MY WRITING FICTION

A Story presented in Episodes

FORWARD

This is a very, dark adventure tale, about one bored little lady struggling to rise above the displeasure of her hum-drum life. Searching to find her own identity, and some sort of a purpose for life. As the story progresses, she finds herself in an unreal fall from reality. Before she can find whatever comes next for her in life, there are a few lessons to learn. "Oh dear, whatever could that be?" Well, yyou'll just have to wait and see...  (No, her name is NOT, Alice!)

EAT at ME INSIDE OUT ~ UPSIDE DOWN

By, Dolly S.J. Piper 2014© ~ Steam Trunk Publications™

NOTE TO READERS: I'm releasing the first two chapters this story publicly, presented in episodes; because I am trying a slightly new concept in my style of writing. I would really appreciate your feedback! Please, give me some constructive criticism... please be honest, good, not so good, or otherwise). I'm an adult & a secure person, I wouldn't ask for it if I couldn't handle it. Enjoy your adventure (~8[{
Thank you so much!
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CHAPTER ONE

Episode 1:

THROUGH THE KEYHOLE SHE CREEPED

That night when boredom had seized me, aimlessly I wandered down the city night street.  All round me the city’s neon lights flashed, traffic whooshed bye, horns honked, doors banging shut! The mottled clatter of voices bounced against my head, sounding like some language unknown to me. But I was separate from it all, lost and alone within myself!  

On this city nite as usual, people were milling around buildings, others passed bye, some rushing along bumped up against me as they passed. It seemed to me as if those faceless, blurred, gray, creatures were all doing some sort of strange, slow, zigzagging dance, to music I could not hear.  Numb to all of the living, I gave no response to the scene! It felt to me as though I was a ghostly figure, moving through some sparsely decked nightmare.

Only hearing the clacking of my own heels against the sidewalk, I stiffly strode along until I came to a narrow, shadowed place at sidewalk’s end. There, sharp bricked corners leading into a solemn, grim little niche of steep bricked walls; that stopped me cold and frozen in place. A moldering scent mixed with the smell of putrefying, forgotten garbage came wafting out. But in between that unfriendly mix, came a strange almost sickening sweet smell which stung inside my nose and stuck in my throat. “H-m-m-m, that’s curious?” I thought.

Then creeping out from that haunting place, a dense, darkness seemed to reach at me, like grotesque, bony fingers now shackling my feet; then curling, twisting up me, ever so seductively, tugging at me. Curiosity turning my head to the opening, I could hear a faint, muffled, hissing sound that caused my body to lean into it. My ears pricked, the sound raised to a soft whisper, “Co-o-o-m-e i-i-i-n… follow m-e-e-e… h-e-e-r-e!” Then a sharp little voice in my head, snipped at me. Like a slap to the other side of my head it said, “No… No, no, no! Don’t go in there!” But too late, I had been caught! Curiosity had found me there wanting! So with a raised eyebrow, I slapped back at that little voice of reason. Thinking loudly, “Go away ‘r I’ll slap the feathers right off your lily white ass!” Stepping off the curb with a quick turn, I rounded the corner.

My high-heels wobbled as I moved down that grim, dank alleyway. The only light I the alley was a small, flickering industrial lamp to the far end of it. As I gingerly stepped along, suddenly my foot slipped into a wet broken place in the pavement, with a splash, I shouted y-u-u-u-k! Pulling my foot out of the puddle, I shook it. I could see in the dim lighting that now, my once red shoe, was now covered in a dark, slimy goop. “Crap!” I growled, dreading to think what might have comprised that goop. Opening my purse, I rummaged for some tissues. Finding a crumpled, white, wad, my voice cooed, “a-h-h-h, here we go.” Then unfolding my prize, I exclaimed, “Oh no, only one!”

As I curled over to the side and lifted my leg up to wipe my shoe, I heard a gravely, echoing, voice at the end of the alley behind me, “Hey Blondie, you look’n for this?” Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw two men. Both men were clothed in wife beaters and baggy khakis, and the verbal man grabbed his crotch, throwing back his head and laughing, he waggled his crotched hand up and down at me. Then as I silently watched, both men now laughing, and sparing at each other, stepped onto the curb, disappearing from my view. I thought to myself, “Thank God!” Then I muttered a breathy, “Assholes!”

Dropping a now gooey tissue to the ground, retorting, y-u-u-u-k! I flung my open hand, then wiping my palm onto my black sheath dress, I continued on into the alley. Starting to feel chilled, looking around then scanning upward; I could see that in the opening above the steep walls, heavy, gray clouds jetted across the dark sky. I thought, “H-m-m-m, looks like it’s gonna rain. Maybe I should just go home?” But no! I thought, “I had come this far,” and sadly, curiosity had bound me here.

Looking up and down both sides of the alley’s aged brick walls; I could see that on both sides of the alley there were rows of dingy doors with cracked and peeling, paint, of different colors. Now, caught up in this bazaar adventure, I began to speak to myself out-loud. “H-m-m-m, gets curiouser! Maybe I should check to see if one of these doors is open; then, if it starts to rain I could just step inside until the storm passes.” I seemed so quiet in that alley, I thought, “Bet I could hear the tick of my watch here.” Then I realized I didn’t feel the watch on my wrist. But suddenly, I was distracted by noticing, all of the doors were about three feet above the pavement, and there were no steps. I mumbled, “Well that’s strange, h-m-m-m, maybe I can find a ladder or an old crate to stand on.” Walking along, I stumbled a bit. Thinking, “G-e-e-e-z, there seems to be no end to this alley!”

Hearing something I said, “Huh, what’s that? I hear something down there!” Looking ahead to the left wall, I could dimly see the outline of another door. Pleasantly I pondered, “H-m-m-m, it’s lower to the ground then the rest! Hey, there’s a light coming out.” Quietly moving closer, I began to hear faint low sound of music. Barely, but I was able to recognize words now, “…♪ Sitt’n on the-dock-of the-bay ~♪♫♪~ watch’n the t-i-i-i-de ~♫♪♫~ r-o-o-o-ll away♪♪♪~” Finally in front of the door, I could see a soft, thick, smoke filled light streaming from an old rusty keyhole in the door. Then I caught a whiff of that sweet smell from before.

Slowly I bent over to look through the keyhole. But peering in, my eyes began to sting and water from the smoke; I thought “E-e-e-a-a-a-h, I can’t see anything!” Standing straight up again and wiping my eyes, I noticed a rusted lever handle on the door. “H-m-m-m, I wonder if…?” Gently pressing down on the handle, it didn’t budge. Then bending in, pressing my ear against the door, I listened, thinking, “H-u-m-m-m, don’t hear anything now.” Then as quietly as possible, leaning against the door ever so slightly, I jiggled the handle. Now pressing a little harder, the door began creaking stiffly.

All of a sudden the old door flung open! I felt myself falling inside, as if in slow motion, I couldn’t stop myself! Still only half way over the stoop, I could feel my stockings ripping as downward I plunged! Just as I hit the floor inside bouncing, my dress hem rose up to bare my thronged butt, and I gasped, with a “O-o-O-o-h… de-e-a-r-r-r!” With another gasp, I sucked in that now, overpowering, sickening, sweet, smell; it was the smoke! The pain from my skinned knees and one elbow, grabbed into the pit of my stomach, making me forget the smell.  Moaning, I grunted out, “a-a-a-h e-a-a-a-h!” and flopped over like a beached whale on my side! Grabbing my painfully pulsing elbow, I rocked silently from side to side a little.

From the corner of this dimly lit, tiny room, came a voice sounding a bit like that creaky door; “Oh, he ah e-l-l-l-o!” Startled, I scrambled up to adjust my hem while looking for one of my shoes lost in the tumble. Then shoe in hand, I sprung to my feet. Timidly, I spoke with stammering voice, “A-a-h-ah… hi… s-s-s” pausing, for my eyes to focus, straining to see the figure in the corner, continuing to stammer, I tried to properly voice its identity, “A-a-a-h… m-a-a-a-m-a!” Still not completing that sentence, clearing my throat, I began again, “Oh excuse me, so sorry, so sorry! I was just looking for a place to get out-t-a the rain!” The figure spoke again, “Ewe-e-e-e, no boater dear girl… Pless, d-e-w takes a s-e-e-a-t!” Still unable to see much in that dark corner; but for the outline of the figure, shoulders and head pressed into a tufted chair. A dim little light in the room, glowed against slicked white hair on its head, now I could make-out what could’ve been somewhat abnormally, long white ears.

Still stunned a bit, and now edgy, glancing around the room for a chair; found my way to what looked like a low bed. Seating myself on the edge of it, I thought, “What a strange looking individual… can’t tell by the voice… h-m-m-m, smoking a pipe… shirt, tie, big feet, those must be fuzzy slippers! H-m-m-m a a-a-a skirt?” Then I pondered, “Is that a man or a woman?” Strangely, the creature in the darkened corner had a habit of looking like a rabbit! It spoke, “Ewe, new boater gurl, we dew gnat get many viz-a-tours hair, nicely to heave da comp-o-nye!” Sitting and fidgeting, as I waited for it to speak again; I glanced at a small round table next to me, there sat a dim little lamp. My chest was feeling heavy, catching my breath, I coughed a couple times and smiled, looking toward the creature I said, “Sorry, so smoky! Is there a window?” And it retorted, “Windew?”

Soon, my head started to feel like a spinning melon, and my hearing seemed to be muffled… “I, I, I’m sorry, what was that?” I thought, “We? I don’t see anyone else…” Scanning the small room I didn’t see any doors, in fact I couldn’t even see the walls, they were covered with heavy draped fabric!” Then I caught a distant sound of music again, it had a crackling sound to it like an old vinyl record playing… I thought, “Okay this is getting just too creepy...” I muttered, “That music, I heard it when I was outside, where is it coming from? …Such a sweet funny smell in here… I’m not feeling well, I think I should go.”

Sweet heavy smoke wafted over to me, and with my feet still on the floor, bending at knees backward I seemed to float onto the bed, hearing a soft quiet reply came from it, “Ewe, darts mi son, Jon recorder… Smail, whet yew m-e-e-a-n smail? E-w-w-w-e, dats duh Fleur, duh bloom’n fleur… Go? N-e-e-w gnat-tew g-o-o-o!” My eyelids fluttered and cracked open a bit, my head turned to the side, I could see the top of the lamp table, there sat an old silver spoon propped upright by its bent handle, smoke suit covered the bottom of it. Next to the spoon were several little white cellophane packets; behind the scattered packets was a book of matches and a wooden box, lid ajar. I could look under the cracked open lid and saw what appeared to be a syringe top. I thought “oh no, where am I?” I struggled to speak, but all that would come out was a garbled croaking sound… “G-e-e-zus! Oh no, what have I done!”
To be continued

EPISODE 2

FINDING SAFETY IN THE MADNESS OF ME 

Opening my eyes to a glaring, bright, blur, I felt an aching in my arm. Blinking my eyes to focus them, I looked down at a bed that I lay on. I could see my outstretched arm had a small scab in the crook of it, then lifting it up I could see that my elbow was swollen and bruised. I pushed the hair back from my face, trying my best to think through a dulled mind, I wondered, “Where am I?” I struggled to sit up, and I rubbed my aching arm. A few minutes passed as I tried to clear my head. Finally my foggy head clearing a bit, I noticed that I was wearing a long, plain white cotton nightgown. “What the hell!” I muttered as I tried to get off of the bed. But it felt as though I was just sinking into the bed as I moved I thought, “G-e-e-e-zus! Why does my body feel so heavy, and where in the hell are my clothes?”

Everything in the room was white and so sparsely furnished, with the bed, a small table next to it, a white carved wood wardrobe in a far corner, and a huge, upholstered, wooden arm chair with gold painted carved arms and legs. The plain white walls scaled upward about twelve feet to a wood paneled ceiling. I noticed that the only window in the room which was above the bed, it was very small, and long. The window was set into a deep alcove, in what appeared to be very thick walls. The sun streamed in against the white walls, causing the room to be lit to an almost blinding degree. A panic began to sweep over me. I looked for a door, there across the room at the foot end of the bed was a narrow, dingy plum colored door with an old rusty skeleton key lock in it… “But it has no door knob!” My head racing and spinning now, I thought, “Oh no, no… no! What’s going on here! Am I trapped in here?” Adrenalin scooted me to the edge of the bed, and I flew toward the door.

Suddenly from the other side of the door, I heard a shaky clattering, clinking sound, like dishes rattling on a tray, then a rattling ka-plunk, as if it was put down on a table. Now standing at the door, I bent to look through the keyhole.  From the other side of the door, I heard that squeaky, creaky, little voice from my dream… I thought, “It wasn’t a dream, the creature!” It spoke, “Jon… Jon… Her-r-rs da boke-a-fust fur da gurl.” A second muted voice seemed to reply… “But, I couldn’t understand what it was saying,” Then I heard the tray sound and soft footsteps coming closer toward the door. I slowly backed away from the door. The tinny sound of a key in the lock and click, the door creaked open.

“Good morning young lady!” a charming man chortled. My eyes quickly scanned up from his shined shoes to sharp creased kaki slacks, topped with a white silk V-necked shirt, then past the silver tray in his manicured hands, to a angular, rugged, shaved face with just a hint of a black beard stubble. Now, my mouth opened to speak. But, my eyes had reached his, piercing, pale blue eyes; and I was struck dumb. His plump smiling lips parted softly, “Hungry m’ lady?” I thought, “Oh dear!” My voice nervously replied, “Have I been kidnapped?” He gently chuckled, “Well, I don’t think so young lady! You came here all by yourself, on your own accord.” My mind puzzled as I tried to remember the day before, “Yes, I came here, last night… But, Hey, where are my clothes?” Timidly I asked, “John? You’re John?” My thoughts still muttled ‘round, “Gentleman John” I thought, and it made me grin. I wondered, “How could this man make me feel so comfortable? I still don’t know where I am, and I’m not really sure I remember how I got here.” John, carrying the tray to the bedside table, said, “Yes, I’m Jon, how about some breakfast, tea or coffee,  And you are…?” The door creaked open wider, which broke our conversation, then I saw it, a shocked thought bristled in my head, “It’s the creature from last night, it wasn’t a dream!”

When it spoke, It was grinning, I think, “Hill-o-o-o, gurley, ear ewe filling b-a-a-tter?” Looking at that strange being, my mouth gaped slightly, with a weak smile I said, “Oh, it’s you!” thinking to myself, “Good grief, it does sort of look like a rabbit!” Still trying to figure it’s gender, I replied, “Oh, I’m okay I guess… Sorry, I can’t seem to remember your name.” Not much help with my gender investigation, it spoke back, “Ewe-e-e, I dit-nut see-aye, mia g-u-r-r-r-l.” Then gentleman John spoke up, “So, allow me to introduce, this is my uncle, Butters. Oh, and your name is?” Not replying, lost in my own thought, “finally, it has a gender! But… Butters? Is that a first or last name?” Smiling I replied to the creature, “Oh, nice to meet you sir! A-a-a I guess I‘m okay. Yes, I am,” my sentence stalled, as my mind darted back to the night before, “Butters had called Jon his son, I think? Yes, “mi son Jon Recorder!” Again realizing my situation, the smile quickly fell off my face. My brow furrowing, I thought, “After all, I hadn’t come here for a Sunday afternoon tea! No more of this polite chatter, its time to get to the bottom of this!” So, curtly I blurted out, “Excuse me a minute here! But where exactly am I, and why am I locked in this room?”

Butter’s voice squeaked, and his big fuzzy white feet shuffled backward a couple scoots, I glanced down at them thinking, “Those have to be slippers!” Then Jon’s voice still soft but raised, snapped back at me, “Please!” Lowering his voice and turning his head toward Butters, he said, “It’s okay dear, I’ll finish up here.” Butters, silently swiveled round slightly slumping his shoulders, then with several little grunting sounds he shuffled out of the open door and down a checkerboard hallway floor. 

As butters left the room, Jon turned to me and said, “sit down, please.” I think we need to have a little discussion. Looking down at my bare feet, I quickly pattered over to the beside where I plopped on the edge of it. Jon stepped over to the heavy chair in the corner, pulling it closer to the bed. Sitting down, crossing his legs and leaning on the arm of it, Jon began, “Please do tell me why would you treat Butters so rudely? He has been nothing but kind to you, in spite of the fact you broke into his home.” Now, feeling a little embarrassed,  I realized he was right! With my head still hanging down, I mumbled, “Well, I don’t know where I am, I-I-I thought,” I paused, and Jon spoke again, “So, tell me, what exactly were you doing alone out there in that old dark alley?” Pushing the hair from my face and looking up at Jon, I childishly replied, “I was lost, I didn’t know, I a-a-ah, didn’t realize it was someone’s house. I was just looking for a place to get out of the rain and saw a light.” I really didn’t want to admit to this lovely man, that I am just a bored, unhappy woman who stupidly, stumbled into what could have been a very dangerous situation. It was obvious to me now that these extremely decent people had just tried to take care of dum, dum, me! This in itself made me even more curious about these two; I just had to find out more about the strange Butters, and this uncommonly, fascinating, hunk of a man Jon!

EPISODE 3

MY FEET ARE GETTING COLD, BUT TELL ME MORE, I'M FASCINATED!

Jon shifted in his chair, and leaned forward to refill his coffee cup; then asked, “Are you ready for some coffee and breakfast yet?” I replied, “Sure!” 

My bare feet were feeling cold, so coffee in hand I scooted up onto the bed tucking my feet under my gown, then leaned back against a pillow at the head of it. Jon said, “I imagine you would like to get going soon? You’ll find your clothes and purse in the wardrobe over there; we've had them cleaned for you.” I replied, “Oh, thank you Jon!” feeling a little creepy again I continued, “Bye the way Jon, I’m wondering, how ‘did’ I get out of my clothes?” Jon grinned and said, “Dot, Butter’s Attendant helped you.” I felt somewhat relieved, even though I still couldn't remember. Jon said, “You don’t seem to remember much, are you okay?” quickly I responded, “Yes, I think so, but I’m not sure what happened last night. So I do have a couple questions Jon.” Jon replied, “Okay, sure, go ahead.” Continuing I said, “So, last night, there was this smell. I think that’s what made me dizzy. What was that smell?” A sad look seemed to come over Jon’s face, he sighed and said, “Well, I am sure you have noticed that Uncle Butters looks a little different from the average person…” I thought to myself, a little different? Jon continued, Butters has a physical genetic condition which affects his appearance and health, but also causes him a great deal of pain. What you smelled is one of his medicines...”
Episode to be continued

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! This episode will be continued January 2015, December 1, 2014)


3 comments:

  1. Hallucinatory or perhaps just a wicked dream? Wherever the
    story goes from here I am sure that it will be an interesting journey
    and thank you for offering this one my friend.

    Andro

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  2. Awesome write Dolly and I like your new site. A story is never too long for the Oasis! No links just personal poems but images are allowed you can copy them for prompts and personal poems can have images. You can Promote Your Blog and have all the links you want!!! I love you and your wonderful Alice like story!!! <3

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! This is a fun one to write. I really hesitated to reveal the underlaying play on the Alice thing, (like Cinderella, AIW has been so over done). Of course, I did not name the character Alice, at this point I did not name her & I am not sure I will name her at all... I'm thinking that 'without' a name people may identify with the character more. I'll have to see as this story unfolds. I am really liking the writing in "episodes" it is keeping me more movated to keep going. I've kind of had the wind knocked out of my writing sails lately, because of the publisher's handling of my completed novel. PS! I think it's time for me to change publishers... I kept the original version of "L Vortex" good thing I did, because this current editor has diced it to bits. I think she needs to go back to school or write her own book... LOL, if she can write! Anyway, enough on that TYVM, for the extra info about the community! xoxoxo, TYVM for leaving your comment on my blog!

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