shape
carat
color
clarity

Let's write a novel together

Jambalaya

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
4,784
Just for fun! Maybe only a few sentences each post, to keep it moving.


A Sparkling Work in Progress

by

The Posters of PS

A Pricescope Novel



It was a dark and stormy night. The rain hit the clifftop cottage like one-two punches. Tearing her gaze from the mesmerizing fire, she looked around the room uneasily. A calendar on the wall caught her eye. Had it really been a hundred days since The Thing had happened?
 

doberman

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
2,417
She was deep in thought when she suddenly had the feeling that she was being watched. A muffled thud issued from one of the rooms on the second floor. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she crept fearfully over to the staircase. The cat dashed down the stairs like his tail was on fire, nearly knocking her off her feet.
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
She thought she could see the faint outline of a man, or was it just her eyes playing tricks on her? She knew she should run and hide, get somewhere safe and call for help, but she just couldn’t stop herself from slowly descending the staircase.
 

Ally T

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
8,495
As she slowly made her way upwards, there was a loud thump in one of the bedrooms above which made her jump. She really, really knew she shouldn't be doing this, especially because of The Thing that had happened, but she couldn't resist. She ascended more quickly.......
 

Slickk

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
4,913
But still she rushed headlong into what had been haunting her dreams and nightmares for years. She knew if she could just reach the top of the staircase …
 

Jambalaya

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
4,784
....But as she was almost at the top, the kitchen door banged noisily open and a familiar voice called out, "I'm home! Where are you?" The spell was broken. The upstairs noises ceased, and she knew that nothing more would happen until she was alone again.

Gathering herself, she went downstairs to meet her husband.

"Your scary old farmhouse is making me crazy again," she said, laughing.

"You think it's scary in here, you should see it out there," he replied. "Lambing in this weather is no fun. The poor little mites wonder what hell they've been born into. But it's an interesting observation about the house. Maybe we should research its history. It's pretty old, after all, and this was an active area for smugglers long ago."
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
She wondered why on earth she hadn’t thought of that earlier. It would be a fun project to research the history of the house, perhaps she’d unearth some deep dark secrets. She laughed and he asked what was amusing her. “Just imagine” she said, “maybe there’s buried treasure somewhere around here, from when the smugglers had to hide their cache from the law”.
 

Slickk

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
4,913
He gazed at this woman, who once made his heart stand still, and wondered what had changed. Had she changed when they moved here, or, he thought painfully, had his past finally caught up to them? Would he be able to save her and himself? He had always feared she would want, or need, to know why he was so secretive about his life and this house…
 

smitcompton

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
3,253
But now he wanted her to settle down. He did not want a repeat of last months drama. He felt a spasm in his stomach when he recalled that rainy night when he found her sitting outside in the dark, completely naked, crying hysterically like a small child.

She looked at him and said, "come to bed now. I'll tell you all about it in the morning."
 

elizat

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
3,999
As they settled in for the night, she reflected on recent events. At times, it was almost as though she was living with a person she did not know and candidly, was not sure she even liked, let alone loved. In quiet moments, when her husband did not know she was watching, she would see him slip away in front of her eyes. From somewhere, deep within, another person would emerge and subsume him. Or was she projecting, as the doctor had claimed before?
 

Daisys and Diamonds

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
22,397
Her husband snored loudly
She rolled over with the pillow wraped around her head
Sleep derivation really does make a person crazy she thought to herself
She kicked off the covers, it was so warm tonight despite the wild wheather
Perhaps a warm milk might help ?
She slipped quietly out of bed and headed down stairs to the kitchen
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
She sat at the kitchen table, it was completely dark outside, but she thought she could see a light twinkling in the distance. Was her mind playing tricks on her again? All the talk of pirates and treasure, maybe it was her imagination, but no, she was sure, she could see a light. Where was it coming from, was someone sending a message, but to whom?
 

smitcompton

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
3,253
The twinkling light did look like a signal to her. She watched a little more and would mention it to Tom the next day, and see what he makes of it.

In the kitchen she decided to forego the milk and poured herself a whisky. She knew the Dr. had told her no alcohol until they solved how she lost track of time, and recently found herself in a new location without knowing how she got there. It was particularly frightening to wake up and find herself in a bar on the waterfront , alone, and not knowing a soul. The bars entry blazed with the name "The Reve"

She began to shiver and tremble . She headed back upstairs to bed.
 
Last edited:

Daisys and Diamonds

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
22,397
Boom!
They was a huge thundercrack outside and a large limb off the old oak crashed to the ground in a deafing roar
the house shook
 

Tartansparkles

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
926
"Aww sh$te". The falling branch had activated the security lights, and she could now see, as bright as day, that on its way down the branch had ripped the soft-top of her convertible. She had plans for tomorrow including a trip to the research room in the library. A trip to the repair shop was not on her to-do list. Add to that, the repair shop was next door to the bar called "The Reve".
 

Lookinagain

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 15, 2014
Messages
4,393
The thunder soon brought the rain and her mind switched to worry about the convertible. Should she wake Tom? Should she try to cover the rip of the soft top alone before the rain soaked the car? She decided to try herself before waking Tom so grabbed her rain slicker and some duck tape and ran to the car. As she worked, she again saw the twinkling light and
 

elizat

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
3,999
...and they had now lost power. Everything was dark, with heavy pelting rain. The ground was soaked and she slipped in one of the rapidly building mud puddles. She lost her footing, went down hard and landed on her backside by the driver's side door. She fumbled on the ground looking for her tape, but couldn't see much at all, until a flash of light. As she attempted to right herself, using the car door handle as leverage from the wet ground and finish the job, she again saw flashing lights through the trees. She was now uneasy and felt very exposed, as well as being plastered in mud.
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
The scream was rising in her throat, but nothing came out when she opened her mouth. She wanted to call for Tom, but she knew he’d look at her with pity in his eyes, and she couldn’t bear to see that again. She tried to think rationally, OK, calm down, breathe, then get up, leave the car, if the rain got in, so what? Just get back to the safety of the house and away from whoever, or whatever was out there with the light.
 

Daisys and Diamonds

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
22,397
Her heart pounding in her chest she ran as fast as she could towards the front door,
Ouch ! things are going to hurt in the morning she thought to her self as she peeled off her muddy parker and hung it up

Maybe the lights are just a fragment of her imagination she told herself
why does no one else see them ?

Aa she closed the door she saw from the corner of her eye Tom standing in the hall
She knew she must have looked a fright all covered in mud and dripping wet but she felt her feelings get hurt as her husband laughed at her appearance rather than asking if she was all right
"Have you been drinking again?" he sarcasticly smurked
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
And there it was, The Look. Why didn’t he rush to her and show concern? Why was he asking if she’d been drinking? He knew she wouldn’t do that. Was that contempt she saw on his face? Why had he changed, where was the person she’d met all those years ago and fallen in love with? In that split second, she realised that her life with him was over, there was nothing left between them. The panic at this thought frightened her. She knew he wouldn’t let her go easily, but she had to get away.
 

Lisa Loves Shiny

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
4,669
Angered by his accusations of her drinking, she tip toed into his "whiskey room" after he had fallen asleep. She caressed his unopened bottle of Devil's Keep, a wedding present given during the happiest time of her life. As she poured it's amber contents down the drain, she experienced a feeling of catharsis.
 

smitcompton

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
3,253
Tom blamed every action of hers that he construed as odd, on alcohol. But, she knew it was not the alcohol that was a problem, but that her brain wasn't functioning right. She hadn't told Tom she was seeing Dr. Glasser because then he would say she was crazy. Was she,, she questioned herself? She didn't feel crazy, she just had blackouts. Dr Glasser was running tests and she was hoping that he would find something to account for the blackouts. Her nerves were raw now, and Tom was making things worse for her.

Where did their marriage go wrong. Was it all the traveling Tom did for work, when he could be gone months at a time. Maybe if we had children it would have been better.
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
Her appointment with Dr Glasser was in a few days, so hopefully the tests would show if or what was wrong. In the meantime, she had to make plans. She decided that once Tom left in the morning, she’d sit down and make a list of things that she needed to do. For now she needed to get to bed and get some much needed sleep.

She sat at the kitchen table, waiting for Tom to go, she had to appear ‘normal’ so as not to alert him that anything was wrong. Finally, he left with a cursory kiss on the cheek. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. When she answered it was the Doctor’s receptionist asking if she could come in as soon as possible, her test results were in, and he needed to discuss them with her urgently.
 

smitcompton

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
3,253
She pulled into the Medical Offices parking lot, took a deep breath, and proceeded to Dr. Glassers office. The receptionist gave her a nod, and disappeared to let the Dr. know she had arrived.

"Mrs. Stowe, the Dr. will see you now."

Dr. Glasser gave her a warm smile and said, "Madeline, I'm so glad you came in right away. I hope we didn't alarm you too much, but we have a serious situation here that I must discuss with you. You seem to have a small metal fragment lodged( in your head. He pointed at the xray on the wall. It may be moving and pushing against some nerves and could be the cause of the blackouts. What can you tell me about the fragment in your head.?"

Madeline was thunderstruck. It had happened so many years ago, she had forgotten all about it. There was an explosion and metal fragments found their way into the bodies of those in the room. She had the misfortune to have one land in her head. Back then, the Drs said they could not operate and recommended she do nothing. So. is her time up?

Madeline explained in detail what had occurred 20 yrs ago and with a shaky voice, said, "What does this mean , Dr.?"

"This means we have to get you in surgery right away, Madeline. It can't wait .I know a surgeon who can do this operation. Things have advanced in 20 years. But we cant let it move any more. It is urgent."
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
Madeline told Dr Glasser that she’d go home and prepare for her operation. “I don’t think you understand Madeline” he replied, ”When I said urgent, I mean now, we need to admit you immediately”.

She was shocked at the urgency, but knew he wouldn’t alarm her unnecessarily. What should she do, she knew she ought to ring Tom and tell him? It struck her that she didn’t know how to get in touch with him, when he left this morning, he’d just said that he’d call later to let her know his schedule. How on earth could she know so little about the man she was married to, she couldn’t call his parents, he’d told her they were dead, as were hers. She’d had her phone with her, so she’d just have to wait to see if he’d call later.
 

elizat

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
3,999
A thought struck her. She could call Mrs. Swensen, the wife of their closest neighbor. The Swensens had a farm and while the properties were not that close, Mrs. Swensen had told her to reach out if anything was ever needed. She had given Madeline a rather old fashioned calling card with her information on it, when she came by to introduce herself with fresh bread and butter they made on their farm.

She got up from the exam table and called for a phone, to reach Mrs. Swensen. The receptionist complied. It all seemed to be a lost cause, but on the twelfth ring, Mrs. Swensen picked up. She told Madeline she would put a note on the front door of their home for Tom and to call if she needed any help, for anything at all.

As they were ready to hang up, Mrs. Swensen asked, "Madeline, dear, by chance have you been seeing strange lights in the forest at night? They have been waking me recently at times. They are a bit alarming. Have you seen them?"

Madeline sucked in a deep breath of air. She did not want to go think about the odd lights or Tom's behavior when she tried to mention it. Especially not when she was about to enter surgery.

Mrs. Swensen went on and apologized. "I'm terribly sorry, I should not have mentioned anything to worry you when you are about to have a surgery. Don't think on it further."
 

Cerulean

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Sep 13, 2019
Messages
5,077
She hung up the phone, with an eerie sense of calm coming over her. The doctor beckoned her back to the exam table, where they took vials of her blood, and ran other tests on her vitals and hooked her up to IVs. The nurse was fast and gentle, her cool, gloved hands were comforting. She didn’t dislike the hospital, not like most people. Doctors didn’t judge her, not like Tom. They wanted to find answers, a cause…just like she did.

She laid down on the exam table and they brought her into the surgery room. The last thing she remembers was a glowing, white light above her, washing over her as she drifted away.
 

Austina

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 24, 2017
Messages
7,542
“Madeline, Madeline, wake up” from the depths of the best sleep she’d had in, she couldn’t actually remember when, Madeline slowly opened her eyes. Everything was fuzzy, but she could see the masked face of the kindly nurse who’d gone in to the operating theatre with her.

”There you are” she exclaimed, ”it’s all over, everything went well, we removed the offending object and you’re going to be fine”. Madeline was struggling to keep her eyes open, but the nurses calm voice reassured her.

Her thoughts were all jumbled, but did Mrs Swenson mention lights? She didn’t know if that was something she’d imagined, but she closed her eyes and let the calm she felt wash over her.
 

smitcompton

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
3,253
Madeline ended the call and just sat and stared into space. So many thoughts were crowding her mind. She wanted to forget about that day of the explosion. She wanted it behind her, never to have to think about it again. And now, it popped up. She knew the investigation cleared everyone, but the authorities did believe the bomb was intentionally set off. A jewelry heist gone bad. That was the official report, but she knew some thought there was more to this story.

Dr. Abad walked in the room masked up and ready for surgery. "Madeline, this will take about 4 hours, you will spend a day in the recovery room, and then go to ICU for a few days. You will be carefully looked after. I don't think you will have any more blackouts."

Madeline felt abandoned, as she had many times during her marriage. She began to cry, softly, the tears running down her checks. Oh, where was Tom?
 
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top