Abby's mystery shack

How to Create a Voki Avatar

Abby Sledd

            A Voki avatar, more simply known as a Voki, is an elusive creature. Actually, a Voki is just an animated character. You can personalize what it looks like, how it sounds, and what it says. This is a great way to convey your message on a website. It grabs peoples’ attention, and is a more entertaining way for them to get information. Today, we will go over the steps of creating your very own Voki!

            First, go to www.voki.com. There should be an orange button near the middle of the screen that says “try it- it’s free.” Click the button to begin the process. You will then be presented with a randomly generated Voki! Click the head and shoulders under the “customize” tab. Clicking the arrows on the left and right side will give you different groups of Vokis. This will narrow in on what type of Voki you want.

            Once you select a Voki, you can alter its colors using the colorful square under the Voki. Choose your tab, select a shade, and then drag your mouse to the different variants to select the perfect color.  Once you have perfected the color, move on to the head with an afro. This is where you select the hair. Some Vokis have a wide variety of choices, while others have onlyone or two hair styles. You can also alter the hair color. Just choose one that you like.

            Once you are happy with the hair, you might be able to change the mouth or facial hair. If you see those icons, feel free to explore them. After that, you can move on to clothing and bling. Once you are happy with how your Voki looks, you can click the green done button. This will close the “customize” tab and it gives you access to the “voice” tab.

            You can give your Voki a voice in many different ways. If you click the telephone, it will provide you with a phone number and a passcode. You can call the phone number and tell them the code to send them exactly what you want your Voki to say. If you click the keyboard button, you can type a message for your Voki to recite. This is probably the easiest way to give your Voki a voice. You can type what you want your Voki to say, then click the play button to preview it. You can then save your Voki onto your device of choice and publish it.

            In short, a Voki is a fun way to give or receive information. It draws people in and keeps them entertained. A Voki is a creative way to approach a serious problem. It gives you a fun way to convey information. Have fun making your Voki!

The Color Wheel

Abby Sledd

            Michelangelo Caravaggio was a famous Italian painter. His paintings were known for his use of dramatic lighting and a depth of human emotion. He used warm colors, like red or yellow, to give his paintings a dramatic flare that earned him great respect. His work combined a sense of naturalism with a theatric splash of color and lighting. Caravaggio used drastic changes between shadows and light to show the true depth of human feelings.

            Caravaggio used a combination of colors such as yellow, yellow orange, orange, red orange, and red to convey his scenes. Had he not used this technique, I personally don’t think his work would have been as highly respected. His art could have been seen as simple or boring. But by utilizing the warm end of the color wheel, Caravaggio brought a new layer of craftsmanship to his work. The drastic changes between light and dark brought a new idea of depth to the art world. His work brought on a whole new era of conveying human emotion through art.

The House

Abby Sledd

            “Are you sure about this, guys?” I asked from across an expansive but unkempt lawn.

            “Just go in, you dork!” My brother and his friends taunted back, “Unless you’re scared.”

I had wanted to seem cool with them, but this was just too much. I had always wanted to hang out with my brother and his group. They were some of the coolest people I had ever met, but they always manage to get some into… let’s just call it trouble. They were known as nefarious trouble-makers amongst the adults of the neighborhood. 

            “I’m not scared,” I muttered under my breath as I clenched up fists. I was trying to convince myself more now than anyone else.

            I whipped away from the group of boys and stomped up the rickety steps. I stood in front of the large oak door, suddenly feeling very miniscule. I reached out to gently brush my hand delicately over the rough, splintery wood of the door. I imagined when it had been first made, the polish glistening off the carved wood. I closed my eyes and reached for the knob.’

            “What’s taking you so long?!” my brother rudely interrupted my thoughts.

            I rolled my eyes and jerked the doorknob. The door swung inwards, covering me in an ancient wall of dust. I coughed and sputtered as I walked into the historic mansion. As I glanced up towards the high ceiling the heavy door slammed shut behind me. I whipped around, my curly hair swirling around and hitting me in the face in the process. I choked on my own hair, and the dust had settled in a new layer once I had finally gathered myself. I pulled my glasses off my face, attempting to wipe them clear of the grime, but I only succeeded in smearing the dirt even more. I sighed, putting the glasses back on my face, they would have to do.

            I slowly crept up the creaking spiral staircase directly in front of me. I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks. I hesitantly craned my neck upwards. I knew I had heard something coming from upstairs. But what? I stood silently for a few moments, when I finally heard it again. It was something around scraping. No. Scratching. But there was something else there. I raked my brain trying to make out what it was. There it went again!

            It was gentle and calming, “Meow.”

            “Meow?” I asked, bounding up the final stairs two steps at a time. Was I just imagining this? No I had heard the sound clear as day. It had to be a cat.

            I reached the top of the stairs, and sure enough, there stood a scrawny yellow cat. People always had thought this building was haunted because they had heard noises. Had it been the cat the entire time? As I was puzzling throughout my mind, the cat purred and wound itself through my legs. I scooped up the petite, dappled feline and headed back to the front door.

            It hadn’t even locked behind me.

Tagxedo

Abby Sledd

            This art piece is a likeness of my face made up of descriptive words. I handpicked over 50 words that I thought accurately described me. Many of my words are based on what I think of myself, and what others told me they thought of me. I entered all of the words into Tagxedo and I also entered a picture of myself on a white background. The website automatically placed the words so they formed a likeness of my face. I could then alter the color and clarity of the words from there.

            One of the very important words to me is performer. I am very interested in acting, and have been in plays since I was very young. I am always performing for others, which can give me an advantage in other things. Another word I love is effervescent. I am always trying to be kind to others, and my personality can be very loud and contagious. One more word I love is shooting-star. It reminds me that no matter what is happening, I have a bright future, and everything I do leaves a trail. Plus, it’s a Gravity Falls reference. 

            In short, my words represent who I am and who I want to be. I think this represents me far more than a paragraph can. Paragraphs are very set, and are filled with filler words with relation to me. This is a freer way to represent me. I can enter as little or as many words as I can come up with. It is all based on what I want to do, and how I want to represent myself. A Tagxedo is based on endless rules and filler words like a paragraph.

            

Abby Sledd

Graffiti Wall

            Graffiti is when an artist uses spray paint or another media to create an art piece on a public building. Many people use it to send a message or represent something. It is an easy way to make sure people see your artwork, despite the fact that it is illegal in many places. Others do graffiti to be defiant to “the man”. They want to show people that they can’t be controlled by common laws. Either way, graffiti is a unique and interesting way to express oneself.

            To create your graffiti wall, first go to http://postergen.com/graffiti-creator. Type you name in the text box. You can alter the color of you name underneath the generated example. Click the generate button to preview your word. Do this with your descriptive words as well. Be sure to change the background of all your words to white. You can then enter your brick wall background onto a blank PowerPoint presentation. Be sure that you remove the background when you enter your words into the PowerPoint.

            I chose words that I thought would represent me. These words are simple, unique ways to describe me as a person. I used some of my favorite words from the Tagxedo project.  These are the words that stood out to me. If you attempt this, I would encourage you to choose words that speak to you. Try do describe yourself, but avoid letting others tell you how to describe you.

Abby Sledd

Food Face

            Acrimboldo made his portraits using different, nonhuman objects. He used things such as food, flowers, birds, and sea animals. He wanted to show how there are many different components making up a person. Someone’s mind might seem very cluttered to one person, but all the pieces come together like a puzzle to another. His work shows how no person is just one thing, we are all made up of different components.

            I chose some items that I would enjoy, but aren’t the first foods you might think of. I used foods that are not quite your typical choice when you walk into a store. I also used references to foods I liked. I put an avocado pit for his nose, to reference my love for guacamole, yet without putting in guacamole. These foods are foods I enjoy or have enjoyed, and I think my food face looks quite delicious.

President Social Media

Abby Sledd

                My name is John Tyler. I am the tenth President of the United States of America. Before I was president, I lived on a plantation in Virginia. I was later elected state legislator, governor, U.S. Representative, and a member of the U.S. Senate. Being born into an aristocratic family gave me the money and status to help me win my elections.

                I wasn’t originally supposed to become president. I entered office as vice president for William H. Harrison. However, he was assassinated soon after his inauguration. I then entered office and completed the remainder of his term. I didn’t run for a second term and I retired to my plantation back in Virginia.

                While I was in office, I didn’t associate with any political party. I was initially part of the Whig party, but I disagreed with most of their choices and I was expelled from the party. I only had one major action plan during my Presidency. I began the annexation of the Republic of Texas into the United States. The Republic of Texas was fully annexed shortly after my term ended, and I am proud that I can say I began the entire thing.

T-Shirt Design Persuasive

Abby Sledd

                I think it is very important to celebrate school spirit. Many children can grow tired of doing the same thing day-in and day-out. Spirit celebrations can be great ways to mix up the daily routine with a fun and lively twist. Another benefit is the participation and work effort average. Students will be eager and happy to learn if they are proud and satisfied with the learning atmosphere.

                School spirit celebrations can be a great way to interest a student in going to school. Many children grow bored of following the same routine. Others may feel they are wasting time by participating in something so stiff and scheduled. School celebrations can get students excited about what goes on at school and eager to continue working towards a better school. School spirit celebrations a good way to change the boring schedules and strict times of the normal school day.

                Spirit celebrations are also a good way to get students to support their school. If a student is excited and proud of their school, they will be happy to get there every day. If they know they attend a great school, they will be eager to participate in the school learning activities. School spirit celebrations can show children how important and impressive their school really is. School spirit celebrations are great ways for students to become excited and proud about attending school and participating in the learning opportunities.

Zen Tangle

Abby Sledd

                Creating a Zen Tangle is a very unique and peaceful experience. Using your creativity in something such as this is a great way to exercise your mind and feelings. The instructions may seem tedious, but the pure perfection of the beautiful designs reveals the true nature of the art. Not being able to erase your mistakes makes you aware of your every movement. And the feeling of finding the perfect Tangle to utilize in your work is irreplaceable. Digitally editing your Tangle is also a great way to find the perfect translation of your work.

                Making a Zen Tangle is a great way to utilize your brain and your heart at the same time. You use your heart and feelings to decide on which Tangle to draw. Your emotions often dictate the size, color, and style of your Tangles. However, you need to use your brain to draw the Tangles perfectly. You must think of how to follow the directions and still add your own unique twist.

                Drawing a Zen Tangle is a very creative way to find a new part of yourself. You discover a new place in your mind when you are aware of every slight movement your hand makes. You find a new sort of control when your pen glides over the paper. You also find new parts of your heart and soul while searching for the Tangle to next use in your work. It is amazing to discover how different styles of Tangle can speak to you and how you can sometimes tell a story with them. By the time your Tangle is completed, you have a piece of art that can tell any history or story.   

                When I began editing my Zen Tangle, I wanted something that would let the colors and patterns pop off the page. I found a lovely filter that added a sort of brightness to the colors swirling on my paper. This allowed the blackness of my Tangles to differentiate greatly from the background. This added a whole new sense of movement and depth to my piece. Creating my Zen Tangle was certainly a magical and unique experience.

Abby Sledd

Short Story

                The man waded through the cool water, camera in hand, and listened to the crashing waterfall. He had been searching through this cave for years, and this was the last branch of the cavern. There were many caves in the area, but the man had chosen just this one to search. He felt certain that the treasure he was probing for was just at the top of the falls. He had refused when his old team suggested searching a different cave. He felt the need to be right, and wanted to capture his moment of justification on camera.

                He pulled himself onto the cool rocks at the base of the waterfall. Harsh beads of water sprayed his face, and he grinned at the cool stinging of the impact. He removed his grappling hook from his belt, swung it over his head, and hooked it to a rock at the top of the falls. The man tested the hold of the hook, and began to climb when he was satisfied with the security. His feet found rocks to hook onto, and he pulled up his body using the sturdy rope. He beamed in delight at each foot of altitude he gained.

                He switched on the camcorder in his hand when he reached the final stretch of rocky climbing. He began to think about the satisfaction of finally finding the treasure and proving to his old team that he had been right. He climbed as he imagined their reactions. The open-mouthed faces stared at him in his imaginary scenario, and he relished in the prospect of telling them he was right. They would beg to split to money with him when he found the treasure, but he planned to refuse them since they had given up on him.

                He pulled himself over the final rocky cliff, and prepared himself to see gold and shining jewels sitting in front of him. However, instead of seeing the riches he had dreamed of for years, he saw a simple stone room with a small pond at the center from which the waterfall fell. He stood there in dismay for a moment, before he felt anger boiling up inside him. His face turned red with steam and his fists clenched into tight balls as they shook in frustration.  He screamed in fury as he realized he was wrong.

               All his work had been pointless, and his old team had been right. The man was furious when he realized his mistake. He suddenly knew that instead of dwelling on one unlikely candidate, he should have spread out to other caves that had a better prospect of housing the ancient treasures he searched for. He collapsed in defeat as he accepted his defeat. He had spent all of his money and all of his time working in a cave that gave him nothing in return. His very fears had come true, and he was undoubtedly wrong.

Body-Shaming

Abby Sledd

Body-shaming is a big problem in today’s world. Women are being judged and insulted for something they might not be able to control. Overweight women are being told they don’t care about their bodies enough. Smaller-framed women are being told they care about their bodies too much. It seems impossible for women to be happy in any body. Society needs to learn to be open minded and accepting towards all body types.

The first problem is fat-shaming. Larger women are assumed to be ugly or lazy. However, sometimes these women can’t control their weight. Sometimes a woman is overweight due to genes or a mental problem. Insults are things such as “ugly pig,” “lazy,” or “fatty.” The comments are a hurtful form of fat-shaming.

The next problem is skinny-shaming. Smaller women are assumed to be vain or rude. However, just as much as being overweight is uncontrollable, being skinny is also a natural occurrence. Some women are born with naturally strong metabolisms, and others just enjoy exercise. Many insults such as “only dogs like bones,” “toothpick,” and “real women have curves” have begun to arise in the media. The comments put down one body type to build up another. This is the main reason behind skinny-shaming.

Overall, what this world needs is acceptance. Society is far too judgmental for anyone to be happy. Everyone needs to learn to be more accepting. People shouldn’t put down one body type just to build up another. People shouldn’t put down body types at all.

In short, one of today’s major problems is body shaming. Overweight women are considered ugly or disgusting. Smaller women are considered vain and mean. Society needs to learn to be accepting. Even if the change occurs one person at a time.

Keep Calm

Abby Sledd

How has the Keep Calm poster become so popular? Well, I believe it is most likely due to the visual details of the poster. It seems to be very aesthetically pleasing. People enjoy the font, coloring, and uniqueness of the poster. These factors helped it gain the popularity it has today.

First off, the font on the poster is very fitting. It is easy to read due to the simplicity it holds. The words clearly and seamlessly fill the whole poster. These things make it easy and pleasing to read. But it isn’t just the font that makes the words so nice to read.

Secondly the color combination makes the poster easy on the eyes. The white lettering stands out against the solid background. The red coloring isn’t too harsh to look at. And the simple combo of the two seems natural and peaceful. The coloring helps the poster to stand out.

The poster is very recognizable in today’s culture. The size of the poster makes it noticeable without making it obnoxious. The colors make it easy to spot on any kind of wall or other surface. The crown is a distinguishable detail on every poster. It is obviously a noticeable feature in modern style.

Overall, the poster is popular because of its visuals. The poster is very aesthetically pleasing. People enjoy the lettering, colors, and size of the poster. It stands out from the crowd. And it will be remembered as a classic icon for the ages.

Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons

Your goal is to defeat Probabilitor before everyone else. You must move across the board towards your final location near the center of the board. Can you be the fastest, strongest, and most intelligent of the heroes?

Includes

  • Board
  • Three decks of cards
  • Pieces
  • Two Journals
  • Dice

How to start your turn

  • Each player begins on the start space in the corner. Players must begin their turns in the order of youngest to oldest.
  • Read the black tab in the story journal aloud before beginning the first round of turns.
  • To move forward, shake the container with the dice and look at the resulting number. Move forward the same number of spaces as the dice show.

 

How to react to each space

  • Black/blank: Do nothing, your turn is over. Pass the dice to the next player.
  • Green: Take the top card off the weapons stack. All weapon cards will be green.
  • Yellow: Take the top card off the battle stack. All battle cards will be yellow. Follow the directions on your card.
  • Yellow with red: Pick up the card and follow the instructions
  • Red: DO NOT PASS THIS SPACE UNTIL YOU turn to the red tab in the story journal with the corresponding number. Read the page SILENTLY. When finished reading, roll the dice again, move forward that number of spaces. Your turn ends after this.
  • Purple: Turn to the purple tab in the story journal and SILENTLY read. Roll the dice when you finish and move forward that number of spaces before ending your turn.
  • Blue: Turn to the blue tab in the story journal and SILENTLY read. Follow the instructions to end the game.
  • Pink: Turn to the pink tab in the story journal and SILENTLY read. Follow the instructions.
  • Brown: This is the re-spawn base. You will return to this spot if you are instructed to later on in the game.

 

How to win and end the game

  • The first player to reach the end of the board and defeat Probabilitor wins. After a player wins, you can stop the game or let the remaining players complete the game as well.

Abby Sledd

Anime script


IDELLA BLOUNT- At 16 years old, Idella is relatively short for her age, standing at only around 5”3’. She has curly, dark brown hair and sea-green eyes. She has great love and respect for her parents, but can also be determined and hard-headed when she is in a dire situation. (She’s also pretty sarcastic)

CLARINE BLOUNT- IDELLA’s mother, she stands around 5”4’. She has curly black hair and green eyes. She cares for her daughter and holds an unconditional love for her family.

GEOFFREY BLOUNT- CLARINE’s husband and IDELLA’s father, he stands at about 5”5’. He has brown hair and pale blue eyes. He is a wealthy business owner (therefore his family has a personal boat) and is very affectionate, but he knows when to take charge to protect his wife and daughter.

CAPTAIN- The Captain is the paid captain of the Blounts’ ship. He has light hair and dark eyes, and he stands at about 5”5’. He is a strong leader who is organized and is good at planning,

CLARKE- Clarke is the captain of the pirate ship IDELLA is brought on. He stands at 5”6’ and he has black hair with pale blue eyes. He is seemingly very strict and unforgiving, but he is affectionate and soft at heart.

AARON- Aaron is the first mate under CLARKE, and he works very hard to get what he wants. He stands very tall at 5”8’, and he has dusty blond hair with dark brown eyes. Once he sets his mind to something, he won’t let anyone get in his way.

THOMAS- Even at 17, Thomas is still the cabin boy of CLARKE’s pirate ship. He stands at 5”4’ and has blond hair and hazel eyes. He is easily persuaded and has a hard time standing up for himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*IDELLA and CLARINE stand on the deck of a ship. They look off at the horizon, which shows a rising sun. The sky is splashed with fiery red and orange hues and the shape of another ship is silhouetted in the background. Crew members work on the ship behind the women doing sailor-ish stuff.*

IDELLA: *nervously muttering* Red sky at night, sailors’ delight. Red sky at morning… sailors take warning.

CLARINE: *after overhearing her daughter’s statement* I understand that the weather at sea can be a bit worrying at times, but as I’ve told you many times before, our ship is one of the safest vessels on the water these days.

IDELLA: *sighing in response to her mother* I suppose you are right, mother. But everything aboard this ship seems terribly slow. Yes, this ship is sturdy, but speed is clearly not a strong suit in the design.

GEOFFREY: *quietly sneaking up behind IDELLA and CLARINE* And how are you two lovely ladies this fine morn? *he playfully bows to CLARINE and gently kisses her hand*

CLARINE: *giggling* Good morning, Dear Husband.

IDELLA: *joyful* Father!

GEOFFREY: *standing up and addressing IDELLA* Always wonderful to see you, Darling, but I’m afraid your mother and I will have to cut this visit short. The Captain wishes to see the two of us in his cabin.

CLARINE: *to IDELLA* Stay here, dear, we will be back before you will even know we were gone.

*GEOFFREY offers his arm and CLARINE takes it. They turn and walk towards the other end of the deck and towards the CAPTAIN’s quarters. IDELLA turns back to the horizon and watches the sunrise for a moment. She glances to her right and notices the other ship. She watches curiously as the British flag is lowered from its mast and she seems stunned when a black flag with a red skull is raised in its place and the second ship turns to pursue her own. She quickly races to the nearest crew member. She attempts to alert many of the crew members but they all brush her off or ignore her. She turns and runs to the Captain’s quarters. She bursts into the room and sees her parents speaking with the Captain.*

IDELLA: *breathless and kind of nervous or hesitant* Please excuse me… I hate to interrupt but… uh… I do believe our ship is currently being pursued… by…

CAPTAIN: *muttering to himself but loud enough for everyone to overhear* Pirates? Impossible, I thought they were in Spain.

GEOFFREY: *worried* Can we outrun them?

CAPTAIN: *still speaking relatively to himself* No, this ship is too slow. *after thinking for a while; in control again* You two, take your daughter and lock yourselves in your cabin. Do not, under any circumstances, open the door for anyone but myself. Am I clear? This is your only chance for survival. My crew and I will try to fight them off… but I can’t promise you anything.

*the Captain races out the door and onto the deck, you can faintly hear him barking orders at the crew. GEOFFREY, CLARINE, and IDELLA exit through the back door and into the hall, they race down the hall to the very last room and quickly rush inside. They all sit in the corner and GEOFFREY locks the door behind them.*

GEOFFREY: *whispering and nervous* We must stay here and be as quiet as possible.

*They sit for a moment in silence as they listen to the swords clashing above them, slowly but surely, everything grows silent. The sound of light footsteps echo down the hall and stop in front of the locked door.*

CLARINE: *hesitant* Captain?

CAPTAIN: *stuttering and meekly* Yes, yes it’s me. You can, uh, come out now, we, uh, we chased off the pirates.

CLARINE: *relieved* Oh, thank the heavens.

*GEOFFREY quickly stands and begins to unlock the door*

IDELLA: *she was suspicious to begin with, and finally realizes what is going on; she calls out* Wait!

AARON: *the unlocked door bursts open to reveal the CAPTAIN with another man. The pirate has his sword pointed at the CAPTAIN and steps into the room to confront the family* How polite of you to cooperate. Now, if you wouldn’t mind coming on deck with us that would be wonderful.

*GEOFFREY, CLARINE, and IDELLA allow themselves to be led above deck by AARON, the CAPTAIN follows behind them. On deck, all the crew members are standing, unarmed, in one corner. They are surrounded by pirates who hold them at sword-point. Men from both sides are injured, but seemingly none are dead. CLARKE stands amongst the pirates, but he is obviously the one in charge.  He swiftly places his sword in his sheath when he sees the family come on deck, and he quickly turns and strolls over to them*

CLARKE: *to GEOFFREY and CLARINE* Ah, and here you two are. You are quite the elusive people aren’t you? It’s taken me quite a while to locate you. *he looks at IDELLA* And it seems like you’ve been keeping some secrets as well. *He thinks for a moment while staring at IDELLA* And so, for the hassle I have endured, I believe a trade is in order. I shall leave you and the crew of this entire ship alone, and my crew and I shall not take any goods with us when we leave. No harm will come to anyone aboard this ship; under one condition. We take your daughter with us. Seems like a fair deal to me. *GEOFFREY and CLARINE are stunned, and most of the pirates seem confused as well* Take her.

*AARON removes a small bit of rope from his belt and ties together IDELLA’s hands*

CLARINE: *frantic and in tears* No! Please, not again.

CLARKE: Let’s go, men!

IDELLA: No! Mother! Father!

*CLARKE takes hold of a rope and uses it to swing over to his own ship, which is anchored mere feet away from the other, the other pirates follow suit. AARON grabs a rope with one hand and picks up IDELLA with the other before swinging the two of them to the pirate ship. Once on the deck, AARON sets IDELLA down and takes a strong hold on her shoulder. He begins to guide her down a hall and below-deck*

IDELLA: *struggling against AARON’s hold* Let me go! You people have no right to take me hostage!

AARON: *annoyed* I’m afraid we have all the rights and power here. You have no chance of escaping, so all this struggling and screaming is really useless and it would be better for all of us if you were to settle down. No harm will come to you if your parents follow our Captain’s orders.

*IDELLA stops struggling and allows AARON to lead her all the way to the end of the hall where he stops in front of a door. He takes a dagger out of his belt loop and slices through the ropes around IDELLA’s wrists*

AARON: The Captain wishes to speak to you before you are moved to your quarters. *IDELLA is stunned and doesn’t move* Just walk inside.

*IDELLA hesitantly opens the large door and walks into the darkened room. It is wide and decorated with various skulls, teeth, bones fossils, and preserved animals*

CLARKE: Hello there, Idella. Please take a seat. *IDELLA sits in the nearest wooden chair* I apologize for the inconvenience this has put you through, but there was simply no other way for me to speak to you or your parents. *IDELLA stays silent* Tell me, do you happen to have any siblings?

IDELLA: *curtly* No.

CLARKE: *muttering and exasperated* No, of course not. I should have known they wouldn’t tell you.

IDELLA: *curious* Tell me what?

CLARKE: *sighing* Before you were born, when your parents were just married, they had a son named Clarke. When he was close to the age of 10, they took him out on the very same boat you were just on. But, while they were at sea, a band of pirates raided the ship. They took many hostages, including the young boy.

IDELLA: *excited and hopeful* I have a brother? Do you know where he is?

CLARKE: He’s sitting right in front of you.

IDELLA: *disbelieving* No, there’s no way. That’s impossible.

CLARKE: Look at my face, don’t you see the resemblance? I grew up on this ship as a part of these pirates, my home is the sea and these men are my family. I only wish to speak to our parents and ease their fears. They know not what became of me, and they won’t listen to me unless it is of their own free will.

IDELLA: *sarcastic* So that’s why you kidnapped me. So you could use me as leverage to talk to my parents.

CLARKE: Well, broadly speaking, yes. I was originally just going to speak to them on your boat, but I realized that they didn’t recognize me. So I came up with a new plan on the spot, which we all know relies heavily on you. *changing the subject* Waiting just outside the door is the man who brought you here, Aaron, and our cabin boy, Thomas. They will show you to your room.

IDELLA: *confused* Room?

CLARKE: We don’t expect you to live in the brig like a prisoner. We are pirates, not monsters.

IDELLA: *standing* Very well. *jokingly with a smirk on her face* Farewell, brother mine.

CLARKE: *pleased* Farewell, dear sister.

*IDELLA leaves the room and sees the two men, AARON and THOMAS, waiting for her in the hall*

AARON: *seemingly rushed* Hello again. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave shortly, pressing matters have come up. But Thomas here can take you to your room.

*AARON shoves past IDELLA and THOMAS and races down the hall and around a corner.*

IDELLA: *taken aback* What on Earth was that all about?

THOMAS: I’ll tell you on the way to your room, but we must make haste. Like he said, pressing matters.

*THOMAS grabs IDELLA by the hand and begins to quickly lead her down the hall. They run through what seems like a maze of twists and turns before AARON suddenly stops and places his ear against a nearby wall. IDELLA does the same and hears hushed voices from the other side. AARON grabs her hand once more and drags her down the hall again. After turning a corner, they duck into a room.*

IDELLA: *She pulls her hand away from Aaron’s and is shocked* What is going on here?

THOMAS: *in a hushed voice but still listening for footsteps* Ssh. The pirates are planning a mutiny. They’ve never really liked the Captain, but you coming aboard seems to be the final straw for them.

IDELLA: *whispering* Me?

THOMAS: They believe it is bad luck for a woman to be aboard a ship. I have no doubt that Aaron is making plans with the others as we speak.

IDELLA: What will happen?

THOMAS: It’s hard to say, but you and the Captain are in danger either way. This is your room, and you must stay in it at all costs. I have keys to some of the doors on the ship, including this one. I’m the only one that can unlock this door. I’ll lock it behind you, but, for now, you must sleep. Depending on how things go, tomorrow may be a big day for you. *He turns to leave*

IDELLA: Goodbye, and... Thank you.

THOMAS: Farewell. *He opens the door and walks out into the hallway. IDELLA hears the lock click a few seconds after.*

*The room has a small bed in the corner of the room that takes up most of the space. IDELLA lays on it and quickly falls asleep.*

*It is the next morning, and IDELLA opens her eyes to see AARON towering over her. His sword is draw and he holds it inches from her throat. Other pirates fill the room with their swords drawn as well*

IDELLA: *sleepy and confused* What in the world… What is going on here?

AARON: *mocking and condescending* It’s called a mutiny. We’re rising up against the Captain of this fine vessel.

IDELLA: And what does any of that have to do with me?

AARON: Us men know that women aboard a ship bring bad luck, and we don’t need you getting in our way.

IDELLA: *annoyed and slightly angry* How did you even get in this room! Thomas has the only key.

AARON: And he let us in.

IDELLA: *sarcastic* What are you going to do, tie me up?

AARON: Yes, actually. But we’ll need to take you above deck first.

*IDELLA stands and allows herself to be led above-deck at sword-point. THOMAS stands near the door to the deck and is clearly trying to avoid IDELLA when he sees her*

AARON: *shouting* Hey, you, cabin boy! Tie her to the mast! I’ve got work to do.

*AARON turns and heads toward CLARKE’s room. The pirates direct IDELLA to the large main mast and toss some rope to THOMAS. He begins to tie IDELLA to the mast.*

THOMAS: *whispering as he works* Look, I’m sorry, but they had me at sword-point. They would have killed me if I didn’t do what they told me to.

IDELLA: *whispering but still super angry* Well now they’re going to kill me!

THOMAS: Look, just stay calm and quiet, and I’ll try to convince them to let you go back to your parents. These guys may be pretty bad, but they’re not murderers.

*AARON comes aboard deck and proceeds to give a quick pep-talk to the pirates. THOMAS stands at the back of the huddle. CLARKE comes on deck and confronts the men.*

CLARKE: What do you want Aaron?

AARON: This ship. We have all come to the agreement that you are not qualified to captain this vessel or this crew. You let a woman on board, for Pete’s sake!

*CLARKE looks at the pirates gathered, swords drawn, behind AARON, then glances at IDELLA.*

CLARKE: Fine, if it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get. But at least let her go home. I brought her here against her will, so you shouldn’t take this out on her.

AARON: Deal.

*CLARKE and AARON begin to fight while the pirates look on. After a while, CLARKE is unarmed by AARON. AARON proceeds to thrust his sword through CLARKE’s body and IDELLA watches in horror as her brother collapses to the deck in a pool of blood.*

IDELLA: *calling out in shock* No!

AARON: *he takes out his handkerchief and wipes the blood from his sword.* Now that that’s finished, *he turns and points his sword at IDELLA* it’s your turn.

THOMAS: *stunned, he jumps between AARON and IDELLA* But… you promised him you would let her go!

AARON: *shrugging* What can I say, I’m a pirate. I lie.

THOMAS: No. You can’t do this.

AARON: I do what I want.

*AARON takes his sword and cuts a gash into THOMAS’s leg. THOMAS cries out in pain and falls to the ground. AARON walks over to IDELLA and cuts through the ropes that bind her to the mast. He grabs her by the forearm and pushes her to the railing of the ship. He holds her against the edge of the boat as she slowly begins to lose her balance*

AARON: Any last words?

IDELLA: *spitting in AARON’s face* None that you need to hear.

AARON: *condescending* Good to know.

*AARON thrusts his sword through IDELLA’s abdomen and watches as she gasps for air. He slowly pulls his sword from her body as a red stain soaks her dress and her eyes begin to glaze over.*

THOMAS: *calling out in shock* I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

IDELLA: *whispering, but only loud enough so that AARON and THOMAS can hear her*  I forgive you.

*AARON pushes IDELLA over the side of the ship and she plummets into the sea below. Her dress begins to grow heavy with the soaked up water and she begins to sink. A trail of cloudy red blood is left floating in the water behind her.*

Evil Creatures

A sonnet by Abby Sledd

 

The Autumnal leaves fall on the crisp ground,

The moon of the harvest is bright to see.

The calling for the howling of the hound,

The warning enemies hear while they flee.

 A crimson landscape over all who live,

Surviving all above the turquoise day,

The creatures feeding off the love we give.

The true form evil takes in every way.

 

The only evil all true humans fear

Is death and sadness that leaves our hearts sore.

We all have lost so many who were dear

And others may have lost so many more.

Despite how we run and we make a fuss,

The monsters we evade are simply us.