Elm of False Dreams

      Jon Jacks
     Elm of False Dreams

When Mima’s brother is killed by the witch and were-lion Cerissa, she believes there is no hope for him until she briefly hears his cry for help in a magical horn. Before she can rescue him from Hades, however, she first has to find and confront Cerissa herself; failing to realise that Minotaurs, Centaurs and Gorgons aren’t the mythical characters she believes them to be.James Spicer is a 12 year old boy in his first year of secondary school. Everyone thinks James is weird, even his parents worry because he draws and paints such dark pictures. James has a fertile imagination and loves to create paintings of werewolves, vampires, dragons, witches, and all kinds of unbelievable creatures. At school James is bullied and labelled as one of the weirdo kids. The only person who doesn’t think James is weird is his grandpa and he died two years earlier.James is desperate to fit in but his incredible imagination involving dark creatures is not easily accepted by anyone. Daily he faces bullying at school. After one particularly dreadful day James catches his shadow stealing the light from behind his eyes. James is pulled through his bathroom mirror into an incredible fantasy underworld. There James’ journey takes him through fantastical realms of strange creatures, culminating in his meeting the King of Shadows. James’ quest is successful and he returns with a new found confidence and readiness to face life’s challenges. However once again he comes face to face by the bullies. This time, however, James is equipped with his newly honed skills to deal with his problems.

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    The Bricklayer

      Robert T. Belie
     The Bricklayer

Sanders was a bricklayer by trade and a good one at that. His latest project would involve crafting a fireplace on a mountaintop estate for an elusive owner. Although he had done hundreds of similar jobs before, this one could very well be his last if he fails to comprehend the true value of a few toy soldiers.Sanders was a bricklayer by trade and a good one at that. His latest project would involve crafting a fireplace on a mountaintop estate for an elusive owner. Although he had done hundreds of similar jobs before, this one could very well be his last if he fails to comprehend the true value of a few toy soldiers. His young boys would certainly appreciate them as pilfered gifts, but Sanders may not stay alive long enough to watch them ever play again.

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    Parrot History

      Max E. Harris
     Parrot History

A very old parrot living high in a jungle tree relates to a group of young parrots what she has seen and stories she has heard over almost a century. She tells of the changes from a bird's point of view."Aliens Did NOT Destroy Chicago" is the title of a video discovered on the internet after claims that aliens nuked the city are broadcast on new networks. The story is told in that format, with a transcriber copying all of the spoken text into long form. In this short fiction, the author formulates a scenario where a major US city is destroyed by a false flag operation, and what might occur if the scale were so monstrous it could barely be believed. The reader is challenged to examine perceptions and exercise discernment through the use of media.

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