The coronation finally begins as Rachel prepares for the ‘death dance’. It is a dance performed by the ones chosen every one-hundred years. Rachel is the only one chosen and it is something she must do alone. The secrets must not be told, or spread, it must stay the same. Only one has come back alive. She is currently the witch, a shadow in the light, the whisper in the wind, the one who will live long. “You will hear a drum beat” the witch had said “and you must not speak or cry. You must dance with your soul, and if a pure one of the forest enjoys this performance they will choose you and you will live, otherwise you will die.” The witch had explained the night before. They are chosen from birth then they put us into solitude so they will not be tainted by the ugliness of the world. Rachel did not need to be explained why she would die, the dance was exposing her soul, her very being, and the darkness would take no hesitation in taking the pure as a worthless attempt to redeem themselves. It never works. The witch had an owl choose her, and if Rachel lives with her animal and she will work alongside the witch in the redemption of the dying tribe. She wishes to do this because if she lives when she heals the deathly sick she will meet others than her caretaker, she wants to know what it feels like to care for others. She wants to know what it’s like to love.

The moonlight shines on her sleek raven-black hair as she dances, each step causing a soft chime, a melody. A snow-white skirt with little ruffles that holds a row of barely visible wind-chimes, a white tank-top, and bangles decorate her entire appearance. She dances barefoot, the tempo speeding up as she twirls and jumps making thick dust clouds. Sweat beads on her brow. All of a sudden the music stops and when the dust clears a beautiful wolf stands besides the girl. The Silver Wolf’s fur glows in the moonlight. The girl smiles happily and speaks only one word
"SilverMoon"


Catherine stares at the man lovingly, his tainted heart broken down with jealousy. She feels nothing but peace when she looks at the one whom cared for her but she must move on, she must leave him so she can love another. Love her soul mate. Her death has been mourned by him the most, her spirit must walk into the embrace of her soul mate, the one already gone. She must follow him into the light. She meets the one who mourned for her in the woods, the night sky shining making her almost gone translucent figure stand out in the night. The man stares at her begging her to stay, to love him instead. She cannot.

"My heart belongs to another," she says to the man gently "please forgive me." She kisses him gently on the cheek. Tears stream down his unshaven face. She smiles sadly. "Goodbye" she says as she wraps her arms around him and gives a tight squeeze."I'll always love you..." he says staring into her light-green eyes. "I know" she says "that’s why you'll always have a piece of my heart" she takes off her favorite necklace, her beaded treasure, and wraps his hands around it. “Goodbye,” she repeats “Goodbye forever.” Her lips brush his forehead as she turns into white mist.


Alice’s dainty little body bruised and battered drenched in blood. She must live, if not for her dead family members but for her lover. Eric. She glanced at his body laying there his mouth open, frozen in the past. The last word he had said would not be in vain. “Alice.” He had said. My name. He loved me too. The thought of him brought unshed tears to her eyes. It started out harmless; she was walking through the forest hand in hand with Eric his sky-blue eyes giving her all the attention she would ever want. Her brother, barely the age of 12 ran up to them his eyes saying all she ever needed to know. The village was attacked. Tears ran down his face, fresh. He did not need him to say what happened but he did anyway. “The town was attacked by the shadows, everyone murdered, no survivors. They’re coming.” She embraced her brother, his body heaving with sobs. He must have seen it all. The grotesque figures of the shadow approaching, their attacks, the disadvantage tearing away all chances of survival. “It’s ok…” she murmurs into his golden hair. “You’re here…” he stares up at his sister his tears staining her shirt. “They’re coming, right now… ” He says and more chocked sobs emit from his throat. “Shh… if anything happens know that I love you, ok?” she asks him attempting to make him feel better. “I love you too, stay—WATCH OUT!” her brother screeched watching the shadow speed up from behind. He shoves his sister out of the way but there is no time to save him. The shadow gets him, the foul stench eating up his body, his pained cries echo into the silent night. There is no time for her to scream, someone does it for her. A bow and dozens of arrows land at her feet as a shout emerges immediately after her brothers. “Alice!” The memories sting her mind, killing her heart, hacking away at it stronger than a shadow ever could. She stared at Eric's crimson body one more time as the wheezing sound tore her attention away bringing anger to her chestnut eyes. The shadows are here. They fall one by one pure rage blinding her sight as a few of them get a couple lucky shots on her. It was never enough to do much damage. She pants exhausted as the last shadow appears into the clearing. The largest one yet. Nothing needed to tell her this was the one who killed her family, her brother, her lover.

The shadow approached her relentlessly. She smiled in anticipation as it grew closer. Her body wound tight, like those wind-up toys. Excitement and fear flew through her veins as the shadow got less than 10ft close. Her palms got all sweaty as the familiar shape of the bow fit perfectly in her dainty little hand. The shadow smiled hungrily at her as it rushed forward, its foul stench filling her nose. Quick as lightening she drew the bow, shoved an arrow in the slot, aimed and shot. It hit the shadow in the heart. It screeched out in pain. Bullseye.

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Publication Date: 10-04-2010

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