A New Beginning

Lyra just settled into her small new house down by a lake in Croatia. It was perfect for her. Very expensive but perfect. It was in the middle of nowhere. A few miles east were a huge historic building. She has been told it was owned by some private company but that they kept to themselves. Lyras estate agent only told her about them because he was contractually obligated to do so. Also, they were the closest people around in case of an emergency so it might be good to know that people were around.
She opened a bottle of wine and a good book. For the first time in forever she couldn't hear traffic outside her window or people shouting in the streets. It was peaceful and she loved it. She sipped from her wine and read through the pages.
At the moment reading a good book was the second-best thing in her life. The only better thing was to sit down and write a book herself but she wouldn't get to that before she finished her currant read. Even though that her publisher Anny was texting her daily to not forget to write the third book of her series. Lyra knew she only meant well, and she really wanted to get back into that story but not right now. Right now, she needed to get her head straight. She just broke up with her fiancé and it wasn't a nice breakup. Things got ugly towards the end. Words were said and punches were thrown on both sides. Lyra never thought that he would lay even a finger on her but then he hit her square against the head. While she lay on the cold floor fighting for consciousness, she knew it was over for good. She didn't know why she even kept up with him for so long, at least that was what she kept telling herself. The truth was that she loved him, deeply. She loved him so much that she needed to leave the country. She searched through all kind of websites to find a place and fell in love with that little cottage in Croatia. Her friends told her it was irrational to pack up her life and just leave but she felt that this was what she needed. And for once she listened to herself. It is not that Lyra is planning on staying in Croatia for forever, but a few moments of silence couldn't hurt.

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Three weeks later she was sitting at her desk in the living room. She had music in her ears and stared at a page that read Chapter Ten but was otherwise empty. She was humming along with the music but couldn't really think of much to write.

Frustrated she stood up and made herself another coffee, her fifth and she was only up for two hours. This was going to be a long day.
She loved writing but sometimes it was just very infuriating. Her main character kept talking back to her. Questioning every decision and basically telling her what a stupid idea it was to do things she wanted her to do. And her main character wasn't the only one. Lyra kept writing their death scenes which mostly shut them up and she could continue with their storyline. This book was different though. She had a hard time writing anything really. It was the last book of her series, and she knew she had to say goodbye to one or two big characters. Surely it was her book, and she could have everyone survive but, in the end, she hated books that gave over all happy endings. It wasn't normal for everyone to defeat the greater evil and survive in the end. Sacrifices needed to be made. Killing someone of she created, cared for, and made them stumble through a fictional fantasy disaster was a difficult decision.

"Oh for fucks sake", she almost screamed out loud when she erased yet another few perfect sentences. "Why is it so hard to kill you", frustrated she stares at her hands. The music in her ear quiets down when she hears a male voice.
"For starters we don't even know each other yet, sunshine".
She jumps off her chair and knocks over her coffee while she takes a few steps back into her living room.
"I am sorry", the man says and raises his hands to show her he was no threat. "I didn't mean to startle you", he adds. "I am Lloyd", he reaches out a hand which she ignores.
"What are you doing in my house?", she asks.
"Oh em... I wanted to introduce myself", he lets his hand sink. "I tried the doorbell, but no one answered. I looked around the back and saw that a door was open. I heard you swear and thought I introduce myself".
Lyra looks at him still not sure what to make of this.
"Okay I can see how that seems weird. I am really sorry. I live up at the old mansion and we were informed that someone bought the house down the lake. I thought I welcome you to the neighbourhood", he smiles at you sympathetically. "Again. I am Lloyd. Lloyd Hansen. I own a private security company. We are sat up in the mansion".
She makes a step forward and shake his hand. "I am Lyra", she says. He keeps a hold of her hand for a few seconds before he lets go. He has a firm grip. He takes out a card of his back pocket.and hands it to her.
"Here. It's my card. Has my name on it and everything. You can check me out later and see for yourself that I am not some weird psycho who runs around Croatia in the middle of nowhere", he chuckles lightly.
"I am sorry", she apologises and puts the card down on her desk. "I just didn't expect anybody to come around and say Hello".
He casually leans against the doorframe while Lyra cleans up the spilled coffee.
"Can I offer you a coffee or Tea?", she asks not looking at him.
"A coffee sounds good. Does this mean I am deemed trustworthy?", he adds.
"Not sure about that yet. But I guess if you wanted to kill me, I would be dead already. No need for small talk, right?", she looks at him while the water starts boiling.
"I mean maybe I like to get to know my victims before I slowly and painfully kill them, who knows?"
She eyes him up and down.
"What?", he wants to know.
"Oh I don't know you don't seem to fit the description of a serial killer. You dress to well", he cocks his head and smirks.
"True. I wouldn't want my fancy clothing to get all bloodied up. And in all fairness, I should be more concerned about you killing me", he says while Lyra pours the hot water in the mugs for the coffee.
"Why's that?", she wants to know.
"Why is it so hard to kill you?", he repeats what she said a few minutes ago.
"Oh this. Yeah. I was talking to one of my book characters. He is giving me a hard time over killing him off. It's a problem of how he wants to go out rather then when, since that is inevitable".
"You are a writer then?", he asks while she hands him the coffee.
"I try to be", she replies.
"Have you published anything?"
"I have, yes".
"Anything I might know?"
"Unless you are in young adult Fantasy, I fairly doubt that", she huffs a laugh.
"I can't say that I am. But I am always open for new things", he takes a sip from the coffee and eyes her up and down over the rim of the mug. She doesn't doubt him.
"So...Privet security", she says changing the subject. She doesn't like talking about herself. "How does one end up in that business."
"I've been asking myself that question for a few years now. I think in the end it just happened."
"You've been in the military?" she asks. "I mean you don't just become the head of your own security company", she adds.
"I haven't been in the military no. I worked for the police for a few month and then joined the FBI. But the private sector really is where I started to thrive", he says. "I mean I can pick my work and do what I really want to do".
"And what is that?", she wants to know.
"You sure ask a lot of questions Lyra", he answers and takes another sip of his coffee.
"Oh I am sorry. I just haven't really talked to anybody the last few weeks. I mean I got that house to have some privacy but just talking to myself and the tv is getting boring at some point."
"Don't forget your characters", he chimes in.
"Right", she says and blushes lightly embarrassed.
For a moment neither of them is saying a word until his phone buzzes.
"Sorry I need to check this", he says unlocking the screen and checking a message. "Ah I am sorry but I need to get back to the mansion. Something interesting just popped up and I need to take care of that".
"That's fine", she says slightly upset that he must leave so abruptly. She slaps herself internally for that thought because she barley knows the guy. In the end he still could be some crazy psycho.
He puts down the coffee mug at the counter and starts to leave.
"I am looking forward to reading your book", he says over his shoulder.
"Good luck finding it", she replies. "You don't even know my last name".
"Oh Sunshine. I love a challenge", he turns around to look at her.
"I don't even publish under my real name", she say without thinking.
"Even more challenging Miss Lyra", he stretches out her name. "I will see you around" he waves goodbye and goes to the front of the house with his hands in his pockets.
Lyra goes to her front window and watches him drive off towards the mansion, his mansion apparently.
"No", she says out loud. "I am here so I am not distracted by the real world. So I can focus on my book and to get Bradley out of my system. I don't need anyone. I am perfectly fine all by myself", at least that's what she thought. 

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