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Trapped in Time2
Alex got out of his car and slowly approached the gates to the cemetery. The only sound to be heard, that resounded through the night air, was the gravel crunching beneath his feet. Alex pulled his trench coat closer to his body as a chill ran down his spine. He wasn't sure if it was the cemetery or the early November air that caused it. He just knew he got the same feeling every time he came here, which for the past several months seemed to be more often than usual.3
As Alex drew closer to the gate all that he could see at first was a misty fog that arose from the ground to swirl around all of the headstones that seemed to be perfectly aligned in rows. Every head stone was exactly the same as the one next to it; each bearing the same name as well. Alex thought this to be odd but paid no attention to it as he watched the fog suddenly clear and there she appeared coming out of the woods that lined the back of the cemetery as she always did every time he came here.4
Alex didn't know who she was, but she had a familiar sense about her as if he had once known her. She seemed to float in on the receding fog as she went to the same tombstone she always visited. The third one in on the right hand side in the third row. She was dressed all in black, with a veil that covered her face, so even if the darkness between them didn't hide his view he wouldn't have been able to see her face anyway. But he could see the bouquet of red roses clearly that she placed in front of the headstone as she knelt before it and Alex could hear her quiet sobs. His heart ached for this poor woman who came every time he was there. She seemed so unable to get past her sorrow of loosing a loved one. Alex couldn't help but wonder who it was that she had lost.5
Suddenly, without warning, the scene changed and Alex found himself sitting at a night club barely able to breathe in the smokey air around him. He didn't remember leaving the cemetery to drive there, but that was just a fleeting thought as well, as he looked to his right at the gorgeous woman by his side. Her dark hair framed her face perfectly to set off her dark brown almond shaped eyes. She smiled at him taking a drag off of a cigarette then extinguishing it into the ashtray that sat in front of her. Oddly, Alex found himself fixated on the simple glass object before them that seemed to fill up quickly with cigarette butts and the stench gagged him. He wasn't certain what this meant so he shook it off and looked back up at the woman by his side. She smiled at him and her face radiated happiness that made his heart lurch in his chest.6
"Another drink, my dear?" Alex's voice sounded as if it were coming from far away as he spoke. But, when he reached over to kiss the woman he was every bit aware of the scent of her perfume; a floral scent that tantalized his senses just before her soft lips brushed against his. 7
"Sure, " she replied, with a gentle laugh that sounded harmonic above the blaring music of the nightclub. Everything about her seemed to stand out against the busy crowd, sounds and lights that surrounded them. It seemed as if it were just him and her and everything else was a million miles away. Alex motioned for the bartender and he immediately brought them another round of drinks as the lady next to him lit up another cigarette. She took a slow drag off it, inhaled then seductively blew the smoke his way with a coy smile on her face. He laughed realizing that she was in a frisky mood.8
" Let's go, " he suggested, picking up his glass to finish the whisky in one swallow. They both rose from their seats and he watched as she snuffed out her cigarette in the glass ashtray. Again, he was mesmerized by the glass that seemed to glisten against the strobe lights and it was almost as if it was calling out his name. "That's crazy," he thought to himself, brushing off the feeling once again. He rushed through the crowd with this lady holding fast to his hand and they burst out into the night air laughing like a couple of children that had just snuck out of the house to run away to be with each other. James stole another kiss that was much more passionate than the one they had shared in the bar and he felt the heat between them, the excitement rising and he didn't want to let go of her.9
"Let's go," she said, pulling away, her voice ringing out into the air again. Alex just stood and watched her as she ran for the Thunderbird parked by the curb. He had just bought it brand new a few weeks back and second to his lady it was the love of his life. The two almost seemed a pair, her in her slick evening gown that clung to every curve of her body and it with its own sleek shiny body and gold firebird embossed onto the hood. Alex smiled inside rushing to the passenger side door to unlock and open the door for her before he ran around to the driver's side. He hopped into the car, his adrenaline on overdrive. He started the ignition and she purred liked a kitten but you could hear the power in her engine as he sped off away from the curb.10
The two off them laughed and shared jokes as he sped down the highway trying to see how fast he could get his new toy to go. Every once in a while she would lean over to give him a kiss and rub his leg that sent a bolt of electricity through him. He was having the time of his life and he couldn't remember a time that was ever better before that. He felt more than the buzz from the alcohol coursing through his veins. He was high on life and he was high on love as well. He couldn't help but think there was more to it than just that but he put that thought out of his mind along with all the other strange thoughts that seemed to keep appearing and he just enjoyed the way the car gripped the highway.11
They were well on their way home laughing and having such a good time when everything seemed to happen all at once. Alex had looked away for just a second to accept another kiss. He looked back just in time to see a pick up truck merge into his lane but he was too late. Before he knew what was happening he heard the sound of his own breaks squealing as if they belonged to someone else before he heard the sound of crunching metal grinding against metal and glass shattering that echoed through the night. He felt a flying sensation and heard another loud crash before he felt the sharp pain that split through his head.12
Suddenly, Alex bolted upright to find he was in his bed drenched in a cold sweat. He looked over at his wife that was sound asleep next to him, her golden curls fell softly over her face. He looked around the darkened room, the only light that filtered into the room was from the street lamp that spilled out onto the floor. Alex swung his feet over the side of the bed and slipped his feet into his slippers. He was still shaken up by the dream. He looked over at the night table and suddenly a glass object caught his attention. It was an ashtray that glistened in the light from the street lamp; the same kind that had been in his dream. He felt something in his head jolt.13
"Terry," he murmured to himself. Her name had been Terry and suddenly he found himself sobbing uncontrollably. After all these years he finally remembered what this dream was about and it all came flooding back in the flickering of a stupid ashtray. The rest of the memory played in his head.14
Terry, short for Theresa, had been his wife nearly thirty years before. They had only been married for a little over a year; they had been high school sweet hearts. They had gone out to celebrate his promotion at work and Theresa had just given birth to their first child; he had a son. Alex felt a panic rise in his chest as the memory flooded him and overwhelmed all of his senses. He had been drinking and his wife had died instantly in the accident. He had allowed the excitement of life over ride his better judgement. 15
Due to the accident he had suffered amnesia and didn't remember the accident or anything before that time. A whole chunk of his life had been stolen and although he had remarried a few years later and had two beautiful children with his new wife he always felt this empty hollowness deep inside. A void that he could never fill. All that he had was this reoccurring nightmare that had haunted his dreams for longer than he cared to remember.16
Alex remembered when his children were first born he had buried himself in his work. He was one of the most successful lawyers working for the D.A's office, but still that never felt like much of an accomplishment. Now his children were grown and he finally realized why he could never get close to them as he realized he had another son out there somewhere. He had no idea where he was at or why no one searched for him after he had been released from the hospital nearly a year after the accident. Although he knew that now that he remebered he was going to find out!17
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Author notes
4) My main character/protagonist is a male.
An event or situation in my story is a haunting.
An archetype present in my story is The Firebird.
A key object or symbol in my story is an ashtray.
My story will be set in someones nightmare.
My story is about self-discovery.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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Thank-you for the heads up. I will be working on the second part soon; do not worry it will have a good ending!
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Most excellent!!!
Awww, at first I thought a weary spirit was trying to reach out to Alex.
Ya know, like in the movies... Find the killer and set their spirit free so they can rest in peace.
Though... That wasn't the case with this story. I read some where that people who suffer from
amnesia, resulting from shock, Often has nightmares or some kind of psychological disturbance.
I really like your story. Wow, what a great imagination you have!! Ok, How long before
you write the second part. Umm, PLZ let Alex find his children.
Psst, add a T where Nigh Club is written. (Night Clu
Y♥rtweetyness
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thanks very much for clearing that up Meesa....xxx
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Thank-you leannewales! I wanted to let you know that I plan on writing a second chapter to this story that will explain what happened with the baby and why he was not contacted. I was going to explain it in this one but it was getting too long to keep going on. I hope that is OK because I really don't want to take that part of the story out because that is part of what my self-discovery is based on. Otherwise I would have no qualms about following your advice.
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Thank-you for pointing that out. It was not your reading but my writing. There isn't a James. James was the first name I had chose but I've used name before and chose Alex instead. Obviously James stuck in my subconscious though. lol! So ALex and James are the first person. I fixed it and took James out!
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The only difficulty I had with the story was the confusion between Alex and James. I never di get sorted out who was who but that may have been my reading rather that your writing. Good story very engrossing. Good luck in the contest.
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I loved how you used your components and was deeply drawn into your story...though like Sam it troubled me that he hadn't been informed about what had happened at the time or about his son....the rest of the story was enthralling and fascinating....a few little errors here and there but not enough to distract...really well written...(would be better still if you could find a way around him not knowing about his son etc)...there is still a day or two left...thank you so much for taking on this difficult challenge....leanne xxx
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To me this was a very creative story. Losing his memory along with a wife and child is chilling. A bit hard to conceive how no one could connect him back to his child. The baby losing a mother and a daddy, one to death and the other to amnesia. Very intriguing parts. Now I want the second part to where he finds his lost child...
I hate when good stories come to an end.
Great job.
S♥m
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