!!!

Stella handed out the last exclamation point and began to immediately feel panic. How would anyone else express emotion?

She walked up the hill to jump on the exclamation pillow. Punctuation flowed from the hillside and into the hands of the rejoicing people.

Mall Savior

Stella watched as the pole shot through her abdomen. She closed her eyes and turned her head to avoid the spatter of blood. The warm, wet drops landed on her eyelids and soaked her eyelashes. She looked down at the pole that was sticking through her. Blood poured out the end of the pipe.

Walking and crawling seemed impossible, but Stella knew she had to leave the shopping center. Concentration proved to be a useful tool and she was able to hover over the crowds;her life-source pouring out on the people.

"I am risen. I am risen, indeed, " she called.

Busted

K-borg handed Stella the bottle and told her to finish the drink. The christmas lights strung around the room were too bright and Stella was annoyed at the way they beamed in her eyes as she tilted her head back to finish the whiskey.

A knock on the door.

"What are you doing in here? I'm going to need to see your medical papers?" shouted the RA.

"What are you talking about? Get out of here" Stella hissed.

"It smells like marijuana in here. And you're going to be punished."

"You're an idiot. A) It doesn't smell like marijuana. B) We're only having drinks. C) Get the hell out of my room before I have you fired."

The RA walked over to Stella and K-borg, grabbed each of them face, and peered into their eyes. "You eyes are red. I'm calling the patrol, " he explained as he squeezed each of their cheeks.

The jig was up. "We're done for," Stella whispered. K-borg threw his arms around her and pulled her in close for a kiss. "It's been a good run. A good run" he cooed in her ear.

Stella grabbed the bucket of acid from the desk and poured it over their heads.

Missing the point

"I fear that you may be missing the point of the ketchup bottle..."

Ruined

Nessa opened her purse and retched inside.

"You may have ruined all your things," Stella observed.

Nessa grabbed the bag of emesis and threw it's contents on Stella. "I definitely ruined you," she laughed.

Stella wiped her face and continued to eat her newly soggy chicken nuggets.

Don't Smoke

The bear flashed his teeth and released an enormous growl.

Stella grabbed him by the ears and pulled his face close to her. As their noses touched she thought "I hope the midgets can handle this big guy. I think I'll name him Max."

Max opened his mouth and crunched down on Stella's head.

She gurgled out her last words: I shouldn't have smoked so many cigarettes.

Power Struggle

He laid on the bed with a coy look in his eyes.

She went to him and placed her head on his shoulder and her arm across his chest.

The beast appeared; large and thick.

She grabbed it in an attempt to gain control.

"I had no idea…." she stammered. She longed to be close to the beast; to hold it tightly.

"Can I?" she asked.

He nodded.

Shreds of clothes were thrown to the floor. She climbed on and lost control.

She cherished the loss of power.

The proposal

The chains felt heavy around Stella's neck, but she felt stylish away. She was excited for her new hipsterish glasses to make their world debut.

"Shall we be in love?" she asked the shaded man.

"We are, Stella."

"Then hold my hair. And hold it tight."

The shaded man grabbed a handful of Stella's hair and wrapped it around his hand.

"I really like your glasses, " he said.

Eternity

She brushed her hand against his bristly cheek then wrapped her arm around his.

They walked into the darkness. Smiling.

Bananas

Stella sat patiently on the deck, waiting for her friends to appear. The Captain had already arrived at the family's lake home and wandering in the bowels of the house. "I should go inside and figure out the sleeping arrangements," Stella thought and quietly entered The Cabin.

Big Papa walked slowly down the hallway and said sternly "Stella, you and your friends can stay in the Bunk and Mirrors room, but stay out of the 50's room. That's mine." Stella nodded and took a seat in a plush, blue rocking chair. Alice appeared at the top of the stairs looking quite weighted down by her enormous hiking pack. Why Alice would wear a pointed alpaca hat in the summer, was beyond Stella.

"I'll show you to our room," Stella explained and she walked Alice down to the basement. "It's the Bunk and Mirrors room, but it's not as scary as it sounds." As she pushed open the door a wall of cowboy paraphernalia and rusty mirrors appeared before the girls. The room wasn't scary and Stella was delighted that there were 6 beds in the Bunk and Mirrors room - plenty of room for her to stay with her friends.

The two ladies went off in search of The Captain. As they entered the dark storage space, Stella caught a glance of a large, furry, green humanoid. "That must be The Captain. She's playing a joke," thought Stella. Indeed, the large creature was The Captain in a Philly's Phanatic outfit. Alice was delighted by this discovery and began instantly chatting with The Captain. Stella was glad that her friends were hitting it off so well. It was the perfect opportunity for her to sneak away for a few minutes.

Stella creeped around the basement to the 50's room and to her horror discovered what she suspected to be true all along. Big Papa had been surviving solely on bananas.