This was the hardest prompt for me. I don't believe something can truly be broken beyond repair, even shattered glass can be thinly glued back together, even wounds have scars, and to be human is to heal and to love... so I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do for this prompt, and have a cold on top of my pregnancy has made me an extremely lazy writer. So, I'm sorta cheating, by copy and pasting a short excerpt I wrote last year. It was supposed to be the start of a role-play, and then the start of a co-written story, but the people I partnered with gave up because they in their own words admitted to me that they were too intimidated. So that is something broken, beyond repair, because for the life of me I can't get someone to write with me even for fun without feeling as if they're not my equal, which is a shame, because I'm not a professional or above average like they have the impression of me. "Will you go to the Annual Founders Party?”
Elliot grimaced in response. Riley pulled back his lips and barked a laugh, “oh come on, Kingsley.” He chuckled. “Not everyone in your family rivals the Founding Family.” When the silence dragged, the red-heads smile faltered. “I didn’t mean it man… just teasing, Elliot…” Elliot Kingsley sighed heavily, “I know Riley.” He ran his fingers through his own dark brown hair. The Founding Family, the Lockwoods… he simply couldn’t get away from them. They owned the Gated Community named after them, and all the various businesses within those gates, including the Academy he had graduated at years before. Lockwood Estates, Lockwood Academy, Lockwood Manor, Lockwood Hotel… the very building they stood in, the Lockwood Guard House. He felt his nails bite into the palms of his hands. “Your sister said she wanted to go,” Riley pressed. Elliot glanced at the young night guard. “I thought she may have been hinting at me to ask her, what do you think?” His voice pitched a bit, enough so that normally Elliot would’ve laughed, but this time he didn’t. He simply stared at the young red-head. Riley Davenport, not yet eighteen, all love-struck with Elliot’s little sister, though she a bit older than Riley, that didn’t stop him from pursuing her. Riley Davenport, a dog shape shifter, a Therian from a lesser family than the Kingsleys… “I don’t know,” Elliot shrugged. “I suppose I could watch my father that night, give her a break, and see if she’d dance with a dog.” Elliot joked, finally cracking a smile. Riley exhaled a held breath, giving his own breathy chuckle. The kid wasn’t bad and was well on his way to becoming an officer… even if it was for the gated community… for the bloody Lockwoods. Elliot's smile fell, and he leaned against the wall. All was quiet, except for the occasional car that drove up to the window and requested entry. Riley would ask for id, and lift the bar so the guests or late night members could enter. The Lockwood Guard House was small, only big enough for a table, a filing cabinet, a coat rack, and two chairs. Honestly, this little shack was just a detour from going home, to where his sister and sickly father waited for him. He didn’t really have anywhere else to go where he could relax, not unless he left the gated community. He wouldn’t go to the Annual Founders Party, he wouldn’t be caught dead there, it would disappoint his father to attend an event hosted by Therians so stuck up that they’d banish anyone unable to shift into their animal familiar form. But Paige was enchanted by the old time-y balls hosted by the Lockwoods. She wouldn’t tell their father of course, but she dreamed of living in Lockwood manor, like a princess. It was a very unpopular desire, especially among their family. Poor Riley Davenport didn’t have a chance with Paige, but he could try, and keep trying, until he learned the hard way. Maybe his puppy dog charm would win Elliot’s sister over… maybe. The Kingsleys would side with a Davenport over a Lockwood any day. Elliot jumped out of his thoughts when he felt his cell vibrate through his jeans. He pulled his phone out of his pocket to see Paige’s smiling face brightly on the screen. He grimaced, knowing he should’ve been home by now to watch their dad so she could sleep early tonight. He couldn’t put it off any further, so he clicked the green button. “Hey Paige,” he said quietly. Riley perked up instantly, itching closer to get in on the conversation. Elliot placed a heavy boot on Riley’s chair and tipped him over. “I’ll be home soon,” Elliot announced. “Riley just stopped me at the Guard House,” he lied, “to butter up to me. Seems like he needs a date for the Annual Founders Party,” he winked at the dethroned red-head. “Dude, c’mon!” Riley wheezed. Elliot chuckled, but as the silence dragged, his spirits dropped. “Paige?” He asked gently. A whimper echoed across the phone. Elliot's heart clenched tightly in his chest. “Paige, what’s wrong?” His throat tightened, and he quickly left the Guard House, leaving Riley confused and behind. Elliot stood in the small locker room in the back, “Paige.” He said quietly. “I’m alone now, Riley’s up front… what’s… what’s..wrong?” He asked quietly. He pressed his forehead against the cool metal of the locker, listening to his sister to struggle out the words he felt coming. She began to cry first. “Eli…” her voice wobbled. “Don’t say it,” Elliot said quickly. He couldn’t have her say it, he couldn’t hear it. He felt his stomach twist as she wailed. “He’s g-g-gone!” She squealed over the phone and Elliot felt his chest collapse. His vision blurred and he pulled his phone away, unable to silence his sister's cries. “Eli…?” His sister whispered and Elliot sighed heavily, rubbing his dark eyes and the slight tears he couldn’t keep in. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait until you got home to tell you…” She said weakly into his ear. “I’ll be home soon,” he all but growled out unable to keep his voice straight. He hung up, pocketing his phone and opening the locker he had been leaning on. As he pulled off his work jacket, Riley walked in. Elliot ignored the teenager, keeping his back to Riley as he pulled his white shirt over his head and placed it in the locker with his jacket. “Everything… okay?” the dog Therian asked. Elliot unbuttoned his jeans, but held off and said, “my dad's gone.” He stood there, trying to accept the fact that his old man really was gone. It was a long time coming, but still, he wasn’t ready. “Oh, man… I’m, I’m sorry.” Riley muttered. Elliot bit his tongue, wanting the awkwardness to pass. He just wanted to be alone. “Doesn’t look like my sisters going to be up for a party,” Elliot huffed towards Riley, hoping he’d take the hint and leave. He then pulled off his boots, socks, then jeans. He tossed everything in the locker, uncaring if Riley was watching or not. “Going for a run?” The red-head guessed. “Just for a bit,” Elliot replied and waited for the young guard to leave the room. Once alone, Elliot pulled off his boxers, tossed them in the locker, and slammed it shut with such force it broke the top hinge. He didn’t care, kicking the back door open and running into the forest stark naked. No one would notice though because in a blink of an eye man became beast and a dark brown wolf sped through the night.
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Welcome to my Blog Hey, I'm Maryah Stevens, a 25 year old, self-published, college graduate, married, 1st time mom! Phew! Archives
January 2018
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