I found it odd, in a writing sort of way; a non-planned character suddenly played a significant role for my poor abused hero protagonist, completely outside my meager outline.
It was as if my fingers were possessed and I was writing about a real person instead of making her up in the moment.
Literally, I was going like this:
Lexus is in the doctor’s office, and this is not going to go easy for her. Poor woman can’t even have a normal doctor visit without grief. Hmmmm…
type type type type type
Who’s in the doctor’s office with her?
[redacted]
What the Hell? Where did that come from?
(no answer from the writing gods)
Okay, I am crazy. Well here goes nothing!
type type type type type
Kori, turned out to be an amazing character. I believe my mind, in its grasping way, realized Lexus, in Armageddon’s Princess, needed somebody more powerful than her. Here is Lexus, the most powerful soldier ever to walk the Earth. Yet in the below scene, Kori’s unique voicing leaves one with a distinct impression there is power, and then there is power.
Who is she?
You’ll have to read the book to find out!
***
I look at her. I wish my brain was working and I could place her. “I hope you have the appointment before me. Mine can go for quite a long time.”
“Ah, I don’t think so. His calling service called me and said a patient had an emergency. I had the choice of rescheduling for a different day, or waiting, and she warned it could be a long wait. I’m not worried; I brought a marvelous book, and the next two in the series.” She gives me a beaming smile. “I confess I’m somewhat hiding. No one would dare bother me here.”
“Oh, Kori-san. I’m so embarrassed. That patient is me.”
“Oh! What is wrong? You look fine!”
“I… I…”
Suddenly my eyes sting.
Oh no!
“What’s wrong?” She looks so concerned; it almost takes my breath away. Yet another outstanding young woman, made possible by people like me selling their souls.
I stand up.
“You take your appointment back. I can’t do this.”
I turn to leave, but she latches onto my arm.
“But the service said it was an emergency! If you’re unwell, you have to go.”
“I can’t!”
Please, Kori, my new friend, just let me be, please.
“Why? I don’t understand.”
The panic hits me like a fist. My ears roar and the room actually darkens, I see spots in front of my eyes. Suddenly I’m sitting back down, and realize she pulled me back to the couch.
“I can’t! I feel so ashamed! I don’t want to insult him, but I can’t have him touch me. It’s like I’m trapped! I’m trapped!”
“Ashamed? Why, surely you must have…”
She stops talking and actually grows pale.
“No! No! Tell me this isn’t so!”
Oh no, this is too familiar, too familiar. I’m in Hell. I’m in Hell.
“No! Not you! Not you! Anybody but you, anybody!”
I lower my head. I can’t look at her. She knows who I am and I’ve shattered her illusions.
She grabs me. Her voice takes on a commanding quality, a demanding tone.
“Who did this to you? Tell me, who!”
I wail. She’s now shaking me. Actually shaking me. Her strength is ferocious; she’s shaking me like a ragdoll.
“Who!? I must know! Tell me now!”
I lose it—really lose it. I latch onto her as if she’s the only thing keeping me afloat in a sea of despair. I sob into her fancy dress.
“Oh Lexus-san, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Forgive me—forgive my awful temper. I’m sorry.” She strokes my back. “Shhhhh… shhhhh… you can tell me later. Yes, later. You’re safe with me. I will not let anybody harm you. Not anybody. You’re safe now. Yes, safe with me.”
Here I am crying, yet again, yet again shaming myself, this time in front of a stranger.
But she doesn’t sound like a stranger.
Who is she?
She wasn’t planned? But…wow. The muse did you right on that one, eh?
By: bjkeltz on July 17, 2009
at 4:17 pm