John Decarteret's Blog - Posts Tagged "chapter-2"

Hey guys and dolls!

I said new posts on Fridays, but since there are only a few people actually reading this, I do not suppose it matters when I post it. So, I have just finished writing Chapter 2 (like just now) of "The Stretch" since one person was kind enough to say they would like to see more. It is unedited so forgive any mistakes. Here it is. Chapter 2. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks people!


The Stretch - Chapter 2

My experiments were a lot of work to prepare for, I had the idea of researching one person or family, every piece of information I could find, and even meeting them and watching them from an early age to the day they die. After I knew everything I possible could, I would change something, stall them at a traffic light, or bump into them in the street, I wanted to see the outcome and changes to there life by one simple difference. I knew it would be extremely hard to make it an accurate test, I had to make sure nobody else saw me, or there lives would also be changed, and that would change countless other lives. It is like a plague, it spreads from one person to another, one person does something different and every person they make contact with has a new fate, and every person they make contact with has a new fate also, changing the whole world. I needed to decide how I was going to make the change, and who the person or family would be. It had to be somebody well known, with a lot of information, pictures, videos, letters, tweets and status updates, which I discovered was something you did on Twitter and Facebook, which I had no idea about, but was a great source of information for millions of people all over the globe. There was so much to learn, and I downloaded the world wide network. I now had the knowledge from two different time lines, which would prove to be priceless, with all of the scientific and medical discoveries. Not to mention the music, which I had fun listening too, so many varieties. I had thought about trying to change the world back, and having all of this stuff to share with my family and friends, I could be and do anything I wanted. I even day dreamed about becoming the biggest and best song writer in the world by stealing all of the songs and melodies from this reality. I was finally starting to embrace what I was doing, and the amount of knowledge I had at hand made my head spin. I had a sudden feeling of euphoria, I craved more, the possibilities of what I might find and learn spurred me on with my work. After several hours, I decided to stop and rest, the euphoria had turned down a notch and I was hungry. I had my meal converter which was boring, but practical, it was simply a machine that spat out a pill, it contained all of the things that are vital to live, instead of eating a meal I ate a pill that had all of the same stuff in it. That filled me up, but it was not satisfying, and that made me want roast beef, and ice cream for afters.

“I should have brought a little freezer” I said to myself. I did however have a coffee machine, which I could not live without, I could not survive on water, and alcohol is nice enough, but not for every day use to stop myself from dying of thirst. I was just looking for some normality within the confinement of the Stretch, it was a small space to live, eat and sleep. I ate my pill and drank my coffee with my eyes closed, imagining being home with my parents. Conversations we used to have, and games we used to play. I opened my eyes and shook my head, trying to snap out of my day dreaming, I knew it was not helping. I took several deep breathes and cleared my thoughts, before knuckling down to my research. I found somebody I thought would be the perfect subject to perform my experiment which I named project butterfly for obvious reasons. This was the butterfly effect theory, which was not really a theory, it was just an obvious truth, what I was doing was trying to isolate the butterfly effect and keep it contained to one person. It did not work. I will not go into to many details, but the subject died of a heart attack three years after I changed his fate. I tried the old traffic light trick, made him miss the green light. Stupid of me. Everyone else behind him also missed the light, and the experiment failed instantly. I continued to track the subject however, it was already done, and I could still see the changes in his life. I skipped forward month by month, and researched him. Where he had been, who he had met, and so on and so on, until the day he died. He never had a heart attack originally, something caused it. I have no clue of the cause, a bacon sandwich, a glass of beer, I just do not know. I decided not to investigate the how and why of his death, I caused it by changing his life, another death on my hands. At that time I did not know why I was even doing that experiment. What would it accomplish? Was I trying to mould the world to my will for some sort of superiority complex I had? Or just destroying reality after reality because of curiosity? I do not know anymore. All I do know, is that the universe would not allow me to be the superior power. I thought I could control time. Again I say, I was stupid. I was deflated by my failings, and wanted to enjoy what I was doing. No more death. A holiday was my next mission. A break away from changing the world, and getting nowhere. I began to think about the future. My theory, was that the future did not really exist, we shape the future by our decisions. It would change every time I go forward. In constant flux with no continuity, because a split second decision can be changed. It was a theory that had no real basis and nothing to suggest I was actually right. As much as it pained me, I decided I was probably wrong. Or maybe I just hoped I was wrong. I had often dreamed of the future, with space vessels that travelled across the Galaxy and beyond, into the unknown. What an amazing thing to experience. Humans had already started journeys into space. The had reached the moon, and they had reached Mars with robots because the journey was too far for mankind to reach and survive. Being a man of science and knowledge, I knew it was totally possible to reach out and land down on another planet. They had already reached Mars and other planets with small devices. Taking pictures and landing unharmed to explore. If that can be done in my time, surely a few thousand years in the future, people will be making those journeys. It is unthinkable that it would not happen. I was alone in a world that I barely knew now. What did I have to lose? Was I going to continue to change the world hoping to discover new cures and technologies forever? No. The human race will work out what needs to be worked out as time goes bye, they would figure it all out. I made the choice to go forward, not back or stay where I was. I wanted to see the progress of the human race. Experience a life among the stars.

“Maybe I could call myself Mr Spock” I chuckled to myself as I picked a nice rounded date. The year 5,000. Star Trek was one of my favorite shows as a kid, and I was delighted to discover that it was exactly the same even after all of the changes I had made. It had survived my tampering, and I was thankful for that. I rubbed my hands together as The Stretch began to vibrate and shake. Something was wrong. It was making a noise like a whistle that was getting louder and louder like an old steam kettle. The shakes and vibrations were getting stronger and more violent. The time dial still said 5,000 as The Stretch was enveloped in black darkness. I let out a terrified cry and clung to my seat as The Stretch vanished, moving forward into the unknown depths of time.

Hey everyone, chapter 2 of Jules and the hidden world of magical creatures (WIP) just finished. As alwayd, forgive mistakes, unedited. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Jules clung to Hatfield as they flew through the night, over tree tops and in to the unknown. “Why am I not screaming in terror?” She said in her mind. It was silent, and the stars were shinning bright above them. Jules loved the night, the mystery of the universe now filled her mind, and she was finally living her dream, flying through space, well she knew it was not space, but she looked up at the black sky and imagined it was, “Of course I am not screaming, this is amazing” The trees below them swayed and shook in the wind, and the moon shone down on them, illuminating the view. She was free, and had never felt more alive.

“How are we flying Mr Hatfield?

“Mystic” he answered holding her hand and opening up his pinstriped jacket with his one free hand, and pulling out a small bag.

“Mystic?” Jules said confused as she looked at the small bag. “What is that?” Hatfield looked at her also confused before realizing his mistake.

“Ah! Magic! This is what I speak” he smiled and shook his head “This is magic, gifted me, from friend”

“Magic” Jules looked at the small bag that sat on the palm of his gray hand, and was in awe. “But what is it?”

“Difficulty telling her, magic are magic, from Humbert, friend” Hatfield tried his best to explain to her, and Jules had no idea what he was talking about or where they were going. But she was content, and was not scared as they flew through the night. Jules suddenly became aware of the chill as the wind picked up, and she shivered.

“Her Ice? No afraid, clothing soon, drink, feel hot” Hatfield said handing her a small glass bottle.

“Good, it is getting really cold” She drank the liquid that tasted like peppermint and was freezing, and strangely it made her feel warm and cosy, like sitting in front of a fire in winter with a mug of cocoa, not that she had ever done that, but she imagined it was a perfect description for warmth and contentment, most of her thoughts about things were speculation, she had no experience of them and her imagination was her only reference with such things.

“Her heat now?”

“Yes, I am warm now, thank you” Jules smiled “Clothing you said? From where Mr Hatfield?” she asked him feeling snug, although she was flying through the night in a football jersey with bare legs.

“Place we go, with friends” Hatfield smiled. They flew for a short time, over forests and fields, and a small lake, until they approached what appeared to be a distant mountain.

“Where are we? How is there a mountain?” Jules asked excitedly, and surprising herself, she should really be afraid in this situation, anyone else would be, right?

“We go far distance, friends being here, no scared, safety” Hatfield spoke in a calming tone, fearing Jules would be apprehensive. Jules nodded and smiled in reply, there was no fear, only questions.

“Who are you Mr Hatfield? Why did you get me out of the orphanage? I do not know you” Jules spoke quickly, the questions came out in a hurry and she still had more desperate to follow. None of it made any sense.

“Understanding your needing clarity, her knowing soon, we are being here, eyes” Hatfield spoke and pointed at his right eye before turning his finger towards the mountain wanting her to look. It looked like an island sitting on a huge body of water, it could have been a river or ocean, or even sea, but Jules did not really know the difference between them, it was simply a mountain sitting in water. They flew closer to it and Jules noticed what appeared to be a door, a huge door that reminded her of a castle you see in cartoons. It was made of dark wood, and had strips of metal running through it with a spiked fence above it.

“We are going in to the mountain? Why is the door so big Mr Hatfield?” Jules asked.

“Yes, we go, door so big for Humbert, he being extra tall” Hatfield said lifting his free hand above his head to explain his friends height.

They reached the door and touched down in front of it, it was even bigger than Jules had first thought. She imagined it was at least the size of a house as she looked up at it. Hatfield smiled at her before walking up to it with his blue marble cane. He twisted the golden ball from the end of it and touched it to the door. A bright white light came from beneath the ball spreading across the door looking like an eclipse. The door began to move up, not open up, like Jules had expected. The fence above it began to rattle and shake as the door bumped and nudged it on its way up. Jules bent down to look inside and let out a gasp as her mouth hung open and her eyes widened with a sense a magical awe at the view.

“Come Jules, warmth clothes and meeting friends” Hatfield said holding out his hand for her to take, and to follow him into wonder. Not answering, she took his hand with her eyes glassing over as if in a trance from the sight, and they walked through the now fully open arch way where the door instantly began to retreat down as they stepped inside. The entrance was lit with candles the size of lamp posts with flames flickering with the wind, and the walls were flat and smooth, not like a mountain should be, all rough and ragged, but perfect. The light coming from the candles gave everything a golden shine, they were in a high hall way made of marble, the same as the cane Hatfield carried, and there were little men in what looked to be a lounge in the short distance, they looked just like Hatfield, except for the suit and cane, and they wore plain white all in ones with white shoes to match. The dozen or so men were all sitting drinking tea. Laughter and conversations echoed towards them, and Jules noticed everyone was so small, and she wondered why, since everything was so big. The little men were talking extremely fast, and she could not work out what they were saying, if it was even her language, she doubted it was. Walking towards the lounge with Hatfield, and passing by enormous paintings of dragons and fairies that hung from the walls, one of the small men noticed them and stood with the biggest smile Jules had ever seen, it took up at least half of his face leaving little room for his small button nose and gray eyes.

“Hatfield! You are back! And have brought a dumdum with you, how rebellious of you!” he said in a similarly posh way to his friend, continuing to smile widely, flashing white teeth and winking at Hatfield with his hands in his white pockets, rocking back on his heels.

“Yes Ellis, this is Jules of five” Hatfield replied in a voice that was almost a challenge, before he winked back at him and lead Jules to one of the three sofas that sat in the middle of the room. It was a huge place for small people to live, and there was a fire place that made Jules gasp with excitement before she realized that the conversation Hatfield had with his friend was perfectly understandable.

“Mr Hatfield? How did you just speak normally? And 5 of what?” Jules asked before thinking her question may have been rude, but Hatfield smiled and nodded as he pointed for her to sit.

“Magic Jules, everything here is very different to what you know, I did not speak normally, Ellis and I spoke our own language, and the five bit is complicated, answers soon” Hatfield said with his still noble sounding voice “we can talk easily now, but first, clothing for you, as promised” He walked over to the burning fire place and stuck his arms inside.

“Mr Hatfield!” Jules shouted in fear and ran towards him to pull him out of the flames, but she was a second late, and he removed his arms from the fire with no burns or evidence of ever being exposed to heat.

“I am quite fine Jules, do not worry, it is not real fire” He smiled handing her a big box. She looked relieved and smiled as she opened up the box from the flames to find a red dress with flowers.

“How did you know?” she said taking it out of the box and placing up against her chest before performing a twirl with giddy laughter.

“I did not know anything, this fire place gives you things you need, it knows what you like, but I fear it needs upgrading, you can not wear that dress outside, it will be snowing soon, and you will need something warm, it should have known that, what kind of warm clothing do you like?” Hatfield ask her as she inspected the beautiful dress with pleasure.

“Warm clothes? I don not really know Mr Hatfield, I have never chosen clothes before, I just seen a dress like this in a shop window once, and thought it was the best thing in the world” Jules replied.

“Ah, I see, that is why it gave you the dress, it is the only item of clothing you have ever desired, well, never mind, I will get you something appropriate” Hatfield put his arms back into the flames and rummaged around, before pulling out another box, much larger than the other one, and placed it on the floor in front of her. Jules looked upset, and put the dress back in the box and handed it to Hatfield.

“Why are your eyes dripping?” Hatfield looked curiously at her “Does it mean you are sick?” He said suddenly looking concerned.

“What? No, I am sad, I am sorry Mr Hatfield, you must think me ungrateful, thank you for the clothes” she answered him opening up the new box to find a warm winter coat with fur around the neck and mittens attached to the sleeves. There was also a plain black jumper with a hood and black skinny trousers.

“Oh, human eyes leak water when they are sad? How strange. Why are you sad Jules? Are you afraid? This must all be very odd for you, in a mountain with strangers” He said more to himself then her, knowing the way he got Jules out of the orphanage and brought her there was not very good, and should have scared the girl silly.

“No, it is not that, I just really love the dress” she answered quickly, too quickly for her own liking, thinking she sounded truly ungrateful now.

“The dress is yours Jules, the fire gave it to you, I am not taking it from you, but I do suggest you wear the warm clothes outside, snow is coming, and you will need some boots” Hatfield looked at her confused again, not knowing why she would think he would take her dress away.

“Oh, Mr Hatfield, thank you!” she said with delight and hugged him, making him even more confused before she let him go looking embarrassed.

“Is holding a custom humans use to show gratitude?” he asked her, with his mind trying to work out how humans act.

“Yes, sort of, it is called a hug, people do it to say thank you, and they do it to make each other feel better” she answered him thinking hard about the question.

“So it is magic? Holding each other heals pain?”

“What? No, well yes, it is hard to explain, when people are upset you give them a hug, It makes them feel good, or it is supposed to, it shows them you care and are there for them, to support them and help them” Jules said suddenly realizing that it does sound extremely confusing, even to her.

“Humans are very different to other creatures” Hatfield said taking off his hat and scratching his completely bald head, before replacing it.

“So where are you from? You said another planet, how is that possible?” Jules said now curiously.

“Yes, we came a very far distance, we all did, many different creatures from very different worlds, a huge variety of beings” he answered.

“But why?”

“Because we are hiding, and we had to find the five, they are the only ones who can save us from him” Hatfield said in a quiet voice as he looked down.

“Hiding? From who? Who is the five?” she asked him.

“A bad and evil creature, he wants to destroy and enslave everything and everyone, he thinks he is special, kind of like a god, but he is not, and the five are the leaders of the five stars, the five stars are planets that are right next to each other, you can see them as close as you see your moon. The five are the only ones powerful enough to stop him, but they vanished a very long time ago, and they are here, I am certain”

“They are powerful?”

“Yes, the are the magic givers, they created it, long long ago, my people think the five are just a legend, a story, mythology without substance, but I believe they still exist, or at least their ancestors” Hatfield smiled.

“You called me Jules of five, to your friend, you do not think I am one of them, do you?” Jules said scared. She did not want to break his hopes and dreams by telling him she was just an orphan, with nothing to offer him in terms of help, and certainly not magic that can fight off an evil creature.

“You are one of them, you do not know it yet, but you will soon enough” he winked at her and smiled kindly “Anyway, forget that for now, it is late in the night, you must be tired, I will show you to your room” Standing up and carrying the two boxes, he lead her through a door that was the same height as the entrance door, and that brought them to a corridor. It had lots more huge doors that lead to bedrooms, and more lamp post sized candles. Hatfield showed her to the closest room, where he left her to get some sleep.