From ashes to ashes, from dust to dust…

April 9, 2014
Written by adrianjsmith

I almost forgot about WIPpet Wednesday again this week! My life on the outside of writing finally seems to be heading in the direction I’ve been waiting and wanting for years! I’m not going to share specifics, but it’s ridiculously exciting. I will finally be able to do my dream job! Which isn’t writing, if you didn’t know that.

Anyway, onto my WIPpet post.

This post stems just after last weeks post with a few paragraphs or so in between. It’s a new scene, so you don’t really need any explanation of how they’re connected.

My math is simple this week. 4 + 9 = 13. 13 sentences from chapter 10!

 

Air caught in James’ throat as she tried to breathe. Smoke filled her lungs as she gasped over and over again, trying to find the exit. The door was covered in flames, the stairs eaten by fire as she crawled up them, one after the other, trying to get to the top. It was the only way she could go. Everything else was blocked off.

Panic welled up in her chest and blocked her from doing anything. She froze in place as the little girl stood in front of her. Flames were at her back, curling around her form as she controlled them. Dark eyes stared into James as if she wasn’t there and as if she was the entire focus at the same time. James let out a breath and collapsed down onto her knees.

“Lily.”

“Mama?”

“Bumblebee, we need to get out of here,” James whispered, her voice raspy from the smoke.

 

If you would like to join WIPpet Wednesday, it’s open to everyone. Just write a blog post with your current WIP (Work In Progress) that somehow correlates with the date. Link it up with everyone else’s and go read the other posts! We’re all comment whores, so make sure to tell us what you liked about it!

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18 Comments

  1. kathils

    I fixed your linky. For some reason it was pointed back at the inlinkz page and not here. 🙂

    Wow, intense piece. Scary for James…and the reader.

    Congrats on the dream job. 🙂 I’m hoping it goes very well for you.

    • Adrian

      Haha I have weak fingers and probably didn’t hit cntl c hard enough.

      Thanks! James has had this exact thing happen to her before.

  2. Fallon

    yes, very intense. great piece!

    • Adrian

      Thanks!

  3. Amy

    I remember this. 😉

    Congratulations again—I’m super proud of you, even if that sounds totally cheesy. 🙂

    • Adrian

      Lol I would hope you remember it! Each time it happens. =P

      Thanks! I’m trying to live off the excitement for as long as possible.

  4. Eden

    Crossing my fingers that you get that dream job… though… what do you mean, it’s NOT writing? 😉

    Nice snippet, Adrian. Great imagery, though sometimes a bit smothering.

    • Adrian

      Well there’s writing in loved in it but it’s not 100%.

      Thanks!

  5. Elaine Jeremiah

    Wow great excerpt Adrian. So exciting and suspenseful. Will they get out alive? And is there a supernatural element to the story? 🙂

    • Adrian

      There is a supernatural element. It’s urban fantasy.

  6. Elaine Jeremiah

    Oh and BTW congrats on getting your job. I got one too this week. 😀

  7. Gloria Weber

    Very intense and a wiggle uncomfortably in your seat scene. But, since I have a standing desk it was more like shifting my weight around. All the bad images of what could come after and the holding of breath hoping good comes after…. Very well done.

    • Adrian

      Thanks!!

  8. shanjeniah

    OOH – I didn’t see that coming, at all, and it was a deliciously creepy jolt!

    And, on the job – whatever it is, may it exceed everything you’ve fantasized about, for all these waiting wanting years! =D

    And I hope you’ll tell us, sooner or later!

    • Adrian

      DM me on twitter and I’ll tell you. I’m glad it was deliciously creepy. That’s an awesome description.

      • shanjeniah

        =) Will do!

  9. Ruth Nestvold

    Congrats on the good news, whatever it is!

    Great scene with great imagery. I stumbled briefly on the second “blocked” so soon after the one before, but that should be an easy fix.

    • Adrian

      I haven’t edited the piece yet so I’ll look into it then!