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EDIT: I promised a wordcount tally and here it is: 11,840 is my running total so far. I might break 12k tonight. Of course, once again, it's mostly dialogue. AAAARGH! Why do I write three paragraphs of action/description and then go on for pages at a time of two people talking?
Well here's the update for November 5th. See a trend with my posts this month? Putting up an entry every day ensures that I get off my butt and do something with the story every day. Today though I'm posting the first (rough) chapter as I coughed it out. A wordcount will go up later today, probably tonight, after I transcribe my scratchings for the day.
I'm watching the Metroid Prime 3 marathon on google video so hopefully my story won't go all sci-fi. I've already seen it twice so I think I can resist the temptation to watch and just listen to the commentary.
Now if LJ would stop buggering up the formating because after many edits trying to stop it making everything go f#%&ing bold I'm really aggravated.
Well here's the update for November 5th. See a trend with my posts this month? Putting up an entry every day ensures that I get off my butt and do something with the story every day. Today though I'm posting the first (rough) chapter as I coughed it out. A wordcount will go up later today, probably tonight, after I transcribe my scratchings for the day.
I'm watching the Metroid Prime 3 marathon on google video so hopefully my story won't go all sci-fi. I've already seen it twice so I think I can resist the temptation to watch and just listen to the commentary.
Now if LJ would stop buggering up the formating because after many edits trying to stop it making everything go f#%&ing bold I'm really aggravated.
Never Say Die
Beginning
A beginning to the end of their normal lives.
It was a calm evening approximately 10 p.m. with a still cloudless sky and cool breeze that flitted down the scrubbed streets alone unto itself. The city sprawled away beyond the horizon up and over the midwestern hills and down towards the riverfront. It was not dead. Not by any means. A city of this size does not surrender so easily to it’s nightly slumber. However, there were only scattered pockets of activity to be found. They congregated at bars and restaurants, the Wal-Marts and supermarkets and, of course, there were those whose professions called upon them to invest in the midnight oil.
Such is the case at Seal on this very night. During the day it is a white building unspeakably plain with rows of windows facing the street making it look like every other office building on the block. By night it turns blue with glowing embers of habitation shining from it’s windows. The name, Seal, is carved into the stone rotunda above the front doors in all-capital letters.
Inside was not an aquarium. Nay hardly a drop of water in sight amongst the myriad halls, offices, and cubicles. Nestled deep in the back was a large room with two color printers, half a dozen Macintosh computers, and an illuminated light table. Craning over the table stood a woman in her mid-twenties with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. A white coat obscured the pale blue blouse and matching skirt underneath. Her long legs were clad in black pantyhose and terminated in high heels.
With a hrmph she brought her elbows to table heighth letting herself rest without touching the smooth translucent proofs she was examing. Another set of footfalls came down the hall to her left before a slightly younger man entered the room.
“Well, the pizza’s on it’s way.” He chimed with a voice wracked by fatigue.
“Let’s hope they don’t screw it up,” the woman replied without taking her eyes off the light table. Presently she picked up a magnifying glass and, holding it aloft before her pair of thick violet-rimmed glasses, leaned closer to inspect the pages on the table.
The man stopped at her side. “Sooo,” he began, “what do you think?”
The woman sighed then stood fully putting the magnifying glass down as she did. “I don’t know. Something’s off. The colors, the placement – something’s not quite right about it.”
The man slapped her on the back with a hearty laugh. “You’ll figure it out Janet. That’s why you’re old man Oswald’s favorite.” He walked past her to settle in front of a computer monitor. “Just relax will ya food’s on the way and it’s hard to think seriously about work on an empty stomach.”
Janet was a woman with slightly asian features. She had a soft nose and pale, lifeless cheeks but deeply-set emerald eyes and razor sharp black eyebrows. “Well Steven you could be helping me.”
“I would but there were last minute changes to the Wilson project and I’ve got to rebuild the page layout from the ground up. You know how it goes.”
“I thought that went to print already.”
“Nope, got sidelined by someone in management getting canned. No blues they say but blue is the best color for a professional finish.” Steven leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
Janet gave a curt laugh. “Says you. I’m not too fond of it myself.” A grumble from her stomach shifted her thoughts. “How long did they say it’s take to get our order here?”
“Forty-five minutes. Half that’s just the drive.”
“Oh we’re not that far from the Overnight Pizza Shack.”
Steven swung around in his chair. “It’s enough that they only deliver to us because we tip well. Not to mention you’re so anal about how you like your pizza.”
“If I’m paying twenty bucks for a large it had better be good.”
“You know,” Steven burnished an ear to ear grin, “I have something that just might cheer you up.” Janet raised an incredulous eyebrow. “Come with me,” he beamed as he jumped to his feet and started jogging down the hall towards his office.
“Oh lord.” Janet rolled her eyes as she followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You know the place Carl. Seal on 122nd Street. It’s one of those artsie design places.”
“I don’t know it’s off my usual district.” Carl was a tall man in his late twenties who looked to be of slightly milatto descent with lightly tanned skin. He was well built and lean but showing the early signs of a beer belly. He had a plain face with clear hazel eyes. The man was a grizzled, overweight manager with greasy hair and worn-down brown eyes.
“Come on Carl they tip well and my regular driver for that district is puking up a lung in the bathroom. Says he ate somethin’ that ain’t agreein’ with him. It’s just this one delivery up north for right now.”
Carl sighed, “Yeah but the night is young. Okay Tony I’ll do it. It’s just that his is gonna make all my other deliveries late.”
“Don’t worry it shouldn’t put you more then fifteen minutes behind as long as there aren’t any accidents tonight on the 128th.” Tony walked, smiling broadly, to pack up twin large pizzas in a thermal bag. As he handed them to Carl across the counter he added, “Now remember you have to take the sidestreet from the parking lot next door and go around back to the service entrance. That’s the only place they take deliveries after five.”
“I think I can handle it Tony.”
Tony nodded. “I’m not worried about you.” Carl stopped at the door expecting his manager to continue. After a pause the flustered older man added, “Oh never mind.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So what is it you wanted to show me?” Janet stodd in the doorway of Steven’s office hand on hip and a yawn starting up in the back of her throat. Meanwhile her co-worker fumbled messily through the stack of debris on his desk tossing papers aside. As Janet turned to leave he proclaimed success – producing a small innocuous card from the huge pile.
“This,” he panted as he raced towards her. “This is what I wanted you to see.” Janet took the card from his hands and stepped into the hallway to enjoy the better light. “I found it in a trashbin outside. I think it came from old man Oswald. His writing’s on the back.”
Janet briefly flipped the card over but the writing on the back was little more then medical chickenstratchings scrawled in black ink. On the card’s front was quite possibly the ugliest creatures she had had the misfortune to gaze upon. It was squat and vaguely human in Victorian clothes with a bright white collar around it’s neck. The skin was mottled with a strong blue overtone and misshapen facial features. It had a sligh stoop to one shoulder as if the artist that drew it wasn’t quite certain of about the proportions. From under it’s oversized brows shown burning red eyes as fierce as a firestorm.
“This is it?” Janet mused aloud. “I mean the thing is hideous. Even for a Halloween card it’s over the top. But I don’t see why you’re so excited about it.”
Steven crept closer to her. “That’s just it. I checked all the designs and this isn’t one of them.”
“So … what is your point?”
“My point is where did it come from.”
Janet turned to look at Steven squarely in the face. “It doesn’t matter where it came from. Go put it back where it belongs - in the trash.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carl pulled up to the Seal building delivery entrance to see two figures locked in argument. Of the pair the man looked to be holding something while the woman gestured wildly towards an open dumpster. As he came to a stop they were blinded by his headlights and the man darted inside the building. Slowly Carl climbed out of his car.
“I’m sorry about that,” the woman declared as she sheepisly approached him. “It’s not usually like that around here. Just, stress and all that.”
Carl waved it off, “Yeah I know how that goes. I have a pizza delivery. Two large: one cheese and a supreme with extra hamburger.”
The woman smiled broadly. “Yup, that’s us. Come on inside I’ll get your money.”
Carl hauled the pizza bag out of the back of his car and followed the woman inside. As they entered they heard a man’s shriek get cut short into a chortle then quiet. The woman cast a glance at Carl her eyes half-glazed in fear. He placed the pizzas on a nearby table and hurried down the hall towards the scream. After a moment he heard the woman’s high heels following him.
When Carl stopped to see if the woman was following him he noted she had stopped to remove her heels wincing in pain as she did. A loud crash ripped his attention away from her. He bolted forward towards the sound hearing another crash and a rabid squawk.
“Come ‘ere you runt!” A nasty, violent roar echoed through the door as Carl came to a stop. With a slight tremble in his hands he forced himself to open it and when he peaked inside he was agasp in horror. Inside, standing upon a large table with bright lamps built into it stood a squat, squalid figure no more then three feet tall and disheveled clothes the humble pizza man wasn’t familiar with.
“Where ya hidin’,” the figure barked before catching sight of Carl staring in shock. It growled as it turned with eyes that glowed like hot embers. Suddenly there was another squawk and Carl felt something ram into his legs that almost made him tumble over. As he looked down the creature rushed at him. He instinctively threw up his arm to shield himself but no impact came.
When his senses cleared Carl registered that the diminutive creature had stopped but was staring at the ground behind him. He half-turned wary to take an eye off the strange thing and saw, cowering behind him, an unusual chicken with red plumage. It shook visibly with fright.
“Umm, hello!” the woman from before shouted. Suddenly the creature groaned in pain and vanished into a puff of nauseating black smoke. Carl started to choke, coughing as the black mix stung the inside of nose and throat. When it cleared the door crept open and the woman called out a name.
“Wh – what the hell is going on?” she exclaimed still coughing. “Steven you didn’t set the printer on fire again did you?”
“No,” another man coughed, “it’s not my fault.” Carl turned when he heard the man was behind him but he couldn’t see anything without first shaking the sting out of his eyes. Through the tears he could make out the image of the man who had been arguing with the woman in the parking lot. Thinking immediately of the terrified chicken he cast about but only saw a few scattered feathers.
Turning to the other man he asked, “Wait, did you see a chicken by chance?”
Flustered Steven shook his head but couldn’t hide the terror still in his eyes. Carl cocked his head to one side in bewilderment. “No way,” he muttered.
“What is going on?” The woman was still holding her high heels in her hand.
Carl turned to her with a hand on his chin and announced, “Um, your friend was turned into a chicken.”
Steven gasped, “Well, I mean, it’s not what you think. Really. You see there was this card and … oh Miss Lucrece I’m sorry I’ve made such a mess. Please don’t tell old man Oswald about this.”
“Tell, what, who?” Miss Lucrece sputtered. “Somebody had better start making some sense around here.” Her glare turned fiery as she bore down upon Steven. She pushed him aside trying to reach the illuminated table.
Before she could crucify him, however, the wicked creature returned in a smaller column of black smoke that swirled inward to coalesce into it’s hunched form. “If you’re wantin’ an explanation then how about this.” A blast of blue energy shot from it’s hand toward Miss Lucrece. Before Carl could even think to react it enveloped the woman and himself with it’s pale crackling light. Steven screamed in horror and fell back against a computer knocking the monitor over.
“Janet,” he yelled trying to force himself forward against the light to no avail. Carl stood completely paralyzed. His mind went numb in disbelief. He could hear the creature cackle in delight then spring back as the woman charged it with a venomous howl but it seemed of no consequence like watching a dream unfurl just before waking. Janet strode forward searching for anything she could get her hands on while the little man continued to backpedal just out of her reach. Suddenly the air around him tightened like a full-body noose. He was yanked forward and stumbled but did not fall.
Shaking his head Carl noted that Miss Lucrece was also reeling. She fell back with a short cry as though she had bumbled into a wall. With his sanity returning Carl took three quick steps towards her and felt the air around him relax.
“Now that we’re all settled in perhaps we can be a bit more civilized.” The creature did not leave it’s place nestled against the far wall as it spoke.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Steven muttered as he collapsed to the floor.
Janet picked herself up leaving her shoes on the floor. “Oooh,” she moaned rubbing her aching back. “What the hell just happened. It felt like someone just grabbed me by the collar and yanked me back.”
The little man smiled showing crooked teeth, “I had to put a leash on you. Too dangerous for a lady. I hope you will forgive me.”
“A leash?” Carl came up to her side looking carefully to see if she was injured.
“Yes, yes a leash. Don’t your ears work woman? It’s a leash of the best kind. The magical, unbreakable, binding kind.”
“Magic?” Carl pondered out loud. “The fairy tale stuff?”
The little man puffed himself up into a ball of grotesque pride and answered, “You humans think you’re so smart. You’ve got it all figured out. Well you know what? You know nothing of how this world really works. Nothing! Hmmph. So I’m gonna give you a primer.”
Janet started towards him frothing with fresh rage, “Temper, temper lady.” The little man shook his finger at her. Then he turned to Carl and asked, “Is she always like this or am I just lucky.”
Carl shrugged, “How should I know I’m just the delivery man. I’ve never met either of these people before in my life.”
The little man laughed heartily but with his voice it was like icy blades stabbing Carl’s eardrums. “Ha, ha, ha. Well here’s your chance to get acquainted sonny. You see I’ve put a little curse on you two. That’s the leash. It’s a binding curse. If you two try to get too far from each other. Well, you already know how it feels don’t you miss.” Janet growled audibly.
Steven stumbled to his feet still muttering in fear but his breathing was growing more steady by the minute. “What do you want?” he asked the creature.
It looked at him with fully opened eyes letting their blazing light spark up brilliantly. “You wouldn’t understand what I want. You’re not old enough. See ya around chicken boy.” Then it vanished again into a column of black smoke.
Janet shook her head and let herself relax. The rage that almost spilled over slipped away as she started collecting the proofs that had been thrown to the floor. “All my work,” she sobbed, “ruined.”
At the sound of work Carl turned and absentmindedly started back to retrieve the pizzas he had brought with him. He got a short ways past the door when the air tightened around his body again. He struggled trying to breath and felt like he was being pushed back. “This must be what it meant by leash,” he thought aloud. When he turned and walked back towards Janet the crushing weight on his chest subsided.
“Sh – should we call the police?” Steven asked still visibly shaken.
Janet sank into a chair and put her shoes back on. “What are we going to tell them? That we were assaulted by a three foot midget in an 1830’s frock who can shoot beams of light from his finger tips. No thank you. I like my freedom and I’d rather not be committed.”
“Well what are we going to do about this mess.” Janet glared at him and he continued, “I mean, how are we going to explain it to Mr. Oswald. He’s expecting a progress report by tomorrow morning.”
“You shouldn’t have that problem Steven. All of your work is on a hard drive safe and sound.” She held up the ruined images. “I don’t know what’s wrong with them anyway and I’m in no mood to sit here and figure it out.” She turned to look at Carl who had been standing there silently. “I guess your night is ruined thanks to this. At least we can pay you for the pizza.”
She stood and started walking. When Carl felt the air in his lungs start to thicken he snapped to attentiveness and trotted after her. When they were out of earshot of Steven – who had hurridly busied himself picking up the splintered pieces of a wood chair that was smashed – Janet stopped and turned her head just far enough that she could see Carl out of the corner of her eye.
“What’s your name?” Her voice was drained.
“I’m Carl Cedrych.”
“Janet Lucrece. Nice to make your acquaintance Carl.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” he beamed.
Beginning
A beginning to the end of their normal lives.
It was a calm evening approximately 10 p.m. with a still cloudless sky and cool breeze that flitted down the scrubbed streets alone unto itself. The city sprawled away beyond the horizon up and over the midwestern hills and down towards the riverfront. It was not dead. Not by any means. A city of this size does not surrender so easily to it’s nightly slumber. However, there were only scattered pockets of activity to be found. They congregated at bars and restaurants, the Wal-Marts and supermarkets and, of course, there were those whose professions called upon them to invest in the midnight oil.
Such is the case at Seal on this very night. During the day it is a white building unspeakably plain with rows of windows facing the street making it look like every other office building on the block. By night it turns blue with glowing embers of habitation shining from it’s windows. The name, Seal, is carved into the stone rotunda above the front doors in all-capital letters.
Inside was not an aquarium. Nay hardly a drop of water in sight amongst the myriad halls, offices, and cubicles. Nestled deep in the back was a large room with two color printers, half a dozen Macintosh computers, and an illuminated light table. Craning over the table stood a woman in her mid-twenties with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. A white coat obscured the pale blue blouse and matching skirt underneath. Her long legs were clad in black pantyhose and terminated in high heels.
With a hrmph she brought her elbows to table heighth letting herself rest without touching the smooth translucent proofs she was examing. Another set of footfalls came down the hall to her left before a slightly younger man entered the room.
“Well, the pizza’s on it’s way.” He chimed with a voice wracked by fatigue.
“Let’s hope they don’t screw it up,” the woman replied without taking her eyes off the light table. Presently she picked up a magnifying glass and, holding it aloft before her pair of thick violet-rimmed glasses, leaned closer to inspect the pages on the table.
The man stopped at her side. “Sooo,” he began, “what do you think?”
The woman sighed then stood fully putting the magnifying glass down as she did. “I don’t know. Something’s off. The colors, the placement – something’s not quite right about it.”
The man slapped her on the back with a hearty laugh. “You’ll figure it out Janet. That’s why you’re old man Oswald’s favorite.” He walked past her to settle in front of a computer monitor. “Just relax will ya food’s on the way and it’s hard to think seriously about work on an empty stomach.”
Janet was a woman with slightly asian features. She had a soft nose and pale, lifeless cheeks but deeply-set emerald eyes and razor sharp black eyebrows. “Well Steven you could be helping me.”
“I would but there were last minute changes to the Wilson project and I’ve got to rebuild the page layout from the ground up. You know how it goes.”
“I thought that went to print already.”
“Nope, got sidelined by someone in management getting canned. No blues they say but blue is the best color for a professional finish.” Steven leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
Janet gave a curt laugh. “Says you. I’m not too fond of it myself.” A grumble from her stomach shifted her thoughts. “How long did they say it’s take to get our order here?”
“Forty-five minutes. Half that’s just the drive.”
“Oh we’re not that far from the Overnight Pizza Shack.”
Steven swung around in his chair. “It’s enough that they only deliver to us because we tip well. Not to mention you’re so anal about how you like your pizza.”
“If I’m paying twenty bucks for a large it had better be good.”
“You know,” Steven burnished an ear to ear grin, “I have something that just might cheer you up.” Janet raised an incredulous eyebrow. “Come with me,” he beamed as he jumped to his feet and started jogging down the hall towards his office.
“Oh lord.” Janet rolled her eyes as she followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You know the place Carl. Seal on 122nd Street. It’s one of those artsie design places.”
“I don’t know it’s off my usual district.” Carl was a tall man in his late twenties who looked to be of slightly milatto descent with lightly tanned skin. He was well built and lean but showing the early signs of a beer belly. He had a plain face with clear hazel eyes. The man was a grizzled, overweight manager with greasy hair and worn-down brown eyes.
“Come on Carl they tip well and my regular driver for that district is puking up a lung in the bathroom. Says he ate somethin’ that ain’t agreein’ with him. It’s just this one delivery up north for right now.”
Carl sighed, “Yeah but the night is young. Okay Tony I’ll do it. It’s just that his is gonna make all my other deliveries late.”
“Don’t worry it shouldn’t put you more then fifteen minutes behind as long as there aren’t any accidents tonight on the 128th.” Tony walked, smiling broadly, to pack up twin large pizzas in a thermal bag. As he handed them to Carl across the counter he added, “Now remember you have to take the sidestreet from the parking lot next door and go around back to the service entrance. That’s the only place they take deliveries after five.”
“I think I can handle it Tony.”
Tony nodded. “I’m not worried about you.” Carl stopped at the door expecting his manager to continue. After a pause the flustered older man added, “Oh never mind.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So what is it you wanted to show me?” Janet stodd in the doorway of Steven’s office hand on hip and a yawn starting up in the back of her throat. Meanwhile her co-worker fumbled messily through the stack of debris on his desk tossing papers aside. As Janet turned to leave he proclaimed success – producing a small innocuous card from the huge pile.
“This,” he panted as he raced towards her. “This is what I wanted you to see.” Janet took the card from his hands and stepped into the hallway to enjoy the better light. “I found it in a trashbin outside. I think it came from old man Oswald. His writing’s on the back.”
Janet briefly flipped the card over but the writing on the back was little more then medical chickenstratchings scrawled in black ink. On the card’s front was quite possibly the ugliest creatures she had had the misfortune to gaze upon. It was squat and vaguely human in Victorian clothes with a bright white collar around it’s neck. The skin was mottled with a strong blue overtone and misshapen facial features. It had a sligh stoop to one shoulder as if the artist that drew it wasn’t quite certain of about the proportions. From under it’s oversized brows shown burning red eyes as fierce as a firestorm.
“This is it?” Janet mused aloud. “I mean the thing is hideous. Even for a Halloween card it’s over the top. But I don’t see why you’re so excited about it.”
Steven crept closer to her. “That’s just it. I checked all the designs and this isn’t one of them.”
“So … what is your point?”
“My point is where did it come from.”
Janet turned to look at Steven squarely in the face. “It doesn’t matter where it came from. Go put it back where it belongs - in the trash.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carl pulled up to the Seal building delivery entrance to see two figures locked in argument. Of the pair the man looked to be holding something while the woman gestured wildly towards an open dumpster. As he came to a stop they were blinded by his headlights and the man darted inside the building. Slowly Carl climbed out of his car.
“I’m sorry about that,” the woman declared as she sheepisly approached him. “It’s not usually like that around here. Just, stress and all that.”
Carl waved it off, “Yeah I know how that goes. I have a pizza delivery. Two large: one cheese and a supreme with extra hamburger.”
The woman smiled broadly. “Yup, that’s us. Come on inside I’ll get your money.”
Carl hauled the pizza bag out of the back of his car and followed the woman inside. As they entered they heard a man’s shriek get cut short into a chortle then quiet. The woman cast a glance at Carl her eyes half-glazed in fear. He placed the pizzas on a nearby table and hurried down the hall towards the scream. After a moment he heard the woman’s high heels following him.
When Carl stopped to see if the woman was following him he noted she had stopped to remove her heels wincing in pain as she did. A loud crash ripped his attention away from her. He bolted forward towards the sound hearing another crash and a rabid squawk.
“Come ‘ere you runt!” A nasty, violent roar echoed through the door as Carl came to a stop. With a slight tremble in his hands he forced himself to open it and when he peaked inside he was agasp in horror. Inside, standing upon a large table with bright lamps built into it stood a squat, squalid figure no more then three feet tall and disheveled clothes the humble pizza man wasn’t familiar with.
“Where ya hidin’,” the figure barked before catching sight of Carl staring in shock. It growled as it turned with eyes that glowed like hot embers. Suddenly there was another squawk and Carl felt something ram into his legs that almost made him tumble over. As he looked down the creature rushed at him. He instinctively threw up his arm to shield himself but no impact came.
When his senses cleared Carl registered that the diminutive creature had stopped but was staring at the ground behind him. He half-turned wary to take an eye off the strange thing and saw, cowering behind him, an unusual chicken with red plumage. It shook visibly with fright.
“Umm, hello!” the woman from before shouted. Suddenly the creature groaned in pain and vanished into a puff of nauseating black smoke. Carl started to choke, coughing as the black mix stung the inside of nose and throat. When it cleared the door crept open and the woman called out a name.
“Wh – what the hell is going on?” she exclaimed still coughing. “Steven you didn’t set the printer on fire again did you?”
“No,” another man coughed, “it’s not my fault.” Carl turned when he heard the man was behind him but he couldn’t see anything without first shaking the sting out of his eyes. Through the tears he could make out the image of the man who had been arguing with the woman in the parking lot. Thinking immediately of the terrified chicken he cast about but only saw a few scattered feathers.
Turning to the other man he asked, “Wait, did you see a chicken by chance?”
Flustered Steven shook his head but couldn’t hide the terror still in his eyes. Carl cocked his head to one side in bewilderment. “No way,” he muttered.
“What is going on?” The woman was still holding her high heels in her hand.
Carl turned to her with a hand on his chin and announced, “Um, your friend was turned into a chicken.”
Steven gasped, “Well, I mean, it’s not what you think. Really. You see there was this card and … oh Miss Lucrece I’m sorry I’ve made such a mess. Please don’t tell old man Oswald about this.”
“Tell, what, who?” Miss Lucrece sputtered. “Somebody had better start making some sense around here.” Her glare turned fiery as she bore down upon Steven. She pushed him aside trying to reach the illuminated table.
Before she could crucify him, however, the wicked creature returned in a smaller column of black smoke that swirled inward to coalesce into it’s hunched form. “If you’re wantin’ an explanation then how about this.” A blast of blue energy shot from it’s hand toward Miss Lucrece. Before Carl could even think to react it enveloped the woman and himself with it’s pale crackling light. Steven screamed in horror and fell back against a computer knocking the monitor over.
“Janet,” he yelled trying to force himself forward against the light to no avail. Carl stood completely paralyzed. His mind went numb in disbelief. He could hear the creature cackle in delight then spring back as the woman charged it with a venomous howl but it seemed of no consequence like watching a dream unfurl just before waking. Janet strode forward searching for anything she could get her hands on while the little man continued to backpedal just out of her reach. Suddenly the air around him tightened like a full-body noose. He was yanked forward and stumbled but did not fall.
Shaking his head Carl noted that Miss Lucrece was also reeling. She fell back with a short cry as though she had bumbled into a wall. With his sanity returning Carl took three quick steps towards her and felt the air around him relax.
“Now that we’re all settled in perhaps we can be a bit more civilized.” The creature did not leave it’s place nestled against the far wall as it spoke.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Steven muttered as he collapsed to the floor.
Janet picked herself up leaving her shoes on the floor. “Oooh,” she moaned rubbing her aching back. “What the hell just happened. It felt like someone just grabbed me by the collar and yanked me back.”
The little man smiled showing crooked teeth, “I had to put a leash on you. Too dangerous for a lady. I hope you will forgive me.”
“A leash?” Carl came up to her side looking carefully to see if she was injured.
“Yes, yes a leash. Don’t your ears work woman? It’s a leash of the best kind. The magical, unbreakable, binding kind.”
“Magic?” Carl pondered out loud. “The fairy tale stuff?”
The little man puffed himself up into a ball of grotesque pride and answered, “You humans think you’re so smart. You’ve got it all figured out. Well you know what? You know nothing of how this world really works. Nothing! Hmmph. So I’m gonna give you a primer.”
Janet started towards him frothing with fresh rage, “Temper, temper lady.” The little man shook his finger at her. Then he turned to Carl and asked, “Is she always like this or am I just lucky.”
Carl shrugged, “How should I know I’m just the delivery man. I’ve never met either of these people before in my life.”
The little man laughed heartily but with his voice it was like icy blades stabbing Carl’s eardrums. “Ha, ha, ha. Well here’s your chance to get acquainted sonny. You see I’ve put a little curse on you two. That’s the leash. It’s a binding curse. If you two try to get too far from each other. Well, you already know how it feels don’t you miss.” Janet growled audibly.
Steven stumbled to his feet still muttering in fear but his breathing was growing more steady by the minute. “What do you want?” he asked the creature.
It looked at him with fully opened eyes letting their blazing light spark up brilliantly. “You wouldn’t understand what I want. You’re not old enough. See ya around chicken boy.” Then it vanished again into a column of black smoke.
Janet shook her head and let herself relax. The rage that almost spilled over slipped away as she started collecting the proofs that had been thrown to the floor. “All my work,” she sobbed, “ruined.”
At the sound of work Carl turned and absentmindedly started back to retrieve the pizzas he had brought with him. He got a short ways past the door when the air tightened around his body again. He struggled trying to breath and felt like he was being pushed back. “This must be what it meant by leash,” he thought aloud. When he turned and walked back towards Janet the crushing weight on his chest subsided.
“Sh – should we call the police?” Steven asked still visibly shaken.
Janet sank into a chair and put her shoes back on. “What are we going to tell them? That we were assaulted by a three foot midget in an 1830’s frock who can shoot beams of light from his finger tips. No thank you. I like my freedom and I’d rather not be committed.”
“Well what are we going to do about this mess.” Janet glared at him and he continued, “I mean, how are we going to explain it to Mr. Oswald. He’s expecting a progress report by tomorrow morning.”
“You shouldn’t have that problem Steven. All of your work is on a hard drive safe and sound.” She held up the ruined images. “I don’t know what’s wrong with them anyway and I’m in no mood to sit here and figure it out.” She turned to look at Carl who had been standing there silently. “I guess your night is ruined thanks to this. At least we can pay you for the pizza.”
She stood and started walking. When Carl felt the air in his lungs start to thicken he snapped to attentiveness and trotted after her. When they were out of earshot of Steven – who had hurridly busied himself picking up the splintered pieces of a wood chair that was smashed – Janet stopped and turned her head just far enough that she could see Carl out of the corner of her eye.
“What’s your name?” Her voice was drained.
“I’m Carl Cedrych.”
“Janet Lucrece. Nice to make your acquaintance Carl.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” he beamed.
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