Micah:
My role was to love her; I did not choose this life; I was born into it. As the firstborn, it was my obligation to succeed my father and take his throne. Troubled by my father's arrangements for my future, a storm of conflicting emotions began to rage fiercely within me. My father was the source of light in our world, the Sun God himself, who bestowed light and life upon all creation. Yet I found myself clashing with his brightest rays, even though I remained a mere reflection of His divine Glory. Hues of orange, gold, and crimson erupted in the sky as I grappled with my father's authority and my role in the arranged marriage. I watched the figures below, eyes wide with awe and wonder at my celestial display. The idea of Ophelia as my mate filled me with a fiery rage; she was cruel, cunning, and deserving of being crushed beneath my heel. My spirit surged, erupting in a blaze of incandescent particles that blasted into the cosmos like a supernova. The onlookers below gasped in admiration, captivated by the lights flowing through my veins. They hurried to capture the moment with their cameras, unaware of the silent vigilance I kept over them. I envied their ignorance, their innocence—unaware of the vastness beyond their tiny world. Each day, I would secretly escape and watch them from afar, glowing softly in the darkness of space as I pondered my divine destiny.
From the corner of my eye, something drew my attention—every human possessed a soul, and with that soul, a fragment of His divine light. As I mentioned before, the God of the Sun grants life to every being. They might not be like me—celestial and luminous—but a tiny spark of Him flickers within each of them. Her soul, however, shone brighter than any human I had ever seen, outshining all others. I had seen countless humans, but her radiance was unlike anything I could comprehend. Humans appeared to me as blurred figures, but as I observed this particular human from above, I saw a shimmering necklace that glowed with an inner light, as if it embodied her very essence. I saw her gently release the necklace into the icy water below—it vanished beneath the frozen surface, taking a fragment of her light with it, sinking into the dark depths. My luminous form flickered with alarm at the sight of darkness enveloping her fragile figure. The weight of sadness pressed heavily upon my heart; I ached to reach across the void and retrieve the lost light, to restore the spark that had been extinguished in this delicate girl.
Anna:
"Welcome to Wild Backcountry Lodge, enjoy your stay!" The motorcoach driver shouted. My groggy eyes opened, and I yawned as I stretched out my arms and legs. My eyesight took a minute to adjust, so I rested my head against the window and took in the Resort. The exterior was beige and looked like knotty pine, which I absolutely adored. It had multiple-level peaks outlined in dark brown, like a wooden castle. There were winding sidewalks towards every entrance. And with every twist and turn, flames were peaking behind bushes and trees. My eyes were probably wide like a child as I waited patiently for the last person to make their way towards the exit.
The last person exited the motorcoach, and my stomach began to fill with butterflies. As I made my way to the entrance of the Lodge, my curiosity kept deflecting my steps. I found myself infatuated with hidden pathways. I was eager to peek, like a child ready to ruin her Christmas. I peered over the bushes. Hand-cut benches and chairs surrounded stone fire pits; it was very charming and inviting. But my arms ached from the weight of my luggage, so I decided to scurry back in line. I approached the main entrance, which had giant doors that swung inward, leading into a great room. The knotty pine outside carried through to the inside, with its double fireplaces and antler chandeliers dangling from high ceilings. Grizzly bear, deer, elk, and Wolf taxidermy covered almost every inch of the lodge. I now understand why they called it Wild Backwoods Lodge.
A short lady with brown hair pinned in a neat bun stood behind the front desk. "Ooh, how ya doing?" She said, grinning from ear to ear. Her Alaskan accent was thick. She resembled Sarah Pallian so much that the question almost escaped my mouth. That was before I caught a glimpse of her name tag and was instantly relieved that I kept my mouth shut. My dimples pressed in hard, trying to hold in laughter. Embarrassed, I thanked her for my room key and took a giant stride towards the elevator. In the distance, I heard the people behind me yelp with excitement and ask the same question about who she was. I choked back laughter, and instant relief washed over me. I guess I wasn't the only one to assume she was Sarah Pallian. I heard a chuckle," I get that often." She replied.
After what seemed like forever, I was finally able to find my room. My arms burned as my bags weighed heavily on my forearms. The room key fumbled in my hands and, of course, gave me trouble at the keypad. Finally, a click, and I pushed the door open—and walked into the cozy cabin-like room. I oddly appreciated the resort's commitment to stay true to the theme. As I walked in, I stopped, looking at the mirror on the wall. My tired, ragged appearance surprised me. "God, I look terrible and feel it!" I ran my fingers through my disheveled blonde hair and glanced towards my bare neck. I sighed.