The Ivory Tusks

     Although Dane had no parents, he never considered himself an orphan. He was 26 now, and for as long as he could remember Belle had always been with him. Sure she was an elephant, but her capacity to love was limitless.  She looked menacing, with her large size and her incredibly formidable, ivory tusks that curved out on either side of her face. However, she was a gentle giant, never intending harm for anyone. Dane's life had always consisted of Belle, and only Belle. She was his silent friend, mother and protector. Her trunk was the loving hand that kept giving, nourishing his sanity and comforting the loneliness that lurked in the hidden crevices of his mind.

     Dane was a poor man but a hard-working one. He never pitied himself for his plight- having Belle around, dissipated most feelings of loneliness and yearning.  He smiled to himself, as he remembered the time he'd accidentally gashed himself with his hunting knife. The cut was deep, crimson blood dripping out of the crescent shaped scar that was forming on his hand. He'd tried in vain to hide it from Belle but she had noticed immediately. She raised her trunk straight into the air and trumpeted so loudly that all the birds nearby took flight, screeching. She started to run into the woods and Dane had run after her, unsure of what she was about to do. When he caught up to her at the edge of the lake, she nudged his hand until he turned the palm upwards. Then using her trunk, she sprayed water on his hand, in her attempt to clean it. When he looked up at her face, he could see a tear dripping from her eye. That was the first time he realized that elephants could cry too. He didn't know what having mother was like but he imagined she would clean his scars too.

     Today, Dane was going to take Belle to the lake. It had become one of Belle's favourite places to play and it gave him peace to watch her prance happily. He loved to sit on the shores of the lake as Belle frolicked about. Sometimes she sprayed Dane with water and he would laugh and she would trumpet softly as if chuckling with him.

     As Dane and Belle approached the lake, he noticed a woman, sitting on the other side of the lake, dangling her feet in the water. She was a beautiful woman, with hair as dark as a moonless night and matching dark eyes, that seemed to smile at him. "Is that your elephant?" asked the woman from across the lake.

     "Yes she's mine. Her name's Belle," said Dane. Belle dipped her trunk into the lake and drank water, all the while staring at the woman.

     "Can I pet her?" asked the woman, smiling. She seemed excited, almost as if she'd never seen an elephant before.

"Yes," said Dane shyly. He was getting flustered and it wasn't just that she was an attractive woman. He was not used to informal human interaction, having come to rely on Belle for friendship. Only few words had been said but he'd never spoken to someone so friendly before.

     The woman lifted her dainty feet out of the pond, and walked barefoot towards him. Belle had stopped drinking water and had become very still. Her observant eyes keenly followed the woman, as she made her way around the pond.

     As the woman reached Belle, she put her hand on Belle's trunk and began to stroke her tenderly. "Ma Cherie," whispered the woman affectionately. Belle began to shudder and suddenly wrenched her trunk away from the woman. She lifted her trunk upwards and trumpeted as loud as she could and glared at the woman.

     "Belle, it's ok. She won't hurt you," said Dane soothingly, as he tried to calm her down. He patted Belle on the head slowly. "I - I think she's nervous," he said to the woman, stumbling over his words.

     "I better go home," said the woman quietly. Shock and fear were evident on her face as she backed away from Belle. As soon as she'd moved away far enough, she ran into the woods like a frightened rabbit, not looking back at all.

     Dane looked at Belle sadly. "Oh Belle," he said as he slowly stroked her trunk. "She meant no harm to us." Belle looked away from him, dipped her trunk in the lake, lifted water out and continued to drink as if the woman had never been there.

     Dane wished to see the woman again and hoped she would come back to the lake. He went back the next day, leaving Belle behind so as to not scare the woman if she was there. To his delight there was the woman, dipping her feet in the lake. "Is your elephant with you?" she asked nervously, when she saw him. 

     "Belle's not with me right now. I'm sorry about what happened, she's never done that before," said Dane sadly.

     She stared at him for a moment and then walked towards him. Then she extended her hand, smiled and said "My name is Michélle."

     After a moment, he too smiled.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 year later ...

     As the days passed, he felt a rift growing between him and Belle. She who had always been supportive of his happiness, was not supportive of his relationship with Michélle. She's not human, were the words that came to his mind when he pondered this problem but immediately he knew this wasn't the reason. As an elephant, she'd shown him more kindess than any human ever had. He had to accept that somehow Michélle's existence offended Belle. One year ago, Dane would never have imagined Belle as threatening towards anyone unless it meant danger to his life ... and yet she became agitated in Michélle's presence; the woman who's only crime was to fall in love with a man who lived with his elephant. There were times Belle had lunged towards her, trumpeting loudly towards the sky- a war cry that spoke of death. There were times Michélle would walk away slowly, tears that she struggled to hold in, floating on her lashes. Dane wanted to run after Michélle and tell her he loved her but he couldn't- not while Belle wasn't calm, her menacing tusks slicing the air like ivory knives; a subtle reminder of what could happen if Michélle got too close.

     With each incident, questions surfaced  in his mind and answers wandered up from the darkest abyss where Dane kept certain truths he didn't want to admit. Why? Why did Belle act this way? She's an animal. She's vicious and if she can't have you to herself ... one day she will. He could feel this four ton burden of ivory and rough skin weigh down his relationship with Michélle for she increasingly burst into tears with each threatning advance made by Belle. Slowly, Dane could feel Michélle pull away from him. Her kisses no longer lingered, her caresses no longer reached him and her eyes no longer met his.

One night, Michélle met Dane at the lake as she had so often done. She seemed tired and worry was etched plainly on her face. "Michélle, it's nice to see you," said Dane nervously.

     "I have something to say," said Michélle sadly. "I don't see a life with you. Belle doesn't like me and she has become a threat to my life. She's dangerous. My patience is gone, I-I can't hope that she'll be more peaceful towards me one day. You're blinded by your devotion to her and I've no choice but to give you an ultimatum." She paused a moment, tears slowly streaming down her face. "Don't you see?" she said imploringly. "You have to choose between Belle and I. Sell her by the end of the week and if you can't I'll know that you've made your choice."

     "Belle-"
     "Dane," interrupted Michélle. "I know you'll try to change my mind and I don't want that. Come find me in a week ... if you've chosen me. I know how much Belle means to you but I love you. Belle shouldn't be my burden to carry." She lovingly stroked Dane's cheek with her fingertips and then turned away, walking off into the night. As he watched her back receding in the distance, Dane felt as if she were actually walking out of his life. He knew then that he would choose Michélle.

     Soon word had spread that Belle was for sale. Her size made her ideal for hard labour and her tusks were the coveted prize of poachers all over. The lust driven people offered sums of money that Dane could never have imagined. One person however caught Dane's attention the most. This person offered twice the amount of money Dane was being offered by anyone else. The person was cloaked and thus Dane couldn't tell who it was. He was hesistant to sell Belle to the cloaked figure, however the money offered was too much to refuse. Dane didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Belle as the figure demanded that he have her immediately.

     As Belle was being led away, she didn't fight or get agitated as Dane expected. She looked back at him, a tear swimming down from her eye and then she looked away. Dane held in his own tears, his hands full of cash, wondering if he'd made some mistake.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     He found Michélle at the lake, her feet dangling in the waters, like the first time he met her. A year ago, she seemed carefree and joyous but now, there she sat, unsmiling, as if the weight of the world were upon her. "I sold Belle," said Dane.

     Michélle, ran towards Dane and threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry I made you choose," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

     Dane stroked her hair, happy that he had Michélle but still wondering what would become of Belle. "I want to give you the money I received from selling Belle. I wouldn't know what to use it for," he said.

     "I'll save it for us. There will come a time when we'll need this money it'll be useful then," said Michélle happily.

     "So be it," said Dane. He handed her the cash and that night when he went home, he was more at peace with himself. He had sold Belle but now he had Michélle and money. He felt hopeful about his future.

     The next few weeks passed by slowly for every day, as he had done most every day for the past year, he'd come to the lake to see Michélle. However since he'd given her the money, she'd not come to the lake. At first he reasoned that she must be busy and would come within the following days but slowly he realized that perhaps something had happened to her. He didn't know where she lived and he'd never asked for he'd always been content to see her by the lake. He asked around town about her, but no one seemed to know who she was.

     Desperately, he started to stay longer and longer on the shores of the lake, surmising that maybe he had just missed her in the past few weeks. It was one such evening that he was at the lake's edge, when a familiar, thundering sound reached his ears. With each passing second, the sound drew closer and closer and then suddenly Belle appeared. Her rough hide was covered in  deep cuts that had darkened with infection and her left back leg had a rusty shackle wrapped around it. Her right, front leg was completely gone, almost as if it had been sawed off.

     Dane ran towards her, not understanding how she could be in front of him and regretting selling her for she had clearly been abused. He threw his arms around her, sobbing for the state she was in. "I'm sorry Belle, I'm sorry," he kept saying to her. Belle raised her trunk and patted Dane on the head lovingly, for she was a mother that would always forgive her son.

     There was no wind and yet Belle swayed as if the force of a thousand winds were behind her, With a massive thud, reminiscent of a minor earthquake, she toppled to the ground and lay still, the now silent woods a mockery of her plight.  She'd escaped from somewhere- the chain was evidence of that- and had done enough to reach Dane. He knew he needed to get help but that meant the would have to leave Belle at the lake, for she was too heavy to bring back with him. He quickly ran back the way he came, towards town to get help.

      As he started to run, he heard footsteps in the still woods and quickly ducked behind a maple tree, barely concealed by the ancient bark of it's massive trunk. A cloaked figure holding a serrated, hunting knife, stepped into the clearing. Dane thought he recognized the cloaked figure as the same person he sold Belle to. He wanted to run from behind the tree and pummel the figure with all the strength that he possessed but the knife dissuaded him from moving.

      The cloaked figure moved quickly, not wasting anytime. Dane watched in horror, as the cloaked figure began to saw at the gleaming, ivory tusks that beckoned to all with its sheer beauty. Belle didn't move as the cloaked figure continued to saw, and Dane realized with anguish that she must be dead.

     As the cloaked figure finished cutting of Belle's tusks, Dane noticed her trunk twitch. She was alive but just barely. Suddenly, Belle's trunk wrapped around the cloaked figure's leg, knocking the person to the ground. The force of being knocked to the ground had struck part of the cloak off the figure. Underneath, was Michélle.

     Shock coursed through Dane, as he realized that for the last one year, he'd fallen for a woman who had patiently conned him. Part of him wanted to run from behind the tree and save her from Belle, despite all she had done. But he saw that Michélle had a darkness in her eyes that he'd never seen before and couldn't bring himself to move. Belle was the only being that had ever cared about him and she wasn't human. Michélle screamed and cursed at Belle, while struggling to free her leg from Belle's trunk. Belle squeezed with all the strength left in her dying body, her unshakable grip, clenching valiantly at the woman who had caused her suffering. Then with one last movement, Belle spun towards the lake, still gripping Michélle and slid down the shore into the murky depths of its waters. Michélle's screams echoed for a moment and then all was still.

     Tears streaming down his face, Dane stared at the surface of the lake hoping they would reappear but knowing they would not. Even now, Michélle was affecting him, for his tears weren't just for Belle, they were for her. This was the first moment Dane felt an orphan, for he was now truly alone.

     He sat there for hours, his heart full of regret, knowing he should've chosen Belle over Michélle because now he was all alone. As he got up to leave, he noticed the two ivory tusks Michélle had cut off Belle. New tears welled up in his eyes as he realized that even in death, Belle had taken care of him.

Jade

    *In Chinese culture, jade pendants can protect the wearer. When white Jade pendants turn green, it means the pendant is protecting the wearer. It likes the wearer if it turns a darker shade of green, every year. I have used this interesting aspect of Chinese culture to write this story. This is a story that deals with racism but also has a message and deeper meaning.

      "Excuse me sir, do you have spare change?" begged Corlo to a man as he sat in front of Divine Deli in the blazing summer heat. Begging had become his livelihood, yet as he begged, the sir's and madam's of this world passed by him without so much a glance and it took everything in him not to say, "Listen idiot, give me your money." At the end of the day, someone would drop a few coins in his cup and he would say thanks and maybe even profess how grateful he was for their generosity if they put more than five dollars in his cup. He hoped today would be the last day he begged for money for he had procured a job interview at Broderick and Associates for 6pm. If he could get that job, he would have no need to scrounge around for change and food; he could live the life he once had.

     Around 1:30pm, Corlo started to hear the lion like roar of his stomach that desperately craved food. He hadn't eaten all day and hoped he had enough for a couple of sandwiches from Divine Deli. A simple ham sandwich cost two dollars and he needed three to fill his belly so that when he slept at night, the gnawing hunger wouldn't keep him awake. With a sigh, he tipped his cup into his hand and slowly started to count the change. He glanced to his left and saw a short man in a long, black jacket (evidently a high-quality piece, for Corlo had worn a similar jacket in his glory days) and black bowler hat walking towards him. His head was tilted downward as if fearful of being recognized. His pace was rapid and every few seconds he glanced behind him as if wary of people following him. As he passed Corlo, he dropped a wad of bills in front of him. "Use it wisely," the short man said. He did not slow down his stride and continued walking as Corlo stared after him, at loss for words.

     There was something familiar about the man who had given him money, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It took him six minutes to count his money and when he'd finished, he realized the man had left him ten thousand dollars.

     He closed his eyes as tears of relief descended down his cheeks and dripped onto the concrete sidewalk he sat on. No longer would he slave on the streets for money, begging people as if he had no right to live. Wu ... unbidden the name floated into his head. It was a name that incited volcanic rage into him but today his name brought a slight smile to his lips, almost smug. He would use his money and regain his former life, that would show Wu ... then he'd come for him. He closed his eyes and his past came back to him.

     Corlo is in his office on the 16th floor, talking with someone through the phone. It's nearly 4pm; he's expecting to interview a person for the job of financial advisor. As a hiring manager, he does his best to weed out those he deems unsatisfactory. 

     A loud knocking on his office door reaches Corlo's ears. "Come in," he says. The door opens and a man of short stature walks in. He is dressed in blue jeans that look as if it has been washed one too many times. The faded blue matches the  crinkled, tucked-in, checkered shirt he wears which speaks of a man that has fallen upon hard times. Around his neck, he has a small jade pendant in the shape of a half-crescent moon on red string and it appears to glow beautifully as if it were snow crystals on which rays of sun reflect and create a twinkling stone. He wears thick, black glasses but what strikes Corlo the most is his squinty eyes that remind him of a bored cat that appears to be sleeping but is truly alert. "I hope you can perform for me tonight, I've been looking forward to it. Lily won't be back for a week," says Corlo into the phone. A soft giggle echoes from the phone receiver and the man that his here for his interview senses that Corlo is having an affair.

     "I will see you at 6:00pm at the harbour ... wear the black dress I bought you, I want my women to look good," says Corlo ending the conversation. He now gives his undivided attention to the other man in the room; As he does, he can feel his blissful mood disappearing quickly, for the eyes of the man are the eyes of an Asian man. It was already too much that the law made him respect black people who were roaches that were blessed to be allowed to live on the bottom rungs of society but now the law defined every man, woman and race as equal and that intruded upon his personal beliefs. White is the superior race and the only race meaningful and damned if he was going to hire a Chinese man or whatever those Asian people were called. 

     He wouldn't have booked this interview if he knew the man was of the Asian variety. Mentally he told himself he would have to tell Charlene, his secretary, to screen out any peculiar sounding names, names that didn't fit with what he liked to call the 'caucasian lifestyle'. He couldn't tell the Asian man that he wasn't getting the job without a valid reason or word might get out, the Channel 13 News might hear about it and it would create a furor that would end his comfortable lifestyle. Everyone was sensitive to perceived slights against races he believed shouldn't have rights and he did not want to stand out like blood on snow.

     "Sit down," he says to the Asian man, gesturing at the chair. It was a courtesy he didn't have to extend to the critter but he did. It was his way of showing the Asian man that the white man can give and taketh away.

     "Thank you sir," says the Asian man, in an infuriatingly Chinese sounding accent.

     "What's your name and why do you want this job?" asks Corlo.

     "My name is the Wu Xi. I come from the China one week ago and have degree in the accounting. I have other qualifications to. I want this job because I come from the China and need to take care of my wife," says Wu innocently in English that was commendable for a man who had been an immigrant for a mere week, yet his honesty did not soften Corlo's resolve.

     "You have said twice that you came from China. You are giving me information not relevant to what I asked you and your English, well frankly its appalling. Sorry Mr. Wu Xi, you are not going to get this job. Please leave," says Corlo rudely.

     "Sir, you haven't looked at resumé. I am very qualified for this job," implores Wu.

     "I don't need to see your resumé. You are not what I'm looking for. Now get out of my office before I call security," says Corlo impatiently.

     "Please sir, give me one chance,," says Wu with tears in his eyes. Corlo sees desperation and fear in his pupils yet he does not heed the pleas for he simply does not care.

     "I'm going to call security," repeats Corlo firmly.

     Wu gets up to leave. He knows it futile to argue with Corlo any longer. As he is about to exit the office he turns around and faces Corlo. His face is tear streaked, his eyes are red and he is trembling from what appears to be anger and humiliation. "I will never forget this day. I hope you don't forget it either."

     "All I hear is ching-chong-ching-chong. Close the door behind you," says Corlo gruffly.

     As Wu leaves, Corlo picks up his phone to call Charlene and in that moment he remembers something odd. The jade pendant on Wu's neck had been snow white when he entered the office ... and yet when he left he was sure it had been a pale green. He ponders this for a moment but a minute later he dismisses any thought about the pendant completely and Wu becomes something of the past for him.

     When Charlene picks up her phone, she does not greet Corlo with a warm, "hello" or "how are you sir?". To Corlo's utter surprise she says, "Sir you left the intercom on. I could hear everything you said to Mr. Xi."

     "Mind your own business. I wouldn't have had to deal with him if you had done your job and not foolishly thought an Asian was worthy of this company," sneers Corlo. "Remember, my job is to hire but it's not too much of a stretch to say that I can fire you."

     "Sir, Mr. Xi ran out of here in tears. I'd like to think you're a good man. Please apologize to him," implores Charlene.

     "Don't tell me how to do my job," says Corlo angrily. "You are only a secretary and that's all you'll ever be."

     "Very well sir," says Charlene. 

     Corlo does not respond and after a moment he hears the phone click and knows Charlene is gone. By the end of the day, management informs him that he must vacate the premises by the end of the week. Apparently human resources has received a complaint about his, "inappropriate and unacceptable racist behaviour that goes against what this company stands for" as they put it. As he takes out his last box on the last day that he is allowed to step on company premises, he passes by Charlene. She meets his eyes but quickly looks down and does not say anything.  He exits the building and in his mind he utters one word angrily ... 'Wu'.

     Two weeks later, his wife discovers his affair and initiates a divorce that drains him financially until he is left with his mistress and the clothes on his back. Yet his mistress finds that Corlo alone is not enticing and leaves him in search of a lover that has money. He is now on the streets and with a cup in his hand, he begs for money. For each coin that drops in his cup, he thinks of Wu. Wu, the man who destroyed him. One day, he will have his vengeance ... one day.

     He opened his eyes, wiped his tears and stood up. The wind blew strongly and he clutched his money, fearful it might blow away. A small, white piece of paper danced in the wind and landed on Corlo's lap. He was about to brush it off, when the words 'hit man', caught his eye. He picked up the paper and looked at the writing on it. There was a 10 digit number and the word "hit man" scrawled beneath. Fate, that's what he would call this moment when he wrote his memoirs that only he would read.


     There was a pay phone right beside Divine Deli, so he went to it and with a quarter he dialled the number on the paper. On the sixth ring, someone picked up the phone but said nothing. All Corlo could hear was silence and it unnerved him. After a few seconds he decided he would say what he had to say to the silence on the other end of the phone. "I need a man killed." His words seemed to echo ever-so-slightly and for the first time Corlo fully realized what he was about to do. Saying it out loud and hearing his own voice uttering those words made him realize the power he was about to wield with money. He was going to to take a man's life and there would be no returning from this point. His hatred for Wu blinded him to reason and the only logic he saw was his own anger towards a man who had once asked him for a job.

     "His name and ten thousand dollars," said a voice through the phone. The utter lack of emotion in the voice stunned Corlo. This was a man who could not care whether someone lived or died for it was his livelihood to play god for money. Like a wolf that decides to hunt rabbits to survive, this man hunted and killed people for sustenance and his heart had become impervious to the human weakness, emotion. "Put both in an envelope. Go to 401 Holland Avenue, you will find an abandoned home. Push open the gate. Walk to the front door. Put the envelope under the doormat at 3:00pm. Leave. He will die by 6pm. Do not look back ... or you will die." The hit man spoke in short sentences, almost robotically. Clearly these were lines he had said time and time again; he was a man who was experienced with his trade.

     "How do I know you won't steal my money?" asked Corlo nervously. There was no answer from the other end of the phone. A beeping sound reached Corlo's ears and it was a few seconds before he realized the man had already hung up.

     By 2:59pm, Corlo had reached 401 Holland Ave, an old house, seemingly abandoned as the hit man had said. The house was surrounded by a black, wrought iron fence similar to the fences that enclosed graveyards where past victims of the hit man now lay. Although it was summer, the overgrown grass had faded to yellow, dead as this house seemed to be. The house spoke of neglect- from its dirty, grey brick to the roof covered in broken, black shingles as if someone had stomped all over it. The house cast an ominous shadow over the front yard; it truly was the type of house one would associate with the nefarious beings of society thus Corlo felt 401 Holland Ave was not only a place where murderous transactions were conducted but it was also the home of the hit man. Corlo walked quickly up to the front door of the house. In front of the door, a carpet so filthy that it's colour was no longer discernible, lay. Corlo took out a white envelope with the name 'Wu Xi' and ten thousand dollars in cash inside and shoved it under the carpet. Immediately he turned around and walked back towards the gate. He was tempted to look behind him but the hit man's last words rang in his ear, "Do not look back ... or you will die."

     As he left the property, he felt a sense of relief. Wu would be dead soon and perhaps then he could find a way to truly get his life on track. He smiled to himself, he had an interview at 6pm at Broderick and Associates. He had 10 years of experience as a hiring manager for Lolland Co., he was certain he could get the same job at Broderick and Associates.

     At 6pm, he sauntered into the building of Broderick and Associates with a smug look on his face. He knew he wasn't an important man right now but his luck was about to change. He would rise to the top where he had seen the sun set from a 16th floor window, many years ago.

     "Hello madam, I'm here for the hiring manager interview," said Corlo to the receptionist. He noticed her blonde hair, slim figure and her youth and made a mental note of asking her to dinner if he managed to nab this job.

     "You must be Corlo, we spoke on the phone. I will show you to the conference room," she said unsmiling. She stood up and gestured forward, "follow me."

     When I get my job, I'll hire you to do tricks. I hope licking is one of them, he thought to himself as he stared at her slim figure and her hips moving left, right, left, right almost like music that he could hear through his eyes. They took an elevator to the 31st floor.

     "Here we are sir," said the receptionist, interuppting Corlo's sexual reverie. "Please wait inside, someone will be with you shortly."

     Corlo pushed open the mahogany doors and stepped inside the conference room. One wall of the room was entirely occupied by glass that afforded a view of the city that even Corlo's 16th floor view at Lolland Co., paled in comparison. In the center of the room was a long glass table that could have seated at least thirty people but despite its vastness, it was empty and impersonal as if it hadn't been used in some time. It was here Corlo waited for his interview.

     Two minutes later, a man stepped into the conference room. Corlo glanced over at him and simutaneously a gun shot rang out. It hit Corlo with such an impact that he immediately dropped to the floor but oddly he could not move, not even to convulse in pain. He could not scream for help, all he could do was keep his eyes open and even that was starting to become an effort. A small bullet sized hole remained in the glass, evidence of a sniper of some sort.

     The man in the conference room immediately dialled 911. Then for a few minutes, there was silence as Corlo's life slowly slipped away. "I told you to use it wisely," Corlo heard the man say. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was a familiar jade pendant but there was something different about it ... it had turned a dark shade of green.

Virane

     In the land of Toro, Mira walked slowly through the woods that lay behind her home as her blonde hair fluttered in the breeze. She lived in secrecy, for her father and mother, once King and Queen of Toro, were dead. The Toroks betrayed the throne and anyone who supported her parents was killed ... only she had gotten out alive. It had been a year since she had found her new home, an abandoned cabin evidently unused for many years. It was here she lived in isolation, away from prying eyes that were keen to find the Princess, heir to the throne.

     Mira had no real purpose tonight other than to enjoy a leisurely stroll. It was the only luxury she could afford in isolation. Moonlight dimly illuminated her path as the trees made eerie shadows that seemed to beckon her with its dance. Unwillingly, a thought drifted into her mind ... the dance of Virane.

     Virane. It was an ancient name, the name of death as spoken by the Larigan people of old. The Larigan race vanished mysteriously thousands and thousands of years ago, yet they still existed in the words of stories whispered amongst those who feared the subtle truths that underlied these fables.

     Virane. It was this name that echoed in the deepest pits of her mind as she walked over twigs and leaves, admist the trees that appeared so lovely in daylight but murderous by night. She had heard stories of Virane from her mother but she was never quite sure what it was. It was said that in many ways Virane was death and more; it sought to spread misery wherever it went for nothing more than its own pleasure. Virane was a marked entity, for the sign of the flaming butterfly would reveal its identity. She shuddered at the thought of Virane and fearfully glanced around her as if expecting the shadows to be concealing it.

     Suddenly Mira came to a halt. Her voluptuos chest rose up and down rapidly like the wings of a humming bird, as she breathed heavily from fear.  She could hear whistling- a pleasant sort of whistling that one might hear from a carefree person. Mira could recognize the tune, Moonstone Jig, a song her father had enjoyed, yet thoughts of Virane lingered in her mind, keeping her fear intact.

     For a moment, the whistling ceased and the only sound in the woods was silence itself but it did not last long. A gruff, male voice started to sing the words to Moonstone Jig,

                                    ' Out on the rocks there is a glow,
                                     the darkness inside is the river that flows,
                                     the stone of the moon is the creature's show,
                                     dancing a jig, on craters she knows.
                                     Now love ain't a lover, but she warms my stones,
                                     stealing out into the night for all her moans,
                                     the moonstone jig is to set the tones,
                                     for in the morning, I'll be all alone.'

     A tear rolled down Mira's cheek but she hastily wiped it away. The song was a reminder of all that she had left behind. It brought her hope and happiness but also a deep longing for the past to be returned to her. Up ahead, a young man walked towards her. He had long, dark hair that covered the nape of his neck and moved in the air like waves. His dark eyes fixated on Mira as he continued to sing Moonstone Jig. He was a fairly tall man but of a stocky build and judging by the streaks of dirt that slightly marred his handsome face, he had been travelling all day long.

     "Eyy there pretty lady, don't suppose you know a place where I can stay tonight?" asked the man, grinning.

     Mira gazed into his piercing eyes and saw no intent to harm, rather a warmth that she could almost feel on this cool summer night. If he had wanted to hurt her, he would've done so by now; there was no need to create a ruse on the pretense of wanting a place to stay. She had not seen nor heard from a person in more than a year. She yearned for the companionship of another and at this point she may have even considered letting a Torok into her home and thus the look in his eyes was enough for her to decide what she would do.

     "I do know of a place," she said carefully. "What is your name?"

     "Call me Prons," he said. "Where is this place my lady?" There was no mockery in the flattery he bestowed upon her, rather his words seem to be respectful and genuine.

     "I live that-a-way," said Mira, gesturing behind her. "You can stay with me for as long as need be ... and please call me Mira."

     "Ahhh Mira," he whispered yearningly as if savouring the last morsel of a delicious meal. "I do not know how long I will stay but the Toroks have taken over my village and I am merely trying to find a place to hide until I can find a safer place. I will do whatever you ask to earn my keep."

     "The Toroks are headed this way?" she whispered fearfully.

     "I doubt any Torok would dare venture into these woods. I entered for I had no choice." His smile had disappeared and now his expression seemed grim. "No harm shall befall you, I am sure of it."

     "Follow me," said Mira abruptly. She did not wish to discuss her fears with a stranger and yet she felt relieved that she had decided he should stay with her. He did after all know of the Toroks coming. She turned around and walked back towards her house, with a whistling Prons in tow. Although she was opening her doors to him, she vowed to never reveal that she was truly Princess Mira. It was one secret she did not wish to share with anyone.

     It was after three months of Prons' company that she felt an affection of sorts towards him and it seemed he felt the same way about her. He looked at her lovingly with his dark eyes and his smile smoothed over the sharp edges of stone that her heart had become after being devoid of human contact for so long. Yet there were moments when she glanced at his eyes and thought she might have seen an iciness that only a man of anger could possess, but his kindness towards her pushed all other thoughts out of her mind. Soon Mira and Prons fell in love with each other.

     One late evening, she sat in the warmth of Pron's arms, which encircled her protectively. If I we were ever to have a child, I would name it after you, she thought contentedly. She felt happier than she had ever been in the past year. She hoped this peacefulness would last forever.

     A noise outside of her home shattered the silence. There was racous shouting and a clanging sound that rang like a bell as if signalling the end of an era. Mira glanced up at Prons and saw that his face had become deathly pale. "What is it Prons?"

     "The Toroks are here," he whispered. "Stay quiet, I'm going to try and divert them from here."

     "Be careful Prons," Mira said fearfully. Prons nodded as he walked towards the front of the house and as he entered outside to confront the Toroks, Mira noticed that they had grown silent.

     Then Prons spoke and what he said made her blood run cold, "The Princess? She's inside."

     I never told Prons I was a princess, she reflected as the first wave of pain hit her, nearly sending her into a realm of temporary darkness. It was not a physical pain but rather a burning scar that reeked of betrayal which grew in size until her mind was a pit of ashes.

     The Torok barged into the house and took her captive but by then she was too weak to do much. Her mind was still reeling from Prons giving her up to the Torok and thus she did not resist but meekly went along with them. "We killed your mother and your father, Princess," spat a Torok with a jagged scar running down the left side of his face from his eye to his chin. "But we are merciful people. You please us and we will keep you alive." The other Torok guffawed as the Torok with the jagged scar grinned.

     Mira said not a word. She was lost in her mind and unable to process what was happening to her. Even when they raped her, she did not scream or fight back, almost as if she had entirely given up. Within a week she was pregnant but that did not stop her captors from continually tormenting her. And as time passed, her heart of smooth stone cracked and eroded until the edges were sharp again.

     Nine months after Prons' betrayal, she gave birth to a beautiful, little boy. The Torok named him Grunder and the day after his naming, she fled from the Torok with her son in her hands. She had reason to live now and that reason was Grunder. She wanted him to have a life away from the enslaving eyes of the predatorial Torok.

     She wandered far east in Toro until she came upon a village, Quoznak. There, she took refuge in a kind elderly man's house and did chores for him to earn her keep. He died soon after and left her his house; it was here she raised Grunder all on her own. She no longer thought about Prons, for thinking about him would paralyze her and she could not afford to be in such a state- Grunder needed her.

     Grunder grew up to be a strong, healthy boy. He had dark hair but he had Mira's forest-green eyes that shimmered like emeralds. On the eve of his 14th birthday, Grunder told Mira he was heading towards the lake. The lake was known as Lake Rhowen and it was on the outskirts of Quoznak. It was a lake frequented by locals during the day for that is when the salmon were most active.

     As she gazed after Grunder from the front of her house, she heard a familiar voice that she had not heard in many years. She turned slightly to the left and saw Prons. In that moment, the memory of his betrayal swam up into her mind and with great effort she prevented it from possessing her. She did not want to rexperience that pain- she needed to stay strong for Grunder. The long, dark hair of Prons' that she had loved so much was now short and somehow gave him a more youthful look.

     "Are you here to give me back to the Toroks?" she asked, trembling fearfully.

     "No, no my dear. You must forgive me for doing what I did all those years ago. I am merely going to the lake, it's a nice evening for a stroll, perhaps I'll run into my son," he said smiling. The smile was not like the smiles that he had once given her out of what seemed to be love. This was a smile that was not quite right, crooked in a way she could not describe and the hint of mockery did not escape her. The man she once loved now terrified her but she had to stop him from going to the lake at any cost for she did not want Grunder to be in danger.

     As Prons turned around to leave, Mira saw a strange tattoo on the nape of Prons' neck. She had never seen it before for his long hair had always covered the nape of his neck but now it was visible. It was a small, black butterfly with red eyes that glowed ominously. The wings were adorned with bluish-orange flames, that seemed to pulsate and flicker as if it were real. She gasped as she realized that the stories of Virane were true. This was his mark, she was sure of it. Prons was Virane and she had become his victim.

     She blinked and he was gone as if he had vanished into thin air. She knew she had to get to the lake to make sure Grunder was ok. She ran faster then she had ever run along the dirt paths of the village. Her legs ached and her feet hurt but this pain was nothing compared to pain she had felt before, nothing compared to the pain she would feel if she lost her son. She needed more air but the thought of Grunder heightened her urgency and she increased her pace even more.

     Eventually she reached Lake Rhowen. The setting sun splayed a myriad of colours that danced across the surface of the lake beautifully. The surrounding trees loomed over her like giants that were angry at her for trespassing on their realm. "Grunder?! Grunder!!" she screamed as she looked around for him. Where is Grunder? I don't see him. As she walked along the grassy banks of the lake, she saw him. He was a few feet in front of her and lying on the grass, almost as if someone had laid him there. The paleness of his face was enough for Mira to know ... Grunder was dead.

     Like a stone falling from the sky, she dropped down, lifted Grunder's head into her lap and stroked it affectionately. She weeped for him, weeped for all she had lost and wished her accursed life had never been. Soon the tears dried up and as she stared down at her son, she fondly whispered, "Virane."

     As the last rays of sun disappeared, Mira heard laughter. It echoed all around her and she could not tell where it came from but she knew it was Prons ... and he was amused.

It Came Looking

It was the summer of Reneé’s 24^th year that lingered as if it were a drop of blood that could never be washed away like the almost perfect murder. Try as she might, she could not forget the past but in the five years that had passed since then, she remained single and still lived at home with her parents and little sister, Lola. At times she was able to hold the oppressive cloud of that summer at bay but her sister had opened up fresh wounds- wounds that may have healed had it been five years ago.

It was five years ago when Lola, then 17 years old, ran into the house, tears streaming down her face. She was a silent crier, always had been, and even then the only noise from her was the thudding of her footsteps as she ran up the stairs. Reneé was torn between going up to her sister and comforting her, or meeting her boyfriend, Mark, at his house as she had promised him earlier. She chose to see Mark and spent a wonderful evening eating dinner cooked by him (he could cook a mean foie gras). Not once during that night did she wonder why her sister was crying.

As the days flew by, Reneé spent more and more time with Mark. Sometimes he would come to her place while Lola was around and she would notice the way Lola's eyes seemed to always avoid Mark's when he talked to her. Other times, when Lola thought no one could see her, she would glare at Mark angrily as if he had betrayed her in an unforgivable way. Soon she would mysteriously become absent whenever Mark chose to come over, claiming that she had an exam to study for and that the only peace and quiet she could get was at the library. If only Reneé had seen the signs ... if only.

Over the next few weeks she noticed bruises and cuts appearing on her sister’s body. Finally, she decided to ask what was happening. One night, after her parents had gone to sleep, she went to Lola’s room. Lola was still awake, standing at her window, gazing off into the distance as if in a trance. “Lola we need to talk,” said Reneé from behind her. Lola spun around startled. Reneé could see that her eyes were swollen red from crying. Lola wiped her tears and forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“About what?” asked Lola tremulously.

“Is something wrong?” asked Reneé. “I’ll always be here for you. Please talk to me.”

Lola’s smile disappeared off her face and was replaced by an expression of  startling anger. Her eyes seem to darken ever so slightly. “You don’t care what happened to me! It takes you weeks to ask me what’s wrong? Go away! Just go!” she yelled at Reneé. She turned around and resumed staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought again.

Reneé didn’t press the issue. She cared about her sister but if she didn’t want to talk about it, she wasn’t going to force her to. Yet it struck Reneé as odd that her sister was angry with her ... almost as if Lola blamed her for something. She left Lola’s room and now five years later she wondered if she could’ve been a better sister to Lola. She wondered if she had shown more care towards her, would things have turned out different?

A couple of months later, on the rainiest night of the year, Lola came home soaking wet. Not a word did she say as she scampered up to her bedroom and locked herself in. Not a word did Reneé ask her for Lola’s silence and distress had become almost normal these past few months. Reflecting back she realized she chose to be oblivious to Lola's suffering. It was easier that way. Yet that night stuck in her memory like a knife lodged in bone. As the rain beat against the window as if an angry creature were trying to get in, Mark disappeared. It was in the morning when the police came to interview her that she knew what had happened.  He had vanished without a trace and five years later, there was still no sign of him … nor was there any sign of Lola’s necklace. It was a gold chain with an ivory wolf pendant that her mother had given her. Reneé wore a similar one but instead of a wolf she had a swan. It was a necklace of more sentimental value than monetary worth. Lola maintained that she had lost it and that was that. There was nothing that could be done about the necklace … or Mark.

Up until a few minutes ago, her memories of Mark had been  quite fond. He had taken her to see Cirque Du Solei when it had come into town. He had taken her skating when it was a full moon, just so he could tell her that she was more beautiful than the orb that hung in the sky. He had taken her swimming in Talou Lake and then they had watched the stars in the skies and counted them until they fell asleep, wet and holding each other. When her cat, Poosie, had died when a car ran over her, he held her for hours as she sobbed into his shirt uncontrollably. Yet the last memory she associated with Mark were her sister’s words, spoken only minutes before.

 Her relationship with Lola had deteriorated to a point where they didn’t talk to each other. Reneé tried over the years to talk to Lola but Lola shut her out. Her bruises had long healed but evidently the ones inside of her had not. In silence she carried whatever burden was thrust upon her and yet today, as she ran past Reneé down the stairs and to the front door, she had something to say to Reneé. She had longed to hear Lola’s voice directed at her but she had not expected that five years of silence would mount to this: “Mark raped me five years ago on Talou Lake, the night he disappeared. He ripped my necklace off my neck and had me. I got away from him, made sure he wouldn't do this to me again. He did things to me all that summer but you just didn't care.” She spat it out as if she were chewing something bitter and unpleasant. Before Reneé could say a word, she stormed out of the house, leaving her with more questions than answers.

It was too much to believe that Mark raped Lola all those years ago but why would she lie? With great sadness she reflected that she had wasted five years mourning for a man who perhaps met a much deserved end. And suddenly the water works began, her tears gushing out as Lola's had many times before. Reneé went up to her room and crawled into bed, hoping that the last five years was a mere dream. Despite the cloying summer heat that made staying in her room unbearable,  she soon drifted off into deep sleep.

All was still in the darkness of the night, the only light, a dim glow from the moon that played peek-a-boo from behind the clouds. Somehow summer had turned into winter and snow covered the ground in a sea of white. More snow fell from the heavens accumulating in drifts. For reasons unbeknownst to her, Reneé found herself standing barefoot in the snow. She was dressed in light pink, pyjamas and shivered as the cold cut into her skin like a carving knife. Yet in her mind, she had a purpose. It was an urge to walk through the snow until she reached Talou Lake, a lake that once held fond memories for her. She was not worried or scared, she knew there were answers at the lake but for what questions, she did not know.

She trembled as the cold caressed her like a deprived lover as she set out slowly for Talou Lake. With each step she took, the wind blew harder but when she was within 50 meters of the lake, it died suddenly as if a switch had been flipped. She did not take another step as if she were waiting for someone to meet her here. The snow fell on her skin and melted like her heart had once melted when Mark was there for her. Her breath misted in the air, curlicues of smoky breath drifting off into the distance.

And from the depths of Talou Lake rose a figure, cloaked fully in black and although the face was not covered, where it should’ve been was a pit of darkness. The figure moved towards her, not quite touching the ground. As fearful as Reneé felt, she stood her ground for her mind told her this was who she was waiting for. It moved closer and closer to her, until it stood a meter away from her, a macabre specter indeed. Curiously, it was not dripping wet, despite floating out of Talou Lake. “Do you want Lola’s necklace?” it asked in a voice that sounded overwhelmingly beguiling and sweet.

Reneé felt that retrieving the necklace was her purpose, so without hesitation she replied, “Yes, I want her necklace.”

“Then I must have something in return,” said the cloaked voice in an almost mockingly, musical tone.

Reneé hesitated. The voice was familiar, yet in that moment she could not quite recognize it. She did not know what this meant and alas she asked the more pertinent question, “Who are you?”

The cloaked figure was silent for a moment. Then it spoke slowly, no hint of mirth in its voice, "Who I am is not important.”

“What can I offer you in return?” she asked reluctantly. Perhaps all he wanted was money, for that’s what everyone wanted.

"I don't want what you can offer. I merely want seven drops of blood," whispered the cloaked figure. Reneé did not feel at ease with the cloaked figure but she needed that necklace. Soon this would all be over with and perhaps she would never have to see this cloaked figure again.

The cloaked figure strode past her and beckoned her to follow. Reneé trudged through the snow, not knowing what to expect. She stared at the back of the cloaked figure- there was something familiar about its shape but she could not quite put her finger on it.

To her utter surprise, the cloaked figure led her to her own home. As they reached the front door, it raised a finger, gesturing Reneé to remain outside. It then melted into the door as if it were a ghost walking through it, leaving her in the cold as the snow continued to fall around her.

Two minutes later, the cloaked figure appeared through the door. By now, the moon was completely covered by clouds and the light of the stars was such that barely a shadow could be seen. “I put the necklace back where it belongs,” it said in a haunting voice.

Reneé did not say a word. She felt that the cloaked figure spoke the truth, yet there was something out of place and though she did not know what it was, she felt compelled to remain silent. The cloaked figure drifted off into the night, once again beckoning Reneé to follow.

Hours later, they reached Talou lake. Without a glance backwards, the cloaked figure slowly melted into the lake until it fully disappeared. Reneé’s mind warned her not to go into the lake. As she turned around to go home she heard a sound. “Reneé,” a voice whispered. It was a soft voice and its cadence seemed as if it came from under water. She had heard this voice before. Five years had passed but Mark’s voice was a permanent memory. She glanced at the lake  but all she could see was the snow that swirled in the air and floated downwards.

She walked back home in the miserable weather and eventually came upon her front door. She was exhausted, her mind numb with cold. She entered her home, whereupon she climbed into her bed and fell asleep.

It was from this dream that she awoke as the first hour of sunlight passed by. She hoped her sister would be ready to talk to her today. She needed to know more about Mark for his death had been eating at her like a flesh-eating disease for many years. She needed to know if he was truly the rapist that her sister had claimed him to be or was he the man of her memories, the man who thought she was more beautiful than the moon. She quietly went to Lola’s bedroom to talk to her. She knew Lola always woke up early. To her surprise, Lola lay asleep, her face as pale as snow.

As Reneé started to leave her room, she noticed something. Around Lola’s neck was a gold chain with an ivory wolf pendant. It was the necklace she had said Mark ripped off her neck the night he disappeared. Yet more startling, were the seven puncture wounds on her throat ... and in that moment she knew; Mark had come back for her sister.

Imperfect Man

      I am a burdened soul. I wish to thrive wholly free but I cannot, for there will always be someone in this world who wishes to enslave me with the tightest of chains. There will always be someone who believes that they are entitled to a part of me. Even in my most liberal moments I must realize that even my happiness is caused by something or someone else and in that I am never free. It seems that my existence is for them and not truly for me. So that begs the question … am I happy? If happiness is sitting in a small room, alone with a heavy heart, then yes I am happy … and if I’m truly this happy, then I’ll never be free.

     When I look into a mirror, the face that stares back at me scares me. It’s not the face of a man who has enjoyed the years pass by but the face of a man who has aged beyond his years and like an intricate drawing, the sadness is etched in his eyes. The tears stay locked away, for my mother once said, “A man does not cry.” In silence I weep, struggling to be a someone for everyone. ..And in trying to be that perfect son, perfect friend, perfect person … I’ve become this imperfect man.

     

     - Unknown

The Message

The Ouija board has always been an enigma to me. I've heard of people fascinated by its machination, others fearful of it. It is this spectrum of beliefs that has motivated me to enroach upon the subject of the Ouija board.
*For those who do not know what an Ouija board is, it is merely a device used to contact spirits ... apparently. It consists of letters, numbers and a small spinning arrow like 'thing' in the center which supposedly points at certain letters or numbers when a spirit is communicating (planchette).

            It was three days before the start of October when Bobby got around to buying an Ouija board- something he’d always wanted. The idea of communicating with spirits always fascinated him. He lived alone in a modest, one bedroom apartment that he was able to afford with his job as a salesperson at the local bookstore. For a person who lived alone, his apartment was far from what one might expect; his walls were adorned with pictures of family and friends as if they all lived here.

Bobby’s bedroom was a small but comfortable little haven.  In it, there was a closet situated next to the window that afforded Bobby a splendid view of the majestic maple trees that seemed to be prevalent in his neighbourhood. Near the door was a wooden bed that Bobby called home for seven hours every night.

When Bobby brought his Ouija board into his apartment, he immediately felt a sense of excitement. He had questions and he hoped the spirits could give him answers- that is if the Ouija board worked. The Ouija board was a wooden, black masterpiece with the letters and numbers carved in white.  The planchette in the center was a light brown piece that was clearly worn down with age. In each corner of the Ouija board was an odd symbol that Bobby didn’t recognize, yet the symbols gave the board the appearance of being an antique and the scratches sprawled across the board, enhanced its appearance to that of a relic.

 He switched off every light in the house and went to the dining table with his Ouija board.  He placed the Ouija board on the table and lit three candles and placed them behind the Ouija board, the shadows of the flames dancing eerily.  He took a deep breath, whereupon he sat down and placed his hand on the planchette. “I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will,” said Bobby quivering with anticipation.

There was no answer.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will,” he implored again.

Again, there was no answer.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will,” he said sadly for a third time.

This time there was a response. The planchette moved from letter to letter spelling out a message for Bobby. Go to the bedroom. Turn on the lights. Turn off the lights. Turn on the lights. Look under the bed. Look out the window.

“Spirit, who are you and why should I listen to you?” whispered Bobby. The planchette did not move.

“Spirit, who are you and why should I listen to you?” Again the planchette did not move.

“Spirit, who are you and why should I listen to you?” Still the planchette lay still. Bobby was joyous that a spirit had communicated with him but it had left him with instructions that seemed to have no purpose. Nevertheless intrigued, he went towards his bedroom, turned on the lights, then turned them off and then on again. He looked under the bed half-expecting to see something under there but there was nothing. He then looked out the window but saw nothing but the night sky covered by the light of the stars.

He had done what the spirit had asked, but nothing had come of it. Puzzled, he went to bed, intent on using the Ouija board again. After work the next day, he immediately went to his apartment to fiddle with the Ouija board. Once again he lit three candles behind the board and switched off every light in the house. He came back to the table, placed his hand on the planchette like the night before and again implored a spirit to speak to him. “I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will.” The planchette lay still.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will.”

There was no answer.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will,”

This time the planchette moved and it spelled out the message of the spirit communicating with Bobby. Go to the bedroom. Turn on the lights. Turn off the lights. Turn on the lights. Look under the bed. Look out the window.

Bobby was surprised. He thought spiritual contact through an Ouija board was random but this was clearly the spirit from yesterday contacting him again. This time, he did not waste any time in questioning the spirit. He decided to follow the spirit’s instructions immediately, hoping that it would be less reluctant than yesterday to continue communicating with him.

He went to the bedroom, turned on the lights, then turned it off and then on again. He glanced under the bed and out the window and ran back to the table. He placed his hand on the planchette, his heart thudding furiously. “I have followed your instructions, spirit. Why did you ask me to follow these commands?”

The planchette did not move.

“I have followed your instructions, spirit. Why did you ask me to follow these commands?”

Again, the planchette did not move.

“I have followed your instructions, spirit. Why did you ask me to follow these commands?”

Still no answer.

Frustrated, Bobby went to bed, determined to contact the spirit the next night.

Later the next night Bobby set up the Ouija board, placed three lit candles behind it and switched off all the lights. He placed his hand on the planchette, hoping the spirit would communicate with him. “I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will,” he said slowly.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will.”

Still no answer.

“I wish to summon a spirit who will bear me no ill will.”

This time the planchette moved and a message appeared on the board. Go to the bedroom. Turn on the lights. Turn off the lights. Turn on the lights. Look under the bed. Look out the window. Look in the closet. Good night.

Bobby went to his bedroom, switched on the lights, switched off the lights and switched it on again. He looked under the bed and glanced out the window. He then approached the closet and opened its door. It was filled with his clothes but there was nothing there.

Suddenly a man stepped out of the closet, grinning wickedly. “Good night,” he said and then the lights went out.

When Bobby didn’t show for work the next day, his manager called the police.  The police went into his apartment but there was no sign of Bobby. They found Bobby’s Ouija board on the table but thought nothing of it. Perplexed, the police left the apartment, securing it with yellow crime scene tape. As the police officers headed towards the lobby of the apartment, a Detective Morton realized he had left his cell phone on the dining table in Bobby’s apartment. He went back to the apartment and retrieved his cell phone. As he was about to walk away from the dining table, the planchette began to move of its own volition. It spelt out a chilling message, “I’m Bobby. Help me.”

Detective Morton stared at the Ouija board in disbelief. He didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits- let alone communicating with them. Nevertheless he couldn’t deny what he had seen. He trembled nervously, unsure of what to do. He quickly decided that the best thing he could do was to get out of there. As he started to move, another message appeared on the Ouija board, “He’s in the closet.”

Lorelléi

     There was once a fair maiden named Lorelléi who lived in the town of Solon. She was extremely beautiful, that even poetry could not do her justice. She had eyes of green that matched the leaves of the Solon forest, where she loved to frolick about. Her long, black hair always smelled of pine and everywhere she went, she would spread joy.

     Lorelléi had simple pleasures and often she would descend into the heart of Solon forest and sing a song so melodic that even the wolves would stop howling to listen. She was loved by all the animals and it was said that even the trees grew from the sustenance her voice provided.

     Lorelléi's beauty and kind heart gave her many admirers but she did not care for them for she was in love with a man named Jorge. While Jorge was not gifted with an appealing exterior, his hard-working, kind hearted self was enough for Lorelléi. It was said that they loved each other so much that often they would gaze into each others eyes and it would be days before they realized that days had passed since they set eyes on each other.

     Lorelléi's beauty and kind heart did attract one man who felt he deserved her. To be sure, Roge was a handsome fellow and very wealthy but he had a heart of stone. It was said that if he had been stabbed in the heart with a knife, the knife would've shattered- such was his condition. He lusted for Lorelléi and truthfully he was better suited for her for his livelihood would make her life easier. Yet his heart of stone would make her miserable- the happiness she sought lay with Jorge.

     Roge approached Lorelléi thrice. The first time he brought her a rose of such whiteness that it may as well have been made of snow. He asked for her hand in marriage but she spurned his advances. He knew of her love for Jorge -the whole town did- but that did not sway him on his quest to have Lorelléi. He wanted her and so in his mind she belonged to him. Even though she had not accepted his proposal, he was far from ready to give up.

     The second time, he brought her a rose of such redness, that it may as well have been made of blood. Again she spurned his advances, scorning him. He was starting to get angry. He was better in every way than any man in town and yet she chose to waste her time with Jorge. Jorge was a simpleton and it made Roge angry that Lorelléi seemed to be lost to him, because a man of no status had beguiled her with some charm that was hidden to him.

     For the third and last time he approached her, determined to make her his. He found her singing in the heart of Solon forest, as a nearby tree seemed to sway to her voice. "Lorelléi, I have sought you out twice before and each time you have turned me down. You are mine and you will always be mine. Forget Jorge and come with me. I am worthy of you."

     "You are not a good man. Your heart is of stone. Please leave me alone. I love Jorge as he loves me. It is his heart that has won me over and he is in every way a better man than you'll ever be," responded Loréllei with contempt oozing in her voice.

     In a sudden fit of anger, Roge picked up a nearby rock and smashed it into her head, killing her instantly. He threw a rose of such blackness, that it may as well have been made out of death and darkness, on her and said "so be it,". He walked out of the forest, never looking back- unrepentant of what he had just done.

     Within hours, the townspeople noticed Lorelléi was missing but after weeks of searching they knew one thing: Lorelléi was gone forever. The forest that once was home to many animals and that lived off Lorelléi's lilting lullabies, slowly wasted away. The trees began to die and animals began to disappear- it was a sorrowful time. Hunters found that prey was not as bountiful as before and soon had to seek other means to provide for their families.

     One evening a hunter went into Solon forest, hoping for game. He went deep into the forest before he heard a rustling sound and soon a young doe bounded forward. He chased the doe with his bow but he could not quite catch it. The doe was a welcome sight in this forest and as the sun slowly set, the hunter gave up chase and headed back towards town. He vowed to himself that he would kill this doe someday.

     Word soon spread about the beautiful doe that could run and leap like no other could. Hunters from all over flocked towards Solon forest attempting to kill the doe but to no avail. The doe was simply too quick and smart; she could not be caught.

     As the doe was seen more often, the forest slowly revived back to a pleasant place and once more it was filled with greenery and the sounds of animals trekking through it. Yet strange stories started to float around Solon about the doe. It was said that when the sun set in the sky, anyone who dared walk through Solon forest was set upon by a woman with a gash in her head. A man who swore he had encountered this woman said that the doe transformed into Lorelléi when darkness washed over the forest and that she would kill any man who entered her forest after dark. Moments after he uttered his words about Lorelléi, he passed away, her latest victim.

     The rumours swirled about in whispers as more and more men disappeared after dark in Solon forest. Their bodies were never recovered. The whispers eventually reached Jorge, who had been in a deep depression ever since Lorelléi disappeared. One night he entered Solon forest, seeking to be reunited with Lorelléi. Yet in the darkness, Lorelléi could not tell that Jorge was Jorge, she only saw that he was a man and killed him. It was afterwards that she realized what she had done and let loose a cry of such grief, that no one who heard it could've kept in their tears- such was the sadness.

     Over the next few weeks, hunters who went into Solon forest reported seeing the doe and a stag which had never been there before. The doe appeared to be chasing the stag but the stag would always stay ahead of her as she stayed ahead of the hunters. The doe would let loose a cry that sounded like an echo for forgiveness but the stag would not respond.

     Roge was curious about the stag and doe. He knew their pelts would catch a fair price at the market and that if he were to bring them down, the praise he would receive would know no ends. He armed himself with a sturdy, wooden bow and arrows tipped with silver before entering the forest in daylight in search of the elusive stag and doe.

     Roge never returned from his quest but his bow was found on the outskirts of the forest and near it his footprints as if he had left the forest and made it out before darkness fell. After this the stag and doe were never seen again. Many were curious as to where they had gone but were relieved that it was safe to travel after the sun set now. It was twenty years later when another hunter found the body of Roge in the heart of Solon forest. The body was fresh as if he had just been killed. An arrow tipped with silver stuck out of his chest. Around him there were hoof marks- that of stag and that of a doe.

The Memoirs of Jacques Silo

October 31st, 1774
     Silence, that is my world. I cannot speak, I cannot hear, I cannot see, I cannot smell, I cannot touch, I cannot feel but I do have a story. I wasn't always like this; in some ways I am better now than I was before. Back then I was an inarticulate, burden to society, passed on from school to school, patronized by teachers because I was the antonym of genius. They disciplined me, coddled me- yet neither method worked. They gave me medication, hoping that I would at least achieve average intelligence within my lifespan. I disappointed everyone, as I had my father when it was revealed that I was conceived a bastard, and not his.

     I was a simple fellow; whether they abused me, misused me or attempted to care for me, I did not care. I was too stupid to understand that I was a leech to the people forced to take care of me- an amusement at best. They would say I had no brain, as if they had discovered a theory of substance through their own perserverance- but for a society of prodigies, I thought it pretty stupid that they thought a man who could at the very least speak, would have no brain (In later years I would discover that when people said that I had no brain, it was not literal but a reference to the limited faculties of my brain).

     One evening, I sat in a dull classroom, alone with my inherent stupidity, waiting for my lunch to be served to me. Lunch was as usual a tasteless ham sandwich- apparently being stupid meant that my tastebuds were seemingly desensitized. After this I would take my medication, a white pill. Yet this day was different; the pill had a glazed look as if I was swallowing a snowflake. I was to stupid to care what I put into my body, and so the simpleton took the pill that would earn him ham sandwiches with other condiments that were sure to tease my apparent tasteless tastebuds.

     The changes in myself were instantaneous. I was able to articulate, calculate and validate anything I chose. The world was mine. It took me seconds to realize that my intelligence had increased a thousandfold or more accurately, my brain was at full use (ironically, it was my newfound intelligence that led me to such a conclusion).

     I did not waste any time in utilizing my potential. It would take me years of work to summarize the great things I have done since the summer I turned 21. I will mention two of my greatest accomplishments but I will wait a moment. My intelligence is waning but my flair for the dramatic is not.

...

     I did extensive research on the seemingly innocuous pill that I swallowed and I soon realized it had side-effects, which I am experiencing right now. Silence, that is my world. I cannot speak, I cannot hear, I cannot see, I cannot smell, I cannot touch, I cannot feel but I do have my story.

     My intelligence is flickering, my brilliance not as bright as it once was when the candle was lit all those years ago. As this thieving pill robs me of my senses, it will take away my intelligence until I become a mere shell of what I once was. Soon all that leaves my mouth will be the innane words of a man who was once 21.

     In these last moments, I shall divulge my other great accomplishment to you. It is a secret I have guarded all these years ... time travel. See I have had a great life but as I sit here, aged 35, I have one regret: I won't be able to finish my memoirs. I shall go back 14 years in time and in 14 years time, I will return to continue this memoir. When I return, I will have summarized the 14 years I have just spent as a brilliant, Jacques Silo.


- Jacques Silo

The Woman Called Lolo, Part 2 - Lost in Rain

For part 1, check the Poetry section.
     There was a time when the rain and sunshine would clash to produce an ethereal sight. Such times were once a joyous memory for Leo but now an unpleasant tick from the past that could not be ignored or forgotten.  The rain and sunshine only served to remind him of what happened 10 years ago. 10 years ago this was an ethereal sight. 10 years ago, Lolo was still here.

     Leo stepped out of his house as he had a thousand times before, but this time it was different. He wasn’t going to work where he would be forced to pretend that he was infected by the smiles and laughter of those who worked around him. He was going to confront his past and let the sadness that felt so satisfying, engulf him.

     Dark storm clouds had moved in; it was pouring rain. There was no sunshine- and that’s how he preferred it. He slowly walked towards the park where he had first met Lolo, all those years ago. He remained nearly thoughtless as he let his feet carry him towards the park that had meant so much to him 10 years ago. He approached the roughly hewn wooden bench, now worn down with age and sat upon it. He looked to his left and saw nothing but the rain streaming down from the sky. Years and years ago, Lolo sat on his left. 10 years later, he still expected to see her but she was gone. His empty mind, suddenly filled to the brim with thoughts of Lolo, threatened to overwhelm him. He could not tell if he was crying or if the heavens were crying for him.

     Oh how he missed the soft touch of her hand on his skin, as she held him close and whispered secrets he would never repeat- even within the confines of his mind. Oh how he missed the scent of pine in her hair that had driven him to the very brink of euphoric insanity. Oh how he missed the first day that he had seen her where the rain met the sun- the sadness and happiness mingling into this one beautiful creature. Oh how he missed Lolo.

     He did not have to close his eyes and yet he could see the day she had died. He was too late as she fell from the bench, her blood dripping rapidly; the rain and sun, a witness. He did not want to confront these memories- he should never have come here. He glanced down at the bench and he could see blood dripping to the ground as it had 10 years ago. It did not frighten him; it made him sad. His imagination was taking a hold of him. 
     He glanced at the ground where the blood flowed downwards like a viscous waterfall. The blood drifted lazily until the words I was here, formed admist the puddles that would disappear in the morning like Lolo once had. He stared at it, not fully comprehending what he was seeing until the rain washed it away, never to be seen again. He could not separate reality and imagination; they felt the same to him. He was about to pinch himself to ensure he was not lost in his mind, when a caressing whisper reached his ears, reminiscent of how Lolo’s voice once graced his life. Then the soft touch of a woman grazed the back of his neck and he knew he wasn’t imagining.

I See You

I See You

    It was June 21^st, the summer solstice as people called it for it was the longest day of the year and Rix was in his bedroom staring out the window. The window was one of three- it would have been a normal rectangular window had it not been for the semicircle addition at the top. The other two windows were slightly smaller replicas of half the larger window. One was placed on each side of the large window and all three almost completely covered the back wall. The sheer size of the windows did not allow Rix to be inconspicuous. His windows afforded him a splendid view of the neighbourhood, but everyone could see him; it was a view that lacked the privacy a smaller window would have offered.

    Rix was admiring the beautiful sunset- motley of colours splayed across the sky as if the sky itself were a rainbow- yet the setting sun allowed the trees to cast ominous shadows that danced in the breeze. By the light of the setting sun, a disc of gold in the horizon, the shadows appeared to be wraiths flitting about on the ground, as demonic looking as any creature conjured from hell. It was a silent night, no one was strolling about. From time to time the eerie silence was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind rattling the branches. It would then caper off into silence again. The stillness unnerved Rix. There were always people out, especially when the sun was still out. However it was night even if it appeared to be late evening. His watch said it was 9:04 pm- some people slept at 9.

    BEEP! BEEP! Rix turned around. The sound was coming from his laptop, which was opened up on his desk. It was a black Toshiba that he had gotten as a gift for his 23rd birthday. His room was brightly lit by a miniature chandelier and it illuminated the screen.

    BEEP! BEEP! He sat down on his chair- one of those rolling black ones that every Staples has in stock- and saw that it was his girlfriend, Jasmine calling via Skype. He accepted the call.

    Jasmine’s face appeared into view. Her pearly white smile sparkled as her brown eyes shined with joy. Rix smiled to himself. There was never a time when Jasmine was not happy to see him. Her constant happiness was infectious and made him feel warm inside. She had delicate features encased by a wreath of ebony curls that always smelled of her namesake, with a faint wisp of roses and vanilla.

     "Hey baby! Parent’s aren’t home just Ellie! I have so much to tell you!" Ellie was Jasmine’s 17 year old sister. They always argued but Jasmine adored her.

    "Hey, how was your day? Seems like you have a stories to tell, let’s hear it," said Rix, grinning broadly.

    "So today I went out to get--" Jasmine started to say.

    Tap, Tap, Tap. Tap, Tap, Tap. "Did you hear that? There’s a tapping sound coming from your side!" interrupted Rix.  His face turned pale, almost as white as chalk. "There’s someone in your house Jasmine. You should get out … now."

     "Nice try Rixie,” said Jasmine, calling him by his pet name. "I don’t scare as easily as I used to.  Besides silly, it’s just a tree branch tapping against my window," she said giggling.

    Rix laughed. "I’ll scare you properly someday!"

    "Sure Rixie, keep dreaming," she said affectionately. "Anyways as I was saying, today I went out to get--" She stopped mid-sentence. "Rix, I think someone’s really in the house," she said quietly. Her eyes widened in fear and her smile disappeared.

    "Very funny. You know, there is an art to scaring someone that you haven’t perfected Jasmine," said Rix laughing.

    "It’s definitely not an art you've perfected!!" she said giggling.

    Ellie stepped into Jasmine’s room. "Hey, I’m going over to Shelly's house, I’ll be back within an hour," she said.

    Jasmine turned around. "More like you're going over to Stine's house," said Jasmine. Ellie shot her a dark look. " Don't worry, I don't care where you're going just be back before Mom and Dad get home. Lock the door behind you."

    "Yea, yea," Ellie said hurriedly. She left the room. She ran down the stairs as her footsteps echoed in the silence of the house.  A few seconds later, Jasmine and Rix heard the door slam shut.

    "Finally she’s gone. I don’t want her eavesdropping on everything I tell you," said Jasmine.

    "She could be back soon, you never know! So if you want to talk, get talking," chuckled Rix.

    "Ok, ok I’ll tell you what I was going to say--" she stopped in mid-sentence again. She had heard her house door open. Through Skype, Rix could hear it to.

    “Looks like your parents are home,” said Rix.

    “I think so too, they're a bit early though. I wasn’t expecting them until after 11.” She paused to think for a second. “That’s weird I would’ve heard the jingle of their keys as they tried to open the door ... Ellie!!” she groaned. “She forgot to lock the door, like always.  Maybe it’s Ellie coming back to get her books, that wouldn't surprise me. Ok well-” She leaned her head towards her bedroom door. She could hear voices drifting up towards her, voices Rix could hear to- voices they could not recognize.  The words spoken were indiscernible but it was clear that the voices belonged to two men. Jasmine’s eyes widened, her fear almost tangible. This was not a joke Rix was playing, this was reality. There were actually people in her home. Her pulse started to race. Her mind raced frantically with thoughts she could not control- thoughts of ending up murdered and dead. She gulped as a trickle of sweat ran down her face.

    “Jasmine, listen to me. Minimize your Skype screen so I can watch what’s happening and go hide under your bed. I’m going to call 911,” said Rix amazingly calm. His heart was beating fast and he felt fear take a hold of him. The warm feeling he had moments ago was replaced by an uncharacteristic chill given the season. It was a chill borne of concern and fear for Jasmine. He did not know what to expect but he knew he had to be strong for her. If he panicked she would to and then all would be lost.

    Luckily he had a view of most of her small room. There was a fairly large bed with ornate carvings of roses on the maple headboard, in the corner of her room. It was covered by a black duvet with matching pillows. Her closet was opposite her bed and the desk upon which Jasmine’s laptop rested was obviously out of sight. The carpet was of a dark blue shade, which he could see ended at the doorway of her bedroom located between her bed and closet. Beyond that he could not really see anything.

    Thump. Thump. The men had started to climb the stairs. Each footstep echoed off the elm wood staircase, breaking the unearthly silence of the house.

    “Rix I’m scared,” whimpered Jasmine. She knew they were getting closer to the top of the stairs. She knew it was a matter of time before they would come to her room.

    “I know you are honey but I’m going to get you out of this. Now go hide under your bed. I love you,” he said confidently.

    “Ok, I love you to,” she whispered. Her voice trembled and faltered, as the tears started to come. She ran towards her bed, her footsteps indiscernible on the nylon carpet. She lifted up the duvet to get under the bed.

Rix watched in horror as realization hit him. It would be hard for her to get under the bed as the gap was not made for people to go under. Jasmine tried going head first. She struggled to push through, but to no avail. In Jasmine’s panic she had forgotten to close her bedroom door and turn off the room light. The men could guess that someone was or had been in the room.

    Thump. Thump. Thump. The men were nearing the top of the stairs. Rix frantically looked for his cell phone which he had left on his desk. His desk was littered with papers and textbooks- typical of that of a university student. He rifled through his papers but could not find his cell phone. In his frustration he swept his papers and books off his desk, frantically trying to locate his cell phone. He was starting to panic, his sense of urgency driving him forward.

     Jasmine pushed harder to get under the bed. Her head made it through slightly, but then suddenly she was stuck. Rix glanced at the screen to see Jasmine struggling to extricate herself from the grip of the bed frame.

     Rix could sense that the men had come upstairs. He could hear them as they tried jiggling the doorknob of the first room. He willed Jasmine to get under the bed, his fear increasing with each second that passed.

“It’s locked,” a man with a slight French accent said. The other man said nothing. Still Jasmine struggled to get under the bed.

    Thump. Thump. They were starting to walk towards the next room which happened to be Jasmine’s. Rix clenched his hair tightly and shut his eyes for a moment, fearing the worst was about to happen, but opened them almost instantaneously, knowing Jasmine needed him there. She started to wriggle more frantically, but still she was unable to move.

    Thump. Thump. Their footsteps had gotten closer. Rix could hear it echoing off of the hardwood floor.

Tap, Tap, Tap. Tap, Tap, Tap.  The footsteps stopped. “I hear a tapping sound, I think maybe someone is inside that room,” said the man with the French accent.

    Rix froze unable to take his eyes away from the screen.  His hand started to tremble, he held his breath, hardly daring to breathe.

    Thump, Thump. Their footsteps resumed and they stopped in front of her doorway. Jasmine continued to wriggle barely concealed by the door. “This is interesting. The light is on, someone is here for sure,” said the man with the French accent. He paused. Rix could now see the man clearly. He had dark eyes that could have been either black or brown. He had unkempt, brown hair with stubble covering his pale skin. His face was marred by an ugly scar that stretched from underneath is right eye, over the bridge of his nose and ended near his left jawbone. It gave him an inhuman appearance- repulsive and terrifying at the same time. The man who had not spoken stood slightly behind his partner, his face out of view from Rix. Rix could see that the man had glossy black hair and wore what appeared to be a well fitted leather jacket. It was a jacket that spoke of wealth, with its charcoal black, glossy, uncracked appearance. It was a stark contrast to the leather jacket worn by the man with the French accent. His jacket had a dull sheen and it was cracked all over.  

    “Where could they be? We know one is outside,” the man with the French accent said, laughing manically.

Rix felt goose bumps all over his arms. He knew what he was talking about. They got to Ellie! he thought.

The man who had not spoke shook his head ever so slightly as if to say, there is no one here, if there was they would be dead .. like Ellie.

    Tap, Tap, Tap. Tap, Tap, Tap. “Ahh the tapping noise is just that branch tapping against the window. Nothing to be concerned about I guess,” the man with the French accent muttered.

    Rix knew that if anything were to happen it would happen within the next few minutes. His eyes stayed glued to the screen. Jasmine get under the bed, please get under the bed, he thought.

     The men stepped into the room and glanced around, appraising everything with their eyes slowly. Just as their eyes flitted towards Jasmine's bed, she pushed through, miraculously without making a sound. They stared at the bed for a moment, their gaze seemingly of a suspicious nature but then they turned away. Rix sighed in relief, close call, he thought. While the man with the French accent looked all around, his face visible to Rix, the other man’s face was never visible. His face was turned so perfectly that Rix could not get a glimpse of who he was at all. It was as if he knew that Rix was watching them through his laptop. It was an unsettling feeling and panic threatened to engulf him. 
    Rix glanced at the man’s hand. What he saw nearly made him scream. He bit his tongue hard, trying to stave off the terror that was overwhelming him. Hanging from the man’s hand was a knife. Dripping from the blade was blood. It dripped steadily towards the ground. Now that he was focused on the knife he could hear the drip.. drip.. drip.. as the blood fell like tears. He knew it was Ellie’s blood. These men were not just intruders. They were people who had killed and would not hesitate to do it again. If they found Jasmine, the game would be over.

    “Should we take the laptop?” asked the man with the French accent, gesturing in Rix's direction. The other man shook his head and gestured towards the closet with his knife. The man with the French accent obediently opened the closet and ransacked it for valuables. He tossed aside clothing as he muttered under his breath about how no one had anything of worth in their houses these days. His partner watched him, the back of his head facing Rix. He was motionless the entire time, even the hand holding the knife did not move as his partner continued to search for valuables. He seemed almost statue-like but the constant drip.. drip.. drip.. as the blood fell to the ground, reminded Rix, that man was dangerous. The man with the French accent was about to give up the search when he found a pair of gold and crystal earrings, evidently very expensive. He smiled with glee. This would do.

    Tap, Tap, Tap. Tap, Tap, Tap. Rix watched as the man pocketed the earrings he had gotten for Jasmine’s 22^nd birthday a few weeks ago. The man with the knife gestured towards the doorway, his indication that they should leave. Rix sighed in relief. Jasmine would be ok, nothing would happen to her. He looked at his desk again and finally spotted his cell phone behind a textbook he had not thrown off the table. He immediately dialed 911.

    “Hello, what is your emergency?” a monotone voice said on the other end.

     "I need help. My-my girlfriend is being robbed, I-I think her sister might be dead,” he whispered into the phone. He did not have to whisper but he felt as if the man with the knife was standing just a few feet away and not in his Jasmine's house. Seeing everything through his laptop screen made it only too real for him. His sweaty hands struggled to keep their grip on his phone.

    The man with the French accent paused a moment. “Do you hear a sound?”

    The man with a knife slowly nodded his head. It must be the tapping of the tree branch on Jasmine’s window that they can hear ... because I can still hear it to, thought Rix.

    “ Ok Rix, I want you to calm down and tell me where your girlfriend lives,” the dispatcher said.

    “13 Petals Road,” he whispered frantically.

    The man with the knife slowly turned around and walked towards the bed. Rix’s pulse started to race. Why are they coming back, they were just about to leave! “Please hurry up, they’re going towards the bed!” Rix screamed into the phone.

    “Please calm down. Nothing will happen to your girlfriend. She will be fine. The police will be there within 10 minutes,” said the dispatcher in an infuriatingly calm voice.

    Suddenly the man with the knife looked under the bed. “They’ve found her, please help her!” Rix sobbed. Then a thought struck him. He froze. “I think they heard me,” he whispered into the phone. He could only watch in horror as the man with the knife dragged Jasmine out from under the bed.

    Rix could hear Jasmine screaming his name and begging for someone to help her. Rix could only stare, powerless to help as she struggled against the man with the knife. Still Rix could not see his face. 
    The lights in the room suddenly turned off and her screams abruptly stopped. Rix held his breath, not knowing what to do. Then a guttural voice came through the speakers. It was a voice that would send anyone running to hide under their bed. “I See You,” the voice laughed and the screen went blank.

    “They’ve got her –hello?! Hello?!” Rix screamed into the phone.

     Nobody was on the other end, the call had been disconnected.