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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A to Z Challenge 2013 - Z is for Ziti

The last post for the 2013 A to Z Challenge.
It was so much fun! Thank you, everyone, for your comments and support.

I've been posting snippets from a story for this year's Challenge.
(Well, this one is a little longer than a snippet. But hopefully it's well worth it!)
If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

Z IS FOR ZITI

Erik pounced on the monster's head and dug his fingers into its eyes. Both roared - each with their own sort of pain. It thrashed its head back and forth, but Erik held fast with hands deep into its eye sockets.

The tail unraveled, and Danielle gasped for air. She stumbled, righted herself against the dresser, and calling forth her blades again, she sliced her way along the serpent's body. It bashed Erik against the wall above the bed before she could decapitate it.

The monster's head rolled toward the closet, and Erik fell onto the queen-sized bed. Libby hopped up with him, crying and clutching her father.

Danielle stood ready for the serpent to reform. Her chest heaved and still burned from lack of oxygen. She'd do this forever if she had to. For Libby. For Erik.

The pile of ooze looked like over-baked ziti. It didn't even twitch. Not after three seconds or ten. Not even after a full minute.

Her glowing hands dimmed, the blades retracted, and the soft blue light winked out.

It's dead. What happened differently this time? Fenn's voice made her startle.

On the bed, Erik embraced Libby even as he winced. The girl wept as he murmured to her. "I have you, baby. You're so brave. I love you so much."

"Maybe he realized something that he was too blind with his own fear to notice before." Danielle pressed a hand to her bite wound. She gritted her teeth with the pain, but a smile turned up her lips. "I think they're going to be okay."

Perhaps. Several years of therapy won't hurt either. Make sure you suggest that. Fenn sniffed.

"Danielle." Erik beckoned to her. She hedged nearer, not wanting to interrupt their moment, but he grabbed her uninjured arm and pulled her into their hug. "Thank you. We owe you everything." He kissed her head, her cheek, and then her mouth. "Thank you."

Heat spread through her that had nothing to do with her wounds. Her lips tingled and her heart sped up again. Before she could say anything though, Fenn cleared his throat and Libby spoke.

"Daddy, did you just kiss her?" Libby gasped and then giggled. "You like Miss Sawyer!"

"Yup, I sure do." Erik tugged them both to him, and Libby reached out to place a hand over Danielle's.

I'm sure this is a deeply emotional moment for you, but shouldn't you be getting everyone to a hospital now?

24 comments:

  1. Whew! An amazing end to an amazing hop. I'm going to miss reading these.

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  2. Fenn, always the practical one.
    Well done Christine. I thought that you were excellent last year but you have outdone yourself with these snippets. Loved every moment of this. :)

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  3. YES!

    I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING!

    Christine, this was fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing this story with us.

    Best of luck with everything that's coming up next for you! Can't wait for 1305 & 06!

    Oh, and I giveth to youeth the Zombie Rabbit Award. More details on today's Z post.

    Heather

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  4. Aww... a happy ending! Thanks for an awesome month of amazing stories! (-:

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  5. And everyone lived happily ever after, sweet.
    How old is your son? Kids travel better when young. Our daughter was young when we took our 3 wk camping trips. The older they get the harder it becomes, because they have a mind of their own, and their own activities.

    A-Z Challenge

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  6. Yes, a happy ending! Good to know he wasn't a mass murderer.

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  7. super dupper fantastic story!!
    and i love the last line =)
    you've done it again, christine!

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  8. Love that last line! Great story, Christine. Another awesome A to Z!

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  9. Hi Christine .. I'm so pleased there's a happy end .. now I have to get organised to read more and buy a book or two .. good for you ..

    and congratulations on finishing the A - Z .. cheers Hilary

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  10. Congrats on surviving the A-Z! you've taken us all on an amazing adventure.
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  11. Fantastic, Christine! I've loved reading this story. It was definitely one of the highlights of each day this month. Thanks. :)

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  12. I'm so glad everything turned out alright. And Fenn really needs to chill just once haha.

    Another great story for the Challenge, congrats! :)

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  13. Thank you so much, everyone! I'm tickled with joy that you loved it. I worried it wouldn't work in snippets, but it seems to have made for fun reading. :)

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  14. Such a wonderful story. Such a satisfying ending.

    I have loved you A-Z.

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  15. Yay! And I love the ending from Fenn :)

    Congrats on a perfect A-Z!

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  16. Feen needs a 'friend', I think :)

    Loved these snippets over the past month...thanks for sharing them :)

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  17. Awww, I love a happy ending! Congratulations for finishing the A-Z, Christine!

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  18. Aw, love this ending! So intense, and then so cute. I absolutely adore all of Fenn's lines in this, especially that last one. I think it's safe to say that he's my favorite in this story. :)

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  19. Christine, you rock! I enjoyed the story from A to Z. :D Bravo for you.

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  20. Haha! I love Fenn's snark. Glad everything turned out well. You rocked the A-Z with these snippets, yours was one of the blogs I looked forward to reading every day! Congrats!

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  21. Wonderful story. I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Thanks.

    Rhonda from Laugh Quotes

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