Andrew Phillips
SHORT STORY EXCERPTS-
(ALL EXCERPTS ARE COPYWRITTEN)
BIO COMING SOON!
Revenge of the Vampire (Excerpt 1)
Geist looked around then saw two giant boulders.
"Now watch me and do what I do." he nodded. He exhaled slowly then closed his eyes. He then held up his hands towards the boulder. Geist suddenly doubled in size. He glowed. His eyes opened and focused on the boulder. He looked as though he was straining to lift something. He closed his hands as though he ewas crushing something. Suddenly, the boulder split in half and crumbled into dust. He began breathing heavily. He caught his breath then turned to Kristal.
"Okay, now face your boulder." He instructed. Kristal nodded and faced the boulder."Now, become totally calm." He ordered. Kristal exhaled slowly. "Good, point your palms at the boulder." Geist nodded. Kristal did as told.
"Nice, now focus all your energy into your palms." Geist ordered. Kristal nodded and doubled in size. Kristal then began glowing.
"Now, focus your sight on the boulder only." he said. Kristal again nodded and stared at the boulder.
"Good, not try to lift the boulder." He instructed. Kristal did so, but the boulder only shook in place.
"Okay, now visualize you have two rocks..." he waited for her to do it.
"Okay, now crush them." he said calmly. Kristal closed her hands with force and caused the boulder to split and crumble like Geist's had.
"Hey, I know Rupture now!" Kristal cheered. Geist nodded and smiled. Kristal hugged him. "Okay, okay! Now let's get to Eradicate, my favorite." he faced a row of trees.
"For this one, all you have to do is think about what you want to destroy, hold out your palm, and voila, you'll blow it up with your mind. Watch." he said and held up his palm. A wave of psychic energy surged from his hand, pushing him back in the process. The row of trees was cleared in a psychic explosion. Kristal's eyes widened in awe.
"Okay, your turn." Geist said. Kristal faced another row of trees. She held up her palm and launched the forceful psychic blast. The trees were cleared like Geist's had been.
The Awakening (Excerpt 2)
There were several armed terrorists in the lobby.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? How'd you..." Randall shot him in the head with the Comatose Laser, cutting him off mid-sentence. Samantha flinched.
"You couldn't wait until he finished his sentence?" she asked. Randall shook his head.
"Where's the fun in that?" he asked smartly then drew the second Comatose Laser.
"I'd suggest you draw your guns, I don't think they'll be in the mood to talk now." He said. Samantha groaned and drew her dual submachine guns. They proceeded to trade fire with the terrorists. One of the terrorists started to radio for back up.
"We have a situation, I repeat, we have a situation..." a barrage of bullets sprayed him. He fell to the floor dead. Randall shot five more terrorists in the chest with the Comatose Lasers. He re-holstered the Comatose Lasers then drew the Rapid Fire ones. Samantha and he continued to take out the terrorists until there was only one remaining. He backed away nervously. Randall grinned evilly. Samantha and he stood back to back and pointed their guns at him. He pressed against the wall. Samantha winked.
"Bye!" she said in a singsong voice. They pulled the triggers and released a spray of bullets and laser bursts. The shots cut through him from his stomach up to his forehead. He fell to his knees then thudded to the ground. Randall and Samantha re-holstered their guns. They walked up the stairs to the next floor.
The Tribe (Excerpt 3)
An uproar was heard outside. Soha took up his spear.
"It must be more bears." He whispered and peeked from the tent. A pack of hungry polar bears rummaged through the food and supplies. Soha ducked back into the tent.
"Just as I thought...Lone Wolf, Littlehawk! Take up your weapons, quickly!" Soha whispered. They nodded and readied their weapons.
"They cannot battle wild bears, they are too young!" Nali argued.
"Nali, this is a moment they have trained for, it will test whether or not they are ready to become hunters." Soha defended then whistled. Whiteclaw and Snowfoot stood up then came to him. They left the tent, staying out of sight as much as possible.
"This is your first fight against actual polar bears, so listen carefully. Aim for the back of the neck and the top of the mouth when opened. Watch for their teeth and claws. Quick jabs with the knife and spear." Soha whispered. He kissed Cahti on the forehead and placed his hand on Nanu's head.
"Good luck, Lone Wolf and Littlehawk." he said quietly then stalked off with Whiteclaw following stealthily behind. Nanu quietly crept after a slower bear. The bear stood up on its hind legs and sniffed the air. Nanu slowly and cautiously readied an arrow in his bow. He slowly pulled back the string. Nanu let the arrow go and it pierced through the bear's neck. The bear let out a groan of agony then fell over. Two other bears walked back to the fallen bear. They sniffed at the corpse then began to tear into its flesh. Nanu slowly backed away in horror. Cahti pressed close to Snowfoot's fur and turned her head in disgust. Nanu walked over to her. He tapped her on the shoulder. She let go of Snowfoot and hugged him suddenly. "I don't want to fight anymore. I want to go back to mommy!" Cahti said.
"But father trusted us to help defend the tribe. We can't disappoint him." Nanu whispered. Cahti looked at him.
"But brother, the bears are vicious. How can we beat them?" she asked and stepped back. Nanu shrugged.
"I don't know, I guess we'll have to find a way." he assured proudly. Cahti smiled.
"Okay, as long as you're here, brother." she nodded. Nanu picked up his bow. They slowly moved away from the feasting bears.
Kitsune: Origin of Daimos (Excerpt 3 -2008)
A swift shape moves through the trees and along the ground. The setting is a midsummer forest nestled between an expansive valley and a looming, snow-capped mountain range. The shape becomes visible as it emerges from the forest and darts through the valley, revealing it to be a large fox having silver and crystal blue fur as well as several tails. The fox fades from view again as it increases its speed and once again vanishes into the forest. The fox continues through the forest until it reaches a small village. The inhabitants show little surprise to the fox, some actually greeting it as they would a person.
"Hiro, what's the hurry?" A man calls as the fox runs past. The fox doesn't respond, continuing towards a larger house. It stops and starts to stand upright, taking on the form of a human. When he has fully changed, the man walks to the door. By appearance, he looks to be in his early to mid 30s, but his mannerisms and attitude suggest he is much, much older. A steel gauntlet covers his left arm, the fingers ending in sharp claws. His eyes are blood red in color, the pupils vertical like a cat's. He is wearing light leg armor over middle class pants, his chest bare except for an old scar. He opens the door and walks into the room. A woman lay on the couch, breathing steadily with her hands laced together gently over her stomach: she is in labor.
"Saiyah." Hiro says quietly as he kneels next to her. She opens her eyes and looks at him, smiling warmly. She is in her early to mid 30s, possessing the beauty of a goddess yet not the vanity as well. Her eyes are a soothing teal green, wide and beautiful. She grabs hold of Hiro's hand and places it lightly on her stomach.
"I feel...that the time...has come, my love." she says, her voice delicate and lovely. Hiro nods then stands up and walks to the door. He climbs onto the roof, changing back into his fox form as he climbs. He assumes his fox form completely and lets out an echoing call, getting the entire village's attention. An elderly woman, most likely the village doctor, walks hurriedly to the house and through the door. Hiro jumps down from the roof and enters the house. He returns to his human form just as the elderly woman gets herself situated.
"Lady Seung Yi...is there anything you need? Is there any way I can assist you?" Hiro asks. The elderly woman chuckles lightly then shakes her head.
"No, Hiro, there is no need for your help right now. But should I have need for your aid, I will call you." she says then turns to Saiyah. Hiro hesitates then looks at Saiyah. She smiles warmly and lightly takes hold of Hiro's armored hand, causing him to gently close his hand around hers.
"Your concern is...appreciated, but..." she winces and tightens her grip. She breathes deeply several times before loosening her grip and breathing regularly. "...unnecessary. I will be fine, worry not...my love." she assures then smiles again, releasing his hand. Hiro kneels down and kisses her gently on the forehead then once again leaves the house, grabbing hold of a sword as he leaves. Hiro ties the sword to his waist and walks to a small clearing behind the house. He walks to the center of the clearing then holds up his armored hand. Black symbols begin to slowly etch their way into his gauntlet from his shoulder down to his hand. When the symbols reach his hand, an orb of black fire scorches from his palm. Hiro balls up his fist then slams it to the ground, sending lines of black fire snaking throughout the clearing. The lines stop in random places around the clearing, pooling into rippling puddles of darkness. Hiro stands up and grabs hold of his sword hilt. The puddles begin to bubble then dark creatures begin to rise from the puddles. The shapeless beasts take on the likeness of a man and begin to multiply until there is a small army of them surrounding Hiro. He tightens his grip on his sword.
"Death...Cyclone!" he says fiercely as he quickly unsheathes and slashes it outward, sending a slashing funnel of wind ripping through the beasts and destroying them. He resheathes his sword then takes a knee and bows his head. The wind begins to rustle through the trees, carrying a faint whispering voice with it.
"I ask that you not pass this burden to my child, it is not a life I wish for them to live." Hiro says in a slightly pleading voice.
"You knew the terms of our agreement before this day, do not think that now you can change it." the voice echoes quietly.
"You would have my child do your bidding from the womb?" Hiro questions as he raises his head.
"Are you willing to forfeit your own life in return for your child's?" the voice responds. Hiro hesitates then lowers his head again.
"As I have said, it is not a burden which I would wish upon my child. If I must sacrifice my own life so that my child may have some resemblance of a normal life, then so be it." Hiro replies solemnly. There is a brief silence and the wind stops. The wind picks up again and the voice speaks.
"Very well, your resolve has swayed me. The Death Whisperer curse will end with this child, your next will not be afflicted." the voice responds.
"And the immortality and power?" Hiro asks.
"You wish not for your child to bear the curse, yet you wish for them to gain its benefits?" the voice asks.
"That...is correct." Hiro nods.
"Then I shall not remove the curse. Rather, it will change with each child afflicted. This child, your first of two, will be forced to walk both planes of existence: the living and the dead. Your second child will be forced to feed upon the souls of their victims to sustain their power." the voice says.
"Those terms are steep...but so be it. I agree to your terms, Great One." Hiro says then stands up.
"Be vigilant, for I will need your services soon, Hiro..." the voice echoes, his name carrying in the wind. Hiro looks down at his armored hand.
"Hiro!" An elderly voice exclaims. He turns quickly and sees Lady Seung Yi standing at the edge of the clearing, a look of fear in her eyes.
"Lady Seung Yi, what troubles you? Is Saiyah alright?" Hiro asks.
"Saiyah is fine, she has given you a son. However...a dark omen casts its shadow over him, you must come quickly!" Lady Seung Yi urges. Hiro nods and follows her back into the house. Saiyah lay on the couch holding a small, blanket-wrapped baby. Hiro hears the whispering voice again then a wispy dark cloud trails through the air above the baby before disappearing into the baby's nose and mouth. Hiro narrows his eyes intently, still looking at his newborn son. Saiyah opens her eyes and looks at him.
"Hiro, there you are." she smiles then gestures for him to come closer. "Come, have a look at your son." she says. Hiro kneels down next to her and looks at the baby. A small wisp of dark mist rises from his mouth and fades then a glowing symbol flashes briefly on his forehead. The symbol fades and the baby opens his eyes abruptly. He looks at them curiously, staring at them observantly. Saiyah smiles and places her hand lightly on the side of the baby's face. "Such a handsome boy...he favors you greatly, Hiro." She says quietly. Hiro continues to stare intently at the baby, the baby returning his gaze. Hiro once again hears the whispering voice before the baby's eye color turn light orange and the pupils change vertical.
"He does..." Hiro says distantly.
"So what shall we name our child? I was thinking perhaps..."
"Daimos...we will name him Daimos." Hiro interrupts, still staring at the baby. Saiyah gives him a slightly worried look but it is quickly replaced by a warm smile.
"A fine name, I believe he will be a great warrior...just like his father." She says then looks down at the baby again. She leans down and lightly kisses him on the forehead. "Welcome to the family, little one." She whispers.
