Morning all, time for another writing prompt so lets set those timers and see what story sparks fly when we turn our attention to this sentence. Timers set and off we go.
I’m sure you have realized this by now, but I do love a good comeuppance. And this line led me straight to one. I need to work out the details, but I kind of like it.
Wednesday, June 3rd: You broke your promise.
“You broke your promise,” she said. He smiled at her, hands still caressing the small wooden box she brought him. It was empty now so snatching it back wouldn’t change anything. It was just a keepsake now. It would change nothing. She wondered if he kept it here to gloat over the outcome or so that he could think about how he tricked her into fetching it for him.
‘Probably both,’ she decided studying his face.
At first he looked indulgent and there was a hind of what she assumed he meant as commiseration. He set the box on the desk and leaned forward.
“Here is the truth about life that no one ever told you,” He said as though imparting the wisdom of the ages upon a young and naive acolyte. “Some promises are made to be broken. I only made the promise to help so you would go through the maze and retrieve the box for me. I certainly wasn’t going to risk myself in there and it is clear that the key belonged to me, otherwise how would I open the lock? And we all know I was meant to open the lock.”
She frowned. She wanted to say something but could think of nothing that wouldn’t sound childish or be pointless. ‘And what is the point of telling him something is wrong when he won’t believe it.’
There were of course other things she could tell him, but those he would find out on his own and soon enough since he removed the key from the box and used it. There was no point in warning him as he would never believe it either.
“I hope you get everything you deserve,” she told him. She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.
“I always do,” he called out, unable to let her leave without having the last word. She walked directly to the elevator.
She had never given a thought for the power the key represented but she loved puzzles and a good story. The maze, the key, the lock and the power that would be unleashed once the lock was opened was a really good story. She read all she could find in the family archives. She searched for extra details looking for clues. He knew she studied the maze and had the best chance of getting through it. He also realized she wanted their grandfather to have the best care as he lived out the last of his time.
That time was running out. She did what she could but couldn’t manage one of the better homes. She kept him with her, altering her spare room for his needs and getting a nurse in when she needed help or a break. She was lucky that she could work from home while caring for him. It was a lot and he promised to help if she would go through the maze to retrieve the box for him. She thought it was a selfish move on his part after all, they were cousins and the old man was his grandfather too.
She accepted he needed incentive to help and agreed.
What he hadn’t realized was that since she liked puzzles, once she solved the basic puzzle of the maze, she delved into the other mysteries surrounding things, the other puzzles. ‘Specifically what happened after the key was used.’
She got into the elevator. She would make due, without the assistance he owed her. And she wouldn’t help him when what he got turned out to be something other than what he wanted. ‘That’ll make things square,’ she thought.
Ten til Midnight 