poem?: the living room clock

the living room clock
you were always there
i stare up and you stare down
you would only speak twenty four time a day
and nothing more
every single day i just see you hanging there
whenever i am in a hurry
or whenever i want time to pass by
you've been there since the beginning
i wonder when you'll grow slow
or when will be the last time i look at you
i will never know

short story: untitled

He woke up from his drugged sleep to find himself standing up. His eyes were still glazed from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus on where he was. He stumbled and bumped into a wall, holding his hands out he stabled himself but only found two walls on each side. He put his hand in front of him and felt cold glass. Finally his eyes focused and to his horror, he was in a box. “Okay, don’t panic.” He felt the walls around him, wondering if he hit them would they break. “How the hell did I get here?” He kicked the glass, hoping it would shatter but to his dismay, it just shuddered. He peered past the glass to see an empty room. Cracks of light were coming from a door from afar. There were shadows of humans in cloaks moving across the door. He yelled as loud as he could, pounding on the glass but the figures continued to move back and forth. He yelled until he was out of breath.
“Come on, don’t panic.” He could not take this confinement anymore. He started to kick and shout and started to cry. A most began to form around him; he panicked some more until he reached hysteria. He lost focus and his mind began to drift until he blacked out.
How did I get here? He fell through an endless hole and images began to flash in his head.
“Hey Crek, why are you still sleeping?” a hand shook his shoulder. “Quit sleeping, we have a job.” The hand started to pull back his sheets and quickly put them back. “Put some clothes on. I don’t want to see your package.”
Crek wiped his hand over his face and reached for his pants. He stared at the guy and finally recognized his partner, Stone Clester. He got up from bed and went to the bathroom. “So what’s the job today?”
“Just protecting this girl, Storina Demms.”
“What’s her problem?”
“She says that she’s receiving strange phone calls and messages and had two breaking and entering. Fortunately she wasn’t home at the time.” Stone sat on Crek’s bed and glanced around noting that this was definitely a man’s room. No plants, decorations or the like hanging around. There was just a table, a dresser, closet, and a big flat plasma tv.
Crek came out of the bathroom all clean and washed. “Okay, let’s go.” He headed out the bedroom with Stone trailing behind.
In a few moments they reached Storina’s house. “Nice house,” Stone commented as they pulled up in front of the driveway. They rang the doorbell and found a tiny thing of a woman opening the door. She was 5’4 with porcelain like features. An unexpected feeling of rage went through them when they thought some freak was tormenting this poor girl. “Yes?” even her voice was sweet sounding.
“Ahem. I’m Stone Clester and this is my partner, Crek Strom. We’re with the agency you requested for.”
“Oh. Come on in. It’s a bit untidy.” She led them into the living room and offered them to sit on the sofas. “Would you like something to drink?” she offered.
“No, we’re fine.” Stone replied. “So, tell us about the stalker, what does he say and what does he take?”
“Well, at first it was just little notes saying, “I really like you” and “You’re beautiful” then it got to “I saw you at the supermarket today”. I ignored them but they kept on coming. He threatened me and told me he’s coming to get me and do these vile things to me.” Storina broke into a sob. She covered her mouth with her hand but continued, “Then he started to break into my house and take my clothes.”
“It’s alright,” Crek handed her a tissue, “Take a breather.”
She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes but had a vice like grip on her wrists and was rather pale.
“Can you describe him for us?” Stone pressed, leaning forward.
“Uh,” she pressed her fingertips to the side of her head. “He was tall with dark hair, 5’7 or 5’8. I can’t really tell, he always hid in the shadows.”
“It’s alright Ms Demms. The next time he comes here we will be ready.” Store handed her his card, “If you remember anything just give us a call.” The guys left and went to their car, “How are we going to catch this guy?” Crek asked.
“We’ll just stake out in front. From what she told us he comes at night and we have a vague description, but it will work.”
“You think he will show?” Crek asked.
“We’ll see.”
“Well, wake me up when you see something.”
“You lazy ass!” But Crek had already pulled back his chair and closed his eyes. “Some partner,” Stone grumbled. It was nine-forty three and there was still no sign of the stalker. “Hey!” Stone nudged Crek,
“What? Is he here?”
“No, it’s my turn to zonk out.”
“Aw man and I was just…”
“Shut up. I don’t want to hear it.”
It was until eleven when they saw some movement.
“Hey Stone, we’ve got some movement.”
Stone woke up from his sleep and they got out of the car. They rushed to the house and followed the perpetrator.
“Where’d he go?” Stone whispered. Crek pointed to the open door. He pushed it wider and stepped inside. When they were inside they heard a scream coming from above. They ran up the stairs and Crek got there before Stone. They went towards the bedroom to see Storina unconscious on the bed and a man on top of her.
“Hey!” Crek shouted to get the guy’s attention. “Don’t move.” The man turned and looked at him. He snarled and showed his sharp razor teeth. Crek paused when he saw the teeth. “What the hell?” The perpetrator saw an opening and lunged at Crek. Stone ran to help his partner but was stopped. He looked down to see a tranquilizer dart sticking out of his side. He turned and saw Storina holding the gun before he passed out. Crek saw his partner go down. “What the hell did you do to him?” Crek shouted, he tried to get out of the guy’s hold but could not shake loose the grip the man had on him. Storina got off the bed and stared down at him. “Foolish boy,” she shot him and he sank into oblivion. “Take them to the house.” The frail pretty girl was gone and in her place stood a confident raging beauty. She ran her hand through the man hair, “Good work Sether.”
As Crek woke up from his drugged sleep he saw that instead of in the box, he was lying flat on a metal bed.
“Ah, so you are awake, Mr Strom.”
Crek looked around to see Storina walking towards him. He was alone with her in some sort of surgical room. “Where’s Stone?”
“You shouldn’t worry about him, you should worry about yourself.”
Crek struggled but his body would not cooperate. “What did you do to me?”
“Don’t worry, no harm will come to you, yet.” Storina giggled and walked away. She stopped at the door, “and don’t bother yelling down the house. No one will help you.” Storina glided to Stone’s room. When she entered she saw her team running tests. “I don’t really want this one.” She put her finger to her cheek as if thinking. “Just throw him away.” Sether took off Stone’s shackles and hoisted him over his shoulder. “Where shall I throw him, mistress?”
“Anywhere is fine. I don’t want to see him again.” Stone was barely conscious but he was aware of his surroundings. He had to save Crek before they did anything to him. Sether carried him outside Storina’s underground factory and dumped him on he ground. He grabbed a shovel and began to dig a hole. As Sether dug, Stone struggled to get up. He must have made some noise because Sether turned around and saw him. He let out a growl and started towards him. Stone felt adrenaline pump through him and got up before Sether came upon him.
“You must go awake. Mistress doesn’t want you.”
Stone used the weight of Sether’s body to flip him. Sether let out another growl and got up again. Stone tried to kick and punch, but it did not faze Sether. Sether gave Stone a left hook which made Stone’s head reel and fall hard on the ground. Stone looked around for something to use as a weapon, he saw the shovel lying right next to him and grabbed it before Sether fell upon him. As Sether got to his feet Stone swung the shovel like a bat at Sether’s head. Sether stopped in mid-motion and collapsed in a heap at Stone’s feet. Stone let the weight of the shovel bring his hands down and he could still feel the vibrations as the shovel connected to Sether’s head.
“Son of a…” Stone used his left fist to wipe his mouth. Stone went back inside the factory to search for Crek. He didn’t remember where he was and most of the rooms he happened upon were similar in every way. He began to open doors randomly until he found a room filled with large glass tubes. He walked closer to them and saw there was something within. He wiped the glass clear to see a body inside. Stone reeled back in shock and bumped into another tube. “What the hell?” Now Stone knew what Sether meant by Storina not wanting him. He felt a bit relieved but his thoughts went back to Crek. Stone went back towards the door to find Storina standing there.
“I see you have disabled Sether,” she nodded towards the shovel.
“What the hell is going on here?”
“You have seen my collection. Aren’t they lovely?” Storina turned and punched several buttons to turn on the lights. The tubes glowed a translucent orange and revealed dozens of bodies. Stone recognized a few of them, some of them missing for months and others for years but none have aged at all. “Humans are such beautiful creatures. Their bodies are all shaped differently; it’s a magnificent piece of art. I want to keep them forever.”
“What did you do with Crek?” Stone felt rage boiling from within and tightened his grip on the shovel.
“Why, he’s right behind you.”
Stone turned around to see his partner trapped within the glass tube like the others. Stone could no longer hold his rage, he started towards Storina with the shovel.
Storina made a scolding sound. “Mr Clester, mind you temper.” She placed her hands over the controls. “We don’t want anything bad to happen.”
Stone had to think of something fast. He thought back on her words of wanting to preserve the bodies forever. She wouldn’t want to harm their bodies. “You would willingly destroy your own treasures?” Storina blinked and had a confused look. “You say these bodies are art, you wouldn’t want to hurt them … would you?”
Her hand started to falter over the controls and started biting her nails. “Shut up! You don’t know anything.”
Stone noted her hesitation and lunged for her. Forgetting that she had her hand on the controls, she dodged his arms. With her out of the way, Stone started to swing the shovel at the glass tubes. They shattered and the orange ooze started flowing endlessly.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Storina screamed and her voice cracked. She tackled Stone but he threw her off. She bit, scratched, pummeled but nothing deterred Stone from freeing all those people. “You monster! Stop it! My beautiful collection.” Storina dropped to her knees and began sobbing. Stone went to one of the rooms before where he saw a phone and called the police.
After everyone was cleared, Storina and her lackeys were arrested and those in the tubes were taken away in ambulances. Stone sat by his partner on the trunk of their car. “How are you feeling?”
“Not too bad.”
“Good. So that means I can beat your ass for making me go through all that.”
“At least you weren’t put in some freaking box, you ass.”
“Well, I had to carry your naked ass out of these. This better be the last time I see your package.”
“Whatever, next time I get to choose the job. I swear, every time you get one, we end up in more trouble than we bargain for.”
“Yea whatever. Just be happy you’re not dead.”
“True.”

chapter three?

I am terribly sorry for the delay… but it’s not like anyone reads this…. [haha]
The first city Zorlu saw was the city of Babusk. He bought all the necessary items and food. Not knowing where the Denken Plateau was, he asked around.
The streets were crowded with life, everyone was awake and buying their daily products from the market. Zorlu stopped the first man he saw, “Excuse me sir, do you know where the Denken Plateau is?”
The elderly man replied, “Oh. I think its northwest of here. Why do you want to go there? It’s infested with monsters.”
“I am searching for something.”
“The legendary Fool’s stone? Many have searched for it but none have found it or have returned. Only a fool would ask where it is, you will never find it or you will die trying.”
“I will find it.” Zorlu stated and left the elder.
He went northwest towards the plateau. He did not know how long it would take him but he encountered several monsters to pass the time. He then came in front of another city The city of Zimbale. It was a very lively city. Everyone had something to do. The people there were nice and they were very helpful. Zorlu was finally pointed in the right direction of the Denken Plateau and how long it was going to take to reach there.
As he headed up the winding roads on the Denken Plateau, he saw another warrior. The warrior was fighting off another monster. Zorlu stayed back and watch the warrior fight the monster, it was apparent that he needed no help. After defeating the monster the warrior was not even winded down. The warrior finally looked up and saw Zorlu staring at him. He raised his swords and pointed it towards Zorlu but Zorlu had no plan to attack. He approached the warrior cautiously, knowing what the warrior was thinking after fighting that monster.
“What brings you to Denken Plateau?” the warrior asked.
“I am searching for something.” Zorlu replied.
“What are you searching for?”
“The Fool’s Stone,”
“That’s just a legend.”
“It never hurts to check it out.”
“Are you going to go in on your own?”
“Yep. I need to find that stone.”
“Can I go with you?”
“Why?” Zorlu wanted to know.
“I want to see if you get the Fool’s Stone. I have heard stories that many have no returned. I want to know what beast guards this legendary jewel. I want…”
Zorlu held up his hand signaling to the warrior to stop. “All right then. You can come along. What’s your name?”
“Oh. My name is Bertam Loska.”
“Well, Bertam, why are you here.”
“I had a dream that brought me here.”
“A dream?”
“Yea. I had a dream about a man, he kind of looked like you… but a little older… and…”
“Like me?”
“Yea, but older.”
“I see.” Zorlu took out his pendant and looked at it. He saw that it was fiery red. Zorlu thought that maybe Bertam was probably one of his chosen companions that Lupan mentioned.
“Alright then. Let’s go to the top.” Zorlu said as he started to run and Bertam was right there behind him. They ran into many monsters and worked together to slay them all. During one of their battles Zolu found that Bertam was a magic user. As they neared the top of the plateau, monsters were more harder and there were plenty of obstacles to go through. They had to go through winding mazes in caves in the plateau/
Finally they came upon a stone door. It had ancient symbols on it. In the middle of the stone door, there was an empty slot. It was the same shape as the pendant Zorlu was wearing.
Zorlu looked at the pendant and then to the slot.
“You don’t suppose you have to put it in the slot, do you?” Bertam asked.
“Never hurts to try.” Zorlu took off the pendant and put it into the slot.
Bertam and Zorlu waited a while and the stone door started to creak open. Zorlu grabbed his pendant and they proceeded cautiously into the opening.
When they entered, Zorlu’s pendant began to shine a strange blue light. Zorlu looked up ahead and saw a pedestal with a stone on it. As Zorlu walked closer, the stone began to stine an eerie blue light.
“That must be the Fool’s Stone.” Bertam said as they stood in front of the pedestal. “Why do you suppose it is called the Fool’s stone?”
“I don’t know. Only a fool would come here and take it?”
“That’s possible.”
Zorlu grabbed the stone, then suddenly in front of them, the stone wall began to fall away. A stone beast emerged and said, “Fools! How dare you take the Fool’s Stone! I am the Guardian of that stone and I will not allow you to take it!”

a short story: "two blocks"

It was winter of the year 1953. A large man stepped out of a doorway. He looked up into the sky and stepped back into the house. He grabbed his overcoat from the hanger, put on his thick leather gloves and gray knit scarf and went back out again. He went down the stairs and into the street. The wind was blowing rather hard today and various leaves slammed into his face. He quickly brushed them away, looking around if anyone had saw. He looked down to see a little girl with matching knit hat, scarf, and mittens starting at him and giggling.

He gave an insincere smile and continued on his way. He arrived at the intersection and waited for the light to change. The wind blew harder and he was splashed with water from above. He looked up to see the origin but saw none. He took off his scarf and wiped his head looking left to right to see if anyone saw his mishap. He did not see anyone staring but he had a feeling that they did see. He turned back to the intersection to just see it turn red again. He looked up and glared at the sky.

The lights turned green and he was able to cross. He tried to avoid the throng of people coming his way but could not dodge the hard shoulders or the various purses that seem to find a similar spot to hit. When he finally got through the crowd he glanced back to stare into their backs. He continued to cross the street and heard a splash, this time from below. He looked down to see that he had stepped into a puddle and his pants were drench. He quickly stepped out of the puddle and finally reach his office building.