Transference-Maria Antsupova

Entry 1

            A couple years ago my younger brother, whose name I need not mention here, was seriously ill. When it all started we thought that he just had a fever and he would be fine in a couple days, but it only got worse as the days passed by. We had to take him to a doctor a hundred miles away from our house. It turned out that our brother had paranoia. The doctor explained to us that he was heavily influenced by fear, to the point of irrationality and delusion. Nights were even worse when the moon was full and bright. He could wake up in the middle of the night and start screaming “Stop trying to eat me”.

Entry 2

            I have read that it is fairly normal for everyone to have some degree of paranoia about certain situations in their lives. However, my brother takes it to the extreme, he thinks that other people, including mother, our little sister, and myself, want to harm him, even though we consistently tell him otherwise. It got hard to get along with him and we started arguing with him more often. He used to spend nights and days in his room without talking to us or even eating. When the whole family got together for dinner he was very stubborn and sarcastic around us. One day he even said: So, what’s for dinner tonight? Our neighbors have been looking tasty” I don’t know how to help him, how to save him from this madness.

Entry 3

            We lost track of how many times we tried to help him. Our friends recommended a very good psychologist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder, but my brother refused any help from us or anybody else. He is in constant fear that we are all cannibals, and that sooner or later we will try to harm him.

Entry 4

            Today I tried to have an honest conversation with my brother telling him that we are his family and he should trust us. He interrupted me before I finished talking; he took a knife from the kitchen table and told me if I don’t stay away from him he would hurt me. I didn’t have another choice but to leave. I don’t know what happened, but my brother isn’t the man that he used to be.

Entry 5

            It’s been three months since my brother got sick. It’s unbearable to live with him in the same house anymore. He was constantly accusing us of cannibalism. My mother, little sister, and I had a family meeting today and we all decided that it would be better for everybody if we put him in a hospital for long-term psychotherapy.

Entry 6

            Today is the four year anniversary since we put my brother in the hospital. The doctor is saying that he is doing very well and it is possible that in a month we can take him home. O gosh, I missed him so much!

Entry 7

             Yesterday we got a call at 5 am from the hospital saying that my brother escaped to the roof and that we needed to get to the hospital as soon as we can. By the time we got there my brother was dead. He accidentally fell to his death, when security attempted to grab him. I still can’t believe that happened…

Entry 8

            Recently I started to have a feeling that I passionately need to eat raw meat. I always ask nurses to cook my meat raw, and have had no interest in any other type of food. Everybody in the hospital smells like meat to me, so I try to stay away from everyone. My mom comes to visit me once a week. My sister, though, hasn’t visited me yet. Maybe if I invite her for dinner some time, she will accept. I’ll even invite the neighbors—they look tasty.

Descent-Jarrod Clark

I

Perhaps today is the first day of my new life. The first day that I can appreciate my freedom. My freedom, which I did not acquire easily, from that fatal friend of mine that I so foolishly trusted. But that no longer matters. I am back to myself, and I can finally return to my work. Soon, my “friend” will be nothing but a memory.

II

My family is not reacting to my return the way that I wish. They do not want me to return to my work. If they think they can stop me, they’re as insane as I was. My work is incredibly important—not just to myself, but to everyone. Perhaps this is what my new life will be like. No matter, I will continue as I always have; alone.

III

I am beginning to notice people outside my home. They watch me from their windows, their cars, while walking their dogs. Some of them even take notes, I would swear by it. I will continue to record their actions, and act accordingly should I feel that they will be a complication to my work. Tommy, the only member of my family that I still trust, has taken to bringing food and water to me, since I will not leave. This is just as well, since I no longer need to put my work on hold to eat.

IV

Even Tommy has abandoned me. We had an argument over my work- Tommy thinks that I will get sick again. Though he argued that he was worried about my health, I know his true intentions. He means to take my work, as his own. Unfortunately, I no longer have a means to acquire food or water. I must focus harder on my work. Maybe I can find solace in solitude.

V

I have realized my true mistake. I thought that my friend was false. I believed that I could rely on my family to support me, but I was wrong. With my old friends help, I will return to my work.

VI

I am running out.

VII

I have run out. I cannot focus. I realized today that I have not eaten or showered in days. I cannot remember the last time I slept. I must have more. Yet somehow, I know that those people that watch me must have some. Tonight, after dark, I will sneak outside. I will find one of them, and I will take theirs. Tonight, I will regain what I have lost. After tonight, my work can continue.

Don Quixotes Son

To Destruction and Beyond

There was once a boy, he was like any average boy his age. He went to school, was raised by both parents, loved to eat, had a best friend, and absolutely loved to watch movies. His name was Stan. Stan was a pretty intelligent kid, and surprisingly enough his best friend was quite the opposite. His best friend Barry wasn't the brightest bulb of the bunch, but he was a very good friend who would always listen to Stan. One of Stan's favorite things that he always made Barry do was watch movies with him. Stan specifically loved Disney movies such as Finding Nemo, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, but there was always one that he could watch on repeat everyday all day and that was Toy Story.  Toy Story came out before he was born, but ever since he turned three he never went one day without watching the movie at least once.  Barry went along with it most of the time because Stan was his friend, and he liked hanging out and playing with him whenever they weren't watching movies.  About two years later they were about eight Toy Story 2 came out and Stan was ecstatic. Barry clearly was not as excited and once again just went along with it because Stan was his only best friend. Barry noticed something though, something was different about Stan.  He was always acting like a super hero or at least trying to, but Barry the being person he is didn't think much of it and pretended to play along. They remained friends for quite sometime, proceeded to go to school together, hangout together and of course watch Toy Story together. Although Barry eventually was quite annoyed with Toy Story he just watched it so he would still be friends with Stan. About ten years later something happened that changed both of their lives forever and tested their friendship.  The Toy Story 3 movie was released.

I went to Stan's house today just like I usually do after school, but something felt different today. When I walked into his house he wasn't eating a snack like usual, it was actually quite silent. I wasn't sure if I should just leave, but then I heard a TV turn on so I followed the sound and it was coming from Stan's room. When I got to his room the door was shut. I twisted the knob so that I could peer in because maybe Stan forgot I was coming over and I didn't want to frighten him. When I opened the door I couldn't believe what I was looking at. Stan was watching Toy Story 3 yet again, except this time he was all dressed up. From head to toe Stan was covered in what looked like a "wanna be" Buzz Lightyear costume. He had what looked like a fish bowl on his head, a white suit with a poorly drawn shield on the front, white rubber boots that were clearly painted by him, a waste basket that was assumably his "jet pack", and last but most importantly he had two pieces of cardboard that were suppose to be his wings. I had no idea what to think, let alone what to say.

I called, "Stan? Staaaaannn?"

All of a sudden he turned and looked at me and said, "My name is not Stan, it's Buzz.  Buzz Lightyear."

I'm not going to lie I was a little scared by the dark gleaming look in his eyes because I knew he wasn't joking.  Stan, now Buzz was running all around his room throwing out his arm and pointing it at objects like some laser was suppose to be there destroying objects. 

Randomly Buzz did a somersault towards me and said, "Follow me Barry I'll save you!"

I didn't think much of it so I just went along because he is my friend and he would never steer me wrong.  It was a nice day so initially all of our friends were outside playing around, but once they saw Buzz and how he was dressed and was acting they could not help but burst out with laughter. 

I saw that Buzz was agitated by this but he just smirked and said, "Ah yes the sound of laughter means that everyone is safe and I've done a swell job of keeping it that way."

Buzz was acting like this the whole day and stayed in his "armour" all day, never wanting to take it off even before bed.  I slept over that night because I didn't think leaving him alone was the best idea, but I must have fallen asleep very quickly because I found myself waking up to a loud ruckus.  I thought I was mistaken of what I saw when I opened my eyes, but I blinked a couple times and my eyesight was correct.  There was Buzz tying up what looked like a kid from our school.

Quickly I asked, "Buzz!  What are you doing?!"

He looked at me and said, "He was trying to take my wings and jet pack.  Stupid villain thinking I wouldn't know it was him. Ha!  So do you believe me now?"

"Believe what?" I asked.

"Do you believe I am a superhero or do I need to capture another villain to prove it to you?" He said.

Without hesitation because I did not want him capturing anyone else I said, "Yes! Yes I order you a superhero!"

I did whatever he said because he was my friend and he promised me that if I stood by him through all of his adventures that we would stay friends and go on vacation together.  That day when we went for a walk, and we we were passing by a lemonade stand when Buzz came to an abrupt stop.  I noticed a man at the stand was trying to get his money back because he was unhappy with the way the lemonade tasted.

Buzz butted in and said, "Sir, you should keep walking and leave the girl alone.  Let her keep the money."

The man looked at Buzz very aggravated but simply answered with, "Okay."

Buzz held is head high because he thought he saved the day yet again, but soon after walking away I looked back and I saw the man take his money back.  Meanwhile Buzz was still walking proudly in his "suit" and as we continued our walk more and more people began to stare and laugh at him.  Now Buzz was super offended by this and I could tell because of the look in his eye.  Without hesitation he went after a group of bystanders and began to accuse them of being villains.  He was trying to capture them and tie them up but because I had no idea what to do I just watched.  Buzz was clearly out numbered and before I knew it they all ganged up on him and proceeded to beat him up.  It didn't last long but it was long enough to leave him laying on the ground moaning in pain.   I attended to him after they all left but I had no clue where to go or how to get him up by myself.  I comforted him as best I could, and after a while a neighbor of Buzz's was walking by and noticed that I was on the ground with Buzz.  He came over and I explained what happened, so he helped me get him up and we took him back to his house.

There I told his parents what was going on with him and without any hesitation they became determined to destroy all of his movies.  His parents and I searched for all the movies in his room while he was recovering from his injuries.  Once we found them all his dad took them to the backyard and threw them in the fire pit and started them on fire.  I watched them as they burned, but I also felt like there were another pair of eyes looking too.  I looked next to me and there was Buzz watching as his most prized possession went into flames, and I could see the heat in his eyes.  He must have been too angry to talk because he said nothing to me except give me a "look" to follow him and so I did.  We walked in silence for a couple of miles but then we stopped at one of the tallest hills in town.  I wasn't exactly sure why but I had a feeling that this was not going to end well. 

Buzz turned to me and said, "I think it's time to get out of this town.  No one appreciates the lives I've saved or the deeds I've done to keep this town safe.  I'm leaving."

Before I could stop him or say anything he began to run and right at the peak of the hill he jumped as if he were attempting to fly and shouted, "To infinity and beyond!" 

Those were the last words my best friend spoke because when I reached the top of the hill there was Buzz at the bottom, dead.  I walked down there but it was just so hard to see my friend like that.  His neck was broken.  He was gone.  I couldn't imagine my life without him but from that day on I promised myself I would never watch another movie again.

In The Company of Little Red

                                                      In The Company of Little Red

                                                By Sarah Southwick

        In the woods, I lived as half man, half wolf abiding by the rules that the other wolves have given me. My father was a werewolf who left a human girl he thought he loved at the altar. He returned a year later to check on her but to his surprise, her new husband killed him, and then the girl and her new husband threw his body into the lake. I was born by a werewolf woman my father got with because it was more natural, I guess, to be with another werewolf than a human. She was also killed by a human. I was told humans were killers, just look at what they did to my father and mother!

So I lived with anger in my heart because of it. I lived in the deep darkness of the woods with the other werewolves. We would prey on the humans that would wander into the woods, killing them to get revenge for the pack members they murdered. I always thought, why would my father even want to fall for a human? The thought filled me with anger towards my father.

 I had to go for a run to let go of this anger but suddenly I heard something on a path that many men took to gather wood. No, it didn’t sound like a man at all, rather, a soft pitter patter of footsteps along the forest floor. I moved a little closer and saw a girl. She wasn’t just any girl. She was the most beautiful girl. She had a glowing braid, covered by a red hood that seemed to be attached to a bright red coat. She carried a basket in one hand and let her other hand fall graciously to her side. She was nothing like the ugly men I would see, marching along the path with their axes and musty scent. I tried to get a closer to make out more of her beauty but stepped on a twig which snapped. She stopped and looked around. I could see she pulled out a knife and was prepared to lash out at anything. Her eyes widened as she fearfully observed her surroundings. I stepped out of the shadows and smiled sincerely, hoping she would take my passive greeting. She looked at me with bright blue eyes and smiled back which surprised me.

“Hi,” she greeted me.

“Hi,” I answered back, “where are you headed in this cold day?”

“I am off to see my grandma and bring her the goodies I baked! She lives in the cabin just past these woods.” I paused and looked at her hand still tightly gripping her knife in her red coat pocket.

“Oh I have seen that cabin and it’s still quite a bit of walk. Aren’t you scared of wolves here in these woods?” I asked.

“No, not at all,” she said with a stern voice, “I am prepared!” She pulled out her knife and twirled it in her long fingers. “See?” She said

I chuckled a little knowing that the little 2 inch would merely tickle a wolf.

“What?!” she yelled.

“Oh, nothing,” I said as I stood there, admiring her beauty. I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was and how skewed my vision and thoughts were about humans and their evil ways. We headed towards her grandmother’s cabin and talked and laughed like we were old friends. I offered to carry her basket and she gave it to me with a smile. As the night grew darker, it got colder. I looked at her and saw she was shivering and holding on to her coat tightly.

“Hey, I know a short cut to your grandmas but it requires us getting of this trial for a bit.” She paused and looked at me with weary eyes.

“Oh, no thanks, I was told to never get off the path,” she said.

“But it will take you half the time and the night is only going to get colder.”

“No, I am ok” she answered.

“I can get to your grandma’s faster my way!”  I urged.

“Is that a bet?” she asked.

“Want to make it a game?” I insisted.

“Okay,” she replied.

“What happens if I win?” I asked. “What do I get?”

“A kiss,” she smiled and blushed. My eyes widened and a smile grew on my face. I wondered to myself how it would feel to kiss a beautiful girl like her.

“You’re on!” I said and trailed off. The short cut took me right to the cabin and I looked around fiercely to see if she was there. She was not and I was ecstatic! It was oddly bright around the woods and I looked around to find the light source. I looked up and noticed a full moon.

“Oh no!” I yelled. I could feel my transformation starting. My consciousness started fading. I have not yet learned how to properly control my wolf powers.  

“Who is there,” her grandmother yelled.

“Your granddaughter.” My wolf for answered as I slipped out of consciousness. Now my body is in full control by the wolf.

“Oh come in, my daring” the little old lady said generously. I walked into the old lady’s cabin. She took one look at me and glanced at the basket of her granddaughters. Her eyes widened as she yelled, “you evil wolf, what have you done with her!!!!!”

 My wolf-self was out of control and soon, the old lady became my dinner. I wrapped her bones up in the bed sheets and put them under the bed, I found new sheets to put on the bed, and then I heard a knock at the door. Still in my wolf form, the beautiful girl walked in and saw me. She suddenly turned pale and I thought she was surely going to reach for her knife but I was mistaken. She stared at me, confused, and then finally said “it’s you, isn’t it?”

Hearing her calm voice, I was able to clear my conscience and replied “yes.”

“Where is my grandma…?” I said.

“It’s only us two in the house...” I whispered as the moon fell behind the clouds. My human form came back and I looked at her and she was no longer afraid. She took off her red coat and walked up to me.

“What big arms you have.” She said.

“All the better to hug you with,” I replied with a smile holding her in my arms. She reached up and gave me the kiss she owed me.

“What big teeth you have.” She smiled.

“All the better to eat you with,” I sarcastically remarked. She laughed and I laughed along with her. In the moment I felt what love was and I could see why my father fell in love with a human girl but in my heart, I would never leave this girl like my father did. I was truly happy right here holding her.

The Modern Cyclops: The Troll

Young Otto finally tore his attention away from the latest game on Facebook, Candy Crush.  It’s appeal was amazing.  It was so simple yet addicting with its strategical game play.  He couldn't believe he was able to tear his eyes away from the game to the Facebook menu at the top of the screen.  He attributed his escape by the Facebook notifications that constantly nagged at him.  The soft ping constantly hounded him, and all of the notifications were Pokes from his friends.  He quickly went to his messages and sent one to his friends for dragging him away from the intoxicating experience that was Candy Crush.  He went to his wall and began to examine the constant news of the world around him.  A girl broke up with her boyfriend.  Cartman was bagging on Kyle again.  Fred and Lisa posted pictures from their recent family reunion.  And then Otto found a link posted by Jeremy.  What was it? It seemed to link to a site called “Reddit.”  Jeremy had also posted some text along with the link.  It read, “For those who love humor on the internet!”  Otto was intrigued.  He opened the link in another tab and began to explore.

Otto found many links adorning the new page.  “Pretty much my favorite photoshopped picture of all time.”  “I sent my parents a picture of the sunset in Japan. They sent me a picture 20 minutes later of the sunrise from Florida.”  They were accompanied by pictures next to the links, and Otto found himself entangled in a feeling of adorableness.  He opened both in more new tabs.  He scrolled through the Photoshop link first.  He found himself looking at an adorable penguin with the head changed from that of a penguin to that of an orca.  Otto’s eyes lit up, and he opened his mouth to “awww” at the sight in front of him.  He scrolled down to find responses to the picture.  Many people had the same reaction he had, and others felt to post more pictures and links to other subreddits and pictures.  Otto decided to open some of these links in even more tabs, caught up in fascination with the new site he discovered.

Otto had many tabs opened on Google Chrome.  The only sight on each tab was the favicon for a site showing what sites were open in which tab.  He clicked onto another tab he had opened earlier, one discussing drug use.  He started to read through the subreddit with a grand smile upon his face and his eyes wide open like a child receiving a gift.  As he ran through all of the text, some interesting posts caught his eye.  Crude language was abundant, racist thoughts flying every other sentence.  His smile fell quickly, and his eyes drew together to squint at the screen in thought.  He kept scrolling through the posts, and he began to grow horrified.  Mentions of sex grew the farther he went, and more and more raunchy did it grow.  Mentions of rape were now abundant, almost reminiscent of what one would hear during a Halo match on Xbox Live.  He couldn't bear to keep going through all of the links anymore, he needed to do something about this.

Otto created an account on Reddit.  He would make his own subreddit.  He would draw attention to himself.  He had come across a new creature in his exploration of Reddit, the troll.  The troll would draw attention to itself by the use of language.  Extremely out of place foul language, off topic posts, ignorant and bigoted ranting, and completely off-topic posts were the trolls’ norms.  Otto decided to make a difference and possibly stop some of the trolls.  He would leave after his victory, but he would not let them know who he really was.  He still knew the rule of the internet, never give your actual information to anyone. (Hi social media!)  Otto would become, troll bait.

Otto created a subreddit that he knew would draw attention quickly.  Otto would insult those who belonged to the PC master race.  The subreddit was labeled as “PC master race kisses Consoles’ ass.”  He drew people in quickly.  Many trolls came along to get at him, using many logical fallacies and threats to make him flee, delete his subreddit.  They attacked his character falsely, calling him gay, stupid, having no life, just a 12 year-old who hadn't even hit puberty.  Otto smiled to himself in satisfaction.  He made the trolls indignant, he made them enraged.  The trolls had been trolled.  They were beaten at their own game.

Otto opened a Red Bull to congratulate himself on his victory.  It was his twelfth one that night, for he drank one for every genius idea he had. He became intoxicated with the caffeine and sugar he consumed.  He lost some of the sanity he had kept while going through Reddit.  He looked back at his subreddit, it drew thousands of trolls.  They were all tricked by him.  The trolls got trolled by him, basically a newb.  He decided to make one last post.

“Hahaha!!!  All of you were trolled by the great Otto Dyson!  A newb to Reddit!  Feel shame on you all for this day you were all trolled by me!”

The trolls looked upon the new post in the subreddit.  They became more enraged, they were indignant, outraged!  However, they found the one flaw that Otto had.  The troll bait had posted his actual name.  He gave actual information of himself.  The trolls went to Facebook and searched “Otto Dyson.”  They found the name as one of the first.  This “Otto Dyson” had recently liked Reddit, and he had posted about trolling the people of Reddit.  The trolls went through Otto’s profile and found his cell phone number in his contacts.  The trolls smiled an evil smile.  They were able to contact him constantly, when he was anywhere with his cell phone.  The trolls went back to Reddit and created a subreddit.  It was titled with Otto’s cell phone number.  There was only one post on the thread.  It was an order to the people of Reddit.

“Attack.”

The Silenced

The Silenced

Poem in voice of Medea's two boy children.

She lies without food and gives herself up to suffering.

Wasting-

Away every moment of the day in tears.

A bosom once our very own now filled with hate toward our lineage.

Maternal responsibility vanished and replaced with insanity,

She lays in silence.

Attempted coddled kisses ignite images of warfare,

summon the gods of magic and

over flood the sea's for alls drowning.

She lay-silent.

Our laughter reminiscences thoughts of infidelity.

Stolen love .Intangible intimacy.
Mentions of mistress from afar provides fires presence
disguised in kindness.
Her evil grows-in silence.

As pawns in passion's triangle
we wait.
Holding on to the very being who abandoned our home for rescue
We wait-in silence.

Doom's arrival creeps near
tragedy rains upon our home.
Unsheltered-
we watch-in silence.

Satan's own land servants provide barricades
 at the princesses disposal.
We-are silenced.

There,
In our mothers arms
We are in danger.
Dark cries unheard
we are silent.
Produced from our fathers betrayal
we are-the silenced.