Sunday Snippet: Wandering Soul

I sometimes wonderif time is speeding up. The week flew by. Then again, I have multiple work projectsgoing right now and they're all at different stages.

Had a decent weekof television viewing. Not quite as heavy as last week but I got through a fullround of my current shows.

Actually startedand ended the week with Classic Rugrats. I'm currently watching season fiveand it's weirdly missing Susie Carmichael. Maybe there's more of her in thelater episodes.

Finished up the secondseason of Madame Blanc Mysteries. Ended up fairly pleased with theresolution of Jean's stalker. Very glad and hopeful we don't have to see moreof her.

Caught anotherepisode of Cannes Confidential. I seriously love this show. The cast isamazing and the chemistry with all of them is terrific. I have a very sneakysuspicion one of the main characters is going to be a bad guy and I'm actually kindof here for that if it happens.

Watched anotherepisode of Peak Practice. I have two left in season nine and it's going tobe kind of heartbreaking because I know what's coming. Also, Andrew isseriously annoying right now and I'm not sure if he'll improve or not.

Continued myrewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Scar." This is anotherone of my favorite episodes even if, like "Black Market," there are somebig flaws with development for later episodes. One of the best conversations ofthe entire series is in this episode.

Finished up atwo-part Silent Witness. The culprit was indeed one of two characters Ithought it might be. Such a great episode.

Started season twoof Death in Paradise. Good opening episode with some familiar faces inthe guest stars. I love catching my favorite actors in other roles.

Enjoyed an episodeof Fantasy Island. So cool to kind of see how Elena assumed the role ofhost. I'm very curious about Ruby's mystery woman. I have a theory about herand I hope we get some answers before the end of the season.

Finished up seasontwo of Strangest Things. I'd be interested in more episodes, but I won'thold my breath. The combination of Discovery and HBO Max is the stupidest thingever and I'm honestly not sure I'll even continue trying to find shows I wantto watch.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Wandering Soul,a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's theminiblurb:

When unsettling dreams haunt Isobel Graff, she turns toan old friend to help her work through them. Garfield McCaskill has long buriedhis feelings for Isobel and when she seeks his assistance, he's thrilled …until he realizes the person she trusts the most—him—is part of the reasonshe's having the nocturnal visions.

And a preview snippet…

Isobel Graff let out amoan and tossed over onto her back. "Uggghhh. What's going on?" Herhead thrashed on the pillow and images swirled in her mind.

Music. Music came fromall angles. The chords dissonant and clashing against each other. She put herhands against her ears and closed her eyes, trying to keep the sound at bay.

When that action didn'thelp, she gave up and her eyes popped open. A figure lurked in the shadows, thesubtle shift of black, gray, and fuzzy whisps of white hiding facial features.

It's a man. Whycan't I see his face?

The orchestral sounddissipated, the strident crash and boom becoming muted. The inky fog whorledaround her encompassing everything … except the figure standing somewhere nearbut not close enough to touch.

Isobel tried anyway."Who are you?" She reached out, her hands fumbling in the cloudy vaporthat kept changing direction.

The figure turned, theheavy mist of gray swallowing him up. Isobel didn't understand the bereftsensation left behind when he disappeared into the darkness.

The music crescendoed,rising to a headache-inducing level. Isobel ran, stumbling over unseenobstacles, trying to escape. The smashing, thrashing cacophony followed and shesank to her knees, covering her head. Her mouth opened on a scream, anything todrown out the noise that wouldn't cease.

Her eyes snapped openand the harsh sound coming from deep inside her chest stopped. Blessed silenceenveloped her.

Lifting a shaky hand toher forehead, she blinked the remnants of the nightmarish dream away."What's going on with me?" She shuddered and glanced around.

The rose-red fingers ofthe breaking dawn peeked in through her window. Her sheets were twisted andflung aside. Her quilt hung over the edge of her bed. All evidence of thephysical cost of her reckless slumber.

Dragging the quilt upand around her, Isobel propped her pillows against the headboard. Leaning back,she tried to shuffle the vision into something that made sense. The jumble inher brain wouldn't settle, similar to the dance of shadows and the constant thrumand thunder of the music she'd heard.

Shaking her head, she rubbedher temples. "Even now, my ears are ringing…"

Unwilling to fall backasleep, she drew her knees up, resting her cheek on them while gazing out thewindow. "Nothing like being afraid of what my dreams might bring…" Shestayed there, an unsettled weight between her shoulders, until the sun roseover the horizon.

This story is verymuch in the beginning stages but I'm excited to see where it goes. I love writingIsobel.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye