The Areson Stories

Tender E. M. Areson The girl coughed terribly, and her couching put out the match. She shivered as she tried to light another. That time she had saw a choir and wanted to sing with them; the only thing she managed to do was cough. The time before then she had seen a feast, but the match had gone out before she could eat any of the wonderful food. The ally was cold, but home was colder, and here she wouldn’t be punished for not selling any matches. The match finally lit, and she held it close. She closed her eyes for a second.           Death appeared in the second her eyes closed. It turned down the ally and quietly approached the girl huddled in rags. Her life had been harder then most. She hadn’t given up on her dreams yet, a sure sign she didn’t want to die. Death stood over her; it could feel she was ready, but still unwilling. Death didn’t want to take a girl so vibrant, mainly since she would try and fight. Death hated when people fought. Death reached down but she op

Raven Part Four E. M. Areson I was quickly thrown into prison and my execution was scheduled for the next day. The beating I received that night was the worst I’d ever had. I must have been knocked unconscious at some time because when my Raven came to see me my arm was broken, something I didn’t remember happening. She had opened the cell door and set down beside me. I had noticed she was still in the dress I had given her, but she had taken off the mask. “I see the Raven has come to tell her Lord of gardens farewell,” I had coughed up some blood after saying that, but I continued. “I’m glad you came, I’ll miss you.” “Don’t say that,” she had taken my bloodied face in her soft hands. “We can find a way around this. We could run away.” “Where to? There’s nowhere to run,” I hadn’t meant for her to get covered in my blood, but it had soaked into her dress where it had laid against me. My blood had also run down her arms from where it had pooled in her hands. “I don’t

Raven Part Three E. M. Areson Dorcas and Tyrannic were laughing so hard the table overturned as they banged against it in there laughing stupor. Dorcas was only mildly disturbed by Tyrannic’s pointed teeth and chackling laugh. He was a good man, she had decided. Better than most, if not all, of the Grand Knights. “This has been wonderful,” Dorcas said calming down. “I love our tea times. I think this is what I’ll miss most. You know, after I die…” “I- I don’t-” “No. I understand, we’re slaves to our Imps. I understand,” Dorcas swallowed and looked down at the table. “I’ll just really miss you.” “I’ll miss you too,” Tyrannic gently took her hand and she blushed at the touch. “I think I…” His words seemed to fail him, and she looked up. “I have something for you, I’d like you to open it before leave.”           Tyrannic got up and removed the lid from a box next to his oven she hadn’t noticed earlier. The gift, whatever it was, was wrapped in a white paper. Tyranni

Raven  Part Two E. M. Areson I hadn’t expected the plain to work but it had. I had gotten home without a fuss and though I was out twenty coins with no fruit to show for it I still had enough food left for a few days. I had just started the water for tea when I heard the ancient door knocker, which had never been used, bandaged twice. I hadn’t known what to do, I knew it was probably trouble. Yet, even for all my show, I was nothing if not simple.           My house looked like a creepy tower of darkness on the outside and on the inside, it was little more than a tower with no more than a main floor. I walked around the table and grasped the door knocker. Dorcas was standing outside looking ridiculously out of place. Her curls and canary yellow dress were the brightest color this part of the island had for a long time. She was holding my basket filled with the same fruit it had earlier that day. “I brought your basket back.” She said timidly. I took it and asked, “How

Raven E. M. Areson There are times in every person’s life when they make a choice that could kill them. Some don’t think about it but even a walk across the street can end in death. My choice was different, however. I knew it would kill me, if the Imp didn’t do it then they would; but, I still stand by my choice. After all, the villain can never win; not even when he’s more heroic than the hero.           My story, though it’s not really mine, started ages ago. Our homeland is an island separated from the outside world by a great world pool near the island’s southern tip. No ship is stupid enough to come close. Mages, advisers to the royal family, suggested a plan they called the Golden Age Strategy, apparently to keep hope from dying or something as equally silly. Every so often children would be embedded with Imp. The Imp would force them to become heroes, or in my case a villain. There are 30 Grand Knights, 29 Grand Ladies, one Sir Goodheart, one princess, the princes

The Gate Keepers E. M. Areson Cassidy pushed the gymnasium door open and ran out into the chilly air. She had waited all year for the winter dance. Her white dress and black shawl were not enough, even when coupled with her cute boots and tights, to keep her warm. She began walking away from the school and towards the park; Cassidy had her phone but didn’t want to call her mom yet. The park was only a block away and soon she was standing next to a clump of trees in the heart of Rosewood Park; her anger turned to utter heartbreak. Cassidy set next to the trees, the cold, wet ground still had growing grass here unlike most of the city. The breeze whispered in the trees above her; though if she had been paying closer attention she would have noticed there was no wind. “How could he? I thought he liked me…If he had he wouldn’t have kissed her.” Tears streamed down her face, “I thought everything was going to be perfect. Go with my friends, have fun, maybe even dance with

If You Love Me E. M. Areson Mark considered the eyes of the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen; the only problem was that she was a painting. The painting was so real it defied explanation. How it had ended up in a forest cave was a mystery as well. The frame itself was wonderfully carved and the girl inside looked like she had just walked into the cave. The look in her eyes was incredibly sad, they were grass green contrasting with her pink lips set in a pale face. Her dress was a deep purple, and in her delicate hands, she held a pink flower of which three were in her mahogany brown near black hair. “I think I love you,” Mark laughed and put his hand to her mouth. “This is crazy. You’re a painting, in a cave on my father’s land.” The lady only looked out at him. “You’re a wonderful lady, a princess maybe even. The blue of your background is so clearly painted yet you look like flesh and blood. I love you, look at how your hair curls over your shoulders. You’re so beauti

Already Dead E. M. Areson Standing outside the theater looking at the posters made Adrienne want to be sick. Superhero movies were popular this year, they had been popular for the past twenty years, but now she knew. Hundreds of thousands would flood theaters just like this all over the world. Yet, in many ways, they were liars, unknowing hypocrites. They idolized their heroes; aliens, accidents, dark souls, saviors, the flawed, the near perfect, all accepted. “Shame they don’t treat us like that.” She looked down as a little tear leaked out. Nard took her hand in his, under the fake skin she could feel his cybernetic hand. He looked so normal with his charming green eyes and black hair. Not like she did, under the hoodie she was unnatural. Unlike Nard, she had been normal once. She had gone to the movies with friends, attended school, and had a family. Now, all that was gone. Nothing was left but to hide from the  Agency for Protecting Personal Security or A.P.P.S.  befo

The Lava Warriors  By E. M. Areson Ash falls around me and I wonder why I’m here. Yes, my people have done this for over nine hundred years but this is silly. Go out for a day to an island with a volcano spewing hot lava and all you get is a bow and quiver. This is your final test before you join the tribe, don’t die for a day, or if you do die well…you’re dead, no being a member of the tribe than. Realistically though, apart from jumping into the lava not much can happen out here…Right? I turned to my friend Nome, “This is crazy. Whoever thought would be a good test was ridiculous.” He shrugged, “Traditions sometimes have no visible meaning… but yeah, this a bit silly.” “A bit?” “Okay, a very silly, not as much as you though.” “Hay!” I playfully reach over and hit his arm. “Ow.” “That didn’t hurt,” I said as I turned and walked off. “Where are you going?” “To explore the island, what else would I do?” Nome sighed, “Wait for me.”         We spent most