Hair (ReEdit)

 “No, I didn’t do it,” spews the madman as he grips his hair. The collar of his loose black t-shirt barely covers the scar running from his neck to his navel, or the scratches on his left bicep.

Florescent lights flicker has water drips from the ceiling in the long hallway. A woman screams. John walks and smiles at a woman hanging from the ceiling by her hands, mud dried to her from being drug down the hallway.

Still grabbing his hair, he walks down the hall. The smell of gunpowder lingers in the air. “How could i do it? Why did nothing stop me? he mutters more.


“Why are you doing this to me?” begs the woman.

“Simply because I can,” replies John, still smiling. “It won’t hurt, don’t worry.”

“Why me?”

“Call it wrong place wrong time, careful planning. Call it whatever you want, the details are not important.”

“Do you know who I am? Do you know anything about me?” Annie quivers.

“Well, Annabel Leanne Bradly, I know you will do anything for a buck, even let criminals go free. I don’t care.”


“I’m not going to do this, I don’t want it,” rambles the crazed maniac with a few steps down the hall. Hair falling out of place, sweat dripping from every pore. He pulls back his hair, opens a door. Inside the room, a crying lone woman. John looks at her and smiles. A quick flicker of lights. John pulls out a revolver from the back of his pants. With another smile he pulls the trigger. Annie’s lifeless body hangs in the center of the room, a hole between her eyes.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Water falls on his head as he awakens to the sound of a gunshot. The smell of stale blood and a slight rotten egg smell penetrates his nostrils. Hanging from the ceiling, mud cakes his skin. The door creaks open. A man, dressed in a black t-shirt unable to hide a scar on his chest, enters.

THE END

TWiMC- Annie Bradly: Part 11-14

http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/10/twimc-annie-bradly-part-9-and-10.html

Part 11

A will written, a life nearing its end. Loose ends tied up, the end is nigh. Annie sits in her garden, the flowers wilted, the grass turning brown, Fall is in full swing.

Coffee lots it’s taste days ago, counting down the hours.

Annie thinks out load now almost every thought, “Is this how it ends, alone in a garden? Maybe Ben was right, I need to go out with a bang.” Just as she finishes the thought her phone rings, it rings so rarely since she closed the office three days ago.
It is Judge Henry Lakewood, just who she wanted, “Hi Henry, I was about to call you.”
“Hi Annabel, is everything alright? I drove past your office and saw it closed?”
“Oh, I closed for the week, maybe a little vacation, I have a couple things to talk to you about, Lunch tomorrow okay?” Annie hurriedly asked him.
“I can work it in if it is important, anywhere in mind?”
“Maybe Italian, what is the place we use to go when I worked for you?”
“Rapheala’s?”
“That’s the place, noon work?”
“I’ll make it work.”
“Thank you, see you tomorrow.”





Part 12

Ten long years since Annie had been to this restaurant, some things never change. Henry Lakewood is one of those things. He was always kind, but would stop you if you do not agree with him. Annie always loved and loathed this about him. He never thought Annie should go defense, but helped her any way he could. This was their first meal together since she resigned and he became a judge.
Annie was dressed comfortably, sex appeal did not mean anything anymore. The meal was quick, neither knew what to say.
Annie spoke first, “Henry, thank you for everything these past 15 years, I don’t know to say it, but I don’t think my offices are reopening anytime soon.”
“I can get you back with the DA if you need it?”
No, it isn’t that, I can’t explain it. I won’t be back I fear.”
“Did something happen?”
“No, I can’t explain it, I thought I had a way out, but there is no escaping it.”
“I’ll trust you, but I will always be here for you.”
“Thank you, as always, too good to me.”
You’re welcome Annabel. Should I get the bill like old times?”
“It is alright, I got it this once, I better get going.”
They parted ways for the last time.





Part 13


Annabel returned home from the restaurant, she was so confused by everything, two days left. She failed to notice the beat up can parked next to her drive way. She opened the door, unlocked? “Am I this out of it these days?” she asked herself out loud. Just as the door closed a dark figure injects her neck with a needle, the last thing she saw was a scar on a man’s chest.

___________________________________________________

Annie awakens, arms chained to the ceiling. The florescent light hums overhead. Time has passed, how much is left? The smell of mud and dried blood will the air.
Mumbling comes from the other side of the door. Pacing. Annie’s head throbs. “Is this my day to die? I thought I was ready, but I’m not. I want to live,” Annie thinks to herself.
The voice is by the door. The handle jiggles. Footsteps away.
Hours pass. Pacing and mumbling. Finally the door opens. Annie sees a man, skinny, long stringy hair, loose black t-shirt, a scar on his chest.
Annie asks herself, “Is this man Daniel-Edison Ath?”
Annie pleads for her life to no avail, this man is going to kill her.
A gun blast, all goes black.





Part 14


Annie opens her eyes. Standing in the hallway, a door slams further down the hall. Next to her is a door, open, her own lifeless body hangs from the ceiling.
“Good evening Miss Bradly, I am Daniel-Edison Ath,” states a man in a black suit standing behind her.
“Am I dead?” Annie askes, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, I am here to take you to the otherside, we will be joined shortly by Mr. Hearst and Mr. Blakely.”
“Where am I going?”
“I am sure you already know that as well.”
“Yes, right... Thank you for making it painless.”
“I did not kill you, or anyone. I am only here to ferry the souls.”
Oh, yes. That man killed me.”

A blast, the door down the hall blows off the hinges. Soon two men appear with Annie and Daniel-Edison. A well dressed but bruised man that Annie does not recognize, and a man with a scar on his chest that she realizes she knows all too well.
Daniel-Edison and the men talk. A bright light appears at the enf of the hall. “It is time, Daniel-Edison Ath calmly states.
The four walk towards the light together.





THE END

TWiMC- Annie Bradly: Part 9 and 10

http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/08/twimc-annie-bradly-part-8.html

Part 9

Same place, same seats, same drinks.
So familiar, how many times has Annie been here? Ben always some kind of information. Negotiating prices.
So familiar. This time there is one difference, he life is on the line. The sarcasm is forced, the jokes fall flat. Less than a week left now, Ben is solemn this day.

“Nothing I can do now, how would you spend you spend your last week?” Annie asked.

“Annie, we have time-”
“No, I’m ready I think. It is real, I accept it. How would you spend it?”
“I would do what I always dreamed, finish my last projects, go out with a bang.”
“You are the closest thing I have to a friend...” She trails off, a far to common thing for her now.
“Annie, I will do all I can.”
“If you ever find out who Daniel Edison-Ath is, even if it is too late, find out why please.”
“Okay, I will, anything else I can do?”
“No, I think I will finish my last case, it is bound to be a mistrial anyway.
“Judge Lakewood was always too nice to me, he saw too much potential in me when he was the DA... Wait, when this is over, protect him for me.”
“Okay, if you need anything else, please call.”
For the first time since they met, Ben left the table first. Annie sat back sipping her coffee. “Waitress,” Annie called”

The waitress walked over, “Yes ma’am?”

“What is your name?”
Pointing to her name tag, “Christina,” she answered.
“Sorry, your full name?”
“Oh, Christina Johnson.”
“Miss Johnson, thank you for your kind service all these years.”
As she left Annie dialed a number on her phone, “Hello Jack?... Good... Yeah, I need to make a new document, I’m coming in, see you there.”

Part 10

Annie walked into her office, just the same as left it a week ago, Jack was there waiting. “Hello Miss Bradly,” he greeted.

“Jack, I need you to draw up my will.”

“What?” Jack exclaimed.

“I just need it.”

Jack prepares the papers and starts the formalities, “I’m ready.”
“Okay, give yourself 50 grand, the rest leave to Christina Johnson down at the Firecamp Cafe.” Annie smiled her first contemt smile in 10 years, “Jack, also, take the next week off, go somewhere on me.”

more to come...

Filler Poem: Time to Jump

Standing on the edge of a cliff.
Adrenaline pumps threw every vein.
Wind blows, hair waves.
Arms raised.
Do I jump?
Do I fall?
I have stood here before.
Eyes open wide,
     Staring down at all before me.
This is my future.

Walk a steps from the edge.

Running start.
The time is now.
Leap of Faith.
Eyes closed.
Falling.
Smiling.

Nothing will hold me back.
Wind threw hair.
Taking back control.
This is future is MINE!

I choose what to feel.
I choose how to feel.
These feelings are mine,
    These feelings are me.

Ready,
   Determined,
       Calm,
             Excited.

In the end does it matter?

TWiMC- Annie Bradly: Part 8

http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/08/twimc-annie-bradly-part-7.html

"Annie, are you there Annie? Pick up," Ben shouted into the answering machine.

She does pick up, "Hello Ben, how is the road trip?"

"It is going well, I have learned more about Daniel-Edison Ath. It appears these letters have been found all over the world, in the native tongue of the recipient, but always signed the same."

"Ben, I only have a week left, what do you have that can help me?"

"I am starting to believe this, someone wants you dead. I am on my way back. Meet at the usual place, five PM?"

"Any idea who it might be?"

"Not really, I have one possible clue. I have seen reports of a killer that seems to be moving towards your area though."

"You think he could be after me? Do all his victims get these letters?"

"No letters. He has been able to get into homes that no one should be able to get into. You may be special to him."

Annie sighed, and knew it was all too real, "I will see you tomorrow, five PM."

TWiMC- Annie Bradly: Part 7

http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/08/twimc-annie-bradly-part-6.html

Annie laid in bed for a while longer. The clock ticked by the seconds. The judge's offer lingered in her head. About a week and half left, "Should I take it seriously?" Annie pondered. "My reputation is blown now anyway," she spoke out loud.


She picked up her cell and dialed the office of Judge Henry Lakewood, the phone rang, voice mail. "Hello, Henry, I think I will take the case. If you could please pass the file to my office, Jack will get it to me. Thank you."

___________________________________________________


Clothes litter the floor.  Shoes tossed about. Annie is now showered, dressed, ready to return to the courtroom again. As she put on the finishing touches of her make-up the familiar ringtone of her work cell sounded again.


Annie looked at the caller ID, Judge Lakewood. "Hello, I just finished getting ready, I will be at my office in half an hour-"


Henry interrupts her, "Annabel, there is no need to bother now. The poor kid was just found dead in his cell. Take some more time if you want, your other case is on hold as well while the investigation is under way."


"Henry, what about..." Annie's thoughts trailed off as she spoke, there are no words to speak what she is thinking.


"I'll call you when I might need you again. It looks like a week or two. Take a vacation."


"Okay, and thank you again, maybe I will take a vacation, maybe for a week and half..."


"Take care Annie," the judge hangs up leaving Annie holding her phone.








To be continued still...

TWiMC- Annie Bradly: Part 6

http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/07/twimc-annie-bradly-part-1and-2.html
http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/07/twimc-annie-bradly-part-3.html
http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/07/twimc-annie-bradly-part-4.html
http://taostwimc.blogspot.com/2011/07/twimc-annie-bradly-part-5.html

Annie rolled over in bed, tossing the same as she had for the past few nights. It had been three days since she received the letter from Daniel-Edison Ath, Ben had been traveling around the country using her credit card for truck stops and hotels.

Ride of the Valkyries begins playing, it is Annie's work cell phone. It is the courthouse again, Judge Lakewood is not happy about her running out of his courtroom and then disappearing. She decides to answer. "Hello Judge."

"Miss Bradly," Judge Henry Lakewood spoke softly but sternly, "nice to finally hear from you. I have found a way you can make up for your escapade earlier this week."

"Judge, I am so sorry about that."

"It is all right, I know the people you defend, I am sure the stress must have gotten to you. My offer may help ease your conscience."

"I can't make any promises."

"That is fine, I am in need of a public defendant for a case I am proceeding over. Take this case and I will put the other trial on hold till this one is over."

"I-I-I don't know..." Annie trails off.

"I understand, but get back in-touch with my office by the end of business tomorrow so I can start your case again or the new one first thing Monday morning."

"Thank you Hen- Judge, good bye now."

"Good bye and good luck Annabel." They both hang up.


To be continued...