Unveiled Pages

Stop. Please stop.  "I'll give you anything you want, if you just stop!" They won't stop looking at me. I can't get away from them. They're everywhere. It's so bright, everything is just a colorful blur, except for them.  Why won't they just leave me alone? I haven't done anything to them, at least I don't think I have. How could I have? I haven't gone outside in months. "What did I do to you? Tell me, please, answer me!" They won't answer. They never do. They just appeared one day. They always do. Them and all these crazy lights. The butler won't tell me what they are either. He'd have to be blind not to see them, but he acts like I'm the crazy one. I'm not. I'm the same as I 've always been. It's not my fault I'm suddenly being watched.  Not my fault that no one wants to help me. This is all too much for me. I can't stand this anymore. Writin

Continued from  Poems #21-30 #31 On the cold mountain of evening The trees turn to face the rising moon Watch as the last vestiges of the sun Fade away til another day And prepare to stand resolute Through the long, desolate night #32 Inside the meaning of imagination, The seasons mourn for all they used to be And tremble in fear of all they could be #33 Under a cloudless sky of tears, The leaves sing an anthem For all the world to hear And take heart in hope #34 In the dying of imagination, The spirits escape to flood the world A desperate attempt to bring Color and life back to life #35 In dreams of imagination, The memories cry For all that used to be A silent plea for life's return #36 Memento Mori they say Night after night, day after day Those words haunt our world #37 Words are dying, Melody is fading, Light diminishing rapidly, World draws to a close #38 Under a cloudless sky, Waves wander aimlessly Lost in the empty sea above

Continued from  Poems #11-20. #21 Under the cover of desire, the memories rejoice In reverence for the spirits of passion, In the gentle caress of love's embrace, As all the realms sing serene lullabies #22 Sun crosses the horizon A new day dawns To bring life alight Moon slips aways to shadow A new day dawns To hide away our fears #23 Beside the river of death, The seasons seek life As flowers struggle to bloom And light falls just short #24 Beside the river of longing, The leaves speak of times gone by Of days when all was calm And of a world full of peace #25 After the rain of despair, The leaves turn to grey All color drains away Leaving naught but soulless air #26 Before the moment of longing, The spirits escape the veil Rejoining the living As, all across the world, Hearts are torn open in heartache #27 Inside the meaning of winter, The oceans breathe a frosted mist Frozen motionless as life moves on 'Til spring comes to dawn o

Her footsteps crunched on the frozen ground as she stalked through the headstones. The deep violet train of her gown billowed behind her as it caressed all those she passed. Under the crescent moon, seven crows danced, hidden but for their soft silver glow. She paused, hearing the soft beat of their wings, and lifted her head til her face caught the light, blood dripping from her lips. Eyes alight with manic fury, she laughed an exaltation. Her luscious voice swirled through the dusty air, breathing life into the desolate dead. High above, the clouds were unable to resist the storm of her delirium. From within the newfound gale, her hair reveled in her revelation. Her laughter began to subside, yet the echoes still rang throughout the graveyard, never to die. She closed her eyes, her chest heaving in the throes of her hypnotic passion. Her dress swirled around her ankles as she continued her stately prowl. A slight waver in stride, and she had a white rose tucked behind her ear,

I sigh as I look down the main street of my hometown, empty and devoid of all life. I can't even remember when I left, it feels so long ago. I feel a chill settle over me, and, shaking, I walk farther into town. It's stupid, but I hope I'll find someone else, some other sliver of life. Being alone here, it's unnerving in this poor, ruined town. As I walk, I sing softly, hoping that even the smallest sound will make this place a bit more alive, a bit less daunting. I peer into every building, yet all I can see is broken walls, sagging doors, and rotted floors. I wish I could enter, yet I don't want to die here. I'm not ready to die. As I near an intersection with another street, I hear a sound, almost like a keening wail. I sing louder, putting more of myself into the song to mask my fear. I look down the other street as I near it, and it is just as empty as the rest of this town. Yet, as I walk past it, I hear an orchestra join my song. I spin around, halt

Continued from  Poems #1-10 . #11 Under the cover of time the oceans cry Endless tears shed in a second Spraying through the silent air With no end to the pain in sight #12 Beneath the surface of tears the memories weep Silent agony slides down the emptiness No end to these rivers of love Only endless whispers of heartache #13 In the dying of desire the spirits whisper, Listening to the beat of broken hearts Voices of sweet innocence arise And weave a matrix of true love #14 Discord clashes with harmony Beauty and destruction intertwine Love and hate each seek control Life and death honor a truce of anarchy #15 In dreams of tears the leaves speak, Of seasons past and days gone by Of imagined futures and new beginnings Of a world that rang with beauty #16 In a still world the trees whisper, A breath of wind to stir the air Golden rays brush the landscape Lending hope to all they could #17 Waves fade into the air Impact forgotten soon after As num

The city lights flickered dimly as the bus trundled by. Empty, but for two people: a young man gripping the wheel, a baseball bat his closest companion, and an older woman, dressed in rags, sleeping in the back of the bus. The young man's eyes scanned the sidewalks lining the streets, searching through the shadows. He stopped beside a bench, and got off of the bus to help the older man huddled there into the little warmth and shelter his bus could provide. For hours, the bus patrolled the streets, no longer empty. As it passed below the Empire State Building, the young man slammed on the brakes. Hidden in the tall shadow, he saw a girl, her clothes half torn off, struggling to free herself from the grasp of a burly, middle-aged man. The world blurred as he darted off the bus, baseball bat in hand. In what felt like seconds, he climbed back into the bus, leading the girl gently by the hand. As she sat down, he handed her a blanket, a tear in the corner of his eye. She refused to

My heart pounded in my throat, and I could not breathe. I forced my feet to keep moving, my eyes to remain forward, even though all was black. A loud hiss rang out from behind me, and I pushed myself faster. I tripped, and, as I fell, I caught a glimpse of the shadowy figure chasing me. His red eyes captured me, frozen. As I felt myself moving closer to him, I tried to lunge sideways, out of his grip. I sank into the wall as if it was not there. I screamed. So I had been dead all along.

“Could you please state your name for the record?” “Lily Voelkel, Your Majesty.” I sigh as the wind brushes through my hair, a crisp chill embracing my soul. Before me, a small stream bubbles kindly, asking me to slip under its halcyon sway. “Ms. Voelkel, please state your employment for the court.” Thunder crashes above, lightning parries in a resplendent waltz. Rain serenades me; I twirl in circles with the melody, tears adding to the rain. “I am a diviner.” Raucous laughter joins the lilting refrain, rising in serene crescendo. Through the rain, I see brilliant red weaving with the accompanying countermelody. Hypnotic in its trance, I smile at the blades of grass swirling around my feet. “Ms. Voelkel, this is a serious matter. Let me remind you that you have sworn to tell the truth. I will ask you again, what is the nature of your employment?” Silence falls, tension saturates the air. I laugh as I twirl through the song, edging closer to the stream, to the exquisite

A collection of single stanza poems, all of which are untitled, identified only by number. #1 Love shattered the stillness of the night Silvery light of the moon fracturing in pieces Stars twinkling high above Like the shards of broken hearts #2 Summer shadows, fading seasons Falling leaves, dying wind Sparkling ice, encroaching darkness Swaying gently, a single red rose #3 Amongst the shadows of death the oceans echo, The waves scream into the silence Droplets of tears spray up with every fall, And the sounds of mourning ring #4 In the heart of a lost soul agony echoes Within the throes of life and death Numbered heartbeats shall be heard As the world draws its last breath #5 In the stillness of death a single whisper, A near silent plea for freedom Sounds in the non-existent space of existence And shatters all hope of salvation #6 Departed though you may be But not yet forgotten For your spirit lives within me Forever in my heart #7 Blood drippi

The engines gave a sputtering whine as she pulled up on the yoke. She gritted her teeth, clenching her hands as she forced the plane to climb above the majority of the clouds. Holding back tears, she looked to the unconscious body of her copilot in the seat to her right. As the engines shakily settled into a relatively smooth hum, she sighed, turning her eyes back to the somber expanse before her. Sparkling dimly, the moon scorned her, offering a fraction of light to shadow her fallacy. Behind her, the door to the cockpit opened, revealing hundreds of passengers frozen in their seats. A young man, his face paler than the purest white, shakily whispered, while trying to avoid looking at her, “What are you doing to us? Why?” Her voice broke as she responded. “I’m trying to save all of you. I-” She dropped her head, her black hair forming a thick curtain to hide her face, “I never wanted any of this. You’re all innocent, and I’m so sorry that you’ve been dragged into my problems.” H

Her crescent majesty shimmers Iridescent gentle glimmers Bathe her realm in nebulous glow A lament for lorn adagio Euphoric under virgin sky Ensconcing each eirenic cry Stars cavort as phantasmic rainbow A lament for lorn adagio Celestial sin vivid in shade Funereal solemn masquerade Chimerical in dead tempo A lament for lorn adagio Her crescent majesty shimmers A lament for lorn adagio

Amongst shining shadows of death Souls liberated of dark embrace With anguish in rhapsodic breath Dreams recrudesce in somber grace Despondency in shade coalesce As life after life wilt apace Agonal revelry to stress Dreams recrudesce in somber grace Spirits rise in roseate refrain Ambrosial in eternal chase Orphic rapture gaily arcane Dreams recrudesce in somber grace Amongst shining shadows of death Dreams recrudesce in somber grace

The sun glinted off the Eiffel Tower as it began to slide beneath the horizon. A short woman with auburn hair lurked in the shadows beneath the Tower, staring through the flood of passerby. As soon as dusk established its hold over the square, she moved out from beneath the Tower, striding confidently towards the city streets. She reached a small shop, the bright decor a stark contrast to her tight leather pants, studded belt, and cropped tank which showed off her tattoos. A hand wrapped around the knife hilt at her belt, she pushed open the door to the tinkling of the bell. Before the young girl behind the counter could say a word, the woman held up a hand to silence her as she stalked to the back of the store. Hearing a male voice from behind one of the doors, she laid her hand on the doorknob, pausing to smile before smoothly sliding open the door. A man sat behind a desk, engaged in a lively phone conversation which she swiftly ended by plucking the phone from his hand. "

Inside Death our souls mourn For all given and lost Lives turn to bitter shade For all those left behind To dream of days gone by Change is never easy Hurt fills the air Floods our twisted heart In the void of those abducted Into the moonless terror that awaits Solace of peace stolen too Ripped from us all To follow life to Death In honor and in Love Thou shalt never die Our evening embraces dawn In souls cold and dreary Change is never easy For Death's Love forever final An eclipse tonight be everything Harmless Death left Naught to melancholy To resign to living With so hollow a sorrow Thou shalt never die Inconsolable silence Shudders in shame Fallen fatal futures Torn in infinite seconds Change is never easy Memories all to linger Bitter dissonance of Fortune and Love In invisible essence Thou shalt never die Death shines like a tear Transcendent of our torment Under forsaken farewell Forever in Love and life Memory to remember Ch

I slammed the door behind me, my feet hitting the icy ground hard in my haste. A choked sob parted my lips as I dug through my purse with shaking hands. I managed to get my keys, yet I fell against the side of my car, my legs no longer trustworthy. Desperately, I clawed open my car door to collapse in the driver’s seat. Even the pain of bashing my knee against the dashboard was not enough to awaken me from my new world of painful apathy. My eyes registered the dimly glowing time. 8:37 p.m. Fumbling, I forced the keys in the ignition, slammed my foot to the gas without a thought, and pulled away from his wretched house. My hands beat the wheel, agony mounting with every blow, but I did not know this. The farther I drove, the more the landscape faded away. Tears flooded my vision, and I cared not for my safety. Streaks of crimson were all I could see where much of my body should be; cobalt and charcoal blended together in the evening sky, all features indistinguishable to my sorr

In the dying of tears the spirits sing, And as the eyes of the world are opened To all the suffering and all the hate Songs of love and beauty caress our souls In the dying of desire the spirits whisper, Listening to the beat of broken hearts Voices of sweet innocence arise And weave a matrix of true love In the air of longing the spirits weep, Emotion turns to dust in the wind Soaring on the wings of the world Rivers of tears cascade over the end Discord clashes with harmony Beauty and destruction intertwine Love and hate each seek control Life and death honor a truce of anarchy

Jostling in the stiff lock, a rusty iron key granted reluctant entry. The rich oak floorboards squealed in protest as they were forced to bear weight again. Dust stirred, suffocating the open air, as it was dislodged from its resting places. Without a glance to the surroundings, a lithe young woman swept to the grand dining room window. The china of little interest, she pulled aside the damask curtains, opening the window they sheltered. Gently, she laid a glass telescope on the silk cushioined window seat. A moment to conceal her bright green hair, to polish the eyepiece of her life. A quick check of the time, she took a slow breath to fill the remaining seconds. Lifting her telescope, she looked to the roof across the forsaken street. The pool barely recognizable beneath years of filth, the formerly pearl white tile caked in thick dirt. A sanctuary for the wealthy had become a monument to their downfall. She choked down a bitter laugh as another woman emerged onto the roof. Her

No one can have power without first being influenced. Her blood red gown billowed behind her as she strode through the silent hall. Dozens of people lined the edges, pushing to get a glimpse, yet were held back by armored guards. As she reached the dais, her foot on the first step, she looked up to the portrait above the throne. Her eyes sparkled sadly as she bowed her head to her mother’s memory. A moment longer she stood, before ascending the remaining stairs and turning to face the crowd. “My mother was undeserving of her death. She rose this kingdom up from nothing, gave us all a reason to live.” Hair fell beside her face in long black waves. Her hands shook as her eyes turned to steel. “I killed her. I wanted the respect she had from all you. I wanted to be loved.” She refused to weep, to show weakness, as she faced the faceless crowd. No one can lead without first acknowledging one’s faults. Falling to her knees on the dais, her voice wavered as she removed the black

The small, crowded space echoed its raucous occupants. Beer, whiskey, and spirits were constantly being tossed back in celebration. Every person in the room held a glass or a bottle. All but one. One of the few females in the pub, she sat alone at a table in the corner, watching how carefree everyone else had become. Her brows furrowed as she drummed her fingers lightly against the stained wooden tabletop. Strands of her cropped black hair fell across the tops of her eyes; a hand brushing them did nothing to move them aside. Her eyes turned forlornly to the empty chair beside her, cast in shadow as it should be. “You should be here, Semira. We won, you know. I remember you said that we would, and I was a fool not to trust in you.” The wild clamor dulled to a more soft murmur as she continued to speak. “You saved me, Semira, pulled me back from the darkness I had chosen for myself.” Her voice shook as her vision blurred. “I would not be here today if not for you. You gave me t

The grand hall rang with dozens of conversations, full, yet not quite loud enough to overshadow the lilting music of the orchestra. Wine glasses were lifted to lips, peals of bell-toned laughter chimed in the air, and hors d’oeuvres floated around the decadent party. As the orchestra’s piece wound to a close, a tall, thin man stepped on stage, grasped the microphone, and called for Scarlett Iyer to come forward. Her long black gown flowed about her legs as she strode through the crowd. Reaching the stage, she smiled at the man as he handed over the microphone. Long locks of bright violet hair framed her face as she spoke, “I’d like to thank everyone for coming here today. It is an honor to be able to introduce my newest invention to you all this evening.” She presented a small glass vial, filled with brilliant pink liquid, to the crowd. The light glinted off the vial, reflected in her blue eyes. Radiant beauty bloomed in the room as she uncorked the vial. The crowd stared, frozen,

No, I won't do it, I won't open my eyes this time. I can't take any more of these stupid games. The air is stagnant, almost stale, as if I'd been thrown into a hidden, unused closet. Or worse, I suppose. There's always worse for me. But what if this time isn't worse? And besides, it's not like having my eyes closed is really going to save me if it is. Cursing myself and my curiosity, I crack open my left eye. And I see. . . Nothing. Or rather, nothing important. Instead, it was empty, deserted. As I open my other eye and look more closely, I can tell that everything has a solid layer of dust, as if no one had been here in years. Rows of the same stiff, uncomfortable chairs line the entire hallway, and looking up, I see I had landed at gate B12. Turning my head even farther, I notice one thing that changes my entire initial impression of this place. The dust was misleading, because if this place had really been abandoned for years, then how could the ac

This poem was written as an experiment in mixing two of my previous poems together.  Huntress  and  End of Forever As I lie dying with my breaths numbered I look back on eternity, And wonder if I could've done more To really have lived heartily Because there were times when, Like just before I ran to meet my greatest disgrace, I didn't truly live I made grievous mistakes I kept my nature a secret Kept my age and experience withheld From the man I adored And that cost me him, my love unparalleled I remember how love shattered in the stillness of the night A secret learned, beyond my control So I flee, unable to face him With the shards of my ancient soul Wind whispered in the forest Forlorn moon shone through the mist No sound to be heard Serenity of the night ceased to exist In the corner of my eye a shadow wavered "Who's there?" - Meeting my call was a soft rustling Afraid as I was, I turned Only to be met with nothing Blackness, e

Her eyes closed blissfully as her body sliced through the once serene night air. Faintly, a melody could be heard coming to life as if from a faraway place. The piano played as if it was covered in the dust of previous songs, songs of another time. Softly, a full orchestra could be heard joining in as she drew nearer and nearer to the teeth of the rocks waiting for her. The intermingling melodies rose to a deafening crescendo as she was about to crash onto the sharp rocks, yet, with mere seconds to spare, she bent her knees to cushion the impact at the same time as she rolled to the side and down onto the black sand of the beach. She lay still for just a moment before rising to her feet, her melody still cutting through the night, and opening her eyes. Opening her mouth ever so slightly, the moonlight caught and held one of her gleaming white fangs in its grasp for a brief moment until she turned towards the distant forest. The night went completely mute as her face took on the darke

Wind whispers in the forest Forlorn moon shines through the mist No sound to be heard Serenity of the night not meant to endure In the corner of my eye A shadow wavers Afraid as I am, I turn Only to be met with nothing Blackness, emptiness, lifelessness That's all there is Nothing has changed So...did I imagine it? The darkness, the silence It tricks my mind, my senses Reality's boundaries no longer clear Wishing, hoping for this to be but a mere nightmare A mournful howl Sounds off in the distance The moonlight brightens, as if empowered Even as the shadows darken Fear clutches at my heart, my soul Apprehensive I am This night unnerves me For something - something just isn't right An increase in the wind It dances amongst the shadows All around me it seems Is the song of the dark A chorus of howls Rises to join the first Their unearthly melody Is brought nearer by the second Just as my fear reaches its peak - The world falls silent

The edge of the world. Of her world. The night was a solemn silence cloaking her fragile body. Yet, for her, there was no silence, no peace. In the depths of her unsound mind, the screams never quieted, the wails never ceased, the agony never diminished. But she would always fight them, as she had fought until her last breath. Though it had been a long, long while since then. No longer could she even try to fight. Truly, she had died months ago. Her spirit had gone, and she was left as nothing but an empty shell. Below were jagged rocks and frigid waves, above, a silver crescent moon and scattered clouds against a jet black canvas. With a slight tremor in her gaze, she raised her head until the moon was reflected in her eyes. A slight breath of wind, one blink, and it was gone, obscured beneath a stray cloud. Barely visible, a single crystalline teardrop slid down her cheek. Her hair flying gently in the meager breeze, she looked down and smiled for the first time in years. "Ang

A single rose Petals wilting, near annihilation Whispering into the shadows Still daring to hope A dead breeze Silent on the air of darkness Comes to rest Sheltering a poor lost soul A spark of color From the depths of the night And a breath of hope Intertwine in the early dawn A new sun Starts to rise Only to be engulfed once more By the bowels of hate and despair A glint of promise Sparkles far-off in the distance Calling to its embrace A dying rose and a silent breeze

A thousand thousand nights I've lain here In this silvery pool of love, Of hate and resentment A thousand thousand days I've wandered Through this shining void of desire, Of lust for revenge and destruction A thousand thousand steps I've taken Within this vortex of thoughts, Of emotion and wishes A thousand thousand dreams I've had In this shell that once was my heart Dreams of life, of death and existence A thousand thousand pleas I've cried Into an eternity of nothing, Of absolution and cast iron chains One more night in this world And I will break Into a thousand thousand pieces From all the pain and sorrows One more day in this world And I will shatter Into a thousand thousand shards From all the beauty and hope One more step in this world And I will fracture Into a thousand thousand shreds From all the pressure and watching eyes One more dream in this world And I will burst apart Into a thousand thousand remnants From

Darkness surrounds me Pain engulfs my soul Love is foreign to me Hate is all I've ever known Agony is my armor Ever encasing my soul Cause I'm broken Shattered in pieces Over and over I cried out for a savior No one can hear me now For my silent facade deafens them Words are all I have left In my inconceivable song Death haunts me As he has all my life Calling me to him Luring me in with promises of an end An end to the pain, the hate, the sorrows The end I've always wished for Cause I'm broken Shattered in millions of tiny shards Over and over I've died inside Life punishes me for existing As it always will And I wonder What have I done? Cause I'm already broken Why hurt me more? Can't you see? You've already won You all got your wish I've died so many times What's once more? Cause I'm broken

Long have I traveled Many things have I seen Humans, colors, death, life It all grows old I am cursed Me with my never ending life To say it bluntly Eternity has tired my heart On the surface I seem strong, Mayhaps unwavering And yet below I am broken Broken into shards For they kill me These humans With their endless wars Look in a mirror And me you shall see For I am everywhere And in everyone Weary I am And yet I shall never find relief For all eternity Souls come to me And haunt me

Just once I wish I could see Falling leaves and swirling grey As night turns to day And cold soon to arrive Just once I wish I could hear The sweet melodies of the birds As clouds swirl across the sky And cold winds encompass our souls Run far away Heed the warning signs Else you’ll fall into her icy embrace As she comes to take all we have Stone you shall become To her sweet whisper you shall succumb To solid ice your blood shall freeze For she takes all life from our world Tears of blackened ice you shall cry Silent pleas you shall scream Yet all this shall be in vain Haven’t you ever seen snow fall in the moonlight?

Look up Open your eyes and see The moon The stars The dark sky that is their canvas The blackness of pure artistry's backdrop Look up Open your mind and see That there is nothing to fear From the darkness For even on the darkest of nights There will always be a shining star Look up Open your heart and see That even in darkness, love Can be found If only it was given a chance To be accepted and embraced Look up Open your soul and see That light and beauty Do not always coexist For beauty also resides in the shadows Merely waiting to be noticed Look up And let go of the past Let this be a first meeting An unbiased encounter Between one's unguarded self And the heart of the dark

Falling. Such a terrifying, yet exhilarating thing to experience. When you fall, you’re free. Free from the restrictive chains of life. When you fall, if you can get past the instinctive fear and embrace how wonderful it truly is, you can think uninterrupted. You can see past the simple, mundane appearances of so many aspects of life. For most people this would be a nightmare. After all, what else could plummeting through an endless void of darkness be called? Well, to me, this is the greatest feeling in the world. A dream come true. Every time that I get to experience this, I know that I am able to ponder things about life and death that other people can only dream of understanding. It wasn’t always this way. I too used to be downright terrified of entering this part of my psyche. Knowing that I was still within myself, yet having it appear like I was nowhere was the scariest thing I had ever experienced. And yet, even through all the fear, a tiny part of me, in the very back of m

Moon has risen, all is quiet once more Sweet silence, my salvation Pierced only by my soundless cries Armored by the depths of the shadows Her silent song of love Breathed out into the cool night air Is but the loudest thing I've ever heard Caressed by voices of those long since gone Melody of agony swirls all around Joining with her soft silver glow As the night is split asunder Locking half in cast iron chains; the other left unbound On this cadence of her last breath The world illuminated by all she's ever known One final note of her song Is left to hang forever suspended in our dark hearts

Storm clouds gathering Above a golden harvest moon Turn the sky menacing At the height of the night Flowers whisper in a gentle wind Below the rising storm Grasses crying out in song Anger and greed run rampant Lightning flashes far off Thunder crashes seconds after Wind slashes through the air Silence deafens the clamor Not a whisper amongst the roar Not a cry in all the anguish Only silence and cacophony Nothing but serene anarchy

As I lie dying My breaths numbered I look back on eternity, And wonder if I could've done more To really have lived Because there were times when, When I didn't truly live Instead, I thought that As an immortal I would have all of time To make up for those times I didn't live life to the fullest But now, as I lie dying I realize what a fool I've been To have depended on an uncertainty For no one can escape in the end Not even one such as me To remember now, as I lie dying And see how brief Are what I thought to be The most important moments Of my long life Is to truly see Just how trivial, how fleeting Those moments really were And to make me think That maybe, just once I ought to learn what living feels like Maybe I ought to take a risk, Take a step into the dense fog That clouds the future, Maybe I could, just this once Before it is too late Learn to fly blind But, really, what am I thinking? To even consider at all Stepping into th

Destiny is predetermined. Oftentimes, no matter what we want, our path has already been chosen. And we must follow fate.  I stand motionless, listening to the night as I wait. My hand drops to the hilt of my sword, the only movement I've made in hours. A soft whisper of a breeze blows through the trees, but even still, I wait, as silent as possible, in anticipation of my duty. Sadly, I am the last. The last defender of the night. Everyone else who stood with me has already given up their life in service of our cause. Going into this, I know that I will meet the same end, but knowing does not lessen the chains of duty. I can hear the sounds of marching feet and of beating drums. They are very close now, yet still, I wait in silence, merely listening. In the back of my mind, I wonder if they are afraid but quickly dismiss the thought. After all, why should they be afraid? An entire army, afraid of me? I'm the one who should be afraid. But, in any case, I will not let fear t