Eye of Worth 7

 Eye of Worth 7

    "I see you escaped your companion." He said

    I smiled slightly, "I see you have been watching. I hope you don't expect me shower you with adulation like her."

    He bowed deeply, "Of course not. It was evident the moment you walked in the door that you did not plan to shower your attention on anybody."

    "Is that why you approached me?"

    he smiled, "You are like a breath of fresh air in this stuffy room."

    "Sounds like you're the one seeking a object for your attention," I said and walked past him.

    "How cruel," he chuckled as he followed me to the bar.

    I perched on a stool and set my purse on the counter so the symbol was face up. I looked at a displayed list of drinks next to my purse but gave up halfway through.

    "Gin and tonic," I said to the bartender.

    He nodded his head and turned slightly to face the raven man next to me.

    "Bourbon."

    The bartender nodded then turned to grab glasses behind him.

    "So what do I call you?" The raven asked.

    "You can call me Iris."

    Our drinks were set down in front of us, but the man waited to speak until the bartender moved off, "I was not expected just a pretty name."

    I laughed, making it light and airy, "That's what everyone says before they learn the rest."

    "The rest?"

    I smiled slightly and turned my drink, "I think I will call you Raven."

    He chuckled softly, "I get it. No more talk of names."

    "Smart. What are you doing in this group?"

    "In the Eye of Worth?" he took a swig of his bourbon, "I thought it would be interesting but so far I only see pretentious people who care for nothing but themselves."

    I looked around the room. Alice had moved somewhere I couldn't see but very few people moved from the group they were talking with. I turned back to Raven, "You don't seem too listless, for someone finding this group lacking in excitement."

    He gave a flat smile, "Aslam is charismatic. That's a good quality for a leader to have, especially for this bunch, but there's something about him that bugs me. I want to know what it is."

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Eye of Worth 6

 Eye of Worth 6

    "They won't ask for our names when we get there and many people use aliases anyway. But they have a specific greeting to recognize members and a symbol that must be worn somewhere on them when they attend parties."

    "I assume you have a way to get past that."

    "The symbol is on my mask and the purse in the glove box is for you."

    I opened the glove box to see a black clutch. On one side was the black fabric had been cut out showing showing the silver underneath. The cutouts formed a feminine eye with a star instead of its iris.

    "It's like your knew what dress I was going to wear," I said as I looked at Alice.

    "I may or may not have hacked into your home system to make sure the purse matched."

    I rolled my eyes, "And what about the greeting?"

    "It's pretty simple actually. The first person says: 'Who shall know true worth.' Then we respond with: 'Only those who pursue true passion.' it may deviate based on the situation but that's basically it."

    "It sounds like it came straight out of a bad movie," I said, "Who came up with it?"

    "The ringleader, who else."

    I frowned but didn't say anything because we had arrived at an unmarked building that had glass on all sides. Alice parked in the underground garage that was almost empty. We put on our masks and walk to an elevator. Alice pressed B1 and we descended to a lower floor. The elevator opened to a dim hallway with barely used carpet, Alice led the way to the only lit room. The room was filled with people, the only place they weren't clustered was the black stage in the middle of the room. It contained a piano and it made me wonder if this room was just a rented space. Food decorated a table in one corner and a bar in another. There were several places to sit but most people were standing and chatting. Everyone was dressed in fine clothing with masks. The lighting was brighter than what was outside but dim enough that the masks shaded faces really well.

    A man, resembling a peacock, walked up to us, "Welcome, welcome!"

    Alice turned on the charm and smiled, "Sorry we're late."

    "Don't worry, after all those who know true worth..."

    "Are only those who pursue true passion," Alice said without hesitation.

    The man beamed at us, "We're just getting started so please feel free to pursue passion."

    If Alice was diving headfirst into her role than I should as well. While Alice continued chatting with peacock man, I moved towards the bar. I poured elegance into my walk and kept my head high. It had been a long time since I used this persona in front of people but it settled over me like a glove. before I reached the bar a man stepped into my path. he was dressed in dark blue and his mask gave the subtle impression of a bird.

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Eye of Worth 5

 Eye of Worth 5

    I opened the door to see Alice dressed in a gold one shoulder gown with shear fabric hung off the back of the beaded shoulder. The empire waist was also beaded and she was holding a gold half mask in her hands. The gold matched well with her olive skin tone and gave her regal air.

    "You look like a Greek goddess."

    She smiled, "Thanks."

    She looked me over. The dress I settled on was a black and silver mermaid gown with a halter neckline. There wasn't any fabric to create volume so it draped around my legs. My matching half mask was sitting on the table next to the door.

    "You look like... an evil queen," She said.

    I laughed, "Thank you."

    I grabbed my mask and a shawl and we walked out the door. We hurried to Alice's car, which she's thankfully left running so it was still warm. Alice quickly back out of the driveway and took off down the street.

    "I can't believe you abandoned me to face Bree alone," She said.

    I smiled, "It's your fault for triggering her. Plus you hacked into the house system again you could have just cut the connection."

    She muttered something under her breath but I chose to ignore her until she had cooled down a little.

    "So what is it about this secret society that caused you to investigate it?" I asked.

    She changed lanes, "I found evidence of them doing money laundering but something tells me there's more sinister things going on."

    "And you want to know what it is."

    "Exactly."

    "So how is this going to work?"

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Eye of Worth 4

 Eye of Worth 4

    Bree Raised an eyebrow, "That may be true this time, but that isn't always the case."

    There was silence for a moment, "Sometimes it can't be helped; despite the world we live in, hacking skills won't get me everything."

    I smiled, "Are you going to explain the details now?"

    Alice cleared her throat, "Right, there's a fancy party I want to attend tomorrow and I want you to come with me."

    "What would I find interesting about that."

    "The party is for members of a secret society. Don't worry i have a way to get us in, all you need to do is what you normally do."

    "I was right, you do want to use her talents!" Bree said.

    I sighed, "When are we meeting and what am I supposed to wear?"

    "Something elegant and a mask to hide at least a part of your face, I'll pick you up about one o'clock."

    "That sounds like it will be fun. Why am I not invited?" Bree asked.

    I rolled my eyes, "Bree, you're sick."

    "And you're not good at pretending to be something you're not," Alice chimed in.

    Bree glared at the screen but before she could say anything the timer on the oven went off. Bree pulled out the brownies and almost slammed them on the counter. She poured the batter in the mixing bowl into another pan and tossed that into the oven.

    "She's angry isn't she," Alice whispered.

    I slowly backed out of the kitchen, "I have things to do. Bree don't chew out Alice too bad."

    "Wait!" Alice cried.

    Bree turned her attention back to Alice and I fled downstairs. 

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Eye of Worth 3

 Eye of Worth 3

    "I bet he's with a new girl. Word is he's a player and he's been getting tired of Lily."

    "No! You don't think..."

    The other girl nodded her head as I turned a corner and didn't hear her reply. I entered the classroom to see the teacher having problems with his computer connecting to the school system. This was the third time this semester. I hoped that I didn't just waste a trip. The teacher couldn't figure it out but luckily a student a majoring in something to do with computers showed up to class and got everything working again just in time for a short lecture before the class ended.

    The drive back home was uneventful. The snow had stopped and Alice didn't contact me. Bree's car was still in the driveway when I got home. i pulled off my boots as I walked in the door and saw the screen in the entryway light up welcoming me back.

    "Bree?" I called out.

    "In the kitchen!"

    I placed my boots on the shoe rack and followed her voice. Bree was standing with a mixing bowl in one hand and a wire whisk in the other. Her forever curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail but there were a couple strands near her face that had fallen out. There was a smudge of flour on her nose and dishes meant for food preparation in the sink.

    "If you're feeling well enough to bake shouldn't you be at work," I said tapping the oven to turn on the light as I looked inside.

    "Those will be brownies when they're done," she replied, "you know that baking is easier for me then working."

    I stood up, "You work at a bakery."

    She shrugged, "Anything interesting happen today?"

    "Alice wants my help with something, but she didn't give any details."

    Bree laughed, "If she continues asking for your help I'm going to think that the skills she's so proud of don't exist."

    The screen in the kitchen lit up and Alice's voice poured out, "Hey! All I want is for Tay to come with me because I thought she might be interested."

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Eye of Worth 2

 Eye of Worth 2

    There was a moment of silence then the light turned green and she started laughing, "I feel sorry for anyone who tries to hide something from you. I'm glad you aren't a law abiding citizen and please don't get a career in law enforcement."

    I raised an eyebrow, "You want me to be a politician instead of a detective."

    "Yes," she answered.

    I didn't say anything but a smile spread across my face.

    "Wait, no. Don't be a politician or work for any of them. You being in politics gives me the chills."

    I entered the freeway, "I would love to continue this but we're getting off topic."

    "You just want to mess with me," Alice took a deep breath, "but fine this is indeed a business call. I need to borrow you."

    "I figured as much. Are you giving me the details now or later?"

    "You won't really need to do anything until tomorrow. So just focus on your class."

    The car went silent as Alice cut the connection. I rolled my eyes and turned on some music. It began to snow lightly and it stayed that way the rest of the drive. The parking lot had more cars in it than I expected making it harder than usual to find a spot. After parking I look around at the other cars and decide the school must be hosting an event. I grabbed my backpack out of the passenger seat before stepping out of the car. I hit another button on the key fob; the engine stopped and the car locked. I walked towards the building, in the parking spaces before the doors there was a car that was covered in a layer of snow. There were tire tracks leading to the parking spot so it was obvious that it had been there since the last snow fall.

    I opened the door to the building and stepped inside. There were two girls at the reception desk that usually remained unmanned. They were so focused on their conversation that they didn't see me walk past them.

    "I've never been so worried; Lily wouldn't just up and vanish like this," said the girl with a tight bun on her head.

    The other nervously tapped her false nails on the counter, "At least they're treating her as missing now. I've heard they can't get a hold of that boyfriend of hers."

    "The one that took her to all those parties she loved? You don't think he could be missing too."

 

 

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Eye of Worth 1

 And I'm back! This is the only piece I wrote for a class not focused on creative writing, it was an odd class. This is the closest as I've ever tried to get to a SciFi piece.

              -Rose B.

Eye of Worth 1

    "I'm off, Bree!" I yelled as I stepped out the front door.

    "See you later," She said just before the door clicked shut.

    The screen on the porch blinked to life and warned me about icy roads before telling me to have a safe trip. I huddled deeper into my warm coat and moved off the front porch. The tree in the yard had already lost all its leaves, and the grass was buried under snow. Once I was close enough to my car I clicked a button on my key fob; my car unlocked and started up. I slid into the driver seat and was thankful that it wasn't snowing.

    I put the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway. I stopped just before I hit the street to let a car pass, and a cheerful voice greeted me through my speakers."Good morning, Tay."

    I sighed, not surprised but annoyed, "Alice, what would you have done if I caused a crash."

    "You would have been fine," she said as the car passed me, "you didn't even jump this time."

    I rolled my eyes and moved onto the road, "That's because you keep doing this. One of these days someone is going to notice."

    Alice snorted, "You insult my skills. The security people have their hands full looking at cars that send them problem signals. Your car thinks we're having a phone call so no reason to send a distress signal."

    I flipped on a turn signal, "Careful, there's a thin line between confidence and arrogance."

    She did have reason to be confident; Alice's skills as a hacker were top notch. She was known as the White Rabbit: a hacker who appeared from nowhere and vanished as if she had never been there. Alice never revealed her secrets but she once mentioned she liked the nickname because while hacking a system it acted a lot like wonderland.

    "Yes, I know. Those who are arrogant get sloppy and make mistakes."

    "So are you here today as Alice or the infamous White Rabbit."

    "Why would you think I'm here for business?"

    I stopped at a red light, "Because Alice has my number and it's far less dangerous to actually call me. Unless, of course, there is something you need to talk about that requires you to be untraceable."

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One and the Same 8

This is it for One and the Same. I'm still working on what to post next so we'll see if I add anything next month.

One and the Same

8

    There's a snap from a foot landing on a twig. Albert tenses looks towards the sound. Rosey bristles and gives a low growl. Charlotte springs from the side of the house, brimming with excitement, "I knew you'd be here."

    Albert sighs and starts putting the box back together. "Did you come to yell at me again or are you visiting your parents for once?" Margie lays back down but keeps her eyes on Charlotte and Rosey scoots closer to him.

    Charlotte ignores his biting question and stomps up the steps. She raises an eyebrow at the box, "You managed to steal the box from your dad, congratulations. Are her letters just like what you remember them to be?"

    he sets the box in the open space on the swing so she won't sit down, and stares at her. "Is that really what you want to know? Are you sure you don't want to ask if reading them has changed my mind about your cause."

    Her face reddens, "Well...I mean... You haven't read them in so long. I thought..." Her voice petters out.

    He sighs and stands up. Of course, that's what she's here for. It's been a long time since she actually took an  interest in his life. "Yes, they are like I remembered and I'm no suddenly going to have a change of heart."

    Charlotte's eyes are like ice, "You're so cold, Al."

    He snorts and returns his line, "And you let emotions dictate every decision you make."

    "At least I have them!" She yells, startling the dogs.

    "And yet the only one you seem to be able to tap into lately is anger!"

    "One of us has to be angry at this unfair world!"

    "I never said I wasn't angry!"

    "Well then you sure don't show it! You may as well be a stone wall for all you show me. You have been ever since--" She snaps her mouth shut.

    So she was going there. He glares at her, "Ever since what? ever since we got a notification of death in the same envelope as a blood-soaked letter! I wasn't even thirteen, did you expect me to be the same after that?"

"That doesn't mean you have to keep your heart locked away! I'm not going to know how to help you if you doesn't tell me!"

    "Help me?" he laughs but he's not smiling. He would believe she cared once she showed some actual concern. "so you do think about helping other people and not just wrecking lives."

    She bristles, "Don't you DARE judge me! I'm at least doing something, unlike you. For all your suspicions about the war and your mother's death but you don't do anything but search through old papers!"

    "So I should be doing what you did today? Taking out my anger on those who have nothing to do with it! Demolishing property of regular people. People like you and me!"

    They glare at each other breathing hard from the yelling, their voices lingering in the air. The dogs stick closer to their master. Rosey with hackles raised is on the precipice of growling and Margie calmly watches Charlotte. Albert takes a deep breath and runs his fingers through his hair. "Enough, I don't know what you thought would happen when you came." He turns and gathers up the box and his bag. If he looked at her, he knew they'd start screaming at each other again, "I can't and don't ever want to be like you. You claim to want change but all I see is you continuing the cycle. Have you ever considered what will come after you drag down those in power? Who is going to take their place? That organization you joined that claims to want peace?" He snorts and opens the door for the dogs to walk in before following them, "Maybe one day you can see beyond your own emotions."

    He could feel her glare trying to stab his back, "And maybe one day you'll learn to act instead of locking yourself in that house with all those old memories and whatever information your hoarding. I hope that when you're ready to act the world still cares enough to know."

    Albert shuts the door with a soft click as Charlotte's boots thump down the stairs.

 

 

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One and the Same 7

 One and the Same

7

     What lays on top is a red-haired doll dirtied with time, that his dad has bought for him. The first Rosey a companion who would deliver his words to his mom in a far-off land. Albert smiles at it before setting it aside. A chain necklace is next, with the tags labeled "Angeline Wick", his mom had attached the circular engraving of Chael and Lorein his dad had given her on their wedding day. She had brought it knowing the government could stop them from bringing many things but they couldn't deny a traditional representation of the god and goddess of marriage and family. Albert sets the necklace next to the doll.

    The yellowed letters are the only thing left in the box. They're organized into two stacks one his dad wrote and the other is his mom's letters. His dad's letters are still in the neat stack his mom had bound together. Albert moves the stack onto his knees before turning to the set of papers lying flat at the bottom of the box. The writing on them is fading but he can still read his mom's quick hand. Albert gingerly moves each piece as he reads them. Each one is addressed to Sam and dated a few months apart. He stops at one that is dated almost a full year from the one before.

My Dear Sammy,

    The front is worse then I imagined. I never want to get use to seeing so much death, even the earth around us seems barren. We are lucky that our platoon is still whole but we have our share of injuries. Most are nothing serious, but Opal was too reckless and broke her leg trying to be a hero. Beth and I had to drag her back to camp while Edith, Rosanne and Minnie covered us. Edith scolded her from almost getting herself killed the while time she was getting medical attention.

    Rumors are circulation that we are being lied to, that this war is not expected to end, nor does the government plan to end it. In response they have sent our representatives to tell us what we are fighting for. The only one who believes his honeyed words is Opal. Luckily her leg will prevent her from doing something stupid in the near future. The rest of us just think of those we left, who pray for us, and wish for our safe return. Your letters of home give me the determination to keep me going.

    His eyes darken as they linger on the last paragraph. He leans back trying to push down his anger. He feels Margie's nose on his knee and looks down to see Margie nudging his dad's letters closer to the box. Albert smiles and pats Margie's head, "Thanks, Margie." She licks his hand before laying back down. Albert takes a deep breath and continues looking at the letters in the box. They continue to be dated far apart with only one or two in the same year. Each one is bleaker than the last. At the bottom of the box is a letter that stops mid-sentence. Dark red splatters trail from the top of the page blurring the black ink, leading to the reservoir covering the bottom. Albert stares at the page, his shoulders droop as weariness leaks out of him. Sadness gnaws its way through his heart but no tears fall as he trails his fingers down the blood-stained paper.

 

 

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***

The next post will be long because breaking it in two would mess up the flow of the argument.

       -Rose B.

One and the Same 6

 One and the Same

6

    Charlotte was the first kid my own age I played with. She spent a long time convincing me to play with her, and I could never understand how she could be so happy when our moms were far away. We were so different, which might be why I was drawn to her in the first place. She was one that pulled me out of my shell and the one that comforted me when Mom died. I suppose the progression of our relationship was natural, but our differences caught up to us eventually. She said she wanted to make a difference and joined a group of like-minded people. To me, it looked like they wanted to make an impact rather than trying to change anything. She couldn't, and still can't, understand how I can hate what they're doing. When you're taught that the greatest achievement you can get is on the battlefield and being killed while fighting is the most honorable way to die, then violence is the only thing they can think of when they try to create change.

    She tried to convert me to her cause and I tried to show her the problems with her way of thinking. She refused to see reason and could never forgive me for not being as passionate as her. We argued more and more until that was all we did. Our relationship crumbled until it was no longer repairable. She seemed hellbent on replacing Tutala as the goddess of chaos and war.

    I couldn't take it anymore. I moved out of our apartment and tried to move on, but she refused to let go. Even though we argue every time we meet, she continues to try and get me to join her in the violent, chaotic discord she creates.

    Albert sighs when they arrive at the familiar old, worn-out house. They go around back and climb the steps to a swing on the porch. Margie lays at his feet while Rosey jumps up next to him. His fingers trace the initials he carved into the arm of the swing when he was young.

AW SLW AW

AW SLW AW

AW SLW AW

    He closes his eyes and thinks about the work he has to finish for his degree, the papers on the bed upstairs that could point to who really killed his mother, and his dad sleeping in a building full of men just like him. His fingers still and he opens his eyes. He reaches into his bag and pulls out the shoe box. He carefully touches the top as he recalls opening it as a child, excited to see his mom's sharp brisk handwriting. Now, other things lay on top of the letters meant to comfort his dad when he looks through the box.

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One and the Same 5

 One and the Same

5

    Sam nods, his gaze moving into the distance, "There are always people like that, they think moving past the pain means forgetting about it. They get angry because they don't want others to forget either. But somethings it is necessary... it is necessary to..." Sam's voice trails off.

    Margie looks up as Sam stops moving. Albert sees the old man curl protectively around the box. It looks like he would fall apart at the slightest touch. Albert gently touches the frail shoulder his voice soft, "Dad?"

    The old man doesn't respond his face is devoid of any emotion, his eyes are cloudy.

    Albert face drains of color, as dread curls in his stomach, "Dad!"

    He shakes the man but life doesn't return to the body.

    Memories of blood flash in Albert's mind and he jumps towards the door.

    Margie whines as if urging Albert to hurry.

    "Attendant! I need assistance!" Albert yells into the hall.

    Two men in pink scrubs rush from a desk several doors down. Albert follows them into the room. His dad has already started clawing at his arms. Margie steps aside when she sees them and the nurses reach Sam just as he starts going for his face. Albert snatches the box from his dad's lap while they pull Sam up and move him to the bed. A woman in a white coat taps on a syringe as she enters. She quickly finds a vein on Sam's arm and injects him with a liquid. Margie nuzzles Albert's hand as they wait for the tranquilizer to kick in. He pets her but he can't stop thinking about how he almost let it happen again. When Sam's body relaxes, the men tuck him in while the woman leads Albert into the hallway.

    "It's best to let him rest for now." She pulls off her gloves, "He hasn't been sleeping well lately, thanks to those riots, so he probably won't wake up until this evening maybe not until late tonight. Go home, Mr. Wick, it looks like you need some sleep as well. When he wakes up we'll make sure he doesn't take a downward turn again."

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One and the Same 4

 One and the Same

4

    George breaks the silence Albert didn't realize was going on, "I've kept you long enough, and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you where he is."

    Albert nods and walks deeper into the building and stops at a plain door. A wooden plate hanging just below eye level reads Samuel L. Wick. Albert takes a deep breath and tries to get rid of any negative  thoughts. He glances down at the dogs before knocking. "Dad?"

    As Albert enters he sees a withered old man sitting in front of the television. His dad's face warms with life as he smiles at his visitor. His eyes clear ups as he recognizes his son, "Little Albert."

    Albert stiffens, it was never a good sign when his dad called him by his childhood endearment. He sits in the free chair, hoping his dad didn't think something was wrong. Albert looks at the beat-up shoe-box in the older man's lap. The box contained all the letter's his parents had exchanged as well as some mementos. Its used to reside in a closet of the family home but his dad couldn't bear to leave it behind when he came here. Albert forces his attention to the dogs, "I brought Margie and Rosey with me."

    Margie plants her head on his dad's knee. Doing what she can to comfort the old man. Sam smiles at her and strokes her fur, "Thank you for watching over my boy."

    Albert picks up the waiting Rosey, putting her on the chair next to him. On the TV, a reporter talks about a protest going on behind her. The background is filled with people dressed in black holding up signs and fists. Smoke drifts over streets covered in paint and broken glass. Sam's eyes sadden as they watch the crowd throw rocks not seeming to care who or what they hit. Albert sighs, knowing Charlotte has thrown some of those rocks. he just hopes she wasn't one of those dumb enough to throw them at the police. Not that it mattered since he wasn't going to be the one to bail her out of jail this time.

    Sam lightly touches the box, "They are so reckless and full of energy like Tutala herself is leading them into battle. It's the sort of energy we lose as we get older." Margie pushes her nose to Sam's arm and he goes back to petting her. "Their values sound similar to Charlotte's, is she with them?"

    Albert nods, "She wanted me to come too, even showed up at my door this morning."

    Sam shakes his head, "If she could see beyond her rage maybe she would find something to make her happy."

    Albert gets the feeling that statement was directed at him too, but he ignores it. The protestors move through the city like a landslide. Occasionally the camera shows the devastation they leave behind. "That...that won't happen anytime soon. Those who don't share her ideals, or don't feel the same level of hatred are enemies in her mind."

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