Hey Lovelies!
Oh you are so lucky I wasn't posting last week! For those of you who are friends with me, you witnessed part of my mini meltdown from school. So have I been up to, I'm currently in Hamilton school district and I'll be teaching a junior class starting the 24, haha no they don't know I am a published author! So with all the assignments with school writing has been on low on the back burner, not happy what so ever about that considering I thought up those 4 new story ideas BEGGING to be written! I feel like the new characters (some of which are old ones returning ;) ) are being held hostage in a tight prison cell. Since I have had off the last few days I'm enjoying the down time of sleep and writing. My homwork on the other side has been put on a minor hold...oops...anywho Amy and I are working on the editing of End of the Line, which needs to be done asap, I hate delaying things, I like timed schedules, it's so bad blame my mom for being a CPA. I will still be holding a contest for a couple free copies of End of the Line in e-format to those who can answer my questions about Family Ties when more of the editing is done by the second editor! That and the cover is done! Been also questioning the order of what book will be published when, as in the order! Since I've been working on Project US which I'm pretty excited for, as soon as that is done I'm going to be writing more on the new stories! I should get back to the homework...
~Ottilie
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sample Sunday ~ Runaway
Hey Lovelies!
Today is sunday and tomorrow it's back to school! Not a fan, so one last treat for the weekend, a sample of a story I thought up awhile ago and really can't wait to finish! I would post another sample from one of my new ones, but I haven't really gotten a chance to work on them much and other then Beneath the Scars only one other has been worked on, but since it's a sequel I can't really post it as of the moment. As we know Family Ties is a story of a kidnapping, however today's sample is the oppositte, running away from something! These characters are a little fun, well the beginning wont show it as much, but the development is there. The guy I have a few ideas in mind, and he's is going to be a little dorky, fun hearted so I'm really excited to work with him. This story over the summer Runaway was competeing against Project US and Beaker to Life, really wasn't sure which would be the forth work, after A Pirate's Life. I wonder if anyone will notice the difference with this story then the samples I've given. I hope you all enjoy the sample today!
~Ottilie
Sitting on the bench with my eyes not focused on anything as the wind whipped by me. Old trails of tears stung as the nipped air picked on me to make the situation even worse. My surrounds didn’t come together with my homemade scarf blowing around as if waving goodbye to everyone and thing, when I could not. The yarn of the mittens made imprints on my hands as I held onto the bench beneath me trying to get any train of thought, god I was just a shell of a person these days.
My lips were numbing as the last of my chap stick was wearing away in the cold as it was set in a relax way when one isn’t thinking. My thin short eyelashes stuck together in small groups making the small amount of mascara and eyeliner run, smearing around my eyes for the illusion of black eyes. The short thick dark hair felt like straw under the hat making the small amount that poke out feel itchy. The cold irritating my nose making it run just a little leaving me not to even care anymore unlike I once would have. Mix of my surroundings and my existence, tears moisten my eyes, not that they were actually looking anywhere.
I couldn’t remember how I ended up here, or what has really been happening in my so called life. It was to the point that the chill that came through the fabrics of my winter coat was almost a disappointment that I was alive. My mother’s old coat worn and loose clung onto the big sweater underneath that overlapped over my jeans.
Nothing seemed to match up on the sides. My mind seemed to be a box of every size puzzle piece ever made. Leaving just the outside, the box, to be shown, but nothing on the inside will ever work. Not that I would care if I ever came back to who I was, it just didn’t matter anymore.
I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be letting the self pity and hopes of dying consume me, but I do anyway. I couldn’t even tell you where I was, or who I was anymore. I had no specific plan, but I was just sitting here on a bench waiting. Cold droplets fell from above to just land harshly on me. Closing my eyes I curled up on my side feeling only part of the wood bench under me with heavy drops not shy of hitting me.
Seeping more into my thoughts even more as my clothes grew heavier with freezing cold rain mixed with snow numbing my body as the harsh wind picked up. My eyes hurt as I tried harder to keep the tears back while letting the numbing feeling take over me hoping this would be it.
The heat sunk into my skin to an almost burning sensation. Every muscle ached as it was cramped all over my body with my eyes feeling as if they were swollen shut. I tried to shift hoping that would help my tender muscles, but found I was too sore and immobile. Groaning, nudging my head against the pillow in some pathetic attempt to get my muscles to move or get the sleep out of my swollen eyes.
“Well, you’re alive,” the voice sounded slightly surprised, but gentle and deep.
I tried to speak before opening my eyes finding that I was unable to get any sound out. My vocal cords were thick with a rock stopping any sound from coming out. I wanted to ask, if they thought I was going to die, why didn’t they just take me to the hospital? Yet my mouth muscles felt as if they were clamed shut. I left my eyes shut, too sore to do anything as my body felt ill as the two extreme temperatures were battling each other.
“Take it easy okay, don’t overwork your body. You’ve really put your body through a lot. Do you know how long you were at the bus station?”
I wanted to die as the needles of heat were working through.
“No,” my voice cracked.
“Shh, don’t speak. Do you want tea, just nod your head yes or no,” the soft male voice continued.
I shook my head under the cocoon of blankets and sheets.
“Hot chocolate maybe?”
Slowly I opened my eyes as the light burned, making it harder to keep them open.
“I guess,” My voice cracking as I tried to speak again.
The guy was a blur, but I could hear him sigh.
A few minutes later the spot next to me sunk on the bed. Turning over in pain I look up at a lean man with strawberry blonde hair that swept to the side with blue green eyes. Wearing a sweater and jeans he held a red mug down to my level. Shifting so my arm could push me up, I cringed.
“Try not to harm yourself, just stay down!”
I closed my eyes as I leaned my head against the headboard.
“You’re a stubborn one aren’t you?”
“Just a bit.”
He gave a short laugh as I opened my eyes and took the drink, wrapping my hands around the cup feeling the heat seep through. I started to debate about not drinking it and just to holding it.
“I’m going to be leaving soon, but my brother will be here to be with you. I left him in charge of the diner. I trust him with it, but I’d rather be there, especially since closing time is in a few hours and I’m OCD about that. He should be here soon,” he glanced down at his watch.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t really anything, there wasn’t a chance in hell anyone with a heart could have left someone covered in ice in this weather.”
I looked down into the drink.
“My name is Adam, and the late one is Lucas.”
I took a sip from the drink instead of answering.
“Do you have a name?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Care to give it to me?” he asked gently, like he actually cared about what happens to me.
I looked up into his eyes showing true sincerity. It was almost as if he has known me my whole life and he was just my caring big brother. I sighed.
“My name is-“
“Oh, OCD King, I’m home!” a loud voice rang as a door was slam shut.
Adam rolled his eyes.
“You must excuse my brother. He’s a bit of an idiot.”
“Depends on who you’re asking?”
A guy with a big grin on his face, same color hair, but a little shorter to show off the green smiling eyes came into the room.
“It’s a good thing she wasn’t sleeping big mouth, now I’ll go back. You put James in charge right before you came here, right?”
Lucas’ face fell, eyes widen.
“Crap! I knew I forgot something!”
“What do you mean!? I had asked you to do something simple!” Adam yelled standing up sounding ready to have a heart attack.
“Chill, man I was kidding,” Lucas started to laugh as he tried to get the words out. “Go on, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Adam looked a little worried as he said his goodbye’s then left.
“I don’t need a babysitter, I’m going to turn eighteen next month,” I whispered feeling the hot chocolate loosing its heat.
He gave a small laugh.
“Yeah, you take real good care of yourself. You were unconscious on a bus stop bench, covered in ice and freezing rain. Yeah, real good care.”
I glared.
“I have everything planned out just so you know,” I mumbled even though I knew he wouldn’t believe me. “One mistake and I bet you are Mr. Perfect?”
“I’m the essence of perfection I’ll let you know,” he added with a smirk, which just fueled the glaring. “So are you hungry?”
“No,” I answered, as my stomach countered my reply, I closed my eyes. “I guess I am.”
“I’ll go make us something. How do you feel about breakfast food in the late afternoon?”
“It’s as good as eating it in the morning,” I commented taking a sip of the hot chocolate making a face as the cool drink entered my mouth, spitting it back into the cup as he left the room.
Looking around the room, I could defiantly tell this was one of their rooms. There were a few pictures on the dresser and desk, clothes on the floor along with on the chair. The walls though were plain white with a few posters. The comforter was dark blue on top with crimson underneath.
“Are chocolate chip pancakes okay?” He yelled from the other room. “I’m kind of in the mood for them considering the weather.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
Pushing the comforter off, I stood up with shaky legs, wrapping the comforter around me. Stumbling a bit, I fell into the wall.
“Are you alright in there,” He called out.
“Yeah,” I answered after taking a few more wobbly steps.
Looking up I saw the partial kitchen with a wall dividing the living room and kitchen. There he stood in front of the stove pouring some of the batter onto the pan. Unsteadily I sat on a stool chair using the hole in the wall between the two rooms making it the place they ate. Drawing my legs into my chest wrapping the comforter closer trying to keep warm I just made fitting on the chair.
“What do you want to drink?” Lucas called loudly looking towards one of the bed rooms.
“Milk will do fine,” I answered, watching him jump a little to turn to look at me.
“When did you get there?” he asked narrowing his eyes.
“Just a moment ago.”
“Shouldn’t you drink something warm?”
“I don’t like pancakes with anything other then milk, and if you were going to question my option why did you ask me?” I asked trying not to sound rude.
“Point made,” he said as he turned around again towards the stove.
“So girly, do you have a name?” he asked with his back still turned.
I didn’t answer for a moment. He was placing two glasses of milk on the counter between us. Turning off the oven he walked to sit next to me with two plates. Looking at the food I took hold of the fork while holding onto the warmth. My stomach begged to just pour the plate of food down my throat, while my mind knew that I would get sick if I did that. To be nice to my stomach I was trying to take slower bites of the warm fluffy treat as small bits of chocolate came to life in my mouth. I tried to remember the last time I had any form of a meal.
“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.
Still looking at the plate I just muttered that I was alright.
“So are you running from the law?” he asked his voice slightly more upbeat again.
Looking up he had one eyebrow raised with a small smile.
“The law, no.”
I stared at the food poking a piece of the cut up slice. I put the piece in my mouth and tried to chew. My mouth was dry. I tried to chew, but it wouldn’t happen so I took a gulp of the milk to help the food go down. The lump went down heavily, as my eyes began to water. I didn’t look up; I couldn’t let him see the tears, to let him know something was wrong.
“Are you alright?” the pure curiosity voice came through, but I couldn’t look up though.
I nodded my head.
“You sure?”
“Can I take a shower when I’m done?” I asked still looking down.
I took a bite, acting like everything was normal. It tasted like sawdust now. I put my fork down and just swallowed heavily that last bite.
“Um sure, I’ll give you something to put on afterwards. I’ll give you some clean clothes, though they’ll be big on you.”
“Thank you,” I spoke softly as I slowly stood up. “Which way to the bathroom?”
I started to pick up the plate and cup to bring to the sink, but he took them.
“Over to your right, but hold on.”
He had his back to me as I quickly rubbed my eyes. Hoping the tears were gone, wiped away. I walked over to the bathroom and stood by the door with the comforter still wrapped tightly around me up to my chin enclosed around me. My hands only out in the open just enough to hold the blanket to me. My eyes were glued to the floor, though a warm touch brought me back as it glided me into green eyes.
“Your eyes are red,” his eyes were sad or worried as the words came out slowly, almost as if it were a question.
“They are a little off from the change of weather,” I spoke starting to bite on my lip.
He just stared at me, his eyes were locked on mine, holding them, making me not want to look away.
“If you are sure,” he answered placing clothes into my hands. “Can I have the blanket back before you go into the shower though?”
I unhinged my fingers from the comfort and walked into the bathroom, automatically locking the door behind me. Laying the pile of clothes on top of the toilet and noticed the towel hanging up by the shower. Turning the facet the mere sound of the sudden water being released from its prison was music to my ears. The pop of the water till it hit the floor till it was a full power of its freedom. I didn’t bother putting my hand in it knowing it would be cold, and I couldn’t deal with that. I would wait for the warmth.
Stepping into the misty hot water, a sigh almost escaped my lips. It has been so long since my last shower, or felt hot water. I submerged my whole body under the head of the shower, feeling the hot water, washing away the pain and horrors. Helping even for a moment to forget the tears that have been shed for what feels forever. Even for a short period of time I could forget, put everything behind me.
Wrapping the fluffy towel I did not want to leave the steamy haven the bathroom had became. The mirror was fogged over, which might have been for the best to not have a chance to see the affects of living on the streets did to me. Using a comb I tried my best to get out knots, tearing at my head to the point where using tweezers to pull each hair out of my legs would have felt better. Finding a pair of scissors and a razor entered my mind to solve my problem. My better reasoning won with a few more attacks, then throwing on the borrowed clothes, just so I could pull the towel turban effect.
Even though it was guys’ clothes, I felt small in the shirt and pants that had a belt on them. Before I walked out of the bathroom I hung the towel up and re-brushed my hair to find Lucas sitting on the couch watching television. Shuffling over to the couch near him I saw he left the comforter there for me. Grabbing it I wrapped it around me as he sat there looking at me.
“Still cold?” he asked.
I just nodded my head, my throat felt a little raw. He moved a little closer to me took hold of the blanket to move it, well tried, but I was holding tight.
“Lossen your grip, I’ll help you warm you up.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I really don’t know you.”
He rolled his eyes.
“We aren’t doing anything, just think of it as a hug while watching TV. You’ve already slept in my bed and are wearing my clothes I think we’re on a speedy friendship.”
I let go of the blanket as he pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me than putting the blanket around us. His chest was against my back with his head right near mine, I felt so fragile near him, I was once bigger.
“I promise we’re not out to get you…” he whispered as he tightened his hold a little.
“I’ve just been through a lot…” I spoke quietly as I just kept my eyes on the screen.
My eyes grew heavy as he didn’t answer back. Slowly as I fought it my eyes closed as his heat radiated into me. I fell asleep against him as there was silence between us.
Today is sunday and tomorrow it's back to school! Not a fan, so one last treat for the weekend, a sample of a story I thought up awhile ago and really can't wait to finish! I would post another sample from one of my new ones, but I haven't really gotten a chance to work on them much and other then Beneath the Scars only one other has been worked on, but since it's a sequel I can't really post it as of the moment. As we know Family Ties is a story of a kidnapping, however today's sample is the oppositte, running away from something! These characters are a little fun, well the beginning wont show it as much, but the development is there. The guy I have a few ideas in mind, and he's is going to be a little dorky, fun hearted so I'm really excited to work with him. This story over the summer Runaway was competeing against Project US and Beaker to Life, really wasn't sure which would be the forth work, after A Pirate's Life. I wonder if anyone will notice the difference with this story then the samples I've given. I hope you all enjoy the sample today!
~Ottilie
Runaway
Chapter One
Sitting on the bench with my eyes not focused on anything as the wind whipped by me. Old trails of tears stung as the nipped air picked on me to make the situation even worse. My surrounds didn’t come together with my homemade scarf blowing around as if waving goodbye to everyone and thing, when I could not. The yarn of the mittens made imprints on my hands as I held onto the bench beneath me trying to get any train of thought, god I was just a shell of a person these days.
My lips were numbing as the last of my chap stick was wearing away in the cold as it was set in a relax way when one isn’t thinking. My thin short eyelashes stuck together in small groups making the small amount of mascara and eyeliner run, smearing around my eyes for the illusion of black eyes. The short thick dark hair felt like straw under the hat making the small amount that poke out feel itchy. The cold irritating my nose making it run just a little leaving me not to even care anymore unlike I once would have. Mix of my surroundings and my existence, tears moisten my eyes, not that they were actually looking anywhere.
I couldn’t remember how I ended up here, or what has really been happening in my so called life. It was to the point that the chill that came through the fabrics of my winter coat was almost a disappointment that I was alive. My mother’s old coat worn and loose clung onto the big sweater underneath that overlapped over my jeans.
Nothing seemed to match up on the sides. My mind seemed to be a box of every size puzzle piece ever made. Leaving just the outside, the box, to be shown, but nothing on the inside will ever work. Not that I would care if I ever came back to who I was, it just didn’t matter anymore.
I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be letting the self pity and hopes of dying consume me, but I do anyway. I couldn’t even tell you where I was, or who I was anymore. I had no specific plan, but I was just sitting here on a bench waiting. Cold droplets fell from above to just land harshly on me. Closing my eyes I curled up on my side feeling only part of the wood bench under me with heavy drops not shy of hitting me.
Seeping more into my thoughts even more as my clothes grew heavier with freezing cold rain mixed with snow numbing my body as the harsh wind picked up. My eyes hurt as I tried harder to keep the tears back while letting the numbing feeling take over me hoping this would be it.
The heat sunk into my skin to an almost burning sensation. Every muscle ached as it was cramped all over my body with my eyes feeling as if they were swollen shut. I tried to shift hoping that would help my tender muscles, but found I was too sore and immobile. Groaning, nudging my head against the pillow in some pathetic attempt to get my muscles to move or get the sleep out of my swollen eyes.
“Well, you’re alive,” the voice sounded slightly surprised, but gentle and deep.
I tried to speak before opening my eyes finding that I was unable to get any sound out. My vocal cords were thick with a rock stopping any sound from coming out. I wanted to ask, if they thought I was going to die, why didn’t they just take me to the hospital? Yet my mouth muscles felt as if they were clamed shut. I left my eyes shut, too sore to do anything as my body felt ill as the two extreme temperatures were battling each other.
“Take it easy okay, don’t overwork your body. You’ve really put your body through a lot. Do you know how long you were at the bus station?”
I wanted to die as the needles of heat were working through.
“No,” my voice cracked.
“Shh, don’t speak. Do you want tea, just nod your head yes or no,” the soft male voice continued.
I shook my head under the cocoon of blankets and sheets.
“Hot chocolate maybe?”
Slowly I opened my eyes as the light burned, making it harder to keep them open.
“I guess,” My voice cracking as I tried to speak again.
The guy was a blur, but I could hear him sigh.
A few minutes later the spot next to me sunk on the bed. Turning over in pain I look up at a lean man with strawberry blonde hair that swept to the side with blue green eyes. Wearing a sweater and jeans he held a red mug down to my level. Shifting so my arm could push me up, I cringed.
“Try not to harm yourself, just stay down!”
I closed my eyes as I leaned my head against the headboard.
“You’re a stubborn one aren’t you?”
“Just a bit.”
He gave a short laugh as I opened my eyes and took the drink, wrapping my hands around the cup feeling the heat seep through. I started to debate about not drinking it and just to holding it.
“I’m going to be leaving soon, but my brother will be here to be with you. I left him in charge of the diner. I trust him with it, but I’d rather be there, especially since closing time is in a few hours and I’m OCD about that. He should be here soon,” he glanced down at his watch.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t really anything, there wasn’t a chance in hell anyone with a heart could have left someone covered in ice in this weather.”
I looked down into the drink.
“My name is Adam, and the late one is Lucas.”
I took a sip from the drink instead of answering.
“Do you have a name?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Care to give it to me?” he asked gently, like he actually cared about what happens to me.
I looked up into his eyes showing true sincerity. It was almost as if he has known me my whole life and he was just my caring big brother. I sighed.
“My name is-“
“Oh, OCD King, I’m home!” a loud voice rang as a door was slam shut.
Adam rolled his eyes.
“You must excuse my brother. He’s a bit of an idiot.”
“Depends on who you’re asking?”
A guy with a big grin on his face, same color hair, but a little shorter to show off the green smiling eyes came into the room.
“It’s a good thing she wasn’t sleeping big mouth, now I’ll go back. You put James in charge right before you came here, right?”
Lucas’ face fell, eyes widen.
“Crap! I knew I forgot something!”
“What do you mean!? I had asked you to do something simple!” Adam yelled standing up sounding ready to have a heart attack.
“Chill, man I was kidding,” Lucas started to laugh as he tried to get the words out. “Go on, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Adam looked a little worried as he said his goodbye’s then left.
“I don’t need a babysitter, I’m going to turn eighteen next month,” I whispered feeling the hot chocolate loosing its heat.
He gave a small laugh.
“Yeah, you take real good care of yourself. You were unconscious on a bus stop bench, covered in ice and freezing rain. Yeah, real good care.”
I glared.
“I have everything planned out just so you know,” I mumbled even though I knew he wouldn’t believe me. “One mistake and I bet you are Mr. Perfect?”
“I’m the essence of perfection I’ll let you know,” he added with a smirk, which just fueled the glaring. “So are you hungry?”
“No,” I answered, as my stomach countered my reply, I closed my eyes. “I guess I am.”
“I’ll go make us something. How do you feel about breakfast food in the late afternoon?”
“It’s as good as eating it in the morning,” I commented taking a sip of the hot chocolate making a face as the cool drink entered my mouth, spitting it back into the cup as he left the room.
Looking around the room, I could defiantly tell this was one of their rooms. There were a few pictures on the dresser and desk, clothes on the floor along with on the chair. The walls though were plain white with a few posters. The comforter was dark blue on top with crimson underneath.
“Are chocolate chip pancakes okay?” He yelled from the other room. “I’m kind of in the mood for them considering the weather.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
Pushing the comforter off, I stood up with shaky legs, wrapping the comforter around me. Stumbling a bit, I fell into the wall.
“Are you alright in there,” He called out.
“Yeah,” I answered after taking a few more wobbly steps.
Looking up I saw the partial kitchen with a wall dividing the living room and kitchen. There he stood in front of the stove pouring some of the batter onto the pan. Unsteadily I sat on a stool chair using the hole in the wall between the two rooms making it the place they ate. Drawing my legs into my chest wrapping the comforter closer trying to keep warm I just made fitting on the chair.
“What do you want to drink?” Lucas called loudly looking towards one of the bed rooms.
“Milk will do fine,” I answered, watching him jump a little to turn to look at me.
“When did you get there?” he asked narrowing his eyes.
“Just a moment ago.”
“Shouldn’t you drink something warm?”
“I don’t like pancakes with anything other then milk, and if you were going to question my option why did you ask me?” I asked trying not to sound rude.
“Point made,” he said as he turned around again towards the stove.
“So girly, do you have a name?” he asked with his back still turned.
I didn’t answer for a moment. He was placing two glasses of milk on the counter between us. Turning off the oven he walked to sit next to me with two plates. Looking at the food I took hold of the fork while holding onto the warmth. My stomach begged to just pour the plate of food down my throat, while my mind knew that I would get sick if I did that. To be nice to my stomach I was trying to take slower bites of the warm fluffy treat as small bits of chocolate came to life in my mouth. I tried to remember the last time I had any form of a meal.
“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.
Still looking at the plate I just muttered that I was alright.
“So are you running from the law?” he asked his voice slightly more upbeat again.
Looking up he had one eyebrow raised with a small smile.
“The law, no.”
I stared at the food poking a piece of the cut up slice. I put the piece in my mouth and tried to chew. My mouth was dry. I tried to chew, but it wouldn’t happen so I took a gulp of the milk to help the food go down. The lump went down heavily, as my eyes began to water. I didn’t look up; I couldn’t let him see the tears, to let him know something was wrong.
“Are you alright?” the pure curiosity voice came through, but I couldn’t look up though.
I nodded my head.
“You sure?”
“Can I take a shower when I’m done?” I asked still looking down.
I took a bite, acting like everything was normal. It tasted like sawdust now. I put my fork down and just swallowed heavily that last bite.
“Um sure, I’ll give you something to put on afterwards. I’ll give you some clean clothes, though they’ll be big on you.”
“Thank you,” I spoke softly as I slowly stood up. “Which way to the bathroom?”
I started to pick up the plate and cup to bring to the sink, but he took them.
“Over to your right, but hold on.”
He had his back to me as I quickly rubbed my eyes. Hoping the tears were gone, wiped away. I walked over to the bathroom and stood by the door with the comforter still wrapped tightly around me up to my chin enclosed around me. My hands only out in the open just enough to hold the blanket to me. My eyes were glued to the floor, though a warm touch brought me back as it glided me into green eyes.
“Your eyes are red,” his eyes were sad or worried as the words came out slowly, almost as if it were a question.
“They are a little off from the change of weather,” I spoke starting to bite on my lip.
He just stared at me, his eyes were locked on mine, holding them, making me not want to look away.
“If you are sure,” he answered placing clothes into my hands. “Can I have the blanket back before you go into the shower though?”
I unhinged my fingers from the comfort and walked into the bathroom, automatically locking the door behind me. Laying the pile of clothes on top of the toilet and noticed the towel hanging up by the shower. Turning the facet the mere sound of the sudden water being released from its prison was music to my ears. The pop of the water till it hit the floor till it was a full power of its freedom. I didn’t bother putting my hand in it knowing it would be cold, and I couldn’t deal with that. I would wait for the warmth.
Stepping into the misty hot water, a sigh almost escaped my lips. It has been so long since my last shower, or felt hot water. I submerged my whole body under the head of the shower, feeling the hot water, washing away the pain and horrors. Helping even for a moment to forget the tears that have been shed for what feels forever. Even for a short period of time I could forget, put everything behind me.
Wrapping the fluffy towel I did not want to leave the steamy haven the bathroom had became. The mirror was fogged over, which might have been for the best to not have a chance to see the affects of living on the streets did to me. Using a comb I tried my best to get out knots, tearing at my head to the point where using tweezers to pull each hair out of my legs would have felt better. Finding a pair of scissors and a razor entered my mind to solve my problem. My better reasoning won with a few more attacks, then throwing on the borrowed clothes, just so I could pull the towel turban effect.
Even though it was guys’ clothes, I felt small in the shirt and pants that had a belt on them. Before I walked out of the bathroom I hung the towel up and re-brushed my hair to find Lucas sitting on the couch watching television. Shuffling over to the couch near him I saw he left the comforter there for me. Grabbing it I wrapped it around me as he sat there looking at me.
“Still cold?” he asked.
I just nodded my head, my throat felt a little raw. He moved a little closer to me took hold of the blanket to move it, well tried, but I was holding tight.
“Lossen your grip, I’ll help you warm you up.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I really don’t know you.”
He rolled his eyes.
“We aren’t doing anything, just think of it as a hug while watching TV. You’ve already slept in my bed and are wearing my clothes I think we’re on a speedy friendship.”
I let go of the blanket as he pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me than putting the blanket around us. His chest was against my back with his head right near mine, I felt so fragile near him, I was once bigger.
“I promise we’re not out to get you…” he whispered as he tightened his hold a little.
“I’ve just been through a lot…” I spoke quietly as I just kept my eyes on the screen.
My eyes grew heavy as he didn’t answer back. Slowly as I fought it my eyes closed as his heat radiated into me. I fell asleep against him as there was silence between us.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sample Sunday
Hey Lovelies!
Today is Sample Sunday!! Can't believe another week is gone by! So as I have mentioned before I have started FOUR new stories, so it is a fair statement between them and older works I do have my fair share of samples to pick from. However since two of the new stories that I started are sequels, I'm holding back on them (mischivously giggles). Maybe in a couple weeks I'll change my mind because I'll be too excited, no promises though. However what I have been trying to do for years to rewrite a new edition of Beauty and the Beast. Yes Family Ties has been compared to a fairy tale, I have a small collection of rewritten fairy tales such as Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, The Swan Princesss, but I really wanted to do Beauty and the Beast because it is one of my favorites. Yet this month the story line finally came to me! I don't have much written on it because I've been a little all over the place plus school. I'm curious if anyone can guess what is wrong with the "beast" in the very small sample I have today, and yes the female lead in my story has a strange name, my friend Amy hates the name, but I really like it, the name is staying! I hope you all will like the small sample, next week I'll give a larger sample of something. Enjoy!
~Ottilie
Today is Sample Sunday!! Can't believe another week is gone by! So as I have mentioned before I have started FOUR new stories, so it is a fair statement between them and older works I do have my fair share of samples to pick from. However since two of the new stories that I started are sequels, I'm holding back on them (mischivously giggles). Maybe in a couple weeks I'll change my mind because I'll be too excited, no promises though. However what I have been trying to do for years to rewrite a new edition of Beauty and the Beast. Yes Family Ties has been compared to a fairy tale, I have a small collection of rewritten fairy tales such as Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, The Swan Princesss, but I really wanted to do Beauty and the Beast because it is one of my favorites. Yet this month the story line finally came to me! I don't have much written on it because I've been a little all over the place plus school. I'm curious if anyone can guess what is wrong with the "beast" in the very small sample I have today, and yes the female lead in my story has a strange name, my friend Amy hates the name, but I really like it, the name is staying! I hope you all will like the small sample, next week I'll give a larger sample of something. Enjoy!
~Ottilie
Beneath the Scars
(I wish my pretty font could show up!!)
Chapter One
Rily
Darkness. Everything around me was surrounded by shadows of the past unable move on, wanting to stay to torment me. The only light source in my apartment was the blinking light from the television as I flipped through the channels to find something to just fill my time. My muscles in my body were restless, craving for the exercises that use to be routine for me, but my mind wanted nothing more then this old chair that belonged to my father and the television before me. The words didn’t seem to click with my ears, spacing out as I stayed in my chair. My brain was mushafying. Dishes were scattered and piled on top of each other all over my apartment, besides me was a plate of spaghetti, but now was just a plate covered in red sauce that I was not about to go clean.
I use to be able to run with equipment strapped to my body in extreme heat, now I was ruler of an old lazy boy chair letting my sturdy body grow sluggish. The only life I have ever known had rejected me after a great time in my life which only turned to be the worse. I was cast aside because of what I had become, an awful looking grumpy beast. No person was to ever set eyes on me, known as a hero yet the treatment one would expect from a traitor. The vodka bottle next to me had a ring along the bottom of the last few drops.
A pair of sweats and a hoodie covered a muscled body that I spent years perfecting, now I wasn’t even sure what laid beneath the fabric. I wanted to hide every inch of my body from the world. I was alone, family was no longer among the living and what friends I had were gone for varies reasons. One of which was my fault with a few of my fellow friends, even though their kind words were out guide me in a time of need, my heart had shrunk were the words could not even enter.
Sleep will come to me soon, another day gone, another day wasted in this useless form only wishing to be dead.
Genevieve sat in the seat behind me with a tennis ball in her hands, her little fingers running over the green fuzzy surface as Bubbles was squished in the backseat of the car with her. His furry head resting on Genevieve’s lap, ears pointed up in the air as his eyes followed the ball in her small hands, yet he was well trained not to try to steal the ball from her. The two were very quiet in the car as I glanced into review mirror at them.
“So I’m thinking of maybe having a little camp out in the family room till we have the place set up, couldn’t that be cool?” I spoke up as I peeked into the review mirror again as Genevieve just shrugged her shoulders.
I chewed on my lip, the pasted couple of month had been hard, and that was the understatement of the year.
(I'm still writing chapter 2!)
To be continued...
Rily
Darkness. Everything around me was surrounded by shadows of the past unable move on, wanting to stay to torment me. The only light source in my apartment was the blinking light from the television as I flipped through the channels to find something to just fill my time. My muscles in my body were restless, craving for the exercises that use to be routine for me, but my mind wanted nothing more then this old chair that belonged to my father and the television before me. The words didn’t seem to click with my ears, spacing out as I stayed in my chair. My brain was mushafying. Dishes were scattered and piled on top of each other all over my apartment, besides me was a plate of spaghetti, but now was just a plate covered in red sauce that I was not about to go clean.
I use to be able to run with equipment strapped to my body in extreme heat, now I was ruler of an old lazy boy chair letting my sturdy body grow sluggish. The only life I have ever known had rejected me after a great time in my life which only turned to be the worse. I was cast aside because of what I had become, an awful looking grumpy beast. No person was to ever set eyes on me, known as a hero yet the treatment one would expect from a traitor. The vodka bottle next to me had a ring along the bottom of the last few drops.
A pair of sweats and a hoodie covered a muscled body that I spent years perfecting, now I wasn’t even sure what laid beneath the fabric. I wanted to hide every inch of my body from the world. I was alone, family was no longer among the living and what friends I had were gone for varies reasons. One of which was my fault with a few of my fellow friends, even though their kind words were out guide me in a time of need, my heart had shrunk were the words could not even enter.
Sleep will come to me soon, another day gone, another day wasted in this useless form only wishing to be dead.
Chapter Two
Eponine
Eponine
Genevieve sat in the seat behind me with a tennis ball in her hands, her little fingers running over the green fuzzy surface as Bubbles was squished in the backseat of the car with her. His furry head resting on Genevieve’s lap, ears pointed up in the air as his eyes followed the ball in her small hands, yet he was well trained not to try to steal the ball from her. The two were very quiet in the car as I glanced into review mirror at them.
“So I’m thinking of maybe having a little camp out in the family room till we have the place set up, couldn’t that be cool?” I spoke up as I peeked into the review mirror again as Genevieve just shrugged her shoulders.
I chewed on my lip, the pasted couple of month had been hard, and that was the understatement of the year.
(I'm still writing chapter 2!)
To be continued...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Trying to Find Sanity
Hey Lovelies!
So I'm trying to get things worked out in school and writing. I'm doing a pre-student teaching thing this semester in school where I'm be in a school for over a month and actually be teaching, now that should be interesting! Poor high school students! My friend Amy is still reading through Pirates, poor girl, but this weekend we are going to have a little fun and work on the new cover for End of the Line! I can't wait to give pirates to BCP, people have been excited when I mention it! Now that is exciting when I dont' have the story out and people are loving the samples! Sorry I haven't been sleeping and I'm still excited from last night's radio show; which I may add was amazing if you want to listen it's still up! I'm hoping to also get a few things on top of school (a couple of lesson plans...) get names of characters organized for my sanity. I have over 50 stories started there are too many voices in my head I need to get them organized!
Speaking of stories I don't want to get anyone overly happy, but I thought of two possibly sequels that I had never planned on writing sequels for...End of the Line and Family Ties. Now I always talked about keeping them by themselves. I also hate when authors write sequels that aren't needed. Big pet peeve of mine. So I'll probably still work on the two stories and see where they go. End of the Line's sequel came to me first the title then the idea, the plot could be some fun and mischievous, so the title is, ::::drum roll for cheesiness::: Walking the Thin Line! Then with Family Ties, don't ask me how, but I was reading for one of my education classes and the idea popped into my head, I don't know how...so that title is for the moment is The Invisible Bond. I told my friend Taylor about the plot of it and she seemed pretty interested. Hehehe so mischievous!
~Ottilie
So I'm trying to get things worked out in school and writing. I'm doing a pre-student teaching thing this semester in school where I'm be in a school for over a month and actually be teaching, now that should be interesting! Poor high school students! My friend Amy is still reading through Pirates, poor girl, but this weekend we are going to have a little fun and work on the new cover for End of the Line! I can't wait to give pirates to BCP, people have been excited when I mention it! Now that is exciting when I dont' have the story out and people are loving the samples! Sorry I haven't been sleeping and I'm still excited from last night's radio show; which I may add was amazing if you want to listen it's still up! I'm hoping to also get a few things on top of school (a couple of lesson plans...) get names of characters organized for my sanity. I have over 50 stories started there are too many voices in my head I need to get them organized!
Speaking of stories I don't want to get anyone overly happy, but I thought of two possibly sequels that I had never planned on writing sequels for...End of the Line and Family Ties. Now I always talked about keeping them by themselves. I also hate when authors write sequels that aren't needed. Big pet peeve of mine. So I'll probably still work on the two stories and see where they go. End of the Line's sequel came to me first the title then the idea, the plot could be some fun and mischievous, so the title is, ::::drum roll for cheesiness::: Walking the Thin Line! Then with Family Ties, don't ask me how, but I was reading for one of my education classes and the idea popped into my head, I don't know how...so that title is for the moment is The Invisible Bond. I told my friend Taylor about the plot of it and she seemed pretty interested. Hehehe so mischievous!
~Ottilie
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Review/Interview plus radio show
Hey Lovlies!
The amazing Cambria, I'm sure I've mentioned her before she did an interview of me and a review of Family Ties that you all should go check out! She asked some pretty awsome questions! You'll laugh and also I'm going onto the radio show that she hosts with Cassie and Amy, a group of truly awsome ladies that really know how to make people laugh with really sweet hearts. You really should check out the review/interview and the radio show on Tuesday 9pm-10pm!
~Ottilie
The amazing Cambria, I'm sure I've mentioned her before she did an interview of me and a review of Family Ties that you all should go check out! She asked some pretty awsome questions! You'll laugh and also I'm going onto the radio show that she hosts with Cassie and Amy, a group of truly awsome ladies that really know how to make people laugh with really sweet hearts. You really should check out the review/interview and the radio show on Tuesday 9pm-10pm!
~Ottilie
Friday, September 9, 2011
Book Review: Hostage in Time
Hey Lovelies!
I recieved an email not too long ago asking me to review a copy of a new author's work! I do not know this author, nor know why she picked me, but I thanked her so much for giving me the chance to do so. If you like historical fiction books with romance you'll enjoy this book. I'm really sorry that the picture does not do the cover justice! Hope you enjoy it!
~Ottilie
Hostage in Time
By Linda Lauren
3.5 stars out of 5
Amanda is a Jersey girl who is in her twenties. She is realistic as she currently loses her job as a photographer because of the current economy. She drags her friend Carrie onto a historical tour to a local home that belong to a friend (a character made up for the story) of Thomas Edison’. For those who don’t know Thomas Edison had his station of creative up in Orange County of New Jersey, so I really enjoyed opening up the book to read that relatable area.
As Amanda is exploring parts of the historical house that are suppose to be off limits to everyone Amanda is transported into the past. There in the past she meets a string of characters as she is accused of being a spy by Jonathan Brisbane who is worried for his friend Thomas Edison’s inventions getting into the wrong hands. As Amanda tries to adjust to Jonathan’s life so that he can keep an eye on her, his mom, friends, and his ex wife all have different agendas.
Hostage in Time is a historical romance that will warm your heart. Linda Lauren writes beautiful descriptions that make you feel that you are a guest in the Brisbane home in the year 1894. Amanda’s reactions to the new world around her in addition to Jonathan’s introductions to the future items such as Mace were both funny plus realistic. Her characters were witty, relatable, and constantly thinking of what to do.
The book was a fun light read. I was eagerly flipping through the pages at fast paces to find out what happened next between classes. I love the historical fiction, but I worry with other readers might have a little problem having an actual real historical figure such as Thomas Edison in a fiction book play out as he does later on in the book. The other issue that I had with the book is the change in Jonathan’s ex wife’s personality, Lavinia. Otherwise this book had twists that I was not expecting. Hostage in Time was a beautifully written story that will grab its readers, leaving them warm and fuzzy.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sample Sunday
Hey Lovelies!
I know I am kind of slacking on the Sample Sunday's! I'm sorry I'll try to get them more frequent, well see I started classes this past week and it is going to be an interesting semester. I have to do 100 field work hours in either a middle school or a high school in Hamilton New Jersey. I'm kind of excited and curious on how that'll go!
So other than getting a sample today I wanted to talk about genres. As I've mentioned before I'm working on getting End of the Line re-released (might be soonish!) and I was thinking how about how that story and Family Ties are pretty different. I was having a discussion with a group of friends a couple of months ago about what made fanasty vs sci-fi. Amy and I were talking about what made fanatsy vs paranormal. There seemed to certain rules that helps a person understand what they are reading. Yet there are stories that when you go to different stores are in different sections like the book Poison Study. Sometimes it's in Romance while others it is in Young Adult.
Even when I look at all my own stories I see that they are Young Adult, but End of the Line is sci-fi which I never really thought about that I was an author of, Family Ties is modern with hints of historical fiction. The others are some form of Romance with ones that are modern, sci-fi, historical, and who else knows. So today one of my other samples today is another classified Sci-fi story. I'm hoping to finish this one, I really think this could be a real good tale when it is done. The story is called Beaker to Life, it is about a Sciencetist who creates the first human clone (Alice) and the clone lives with him and his son Derek. What happens while the two grow up together since they are only a couple of years apart from each other, I have the story start out when Derek is a very little boy to when he is in college, shows their relationship and how the world views Alice. I thought of the story when in Junior year of High School my English teacher was teaching the classic Frankenstein. Now this is a little longer sample then I have been giving so hope you enjoy!
The rain started to hit the window making my ears to pick up sounds as I came to life from a night’s sleep. I refused to wake up as I brought the sheets closer to me as I tightened up on my little ball. I refused to wake up knowing that I could make my own choices now that he was gone. Yet sleep wouldn’t come over me again as much as I tried so I got up to go look out the window.
My fingers pressed against the cold glass lightly as the water droplets ran down. My eyes stared at the water and its trail it left behind for another to follow after it. Like ever water drop it was all made the same. I wasn’t like the other water drops; I was ‘born’ another way. I’ve always wanted to be like the others because I always found that I was some kind of freak, he called me special, but I knew I was just a freak.
I didn’t even get to live a normal way of living. The scientist never gave me true affection and just treated me like a prize vegetable. I wasn’t a real person just was some award he thought he should be showing off to a world who half of wanted me dead. If he actually took me somewhere people would be shouting at me, saying I was a sin, a creature of hell, and I was against all laws against nature. People knew who and what I was so they hated me not understanding.
With all the hate towards me I would just end up curled up in a ball at night crying. Then against all his’ father’s wishes Derek would come down and sit with me to make me feel better. He was the only one I really got to talk to and he didn’t seem to care what others said about me. Derek and I were friends through it all. I don’t think I could have survived without so when he and I had a fight I was completely alone in the world.
Being the only human clone in the world will make you stand out. That isn’t really a good thing when people just think of you as a science experiment for a Science Fair instead of a living breathing human. I just wish I was treated the same as any other human instead of the freak studied by some and hated by the rest.
“Now son, do you know what this is?”
I don’t even know what he’s pointing to! I am little doesn’t he remember that? I just nodded my head as he started explaining something in those funny big words I couldn’t understand. It was better to pretend that I knew what he was talking about, my mommy called it make believe.
Then he shifted and held something in his arms wrapped in a blanket tightly. I stood on my toes as I pushed myself up against his knees to get a better look at what he was holding. That was when a tiny nose was sticking out of the hat and blanket.
“It’s a baby. Did the stork bring me a little brother?”
“No! This isn’t a stork baby! On the contrary my dear son, this was made by science!”
“Frank, Derek is four. He’s not going to understand your experiments.”
I looked at my parents really confused. Didn’t the stork bring the babies, so what did science have to do with baby? When my Aunt had a baby mommy told me the stork brought it to them and the big bellies were marks for the birds to find them. My mommy walked over with her princess grace and took the baby into her arms. I started to feel jealous as she held the little bundle in her arms that she held so lovingly. I was her baby she held me that way. She then sat on the ground so I could see.
“Come here, Derek, she’s not going to hurt you.”
I walked so slowly not sure what do make out of the baby. I didn’t figure out what a baby was doing in my Daddy’s lab when I wasn’t allowed to be! Did he like baby more then me? I stood in front of my mommy she stroke a long finger down the sleeping figures face.
“See, she’s not going to hurt you.”
I looked down into the sleeping face realizing she was so small, I thought the babies were a little bigger.
“It’s a girl!” I cried out scrunching my face together.
My mom laughed her pretty face and small laughter made me smile. That was when the baby woke up and her big blue eyes wide and looking at me then to my mom. I put my hand out to go touch the baby as she did the same to me. I started to smile at my mom who put her other arm around me as I sat by her.
“It’s a science marvel! What do you think you’re doing acting like it’s one of your children?!”
“Oh, Frank, she’s just a baby. Even if you cloned her, she’s just a child. She’s just as human as you are.”
“It’s going to prove all science-“
“Oh, shush Frank, I know this is a big deal, but she’s still human.”
“It’s a science experiment.”
“She’s just a baby who you don’t treat her like she’s a living breathing human.”
I just let my parents words fly over my head as the baby looked at me.
“There are big hopes for it.”
“Frank, refer to her as you would to your son!”
“You gave birth to our son just like every other human! This thing was created in a science lab to prove that cloning humans is possible! Think of the possibilities!”
My mom sighed now looking sad. I hugged her as she held me tighter.
“Frank, what happened to the man I married.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You have no real compassion to this little girl.”
“Do you not get what this could do for our family, Melanie? We could be the richest people ever and-“
“Forget the money. After you created this little girl what did you expect to happen to her? Were you expecting no emotions or thoughts to cross her mind?”
What were they talking about? I don’t understand adult talk!
“Frank, I’m proud of you for doing this! Really I am, but honey you have to think ahead and remember this is a living being!”
“And I just don’t think you really understand the magnitude of this!”
“I just don’t think you understand the full extent of what you have done.”
“What harm can a baby do? It’s not like I have brought life to a full grown man corpse like in Frankenstein.”
“She won’t be a baby forever-“
“Just shut up you don’t know what you’re talking about!” my father yelled as he was angry now.
I really didn’t hear my dad yell in my life expect lately since he started talking about a big project. I looked at the little girl my mom was holding.
“Is she my sister?”
“No! It’s not part of this family! It’s a science experiment!”
I crawled closer to my mom now after at the yelling man while the baby started to cry.
“Oh, please Frank calm down! You’re frightening the children! Calm down little one, everything is going to be okay.”
My mom got up and started to head to real part of the house. I stared to run after her as she rocked the baby in her arms.
“Does baby have a name?”
My mom smiled as I stood by her as she sat down at the kitchen table.
“What do you want to name her?”
“Dotty!”
“How about the name Alice, Derek?” my mom laughed.
“Hi, Alice.”
She smiled at me as I went closer to her and I smiled more. Then the baby threw up on me and I screamed.
I want to sleep, so why do mommy and daddy yell so much. I crawled out of my Spiderman sheets and tip toed out of my room holding onto my teddy bear that wore a Spiderman costume. I stood up high to reach the handle and turned it to just to look out the small opening in the door. I didn’t see them as I moved quickly to the room that Mommy put Alice in, but Daddy didn’t seem to like the room.
I slowly opened her door and walked in carefully making sure I wouldn’t wake her up if she was asleep. I walked very afraid of my actions as I went near her crib holding Teddy close to me in a hug. If I move too loudly she screams really loud. I used my hand that wasn’t holding Teddy to grab onto a bar to try to pull myself up to look at her. Her brown eyes turned to look at me. She looked scared like me. I started to pull myself up on her bars and climbed in to sit next to her.
“It okay Alice, you’re my friend.”
Her lip started to shake like it usually did before she was going to cry because Mommy and Daddy started to yell louder. I helped her sit up a little so she could sit in my lap as I hugged her and Teddy. I wish Mommy and Daddy would stop fighting.
I sat on the floor twisting the winding up car. Alice was now almost one my Mommy kept telling me. Alice sat across from me taking one of my cars and putting the car into her mouth. The hallway was the best place to play with the cars because it was the longest road for them. Alice then started to hit the car against the floor.
“Hey! Don’t do that!”
Her brown eyes looking sad into mine and I was still mad at her.
“Okay Alice, it’s naptime.”
Mommy came into the room and gave me back my car as Alice started to cry while she was brought upstairs. Her spit was on the car, gross. A few minutes later she came back downstairs and kissed me lightly on the forehead then sat down next to me.
“My little Derek, you’re such a good boy and I want to thank you for being such a good boy to Alice.”
“She’s okay for a girl.”
My mommy smiled as she ruffled my hair that was the same color as hers. I looked into her green eyes and smiled.
“Melanie what are you doing?”
“I’m sitting here with our son, Frank, what does it look like I’m doing?”
“Where is it?”
“Alice is now asleep for her nap.”
I looked up at the tall man my father is. He wasn’t looking at me, but at my mother who even sitting down at my level was just as tough like my father, but not as scary.
“Son, go up to your room, your mother and I need to talk.”
His voice reminded me of one villains in one of my movies when they spoke to the good guys before they did something bad. His voice made me scared at how something didn’t sound right. So without looking back I started to head up the stairs to hide in my room. To only have my dad come up around dinner time all sad.
My dad sat down on my Spiderman covers taking off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
“My son, please sit down next to me, I have to try to explain something to you that you are too young for.”
I titled my head looking really confused. So quietly I climbed up on the bed next to my father. His brown hair very short unlike mine as he turned to try to look at me, but it wasn’t the same as when my Mommy did.
“Derek, my son, your mother…she left.”
“Did mommy go to the store?”
He was quiet for a moment then sighed.
“Not like that Derek, you are too young for this, but honey Mommy will not be coming home again.”
I was confused. What did he mean Mommy wasn’t coming home? How could Mommy not be coming home? Tears started to come.
“Daddy, what do you mean?”
Dad put a hand on my shoulder as I looked at the ground. As Teddy sat on my floor staring at us still smiling because he wasn’t confused like I was.
“My son, your mother doesn’t want to be near us because she can’t take this family anymore with Alice.”
“But Mommy said she was happy at how I was being a good boy.”
“Woman are really complicated son, never forget that. Your mother doesn’t want to be with us so she decided she didn’t want to be a wife and a mother so she just left.”
Mommy didn’t want to be a mommy anymore? She didn’t want to be near me anymore? I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I still didn’t understand what my daddy was trying to tell me.
“I’m sorry son, I know you probably don’t understand this, and this is going to be hard, but Derek I’m here for you just remember that.”
To be continued...
I know I am kind of slacking on the Sample Sunday's! I'm sorry I'll try to get them more frequent, well see I started classes this past week and it is going to be an interesting semester. I have to do 100 field work hours in either a middle school or a high school in Hamilton New Jersey. I'm kind of excited and curious on how that'll go!
So other than getting a sample today I wanted to talk about genres. As I've mentioned before I'm working on getting End of the Line re-released (might be soonish!) and I was thinking how about how that story and Family Ties are pretty different. I was having a discussion with a group of friends a couple of months ago about what made fanasty vs sci-fi. Amy and I were talking about what made fanatsy vs paranormal. There seemed to certain rules that helps a person understand what they are reading. Yet there are stories that when you go to different stores are in different sections like the book Poison Study. Sometimes it's in Romance while others it is in Young Adult.
Even when I look at all my own stories I see that they are Young Adult, but End of the Line is sci-fi which I never really thought about that I was an author of, Family Ties is modern with hints of historical fiction. The others are some form of Romance with ones that are modern, sci-fi, historical, and who else knows. So today one of my other samples today is another classified Sci-fi story. I'm hoping to finish this one, I really think this could be a real good tale when it is done. The story is called Beaker to Life, it is about a Sciencetist who creates the first human clone (Alice) and the clone lives with him and his son Derek. What happens while the two grow up together since they are only a couple of years apart from each other, I have the story start out when Derek is a very little boy to when he is in college, shows their relationship and how the world views Alice. I thought of the story when in Junior year of High School my English teacher was teaching the classic Frankenstein. Now this is a little longer sample then I have been giving so hope you enjoy!
Beaker to Life
Prologue
The rain started to hit the window making my ears to pick up sounds as I came to life from a night’s sleep. I refused to wake up as I brought the sheets closer to me as I tightened up on my little ball. I refused to wake up knowing that I could make my own choices now that he was gone. Yet sleep wouldn’t come over me again as much as I tried so I got up to go look out the window.
My fingers pressed against the cold glass lightly as the water droplets ran down. My eyes stared at the water and its trail it left behind for another to follow after it. Like ever water drop it was all made the same. I wasn’t like the other water drops; I was ‘born’ another way. I’ve always wanted to be like the others because I always found that I was some kind of freak, he called me special, but I knew I was just a freak.
I didn’t even get to live a normal way of living. The scientist never gave me true affection and just treated me like a prize vegetable. I wasn’t a real person just was some award he thought he should be showing off to a world who half of wanted me dead. If he actually took me somewhere people would be shouting at me, saying I was a sin, a creature of hell, and I was against all laws against nature. People knew who and what I was so they hated me not understanding.
With all the hate towards me I would just end up curled up in a ball at night crying. Then against all his’ father’s wishes Derek would come down and sit with me to make me feel better. He was the only one I really got to talk to and he didn’t seem to care what others said about me. Derek and I were friends through it all. I don’t think I could have survived without so when he and I had a fight I was completely alone in the world.
Being the only human clone in the world will make you stand out. That isn’t really a good thing when people just think of you as a science experiment for a Science Fair instead of a living breathing human. I just wish I was treated the same as any other human instead of the freak studied by some and hated by the rest.
Part One
Seventeen years earlier
Chapter one Derek
I wanted to play with my trucks! Where was Daddy taking me now? He didn’t ever let me into his lab so I was a little excited for that. I ran a little faster to keep up with his steps, he was really happy about something. He was smiling for real now and I started to smile hoping that I did something to make him happy, but he then ran to the back of the room and I tried to see what he was looking at on one of the counters, I wish I was tall. I started to jump and down to see, but failed.“Now son, do you know what this is?”
I don’t even know what he’s pointing to! I am little doesn’t he remember that? I just nodded my head as he started explaining something in those funny big words I couldn’t understand. It was better to pretend that I knew what he was talking about, my mommy called it make believe.
Then he shifted and held something in his arms wrapped in a blanket tightly. I stood on my toes as I pushed myself up against his knees to get a better look at what he was holding. That was when a tiny nose was sticking out of the hat and blanket.
“It’s a baby. Did the stork bring me a little brother?”
“No! This isn’t a stork baby! On the contrary my dear son, this was made by science!”
“Frank, Derek is four. He’s not going to understand your experiments.”
I looked at my parents really confused. Didn’t the stork bring the babies, so what did science have to do with baby? When my Aunt had a baby mommy told me the stork brought it to them and the big bellies were marks for the birds to find them. My mommy walked over with her princess grace and took the baby into her arms. I started to feel jealous as she held the little bundle in her arms that she held so lovingly. I was her baby she held me that way. She then sat on the ground so I could see.
“Come here, Derek, she’s not going to hurt you.”
I walked so slowly not sure what do make out of the baby. I didn’t figure out what a baby was doing in my Daddy’s lab when I wasn’t allowed to be! Did he like baby more then me? I stood in front of my mommy she stroke a long finger down the sleeping figures face.
“See, she’s not going to hurt you.”
I looked down into the sleeping face realizing she was so small, I thought the babies were a little bigger.
“It’s a girl!” I cried out scrunching my face together.
My mom laughed her pretty face and small laughter made me smile. That was when the baby woke up and her big blue eyes wide and looking at me then to my mom. I put my hand out to go touch the baby as she did the same to me. I started to smile at my mom who put her other arm around me as I sat by her.
“It’s a science marvel! What do you think you’re doing acting like it’s one of your children?!”
“Oh, Frank, she’s just a baby. Even if you cloned her, she’s just a child. She’s just as human as you are.”
“It’s going to prove all science-“
“Oh, shush Frank, I know this is a big deal, but she’s still human.”
“It’s a science experiment.”
“She’s just a baby who you don’t treat her like she’s a living breathing human.”
I just let my parents words fly over my head as the baby looked at me.
“There are big hopes for it.”
“Frank, refer to her as you would to your son!”
“You gave birth to our son just like every other human! This thing was created in a science lab to prove that cloning humans is possible! Think of the possibilities!”
My mom sighed now looking sad. I hugged her as she held me tighter.
“Frank, what happened to the man I married.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You have no real compassion to this little girl.”
“Do you not get what this could do for our family, Melanie? We could be the richest people ever and-“
“Forget the money. After you created this little girl what did you expect to happen to her? Were you expecting no emotions or thoughts to cross her mind?”
What were they talking about? I don’t understand adult talk!
“Frank, I’m proud of you for doing this! Really I am, but honey you have to think ahead and remember this is a living being!”
“And I just don’t think you really understand the magnitude of this!”
“I just don’t think you understand the full extent of what you have done.”
“What harm can a baby do? It’s not like I have brought life to a full grown man corpse like in Frankenstein.”
“She won’t be a baby forever-“
“Just shut up you don’t know what you’re talking about!” my father yelled as he was angry now.
I really didn’t hear my dad yell in my life expect lately since he started talking about a big project. I looked at the little girl my mom was holding.
“Is she my sister?”
“No! It’s not part of this family! It’s a science experiment!”
I crawled closer to my mom now after at the yelling man while the baby started to cry.
“Oh, please Frank calm down! You’re frightening the children! Calm down little one, everything is going to be okay.”
My mom got up and started to head to real part of the house. I stared to run after her as she rocked the baby in her arms.
“Does baby have a name?”
My mom smiled as I stood by her as she sat down at the kitchen table.
“What do you want to name her?”
“Dotty!”
“How about the name Alice, Derek?” my mom laughed.
“Hi, Alice.”
She smiled at me as I went closer to her and I smiled more. Then the baby threw up on me and I screamed.
I want to sleep, so why do mommy and daddy yell so much. I crawled out of my Spiderman sheets and tip toed out of my room holding onto my teddy bear that wore a Spiderman costume. I stood up high to reach the handle and turned it to just to look out the small opening in the door. I didn’t see them as I moved quickly to the room that Mommy put Alice in, but Daddy didn’t seem to like the room.
I slowly opened her door and walked in carefully making sure I wouldn’t wake her up if she was asleep. I walked very afraid of my actions as I went near her crib holding Teddy close to me in a hug. If I move too loudly she screams really loud. I used my hand that wasn’t holding Teddy to grab onto a bar to try to pull myself up to look at her. Her brown eyes turned to look at me. She looked scared like me. I started to pull myself up on her bars and climbed in to sit next to her.
“It okay Alice, you’re my friend.”
Her lip started to shake like it usually did before she was going to cry because Mommy and Daddy started to yell louder. I helped her sit up a little so she could sit in my lap as I hugged her and Teddy. I wish Mommy and Daddy would stop fighting.
I sat on the floor twisting the winding up car. Alice was now almost one my Mommy kept telling me. Alice sat across from me taking one of my cars and putting the car into her mouth. The hallway was the best place to play with the cars because it was the longest road for them. Alice then started to hit the car against the floor.
“Hey! Don’t do that!”
Her brown eyes looking sad into mine and I was still mad at her.
“Okay Alice, it’s naptime.”
Mommy came into the room and gave me back my car as Alice started to cry while she was brought upstairs. Her spit was on the car, gross. A few minutes later she came back downstairs and kissed me lightly on the forehead then sat down next to me.
“My little Derek, you’re such a good boy and I want to thank you for being such a good boy to Alice.”
“She’s okay for a girl.”
My mommy smiled as she ruffled my hair that was the same color as hers. I looked into her green eyes and smiled.
“Melanie what are you doing?”
“I’m sitting here with our son, Frank, what does it look like I’m doing?”
“Where is it?”
“Alice is now asleep for her nap.”
I looked up at the tall man my father is. He wasn’t looking at me, but at my mother who even sitting down at my level was just as tough like my father, but not as scary.
“Son, go up to your room, your mother and I need to talk.”
His voice reminded me of one villains in one of my movies when they spoke to the good guys before they did something bad. His voice made me scared at how something didn’t sound right. So without looking back I started to head up the stairs to hide in my room. To only have my dad come up around dinner time all sad.
My dad sat down on my Spiderman covers taking off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
“My son, please sit down next to me, I have to try to explain something to you that you are too young for.”
I titled my head looking really confused. So quietly I climbed up on the bed next to my father. His brown hair very short unlike mine as he turned to try to look at me, but it wasn’t the same as when my Mommy did.
“Derek, my son, your mother…she left.”
“Did mommy go to the store?”
He was quiet for a moment then sighed.
“Not like that Derek, you are too young for this, but honey Mommy will not be coming home again.”
I was confused. What did he mean Mommy wasn’t coming home? How could Mommy not be coming home? Tears started to come.
“Daddy, what do you mean?”
Dad put a hand on my shoulder as I looked at the ground. As Teddy sat on my floor staring at us still smiling because he wasn’t confused like I was.
“My son, your mother doesn’t want to be near us because she can’t take this family anymore with Alice.”
“But Mommy said she was happy at how I was being a good boy.”
“Woman are really complicated son, never forget that. Your mother doesn’t want to be with us so she decided she didn’t want to be a wife and a mother so she just left.”
Mommy didn’t want to be a mommy anymore? She didn’t want to be near me anymore? I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I still didn’t understand what my daddy was trying to tell me.
“I’m sorry son, I know you probably don’t understand this, and this is going to be hard, but Derek I’m here for you just remember that.”
To be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)