Heather McCoubrey: Author

My sixth attempt for The First Line, November 2017. 1423 words.

“I’m tired of trying to see the good in people.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m running away, first chance I get.”
“You know that won’t work. They have us on leashes every time we leave the house.”
“Well, I’ll figure it out,” he snorted, using his paw to scratch at his muzzle. “Since when did humans get so mean?”
“They aren’t mean, they’re just busy.”
“Maybe your humans are, but mine are mean. Just this morning the man kicked me out of the way.”
“Where were you?”
“In the kitchen, minding my own business, eating my food.”
“Were you in the way?”
“Of what?”
“The man human?”
“No, my food bowl is by the back door. It’s cold there, the wind whips through the crack in the door.”
“Hm. Maybe your humans are mean.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
They continued to sniff along the fence that separated their respective back yards. They’d been friends since Duke had moved in six months before. Stella had lived in her yard much longer. She was a little cocker spaniel and didn’t really have a bad thing to say about anyone. Duke on the other hand was a large chocolate lab, who in the right circumstances would be a fun-loving, affectionate dog. This house was not that circumstance.
He missed Fur Station, the pet shop where he’d lived since he was a puppy. There were lots of other dogs to play with and he’d never been scolded, or kicked, or ignored. The people who lived at the pet shop had always been nice, giving lots of attention whenever he’d wanted it. He’d been happy there and it was his goal to make his way back to the pet shop. The sooner the better.
When Stella was called into the house, he barked good bye and then went to the corner of the fence to take a nap. It might be 90 degrees outside, but it was better to nap in the measly shade than to be inside with the humans. He wasn’t even sure why they’d bought him to begin with. They’d never played with him, had scolded and yelled since bringing him home, ignored him for the most part and lately had taken to kicking and smacking him on the nose frequently.
He dug around in the grass until he had a semi-cool spot to lay down. Propping his nose on his paws, he closed his eyes and tried to come up with a plan. His humans took him for a walk every night. Sometimes it was the man, other times the woman, and once in a while they both took him. Of the three scenarios, he hoped tonight was the woman’s turn. If not, he’d just wait until it was. She wasn’t very strong and he figured he could pull out of her hands easily enough. If he took off fast, he could outrun her and disappear. He only had to hide long enough for her to give up her search. Then he could make his way to the pet store.
It was three days before the woman took her turn to walk him. He’d spent as much time as possible outside, avoiding his humans at all costs. It was pretty easy to accomplish, it wasn’t like they were seeking out his company either.
Duke waited until they were a good five minutes away from the house. He took his chance when they were stopped at a traffic light. As soon as the woman started across the street, he yanked hard on his leash. As he expected, she let go and Duke didn’t waste any time making good on his escape. He ran between legs, jumped over obstacles and narrowly avoided being caught by a man trying to step on his leash. He’d have to get rid of it quick, but until he was in the clear, he couldn’t do anything about it.
He started down an alley but was lucky enough to notice it was a dead end before he got too far down it. He quickly changed direction, avoiding yet another capture, and took off down the sidewalk. He wasn’t sure how long the woman would chase him, but he really hoped she gave up soon. She was still yelling and running toward him, ordering people to help her catch him. He turned left, crossed the street, and almost got hit by a car. Panting with effort, he continued dodging people but he noticed that fewer and fewer of the people were trying to catch him. He hadn’t heard the woman’s voice in a little while, either. He skidded to a stop, hiding behind a trash can, and peered out down the street. He scanned the faces and perked his ears, listening for her voice.
“Hey pooch, what’re you doing?”
The voice was kind, but Duke was apprehensive. This human could be working for her. He shied back into the corner, growling to keep the man at bay. The man stepped back and held up his hands.
“No worries, pooch. I’m not going to hurt you.”
The man stood still, his hand reached out toward Duke. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch; but Duke was not going to come out of his corner until the man went away. Duke continued to growl low in his throat, hoping that he could scare the man off. He worried if the man stood there long enough, the woman would find him. Duke stepped forward, teeth bared, growling loudly. The man stood his ground.
Duke took another step closer and unable to resist, sniffed at the man’s hand. He smelled okay but that didn’t deter Duke from his goal. He stepped around the man and took off, sure the man was going to grab hold of the leash and stop him. Surprised when he didn’t, Duke didn’t stick around to congratulate the man for being a good guy. He continued running down the street, keeping an ear out for that woman, and trying to find his way to the pet shop.
After awhile, he slowed down his crazy pace and trotted along the street. He wasn’t entirely sure how to get back to the pet shop, but he was hoping he’d run into a landmark he recognized from his puppy days. As the bright sun began to set, Duke found a park. He curled up under a bush, hiding deep inside so he wasn’t seen by passersby.
He was dreaming of his puppy days when he thought he heard the kind voice from earlier in the day. Assuming it was part of his dream, he continued his journey in snoozeville. When he felt a soothing hand on his hind quarters, his eyes popped open, a growl escaping.
“Shhh, pooch. It’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you. You seem like you’ve had a hard enough life already.” The man continued to pet him and eventually, slowly, sat down next to Duke. Duke didn’t know how much time had passed, but it was full dark when he licked the man’s hand. There really were some good people out there, as this man had proven.
“I don’t live far from here,” the man said, scratching behind Duke’s ears. “I’ve been wanting a dog for some time, it’s lonely being a bachelor in NYC.”
Duke whined and moved his head closer to the man’s legs. He rested his chin on the man’s thigh.
“That’s right. I live in a small walk-up, but it’s big enough for the two of us. You think you want to give it a try?”
Duke licked the man’s hand again and sat up. The man smiled and took up Duke’s leash. They took off together through Central Park. “I wonder what your name is? Maybe you don’t have one. Would you like a new one?”
That night, the man let Duke sleep on the bed with him. Duke’s belly was full of cheeseburgers from the diner around the corner and they’d spent an enjoyable evening sitting on the man’s couch watching television. Duke had been allowed on the couch and the man had continued to pet him throughout the evening.
He thought about Stella before drifting off to sleep. He knew she’d be happy for him. She had always believed most humans were good, but Duke had been unlucky with his humans. Well, he was lucky now. There were people out there who were good and Duke was thanking his lucky stars for his new human.

It’s been a little while (almost 4 years!) since I wrote one of these for The First Line, but it sure did feel good to get back into it! My fifth attempt, February 2017. 2013 words.

Eddie tended to drift into whatever jobs were available that would pay the rent. He was working one of those jobs one day when fast-talking New York City girl Summer Madison walked into the diner and sat at the counter.

“I don’t suppose you have espresso, here?”

“Nope, sorry. Fresh out.”

Summer let loose a deep sigh and rested her chin on her fist. She placed her clutch on the counter. “How old is that coffee in the pot,” she asked, pointing toward to pot under the food window.

“You know, I’m not really sure. I’m the dishwasher, just out here getting a refill of soda to take back to my damp dungeon.”

Summer giggled, batting her eyelashes. “So where’s the person?”

“Over there,” he nodded toward the windows behind Summer. “Making googley eyes at her boyfriend of the week.”

Laughing into her hand, she turned her head to see where he’d nodded. “They look very much in love.”

“Oh they are,” he chuckled. “And they will be until the end of the week when her husband gets home.”

“Husband? Where is he? She doesn’t look like she’s more than sixteen years old.”

Eddie snorted. “He’s a truck driver. Over the road Monday morning until Friday evening. Gets to spend the weekend at home with his wife and two children.”

“Two children?” She gasped, dribbling coffee down her chin. Eddie snatched a napkin out from under the counter and handed it to her. “Seriously, how old is that girl?”

“I don’t know for sure, but old enough to be married with children and a long list of affairs.”

Summer set the napkin on the counter. “Is the whole town as fresh as she is?”

“From what I’ve seen in my occasional trips out there,” he gestured toward the small town beyond the windows. “Yes. This town is full of not-so-secret secrets. It’s actually quite comical watching everyone tiptoe around thinking they’re above it all.”

“Aren’t you from this town?”

Eddie laughed, “Hell no. I’m just passing through, working to make enough money for the next leg of my trip.”

“Really? Where are you headed?”

“Any where but here,” he said, filling up her cup.

“How long have you been here?”

“About a month. I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough in about,” he paused to calculate his earnings minus his expenses. “Um, three more weeks. Then I can watch this town disappear in my rear view mirror.”

“And where will you go next?” She asked again, hoping for a better answer this time.

“Eh, haven’t really thought about it much. I tend to go where the wind takes me.”

“Do you think you’ll ever settle down?”

“Maybe. Gotta find the right woman, first. So far, haven’t been lucky with that.”

“Could it be that you’re never anywhere long enough?”

Clutching his stomach, he bent over laughing harder than he had in a long time. “Could be. But I doubt it. My philosophy leans toward ‘You know it when you know it,’ or even ‘Love at first sight.’”

She raised an eyebrow, surprise shooting from her eyes. “I did not have you pegged as a romantic,” she said slowly. She let her eyes run the length of him, paying close attention to his facial features. A romantic. His tough guy exterior did not announce the soft heart interior. She was intrigued.

“Well, unless I want to have to skip town sooner than I’d like, I’d better get back to my dungeon and get to work.” He filled her cup one last time, tipped his hat, and disappeared into the back of the diner.

Summer was in town for just the week and she made a point to stop into the diner each day after she was finished filming her scenes. She sat at the counter, ordered a fresh coffee, and hoped she’d catch a glimpse of the dishwasher. Every evening, after she’d spent as much time as she possible could, she’d head back to her room disappointed. It wasn’t that he was all that handsome, or that she’d felt some spark that wouldn’t die. No, it was that he was so different from anyone she’d ever met. She wanted to talk to him more, his views on life and love intrigued her and she found herself replaying their conversation every day.

Her last day in town was Saturday. She packed her suitcase, what little she’d brought, and headed to the diner. Her plan was to park herself at the counter all day – or at least until she had to leave for the airport – and wait for the dishwasher’s arrival.

Turns out Fate was in her pocket that day. As she walked into the diner, she was taken aback by the noise inside. That was what registered with her first. The waitress from that day was in a screaming match with a man twice her size – both in height and weight. Half the diner’s patrons were standing behind the waitress and the other half were standing behind the man.

The rest of the diner’s employees were standing behind the counter, though the dishwasher looked like he was ready to jump over the counter at any minute.

All eyes – except for the two fighting – swung in her direction as she walked through the door. She gave a half-hearted wave and a smile and inched her way toward the counter. She propped her suitcase against the stool and stood in awe of the spectacle playing out in front of her.

“I have it on good authority, Sally!”

“Well I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but it’s just not true!”

“Really? One would think two kids and a job at the diner would keep you so busy you’d fall into bed every night out of sheer exhaustion. But according to my source, you’re lucky to catch an hour of sleep each day. Too busy with your ‘boyfriends,’” the man used air quotes to help get his point across.

Oh no!, Summer thought to herself, clapping a hand over her mouth in shock. This was the husband, the truck driver who was gone all week. And apparently the cat was out of the bag.

She cast a quick glance back at the dishwasher, looking for his reaction to her revelation, but he only had eyes for the fighting spouses.

“Tony,” the waitress whined, obviously changing tactics. “You know you’re the only one for me. You’re my one true love.” She took a step closer to him, but he shot out his hand, warding her off and took a step back.

“You aren’t playing your games on me anymore, woman,” he said shaking his head emphatically. “I’m on to your game and I know you’ve been doing this for as long as we’ve been married!”

Every patron of the diner drew in a shocked gasp. Summer could hear their murmurs of disgust and disappointment. “For shame!”, “She didn’t!”, “That girl is trouble, didn’t I tell you Ethel?”

“I’m changing the locks, Sally. You can live with your mother. The kids are staying with me!” With that, he swung around and walked out of the diner.

“That’s fine you bully,” Sally yelled after him. “I never loved you anyway. I only married you because you knocked me up!” Tears were pouring down her face, but Summer could tell they weren’t tears from a broken heart. They were angry tears. “What are you all staring at?” She yelled at everyone, eyes shooting angry daggers at anyone stupid enough to catch her eye.

The cook, who it turned out was also the owner, stepped out from behind the counter and approached her. “Why don’t you take your break, now, Sally?”

She growled “Fine,” at him and stalked out of the diner.

“All right, folks. Let’s get back to our tables and finish our food.” He gestured back to the dishwasher. “Eddie will be around in a moment with fresh coffee.”

After Eddie finished filling up coffees, teas, juices and sodas, he returned to the counter. He stopped in front of Summer and smiled. “Nice to see you again. What will you have?”

“Um, a cup of coffee and blueberry pancakes with bacon. Extra crispy, please.”

“Sure thing.” He put her order in the window and then returned with a cup of steaming coffee.

“So, interesting morning here, huh?”

He nodded. “You could say that. Personally my adjective would be shit storm, but whatever floats your boat.”

Summer laughed. “I was trying to be polite.”

“No need. That was a completely screwed up situation and I still can’t believe almost the entire town was here to witness it. That’ll be enough fodder to get everyone through ‘til Christmas.”

“No doubt.” Summer sipped her coffee. “So, I guess this means you’re on serving duty until Sally gets back?”

“Looks that way. And since she’s madder than a hungry bear, I doubt she’ll be back today.” He nodded his head toward the food window. “He’ll be calling in Linda. She won’t be happy, but she’ll appreciate the extra cash.”

“I’m glad I got to see you before I left,” Summer began. “Heading home to NYC this afternoon.”

“Is the movie all finished, then?”

“No, just my part,” she said, smiling. She pulled out her business card and slid it across the counter. “If you ever find yourself up my way and feel like grabbing a coffee, give me a ring.”

He tucked her card in the front pocket of his jeans. “You never know,” he said, winking.

“Order up, Eddie.”

He turned, picked up the plate and set it down in front of her. “Butter? Syrup?”

“Yes to both, my job is done here,” she grinned.

They continued to chit-chat while she ate her breakfast, further cementing Summer’s decision to give Eddie her contact information. He was a good guy, one she’d like to get to know better. Not that she expected it to happen, she was after all leaving in a few short hours. The timing was just off, as it usually was for her. Someday.

A half hour later, Linda walked through the door and took her place behind the counter. Eddie stuck out his hand after clearing Summer’s plate and refilling her coffee. “Nice to meet you, Summer. Take care of yourself.”

“You too, Eddie. I hope the next stop on your journey is as interesting as this one has been,” she grinned.

He released her hand and headed to the back of the diner. Into his damp dungeon as he’d once referred to it.

Summer smiled, took a few more sips of her coffee and then decided to leave well enough alone. She paid her check and left a hefty sum behind for Eddie. Slinging her purse around her shoulder and grabbing her suitcase, she strolled out of the diner without a backward glance.

She’d been back in NYC for six months when her phone rang that evening. On her way out the door for another red carpet event, she answered her cell expecting it to be the limo driver downstairs. Sometimes they were so impatient.

“Hello?”

“Summer?”

“Yeah? I’m on my way down right now.”

“Um, yeah, this isn’t who you think it is.”

That made her pause. She pulled her phone away from her ear to check the number. It wasn’t one she recognized. “So, you’re not the limo driver?”

“No. This is Eddie. We met in a diner a few months ago…”

“Find yourself in my neck of the woods, did you?”

“Something like that. About that coffee…” he trailed off.

“Where are you staying?”

“Got no plans, just yet.”

“Why am I not surprised,” she laughed. “Let me ditch my limo ride, one sec.” She walked out of her building, spoke quickly to the limo driver, sent a short text to her manager (who would be very angry) and put the phone back to her ear. “All right, I’m all yours. You want just coffee or something more?” “Something more,” he said, voice dropping to a husky drawl. “Most definitely something more.”

My fourth attempt for The First Line. August 2013, 2862 words.

Sara

There must have been thousands standing in the rain that day. The sky was a dark grey and the clouds looked menacing, ready to unleash the crackling lightning at any moment. I hurried past the crowds, willing myself invisible for if one of them saw me, I would not be able to make my destination in time. Indeed, I would be mauled by the crowd. As the wife of the Prime Minister, they would demand my comments on the situation. I pulled my hood down low on my face, kept my eyes on the pavement and walked briskly down the street. I made it to the end of the block and turned the corner. I breathed a quick sigh of relief for making it this far, but halfway down the block I spotted the car that was waiting for me. My journey was almost complete and I continued my brisk pace.

Arriving at the waiting car, I stepped up to the window and knocked lightly. The window made a quiet hum as it was lowered and a black-gloved hand made an appearance. No words were exchanged as I passed the package inside. I watched as the gloved hands opened the package to ensure the treasure was tucked safely inside.

“I wish Jacob were here to see this moment. Words cannot express my gratitude,” a voice said quietly as he rewrapped the package. “For your loyalty, your courage and your honor, I have deposited a sum of five million dollars to your account.”

“But…you…why…?” I stammered. At a loss for words, I couldn’t think straight. This had never been about money.

“Please, take it and be free. You have given enough of your life to this cause. Thank you for all that you’ve done.”

As I stood watching the car drive off, I felt many emotions. The money was a shock, but mostly I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had come to this city ten years ago on a mission. I had infiltrated the network, the cabinet, the people and I had become one of them weaving my backstory to mix and match with theirs. Not many people remembered that I had once been an outsider and they all considered me to be one of them.

My duty was done. The Eclipse Sapphire was now back with its rightful owner and I had righted the wrong that had been done so long ago. No one here would see it that way, not for many years. Later, when the Prime Minister comes to tell me what happened, I’ll be gone. I know they’ll immediately suspect me and I’ll be painted guilty in their eyes, and rightly so.

I had to get out of town immediately. I had to disappear, but that wouldn’t be too difficult. I would shed my borrowed identity quickly, with each stop I made in my travels. I would be me again and I couldn’t wait. These last few weeks I had grown quite tired of my borrowed identity.

I turned and headed for my car. The crowds were still focused on the Prime Minister and his speech, my getaway was now or never. I turned the heat on high and hoped I’d dry out before I got to the airport. My luggage and most prized personal belongings were already packed and loaded into the car.

I guided the car down the back roads to avoid the crowds and breathed a quick sigh of relief when I made it to the highway with no trouble. I carefully drove the speed limit to avoid any unnecessary problems and when I reached the airport, I parked in the long-term lot. I hoped that parking there would inhibit anyone trying to track me down.

I withdrew the last five hundred dollars in my fake account and paid cash for my ticket to nowhere. Then I went into the restroom to change my clothes, put on a wig I’d bought yesterday and put in the green contact lenses I’d saved from Halloween. I spent some time in front of the mirror putting on a new face with makeup. Then I put on black square cut glasses and stepped into three-inch heels. I practiced walking around in the restroom for a bit to get used to them. No sense in going to so much trouble to change my appearance only to fall flat on my face in the middle of the terminal.

I went back to the airline desks and bought a ticket to Maui using my real identity and credit card. Thankfully, the flight would take off in twenty minutes and I had just enough time to get through security and board the plane.

Thirty minutes later, I stared out of the plane’s window as we taxied away from the terminal. I watched the rain continue to pour as my plane ascended the sky, taking me back to my old life. I prayed the rain wasn’t an omen and that I would find success, happiness and peace in my old home. I had a lot of traveling to accomplish before I arrived there.

I flew first to Maui and stayed for a few days before taking off for Alaska. From Alaska I flew to Japan, then to Bali, then to Greece and finally to my home in Italy.

Those first few years back home had been harder than I expected. I looked over my shoulder a lot. It took a lot of time to reacquaint myself with my family and friends. I mourned the loss of many relatives that had died while I’d been away. I became a bit of a hermit for awhile. I built up my farm. I met a man and married him. Had children with him. Watched them grow, marry and have children of their own. And through it all, through these last fifty years, all my secrets have stayed safe. No one ever came looking for me. No one has ever known my secret except the man I gave the package to. Until you.

How did you find me?

Tom

I was two years old when my parents moved us to France. There were no reasons given, no explanations. We moved in the middle of the night and only took the bare essentials with us. My sister was five when we moved and she always would dream of a huge crowd, rain pouring down and a man in black standing on a stage addressing the people. She never could remember what the speech was about and our parents said it was just a dream, but she’d actually been reliving a memory.

Five years ago, when our parents died, we took them back to Ireland to bury them in the family plot. When we entered the town hall, a mural the width and height of the wall was impossible to miss. My sister gasped and collapsed against me. “That’s my dream,” she whispered. We took care of our parents and then went back to the town hall to find out the story behind the mural on the wall.

No one wanted to discuss the details, except a small, quiet woman named Anna who worked in the back office. She would only speak to us in the evenings away from the town hall because too many people still couldn’t talk or hear about that fateful day. We spent many days learning about the Eclipse Sapphire and how the Prime Minister had come to own it, how it had passed down to his son and how it had mysteriously disappeared one day.

Anna told us that one day long ago a man and his wife had come to their village. He told the townsfolk of a terrible magic that was practiced by people in the next town over and how they had plans to come and take over this town. He showed them the Eclipse Sapphire and said that it would help to keep them safe. He could keep them safe, all they had to do was make him their leader.

Anna said everything was wonderful for years, until the Prime Minister died. When his eldest son inherited the Eclipse Sapphire and the Prime Minister position, the town began to fall apart. The son raised taxes, made people work longer and harder and he stole food from the people.
One day a woman came to town. The son fell in love with her and they got married. With a happy Prime Minister, the town went back to how it used to be, happy and prosperous.

The day pictured in the mural, was the day the Eclipse Sapphire disappeared into thin air. The Prime Minister ordered a search of the town and everyone’s home. No stone was left unturned. The townsfolk began to panic, especially when individuals were brought before the Prime Minister for questioning. The townsfolk began to turn against each other, accusing one another of stealing the Eclipse Sapphire, all in an effort to find favor with the Prime Minister. Nothing worked though, the Prime Minister was in a rage and he sent many people to jail or to their death.

Then one day, people began to disappear, which frightened the townsfolk even more. They thought the evil magic was coming for them since the Eclipse Sapphire was no longer in the town’s possession. But what really happened was that families were scared to stay in town and would disappear in the dark of the night to find a new home and to escape the wrath of the Prime Minister.

“Our family must have been one of those families,” my sister told Anna. “What ever happened to the Prime Minister’s wife?”

“No one knows,” Anna told us. “She, too, disappeared that day. Some say she stole the Sapphire, others think she was abducted with the Sapphire and some say she never existed. No one knows for sure and it drove the Prime Minister out of his mind.”

My sister and I had other ideas. So we went home to France and began to investigate. The Prime Minister’s wife was the key, we were certain.

Two years later, my son Daniel met a girl named Alexandra. They fell in love, they were engaged, we met her family and then the day of the wedding came. When she walked down the aisle, my heart stopped, for wrapped around her throat lay the Eclipse Sapphire. I couldn’t believe it. Of course, there was no time that day to question them, but when they returned from their honeymoon, we did. My new daughter-in-law had no answers so she called her parents and invited them to a family dinner.

I brought up the Eclipse Sapphire at dinner. I told her father that I found the jewel exquisite and I was interested in learning the history of it.

Her father, Micah, sat back in his seat and eyed us all carefully. The history of this jewel is long and important. This story should be told to each generation so that they can value and appreciate this precious heirloom. Micah told us a story of a woman who had given ten years of her life to right a wrong. Of a woman so courageous, so honorable, that she would forever hold a special place in his heart and the heart of his family.

He told us about a night, many years ago, when there had been an engagement party. His grandmother, Esther, had been wearing the Eclipse Sapphire around her neck and was planning to present it to her son’s fiancé that evening. It would show the world that they welcomed Sophie into the family, and were delighted with the match their son, Aiden had made. Later that night, when they announced the engagement and Esther gave the sapphire to Sophie, everyone cheered. Aiden had finally found someone to love. The family name and fortune would continue.

But it wasn’t to be. Sophie disappeared that night with the sapphire. Aiden spent many years searching and never finding Sophie or the sapphire. His parents, at a loss and needing Aiden to provide an heir, forced him into marriage. He did his part and produced two sons, Jacob and Micah, me. As we grew, our grandparents told us the story of the missing sapphire. When we grew up and our father was too old, we took up the search where he left off. But we also did a little more, we re-interviewed all the people who were still alive and had been at that engagement party. Through those interviews we found one common thread that hadn’t been investigated. A woman had come with Sophie to the party, labeled as a friend of the bride. We searched high and low and finally found that woman’s child, Sara. We traveled to her and after explaining our story to Sara, she scoffed at us. We had it all wrong. Sophie had actually been the woman’s twin sister. After the party, Sophie had gone up to her room and her sister, Olivia, had followed. Olivia had helped Sophie out of her dress and into her nightclothes. As Olivia was leaving the room, to ready herself for bed and the next day’s activities, a man came to the door. Olivia sent him away and decided to keep Sophie safe by sleeping in the room with her. Sophie was expecting Aiden to come to her that night, so she asked Olivia to sleep on a pallet in the corner. Olivia would be out of sight, but within helping range if that man came back.

Olivia, so exhausted from the day, had immediately fallen asleep and when she awoke later that night with a start, her sister was gone. Many years later, Olivia received a letter, one she never shared with anyone, except her daughter Sara. The letter was from Sophie, assuring Olivia that she was not dead, just kept prisoner in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Olivia tracked down Sophie and went to visit her in the village in secret, weeping and happy that Sophie was alive.

When Olivia went back home, they continued to correspond in secret.

My brother and I were amazed. We asked Sara if the letters had survived and she said yes, jumping up to retrieve and show them to us.

The whole sordid story was in those letters. The man had come back that night and kidnapped Sophie, forced her to marry him and as a dowry of sorts, had kept the sapphire. He’d treated Sophie badly, forcing her to bear him many children and keeping her locked away.

When Sara heard our story, she knew she had to do something to right the wrong to both our families. Her aunt had lived a miserable life, only able to communicate with her sister in secret and dying alone, locked in a room. Their father had searched his whole life for his true love and never finding her had died a sad, lonely death. Sara agreed to go to the town and somehow find a way to steal back the sapphire. By doing this, her aunt’s spirit could finally rest in peace and their family would have their family heirloom back.

My sister and I were so amazed to hear this whole story. And to know that we were now a part of it. I had to meet the woman who was so unselfish as to right a wrong that had no part of her. And I had to ask if I could write her story, your story – to set the record straight. To let the world know that you weren’t a thief, but an honorable and courageous woman.

Sara

Tears coursed down my wrinkled, paper-thin cheeks. Could I bear to let this man write my story? To record it for posterity and announce to the world what I had done.

I knew my days on Earth were ending soon. My sight had gone, my hands were numb and crooked from arthritis. My children had moved away and taken their children with them. My husband had been gone for many years and all I had left were my memories.

And so in the final days of my life, I recounted my early life and those ten years. I told him of my fake marriage to the Prime Minister, how I plotted and schemed to steal the sapphire. How I had lived, and how I’d escaped. He recorded it all and when I thought we were done, he asked for more. He wanted it all, my whole life. He said people would want to know what had become of me. I told him my life after was boring, but he insisted. He wanted to know how I coped when I first came home, what falling in love was like and how I kept the secret from everyone.
I gave him more. All. Until the moment I took my last breath.

Tom

For an amazing woman full of love, courage, honor and strength.
Sara, may you rest in peace and know you are loved and revered by all for your journey.
I dedicate this book to you.

My third attempt for The First Line. February 2013, 2449 words

On a perfect spring morning with flat seas and clear blue skies, Captain Eli P. Cooke made a terrible mistake.

Eli had gotten up at four am for his usual five-mile run on the beach. Typically, he would finish his run, take a quick shower and then grab coffee and a breakfast sandwich at his favorite cafe. Today was not a normal morning. The fight with his wife the night before had kept him from sleeping last night. He needed some peace and quiet, so he sat on the beach after his run, enjoying the sunrise and the calm waters.

The gist of the argument was that his wife wanted him to step back from his responsibilities at the precinct. She’d been nagging him for years to cut back, but last night she’d put her foot down. Their children were in college now and she wanted to spend time with him. Travel the world, enjoy their lives before they got too old to do more than sit in a nursing home.

The funny thing was she was right. These were their golden years and they should be enjoying it. Sitting here enjoying the sunrise and the peace and quiet of the morning only made her argument more valid. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d just sat down and relaxed, appreciated the beauty of the day, or the things he had.

All that being said, he loved his job. He couldn’t imagine a day when he wouldn’t walk into the “box” and see his hardworking, loyal detectives. He couldn’t imagine not sharing a joke with Michaels about the cost of college tuition, or fawning over pictures of Brady’s new baby, or sending Saunders off on wild goose chases for coffee and lunch. Couldn’t imagine trying to sneak past them with a surprise box of doughnuts. Couldn’t imagine not being in the middle of all the investigations, or being a part of bringing the baddies in off the street – even indirectly. He sat behind a desk now, part of the climb up the ladder. Nevertheless, he mentored these men and women, shared their frustrations, their joy, their anger. It was a part of him, it was what made him tick.

Vera had never understood that. She viewed it as just a job, not understanding being a cop ran through his veins. She lived in fear for most of their married life of him dying in the line of duty. They’d been past that fear for about five years now, but she wouldn’t be happy with anything less than retirement. “You’ve done your duty,” she’d said last night. “It’s our time now.”

Thrusting his fingers through his hair in frustration, he stood up and walked down to the water. Quickly taking off his running shoes and socks, he threw them far up the sand to keep them from the waves. Diving under the waves, the icy chill of the water cleared his mind. Rolling onto his back, he linked his arms behind his head and floated on top of the water.

He really should give Vera what she wanted. She’d stood by his side all these years. Now the kids were out of the house, and she was wandering the rooms like a woman without a country. She’d worked hard all these years to keep him and the kids organized, and on target with everything they had to do. He’d had a really great career, and she was a big part of why it had been great. It was as good a time as any to retire. They had the best closure percentage in the state, and with that also came the best prosecuting percentage. Michaels was more than ready to step into Eli’s position, and Eli wouldn’t feel the least bit worried about Michaels taking over. He was a good cop, he had great instincts and Eli knew Michaels was ready to get out of the field.

Mind made up, he swam to shore. Stooping to pick up his shoes and socks, he strode up the beach and entered the house. He stepped into the shower in the basement, washing off the sweat, salt and sand. Towel slung around his hips, he walked up the stairs to the kitchen. Vera had left the coffee pot on for him and a note telling him she’d gone to her mother’s for the weekend to calm down. Cursing, he poured himself a cup and went into the bedroom to get dressed.

Just like her to take off before they’d settled things, or he’d had a chance to work it out in his mind. She couldn’t even stick around to see what he had to say after a sleepless night. Vera knew he did his best thinking while running, she knew he’d have an answer when he got back this morning. Probably thought she’d lost this one, he thought to himself. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Thirty minutes later he was dressed, eating a plate of eggs and bacon and on his third cup of coffee. When he finished, he was heading to her mother’s to set things straight. No way was he waiting out the weekend for her to return. They were going to settle this now and then he was going in on Monday and giving his notice. She wanted time together, well, she was going to get it. And it started today!

Sitting at the counter in the kitchen, he was reading the paper, catching up on the sporting news. The Dodgers were having a good season so far, but Eli wasn’t naïve enough to think it would last. They always blew it mid-season and ended up so far behind that the playoffs were a distant dream. The ringing of his cell phone broke the silence. Eli felt a moment of regret, he’d been enjoying it.

“Cooke,” he answered.

“Captain, we got a call.” Michaels said.

“Where?” Eli grabbed his pen out of his pocket and took notes while Michaels explained.

“Corner of Oxford and Main, four-car pileup. I’m headed there now.”

“What the hell happened?”

“Not sure, Captain.”

“Alright, I’m on my way.” Shaking his head, Eli rinsed his plate and coffee cup and placed them in the sink. Grabbing his jacket and keys, he ran out the door.

Ten minutes later, he arrived at the scene and was relieved to see the ambulance was already there. Eli went in search of Michaels for the report. Just as he was passing under the police line, he got his first good look at the cars. A silver hatchback, a black Suburban, a red Jetta and an electric blue beetle. Eli strode closer to the cars. Vera had a beetle, an electric blue one with a dark blue dahlia magnet on the back. The kids had gotten it for her for Mother’s day last year and she’d gone right outside to clean a space on the car for it. Vera loved that sticker and that car. After the kids had all gotten their licenses and their own cars, Vera hadn’t wasted any time in trading in her beat-up minivan for something fun and sporty. Eli didn’t blame her, she’d had to make do and shuffle them around for twenty years.

The closer he got to the wreckage, the faster his heart beat. His palms grew damp and sweat broke out on his forehead. The magnet, it was there. “Vera!” he gasped.

“Captain! Captain!” Eli swung his body around and stared at Michaels. “Sir! She’s over here.”

Eli rushed over to the stretcher. There she lay, pale as the sheet that covered her. Her eyes were closed and she was still as death. Snatching up her hand, he brushed her hair back from her forehead. “Vera,” he whispered.

“Sir, she’s alive, but not responding. I’ll get the EMT to come over and brief you.”

Michaels hurried off, but Eli barely noticed. He was focused intently on his wife. “Vera, can you hear me? Wake up!”

She didn’t even flinch. Panic was setting in, and he searched all around for the promised EMT. He didn’t want to leave her side, but his need for answers was quickly overtaking his patience. Seconds later, Michaels rushed over with an EMT.

“This is her husband, Captain Cooke,” Michaels explained.

“Sir,” the EMT acknowledged. “I’m Brendan. She’s stable, sir, but not responding. She has a gash on the side of her head, so we think she’s unconscious right now. We’re loading up another patient momentarily and we’ll take them both to the hospital.”

Eli nodded. “I’m going with you.”

“Sir, with two patients and myself, there isn’t any extra room in the back. You’ll have to follow us in your personal vehicle.”

“Fine.”

The EMT hurried off to help his partner load the other patient. Eli pierced Michaels with a glare. “What happened here?”

“Best we can tell right now, the Suburban ran the light. Looks like he rammed the hatchback head-on. The Jetta swerved to avoid them and slammed into the beetle.”

“Son of a bitch!” Eli swore. He continued to hold her hand until the EMTs loaded her into the ambulance. “Michaels, you’re in charge!” he yelled as he raced to his car. Turning on the sirens, he peeled away from the curb and rushed to the hospital. He beat the ambulance by two minutes, enough time for him to park and meet them at the Emergency entrance.

The doors of the ambulance burst open. The EMTs brought her stretcher out first and Brendan jumped back on the stretcher and started CPR.

“What’s happening?” Eli asked.

“She crashed on the way here. Move aside.”

Shocked at the turn of events, Eli rushed behind them. They moved her into a trauma room and Eli naturally followed. “Sir, you can’t be in here!” a nurse told him sternly.

“She’s my wife!” Eli insisted. “I have to be with her. I’m retiring, I have to tell her that!”

The nurse pursed her lips and regarded Eli. Finally deciding she’d have better luck at getting him out if she allowed him his way for a minute, she relented and let him pass.

The alarms and buzzers were earsplitting, the doctors and nurses moving in orderly chaos. Eli blocked them all out and focused solely on his wife. Eli grabbed Vera’s hand and leaned down to her ear. “Vera, it’s me, Eli. Vera, you have to fight. I’m giving my notice and I’m retiring and I’ll take you wherever you want to go. Fight, please, please, please! You were right, Vera. These are our golden years and we deserve to live them up right. You deserve to be shown the world, you’ve done all the hard work. Fight and come back to me!”

“Sir, you have to leave now,” the nurse told him as she pulled on his arm.

“What’s going on?” Eli asked.

“They’re going to try to fix her, sir, but you have to leave. You’re in the way.”

Eli nodded and slowly let go of her hand. He felt as if he was ripping his heart out as he walked away. He wandered out into the hall, looking for the waiting room. Sitting down on a chair, he stared off into space. He shouldn’t have taken the swim, or sat on the beach to watch the sun come up. He should have just gone straight inside after his run and talked to her. If he’d caught her before she left, this never would have happened.

He should call his children, let them know what was going on, but all he could do was sit and stare at the wall.

An hour later a doctor came into the waiting room. “Mr. Cooke?”

“Yeah,” he said as he stood up and shook the doctor’s hand. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s stable. We stopped the bleeding in her brain and stitched up the cut on her head. We’ll be watching her for any swelling, and we’ll take it hour by hour. Once we move her to a room, you can go sit with her.”

Eli let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “She’s going to be alright?” He was almost afraid to ask.

“She’s stable. If she continues as she is, she should make a full recovery.”

Eli nodded. “Thank you!”

“Sure, I’ll send a nurse out to get you once they’ve gotten her moved.”

Eli nodded again. He turned to the window and pulled out his cell phone. Time to make the phone calls and bring in the troops. He called his children and told them what had happened. They promised they’d come as soon as they could.

The nurse came out to escort him to her room a couple minutes after he’d gotten off the phone.

Eli pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down. He gingerly picked up her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “I’m so proud of you, Vera. You fought. I love you so much, and I’m so sorry we fought last night.”

His heart clenched when he felt her squeeze his hand. “Vera? Can you hear me?”

He felt her squeeze his hand again, and felt a smile break out across his face. His heart soared and he knew everything was going to be alright. He let out another breath and started talking to her.

“We’ll go back to Cancun. We’ll stay at the Hilton and drink mai tais, we’ll eat whatever you want and we’ll play in the ocean all day. We’ll go out to fancy dinners and laze the day away. We’ll celebrate our thirty years of marriage by going back to where it all began,” he said.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. “I always knew you were a romantic at heart, Eli.”

“Vera, I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Just please don’t ever leave me again!”

Vera smiled and squeezed his hand. “Deal. I love you, Eli.”

“I love you more,” he said.

Vera tsked. “How do you know?” Eli smiled. His heart rate was slowing down to normal, and the panicked adrenaline rush he’d been riding for hours was starting to recede. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I just do.”

My second attempt for The First Line. November 2012, 961 words

Sometimes, when it’s quiet, I can remember what my life was like before moving to Cedar Springs.

Most of the time, though, I don’t want to remember. Remembering is painful and I moved here to escape from the pain. I was eighteen when I gave birth to Jasper. He was the light of my life and my whole world revolved around him. He was two when he was diagnosed with leukemia. And he was sixteen when he died.

The night he died, the circus came into town. Jasper’s two loves were the circus and magic. His dream was to be a magician in the circus. He wanted to bring magic and tricks to the show.

On his way to the magic store that morning, Jasper collapsed. We’ve been battling the leukemia for his whole life it seems, and everyday I feared the phone call. I had tickets to the circus for that night. Jasper was beyond excited and I couldn’t wait to watch him enjoy the show. He said he planned to sneak into the lion’s cage and work his magic. I had no idea what he meant, but I couldn’t bear to dim the light in his eyes.

He was rushed to the hospital and I met them there. Our oncologist was not optimistic. He didn’t think Jasper would make it through this time.

“But what about the circus? We’ve had tickets for six months? You know Jasper has been on cloud nine about going,” I said.

“It can’t happen, I’m sorry. His numbers are through the roof. He’s coughing up blood. He can barely hold himself up.”

I shook my head. It didn’t seem real. “He’s been dreaming about this his whole life,” I said as tears started rolling down my cheeks.

I decided to go to the circus. I would videotape it so that when Jasper was well enough he could watch it. And it was lovely. The clowns, the colors, the high-wire ladies. I cried the whole time. I wished Jasper could have been here. He would have been so enthusiastic, jumping in his seat, giving encouragement, just shining.

When the lions came out and started their act, I became hysterical. The couple next to me looked like they wanted to flee. Crazy crying lady at the circus. Since when? I decided to leave. It was too much, knowing Jasper would never see the circus live.

I returned to the hospital, hoping Jasper was asleep. I didn’t want him to see me this way. I walked into his room and was shocked to see it empty. I ran out to the nurses’ station. “Where’s my son? Why didn’t someone call me?” The nurse put her hands up, beseeching me to calm down. It was too much. I was wrung out.

“He’s perfectly fine. He went for a walk with one of the orderlies. I think they’re up on the roof,” the nurse said gently.

I flew up the stairs. No matter how long this battle had gone on, I still wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I want to keep him with me every second of every day. I want to take him to a million circuses. I want him to live his dream and work with the lions and magic.

I finally reached the top. I burst through the door and came to a sudden stop. There he was, sitting on the roof and looking up at the stars and moon. He looked so peaceful and happy. “Jasper,” I whispered.

“Hey Mom! Look at the moon and the stars! Aren’t they incredible?”

“They are. I brought you something,” I gestured to the video camera.

“Oh cool, what is it?”

“A surprise. Let’s head down to your room and we’ll watch it together.”

I watched as the orderly picked up Jasper and carried him to the stairs. Jasper was still going on and on about the stars and the moon. Once he was comfortable, he grew impatient.

“Mom, press play. Let’s watch the movie you brought! Is this the one of my birth again?” Jasper laughed.

Shaking my head, I laughed and pressed play. “No, this I think you’ll enjoy much more!”

Jasper sucked in his breath. “Oh Mom, this is fantastic. Thank you!”

I sat down next to him and just watched him. He was so enthusiastic, just like I knew he would be. He cringed and held his breath when the tight-rope ladies did their thing. He laughed out loud for the clowns. He cheered for the elephants. And went crazy when they shot the man out of the cannon. When the lions came, he sat still. Unmoving until the video stopped. “I’m sorry Jasper, that’s the end. I couldn’t finish.”

“That’s okay, Mom. I really enjoyed it. I’m so glad you went. I know it was hard for you.”

“I just have such high hopes for you. I really wanted you to get to see the circus today. Sometimes I get so mad. Why you? You’re sixteen and haven’t lived yet,” I said as tears started to fall down my face. I brushed at them angrily.

“Mom, how can you say that?” He asked as he squeezed my hand. “I’ve lived! So much, every day, for sixteen years. You make sure of it. You make sure that I live and experience life.” He gestured to the television. “This video is proof!”

I hugged him and held my tears at bay.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too. So much.” I lost Jasper that night. Quietly, in his sleep. I watch the video of the circus every year on his anniversary. It was on a bright, starry night that the traveling circus rolled into town and I lost my son. And when it’s quiet, I remember.

This is the first story I wrote for The First Line. August 2012, 3393 words.

A light snow was falling as Charlie Reardon left the diner and made his way down Madison Street.

“Ugh, more snow,” he grumbled to himself as he looked around in disgust and burrowed further into his heavy winter coat. Already they’d had three feet of snow and it was only October. Shivering into his coat, he trudged on down the street.

It was Friday night and Charlie was heading home. It had been a long week and he was looking forward to spending the weekend alone. If the weather was any indication, he’d be spending the weekend inside, which suited him to a tee. His new video game had arrived Wednesday and he was eager to play. He’d held off playing it, knowing he’d stay up all night and end up tired and irritable at work, only ensuring an even longer week. He began to strategize and imagine how he’d begin, becoming completely oblivious to all around him.

Video games were his life, sometimes he and his friends would have marathon gaming sessions. His dream in life was to create his own game with him as the star.

Reaching his apartment, he quickly divested himself of his coat, scarf, hat and boots. He walked into the kitchen and started to brew some coffee. While that was cooking, he booted up his computer. Rubbing his hands together, an excited gleam entered his eyes. Walking back to the kitchen to retrieve his coffee, he hurried back to his desk and sat down.

Glancing around to ensure he had everything he might need for the foreseeable future, he started the game. As it loaded, it told a story of a woman kidnapped from her one true love. Sent to rot in a castle far away from everything she knows and everyone she loves, her one true love begins a campaign to find her. Leaving no stone unturned and no villain alive, he will rescue his love – come death or hell.

Leaning back in his chair Charlie looked around for the game box and groaned. “What is this crap?” Not able to find the box, he ejected the disc from his computer. “It says ‘Massacre in Oblivion’, but this is not the right game.”

Knowing all the stores were closed for the night and not having anything better to do, Charlie decided to play the game anyway. He put the disc back in his computer and restarted the game.

He skipped over the story, and created his avatar. Then he entered the game. Just as he was about to start his first mission, a fly landed on his computer screen. “Shoo!” Charlie waved his hand in front of the screen, but the fly wouldn’t move. Annoyed, Charlie flicked at the screen, trying to get the fly off his very expensive game monitor. Instead of flicking the fly, Charlie flicked his screen. A tremor rolled through his finger, up his hand to his arm and then exploded through his body. The pain was more than his brain could take and he passed out.

The sound of footsteps woke and confused him. He lived alone. Who could be in his apartment? Slowly, as his senses came back, he realized that he wasn’t sleeping on his bed. He could smell grass – fresh, spring grass. He could smell dirt, the pungent smell reminiscent of spring showers. He reached up and rubbed a hand on his face, feeling facial hair that definitely wasn’t there before. He slowly opened his eyes, afraid of what he’d see.

“What the hell?!” he roared as he jumped to his feet. “Where the hell am I?”

“Oh hello, kind sir. Did you need directions to your mission?”

Charlie turned his head and stared at an impossibly short, round man. He looked like a short version of Santa. He had white hair, a white moustache and beard and kindly blue eyes. The man barely reached Charlie’s stomach. “Who are you?”

“My name is Lancelot. How can I help you, sir?”

“I must be dreaming. It’s been a long week, I must have passed out playing the game. I have to be dreaming,” Charlie muttered as he gave himself a shake.

“Um, sir. I think you should sit down. To go home, you must complete the mission. You must save your true love – and do so without dying. If you die in the game, you die in real life. Only once you’ve rescued her, can you return to your world.”

“True love? I don’t have a true love. I barely have friends. Are you out of your mind? How did I get here? Let me out!” Charlie looked about frantically, trying to find the door out.

“I’m so sorry, sir.” Lancelot sighed, was he going to go through this with everyone? “You do have a true love, and she is in a castle. You must complete the missions and rescue her if you want to go home. Come, follow me. I can help you to get started, but it’ll be up to you to complete the missions and rescue her.”

“Rescue her? I don’t even know who “her” is! What’s her name? What is she to me? I don’t date, I’m not married. The last girl I spoke to seriously was in 10th grade. She ditched me at our school dance for a cuter boy. I swore off women after that. She’s nothing to me. I want OUT! NOW!” Charlie raged.

“It’s not to be, sir. She may have been your love in a past life, or she is the one you’re destined to be with. It matters not. You must complete the missions and rescue her if you want to go home.”

Charlie stared daggers at the little man. Racking his brain, he tried to remember the events from the night. But other than starting the game, he couldn’t remember a thing. Until he could figure a way out of this, it looked like he was going to have to play along.

“Fine. Show me what to do. But I’m warning you, if I find a way out of this – I’m leaving. She’s nothing to me and I could care less if she’s stuck in that castle for the rest of her life.”

Nodding his head, Lancelot turned and led Charlie to the first mission. “After you complete each mission, you will receive a new one. You’ll only ever have one mission at a time. As you complete each mission, they’ll gradually get harder and harder. Your final mission will, of course, be to save Gwendolyn.”

“Gwendolyn? That’s her name?”

“Yes.”

“Am I the first person to go through this?”

Sighing again, Lancelot shook his head. “No sir. You are the fifth to come. All others have perished. I do not wish you the same fate, so please listen to me. You must be fast, smart. You must think ahead and you must ask questions. You must be alert. And most importantly, you must be her absolute true love in order to rescue her.”

“How? I’ve never met her, never laid eyes on her, never spoken to her! It’s over before it’s even begun! Kill me now, because there’s no way I’m getting out of here.”

“Not so fast, sir. As I said, she may have been your true love in a past life. And if that’s the case, this is your chance to make it right and be with her forever.”

“Seriously, a past life? Who believes in that anymore?” Charlie shook his head and paced away from Lancelot. “I’m not the man you seek. I want to go back to my crappy apartment and start playing the game I bought earlier this week. I’m not your guy.”

“As you go through the game, you come upon memories of your life together before the tragedy. By the end, you should remember who she is and why she’s your true love.”

“So one minute you tell me I AM her true love and the next minute you tell me I must BE her true love. Which is it?”

“You ARE her true love, but it’s apparent you don’t remember that. So by the end of the game, you must BE her true love in order to rescue her.” Lancelot placed his hand on Charlie’s arm. “Come,” he urged. “We must get started.”

It occurred to Charlie as he followed Lancelot that he was essentially the star of this game. This was like his dream come true. All of a sudden he was excited to continue. He would win this battle if it was the last thing he did. No way would he let the game, or himself, down!

Lancelot handed Charlie his first mission and he immediately opened it to read: Mission One – Find Gwendolyn’s locket.

“Really, Lance? Find her locket? There are no clues, no..”

“This is where I come in, sir,” Lancelot interrupted. “Follow me.” As Lancelot led Charlie down the path, he explained. “All missions have clues. Either there’ll be a picture on the mission, or the way the words are written, or even who delivers the mission – these will all assist you in completing the mission. Once you complete a mission successfully, you’ll be rewarded with a memory of Gwendolyn.”

“So the pictures, wording or person will be the clue to help me solve the mission?”

“Yes. Look at the mission again and tell me what you see.”

Charlie took the mission from Lancelot’s hand and he looked it over. All he could see was a very faded picture behind the words. If you weren’t looking close enough, you would miss it. He had when he’d first read the mission. The picture was of a small cabin by a lake. It showed a glittering gold color partially hidden in the sand of the lake. That must be the locket. But where to find the cabin?

Charlie told Lancelot what he saw and then asked how he was to find the cabin when he’d never been in this land before.

“I am taking you to the cabin. Once you have the locket in your possession, I’ll be able to give you a map.”

After an hour, Lancelot veered off the path and continued through some trees. Charlie could make out the lake. The sun was shining down and the sparkling water was hard to miss through the trees.

“Go,” Lancelot urged. “Find the locket, quick.”

Charlie didn’t need to be told twice. He jogged through the trees all the way to the water. He walked up and down the shoreline. He took the mission out of his pocket and tried to position himself where he thought the locket was. He went all the way down to the water’s edge and then into the water. He was about ankle deep when he saw it wrapped around a rock. Reaching down, he untangled the locket from the rock.

He unclasped the locket and looked down into the stunning face of a woman he could only assume was Gwendolyn. Her eyes were a piercing blue. Her skin a pale alabaster and flawless. Her hair, the deepest brown he’d ever seen. This was Gwendolyn? He was a lucky man if this all turned out to be true!

Closing the locket, he put the necklace around his own neck to keep it safe. He walked back up the shore to find Lancelot watching him.

“Like what you saw?”

“Indeed, I did. It will make this journey a lot more pleasurable in the end.”

“Yes, I suppose it does. But do not get hung up on her beauty. She is an intelligent woman. Clever and quick thinking – otherwise she would not still be alive,” Lancelot paused to let the sink in. “Come into the cabin, I will show you the map before I leave.”

As soon as Charlie crossed the threshold, a vision came to him of Gwendolyn looking down at him. She was laughing, the twinkle in her eyes so beautiful he could not look away.

“Why must you laugh at me?” he heard himself ask.

“Aw, darling – I could do naught else but laugh. You are my own love and I laugh because of that love.”

“I lie here on the ground, wounded for trying to keep you from falling…and you laugh at me?”

“Only because I love that you tried to save me from falling. You are not wounded, except in your pride. Stand darling and let’s continue our walk in the garden. I have missed you so.”

“And I you, my love.” He rose and took her hand. He discretely placed a loving kiss on her neck and watched as the blush rose steadily up her face. “Ah, I love when you do that for me,” he whispered.

The vision left as quickly as it came and Charlie stumbled into the cabin. “Whoa,” he said as he shook his head.

Lancelot grabbed his arm and led him to a chair. “Are you all right, sir?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I had one of those visions you spoke of,” he said. He described the vision, ending with her saying she missed him. “I wonder where I had been.”

Lancelot cast a startled look at Charlie. “That was the vision you received?”

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

“That isn’t the vision any of the others received. They all received the same vision – her being tied up in the castle.”

“Mine was different. What could it mean?”

“I think it’s apparent. You are the one. You will not fail.”

Charlie stared at Lancelot. He was the one? He had planned to make the best of this situation and win if possible. But now, it took on greater meaning. Charlie jumped up from the chair. “Where’s the map? Let’s get moving!”

“I’m afraid I must leave once I give you the map. If you succeed, I will see you at the end. God speed, my friend.” He took the map from his pocket and passed it to Charlie. Resting his hand on Charlie’s shoulder, he looked him straight in the eye. “Rescue her, sir. I will be waiting for you.”

Charlie nodded. “Thank you for your help so far. I will see you soon.”

He watched as Lancelot walked out of the cabin. Once he was alone, he read the map. He found the cabin he was in – in the lower right hand corner of the map. And he could see the castle – in the upper left hand of the map. Missions be damned. He was going straight to the castle. He’d take care of whatever came his way, but he wasn’t going to take his time getting there. Gwendolyn needed saving, and he was going to save her. There was no way he was giving up on the love he saw in her eyes – love she held for him and him alone.

Charlie raced out of the cabin and took a path through the forest. He had no idea how far the castle was. There was no legend on the map to indicate distance, so he went with the assumption the castle was far away.

Time seemed to stand still as he raced through the forest. He was out of the forest in no time, racing across a meadow. On the other side of the meadow he could see rocks and dirt. He stopped for a second to consult the map. He could see both the meadow and the rocky area. He was going in the right direction.

In no time at all, he reached the castle. Unsure what he would find inside, he carefully open the door and entered. It was dark and quiet. He was expecting hell, and there appeared to be nothing amiss. He walked through the rooms downstairs. Finding them all empty, he rushed up the stairs to the second floor. He continued his search and found nothing. He climbed a third set of stairs. Only one door was on this floor, and he walked to it. He knew he’d find her on the other side. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.

He opened the door and slowly went through the door. Hugging the wall, he climbed the stairs. When he got to the top, he crouched low to take in the scene.

Gwendolyn was tied to the wall. Her arms were in shackles above her head and a gag was placed over her mouth. She caught sight of Charlie crouched at the top of the stairs and her eyes widened. She frantically looked to the other side of the room and then back to Charlie.

And he understood, her captor was there. He belly crawled around the staircase and took in his surroundings. He was without a weapon, but he could see several near the captor. There was no way he’d be able to retrieve one without being noticed…or stopped.

“I see you have found us, Dark Knight. Come to retrieve your woman? I have kept her alive so you can watch her die, as I watched my own die at your hands.”

And it was then it all came back. The dark war years. The king from another land he was sent to protect. The demon who possessed the king’s wife and made her go mad. She picked up a sword from a fallen soldier and ran fully toward the king. She would have killed him had he not stopped her.

Charlie bowed low to the king. “Your majesty, I but did what I could to keep you alive.”

“I don’t want to be alive!” The king shouted. “She was my whole world and I don’t want to be a part of it without her. You took her from me and now I will repay the favor.”

“Sir, she was mad with the demon possession. Please, don’t do this. Take my life instead, please,” Charlie begged as he dropped to his knees in front of the king. “Please, I am sorry.” Charlie shook his head sadly. “But Gwendolyn, sir she has nothing to do with this. Her only mistake is loving me. Please, spare her.”

“You did not spare my queen. I must avenge her murder.” The king sighed. “Very well, I will fight you. Pick from the weapons on the floor. We shall duel to the death.”

Charlie stood slowly and perused the weapons offered. Picking up a sword, he immediately dropped to a defensive stance. He would see what the king had to offer. He didn’t wish to kill the king, but he would if it meant saving Gwendolyn. The king was mad himself, mad with grief and Charlie understood it only too well. He’d be in the same predicament if anything ever happened to Gwendolyn.

The king came at him low, aiming for a belly wound. Charlie neatly sidestepped, and marked the king’s upper arm. The king grunted and came at Charlie again. Charlie allowed the king to draw blood on his arm, hoping the king would become overly confident. The king smiled and came at Charlie again. Charlie sidestepped and marked the king’s lower arm.

They continued in this vein until the King collapsed on the floor. He’d lost a lot of blood, and that combined with his grief and the toll of waiting for Charlie to finally arrive – had worn the king out.

“Kill me now, you win.”

“I won’t kill you king. I cannot murder you as your are avenging your wife. I will release Gwendolyn and send for a doctor. This will make us even. Your life for your wife’s.”

Charlie stood and walked over to Gwendolyn. “My love, are you unhurt?”

Gwendolyn nodded her head as Charlie released her hands and untied her gag. “Charles! Charles!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed kisses all over his face.

Charlie held her tightly to his chest and briefly closed his eyes. She was safe. All was right in his world.

Picking her up in his arms, he crossed the room and went down the stairs. “Will you please marry me, now?” He begged.

Gwendolyn smiled up at him. “As soon as you procure a license and a vicar!”

“I love you, Gwendolyn. Welcome to your happy ever after.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be, than in your arms forever.” “You’ll never be anywhere else again,” he promised as he placed a kiss on her lips.