Contronyms

A book I was trying to write but lost interest in it, but I guess you all can enjoy what could have been amazing, only if you want...

Empty halls were always the strangest to Venji, she hated walking along them. She was terrified of the monsters that could be around any corner. Venji was walking along the darkest hallway alone at her school.

Why does the teacher always tell me to go get papers from the office? Venji was only a few yards away from the door when she was suddenly thrown against a locker.

Karma, the school’s bully. Why now?

“Hey shorty!” Karma tried to anger the shocked Venji. Karma could see that it wasn’t working, so he tried every sort of name calling he could. None of them even made Venji upset, at least from the outside. All of the names being shouted at her were the same ones she was used to from her step-mother. Eventually, Karma was annoyed at how Venji didn’t bat an eyelid, so he swung his first punch. The punch missed and landed on the locker beside Venji’s head, she never flinched once.

“What’s wrong with you, useless?” That’s all it took before Venji had Karma pinned to the ground crying and bleeding from his nose.

“I’m not useless!” Venji snarled. That one word was her turning point, it was the day she decided to prove her worth.

Three months later.

Venji was now outside during her lunch period. She sat alone looking at the grand oak tree in the middle of the court-yard; her sandwich beside her, untouched.

“Hey, if it isn’t the freak of the school?” Karma walked up to Venji with his assortment of friends.

Are you stupid, or just dense?

“Go away.” Venji said cold-heartedly.

“Now, now stupid. Why hate me so much?” Karma used his old tricks once again.

Does he not understand? Leave me alone, or things will be worse than last time!

“Leave.”

“No!” Karma laughed up a storm with his buddies. “Make me.”

Wow, you sure know how to irritate someone! Venji stood making them think that she was going to fight back, but instead she just left her bench and went past them; going to the oak tree. Venji climbed into the tree resting fifteen feet above the ground on a large branch ignoring the rest of the world. Karma and his friends gathered around the tree shouting at Venji telling her she was stupid and to climb down.

Of course you want me to, after all you’re stupid and have no experience in trying to be intellectual.

“No, I’m content up here!” The lunch bell rang determining lunch was over. Karma sneared.

“Well the little cat’s gonna have to jump out of the tree!”

“I’m not a feline!” Venji barked at Karma. To her every second of fighting back mattered. Life mattered to Venji and she wasn’t going to let Karma and his friends ruin it for her. Life to her was much more than a circle. From every little bird to every ferocious beast, life was controlling it all.

“Heh, sure kitty, kitty!” Karma began mocking.

“What are you, A dumb mockingbird?” Karma’s friends started snickering at the joke.

“Karma’s a mocking jay!” They sang along with laughter like a bunch of hyenas.

He’s just like me a kid who gets picked on. Should I be sorry? Venji stood and jumped out of the tree by slowly swinging from branch to branch. She ran off towards the fence outside not caring if anyone saw her. She jumped the fence, running to a land where no one could hurt her, or abuse her mentally and physically. Venji ran to Old Pine Creek: the town’s creek in the middle of the woods where kids often ran off to. Karma’s group of bandits weren’t brave enough to journey to the creek alone, or with each-other. For some strange reason Karma had also ran to Old Pine Creek to take his mind off his own abusing father.

Is Karma any thing like me? All he ever does is hurt others, but his friends are the ones who hurt him. Well, he has to at least relate some to me! I’m sure of it. Karma stopped dead in his tracks to sit by the water’s edge when he saw Venji sitting there staring out into the distance, thinking deeply. Karma didn’t know if he should turn tail and run or walk towards the girl with a similar life. Karma’s choice was made up when Venji stood and turned to leave, standing in silence seeing Karma’s face.

Crap, that’s Karma! What should I do? Run off and never look back? Stand still and hope he doesn’t attack?

“Hey shorty!” Karma’s words came out as quiet and small instead of big and bold like normal.

“Hello?” Venji questioned confused about Karma’s soft tone until she looked and saw tears streaming down his face.

Maybe he’s not so different after all?

“Are you okay Karma?” Those soft words from Venji made Karma smile.

“No, not at all. But neither are you, are you?” Karma’s words cut straight through Venji the words made her cry.

“Yeah, I’m not as fine as I seem!” Venji whipped away her tears looking at the ground, so Karma wouldn’t get to see her cry. Venji was afraid to let him see the tears she was shedding. Venji was scared of him using it against her, afraid to be called a cry baby again. She always had to put on a brave face, she could never let her emotions fly free.

“Are you-”

“Crying! Yeah; shocked I’m guessing. Not everyday you see the strong and mighty Venji cry!” Venji’s tears came faster as she yelled out her emotions.

“I am shocked, but I get it.”

“No you don’t; you don’t get abused!” Karma laughed.

“I do get it because I get abused too, everyday by my father.”

He’s just like me… Just like me, but why hurt others if you’re getting hurt too?

“Why hurt others, only to be hurt yourself?” Karma was surprised at the sudden curiosity of Venji.

“I hurt others because I can’t fight back.” Karma’s gaze was far off, he never looked Venji in the eyes and she did the same.

“I guess I understand, but I’m still wary about trusting you.” Venji looked at Karma in the eyes to see if his expresion would change, but nothing happened except Karma’s eyes meet Venji’s.

“I never expect you to, especially after all I’ve caused you.” Karma looked back down at the dirt. Venji turned back around and sat on the ground looking into the water of the cold, dark and shallow creek. Karma walked over and sat beside Venji doing the same.

“You know, you could always change Karma!” Venji tried her hardest to lighten the mood, but it only made the awkwardness worse. “Well I’m going to go home.” Venji stood walking away, but stopped when Karma started speaking.

“How can you call that place home? I mean it doesn’t make any sense.” Venji let a smile peer through, as more tears formed in her eyes.

“Even though it’s the place that hurts the most, it’s the only place I have to call home!” She cried softly tears of pain, but also tears of joy.

I’m sorry. That’s my only way to explain.

“Well you should head off before it gets dark.”

“What about you Karma, are you going to be alright?” Those words made Karma shed a few tears.

“I’ll be fine…” Those were the last words spoken before it started raining and Venji walked down the long winding trail leading to her home.

Karma, I know you’re lying about being fine because I always use the same line. Why lie to someone who won’t hurt you? Are you afraid I’ll become like all of your fake friends? Karma tell the truth, otherwise I can’t help you. Venji arrived home to a drunk step-mother and a drunken stranger. Glasses were thrown at Venji, Her step-mother shouting rang in her ears as the glass scarred her left cheek.

“Hey useless b**** clean up your damn mess!” Another glass was thrown cutting her right cheek and nose.

“Yes mother.” Venji was always forced to call her the thing she’ll never be to Venji.

That lady is no where close to being my mother! Venji rushed to clean up the glass cutting her hands several times. She ran off to her room after cleaning up all the broken glass ignoring all the shouts for her to get back in there.

The night was a long one, Venji thought several times, “This could all end in a matter of seconds,” but everytime she came close to it; she stopped herself. The next morning was finally there, and her step-mother wasn’t awake yet. Luckily, that meant Venji could leave without another fit from her step-mother. Venji left the house in a hurry; running to the only safe place for her that wasn’t the creek. Venji showed up at school an hour before it started, so she took the chance to think about how to escape her step-mother’s torture. That was going to by her plan until Karma and his group of “friends” showed up; walking into the practically abandoned school.

“Hey Karma look it’s your little cat!” One of them pointed towards Venji.

Why would you point me out? Go away, before you see!

“What’s this she’s hurt too, ha so useless!” The boy laughed brutally.

Why?! NO! Don’t cry Venji, do anything but no crying! Ugh.. Screw it! Venji was crying now, her tears being her only comfort in the pain that one word brought.

“Leave her alone!” Karma yelled at the boy.

“Aww, little Karma’s got a sweet spot for the worthless one!” He not only mocked Karma, but also mocked Venji. Venji stood, running off to behind the building to cry more. With that Venji made up her mind, she rather die than feel anymore pain. Tears were streaming down her face as she wondered how she would die. Venji wondered if she wanted to die painfully, or peacefully. She was behind the school building still, no one would walk back there she had the place all to herself to cry about. Venji didn’t understand why everything had to be the way it was; not even four months ago she was thinking about how life wasn’t a game, and now she’s here crying thinking life as if it were a game and to win, you died. Venji hated the world for putting her into this mess. She was tired of feeling all of the useless pain.

All pain does is hurt, so why don’t people stop it? Venji was tired, scared, hurt, and alone the only friends she had now were her tears and her past. Neither being her friend really, she cried longer and harder wishing for some sort of God to exist.

God! If you’re real, why put me in this dark place? Why shower me with pain to cry? Aren’t you supposed to be loving!

All of her thoughts she cried out. During class changes, Karma went the the building he knew Venji was behind and heard those last few cries. Karma let himself be known before he spoke to Venji.

“Believe me I’ve asked those questions several times too. Nothing helps, but if I learned anything throughout my life, it’s that God throws us under the bus and ties our hands because he knows we can handle the sting and burden he gives. We are only human in this world, if nothing hurt we wouldn’t by alive. God is loving, but not in the sense where he’ll give up everything and never teach us. In this world he’s the best teacher, but he’s also the one’s class you’ll probably fail if you don’t fight through the challenges he throws. So Venji never tell yourself you’re not worthy because you’re strong enough to handle this, which makes you worthy of God’s love. You’ve proved that you can fight, so fight till you fall then stand up and do it again!” Karma had tact in what he said, he didn’t know the words would come out he just said what came to his mind. He shouted the words he was told to say. He preached the truth that Venji needed to know. Venji stopped crying and looked up at Karma.

“You know for someone just as strange as me, you know how to make someone stand back up again.” Venji smiled and laughed. Karma joined in the laughter, so for the rest of the afternoon they told each other jokes and became friends.

Will Karma and I be friends till the end of time, will it even last to next year? I hope so. He may act stupid, idiotic, and crazy at times, but he can says some tactful and wise things.

Dear future me,

Don’t ever stop fighting, always get up and fight again because this time you’re not alone.

That Summer.

Venji and Karma sat at the creek listening to the birds crip and escaping the people whom only hurt them. Karma was sick and tired of being kicked in his ribs and stomach, he’s become so numb there that he can tell if his ribs are broken or not. On the other side of things Venji has multiple cuts and bruises from broken wine bottles. Things have only gotten worse there, her step-mother has a husband now who is just as bad as her. Venji just wishes her real father would come back home from overseas. She misses his warm hugs and his gentle kisses. The two were now going over what classes they would be taking in their first year of highschool, and were shocked when they had all the same classes but one. Venji had decided to take art and not general music, so they weren’t in the same fifth period class.

Summer had come to an abrupt end and at the moment Karma and Venji were talking, when two new students showed up and took the two seats beside Karma and Venji. The two looked very shy, but there was something in their eyes that screamed traitor. Venji didn’t trust them at all. Karma on the other hand, was too dense to notice the gleam of betrayal behind their faces.

“Hello, I’m Karma!” Karma dropped the conversation that he and Venji were having and greeted the new comer sitting to his left.

Karma leave them alone, they’re only going to hurt you and me.

Karma and Jeremy: the boy he was speaking to continued their conversation. Venji didn’t bother getting to know the girl to her right. Venji hated meeting new people, she could never trust them again. Afterall her step-mother was a new person her father met, and she hurt him and Venji. Venji didn’t want another rewind moment, Karma had given her plenty of those when they were enemies. The day had gone by quickly, it was now fifth block. Venji was so lucky to end up with a class where Jeremy and Hazel: the girl whose name she found out along the line.

“Hey Venji!” Jeremy smiled and waved, walking over to where Venji was sitting; waiting for class to begin.

“Hi.” Venji whispered faking a smile like always.

“Ha, what a fake!” Hazel walked over mocking Venji.

You’re the fake, you’re the one hurting others. Not me!

Hazel and Jeremy continued to talk on sitting next to Venji clearly seeing it was annoying her. They spoke of how they had Karma wrapped around their little fingers.

“Just shut up already!” Venji yelled out and all the other student’s turned their heads to stare at the screaming girl. Hazel snickered as the teacher turned around to see what all the commotion was about.

Uh-oh!

“Venji Corrine Venson, Detention.” The teacher glared Venji down. Venji tried to shrink down, wishing she was invisible. The young Venson hated being called out in class, and even worse the teacher used her middle name. Venji had managed to keep that a secret. Out of anything in this world, Venji wanted to at least contain one secret for herself. Everyone had found out and done nothing about her abusive step-mom.

“Yes ma'am.” Venji mumbled out sounding small and seeming to shrink even more away from reality.

Later in the afternoon.

Venji sat in detention along with Hazel because Venji’s loud noise was because of Hazel’s annoying conversation. Detention was a long four hours of Hazel being a brat to Venji, and Venji down-grating herself. At the end of detention Hazel was practically glued to Venji, telling her how much of a worthless person she was.

To think, I once thought everything was going to by better. Instead of happiness, I’m left with sadness. Instead of hope, I’m regretting. I have to force myself to move on. I have to realize that I’m not enough for Karma. I need to learn to accept that I can’t by happy.

Venji found herself walking down to the creek, she knew Hazel was following her. The only reason she went there was so she could see Karma and so she could be alone with her thoughts. At this point Venji only wanted peace, the thing she cannot receive. All she wanted was a place of silence, a place to call her home. But with Hazel here, she could not receive her happy ending. Karma hadn’t even went to the creek that day. Eventually, Venji found herself cornered between a rock and a hard place. Hazel to her left and Jeremy to her right, both ready to pounce. Venji had only two options, to run or to fight.

No time to think, got to go! It’s times like this where I don’t know what’s worse getting hurt by someone who already hurts me, or someone who is a backstabber. Already being hurt both mentally and physically, so what’s the best choice. More physical pain or more mental pain? Mentality always causes more pain than the physical burdens of life, so to let them win would be to accept the mental damage. At the same time to run away is more shameful than fighting, is it not? I’ll fight till I can fight no more!

That was the only convincing Venji needed before she swung the first punch, she was becoming the person she never wanted to be. The images of her becoming her step-mother swarmed in her head it hurt like thousands of bee stings. Venji had made the first mistake by fighting, her second was throwing the first punch. Her mental pain was making the physical pain of her being thrown  to the ground numb. Venji could only feel all of the cruel things her step-mother said, they rang in her head even after she passed out cold. Hazel and Jeremy had left the scene after kicking Venji a few more times.

The next day.

“Venji, wake up, Venji!” Karma roughly shaking Venji, desperately trying to make her awake. “Don’t leave me like this! Venji!” Karma was sobbing by now holding Venji’s hand hoping she’d awaken.

Karma…. Is it you? Why can’t I open my eyes? Karma, I’m sorry! I can’t open my eyes.

Venji struggled to open her eyes, but managed to sit up.

“Karma, I’m awake!” Venji mouthed out, when no sound came out.

I can’t speak, I can’t see. Why?!

Venji was hyperventilating by now, Karma knew she was awake, but didn’t understand why she wouldn’t open her eyes or speak.

“I’m here Venji. Why won’t you acknowledge me? Who did this to you?  Venji please tell me, I’m begging you! Open your eyes and speak!”

I can’t Karma, everything hurts. Help me! Please Karma, I’m begging you. Don’t go.

Karma sat there looking at Venji, hoping she’d answer, but nothing happened. He stood, letting go of Venji’s hand running off.

“Guess I’m not good enough for your time!” He screamed back to Venji. Venji’s tears came hard and fast, she could no longer feel Karma’s presence as she sat in the dirt sobbing.

If only you could understand, but you’re already gone. You left without taking the time to understand. I know you’ll never trust me again.

Venji tried to stand, but kept stumbling over her loss of sight. Eventually she stood and began to walk slowly. It seemed like she was crawling to leave the creek. Venji went to the place that she would find Karma, if he wasn’t at the creek: his house. She knocked on the door, knowing Karma would answer, but to her surprise it was Jeremy whom answered.

“Ha, look what the cat drew in!” He smirked looking at all the bruises on Venji’s face. “Go back to where you belong, In the dirt!” Jeremy spit at Venji before slamming the door in her face.

Jeremy? What is he doing at Karma’s place?

Venji cleared the spit off herself and walked to the back of Karma’s place: Karma’s escape route.

He never lets anyone back here, so he’s bound to be here. Even if he’s not it’s better than going to my step-mother’s home.  All I can do is hope he’ll listen.

Venji decided to take her chances and go to the bush that Karma used to sit behind when his father is in a bad mood. To her surprise she found Karma there with a notebook drawing a flower. It was a strange thing to by drawing, but then Venji took a closer look and saw it was a girl hugging her knees with her dress looking like the flower’s stem. Venji made herself know before she sat next to Karma. Karma looked at her with a look of sadness, but also disgust. He was wondering why she wouldn’t speak or explain to him about what happened. He looked into her eyes and before he knew it drew her eyes. Karma had finish his work; showing it to Venji made an expression as if she was trying to gasp. That was when Karma realized she couldn’t speak. Karma turned his notebook around, handing Venji a spare pencil.

“You can’t speak, so explain through writing what happened.” Karma looked at the paper waiting for Venji to begin writing.

He’s letting me explain, but how shall I write it down. So much happened, but I don’t know how to explain. Where should I start?

Venji wrote down what had happened at school, and how she ended up going to the creek expecting Karma. She wrote about her decisions on whether to fight or to run. She told how she had swung first, and how the two overpowered her. Then she wrote about how it felt to by kicked and beat when she was already hurt. Finally, Venji wrote about how alone and desperate she felt when Karma ran; and how it reminded her of her father.

“Venji, I’m sorry!” Karma almost shouted hugging Venji wishing he’d never let her experience the loneliness again. He was crying all over again. Karma’s mind drifted back in time when he had hurt Venji, just like her step-mother, but also like her father. That was what he hated the most, the fact he’d sunk so low to be compared to her father. The man who left Venji all alone with that drunken women.

Karma it’s alright, I’m better because you let me explain. Don’t compare yourself to the man my father was. He’s already back just not in the flesh. He is with me like you are with me. He’s dead, but he’s there.

Venji wrote down one last thing, “Don’t compare yourself to a dead old man!” Karma and Venji’s mouth both broke into a smile.

“Don’t worry, I won’t!” Karma laughed out. For the rest of the day, they wrote down all of the most silliest things they could think of smiling along. They walked towards the future, or the hospital in Venji’s case. The doctor said that she might not by able to talk for awhile, but that her voice she eventually return. To that the both of them smiled some more.

Three years later.

“I hate you!” Venji yelled to Karma, “How could you not tell me you got accepted to a university?!” Venji threw a book at his head. Karma just ended up laughing.

“Because I knew you’d act like this anyway.” Karma continued to laugh his heart out while Venji grabbed more books to throw his way. Karma was accepted into a university, while Venji had to repeat her final year in highschool because she was absent for so long.

“Anyway, What do you want to end up being if you go to that university?” Venji asked out of the blue.

“I think I want to be a doctor.” Karma said shyly, slightly embarrassed.

“What kind of doctor?” Venji stopped throwing books sitting on the couch next to Karma seeming generally interested.

“Man, you stumped me there. I’m not sure yet?” He seemed to question himself.

“When did you become interested in going into the medical field?”

“Around the time you lost your voice for a year. I wanted to help you gain your voice back.” Karma blushed hard grabbing his notebook full of their conversations, drawing Venji.

“Really?” Venji looked at him and messed up his hair trying to lift up the mood.

“Stop being silly Venji!” Karma shoved her hand away.

“Stop being a downer, and maybe I’ll stop being a silly goose!” Venji retorted; proceeding to stick her tongue out.

Even up to this day, I find it hard to believe that we ended up being friends. Karma and I are so similar, yet we aren’t. All I can consider us is Contronyms. Karma is exactly like his name, he’s a symbol of fate. Karma doesn’t understand what my name means, but one day he’ll understand why I’m not mad at my father. Venji is a name given to someone to say they’re a gift of God, so I’m not angry at my father because he was saying I was his gift from God.

“Hey, Venji are you alright?” Karma’s voice cracked with worry.

“Yeah, Why?” Venji asked generally confused.

“You were spacing out again.” He smiled looking at his finished drawing of the smiling girl in front of him. “If, you don’t mind me asking, but what were you thinking about?”

“I was thinking about you, me, and my father.” Venji came clean, knowing Karma could tell if she lied.

To think after all this time I still space out like this. I still think about the day we became friends. I continue to wonder what would have happened if my voice never returned. Would I have been a forgotten memory to him? Would he even care about me? He did buy a two room apartment for us, so we never had to go back to our old lives, but would things have turned out differently if I never got my voice. Would he have bought me a room and left? Would he just forget about me, and move on without me? He wouldn’t be waiting for me to graduate then. He would have left me behind.

Venji ended up crying softly at that final thought. She was terrified of being alone. To Venji it meant life or death.

What’s so special about me for him to be friends with? I’m just a normal girl, there’s nothing special about me. Karma should have just left and be done with me, when he had the chance. Even still he thinks I’m important.

Before Venji had realized it, they both fell asleep with thoughts of the other. Karma specifically with drawings of the girl he’d fallen for. He snored violently as the rain started pouring on the roof of the apartment. Venji was awoken by the sound and smell of lightning. The lightning had struck near the apartment. She need to wake Karma up from his sleep to warn him about the storm. Once she shook Karma awake, his face suddenly turned dark. His eyes began glowing red. Karma jumped at her, and everything went black.

“Ahhh!” Venji screamed when she awoke from her nightmare. Karma jolted awake.

“Venji, calm down. What happened?!” He was trembling along with Venji, but just a little less. Venji calmed down to his voice.

Several weeks had passed since the day of the nightmare. Venji found herself alone in her room of the apartment. She was pacing the room thinking about what the truth was. Venji had to choose between her heart and her mind. She was alone in the apartment, whatever happened now would be how her life would go.

How long will it take for Karma to come back? How long will it take for me to die?

Before Venji had to figure out that question, Karma showed up. With the crash of the door Venji ran to the living room; wanting to know what happened. Venji’s breathing was short and reckless as she stood in the living room. Unlike what she had originally thought, Karma wasn’t in the apartment. The only one there was her.

If it wasn’t Karma, then who or what was it? There seems to me no one here, none of this makes any sense.

Venji waited awhile, before moving back around in the living room, she only wanted to be sure that no one was there, so she decided to check under the couch and in the closets. Nothing was there, so she found herself sitting on the couch watching whatever show was on. Venji’s brain was so focused on the show in front of her she never realized that it was midnight, or that Karma hadn’t shown back up. She eventually ended up passing out on the couch.  Venji was awoken to the sound of sirens, her head ached as she sat up from the ground.

Why am I not on the couch, wait a second where is the couch?! I’m so confused am I in some sort of dream world or something? There were sirens, so am I dead? Guess I should find out!

Venji pinches her arm and lets out a loud howl of pain.

Second thought, never again! I’m not dead and I’m obviously not dreaming, so where am I?

Venji stood taking in her surroundings, and to her surprise everything looked normal. She took a chance and started walking towards the East in hopes of finding someone else out here, maybe even Karma.

It’s a long shot, but maybe just maybe I’ll find him! One can only hope….

Venji was wandering around in this dark forest path, wondering where the path went.

“It’s a path, it’s got to lead somewhere!” Venji complained out loud.

“Indeed it does, but all things good come to those who wait.” A person who reminded Venji of a ninja jumped out of a tree and appeared in front of her.

“Who the heck are you?!” Venji stopped herself from falling back, and responded with instincts.

“The ghost of the whispering forest! And you dear friend are trespassing!” The mystery dude, ghost was ready to attack.

Whoa boy, whoa, hold on what do you mean trespassing, and why do I get the feeling he calls himself a ghost for a reason. This thought process is what’s going to get me dead I swear it. Stop thinking and just respond to the ghostly fellow, God dang it!

“I’m sorry, I umm didn’t know this was unwalkable territory, I just wanted to go and find my friend?” Venji was stumbling with her words, it was just like the beginning of talking all over again, and it embarrassed her.

“All you had to say fair lady was that you were off to find a friend, so I ask you, May I tag along on your merry trip?” Ghost relaxed and was waiting for an answer, quite impatiently. “So, what do you say?”

Are you kidding me? I just met you, and now you want to come with me like we are on some magical quest? You must be crazy if you think I’m going to just let you tag along!

“I know you think I’m a crazy creep in the woods, but you must reconsider your thought process. You need a ghost like me to show you the way. You know what they say, the old are wiser than they seem!”

More like crazier than they seem, but he does have a point, I do need a guide, but him?!

“Sure, as long as we stick to my plan!”

“Your wish is my command!”

What are you anyways? Some kind of mockery? A jester even, I mean you do like to put on a show. Wait I know! You are a circus clown, full of nonsense and made for humor.

Off the two were, following the path in the woods, careful to not get lost. Time was ticking by quickly, Venji had little time before Karma would be killed, and she would be trapped forever in the place of unfarmiltally.   

Venji and Ghost now found themselves in the farmlands of time. Ghost was telling stories about how the corn in the field made you grow older slower, and how back in the day someone had over used the corn’s power and is now dying extremely slowly in the prison of felons.

“Why not just put him to death if he’s going to rot there forever?”

“Simple, if you kill someone who’s ate the corn of time, they won’t die, but will end up living out your lifespan and the one they’ve received.”

“Has anyone tried to kill him before?”

“Yes, that’s why I’m the ghost of the whispering forest.” Ghost’s words went cold and grim, but he continued telling his story. “I’m no longer living of course, but I am banished to the forest where the dead who wander go. My only way of not disappearing with my life is to guide those who are lost, which is why I chose to guide you to your friend. After all, one without their friends is long past death, and is wandering to where they’d be.”

Maybe dragging you along wasn’t such a bad idea, but to think I’m far past death, does that mean I’ll die when I find Karma, or does it mean he’ll die when we meet again?

“Excuse me, but Ghost does that mean that one of us will die when we meet?”

“I’m afraid so Venji, I’m afraid that one of you might already be on the path of destruction…”

“I’m not even going to ask about what that means, but I will ask what your real name is!”

“My name is long forgotten, I’m afraid it was stolen from me when my life was as well, so I go by Ghost. Alone without a name, and left without a final say. Venji names are what you make them.”

Something, I’ll never forget, but something I’ll never remember. The words you say because you are nothing more than a dream. I’m sorry that I won’t remember you because you were never real.

The journey went on, the two had made it to the main barn, where they meet two twins. Their blonde hair messy, as if they were from a Hollywood surfing movie.

“Hello, who goes there?” The one to the left asked.

“I am ghost and my guest is Venji. You should know me by now Travis and Jared. Then again, you two often don’t listen to ever remember.” Jared’s face turned to one of discuss.

“Not our fault we have to guard our time corn from old creeps like you!” He spat.

Ugh, another brat I have to deal with.

“You have no right to call ghost a creep because you don’t know his story, or where he comes from!” Venji spat right back. Jared and Venji were practically growling at each other, when Travis and Ghost stepped in.

“Stop it you two!” They said in unison.

“Fine.” The other two replied crossing their arms and looking away from each other.

Author's Note

I would love and appreciate constructive criticism please?