My "Wednesday Writing" posts were initially created as a writing exercise for me to try and keep myself motivated and on track by making sure that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each week (with the follow-up goal to turn it into a daily writing practice).

Over the past few weeks, I've been continuing the same story with a single post each week. To help you catch up with this serialized story, you can use the following table of contents:

1. Morning Machinations
2. Communication Between Friends
3. Daydreaming Decisions
4. Off to the Park
5. Driven
6. Coming Home
7. Revealing Photographs
8. Just a Dream?
9. At the Tower
10. Caught
11. Revelations
12. Lunchtime
13. The Watch

Critiques, suggestions, comments, etc. always welcome.

Enjoy.

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Walter disappeared into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him. Gabby turned expectantly to James. Instead of speaking, he walked through the side door into the kitchen. She stared after him, confused and then started to follow. A hand on her shoulder made her pause. Before she could press on, James reappeared carrying a small metal box with a glass screen and a large manilla envelope. He set them both on the table in front of Gabby.

"This envelope contains your instructions. This device will provide your motivation."

He opened a panel on the side of the box and tapped and pressed some buttons and switches beyond Gabby's view. The glass screen began to glow with a soft yellow light. He pulled the box away from her and looked at her intently.

"As Mr. Dalton explained, this device allows us to pull back the curtain of time. I am going to show you a pair of images. The first will be from one week in the future and will show the future as it will exist if you do not help us. The second will be from the future as well but the timeframe will vary as it is dependent on other events falling into place. It is the future we will strive for if you help us. Both are conditional futures and can be changed by any number of events. But both are also intrinsically tied to a single event. That event being whether or not you will pick up this envelope and follow the instructions within. Now, with that in mind, look into the screen."

Gabby looked warily at James as he pressed the box forward again. She glanced over her shoulder at the thug standing nearby, his thick arms crossed on his chest. She leaned forward and looked into the screen. All she saw was yellow light. She saw James reach his hand forward and press something on the side of the box. The light began to glow brighter and filled the room. Then she felt as though she were falling into the light, into the box. She tried to pull back, to put her arms out and catch herself, but she couldn't move. She felt wind rushing against her face. A cold burst of air pressing against her as she fell down, down, down.

Then suddenly, all motion stopped. The yellow light became pale, almost green. Around the edges of her vision, a red hue hung like a fading fog. She suddenly realized she was outside. A blue sky and shining sun hung above her, but the colors were pale and dim. She stared around at the trees, their autumn colored leaves muted and fuzzy around the edges. A hundred feet ahead of her, a crowd of people stood. Soft voices reached her ears but she couldn't make out the words. She recognized where she was a moment later. A cemetery.

She shuddered and looked around frantically for someone to help her. To her sides and behind her, the red mist grew thick. The only clear path was ahead to the group of people. She walked towards the crowd. Even as she grew nearer, the voices stayed soft and unintelligible. As she approached, the people nearest her became wraithlike and transparent. She put her hand out to touch a shoulder, but her hand passed through the image. A chill ran through her body like a jolt of electricity. She shook off the shudder and stepped forward, passing through the images of people in black and grey suits and dresses. She stepped forward to reach the edge of an open grave. A sealed mahogany casket sat on bars suspended over the open hole. Of everything around her, it was the only thing that seemed solid. She put her hand forth and touched the coffin. It was cold and smooth. She slid her hand along the smooth wood as she circled it. On reaching the top, she turned and looked at the headstone. Her heart dropped as she read Julie's name etched into the rock.

Gabby wanted to scream. She raced at the headstone, but it became transparent and she passed right through it. Then the light around her increased until it was almost blinding. She found herself falling again. She shuddered against the rush of cold air against her face, choking on sobs between gasps for air. Then, the falling stopped and the light normalized. Her eyes adjusted to the change and she looked around.

She was in her own apartment. The colors were muted and there was no sound. She watched as the door to her apartment opened to reveal Julie standing on the threshold, smiling and holding a large glass bowl filled with salad. She entered the room and carried the bowl to the kitchen where she placed it beside a number of other bowls and dishes. The colors flashed briefly and then the room was filled with people, transparent wraithlike forms except for Julie. And one other person standing near the window in a pale blue dress with her back towards Gabby. Gabby stared at Julie for another moment, wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her. Then she turned back to the other non-transparent person in the room.

She walked to the corner of the room, wondering why this person remained solid and visible while everyone else faded. Obviously this person was another key in this vision of the future. Gabby reached out and put her hand on the shoulder of the woman in front of her. At Gabby's touch, the woman's head cocked to the side and then she turned and glanced over her shoulder.

Gabby's gasped and staggered briefly. Then she jumped forward and hugged her mother, pulling her close and crying into her shoulder. She felt her mom wrap her arms around her shoulder and pat her back soothingly. Gabby leaned in close and pulled her mom tight to her. Then, she felt as though she was falling again and a moment later, she was back in the dining room, sitting across from James, sobbing uncontrollably.

Alice in Wonderland	I knew from the trailers and various interviews that this was a "new venture" in the Alice world….happening 'after' the Alice books (which are fabulous). I've always enjoyed Tim Burton's work and was excited to see how this would play out. Generally I liked it. Though part of me was left wanting a little more. More what? I'm not quite sure, it just felt like there were times when Burton was holding back to try and keep the movie "Disney-fied" (nothing wrong with that - I'm a big Disney fan too) rather than going all out Burton. Granted, I think in order to keep it a fun and family friendly Alice, he did the right thing. I think it will be interesting to see some of the "darker fairy tales" that are coming out in the next couple of years. From what I'm reading about them, I think I wanted this Alice to be darker. Bottom Line: It was a lot of fun and a great reimagined follow-up to the Alice story (though in terms of reimaginings, I'm still more stoked for "looking glass wars" than I was for this Alice) 3.5 stars
Iron Man 2	The first Iron Man movie was fabulous. It gave us great character development of the reckless and egotistical Stark coupled with life altering experiences that put him in the path to develop and become Iron Man. The resulting conflict was great. This second film was enjoyable, but seemed to lose some of the depth of character development, especially in terms of the antagonists. I really liked Rourke as Whiplash and felt like Rockwell did a good job as slimy Hammer…but the character development on these villains and their cause left a little to be desired. The peripheral efforts to get us intrigued by Nick Fury, Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D. in general seemed to hijack the story at times. I'm really stoked to see The Avengers but while I'm watching Iron Man, I'd like any previews to be better integrated. Bottom line: Fun movie with lots of 'splosions and special effects. Not as tightly developed as the first, but still enjoyable. 3 stars
Prince of Persia	I've been a fan of the Prince of Persia video games for so many years I can't say. I've always loved the mythology and fantastic stories that go along with it….Aladdin, Ali Babba & the 40 Thieves, Sinbad, and the many stories of the Arabian Nights. The PoP video games are some of my favorites…I love the adventure, the story, the puzzle style gameplay. So much fun. Having this movie partially based on the recent "Sands of Time" game was an enticing prospect. I was a little worried when Gyllenhaal was cast as the prince…I just couldn't see him portraying an Arabian prince. I liked the supporting cast though (I was sure Arterton, Kingsley and Molina would do a great job), so I was still hopeful. The movie was well done and good fun. The story was well portrayed and 'believable' (as believable as these sorts of stories can be). The parkour/gymnastics/athletics of the adventure was carried off quite well (in some movies, the camera work surrounding the parkour ends up making me sick). I thought the cast did a great job. As I thought, I especially loved Kingley's portrayal, though at some points he seemed a little bored. Gemma was a great heroine and a good counterpoint to the Prince. In spite of my worries, I felt like Gyllenhaal did a good job as the Prince and carried it off. Sometimes the writing/humor/etc seemed a little forced, but generally it was good. Bottom line: It won't get "movie of the year" or anything, but it is great escapism that is carried off well. My own personal preference would love to see some sequels take place in this same world. 3.5 stars
Toy Story 3	I've loved Pixar's work since they first hit the big time with the first Toy Story film a decade and a half ago. In my mind, they have captured the vision and magic that made the Disney studio great. In fact, I give Pixar the credit for helping Disney rekindle their own vision and get back on track (Disney's still put out a few stinkers, but they're at least getting some of their groove back). Anyway, I went into Toy Story 3 with high expectations. Those expectations weren't met…exactly. The movie I saw was much different from the movie I thought I was going to see. The tone was darker, the feel was heavier. It's still Toy Story, but instead of being "your 4 year old's Toy Story", this is more like the Toy Story for your pre-teens or beyond. As an adult, I enjoyed the more complex plot of the story and the adventure the toys had to go through. The kids had fun with the universe and the humor. Towards the end of the movie, I could really feel the directorial pull on my emotions. They really pulled out all the stops to try and emotionally engage viewers in the tension of the scene. It worked out alright, but the level of suspense and emotional tension they created seemed, once again, to be an over-the-top departure from the arc of the previous films. Bottom line: The writing and humor of Pixar are still fabulous. The general fun and excitement are there and engaging. The concept/plot of this version is very intriguing but it's a big tone change from the previous films and as such is slightly off putting. It's a good continuation of the series, but doesn't surpass the previous movie in quality. 3 stars NOTE: The pre-movie short was very creative and a lot of fun. I really liked it. What I didn't like was the heavy handed delivery of the "moral" of the story…that again was a departure from prior Pixar methodology.
Knight and Day	I acknowledge that many/most action-adventure films involve a lot of suspension of disbelief in order to sustain the high intensity, fast paced thrill ride they want to deliver. I'm all for suspending disbelief. I also acknowledge that part of this "suspension" requires suspending criticism of holes or deficiencies in the plot or character development. That's acceptable as well. With those two points of knowledge firmly in place, you are ready to watch Knight and Day. This film is a wild ride of adventure and action from east coast America to western and central Europe. The fight scenes, car chases, escapes, weapons, technology, etc are all over the top and fantastical. The dialog is cheesy. The characters are largely type-cast action movie characters. This is especially true of Tom Cruise's character. My general reaction to this film and his character is that Knight and Day is a caricature of all of Tom Cruise's action characters (and some of his off-screen persona) rolled into one. From his crazy grins and smooth smile, to his patent 'angry man' voice/face and intense looks, this is "what we love about Tom Cruise" taken to the extreme. This isn't a movie trying to spoof action movies or even spoof Tom Cruise. From a high level, it seems to take itself seriously as an action film. But there is certainly a level of recognition from the writers/directors that this movie is about poking a little fun at the genre and the eccentricities and crazy behavior/mannerisms of its stars. The plot twists, turns, spirals, and shreds itself out of control again and again from zany stereotypes to transparent thrill moments. There's a lot of great humor in the film that's well carried out. Bottom line: This is a light-hearted action movie that should not be taken seriously. Tom Cruise as caricature is laughable and fun to watch. Diaz is a great counterpoint and adds great humor (I think one of my favorite scenes is when she's given the truth serum). The plot is thin. The action is over the top. After the past few years of action adventure getting heavy and intense, this is a break from the norm and is a good fluff piece…but not something I'd watch a lot. 2.5 stars

I'll admit that I haven't read a ton of work by Lewis, but of the work I have read, The Four Loves felt the most scholarly, moreso even than my recollections of Mere Christianity. In The Four Loves, Lewis breaks down the concept of love and analyzes it from a moral and Christian perspective.

He uses familiar scholarly concepts from Plato's day by breaking love into the same four main segments that the Greeks used: Affection, Friendship, Eros and Charity. He adds to this the Christian scriptural reference that "God is Love" and then explores the religious aspects of love.

Some of the scholarly breakdown twisted my brain a little bit and took multiple readings to try and untangle…as he expounded on "Need Love" versus "Gift Love", I was right there with him, but when he started putting forth various in-depth analysis between Venus (sexuality) and Eros (romantic 'being in love'), things started to get muddled…and when he broke into the chapter on Charity, there were a number of theoretical and rhetorical leaps that were difficult for me to follow at times.

Overall though and in spite of moments of confusion, the general message of the book was good and well presented. He provided great insight into the differences between each of the categories presented. The concept of Affection vs Friendship in terms of what makes a 'real friend' was rather intriguing, especially as he continued his examples through love's progression to show how and why friendships are formed or fail to be formed, how and why friendships can grow into romantic relationships or not, and what aspect Charity plays in all of this.

As with Lewis's other books, there is plenty of theological discussion going on. I don't agree with everything he had to say, which is fine, but I think he made some great points. During the last chapter or so as he speaks on Charity, he provides some great nuggets for us to think on as we think about our own charitable behaviors. He also talks about the idea of Charity being both a 'need love' and a 'gift love' and that as we engage in that paradox, we are growing nearer to God's love.

I enjoyed the message of the book and the well thought out and well expressed arguments Lewis makes. The tone of the book was a little too scholarly at times which made it occasionally hard to read (since I've just finished school and am enjoying the break *grin*).

Still, I really like Lewis's insights, research and writing. I enjoyed "Mere Christianity" and "Screwtape" and I'm looking into a few of his other 'theological'/'scholarly' works. He has a nice style and presents great messages without being overly preachy.


3.5 out of 5 stars


View all my reviews

At the movies last week, I saw a trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a movie based on the comics.

The movie itself looks like it might be kind of fun...probably a rental for me though. Still, the comic/concept is fun and could make an entertaining film.

But what's added cool is that they've created an online 'avatar creator where you can create your own character based on the style of the comic art.

It's a cheesy little way to waste a couple of minutes. Check out my zany dood above. What does yours look like?


And if you're interested, here's the movie trailer:

My "Wednesday Writing" posts were initially created as a writing exercise for me to try and keep myself motivated and on track by making sure that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each week (with the follow-up goal to turn it into a daily writing practice).

Over the past few weeks, I've been continuing the same story with a single post each week. To help you catch up with this serialized story, you can use the following table of contents:

1. Morning Machinations
2. Communication Between Friends
3. Daydreaming Decisions
4. Off to the Park
5. Driven
6. Coming Home
7. Revealing Photographs
8. Just a Dream?
9. At the Tower
10. Caught
11. Revelations
12. Lunchtime

This is a follow-up/continuation of the short post from this morning...so go read that one (#15) first if you're trying to catch up.

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Julie screamed and jumped at James. Gabby tried to hold her friend back but was too slow. She stared in stunned paralysis as Julie whipped around the corner of the table in an instant and punched James on the side of the head. Then she pulled against his chair and sent him toppling backward as she reached for the table. James fell back out of his chair and into a side table at the wall. The table collapsed under his sudden weight. The small plant and numerous cookbooks set atop it fell in a heap on top of him. Just before Julie's hands touched the glowing watch, the two thugs were on her, pulling her back from the table and pinning her arms behind her.

Seeing Julie struggle against the strong arms, Gabby shook herself out of the shock that held her still. She grabbed the glass pitcher, half filled with punch and ice, from the table and threw it into the fight. One of the thugs twisted away but as he did so he pulled the other man directly into the path of the pitcher. It slammed into his head with a thud and then fell to the floor, shattering on the tile.

The thug who had been hit by the pitcher recovered and turned to face Gabby. He let go of Julie and lunged forward, slipping on the punch and ice and falling to the floor. Gabby raced around the table, and reached hesitantly for the watch. It still glowed, but the light around it was dimming. Unsure of the safety in grabbing something that had just sparked and exploded, she turned instead back to look at Julie and the fight they'd started.

She grabbed a plate and a knife from the table and charged at the one man who still held Julie. Before she reached her friend, James wrapped his arms around her legs and pulled her to the floor. She whipped around and smashed the plate against his arm then lashed at him with the knife. The plate grazed his arm but then broke against the floor and sent shards of glass flying. She continued whipping the knife around, occasionally scratching James's arm but never enough to cause him to let go. In fact, he pulled tighter on her legs. She kicked wildly at his head and turned to pull herself along the floor and try to regain her footing.

Gabby glanced around quickly. Julie continued to struggle against the arms that held her but she had been pressed to her knees and was quickly becoming subdued. Gabby's foot made contact with James's head and she was able to break one leg free and nearly stand, but as she looked over her shoulder, she saw the second thug had regained his feet and was cautiously moving towards her again. In desperation, she threw the knife at the approaching thug and kicked again at James. The knife flew wide of her target by nearly a yard and banged harmlessly against the door leading to the kitchen.

"Let me go!" Julie's scream was followed by the hollow sound of flesh and bone hitting flesh and bone. Gabby twisted her head towards the sound. Julie was pinned on her stomach at the side of the wall, a knee forcibly pressed against her back to hold her down. Her eyes were closed, apparently unconscious.

James had gotten to his knees, still holding Gabby's left ankle and pulling her towards him. Gabby shot her arms out at the legs of the second thug as he came at her from the side. He deftly dodged her hands and was suddenly on his knees beside her, grabbing her tightly with his hands and pinning her own arms behind her as he twisted her onto her stomach. She continued to struggle, but a moment later, she found it difficult to breath, let alone move.

There was silence for a moment. Gabby's cheek was pressed against the floor in a puddle of cold red punch. She felt strong hands tight around her wrists and a pain she presumed to be a knee pressed into the center of her back. Her legs were pressed hard against the floor as though James sat on her feet. From her restrained position, she stared under the table towards the door leading back to the hallway. She strained her neck against the pressure and saw a pair of legs still sitting in the chair at the head of the table.

Through the whole fight, Walter had apparently not moved at all. His legs moved slightly but made no motion to stand or move from the chair. She stared in contempt at his brown dress shoes, shiny and out of place below his worn blue jeans. She tried to imagine what he was doing, sitting there at the table. She pictured his small mouth curling into a smug smile and his dull grey eyes brightening with amusement.

The more she stared at his shoes, the more she wished she could throw these two men off her back and rush to tackle the man casually sitting at the table. The longer the silence persisted, the more and more angry she grew with him. Just moments ago he had insisted they were allies. Had suggested that they had needed her help and support. And now, she and Julie were again forcibly held hostage and no one was saying anything.

Gabby closed her eyes and drew up the image of Walter Dalton. She conjured up the image of his pale grey eyes, his bushy white eyebrows, his silver hair and his small mouth. There was something familiar about him. As though she should know him. As though he was part of her life more than just being her strange captor. The more she thought about it, the more she knew they were somehow tied together. And the more she tried to unravel the connection, the more lost she became. She wanted to scream out. To demand to be released. To call for help. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to sort things out. Eventually, Walter spoke.

"I trust we can continue with our lunch in peace now? I'm afraid I'll have to have the cook bring us something more to drink. James, why don't you help our dear Gabrielle to her seat."

Gabby felt the a release on her shoulders and then her back. She arched her back softly, tenuously toying with the idea of lashing out and making a run for the hall door. She quickly put the idea aside, unsure if she could reach the hall before being pulled back down. Even if she could escape, she was unwilling to leave Julie behind. Hands pulled her to her feet and as she stood she glanced at Julie. The thug still held her shoulders and wrists, but there was no tension, no fight. Julie's eyes fluttered softly. Gabby gasped slightly and tried to step over to her friend. The arms on her shoulders held her back.

"Oh my, yes." Walter stood and seemed to see the whole situation for the first time.

"It seems our dear friend Julie has fallen asleep. Why don't you take her somewhere where she can rest up?" Walter nodded softly at the man sitting on Julie's back who stood slowly and then picked Julie up like a rag doll.

"No!" Gabby strained against the arms holding her. "Let her go!"

Walter turned and smiled smugly at her, the same smug smile she had imagined only moments before. He looked at the questioning bodyguard and then nodded him out of the room. Gabby twisted and struggled against the arms of James and the other bodyguard as she watched her best friend be carried out of sight.

"Tsk tsp. Such inappropriate behavior for mealtime." Walter motioned to the empty chairs and Gabby was pressed back into her seat.

"Such outrageous behavior. And over a simple little watch."

Gabby stared at the watch on the table. It no longer glowed, but sat in a small pile. She reached over and picked it up. She understood Julie's reaction.

The watch had been a gift from Julie's father when she left for college. She was in such a hurry to start the trip to school that when he tried to tell her the story of the watch, she broke him off and said she was late. He conceded and had given it to her with little fanfare but with the explanation that he would one day tell her the whole history. How it was a symbol in their family of progression, of love, of acceptance. Julie hadn't thought much of it at first. She liked the watch and showed it to Gabby, her first roommate, telling her about the importance her father had always placed on it.

But then, halfway through her first semester of college, Julie's father had died. When Julie returned home for the funeral, everything was a mess. Her family was squabbling over inheritance and insurance and responsibility. Sick of the bickering, Julie had secluded herself in her parents bedroom while the rest of the family fought in the living room. She stared at her father's pictures and then found his journal on his bedside table.

Thumbing through some of the entries, she learned more about the history of the watch. Apparently it had been given to her grandfather during World War II from his commanding officer as recognition of his excellent judgment and service. When her grandfather had given it to her father, it was given as recognition of superior character and excellent judgment. She found the entry for the day she left for college and read gushing paragraphs about how proud he was of her and how much hope he rested on her for the success and future of their family. As she read the journal, she thought it strange that he had chosen her to receive the watch.

She was the youngest of five children. Her two brothers and one of her sisters were married and successfully living the American dream in various places across the country. Her oldest brother managed a pediatric clinic in Oregon. Her other brother was in his final year of law school with a number of accolades and numerous prestigious job offers on the table. Her oldest sister had met her husband in the peace corps and now lived in the northeast with her husband, working to restore and maintain various historical sites. Her other sister was more eccentric and had spent the past year hitchhiking across the country. Still, of her siblings, Julie certainly felt least qualified to receive the watch, especially now that she knew its history.

Gabby stared at the watch, thinking back on the history of the watch and how much it meant to Julie. She imagined how angry she would be and quickly forgave Julie of losing her cool. As she looked at the watch, she realized it was working again. The second hand progressed normally and moved the other hands with it. The time now showed 2:43, presumably having been jostled around from the electric zap and the resulting fight.

"But then again, we ourselves are in a war over time itself. So a little squabble over a timepiece should hardly be surprising."

Gabby looked up at Walter. He took a large bit of a sandwich and tried to smile at her as he ate. He motioned towards the toppled plate of sandwiches. Gabby blindly grabbed one and took a bite, staring at the man in front of her. She still didn't know what to make of him.

"Tell me about this war."

She took a bite of her own sandwich and alternately looked between James and Walter. She could feel the presence of the bodyguard standing behind her, but she forced herself not to look back at him. She didn't want to risk exposing her fear. She knew that by looking at him, her emotions would flare again. By keeping her eyes focused on James, and more especially on Walter, she was able to focus on her anger and frustration rather than her fear and anxiety.

Walter's smooth and disarming voice responded to her request.

"All in good time my dear. All in good time. There is too much to tell in what little time we have left right now. Our time together rapidly grows to a close. But I promise you this, all will become clear in time. For now, James will provide you with a set of instructions for you to help us capture your fugitive husband and bring him to justice. The very nature of Time itself is at jeopardy. We must act quickly if we are to heal the rift that has been created."

"No. I am not going to do anything until I get some answers. You kidnapped us. Your thugs beat us up and dragged us here to your mansion. You claim to be from the future with some big mission for me. You claim that I have to help you catch my husband. A husband I haven't married. And you expect me to do all of this, just because you say so. No. I'm not going anywhere or doing anything until I get the whole story!" She tried to control her emotions, but by the end, she had risen to her feet and was nearly shouting. James had started to stand and intercept her, but Walter had waved him down. Walter shook his head slowly and began to chuckle.

"I'm afraid, my dear Gabrielle, that you really have no choice in the matter. As much as I would love to accommodate your request. Time is, as they say, of the essence. I do not have the luxury of Time to elaborate on the war we fight. Our window of Time is rapidly closing and we must move quickly if we have any hope of success."

Gabby banged her fist on the table.

"NO! I will not be put off! I don't understand any of this! I don't BELIEVE any of this! If you will not explain yourself and tell me WHY I should help you, then you can just kiss me goodbye Mr. Dalton."

Walter smiled and nodded at James.

"Very well Gabrielle. James will show you why you should help us."

Walter stood and began to walk out of the room. He paused at the doorway.

"The choice is yours Gabrielle. I trust you will make the right decision."

My "Wednesday Writing" posts were initially created as a writing exercise for me to try and keep myself motivated and on track by making sure that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each week (with the follow-up goal to turn it into a daily writing practice).

Over the past few weeks, I've been continuing the same story with a single post each week. To help you catch up with this serialized story, you can use the following table of contents:

1. Morning Machinations
2. Communication Between Friends
3. Daydreaming Decisions
4. Off to the Park
5. Driven
6. Coming Home
7. Revealing Photographs
8. Just a Dream?
9. At the Tower
10. Caught
11. Revelations

A short one this morning with (hopefully) a follow up this afternoon.

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The girls scanned the oversized hallway as they followed Walter from the library to the dining room. The mansion seemed like something out of a movie. Regal looking portraits hung high up on the walls. Strategically placed tables stood midway between doorways, meticulously and precisely lined with books, plants and other innocuous objects that suggested the kind of subdued lifestyle of the home. The hallway was long and most of the doorways were closed. Through a partially opened one, Gabby caught a glimpse of a room set in pastel green with a small white upright piano in a corner and elegant windows overlooking a patio.

Gabby counted four closed doors and one open door as they walked the long hall towards the rear of the house. Then the hall turned to the right and they continued on. With each additional step they took, the immensity overwhelmed Gabby and pulled her deeper into thought. Walter stopped in front of the second door in the rear hallway and gestured the girls through.

The scene before Gabby was much more casual than she had anticipated, given the impressions gathered from the rest of the house. James and the two thugs sat around a simple oak table in a very average dining room. A single window overlooked an orchard, the leaves on the trees fighting between greens, yellows and orange. An elderly woman appeared from a door at the side of the room, carrying a large platter piled with sandwiches which she set in the middle of the table. She glanced at Gabby and opened her mouth as if to say something, then seemed to think better of it and disappeared back through the door.

"I hope you don't mind eating in this less formal dining room. The cleaners are in there and I saw no reason to disturb them. Besides, this provides us a more casual environment to formalize our plans."

Walter walked to an empty chair at the head of the table and stood, waiting until Julie and Gabby slowly sat before he took his own seat. Seeing the sandwiches quickly reminded Gabby how hungry she was. She'd had a banana when she woke up but she wasn't sure how long it had been since then. It didn't feel like it had been terribly long, but the way her stomach complained, she couldn't be sure.

"What time is it?"

She glanced around the room for a clock but didn't find one. The men at the table stared at her. Julie glanced at her watch then turned to Gabby and held out her arm then glared across the table at Walter. Gabby looked down at the watch, then looked up at Julie, confused.

"I couldn't tell you Gabby. It looks like these guys broke my watch when they 'invited' us her to join them. It's stopped at ten minutes to nine."

Gabby looked back at the watch. The second hand continued to flutter each second but remained in place. The other hands marked out the time. 8:51. Julie unclasped the watch and threw it forcibly at Walter. He flinched slightly as it bounced off his chest and landed in his lap.

"Your bodyguards broke my watch!" She stood and started to shout. "That was my father's watch! His father gave it to him and he gave it to me! That…That…it's all I have…you….you."

Gabby stood and wrapped her arm around Julie's shoulder and pulled her close. Julie turned and buried her head in Gabby's shoulder and started to sob. Gabby stared at Walter, waiting to see what he would do. He just returned her gaze, then a small grin crept across his face. He pulled the watch from his lap and looked at it for a moment then handed it across to James who took a small case from his inside jacket pocket and removed a tiny magnifying glass.

Julie turned her head and glanced back at the scene. She saw James carefully looking at her watch and her breathing grew shallow. Gabby could feel her friend's muscles begin to tense. James pulled out what looked like a screwdriver and brought it close to the watch face. As he did so, a long blue arc of electricity shot from the end of his tool and zapped against the watch, surrounding it with brilliant yellow-white light.

As part of my father's day present this year, I am now officially set up to "digitize" some of the old home videos that are kicking around. Right now we're watching/encoding birthday parties, Christmases, and other family gatherings from years gone by...while we work through those, I figured I'd share this shorter one with the world.

Over Spring Break of 1992, about 100 students from Viewmont High School took a trip down to California. We had a bunch of fun at the beach and theme parks in the areas. While we were at Universal Studios, a large chunk of Viewmont Vikings were lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the Star Trek Experience!!!

Without further ado, here's the lovely video that came as a result.  Enjoy.

My "Wednesday Writing" posts were initially created as a writing exercise for me to try and keep myself motivated and on track by making sure that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each week (with the follow-up goal to turn it into a daily writing practice).

Over the past few weeks, I've been continuing the same story with a single post each week. To help you catch up with this serialized story, you can use the following table of contents:

1. Morning Machinations
2. Communication Between Friends
3. Daydreaming Decisions
4. Off to the Park
5. Driven
6. Coming Home
7. Revealing Photographs
8. Just a Dream?
9. At the Tower
10. Caught

These writing sessions are more the "just get it out" variety...not worrying about polish/editing/etc but just making sure I'm actually writing. Still, I hope they're at least enjoyable. Definitely feel free to provide any feedback or thoughts. While these aren't polished works, I'm always open for general critiques.

And, without further ado, here's this week's episode.

Thanks for stopping by.

---

Gabby choked on a chuckle and glanced over at Julie who shook her head with a small breathy laugh. Julie stood to leave but was pulled roughly back in her chair by a pair of rough hands standing behind her. She grabbed one of the hands and pushed it off her shoulder and tried to stand again.

"Hey! You said we could leave after we heard what you had to say!" Julie looked to Gabby for support. The man in the wingback chair replied.

"You can leave. AFTER you have heard all I have to say and have fully weighed your options."

"We've heard enough already, right Gabby? You are obviously a little bit crazy and we don't want anything to do with it."

Julie managed to stand up again, this time jumping forward a step out of reach of the man behind her chair. He stumbled forward after her, the chair screeching noisily across the hardwood floor.

"You are welcome to go, Julie." The man waved his hand and the man by the door flipped the lock and pulled the door open. Julie turned to Gabby.

"Good. Let's go Gabby."

"Oh no. Julie, I said YOU could go. This endeavor does not involve you and you are free to stay or leave as you will. Miss Gabrielle, however, is intrinsically involved and must at least remain to hear the entirety of my proposal."

Julie huffed indignantly and whirled to face the Gabby alternated glances between her friend and the strange man sitting across from her. Now that the initial shock had been dispelled, she began studying him intently.

He wore faded blue jeans and a green button down sweater, open halfway down his chest to expose a dingy white T-shirt. His smooth hands and young face contrasted against his silver white hair and made it difficult to determine his age. He seemed young but was likely at least in his forties and possibly older.

His eyebrows were the same silvery white and were bushy and full, hanging over his eyes like fuzzy white caterpillars. His average build, generally casual dress and otherwise unremarkable appearance seemed out of place in the elegant library filled with thousands of books and decorated with fashionable statuettes and paintings.

Julie turned around to face Gabby, her face full of fear and concern. She motioned pleadingly with her eyes as she spoke.

"Gabby. You can't seriously take this guy serious." Then in a whisper, she added "He's crazy. And dangerous."

"Julie. I again promise that I mean neither of you any harm. And I also wish to add that I am most definitely not crazy. At least not in the way you infer it."

In spite of the silence, Julie's eyes continued to scream at Gabby, begging her to stand up and run out of the room while they could. Instead, Gabby shook her head and closed her eyes.

"I'll listen to what you have to say. Julie, you can wait for me outside if you want to, but I'd rather have you hear beside me. Please?"

When she opened her eyes again, the fear etched on Julie's face shifted slowly from outrage and anger, to fear and sorrow and finally to genuine concern. Without saying a word, she moved back to her chair, scooted it closer to Gabby's and sat down. The man resumed speaking.

"Good. That's settled then. Yes, I need you, Gabrielle, to help save our world. I realize this sounds crazy. Crazier still since at this time, you do not yet know me or my associates. Under normal circumstances, we would not be having a discussion like this for another year or more. But it is those very circumstances which have led us to these circumstances and bring us together now."

"Hold up there. You're making less sense the more you talk. Gabby, are you getting any of this?" Gabby shook her head without saying anything. She was trying to follow along, but had to admit she was confused. She realized Julie and the man were waiting on her for an answer.

"Um, no. I'm not sure, Mr., um. What's your name?"

"Dalton. My name is Walter Dalton. At your service."

"Uh, right. OK. Mr. Dalton. I'm with Julie on this. I really don't know what you're talking about. You don't really seem to be saying anything."

"I am sorry. I have forgotten that you are behind the times as it were."

As if this is some hilarious joke, Walter chuckles to himself and then proceeds to let out large, loud guffaws of laughter that finally result in him doubling over in a coughing fit. Gabby and Julie stare at each other. Julie twirls her pointer finger in a circle by her ear and whispers 'coo-coo', at which both girls laugh.

As he regains his composure, Walter's face is red and tears flow down his cheeks. James clears his throat loudly and walks to Walter with a glass of water. After a few long swallows and deep breaths, Walter turns to the girls and continues.

"You'll have to forgive me. I, for one, am particularly susceptible to the side-effects of the transition. Especially those related to outbursts of emotion. I am truly sorry."

"The transition?" Gabby looks to Julie and then to James for clarification. When neither of them answer, she looks back to Walter.

"Yes. I will explain that in good time. But first, to cut to the chase, I need you to help us find your husband and bring him back here."

"My husband?"

"Yes, my dear. Your husband."

"I'm not married. I don't have a husb-"

"Oh, I know that Gabrielle. But you will be. And it's much easier for me to speak in terms of my present than of yours."

"My present?"

"As in, THE present. The present tense. The present time. This present moment."

Again, the girls stared at one another, confused. Julie looked ready to make another outburst, so Gabby spoke first.

"Are you suggesting you're a time traveler? From the future?" Julie laughed her own you're a complete idiot laugh that always made Gabby laugh along with her. But this time, Gabby was too confused both by what had happened the last few days and what was being suggested that she couldn't wholly join in on the humor.

"Given a little prompting. You, Gabrielle, will be better able to explain what I am than I could ever do. But yes, to answer your question generally, I am talking of time travel and the knowledge, information and mission I bring is from the future."

The room fell silent again. Julie even stopped laughing and stared with a look of shock. The ticking from the clock on the mantle seemed to grow in volume as the silence lengthened. Gabby's mind was racing. Trying to piece together some of the strange things that had happened. She thought back on the wedding album. On the pictures of her own wedding. A wedding that hadn't yet happened to a man she had only just barely met and hardly even knew his name. She looked back to Walter, her eyes asking for a greater explanation. When he remained silent, she tried to piece together her questions.

"OK. So you're here from the future. You're here to help me track down my husband for you. A husband I haven't married yet. And….I'm sorry, I still don't understand. Why are you here? And what do you need me for?"

"We are here in pursuit of your husband. He is a wanted criminal who has stolen the technology that allows us to part the curtain of time. We followed him to this time but have experienced a severe rift. Our own devices for parting the curtain have ceased to function properly. We still have limited functionality, but something has definitely gone wrong. We can still pull back the curtain and glance through the window, but we are no longer able to pass through the mists of time that keep everything separated. We are trapped here. And so is he.

"We are unsure why he came to this time or what his final motivation will be. But we are certain that, in order to fulfill his plans, whatever they may be, he is going to confront you, confide in you and ask you to join him."

"Why would he do that? Because we were married? Are married? In some future that hasn't happened yet?"

"No. Yes, that may be part of his motives in coming here. But no. His reason for needing to see you is that you, my dear Gabrielle, you are the one who made this technology possible. And now, with the rift, he will need your help to make the device function again. To enable the curtain to be fully drawn back, the window to be fully opened and let us pass through the mists. When he comes to you. You will bring him to us."

The room fell silent again. Everyone stared at Gabby. She returned their gazes, uncomfortably looking at Walter and James, at the two thugs who had kidnapped and carried the girls to this strange place, and then at Julie who stared back with a mix of compassion and confusion. The whole thing was unbelievable. Ridiculous. Absolute nonsense. And yet, something inside of her knew it was true.

She closed her eyes and called up the images from the wedding album. She stifled a giggle as she remembered the look of absolute joy on her own face at a wedding that hadn't yet happened. Her breath caught in her throat as she remembered the image of her mother standing beside her. She fought down the emotion and opened her eyes. The group continued to watch her expectantly.

"OK. So let's say for a moment that even part of this may be true. What do we do now?"

Walter smiled and nodded at James who walked out of the library, the two thugs following behind him.

"First, we move to the dining room. I shall tell you more over a light lunch."

He stood and slowly walked to the door. As Gabby stood, she again pictured her mother at the wedding and her eyes welled up with tears. She tried to avoid looking at her friend as she turned and started for the door. Julie quickly caught up with her. She put her hand on Gabby's shoulder and turned her around. With a hand on each shoulder, she leaned forward until their foreheads were almost touching.

"I'm here with you Gabby. You've always been way smarter than me, but I don't believe any of this. It's insane and stupid we should just leave. I have a huge pit in my stomach telling me this is dangerous and we should make a run for it while we can. But I'm here for you. And if you want to stay, I'm staying with you. But please be careful."

Gabby wiped the tears from her cheek and pulled her friend into a hug.

"You're the best Jules. Thank you. And don't worry. Somehow I know we'll be alright."

"You girls coming?"

Walter had returned to the door and stood waiting for the girls. They looked at him and nodded then followed him down the hall to the dining room.

I read The Hunger Games a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed the adventure, the struggle, the characters and the world created. The novel ended in such a way that the current conflict was wrapped up but it was evident that the real troubles had only just begun.

And that's where Catching Fire picks things up. Going into this second book, I was excited to see what direction the story would take. I enjoyed the first book but felt like a lot of the intrigue and dynamics of the world of Panem were kept at a distance because of the immense in-your-face presence of the Games. I'm not saying that as a bad thing…presenting the Games as such an amazing force created huge tension in the first book. I also acknowledge that there was plenty of information given as to the nature of the government and the leaders, enough that it was very evident what kind of a world this was.

In Catching Fire, however, the first ~half of the book gives us a deeper and wider view of just how despicable this government is, beyond the annual Hunger Games. We're shown nearly a full year of life outside the games. And we don't only see the harsh conditions as they existed before the Games of the first book, but we see the added hatred, violence and propaganda that come as an aftermath of those Games.

The characters are well portrayed and seem deeper than before. We get VERY up-close-and-personal with President Snow (and I would add that the author does an excellent job of creating deep disgust towards him…I shudder whenever he entered a scene). We get more involved and in-the-heads of the characters we'd known from the first book. And we quickly find ourselves racing alongside vibrantly real new characters.

I felt that the drama, suspense and tension created was very well done. My emotions were thrown about many times as things went from bad to worse to awful to 'how will they ever get out of this.' Of all the pivotal/surprise moments, I only really predicted one of them (probably the most obvious of the bunch…the one where Pres. Snow opens and reads the notice about the quell). Because of the nature of the society and the rules, it was believable that the characters would have been surprised by that moment even when I saw it coming. The other elements were very surprising and provided me with either a lot of suspense and tension or surprise and relief…whichever was dictated by the situation. In other words, the twists and turns did exactly what they were supposed to.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. In terms of action and adventure, it started out a little bit slow but even then the beginning was very interesting to me as it really fleshed out the nature of the society and laid a very intricate framework. I've heard a lot of talk about the "romance" factor here. There were plenty of moments where the reader is reminded of the romantic tension and the 'love triangle' in play here. However, the romance factor is kept where it belongs in a story like this…off to the side. The love story plays an important part, but when you consider the severe dystopian world and the threats, violence, suspense and tension all around, this is hardly the world where a strong romantic love story will flourish. I think the author did a great job keeping the romantic element alive with just the right amount of strength to make it believable.

After finishing the book, a comparison came to mind…that of the original trilogy of Star Wars films (New Hope, Empire and Jedi). In terms of character, plot and world development, I see this book series following an arc very similar to the way those three movies developed. At the end of this second book, we're left with an 'acceptable' closure to the book but the promise of a lot more adventure and a huge confrontation to come. I now join the ranks of those anxiously awaiting the release of Mockingjay later this year.

Final verdict…read this series. I enjoyed the first book, and liked the second one even more.


4.5 out of 5 stars


View all my reviews

You ever have that feeling that something's coming? For some reason I've been feeling antsy the last day or so….like there's something in the wind. I just hope it's a "good" something. :)

Today's "Wednesday Writing" is a continuation of a story started a few weeks back.

Since it's continuing to move on, I figure I may as well link to previous posts and create a sort of 'table of contents' to make it easier to follow along or catch up:

1. Morning Machinations
2. Communication Between Friends
3. Daydreaming Decisions
4. Off to the Park
5. Driven
6. Coming Home
7. Revealing Photographs
8. Just a Dream?
9. At the Tower

My 'wednesday writing' posts were initially created as a writing exercise for me to try and keep myself motivated and on track by making sure that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each week (with the follow-up goal to turn it into a daily writing practice). These writing sessions are more the "just get it out" variety...not worrying about polish/editing/etc but just making sure I'm actually writing. Still, I hope they're at least enjoyable. Definitely feel free to provide any feedback or thoughts. While these aren't polished works, I'm always open for general critiques.

And, without further ado, here's this week's episode.

Thanks for stopping by.

---

Gabby breathed as deeply as she could with a cloth bag over her head. She closed her eyes through the darkness and tried to force herself to calm down and let her logical self take hold. Quickly she acknowledged that there was no immediate method of escape. Handcuffed, gagged, a bag over her head, laying on the floor of an elevator with three strong men standing over her. No, to say escape was unlikely was a serious understatement.

So instead, she lay still and tried to take in the situation. She felt the movement of the elevator as it continued descending. To her right she heard Julie continue to scuffle along the floor. To her left, she felt the pressure of a leg and foot right up against her own hip. She imagined how the elevator looked with two girls violently contained on the floor while three beefy men looked on. She hoped that the elevator doors would open and expose the horrific scene to some office worker who would miraculously come to her aid.

Unfortunately, when the 'ding' of the elevator bell finally came, the doors opened to a world of silence. A cool rush of air rushed in and sent goosebumps up Gabby's arm. She began rolling to her right side when a pair of strong hands grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. No words were spoken, but a soft push and firm hands on her shoulders indicated that she was expected to walk.

As she tentatively stepped forward, nervous about tripping, she heard Julie's muffled and gagged voice shout something. Next came a quick flash of sound and a soft male groan. Suddenly, the hands on Gabby's shoulders pulled her back and became a pair of arms holding her tight against her captor. A crashing of metal and wood exploded to her right followed by yelps and cries from Julie.

"Cut that out you! You're the expendable one, you know. It's you're friend we need, not you." The man's voice was quiet, but forceful. There was a hint of an accent, but Gabby couldn't place it.

"Just toss her over your shoulder and bring her along." Gabby recognized the second voice as the man who had first entered the elevator and had tried to strike up smooth casual conversation. He too had a slight accent she hadn't noticed earlier, just the smallest hint of German or some other European background.

The arms around her loosened and gave her a nudge to start moving forward. Behind her, Gabby heard Julie continue to struggle as she was evidently hefted along with the group. Ahead of her, a door clanged open. A moment later, she felt the temperature drop again and a she noticed a slight echo had begun to accompany the noises around her. Next, she heard keys jangling followed by the sliding of a van door being rolled open.

With hands guiding her, Gabby climbed up into the van and scooted across a hard floor covered with thin carpeting. She felt a thump beside her followed by the sounds of shuffling. She slid towards the noise and was comforted to feel Julie's arm squirming on the van floor next to her. Julie's muffled voice tried to say something and she began to thrash slightly. Gabby just leaned closer to her friend and softly pressed her body against what she imagined was Julie's side.

The van door clanked shut. To her rear, a door opened and Gabby felt the motion of someone climbing in and settling a few feet behind her. To the front, more doors opened and the van shifted as the other captors climbed into the passenger and driver's seat. The van roared to life and Gabby had to brace herself against Julie to keep from falling over as they began driving.

"Sorry for the discomfort girls. Just a short drive and then we'll get you better settled. I really wish it didn't have to be this way Gabrielle, but as you know, sometimes our hand is forced." Gabby was almost certain the man's accent was German now. It was barely noticeable but somehow with each word he spoke, his voice felt more and more familiar. With the growing familiarity, a nagging sense of knowing started to grow. She felt as though she should know this man. As though they'd perhaps met before.

After a few minutes and a number of twists and turns, the van came to a stop and the engine was shut off. After the doors were opened, Gabby heard Julie being led out and then hands came to Gabby's arms and guided her out of the van. The hood was pulled off Gabby's head and, squinting through the blaze of light, she was surprised to see that they were outside. She quickly looked around, hoping for a jogger or someone who might see her plight and come to her rescue or, at the very least, call the police.

They seemed to be in a park of some sort but besides the five of them, no one else was around. A brown van with deeply tinted windows was parked next to a pond. Large pine trees packed tightly together stretched to the sky. Across the pond, a path disappeared between the trees. To her right, she saw Julie staring defiantly around her, biting hard at her gag and lashing against the hands of the man holding her shoulders.

"Welcome home Gabrielle. Shall we go inside." Gabby looked to the strangely familiar man as he gestured across the pond and started walking down the path. Warily, she followed. The man behind her had released his grip on her shoulders and came up to walk beside her. She heard the shuffling of feet on the dirt behind her and then the steady footsteps indicating that Julie was following.

As the path entered the trees, it curved to the right. Before long, she was surrounded on all sides by pine bows. Above her, the branches often extended completely over the path to hide the sky. The well groomed path continued for a hundred yards and then turned back to the left and began to widen and Gabby could see a brick wall standing beyond the trees. A few more steps and the wall grew to a house. And then to a mansion of grey-brown brick with tall dark windows, patches of winding ivy and a large wooden door with huge brass square panels in the corners.

The path forked in three directions. The group followed the one leading to the main door. The other two paths went opposite directions and presumably circled the home. Gabby's stared with wide-eyes at the size of the home. Her parents were fairly well-to-do and she'd always thought her house was pretty big growing up. But just judging by what she could see, she was sure this house was at least twice the size of her childhood home.

She didn't have long to admire the house as they were quickly at the door. The man in front pulled out a key, unlocked the door and led the group into a wide hallway. He opened a side door and led them into the largest private library Gabby had ever scene. The room was larger than her entire apartment. At the far end, floor to ceiling windows overlooked the pine forest beyond. Bookshelves lined the side walls floor to ceiling, broken only by an elegant fireplace in the center.

In front of the fireplace, sitting in a wingback chair, a man sat reading a book. Once again, a twinge of familiarity stung Gabby's mind, but she couldn't place him. As the group settled into the library and the door closed behind them, the man stood and turned to face them with a beaming smile and outstretched arms. The smile quickly faded as he fully acknowledged the situation.

"James. Certainly you didn't have them tied up the whole time did you? Come now. I know we had to create the pretext of danger, but surely you didn't take it too far."

The lead captor turned and nodded to his two accomplices. The one next to Gabby unlocked her handcuffs and helped untie the gag. The one beside Julie hesitantly inched his way towards her, trying to avoid the hatred in her eyes. He unlocked the cuffs and quickly jumped back as she flailed her arms and pulled off her gag to begin shouting and screaming. Their host raised his arms in protest and tried to calm her.

"Shh. Settle down. Settle down. I truly am sorry for all of this, but I assure you you're perfectly safe now."

Julie rushed to the library door behind her, only to find it locked. She grabbed up an umbrella that leaned against the wall and began jabbing it like some crazed swordsman.

"Perfectly safe? I don't think so. Tell your goons to unlock this door and let us go or I'm going to bust somebody's head and use it to break the door down."

She drew back the umbrella, ready to swing, when suddenly and with amazing speed, James was beside her, his arms wrapped tight around her so she could barely move and the umbrella fell to the floor with a clatter. He held her tight and softly spoke.

"Julie, I assure you that we mean neither you nor Gabrielle any harm. We would have much rather invited you here in a more humane manner, but our hands were tied."

"No! Our hands were tied! Gabby! Help me out here!" Julie twisted and strained, but James held her firm. Gabby looked on, unsure what to do. The man by the fireplace spoke again.

"Julie. Gabrielle. Give me five minutes of your time. I will personally make amends to you both verbally and with tangible rewards. I will outline my purpose for having you brought here. And then, you may either stay or go. You have my word."

Julie continued to struggle. She whipped her head back to try and pound against James. She bit his forearm and twisted her mouth. Gabby saw him wince slightly but he did not release his grasp.

"Five minutes. But first, convince me to give you five seconds. Release my friend and give me some reason to trust you." Gabby stepped forward, the anger growing on her face. The man just smiled and nodded.

"Very well. James, kindly release your hold on Julie. And Julie, please be so good as to maintain a level head so we may continue."

Gabby turned and stared with compassionate, pleading eyes at Julie. Julie struggled a moment longer than stopped and nodded. James slowly relaxed his hold and stepped back. She whipped around and smacked at his face. He caught her wrist and twisted it downward. Raising his other hand, he wagged his finger at her and gave a tsk sound, then, with a grin, he spun her back to face the host and let her arm go.

"Better. Much better. Now, please. Come and sit. And I will tell you why you are here." The man returned to his chair which he twisted to face the center of the room. He motioned to a group of chairs sitting beside a desk near the other wall and then he stood, waiting for the girls to pull a chair over towards him.

"We've gotta get out of here Gabby." Julie whispered under her breath as she pulled a chair away from the desk.

"We will Jules. We will."

The girls turned and faced the man. He motioned for them to sit, which they did. Smiling, he sat down and stared at them silently for nearly a full minute. The girls shifted uneasily and stared at one another, unsure what to do. If he had asked for only five minutes, why was he wasting so much time with silence?

"Well?" Julie defiantly broke the silence. The man chuckled softly and then leaned forward and began to whisper just barely loud enough to be heard.

"I need your help to save our world Gabrielle."