Excerpt from the Wisp ...*
Colin read aloud ...
Guenevere arrived in Windfall, dressed in dusty rose velvet, a feather waving from her felt hat. Her hair was truly golden, her eyes the deepest blue. I fell instantly and hopelessly in love with a woman I had only ever glimpsed in passing. Some said she had been born in Europe, orphaned as a baby and then raised by nuns until coming into her inheritance. Less generous gossips suggested her wealth had come from shadier sources. Even then there were whispers of witchcraft. I shut my ears to this kind of talk. Guenevere was alone and I told myself in need of my protection. I was confident she would adore me in return. Wooing women was my greatest talent.
Alas courting her wouldn’t prove easy. She moved into a cottage deep in the wood, surrounded by a hedge maze. She obviously wanted to be left alone. Such was my arrogance I didn’t include myself among those she wished to avoid. Guenevere may have wanted a quiet life but neither I—nor the Slip spirits—would grant her wish. I told myself if she were but to meet me …
Colin paused. A look of alarm overwhelmed his face.
“Why did you stop?” Bara asked.
“Shh … someone’s coming!”
Barely heard footsteps approached in the hall. The lightness of foot and the time in between steps suggested that whoever it was, he or she didn’t want to be heard … a footstep and then silence … a footstep … then silence. But the wooden boards of the dorms were telling, betraying the stalker with every creaking step. Slip Spirits? No, not spirits, but no less terrifying.
“Ladies!” A shrill English accent carried down the hall, piercing through the closed door.
“It’s Den Mother!”
Having announced herself at full volume, Den Mother gave up any further attempt at stealth. Her footfalls were now as heavy as a linebacker on eggshells, and they were coming fast. Amy threw Colin’s bag at him. Bara pushed him to move.
“You have to get gone—now.”
He sprang to his feet with the diary still in hand and headed for the window. No one thought his escape route too dangerous. They were on the second floor, not an impossible jump, or climb for that matter. It was how he’d gained access to the room in the first place. Colin was at the open window. He had one foot out. Bara pointed at the diary.
“Leave that here.”
“Right. Let me know how it ends.”
He tossed it to her. She slid it under her bed.
“Lights out, ladies!”
Den Mother was doing bed checks. Doors were heard opening and closing all along the hall. The doorknob to their room rattled but didn’t open. Amy had locked it.
“Bara!” came Den Mother’s sharp tones. “You open this door instantly!”
“Coming, Den Mother!”
Den Mother had a name. No one used it. Keys rattled. In seconds, she’d be in the room. Colin disappeared from the window frame just as the knob turned. The door flew open and an enormous shadow fell across the room. With her heavily muscled hands on her broad sturdy hips, Den Mother did a thorough job of filling the doorway. She had the physique of a tank and was as well-armed. Only the extraordinarily simple or suicidal ever crossed her.
“Are you girls alone?” she asked Bara pointedly.
*The Wisp, and its sequel, the Tall Man, are available in paperback or #kindle from Amazon.
***
Words and story are my own. Images unless otherwise attributed are a collaboration between me and AI, Grok. They should be viewed visual haiku, in that they contain symbolism. The concepts are my own creation and the rendering AI. Keep drawing and painting. AI cannot replace your hard work and excellence. All titles below, including the Wisp and its Sequel the Tall, represent lengthier works and are available in paperback or digital through amazon and your local libraries and bookstores. Click on any title below to further explore and support my writing.
Grok to the rescue on the AI pictures, and they look great! So realistic! I liked your story excerpt, I wish my mind worked that way. I guess there's a reason I've always struggled with screen writing over the years!
Writing takes a long time; much longer than one would expect. Have to be comfortable with it being a mess for a long time:)
I have put together a screenplay in the past that's being reworked now by a professional. I'm still hoping to get the thing into production eventually!
Best of lucks ... keep me posted:)
!LADY !PIZZA !BBH
!LADY !PIZZA !BBH
Artificial intelligence has made the lives of many people easier. Through this technology, we can also create our own content. But I have never used this technology and have always created content with the help of my brain.
!LADY !PIZZA !BBH
View or trade
LOHtokens.@geneeverett, you successfully shared 0.1000 LOH with @prydefoltz and you earned 0.1000 LOH as tips. (7/12 calls)
Use !LADY command to share LOH! More details available in this post.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
geneeverett tipped thebighigg
@geneeverett(17/20) tipped @prydefoltz (x2)
Come get MOONed!