The Muse That Visits Only At Night

Beautiful Lie A Gundam Wing Fic

2009-05-06T11:31:47Z

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of Gundam Wing, they belong to their respective creators. This is strictly fan-based.

Beautiful Lie

XxMeli J NightlyxX

Chapter 1: Geminate

Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

She had gotten everything that her heart desired with an attitude of, ‘I always get what I want’. That’s how she got her husband, her family and everything else she owned. Her father taught her that way, a Peacecraft always gets what is desired. But somehow now she wanted something else and nothing of what she currently had. Yes, she was lucky, beautiful, important, well mannered, envied, and Selena Peacecraft was also utterly bored.

Selena secured the towel that was wrapped around her body and sat down in front of her vanity mirror, the reflection of an annoyed and tired woman stared back at her. She scowled, displeased at what she was seeing, not even the mirror could lie about how she really felt. Brushing her honey brown hair over and over couldn’t take away the fact that she was sick of everything; her life, her family and her job.

There was one thing that made her happy though, and when that thought came to her mind a small malicious curl formed on her lips. Oh yes, she had been waiting a whole month for that small piece of happiness in her life and it was happening today. As she looked at the time she increased her pace and got done with dressing herself as quickly as she could. The outfit had been chosen the previous night, it was a wine colored dress that sensually tightened to her every curve; a dress that her husband loved to see her wear. Only this time it wasn’t her husband who would be enjoying the wonderful sight. She put on light make-up only to enhance her beautiful European features.

The last thing she grabbed was her coat and her cashmere bag and headed out of her room. She stopped abruptly when her small son entered her room without any warning.

The blond child looked up at her with the most expressive deep blue eyes he could muster. “Mommy where are you going?” he asked afraid that she might be going somewhere on the day she promised would be dedicated to his sister, his father and him.

Selena took a deep breath and looked at her child, however not in a loving manner but rather displeased of having to deal with explaining herself.

“I have to work,” she replied bluntly.

“But you promised! You said today you would stay with us!! Daddy will be back soon… you said you didn’t have to work today… you said it…” the boy’s blue eyes began to fill with tears. He rubbed them off and looked once again at his mother, he couldn’t understand why she kept on breaking her promises, but even so he still thought she was the most beautiful thing he ever saw. Though today you could say she had gone over the top, making the little boy tense with her leaving, especially since she wasn’t going out with his father.

She forced a smile and patted his head, “Charles honey, you’re old enough to understand that I can’t help it when they call me. I have important meetings that I can’t say no to.”

A hint of anxiety came over her when she saw her wrist watch for the thousandth time. She bent down slightly, being aware of not wrinkling her dress and slightly kissed Charles on the forehead, “take care of your little sister while I’m gone.”

Charles watched as his mother walked away from him once more, like always. She never had time for them nor did she seem to want to make any.

As she reached the front door she stopped and reached for her designer sun glasses in her purse. Pegan smiled kindly, like he always did, “The car is waiting Miss Selena.” She had order him to call her like he always had, not by her married name, Pegan gladly complied to her every wish. “What should I tell ?”

Selena placed her index finger on her chin in thought, what will the excuse be this time?

“Make up something for me Pegan, I honestly don’t care what he has to say later on. Just make sure you tell me what you say to him so I don’t say something else.” She smirked, her mischief hidden behind the beige tainted sun glasses.

The faithful butler could only frown as he watched her get into the automobile. She has everything but she’s still not happy, he thought. It made him sad to see the once sweet child turn into an uncaring and bitter woman. Never could he have imagined she would want to throw everything she had accomplished in the gutter, but he would stick by her never the less.

X.x.x.X

“Mother I bought the medicine you needed,” the girl with honey blond hair said sweetly. It pained her to see her mother in such a state, yet she made an effort to hide her feelings and smiled like everything was all right.

“Thank you… honey… how did you get the money?” She could barely speak; the woman was barely an empty shell of her former self.

“Dr. Jared said I could pay him later, so don’t worry, I’ll have the money by the end of the month.” She reassured her mother while she looked for a cup where to dissolve the expensive pills, for the sick woman could not even swallow. After preparing it she leaned close enough so that she could take the medicine, “Dr. Jared said he would be by later to check on you.”

“God bless his kind soul,” her mother whispered and the girl nodded. “Thomas came by,” she said as best as she could.

The girl wiped her mother’s lips and caressed her forehead. “I’ll stop by his house before work, he’s been distant lately.”

“He loves you honey…” she coughed and continued, “he’s going to marry you and you will have a beautiful family together. I am just glad you won’t be alone once I’m gone.”

Her words were somber, but meant them with her heart. Leaving her daughter alone in the world was something she did not want especially in their current situation.

“Don’t say that, you’re going to get better. I just know it!” The girl looked up to the ceiling to conceal the tears that wanted to come out of her blue eyes. She had never met her father and her stepfather had bailed out on them taking with him all the savings her mother had and along with the house scripts that they owned in a space colony. Now they were forced to live on Earth in the lower class part of the Sanc Kingdom, a friend had offered them a small place near the seaside after the war. Having nowhere else to go, they took it gladly. She placed a light kiss on her mother’s forehead, “I have to go to work now.”

She grabbed her bag and ran out of the house tears finally free falling from her beautiful eyes. The sea breeze air comforted her and dried her tears. She looked at the never-ending ocean, wondering if anything would ever change.

Leaving her thoughts aside, she remembered Thomas and began walking to his house. She knocked but no one answered. She decided to let herself in to leave a small package filled with cookies she had in her bag that she made especially for him. A gasp escaped her lips at a horrible sight and the cookies were freed from her hands; falling down in what she thought was slow motion… her eyes opened wide and time stopped.

X.x.x.X

“So Sherry, what makes you think you could work for me?” Dorothy asked while sitting at the edge of her desk with poise.

“Umm… it’s Carrie…” The girl with auburn hair shyly replied.

Dorothy rolled her eyes in annoyance. As Carrie was about to continue, Dorothy’s office phone rang. She gracefully picked it up and ignored the girl, “What is it?”

“It’s the Vice Foreign Minister; she says she would like to speak to you, should I let her through?” Her secretary asked warily.

The blond woman sighed, “Yes, put her on the line.”

“Dorothy, why on earth would you keep me on hold?”

“Lena dear, I am not in the mood to hear you bitch. What is it now?”

“Well you either didn’t get it in the right position or that man of yours didn’t want to screw you today.” Selena said jokingly. Not realizing she had hit the spot, Dorothy’s eyes fumed with anger as she looked at the phone.

“So are you at home with your beautiful family?” Dorothy mused.

“Don’t remind me… and actually no. That’s why I’m calling; I have to meet my slice of heaven today.”

“Really?” She cocked an eyebrow with interest. “Wait, the theater guy again?”

“Yes, I just can’t get enough of him.”

“Well, for a shitty actor he’s definitely doing something right with you or more likely doing you right. Isn't that right darling?.”

“Honestly Dorothy do you have to put it like that?”

“Oh don’t take it too seriously. So what do you plan on telling your loving husband this time? You’re conspicuously becoming a great actress too.” She grinned.

“Well I need you to tell him I’m in a meeting with the Colonies Ambassadors, if he calls that is.”

'I’ll help you as long as it is convenient for me'. There was a slight smirk on Dorothy’s lips, “Sure, anything for my best friend.”

“Thank you so much Dorothy. You are going to heaven… well at least for a while and then they will most likely realize the mistsend you back to hell,” she cackled.

“I despise you. But then again you’re right,” she agreed and laughed. 'If you only knew my dear Lena that the only reason I’m going to hell is for making your husband scream my name when he’s in my boudoir.' An evil grin appeared on her face making even Carrie fidgety of being present.

There was a moment of silence. “Selena are you there?”

“Dorothy I’ll talk to you later…”

There was a hang up tone on Dorothy’s end. She shrugged and placed the phone in its original place.

“So, Mary, do go on.” She motioned her hand at Carrie to continue. The girl just sighed in acceptance.

X.x.x.X

Selena was in the bathroom of the Grand Liston Hotel. She had just shut off her cell phone and was now standing in front of the mirror with a perplexed impression. A young woman her age, with similar hair color, same height and frightening same features as hers, was beside her doing her best as she scrubbed the sink squeaky clean.

“You,” she extends her hand enough to catch the young woman’s attention. Achieving what she wanted, the young maid turns and bows respectfully as she had been told to do.

“How may I help you?” She asked politely and gasped when without any kind of warning Selena grabbed her by the chin and examined her thoroughly. Her eyes were red and swollen like she had been crying. Her hands were damaged, probably from all the chemicals in the cleaning products she used. But even under all that...

“You look just like me…” Selena stared at her in awe.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” she responded quite timidly.

“See for yourself,” Selena ordered making her look in the vast mirror.

“I still don’t understand my lady…” the girl hadn’t notice at all who she was talking to, in fact she couldn’t even see well. Her eyes were blurry from the mix of tears and chemicals.

The classy woman released her, “Wash your face.” The young maid did what she was told and after rinsing out, in front of her stood out the most delicate hand she had ever seen holding out an elaborated, fancy handkerchief.

“I can’t… I will get it dirty…” she raised a hand to deny the item.

“Did I ask you if you want to take it or not?” Her blue eyes rolled in exasperation, “No, I didn’t. So take it… you are paid to do what I tell you to,” was her rude addition.

The girl took it warily and wiped off the water particles from her soft looking face. Selena stared in admiration once again as she watched the girl’s clean façade… there was no mistaking it now.

“Well luck is definitely on my side, as always…” she thought to herself out loud and grinned.

“You’re… Selena Peacecraft!” She managed to stutter while watching the elegant woman in front of her. Never could she have imagined meeting her… well sure she would visit places like the Grand Liston Hotel, but then again she owned the most gorgeous chateaus on earth. Selena Peacecraft was royalty to the Sanc Kingdom.

“I’m glad you recognized me… it’s unbelievable they don’t confuse you with me in some way…”

The girl was taken aback, “Of course not, why would they? You’re so elegant and poised. Raised in the finest ways… you’re First-Class.... I’m vintage.”

“Well, that I can see. It is pretty obvious, but even so…” Selena touched her face once again, “Your skin is well taken care of and even under ‘that’ hideous uniform, it seems you are in pretty good shape. It is clear however you will never be as fabulous as I am… but even so your resemblance to me is remarkable.”

The girl moved back and laughed nervously at Selena’s comments, “Resemblance, to you? I’m sorry madam, but are you sure you're feeling alright?”

“Are you calling me crazy?” She accused.

“Ah…no!” the maid girl waved her hands frantically,”It’s just that it’s impossible-“

“Impossible? There is nothing impossible for Selena Peacecraft. Your hair is similar…only a little lighter than mine and a bit longer also,” again she turned her around so both were faced to the mirror, “Your eyes are practically the same color too… you know if we took out those hideous braids you have on your hair, teach you how to speak and walk properly. You very well may fool someone into being me.”

“Oh dear Lord… I would never do such a thing!” She looked appalled.

Selena laughs tauntingly at the girls remark, “You really are something else… you look like me, yet you are nothing like me. Either way I might need you for one of my wild ideas… in fact I have an idea right now.” She quickly locked the bathroom door and then returned to where she was standing before and placed a finger to her chin in a roguish manner, “get undressed.”

“What?!” The girl grabbed her chest afraid of what she was planning on doing with her.

“I am not going to violate you… I like men okay! Big strong men… I want you to put on my clothes.”

“What…your clothes?” She asked confused.

“Yes are you deaf? Or are you just educationally impaired?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just that everything seems so surreal,” she explained timidly, still hugging her chest.

Selena took a deep breath, “In any case what is your name?”

“Relena… Relena Darlian.” She blushed.

“Ha, that’s just amusing. Your name is even similar to mine… maybe you’re my twin… no that would be impossible. You’re just a nice coincidence…” She encircled Relena like a lion does to its prey. “Another thing…”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you supposed to keep guests happy? Wouldn’t you lose your job, oh I don’t know, if someone influential as me complained about you?”

“You wouldn’t?” Relena asked hopefully, but knew very well the answer.

“Try me,” was the simple yet defiant response.

Relena was now officially terrified; she was being blackmailed for her looks. It wasn’t enough with what she had to go through today now she had to deal with being someone’s look alike and a psychotic one at that.

The day just seemed to be getting better and better, well at least for Selena Peacecraft that is. What with all her scheming and deceptions, she had now just found a new toy to help her out, whether she wanted to or not.

“Now dear, will you please remove your clothes… or will I have to do it for you?” Selena stated menacingly.

They each entered a different bathroom stall and swapped clothes. Selena took no time in fitting into the maids outfit. Relena however was having a hard time fixing the tight dress, for she had never wore anything like it, she ran her fingers through the fabric, it was like something she had only imagine would feel like. The satin and silky fabric flowed through her body and tightened to her every curve just like it did to its former owner.

“Are you done?” Selena knocked on Relena’s door.

The girl came out and kept pulling down the dress, “Is it supposed to be so revealing?”

“Yes it is, Mother Teresa…” the half hearted woman joked, “Now stop pulling it down, you’re going to ruin it.”

She quickly put her hands to her sides, “I’m sorry!”

“Don’t apologize; Selena Peacecraft apologizes to no one. Now… put these shoes on,” she handed her high heel designer shoes and put on Relena’s tennis like shoes. “These are really awful… but comfortable.”

“These are very pretty, but they hurt!” The young maid bellowed as she clumsily tried to take steps.

“My eyes hurt from watching you walk. If that’s what you call walking.” She sighed and helped her to the mirror.

“Let’s get rid of these horrid things,” she said voice tainted in antipathy. She reached for her braids that were crossed on the back of her head that gave her a crown like effect. Relena touched her hair wavy strands were left from the two braids.

“Amazing,” Selena said while she watched her, it was like looking into a mirror. “Since I don’t use that much makeup, you’re practically all set.” Last but not least she placed lip gloss on her pink lips and with a nod of approval she turned her around.

Relena was speechless and lacking air. The change was remarkable, she looked different and now she too believed she was somewhat the spitting image of the girl standing beside her. She touched the mirror to see if it was true or if she was only dreaming. A loud knock interrupted her, “Relena, are you in there? What are you doing? Open up girl! If I find out you’re the one in there you will be in so much trouble!” The voice fumed from outside.

Relena’s face turned pale, more than it already was. Her royal highness however was calm, she took a deep breath and winked at her before opening the door.

“Relena… didn’t I tell you not to lock the doo-“a woman in her mid forties barged in and stopped immediately as soon as her eyes laid on Relena, “Your highness!” She bowed to her.

As Relena was about to shake her hands to stop her, Selena made a sign for her to not interrupt and to play along. Then she remembered she was no longer Relena Darlian but playing the role of Selena Peacecraft. So far so good, the woman seemed to have bought it… but would someone else? Is this the beginning of lessons in lying? A common denomination is to define a lie as a statement that isn’t true. But a little reflection will show that things are more complicated than this. For there are different types of lies and even if they are innocent and beautiful they are still lies.

To be continued…

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X

Thanks to my awesome beta ConquerorAlexander and for taking the time! TOM!

A/N: I started this fic for the Muse Bunny convention; it is the first chapter out of 12 chapters. The next chapters will be based upon the five words and/or phrases they give me at the convention. I hope it is to your liking. Please review I would like to know what you think for I am still trying to figure out where this story is going. It’s not an average sappy AU story however.

If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Blessings to all reviewers, readers and writers!

Pure as New York Snow Chapter 1

2009-05-05T10:22:41Z

Notes for my new Ronin Warriors Fic.

Pure as New York Snow
aby
Meli J Nightly

His blue eyes were lost gazing out to the noisy city from the cathedral window. However in there everything seemed so peaceful. As if in another world apart from the city that never sleeps. The sky was gray, that should have been enough of a sign. But what kind... he loved it when the day was dark and gloomy, so it could've been a good sign.

20 minutes late...

That is still okay, he thought. Looking at the faces of his five best men, he gained back just a tad bit more confidence that it was truly happening. He had managed to book the Saint Patricks Cathedral, the place that his future wife to be longed to be married in. How he had managed to get that cathedral in Madison Ave was still beyond him, all he knew was that his friends specially a particular famous blond one had pulled some string to get that done. It shocked him since after all he was one to try and sway him out of getting married. With one fact in mind: They were too young.

30 minutes late...

But he knew what he wanted and he wanted her. She was the only woman he could ever love, he felt it that way. Her silky dark blue hair that flowed like a waterfall up to her thighs and those beautiful big dark blue eyes were enough to take the breathe away of any man that laid eyes on her. He fell head over heels not only for her unique beauty but also for her intelligence and ambition. They shared many things in common, something he rarely found in people. There was no way he could want anyone else and he felt the luckiest man on earth when she decided to go for coffee with him that snowy December. And one year from that, he felt like the luckiest man in the Universe when she said yes to his marriage proposal. It was everything he wanted, nothing could possibly go wrong.

45 minutes late...

There was one thing he had come to learn about his true love and that was— “She's never late...” The words were barely audible but enough to catch the two remaining best man's attention. Where had the other two gone? Had he been so caught up in his own thoughts that he had not seen them leave? “Hey buddy, don't stress. I'm sure she'll show up.” Kento encouraged him. Ryo nodded in agreement with his friend. But even those words of incentive didn't change the fact that the bride was now an hour late.

Silent Gratitude (Original One Shot)

2008-09-03T07:23:53Z

Meli J Nightly

Silence, is something I was not fond of. Memories overflow and even if so I had no burdens to bear, my unconsciousness was always active and aware of many things that I had yet to learn. I had no reason to dislike silence or fear it, for those who fear it, they are most likely running from themselves or the hurtful lessons of the past. I however, am not running away from neither. In fact I was not running away at all. To the people who raised me I was perfect, even if I lacked many things, they always said-- “We love you.” How I wish I could’ve said those words back to them yet all I could do was be silent and smile. My voice was always silent, yet my feelings were always loud.

While thinking of unimportant things, I looked at the clock which marked two ‘o clock. I sighed. My eyes wandered to the window; the sun hid beneath the grey clouds, which embedded the sky with a dim and gloomy sight. I found myself in the comforts of my bed, in my room, in silence. My room walls were thin enough so I could hear most of the things being done or said downstairs. Sometimes I could indistinctly perceive sounds of pans sizzling when my grandmother was cooking. Other times I could hear my grandfather scream for some toilette paper. He never checked if there was any when he entered the restroom. I didn’t mind them at all, because I appreciated the noise they made, I liked to hear them talk and argue. After all, I was not a writer and I hated to read so there was no way I could have been distracted by any of those things. All I had were vague and silent thoughts.

Despite being lost in my random rationalization, talking to myself was probably the only thing that was left for me to do, however that would’ve been impossible. I discarded my foolish inward debates, as I could feel my eyes become drowsy and my eyelids heavy. I was able to hear my grandpa who loudly asking for some paper again, “Darn it, can you get me some paper Wilma?!” And my grandma of course shushing him in a tone she believed to be whispering, “Be quiet! Can’t you see the child is probably taking her nap?” I smiled at the thought of still being their child, when I was probably too old and too young for such naps in the afternoon. I was at the age of true energy or so I’ve been told, but I didn’t care after all my bed had been teasing me at those hours those past days, that I was left with no choice but to give in to it’s invitation of sleep, and I did.

Once again I slipped into the depths of the unknown of my dark imagination. It was the same image of me looking at the clock, which marked four o’clock on the dot and then I could see my loving grandmother standing in a long and dark hallway. Only it just didn’t seem like her at all. Her eyes were filled with hate and insanity embedded her once sweet and soft façade. I had a feeling I had been there before, I had seen all of it before too.

“I want no part of it anymore… I want it to stop,” I screamed. Ah, yes it was then that I understood it was a nightmare. Still it did not stop; it never did until she approached me and all I could end up feeling was a sharp pain. I fall on my knees and looked at her eyes different from the demoniac sight that was before and which were now filled with sorrow.

I woke up, as I always did, sweaty and breathless. I tried my best to make out the numbers in my faithful clock, my eyes could’ve fooled me however, but still I believe it said three fifty. I have been waking up at the same hour and had been having the same dream for these past couple days. Nevertheless, I found myself lost as to what it was supposed to mean. Each time I woke up from having that dream, I was drained, physically and emotionally. And even though it was a nightmare, part of it seemed like a dream, it was the first dream in which I could speak… or rather scream. Whether it was disturbing or not, the fact that I managed to use my voice made me not think about it in a negative way. I laid back and closed my eyes once again, wanting to dream of something more pleasant, but I found myself not able to shake away the nightmare like I had done before. It was just ridiculous to even consider that my unconscious would assemble such a thing; my grandmother loved me too much to even think that she would want to hurt me.

I was torn away from my defensive thoughts once more, for which I was thankful… except that there was an exuberant amount of noise going on downstairs. With my eyes still closed I tried to just listen.

Sounds of pans falling, plates too.

Awkward, I thought, yet made no move to go and see. Not until I heard a frightening scream that is. It was my grandfather. I sat up in my bed as quickly as I could manage to. Yet I considered that maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, maybe it was the misty influence of the atmosphere, a recollection of my nightmare. But then… a scream of pain and agony, I also heard. It was coming from my grandmother. My heart began to pound, anxiety breaks in and I find myself numb, unable to move.

I cannot say how long I was there, shocked, lost and bewildered. Loud, forced footsteps made their way up the stairway, panting getting heavier, and closer as it reached the second floor and headed towards my closed bedroom door. Somehow I was compelled to look at my clock as if someone was telling me to do so. What seemed like hours had just been minutes! Only two minutes to four. The knob turned and I was able to move once again. It didn’t help much for my brain was at a loss for coherent thought. All I could do was get up and wait to see what was in store for me at the other side of the door.

My heart sank into the pit of my stomach, which twisted and warned of returning my last eaten meal. I placed my hand on my mouth to prevent nothing but a reflexive gasp as I watched her standing in front of me, drenched in blood, skin from her left arm having been ripped out as if she had been chewed on. A nightmare- was all I could think of --It must be. This can’t be real. She locked the door, spoke no word and I couldn’t utter a single syllable or scream for the life of me.

An icy chill ran through my body. She approached me like she had done in my dreams so many times before.

I kept telling myself --it’s just a dream, a bad dream. Every part of my body shook. I was terrified beyond belief, which was different from my dream in which I showed no feelings of being scared. I slowly found myself reaching for her, tears falling from my eyes as I gazed upon the person who had raised me. Her face began to pale and singularly trying her best to balance herself. The anticipation had caught on; I finally let go and reached for my bed sheets to cover her arm. Even though the blood barely squirmed out of her arm, it was certain that she had lost it for good.

I tried my best to compose myself yet I still had no way to ask her what was going on, I was a wreck, a nervous wreck. And once I turned around I was in pain… a pain I could remember quite well. What I had not perceived was that her right hand had been hidden all along and it was then I knew why. But still the reason as to why she had done it remained uncertain for me as I searched in her light brown eyes for an answer.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered in a raspy tone.

As always, I was pained even more for not being able to even ask why this was being done to me, for I had no voice to even scream from the sharp throbbing ache inside my abdomen. I moved away with the best of my ability but she still had her hand held tight on the kitchen knife and as I moved backwards to the bed. The knife was pulled out of me. My eyes grew wide open as I touched the blood running down my clothes, to my legs and onto my feet. Was I supposed to die this way?

While I got up my grandmother plopped down on the floor crying and screaming, “I’m sorry!” I didn’t believe her apologies; I couldn’t even believe that they were meant for me. What had she done to me? Without listening to anything else I made my way to the door, she frantically tried to stop me but was already too weak to do anything. I opened the door. I wanted to see if my grandfather was all right and before I had gone out she spoke once again. “Don’t go out… they’re coming… there is nothing left to do.” I was puzzled by this, but all I could think was that she had snapped and probably had stabbed my grandfather like she had done to me.

I walked out slowly holding my wounded abdomen as I did. Oddly as I got closer and closer to the staircase I heard a chewing-like sound. As if a wild pack of animals were there ripping through bones and chewing as hard as they could, blood was beginning to catapult to my mouth mixing itself with my saliva while I imagined the unimaginable. I peeked by the edge of the staircase…

But not even in the most sinister and gruesome hole of what I call imaginable could I have relented to think that such a scene could ever be displayed in front of my eyes. How wrong, had I been? By far I would not even commence to describe how far off I was. Because what my eyes had gotten a hold of was that they were in no way animals of any kind, they were people.

Neighbors I had known my whole life, neighbors who I knew no longer, all gathered in a group feasting on the flesh of my grandfather. Ripping through him like he was some kind of prey lions had gotten a hold of. No, even lions have grace when killing of their prey. They were morbidly eating him, bite after bite, fighting for what was left of him. Torturing as they ripped through each limb. Too late had I placed a hand over my mouth once again this time to hold back the rush of blood with my last meal that had wanted to come out ever since I saw her. Her… I thought. I scurried as softly as I could back into my room. She was on the floor, her back resting on the wall, which was painted red with her blood; she was dying. Before I got close to her, I dragged myself to a corner my hands and feet were already going numb. I let out the mixture of blood and food that had been forming in my intestines. I cried but could not scream, and how did I long to scream; to scream out my rage and agony.

I soon became dizzy. My grandmother knew very well where to wound me and I wouldn’t have expected less from her. She had been a nurse when she was younger and as much as it hurt at first I was starting to not feel anything. I went over and sat next to her, grabbed her hand and waited our end together. Not too long passed when a rampage of footsteps coming up the stairs and close to my bedroom door was heard; I knew it was them. She squeezed my hand as best as she could in fear. I closed my eyes and prayed that it was all still a nightmare.

It wasn’t. I tried to hug my grandmother but was unable to move, I was numb and I couldn’t feel her hand in mine anymore, which she was still holding to my surprise. I looked up once I saw them inside my room. My neighbors, who no longer looked anything like their former selves but instead pale and disfigured, with fresh blood dripping down their chins and clothes and coagulated blood on ripped off skin like they had also been chewed on. They were monsters. They were dead.

They grabbed her first and as much as I wanted to do something, there was nothing I could do. I watched as they sank their teeth into her skin, my sight became blurrier and even if my hearing had also been affected echoes of her scream rang in my head. Another two grabbed me next. I cringed awaiting for the pain I was going to feel. As I opened my dazed eyes and saw them gnawing on my legs and arms, I was relieved that I could feel no pain. There was nothing left in me, I could still hear her screaming however, and that hurt me even more. A small gap was left in between the dead man who was chewing on my arm and the one who was eating my grandmother. She looked at me and I looked back at her.

I finally understood why she did what she did. To feel love and not being able to say it, can be helped by expressing it. But to feel pain and not being able to scream is like drowning without any hopes of anyone saving you. She knew, my grandmother; my second mother. No. My mother… she didn’t want me to suffer. And with her last breath, she mouthed, “I love you.” I did not have any strength in me to mouth anything back so I did what I always did; I smiled as I faded into the darkness. It was my silent gratitude…

Paws and Baby Feet (Original One-Shot)

2008-08-29T09:51:28Z

Paws and Baby Feet (Original OneShot)

This fic is for a contest called Baby Feet- A Fiction Contest at The Muse Bunny, the story has to be inspired by a picture of baby feet. I got the idea so decided to enter it. Hope everyone else enjoys it!

It's a bit Disney-ish if you ask me. But you will make your own opinion of it, I would love some feedback. It's my first attempt at a cutesy like one-shot.

Word count: 4,095

Paws and Baby Feet

Meli J Nightly

I lay lazily as I always did on my comfy bed, a bed they had bought me with so much love. Everything they had done up to this point was done with so much love. Why couldn’t things be like they used to be?

The times when he used to play with me, all I needed to do was show him the red ball and he knew that I wanted it to be thrown. I would happily run and catch it, of course other times I would just wait for it to fall and go after it, but it was fun. The way he scratched behind my ear after I did something that would make him laugh. Now he didn’t even pet me when I ran to welcome him home, all he did was run upstairs and lock the room along with her.

I remember the way she called my name when my food was ready, “Terry… come and eat!” she used to yell with that sweet tone of hers. Now she barely noticed my presence, didn’t care if I had been fed.

They were both hectic these past days, rearranging a room, painting and running around, well at least my master was the one doing all the running. The mistress was usually laying down giving him instructions, and how could she run if she had inflated like a balloon!

It’s from all that junk food she had been eating lately, I tell you … don’t get me wrong I love food, I live for food, but she’s been eating all these kinds of gross stuff lately. Like last night she made my master go buy her that meat that goes inside two breads and has a lot of other stuff… you know what I’m talking about right?

Anyway I usually like the meat and not the bread, but if they go together it must be for a reason and humans seem to like it like that too. But that’s not the point, he also bought a big bowl of that white cold sweet mushy stuff, which I also love, however I didn’t expect her to dip the meat with two buns inside the bowl of the white cold sweet mushy stuff! I mean come on, what kind of psycho does that? Even for me that’s too gross. She has been doing things like that lately, which I find rather odd, what’s worst though is that my master doesn’t see it strange at all. I do notice that he gets out of the room if she begins mixing up any other yucky stuff and I’m with him.

Shush, I hear something? Can you guys hear it too? No? It’s a weird noise. Oh… oh wait it’s my stomach. Yes, it’s grumbling, my poor tummy. I decide to get up from my comfy position, walk through the living room which for some reason seemed to be filled with all these pink things. Let’s just ignore them shall we? I finally reach the kitchen and end up saddened by the horrendous scene in front of me… no food… in my bowl. How can this be? This is tragedy I tell you! Madness! I slump down whimpering and sobbing my sorrows, until I hear my friend calling me.

Making my way to my own private door I peek outside and see Brooklyn. “Hey, Terry!” She greets me cheerfully, “Why the long face?”

You’re one to say that since it isn’t you who hasn’t eaten anything! Mind you these are only my thoughts I am not the type to take my grumpiness on a friend. “The mistress is still sick, so she forgets to put food on my bowl. Master is always out and when he comes home is only to check on her and then go back out on her orders.”

“You’re in deep son; I told you already she is not sick…” Lassie the oldest out of all of us barges in on the conversation like he usually does. He’s always grumpy and who wouldn’t be with a girl’s name, wouldn’t you?

“Don’t scare the poor thing,” Brooklyn pleads, but only to make him talk more.

“It’s true I’ve been through it, in the nine long years I’ve been living I’ve seen all kinds of things…” he speaks with a somber tale voice.

I admit that got me pretty shaky yet I dare to ask, “What do you mean?”

“You’re problem is worst then your mistress being sick… she’s…” he looks around as if it were a dangerous secret he was telling. Making me more fidgety then I already was.

“She’s?” Brooklyn and I ask in unison.

“She’s…” Lassie repeats it again with a raspier tone and shifty eyes.

“SHE’S?” We get anxious quickly.

“She’s having a baby you moron…” I turn to face that familiar voice, Solo, the homeless dog.

“A baby?” Brooklyn asks confused.

I am equally confused as well, “What’s a baby?”

It almost seemed like Solo was rolling his eyes, “You mutts are hopeless. A baby it’s what comes out of a mistress woman and takes your place, they’re evil monsters.”

“Comes out?” Brooklyn had a disgruntle look on her face as if she were imagining it.

“Evil… monsters?” I feel my voice unsteady. There was an evil monster inside my mistress, how awful. I could only picture a green icky monster with tentacles and what not… it’s not a lovely picture, that’s for sure. “No wonder she only eats disgusting and weird things. It’s to feed that monster inside of her.”

Brooklyn and Lassie nod in agreement. But one question remained, “Why can’t they take the monster out?” As always Brooklyn was the one to ask.

“Oh it’ll come out alright… and when it does come out… you can say bye-bye to your home,” Solo gave me a smirk. How rude I say, giving me a smirk like he was mocking my calamity.

“Why would he have to do such a thing? A baby can’t be that bad.” Lassie tries to comfort me. He had obviously never seen a baby, after all his owners were old too. Brooklyn was the youngest one out of all of us; doubt that she’s seen one either.

“You would think differently if you saw one. They have especial powers-“

We were all dumbstruck and cut off Solo immediately, “Special powers?!”

As soon as Solo opens his mouth a scream and shriek is heard from inside my home. “Lena,” I bark. I make my way to the driveway, tires screech and a funny smell reaches my nose. I see my master come out in hurry and panting. I jump at him, trying to warn him that the monster was probably eating the mistress.

But he only pushes me away and hard, “Terry move out of the way, now!”

I slowly stop and my ears flop. I walk away scared that he might do something to me and look back just to see him run inside the house. My friends look at me with a sympathetic look.

“If I were you, I would leave now before they kick you out or do something worst to you,” Solo warns me. So I decide to heed his warning, it was the first time he had ever done something so mean, it was also the first time he had ever screamed at me to go away. I feel something die inside of me, and without thinking too much…

“Can I go with you?” I ask Solo as I catch up to him.

“Wait… what are you talking about Terry? You can’t just leave!” Brooklyn yells at me.

“They don’t need me anymore…” I reply sadly.

“You can come kid… it’s not easy being alone.” Solo keeps on walking and I follow, in the process I wonder why he even bothers to help me. I could hear Brooklyn bark but can’t make out what she says as we get farther and farther away from my home.

X.x.x.X

We arrive at an alley where other dogs are gathered… mean and scary dogs.

I look up at Solo and now really thinking about it I feel so little beside him, after all he’s a Rottweiler and a fierce one at that, everyone seems to respect him. Me on the other hand, I’m just short with fluffy curly beige hair, most of the time people even confuse me with being a female, and I guess that’s worst then Lassie’s problem.

My thoughts are interrupted by snarls of an irritating looking dog, a boxer, “Hey Solo, who’s the short fry?”

I take a step back but Solo pushes me forward with his snout, “You will all respect him and help him. He is now part of the group. His name will now be Snatcher.”

Snatcher, what kind of name is that? And just like he had been reading my mind he whispers to me, “We can’t leave you with your old name… you belong to a new family now. Besides, Terry is too prissy.”

“Hiya Snatcher! I’m Twinkie!” I search for the voice and look down finally to see a cheery Chihuahua greeting me. He was probably the smallest and by far the friendliest out of the bunch.

A black and white Husky approaches me, he looks very well taken care of and not like he belongs in the streets. I gulp when I see him close enough to glimpse at his large canines. “Welcome to group Snatcher. My name is Blaze and that over there is Don.” He points with his nose at the Boxer who only looks the other way, seems he doesn’t like me. I sigh in relief when he nods and returns to his original spot.

“Who’s the fur ball?” A choir of giggles was let out and I look around but only to add to my confusion, since I had no idea where they were coming from. My stomach grumbles, “Uh-oh fur ball is hungry!” Yet again with the silly giggles.

“Quiet you Rats!” Solo orders.

“Sorry Solo…” Three rats appear in front of me and bow apologetically.

“These are just our pets,” Twinkie cackles.

“What do you mean pets? We can take you on short stuff!” They say in unison, pretty amusing if you ask me.

“If you don’t shut up we’ll let the China Town cats eat you,” this time Blaze warns them.

“Fine, fine. Nice to meet you fur ball.” The three disappear as fast as they could, giggling all the way.

Solo sighs, “Let’s go look for food. Snatcher you’re hungry aren’t you?”

I nod. I was most definitely hungry, in fact famished. I had never gone a day without eating; I was dreading this day because of it.

We were on our way to find food. What more could I ask for? I had a new family, a new home and now I was about to eat… garbage?!

“Well dig in!” Twinkie jumps inside the pool of garbage followed by the rest. I was hoping to have hearing problems, because he did not just say dig in. Did he?

“It’s not like home… but it’s the best we can do. We can steal food only once in a while or else we can get caught and turned in,” Solo explains.

Dumbfounded as I was, my mind kept on playing the times I had been fed like a King. And Solo he had all the time been eating this. As I stare at him, the scar under his eye catches my attention; I had never had the opportunity to ask him how he got it. I guess it’s my chance… it’s not like I’m going to eat that, it’s just like what my mistress eats to feed the monster.

“Solo…” he turns as he hears my voice and stares down, “How did you get that scar?”

The fearless Rottweiler becomes silent and I can see a hint of sadness in his brown eyes. “Let’s just say I know what you would’ve gone through if you would’ve stayed with them.” He turns and says nothing else.

I was beginning to get homesick and start doubting that running away was the best idea. But then again Solo had a point, who knows what kind of powers that monster had. I knew they were strong enough to make my owners hate me. I lie down and watch as they all eat, Blaze approaches me with a piece of the bread that had cheese on top and red circle like thin meats…

“Here’s piece of pizza, it looks fresh and smells fresh.” He says while he lays it in front of me. I smell it, and what do you know? He is right; I take a big bite and then gobble it up.

“Thankph… youph!” I manage to say with my mouth full.

Blaze nods and continues his search for food. Even though it was a small piece I felt it was good and enough to hold me for a while.

X.x.x.X

“Oi… oi!” I hear a voice and a nudge wakes me from my peaceful sleep. Solo was in front of me, I look at him in confusion, “What’s wrong?” I ask hoarsely.

“You were having a bad dream… you were whimpering,” he comments and closes back his eyes.

I was whimpering? I don’t recall having any nightmares while I was sleeping… I was only dreaming about… them. I could feel the sadness strike me again and try my best to overlook it. The night was cold and I wonder how the mistress was doing, if they were okay, if the monster hadn’t harmed them. Maybe if I hadn’t been such a coward and defended them everything would’ve gone back to normal.

“Don’t think about it too much… you did the right thing,” Solo speaks without opening his eyes. Another thought comes to mind, did I really do the right thing?

“But don’t you think that maybe, after she got the monster removed everything would have gone to normal?”

“I thought like that too. When the baby was bought into my fam… my former family, everything just became worst-“

I looked at him shocked, he had owners? “If you have a family what are you doing in the streets?”

“They are not my family anymore…” he looks at the other dogs that were peacefully sleeping, “you and them are my family.”

“What happened?” I boldly decided to ask.

“Like I was saying… after it was out of my mistress and was in the family, they stopped caring for me. All they did was argue, about who was going to take care of that thing. As it grew a little more the small monster used me as a toy, pocking me with whatever he had in hand… I let him, just to keep them happy… But one day he had a sharp pointy thing, I didn’t even have time to react when he had already stuck it near my eye. I was hurt and pain angered me so I bit him…” I listened and looked at his eye again.

It was horrible what the monster had done to him. “Did they do something to the monster?”

“No, they did something to me instead.” I stared back in horror, not understanding why they would do something to him when the monster was at fault. “So I ran away, I couldn’t take it anymore… So I became Solo, then the rest joined me after a while.”

“I’m sorry…” I mutter, not sure if he could hear me.

“Things happen for a reason… I didn’t want you to suffer what I suffered. The reason I came back to your neighborhood is because my ex-owners use to live there but they did everything possible to keep me away… and then I made good friends there too, like you, so I kept on going back.”

I smiled inside, remembering the times when Brooklyn, Lassie and me used to sneak food out of the house to give it to Solo. He was always grateful and stopped by each time he could to play with us. I never would’ve imagined he had, had it so tough.

“We’re cold can we sleep with you?” The small choir of voices chimed from the rats.

Solo rolled his eyes, “Fine but try not to bite me this time.” Two of the rats run to Solo’s side and one of them stopps and stares up at me, “Can I sleep with you? You have more fur…”

“I guess…” without waiting much he rushes to my side and makes himself conferrable, and it didn’t take long for the rest to leave Solo’s side and huddle up next to me.

“Well I guess you made yourself their new mother.” Solo laughs and I sigh as I close my eyes and welcome the heavy sleep.

X.x.x.X

“Hurry up RUN!” Screams Twinkie, I stare back and forth confused as to what was going on, until I see Blaze running with a cord of sausages in his mouth.

“Run kid!” Solo orders, followed by Don who had a giant piece of bread in his mouth.

Not too long passes by when Twinkie screams again, “It’s the catchers!!”

“The catchers?” I think out loud.

In front of us stood two men one with a net in his hands and another one with a big brown weird stick.

“If they catch you… they’ll lock you up or put you to sleep!” Twinkie informs me as he runs the opposite way.

“Put you to sleep? As in kill you!?” I ask with an alarmed tone.

“Yes!” They reply in unison.

My heart paces and I run too. I wish I was back at home, where I didn’t have to steal food or run from humans that wanted to kill me. I didn’t want this… not anymore. Why didn’t they want me anymore? Was I really that bad? Couldn’t they love me like they used to? I want to go back home, I want them to miss me… I want to see Brooklyn and even Lassie…

“Terry!!” I hear a familiar voice, but then again I might be hallucinating after all I’m not used to all this exercise. “Terry!!” But there it is again.

I look forward and see Brooklyn, as I catch up to her she runs at the same pace. “Terry, why are you guys running?”

“It’s the catchers Brooklyn! If they get you they will put you to sleep…” I try to explain but pant most of my words.

“As in kill you?” She questions.

“Yes!” We all answer in together.

“What are you doing here anyway?”

“I came to tell you that… your owners are back…” she too was panting, again might I add that we are not used to running too much.

“So, what? Did they bring the monster with them?”

“Yes… but hear me out… “As Brooklyn was about to finish one of the catchers appears in front of us and being that I wasn’t as fast as the others he traps me with his net. I yelp and whimper as I lay there unable to move. The catcher laughs while he picks me up inside the net and looks at me with menacing eyes.

“They want you back! They were looking all over for you! They want you back Terry!” I hear Brooklyn’s cries.

They wanted me back? They loved me? I felt a new kind of strength embed every part of my body. I did my best to bite the net and escape, but it was just too hard. I saw the rest stop abruptly after listening to what Brooklyn had said. Blaze runs back with all his might and bites the hand of the man that had me in his net. While Don and Twinkie jump at the man with the stick.

I was released after the man that had me in his net screamed in pain; I fell with a loud thud on the pavement. Wincing from the sting, Solo rushed to help me out of the dreadful incarceration but he too couldn’t get the net off… and help came where I least expected.

“We’re here!” The rats introduce themselves to the scene and begin to nibble on the net. It didn’t take them long to make an opening on the net. “You’re all set!” They say together as they always do.

“I guess I was wrong Kid… they do love you,” Solo helps me stand up, “let’s get you back home.”

X.x.x.X

Nervously I stand in front of what used to be my home. Inside was my old family. I rethink about going inside, afraid that they might be mad at me for leaving.

“Terry! Terry… you’re back!!” My master runs up to me and picks me up, I yelp from the pain. “What happened to you buddy?” He looks at Brooklyn and at Solo as if waiting for them to give him an explanation. “Did you guys bring him back?” He asks as he puts me down and pets each one.

“Well… welcome back buddy… let’s go inside,” he picks me up again but this time with more care, “there’s someone I want you to meet.” I look back at Solo and Brooklyn for reassurance. Solo just nods and I can tell he wants me to suck it up and be strong, after all he had been through worst things then I have.

“Terry! Where have you been,” my mistress pets me and kisses my furry forehead, her eyes were red and puffy.

“She had been crying for you all night…” he says.

I was overjoyed, all this time I was thinking they didn’t care about me anymore, but they had been worrying about me all along.

After they smothered me with so much cuddles, something I almost forgot what it felt like, they put me down. I heard a strange noise coming from the bed, a gurgle and other sounds. I curiously make my way to see what it is; afraid of finding myself with the monster I place one paw after the other slowly.

Looking back to see if my owners were going to stop me, but instead they both nod so I continue. Placing both my front paws on the bed to stand up I look at whatever there is on the bed. I was confused, I was expecting to see a hideous creature… so evil that it would take my eyes out. But there it was, the most beautiful feet I have ever seen, they looked like my mistress feet only a lot tinier.

“Her name is Mary…” My mistress says almost in a whisper.

I had never seen such a thing; the small creature was flapping her small baby feet up and down. Under her was a pink cover and a small pink rabbit beside her, the ones I had seen on the living room before.

Lena smiles at me and grabs the baby softly as she places her closer to me. I am mesmerized with her wonderful smell but most of all with her baby feet.

Soon I remember Solo… I had to tell him the baby wasn’t a monster but a beautiful creature with tiny and pretty feet. I run downstairs and to my surprise he was still there.

“Did something happen?” Solo asks while placing himself on guard.

“No… the baby is beautiful!”

He gives me a confused look probably the same look I had made before. “Really?”

“Yes and she has the cutest feet I have ever seen!” I was excited.

“Feet?” He was still dumbfounded on the other hand.

“Isn’t that Fluffy?” My mistress approaches us slowly while holding her stomach, she seemed hurting

Solo takes a step back. “Fluffy, the Connor’s dog?” My master questions and then reprehends her, “You shouldn’t be up honey. Go back to bed.”

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared Fluffy… they said you went missing but they didn’t look for you did they?” She extended her hand and Solo slowly approached her. Once he was close enough she began to pet him. “It is you Fluffy… you were always such a good dog… what they did to you was cruel.”

“Is this the Fluffy you were talking about getting?” He laughs in disbelief.

“I asked the Connor family if I could buy it from them, they were treating him badly… but the day they were supposed to give him to me they told me he ran away.” She explains still petting him happily.

“Well maybe we can keep him…”

“Really?”

Solo and I both look at each other; did they really mean what they were saying?

And our master confirmed it, “Yes, really.” He smiles and leads us inside.

“So Solo huh?” I joke at Solo’s expense… I mean fluffy.

“I needed a gangster name… and Fluffy wasn’t it…” was his simple response. We both laugh as we enter our new home with our new family.

X.x.x.X

And we lived happily ever after!

Oh and if you’re wondering about the others… well Twinkie became the new leader of the pack… or at least that’s what they lead him to believe. The rats are still protected by them and they come here once in a while to get food. I told Brooklyn I was in love with her and Lassie well… Lassie is still Lassie.

Fin…

X.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.X

I know you all probably understood that the meat in between the two bread was a hamburger right? And the white cold mushy sweet stuff … come on… ice cream! No, you didn’t get that? Well that disappoints me… oh well.

Well that’s it… liked it didn’t like it? Well it was my first attempt a story like this. I had never done animal related stories and it’s my first contest too. Please leave a Review if you want to… it will be very much appreciated and it would mean a lot to me… plus you might get a cookie… you never know.

Character Profile Sheet

2008-08-28T08:03:50Z

If you need a well developed character profile sheet, I have one that is very detailed. If you don't like long ones then you can just take out the parts you don't like. But it can give you a great insight into your character, you might be amazed by the new things you can develop.

Character Chart
Character’s full name:
Reason or meaning of name:
Character’s nickname:
Reason for nickname:
Birth date:

Physical appearance
Age:
How old does he/she appear:
Weight:
Height:
Body build:
Shape of face:
Eye color:
Glasses or contacts:
Skin tone:
Distinguishing marks:
Predominant features:
Hair color:
Type of hair:
Hairstyle:
Voice:
Overall attractiveness:
Physical disabilities:
Usual fashion of dress:
Favorite outfit:
Jewelry or accessories:

Personality
Good personality traits:
Bad personality traits:
Mood character is most often in:
Sense of humor:
Character’s greatest joy in life:
Character’s greatest fear:
Why?
What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil?
Character is most at ease when:
Most ill at ease when:
Enraged when:
Depressed or sad when:
Priorities:
Life philosophy:
If granted one wish, it would be:
Why?
Character’s soft spot:
Is this soft spot obvious to others?
Greatest strength:
Greatest vulnerability or weakness:
Biggest regret:
Minor regret:
Biggest accomplishment:
Minor accomplishment:
Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about:
Why?
Character’s darkest secret:
Does anyone else know?

Goals
Drives and motivations:
Immediate goals:
Long term goals:
How the character plans to accomplish these goals:
How other characters will be affected:

Past
Hometown:
Type of childhood:
Pets:
First memory:
Most important childhood memory:
Why:
Childhood hero:
Dream job:
Education:
Religion:
Finances:

Present
Current location:
Currently living with:
Pets:
Religion:
Occupation:
Finances:

Family
Mother:
Relationship with her:
Father:
Relationship with him:
Siblings:
Relationship with them:
Spouse:
Relationship with him/her:
Children:
Relationship with them:
Other important family members:

Favorites
Color:
Least favorite color:
Music:
Food:
Literature:
Form of entertainment:
Expressions:
Mode of transportation:
Most prized possession:

Habits
Hobbies:
Plays a musical instrument?
Plays a sport?
How he/she would spend a rainy day:
Spending habits:
Smokes:
Drinks:
Other drugs:
What does he/she do too much of?
What does he/she do too little of?
Extremely skilled at:
Extremely unskilled at:
Nervous tics:
Usual body posture:
Mannerisms:
Peculiarities:

Traits
Optimist or pessimist?
Introvert or extrovert?
Daredevil or cautious?
Logical or emotional?
Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat?
Prefers working or relaxing?
Confident or unsure of himself/herself?
Animal lover?

Self-perception
How he/she feels about himself/herself:
One word the character would use to describe self:
One paragraph description of how the character would describe self:
What does the character consider his/her best personality trait?
What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait?
What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic?
What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic?
How does the character think others perceive him/her:
What would the character most like to change about himself/herself:

Relationships with others
Opinion of other people in general:
Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others?
Person character most hates:
Best friend(s):
Love interest(s):
Person character goes to for advice:
Person character feels responsible for or takes care of:
Person character feels shy or awkward around:
Person character openly admires:
Person character secretly admires:
Most important person in character’s life before story starts:
After story starts:

Sleeping Awake (Original)

2008-08-23T23:50:27Z

This is my first original work... it's still in progress

Genres: Romance, Supernatural, Mystery, Comedy

Summary: Lloyd is a twenty six year old man who cannot let go of his girlfriend’s death, being that she died in strange circumstances; he is left with unanswered questions and odd things happening around him. He decides to seek help from a girl, Angelique, who hates her gift and calls it a curse. When Angelique tells him she hates being in contact with spirits and in no means will she help him. Lloyd decides that they have to help each other mutually. Between friendly and hostile spirits will they find the answer both are looking for?

X.x.x.X

SLEEPING AWAKE

Prologue

She accelerated as much as she could, but no matter how fast she was going, there was no way of losing him. Exasperated she looks back at the rearview only to see that he is right behind her.

“Leave me alone!” She screams as loud as she can all in desperation. Trying to zig-zag her way out she decides to drive in between lanes, but so does her torment. He was mimicking her every move, at one point he stands side by side with his car. He makes a sign telling her to pull back, but this only adds to her anxiety.

“You bastard…” she grits her teeth, without any other possible way of shaking him and the rearview mirror showing him closer and closer. She drives in the opposite lane, after all it was a solitary road…or so she thought. Giving a sigh of relief when she sees her persecutor stop abruptly she then turns to look forward. Her heart sank quickly at the sight in front of her; a truck that couldn’t stop even though the driver was trying his best to break, it was still going for her. She hit the brakes as fast as she could, but it couldn’t be helped. In that brief moment she closed her eyes and embraced the darkness.

Karen opens her eyes little by little, afraid that if she would open them right away some kind of light might blind her. Her eyes were soon accommodated; she now realized there wasn’t all that much light as she thought there would be. It wasn’t the hospital she thought, the place itself didn’t look real at all. Panic ran through her, where was she?

She decided not to look around so much until she knew where she was exactly, just to be safe. Memories suddenly came like a storming tsunami; she knelt down while grabbing her head in pain.

“An accident, I had an accident, so where am I?” The honey eyed girl whispers. Strange colors adorned what seemed like a cave. In front of her a golden gate unexpectedly appears. “Where does this gate lead to?” She asks to no one in particular.

A voice however decides to answer, “You will choose.”

She jolts at the sound of the stranger’s voice; there was no one there before. Turning to look at whoever was behind her, she realized that the man had exuberant long black hair and unrealistic beauty.

“I’m dreaming aren’t I?” It was more of a statement then a question, but either way he answers back, “You are not dreaming…”

“So where am I?” She insists and follows him to the golden gate.

“You are dead…” the man replies nonchalantly. “Before you have an emotional breakdown I will explain the rules.”

“Rules? What rules? I’m dead aren’t I? Why do I need rules?” It was obvious she wasn’t going to have any emotional breakdown.

He cocks an eyebrow surprised by the fact that she seemed alright, it was rare for a human soul to be in one piece emotionally after finding out they’re dead. Ignoring that fact he decides to continue, “My name is Aurion, I am the Gatekeeper of Souls which have died in a brutal murder or a tragic accident.”

Karen never loses sight of him and was trying to understand, “So… it’s judgment?”

“Of course not, I will give you two options, whatever you should decide will guide you to your new destination. One. You forgive the person who caused your death and your soul will wait for judgment day, that day it will be decided if you go to hell or heaven. Two. You will have revenge; however in doing so you are condemning yourself to an eternity in the pits of hell.” His voice was casual as if he were explaining what to order in a restaurant.

However, it finally hit Karen that this was serious business. Surprised and speechless the young woman falls down on her knees, hiding her face in her hands and trying to prevent the watery substance to stream down her face. She fails miserably at it; the tears were running down like they would never end, at that time she remembers everything that had occurred that caused her tragic accident. “Elias,” she whispers softly, while new set of tears rushed down even faster. To think she would never be with Elias ever again awoke her hate and rage.

“The sin I carry with me, even I cannot forgive myself for it… even though I was also responsible for my death… I did deserve a second chance…” in between sobs, she looks up, wipes away her remaining tears and gives Aurion a malicious glare, “I want revenge!”

“So be it.” Aurion grins and nods. Thinking how easy and weak humans were when given a choice to make.

To what may seem real to some, to others it might appear as a simple fantasy or absurd ideas. But it only takes to see with the eyes within your heart to accept someone else’s reality and so it takes you to be in a similar situation to truly understand. Nevertheless it’s that ability that we all humans have to understand other’s absurd ideas or fantasies in time of need and anguish. Sadly, is only in times like those in which our conscience is awake and alert to accept certain things that seemed impossible, that we do accept them. In other words seeing is believing…

When is it however, that we learn to believe without seeing? (And not just talking about faith.) But about other ideas we ignore and refuse to believe, in which only few do. All that is needed is a little bit of credibility and a discipline to understand just a bit. Because, not everything in this world is understandable or is meant to be understood, as life itself seems like an enigma. Just like we can’t see love, faith or even air itself, we can feel them and we know they exist.

X.o.x.o.X

Chapter 1: My concern… Your nuisance

Two years later...

“Elias, are you seriously reading this?” Kevin asks while he looks at the article that was exposed on Elias’s desk. Kevin is two years younger than his best friend Elias, being also young in the company they both work for. His admiration for his best friend had come a long way and he looked up at him as if Elias was his older brother, the brother he never had and was usually the one to worry about him, but now the roles had changed and it was Kevin who was worrying about his best friend’s emotional state… and quite frankly his mental state as well.

Elias looks up at him with his light blue eyes, they looked tired and foggy and didn’t have the spark that they used to have. Instead they were embraced by the sight of melancholy which did not diminish even if time passed by. Although he had a good job, a desired place by all as Vice President in Advertising Company at the short age of twenty six, family and friends who loved him so, he still wasn’t happy and his life was nothing more than a burden.

“It’s been two years…” before Kevin even get’s to finish his statement a loud smack made by Elias hand in contact with his desk, makes him jerk. The young man with black hair surprised and still a bit jumpy gives him an apologetic look.

“I know Kevin! You don’t have to remind me, I do that myself every damn morning…” He placed his hands over his unruly brown hair. He was trying to hide the sadness for at least a few seconds that had been evident throughout these two years. “Tomorrow is her anniversary.”

Kevin had completely forgotten all about it, the anniversary of Karen’s death, the only woman his best friend ever loved. It was right then and there that he realized the reason his friend had been a little more irritable than usual. Not knowing what to say, since words wouldn’t be enough to console his friend not at a moment like this and also he wasn’t one to be comforted so easily. So he decided to maintain in silence and that silence was becoming more and more irritating by the minute.

Until without any previous notice a rugged tall man with blond locks and dark yet intriguing eyes busted through the door.

“Didn’t anyone teach you to knock, Leo?” Kevin questions in a joking manner, “Besides how is it that the secretary didn’t announce you?”

Leo cocks an eyebrow in a malicious manner as a response to his friend’s interrogation. The blond was a perfect playboy in every way and could even charm the most dangerous animal, just to get away with whatever he wanted.

“Why the long faces people?” He asks in his usual carefree manner. It was his nature, not just his regular charms, but his free spirit and what he called ‘privileges of a liberal life’.

Kevin tries to make signs so that he doesn’t keep talking and ends up saying something imprudent, like he normally did. But as always Leo wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to sign language so he decided to continue, “Seriously guys, it’s like a funeral in here, I’m even getting all depressed… geez.”

Elias stares up from his long brown bangs, “What do you want?” He asks coldly.

“Hey! I just came to cheer you guys up a bit and of course an invite for dinner at the ‘Big House’ tomorrow. What do ya think? You’re coming right?”

A dinner hosted by Leo, meant way more than just dinner. It preordained a significant amount of liquor and a few of Leo's foreign hot girl friends. ‘The Big House’ was nothing but a humble name for his parent’s mansion, who were obviously never there. It was probably from there his carefree character originated, his life was practically secured in every way since he was the only heir to the company Elias and Kevin worked at and every property his father owned. And even if Leo didn’t work there he still liked to swing by just to learn a few things here and there.

With his deep cobalt blue eyes, Kevin watches for any kind of reaction from Elias. When he hears no response whatsoever he decides to answer for both of them, “We won’t be able to go Leo, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not going,” Elias finally answers, “But Kevin is free…” His eyes said it all, he didn’t want Kevin to go down with him, there was no way he could bare if any of his friends were chained to the sadness he had already accepted.

“Tomorrow its Karen’s anniversary isn’t it?” it was more of a statement then a question in the way Leo said it. “Here’s the plan, we’ll go flower her tomb and then we go back to my place.”

“I don’t want to go. Nothing of that nature interests me at this moment, you should all go without me and enjoy yourselves.”

Leo looks at him straight in the eyes, a frown embeds his façade, rarely do you get to see the serious side of Leo, but when he does show it, he means it. “You’ve been blowing us off all this time! Look, they might not want to say anything, because they’re too scared to hurt your feelings, but you know me and I talk whatever it is I have on my mind!” His voice increases every so often.

Elias defied him with a glare and dared him to keep on talking. A challenge Leo gladly took.

“I’m worried about you, we all are. It’s been two years already and you’re getting worst; it’s true you loved her very much. But you have to move on, you can’t let your life end here too… your young, you have so much going for you… and you’re excluding everyone around you it’s ridiculous. We can remember the dead, but we still have to move on, that’s life!”

“If you appreciate our friendship in any way, I advise you to not say anything else…” It was a solid threat.

Seeing that it was getting way to serious, Kevin tries to intervene, “You guys you shouldn’t be fighting, we have to support each other…”

“That’s all we’ve been doing Kevin! But this idiot doesn’t let us help him,” he cuts Kevin’s plead short but ends up being cut himself.

“Who are you calling an IDIOT?!” Elias was angry, fuming in fact. He confronts Leo, but he shows no sign of being intimidated and was the only one who had the fortitude to confront Elias as always.

“You’re the idiot! I’m sick of your stupid childish attitude and if neither Tristan nor Kevin says anything, I will.”

“Oh, really? Tell me then…” Elias was not backing down instead he pushes Leo with his hands trying to drive him over the edge with his bitter words. Kevin intimidated by both of not only by age but by character, decides it’s best for him to not get in the way, but either way he was ready just in case.

“Do you know what it’s like to lose the only woman you know you will ever love? How it feels to lose someone who had her life ahead of her?”

“You talk about her as if you were married; she was your girlfriend, nothing more.” Leo hits back with a stingy tone.

At hearing ‘nothing more’ Elias grabs Leo by his collar and presses him against the wall. A small wince could be seen on the blond’s man expression. Nevertheless he smiles back with spite only achieving more pressure by his holder. “What would you know about love anyway? You, who only sees women as mere objects; Toys! That when they bore you, you throw them out and get a new one…” Elias tone was as stingy and bitter as Leo’s last remark.

Still waiting for Leo to resist, he glares at him, but instead he receives an unexpected reply. “And how do you how I really feel?” Leo barely whispers trying at the same time to breath.

Now Kevin was afraid for his friend’s position and seeing that he wasn’t putting up a fight. He tries to remove Elias grip from Leo’s neck and collar.

“Don’t interfere,” he warns with his icy blue eyes, fueled with anger and despair. But softly and little by little he loosens his grip, realizing that he would feel guilty afterwards.

Everything that Leo had said was true, all of them were worried about him, about his life changing the way it did. The low self esteem and depression he now possessed were enough of a sign for them, but neither dared to say anything about it, until today.

Elias finally after freeing his friend turns and leaves his own office. Leo who was trying his best to regain the air he had lost, was comforted by Kevin, they were both surprised on how Elias had snapped.

After letting him catch his breath, Kevin frowns and questions him, “Why did you have to tell him all that?” He was disappointed in Leo but at the same time worried he had gotten hurt, “What the hell were you thinking?”

Leo smiles ironically and was still rubbing his neck area, “Heh, and to think Tristan and you were raised with Elias… if you were truly his friends, you wouldn’t be pitying him like you do.”

Kevin looked hurt at his remark and decides to respond back sarcastically, “Oh, and taking him to your playboy house… helps him how exactly?”

“There wasn’t going to be any girls. I wanted it to be just us and to help Elias get through tomorrow, instead of it being like last year when he decided to lock himself up in his house all by himself.”

Kevin was astonished and speechless, he couldn’t believe that Leo actually did remember Karen’s anniversary. He felt a knot in his heart, a pinch of guilt, so he let his cobalt blue eyes stare at the floor. As soon as he stares back up he only sees Leo’s back and how his pony tail rocks from side to side while he walks out of the office, leaving Kevin to deal with the silence.

Alone and confused Kevin sighs, his attention then caught by the magazine that was resting on Elias’s desk, yet again. He walks over and picks it up and begins to read the article that had stolen his best friend’s interest. The title read: “CONTACTING THE BEYOND, ANGELIQUE AND HER GIFT.”

In the corner of the article a picture stood out. An image of who Kevin theorized was Angelique, whose eyes were grey, yet held emptiness and sadness. Around her, beautiful flowers of all kinds making her seem like she was in a flower paradise, but not a single smile adorned her face. Her hair was long and black put up into pig tails which almost gave her a hint of innocence behind her dark and mysterious pose. Everything about her made the girl stand out as if she held a dark and occult expression; Kevin however shakes those thoughts out of his head and laughs to himself thinking on how ridiculous it was to believe in those types of ideas.

But the fact that Elias was interested in them let alone reading those kinds of things; was enough to make him feel concerned.

X.x.x.X

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it so far or are at least interested in seeing what happens next. If that’s the case please don’t hesitate to review that way I know if it’s worth writing or if I should maybe stop. Even if few are interested it will give me fuel to keep on writing. Thanks for reading.

Blessings to all readers, writers. I hope I can get some feedback!

My profile

2008-08-23T07:39:32Z

Well here is some information about me. I doubt that it's important but any who if you do care then might as well look... if I forget about anything I'll modify it later

Real Name: Melissa

Pen Name(s): Meli J Nightly, XxDutchia NightxX. Night of Mimi

Nick Names: Meli, Melo, MJ, Misha (my brother calls me that), Mimi (my friend made that up said it was cute).

Age: 20

Well I love to write obviously that's why I'm here. I'm also enjoying it here because I find that most people I meet here are pretty cool and have various things in common with me. Trust me when I say girls don't usually get along with me, it's like a freaking curse, I usually get along better with guys and I'm not even a tom boy, so they say that's why girls don't get along with me much. But still my best friend is a girl... but it took us a while to realize that we were best friends and that we could trust each other. I don't trust very easily either... well not that it matters over here, that's why I like the Internet I guess... there's no need to involve deeper emotions or big bonds of trust if you don't want to.

Well I'm off topic... I think. As you can see I like using the three periods a lot (...) I have no idea why I always use them. In my work you will notice that it happens a lot too. I probably use them more then an average writer. ;D

I am pretty weird, strange, psychotic at times. I have a rare sleeping disorder which another friend has also so we're both pretty rare, I don't feel lonely though. Mmmh... I analyze things, a lot. I think about a lot of things, a lot. Life and death for example. I may seem serious at times, but I can also be a goof ball, so I have those weird tendencies to change my personality at times... amm yeah.

You can ask me anything you want I always answer truthfully I really don't like "beating around the bush" too much when it comes to serious matters, or serious questions. If you just want to chat I'm here also, I'm not an expert on many things but in whatever I know I will not hold back that information. Want to talk about your drama, life, I'm a good listener but not the best chatter probably. Or maybe I am after all I didn't think my profile would be this long. :o

And yes, I consider this long. Because I really didn't think I would have much to say, but I guess I do. Even though right now I'm sure I'm just being pretty random and this probably has nothing to do with my profile... so I don't know if you're still reading... I wouldn't be mad if you aren't... after all this is just lame ranting... and again you can see I'm using the three dots... dot dot dot... I love the three dots ... I have an obsession with using the three dots...

Okay that's it for the mindless and useless information, anything else you would like to know then feel free to ask [image] [image]

My work: http://www.fanfiction.net/~xxmelijnightlyxx

I have an account on mediaminer.org but it's the same work you will find on fanfiction.net.

This is the profile I created at The Muse Bunny site, I'm just too lazy to type up a new one. I thought it would be a good idea to start a page here to display mostly my original work and maybe some fan-fiction soon enough. I hope I can get feed back from other writer's as well.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings to all readers, writers and to those who leave comments!