Hey, I thought I would post this. My best friend and I wrote this years ago. It is non Legion, so Scott or Gary, if you want me to remove it, let me know.
This is sorta adult so if you don't like foul language or adult situations, you might wanna skip it...
Midnight Investigation Chapter 1
This is a nice shade, Odelia thought as she admired her freshly painted nails. She knew it would be a little while before anyone came in, so she had some time to kill. None of them ever came in at 8 o’clock. Hell, most of them weren’t there until 11:30 these days. And why should they, she thought. It had been a very long time since Midnight Investigations had taken on a paying client.
She retrieved another bottle of nail polish from her purse and started over. The color she had now clashed with her form-fitting royal purple business suit with the ultra mini skirt and matching 6 inch stiletto heels.
After applying a fresh coat of nail polish she quickly checked her makeup in the mirror of her compact. Perfect. As always. She stared for a moment at the reflection in the mirror. She really was beautiful, she thought. Finally. All the cosmetic work was done. It had been a long year and half since she’d started, but it was well worth it now. She had delicate features, a dainty nose, full lips and perfectly arched eyebrows. Her blue eyes shown through thick lashes and her pretty face was framed by a flowing mane of thick, black hair which she wore long and free in a full, loosely curled style.
She was startled to hear the familiar ring of the door as someone entered. She looked up, exableing to see the mailman or some other delivery person. But instead, she saw Jade. Fuck. What a way to start the day, she thought. And things had been going so well...
“Good morning, sweetie,” she called cheerfully to Jade who only growled back in return.
“What’s so good about it?” Jade asked groggily.
“Well, I guess if I looked like I’d just rolled out of bed I’d be bitchy too.”
“Fuck you,” Jade said flatly.
“Sorry. Is it raining, sweetie?”
“No. Why?”
“Well, you’re hair’s just so... flat. I thought you’d gotten poured on or something.”
“I don’t have time to screw with you, ODelia,” she said, self-consciously running her fingers through her hair. “I’ll be in my office. Hold my calls.”
“You just love saying that, don’t you? Should I run down to the pay phone and call you so you’ll have a call to hold?”
“Very funny.”
“I try,” ODelia said with a cheerful grin. “Okay, you two,” came a voice from the doorway. They hadn’t noticed Donovan come in. “It’s a little early in the morning for you to get started on each other.”
“Sorry, boss,” ODelia purred.
“Whatever,” Jade said with a wave of her hand, disappearing into her office.
“What’s wrong with her?” Donovan asked.
ODelia looked puzzled for a moment and then answered, “Well, isn’t it obvious? She’s jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Well... take a look at me. Then take a look at her. Who would you rather take to the prom?”
“Keanu Reeves,” he said quickly.
“Touché.”
“I’ll be in my office.”
“Want me to hold your calls, too?”
“What?”
“Nothing,” she said, returning to her primping.
Donovan passed Jade’s office and continued on down the narrow hallway to his office at the end.
ODelia let out a heavy sigh, looking around the small room that served as a reception area for Midnight Investigations. She thought about the first time she had ever seen this place or any of these people. It had been almost a year now. My, how time flies, she thougth to herself, remembering how badly she wanted this job. Well, any job, that is...
Of course she had redecorated the office since then. The front office had been so hideous. There was even panelling, of all things, on the walls. It was so dark and drab. The first thing she’d done was to have someone in to put up drywall which she then had painted a deep burgundy. The desk was oak, trimmed in forest green and the border tied it all together with a gold, burgundy and green geometric pattern against a taupe background.
My, how things had changed, she thought to herself again, touching her cheek...
The door chimed again. She looked up this time to see Sabrina walk in.
End Part 1
[ April 15, 2006, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Mattropolis ]
Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
I really enjoy your writing Danny, so where's the next part already? Posted by Danny Darko on :
Here Part 2 - I had forgotten I had posted this
Sabrina Covington. The once internationally famous supermodel who was now doing hokey print ads for Midnight Investigations... ODelia felt a slight pang of guilt at the thought.
“Morning,” Sabrina said brightly. She still radiated a quiet, confident beauty. She was a statuesque natural blonde with a shoulder-length shag, bright green eyes and one of those to-die-for bodies that she didn’t have to work for. She was dressed in a simple black rib knit sweater, a denim mini skirt with a wide black leather belt and a pair of basic black shoes with chunky heels.
“Hey, babe. How’s it going?” ODelia smiled.
“Oh, not too bad. Is Donovan in?”
“Surprisingly,” ODelia answered with a glance at her watch, “he is.”
“I’m going to run back and talk to him.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You seem a little... I don’t know... distracted.”
“Oh, I guess I’m just a little tired. I worked a double shift at the diner yesterday.”
“Oh...”
“It’s not that bad. I made almost enough in tips to cover this month’s rent.”
“Well, that’s good. So... it isn’t that bad?”
“Oh, no. You meet a lot of interesting people there. There was a guy last night who remembered me from our ad campaign.”
“You’ve got to be kidding! That was so long ago!”
“No, I’m serious,” Sabrina answered, obviously brightening at the memory. “He kept talking about that ‘Infinite Love’ series we did for Arabesque Perfume.”
ODelia’s expression changed slightly at the mention of that particular campaign. It had been the one that skyrocketed the two of them to international notoriety. And also the last one they had ever done together...
“I’m glad people remember,” Odelia said. “You were so beautiful in those ads. Hell, you still are.”
“Thanks,” Sabrina answered. “That was so much fun. I...”
“I miss it, too.”
Sabrina drew in a deep breath, smiled warmly at ODelia and said, “Well, I’m going to go back and see Donovan now.”
“See ya,” ODelia said, watching Sabrina as she walked away. The phone rang as she disappeared down the hallway.
“Midnight Investigations.”
“Uh, yeah...” came the unsteady female voice on the other end of the line, “this is Holly Remington.” Then there was a long pause.
“Okay,” ODelia prompted. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“Well, in that case, I’m at a loss as to what I can help you with. Let’s see. Do you know what Midnight Investigations is?”
“Not exactly.”
“Well... How do I put this... We are a private investigation company who specializes in paranormal activity,” she explained, half expecting to be answered by a dial tone.
“That’s what I was told.”
“Oh. So you’ve heard of us?” ODelia asked, surprised. “I mean, you’re familiar with the agency?”
“Yes. I’ve seen the newspaper ads with that Covington girl. And, actually, a friend of the family said your organization might be the only one who would take my case.”
“And who referred you to us,” ODelia asked, more out of curiosity than as a tracking measure.
“Well, we had a... disturbance... and the officer on duty gave me Jade Gentry’s name in particular. He said I should call her. Is she available?”
“Uh... let me see. I mean, hold please while I ring her office,” she said, trying to mask her excitement. A case! An actual case! Hello, continued employment, she thought.
She rang Jade’s office to be greeted with a grumpy, “What?!”
Oh, shit, she thought. She did ask me to hold her calls. Oh, well... “Jade, there’s a lady on the phone--”
“I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed!” Jade said. “Take a message or just tell them the fucking check’s in the mail,” she added and then slammed down the phone.
“Alrighty then,” Odelia said to the dead phone line. Then she got on the other line and told Holly that Jade was with in a very important meeting with another client. “Can I get some information from you,” she continued.
“Such as?”
“Well, what is the nature of your problem?”
“I’m afraid it sounds too absurd to speak out loud.”
“Nothing’s too absurd for us, honey.”
“I don’t know how to say this...”
“Choose one of the following options: ghost, goblin, ghoul...” ODelia said. “I’m sorry, I’m just kidding. But, seriously, we’ve had calls about all the above, so nothing you say could sound too insane.”
“I have a witch in my back yard.”
“Oh....”
[ September 28, 2003, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
Sabrina knocked on Donovan’s door. She heard him beckon her in, so she entered. He put the phone down and looked up, surprised.
“Hi there, I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” he said.
“I’m sorry, have I come at a bad time?”
“Uh, no. Not at all. What can I do for you ?” He looked slightly annoyed and this made Sabrina uneasy. This was not the cheery Donovan she was used to dealing with.
“Well, I hate to ask you this, but...” she paused, taking a deep breath.
“Go on.”
“Well, it’s just that my rent is due tomorrow and I’ve made almost enough money to cover it but I’m still a little short. I was wondering if you had my check for the ad?”
“Oh, that. I’m sorry it’s so late. Things have been a little tight around here.”
“I know that feeling,” she said with a nervous laugh.
He fumbled in his top desk drawer and pulled out his checkbook. He wrote a check and handed it to her. “How are you doing anyway?”
“I’m good,” she answered. She looked down at the check. “Oh, this is more than we agreed on, Donovon.”
“I know,” he said simply.
The warm and tender smile on his face said more than any words he could’ve added. He had always been a kind and generous man, she thought. If only...
“Are you ready for that shoot next week?”
“Yes. I’m really looking forward to it.” She put the check in her purse and as she did so a slip of paper fell out onto the floor. She quickly retrieved it and stuffed it down deep in her purse. She looked to see if he had noticed but luckily he had been pre-occupied by a picture on his desk. From the corner of her eye, she could see that the picture was of an attractive man. She couldn’t tell who it was. “Well,” she said, “I need to get moving. I’ve got a lot to do. It’s my only day off this week.”
“Okay, bye.”
“Bye,” Sabrina said, taking one last look over her shoulder at him as she slowly closed the door behind her. She leaned against the door and sighed before walking back out toward ODelia’s desk.
She said goodbye to ODelia and made plans with her to get together that evening for a movie. On her way out the door she was nearly run over by a disheveled and kinetic young man who was rushing into the Midnight Investigations office.
“Oh, sorry,” he said, jumping back. “I was just....”
“In a hurry,” she smiled.
“I guess you could say that. I just really have to pee.”
“It’s okay, honey,” she said, kissing him on the forehead. “You go. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye,” he said, hurrying past ODelia who watched as he ran to the restroom.
Moments later, a much calmer Patrick Dillon emerged from the restroom, still looking like he needed a shower and a shave.
“Did you and Jade have a party last night?” ODelia asked.
“No, why?”
“Nevermind.”
“Okay,” he answered. “Do you have any hairspray?”
“Duh. I never leave home without it she said,” retrieving a large can from her desk drawer along with two different brushes. “And you’ll need one of these.”
“Thanks,” he answered. “Uh, I don’t guess you have a toothbrush in there, do you?”
“Yuck. You’re not using my toothbrush!”
“But you have one?”
“Of course. I could live here in case of an emergency.”
Patrick walked over to her desk and looked down into the open drawer which truly contained all of life’s essentials. He began giggling. Eventually something in the drawer caught his eye.
“What’s that?” he asked quite seriously.
“What?” ODelia asked.
“Is that a bottle of eye drops?”
“Oh... yeah.”
“Can I borrow it?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks,” he said, grabbing the bottle. “Deodorant?”
“Strong enough for a man, but... you know the rest,” she said with a smile, handing him a roll-on bottle.
“Cool!” he said and disappeared into the bathroom again.
Suddenly curious, ODelia went over and stood by the bathroom door. “By the way,” she called. “What did you do last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you usually come in here looking like a million bucks. Like me...”
“And?”
“And this morning you come in looking like Jade.”
“How so?”
“How do I put this?” she said, pausing for a moment. “Your clothes are wrinkled, your hair’s not combed, you haven’t brushed your teeth... and I remember that outfit from yesterday!”
“Oh! I went out last night.”
“Duh. Who was he?”
“What?”
“The guy you stayed with!”
“I didn’t stay with a guy,” he said, finally emerging from the bathroom.
“That was a quick fix,” ODelia said, surveying Patrick.
Though his clothing was still wrinked, his blonde hair was now lying in a perfect side-swept style, his blue eyes gleaming.
“You are so cute,” ODelia said.
“I know,” he replied with a wink and a know-it-all grin.
ODelia reached out to run a hand over his shirt, pressing it flat against his chest.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m ironing you,” she said. “The pants are next.”
“Ooh, baby,” he said playfully, putting his arm around her slender waist.
At that moment Jade stepped out of her office.
“What the hell’s going on out here?” she asked. “Have I entered the Twilight Zone or something?”
“Damn! Maybe you did,” ODelia said, stepping away from Patrick, giving him a little pat on the bottom. “Ten minutes ago you looked like the bride of Frankenstein and now you look.... Well, better.”
“Thanks... I think.” Jade said. She was dressed in an emerald green jumper dress with a dropped waist which de-emphasized her full hips. The white top she wore underneath was form-fitted, playing up her full breasts. Her hair was now perfect, the dark auburn waves pulled back from her face with a banana clip, adding a dramatic look to her face which looked like that of a delicate porcelain doll, her full bow-shaped lips accentuated with a scarlett shade of matte lipstick.
“Is it time for the morning meeting yet?” she asked.
“I hope not,” Patrick said. “I just got here.”
“Imagine that,” Jade said.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Jade?” Patrick asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Step off, girl,” ODelia interjected. “I recall a certain miss princess not getting here until 11:30 yesterday.”
The three of them were interuppted at that point by Donovan who stood in hallway looking at them. “So you’re all fighting now?” he said.
“Just playing, boss,” ODelia said with a coy smile, returning to her desk.
“Meeting?” Jade asked.
“Later,” Donovan said. “Patrick, can I see you in my office for a minute?”
[ September 28, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
“She started it,” he joked, pointing at Jade who simply rolled her eyes and returned to her office.
“What’s up, bud?” Patrick asked as he entered Donovan’s office.
“Not alot, I just wanted to catch up with you a bit.”
“Oh, I thought you were mad at me again.”
“No, not at all. I just wondered how you were doing. I see you’re clothes are wrinkled today. I guess you went out last night?”
“Yes. And before you give me that disapproving look, I didn’t do anything. I took Zachary out to dinner and we went to the club. I got trashed of course and he took me home with him. I was too drunk to drive.”
“I see.”
“I bet you do,” Patrick said. “Look, I know you don’t care for my taste in men.”
“None of my business.”
“True. But you think everyone I go out with is trailer trash.”
“Well...”
“But Zach isn’t like that.”
“Patrick, I really haven’t said a word. Are you being paranoid for a reason?”
“Sorry. Actually, we got into it pretty bad last night.”
“About?”
“He’s trailer trash.”
“But you just said...”
“I know,” Patrick said, putting up his hand in a gesture of silence. “I wanted to believe he was different, but they never are.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Donovan replied.
“Okay. We are in the Twilight Zone. Mr. All-men-are-pigs is telling me that there is inherent good in the homosexual male?”
%iew(3Well, let’s just say I’ve met someone too.”
“Really? That’s great, buddy. Who is it?”
“I don’t wanna say much yet. I’m afraid I’ll jinx it.”
“Be that way.”
“Just for now, I promise I’ll bring him around for inspection soon.”
“Well, at least tell me if it’s anyone i know.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Who?”
“Remember all those people you said were snobs at the bar a couple of weeks ago?”
“Yeah, I hate them.”
“Well, the head snob and I have struck up a friendship over the last couple of weeks.”
“Better you than me. So how did you hook up with that?”
“On-line.”
“Say no more,” Patrick said as he rolled his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You and your fucking on-line romances. You know they never go anywhere. It’s a dead-end.”
“And trailer trash leads to what exactly?”
“He lives in a townhouse.”
“Yeah, next to the ghetto.”
“We live in Cyan City, there is no ghetto.”
“Point taken,” they both laughed for a minute as Jade walked in.
“Can we please start the damn meeting now?”
“Bitchy much?” Patrick asked.
“I just want to get this over with. It’s the same thing every week. We don’t have anything to talk about and I have a nail appointment in an hour.”
“So the truth comes out,” Donovan said.
“Yeah, Princess can’t miss her nail appointment.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “I’m just getting frustrated that we haven’t had any work.”
“Well,” Donovan began, “that’s why we really need to be doing some planning.”
“Planning of what?” Jade asked.
“Planning how we’re going to get some cases,” Donovan explained.
“Got you covered,” came ODelia’s voice. She was standing in the doorway to Donovan’s office with a clipboard in her hand, a pencil stuck behind her ear and a big smile on her face.
“What are you talking about?” Jade asked.
“I just happen to have two brand new cases!”
“Get out!” Patrick gushed.
“Okay,” she said, turning as if she were going to leave the room.
“You’d better not,” Donovan said with a smile. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Even I am almost happy to see you at this point,” Jade added.
“That’s a first,” ODelia said with a fake grin. “Anyway, here’s the deal. Jade had a lady calling in--you remember, the call you wouldn’t take. She has a little problem you will probably be perfectly suited for.”
“Why did she call me?”
“She has a little witch problem. Christian referred her.”
“I’m sorry,” Jade said. “A what?”
“A problem with a witch. It’s in her back yard. Don’t ask. Just call,” ODelia said, handing her a slip of paper with some notes and Holly Remington’s phone number and address.
“And for you,” she said to Patrick, “This guy sounded cute on the phone. He wants someone to investigate a phoney psychic who’s been eating into his inheritance by charging his wealthy mother for a little advice from the nether-world.”
“Cool!”
“What about me?” Donovan asked.
“There’s only two. And since you’ve been looking a little under the weather lately, I thought you might enjoy some rest for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you look sick.”
“Gee, thanks. But I do have a headache.”
“I’ve noticed it, too,” Patrick said.
“Yeah, I was going to be too tactful to say anything,” Jade said, cutting her eyes at ODelia, “but you haven’t been looking like you’ve felt well for a couple weeks.”
“Well, I haven’t exactly been feeling ship shape. I think it’s just a mild case of the flu or something, but I’ve been getting these awful headaches and they keep getting worse.”
“You need to see a doctor, honey,” ODelia said, concern edging into her voice.
“I’m fine. I’ll just take some time off, maybe. I’ll get some rest and I’ll be back to normal in no time. Now I might actually be able to think about something besides how we’re going to pay the bills. We actually have cases!”
“Well,” Jade said, “we don’t know for sure. Both of these people could turn out to be like the last 500 losers who’ve called in and need a good psychiatrist more than they need anything else.”
“You have a point,” Donovan said, looking a little grim. “Why don’t you two find that out. I’m going to go home for a few hours. Call me there and let me know if they turn out to be good leads.”
“Sounds good,” Patrick said.
“Well,” ODelia said, “I guess I’d better get back to the phones. Who knows what else we might come up with.”
[ September 28, 2003, 10:43 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
By the time Donovan had pulled into the driveway of his apartment complex, his head had begun pounding incessantly. The pain was almost too much to bear as he got out of the car and fumbled with his keys trying to unlock the door.
Once inside he went immediately to bed where he almost fell onto it. His head was killing him. What the hell was wrong, he wondered. The headaches had been getting worse, but this was by far the most pain he had ever experienced.
He tossed and turned on the bed for a moment until he found that even the slightest movement caused an excrutiatingly sharp stab of pain running from his temple to what felt like the center of his head.
He pulled a pillow over his face to block the light which seemed to also be causing him increased pain, but it didn’t help. He laid there still for a moment until he could take it no longer. He struggled to his feet and made his way to the kitchen where he retrieved a bottle of aspirin. He poured out first a few and then more into his palm and gulped them down, running water into his cupped hand and washing the pills down with it.
He couldn’t make it back to the bedroom. It seemed a thousand miles away. So, he crept to the living room couch and sat there, rubbing his temples, eyes clenched shut, trying to forget about the pain.
This was sheer agony. He knew something had to be wrong—very wrong. This was no normal headache.
He sat as still as he could. After a few more minutes of this he began to feel slightly better. The pain had settled to a dull throb, the stabbing sensation easing a bit. He drew in a deep breath and let out a subtle sigh of relief.
At that moment a wave of sheer agony washed over him, his head feeling as if it would lilterally explode with the pressure built up inside of it. He lashed out in frustration and let out a scream as he knocked over a small crystal carousel horse figurine that Patrick had given him for Christmas last year. It shattered into a thousand shards of brilliant light, sharp and seering as the pain he was feeling.
*** Sabrina searched for her keys in the small purse at the foot of the stairwell which lead to her tiny loft apartment. She took out the paycheck and the note that she had kept hidden from Donovan earlier. In the process of removing these items, her keys fell to the floor. As she bent over to pick them up, she heard a sound coming from the top of the stairs. She jumped. No one should be up there. Hers was the only upstairs apartment.
She retrieved her keys and stood up, not knowing what to do. Her nerves were just getting to her, that was all, she thought. No one was up there. The sound had probably just been made by one of those damned stray cats in the alley. She slowly made her way up the staircase.
She made it to the top of the stairs and unlocked the door to her apartment. She turned on the lights and gasped. Her apartment had been torn apart, furniture thrown about and ripped to shreds, all of her things in disarray.
“Oh, my God!” she said out loud.
She moved into the living room, stepping gingerly over a toppled lamp. She drew in a deep breath and began to rummage for the telephone. She had to call someone... Donovan. He had said that if she needed anything she should call. Then she heard another noise.. This time it was coming from her bedroom.
Instinctively she picked up a large crystal vase and held it over her head as she crept toward her bedroom. The noise grew louder and more insistent as she entered the room. She made her way through the darkened doorway and used her free hand to grope for the light switch. She flipped the switch, but the light did not come on. She moved a little further into the darkness. She could barely make out something on her bed. She tried to allow her eyes time to adjust to the darkness so she could see what it was, but just then she could sense that someone was in the room with her.
She froze as something moved through the darkness toward her. The figure was draped in black and as it moved it looked like a dancing shadow. Sabrina felt something hit hard against the back of her head. She could feel the pain envelope her and then she could feel nothing
[ September 28, 2003, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
Jade paid the taxi drive outside the address that ODelia had given her. She sauntered up the front porch steps of the little ranch style suburban home. This was too entirely all-American, she thought. What kind of paranormal problem could these people have? Was their espresso machine posessed, giving out split pea soup instead of coffee? Poor dears, she thought.
She rang the doorbell, noting as she pushed the button that her nail polish needed touching up. She only wished that this wouldn’t last too terribly long so she could still make her manicure appointment at Desiree’s, her favorite little day spa.
What was it ODelia had said about this case? Something about a witch. Whatever. Witches in suburbia. How trite.
Jade’s mind began to wander to thoughts of Christian. It was he who had referred Holly to their agency. So, he was thinking about her. That was a good sign...
A woman appeared at the door, drawing her out of her reverie. She stared at Jade for a moment through the screen door.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked with a slight southern accent.
“I’m from the agency.”
“You must be...”
“Jade Gentry from Midnight Investigations.”
“Oh,” the woman said, opening the screen door to allow her in. “I’m Holly Remington. “Come on in. Would you like a glass of tea?”
“Thanks ever so much,” Jade said, relieved that this woman seemed, on first impression, to be normal and even be in a reasonable state of mind.
Still, she tried to remember why she was here. A witch? Please.
Jade took a seat in a wing backed chair in the formal sitting room that was decorated rather tastefully in a traditional sort of way. A lot of browns, tans and neutral shades. Nothing Jade herself would have chosen, but well put together nonetheless, she noted.
The woman returned with two glasses of iced tea and took a seat on the couch opposite her and handing Jade a glass.
“I hear you have a little problem,” Jade began tentatively. This would be where it all began to fall apart. This is where the psychosis would become apparent. It was obvious from the look of the place that the woman could probably afford to pay their fee, so there had to be something wrong. This was too good to be true.
“Well,” Holly began slowly, looking down, “I don’t know exactly where to begin. I told your receptionist a little of what’s been going on.”
“Just take it from the top. All I’ve been told is that you’re having a problem involving a... witch.”
“That’s not exactly what I said,” the woman said indignantly.
“Good. What’s your story?”
“I told the lady on the phone that my children have been telling me they’ve been seeing something in the back yard of the empty house next door—an old woman. They say she’s...”
“Yes?”
“Green.”
“What?”
“They say she’s green. They say there’s an old green woman in that back yard who scares them. She’s dressed all in black and wears a pointy hat, has a big nose and she carries a broom.”
“I see.”
“Believe me, the first thing I did was take them both to see a good child psychologist. They could find nothing out of the ordinary. They said the children appeared to be telling the truth—at least they believed what they were saying and didn’t appear to be delusional. This is the only strange behaviour I’ve ever seen out of either of them. They’ve never been the type of children to make up stories or even to exaggerate the truth. That’s why I can’t understand what’s going on. I just have to find out.”
“Well, surely you’re not just going on what they told you. I mean, you seem to think there’s something more to this story. Is there something else you haven’t told me?”
“Yes, she said,” standing. She walked to the other side of the room and opened a drawer in a desk. She took out a piece of paper and gave it to Jade.
It was an old newspaper clipping. Jade read the date. July 10, 1919. She looked up at Holly questioningly, wondering what the hell this had to do with anything.
“Read it.”
[ September 28, 2003, 10:49 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
Patrick maneuvered his little red Toyota Celica down the streets of Cyan City toward the west side of town where the client had told him Madame Dupris practiced her art of phoney fortune-telling.
He thought about what he had said to Donovan earlier about Cyan City not having a ghetto. Well, he thought, I guess I was wrong. This part of town was completely different from any other he had been in. The buildings were old and run down, the streets all in need of repair, sidewalks crumbling and the people sparsely scattered along the sides of the road were all dressed shabbily.
He pulled into a parking space in front of the building indicated by the client. This couldn’t be right, he thought. The guy had said that his mother was filfthy rich and that she relied on this woman’s advice religiously. Why would some old rich woman take the advice of someone who worked out of such a place? He was almost afraid to get out of his car here.
He made sure to lock the door behind him and keep his keys in his hand as he approached the building. He pulled the heavy door open and stepped inside the lobby. What a difference he encountered as he did so. The lobby of the building was spacious and beautiful with a vast marble floor, intricately carved mahogany columns reaching toward the high ceiling. Dusty afternoon sunlight filled the room.... The scent of roses hung heavy in the air.
Patrick looked around for a moment wondering how the building could look so fantastic on the inside while it looked like it should be condemned from the front. So much for judging a book by its cover, he thought to himself.
Adding to the eerie feel of the whole experience was the fact that there wasn’t a single sign of life anywhere to be found. Closed doors lined both sides of the cavernous room and a huge staircase yawned empty and inviting in the center. He looked around to see if he could find a directory of the offices here. No such luck. He wandered a bit, heading toward one side of the room which he picked at random. He guessed he would just have to start knocking on doors and asking for Madame Dupris. Surely one of the other tenants would know where she was.
The first few doors he knocked on yielded no results. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped slightly and turned to come face to face with a rather grim looking old man who was dressed in a navy blue bellhop uniform.
“Sir,” he said. “Can I be of assistance?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m sorry. You just startled me. I didn’t hear you walk up,” he said, still looking around to see where he had come from, wondering how he made it across that marble floor without making a sound. Perhaps he had just been so intent on his mission that he hadn’t paid any attention to the sound, he tried to tell himself, but as he stepped back from the old man he noticed that the sound of his own shoes against the slick floor made a noise which echoed through the lobby.
“What are you seeking?” the old man asked.
Patrick felt like laughing and saying, “True love,” since the question sounded more like something a wise old guru at the top of a mountain would be asking than what a building attendant would say.
“I’m looking for Madame Dupris,” Patrick answered.
The old man said nothing, but the look on his face was unsettling. It was a cross between fear and delight, unlike anything Patrick had ever seen.
“I can take you to her,” he said finally.
“I’d appreciate it.”
With that he followed the man toward the stairwell, noting that he still made absolutely no sound as he walked along.
When they reached the foot of the staircase, the man stopped, turned to Patrick and said, “You can turn back now if you want.”
Patrick looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean?”
“It’s right this way,” he said as if he hadn’t made the earlier cryptic statement.
Patrick followed, shaking his head. Maybe the old guy was nuts. But if he could lead him to Madame Dupris, that would be cool.
[ September 28, 2003, 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Harbinger on :
I'm enjoying this Danny though find it hard in places to follow because of the lack of paragraphs!
Interesting characters and already I want to read more!
Posted by Danny Darko on :
Donovon’s headache vanished as quickly as it had come. Wandering aimlessly around his apartment, he wondered what in the hell had happened. Headaches like that just do not come and go for no reason. Something had made this happen, but what? He considered retuning to the office but thought better of it. If it happened again, he didn’t want Patrick and the others to see it. No, it was better if he spent the rest of the day alone.
The doorbell rang and Donovan slowly got up to answer it. Although the pain was gone, he still felt weak and his hand hurt from where he struck the crystal. Dammit, that was a beautiful piece.
He answered the door but no one was there. Looking down, he saw a brown package on the ground. He picked it up and walked back to the sofa where he tore off the brown packaging paper. Inside was a beautifully wrapped black box tied with a scarlet bow.
Inside was a cassette tape. There was no label. Surprised, he put the cassette in the tape deck. After pushing play; there was a long, eerie silence. Finally, after he sat back down, a low sound began emanating from the speaker. What? He could barely make it out. But as it started getting louder and louder, a sense of dread came over him as realized he was listening to carnival music. Demented carousel music with haunting laughter echoing in the background. Lovely. Here we go again.
As he rushed to shut the tape off, he cut his foot on a piece of glass from the shattered crystal. He let out a slight gasp as he fell to the floor. Just then, the pain returned. This time, it wasn’t in his head. His stomach felt as if someone had plunged a knife into it and twisted it repeatedly. As the carousel music thundered in his head, the laughter got louder and louder replacing any conscious thought... ***
Sabrina awoke with a throbbing sensation in the back of her head. She had been knocked unconscious by the figure that had been in her bedroom. She raised a hand to the base of her skull and grimaced in pain as she touched the tender spot left by the blow. What had she been hit with, she wondered. That damn vase! The person in the room must have taken it from her and hit her with it. It was lying in the floor beside her, shattered.
Suddenly, she heard ODelia’s voice calling to her. She stumbled to the living room to see ODelia staring wide-eyed at her.
“Girl, what happened in here?”
“I don’t know”, Sabrina said, holding her head again>
“Oh My God! You’re hurt!”
“I’m ok,” Sabrina said weakly.
“No you’re not,” ODelia insisted. “We have to get you to a doctor. Should i call an ambulance? Can you walk?”
“I just walked in here, didn’t I?”
“Bitchy, Bitchy. You’re okay,” ODelia said, finally calming down a bit. “You should at least be sitting down. If you can find a chair that hasn’t been turned over...”
“I’ll sit on the floor,” she said, sinking down.
“Have you called the police?”
“Not yet. I just... woke up.”
“What?”
“I was knocked out.”
“By who? Did you get a look at him?”
“No. I didn’t have a chance. All i could make out was an outline of someone. Then whoever it was hit me on the head.”
“Let me find the phone and give the police a call.”
“It was over by the couch before my new decorator came in and moved things around.”
“Home Interiors by Charles Manson,” she said fumbling for the phone cord and pulling the phone toward her. When she picked it up, she found the line was dead.
“Let me guess,” Sabrina said, “The line’s been cut.”
“Looks that way sweetie. Listen, I can run down to my car, I’ve got the cell in my glove box.”
“Don’t leave.” There was more fear in her voice now than there had been earlier. ODelia moved close to her and put her arms around her, giving Sabrina a reassuring hug. “Oh honey, I won’t. But we do have to get the police in on this. You could have been killed.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to call the police.”
“You’re just talking crazy now,” ODelia said as she backed away from Sabrina and studied her, trying to determine if she was coherent.
“I know what I’m saying, ODelia. I don’t want the police involved in this. I want to call Donovan. I want him to investigate this.”
ODelia looked at her for a moment before speaking again. “Uh, I would never say anything detrimental about anyone at Midnight Investigations—except for Jade—but, honey, this isn’t exactly their cup of tea. I mean, running around chasing ghouls, goblins and ghosts is a lot of fun, but you’re in real danger, girl. Some nut case has come into your apartment, torn up your stuff, hit you in the head and you want Donovan and his team of ghost-busters to ride in, hold a seance or whatever in the hell it is they do, and save your pretty little ass? I don’t think so.”
“Listen, I know what I want.”
“I think I know what you want, too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“His name is Donovan. But, girlfriend, he doesn’t like girls. Hello! He’s not interested.”
“You are so wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t mean about the fact that he’s not interested. I know that. I respect that. I respect Donovan. For who he is. That’s why I want his help. I believe in him and I know he can help me.”
ODelia rolled her eyes. “It’s your quarter. Speaking of which, we need to go down to my car so I can call the illustrious Donovan. You know, the one you’re not interested in. But first I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“Fine. I’m not going to argue with you anymore....” Sabrina suddenly looked as if she were lost in thought.
“What is it?”
“There’s something in the bedroom,” she answered with a faraway look in her eye. “I had forgotten about it until now. I couldn’t tell what it was because the lights were out and I couldn’t focus on it.”
ODelia fished a flashlight out of her purse.
“Do you carry everything in that handbag?”
“I believe in being prepared.”
“Just like a boyscout.”
Odelia lead the way to the bedroom. When the beam of the flashlight fell on the bed, they shrieked in unison. On the bed was the dead carcass of what once might have been a cat. It was hard to tell because of the extent of the mutilation. As Odelia moved the flashlight up the wall they saw that the animal’s blood had been used to spell out a message. “This cat didn’t have 9 lives. Do you?” The message was punctuated by the cat’s head riveted to the wall by a large butcher knife.
[ September 28, 2003, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
“Witch” Hunters Burn House
An unidentified group burned the house of one Domonique Harrington on 1472 Maple Drive last evening. The structure was a total loss. Miss Harrington’s body was not recovered from the debris.
Mayor George Davidson says that the act was an outrage and the responsible parties acted in a barbaric fashion and should be brought to justice immediately
Townspeople have claimed the woman, originally from New Orleans, was practicing witchcraft. Miss Harrington, now presumed dead, has been rumored to have been in the practice of occult activities, commonly known as black magic.
Jade finished the article and looked to Holly who was waiting for her reaction. “Okay,” she said. “What’s your address again?”
“1470 Maple Drive. One lot over.”
“I see. Well, this may still all be coincidence. Where did you get the article?”
“I found it in my mailbox. Somebody had obviously left it for me to find.”
“Okay, who would have done something like that? Who else have you talked to about what your children have seen?”
“No one except the psychologists.” “You realize that this article might be bogus.”
“Why would somebody go to all that trouble?”
“That’s just one of the things I would like to find out.”
“So you’re saying you’ll take the case?”
“I’ll have to confer with the others at the agency, and at some point before that I’d like to talk to the children, but personally I’m interested.”
“What do you think it is?” Holly asked. “I just can’t allow myself to believe in the existence of witches or ghosts or anything like that. I just never have.”
“I believe that there are some things that defy easy explanations. I’ve seen... a lot.”
Jade became quiet, wondering if this was for real. It definitely had the potential to be the case of a haunting of some sort. She almost laughed to herself for thinking it, but things in her past had made her believe in things she’d once dismissed as impossible.
She tried to push the memories of that first experience with Patrick and Donovan out of her mind. Still the image of Angie Lincoln crept into her mind. To this day she could still see the image of her floating above the Administration Building... two nights after she had plunged to her death from the top of it.
“Show me where the children saw this woman in black.”
“Come on,” Holly said. “I’ll take you out there.”
Jade followed her through her backyard to the abandoned field which adjoined her property. “This is where they said they saw her,” Holly explained, pointing toward a deep ravine at the back edge of the property.
“Okay, so this is the place. Do you mean down in that ditch?”
“Yes. They go down in there to play hide and seek. I’ve told them time and time not to and I’ve punished them for it, but they insist on going down there. Or they used to. Now they won’t step foot on this lot. They don’t play anywhere. They don’t leave the house because they’re terrified. I don’t know what to do.”
“Holly, I’ll do whatever I can to help. Let me do some digging, make a presentation to my partners and see what we can do, okay?”
Before Holly could answer she stopped as a strange, eerie laughter began coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once. The voice was decidely female. Smoke began rising from the ditch. It grew so thick that Jade could see only about two inches ahead of her. Oh, God, she thought. Those kids were right, for in front of Jade Gentry was a sight that defied any logical explanation.
A form began to take shape in front of Jade—a woman who bore a strong resemblance to ODelia and wore a skin-tight black sequined gown. Her long black hair danced in the wind, floating from around her face. She hovered a full three feet above the ground. For once in her life Jade had nothing to say. ***
When they reached the top of the stairs, the old man motioned for Patrick to follow him down a narrow corridor. Here the light and airyness from downstairs disappeared, giving way to a creepy half-light. The smell of the roses, Patrick noticed, was also suddenly replaced by an almost putried, musty odor. This part of the building definitely looked more like it went with what he’d seen outside.
“It’s down there,” the old man said, pointing to a doorway at the end of the hallway. It was obvious he was going no further. Patrick looked at the doorway, barely able to make it out in the pool of darkness.
“Thank you,” he said, turning to find the old man gone. Considering that they had walked about 50 feet down the hallway it didn’t quite seem possible that he had already made it back to the stairwell and disappeared. Surely he must have ducked into one of the other rooms along the hallway.
Patrick walked the 20 more feet to the doorway he’d pointed out and knocked. For a few moments there was no answer, so he knocked again. This time the door opened and he was greeted with a brilliant light which momentarily blinded him. As he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare, it was gone.
“Welcome, Patrick,” a female voice called. It was gentle and soothing, like someone’s grandmother inviting him in for a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies.
He moved his hand from his face quickly and studied the woman. She didn’t look all that unusual. She wasn’t as old as her voice sounded. Probably early to mid forties. She was actually quite attractive. She wore a simple business type suit, a tailored jacket and a straight skirt that fell just above the knee. Her hair was worn long and straight, but with body. Her makeup was something that Jade and ODelia would have been proud of and looked obviously expensive. No drugstore lipstick for this lady. She wasn’t beautiful or anything, but she was definitely not what he expected.
“How did you know my name?”
“Don’t freak out. Mrs. Diamond told me that her son was concerned and had called a private investigator. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Well, come on in. I’ve nothing to hide.”
“I would just like to ask a few questions, if that’s alright.”
“Like I said,” she continued with a wave of her hand around the room, “I have nothing to hide.”
Patrick looked around. Again, this suite looked completely out of place in the building. It had the look of a New York City penthouse apartment with plush carpeting, overstuffed chairs, a comfortable-looking sofa and glass-topped tables. It was decorated in a very neopolitan style with sparse accents, mostly architectural detail paintings like columns and cornices in gold frames.
She took a seat at a table in the corner of the room and motioned for him to join her.
“What do you want to know, Patrick?”
“My first question is... Well, what’s your story?”
“Born and raised in South Dakota. Nothing spectacular there. I moved to Cyan City when I was 18. I met a man named Nathaniel--”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Not that one,” she said with a wry smile, looking deep into his eyes. It was almost a taunting look she gave him as she lit a cigarette, took a deep drag and then threw her head back, exhaling smoke into the air.
“Listen, lady, I don’t know who the hell you are--”
“Isn’t that what you’re here to find out?” “Yes.”
“Well, do you want to hear the story or not, Mr. Renault?”
He took a deep breath and settled back in the chair. “Yes.”
“My Nathaniel was a scam artist who quickly taught me the tricks of the trade. He taught me how to provide people with enough vague generalized information that I was bound to hit on something that would apply to them and consider proof of my psychic abilities.”
“So you’re admitting that you’re a phoney?”
“I’m not finished. Want a cigarette?”
“Sure,” he said.
As she handed it to him he noticed a delicate filigree ring on her finger set with a large, gleaming emerald. It looked familiar. Damn, he thought, this is getting too fucking strange.
She lit the cigarette for him and then leaned across the table, resting her face on her hand. “I faked my way through for a long time. Then one day it happened. I was doing a ‘reading’ on someone and I suddenly had a thought enter my mind. It was the strangest feeling. Like the thought was not my own. It had clearly come from somewhere else. I hesitated and thought I might be losing my mind, but I took a chance and blurted out what had just come to my mind. The lady nearly shit and so did I.”
“What was it?”
“I said the name Celeste.”
“What was so special about that?”
“It was the woman’s daughter’s name.”
“And?”
“And she had died at birth. And I didn’t know anything about this woman. She’d just walked in off the street and I told her the name of her dead child.”
Patrick studied her incredulously. Of course she would have a story like this prepared, he thought to himself. “Okay, let’s say I buy all of this and I’m not saying that I do,” he blew smoke out of his mouth.
“Well, I can tell you that you have been smoking since college. You and what’s his name used to go to Lenny’s and sit and smoke for hours, pretending to study.”
“And his name was?”
“Donovan, sorry I couldn’t place it for a moment, but now i have a lock on him and...” Her face lost all color and she looked worried.
“What is it?”
“The clown and the carousel, that’s all I will say...”
“Well, isn’t that vague. Why can’t you tell me more? I mean, you knew ‘Celeste’, why can’t you tell me more?”
“I never said I couldn’t tell you. I said I wouldn’t. Some things fate has in store i can’t change and neither can you,” she said, snuffing out the cigarette and standing. “I need for you to leave now.”
“Well, I must say the theatrics are good. But I’m nowhere near convinced.”
“You will be. Heed the warning of an old friend returned to you.”
“Whatever. I’m gonna take this case and expose you for the phoney I think you are.” With that, he quickly left. He didn’t hear her final words.
“Yes, you do that. Call Donovan, he needs you.”
As he walked down the hallway, Patrick thought to himself that someone must have turned some lights on. It didn’t look nearly as bad in the light.
He got to the staircase and as he made his way down, he wondered if he had taken a wrong turn and was heading into a different area than he had been in before. The large room he was descending into was dark, cold and smelled of mildew. This couldn’t be right he thought, the lobby had been here. This was obviously a part of the building that hadn’t been used in quite a while and had not been remodeled like the front lobby. There were cobwebs and debris everywhere. But surely he could still get out this way. He walked through the darkened room toward a large door. He opened it and stepped outside, seeing his car parked right where he had left it.
[ September 28, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
Donovan woke up in his on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood. He stood up slowly and walked over to the stereo where the tape containing the carnival music had finished playing. He wondered if he should try Side B. He pocketed it and decided to drive himself to the hospital. If the strange re-occuring pain wasn’t enough reason, the large gash in his right foot convinced him. He fished for his keys, finding them as well as his cigarettes and lighter, took one out, lit it and quickly walked out the door on the way to the ER. ***
The darkened room was filled with grotesque clowns and gargoyles. At the center was a small round table with a single candle burning in the middle. Carousel music blasted in the background. Next to the candle was a single doll in the shape of a man with dark hair and several push pins... ***
After the doctor at the ER had checked Sabrina out and assured a concerned O’Delia that she was fine, they headed back toward the Midnight Investigation offices. There was a long silence between them which Sabrina finally broke. “I’ve been getting notes for awhile now.”
“What?” O’Delia asked, wide-eyed.
“Someone’s been sending me threatening notes. They started off seemingly harmless, but each time i get one, they get a little more...”
“Psychotic?”
“Yeah, it all seems to be related to the ‘Infinite Love’ campaign, ‘Whoever it is, they seem upset that the campaign is all over...”
“Why didn’t you say something about it earlier?”
“I didn’t want to bring up the past. O’Delia, I know it’s hard for you to think about that time...”
“Not really. I’ve put most of it behind me and-- Oh, shit!”
“What’s the matter?”
“My brakes aren’t working!” O’Delia yelled. “Hold on honey!”
Sabrina looked out the window and realized they were heading down what was commonly referred to as Death Hill becasue of the number of tragic accidents on the treacherously sleep slope. They were fast approaching the back of a semi and there was a steady stream of traffic coming toward them in the other lane. There was nowhere to go. She looked to her right and gestured O’Delia to head for the shoulder.
“We can’t get between that big ol’ concrete side-rail and that big ol’ semi!”
“What choice do we have?”
“Okay girl. Hold on tight!”
O’Delia swerved slightly toward the concrete barricade, and Sabrina could feel the right side of the car grinding against it. Sparks flew and the car’s side mirror was knocked off, sent flying behind them.
There was about six inches between them and the semi.
“Floor it,” Sabrina said. “We’ve got to get past that thing and back onto the main road.”
“Then what?”
“Take the first exit, put the car in neutral and take your foot off the accelerator. Eventually, we’ll slow down.”
“And if we don’t?”
“Then we die in a fiery car crash! Just do it!”
“Okay. Okay! This was not covered in defensive driving school!”
“I tried to get you to go see ‘Speed’ with me...” ***
Donovan turned onto the entance ramp listening to Depeche Mode’s ‘Little 15’ when the pain returned to him. This time it seemed to center on his back. The pain was excrutiating and Donovan’s eyes began to water as he started up Death Hill. The pain was tearing into him and he wanted to cry out. His vision was completely blurred now so he rubbed his eyes and realized he was heading directly in front of a a semi. He could hear the sound of the semi’s horn as he quickly turned the wheel and returned to his own lane. ***
“Oh My God, “ O”Delia screamed. “The semi is gettting closer!”
“Floor it!!!!!!!”
“O’Delia narrowly squeezed passed the semi as it moved into the concrete railing, almost toppling over before righting itself in it’s own lane. O’Delia and Sabrina continued speeding down the hill, slowing only a little as they finally managed to get back on the open road. They still had about 50 feet to go before the road leveled off and the exit for the highway was still half a mile away.
“So far so good,” Sabrina said with an eerie calmness.
“For you, maybe. It’s not your car!!”
“I can’t afford one.”
“Well, if we get through this alive, I guess a little body work is a small price to pay.”
“And you should know all about body work,” Sabrina said in an attempt to keep the mood as light as possible. She couldn’t afford to have O’Delia go spastic now.
“Very funny.”
“Okay,” Sabrina instructed, “Now throw it into neutral and let off the gas completely.”
“I haven’t had my foot on the...”
“What?”
“The fucking accelerator is stuck!”
“Oh, Shit!”
O’Delia shifted to neutral which slowed the car’s descent on the ramp only slightly. The tires squealed as she rounded the tight curve and she struggled to hold the car on the road. She could just imagine them flipping over at the speed they were travelling.
Finally, she made it onto the highway, just in time to see the light at the base of the ramp turning red.
“Mother of God! What else?”
“Well, “ Sabrina sighed, “that school bus that’s speeding down the highway shows no sign of getting ready to stop at the intersection.”
“Oh, what a surprise,” O’delia said as she began furiously pounding on the horn. “I can’t stop here, people. Coming through!!!”
The bus driver must have heard her because he managed to screech to a halt just as O’Delia sped by.
They made it onto the straightaway where there was little traffic. After a while the car began slowling, even as the engine raced. O’Delia pulled over to the emergency lane. They leaped out of the car and hugged each other. ***
“Did you just see that?” Jade asked.
“Yes, I did...”
“That was something alright. Something strange. But it definately wasn’t a green witch.”
“No. It just looked like a shriveled up old woman.”
“What?”
“It looked like an old woman. Didn’t you see her?”
“Yeah, Yeah I did.” Jade wondered why they had seen two entirely different things. “Let’s go back to your house. I need to call the office and check in. And I’d like to take another look at that article. Actually, would you mind if i took it back with me?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“And dont worry about us taking the case Holly. It’s a done deal.”
[ September 28, 2003, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: Danny Darko ]
Posted by Danny Darko on :
quote:Originally posted by Harbinger: I'm enjoying this Danny though find it hard in places to follow because of the lack of paragraphs!
Interesting characters and already I want to read more!
I've gone in and edited the paragraphs back in. It didn't translate from word as well as I had hoped. SHould be better now!
Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
Very very enjoyable Danny, I really love your characters, you write their points of views very convincingly and your conversations are priceless - it can read like a play at times with the prose carrying the story along - Very nicely done!!!
I think Belinda may sue you for using a "quote" from a news broadcast to carry the story along - that's one of her favourite plot devices!!
A+ danny, this is my fave bit of fan fic right now on the board!
quote:Originally posted by Danny Darko:
quote:Originally posted by Harbinger: I'm enjoying this Danny though find it hard in places to follow because of the lack of paragraphs!
Interesting characters and already I want to read more!
I've gone in and edited the paragraphs back in. It didn't translate from word as well as I had hoped. SHould be better now!
Please don't do this sort of thing too often, there's no living with her afterwards!!! Posted by Danny Darko on :
Thanx for the kind words! I put alot into this a few years ago and I'm almost caught up to wear I need to write more....
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
Impressive Danny, very impressive, easy to follow and strong characterizations. I am looking forward to reading more.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
thank you!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Once inside his car, Patrick thought over what had just happened inside the building where he’d talked to Madame Durpris. He must surely have come out a different way than he’d gone in because that could not have been the same room. When he’d gone it, everything had been beautiful and new looking. When he came out, it was as if he was in a condemned building.
Not to mention the things that Durpis chic had said... She had certainly acted like she knew something about Nathaniel. But that had to be a coincidence. And the rest of it, well, there was any number of explanations there. She could have just done her homework on Midnight Investigations and that’s how she knew Donovan’s name. What else was there? Oh, yeah. Some senseless babbling about a chameleon and a carnival or something like that. The lion, the witch and the wardrobe, Patrick suddenly thought with a smile, pulling away from the building.
He pushed the Roxette CD into the stereo and pushed play. “The Look” blared through the speakers and he checked his hair in the mirror, pushing thoughts of the tacky old building and that weirdo, Madame Dupris from his mind.
This was definitely turning out to be a strange day. He had to do something to get his mind off the thoughts of Nathaniel which came rushing back. He remembered how terrible that whole experience had been.
He suddenly started thinking about Zach. He really was trailor trash. Donovan had been right, as usual. Oh, well, he thought. At least he was flesh and blood, warm and caring. Well, not caring, but he was there. Maybe that had been all it had ever been about. He happened to be there. Patrick knew deep down that he just didn’t want to be alone and that he was probably settling.
Before he knew it he found himself driving down the street where Zach lived. Just as he started to pull into the driveway he stopped himself. No, he thought. This can’t go on... ***
Jade got back the office to find that no one was there. They were probably already gone for the day. After all, it was 4:30 and nobody ever stuck around until 5:00 anymore, except maybe ODelia. Funny that no one had bothered to lock up, she thought to herself.
She went to her own office and sat down behind her mahogany desk, kicking off her heels. Just as she took out a notebook and began to write up a summary of her visit with Holly, the phone rang.
“Jade Gentry.”
“Hi,” came Christian’s voice on the other end of the line.
“Hey, baby,” she said, brightening up.
“What’s up?”
“I’m just getting ready to write up some notes on my visit with Holly Remington. Thank you, by the way, for the lead.”
“What?”
“She said you referred her to us.”
“I don’t remember referring anybody to you guys. What was the name?”
“Holly Remington.”
“Uh, not me.”
Jade was quiet for a moment, not knowing quite what to say. She wondered if maybe he had just forgotten. But, that wasn’t really like Christian. He usually remembered everything, even little details that she never paid attention to like people’s birthdays and the such. “That’s weird. She mentioned you by name.”
“Huh. Don’t remember it,” he said.
“Oh, well. No big deal. What are you doing?”
“I was hoping we could get together. I have something I’d like to show you.”
“I’ve seen that before.”
“Not that.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t mind seeing that tonight,” she said seductively. “I’ve missed it the past couple days.”
“And it’s missed you,” he said. She could tell he was smiling that cocky little smile of his that turned her on so much and made her want to go to bed with him and never leave his arms.
“Seriously, though, what is it?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“A good one?”
“Of course.”
“In that case, count me in. These notes can wait until morning. It’s been a long day and I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, baby.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Christian looked around his apartment. For the first time in months, he could see the floor. The cigar butts and beer cans from Sunday’s Football Party with the guys from work were gone as were the usual piles of dirty laundry and dirty dishes. He had been unable to go back to sleep after a dream that he couldn’t quite remember. Whatever it had been, he was unable to return to sleep afterward and was full of nervous energy and the overwhelming desire to be with Jade.
So the house got cleaned, and much neglected paperwork had been completed. He also planned an entire candlelight dinner for Jade, complete with a very special surprise for dessert. There was a slight nagging in the back of his mind, but what the hell could possibly be in their way now? *** If Christian had turned around, he might have seen the image of Angie Lincoln floating behind him, beckoning him. Then again, he might not have even noticed. After all, their connection had been weakened after years of separation. Death will do that, Angie thought to herself. As it was, she barely had enough strength to project herself to him in dreams. Even then, she wasn’t sure he could, or would even want to, recall her presence.
It had been much easier to plant the seeds in Holly’s mind that made her believe that she had talked to Christian and that he had been the one who referred her to Jade and the others. Jade. Angie didn’t know what to think about that situation. She had spent the last several weeks of her living years making like impossible for her, now she was put in a position where there was no choice but to help her.
That doesn’t mean I have to like it, Angie thought. After all, knowing that she and Christian were now lovers was almost more than she could take. Even though she knew deep down and always had from the moment they met that Jade and Christian were meant to be, she still couldn’t get him out of her system. She loved him, longed to hold him, to make love to him again. If only that were possible. ***
“Hi, officer,” ODelia smiled at the policeman who was approaching.
“What the hell’s going on here?” he asked. “I saw you nearly plow into that schoolbus back there after you ran the redlight.” Then he noticed the car’s racing engine. “Did something happen with your car?”
“You could say that,” O’Delia said, rolling her eyes. “Actually of couple of things happened. You know, little things, like the brakes going out and the accelerator jamming. Nothing major.”
“I see,” he said. “Let me take a look under the hood.”
“Be my guest.”
The officer opened the hood, looked around for a moment and then, “Ladies, can you come over here for a minute?”
O’Delia and Sabrina walked over to the front of the car and saw a large posterboard sign attached to the inside of the hood. Dark red lettering spelled out an eerie message:
“Infinite Love doesn’t end....”
“Even in death” *** There was a strange song playing on the tinny-sounding overhead speaker system in the emergency room. It sounded hauntingly familiary, but Donovan couldn’t quite make it out. It was definitely something he knew. Damn, he hated it when they turned a good song into muzak. It made him feel so old and at 28 he definitely shouldn’t be forced to feel that way yet.
The emergency room was quiet, unusually so, he thought, even though he hadn’t especially made a habit out of hanging out in emergency rooms. He just somehow had expected a lot of scrambling around a some drama to be going on. Too much TV.
The nurse had brought him back to a small, sterile room, popping her gum on the way and looking incredibly bored to be there. He had been sitting in this empty room for about an hour, even though it seemed like a lot longer, and hadn’t seen another living soul.
He suddenly saw someone pass in the hallway, but he didn’t get a good look. It was a woman and the brief flash he saw of her looked like someone he knew. Oh, great, he thought, now I think I know all the songs and all the people. Huh, he thought.
The music was interrupted by a shrill voice calling over the intercom. “Dr. Blair. Paging Dr. Blair. Your patient is waiting in e.r. 121. Stat.”
Finally, Donovan thought. He was the only patient there, so he must be the patient in 121 the person was talking about on the intercom.
Then the music began playing again. It was the same song, from the beginning this time. Interesting, he thought, still trying to figure out where he had heard that music before... ***
Patrick waved a sad goodby to the tacky little brownstone where Zach was probably passed out drunk as he sped away. Now here I go again, he thought to himself, back to the endless loneliness and the self-doubt and indecision over what my life has become, what it has been and what it will never be.
God, he thought, this is getting too morbid. He took out the Roxette tape which had gone silent and popped in his favourite old standby, Stevie Nicks. “Dreams” began playing softly...
Speaking of dreams... what about that one he’d had last night? Was it starting again? It had been just this way in college just before all the madness started; just before his life had changed forever to some strange nightmarish combination of “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The X-Files.” It had all started with the dreams... ***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
The candles beamed brightly on the table as Christian put away the lighter and began putting the finishing touches on the dessert. Jade would be here any minute. He was filled with anticipation and an excitement he hadn’t felt in a very long time. He lifted the top off the sugar bowl and put the ring inside. He would save the surprise for dessert. If he could wait that long...
Suddenly a chilly gust of air cut through the room, putting out the candles. He looked around for an open window, knowing they were all closed. “Where the hell did that come from?” he asked out loud. ***
“Close,” Angie whispered with a delighted smile. I can do it, she thought. I can really do it! He can feel me! I’m getting stronger. Stronger every day... “It won’t be long,” she whispered as she moved close to him, still standing at the table shaking his head in disbelief as the smoke lingered in the air from the extinguished candles.
Angie studied his face in the darkness, his rugged features. She longed to be able to trace the tender contours of his face with her finger, to feel the warmth of his skin, just to touch him again. This was love. It had to be. And how could she deny herself everything? Why should she have to? She had been told to concentrate on the task at hand and to keep her own desires at bay, but couldn’t she do both? ***
Callie Haley unlocked the door to her two-story white suburban house in Hughes Hill. Unlike all of her friends, she had remained in the town where she had gone to college. Long ago, she had put all of the crazy shit behind her. While the rest of them had chosen to continue in the path that had been set for them in college, she had moved on with her life. She was married now. Rich was a wonderful man and she could not wait to tell him her secret. He would be so happy to learn they were expecting. Everything was perfect. She sat the grocery bags on the kitchen table and began unpacking them when she noticed the red light flashing on her answering machine. She took out the bag of M&M’s and opened it as she pushed play on the machine. As she put them in her mouth, she heard something she never expected to hear again. It was exactly what she had always feared.
“You’re not even in the woods yet...”
“Oh My God,” she exclaimed aloud. That was how it all started before. It couldn’t be happening again. Not now... She felt her tummy. She started to push the stop button when the phone rang again.
“Hello,” she said weakly.
“Did you like my little message?”
“Who is this?”
“Who do you think it is?”
“Listen you little fuck, I don’t know what your game is but this isn’t funny. Now unless you want me to Star 69 your ass I suggest you hang up and leave me alone.”
“Poor little pathetic Callie. You think you’ve moved on with your life. Little girl, you can’t escape fate. This life you are living. It will not last. Fate can be an ugly bitch honey. You know that. Be ready. Your time is coming.”
“Shut up. Shut the hell up! Leave me alone!”
“Sorry girly-girl, no can do. I’m coming for you. Just like i always swore I would. Be ready.”
“It can’t be you! You’re dead. I saw for myself.”
“Keep on believing that honey. The truth is pretty scary. Still eating those little candies? Or should i ask if you are still digesting them?”
“Bitch!”
“Tsk Tsk! That wasn’t very nice. Goodbye for now.”
Callie slammed the phone down and felt a pain in her stomach. “Calm down”, she told herself, “It can’t be her. It just can’t”
Suddenly, Callie didn’t feel as if she had moved on at all. She reached for the phone and dialed information. She asked for the one number she swore she would never use. “Midnight Investigations, please...” ***
Rosalyn Smythe hung up the phone with a devilish gleam in her eye. “Silly bitch. She really buys into all that American dream bullshit. Well, we’ll see what we can do about that...”
She went to her refrigerator and took out something that at first glance might have appeared to be a jar of pickles. Something floated in a murky liquid. She held the jar up to the light with a twisted, demented grin as she studied the grotesquely deformed fetus bobbing up and down in the jar.
“Let’s see how you like this, Callie Haley!”
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
That last one is quite the nasty little bit of work, isn't she?
Like I said before, very impressive, keep 'em coming Danny.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Oh she's a shrew...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
quote:Originally posted by Danny Blaine: Oh she's a shrew...
This was originally meant as a sequel to a story that my best friend in college and I were working on. We never got around to finishing it.
Same characters, set in a college setting. Maybe someday I'll put that up as well.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
“Dr. Blair. Paging Dr.--”
Suddenly the intercom went silent. No annoying voice, no music. Donovan tried to stand up but was unable to because of the excruciating pain shooting through his foot any time he tried to put any pressure on it. He listened to see if he could hear anything from outside in the hallway. Silence. Dead silence.
He was suddenly started by the figure of a man who just seemed to appear out of nowhere in the doorway.
“How’s our patient today?” came a husky voice.
“Not so good, doc,” Donovan answered weakly, struggling to see the man’s face. Though the room was well lit, from where he sat he couldn’t make out any details of what the man looked like. The light eminating from the hallway was too strong, causing a strange silhouette effect.
“We just need some good music,” he heard the man say.
“Uh, I guess. That would help.”
With a wave of his hand the man seeminlgy “made” the music start again.
“Neat trick,” Donovan said with an incredulous smile.
“No tricks here. Only treats.”
“What?”
“You’ll see. Now let me take a look at that foot. Do you like this song?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I think it’s something I know, but I can’t place it,” Donovan answered, wondering if this guy had been smuggling some sort of good drugs out of the supply cabinet for his own personal pleasure.
“Oh, you know it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everybody knows this song.”
“Well, give me a clue, then.”
“Listen carefully to the sound... It’s one of those things that can just drive you crazy, isn’t it? I mean when it’s just on the tip of your tongue but you can’t quite place where you were when you heard it the last time. I mean, was it in the car, the office, a bar, maybe even a funeral.”
“What?”
“You remember, don’t you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Did you come in here to look at my foot or talk about oldies?”
“I came here for you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Like I said. I’m here to help. Take a look at your foot.”
Donovan looked down to see the wound on his foot completely healed, as if it had never been there in the first place.
“What the fuck is going on?” he said, moving back away from the man whose face he could still not see. “Who are you?”
“I’m your father, Luke.”
“This isn’t Star Wars.”
“Oh, isn’t it? What is it, really, this thing called life?”
“Okay, this is getting a little too fucking creepy for me. I’m beginning to wonder if my regular doctor has been secretly replaced by an escapee from the psycho ward.
“Oh, there you are,” came a voice from behind the man. Donovan looked around him to see a nurse standing there, gently touching the man’s shoulder.
“Ma’am,” Donovan called, “What’s going on? Who is this man?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the woman answered in a calm, soothing voice. “I’m afraid Mr. Randall has wandered into your room by mistake. All the patient rooms do kind of look alike here.”
“What do you mean? This is the emergency room, not the looney bin.”
“You just keep on believing that, honey,” the nurse said with a smile as she lead the faceless man away. He could hear her laughter echoing as they disappeared down the hallway.
Alone in his room he began to listen once again to the song playing on the overhead speaker system. “Killing Me Softly.”
***
O’Delia and Sabrina entered O’Delia’s apartment simultaneously plopping down and O’Delia’s oversized plush sofa. They looked at each other and smiled.
“It was awfully nice of that policeman to give us a ride here,” Sabrina remarked off-handedly. “Yeah, it was the least Mr. Man could do after that interrogation he gave us.”
”O’Delia, he was just doing his job. After all, we did almost hit a schoolbus full of kids.”
”I know, I know. It’s just been a long day.”
“You always did have a knack for understatement.”
“It’s my job.”
“Well, you do it well. Anyway, thank you so much for letting me stay with you.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s the least i can do.”
“O”Delia, do you ever have any regrets about... Well, about what you’ve done with your life?”
“You mean all of this?” O’Delia gestured at her body. “No. None at all.”
“Good, I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Well, I do wish i could change one thing. I wish that my decision hadn’t hurt you so much. I know that our careers were going sky high when I dropped out of modeling to do this.”
“Listen, don’t you ever think about that. I supported you then and I still do. I know this is what you were supposed to do. My time will come. I know that.”
“Yes it will, honey. I promise.” They hugged. The doorbell rang.
“Shit! I don’t think I should get that. It might be Mr. Spook. Or worse, Jade.”
“Ignore it, then.”
The doorbell rang again. “Anybody there?”
“It’s Patrick,” O’Delia said. “I’ll let him in.” She opened the door and let in the disheveled Patrick.
“You look like hell.”
“That’s twice today you’ve told me that, I could get a complex.”
“Mr. Ego himself. I doubt it.”
“Funny. So whats up?”
“Sabrina and I were having girl talk. Wanna join?”
“That’s one of my favorite things. How ya doin’ Sabrina?”
“I’ve had better days.”
“What’s wrong, honey.”
”Well, Patrick, sweetie sit down and make yourself comfortable. Have we got a story for you...”
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Forgive and forget,” came the sweet voice from the innocent-looking girl in the floral print dress who stood before her. She was beautiful now as ever.
“Why should I?” Rosalyn asked.
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Who the hell says I want to do the right thing, you snivelling weakling?”
“I do. And you know what that means.”
“Fuck you,” she said, turning from the mirror, leaving the sickenly sweet image behind.
Half to herself she called over her shoulder, “Why the hell do you care anyway?”
“Because I have a second chance that you may not get. From what I’ve been told, it doesn’t happen often.”
“Who cares?”
“You should. You’re headed down a path of destruction.”
“I’ve been down that path, sweetie and I like the view from there.”
“I’m not talking about the destruction you’re causing in the lives of others. I’m talking about the destruction of your soul.”
“When did you get so fucking Zen?”
“Death will do it to you, sweetie,” Angie said.
“Listen, bitch, just because you fucked up doesn’t mean I’m going to. I’m gaining more power all the time. Watch this,” she said as she waved a hand in the air and seemingly pulled a rabbit from thin air.
“Cute. But, what’s the point?”
“This,” she answered as she twisted the creatures head around with a terrible sound of cracking bone.
“That’s disgusting.”
“Now be gone before I do the same to you!”
“Uhm, I don’t think you can do that.”
“Why not?”
“I came here to warn you. Stop now or I will be forced to take measures to stop you. Drop it now and I’ll leave it alone.”
“Fuck you,” she said. “What are you gonna do about it? Pop up every now and then and say ‘Boo’?”
“I doubt it. I’m in an altered state. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“I’m prepared to take a chance on finding out,” she said, turning away from Angie’s image in the mirror. “Now get the fuck out of here. I have something to do that might offend your newfound Puritanical sensibilities.”
“Enjoy it while you can Rosalyn, I will stop you...”
“Last time you fucked with me, you ended up dead. Remember that, sweetie.”
“Oh I do Rosalyn, I do...” The face in the mirror vanished as Rosalyn sneered.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
BTW Danny, this is absolutely excellent and a joy to read!!! Keep 'em coming, sorry to interrupt Posted by Danny Blaine on :
After O’Delia and Sabrina had explained their story to a wide-eyed Patrick, they settled back on the couch with wine coolers and sat in silence, trying to digest the information. Patrick was still, wondering if he should share his experience at Madame Dupris’. Just as he decided against it, O’Delia’s body suddenly shook, as if she were having a convuslion of some sort.
“Nothing is real but the girl,” O’Delia blurted out.
“What do you mean?” Patrick asked.
“Well, you’re not a real man. I’m not a real woman. Nothing is real but the girl,” she repeated, gesturing toward Sabrina.
“What the hell do you mean by that? I’m a real man,” Patrick objected, an uncharacteristic tone of anger edging it’s way into his voice.
O’Delia began laughing hysterically and threw her head back, sending her hair spraying wildly about. “You’re a fucking pussy boy!”
“What the hell’s the matter with you?” Patrick yelled.
“O’Delia,” Sabrina added. “Drop it. This is not even close to funny.”
“You’re not even in the goddamned woods yet!” she screamed, staring right at Patrick with a vacant look in her eyes as if she were no longer even there. It was as if her body had been taken over. Her voice was even different, sounding more like someone else that Patrick had heard before.
“What are you saying? How did you know about that?” Patrick asked, suddenly having gone pale. Small beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.
“Patrick,” Sabrina asked, “what is she talking about?”
“I don’t know, but this is not O’Delia!”
“Of course it is, Patrick. I’ve been with her all day.”
“I know. But it’s not her speaking. It’s... somebody else...” ***
Jade knocked nervously on Christian’s door. She wondered what mysterious plans Christian had for her this evening. Well, as long as the sex was good. Who cares? She was wearing a black dress and had her hair up with ringlets hanging down on either side of her face. She toned down the make up for a more suble ‘evening look’.
Christian answered the door wearing a tux.
“I’m sorry, I was looking for Christian Wilhelm’s apartment?”
“Very funny, sweetie. Come on in. You look great.”
“You clean up pretty good yourself. I must admit im impressed. So where are we going? Taco Bell?”
“Again with the jokes, you are in rare form tonight.”
“Well, I’m in a good mood. It looks like we are finally getting a real case to work on.”
“Oh was that the woman you were talking to me about earlier?”
“Yeah, but I don’t wanna talk about that right now. I must say I’m a little impressed with the apartment. I’ve never seen it so clean.”
“I know. I just wanted you to have a nice night.”
“How sickeningly sweet.”
“I know. We sound like all those couples we make fun of all the time at the mall.”
“So what are we having for dinner?”
“You’ll see. Have a seat.”
Jade sat down at the table and was pleased as Christian poured her a glass of champaign. Classy. The man never ceased to amaze her. On one hand, he could be this completely obnoxious cop with a typical macho demeanor. And sometimes... Sometimes he could be the man she saw now. Delicious. I really do have it all, she smiled to herself.
They smiled and made easy conversation all throught the dinner. For some reason, Christian seemed anxious to get the meal over with. Must have something to do with the surprise he had mentioned earlier.
After the meal, Christian served ice cream and coffee. Jade was about to ask for the some sugar but Christian already had the sugar bowl in hand. He opened it, looked down and had a strange look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Jade asked.
“Ummmm, nothing at all. The bowls empty that’s all. I’ll get some more.”
That was odd, Jade thought. ***
Christian looked down at the sugar bowl. Where once there had been a ring there were now two beautiful emerald earrings. Not those, he thought. Anything but those.
It can’t be happening again. It’s over. He pocketed the earrings and walked over to his cabinet and pretended to fill the bowl with sugar.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks ever so much.” Jade answere, seeming confused.
What the hell do I do now? Christian wondered. The figure of Angie Lincoln stood by and watched it all... ***
Patrick and Sabrina were horrified as O’Delia continued laughing maniacally at them. Finally, O’Delia spoke again.
“This is just a small test of my power, pussy boy.”
“Shut up, if you are who I think you are all the parlor tricks in the world wont make you as beautiful as either of these women here.”
“Oh Patrick, you’ve turned so... almost bitter in your later years. Must be all those lonely nights you spend. Even Sebastian has forsaken you.”
“O”Delia, stop it!” Sabrina shouted. She looked over and Patrick was on the verge of tears. Whoever this was, she struck a chord inside Patrick. “I know you are in there honey. Fight this thing. In all my life, I have never met anyone as strong as you. All your life, you’ve had to be strong. This is no different. Fight this thing!”
“Well, meow ,meow. The little waif has spunk. Who would’ve thought.
“Sweetie, I don’t know you are, but you’ve never dealt with me before. I’m not anything like you would ever dream. Now begone!”
“Okay, Okay. Like i said this was just a little test. Just like i was testing you when I tore up your place and hired that guy to scare you. By the way, did you like the cat in your bedroom. I thought it was a nice touch.”
“You did that? Why on Earth. You don’t even know me?”
“Exactly, you stupid little girl. You are new to the Circle. I had to see if you were worthy. I must say I’m impressed. You might actually be a worthy adversary.”
“Sabrina, this is too dangerous. Get out of here!” Patrick had regained his composure and stood tall next to her.
“Sabrina, this is too dangerous,” O’Delia mocked. “Shut up pussy boy! You and you’re little friends made it throught the last time by sheer luck. I’m going to leave you for now, I have other fish to fry. Ta -ta.”
O’Delia’s body began to convulse again.
“Sabrina?” She said. “What the hell is going on?”
“O’Delia? Is it you?”
“Yes, sweetie it’s me. I saw everything that was happening. But I was trapped in my own body. There was nothing I could do. I’m sorry.” O’Delia turned to Patrick, “Honey, what the hell is going on. Who, or what was that thing?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Listen, Patrick,” Sabrina spat. “I know you and Donovan and Jade went through a bunch of shit in college. None of you ever talk about it. But now it involves us too, we have a right to know.”
“Fine, but you need to hear it from all of us. I’ll call Jade and Donovan and then we will have a long talk.”
“You do that,” O’Delia whispered hoarsely. “I’m gonna make a pot of coffee. It’s gonna be a long night.”
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
OK, Danny you've got me on the edge of my seat with this latest one. That Rosalyn must be extremely powerful if she's doing all this on her own? Or is she?
Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
I'm totally hooked Danny
keep it comin'
please
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
As she drove down the interstate, Callie finally saw the exit sign for Cyan City.
“Finally.” She spoke aloud as she turned off the steep ramp. In all the years since college she had never seen any of her old friends. She had been offered a place at Midnight Investigations by Donovan. But that wasn’t her path. She had made a life for herself as the Librarian at Hughes Hill College after her predecessor, Lenora Richards had met her untimely demise. It was a good life. Again, she felt the tiny bulge in her stomach. A very good life.
She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She had tried to reach Donovan at the office earlier, but no one answered. He wasn’t at home either. That wasn’t a good sign. Maybe she could try Patrick... or Jade. No she would call Patrick. He would surely be around. She had memorized his cell phone number years ago, just in case.
It rang a few times before she heard a voice she hadn’t heard in years.
“Hello.”
“Patrick. Is it you? Oh My God, it’s been so long...”
“Who is this? Waitaminute. Callie?”
“Yep, it’s me.”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I can’t believe it. It’s been years! I’ve missed you so much. But there’s trouble.” “What?”
“I recieved a message on my machine today. Guess what it said?”
“Let me take a wild guess. ‘You’re not even in the woods yet...’
“How did you know?”
“I just had a nasty run-in with an old friend of ours myself.”
“So it is Rosalyn.”
“Looks like it. Where are you?”
“I’m in Cyan City. I was looking for help. Rosalyn swore to get me back after what we, i mean, after what I did.”
“Look no further.”
“Where are you?”
“At a friends place. I’ll give you directions.”
“Okay, is Jade there? Or Donovan?”
“Not yet. I called Jade and she’s on her way, but I haven’t heard from Donovan since this morning.”
“I hope he’s okay.”
“So do I, Caliie. So do I.” *** Jade Gentry was worried. Patrick didn’t sound very good on the phone. What the hell was going on now? But Jade was glad for the interruption. The dinner with Christian was nice and all but something changed during dessert. He had a faraway look in his eyes and became distant. He seemed almost relieved when Patrick called and asked Jade to join him.
She walked up the dimly lit stairway to O’Delia’s apartment. A plume of dark smoke began to take shape in front of her. Just like at that Remmington woman’s house. Whoa. Could this get any more bizarre? She knew better than to ask.
The smoke began to take shape. At first the features resembled a witch straight out of the Wizard of Oz, then it became an old shriveled woman, then the image of O’Delia Delaney. None of those were as unsettling as the final metamorphosis. Jade found herself face to face with Angie Lincoln.
“Well Jade, long time no see. I think it’s about time you and I had a little talk.”
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan awoke with a start. He looked down at his foot to see if it was still bloody and swollen. However, the wound had been stitched up and there a bandage wrapped around it. Had he been dreaming? He looked around the empty hospital room and searched for signs of life. Nothing. He quickly put on his clothes and hobbled out of the room. He was careful not to put pressure on his foot. The pain was dull but it was still formidable. He entered a corridor with a flashing red light at the end. Exit, it read. He inched closer to the door. As he reached it he looked up at the sign again. It flashed the words “No” and “exit” in rapid succession. The flashing lights seemed to be moving faster and faster. No exit. Perfect. Then “Killing Me Softly” began playing over the intercom again. He tried the door but it was locked. He pounded his fist against the door.
“Paging Dr. Blair. Dr. Blair.”
“Fuck Dr. Blair.” He turned around and hobbled down the corridor toward the other end of the hall. The music was getting louder and he couldn’t think straight anymore. He had to find a way out of this place. Wherever in the hell he was...
Donovan found himself stumbling down a darkened corridor, not able to see what lie ahead. He was mostly feeling his way around, with his arms stretched out before him, reaching into the darkness. He found himself coming up against a wall every way he turned, almost as if he had backed himself into a room with no door. But, of course, that wasn’t possible. ***
Christian took the emerald earrings from his pocket and studied them. They were the same ones. He just knew it. But there was no possible way. And what had happened to the ring he’d put in the sugar bowl to surprise Jade with? It couldn’t have just disappeared, he reasoned. But then again, these earrings couldn’t have just appeared from nowhere, either.
Out of the corner of his eye, Christian caught a glimpse of what appeared to be movement at the far side of the room. He turned his head to find nothing there. He was definitely feeling more than a little unsettled now. Something very strange was going on.
He had been on the fringes of the trio of Jade, Patrick and Donovan throughout college and knew that they’d shared some really fucked up experiences, but he had never been quite sure what it was all about. All he knew firsthand was the whole thing with Angie Lincoln. That he had experienced for himself.
He had been there the night that Angie had taken her own life by jumping from the top of the Administration building. All these years later, he still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was partially responsible, although Jade had assured him over and over that his relationship with Angie had nothing to do with her death. She attributed it to some type of supernatural power or force she would describe only as “pure evil.”
Christian had never really believed in anything like that. Until he saw for himself what could only be explained as a ghost--or at least an apparition--of Angie Lincoln.
It had been three nights after her funeral. Jade had been comforting him in his dorm room when they ran out of words to say. It was about two a.m. and they decided that a little alcohol would probably help numb them after what they’d been through. At that point numbness sounded pretty damn good, so they set out across campus to the parking lot where Jade’s car was parked.
As they had neared the administration building they noticed a strange, eery light eminating from above the building. It was much brigher and more focused than moonlight could have been. They looked up to see what appeared to be a young woman standing on top of the administration building. Just the way they had seen Angie standing there the night she killed herself.
Before either of them had time to react, the girl jumped from the top of the building. As she fell, her descent suddenly slowed until she was floating moreso than falling. As they moved toward the figure of the girl bathed in light, they could both see that it was Angie Lincoln. She appeared there suspended in midaire for a moment and then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone.
They wouldn’t talk about it for a few days. And then they would agree that it was one of those things that would be better left unsaid. Ever.
That was probably the last time the two of them had spoken Angie Lincoln’s name. They’d made a pact to leave that part of their past buried. Of course he had thought about Angie. How could he not? After all, the two of them had been involved right before her death.
That was a whole other story. He thought back now to that time with a strange mixture of sadness, anger and confusion. He remembered how he had felt the moment he laid eyes on Angie. He couldn’t romanticize it by saying it was love at first sight. It was more like lust at first sight . But he had developed some type of feelings for her by the time they’d slept together a few times.
Those feelings were one thing he couldn’t resolve. He cared for her, of course. But he couldn’t say he loved her. And then there was Jade. He had felt something for her from their first meeting, but it had been different. Yes, there was an attraction, but it went way beyond that. Everytime he was with Angie he felt as if he were somehow betraying Jade. Even though they had never dated or even came close to having that type of relationship before Christian got together with Angie.
The fact that he felt somehow strangely relieved by Angie’s death was only one of the things that made him feel so responsible. The big clencher was the fact that he had broken up with her the very night she killed herself.
He thought back, as he had so many times since then, to that day. He had just left Angie’s dorm room after an afternoon of lovemaking. He had planned to shower and take a nap before his night class, but instead he’d found the package on his doorstep that changed everything.
He recalled opening the package to find the videocassette and putting into the player to see that someone had sent him a porno tape. Laughing it off, he was going for the eject button when he suddenly saw something he would never forget. The image of Angie Lincoln, the woman he had just made love with, walking naked into a room full of men and proceeding to perform sex acts on them, one after another. He watched for longer than he needed to, almost as if frozen in shocked horror as the tape played on.
He wondered now how things would have been different if he hadn’t gotten the tape or even if he had just never confronted her about it to hear her laughing and saying she was proud of her work and that the men she’d been with in those movies were better lovers than he’d ever been... *** Jade stood silently as she studied the eerie form that was facing her. Angie.
“It’s really good to see you, Jade.”
“Ummm, you’re dead.”
“I know.”
“I saw you die.”
“I know.”
“Is this some kind of trick?”
“Think back, when was the last time you saw me?”
“When you jumped off of the administration building.”
“Which time?”
“What are you talking about? Oh my God, then it was real?”
“Of course it was.”
“I told Christian never to speak about that.”
“You seem to be awfully good at that. I mean, telling Christian what to do... how to feel...”
“Listen you, just because you are dead. Well, that doesn’t give you the right to tell me about my relationship with Christian. You screwed that up all by your lonesome. But then again, you’ll screw anything.”
“I’m not here to trade insults with you. I know that I messed up with Christian. I should have told him about... my past.”
“Duh.”
“And i shouldn’t have told him that all of those men were so good in bed either. I bet he has performance anxiety now.”
“Are you trying in your oh so suble way to ask me if I’m having sex with Christian?”
“No. I already know the answer to that.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
“I wan’t to borrow your body.”
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
More tomorrow and then a brief hiatus...
Posted by Harbinger on :
Danny, you write the most convincing prose I've read in a long time - and I read a lot!
Why don't you send work off to publishers? you are certainly of a level that you should be in print!!!
Totally hooked on your writing!
With talent like yours and Almost New Kids on these boards I feel honoured to be here!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan saw three doors through the darkness. The first one had the Number 1 on it, the second one 4 and the third the number 38. Donovan tried the one with the number 4 on it. As he opened it, he came face to face with Wesley Faust.
“Why hello there lover boy, wanna come out and play?”
“What are you doing here?” Donovan was incredulous.
“I’m here to help you. I never stopped loving you, deep down you knew that right?”
“What?”
“I always loved you...” suddenly Wesley began laughing maniacally. “I was almost able to say that with a straight face. Love you? Hahahahhahahahahahah!”
“Shut up, leave me alone!”
“Gladly, I mean we all do end up doing that don’t we. Leaving you, I mean.”
He disappeared and Donovan tried door number one. He opened it and stood there shocked.
“Nothing like seeing your first love again, huh?”
“Andy...”
Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
I love your work danny! Posted by Danny Blaine on :
You're sooo nice to me!
Posted by Harbinger on :
quote:Originally posted by Danny Blaine: You're sooo nice to me!
That's because you inspire us so much Danny!
Now what was that about taking a break? hopefully not now! After the next copuple of pages yeah? or maybe even a couple after that, just not now please!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Hopefully more soon...
As far as publishing goes, I'm too scared of rejection I guess...
I used to think I could do it, but now, I'm just afraid Ill be disappointed. Maybe when I finish Midnight, I'll try and submit it around.
We'll see...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Trivia piece:
Callie Haley was originally based on Thelma from Scooby Doo...
Posted by Harbinger on :
I pictured her as Cybil Sheppherd from Moonlighting.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
“Use my what? Jade asked incredulously. "Why don’t you get out of my way. Or never mind, I’ll just pass right through you,” Jade sneered as she walked up the stairs leaving behind a trail of smoke where the figure of Angie had been.
The stairwell was otherwise empty now. She paused, let out a sigh of relief and continued toward O’delia’s door. “From one witch to another...” she sighed, not wanting to deal with O'Delia now on top of everything else.
"Jade? Is that you?" The voice was right behind her. Strangely enough, it was another voice from the past. "Is it really you?"
"Callie? Oh my God! What are you doing here?" They hugged. They really didn't get along very well on a personal level, but they did respect each other very much.
"Jade, when I was walking up the staircase, I heard you speaking to someone. It was Angie, wasn't it?"
Jade nodded silently.
"I knew it!" Callie said excitedly, holding her hands over her stomach protectively. "Something is happening again, I just knew it..." Callie started sobbing. "Rosalyn called me today, that's why I'm here."
"Fuck," Jade said. "It's happening again."
They knocked on O'Delia's door.
***
"Andy..." Donovan had not thought if him in years. During their high school years, Andy and Donovan were best friends. They were together all the time, hanging out. Spending the night at each other's house. But of course, Andy had no idea that Donovan was in love with him.
"Yeppers, Don, it's me!" His natural olive skin glistened. "Why did you leave me?"
"Leave you?" Donovan didn't want to have this conversation now.
"You went off to some fancy college and I never saw you again."
"Andy, a lot of things happened to me in college. I... I changed."
"You mean like this?" Suddenly, Andy morphed into a grimacing clown with a knife and lunged toward Donovan. Donovan dodged, but in the process put too much pressure on his injured foot. He fell to the ground, hitting his head hard.
He passed out again...
***
Rosalyn sneered. They were all coming together, just as she knew they would. They would have been easier to kill separately, she mused, but there was no sport in that.
Her plans were just beginning! But she had to make sure that witch, Angie Lincoln, minded her own damn business!
***
Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
Rosalyn is kewl , in a kind of really nasty evil psycho- killer from hell kind of way.
Is there more coming soon?
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
quote:Originally posted by Harbinger: I pictured her as Cybil Sheppherd from Moonlighting.
Really?
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
quote:Originally posted by Sonnie Boy: Rosalyn is kewl , in a kind of really nasty evil psycho- killer from hell kind of way.
Is there more coming soon?
There will be a little more coming soon...
Then I need to really take stock and start resolving some things. The goal is to make it like one huge roller coaster where everything continues to build.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
OK there will be more tomorrow...
Posted by Harbinger on :
goodie goodie!
Your writing is one of the highlights of this forum!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Right behind yours...
Posted by Harbinger on :
oh bless you every day Danny Blaine!
You say the sweetest things. Posted by Danny Blaine on :
I do try Posted by Sonnie Boy on :
Looking forward to your next part of the story Danny...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Soon. I've been recharging the ole batteries...
Posted by Sonnie Blok on :
I just jumped like a cat when this popped up as the most recent post!
Wotta tease you are!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan awoke slowly, as the pain in his head and foot became a stronger presence in his mind. There were no more clowns or doors with strange numbers on them. Just a plain old emergency room. Thank Jesus.
He looked around the room and saw exactly what he expected to. Nothing was amiss. He must have passed out and hallucinated. But what if he hadn't. What if...
Looking down at his foot, Donovan could see that it was bandaged up and after confirming with a nurse, he was free to go! He needed to get in touch with Patrick and Jade!
Rosalyn had returned, he was sure of it. And if that was the case, they were all in danger!
***
After reunions were made and new acquaintenses met, Patrick Jade and Callie decided to fill in Sabrina and O'Delia in on their college days. After they were finished, Jade and Patrick looked at Callie.
They had not been in touch for years. They knew that she had stayed in Evanston and worked at the School Library, but that's really all they knew.
"Callie, what has been happening in your life? Why haven't you contacted us before?" Patrick asked, trying to hide his hurt.
"Um, I invited you all to my wedding. Why didn't you come?" Callie's answer visibly shocked both Patrick and Jade. Of course, Jade spoke up first.
"You're married?"
"Don't pretend like you don't know. It's demeaning, and I won't have it!" Callie continued to hold her stomach as she looked at Jade. "What you didn't think the nerd girl could land a husband?"
Patrick stepped in front of Jade.
"No, that's not it, Callie. We never received an invitation to any wedding."
"What? How can that be? I sent them myself."
"I don't know." And he truly didn't.
Sabrina and O'Delia decided to go get some dinner for everyone.
"Here, use this." Patrick handed Sabrina a wad of bills. "And since your car is on the fritz, O'Delia, go ahead and use mine."
"Great!" O'Delia said, as Sabrina snatched the keys away from her.
"I think I've had enough of your driving for one day." She smiled as she said it, but O'Delia knew there was some truth to it.
"Have it your way! What does everyone want?"
"It doesn't matter," Callie chimed in. "Just remember, I'm eating for two!"
They all stared in disbelief.
"Callie, your pregnant?"
"Don't tease me, Patrick. I'm seven month along."
Everyone stared at the petite Callie holding her stomach. There was no sign of pregnancy. In fact, although she was a bit chunky, it was obvious to everyone in the room.
There was no baby...
Posted by Sonnie Blok on :
You write about very scary things Danny.... It's great!!
More please....
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Christian decided that he need to find Jade and tell her about the earrings and the ring. He looked around his emaculate apartment and sighed.
He picked up the sugar bowl from the kitchen table and threw it against the wall. It shattered on impact. Very briefly, as the sugar fell to the floor, Christian was reminded of snowfall.
He remembered that first winter with Jade. They made love for hours on end. They were healing each other and they both knew it. It did grow into a deep love, but the spectre of Anglie Lincoln was always between them, unspoken.
CHristian looked down as the last of the sugar hit the floor. Something glimmering caught his eye. The ring? He stooped over and there it was, as beautiful as ever.
"What the fuck is going on?" He said aloud.
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
That voice. He hadn't heard it in years, but it was her. Slowly, he turned around, half-dreading what he knew he was going to see.
Angie Lincoln's image shimmered in front of him. Hesitantly, he tried to touch her. As he slowly reached out his hand, the image did the same. When their hands should have touched, Christian felt nothing except a slight electrical shock.
"You're not real."
Angie smiled. "Ya know, sexy man. I really did love you. But I hafta tell ya, it wasn't for your brains." Her smile grew brighter. "You never were to quick on the uptake. Thank God you were so good in bed..."
Posted by Sonnie Blok on :
Okay you're scaring me now Danny....
More please....
(it worked last time!)
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Sabina and O'Delia decided to leave after Callie's revelation. After all, they didn't know her and Patrick and Jade would have to tell the delusional girl some difficult truths.
"Honey, what have we gotten ourselves into?" O'Delia asked, fear dripping from her voice.
"I don't know. I just wish Donovan were here." Sabrina could not help but feel sorry for the poor girl. Callie obviously needed help.
"Donovan? What the hell could he do? I mean, I know you think the sun rises and sets with him, but really, girl! This is beyond even Donovan."
"Whatever is fucking with us, fucked with all of them before! And Donovan stopped it!"
"Apparently, not too well." O'Delia was coming off harsher than she wanted to, but she couldn't stop herself. She was scared. What made it worse, and she hated herself for it, was that she was scared mostly for herself. That thing had taken over her body, and she had to admit, a part of her liked it.
"Let's just go get the damn food." Sabrina said.
"Fine." O'Delia muttered back, knowing that much was unsaid between them.
***
Patrick and Jade sat on either side of Callie. They looked at each other and finally, Patrick nodded.
"Callie, listen..."
"I know what you are going to say."
"You do?" Jade was surprised, maybe Callie wasn't as far gone as they had thought.
"You are going to tell me that everything is gonna be okay. I know that. We stopped her before and we can do it again. I have to protect my baby."
Jade rolled her eyes.
"Um about the baby, Callie," Patrick continued, unsure of how to proceed. "Whose the father? Do you have a picture?"
"Silly, of course I do. After you all left m...," she paused, digging around in her purse. "After graduation, I stayed around, taking over the librarian job at the college. One day, this beautiful man smiled at me. I.. I couldn't believe it! Someone was interested in me!"
"Why wouldn't they be?" Patrick asked her.
"Look at me, Patrick!" Callie said incredulously, "I'm hardly beautiful."
"That's not true. You are one of the most beautiful people I know."
Jade rolled her eyes again, biting her tongue. It was better to let Patrick handle this.
"Th-thanks," Callie said. "But we both know that's not quite the truth. Anyway, Barry asked me out after a few weeks of coming in to check out books about the Occult. Of course, I said yes! We dated for three years and finally married. It really was a beautiful ceremony."
She handed Patrick the picture. As Patrick expected, the shot was of Callie alone, standing in front of the library.
"Honey, I have to tell you something..."
***
Rosalyn squealed with delight as the jar she had earlier was now empty. "I'm glad I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies!" She giggled "This is gonna be one hell of a show."
***
"What do you mean I'm not pregnant?" Callie was incredulous. How dare he try to take away her happiness.
"Callie, I want you to look at this picture again. Before you do, clear your mind."
"Okay," she was fighting back tears again. "But I don't see..." again she paused. "I don't see anyone but me..." Her voice trailed off. She was exhausted. Suddenly, her mind racing, she screamed. "But what about my baby?"
"Callie, there is no baby!" Jade had had enough with the delicate touch. It was time for callie to see the truth.
"There is a baby! Look at me! I know this is real!"
Patrick and Jade stared in awe as Callie stomach grew right before their eyes.
***
Posted by Sonnie Blok on :
I really enjoy your style of writing Danny, your characters are fantastic! You write the best prose on this board, your story is scary and funny and.... and it's very good Danny, many thanks...
And I have to ask if Callie's 'husband' is a ghost beacuse that might make this a phantom pregnancy? Posted by Danny Blaine on :
No, no ghost...
The morning sickness and the kick inside... The phantom kisses of the phantom bride...
The above lyrics inspired Callie's story...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
By the way, thanks again for the kind words!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
As quickly as Callie's stomach grew, it deflated just as suddenly. Patrick and Jade stared in awe.
Callie began to cry. They realized that whatever spell she had been under was weakening and that she was beginning to realize the truth. There had never been a husband and there wasn't really a baby, at least they didn't think so.
Someone had wanted Callie out of the way, Jade thought. IT was easy enough to guess the "who?". That would be Rosalyn. And the "why?", well, that was pretty obvious as well. Someone wanted to keep Callie away from Midnight Investigations. They always were stronger as a group. But why would Rosalyn bring them all together now? And what did Angie Lincoln's ghost have to do with it?
"Callie," Jade said symapthetically, "why don't you go lie down for a bit."
"Yes, I think I need... to rest. But I need to call..." Callie paused, realizing that she really didn't need to call anyone. "I need to call work and let them know I will be out a few days."
"Of course, dear." Jade really did feel for the girl. "Why don't you use my cell phone?"
Callie nodded, took the phone and followed Patrick into O'Delia's bedroom.
***
Donovan was worried. His cell phone still had no signal. The others could be in serious danger, he reasoned. Finally, he stopped at a red light. Where would he go? First, he would try the office, then we would look for Patrick and Jade.
He looked to the lane next to him in the right lane of the highway. He did a double take as he realized he was looking at a clown! The clown tapped it's large knife against it's driver's side window.
Donovan knew better than to panic. This wasn't real. The clown would disappear in a moment. He looked over again...
The clown was still there. It exited the car and Donovan quickly reached over and locked his passenger door before the clown could enter. The clown tapped harder on the window!
The light turned green and Donovan gunned the engine, leaving a confused Sabrina and O'Delia puzzled as to why he wouldn't stop for them.
***
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
Aaaaah.... now it makes a bit more sense...
Loving it Danny
More please?
(ever hopeful )
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
"We've got to try to follow him!" Sabrina stammered as she got back into the car.
"OKay, but if my food gets cold..." O'Delia knew there was no stopping Sabrina now.
"Eat it on the way." Sabrina was determined. Donovan recognized her, she was sure of it. But why did he lock the door and drive away so quickly. Maybe we wanted them to follow?
She finally caught up to him but stayed far enough behind that he wouldn't see them.
***
Christian couldn't believe his eyes.
"Angie..."
"Yep, it's me," she answered, lighting a cigarette. Christian could actually smell the smoke. "I'm back."
"Back? But I saw you die..."
"Yeah, it sucked too. Thank you for coming to the funeral. After what happened between us, I wasn't sure you'd come."
"I can't believe I'm standing here talking to a ghost!"
"I prefer the term spectre. It just sounds better."
"What do you want?" Christian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had gone nuts. That was the only explanation.
"I want my body back. I want to feel the wind in my hair. I want to taste french fries. I want to feel you inside me again. I wan't to feel... anything."
"What do you need me for?"
"Are you up for a drive?"
"A drive?" Where the hell could you possibly want to go?"
"Back to where it all started."
***
[ October 26, 2003, 04:07 AM: Message edited by: Danny Blaine ]
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Jade and Patrick paced the floor of O'Delia's apartment, waiting for the food to get there. Callie had finally drifted off to sleep, but would moan every few moments as if in pain. They took turns checking on her, but she seemed to be fine.
"Rosalyn..." Jade began.
"Don't say that name." Patrick was furious at this. They had all moved on from those very dark days in college. Except Callie, she was never given the opportunity. "If you talk about her, she might get stronger."
"Patrick, I think she's pretty strong already. I mean, she has spent years fooling that stupid little girl in there that she had a husband and now... a baby! I'd say she's pretty tough."
"Not necessarily."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think Callie's greatest wish was? She wanted to be loved. That's why she became bulimic. It wouldn't take much to give her what she wanted."
They were interrupted by a shrill scream coming from the bedroom. Patrick and Jade raced to the bedroom door. It was locked!
"Did you lock it?" Patrick asked?
"hell, no!"
"we've got to get in there!" Jade nodded. She took her hairpin and worked it frantically into the keyhole. Callie continued to scream. Jade's hands shook as she tried to pick the lock. She dropped the hairpin more that once.
"Hurry the fuck up! Something is very wrong!"
"I'm trying!" Jade finally managed to unlock the door. "Oh My God!"
"Fuck me." Patrick stared in disbelief. Callie's body had been split in two. Blood soaked the bedspread and the walls. They looked up to see a very large creature coming at them. It was soaked in blood. Callie's...
She had given birth...
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
Well that last bit was delightful and just before I go out for a meal as well....
As good as ever Danny, more please?
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan unlocked the door to the Midnight Investigation offices. He looked around and of course the offices were empty because of the late hour.
He rushed pashed O'Delia's desk into his own office. He walked over to the far wall and pulled out a particular book from the bookcase. As he did so, the bookcase door swung open. When they opened Midnight Investigations, Jade had insisted that they have a secret room accessible from each of their offices. Donovan saw no harm in it, so he obliged.
He entered the dimly lit hallway and made his way into the secret room. Once settled he pushed a button on the wall that triggered the bookcase in his office to close as well.
***
O'Delia and Sabrina arrived at the Midnight Investigations offices shortly after Donovan. O'Delia used her keys of course but after a brief search, they realized no one was there.
"Where could he have gone?" Sabrina whispered. "His car is parked right outside."
"I don't know, honey. Let's just sit down and eat our food for now. Then we we'll regroup and decide what to do next." O'Delia was really not sure what that would be, but she had to stay positive for Sabrina. She was really in no rush to return to her apartment either. That Callie chick really freaked her out...
***
Patrick and Jade ran out of the aprtment complex as fast as they possibly could. The creature did not seem to be following them yet.
"We'll take my car," Patrick said.
"Are you forgetting that you lent it out?" Jade asked.
"Fuck, okay let's take yours." They ran to Jade's old Chevy and got Jade unlocked the doors quickly as they both hopped in.
"Where to?" Jade was frantic.
Suddenly the creature jumped out of the window of O'Delia's apartment on to the pavement below and was rushing toward them.
"Fuck, it doesn't matter if we don't leave now!" The creature was almost on top of them by now.
Jade turned the ignition and floored the car. They drove off into the night...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Christian and the ghost of Angie Lincoln were driving down the interstate toward Evanston. There was an awkward silence. What the hell does one say to the ghost of their porn star ex-girlfriend who dove off the administration building at campus and splattered to the ground.
"Why did you do it?"
"do what, sweetie?"
"Why did you kill yourself?"
"I didn't. I was pushed."
"What? But you left a note."
"Yes, yes I did. It was a joke."
"A joke?"
"Yes, sweetie, a joke. I had no intention of killing myself whatsoever. I went up to the roof, planning on making a spectacle of myself."
"Why?"
"You really are dense, sometimes. I'm not a bit shocked that you've never been promoted to Detective. I loved you and I knew that you would come back to me if you realized how much I needed you." She reached her hand between Christian's legs.
"I... I can feel that." Christian stammered.
"I know." Angie smiled. "Unzip your pants. I'm still not very good with metal. But trust me, I can touch flesh."
***
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
This is the sickest ending yet Danny! Yiiiick, straight sex!! Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Hehehe
Just because I don't want any part of it, doesn't mean I can't write about it!
LOL
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Jade shivered for a moment. Something was wrong with Christian, she could feel it. Unfortunately, with a demonic creature on her tail, she was unable to do anything about it.
"Dammit," she muttered.
"What?" Patrick asked, wide-eyed.
"We're almost out of gas. We have to decide now where we want to go."
"Let's go to the office. We have weapons there."
"Good plan."
***
Donovan sat alone in the secret room. He had built it to serve as a type of panic room, just in case...
He had placed video cameras in all of the offices and in the main lobby. He could see Sabrina and O'Delia out there. But could he trust his own vision? Was it really them?
He decided to take a chance and opened the door out into the lobby.
It was now or never, he decided...
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Christian started to reach down for his zipper, but then stopped himself.
"Angie, I..."
"I know sweetie, you're in love with that bitch. But it's ok, she doesn't have to know."
"I would know. And frankly, this kind of shit is why you and I never had a chance in hell to begin with! Why do you always have to be such a slut?"
"It's who I was. No, it's who I am. It's so easy for you to condescend to me, isn't it?" Christian looked at Angie. This was insane! He had just turned down a blow job from a ghost! He sighed.
"Listen, Angie. If you had just told me the truth in the beginning..."
"Then what? It would all be different? Bullshit! You had already started to fall for HER! Besides, every time you fucked me, you would be wondering how you stacked up against all those other guys."
"You already answered that for me. You said I wasn't half as good as any of them!"
"I lied. People do that when they are upset sometimes, Christian. They lie! I just wanted to hurt you."
"Well, you did."
Neither one of them spoke for quite awhile after that...
[ October 26, 2003, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Danny Blaine ]
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
I think that's it for today...
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
You're right, Danny Blaine - I do like it!
You hit the ground running with the very first installments, introduced the major characters and story lines, gave them all a distinct story - and history - of their own. Your chapter endings are often cliff-hangers. Lots of surprises but all within the realm of a good, solid paranormal story. And still lots of mystery to unravel!
Of course, I didn't like the dead, beheaded cat early on ... but that passed....
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
ooops, I forgot about that...
Sorry, FC!
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
That's okay, I didn't take it personally. And it wasn't, like, gratuitous... Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Bump. This might be some fun Halloween reading.
Posted by Harbinger on :
It is indeed appropriate Hallowe'en reading Danny, and do you know it would be that little bit better if you added a new segment
Ever hopeful!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
You sound just like Sonnie!
Posted by Harbinger on :
he wishes!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
The demonic creature that seemed to be able to move as fast, if not faster than Jade's little Geo Storm. In fact, Patrick thought that it was almost toying with them. But it had killed Calley, the nicest person he had ever known. And for what, shock value? That was certainly Rosalyn's style. Everything had to be a play, full of dramatic themes and eeire symbolism. They had been friends once. They would write poetry to one another, as the Painter and the Poet. Patrick had been the painted, Rosalyn the poet. It was a platonic love, at first. And then, it all went very, very wrong.
Rosalyn fell in love with him.
Patrick had tried to let her down easy, explaining that she wasn't his type. He didn't have the heart to tell her that even if he were straight, he could never be attracted to her. She looked like a pig!
Rosalyn persisted, thought. She began to stalk him and his other friends, Jade and Donovan. She was desperate. So she turned to that bastard, Sebastian. Sebastian had been a centureis old vampire and was well versed in many arcane arts. He granted Rosalyn the powers of a witch. She could do almost anything.
Anything, except become beautiful. If anything, her appearance became more piglike. Patrick was sure this was because the bitterness on the inside was manifesting itself outwardly.
Rosalyn tried to kill them all several times, finally defeated by Sebastian's own treachory. Patrick and the others had destroyed Sebastian, but Rosalyn disappeared.
And on that day, Patrick lost the love of his life. He held back the tears as much as he could.
***
Jade floored the vehicle as much as she could. Just when she thought she would lose the damn thing, the demon returned! How would they ever kill this thing? And how powerful was it?
Patrick was silent through much of the drive and Jade was pretty sure she knew why.
Jade knew what Patrick must be thinking about. HE was remembering how they all met and the trouble they had with Rosalyn and Sebastian. They had other help back then too, and that must be what is killing Patrick right now. He was thinking about Nathaniel, his one true love.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Rosalyn could see through the demon's eyes on the wall-sized television screen. She had set up the event as a video game, complete with controller.
And this time, Rosalyn had the joystick! She would be able to make the demon move any way she chose. Sebastian had given her all these precious gifts before he was destroyed and she had no idea the true extent of the powers he had given her. She had been practising for many years, mostly on that Calley bitch.
It turned out to be quite easy to create a phantom husband for Calley. It was even easier to manipulate her into thinking they were married and she was expecting a child. Calley always did have a weak mind. Rosalyn sneered and then resumed her game.
Things were about to go into overdrive!!!!
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan left the safety of his secret room and reentered his office. At the same time, Sabrina and O'Delia entered the dark room.
They stared at each other for a few awkward seconds before Sabrina lunged into Donovan's arms. Any appehensions that this was just an illusion quickly faded. This was definately Sabrina.
"You look like hell," she whispered to him.
"Thanks. You too."
"What happened?" They both spoke in unison. O'Delia crossed in front of them, folding her arms and rolling her eyes.
"What happened??? Well, let's see here... Do we start with the dead cat mounted on your wall? How about our almost collision with a school bus? No, no, no... we should start with your old friend Callie whatsherface, showing up pretending to be pregnant! Or maybe that horrible thing possessing my body and making me call Patrick a pansy boy!??"
Donovan's eyes widened.
"Yeah, that's what I said, too." O'Delia said bitterly. "By the way, I quit!"
"We can talk about that later," Sabrina said. "Right now, I want to know what happened to Donovan."
"Of course you do, dear..." O'Delia shook her head.
Ignoring her, Donovan let go of Sabrina and began his story...
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
By the time Christian and Angie made the 3 hour drive to campus, it was very late. Christian looked up at the gothic buildings. This is where it all began, he thought. Where he first met Angie... and Jade.
The admistration building itself was in the center of a half circle driveway. Due to the late hour, they were able to pull up right in front of it.
"So, where do we go now?"
The ghost of Angie Lincoln did not speak. She merely pointed up to the roof.
"Up there? But that's where..."
"It's where it all began," the apparition interrupted. "So that's where we have to go."
"All right." Christian took his gun from his holster and double checked, making sure it was loaded.
"you won't need that." Angie said matter-of-factly, "To the powers that we face, your little dime-store toy there won't mean a thing."
"I'll take my chances."
"Hope your luck is better than mine."
"Well, I'm still alive..."
"You just had to rub it in..." She was half-smiling.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"Yes you did. But it's ok. I mean, I'm dead because I screwed up my life. That's not anyone else's fault.
"uh, let's get moving. I don't want to be here all night. I still need to find Jade."
"Don't worry about that, I have a feeling she will find us."
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
At this point as we build to the climax, I'm going to take a break.
To hold you over (if any of you are still reading), I have placed the prologue to Midnight redemption, the prequel to this story) in a new thread.
It is finished, but I won't add more to it until Midnight Investigations is through. I just wanted to give you a taste of what's to come!
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
quote:Originally posted by Harbinger: he wishes!
YOU wish! Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
quote:Originally posted by Danny Blaine: At this point as we build to the climax, I'm going to take a break.
R Mathew Crider you tease!!
This is a tremendously detailed and well crafted peice, please don't keep us waiting toooo long... Posted by Danny Blaine on :
The four story climb up the creeking, narrow stairs took more out of Christian than he would have liked to admit. He was a cop, that's was true but his physical condition was nowhere near as strong as it was in college. I'm getting old , he thought.
It was disconcerting how Angie simply floated upward, keeping his pace with him. He had to wander what she was leading him too? Kicking himself, he realized that he really should have told someone where he was going.
Too late for that now...
As he looked at the cracked walls with pictures of former alumni of Hughes Hill, he realized that the building was truly in a state of disrepair. How safe was this place, anyway?
By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Christian was winded. He motioned for Angie to wait while he caught his breath. She knodded, rolling her eyes...
***
Jade and Patrick were sure that they had finally lost the creature following them as they raced down the streets. Patrick realized where they were instantly. They were in front of that creepy building that Madame Dupris used as office space.
"Stop the car!" He shouted. Jade slammed on the brakes, causing the car to come to a screeching halt.
"Have you lost your fucking mind? There is a... a thing chasing us!"
"Listen, we don't have time for this."
"I agree! So let's keep moving before that thing gets any closer!" Jade could see it now in her rear view mirror. It was speeding up and would be on top of them in seconds. "Fuck," she said, getting out of the car. Patrick also abandoned the vehicle and he pointed to the office entrance.
"Hopefully, we will be safe here."
"Ummm, Patrick. This isn't a good part of town. Now we don't just have to worry about babies that turn into monsters, we could get mugged too!"
They entered the building. Patrick gasped when he looked up...
Posted by Harbinger on :
Kewl!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
"Where'd they go?" Rosalyn was understandanbly upset. After all, the demon seed she planted inside Callie Hayley had come so close to getting Jade and Patrick. Ahhhh, Patrick.
Bastard.
Deep down, she still loved him, she knew that. There was absolutely nothing she could do to change that. Her only option was to pile as much hatred and bile on top of that love as she could.
She slammed the controller down and switched the wall screen off. Now, the demon would disappear. She didn't have time to play with those two, anyway. She had no intentions of killing them... yet.
She had somewhere else to be...
***
After everyone had made their explanations, Donovan finally spoke up.
"ODelia..." he looked at her first. Her head was bent down. He turned to Sabrina. "Sabrina, I'm so sorry this has all happened to you. To both of you."
"It's not your fault." Sabrina said weakly. "we never thought our pasts would come back to haunt us like this. We though he had put it all behind us."
"Well, you thought wrong!" O'Delia looked up finally. Donovan could see that she had been crying. The normally perfectly applied mascara was running down her blush covered cheeks. "This does have to do with me!"
"You're upset." Sabrina said.
"Damn right. And do you know why?"
Donovan and Sabrina shook their heads almost simultaneously.
"I was enrolled in Hughes Hill College, too!"
"What?" Donovan gasped. "But it wans't on your resume."
"I never actually went. A few weeks before I was all set to go, I started having dreams about people I had never seen before. They were in a chapel, praying. I saw a red headed woman running in a field. A... a dead hand reached up and grabbed her."
"You had the dreams?" Donovan couldn't believe it. O'Delia nodded softly before continuing.
"So I was getting all worked up about those dreams. But my parents really wanted me to go to Hughes Hill. They kept showing me the damn brochures, hoping that would make a difference."
"But it didn't?" Sabrina asked, taking this new information in.
"No, they made the mistake of showing me a picture of the chapel."
"And it was the same one that was in your dreams."
"I refused to go. I told me parents I was going to become a model instead. They were livid, but eventually, they accepted it."
O'delia paused. Sabrina walked over and sat beside her. Donovan just stood there, watching the poor girl unspool.
"What happened next?" He asked gently."
"I was running away from myself, I knew it! I knew that I was supposed to be at that damn school, but I didn't have the courage to face whatever it was in my dreams. I didn't have the courage to be me either. I did alot of self-examining, and after making enough money. I remade myself. That way, the dreams wouldn't be able to find me."
"the dreams stopped after the school year began. But not after I had one last dream."
"One last dream?"
"I was in the chapel with you! But then, I was gone and this mousy young girl was sitting in my place. I never knew what that meant. Until tonight."
"What do you mean?"
"The girl who took my place was Callie Hayley! Everything that has happened to her is because I didn't play my part in whatever drama happened to you all back then. She took my role! She's dead because of me!"
"Dead? What are you talking about?" Sabrina asked. "When we left them, she was alive. A bit confused, but alive!"
"Not anymore."
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Patrick and Jade entered the dilapidated building. Patrick could sense that she was in awe of the plush interior, especially since the outside was so rundown.
"Wow," she mustered.
"I know, isn't it amazing. This is where I met with that phony psychic earlier."
"So why bring me here? Not that I'm complaining, since that thing apparently can't find us."
"Well, this building seems to have almost magical properties. Earlier today, when I left, it looked like a tenement. When I first got here, it looked like it does now."
"I see." Jade nearly jumped out of her skin as the old man in the navy bellhop suit touched her shouldner. She let out a small scream.
"I'm terribly sorry, madam. I didnt mean to frighten you."
Patrick snickered.
"I-I'm fine. Who the hell are you?"
"This is the man who led me to Madame Dupris earlier. Is she in?" He asked the man.
"No, I'm afraid she's left for the night. She did leave this for you however." He handed Patrick a handwritten not. "She was quite confident that you would be back. She described you perfectly as well, madam."
"Whatever." Jade shrugged. "What's the note say?"
Patrick handed it to Jade.
"Dearest Patrick, I trust that after our conversation earlier today that you now believe what I told you. Your friend Donovan is no longer in immediate danger, that particular drama played itself out naturally. However, the danger is still ever present. The children will tell you where to go. Sometimes the story really should end at the beginning...
Again, I wish you all the best. I pray that you will live through this terrible night, although I fear you will not. Be vigilant and know that the circle must be complete again.
Madame Dupris"
"The children? What children is she talking about?" Then Jade had a revelation. "Let's go!"
"Ummm, that demon thing is still outside..."
"No, it's gone. I can sense it."
"So where are we going? And what did she mean about the circle? We can't complete it now. Callie is dead." Patrick gasped as he thought about what he had just said. He hadn't really had time to digest it yet.
"I know, sweetie. But right now, we have to stop this shit before we all die!"
"Where are we going?"
"We need to see Holly Remington and her children."
"That woman with the witch? I thought you said that was Angie?"
"It was. But I think in her own way, she's trying to help us."
"I thought you hated her?"
"I do. But more than anything else, she loves Christian. I believe her intentions are good."
"If you say so. You should probably call him, Christian, I mean."
"Yeah. I probably should." HOwever, she made no effort to do so.
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
"We have to go." O'Delia said hoarsely.
"GO where?" Sabrina asked. "We're safe here."
"No, we aren't safe anywhere." O'Delia was still clearly upset. "It's so funny, for years I've been trying to get away from those horrible dreams. But I ended up here anyway, with you."
She looked at Donovan.
"Damn you."
"O"Delia, it's not his fault. I mean, he didn;t know."
"And why didn't he? I did! From the second I walked in these doors for the first time, it all came back to me. I thought about running again, but I'm too tired of running. Until today, I had almost put it all out of my mind."
"O'Delia, when I hired you... well, I knew you were meant to be here. It's true, I didn't 'recognize' you and neither did Patrick or Jade. But you fit. Better that Callie ever did. She was the substitute."
"and now she's dead because I didn't join your little cirlce when I had the chance! She never would have had to live all these years under some spell or whatever the fuck it was that had her believing that she was married and pregnant! She may have had a normal life?"
"What's normal? Do you know? Do any of us? How do you know what would have happened? Yeah, life sucks! I'm living in the past too. When you made your... change, my life turned upside down. No one would hire me without you and you were MIA! Don't you go blaming Donovan for not knowing when you knew exactly what you did and what it would do to me. I loved you, O'Delia! I loved you when you were a man and I love you now! Not the way I love..." Sabrina stopped. "Not in a romantic sense, but I love you. I knew you did what was best for you and I never blamed you."
Donovan, clearly uncomfortable, sat down next to the two women. "What do we do now?"
"You already know," O"Delia answered. "we have to go there."
"Hughes Hill?" Donovan asked.
"Yup."
The three of them took off into the night...
Posted by Harbinger on :
That part was very revealing Danny, though probably didn't deserve to be posted FOUR times!
Another great part and I love the sense of building towards an unpleasant climax.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
The evening hours were winding down when Jade and Patrick arrived at the Remmington home. The lights were still on, however, so Jade decided to knock on the front door.
Holly opened the door almost immediately.
"They told me you were coming. Normally, I would have thought they were crazy, but given everything that's happened today..."
"I know, Holly and we are close to solving this case."
"Of course you are dear, that's why your here. I have something for you as well. The children drew it together. I've never seen them work together at anything, so this is simply amazing to me. For that alone, you have my thanks."
She handed Jade a drawing done on notebook paper.
"They asked me to go to the store so they could draw without the lines, but I told them it wasn't necessary, you would like it anyway.I don't know where they go this image from and frankly, it doesn't really matter. They said you would know."
"Yes, I do know. Listen, Holly, after tonight you shouldn't have any more problems with this ghost. Please call me if anything else happens, but I'm fairly certain this is the end of it."
"Splendid. I knew when I met you that you would get the job done. Your check will be in the mail tomorrow."
"Thanks!" Jade just hoped that she lived til tomorrow. She waived at the two children draped around Holly's legs and then ran back into the car. It was starting to rain. Not a heavy downpour, just enough to mess up her hair if she didn't hurry.
Finally reaching the car, she opened the door.
"Look at this." She handed Patrick the drawing. There were a few raindrops that had hit it but the location was pretty obvious.
"The administration building at Hughes Hill? I swore I would never go back there."
"we all did."
"We could just go home and pretend none of this ever happened." Patrick said half-heartedly.
"Yeah, we could." Jade stared into space.
"Well, Hughes HIll is a long drive, we better get moving."
"Yup."
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
more more more......
pleeeeeeaase!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Christian looked around the rooftop of Hughes Hill College. The view was spectacular, even at night! He could see the entire campus and further out, the small skyline of Evanston, the neighboring city.
"Wow. This is amazing." He spoke aloud.
"Yes, yes it is." Angie Lincoln replied back.
"Now tell me, what are we doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Christian. I truly am."
"For what?"
"For what's about to happen. If I could stop it, I would. But fate demands this come full circle."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's talking about me, you little twit!" Christian turned around to face Rosalyn. She was sneering and looking as ugly as she ever had. But something about her... He could feel the power at her command. He started to rush toward her but she simply waived her hand and he froze in place.
Rosalyn turned to Angie. "Thank you for bringing him here."
"You bitch! I didn't do it for you. I did it so that this would all end and I could find some peace!"
"Whatever your reason, I really don't give two shits. The first of my enemies is here and the rest are sure to follow..."
"Nursery Rhymes? Jade... was... right, you are... a drama queen!" Christian found it hard to even speak. Whatever force Rosalyn had tapped into prevented him from moving.
"I'm proud of it." SHe took what looked like small figurine from her pocket. It was labeled Christian. "Do you know what this is?"
Christian didn't answer.
"Don't do this!" Angie pleaded, lunging at Rosalyn. Unfortunately, being a ghost, she simply passed right through her.
"I actually felt that. It was quite... unpleasant. I liked it!" Rosalyn cackled as she twisted the right leg of the figurine until it snapped like a twig.
Christian screamed in agony as he left his leg break.
"Noooooo!" Angie screamed.
"Yeeeeees!" Rosalyn mocked. "Should I go for the other leg now? Or something else?"
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Donovan killed the lights just before entering the halfcircle driveway. He didn't wan't to announce his arrival just yet.
As he and O'Delia exited the car, Sabrina started to get out as well.
"No, you stay here." O"Delia said, "this isn't about you."
"I agree." Donovan whispered gently. "Besides, if anything happens to us. We'll need you to get help. This is the number I want you to call if you don't here from us in half an hour." He jotted the number on a piece of scrap paper.
"I don't like it. I really don't. In the past 24 hours, I've become a part of it, whether I, or you for that matter, like it or not. But you're right. One of us needs to stay behind." Sabrina sat motionless in the car as O'Delia and Donovan searched for a way in the administration building.
Donovan and O'Delia stopped as the reached a car. "Oh fuck, that's Christian's car!" Donovan said, clearly shaken.
"Jade's boyfriend?"
Donovan nodded silently. They were interrupted by a scream. The noise seemed to come from the rooftop, but from thier line of sight, they couldn't see anything. They hurried into the building, finding the front lock had already been picked. O'Delia led as they rushed to the staircase.
"How did you know?"
"I've dreamed this..." O'Delia said nothing more and Donovan didn't press the issue. They had to reach the rooftop!
Posted by Harbinger on :
Rosalyn really doesn't give up does she?
Another well written part of your story Danny. I know it's going to end dramatically fairly soon - which is a pity as I'm really hooked on these characters.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Sabrina sat in the car when she saw headlights coming up behind her. Scared, she ducked down, hoping that no one would see her. She had to be able to call that number if anything went wrong. Sabrina knew in her heart that she would have to use it.
She looked at the scrap paper again. It simply read 'Sebastian and then his number'. Who the hell was Sebastian, anyway.
She heard voices and the sound of two car doors closing. Realizing that she recognized the voices, she hurried out of the car. Patrick and Jade had arrived!
"How did you know we would be here?" Sabrina asked.
"We didn't," Jade answered. "Why are you here?"
"Listen we don't have time for that now, O'Delia and Donovan have gone up there." She pointed to the roof.
"They aren't alone , either..." Jade whispered.
"What do you mean?" Patrick's voice was at a fever pitch.
"That car up there, it's Christian's piece of shit."
"Oh God, we're all here again. Except Callie..."
Sabrina was about to tell them about O'Delia's earlier revelation when another scream interrupted the silence.
"That was Christian!" Jade said. She was in tears. "We have to go up there, now!"
They ran to the administration building, leaving Sabrina alone with her thoughts.
"The hell with it," she said to herself. "I'm going to call this number and then I'm going to find a way to help them."
***
Rosalyn had broken another of Christian's legs by the time Donovan and O'Delia made it to the rooftop. They crouched behind a large air conditioner as they took in their surroundings.
They saw Rosalyn waving her hands frantically in the air, spouting off some incantation that sounded like gibberish to Donovan. Donovan motioned for O'Delia to help Christian and he would confront Rosalyn himself.
O'Delia shook her head. "I'm done running," she whispered. "If anything happens to me, please look after Sabrina, she loves you. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know that. But nothing's gonna happen to you. We just have to play this smart. Remember, Rosalyn's weak spot is her appearance. Use it."
O'Delia nodded.
Calmly, she walked up to where Rosalyn was chanting. Rosalyn turned to her and scowled.
"Oh you finally noticed me? Glad to hear it. Has anyone ever told you that you look like hell? I mean really, the pigwoman look was never in fashion. I could really do wonders with you though. YOu see, I fancy myself as kind of a makeover... queen. I bet I could make all the guys want you."
Rosalyn merely stared at O'Delia. "I know you," she snarled. "You're that pathetic drag queen."
"Pathetic? Have you looked in the mirror honey? And for the record, I'm a full fledged woman now! Too much for ya?"
Rosalyn waived her hands again. "You've interrupted my prayer, you bitch." O'Delia was flung across the rooftop, landing on her backside, hard.
"owww! That hurt, but is that all you've go?'
Rosalyn simply waived her arms again.
Meanwhile, Donovan circled around behind Christian.
"Chris, it's me, Donovan. I'm going to try to help you." Luckily, O'Delia had occupied Rosalyn enough that her hold on Christian had weakened. He was about to pull Christian to the staircase when Patrick and Jade burst in...
Rosalyn, looked around and saw that her enemies were all around her. She looked at Christian, eyeing him morbidly. "Your girlfriend arrived just in time to see your death. Angie, are you still here? You might want to see this, too!"
With yet another waive of her hand she sent CHristian hovering so that he was no longer under the roof. Looking down, he could see his car directly under him.
It always was a piece of shit car, he thought to himself. Then he looked at Jade and mouthed "I love you,"
"I love you, too!" Jade screamed, Patrick was holding her back.
"How disgustingly sentimental!" Rosalyn cackled sent CHristian careening down the front of the administration building, feet first. ***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Sabrina returned from her phone call just as the drama on the rooftop was being played out. She could see Christian dangling in mid-air and then drop...
Then she saw a woman fly? She was... flying after him and caught up to him. The sight was amazing the two of them floated down the building for what seemed like hours.
Finally, they landed and Sabrina rushed over to them. The woman was shimmering and barely cohesive.
"That... took alot out of me," the apparition said. "But I did it! I did something good and not just because I wanted to go to heaven. I did it out of love!"
She kissed Christian on the cheek and began to fade away.
"Tell them... tell them I won't bother them anymore. Tell them I am finally going to a place I can belong...
Sabrina nodded slowly, her eyes filled with tears.
Christian moaned in pain. "What happened?"
"An angel caught you from falling and floated down here with you. Then she faded away."
"Oh. I'm dead, right?"
"No. YOu are very much alive. Although your legs don't look so hot, right now."
"That Rosalyn bitch broke them. I have to get back up there."
"Whoa cowboy. Your time up there is done. Whatever happens now, happens between them. And one other."
"One other? Who?"
"I can't say. But I hope he has enough time to get here. Meanwhile, I'm taking you to the hospital."
"It's just down the road."
"OK, I'm just gonna get you admitted ok. Then I'm coming back to see if I can help anyone else."
"Sounds like a plan..." He was weak and would pass out from the pain if she didn't get him to the hospital soon. She pulled DOnovan's car up close and dragged Christian into the passenger side as gently as she could. Her own strength amazed her.
Christian's legs were throbbing harder than ever. She squeezed his palm so hard it seemed to bleed. Looking down at his hand, he saw the ring that he had intended for Jade! HE asked Sabrina to hold on to it for him as he faded off into unconsciousness.
***
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
Very enjoyable (again!) please don't stop now....
we need more more more......
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
"Noooooooooooo!" Jade screamed, rushing toward the edge of the roof.
"Not so fast, bitch!" Rosalyn waived her hands and Jade was standing right in front of her immobile. She did the same thing to Donovan, Patrick and O'Delia.
Suddenly, they were hanging upside-down, suspended in mid-air on the room of the dimly lit administrative building.
Patrick said a silent prayer. This had happened before of course, well, not the upside down part. That time, Callie Hayley had saved them all. But this time, there was no one left. No one at all...
Posted by Harbinger on :
No one to save them!! What do you mean No One To Save Them?
OHMIGAWD they'll ALL DIE if someone doesn't save them! And I've grown rather fond of Christian and Patrick and Jade. (You can kill the rest of them if you want though heehee no don't I'm only joking!!)
I don't know if I can watch <hides eyes behind hands>
I think there's been too long a gap while holding us in this cliffhanger Danny and hysteria has set in!
More soon please
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
YOu don't like poor Donovan?
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Donovan? You gotta love somebody who, in his first big scene, adds a little extra to the paycheck!
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
And this Weekend...
The concluding chapters!!!!!
Who will live? Who will die? Will they ever get paid? What does the future hold for Sabrina? Who did Donovan ask Sabrina to call?
All this will be answered in the next few days...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
As Rosalyn walked back and forth in front of her helpless captives, only stopping to occasionally torture one of them, she completely failed to notice a dark figure approaching her.
Donovan prayed that Sabrina had done as he asked. He remembered the night he had a visitor in his dorm room after their final struggle with Nathaniel and Rosalyn...
"You're leaving him?"
"I have to, I can't watch him die, again and again. Life after life..."
"But it doesn't have to be that way. He loves you!"
"And I love him." The deep voice answered. "But I am immortal, and it's not fair to him. I will never grow old." The stranger bared his fangs.
"What are you going to tell him?" Donovan demanded.
"Nothing."
"NOthing? You are just going to walk out of his life without a word. He's been waiting his whole life for you! This will kill, him."
"No, he will have the love of his friends."
"And you think that's enough???? Patrick will be devasted. YOu know how he gets when he's left alone."
Sebastian smiled. "Yes, I know how he gets. But I will be tempted to make him one of us."
"And is that so bad?"
"YES! I don't want anyone to have to suffer this life just so that we can be together."
"Patrick would suffer anything for you, Sebastian."
"I know. That's why he has to forget."
"Okay, I can't tell you what to do." Donovan half-smiled. "You might bite me."
"No. You would enjoy it." Sebastian smiled at his friend. "But if...if you ever need my help. I you or Patrick or Jade is ever in real danger again, I want you to contact me."
"How?"
"Call this number. I will be there."
"What's to keep me from giving this to Patrick."
"I will do far worse than 'bite you'. Please, DOnovan, I am trusting you to hold this secret. I know it will not be easy, but I can't give it to Patrick or Jade. They would be tempted to use it for other than it's true purpose."
Donovan nodded. "I guess you've made up your mind."
Sebastian was gone before Donovan finished his sentence.
***
As the dark figure approached, Rosalyn was punching Patrick in the gut. Patrick, immobile, was still in obvious pain. The dark figure pummeled her in an emotional frenzy.
"Leave him alone!"
"Well, well. If it isn't the one and only Sebastian! Patrick's one true love! Gag me!' Rosalyn picked herself off the ground, wiping the green blood off of her mouth with her hands.
"Rosalyn, the forces that gave you your strength are long dead. You are living on borrowed time. They will reclaim what is theirs, even from the great beyond."
"Blah blah blah. Listen vampire boy, don't you think I knew you would come? I knew you would never let me hurt your 'true love' here." She kicked Patrick in the face.
Sebastian roared as he again rushed the pigwoman. This time, she stopped him. She puched him back with a strength Sebastian had never seen a human possess. He fell back, hitting the rofftop hard. He felt no pain, of course. He was a vampire, a very very old vampire at that.
"Rosalyn, you've overstepped your bounds! Again..." Donovan, Jade, O'Delia and Patrick stood upright again.
"You're free, all of you? But how?"
"That would be me," said O'Delia. "Your little tricks don't seem to work that well on me. Not sure why. I freed the others while you were messing with fangface there."
Patrick glared at O'Delia. "That's Sebastian."
"I know, honey. And he's gorgeous. But you forgot to mention the fangs..."
"Enough." Sebastian rose. "This ends now!" He raised his hands to the sky and a lightning bolt pierced the sky, narrowly missing Rosalyn. The old building buckled.
"Ooooh, lightning. I'm soooo scared..." Rosalyn mocked. "I've had enough of all of these little tricks. I came here to kill you all and I will!"
"Shut up and dance, Rosie." O'Delia was surprised by her own courage. "You and I need to have words." O'Delia began a strange chant and the other joined behind her. Sebastian joined them, adding his strength to theirs.
"You can never defeat us together!" DOnovan boasted. "That's why you killed Callie! You thought that without her the circle would be broken. You were wrong."
Donovan calmly walked up to the hag. "Do your worst to me. I can take it. I've taken every single thing you've ever thrown at me and guess what? I came out of it stronger."
"Me too." Patrick walked next to DOnovan, grabbing his hand and raising it to the sky.
"And me." Jade joined them and the sky seemed to grow darker.
O'Delia was the last. Finally, she joined the others as the sky opened up.
"More parlor tricks? PLease, anyone can make the sky open up. See?"
Rosalyn, however, found herself to be immobile. Somehow the four of them had tapped into her own power. Unable to speak, she stared at them. One by one, they felt her reaching, trying to find a weak spot. She focused on Patrick, knowing what his weakness truly was.
Sebastian could see Patrick weakening. "I love you Patrick, I always have and I always will. I will never leave you again! I've been a fool, Patrick. I'm so sorry."
Tears ran down Patrick's eyes. The words he had spent years waiting for were finally uttered. He could do this! He had to.
Rosalyn's body began to break apart. Able to speak again, she simply said "You're not even out of the woods, yet..." She desperately waived her arms and the building began to crumble around them. Rosalyn herself distintegrated in front of them, cackling even as she was destroyed.
Rosalyn was dead.
"Stupid bitch," Jade muttered, seemingly oblivious to the destruction around her.
"I can fly all of you to safety. But I don't think there's enough time to get all of you." Sebastian sounded worried.
"I'll take the stairs." Donovan answered bravely.
"We all will." Jade was confident they would make it out. After all, they destroyed that bitch, once and for all. What was one little collapsing building? They raced for the staircase, Donovan in the lead and Sebastian covering their backs.
The building began to shake even more. They could see the building itself beginning to break apart. They had to hurry.
***
Posted by Harbinger on :
Nice, so what's next though Danny, somehow the phrase "not out of the woods yet..." conveys a wee bit more than just a collapsing building!
You're prose is still by far the best on these boards.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
"Leaving would be alot easier if that 'thing' weren't guarding the door." O'Delia pointed.
Before them was athe gigantic monstrosity that Callie Haylie had given birth too. Seems that with Rosalyn's death, it grew larger.
Sebastian ordered them all to get out as he engaged the demonic creature. The others did as they were told, rushing past the demon. All except Patrick.
"Kill that thing," he said to his would-be lover.
"I will, but you are distracting me as you always do, my love. Now get on those stairs and hurry before a house falls on you, too."
"I get the reference," Patrick grinned, bemusedly. It was so good to have Sebastian back, enough under these circumstances. "just hurry up with this thing."
"go!" Sebastian ordered.
"Going..."
***
Donovan had led the others down the staircase and through the front door. Sabrina had returned and was waiting there for them, rushing into Donovan's tired but strong arms.
"You're ok, all of you?"
"Seems that way, but we've got to get clear of the building!"
Patrick had caught up with them as they ran to the field in front of the Hughes Hill College Aministrative Building.
With nary a second to spare, they reached safety as the building came crumbling down with a loud roar. Soon there was dust and smoke and dirt everywhere. Patrick could barely see through the thick haze.
"Sebastian..."
For what seemed like an eternity the haze swirled. It stung their eyes, but none of them were willing to give up. But nothing happened. Despair began to well up inside of Patrick as he struggled to see. But nothing was there...
Finally, they were all resigned to the fact that Sebastian was not coming back. Did the creature destroy him? Or did he take off for parts unknown again? Either way, Patrick was at a loss. He couldn't go through this again, it was too hard to face the days as it was. He ran back toward the building site as a lone figure began to take shape through the smoky haze.
It was Sebastian! Patrick ran to him as fast as he could. They held each other as the sirens began to grow louder, signalling their arrival.
"We should go now." Sebastian said.
"Where?" Patrick asked. "I believe the term is 'your place.'
O'Delia and Sabrina were crying at the scene of their freind being reunited with his beloved. Even Donovan had to stiffle a tear or two. But it was Jade who urged them to get out of there. Besides, she had to go check on Christian.
That man owed her a ring, she thought to herself...
***
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Epilogue
Nice shade, thought Odelia, polsihing her nails from behind her oh-so familiar desk at Midnight Investigations. This was truly her home now, she thought. She looked at the wall to see the plaque with Callie Haylie's picture on it. Below the inscription read, "Taken to soon..."
O'Delia had insisted upon the plaque as she felt partly responsible for Callie's death. Things happened for a reason, she knew that, but she also knew that if she had heeded her calling in the very beginning, Callie would still be alive today.
There had been more renovations made, of course, since the disaster at Hughes Hill. Holly Remington had paid them handsomely, and had also recommended them to all of her friends. Business was actually booming! most, if not all of the cases had not involved the paranormal at all.
Jade walked in right at 8:45am. "Hold my calls." O'Delia held her tongue as Jade sauntered on by. Donovan had arrived much earlier than usual today as he said he was working on something big. O'Delia wondered what THAT could mean.
Out of all of them, Donovan had probably changed the most after the Rosalyn affair. He and Sabrina were hanging out more, and Sabrina had finally gotten in through her head that Donovan could never love her the way she wanted. They were fast friends though, often going to movies and plays together.
Jade and Christian had eloped right after Christian's legs fully healed. He eventually rejoined the force, as well. Jade would flaunt her engagement ring at O"Delia every chance she got. O"Delia preteneded to be jealous, but really, she was happy for the two of them. Things probably would not have worked out this way if Rosalyn hadn't returned.
And Patrick, what more could she say about that man. He positively glowed every day. Sebastian had stayed true to his word. He stayed this time. O'Delia wondered if this would lead to more heartache for Patrick later. After all, dating a vampire never works out in the end. But she would continue to be happy for them.
The door sang as Sabrina entered, O'Delia stood up.
"Thank you so much! I can't believe I overslept." Sabrina said, replacing O'Delia at the receptionist seat. "No problem at all, sweetie!"
"O'Delia, coudl you step over here please?" DOnovan interrupted. "I want to show you something!"
They made their way to the office on the far end of the room. They had used it mostly for storage in the past. "Odelia looked as Donovan opened the door."
"Surprise!!!!!" A string of voicea sang out! O'Delia could see that Patrick, Sebastian, Jade and Christian were all there. A banner overhead read 'Welcome to Midnight Investigations, O'Delia, Hope you survive the experience!"
They had given her an office of her own!
"Do you like it?' Jade asked. "Because if not, I can always move in here!"
"I love it!"
Sabrina rushed in. "Congratualtions! Sorry it took so long for me to get in here, but I just received a call you might all be interested in."
The faces froze. Could it be Rosalyn again?
"I have several potential cases that you guys will need to review!"
They all breathed a sigh of relief as O'Delia settled back into her brand new desk.
"This will do," she thought, happily.
the end...
Posted by Harbinger on :
Midnight Investigations gets my vote for best single story on this board - and it has nothing to do with the Legion either!
Your characters each have a clearly defined personality and relationships within the group are very true to life. As I always say you write the best prose, very good.
I reckon you couls easily get a novel out of the story you have here Matt. I'd buy it too.
More soon please?
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Thank you, Belinda. YOu and SOnnie have always been my greatest supporters. I will actually look at submitting Midnight INvestigation and/or Stay WIth Me (my new Serial Kiler story) at some point...
I appreciate the kind words. They mean much. The rest of you too. Thank you for allowing me to share these characters with you.
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
When Epic originally announced they were taking new solicitations, I almost sent this in.
Now I'm glad I didn't...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
quote:Originally posted by Danny Blaine: Thank you, Belinda. You and Sonnie have always been my greatest supporters. I will actually look at submitting Midnight INvestigation and/or Stay WIth Me (my new Serial Killer story) at some point...
I appreciate the kind words. They mean much. The rest of you too. Thank you for allowing me to share these characters with you.
Posted by Sonnie Bloke on :
Blatant post padding? Didn't think that was your style... Posted by Danny Blaine on :
It's not, silly...
Posted by Danny Blaine on :
Before this falls into obscurity, I wanted to bump it up. After I finish Stay with me, I'm going to go back to Midnight Redemption. As you probably know by now, Redemption is a prequel to this story. It doesn't include O'Delia or Sabrina, but all the others are there. Much more Callie and Angie in the prequel, characters that really didn't get alot of story in Investigations. Oh, and Sebastian too!!!!!
Hope you like it! In the meantime, Stay With Me is winding up towards its conclusion. Hope you have enjoyed these pieces. I continue to thank you for your patience and support.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Ok this book has been completely reworked and changed. In particular, a new major character has been added and one characters solo arc has completely changed. In addition, the entire third act is all new. If you are interested in this, PM me and I will send.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
Bump = one last time - Re reading it - it seems to hold up fairly well
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