"Damn it lah!" Brian cursed as he marched down the spiraling staircase.

It had not been a very good day for him. Being on his brother's Life Group was pretty okay most of the time, but then there were also days that were bad. Like today.

Brian, who wielded two scimitars but were not that proficient at them, almost freaked out when an orc reared in front of him. What Brian didn't notice was that his brother was just beside it.

Needless to say, the orc died, but Ian also got a new haircut. After the battle, Ian kept yelling at Brian for his mistake, and even threatening to send him to the Courtyard of Counsels. Brian shook his head at the stupidity of his ass-headed brother. Ian himself had almost beheaded Ephraim a few times, and at one time even knocked that paladin out accidentally.

The staircase now opened up into a hallway, and the sun shone its rays through windows on the left, giving the room a nice, warm orangey glow. He continued to walk forward, adn he al

Suddenly he heard a voice call out from behind: "Brian!"

His head turned, and he saw a girl waving at him. It took him a second to realise who she was before he smiled and waved back. Then he turned back to where he was facing before and he walked straight into a pillar.

A loud bump sounded, and he rubbed his forehead painfully. The seventeen-year-old looked back, and he saw that she was giggling at him. Brian blinked, then flushed. She smiled again, and waved again, before she went up the staircase.

Brian continued to stare and smile at her retreating back, even when she was gone. Then he realised what he was doing and shook himself out of it. "What the heck is happening?"

Now as he thought about her, several things came to his mind: her imperfect but warm smile, her sparkling eyes, the very scent of her perfume as he walked pass her. They now seemed to occupy his mind more, and it seemed that everytime his eyes met hers, a spark went off in his body.

"Crap." Now he knew what had happened to him. What he had teased his brother and many others about now applied to him.

He was falling-no, had fallen-for a girl.

Shouts from the courtyard outside reached his ears, and he went to the closest window to have a look. There, striding furiously, with his fingers wrapped round the handgrip of his longsword, was a familiar tall figure wearing a blue cape and a suit of shining silver plated armour with a gold cross in the middle. Behind him, a smaller figure covered in a gold and pink mailshirt, holding a golden spear ran after him.

Grateful for something to take his mind off his inner turmoil, he settled down and got ready to watch the show.

***********

HA!

So Brian...like the excerpt I wrote especially for you? Muahahahhaa!

And it has absolutely no mention of my name too. Heh.

Anyway, welcome, people, back to my blog.

It's been a long time, hasn't it? Yeah...There's a couple of issues I want to talk about today:

Recently (or not so recently) one of my good frens broke off with her boyfren. Yes, I know I should be more sensitive, but wtf, I've got something to say.

To teh Boyfriend: Oy. Do you think she really wanted to break up with you? Fuck(yes, FUCK. The first time I'm cursing on my blog. You have a problem with that?!), I was the one who helped pull the both of you together, and watched over as a big brother should(or shouldn't). You think I wouldn't know what the fuck happened? Let me tell you this, you sonofabitch, she did it becos YOUR parents didn't fucking allow it.

Now, you call her a bitch, claim that she used you and that your mom was right about everything. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! First of all, I would know first-hand wat being used is about...(Damn you, Ruth.)So do you think that I would let that happen? Second, to actually agree that your mom was right is being BLIND. WHO was the one who threatened to throw you out if you continued the relationship in the first place?

One final warning, you so-called "servant of Christ". She still has you in her heart, and she's trying hard to forget you. And I know its damned hard to do that. So if I ever know that you ever try to hurt her intentionally again...

You're fucked.

**returns to reader**: Anyway...You still there? Hell, I bet no one has even reads the actual blog part. Tell you what. If you post on the tagboard my birthdate, you will be the star of next update's excerpt. First one first served yah?

Another matter to speak of...That is, never ever tell your secrets to anyone whom you don't have knowledge of their secrets too (other than the really old ones...) Why? Recently a good guy friend of mine, along with another sister-in-Christ, got backstabbed. And from what I know, it seems bad.

And the guy who backstabbed the both of them, is also a brother-in-Christ as well...someone who's older than me too! I dun have the authority to judge who's right or wrong, but man, if someone tells you something that he tells you NOT to spread, just zip it.

Oh, and if I did it to any of you, I apologise. It was most probably unintentional or whatever. Really, I sincerely say "Sorry". But if you ask me to kowtow...

Hehhe...Imma scared. 'O's are coming and yet I'm still blogging. Blearrgh. Hahha. See ya later. BYE!

P.S The girl whom I mentioned in the last update is Ruth. Damned girl...Still haunts my mind sometimes...gotta get a hypnotist to phase her out.

P.S.S The next excerpt is for Sheryl. Hope you like it =)

***********


"Are you sure you're okay, Sheryl?" Melodie asked with concern.

She nodded, and the blade dancer turned back to Shannon. Sheryl began walking towards the stairs leading up to the Great Balcony, a balcony so huge that it resembled a courtyard.

As she reached the door, it opened.

Standing at the open doorway was Gilcrist. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stopped moving.

Gilcrist had his face covered in bandages, and only a small part of his face other than his eyes was exposed. Dressed in a patient's gown, he began to walk down the steps carefully. Sheryl was first amazed, then she remembered what had happened: Joshua had challenged him to a duel, and had punched the daylights out of Gilcrist after disarming him.

He seemed to be in a daze, as he walked past Sheryl without even noticing, and even when Shannon saw him and tried to give him a piece of her mind, he simply trudged past her, oblivious to everything. Must be the anaesthetic, Sheryl thought sadly.

She suddenly felt a lump in her throat, but she quickly composed herself. Not here...Not yet. She told herself. She walked through the open doorway into the Great Balcony, and as she closed her eyes, a cool zephyr caressed her cheeks.

A voice to her right spoke "It's all yours."

She opened her eyes again and turned, only to see a blue cape flap past her through the doorway. She nodded gratefully as the door closed, knowing that privacy was hers since Joshua would be blocking the only door up.

Thinking of the doorway made her think of who had passed her by the door.

Gilcrist.

The sky was ashen-grey in colour, and even though it was only mid-afternoon at the time, the sun was nowhere to be seen. She sighed, and continued to walk to the end of the Great Balcony, where she rested her arms on the wide grey stone railing.

Her eyes scanned the dreary horizon, and as she did memories, old and new, began to pour back into her mind.

It was his birthday, Gil's birthday, and he had invited a lot of people, including Joshua, whom he didn't know until Sheryl introduced them to each other, to participate in his party.

"Come on Sheryl! Just give him a hug!" Nicholas yelled at her. She shook her head, embarrassed. "Don't want!" Joshua rolled his eyes at her, but he smiled when Nicholas mouthed something to him.

"What?" Sheryl asked inquisitively. Her friends merely shrugged.

Five minutes later, it was photo-taking time. Sheryl and her friends stood around Gil, who was right in behind his birthday cake, which was on the table. Her friends made her stand beside Gil, and both began to blush, if only a little. "Ready?"

A chorus of "Yes!" sounded, and the Gil's father, the cameraman, began to count down.

"3!"

Sheryl's heart thumped. Not because she was afraid of the camera, but because Gil's hand now held hers.

"2!"

It suddenly dawned on her that nothing had happened even though she suspected that her friends had something mischievous planned.

"1!"

She shrugged. It's probably nothing, She thought.

"Cheese!"

Immediately all her friends, including Joshua, ducked downwards so that the table blocked them from sight. Which left the two lovebirds standing alone next to each other. Shocked, she tried to duck too, but Gil turned her face to his, and their lips met. Just like that.

The camera whirred and flashed, and the whole room cheered.

But now everything was different, Sheryl knew. Their relationship was now gone, broken by so many factors that it seemed impossible to join it anymore.

Her vision blurred, and slowly, salty rivers began to pour from her eyes, down her cheeks, and dripped off her chin. She began to feel drops on her body, and within a few moments, she was caught in a shower of rain.

She lifted her gaze to the sky, and the rain poured over her, drenching her clothes, but she didn't care. The rain washed the salty tears away, and her hair began to stick to her clothing.

Sobs wracked her small frame, and she fell to her knees, crying. As she wept, suddenly a myraid of voices came into her head, and words of hatred, evil and anger began to issue in her mind. She shook and shook her head, but they did not leave. The sheer agony opened her lips, and she began to wail even more.

Suddenly a voice began to speak to her, though she knew not whom.

"Do not fear, child of God! For it is written:
'The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles.
The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.
Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all;
The LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken.
Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished.'"

The voices were now silenced, gone even, and a sense of safety entered her soul.

"Cry not, my sister! For it is written:
'He forgave your sins, every one. He heals your diseases, every one.
He redeemed you from hell, and He saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy, a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness, beauty eternal. God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.'"

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and yet she saw no one. Love suddenly seemed to surround her, and it seemed as if she could even touch it.

"Weep not, young one! For He has has said:
My love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear Me,
Making everything right for them and their children
As they follow My ways and remember to do whatever I say.
I have set My throne in heaven; I rule over all. I am the King."

She finally stopped crying, and the hand left her shoulder. A rustle of feathery wings could be heard, and another voice spoke, full of power, authority, and love spoke:

"Behold! I will be with you always, even up to the end of the age."

The last word trailed off slowly, and she remained kneeling on the ground for a few minutes, before she looked up. The clouds were gone, replaced by blue skies and a bright sun that now warmed her cold body.

She got up slowly, this time with a smile, and walked back towards the door. When she opened it, she saw Jeric standing in front of her with a huge towel. When she asked why, Jeric simply shrugged: "Joshua does this almost everyday when he gets sad...gets wet and everything. I always remember to bring a towel for him to dry off once he's done, and since I saw you go in looking quite sad, I brought a towel for you too."

Sheryl laughed uncontrollably while taking the towel from Jeric. Outside, the birds chirped and sang, allowing their feathers to dry off after the rain.

josh fatesealer turned back time on 8/27/2004 02:42:00 pm.