After mass, Sister Lina would usually cook herself a meal change into her evening attire, and sing to herself before going to bed. This was usually the highlight of Will's day, not the changing clothes part mind you, but the singing. It would always calm him, and it was the one thing Will adamantly meant had held his sanity intact due to isolation. However this evening was different. Will was getting himself ready to prepare his evening meal at the same time as Sister Lina usually did, however he heard a loud knocking on the church entrance. He ran towards the side of his house that coincided with the entrance to the church, and listened carefully. He heard a pair of feet shuffling, and also smelled strong alcohol. Will got a worried look on his face, but decided to leave it be. He heard Sister Lina opening the door and greeting the stranger, it was apparently a man. He was slurring his speech, but seemed cheerful. Will started filling a plate he had 'found' wit

San Joaquin Community Hospital, San Francisco     Samlin Greenham  I wake up from the strange dream.     Though I can't remember the dream and I don't feel or see any urge to remember it. My eyes move around the room, the smell of antiseptic hitting my nose. Almost everything around me is white, white bed cover over me, the curtains of the windows are white, the shirt I'm wearing right now is white.  So, I am in a hospital, the place I hate most.   I slowly lift my head up, it's pounding like someone is squeezing it forcefully. I remove the oxygen mask from my face and push it to the ventilator machine. I inhale deeply, but it's feeling like there's lack of air in the room. "You are awake?" Emilia and Lucas shout in unison, stepping in the room. She sits beside me on the bed and hugs me tigh

Another point of view.    "Open cell forty," the officer shouts at the walkie-talkie and with a disgusting sound, the cell bars-door is opened. Mahone steps in the cell "Close cell forty," behind him, the fat officer shouts again and the door of this tiny, sultry cell is closed again. Mahone puts the white clothes in the edge of the lower bed, then glances at the man lying on the upper bed. The man is less older than fifty, not so big in his body, but he can't see his face, because his back is turned to him Dear new cellmate, Mahone utters silently, then drops himself on the single bed. Who knows what kind of criminal you are. A psychopath? Child abuser? Sex defender? A murderer? Or maybe, if God helps, a drug dealer? He sighs and puts an arm below of his head, shutting his eyes "Why aren't you in juvenile prison?" a deep, gentle voice comes

   I lay behind my back, before the boat, and into darkness I must row. I rowed with weak arms, watching my hands to make sure I kept hold of the oars, for I could not feel my grip. I came thus into rough water and the dark, out on the open Gulf. There I had to stop. With each oarstroke the numbness of my arms increased. My heart kept bad time, and my lungs had forgotten how to get air. I tried to row but I was not sure my arms were moving. I tried to pull the oars into the boat then, but could not. When the sweet light of a harbour patrol ship picked me out of the night like a snowflake on soot, I could not even turn my eyes away from the glare.             They unclenched my hands from the oars, hauled me up out of the boat, and laid me out like a gutted blackfish on t

  Olgarias was leaning his back on the pillow, his eyes were closed. Fever was burning through his skin all the day and at night, it had been usual for him to have nightmares lately. He would scream after midnight while sweating crazily and his whole body was shaking uncontrollably, the servants had to take care of him. The Master of Health was observing his health condition and giving him medicine for cure, also trying to figure out the disease. But only Ran knew what it was.    And he felt terribly guilty. His head was a complete mess and his feelings were heightened, wishing he could do something to help his master. He even thought of escaping from the capital, but he couldn't bring himself to imagine what would happen next. In Leafstone, he had somewhere to live, he had someone's protection on his life, but outside Leafstone, he was nothing. It would get harder to live his life there as a Night Walker.