Game Review: by Kyle Davis

   Advanced Warfare, the eleventh installment of the Call of Duty franchise, was released on November 4^th. I’ve had a month to play this game and it has manhy new things that I would like to share, so let’s get started!  

   First of all, the multiplayer is FRESH and NEW! It is nothing like you have seen before. This year, the developer, Sledgehammer Games, added new movement mechanics to Call of Duty such as the dash, boost jump, exo slide, and boost slam that are easy and don’t feel awkward to use. They go smoothly in-game. There are such as the exo abilities, which replace the tactical slot (tactical and lethal grenades are now under the exo launcher slot), an all new loot system, and many small things that really do matter.

    Secondly, the co-op mode, Exo-Survival, is not too good. All that this game mode is, is just a copy and paste of the co-op mode of their previous game, Modern Warfare 3, with smarter enemies or AI (Artificial Intelligence). If you have never played this game mode, I will explain it. You and up to 3 other players have to survive as many waves of enemies as possible, these waves are recorded as rounds. These enemies can vary from regular soldiers to small drones in the sky that shoot at you. There are also areas on the map that allow you to upgrade all the aspects of your character from your weapons to your armor. But do not fear! Another co-op mode that is widely known from the Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty Zombies, is going to be added in January as dlc (downloadable content)!

   Lastly, the campaign (story mode) was GREAT! This is one of the only games where I really asked myself, “is this a game or a movie”, multiple times. They spent more time on the campaign than any other Call of Duty. They worked so hard on the small details that really matter, from the way the characters move, to the way they act and talk. Usually in Call of Duty, the campaign and multiplayer have similar aspects, so the campaign can give you a sort of feel for what the multiplayer will be like, but in Advanced Warfare, the campaign and multiplayer are truly completely different experiences. Not to spoil anything, but the ending was lacking, as if the last mission was rushed, but overall it was great! Also, how could you go wrong with Kevin Spacey playing the antagonist?

   To conclude, this game is a must buy! The multiplayer is game changing and fresh, the campaign is great, and the famous Zombies game mode is going to be added to the game in January. Another reason why the game is so great, is because the developer, Sledgehammer Games, is so interactive with their fans, they listen to the feedback. So if their community thinks that something should be fixed, changed, or that something should be added to the game, Sledgehammer Games will be listening. That is why I rate this game: a solid 9/10

Current Events: by Maggie Kurth

As more information about the rapidly changing climate surfaces, global warming is becoming an issue treated with more urgency than in has been in quite some time. The highest manufactures of waste contributing to global warming are China and the United States due to their large numbers of factories and modes of transportation that create exhaust which pollutes the air. The two countries have reached an agreement on ways to reduce their carbon footprint, China by using solar and wind energy for up to 20% of their power sources by 2030, and the United States by reducing their carbon emissions anywhere between 26 and 28 %  by 2025.  The new plan was announced in Beijing by both President Obama and Xi Jinping, and has been analyzed by scientist and legal experts who have decided that either  country does not have to reduce their greenhouse gases immediately, and could even wait until the very last minute to stop using fossil fuels, making the whole agreement ineffective and pointless.  

DUSK FLOWERS: Chapter Four - a novel by GEORGIA RIVERA, 9th grade

 "So," Eliza's mind spun like a top, "You're like, a witch or something?" This couldn't be for real, Eliza thought. Magic doesn't exist, none of this exists. Everyone in their right mind knew that.

Uso made a face. "I guess you could say that, but you can call me whatever you want. Sorcerer, warlock, witch, mage... It's all the same thing, really." Eliza gulped, her throat as dry as sandpaper. "But you're not real. I mean, you can't be real!"

She paused. "Can you?" Smiling, Uso looked out into the distance. "I've been alive for a long time," She said, "And I don't think there's a thing on this earth, no dream, no idea, that you can truly call impossible." Eliza fidgeted, picking a fingernail. "You won't zap me or anything for not giving you peanut butter, will you?"

Uso snorted. "Don't be ridiculous! When I'm stronger, I'll just summon my own peanut butter. Maybe I should explain this whole thing better. The way I know humans, you're probably feeling a little frazzled."

Eliza nearly laughed out loud. That was the understatement of the century.

Two cheap, plastic deck chairs sat out on the balcony. Uso sank down in one, crossing her legs. Eliza followed suit. "Look up." Uso suggested. Looking up, Eliza's eyes came to rest on what appeared to be a glowing picture-frame floating above the railing.

Two circles blinked onto the screen.

Eliza wasn't quite as surprised at this point. As she watched, the circle on the left changed color to gold. The word "humans" wrote itself on top. The second circle faded to black, its title "unholy".

"To start off this lesson," Uso began, "There were originally only two kinds of living thing on the planet; the humans, Heaven's gift, and the Unholy, Devil's spawn. The balance of this Earth was nearly perfect. That is, until..."

The two circles merged, creating a purple hue where they met. "The two groups began to mate. Yes, it's really nasty. I'll spare you the details. Anyway, the chance the female will conceive is one in a million, and if they do, the chance that one of my kind, a child of the twilight, will be born is infinitesimal. We're not demons, but we aren't human either. This is a gift and a curse."

The picture on the screen changed, displaying two groups of humanoid figures; one black, the other gold. A small, purple figure stood between the two groups. "First, " Uso said, "We really can't fit in with either of the two original races. While unholy and humans can live side-by-side, they can tell when we're close-by." An image of a figure being burnt at the stake flickered into sight.

"But we have immeasurable power. As a result of our screwed up DNA, we can control any and all matter, so anything that has mass and takes up space. Even the mind can be controlled, but that's extremely difficult. And, unlike most unholy, we can feel real emotions. For the most part, we have human souls. We aren't completely human, but we aren't entirely god either.

"What else exists?" Eliza sputtered, "Vampires?"

Uso almost fell out of her chair laughing. "If I had a dime for every time I've heard that one..." Suddenly, Eliza remembered. "What are unholy? You said they live side-by-side with humans. How can anyone tell what they are? Would they hurt us?"

Uso thought. "As a daughter of twilight, I can see the difference almost instantly. The closest human interpretations of unholy are creatures like demons. In fact, most of the monsters humanity has dreamed up are based off unholy. And yes, unfortunately, they are dangerous. But let me get this straight; they aren't evil, just more likely to break the rules.

"Most members of my race have taken it upon themselves to protect the balance of th universe. While we are, by a vast amount, the minority, we're more powerful in general. Our government system is comprised of seven casts, with seven high librans serving as the highest ranking cast. Individually, these seven have the ability to ruin entire armies. Hypothetically speaking, of course."

"So," Eliza began carefully, "Where do I fit into all of this?" Uso scrutinized her for a moment. "That's weird. I can't seem to pin down your life force right now. I must still be too weak. But I'm certain you're human. And up until now, I'm going to assume you've lived a perfectly normal life."

Yes, up until today, Eliza had been living almost exactly as she'd wanted to. Now what, she was just supposed to believe in magic and monsters or whatever this was? No, she had seen. She just didn't want to believe.

But at the same time, she did.

"Alright, I'm getting impatient," Eliza finally exclaimed, "How did you wind up here?" Uso sat up correctly in her seat. "Story-time!"

"Besides the normal unholy, as normal as they get, there are a select few that have attained a massive amount of power. These are called wraiths, and they're just as strong, if not stronger, than the children of twilight. In rare cases, the same sort of thing can happen to humans. We call them exorcists, and they obtain power though blessed weapons, but that's a lesson for another day.

"It's not recommended, but a child of twilight can create a truce, or a pact, with a wraith. It's a partnership of sorts, requiring some level of trust. Last night, I finally found someone, another child of twilight, who I've been looking for for a very long time." She clenched a fist. "I wanted revenge so badly, I didn't even care if I had to make a pact with a wraith to get it. It was hard, but I found my way into the realm of the wraith Vitalis and convinced him to help me.

"See, she would never have expected me to go to such lengths to harm her, to sink so low to get my revenge. It was the perfect plan. But Vitalis, I'll be frank, is a complete moron. Before we entered her realm, I transformed myself into a bird for speed. Vitalis, thinking I was prey, attacked me. Badly wounded, I tried to transport myself home. Instead, I screwed up and crashed through your window."

"Well, ah," Eliza felt bad for what she was about to do, but she had no choice. The entire situation was fraying her nerves. She was torn between wanting to know more and wanting Uso gone. "Could you stop being here? I mean, if you really are better, you should be able to leave, right?"

Uso grew somber. "If only. Unfortunately, I'm just not strong enough to get back. My home is a realm I've created on my own, a space just for me. Most of my us have our own realms, individual pockets of the universe. While the entrance to mine is nearby, I can't open the doorway without a significant amount of power. Wounds inflicted by a wraith drain strength like you wouldn't believe.

"Oh." Well now, Eliza was screwed. "There's no where else you can go?" She asked desperately. "No, not really," Uso replied, "I count myself lucky you haven't pulled out a torch and pitchfork yet, or called the newspaper."

Eliza couldn't bring herself to crush bugs. There was no way she could give the witch the boot now if it would hurt her. She was surprised at herself. Was she really going to let a stranger camp out in her apartment for an indeterminate period of time?

Something deep inside Eliza had flared up, and she didn't know what it was, but it wouldn't let her deny the woman in from of her.

Eliza looked up, her electric blue eyes meeting the sky in Uso's. "You can stay," She said with resolution, "For as long as it takes"

Uso pumped her fist, her grin back and splitting her face.

Boys XC closes record breaking season at Bowdoin - by Dan Stretz

The boys XC squad had an outstanding team performance at the New York State Federation Championships hosted at Bowdoin Park.

The meet itself is composed of the top 27 teams in New York state across all athletic associations which include PSAL, CHSAA, PHSAA, and AISAA.

 The Flaming arrows were led by Sophomore John Lauer who finished in 16:32. He was followed by Senior’s Dan Block (16:52), John Onken (17:02), Dan Stretz (17:09) and Mark Difulvio (17:12). They would end up placing 5th overall and became the only Sachem XC team to ever medal at the meet.

Fall Makeup Trends of 2014 - by: Danielle Weigand, 9th grade

Fall is my all time favorite season for fashion and beauty. This years makeup trends stand out the most because they mainly focus on major pops of color and the "no makeup" look.

Overall Face: Matte or Dewy?

 The answer is Dewy! A dewy finish is a more "light reflecting" look. It gives the look of all the natural oils without being too oily. This type of finish incorporates and more natural and life like face. As appose to a matte finish. Matte makeup can be worn all season long but is occasionally worn during the winter and late fall. Matte gives you the look of a doll like appearance almost flawless.  Finishing sprays by NYX can help you achieve either look :)

Brows:

Thick and bold brows are a must this year! Women such as Cara delevingne, Lily Collins and even Audrey Hepburn have the bushy brows. Threading gives you the best possible shape over waxing because since waxing is just a straight strip it wouldn't give you the best shape possible.

Eyes:

The cat eye is always a favorite. A pop of eye shadow is the new look also. From vibrant eye shadows to flouresnt eye liners, color is a must have!

Spider lashes have also came back! So ladies, rock those lashes.

Lips, Lips and more Lips:

Plum lips are a fall favorite. Especially with the new NYX butter gloss! Nude lips are also a fall favorite. Dark colors always look best during the fall.

Tools;

BEAUTY BLENDERS!!!! Beauty blenders of any kind are an essential to foundation and concealer. Just damp the sponge and dab on your foundation for a flawless finish!

DUSK FLOWERS: Chapter Three - a novel by GEORGIA RIVERA, 9th grade

Before she even walked through the door, Eliza knew something was wrong. From behind the solid wood, she could hear the indignant yowling of her pet cat, Willow. Willow was a quiet animal and virtually unnoticeable. To hear the cat so upset was unsettling.

Preparing herself for the worst, Eliza unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Standing in Eliza's kitchen, holding Eliza's cat by the scruff of her neck, was the young woman who only hours before had been grievously wounded and unable to stand, let alone crash through windows properly.

The cat and the woman seemed to be engaged in a argument of sorts. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at the cat, finally dumping the animal to the ground, dismissively. Willow ran to her master, curling herself behind Eliza's legs in fright.

"That thing doesn't like me very much." Said the woman as she flung open a cabinet. Eliza let her groceries slide to the tile floor and scooped the cat into her arms. "Her name," She replied, "Is Willow. And she probably has a good reason for it."

The woman laughed, the unnatural sound grating and wild. "All I did was ask where you kept the peanut butter." Eliza was stunned. Not only was the intruder up and functioning, she was also ransacking Eliza's obviously empty kitchen for peanut butter!

And how on earth would the poor cat tell her where it was?

"I don't think Willow can talk." Eliza commented. The woman turned to her, eyebrows raised."What's in the bags?' She asked. Eliza shrugged. "Bread, eggs, powerful antibiotics. The usual."

As the woman approached, Eliza couldn't help but open her mouth again. "How are you alright? What happened last night? Am I on a T.V. show or something?" The woman only snorted and bent down to dg through the bags. "I heal fast. Yeah, I could lie and say that wasn't totally embarrassing, but I won't and it was. I guess I'll say thank you though."

Pulling out a carton of eggs, she rose and strode back to the counter. "I mean really, having to rely on a human to help me out. I thought I was beyond that." She shot a pointed glance at Eliza, who had taken a seat on the couch. "By the way, I can't go on calling you 'That Human' forever. You got a real name or what?"

Eliza huffed. "It's Eliza." She paused. "Are you really okay? That looked bad." The woman looked up. "I'm fine." She assured the girl, extending her index finger and slicing though the layers of cheap gauze covering her wound. True to her word, there wasn't even a scar left behind on her pale skin. "Ta-da!"

Shocked, Eliza shook her head in disbelief. "How the hell did you do that?" The woman didn't answer, instead grinning crookedly and extending a hand.

"Uso. My name's Uso." She said, matter-of-factly.

"So can I crash here or what?"

Eliza was speechless. She settled for taking Uso hand and shaking. Uso's blue eyes shone. "I'll take that as a yes."

"You still haven't answered my question." Eliza said, "Why are you here?"

"That," Uso sighed, "Is a very long and confusing story. For you, anyway. You wouldn't even believe me. That's what humans are known for, and I couldn't even prove myself. I'm pretty weak right now."

Eliza frowned. Why did this woman keep calling her a human? Wasn't that just stating the obvious? And what did she mean, she couldn't prove herself?

Turning back to the eggs, Uso grimaced. "Like right now, I'm gonna have to cook these the normal way. On the stove!" She laughed to herself.

Eliza felt something spark inside her. "You can steal my food right after you've fixed my window and cleaned my blankets!" She spat. She instantly regretted it. Her mother her taught her to always try her best to stay calm when dealing with difficult people.

To Eliza's surprise, Uso only shrugged. "Okay. Why didn't you say so?' She rolled her shoulders back. "I can feel it now." Feel what? Eliza wondered.

Maybe Uso was a nutcase, Eliza thought. She could be one of those people that rappel down random buildings. That one guy really did think he was Spiderman, she reminded herself. Still, when Uso walked back down the hall to the bedroom, Eliza followed.

Hands on her hips, Uso surveyed the scene. "Hm. This one's an easy fix." She said. "Oh, and you might want to take a seat."

Uso raised her arms and Eliza's jaw almost hit the floor.

The shards of glass had been lifted off the carpet in a glowing whirlwind, enveloped in purple light. With a flick of her wrist, Uso snapped the pieces back into their frame.

Dropping the cat, Eliza went directly to the window. In awe, she rapped her knuckles against the clear surface. Solid. "So," Uso said nonchalantly, "Where are those blankets?"

Once again at a loss for words, Eliza led Uso out onto the apartment's small balcony. The balcony was Eliza's favorite thing about the apartment. It gave a perfect view of the city around the tall building. Usually, when weather permitted, Eliza would eat her meals outside.

Eliza had put the laundry basket outside, just in case the contents developed an odor before laundry day. Lifting the soiled comforter from the basket, Uso traced her fingers over the stains, trailing flashes of purple light. The stains evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace of ever having existed.

For what seemed like the thousandth time since having woken up that morning, Eliza was utterly floored. A few rays of the steadily rising Sun burst from a gap between two buildings, the inferno landing on the balcony.

Eliza felt weak. "Who are you?" She asked timidly.

"My full name," Said Uso, "Is Uso the Untruth, of the Deep Woods and Sky, Master of the Bay State and all surrounding areas, the Mistress of Avarice,

"And the seventh libran, a Daughter of Twilight in authority of all realms; all things, both light and dark." The light rising around her twisted and fluctuated, seeming to bow before her.

"But you, dear Eliza, can simply call me Uso."

Art in the Eyes of Longfellow: Poem Interpretation by Crystal Zettwoch

Many people know the famous Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his beautifully composed poems and pieces of literature. One of his most famous pieces "A Psalm of Life" (first appearing in the Knickerbocker Magazine in October 1838) carries multiple meaningful messages including the importance of life and the necessity of finding your purpose in life and being productive to fulfill your said purpose.

Here is the poem:

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream ! —

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real ! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal ;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way ;

But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle !

Be a hero in the strife !

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !

Let the dead Past bury its dead !

Act,— act in the living Present !

Heart within, and God o'erhead !

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time ;

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate ;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

------------------------------

One particular line reads, "Art is long, and Time is fleeting". This specific line has stayed with me since the first time I had read it. 

What exactly does this statement mean?

I believe the message Longfellow is trying to deploy is the fact in which art is everlasting and cannot be taken away or changed over time. However, time never ceases to stop for us and things change as time changes.

Art is long lasting, yet our time on earth is not. 

This stresses the importance of art. We need to leave a piece of us behind and what better way to do so besides art ? Art comes in all different forms, but it is ultimately up to us which form we leave behind.

Recently I took a trip to Washington DC and toured the Library of Congress. The architecture and mosaics where absolutely breathtaking. Just by standing in the Library I was able to get a feel of the time period in which it was built. The art surrounding me led a path for me to begin to understand past American culture and all the other supporting influences which impacted the United States. 

Ironically, when I looked up at the decorated walls in the Library, Longfellow's very words were displayed above me with the exact line I treasure so much. I believe that this was not a coincidence at all, the individual who was in charge of decorating the Library placed that quote to express the importance of the power of art on a society.

"Anxiety, Applications and Autumn" by Sarah Vallecillo

As a child, I loved the fall because of the vibrant colors, Halloween, and pumpkin pie. As I grew older, I began to dread the season because it meant I would have to go
back to school and deal with the stress it caused me. My first day as a high school senior, almost all of my teachers mentioned how college and adult responsibilities were approaching us with increasing speed. College applications, S.A T's, deadlines and the pressure to maintain an impressive grade point average loomed over my head. I had a long list of things I needed to accomplish and the constant reminders stirred up a panicked feeling in my chest. On the way home, I looked out the car window and focused on the trees and the slight yellow tint of the turning leaves. As I stood at the threshold of my senior year, I was reminded of a more charming fall day in 2003, before school became such a scary place, a time where fall was much simpler.

 This particular Saturday afternoon in October, my father decided to take me and my siblings to the local park in our neighborhood. The weather was comfortable, but still cold enough to wear a sweater. Dried leaves whisked along the cobblestone and happy colored tree tops stood a mile above me. The sounds of squealing children, ringing bells from food vendors and Mexican music mingled together in the air. I took delight in playing on piles of leaves which park sanitation had unintentionally left at my disposal. We stayed until the sun started to set, to my mothers annoyance, we would be late for dinner. I remember sitting on a grassy hill, overlooking the busy streets below. I watched as the sky turned to a lovely shade of pink, and in that moment not a single worry crossed my mind.

There are days when I long for this feeling of peace. My first day of senior year was simply one of those days. I realize I am not alone in my college endeavor and most high school seniors face  similar feelings of anxiety during this particular season. I know more gratifying times are yet to come and I look forward to when my hard work pays off. Still, I appreciate when I can get lost in a memory and escape the worries of life, even if it is just for a few moments.

United States Army Visit: 9/24

The United States Army visits our school and gives students the chance to have a hands on experience in the AS49th Graders Kelsey Flynn and Jaden Corallo test out the AS4 goodies.

HAPPINESS - a poem by TERESA PARISI

You feel like you're drowning in regrets and sorrows

so when you hit the surface it's a breath of new air

a taste of what you used to feel.

Your lungs are filled with oxygen, you can feel them thanking you.

Everything is at peace. Everything is quiet. 

The water keeps you afloat; you stretch out your arms, reach out with your legs, and close your eyes.

You exhale.

But you're drifting, the waves are crashing, you forget how to swim, and you're under once again,

Everything is paralyzed, and the collection of pillow cases you've drenched in your own remorse are filling your body, weighing you down.

You've reached the sea floor, not walking but shuffling, almost dragging your feet,

your feet that are aching with loneliness.

You can not swim to the top, but your body won't stop moving along the floor and you can't help but wonder how this is all happening.

How can I feel such pain but not my movement?

How can I drown but never to death?

Why am I still alive at the bottom of this endless pit of water?

Your lungs are heavy with last night's thoughts and you forget the last time they were light and airy.

This ocean is too wide for just you, so you walk the floor until you find something.

You don't know what you're looking for, maybe a reef to rest, a boat for saving, a shark to put an end to your misery.

Your demise is not up to you.

POINT OF VIEW - a poem by TERESA PARISI

There's the city's skyscrapers,

mountains so high,

and airplanes that can touch the sky.

There are towering tress,

statues ten times your size,

oh I promise you darling you won't believe your eyes!

Now look at your problems,

they're too small to see,

when you're handing next to a Hyperion tree.

SCHOOL NEWS AND EVENTS- by JACOB TOTTEN

Homecoming Dance, Harvey, and other amazing things to come:

Homecoming Dance:

After ten years, the homecoming dance decides to come out of hibernation after a fellow student went to Mr. Chiaramonte, and said “bro, why don’t we have a homecoming dance”? Mr. Chiaramonte clearly took these words into consideration and thus, the Homecoming Dance will be on Thursday, October 16, at 7-10 at North. The theme will be New York City, there will be a chocolate fountain! And it’s only $10 for a ticket and they are selling out in Room D217. Dress to impress! And see you there.

Drama News:

The Drama Club’s first production this year will be “Harvey”. Auditions were already held and the list of roles will be posted on the bulletin board in the music wing on Monday, September 22nd. If you are in Drama, it would be advised to join the Sachem North Drama Club 2014-2015 group on Facebook for updates. So far it looks like it’s going to be a great year for performers and stage crew, good luck to everyone!

News regarding clubs:

The club fair on September 18th was a great success. The gym was full with many eager students and it looks like the new Gaming club got a lot of attention also. It’s good to see so many students taking roles in things they are actually interested in and ignoring the “haters”. Many clubs such as the Drama Club, and the Change Club are preparing for pep rally and/or Homecoming Dance so it seems like it’s going to be a great year for events, clubs, and student participation. Also, if you have any great ideas, student government are always willing to listen, don’t be afraid to spread your opinion. If you have a clear passion for helping other people, the Sachem Cares club is for you. There will be a meeting for electing officers on Monday, September 22nd. Anyone thinking about being a teacher, then come to the next Sachem Teachers of Tomorrow meeting which should be on Monday,  September 29th. Also, look out for announcements on other clubs you might be interested in.

Future Events:

An upcoming event as always will be the Thanksgiving food drive where we all work to together to donate food and money for families who are struggling. Last year, we had a great turn out and were able to feed so many families and broke an amazing record. Let’s double it this year! Sachem North will also be hosting the toy drive in December so please don’t throw out any toys, we might need them. Also, we will be having blood drives this year. In March, as always, we will be having March Madness.

DUSK FLOWERS: Chapter Two - a novel by GEORGIA RIVERA, 9th grade

  Her heart in her throat, Eliza peered over the edge of the bed. The woman was slumped face-down on the carpet, surrounded by a field of chipped glass. Eliza could very well scream again, but rationality finally conquered hysteria. She was going to call the police right now and they would come and then everything would be fine.

     She reached for her cell phone, only to grasp at empty space. Oh, right, she'd thrown it.

    Gingerly, Eliza stepped out of bed and into a pair of well-worn slippers. She didn't particularly feel like cutting her feet open. Nudging shards aside with her toes, she made her way across the small room towards the shattered window. The cool night air poured inside, sending a chill up Eliza's spine. She bent over in the semi-darkness, hunting with her hands for anything resembling a phone, but to no avail. She turned the light on, but still she couldn't find it. Maybe she'd thrown it out the window by mistake.

    A strangled groan came from the prone figure on the carpet. Eliza jumped, the sound almost shocking. What on earth would she do?

     Suddenly, she felt a strange compulsion to help the injured stranger, the woman who had just smashed her window and bled all over her brand-new blanket. She could still run and get the neighbors, but something told her that wouldn't be right. This woman was clearly a criminal, but she needed Eliza's help.

     But how do I do this? Eliza thought. She paced around the body, careful to avoid the glass. Bending down, she took the nameless woman under the arms and pulled hard. Surprisingly, she was able to lift the woman without much resistance. Moving carefully, like a tight-rope walker, she backed out of her room and down the short hallway to the bathroom. She could hear ragged breathing issuing from the body. Whoever this woman was, she was still alive.

     The only place Eliza could think to deposit the body was the bathtub. Struggling to lower the woman without injuring her further, Eliza managed to lay her in the basin. She looked like a corpse at an open-casket funeral, her high-boned cheeks deathly pale, a serene expression on her face. Her hair was very long, and for the most part loose, excepting the bottom, where it was twisted into a braid. Strangely, it was silver, like a freshly minted dime and it shone under the light of the bathroom's florescent bulbs. What kind of hair dye could do that?

     She wore shredded black rags. Was she a ninja? Eliza wondered, grabbing her meager first-aid kit from under the sink. While her own mother had enough creams, pills and bandages to run a pharmacy out of the bathroom, Eliza herself only owned a small amount of supplies. She found herself wondering if it would be enough. 

     Bending low over the tub, Eliza clicked open the plastic latch of the kit. Suddenly, the woman stirred, her eyes flickering open. They were sky-blue and endless, seeming to fill the room. "No police," she begged, "No roommates, no neighbors, no nothing. Just you." Her eyes slid shut again, like Venetian blinds blocking out the sky.

     "And who says I'll listen to you?" Eliza muttered weakly. But something about the way the woman spoke held her fast. She probably didn't have a choice now; She'd have to do this on her own.

     She didn't have any roommates anyway, which was a good thing. Most other people were so messy. Eliza herself would be the first person to admit she was a neat freak.

     The wound in the woman's ribs was deep, but not as bad as Eliza had been expecting. Even cleaned of the black, tar-like substance by a fistful of cotton-balls it was still gruesome to look at. Armed with a gauze pad, she swabbed the wound with whatever weak store-brand antibiotics she possessed and set about bandaging the laceration.

     The woman's nails were long and pointed, vaguely resembling claws. Eliza's mind began to truly wander. When, or if, the woman woke up, Eliza wanted answers. She also wanted a fixed window, clean sheets and an empty bathtub, but that clearly wasn't happening.

     Once she had finished wrapping the wound, strips of white gauze clumsily pasted underneath the woman's tatters, Eliza decided was was really nothing else she could do. The time on the stove read "6:24". She really couldn't go back to sleep now, even if she was, by some miracle, tired. It was Saturday. She wouldn't have to attend any classes or lectures, and nothing was due until Monday.

     Finding herself back in the bathroom, Eliza glanced down at the comatose figure in the tub. She thought hard. What would her mother do?

     May Panik had been a single mother. After her boyfriend, a "Wham-Bam Thank You Ma'am" kind of guy had had his fun, he left May to fend for herself with a baby, Eliza, on the way.

     Eliza truly thought her mother was the strongest woman in the world. Not only had she raised Eliza by herself, and done a fantastic job, but she'd more than filled the space a second parent should have taken up. When Eliza was young, May seemed like a superhero to the little girl. What would she do in a situation like this?

     But the truth was, Eliza was lost. For a start, she thought, this woman certainly can't recover in the bathtub. Pulling herself away from the enigmatic woman, Eliza went back to her bedroom. The moon had set, the first rays of sun beginning to creep over the horizon. Finding her thick, black glasses, Eliza slid them onto her face. Now she could get started properly.

     Once she had recovered a spare set of blankets from the depths of her closet, Eliza began to re-make the bed. Folding the cast off sheets, she placed them neatly in a hamper. Even if they're dirty, she thought, it doesn't hurt to be extra tidy.

     As soon as her bed was ready, Eliza moved the intruder into it. The woman's clothes were clearly ill-fitting and dirty, but Eliza doubted she had anything in the woman's size. She was at least a few inches taller than Eliza, her bones rising up at odd angles. She had a peaceful look about her as she slept. She has no right to that, Eliza thought grimly, heading for her postage-stamp kitchen.

     She was hungry, but surprise, surprise, there was absolutely nothing to eat. Eliza began to feel the panic rising up on her again. I am a college student, she thought, trying to calm herself down. I am 19 and I live in my own home and I should be able to deal with anything life throws at me.

      Except when that thing is a person through my window and no eggs or milk or bread or even a cookie for God's sake.

     Eliza dressed for the day in leggings and a t-shirt, running a brush through her blonde hair. Presentable, she decided. Taking some money from a jar in her room, Eliza threw a glance at the sleeping figure in her bed. She would be back from the store soon enough, with food and medical products. She checked the time again. Any decent convenience store would be open at 6:37 in the morning.

     The elevator ride was long and slow, but soon Eliza was out on the street. For March, it was surprisingly warm. The breeze from the bay filled Eliza's lungs. The city was starting to wake up around her, the air laced with the sounds of urban life; cars, street vendors, people everywhere waking up to meet the world.

     Screw New York and Paris and London; Boston was Eliza's favorite city and she wouldn't live anywhere else if you paid her to.

     A nearby Handy Pantry had what she was looking for and soon she was headed back to her apartment, the morning sun glimmering on the horizon.