He realized that she really was desperate for forgiveness. That feeling of hard worn triumph was beginning to turn against him. But he was not ready to fold. He sighed, ‘At this point I’m afraid it’s impossible, Samantha.’ He looked at Simon’s table and saw him wearing a smile of contentment. ‘You made me feel worthless, as if I was a disgrace to everyone. You absolutely have no idea how much pain you have caused me, personally. I’m sorry but I don’t think you deserve my forgiveness.’‘I know sorry doesn’t begin to count for the heartache I’ve caused you both. Its just that when my brother disappeared, I tried to find a way to forget about him…’‘And insulting two innocent boys seemed to be the best way, right? How pathetic is that? You should have known what you were doing was wrong not wait for someone to tell you.’‘I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness but at least just try to understand. I may come from a rich family but I do know that I’m far from perfect. I just wa

When he got into the house, he headed straight for his room and threw himself on the bed and began sobbing softly into his pillow. Tears of rage. He kept replaying the whole fight; how he had tried to fight back to no avail. Did Samantha talk to him just to keep him seated until Thomas arrived? Had they been working together all along? Samantha did have an unpredictable character. And to think he had almost forgiven her! Or maybe the nickname he had picked for her had no effect on her at all? He removed his face from the pillow and stared at the cupboard beside his bed, the same cupboard that had the purple liquid. The Oxygen potion, Howard had called it. His eyes had become red from crying. He reached over and opened the cupboard and took out the glass container. He remembered Howard’s words; “Do not take more than the smallest of sips”. Brendan did not even believe Howard’s words, that this liquid could make one superhuman. Without thinking, he opened the container and

Everyone in the school was talking about what had happened. The story began with the snake on Thomas’ desk, then it became the snake on the floor. One boy clarified that the snake had been in Brendan Eriksson’s bag and yet still, someone argued that the snake had been in Thomas’ desk. Anyway, the cobra bit Thomas. But if it was a cobra, how is it that Thomas was still alive? another one argued against this theory. Anyway, the “cobra” or “mamba” had its head bitten off by the black belt who proceeded to chew the reptile’s spine. And, so where does Brendan come in? one asked. He planted the snake for Thomas. No, that can’t be true. Brendan was not that type of guy. He was quiet. It’s always the quiet ones, another said. But what about the fight? Oh, yes, the fight. Brendan parried five Bradley punches before unleashing a fury of blows no one knew he were capable of.So, Brendan Eriksso

He finally arrived by the “magical” tree. He slowly immersed his hand inside it, followed by his whole arm, then he paused still for a moment in hesitation. He took one long breath and then, without thinking it through, he pushed his whole body into the tree.Brendan found himself exposed to what looked like some kind of unknown dimension. Behind him, where he had used as an entrance into the tree was only a vertical black slit, like a cut, which meant he could still use it as a door when he needed to leave. He did not think he would want to stay there too long. One madness at a time, he thought. He exercised as much caution as possible. The temperature there was much cooler. There were trees and vegetation everywhere, but more beautiful and more colorful than the Bradwield forest itself. Nearby were a small stream and a hundred yards to the north of the stream was a small cottage with brick walls and a thatched roof. It looked as if no one had lived in it f

‘Jack? He falls under the Race of Phantoms now. I took his soul in exchange for the powers of teleportation and other several powers.’‘But you took his soul in exchange?! You’re heartless!’‘Come on, my love, do not be so cold towards me. So…’ she stared at him in expectancy, her mystical and awkward smile also staring at him, ‘…are you going to join me or not?’‘Never in a million years. Thanks for opening my eyes, though. I’m going to use these abilities to hammer out monsters like you.’ He frowned bitterly at her.She chuckled for a moment then said, ‘I assure you, my love that if you were to try and start a war with me you would not be successful.’He pretended not to hear the spirit vandalizing words she had just spoken. He put two of his fingers over his mouth, trapped in thought. He was thinking of another question to ask. ‘What about the gold, dia