Terra Somnia

Just a story I written based on H P Lovecrafts Dream Cycle but it doesn't take place in the Dreamlands. Dream Cycle was just the inspiration

In the dream, Patrick Minoth wandered on meadows with flowering plants. The wind was blowing freshly and an unusually real fragrance spread. Just when a hill was revealed the ground was torn up in front of Patrick who fell backwards by the blast. There has just been poppies was a stellar vault now seen with brightly lit objects in the background. An uncomfortable murmuring was heard from the mouth looking crack in the ground. Without explanation nor own influence Patrick was dragged into the "mouth" and began the descent through the blackness.


Strange bubbles and shining thins in something bizarre shapes floated past him in a fast pace when he fell through the darkness. Barely noticeable a melodic and monotonous flute was heard echoing somewhere below. Although the trip went very fast downward the flute sound seemed not to become stronger nor weaker. Of the strange visions Patrick became frightened and tried to close his eyes, but his eyes did not shut.
The unpleasant journey through time and space came to a sudden end and the young man landed on a hard surface with his knees and palms. When he looked around he noticed that there was a bright red cliff he had landed on and only a few feet away from him chuckled waves from a huge ocean of which you could not see the other side. Not far out the waves broke in unusually small geese. The rock was not tall and Patrick was very thirsty
"But how can I be that when I dream?" Patrick said to himself.
Without thinking about it, he went to the sea and stretched out his hands, but stopped suddenly.
"Sea water's dangerous to drink, so should I really?" Patrick spoke again to himself but could not know why. When he put his hands into the water, he saw something strange, his submerged palms were harder to see than usual and the water seemed to be colored. To confirm Patrick rose up his hands. Then he saw to his horror that the water, if it was water, was dark purple and he threw the liquid away from himself.
Without explanation, Patrick looked into the sky and saw that it was also purple, but lighter to the shade, but the clouds were white. Far up there, he also saw a strange creature. The body of the creature was snake-like; however the head resembled a more bird of prey than a snake. On the body a pair of bat wings was fixed near the head. Around the middle of the body was a larger pair of wings of the same kind. Patrick was quite confused and wondered what kind of place he had ended up on. Thirst grabbed him again and he did not care if the liquid was dangerous and lifted a handful of it. Surprisingly the taste he got in his mouth was fresh water and he drank until the thirst was slaked.

Now, Patrick decided to take a closer look at the place that he had ended up on. In the sea nothing was visible except the waves breaking, in the opposite direction a rocky steppe with not much vegetation spread out. In the distance something was moving up a mountain. To see what it was very difficult because of the great distance. Patrick did not want to think about what it could be either. In the other directions the low cliff continued to follow the beach and far into the distance was something towering over the remainder of the surroundings. It could be both rocks and buildings, but Patrick decided to stride toward them. There was not much to choose from and better try to get an explanation than just sit here. The road toward the buildings was not so demanding and Patrick went with quick steps along the shore.
After a quarter of walking, he discovered a strange forest to the right of himself. It was still trees that the forest consisted of, although it was still very strange. The trees were an absurd mixture of palm and pine, and they were covered with birch bark. Like a strange pattern many colorful flowers coiled around the thick and tall trees. Most of the forest consisted of these remarkable trees. It was on the other hand living quarters for other absurd creations. The trees were very dense and the whole forest looked difficult to wander in. For a few minutes he stood and watched the forest before he started to walk again. Little knowing the absurdities had just begun.


The forest continued along the path Patrick had chosen. Slowly but surely, a field of flowers similar to those of the trees in the forest began billow up right in front of him. Unlike in the forest flowers sat on the high stalks that stood up to his chest. Without the ability to move around the field, Patrick chose to walk straight through, even if he was afraid to meet any strange. As he walked, he looked around him constantly to be on the safe side. The grass rustled around him even though he tried to go as quietly as possible. After a while, he heard rustling and cracking to the left of him and he stops right in his step. Who or what? he thought, and began to go even more careful, he chose to walk away from the source of the sound. However his curiosity led him not as far as he should go.
The cracking became clearer the more Patrick chose to go and suddenly he saw something strange in front of him. Fear took hold of him, paralyzed him and only his eyes could move. Right in front of him stood a kangaroo-like creature, with shorter legs and head lowerd down to the ground where it works of the greenery. The teeth located in the gap reminded of a pig's and the kangaroo head is unusually lowered. Between the huge ears, A bone plate was seen which went down over the spot where the eyes would have been. The creature appears to be peaceful, but what is it? The kangaroo creature chewed on and apparently had not seen him yet, gently, gently, he went toward it.


Then suddenly he struck one foot with a dull bang into a root. Patrick swore quietly, but the creature looked up with its head lacking visible eyes straight on him. The fear returned as a left uppercut in the chest and he flew back of the imaginary hit. He hit the grass with his back first. The invisible eyes was watching him for a few seconds before the owner of the gaze ran quickly toward the forest through all the flowers and grass.
All of a sudden the ground started to shake loudly and a whole flock of kangaroo creatures ran through the grass. A number of them accidentally trampled him to the ground when they ran into the woods. When the last of the creatures disappeared Patrick managed to get back on his feet after having been nearly trampled to death. He decided, despite his injuries to proceed against the rocks he saw from the beach. The tall grass was with him for a long time, but no strange creatures appeared after the kangaroo-like animals had fled.
Is there anyone here or is this all so fuzzy? "He thought to himself. Xavier and Constantine and the other at home probably would not believe a word if I told about it. Is this even real or am I dreaming?
The young man thought a lot while he was trying to make headway through the tall grass and then when he got himself out of it. After he was out, he was greeted by the red barren rock, which he knew well by now. Now, on the other hand, he saw more than just the outlines of the "buildings". It turned out that the buildings were carved directly out of the black rock with no doors or windows. Rather, they had irregular openings in the rock. In the water nearby the rock buildings, he saw a sturdy pier with a number of yachts anchored at that. The sailing boats were very bizarre with their roughly hewn masts, black wood and strange figureheads. He ignored them for the time being and started walking towards the main house with firm steps, when he heard a high-pitched, but still clearly masculine voice.
"Do not go there! It's very dangerous there, "muttered the voice, the voice got Patrick to spin around on his feet when he heard her voice. In vain hopes to find the voice owner, he began turning around and around with a confused glance, but no one seemed to be around. In despair he cried out loud in the air:
"Who are you?" Quickly the sarcastic reply came that the speaker had to give, even though it didn't satisfy Patrick.
"Lower your voice! Who I am is unimportant for the moment, just go to the woods and I give you further instructions. Unless ... unless you want to be grilled human in the Seafarer way of course." The voice cut off abruptly and Patrick had been left shocked and with the heart in his throat. I hope to get answers, he chose to speak again.
"What do you mean grilled human?"
Silence. He chose to obey the advice of the unknown speaker, although he did not wholly understand the meaning of it.
The forest was once again looming, and soon he was standing in the edge of the forest. For some minutes nothing happened and the only sound was bird-like noises. Then as suddenly as before the strange voice began to speak again.
"Oops, excuse me; I did not notice that you came. Okay, then we will do like this, go straight into the woods until you see a tree with bark. Do not worry I'll explain some when you get there". Without further hesitation he followed the advisors advice and went straight into the woods. Within minutes Patrick find the only tree in the forest which seems to consist of just bark. The tree was significantly taller than the surrounding trees, around its thick stem ran two parallel grooves next to each other in spirals up to the crown. The voice came within seconds and began to speak in its usually slightly morose tone.

"Welcome my friend, to my dwelling place; soon we can talk in person. It will certainly be a pleasure to talk with a human again. It was probably 150 years since the last time a human came here. If I remember correctly usually you do develop a lot. So there is probably very much new in your world to talk about. See my dwelling as your home also. Then perhaps I can deal with your impulsiveness. Not to walk straight into Seafarers, for example. Do not worry I did not mean that you should take it personally. All of you pokes around in the dirt in and out of season. It belongs to your nature I guess. Well climb on! I'll call down the stairs." Patrick did not understand what the voice said. What did he mean "one human" and "call down the stairs?" In a few seconds a reply to Patrick's concerns regarding the stairs arrived.
The grooves that ran parallel with each other a broad piece of bark burst out. On the inside of the piece was steps carved out and it exposed the tree's insides that turned out to be crammed with boxes and big tins. What they did contain was impossible to see so Patrick started walking up the stairs pretty quickly. With the stern as handrail he slowly climbed the big tree. When he had nearly been around the last bend the familiar voice was heard again.
"Here we have my hero, my hero without a name. But not much longer will our name be unknown. With tea and cakes, we will get to know each other and become friends." Patrick had now rounded the last turn. He got a huge shock when he saw who had spoken to him all along.


At the top of the stairs was a squirrel with clearly human features looking at him. On top of it all the squirrel had clothes and glasses on the tip of the nose. Fur-like sideburns ran down the cheeks of the squirrel and continued downward. The whiskers ended in the same height as the chin on the human-like face. The length of the squirrel was not much higher than the 10-year-old boy. It looks like a librarian Boyle back home in Cambridge, thought Patrick. The only difference was that this creature smiled very warmly when it saw Patrick. Behind the Boyle-squirrel was a tree house that could be located in rural areas in any Western European country. To the right was a simple but rustic balcony with a round table for two. On the buffet table was a typical English tea party. Only thing missing was a tea pot or associated cap.
"Welcome, welcome my friend! I have just begun making some tea; soon we will have a wonderful tea party together. There's so lonely here, often the tea is drank without company. But now you came and gave me a visit. I hope you like tea and scones for that's all there is." Squirrel really shone up when he said this, not a shred of the previously sullen voice was there now. His voice was as soft as a shortbread that melts in your mouth. He stretched out his arms when Patrick was just some inches away from him. The squirrel seemed to behave as Patrick was a grandson to him whom came for a visit.
"Let me embrace you, old boy!" Said the squirrel very enthusiastic and hugged Patrick. A short while after the embrace a whistle was heard and the squirrel ran into the house. He saw that Patrick looked confused at him when it turned out that he had ran into a simple kitchen. There he raised a green can from the stove and took out a cap with floral embroidery on.
"Sit down. Sit down, by all means, the tea will arrive shortly," he said invitingly.
The table that Patrick was asked to sit at was very strange. One of the chairs was in Patrick's own height, while the table and the other chair seemed to be more in tune with the squirrel's height. When he settled down on the chair that suited him squirrel came up with the teapot. He poured tea into his own and Patrick's cup before he put down the pot on the table. Then he put the cap on the pot and at the same time the chair and table increased in height. Thus the guest and host sat at the same height and accessories as well. That it would only be scones turned out to be wrong. The whole table was full of bread and cakes in all its forms on silver platters. This fine buffet reminded Patrick of his visits to Constantine's grandparents. They made the finest tea parties across the Midlands, if not all of England. The squirrel saw that Patrick was watching the cakes with delight which the squirrel answered with a harmonious smile.
"So, now we can start talking properly. But I think we should introduce ourselves to each other first," said the squirrel mildly. Patrick nodded in agreement and was prepared to tell his name. The squirrel held up his paw and said
"No, I'm starting. I am the host. My name Salitarius Renquil, but you can call me 'Grandpa Squirrel" it is easier, Salitarius smiled and gave Patrick a knowing glance. Patrick knew it was his turn to introduce himself.
"My name is Patrick Minoth from Cambridge. Friends who know me, however, call me Crick or Cat, but Patrick also works well." The squirrel looked at him with a little smile again and started talking cheerfully.
"Oh, an Englishman! It is almost always you who come by here. Wondering why?" Salitarius stopped to think for a moment. Just one minute later he looked up from his cup with his index finger lifted.
"Now I know. You know the smell of tea in many Miles distance, eh? "He laughed heartily and Patrick joined in the laughter. Despite the joke about was about English people, it was really fun.
"For the matter," said Salitarius seriously and ended his laugh abruptly. "What makes a human out here in the wilderness? You tend to keep your course at the West Coast, not this far east. Robbers kidnapped you and dropped you at sea?" Patrick was quite confused by what the squirrel said. He did not even know where he had came.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I do not understand what you're talking about," he said somewhat desperately. Salitarius looked first at him with surprise.
"What do you mean? You do not know where you are?" Said the Squirrel. Patrick nodded gently and the squirrel continued.
"Are you saying at all or just this location?" What does he mean by that? Patrick thought puzzled. However, he chose to talk about what happened before the absurdities began.
"The last thing I remember was that I had gone to sleep. Suddenly I fell through what looked like space. Finally, I landed on the orange rock you found me almost an hour later." With his hand-like paw Salitarius signaled that he had heard enough. Patrick could hear him muttering "strange, very strange" crouching over the cup. The deep consideration didn't last long before the squirrel took a piece of a cake from one of the plates, and filled his cup.
"I understand ...," he said, still somewhat perplexed. "Then I explain it from scratch. If you allow?" Salitarius said politely. His guest was so confused that he just nodded.
"Good! You are what you people call Terra Somnia, which could be described as a world only accessible through your dreams. Usually you come here voluntarily to a way of escapism. It rarely creates problems for you, for here the time goes much quicker. About an 8 day stay here is the average night's sleep for your people's part. So a little more than eight hours. Almost everything that you see here goes against laws of nature in your world. A squirrel that drinks tea and have clothes on, for example," said Salitarius and raised his cup. He held out the cup as close to Patrick his arms could reach, as if to propose a toast. Patrick raised his cup and almost hit Salitarius cup with it. Then took they sip from each other's cups and then put them down.
"So it is most common that you come here freely. All, on the other hand who wish to come here does not enter. Everyone who wants to get to Terra Somnia tested for a small tribunal. Is it worthy to be sent down to Sylviana and may play as best you want until you wake up. To end up here involuntarily is almost impossible. That is why I am so surprised when you say you just happened to be here." There was so much confusing information, so Patrick just sat and watched with glassy eyes. When Salitarius drew attention to this silence he asked a question quietly:
"Is it too much, should I quit?" The squirrel was right; it was too much at once. But he really wanted to hear what would come next. With his cup in shaking hands Patrick said incoherently:
"Please continue until you are finished." His host looked confused at him as Patrick continued.
"It is very interesting. I want to tell you finish what you wanted to say, then I need to rest. "Salitarius nodded in understanding and started talking again, slower this time.

"As you wish, my friend. I can talk briefly about the problem for your people here and Seafarers you were about to meet", said Salitarius.
"It has happened to you people take large doses of sedatives to be here longer for periods. Some of you have come up with it, but some have failed. It has led to that you some of you have had a long dreamless sleep that lasts several days. In your world you end up in unexplained coma. It has also happened that you are stuck here without being able to wake up. Why it happens, I cannot answer. Enough of that! Now I will explain the Seafarers as well as I can." The squirrel reached for the teapot, which happened to fall outside the scope of the hand. Patrick understood and poured tea in Salitarius cup. The old man nodded as a sign of gratitude. With tea in the cup, he could return to its history.
"Thank you. To know what Seafarers is very necessary so listen carefully. They can be described as pirates who plunder and just make a mess of everything. They do not hesitate from killing and eating up people such as you. It was what I meant with grilled humans. Antromonfs as I eat they do not eat. But they would certainly have killed me. On some way or another. The cliffs you could see with the ships were a famous Seafarers Nest. Treading that area is endangering the lives of everyone and everything. Even a people known as The Faceless are wary of Seafarers. The Faceless is otherwise very brave. A friend of mine lived with one of their chiefs a time. He was fascinated by their fearlessness. Anyway, of all with morale and the courage who tried to stop their rampage has failed. I think there we antromonfs and your people are the only ones that have tried. Well I think that's enough for today. You look very tired, Patrick," said the old squirrel. Patrick was very surprised for the first time Salitarius had spoken his name. The guest and host stood up shortly after finishing the story and the student let himself be led toward a bed. At first, the size of it was that of the owner and then as the chair and table it adjusted to adjust to Patrick. By aid of the host Patrick bedded himself up in the bed. He fell asleep immediately.


His sleep became dreamless or at least visibly dreamless. Only thing visible was a black nothing. Far, far away he heard a familiar voice. Patrick could not hear what it said and what made it familiar. As it crept closer. He could hear what the voice were trying to say.
"Crick! Crick, you have to wake up!" It Shouted excited. When it did not get the answers began to cry again:
"Patrick wake up! Please, Patrick is not funny anymore!" The blackness had vanished by now and blurred contours began to be revealed. The realization that there was a face that was looking down on him, Patrick tried wake up himself. In a short time all the vision cleared and he saw a young man with a ponytail and blue eyes watching him.
"Con ... Constantine?" Patrick stammered. Constantine looked a little gruffly at him and seemed completely surprised by the question.
"Yes, of course it's me," he said sharply. "Get up now. We are in a hurry!" Constantine threw a small pile clothing to his friend in the bed.
"You have no idea what weird dream I had just ..." said Patrick half asleep while he put on his clothes. His friend looked at him with both curiosity and irritation. The irritation can I enter now, curiosity we take for lunch, thought Constantine.
"I think certainly so, Crick. Hurry up now, Xav is already waiting outside. Wouldn't be so nice if we'll be late, don't you think?" Patrick nodded and put on his belt. Constantine saw that Patrick was ready and the two tramped out. Out in the hall they were met by an equally old with a walrus mustache, but otherwise he was quite southern European.
"He took time, our friend," said Xavier cheerfully and looked at Patrick.
"I know, but now we do not have time to stand and discuss it." said the other one of Patrick's friends The next minute all three rushed out through the corridor and off to the lecture halls hastily. Left in the corridor floor was a small plate depicting a squirrel with sideburns Sand glasses.

Mountain of Living Fire

Another dream based story I had, but this one end when the dream ends unlike the one before. Also i had this as my last project in High School during my swedish class. Anyway enjoy and comment I might add more parts in this story but I am not sure.

After we had made our final preparations at Nighfall's only inn, we started to walk towards the dark port. Some individual lamps gave away a dull glow was our only companion this seemingly ordinary Walpurgis Night. As usual, the fishermen had gone to bed unusually early to be wake up at the rich fisheries that took place the following morning. Soon, we had arrived to the pier where our proud vessel was anchored. The brigantine Marinette had been in use since The Great War at Sea and was not the most modern vessel in the small harbour. Still, the little boat was in good condition, it had been handed over to Nesos's shipyards after the war. A few days earlier we had hired Marianette there and started our journey. When we all had taken us on board, we hoisted the sails and left Nightfall on the way to our goal: The Mountain of Liquid Fire.

Who were we in this little company that was heading for a volcano? First out was the silent wanderer Pham Bui Giang, sitting in the bow, all the rest of us knew her as Mila. No one knew much about her more than she was from a distant land. We also guessing that she was carrying dark secrets. They could she keep to herself had we decided long ago.
Leaning against the other side of the bow was a small, but very muscular man who was approaching his forties. Unlike Mila this was man very talkative and liked to boast about all his adventures he had as a pirate. The man was called Hursk and what his birth name was long forgotten, not even he himself knew what it could have been.
A long and florid man without any sign of muscles, stood at the back of the boat near the helm and watched the sea next to him. The Blue-Blooder Off Bilieus was a man who was the offspring of a forbidden love Island Woman to a nobleman of the Dagh-Nhat clan. The bearded Forester Bonnrid was squatting not far off, in his right hand he held a cudgel, and the left resting on the deck. He was like most Foresters very talkative, but he was not bragging.

The most important of us all was the powerful lady who was sitting in the middle of the boat and rocked her head slowly to each shoulder. The woman was very old, but no one knew her age. Her long white-grey hair hung down over the broad shoulders and her body was adorned with a simple green dress. The old lady had an even more obscure past than the little Mila; we did not even know where she came from. Her appearance seemed to be a difficult mixture of various ethnic groups. Nor would she talk about it herself, although she was our leader and handed out assignments. For all of us, she went under the name "Grandmother", which was due to her great age and nothing else.

Marianette drove us in a leisurely pace towards the dark horizon. A light breeze pushed her forward, and soon the volcano was visible. The volcano was sleeping in silence, while the adjacent islet was illuminated. The lighthouse, which was halfway between the islands were abandoned long ago and the only thing who lived there were some surviving sea rats. We had to get through the Cave Islet we had to get to. Here we find the stone that would extinguish The Mountain of Fire. The only problem was that this night was the islet venue for a group of witches who celebrated Walpurgis Night. When we started approaching the islet Hursk and Off reefed the sails of Marianette and put down a pair of long oars into the water. With these they started to pole the boat as silent as possible. With a dull thud the worn capstan smashed against the rock and we feared the worst. Fortunately the cries from the cave did not diminish, and almost all got Marianette. Left in the boat was Hursk that drove Marianette against the volcanic island, from there we would leave the islands.

When Hursk disappeared, we started the ascent, which could mean death. Soon we had entered the cave system where the happy cries and the music seemed to grow in strength. None of us knew where the Sun Stone could be as we looked for a variety of possible hiding places: Mila touched on the walls in search for hidden doors or hatches deeper into the caves. The Forester jumped up squatting and was looking in the few grass patches that were on the island. A few minutes' walk led to a broader opening of the islet, here we came across a strange sight up ahead. In the middle of the cave some naked women played on stringed instruments and drums, while a few young women danced to the music nearby. No, they were not women rather girls almost grown-up and like the adults they were naked. While they danced they sang half mystical verses no one could decipher.

With her left hand Mila pointed down against a bush to the left of the perverse scene while she led us down towards the bushes. The high bushes hid the our sneaking very well and we would be out of the witches reach just a few steps forward. The noise from the failed singing efforts and almost as discordant instruments lowered dramatically. A groan last in the line got everyone to turn around and drowned out the noise temporarily. There was Bonnrid in a bizarre position with his cudgel under his stomach while he struggled to get up on his feet again. The drowning out of the musical excesses was of short duration, and soon they began to sound again. Off helped Bonnrid up on his feet and saw that the Forester's feet were almost torn apart. A muttering indicated that the injury should be ignored.

After a further hike without any exaggerated scenes, we arrived at the end of the cave where we stopped. Then we saw it, far out on the edge of the cliff witches were sitting around a campfire. One of them sat with a walking cane in one hand and knocked on it gently with her index finger. Simultaneously with this the rest of the witches talked loudly about something. A few words such as "fire", "daughters" and "colours" taken out of context were the only discernible.
The witch who sat with the stick wore colourful clothes, while the tangled hair was screaming blue, everyone knew who she was. The witch was the Queen of Witches in this backwater of the world. Their discussion was so lively that we were able to get down to rock the usual way, not sneaking. We wanted to be on the safe side so we went very quiet around them. Everything seemed to go great until a dry creaking was heard beneath our feet. We did not see what caused the sound until all the witches turned around. The queen cried hoarse but loud enough so that everyone on the island heard must have heard it: "Intruders!", She suddenly silenced before she shouted again: "Kill them!". The scream was followed by a drawing of her sword and the other witches followed her example.
Off glanced over his shoulder, where he saw the girls we met before, but with swords in hand. Without hesitation, all of our party ran as quickly as possible down the trail. Bonnrid grumbled loudly at the back, but ran anyway. When we came down to the edge of the island - not far from the lighthouse - we cross-braked. A hair's breadth more and the dark water had taken us. The witches were not far away, we investigated promptly, so that no-one was left behind. After only a few seconds Mila cried horrified:
"'Grandmother! 'Grandmother' is left on the island!" With these words panic began to spread among our little party.

A sigh of relief was taken, shortly thereafter when we saw "Grandmother" to come to us with a stone-looking thing in her hands. She yelled something we could not hear because of the distance, but the closer she came the clearer became the message.
"Run into the lighthouse! Run into the lighthouse!" she cried. The advice was immediately followed and soon we were inside the lighthouse keeper's quarters, almost all the food that had been there was eaten. In the corner was a yellowish skeleton with the a fisherman's clothing. The empty skull watched us with an evil grin, unpleasant emotions were strong by this sight, but grandmother called on us. The witches sinister cries of joy just below us made us resume our running up the rickety stairs, where we found a temporary refuge, a hidden room. Once inside, the stairs creaked and shrill voices were heard:
"They are here somewhere, be so sure ..." In a flash Off pulled up his coat, opened the door a little and threw something on the steps where the witches were.
"I saw something! It was a hand, there!" two witches howled in chorus. Before they had time to react, their comrades behind started to scream in panic. Soon the panic spread to them as well. The panic that spread among the witches did we take advantage of and continued up the stairs, soon it was revealed what Off had done.
"Sea Rats! Thousand of them! Never! "A hoarser voice shouted nearby:
"Oh, you are so weak. Stay here where if you want then. You with more courage come with me!" Witches would thus continue the hunt, albeit slightly fewer.

While we were running Mila thought we should get rid of them as quickly as possible. Bonnrid replied slightly scornful that it was a good idea, but wondered how that would be done.
"We can ignite the lighthouse. Target the reflectors toward the stairs and we blind them. All but one escapes down on the other side and the one left flee when the ignition is made," Mila said very excited. Everyone looked at her with suspicion. Bonnrid was the one who broke the silence:
"Excellent idea, darling, but we do not anything to ignite with," he muttered. Mila gave him a sour look and continued.
"How do you think I lit my pipe in the boat? Of course, I have tinder box with me." Mila quickly took out a tinder box which she lifted so it became visible. Off applied directly as a volunteer for the ignition and got the tinder-box handed over. When we reached the peak time was against us so the reflectors had to be calibrated quickly. We barely had time to throw us down the hatch that led to the stairs leading down to the other side when the door was opened. Shortly afterwards we heard a hissing followed by an ear-splitting explosion. Nobody knew what had happened and we got even more surprised when no red hair jumped down behind us. Instead, we heard a variety of splashing noises around us. We continued down the stairs with mourning hearts of Off's possible death.

When we got down to the foot of the volcano, we saw a man sitting by the sea with torn clothes, pitch black in the face and with almost burnt off hair. When we got closer he noticed us and said with a wheezy, but clearly recognizable voice
"I just wondered when you were coming." All cried out simultaneously when the voice was heard:
"Off! You're alive! But what happened?" Off brushed off his former sleeves and started walking up towards the volcano. The rest of us followed him and waited for him to answer the question we asked.
"I really do not know. I brought tinder-box to the wick then everything just exploded and I fell over the edge. The blast must have thrown away the railing so I fell into the water; luckily I gained consciousness and swam ashore. The Witches must have drowned on the other side." Off ended his speech with a cough and we soon came up to a location on the middle of the volcano. Straight up the carved steps leading to the right and put a sign saying "The Pot" with clumsy handwriting. Before we had time to think about it "Grandmother" said:
"We are going to The Pot, hurry up!" The order was followed and soon we found out what The Pot was when we enter a narrow opening in the rock. Inside it appeared an almost circular cave with a bubbling lake of lava in the middle of it. "Grandmother" came up with the foetal-like stone and handed it to Bonnrid. All knew what to do, but "grandmother " chose to speak.
"Throw it as near the middle as you can. So we can get out of here soon." Bonnrid obeyed and as soon as it dropped down, we started to get out the same way we came. When we reached the shore Hursk had come back with Marianette and we boarded. Hursk looked at us and nodded when we pulled aboard the burned Off. He seemed to understand exactly what had happened and decided to await to ask until we arrived ashore. This sort of respect was unusual for Hursk, but totally understandable. When all were aboard, we left the islets as quiet as on arrival, and with new adventures in sight.

The Human Stain: Ch. I

First Chapter in the " The Human Stain"-story. Check out the prologue first before you read this.

The Human Stain: Prologue

A story that originally began as a dream but has since developed into a bigger story. This is the prologue. I do also have written one chapter. Just so you know this story will be inspiried by the works of Clive Barker.

The thunderstorm loomed over the moors where many castles stuck up their phallic symbols in stone with a flag on of every single one. The green heaths were due to the rain turned into muddy fields. The air was very difficult to breathe and the lightning did very strike often in the ground. Nobody with sense would like to be outside in this weather. But as everyone knows certain people lack the mental saneness usual to humans. On the narrow and muddy road was a monk with a gray cap, he does not see the black cab driving straight toward him. The cab is pulled by four black horses, and the curtains were drawn together in the coupé. A fierce man sat on the box and was just in time to swerve for the monk.
"Watch it daydreamer!" yelled the driver when he drove past, but the monk did not respond. He didn't even look up under the hood.
"Next time won't swerve away," the driver growled to which the grey hooded just responded by looking to the right and left and continued walking.
The year is 1542 somewhere in the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V is emperor. The emperor has been having trouble to keep the now religiously divided country together. Catholics on the Emperor's side and Luther's heretics – whom should be exterminated – on the other side. The passengers in the cab did not care about such niceties. Inadequate alliances was broken and was signed to the right and left. The only thing that interests them at this time is to reach their goal. Outside the cabman shouted that they would soon arrive just as the cab bounced unusually much. Almost directly in front of them was now a gray and gloomy castle not very different from the rest of the castles. The gate was opened immediately as they approached and were closed just when the wheels had gotten inside. The cab stopped near the entrance to the castle and a servant opened the cab door. Out stepped four people. A thin pale woman with clothes like those of a widow went out first, and then an old man stepped beside her. Shortly after the other two came out and turned out to be a young couple and now the driver joined them. Just after he had given the reins to a stableman who went off with the wagon to the stables. The same servant who opened the cab door opened the portal and the visiting guests followed him. The servant was a feline creature with his graceful body shape and smooth movements. Nevertheless, he had chosen to wear long beard with a bushy mustache. He lifted a candlestick from the wall, even though he knew that the guests had as good sight in darkness as that of his own eyes. He started walking with his companions behind him through the bleak corridors of the castle.

After a long walk, they began to walk up a spiral staircase that led up a number of floors. Finally, they had come up with a beautifully carved oak door with an inscription above it. Two new servants appeared from the shadows and pushed the heavy door open. The feline servant went into the room with the guests in close entourage. The room was a huge throne room that could accommodate the entire emperor's court if he so wished. Large carpets covered the cold stone floor and a powerful throne had been placed on a platform against the wall opposite the door. A table with a range of alcoholic drinks and fruits had been brought forward. All the surfaces of the roof and walls were completely cluttered with large chandeliers, whose light flickered in the room. From the back of the throne a thin man with goatee slid up quietly and began walking toward his guests. The lord of the manor looked very cheerful and began to speak out just as happily.
"Ah, welcome my guests. I am glad that you got here, just for my sake." The widow snorted at his amiability.
"Unnecessary to be so obsequious Wilhelm. You know very well that we needed to come to this 'meeting'," she said seriously. Wilhelm did not seem to be bothered by her huffiness and greeted her.
"I know, I know. Good that you came here anyway, Roslinda," he said and kissed her on the cheek. Then he began to greet the others in the party.
"That you had to be driver in this weather, Rudolph. I pity you." Rudolph just grunted in reply.
"And you, lovely Margarethe that you could leave your estate like this in all haste." The young woman got a kiss on her fingers and the other two was presented as Martin and Caspar. After they had greeted one another the host said to the servants, who stood in the room, with a sharp voice:
"Leave us!"

Once they had disappeared Rudolph pulled the doors shut and strolled off to the long table. Then he took a crystal bottle of wine and poured into a massive cup. Wilhelm gave him an irritated look, but said nothing. Instead, he said that now that all was gathered and the meeting could begin.
"Finally they disappeared those servant nuisances!" cried Rudolph abruptly from the long table. All other gave him the same offended look, which Wilhelm had just given him. The host looked around at the other guests without caring about Rudolph's outburst. All seemed to wait for him to speak, but then suddenly the widow interrupted his attempts to start talks.
"I'm so tired of this prison that these humans call body! 7000 years of wandering from different hosts is so eternally boring. In particular, be the Countess of Roslinda Lawensburg, second cousin to Charles V, or whatever it was. I have had enough!" muttered the widow very annoyed. Caspar sighed, too often had he heard her constant whining. It had already begun in Egypt for more than 6500 years ago. Then their names was Amon Ten-On and Nefer Be-Sat. Then, they had been married noblemen. Now they were in the shape of sister and brother, which hampered their partnership.
"We suffer as much as you do Dariana. Yes, except that life lover then, "said Caspar, and made a knowing nod toward him that was called Rudolph. Now that the servants had disappeared, he thought that their real names could be used. His partner looked very angry at him; she looked to be ready to give him a punch. Before either verbal or physical attacks could be made the Wilhelm figure raised his hand.
"Enough now!" he said. "We did not come here to argue but to discuss our situation. Otherwise you might get a new body," he concluded soberly.
From nowhere came a blond and pale man behind Wilhelm. Rudolph immediately exclaimed when he saw the figure.
"A servant creature! In here! I thought they were gone," he shouted in disgust.
"Calm down Kemzar," Wilhelm said softly. "This creature is my little agent. It can end the two of you "- he pointed to the squabbling couple -" if you do not stop fighting immediately!" Kemzar that was called Rudolph said nothing and the combatants ceased to quarrel. Kemzar now waved under his nose with the hand not holding the plum.
"Let go then Rhag'Zeq. But remove it now I do not want a servant creature listen to what we say. In addition, it stinks," he said, and snorted loudly. The same moment the blond was gone and Rhag'Zeq chose to speak.

"Even if you are a bunch of troublemakers, it is good that you could take yourself here. Now I wonder where are the others who happen to dwell in Europe? This terrible country where they are arguing like servant creatures. Even worse than you two!" It was a long silence and the first who broke the silence was the young woman whom Rhag'Zeq had called Margarethe. The shyness she had shown earlier was now blown away.
"As you said, this country argues enormously, it is precisely because of that not everyone could come. I think that at least two others are in places where they fight against Charles V," she said. Rhag'Zeq just shook his head in despair and Kemzar shouted something about that it was typical.
"Do you understand now why I've had enough of these cages, we dwell in?" Said Dariana sarcastically and watched Rhag'Zeq. The man with goatee gave her against all expectation a simple smile. The man whose cover name was Martin began to laugh at the response Dariana received. The widow creature was on the point of attacking him, when she remembered Rhag'Zeq's warning.
"As you all know where we were this Dominion Forces at one time. We shaped the world together with the Dominion Forces. But ...," Rhag'Zeq was interrupted by the young woman who had a very deep voice.
"Yes, we know all that. Do not stand here and lecture!" Then Rhag'Zeq looked really murderous when he glanced at the woman.
"Let me talk to the point before you open your speaking organ, Yazshama", he said treacherous and considered strongly to call upon the agent. No one said anything.
"Unless someone else has an excuse I continue," he said and the guests watched him with suspicion.
"We had unlimited power and could just enjoy the world's miracle. Unfortunately, some of us were brainless enough to get a bit too much fascinated by the Kernel's newest creation. Those disgusting and furiously hopeless humans. I do not understand what made some like them so much. They are so terrible and so physically dirty that I am disgusted by just thinking of them. Well that was the downfall for all Forces in this Dominion. The other Dominion Forces survived. This foolhardy abomination did result in that we lost our powers. We were placed in the physical shells whose death means rebirth in another random body. But I do not understand how Dariana and Qmalieh always got bundled up together," said Rhag'Zeq and pointed to the grumbler and her partner.
"Certainly I feel that not all power is exhausted, but much of our power is gone. I have started experimenting with different methods to strip off the body without having to be reborn. Unfortunately, it has always resulted in only short periods of time." Now everyone stood gaping around him with amazement, without word out of surprise.
"D-do you mean that you have succeeded?? It's incredible!" said Kemzar shocked. Rhag'Zeq nodded in response and everyone asked him in chorus:
"What do you want us to do?" Now all were very eager to know the secret. Rhag'Zeq began to speak softly and quietly.
"The reason I called you here together was that together, we'll probably be able to figure out a solution. A permanent solution and thus regain our former greatness," he said.
"You must swear to keep this secret from the others before we get to a solution. The guardians are as you know very zealous. When the solution has arrived we can spread the word," said Rhag'Zeq seriously and raised one finger.
"Remember this may take hundreds if not thousands of years before the solution is, but we must solve the mystery. Now we swear! Say after me," he continued.
"I swear" - all said after him - "the oath to keep our experiments secret for other Forces. Although the solution may take a hundred years and another one hundred years. It is in truth a miracle that the truth can be revealed. Hail Therael!" The whole party applauded to Rhag'Zeqs grand plan, and joined Kemzar at the long table. All took a wine goblet and lifted it up.
"Here's to freedom!" All said and drank plenty out of the goblets. Then Rhag'Zeq said that tomorrow would their joint experiments begin and they would last for a few months. Then they would think on their own and meet every 50th year. For evaluation and commence common experiment again. When the goblets were emptied all withdrew to the beds they have been distributed. Once in the dormitories they thought of what had been said in the throne room. An era of freedom was soon to begin. The freedom of man's plotting and physical shapes. Sleep grabbed their shell and they drove away to the dream world: One thing was now certain The Gods would wake up again!

A Dark Sun That Dawned Ch. 1 Ch. 1

Another story and this is a suspense/thriller based on the movie V for Vendetta. This is only the first chapter and many more will probably follow. I am currently writing at the second chapter.


Blockenberry street at the corner of Hamston road." The man with the slouch hat
placed a small bankroll in the hand, which was stretched out. He took seat in the left corner and sank down immersed into other thoughts. The taxi driver did not turn around but in the rearview mirror the eyes showed a strong fear or caution. He refrained, the warning and instead said simply:
"'Tis ur unwaytick bus," the voice suggested an origin from District 14. But it was difficult to be sure. In the window of the car was a portrait in fabric of Laolin. It was a very skillful reproduction of the painting that hanged in The Dwelling Of Liberty. Similar representations could be found in many homes in the vicinity of the famous residence. During the rest of the trip no words was exchanged between the two men. Due to they did not know each other. Nothing else.


"Press Date: 31st day of the month Ammon, 4 years AL
Report issued by: Brian Jackson Kustler Chief of the Domestic Security Department at the Ministry of Security, 1250 Laolin Square, District 1, Staosopolis, Freedom Republic.
Object: # 312
[...] It should be shown extreme caution when approaching this terrorist. Absolutely no unplanned action without direct decree from L. or the Ministry of Security is acceptable. # 312 is a major threat to our internal security. His inflictions of unrest in the outer districts are not to be tolerated. Therefore, I Kustler believe, we shall as soon as possible arrest this person.
[...]
With the greatest respect:
Brian Jackson Kustler (severely unclear signature)
Laolin, the semblance of peace and tranquility we greet you as our Savior. "

Pauline put down the paper on the desk and did let it lie down for a while. She looked at the paper stack she had just skimmed through with certain awe. When she began reading, she thought it was impossible to get through the entire stack. Much proved to be immaterial. That, she could easily ignore. Some on the other hand appeared to regard information that was important to her. If you are the clerk for the Party top, that was the case. Not much to do about it. It was not even an active choice that led to she ended up here. One of her lecturers from the university had made sure she got it. The lecturer promised a well paid job near the elite. Pauline did not even have to take her degree. Show only your usual charm, he had said. Well well, she get well paid, but worked just as hard and as her father at the factory, thought Pauline. If I resign my life will be wasted. I have not even taken bachelor at the University.

She sighed about how her notary job affected her family relationships. Last week she was forced to leave her cousin's birthday celebration. Just because she had to attend an appointment with the elite. It was not so much fun for either her or the family. But work was work and it required a constant call-outs. Even worse was when her partner would give her the engagement ring and Carrey, right hand of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, called on her. Her boyfriend accepted it, but it did still hurt. The engagement was later reality despite the mishap, and they now lived together. Pauline waved away the privacy while returning the paper stack to its rightful place on the other side of the desk. Just as she put it back the glass door to her right opened. A handsome and well-dressed young man, not much older than she, entered.
"Oh!? The most senior clerk in the country snakes in the Ministry of Security's papers. It was not good. Oh my goodness! It'll be the bag for you; I think ...." The man closed the indictment by adding a wicked smile on his lips. Pauline got up from her chair and gave him a sour look.
"Very funny. You know as well as I do that Minister Berryblock ordered me to investigate the report and take copies of it. And remove that smirk, you look quite ridiculous." The smirk was replaced quickly by a laugh and between scoffing the man spoke.
"Haha, of course, I just make fun of you, beloved Paulie. I even agreed to your little "interference" in my office." The youth made a break. " It's good you take care of your job. You are the most important to us all. Your position is the finest in the country. Shall we sit in the cafeteria for a while? You seem to be quite exhausted. "
I hate when he calls me Paulie, thought Pauline. The minute later she pulled out the whole stack of paper and pushed it into the young man's stomach. He uttered a groan, but said nothing.
"Gladly Rossi," she said triumphantly "if you first help me to copy this in three copies". Rossi gave her a confused look, but pointed to a small copier in the corner of the room. Paul knew what he meant and started copying. Behind her stood Rossi. He stroked his fingers through his lion's mane.
"I think it will take time for that. So we can let it work alone for a while. In the meantime, we will take a couple of strengthening cups of coffee," said Rossi again laughing.

After this both led their feet out into the corridor. The corridor where the country's internal security was monitored around the clock. The whole hallway was lined with doors that hid offices. Repeated pushes on keyboards were heard behind each door. Some raised voices oozed out of some doors, too. Rossi's office was farthest away from the lift so they had go through the entire corridor. Halfway to the lift, a muffled hiss was heard behind a door. On the door was the name plate "Walter Burns". Shortly after the hiss, the door swung up with a bang. The owner of office next door was heard muttering curses as a result. Out through the half broken doorway came a man in black shirt and a green tie. The slightly sunken eyes expressed great confusion. As soon as he had eye contact with Rossi he started talking.
"What were you doing anyway? You cannot just disappear like that! In the middle of the accounts even. To have you as superior is a pain ..." Burns now noticed Pauline who was behind Rossi.
"Oh, hello Zullyiabi!" He said cheerfully 'I did not know you were here ". Pauline gave away a cautious hello to answer. Shortly thereafter, the bull known as Rossi slid up in front of her. Rossi grinning again and began talking to Burns half-sleazy voice.
"I had to check Miss Zullyiabi who studied some important papers. She was admitted to study them in place. In my room that is." Rossi fell silent for a moment. Shortly afterward, he realized that Burns did not plan to answer. So he continued.
"We were just going to the cafeteria for some coffee. The documents are copied at this time in my room. Want to follow us to the cafeteria? You look like you need it." The last thing he finished with a dazzling smile. Burns saw his superior above the edge of the glasses. The glasses were for the moment out on the tip of the nose. He sighed, for he understood that the presentation would not take place today. Rossi was and is always the world's annoying superior. In all cases, the most moody, he thought. Despite his melancholy he looked up again. This time he had put a simple smile on his face.
"No thanks. I have a lot to organize for tomorrow. Sorry, I would like to follow you, "said Burns. Rossi grinned after which this was said and replied calmly.
"You may do as you wish Burnsie" Rossi continued to grin. With this, he gave Burns a hearty pat on the back. Burns gave away a muted cough before he said goodbye.
"Well you two can have fun! And Miss Zullyiabi?" Pauline turned cautious.
"Greet Uncle Billy from Walt! Hahaha" Burns laughed hilariously and walked into the room.

Pauline was so sick of that joke about Uncle Billy. It was not funny. The joke came out to Pauline's family came from the same country as the Kenyan dictator. Or President Emperor William Nblenko Sawazi, lion of the wilderness, as he wanted to be called. In fact, the family fled to the West when he seized power. Pauline was only five years old then. Therefore, she did not remember much of it. All she remembers was that the grandmother and aunt were left behind. They are well dead by now, she thought dejectedly. With this background, one can understand a thing or two. In Pauline's family the little joke was very sensitive.

The Life in Kenya was something everyone in the family tried to forget. The war on Uganda and the Civil War had brought the country to the limit. Both Pauline's parents fought in the wars and brought many horrors with them. When Sawazi began taking control the escape was inevitable. The Kenyan origin was initially a disadvantage for Pauline. Harassment from peers came very often. During the fourth year of primary school she revealed her sharp intellect. The result was that the small African made a meteoric rise in primary and secondary education. The university went as it went. And now I stand in the same elevator as the Minister of Surveillances Vincenzo Rossi. How did he end up here anyway? An chaotic Don Juan who is also a spoiled brat. Padre Giuseppe really knew whom he was bribed. Lille Cento got a new chance to row a boat too big for him. Well, well, rich parents make everything apparently. Or a fawning lecturer for that matter, she corrected herself.

The elevator ride downhill continued with various job talks that were not really important. Just a way to keep the claustrophobia in check for Pauline. Once down in the cafeteria they met various staff at the Ministry. Many of them tried to summon Rossi's attention on reports, presentations and more. The overgrown boy just dismissed questions. As the teenage scoundrel he really was.
"Yes, it sounds great. I can check on it tomorrow ..." he told nearly everyone they met. Some began against expectations to object and say it was several hours left on the day. Then Rossi only jerked casually on his shoulders and stopped listening to them. When they arrived at the queue they had to wait obediently until it was their turn. Rossi offered coffee and paid with excessive change. All this to show his disgusting wealth. In the booth they talked about the report and a bit of humor and gossip about the elite. Too coarse jokes were avoided however. They could lead to jail otherwise! Pauline still thought about Kenya and its mad dictator. The moron Rossi did not even notice that she did not listen.

The First Party Session

This is photos taekn for one of my last photo projects at high school and these are taken at a party in May 2010

Emptiness Session II

These images was taken for the same project as the last ones but this isnt the basement. Instead this is an engine shed that is situated close to my former home up in Kiruna

Emptiness Session I

This is photos i took for a project at high school one year ago. All here are taken in the basement of the high school.

Metaltown 2011 session

Here is pics from my visit to Metaltown 2011. These pics are showing the backlights at the concert Arch Enemy had. But the band pics are too bad to be uploaded in my opinion.

The AIrport of Horror

It's been a long abscence from this site but i mostly post my stuff on my deviantart profile silentartists.deviantart.com nowadays because i think its easier to post there. Anyways here is a new story that its based on a dream i had as a kid. The Second Part of my space dream is still in making and it will probably be at least three parts of it. So hold on!

The Airport of Horror

Everybody was gathered in the assembly room, all eyes were fixed on the television on the trolley. The tough guys of the class were sitting on the sofa which was in reality meant for three people. Now it was occupied by eight obese boys with baseball caps. Lisa and her friends sat in the other sofa that was slightly larger. The rest of the school class sat on the cold floor, but the cold the floor gave did not concern them in the least. The television showed pictures of an airport which suddenly flared and caught fire.
"You surely remember these pictures; the airport that inexplicably burned up. The mystery remains to this day. The rumor that the owner was the arsonist still circulates widely ..." said a voiceover from the scratchy speakers. Now the airport returned back and the narration continued. "... But now we have rebuilt the airport! Exactly as it looked just before the fire. Come visit the new and exciting Pyre Airport!" bellowed the narrator excited. After he finished talking, it flew up fireworks from the back of the airport, which rattled and exploded in many colors. Credits began to roll and a click was heard, a moment later it flickered and the lights were lit. Britt came into the room wearing her usual shirt and knitted wool dress. She went up to the TV set and pushed the mute button. An electronic tweak was heard and Britt started talking.
"Well? What do you say, you want to go to this?" She said happily and looked at the children's eyes that sparkled. All the children gave away a very exuberant "Yeah!" in chorus. Unusually fast, all the kids dressed and after a short wait outside the school a chartered bus came up. The bus was the dominantly red and had yellow stripes along the sides. On the page it was written in golden letters "Hörvalls Buses". The doors opened with a sharp hissing, and up popped a staircase with several steps behind the front door. As usual, Tobbe and Karl tried access it at first, but Britt's voice calmed them down to such an extent that everyone went in calmly.


The bus driver was none other than Johnny Usher. Now that when he was the driver he had taken off his denim jacket and assumed a black windbreaker with a "Hörvalls Buses" - logo on the left breast pocket. The Cap with the text MTAB had he however retained. Johnny was as always in a good mood and said hello to everyone, pupils and teachers alike. Bastian had difficulties getting up the steep stairs, but Eva and Johnny helped him. After he emerged, he sat almost at the back next to Johan. The baseball cap adorned boy smiled gently when he saw that he had been joined. Behind them sat Karl and his companions and discussed loudly the igloos they had built on the schoolyard. The girls sat further down the bus and discussed the games they would play. At the front sat the two teachers Britt and Eva and chatted with Johnny. Bus trip lasted a good while and it was well into the afternoon when one of the girls cried out that she saw the airport.
"There, there it is!" She cried, excited, pointing through the window. Sure enough, there lay the purple building the children had seen on the videotape. Above the rest of the building towered a copy of the control tower up. The large windows on the tower looked like a pair of compound eyes checking out their prey. From nowhere appeared a short road snippet that led to the airport. Johnny was not puzzled by the sudden appearance, but turned onto the road as it had always been there. When the bus stopped outside the main gates the most rushed out immediately, but Johan and Bastian was left on the bus for a while. When even Johnny jumped off the bus the two boys went out.
"I want us to meet here at 8 o'clock sharp!" Shouted Britt over the child crowd and then added that they could to do what they wanted until then. A moment later, all the children was gone and the driver as well. The adventure could begin!


After a few hours had passed Tobbe and Eric sat in one of the bars at the airport. They had their own milkshakes in hand and discussed. Eric looked very thoughtful and Tobbe seemed to be less worrisome.
"I think there is something mysterious about this place ..." said Eric quietly. Tobbe took a sip of his milkshake and looked at Eric.
"Why do you think that?" He said anxiously. His companion shook his head in concern.
"I do not really know ... This place seems just too good. The drinks are free of charge and all staff is behaving very strangely.
"Yes, that's true. I have not thought so much of it himself. But you're right!" Said Tobbe in an equally troubling manner that Eric had spoken earlier.


Bastian was in a large room with lots of mysterious figures. Some seemed to dance and others seemed more to spin around on the floor. Many of the characters were far from human, but they did not see Bastian as a stranger. None of them emitted, however, a sound while they performed their mysterious movements. Bastian's classmates had he not seen a trace of after leaving the bus. One of the creatures began to slither towards Bastian and expressed almost human syllables. Then it dawned on Bastian; the creature cried "Help!" backwards! The creature itself was a broad flattened man's face with hand-like outgrowths on opposite sides of the head. Behind this facade appeared a rear body similar to a lobster. Bastian was horrified when he saw it slowly pulled towards him. Suddenly the whole floor began to spin in an uncontrollably high speed. Everything in the room was drawn into the spin and the creature who cried for help went out of sight. Other creatures moaned in pain while the floor was spinning. In the corners of the room fireplaces appeared out of nowhere, the fireplaces served as powerful vacuum cleaner and sucked the creatures. One of the fireplaces got hold of Bastian and he fell down a hole in the floor just below the fireplace.


After a brief fall, he landed in something green and paper like. When the boy recovered after the fall, he began to study his surroundings. The green he got into turned out to be one hundred dollar bills in millions and once more millions of copies. The entire vault, he landed in was full of banknotes. Then it rustled behind him and another person had fallen into the cash pile. Bastian went to see if it was perhaps a classmate or even Britt. It was not a classmate. And it was not Britt. Although it was a human male who fell. When Bastian came close enough, he saw that it was a corpulent middle-aged man with a big walrus mustache. Immediately he recognized the face.
"Pat Hingle what are you doing here?" Said he confused. The man turned his face towards him. The gaze that met Bastian was very glassy, but Pat replied as best he could.
"I-I do not know it, my boy. To be honest I do not even know where I am. I also get a nasty feeling of this vault ..." Before he Bastian ask what he meant the rustling began anew. Now nothing fell down, instead a menacing shadow was painted upon the wall further down in the vault. Just where the vault took a swing to the right. Immediately Bastian and Pat tried run away from the shadow. Their speed, however, was hindered by the huge cash pile, but soon it was full speed in their legs. The owner of the shadow growled and started running himself into the pile of money. After a while they had entered a dark tunnel without any apparent end, but the creature behind became quieter and quieter. Much later, it seemed an end in sight and Bastian only increased the pace. Quickly, quickly, he wanted away from the monster Indeed, it was an exit and the boy jumped out into freedom. Then he noticed that he jumped straight into a snowdrift. He quickly began to freeze, and then he turned suddenly on the cave he fled through. No trace of either Pat or monster they encountered was in sight.


"There you are!" Shouted someone in the vicinity. Bastian did not at first recognize the voice, but when it cried again it became familiar.
"Come soon, we got to get out of here," cried the voice again, which belonged to Britt. The boy ran up to Britt and took her hand and then both started to run as quickly as possible in the snow.
"What happened to the others?" Bastian asked anxiously. Britt shook her head and said that she did not know. Behind them explosions was heard and then culminated with a huge explosion. The whole airport had exploded and left was a sea of fire with lots of flaming rubble. In the middle of the fire was a sinister smile, but it did not see Britt and Bastian, as they were struggling to escape. The rest of the class' fate would surely be uncertain for all time. The actual airport fate would also be hidden by the haze of age. All of this did not the survivors consider when they left the airport, running in the snow...