, but I'd recognize this symbol anywhere. The knot started to hear up in my hand until I dropped it. What was this necklace doing up here? Maybe I just needed a distraction, but I decided to take it to my Grandmother's house to see what it was. I pulled into the driveway suddenly getting nervous. I picked up the necklace by the chain walking to the front porch and knocking. My Grandma opened the door with swollen, red eyes. Everyone had assumed her absence at the funeral was because of her longstanding feud with Grandpa Leroy, but now I felt bad for not coming to check on her earlier-they had been married for 32 years before the divorce. I opened my arms to hug her and that's when she caught sight of the necklace.
     She started speaking in tongues and crossing herself (despite the fact that she isn't catholic). She finally started to yell words I could understand telling me to get the necklace off er porch immediately. I took it and put t in the car in an act to get her to alm down. When I stepped back on the porch she seemed to be hyperventilating.
     "It's ok Grandma it's gone, I was just coming to see what you knew about it- I guess that's a lot," I mumbled looking at her quizzically.
   "That evil thing is what caused me and old Leroy to divorce in the first place," she said angrily.
     "What do you mean? Did you not like it? Did he buy it for another woman first? Come on you gotta stop being so cryptic and just be straight with me," I said exasperatedly.
    She sighed and nodded her head, "Fine, but only if you promise to destroy it,"
     "You're acting very weird, how the heck do I destroy a necklace anyways? I'm not Harry Potter Grandma,"
     "Promise you won't use it then," she said rolling her eyes.
     "Ok fine, now tell me,"
     "That necklace has been passed down through your Grandfather's family for eons. It was made by one of his ancestors in Ireland thousands of years ago. His name was Proctor and he made it for his beloved wife who's beauty bewitched him every time he saw her. She turned out to be insane and her mental illness was mistaken for witch craft, so she was hanged. Proctor thought he was going to lose it himself, he got the necklace off of her corpse and went on a killing spree through town. Before he was killed he gave the necklace to his only daughter Beatrice. The night he was to be hanged she saw the spirits of her two parents before they disappeared into the necklace. Any member of your family who was murdered in cold blood is trapped in the necklace and whoever has it has a great decision to make. They can chose to use the all knowing spirits to gain prestige and power in the real world- your Grandfather became too obsessed and I couldn't take it anymore," she said looking down at her interlocked fingers in her lap.
     "Sweetheart if you do decide to use it, don't let it consume you," my Grandmother begged clasping one of my hands in her two frail ones,
     "I- I have to go," I said running to my car and driving to my Grandfather's house not glancing once at the necklace in the passenger seat.
     When I got to the house I took the necklace, sitting in the living room and staring at it.
     It started to heat in my hand and suddenly the room was filled with spirits whose lives had been cut short, and in the front- my Grandfather.

Diary

June 16, 1856

     I heard the boss talkin to Miss Jessie today. Seems there's more trouble with their people. Usually I'd say it ain't no business of mine, but ever since my family was brought to this strange land on the ship we've had to rely on Miss Jessie and her Poppa for food and shelter.
     Today my boy was whipped for playin' in the yard when he was supposed to be workin'. He ain't nothin' but six years old. I had to hold him in my arms while he cried while Mary Anne cleaned the gashes on his back. He screamed and cried and just kept askin', "Momma when can we go home?" I watched the tears stream down my baby boy's face and made a decision. I called my oldest boy Malaki and his sister Rajeen and told them to bring their brother Leviticus to my bed after sun down, I hadn't told them anything yet, but we leavin' tonight. This mornin' when I was in the kitchen I put some extra biscuits and ham in my apron. Now I'm putting it in a sack to take with us. I haven't told anyone where we goin' and I'm not so sure I know myself yet. All I know is Ima follow that north star my husband Jimmy always told me about before he was whipped to death by the boss.
     I should've left then, but I was so scared of getting caught with my children. I told myself if they ever came close to my children we was gonna leave that night. I never thought they was gonna go after my baby. What kinda person can do that to a precious little boy? He ain't never do nothin' to nobody and Lord knows I treat they children like they's my own. I put some fresh clothes in the sack to cover the smell of the food. We didn't have enough clothes to leave behind, so they wouldn't be able to get our scent. I knew they'd have the dogs after us by sun up. I was gonna make everybody wash up in the creek a few miles down to try and get rid of our smell  just in case they got it from the little pallets we slept on. The door creaked as it opened revealing my babies as they walked in, not knowing what was in store for them.

Tattoo

     I woke up on the Saturday morning slightly delirious. Last night had been a crazy night because it had been the night before my chosen date. I was born with a tattoo on my forearm with today's date, supposedly predicting my death. Everyone in my family who's ever had one was never seen after their predicted date, so I figured I might as well go out with a bang. I usually wasn't a rowdy person, but last night I wasn't myself at all. Today I had plans to go sky diving and deep sea diving with great whites because why not? I mean if I'm supposed to die today anyways I might as well do all the things I ever wanted to do first.

     After getting ready I hopped in the car and started my hour and a half drive to the sky diving center, I hope I get to do everything I planned today before my time. The ominous 07-14-15 on my arm wasn't lacking in artistic merit with the intricate labyrinth surrounding it, but it was lacking in specific time. For all I know I could die in an accident on the way to the sky diving place, I was just praying my time was closer to the end of the day.

   I was almost to the center when it felt like my spirit was trying to leave my body. It's a hard phenomena to explain, but it felt like my entire being was leaving my body. Before I knew it I was looking over a bridge which I quickly recognized as the one that was downtown over the big river. I watched the scene unfold before me as the cords connecting the bridge to the support beams started to snap one by one and the bridge started to slant one way as the cars began falling into the river. People started jumping out of cars and trying to run, but the cords were just snapping too fast and everyone was falling into the freezing black waters below. The scene stopped and all I saw was black before I was back in my body in the car. I had no idea what to do, but some part of me knew what I was going to see was true and I had to do something to stop it.

     I must have broken at least three traffic laws in my hurry to the bridge. I parked my car at the entrance blocking the way and thanking God that it was a one way bridge. People started honking their horns at me and I had no idea what to tell them, so I just leaned against the hood of my car shrugging at everyone that shot me pointed glares.

     "I had a feeling I'd find you here," said a woman with a long bright red braid as she walked towards me.

     "I'm sorry do I know you?" I asked looking at her confused and feeling bad that maybe I was supposed to know who she was.

     I know I hadn't met her before. She wasn't the kind of woman anyone would forget. She had flawless pale skin that presented great contrast with her wide green eyes and sleek red hair which was pulled into a thick braid going down her back.

     "No, but you will," She said smiling at me sweetly.

     "Sorry, but my time for meeting new people is kind of up," I said holding out my forearm to her.

     "Silly girl, that is only the date of your human death, this is only the beginning for you"

Wedding of the Year

     I walked down the aisle beaming at my husband-to-be. I couldn't believe I was finally walking down the aisle. It's not like I'm old or anything, but I never pictured myself as the marrying type until Tyrone swept me off my feet three years ago. He looked so handsome in his grey tux. He didn't want to wear black because it seemed to "gloomy" and that isn't how he felt when he thought of marrying me. I'd blushed so much when he told me that, he always did know how to make me smile no matter what the circumstances were. I felt like I couldn't breathe as I made my way down the aisle. It was no doubt a mixture of my anxiousness and this tight ass corset I'd picked out.

     I guess she looked pretty. We all knew Tyrone could do better though, like me who he should be with in the first place. Look at him, standing there with that stupid smile on his face like just last night he wasn't with me on his- actually never mind I'll just keep the details about that little rendezvous to myself. Just know I'm surprised he's even standing right now. I know I'm tired standing here at the front of the church as the second bridesmaid. I was just ready to get this stupid ceremony over with. They were going to be gone on their honeymoon for two weeks which meant I wasn't going to see him. Of course he'd told me we weren't going to do anything anymore, but he wouldn't be saying that for long.

     I looked to my right at the stupid skank that was eyeing my sister's soon to be husband. I'd tried to warn my sister about her, but she was too nice to believe anyone could be so vindictive. I leaned over whispering, "Stop fucking looking at him like that," she grinned and leaned back making some snide comment about last night and how he'd be with her soon anyways. I couldn't take it anymore, I threw my bouquet of tiger lilies in her face and threw the first punch, connecting with her jaw. I kicked off my pumps and tackled her to the ground, straddling her waist and hitting her in the face repeatedly ignoring the gasps of shock coming from the pews. I heard my sisters small whimper over everything else and looked up in time to see her run out of the church crying. I got up, grabbing my shoes to chase after her, but not before turning to Tyrone and glaring, "You're next," I warned before running out after my sister.

Zenobia

     Zenobia walks out the door with her dog Sarge leading her down their usual route. As they come to an intersection the Siberian Husky pulled her in a different direction. At first she resists, trying to get the dog back on their normal path, but then she obliges following the dog down a woodsy side street. She admires the overgrown foliage and the cottage style houses. Not quite her style, but still charming nonetheless. As they near the end of the road she notices that it's a dead end, and they'll have to go back the way they came. As she turns around she catches a glimpse of her ex fiance, Langston, in the window. He's standing in the kitchen smiling and cooking dinner for himself. He dances around the kitchen as he cooks singing to himself and spicing whatever it was that he was making. Langston was always a better cook than her, he's learned from his late grandmother and boy was she a good teacher. Watching him like that, so carefree, made her think of the first time they'd made brownies together. She'd mostly just watched him cook until she stuck her finger in the batter and smeared it across his cheek. She giggled looking at him shyly as he fake glared at her before picking up the spatula and dabbing it on her nose. They'd both laughed and then had a food fight with the rest of the batter, so none of it actually even made it into the oven. When she stopped day dreaming Zenobia realized another person had joined him in the window. A beautiful woman walked up to him and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. Zenobia suddenly felt like she was choking on her own air. Hot tears streamed down her face as she turned to rush away and Sarge started barking and growling at the window. He wasn't supposed to be with anyone else, that was supposed to be her in the window with him-he'd promised. Did promises not mean anything anymore? I promise I'll never hurt you.. I promise you're not going anywhere and neither am I..

Storm

     Sinister shadows in the sky seemed to laugh in mocking of the destruction to come. Dark clouds formed angry faces with slanted brows and twisted mouths. Swirls of red and orange mimicked the fires of hell as night began to come upon us. As the minutes passed, the sky grew darker and darker. An eery indigo was the color before is seemed the sky itself started to move. It got an object in it's sights and was relentless in it's pursuit.The first victim I witnessed was the shed. Gray and black winds moved slowly and fiercely towards it, tearing up ground as it went and leaving huge faults in it's wake. It seemed to tear the shed from the bottom up destroying the baser and then finally ripping the roof apart and spitting out the pieces all over the shredded ground. The twister continued on it's destructive path tearing up the grass and dirt as it went. It was heading for my Uncle's shed still spitting out pieces of wood and Earth. In the distance I saw a small figure moving quickly toward the building. I yelled out for them to stop, but my voice was lost in the roaring winds never falling on my own ears. Helplessly I watched as the storm ominously grew closer ensuring the child's imminent death. My limbs were paralyzed with helplessness and fear for the child. The twister seemed to be moving in slow motion until it ripped the east side of the wall off and threw it aside in one piece. It seemed the tornado was searching for the boy throwing all other things to the side. When it finally reached the boy on the western end of the shed it tore his body apart, throwing limbs every way and continuing on it's path as if it hadn't just taken a precious life.

Durham in 100 Years

The year is 3014 and I've taken the assignment no one wanted. I am now making the cross country trip to North Carolina. I'll be documenting the life in the trap city of Durham. None of my other colleagues would take the job and I drew the short stick. Upon entering the city it seems it is deserted, but I've been advised to go to the center of all things trap on ninth street. When I got there the streets were lined with old brick buildings with boarded up windows. I wandered aimlessly down the street when a door was thrust open and I was grabbed and pulled into the building suddenly. I reached for the 9 mm glock 17 in my waistband that I had no idea how to use. My boss had insisted I bring it with me with the instructions, "aim and squeeze," like it was really that simple. The person grabbed my arm, "there's no need for that," a female voice said from behind me. I turned around to see a tall girl with feline features and a long brown braid hanging over her shoulder. She was wearing a cropped white ribbed tank top and black cargo pants.
     "Who are you?" I asked, highly perplexed.
     "I'm the girl that just saved your ass, but you can call me Lexi," she said with a wry smile.
     "What do you mean?" I asked.
     "It's no secret that you were coming, and you can't just walk through the steets alone like that, that's how you get kidnapped,"
     "Sort of like what you did?" I asked grinning.
     "Yeah except I'm not going to make you sell cocaine for me or kill my competitors," she said raising her eyebrows at me.
I decided I'd just keep my mouth shut after that statement.
     "You can't wander the streets looking for answers, I'll tell you what you need to know, so you can get out of here,"
     "And what do you want in return?" I asked suspiciously.
     "Nothing, the quicker people know the truth about this place instead of stupid rumors, the quicker something can be done about it,"
     "How do I know what you're telling me is the truth?"
     "I'll take you on a tour later if you insist,"
     "I guess I have to," I murmured. I pulled out an IPhone and set it up to record.
     "Kind of old fashioned don't you think?" she asked in an amused tone.
     "Well I like it," I shrugged pulling out a notebook full of questions.
     "So," I started, "What's the dynamic around here? Tell me about the average person's day to day life,"
     "Well I guess they report to whichever trap leader they work for and get their supply. A lot of drugs are pushed around here, but coke is the biggest seller," she said. I noticed as soons as I started asking questions she seemed to go somewhere else in her mind. Her eyes glazed over slightly as if she was reliving some awful memory.
     "And all of these people started doing this on their own?"
     "At first- but i guess there weren't enough willing participants because kids started disappearing on their way home from school. Sometimes they were as young as seven," she said shaking her head.
     "What did law enforcement do about this?"
     "At first they were adamantly pursuing all responsible parties, but it wasn't just one group, so eventually they gave up. Now they are just as scared as anyone else if they aren't corrupt themselves,"
     "What happens if you're kidnapped, but you refuse to cooperate?"
     "It depends, but let's just say you won't be saying no for long," she said ominously.
     "Why are you still here? Clearly you aren't cooperating for anyone. Why don't you just leave town- don't you have family somewhere else?"
     "When I was 16 my mom got addicted, my older brother went to get her from Hydrae, the biggest coke pusher around here. Hydrae tried to make my brother sell, but he wouldn't, so Hydrae broke all of his fingers. When my brother continued to refuse he cut out his tongue, mutilated his face and then finally killed him. Then he went after my mom because she owed him money. She got a job with Hydrae's biggest rival Orion who is also her supplier. Orion's protecting her for now, but she's so strung out she has no sense of self preservation. I'm finishing what my brother started seven years ago and I'm not leaving without her," she said finally making eye contact with me.
     I grinned at her nodding my head, "Let me help you."

"She is Crazy"

     I was walking down the streets of New York when I happened to see a woman in a unitard and leg warmers. She was jogging in place waiting for the light to let her go. I would've just ignored the woman, but unfortunately I had to walk in her direction. When I got beside her she bent over, giving me a very unpleasant view of her nether regions which were most definitely not toned enough to be wearing any kind of unitard. She pressed play on a boombox I hadn't previously noticed and Rapper's Delight began to fill the streets. She then did what appeared to be the Kid N' Play kickstep..by herself. At this point I'm thinking this woman is disgracing to many good things so I continued walking, only to notice her and her boombox were following me! When I was stopped at another light she ran into the middle of the street, narrowly missing cars and blocking traffic, to stand in the middle of the street and start twerking. So now I'm thinking this has to be some kind of practical joke and the woman is going to be like, "Just kidding, I was just pretending to be Miley Cyrus," or something. If not then clearly she's crazy, I pulled out my phone to ask siri what the number was to the psych ward when the woman was hit by a car. Crisis averted, I put up my cellular device and made my way across the street, careful not to step on the poor soul's body- man she was crazy.