Lorraine Hacker
Hello! Welcome to my minds ideas, stay for a moment won’t you? I promise, you shan’t be bored if you do.
Lorraine Hacker
Hello! Welcome to my minds ideas, stay for a moment won’t you? I promise, you shan’t be bored if you do.
Hello! Welcome to my minds ideas, stay for a moment won’t you? I promise, you shan’t be bored if you do.
Hello! Welcome to my minds ideas, stay for a moment won’t you? I promise, you shan’t be bored if you do.
Jo and Cathy sat outside a coffee shop. Their agreed upon meeting place. It was spring and the weather was just starting to warm up enough that they sat at one of the tables outside, soaking up the sunshine radiating from the clear blue sky.
They were waiting. Waiting for Alex to appear.
“Do you think she’ll show?” Cathy asked, looking at her lover over her cup of Chai latte.
Jo merely shrugged, their own cup of coffee untouched. They were far to nervous to drink it. “I hope so, but who knows?”
“I had no idea you had so little faith in me.” The cold voice came from behind them.
Jo startled and Cathy almost dropped her cup as they both turned to see Alex standing behind them.
Alex gave nothing away, even as her tailored clothes showed off her figure, physically her body was stiff and straight. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance and her mouth was a thin line.
She wasn’t happy.
She stared at both of them and they stared back, until common sense overtook Cathy and she pulled the one remaining free chair over.
“Alex!” She chirped. “We’re so glad you could make it, take a seat.”
Alex rolled her eyes but sat down, crossing one leg over her knee.
“I’m sorry.” Jo piped up. “We didn’t mean anything by it. We just really want this meeting to go well.”
Alex waved her off. “You’re fine. Gabriel often tells me I need to be more understanding of peoples emotions.”
“Did you come alone?”
“Gabriel and Sam both wanted to join but I requested this first meeting is just us. They understood.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Cathy asked.
Alex glanced morosely at their cups before rolling her eyes. “I can’t drink that anymore.”
Cathy felt her cheeks flame. “Right, sorry.” She mumbled, embarrassed.
Alex sighed. “It’s a pity. I miss coffee.” She paused briefly. “Mind you, there’s lots of things I miss from my previous life.”
There was a pregnant pause.
“It must have been hard.” Jo questioned.
Alex shrugged again. “I was luckier than most, I had and continue to have Gabriel to rely on. And Sam.”
“How was it? Having Sam entering your life again after six months?”
Alex sighed. “I didn’t handle it well, but we’re good now and together.”
Alex looked at them. “You didn’t call me here to discuss Sam or Gabriel. Why don’t you tell me why I’m really here?”
Jo and Cathy exchanged a look before turning back to Alex, who was regarding them with a cool look.
“We want your help.” Jo blurted out.
“What?”
“Look Alex,” Jo said. “Your story got finished. Ours never did. The author started writing mine and Cath’s story then left. And to this day our story has never been written. Yours has.” Jo pleaded.
Alex uncrossed her leg and sat forward. “Okay, first of all. Just because our author wrote my story does not mean my story is finished either. There’s a lot of unanswered questions she has failed to follow up with. Oh, I know there’s talk of a sequel but that’s not happening any time soon as far as I know. And even if I did have an in with our author, that doesn’t mean she’ll listen to me.”
“You’re the most fleshed out, out of all of her characters Alex. Jo and I don’t have anything. We just hoped you may know of a way to put our author back on track with our story. That’s all we want.”
Alex snorted. “She wrote my story alright, but I wished she hadn’t. Everything our author penned down for my story, saw me go through hell! Why would you want that?”
“We don’t.” Cathy reasoned. “But our story is more of a romance whereas yours was more…more.”
“Destructive?” Alex suggested, raising her eyebrow.
“It was a way for the author to vent her feelings. Everything she bottled up inside was put into you. That’s why your arc is filled with so much pain and anger.”
“Aren’t I lucky.” Alex deadpanned.
“We just want a chance for our story to be told, that’s all.” Jo said.
“I wish I could help, I really do. But sadly I don’t have a way of making our author write your story. I’m sorry.”
Jo and Cathy both slumped their heads in disappointment.
Cathy looked at Jo. “I guess it’s back to being only a passing thought in the authors archives of their mind then.” She said sadly.
Jo just looked at her, their eyes filled with sadness.
Alex felt bad for both of them. It wasn’t their fault they had been stuck with such a terrible author charged it’s telling their story. But it wasn’t hers either.
A sudden thought caught Alex unawares and she sat up straighter.
“I may have an idea.” She mused softly.
Jo and Cathy both perked up, hopeful.
“Yes?” They both said in tandem.
Alex looked between them. “You don’t have anywhere to be do you? Either of you?”
Cathy snorted. “No, I mean it’s not like the author is going to write down a scene for us or anything. We’ll just fade into obscurity once again.”
Alex stood up. “Maybe not. Come with me.” And she set off walking.
Jo and Cathy exchanged another look before silently agreeing what did they have to lose, and ran to catch Alex up, their mugs and drinks forgotten long ago.
They fell into step alongside Alex.
“Where are we going?” Jo asked.
“Home.” Alex answered. “I may not be able to get our author to write your story, but I know someone who might be able to.”
“Who?”
“Gabriel. If there’s anyone our author listens to, it’ll be Gabriel.”
The three of them walked on, one with a purpose and two with a hopeful vision of one day getting their story told.
(The author would like to apologise to their characters for leaving their stories unfinished.)
(This is going to be romantic fyi)
I would be anything for you. From the smallest creature to the biggest mountain. I would hold you above myself in every regard.
My flesh cannot contain nor hold back This feeling of desire to prove myself to you. I give freely anything to you within my power.
To know such a love and want to weep from it. Like tears can be absorbed into your skin. So that you may feel a part of what I do.
The love I feel is like daylight. Streaming through the darkness. Blinding in it’s beauty.
Never has the mundane kept me so rapt. Chores that I’d find too boring. I now leap to with glee.
For a chance to see your face. See your smile or hear your laughter. Is all my day ever needs.
I would be anything for you. But please never ask me to be nothing. For you are already everything to me.
I love you.
The stars are my home. Tranquility in silence as I drift. My eyes feel the pull of their unseen weights And I let them drift close.
I am safe here. I am protected. The stars twinkling to me. Welcoming me home.
On my back I drift, soaring higher than any bird. Just me, the sky, and the stars. I feel the pull to drift to sleep. But am reluctant to do so just yet.
I want to savour this moment. Where all life’s chaos is non existent. The stars keep me safe, protecting me. And I let them.
Safe and secure in the sky. Surrounded by stars. I am home. And I let myself drift off to sleep at last.
The darkness called to her.
Why? No one knew, but she had felt its pull for as long as she could remember. Her parents told her she had been born with it. Even as a baby, before she could walk or talk, she would seek out the dark. Much to their dismay.
But to her, it was simply who she was. Her whole life she had been seeking it out.
It didn’t scare her, it was a comfort. The darkness didn’t question, didn’t force her to be truthful or honest.
Oh no, she could lie and steal and cheat in the darkness and no one would dare question it, because, because they were scared of the darkness.
They were scared of her.
It seemed that, even when she found herself in the light, she longed for the dark. She would dress in black clothes every day, as if her very soul was consumed by the same entity.
Her parents tried, tried to keep her from its grasp, terrified of what it would do to her. But their efforts seemed futile, as from the moment she had been born, so has her love of the dark.
No one understood her and she didn’t care. She had no reason or desire to explain to her parents or to anyone about the matter.
Her heart was not dark, though most didn’t understand this. If her love of the dark was as strong as it seemed to be, surely her heart and soul were just as dark?!
But they weren’t. She wasn’t mean or evil and found herself often upset with those that seemed to think she was such.
She was simply who she was. A sweet kind person that loved the dark.
I was a predator.
Forced to kill, to hunt, in order to sustain my life. A life that was not of my own making.
I’m sure you’ve heard the fables, creatures of the night, striking terror into hearts. What would you do if I told you it’s all true.
Mankind has embellished the stories of old it is true but the truth exists within.
For too long I had survived. Anyone I had gotten close to, lost to me forever by the passage of time.
Every part of my unnatural body, perfectly honed to hunt and kill its prey.
My speed unmatched, my body, too firm to break. My eyesight, sharper than any other creatures.
But most of all? My sense of smell. Able to seek out and find prey from a greater distance than even your minds eye can fathom.
I hated it.
I longed for an end to my supernatural existence. To my predatory instincts but fate was not a kind mistress.
I am sorry. If I meet you one fateful evening, please know I do not enjoy myself. The hatred I have for myself burns hotter than any sun.
And while I would not wish to meet you, if and when we do, and your life is forfeit under my hands and teeth, know that I wish so much for things to be different.
I would not take your life, or seek pleasure in your fear. My nature is not my own and when me meet, it won’t be because I’ve sort you out.
It will simply be the wrong time and the wrong place.
For both of us.
My body is a predator. My mind is still that of a kind soul. And never will they agree side by side.
The waters know what it means to be battered to and fro. Its secrets kept in darkness. The waves churning below.
The ocean commanding respect. It bows to nothing and no one. Man’s foolish attempt to control it, inept.
Whether a small puddle of rain water, or a vast ocean of blue. Beware of the unseen dangers lurking within. Its true depth remains out of view.
Many a man, woman, child has met their fate in waters clear. Their linage washed away. Grief the only comfort to those that held them dear.
And yet, we need it. That same benevolent force. Gave us life in the infinite.
All living creatures, born from the waters. To step on land or remain within. Life given to us, its sons and daughters.
For water is time immemorial. From the very beginning, until the very end. The sight of its power, ethereal.
We need water, it is true. But it will never be returned in kind. It stands alone in its virtue.
So remember, the next time you raise a glass to your lips. To drink, to sustain life. It’s true power will always eclipse.
His steps were sure and true.
The strike of his shoes hitting the rough stone was the only sound to be heard.
He walked on.
This maze, this labyrinth, had been a dare, a challenge from one of his friends.
Alcohol had played a big part before hand, fuelling his decision, landing him here, in this moment in time.
Mere hours ago, he had been out drinking with his mates, all of them fresh out of university, the world at their feet.
It had been his oldest friend, Simon, that had struck up the dare. And he had never been one to back down from a challenge.
He knew of the labyrinth of course. Everybody did. It loomed over the city, with its imposing stone walls casting long and foreboding shadows over the entire town.
The inside of labyrinth, however, was a mystery, at least now to all but him. Its imposing sight and sheer size was more than enough for people to stay away from it.
Even the bravest soul would break out into a cold sweat at the thought of entering the maze.
_How cool and awesome would it be for him?! _He thought. _The first to enter the labyrinth and the first to know and see the inside of it! _
It was those same thoughts and and boldness, mixed with the alcohol in his system that found him here, walking through the maze with his steps echoing.
The stone walls sat several hundred feet high. The only views were those of the endless corridor stretching out in front of him and of the sky above.
The buzz of alcohol kept him going.
The walls and the floor was bare stone, rough to the touch and full of cracks, it was like someone had crudely chiselled away at them with nothing more than a penknife. No vegetation grew, there was no water in sight, nor animal.
The only living thing in the labyrinth was him.
After spending, what felt like a long time, walking in a straight line, he approached a turning in the maze.
He would have to turn and follow it. He refused to turn tail and run. His friends would forever mock him for it.
He quickly glanced back in the direction he had just walked but there was nothing there, just the same endless stone walls.
He couldn’t even see the entrance that he had walked through. He shrugged to himself and walked around the corner.
The sight was the same as before, an endless stone corridor stretching out before him.
There was no movement, not even a breath of wind to stir the air.
He couldn’t tell what time of day it was, he had no watch and part of his dare had been to leave his phone behind as well.
Frankly, a stupid rule, he thought. No doubt the alcohol was starting to wear off a little.
His steps kept echoing. Each one, drawing him deeper and deeper into the labyrinth.
Another corner appeared and without any hesitation he kept moving forward.
Again his steps echoed.
On and on he walked, waiting, hoping, praying, to see that golden sight. A statue, a sign, something he could see that told him he had found the middle of the maze.
But it never came.
On and on he walked.
His steps echoing.
It wouldn’t be until his own mind drove him mad, until the very clothes on his back came apart under his own hands, until thirst and hunger were his only concern, until the echoing of his footsteps drove him mad, that he would realise he was trapped.
But until then he walked on.
His footsteps echoing.
Unaware his sanity was beginning to slip.
“Lie.”
The man cocked his head in confusion. His friend, his best friend of nearly 20 years was telling him to lie?! But why? What could his friend possibly stand to gain from it?
Words escaped him for a minute as the shock of the suggestion moved through him.
His words, once they did come were laced with disbelief. “What?! Why should I lie?!”
He didn’t understand.
The man’s friend waved his arms around, gesturing wildly to the green landscape that surrounded them.
“Look at this place, Eric! It’s gorgeous!”
Eric didn’t bother to look around him, instead keeping his eyes on his friend.
Something had changed. Eric felt that as sure as he could feel the clothes on his back.
What he didn’t understand was why.
“We can’t stay.” Eric spoke, trying to reason with his friend.
A bond that was feeling weaker for every minute that ticked by.
There was only an arms length between each of them but neither made a move closer to the other.
“No, you can’t stay! Don’t you get it Eric? I’ve spent my whole life looking for a home! And now I’ve finally found it.”
“You already have a home, at home with us. With me.”
His friend scoffed. “I never belonged there. You tried to include me Eric but even you can’t change the fact I was always an outsider to everyone back in your home.”
A pause.
“This. This is where I belong. This is my home, I feel it. I feel it as strongly as you feel about your own family.”
Eric felt something crack inside of him, in a place that felt very close to his heart. His friend was gone, lost in a high of euphoria. He blinked and looked past his once cherished friend.
It was a beautiful place, no doubt. Thick green rolling hills, a fresh water babbling brook, trees of every colour. A sky so blue it almost hurt your eyes to stare into for too long.
And no other humans for miles and miles. No houses and no settlements anywhere close. Certainly not their own which was several weeks trek from here.
Indeed when they had come up with the idea of travelling beyond their boarders, Eric had had no idea he would be returning alone.
And he couldn’t stay, Eric’s home was the one he had left, and every day on this journey he missed it terribly. He couldn’t wait to return home and live in the one place his heart craved.
And so, he made no move forward to reach out for his friend, trying only with words to convince him, even though he knew in his heart both of their minds were made up.
His friend smiled at him, there was no sadness on his face, only joy and what Eric could only describe as, peace.
A sight he had never seen on him before.
“So what do we do now?” Eric asked softly.
His friend picked up Eric’s backpack, which until then had been laying at Eric’s own feet, and passed it back to Eric.
“Now you’re going to return to your home and I’m going to stay here.”
“And what am I supposed to tell people when they ask where you are?”
He just smiled. “Tell them I’m happy. Tell them I’ve found my own peace and intend to live it every single day until I’m sleeping.”
“I’m never gonna see you again am I?” Eric asked, his voice catching.
His friend just shrugged. “Who knows?”
“But think of it like this,” he said. “In a way, this is a happy ending for the both of us.”
It was gone, all of it. My home, the place I had spent my entire childhood was desolate before my very eyes.
Glass crunched under the heel of my riding boots, my footsteps the only sound around for miles.
I could almost hear the echo of children playing from my own memory. The joy I had felt back then, the carefree optimism and innocence of youth.
And my friends, all of it, gone. Vanished.
My heart ached and my eyes burned with tears as everything hit me hard and brutally.
My friends, my family. I had no way of knowing if they were still alive!
Broken pieces of wood and debris was scattered everywhere, every building had at least one broken piece of glass. Doors lay open, some barely hanging on their own hinges.
Every building was the same. Desolate and barren.
Foolishly I had held hope that my own home, the home I had grew up in and the home my family still lived in, had been spared.
But as soon as I found myself outside the very building I knew the truth. It was deserted, just like the entire town was.
With a heavy heart I walked up the overgrown path to where the front door used to be. It had been red, a telling by the red splinters that lay imbedded in the empty frame.
I peeled off my gloves, a gift from the king himself, and lay my hand on the the empty frame.
I had made a promise to my family that I would return. No matter how long my journey would take me I vowed to them I would return.
But they were no longer here.
And I had no way of finding them, if indeed they were even still alive.
My once noble ambition had been my greatest triumph and my greatest heartbreak.
I bowed my head, my hand slipping from the broken door frame as the tears I had managed to hold back until now, broke free from their hold and ran down my face. My knees buckled, no longer being able to support me and I sank down until I was kneeling, my hands covering my face close to the floor.
I should never have left! I should have taken them with me! My mind screamed at itself while my heart lay broken and defeated, just like the house in front of me.
I was nothing more than a shell of the person I had once been.
I had kept my vow. I had returned. But it was too late…
Alex is a woman plagued by nightmares. A seasoned homicide detective and her latest case may very well turn out to be her last.
With a victim that bares an uncanny resemblance to herself and a strangers word of warning to her, Alex quickly finds herself pulled into a world of supernatural beings.
And not everyone is pleased with these turn of events. Least of all Alex herself…