"Mehwy Cwhismas to aww an to aww a good fight!" Cooed tiny Prince Espa in his round,sweet voice.

"Momma, he said it wrong," his sister said laughing. The queen smiled,

"he'll get it right soon enough I'm sure." They smiled down at the sweet innocent toddler who was at that very moment, dreaming of knights at Christmas, sword fights with candy canes, and all the things a little boy comes up with in his dreams.

The years passed and it was quite obvious that the young prince Espa was destined to be a knight. He was brave, fast, strong, and kind. He grew into a dashing young prince, and everyday he dreamed of Christmas. The trees all sparkling the candles flickering on the mantle. Everything good he found, came on Christmas.

One day, when he was about sixteen he asked his father, The King if he'd ever considered combining the two great things into one. Soon, the crowds came in to watch the first annual Christmas competition. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fight!" Bellowed the Prince happily. It was a success. Knights came from far and wide to best a better knight, to prove themselves worthy of serving the Royal family.

But soon, the Knights numbers were falling. Less and less Knights came to the annual Christmas Competition, and it was forgotten. But the Prince, who was now the King, was devastated that his favorite holiday tradition was neglected.

"Go out," he commanded his page, "order the cities to send whatever fighters think they're worthy of the competition." That ought to do it. He thought and waited for a response. His servant came back

"No one wishes to leave their families on Christmas Your Majesty," he bowed as King Espa dismissed him.

The King thought long and hard about what he could do to bring back the games. He called for a servant. "Go out," he demanded "Find all eligible fighters and order them under the Kings command to attend the competition!" The servant hurried away. The next day the servant came back "they plead with you Your Grace, they wish to spend Christmas with their families." The King glared, he stood up, and went to the stablemaster. "Prepare me and an entourage a few horses," he said nodding imperially at him. So the King and his entourage raced through the towns ordering the townspeople to come.

The day of the competition all were sullen, excepting the prince. He ordered them to fight, and fight they did, but none tried hard. The King was devastated. There was only one Christmas in a year, and these knights had decided to waste it!

"Fine," he said annoyed, "It's a fight to the death. Winner gets to escape with their lives, and a tidy sum of money." And with that the games began, the greedy fighting for wealth, the rest fighting for their lives.

The next year, the terrified people came before the king. They were a less fit group of Knights, since so many had died the year before. His people pled with him to reconsider, but King Espa was too stubborn to listen.

The years passed and his kingdom suffered. Yet still, he ordered his subjects to fight, his bard singing a desolate song of despair. Soon it caught on and became part of the tradition. Year after year, every Christmas you'll here from over the hills and across the kingdom the sad song that replaced a classic Christmas carol with one of woe.

"Clashing through the snow,

Our only purpose is to slay,

'Cross the fields we go,

Slashing all the way.

Kills of dear knights scream,

All evoking fright.

How sad it is we're forced to sing a slaying song tonight!"

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fight!

I woke up screaming. Cold and shaking I sprung out of bed. My breath came in shallow gulps and the distant boom of thunder snapped me back to reality. "Nonononono! Please no!" I said in between gasps quickly grabbing my shoes and throwing my bedroom door open.

". . . Very big storm no one predicted. If it continues at this rate it could reach the city in less than two hours." The reporter droned on and I knew I was running out of time. Out, I need to get out of the city. I ran out the door ignoring my roommate's shouts in a blind panic.

I ran. I ran as far and as fast as I could. The electricity pulsing through my veins spurred me on. I have to get away before I hurt someone. I still can't breathe, but it doesn't matter. My lungs ache and my whole body is sore but I can't stop. So I don't. Every step sends another jolt of energy through my limbs and I keep running.

I wonder if I could outrun it. Maybe if I try hard enough, I can leave it all behind. Maybe if I run fast enough I can escape. I want to be free, but I can't. I've tried and failed enough to know that much.

My feet slap the pavement, ground shaking, as I push my way past people on the way out of the city.

"Wait! Stop!" He pleads. I recognize him as I look over my shoulder, but I can't stop. I can't stop running. I can't hurt anyone else.

I ran for what seemed like hours. The city faded behind me as I raced towards the storm. I looked back over my shoulder and felt my heart sink as I saw him.

"Go back!" I shout pleading with him. Hoping that for once, he'll just listen.

"Come with me!" He shouts back and I groan. I can't.

I pick up the pace. I feel the wind swirl around me. I feel the thunder shake the ground. I feel the Lightning fuel my steps.

Eventually I'm far enough away. I collapse on the ground shaking with exertion. I feel the weight lift off my shoulders as I stop holding back. I stop fighting. I feel the storm flowing through me as I finally catch my breath. I stop fighting and let go of it all. All the fear and all the pain coursing through my veins surround me. They twirl in a terrifying dance as they grow. Higher and higher, until they block out the sun. They change. Emotions swirling. My tornado, it's finally free.

I lay there and watch as the pain surrounds me again. I don't try to fight it as I'm enveloped in sorrow.

"What's happening?! Are you okay?!? What's going on?!" I bolt up and see a figure fighting past my storm to reach me. No, he... He can't be here!

"You have to get away from me!" I shout struggling to regain control. Fighting to take it back before I hurt him. "Leave! Leave before you get hurt!"

"I'm not leaving without you!" He shouts back running towards me. Further and further towards danger.

"This isn't the time to play hero! Go away! I can't let you get hurt too! Please!" I scream at him barely feeling the tears run down my face. Falling to my knees as my storm fights for control.

"I can't let you hurt yourself!" He yelled back but I barely heard him. My vision was blurring as I fight harder than I ever had before. I have to control it. I have to... I have to keep him safe... I don't want... To hurt anybody else...

"Please!" I whisper desperately before slipping into the dark embrace of unconsciousness.

I woke up slowly. My ears rang as I fought once again. But this time, nothing was fighting back. I blink as the world slowly came into focus my head pounding. I tried to sit up but exhaustion pulled me back down and I stared up at the bright blue sky. Glad it's finally over.

I groaned sitting up fighting against the gravity that seemed much too heavy. I looked around at the uprooted trees and debris filling the space around me. My eyes scan the rubble and land on him. He's laying a few feet away. Cold. Still.

"NO!" I shout scrambling over to him and making sure he's still breathing. He opens his eyes as I rub his wrists together pleading with him to be okay.

"I'm sorry," he chokes out as he struggles for another breath.

"Shut up and stay alive!" I order tears rolling down my face. "This is not your fault." I shake him as his eyes start to close.

"No! Please! You have to stay awake!" I remind him choking the words out and hoping he can hear me. I hurt him. I swore I'd never hurt anyone else! I have to help him. I feel a shiver run down my spine as I get an idea.

I move around behind him and grab the sides of his face in my hands pressing our foreheads together. I focus, feeling the energy running through me. I know there's not enough for both of us, but I don't care. I let it flow through me. I feel it leaving my body and entering his. Feel it coursing through my hands.

"I'm so sorry, I love you so much," I whisper as his eyes flutter open and the world fades to black.

Why am I crying

Alone on my floor?

Stuck here on my own

Behind my closed door.

I want to get out

Away from my bed,

But you can't run away

From the thoughts in your head.

I try to escape

And I try to be free,

But the voice in my head

Won't stop taunting me.

I try to relax

And I try not to think,

But my mind is an ocean

And I'm starting to sink.

I'm trying to swim,

But there is no way out.

In my ocean of worries

All I can do is shout.

"Someone please help me,

I'm trapped in my fear!"

But no one can help me,

They can't even hear.

So I sit here alone,

On my floor, in my bed.

And I try to ignore

All the thoughts in my head.

I turn on my music

And hope that will help.

I turn on a movie,

Take a book from the shelf.

And I try to distract

From the pain trapped inside,

And I try to ignore

All the tears that I cried.

I want to get out

Away from my bed,

But you can't run away

From the thoughts in your head.

I looked up and shivered. He smiled back at me and stepped closer.

"Uh, I have- I have to go." I said nervously as he took another step towards me.

"Really? So soon. Where are you going?" He said with a smirk as I backed away again.

"Right. I have to go... Iron... My cat." I said and winced. How could I be so stupid?

"Oh, I thought you were just faking to get away from me." He grabbed my wrist and I felt a whimper escape my lips.

"No, no, see she's a sphinx. They're really wrinkly and her vet said to iron her once a week so..." I tried to pull my hand back but he tightened his grip and stepped even closer.

"Yeah, that's a lie." He whispered and I could feel his breath on my face.

"Rude!" I protested, "you can't just call someone who's obviously telling the truth a liar."

"Obviously," he said with a sneer.

"Look, you seem like a reasonable person right? Why don't we make a deal. You leave me alone and I stop telling you I need to iron my cat. Deal?" He glared at me.

"You'd like that wouldn't you." I frowned and glared back.

"So... Which one, the easy way, or the hard way?" He blinked his confusion and I bit back a smirk.

"What are you- what?" He asked and I sighed dramatically.

"Let go of my arm and step back, or I'll make you." He laughed loudly and inched closer.

"Make me." I smiled and leaned towards him.

"If you insist." I twisted my arm violently, loosening his grip. I tucked my chin down cutting of all access to my neck and elbowed him in the gut. He stumbled back and I jerked my arm away. He glared at me before trying to grab my arm again.

"Didn't you learn anything?" I grumbled swinging around and kicking him in the neck. He yelped and jumped back. I rammed into him with my shoulder and quickly stuck my leg behind his so he'd trip. He hit the ground with a groan and I grinned bringing my foot down hard on his stomach.

"So, are we done here?" I asked sweetly and he just groaned.

"Right, you'd better hope I don't see you again. I'll just be ironing my cat. If you need me too bad!" I announced and ran off.

The villain froze staring in horror at the wounded Hero. "But..." She started before falling silent as his knees buckled and he collapsed. She rushed to his side, her heart clenching as she surveyed his bleeding body. Propping him up and caught sight of his stomach. "You weren't supposed to..." She began choking on a sudden sob. She turned her gaze to the Hero's glazed eyes as tears streamed down her face. He looked up at her and smiled sadly through his pain "I guess the good guys don't always win." He whispered at his eyelids drooped and his lifeless body sagged in her arms. "No!" She whispered fiercely clutching him tightly in her arms as she sobbed on his shoulder. She sat back suddenly and shoved him off of her as if she'd been burned. She backed away and a whimper escaped her. She ran a hand through her hair and glared at the Hero. Her pain turned to anger and she yelled at him. "You were supposed to catch me!" She screamed at him "You were supposed to save the day! Like always! You always save the day! So why-" her voice broke and she paused to take a breath. "Why didn't you catch me?" She whispered her glare melting into a grief stricken grimace. "Why did you leave me?" Her broken sobs echoed through the empty corridor as she wept. "I thought the good guys were supposed to win," she admitted sadly into the dark silence "I thought that I must be the villain, right? Because I never got my happy ending, and the heroes always get a happy ending right? But then, I-I... You showed me that I could have a happy ending after all, that maybe I didn't have to be the bad guy. But now..." She set her jaw in grim determination as she stood. "My happy ending is lying here dead in an empty warehouse." She laughed bitterly stepping past the Hero's broken body. "I guess you can call it my tragic backstory, because that's how it works right? You never know. You never know if this is really your happy ending, or the beginning of some twisted nightmare. I guess they were right then..." She shook her head sadly glancing back at her Hero laying on the cold floor. "There really are no happy endings." 

I smirked walking confidently down the street. My eyes flicked over the crowd, and I saw everyone avoid eye contact. My grin widened slightly as I recognized fear in a few quick glances. They want to be afraid? Well they should be. My feet rapidly slapped the concrete with satisfying thumps as I stopped to look up at a tall building. I looked the lab over, casually assessing the security. Walking in no one even glanced my way. This was too easy. I looked up and winked at the security camera before the lights flickered out. Right on time. I jogged down the hall and quickly unlocked the door with my gloved hands. I grabbed what I needed before jogging back down the hall and standing back in my spot sporting a surprised look. The lights flickered back on "what happened?" I asked my voice dripping with insincere concern. Nobody looked my way as I flounced dramatically out the door, casually walking away from the active crime scene.

My steps were unrushed as I strode to a much smaller lab building. I walked in and made quite a scene as everyone looked up to see me flash the receptionist the peace sign as she waved me back. I unlocked another door, this time without all the flashing lights. "You rang?" I asked tossing the stolen chemicals on the lab table. "Oh, hi!" Called the cheerful chemist as he waved. I rolled my eyes "need anything else?" I asked heading back out the door. "You're not staying?" He asked and I took that as a no. Shrugging I walked back down the hallway aiming a slight wave at the receptionist and she nodded back at me even though she knew I wasn't looking. Next stop? One of the many generic superstores of the city.

I walked back towards the food section of the grocery store and started piling stuff in a bag, laughing at how unreasonably easy it was. Walking back out of the store I paused to grab a teddy bear off the rack by the door, more out of curiosity than anything else. "Bye!" I shouted waving at the cashier with the toy. "Have a nice day," he called back not bothering to glance up and watch me take a teddy bear and like three bags of food. I rolled my eyes. What's the point in a life of crime if no one ever bothers to try catching you? I sighed, honestly I could use a good fight or at least an old fashioned car chase at this point. I started down the street and ripped the tag off the bear tossing it into the nearby trash can because I'm not a monster. I made a point to look people in the eyes as I walked. Daring them to see me. They'd quickly look away and my grin faltered a bit. Not even one person could be bothered to look at me? Pathetic!

I knocked sharply on the apartment door "special delivery!" I called out to the rapidly approaching footsteps on the other side of the door. The door flew open "you came!" Shouted a little girl grinning when she saw me. "Course I came, I said I would didn't I?" I answered giving her the bear as she wrapped herself around my legs. I couldn't help but laugh as the girl's mother came into the room and her eyes widened. "Here," I said suddenly holding out the groceries. "Thanks, so much! But... You don't have to-" she started to say but I held up a hand to stop her. "It's no problem!" I assured her. "Plus," I pointed out my eyes sparkling "I get free hugs!" She laughed and unwrapped her daughter from around my legs. "See ya," I called out heading down the hallway with a satisfied smirk on my face.

I walked down the street forcing a few snobby business dudes to turn away as I offered them a chilly smile. I took the stairs two at a time and knocked loudly on the door until a pretty young woman finally answered the door. "Sup, didja miss me?" I asked leaning against the doorframe. She stepped back slightly scowling at me. "How's your penthouse suite?" I started with a sneer "are you sufficiently separated from all those filthy peasants down there?" And she tensed looking away. "Why are you here?" She asked softly trying and failing to sound confused and my jaw clenched as I fixed her on my icy gaze. "Oh, don't you remember?" I growled leaning forward even more "all those people you abandoned and forgot about... All the ones you left behind for all this?" I gestures to her apartment with a dramatic flourish "they loved you." I glared at her, daring her to deny it as she finally met my gaze and her eyes hardened as she set her jaw. "Who?" She said innocently my eyes narrowed. "Whoever could you be talking about? I think you must have the wrong woman." She sweetly and my glare intensified seeing right through her pitiful attempts at acting. "You're disgusting," I spat not breaking eyes contact before turning to leave. "Well at least I'm not with you," she said quietly before closing the door. I froze as my mouth fell open and tears stung my eyes. I shook my head and replaced my tears with an angry glare "disgusting." I whispered before chucking a sparkling engagement ring into the nearest trashcan. I smirked and glared at the same time. "Have fun explaining that to your lovely fiancé!" I murmured sweetly "I'm sure he'll be happy to buy you an entirely new $2 million rock to wear around as a symbol of a false love." I had to admit, it was really satisfying as it hit the bottom of the can with a resounding clunk.

I woke up with a gasp. Mom was shaking my shoulders gently.

"Ready for your first day?" She asked.

"Ugh!" I groaned pulling the covers up over my head.

"Come on, it'll be fun..." She prodded and I sighed.

"Fine," I said quietly, "a few more minutes?" I asked hopefully.

"No, you can't be late for the first day of kindergarten!" She said loudly and I groaned again. Every second was torture. Get up, eat breakfast, get ready, trudge outside in the cold with my big sister, all while dreading it. It'll be terrible! It will! I haven't even been able to talk to anyone but my close friends and family my WHOLE LIFE! So HOW was I supposed to spend a whole day with strangers? I was mad, but mostly... I was scared. How could mom DO this to me? Why would she do this to me?

Stepping out of the car I reminded myself to breathe. We FINALLY got to my new classroom. Mom said "hi," to the teacher, and then she was gone. I was trapped! I sigh as my teacher walks up and says "hi," I open my mouth to say hi back. Nothing... I look down embarrassed, my mouth still open. Why can't I talk to her? Why can't I ever talk to anyone? My chest hurts, my breaths are shallow, and my throat hurts.

"Shy?" She asks.

No! I think I want to talk! I want to say hi! I want to scream at her. But my chest is too tight, and my mouth won't work.

"That's okay!" She says cheerfully, and leaves me alone.

No! It's not okay! I want to tell her. But I can't. I keep my head down, and wish I was still asleep. I sit Dow at a table, and another girl sits down beside me. "Hi!" She says brightly. I manage a small smile, but I still can't say hi... "I'm Elizabeth!" She continued. "Hi," I choked out in a hushed whisper. She smiled, and neither of us said anything else. Say something! Anything! My brain shouted at me, but my throat still didn't work.

I sat, my head down, my eyes flickering around the room briefly landing on each of the other kids. One boy was talking loudly to a group of his friends, and a girl was whispering excitedly to a group of girls. I sighed, and wondered again why I was here.

"Okay everybody get in a circle, we're going to play a get to know you game!" Our teacher announced cheerfully. I closed my eyes wishing I was ANYWHERE but here! I got on the circle and knew I wouldn't say anything. I didn't even bother opening my mouth, I just looked down as everyone went around the circle saying their names and favorite colors. It got to me and I REALLY tried! But everything was too quiet until my teacher finally said "Abigail right?" And I nodded. The circle continued, but I didn't hear it. All I heard was the silence that I had made.

We finally started a lesson, but I couldn't hear it. I tried to listen, but all I could think about was my teacher asking if I was shy, and all those kids staring at me when we were in the circle. Recess came, but I sat on a bench and watched the other kids. I couldn't ask to play, I couldn't even say hi... At lunch I sat silently watching the other kids talk. In class again, I tried to listen, and it sorta worked.

But I was mad. At mom. At the other kids. But mostly, at myself. FINALLY it was time to go home. Mom came to pick me up, and asked how the first day was. "Good," I lied staring out the window. When we got home I went straight to my closet where mom and I had built a blanket corner. Crawling in I sighed, but this time in relief. I hate school.

I can see them in my mind.

They're all running through my head.

And I want to scream and cry

Out every word I've never said.

They're all there, you'll never know

And they fill my heart with dread.

They won't come out, they told me so

Every word I've never said.

And she's screaming in my mind,

And she's shouting in my head.

I can hear her battle cry,

Of every word I've never said.

I can feel them in my soul.

They'll be there until I'm dead.

I'll still hear them when I'm old,

Every word I've never said.

"Hey, I don't feel good about this," she whispered into my ear as we sat on the couch to wait. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Well... I don't know... Nothing? Everything? Something!"

"It's fine, nothing's wrong with me," I answered and went back to waiting.

"How do you know?" She asked with wide eyes, "we could be dying, we could be the last person on earth, we could be-"

"Hey, let's read something!" I suggested hopefully, "a distraction should help!"

"But what happens when they get here to pick us up and we're reading? They'll think we're nerds or something. Mabye they'll have read the book and hated it! what if-"

"Hey this character is funny isn't she?" I say pointing to the page. She looks over my shoulder and grins "yeah, I guess... But the plots not all that great..." We read and wait, minutes pass and a knock comes on the door. I put my book away, "see, wasn't so bad was it?" I say laughing and we go head out the door.

Lying in bed my eyes pop open, what happened? I sit up, "why are you here?" She asks with tears in her eyes. "They hate us, they think we're annoying,"

"No, they never said that," I reassure her nervously.

"But why would they tell us they hate us? You wouldn't tell someone you hate them would you? No! So they obviously hate us."

"It's 3 in the morning can we talk about this later?" I asked with a yawn.

"Okay," she says and I lay back down only to jump back up again, "what now?" I ask tiredly.

"Remember that time you said something stupid?"

"What? Five years ago?"

"Yeah, it was really stupid, why'd you say that?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't matter now does it. Hey, I'm gonna listen to music, want to?"

"Okay..." She laid back down and I turned the music on. "I like this song" she said smiling at me.

"Me too," I say falling back onto the pillow, "goodnight."

"Hey, why aren't you doing something productive, what if you passed out and your neighbor came and saw your messy house?!? You should clean it!" She said.

"It's raining, and I'm busy!" I said sternly.

"Busy?!? No you're not! What do you even have to do? Wait- what ARE you doing?" She asked eyeing me suspiciously.

"It's a surprise!" I say cheerfully bustling around the kitchen.

"Surprises are scary. What if it's a bad surprise?" She said sadly

"It's not, see? Hot chocolate!" I pronounced trudging past her towards the door, "we're going to drink hot chocolate and listen to the rain!" I said.

" I DO like hot chocolate..." She said hesitantly following me outside.

"What are you doing?" She asks sitting next to me.

"Writing about us," I answer as she peers over my shoulder.

"But. What if... What if they hate me?" She asks and looks up at me with despair.

"Hey! I'm not writing for them!" I say as nonchalantly as possible. "I'm writing for me and you, it helps doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess it does," she says and smiles.

"I know."

She's always there, she always will be and I know that. She knows when something's wrong, and I like that. But... Sometimes... She's, too much and some days, she's impossible!

We were walking down the street and she was nervous. She kept tapping me on the shoulder saying

"Something's wrong!" In a panicked whisper.

"It's okay," I'd say smiling at her, "somethings always wrong."

She would nod and we'd keep walking. A few minutes would pass and I'd feel another tap on my shoulder.

I saw someone I knew coming down the street, I smiled and waved.

"No!" She shouted grabbing my hand and putting hers over my mouth. I sighed and when he had passed, she let go

"Please," whimpered with tears in her eyes, "please don't it's scary..."

"Okay," I said and sighed. "Okay."

I walked into the library and went to the front desk. "No, no, no, no, please!" She was shrieking pulling in the other direction. Nobody heard, or maybe they didn't care. She shoved her hands over my mouth and throat. "Please don't make me do this," she whispered. I grabbed her hand, wrenched it away from my mouth and gasped out my request with my head down and her fingers tightening on my throat. The librarian didn't seem to notice, that's good I guess. She started whimpering again "sorry, I'm sorry. I told you not to, please don't hate me!" I put in my headphones to drown her out. Grabbing my books I headed out the door with a smile and a nod to the librarian.

Walking down the street we were almost home, when she flipped. She yanked out my earbuds in a panic. "Please listen, somethings REALLY WRONG!! You've got to believe me, please! Please help it hurts. Do something. Everybody hates you, and it's your fault! Help help, it hurts! Please!"

"Enough!" I shrieked tears rolling down my face "shut up! No one cares! Stop, stop just stop! Why can't you leave me alone?!? Why are you so mean?!? Why can't you just be NORMAL?!?!?" I glared at her, and she blinked at me shaking with sobs, her mouth agape like a stupid fish that doesn't have any water.

"Sorry, sorry I'm so sorry. I... I can't help it, I'm just trying to help-"

"Help?!? You've NEVER helped me!! Look," I said pointing to a group of boys mainly at the two in the back. The boys in the front were approaching a busy street and the boys in the back tapped them on the shoulder and whispered in there ear, they crossed the street but not before looking both ways, and waiting for a truck to drive past. "See?" I said "THEY help."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

I sighed "well Anxiety, if only that helped," I whispered back glaring, I shoved my earbuds back in and started walking.

I felt a tap on the shoulder, "somethings wrong," she said

"I know."