Thought I'd post my first chapter up for NaNoWriMo! This has a working title of "The Diary", and is basically about the origin of Miss Ellie's powers, and what happened between her getting them, and arriving in Paragon City.
The Diary
Chapter One
Jessica sighed as she knelt down amongst the boxes. Taking the knife from her shirt pocket, she cut the tape holding the nearest box closed, and put the knife back before opening the flap. Just underneath the flaps lay several sheets of newspaper, the Paragon Times. Glancing at the date on the headline, she smiled; 31st October 2016, her and Ellie's 10th wedding anniversary, just 2 weeks ago.
Putting the newspaper to one side, she began to unpack the box. Inside was an assortment of books, mostly dressmaking, and some cookery books, the accumulation of the last ten years of living together on Rolando Island. Jessica smiled, somewhat sadly, as her thoughts went back to the island. Life had been good there, too good really. It's a shame it had to come to a close
Still, they had their new home now, in the countryside not too far from London.
Jess picked up the stack of books she'd unpacked, and walked over to the nearest bookcase. Kneeling down, she slowly started to shelve the books, trying to keep some semblance of order. About two thirds of the way into the stack, she stopped as she picked up a fairly thick, leather bound book, with no title. Curious, she opened it.
Ellie's Diary, she read. Raising an eyebrow she glanced first towards the door, then back to the book, turning the page to the first entry.
15th March, 2004.
Decided to start writing a diary, to try to make sense of what's happened to me. Dad's finally gone out, after spending the last hour yelling at me. Mum's downstairs, crying again.
I still don't really know what happened in the crash three weeks ago
All I can remember is the screech of metal, and then waking up in the hospital. I'm glad Mogs is OK. From what the doc said, several tonnes of stuff fell on my mini when I was driving through those road works
He said it's a miracle I'm alive at all!
Anyway, since I was let out (not a scratch on me!), some odd things have been happening! I've been having some really weird dreams, and last week I was watching the news on TV, some rubbish about mutants, and it just
exploded! Scared the hell out of me I'll tell you
Bits of the screen flying everywhere, god knows how I avoided getting cut. Funny thing is, there were bits of glass and stuff all over, and some went past me, but just in front of me, there was this little arc of bits of glass on the floor, like a line stopping just in front of me. Weird.
Mogs was pretty shook up by the accident though, he doesn't seem to want to go far from me anymore, and actually seems happiest when he's curled up on my shoulder. He seems pretty quiet since too
Hardly ever meowing anymore
Jess looked up from the diary as she heard a door slam just outside the room, and a high pitched voice call out, "Mum? I can't find my laptop!"
Smiling, Jess was about to reply, when she heard the soft tones of her wife reply. "It's in the kitchen, Josie. Right where you left it! Maybe if you'd be a bit tidier, instead of spending all your time bothering Auntie Hannah, you wouldn't lose it?"
The voices faded into indistinct mumbles as the owners moved further away from the room Jess was in, out of earshot. With a chuckle, Jess turned back to the diary. She flicked through a couple of entries, then turned to the back of the book, to see when the last entry was made.
31st October, 2006.
Jess and I are getting married today! I'm so excited! It feels like everything I've done in my life up to now, has been leading to this moment! I'm such a lucky girl, I don't know what I've done to deserve someone as wonderful as Jess!
Must find a way to thank Hannah properly for everything she's done for us!!
I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!!
Jess smiled as she read the words of the final entry, then closed the book and stood up. Placing the diary carefully on the desk near the bookcase, she finished putting the rest of the books on the shelf before picking it up again, and heading out of the room, to ask Ellie about it.
In the kitchen, Ellie was just putting the kettle on as Jess entered the room. Ellie was a slight woman, only 5'4", with narrow hips and a small chest. Her long white hair was tied in a pony tail, ending just above her rear, where her long cat tail sprouted from the base of her spine. A small red cap perched between the cat ears on the top of her head.
Jess smiled at her wife as she entered, "Hey hun, Josie find her laptop?"
Ellie glanced up from the kettle as Jess spoke, "Mmhmm, she's in the lounge, setting up a chat session with Hannah. Wants to tell her all about the trip, I think. Tea?"
Jess smiled as she sat on a stool, "Please."
Ellie nodded, almost absently, as she fixed a second cup. Pouring the hot water, the aroma of cinnamon drifted across the room. After a moment of stirring, Ellie picked up both cups and walked over to Jess, sitting next to her and putting both cups on the counter before glancing at the book in Jess's hands. "What's that, love?"
"A diary, yours in fact. Came across it when unpacking." Jess placed it on the counter as she spoke.
Ellie frowned slightly as she picked it up, "Oh wow... I'd forgotten all about this thing... Haven't seen it for years!"
Ellie flipped through it's pages for a moment, before shrugging and putting it back down to take a sip of her tea, "It's mostly just me prattling on, nothing too interesting."
Jess smiled as she sipped her tea, "Mind if I have a read?"
Ellie grinned at her partner, "You and your curiosity... I'm meant to be the curious cat, not you!"
Jess chuckled into her mug as she sipped some more.
Ellie picked the diary up again and hefted it thoughfully, remembering it's contents. After a moment's thought, she shrugged and handed it over, "Alright, but there's stuff in there you're not going to like..."
Jess smiled as she took the book, "I'm sure there's nothing in there that can compare to some of the thing's Josie's gotten into..."
"Don't be so sure..." Ellie replied as she finished her tea and picked up her handbag from the counter, "I've got to pop to the shop for some milk. Be about ten minutes."
Jess nods, "OK love, see you soon."
Ellie leaned over and pecked Jess on the cheek, her vanilla scented perfume lingering as she headed out the back door. Jess smiled as she left, and after looking at the now closed door for a moment, turned back to the diary, opening it again at the first page.
18th March, 2004
More weird stuff today
I was peeling some potatoes for mum, and I sneezed and the knife slipped. It was a pretty deep cut, right in the palm of my hand, but as I stood there, more in surprise than anything, the cut healed!! I couldn't believe it! There I was, stood there dripping blood into the sink from a 2 inch gash in my palm, and the cut just
closed up! It didn't hurt at all!
I'm beginning to think something happened in that crash, dad does too, he keeps giving me funny looks. More weird dreams again. I keep seeing images of, well
spaceships!
I'm scared.
24th March, 2004
Katie came over today. Dad gave her his usual filthy look so we went out to the common for some peace and quiet. I tried to leave Mogs behind but he yowled so much I just had to bring him as well. Told Katie about cutting my hand the other day, but she thinks I imagined it. Decided not to tell her about the dreams.
We cuddled for a bit on a bench, there were no people about, so why not? After a bit, her mobile rang... her mum. She had to get on home but she's coming around to see me tomorrow.
25th March, 2004
Had a really scary dream last night, there was this voice coming from nowhere that kept telling me to fly away! I think I'm starting to go mad
Katie's coming over later. We're going to go see a film. Maybe I should tell her about the dreams?
26th March, 2004
Katie didn't show up last night. No phone call, nothing. I tried ringing her mobile, but it was off and she never checks her answer phone. Stayed up half the night worrying, It's not like her to not call. Where IS she?
Jess looked up as a sound came from the hallway. A moment later, a slim little girl with long blonde hair, up in pigtails, poked her head into the room, "Mom, auntie Hannah wants to know if you remembered to close off the portal in your tower room?"
"Tell her it's all closed off Josie, and I'll come over at the weekend to remove it completely, OK?"
Josie nodded and her head vanished back to where it came from. With a chuckle, Jess returned to the diary.
1st April, 2004.
Some April Fool's day today turned out to be... Katie doesn't want to be with me anymore! She came around earlier and said things had been too weird since my accident, and that she's found someone else. Why didn't she say something the other day? It's not fair! I've been with her for nearly a year, and she just dumps me like that!
Spent the last few hours in bed, crying. At least Mogs loves me.
I'm so depressed.
With a rattle at the handle, the back door swung open, and Ellie walked in and put a carrier bag on the counter, "Hey love, told you I wouldn't be long."
"Hi Ellie, " Jess smiled, "Get the milk OK?"
"Yeah... Couple of twits in the shop gawked at me, but you know I just ignore that [censored]."
Jess nodded as Ellie started to put the milk, and a few other groceries, away. "Who's Katie?"
"Katie? Oh... Just an old girlfriend, from a long time ago. I've told you about her before, haven't I?"
Jess shakes her head, "No, I don't think so..."
"Oh... Well, nothing to tell really. She was my first proper girlfriend, but I only dated her for about a year. Last I heard, she ended up marrying some guy, had a couple of kids, and spent the next few years working in a supermarket..."
"A guy? And she dated you?"
Ellie finished putting the things away and turned to look at Jess, "Yeah, well... She never DID know what she really wanted."
"Aaah, I get you. One of the insecure types."
"Insecure? Yeah, that's Katie alright. A shame really, she was really pretty and did this thing with her middle fin...." Ellie stopped and grinned sheepishly, "Ah... Guess you don't really want to hear about that."
Jess chuckled, "Ah, not really, no."
"Well, anyway... She was my first proper girlfriend I guess, shame she didn't feel as strongly about me as I did her. Still, things worked out better in the end, right?"
Jess smiled at Ellie, "Indeed they did. After all, look where we are now."
Ellie chuckled and gave Jess a brief hug. "Guess you read about her in my diary? Afraid you won't find anything juicy about her in there; we split up not long after I started writing it..."
"So I gathered... I'm sorry that upset you so."
Ellie shrugged, "Why be sorry? It was a long time ago, and I was pretty screwed up back then. Anyway, I'm going to see what Josie is getting up to."
"Alright love, I think she's still in the lounge, talking to Hannah."
Ellie nodded and patted Jess on the rear before heading out of the kitchen. Jess chuckled in response, "Cheeky!"
Smiling after her wife as she left the room, Jess once again returned to the diary.
10th April, 2004
Been so depressed lately. Can't stop crying about Katie, why'd she leave me? What did I do wrong?
Had a row with dad yesterday. He's sick of me moping about the house and told me it's time I bucked my ideas up and got a job. Guess it was sparked off by that cheque from the insurance for my car. A whopping great £3000! Bloody tightwads... You'd think getting nearly killed under a few tonnes of heavy gear, and my car getting smooshed, would be worth more than that? But NOOOOOoooooo... Three effing grand...
Anyway... Dad told me I'd better use it to sort my life out, coz he's sick of paying for everything for me. I swear, sometimes he's tighter than a ducks [censored]!
18th April, 2004
Oh My God! I can fly!!!!!!!!
I was carrying some stuff downstairs, and I tripped, but didn't fall down! I was just.. bobbing there... In the air! Mum saw me and near screamed the house down! That made me jump I can tell you, made me fall too, luckily I caught the banister so I didn't fall more than a couple of steps.
Poor mum, she was all hyperventilating and everything! She said there was this glow in my eyes and everything! I've NO idea how it happened, and I've tried to do it again, but I can't. Mum's all worried and everything and thinks we should call someone, but... who?
Not looking forward to dad finding out, he can't stand things that aren't what he called "normal".
19th April, 2004
Dad blew his stack when mum told him. Said he knew I was a freak! Me? A freak? What a horrible thing to say! I tried to talk to him, tell him I had no idea how it happened, but he just yelled at me to get out of his sight!
20th April, 2004
Dad's a lot calmer today. Came up to my room this morning and said he was sorry for yelling at me like that. Even gave me a hug! Then he said he was worried about me, and thought maybe I should go see someone. I didn't know how he meant, but then he said he'd called the Ministry of Meta-human Affairs, and they're going to send someone around tomorrow to talk to me!
I was a bit panicky about that... He knows I don't like talking to strangers much, but he got all stern and told me he knows what's best and that maybe they can cure me or something!
21st April, 2004
The man from the ministry came today. He was a really nice guy, in his early 30's I guess, did his best to keep me calm and stuff. We spoke privately for a while about the accident and stuff, and I mentioned the dreams to him. He got all thoughtful and asked if I'd like to visit the ministry for some testing, so they can see what's actually happened. I'm not sure I want to know what's happened, but I guess I should.
Anyway, dad's told me I have to go as well...
28th April, 2004
Oh god... Oh god... Oh god... Oh god...
Visited the ministry today, for those tests.. Took Mogs with me as he really yowled the place down when I tried to leave him at home. They had this psychic woman there, and she went looking through my head... They were all nice at the ministry, told me they only wanted to help, but what they found!!!
I've got something inside me... An alien of some kind.. A Kellan I think they said. No, that's not right... Kheldian, that's it. Whatever one of those is. The psychic lady said she spent some time talking to it, asking it what it wanted, but it didn't say much. Just that it saw the crash, and that it... well... it saved me. They said it did ask me if I wanted it to help, and I said OK... I don't remember any of that!
Dad totally spazzed out! I don't think I've ever seen him look so... Angry? Upset? I dunno... He just freaked and told me to get out of his sight. I ran upstairs to my room, crying again, and listened to the muffled voices of him and mum arguing. Then the door slammed and dad's car started up. After a few minutes I heard mum coming upstairs, and she stopped outside my room for a minute before she went back downstairs again. Guess she can't face me at the moment either...
Jess paused in her reading, taking a moment to take stock of what she'd just read. What a... a pig, Ellie's father had been! Almost afraid to continue reading, Jess looked back at the pages before her, and Ellie's flowing handwriting.
1st May, 2004
I'm homeless. When dad came back the other day, there was a massive row. He said he'd been to find out more about this thing inside me, and he was horrified! He said I'm not his little girl anymore, just a damned filthy alien body snatcher! I've never seen him so angry before... I was scared spitless!
He raged on about his little girl having died in that crash, and that I'm just a monster wearing her body! I actually thought he was going to hit me at one point and Dad's never ever done that before! He told me to get out... To get what clothes I could into a bag, and get out, and never ever come back!
What could I do? Mum was just standing there, in tears. Dad was fuming and going all red faced.... So I just threw some stuff in a bag, grabbed Mogs, and left. I was so scared and upset, I didn't know what to do or where to go, so I just ran.... And ran, and ran.
I don't know how long I ran for. Somehow, I found myself outside Katie's house, so I knocked on the door. Her mum answered. When she saw me though, she just slammed the door in my face. I tried a few more times, but after a bit I heard a voice shouting "Go away, freak!". It sounded like Katie... Guess she's been talking to dad.
I ran off again, and jumped on the first bus I saw. I'm in a hostel at the moment, but I can't stay more than one night as pets aren't really allowed here.
Everybody hates me... I'm so alone... I wish I'd died in that crash.
Jess stopped reading, and put the diary down. Shocked and horrified at what Ellie's father had done to his daughter. Of course, she'd known roughly what had happened; Ellie had told her as much years ago. But only in an offhand way, actually reading about what had happened brought the reality of what Ellie's father had done, the sheer harshness of it appalled Jess. Taking a tissue from her pocket, she dabbed at her eyes for a moment, and then set off in search of Ellie.
. Keep it up, just a few more thousand words! You can do it!
