“Oakwood Academy” 

Amelia Michael, 10th

Nothing interesting ever happened at OakWood until Halloween 2035. OakWood Academy was like every other juvenile boarding school. It’s where parents would send their “troubled” children. On the outside it was where kids would learn to behave and to be better, but what actually happened at OakWood Academy some might call disturbing. Alyssa Jackson and Carter Grant were OakWood’s best. They were considered the poster children for what OakWood does. They never thought that being the best would come with secrets. It was all-hallows-eve when Mrs. Kenzigton the head master brought Alyssa and Carter down to the basement of the academy. There they witnessed OakWood students being strapped into chairs with a metal helmet being put over their head. They were being brainwashed. All this time OakWood wasn’t changing kids' lives; they were completely altering their minds. Alyssa and Carter both knew they had to tell someone. So Alyssa and Carter snuck into the storage room and went rummaging trying to find some sort of phone. After hours of searching, they found it: an old phone that still worked. Then suddenly Mrs. Kenzigton walked in with two guards. The two men grabbed Alyssa. Carter was able to escape, but when he rounded the corner hallway, five guards were there ready to grab him. Alyssa and Carter were strapped to surgical beds, and when they walked out of that room, they were different. We will never truly know what happened at OakWood Academy on Halloween 2035, but all we do know is that Alyssa and Carter were never seen in the outside world again. So I guess the takeaway is that being the best may feel good, but it comes at a price. 

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“The Mediumship of McKaney Manor”

Aiden Knox, 10th

Today was my first day of being a ghost hunter/mediumship. I knew how to act, what clues to look for, how to feel, and what I needed to look at. I joined this group called The Bounty Ghosters. I hopped in my blue Dodge Charger and drove away. Suddenly I noticed there was something weird. It felt like something was on the passenger side. I looked at it, and with a glance, I saw a middle-aged woman with a long dress. Her teeth were jagged and misshapen.She looked at me with this creepy grin on her face. Her scalp was torn, and her face had medium size indented, bumpy holes. Her teeth were yellow and brown. I quickly had fear in my soul. I felt like I just witnessed a murder scene. I looked back at the road, nearly hitting a semi, but I swerved in the left lane of Bridgestone highway. I stopped my car on the side of the road to look back at the passenger side, and there was no one there. I got this type of feeling that today was really gonna mess me up. I kept on moving, still having this gut feeling. About 20 minutes later, I got there while I saw my crew on the back of the truck waiting for me and one more person. I got out of the car and walked up to them with a terrified look on my face. My hands were shaking. They told me what happened. I told them about the incident. Bryson ( The main person) told me that I'm gonna get things like that, but they won’t hurt you if you look at something and not your surroundings. We waited for about 10 more minutes for the ways to come here but he never showed up. I said, “ Welp, we have to do this without him.” We walked towards the door and rang the bell. No one answered. I knocked on it once. No answer again. Then we asked if there was anyone there. No answer. We then just decided to walk in. As we walked in, there was a sheet of paper. One of the crew members picked up the paper, and he read it out loud. The paper said,” If you dare come into this trail, you will find nothing but paranormal activity.” After we all read this, we all felt this feeling that maybe we shouldn't mess with this. But hey, that's our job. We went under the caution tape and through the entrance of the trail. It was about 6 pm by now, and we just stepped foot on the trail. As we walked miles and miles on the trail, all we kept hearing was other footsteps that weren't ours. We stopped for a minute to see who was there. We looked back. Nothing was there. Then we realized that we were being followed by the spirit of the Mckamey Manor. The leader then proceeds to tell us to sit in a circle. We all wondered about his command, but we sat anyway. He then told us what really happened here.  Bryson says, “ In 1961, the first attraction opened. The whole town went there, and the tickets were only five dollars. More than 500 people went. Everyone was so excited. It was called Freaky Freddy’s attraction. While it was going on, there was a woman named Mckamey Manor who went on the trail. As she walked through alone, she heard something. Something unusual. She decided to go check it out. She heard a voice that was saying “Help please!” behind this big tree. As she walked near it, a man with all black clothes attacked her. When more people came in, they saw her and screamed. It was so gruesome. It grossed people out. The police got here and investigated the body and the attraction. It was close. But ever since she was killed, rumors say that she roamed the trail, looking for who did it.” We all got the chills. We stood back up and started walking deep in the forest. As we were walking, the trail split into five. We both went our separate ways. The leader said that if we found trouble in the next 50 minutes, come right back here. After 50 minutes, the leader and I came back. The rest of the crew didn’t come back. We were both scared. Then, there was a loud bang coming from each trail. Bryson and I ran up the hill super fast and made it in the van. There was a black figure chasing us. I hit the gas pedal and drove away. We went to the cops, and they told us we saw nothing. We moved on with our lives knowing we never saw the members again.

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“The Music That Made His Life”

Logan Gilleland, 10th

James was a nice guy, he did so much for his community, and he spread love. One day he would not be like that. It was the day his band fell apart. He was sad and angry, so I don't think we will ever see the nice side of him ever again. His band was amazing at everything. They knew how to play, and they were so nice, but one fight ruined it all for them. James and his friend Matt, they were like best buds, but they got into a fight mid concert and broke everything. James was mad that he didn't play the right notes because he said, “We practiced this all year!” James threw his guitar and left the stage. As he was leaving, people weren't really too happy about it. He started getting booed from everyone. That hurt him so much that he shut down the band forever… or is it forever… James woke up this morning, he made a cup of coffee, but something wasn't right; he had no band. He started to get a little sad because of it. He spent all of that time on it, and it was his fault for all of it. He wanted that band so he could keep care of his family. His daughter, Payton, doesn't really have anything, and James really wants the best for her, so he needs that band back. Payton is his daughter and he really loves her; the thing is they are poor now, and she doesn't have anyone to play with. She goes to school, but everyone calls her the “girl whose daddy lost the band.” She cried almost everyday, and James tried to do something about it, but nothing really worked. He talked to the teachers and tried to warn them about how his daughter was getting bullied, but it didn't work. He needs that band so she can move schools and actually be happy and make friends. He also had a dad in the hospital, and he needed someone to help him with the bills, so that's when it hit James. “There is so much to do, so I need that band back,” he said. He brought his coffee outside in New York city; he just looked around and saw people having fun. Some people noticed him, but James didn't want to talk. His health was not good, and it was getting worse over time with everything going on. He was just so worn out with everything. So he quit his idea… he walked back inside and sat on his couch. He was just thinking of what would happen without that band. His daughter would get bullied in school, and his dad might pass away. That's when he needed to do something fast. He got all of his stuff and walked outside of his apartment in NewYork. He set up his stuff and began looking for people to get for his band. There was no one, and he started to lose all of his hope for this… But then there was a guy in the distance running at him, He said, “OMG it’s the guy from the band- let me join, please!” He was begging James to join. 

James said, “Just wait. I need to know what you do and how it can help me.” 

He said, “ I play the drums.” 

James said, “Perfect. Have a great day. I will message you when you can come into the studio.” 

“I will be ready,” he said. 

James goes back to his apartment because it's getting way too late. He just talks to himself to try to see if this is going to work. He thinks it is, but he is not sure. But he needs it to work so he can help his daughter and his dad. He goes outside the next day and is ready. He looks at people, but no one really cares, but there is that one person that caught his eye. It was this girl, and he knew her. Her name was Wendy. James only needed one more person, so she was the one, and he got her name. She was a singer, and she was perfect for this band. We are almost ready for the band. They set up on stage, and two days from now they will begin. Two days go by, and they are ready to perform. There are over five thousand people there. Everyone was so excited to see them again. Everyone was cheering and so happy. James’s dad was watching him on TV in his room in the hospital. They started singing, and the crowd went wild. Everyone was jumping and full of excitement. That night was the best night in his life, all of that happiness from everyone, and now he can go back home and help his daughter and his dad through life too. He got a lot of money that night, and he is so thankful that that night happened to him. He went to his dad and paid everything off; his dad was so happy for his son. His dad got out of the hospital that day and hugged him. His dad said,  “I love you, son.” He helped his daughter out and she can finally go to school and make friends. She loved that. She plays outside everyday, and she has fun with her life. They are all living together, and they are all happy now. The new band was amazing, and James is going to remember this forever in his life. Everyone is happy. Their band is running well, and all of the band members are proud of him. Their next song is going to be coming out soon, so happily everyone is ready to sing a song again. Hopefully they will all be together and work together every day in the future.

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“You Shouldn’t Be Here”

Kinley Kopec, 10th

“Help!” I scream in terror and fear. I’m out of breath, running from the cloaked man. After sprinting for my life, I look ahead to see the abandoned hospital. Should I have gone there? Maybe not, but where else was I supposed to go? Making the sporadic decision, I turned into the hospital. I swing the door open and look down three dark hallways and decide to take a left. I crouch down behind a hospital bed, waiting for the stranger to see what hall he walks down. I throw my head back in relief after seeing him walk straight. I then walk in the nearest room, looking for anything that might help the blood oozing from my arm. I reach to flick the light on as my mouth is covered with a hand. I whimper, as I hear a strange whisper, “You shouldn’t be here.”

Olivia was getting ready for the football game. She couldn't forget her purse with all of her valuable things, like her card, brush, makeup,  and chapstick. She was so excited to see her home team play, and wanted to finally get out of her comfort zone today. She was going to talk to whoever was sitting next to her. 

As Charlie was watching the highlights of the Steelers and the Cincinnati, he got an idea to go and buy a Ticket to go see the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chiefs play. Charlie quickly grabbed his wallet, bag, switched his clothes to some grey sweatpants, an Aaron Rogers Jersey, and put some gum in his bag. As he drove about two hours from his town, he finally got to the ticket stand and gave his ticket to the ticket man. He then told him what row he was in. Charlie first went to the hall of fame before the game started. As he was starting to walk down the aisle, he noticed a girl that was sitting next to him. Charlie thought to himself maybe this is a new way of talking to other people. He sat down next to her wondering if he should start the conversation.

Olivia was nervous, considering she wasn’t used to talking to a lot of people. She's only in a small circle of family and friends and doesn't really know how to start a conversation. Olivia started the conversation. “Hi, I'm Olivia. What's your name?”

“I'm Charlie.” Charlie nervously responded. He hadn’t acted the same since his mother died. He only ever sounded nervous and anxious every time he talked. One of the people he's the closest with is his dad. His dad is the only person who really knows what he's going through. So it's hard for him to start these new conversations, but he gave it a shot anyway. Charlie then said, “What team are you here for?” 

“Oh I'm actually here for the Chiefs!” Olivia answered. 

Charlie was there for the Steelers, his home team. Charlie then responded with "I'm here for the Steelers, This is my home team.” As they started a real conversation and started learning about each other, they realized that they had a lot more in common than they could have ever imagined. Almost the whole time they were talking to each other and not even paying any attention to the game. As they kept talking to each other, they realized that their struggles and different ways of coping were almost everything they did to try to be a better version of themselves. They wanted to learn from each other. They wanted to learn each other's struggles and how they coped from those struggles. At the end of the game, they became friends. They really enjoyed each other's company and made a promise they were going to meet up again. They decided to meet at another football game, just where they met the first time.    

“Order for Jackson!” Olivia yelled out to the crowd of irritated people watching her as she frantically ran around at what can only be described as a disastrous flour mess. Flour had fallen all over the floor under her, sending a cloud of powder through the air. It happened when she was whisking her cake batter, and her arm made the whole flour pack fall on the floor. She could hear people muttering about her while she was walking past the pick up area, only making her more embarrassed by the minute. “I don't know how much longer I can keep this going in my house,” she whispers to herself while waiting for the oven to ding so she can take the cake out. After her long, exhausting day at work, it was finally time to go to her favorite cafe called Regoli Pasticcera in Italy. It was her favorite because of the flaky, buttery croissants they made; even thinking about it made her mouth water. It wasn't just her favorite because of the delicious pastries, but also because of the aesthetic of the cafe, one that she could only dream of her bakery having. The door was always open for anyone to go into, and they had many of the pastries at an open window to look at. She always goes into the cafe to enjoy herself, with the beautiful warm lights bringing comfort to her as she reads books or writes in her journal. “Two croissants please,” Olivia asked what seemed to be an exhausted worker. When she saw the worker, all she could do was relate to her. She almost never had any time to herself with her business. This was the only relaxing she ever did for herself. As she went over to her favorite spot at the cafe, she felt a buzzing in her purse. When she looked at her phone, she saw the name Erica, her best friend from back at home. She felt her stomach drop, as it brought back all of the memories from home. They hadn’t talked since the moment she moved. 

***“Ughh you should just talk to him Oliva,” Erica said as she rolled her eyes. “You only live once, and I heard he likes you too,” she says as she gives Olivia a smirk that can only make Olivia laugh. 

“You know I can't Erica,” Olivia says with an almost annoyed look on her face. “You know I'm planning on moving soon.” 

“I didn't know if you were really doing that. I really don't want you to leave me.” Erika says worriedly. 

“You do understand that my parents are very against me starting my own business, right? They always say that it's ‘a man's job,’ like women all over the world don't start their own businesses,” Olivia says, almost crying from frustration. 

“Okay, okay. Calm down,” says Erica. “I will support you in any way that I can. Even if that means you moving away from your best friend, and leaving her in the most boring town in the world.” They both start laughing with each other.

*** Olivia finally picks up the phone. She says, “Hello?” It takes Erica a second to reply.

“Hey Olivia." She can hear the nervousness in Erica's voice. “I know I haven't talked to you since you've moved. I know you might be mad at me, but I just didn't think you wanted to talk by the way you left. Just walking out after your argument with your parents,” Erica says with a bit of an upset tone. “I mean, you didn't even tell me. Your best friend. I had to find out from your sister.” 

Olivia feels the rush of adrenaline through her body; everything she planned to say in this exact moment left her mind. “I'm sorry, okay?” Olivia says with a shaky voice. “I didn't even know I was leaving myself.” 

“That doesn't make it okay,” says Erica in an irritated tone. 

“I could have helped you. I could have done something.”

 Olivia feels the guilt of Erica on the other side of the phone. Erica had a tendency of feeling guilty about things that weren't her fault. “Listen, it's not your fault. I'm doing fine down here, honestly better than I ever have,” Olivia says as she knows that half of what she is saying is a lie. 

“Well at least something is going good for once,” Erica says sarcastically, laughing.

“What is that supposed to mean?” 

“Well, living in this town hasn't been the best, at least not without you. I've missed you so much,” Erica says, crying on the other side of the phone, making Olivia start to cry. 

“Me too, and I really haven't been doing as good as I said I have. This business is getting too big for my house,” Olivia says, wiping her tears. “I just don't know what to do.” 

“Look around your area,” Erica says. “Try to rent a place to keep your business. You can't fail now.”

Olivia laughs. “I miss your encouragement. It's been rough out here. I've met only a couple people that have actually tried to help me out here.” 

“I know you can do this, Olivia,” Erica said enthusiastically. “Seriously, you didn't leave me here by myself to move to Italy for nothing.” They both started laughing just like before. “I love you Olivia, don't let your mind control you. You can do it.” 

“Thank you, Erica,” she said crying. “I love you too,” she said as she hung up the phone. This was the push Olivia needed. She knew she was going to try to find her rental the next morning. 

Olivia started her search, trying to find a rental that fit her budget. “Well, this should be fun,” she says as she takes a deep breath in. “Here we go.” She starts driving through the streets of her town in Monti, Italy. “At least it's a beautiful day!” she says to herself. You couldn't deny its beauty. The buildings and history made it the most beautiful. The sun was blazing down its heat through the car, making her skin feel hot to the touch. It was as if the bright sun was saying good morning to the whole town. She came across her first rental. It was beautiful, but way out of her budget. She then went to the next. Although it was in her budget, it's the complete opposite of what she was looking for. After about two hours of searching, she found the perfect rental. “There is no way this is in my budget,” she thought to herself. She asked the landlord anyway. “Um, Sir? How much would this rental be?” 

“Two hundred a month,” the man replied. 

She couldn't believe it. Could this really be the  start of her business? She started getting excited, thinking of how much this could change her life. Then it hit her. What if it changed her life for the worse? What if no one came to her bakery, and it was all a waste of time, money, and effort? Her mind started racing. All she knew to do now was go somewhere to calm herself and think about this life changing decision.  “Is there any way I can keep in contact with you sir?”

“Um, yes. Here is my business card, Signora.” 

As soon as she walked out the door, she was hit with a feeling she knew all too well. It was the exact feeling of when she had to make the decision of leaving her whole life behind in that small, boring town, and going all the way to Italy: somewhere way bigger, and all by herself. The biggest decision of her life. 

*** “Are you serious, Mom and Dad? Why can't you support my decision of wanting to start my business?” Olivia yelled at her parents while crying. 

Her dad shouted at her, “How many times do we have to tell you this Olivia? You're a woman! It will never happen!” 

Her mom only adds to the commotion, “I never raised you this way. When did you ever get the idea to do this? Was it that friend Erica?” 

This makes Olivia feel a way she's never felt toward her parents before. “Are you serious? Now you're bringing my friends into this? What is wrong with you guys? Why can't you be happy for me? What did I ever do to deserve this?” She screams so loud the whole neighborhood could hear. It silenced her parents. She couldn't tell what they were thinking, nor did she care at this point. 

After seconds of silence, her mom spoke up. “Go ahead Olivia, leave. Go make your dreams come true. When it doesn’t work out, don't you dare come back to this house, do you hear me?” her mom shouted. “Do you hear me?!”

 Olivia's eyes start filling with tears. She made up her mind. She was leaving. She wasn't telling anyone directly. She was going to leave a note and that was all that they would get.

*** As she's driving back home, she realizes the best thing for her at that moment, her favorite cafe. “Those croissants sound pretty good right now, especially with all that walking,” she says to herself. When she gets there and gets her two croissants, she sees someone that looks very familiar. Then it hits her, this was the guy that had helped her through Italy when she first got there.

         He was the first person she walked up to for help, and he conveniently was also an American that moved to Italy, which helped her understand him a lot better. She never got to thank him, which made her think of him every so often. She walked up to him and sat down on the other side of the table. “You're the guy that helped me when I first got here, right?” Olivia said ecstatically. “I never got to thank you for your kindness.” 

Liam looked confused for a moment, but then it looked like it suddenly hit him. “Oh I remember you!” he said with a surprised look on his face. “I’ve been wondering about how you got along,” Liam said with a smile on his face. “You looked a little rough when I met you.”

Olivia then let out a sigh, “Yea there was a lot going on with my family. I needed to get out of that place.” 

Liam gave a look of understanding. “I completely understand what you're talking about; I actually went through the same thing. There were so many problems my parents had with what I wanted to do with my life that I just decided I needed to make a change and leave,” Liam said sincerely. “It was just time to change.” 

Olivia was almost in disbelief. This was exactly what she was going through. “Wow it's almost like we went through the exact same thing.” Olivia stared in disbelief. “My parents didn't support my decision of starting my own business as a baker, so I had to leave,” Olivia said with a sad expression. "Unfortunately, that meant leaving other people behind like my best friend and siblings.” 

“I’m sorry,” Liam replied. “Truly, I am. I wish people would be more accepting,” Liam said in an upset manner. “Well, how is it going so far?” 

“What?” Olivia said with a confused expression. 

“Your business, how is it going?” 

“Oh sorry,” Olivia apologized. “I've been so distracted with this offer on a rental for my business. My at home business isn't working anymore, but I don't know if it's the right decision.”

“Do you like it?” Liam asked. 

“I mean yea it's really nice-” 

Liam cut her off, “Then you should do it. I understand the feeling of fear, but making that decision made my business take off. You should totally try it.” 

Olivia felt the motivation and sincerity of his words, and did it right then and there. She called the landlord. “Hello? I wanted to see if I could rent that rental, sir?” 

“Im sorry, signora. A gentleman that came in after you already rented it. Bye bye now.” The man hung up the phone. Olivia sat with a blank expression on her face. 

Liam asked, “So, what did he say?” 

“It was already taken,” Olivia said with a fake smile on her face. “It's okay; it wasn't going to work out anyway,” she said, with a defeated look on her face. 

“Listen,” Liam said looking straight into her eyes, “it will work out. I promise you it will,” Liam said encouragingly. “We didn't meet again for no reason. It's to show you it will work out for both of us.” 

Olivia looks at him with tears forming, but a smile that she can’t control, “You are so nice. Even though I'm a stranger, you are still willing to help me, why?” 

Liam looked at her and answered, “Because we're in the same boat, remember?”  

She let out a little chuckle, even though she felt so much defeat, he brought a little light into her life at that moment. “Wait,” Olivia said, “I can't believe I haven't asked you your name yet?” 

He smiled, “It's Liam, what's yours?” 

“Olivia.” 

“Well nice to meet you again, Olivia,” Liam said while holding out his hand for Olivia to shake. 

“Nice to meet you, Liam,” Olivia says as she shakes his hand.  

About two weeks later back at home, she's getting ready for a long work day when she saw her phone light up across the room. When she looked at her screen, her heart dropped to her feet. It was her mom. Her mind started racing, her body froze. She found the courage to answer the phone. “Hey, Honey.” Olivia doesn’t know what to say. “You don't have to say anything,” her mom’s shaky voice says over the phone. “Me and your dad wanted to apologize. It wasn't right at all for us to treat you how we did throughout your life,” her mom says sincerely. “I guess we realized too late that it didn't matter what we wanted for your life, but what you wanted. It was completely selfish and wrong that we put you through that stress and trauma.” Olivia started crying, enough for them to notice on the other side of the phone. 

“I'm so sorry honey,” her dad said crying on the phone. “I don't know what we were thinking; we just want you to forgive us.” 

“I’m trying,” she finally said to them. "I'm trying. I love you guys.” She hung up the phone, collapsed to the ground, and started crying. 

She heard her phone start ringing again, and hurried to wipe her face and gain her composure. “Hi Liam! What’s up?” 

“I know it's a little weird,” Liam said with a chuckle, “but would you be able to meet me at this location? I'll send you the coordinates.”

“Uhh, yea sure.” 

As Olivia hung up the phone, she was a little suspicious but started following the coordinates. “I wonder where this leads,” she said with a curious tone. When she got there, she saw this beautiful place that she admired. “Wow! What is this?” 

“You know how I said I had a business just like you that my parents never believed in?” Liam said with a smirk. 

“Yeaa?” Olivia says in a curious tone. 

“Well, I'm actually a landlord,” Liam said. 

“Wow, that's not something I would think your parents would be mad at,” Olivia said surprisingly. 

“Yeah, me neither. I guess it's because they said it would never take off, and I would be homeless begging on the streets,” Liam said. “Something like owning a bakery would be something I would never expect your parents to be mad about,” Liam laughed, “but that's actually why I wanted you to come here. This is for you.” 

Olivia stood in disbelief. “What did you say?” Olivia said in awe. 

Liam laughed. “Trust me, I know how hard you've worked. This is all I could do. I've had a successful business, so I've wanted to give you the same thing.” 

She didn't know what else to do but give him a hug. This was the most someone had ever done for her in her life. “How about we go inside and take a look?” Liam said with a smile. Olivia ran into the rental. It was even more beautiful than the other one she was going to get in the first place. It had warm lights, light colored walls, and the opening window that showed all the pastries, with beautiful creme colored tables. She went behind the counter; the kitchen was beautiful. The color of the walls were teal, and her working area was a beautiful pastel yellow. It was more than she could have ever asked for. 

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“Ultimax & SolchaKnights”

Imagine a setting, if you will.

A volcanic terrain, an ocean surrounding it, and waves crashing along one by one. The trees around were leaning downward, as if filled with misery. Their leaves were no longer green, but burnt, charred pieces of foliage awaiting their passing to the afterlife. The wind stole those leaves one by one, leaving but a handful of survivors. On this terrain, there were few. Itassis, Velisol, and Lumenhart. Their goal was to find artifacts of great power. They traversed together side by side, and one spoke, though not too excited.

“Do we... really have to go up onto a volcano?” Lumenhart asked; his voice shook. His specialty lay in saving lives, not heat.

“Lumenhart, you know we’ve got to do this. The others are out doing their own explorations. Who knows what they might be facing? Besides, you’ve grown. You’ll do great. I’m certain of it.”

Itassis comforted and reassured Lumenhart. They would be fine. He was sure of it.

The path was treacherous; everything that could be considered pleasant in a pathway was absent here. It was sharp, scorching hot, and uneven. Itassis walked with certainty, almost ignoring the abysmal conditions on the path. Velisol walked curiously. He took in the scenery, admiring the land around and the life that had once lived. Lumenhart, on the other hand, took his time walking. He closely watched the ground and avoided what he could on the ground. He despised getting his coat dirty.

“Hey, Lumen, how come you aren’t hot in all that stuff you’ve got on? I mean with the coat, the big belt, and all that,” Itassis asked, and Velisol was also curious about it.

“Oh, it’s nothing to do with my clothing. I’ve learned to control my heat receptors in my body. It’s not too good yet; I’m still decently hot, but I’m not sweating, unlike you guys.”

Itassis and Velisol glanced at each other and began to laugh a bit. Lumenhart was right, they were rather sweaty. 

Before they knew it, they were at the crater of the volcano. When they stared down, the lava wasn’t very far, only about 60 feet of distance. And when they raised their heads to look across the volcano, the distance widened their gaze. They also had noticed an odd stream pouring into the volcano, rather than out. The liquid glowed a bit brighter than the lava in the volcano. The consistency, even from a distance, was clearly different. In fact, it wasn’t consistent at all.

“Does that stuff over there look weird to you guys, too, or is that just the heat getting to me?” Itassis inquired.

“No, no, that stuff’s definitely funky looking. Velisol, what d’you think?”

“I believe it’s best to go investigate. Besides, it won’t take very long to get across.”

As he finished speaking, Velisol invited the spirits of the terrain to guide them across. A faint blue platform began to fade in from the energy of Velisol. 

“Spirits, I ask that you keep us safe in our time of need, as we would in yours.”

With that said, Velisol began to traverse the platform. His steps were certain, a pulse of energy surged with every one. Itassis and Lumenhart soon followed, though they were not entirely sure of this plan.

The breeze from this height was graceful; it flowed through Lumenhart’s coat and eased everyone’s nerves greatly. Itassis and Lumenhart’s once tense shoulders were now rested, their breath steadied, and they began to take in the sights around them. The sky was almost entirely clear, and the clouds were few and far between. The beams of the sun were light and forgiving despite the heat that swelled inside the three heroes. 

As Itassis was admiring the sights, he laid eyes upon a figure attempting to hide and observe them. 

“Hey!” Itassis shouted. Though before he could get anything more out, the figure made a break for it down the volcano, running toward the irregular liquid. The three had to increase their speed; there was no chance a regular being would survive long in this terrain: the steps and the pulses of energy on the platform heavied. The impact had given life to a ringing sound within each step. They were not far, only a quarter of the way remained. Their resolve assisted them in ignoring the heat; they barely noticed how drastically their temperatures were increasing. 

It took them but a minute to reach the other edge of the volcano, and when their eyes wandered down, they realized there was much more to this trip than expected. There was much to take in. This side had flourished, though not through life. There walked many creatures, big and small, made up of the liquid that ran up from the stream in the volcano. Their sizes were inconsistent; a few had arms larger than their bodies, and another had a head double the size of the others. All were blobs, and only a few were lucky enough to have a normal form. When they traversed, most stumbled with their heads slouched down. The larger ones swung themselves in momentum to keep their body moving. They all had their purpose here; some were digging at the ground, others were breaking rocks, and a spare few were walking back to a sizable machine. When the three heroes laid eyes upon the machine, they observed it very closely. One of the creatures raised its arm slowly, almost painfully, to pull a lever down. When the lever fell, the machine whirred loudly, and tubing from behind it shook moderately. The glow from the window on the front was a deep orange, almost identical to the false lava. The blob that stood outside opened the front and wobbled one foot in front of the other. Blobs outside looked and observed, the door shutting behind the one that entered. Whirring from the machine turned to rattling, and rattling turned to thrashing. Would the machine survive? Would the blob survive? What was happening? 

Just as the machine seemed to be at its breaking point, it came to a halt. The light that had shone so brightly before faded slowly back to darkness. The tubes settled, finally at rest. When the door opened, some of the liquid spilled out, though not much. A similar-looking blob stepped out, and after it, another did as well. A tear ran down Velisol’s cheek, his eyes wide in shock. Lumenhart was not much different either. He covered his mouth, sick to his stomach. His back hunched, and he turned away to get his composure back.

“Th-that’s.. not life. This is slavery. Souls trapped - I can’t stand the sight.” Velisol’s voice shook with every word; it took every last bit of his resolve not to break down.

“Those poor things… Who would do such a thing? They’re in pain. They’re miserable in those bodies.”

Lumenhart was not hateful but sorry for the creatures. Itassis was upset as well, but he held strong. He began searching for the culprit responsible for such inhuman deeds. Though before any of them could find the culprit, a siren began to wail from the area below. Its cry could be heard for miles.

The ground began to quake roughly, and a hill across from the three began to reveal openings. Three to be exact. One from the top, two from the front. From these openings came blobs like the others, but they were much more properly formed. Itassis, Velisol, and Lumenhart ran down the side of the volcano, toward a much more level playing field in the small village. When they reached their destination, so did the defenders. One was flying, and carrying the other two. It dropped them to the ground, across from the heroes. The flying blob followed soon after, behind the other two, and triumphantly so. One of the blobs was much taller and muscular. It stood in a ready battle stance. The one next to it was much wider and shorter. It was hunched forward, though still ready to battle. Finally, the one behind, the flying one, was just about the size of Itassis. Its wings retracted into its back, growing it out widely. It spoke.

“We are the defenders of this sanctuary! Solchaknights! I am Solomon, Solchaknight Mega!”

Velisol stepped forward,

“Are you serious? Sanctuary? Do you see what these beings are going through? They are miserable! Their souls beg to be let free!”

The tall blob stepped forward as well.

“Fool! These creatures are nothing more than machines and Crystalized Solchanite! No souls are kept in them! Well, other than us, that is. I am Fury, Solchaknight Super!”

Lumenhart retorted,

“No! They really are living beings! Why are you doing this to them?”

The wide blob mocked Lumenhart,

“Ah you have no idea what you’re talking about. I am Geyser, Solchaknight Supreme! It’s time you leave this sanctuary!”

Itassis, Velisol, and Lumenhart introduced themselves as well.

“I am Itassis, the prodigy of combat!”

“I am Velisol, the protector of souls!”

“I’m Lumenhart, the protector of life!”

 “And together, we are Ultimax!!!”

Both Ultimax and the Solchaknights stood at the ready, and the battle began. Itassis faced toward Fury, Lumenhart to Geyser, and Velisol to Solomon. Itassis charged a force of energy into his hand and readied a strike. Fury seeped liquid Solchanite from the ground into a mass in front of him and launched it at Itassis with violent force. Itassis responded by putting his arm out, and when the mass hit his hand, which is charged with energy, it detonated into an explosion. Some of the material landed on Itassis, but Velisol and Lumenhart avoided the debris. The Solchanite was scorching hot, burning Itassis in spots all over his body. The skintight suit he was wearing had some of its material burned away, exposing Itassis’s skin. Itassis slowed at the boiling sensation on his body, amplified by his blood being so near to the surface of his skin. He fell to a knee momentarily. Fury mocked him, “Haha! So much for the ‘prodigy of combat’! You can’t even take a bit of heat?”

Itassis gritted his teeth tightly, glaring up toward Fury. 

He retorted, charging up power. “You will surely regret that, Fury.”

Itassis rose to his feet. His blood leaked from the tears in his attire, dripping rapidly. A rising blood red aura forms around him. This aura is of his own life. Lumenhart, knocked back by his own battle, noticed Itassis and shouted to him in panic, “Itassis! Your suit is torn! I’ll try my best to help you, but don’t do anything rash.”

Itassis nodded and returned his focus to Fury. The two warriors glared at one another for just a moment. Itassis’s face grew furious, and Fury’s grew smug. Itassis made a move, learning from Silas, he placed his arm on the ground behind him. He charged his arm full of energy, painful energy, but energy nonetheless. He pulled it all back into his shoulder, and in an instant, he sent it into the ground. The resulting explosion launched Itassis right to his foe.

Lumenhart began his battle by charging up his energy, allowing his blood flow to accelerate exponentially. Geyser stomped toward him; his steps made the earth below cry out and rumble. Lumenhart stared right into Geysers' glowing eyes, his heart grew restless even without his acceleration. Geyser drew closer, and his presence was anything but subtle. The ground shook. It ruptured. Geyser’s laugh was not distant, nor was it welcoming. It was terrifying. Lumenhart’s eyes widened in a panic. His mind raced just as his heart did. 

“Should I keep charging? Should I Move? When should I? I don’t-” 

Just as he came back to his senses, Geyser was right there, yanking his arm back in a violent manner. He noticed Lumenhart’s hesitation, and he planned to take full advantage of it. He mocked Lumenhart.

“You aren’t cut out for this, boy! You can’t even see the danger right in front of you!”

“Neither can you.”

Lumenhart’s expression cut to a serious one. His charge had come to a finish far before; this was just an act he had put on. Geyser didn’t have enough time or space to react; his force would take far too long to come to a halt. Right before he made contact, Lumenhart used his pent-up energy to create a protective barrier between him and Geyser. Despite the significant buildup, Geyser still managed to stand strong against the barrier. The sound of their clash was heard by all; it screeched and scratched, growing louder and louder. The barrier began to fade, as did Lumenhart’s energy. The two combatants stared into each other’s eyes, both filled with their own purpose. They both planned to protect life, no matter the cost. They would perish before they let the other one win. Just as the barrier was about to give, Lumenhart let it go, but Velisol realized just in time, and surged an exponential amount of energy. Its force was exponential; it imploded upon itself causing a flash of light. The resulting explosion knocked Geyser back, much more off balance. Lumenhart landed on his feet and noticed Itassis bleeding from the tears in his attire. If Itassis went all out in this condition, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

Velisol’s battle began with Solomon raising Solchanite from the ground to create small, mini Solchaknights. There were many, and they began to charge at Velisol right alongside Solomon. Velisol stood in a wide stance, knees bent, bringing his arms out. The area around him began to darken. A deep blue fog emerged, welcoming Solomon into Velisol’s domain. The spirits whispered to Velisol. They warned him of the dangers ahead, the stories of before. Velisol’s demeanor released tension. His shoulders slowly released, his face shifted to certainty, and his stance was tall. From his fog came many spirits. With color identical to the fog, their bodies were transparent. There were foxes, birds, wolves, all life from before stood alongside Velisol. 

“You aren’t the only one with spirits. The difference is, these ones are willing.” Velisol spoke calmly.

“Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that, buster. We’ll see who’s more willing!”

Solomon waved off Velisol’s remark and ordered his minions to attack. They moved with pain in their steps, if you can even call them that. Velisol followed suit; he nodded to his spirits and charged alongside them. His fog provided a grave advantage, allowing his allies to regenerate quickly and lessen the blows they received. Velisol and Solomon had no intentions of battling any being but each other. They clashed through their own sustenance. Velisol borrowed the power of souls to form a barrier, and Solomon siphoned solchanite from the ground below to create a clumped shield. The two pushed back and forth with all of their might, neither gaining more than a slight advantage. Velisol’s footing was ripping the ground beneath him to shreds, and Solomon was stepping toward Velisol with great force. Just before their clash reached its climax, Velisol broke out of his focus and realized Lumenhart’s struggle with Geyser. Just as Lumenhart’s barrier was about to give, Velisol swapped his strategy. He pushed back as hard as he possibly could against Solomon, and Solomon followed along just as Velisol hoped he would. Velisol overloaded his energy into Solomon’s shield of solchanite and dashed backwards. Solomon couldn’t control this mass anymore; falling forward, he launched it at Velisol. Velisol created an absorption field in front of him; it hummed loudly and welcomed the mass. It was energy now, far more than it was solchanite. The absorption wasn’t pleasant. Velisol wasn’t receiving any energy; he was pushing an equal amount into the barrier as the mass was. His heart throbbed in agony; every beat felt as if he were being enveloped by a clump of hooks. He pressed his arms outward, forcing every ounce of energy into the barrier. He screamed in pain; it was all he could muster to remedy his suffering, though it was worth it in the end. When the barrier fully absorbed the mass, Velisol didn’t reap the rewards; he launched the energy to Lumenhart, and the excess energy caused a massive explosion between Geyser and Lumenhart.

Velisol fell to one knee; the resulting force shook even Geyser. His vision grew weak, his arms felt heavy, and his palms were sweaty. Though his whole body ached, he smiled, for his victory would be measured not in losses, but in gains. Even this small gesture consumed energy, and that energy was all he had remaining. His body slowly returned to the ground below him. The spirits, reigning victorious, assisted him; they lowered him to the ground softly. They welcomed him with open arms, just as he had for them. He uttered what he could in his vital moments,

“Thank you, Itassis, Lumenhart. Protect the spirits, no matter the cost. I beg you.”

His head could no longer support him, and he dropped limp. The fog that had claimed the terrain not long ago faded, and along with it went Velisol.

Itassis and Lumenhart’s battles came to an abrupt halt; they both were in shock at Velisol’s departure. Lumenhart’s eyes began to water; there was no point in trying to mask it. He wept, and he would continue to do so. He sobbed and cried out as he ran to the fading fog. He reached out, grasping at any hope left, but there was no use. Lumenhart couldn’t heal a passed soul. The last ounce of Velisol faded alongside the hope of his survival. Lumenhart was devastated. Itassis, on the other hand, began to bleed. His blood fell from his body as rain would in a thunderstorm. His body began to weaken, but his resolve did not give in. Itassis could feel his heart thumping. It was fast. Quick. Rapid. His fist began to clench, his heart seethed with no moral ideas, but instead rage. His hands trembled, releasing even more of his own life through it. His shoulders surged rapidly, up and down. And despite all of this, his voice remained relatively calm.

“Lumenhart.”

Lumenhart wiped his eyes, sniffled, and responded. His voice broke.

“I-Itassis?”

Itassis looked him in his eyes, not because he had to, but because he meant what he said.

“Support me until their last breath or mine. Whichever comes last.”

Lumenhart stuttered over his words; he couldn’t formulate a response. He knew there was no stopping Itassis, not now. He settled for linking his energy with Itassis’s, giving him life as his own dripped away. Itassis widened his eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed. He shouted out at the Solchaknights, drawing all of them to assault him and only him. They began to charge, each at their own paces. Geyser stomped along, Fury ran, and Solomon flew at him. Itassis welcomed all excess energy into him, even the energy that was agonizing to him. His biceps swelled with sharp pain, pulsing so fast that even a millisecond would be an understatement of its speed. His chest circled with a pulsating steady pain, pulsing every second, no more no less. His neck and face kept constant pain, never letting up for even a moment. His legs surged throughout, going from top to bottom in a random manner. His resolve could handle this. His body on the other hand... Every muscle in his body began to tear, but it did not repair, his skin could not bear the ever so endless pain and growth. Everything tore. His face, his neck, his stomach, his biceps, everything. He screamed in a mutilating combination of pain and anger. When the Solchaknights reached him, just as their bodies made contact with his, he exploded. In a fury of rage, and pain, his limits combusted. When the vision of the Solchaknights returned, Itassis was using his own life force to carry him to them. They stumbled, their feet felt weak as a result of both fear and damage. Itassis’s eyes were flooded with red, though he could see clearly.

“You! You will suffer as Velisol suffered!”

Despite their overwhelming fear, the Solchaknights rose to battle. All three seeped solchanite from the ground, adding rock solid armor to their own bodies. Their armor shone as light glass in a ballroom. They distanced themselves from one another, and unleashed their assault. Solomon was able to land a blow, striking Itassis with a heap of material. The pain surged like a flood. Itassis’s whole body felt that very impact, and it responded accordingly. Itassis coursed energy through his veins, into his arm, and swung with all his might at Solomon. The impact, this time, was far more devastating. The armor that so protected Solomon cracked like a glass plate being dropped. What remained of it flew back in thousands of pieces. Solomon was knocked back drastically, his body rolled and scraped across the scorched terrain. In an act of revenge, Fury threw a blade of scorching heat into Itassis’s abdomen, and it was felt clearly. His body surged out in agony like a stone being thrown into water. Every muscle fiber, every nerve was responding in panic. Itassis nearly fell, he nearly perished in that very moment, but the words that kept him going rang out. 

“I beg you.”

And that was all he needed. Itassis swept the area around with a pulse of energy, his energy, launching Geyser and Fury back with Solomon. Itassis began to rise into the air, using up much of his remaining life force to power his endeavor. He flew up, his back to the sun, he glared down at his enemies and his rage seethed. The Solchaknights, in one final desperate attempt, seeped all surrounding materials, including their own armor, into one big shot. They gathered all of the material they possibly could, and the pain in them swelled thoroughly. As the solchanite creatures were kidnapped into the mass, their souls were finally released from their metallic prisons. Their energy faded into the afterlife as blue mist. Itassis would not stand by and watch. He began building a devastating amount of energy in his body. His nerves shocked him rapidly just as lightning would a rod. Everything in both Itassis, and the Solchaknights, were in their final attacks. The charging of both came to a grand finale. The Solchaknights shouted out in unison, “Supreme Super Mega Grand Cannon!” and launched their last hope at Itassis in the air. The air around suffered and swept violently, ripping leaves off of the remaining trees.

“You’ll suffer the consequences, and I AM the consequences!”

Itassis’s attack was far larger, and the impact between the two attacks made even the whole world rumble. The two parties continued sending all of their remaining energy into their attacks, and despite all, the Solchaknights were winning. Itassis began to lose consciousness, even his own sustainment was needed in his attack. Just as Lumenhart and Itassis were on their last reserves of energy, the blue fog emerged. It grew in volume by the second, and with it, a figure began to form. That figure had returned from the realm of spirits. And that spirit was the protector of all souls. Velisol stumbled forward to Lumenhart. He extended a hand to him, and Lumenhart rose to Velisol’s side. Then, they both extended their support, and hands, to Itassis. They declared in unison,

“With the power of Life and Souls as one, Go!!” 

With all their efforts, Itassis, Velisol, and Lumenhart charged the sphere of destruction with Life, Sustainment, and Souls. The attack grew from a struggling sphere, battling with all of its might, to a stream of overpowering force. The Supreme Super Mega Grand Cannon disintegrated, and it was rapidly welcomed into oblivion.The path of the stream blasted straight to the Solchaknights. They fought valiantly, and valiantly they fell. Their energy faded, along with the containment of all the trapped souls of this forbidden place. Their faces were panicked, unable to identify the right thing to do, and before they knew it, they were face to face with darkness. A powerful, forceful voice spoke with great care for them. 

“Fear not what you are unable see, let your souls be at rest. Let those who you believed to be in your protection join you in the realm of all who have passed. Be free.”

The three false saviors were weary at first; they could not view each other, nor could they speak. Their despair dwindled. This true sanctuary of all was all they needed. Their sight slowly rejoined them, and it was beautiful.

After the attack landed, and the resulting explosion cleared, Itassis looked down in triumph. His expression, despite his pain, was happy. Jolly, even. He directed his gaze to his allies on the ground, and gave a thumbs up. His skin cleared, and his body went into shock. He tensed up like a dying animal, stiff as a board, and he fell back to the terrain. He accelerated quicker and quicker, his consciousness faded long ago. Velisol and Lumenhart panicked, their energy all dried up from the battle. They burst into a sprint, but they would not reach him in time. Itassis’s body grew closer and closer. Nearer and nearer. And when he reached the ground, it was not one of rock and earth. It was of the last spirit who remained. A small fox, who had been the last of its species on this island. It smiled toward Velisol and Lumenhart, and the two smiled right back to it. Its presence faded, as the last pure soul to join the realm of Velisol. 

Velisol and Lumenhart carried Itassis on their shoulders, he slowly but surely returned to his regular form. His eyes reversed to white, his skin repaired and shrunk, and his nerves lessened their sensitivity. As his consciousness returned, he blinked awake. Velisol and Lumenhart assured him, their work here was a success. Before he knew it, Itassis fell asleep, and he slept for a very long time. 

The three of Ultimax were the true saviors of this island, and they planned to return one day.

The End.