Wednesday 12 December 2012

Christmas! YAYA!

Its Christmas. Didn't you notice?

Fine.

It isn't Christmas NOW. But we are practically there.

So I realize I didn't post on Sunday (STOP JUDGING ME.).

SoRrY.

(^I said it in a weird way. Now you HAVE to forgive me.)

There have been some family problems and basically I spent my weekend moving stuff around.

But now I have my own room!!!! WOOOOO!

Terribly sorry that I didn't post. I really am.

But maybe I shall earn your eternal gratitude by giving you guys this....



...and by posting one last Chapter before I take a break.

Yes, yes. I know. "A writer's job is never done." and "No rest for the writers."

(I am paraphrasing.)

But like I said: I am having family problems. Oh, and also going down to the ocean to visit my uncle. Small detail.

(I would totally mention its my birthday soon, but that would mean giving out information about myself. And you know what they say... <and if you don't, then look at my little box, all about me> )

(I totally have to change that box a bit...)

(CAN WE STOP WITH THE PARENTHESES.)

So yeah. Holiday, break, family...

I will be back and posting round about the first week of January. Don't quote me on that.

Here is your last little tid-bit of the year, following Ignis.

And damn. Must I say, this Chapter ends quite perfectly.


Chapter Eleven: Never Gonna Give You Up....

Rifle after rifle rose, muzzles and barrels of different sizes aimed at my body. The entire world seemed so bright, a warm light reflecting off of the enemies’ helmets. It was then that I realized it. I didn’t want to die.
I did not want to die.

The desire to live burned too hotly within me, consuming my mind and every fibre of my body.  Time seemed to come to a halt, every detail glimmering in the narrowed view of my eyes. The soldiers froze, movements becoming sluggish and increasingly slower.

Behind the horde of armed maniacs, there stood a tanker, guarded fiercely by two watches of patrolling soldiers. If that didn’t give it away, the medic symbol and danger sign definitely did. Bingo. My target.

I took in my surroundings again, noting as more gun-toting men poured in behind me at a slow pace. As I looked around again, the fires of self-preservation blazed. With a snap, reality bent back into shape, everything speeding up to normal time again.

And I was off.

Burning through the throng of soldiers, my toes dug deep into to the dirt through my shoes, straining to get as much traction as I could. Shoving surprised soldiers aside, or rather throwing them to the sides, I swiftly moved through the crowd.

Split seconds later, I burst out into the clear, orders already being called. Out of my peripherals, I saw the soldiers dropping in sync and raising their sinister weapons...

_______________________________________________________________________________



Calin’s head snapped up at the sound of gunshots. That was more than a few. At least 15 rounds in total.

Her spine crawling, she turned back to the task at hand, straining her back as she struggled with Shade over the debris. His limp body slung over her wide shoulders, she heaved, making sure to keep a sure footing.

The last thing they needed right now, was for her to also get injured.

She glanced backwards at the pharmacy in the way distance. The snipers and two squads outside had immediately followed Ignis. But that didn't calm her nerves. If they hadn't caught him already, they might anyway just decide to come after them.

Shade moaned and she redoubled her efforts on getting back to “base”.

Sheltered between a grove of trees and a ruined building, a hunk of melted car served as a sort of wind-break, adjacently placed against the wall. She lay Shade in the cool darkness of the building’s shadows.

Stroking his face tenderly, she made sure he wasn't lying on any stones or pieces of scrap metal. He moaned again, clutching his leg, his sleeping face looking troubled.

She sighed and looked up at the sun. They need that medicine. Shade’s leg could become infected at any moment. She untied and retied the bandage, tightening it to stop the slight blood flow. Then she allowed herself to look at his arms.

It was spreading. Fast.

Clutching at his very fibres of being, it slowly dragged its way across his skin, polluting every patch in its way to the top. At least, Calin mused, that is the way I look at it.

She sat there for who-know-how-long, musing over Shade’s condition. Eventually growing bored of solitary thought, she started staring at him, noting the rise and fall of his chest.

She gently pushed his head to the side, feeling the black strands of his hair with her fingers. When it touched the “shadow” parts, it became even darker, if possible. She thoughtfully rubbed a single hair between her forefinger and thumb. Feels like some sort of dry, statically charged paper. But... At the same time soft and moist.

She examined his feet, noting how the “corruption” also “shadow-fied” his clothes and shoes. Taking a step back, she marveled at how the dark parts of him were simply lost in the noon-day shadows.

“It’s getting stronger, isn’t it?” Shade’s dry voice croaked. Calin silently went and sat next to him. A simple nod sufficed.

He sighed and shifted to get into a more comfortable position on the ground. “I can feel it. Within me. Every night its potency increases.” He sniffled slightly. “I... I don’t know what will happen when it’s at full strength...”

She shushed him. “Hey. Don’t think of that.” She shifted his fringe out of his eyes, smoothing the glossy black hair back. “Remember what you told me the other night? When we were taking care of Ignis?”

He smiled slightly. “I said many things. You are going to have to be more specific.”

She laughed softly. “You were mute most of the time. You only started talking when I brought up a topic. Remember that topic?”

Now his smiled faded slightly, and red crept into his cheeks. “Uh.. You asked me why I kept staring at you.”
And now it was her turn to hide the red. But with the benefits of a strong tan, Shade didn’t even notice.

“Yes. That one. You said..?”

Shade sat up, cringing all the way. He turned and looked into her eyes. “I said that you was, and still is, the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.”

Now, no amount of tan in the world could keep away the blush that roared across Calin’s cheeks.

Shade leaned in, eyes flickering from her eyes then down to her lips, then back up to her eyes. Calin swallowed slightly and came forward.

Their lips touched.

 And for a second, in that moment in time and space....  Everything in the world was fine.

An awkward cough rang out. Startled, Calin and Shade separated at such speed that both were thrown backwards into the dust.

Swearing, Calin rolled and came up with her rifle, sights set on the intruder.

Swaying slightly, an extremely awkward and surprised look carved into his face, Ignis stood. Leaning against the melted wreck, blood soaking through every part of his body, he rose one arm. Clutched in it was a large container.

“Delivery....” He muttered on his way down to the ground.



Hahahah, I love this Chapter. Made me feel all warm and cozy.

Anyway, I decided I will post one more Chapter next Sunday. It isn't the most exciting one, but it is essential to the story in my eyes. And, it feels like a good way to end the year.

So don't expect much. Maybe just the Chapter.

We shall see how things work out....

Comment and Criticize Please!!!!

(Doesn't seem right ^ That word....)

Sunday 2 December 2012

Falling to Pieces....

Have ya heard that song? ^

Sia with David Guetta.

Damn. DAMN.

That song gives me shivers down my spine every time I listen to it.

It might not appeal to some of you, but wow. I seriously dig it.

Anyway, this pales in comparison to what happened to me yesterday.

I got the six (seventh?) comment on Mr. Landy's blog. I have NEVER been that close to the top.

The closest I had been before yesterday was 25th I believe.

So you can imagine my ecstasy and dancing around when I saw my opportunity.

Typing in a rapid, but hopefully profound message, I eagerly cackled with glee...

And waited....

(in between waiting, I subtly typed another comment right after the first one, expressing my surprise and luck; I may have even slipped in a tiny hint of a plead...)

AND BAM.

A few comments later, I see this:


  
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjf90SY3Buck1QDRmL9CXKWF92vZm-sTBNsfkqy6UcuSKGeP3VNAHXFy31nZ-ZgrEbaZgl1cCT1Xscd6x22Mka7CFbGdknCMHedo80zOmtCocckVz5hm0BoJDXK5axx17QkoENS3Ih_Q/s45/Derek+Landy+photo.jpg
Derek Landy said...
Thank you Bethany and Colleen! You have wonderful taste!

Editorsarticle- KOTW is in e-book format but that's as much as I know!

Lord Vlaedr- I'd love to visit Africa. Hopefully I'll get there eventually.

NJ- couldn't agree with you more.

Jordan- er... hi...!

SHIVER ME TIMBERS. 

NEVERMIND. MY BODY IS SPASSING TOO MUCH ALREADY.

Oh the shouts of joy I uttered. The tears of happiness that pumped from my ducts...

I am not going to even exaggerate, this was literally a tick off my bucket list.

Now, this may happen to many of you other Minions, but remember: You guys have been on here way longer than me and are quite a bit more popular than humble ol' Vlaedr.

But it was still a very special moment for me. 

A-herm.

Time to focus on my writing. However bad it may be, that is why you are here, is it not?

Chapter... (checks...)

SOB.

I have to write again soon. Lately I kind of hit a rough patch, my writing mentality deserting me....

Anywho, here is Chapter Ten.

Chapter Ten: Wild ones....

The haze started at the edges of her eyes, leaking out like some sort of mist. Trickling down, the thickness swelled and ebbed at random intervals, reaching down towards Calin’s feet. As more streamed out, the soldier’s eyes widened in surprise.

By the time the first one had turned to run, it was too late.

Way too late.

With burning eyes, Calin advanced, vapor tentacles reaching out with swift movements. Before they could even blink, the soldiers were twitching, suspended in the air. Moments later their twitching bodies hit the hard dirt, all life having left them.

The sole remaining member of the group stood in shock, his mouth and eyes comically stretched open. There was a silent moment, everyone taking in what had just happened.

With spastic jerk, the leader twisted around and dived off the edge of the building, plummeting headfirst two-stories down.

Or, he would have. His body spasming, Calin’s largest tentacle brought him back towards us, speared through his lower back and out the other side.

The last body joined the rest, dropping down in a tangle of bloody limbs. Shade and I shared a glance. No shock, no surprise. Just a look of joined admiration. And maybe traces of disgust.

Then again, I had no right to talk...

 We both looked at Calin, who had in turn slowly turned back to us. The deadly white haze retracted back into her head. Blinking, she tenderly rubbed the new scars that had formed on the sides. Slightly puckered and pink, they faded into a milky white within seconds. She continued blinking, softly wiping away tears as her eyes watered.

Slowly looking at us, her eyes tentatively met ours, moving back and forth between us. Shade was staring at her with a mixture of wonder and admiration. Maybe even a tad of drool. I couldn't see my own expression, but I was going for acceptance and awe.

With a fragile smile, she shrugged, waving her arms at the corpses behind her. “Now you know...”
I nodded solemnly. There was nothing more to be said.

Suddenly Shade stumbled forward, a second later a shot ringing out. Blood splattering the ground before him, he gasped and clutched his thigh.

Already shock was running its course through him. Calin and I moved fast, each clutching an arm and dragging him through the hole that led to the first floor.

Shaking and hyperventilating, Shade’s pupils were dilated. I immediately crouched at the exit hole, Calin moving to try and see where the shot came from. “Anything?” I called out.

Her hair shaking side from side, she motioned to be silent. A small part of me was still trying to figure out why we weren't freaking out. I won’t deny, I was also puzzled by that.

She moved to Shade, ripping off one of her tattered pant legs, she wrapped it tightly around the wound.

Whispering a few words, she looked him in the eye. After a few seconds he nodded.

What was that all about? Burning with questions, I pushed them away as she moved towards me.

“We need to get my rifle and the other equipment off of the roof. And we need to get out of here with Shade.” Speaking low, but quickly, she kept an eye on the exit. “Of all the times, we need those medical supplies the most right now.”

I silently agreed. But I dreaded what needed to be done. There was only one way out of this building. And if, as I suspected, there were a few more squads waiting outside.... Well, then....

Again her sharp eyes seemed to read my mind. She slowly shook her head, even though I could see in her eyes that my idea was our only way out.

“You can’t.” Two words were enough.

I glanced at Shade, his teeth grit and eyes screwed shut. But you see, Calin, I can. I have to.

I voiced only the last sentence. Her eyes hardened into that familiar look. “How are you going to do this?”

I peeked out over the roof, noting three soldiers with what was most likely sniper rifles. Sliding back as projectiles ricochet around me, I look at Calin again.

“This building is marked, possibly more soldiers than we can handle. I am going to run out, make my way towards the camp. My plan is to find the medical cache and weapons stash. If I confuse and disorientate them at the same time, all the better.”

Her eyes said it all. “That is suicide, and you know it.”

I laughed at the irony. “Calin, my life the last couple of days have been suicide. In all that I have lived through, death was imminent. I shouldn't be alive. But I am. Shade, and probably you too, is going to die if I don’t try something.”

With a black humour written all over my face, I gave Shade a pat and winked at Calin. Sprinting as if flames were licking my heels, I blurred out of the exit hole.

Almost immediately bullets started appearing out of nowhere, shooting small puffs of dust into the air as they hit the ground. Masked and unmasked faces revealed themselves from inside and in the shade of buildings, details becoming unclear as I picked up the speed.

Ducking in between ruins and jumping through holes in the walls, I kept a lot of cover between the fire aimed at me. Time seemed to speed up, as I suddenly found myself at the edge of the camp, a small fence of sandbags and barbed wire surrounding the outpost.

With a bound, I cleared a low wall and found myself neck-deep in enemy territory, the cold faces of soldiers of many different races and colours surrounding me.


Sorry guys, I haven't really had time to go through this one. So please pardon any spelling mistakes and/or grammar issues.

Hope ya enjoy!