***Read the previous episode of Tom and Shelly here***
“I just can’t remember…” her voice trailed off, chasing the breeze.
Tom did a golden retriever head-tilt. “You remember at least a bit, or you wouldn’t be this scared.” He watched as something subtle vacated Shelley’s face, a part of her retreating from his statement of fact. Suddenly she was a mask.
She said, “Of course, you’re right.”
Very little unnerved Tom usually, but now he foundered as he tried to place this pale shadow of Shelley into context.
Shelley’s eyes refocused, turned on Tom. His breath caught.
With the voice and eyes of a stranger Shelley breathed, “She was dead.”
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This piece was brought to you by:
from Deb (last week’s winner) via Lance at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. Deb’s song choice? One of my favorite songs ever, The Stranger by Billy Joel. The scariest strangers in our lives are the ones we don’t expect – the hidden facets of the people we think we know the best. I had tons of true stories I could have done here, but I decided it would be a better writing exercise to visit Tom and Shelley who’ve been languishing for a while. Luckily the prompt fit in with the story line as I’d already planned it. Hope you enjoy, all concrit encouraged and welcome!
August 22, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Shelley has creeped me out. I think I need to read the previous entry…
August 23, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Let me know what you think. She’s not actually a scary character, it’s just a weird situation. I think. I haven’t worked out the whole story in my head yet. 😉
August 22, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Umm, this line, “he foundered as he tried to place this pale shadow of Shelley into context.” is dope! Great description.
August 23, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Yay, thank you so much!!!
August 23, 2012 at 8:54 pm
“a golden retriever head-tilt,” nice visual.
August 24, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Thanks!!!
August 28, 2012 at 6:57 pm
I’m intrigued. I can’t wait to see this unfold.
Are you sure you aren’t writing a novel???
August 29, 2012 at 9:50 am
Everybody else already stole the best bits, so I’ll just say, “nicely done!”
August 29, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Yippee, thanks!