f ture Contributors
Chrysalism By Mary Kalinski
Light By Colin Jones
Books! By Cameryn Bauman
Listen to the Light By Ryan Zaff
Weathering By Colin Jones
Top Ten Upcoming Superhero Films By Jack Accurso
The Power of Music By Colin Jones
Between a Rock and a High Place By Ryan Zaff
Undead Condo Matt Izzo
The Dreamcatcher Katherine Markello
Chrysalism By Mary Kalinski
A dull, lackluster sky Like an unpolished silver pitcher Gently sending down Which she took in her own A trickle of water And pulled me into an embrace, where With a taste like rust I forgot about the storm brewing in my heart And days long ago As the dampening chill All at once, there we stood Lulls the din of the world My head on her rosemary-scented shoulder Her hands, wrinkled with time and love And there I was Granting solace Surrounded by patched, overstuffed cushions And with honest care, she whispered And a tattered novel, dear to me My child, you are strong With pages curling and yellowed- You are brave The graying ink and tea stains You are not alone Keeping better company than the roll And crash of frenzied strokes of white And all at once, I believed that Just beyond the window Strength is no masquerade Tears are no weakness It would’ve been lovely And though reaching out takes courage, If there wasn’t such a queer ache in my stomach There is no relief like an open heart Or such a sting in my eyes So please, my reader, never forget that As if they wished to mirror the outer world You are strong, you are brave Only without the rumble and fuss And most of all, you are not alone. Perhaps if my home was fuller And the sky a shade bluer, my heart a bit less blue There wouldn’t be such a lonely emptiness Light But it seems that family always knows By Colin Jones When something isn’t quite right And as my grandmother tapped on the door A soft white glow I knew I couldn’t hide away much longer That nobody knows Yet she said not a word, and quietly, Never alone Gently, whisked me off to the kitchen In the deepest of throes Placed a plate of onions by my hands Instructed me to dice them I can always count on I can always bear And down poured a shower Just reach out your hand Of bottled up melancholy To know what is there Grandmother, it’s just the onions, I pleaded, brushing my Although distance may choke us cheek And set us astray With the heel of my hand I have my faith We’ll meet someday Books! By Cameryn Bauman
As you know, we’re in quarantine. What fun. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty stir cra- zy! I’ve decided to take it upon myself to get back into reading, and try out some new books and authors! If you’re like me, you’re obviously disappointed by the lack of open libraries and bookstores, but never fear! I am here to save the day! I’ve been doing some research and looking into ways to keep reading and have a bit of fun with it. Here’s what I’ve found so far! Listed below are some websites, apps, and creative ways to continue your wonderful reading journey while you are stuck at home. Enjoy!
Reading books: If you’re looking to buy some books, there are so many options! A lot of popular book websites are hosting sales, and have their books on discount. Here are some great websites if you’re looking to purchase: 1. Barnes and Noble - discounts are up to 50% off and there’s also a mother’s day sale 2. Audible - is an audiobook website/app. It does have a monthly fee but if you love audiobooks Audi- ble is an amazing resource 3. Bookdepository, Better World Books, AbeBooks, Amazon, Powell's Books, Thrift Books, Alibris, and Half Price Books, are all places to get used books for a great price! 4. If you’re not looking to purchase any books, then there’s a whole bunch of great resources for online reading! Some examples of those include: 5. Project Gutenberg - this website is not a favorite of mine because it has no current novels but there are some great books on here!
Internet Archive 1. pen Library - lots of amazing classics! 2. Google Books - amazing, amazing resource! 3. ManyBooks - here you can search by genre and find new books and authors! 4. Authorama - more classics, not a lot of newer books
Your at-home library! If you’re like me and constantly buying books, then you already have an at-home library! Because of this, my friends and I have set up an occasional book exchange! Every couple of weeks we drop books off at each other’s houses that we ourselves don’t have so that we can still read during quarantine!
!! Important !! Before and after we swap books we sanitize the books and make sure to take the necessary precautions. We do not come in contact with each other, and neither should you if this is something that you choose to do. Please take the necessary steps to stop the spread of the virus. Thank you. :)
Improving your reading experience: I’ve found some other apps and websites that have overall improved my reading experience, listed below are the apps that I have been using as of late: 1. Bookly - helps me track my reading and log the books that I finish! It also gives me stats of my reading and keeps me motivated :) 2. Likewise - lets you find your next read 3. Insight Timer - this is a white noise app with different soundscapes that I listen to while reading 4. Good reads - most people already know about this app but here I can find reviews about books that I’m interested in and new books to read! Listen to the Light By Ryan Zaff
Hank McEvans brushed his hand along the smooth stone, feeling the years inside it. The stone had been in this world for far longer than he. Next to Hank, Saige McEvans fingered the crystal prism dangling from her necklace. Hank’s twin sister craned her neck to gaze up at the structure which stood before them, a titanic monolith from a by- gone age. Built atop the precipice of a massive cliff, the temple was constructed of hewn rock and ice. It stood tall and regal, its uppermost tiers overlooking a vast ocean that extended to the horizon. Hank did not mind the bitter cold, protected by the lineage of an- cestors who’d dwelt here and the windproof parka he wore. He kept the hood back, letting the sea breeze blow through his hair. He was focused on the inscriptions in the stone, running his fingers through grooves so shallow that a casual observer might have missed them complete- ly. They were as ancient as the temple, faint and weathered after stand- ing for so long against the test of time. They were written in the lan- guage of those who’d dwelt here of old; Hank murmured to himself as he translated the hieroglyphs. “He… no, maybe she… who seeks… will be sought. He or she who shimmers in the shadows… will see the light. He or she who listens to the silence… will tell the tale of time eternal.” Saige whistled appreciatively. “First we find this temple in the middle of nowhere, with no expla- nation for its existence. Now we’re finding cryptic messages in a dead language that you just so happen to be able to translate?” Hank didn’t take his eyes off the glyphs. “This isn’t just any dead language - it’s the language of our ancestors, Saige. I can’t translate it perfectly, but I don’t know how… The Shaman never told us any stories about this.” “The Shaman told us a lot of stories when we were kids,” Saige chuckled. She was now inspecting a section of the wall where there were no inscriptions. “Who’s to say he told us all of them?” “I don’t know,” Hank mused, taking a step back to observe the temple’s architecture. There was no visible door or other entrance. Hank adjusted the ring on his left ring finger, made of smooth wood, and accented with an inlay of the same crystal as on Saige’s necklace. “But whatever this was, it was built by our ances- tors.” He stared at the inscriptions. Something told him that the village Shaman, for all his knowledge, did not know of this temple. “It’s our duty to find out what’s inside.” Saige placed her right hand on the flat section of stone, closing her eyes. “Do you feel that?” she asked. “It’s… It’s like it’s calling me. Hank, the temple is calling out to me. I can hear the voices in the stone -” “Saige,” Hank said. “Your necklace.” Saige opened her eyes and looked down, seeing for the first time that the crystal on her necklace was glowing. The stone rumbled. Hank and Saige took several steps back as the flat section of wall separated from the surrounding rock. Invisible seams opened wide, and the stone slid down to be flush with the snowy ground. “She who seeks will be sought,” Hank murmured. He and Saige exchanged a glance. “There’s something in here that we were meant to find.”
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Inside, the temple was pitch-black. Hank and Saige lit small torches, holding them up as they walked down the corridor deeper into the temple. The stone inside was pristine, untouched by time or the elements. Hank could see his breath in the cold, stale air. He could make out paintings on the corridor walls, ancient art that depicted a long-departed civilization. Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a large chamber. Hank raised his torch over his head, look- ing around and trying to make out the chamber’s fea- tures. It was large enough that his torchlight did not reach the walls or ceiling. “The voices,” Saige realized. “They’ve stopped. I kept hearing them as we came in - coming from the stone, summoning us. But now they’re gone.” Hank couldn’t see a thing. He closed his eyes. “That’s because I hear them now.” His ring grew warm, and as he opened his eyes again he saw that the crystal inlays were now glowing. Hank’s torch blazed, its luminosity increasing a hundredfold as the ring’s glow seemed to pulse. Saige extinguished her torch and hung it on her belt. Hank gazed around at the chamber, fully illuminated by the light of his torch. Easily a hundred meters in diameter, it was octagonal in shape; with massive, intricately carven columns holding up a domed ceiling easily three hundred meters above. The walls and ceiling seemed to glitter, and Hank realized that they were studded with the same crystals as on his ring and Saige’s necklace. “He who shimmers in the shad- ows will see the light,” Saige said softly. They explored the cavernous space, looking for any sign of the answers they sought. The voices Saige had mentioned - the ones that had beckoned her into the temple and had called to Hank as well - fad- ed away into silence as he inspected the walls. These too bore ancient inscriptions, but the language was not that of his ancestors. It was older still, possibly dating to eons before his birth. The earliest incarna- tion of his people had built this temple. But what was it a temple to? And what secrets, long since lost to time, did it hold? Saige was down on one knee in the center of the chamber, inspecting a small structure: Directly beneath the apex of the domed ceiling was an obelisk two meters tall, inscribed with yet more ancient writing. Hank walked over and knelt on the other side of it. “Can you translate it?” Saige asked. Hank shook his head. “No. It’s older than anything I’ve ever seen.” He brushed his fingers along the carven glyphs in reverence for those who had inscribed them. “I wish I could know what they said. If indeed the legacy of our ancestors has been lost, then we need to find a way to reclaim it.” Saige smirked. “That’s why we’re here.” Hank leaned his torch against the side of the obelisk, tracing the unfamiliar characters with his fin- ger in wonder. Saige placed her hand on the obelisk’s surface. “I don’t feel anything,” she said quietly. “No voic- es in the stone.” As she removed her hand, Hank placed his own on the side of the obelisk. “I… I don’t either,” he realized. “Why would we be summoned to come this far, if only to be met with nothing?” “He or she who listens to the silence will tell the tale of time eternal,” Saige muttered. “He or she who listens to the silence…” She shook her head. “We are listening to the silence. There’s just… nothing to hear in it.” Hank stared at the inscriptions. Listen to the si- lence… He or she who listens to it… I can’t translate it perfectly. “Not ‘he or she,’ ” Hank realized aloud. “He and she.” Saige stared. “Do you think?” Hank nodded. “It means both of us.” He extended his hand and placed it on the side of the obelisk, closing his eyes. Saige did the same. Listen to the silence… Tell the tale of time eternal. The obelisk glowed. The twins’ crystals bloomed with light, pulsing in sync as the crystals in the cav- ern did the same. Hank heard no voices, but in the silence, he heard their story. He could feel the length of eons gone by, speaking to him through the stone that had been here for just as long. Hank and Saige McEvans learned of their history, the history of their people. Ancient stories that had become fable, legend, and myth before finally being forgotten. But the test of time had not erased them com- pletely. And they would live on when the McEvans twins returned to their people. The people of the Ter- aa’Luxen would learn once more to listen to the light.
Weathering By Colin Jones
Frigid ice and searing flames Burn my mouth and call my name This tribulation suffocates My mind, this is my final fate
I scream inside My lonely world And this is where it stops I breathe inside My only hope To make it to the top
I hear the shouts of past years gone And suns that now are dark I cry for them, they weep for me But now I’ve seen a spark
This time that we all live within It festers in our blood It keeps us cloistered, our chagrin We’re trapped in all this mud
But for all you feel There’s no one there You’re not alone So don’t be scared To cry out just once more To open your own door
You’ll be okay We’ll see you soon So seize the day Play a happier tune
It won’t be long So don’t be frightened Together We shall stand united Top Ten Upcoming Superhero Films By Jack Accurso
*As always, some movies have adult ratings. Be sure to check with the folks before viewing.
______10. The Flash
The Flash is one of the most interesting comic book characters and has a variety of skills and powers. Barry Allen has a TV show and was featured in the movie Justice League, but there is more to explore with this character on the big screen that many fans are gonna be excited for. ______9. Wonder Woman: 1984
This movie doesn’t show a lot of details or who the main villain is, but the first Wonder Woman movie was absolutely amazing and her story seems to continue to grow and enrich audiences who become very excited to see this character on the big screen. Hopefully this movie will live up to what I hope it will be. ______8. Morbius
This film starring Jared Leto as Morbius is about a man who almost turns into a vampire. The trailer for this film is already jaw dropping and the idea it seems to set up is an amazing idea, with the entire Sony Spiderverse coming into play we might see Andrew Garfield or Tobey Maguire’s Spider Man show up in this movie along with Michael Keaton as the Vulture again. ______7. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang Chi has always been a fan favorite in the comics. He is essentially the equivalent to Bruce Lee in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With this film also featuring the Ten Rings and the real Mandarin as the villain, this will be a great stand alone film to enter the MCU as a fun watch without having to watch all the other films. ______6. Venom 2
In the ending of the first Venom movie audiences were left speechless. Not much is known about this film as well, but what we do know is that the main villain will be Carnage playing by Woody Harrelson and that there might be an appearance again by Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. ______5. Spider Man 3
After Far From Home’s post credit scene fans were in shock that Mysterio revealed Spider Man’s identity and that makes this film very intriguing to see how the directors will portray this version of Spider Man. A lot is unknown but what we do know is that there’s a very high chance that the villain will be Kraven the Hunter along with Scorpion, who made a cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The film will most likely feature Talos again and hopefully Nick Fury who is hanging out in space at the moment. ______4. Thor: Love and Thunder
This movie tells us that it will already feature several amazing things. First of all one of the biggest is that Jane Foster is returning and will lift Mjolnir and become Female Thor, just like in the comic, The Mighty Thor. Along with that, it is confirmed that the Guardians of the Galaxy will be in this film and that Groot will be evolved into his full form as King Groot. Christian Bale is cast to play the villain and many fans believe that he will be Gor the god Butcher and Thor will, in fact, be muscular again. Along with all these confirmed things, I believe that in the film they’ll take from the comics and bring back the Frost Giants, along with introducing to the MCU the Light Elves of Alfheim and on the off chance hope- fully bringing Loki back somehow. ______3. The Eternals
This film is a very interesting one and could potentially set up several more storylines within the MCU. Originally the Eternals in the comics are a race of beings on earth created by the Celestials and have to fight an army of their counterparts known as the Deviants. This film is set to take place eons before even the first Captain America film in 1945 and might very well introduce the mutant gene into the MCU since mutants such as: Wolverine, Deadpool, Jean Grey, etc. are coming to the MCU in future installments and this film could give them the foreshadow that they need along with the backstory to introduce these characters. ______2. The Batman
Batman movies are almost always amazing and in my own opinion I believe that The Dark Knight with Christian Bale and Heath Ledger is the greatest superhero movie ever made. This remake of Batman, played by Robert Pattinson is said to actually be a darker version of Batman and a more realistic embodiment of the character in the comics. Not much is known yet about this film’s details but there is speculation that Cat Woman is said to appear.
______1. Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness
Now, this film is going to be the greatest, and here’s why. The first Doctor Strange film came out in 2017 and shocked audiences with the use of CGI and special ef- fects. The story was also extremely compelling and the villain was actually a pretty likable one even though he was just a one time villain. The film will have Elizabeth Olsen return to play Wanda Maximoff who is one of the strongest MCU charac- ters along with the villain is speculated to be Nightmare from the Nightmare Dimension. The entire idea of the Multiverse and really stepping it up from the first Doctor Strange is intriguing consid- ering there are many possible outcomes. They could branch a Spider-Verse together using the Multiverse, characters that we love who have died over the years could come back from an alternate dimension as well. But the big thing that I am excited about in this movie is Mordo. At the end of the first Doctor Strange movie, Mordo becomes a villain believing that the sorcerers are tampering with the natural law and begins trying to rid the world of sorcerers. With Mordo being one of the most powerful sorcer- ers I would love to see him and Strange fight each other in a 1v1 to see the outcome. The Power of Music By Colin Jones
This is obviously a very difficult time for everyone, and sometimes it’s hard to keep entertained. Of course, there are people to talk to, books to read, and TV to watch, but sometimes people aren’t available, and sometimes you aren’t in the mood to read or watch something. One thing I’ve found is great for a bad mood is going for a long walk and listening to music.
What’s amazing about music is that there’s so much of it and so many different styles to choose from. If you’re bored with your current selection, I recommend trying out some new genres, even something you wouldn’t think you like. I used to listen to mainly pop music before I started listening to metal, which is NOT a genre I thought I would enjoy :), but now metal is probably my favorite genre of music. Everyone has differ- ent tastes, you may not like metal, that’s just something I discovered as a personal preference. However, it doesn’t hurt to try something new, just browsing YouTube and Spotify has led me to so many new artists that I now call my favorites. So if you’re looking for something to entertain you, try out some new stuff, and go for that walk I mentioned. Something about having your blood pumping while the tunes you love play in your ears really makes your troubles melt away. Hope this helps!
Between a Rock and a High Place By Ryan Zaff
Aaron Clayton’s boots hit the rock face as he gripped the zip line trolley for all he was worth. He swiftly released his gloved left hand from the trolley and grabbed a protruding stone to steady himself from the impact. Two meters away, Joshua Clayton reached the end of his own zip line and found a hand- hold. The brothers exchanged a nod. Aaron glanced around at the canyon they’d just traversed; sheer cliffs of rust-colored rock that sloped down for almost a kilometer beneath them. The Heads-Up Display in his climbing helmet’s visor highlighted clefts and protrusions in the stone, identifying the best places for hand- and footholds. He could use the HUD to reconstruct the exact route that he and Joshua had taken down the opposite side of the canyon before using the zip lines to get across. A hundred meters up, the clear blue sky could be seen above the precipice of the canyon’s edge. Day- light filtered into the chasm from a blue sun. “Almost there,” Joshua said with a grin. “There’s a spot where we can climb up!” “I see it,” Aaron affirmed. “Reel in the lines and let’s get moving.” The traction pads in his gloves and boots allowed him to cling to the rock face like a spider while he kept his right hand on the zip trolley. Pressing the button on the side, Aaron remotely detached both ends of the cable and reeled it in, then hooked the trolley onto his harness. He then fired a safety cable up to the can- yon’s precipice, attached the winch to his belt, and began hauling himself up the rest of the way.
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The brothers camped out a kilometer from the canyon’s edge, then set out the next morning on the final leg of their trek. The summit of Mt. Nimbor was four kilometers above them, a regal peak whose sum- mit scraped against the very sky. “There it is,” Joshua murmured. “If only Dad could see us now.” Aaron gave a solemn nod. “Remember what he used to say about the summit?” Josh nodded. “That when the stars are out and the air is calm, you could stand at the top and see the Celestial Beacon pointing the way to Earth. ‘The most beautiful planet in the galaxy, and don’t you forget it!’ ” Aaron cracked a smile. “He would’ve loved to come here one last time. But then, he also said we needed to see for ourselves one day.” “That’s why we’re here,” Joshua agreed with conviction. “So let’s make him proud.”
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The climb was brutal. Mt. Nimbor was constantly buffeted by hurricane-force winds from the planet’s northern atmospheric jetstream, and could only be scaled on its southern face. Reaching the top could take almost a week, even with the most advanced climbing tech. The sky had been clear when the Clayton brothers first reached the foot of the mountain, but within a day there was a thunderstorm brewing. “I thought this was the dry side of the mountain!” Aaron hollered over the roar of the wind. He was soaked through, and couldn’t distinguish the torrent of rain from his own sweat. “It is!” Joshua yelled back. “The other side is even worse!” They’d done everything right, and they wouldn’t have been the first climbers to get caught in a flash- thunderstorm on Mt. Nimbor. The clouds completely blotted out the sunlight. Aaron’s visor’s night-vision was useless in the rain, and he wouldn’t have been able to see a thing if not for his helmet’s spotlight. He re- lied on his safety cable, his gloves and boots, and the strength of his own muscles to haul himself up the cliff face handhold by handhold. The darkness was cloven in two by the flash of a lightning bolt. It smote the mountainside and sent shards of rocky debris flying in every direction. Aaron was nearly deafened by the thunder that followed. “Incoming!” Joshua declared as he kicked off the rock face to dodge a boulder sailing past. He swung back, using his safety cable to keep himself anchored to the cliff while frantically scrambling to evade the shrapnel coming down on their heads. Aaron managed to dodge several chunks of rubble. He cried out in pain when a rock the size of base- ball struck him in the left shoulder. He couldn’t move his arm; the padding in his climbing suit was probably the only thing that had kept the rock from breaking bones. Joshua glanced down at him as the rest large chunks of the larger chunks finished sailing past. “You all right?” he called. Aaron grimaced. “I can’t use my left arm!” he forced himself to yell. Joshua seemed taken aback. He let his safety cable pay out as he worked his way down to Aaron’s po- sition. As Joshua wrapped his left arm under Aaron’s shoulder, Aaron slung his right around Joshua’s neck. “I’ve got you,” Joshua promised. He looked up at the cliff. Twenty meters up was the cave they’d been heading for. “Can you climb with your feet?” Joshua asked. Aaron steeled himself and nodded. “I think so.” “Then come on. We can make it through this.”
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Aaron’s left shoulder had been dislocated, and Joshua’s leg had been grazed by several smaller shards during his jump. They stayed in the cave while waiting for the storm to pass. Aaron moved his left arm experimentally. Joshua had gotten the joint back into position, but it still ached like mad. Joshua’s own leg was now wrapped in smart bandages to halt the bleeding and sterilize infec- tions. “Can we signal for extraction?” Joshua asked from where he sat against the cave wall eating a nutrition bar. “I know our beacon won’t get a signal until the storm lets up, but there’s got to be a transmitter node around here somewhere that we can use to contact the local ranger station.” Aaron was exploring the edges of the cave, which seemed to extend only a few dozen meters back from the cliff face. “Oh,” he said. “Found it.” Joshua glanced over. “Well, there’s actually a node right back here,” Aaron informed. “The cave must’ve been constructed artificially to house it. But it’s a wreck; looks like some wildlife got to it.” The device’s control panel had been torn open, with its motherboard shredded and the dish hanging from its mount at an unnatural angle. “Great,” Joshua muttered. “What now?” Aaron walked back over and sat down next to him. “We wait until the storm clears. Then we keep on. We’ll call the rangers for extraction when we find another node - and there’s definitely another one at the top.” Joshua smirked. “That’s the spirit.”
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They kept climbing for another two days. The mountain took its toll, but they would not be de- terred. Handhold by handhold, foothold by foothold, they kept going up. Eventually, the air became so thin that they had to seal their climbing suits airtight and tap into their oxygen reserves. At this elevation, it was cold. Even through the layers of airtight fabric in his climbing suit, Aaron could feel the icy northern wind biting at his skin. His visor, now complemented with a face mask to protect his face from the elements, was frosted over at the edges. Then the blizzard set in. The two brothers had to tether their harnesses to stay to avoid getting separated in the merciless onslaught of snow. Aaron’s visor’s HUD used sonic imaging to tell him where the cliff was, but he remembered the words of his father: The tech helps, sure, but it’s no match for your own five sens- es. Even when you’re going blind, you use your hands and feet to tell where things are. He felt his way up the slope, trusting his instincts and the wisdom of those who’d gone before him. They scaled the southern face. At last, the cliffs gave way to a steep path that wound its way to the summit. “Almost there!” Aaron said through their suits’ com- munications channel. The blizzard continued, as if the north wind itself were trying to blow them clear off the mountain. But Aaron’s boots dug in and he forced himself to move forward. After three hours of hiking, the snow began to let up. Aaron could see again as the blizzard reduced itself to a flurry. Suddenly, he heard a terrible cracking sound. “Oh, no,” Joshua muttered, looking down at their feet. They’d wandered too close to the edge of the path. Joshua’s feet were now on the precipice, with a very long drop below to the switchbacks below. The rock splintered underneath the soles of Aaron’s boots, torn asunder by the strength of the wind. The slope gave way, and Joshua was yanked downwards as the ground shattered beneath his feet. Tethered to his brother, Aaron’s own feet went out from under him and he hit the ground hard while his broth- er was left dangling over the edge. Hanging upside down with only the safety cable tethering him to Aaron, Joshua yelped as he gazed down at the sheer drop beneath him. Aaron tried to sit up, but found himself being dragged towards the edge by Joshua’s weight. The cable scraped along the sharp edge of the new cliff, and Aaron stared in horror as several of the cable’s fiber metal filaments were severed. The cable snapped. Joshua plummeted - And stopped short as Aaron lunged to the brink and grabbed him by the ankle with his right hand, using his own aching left arm to cling to the rocky surface of the path. The traction pads on his gloved fingers dug into the rock and Joshua’s climbing suit. Aaron tried to shimmy backwards, pulling his brother up centimeter by centimeter. Joshua grabbed onto the cliff as well and hauled himself up. The two brothers sat on the path, breath- ing hard as adrenalin coursed through their veins. “You all right?” Aaron asked. Joshua sighed. “I’ll be when we get to the top.”
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It took another day of climbing. Aaron’s backpack, laden with his sleeping bag, water, and rations, seemed to weigh him down as never before. His shoulder ached, and his muscles were tight. Joshua didn’t look so good either. The storm had ceased, but the clouds remained and fog smothered the mountain path. Aaron’s spirits plummeted. Finally, he slowed to a stop and knelt with a sigh. “I can’t keep going,” he breathed. Joshua turned around. “No,” he said through the communications channel. “We can’t… can’t give up now.”
Aaron looked up at him bleakly. The mountain had beaten him. Joshua sighed and sat down next to Aaron. “Are we going to fail?” he asked, more to himself than Aa- ron. “Are we really…?” He seemed just as dispirited as Aaron. “Dad always wanted us to see for ourselves,” Aaron murmured. “The summit.” Joshua looked over at him. “Not just him. He had Mom, remember? Aaron remembered his father’s words. Even when you fail, there’s someone right next to you who hasn’t yet. They’ll help you keep going. And when they fail, you’ll help them. Joshua groaned as the pain of a week and a half washed over him. “Maybe you’re right. The moun- tain beat you, and then it beat me.” Aaron stared. “Maybe,” he realized aloud. “But it didn’t beat us.” They locked eyes through their visors. Aaron raised one knee off the ground and managed to stand. He extended his right hand and helped Joshua up. “Come on,” Aaron said. “Let’s finish this.” Leaning on one another for support, the two brothers made their way up the final dozen meters to the top of the cloud layer, above the jetstream winds. The blue sun was setting. Aaron stared. The mountain seemed to narrow and fall away until there was nothing but sky above them. The summit was only another hundred meters up. Aaron and Joshua exchanged a glance. They nodded, and continued on.
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Aaron’s boots hit the rock surface as he stepped onto the summit of Mt. Nimbor. He stepped away from Joshua and gazed around. There was the transmitter node, so they could contact the ranger station. The cloud layer only extended for a kilometer or so from the summit. From the ice plains to the north to the city skyline and mighty forests to the south, he could see straight to the horizon in every direction. Joshua wasn’t looking out at the vista, however. He was looking up. Aaron followed his gaze and gasped. As the sun set, the sky darkened and stars became visible. The Milky Way stretched overhead; a vivid streak of brown, pink, and orange cutting through the night sky. “So this is what Mom and Dad saw,” Joshua muttered. Aaron nodded. But there was one thing that he still couldn’t see - There. As the sun disappeared behind the horizon, he spotted a faint line extending across the sky. It was a streak of bright blue light, like a shooting star frozen in place. It seemed to pulse, pulling the light along its length towards a specific spot amidst the stars. “The Celestial Beacon,” Joshua murmured. He gazed at the spot where the pulses of light disappeared into the dis- tance. “Pointing the way to Earth.” “This is what they saw,” Aaron agreed. “To think what kind of guts those original space pioneers must’ve had,” Joshua murmured. “Leaving home, venturing into the unknown… Imagine how much strength you’d need to just keep going.” Aaron looked back down at the mountain. “I can do more than imagine.” Joshua grinned. “True enough.”
Undead Condo Matt Izzo
There are legends about the zombie home He soon felt rather unwise. From bones and rolling heads For Tim had met his demise. But for those who roam it is only known The undead surprise, “Oh help me” he cried That they shall sleep with undead Never again would he see the sunrise
Tim did not believe this silly lie Tim is now part of the humble family For his wits had served him well Their undead legion that preys So to prove it unreal with a foot of steel. For all who enter, shall shatter and splinter He’d barge through the gates of hell. And meet the end of their days
As he entered through the front door The theory left his mind There are legends about the zombie home As he saw a family, a humble family From bones and rolling heads Eating at supper time But for those who roam it is only known That they shall sleep with the undead They greeted him with smiles and kindness And a meal that looked divine It looked so nice that he became enticed Of the meats and cheeses and wine
As Tim feasted he began to notice That something looked rather strange The faces of the folk were dry as oak They were ill and rotten and deranged
Tim began to sweat and panic How could he possibly fall for this trap? Swarming like flies with glowing green eyes He did not see through the disguise
The Dreamcatcher Katherine Markello
Running... running... running; each step bringing a heavier breath, desperately attempting to lengthen her strides. Knowing the world depends on it, knowing the weight of the world quite literally rests on her shoulders, she pushes harder, further. The magnitude of the universe is taunting, sneering, “You’ll never make it, might as well stop now.” The weight becomes heavier, pulling her down as she tries to retaliate by adding a lightness to her steps. It doesn’t work. “I’m going to have to stop,” she thinks, “there’s no way I’ll make it.” Running… running… Sara jolts awake, still on the hazy boundary line between dream and reality, until she composes herself to the extent to which she is able to wrap her head around yet another nightmare. The nightmares have been continuously occurring for weeks, months, honestly, she had lost track. Sitting up, she catches a glimpse of the dreamcatcher hung beside her bed. It looks a bit limp, worn-out, perhaps resting crooked upon the nail from which it is suspended. She had only purchased it maybe a month or so ago, and was befuddled by its less than adequate quality. She examines it for a moment, before asking, “You’re tired too huh?” Grabbing the small journal besides her bed, Sara scrawls down all she remembers, and then without another thought, she forces herself out of bed and pushes the nightmare out of her mind. She quickly dresses and pre- pares for the day before shooting a text to Grace, “be there in 5.” She hops in the car, blasts the Top 40, and drives to meet Grace for coffee. Upon arrival, the two girls greet one another and head in before coincidentally ordering the same exact drink. “Hey, I thought you were deeply devoted to oat milk, what happened?” “I don't know,” Grace shrugs, “guess I just felt inclined to switched it up today,” she says grabbing her iced almond milk latte. Finishing their orders, the two girls find a table, eager to catch up. “You know, I had the craziest nightmare last night,” Grace exclaims, “it made me think of your battle with nightmares over the past month.” “Surprise, surprise, I had yet another bizarre dream last night, what was yours about?” Sara inquired. “I dreamt I was running around and around the world, and it would end if I stopped. Silly I know, but the stress was unbearable, I could still feel the weight on my shoulders when I woke up.” “You’re kidding right? That’s funny.” Grace stared back blankly, “That was my dream last night! The exact same one.” Sara explains. “What were you wearing?” “Silver suit, almost like a futuristic prisoner.” “Shoes?” “Boots, it made running exceedingly difficult.” “Anyone else in the dream?” “Nope, just me and world.” Sara stared at her friend, utterly baffled. The night- mares had been unique to her for months, and now, Grace by coincidence experiences the same exact dream? There’s no way that’s simply a fluke. Anger bubbles up inside, wondering how many other dreams were shared, and with whom. Her fury boils over, erupting as she confronts Grace, “I don’t know what kind of sick prank this is, but if you or someone else got a hold of my dream journal, that’s not funny, that’s extremely personal. I don’t know how else we could have shared the same nightmare. Frankly, I’ve lost my appetite, and I think I’ll take this to go.” “Dream journal? What? I’m sorry you’re so upset, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Without a response, Sara stands and storms out fuming, until she relaxes into her car, finally taking a breath. Filling her lungs again and again, she composes herself. Unable to explain her over dramatic outburst, and frustrated by her loss of control, she begins to drive home. Rushing upstairs to the comfort and security of her room, the first thing she notices is her dreamcatcher, now sprawled across the carpet. She must have knocked it over this morning in her scramble to get ready. Sara picks up the dreamcatcher and goes to rehang it, however, each time she sets it upon the nail it simply slides off again and again. “Why can’t you do anything right?” Sara asks it, “first, the poor quality, then you won’t even hang up. Talk about a lousy dreamcatcher…” Hit with the sudden realization, Sara sits upright. “More than a lousy dreamcatcher, you can’t even do your job. No wonder Grace and I shared a dream.” The dreamcatcher lays lifeless, longing to call out, “Please, I am trying my best. I simply can not keep up with your nightmares each and every night. It’s beyond draining.” But Sara, of course, hears nothing. She paces, frustrated by her rip-off purchase. Everyone with whom she confided in regarding her recurring nightmares recommended a dreamcatcher, and now even that had failed her. As her emotions spill, her past dreams spill out of her drained dreamcatcher as well, filling the minds of others with the horrors of her nightmares. The dream slipped to Grace was not enough to satisfy the dream- catcher, and now, an overflowing surplus of nightmares enter the world. Following an emotionally exhausting day for both Sara and her failed dreamcatcher, she disposes of the device, giving up hope. Buried under piles of other worthless matter, the dreamcatcher wilts, feeling ex- tremely sorry for itself and its lost career. It had been diligent for a month, collecting nightmare after night- mare, but it simply can no longer withstand the terrible dreams Sara’s mind produces. It is here, that the dreamcatcher plots its revenge for the stress and suffering it was forced to endure, just to be thrown out and unappreciated while on the verge of its breaking point. That night, as Sara eventually drifts to sleep, she begins running… running… running. But this time it’s different. She knows it’s a dream, she can feel it’s a dream. Convinced she will eventually wake up, Sara remains calm. Except, she never wakes up. She’s trapped, running… running… running, through her dream for eternity.