Silent guardians

Isabelle looked outside the small plane's window. It was a private plane for researchers to fly to Easter Island. It was still around an hour until the landing. Isabelle always wanted to go there, so when her boss announced that's her next destination, she forgot her sleep deprivation and ran home to pack. Thankfully, it was quite a long flight so she slept on the plane. She was blessed with the ability to sleep anywhere.

Isabelle felt like reading something but she didn't take any books for the trip. She decided to play a game on her smartphone. Just as she was about to fight the boss, a stewardess approached with a smile and asked her to turn off her phone as they were about to land. They landed without complications, Isabelle took her small bag and stepped outside after thanking the stewardess for all her trouble.

The main archaeologist greeted her warmly: "Isabelle! I knew they would send you on this job!"

"Julia!" Isabelle opened her arms for the hug. "I can't believe they made you the head archaeologist here!"

"Why? Am I so terrible?" Julia pulled back and started poking Isabelle.

"What? No! Stop! Stoooop!" Isabelle exclaimed while laughing and trying to push away from Julia as she was VERY ticklish.

"Alright. We can have a tie. This time." Julia said. "So, do you want to go unpack?"

Isabelle fixed her bag on the shoulder and looked willingly to Julia "Can I see them?" her eyes widened.

Julia laughed. "You haven't changed a bit. Still work before rest. Come on."

"It's not work if you like doing it." Isabelle said while walking behind Julia.

"True true. It's a good thing you don't have to walk a lot. There they are." Julia showed her to the long row of Easter Island "people".

"Wooooooow." Isabelle exclaimed. "They look amaaaaazing! I mean, I saw the pictures, but woooow." she stood in awe.

"Yes. I am so lucky to get to work with them. But seriously, go unpack and I'll show you something even better."

"What can be better than this?" Isabelle looked at Julia with a raised eyebrow.

"Youuuu'll see. I can't spoil the surprise now." Julia smiled. "Now c'mon, I'll take you to the place you'll be staying these days." and they started walking towards the houses. There was a little hostel where Isabelle's boss rented out. She hated hotels and always stayed in hostels as that would let her feel the place vibe better. She checked-in, went to her room, put the bags down, returned to the front entrance and could hardly contain herself.

"Show me, show me, show me!!" She started jumping around Julia.

"Alright, let's go back to the Moai."

They approached them and Julia showed Isabelle the digging site. They have uncovered Moai legs and Isabelle was jumping around snapping pictures with her smartphone. She listened as Julia was telling about the works and progress. It was slowly going towards the evening so they decided to go have a nice meal. They had some fish cooked on grill. While eating Isabelle noticed Julia got lost in thoughts a few times and got a serious, a bit sad expression on her face.

"What's the matter?" Isabelle asked and couldn't help herself: "Is something fishy?" she asked while snickering.

Julia smiled and shook her head. It seemed as if she was discussing something in her mind. Finally she decided. "I have to show you something."

"Ok, what is it?"

"Come with me." Julia said and stood up from the table. Isabelle quickly followed her. They went back to the Maoi site and next to the one with uncovered legs. Julia climbed down in the whole again and looked at the sky. The moon was covered with a passing cloud.

"What did you want to show me?" Isabelle asked while climbing down.

"Come here and look." Julia showed a specific place on Maoi's leg. The cloud passed and the moon shone right in the place Julia was pointing. It appeared to be something shaped like a letter L.

"Woooooooow! What is that?" Isabelle asked.

"Well, you want to see something really cool?" Julia smiled as Isabelle nodded enthusiastically. Julia grabbed Isabelle's hand and they both pressed the sign. They didn't feel any change and for a second Isabelle didn't understand what happened. That is until she looked up. They were in a cave full of ships around them.

"Where are we?" she asked while looking around.

"Well here's the funny part." Julia said. "According to my GPS, we are in the western part of North Pacific ocean, a place which is said to not exist and is not even acknowledged by most science people. We are at Devil's Triangle or Bermuda Triangle."

"What?! Well, that explains the ships." Isabelle said while walking around. "Have you showed your science people about this?"

"I would, but it keeps appearing and reappearing rarely and oddly. I tried calculating the days, nights, weather forecasts, but it's like it has a mind of its own. I wasn't even sure it would appear today!"

"Well, I guess it was my lucky day." Isabelle said while snatching pictures. "Do we go back the same way?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, wait just a bit. I want to look around." Isabelle went around taking photos. She photographed ships, some sad skeletons, some yachts and boats. "Hm, there aren't a lot of people here for such an amount of ships. Do you think they went to Easter Island?"

"Well, some of the ships disappeared not so long ago. I think it would have been all over the news." Julia said.

"So where did they go?" Isabelle turned around and started heading back.

"I guess this will be another mystery." Julia said and they both pressed the L. In seconds they were back on the island and the sign disappeared.

"That was so weird." Isabelle said while climbing out.

Julia lead Isabelle back to her hostel, where she fell asleep instantly. She stuck around for a few more days writing about the digging and work and of course Maoi. She was disappointed to see that the pictures where all blurred out and she couldn't show anything to anyone. They were mostly shadows and unrecognizable forms.

On her last day, before she went back to the site with Julia. The sign on the leg was still gone. After saying goodbyes she boarded the plane and fell in her seat. The plane soon took off. Isabelle knew she should get some sleep, but she couldn't stop thinking about the Maoi: the silent guardians standing like towers over secrets they can't share.

The Witch

The sky lit up for a moment when the lightning struck a huge tree standing next to the road. Tiana didn't even flinch from the sight or the sound of thunder that followed soon after. That was quite surprising as she was just 500m away from the tree and the sound was deafening. She didn't care. She was just happy to feel the rain on her skin. Her clothes were soaked but she could still feel dried blood on her skin even though it was long gone.

Tiana saw lights in the distance which meant she was approaching a village. The young woman felt her money bag next to her belt and hoped for an inn. The little town seemed friendly - some children were playing in the puddles and when they saw her, they stopped and waved. Tiana smiled and waved back. There indeed was an inn - it was called "Three Pigs". The town's people joked that it was named after three fat sons of the inn keeper lady who spoiled them as much as she could. She stepped inside and a little bell announced her entrance.

"Well, hello there, how may we be of service?" the inn keeper greeted her.

Tiana flexed her shoulders and neck a bit before answering with a question: "Do you have a room available for the night?"

"Of course" the inn keeper answered "But you'll have to pay now."

Tiana took out her money bag. "Not a problem." and paid the lady for the room and some food as well. 

The inn keeper counted the money twice before talking again. "Name's Myrtle, like the flower, if you'll be needing something, I'm here all night. Now let me show you your room."

They went upstairs and Myrtle showed her the room. Tiana thanked her and the inn keeper went to tell the cook to prepare dinner. "What a weird young person" Myrtle thought to herself while going down the stairs. She didn't ask for the name as it was not necessary (if you had money, you were welcome in Three Pigs no matter who you were). She thought that the guest looked like a young man, but the voice... it was tired for sure, but it sounded like a girl's. "But what would a girl be doing all alone at this time of night?" she thought to herself and stopped wondering about it.

Her trip was soon interrupted as a man ran into the inn and asked for a doctor. "Quickly! There is a man bleeding!" Two more men carried in the wounded person. He was missing an arm and was all covered in blood. They laid him on the table and the town's doctor who was finishing his second whiskey that night ran to him. He ripped his shirt and some more blood burst out like a small fountain.

"I need water!" he yelled to Myrtle. "Quickly!" he added as she ran to the kitchen to grab a bucket of water. But it did no good, as the man regained consciousness for one second and screamed "Witch!" and fell back again. The doctor checked the pulse, but it was gone. The inn keeper returned with the bucket of water but now it was just used to clean up the blood on the floors.

After some time she brought a meal up to Tania's door. She tried opening it, but surprisingly it was locked. Not many people who stayed at the inn locked their doors. She knocked and heard a grumpy "What?" from the other side.

"It's Myrtle, brought your meal!" she said. She heard boots stomping through the room and the door being unlocked. Tiana opened the door and Myrtle brought the food and drink and put it on the table. A sword, lying on the bed attracted her attention and she remembered the poor man who died.

"Thank you." said Tiana in a ruffed voice and Myrtle again thought she might be a girl. She decided to strike up a conversation.

"By the way, I didn't quite get your name."

"I didn't tell it."

"Well, might I know it?"

Tiana stood silent for a few seconds. She decided to tell the truth. "Tiana."

"Tiana? But that's a girl's name!"

"Yes, well I am a girl. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to eat now." she motioned towards the door.

"You know they brought in a man with his hand cut off." she saw Tiana stiffen up.

"Oh, really? What happened to him?" she asked trying to seem careless but she couldn't as the memories came flooding to her head again. Four men about to tie her up, approaching her... it was a good thing she woke up as she would have been a goner. One of them was already unbuckling his pants as he was approaching her. She cut off his hand first. Others attacked. She killed all of them. Well apparently, not all of them.

"He died downstairs on the table. He said a witch did it. Didn't you hear the screams?" Myrtle asked.

"I did, but I figured it was none of my business. Now if you excuse me, I'd like to eat my meal." Tiana said and shut the door in Myrtle's dace. She heard the lock click again.

"Hm, a witch..." Tiana thought to herself. "Well, if you could call my sword a wand, then I guess indeed I am a witch." She smiled and sat down to eat.

Myrtle went downstairs and went to the table which had the doctor and the men who brought in the poor guy in around.

"You're not going to believe it." she said. "There is a girl with a sword upstairs, she paid for the night and she arrived shortly before you did."

"What's a girl doing with a sword?" one of the men asked.

"Well maybe she's the witch." the doctor said.

One of the men put down his cup, stood up and pointed to the stairs: "Well, let's go and ask her then!"

They ran upstairs and knocked on the door. Tiana again asked "What?" before opening it.

"We'd like to ask a few questions if you may." the doctor said and one of the men punched his arm.

"What are you doing?" he whispered. "She might be a witch."

"Well, you can ask them through the door." Tiana's voice could be heard.

"We'd like to see the person we're talking to."

Tiana went up and opened the door. The men came into her room. "Well?" she asked. "What would you like to talk about?"

"Where does a girl get a sword?" one of the men asked.

"I'm just carrying it for my husband she answered, he's waiting for me in the next city." she lied hoping they would get off her back.

"Oh, really?" the man who brought in the wounded person said. "Where are you traveling from?"

"Aerdath."

"So you had to take the path through the woods?"

"Yes."

"Did you happen to see a murder happening there?"

"A murder? No, I didn't see anything of that sort." Tiana kept a straight face.

"I think you're lying."

"I am not."

The men stared at her. "We will have the priests figure you out." one of them said before leaving the room.

"I'll be right here." Tiana sat back and continued eating.

The men went downstairs and started plotting against the girl. They decided that the best time to strike is early morning as that would be the time when witch's powers would be the weakest.

In the mean time Tiana locked her door and decided to sleep before she would have to run again.

Early morning came and people gathered next to the inn as rumour spread there was a witch inside. A priest showed up as well, ready to condemn the sinner and the men ran upstairs to get the girl. They kicked the door, but it didn't give in. Tiana woke up from the kicking and quickly gathered her things. As soon as she was done, the door gave in and the men flooded the room, trying to grab her. Tiana took out her sword and yelled "Stand back!" to which men laughed and continue approaching her. One of them grabbed her shoulder and he soon lost the whole arm. He started screaming and the whole bunch stood speechless for a second before beginning to attack her even more vigorously.

Tiana did circles with her sword and jumped from one foot to the other. Her craft was amazing and if it was a fight for show, many would have stood in awe. But they were here not to admire, but to capture her and give her to the priest who would perform as the court of God. Blood was flowing and Tiana was slowly approaching the window. Men laughed as they thought that they have cornered her. Tiana did a few half circles with her sword  to distract people by wounding them and before anyone noticed she put the sword behind her and climbed through the window on top of the roof. The people watching from the ground started shouting and whispering and throwing whatever they could at her, but it was no use. Tiana was running through rooftops as if she was flying and that prompted many people start chanting "Witch! Witch! Witch!". She ran out from the village into the woods, hearing that men were going after her with horses. She ran into the woods and instead taking the path, she climbed the closest tree and after jumping a few branches to climb the trees deeper in the forest decided to stop and wait for her followers to retreat.

She heard the panting of horses and men shouting but they couldn't find her. She was close to the top of the trees, so she looked at the horizon. The rain was traveling South and she could see a rainbow in the sky. She put her head down again.

"She probably made a deal with the devil and went underground!" one of the men shouted.

"Lousy witch. Well at least she'll never go to Heaven."

"Yeah, let's go back. She's been lucky this time."

She heard the horses go back and she laughed to herself. She decided to continue going through the trees and not the path for a while, so that nobody would see her. She still had some money, but it didn't seem it would rain soon, so that meant she could stay off villages for a while. That was a good thing. Tiana didn't like explaining herself, why she traveled and lived like that. It wasn't the first time she was called witch as well. But these little incidents amused her as well sometimes.

"Sure..." she thought while climbing down the tree and stepping on the path. "A young woman in control of her life must surely be a witch." Tiana smiled and started whistling.

Locks are for a reason

"It's locked!" Marie whisper screamed.

"No way." Kip said to her. "We came all this way, it can't be just locked."

"D'uh, of course it can be locked. You come to an abandoned prison and you think every door will be just open as you wish?"

"Well...yes."

"Think again. I guess we'll just have to go to other rooms, or..." Marie knelt down to the door. "Hold my flashlight."

"What are you doing?" Kip asked.

"What does it look like? I'm trying to pick the lock."

"Have you ever done it before?"

"No." the door lock clicked. "But I guess I have beginner's luck."

The doors opened. What they saw was an operating room. It was full of tools, as if nobody ever cleaned this room, as if everybody just dropped what they were doing and ran. Some of the instruments had dried blood on it.

"Well. This explains why it was locked." said Marie while looking around.

"Yeah, but this is exactly why we came here, now isn't it?" Kip said with a small smile.

He shined on the table. It was messy, instruments were on the ground and on it, they were rusty and old.

"Do you think I could take something as a souvenir?" he asked.

"Gore just attracts you like a magnet, doesn't it?" Marie asked.

"Yeah..." Kip said and lifted a scalpel.

"Ew, don't touch it, it might be infected or something." Marie said. "If you want a souvenir, better take this."

"What is it?"

"Looks like a doctor's ID or something."

"Cool. What do you think happened that they all just ran away from?"

"Dunno, alien attack?" Marie asked with a smile.

"Yeah suuuure. Hey, what's there?" Kip shined a light to the end of the room. There was a little door and it was a little ajar.

"Well, if it's ajar, it's open for everybody. Let's go see." Marie said and marched towards the door.

She opened it. What she saw completely took her aback. Her face became pale as if somebody changed it with a wand. Kip went closer to see what scared her so much. He started swearing when he saw was inside. Probably there was a cult formed between the surgeons or some bloody games were happening among them as there was a pentagram drawn out of what appeared to be already old and dried blood, there were candles all around the place. There was a skull in the middle of the pentagram. Kip went inside, careful not to step on the blood. The room was not big, but what caught his attention after he got used to the amount of blood on the floor was a huge crack on the wall opposite to the door. He went close to it and traced his fingers over the crack.

"That's weird." he said.

"No shit, there's a skull in the middle of the pentagram made out of blood!"

"Yeah, but the crack. It's hot."

"What? How can it be hot? Even if there is a heater behind it, nothing works here anymore."

"Well, that's why I'm saying that it's weird."

"Ok, dude, I think it's time for us to go go. It's not some dice game anymore."

"No....it's much more interesting than that" Kip said while tracing the wall. "Maybe they opened some kind of portal and that's why they all ran away."

"But how come they didn't see this sooner?" Marie asked.

"I don't know. But I ain't leaving without pictures." Kip took out his mobile phone and photographed various details of the room.

"Shit, Kip, I think I hear somebody coming here." Marie said.

"It's probably the guard. Let's go!" he put his phone into the pocket and they started running.

"Hey, who's there?!" the guard shouted, but he couldn't see them, he just heard their steps.

They ran out and didn't stop until they reached the city. They went to their place where they checked the pictures before sleep. It seemed like screenshots from a horror movie set. They had a beer to celebrate their good night and went to sleep.

The next morning Marie woke him up.

"Kip, Kip! Wake up, they're showing the prison on the news!"

Kip bolted awake. There was a news reporter standing next to a sad looking man who apparently was the guard they outran last night. He was saying that happens sometimes, that people break into the prison, but they couldn't believe they found a closed off room. The news crew showed the room they were standing last night. They blamed it all on them, that they showed up and trashed the place at first, but then the forensics team told the blood and the skull was at least ten years old. The news reporter said the police is on the case right now and that probably some cult was being followed in the prison, probably among surgeons, that's why the room was next to the operating room.

"You can follow our story at our website, where you will also find the photographs and further interviews."

"Isn't that cool?" Marie said.

"Something was odd in the room they showed. Can you give me my laptop?"

"Sure." She brought his laptop to his bed. He went to the news website, found the article and clicked on pictures. He found the one where the whole room was photographed. He took out his phone and found a photo shot from a similar angle. He put those two together. He kept looking to the phone and back to laptop comparing them.

"Is something wrong?" Marie asked.

"The crack."

"What about it?"

Kip turned the laptop and the phone towards Marie so that she could see both of the pictures. "It's gone."

"But how can that be?" Marie compared the pictures. The crack was indeed gone.

"I don't know. But hopefully we didn't release the thing that scared off all the surgeons."

"Yeah, hopefully." Marie agreed.

At the same time, the person, who we saw as the guard at the news was changing his clothes in his work room. He buttoned up a nice suit he found in the closet and put on a tie. At last he looked in the mirror and smiled.

"It's good to be back."

The Viking and the Black Sheep

"The boys are back!" Ottar yelled as his drakkar reached the land and he and his friends could finally go to Oslo's finest inns.

They tied up drakkar in the dock and took some souvenirs to show off to the ladies. But it wasn't lonely for them in the sea, how could it be in such a good company of friends? They reached an inn and requested a jug of their finest mead.

"Ottar! Speech before we begin!" Kisping said.

"Alright, men" Ottar stood up. "This was a successful trip, we found many things, we battled many ships and we didn't lose any of our friends. We got drunk in the shores, in the sea and some days the sun was too bright, but we made it back to our loving town which has so much to offer. So while we're here, let's drink, let's make love and have no regrets!"

"Yaaaaaah!" The vikings clinked their cups together and started drinking.

Soon the alcohol hit their heads and men became even more happy, even more talkative and it wasn't too far when they started asking Ottar to sing as it was known he had a glorious voice, used not only for inspiring, but also to please the ears. He sang a tune and then another while Kisping blew his horn. His talent was greeted with applause and attracted attention of one person who was also drinking mead with a group, but sitting more far from the center.

Ottar was surrounded by girls who were whispering in his ear, he laughed and showed off the things he got. One of the things were bagpipes and that also attracted the before mentioned person's attention as well. So it's no surprise that when Ottar stood up and went outside to let the mead out he was followed.

As he was coming back, a figure greeted him in the doorway.

"Do you want to say something?" he asked.

"Yes, I want your bagpipes." the voice said.

"Why would I give you my bagpipes?" Ottar asked.

"I can pay."

"Well, at least step into the light and identify yourself like a real man."

"As you wish, but you're in for a surprise." The figure stepped into the light and Ottar saw a young woman standing in front of him. Her hair in front was braided so that it wouldn't get in her eyes, she was dressed as a man and her look was determinant and confident.

"But you're a girl!"

"Do you have a problem? Will you sell me the bagpipes or will I have to fight you for them?" she had her hands on her waist and had no intention of moving away.

Ottar laughed.

"You have courage, my dear, I like that. I will give you my bagpipes as a present for you."

"Thank you, but that's not necessary. I can pay for them."

"You can pay for them with a kiss." Ottar approached her, but she twisted at the last moment and he ended up kissing the door. The girl laughed. "Ah, I see." Ottar said. "I like a good conquest. Would you like to sit at my table and tell me what a pretty girl like you are doing in Oslo wearing man clothes?"

"Only if I get my bagpipes."

"Yes yes, of course. Do you drink mead?"

"I would not survive without it."

Ottar laughed and they went inside. The girl showed to her friends that she is going with Ottar and he saw five more young women come out, dressed similarly. They sat at Ottar's table and his mates were as shocked as he was. The girl Ottar met spoke:

"My name is Flokia. This is my crew, we sail together from the Baltics in our drakkar. We may not have been blessed by perfect appearance and we don't have the key for obedience, but the gods blessed us with our wits and we have sharp tongues just like our swords, so don't mess with us."

"Mm, I'd like to try her tongue later." Ottar whispered to Kisping.

"So tell me, where did you get the bagpipes or should I wait till you write in your travel book about it?" Flokia asked Ottar as she sat next to him. The groups started talking with each other as it was interesting for Ottar mates to find out how a drakkar is soaring the seas with a team of only women.

"No no, we just came back from Scotland. Have you been there before?"

They talked about their travels for the whole night. Apparently they had quite the similarities between each other. They started growing on each other. They both had the same reasons for not settling down: they wanted to experience the world to its fullest and they couldn't have something tying them down. Ottar and Flokia did not understand it: sometimes they would feel like they lighted up in each other's night like a torch in a dark cave. They felt connected in a way, so it was no surprise that as they were watching the sun come up Ottar asked Flokia a rather interesting question.

"Flokia, I will be setting sail in a few days, and it interests me...would you like to come with me to the Baltics?"

"I can't." Flokia's smile faded and Ottar felt as if somebody hit him with a cane.

"Why not?"

"I can't break a promise. And I can't leave my girls just like that."

"All of your girls can come!"

"We will slow you down, you will go like a huge turtle. And we have our own goals, our destinations. We have just left the Baltics, we are going to Scotland now. Today actually."

"I see." as if Ottar put on a mask, his face expression changed in mere seconds. "Well, if you have to go, I can not stop you."

"You truly can't. But I can give you something from me."

Flokia came closer and braided Ottar's hair in the front left and put a few beads with amber on it.

"There, now you will have something to remember me."

"Sunshine of the dark, I don't need anything to remember you. This night was plenty." Ottar smiled.

"You're so sweet." Flokia laughed.

"I'm not usually sweet. I think it's because of you." Ottar laughed.

As Ottar looked back, Flokia smiled so sweetly at him and he couldn't help himself so he leaned in and kissed her. His arms winded around her waist while he kissed not only her lips but her neck as well. She did the same. After a few quite passionate moments Flokia pushed him away and told that it was time for her to go back to her drakkar. Flokia stroked Ottar's hair and whispered to his ear that she is sure they will meet again one day. Ottar nodded and smiled as he planted another kiss on Flokia's lips. They went back to the inn where Flokia rounded up her girls and took Ottar's bagpipes.

"What's the name of your ship?" Ottar asked before she left.

"Black Sheep."

"Good." Ottar nodded. "I will look out for it on the seas."

"You better." Flokia smiled as she walked away.

As the door closed Kisping leaned to Ottar and asked: "So is her tongue really as sharp as her sword?"

Ottar took a moment to smile before he answered: "Sharper."

It's not a "real" job, just "a nice hobby"

"You're our little star"

"We're so proud of you."

"Another year finished, have fun in summer!"

"Such good grades! Now time to rest and socialize."

Anatha put down the cards from her family and sighed.Every year it's the same.Somehow she pulls through a year of university and people tell her how proud they are. Proud of what? That she is studying the thing they wanted her to study and not following her dream? How can you be proud of that?

"Have fun."

Yeah, she is going to have fun. She opened her sketchbook and started drawing. She wanted to finish a sketch of a couple she started yesterday. After about half an hour she pulled away to look at it from afar. The woman was looking at herself in the mirror while the man was kissing her neck and holding her. His one hand was on her breasts and the other was on her waist, as if pulling her towards himself. One of her hands was holding her hair, to expose more skin for the man and her other hand was on his thigh, relaxed. Anatha thought she should make the drawing bigger and on canvas. Maybe she could even find some people who would want to buy it.

She checked her wallet and went out to buy the canvas. She was walking through her city, breathing in the air. It felt good to get out of home where she felt like an alien. She just felt like a failure that she's just not into what most people think as a normal career. She wanted to an art teacher or just a painter, but her family just dismissed it as "a nice hobby". Painting for her was not a hobby. It was the thing that made her feel alive and true to herself.

Anatha reached the art store, but it was closed. The girl looked at her watch and according to it the shop was still supposed to be open for at least another fifteen minutes. Oh well, maybe the shop keeper decided to take off earlier. Or maybe he just realized that art is not a "real" occupation and followed society's advice and found a "real" job. Who knows. But now it meant she walked here for no reason.

"But c'mon, how can you not like Van Gogh? He's the best painter that ever lived!" a voice came from a cafe nearby.

Anatha turned towards the voice. She saw a group of people sitting and drinking coffee and tea. Some of them had their sketchbooks on the table and she saw some more sketchbooks peeking from their bags.

"Excuse me?" she said when she approached them. "I heard you were talking about art? May I join in to the conversation?"

"Sure." one of them said. "All fellow artists are welcome. Sit down! Are you an enthusiast or do you draw as well?"

"I draw as well." Anatha said while sitting down.

"Excellent! May we see something?"

"I don't have my sketchbook here."

"Well, you can bring it another time."

Stephan, the guy who was talking, explained that they meet every Thursday to feedback each other's work or just talk. Anatha instantly felt like a fish in the water. This was a place for her.

"What are you drawing now, little bug?" Stephan asked her in the next meeting. He called new people in the club as little bugs. He found it adorable.

Anatha took her sketchbook and flipped through pages until she found the last sketch. There was a woman holding an apple with a target drawn on it. She was turned away from the viewer, so she couldn't see her shooter.

"Nice" Stephan said with his distinct manner.

"Yeah, keep up the good work." A girl on her right said.

"Thank you." Anatha smiled.

"Do all of your drawn people always have to be naked?" Marto asked.

"I just enjoy drawing the naked. Feels more raw, more truthful. As if they have nothing to hide but they're also exposed to all world's dangers." Anatha explained.

"You might get a lot of negative comments about that." Marto insisted.

"As long as I get to do things my way, I don't care what people say." Anatha said.

"Well, you shouldn't lock yourself in a tower away from everybody else, my dear. You have to hear the people and continue evolving. You have to be true to yourself, of course, but you simply can't close off." Stephan said.

"Yeah, but if some people want me to completely change my style because it displeases them?"

"Well, then you say, thanks for the comment, NO." Stephan laughed.

They continued on talking. They discussed their works, the nature of art, the nature of drawing, what is happening now. Like a little lost sheep Anatha found her herd. She found the place to grow, to work and to prosper.

She finished her studies, of course. She couldn't just drop it. But her studies were not the thing she became known for.

The club made her discover herself. She became happy by staying true to herself. She didn't find a "real" job. She didn't need one. Her "nice hobby" was all she ever needed.

Deep shadows of the blues

She was never ready for it. She always tried to get ready for it, but she never succeeded. It's this sort of feeling of drowning when there's no water around. And Lila always knew that feeling was somewhere deep inside her and she kept pushing it down, covering it up, but it would get out somehow... One time or another.

You see when this feeling would hit... The eyes get hazy. You start less focusing on what's happening now and your mind just drifts away into forgotten memories and thoughts. You know, the ones you don't want to think about. It's not the blues. The blues are a walk in the park compared to this. You see, from blues you can still create. You can make music, poetry, stories, drawings... You can transform your blues into art. But like Lila said, this was not the blues. This was the deep deep shadows of the blues.

Lila wasn't ready this time as well when it hit her. She was watching a movie and she was glad she was doing it alone because as it hit her, she was trying to fight it, but her tears started running like a fountain. The movie triggered some memories, some connections. But this time was better than the last. She learned how to deal with it, she learned how to hide it. She always said that you can get used to everything.

The first time it hit her, she didn't want to do anything. Her mind kicked and screamed and protested anyway possible when she would try to bring herself to do anything. But she still would jump out of bed like an arrow, because she couldn't allow others to see that something was wrong. Her life was good and she thought she can't complain. So she fought well and pushed the shadows deeper. They kept coming back though.

Sometimes the feeling wouldn't come back for months. But then it would hit again. Like a phone call in the middle of the night completely making you awake. But also filling you with all negative emotions and thoughts. But Lila was a well mannered girl, she couldn't let her anger shine through, she couldn't just lie in bed all day, she couldn't just stop living, couldn't just give up. Her hands would start shaking sometimes, but she brushed it off with a smile, saying, hey, we all have our silly little quirks. Not letting anyone inside. Lila was afraid, that if she ever let anyone inside, they would run away. And she needed her friends. She liked company of people. So she kept looking forward to parties, to get together with others, she would bury herself in work and hobbies because the thing that she hated (and feared) most was being left alone with her thoughts.

Lila was waiting for the up periods. The time when everything would light up like a flashlight and her smile would not leave her face. These were the best of times, and Lila thought the bad times were worth the good times. But the higher her good was, the harder the shadows would hit her next time. She just hoped that there wouldn't be people around because she could just deal with it alone. She couldn't handle other people around her down periods.

Lila had these images in her head which she dared not to do. Tearing up books, shouting on people, breaking glasses... sometimes she just wanted the let all the anger out, but she couldn't find a decent way how. So she just continued making everything numb. She just locked it all up and kept buying more locks and throwing away more keys.

Lila was afraid her emotions would break through the locks sometimes. She was afraid that when people saw her in this state, they would leave. And she couldn't handle people leaving. She needed the human connection, she needed the human warmth, so she needed to stay nice and decent and smiling.

Lila had a good life. But sometimes the deep shadows of blues would take over her. But she kept on smiling when people saw her even though she was screaming and breaking and tearing apart everything inside.

But she kept on being silent.

Because once someone told her

and it got stuck in her mind

that good little girls are like fish

you can see them 

but you shouldn't hear them

Drift off

"Roxanne? Are you crying?" - her roommate Tim knocked on the bathroom door.

"No, I'm trying to make the water boil in my tub."

"Roxanne, is this about that guy?"

"What? No! It's about me."

"Did something else happen?" Tim asked.

"Yeah, I lost my dignity."

"Oh, Roxanne, don't beat yourself up about it. Sometimes people just drift off."

"Tim, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but let me figure out everything myself."

"Well, you've been there for over two hours. And I'd reaaally want to pee."

"Is that why you're being all supportive?" Roxanne laughed.

"No, I'm being supportive for you. See? I even made you laugh." Tim paused. "But I also want to pee."

"Fine, wait five minutes."

Roxanne got out from her bath. Just as she stepped on the mat, the light went out.

"Hey, turn the light back on!"

"I didn't do anything. Maybe the light bulb went out."

"Perfect. Just fantastic." Roxanne shook her head.

"I'll bring a flashlight. I think we're out of light bulbs."

"Of course we are." Roxanne said as she finally grasped her towel and started drying herself off. She moved a few more steps, found her bathrobe and put it on. She staggered to the door and opened it. Immediately she her hand to her eyes and let out a growl as Tim flashed the light into her eyes.

"Sorry." Tim said.

"It's fine." Roxanne said and went to her room.

She collapsed on her bed and considered not moving for a few days and wondered if people would notice. She shook the feeling off (well, just hid it deeper, actually) and turned on her laptop to watch a movie and not think about anything.

Roxanne decided to watch Lord of the Rings. The sight of hobbit feet made her smile for a moment. The smile disappeared when Aragorn and Arwen came to stage. She paused the movie and figured it's about time to eat something. She came back with some sandwiches and started checking Facebook while munching on them. One of her friends had a post that he was planning to jump with a parachute and he was looking for company. Roxanne paused for a bit, then decided "Why not?" and agreed to jump with the guy. She had one day until the jump.

Since she wasn't in the mood for Lord of the Rings anymore, she took out a book examining random elements. No chance for romance in this book. After reading for about twenty minutes, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Roxanne said and didn't even turn, because she knew it was Tim. Who else could it be?

"Roxy, I really think we should talk about it."

"I'm fine, there's nothing to talk about."

"I checked the bath water. You've been in there until it was ice cold. And yesterday I heard you smash things. You're clearly not ok."

"I just need to cool off, you know? I'll be fine, I'm always fine."

"You always say that, but do you seriously believe it?" Tim sat next to her.

Tears gathered to Roxanne's eyes, but she pushed them away.

"I'll tell that until I believe it."

"Listen, you've come a long way since I first met you. You were really a closed person. And especially when you met him, I thought everything's going to be fine."

"But it wasn't."

"Yeah, but the thing that you put yourself in that kind of risk is good. You wouldn't have done that the first time I met you."

"No."

"See? Not all mountains are measured in meters you know. You did a lot, you started trusting people, don't let one little setback get you away from reaching the top."

"I just don't want to feel anything. From now on I am a pyramid and my feelings are buried inside. I'm done."

"Roxy, don't be a pyramid. You're a human being."

"But I can't feel like this."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to!"

"Well, sorry to hear that, but some feelings can't go away just by wishing them away. Are you mad at him?"

"What? No! Well maybe a little. I'm actually mad at myself that I let myself believe that something will come out o this. I told him it wouldn't work! I told him! And what did he don? Made me believe everything's going to be fine and then everything just stopped! I would have been fine if he said something, like "Look, this won't work out", but he just stopped! Like it was nothing! He said he would never forget me, well I guess it was easier than he thought... but you know what? You know what bugs me off most?? It's the fact that he couldn't look in my eyes or even just write a message that's it's done! Why? Am I such a bad person that I didn't deserve at least that? That's low. That's being a wuss."

Tim hugged her.

"Do you feel better now?" he asked.

"Actually...yeah. A little."

"You know, you don't need to be with anyone."

"Yeah, I know. I guess I'm a bit hotheaded that's all. And it's nice to feel connected."

"Well, at least you can't throw lightnings or the guy would be done for."

Roxanne laughed.

"So what are your plans now? Are you going to talk to him?"

"Why? I've already tried. I'm not going to chase him."

"Great. What about some food?"

"Changing the topic? Good idea. um, I'm already eating sandwiches, so I'm good, thanks."

"Yeah, about that. Go make me one."

"You do realize, that in this mood I can squish you like a bug if you don't rephrase your request, right?" Roxanne squinted at him.

"Pleaaaaase?" Tim asked. "You make the best sandwiches."

"Fine, but you'll be making dinner then."

"Fine by me."

"Great." Roxanne stood up and headed towards the door.

"Roxy?"

"Yeah?" she stopped at the door.

"Wait up, I'll make some coffee with the sandwiches." Roxanne smiled as he said that. "And I have to make sure you'll make my sandwich right."

"Frick off." Roxanne laughed as they both headed to the kitchen.

The Parachute

The parachute loved his job. How could he not love it? He'd get to see the sky, he'd get to travel and he saved people's lives. A lot of people prayed that he would do his job well and the parachute couldn't simply just let them down. He was looking eagerly to perform at his best. Sometimes the machine which set him free jammed but he would kick and push and break free in the joy of the person who was flying with him.

But one day in one check up the usually smiling handyman got up from him with a nervous face. He told to his colleague that the parachute was getting old and they should throw him out before he rips.

The parachute was outraged: "Too old?!". He felt he was still strong and could prove it to the man. Suddenly a huge blast of wind swooped through the window. It made the parachute get up from the table. He looked like a flying expression of anger and disappointment. So much time serving these people and they were ready to throw him out like a piece of trash? Outrage!

The handyman tried to stop the parachute, but it was too late. The blast of wind made him fly. The parachute figured if he's not appreciated here, he will fly away and find someone who does. He got through the window into his freedom. He flew over the lands he knew so well - so many times he landed there.

He looked up to the sky and sighed - no more he could see those heights. He had to be close to the ground now. He kept flying, but the wind was not so giving. After a few hours it stopped blowing and the parachute got stuck under a tree. As if that wasn't enough, after a few minutes it started raining as well. Well, at least he was under the tree, so he wasn't getting that wet as he could have been.

Just as those thoughts passed his mind, a blast of wind pushed him from under the tree and into the cold rain. The thing that the parachute was most afraid, happened: as he was pulled away, he tore himself with a branch. The wind twirled him in the rain and the parachute didn't even resist. Why bother? He was old and worthless like the handyman said.

A fence appeared in his path and that's where the wind left him. The parachute stayed there until the night and the until the morning. When the sun dried him off he heard voices next to him. There were two boys examining him with magnifying glasses. He saw them see his tear and figured they will throw him away as they started taking him off the fence.

But the boys ran with him to their mother who after a close examination smiled and sew the parachute up. When she returned it to the boys they were smiling so wide and the parachute was puzzled. Did he find his new purpose? Is he still able to make people happy despite his old age and tears?

The boys ran outside again and the parachute saw an unfinished tree house - it was lacking a roof. The boys stretched the parachute diagonally, so that it would cover them from rain and wind, but also that water wouldn't tear it.

The parachute couldn't believe it. He was making people happy again. The boys trusted him and he could see their most secret project happening and being planned under him. But the thing he was most happy about, he could still see the sky he loved so much.

Detective and the girl in the flowery dress

You could say the Detective was married to her work. There was nothing better for her than a good case. She loved solving crimes and tying loose ends. She had a flawless record and she could probably say more about you after knowing you for five minutes than some of your friends.

But having these qualities, she was never nosy. She didn't use her skills to annoy people (unless they were assholes), just to solve crimes.

She loved puzzles and mysteries and didn't really know fear. So it's no surprise that when she found footprints around her house she felt not scared but excited and eager to solve the new mystery.

The footprints were not big, so at first she thought it's just neighbour children wandering off. But they kept appearing every few days next to her window. So she dismissed the idea of accident or coincidence. Someone was visiting her and she had to find out who.

She didn't let her work slip, but in every break she was examining the footprints. The biggest mystery was how they were only by her window and nowhere else - no trail where they came from. As if somebody landed there and went away. She decided to wait by her window one night. Right when she was about to fall asleep she heard a loud buzz. Moments later a little girl appeared by her window. She held up her hand to knock on the window. She hesitated and put her hand now. Then put it up, then hesitated again. The Detective came out and the girl stood startled. The Detective opened the window and the girl climbed in. She had a little dress which seemed to be made from flowers on. The Detective showed her ID and said she works with the police and if she could help the girl in any way she would gladly do it. The girl stood looking shyly, before looking at the Detective. The girl explained she is the princess of fairy world and her father was missing and that's why she needed a detective.

The little girl took out a picture of her father and gave it to the Detective. While looking at the picture the Detective excused herself and decided to call the psychiatric clinic with her mobile phone and ask maybe they have a little girl who thought she's a fairy missing. The person at the clinic was surprised as a week before they admitted a man who was wandering the streets and telling he's the fairy king, and that he lost a portal key. The Detective furrowed her brows and asked how the man looked. The description matched the picture the girl gave her. She asked if it was possible to see the man and the person replied that only during visiting hours. The Detective told the girl she might have found her father who lost a portal key and that she can see him tomorrow. She felt sad that the crazy man persuaded this little girl that she is a magical creature.

Next day they drove to the clinic. The worker showed them a man, sitting by the window. The little girl screamed "Daddy!" and ran to him. Can you imagine everyone's faces when they disappeared in mid-air as they started hugging?

It got silenced by the clinic workers and the Detective never told anyone about it. She pretended nothing happened and kept silent. But the following night she found a thank you note by her window and below there were little footprints for the last time. She kept the note in her book about Sherlock Holmes. And even though she told no one about it, her mind would sometimes wonder how is the little princess in the flowery dress.

The Man and the Moon

There was once a very sad man. And now when I say sad, I don't mean he was grumpy or skeptic or cynical or nostalgic. He was just sad.

He stopped smiling a long time ago and when he was younger, his family took him to various doctors and healers (they even tried religious healers, like priests) but nothing worked. His face was struck with eternal sadness and that gave him a little dreamy expression. He particularly looked good in the moonlight. That silver light made his eyes glisten and seem bigger.

Little did people know that this man was sad for one simple reason. He was in love and was sad he can't reach his loved one. Now I know what you might want to say: plenty of fish in the sea, right? Well, I don't think there are a lot of fish like this. You see, this man was in fact in love with the Moon. No girl or guy could keep his attention. He had no idea why and how it happened, but the day he realized he can't be together with the Moon, his smile disappeared.

Of course, he could see the Moon every night. But what's the point of seeing your loved one if the distance is still there?

He devoted his life to astronomy, and especially exploring the Moon. He was not an astronaut, as he didn't pass the test. His colleagues tried cheering him up and saying it's no big deal, but failed. He couldn't tell them the reason why he was sad. He himself knew how crazy it sounded, so how could his colleagues understand?

He had a window right next to his bed and when the Moon was shinning he slept without curtains. He kept dreaming that the moonlight will grab him and shoot him like an arrow towards it. He kept dreaming he would meet the personification of the Moon - a girl or a guy with silver hair and a sad smile and glowing eyes.

Can you imagine his joy when he saw that his own hair was turning to silver? He actually smiled that morning. He grew older and in the meantime technology got better. To honour his retirement, his colleagues asked some astronauts to take him to see the Moon. It was the first time his colleagues saw him smile. Finally! He will be connected with his love, finally!

The rocket shot like an arrow towards the Moon and he couldn't contain himself. The astronauts made sure he put on his suit before stepping outside. He ran through the doors as soon as they opened and started jumping and laughing like a child. The astronauts told him not to wander off, but he was already running towards the dark side of the Moon - the only thing he couldn't see through his window.

And that's when he saw him. He had his back to him, but the man knew he was looking at the real Moon. The Moon. Moon person turned to face him and he was everything the formerly sad man had imagined. The Moon walked up to him, opened up his suit and smiled at him. He got out of his suit and was surprised he can breathe with no trouble. The Moon lead him by the hand and the man followed.

The astronauts found the suit as it had a GPS installed. They brought it back to Earth. It was examined that the man inside it died from a heart attack. His former colleagues blamed themselves for letting him go and put so much pressure on his old heart. But when they saw his body, they stopped blaming themselves - he had such a peaceful smile stuck on his face.

The astronauts claimed that the suit was glowing with silver light when they found it. They could have sworn they saw shadow of two people walking away while holding hands. But of course, they didn't tell that to anyone. Who would believe something like that?

The man was buried on a quiet day. People walking by at night tell interesting tales. They say that if the Moon is shining extra bright, it seems that there are two people standing at the grave, holding hands.