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What happens when writier question their sanity |
| [Introduction]
Dragon heart Darkness shadows silence All concealing with is in the night Look deeper penetrate the darkness And see what lurks in the heart A sight beyond reality lurks there A sight many fear A dragon in full glory stands Waiting to be heard Many fight it fearing the unknown Knowing not what they do The dragon does not fight Wisdom guiding its thoughts Death comes to the dragon Yet it lives still in the heart Which will never forget? What it felt when the dragon was there? Our story begins as all stories do Sara is our main character she is a recent widow and has recently moved near the ocean with a beautiful view of the mountains behind her house. Its early fall and she lives alone except for her dog a gift from her children. She wasn’t always such a hermit but due to unexpected events she shy’s away from most human connections. She loves to write and read fantasy and watch old black and white, and Technicolor movies of vampires, werewolves, pirates and such. Her publisher is currently awaiting the next book in her series about Dragons. But Sara has been plagued with night terrors that she is not able to fully remember and thus fears she is losing her sanity finally. No longer able to fully function she had hoped the move might do her some good and get her away from all the memories. But they actually seem to be stirred up all the more so. She doesn’t know why she chose this house or why everything here seems so utterly familiar like she has been here before. She has started keeping a journal of sorts hoping that perhaps it can shed some light upon it all. The beginning is an insert from her latest book. |
| She sat bolt upright, screaming once again in her big bed with Bridget staring at her from the foot of the bed. Sara was wringing wet in her own sweat, panicked, and shaking like she had been for the past few days. She had hoped the move and change of scenery would have helped with her night terrors as she now called them. But it seems the move had done little good to stop them. She pulled her tee shirt down and pushed the few whips of hair out of her eyes as she tried to adjust to the morning light shining in. Bridget hopped up in her master’s bed and lay down beside her. Her white tail wagging as she licked her master’s hand. Unable to fully recall the dream as she had so many nights she could still remember bits and pieces and quickly turned on the tape recorder that sat on her bedside table. This time she had been running through a forest of sorts and she had no idea where she was heading or why exactly. There was a figure just beyond her grasps of sight so she could not recall any fine details except that the figure was tall and wore a dark cloak. She turned off the recorder and snuggled with her best friend Bridget had been with her for almost a year and a half. She was a gift from her children for her last birthday a small mix breed of German short hair pointer and setter. She had her fixed shortly after she had gotten her so that she had nothing to worry about and she was white with butterscotch spots. Bridget was her companion and best friend all wrapped up in one. She was whining softly and looking at Sara waiting to be let out. Sara slowly moved to the edge of the bed and placed her feet on the cool wooden floor, she didn’t even bother this morning to dawn a robe as she left her bed after all it was just the two of them now days so no need to be so prim and proper any more. Bridget running to the door impatiently waiting to be let out to do her morning business. Sara smiled as she opened the door and out flew Bridget she didn’t even bother closing the door behind her as she walked into the kitchen. She stared out the window and watched as Bridget ran around in the sand just off the deck to the water’s edge. Sara poured water in her coffee pot and set it up to run before going to relieve herself as well. After she did her morning business she washed her hands and face and reopened the bathroom door. Odd she thought that Bridget wasn’t waiting there for her like usual but she didn’t stop to really think about it as she stared back into the mirror at her own reflection. Her usually bright blue green eyes looked pale and sunken in and her usually long blonde hair was still in the braid from yesterday. Sara had to admit even though she was turning forty in a few more years she didn’t look all that bad. Sure she could stand to lose a few pounds but who couldn’t. She was still pretty in her own special way hadn’t he told her she was before he had become ill. She sighed as the memories came back to her once again in a flood it seemed only like yesterday that everything was going just fine and then they had gotten word that he was dying. He had a rare but congenital family disorder and it was terminal there was no cure, no hope that he would just overcome it. For the first few months they had both pretend that it was all just a bad dream with all the doctors’ visits and hospital tests. They didn’t even tell their kids at first after all they were both starting their own lives and they didn’t want to upset them. Their daughter had a child of her own and was attending college as a working single parent. And their son was working and living with his true high school sweetheart. How could they tell them that their father was dying? It had gone on for several months before they had no choice but to tell them as he lay dying in the hospital bed. The funeral had been short and after that she had sold the house after being unable to keep everything going by herself. She had seen a few doctors herself and they had warned her she needed to start taking care of herself as well. She was diabetic much like her mother and a few other relatives. She gripped the corner of the sink as she once again began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. That was the last thing she remembered as she hit the bathroom floor. Bridget had wandered down the shore a bit and met a strange older dark haired man. He called to her and she slowly approached him crouching low to the ground. Come here I won’t hurt you he said as she approached him. Now where did a pretty little thing like you come from hmm? He scratched her behind the ears and petted her head before she ran back down the shore to the house. Wait he shouted at the strange dog as she paid him no heed and continued on down the shore. He decided to follow her after all what if someone was hurt. It wasn’t in him to just let such a mystery escape him at least not this morning it wasn’t. Or perhaps it was a chance to meet the new neighbor who had moved in a few weeks ago. He had seen her from a distance in the local coffee shop as she walked down the opposite side of the street and had disappeared around the corner. Charlotte the local gossip smiled and told him she was new in town and had bought the place just down the road from his. He had nodded his head and had bid her good day as he headed out of the shop and to his old car. |
The man, whose name was Chance Natwin, followed Bridget to the deck of a small beach house. He noticed the door of the house was standing open so he walked over and called out, "Hello! Is anyone home?" Bridget had scurried straight inside and now he could hear the little dog barking. No voice called out to hush the dog and Chance had the eerie feeling that there was something wrong here. He eased inside, still calling out, "Hello? Anyone home?" He hoped he wouldn't discover a body. His knees felt weak and trembly. Maybe he should go call the police instead of doing this himself. Then he saw the woman on the floor. He froze for a second then hurried to kneel down next to her. She was breathing and he was relieved to see there was no blood. He shook her shoulder. "Hello? can you hear me?" The woman's eyes flickered open. It didn't occur to Chance that she might be embarrassed by her nakedness. But it immediately occurred to her. "Oh my God!" she said and sat up clutching her arms to her breasts. 'What do you want?" Chance backed away. "I'm sorry. It was the dog. It... uh... Here, let me get you a towel." He snatched one off the nearby rack in the bathroom. "I must have fainted," she said. "Bridget came and got you?" He smiled. "Well, I was following her on the beach and things didn't look right with your door standing open, so I called and then Bridget started barking so I came in. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you." "That's OK," she said. "I guess you were pretty worried there for a moment when you saw me on the floor." "I was. Are you sure you're OK? What about your head? Maybe you bumped it." "No, I don't think I hurt myself. My name is Sara Collins." She held out her hand. "Chance Natwin. My house is just down the beach from yours. It's the green A-frame." "Oh yes. I noticed it. Well, I'm glad to meet you. What do you do for a living?" |
| She looked at Chance a bit more closely and had to admit that he didn’t look all that unfriendly. And for Bridget to have gotten him he couldn’t be all bad considering she usually shy away from people almost as much as Sara herself did. Before Chance could reply or she could continue studying him from this angle, the phone rang and she stood up slowly from the bathroom floor. A small red blush broke out upon her face as she moved past him. Reaching for the phone she looked at him once more. “I will be just a minute she told him umm why don’t you have a cup of coffee? “She smiled faintly as she answered the phone. “Hello yes this is she. WHAT OH MY GOD YOUR JOKEING RIGHT. “ now she looked and sounded down right angry and Chance had to wonder as he poured the cup of coffee what could of set her off so. “Hold on one minute please. “Umm,” she stammered for a moment, “This is going to take a little longer then I had planned your welcome to stay till I am done.” She looked furious and at the same time truly sorry. He just smiled and waved her on as she walked out of the room the towel falling to the floor as she entered what he assumed was her bedroom. Chance glanced around the small open kitchen and noticed there were still boxes to be unpacked. And he wondered where she kept the sugar and cream. He began to become a little curious as he watched the dog climb upon the couch and make herself a bed. Slowly he turned back around and looked in her fridge from the cream. And that is when he saw the needles and bottles in the fridge. He half looked at one and noticed it said insulin on the bottle and it dawned on him why she might have passed out. He looked back towards the room she had disappeared in and the towel will still there on the floor. With the way the mirrors and pictures were placed upon the wall he had a rather nice view of her dressing and had to admire her feminine form. She had dawn a light pink baggy tee shirt and was putting a pair of purple shorts on that he had to admit looked damned good from where he was standing. He could see the curve of her hips and ass and those long legs and he wondered if she knew how good she looked. He shook his head to clear his thoughts after all he had never needed a woman he just had appreciated the feminine form from time to time in various ways. Chance muttered to himself as he could randomly hear her raise her voice from the other room and he heard the heavy sigh from her and she sat upon the bed and set the phone down. He wondered who it was and what it had been about and why he even cared. Slowly he turned back around and looked in her fridge from the cream. Just as he had found it he heard a loud crash behind him and both he and the dog jumped. Bridget once again first on the scene began to bark and jump around her master and licked her face trying to wake her to no avail. Chance stared once again at her on the floor much as he had found her moments ago only this time she had injured herself. HE picked her up off the floor and placed her on the bed and went for the towel on the floor. Carefully he wrapped it around her bleeding arm and applied pressure. The phone was still on the bed within reach and he picked it up to call Doc Edwards the local and only doctor in town. The small town did not have a lot of people and the closest hospital was about an hour away so doc had filled in for almost everything that happened around here from births to declaring the deceased. But he liked the small town and not the hustle and bustle of the big towns. After all he had seen enough of that in his time. As the phone rang and he wished Amy would hurry up and answer he glanced at this strange woman. Looking a bit closer at her and he noticed the sunken eyes and pale skin and a small tattoo on her hip but he had little time at the moment to get a better look as Amy answered the phone. “Hello this is Doc Edwards office can I help you? “She said. “Hi Amy is Doc in?” chance replied “yes he is in the other room chance what ya need? “She asked in that sweet tone of hers. “I need him to come out to old man Jenkins place the new woman that moved in has need of him.” He said a bit firmer then he probably should of but Sara was going to need stitches as he couldn’t seem to stop the blood that was flowing. He could hear Amy yelling for doc in another room and the muffled footsteps of him across the old wooden floor of his office. “Hello Chance, what seems to be the problem? “He asked. Chance quickly told him that Sara had passed out for what seemed to be the second time today and had cut her arm and it looked like it might need stitches. Doc told him he had been meaning to stop in and check on her since she had been to his office and he had been out when she had stopped by. “I’ll be right there, Amy cancel my next couple of patients I need to head out for a bit.” Doc said as he hung up the phone. Amy looked at Doc and watched him gather his bag and head out the door. And jump into his old ford truck that was parked out back and then speed off in their direction. She had seen the woman a few days earlier in the office when she had dropped her medical records off and thought nothing of it. She had seemed okay and a bit distant but she had assumed it was because she was new to the area. As Chance hung up the phone he continued to look at her she hadn’t moved since he had placed her on the bed and he was a bit concerned. Bridget had taken up the space next to Sara on the bed and had laid her head in Sara’s hand. She was whimpering softly as he reached over and scratched her head. Chance moved off the edge of the bed long enough to unlock Sara’s front door and open it so that Doc could come on in. While he did that he also grabbed another towel to replace the one that he had originally placed on her arm. It was deep but looked to be clean so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for doc to patch up. But again he wondered why she had passed out so suddenly and it then occurred to him that it may have had something to do with the needles and bottles in the fridge he had seen earlier. Chance had no clue how to administer it or where it was supposed to be given or if that was even the problem. Just then he heard Doc’s truck pull up out front and engine shut off. “In here” he yelled to doc as he heard the door close. Doc took one look around the place and asked “how long has she been like this?” “Not long maybe 15 minutes. “ Chance replied. He looked at Doc and then back at Sara as doc asked. “Has she checked her sugar levels? “ “I don’t know doc I was down on the beach when I met her dog and followed it back here. She was passed out on the bathroom floor and I helped her up then the phone rang and she brought it in here she was arguing with someone and then we heard her fall. And when we came in to see what was going she was passed out again. I picked her up and then called you. “Chance told him. “I see”, is all Docs said as he began to check her pulse and examining her closer. He reached down and petted the dog as well, “would you mind taking her outside? “He asked Chance. Chance looked at doc and then the dog “come on Bridget “, he said and the two headed out of the room. He grabbed another of Sara’s coffee cups and poured Doc a cup as the dog sat at the closed door looking to get back in. A few moments later Doc came out and asked Chance to help him. Chance set the cup down and headed back to the room. Doc asked him to hold her arm as he began to stitch the wound shut. All the time Sara never once moved she looked as helpless as she laid there upon the big bed with satin sheets. Doc smiled at Chance. “Don’t worry she will be fine just a few more stitches.” He said. “So what do you know about her” doc asked. Chance looked at doc “what ya mean he asked?” Doc looked at Chance long and hard before he answered him. “I mean what you know about Sara. Did she tell you why she is here? Did she tell you she is diabetic?” Chance shook his head no “why doc?” he asked. Doc remained quiet for a few moments as he tied the last knot and then began putting his things away. He stopped before he began to stand up and gave Sara a shot. And then motioned for Chance to follow him as they opened the door Bridget raced in to see that everything was as it should be as she leaped on the bed beside her master. Both doc and Chance smiled as they headed into the kitchen. Chance handed doc a cup of coffee and asked “so doc what’s going on? Is she ok? And what’s with the needles and bottles in the fridge? And what did you give her before you left? “All these and more came out as Doc held up his hand. “Chance first off she will be fine she just needs to rest and stop over doing it. Second of all she isn’t taking care of herself by the looks of it which is why she passed out. Her sugar levels dropped to low hence the needles and insulin. And as I asked you earlier what all did she tell you about herself?” He looked at Chance and waited for an answer. “Well Doc not too much to be honest. Why is there something I should know? As I told you earlier I only just met her and it was because of the dog.” Chance looked at the doctor and wondered if he should just leave now before this got to complicated. Doc took a sip of his coffee and looked back toward her room. Half talking to himself and to Chance he muttered “Her medical file is rather large and she had left it in my office a few days ago. Mrs. Burns delivered twins when Sara was in my office so I was unable to talk to her then. I had planned on coming out here tomorrow to meet with her.” He seemed to look off in the distance for a moment before he continued. “Chance, my boy you have a way of finding trouble without even looking for it. “ He said and before Chance could argue he began speaking again in a hushed tone. “She is a widow, and has been suffering from depression which is only normal after you lose someone. The young woman in there also is diabetic which means you need to make sure she eats and tests her sugar often. I will leave you a list of accepted foods and the dosage on the insulin. You can give her the shots in the arm or stomach which is the fastest way to get it into her blood stream if she passes out on you again. And she has also been suffering from night terror which is why she is here. My friend Doctor Jones in Kentucky sent her to me he thought perhaps a change from the hustle and bustle of the city life could help. You see Sara has been through a lot and now suddenly her world has been turned upside down again on her so she has to work through things on her own and all we can do is sit back and wait till she asks for help. Do you understand Chance?” He nodded his head as he poured another cup of coffee and offered to refill docs. And just as suddenly as before the dog stepped in the kitchen right before Sara awoke screaming bloody murder and ran back to her just as fast. Doc and Chance both startled headed into Sara’s room. |
Sara was tossing back and forth on the bed. To Chance it sounded like she was screaming, "Not that dragon! Not that dragon!" but he couldn't be sure. Doc Edwards rummaged in his bag for a syringe which he filled with a clear liquid, then plunged it into Sara's arm in a quick, competent manner and pushed down the plunger. Within seconds she became quiet and stopped screaming. "Sedative," he said in reply to Chance's questioning look. "Works fast," Chance said. "Modern medicine. Say, do you suppose you can stay here with her for a while? I'm sure she'll be fine when she comes out of this in a few hours, but it would be good to have someone here to watch her." "I don't really know her that well," Chance said. "Do you suppose she'll be spooked to wake up and find me here?" "I'll try to get a nurse over here before she wakes up. You only have to stay a couple of hours." "Okay, sure, I can manage that." "Thank you!" Doc Edwards said and shook his hand. After a few more words of instruction about who to call if there was a problem, the doctor left Chance alone with Sara and her dog. Chance decided to occupy his time with a book. He had noticed a bookshelf in the living room. He was surprised to find several books written by a Sara Collins. Could it be the same one, he wondered. Logically it must be, so he chose one of the volumes. As soon as he saw the title My Dragon Sings he knew that what he had thought he heard her screaming before must be correct: Not that dragon. Although it still didn't make any sense to him. He flipped open the book. Daniella climbed the high peak above the cabin and blew on her golden flute. Far away in the sky a tiny speck grew in size until it became the beating wings of her dragon, Goldenblade. Goldenblade circled the peak, trumpeting a greeting to Daniella, then settled down beside her. "You are magnificent," she murmured into his ear and he emitted a low growl of pleasure. She mounted his back and said, "Up!" and Goldenblade beat his mighty wings to lift them off the peak and into the azure sky. Chance closed the book. Fantasy wasn't his favorite genre. He leaned more toward murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. He inspected the other books by "Sara Collins" but they all had the word "dragon" in the title. Hmmm, she was either a bit obsessed with dragons or else maybe that's just what sold best for her. |
| In the corner he noticed a few more boxes Sara had yet to unpack and each box was labeled. He smiled as he opened one of the boxes marked books and noticed that she did indeed have a rather large collection by the looks of it. To his relief these books were not written by her it seemed and varied from self-help, gardening, cooking, and how to books. He set the box aside and hoped the next one would be more promising much to his surprise it seemed to be full of classics like little women, tom sawyer, and other books for someone younger. Sara was full of surprises he decided to try once more on top there were books bound in leather but with no title or author listed and he wondered as he leafed through the first few pages if these were some private diaries of hers or something more. He picked the first few off the top and then noticed that Bridget was watching him. Its ok girl he said as he scratched the dog’s ears. She whimpered softly and scratched at the bottom box. Chance looked at her wondering what was in it. There was more of what he had been looking for books by Kathy Reich’s, John Saul, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and many more. He stared at the dog and had to wonder how she knew what he had been looking for. Nothing seemed as it should be since he had met the dog and this strange woman. It half unnerved him and he wondered how long till Doc would send a nurse. Bridget climbed up on the couch and seemed to be waiting for him to sit down. He picked up the other books and placed them back in the boxes. And pushed them back into the corner where Sara had left them. He set the book in the chair and walked towards the kitchen to refill his coffee. That is when he suddenly noticed that Sara’s bed was empty and he had to wonder when she had gotten up. He called out to her, “Sara? “But silence was all that met him. “Hello, Sara where are you?” A sick feeling began to churn as he walked into her room and discovered it was empty. He looked at her dog and then began to walk around the house looking for her. Calling out her name as he went but only being met by an eerie silence. Now he really wished that doc hadn’t left him here alone with this strange young woman and that she hadn’t decided to move here. It was then that he watched her dog get up and head to the back porch that lead out to the sea. He stared at the dog as she walked outside, there she was but she was walking towards the ocean he wondered if she knew where she was going in the dark. Sara he hollered once more but she just kept walking and did not seem to hear him as she seemed to know exactly where she was going. He began to run after her but she contained to walk on down the shore and seemed not to notice a thing. She stopped just a few steps from the ocean and turned and headed south down the beach towards the sharp rocky shore. By the time Chance caught up with her he noticed that she was sleep walking and decided as soon as he got back to the house he would insist that Doc send someone else out here to sit with her. Sara still asleep stopped at the edge of the rocky shore and knelt down to pick something up. Chance was still trying to catch his breath as she turned back towards the house a small golden object clutched in her hand. He followed close behind her as she reentered the house and went back to her room and lay back upon the bed. Fully unaware of what she had done and he wondered how often she had done this and what was still clutched in her hand. He picked up the phone and dialed Doc Edwards deciding that enough was enough for one evening. Amy answered the phone, “Hello, Doctor Edwards office can I help you? “ “ Hi Amy is doc in?“, he asked “no Chance why what’s up?” she asked “well you know how doc left me with Sara and promised to send a nurse out here” “ I’m sorry Chance Doc was called to the hospital for an emergency and won’t be back till sometime tomorrow.” Amy told him. He sighed heavily at the thought of having to remain here till tomorrow. “Ok Amy has Doc call me as soon as he gets in please. “ Amy said “Sure Chance is there anything I can do to help? “ No Amy its ok I will talk to you later.” Chance hung up the phone before Amy could ask him anything more. She was the local gossip and he didn’t want to be part of any new rumors she might decide to start. He glanced back at Sara’s sleeping form and noticed she had dropped the object on the floor. He stepped over and picked it up and noticed it was a small locket of gold he had never seen it before and wondered how she had found it. Carefully he tried to open it but it wouldn’t budge he did notice a small amount of strange symbols on it and decided he might try to clean it up later. For now it was late and he thought how he hadn’t eaten in a while and decided to see what might be available in her kitchen. But not before he made sure all the windows in her room were locked and he found a small bell on a string that he attached to her door before he shut it and headed for the kitchen. He glanced back and Bridget was asleep on the couch curled up in a ball. He picked up the book he had left earlier on the chair and carried it into the kitchen. He glanced around the small kitchen and opened a few cabinet doors he found a can of chicken soup and decided that it was better than nothing. Next he reached for a saucepan and began to cook to soup and grabbed the crackers out of the cabinet as well. He thought to himself that he could use an ice cold beer but doubted she had anything like that here. He opened the fridge and looked around and found a bottle of white wine, a few cans of Pepsi, some milk, butter, cheese, bread, and a few random items. He decided that a can of Pepsi was better than anything as he stepped outside and sat on the deck watching the last rays of the sun disappear and lit a cigar to settle his nerves. Sara awoke in a bit of a fog as she stumbled out from under the covers on her bed and headed for her bedroom door. She didn’t remember closing the door nor did she remember much of anything. All she knew is she had to relieve herself before she did anything else. She fumbled at the door trying to get the door open but for some reason she felt numb and sore, and more tired than she had in days. Chance heard the door being messed with as he set his cigar down not exactly sure what was going on now. Just as he got a few steps to the door Sara emerged and headed straight for the bathroom with a loud bang of the door shutting. Bridget stirred a bit on the couch but didn’t leave it. He wondered if she was awake or sleeps walking again and what she would even remember. He stepped back and outside to finish his cigar, shutting the soup off as he walked by the stove. Sara washed her face and hands and suddenly noticed the bandage on her arm and couldn’t remember how or when. She opened the door and headed for the kitchen still half disorientated as she opened the fridge and grabbed the jug of milk. Chance stood and watched her from the door way. Sara slowly turned and reached up in the cabinet for a glass. She dropped it and yelled “damn it” as it broke on the counter in front of her. She looked at her arm once more and hated when she woke like this unable to remember it hurt a bit and yet was numb at the same time. It was then that she smelled the cigar and began to look around wondering who was here or had been here. Bridget was sitting at the edge of the kitchen waiting impatiently to be fed and wondering why her master had yelled. Chance stood there wondering if he should say something or give her a few more minutes. Suddenly Sara noticed he was there and she half screamed in surprise. “Hello again “he said as he smiled at her. Then suddenly everything before she had passed out again came back to her. She had been on the phone with the lawyer’s office and had been arguing with them while she dressed. But that had been hours ago by the look of things now. “I’m sorry” she said as she looked at him. And noticed that apparently she hadn’t finished dressing she was wearing a baggy tee shirt and a pair of boxers but that was it. “Did I?” and she let the words fall into the silence that seem to stretch between them. He smiled as he walked around her and began to pick up the broken glass before anything else happened. While she smiled great fully at him and sat down at the kitchen table “can I get you anything?’ he asked. She smiled and started to answer him as he poured another glass of milk for her she looked at him as she sipped it slowly. I’m Chance in case you forgot. You passed out again and I called Doc Edwards to come out and fix your arm. Hope you don’t mind but you gave us all a scare,” he said matter of fact. Sara sat at the table still unable to fully recall what had happened. Weakly she said, “Thanks “and reached down to pet Bridget. She was still feeling light headed as she asked if he minded making some toast. He smiled as he popped the bread in the toaster. And poured them both a bowl of the soup he had made moments earlier. She started to push the bowl away as she wasn’t feeling really hunger more like tired and had a bit of an upset stomach. When Chance told her to eat after all she hadn’t eaten all day and he didn’t want her passing out again on him. He after all had a lot of unanswered questions and he would like some answers. |
They ate in silence and when she was done Sara pushed the empty bowl away and said, "That was good." "Want some more?" Chance asked. "No." She put her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands, looking down at the table. "I think I'm going crazy," she murmured. "Doc said you fainted from a diabetic reaction." "I don't meant that," she said, waving her had around and looking up. "It's everything -- the forgetting, the fainting, the dreams -- I can't get a good night's sleep anymore." "Did you know you walk in your sleep?" Chance said. "I do? I suspected I might, but I wasn't sure. That's something new then. One more proof that I'm crazy." Chance chuckled. "It doesn't mean you're crazy just because you walk in your sleep and forget to monitor your glucose levels. I saw your books. Are you writing one now?" "Trying to, but being crazy is getting in the way." She smiled at him. "I know I'm not really crazy, but I'm something... I don't know what to call it... dysfunctional? Things ain't goin' right!" "Well... we all have times when we're not at our best. Sometimes I feel so tired I don't want to get out of bed." "What do you do?" She looked closely at him for the first time and thought he had quite a distinguished air about him. She hoped he wasn't a preacher. "Mmmm, not really a regular job. I manage my investments. I'm on a few boards. I manage a foundation." "Oh? Which one?" "The Marge and Stanley Natwin Foundation. They were my parents. It's small. Mostly scholarships for kids. My Mom was a teacher." "That's nice," Sara said. "My English teacher in high school is the reason I became a writer. She really made me see reading and writing in a new way." |
| Sara looked at Chance as she slowly moved from the kitchen chair but said nothing as she walked into her bedroom. Slowly she returned with a small black bag and began to unzip the bag withdrawal, vial and a syringe looking item and began to test her sugar in front of him. She winced as she always did when she pricked her finger and then added the blood to the small test strip and waited impatiently for the monitor to talk to her. He watched half interested and curious as he had never seen anyone do it before. Sara smiled at him as she did it and pressed the alcohol pad to her fingertip till the blood was all wiped away and clean once again. While they waited she began to move a few boxes to try and reach the bottom one. Chance watched her but stood outside the patio door once more with a cigar half lit. Sara found what she was looking for in the bottom of the box just as the monitor told her that it was still a bit lower than it should be. She smiled ear to ear as she removed the smaller journals she had kept since she was a child. A lot of fond memories were contained within these pages and a few sorrowful ones as well. She leafed through the pages in a world all her own as she skimmed through a few of the books before reaching for the others. “You asked me if fantasy was all I wrote. Well it wasn’t at one point and it’s just kind of what is published for most young adults. At least it is what sold the best and wasn’t a complete failure.” Sara stared at Chance for a moment as she spoke. Before looking for the other box with her books as she went through the others she began to panic as she could not find what she was looking for. She stood slowly and tried to think of where she could have placed the others. She didn’t see the box as she looked around the living room and began to head for the stairs leading up to the second floor of the house. Chance watched her head around the corner and wondered what she was up to as he heard the noise she was making. Sara opened the old door with a loud creak as she pushed against it. She moved a few of the bigger boxes across the floor as she looked for the smaller ones. She half smiled as she found the box marked personal books she picked it up and began to carry it downstairs before starting to lose her footing on one of the steps. A small scream left her lips as she dropped the box and it rolled down the stairs in front of her as she grabbed the railing along the steps. “Damn it” was the next words heard from her as Chance rounded the corner. He looked at the box and started to ask her something as he headed up the stairs but the box was open and one of the pages in the book had a small locket drawn on one of the pages. It caught his attention for just a moment as he looked up at her a question frozen within mid-sentence. Sara shook her head as she stood up “I’m fined just a bit clumsy.” She held the railing the rest of the way down and failed to notice her arm was bleeding again as she grabbed the box off the floor. Chance looked at her and reached for the book laying it in his lap as he helped her pick up the others. He took the box from her and placed the one book on top and carried it into the kitchen. Sara followed along behind and sat in the chair suddenly feeling much worn out and tired. She looked at him once more before drinking a small amount of the tea in her cup and noticing her arm was bleeding again. She reached for the towel on the chair and began to apply pressure to her arm as she spoke once more to Chance.” In that box you will find a bunch of short stories started and some finished and a few poems here and there. New characters, creatures, and worlds created, and I think there might even be a few of the horror and mystery’s as well. The red leather bound book is some erotic and romance type but I doubt you will find that one as entertaining.” She blushed just a little as she kept her eyes off of him as he was leafing through the blue sea looking journal. “The one you are currently holding was one I wrote when I think I was a teenager the dates should be in the front somewhere. If you don’t mind I think I am going to go lay back down.” Sara watched him for a moment as he seemed lost within the pages he was reading and she half smiled as she started to walk away. “Oh and if you want there is a spare bed upstairs or the couch where ever you wish to sleep. There are blankets and pillows in the chest as well and Bridget usually takes the love seat or the bottom of my bed.” With that said Sara headed to her room and sat on the edge of the bed. Her head was beginning to swim again and she knew she had done a bit too much as she laid her head on the soft cool pillow and drifted off to sleep. Bridget stared after her master and gave the man the once over once more before she headed outside to the beach and into the night. |
While Sara slept Chance thumbed through her collection of childhood stories. One caught his eye -- "Black Fire Spring". He began to read... In the spring comes the burning, in the summer comes the bleeding... "Run, Little Lukey! Come the Smokeeters!" Lukey ran. His little legs and arms pumped. When he reached the caves his mother's arms swept him up. "We'll stop them this time!" Lukey said. He looked down across the valley where his father and the other men were tending the piles of charcoal and bones for the black fires. The bones had been saved from the previous year's Day of the Black Fire Spring. Seven of the tribe had died in that one. A great howling came on the wind and the sky grew darker and darker. "Look!" Lukey pointed across the valley to the other side where clouds of grey smoke were boiling through the pass. "That means they got Tuckers Corner already." The men fanned their black fires and the charcoal glowed and turned the bones into black smoke that rose to meet the billowing grey clouds of the Smokeeters. Howls and screams echoed through the valley. Lukey put his hands over his ears but never took his eyes from the sight. The grey and black smokes twisted together until flickering sparks fell from them. Bolts of lightning crossed through the clouds and the resulting thunder seemed to make the howls and screams grow louder. Then the entire mass of cloud and smoke grew red hot and exploded with an ear-shattering boom that echoed back and forth across the valley for many seconds. Rain began to fall. "Daddy's OK!" Lukey cried and ran out of the cave. His mother didn't try to stop him. The Day of the Black Fire Spring was over now and there would be peace in the valley for a few months... until the Day of the Green Blood Summer. Chance paused to think. Hmmm... Strange story. He skipped over the next few stories which all seemed to be love stories until he came to another title that caught his attention... |
| Revenge a dish best served cold Like a thief in the night he stole the child’s innocence changing her world forever more. Now many years later like a ghost from his eerie past it was her turn to rise again and get her revenge. But would it taste as sweet as the finest wine and would it stop the nightmares? Chance scanned the page and what he saw before him half interested him. Was this her idea of a horror or a murder mystery, and he wondered if anyone else had seen this. The pain she had endured from everyone around her and been deep. And after a while she just stopped caring as she made to leave the small town she had once called home. But not before she vowed that one day she would have her revenge for the horrible things he did to a child that had trusted him. Her mother and siblings had long since moved and now it was her 21st birthday. She was free to come and go and do whatever she pleased. The hatred had grown inside of her to a festering mass of pure evil. Today was also the day they would release him. Her mother had planned to take the evil bastard back after all that he had done to her a siblings when they had been mere innocent victims. She said a boy needed his father and had the right to know him despite what he had done. Cindy and her mother had a violent fight over it which now left them not speaking to each other. She dyed her hair a dark black that matched her pretty green eyes ever so well. And she waited for daddy dearest to return home. A few months later her mother finally wizened up and kicked him out and Cindy sat waiting in the bar just a few doors down from his new apartment. She was giddy and excited as she had planned everything out so carefully. She knew she looked hot because several men had already tried to pick her up but she ignored them as she sat sipping the sweet red wine. It was almost time to put her plan into action. First she would act like her car had a problem starting and then when he came by she would pretend she knew nothing about why it wouldn’t start. And then as he eyeballed her she would pretend she was new here and could he call her a cab or perhaps drive her back to her motel a few miles down the road.The motel was secluded and hadn’t really been open to the large crowds it use to hold. That made the place perfect for her plans. As Chance went to flip the page he noticed that a few pages had been torn out and that the bottom of this one had been torn but apparently had been missed. He wondered what could have inspired this story but decided that some things were better left alone. As he set the book down he stared off into the distance and noticed the sun was just rising. He had thought about pouring another cup of coffee but decided his legs needed stretched far more. He stood up and hadn’t realized how long he had been sitting there with her old books. He walked into her bathroom and closed the door. As he did his business and then washed his hands and splashed water into his tired face. Sara was already up and sitting out on the deck watching the morning sun begin to rise as the distant sky began to change colors. She had lit a cigarette and started a fresh pot of coffee before Chance had returned. She seemed lost in her own little world as he stared at her backside. She didn’t seem to be embarrassed at all as she sat there half-dressed she seemed comfortable in just a tee shirt and a pair of boxers as her feet played in the cool bare sand. He didn’t want to disturb her as he decided that perhaps another cup of coffee was in order. After this entire woman was mildly strange and yet alluring all at once. Without even turning her head she began to speak “Good morning how did you sleep? “And then she was silent again as she reached down and scratched the dogs ears and rubbed her side. Chance wasn’t sure how she knew he was there since he had thought he hadn’t made a sound. He watched her for a moment more as he sipped his coffee “Morning, and I haven’t slept yet”, he said. Sara was startled out of her own world then and he realized she had been talking to the dog and not him at all. |
"Sorry," Chance said. "I thought you were talking to me." "I didn't realize you were still here. Thanks for keeping an eye on me." "No problem. I stayed up reading through the box of stories you gave me. Fascinating. You've written so many." "Practice makes perfect," Sara said. "Not that I'm perfect now, but by the time I tried to get something published I had already written so much that I think I had an easier time than some would have breaking into the writing business." "I notice now you seem to always write about dragons." Sara laughed. "I'm rather famous for dragons. I guess you don't read much fantasy." "No, not really. I'm more of a mystery guy." She aimed a charming smile at him. "You're a mystery guy alright, a mysterious guy. There is no Mrs Natwin?" "Not at the moment," Chance said. "Oh. So... how many have there been?" "Three." "That's a lot," Sara said. "Now you've spoiled my image of you as the steady, dependable type. You're just another gigolo." Chance laughed. "Not exactly a gigolo. None of my wives were wealthy. At least, not until after they divorced me." "It was always them and never you?" "I think I'm getting uncomfortable talking about me. How did dragons become your main subject for novels?" Sara sat up straighter and ran both hands through her hair. "Despite the titles, my books are still about people, not dragons. But there are always dragons in them. Why dragons? The first book I sold had dragons in it. It did fairly well, enough to make me think I could make it as a writer. My next two novels did poorly. No dragons in them. My fourth novel had dragons. It sold well. Never let it be said that Sara Collins doesn't learn quickly. From then on it's always been dragons." |
| She looked at him a bit before she went on. You can hide many human characteristics behind a dragon for instance dragons like humans come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and attitudes. They can be both good and evil and neutral. I know I sound a bit crazy but if you ever studied or read mythology you would know what I meant exactly. For example if you pick up the book before this it is on the third shelf on the left” Learning to fly” Briana is the main character and she meets a dragon named Cedric who is a young dragon but he fears that people no longer believe in fantasy and that he will fade away before his time. Briana spends her time trying to convince him that it is not true. And that even if he fades away that he will still be here. At the end of the story he learns that he is not truly fading away like he thought but he learns to fly and joins the others in the heavens. It was based more upon real life hidden in fantasy when we learned my husband had cancer and was dying it was hard to take the news. And as the days past us by we tried more and more to hold onto what time we had and just chose not to believe the news was even true. In this book Dragon heart it is more of a learning to let go and that change is sometimes a good thing. And even though we let go a part of that person still remains with us. She stood up and began to make a cup of coffee for herself. Now I answered your question now it is your turn to answer one of mine. She smiled like a child up to mischief how long have you lived here? Or is that the wrong thing to ask? She handed him a cup of coffee as well as she began to make breakfast consisting of eggs, toast, and bacon. Sara did not bother to turn back around as she began to cook; she waited to see if he would answer or if she had chosen yet another wrong question. She had to admit in some ways she did enjoy his company even if it was only temporary. It had been a long sixteen months since her husband’s death and she had moved here just recently to get away from it all. Including her family she loved them all but she needed some time to herself and to move on with her life as her children had. They each had their own lives to live and she had stayed in the house they had lived in for the past nineteen years but there were just to many haunting memories there for her to be able to move forward. |
"I moved here to die," Chance said. Sara dropped a spoon and the clang it made seemed to keep ringing in the sudden silence. "Is that some kind of joke?" she asked as she turned around to face him again. "It's not the kind of joke I like." Chance was sitting at the table with his hands clasped before him. "It's not a joke. I've always loved the ocean and I wanted to be near it." "But why do you... I'm sorry if this is too personal. You don't have to answer. But what makes you think you are about to die?" "I'm old." "You're not THAT old!" Chance made a twisted smile. "You can do a lot to put off aging if you have the money, but yes, you're right, physically I'm not so old. I'm just mentally tired. Weary. Exhausted. Whatever you want to call it." "Tired of living, you mean?" She wondered if he was hinting at suicide. "Tired of this life I'm living. But the ocean invigorates me. Sometimes it gives me hope for renewal. Does it do that for you?" Sara grinned. "I love the ocean! I always have since I was a kid. I love everything about it - the sand, the sky, the water, the salt, the breeze." She reached over and touched his hand. "You're not really tired of living, are you?" He laughed a little bit. "Not right at the moment. Is something burning?" "Oh my!" She turned back to check on her cooking. Chance watched her. Despite almost burning breakfast she had a sureness about her as she moved about the kitchen. Probably she cooked her own meals most of the time. An author living on the beach - it was a life he could envy. Maybe he should try to write something again. With Sara to help him it might lead to better results than his previous attempt which ended in frustration and despair. "What would you think about the idea of taking on a writing student?" he asked. "A student? I don't know. i never thought of it. I don't really think anybody who wants to be a writer would have enough money to be able to afford private lessons." "I do," Chance said. "You? You want to write? But why don't you just do it? I'm sure you're capable of putting words together." "I tried to write a novel but it was a mess." Sara laughed. "Start smaller. Do some shorter stories." "Would you read them?" Sara gave it a moments thought. She didn't have time to be reading a lot of amateur writing and of course then she would have to comment on it and make suggestions. On the other hand, with it being Chance it might be more enjoyable. He noticed her hesitation. "Forget I asked that. You will be too busy writing your own stuff to worry about me." "No, that's all right," she said. "I'll do it." She flashed him a grin. "It will be fun." |
| “Breakfast is served”, she said with a smile “and no I didn’t burn it.” She dished them both a plate before she stopped for a moment to ask, “Do you want butter or blackberry jam with your toast and do you want coffee or orange juice? Sorry I haven’t done this in a while and I am use to everyone just getting what they want”. She smiled nervously as she set the plate down in front of him. And turned back around to grab Bridget’s dish as well as she poured some of the grease over her food. Bridget sat patiently waiting for her breakfast and watching both of them as Sara washed her hands before sitting back down. “I’m sorry” she said once again” I forgot to grab everything” and as she made to get up he smiled back at her “No it’s fine” he said. As he headed for the coffee pot she watched him and wondered if he was serious about what he had asked. “So umm what were you writing about before?” she asked a bit curious much like a cat. Chance started to tell her as the phone rang. “Excuse me”, she said as she picked it up and checked the number on the caller id a long sigh escaped her as she said “Hello”. He could tell it was someone she didn’t really want to talk to as she slouched against the wall with her back to him. “Yes, I am almost done with it I will email you a copy later today.” Sara didn’t look at him as she spoke to whomever was on the other end he assumed it might have been her publisher. “That will be fine by 5 pm you should have a copy.” About that time Bridget finished her own breakfast and took off barking out the back door. “I’m sorry I have to go.” she said as she hung up the phone just as fast. Sara looked at Chance and then after Bridget who was running down the beach. “I’m so sorry,” she said you know how deadlines work I am sure.” And she sat down at the table once more this time a little more quiet than she had been a few moments earlier. “Umm where were we oh yes I remember now” she said as she headed for the fridge and the butter, jelly, and orange juice and a couple of glasses. She set everything on the table and then grabbed the sea salt and pepper and a few napkins. Once she set back down she asked him “Do you mind if we take a walk down the beach after breakfast? I could use a bit of fresh air before I send what I need to the publisher. And perhaps you could fill me in on what you want to write about. How’s my cooking?” she asked as if changing the subject would lighten the mood in the kitchen again. About that time Bridget walked back in and began to shake water and sand all over as she dropped something at Chance’s feet. Sara looked ready to scold the dog but then began to giggle at the sight before her. “Never a dull moment around here” she said with a smile and headed for the towel hanging on the cabinet door. As Sara handed him the towel she turned and headed around the corner and called Bridget to her. “Come here you I swear you have the worse timing ever sometimes and I am afraid you ruined our breakfast.” she rubbed the dog down as she continued to scold her. Chance wiped the sea water and sand off his side as best he could and smiled to himself. Bridget had dropped a piece of drift wood at his feet and he had guessed she had wanted to play. He sat and listened to Sara scolding the dog and decided a new cup was in order. While Sara was busy in the other room he picked up the plates and sat them on the counter and began to put things away. And the phone rang again as he heard Sara yell “would you mind answering that please?” |
"Hello?" Chance said. "Hello? Who is this?" The voice on the phone was male. "A friend of Sara's. Can I take a message?" "I didn't know she had any friends. No, there's no message. Wrong number." The phone went dead. "That was odd," Chance told Sara. "The caller hung up. Said it was a wrong number." "Maybe it was." But Chance thought Sara looked pale and worried about something. Whatever gloom there was vanished quickly in the fresh air of the early morning beach. "This is my favorite time," Chance said as they walked along the sand, just out of reach of the surf. "Mine too!" Sara said. Bridget scampered along running in and out of the water. "Is your publisher a nice man?" Chance asked. He couldn't get the phone call out of his mind. "He's a business man. Was he rude on the phone?" "I thought he was." "He and I used to be more than just author and publisher. We were... lovers once." "Oh. I didn't mean to pry." Sara took hold of his hand. "It's a complicated relationship. I'm bound by contract to write two more books for him. You can imagine there are some tensions. But he doesn't want to break the contract because my dragon series makes too much money for him and I don't want to spend the money on legal fees trying to get out of the contract, so we go along as best we can." Chance released her hand so he could throw a stick for Bridget. "How long does it take you to write a book?" "Usually about 6 months. When things are going well I do 2 a year, but it's not a steady thing. Some years only one book gets published." "So you only have to put up with this publisher guy for another year?" "Less than that. When I get the book finished I'm working on now then there will only be one left." Chance smiled at her. "I guess you're working as fast as you can trying to get away from him." She didn't say anything and Chance wondered if his assumption that it was Sara who ended the relationship was right. Maybe she was the one that got dumped by the publisher and now she wanted him back. |
| Do you mind if I change the topic for now? Sara looked at Chance and hoped he would let it go just this once. She did want to tell him but in some ways she also felt the need to protect herself to a point. After all they had just met and he was full of secrets and pretty good about changing the topic around on her. I rather not explain any more this morning after all we set out to clear our heads right? She half smiled as they continued to walk down the beach. Each seemingly lost in their own train of thoughts. So before we were interrupted what was the topic you wanted to write about? And do you have a layout of sorts on what it is you want to write about? She looked at him and waited for an answer from him. Before he had a chance to answer Bridget began barking at something down the beach. Sara looked at him and then the dog as she tore off into the woods near the beach. Chance smiled at her as he ran down the beach and Sara just stared after them both. She wondered how much she should tell him and how exactly she should explain her rocky relationship with her publisher. All she felt now towards the man was contempt and disgust and used to a point. She had vowed when she had moved here that she would never be placed in a spot like that again by anyone. She wanted to just break the contract and find a new publisher but that would cost her too much in the end and it just wasn’t worth it. She shook her head as they both disappeared into the woods and she wondered if Bridget was leading him into the old cave like she had done to her. But either way she had better hurry and catch up before she got too far behind. She had an uncomfortable feeling being out here alone and for some reason that she could not yet explain she felt like they were being watched by someone. A small flicker of sunlight hitting metal gleamed along the woods edge and she thought perhaps she was just fooling herself and really needed to relax more then she realized if she was seeing things again. Sara took off running after them both at that point and still could not shake the uneasy feeling but thought perhaps it had just been her mind playing ricks upon her again. Out of breathe and panting hard as she reached the two of them she half doubled over trying to catch her breathe. Chance reached out an arm to steady her as she waved him away for a moment. A few minutes later she was breathing easier and slowly stood up. I’m okay she managed to say just not use to running hard to catch up is all. Chance stared at her for a moment but said nothing as she smiled weakly at him and then followed the dog through the brush covering the entrance of an old cave. He could hear Bridget barking at the far end as Sara began to laugh “come on slow poke” she called out to him. He wasn’t too fond of entering dark caves but to his surprise it wasn’t really dark like he thought it would be. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel and her half naked body outlined by the sun before she took a few more steps and disappeared from his sight. It was then that he began to hear water and the two of them playing. He wondered how deep it was and how safe it really was as he raced towards the end of the tunnel picking Sara’s clothes up along the way. She smiled at him as he appeared in the entrance and like a child or one of the water sprites she often wrote about she began to tease him. Come on in the water is just fine and as to prove a point she dove under water. But I do not have a suit he said as she reappeared and began to swim out deeper towards the small waterfall along the back of the lake. Don’t worry about it just come on in she grinned ear to ear like a mischievous child. He took a closer look around and it was a quiet looking place with rocks and a white sandy beach a few towels hanging from a nearby tree and he guessed she had found this place at some other trip here. He watched her play and she did look like she was having a lot of fun. On the opposite side of the lake he watched a deer and her fawn sipping from the lake neither seeming to be scared of humans. He looked up just in time to see her naked form slide behind the waterfall with Bridget close behind. He wondered if there was a way he could just walk around it all. |
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