Sam Becker

Ethan Klein

Nan Tsai

Talya Brettler

Diana Tobey

English

A band of misfits, stoic and seasoned, stood at the city gates, the night wind whipping around them. They had traveled inland from the safety of the coasts, united in purpose. They looked onward with hope, their faces awash in neon light. Suddenly, the gates creaked open.

Entering through the city gate the band senses an unusual, eery calm. This neighborhood is typically bustling and festive. Now the only movement they see are hooded figures furtively tucking into dark doorways.

They seem to be avoiding something, but not because they are afraid—the intermittent giggles and gleaming eyes pierce through the windowpanes. With hesitation, the band decides to knock on the tavern's half-open door.

“Knock. Knock.” The door creaks open further and the space is lit by a single candle burning in the corner.

Stepping into the dim space, their shadows danced on the wall behind them. Then a sudden gust of wind slammed the door behind them and blew out the candle as a cackle of bone-chilling laughter filled the room.

Clearly there was a stranger in their midst, an interloper. Everyone's eyes darted around the room but it was too hard to see by moonlight. The ritual had ended abruptly, but it had likely done its job. With any luck the spell's effects would be reveal themselves within moments.

All ritual participants soon felt an onrushing surge of energy rise up through their bodies. Tingling anticipatory zeal virtually crackled between their fingers. Then, looking down, there WAS something crackling between their fingers!

Zap. Zap. There are sparks coming out of their palms, traveling through the fingers, and drifting into the air.

Each zap manifests into a marshmallow, and the band of misfits rejoices, as they had planned to make s’mores but forgot to bring the most crucial ingredient.

The sound of zapping filled the night air as they manifested one fluff of white after another, until finally they were all ready to complete the ritual, to swallow the s’more and forever keep the night’s events a secret from the world.

Nan Tsai
@nantsai

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Nan Tsai@nantsai

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