Courage

~Kindle Joy Miller

“Take Courage, my sword, and defeat this beast.”

“But, Father, the monster is huge and there is no way I alone can defeat it,” said John, “Our whole army couldn’t even defeat it!”

“Yes, son, but they didn’t have Courage,” Said his father, “Courage will defeat this beast.”

“But I’m afraid, Father…”

“It is alright to be scared but you must also be brave,” His father told him, “Now go! The village rests in your hands!”

John took Courage and ran out to hear the screams of innocent people. He knew something had to be done but what? The ferocious dragon was crushing homes and toasting people on sight. He had to think of a plan. Right then Courage started pulling John closer to where the monster was. John didn’t fight it he knew he had to do what he had to do. He remembered his sister’s last words. She said, “Now you’re the only one that can save us.”John heard it clearly in his mind but he didn’t want to believe it. His older sister was brave and cunning but now she was gone and it was up to him. John’s family was chosen to protect this village but now half of them were dead and he wasn’t going to let that dragon kill anyone else.

Courage pulled John closer and closer to the dragon. He knew it wanted to kill the beast as much as He did. The sword had been in his family for generations and he never thought he would be the one to use it now, in their darkest hour. John gave up holding back and ran with Courage toward the beast. The dragon got bigger and bigger as he ran towards it. He could see the smoke rising from the monster’s nostrils. The dragon saw him coming and was ready for a fight. It wanted another toasty treat but John wouldn’t let that happen.

“Who is this?” the dragon asked, “Do they send a little boy to defeat me!”

“I am John, the son of Sir Peter and Lady Jessica,” Said John, “I’m from the family of Tynia and I will not let you kill another person as long as I live.”

“Ha! I already killed your sister and your mother,” Said the dragon, “Do you really think you have a chance? You are just a boy and you’re afraid! I should just toast you right here!”

“We’ll see about that,” John said as he lunged at the dragon’s belly. The dragon blew ferocious flames at John but Courage moved to protect him. I will avenge the people that have died for this town, thought John. He ran up and Courage stabbed the dragon’s foot. The dragon Screeched with anger.

“Now you will die, young knight!” The dragon hissed, “I was going easy on you but now you’re in for it!”

John ran quickly around to the back of the dragon and started to climb up its back. The dragon tried to shake him off but Courage stabbed into it so John could keep his balance. The dragon squealed in pain which gave John time to climb to its head. The dragon started to fly but Courage knew what to do. Courage quickly stabbed into the dragon’s head right when John lost his balance. John fell and the dragon began to fall too. John braced himself for the hard landing but nothing could’ve prepared him for that horrible fall.

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“You have done well, John. Don’t fear I will save you,” Said Courage.

“Who are you?” John asked in a daze.

“I am your trusty sword and I will protect you. You will be okay for you have won.”

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“Son?”

John opened his eyes. “Where am I?” he asked.

“You are at home, in our house, lying on your bed,” said his father.

“What about the dragon? And where is Courage?” So many questions were going through his head.

“We found you unconscious next to the dead dragon’s body. Courage was by your side…” His father told him, “You shouldn’t have survived that fall you know.”

Reborn

By: Brandon James Scott Scholl

Jacob puts his hands up to his face as the soldiers came up to him. For the last week they had tortured him because they believed him to be some kind of spy. It was a situation that he couldn’t win either way. Whether he told them that he wasn’t a spy or kept quiet, he was already convicted and condemned.

After telling them over and over they had the wrong guy and explaining his situation, they decided that the only option they had left was to kill him. A part of him was finally relieved to hear that this pain and suffering would end soon. It was something that he had looked forward to but they refused to tell him how he would be killed.

He slightly resisted the grip of the two military escorts that were now taking him to his death. They pulled him out to the cage that he had been waiting in and led him to the entrance to a slight alley. Jacob was pushed towards the wall and caught himself before slamming into it. He was confused about what was going on. No chains, no guards holding him in place. He just stood there out in the open with no one around.

He jumped as a whistle was blown around the corner and he heard stomping of boots. The sound came closer and closer to him. He had no idea what was coming for him but there wasn’t anywhere that he could run. He looked up and around the wall to see if there was somewhere he could climb and that’s when he noticed the wall in more detail. The numerous stains of bloody hand prints, smears and splatters made his heart stop beating for a few seconds within his chest. He then turned around and realized what the stomping sound was – a firing squad.

He had been waiting for death for so long and finally he saw how his existence was going to be ended. Not by a quick death, but a painful and torturous murder. Finally, the weakness and lack of energy overtook him. He slumped to the ground and looked from one face to another of his executioners. They were the last things he would be seeing as he took his last breath.

Orders were barked and the squad pulled their rifles to their chest and then aimed them at Jacob. He looked down at his hands as his entire life flashed before his eyes. From the times he spent with his parents, to the times with his wife and daughter, to the death of his wife and daughter. Now, he was the next one that was going to be killed, and there was nothing left to be done.

As the sounds of rifles going off filled his ears, he flinched. His eyes were squeezed shut in the knowing that he would be shredded by the bullets. But, as he sat there for a few seconds, he didn’t feel anything. In fact, he didn’t hear anything either. Jacob opened his eyes to see that the squad had fired, but the bullets were moving towards him in slow motion. That’s when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye.

To his right, a woman came up to him. She wore a white flowing dress as a slight breeze drifted through her hair. He was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of this woman as she came closer, then his heart filled with both shock and a mixture of sadness and joy – it was his wife.

She stopped in front of him and put her hand out to him. He looked at the bullets that were caught in a slow motion and then took his wife’s hand. At this moment, he didn’t know what to think, just react. Just a few seconds ago, he was being executed and then everything just froze. Jacob looked at his wife’s hand and took it in his. Instantly, he felt as if the energy and strength was flowing back into his body.

He stood up and looked right into his beautiful wife’s eyes. The green in them was the most beautiful thin he had ever seen in his life. It was the one thing that he thought about every night before he went to sleep ever night. She moved closer to him and kissed him lovingly. He couldn’t believe what was going on at this moment. His wife looked into his eyes and spoke.

“Your time is not yet over, my love. You are called to be something far greater than you realize. You have the hidden strength to take on the world. You are more powerful than you or I had ever realized or thought possible. You have the gift. You can save me from them. You have the power to change this.”

He was stunned.

“You’re dead…,” was all that he could get out. She shook her head.

“No, not yet. You have to save me before they kill me. You’re the only one who can.”

His wife kissed him once more and as she ended the kiss, she disappeared.

Jacob didn’t know what to believe. He was still confused as to what just happened. He looked at the bullets that were still slowly coming towards him. You have the power to change this.

Just then, he threw his hand up at the bullets that were coming towards him. They stopped in mid-air and time resumed at its normal speed. Some of the soldiers gasped at what was going on before their eyes. Orders were yelled at the squad once again and another round of shots were fired, only to be stopped next to their predecessors in the air as well.

Jacob thought about it for a moment and then pushed the bullets back at the squad. All the soldiers within the squad fell to the ground lifeless. Then, he walked over to the one who had ordered his execution and the man collapsed to the ground, shielding his face. Jacob grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him up off the ground, inches from his face.

“Where is my wife.”