Guardian
Shared on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 14:31For my first writing assignment I have to come up with two different ideas for a novel. So, here's what I have. Opinions or comments?
Idea 1
Detective John Dancy of the Fannin County Sheriff's Department is investigating a string of gruesome murders in North Texas. In his search for the killer, he unofficially consults Rebecca Smith, the widow of a former partner. After the traumatic death of her husband, Rebecca developed certain abilities that have helped Dancy solve past crimes. His consulting her is unofficial because the department would never condone using a psychic in their investigations.
What Dancy doesn't know is that Rebecca is not psychic, but the person responsible for every murder she has ever helped him solve, including her husband's. She is a practitioner of black magick. She kills for sacrifices and to harvest ingredients from her victims. Rebecca has decided she wants Dancy, and has devised an elaborate ritual to claim his soul and bind him to her.
But there is someone working against Rebecca, unraveling her web of dark magick. Laurel has been following the new string of murders and has a friend at the Sheriff's Department who has given her details about the murders. Though she isn't sure who the culprit is, Laurel has deduced what her plans are. As a pagan, she uses her knowledge of magick to help shield Dancy as she feverishly works to uncover the identity of who is responsible.
As Rebecca continues to try and ensnare Dancy, he begins having dreams about being with her. They seem so real that he questions whether they're really dreams or memories. He begins losing himself to Rebecca's magick.
Dancy's very soul stands on the brink of a dark precipice, and one woman tries to drag him over the side as another desperately tries to pull him back to safety. Ultimately, the choice is his. Will he embrace life, or succumb to the dark allure of bondage?
Idea 2
There's a creature hiding in the woods, a beast preying on livestock, pets, and even some wildlife. The locals have been concerned for a while, but now a person has turned up missing. People are scared and demanding action.
Many of the locals think it's coyotes, or maybe a cougar. Now a county sanctioned extermination has begun. They are baiting traps and killing coyotes. A $20 bounty has been offered for each coyote killed. Coyote carcasses are piling up, but the mutilations haven't stopped. In fact, they're getting worse. 3 more people disappear.
Robert doesn't really believe the hype. No remains have yet to be found, only blood and signs of struggle. Then he sees something that proves it isn't coyotes. He sees the beast. It's a dark thing, slinky, fluid, and feline. He first thinks it's a panther, but then realizes it doesn't have much substance. It's like a shadow, a wraith. The thing attacks his dog. The shadow-creature kills the dog. Then something horrible happens-- the dog begins to mutate. It starts losing its substance, becoming a shadow.
Robert is bitten, but he manages to get away and get inside. For some reason, the shadows don't try to follow him inside. Over the next few days, Robert notices something happening to him. The skin around the wound is turning black, and beginning to spread. He feels himself losing substance, and he fears he's changing into the thing that attacked him.
Each night after the attack, the shadow-creature and Duke, his dog, return. He sees them sitting at the edge of his yard at the tree line. They silently watch the house, watch him. It's as if they're waiting for something. For the change to overcome Robert, perhaps?
One night, Robert is compelled to venture outside. The shadow-creatures do not move to attack him, though. Instead, they lead him into the woods. Unable to resist the temptation, Robert follows. He is lead into a small clearing, and suddenly is surrounded by humanoid shadow creatures. They swarm him, enveloping him, and he feels the change accelerate, losing himself to the shadows. He tries to scream, but he no longer has a voice. He is consumed.
Epilogue: Robert slinks through the forest, a mere shadow of his former self. Maybe give some kind of explanation of what he has become and why, even if it's brief and vague.
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Comments
Submitted by J-Cat on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 18:54
Submitted by J-Cat on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 17:49
Submitted by CapnHun on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 17:54
Submitted by Guardian on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 18:05