Round 8: Old style.

[Collin]

Other than the 24-hour deadline because people seem really busy lately. We have 10 words. One (1) point per word used in the story. No theme. No limit to the number of stories you can post. Just remember to put your initials and story number at the beginning (ex: DK1, JS3, TW310). The deadline for stories will be late night Sunday.

The words are:

01. candle
02. chime
03. clink
04. dribble
05. leather
06. rumble
07. rubber
08. smile
09. tickle
10. wish

Have fun with it. Be creative.

[Tricia]

Nice Words Jenn!
Aaarrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh ;D

[jenn]

I didn't pick them Tricia! I told Collin that I didn't have time to pick them, so out of his great love for me he picked them! Asshole I think he set me up!

[Tricia]

He had leather and rubber on his mind!
He must have seen Catwoman!

[Collin]

Tricia: No, I have not seen Catwoman. I even try to avoid previews for that one. Now hush up and write a story.

Jenn: You really shouldn't call Tricia an "asshole". She might take offense. Now write a story!

[Heather]

Interesting words there, Collin. What was on your mind, huh?

[Tricia]

At least he didn't write

*somebody
*pantsed
*me

;D

[jenn]

had to be bondage Collin I alway knew you were a naughty boy!

[Tricia]

I think he's getting worse!

Give him a little time off and a few beers and he turns into a psycho, karaoke, bondage freak!

Heather!
You bad influence!

[jenn]

JS1
Tiffany felt the chill surround her, and shivered as she moved from her chair to close the shutters. The scented candle flickered in the breeze from the open window, and she heard the distant rumble of thunder. The storm would soon be beating down her little world, and she hoped that the generator would hold out this time. She hated being without power, especially way out in the boonies. She still did not know why she had let Joe talk her into moving to the country in the first place. Tiffany much preferred the noise of the city. Joe was gone now, and all she had left was the house and the memories. Memories she could do without, after the cheating bastard left her for that young firm breasted bitch. A woman scorned ends up with a house in the middle of nowhere that she really does not want.

Tiffany heard a CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, as she reached the window. She jumped back with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She hated how easily everything seemed to spook her these days. It seemed as if someone was watching her every move. She took a deep breath, and peeked out the curtain, fully expecting something to snatch her out the open window; she was relieved to find it was just the wind chime hitting the side of the old house. She jerked the window closed as quickly as she could, and scurried back to her chair.

Tiffany stared in wonder at theleather bound book with the rubber band wrapped around it, sitting in the very spot she had been seconds before. She could taste the fear as it bubbled up in her throat. She looked around the room, listening for the sound of footsteps, but she only heard the dribble of rain starting to fall outside. She wished she could run for the door, but something pulled her toward the book. She timidly reached for it, not sure what was drawing her to pick it up, but she did. The book looked ancient, but the leather was soft against her hands, and smelled new. She carefully removed the rubber band as she sat down half-frightened half excited to expose the pages within. She opened the pages and a slight breeze tickled the back of her neck. She slammed the cover closed again, looked around, and let out a deep breath. She thought it must have been her imagination playing tricks with her again.

Tiffany relaxed, and decided to quit letting her thoughts run wild. She placed her hand on the soft leather binding; she grasped it tightly and pulled it back. Her head began to spin, and she felt faint. She fought to get her wits about her, but she was swimming in a daze as she passed out against the side of the chair.

“Darling?” she kept hearing over in her mind, but she could not place the voice.
She gradually opened her eyes, and saw the man kneeling before her with a SMILE on his lips, and the queasy dizziness returned.

“I have been waiting for you.” He said.
“Who, who are you?” She stammered.

Tiffany did not know where this handsome man had come for, or why he was there, but she was no longer frightened. There was a peace, a feeling of security. She felt like she had known him all her life.

[Smalls]

DS1

Standing with my toes dangling over the cliff.
Here I am free.
The gentle zephyr rustling my hair.
As I stand here, with a single wish
That I could fly.
Beads of sweat dribble off my nose
The journey to get here
A life time of searching
Finally to find this one place.
This one place where life is all around me
This place where a single candle illuminates the world
The sacrifices to get here
The regrets
The mistakes
The wasted life
Now it all makes sense
I am free of the leather straps
Holding me back
The clink of chains around my ankles softens
Here I am free
Here I wish I could fly.
Leave it all behind
The synthetic world below
Sick of the stale rubber taste
Of a lifeless existence.
Fly away
To where the chainsaws sing a song of chime
Fly away to where every hello is said with a smile.
Where the rumble of city streets is replaced with the roar of waterfalls
Where pain is no more then the grass tickling your feet
Every time I try to fly.
Feet leaving the solid rock below
Soaring above the clear blue warm waters below
But my wings are broken
Falling
Piercing through the blue shell
As the Caribbean waters turn to artic ice.
As the lucid Dream awakens to my life.
Passing the hours away until I once again come to my cliff
Wasting a life awake until my real life awakens in my dreams.

[jenn]

JS2
The tiny room smelled strongly of oil and leather; a single candle supplied the only light in the dark little space. Lane smiled as the soft breath tickled the back of his neck, and he felt her velvety hair, brush against him. He reached for the bottle of oil; he dribbled it all over and began to message it in. Working it into every crease and crack until there was nothing left but shine. His hands lingered over his work stroking back and forth, he wanted it to be perfect when he mounted her. The pleasure they took from the ride was mutual, you could see it in her eyes. She loved every second he spent with her. He pampered her and spoiled her, but mostly he loved her, and she him. He nuzzled up to her and spoke softly as she leaned into him. He wished he could stay here forever.

CLINK, CLANG, CLINK, CLANG CLINK.

Lane heard the rumble from his stomach and knew that was the breakfast bell chiming.

“Ma has breakfast ready Baby, you know I can’t be late for breakfast.”<br>
She stamped her foot in protest and looked at him with those big brown eyes, as he put the rubbers over his boots so he would not track mud into the house.

“Soon, Baby I will be back soon, and the saddle will be dry, and then we will go. I promise.” He told the mare as he closed the stable door and headed off for breakfast.

[JayJay]

JJ1

All of the words are here, but I didn't want to detract from the story by emphasizing them. They appear in the following order:
1. rumble
2. candle
3. leather
4. clink
5. rubber
6. wish
7. tickle
8. smile
9. chime
10. dribble

The near silence was welcome, especially after the hectic day. Misty ignored the rumble of voices down the hall as she quietly slipped her legs over the side of the hospital bed. A nightlight no brighter than a candle illuminated the room in a rich, honey warmth. Ben was asleep in the chair, his glasses safely on the table, leather loafers neatly placed on the floor beside him. The side rail lowered with a soft clink, not enough to disturb either of them.

The cold floor seeped through the rubber soles of her slippers as she eased across the room. He was beautiful, her new son, and she’d wished desperately all day to hold him. She lifted him in her arms, lightly tickling his cheek just enough to rouse a smile from him beneath closed lids. His scent, his scant weight, the softness of his skin, the comforting warmth of his tiny, bundled body, were all breathtaking in combination. How long had she waited to see his sweet little lashes and touch his quivering chin?

As he slept his tiny lungs filled with her scent, a mixture of fatigue, excitement, and lavender, she was sure. She reveled in the flawless chime of love and trust. Her son, nothing more than a dribble of hope nine months ago, now slept soundly in her arms as she delivered him into the infancy of existence.

[Heather]

The moon moved behind a cloud, throwing dark shadows across the abandoned house. Michelle scooted a little closer to the CANDLES that were arranged on the floor in a half circle so she could see the spell book better. Time was of the essence; she only had until the old town clock CHIMED midnight to complete this. If it didn't work, she wouldn't be able to try again for thirteen years and she wasn't about to wait that long again. When she was 13, she had botched the job thanks to her lack of nerve but not tonight. No, she had the steady hand and the resolve to see this WISH through!

As she read through the spell in the tattered notebook, she double checked that she had everything she needed: Candles, check. Glass of water, check. Crushed rose petals combined with lavender, frangipani and sandalwood oils in a LEATHER pouch secured with a black RUBBER band, check.

The moon reappeared and Michelle SMILED. She knew this would work. She felt it in her soul. Taking the pouch in her hand, Michelle held it to her chest and clutched it as she repeated the incantation from the book. Was that the slight RUMBLE of thunder in the distance? She knew it was; that meant that there wasn't much time left. She undid the pouch and poured the contents into the glass of water, moving onto the second stanza of the spell. Her voice was crystal clear, not wavering on any of the ancient words.

Michelle titled the glass to her lips and drank swiftly, being careful not to DRIBBLE a single drop. The rose petals TICKLED her throat slightly as they went down but that didn't distract her. She was on a mission and it was almost done. She placed the glass back on the floor, letting in CLINK softly. She then pulled herself to her knees as the thunder & lightning moved closer, using her thumb & forefinger to snuff out the candles. By the time they were all out she didn't miss their glow; the lightning was bright enough to illuminate the house.

Michelle stood and walked into the yard, opening her arms to the heavens. "So mote it be," she cried as a bolt of lightning struck in front of her. The world she knew disappeared and was replaced by the place she had been dreaming of for thirteen years: Crystal Springs, Coven of Rhiannon. When Michelle's eyes focused, she saw she was surrounded by women in flowing dresses all wearing benevolent smiles.

"Welcome home, Michelle," they chorused. She breathed deeply. It had worked! She was home! Finally.

[Collin]

Okay, deadline extended until Monday night. Write a story Derek K.! And me too for that matter.