Get Out (Long Story)

Get out of here!! I’m tired of your lies, your bullshit, of your promises! You know what? Go to hell and stop fucking with me! Damnit Julian! Can’t you tell that you’re fucking up my life? Enough please, Enough! If you don’t love me, then why do you keep coming back? Those were her last words. I had never seen her like that before; completely destroyed, so full of hate and sadness. I wanted to hug her and ask her for forgiveness once more, but I didn’t. I’m an asshole, a son of a bitch that played with her. __Isabela, please, listen to me. I know that I’ve fucked up a thousand times, but please let me explain… __Explain what? Tell me what? Do you want to continue pouring vinegar on the wound? No, I’ve had enough of this! I’m fed up with your fears, your insecurities, your nonsense. You’re never going to change. __I know that I’ve acted like an ass, that you don’t deserve this, that’s why I’m begging you to listen to me for just 5 minutes… __I don’t want to!! Go fuck yourself Julian, get out of here, go! _____ Two weeks ago, everything began falling into pieces. Everything went to shit, and now I’m alone like a homeless son of a bitch. Two days ago I returned from a business trip, and though everything seemed fine, it wasn’t. It’s going to be two years since I’ve met her and now she doesn’t want to know anything about me. She has the worst image of me, and I don’t blame her. I was a douchebag to her. Her name is Isabela and she’s only 23 years old. She’s perfect. Simply perfect. But I can’t love her, not the way she deserves to be loved. __”…Hello I’m Isa leave your message and I’ll call you back later” Isa, it’s me Julian, How are you? Ummm, nothing I’m calling you because I just returned from a business trip and wanted to see you, please call me back, take care. I called her in the afternoon I arrived from Switzerland. It had been a few days since I heard from her and I wanted to see her. I forgot to call her before leaving; I was extremely busy and since there’s no commitment between us, sometimes I forget that she exists. But that afternoon, I needed to see her, hug her, and touch her. __Hello? __Hello Juli, How are you? __I’m good, just returning from a business trip. I’m exhausted… __I understand…. Ummm… Did you call me? __Yes, sorry if it was too early. Did I wake you? __Not at all, what’s up? __Nothing, umm, are you going to be at your house today, around 5pm? __I think so. Call me around 4:30 to see what I’m up to. __Ok, I’ll call you, take care. That afternoon she looked gorgeous. I arrived at her apartment at 5 o’clock. Isabella had black pants on with a White shirt. She had her shoulders were showing and her hair was tied up in a bun. She didn’t have any make up on and that made her look even more beautiful. __Hello… __How are you Juli…? We couldn’t resist the desire of being together so we did what we do best; have incredible sex, like a couple of savages. Perhaps that’s the reason why I never wanted to start a serious relationship with her. It was always more exciting to see her after a few days, because when I had in front of me, not even a half hour could go by, before I had her wrapped in my arms, fucking her. Every time we finished having sex, she would get up and walk around the entire apartment, naked. Normally, she would open a bottle of White wine, and lie down in bed. She would lit up a cigarette and stay quiet. She never ask for anything. There were no reprimands or complaints. She just simply conform with a few hours of pleasure. I remember when I was returning from the office one night, when my phone rang and it was her. __Julian it’s Isabela, Where are you? __Leaving the office, why? __I need to see you. Can you come to my house? There was something in her voice that told me that she wasn’t alright. When I arrived, I saw her lying on the sofa, with her blue eyes swollen, from crying so much. __What’s the matter? What happened? Is everything ok? __Don’t say anything to me, just hug me please, I feel terrible. __ Okay, but what happened? __Do you want me? Do you love me? I couldn’t say anything. I wanted to lie to her but she was so terribly destroyed, that one more lie would have ended up killing her with pain. Although I didn’t say anything affectionate, she stayed in my arms, gave me a kiss, closed her eyes and fell asleep. After seeing her after my trip to Switzerland, my head was mess. She called me a couple of times, and since I didn’t want to see her, I didn’t answer. I’m like that sometimes; when I feel that things are slipping from my hands, I prefer to allow the waters to calm down before seeing her. I know it sounds selfish, but I don’t want to harm her; not anymore than I already have. That’s how three weeks passed by. At times I felt the desire to call her and tell her to come over, but I didn’t because I’m a fucking coward, a fucking douchebag who only thinks of himself. She called and called, and called again. From exhaustion, I called her back and the only thing she said was; “come over”. There was something in her voice that lead me to act purely out of instinct. I put on some jeans, a shirt and went to her house right away. I didn’t even shower or anything. After three weeks, the only thing I wanted, was to bang her until I’d had enough. I rang the doorbell and she opened the door. She had a bathrobe on and was prettier than before. She looked confident; she knew the perfect way to make me lose my mind. She hadn’t even touched me and I was already harder than a rock. __Come inside, I promise that I won’t bite you….hahahaha __ I’m sorry I didn’t call yoy back. I’ve been very… She shut me up with a kiss before I gave her more of my cheap excuses, which she doesn’t even believe anymore. Isabela knows better than I do, when I’m lying or not. __How’ve you been? You look exhausted…. __Yeah, you know work, the trips, everything, I’m fed up….that’s why I like being with you, because I forget about everything when you’re with me. You’re good for me… __You should take some time off… __What for? I come to see you for a reason, right? __What? Julian, you’re an ass… __But you stick around, don’t you? __Go to hell! __I’m kidding Isa, I’m just fucking with you. Come, leave the things there, you can fix them later. We fucked for hours. It’s been some time since I’ve had such great sex, like she gives me. She knows exactly where to touch me to make me cum like an animal. She’s a young lady who knows how to get me in the mood. I ended up exhausted. I didn’t have any strength left; I lied on her back, and I noticed she was crying, even though she didn’t want to admit it to me. __ Isabela are you crying? __ Are you crazy? Why would cry? __I don’t know, that’s why I'm asking, and your eyes are all teary… __ Do you love me? __ Huh? __ Yes Julian, do you love me? do you have feeling for me? __Isabela, you know I care about you… __Then why wouldn’t you have a serious relationship with me? It's been almost 2 years that we are in this Julian, I’m tired….. __Isabela we've talked about this a thousand times and we always come back to the same shit. You were the one who said that didn’t want a relationship, and I thought you were happy with what we have… __Well, I’m not anymore, Julian I'm tired. I used to think that I could have it all under control...I didn’t feel the way I feel about you before... I don’t wanna be like this. When one of us starts to feel something, the games of kisses and sweat starts to hurt, you know? And I’m in an excruciating pain. She left me speechless as always; I was afraid of what might happen if they decided to have a relationship with her. I was not ready for something formal, but neither wanted to let go. I got up immediately, I knew what was coming was not going to be easy. __ Isabela I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry but you know I'm not ready for a relationship right now. __You’re never ready, you always say the same shit, Julian. How long are we going to be like this? Tell me!! another year? Two? Fuck, do not be goddamn coward, you're not a child!! __I Know, but what do you want? I don’t get it! __ You don’t understand? Well, you know what I want? I want to stop being your fucking entertainment. I want you to want to be with me every day, and not just when you want to fuck!! I want you to call me, just to ask how I am, come to see me, just to see me, and not just to have sex, because in the end that's all you want from me right? All this is blowing my mind, Julián. I want to go out with you and meet your friends, tell me that you love me and you make me feel safe. That's what I want Julian. Can you give it to me? Answer me damn it, don’t stay quiet ...! __I don’t know what to tell you Isabela ... She stood up, and was about to lose it; she was hysterical, about to cry. __You never know what to say, that’s your problem; you never know what the hell to do ... Fuck, just tell me how you feel! If don’t tell me what you’re thinking, or feeling, we’ll never get to anything! I can’t keep guessing what's going through your head!! I don’t deserve this. Fuck Julian, I deserve much more than what you're giving me! Please, if you love me or not, just say it, but don’t stay quiet… __You know I don’t love you, I mean, I care, like you, there is attraction and everything else, but I don’t love you. And I can’t offer you a relationship if there is no love. __Love? Love is born when two people spend time on a daily basis, what we live every 2 months!! I don’t love you either, but I know that if we try, we can have something beautiful. __No, it won’t work, Isabela, I know. __ How the fuck can you tell me that it won’t work, if you haven’t even tried? __Shit, because I know. I just know. __No, you know nothing! I just wanna know if we’ll ever have something serious, that's all. __I’m sorry, but I just can’t. Don’t ask me for something I can’t give you, at least not right now. __Not right now? then when? Do you need time? How much? A month? Two weeks? Three? How long do you need? __I don’t Isabela, but right now I know, it’s not what I can or want to give you. She looked at me, and her eyes filled with rage. It seemed she was about to kill me at any time. If I had been her, I would have without any hesitation, after telling her the things I said so crudely. __Then go!! Get out of my house, you fucking jerk, I hate you !! You're an asshole. Who the fuck do you think you are, to treat me like this? I'm sick of you, using me whenever you want. I've always been there for whatever you needed, always. Putting up with all of your bullshit. And you? What have you given me? This is over. If you need to talk to someone, go to a fucking psychologist, and if you want to fuck someone pay a whore!! And from now on pretend I died, and if you ever see me again, act as if you don’t know me. __ But what do you want? Do you want me to lie to you? Do want me to tell you “OK Isabela we’ll try this for 3 or 4 months.” Is that what you want? And after that, what? It will be worse ... __You know what? I’m done, I don’t wanna hear more of your crap, You're an asshole. You're right, it’s not worth it, you’re not worth it. She walked away, and locked herself in the bathroom. I waited half an hour and nothing. I tried talking to her; to try to sort things out, but every attempt was pointless. She was furious and it was obvious she didn’t want to see me. I was still in shock; I never imagined we would have this conversation again so soon. I had my suspicions that things were no longer flowing as they used to, but never thought Isabela was so in love with me. I have to admit that I was also confused; She was a cute, outgoing, and happy girl. But between work, traveling, and the age difference…All that stopped me from giving me a chance to be with her. ____ Four days went by and my head was just chaos. I was worried about Isabela; I called several times during those four days and always got the damn answering machine. I left message after message and nothing. I was being ignored the same way people ignore the homeless, but I deserved it. When I got home, I went to check the mail. I never do, but I was in such a shitty state of mind that I thought maybe, something good could come from the mail. Papers, catalogs, credit card offers, and among all the nonsense, there it was; a letter from Isabela. She always liked the mystery of the letters and somehow, I did too. I threw the envelope on the brown leather armchair in the living room of my apartment; I was not in the mood to read a farewell letter, or claims. But there it was, the damn Manila envelope, staring at me, waiting to be opened. I couldn’t help it and I opened it. There was no hand-written letter, but several printed sheets. Also, a fluorescent green paper, which caught my attention. The paper read: If I sent you this envelope, is not to beg you to give me the chance to make you happy. I gave it to you and you shit on me, as usual. I realized that for you, I was always something that filled you momentarily. Believe it or not, I wanted to finish this stupid game several times, but because of the fear of being alone, and not see you anymore, I didn’t. But like I said, I got tired. I can’t do this anymore, so I'm going. Don’t try to look for me, don’t call me, and just get out of my life for once. I didn’t hesitate to see what else there was inside the envelope. I felt something very strange when I read that part. I was never going to see her again? I couldn’t let that happen, no, no fucking way. I had to do something. But with what balls was I going to call her? After all, she wasn’t wrong when she said I was a fucking coward, because after all, I think I am. I took out the printed sheets inside the envelope and started reading it. Julian, how are you? Hope you are well and that everything is going as you expect. Over here, everything is fine. The purpose of this letter isn’t to tell you what's new in my life. The best thing would have been to call you, or to see you in person, but this is the way I do less damage to myself, which I have done for so long. You may be wondering what the hell I'm talking about.... so maybe I'll cut to the chase. Julian, you meant the world to me; I was willing to give anything I could to make you happy, but you used me as your sex toy, never cared if I was happy, you took me for granted, and I hated myself for letting you have so much power over me, and despite all that, I still love you more than ever. But I had enough and I got tired of all your insecurities, your doubts, your lies, and everything that follows the long list. Sometimes I wonder if I was the problem. I have asked myself a thousand times what did I do wrong, what defects I have and can change, to become a better person for you, a person you can actually love. I really never understood, why I love you so much. I spent entire nights waiting for the phone to ring, hoping it was you. But the days would go by and you never called, you just did when you wanted or needed sex. I accepted you as you are; with your faults, your fears and your doubts. I didn’t care how long I had to wait for you not to see me as a girl, but not a minute was worth it. I don’t even care anymore if at some point you did care for me. I had so much to tell and so many others things to share with you. All I wanted was to make you happy and try to heal all the all the scratches you have. But I know now, that at some point all this it had to end, because unfortunately nothing is forever. I would have preferred that things would not end up this way, but believe me; I did everything in my hands, so you could see me with different eyes Julian. Now that all this ended, I can finally go out without having to think what the hell you’re doing, or if you’re thinking of me, or if my name is passing through you’re mind. How pathetic....I lost almost 2 years of my life because of you...trashed... down the fucking drain. I don’t hate or miss you. I hope you learn from all of this, and know that at your age or mine, is never good to play with someone else’s feelings. Take care and I wish you well, without resentment, without hatred. Isabela After reading the letter, I was speechless, again. It felt like a shot in the head without any notice. I didn’t know, that for months Isabela had been thinking about ending things. I didn’t know I had caused her so much damage. ____ I ended up broken, lying on the couch with a bottle of whiskey in my hand. I spent all night, trying to forget everything that happened with Isabela, but I couldn’t. I felt completely off the planet; everything was spinning, I couldn’t leave things like that; I had to talk to her, give an explanation. She deserved it. I called her thousands of times. At third call, she turned off the phone and also disconnected the landline phone. I left more than 10 messages, begging her to call me back, that it was urgent, but nothing. The next day I woke up with a hangover from hell. I canceled all the appointments at the office and spent all day at my house. I thought about everything that had happened; only a few weeks ago we were happy, or so it seemed. The worst part was, I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to say. Ask her for forgiveness of course, but beg just for that? I still wasn’t sure if it was really worth trying to formalize things with her. What if things didn’t work out? She didn’t need more damage, than what I've already done, It’s not fair for her... nor for me. ____ I found among my papers the phone number from one of Isabela’s friends. The girl named Oriana. I was hesitating about calling her or not; I knew it was the only way to have information about Isa, but, my cowardice didn’t let me dial the phone. But I did it. I called and the girl answered. __Hello? Yes please, may I speak to Oriana? __Yes this is he. Who is this? __Hi Oriana, I’m Julian, Isabela’s friend, do you remember me? __How can I forget you, if you are the jerk that has fucked my friend over. What do you want? __I need to speak to Isabela. I have called her repeatedly and got no answer __And what did you expect? To answer you at the first? Don’t be an idiot! She's broken, and she really doesn’t want to see you. __ I Know, but I need to talk to her, please Oriana, you are the only connection I have to her, and if you don’t help me... __Don’t play victim with me, that does not suit you ok? ... Sorry, she just doesn’t wanna deal with any of your bullshit anymore. What are you gonna tell her anyway, that you love her? That you want a relationship with her? __That’s a conversation I need to have with to her. Listen I know she's your friend and you probably hate me, but it’s really urgent. __Look If I'm giving you information about Isabela, it’s not because I think you're worth anything, but I do think there’s something you both have to solve. So I think she’ll be home around 8pm ... if you go and she’s there good, and if not...sorry. __Fix together? What are you talking about? __For get it, hopefully you’ll find her... __ Thank you. __Bye. I didn’t know what to do, I never do. I was intrigued by what Oriana said; something to fix together? The doubts, fears, and mess in my head, didn’t let me think clearly. I hate having to be in this situation. I swore at I would never be romantically involved with anyone else, after what happened with Carolina. But there was something about Isabela that I just couldn’t stop thinking about her. Maybe her eyes, or her way of seeing life. ______ I reacted after a couple of days and looked for Isabela. I bought a bouquet of daisies, never before I had given her anything, even though she had given me her life, in each of our encounters. I knew fixing things wouldn’t be easy; women tend to have more pride than men, when it comes to forgiving someone. But I was willing to do anything, to get five minutes of her time. Only five. I got to her apartment, sat outside and waited 10 minutes. I was nervous, but grew up some extra balls and rang the bell. When Isabella saw my face, the world fell on her. She didn’t say anything; she was tired of yelling at me to get lost and to stop calling. I went in before she even thought of closing the door on my face, I wanted to hug her, but resisted. __Don’t touch me! What’s wrong with you? __Isabela I have looked for you like a fool, like a damn fool !! __ And what do you want me to do? I've told you a thousand times, that I don’t want to see you...I even wrote you a fucking letter! Why did you come for? To make fun of me? __No, I came because I need you to listen to me...give me five minutes. Isabela don’t be so stubborn dammit, listen to me! __Fuck off Julian, stubborn my ass. Wasn’t enough for you to screw up my life for 2 years? Two fucking years I’ve put up with your crap. I’m done. Just go away… __ Isabela what are you talking about? Are you insane? I never meant to screw up your life, come on, I care for you…you're my...you're my friend, you know? __What? Your friend? Are you fucking kidding me? So you fuck all your friends? Go fuck yourself Julian, and take your filthy flowers...GET OUT!!! I'm an asshole, I couldn’t tell her I love her, I just couldn’t! Again I screwed things up like the motherfucker I am! But what you do when you just can’t tell the other person how you feel? __No, You’re not just my friend, you're much more than that. Isabela, you have to understand that all this, has caught me by surprise. I had no idea what was going on. You never said anything! How was I supposed to know you were feeling that way? Fuck! Don’t throw all the blame on me. __What? I tried to talk to you about us a thousand times and you always had the same answer; "At another time, I'm tired." Always the same excuse. Just go away Julian, please. __No I’m leaving because I still have to fix this! __Fix what? This is beyond repair. __Don’t be so proud and listen! Let me explain! __Do you love me? But not as a friend. Do you love me enough to have the balls to have a real relationship with me? I was silent for a few minutes, which felt like an eternity. Perhaps after all, I fear falling in love with her. I was scared of her leaving me. I would hate to fall in love again and get fucked over again. I'm 31 years old and she barely 23; she’s just a girl. At that age you change your feelings too quickly. Also, I know I'm very little, compared to what she deserves. I approached her, and although she tried to reject me, Isabela ended up falling back into our vicious cycle. I wrapped her in a hug and kissed her, like never before. I caressed every inch of her skin; I took all the time in the world to do so. I admire her skin, her thighs, her waist, her hips, her breasts, everything. I made love to her for the first time. I felt as if I owned the world, and she made me feel that this is "as good as it gets". For the first time in nearly two years I realized she had gray eyes and a mole on her right cheek. I began to see all the details I completely ignored before. I had never really seen her, until then. Having her in my arms and so close to me, I knew things couldn’t go on. It wasn’t fair to her. I realized I really loved her and that I wanted to share the rest of my life with her. I wanted Isabela to be the mother of my children, my partner for the rest of my life. But she had to live. She had way too many things to discover in the world; more love, more partying, live intensely, before being tied to me. Perhaps she was confused, used to having me around…Sometimes you have to let go of what you love for the other person to be happy. I was finally convinced that she was the woman for me. _____ Isabela has always loved her freedom, her space. I couldn’t be so selfish to steal that from her. The night was endless. I spent all night thinking about everything, watching her sleep, dispersed all over the bed with her hair on my chest. I woke her up with a kiss and she opened her eyes. She realized that last night was just a way of saying goodbye. I didn’t say anything. ”I’m sorry” I said with a lump in the throat. I couldn’t say I loved her, but I had to let her go. That was going to cause a lot more damage, than if I lied and said I didn’t feel anything for her. __I’m sorry Isabela, but there are a thousand things that keeps us apart. There are still things in my life that are incomplete, and I can’t give you what you deserve. You deserve a man who loves you full time and not half. My work schedule leaves me with no time. The truth is that I don’t feel the same as you. I don’t love you, and for this to work, we both must feel it. I'm sorry. Her eyes filled with tears. Once again I destroyed her world ... once again I hurt the love of my life. I wanted to run to her and tell her everything I just said was a lie; that I really loved her and would share every second of my life with her. But if I did, I would be a selfish bastard. Isabela dried the only two tears that fell from her eyes. She looked at me, came really close, and slapped me. __ Get out of here!! I’m tired of your lies! You know what? Go to hell and stop fucking with me! Damnit Julian! Can’t you tell that you’re fucking up my life? Enough please, Enough! If you don’t love me, then why do you keep coming back? I tried to calm her, but it was in vain; discuss it once more, but it was too late. The decision was made. She threw me out of her house, and I took off. _____ Although at times it seemed as Isabela didn’t know how much she was worth, deep inside she knew that she deserved better than me; a bastard who never learned to value her. Occasionally I searched through my mess, looking for her photo and stared at it for hours, wondering what she was doing, if she was dating someone, or if she thought of me. At times I came to an uncontrollable urge to call her, hear her voice. But never attempted to call. Ten months went by; I always thought of her, I always knew that she will always be the woman of my life, even if I fucked other women. One morning I was very late for work, but took the time to stop to buy a coffee. In a hurry, I ordered the usual,I took a quick look at the room, and there she was; sitting reading a book. I felt that the world was crushing on me; all the memories began to revive in seconds. I was surprised to see her with a book in hand, she hated to read. I started to remember everything that happened between us and felt the need to go to her, hug her and fill her with kisses. Worst of all, was that she was not alone. I realized that tears started falling from my eyes; tears of helplessness, pain, sadness... At her side, a three month baby girl was sleeping; My daughter. I lost her, I had Isabela in my arms, and let her go. And along with her, a piece of what we were.

Defence

I awaken to the sound of the announcer monotone voice echoing through the battlefield. I scan the fountain around me and notice four other summoned all with the same baffled looked on their face. The confusion sets in as I take a step forward, shocked and dazed I look back at one of the others in the fountain and notice they are also moving almost as if possessed by a higher power. I look down at my hands and notice the essence of magic slip through my fingertips, my hands turn to ice yet I feel no pain, and an empowering surge rushes through my entire body. Involuntarily I grab a solid iron staff from the ground that must belong to me. The iron in the staff shatters and reassembles into ice.

I look around as I’m running down a path, following what appears to be goblin like creatures. I try to communicate with them and slow them down although they ignore me and keep running on the path. Confusion sets in “what’s going on?” Iwonder. I attempt to follow hoping maybe they will lead me out of this maze and to safety.  I rush past these ancient towers made of stone with huge inscriptions on them, unsure of what purpose these serve I keep running, running uncontrollably.“Why am I unable to control my movement?” I ask myself as I am thrust past another tower further and further down thepath, past more and more trees.  All of a sudden I encounter what appear to be another set of goblin creatures charging towards us down the lane, before I have a chance to take in what is occurring in front of me they raise their swords. There I was, scared and confused when from behind me the Goblins that I was traveling with raise their weapons and charge into the oncoming pack ahead of us.

The sound of steel clashing into armour surrounds me as my hands glow a brighter shade blue. I raise my arm towards one of the ferocious looking goblins that stand before me.  A surge of power rushes through my chest and out my arm. Suddenly,a spark of frozen ice projects itself from my palm and strikes the goblin. It felt natural, I didn’t feel any pain. I looked down at my hands again as the realisation set in, I am different, and I am chosen.

I raise my hand again as I uncontrollably dance around the battlefield, destroying those opposing goblins that stand in front of me as if my purpose was clear. Abruptly, a golden glowing shroud falls over me, “I am not alone here” I stuttered to myself. A tall golden elf like creature approachesbehind me, armed with an arrow in one hand and a Bow in the other, she races forward and jumps over a goblin whilst shooting an arrow into another one in front of us. Nothing was said between us but it felt like we knew each other. We were here for a single purpose although we had no idea the journey that lay before us.

Before we had a chance to gather ourselves we encountered another pack of goblins charging towards us. The smell of blood was heavy in our nostrils, we were ready. The golden elf raised her bow and held the arrow drawn and ready to shoot. Her woven leather gloves grasped the feathered tail of the steel arrow as she let it fly. With precious and lightning speed the arrow ripped through a tree to the side of us and into an oncoming goblin. “That’s one for the Ranger,” she sang as she retreated to the ancient stone tower. The stone wasslippery; the inscriptions bizarre, and there were five eyes beaming from the top. The opposing goblins approached the tower as if they were to attack the stone structure. Quickly, thetower activated itself and shot forth a ball of fire and destroyed the minion. With an amazed look on my face I realised that we were all working together for a greater purpose, we were united at a higher level.

The two heroes stood side by side as another wave of oncoming goblins approached, this time though they were approached by what appeared to be a tree like creature holding a large two-handed blade. He charged forward and attacked one of our goblins, slashing though the reinforced metal, the deafening sound of pain surrounded our goblins as he torn though their body.

The one who called herself the “Ranger” moved forward to get a greater look into the distance. The mists seemed to part before her and close up again as she passed. The cobblestones were wet and slick under her feet. She heard a goblin yowl plaintively. This battlefield was a living jungle, and the trees roamed everywhere, especially at night. In the fog all trees are grey, Ranger thought. In the fog all trees are killers.

We yelled out to the tree like stranger, demanding he tell us what he was doing and why he was attacking our minions. Without haste the stranger slashed through another goblin and snarled at us out of the corner of his glinting eyes. This was no ally of ours we needed to be cautious. The sun started to set and the sound of the nearby jungle rumbled with life, unsure of what we were about to encounter we rushed back to the safety of the tower.

It was true. Caution must be taken; a big, hard-looking tree like man in ringmail, with heavy a forged steel longswordsheathed at his hip and another sword being used to obliterate these minions. His crimson cloaks were bordered in aassortment of gold, and black lions with red eyes that stared upon their enemies. When I glanced at the face beneath the gilded, lion-crested helm, my staff began to glow with power. The gods have given me a gift. My fingers clutched hard at Rangers arm. “Come with me, I’ve got a plan.”

Ranger wanted to hear more, but there was no time. My frozen hands grasped the leather armor of the elf and we were off, into the dark jungle. We rushed through the never-ending line of threes and shrubs, all of which appeared to have their own unique personality and colour. It was remarkable, the essence of life sings out from the wood almost as if they are communicating with each other. I’m snapped out of my dream like trance as Ranger yells at me with a sharp question. “What do I call you anyway?” “Mage would be suiting I supposed” Ireplied. “Ranger and Mage, I like that’” smirks Ranger as we stop to catch our breath under the watch of a large oak tree.

In the distance I can still hear the sound of our friendly minions being slashed apart by the enemy hero we had encountered earlier. We quickly darted through the tree line and down to a running river. Something was different about this river, we looked into the water and the moonlight cast our reflection back to us. With great shock and amazement our reflections spoke to us. “The one whom you seek to destroy is the Treeant” with a stunned look on her face Ranger replies “And who is that supposed to be?” the reflections ripple in the gentle flow of the river and softly spoke “He who holds a curse over these forest, the destroyer of your minions, Destroy him and the forest will be yours to mold”

The images in the water disappeared swiftly and we were left with sense knowledge but a shroud of questions. “Well what other choices do we have?” says Ranger, as she looks closer into the water, attempting to see if any more magic appears. “Let’s wait in the shadows of the tree line until the Treeant is attacking our tower with his minions and cut him off” Ranger splashes from water on her face and picks up her Bow from the riverside “Let’s do this” she replies as she checks her quiver for more deadly steel arrows”

The heroes rush back through the forest still covered by the cracks of moonlight that trickle in between the trees overheard, the sound of steel on stone can be heard from beyond the trees ahead we knew right there that our tower was being destroyed. With haste we jumped out from behind the shadows to see the Treeant with his back faced to us furiously slashing into the stone tower. Ranger grasped her bow and set her stance firmly, She held the arrow in her bow with so much power golden dust started to radiate from the tip.

My hands began to glow a pale blue as I charged towardsTreeant. The magic grew stronger inside of me as I moved closer. Right then, he caught a glimpse of me from the corner of his eye. He swung around with great speed and raised his sword high above his helmet. I shot quickly at his feet in an attempt to freeze him before he could reach me, he swiftly evaded my attacks as he charged closer. Realising my imminent danger I encased myself in a shield of ice right as his blade struck me. The attack slashed off a layer of ice as I gazed upon him face to face through my ice protection. Ranger had gone unnoticed during this time and had aimedTreeant up perfectly. Her golden arrow flew across the lane and into the side of the enemy piercing his bark like skin.

He fell to his knees in pain as his blood turned from red to gold, struggling to breath he grasped onto the grass that lay beneath him. I freed myself from my ice protection and lent in closer with my hands ready to strike if need be. “Fools” hemuttered, “this is all but a game” he fell to the ground as the golden blood poured from his wounds. Silence fell over us quickly after that; his body lay there lifeless as we looked at each other.

“A Game?” snaps Ranger. “Well we did see other’s when we all started together in the fountain, we need to find these others and really find out what’s going on here” replies Mage.As they were speaking, the corpse of Treeant began to slowly dissolve into the ground, all that lay in his place was his sword covered in his golden and red textured blood.

The sun started to rise and filter in through the surrounding forest, the sound of a rooster’s “cok-a-dodeldo” echoed through the entire battlefield almost as if it was the same voice as the announcers at the very beginning. “Maybe this is a game,” remarked Ranger “It would explain these sounds we’re hearing”. Without knowing exactly what happened toTreeant after his death we started to head away from the goblin infested fighting lane and head back towards the fountain.

We followed the same cobblestone path we took when we arrived although this time we felt safer, we had some understanding of what was going on around us, or so we thought. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a flying courier, or something of that nature. A small treasure chest with wings attached to it. It was flying back in the direction of the fountain. This was a most bizarre sight indeed. “What purpose did this serve” I muttered to myself as he entered the entrance to the fountain.

As we entered the safety of the fountain we felt at ease, it had the power to heal those in need and also acted as a market place for those who wanted upgrade their weapons. Although there were no merchants, the fountain offered endless amount of forged steel weapons and enchanted trinkets for those whom dare put their hand into the water of the fountain and ask.

As we were basking in the presence of the fountain a hero appeared right beside us. Quickly alerted Ranger grabbed her bow and aimed it at the Ogre creature “What are you doing here?” She snapped furiously at the stubby two-headed creature.

“I’m dead” one of the heads replied “I’m not dead”, the other head interrupted “Fountain make good spawn, fountain bring life” one of the heads replied as the other nodded swiftly. Ranger looked at Mage confused, “I think I remember seeing this “thing” when we woke up in the fountain”

Mage enquired, “So you went off and died? And now you are back to life in the fountain?” “Yes”-replied one of the ogre’s heads.

I looked back at Ranger “So, does that mean Treeant is alive again? Maybe in his own fountain?” “Maybe this is part of the game” replied Ranger.

We gathered our equipment and set off, leaving the Ogre standing in the fountain, his two heads constantly arguing with one and other. Waves of Goblins we’re still continuing torise up from the fountain and head down their lanes with the inevitable fate of death. We ventured back into the foggy jungle, following what appeared to be deep cat like footprints along the way. “So what are we doing?” Mage swiftly pondered. “Well, if the enemy has their own fountain like yousuggest maybe that’s where this all ends” replied Ranger. “That makes sense; the goblins are endlessly pushing in that direction as if they know where the enemy fountain is”

With a slight change in course we diverted from the footprint trail and headed back to the lane. Dashing through the forest we could see all sorts of tree’s moving around, uprooting and relocating themselves. We arrived at a cleared part of the forest within arrow distance of our tower, the sound of its stone falling due to the constant battering of goblin swordsechoed in the background. “We need to make sure we’re alone here” said Ranger. “We need to make sure if we go out thereTreeant and some of his cronies are not waiting for us” she added. As Mage was about to reply the faint sound of tree roots moving grew louder and closer. With weapons drawn the sound suddenly stopped. “Something is here” whispered Mage.

An old scratchy voice spoke slowly from all around us “May we be of some assistance?” “Who’s “we”? Show yourself!” snapped ranger aggressively. “We are the forest, or should I say the forest is us” the voice softly spoke. Half a dozen old oak trees suddenly surrounded us. Unalarmed we lowered our weapons, “Yes, we could use your help” replied Mage.

“We need to scout the lane ahead of us and make sure it’s safe for us to push and destroy the enemy tower” the tree’s shook their iron like branches and started heading for the lane. The voice gently whispered back to us “Let the forest guide you”. We slowly crept behind the ascending army of trees, as they moved in sync one by one towards the lane.

The sound of goblins being crushed grew louder, something was out in the lane causing havoc. The trees didn’t waste a minute; they waddled out of the forest and surrounded the unknown enemy. Encased in bark and tree roots, the villain could not escape. Ranger wandered over to the scene with her Bow drawn swiftly. “Who are you?” she snapped to this restrained entity. “You can call me, The Bounty Hunter” it replied hastily.

“Do we have a bounty on our head?” muttered Ranger. “Lady, I don’t know who you are but you think you can help me out of these trees?”. Ranger started to peel back some of the iron bark that encased The Bounty Hunter when suddenly he cloaked himself in a shroud of invisibility. A faint mechanical laugh echoed around us “Fools” he taunted from his invisible safety. Each footstep Ranger could hear she fired an arrow into the wind, hoping to hit the invisible predator.

The taunting subsided and the lane went quiet. The blue magic faded from Mages hand’s, the threat had moved on for now. Confused as to what had just occurred Ranger fired an arrow out of frustration towards to enemy tower directly hitting it in one of its five eyes. The tower shattered almost instantly, the stones flew out in all directions and dissolved into the ground. Our wave of goblins that had been fighting the tower kept on the path towards the next tower and into the unknown. “Do we dare push up to the next tower with our goblins” asked Mage. Ranger gave a quick snarl and grunted “Well of course, I just worked out how to destroy these things”

The two heroes crept up further and further into untouchedterritory, they could see the next enemy tower ahead of them, it was ready to start attacking anything that got close. The tower shot fireballs at the crowd of goblins surrounding it. Moving cautiously, the mage stood behind the crowd of goblins using them as a shield so she wouldn’t be hit. “Rangerwaits behind with me, it’s safer”

It was almost like a natural instinct for the Mage to plan herevery move, the way she dodged attacks. Ranger watched in awe of Mage, the way she dodged the attacks from the tower, she moved gracefully like a like the calm of the river. The tower fell to sandstone quickly, the goblin minions rallied behind us as we moved up to the last and final tower. We could see the sparkle of the enemy fountain just beyond this last tower. It glistened with red following water, on the edge of the fountain we could see a figure with its back turned to us, reaching into the water of the fountain.

“Let’s destroy this tower quickly and see if we can solve this never ending puzzle” said Mage. With a charged arrow Ranger shot he tower in its vulnerable spot and it crumbled to sand. We climbed up a small set on stairs and into the fountain area. The unknown stranger that was standing here just before is no longer around and our goblins have started attacking the fountain.

I felt a swift brush of wind brush past my cloak; I swing around hastily to see nothing but the ruins of the destroyedtower. It was then that Rangers voice could be heard loud and clear. “Mage, Watch out!” before I could turn back to face the fountain Treeant and The Bounty Hunter were both lunging towards me. I felt their cold swords rip though my cloth armor as I fell to the ground. My body getting warmer as my ice staff begins to melt. Ranger fired shots in the direction of the two villains but they were able to flee as the arrows narrowly missed them. Ranger rushed over and picked up Mage in her arms. “We will try and get you to safety” she said frantically running away from the fountain. The life was being drained out of Mage one inch of her body at a time, fading between the fingertips of the hooded golden elf.

Before Ranger could get any further away Mage had completely faded away to nothing but ripped cloth armor. Ranger was filled with rage and stopped in her tracks, slowly turning around and raising her bow. Unknowing what had happened to her friend she stormed back to the fountain and unleashed a barrage of arrows at it.

The fountain began to crumble, slowly but surely Ranger and her goblin allies were destroying the enemy fountain. Not for a moment did Ranger think that this would bring back her lost friend but she had no choice, as if she was possessed by a higher power to destroy this structure.

The fountain had fallen and a sudden silence settled over the battleground, everything was frozen. All Ranger could see was a destroyed fountain that slowly faded away to black.

I awaken to the sound of the announcer monotone voice echoing through the battlefield. I scan the fountain around me and notice four other summoned all with the same baffled looked on their face. Shocked and dazed I look back at one of the others in the fountain and notice they are also moving almost as if possessed by a higher power.

The Pillar

THE PILLAR

For many years, the sight of washing on the line amused motorists crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. [BEAT] It still does. 

Vivien Grey sat on her couch. Not a big couch. Not a small couch. Not a fancy couch by any means. Just a couch you might have seen once; perhaps late one rainy night in a second-hand shop. You may have had a glimpse of the suede leather sitting in the window whist waiting for the red light. The foggy windscreen stricken with streaks of rain and the reflection of dancing illuminations from the oncoming traffic. The couch probably once belonged to a wealthy French speaking hairdresser. With a goatee. And a pet poodle. He and his couch lived in Sydney all their lives and never had any intention of leaving. He was happy.

I guess that is what this city does to you. It sucks you in with its alleyways and tall buildings, making it nearly impossible to leave. At the peak of success, the decision is made to buy your very own suede leather couch. Similar to the French-speaking hairdressers [only more expensive]. It sits in your apartment matching the rug perfectly. But two years later, at your low, you find yourself in a different apartment. 75 meters above sea level. Curled up on the same couch wearing a hoddie watching reruns of Australia’s Next Top Gardener feeling sorry for yourself. Don’t worry they say. Your only 27 they say. 27 up my ass.

Vivien Grey sat on her couch watching reruns of Australia’s Next Top Gardener. The small pixelated television displayed an image of the beautiful presenter holding an envelope. The crowd went silent.

“And the winner, of Australia’s Next Top Gardener… is…”. Vivien spoke aloud, matching the female presenter word for word. Her voice echoed off the timber floorboards in the dark apartment.  One hand lay in a plastic bowl of salt and vinegar chips in her lap. The second, gripping the suede leather pillow.

“Our winner, Wendy Rix!” exclaimed the presenter. Her mawkish smile lit up the room. Vivien, however, did not smile. She did not cheer like the winning contestant nor did she laugh in glee alongside the judges. With notes of bitter and sarcasm, Vivienne stared at the small television whilst she narrated the ending moments of the episode on her own accord. 

“And the crowed applauded the winner in a moment of victory. But wait. What’s has just been told through the presenters earpiece. It looks as if… no…” she muttered with a cynical gasp.

“Has the tech crew made a mistake? Has the wrong winner been announced?” The television displayed an embarrassed presenter with an increasingly nervous smile. She took her hand to her mouth and was left speechless.

BANG BANG BANG.

Vivien Grey sat on her couch and ignored the sounds from the outside world.

BANG BANG BANG.

“Viv. Open up. I know you are in there. And don’t pretend you’re not. You haven’t left your flat for two years. It’s not like you’ve just ducked out or anything,” said the voice with a little chuckle.

Vivien muted the television. The presenter, looking mortified, re-announced the winner. Her hand up to the earpiece franticly muttering to the person on the other end. She started to tear up. The credits began to roll.

“Viv, seriously open up. I’ve got your groceries and it’s super windy outside today!”

            Vivien sulked off the couch and dragged herself to the front door. She opened it just barely enough to let George slide through. It was 11am. For a moment she just stood and listened. The wind swirled and the cars zoomed outside creating a tapestry of clamour, clatter and clang. It was as if the world below was having a debate and the gusts rebuttal was sweeping away any auditable din. It was all just noise. The door slammed.

Vivien Grey lived in an apartment with her suede leather couch 75 meters above sea level. She had been there for approximately two years and has never left once. Her apartment was in an unusual position located in the southwest pillar on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Three out of the four pillars on the bridge were residential quarters with the final one being historically listed.  No one has been there since March. There were two occupants per pillar renting a healthy space of 50 square meters each. 50 square meters of isolation with the company of a single neighbour; and Vivien’s was called George.

George was 41 years old, unshaven and liked to play the bagpipes. That’s why he moved to The Pillar six years ago. He told Vivien that he only practiced in the early hours of the morning to replicate the feeling he got when he play at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service for his local RSL Club. But Vivien knew the reason why George moved to The Pillar was something more than just a place to play the bagpipes and not bother anyone. It was something much more darker. Why does anyone choose to live in a pillar location on the Sydney Harbour Bridge? To disappear.

Vivien Grey wandered back to her couch and stared at the muted rolling credits of Australia’s Next top Gardener. She placed the plastic bowl of salt and vinegar chips in her lap and continued eating. George stood in the dark holding three bags of groceries and one long baguette.

            “Geeze Viv. Welcome in George. How have you been George? Thanks for bringing me food for the last two years George. Even a hello would be nice,” he said with a sour smirk. He placed the groceries on the timber floorboards, rolled his eyes and opened the blinds.

Vivien sat in a hoddie on the suede leather couch covered in chip crumbs. Her short blonde hair messy. Eyes honey brown. Freckled lined her cheekbones. She blinked a few times waiting for her sight to adjust to the light. 

            “So, it was your birthday yesterday. 27, Viv, how do you feel?” He began lifting the groceries onto the bench. “Look, I know you’re still bummed about the gardener model announcement thing, but that happened, seriously, two years ago. It’s in the past. Are you listening to me?”

            Vivien crunched down on another chip. George walked over and turned the television off. Her glare burned a hole through his forehead. He sat on the couch next to her.

            “Come on Viv. It was your birthday yesterday. Put a smile on your dial. We could do something exciting. Change it up, you know. I thought you and I could go for a walk outside. Leave The Pillar for the day. It’s only 11am. It will be good for you.” George spoke in his typical optimistic fashion.

“I can’t go outside. I can’t leave here.”

“Oh quit being so dramatic. Renting out a loft on the Sydney Harbour Bo isolate yourself from society isn’t exactly normal.”

“You did it”, Vivien retaliated.

“Yeah, but it was so I didn’t bother the neighbours with my bagpipes at 3am in the morning. I, in fact, was being courteous. Even Carla from the southeast pillar goes outsides. She’s been here for 16 years and accumulates one cat for every year of residency.  Stupid old bat. She dresses them up, goes down the stairs and shows people walking across the bridge. Personally, my favourite is when she finds helpless tourists and just holds the cat in their face.” He mimics her, “this is Patricia. Don’t you think she loooooks beautiful,” George crowed; quite satisfied with his impression. “But at least she is living her life and leaving her flat,” he said in a more serious tone.

“You don’t understand George. I can’t just go outside. People know me. I was in the newspapers. I announced the wrong person for Australian’s Next Top Gardener.” Vivien’s hand dove into the plastic bowl of salt and vinegar chips.

“Seriously, Viv, listen to me. That happened two years ago. People don’t even remember what happened on television last month. I can see you are not in the greatest state of mind today so I’ll pop in next week and we will go outside.” “Besides you’ll have to do it soon anyway”. He lifted his body off the suede couch and put his hand into his pocket, reaching out and handing Vivien a crumpled up letter. She stared it. Notice of Leave. BANG. The door slammed as George left her apartment.

Unit 1a/Pillar 2

14 Bradfield Highway

SYDNEY NSW

2000

To whom it may concern,

This letter constitutes a written 30 day notice of leave. I expect all possessions to be vacant from the premises by the Sunday the 1^st of August.

It was in your knowledge when adhering to this lease that the Sydney Harbour Bridge residential flats were under historical examination. With recent the news acquired from the Sydney City Council, these flats will now be vacated and placed as a heritage listed site.

I expect full corporation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Barry Balthasar

Sydney Harbour Bridge Landlord

Vivien Grey sat on her couch and seethed over the letter. She held it above her face at different arms lengths trying to make sense of it. In an angry range, she stormed over to her balcony, flung open the sliding glass door and stood on the tiles looking out at the bridge. This place was the furthest she had made it to the outside world in about two years. Her washing pegged on a piece of nylon rope flying around in the wind. If the landlord Barry Balthasar wants her to move out, then why not start this very moment. She viciously tugged a green dress off the line and threw it out over the railing; watching it slowly fall down into the Sydney Harbour. Vivien stared at it until the little green patch of material was no more. Then in a heartbeat, she grabbed them all. Shirts, jeans, scarfs and throw, throw, throw. Down they fell. Socks and bras. Undies and stockings. She ran inside, bunched her bed sheets together and made her way to the balcony. The ball of pillow, duvet and crumpled white sheet sat in a pillow blocking her face. Vivien walked to the balcony and held the pile high in the air. She could feel the wind caressing her cheek.

“There’s an easier way to move out, miss,” spoke a youthful, kiwi accent. “Seriously, if you need help, I’m really good at carrying shit. See these arm.”

            “What?” snapped Vivien.

“You’re thicker than I thought, blondie. Just offering a hand.”

            Vivien dropped the bundle of sheets and stared up at the 24 year old kiwi man. He wore a white hardhat that hid most of his curly black hair and sat in a harness suspended to the right of her balcony. His physique was tall and sculpted. But even in his brand new orange workman’s shirt, Tana still looked like a scruffy kid.

            “Just making sure you’re all goods, hey,” Tana said with a half crooked smile.

            “Yeah, I’m fine. It was all just an act. I’m not really moving out or anything. Just acting. Something you wouldn’t know much about.” She said. Trying to regain composure.

“Sure thing. Well miss actor. Show me scared. Happy. I’m love with a man but he eats Vegemite for every meal, so I cannot possibly love him for all eternity.” He bounced against the pillar in amusement. In an instance, Vivien was on it. Acting out with much tenacity, flair and commitment she could muster. She could never give up a challenge and wouldn’t stop now.

“How’s that,” Vivien splattered breathless, looking rather satisfied.

“In that last one, your face looked like a smashed crab”.

“What?” she said in complete disbelief.

“Like, meahhh,” he said mimicking. “I mean, I mean, in a good way. Like, that’s what it reminded me of. A cute little smashed up crab. I like crabs. They’re my favourite animal.  By the way, my names Tana,” he spoke revealing his crooked smile again.

“Vivien,” she said as a matter of factly. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Well, I was a construction worker on the bridge.”

“You say… was,” Vivien points out cautiously.

“My team got fired last month and I was responsible for finishing off the maintenance work. Pulling down all the wires and the pullies. That only took a week. So now I’m just hanging out here. On the bridge.  By myself. Just chillin. The useee’. You know.”

“So this is what you do all day. You’re hiding from the world. Pretending?”

“I can’t tell my mum I got fired. She’d kill me.”

“Excuse me… but how old are you Tana?” Vivien curiously asked.

“I’m 24. I don’t want to let my mum down, you know. She’s done so much for me. I just want a place to kill time until I get a new job. She’ll never know my team got fired.”

“Well, did you want to hang with me for the week. I could help you try and get a new job. I’m being kicked out anyway,” She spat bitterly.  A gust of wind blew past Vivien. 75 meters above sea level, she stood on the titles on her balcony talking to a stranger. I guess that is what this city does to you. It sucks you in with its alleyways and tall buildings, making it nearly impossible to leave. At the peak of success, the decision is made to buy your very own suede leather couch or to invite a stranger into your home.

Vivien Grey sat on her couch with a stranger called Tana. She ate salt and vinegar chips from a plastic bowel and listened as he spoke about all the things he saw working on the bridge. How, one of the old workmen had a huge crush on the cat lady from the southeast pillar. He said she was a genius. Not bat crazy at all. She was comedic and kept herself entertained by pranking people with the crazy cat act. He’d spend the whole afternoon cleaning the southeast pillar just to watch her.

“Seriously?”

            “Yeah, I couldn’t believe it, hey!” Tana beamed. He ate a peanut butter sandwich from his metal batman lunchbox. “I just thought that the guy was super obsessed with cleaning the southeast pillar. Oh, and the bagpipes guy above you. We hear him every morning. You’d think he’d get better by the amount of time he spends practicing.” He said chewing. His crusts are left in the gladwrap. “And that crazy landlord with the small hunch. The boys and I called him Quasimodo.”

            “What?”

            “Hunchback of Notre Dame? Seen it. Guys got a hunch. Never leaves the bell tower. Seen the movie? Except the only flaw in his name is that he does leave. He waddles around…. But you on the other hand. I’ve never seen you. Outside. That’s why I was so curious about the washing on your balcony. I thought bagpipe man must have had a misses or something. Are you allergic to the sun?”

            Vivien just glared.

            “Then why don’t you go outside?”

            “Okay. This is a big deal for me but…” she sighed. “Have you seen Australia’s Next Top Gardener?

            “No.”

            “The show on the quest to search for the best gardener, landscape architect and green thumbed individual in Australian. Ring any bells? Uh, well I announced the wrong person at the grand finale two years ago and…”

            “Oh man. That must have sucked, bad! Did you get fired?”

            “Tana!”

“Okay, okay, being sensitive and all. But geeze. Ohhhh man.” He chuckled knocking over his batman lunchbox. The crusts fell to the floor. “That’s the best story ever. You are a world changer. Defying the laws of television. Pay attention to the presenter. She’s got all the power. You’re munted.”

            “Yeah. Yeah. That’s right. I am a munted.”

            “Do you even know what that means?”

            “Uhh, not really,” Vivien said in an unsure tone.

            “It means you’ve done good, miss”.

Vivien Grey and Tana sat on a couch watching reruns of Australia’s Next Top Gardener. The small pixelated television displayed an image of the beautiful presenter holding an envelope. The crowd went silent.

            “Can’t believe it’s taken you a whole week to show me this.”

            “Shhhsss, it’s about to happen.” Vivien held a pillow over her head.

BANG BANG BANG.

Vivien Grey and Tana sat on a couch and ignored the sounds from the outside world.

BANG BANG BANG.

“Viv. Open up. I know you are in there. And don’t pretend you’re not.”

            “Who’s that?” whispered Tana.

            “It’s George.” Vivien said. Her eyes glued straight on the screen.

            “Vivien, it time for you to face the outside world”.