Today is going to be like every other morning before it. I will wake up angry and depressed be completely absorbed in my job have no time to relax or hang out with my friends or co-workers get stuck in traffic on the way to my job be screamed at by my boss and as punishment for being late be swamped with extra work.

I wont be home till late. Today as I soon found out would be much different. I woke up on time which I chalked up as a streak of luck as I pulled out of the drive I saw a man walking down the road carrying a back pack I drove by him on my way to work.

I stopped and asked where he was heading he said i’m heading out to the rocks. Curious by his response I offered him a ride he said no thank you the bond between me and the rock is as old as time. I chuckled he waved and I was on my way.

 I made it to work on time checked in checked out a typical day crunching numbers and inputting data on to books and logs. On the way home I again saw the man this time coming back from the other direction. 

I once again stopped and offered a ride to which he said I prefer to walk it reminds me that I am the only one who will walk my path in life no one else can. Again I smiled he waved and I went on my way For once I got home early and I decided to take a shower. I got dressed for bed as I lay down drifting to sleep something the old man said kept in my mind.“I will walk it reminds me that I am the only one who will walk this path in life” the simplicity and elegance of that statement astounded me. 

As I awoke the next day I expected to see the man again but to my surprise I did not. So I went to work and on my way home I again did not see the man anywhere. I went to look for the man in the direction he walked everyday shortly after walking I found a path this path led to a beach and beside the beach a cave. I looked around briefly before noticing a small light illuminating the cave entrance so I walked towards the cave.

 It was there that I saw the man sitting on a flat rock staring out at the waves crashing along the beach from the cave. He just sat and stare and then I noticed the cave walls painted with elaborate pictures of the ocean,animals,the sky,people then I saw my car in perfect detail with me in the drivers seat. 

I approached the man but before I could speak the man said sit to which I sat next to him on another rock and he said I am the man on the rock after which he paused and said you are a man on a rock and nothing else should matter. Then he just stair out at the waves then again the man spoke up and said all of these paintings are memories. Memories of pants animals and people who have helped me in some way get to where I am now and be who I am now. 

As I stay quiet he continued and said the deer was my first meal,the bird my first memory,the waves my new yard,the dog my best friend all I have here is my home. I then asked the man why he had painted me I had not impacted his life in anyway. 

To which he said not true every morning you have stopped and offered me a ride though you where clearly late and also upset you have reminded me of kindness and that it will always be out there. So in turn you have made me happier with the world and I now understand what the rock wants from me. I then said i’m sorry but I am confused its a rock how can it want anything? He simply said yes it is a rock just as you are a man. It has needs just as you do this rock has taught me all I know. Understanding now that he meant that this is all we as people really needed I notice a small crop area on the beach,an old fire pit,new caught fish beside a spear hanging upside down drying. Then once again the man spoke and said I have lived like this since I was born right here in this cave as my father and his before him have however the truth is I have no son to pass on the tradition. I was the man on the rock then he stood and walked on the sand through the waves in the ocean distance and disappeared but before he was to far away he said to me you are the man on the rock. 

Today was like any other day I get up check the fish,cook,eat go for a swim, paint my experiences on the cave walls then I would walk my normal route up the road. but today I saw a car as it approached the man offered me a ride and asked where I was headed. I said no thank you the bond between me and the rock is as old as time  after which he drove off and I went home and sat on the rock looking at the walls of the cave then sky I said I am the man on the rock.

(song lyrics)-MIRROR TALK

How do, how do you do?

My name is you

I traveled all

all this way

to see you

my my oh my god

it’s just me n you

welcome welcome to me

me through you

me me n you

oh so it’s true?

so so much pain

is that all

you can do?

walk walk along way

to see your face

just look look in the mirror

it’s you n me

all I can see is you you you

you n me

I’ll wear my face to someplace

just to fit in

I swear oh I swear

it’s just your fault

how how do you do?

my names you.

"The Fooled And The Foolish"

On the way down I caught you Choking on your Smoke

Disguised as an ally hidden by the mist

But I promise you won’t be missed

For the longest time, I thought I was better than this

Yet somehow through it all, I feel bliss

More than a combination of every kiss

Now you know the face I hide below

Just beneath the skin hidden like your sins

I realize now I mustn't confuse bad cards for a bad hand

Every hand leads me somewhere new

The hand of God, the hand of temptation

the hand of devils and sin

The hand of grace

Power is power no matter where it comes from Maybe I’ll lead you by glow of fire or shining light

Whatever the case never again fooled by you will I be

On the way down I caught you choking on your smoke

Your a joke

~Eric Austin 2017

BY Jonathon Barricklow and Eric James Austin

The Shrowler

“My name is Jonathan and I am here with my friend Eric to do some paranormal stuff”……I said joyfully little did I know what I had just done. We were only trying to summon a Imp seeing as we read some where they are the weakest kind of demon however we summoned something much much more sinister and all around more terrifying. Anyways I am starting to ramble. So back to business, we tried to summon a Imp because my friend wanted to see if demons were real and I was in the same boat. Little did we know they were in fact real and more terrifying than we could ever have imagined looking back I wish we hadn’t. On to the story……Eric and I were shopping for Halloween costumes and props It was October so we had to go and get Halloween stuff for well Halloween. There was this store that specialities were Hollidays supplies. We saw this book there was nothing special about it there were a lot of them so I would start reading because of the curious person I am there were strange markings but I thought they all would have the same weird markings on it’s pages and I mean the name was so generic too …..The book’s name is “Demons And Ghoul Summoning Book” generic right? so as a joke I thought of teasing Eric about summoning a demon because he did not believe in that stuff so to persuade him I told him it would just be for fun we will find a haunted house to do this in to see if it works. (obviously not thinking it would work. Or of the consequences that might follow we did it) so the next day we started looking for the most haunted house that demons supposedly were summoned thinking this was the best idea ever I found the place it had absolutely no kinds of locks I mean to be fair I do live in the ghetto of my city so it did not surprise me it was abandoned but the fact that it had no locks… Yeah most abandoned places have locks at their doors due to safety hazards or whatever, so yeah, no locks kinda shady. I go to Eric's to get him and some cameras and other things I was still teasing him to hell and back saying: “we’re going to summon a powerful demon and it will kill and eat you first, followed by me because I am nothing but skin and bones” Eric just punched my arm and said “Shut your mouth.” So I did what can I say he hit me harder than I thought he would. Eric and I went into the building I found. While in the building I said “Wow, really creepy huh?” windows were shattered, glass over the floor, the walls were written on with strange words and graffiti there was a pentagram in the room to the left of the entrance of the first floor in the building we would have went in other floors if the stairs didn’t look so weak so we used it not wanting to make our own, we started the recording saying “My name is Jonathan and I am here with my friend Eric we are here to do some paranormal stuff...” We both laughed a little then we started after a few minutes of nothingness Eric asked: “So are we even doing it right?” I responded with“We should be I mean we followed the book step by step and everything so why wouldn't it? but wait ” I stopped and said maniacally: “We need a blood sacrifice haha…(joking of course)” but Eric took it seriously, he grabbed a piece of glass that was on the floor and said “Alright, I will do it” I tried insisting saying “No dude don’t do it, it probably doesn't even work.” But he is stubborn I mean really really stubborn and extremely bull headed so he cut himself a bit then bled into the middle of the pentagram. We waited a few more minutes… nothing happened so Eric said “It must not work then?” I said “ told you so how are you going to explain the cut to your dad?” he responded with a smirk “I will just say I tried to jump a fence and got cut on it” I laughed and then asked “Are you sure he is going to believe that?” Eric smirked again and said “Jon, look at the neighborhood we’re in of course he will, well we should get going just incase someone saw us.” After he said that I swear I saw a shadow of a figure dart across the room it kinda looked like a dog but it didn’t snarl or bark just moved with the shadows, I’m not a fan of dogs ever since one bit me last summer so I said quickly “Yeah let’s get going” Thinking it was a dog I pushed Eric to the exit.

The sun was setting so I agreed to walk with eric to his house (Seeing as he’s a good friend even if I have never met his parents or been inside his house) I could of swore someone or something was following us, I could not help but look behind me every so often I got him home quick he lived in the more rich part of town and the walk to my house alone was not too fun Under normal circumstances I don’t mind walking alone I even prefer it I am not a fan groups of people but I don’t mind I had a feeling like something or someone was stalking me still. When I got home I went directly to bed the walk really tired me out, I had this dream it was strange….the sky was black starless but it was for a fact nighttime or what I assumed was night time it was a desolate world, nothing but this house in the distance it was bright but I felt like I was not alone. There was this person like thing that stood before me, dressed in torn burial shrouds, it had chrome eyes with a dark red ring for an eye color with a neon blue slit where its pupils should be, they were much like a snake's eyes, shadows surrounded it, It had some kind of beak on it as well in a menacing voice It growled: “You have no idea what you have just done, now you and the rest of the mortals of this world will pay with blood for waking me into the world, abandoned by the gods.” Terrified I pleaded “It was an accident, you can go back to sleep now….” It responded “I can not go back to sleep” I said “Why not it’s easy just cover yourself in a blanket and close your eyes.” “You idiot” It’s voice boomed “It’s not that kind of sleep I was an inactive shell but now you’ve woken my spirit up and activated my shell” “we were only trying to summon a Imp believe me we didn't believe it would work.” Well aren’t you unlucky I’m not an imp.” I then said “We don’t believe in heaven or hell we wanted to see if demons existed we just needed some proof please forgive us.” It laughed at how pitiful I was and then said “All you mortals are Ignorant and just for that you should all be punished but yet I should reward you because I am now awake and able to show you just how powerful demons are!” That thing laughed menacingly I asked what was up with the mark on the door it just shook the question off then in a mocking voice It said “Oh! Lets go and summon a demon just so we can see if demons are real who cares about what could happen.” it laughed at me then I asked “Who are you exactly” it stared at me then responded “If you must know I am The Shrowler the son of Anubis, my father was defeated in battle and I was exiled here to become an empty shell before the Gods left so I have been sleeping then you and your ignorant friend summoned me and woke me up” I asked a follow up question that I should have asked earlier “How is it you can speak my language anyways?” It looked at me and responded “I am much older than you this was my language before it was yours….” I had no more questions for it. Shrowler charged at me then before it hit me it disappeared in a cloud of smoke and shadow.

I woke up violently I could not sleep for the rest of that night, could you blame me? When I went to school I had to ask Eric if he had some dream of some shadowy figure he responded “No why would I dream of some shadowy figure?” Then I told him about my dream Eric responded “Maybe it is just your imagination going wild…..Again” I of course agreed with him because sometimes my mind goes wild with a bunch of thoughts I thought to myself “Oh well makes sense.” You know it being almost Halloween and all I went on with my day as usual but towards the end of my English class I was looking out the window and could have sworn I saw that thing from my dream it just stared me down after school let out I decided to go look around where I thought I saw that thing. There was nothing there not even a footprint when I went home I went to bed early that night and I had the same dream same damn place. Only thing is I did not feel like I was being watched so feeling obligated to find some answers I went to that lit up house. The house looked like a normal house but there was some sort of marking on the door I went to leave to see if I could find more things out as soon as I went out of the house that thing seemed to be waiting for me outside I was frozen with fear it just kinda stared at me before it released some kind of shadow it went to my lungs a suffocating feeling soon took place I tried to yell but nothing came out the only thing that I could do is let the smoke fill my lungs, it felt so real to me, the feeling left and the shadowy figure did too. My dad woke me up for school and asked if I was alright I responded “I am just fine why do you ask?” He responded “Well you are sweating and it is cold out so that’s the first indication and you’re also as pale as a ghost” I said “Yeah dad, I am fine.” I got up got ready and when I got to school and I proceeded to ask Eric if that thing was following him as well He responded “Actually I think I know what you’re talking about Jon” I slightly relieved said “So I’m not going crazy” “No you are” he said laughing “I was kidding there is no shadowy thing coming for yo-” Before he could finish that thing was behind me, scared he said “Jon….Wh-what the hell is that?!?” I asked what then looked behind me...I really wish I didn’t and before I knew it Eric and I were running through the hallways it was almost like it was every where we were and the halls were vacant, no students, no teachers, no Security guards, no one at all. Running out of breath I had to stop then….He was gone Eric and I where were we started. I had to ask Eric if I was just Dreaming He responded “Yeah, Jon you just kinda dozed off” I apologized and asked “So, you definitely did not see anything weird?” He responded “No Jon I did not you just dozed off” It was the beginning of the school day so it makes sense. The end of the day I set off to find someone that knew anything about Demons/Ghosts anything that may just help me crazy or not....

I had no luck with finding anyone to help I mean there were plenty of scams don’t get me wrong, but finding someone who legitimately knew about the supernatural is well, not common at all. The next day I went on with my day like normal you school work going home and being a couch potato etc you know the usual before that thing started stalking me of course with much more care. Weeks went past like normal weeks before you know, all that happened I was under the assumption that it was gone completely. In the weeks that followed there were a strange string of murders they all had one thing in common, the strange markings that I saw on the door in that dream house on the walls ceiling floors and the victim's body. After hearing about those murders I started to really wander around town I kept looking for “Demon Hunters” “Psychics” anything that could help me with my new friend but nothing….Not until a summer night. I was walking around (I’ve started to enjoy to wandering around aimlessly during the night how quiet it was and how peaceful it seemed) I saw a man being attacked by a dog maybe? I didn’t know so I stepped in and it turned out to be that thing it murmured just before it left something I couldn’t understand then it turned into the demonic form I have come accustomed with then bolted away from me and the man. I called my Dad told him where I was and since I knew he wouldn’t believe me I told him he was attacked by a dog when I found him which technically I wasn’t lying. My dad was quick to find us the man was bleeding an awful lot my dad sped to the hospital and told them what happened well what he thought he knew what happened. Dad asked if I was alright and I responded “Yes but I want to visit the man tomorrow” He just nodded his head. I went to bed shoken up I had a strange dream same place just this time in that house the markings that were on the door were all over the house on the floor, the ceiling, and the walls and to make things worse there were ghost like things floating around the rooms. The things voice boomed in a question “It is beautiful isn’t it? It feels an awful lot like home. My friends here are the souls of the people YOU killed and these markings haha! The markings on my walls floors and ceilings are made from their blood, it’s really is marvelous and it’s all thanks to you for summoning me and letting me remember how wonderful taking someones life is” the thing broke out in a menacing laugh. I finally asked him a question I’ve been wondering since the first night we “talked” “Why is it you’ve kept me alive huh all these months and you still haven’t killed me….Why?” It had a look as if it were waiting to answer that question since day one it then started to explain “You and your friend are the only reason why I am still here.” I looked at him frustrated “What does that even mean!?” I shouted, it just stared at me then laughed and disappeared… I woke up and my mom and dad were not home I am going to guess they were at work so I left a note on the kitchen table telling them I went to see the man. I ran quickly to the hospital where we signed him in to. Once I got there the nurse at the counter told me that man was waiting for me to visit him I proceeded to go to the room. The man he looked very weak as if he was ready to die I asked the doctor if he’ll be alright and he responded “His heart is just fine so he should be just fine.” I let out a sigh of relief . The man asked if the doctor could leave him and I to talk, the doctor agreed and told the man that he’ll be just outside of the door if he needed anything. I started off the conversation with “Could I bother you to know your name?” the man looked at me and told me with a smile “Gale my name is Gale” I told him that was a strange name for a person he just laughed and agreed. So I went to the question I was wondering “Why were you wandering around town in the middle of the night?” Gale responded “I could ask you the same thing but if you must know” He paused “I was looking for something and it found me” I asked him to clarify that a little. Gale told me that he had heard rumors of some kind of dog on the loose attacking people for no reason so I hopped to see the beast. I asked shocked “Why would you do such a thing!?” He responded with a smirk “It interested me and when something interests me I need to find out more just like I’m interested in what you were doing wandering the streets that late at night.” In a calm voice I said “Well you see….I just like walking around at night time” “That’s dangerous you know?” he smiled I then said “Well hey I’m not the one getting attacked by a dog” Erm… Jonathan was it?” Gale asked “Erm yes?” “Well between you and me it wasn’t a dog.” Shocked the only thing I could think to do is play stupid “What was it then? If it wasn’t a dog.” “Jonathan…...I know you know what it is I also know you’re the reason why he’s here.” What makes you think I’m the reason it’s here?” He smirked “A little birdy told me him and his friend brought that thing in here what was his name….Oh yeah that boys name is Eric and his friends name is Jonathan sound familiar at all?” So Eric did know that that thing was real why was he shutting it out I thought to myself “So it does sound familiar huh?” Gale said interrupting my thought process. “Yes it does sound familiar but why did he tell you about it?” I raised an eyebrow “I’m his father of course sure it took some time to believe but after the murders I started looking into it.” I never met his father seeing as he lives the whole way across town and I only walked Eric to a place that one way lead to the other side and the other to my house so for as long as I’ve been here I’ve only met his mom and that was only briefly. “So your name is Jonathan correct, one of eric’s best friends….What have you gotten you and my son into” He had a very worried sound in his voice. But then anger took over “Answer me! What have you gotten you and my son into?” My head fell and all I had to say was “I have no idea sir.” he did not like that response one bit all he had to say in return was “Get out and don’t come back till you have a real answer” Knowing I’m the reason he was in that hospital bed I quietly left without another word. TO BE CONTINUED

(song lyrics)-MIRROR TALK

How do, how do you do?

My name is you

I traveled all

all this way

to see you

my my oh my god

it’s just me n you

welcome welcome to me

me through you

me me n you

oh so it’s true?

so so much pain

is that all

you can do?

walk walk along way

to see your face

just look look in the mirror

it’s you n me

all I can see is you you you

you n me

I’ll wear my face to someplace

just to fit in

I swear oh I swear

it’s just your fault

how how do you do?

my names you.