"Dear Diary"...

My name is 'Jane' and this is my writing! I hope you enjoy them!

[a-queens-diary]

2016-08-12

Prompt      “Come on, Luke!” The other boys hollered back to him as he gently laid his bike next to their hastily discarded ones in the ditch, bounding into the forest after the others.     He gripped his slingshot in one hand and his beating stick in the other, feeling his finger nails dig into the skin on his palm as he did, but he charged through the forest, desperately trying to catch up.      He could barely catch sight of the feet in front of him in the darkness of the forest. The strange light that they followed only illuminating a small portion of the path, casting odd shadows on either side.     “Come on, guys!” Oliver shouted from the front of the group. “Just a little further!” the top of his beanie bobbed up and down as he ran, his arms whipping out to push back low hanging branches, his feet breaking twigs that otherwise would remain whole.      Luke pushed his body further and further, about to stop to give his lung time to breathe and his legs time to rest when they broke into a small clearing. Tall dark trees illuminating the small patches of grass and flowers that sprung up at random. The silver streaks of the full moonlight shining through the tallest branches.     The boys stood in a circle, back to back, Luke pushing in when they eventually stopped spinning to take in their surroundings. Each bracing their weapon, ready to strike whatever may come out of the darkness. Their slingshots drawn back and ready to fire, more stones lining the inside of their pant pockets. Their beating sticks raised above their heads ready to bring down.      The small, strange lights surrounded them, pushing closer and closer.      “Where is my sister?!” Oliver shouted into the darkness, gripping his weapon tighter. “Bring her back!” His voice cracked as he screamed once more, Luke startled next to him.      “We know you’re here!” James shouted from beside Oliver, twirling his beating stick in his hand, ready to hit something.      “Come out!” Xander screamed, leaning toward the darkness, ready to charge whatever may come crawling out.      Luke stood, listening to his friends shout threats and taunts at whatever may be in the darkness as the lights moved closer and closer.      They stopped shouting long enough to hear the unending silence. They listened to their own laboured breathing and rapid heartbeats.      Suddenly the forest sighed. The huge gust of wind knocked Xander right into Oliver and James right into Luke, sending them sprawling in the dirt, grabbing at their weapons, beginning to shoot rocks into the darkness as laughter shook the trees and pierced their ears.      Luke pushed himself further into the dirt, placing his hands firmly over his ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sound of the laughter. Closing his eyes tightly as he let the silent tears of terror glide down his face.      He knew that laugh.     It continued to rock the trees and shake the ground. the forest taking great breaths that made the boys stumble and fall as the laugh continued, coming from each way.      Luke took deep breaths, telling himself it was just a dream. Just like every other night.     Alone in the darkness.     With the never ending shouting.     And the laughter that shook his bones and froze his blood. 

[a-queens-diary]

2016-08-04

As soon as Detective Nixon exited the stairwell he knew this case was bigger than he immediately thought when he received the phone call from the bureau.      The hallway was illuminated by the small flashlights as people milled around and flowed in and out of the apartment like a crashing waves. Voices buzzed around his head like an annoying swarm of bees as detectives interviewed some of the neighbours, trying to keep their voices as low and empathetic as possible. The overwhelming number of techs took pictures, their spontaneous flashes momentarily filling the semi-darkness, as others recorded who was at the scene, who was speaking with who, what time it was, what belongings were in the room, what was in the hallway.      He sighed and rubbed his eyes, already feeling a hopeless longing to return back to his own apartment and complete the ritual or drinking and sleeping he laid out specifically for Friday nights.      Waiting till there was a blip in the outflow of people going into the apartment, he finally made it inside.      This room was shrouded in darkness as well, but with a higher concentration of flashlights. He could hear the heavy falling of rain and the random crack of thunder from somewhere in the distance. He let his eyes wander around the room as groups of techs bumped into him trying to collect their samples and take their pictures.      The swell of bodies and uncomfortable temperature was already making Detective Nixon frustrated.      He turned and spotted a familiar silhouette tucked away in the back corner of the living room, interviewing the building's superintendent.     "It would've been around five-thirty in the evening, I suppose. That's when everyone usually starts arriving from work and then filters back out for any plans they may have with friends or errands or whatever. Everyone buzzed when they came in, but I always just let everyone in because they come in masses." Detective Nixon peered over his partner's slim shoulder and could see the messy and illegible scrawl across the paper. He'd have to get her to translate later.      "Did you see anyone you didn't recognize?" Her voice was serious, one he had grown accustomed to hearing.      "Oh, I don't know, everyone blends into one other on nights like that. I wouldn't be able to tell you a single face that stuck out. Anyone I didn't know I tried to pull over to sign the Guest Book, but it's always possible I may have missed someone."      The man ran a shaking hand through his thin, greying hair.        "Thank you," His partner said before turning to face him, startled by his presence. Nixon smiled down at her, knowing he had successfully snuck up on him seemed like an achievement.      "Boo." He said, never letting the satisfied smile fall from his face.      Price rolled her eyes, half of her face cast in flickering shadow from the light of the flashlights that bobbed around. "Can we send a few guys to check the Guest Log?"      "Only takes two, kid." Nixon said and winked at her before they both turned away from each other. Price asked the man if he was interested in anything to drink or if he would like to sit. Nixon turned toward the group of techs and grabbed two of them, one from dusting and one from photography and told them what their task was.      The two young techs turned to appraise each other and nodded then turned back to face him. "And can someone get me a Case File?" He said, loud enough for someone to hear him and, hopefully, follow through, the techs in front of him flinched.      Rubbing his eyes, he grabbing one of the steaming coffee's from the holder they sat in on the small table and ripped a pastry from the box, not caring if it was from his team or who brought it.                He brought the cup to his lips and let the smell of the coffee linger under his nose, slowly bringing his frustration down and his strengthening his awareness.      Someone cleared their throat behind him and he turned to see the small tech he had sent away a moment earlier. His frustration bubbled slightly again. 'Can they seriously not do anything without direct instruction?' He thought to himself, about to roll his eyes until she handed him the small file and smiled at him.      "Oh," He looked back at her and placed the coffee back on the table. "Fantastic, thank you." She smiled once more and slipped out into the hallway to go meet up with her partner. He took a deep breath before cracking open the dossier and taking a bite from the pastry, immediately tasting some sort of artificial berry.        His eyes flew over statements from the original police officers called in and a list of suspicious objects that had been taken as evidence and, of course, the report of who the victim was with original pictures of the scene.      She was laying on the bed in her bedroom, darkness spread where the light of the flash did not touch, illuminating some of the blood red rose petals that contributed to her silhouette and the few that lay on her white night gown. Her dark hair ran across the pillow in loops and twirls, almost looking as if someone had thrown her down on the bed, but also set aside the time to style it into chaos, but the look of peace on her face caused him to think the whole thing was a contradiction. Her eyes stayed closed, her face looked like it had never cried, never screamed for her life or struggled against her attacker (as one of the pictures, now tucked away in an Evidence bag, suggested). In one of her pale hands lay a single red rose and a playing card of the Queen of Hearts.      Goosebumps now coated Nixon's body and he laid his half-eaten pastry back on the table, closing the dossier.      He looked up into the room surrounding him, the room now flooded with electrical light. Looking at his surroundings, he saw his partner walking toward him, her tired eyes meeting his.      "Did you read the Case File?" He asked as she reached behind him for her own cup of coffee and pastry.       She nodded. "Bits and pieces, they only had so much when I arrived." She took a bite of the pastry and tried to smother the look of disgust that crossed her face at the burst of flavour. It lasted only a moment, but Nixon noticed.      He smiled and hit his partner on the back, handing her the Case File with the other. "Come on, let's go see the bedroom." He plucked the pastry from her hand and left it on the table next to his unfinished one.      It was a tight squeeze getting down the hallway as people came and went. The light had been switched on in there as well.      The first thing he noticed was that there was no blood, the room looked fairly undisturbed, if it wasn't for all the people he may not have known any crime had occurred. The bed had a few rumples in the duvet from where the victim had lain before the morgue boys took her away, but that was about it.     Rose petals still littered the room. They were placed on the floor, on the bed, on the small desk. Nixon wondered how much it would cost to retrieve this many rose petals when his partner nudged him to talk to one of the techs who was recording who was in the room.      "Have we sent anyone out to the floral shops in the area?" She asked, looking down at the clipboard that he tech held and recording some names into her own notepad.      "I'm not sure. I've been in here recording since I got here." He said without looking up.       She drummed her hands on her thighs as she turned back to Nixon, frustration mirrored in her partner's crystal blue eyes. "Damn, techs." She murmured as they filtered back into the hall and out of the small apartment.

[a-queens-diary]

2016-06-18

“Are you sure about this?” I hugged her small body to my side, feeling her arms wrap around my chest, I led her into the fairground. The darkness of the night was filled with the different coloured Festival lights, different songs ringing from all the different booths, the smells of popcorn, corn dogs and cotton candy flooded my nose and filled my lungs. The delighted screams of children as they chased each other with balloon swords. “Say the word and we’ll leave, okay?” I leaned down and whispered in her ear, gently nuzzling my face into her neck and giving her a soft squeeze as I felt her nod against me. “Where do you want to go first?” Her face lifted to mine, some of her dark hair fell from the messy bun that sat atop her head and into her light blue eyes, I felt my heart skip a beat. “Cotton Candy?” She said.  “Yeah! Okay!” I pulled my wallet out from my back pocket, leaving my other arm still wrapped around her shoulders, feeling her arm snake around my back too. I watched her pull the bill from my wallet and go to retrieve the cotton candy, a piece of it already in her mouth.  She leaned against me and moaned at the taste of it, her eyes then turning up to mine again, seeing as the corners of my mouth turned up into a smile. “You’re smiling.” She elbowed me gently in the ribs. “Mmm.” I said, looking down at her. “The night is young, there’s still plenty of surprises ahead.” She stuck out her tongue at him and he laughed as he saw the blue stain that sat on it.  Reaching into the bag of cotton candy, she tore off a piece and reached up to my face, I was already holding my tongue out. I smirked as she grabbed my chin and kissed the corner of my mouth. The minutes had turned to hours as time slipped away from the both of us. Already gone through the Haunted House, Hall of Mirrors and the Petting Zoo, now we were onto the games. I wound my arm back and pitched the ball at the bottles, watching as they all fumbled and fell. “Congratulations!” The owner of the booth hollered and rung the bell, drawing the attention of other passersby as they continued through the paths. “Our first winners tonight! Please come and claim your prize!” I turned to her and gestured for her to step up to the stand. She covered her face with her hands as she smiled and went up to the man, gesturing to the small stuffed Elephant.  He passed it to her and she gazed down at the small marble eyes and smiled, hugging it close to her chest and securing it in her purse, the head still showing so he could ‘see what was going on.’ “What do you say we go on one more ride?” I said to her, slipping my arm from around her shoulders and taking her hand as I led her to the Ferris Wheel, handing the woman our tickets, we sat in the small purple pod, my legs taking up the most space. I rested my arm on the back of the seat and she leaned over, resting her body on mine as they fastened us in and then the ride began to move. Slowly, we climbed to the top. They stopped the ride here for you to see a clear view. “The lights look like dancing flames.” She whispered to me, my other hand holding hers. “Everyone appears so small.” I didn’t know what to say to her so I listened as she whispered her thoughts to me. My stomach doing cartwheels and my heart beating faster than it normally would. Reaching for her chin, I gently turned her face to look at mine. Her light blue eyes looked tired from a night of adventure. An adventure she had never gone on before, her smile was lazy. I delicately placed her lips on hers for a few seconds and she sighed with the feeling of it, both of us never knowing where these small moments between us would lead, but satisfied knowing they had passed that stage. Knowing they had made it that far.  He rested his cheek on her head as they watched the dancing lights mingle with the flickering stars, still holding hands and wondering what other moments like these would follow. 

[a-queens-diary]

2016-06-07

My folk are known to be gifted in the art of storytelling. Growing up my most favourite story happened one that was told by the village elders, the one they told the most. "Follow the glowing stones, if they appear before you." They would say to us children as we say on the other side of the campfire, hanging onto their every word. "For where they may lead you is uncertain." Another croaked. The three of them took turns weaving their stories again and again. One told of how the stones would lead you to the edge of the world as we know it. All there was would be a cliff that led to infinite darkness speckled with the essences of the past elders. Another told the story of a dark and curious creature who lived in plain sight, willing you to live his life as a creature of the unknown. A mystery in itself. The last elder told the story of a man like any before who rose to play a god amongst mortals. Teaching them new ways to survive and thrive off this land. My personal favourite was the story of the creature. The story appeared to me as a sort of fantasy, but it supplied relief. I spent my life listening to these elders tell and retell their tales. Watch as they fed off the emotions of us as a crowd and weave the stories we all craved. My whole childhood I spent waiting for something to happen, hoping something would happen. To be a part of those stories instead of just listening to them. As I grew into a young man, I made sure to still stop by the Elder's Cabin on the border of the village before stopping for work. I loved seeing the light in the eyes of the new generation.  As they told the story of the glowing stones I decided I should be on my way, needing to still stop by the bakery to get my breakfast and lunch before heading to the metal shop.  As I turned to leave, there was a sudden change to their story. "The lights from the stones only appeal to those they wish to bestow the gift upon." Croaked one of the women. "Be on your guard, dear children. For if you see these lights and follow--" ******** "You can never return." The child's grandfather told him the story. "So, I went to my shift at the metal shop and, that very day, a very special woman came into the shop, interested in fixing a clasp on her silver necklace. I fixed it for her right there, and every day after I would look up from my work to see her kind and delicate face filling my entire world. Two months later and I made her mine." The small boy turned to his grandmother, who beamed at her husband. Every time she heard that story her face lit up in a very special way that it did for nothing else.  "Great story, Grandfather." The boy said, pushing himself off the stone floor. "I should return home, the sun is beginning to fall."  His grandmother pushed pushed herself from her chair and tucked two bread loaves softly into his arms. "For your parents and little sister." She smiled down at him with an adoring look that made him feel so full of love. "Run home now, before it gets too dark!"  "Alright, see you later, Grandfather!"  "Bye son! Safe journey!”  "I'll be back for lunch tomorrow." Both of his grandparents stood and waved at him as he headed back into the town, his Grandfather's story and goodbye rang through his mind and he strode through the forest path, but his eyes snagged on a glittering object in the tall plants in the underbrush. His heart fluttered rapidly, the sound was the only thing filling the silent world around him. He blinked and moved his body left and right, testing to see if it was a trick of the light. Figuring it wasn't, he neared the bush, raising a shaky hand toward the branches and gasped at what he saw as he moved them aside. A group of small, glowing, stones. Sitting amongst the grass and dirt. He lowered a hand toward it gently placed a hand on it, expecting to feel a warmth emanating from it, but felt the regular chill. He let his hands wander to the other few, hidden deeper in the bushes. He could barely contain his excitement as he stood and followed the small pebbles, the small glowing lights as the blinked and went out behind him. Time became lost as he followed the stones, losing count of how many he had passed in total, his eyes beginning to droop with the effort to keep walking.  He stepped into a clearing and it was as if his mind broke free from some sort of enchantment. He wondered when the sun had completely fallen from the sky and the stars had taken it's place. He wondered when the world had become so silent. He wandered further into the clearing and saw the glowing rocks ceased at the foot of a statue. The statue itself seemed to glow in the moon. Carved from the rock, a bearded figure stood carrying a staff.  "A wizard?" The boy whispered in amazement, wondering why he had never seen this before. "A wizard, indeed." An old and crotchety figure shuffled out from behind the statue. Startled, the boy turned to gaze at the man and was amazed at the profound likeness this man had in relation to the statue. "Did you enjoy the glowing stones?" "Did you...were you the one that made them glow?" "No, I didn't make them." He said. "I added to their essence." "And how did you do that?" The boy said, not taking his eyes from the man.  "You come from a long line of storytellers." The man smiled down at him witha  sort of mysterious warmth as he leaned on his wooden staff. "Would you like to learn the way of the stories? The way they all came to be?" "Yes," the boy whispered. "Then come with me." The man extended his hand. "But know you can never return." The boy looked at the mans hand and hesitated, thinking about all he would leave behind. He reached out and took it.

[a-queens-diary]

2016-05-30

Prompt   I sat in this crater beneath of a square cage of I breakable glass. I had tried every way I knew how to escape this otherworldly hell they had placed me in. The magic, the utterances, the prayers, the sacrifices. None of it had worked. My Gods had betrayed me long before my lonely existence in this cage, but I would be lying if I said I didn't expect some grand immortal God to come and offer me a second chance.  This sentence might have been bearable if there had been something to break this deafening silence. Some sort of noise to scatter the thoughts that coalesced inside my head as it showed me my darkest memories like a vicious plague. Closing my eyes against the never ending scenery of stars before me, one would expect a reprieve, but it was almost as if my mind began to disassemble piece by piece each time. The screams of terror as my victims watched their blood turn to mist before them as I dragged it from their veins. The resonating sound of bones snapping like the weakest of trees. Felt as my dagger plunged into their still beating hearts and watched as their faces morphed from one of pain and terror to peace and stillness. Feel as their warm blood coated my hands like flowing water. Upon opening my eyes again they immediately fell to my dark, burned hands. I could not see the blood, but I remembered the screams of horror and remembered the river of blood that ran across the stone floor. My hands were scarred, but so was my mind. Everything broken. I slowly moved my arm and looked at the sturdy bone beneath the skin and the black blood that flowed through the veins and wove over and across muscle. As the memories burned my mind, the blood inside me slowly began to boil with the uncontrollable emotions, causing gruesome burns to brand my skin. There was no sleep to end the torment and grant me passage to better places and adventures. There was no sun to remind me of what it was like to feel warm. There was no peace. No beautiful childhood memories to turn to when things seemed the most dark and threatening. Those were stolen as well. My only method of escape were the thoughts of my own demise, but I could see no way to put my plan into action with this impenetrable glass cage wall. I bide my time. I wait till the end of eternity. The chorus of tortured screams are my only company. A sudden boom shook the eternal night sky and I lifted my head from between my knees and looked around. Twisting my neck I turned to look behind me and stare across into the sea of eternal starlight. A knock sounded on the other side of the glass from across the cage. "Hello?" A woman's voice. Fragile. But I could hear the note of potential behind it. The potential for darkness and cruelty. Could hear the tone of desperation before she even voiced her desires. I bared my wicked teeth in the form of a smile out unto the stars before me and saw my ghostly gruesome reflection in them. My left eye of the darkest brown, people have been tempted to call it black and the other was a pit of white and untouched snow after a storm. My head was a mop of knotted and greasy black hair. I slowly turned to face her.

[a-queens-diary]

2016-05-13

Mr. Harker gently knocked on the wooden door before letting himself into her bedroom. As he slowly entered her room he was immediately struck by how dark it was. It enveloped him and he slowly turned, trying to find the door that had shut behind him.  The darkness was too full. Too wholesome. A small scraping sound penetrated the silence.  He shivered as he turned in it’s direction, trying to find the source. “Miss. Gardener?” He whispered into the darkness, listening to the scraping sound as it ceased. Silence again filling the spaces between the darkness.  A low groan suddeenly echoed off the walls and rang through his head and planted itself into his memory. The sound was completely inhuman.  “Miss Gardener?” He whispered a second time, feeling the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck rise as another shiver raced down his spine. He could hear the sound of some creature as it crawled across the floor. Horrified, he stood in his spot and listened to the tortured moans and cries. “Mr. Harker?” The familiar sound of Katherine’s voice filled the room as the moans stopped. It sounded softer than her voice normally would, but he felt relief. The fear disappating and he sighed as he sank down to the floor. “What are you doing in the darkness, Katherine?” He said softly, running his hands across the floor in an attempt to locate her. “Where are you?”  “The darkness?” She whispered, he followed the sound across the floor, eventually running into her soft arm and clutching it. “I only see the light.”  She suddenly reached over and dug her fingers into his arm and he tried to pull away.  “Katherine, stop.” He tugged his arm out of her grip and could hear the sound of soft hissing coming from the figure in front of him. “What, in God’s name, is the matter with you?” He shot to his feet, suddenly frustrated as he ran his hands across the wall looking for the light switch.  As he switched it on, the brightness of the new light made him squeeze his eyes shut, rubbing them as he turned around and took in her bedroom. The all-to familiar darkened wallpaper and the parisan rugs that covered the wooden flooring.  As he turned toward the windows, he noticed her standing before him.  Her long black hair hung down her back, sticking to her pale skin where it was exposed. Her earth brown eyes had turned darker and more severe, almost cynical. Her lips were a new shade of red. Blood flowed from the palms of both her hands, staining the white night shift that she wore. “Katherine---” Blood continued to flow and land on the rub beneath her feet. He crossed the room with minimal strides, taking her hands in his and feeling the cold touch that was not hers. The blood bubbled up from the neat and long slashes on either hand.  “Katherine, honey.” He reached up and cupped her cheek with his hand. Her dark eyes met his and she smiled as she leaned into his touch.  “Chin up,” her voice had changed, become lower. “He needed me to do this. He needed me.” His blood ran through his veins like glass shards.  “What are you taking about? Who did this to you?” She placed her bloody hand over his and leaned her face further into it, closing her eyes and taking a deep and satisfied breath.  “What’s the matter, William?” She hissed, suddenly reaching up and shoving him away from her. “Am I not what you expected? Am I not living up to your glorious expectations?”  He stared at her, horrified. Completely speechless. Her smile grew and she laughed.  “Remember that whore you dated while you were in College? The school teacher?” His heart stopped as he listened to her words.  “How do you know I --”  “I know.” She held her bleeding hands up to her chest before turning to look out the window behind her at the snow storm that blew wildly outside. “She never did though. Not till I told her.”  “Who are you talking about? Who did you tell?”  “Katherine.” Confusion, frustration and rage bubbled inside of him as he watched her turn her head to gaze at him. She laughed at the look on his face. “Don’t tell me you never told her.” She slowly pushed herself off the window frame and slowly walked toward him, her hands running down her legs. “The long, passionate sex.” She enunciated every word and he shook his head from the force of it. “The blood.” She stood in front of him now, running her hands up his arms. “The hole you dumped her sad, naked body into.” She growled. The rage consumed him and reached up a hand to slap her. How dare she insult him this way?  She caught his hand as it flew and dug her nails into his arm again, her eyes catching his and staring past his soul.  She shoved him again, hard, and walked past him to the fireplace on the other side of the room.  Mr. Harker stood exactly where he was, still as a post and thought about all that had just happened. I promised. He thought to himself. He ran his hands through his usually well-kept hair, sending it off into unnatural positions and places.  Miss Gardener crossed the room and grabbed his hand, suddenly. Again, he felt her cold and unnatural touch. The feeling of a corpses flesh. She slipped the handle of a blade into his hand and held it up against her own throat, closing her eyes once more. “Do it.” She whispered, harshly. Leaning into the blade. “You know if you don’t now you will commit the same crime again later, William.” “No.” He said, pulling his arm back. Not able to tell if it was directed toward the accusation or the threat of committing a new offense.  “No?” She whispered, opening her now black and bottomless eyes. “You are being absolutely ridiculous, Katherine. I know you have fallen ill, and I know the medicine must be playing tricks on you, but I am not here to be....this.” He took steps toward the door, intending to leave and retrieve her doctors from downstairs.  Multiple whispers suddenly filled the room and he turned to look at Katherine. She stood in the centre of the room, her eyes shut and her hands folded gently, the blood running down her arms and sleeves. She whispered in an ancient and foreign language that rolled off her tongue.As if this was a language she had studied, one she was fond of. The Katherine he knew could barely read at all.  “Katherine?” He whispered back. She continued her chanting without noticing. Turning back, he intended to run down the stairs to get somebody when he noticed the knife that had lain on the floor was now floating through the air.  Pictures on the walls began to shake and objects began to rise from their spots around the bedroom. Cups, Pitchers, Hair combs, Pillows, chairs, all of them now floated through the air. They crashed into each other as they sped up. The chanting grew louder. Hr. Harker tried to step closer to her, but some unseen force held him back, pushing him away and against the back wall. “Katherine!” He cried with an urgency, falling to his knees and reaching out his arms to try to get to her. “What is happening? Please!” Her eyes snapped open and the objects around the room stopped moving.  Those dark eyes found his across the room and she smiled, lazily at him before raising her bloody hand and sent the objects flying toward him. He tucked his head between his knees and felt as the objects hit him with an astonishing force. Could hear the sounds of some of them crashing against the wall beside him.  As the noises stopped, he lifted his head and stared at her, tears brimming his eyes at seeing her this way.  “You should have killed her when you had the chance.” She spat at him. The sound of footsteps on staircases filled the air. “I’m all that’s left of her.” She smiled wickedly at him before the door crashed open.

[a-queens-diary]

2016-04-08

Prompt There were two swift knocks on my door as I descended the stairs. I had purposely kept all the curtains on the windows closed tight and all the lights switched off. There have been no signs of life from my house except to retrieve the groceries I ordered online and, even then, two or three people would come to deliver them. All trying to get a look at me. To draw their own conclusions. I didn’t want anybody asking me for my story. For the actual account of what really happened, just so they could twist my words further into a lie.   I tip-toed toward the door and peered through the peephole.  The sun immediately seared my eyes. I wobble backward, viciously rubbing my closed eyes, though I still see the light. A small desk gets bumped in the struggle and falls to the floor causing noise to disturb the silence.  I’m still rubbing my eyes when the knocks come again, but more persistent and more frequently.  One eye open, I stare into the darkness surrounding me. Only seeing the brief outlines of the objects that surround me. I place my hand on the door and ask: “Who is it?” I listened to the silence as it dragged on and on for countless seconds. “Look, if you’re the cleaning service I canceled that, okay? Leave me alone.”  “I am not your maid.” A woman’s voice came from through the door and I stopped in my tracks at the tone of annoyance in her voice.  I rubbed my neck and looked through the peephole once more. The woman on the other side of the door had long brown hair that was pulled back into a pony-tail. Her pen sat between her ear and her hair and her glasses were pushed so far up her face it would take surgical precision to tear them off. I sighed deeply, backed away and rubbed my face again. I felt the opportunity to run from my loneliness flying in front of me. If I don’t like what she has to say, I’ll just ask her to leave. I thought to myself.  The locks rattled and the chains clanked as I opened the door only so far as to accommodate her.  As she slipped through the dark crack, the space was lit up by the flashing of cameras hoping to snap a picture of me. The face of a cold blooded killer.  The darkness quickly swallowed her as she stood in my foyer. My eyes had to readjust to the new darkness. It felt whole and so safe, even though there is an unwanted presence now in our midst.   “Who are you?” I asked quietly to the darkness. The silence and the visibility soothed my nerves.  “My name is Jenn. I’m a reporter---” “I’m not interested in selling my story to anybody.” I abruptly cut her off, speaking fast and loud so she knows how serious I am. The reality of this situation is beginning to creep up on me. I have no idea who this woman is. “I’m not interested in what everybody else wants to hear, Mr. Corsel.”  My back straightened. “Oh,” I whispered. I rubbed my face again and breathed deeply through my nose. “What do you want from me then?” “The truth.” Her voice had moved closer to mine and I backed up because of it. I couldn’t handle anything else happening to anyone. No, no. “I want to know your story. Not what everybody else sees or wants to see.” My feelings began to soar with hope and my heart skipped a beat because of it.  “My story.”  “Yes.” She said. Her voice turned low and laced with want.  I had so many questions as to why I should let her write my story. What was it about her that would have anybody fighting my corner? “Is this something you’re going to publish?” “Yes.” “Then I have terms of my own.” I rubbed the back of my neck again. “You can write your story and ask what you want, but I choose what I answer and I read the article before anyone else sees it.” “Alright.”  I strode backward and heard the crushed pieces of the lamp that got knocked over at some point as I paced down the hall. The lights were still off, but I knew this house like the back of my hand.  At the end of the hall, I switched on a small light. “Follow me.” I watched as she tentatively took her steps through the hallway, peering up at the walls and in to rooms.  As she caught up to me, I continued on. I could hear her soft steps behind mine and feel the breath as she exhaled, bouncing off the walls. I just hoped it wasn’t her last.  

[a-queens-diary]

2016-03-29

Prompt The sky was spotted with clouds that morning. White, fluffy clouds that turned dark all around me. Threatening rain but they didn’t look menacing enough.  The property around me had looked the same as it had for as long as I could remember, this land had never changed.  A long and endless driveway, the horses in the far field grazing and running with each other, the trees as they swayed in the breeze from the coming storm, leaves danced as they gracefully slid to the grass beneath them.  I surveyed the woods from where I stood on the porch, my hands tucked into the pockets of my apron that was draped over my sundress. As I gazed at the treeline, I noticed a small child standing at the edge of the dark and shadowed treeline, unmoving, peering out at me just as I did. Immediatley I felt unsettled, but I rubbed my hands together and descended down the steps onto the front lawn, slowly walking toward the treeline, closer to the child. I was close enough now to see that she was a little girl. Her polka dot dress swayed in the now vicious wind and around her pale, short legs. Her long black hair flowedall around her head and face, shielding it from me. She looked like peaceful chaos.  My stomach dropped and my nerves fired triggers throughout my body, causing me to stop where I was. Something isn’t right. My mind screamed at me over and over, but I was immoble.  Her black eyes pierced mine with a terrible unblinking stare. How did I know they were black? I asked myself. A huge boom shook the earth and knocked me off my feet sending me sprawling against the grass. As my head hit the dirt, I had a sudden memory of the sun on my face and my hands and feet buried in the hot sand of the sandbox that used to sit just by the porch. I remembered a polka dot dress. I remembered peircing black eyes.  Was I wearing it? My mind threw itself everywhere looking for answers. I dug my nails into the dirt undr the grass, pulling it out. No, no, but if I didn’t then who was wearing it? Tears streaked my face as I turned my head back toward the forest to see the little girl had disappeared without a trace.  Turning my head in the other direction I noticed that the barn was on fire. The smoke billowing up toward the sky and the heat sent waves of aggression toward me.  I recoiled, wiping more tears from my face.  Question upon question layered my mind. 

[a-queens-diary]

2016-03-28

Prompt The three barbarians stood in a row a few feet beyond the bush on the lonely country road that overlooked a the valley of a mountain. “Are you going to come out?” One of them shouted from where he stood into the trees. “Or are we going to have to come in and find you?”  “Yeah, there’s no use in hiding.” Another chimed in, laughing under his breath. “We know you’re in there.”  The barbarians cackled together, the noise sounding like a distant, menacing rumble.  The boy turned his head to the woman as they squatted behind a bush, watching as she closed her eyes and shook her head just slightly. Her body was balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to spring into action at a second’s notice.  “Men,” she whispered to herself, blowing a piece of her long black hair out of her face. As if that was the only thing that needed to be moved right then. “You,” She motioned to him. “Do not move, understand?.” She hissed. Her storm-blue eyes were severe, portraying just how serious she was.  The boy silently nodded and looked at her again as she began to move out from behind their spot. The blood red war paint that covered her body in streaks, thick across her pale skin. He could imagine in his mind, her fighting a battle and earning that war paint, moving up the ranks to a higher position to earn some of the more intricate designs that were painted. He noticed, too, that she wore no armour, he silently told himself that she probably would not need it. Pushing off with her one leg, she swung into the shadows fluidly, climbing through bushes and past trees, barely making any noise but the random snap of a twig. She was fast enough for the men not to be able to see which direction the noise had come from. The men glanced at each other, still standing in a row. They looked to each other for an answer, one brute lifted his shoulders as an explanation to the others. When no answer immediately presented itself, they drew their swords and stood comfortably side-by-side, ready to cut down whatever crawled out of the trees. “Come out!” One of them shouted, raising his sword higher. He watched as the woman slid from the shadows, silently drawing her two swords from the sheaths on her waist. “You three boys are standing in my way.” Her voice was confident as her eyes held theirs, scanning each of them from head-to-toe. A wolf amongst sheep. The three barbarians stood a small distance away in front of her, confused at the sight before them. A woman dressed in darkness, hair the colour of night, eyes of a storm and red streaks like battle scars that marked her skin. One of them chuckled. “This woman can’t be serious!” “This woman is very serious,” she said, pointing the tip of her blade and dragging it through the air across the line of men before her. “I am asking you, boys, politely to move out of my way so I can go get what I need.” “’Fraid we can’t do that, sweetheart.” One of them called, laughing to himself. Another barbarian shifted his sword so it’s tip dug into the earth before him and stood up straighter. They thought there was no threat in her at all, but obviously, they misunderstood the situation completely. “There is nothing down that mountainside.” “Then there should be nothing to protect. You can let me pass without getting hurt.” All the men looked at each other and laughed. One grabbed the other’s arm for support. “Are you listening to this?” The barbarian turned his back to wipe his eyes. The woman moved faster than the eye could blink and shoved her sword through the man’s chest without so much as a grunt of effort. She pulled the sword out again harshly and watched him fall to his knees before raising her foot and kicking him over. Before the first man had even hit the ground the attacks started to come fast and angry. The woman parried every attack. Forcing the steel down and around, causing one man to lose his balance while dragging her blade across another’s skin. Blood flowed from the men’s skin like lava, the boy watched as he grabbed at the wound as it bled, feeling the warmth as it leaked between his fingertips. The man swung his sword around just as she raised hers. His sword dragged across her arm before finally hitting her steel. Her face registered no pain as she swung her other sword down, forcing the man to his knees before she stabbed him through the chest as well, blood spraying from the wound, out his mouth and down his neck before he fell to the left. The last barbarian watched in horror as his last friend was cut down. He strode around her, trapping her in a circle. Both were vultures sizing up their dying prey. Watching from a distance, but feeling that pull from death, knowing it wasn't far away. They had faced each other only both were now lacking something. Him, his comrades, standing alone against the enemy. She had lost the element of surprise. He charged toward her, his steps large and clunky, his voice ringing out in anger as their blades met. The force of his caused her to stumble backward. He swung his sword again, the metal hit the ground where she had stood seconds before. She swiped up with her own sword and caused him to lose his grip on his own blade, watching as he dropped it, she kicked it over the cliff before he had a chance to scramble for it. Now it was just her standing as the man fell to his knees, knowing his fate. It wasn't the etiquette of swordplay to defeat another who had lost his sword, but he got the impression she didn't care too much for the rules at this point. She walked up behind him, grabbed his blonde hair and raised her arm--- The boy covered his eyes, seeing the scene play out in his mind from behind that bush. He felt suddenly nauseous, knowing the scene that awaited him on that lonely road. Seconds grew into minutes as he fought the need to throw up and stood on unsteady feet, the bile rising in his throat as he neared the battleground. He could smell the metallic pang of blood as it gently coated the air. He took his hands away from his face as he came onto that road and saw the woman as she stood on the edge of that cliff with both swords in her hand, dripping blood The mountains on either side of her could not hide the growing sun, painting the sky a bloody haze. It’s going to rain today. He thought to himself as he stood amongst the corpses. He looked at her again as she looked down at the three mangled bodies. He watched as she drew a deep breath and began to scream. He closed his eyes with the sound of it. It wasn't a victorious or triumphant scream. It didn't even sound like a mournful cry. To him, it sounded as if it were a battle-cry. As if she were expecting more foot-soldiers to be lacing the bushes and she was inviting them to join. After a few moments, she swallowed the sound and glided toward the fallen men. She knelt before them and stuck her fingers in the blood that coated the floor beneath him. She drew three more thick red lines across her thigh before sheathing her swords, turning to him and saying “I thought I told you to wait in the bushes.” 

[a-queens-diary]

2016-03-25

Prompt Blaze and Aspen sat amongst the trees in a small glade, both stretched out on a rock under the sun, Blaze gently knotting small pink flowers into Aspen’s earth brown hair as he slept, careful not to rock against his antlers.  They had always loved going there, just the two of them. Sitting to watch as the clouds drifted across the sky, listened as the water flowed past rocks and past trees, the birds taking turns singing their songs to each other, the wind innocently dancing to the sound of it.  Blaze looked down at Aspen’s face to see his eyes now open, his hair transformed into a flower bed. Blaze had always loved studying Aspen’s face as he slept, his tanned features innocent and settled. When he was awake, his face completely transformed into something that sent his heart flying. Watching as the small freckles that lined his cheeks and his eyes danced as he smiled, his eyes lit with beauty and subtle happiness. He smiled down at his friend and shifted so he sat between his friend’s antlers, knotting one more flower into his hair.  “How does it look?” Aspen asked, closing his eyes again with the calming feeling fo the gentle tug on his hair.  “It looks perfect.” Aspen listened to Blaze’s voice, hanging on to the sound of the satisfaction in it.  Blaze smiled and continued to tug on his hair, liking the feeling of it between his fingers.  “Your antlers are growing in nicely.” Aspen said with his eyes still closed, but he smiled. Blaze moved his other hand so it ran along Aspen’s jaw, feeling the stubble that grew there. “Thank you, I think so as well.”  Aspen opened his eyes and pushed himself up to sit beside Blaze, feeling the heat as it ran all across his skin. He looked at Blaze, seeing his pale skin and his startling blue eyes, settling on the antlers that had begun to grow on his friend’s head. He reached up and moved his hand over them, feeling the soft fuzz that grew on it. Smiling, he reached out with his other hand, flicking his white ear. They smiled at each other for a few silent moments, taking in each other’s bodies and faces. Their love for each other filling the air around them and wrapping them together. Blaze suddenly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Aspen’s chest, burying his face in his neck and gently dropping kisses on the skin there. Aspen reached around Blaze and pulled him tighter to his body, reaching up to knot his fingers in the snowy white hair. Time passed as they held each other, gently kissing each other. Not feeling as the clouds moved across the sky, as the sun began to fall as the world began to ready for another night. Blaze pushed himself off of Aspen as he realized the world was beginning to grow dark, brushing the dirt of his furry legs as he stood. “I’m going to got to the Borders.”  Aspen sighed, closing his eyes. “I still cannot figure out why you insist on wasting your time.”  “It isn’t a waste of time.” Blaze said for what felt like the millionth time. “They are interesting to watch. I would invite you to come and watch with me but I already know what your answer will be.”  “All they do is hop around their town like small rabbits, buzzing like insects. I don’t understand the appeal.” “They’re smarter than you give them credit for, Aspen.” “I bet they are, considering they took majority of the forest to make way for their own kingdoms.” Aspen breathed and stretched out on the rock beneath him again. “That’s not interesting it’s selfish. But go on! Don’t let me stop you!” “Aspen----” “No! go! If I haven’t made the slightest impression by now, I probably won’t with this conversation. We’ve discussed this so much and so often it is beginning to bore me.” He slowly squinted up to Blaze, seeing him standing there, Aspen mentally began to cheer, thinking he had finally broken through the childish fascination. Blaze shook his head and wandered from the glade, taking the long way to get to his spot at the Borders that night.

[a-queens-diary]

2016-03-01

Prompt:  While out on a blind date you notice several people whispering and pointing at the two of you. You catch a glimpse of the televised emergency broadcast, and your date is plastered across the screen I spit my water everywhere, watching as his mouth twisted into a lopsided, embarrassed grin. I erupted into full-blown laughter, throwing my head back, my whole body shaking with it. I shut my eyes tight and clutched my chest, sucking air deep into my lungs. I looked over to him as I slowly regained my composure, crossing my legs underneath the table. "That was.…" "I never said I was an intelligent child," He smirked, rubbing his chin. I giggled again and then smiled at him. He returned it. His smile took up his whole face. His mouth curved upward and his eyes shone brightly with happiness. The two of us sat in a comfortable silence for a few more minutes, just enjoying each other's company. I picked a fry up off the plate that was between us and dipped it in my chocolate milkshake. I could never explain what was so tempting and attracting about doing this, but my taste buds went nuts every time I did. I went to grab another fry, watching as he grabbed one, too. We both dipped it into the milkshake and then bit down on it at the same time. "Do you always do this with your fries?" He said, smiling again, pointing at me with the uneaten half of his fry. "Mmm, sometimes. I just find I can't help it when they're both in front of me." He nodded and silently laughed to himself. "Not judging, I swear." Silence descended over us again, but we just kept smiling. My heart felt like it was pounding to escape and my stomach was doing somersaults. "You know," I said, leaning forward, lowering my voice. "You never told me what you do for a living." His smile dropped right off his face and he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin once more. "I, uh…" He stopped and looked at me, shyly. "I work for my father's business." "Oh cool!" I said, trying to make him feel comfortable enough to tell me about it. "What do you do for your father's business?" "Well," he cleared his throat loudly. "I am the middle-man between my father and the customers so I make the deals." "Sounds like a tough job, but very socialist." He smiled and I took that as a good sign, watching as he slowly leaned forward again. "I'll just let you do all the talking from now on then." Suddenly, everyone in the diner's eyes was glued to the televisions that were plastered all around the restaurant, all whispering and slowly turning their heads to look at us. "What's going on?" From where we were seated, I couldn't see any of the screens myself. I shifted my body so I could turn around to look at a screen, but he grabbed my hand. Holding it gently in his own and pulling me around to face him. "It probably isn't anything important," He growled, squeezing my hand. His face had gone pale. "If it isn't anything important then why can't I look?" The nervous fluttering continued in my stomach. He pushed his chair out from under him and stood, still holding my hand in his. His eyes had turned aggressive. His body language became defensive. "Do you want to go for a walk" "I haven't finished my dessert yet." I turned back around, facing my dessert and looked in the mirror that he sat in front of, having a clear view of the television screen behind me. His face appeared on the screen. The same severe eyes and dark hair. The same mouth that smiled at me with such tenderness. "What…?" My voice trailed off as I blinked to clear my eyes, making sure that it was really his face above the wanted sign and the phone number. "What's going on?" I turned to look at him, not bothering to keep my voice from shaking with fear. "Who are you?" I whispered to him. He tugged on my hand and pulled me up to stand next to him. I held my breath as everyone in the diner turned to look at us. Seeing the fear in my eyes that was reflected in his. He pulled me behind him, running from the small restaurant and down the street. 

[a-queens-diary]

2016-02-28

Prompt: This one was inspired from a dream I had. I filled in the blanks though so it made a little more sense, hopefully :’) She walked down a pathway, trees lining either side, blue sky above her and a warm breeze that spun around her with the ease of a dance partner. She watched as a jogger ran past, his backpack jumping up and down as he did, only to stop in front of her. "You didn't wait." he said. She stopped walking and watched as he did the same, looked up and saw his dark chocolate brown eyes and a look of amusement on his face. His earthen skin shone in the afternoon light. "That's because it's a beautiful day and I wanted to walk." "I could have just driven you." "Are you kidding?" She looked at him and smiled. Moving past him to keep walking. He jogged around her again and walked in front, talking about some sort of football practice. She only just realized how heavy her backpack felt on her back, trying to rearrange it so she could support it just a little longer until she got home, but she just sat down on the sidewalk then laid down, feeling the hot cement beneath her skin, moaning with the steady warmth of it. He turned around and saw her lying on the ground and jogged back, a worried expression pasted on his face. "Tell me if you see any bikers, okay? I don't want to get hit." He sat down next to her and looked up at the sky, she maneuvered her head so she could see his face. His eyes were closed, but it looked so effortless. It felt so calming, watching him breathe. The world silent and peaceful. "Hey!" A shout rang out from down the path and she turned her head to see the football team walking toward them. The boy smiled and stood up, his hands open to receive the ball. She moaned and pushed herself to her feet, pushing past him to keep walking down the path. The boy shouted with his teammates, running up the small hill to the football field, they tossed the ball back and forth, laughing and enjoying the day. She kept walking, figured she'll go home, drop off her bag and then continue around the block. Then she heard someone running behind her again and closed her eyes. "Didn't want to stay?" He said as he caught up, grabbing the back of her backpack. "I told you," She twisted, trying to wrestled his hand out from beneath the strap of her backpack and shifted to face him. "I wanted to walk." "Then I'll walk with you." "No, go play your game. I prefer the silence sometimes." At that second, it began to rain. Great huge drops of rain fell from the sky and hit her face. She sighed and continued to walk away from him. "Hold on!" he said, grabbing her bag again. "You can't walk now, it's raining." "Are you kidding?" She said. "all the more reason." He walked beside her and began to take off his shoes. She laughed and watched as he did it, his bare feet now standing on the street road. She looked up at him and he smiled. She smiled, too, grabbing onto his arm for support and gently unlacing her shoes and slipping out of her socks. They stood together, letting the rain completely wash over them, staring at their feet as they stood in contrast. Black against white. They both laughed and he gently took her hand, she didn’t pull away as she looked up at him and he pulled her along beside her, walking down the street in the pouring rain. 

[a-queens-diary]

2015-12-22

The man strode through the cobblestone street, pushing past all the other citizens who were trying to complete their day’s menial chores. The old and ancient church suddenly rose before him, it’s contrast to the stormy sky made it feel less inviting. The rust and the dampness leaking down the grey bricks made it seem like it was crying.  His heart twisted as he mounted the staircase and threw open the large wooden door. The pews on either side of him  were empty, but some still occupied this building and he would not leave without speaking to him.  He strode down the aisle toward the large monument erected at the end and skimmed it with his eyes, up and down. Hatred filled his veins, but also a traitorous feeling of hope. For so long, he had felt abandoned and misled. Too long.  He noticed the white robes as they swayed against the ground. “Oh, my child.” The old priest said, nearing him.  “I have come to confess.” The man said, his voice deep and certain. The priest looked at him, silently appraising him and nodded, gesturing to the booth off on the side.  The man strode past the small preacher and pulled back the curtain, lowering himself onto the wooden seat within the booth, closing it behind him, the priest followed not soon after. “Forgive me, Father for I have sinned.” The man took a deep breath. “Actually, I would like to begin my confession with a story in relation to my own.” The priest on the other side sat silently, listening.  “There was once a boy, an orphan, and he lived on the streets. He was humiliated every day. He begged for money but was kicked and beaten like nothing more than garbage. Cold, alone and frightened, the boy had always prayed, hoping against hope that there was something or someone out there who would listen to him. Someone who would protect him.” The man took a steadying breath, shaking his head as a series of emotion filled him, bubbling just underneath his skin. These emotions he had been running from for years had finally caught up and were nipping at his heels. Tearing him apart. “No one ever came. No one ever held him while he cried or wished to play with him. He witnessed all the other kids and their friends laugh and play games, but he could only watch. One day, the boy decided that if anyone was listening they would have heard his pain. They would have done something. This boy grew up into a man. And that is where his story and mine merge.”  “This child,” The priest said. “This is you?”  “No.” The man said, his fists clenched tightly. “This boy is dead. A man replaced him. A man who grew up knowing that hope is useless. This man sits on the other side of you today to ask for forgiveness.” There was a momentary pause between them both, not knowing what to say to the other.  “What are you asking to be forgiven for, my child?”  “I am asking to be forgiven for what I must do.”  The priest sighed. “The future is delicate. If you follow the right path, there will be nothing to be forgiven for.”  “I know I will need it, Father. I come here to ask, a child to a father, forgive me for what I’m about to do.”  “And what must you do?”  The man silently pulled out his metal sword and stabbed it through the wooden booth, harshly, feeling the pressure on the other end. The sounds of the priests chokes and gasps echoed through the empty church and rang in the man’s ears. “I must start a revolution.”

[a-queens-diary]

2015-12-05

He came here every week with a new bouquet of Lavander.  Every week he sat there and fell apart all over again, reliving all the time they had together. Seeing her eyes flutter shut as she took a long, deep breath, her lips gently turning up into a smile. How his stomach longed to see that innocent expression once more. He sits there and remembers her, but more than once he remembered one of the last days before it all unravelled. It always came clearer than the rest. The car had purred beneath them and the road seemed to unravel in an endless expanse beneath the wheels of the car as they flew down an abandoned highway.  Her head was thrown back against the headrest, her hair flying around and her hand hanging out of the window, lifelessly, her eyes closed. The only signs of life still singing under her skin was the subtle rise and fall of her chest. The radio rocked the world at full blast.   He remembered she suddenly turned to him and said “Let’s never turn back.”  “And go where?”  She seemed to think about this for a second, she absent-mindedly bit her lower lip and said: “Anywhere.”  He smiled and, at the time, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. She suddenly laid her hand on top of his. “At least until we run out of road.”  “What happens when we run out of road?”  She took a deep breath and then said: “We walk.”  He nodded, knowing he’d carry her as far as she wanted to go. Until her heart became a stone in her chest. Until no breath would fill her lungs. He’d go to the ends of the earth for her. She relaxed against the seat again and began to try to outsing the artist on the radio. Singing a song he had never heard before, he wished this moment would never end. The off-key singing. The relaxed and free expression painted on her face. He found the beauty within the imperfections of her. He could never think any less of perfect for her. It was all she deserved.  Suddenly, she gasped and flung her head out the window, excitedly gripping onto it. “Look!” Her hand flung farther out into the air, pointing toward the huge blue puddle that rolled past the window. He pulled over and she immediately unlocked the door and flung her small body outside. Her hands immediately finding the guardrail, she flung her head back and stared at the blue, cloudless sky. He silently ejected himself from the car and moved to join her.  She took another deep breath and looked at him. Her eyes huge and innocent. Not knowing anything but fear. “How long did it take to make the lake?” Her head turned back toward the water. He looked out as well and leaned against the guardrail beside her. “I don’t know.” She silently put her head on his shoulder and looped her arm through his, like it was the most natural thing. “How long do you think it’ll be here?”  He leaned his cheek against the top of her head. “I’m not sure.”  Silence ensued, comfortable silence.  “How long will you be here?” “Forever.” He spat out into the world without pause. Without even thinking about it. He felt her smile and pull him tighter beside her. He knew she wouldn’t say the same and his heart broke, but he knew he would be here as long as she needed him. He wouldn’t leave. After what seemed like a few more minutes of standing there, looking out at the water, she took his hand and tugged it gently as she crossed the street.  He looked down at her hand in his. How her hand was so small that his practically swallowed it completely. How it just disappeared. He gripped it tighter, fearing he may have to let go.  She suddenly stopped and he nearly slammed into her back, He let go of her hand to gently place his hands on her shoulders so he had time to stop.  He looked at her, opening his mouth to say something but saw her expression of sadness as she stared into the field of Lavander. She gently smiled and slowly made her way through the tall plants. Her hands skimming the tops of them, she swiftly snapped one off it’s stem, her eyes fluttered closed and she waved it beneath her nose, gently moaning at it’s natural scent.  “Let’s never turn back.” She said to no one in particular, just to the air and the plants and the future. Never wanting it to go on without her.  He sat in front of the giant slab of stone that stood out of the ground, bearing her name, tears streaming down his face.  “I haven’t forgotten.” He sobbed, placing the bouquet of Lavander he had picked from his back garden that morning. “And I haven’t looked back.” He placed his hand on the stone and traced her name with his fingers. He then stood up and felt the gentle breeze sweep his hair and let the last of his tears fall. 

[a-queens-diary]

2015-11-24

Prompt: A road trip is exactly what me and the girls need. (http://hubpages.com/literature/99-Starter-Sentences) This road trip is exactly what us girls needed. A weekend away from the chaos of city lives to relax and tour the country-sides, just like old days. Taking pictures at nearly every stop and making memories along the way. None of us expected anything out of the ordinary. Nothing we couldn’t shrug and laugh off later on. Our third night into the road-trip it was pouring rain. The wind was so bad that it was blowing our car so we decided to pull over in the first motel we found. It was off-the-beat-in-track, but not run down. We took two rooms and split up, promising to see each other first thing in the morning to continue the adventure.   I pushed open the door to our room and flung my suitcase on the first bed I saw, shaking the rain off me like a dog, my friend laughed. We went into the washroom and got ready for bed. Drying our hair and changing our clothes, we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. In the morning, everything changed.  The sun was shining through the window, I guess I forgot to close the blinds, but anyway, it woke me up. I could see the light through my eyelids so I groaned and rolled over, intending to bury my face in the pillow before I saw a bloodied handprint on my pillowcase. I shot up and quickly looked around the room to see there was blood everywhere. The ceiling, the floor, the walls. Everywhere. My hands shook and my eyes immediately flooded with tears as I saw my roommate. Her eyes were open and her hand was reaching for me, but she looked so calm. I leaned over the bed and vomited onto the floor. My immediate thought was that I had added to the mess and my second thought was to get help. I pushed up off the bed. The room spun for a moment and then I wobbled over to the door, my hands were shaking so badly I could hardly twist the door handle. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again, looking around the room to see if I was just imagining it, and then I saw the blood was smeared above my bed. It was hazy, but I made out the letters and they made words. It said, “I SEE YOU.” in huge letters and my stomach started to heave again at that point but I managed to open the door. Using the wall, I made my way over to my friends room and I knocked once on the door, but it opened underneath my hand, so I walked in. I nearly collapsed with the amount of blood in their room. It was everywhere. I couldn’t see anything but red. It was after what seemed like hours, I saw the second message above their television, across from their beds, “OPEN YOUR EYES.”  I screamed again, but it was like the world couldn’t hear it. I heard someone bust the door open and I felt hands on my back, leading me out of the room, but I can’t remember anything else. It’s all gone. 

[a-queens-diary]

2015-11-17

Prompt: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246853623302477248/ The man walked into the cave and sunlight immediately died away. He knew what he had come for was pointless and that it would reveal nothing but what could be, but this could not be helped. If he was oblivious to where his life may lead he would not be able to go any further.   With every step, he heard the echo of the crunch of bone beneath his feet but dared not look, afraid he would stop and turn back. He ignored, to the best of his ability, the smells of rotting flesh and the vermin that scuttled through and the screams of those who had seen death.  He shortly came to a cavern that was lit up by three skylights. In the spotlight from these lights stood three women, one in each one. They were easy to miss, yet completely mesmerizing. Hopeless yet so hopeful. Horrendous yet beautiful.  “I knew you would come.” The woman in front of him said. She stood tall above him, his head tilted up to see her at her full height. Her voice sounded melodic, but also so deafening. It sounded wrong. “Your string has shown this, mortal.”  “Then you know why I am here.” The man said, defiantly. Her black, bottomless eyes reached into his. “Yes,” She said. “You know the price for what you ask? It is not a cheap thing.”  “Yes.”  The woman stared at him in wonder and drifted a closer. As she left her spotlight, her skin turned from liquid moonlight to charred and skeletal. Her white dress looked dirty as it drifted across the floor silently with a gentle breeze. She towered above him now. “Those who see into their future wish to unsee what is shown to them. It is vital to understand, mortal, that time is fluid and so is the future. You walk a path still being forged. Be wary of that.”  A physical silence descended upon them, one that could be cut with her scissors. She stared into him, waiting for an answer and he finally found the strength to nod his head.  “Then we shall begin.” She drifted back into the moonlight and her skin immediately became moonlight once more. She reached above her head and pulled down one silver thread. Her scissors changed eagerly at her side, eager for use.  “Remember what I said.” She gave him a few moments to gather his thoughts. “Place your hand on the thread and what you wish to see will show. Be specific in what you want, mortal. For if you see all, you will not live long enough to fulfill it.”  He did not ask what she meant but ran his fingers across the thread. He could feel the gentle warmth of it. See the small golden light radiating from it and feel as it pulsed with the life.  He slowly wrapped his hand around it and welcomed the burst of light behind his eyes as he witnessed his future come to pass. 

[a-queens-diary]

2015-11-14

They stood on the bridge and listened to the birds wake up and begin to sing. Saw the sunlight begin to bounce off the fallen leaves and dance across the path ahead of them. They walked silently, hand in hand, drawing warmth from each other. As warm and safe as a shared beating heart.  They stopped at the small wooden bridge near the top of the hiking trail and looked out at the small town where they had met and grown up together. Seeing the small buildings below and the lake behind it. Too far to hear the small noises that showed sign of life from it.  “Well,” he sighed, taking his hand from hers and leaning over the wooden gate. She walked up and leaned beside him, reaching up to push a few stray strands of his hair away from his face. “What’re we gonna do now?”  She smiled and ran her fingertips down his cheek and neck. Looking at how the light caught his blonde hair and made it glow. “What we’ve been doing, I suppose.” She sighed and looked out with him, resting her head on his shoulder.  “What we’ve been doing?” he said, disbelieving, he began laughing. “Didn’t you say you wanted to ditch this place? Leave it in the rear-view?”  “Alright.” She took his hand again and smiled. “What do you suggest we do then?”  He looked at her and she saw something dance across his face, but it flickered away too fast for her to register what it was. He looked out again, but this time he looked past the small town. He looked beyond to places they hadn’t explored yet.  “Wherever the wind takes us,” He said quiet enough for only to her to hear.  She smiled and sighed. “That sounds perfect to me.” “We could do it,” He said, his back straightened.  “I know we could. There isn’t anything to tie us here anymore. We could escape.” She whispered back to him. She didn’t know how they had got so close to each other, but she wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him closer. His head rested on the top of hers and they both looked out to a world of adventure laid before them.Thinking of all the things they would find. All the people they would meet. It was all out there, waiting.  “I’d say as long as we’re together the world is ours,” He said suddenly.  “The world?” She said. “What about the universe?”  “The universe, too. All of it is open, but are you ready to reach out and take it?” “Take it together?” She said. “I’m more than ready.”  She leaned back and looked at the other. His bright blue eyes the colour of the purest water, hers the colour of the purest earth. Holding all the secrets and dreams within them, mingling together.  He cupped the back of her head and lightly pressed his lips to hers. She laced her arms around the back of his neck and pressed further, deepening the kiss. The tightrope beneath their feet snapped and they could feel themselves falling, but as long as it was together, they would fall forever. They were both outcasts and misfits, but they were together.