Author Archives: Arcane Cognition

About Arcane Cognition

I write what i see. I write what I know. I write what I feel. I do not write what i think.

Rejection Slip

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Your prose is much to flowery, your poetry way too dark,
We like your rhythm and the rhyme from which you embark.
We can not market such depression or the word Alone,
Though we appreciate your understanding of loneliness to the bone.
Your words are too depressing, your verses too macabre,
If you continue to write this way, as a poet you will starve.
We understand the words you write, that many feel this way,
We can not sell all of your sadness, despair, and dismay.
Write to us of happy things, give us all some Hope,
Make us smile, make us laugh, try to help us Cope.
Try to change your dark metaphors into songs of light,
We don’t need to be reminded of how we lost the fight.
Your prose is much to flowery, your poetry way too dark,
Though we like the rhythm and the rhyme from which you embark.

1-18-2011

Original X-roads-2003

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Chapter One
 

    We had landed on Cross Isle, which was in the center of Caslitak. We stood in the center of a cleared space in the perfect shape of a circle, which was odd almost since there was a thick forest surrounding it. There was only smooth grass here, and tall ominous looking trees looming all around.
    I stepped through the gate and glanced around, Daemon and Sertoff had walked in before me. The feeling of Darkness increased, there was a chilling cold the kind of cold that only Darkness can bring. It was stronger than the feeling I would get on Earth when I would walk outside my door, I felt more as if we were heading for our deaths. And what was more, was the fact I couldn’t feel Cas or Zariaha here. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, this feeling of gloom and doom surrounding us. I glanced up at the sky which was a lilac color, it’s lighter shades blending into pink as the darker ones faded into a more royal purple. There was one light blue sun in the sky, it was amazing to look at. I have never seen anything quite like it, it was a crystal, mystical type of light blue. You could see the heat fumes around it making swirls of silvery blue atop the surface. It had dark spots, not many but a few, they had turned a darker shade of light blue, almost a dark dulled cyan. The grass and leaves here were Turquoise, but other than that it seemed like a normal place.
    My thoughts were interrupted by Jabetto walking through the gate. He glanced around, “Big change from Earth huh?”.
    “Uh huh.” I nodded and glanced at Mesiaha who was the next one through. She passed through the gate then glanced back as if she was leaving something behind. It must be her sister or something, she’d left nothing there. She looked up at me in a dumb-struck glance, and suddenly I noticed it too. There was something missing, she looked as if she was lost.
    I set Jamie down on the ground and glanced at Sertoff, I drew in a deep breath then exhaled. The thought of going into any towns and talking to people gave me the creeps. I really felt as if the whole world was filled with a negative energy, and everything in and on it was negative. Sertoff seemed almost at home, he stood motionless, expressionless facing the north.
    “Well someone has to go inform Emperor Kilji of our arrival.” Daemons pendant seems to have changed somewhat, the voice is lower. And I could hear the electronics inside it working, not very loud, almost like a whisper.
    Sertoff turned to us, “Wait here.” He started to walk off towards the circle of trees in the north.
    A feeling crept over me, urging me to follow him, growing stronger with every step he took towards the trees. “I wanna go too.” I voiced out loud bracing myself for any kind of reaction from Sertoff.
    He seemed angry as he slowly turned back to face me, his cold blue eyes staring. He studied me for a moment then nodded once and stood perfectly still, as he waited for me to catch up with him.
    I followed him away from the others, soon we were at the surrounding trees. I noticed now that they made a complete circle around the field, though once inside… The trees seemed to stretch into a never-ending forest. I began to get flash backs of Zaria Forest, “Where are we going?” I asked him. It was more to get my mind off the forest than curiosity.
    “Emperor Kilji is over one thousand years old,” Sertoff began to brief me. “He didn’t get that way by letting strangers in to see him. I fought for him, and still hold the rank of General in the Kilji Army. Without his permission, the rest of the group can’t go beyond the trees.”
    “You’ll just fight for anybody if the price’s right, wont you?” I half teased.
    “And for the right price, you’ll kill.” he scoffed as he turned his cold eyes and stared me down.
    I drew in a breath and looked back at the trees trying to warm myself from his gaze.
    “Try to restrain yourself in front of the Emperor. I don’t want to have to do it for you.” he started walking faster.
    I rolled my eyes and caught up with him, soon we emerged from the trees. It was basically the same as the field before, though on the horizon I saw a black castle. It glinted in the blue suns’ light with a sort of metallic hue, a greenish crystal type mist surrounded it. It must be some sort of force field or something, they really don’t want anyone getting in here. I wonder why.
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The Weekend Before Cop-mas

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it was the weekend before Christmas and all i could see
were tears and destruction, anger and greed.
the decorations they weren’t hanging this year,
because no one was feeling the holiday cheer.
–
the children were protesting and looting the place
with expressions of hatred etched in their face.
and i watched in horror from my living room,
wondering what brought on this season of doom.
–
when out in the parking lot i heard such a noise,
i wondered if it could be one of the boys.
So quick to the window i ran with my gun
to stop this looter from having fun.
–
the moon was smogged out from all the pollution
casting shadows and causing confusion.
then quick as a flash in the corner of my eye
i saw something red and white flash by.
–
the driver was quick and drove with ease,
to the crowd he had to appease.
and when he got out he spoke with command,
“Lower your weapons, and show me your hands”
–
“I come to keep peace, and you have every right
to stand here and protest all through the night.
You say you’ve been wronged and I’m here to protect
each and every one of you, you deserve my respect.”
–
the crowd was not happy, they turned in response,
and tested the law bearer’s deep resilience.
there was so many, and the cop stood alone,
i worried for his safety straight to my bones.
–
then i saw something awful, what did i expect
the anger surged, the cop they were out to get.
i drew my head away from the window curtain,
i didn’t want to see what i knew was certain.
–
the gun shots rang out, the crowd stampeded,
i turned back around to see what proceeded.
and then i saw to my shocking surprise,
a sight that i couldn’t believe my eyes.
–
small children surrounded the uniformed man,
with their silent faces they made a tall stand.
the parents of some did curse and expose,
how dreadful these children were for upholding their foes.
–
they would not be moved and so then i found,
others did gather without making a sound.
the ambulance sirens so far in the distance,
i wondered if they could withstand the resistance.
–
the angry mob pressed in, they wanted to lynch
this innocent soldier would make a good witch.
then to my surprise what more could i say,
his protectors fell down and started to pray.
–
i fell to my knees and found myself joining,
their voices calling out in the early of morning.
we prayed for a miracle, we prayed for peace
we prayed the ambulance would get there at least.
–
and when it arrived, it cut through the crowd,
the cop was then loaded and then it got loud.
they punched the vehicle and made petty threats,
about how every officer deserves what he gets.
–
and as the vehicle drove off with sirens a blazing
i listened to the crowd and all of it’s hating.
and as the ambulance rolled out of sight,
i thought merry Christmas to all…. and to all a good night.
12-21-2014

No One To Hear

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The cold wind is blowing, the temperature drops low,
instead of the rain now it’s starting to snow.
I stand here alone without a word to say,
there was nothing I could do to make you stay.

You say it was hatred, you said it was spite,
I say you are always wrong and I am right.
You said it was twisted and I am confused,
that I mangle the truth to keep me amused.

You say I spin lies, you say I manipulate,
and that you have taken all you will take.
You no longer want to play this game,
that makes you hang your head in shame.

The cold wind is blowing, the temperature drops low,
I want desperately to leave but I’ve no where to go.
I stand here alone without a word to say,
but there is no one to hear it here anyway.

 

12-3-2014

One Day

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One day the Ghosts of the past will die and I will truly be free,
One day all the mistakes I’ve made no one will be able to see.
One day I will stand, and there will be no one to say,
anything to me about that day.

Did I bury the past on unholy ground?
Forever to haunt me without any sound?
How do I exorcize these?  Nothing does last.
I would rather die than be haunted by my past.

One day, just one day, if I live that long,
One day, just that day, I will sing my song.

One day the Stalkers will fade and I can once again feel free,
One day the things I said wont be remembered and I can be me.
One day I will sit in the silence, and alone I will revel,
everything else can go to the Devil.

I can not reach out or try to be human,
I must be the monster inside that is looming.
There is no comfort, no one I can trust.
I would rather die than live as I must.

One day, just one day, if I live that long,
One day, just that day, I will sing my song.

10-31-2014

I Understand

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    The headache began from the frontal lobe, somewhere near the anterior premotor cortex. It was a constant pain that came from nowhere. Slowly easing itself in til it had reached the volume of pain it wanted, then resided at that point unmoved. The continual pain if left unchecked would lead to other symptoms. Agitation would increase like lightening on the nervous system. There would be a definite loss of the ability to concentrate, it would soon become impossible to keep focus for long periods of time. These two symptoms would lead to new side effect, restlessness. Restlessness would lead to a myriad of psychological and mental impediments. Sound thinking and reasoning would fall slightly off kilter. After time a feeling of desperation begins to creep in.
    Knowing the physiology would not stop the onslaught, not even taking an asprin would stave it off. The cure lies somewhere else. The only cure was to stop completely the compulsive obsessive disorder that had taken over. Like a demon, the illness snuck in without warning and possessed you. Controlling your thoughts and actions, manipulating your emotions and needs.
    It was an addictive itch, that fueled a burning inner desire when you scratched it. It felt good. The burning desire within you, the hunger and wanting. It felt good to nurture it. A slightly erotic and evil invocation, that feeling you get when it feels good to be bad.
    It started like most things, it was all done in passing. A small curiosity, a passing interest. Then it was almost a morbid fascination, like driving slowly past a car wreck. You had to look, what harm could one small peek do?
   But that small glimpse did something you did not expect. It awoke your mind to strange thoughts you had not experienced before. It opened doors to wild fantasies you never dared dream before. It took you to a place you had never known of, a land so strange and foreign you wanted to know every nook and cranny of it. Everything was new. Whatever you expected when you came here, you left with the first free taste of a very addictive drug.
    This was no ordinary drug, it was not one to dull the sense and ease the mind. It offers no escape, only bondage.
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Kate

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   The cursor blinked on the command line.  It waited for its command.  It did not judge if you did right or wrong, it only obeyed.  It did not question.  It did not feel.  It did not willingly tell your secrets. It only did what you told it to do, nothing more nothing less.
    The letters were quickly typed on the screen.
    The only the sound in the room was of the clicking keys.
    rpm -i peek_a_boo.bld0024.i8.rpm
    The screen flooded with words and numbers as the program installed on the machine.
    After a few minutes the whirlwind of letter of and numbers stopped and the command waited again.
    The cursor blinked.
    cd PaB
    ./peek
    The computer screen flashed to life.  A large dark screen came up with a single box.  A series of asterisks appeared as the password was typed in.
    The program opened up.  The mouse moved quickly over the toolbar and a box popped up mid screen.  An ip address was typed in.

The entire contents of the hard drive were opened in a file explorer interface.     The /pics/ directory was clicked on.

    Pictures of cats, kittens, a few dogs were intermingled with selfies.       Nothing sexy.  A few selfies were copied to a directory.

    All the files were looked over on the hard drive.  Movies, music, emails that had been saved to the hard drive.  Everything there was to know about her was here.  Where she lived, who she was.  It held all her secrets.
    A few mp3s were copied.  The program disengaged from the ip address.
    A phone number was entered into the box.
   The contents of the phone were laid out in the same manner as the computer.  The pictures of the same female with her friends, at her work.  All her destinations, all her check ins.  All the information off the phone was transferred to separate directory named Kate.
    The mouse hovered over the X and the programs warm glow ceased.
The command line stood ready, the cursor blinked awaiting orders.
    rpm -e PaB
    The screen spring to life on command, it whirred with letters and numbers.  Then stillness, the cursor blinked.
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Hal

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    Addie opened her eyes. Her body was stiff, and her skin felt the cold surrounding her like an enemy. The cotton sheets seemed cold, despite the down comforter on top. Her bedroom was lit only by the moon shining in from the single window to her right. Unmoving shadows embraced every corner and curve of the fixtures and furniture. There was no sound at all. She laid there in the stillness and glanced around her room.

    Nothing out of place, everything is as it should be.

    Her muscles began to relax as she recognized she was safe. The sheets began to feel warm and comforting luring her back to sleep. She started to close her eyes just as the clouds began to move over the moon.

     The room began to grow dark as her eyes closed. Then just as they were almost shut and everything was blurry. There was movement to the left of the bed near the wall.

    Addie couldn’t tell what it was, how big it had been, or even how fast it had been moving. For the first second she wasn’t sure she saw anything at all. She was almost dreaming, it might not be anything real. The moon was blotted out by a passing cloud, perhaps it was a trick of the eye just as it was closing.

    Then she heard the noise. She knew right away what the noise was, or more precisely where it was. Something on her dresser had moved, but it was just one thing. As if someone pushed it an inch in any direction.

    Addie’s eyes were now wide open.

    It was as if she still had them closed. She could not see anything at all. Her heart began to beat so hard she shook from the force of it. Her lamp was on the night stand to her right. All she had to do was reach out her arm and turn on the light.

    Her body laid there frozen in fear.

    What if it whatever it was ripped off her arm as she was reaching? What if it didn’t know she was awake and it would leave if it thought she was sleeping? What if the cloud moves and moon comes back out?

    As if on her command the clouds moved on and the moonlight began to pour back into the room.

    Addie’s heart began to pound with less force as she noticed the shadows all in their places. Nothing was out of place, that she could see. The dresser was washed in shadows and it was impossible to tell if anything had moved.

    There was nothing else.

    Addie took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She started to clear her mind of the nonsense she almost given in to. Her heart began to beat at a normal pace. Addie breathed slow.

    She began to force her eyes to close. Just as her lids were closing there was bright blur at the foot of the bed.

    It lunged at her.

    She opened her eyes wide quickly, but all she ever saw was a white blur lunging at her like a wild hungry dog. The only sound she heard was it landing on all fours on the bed, and her final scream for help into the night.

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If I had the Power

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If I had the power, I’d like to change the world,
a domination of peace would definitely be assured.
I’d rid the world of politics and abolish all the law,
Self responsibly and reliance would be my battle call.
Religious institutions, will sit upon their place,
no longer trying to control the entire human race.
There will still be violence, and murder to name a few,
it must be weeded out for the race to start a new.
We will live in harmony with other animals as equals,
we wont rape the land and act like evil selfish devils.
We will kill the rush that comes with the to and fro,
we will end the stress that seems to feed our Corporate foe.
Money will not matter, for each will grow his own.
just like pioneers or the ancients from age of stone.
We’ll understand our place is not to dominate but share,
If I had the power, but the power isn’t there.
5-2-2014

Serial Killer

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    The blood was starting to clot and fall in globs to the floor. He continued to cut away the flesh from the bone in silence. He tossed the meat aside in large plastic storage tub.
    It was not the thin cheap plastic storage tubs you would buy at the local mega-mart, they were the thick sturdy kind that were hard to find. All storage tubs used to be this thick, when he bought them in bulk in nineteen eighty four.
    He wasn’t a hoarder. He just liked to plan ahead.
    He planned so well ahead it was eerily like ESP. Which he did have in some small sense. He had enough to know he would need those containers when he saw them.
    He didn’t know the economy was going to tank, leaving millions out of work. He had no foresight that the country was going to be so far in debt it could not get out, ever. He knew none of these things were going to happen.
    He did know Katherine, with a “K”, was going to want to go home with him last night. He knew she would drink one more cherry martini once he got her there. He knew how the whole night would go. Not so much because of ESP, though he was sure it held a part.
    It was due to his meticulous planning, and the fact the he knew Katherine was spelt with a K two weeks before their chance meeting at the bar.
    He knew more than how to spell her name.
    He knew where she worked, where she played, who she worked and played with. He would have made a great private detective. He knew her favorite color, her favorite drink, and (thanks to an online dating profile) what her perfect man would be like.
    For three hours he was that man. A night of role playing. A smile, a laugh, and unlimited charm. Then he brought her home and mixed her a drink.
    She wanted more, so much more. She’d found her perfect man, she wanted her happily ever after to start here and now. She was so desperate, so very desperate. She would have done anything he asked, anything.
    That was all he needed.
    Then as she neared the end of her drink, her flirting became slurred. Her movements became clumsy. She went to the restroom to urinate, and expired on the toilet.
    It was a stroke of luck he hadn’t counted on.
    He removed the wig of short dark hair, and took out the light brown contacts. He had both in every color. He enjoyed dressing up and playing the part.
   It added to the adrenaline rush.
    He could have been an actor.
    He pulled the last piece of meat off the bone and tossed it in the plastic container.
   He set the bones in a huge cauldron over the walk in gas fireplace in the front room. He left them to boil as he carried out the tub of meat to the woods.
    He walked for a few hours, and set the tub down uncovered. He said nothing and enjoyed the sounds of the surrounding woods. There was no one around here for miles and miles.
    After the bones were cleaned, he laid them out to dry on a large metal dehydrator he had built. Then he took the dry bones to a large industrial trash compactor located in the shed. Within minutes of the large machine’s whirring and cranking, it was over.
    He took the bone fragments and dust, added them to some bonemeal mulch he’d bought a few weeks before for the garden.
    He went down to the basement and cleaned the cold metal steel floor and the autopsy table.
    He had the house built at his own expense. Room by room, each by different construction crews. No one knew the floor plans but him, everything was built without question, to his specification.
    H.H. Holmes would have been proud.
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