Page 14 - Horizon 17-18

Horizon 2017
14
Night
As the sun set, hope had seemed all lost. A day wasted. Having no idea how you have gotten here, and having no clue how to escape this small and desolate wasteland. Yet, hark, you feel something as you lay in the sand defeated. It isn’t a sensation to be tangible. No, this is not seen, heard, smelled, or tasted. This is one of those feelings when your heart screams to you. If only you knew why it was screaming. You pick up a handful of sand and watch it drain from your hand. As the tiny grains of sand fall upon the beach, you hear a small laugh. You look around, realizing night has fallen. You are not alone.
Alicia’s Torment
Nothing but darkness in this room. Alicia could see nothing through the crevice between the door and its frame. Curiosity struck her as she con- tinued to push upon the door. Gently, for she could not allow it to creak. Cautiously Alicia stepped into this newly discovered room. Cold. Her calves felt frozen in ice, as if Jack Frost had been hanging onto them for dear life. In her own words, “Not the day to wear capris.” She stalked carefully, shak- ing and shivering vigorously, she was very wary to not let her teeth chatter. Dark. Where is the light? Are there no windows? Helpless. Alicia knew she did not belong here. Why would she let Therese convince her to go to an abandon house? To prove something. What, her courage? If only Alicia had any.
Fear. A silent breeze is carried towards Alicia. A faint,
“Alicia....”
“Hello?” Alicia chokes on her own terror, only to hear once more.
“Alicia...”
“Please don’t do this Joe.” Alicia pleaded, attempting to convince herself
this was nothing but a sick joke. “Could Therese be behind this? Did she bring Joe into this? No. Joe would not stand for this. He loves me too much to do this to me.”
“Alicia...”
The small amount of light there had been had finally extinguished. The
door had closed behind Alicia. Stranded in complete darkness.
“This isn’t funny anymore. I had no idea you and Joe were still together.” Alicia heard no response. “Therese this isn’t funny, please!” She might as well have been deaf and blind. The room looked no different whether her eyes were open or shut.
Desperately, Alicia reached her hands out in front of her. She took one step forward, lifting one foot hidden inside her red converse shoes, she heard once more,
“Alicia....”
Alicia tried her best to block out the menacing whisper, she continued
slowly moving throughout the room. “Alicia, no!”
Alicia took one more step, however this step was not as the previous. It seemed this time, there was no floor for Alicia to rest her foot upon. Losing her balance almost immediately, Alicia began to plunge into the crater she had discovered in the floor. Her heart dropped almost as fast as her. All seemed hopeless.
Suddenly everything stopped.
“Alicia. Safe.’
Alicia’s wrist was being pulled. She looked to the voice, there it sat, atop
the pit. Atop the chasm sat what seemed a viridian cloud of mist. Two purple orbs hovered where its eyes should be. Alicia was pulled out of the hole. The mist seemed to give off a dim light.
“Sweet Alicia is home.”
With that the cloud of mist hid away in the corner of the room. The room
was cloaked in darkness yet again.
Izaak Whisler ’17
A Mind Without Windows
Rarely do I see others Stopping to admire the world of color Or feel the warmth of concrete. They do not notice the ants that March across our parking lot.
Rarely do I see others
Smell the air to be greeted
By the smell of crisp autumn leave Or savor the delicious sensation
Of a warm breeze caressing their cheek. They do not race outside to feel The cool rain drip through their hair.
Rarely do I see others
Marvel at the many kinds of
Flowers that grow in the backyard behind their house Or breathe in the smell of fresh cut grass.
They do not run barefoot in the summer Through the backyard without fear.
Rarely do I see others
Study the cracks in the pavement Or the chipped paint on the mailbox Of their childhood home.
They do not seek the Coolness of shade from the trees.
So how,
May I ask?
How can we expect people To notice
The sky?
Miranda Dorsey ’18
Izaak Whisler ’17