Prose by Eliza Fisher
Tarver the Squirrel Once upon a time, not so long ago in a place you might just know, was a very small town. The town was so tiny that only a few people knew of its location. In fact it was a town of squirrels. Wives and daughters of fallen warriors in the war mostly populated the area. This town was called Just One. In Just One there was only one male, Tarver. He never felt lonely or unloved in anyway. He did not have the knowledge of the other men in the world. He was contented with his life with the women. As the legend is told, Tarver wondered in the woods everyday after his chores were completed. Being the only male he was left to himself. Tarver’s greatest choice of activities is to explore the lands of his great imagination. Upon coming out of the said explorations he found himself staring at an unknown landscape, giant gray lake. All at once a goldfish came to the surface. His name was George. George tried to capture Tarver. Without thinking Tarver threw his magic acorn; hitting George in the noggin seemed to do wonders. The fish disappeared leaving twenty or so squirrels standing by the crystal clear lake. It was the men. Everyone went home to meet their lost families. They had a big dinner of nuts. Tarver was a hero. Now, the town is called. Revrat. Tarver died a happy old squirrel in a hunting accident. The End.
Pip I see many people day after day. It isn’t anything new to me. The bright orange jumpsuits are quite the fashion here. Of course the guards with their toys a plentiful. Some of the people meet Ned. Ned is okay. He is always poking people. After you get poked you never come back. I get kind’ve sad and lonely all by myself. Sometimes the loonies speak to me. That always brightens my day. The jumpsuit guys get to see other people when they come to visit. They all come to visit the people, but never me. Everyone looks at me with distaste or fright. I wonder why. I have a pretty good structure. Or at least I think so. Just the other day, a man came to join the jumpsuit people. He seemed unlike everyone else here. They all have tattoos and piercings, and they look kind’ve grizzly. This guy was different. He appeared suave and he had an unreadable expression written across his face. Lots of the guys they bring to see me get a mean look upon their faces, or they have some conflicting emotions. Oh! Before I forget, everyone calls me Pip. My name is actually Prime Indiana Prison. Dreams What’s that? That smell? I open my eyes to find myself in a meadow. Before me stands a dark tower, a large stone tower. It is twilight. My favorite time, but how did I get here. One minute ago I was in Mr. Matthews’s history class. I am real trouble now. Looking down I realize the white dress that clothes me. What the heck. How did I get in this get up? “ What’s going?” I scream into the silence that I hadn’t noticed until the shout had escaped me. All of a sudden the wind picks up. I throw my arms in front of my face… “Miss Maddox. Miss Maddox. Is there a reason why you are sleeping in my class?” Mr. Matthews questioned. “ Uh… I was sleepy?” I mumbled with a hopeful look on my face. “ you know the penalty for sleeping in my class. I am sure that you know by know. Miss. Maddox is there a reason why you find my class the perfect time to sleep?” Bring… saved by the bell.. “that will be all class… except miss Maddox. Will you please stay a few minutes to discuss some matters, and that was not a question.” “yes, sir.” “Miss Maddox you really need to start paying attention in class. Your grades are starting to drop, Miss Mad… …. Why does it always have to be the same lecture. Blah blah blah I might have to talk to your father. I know that we both don’t want that to happen. Blah blah blah. “ next time you will have to face the consequences. You must have been having one strange dream. You were cowering in your chair. Are you okay?” A bewildered look came across my face.” Yes I am perfectly fine.. I don’t even remember what I dreamt about anyway. I’ll see you later Mr. Matthews. I have some homework that I need to finish. See ya!” “Homework?” I rushed home. The dream still vivid in my mind; it seemed so real that I could almost smell the scent of those flowers. I wonder what kind they are. That tower looked familiar too. I wonder why?” After some extensive searching, I found the castle or what looked like the castle in my dream. “ “What meadow? Sis, what are you talking about?” “its nothing, Nessa. Do you know when dad is coming home by any chance?” I flashed my younger sister my brightest smile. “ What did you do now? You didn’t fall asleep at school again did you? What is it with you lately? You sleep like the dead all the time.” Yeah I know. It is weird.” I agreed., but I can’t help it. I just get so bored and then I just well you know let my mind wander a bit.” “ yeah right into dreamland. Hahahahaha.” “ yeah, yeah. So about dad?” I asked in my very best attempted at perky. “He went on that one business trip that he has been talking about non stop for the last three weeks. I mean it sis what planet are you inhabiting lately? “ yeah that’s something that I have been wondering about myself. "well I am off to the movies with Niki and Sarah. Oh really and would there be any boys attending said movie? "Well I’m sure some boys will be there. It is a movie theater after all,” remarked Vanessa turning bright red as she ran out of the door. "okay, have fun. Hehehehe. That little chica makes me giggle. Now the flowers. Vinca minor alba. Wow those flowers are so cool. They originate in… * * * * * I awoke again to find myself in that same meadow, but something was wrong. There is no sun, moon, or stars. The sky is a black abyss swallowing the place where I stand. the feeling of loneliness creeps over me as I stare at the landscape. The castle is lit from within. I rush towards its ancient stone walls. Past the gate and through the courtyard toward the steps I seem to fly. At last I am in the large structure. Passing by closed doors until an open one is in my sight. Felling the warmth coming from the room I reliaze I am cold. Looking down I see my bare feet sticking out from under a white nightgown with a lace hem. Shivering I enter the room to find a fire blazing in the hearth, wood framed furniture with red cushions, and a rich oriental rug. The room is empty. I sit in a chair close to the hearth with my back to the door. Warming myself I look about the room once more. The portrait above the mantle was in deep shadows, one two walls had bookcases, and there was a glass half full sitting on the table not two feet from my chair. Closing my eyes to think, I feel a hand upon my shoulder… Opening my eyes I am back in my bed wearing my old This is starting to become a problem. I can’t concentrate on my school work. Not that its hard. Teachers are starting to think that I don’t care about my homework. Crap its. “hey, why didn’t you wake me up?” “I tried. You sleep like a log. What was I suppose to do? Drive the car into your room? Besides you’re here know let’s go,” Nessa said without looking up. When she did she just starred at me. “what?” “Are you alright? You look really pale. Are you sick? Maybe I should drive today.” “no I am fine. Anyway we only have another five miles. It would just waste time” “okay. But you should take it easy today. Okay?” "okay.” Things can’t get any worse then they already are, I thought getting out of the car in the school parking lot. “Maddie! Maddie! Hey I was calling you. What’s up?” Jason asked. "Well I might respond if you would actually call me by my name instead of a variation to my last name." “yeah well I still can’t believe you prefer Ashley to Maddie. Ashley is just so common. Maddie is way cooler if you ask me. Well Maddie Maddox I’ll talk to you later.” Jason said before he took off for his first class of the day. In the hallways I was almost run over by the other girls." “hey Ash. Why was Jason talking to you, again. Is there something going on between you two?” “who ever said anything like that. Now I have to get to English. Bye” "Why is Jason talking to me anyway? He just started talking to me a couple days ago. Oh well. I thought as I took my seat. Strange everything is getting fuzzy. Blinking my eyes a couple times I found myself back in the meadow. The flowers lay on the ground dead, their beauty lost in this strange place. The castle still loomed over me. Looking up at it, I saw movement in one of the rooms. In a flash I was back in the room with the blazing fire. The shadows were starting to disappear. A voice behind me startled me. “my lady.” Whipping around I saw a man. He looked familiar but I couldn’t place him. “you shouldn’t be here.” “yes I know. Do you know where I am?” “My Lady, what are you talking about?” “where is this place.” “My Lady please come with me.” As he started forward, panic overtook me. I ran. I ran away from the strange warmth of the fire, from the unrecognizable man, from the castle. What I saw up ahead almost made me stop. A moment before there was the meadow, now it was a forest. All at once the forest ended. I came to the edge of a cliff before I could react I plunged into the dark depths of the open air. Falling through the air took no time at all. The bottom was close. I was going to leave this world forever. The next second I found myself sitting in history class. What? What is going on? Before I even entered my dream it was first hour. Where had the day gone? How did I get here? “hey Maddie you okay? You seem kind of flustered. Like you jumped off a cliff. Do you need any help with your stuff?” Jason asked with concern showing on his face. “N.nn.no. I’m fine. I’ve just had a very strange day. That’s all. I think I might be coming down with something though.” I answered uncertain if I could stop the cold feeling in my hands. “let me drive you home. You normally wait for you sister to get done with soccer practice right. I’ll give her your car keys okay?” Jason said. Before I knew what was happening Jason was leading me to his car. The other girls stopped in shock in the parking lot watching the strange events play out. “Maddie, is there something going on? You seems like you have been in dreamland all day. Whenever a teacher asked you something you answered in such a dead voice. Is something going on?” Jason inquired. “well it might seem weird but I have been dreaming lately.” “what’s weird about that. I dream all the time.” “no I mean I will be completely awake then. WHAM. I am in this dream world. Today, when I sat down for English class I wasn’t really here. I was there. When I “woke up” I was in History class. That’s my whole school day. I don’t remember any of it. This must seem utterly strange to you. We don’t normally talk.” I said looking out the window with a fresh blush on my face. Why am I blushing? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. With a shudder the car comes to a halt. We are at my house. “thanks for the ri..” the second I looked at Jason a flash of the man from the dream crossed my vision.. Jason was the man. My heart thundered like an earthquake. Reaching for the handle, I rushed out of the car and into my house. “oh dear. I think I scarred her.” Jason said bemusedly as he backed out of the driveway. I ran into my room and slammed the door. All of a sudden I felt exhausted. My nerves couldn’t take the strain. I fell haphazardly upon the bed. Entering once more into the dreaded existence that was my dream…. I was sitting under the sun on the edge of the cliff looking down into the void. A shadow passed over me. Turing I saw something move into the forest. I took after it. Whenever I thought I had lost it, it would wait and look back over its shoulder. I couldn’t tell who it was. Shadows obscured its identity. The game of tag lasted until I found the person standing in the bright red room of the castle. It was a girl. She turned around. In her hand she held a small dagger. “Sister.” She cried. I felt a sharp pain in my back. As I fell I could feel a warm substance fall from my back. Before I blacked out, I saw Vanessa running at Jason dagger raised… “Hey. Sis. Wake up. Wake up.” Vanessa shouted over my screaming. “Vanessa. Nessa. Are you okay. Did he hurt you?” the words flew from my mouth as I sat up to hug my sister. “what are you talking about?” Vanessa asked. Looking over her shoulder I saw Jason standing in the doorway. “him. What is he doing here?” I shrieked. “he came back to school to get me. He was worried about you. Frankly I am worried about you too. You have been sleeping for six hours. I couldn’t wake you up. I think we should call someone.” Vanessa’s voice was shaking. “I don’t know. I thought it was just a dream but..ouch.” all of a sudden a small portion of my back started to ache. The same spot were I was stabbed by HIM. He did this to me. All of this started the day the HE started talking to me. “why are you doing this to me?” I yelled at him, jumping out of bed to confront him eye to eye. I took one step toward him, and I fainted right into his arms. Just like that I was back at the castle. This time I was lying in a giant bed wrapped with a bandage around my chest and abdomen. When I tried to move pain over took me. All I could do was to wait for it to pass. Slowly I counted to ten with my eyes closed. When I opened them again, I was back in my room lying on my bed with Jason holding my hand. Okay this really has to stop. I am going to go crazy if I keep going back a forth. I thought. “would you be so kind as to let go of my hand?” "oh. Sorry’ Jason said sheepishly with a slight blush upon his face. “I caught you when you fainted. I g.guess I’ll see you at school.” Jason left suddenly. I wonder why I am blushing too? In the dream he..he is trying to kill me. Isn’t he? “you are not going to school tomorrow. No way. There is something wrong with you.” Vanessa said interrupting my thoughts. “but ness. I have tests tomorrow. I need to go to school. This is probably just stress from studying so much. As soon as the mid-term exams are done, I’m sure the dreams will stop. Please. Please. Let me go to school. You know how much I love school” I begged. “promise?” I could see her caving already. “yes. Yes. Yes. I’ll be fine after tomorrow.” I hope. That night as I got ready for bed I thought about my dreams. I wonder what they mean. I hope I don’t dream tonight. The second I lay my head down I was swept away again into my nightmarish fairy tale. Once again I was in the giant bed. Someone was holding my hand. Looking over I saw Jason asleep in a chair. His head resting the bed next to me, my hand engulfed in his. The emotion that came over me was great love for this person. But why I don’t know. Crashing through the door came Vanessa and Jason? Upon awaking I rushed to get ready. A million questions rushing through my head. Vanessa drove today, though she looked worried. “can’t we hurry. I need to get to school.” “what’s your hurry. I know you like school but I’m not going to get a speeding ticket because of it alright.” The moment we arrived I rushed out of the vehicle to find Jason. I saw him talking to “Hey, Maddie! Why are you at school today? You should be at home.” Jason number 2 said to me. “Jason, why are there two of you?” “What?” looking up he saw Jason number 1 with crystal. “oh, that’s my cousin Tony. He is staying with me for a few days. I guess he does look like me huh.” “Yes. He does. I have a test to take. See you later.” Thoroughly confused, I walked to English class. Surprisingly, nothing happened until lunch. It was one of those lunches that just made you say ick over and over in your head. “Hey, Maddie, do you mind if we sit here?” Jason asked not expecting an answer. Tony was behind him along with “Oh, hi.” Meaningless talk ensued. “So, “Yeah, I guess you say that. Tony and I are going out,” “I was wondering, Jason, why you would associate yourself with a nerd? No offense Ashley,” “ “oh, Jason, don’t worry about it. I don’t take any offense “FOOD FIGHT!” yelled Tony. Food was whipping around the cafeteria. Everything and anything, teachers were trying to stop the chaos. The last moments I remember was a bowl of red cherry Jell-o with whipped cream fly through the air to hit Mr. Davis on his balding head, and Mr. Davis telling Tony, Jason, and I that we had detention. Then, I blacked out…. “Maddie! Maddie! Oh please wake up. I feel lost without you here.” A soft voice whispered not far from my side. I could feel a slight pressure on my hand. Slowly my eyes opened to reveal a canopied bed and three people starring down at me. “Madelyn! You’re okay. We were so worried. I had to call Jason here. He was healing you. Do you remember? You fell in the forest and tore open your side? Kris found you and brought you back. Madelyn, do you remember me? I’m Narissa, your sister.” All of this was said in a rush by the girl who looked like Nessa. “Yes, Narissa, I am fine. I feel a little tired though. I do remember you. Jason is my husband. He was away to take care of his sick cousin. I guess that would be you?” I looked over at the person behind my sister. Kris was identical to my Jason. Kris answered with a nod of his head. “You all could not image the dream that I have been having.”
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