The Children.

I had been cold all night and the cool air blew through my golden hair, no matter how I rolled up in my green blanket. Then I began to feel the heat of a new day, coming over the hill. All through the night I thought of the children and how they would come and play with me. I liked the children and they liked me. I could feel the heat more now, the dew was still clinging to my green blanket. When I couldn’t stand the heat no longer I unrolled my blanket and waited for the children. I could hear the children coming over the hill. It would be a clear day, I could till by the blue of the sky. This is the happiness time of the day. Then the children were with me and we played for O-so long, then after the children has said their good by’s , I could hear something coming, at first it was a soft purring, then as the sound came nearer then I know. It was the most terrifying thing I know, as it came nearer I took hold of my blanket and rolled up tight and hoped I wouldn’t be seen, but the purring kept getting louder and louder, it was death and as it came nearer and nearer I thought of the children.

Five Shorts.

Flying.

It seemed Liked hours that I had been flying but I had been in the air only five minutes. I know I shouldn’t have taken off so soon. The air was too rough, I had to find some place to set down, and soon. Then I saw what I was looking for, a nice flat place to land, I made it! I had been sitting there five or ten minutes waiting for the air to calm down, when a dark shadow came over me, then there was came a mighty roar, I didn’t even feel it. “Damn Flies.”

Big Mouth?

I could see the terrified look of my face, in the reflection of his eyes and smell the fowl odor coming from his mouth. His mighty hand was around my neck and his knee upon my chest. In the last moment I saw him raise his hand, and bring it down. I could feel the knife tip penetrating my shirt, in that last moment, I thought all this just for saying he needed a mouth wash.

Pain

Have you ever notice how painful one can get when one lays around and isn’t a part of something?, will I know, I also know that one can feel pain and feel good about it at the same time. For with out pain or sorrow there is no longing for life, and with out pain and sorrow there is no life.

Tomorrow?

Of all the too days, I have yet seen a tomorrow and of all the tomorrows I have yet seen a day, for they are the same. For today is tomorrow and tomorrow is today.

What a Day.

I laid on my back looking up at the blue sky, with clouds of white cotton, I never seen a more beautiful day in my life. As I laid there I could hear the roar of the crowd. They were so loud that it sounded like thunder, the crowd was getting impatient. Then I could hear foot steps coming over the wooden floor, then they stopped, “Man what a beautiful day,” then a shadow of an arm came over my face, then I turned my face and saw a hand on the lever, “Man what a say.”

The Hole?

When I was a little boy, they told me about the hole?, they said that those who find it never return. It was just like when they told you if you were bad you would go to hell. Then as the years went by I forgot about the hole, but I didn’t forget about going to hell. Then one day as I was walking through the woods I came upon a hole, it wasn’t hidden behind bushes or anything it was just there. Then my mind flashed back to when I was a little boy, I began to sweat. I couldn’t seem to turn away from it. It was as if I was frozen I just stood there. I had too take a look what is the matter with me?, it’s just a hole. As I got close to the hold I could hear funny noises coming from it, at first I thought it was made by the cool air but it had a different sound like I never heard before. Then as I leaned my head to the hole everything went black, I was falling I didn’t feel like I was but I was just the same. Then I heard those funny noises again but they weren’t just noises it was the sound of crying and screaming, I just kept falling.

After falling into the hole it was totally black but now I was beginning to see more all the time. The coolness has stopped and now it was getting hot as I fell, the crying and the screaming was getting louder. Soon there was enough light to see that I wasn’t alone. There was an old man just below me and as I turned my head I could see a young women above me, at first I thought that she would fall on me, but she stayed the same distance away, and we just falling. The heat was becoming unbearable it was as if my skin was frying off, then I heard the most blood curdling scream, I ever heard. I looked below me and saw the old man disappear into the heat, then I knew, god help me. I also knew that the scream I was about utter would last all throughout eternal damnation.

Last Kiss.

They stood on the hill gazing out to the horizon, the lights of the city were like diamonds on black velvet. He looked down to the base of the hill, he could see the headlights from the cars, marking their way up the long winding road to the top of the hill. They looked like cats eyes moving through the dark. Tom, felt her shiver as he drew on his cigarette, Tom asked. “Cold?” She replied. “Yes a little.” He looked to the lights as he blew smoke out to the dark. She asked. “Tom?, you know my parents will never approve don’t you?” Tom said. “Yeah, I know, I’m from the wrong side of town.” Tom’s eye’s roamed over the parking lot, it was beginning to fill up fast too fast for him. She asked. What are we doing to do?” Tom answered. “How the hell should I know?, I’m sorry I’m just mad, hey don’t worry, it will turn out all right you’ll see. She said. “I hope so Tom, I hope so. His stare once more turned to the lights, as he put his arm around her.

The drive had been rough from all the large rocks and ruts in the road. Tom remembered one large rock unparticular, he thought the bottom came out of his car. Tom said. “We better go?” She replied. “Yeah, your right.” Tom took her hand an, as they turned to go they could see the car dressed in blue stripes, from the reflection of the moon. They hadn’t noticed the small puddles just behind the car. Tom reached for the car door. When she said. “Oh!, Tom?, hold me a moment more?” Tom flecked his cigarette to the ground and put his lips too hers, as they kissed a light wind began to blow. The cigarette started a slow roll. As their kisses became more passionate the cigarette rolled closer to the puddles. She asked. “Tom do you love me?” He looked long into her eyes and as there lips met in passion, their kiss became a eternal flame of love.

You Got To Be Careful.

Only their heavy breathing could be heard in the small darken room. They knew that the risk was great but their passion put it aside. Jim’s hand slid up the long and slender legs that laid before him, and as he touched the fiery mound he felt her shiver with lust, yes the risk was great but worth it. The shadows played tricks on the wall, of the room as the light tried to pry it’s way through the heavy curtains. “Jim, you know what he’ll do of he ever caught us don’t you?” “Yes, but he’s out of town and besides how’s he going to know?”

The two bodies became one, and as their passion was being filled a dark shadow passed by the window. “You want a cigarette?” Jim said as he rolled off the bed. “No thanks.” Jim took one out and lit it, as he sat on the edge of the bed, he looked down on her golden body, her breasts were large and full. “Jim I have to go soon.” “I know.” he said as he drew on his cigarette. The shadow laid flat against the wall of the house and peeked through the window with fire and hate in it’s eyes. It watched as Jim got up from the bed and headed for the bathroom, and as he saw the door close the shadow moved for the front door.

She watched as Jim enter the bathroom, and as the door closed she thought how could all this have happen? It all had started so innocently and now they were lovers, but was it love on his part or just hers she wondered, as she leaned over for a smoke. The shadow silently crossed the front room then stood in the hallway, that lead to the back bedroom, and as the shadow stood there a glimmer of light came off the ax it held.

As she lit up she saw herself in the mirror, her eyes were bright green, and she had long blond hair, that laid too her shoulders. As she laid back on the bed she heard a door open and close silently, “Jim?” she asked, as her head turned to the sound, and as she turned she saw the glimmer of the ax as it came down.

Jim’s eyes had not yet adjusted to the dark of the room as he entered from the bathroom, as he walked towards the bed he saw the glow off the cigarette, she held in her hand. Jim leaned over to kiss her and jumped back in horror from what he saw. Sweat stood on his forehead as he looked down on her lifeless body. Jim heard the bedroom door open and as he turned to the sound, he to saw the glimmer of the ax. The shadow stood still for a moment then leaned over, and as it turned back down the hall it carried in it’s hand a bundle, a bundle made of long blond hair, dead green eyes and a crooked smile.

The House

Man!, was I cold?, and the rain just kept coming down. I had been walking for and hour since I left my car beside the road with a flat tire. It still made me mad when I thought of not having a spare tire. Then in the light of the lighting I saw a house surrounded by a lot of trees up on a hill. Good I thought, I can get out of the rain and maybe be able to call for a toll truck. The rain and the lighting made the house look eerie and uninviting, but I needed to get out of the rain, so I headed up the old drive covered by trees on both sides, that give one and uneasy feeling I pulled my collar tight around my neck and headed up the drive. As I got nearer I could see the house had three floors, and had not been painted in many years. As I stood there I had the feeling of been watched, I stood there trying to decided what to do, as it was still raining and I could tell, no one had lived in the house for many years. I knocked on the door, for what reason, I don’t know as I know I would never get a answer. Not getting an answer I turned to leave when a sound made me turn back around, the front door had came open, I looked up at the dark sky and saw it was still raining, I gave slight shiver and stepped inside the dark.

In the new morning sun light one could see the rain drops still cling to the leaves and bushes, as new voices were heard. “Say there is a neat old looking house, lets go take a look?” “Are you nuts?, not me, they say those who step through those doors, never come out again.” “Say what was that?” What was what?” “Well it sounded like crying.” “Crying or not I’m leaving that house alone.” Soon the house was left alone again with all it’s secrets.

Running Out Of Time. -- A unfinished Story.

This story is unfinished I would like you to help finish it, the guild lines will be listed below. The paragraphs you send in will be colored coded so it will be easier to see your work over the others. If you would like to add to this story you can send your paragraphs to the following address, Your thoughts are yours so, if for some reason you would like to use them in your own story or book go for it, I hold no rights too your thoughts.
dsegelquist1@cox.net

Running out of time.
Guide Lines:

1. The time of this story is the late 1940’s, you are to write in the style of that time.
2. You are to start at the end of the last page.
3. Once a paragraph has been add, you must follow that line of thought.

Running Out Of Time.

I followed behind in the shadows of the trees that lined the sidewalk, I moved as fast as I could to keep the figure in sight, but not so fast that I might give myself away. The figure would stop now and then, as if to listen to the sounds around it, as it did I would slip into the shadows and wait for the figure to move on. The figure came to a corner and rounded it and was gone from sight, I moved faster so not to lose sight, but as I rounded the corner my prey was gone.

I stood swearing to myself for losing sight of my prey, I knew it couldn’t have gone far, then my eyes fell upon a high brick wall across the street. The wall ran almost the full length of the block, had it not been for a black hole in the wall. I cross the street and headed for the hole, I knew my prey had to be within the walls as there was no time to cover the length of the street before I rounded the corner. As I crossed the street and got closer I could see it was a archway and not a hole, as I stood there taking in the arch, I could see a plaque on the side of the wall which read “1888.“ The arch held a double sided gate, which one side hung slightly at an angle, a sign of old age, above the archway there were letters which read, “Rose Way Cemetery.” I glazed beyond the darkness of the arch and step forward and let the shadows surround me.

As I entered I found myself on a old walkway that lead me to an old fountain, here the walk took two different directs. I had to hurry and decide which path to take for fear that my prey would disappear for good. I looked about then my eyes fell upon two puddles, left by the rain not more then an hour ago. As I looked at them I could see one was clear as glass, the other was muddy, I decided on the path that was muddy, I walked as fast as I could and hoping the sound of my shoes on the old stones won’t give me away.

As I walked the stones took me in among old tome stones and statues. I could feel a cold chill on my skin, I hated places of death, I needed to leave this place. I kept on going along the walk, in short time it started to from a curve, I followed the curve at it rounded a clump of rose bushes, as I rounded the bushes I could see the walkway ended into a little round, and within it stood another old fountain. The fountain was surrounded by bench’s and old statues, one statue looked out of place, for this one was dressed in black lace. I started forward at a slow walk so as not to disturb the statue. As I moved I must have made a slight sound for the statue came to life, and as it turned I could it’s face.

Her face looked pale in the moon light and as the clouds coved the moon, her face became a mask of death. The eyes of her mask were hollow and the gun in her hand told of death. She stood there with no sign of life, as a statue wrapped in black lace. As the moon came out of hiding I could see tears coming from the hollows of her mask, I stood there looking upon the face of death knowing the beauty it once held.

I waited for her to speak but no sound came, just the sounds of the night. We stood there facing each other, there was no need for words, as the gun said it all. I waited for her to move but the only movement that came was from the trees as the wind passed through them. I looked into her face and wondered how it came to this?, as I moved closer the statue came to life, her arm raised higher, as I moved I saw the orange glow from hand, the sound of the reports were deafening, in the still of the night.

(1)

I stood there looking down on the lifeless from, as I bent down I pulled the veil from the mask of death and looked upon it knowing the beauty it once held. When I stood up something caught my eye, it was within the other head stones, I went to see as I need to turn away from the form before me. There in among the tome stones was a newly opened pit, and at the head of the pit was a stone which read, “Mary McClure born 1921, died 1946.” “Liked by many loved by none.” I just stood there looking, she had been right she had ran out of time, I turned back to the lifeless form, as I did My mind faded back to a few months ago.

I was sitting at my desk which was almost to large for the office, some would call my office a broom closet, and they could be right? My office was stuck in a corner almost lost among the larger offices of the floor , at lest my name was on this broom closet door it read, “Jack Davis Private Detective.” I look over my desktop, on one corner there stood a pile of cases yet to be filed, in another corner a stack of unpaid bills, that stood higher then my cases, and in the center of it all a glass of bourbon. I looked around my surroundings, there was little furniture, a file cabinet and a end table next to and old faded chair, a couple of lamps and a couch that showed the signs of to many sleepless nights. As I took a sip from the glass I heard the glass rattle at my office door, “Come In?”

When the door open a figure stood in the door way, I couldn’t tell much as the hall lights block my view, I said. “Come In.” The shadow ask. “Mr. Davis?” I replied. “Yes what can I do for you?” As the shadow step forward I took in the view. I would say she stood five eight, a hundred and twenty pounds and she looked about twenty-five. When she came closer I took in her face, her hair was of gold and ran to her shoulders then turn upwards. She had green eyes and a full mouth. I offered her a chair, as she sat down it was as if there was a heavy burden on her shoulders. I asked. “Now how can I help you?, Miss?” She replied. “Mrs. McClure, Mrs. Mary McClure.” Her eyes darted about the room then came back to me as she said. “I need help in finding my husbands killer.” I gave the answer a moment of thought, then ask. “Murdered?” She said. “Yes two months ago.” I took another moment then ask. “Police have any leads?” Her eyes fell on the glass on my desk as she answered. “None.“ I offered her a drink, and she took it. “Please.” I got up and went to the window ledge and hunted among the cups and glass and found one that would pass as clean. I said. “Sorry all I have is bourbon?” She replied. “That’s fine.” I pulled open a side drawer of my desk and pulled out a bottle and poured her a drink. I waited while she took a dip of her drink then said. “Mrs. McClure I can’t help you, I don’t work open cases, the police don’t take too kindly to private dicks massing around in open cases.” She almost jumped out of her chair while answering. “But you must help me!, I can pay your fee, and I’m running out of time.” I took in that answer then asked. “Your running out of time?, can you explain?” She answered back. “I can’t explain now only that I need your help.”

(2)

There was something about her I didn’t what, just a feeling. I came back to the moment and said. “Before I can think about help you, I need a little more information.” She pulled herself upright in the chair and said. “Well Robert that’s my husbands name he works for the Rudy & Company, it’s a diamond exchange, their office are down town.” There was silence , I looked up from my notes, and said. “Yes go on.” She continue, “He was a carrier, he left for work on Friday and that’s the last time I saw him alive.” I stopped writing and ask. “How old was he?” She said. “30.” I asked. “How did you find out that your husband was dead?” She looked a little uncomfortable but went on. “The police called and ask if I could come the morgue.”

I stop and looked up and asked. “Were you able to give them any information?” She took a little time before answering, then said. “None, like I said to the police I have no idea who would want to hurt my husband.” After she finished, I looked her over again, there was something about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it will come to me. I asked. “Will you excuse me a moment?, I have to make a phone call.” She looked down on the phone on my desk. I answered her look. “Private.” I asked her to give me a moment, out in the hall I cursed myself for not paying my last phone bill,

I dropped a few dimes in the phone and waited for a response. “Police Department number please?” I answered. “Lieutenant Paul Anderson.” I waited. “Lieutenant Anderson here?” I responded. “Paul?, this is Jack, Jack Davis.” I heard a crumble on the other end. “Yea, what do you want?” I asked. “What you got on the McClure, murder.” He asked. “Why you working it?” I answered. “No just asking.” Paul came back with, “Not much he was found on Hamton Avenue, found in his car slumped over the steering wheel, with one in the back of the head.” I asked. “Mob hit?” He said. “Could be?” I thought a few moments then asked. “Any leads or witness’s?” Paul answered back. “None.” I said. “Will I was just asking.” He asked. “You going to work it?” I said. “Could be I don’t know at the moment.” Paul crumbled. “You know how the guy’s down here feel about you working one of their open cases, the body count start adding up.” I smiled to my self and said. “I’ll keep the count down.” A laugh then a click as the phone went dead.

I stood there a moment then headed for my office. “Well Mrs. McClure?” I said as I entered and took my chair, “I called a friend in the police department, he tell me there are no leads or witness’s, their at a dead end.” She just sat there not saying a thing, so I went on. “So you see I have no where to start.” Then she surprise me by saying. “You could start on Hamton.” I asked why. :Robert went there at lest twice a week, and before you ask I have no idea why?” My curiosity showed. “You know about Hamton?” I smiled and said. “Yea, it’s where all the gin mills are.” I thought to myself now what’s a uptown gut like him doing on gin row/” Now my curiosity was really taking hold. She asked. “So you’ll take the case?” I should have said no, but I looked at all the unpaid bills on my desk, then went on to say, I would take the case. I said. “I get fifty dollars a day plus expenses.” She reached into her hand bag, and handed over one hundred dollars. She asked. “You will let me know if you find anything?” I said. “As soon as I know something I’ll let you know.” She got up and went to the door, as she did I had a good view, I put on a little smile.

After she had gone I got up and put on my should holster with a 38., out in the hall I had a thought it was always this way. I know that someone was going to die and I hope it wasn’t going to be me. It seems that someone always die’s when I’m on the hunt.