magic

I have my fingers pointed at the guy in front of me. For a fraction of a second it seems that the sky changed its colour. I know it is blue, but for the blink of an eye it changed. The crackling of a thunderstrike follows, even though there are no clouds or even the slightest hint of water in the air.

What happens next is scientifically impossible, but it happens nonetheless. The other guy is just as surprised as I. He tries to speak, but no sound comes out of his mouth. Slowly I lower my hand, with what must be a look of perplexion on my face.

Eventually, he does manage to say some words. Although I can’t hear it quite well, it must have been something like "That’s impossible". He looks down at his hand, where until only a few seconds ago, he’s been holding a gun. The gun is now gone, as if it had vanished into smoke or never really existed in the first place.

Unable to speak, I just look at my own hands. How did I do that? All I did was hold out my hand in an attempt to calm him down. Instead of what I wanted to say, other words came out, words that I didn't and still don't know or remember.

As we’re standing across from each other, trying to understand what just happened, we can hear the sound of sirens getting closer. I just look at him.

"Let’s keep this between us," I finally manage to say. The guy slowly nods and swallows. His legs give way and he falls to his knees in a small puddle that suggests that he is probably scared beyond belief of me. I am scared beyond belief of me. I mean, I just did something impossible.

I used magic.

dream

It has been haunting me for a long time now. It wakes me from my sleep and keeps biting me when I'm awake. It leaves me unable to think clearly, like drink would after a night in the pub with friends. Images that keep repeating before my mind, whether I'm asleep or awake.

Not that dreams bother me much; I've dreamt before and will dream again and I could always let them go rather easily. Not this one though. Strange in origin, it was one that I could swear was not mine, yet I'm featuring in it and I also know the other participants. Maybe a strong fantasy keeps it alive, or just a lack of what I need - I simply don’t know. The images I keep seeing make me blush and wonder. Whose dream is it? Why do I see it now? What is its meaning?

No matter how it’s biting me or making me wonder, I keep in mind that it’s still a dream and nothing more than that. It is one that I dream when I'm awake and when I'm asleep. The biggest question for me would be, "Do the other participants in this dream dream the same? Would they feel the same things I do while watching this dream?" No matter what the case may be, for me the thoughts of this dream make something stir in my stomach. Things that could have been, or fantasies.

But in the end only one thing really matters. It's only a dream.

Miracle

Sand blows around the few buildings, which have seen better days. They tell a tale of a town full of life and people in its high days, and of the tragedy that happend, wich left it in the state it is in now. Surviving signs tell stories of social disintegration, of nature disappearing, leaving nothing but sand. A lost piece of paper blows past an entrance of a square building with boarded up windows and doors. From the entrance, the only door that has been left open, a man looks at the outside world with a nervous look on his face. Behind him in the building, a group of people is busy moving and rearranging furniture.

When a pain-filled scream suddenly arises, everybody jumps a little and gives an anxious glance in the direction of the origin of the scream. Not long after that, a few woman chase out the men who are too close to the screaming. The man who was watching the outside world gives a few orders to those who look a bit uncomfortable with being chased out. Quickly they do as he says to avoid the burning eyes of the others.
On the outside of the building, nothing gives away what is happening inside. The wind calms down a bit, as if the world itself is holding its breath. Inside, the cries grow more intense, and people begin to feel the pressure of not doing anything but listening. Minutes, hours pass, then one last long scream and then a deafening silence. The seconds pass as all now turn their faces inwards and pray.
After a few centuries long seconds, another scream emerges from inside. Together with the people inside, the wind outside the building wind picks up in a collective sigh of relief. People now come back to their senses, continuing with what they were doing with vigour so that they would be done in time.
Meanwhile the scream changes pitch and becomes more of a cry. Some of the people can’t hold back their tears anymore, for they know what the crying means. Everybody stops working for a second time when a woman appears in the hallway, still washing some blood off her hands, but with a tired but happy look on her face. She walks towards the man by the doorway, while fending off questions of the people in regard to the blood on her hands and her smile.
The man gives some orders to give the woman some room to explain and tell her story, but he cannot hide his own concern. She lays her hands on his shoulders and looks him deeply in the eyes. She tells him that he doesn’t need to worry and that everything is alright, with a big smile on her face. She lets him process all this for a moment and then steps back a bit.
Everybody around them listens to her with their breath held, waiting for the big word to come out. She looks around for a moment and then back at the man. As she says the words he has been waiting for, the people around them give way to a loud cheer. In the noise, she comes closer to him again to repeat the words. That he has become the father of a baby girl, and of the first child born in a long time.

The world which has died will become alive once again.

sacred and wild

Did you know that there are areas that are so mysterious that, despite having been explored, they are not? You know what I mean? Places where creatures live that haven't been discovered yet, that defy every explanation you could think of? I have been to such a place, not even very far from here.

How I got there, you ask? It wasn't easy, I can tell you that. What? You want me to take you there? Are you sure? Well then, it seems you’re in luck tonight. It’s one of the few nights we can go.
Why? Well, because of the red moon ,of course. Look at the forest behind you. Notice how big it is? Well, we have to go in there. Come on, there is nothing to be afraid of. Just follow me.
Did you know the trees in this forest are sacred to the locals? They say they hold some sort of power. I guess that you could call the place we are going to the source of that power. Ow, before I forget, you’d do well to remember the way, otherwise you might not find your way back in the dark.
Okay, I think we are here now. Let me see. Ah, yes. Can you see the moon? Yes? How is it? Not nearly at its highest? Okay, I guess we were a bit quicker than I thought; we have to wait a bit. Let me use the time to give you a little warning. Oh no, that wasn't really a warning, well, not in the sense this one is. That one was similiar to "don't step in that turd". This one is a proper warning though.  
There are creatures in this area that look a lot like us humans. They are very beautiful and intelligent, but they are also wild. Wild beyond belief, and they will kill you if you try to come too close. How I know this? Ouh, that is a difficult one to answer without scaring you.
Very well, then. The last time I was here they killed the one that was with me. How is the moon now? Is it at its highest point? Good, let’s move on then. What, you have doubts now? Don’t worry. If you don't get too close, you will be fine. There, do you see a faint shimmering between those trees? No, between the ones hanging towards each other. That’s right. Let’s go, before we are to late.
I will go first. Don’t worry, it feels a bit like you pass a thin screen of water. Nah, you won’t get wet, it’s just the feeling. There you are. Well, what did I tell you? Amazing, isn't it?
How much time we have? Uh, a couple of hours at most, I believe. What? You saw a flash of light? Where? Wait, ah yes, I saw it too this time. That is one of their riding animals. Something like a horse. Magnificent, isn’t it? Wait, don't go after it, you can't catch it anyway. How I know? Because I already tried. See how fast it is?
There, that’s one of the creatures I was talking about before. Yes, she is beautiful. Be still; if she even thinks that you might want to catch her, we’ll be in a lot of trouble.
There to your right, look. Others. I think they are hunting. Try not to move; it seems to me that they are on edge. They have seen us.
Why there are only women? I'm not sure, now you mention that. I think I have never seen a man before. It must be something with their culture. Come on, let’s leave them to their hunt.
What? You want to stay? Are you mad?
You can't. Why? Because this isn't your world. Now come along, the moon is descending. What they are? I like to think that they are the spirits of the forest. Sacred and wild spirits.
What? The moon changed colour? Ah, yes. It seems that we were back just in time. Sure, if you remember the way, you can get back here anytime you want. Just remember my warnings.