The exercise:
It's time, once again, to embark on a yearlong journey.
I've brought us to Mejaran, The Colony, and The Dream Kingdom.
Morganna has brought us to the House of Mercy.
Greg took us to Vancouver Irrealis... and now it's his turn once more.
2018 shall be the year of: Empires.
Lead us off, Greg.
6 comments:
Hmm, when you list them all out like that I realise I can put them into order of favourites: I think The Colony tops my list, with Mejaran and the House of Mercy joint second, Dream Kingdom third and Vancouver Irrealis bringing up the rear. Which must say something about my choice of setting... which I'm going to ignore since it's my turn again. But actually I think it's down to the characters in the setting, so it's a joint blame or credit :-P
Two posts I'm afraid, but that's because there's a prologue :)
Prologue
The hospital at Crimson Falls was a two-storey building with a good view of the famous Falls and was quiet enough that the staff sometimes gathered of an evening for a Poker game with the patients. The maternity ward was on the top floor and this evening, as Julianne went into labour, she was the only expectant mother there. The midwife, a nurse and two doctors quickly attended, while her husband, Steve, stood at the head of the bed holding her hand. Everything went smoothly and Steve tried not to wince as his hand was crushed with the regularity of the contractions; Julianne gasped and groaned, but the labour was turning out to be short.
“The baby’s crowning,” said the midwife, “Just a little longer now. Push!”
In the corners of the ward the shadows gathered and thickened into blackness that pulsed in time with the contractions. The nurse and one of the doctors left Julianne’s side and went and stood on either side of the inky nebula, waiting. As Julianne screamed, one last contraction convulsing her and forcing the baby out into its new life the shadow-mass convulsed simultaneously and an elderly woman staggered out. The midwife gently picked up the baby; the doctor and nurse gently caught the elderly woman and helped her to a seat.
“Your name is...?” asked the nurse while the midwife cut the cord and cleaned the child. Julianne looked tired but eager to hold her baby; Steve looked anxious.
“We were hoping for Elizabeth,” he said. The midwife shot him a stern look and he closed his mouth. Julianne squeezed his hand, though after the crushing of the contractions he barely noticed.
“Anastasia,” said the elderly woman. She heaved a heavy breath and looked at Steve with a steady, but milky gaze. “But I prefer Stacey.” At the mention of her name, the baby cried.
Twenty-three years later
Stacey walked into Anastasia’s office. As soon as they were within thirty-three metres of each other they could tell exactly where they each were; this close, making eye contact, both could feel the other’s thoughts as a gentle pressure, like being waist deep in the sea as small waves rolled in. Stacey was dressed sharply: her blouse was as white as the fresh snowfall outside and her suit had been tailored in Boston. Her shoes were claret red, low heels, enough to attract attention but not enough to hold it. Under one arm was a laptop, silvery-grey and pulsing slowly with a white light to indicate it was just sleeping.
Across the desk Anastasia was equally smartly dressed though her clothes were suited to a more mature woman, as befitted her appearance. Her eyes were clear and bright and focused on a large white monitor, her fingers rested on an icy-white keyboard not quite aligned with it. Architectural plans were stacked on one side of the desk and an untouched cup of gently-steaming coffee was next to them.
“Sit down,” said Anastasia. Stacey was already sat. “You don’t want coffee.”
“Nor do you,” said Stacey. She looked at the cup on the desk.
“I know,” said Anastasia nodding. ‘It was reflex; Simon asked if I wanted one and I’d said yes before I’d actually listened to him.”
“I’d better drink it,” said Stacey. “I thought you were going to tell Simon that you were cutting back?”
“I thought you’d already done it?”
They looked at each other, and the half-shared consciousness stirred a little, sleepily.
“We have to get better at agreeing who does what,” said Stacey, as Anastasia nodded. “But anyway. Why did I ask you to come?”
“I asked you to come,” said Anastasia. “The Mayor has been in to see me three times this week; he wants to demolish the old hospital and build on the site. He’s suggested a fire station, an orphanage and a mushroom farm so far. I’m certain he’s found a construction firm to give him a kick-back, but I can’t find a paper-trail, so he’s covering it well.”
“Where we were born,” said Stacey thoughtfully.
“And where everyone who was there for the birth died,” said Anastasia.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea to build there again,” they said together, eerily harmonising.
“Quite,” said Anastasia. “At least... not without knowing what really happened there.”
“Is that possible?”
“I have no idea.”
"I suppose it's worth another look at the room," Stacey said. "And maybe the whole hospital while I'm at it - the truth of the place could be somewhere else."
"Yes, like the basement or some other such dark, creepy place," Anastasia said with a thin smile. "We do not think that this is wise."
"No, we don't," Stacey agreed. "But what else is there to investigate? No surviving witnesses, nobody else like us ar-"
"That we know of," Anastasia cut in. "Yet."
Stacey considered Anastasia for a few seconds, feeling her thoughts intermingling with her own.
"You really don't want us to be the only two, do you," she said softly.
"I don't believe that we are," Anastasia said, turning away to watch the beginning of yet another snowfall out of her office window.
"Fine." Stacey shrugged. "Well whatever answers there may be must be in that hospital somewhere. I'll take another look tonight."
"Fine." Anastasia didn't turn to watch as Stacey headed for the door. Instead she said only, "Just make sure you're not followed."
* * *
As she exited the building Stacey paused to breathe in the crisp, fresh air and collect her thoughts, which were once again mostly her own. Being in the same room with Anastasia tended to be disorienting at best and absolutely nauseating when they were in disagreement.
A glance at her smartphone informed her that she had a little more than two hours to get to her apartment, make and eat dinner, and then get to the hospital around dusk. She turned to head home and was nearly bowled over by a large man shuffling in the opposite direction.
"Sorry," she said, more out of habit than a feeling she'd done anything wrong.
The man stopped and turned to look at her. His dirty hair, dotted with snowflakes, was long enough to obscure his eyes but not his unkempt beard. Drool was seeping from the left side of his mouth, like blood leaking from a newly reopened wound. His arms hung loosely at his sides, his tattered winter coat was unbuttoned, and his jeans looked almost as worn as his boots.
He mumbled something Stacey couldn't decipher before carrying on his way. Stacey released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and tried to slow her suddenly racing heartbeat. She watched him go, unable to tear her gaze away.
"What the hell...?" she muttered, then forced herself to turn and hurry for home. "What... what the hell was that?"
David climbed back into the car and groaned. It was starting to snow. Why did Ben have to pick this day, of all days, to take a runner? And how the hell had he walked so fast? They had started the day in Azure Falls 60 miles away, where they lived. And if the guy at this gas station was to be believed, Ben was walking well and strong, heading down the road towards Crimson Falls.
David really did not want to go to Crimson Falls. He and Ben had been born there 30 years before but they weren't the usual sort of twins. They were ... different. And the secrets were hidden in the hospital in Crimson Falls. David really just wanted to be home, sipping some hot cocoa, listening to Ben breathe in the next room, and planning his next day's work.
But no, he was out here in the snow, chasing after Ben on a wild goose chase to the one place in the world he had hoped never to see again.
He sighed, and started the car. Ben wasn't all there all the time, but he was a good guy. Hopefully, he'd come home without an argument and they wouldn't have to stay the night in Crimson Falls.
Morganna - welcome aboard for another year of fun and intrigue :)
You've managed to both introduce a new character and give us some details on a character I'd brought into the story. Very impressive! I think there are lots of interesting possibilities to work with going forward, and I'm excited to see what will happen this year :)
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