Short Story Series: Realistic

I will be writing a series of short stories and posting them one at a time on my blog. They will all be dealing with various circumstances that people have going from ones with very serious implications like unexpected pregnancy to mostly social incidents like a sudden change in wealth or doing something so amazing that suddenly everybody loves you and wants to be your best friend. I have been working on this idea for a few years now and what better medium to post it on than my own blog?

The location for all of these stories will be extremely fictional as it is a town of my own design called Salisborough. Many of the stories will be based around high school students, but some will be about the adult residents in the town. None of the people’s names will be real and anyone with the same name as the characters it is purely coincidence. However, these some of these stories are based off of my experience, some are based purely off of my imagination, and others are what I know from the other people in my life.

Expect my first story to be posted by tonight before I hit the sack.

Paul Davis’ Story

I was on my way to work when suddenly there was a roaring sound and my car flipped over. For a moment I thought I was dreaming still, but reality hit me when the car hit the ground. Pain spiked across my chest and neck as whiplash twisted my neck in ways it shouldn’t and the seat belt tightened against me. I lost my breath and began to see spots. Only one phrase went through my head: what happened? It took me several minutes to gather myself, but I noticed that my left side felt a lot hotter than my right, and I turned my head to face that side only to see the remains of a building and several flaming cars. Sirens, I could hear sirens in the distance. My seat belt pinched uncomfortably against my chest and I fumbled to free myself from its grasp. Bad choice. Pain surged anew when I landed on my back on the ceiling of my car. I spent the next several minute laying there analyzing the situation I was in.

“What on earth happened?” I said aloud, not that I expected to get an answer right away.

There was no way that the Knights could have extended their reach this far. No way. Some sirens got closer and others got farther away. Did this happen in other places? A splash of water hit me as firefighters began to do their jobs. Soon, I was extracted from the remains of my car and rolled into an ambulance.

“Sir, can you tell me your name?” A concerned female voice asked. I couldn’t see who it was because my neck wouldn’t move, because of the brace they put it in.

“Paul Davis,” my voice sounded a little hoarse.

I was then bombarded with a bunch of questions dealing with my address, phone number, and some medical questions. I answered them all by the time that I arrived in the hospital. Again the question. “What happened?” It felt like somebody else was speaking using my mouth, but I knew I was the one asking the question.

“Sir, you were in an explosion.” An explosion? That’s what happened?

My brain sluggishly put two and two together and by the time I made it to the room I was supposed to be in I figured it out. Then other questions haunted me. How many people died? Were there other explosions or was the one I was in the only one? How did they get here? Why? The explosion seemed completely random, almost as if there were no purpose. Why Meredith, New Hampshire of all the places to bomb? It’s only a tourist town.

The doctors put me through some tests and came to the conclusion that I had a minor concussion and a few dozen contusions all over my body and major whiplash. They decided to put me under watch just in case the injuries I sustained were worse than believed. From what I heard only three other people survived the same explosion and one of them wasn’t going to make it through the night. I called into work and told Vic, our other intern, to tell the Boss I was in the explosion today and would not be able to show up to work. After that, I turned on the television to the news.

“And recently today, in Meredith, Concord, Plymouth, and other towns and cities there have been dozens of bombings all over. From reports we’ve received from the police and other emergency response personnel, the explosions probably originated from the Knights of Discord. Casualties are very high and damage is reaching the millions-” I turned it off. Dozens of explosions. Deaths and damage. Right here, in my home and my state. There’s nowhere in the United States that’s safe from the Knights. When I get out of here, I’m taking Jenna and we’re leaving the country. I don’t know where, but I want to live someplace safe with my wife and child.

“Mr. Davis?” A nurse peeked into my room from the entrance.

“Yes?”

She timidly entered the room. “Sir, we tried calling the number you gave us, but the line was dead. Um, and we checked the address, and that’s one of, um, the locations that were bombed. When the ambulances arrived, um, they found your wife, but she, uh, she was dead.”

Anything else she had to say was lost to me. After those last three words came out of her mouth, my pain and emotions exploded and everything around me became insignificant. The pain was so powerful, I could only stare with ungodly disbelief at the ceiling as if that could reverse time and undo everything that just happened. There was nothing more I wanted to do than go back in time and back to home and save her.

Vane and Havoc

After I told her that her father had been killed, Leah went into a bit of a catatonic state. I knew the feeling, my own father had been murdered, but fortunately she was spared the sight of it unlike myself. We left Freeport and traveled north a ways before turning west towards Lourghn. I made sure our tracks were covered, but if the assassins had magic at their hands they might be able to find us anyways. If they have magic they’d have hunted us down already and you’d be fighting them every night all night. True.

I wanted to tell her that everything would be alright, but she has an uncanny ability to tell if somebody is lying to her, probably part of her ability as a Weaver, because it’s harder to lie to most of them. Yes, and you know why. I know that it’s because of the natural power and knowledge of magic that they contain. That wisdom is given to them at an early age, but their true power doesn’t manifest until puberty hits them, and she’s maybe a couple years away. If that. I promised I’d protect her, my heir, and that I will do. Yes, I know and while I don’t agree with you on that promise, I will support it.

Whenever I spoke with her the next few days she didn’t respond. The poor girl had lost so much so soon; she didn’t even get a chance to finish her painting. I wanted to tell her about her power. I wanted to tell her that she will eventually become on of the most powerful people in these realms. Weavers are magic, they contain it and live and breath it. Weavers have the knowledge of a specific type of magic and the power to use it to perfection, with some training. A disciplined Weaver is a force to be reckoned with, not even I have the power to defeat one with just my own skill. Yes, but with me you’re even more powerful. Shut up. You can’t deny the responsibility you gained when you earned my power, you know that some day you will have to use it again. Not today, not until the Apocalypse is freed, or when the Balance needs resetting.

We arrived at Lourghn, my first home, the great city that it now is was only a small town when I was born in it. In the center of it stands the statue of Aridios “Ironblade” Airstrider, my best friend, may he rest in peace. He’s honored as the greatest human hero to have been born ever, and he was even if they embellished his history a bit. If it wasn’t for his bravery and kindness and his ability to unite people under a belief, most of the places that exist now would never have existed.

“Vane, you’re crying,” these were the first words I had heard come out of Leah’s mouth since we left Freeport. You’re getting nostalgic.

I smiled. “These are good tears. Tears of remembrance and homecoming.”

She looked around the city’s grounds. “This is your home?”

“I was born here. My best friend lived and died for this town.”

Leah looked me in the eye. “Will we be safe here?”

I bowed my head. “Only for a couple days, then we need to move on. You remember the rules I told you right?”

She nodded. “Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t tell anyone where I’m from. If I have to talk to someone only let them know my first name. And keep in sight of you.”

“Good memory.”

Paul Davis’ Story

After his announcement, news stations all over began to talk about how the government declared Vincent DeMoore as their most wanted criminal and a threat to society as a whole. Shortly after that declaration, rumors of fights between Knights of Discord all over the states and government establishments spread all over. For all I know, the world might as well have blown up then and there. I tried to preach safety and order, but the more I did so, the more things seemed to go crazy. I was struggling against some overwhelming force and I wasn’t going to give up anytime soon.

Within a month I spoke about how the Knights of Discord gained the Dakotas as territories and the US Military was being forced back. The worst part was the reports of troops firing upon innocent civilians not knowing the difference between them and the Knights. Naturally, the government and military got all the blame, and I couldn’t help but agree that they should have been more careful, but I also had no idea what was happening over there despite all the reports I was receiving and talking about. Many of our listeners had varying opinions on the Knights still, some loved them, others feared, and many still had no idea what to think. I knew I was in the third crowd.

One day, after work my wife and I decided to take a walk in our favorite park.

I started our conversation there with. “I read a letter from a woman who lost her sister and husband to the military. I wanted to talk about it, but I couldn’t find a good way to begin. The letter was so powerful, sad, and angry. I hope she finds some peace somehow.”

Jenna gripped my hand tightly. “She will. It seems like the world has gone crazy, but it just hasn’t hit us yet. We still have children playing in the playground over there, and kids in the skateboard arena having fun. Life here hasn’t changed much, but I can’t help but feel that is going to change.” She put her free hand on her stomach. “I hope things don’t change so badly that it ruins this one’s future.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure our child has a perfect life. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing bad happens here.”

We kissed a long and beautiful kiss. Every emotion I had, positive and negative, rose into my heart. I felt angry at the Knights for their timing and their destructive means. I was angry at the government for not serving the people like it should have, therefor preventing the Knights from existing in the first place. I wanted a safe place for my wife and child to live, and it began to feel like the world was turning hostile against us. I would do anything to make sure that would happen, even move out of the states.

Vane and Havoc

Another person dead by my hand. Sometimes I wish that I hadn’t earned this curse. You know better than to think that. This other personality - Havoc! - haunts me, controls me even. Makes me live longer than any human should. It’s a gift, one that you earned. One I sometimes wish I didn’t. Death hounds me. You are death, in a way. Silence, you do not comfort me. I’m not here to comfort you, only to be a guide as you serve the Balance. Yes, power for service, father always did tell me that power needs responsibility to be wisely used.

I sheathed the black crystalline long sword that is the second Apocalypse Crystal and closed the eyes of the dead assassin before me. “May Saint Shadow accept you into his cold embrace bold assassin.”

I then looked at the two guards that had watched me slay the contracted assassin. Such a shame that skilled men such as this assassin have to sign blood contracts to accept a job. Shut up. “Clean up the body, and the blood. Leah can not be allowed into this room until that is done. Do you understand?”

The guards nodded and began to gather others to assist in the disposal of the assassin’s body and cleaning of the room. I left the room and began the short search for Leah, the little girl that I was hired to guard until her father returned to protect her himself. I still don’t understand why you wish to keep her safe, she’s unimportant to the Balance. She’s the last in my bloodline and she will be a very powerful Weaver, why do you think I want to protect her? I know that, I still don’t understand the point, if you wish to create a new bloodline you can. That’s right, Havoc, you can’t understand.

When I found Leah, she was in her other play room curled up in a corner, crying. As I approached her, she sobbed. “Why do people want to hurt me? What do the evil people want from me?” Evil is relative, sweetheart. Shut up.

“Leah, I wish I could tell you why, but your father told me not to, but I will ask him to tell you when he gets back.”

“But I want to know now.” Tell her, you’re wasting your time and her life if she doesn’t know. So now you’re offering advice on this? Make up your mind, you support my choice to protect her or you don’t. If you’re not going to change your mind on this then I suppose I have no choice to support you. There’s always a choice, but I appreciate your decision.

I smiled. “Let me make you a promise. If your father doesn’t tell you when he gets back, then I will come back in one year to tell you everything you need to know. You’ll be fourteen by then, and old enough to know.”

She wiped her face off and nodded. “OK.”

You intend to keep that promise? My word is my bond, you know this. A foolish bond. “Let me get you that painting you were working on.”

She grabbed my hand. “No, stay. I can paint later. You remind me of Daddy and I feel safe with him around.”

I smiled. “OK.”

There was a knocking at the door and I turned to see a courier standing there with a letter in his hand. “Come in,” I gestured to myself.

He scurried in. “Message for you, sir,” he then turned around and left quickly.

Something about this is off. I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter.

Dear Vane,

I will not be able to return home, ever. I had learned that the guild that hired an assassin to kill my daughter, also sent an assassin after me. I managed to kill him, but not after I was poisoned by him. I can feel myself fading as I write this. Tell Leah I’m sorry, and keep her safe. Do not tell her of her ability until she begins to manifest it. There will be other assassins coming after her, so the best thing for you to do is take her with you on your travels. You will have access to all the funds of this family as payment, there is my broach in the envelope, with it you will be able to access the currency. Please accept this last job from me and once she turns sixteen you may be free of this job.

Thank you.

This is not what I expected. Finally, something we can agree on. “Leah… I have something to tell you. You need to listen to me, and do as I tell you afterwards.”

Paul Davis’ Story

That speech I pulled left me with so much energy I carried the rest of the show with little issue. Jake was clearly thankful that I pulled myself together. After the show was finished the Boss gave me a pat on the back and a “Good job, son”, then I left for home. Nothing could have prepared me for the next day at work.

This next day started off like a normal one, except for one call:

“This is Vincent DeMoore, from… Minnesota,” I announced quite surprised at contact from a silent state.

“Hello, Paul, thank you for having me.” His calm voice sent a chill up my spine. “Hello, public of the United States of America, I am the leader of the Knights of Discord. Many of you may be wondering why I am doing what I am doing, and many others have suffered a great loss because of my organizations actions.”

Jake interjected. “So you admit responsibility to the deaths of the soldiers in Minneapolis?”

The chilling calm voice said. “Yes. The losses are regretful and I am sorry for all of the losses incurred, but they are not uncalled for.” His voice then began to ascend to a more passionate tone. “Those soldiers sacrificed their lives for a cause, our cause. The government isn’t working and the corruption within it is rotting away at everything. If these terrible policies do not change you all will suffer for it, and not because of us. We are no terrorists, we do not want to kill anyone, but what we do we do because we must.”

I glared. “Why must you do this? Why not use political means to change the government? That’s what democracy is for isn’t it?”

“Democracy is… broken. Broken by the very people that are in power now. What they do in those seats is only so they can keep sitting there, they don’t ‘serve the people’ they serve themselves, and those in power will do anything to stay there. I must do this because I tried to no avail to use political means and after five years of trying and trying I have had enough. Congress, the White House, the Pentagon, even the military. All of it must be torn down and rebuilt from the bottom up. Once a sturdy foundation is built then things will begin to improve.”

I couldn’t believe it. “But why? What is your motive, it must be something more than just changing the government?”

I could hear his smile. “Good questions, always asking the right ones. You want the answer? It is justice. I am Justice. Justice for the people who have been wronged by the government. Justice for the people that have been failed by the government. The government won’t fix itself because it has become lazy and arrogant, but the people will rise up and tear it down. All for the sake of justice. You think we only have Minnesota and pieces of our neighboring states? Think again our reach extends everywhere, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. If the government won’t serve the people, the people will serve themselves. Goodbye.”

I looked at Jake as Vincent hung up his phone. “He certainly doesn’t lack for passion.”

Jake nodded. “Yeah. Or sanity.”

Karrigan Rhougal: Night Watch

Night, it’s the worst time of the day, and here I am stuck with a guard shift at night. Who would’ve known that the academy’s best swordsman would end up as a night shift guard in some out of the way village with a name I can’t remember. The teacher said something about “attitude problem” I don’t have an attitude problem; he just had a problem with me because I beat him while training one day. Attitude problem…

I worked myself nearly to death some days training to get as good as I am, and then they waste my talents here. Maybe it’s because I’m a common-blood freak? That’s what the blue-bloods called me anyways, pricks. Sometimes they just made my blood boil, even now; thinking of those jerks makes me want to hit something. No, I’m a soldier now, I have discipline, and there is no need for me to hit anything except some bandit raid.

I should be out there fighting in some battle against any enemy we might end up coming across, but it’s not like that’s going to happen. Dragia has been at peace with its neighbors far too long now, but even then we’re still famous for our superior military. How can we know if it’s superior if there’s no one to test it out on? Valaya used to be our enemy, but after the war twenty years ago they’ve still yet to recover, and Reneva have been allies of ours since the beginning of time for all I know.

It’s not like I can pick a fight with just anyone either; I’ll just get discharged then, and I don’t want that. Maybe if I provoke someone into fighting me? Then I can beat him up without getting into trouble. That’s not likely to happen; I’m too easily provoked to do any decent provoking myself. For all I know I’ll end up provoking myself into beating the poor bugger up.

Nothing fun happens at night. Here I stand, me, Karrigan Rhougal, the best swordsman in the history of Lilac City Academy, and I have a job watching some stupid peasants. No, they aren’t stupid. By the Saints, why would I think such a thing? I am a bloody peasant. These people are my kin in a way. They earned their position just like I earned my guard position: bad luck. Nothing fun happens at night.

I’ve been here for two months with two other guards. I think their names are Philip and Hans, or maybe it’s Perry and Jan. I don’t know. They get the day shift, and I get the stinking night. I can’t imagine they have much fun either, but at least they have someone to talk with. I just get my thoughts and steadily lose my sanity.

Maybe I should just leave? I don’t deserve this position. I can find myself something else to do. I could become a mercenary; they get some fun don’t they? I can’t stand wasting my life here. Maybe I’ll think on it after I get some sleep. By the Saints! I can’t stand thinking anymore! I need action, no more thinking! I’m leaving tonight and that’s final. The other two can figure out what to do about shifts. I’m going to be somebody, not some stupid guard in a remote village that nobody cares about.

With that I got up from the uncomfortable wooden stool that was lent to me by the only villager that took pity on my position. Thomas I think his name was, yeah that’s right. I’ll leave it at his front door before I get my stuff. As I finished, I looked at myself. Sword, check. Armor, check. Food and water, something I’ll pick up before leaving. Horse, at the stables. I’m fine enough, I just need to pick up food and drink and I’m good.

The trip through the village to where the guards were house was uneventful. I think I scared a cat up a house, that’s it, and I’m not surprised in the least because I am a big man and I know it. The house we’re living in is no different than any of the other houses; simply put we’re peasants in a soldier’s outfit. I’m top dog here and I’m still worth less than dirt. I’m going to change that.

As I grab a bag and begin filling it up with travel rations and snatch a water skin, Hans or Jan woke up. Great, I just wanted to get in and get out without any trouble and he’s going to be curious about why I’m gathering so many supplies.

“Kar,” Hans mumbled as he stood up. I hated that nickname and he knew it. “What are you doing?”

I looked him square in the face. “I’m getting some food. I’m hungry.”

He squinted at the bag as I put one last day’s worth of rations into my bag. “Hungry for several days of rations? Why?”

I grinned at that, maybe I could get away with this. “I’m a big guy; you of all people should know I eat a lot.”

He shook his head. “Sure, yeah, whatever” and then he sat back in his bed and rubbed this eyes. “Can’t believe I got up for that.”

As I left the building and closed the door behind me, I began to move towards the stable. Part way there I heard a sound behind me and turned around to see an alert Hans staring at me ten paces away with his sword drawn. I knew I couldn’t have gotten away with this without trouble.

“Where’s Perry?” I glanced over his shoulder. “Didn’t wake him up?”

“It’s Philip, and there’s no need, I can arrest you no problem. I thought something was wrong, and then I realized no one eats that much, not even you.”

I grinned. “Now aren’t you a clever one. Forget you ever saw me. I’m not wasting my life at a post I didn’t deserve.”

He took a step closer. “No, you’re coming with me to the cell.”

I put my bag down. “Not that cage. I am not going in there. You’ll have to try to kill me before you even get me close to that stinking thing.”

“Fine” and with that, he lunged at me. It was pathetic how easy it was to break his guard, disarm him, and then snap his neck. I didn’t even need to draw my sword that’s how easy it was. All I needed to do was deflect his sword with my bracer and the rest was a cake walk. It’s odd how they said in the academy it was hard to take a life for the first time. This was nothing but exhilarating, and I was sad it was over so quickly and in such a less than dramatic fashion.

Good bye hell hole, welcome adventure. Good bye night watch.

Paul Davis’ Story

The next few days were a blur as nothing new came out of the Knights of Discord discussion even though that was all we were talking about. Until one day at work.

“So it seems the military is finally being called into Minnesota and Wisconsin to bring some order to the place,” Jake announced as soon as we were on the air.

I smirked. “Well, it’s about time the government decided to take action and shut this down. Have we got anything else on this yet, Jake?”

Jake shook his head. “No, but I’m curious what the locals in the area think of what’s going on. With troops coming in there must be some unrest, and what happens if the Knights decide to take action directly against them? And what if the Knights cause more damage than you think they could do?”

“That would be a shame, wouldn’t it? I don’t think that will happen. In fact now that the government has taken some action maybe these activists will turn tail and run.”

Jake gave a wolfish grin. “I don’t know, these people have a cause and people that truly believe in that cause will fight for it to the death. We’ve seen it in other countries, and it’s even happened here a couple times. You know in a couple things called the Revolution and the Civil War.”

Alright, I couldn’t argue with that logic. Jake had some pretty good points. “Yeah, with that logic I suppose there’ll be some fighting.”

Kassie quickly came into the studio and gave me a sheet of paper. It was a military report written by the commander-in-chief of the operation into Minnesota. It discussed the reason why no one got any communications from anyone in the state.

I moved my chair closer to the mic and quietly said. “OK folks, I’ve got some news on why the police force in Minnesota stopped communications with their neighbors. There aren’t any police left there apparently. After entering Minneapolis, the main force of troops sent to investigate found the city entirely vacated.”

“Weird, don’t you think Paul?” Jake injected.

“Yes, weird indeed. Forces began to explore the city, and found nobody and even supermarkets and food shops were emptied of supplies. Walmart buildings in the area were similarly empty. No sign of a struggle or anything.”

“Think they were in on it?” Jake’s tone reflected his snarky sarcastic attitude.

I shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I hope we find out soon enough. We have a call from a soldier in the area. Sargent Victoria Weis, what have you to say about the vanished population and resources in Minneapolis right now?”

“I’m not sure, something feels off. An entire city of people doesn’t just vanish overnight. I have a feeling that some real s— is about to go down soon, and I really don’t want that to happen. We have orders to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, but I’m not sure what suspicious is anymore, because this whole deal is suspicious.”

“What can you say about the raided department stores and market places?” Jake asked.

“That just takes the cake. I mean, there was no sign of a struggle or anything. The video feeds were all turned off before the stores were empty, so we have no idea what happened. The biggest question I have about that is where does one move all of that food and supplies? Hold on a sec, something’s going on. We found a civilian, I’ll be right back.”

I heard the Sargent put the receiver down and there was some noise and yelling. Then an explosion and then static took over the speakers on our end and I fell out of my set with a yelp. Jake just sat there for a while and stared at the speakers for a few seconds before he disconnected the line. The silence following afterwards hurt. Without doubt, my beliefs again were proven wrong, and the Knights of Discord did exactly what I thought they wouldn’t do. I could only imagine what was going on at the other end of the line, and my gut told me that Sargent Weis was dead along with whatever troops were at her location. Then there was that civilian. Was he a part of the Knights of Discord; what part did he have in the explosion that took out our connection? I suppose we’ll never know about that.

Jake was the first to regain his composure, sort of. “Well, uh, we just lost our connection with the Sargent. Um, I hope everything is good on her end, whatever happened over there didn’t sound pleasant, but we can hope something good came out of this.”

I got back in my seat. “I’m not so sure what there is to say about what just happened. I’m pretty sure I heard an explosion before the static, generally explosions aren’t good things, Jake.”

Jake coughed. “No, no, explosions generally aren’t good.”

“And now for a commercial break.”

Paul Davis’ Story

Here’s for the next chapter of Paul Davis’ Story:

The next several days at work I talked about the Knights of Discord and the possibilities of their actions. I maintained my conviction that the government would shut them down if they got too rowdy. About a week went by of the same thing over and over. I wanted to move on to more pressing news, like the congressional elections that would be happening in six months, but the Boss told me to “maintain course” like a ship’s captain.

More pressing news happened during one of my broadcasts with Jake.

“We can probably expect these Knights to fade out like so many other movements that have happened in the past,” I was saying.

Jake received some papers from our intern Kassie, scanned them, and began to announce. “Well, I’d agree with you Paul if I didn’t just get this interesting piece of news. Apparently officials in the neighboring states of Minnesota have publicly announced a loss of contact with the police force in Minnesota. I’m pretty sure that this is a move made by our one and only Knights of Discord.”

“Perhaps this will wake the sleeping giant called our government, and they’ll send in someone to check this out.”

“Whoa, I’m not done, Paul. There are also reporting’s of vandalism upon government property including court houses, mailboxes, the post offices, and even the capitol building in Wisconsin. Somebody’s making a serious statement here by doing this.”

Just then I received a few papers of my own from Kassie. I scanned them over. The information they contained confirmed and copied what Jake just announced. Also, the National Guard in the area was being called in to lend a hand to the police forces. Finally, the government was stepping in to clean up this issue.

“Well, Jake, that is some substantial news, but also the National Guard has been called into the area to help out the police. What do you think about that?”

“I think, if I were a revolutionary group of anarchists, I’d begin escalation and hope that my cause will rise above all others.”

“We shall see won’t we? I suspect this is the end for the Knights, and they should pack their bags and go home in peace before they go to prison – or worse – in pieces.”

“Well that’s up to them isn’t it? Let’s hear what our listeners have to say about this new set of events.”

“Alright, Fred, from Wisconsin, what do you have to say?”

“Thank you guys for having me. I gotta say it’s scary. I went to work today and seeing the destruction these Knights left at the capitol. It’s scary. If they did this without anyone seeing, then imagine what they can do. If something isn’t done and done fast I can say for sure that these guys aren’t going anywhere soon.”

“Ok, Fred, what exactly did they do to the building and how do you know it’s the Knights that did it?”

“There’s a mess of spray paint graffiti saying ‘the Knights of Discord are here’ and ‘fight the system’ and stuff. It looks like the set fire to several things and left them lying there burning. The front doors were broken down and some of the display cases were broken with their contents either burned or torn to pieces. None of the police or security on duty at the time knew it happened, but I think some of them might actually be secret agents of the Knights.”

This was news, first-hand information. I could tell by the sound of this man’s voice that he was telling the truth and nothing but the truth, and he was scared. I felt a chill run down my spine. I now realized that I have been underestimating the Knights of Discord and that if I continued to do so I would be stupid. There was no way I’d let myself continue to look like an idiot.

“Thank you for this news, Fred,” I said, probably sounding a little stunned. “Now for the opinion of Kaitlin from Virginia. You’re on the air.”

After some more insights onto the Knights of Discord leading to some lengthy chats between Jake, our callers, and I, I finally went home. Jenna had seen some news earlier that day, and it confirmed what Fred had said and that was very uncomfortable. That night we didn’t do anything but watch a movie and go to sleep. I tried to push the thoughts of the Knights out of my mind, but to no avail, because I dreamed about them.

Paul Davis’ Story

As my first post to my blog, I figured I’d post a piece of a work of mine with future parts of it coming up. This is the tale of Paul Davis, a radio show personality of a nationally broadcasting show experiences a rebellion and eventually becomes the only hope for order in the world. So without further ado, enjoy:

“Paul, we’ve got a story for you.”

That’s what I was told when I went to work today. My co-worker and friend, Clark, then directed me to the Boss who told me about this revolutionary group called the Knights of Discord. Anarchists. That’s the best word I can use to describe them. They’re a gathering of people so displeased by the government and it’s catering towards large corporations that they’re starting a revolution. Apparently they want no government and they feel that a violent takeover is the only way to get what they want. Not likely that they’ll succeed. They’re based in Minnesota of all the places! How will anyone take over the government from there?

My co-host, Jake, asked me what I thought of the story; I gave him exactly what I thought. Soon afterwards we were on the air.

“Hello my friends and listeners, this is Paul Davis”

“And Jake Wiles”

“Of 102.9 WWLK and here’s the news for the day: We’ve got a revolution on our hands folks! That’s right, revolution. From what I know many citizens of Minnesota, especially those in the northern lakes region are planning to overthrow the government.”

“Whoa! That can’t be good. And it isn’t, these people want there to be no government, and maybe that might be pushing it a little bit far.”

“That’s right, but you know what I think? I think that this revolution won’t last very long. I think the police and – if they’re needed – the military are going to round up these disgruntled and violently angry people if they get too riled up.”

“Well, Paul, what do you think will happen if these Knights of Discord actually succeed at their goals? Because I’m not sure what to think of this, the government has gotten a bit off track as far as serving the people go.”

“I’m pretty sure they won’t get much further, but if they do then I think – self-serving government or not – this won’t go as far as anarchy. Someone will be able to step in and help bring order and peace to the people. Then we’ll be able to fix the problems we currently have. All we need to do is work together to bring some integrity to the system.”

“Alright, I wonder now what do the listeners think? Kyle of the Windy City, you’re on the air.”

“Um, hi Paul, Jake, I’ve been listening to your show for years now. I love it, thanks for letting me on the air.”

“Thank you, Kyle, what do you think?”

“I think it’s stupid! Trying to overthrow the government? Why haven’t they tried other methods like petitioning the government? I hate it when people go straight to the worst action, when if they just thought about it for a bit they could find a better way.”

“Thank you, Kyle. Now, Julie, from New York, you have some insight?”

“Yes, Paul I do. I think they could do worse. Revolution? Sure it might not be the best option, but I bet that these people feel that this is the only option they have left. If they think they could succeed and make things better for all of us, I say go for it.”

“Yes, thank you. Terry from North Dakota, what’s your opinion?”

“I’m scared. I’ve got two kids and a wife to take care of and now we’ve got revolutionaries? What are the chances that innocents will be involved in this? I don’t want my family to get hurt. I hope the government shuts these guys down before too much happens.”

“I pray that no innocents get involved in this, but I’m confident this will not go far. Thank you, Terry. Next we have Warren of California. What have you to say?”

“Go man go! Viva la revolution! We should put down the stupid feds, they ain’t done nothing good for us. All they been doin’ lately is screwing us good people over. I think the Knights of Discord rock! Peace!”

I winced at that. “Um, OK, thank you for your opinion. Rachel of Maine?”

This went on for about fifteen minutes. The phones rang off the hooks the entire time and we got the full spectrum of what people thought. In the end, about half of the people were for it and the other half weren’t. There were no calls from Minnesota, which I found odd, but then again there were also no calls from Alaska, Florida, or Oregon, and not everyone that calls makes it through.

Thankfully at the end of this Jake said the magic words. “That’s all the callers we can take for today, now for some of your favorite music! Starting off with a new band: the Ever Lost.”

After we took our headsets off, Jake turned to me and grinned. “What do you think of that?”

The only word that came out of my mouth was “Wow”. I bet my face looked stupid because Jake’s grin widened after I said that.

He chuckled and spun in his chair. “The great Paul Davis, awestruck by the Knights of Discord and the opinions of a few dozen people, that’s a new one to me.”

I smiled at that and kicked Jake’s seat. “Shut up, you’ve got your show to run.”

As I got up, he turned to me. “Oh I’m running it.”

I left the studio room saying. “Oh and floss your teeth you’ve got something stuck in them.”

“Can’t fool me,” was what I heard as I closed the door behind me.

The Boss then approached me from out of nowhere, something I had learned to expect from him.

“Great work, Paul! The phones are ringing off the hook. People want to say their piece about the Knights and you’re going to keep covering them.”

I didn’t want it, but when the Boss wants something you keep him happy. It took me a moment to respond, and the response was a pathetic “OK”. OK. There was something condemning about those two letters. I had a bad feeling that the Knights weren’t going to go anywhere soon, and things would spiral out of control in no time. I only can hope that this feeling is wrong.

The Boss wasn’t done talking. “What do you think we should do? Should we keep the opinions coming in? Wait. Don’t answer that. I have an idea: we’re going to take people’s opinions and before advertisements come up were going to air a randomly selected opinion. Paul, I know you usually head out soon, but stay around for a while longer. I want you to listen in on the people and their thoughts.”

I found my voice this time. “Sir, I’ll do it, but I’m not feeling too good about this whole thing. First, you know I don’t think these guys have a chance against the government. Second, this feels all wrong.”

The Boss put his hand on my shoulder. “Relax, it’ll all work out. You’ll see.”

The rest of my day at work, I spent by listening to hundreds of thoughts and opinions on the Knights and the government. When I left, my ears were ringing and my brain pounded angrily against my skull demanding freedom from the stresses of today’s life. I got in my car and made the daily trip back home. I found my way into the kitchen and put a teapot of water on the stove.

“Bad day at work?”

I turned startled toward where my wife, Jenna, stood – correction – leaned against the wall at the base of the staircase up. I stared at the only woman I ever loved.

She smiled. “The great Paul Davis at a loss for words, you must have had a bad day.”

She walked seductively over to me, and we embraced each other. I slid my hand through her long, straight, jet black hair and found myself relaxing.

“A bad day is right.”

I then explained to her the entirety of my day with a mug of hot chamomile tea being the only interruption. She listened like a saint, and only said anything after I was completely done.

“I’m sorry you had such a rough day. I heard about the Knights of Discord and am sorry that you have to be involved with covering them at work. This will get better though. It always does. You can work with the cards you’ve been dealt, just make it something you enjoy, and don’t let it bring you down.”

I smiled, taking her hand. “Thank you, honey. You’re right, I can make this work. In fact I will.”

“Good, because I know you can. Why don’t we watch a movie and then go to bed?”

I nodded and that’s exactly what we did.