~
"Alright kids, let's figure out how to make this story not sound like garbage," Amanda said while grabbing a pencil and notepad.
"Wouldn't it be easier to type it? I don't think transferring the hand written portion to a document will be worth your time," Elaine suggested while opening the living room window.
"Yeah, plus it's harder to edit and revise it if it's written down," chimed Morgan.
"Oh, you're probably right, force of habit I guess," Amanda explained. "So, what do we want to write about?"
The three girls sat and pondered the infinite possibilities. The late summer heat filled the small room. Morgan perked up, "How about something with dragons and knights and valiant heroes saving princesses?"
Amanda and Elaine looked at each other with contemplating looks. Elaine spoke, "Hmmm... there's potential, I'll admit. However, that's not really our forté for writing. We're more skilled with modern occurrences and nonfiction pieces Mo, but thanks for the suggestion."
Morgan huffed, "Wow thanks, no need to sugar coat your rejection." She crossed her arms around her stomach and pouted.
"Oh Morgan don't be so sensitive, we've all had ideas 10 times as terrible as that," Amanda said. She pulled her laptop from her bag and placed it in her lap. It hummed quietly when she turned it on. Elaine stood up and paced around the warm room.
"How about a story focused on a teenage girl who was involved in a horrific accident that leaves her blind. The rest of the story explains her struggles with having to learn how to live all over again."
Amanda and Morgan stared blankly at their friend.
"See Mo? Elaine gave us an example," Amanda giggled.
"Hey" Elaine said, "that's rude. I'm trying to work here and you're being disrespectful."
"Well I'm trying to make Morgan feel better. You crushed her hopes and dreams Elaine. Maybe you should be less of a stick-in-the-mud."
"Don't put me down for having a contribution to the task at hand," Elaine snapped.
A semi-awkward silence fell over the girls. Amanda tapped quietly on the keyboard while Elaine continued to pace around the room. Morgan sat on the carpet with her arms still around her waist. A slight breeze came in from the open window. Tension still hung thick in the air. Morgan shifted then rose to her feet.
"Sitting in silence is not going to get this story written guys."
Amanda looked up from her laptop. "Well good thing I've already started something."
"Wait you started and didn't say anything? What the heck dude?" Morgan bounced over to her friend and plopped onto the couch. Elaine followed close behind.
"So what have you written?" Elaine asked.
Amanda readjusted her glasses and continued to type. "It's not the best idea but I thought it was interesting" she said, "but we don't have to do it if you guys don't want to."
"Amanda tell us already," Morgan insisted.
"Alright, alright. So basically it's about a girl or group of girls writing a short story." Morgan and Elaine looked at each other.
"It's not ideal, but we can run with it I suppose," Elaine said.
Morgan squinted at the laptop screen. "How much have you written Amanda?"
"I've only got the basic outline mapped out. A girl has to write a short story for her Literature class. While we write about her thought processes and ideas, we end up completing our assignment."
Morgan scratched her head. "Now that I think about it, it might be too confusing. We haven't started yet and I'm already getting a headache."
Elaine chuckled, "It will be okay Mo. Amanda, what if we wrote a short story about this girl writing a short story about us writing a short story?"
Amanda giggled from behind the laptop. "Wouldn't that be considered a glitch in the matrix or something?"
Morgan groaned, "Agh my head hurts guys, that's too much."
"Okay okay, we won't do that. Do you have any simpler propositions then Morgan?" Amanda asked.
Morgan massaged her temples. "I wanted to do a fantasy adventure story but neither of you liked that idea." She shot up from the couch, "I'm going to get some water, be right back."
Amanda continued to type while Elaine sat pondering next to her. Time ticked by. Morgan didn't return.
"Shouldn't Morgan have been back by now? It's been around 20 minutes," Elaine said.
"Hm?"
"Morgan. She's not back. The kitchen is 15 feet away. Where did she go?"
Amanda looked up from her work. "She probably just went to the bathroom or something, she's fine."
Elaine huffed and sunk lower into the couch. She tapped her foot on the rough carpet. The clock behind her read 10 p.m., she abruptly stood up.
"I'm going to make sure Mo is alright," She said. Amanda was still glued to her laptop.
"Okay, but i'm telling you, Mo is probably in the bathroom."
Elaine walked into the empty kitchen. A glass of water remained on the granite countertop. Elaine picked up the glass and examined the rim. It seemed Morgan hadn't drank from it yet.
"Morgan?" She called. There was no reply. Elaine gently sat the glass down and made her way to the bathroom. The old white door was open, light cascading into the room. There was no one inside. Elaine continued to walk about the house, searching for her friend. She returned to the living room without Morgan. Amanda looked up from her computer, face pale.
"Elaine, come here and read this," she said, her voice wavering slightly.
"Amanda I don't have the patience for this, Morgan is still missing."
"Elaine get over here and read this right now. Something is wrong." Amanda turned her laptop to face her friend.
"Amanda I don't understand why you are making me do this, we need to find Morgan."
"I wrote it about us Elaine. The story. It's about us and I think it's actually happening."
Elaine looked at the screen. Amanda had typed up the short story.
"For the last time Aman-"
"Elaine just shut up and listen, 'After fits of ridiculous writers block, Mo rose from her spot on the floor and ventured into the kitchen for a refreshing glass of water. Her friends remained seated, still busy with writing the story. Morgan poured her water in a glass but then froze, a hand clasped around the back of her neck. Cool metal lightly brushed the small of her back. The hand went to her face before smoothly clamping over her mouth. The stranger whispered in her ear, If you struggle, I'll kill your friends too. Morgan didn't move a muscle. The stranger pushed their weapon closer and directed her to the back door. They escaped into the cool autumn night. Time passed and Elaine became engulfed in worry. She began to search for Morgan but to no avail .' "
Elaine looked from the laptop to her shaken friend. "Amanda you couldn't possibly believe tha-"
"Where else would she have gone? We can't find her anywhere." Amanda glanced frantically around the room. "Morgan? Mo where are you? Morgan?!" She scrambled off the couch and ran to the kitchen. The back door was open, swaying slightly in the breeze. "Oh god no. Elaine! Get in here!"
Elaine burst into the kitchen and saw the open door. "We need to call the police."
"Wait what if we-
"Amanda I don't have time for this! We don't know where Morgan is and someone could have broken into my house. I can't handle your games right now."
"Let me try something."
"There's no way your story correlates with what is going on, it's impossible."
"I think that if I just che-"
"No, we need to contact the authorities and let them handle it."
"Elaine I just want to make sure this isn't something too out of hand. If what is going on is what I think is going on, the police can't help us," Amanda stammered. She hurried back into the living room and returned with her laptop in tow. She began to type.
"For the love of God Amanda, stop right no-"
"Watch the sink. The faucet should turn on in three, two, one...." Just as she had finished counting, water came pouring into the sink. Elaine stared, eyes wide in shock.
"What- how- did you...?"
"I typed it up on the computer and it just happened. I told you Elaine, I'm not making this up."
"Well then type Morgan back! Erase her being kidnapped!" Elaine yelled. The back door swung back and forth in the wind. Clouds covered the moon, cascading the landscape in total darkness.
"Okay okay, here let me just... there. That should work."
"What did you type?" Elaine asked.
"Wait for it..."
BAM
Morgan winked into existence and fell to the floor.
"Ouch, what the hell?!" Morgan yelled, a scrambling mess on the hardwood floor. Her clothes were torn and dirty but no injuries marked her skin.
"Jesus Christ, Morgan!" Elaine yelled and helped her friend to her feet. "Where did you go? How did you get here?"
Morgan looked around in bewilderment. "I don't know, the last thing I remember was getting water and then this guy grabbed me and threaten- oh god." Morgan stopped short and began to sob. "H-he said he was going to k-kill you guys. I had t-to be quiet and leave with him. I don't know h-how I got b-back." She crumpled to the floor and sobbed. Amanda watched with empty eyes. This did not go according to plan.
"It seems I have failed," She said.
"What are you talking about Amanda?" Elaine asked.
"I guess I'll just have to try again another time." Amanda sighed and pulled her laptop off the kitchen counter, She began to type. Morgan and Elaine remained huddled in a crying heap on the floor. In a flash, Amanda was gone.
~ From A.
