All fingers and thumbs

My antagonists are the ancient Chinese monsters (Mai-Mai, the headless hunk, Nu-kua-shih, the lady snake, Pin-Pin-Hut, the dragon, all 2020-year-old monsters appearing from the Book Shanhaijing.
But at the end of the novel, the main antagonist turns out to be Poppy Ryan, the second main character and girlfriend of Wolf Meyer, the main character. She turns out to be the fourth monster in the Book, and she has taken a human form in the redhead Poppy, the journalist.

Name: Poppy Ryan
Age: 32 years old, but in reality 2020 years old
Physical attributes: redhead, green eyes, very attractive; in reality Fish woman Yuang
Occupation: journalist
Education: University
Culture: American, caucasian
Religion: agnostic
Family: parents and one little brother Joe
Relationship status: single but becoming girlfriend of Wolf
Friends: Wolf, Xiao
Pets: a cat who she named Yuang (her own name)
Personality: lively, bubbly
Likes: men, gin, her job
Dislikes: the truth
Strengths: persuasive
Weakness: very convincing in lying and hiding the truth
Motivations: the Book Shanhaijing
Desires: to obtain the book Shanhaijing

I want my story to be told in a linear chronology with the story of Wolf and non-linear with the story of the ancient Chinese Book Shanhaijing. So, the story set in the present time will be intertwined with chapters of the Book itself, descending 2020 years in time.

Outline
A fairly ordinary guy is living his life in Los Angeles with a new dog. He is a bike courier by day and a poet, and a male escort by night. [2 days]

A 2020-year-old Chinese book shows up at an auction. Wolf Meyer buys it cheap because no one recognizes its significance to the world. [1 day] He meets a girl, Poppy Ryan. They start an affair.[2 days] Strange events occur in their lives (the house is suddenly set on fire, pets disappear, the main character experiences mysterious phenomenons like knocking sounds in the middle of the night, pawprints in the bathroom, reflections in mirrors). [2 weeks]

Together they investigate China with the help of professor Xiao Tan.[1 week] They meet monsters.[1 week] The Book predicts a deadline for a significant disaster that hits their city (Los Angeles) and will kill many people. Can they stop the prophecy? [1 day]The answer is the Book.[1 week] By defeating the monsters, he gets into another state of mind and reads the Book differently. [1 week]

The message he now reads in the Book (the riddle) is explained to him, and he knows how to save Los Angeles. [1 day]Then the Book disappears, and Poppy with it.[1 day] She played him all along and turned out to be an ancient monster as well. [1 day]

Chronology: 8 weeks and two days, so approximately 2 months.

Freewriting for 20 minutes. I set the alarm.

"Are you comfortable," he whispered as he stroked her greyish hair with tender caresses.

She smiled a timid smile, her wrinkled, 69-year-old face hidden in his armpit. "I think so. I have never done this before, you know, you must be gentle with me."

"How did you decide to make use of the agency?" Wolf tried to reassure her, make her at ease and relax more.

She laughed out loud. "That is a funny story, "she changed position in the bed and looked at him, liking what she saw.

"My best friend Camilla had been in a good mood for weeks. I asked her why, but she wouldn't tell me. Then one day, she confided in me. She and her husband had decided it was time for her to enjoy herself without him. Him being so sick for a long time. She was a healthy 70 year old you know, beautiful, full of life. He had leukemia, and she was constantly caring for him. It drained her; she was a bit burned out. So, they searched the Internet, and they found your agency. G-E-N-T-L-E-M-E-N-callers 0500-something. She was a little apprehensive at first, as I was obviously. But she chooses Barry, a very nice young man. On the first date, they just talked, but on the second, it was a hit. She told me. He made her love; he made her scream with joy. It didn't take much to satisfy an old lady, and she enjoyed his company so much, they have been together once a week for a month now. Her husband Dave is okay with it. He likes his wife happy."

He listened to her with an attentive gleam in his eye—same old story. Los Angeles was full of them. That's what he loved about his night job. It was very satisfying to be kind to older ladies. They deserved the attention, and they were always very grateful, and they were all beautiful in their own right.

Slowly he kissed her bare brown nipple. She shivered but did not attempt to push him away, and she was ready to receive the complete treatment of his work description. He took her breasts in his warm hands and massaged them slowly.

She groaned and inhaled deeply. "Will you be tender? Will you be kind?"

"I promise, "Wolf smiled softly and went down to work. They only had two-and-a-half hours left; he wanted to ensure she would be satisfied and smile for several days because of the memories.

He showed her how to feel like a wanted woman. He showed her that she still mattered; he showed her he cared.

After two-and-a-half hours of pleasantries, she poured him a glass of red wine.

"Let's talk for a few minutes. You are looking at a delighted woman. How much do I owe you again?"

"That'll be 500 dollars for three hours," he sipped his wine and looked around. She had a beautiful house in the suburbs, and she could afford his fee. He would love to add her to the list of regulars. It's been nothing more than a fulfilling evening, and he had enjoyed it as much as she had.

They parted like old friends.

I think I can identify two universal themes in my novel (from the list): Quest for knowledge AND survival.

Quest for knowledge in understanding and researching by the three of the ancient Chinese Book Shanhaijing. I want to explore the possibility of intertwining two plots into one story. The quest of Wolf, Poppy, and Xiao AND the story of Shanhaijing, The Book of Mountains and Seas revealed. An extraordinary encyclopedia containing strange and terrifying creatures that the Ancient Chinese believed existed on Earth.

Survival in Wolf's fight on life and death with those three monsters from the Book to save Los Angeles from grave danger.

They coincide with EXPLORATION and CONFLICT.

Brainstorming resolutions to resolve the conflicts within the themes.

- EXPLORATION (Quest for Knowledge):

Resolution 1: the Book disappears from Wolf's apartment aka is lost in the fire
Resolution 2: Wolf and Poppy go to Beijing and meet with Professor Xiao, an expert on ancient Chinese Books. They explore the findings of the Book, and they solve the riddle placed in the Book.
Resolution 3: The Book denies access, and they have to give in to defeat.

-CONFLICT (Survival):

Resolution 1: The monsters win; the three lose their lives. Los Angeles is doomed.
Resolution 2: They win the battle with the monsters and save Los Angeles.
Resolution 3: They are defeated by the monsters and the Book, ending up in an asylum.

3 mythical creatures (the lady snake, the headless hunk, the dragon), Professor Xiao Tan, Poppy Ryan, and Brigadier, the dog.

Brigadier, the 4-year old dachshund, is living with Wolf for over a year now. Is showing them the way in Beijing. ** Image ID #2259847 Unavailable **

Poppy Ryan, the second character, 32 years old, journalist, helps Wolf with the search, they fall in love but in the end, she turns out to be an adversary ** Image ID #2259792 Unavailable ** and Monster 4, the Fish Woman Yuang ** Image ID #2259870 Unavailable **

Xiao Tan, the third character, 40 years old professor, helps Wolf and Poppy in Beijing, ** Image ID #2259793 Unavailable **

Mai-Mai, the headless hunk, 2020-year old monster 1, appears and fights Wolf, Poppy, and Xiao,

Nu-Kua-Shih, the lady snake, 2020-year-old monster 2, appears and fights Wolf, Poppy, and Xiao, ** Image ID #2259795 Unavailable **

Pin-Pin-Hut, the dragon, 2020-year-old monster 3, appears and fights Wolf, Poppy, and Xiao, ** Image ID #2259796 Unavailable **

Using the Five Point Story Structure with Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution.
Exposition: Setting the scene
Rising action: Building the tension.
Climax: The exciting bit.
Falling action: Tidying up loose ends.
Resolution: Ending the story.

(EX)A fairly ordinary guy is living his life in Los Angeles with a new dog. He is a bike courier by day and a poet by night. Or is he a male escort?

(RA)A 2020-year-old Chinese book shows up at an auction. Wolf Meyer (35) buys it cheap because no one recognizes its significance to the world. He meets a girl there, Poppy Ryan (32). They fall for each other. Strange events occur in their lives (the house is suddenly set on fire, pets disappear, the main character experiences occult phenomenons like knocking sounds in the middle of the night, pawprints in the bathroom, reflections in mirrors). The cause of all this is the Book.

(CL)Together they investigate China with the help of professor Xiao Tan. They meet monsters that are described in the Book. The Book predicts a deadline for a major disaster that hits their city (Los Angeles) and will kill many people. Can they stop the prophecy? The answer is the Book. By defeating the 3 monsters, Wolf gets into another state of mind and reads the Book differently.

(RE)The message he now reads in the Book (the riddle) is explained to him, and he knows how to save Los Angeles. Then the Book disappears, and Poppy with it. She has played him all along. Turns out she is Monster 4, the fish woman Yuang!

Premise, Beginning, Conflicts, Inciting Incident, Rising Action.   in Freytag's Pyramid.

Conflict: Between Wolf and monsters.

Rising Action:
Initial refusals of Wolf facing the conflict. He faces the mysterious phenomenons, and it takes some time for him to recognize they are all there because of the Book, and Poppy reminds him of the Book.

The moment Wolf makes the choice to face the conflict. He chooses to go to China to investigate Book. That's where he sees the monsters.

The moment Wolf crosses the point of no return, and cannot change his mind. When he is forced to battle the monsters, or he will be killed.

How will Wolf get from the point of no return to the climax?
(PNR is when he goes to battle the monsters. Climax is when he solves the riddle and saves Los Angeles.)
The answer is the Book. By defeating the monsters, he gets into another state of mind and reads the Book differently. The message he can now read in the Book (the riddle) is explained to him, and he now knows how to save Los Angeles.

In China, he is introduced to a university professor Xiao Tan who helps him with the translation of the Book. The three of them follow instructions of the Book and roam through Beijing. There the monsters take form and are visible to all three (Wolf, Poppy, Xiao).

The Climax. Possibilities.

The point of no return that where everything changes, where the primary conflict is resolved must be at the end of the novel where Wolf and Poppy solve the riddle in the Book, take out the ancient monsters, and save the city of Los Angeles (what-if).

I don't know the riddle yet, and I don't know how they will take out the monsters.

Changed the title into The Shanhaijing Prophecy!

Conflict in a story  

Wolf Meyer's Ordinary world is described in "Backstory Protagonist - Contest entry" .
A fairly ordinary guy is living his life in Los Angeles with a new dog. He is a bike courier by day and a poet by night.

How to establish normality through action and dialog? (Do not bore the reader!)

By his funny dialogue with his dog Brigadier while feeding him. […]
By his witty dialog with neighbors while leaving or entering the apartment. […]
By his funny talk with customers while delivering packages and folders. […]
By his witty dialog with neighbors while walking Brigadier. […]
By citing funny quotes or jokes whenever he got the chance. [Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? - George Carlin; If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it? Steven Wright; Crocodiles are easy. They try to kill and eat you. People are harder. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend first. - Steve Irwin;]

After purchasing the book and meeting Poppy, there are a few trigger incidents that prompt him to take on this journey to investigate and leave for China.

Call to Adventure:
- When Wolf feels the urge to buy the Book at the auction. (first call)

- There is a fire in the basement while nobody is in the house; Poppy's cat is missing, and Wolf's dog gets a freaky accident. They experience mysterious phenomenons like knocking sounds in the middle of the night, pawprints in the bathroom, reflections in mirrors. They trace the incidents back to the Book.(second call)

- Wolf wins 100,000 dollars in the lottery. He can quit his job and investigate in China with Poppy. (Accidental, deliberate, or divine intervention?)(third call)

Name: Wolf Meyer
Age: 35, October 4, 1986, Zodiac sign Libra
Physical attributes: slim, blond half-long hair, week-old beard
Occupation: bike courier, poet, and male escort
Education: high school, few years university
Culture: American, caucasian
Religion: none, agnostic
Family: three brothers younger than him, Bob, Edgar, Spike, parents
Relationship status: single
Friends: Marvin, Pete, Simon
Pets: a dog named Brigadier, cocker spaniel, four years old
Personality: gullible, sweet, caring, funny,
Likes: history, other cultures, friends, Los Angeles, where he lives, his job, cooking
Dislikes: dishonesty
Strengths: adventurous
Weakness: too trusting
Motivations: life, friends, his dog
Desires:to save the world, to fall in love

Now-thirty-five-year-old Wolf Meyer fell in love with the City of Angels as soon as he visited for the first time. He intended to stay for a long weekend after the summer, but he inhaled the beauty of Los Angeles and decided then and there to rent a room for a month.

Three years later and he was still in town, struggling to meet ends meet as a bike courier, sure, but living life in this fascinating and complex city. Beyond the perpetual sunshine, the beaches with flaunting bodies and surfers always in for the perfect waves, palm trees, and movie stars, there were art museums, architecture, parks and gardens, and a mosaic of cultures living side by side in peace in a setting by the sea to die for.

In short, Los Angeles was hot, and he was thrilled to be part of it.

As he rode his bike with caution avoiding cabs and commuters, his mind wandered off to the pooch he'd left behind in his apartment. Brigadier was a stray from a shelter, a brown dachshund with an attitude like a general, hence the name. His first week having a dog had gone by so fast, and now he had to work outside the house, leaving the dog on his own.

That morning, Brigadier had looked at him with such sad eyes Wolf almost laughed out loud.

"No, buddy, daddy has to work and earn some cash, or there will be no food in your bowl."

When he slammed the door, he almost felt guilty.

Hawthorne Boulevard was busy as he maneuvered with speed to be on time at his destination. His first stop was at the office to fetch deliveries; within half an hour, he was back on the saddle again, appreciating the morning sun.

He picked up an enjoyable pace and peddled his first round of the day. His blond half-long hair was moving in the wind, squinting eyes behind dark sunglasses—a hunk on wheels.

Wolf knew he was a good-looking guy, as he found out a year ago when he registered as a male escort at G-E-N-T-L-E_M-E-N-c-a-l-l-e-r-s 0500-3489. He especially was good with older women. Twice a week, he was summoned to an unknown lady with three hours to spend at her beck and call. He liked his evening job, and it paid the extra buck he needed to pay for his vice, going to auctions and bid on something for his book collection.

Life was good.

Answers to questions & List what if's (15 minutes with timer)