Confessions Between Roommates

And here's the first version of the story... from a conversational standpoint. First Person. Tale of a turned;

I awoke groggily after a night of partying. I didn’t know what time it was, but hoped it was still Sunday. The beloved hangover and agonies of drinking too much graced my countenance yet again. I didn’t always do this, but it happened so often now, I could no longer lie and say I wasn't really someone who did these things.

It started like any other weekend, Thursday and Friday, go out and drink a lot with friends, but not too much. Then attempt to stay In on Saturday for some random reason. Followed by the roommates’ tactics at dissuading me from my seclusion and my inevitable acceptance to go out.

I got all dolled up, I don't know why, but I always do, and swore I'd only drink a little, if at all. Lies! Yes, we pre-game. I said no. They poured me a shot. I said no. They handed me the shot. I said I didn’t really want it. They said "take the shot." I took the shot. I always take the shot. This happened the usual four or five times before we headed out.

When we got to Lacy's favorite club, I didn’t want to drink anymore. I changed my resolve to: I'm not buying them, but If someone else hands It to me; down the hatch.

It is shortly after this that my memory starts to fuzz. So I stumble out to the living room, where I hear the din of the television, and I know my chair and throw are waiting for me.

"Good Morning Sunshine. Did you sleep well?" Lacy spouted in her overly peppy, I didn’t get a hangover and you did, voice.

"What time Is It?" I grumbled, as I fell into my chair.

"Half past twoish." she sang. "You look like you've had a rough coupla nights."

"Tell me about it." I cringed and clamped my eyes shut. "How much did I drink?"

"I don't know, I kInda lost track of you after you danced off with that one guy."

"What one guy?" I peeked at her through one squinted eye.

"That guy you danced with for most of the night. You know that guy you said bit you." I froze. "Seriously, I don't know how you manage it. If I were as kinky as you at the clubs, I'd have to go home with the guys; I wouldn't have them wishing me well like you do." That was true, I'd tended to drink too much sometimes, and let the guys get their hopes up, then be able to simply walk away.

"Someone bit me?" weird, I didn’t remember.

"That's what you said on the way home." She was watching the Images on the TV. Apparently uninterested in my plight. "I didn’t see any bite marks or anything, but you did have some blood on your shirt." She looked back at me. "Yeah, that shirt. Right there." She pointed at my shoulder. I followed her finger with my eyes. Sure enough, I did have a small spot of what did seem to be blood there. I didn’t really remember it. But I did get that weird feeling I usually get, that everything she's saying is true, when she lets me know what happened when I was hammered. "Deeds said your guy had one too. Swapping blood as well as spit, are we?" She grinned over at me as she repositioned herself on the sofa.

"Uugh! I don't remember a guy!" I said as I buried my head in my lap. "What else did I do?"

"Not really sure, I was a little preoccupied most of the time by Bobby." Bobby was her fiancé slash boyfriend of who knows how many years. Drop dead gorgeous like herself, just both unwilling to tie the knot legally. That and they liked to swing. I didn’t approve, but that was their only fault as great roommates and friends. I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you ask Deedee?"

Right on queue and as usual, Deedee walked through the door. Both Lacy and I looked up at her in the door way, as she narrowly blocked the blazing sunlight.

"What?" she said. "Do I have something on my face?"

"How does she do that? How does she always know when someone’s here before they actually arrive?" I marveled.

"You'd have to ask her that." Deedee glared over at Lacy, who merely shrugged.

"Why don't you let Lizzette know what she did last night? You said you were pretty close most of the evening." Lacy said.

"Playing wallflower, no doubt." I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

"What?! I can't help It If I'm always left to play your beloved roll. If you had more willpower or an even higher tolerance for alcohol, maybe you could hug the walls sometime. Besides someone has to be responsible." She took off her coat and sat on the other end of the sofa. I could never understand how these two could dress so heavily in the summer. I though I had no summer wardrobe. These two pale beauties never left the house without just about every Inch of skin covered during the day. You'd think they were Goth if they weren't so peppy.

"So Deeds, What did I do last night?" The two exchanged a look and a grin. Evil roommates!

"Well, what do you remember?" Deedee began. "Let's start there, and I'll fill in the rest with what I know and saw."

I cocked my head and rolled my eyes. "Let's see... Hmmmm..." I got Into my pho-psychiatrist pose; Crossed my ankle over my knee, pursed my lips, put my elbows on the arms of my chair, and pressed my finger tips together. Lacy giggled. "Well, I'm pretty sure I remember everything with the four of us here. I took... four? shots. Then we drove out to the club. Yes?" They nodded. "We got there; Bobby dropped us out front, then went to park. He met us at the front like five minutes after the cut off to get in free. Then Deeds flirted us in, by talking to her favorite security guard Lester. Did you get his number?"

"Uh-huh. Called him too... We're going out on Wednesday." She confessed.

"Oh goody!" Lacy giggled. "You didn’t tell me that."

"I talked to him while I was out just now. It's a wonderful thing, these cell phones."

They both laughed. "Well, you'll have to tell us all about it after Liz finds out her own story." Lacy said as she turned back and waved her hand for me to continue.

"Anyways... Where was I?"

"I flirted us in."

"Oh yes. After we got In, I told you both I want' drinking unless someone else bought me a drink." they exchanged a knowing look. "Then you both proceeded to purchase me one consecutively. Having Bobby tack on a third for good measure."

"Well you can't just have two, that's bad manners." Lacy joked.

"That goes without saying, three is a charm." Deedee offered. "Three drinks Is better than two." They both motioned for me to continue. Grins wide upon their faces.

"Then... I think, did we see the Italian?" Deedee nodded, Lacy shrugged. The Italian was a regular and a nuisance. He was hitting on at least one of us each time we went there. "I'm pretty sure he bought me one." I squinted trying to remember the sequence of events that followed. "Then we all went to the dance floor... Well, had been on the dance floor... I think that's when a creeper stared dancing up on me." Their grins widened. I scowled and tried to continue. "Umm... I think I gave him my; I'm charming but not Interested smile."

"That you did." Lacy Interjected.

"And then I went to the bathroom... Deeds, you stood In line with me right?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded.

"I don't remember..." I said slowly shaking my head. "What happened next? Jog my memory."

"Well." Deeds continued. "Charles was there. You remember Charles? That guy from the first time you got crazy and made out with some random guy." I nodded in amused shame. "Well, he was there. And I know he bought you one. Then you two went to the dance floor together. I saw Brandon and went to talk to him..."

"Bobby and I were on the dance floor." Lacy picked up. "You danced with Charles, for gosh, I don't know, like twenty minutes?" She looked at Deedee for confirmation, which nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, like twenty minutes. Then some guy, some random guy grabbed your ass. You spun round and just smacked him." She laughed.

"I did what? Who did I hit?"

"I don't know. His face was all in shock, and he just walked away. You just yelled after him; 'Oh Heeelllll No!' Has to be the funniest thing I'd seen in a long time." I covered my face in disbelief as she laughed, though I got glimpses of a memory of it as she spoke. "You would have probably beat him up too If Charles hadn't pulled you back."

"Really?! I peeked through my fingers.

"Really. Bobby said you coulda taken him. Probably could have. After that, Charles left you to, I don't know, get drinks or take a piss, or something, and some other guy comes up, handed you a drink, and just took his place."

"Just took his place." I repeated. "Just handed me a drink, and I drank it, and danced with him?"

"Pretty much." she shrugged.

"Great guys, how'd he look? Like a serial rapist, or an Easter bunny?"

"Oh calm down. He seemed harmless enough. And no one ever lets you actually leave with these guys. Besides, remember that guy who didn’t even want to leave?" I cringed, I remembered. "You had no real problems warding him off on your own."

"That was so wrong." I reflected. "I was trashed that night, but he wasn't even that good looking. And his lies were pretty unbelievable... I didn’t even do anything with him. I just walked away."

"Precisely. We're not too worried 'bout you."

"Thanks Deeds."

"Anytime."

"Anywho. Charles came back and looked pretty upset; I think they had some words. But then Charles just left." I threw my head back in exasperation. Just. "You wondered off into the crowd of bodies with him." she finished.

We sat in silence for a minute while the dog next door barked at what sounded like the mailman.

"Oh, You know what?!" Lacy suddenly gasped. "I think that one guy was the first guy." Deedee and I both cocked our heads in confusion. "The guy you said was a creeper. The first guy who danced on you!" A look of surprised alarm glimpsed on Deedee's face. I just looked down right confused.

"I don't know about that" I finally spoke. "But, whoever he was, He was a good kisser." They both turned to me in shock.

"I thought you didn’t remember." Lacy chided.

"I didn’t. I don't. Not really. You tellin' me is helping though..." I turned so I wasn’t facing their gaped mouth stares head on. "Deeds, Lacy said to ask you what happened after I wondered off with the one guy." I spoke in the direction of the TV.

She grinned again. "Yes, I saw a lot. Actually I knew you kissed him. I was jamming over by the DJ. You know those tables and the crevice to the left of his box, where there's still dancing, but people either sit or make-out undetected." She clarified. "I was just sitting... chill axing, you know." She cleared the air with her hands. "You two come over and were dancing and making out for a long while. Rubbing and the usch."

"Uh-huh..." I didn’t think I wanted to remember this.

"Yeah. Well, it looked like he was necking on you after a while. I mean really necking..." She evil grinned. "Then you had this look of, of, well, not exactly ecstasy, and not... Surprise, but something like; shock and pleasure. Well, you got that look, then the; Pissed, I'm making a resolve, look. Then you necked him. Weird. I don't know. Just saying what I saw. Weird."

"Oh my gosh!" Sudden recollection hit me. "Son-u-a-bitch bit me." slight shock graced both my roommates’ faces. I wasn't watching them though, I was lost in remembering. "So I bit him back."

They were silent at this for a time. "Bobby's here." Lacy finally eeked out.

"What? What I day?" I was brought back from my reverie by the tone in her voice. "He bit me. I was drunk and decided payback was best." their faces automatically changed to normal, but something was wrong.

The door then opened and Bobby bounded In. "Look who's finally up!"

"HI Bobby." I turned to him. "Did you know someone bit me?"

"What? Who?" A look of disgusted disbelief passed through his eyes as he looked over at the girls. Bobby then got that same look the girls had had, but recovered quicker.

I decided to blow it off for now, until I knew what else happened that night. I was pretty sure I just sat down after that and waited till Deeds or Lacy dragged me out...

"After a while you and he sat down. Made out some more. Then creeper sooner or later left you... He mighta been coming back, I dunno." Deedee stated emotionlessly.

"Then Bobby went and found you two to leave. I noticed the blood on your shirt. Then we threw you in bed cuz you passed out on the way home." Lacy finished.

"Seriously girl! You would make easy prey. Good thing the three of us are here for you." Said Bobby. I smiled my thanks. The three of them exchanged another look.

"Ok, what? You two have been doing that all day. What already?!"

"Doing what?" Deedee protested and played at Innocence.

"That look! The look you all are sharing."

"What look? We're not sharing a look." They all stared at me. "Are you sharing a look?" Lacy turned to the others.

"I'm not sharing a look." Bobby put in.

"I'm not either." Deedee put her hands up in surrender.

"Oh! My! Gosh!" I rolled my eyes. "Just tell me."

After a few moments of silence Deedee cleared her throat. "Okay, maybe we were In fact sharing a look. And let's say, just for argument's sake, that it was a look of Importance. And maybe, maybe that important thing might possibly have something to do with the three of us, and what we, we three, have In common. And maybe, there is the slightest bit of a chance that this thing, may now Involve you."

"What are you talking about?" My mind was now busy in the confusion she was spinning at me.

"The thing is..." She continued. "The think is... Bobby?" She looked at him. He threw his hands up.

"I won't be good at it." He confessed. So she turned to Lacy.

"I'll try." She sighed. "Lizzette dear." She turned to look straight at me. "Have you ever noticed... No, have you wondered." She paused, already lost for words. I raised my eyebrows waiting. "Do you know what day It Is?"

This question seemed moot. "Isn't It Sunday?" a weird sort of smile, like she had to tell me my dog had just died and didn’t want to alarm me, was now on her face.

"Lizzy, sweetie. It's Tuesday." She paused to gauge my reaction.

"Tuesday!" I yelped. "I slept for two and a half days?!" I didn’t have to work until Thursday, but missing three days of ones life is no small matter. "I gotta go to the bathroom." I said as I ran off in its' direction.

I pondered what I'd just learned, while dropping the biggest load of my life. Two and a half days unconscious! Why was I not craving food? Wait, I was hungry. No, hungry was not the word. Famished. I had a gnawing in me that I needed some sort of nutrients, but I only noticed it now. True, I'd had a desire to find nourishment for a while now, but I was used to suppressing my desires. I also contemplated the look my roommates gave each other. We three were like a corrupt little family. Sisters. Amigas. Bobby was a more than welcome best guy friend turned brother in law. What secret could the three of them possibly have from me? Why did they freak when I told them I'd bit the guy. Well, never mind that. Biting the guy was a little strange. But he'd bit me!

When I returned from the lavatory, the three were sitting with heads close together, deep in conversation. Each took turn to look up at me as I made my way in, sat down, and stared at them with one brow raised. All the while their voices were barely above an audible whisper. Too low for me to hear, or understand.

Apparently they had come to an agreement. They all sat back at once, looking resolved in something. Bobby nodded to Lacy who then turned to Deedee. Deeds nodded as well and then all three turned to me.

"Am I on trial here?" I joked, trying to ease the tension that had built in the room.

"No Liz." she stated serenely. "I'm afraid judgment’s already passed. A fair trial was not given, and a jury of your peers was not present."

"Um mmmokay..." I said quizzically.

"I'm going to tell you something. It may sound unbelievable, but just hear me out. Please don't Interrupt, or stop listening. Just hear what I've got to say. Can you do that?"

I nodded. How could I deny her any request when she was so sincere?

"I'm sure you've noticed that the three of us have some pretty strange habits. I'm sure there are many things that we do that seem very strange." I waited as she collected her thoughts. "You no doubt, noticed our more nocturnal habits, how we can go out every night, and never be tired. How we wear lots of heavy clothing year round, how we never ever eat here at the apartment. How I now when someone's coming before they arrive, how we're pasty beyond all reason..." She went on and on, pointing out every strange thing about them. Every tendency that I'd wondered at, every action, even those I’d dismissed as fluke. "Well, my dearest. Oh gosh, I don't really know how to put this so you won't freak out. We three; are Vampires." She stopped here. The three of them awaited my reaction.

After a moment or two's silence, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I guffawed. I simply had to laugh. "Good one Lacy!" She looked stern, I continued. "Vampires! What next? The Boogeyman ate my homework... Oh gosh! That's classic!"

They weren't laughing. A worry creased between Deedee's eyebrows.

"We're not telling you a joke. And we're not trying to freak you out. We are concerned. We're pretty sure your random creeper was one too."

"A vampire?" That'd explain why they freaked out when I said he'd bit me. But this was all ludicrous.

"Yes, a vampire." Deedee looked almost hurt.

"We didn’t think anything of it because; you've slept for two days before. We thought you were just beating your record." Lacy said. "And I guess we weren't 100% that he was the vampire at the club. You were most obviously with us, I don't know why he'd try and tap you."

"And we had no Idea you'd bite him back." Deedee cut in.

"So What... You think I'm going to become a vampire now too?" I said in hysterics. Obviously peeved and obviously no believing.

"Not becoming one. Are one." Joe finally spoke up. "Your heart beat sounds like theirs now." he pointed at the girls.

I rolled my eyes after a moment’s contemplation. "Fine, let's say that I believe you, which I don't. Why do you have me as a roommate? Why didn’t you drain me?"

"Because we like you." Lacy offered with a smile. "We all became friends in school. You're pretty sweet. We care about you. We would never ever hurt you or use you like that." Deedee nodded In agreement.

"Sure." I had no Idea where to go from here. What did I know about vampires? Just what I'd seen in movies and on TV mostly. There's a cult of people who believe they're vampires, but are pretty much just Goths wanting to belong to something. There are myths and legends up to wazoo. There's that whole thing about Vlad Tepes, now he was a messed up son-u-a-bitch. I had nothing to ask. So I just sat there. Completely not believing them.

"I know this is a lot to take in." Lacy broke into my reverie. "If you have any questions please ask them." Her voice was soft and sweet. "What are you thinking? We don't read minds." She smiled.

"No?" Questions started flooding me. On the forefront; what sort of sick game is this? But I couldn't ask that. They all seemed so genuine. I'd just have to plan an escape form these loonies. Oh my gosh, I was so hungry. I got up.

"Where are you going?" Deedee asked.

"I think I'm hungry." I continued towards the kitchen. "Apparently I haven't eaten in nearly three days."

"You won't find anything useful in there." Bobby called after me.

"Sure I will. My grapes should be good till at least Thursday. I heard an exasperated sigh from the living room.

I pulled the grapes from the crisper. Still good. And that looked like the only thing in the fridge, so they'd have to do.

I popped a couple in my mouth the started to convulse once I swallowed. The three of them were all a sudden there to watch me. Deedee and Bobby wore I told you so grins. Lacy's face was wrought with concern.

"What the Hell?!" I spat once my mouth was free of previously chewed grapes. "You'd think after three days I’d be able to keep something down. I can't possibly still be hangover."

"You're not." Deedee beamed.

"Oh yes. I'm now a vampire." I said this seethed in sarcasm, air quotes and all. I sat and held my head in my hands. They all moved to stand more comfortably throughout the kitchen. "Then why do I not crave blood?" I murmured, still hanging my head there.

"You don't know that's what your body needs yet. It's rejecting food. That's a sign. Once you do feed, or you don't feed and let the need fester, you'll start craving it. But you won't be able to put a name to it till you've satisfied the need." Explained Deedee.

"Like the need for Chocolate. Kinda." Lacy piped in, smiling again. I just looked at her, brows raised again. "You don't know you'll love it so much, until you have it. Then you start to crave it!" Her face fell all of a sudden. "I miss chocolate."

"You buy chocolate all the time!" I retorted.

"I can still enjoy the smell! But I can't eat it."

"What do you do with it?" She just gave a guilty grin.

Deedee's Confession

So... on the Forum... There's a thread called Tales of the Turned. I had a good idea for a story. So I wrote the general idea of it. Then I let it fester. Now I have it spinning in my head from 4-5 different points of view. I've written down two of them. Here's one of them... It's in a confessional form. And is called Confessions of a Roommate; Version 2; Deedee's Confession. Here goes;

I don’t really remember my turning. I mean, I do remember being turned, don’t get me wrong, but it was so long ago, and I never really made a big deal out of it. So; Whatever…

My one roommate on the other hand; she was pretty freaked out. Actually, she’s still pretty freaked out. I guess she’s in the state, we like to call denial. Or grief. I don’t know.

I didn’t turn her. We still don’t know who the guy was who did. We can’t figure who’d have the audacity to turn a girl who hangs out with three, almost ancient vampires. Sure, she didn’t know, but still! Who does that?!

Anyway… It happened about a month ago now. We still can’t find the guy. Bobby’s got a search going for him… But he’s left a trail thinner than air. We should have paid closer attention. That’s 20/20 hindsight.

We all went out clubbing as our usual Saturday tradition called for us to do. Lizette drank too much. Again. Danced with random guys, accepted drinks from whomever, and kissed, or made out with those she danced with. Yes, stupid, and normal drunken behavior. Lacy, Bobby and I usually keep a pretty close eye on her. She doesn’t get into too much trouble.

That night we weren’t on our game though, and some bloodsucker tapped her. Stupid, stupid girl! She bit him back. Why? I’ll never understand. Oh, the good ideas of drunk people…

I’m not sure why we didn’t notice the guy was a vampire. We did know there were others there, at the club. There’s always at least one other when we go there. I can’t figure why we didn’t pick up that it was this dude. Why!? … Seriously? Seriously.

In retrospect; we kept Lizzy almost like a pet… I wonder why she never guessed it. That Her Roommates weren’t exactly normal. Personally I think there were plenty of indicators…

We wanted to tell her. Bobby always talked about turning her, but Lacy was dead against it. Ha… dead against it. Dead...

Anywho, Where was I? Oh yes… the tie breaker was left up to me... I was putting off making the decision to tell her, and how, as long as possible.

We love Lizzy like a sister. She’s our best friend. We’ve lived together with her, for only about year, but have known her for, let’s say four more than that. Our whole, never changing thing was eventually going to come up. I didn't want to hurt her though, and we wanted her to have a choice.

But we never got the chance to tell her what we were. And she never got a choice, to become it. Besides her drunken decision to bite back. But, she didn’t know what she was biting into.

She was so funny when we told her. She tried with all of her logic and reasoning to figure out what had happened… and she desperately tried to explain it away. Watching her try to act normal was a riot. The thing with the grapes… You shoulda seen the look on her face… poor girl.

She’s been in bed again for; oh, about three days straight. She hadn’t gotten up except to go to work, or it woulda been for; since we told her. She’s pretty much been keeping to herself, and avoiding me at all costs. Having to drink blood that first time put her over the edge. And I had to give it to her, so it’s all my fault.

She’ll come out of this stupor eventually. I hope. No one wants an eternal mope for a roommate.

The Revolution of Love

This is really rough; Straight from my notebook; Straight from my head; at Midnight last night:

One Concise thought is all that i need.

I want to write the story i have in my dreams.

The story of a world honest and true,

where living by lies won't ever do.

Where people feel free to stand up for their rights.

Where they're willing to live and willing to fight.

We need to be people willing to love;

those who would push, and those that do shove.

Have answers to questions not easily asked.

dig up the bones buried deep in the past.

to learn from our faults, past mistakes, and our fears.

we need to open our eyes and open our ears.

see the confusion filing our lives,

no just sit on the side as another dream dies.

We were all born and taught to do right

step out of the darkness and into the light.

keep morals steady, Ideals strong.

Open your mind up, come sing along.

We need to be people willing to love,

Those who would push, and those that do shove.

The Catcher of Dogs.

This is a dream I had last night. Well, most of it. I added scenes and tried to mesh it together so it would come across as a meshing story. If you can help it out with criticism, that'd be swell. I also want to change the name, so I'm open to suggestions on that part;

The Dog Catcher

I was sitting on the grass with Joe at the park, reading city and local rules laws and regulations about keeping a dog. I thought it would be best to know the legalities, being in a new town. Scotty was with us, on a leash. He was a small Scottish terrier, gray in color. Overall, he’s not the typical Scottie. He was coy and loyal, quite and contented.

I was picking up the end of the leash, preparing to go when a dog catcher came along. He saw Scotty and made to pick him up. The man chased Scotty around my blanket, unable to snatch him. I merely picked Scotty up from this mini chase.

“That’s a stray dog.” The man said. A quizzical look came upon my face. Obviously annoyed by this mans stupidity. “You know we have rules about things like that around here.” He spat at me. Pure evil was writ on his countenance.

“I know then rules. He’s on a leash. I hold the end of that leash.” I contorted still holding Scotty.

“My mistake...” The man’s face changed to that of a contented stalker. It was that of a man watching his prey, with a small sickly smile on his lips. I turned and walked off, leaving the man staring after me. I also left Joe behind asleep on the blanket at the park. I was sure he’d understand later.

Joe came back and required an explanation, which I gladly gave him. He’d not seen the dog catcher, but was very concerned having perceived the situation from my point of view.

…

Joe and I decided it would be best to let a room in our home. The house was large enough with plenty of bedrooms, and it was only the two of us with Scotty. We had several inquiries but no one stuck. Eventually I left Joe to figure out the situation on his own. I trusted him enough for that. Weeks went by, until one day, on my return home with Scotty; there was a car in the drive. Curiosity seized me; I picked up my pace excited to see who was there. Joe had let the room. He introduced me to a man called Boyd. I could have sworn I’d met this man before.

“Pleased to meet cha” he’d said. His voice, the look in his eyes, and that smirk that played as his smile, set me off. But I could not place him. I welcomed him attempting to put my suspicions aside. Joe said he liked the man fine, when I brought up my qualm later, when we were in private. I just had a bad feeling. I was certain I’d met, seen and heard this man before.

Over time, my feelings of unease did not subside. I started to sense Boyd’s secret sadistic stares. I took to taking Scotty with me everywhere, he became like my well behaved small child. I don’t know why specifically, but I did not trust the man around my dog, or my self, for any matter.

…

After a long day with Scotty at the office, I came home already with the feeling of apprehension weighing heavy.

“Joe?” I called out when I opened the door. No answer. All of the lights were on, I knew he was home. “Joe, are you home?” the feeling of trepidation continued to grow. The sense of utter peril, that something hand undoubtedly gone wrong was imminent. I was working myself into a frenzy, and my hand was still on the knob, where I stood in the door with Scotty.

I heard a crash from somewhere in the back of the house. I took off in the direction of the sound, through the house, with leash in hand. The closet door was open, and there lay a huge mess strewn across the hall and down into the sitting room.

“Joe?” I meekly uttered, expecting to be stunned with the worst. “Are you here?” a tremor ran thru my voice. There came a rustling from the other side of the closet door. Joe stepped out covered in dust and grime. The look of him put a shock thru me. He looked like one of those zombies from a Hollywood picture. He only lacked to gait when he emerged from the closet. A slight bob was in his manner as he stood there staring at the chaos in the hall before him. He’d still not noticed me and Scotty standing there. With his staggered head bob, he mechanically turned his head, surveying the items that lie before him. I was stock still. Alarm must still have been on my face. When he bobbed his head finally in our direction, he jumped and gave a start.

“Geezes! You startled me!” he yelped, pulling ear-buds from his ears. I’d not noticed them before. That accounted for the head bobbing. “I didn’t hear you come in.” he continued.

“I gathered.” A general calm was in my voice as I began to relax.

“I thought I’d clean out this walk-in. there’s so much stuff in here we don’t use.” This was true; the evidence in front of me was enough to convince me of that.

“Well, good luck with that.” I said turning to go shut the front door, though the feeling of unease still was gnawing at my belly.

…

I still had a worry on my mind. It would not subside over time. Nor would it spare me from the scares that seemed to be coming at me almost regularly now. Each seemed to have little to no foundation for my fears. I wondered if I were going crazy. Why I was imagining bad things happening. Why I always thought the worst of everything. I jumped to conclusions involving the worst case scenarios. But the feeling of foreboding was prevalent everywhere I went, and then intensified at home.

Boyd didn’t give me much trouble. I was still on edge with him. We’d talk and be civil around each other. Joe even spent time with him as friends would. But the look in his eyes and the smirk on his face all the time, made it hard for me to try and trust him. I did not trust him.

…

After dinner one evening, maybe a month or three after my scare with Joe in the hall closet, all three of us were home. Joe was cleaning up the house during the commercials of his show on television. Boyd was probably watching with him. Scotty was by my side as I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. I’m sure he didn’t like that I’d taken to leaving his leash and collar on at all times. It was only for my own security and to calm my fears that I felt the need to keep Scotty near me. It was a long leash, but not too long, that I could ever loose site of him. Still, it helped very little with the calming of my nerves.

“You know Scotty…” I was talking to the dog! “I am sorry about the leash. You don’t mind, do you? ...” the sounds from the living room filtered around the door. It was a low murmur of conversation with the accent of the televisions as a mere background noise to my background noise. “They probably think I’m crazy.” I sighed. “But you understand, right?” I’d become a little calmer over the passing weeks with each scare. I was getting used to the feelings that rode on me like a leech. “Of course you understand.” Scotty looked up at me. A smile danced in his puppy dog eyes. “You know I’m not crazy, I’m just…” there came what sounded like a muffled yelp. “… oversensitive.” The last word leaked from my lips as a whisper, as my fear grabbed hold of me full strength once again.

I picked up Scotty and held him close to my breast, like a mother gripping her child. Awkward and uneasily I walked through the swinging kitchen door. The low hum from the television still played, but all conversations had ceased. Warily, I walked down the hall towards the landing that led to the sitting room. There was no one there. Startled by movement form the corner of my eye, I turned toward the stairwell. Boyd and Joe came from behind the crevice created by the wall. Joe was hardly moving. He looked almost paralyzed and was gasping for breath, only no sound of air thru in passage came. He was upright and walked forward mechanically when pushed. A look of terror was caressed his face. He looked at me pleadingly, with the eyes of someone about to die. Boyd had him by the collar bone. The same look that always was on his face plagued it now. Only now it seemed even more sinister than I could ever have imagined.

“You know…” Boyd said casually. I stood dumbfounded and completely engaged by my despair. “We have rules about dogs around here.” His smile deepened into a sneer. It came back to me in a flood. This was the dog Catcher!

The recognition and fear must have shown on my face. He laughed, NO cackled. Boyd started side stepping with Joe in tow. I countered his steps in the opposing direction. The dog catcher spoke menacingly, but quietly at me. “I do believe I have a few loose ends to take care of, and then I’ll be needing to move out. Consider this my notice.” He was still inching closer to the closet. He opened it up and pushed Joe inside. “This will only take a minute.” I was now at the base of the stair, with no where else to turn. “I don’t like an audience when I kill.” I gasped in horror. A slight laugh escaped him again, and he stepped into the closet.

I was frozen. I stood for what seemed like an eternity. Everything was silent. I couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of my heart and the whirr of my blood as it circulated past my ears. I didn’t even hear if Joe gave a final scream. I didn't hear if his bones broke or he was able to take a final breath after all. I slowly started backing up the stairs. I willed myself to move when I sensed the fear emanating thru Scotty’s body. When I felt Joes life force was gone. The dog catcher emerged from the closet. His face was smeared with blood, his hands and the front of his shirt, stained in the gore that was once my Joe.

He smiled a ghastly side smile, revealing pearly white canines. “Tasty” He guffawed. “Who’s next?”

I turned and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I slammed and locked the landing door behind me. Then I darted into my room doing the same. There was no way out up here. No way would I be able to find one in time. I could hear his steps on the stairs, coming up slowly. He was biding his time. I searched in vain for a place to hide. The closet was the only place I could find. I went in and locked this too. Pressing myself against the clothes, I clutched a freighted Scotty. I waited and watched thru the slits. All I could see was my bed against the opposite wall. All I could hear were the steps of the man who held my imminent end.

Too soon, much too soon, I could hear him in the hall. He’d gotten thru the landing door with no sounds of struggle. I then had the stifle the fist whimpers I heard from Scotty. Shushing him I fear we gave away our position. Not that it would have taken long for him to find us. He was now at my door. He merely turned the knob and crept in. My eyes widened in horror. Hadn’t I locked them?

What sort of man was this? Who could come into a home and befriend a man, then turn and kill him with no evidence of remorse? Who could walk thru locked doors uninhibited? Why had he come to torment us?

“Now where could they be?” He spoke as if this was some sort of game of Hide-and-go-seek one plays with small children. He knelt down and peered under the bed. “Nope, nut under here. Not behind the bureau... or under the desk.” He narrated his every move. Standing with hands on hips, pretending to be stumped… “Must have left. I guess I’ll just have to wait a while fro them to get back.” He moved over and ventured to prop himself up on my bed. He leaned up against the headboard, brought his legs out in front of him and folded his hands behind his head. He sat there staring in my direction. He stared thru the tiny slits. Into my eyes he stared, boring a chasm into my soul.

The beginings of Chapter one.

I'm thinking I will create a new blog/thread/thing for the posts of my story. When they are in their more final form at least. For now, I'll spew then chapters/scenes onto paper, as per usual, and type them up accordingly.

Disclaimer: In no way do the people, thoughts, and events happening in this story represent real persons, thoughts or events. They may have been spawned from the inspiration of actual events, but are beyond that; Unrelated. Also! all of the writings here are mine. As with all of my posts.

Ok, Here goes;

Chapter 1

“I never know how to start these things.” I’d told him. Now, I was using these same words to start a chronicle of my life. How pathetic. Was I truly that uncreative?

November 12, 2008

I never know how to start these things. But now is as good a time as any to begin. I figured it would be a good idea to start a journal to chronicle my thoughts, if I want to become a great. I choose now because my life has taken some drastic changes recently, and maybe a journal will help me to get thru this by letting me see things in a way that may help to lead towards greatness. I’m not sure yet where I specifically am going with this yet, but a rusty start is better than no start at all. Me

If I had known then that these would be the first words written in the journal of the most profound tie of my life, I may have put a little more thought into them. Then again, if I would have known it would become that profound, I may not have ventured down that road at all.

…

My story really starts long before my fist journal entry. Long before the thoughts came to start the events that led to the journal entries. My story starts even before there was a reason for the other parties involved in the circumstances that led to the possibility of my writing a journal for any variety of unrelated reasons came up. (Convoluted much?)

I begin my story with a rash decision to move. Not this most recent, in perspective to journal entries, move, but the one before that. My mother was off on a vacation with my siblings. Doing missions, or visiting family, I’m not sure anymore which. All I know is I couldn’t go along because I had to attend classes still. Why I choose that school, out of my many options, is now far beyond me. Who really wants to waste their summer months in a tiny classroom full of wanna-be artists? I ask you! No sane person, that’s for sure. But alas, that is where I found myself. Instead of vacationing with loved ones. I spent my summer furthering my education. Bah!

It was during these long summer months that I spent all of my free time, (what little of it I had, not spent in school, or at work) gallivanting with friends, and as little time as possible in my mother’s empty house. One day; it came up, that I could have the opportunity to occupy a free room in one of my friend’s homes. I jumped at the option to be away from my mother’s home. Oh, to be free from parents, to finally be my own person. Within days; I was already unpacking at my new abode.

Now this doesn’t fall into the category of rash decisions’ for any more reason than the pace of it happening. I could afford it theoretically; I’d made sure of that. I had a job, and could still pay any regular bills. The trouble started, helped me to see where I’d erred, when I graduated from my fine, dastardly school, and then promptly got laid off. Oh the Humanity! But I didn’t complain. I’d had a good long go with the company. I was glad to have had the opportunity with them in the first place, having had no prior experience in my field. Everyone I knew who’d also been a recent graduate, and even some who weren’t so recent, had been laid off around the same time as I. The economy was doing down the drain, and each company sought to cut costs were they deemed necessary. My department was the first to go.

It was after a long series of events and circumstances; falling in love, getting my heart broken, hearing and believing lies, not being able to pay rent any longer, my car breaking down, My computer crashing, and laptop monitor malfunctioning, invariably; the search for the right next stem in options. I decided it best to move across the country to live with, and work for, dear old dad. A man I’d not seen in over ten years, a man whom I’d not really spoken with for months on end. When we did speak; it was the occasional phone call full of typical empty promises of grandeur he was known for. Stupid Girl! I choose this path, for the promise of having work, and the potential for greatness. Oh, if I’d only listened to reason. I knew the potential of such frivolity, but still I went. Granted It’s not been as bad as the masses anticipated for me. But my rose colored glasses for this time and place had mod definitely come off shortly after my arrival.

November 13, 2008

I have been here two months, and I’ve only had three projects I’m not complaining. I am glad for the work, but I fear I’ll never see the fruits of my labors. Each of these projects has been canceled, and called off before they’ve been brought to completion. And with all of this down time, I could be making myself useful, working towards greatness. I still don’t know what great I want to be. And I don’t know where to go to further myself intellectually around here. I’m afraid that if I start planting roots, I rather won’t like them in the long run, or my father will have us move. He’s already talking about buying a building for his business way up north. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes of that. Me

…

Sorry for my Falsities; I recant.

I've been convicted! I've told a falsity. I meant to rectify it when the matter was brought before my attention... I do have some friends that could be called closer. Now I'm going to call them out by their real names... Something I wasn't going to do in this Blog, but alas; it is necessary to clear the air. There are some who are mindful of me on various levels, who do remember me, but are too far away to be called close on the top of my head. These friends of mine are the closest friends I have, not for all of the same reasons; Stacy, Erik, Heather, Theresa, Janelle, and Eric.

Spur of the moment Meeting!

I need to choose songs. I need inspiration. I need a theme. That is my newest task. A theme for an album... Any suggestions? While you're at it; I also need a theme/style for my novel, and a way to start... I want to have the story line down before I write the scenes... Just so I won't stray too far and pander...

The weird thing about this past week was spending time with my family. Yes, I do this a lot. But this was with family I don't really know. Just because of a lack of opportunity to know them. I'd like to be closer. But then I am afraid they won't like me if they knew me. Not that my family that 'knows' me doesn't like me... I don't think I feel I can be the real me around most of them either, because I do know them... I understand what upsets them, and I edit/filter myself in their presences. Not that I wouldn't do that for these... Uuuuugh! what Am I saying? ...

I don't want to be afraid to be me! I want to have someone that I can be me around 100%!