1 page excerpt from 3 of my stories
BECAUSE I DO WHAT I WANT.
ECHOINGS:
The rising sun wakes me up. I say rising even though it was already half-past ten. I sit up and yawn, stretching my arms. Toby yawns beside me and I smile at him, although last night’s memories are returning to me. Michael is still in the back of my mind, but only in the back, now.
I slide off of the bed and walk over to the bathroom, where I strip and shower. Afterwards, I quickly dress and head downstairs.
My bedroom is at the end of the east wing, and is at the end of a long hallway that leads to the staircase in the entry. I walk down the stairs and turn right, where the door to the large kitchen is. Toby follows me, hungry for food and for attention.
I turn to the pantry and open it. A box of generic cereal is the first thing I see. I grab it and take it out of the pantry and set it on the counter. A bowl from the cupboard and a spoon from the drawers are what I grab next. I open the fridge and frown--I’m out of milk.
I turn to the keys on the small peg by the door and take them off. Toby rubs against my leg and I sigh and remember that he hasn’t been fed yet. I turn back to the pantry and take out a small bowl of cat food. I pry the lid off and set it on the floor by Toby and make sure that he’s eating it before I turn and leave the kitchen.
My small white sedan is parked in front of the manor. The shiny surface reflects me as I approach it. Vaguely I notice that my hair is getting longer than I like to have it and resolve to go to get it cut after I go shopping. Toby wouldn’t like me to be gone for too long, so I may have to come back and grab him before I get my hair cut.
I open the door and get into the car. The leather seats are warm and comfortable. I close the door and start the car.
The mailbox, which is down a short drive along a paved road that leads to the manor house, has mail in it. I stop the car and open the door and take the mail out, interested in what I’d find.
“Lexi says hi... Uh oh, Kyle and Maegan are missing?” I say out loud. I rip open the letter and hurriedly read the contents.
“Dear Kira,
This isn’t mean to worry you--well, maybe a little bit--but Maegan and Kyle didn’t make it to school today. I haven’t seen them for a while. I’m sending this letter on September twentieth. I don’t know when you’ll get it, considering that you might be moving if Gage passes. I’ll send word if there’s any more information on Kyle and Maegan.”
ALTERNATE5
I woke up and noticed Alyx asleep on the table, breathing deeply. Her head was at an odd angle and she looked uncomfortable even while asleep. I stood up and moved over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey. You sure don't look comfortable. Go sleep on the bed,” I whispered. She woke up and nodded, moving over to the bed without an argument, which was unusual. A tired Alyx was an ornery Alyx, usually. She fell asleep a while after that and slept soundly through the night. Eventually, after sitting beside the transmitter for about 5 hours, I moved over to her and fell asleep beside her, noting that we were about to make preparations to leave.
I hope we make it. And I hope Alyx doesn't snap at me too many times. A fight between us could be dangerous.
Alyx woke up a few minutes after I'd finished making pancakes from the last bit of the just-add-water mix. She looked at the huge batch I'd made and asked, “Do we have enough syrup?”
“Good question,” I said, shrugging. I looked over at the syrup supplies and saw two bottles left.
“Yeah, we got two left.” I flipped a pancake. I nodded to a plate on the table, already set.
“I know you're hungry, Alyx. Just go ahead and eat.”
She stood up and yawned, stretching her arms and legs before going over to the table and sitting down. “Thanks, Kyle.” She started to eat. I nodded and flipped the last pancake.
“How far are we going to go?” she asked. I was loading the other pancakes into a bag.
“Depends on how far we walk,” I answered with a grin. She rolled her eyes and said, “That's what you said last time.”
“Yep. And it worked then too; no reason to jinx it.”
“We also nearly died.”
“…point?”
IMPACT
The next day, Mirinah knocked on the door. Terrance opened it and set the shotgun down beside the door.
“I talked to the council. They all agree that last night's incident was unacceptable,” Mirinah said immediately. Terrance nodded but didn't move to let her in.
“Terrance, you have to understand. My people had their world destroyed. Just before that, a stranger comes and claims to be the way to their salvation. They trust him, but don't fully think it through. When they got onto your ship, they thought that you'd have homes and beds and food for them. They didn't know they'd have to survive off of rations and build their own houses. And then one day they find out that the man who had saved them has a woman living in his house that can see through solid objects. Yes, these people can control elements, but they're hostile to anything that's similar to their own power. They see Kira as a scapegoat. Something to channel their hate and fear into.”
“You're really not helping my mood, Miri. All I've heard so far are excuses for people who are terrified of their gift,” Terrance replied, trying to keep his voice smooth. Mirinah nodded.
“That's exactly what they are. Can you blame them? What if someone you didn't know were to suddenly come here and tell you that shadow demons were going to come and eat everyone?” Mirinah asked. Terrance felt a little uneasy at what she said, but he wasn't sure why. Not at first.
“I'd stay here and fight them off. If they ever came. I'd be skeptical of the man, that's for sure,” Terrance admitted.
“And if the man had a boy with him that could hear through walls and that stayed in his bedroom all the time? You would be suspicious of him, would you not?” Mirinah made her point. Terrance grunted.