We all signed up to be on earth.Be aligned with God by rebirth. The world is not a drop of importance. The Wordis a crop of anointings. You got to do it off the prayed strength. The truthhit different cause it's a love wavelength.

It's still the same playbook. Theonly will in the game is to slay those in the Book. Flip the script. Don't tripoff the drift. Believe in the power of peace. I don't receive the power of thebeast. Valley of dry bones. They rally to fry stones.

The arena ain't home youtripping. That adrenochrome is what they sipping. Their demeanor is like agnome with all that dripping. I was naive that's why I was lost in the leaves.Thank God the lion in me woke up. You ain't hard the iron in me soaked up.

Don't matter the race they all inthe same heartspace. They working for the same team. They working for the samedream. Only the wise of heart can see the skies of stars. Stop running ain'tnothing on Mars. They summon to start merging folk with cars.

Face the music. Saved by grace mysoul I won't lose it. Got to be 100 in the Lord. The truth is what they dreadin the war. Don't turn back to folly. Don't burn in the hack of holly. The gridlines. Folk tryna get rid of time. New World Order is a crime.

Just cause I'm not following inyour footsteps you mad. Trust the cost I ain't wallowing in your soot reps ofthe pad. I can only be me. Thank God there's only one me. They salty cause theycan't son me. Folk can't get over on me. Love is real. No deal.

The devil is running off fumes.The world tremble cause Jesus rose from the tomb. How many chosen ones lifeended in the womb. Wake up this world is diabolical. Don't lake up cause theWord says that's the fire for the soul.

When Jesus touchdown everybodygon hush now. The world scared cause they can't predict the hour. The Word wasspared on the cross ain't no trick for the power. It is finished. It hitdifferent when the sin is glitched. Do right. True light.

If you look at the statisticscould make you go ballistic. Who's gon take over, aliens or a.i.. Don't presssnooze cause they fake with that trail again of stay high. The love is toxic.The dove washed it. Ain't gon be no rights. Can't faint in the nights.

Don't believe what's in the koolaid. They will deceive with the fool's spade. Royal flush. I'm loyal to God'strust. In this world everybody is a speck of dust. Why esteem anybody on theearth. Why on the stream is Illuminati talking about the sun's worth.

Being in heaven is more importantthan ruling the world. Seeing the leaven is more important so folk can't befooling with words. Now you the problem cause you walk in love. They made a vowto off them if you unlocked the dove. Jet fly. Don't forget to try.

Force to be reckoned with. Mysource is Jesus y'all begging for the myth. Only one person was without sin.Christ is the only one they versing cause folk can't win. Our Savior didn't dieon the cross so you could pie with the sauce.

Love, hope and peace. The doveneeds soap for the streets. Clean up the world. Behind the scenes they use theWord. Everything is obvious. The new wing of lobbyists. Cease from the evil.The beast is in the people. Lion unleashed I ain't got no ego.

I know it's hard but I voted forGod. Either candidate don't determine my fate. The plan is to lullaby you tothe Mark. Where I stand my soul fly to the heart. Pledge of promise by the holyspirit. Knowledge of comments is why they fear it.

They coming for you if you areborn again. They running from you cause you healed from being torn again. Folksummon spirits cause the world gon mourn again. The day of the Lord's anger.Better pray you're not a stranger. Heart weather slay all that danger.

People will try to gaslight youuntil you're in the dark. We're all equal in the light be real on the ark. Oneday it'll be illegal to say Jesus is the calibration of the world's heart. Idon't plead evil cause God increase us in revelation of the stars.

The remembrance of all things isthe holy spirit not a robot. The resemblance of all things is why they fear itdon't let your soul rot. God stands on business. Hundred grand is my witness.The Only Begotten Son Jesus doesn't dread the world's sickness.

The system is in love with thebeast. My vision is a dove with the peace. Politics is romantic. Collagen inthe Atlantic. I don't bring candy to a date. Whatever wing I don't care aboutthe candidate. The world is in the night. The Word is in the light.

Lot of gatekeepers but none ofthem got the key to heaven. They forgot the state reapers cause in their gutthey feel free in the leaven. Babylon is powdered in makeup. If you causingconfusion you gon wake up. If you housing delusion you gon lake up.

Test the spirit no matter theskin. Confess to the spirit no matter the sin. Race is not valid cause gracewill save whoever from the dot of the doll head. I'm talking wordplay. EverydayI'm walking is earth day. Always pray I don't celebrate no birthday.

They see me in a new jersey andthink I'mma devil. Ain't no in freebie cause I got the juice so they can'tcurse me I'm on a different level. They on self destruction. Wealth eruption.Your soul got to be correct. The gold is what the higher up protect.

My faith is not over my nation.I'm saved cause of the grace of salvation. What's identity politics. Folk inthe entity out the six. One verse a day keeps the curse away. The world isending. The Word is always trending. Truth is solid. No doll head.

Granted eternity. The worldabandoned me I still got serenity. One day it'll be God and I sipping tea. Iknow the secrets they see. My glow is the currency. It's crucial we're in anemergency. Ain't no neutral this ain't fantasy. All my hands are free.

Folks crashing out. They see thepassion now. They asking how. Tell em I'm here now. Controlled opposition. Mysoul in Christ ain't switching. From this day forward the world gon beglitching.  Don't be afraid to say youChristian. Holy ghost filled vision.

Clean your heart. Behind thescene it's gon start. There's a lot of rotten confusion. The Only Begotten Sonain't losing. Jesus or the devil who you choosing. Increase us in every levelcause I ain't snoozing. The truth hit different when you been forgiven.

I'm in a different mode. I'vebeen gifted with the code. Folk shifted when they seen my soul. The yoke gotlifted I was going out of control. Right state of mind. I can feel the hateeven when I'm kind. I'm like a D1 athlete with a pastor's mind.

If you of God have no fear. Ifyou have heart the glow is clear. Every level is a myth. The devil wants yourgift. They dissing the Word and at the same time kissing the bird. Fightagainst the devils. The light makes you dance no medals.

I'm blessed in the streets butthey still want me to rest in peace. I know every corner is a test of thebeast. This a battlefield. The glitz rattle ain't real. They blitz my travel tosee how I feel. Your faith got to defeat the grave. Jesus to be saved.

The strength of love is thewavelength of the dove. Christ is coming to bring the sword. The price isrunning to king the score. World peace is not real. The Word says the beast isto dot how you feel. Biblically sound. Spiritually found.

Taken up in the air. Folk fakinglike they care. Don't let the world fool you. Don't let the world cool you. Wegot to detox and purify our hearts. Free at the parking lot is the sea rocks ofmore knots. They muzzling the dove. I'm buzzing with love.

Star studded event. My heartchanged when I started to repent. Ain't bragging or complaining. That dragon isthe same as satan. Against Christ the world is blatant. It don't matter whereyou go. The time shattered everybody know.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Starting Point

Some people say karma is real and it always finds its way back into any situation. Hmm, that's the case of Sandra Agunbiade and me.

Forgive my manners; my name is Daisy Williams, the seventeen-year-old daughter of Senator Williams and Biola Williams. I grew up in a God-fearing Christian home. My parents ensured I adhered to all Christian rules and doctrines. Graduating from high school with good results made my parents proud.

I gained admission to the prestigious University of Ibadan, my dream school. Being born into a privileged family, my parents arranged my accommodation, school materials, and other necessities to ensure my comfort.

The day finally arrived. As I prepared to leave, my Christian parents offered advice. "Daisy, my darling," my mother said, "you are the pride of this family, the apple of our eyes. Study hard and make us proud. Keep away from bad friends and boyfriends, respect your lecturers and superiors, and remember who you are." She turned to my father. "My husband, do you have anything to say?" My dad cleared his throat. "Daisy, my dear, you heard everything your mother said. Make hay while the sun shines and don't disappoint your family. Make us proud, and my daughter, may God be with you." "Amen!" I responded, hugging them tearfully. "Mum, Dad, thank you for everything. I will never disappoint you."

We set out for Ibadan. Gazing at the landscapes and wonders of nature excited me. I'd heard Ibadan's restaurants had the best local foods—"Hmm, local foods are the best! Wow!" I exclaimed. "Ibadan is beautiful, Mom!" My mom smiled. "It is indeed! I hope you enjoy your stay here."

After two hours, we arrived in Ibadan. The different sights made me wonder why I hadn't come sooner. The simplicity of life wowed me; everywhere was peaceful, and the community members and neighbors were friendly. I unloaded my luggage into the rented apartment my parents secured for me. The neighbors were friendly and helpful. After moving in, my parents prayed for me and the apartment, then I saw them off. It was an emotional moment; separating from my parents felt lonely. I went into the kitchen, cooked yam and stew, and settled down to prepare for my first day at school. Ahh, thinking about it made me nervous. After watching a movie or two, I drifted off to sleep.

The alarm woke me at 6:00 a.m. Since it was my first day, I had to prepare early. After a short prayer and getting ready, I sipped hot tea and ate bread for breakfast. I prayed silently for God's guidance and protection, but the nervousness persisted.

I took a cab to school and met various freshers. Remembering my parents' warnings, I kept a straight face and didn't communicate with anyone until it was time for the faculty professor to sign our forms. Getting to the line, I bumped into a humble, elegant-looking lady. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you," I said, helping her pick up her things. She smiled. "It's fine; everyone makes mistakes." I was touched by her kindness. After apologizing again and receiving her thanks, I was about to leave when she called me back. "Excuse me, miss, can I know your name?" I replied, "Daisy Williams, and yours?" "Sandra Agunbiade. Nice meeting you!" she said, and we parted ways.

After the signing of forms, briefings, and other activities, I headed home in a cab, feeling stressed and tired. I showered and ordered takeout; I was too tired to cook. I began reading some of the topics covered in the lectures, and suddenly my mind drifted to Sandra. I smiled. "She's really humble and harmless!" I said to myself. Because of my parents' warnings about friends, I waved it off and continued reading.

Waking up at dawn reminded me I had three lectures to attend. I prepared myself and, after breakfast and a prayer for protection, wisdom, and knowledge, I set off to school at 7:30 a.m. in a cab. you must be wondering why the daughter of a senator takes a cab instead of her own car well I believe being humble pays more than showing off. At school, I met Sandra, and it turned out we were in the same faculty. "Hi, Daisy," she said. "Hi, Sandra. How are you?" "I'm fine, and you?" "Doing good. Turns out we're in the same faculty," she said, and I smiled. "God is indeed wonderful! Classes are about to start! Shall we?" she asked. "Yes, let's go!"

After lectures, Sandra and I exchanged contacts and became friends. Little did I know that was the turning point in my life.

The sky was on fire.Not with flame, but with the kind of crimson light that bleeds from the heavens when everything holy has turned its back.

She stood alone amidst shattered stone and ash, the world around her trembling under the weight of gods and monsters tearing it apart. Her breath caught as the ground cracked beneath her feet. A tremor passed through the air—no, not the air. The sky.

Something was falling.

Her eyes snapped upward.

Two figures, locked in brutal combat, collided again in midair. Wings of shadow and fire clashed against raw, violent power. The larger one—drenched in rage, crowned in darkness—drove the other downward with a blow that echoed like thunder through the void.

And then...

He fell.

A streak of black and burning gold cut across the heavens, spiraling, broken—like a dying star crashing through the atmosphere. She watched, frozen, as the figure plummeted, his body lifelessly turning in the air, arms spread like a cross.

No scream. No final cry.Just silence... and the long descent.

He hit the earth with a sound that could shatter hearts.

She ran.Faster than her legs could carry, faster than fear could stop her. Her lungs burned. Her vision blurred.

The world narrowed to that one ruined body sprawled across a field of blood-soaked stone.

She dropped to her knees beside him.

His chest was barely moving. Deep gashes split across his ribs, his arms, his face. One of his eyes was swollen shut, the other... still open. Fading.

She touched his cheek—still warm.

The sound of battle faded behind her. All that remained was the ragged sound of his breath. And her heartbeat, loud and frantic in her ears.

“No...” she whispered. Her voice broke. “No. No, stay with me.”

His lips trembled. A whisper escaped them—so faint, it could have been the wind. But it wasn’t.

“Don’t... leave me.”

Her heart fractured.

She grabbed his hand, pressed it against her face, holding it there with both of hers as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her touch trembled, but her grip never loosened.

“I’m not leaving,” she said, her voice fierce, breaking under its own weight. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

The world seemed to pause for a moment—just long enough for him to breathe one last time.

A sharp inhale.A softer exhale.

Then stillness.

She leaned over him, arms wrapped around his broken form, holding him as if her embrace alone could anchor him to the world. Her forehead pressed to his. Her tears soaked his skin.

Around them, the heavens roared.

But she didn’t hear it.

In that moment, it was only them—one body broken, the other breaking beside it. And the echo of a promise whispered into the wind.

She would never leave him.

Even if the world burned.

The sky was on fire.Not with flame, but with the kind of crimson light that bleeds from the heavens when everything holy has turned its back.

She stood alone amidst shattered stone and ash, the world around her trembling under the weight of gods and monsters tearing it apart. Her breath caught as the ground cracked beneath her feet. A tremor passed through the air—no, not the air. The sky.

Something was falling.

Her eyes snapped upward.

Two figures, locked in brutal combat, collided again in midair. Wings of shadow and fire clashed against raw, violent power. The larger one—drenched in rage, crowned in darkness—drove the other downward with a blow that echoed like thunder through the void.

And then...

He fell.

A streak of black and burning gold cut across the heavens, spiraling, broken—like a dying star crashing through the atmosphere. She watched, frozen, as the figure plummeted, his body lifelessly turning in the air, arms spread like a cross.

No scream. No final cry.Just silence... and the long descent.

He hit the earth with a sound that could shatter hearts.

She ran.Faster than her legs could carry, faster than fear could stop her. Her lungs burned. Her vision blurred.

The world narrowed to that one ruined body sprawled across a field of blood-soaked stone.

She dropped to her knees beside him.

His chest was barely moving. Deep gashes split across his ribs, his arms, his face. One of his eyes was swollen shut, the other... still open. Fading.

She touched his cheek—still warm.

The sound of battle faded behind her. All that remained was the ragged sound of his breath. And her heartbeat, loud and frantic in her ears.

“No...” she whispered. Her voice broke. “No. No, stay with me.”

His lips trembled. A whisper escaped them—so faint, it could have been the wind. But it wasn’t.

“Don’t... leave me.”

Her heart fractured.

She grabbed his hand, pressed it against her face, holding it there with both of hers as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her touch trembled, but her grip never loosened.

“I’m not leaving,” she said, her voice fierce, breaking under its own weight. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

The world seemed to pause for a moment—just long enough for him to breathe one last time.

A sharp inhale.A softer exhale.

Then stillness.

She leaned over him, arms wrapped around his broken form, holding him as if her embrace alone could anchor him to the world. Her forehead pressed to his. Her tears soaked his skin.

Around them, the heavens roared.

But she didn’t hear it.

In that moment, it was only them—one body broken, the other breaking beside it. And the echo of a promise whispered into the wind.

She would never leave him.

Even if the world burned.

The stars still shine.

The sky still light.

You hug the bright at the midnight.

I just touch the tears and try to smile.

The roses are growing.

The leaves are falling.

You can see the moon rising,

Only in my old-day dreams.

Im digitalen Zeitalter besteht überall die Gefahr von Datenschutzverletzungen – von der Standortverfolgung über Smartphones bis hin zum Abhören öffentlicher WLANs und sogar Drohnenfotografie. Wie kann die Privatsphäre wirksam geschützt werden? Die Technologie zur Signalstörung wird zu einer Option, der immer mehr Menschen Aufmerksamkeit schenken.

1. Handy-Störsender: Unterbrechen Sie die drahtlose Ortung

https://www.jammermfg.com/de/handy-stoersender.html

Mobiltelefone sind zu einem der größten Kanäle für Datenschutzlecks geworden. Ob Schadsoftware, die Daten stiehlt, oder die Positionsbestimmung einer Basisstation, die Ihren Aufenthaltsort preisgibt: Mobiltelefonsignale können zu einem Sicherheitsrisiko werden. Handy-Störsender können 2G/3G/4G/5G-Signale innerhalb eines bestimmten Bereichs blockieren und eignen sich für:

● Wichtige Meetings: Verhindern Sie Abhören oder Fernaufzeichnung.

● Schutz der persönlichen Privatsphäre: Vermeidung illegaler Ortung oder Überwachung.

Mit der zunehmenden Verbreitung der 5G-Technologie könnten sich Handy-Störsender künftig in Richtung einer präziseren Frequenzbandsteuerung entwickeln, die die Privatsphäre schützen kann, ohne die normalen Kommunikationsbedürfnisse zu beeinträchtigen.

2. WiFi-Störsender: Blockieren Sie Netzwerkangriffe

Öffentliches WLAN ist eine Brutstätte für Hackerangriffe und auch Smart-Home-Geräte können zu einer Schwachstelle für die Privatsphäre werden. WLAN-Störsender können drahtlose Netzwerke innerhalb einer bestimmten Reichweite blockieren, um Datendiebstahl oder das Hacken von Geräten zu verhindern. Typische Anwendungsszenarien sind:

https://www.jammermfg.com/de/wlan-bluetooth-stoersender.html

● Vertrauliche Meetings im Unternehmen: Verhindern Sie, dass vertrauliche Informationen über WLAN nach außen dringen.

● Schutz für Ihr Zuhause: Verhindern Sie, dass intelligente Kameras, Lautsprecher und andere Geräte von Hackern gekapert werden.

Zukünftige WLAN-Störtechnologien könnten KI beinhalten, um schädliche Netzwerke automatisch zu identifizieren und gezielt zu blockieren, anstatt einfach alle Signale zu unterbrechen.

3. Hochleistungsstörsender: eine umfassende Schutzlösung

In Szenarien, die einen hochintensiven Datenschutz erfordern (wie etwa Militärstützpunkte, exklusive Geschäftsräume oder Privatgrundstücke), können Hochleistungsstörsender einen größeren Bereich abdecken und gleichzeitig mehrere Signale wie Mobiltelefone, WLAN, GPS, Bluetooth usw. abschirmen. Ihre Vorteile sind:

● Großflächige Abdeckung: Geeignet für den Sichtschutz in großen Veranstaltungsorten.

● Mehrbandinterferenzen: Umgang mit komplexen elektronischen Geräteumgebungen.

https://www.jammermfg.com/de/hochleistungs-stoersender.html

In Zukunft könnten sich derartige Geräte in Richtung „intelligenter Interferenz“ entwickeln, beispielsweise durch die Verknüpfung mit Sicherheitssystemen und den automatischen Start von Interferenzen nur bei Erkennung verdächtiger Signale, anstatt rund um die Uhr zu laufen.

Da das Risiko von Datenschutzverletzungen zunimmt, bieten Technologien wie Handy-Störsender, WLAN-Störsender und Hochleistungsstörsender wirksame Lösungen. Mit dem Fortschritt der Technologie wird der Datenschutz in Zukunft intelligenter und präziser werden, sodass wir die Vorteile der Digitalisierung genießen und gleichzeitig unseren eigenen sicheren Raum schützen können.

“I hereby call this meeting of the powerful women in Lily’s life to order!”

Emma glanced dubiously around the circle of women seated on the grass. She recognized three of them—Crystal, Gemma, and Mrs. Claus—but not the woman who spoke, and judging by the snow witches’ confused expressions, they didn’t recognize her, either.

Mrs. Claus, however, wore a serene smile.

Emma returned her focus to the sixth woman. She had to crane her neck upwards to do so, because the woman was as tall as the ice willow tree that used to stand in Lily’s yard. A gray fog hid her face from view, though Emma somehow knew she was smiling. Her long, slate gray hair seemed to blend into the airy dress draped over her slender figure, and massive smokey wings webbed with a network of black veins rose taller than her head and spread out across the ground to join a gray mist surrounding them.

Even to the wife of a mad scientist, she was unusual. But she seemed oddly familiar to Emma, too.

“Now, I’m sure you have many questions,” she continued. “I don’t want to waste too much time on them, since you’ll all forget this when you wake up, but—”

“Oh, so this is a dream,” Crystal interrupted, her furrowed brow relaxing. “That explains it.”

Gemma shushed her daughter with a sharp hiss and a sharper look from her sky-blue eyes.

“Yes, this is a dream,” the unknown woman confirmed, nodding her ephemeral head. “But it is also real. I guess introductions are in order. My name is Wendy, and I’m Lily’s fairy godmother.”

“You’re what?” Crystal burst out again. “No, Mom, I will not shush. Did you just hear what she said?”

“She’ll explain if you give her a chance,” Gemma retorted. “And what in Jack Frost’s name are you wearing?”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “It’s called a negligee, Mom. I’m not thirteen anymore.”

Two sets of sky-blue eyes met in a brief contest of wills. Gemma would have looked more intimidating if she hadn’t styled her blonde hair in two pigtails tied with cutesy pink ribbons, Emma thought. And if she hadn’t been wearing Barbie pajamas. And if her daughter hadn’t been wearing a very mature lacy pink negligee that showed off much of her very mature body.

Emma felt like a nun by comparison, with her blue housecoat and pink bunny slippers.

“Go on, Wendy,” Mrs. Claus intervened. “If you wait for them to stop arguing, we’ll be here all night.”

“I still think it would have been better not to invite them,” Wendy muttered. “Emma can handle this herself.”

Emma’s brown eyes went from the red flannel-clad Mrs. Claus to the fairy and back again. The two spoke like close friends.

“Well, yes, but there’s a certain poetry in getting the family involved, isn’t there?” Mrs. Claus replied. “And Emma prefers to remain in the background, anyway. Don’t you, dear?”

Emma tilted her head to the side slightly. “I’d prefer to know what we’re all doing here.”

“I second that,” Crystal interjected.

“Well, to make a long story short, Lily is cursed; people will start dying if she doesn’t get her magic under control; and she just ran away. Which won’t save anybody, but it’s what she does when she’s stressed. And that’s where you all come in. You need to save Lily so she can save you.”

A brief silence followed Wendy’s words, and then Gemma put her hand to her chin thoughtfully.

“What did I eat before I went to bed?” she wondered aloud.

“I think you made that a little too short,” Mrs. Claus said to Wendy. “Surely you can give them a bit more detail than that.”

Wendy sighed. “I’m already in big trouble for interfering too much. This is the last time I can intervene without getting fired, and if I say too much…”

“Well, say something that makes sense,” Crystal said. “That’s all pretty vague stuff.”

Wendy shrugged. “You can get the backstory in a children’s book Emma has. Or her children have, anyway. It’s the Disney version of the real story, but—”

“That came from you?” Emma interrupted, frowning.

“No, George, my boyfriend left it there. And wrote it. It’s kind of cheesy, but not as sappy as his love letters—”

“Don’t ever give my children something without my permission.”

All eyes turned toward Emma. She was the smallest person in attendance, a mere three feet tall when standing, and her appearance was almost comical, thanks to the green cream covering her face and the abundant curlers holding her hair in place, but everybody knew it took a lot to make her angry. And when she was angry, she was a force to be reckoned with.

“It wasn’t my idea,” Wendy defended herself.

“I don’t care whose idea it was,” Emma snapped. “It won’t happen again. They are my children, and I take their safety very seriously.”

“But it was child friendly—”

“This time. What about next time? They’re young and impressionable. I can’t have them thinking it’s okay to accept gifts from strangers. What if they see something they shouldn’t? What if it isn’t a book next time, but something harmful?”

“We’re at the North Pole,” Crystal interjected. “The chances of—”

“You’re dating a police officer,” Emma shot back. “You should know this isn’t as safe of an environment as people think it is.”

“You’re dating a police officer?” Gemma shrieked. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m not dating him,” Crystal protested, a blush coloring her fair skin. She shifted nervously and reached up to fidget with her blonde hair. “I’m just… seeing him… sometimes.”

“Is that why you’re dressed like a Victoria’s Secret model? Have you forgotten everything I ever taught you? Why would you do this to me?”

“Okay, we’re getting off track,” Mrs. Claus called out, interrupting Gemma before she could get too far into her guilt trip. “The point of this meeting is Lily’s wellbeing. Crystal’s love life can wait until later.”

“Let me make myself clear.” Emma’s small voice rang out in the misty clearing as she stood. She walked right up to the fairy, bending over almost backward to glare up at her, and stabbed an accusing finger in her direction. “Nothing gets to my children without going through me first. Understand?”

The fairy towering over her nodded meekly. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” Emma turned and walked back to her previous seat, reclaiming it and reforming the circle. Nobody dared speak. “Then let’s continue. You said Lily ran away?”

“Uh, yes.” Wendy seemed to shake herself, a ripple through the fog, and then she regained her composure. “I figured she would after reading that book, but George thought she should know, and we didn’t know how else to tell her without both of us losing our jobs. She’s on her way to Antarctica right now.”

“Question,” Crystal said, raising her hand. “What’s up with this book? It seems pretty important.”

“I can show it to you and Gemma later,” Emma replied. “It’s a fairy tale that tells the story of a fairy godmother and an imp who fell in love when they met to convey a blessing and a curse, respectively, to a newborn baby, but they couldn’t touch each other until the imp spoke the curse and triggered it.”

“Um, he fell in love right away. Not me,” Wendy corrected her. “He’s always been the romantic one.”

“Okay, well, I’m happy for you and all that,” Crystal said, “but just to clarify, Lily was the baby.”

“Yes.”

“And she’s blessed and cursed.”

“Yes.”

“And if we don’t help her, people start dying.”

“Yes.”

Crystal tapped her chin. “I gotta pitch this to Hallmark. With a little tweaking and the right spin, this would make a great movie.”

“Crystal! Would you stop thinking about your career for one moment and think about your poor cousin?” Gemma chided her.

Crystal rolled her eyes. “I am thinking about her. I’m just thinking ahead for myself, too. So, I’m assuming the blessing is her insanely strong magic. Right?”

“Yes,” Wendy confirmed. “And that’s actually the curse, too.”

“Okay, I can see that. But she’s really careful about using it so she doesn’t hurt anybody. What, is she supposed to go nuts and start killing people or something?”

“Crystal!” Gemma hissed.

“No, that’s a good question,” Wendy said. “We all know Lily is really sensitive and not the best at handling her emotions. I don’t know exactly how the curse is supposed to play out, but I could see her losing it if her magic starts killing people. But I think the magic is the problem, not her. Correct me if I’m wrong, Molly, but I think it’s supposed to start acting on its own, or something else will take control of it or influence it somehow.”

Mrs. Claus hummed, the black eyes behind her thin-rimmed glasses looking off into the distance. “I’m not at liberty to say, but you’re on the right track.”

“How much do you know?” Gemma asked the white-haired elf suspiciously.

Mrs. Claus merely smiled.

Emma knew how pointless it was to ask more of her, as all of Santa’s elves were well aware of the Clauses mysterious immortality and otherworldly knowledge, but she’d been following the conversation carefully, and she had an important question she felt certain Mrs. Claus—or Wendy—would answer.

“Was what happened to Boris part of the curse?”

Wendy nodded. “Yes, as was Lily’s mother’s death.”

“Wait. She’s responsible for Willow’s death?” Gemma shrieked. “She killed my sister? I knew there was something wrong with that girl! She’s always so—”

“Lily would never have done that, Gemma,” Emma interrupted her. “Not knowingly. And I thought Willow died of natural causes?”

“It appeared that way, yes,” Mrs. Claus answered cryptically.

Gemma glared at her. “And what does that mean?”

“Lily didn’t—doesn’t—know,” Wendy intervened. “Emma and Crystal are right. Lily would never hurt anyone intentionally. In fact, she goes out of her way to prevent herself from hurting others. Which is why she’s now en route to Antarctica, and that is the problem we need to focus on here.”

“It’s her father, isn’t it?” Gemma asked, not to be dissuaded. “That low-down dead-beat never even had the courage to show his face around here after he got her pregnant. He just vanished. Probably some psychotic warlock who has a grudge against all the good snow witches and warlocks, and he gets his jollies from—”

“Gemma, please calm down,” Mrs. Claus interrupted in a soothing tone.

“Her parentage plays a role in both the blessing and the curse,” Wendy said carefully, weighing her words. “But it’s not pertinent to this discussion.”

“How can you say that? How can you say any of this? You keep telling us things that sound awfully important, and then you say to forget about it, or ignore it? And we’re supposed to do something with all this mess? How are we supposed to save Lily if we don’t even know what we’re saving her from? How can—”

Emma sighed and stood. She walked away from the circle and into the mist, leaving Gemma’s tirade behind, and soon enough, gnarled tree trunks studded with red-capped mushrooms, gears, and gizmos appeared. She smiled to herself and nodded. As she’d suspected, they were in Santa’s workshop, an expanse of nature and contraptions enclosed in a huge ice and glass dome. It had been years since she’d last walked through the forest here. Before she and Pipaluk had the kids.

She plucked a mushroom and walked back to the dream gathering. Gemma hadn’t run out of steam yet.

“And I demand to know what happened to my sister! I have a right to know! She was my only sister, and if my niece had something to—”

Emma strolled up behind Gemma and stuffed the mushroom into her open mouth.

“What the—”

And then Gemma froze. Her upraised hands, previously gesturing wildly, sank slowly to her lap. Her mouth slowly closed. She chewed and swallowed; the tension eased from her face and body with each passing second; and by the time Emma had resumed her seat in the circle, a blissful smile had spread across Gemma’s face.

“Now, the immediate problem is that Lily has run away,” Emma summarized. “And we need to bring her back. Isn’t that it?”

Wendy nodded, relieved to get back on track. “She’s on an ice floe headed toward Antarctica as we speak.”

“An ice floe. Hm. That will use an awful lot of magic to maintain in warmer temperatures, won’t it? But I suppose if she has Pipaluk’s potion with her, she can restore her magic as she depletes it. Unless there is a limit to how often the potion replenishes itself, which is entirely possible. He didn’t have time to test it thoroughly before he gave it to her.”

Mrs. Claus positively beamed. “What did I say, Wendy?”

“I never doubted you. Or her,” Wendy replied.

“The question is direction and speed,” Emma continued, more to herself than the rest. “Lily operates on impulse, so she’d take the most direct route possible: straight south. Now, whether that’s south through the Atlantic Ocean, or south through the Pacific Ocean… Hm. Wendy, do you know which way she went?”

“The Atlantic Ocean.”

“The Atlantic. Okay. As for speed, she’d go as fast as possible at the beginning, and once her thoughts and emotions settled—and she began to feel the drain from her magic—she’d slow down to something more sustainable. When did she leave?”

“Right after you and Pipaluk got home from your date.”

Emma nodded. “Of course. Impulse. Then she’s only been gone a few hours. Crystal, you would have a better idea than me. How far do you think she could have gotten?”

Crystal sat up straighter and screwed her face up in thought. “Let’s see. If I decided to take off on an ice floe—which I wouldn’t, because I’m not crazy—I’d probably… be somewhere east of Greenland by now. Accounting for Lily’s more powerful magic… She may have passed Greenland completely.”

“So, by the time we wake up, she may have passed Europe completely,” Emma concluded. “And the closer she gets to the equator, the more magic she’ll have to use. That will slow her down. Gemma, do you still have that friend who’s an airline pilot?”

Gemma nodded slowly, a dreamy, far-off look in her eyes. “He’s on leave visiting the North Pole right now. We have a dinner date tomorrow.”

“Ew.” Crystal made a face.

“I’ll need him to fly me there. And Crystal, too.”

“Um, why me? And how exactly do you propose to find her? Are we just going to fly around until we see her?”

“Yes. And then you and I will jump off the plane and land on the ice floe.”

Crystal’s blue eyes flew wide open. “Excuse me?”

“Pipaluk has parachutes and rockets we can use,” Emma said dismissively. “Then you can use your magic to help Lily steer the ice floe north again. You can take turns to help with the fatigue.”

“I’m not agreeing to this.”

“Gemma, I’ll need you to watch my kids,” Emma continued. “I love Pipaluk, but he isn’t the most observant father, and since you successfully raised Crystal to adulthood, I assume you have some knowledge of how to handle children.”

Gemma nodded. “I’d love to,” she said, her expression and her voice still distant.

“How much of this will we remember when we wake up?” Emma asked Wendy.

“None of it. You’ll all have vague impressions of what you decide to do. That’s it.”

“I’m deciding to wake up and call Hallmark with a new movie idea, and that’s all,” Crystal intoned.

“Gemma, call your friend first thing in the morning and convince him to fly Crystal and me out to Lily, then come to my house. I’ll talk to Pipaluk and get the kids settled, and then I’ll pick you up, Crystal—”

“I’m not doing this,” Crystal repeated.

“And we’ll leave to find Lily. Now, after we get her back home, what do we need to do?”

“It’s all in the poem,” Wendy replied. “And I can’t say anything more than that. I’m already bending the rules as far as I can without breaking them as it is.”

Crystal groaned. “So helpful.”

“We should bring the book with us, then,” Emma said. “Crystal and I can study it while we’re flying to get Lily.”

“You’re not listening to me.”

Emma pressed her lips together and turned to look directly at Crystal. The snow witch squirmed uncomfortably.

“You’re telling me you would take it upon yourself to prove Lily's innocence when your boyfriend arrested her, but you won’t help me stop her from making what sounds like it could be the biggest mistake in her life?”

Crystal dropped her gaze to the grass, pouting. “He isn’t my boyfriend…”

“I don’t care what you call him. You’re coming with me, and that’s final.”

Crystal sighed dramatically. “Fine, I guess…”

“Good.” Emma nodded and turned back to Wendy and Mrs. Claus. “Anything else?”

“One more thing,” Wendy said, shuffling her feet nervously. “Don’t get mad, but I have a… connection to your son.”

Emma’s brown eyes narrowed.

“Not by her doing,” Mrs. Claus intervened. “He has a special gift for picking up on certain details from the immortal plane. Like the picture he drew of Wendy.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “I knew I’d seen you before.”

“And I’ve met your husband a couple of times in his lab,” Wendy admitted. “He needed a little help to figure out that potion for Lily. But this will be the last time any of you see me.”

Mrs. Claus hopped to her feet. “I think we’re settled here. Sweet dreams, and good luck.”

She clapped her hands, and it all faded to black.

And then visions of sugarplums danced in Emma’s head.

Date of creation: 04/04/2025

Word count: 2,993

Author’s note: The prompt was to write a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words where the female protagonist is strong and powerful and fights against all odds. There was no genre requirement.​​​​​​​

I bent down to take out our history textbook as Miss Agatha had instucted. I fumbled, leading to my almost dropping the 200-page volume and a short gasp escaping my lips.

"What was that?" She sounded almost offended– sorry actually offended. "How dare you let out such a frightful scream?!" She said pointing a perfectly manicured finger at me as if she had just discovered that I was the person who murdered her parents 20 years ago. I was confused, what did she mean by 'frightful scream'? Though a couple moments later it struck me, the small gasp I had made when I almost dropped my history textbook.

Eventually she moved on from her unreasonable fit of rage.

Halfway across the lesson,  my nose started to itch, but my attempts to control it failed, and I sneezed. But she decided that that was moraly unexceptable.

"THAT IS IT, I HAVE BEEN PUTING UP WITH YOU FOR THE WHOLE LESSON, AND IF YOU CAN'T RESPECT ME THEN MAYBE I SHOULD JUST LEAVE!"

I wanted to argue back, to try to make sense of exactly howme sneezing was a sign of disrespect, but I bit my tongue, living in the delusion that she wouldn't actually leave. But to my astonishment she tucked her version of our textbook into her fake-leather laptop bag, picked it up, and strutted out, all without saying a single word more.

I glanced at the clock, 9:30??!!Our hour-long lesson wasn't over till 10! I examined the room, but everyone else had simply started reading from the textbook, great more abnormal behavior. I peeked out the window to see if by luck, anyone was outside, and just as I was about to give up, seeing someone who screamed authority.

I sighed of relief, maybe, just maybe she would at least ​​​​tryto listen to my side of the story and not immediately jump to the conclusion that I was wrong.

The door opened to reveal a woman who seemed to be in her mid-fifties wearing a grey blazer with a white buttoned-down shirt and a black pencil-skirt for the finish. Her sharp grey eyes beheld a piercing gaze, completing her stern expression of disapproval. Her hair was tied in a tight bun, her shoulders squared and lips pressed tightly for an overall stern, severe and disapproving look.

"Good Morning Miss Victoria Ashford," All of the students rose up very suddenly to greet her, tension filling the room. "Where is the teacher?" Her voice was stern and firm, carrying a slight British accent at the end. "Uh miss she walked out of the cla–"

"Students will raise their hands if they want to say something." She cut me of in an angry tone. I raised my hand. "Yes?" She said, addressing me. "Miss Agatha walked out of the lesson just a few minutes ago," I explained. "Must be because of one of you little bratts," she replied.  "Uh, actua–"

"That's it! Did you not just hear me tell you that students will raise their hands if they wish to speak?" She didn't need to raise her voice to be intimidating. Then she had one of the janitors come and get me. I was half-carried half-lead to a plain white room that I had never seen before. Once thrust inside I saw that the room was completely bare, no windows, no shelves nothing, just a small light bulb hanging from a thin strip of wire.

Almost immediately did my claustrophobia started to kick in, and my attempts to bust open the door were left in vain. In the end I resulted to curling into a ball and taking long deep breaths to console myself. After a while everything went black.

Written by: @Nora13, edited by @Slayer22

This is based off the time we were having an after school dance practice for a proformance and a group of 2-3 girls were constantly talking after many warnings and our teacher left mid lesson.

Maya and Andrea lived together for nearly two years in a weathered but charming rental at the edge of Waverly Hills. Their lives were filled with the usual: wine nights, inside jokes, half-finished DIY projects. The kind of routine that makes you feel safe like nothing bad could ever happen.

Then the house next door, which had sat empty for months, was finally sold.

He moved in on a Wednesday. A tall, quiet man. Clean-shaven, always in a collared shirt, no family, dog, or hellos. Just boxes, blacked-out windows, and a heavy antique mirror that took three men to haul inside.

“We should bake something,” Andrea said one night, sipping tea and peeking through the curtain. “You know, welcome him.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you bake?”

Andrea grinned. “I don’t. You do. I’ll supervise.”

Maya with a peek out the window suddenly see the guy spying on them with a strange look Maya said that she was not comfortable with this guy.

It's been 11 months since my mom passed.  That makes it 334 days without her.

It's been almost 3 months since I've seen Summer.

90 days exactly.

It's January and my birthday was at the end of the month. We didn't do Christmas this year, it was too depressing without my mom around to bring her warm cheery spirit. It was my first Christmas without her so I didn't want to be around my friends and bring them down with my low energy. I spent it alone.

My dad was with his girlfriend and Frankie invited me to come with her family to Jamaica but I declined. The winter wasn't as cold as it could've been but there were still severe weather warnings weekly.

The driveway was covered in a thick layer of fresh snow with no sign of life within a mile radius.

My winter break ended this weekend and school resumed the following Monday. It was extra lonely in the house with my dad always being gone and Frankie being away on vacation. I missed having someone, anyone to talk to.

Gio, West and I weren't close so it felt weird to try and reach out to them.

I spent the day in bed flipping through channels trying to pass the time. It didn't keep me satisfied for long and after a couple minutes of watching I grew bored.

I went to my car and sat in it for a few minutes before pulling out of the driveway. I drove carefully on the iced over roads not actually having a clue where I was going. I ended up stopping by the burger joint I was a regular at. It was nearly empty with all the seats and booths open.

No one likes to drive in this kind of weather but I love it. The roads are mostly empty and all the shitty drivers stay home.

"Hey Thomas, you want your regular?"

"Number 7 please."

"Extra onions extra pickles?"

I nod.

"To go?"

"I think I'll eat here today."

He gives me a ticket with my order number on it and I walk away to the nearest booth. I lean my back against the seat and release a heavy sigh. A moment later a teenaged boy came out with a red tray holding my food. "Thanks."

"You didn't go anywhere for break?" He said after setting the tray down in front of me.

"Nah." I crunched on my fries.

He walked away and I continued eating my food staring off into space. The bell attached to the door went off and a few customers walked in. I looked at the snow on the road that was packed on heavy watching people drive by slowly. I enjoyed the winter, the snow, the cold weather and the quietness. Everything was peaceful in the winter and everyone usually travels to warmer places so the town felt empty. Break was over though, so students would be flooding back in soon enough.

I finished my meal and headed back outside where the crisp air hit my face. I heard a loud ping noise from my phone indicating a text as soon as I got into my car.

"Look to your right"

I look up from my phone and snapped my head over to the familiar red bmw parked next to me. Frankie looked up seconds later revealing her face to me through her window with an excited wave. I waved back with a little less energy and got out of my car to greet her.  She swiftly jumped out and into my arms wrapping her legs around me catching me completely by surprise. I wrapped my arms around her body and hugged her back including a small spin.

"You don't know how much I've missed you baby." She spoke softly into my ear.

"I thought you weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow?"

"Nope, I got an early flight back here first thing yesterday."

I placed her on the ground gently so she wouldn't slip on the icy road and removed my arms from her torso but hers remained around my neck. She stood inches from me, close enough to smell her mint flavoured gum and see the details of her small speckled face. She was more tan and her freckles were more prominent after returning from her vacation. Her hair was highlighted with streaks of blonde and grew a significant amount.

"Well did you miss me?"

"Of course I did." Her lips formed into a smile and she planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Let's go somewhere today!" She jumped excitedly straining my neck because her arms were pulling them down.

"Where did you want to go?"

"How about that place downtown that just opened."

"The arcade?"

"Yes! They have a movie theatre attached to it so after we can watch something spooky!" I had nothing better to do and with school starting soon I wouldn't have time to do much on my free time since I'd be consumed in homework. I agreed to going to the arcade and the excitement showed on her face as we both drove to my house. Once we got there I told her to make herself at home, not that I needed to, she was already digging into my fridge raiding everything inside. While she was doing that I went up to take a quick shower before we would be out all evening.

I warmed the water to the hottest temperature and tossed my clothes on the floor before stepping in. Frankie being back was a breath of fresh air. I know I felt indifferent about our relationship but this strong feeling of loneliness shadowed over me the past couple of months and having a warm body next to me helped alleviate the feeling even if it was just for a short while. I let the water hit my skin, burning it slightly but in a relaxing way that gave me a sense of relief. I was deep in my thoughts until I heard the door creak open. The bathroom was too steamy for me to make out who it was but before I could speak, the glass door was swung open revealing a naked Frankie.

"Franks, what are you doing?"

"I'm getting in, duh." She said it so matter-of-factly like it was normal for us to shower together. It wasn't.

"I see that, but why?"

"I need to shower too, I'm smelly."

"We have 4 guest bathrooms." I blinked waiting for her reply but I got none. She just moved me aside and stepped in flinching once she got in contact with the water.

"Ouch! Tommy why is the water so hot? How are you even able to stand here?" She screamed as she turned the knob of the hot water at an angle changing the temperature.

"Well I wasn't intending on you joining me." I mumbled hoping she didn't hear me so she wouldn't throw a fit. She mindlessly took the soap from me and used it in herself and began scrubbing her body with my loofa. I stared dumbfounded not sure what to say or how to feel. The only space where I felt truly at peace and she ruined it. I know I said I missed her but I'm starting to regret those words.

She lathered herself with soap and stopped once she realized I was narrowing my eyes at her with complete irritation. She must have interpreted my body language differently because she smirked slightly before wrapping her arms around my neck with her body completely placed on mine.

"Why don't I show you how much I missed you." She whispers in my ear. I wasn't in the mood for this, for her but I knew how much trouble it would cause if I continued avoiding intimacy with her so I obliged. She placed her hands on my chest and pushed me up against the wall planting kisses on my neck all the while I was thinking of a way to avoid what was to come.

We started kissing, her hands roaming my body while she moaned into my mouth.

I needed to think of something quick.

This time last year, I would've been all over her practically begging for more. This time? I couldn't wait for it to be over. I was starting to think I had a problem. Every instance of intense sexual activity with her I remained bored, uninterested, soft.

No matter how heated things got, not even when she did that thing I liked with her tongue on my neck. I mean, nothing worked. I was starting to genuinely worry and thought maybe I should get checked out. I didn't want to hurt her ego or her feelings so I continued with avoidance. Her taking a trip for an entire month was a life saver, I no longer felt that pressure to perform for her. With her being back, the pressure of being the guy I used to be came back with her.

I tried intensifying our kiss to distract her. I flipped her around to where she was now the one backed up against the wall and began working my lips down to her neck. Her faint smile showed that it was working.

I kept on like this for a couple minutes before she stopped me and moved her hands down my torso. Before she could continue running her fingers down, an angel sent from above allowed my phone to rudely interrupt us. A groan slipped from her lips and she rolled her eyes before attempting to continue.

"Wait it could be my dad." I lied. My dad never called.

She straightened up her body and turned away to continue lathering herself.

In a world that thrives on noise, where everyone’s scrambling to be heard, I’ve always found peace in the quiet.My voice doesn’t need to shout.It doesn’t need to compete.It simply needs to speak, and somehow, the world listens.

I’m Hyacinth, a soft-spoken girl who finds strength in gentleness. I’ve learned that the loudest voices aren’t always the most powerful. Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones who leave the deepest impact. The ones who speak with intention, with purpose, with thoughtfulness.The ones who take the time to listen, and in turn, have their voices heard.

In this space, I’ll share pieces of my journey — the lessons I’ve learned, the stories I’ve lived, and the quiet strength I carry. I believe that, when you speak from the heart, even the softest words can create ripples. And it’s those ripples that can change the world.

Maybe you, too, have felt the weight of silence — not as a void, but as a tool. You don’t need to scream to be seen. You don’t need to yell to be understood. There’s power in soft words, in stillness, in moments of reflection.

This blog is a celebration of that quiet power. A reminder that you don’t need to be loud to matter. Sometimes, the smallest voices carry the most truth.And just like me, maybe your voice can change the world too.

With quiet strength,Hyacinth