For those just tuning in, this challenge is about taking a story idea from bare bones idea into a fully fledged story by writing consistently every week day for fifteen minutes. The sentence I end with on one day, is the sentence I start with on the following. Part one was Bob’s story and has nothing whatsoever to do with the story below. Part Two follows a character named Penelope. I have a few basic sentences to act as road marks on her journey. I am loosely calling that an outline. We will see where she ends up by the time the story is done. For now, we start Part two of the 2025 Fifteen Minute Writing Challenge.
Day 7: She saw the blood pulled into the small device.
She saw the blood pulled into the small device. Mike shot her a grin. “It hurts more if you know it’s coming and tense up,” he told her, pulling the device away. He pressed a red button on the side and the device beeped. He set it down, wiped her finger with another alcohol soaked cloth and put a small band-aid over the pin prick.
“It didn’t hurt that much,” she told him. “I was just surprised. I didn’t know a law office visit needed a blood test.”
Mike shrugged and let her hand go.
“Yes, it is a bit irregular,” Alvis told her. He frowned and shook his head. “Required at the moment. Please have a seat. Can I get you something while we wait for the results? Water, coffee, tea?”
“Water would be fine,” Penelope said. She looked at the device as Avis moved to the side of the room.
“What is it testing?” she asked.
“She heard Alvis moving around and turned to look at him. In the far wall there was a par station with coffee pot and kettle as well as all of the necessary bits for making a cup of coffee or tea. Underneath was a small fridge and Alvis took a bottle of water from it and closed the door again. He picked up a drinking glass from the shelf and brought both the bottle and glass back to the table.
“You know most people would have asked how long it would take first,” he said. Alvis placed the bottle and glass on the table and pulled out the chair in front of it. Taking the hint, Penelope sat, placing her purse on the floor by her feet.
“I figured it would take as long as it takes,” Penelope said. “I would rather know what they are testing and why.”
Mike retreated to his seat, taking the device with him. He set it on the table in front of him and appeared to be watching it, disinterested in her or Alvis. She could see the white box was opened and contained extra alcohol pads and a few band-aids but mostly an empty space where the device would be fit inside.
Alvis moved back to the seat in front of his stacks of paper and sat down. “Ah well the why is very simple,” he said.
Penelope twisted the cap off of the water bottle and poured it into the glass. She had no real desire to drink it, and in reality probably wouldn’t drink, but she wanted something to do with he hands. The checking of the id and the blood test all seemed a bit much and she found her nerves growing.
“Simple?” she prompted. He took a deep breath and seemed disinclined to answer. He glanced to Mike. Mike was still studying the device and didn’t notice so he received no help there.
“We need to make certain that you are who we think you are.”
“That I am who you think I am,” she repeated. She watched his eyes slide over to the device. “Beyond the letter and my driver’s license?”
Alvis sighed. “What I can tell you depends on what the test says,” he finally admitted.
“So if the test comes up negative I am not me?” Penelope asked.
A light flashed on the device and Alvis looked relieved. “The test is done at least.”
Mike lifted up the device and read something from the screen.
Ten til Midnight 