Thursday, May 21, 2020
Video Games in Pop-Culture. - 1510 Words
Video games in pop-culture. Video games and computer games (from here on both categories will be simply referred to as video games for simplicity) have entered the domain of pop culture fairly recently. Although the first video game was developed in 1958 by William Higginbotham, their popularity didnââ¬â¢t occur until the seventies with the appearance of Pac-man and Frogger in the arcades (Computer and Video Games). If the younger generation of video game consumers would take a look at what was out there when the video game boom begun they wouldnââ¬â¢t be able to understand what was so attractive (and addictive?) about Pac-man and Frogger? The truth is, video games from over three decades ago share the same basic principles with the games we haveâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦While the living out these activities might be a bit complicated for a variety of reasons starting from time and ending with money, their virtual representation are readily available in a digital format. There are literally tons of v ideo games out there that simulate all sorts of sports, their popularity is especially high among Americans who idealize a fit, toned and healthy body image and an active lifestyle. Video games also burrow heavily from other forms of popular entertainment such as movies, cartoons, books, music, television game shows, commix etc. These genres sometimes attempt to do the same and burrow content from video games only to fail miserably every single time (Bloodrayne, Doom, Dungeons and Dragons). Perhaps, the reason why this happens is because video games in addition to mind blowing special effects and often great story lines and excellent voice-over/soundtrack also offer interactivity (active participation f the player). Refined of participation element video game-to-movie adaptations are like about as entertaining as a video game with no controller to manipulate the characters and the outcomes. This gives evidence that shows that although video games represent a humongous industry and h ave a great diversity of products, they are nothing without the social world. Whether weââ¬â¢re simulating a football game, controlling an army of monsters or flying on a magic carpet weââ¬â¢re doing nothing else but living out ourShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Video Games On Pop Culture1116 Words à |à 5 Pages Around the middle of the 20th Century man cultures started to grow beyond what they previously were thanks to different mediums (such as television and music) helping to push boundaries; with this came the birth of pop culture. Considering pop culture is a shortened version of popular culture itââ¬â¢s clear that many of the things in pop culture would be short lived. The short lived trends and happenings are labeled as ââ¬Å"fadsâ⬠. Strangely enough, some fads are made to transform and actually become a mainstayRead MoreWhy Video Games Have Made A Shift Into Mainstream Pop Culture6550 Words à |à 27 PagesThe term pop culture can be defined as ââ¬ËThe c ulture of the peopleââ¬â¢ a culture that flourishes through social interaction and mass media that is most actively involved in by the public. Pop culture can cover a wide range of materials and as such should be looked at as a topic open to discussion, interpretation as to why it is popular and what makes it popular. Since pop culture includes an expansive spectrum of subjects I am going to be focusing on one of those and that is Video games. In this essayRead MoreVideo Games And Its Effect On Society1171 Words à |à 5 PagesWhat is pop culture? Popular culture is defined in the dictionary as the culture based on tastes of ordinary people rather than an educated elite. Pop culture should be taught in schools. By teaching pop culture to students, it will help them know whatââ¬â¢s going on in the world and helps them pay more attention in class. There are different types of pop culture such as, entertainment, music, video games, and sports. Teaching pop culture can benefit an y classroom. Pop culture began after the IndustrialRead MoreThe Influence of Pop Culture on our Teenagers1419 Words à |à 6 Pagesyoung age, the minds of teenagers are easily influenced by pop culture. They are easily misguided by the portrayals in pop culture as well as the media. Both pup culture and media use this to their advantage to manipulate their young minds. Teenagers are notorious for mimicking violent activities as shown in video games. This violence transmits from videogames to the top story on the local news. Equally important, alcohol portrayals in pop culture are generally positive as they direct teenagers to participateRead MoreHow Video Games Changed Throughout History1373 Words à |à 6 PagesFrom Fad to Phenomenon: How Video Games Changed Throughout History Around the middle of the 20th Century man cultures started to grow beyond what they previously were thanks to different mediums (such as television and music) helping to push boundaries; with this came the birth of pop culture. Considering pop culture is a shortened version of popular culture itââ¬â¢s clear that many of the things in pop culture would be short lived. The short lived trends and happenings are labeled as ââ¬Å"fadsâ⬠. StrangelyRead MoreHow Pop Culture Has Impacted The Smarts Of Our Country952 Words à |à 4 PagesPop culture has been seen in the past to be a main ingredient in making our countryââ¬â¢s I.Q. drop, or well, that the overall population is going to become dumber because of its rise. However, Malcolm Gladwell has felt differently, and decided to produce an article on how pop culture has effected the smarts of our country. In Malcolm Gladwellââ¬â¢s article ââ¬Å"Brain Candyâ⬠, Gladwell effectively uses rhetorical appeals to prove his arg ument. Throughout Gladwellââ¬â¢s article he uses logical appeals to help proveRead MorePopular Culture is Not the Devil1056 Words à |à 5 PagesPopular Culture Is Not The Devil Many people can agree that popular culture is invasive, but the opinions differ on how invasive it actually is and whether it is harmful or beneficial. In David Denbyââ¬â¢s Buried Alive: Our Children and the Avalanche of Crud, he clearly states his opinion of popular culture and how it has invaded his home and the attitude of his children. The main source of popular culture according to Denby is the media, which has become ââ¬Å"three-dimensional, inescapable, omnivorousRead MoreBrain Candy Essay614 Words à |à 3 Pagesmind? Malcolm Gladwell proposes in his article, ââ¬Å"Brain Candy,â⬠that playing video games or watching television is just as important as reading a book. Gladwell is using rhetorical appeals to prove that in fact, video games are not dumbing down society. Pop culture is helping to improve test scores and knowledge. In ââ¬Å"Brain Candy,â⬠Malcolm Gladwell does affectively use rhetorical appeals to convince his audience that pop culture is making ou r society smarter. First, Gladwell effectively appeals to logosRead MoreGame for Boys or Girls1254 Words à |à 6 PagesMovementââ¬â¢: Video Games as Gendered Play Spaceâ⬠convinced me that 13 years ago there was gender segregation in the digital world of video games on who the games where made for, girls or boys. From my 15 year of experience playing hundreds of video games I never thought of games being gender biased till now. To me girls didnââ¬â¢t play them because they were just not into video games and would rather play with dolls. Jenkins states that traditional culture in video games is not fixing gender bias games but ratherRead MoreSex Sells Video Games and Insecurity1135 Words à |à 5 Pagessubconsciously wanted to be. The video game, Conkers Bad Fur Day was one video game out of many that had significantly influenced my self-esteem. As I continued to play more video games that had an emphasis on body image, the more I hated my own. Most female avatars in video games were Caucasian, tall, had a thin waist, and unrealistic sized breasts. I was 49, obese, and African American. The thought provoking idea of me not being the ideal woman of the video game had started to eat me up alive
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Personal Growth Is The Most Important Factor Of My...
Personal growth is the most important factor of my development plan at my current stage in life. Due to the increased competitive nature of young up and comers I feel that I may be limited for opportunities and advancement. Creating an in-depth leadership development plan will assist me in building up on my leadership skills and abilities. Although this leadership development plan is only a guideline, the real learning process is an ongoing journey. Itââ¬â¢s a mark of respect and fairness to include potential leaders in decisions that have a bearing on their work and perhaps in their lives (Axner). Before you can determine how to get somewhere you have to determine where it is that you would like to go. Within my journey of leadership, I believe my mission is to remember where I have been and where I will go, while maintaining positive relationships with family and friends. To build a reputation of being dedicated to every goal I choose to pursue while having successes in both my personal and professional life while having fun in my journey finding laughter, love, and happiness with each day. Both individuals and organizational leadership have common themes between the two. Individual leadership to me represents the personal qualities that I have picked up throughout my career in order to envision a plan, organize and motivate team members to achieve a goal. Whereas, organizational leadership is the ability to provide a similar experience, but on a larger scale and involvingShow MoreRelatedSelf Reflection Ppd Plan1486 Words à |à 6 PagesAbstract The following report is a personal and professional development plan that shows a self reflection of me using the various tool (Belbin team role analysis, Career survey guide, MBA skills audit etc) discussed in the PPD sessions in the class room. This also provides insights of various strengths and weakness I possess and the various things which I want to develop during the course of my MBA programme both in respect to my personal and professional development. It also gives out steps of howRead MoreRationale And Reflection : Understanding And Encouraging Student Learning, Growth, And Development1219 Words à |à 5 PagesEncouraging Student Learning, Growth, and Development The teacher candidate understands how students learn and develop, and is able to apply different approaches to teaching and learning. The teacher candidate provides diverse learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students. Quality Indicator 2C1: Cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development The teacher candidate can identify child and adolescent development stages and apply them to studentsRead MorePersonal Marketing Plan Essay1552 Words à |à 7 Pagesschool education, professional/personal development training, self education along with life experiences directed me toward beginning a career as an entrepreneur. Many years have been spent taking classes and exploring various business opportunities. I started my college career as a business major. During that time, I also studied various art mediums to explore creative talents. In my junior year, I decided to combine those strengths and interests into my career path. Now that graduationRead MoreThe Marketing Audit - Download Ppt ââ¬â Presentation Transcript1638 Words à |à 7 PagesTranscript â⬠¢ 1. The Marketing Audit and the Marketing Plan Systematically takes stock of an organisationââ¬â¢s marketing health and plans the direction and scope of marketing activities â⬠¢ 2. Definition ââ¬Å" the means by which a company can understand how it relates to the environment in which it operates... ..the means by which a company can identify itââ¬â¢s own strengths and weaknesses as they relate to opportunities and threatsâ⬠The marketing plan serves as a roadmap that guides the context and scope ofRead MorePersonal Development Plan Essay1389 Words à |à 6 Pagesï » ¿OL 125: Personal Development Plan ââ¬â Final Project (Milestone Four) Student Name: Karel Sunjin Date: 06/21/2014 Section 1: So far, I have learned that the course I have taking to complete my education, is the right path me. I have also learned that I am a hard worker, and I have attainable goals to which if I remain dedicated I will attain. My hopes in doing this development plan is to list out a clear plan for myself to maintain the momentum in my educational goals. I know that a lot ofRead MoreLearning Organizations : The American Red Cross1464 Words à |à 6 PagesThis course covered many important topics helpful in understanding learning organizations. This paper will incorporate real-life situations from my organization, The American Red Cross. It will focus on three areas I found to be most helpful and relevant to my experience which is the understanding of systems thinking, growth, and the need to practice reflection. Systems Thinking To begin understanding how organizations learn from and adapt to change it is important to understand the concept ofRead MoreEssay on Personal Development Plan: Improving My Relationship1053 Words à |à 5 PagesThroughout my whole life I have witnessed how relationships should go, and my parents have always been my primary learning source of communication. It was modeled for me in a healthy way, but also in a negative way sometimes. I catch myself struggling with my reacting behaviors to negative events, and ways of speaking. This causes me a lot of grief and frustration when I am communicating with people or my loved ones. This would also include my five-year relationship with my boyfriend. My goals of my personalRead MoreRelationship Between Transformational And Transformational Leadership1403 Words à |à 6 Pages The relationship and transformational theories of leadership are aligned with my personal development plan because the Multifactorial Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) test result shown me high score on the leadership characters, which, indicate that I have charismatic and inspirational leadership qualities. Next, test scores suggestive of individualized consideration (role modelling), intellectual stimulation (assumptions solutions), and contingent (creating opportunity). When I understood the transformationalRead MorePurpose And Understanding Of An Authentic Servant Leader1618 Words à |à 7 Pageson a time of pressure, severe test or situation that changed their thinking or the direction of their lives. The purpose and understanding of reflection is important in instruction. Authentic leaders have a clear understanding of who they are and they lead from their core values (Northouse, 2016). In discovering my core values by following my internal leading in becoming an authentic serva nt leader (George, 2010), I am able to recognize the importance of being self-aware, relational, supportive,Read MorePlanning For Professional Development Of Teachers1627 Words à |à 7 Pagesprofessional development of teachers Reem Alruyali HDL 692 The need for professional growth is constant in the Education field because teachers cannot live a lifetime on a specific set of knowledge, skills, and competencies with the open pressure and progress of knowledge that is available in this current day and age. This requires the teacher to keep informed at a level of renewed information, skills, and modern trends in teaching methods and techniques. Thus, education for teacher growth is an ongoing
Night World Black Dawn Chapter 11 Free Essays
string(26) " hardly sagged or folded\." The bushes stirred again. Maggieââ¬â¢s searching fingers found only acorns and licorice fern, so she made a fist instead, sliding out from underneath Cady and holding herself ready. A form emerged from the underbrush. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 11 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Maggiestared so hard she saw gray dots but she couldnââ¬â¢ttell anything about it. There was a long, tense moment, and then a voice came to her. ââ¬Å"I told you youââ¬â¢d never make it.â⬠Maggie almost fainted with relief. At the same moment the moon came out frombehind a cloud. It shone down into the clearingand over the slender figure standing with a hand on one hip. The pale silvery light turned red hairalmost black, but the angular face and narrowed skeptical eyes were unmistakable. Not to mention the sour expression. Maggieletout along, shuddering breath. ââ¬Å"Jeanne!â⬠ââ¬Å"You didnââ¬â¢t get very far, did you? The roadââ¬â¢s justover there. What happened? Did she drop deadon you?â⬠It wasamazinghow good that irritable, acerbicvoice sounded to Maggie. She laughed shakily. ââ¬Å"No, Cadyââ¬â¢s not dead. Bernââ¬â¢s dead-you know, the bigslave trader guy. But ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re joking.â⬠Jeanneââ¬â¢s voice sharpened with respect and she moved forward. `â⬠You killed huntââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"No. It waslook, Iââ¬â¢ll explain later. First, can youhelp me get her to somewhere more protected? Itââ¬â¢s really getting freezing out here, and sheââ¬â¢s completely out.â⬠Jeanne leaned down, looking at Arcadia. ââ¬Å"I toldyou before I wasnââ¬â¢t going to help you if you gotin trouble.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠Maggie said. ââ¬Å"Can you sort of pick herup from that side? If we both get an arm under her shouldersshemight be able to walk a little.â⬠. `Bull,â⬠Jeanne said shortly. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢d better chaircarry her. Link hands and we can get her up.â⬠Maggie clasped a cold, slender hand with calluses and a surprisingly firm grip. She heavedweight, and then they were carrying the unconscious girl. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re strong,â⬠she grunted. ââ¬Å"Yeah, well, thatââ¬â¢s one of the side benefits ofbeing a slave. The roadââ¬â¢s this way.â⬠It was awkward, slow work, but Maggie wasstrong, too, and Jeanne seemed to be able to guide them around the worst of the underbrush. And it was so good just to be with another human being who was healthy and clear headed and didnââ¬â¢t want to kill her, that Maggie felt almost lighthearted. ââ¬Å"What aboutP.J.? Is she okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s fine. Sheââ¬â¢s in a place I know-itââ¬â¢s notmuch, but itââ¬â¢s shelter. Thatââ¬â¢s where weââ¬â¢re going.â⬠ââ¬Å"You took care of her,â⬠Maggie said. She shook her head in the darkness and laughed. ââ¬Å"What are you snickering about?â⬠Jeanne paused and they spent a few minutes maneuvering arounda fallen log covered with spongy moss. ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠Maggie said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s justyouââ¬â¢re prettynice, arenââ¬â¢t you? Underneath.â⬠ââ¬Å"I look out for myself first. Thatââ¬â¢s the rule aroundhere. And donââ¬â¢t you forget it,â⬠Jeanne said in a threatening mutter. Then she cursed as her foot sank into a swampy bit of ground. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠Maggie said. But she could still feel awry and wondering smile tugging up the corner ofher mouth. Neither of them had much breath for talkingafter that. Maggie was in a sort of daze of tirednessthat wasnââ¬â¢t completely unpleasant. Her mindwandered. Delosâ⬠¦she had never met anyone so confus ing. Her entire body reacted just at the thought ofhim, with frustration and anger and a longing that she didnââ¬â¢t understand. It was a physical pang. But then everything was so confusing. Things had happened so fast since last night that sheââ¬â¢d neverhad time to get her mental balance. Delos and the incredible thing that had happened between themwas only one part of the whole mess. He said heââ¬â¢d killed Milesâ⬠¦. But that couldnââ¬â¢t be true. Miles couldnââ¬â¢t be dead.And Delos wasnââ¬â¢t capable of anything like thatâ⬠¦.Was he? She found that she didnââ¬â¢t want to think aboutthat. It was like a huge dark cloud that she didnââ¬â¢twant to enter. Wherever Jeanne was taking her, it was a long,cold trek. And a painful one. After about fifteenminutes Maggieââ¬â¢s arms began to feelasif they werebeing pulled out of the sockets, and a hot spot of pain flared at the back of her neck. Her sweat wasclammy running down her back and her feetwere numb. But she wouldnââ¬â¢t give up, and Jeanne didnââ¬â¢t either. Somehow they kept going. They had traveledfor maybe about forty-five minutes, with breaks,when Jeanne said, ââ¬Å"Here it is.â⬠A clearing opened in front of them, and moonlight shone on a crude little shack made of weathered wood. It leaned dangerously to one side andseveral boards were missing, but it had a ceilingand walls. It was shelter. To Maggie, it looked beautiful. ââ¬Å"Runaway slaves built it,â⬠Jeanne said breathlesslyas they took the last few steps to the cabin. ââ¬Å"The Night People hunted them down, of course, but they didnââ¬â¢t find this place. All the slaves at the castle know about it.â⬠Then she called in a slightlylouder tone, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s me! Open the door!â⬠A long pause, and then there was the sound of awooden bolt sliding and the door opened. Maggiecould see the pale blob of a small face. P.J. Penob scot, with her red plaid baseballcap still on backwardand herslightbodytense,wasblinkingsleepy, frightened eyes. Then she focused and her face changed.â⬠Maggie! Youââ¬â¢re okay!â⬠She flung herself at Maggie like a small javelin. ââ¬Å"Ow-hey!â⬠Maggie swayed and Cadyââ¬â¢s limp bodydipped perilously. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m glad to see you, too,â⬠Maggie said. To herown surprise, she found herself blinking back tears.â⬠But Iââ¬â¢ve got to put this girl down or Iââ¬â¢m going todrop her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Back here,â⬠Jeanne said. The back of the cabinwas piled with straw. She and Maggie eased Arcadia down onto it and then P.J. hugged Maggie again. ââ¬Å"You got us out. We got away,â⬠P.J. said, hersharp little chin digging into Maggieââ¬â¢s shoulder. Maggie squeezed her. ââ¬Å"Wellwe all got us out,and Jeanne helped get you away. But Iââ¬â¢m glad everybody made it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is sheâ⬠¦all right?â⬠P.J. pulled back and lookeddown at Arcadia. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know.â⬠Cadyââ¬â¢s forehead felt hot underMaggieââ¬â¢s hand, and her breathing was regular butwith a rough, wheezy undertone Maggie didnââ¬â¢tlike. ââ¬Å"Hereââ¬â¢s a cover,â⬠Jeanne said, dragging up a pieceof heavy, incredibly coarse material. It seemed asbig as a sail and so rigid it hardly sagged or folded. You read "Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 11" in category "Essay examples"â⬠If we all get under it, we can keep warm.â⬠They put Cady in the middle, Maggie and P.J. onone side of her and Jeanne on the other. The cover was more than big enough to spread over them. And the hay smelled nice. It was prickly, butMaggieââ¬â¢s long sleeves and jeans protected her. There was a strange comfort in P.J.ââ¬â¢s slight bodycuddled up next to herlike a kitten, Maggiethought. And it was so blessedly good to not bemoving, to not be carrying anyone, but just to sit still and relax her sore muscles. ââ¬Å"There was a little food stashed here,â⬠Jeannesaid, digging under the hay and pulling out a smallpacket. ââ¬Å"Dried meat strips and oatcakes with salalberries. Weââ¬â¢d better save some for tomorrow,though.â⬠Maggie tore into the dried meat hungrily. Itdidnââ¬â¢t taste like beef jerky; it was tougher and gam ier, but right at the moment it seemed delicious.She tried to get Cady to eat some, but it was nouse. Cady just turned her head away. She and Jeanne and P.J. finished the meal offwith a drink of water, and then they lay back onthe bed of hay. Maggie felt almost happy. The gnawing in her stomach was gone, her muscles were loosening up,and she could feel a warm heavinesssettlingoverher. ââ¬Å"You were goingâ⬠¦ to tell me about Bern â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Jeanne said from the other side of Cady. The wordstrailed off into a giant yawn. ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠Maggieââ¬â¢s brain was fuzzy and her eyeswouldnââ¬â¢t stay open. ââ¬Å"Tomorrow â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ And then, lying on a pile of hay in a tiny shack ina strange kingdom, with three girls who had been strangers to her before this afternoon and who nowseemed a little like sisters, she was fast asleep. Maggie woke up with her nose cold and her feettoo hot. Pale light was coming in all the cracks inthe boards of the cabin. For one instant she stared at the rough weathered-silver boards and the hayon the floor and wondered where she was. Thenshe remembered everything. ââ¬Å"Cady.â⬠She sat up and looked at the girl beside her. Cady didnââ¬â¢t look well. Her face had the waxyinner glow of somebody with a fever, and there were little tendrils of dark hair curled damply onher forehead. But at Maggieââ¬â¢s voice her eyelashes fluttered, then her eyes opened. ââ¬Å"Maggie?â⬠ââ¬Å"How are you feeling? Want some water?â⬠Shehelped Cady drink from the leather bag. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m all right. Thanks to you, I think. Youbrought me here, didnââ¬â¢t you?â⬠Cadyââ¬â¢s face turnedas if she were looking around the room with herwide, unfocused eyes. She spoke in short sentences, as if she were conserving her strength, but hervoice was more gentle than weak. ââ¬Å"And Jeanne, too.Thank you both.â⬠She must have heard us talkinglast night, Maggie thought. Jeanne was sitting up, straw in her red hair, her green eyes narrow and alert instantly. P.J.was stirring and making grumpy noises. ââ¬Å"Morning,â⬠Maggie said. ââ¬Å"Is everybody okay?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠P.J. said in a small, husky voice. Therewas a loud rumble from her stomach. ââ¬Å"I guess Iââ¬â¢mstill a little hungry,â⬠she admitted. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢re a couple oatcakes left,â⬠Jeanne said.â⬠And one strip of meat. We might as well finishit off.â⬠They made Cady eat the meat, although she triedto refuse it. Then they divided the oatcakes solemnly into four parts and ate them, chewing dog gedly on dry, flaky mouthfuls. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re going to need more water, too,â⬠Maggiesaid, after theyââ¬â¢d each had a drink. The leather bagwas almost empty. ââ¬Å"But I think the first thing is tofigure out what weââ¬â¢re going to do now. What our plan is.â⬠ââ¬Å"The first thing,â⬠Jeanne said, ââ¬Å"is to tell us whathappened to Bern.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠Maggie blinked, but she could see whyJeanne would want to know. ââ¬Å"Well, heââ¬â¢s definitely dead.â⬠She sketched in what had happened aftershe and Cady had started running through thewoods. How Gavin and Bern had chased them andhad finally driven them into a corner on the boulder pile.How Bern hadclimbedup andchangedâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"He was a shapeshifter, you know,â⬠she said. Jeanne nodded, unsurprised. ââ¬Å"Bern means bear.They usually have names that mean what they are.But youââ¬â¢re saying you tried to fight thatguy off with a stick? Youââ¬â¢re dumber than I thought.â⬠Still,her green eyes were gleaming with something likewry admiration, and P.J. was listening with awe. ââ¬Å"And then-there was this lightning,â⬠Maggiesaid. ââ¬Å"And it killed Bern and Gavin ran away.â⬠Sherealized, even asshe said it, that she didnââ¬â¢t wantto tell everything that had happened with Delos.She didnââ¬â¢t think Jeanne would understand. So she left out the way their minds had linked when theytouched, and the way sheââ¬â¢d seen his memories-and the fact that sheââ¬â¢d dreamed about him beforeever coming to this valley. ââ¬Å"Then I filled the water bag and we heard Sylviacoming and he went out to make sure she didnââ¬â¢tfind me or Cady,â⬠she finished. She realized thatthey were all staring at her. Cadyââ¬â¢s facewasthoughtful and serene as always, P.J. was scaredbut interested in the story-but Jeanne was rivetedwith disbelief and horror. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re saying Prince Delossaved your life? Withthe blue fire? Youââ¬â¢re saying he didnââ¬â¢t turn you overto the hunting party?â⬠She said it as if she were talking about Dracula. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the truth.â⬠Good thing I didnââ¬â¢t tell her aboutthe kiss, Maggie thought. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s impossible. Delos hates everybody. Heââ¬â¢s themost dangerous of all of them.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, thatââ¬â¢s what he kept telling me.â⬠Maggieshook her head. The way Jeanne was looking at hermade her uncomfortable,as if she were defendingsomeone unredeemably evil. ââ¬Å"He also said at one point that he killed my brother,â⬠she said slowly.â⬠But I didnââ¬â¢t know whether to believeitâ⬠¦.â⬠ââ¬Å"Believe it.â⬠Jeanneââ¬â¢s nostrils were flared and herlip curledasif she were looking at something disgusting. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s the head of this whole place and everything that goes on here. Thereââ¬â¢s nothing hewouldnââ¬â¢t do. I canââ¬â¢t believe he let you go.â⬠She considered for a moment, then said grimly, ââ¬Å"Unless heââ¬â¢s got something special in mind. Letting you go and then hunting you down later. Itââ¬â¢s the kind ofthing heââ¬â¢d enjoy.â⬠Maggie had a strange feeling of void in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. She triedto speak calmly. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think so. I think-he justdidnââ¬â¢t care if I got away.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re fooling yourself. You donââ¬â¢t understandabout these people because you havenââ¬â¢t been here. None of youhave been here.â⬠Jeanne looked at P.J.,who was watching with wide blue ââ¬Ëeyes, and atCady, who was listening silently, her head slightlybowed. ââ¬Å"The Night People are monsters.And theones here in the Dark Kingdom are the worst of all. Some of them have been alive for hundreds of years-some of them were here when Delosââ¬â¢sgrandfather founded the place. Theyââ¬â¢ve been holedup in this valley all that time â⬠¦ and allthey do ishunt.Itââ¬â¢s their only sport. Itââ¬â¢s all they care about. Itââ¬â¢s all they do.â⬠Maggieââ¬â¢s skin was prickling. Part of her didnââ¬â¢twant to pursue this subject any further. But she had to know. ââ¬Å"Last night I noticed something weird,â⬠she said.â⬠I was standing outside and listening, but I couldnââ¬â¢thear any animal sounds anywhere. None at all.â⬠ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢ve wiped them out. Alltheanimalsin the wild are gone.â⬠P.J.ââ¬â¢s thin little hand clutched at Maggieââ¬â¢s armnervously. ââ¬ËBut then what do they hunt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Animals they breed and release. Iââ¬â¢ve been a slavehere for three years, and at first I only saw them breeding local animaLs-cougars and black bears wolverines and stuff. But in the last couple ofyears theyââ¬â¢ve started bringing in exotics. Leopardstigers and things.â⬠Maggie let out her breath and patted P.J.ââ¬â¢s hand.`But not humans.â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t make me laugh. Of course humans-butonly when they can get an excuse. The laws say the vampires canââ¬â¢t hunt slaves to death because theyââ¬â¢retoo precious-pretty soon the food supply wouldbe gone. But if slaves get loose, they at least get to hunt them down and bring them back to the castle. And if a slave has to be executed, they do a death hunt.â⬠ââ¬Å"I see.â⬠The void in Maggieââ¬â¢s stomach had become a yawning chasm. ââ¬Å"But-2â⬠² ââ¬Å"If he let you go, it was so he could come backand hunt you,â⬠Jeanne said flatly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m telling you,heââ¬â¢s bad. It was three years ago that the old kingdied and Delos took over, okay? And it was threeyears ago that they started bringing new slaves in.Not just grabbing people off the mountain if theygot too close, but actuallygoing down and kidnapping girls off the streets. Thatââ¬â¢s why Iââ¬â¢m here.Thatââ¬â¢swhy P.J.ââ¬â¢s here.â⬠Beside Maggie, P.J. shivered. Maggie put an armaround her and felt the slight body shaking againsthers. She gulped, her other hand clenching into afist. ââ¬Å"Hey, kiddo. Youââ¬â¢ve been really brave so far, sojust hang on, okay? Things are going to work out.â⬠She could feel Jeanneââ¬â¢s sarcastic eyes on herfrom beyond Cady, daring her to explain exactly howthings were going to work out. She ignoredthem. ââ¬Å"Was it the same for you, Cady?â⬠she asked. Shewas glad to get off the subject of Delos, and shewas remembering the strange thing Cady had saidlast night. I was coming here for a reasonâ⬠¦. ââ¬Å"No. They got me on the mountain.â⬠But the wayCady spoke alarmed Maggie. It was slowly and with obvious effort, the voice of someone who had touse all their strength just to concentrate. Maggie forgot all about Delos and the slave tradeand put a hand to Cadyââ¬â¢s forehead. ââ¬Å"Oh, God,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re burning up. Youââ¬â¢re totally on fire.â⬠Cady blinked slowly. ââ¬Å"Yes-itââ¬â¢s the poison,â⬠shesaid in a foggy voice. ââ¬Å"They injected me with something when they caught me-but I had a bad reaction to it. My system canââ¬â¢t take it.â⬠Adrenaline flicked through Maggie. ââ¬Å"And youââ¬â¢regetting worse.â⬠When Cady nodded reluctantly, shesaid, ââ¬Å"Right. Then thereââ¬â¢s no choice. We have to getto the castle because thatââ¬â¢s where the healingwomen are, right? If anybody can help, they can, right?â⬠ââ¬Å"Wait a minute,â⬠Jeanne said. ââ¬Å"We canââ¬â¢t go downto the castle. Weââ¬â¢d be walking right into their arms.And we canââ¬â¢t get out of the valley. I found the passbefore, but that was by accident. I couldnââ¬â¢t find itagain ââ¬Å"I could,â⬠Maggie said. When Jeanne stared at her, she said, ââ¬Å"Never mind how. I just can. But going that way means climbing down a mountainon the other side and Cady canââ¬â¢t make it. And I donââ¬â¢t think sheââ¬â¢ll make it if we leave her alone hereand go look for help.â⬠Jeanneââ¬â¢s narrow green eyes were on her again,and Maggie knew what they were saying. So weââ¬â¢vegot to give up on her. Itââ¬â¢s the only thing thatmakessense. But Maggie bulldozed on in determination. ââ¬Å"Youcan take P.J. to thepass-I can tellyou howto get there-and Ill take Cady to the castle. How about that? If you can tell me how to get to it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itstinks,â⬠Jeanne said flatly. ââ¬Å"Even if you make it to the castle with her hanging on you, you wonââ¬â¢tknow how to get in. And if you doget in, youââ¬â¢ll be committing suicide-ââ¬Å" She broke off, and everyone started. For an instant Maggie didnââ¬â¢t understand why-all she knewwas that she had a sudden feeling of alarm andalertness. Then she realized that Cady had turnedsuddenly toward the door. It was the quick, instinctive gesture of a cat who has heard something dangerous, and it triggered fear in the girls who werelearning to live by their own instincts. And now that Maggie sat frozen, she could hearit, too, faraway but distinct. The sound of peoplecalling, yelling back and forth. And another sound, one that sheââ¬â¢d only heard in movies, but that sherecognized instantly. Hounds baying. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s them,â⬠Jeanne whispered into the dead silence of the shack. ââ¬Å"I told you. Theyââ¬â¢re hunting us.â⬠ââ¬Å"With dogs?â⬠Maggie said, shock tingling throughher body. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s all over,â⬠Jeanne said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re dead.â⬠How to cite Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 11, Essay examples
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