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Post by Linda Rhaldeen on Mar 8, 2014 20:15:09 GMT -5
I volunteer as a substitute spellchecker.
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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Mar 9, 2014 4:25:20 GMT -5
lol, the spellchecker isn't really more unavailable than the writer himself
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Mar 9, 2014 4:33:19 GMT -5
Linda, you'd have better luck writing the next chapter yourself than trying to decipher my spelling.
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Mar 21, 2014 12:03:05 GMT -5
Several Hours Earlier...
Sherry Ann rose from the table. 'The clues are all there. I expect you should be able to piece them together. But it doesn't matter. I have to talk to Linda about some pressing matter' 'I have to go anyway.' said Bee. 'I have a very important meeting myself.' 'Oh, really?' Sherry Ann seemed interested 'You said I should do some investigating. So that's what I'm about to do!' Sherry Ann left Bee all on her own. It was several minutes before he arrived. Bee hoped desperately Sherry Ann hadn't seen him as she had left Miserable Meals. The chance to tease her with the information would be quite truly wonderful. 'Hi,' he said, awkwardly. 'Hello,' she said, forcing a smile. 'Can I sit down?' 'There's a chair. Feel free to use it.' He sat down. 'Can I buy you a coffee?' 'No thanks. feel free to buy yourself one.' 'I don't drink coffee. Tea, however... now that's a different story. A great man once said there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.' 'It's 9.30 in the morning.' 'Ah.' said Bee 'good point.' 'Listen,' he said, coldly, 'why are we playing this game? What do you want?' 'I want you to admit the truth. It was you. You stole the diamonds from me, didn't you?' He sat there, open mouthed 'I'm not even going to dignify that with a response.' 'But it's the truth.' 'Okay.' He laughed. 'If I stole them, how did I do it? Nobody except your closest friends knows where the diamonds are, and im certainly not a friend, let alone a closest one.' 'Dante,' said Bee. 'Dante told you.' 'Why would he tell me?' 'Because you asked him. And he likes you. So he would tell you.' 'But why would I steal the diamonds? Revenge?' 'No. Not revenge. I don't think you want revenge?' 'No.' He smiled. 'I don't. It was years ago now and it doesn't matter.' It matters to me, she thought, but no. 'I think you stole them for her.' Bee's last words hung in the air, and nobody spoke for a moment. 'You do know she doesn't need diamonds? She's beautiful enough without them.' Bee snorted 'You stole them for the money.' 'I don't need money.' 'Oh, but you do. You paid for her membership to 667. Tragedy nearly deleted her account. If it hadn't been for you she wouldn't even be here.' His mouth hung open again. How do you know about that?' Bee smiled. 'I have my sources.' Mister M rose from the table. 'No. You have Tragedy.' He walked out of the diner. So, though Bee. It was him. Mister M stole the diamonds.
Bee went home and phoned Sophie immediately. She had made a mistake, believing it was her, so it was clearly time to aplogise. They agreed they would meet for dinner later that day. The mansion in which Bee lived was one of the biggest buildings in the entire city, beaten only by 667 Dark Avenue. But the only person who lived there was Bee herself. Well, for the moment anyway. Bee was running out of money, and so she would have to start renting out rooms of the mansion in order to make ends meet. And all because the diamonds had been stolen. All because of Mister M. She pulled out her phone and called Terry. 'Hey,' said Terry. 'Hey, I have some news for you.' 'Oh, okay.' 'It was Mister M.' Terry paused for a moment. 'Are you sure?' 'Yes, I'm definitely sure. 100% absolutely positive. It was definitely him... maybe.' 'It isn't him,' said Terry. 'Hmm.' 'It isn't. I know it isn't.' 'How?' said Bee. 'Because,' said Terry, 'He was with me on the night the diamonds were stolen.' 'Oh,' said Bee. 'Damn. Then who was it?' 'I don't know.' 'It was Sophie, wasn't it?' 'No,' said Terry, 'I don't think it was her.' 'Hmm. Well we have to work out who it was, and fast. We have to beat Sherry Ann to this.'
Bee spent the rest of the day tidying the mansion and sorting through her belongings, and then she prepared herself for dinner with Sophie. The atmosphere at the diner was stale, as was the bread. Sophie had stolen the diamonds, it was obvious, and she felt guilty. When she offered to split the bill, Bee refused. Sophie could afford it anyway. Angry, she didn't even bother to return home. Instead, she went to Sherry Ann's apartment, retrieved the gun, and headed to the party. She hurriedly walked to 667 Dark Avenue, eventually arriving late. The entire time she was wary of the gun in her pocket. All the way through dinner, she sat and watched the various 667ers and they ate and drank in merriment. But she focused on one person in particular. Bee noticed how nervous she looked every time he glanced her way, and she noticed how panicked she sounded every time someone talked to her. And then Bee noticed the diamond ring on her hand. And then she relaised who had stolen the diamonds.
When Bee awoke to the noise of a gunshot, she was still in the dining room, but everyone else had disappeared. It was dark, and cold. Very cold. One quick glance out the window and Bee could see it had been snowing. She stood up, and walked over to the door, and stepped out into the entrance hall. 'Hello?' she called. It was empty. Then someone far away screamed. She froze, and looked up. Someone ran along the staircase above her to the long labyrinth of corridors. Bee looked around, and noticed a ladder stretching all the way to the massive chandelier. She wondered if Sixteen had decided now was a good time for a quick spring clean. At christmas. She walked up the ladder, and placed a foot on the first rung. It seemed stable enough. Not knowing why she was doing it, she climbed up the ladder. Hearing footsteps, she glanced around and saw Sixteen appear as if from nowhere. He looked directly at her but didn't seem to realise who it was. Bee continued climbing up the ladder, until she was so high up she could see nothing in the darkness. She could hear talking coming from below - Sixteen clearly had company - and she climbed so high she had reached the ceiling of the entrance hall. The chandelier was incredibly large, and attached to the ceiling by several large hooks. It consisted of many glass sculptures, each representing one of the 7,131 members of 667 Dark Avenue. However, today there was someone else there. Tragedy was lying down on the top of the chandelier. 'Tragedy?' asked Bee. 'Yes, that's my name,' he said. 'Or at least it was.' 'Are you okay?' she asked. 'No. Of course I'm not. But it's not me you should be worrying about. Anka just stabbed Sixteen, and now he's gone to find Hermes. But there's no hope for either of them. Dante's on his way.' 'What are you talking about?' 'Doesn't matter,' he said smiling. 'Are you okay? You look hurt.' 'I'm fine. Nothing can ever hurt me.' 'What are you doing up here?' 'giving you your opportunity. It's all Bandit's fault, y'see. Mister M was supposed to be here already. You were supposed to meet in the dining room. You would have wrestled over the gun in your pocket, but Bandit had to go and get in the way, and now Mister M is late.' 'What do you mean?' said Bee, confused. 'I mean I'm giving you a special chance. My final act. Because you're special, Bee.' 'I'm special?' 'Yep,' Tragedy said. 'So.... do you want to kill Mister M?' 'Why would I want to kill Mister M?' 'You tell me.' Bee thought for a moment. 'Of course I want to kill him.' 'Then do it. He'll come through the front door any minute now.' 'But how do I kill him?' 'You have a gun.' Tragedy pointed at her pocket. 'Just point and fire.' 'Why do you want me to kill him?' 'Because one of you has to kill the other.' 'Why?' 'Because that's just how it has to be.' Bee thought for a moment. 'No. I'm not going to kill Mister M.' 'Okay, then he'll kill you.' 'No, he won't.' Bee pulled the gun out of her pocket. 'I'll kill you instead.' And she fired the gun. The bullet went straight through Tragedy, and he faded like mist into the air. The bullet hit one of the hooks holding up the chandelier, and it fell, with Bee on top of it, and crashed down onto the floor... where Mister M was standing The noise was tremendous, and Bee was thrown halfway across the room, and she blacked out.
When she woke it was light, and the first face she saw was Terry's. 'Are you okay?' he asked. Bee sat up, but it hurt. 'Um... I think so. Where am I?' 'Same place we found you, in the entrance.' She looked around. It seemed to be day now, the sun streaming through the huge glass windows. The massive chandelier was nothing but shattered glass in the middle of the room. Anka was sat on the far side of the room, crying. 'Why is she crying?'' 'Mister M was... um... in the way of the chandelier' 'Oh.' She frowned. 'is he..?' 'Yeah' said Terry gently 'How long was I out?' 'About 10 minutes' 'Oh. Well how come it's light?' Terry looked confused. 'What do you mean?' 'Well it was dark before, how come it's light now?' 'Um... Bee, it's still dark.' Bee was confused 'Um.. no, it isn't. It's light. It's definitely light.' 'No, it isn't,' said Terry. Bee looked around, and she could clearly see the sunlight streaming in the windows. 'It's light.' 'No' said a voice from the other side of the room. 'It's dark.' The voice was Mister M's, and he was pulling himself out form under the remains of the chandelier. He was covered in bruises and blood, and he looked to be in incredible pain. He was most certainly alive.
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Mar 28, 2014 9:51:07 GMT -5
is anyone reading this story? i was just wondering because nobody comments
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Post by Hermes on Mar 28, 2014 10:53:58 GMT -5
Yes, I read it. I just can't think of anything to say.
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Mar 28, 2014 13:30:22 GMT -5
Several Hours Earlier...
Dante had the entire world at his fingertips. The database covered everything. Every name, every face, every encounter, every tiny little detail of 667 Dark Avenue. He had all the information he could possibly need right here. It wouldn't all have been possible if he had worked by himself, of course. Credit had to be given to LITMUS, to Sherry Ann, to Terry, and, of course, to Tragedy. Linda had asked him to pull together every last piece of information possible about BSam. If they were going to prove their theory, they would have to do it before the end of the year, she said. It was very important that they had all their facts right, she said. You have to get to work on this right away, Dante, she had said. Dante wasn't working on that, of course. He had something much more important to worry about. He glanced at the monitor. Lemona was outside again. She'd brought him muffins. His favourite. At around 2 in the afternoon, Dante stopped his work when there was a knock at the door. 'I know you're in here,' said Hermes. 'Please, let's just talk about this.' Dante sat down, and waited for him to leave. 'I promise nobody will know.' Eventually the knocking subsided, and Hermes had left. Dante knew it was now time.
He had always been fond of his residence. The first half was taken up by a large dark office where Dante liked to work things out and think, the other half taken up by the extensive paper archive. Dante didn't like to store his information in computers, not with Tragedy around. Dante changed into his favourite clothes, and prepared everything. He stepped outside, and breathed in the afternoon air. It was supposed to snow tonight, so they said. Whoever they were. He stepped out, and turned to take one last look at his office, before walking down the fire escape to the street below. He turned and crossed the road, and then turned to look back up at his office. He waited as the seconds ticked by. As soon as he could see a plume of black smoke rising from the top of the building, he knew his job was done. He pulled out his phone and dialled. 'Hello?' said the voice at the other end. 'It will happen tonight' he said.
Dante woke up on the 3rd floor, in one of the bedrooms. So it had happened. Counterpoint had been activated. He sat up, and pulled the piece of paper out of his pocket, and read the five names. Linda He stood up and walked over to the window, and opened it. He took the torch out of his pocket, and shone it into the night. He went back into the room and sat on the bed, waiting. A few minutes later, the door opened, and in it walked. the Wolf. 'I saw your signal,' it said. 'Nice suit,' Dante said back to it. 'Don't play nice, Dante' 'Are you a real wolf? Or is that just a very good mask?' he asked, ginning. 'What do you want?' the Wolf said. Dante suddenly turned serious. 'I need your assistance.' 'By assistance i assume you mean you need me to kill someone?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Who is it?' 'Linda,' said Dante 'I want her dead.' The Wolf was silent for a moment. 'I refuse.' Dante raised an eyebrow. 'Do you really?' 'I won't kill her.' 'What hold does she over you? Is it the same as mine?' 'No. It's more..... personal?'' 'Really?' said Dante, extremely surprised. 'Well I'm afraid the business in which we deal goes far beyond personal enjoyment. You will kill her, and nobody can know that you killed her. I can't have this traced even remotely back to me.' The Wolf stood there. 'Fine. But I want the lot. The entire database.' 'It's yours.' The Wolf turned to leave. 'And I want it done tonight,' Dante said. And then it was gone.
Dante waited on the bedroom for several minutes, and then heard a blood curdling scream. Finding his way in the dark, he walked up the staircase to the high floors of 667. He took out a pencil and drew a lint through the name Linda. He looked at the list once more, this timE at the next name. Sherry Ann. This would be difficult. Sherry Ann would know what was coming. All of a sudden his phone rang. It was Lemona. 'Lemona, what are you doing?' he said. 'I need your help.' 'Well, I'm a little busy at the moment.' 'It's Linda. She's dead. Someone attacked her or something or...' 'Linda's dead? Okay, thanks.' and he hung up. A few seconds later, he heard another scream. He turned and walked down the corridor, and entered into the library. Sherry was lying on the floor, and so was an awful amount of blood. 'Dante?' she said. 'What happened?' he said. 'Terry,' she said, struggling for breath 'He...' Dante realised she had died. He pulled out the piece of paper, and drew a black line through Sherry Ann's name. That one was easy.
He walked back down the stairs as quickly as possible, but then pulled out the piece of paper again. He looked at the next name. Terry. He crossed a black line through. Terry didn't need to be killed, not anymore. He looked at the next name on the list. Hermes. He continued walking downstairs, and found himself on the stairs leading to the entrance hall. As he had expected, Hermes was there. He had just come out of the bathroom, and ran along the corridor. In the darkness he didn't seem to notice Dante was standing there. Dante reached forward and put his hand over Hermes' mouth. 'I said it would happen tonight,' he said. 'I didn't realise I would have such a perfect opportunity.' And he pushed Hermes over the side of the stairs, and his body crashed down on the front desk. Dante looked up, and saw as the great glass chandelier smashed down to the floor. Dante paid no attention to what was happening around him as he pulled out the sheet of paper and crossed off another name. He simply walked down the stairs, and through the shattered remains of what was once the chandelier. He paused to pick up a small box, from which he retrieved a small handful of diamonds, and left.
He crossed out the final name. He would have to wait, he didn't have time for that now. It was time. Time for the moment he had always been waiting for. He knocked on the door. He waited a few moments, and could hear people running, and unlocking the door. 'Oh Hermes, thank god you're...' She paused, as she opened the door ad saw that it was not in fact her husband. 'Hello Antenora.' 'Dante?' she said, shocked. 'What are you doing here? Where's Hermes?' 'He's preoccupied.' With death. 'Why are you here?' 'Because we have to run. May I come in?' 'Run? Run where?' 'I think it's best if I told you once we were inside.'
'Can I offer you something to drink?' said Antenora. 'No, thank you. But I brought muffins. Lemona made them, they're delicious.' She tensed at the mention of Lemona. 'I'm fine, thank you.' 'Lemona won't be bothering you anymore. I can promise you that.' 'Why? What have you done?' 'Relax, I didn't do anything. It was just a lucky side effect of something I'd already planned.' Antenora sat down opposite Dante. 'Where is Hermes?' 'Hermes has had to go away for a while.' 'Where? Why didn't he tell me? He's been acting weirdly all week.' 'Has he really? He's had to go out of town, 667 work. You should come to the meetings mroe often, then maybe you'd understand.' 'You're lying,' she said. 'Am I?' 'Yes.' 'Prove it' 'You can't go out of this town.' Dante smiled 'You can now. Everything's changed.' 'Why are you lying? You know I hate it when you lie. Tell me the truth.' Dante sighed. 'Okay. I promise I won't lie.' 'Where is Hermes?' There was an awkward pause. 'I killed him.' There was an even more awkward pause. 'Oh,' said Antenora. 'But we have to leave, and we have to leave as soon as possible.' 'Why do I have to leave?' 'Because people are going to come after me. And I don't intend to still be here when this is all over.' 'No, why do I have to leave?' 'Because this is our chance. We can finally be free of this place.' 'Oh Dante,' she said, standing up, tears streaming down her face. 'You really are just...... ridiculous.' 'What?' he said, surprised. 'Look, what we had... it was great. It really was. But it's been 6 years now.' Dante gave her a look. 'It's been six years since I've loved you. You are just... insane. I really think you are completely insane. You just....' She began to cry more vigorously. 'YOU just killed my husband and now you've come here asking me to run away with you?' She stood and walked over to the other side of the room. 'I'm sorry,' she said, picking up the phone. 'What are you doing?' 'What I should have done years ago. Calling the police.' She began to dial. 'No, Antenora, please don't do this.' 'I have to, please.' 'Please don't' 'I HAVE NO CHOICE!' she shouted. 'You've left me with no choice'
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Post by B. on Mar 28, 2014 14:14:13 GMT -5
is anyone reading this story? i was just wondering because nobody comments I am, as you know, a la exchanges outside 667. I think it's bizarre (in a goodish way) and pretty well written and I'd like you to continue. I also think you write me quite well, but I do have a fear of guns and it's highly unlikely I'd ever willingly go within like a ten metre radius of one. I haven't had time to read the new chapter but I will. Keep up the good work.
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Post by Teleram on Mar 28, 2014 15:47:41 GMT -5
I was hoping The Wolf thing would be The Wolf from Pulp Fiction but oh well
Nice work tho
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Post by Hermes on Mar 28, 2014 15:57:40 GMT -5
By the way, I realise my earlier remark might be taken as critical, but it wasn't meant that way. I like it; but I do find it a bit hard to follow (which I take it is the intention), and that means specific comments are hard to come up with.
I will now look with interest at the latest chapter, which I see features me.
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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Mar 28, 2014 17:03:06 GMT -5
I think in this chapter it got a bit easier to follow. Also personal spellchecking highlight at the beginning of this chapter: enofungdarker It took ages until i realised what had happened there.
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Mar 28, 2014 17:05:11 GMT -5
Hermes, its fine I hope things are slowly becoming clearer as the story starts to wrap up.
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Post by Hermes on Mar 29, 2014 17:07:50 GMT -5
So - I am dead. Also, I was Antenora's husband? Good heavens! Well, I can't say things are actually becoming clearer, but I will reread the whole thing when it is finished and then perhaps I will gain illumination.
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Apr 1, 2014 14:02:27 GMT -5
i hope to finish this around easter time
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Post by Isadora Is a Door on Apr 1, 2014 15:16:32 GMT -5
Several Hours Earlier
'Teleram must be late,' said Charlie. 'He'll be disappointed. He loves snakes and ladders.' 'Well,' said Luke, 'we should probably just start without him.' Charlie rolled the dice, and moved six places. 'How are you, anyway?' he asked Luke. 'It's been ages since either of us have been able to talk.' Luke also rolled a six. 'How long has it been?' 'At least three months.' He rolled a 2. 'I'm not too sad he isn't here though, Teleram.' 'Why? I like him.' Luke also rolled a 2. 'I know, I know. But it's nice for it to just be the both of us again. The good old days.' Charlie rolled a 5. 'Yeah, I suppose.' Lucas rolled a 4, and a ladder took him up to 26. 'Maybe we should stop inviting him. It's more fun like this.' Charlie rolled a 3. Back to square one.
After the incident, Charlie woke up in the same room. A lot had happened since that morning, when he and Lucas had played snakes and ladders. A lot had happened indeed. But Charlie couldn't remember exactly what it was. 'Hello?' said a voice from outside. 'Hello!' He stood up and walked outside to see whose voice it was. It was dark, so dark Charlie couldn't see who was there properly. 'Who is that?' 'It's Sophie.' Sophie... the name seemed to send alarm bells ringing in Charlie's head. Sophie... he had to do something with Sophie. It was part of the plan. Lucas' plan? 'Oh,' he said, finally, 'hey.' 'What happened?' she asked. 'I have no idea.' What had happened? Was the plan still going ahead? 'Are you hurt?' 'I have no idea.' 'Well, same.' Sophie was important. And so was Lucas... and Sam... and Pandora... all of them. Yes. They were going to kill all of them. That was the plan. 'I remember now..... it's cold in here.' 'Sorry,' said Sophie, and she walked over to the window. And then Charlie saw it. The green light was shining down the side of 667 Dark Avenue.... that was the signal. 'Sorry,' said Charlie, 'but I have to do this.' As she turned around, Charlie pushed, and Sophie fell out of the open window. He turned and walked along the corridor and up the stairs. He had to get to the roof. But then he saw Sixteen. 'Charlie?' said Sixteen. 'What's going on?' said Charlie. 'I have no idea.' 'Who was that screaming?' asked Charlie. 'I have no idea,' said Sixteen again. And then there was another scream. 'Who was THAT screaming?' said Charlie once more. 'Look, I need to find Betsy. I don't suppose you've seen her, have you?' Sixteen shook his head 'No, I haven't.' 'Good,' said Charlie, smiling. 'I mean, okay.' He walked up the stairs, all the way to the 667th floor, and the penthouse. He stepped out onto the snow laden roof, and the first thing he saw was Willis. He had been shot, and was lying in the snow. The second thing he saw was another person so buried in the red snow it was impossible to tell who it was. The third thing he saw was Betsy. 'What happened to Willis?' he asked her. 'He turned up just as I was getting rid of BSam.' she said, indicating to the second thing. 'Okay.' 'I saw what you did to Sophie.' 'It was all good luck really.' 'Very good luck.' They kissed. 'Did you have the money on you?' she asked. 'Yes.' 'Good. Then let's run away.'
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