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February 2, 2012

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. . .by Kathy Ivan


We've had a lot of author interview posts and getting to know a bunch of new people lately, plus lots of blogs about writing and craft; so I thought we'd try something a little bit different and kind of fun today.

We're going to do what's called Round Robin writing. It's fun, quick and easy and everybody gets to participate. The rules are fairly simple and I'm listing them here.

1. Read the scene below—it's very short.

2. In the comments section, leave a comment continuing the scene in your own way. Please only write a maximum of 3 lines in your comment.

3. The next person should read the scene below and the comments. Then starting with the last comment posted, they CONTINUE THE SCENE, again writing no more than a maximum of 3 lines in their comment.


4. Each person who visits the blog continues the scene, writing their 1 to 3 line comment, advancing the story. You can take the story in any direction you want with your comments, but remember, you are trying to advance the story that is being written (not start something new). You can add in a paranormal element, a sci-fi element, a steampunk element, whatever you'd like.

5. PLEASE and I can't stress this enough, PLEASE KEEP YOUR SCENE PG RATED. No explicit sex scenes for this round robin.

6. Feel free to come back as many times throughout the day as you would like, adding additional posts and continuing the scene/story.

We'll combine all the comments into one complete story and post it to the blog so everybody can read it in its entirety. Everybody is invited to participate. Whether you are a reader or a writer, feel free to leave a comment. We all have vivid imaginations; let's see where they take us.

SCENE:

The car sped along the deserted stretch of highway its high beams cutting through the thick blanket of fog swirling before her. The roadway was deserted as the blackness of midnight beckoned her. Her fingernails dug crescent-shaped gouges into the leather steering wheel, her hands clammy with sweat as a chill of fear slid along her spine.

71 comments:

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

"I can't believe I did that." She slid her hand up her face and into her hair, yanking off the wedding veil. "What was I thinking?"

Liz said...

The radio blasted out the latest techno beat, which she hardly heard, but nearly hid the trill of her phone--nearly. She glanced at it, noting the name on the screen. "Oh hell no," she declared into the empty space after letting the night take the device the flung from her window.

Kathy Ivan said...

"What have I done?"

She reached up to brush away the lone tear trailing down her cheek. Her mind raced back to the debacle she'd just run from as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

Kathy Ivan said...

"How could he keep this from me" she whispered as she stared into the gathering fog. "I love him more than life itself, and he kept the most important thing about him, about our relationship, a secret." She pounded her fist against the steering wheel, fliching at the pain and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Damn him!"

Janie Emaus said...

Now she had to make a choice. Keep on driving or turn back and face him.
It only took a few seconds and she knew exactly what to do.

Patricia said...

She had to know the truth behind his hiding something so important, and he knew she'd dreamed of having at least three kids. How was she supposed to do that now? Of course there was always adoption, but she'd dreamed of cuddling an infant with jet black hair, just like his.

Angela Hicks said...

The car swerved across the blacktop as she leaned over the console, and jerked open the glove compartment. Her hand searched through the jumble of papers. She had recently stuffed two new items into the small space--a package of fun size Snickers, and a matte black 9 millimeter handgun.

Unknown said...

She was startled by the loud sounding of a siren. Her gaze shot to the rear view mirror and there he was. The brother of the man she'd made the decision to say "I don't" to. The local chief of police who had been way too sexy for her piece of mind. Releasing the cold metal, she shut the compartment and pulled over.

Kathy Ivan said...

Wow, people, these are amazing! Keep
'em coming and come back as often as you like to add more.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

He got out of his squad car and strode with purpose toward her. Deedee's heart seized. God, he was a sight for sore eyes.

Liese Sherwood-Fabre said...

"Jeremy," she said as he approached the opened driver's window.
He glanced up the highway and then squinted at her. "It's dangerous--the way you were speeding. I should take you in--"
"Go ahead. And while you're at it, arrest that low-down lying brother of yours."
"Maybe that's what I ought to do--put both you and Austin in a cell together until you work this out."

Kathy Ivan said...

"Work this out? How do it work out the fact that my lying, low-down, good-for-nothing ex-fiance has a mistress, two children and a vasectomy?"

Kathy Ivan said...

Opps, that should be How do I work . . .

Angela Hicks said...

With a soft click, the glove compartment door popped open spilling half the contents on the floor board.
Frantically, Deedee shoved everything under the passenger seat before turning back and meeting Jeremy's dark gaze. Had he seen the gun?

Unknown said...

Tears turned Deedees into saphire crystals. "Did you know, Jeremy?" Hurt that he could be involved in his brother's deception splintered her heart.
"Children?" Jeremy's dark brows jerked together.
Could he have not known? She stared hard at the sharp angles of his face. So very much like his brother and yet... Why hadn't she noticed the strength in his jaw? For the first time Deedee noticed the distinct difference from Brad's weaker features.

Sylvia said...

"I need you to step out of the car, DeeDee," he said softly.
"Why?"
"So I can read you your rights," he said gazing at her like he didn't know who she was. "Brad's dead."

Unknown said...

*clapping from the sidelines* hehe

Phyllis said...

"What?!" Deedee stammered. "How..when?"
"Shot and we found him after you ran." Jeremy said, pulling open the car door to grab her arm.
"Oh, God, but I didn't do it!" Deedee screamed, putting the car in gear and taking off, leaving Jeremy falling to the ground in the process.

Phyllis said...

Deedee caught the emergency lights in her rear view mirror getting closer. Jeremy had to have seen the gun. Why else would he think she killed Brad, other than she was so angry that she threatened to kill him?

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Patsy sat in the sheriff's office, fuming and scared. When the front door opened, the sound of scuffling and "right thru here," caught her ear. She turned her head and began screaming, "There she is, the woman who killed...my beloved."

Kathy Ivan said...

Jeremy wondered just how much worse the night could get. His brother was dead--murdered on the night of his botched wedding. Now he was leading the woman he loved, had always loved, into the police station in handcuffs about to be charged with murder.

Kathy Ivan said...

"Put a sock in it, Patsy." Jeremy stalked past her, leading DeeDee toward the solitary interrogation room. "I don't have time to deal with your crap right now."

Phyllis said...

Jeremy sat her down on one of the two chairs in the dimly lit interrogation room. Her wedding dress draping over the sides. He drew in a deep breath to hide his true feelings.

Phyllis said...

When he first saw her in the wedding dress, his breath escape for a different reason. It should have been him standing at the alter. If she'd said yes to him this would have been their wedding night and his brother would still be alive.

Unknown said...

The voice in Patsy's head screamed "Liar!" She silenced it with a shake of her head and the more calming assurance invaded. DeeDee has to take the fall for Brad's death. She has to remove all suspicion from herself. Her children deserved to be the only heir to Brad's estate. She couldn't afford for Brad to go after DeeDee and somehow convince her to marry him. "Murderer" the voice whined again. Patsy began rocking back and forth.

Angela Hicks said...

Jeremy rubbed the spot over his right eye where a massive headache pounded. At least he was the only who'd seen the 9 millimeter in Deedee's car. The gun was safely hidden in the trunk of his cruiser, for now. Would he lose his career to save the woman he loved?

Angela Hicks said...

oops

the only *one*

Phyllis said...

The deputy stuck his head inside the interrogation room. “Hey Sheriff, we’ve got a real problem out here.” Jeremy stepped out to see several of his officers holding a screaming Patsy between them.
“She has to die!” The wild-eyed woman yelled.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

With a sigh, he blocked the urge to say, "Your turn first," but didn't. As the newest deputy, it wouldn't be professional.

Professional? Who was he kidding? If they only knew.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

oops, omit but didn't.

Sasha Summers said...

OMG ya'll this is awesome! I'm too caught up in the story to comment - so keep writing!!!!!!!! PLEASE... What happens to DeeDee and Jeremy?

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

oops, not deputy, but chief. please change for me.

Kathy Ivan said...

Everybody is saying they are having so much fun with this, I've decided to leave the comments open until Midnight Friday night. Over the weekend I'll compile everything into one post and put in on the blog so you can read it in its entirety

In the meantime, keep the story going, it's GREAT!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

"Water?" A her nod, he passed a cup at the same time her arm flew in the air to swat at the station's pet fly, knocking the cup skyward and its contents on his face.

"Thanks," he slid a sleeve across his mouth. "I needed that."

Kathy Ivan said...

Jeremy stared into DeeDee's blue eyes, desperately wanting to see her innocence reflecting back at it. All he saw was fear and guilt. Could he be wrong, he wondered.

"Tell me the truth, Dee? Did you shoot Brad?"

Kathy Ivan said...

Before she could open her mouth, the door to the interrogation room flung open, slamming up against the cinderblock wall.

DeeDee's brother, Ron, stormed into the room. "Not a word, Dee. Don't tell him a damn thing. Your lawyer's on his way."

Unknown said...

DeeDee stared, mesmerized at the moisture clinging to Jeremy's firm yet sensual lower lip. Her own watered at the butterfly sensation fluttering in her stomach. How could she be thinking of him like that at a time such as this. His brother was dead...and he believed she'd killed him.

Unknown said...

Given Kathy's post, add this in front of mine:

Confused at Jeremy's question and the appearance of her brother,

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

I just red deedee and die laughing.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

I mean read

I think I need a new keyboard. lol

Sylvia said...

"But I'm innocent. The rat bastard deserved to die, but I didn't do him in. If I'd killed him, you would have found him hanging by his balls. A bullet wound was way to quick. He needed to suffer."
"Shut up," her brother warned her.
"He was my brother," he said softly.
"No, he wasn't. He was your half brother."

Angela Hicks said...

One of Jeremy's dupities limped into the interrogation room with four bloody scratches gouged into his cheek.
"Hey, Chief," Deputy Mike paused, dabbing a coffee stained napkin to the ugly gashes. "This woman out here is nuts! Do you still have that extra First Aid kit in the trunk of your cruiser?"

Unknown said...

The room tilted as an overwhelming lightheadedness assailed DeeDee. It was just too much. First, finding out about Brad's other life, then running out on her own wedding. Hearing about Brad's murder and realizing she was being accused of doing the deed pushed her to the ultimate response. The blackness began in her peripheral vision and then she knew no more.

Angela Hicks said...

Jeremy lifted DeeDee into his arms when she fainted. He held her soft body against his chest, relishing her sweet scent.
Thinking fast he turned to the deputy. "Sorry, Mike. I dropped the First Aid kit at home. You'll have to get a band-aid from somewhere else."
No one else could know about DeeDee's gun.

Karilyn Bentley said...

Jeremy walked out of the interrogation room with DeeDee clutched to his chest, searching for a couch to lay her on. A screech rent the air as a heavy body struck him in the side. "Murderer!" Patsy screamed, her claws reached toward DeeDee.

Phyllis said...

Patsy grabbed handfuls of wedding dress and blond hair. Jeremy tried to avert the cat fight by swerving DeeDee away. He only assisted in the tearing of the dress bodice.

Angela Hicks said...

This is so much fun!
It's really cool to see where the story is going and how people's minds work.

Oh, and I finally added my last name. No more incognito!

Barbara Ehrentreu said...

DeeDee woke up at the same moment the crazed Patsy tried to land another blow to her chest. Dazed and dizzy she clung to Jeremy as he wove between the desks and the downed chairs toward the outside.

As Patsy kept yelling "Murderer" DeeDee unable to move in the voluminous skirt prayed they would get to the truck and leave all this behind.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Angela, glad you have your whole name, but what about a photo?

Alisha said...

In the blink of an eye, the giant west bullet proof window shattered, splintering until it rained down in one whoosh of air as an enormous black wolf leapt through, knocking Patsy down and DeeDee out of Jeremy's arms. In a flash of fur and crunch of bones, the wolf was a man, wide chest heaving, lying atop Patsy, grasping her long train to cover up his bare bottom. Blood oozed from his shoulder, dripping onto her wedding gown. "Brad!"

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Somehow, Jeremy managed to block Patsy from doing further damage on anyone, only to see her trip on the lacy train to her dress and land on her ass. The gown billowed like poofy meringue around her.

He moved on to his office, and set DeeDee--God, he hated that name. Why doesn't everyone call her Diane?--on the brown leather sofa.

Alisha said...

Obviously Jeremy was either blinded by love or insane when he scooped DeeDee out from under a snarling wolf who then turned into his naked brother! "Get your pants on, dude! The full moon is a week away!"

Phyllis said...

DeeDee's expression looked wild and confused as she stared at Jeremy.
"Did I just see what I thought I saw? Was that Brad in some sort of animal skin?"

Unknown said...

"Oh my Goodness," DeeDee exclaims. "Patsy had Brad's puppies."

Phyllis said...

Jeremy and DeeDee heard someone outside scream "Werewolf!"
"That's just more damn thing Brad 'forgot' mention" DeeDee said, then faced Jeremy . "If he's one then you..you"

mamabear said...

"you must be too!" she exclaimed.
"No...no" Jeremy stammered "that gene comes from his fathers side!" Brad laughed an evil laugh. "Correct, Jeremy! But you my brother, you got the vampire gene!"

Kathy Ivan said...

Jeremy ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated growl passing through his lips.

"Quiet!"

All the voices silenced and he glanced around the station house noting all eyes on him, including his deputies and other officers, before he continued, "No, Patsy did not have Brad's puppies, she had babies; yes, Brad is a werewolf . . . and yes, I'm a vampire."

Kathy Ivan said...

He watched DeeDee's bottom lip quiver. "You said Brad was shot. That he was dead!" She stomped her foot. "Why isn't he dead, dammit?"

Unknown said...

DeeDee casts a sheepish look at Jeremy. "No offense."

Jeremy raises a dark brow. "Technically, I'm undead."

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

You girls rock!

Kathy Ivan said...

DeeDee humpfed before continuing. "Not you, although we'll definitely be talking about that. I mean Brad, the jerk."

Jeremy, shrugged. "Whoever shot him didn't use silver bullets."

Unknown said...

Deputy Ken slipped silently behind DeeDee's car and around to the passenger door. He quietly opened it. He'd spotted the gun earlier searching for that damned band aid. He was gonna have a talk with Patsy later about overdoing the violence thing.

With a quick glance around he made sure no one was watching before exchanging the bullets with the silver ones in his pocket.

Now all that was needed was opportunity and distraction.

He quickly skirted away.

Kathy Ivan said...

Patsy took a deep breath, staring at the bars in front of her. They really shouldn't have locked her in the holding cell. Bad things were about to happen, and she didn't want to miss the fun.

Phyllis said...

"Well, obviously Brad's NOT dead, so you have no grounds to hold me here...not even you,Jeremy. I could never love a--vampire!". DeeDee declared to Jeremy, hiking up her heavy skirt to leave.

Kathy Ivan said...

Between one second and the next, Ron pulled a gun from inside his jacket waving it around wildly.

"Nobody's going anywhere. I shot Brad once, and I'll do it again--Jeremy, too! You're all going to die!

Phyllis said...

"Oh, hell." Several people said.

Unknown said...

Deputy Mike/Ken/Ron (a schizophrenic)looked wildly around at Patsy clapping her hands.

"Why are you so happy? You lied and now you're going to die to. Too bad you made me guardian of your kids should anything happen to you. In fact, I think you're the first one who should die, you greedy wench."

Deputy Mike/Ken/Ron raised the gun and pointed it at Patsy who was now backing up and screaming against the cold wall of her cell.

Phyllis said...

A snarling growl sounded behind the triple id'd deputy. Brad had assumed his werewolfe shape and was closing in. Jeremy moved around to the other side, countering his brother's stance.
"You can't get us all. " Jeremy said, leveling his gun at his deputy.

Kathy Ivan said...

(FYI--Ron is DeeDee's brother.)

"You don't understand!", Ron screamed, pointing the gun at Brad's advancing hairy form.

"You took everything--you stole Patsy from me and treated her like dirt; seduced my sister away from your own half-brother--who she loves, and for what? To win some lousy bet with your bar buddies!"

Phyllis said...

"OMG! This is all too involved. I wouldn't have believe this story line on the soap The Young and The Restless much less I'm involved!" DeeDee whirled, her hands to her head. She stomped over to face Ron and reached out her hand. "Give me that damn gun!"

Unknown said...

Lol whoops. Couldn't find his name. Guess that's a good choice to be the killer as I'd never see it coming.