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 128: She wondered how many lines were actually in the lake.
She wondered how many lines were actually in the lake. The woman stared at Penelope. She suspected that as she stayed after the lake water incident she was an anomaly in more ways than one and the woman was curious. Penelope too was curious and pleased to finally have someone to ask questions.
“So you are the guardian of the lake,” Penelope asked.
“I am,” the woman said. There was no emotion in the voice it was a flat statement.
“How did you get that job?” Penelope asked.
The woman blinked and for a moment confusion slid across her face. “It has always been my job. It is why I was created.”
“Oh,” Penelope replied. A part of her wanted to know more but the Guardian’s face did not invite more questions along those lines. “So now that I have taken my abilities from the lake I would be coming back here? I won’t see you again?”
The Guardian looked thoughtful. She turned to stare at the lake. “Usually people do not return because they can not take more from the lake than they drew in their initial arrival. Some may seek to try, wishing for more than they were granted. This is why they are blocked. You can not take more than you were given for there is no more to grant you. You may return when you wish and I will speak with you. You have the freedom of the lake.”
“Thank you,” Penelope said. She wasn’t entirely sure she ever wanted to come back here but from the tone it sounded like the Guardian was conferring a privilege.
“Do you have any more questions?” the woman asked. “Even for one such as you I do not believe dwelling so long in the lake is wise.”
“I was told that before my abilities came in, there might have been incidents where the magic came through,” Penelope said.
“And you wish to know if this is true or if you are seeing connections where there aren’t any.”
“Yes.”
The Guardian closed her eyes. She stood still for a moment and then opened her eyes. Her hands were glowing. She pressed them together as if praying and then pulled them apart slowly. A line of light appeared between her hands. On the line were little glowing beads.
“From the time of your birth until the time of your awakening in the lake there have been seven incidents.”
Penelope could see seven glowing beads on the string. The woman walked towards Penelope and fastened the string around her neck like a necklace. “You may study each moment, but I believe that is a task done elsewhere. I look forward to speaking with you again.”
Penelope blinked her mouth opening slightly to thank the guardian, but instead she blinked herself awake lying in her own bed. The room was still dark and had the feeling of the middle of the night. She reached for the cell phone she placed on the night stand, wincing at the screen as it flared to life. 3:22 am.
‘Still the middle of the night,’ she thought setting the phone down. She reached a hand to her neck and found she was wearing a necklace, she felt it with her hand, her body already moving. She left the bed behind and went to the bathroom. The light flared brightly with the flick of a switch and Penelope looked in the mirror. Around her neck was a slim gold chain with seven delicate beads. They were a deep blue that looked dusted with gold.
Ten til Midnight 