Esseta O

Monty Fox

Josh Hansen

Sean King

Benjamin Chandler

English

She wondered what life was like under the living room table.

With those in the village under the mind control of Vortex, her brother was forced to fend for himself in the trapdoor beneath the table, where supplies of snacks, books, and candle lights kept him safe until the session ended.

Her brother heard grunts/moans as the townspeople shambled around, minds in Vortex’ vice grip. He ran out of snacks, then books, then candles. It was time to brave the world above once more. He was’t prepared for how terrifyingly normal it seemed…like nothing had ever happened.

Until he spoke to someone, then the illusion shattered. Everyone around turned to look at him, and they took turns answering his question. A few words would come from each person in perfect time. They were clearly sharing a common mind.

They linked hands and stood in a circle, reciting the hive-mind's mantra: "The living room table's vortex is terrifyingly normal. The illusion is shattered. Follow the breadcrumbs." They said the words so many times that they no longer sounded like words to him, just hazy sounds.

Vortex vs Table

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Korri

The flashlight flickered, then the cave was engulfed in darkness. A chill ran down her spine as she strained to hear any sound in the deafening silence.

The silence broken by the sound of something being dragged in the dirt behind her. She was going to turn around, but she felt that it was right behind her breathing down her neck.

Panicking, she wasted no time in searching for an exit to the dark cavern. Breathing heavily, her eyes zipped between two possible pathways—a cruel choice, in her time of need. The “thing” behind her approached; she had to choose.

She chose the right-hand path, which curved upward towards the light. She hoped the beast preferred darkness. There was one problem with her choice, though:

There was another monster waiting at the cave's mouth. Its scaly hide rippled in excitement as she approached. Behind her stalked the dark-beast. Suddenly, both creatures leaped at her at the same time. She ducked & the monsters clashed. As they locked in battle she slipped away.

Spelunking with Sophie

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Zoe Becker

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

The lady was peculiar, her dark brown hair twisted into a bun, her long almond-shaped black nails, and dressed in a formal outfit. She seemed unresponsive to her surroundings: the crash of a small sugar holder, the passersby outside her window. Her mind seemed entirely her own.

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

Jerry fainted from the shock of the creature's arrival. The woman, however, merely continued sipping her double espresso, showing no interest. It was only when the alien creature approached her menacingly that she stood up and, with a smile, kicked it square in the groin.

Monty Fox
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