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 35: She thought about Mrs. Merriweather’s warning that not everyone was on her side.
She thought about Mrs. Merriweather’s warning that not everyone was on her side. ‘Maybe finding out who is on my side and who isn’t would be a good thing.’
Penelope’s thoughts strayed towards the file. Someone had cut the breakline. She didn’t know why or who, but suspected that if thee was a group of people that didn’t like the family, they might be considered suspects.
‘Although I’m not sure political wrangling is cause for murder.’
She thought to the attempt on the Emperor’s life. ‘Well maybe it is.’ She just didn’t think the same sort of thing could be applied to her mother’s death.
“But I suppose if I am going to have a housewarming I should probably do it soon after I move in.’ She slung her purse strap on to her shoulder and picked up her keys.
“Certainly can’t do it before Trinity’s party or I will be accused of …well something,’ Penelope decided. She wasn’t entirely sure what her step-mother would call it but it would be seen as some sort of an attack on Trinity. ‘Especially as I wouldn’t invite her. But if I have to wait that might give me a chance to read through some of the journals. I can find out who might have been angry enough with mom to cut her break line.’
She went downstairs and out of the front door. She locked it behind herself and then walked to the gate. She opened it, let herself out and made certain it latched again before walking away. As she walked towards the parking garage, Penelope wondered if the cut break line was meant to kill her mother or just cause serious harm. Her mind kept flicking between thoughts of the in town driving and the drive out on Old Briarwood Road.
‘The attempt could be to hospitalize and get out of the way,’ Penelope thought as she walked. ‘Whoever did it could have had something going on they didn’t want my mother involved in. They might not have been upset if she died, but out of the way through hospitalization or death might have been the goal. Or they could have expected someone to catch it quickly and just scare mom for some reason.’
She shook her head and wondered it if bothered her so much because she didn’t like the thought of someone with murderous intentions running around their family. Was it better if they wanted to scare her or hurt her?
‘Neither is a good thing, but it wouldn’t be murder. And it wouldn’t be someone I either know or will meet soon now that I am living in the house and have magic.’
Penelope almost snorted at that. There was nothing magical about her as far as she could tell. ‘But Mrs. Merriweather said the dreams would start and I did have a strange one last night.’
Penelope reached the garage and rolled her eyes. She knew Mrs. Merriweather from various social events over the years. She always made a point to come and talk to Penelope during such things. As Jeanette tried to encourage people to ignore Penelope she found the woman’s attentions a relief.
‘But I don’t really know her,’ she thought. ‘maybe she is one of the bad ones pretending to be good. The dream could just be a dream.’
Penelope reached her car and unlocked the door.
Ten til Midnight 