My muse.

I close my eyes as I sit with the laptop in my lap, gripping my head irritably. I am trying to think of another story, something that would at least get me one comment. It is so rare when I get more then two views that are not of my friends. 1

I reopen my eyes and glance to my left where a girl is sprawled out in a chair. She has fiery orange hair and large green eyes. Currently she is asleep with a cotton blanket pulled over her body. Her large fox ears twitch slightly and she opens one of her eyes. Clearly she senses that I am watching her. 2

"What is it now?" She asks lazily, obviously wanting to go back to sleep. 3

"I can't think of what to write." I reply. She yawns and stretches in her chair. 4

"Try killing off a character.” She suggests. "Give them deaths that'll make someone cry for them. They could be attacked by an old friend and not want to fight back."5

I nod and turn my gaze back to the computer screen. Within seconds I hear the soft singing coming from my muse. 6

"Rattle big black bones7

In the danger zone8

There’s a rumblin' groan9

Down below10

There’s a big dark town11

It’s a place I've found12

There’s a world going on13

Underground." 14

I tilt my head and glance back over at her. She giggles and starts rambling about how I need more pumpkins and mice in my stories. That way I could have it like Cinderella. I grimace at the thought. 15

My muse suddenly throws her blanket into the air and leaps to her feet. I flinch at the sudden change of mood when she twirls and sings a song from a band named Nightwish. 16

"Once there was a child’s dream17

One night the clock struck twelve18

The window open wide19

Once there was a child’s heart20

The age I learned to fly21

And took a step outside"22

She grabs hold of my hand and yanks me from my seat on the couch. I try to voice a complaint but she starts to sing again and twirls me in place. 23

"Once I knew all the tales24

It’s time to turn back time25

Follow the pale moonlight26

Once I wished for this night27

Faith brought me here28

It’s time to cut the rope and fly29

Fly to a dream30

Far across the sea31

All the burdens gone32

Open the chest once more33

Dark chest of wonders34

Seen through the eyes35

Of the one with pure heart36

Once so long ago." 37

"SHUT UP!" I finally yell at her but she merely laughs and drags me from the room. We run down the hallway (I having no will in the matter) and the walls begin to change. My mouth falls open as I catch glimpses of old forgotten ideas and prose. 38

Unicorns, faeries, figure skaters, leopards, pirates all stare at me from the walls. I can even see the scenery of their stories behind them. 39

My muse has started to sing again but I do not recognize the song. She leads me to a door and thrusts it open. 40

"Welcome to the Imagination!" She yells out cheerfully as she shoves me inside and closes the door behind us. My mouth is fully agape as I stare in astonishment. Before me is paradise I have never laid eyes upon. 41

The sky is a soft orange with dark clouds scattered across it. Two crescent moons that are linked together hang high above my head and brightly colored ships float around them. 42

"How can this be?" I ask as my gaze lingers to a field of purple cotton. 43

My muse shrugs and starts to skip through the field.44