![\"abandoned-house\"](\"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/3LJjhge7iIYTAfnbblypjw/97008dd4894d5091f969408e3de52bd4/abandoned-house.jpg\")
“See you tomorrow!” Oliver shouts back to his mate as he runs to catch his bus.
\nAfter they both finish work at the shopping centre near Greg’s house, they usually hang out there, playing video games for a few hours. The pair have been best friends since the first day at secondary school when Greg had offered Oliver the empty seat next to him.
\nGasping for breath, Oliver glances at his watch and lets out a sigh of relief. “I haven’t missed the bus”, he tells himself. He takes a seat and waits for the bus to arrive. As Oliver waits, he hears the voices of a couple of lads in the distance. From the amount of noise they are making, it sounds like they have just been kicked out of a pub. Oliver glances back down at his watch. “Come on, hurry up!”, he urges the bus.
\nThe group of lads appear from around the corner, their voices becoming more audible. Oliver instantly recognises one as a lad he knew at school. It has only been a few years since Oliver left school, but he can still remember that voice distinctly. Oliver has never forgotten the taunting and bullying he had received from Shaun and his gang.
\nOliver sits very still, closes his eyes and whispers to himself. “Not tonight, let them pass me. Not tonight”.
\nOliver walked down the corridor with Greg, heading off to their second lesson of the day: Science.
\nShaun shoulder-barged Oliver, knocking him to the ground. Shaun’s gang and other passing students laughed at Oliver being pushed to the floor.
\n“Oh, Oliver is that you? What are you doing on the floor?”, he paused to laugh. “I’m so glad I ‘bumped’ into you. Don’t you owe me your lunch money this week?”
\nOliver had hoped Shaun had forgotten. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of coins. As he handed the money over, he glanced at Greg, who was looking away from the scene, trying to ignore what was happening. This filled Oliver with a new wave of embarrassment.
\n“Hang on… The agreement was for a week’s worth. This looks more like two days, at most.”
\n“That’s all I have on me, please don’t. I’ll get you the rest”
\n“It’s too late now, I’ll be seeing you later” Shaun glared at Oliver, then indicated for his mates to follow him as they walked away, sniggering. The bell rang, signalling the start of the next lesson.
\nOliver nervously got up, picked up his bag, and continued along to his lesson.
\nOliver opens his eyes, chancing a glance in the direction of the lads. They are not there.
\nOliver turns his head and sees the lads walking away from him. They had walked past without noticing him.
","excerpt":"“See you tomorrow!” Oliver shouts back to his mate as he runs to catch his bus. After they both finish work at the shopping centre near Greg’s house, they usually hang out there, playing video games for a few hours. The pair have been best friends…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"86a371ce-35f9-56d3-a7f8-216b557e8524","title":"Behind the Black Door","slug":"behind-the-black-door","date":"March 31st, 2017","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/3LJjhge7iIYTAfnbblypjw/97008dd4894d5091f969408e3de52bd4/abandoned-house.jpg?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"
Michael is leaning against the fence of Callum’s front garden. He’s been waiting here for about 20 minutes, as Callum had to eat dinner with his family before he is allowed out. During their last lesson of the day, Michael had suggested that the two of them head over to the playing fields close to where they both live.
\nThe front door opens and Callum steps outside. “Sorry, mom’s being a bit of a pain again” Callum offers up, hoping his friend isn’t annoyed with him.
\n“No problem”, Michael replies, “I didn’t realise you live next to Sophie, I spotted her in the window up there.” He motions up to a window with light streaming out of it.
\n“Oh yeah, I don’t really talk to her”, Callum explains, “She’s a bit weird; sits in the garden reading and talking to the flowers”.
\n“Really? She seems normal enough to me. She smiled at me, when she realised I had spotted her.”
\nThe two boys started to walk down the road and cross over to the playing fields. There are a few football pitches, a skate-park and a children’s playground. As the two friends walk on to the grounds, they hear the sound of boys laughing and talking very loudly.
\nWhen Callum notices the source of the chatter he stops and turns to Michael; “I don’t want a run-in with Thomas and his gang, let’s leave”.
\n“Don’t be silly”, Michael scoffs, “they’re all the way over there”.
\nCallum pauses, looking around, thinking of a way to avoid the boys that bully him at school.
\n“Come on scaredy pants, lets go into the woods. See if we can find a good spot to show the girls.” Michael winks.
\nThe two boys head for the woods that border the playing fields and almost surround the housing estate. As they progress deeper into the trees, the sounds of the bullies along with the light starts to fade.
\n“You know, you really need to stand-up for yourself”, says Michael; “We’re in our second year now. You can’t be hiding from Thomas for 3 more years.”
\n“I think I could probably deal with Thomas by himself” Callum replies defensively, “But he’s never alone, he always has his gang of heavies doing his dirty work.”
\n“Come on, You’ve been doing his homework from the first day of secondary school”, says Michael.
\n“I know”, admits Callum, sombrely, “It’s either that or his gang beat me up.”, “Remember what they did to David during gym class? I don’t want anything like that to happen to me.”
\nMichael nods, deciding to end the conversation before his friend becomes too upset. He bends down and picks up two sticks, then throws one over to Callum. Not expecting this, Callum catches the stick surprisingly well, prompting the two boys to lunge at each other making high-pitched noises as if wielding light-sabres.
\nAfter a few duels with dramatic death scenes – one of which Callum wins – the boys throw their imaginary weapons to the ground and continue to walk along the beaten path.
\n“You know, I think you’ve got it wrong about Sophie” Michael offers. “I reckon she’s into me”.
\n“What makes you think that?” Callum asks.
\n“Well… When I was waiting for you, I noticed the light turn on, so I looked up.” Michael pauses “She appeared in the window, looking a bit sad. as she looked around she noticed me looking up at her, she smiled, and blew a kiss at me.” Michael smiles slightly embarrassed about what he just shared.
\n“So thats why you want to come over here, your gonna ask her to come for a ‘walk’” Callum winked.
\nMichael turned away looking for a reason to not respond, and notices an overgrown track winding off the main path and stops abruptly, making Callum bump into him. Without saying a word, he changes direction towards the mysterious off-shoot and quickens his pace.
\n“Erm… Michael. Where are you going? The path goes the other way.” There is an unmistakeable anxiety in Callum’s voice.
\n“Come on!” replies Michael. “We’re going exploring, remember? And it looks pretty cool down this way.”
\nLooking ahead of where Michael is pacing. The trees seemed increasingly dense and it’s very dark. “Shouldn’t we be heading back? It’s getting dark”.
\n“No”, says Michael, frustratedly, “It’s only because the trees are blocking the light, it’s not that late.”
\nThe two boys head deeper into the woods. Despite Michael’s assertions, time is also moving on. It’s later than the boys think.
\n“Aren’t you glad that we came looking in the woods instead of having a run in with Thomas?” says Michael.
\n“Yeah”, replies Callum, momentarily distracted from his surroundings, “But I can’t wait ’til the tables turn and someone teaches him a lesson”.
\n“You know, Thomas isn’t as liked as he thinks he is” adds Michael.
\n“What do you mean?” replies Callum.
\n“Well, I was talking to Jessica during lunch, and she was saying that the girl’s don’t like him and hate the way he is treating you.”
\n\n“Hey, what’s that?” Michael stops suddenly. Hidden in the darkness, amongst the dense trees, stands a lonely stone building. The two move closer to the building, Michael in the lead, and Callum following cautiously behind. The structure looks abandoned. The area around it is overgrown, all the windows are boarded-up, and a pitch-black door marking the entrance. “Let’s go see if the door opens” the excitement was obvious in his voice.
\n“No, don’t!” shouts Callum, “An axe murderer could be in there waiting to kill us.”
\n“An ‘axe murderer’? Really?” Michael shakes his head. “I don’t think so…” Michael pauses and looks over to the building, “but I do have an idea.”
\n“What?” Callum asks nervously.
\n“Let’s sit down over there”. Michael walks over to a spot a few steps away from the front door, then sits on the floor. “Well? come on!” patting the floor next to him.
\nCallum moves slowly over to sit next to his best friend.
\nMichael turns to him “You know when we walk to school every morning and we pass the bus stop by Ermingwood drive?“.
\n“Yes?” Callum replies curiously.
\n“Well, you know that old woman with that large maroon handbag and the hat with the dying flowers on top? I bet she lives here”.
\n“I don’t know,” Callum replies, thoughtfully, “That’s pretty far for her to walk to catch the bus, and it doesn’t look like someone actually lives here.”.
\n“That’s what so perfect about it,” Michael replies, “a ‘witch’ wouldn’t want to live in populated area”.
\n“A witch? You’re having a laugh!” Callum shakes his head in disbelief.
\n“No I’m not,” insists Michael, “Remember Johnny? I heard that he bumped into her one day, knocking one of those horrid looking bags off her shoulder. The next day, Johnny fell from his skate-board and broke his leg. Just before it happened, he told Eric that he noticed that the old woman’s eyes turn red as she looked back at him while muttering something”.
\n“Johnny wasn’t that good on that skateboard anyway” says Callum. Although he was sure Michael’s story was made-up, there was still something about their surroundings that unnerved him.
\nGlancing around, Callum’s attention is draw to the black door. He notices strange marks around the handle. Deep claw marks, as if a wild animal had tried to get inside. “Hey, I have an idea of who would need to occupy a place like this.”
\n“Yeah, who would that be?” Michael asked.
\nCallum whispers, “I think that Mr Fenris would use this place.”
\n“Fenris! The gym teacher?” asks Michael, somewhat confused.
\n“Yeah, have you ever noticed that he takes time off each month around the full moon? I reckon he is a werewolf.”
\nMichael laughs, “Fenris? a ‘werewolf’?, what have you been smoking?!“.
\n“Seriously,” Callum continues, “remember when he took off his shirt? hairy as hell! He’s also got that mean temper”. Callum looks his friend directly in the eyes, “I reckon when it gets close to the full moon he comes here to lock himself inside, trying to keep the werewolf secure”. Seeing that Michael still does looks convinced, he added “Explain the wolf howls? wolves aren’t indigenous to Wolverhampton”.
\nA cold breeze startles the boys as it blows the fallen leaves gathered around the building. Callum edges closer to his friend, suddenly realising that they are pretty far away from home and help. “Calm down, its only the wind” Micheal
\nLooking back at the house, Michael notices a sign for land development.
\n“I’ve got one that you’ll really loooove.” Michael “its a man that went insane and killed his family and buried them were we are sitting right now.” Michael.
\n“This was that holiday cottage site, that jenny robins dad was trying to start up”
\n“He got this house built and the family moved in, but when it was being developed the builders uncover a mass burial site. knowing that this would mess up his plans jenny’s dad made them continue.” “after they moved in crazy shit started to happen and jenny when insane. They final moved out but the ghost are still here.”
\n“Wait, isn’t that the plot of poltergeist movie?” Callum.
\nA load click echoes from behind the door and startled the two boys, with a creak the door begins to open. The boys immediately jump to their feet and run, back the way they came.
","excerpt":"abandoned-house Michael is leaning against the fence of Callum’s front garden. He’s been waiting here for about 20 minutes, as Callum had to eat dinner with his family before he is allowed out. During their last lesson of the day, Michael had…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"712f5178-d131-58b5-8f38-ee30e06cdc0f","title":"Christmas Poem","slug":"christmas-poem","date":"December 2nd, 2013","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/1r4YFkZ6NcU510SrBUwrBA/32b50c7f67882b1ac5be0be29a061a80/thumb.jpg?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"![\"christmas-poem\"](\"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/2wMc0WcZCTBmgGqlnspBu5/6078e7abbbc4e1617787a07f79d267f9/christmas-poem.jpg\")
The trees are all but bare,
\nSave steadfast pines which winter months do spare.
the nights grow long yet sleep does not prevail
\nfor little children set on St Nick’s tale
Their windows grow with baited breath opaque
\nas, eyes set skyward, wishes they do make
In hope their misdeeds are forgiven
\nand wondrous gifts lie under the tree.
A cold is in the air,
\ntempting the snow to tumble fine and fair
the neighbourhood cat begins its nightly prowl
\nleaving a trail of footsteps in the snow.
With drooping eyes, off to bed the children creep
\nfor nodding head must have time to sleep.
dreams of Christmas cheer spin around their heads
\nsnuggled up warm and cozy within their beds.
Afar a star is spotted shining bright
\nGrowing larger and larger through the night
A jolly laugh begins to echo round
\nThere’s jingling bells and joyful festive sounds
Soon all the fireside stockings are full to brim
\nAnd every man and child knows Santa’s been
Awakened, children race downstairs to see…
\nTheir piles of presents piled high under the tree.
I heard a car brake harshly and turn around.
\nI heard it rev the engine then accelerate back in my direction.
\nI heard it screech to a skidding halt outside.
\nI heard the car doors slam shut.
\nI heard the doorbell ring.
\nI heard my footsteps race down the stairs.
\nI heard my keys rattle in the lock.
\nI heard the door splinter from its hinges.
\nI heard a loud bang.
\nI heard nothing again.
","excerpt":"I heard a car brake harshly and turn around. I heard it rev the engine then accelerate back in my direction. I heard it screech to a skidding halt outside. I heard the car doors slam shut. I heard the doorbell ring. I heard my footsteps race down the…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"f5a38821-3fad-5b83-8d70-8919e7cfd5df","title":"Close Your Eyes","slug":"close-your-eyes","date":"August 15th, 2013","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/6vANAcbLDY37YEAvvDtJlm/c7ccd5e0cc46d0ea40b72244dac59b6f/close-your-eyes.jpg?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Think of complete darkness. Nothing is visible.
\nA windows opens.
\nIt’s bright! Light streams in but you can’t see outside. It’s a white blur.
\nYour eyes now start to wander the room.
\nA bloodied knife!
\nOn a table; dead centre of the room.
\nThe blood slowly drips off the table.
\nDrip, drip, drip, drip…
\nTo whom does the knife belong?
\nYour eyes now rapidly search the room looking for its owner. You find no-one; but who came to open the window?
\nWait. Where’s the knife?
\nOh my god! The knife - it’s gone! But blood still remains.
\nA hand print!
\nOh no. There has to be someone here but you see no-one.
\nNothing…
\nBut an empty room.
\nSTAB.
\n“The knife is mine!”
","excerpt":"Think of complete darkness. Nothing is visible. A windows opens. It’s bright! Light streams in but you can’t see outside. It’s a white blur. Your eyes now start to wander the room. A bloodied knife! On a table; dead centre of the room. The blood…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"1c83ef16-1d6e-55ee-87ce-9681c965a54d","title":"Walking Home","slug":"walking-home","date":"February 10th, 2013","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/3yVFf4IkyHqebKvmuIL5tN/fc97a1ec87649efd7ad03d89e573b447/thumb.jpeg?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"As I squeeze my way out of the crowded lift and walk toward the exit, I feel a cool breeze on my face. The working week is over.\nStepping outside I see that it’s raining, I don’t have an umbrella. I lift the hood of my fleece jacket and accept that I’m going to get wet.\nQuickly walking along the path, avoiding puddles and low hanging branches. I hate how close the path is to the road, as spray from the passing traffic soaks me.\nAnd then a question I often ask myself during heavy traffic. Do I trust the cars not to mow me down or do I press the button on the pelican crossing?\nReaching into my pocket, I retrieve my keys and unlock the door. I am completely soaked through and all I want to do is go to sleep.
","excerpt":"As I squeeze my way out of the crowded lift and walk toward the exit, I feel a cool breeze on my face. The working week is over. \nStepping outside I see that it’s raining, I don’t have an umbrella. I lift the hood of my fleece jacket and accept that…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"72074569-3c71-5c32-a576-28e1fbfb7a71","title":"Tiberius + Isabel","slug":"tiberius-isabel","date":"March 12th, 2012","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/27dmsSSF3iD6k7a9rYkdho/508194d8bb90d93ed99c8758a68d10b5/noimage.png?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"As I stand with my toes hanging over the edge, I look down into the void and think about the choices that have lead me here… to this very spot… to the end…
\nI open my eyes to see the most wonderful day I have seen to date. Clear deep blue skies with the sun beaming down warming my exposed chest. The birds singing their merry songs up high in the tree that I am now resting beneath. I cast my gaze to my side, there lies Isabel cuddled up against me with her legs tangled with mine. When I find myself awake before her, I enjoy lying still watching her rest. She is truly beautiful. The way her long brown hair falls like a veil down over her shoulders. How sweet and inviting her lips are drawing me in to kiss her. The way her body swells and falls with every breath. Isabel is mine and I am hers forever.
\nWe first met during a mutual friends’ engagement ceremony. It was love at first sight and we have barely parted since.
\nMy name is Tiberius Thorn.
","excerpt":"As I stand with my toes hanging over the edge, I look down into the void and think about the choices that have lead me here… to this very spot… to the end… I open my eyes to see the most wonderful day I have seen to date. Clear deep blue skies with…"}}}},{"node":{"id":"6a33d7f6-60f3-5417-8b03-7a30bc076799","title":"Waiting","slug":"waiting","date":"January 3rd, 2012","featuredImage":{"fixed":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/27dmsSSF3iD6k7a9rYkdho/508194d8bb90d93ed99c8758a68d10b5/noimage.png?w=300&q=50"}},"body":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"