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 168: She wasn’t entirely sure about driving one handed and thought she should at least let the pain fade before she tried it.
She wasn’t entirely sure about driving one handed and thought she should at least let the pain fade before she tried it.
“Your arm broke?” Mrs. Merriweather said.
“Yes when Sinclair attacked yesterday.”
“And he is in custody?”
“Yes.”
“Good, although I will be looking into him as well. Did he use magic?”
“He did, but I had a charm bracelet that deflected it. The charms were toasted though so I’ll have to replace it.”
“I will send a simple book of charms and sigils over with Jerome’s workbook,” Mrs. Merriweather said. “Dod you see what color his magic was?”
“Amber,” Penelope replied. “Does the color mean anything?”
“Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but everyone has their own unique signature,” she explained. “Someone might recognize the color even if they don’t know the name.”
“Like color coding magic users.”
“Very much like,” Mrs. Merriweather said. “Magic is very personal so who we are shapes the shades of our magic.”
“That’s good to know.”
“There are some people who try to theorize that certain colors have certain meanings but personally I think that is a load of hog wash. I’m sure there are many books about it if you are interested though.”
“I think I might just concentrate on control and worry about color later.”
“Very sensible,” Mrs. Merriweather said. “I will have the books sent over as soon as I can get a messenger here. And then I will get started on the search. I am afraid I must dash though. I will call as soon as I know anything.”
“Thank you,” Penelope said.
The call ended and Penelope set the phone down. Mrs. Merriweather wasn’t surprised by the connection which helped. “And she offered help,” she said. “Which is better.”
She wondered if she would be able to find out anything about Peter Sinclar and if it would lead to what was stolen. “Or at least how to find the item.”
“Lots of wondering.”
Penelope shrugged. With her plan to get seeds and plants to practice on derailed and Jerome’s book on the way, Penelope decided she would return to her own library and see what she could find to read. Part of her wanted to read more from Ameila’s journals and part of her wanted to see if there were more how to set protection sigils books on the shelves. She looked at the ring that refused to be removed from her right hand.
“Probably ought to find out more about you too,” she said.
Before she could move from the stool at the breakfast par, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and didn’t recognize the number. Considering new people were cropping up in her world regularly, Penelope decided to answer in case it was important. She pressed the button to answer the call.
“Hello?” She said into the phone.
“Penelope?” A woman’s voice asked.
“It is,” she said.
“Oh good, I was afraid this number wouldn’t work anymore,” the woman said.
Penelope frowned, the voice was vaguely familiar but she couldn’t place it. “I’m sorry but who is this?”
The woman on the other end laughed, the sound light and frothy.
Ten til Midnight 