From Joe’s #WIP, The Reservation…
A cold gust blew through the midnight air, nearly blinding Carole as she trudged through the field. She could hear them approaching fast; their footsteps growing louder by the second. Her knees, weak and aching, buckled with each step she took, all the while the tall grass scraped along her navel, barely grazing the newborn, clutched in her arms.
Hold on, just a little longer, she thought, sweat beading down her face. Almost out of here.
A tortured cry erupted from the other side of the field. It sounded like the Auger, but she wouldn’t dare look back. Pushing past the last row of crops, Carole broke through the perimeter of the field, only to find herself at the edge of a dark forest, lined with tall, skeletal trees. Long, spindly branches whipped violently in the wind as she sprinted through the woods, and no more than a hundred feet away she could hear one of the villagers speaking in their native tongue. She feared for her life, but worst of all, she knew they wanted her child more than anything.
“There they are,” cried a woman in the distance. Carole glanced over her shoulder to see a group of villagers approaching her, one of whom was gripping a rusty machete. Running faster, adrenaline pumped through her veins as she attempted to flee from the mob. The infant in her arms grew loose when a swinging branch struck her in the forehead and she collapsed, falling onto her side.
Darkness washed over Carole, as murky as the damp soil beneath her.
Then there was only silence.
***
A faint whisper from the depths of her subconsciousness woke Carole and she found herself alone in the forest, the infant still cradled in her arms. As she tried to stand up, a sharp, fiery pain ran through her left leg and she let out an agonizing cry. To her right, a jagged stone, dressed in red, had caught her in the knee. Inside the blood-soaked wound she could see the pasty white surface of bone peeking through. Must keep going, she thought. We’re so close… High in the sky, the full moon shone brightly down upon them, as if guiding a path. Slowly, she rose to her feet, paying careful attention to ensure the infant was secure in its sackcloth, tied tightly around her waist.
Through an opening in the woods, she spotted an old rowboat docked on the beach. The tethered line attached to the bow had frayed, but was still intact. One hand gripping the wooden cladding, Carole set herself inside, gently cradling the newborn in between her legs. The sound of approaching footsteps had returned and just as two villagers broke through the woods and onto the beach, Carole untied the line attached to a wooden stake, and pushed off. Waves rocked the boat as she paddled across the channel, keeping an eye out for obstructions. In the distance, she saw the silhouettes of villagers, gathered along the shoreline. There were over a dozen of them, standing still in the darkness, watching her from afar.
Writer’s WIP Questionnaire – 2
- In the past two weeks, I have felt mostly happy about the progress of my WIP.
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Comment: This WIP is a nice departure from the previous genres I have worked in, particularly science fiction and fantasy. It feels good starting something fresh and completely different.
- In the past two weeks, I have mostly managed to balance my writing life with the rest of my life.
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Comment: I only write for 1-2 hours a day, usually in the evening when my mind’s juices are flowing.
- In the past two weeks, I have made drastic changes to my WIP.
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Comment: Nothing drastic, as I have just started this WIP.
- In the past two weeks, I have mostly suffered from ‘writer’s block’.
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Comment: I have not suffered from ‘writer’s block’ on this WIP as of yet.
- In the past two weeks, I have focussed on one project.
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Comment: I have multiple WIPs. This helps keep my thought process fresh so I can avoid writer’s block.
Thanks for visting, Joe! Can’t wait until you’ve finished your WIP – I need to know what happens to Carole and her baby! Happy writing!
Joseph grew up in a small town off the coast of southern Maine where he started writing short stories inspired by New England folklore. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University. He currently resides in the Bay Area.
Find out more about Joe at:
Amazon: Amazon.com: Joe Goodglass: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Goodreads: Joe Goodglass (Author of The Barrens) | Goodreads
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@sef_goodglass
Instagram: Joseph Goodglass (@sef_goodglass) • Instagram photos and videos
The Dark Twist: Welcome! I Write Thrillers | The Dark Twist (wixsite.com)
Morwenna Blackwood, Author 