Chapter 1: Is This It? I was walking out late one evening trying to find something to occupy myself with. I had just turned the corner of 5th and Jackson when I heard the most eerie screeching. From behind me I could hear the engine revving up. “Just some idiots,†I thought to myself. As I kept walking the sound got further and further behind me. I let out a sigh of relief as I began to shake. I knew it had to be nothing, yet I still felt I was in danger for some odd reason. I began walking again, this time for my home. I heard a familiar voice yell, “Hey there, neighbor!†It was that idiotic fool from next door, Liam. Liam sounded like a good name for a good guy when I first heard it, then I met him. “Say, what are you up too tonight? Getting into any trouble,†he laughed. “No, I assure you not,†I retorted. I watched as a nasty looking dog walked out from behind Liam and into my yard. I stared intently at the dog as if to warn him I would have no problem with “dismissing†him. “Oh, you see my dog? Yea, I just got him today. He’s a real good one to. He can smell a squirrel two miles off.†I looked up at Liam trying to keep my cool, “Yes, well please refrain from allowing him onto my premises. I have a very nice yard, and I’d like it to stay that way.†I opened my door to walk inside and barely caught a glimpse of the dog hiking its leg. I sighed as I closed the door and locked it shut, “Blasted dog, I’ll get you yet.†I took off my raincoat, the weather had reported a chance for rain and I wasn’t taking any chances. I growled at the television, “Yea, whatever. Looks like we got a whole lot of rain, didn’t we?†Normally I’d hear a voice telling me to stop talking to myself, but sadly I won’t hear that voice again. My mother had lived with me for several years, as she couldn’t live alone. Several months had gone by since the funeral. I began to walk to the kitchen when the phone rang. I answered, “Hello.†“Hello. Yes, is this Mr. Stewart?†“No. Sorry, I don’t know a Mr. Stewart.†“Are you sure? I am positive this is his number.†“I am sure. As long as I can remember my name’s been Theodore.†“Theodore. And your last name?†I looked oddly at the phone, “Oh get bent, I’m not telling you!†I slammed the phone down in a fit of rage. “Another one of those telemarketers I guarantee it,†I told myself walking into the kitchen. “They are always trying to get you to buy something or another.†I made myself dinner; mind you it was a sad looking dinner. After I finished eating I watched a little television. I got bored of the shows so I made my way to bed. As I sat down on the edge, I took up the picture that set on the nightstand. In it were two girls, a woman, and myself. The woman was my wife, and the two girls our daughters. I couldn’t hold back the tears, so I just let them flow. I turned off the light and lay down, holding the picture close. I find it hard to love anything, anymore. I finished my day with the daily routine I’ve had for so many years. I asked myself, “Is this it? Is this all there is going to be for you?†With that, I fell asleep. Spoiler ~~~Sorry, this first chapter is a bit depressing. Don't worry, it'll pick up. Constructive Criticism appreciated.
Oh my, I wonder what this will be about! Time machine? Powerful, magical spells? Your style of writing is good! Very simple yet alluring to the eye. I feel sorry for our main character, kinda reminds Gru from Despicable Me at first. Great work, can't wait for the next chapter!
Chapter 2: Something More I woke the next morning, same as any other. I got up and prepared myself for the day ahead. With great trouble, I found that forcing myself was the only way to move on through the days. I was all dressed and ready to go on my way when the phone rang. “Probably them again, don’t know anyone who’d be calling this early anyway,†I said to myself. So I let the phone go to the answering machine. “Hello? Hello?!†the voice sounded stressed. “Please, I know you’re there. Pick up! Pick up the phone!†I sighed as I lifted the phone to my ear, “Hel-“ The woman on the line cut me off, “Listen, Theodore, there isn’t much time.†“You’re the woman from last night aren’t you!†I replied with disgust. “No, erh, yes, erhm, I don’t quite know. Look, I need to warn you. Get out of your house now, they’re coming! They won’t stop till they get you!†At that point I became worried, more for her than me. “Are you alright? Have you been hitting the bottle a little bit too much? Are you on any medication?†“NO,†I heard her having a fit as she stepped away from the phone. Then there came a racket upstairs in my very room. She came back again, “Listen,†she cleared her throat, “Dear Theodore, I’m sorry. If you’re reading this that means I’m either missing, or dead. There are so many things I wanted to do, so many wonderful things. I ask only that you take care of our two daughters. And if you should ever find another who makes you feel the way I did, please, move on from me. P.S. I never did get that night in Paris.†I was completely shocked, “Where did you get that!? That is private property and you’ve no business reading it! How did you get it?†I heard her step away from the phone again; and once more a racket upstairs. She took the phone again, “Go upstairs, and find that note. I wrote a number on it, one that wasn’t there before. The number is three dash five nine dash eight six. Go now!†I don’t know why but I rested the phone on table and began my way upstairs. The whole while thinking, “This woman’s gone bonkers. Right crazy in the head, and for some strange reason is targeting me.†I went inside my room which was perfectly clean when I left it. It was now in a state that looked as if a tornado had passed through and made a round trip back the same way. I found the note, lying on the dresser. On it, number. I read them aloud in astonishment, “Three dash five nine dash eight six.†I didn’t know what to think. I reasonably came to the conclusion this woman was near and psychotic. I rushed back down the stairs quietly and passed the phone. I left out the door and headed out. “Got to get to the police, they will know what to do,†I thought walking along the road. As if on cue that fool headed neighbor of mine headed out to greet me, along with that wretched dog. Liam said, “Hey there, what’s up neighbor?†“What’s up? What’s up!? I’ll tell you what’s up! A psychotic woman living in some kind of fantasy world that involves me is up! Got a stalker targeting me, ME of all people?†“Well, uh, what did that there woman say?†“She sai- . . .“ I hadn’t remembered saying I’d talked to her. But that was probably just my overactive imagination. Of course he would draw the conclusion I talked to her, otherwise I knowing she was female would be close to impossible. But just to be safe, “She said that I should love her only, and, and, and that if I didn’t promise her that she’d kill me!†Liam made this odd face as if he didn’t believe me. What, all this time he’s a fool and now suddenly he’s smart? “I’m on my way to the station to get the police; they should know what to do.†I started to walk away, but Liam suddenly took hold of my shoulder. “I don’t think that would be a wise decision now,†he was different somehow. Less foolish and more, I can’t even explain it. “Wh-wh-wh-why not? What would you have me do then, hrm?†He let go, “Do what you want.†He returned to his house taking his dog with him. “What?†I remembered what I was doing and decided to keep walking on to the station. It was still rather early, so it was a bit dark. I passed corner to corner, block by block. I eventually noticed the engine running behind me. It had been running ever since I got a block away from Liam’s home. It’s the same one from the previous night, I’m sure. “Just kids, messing around,†I thought to myself. I got several blocks from reaching the station when I heard the engine rev really loud. Tires began screeching behind me. It was the most blood-curdling thing I’ve ever heard. No sooner than I looked back I was being lifted into a van and tied up like a common crocodile. Got my mouth covered and everything. I remember thinking I wanted there to be more in this life. Looks like I’m getting that something more.
Chapter 3: A Familiar Voice “Where am I?†I remembered asking myself, “What happened to me?†It was dark, very dark. I couldn’t see the hand I was moving in front of me. I panicked, “NO! I’m dead, I’m surely dead!†I began looking about rapidly trying to assure myself I hadn’t moved on from this world. Sure enough, I found a light switch a mere foot down the wall from where I had been laying. My eyes burned from the immediate burst of light shining into my retinas. Once I regained the ability to see, I began looking around. The walls were old and decrepit, something you would see in a condemned building. There was an old door, something strait out of the medieval era. Though behind that door was a sound, a sound so frightening yet so familiar; footsteps. The footsteps were walking about in an erratic manner. Though something was strange, they were pacing as if trying to figure something out. “Hello out there!†I yelled, “What am I doing here?†The footsteps halted and to my surprise a voice answered back, “Yes, well you see†Even more shocking was the fact it was a woman speaking, in a kind voice no less. “You see, I told you they were coming and now look. I cannot interfere more than I already have.†I thought back to where this had started. “You!†I cried, “It was you on the phone!†“Yes, I tried to warn you but-“ “You’re out of your mind! Kidnapping me and bringing me here!†“No, it wasn’t me. It was the people I warned you about. Look I have to go, just remember what I showed you.†The footsteps began again, only this time they didn’t stop until they faded away. “Wait! Don’t leave me here alone!†I leaned against the door and sighed, “Now what do I do?†I remember she said something; don’t forget what I showed you. What did she mean? I felt something poking me in the back so I stood up and turned round to see it. It was a security panel, for the door locks. Odd seeing that in a place like this. I took a closer look; it required several number entries to be accessed. “I’ll never figure that out,†I cried. Wait, remember what she showed me. What did she show me? Of course, the numbers on the letter! I carefully combed my memory searching for those numbers. “Let’s see, umh three,†I hit the button, “then a dash. Now five, nine, and another dash. The last numbers were, they were . . . I can’t remember!†How could I remember after only reading them once? I heard voices, they were getting closer. “Come on think! Three dash five nine dash . . . dash . . . eight . . . eight six!†I hit the numbers and the keypad beeped. I heard the sound of a lock being released. “Yes!†I shut off the light and carefully opened the door. I shut the door again when I heard a voice talking no more than three feet away. “I could have sworn I heard something,†the voice called out. “Just your imagination, see the doors shut and the lights are out,†another voice replied. “Now let’s go and check in, it’s time for the shift change. “Yea, okay.†I heard them both walk away. I waited until they were at a safe distance to try again. I opened the door and stepped out. I looked around and saw this was one of three rooms in this corridor. There was a staircase leading up to the right and a staircase leading down to the left. “Which way am I supposed to-“ I looked down ready to give up but I saw a small scrap of paper. I looked around thinking it was a trap, though I eventually picked it up. The note read, “Take a right, be prepared to fight; take a left, fall to your death.†I took a moment to interpret the note though it was very clear. “So either way I’m not going to make it out of this.†I stood there for a few moments just listening to the silence. “NO!†I yelled, “I’m not giving up that easy. I took a closer look at the note. I even checked the back. There were no signs of any other tips. I sighed again, “We I only have one option then.†I started walking right to the end of the corridor. When I reached the end I heard two voices up the stairs. I thought to myself, “Oh great, I didn’t think it meant this soon!â€
