RG

“Wow” I said under my breath as I stared in awe at the brilliant melt of colors. Red, yellow, orange, and gold constantly changed and exploded all over the feathered pelt. I had always known that they existed, but it was so different to see a real phoenix directly in front of me.

Before phoenixes were hunted, they were very common. They would swoop around the streets, looking for small, easy prey like rabbits, squirrels, rats, and smaller birds. No one paid much attention to them. It was like seeing a squirrel.

One other thing you should know is that I am a believer. A believer is someone who still believed in mythical creatures like phoenixes. Non-believers are people who don’t. They were created when FMEG came. That stands for Fantasy and Myth Extermination Group. They hunted the creatures until there were so little left, half the world doubted they ever existed at all.

A silver, shining bullet rocketed through the air and hit the phoenix on the side of its neck. The phoenix let out a final, defiant cry before dropping to the ground. Golden fluid trickled from the bullet wound. It’s once bright red, gleaming eyes faded to a dull gray. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I did know that who ever fired that stupid bullet was not going to get that phoenix. I dragged the lifeless body into the near by forest and stopped only when we were well hidden by tall grass and trees. Still not knowing what I was doing, I picked up a large stick, and started digging.

Ten minutes later, the hole was big enough to fit the phoenix body in loosely. I carefully placed the dead bird in hole, and spoke to it in soft sad whispers. I slowly buried the dull corpse. My head hung low as I squeezed my eyes shut in front of the now buried body. I opened my eyes only to plant a nearby dandelion on the grave. I again shut my eyes and clutched my hands together. I opened them once more, to see sheer beauty. The dandelion had blossomed into 6 brilliant tiger lily type flowers. Each connected by a forest green, thorny vine. Every second more and more bloomed, each more brilliant than the one before it. The plants budded, grew, and opened right before, my eyes. Taking a minute at most to bloom and flourish. It was mesmerizing watching the green vines twist as fire colored buds sprouted, out at the same time.

Somehow, I just knew that these plants were thriving off of the phoenixes life force. The fiery energy flowing through its only escape route, powering the flowers.

I got up stiffly, almost robotically, and marched instinctively heading in the direction of home. I would save the phoenix species. If I got my way, not a drop more of innocent golden blood would be spilt.

The sun was high in the sky. It looked like aboutnoon. I had time for a nap. I wasn’t tired, I just didn’t want to go home, and I wasn’t in the mood for exploring. I had seen enough for today.

I spotted a nearby tree. It had low enough branches for me to climb easily. I made my way up the scratchy tree and settled down on a branch to sleep.

I woke up to the sweet song of chirping birds, one particularly loud, and a pecking on my chest.

“Ahh” I shrieked. Not realizing that my attacker was a mere bird. I rolled off of that branch and hit my head on the one below it. My arms and legs were flailing madly the entire time. By now, the woodpecker was a psychotic blur of feathers.

For your information, I was not scared, I was just caught off guard. Not that I ever let my guard down, because I am alert at all times and.. Okay, you win I was scared, but only because I had no idea that it was just a bird!

After a few minuets, I emerged from the forest preserve into open sunlight and boring old gray side walk. I walked the last few blocks to the red and gray cement and brick building I call home. I burst through the door and sprinted to Emma’s room first.

“Whose there?” Emma asked back, playful as usual. If I had x-ray vision and could see through the door, I would bet Emma had her huge, beaming smile on.

“Who do you think?” I asked pretending to get annoyed. Just for effect, I started noisily tapping my toe on the wood floor.

“Oh, fine” she said mimicking my voice. She flung open the door and guess what, she was smiling her huge beaming smile.

“We have a secret mission,” I told her. I couldn’t tell her straight, after all, she’s only 5! “It’s so secret you can’t even tell mom and dad!” She was bursting with excitement, jumping up and down and balling her hands into fists only slightly bigger than her widened eyes. “It’s a field mission, yeah a field mission, so we have to leave the house for a little while,” I said. I was winging it totally now, which was very risky because one wrong word and she’d go crying to mom and dad, which would mean I would be grounded for trying to escape the house, again!

After about 2 minutes, I had convinced Emma and had to move on to Kate. I smirked to myself. Kate does whatever I ask. She’s so shy she can’t say no! I pranced to Kate’s plainwhite door and burst in. I barely noticed her frightened eyes before I started talking. Hey Kate, you’re coming with me and Emma for a few days.” I said to her, scanning her bare walled room. I grabbed her hand and yanked her out her door.

Were leaving for a few days. We all need some fresh air and time away form this super boring place.

Jade, Emma and Kate

I am terribly sorry. Jade, Emma and Kate cannot attend school for a few weeks.

Sincerely,

Diane Anderson

For your information, I was not being naughty. I needed to save the phoenix species from extinction! I don’t care what you think! I’m leaving and that’s that. You do not have the right to shut this book!

Fresh, sweet air was the base smell of the forest. Suddenly, Emma let out a piercing wail. She was writhing on the ground, grasping her neck and twisting unnaturally. Suddenly, she stopped dead, frozen, her eyes wide, but blank. Her jaw dropped and something green and wispy spewed out. It looked like a smoke figure that was a cross between a tarantula and a centipede. It began flashing purple and then, the bug-like figure spoke.

“If I may go on, Blank is the hunter who shot the phoenix you saw. He is also known as The Dark Myth.” He said, his voice heavy with how serious the matter was.

“So what are we supposed to do, have Emma think him to death?” I asked sarcastically. By then, the weird bug had slithered back into my little sister’s wide mouth. All color had drained from her face. Her eyes had lost their iris, so they were just black and white balls. For the first time in her life, Emma was completely silent and still. Kate rushed to her side, cradling her.

“She has no heartbeat, no pulse and she’s not breathing. “There was a long pause. True pain flowed in Kate’s eyes.

“She’s dead.” Tears poured from her pink eyes and dripped onto Emma pale face.

The color swam back into Emma’s eyes. She gasped, took a few short breaths and spoke. “That salty water tastes like the super awesome chips we have at home.” Emma tiredly said,her mouth opening to yawn. Her eyes slowly slid open, revealing glazed, bright eyes.

“Caitwin, why are your eyes leaking? Did your pipe burst?” Emma asked curious and slightly concerned. Kate hugged her and we noticed that Emma was glowing green.

“Oh, God, not again” I complained, my eyes growing with worry. Emma’s legs started shaking, then, she was jumping up and down. She took off, kicking up moist grass and leaves behind her.

“Come on, we gotta catch her!” I yelled already running. The trail she left behind was an acid green that faded after several seconds. She was running way faster than her short legs should have allowed. Even though I was more athletic, Kate was still ahead of me, her feet racing faster, powered by care for her younger sister.

Suddenly, Emma stopped dead and dropped. Kate was by her side in less than a second while I panted, threw my arms up in the air and said “here we go again!” I stared down at my sister, my sarcasm melting to worry.

“Pretty bird!” Emma’s eyes flew open, her stubby finger pointing upward to a hovering phoenix.

The bird was mostly golden with flares of red exploding in random places on his pelt of fire.

“Are you alright?” he asked Emma. His steady gaze was strong and concerned. His voice was powerful but nurturing. His mighty wings allowing him to easily hover above, head held high by his strong neck.

“I’m awesome!” Emma chimed, her eyes gleaming as usual. A warm smile spread across his face. His eyes were sparkling with affection.

For your information, he really did smile! I’m serious, using his beak he actually did smile. Fine! You don’t have to believe me, but this is my story.

“I can see that” he said, his voice ringing with amusement. His stare moved to Caitlyn and for a second his eyes widened, but he quickly recovered. “My name is Nobleflame. Caitlyn, do you prefer Caitlyn, Kate or Katie?” he asked casting a quick glance to me from the corner of his eye like he already knew the answer.

“Caitlyn, please!” she said, sounding as close to Emma as she ever had. Then, for a split second, she glared at me.

For your information, I had no idea she disliked being called Kate. She only tried to tell me a couple times.

Something seemed to pass between Caitlyn and Nobleflame, like she instantly gained power and confidence. After everyone else was introduced, Nobleflame agreed to come with us. The four of us hiked further into the forest knowing only that we had to somehow track down and defeat Blank.

“I found it!” I yelled excitedly. For the last 2 weeks we had found only that Blank lived in Blank’s woods and that his base is behind a boulder marked “Blanks Base.”

For your information, I am aware that this is completely obvious. I don’t control this story, well, maybe I do because I’m writing it, but maybe I’m building up to the fact that – oops, I almost gave it away! Just forget I said that.

Caitlyn rushed over, Emma on her tail. Both of their eyes appeared excitedly hopeful and gleaming. Caitlyn had changed so much, she was confident and more energetic. Also, she and Nobleflame had become freakily close.

I pried off the rock with my makeshift shovel and gazed in awe at the winding staircase leading into blackness.

“Come on!” I yelled. Pitch black was not a problem – we’d been through much worse. I stomped down the gray stone stairs. After several levels of winding stairs, I came to a blinking steel door. There was a keyboard and small screen. I looked at it with a bored expression.

“Let me guess.” I said in a flat, sarcastic tone as I typed in: Blank. The door swung open. “What do ya know” I said in the same way. Inside was a guy in a suit drinking a cup of coffee and furiously jotting down notes. His face snapped in our direction as he said,

“You’ve arrived.” A crazed smile spread across his face revealing a half toothless mouth. He grabbed a strange looking gun, aimed and fired.

Nobleflame calmly flew in front and let the bullet evaporate in his intense heat. He steadily turned his head to us, his eyes glittering.

“Feel free to join in the battle at anytime.” His voice was cool and mocking.

All three of us charged at the same time, a battle cry ringing from someone – possibly me. The rest was all a blur. I remember screams, pain, something burning, hopefully not me. I remember punching and kicking as hard as I could over and over, my life really depended on it. So I kept going, putting every ounce of energy I possessed in each lunge, finding new power to repeat it over and over. I remember blood, lots of blood. I don’t know whose though.

Then I woke up. The four of us lying on the floor, Blank gone, my foot backwards and red and Emma lying motionless on the floor. Caitlyn was by her side. Her iron gaze told me one thing.

For a second, she was dead, but as always… “Crazy guy went poof!” Emma giggled happily. We all breathed deeply, relieved.

“Congratulations, Emma. You’ve made the world record for most deaths in 2 weeks!” I finished off the morning happy as I always would. Caitlyn hugged Emma, as she always would.

Emma laughed and hugged her back and Nobleflame watched fondly and protectively as he always would. With luck, it would always be like this. It would always be okay, and when it isn’t, well, we'll deal with it when that times arrives.

The Story of a Believer