Lesson 3 Assignment

Scenes with dialogue for Writer's cache course

Below is option #4

Jonas flipped on the light switch, and holding a cloth over his face stared aghast at the carnage of the warehouse. “What the hell?”

“Howdy there officer.” Said a man standing in the middle of the room before a smoking pair of boots. The man didn't look up, so Jonas was left staring at the top of the man's cowboy hat and the blood splattered over his tan trench coat..

“I'm just security.” It was at this point that Jonas wished he had finished his training and been allowed to wear a gun. Or even a taser! The nightstick at his belt he ran his hand over just wasn't much comfort when confronted by all this blood. It covered the floor, every wall, and many of the shipping crates that were scattered about.

“That's nahh-ce.” The man still didn't look up.

Forcing the words over a tongue that seemed thick and uncooperative, Jonas asked “What happened here?”

The man pointed toward the smoking boots. “He esploded.” Was that a stump of bone sticking out of the boot?

People don't just explode. Jonas said the only thing his incredulity would let cross the threshold of his lips. “What!?!”

“Insides went kablooey”

“How's that possible?”

The man shrugged. “Mahhjeeck.”

Magic? This was almost more ludicrous than a man exploding. “Bull.”

“Fahhne, don't beleeeve.” The man began to twirl a golden coin over his fingers. Where had that come from?

Jonas took a step forward. “What really happened?”

“Ahhh told ya.” the man replied. The coin vanished.

“But...”

“Quiet now.” The man bent down, and sitting back on his heels began to fiddle with some silver trinket tied to the left boot.

Jonas worked his mouth up and down for a few seconds before anything more came out. “People don't just...” This was really more than he could handle.

“Ahhh said SHUSH!”

“All this blood...”

The man removed a yellow feather from his belt and pointed it at Jonas. “Rrrrrrect torrrra parrricio!” his voice boomed out, as if he were yelling into a megaphone.

A wave of cold engulfed Jonas as he felt his arms and legs go rigid. “Mmmm! Mmm mmm!” His mouth wouldn't open either, like his head was clamped in a vise. He couldn't even move his eyes.

The man walked around some more, pulling a ring of keys out that had embedded themselves into the side of a crate. After a little more exploration of the room he crossed his arms and gave a nod, then walked to a door that led outside, which was hanging on it's top hinge. He pointed another feather, white this time, at the blood on the floor, lips showing the barest of movements, and then his footsteps were no longer evident across the floor.

The man glanced at Jonas with one pale blue eye that twinkled beneath the brim of his hat. “Good-bai now.” he said, tipping his hat in Jonas' direction and flashing a smile, before he slipped out the door into the night. It was at least another five minutes until Jonas could move again, and he promptly fell to his rear. He didn't even care that blood was soaking into his pressed black slacks. He still couldn't wrap his head around what had happened. And that's where he was found the next morning, still staring at a door that swung with the breeze on a broken hinge.

And here is Option #2

“He has entered.” Joan said, boots clicking on stone as she passed through a door which vanished as soon as she was through.

“I would hope that was him entering. I would hate to see my champion carve up an innocent dreamer that happened to wander into our little testing grounds.” replied Kain.

Elder Tobin couldn't help but be amazed by the two before him. Both so powerful and excellent seekers of champions for the defense of the astral realms, both vastly different in styles and temperaments. Kain was leaning against a pillar by the rail, arms crossed over his chest. His long black trench coat hid all but the barest tips of feathers poking out behind his leather boots. Silver armor would have gleamed around his crossed arms had he moved forward into the torchlight. A smug smile of supreme confidence wound it's way above his square chin, his eyes hidden beneath thick eyebrows.

“We shall see whose champion will be leading our defense against the demonic hoards, and which will be the one carved up, as you so eloquently put it.” Joan replied. She was such a contrast to him covered from head to toe in her plate mail. Her armor shone with a brilliance few could match, and every piece was trimmed with a thin edging of gold. Thick brown braids hung out of her helmet half a foot. Her shining figure was enhanced still further by the wings she kept folded behind her, chalk white with a few teal and gold feathers spotting the regal canvas that followed her.

Kain snarled, but didn't respond right away. Tobin was almost beginning to hope that Kain had learned some measure of self control, but those hopes were dashed as he said “Come watch Joan, watch while my champion shows the breadth of her talent, and be amazed that she's only just scratched the surface of what she's capable of. She'll easily live twice as long as that last champion of yours. You know, the one that decided to invade that nest of Kalis?”

“I admit he was a little overeager in his approach to demon hunting.” So she still let's him get under her skin. If she would just ignore his barbs, we might be able to let Hartha step down from the council, with her in his place. Maybe she'll grow above it in a century or two more. Joan continued, “He at least set the Kali matriarchs into a state that had them withdraw from the rest of the demonic forces for a good couple of decades. I hear scouts that say the Kalis still don't venture too far out from their lairs because of his siege on them.”

Kain opened his mouth to continue the attack on her former champions, of whom there were many, when a clang of colliding steel rang out from far below. The Champions elect had found each other. Tobin moved to the rail to watch, with Joan following. She stayed on his right, keeping him between her and Kain.

“See how she is able to fend off your oaf?” said Kain as the woman below kicked the bigger man off of her. “Size isn't everything Joan.”

“Quite true. Anthony is more of the speed type than brawn, though he does have ample muscle to put to use.”

“Does he really expect to fight close range with an attack like that? Why, he's just spinning around like a buffoon!”

“And he's having success in making your champion back off. He knows not to use that move except when he's fighting multiple foes, or wants his opponent to back off. Here comes the knives.”

Leather creaked as Kain's knuckles paled around the hilt of his sword. Tobin glanced out of the corner of his eye at Joan, but she was either watching the fight below too closely or just pretended not to notice. Good girl, he thought, before returning his attention to the action below.

“Laura is such a fast little target that your man can't hit her. And she's been training to throw weapons too. Watch, as she returns your chosen's toys to him.”

“Watch them yourself Kain. She has to remove the knives from the wall and floor to throw them. Watch as Anthony pulls the blades right out of the air and throws them back at her.”

Leather creaked from Tobin's left again, but he didn't let the smile he felt tugging at the corners of his mouth show. It would not be proper to let them see his amusement, not at this time.

But now Joan's smile faded from her face, replaced by puzzlement. “Why is he catching them only to drop them on the ground?”

“Ha! Did I not tell you Joan? Laura has an affinity for the fire element. I assume she's heating the knives before she throws them now. A little too hot for your man to handle?”

“At least he... did you feel that?” Tobin had, though he didn't answer.

“Feel what?” asked Kain, sneering at Joan. The disturbance happened again. “Oh, that. Do you think...?”

“Yes.” answered Tobin. “Demons have found the barrier.”

“Elder, by your leave, I'll go take care of them.” said Joan, bowing before Tobin with an eager smile.

“No, there is too many of them for you alone. Or you Kain, so keep your tongue still. By the time they break through the barrier, I'll have the answers I sought about your champions. When they breach, I give you leave to descend to the testing rooms and lead your champions out the side doors. But not a moment before. Now no more bickering while I observe.”

Kain threw off his coat, stretching his wings out behind him. They were all business now, each with a boot planted on the railing so they might swoop down faster than the other, once they were giving the signal. Instruments of death against unholy nightmares, just waiting to be set loose.