Death Note

My name is Carl Novell, and this is my death note. I am writing this as the light is getting less and less with every block that goes up, sentenced to death for falling in love with someone who I shouldn't have. I don't know if anyone will ever read this but I write in hope that one day someone does. This is the story of how I got here;

I entered the the town of Fernsworth looking for work, I lived on the road picking up jobs as I went along for some time now so I wanted to make a life for myself ; something stable, and I heard that this place was very welcoming to outsiders. On arrival I found the place very odd, but in a good way, people dressed differently and spoke eloquently as if they were always addressing someone of a higher importance. People like me always got strange looks, must be the long blonde hair or the scar across my left cheek so the diverse nature of this town suited me well. 

I walked into a nearby restaurant looking for just a bite to eat and a hot drink of some sort but ended up leaving with a job. The owner took a shine to me and offered me the job of cleaning the dishes in the back ; not a great job but it was something. His daughter worked as a waitress and this was the girl I fell for. Her name was Veronica, she had short dark hair which I liked, it set her apart from everyone else and I admired that she wasn't scared to stand out, but it was her smile that really made me fall for her, it made me feel alive which is ironic given what is happening now to me.

I eventually worked up the courage to ask her out and she accepted this offer. After a few times of me spending my nights nervously trying to impress her things started to get serious with us and we ended up in a relationship.  Her father didn't know about this , nor did I want him to know, but as with all secrets they eventually come out and when this did unravel he was not happy. He had plans for his daughter to marry a very well known business man who made a deal with Veronica's father - His daughter was to marry the wealthy business man in exchange for his money to keep the restaurant open.

She tried to object but her father insisted that it was the right thing to do. Every night we would sneak off together but the passion we shared before was replaced by her constant sobbing at the thought of being with a guy who was old enough to be her father purely out of money reasons. One night sitting on a hill overlooking the town was the last time I had seen her, the next morning she was found in the lake at the back of the restaurant dead. She couldn't take it anymore but I still don't know why she didn't mention anything to me, I have so many questions but will never get any answers.

Her father blamed me for her death and that I drove her to do it by confusing her mind. This hurt a lot, so I decided that I was gonna leave this town for good. This morning while packing, three men with guns burst into my room, beating me while calling Veronica awful names, I was then knocked out. I woke to find myself in the situation I am in now, trapped as the three men built blocks around me. I can only assume these men were sent by Veronica's father or the business man she was meant to marry as a way of punishing me for her death and besides I am known to them as an "Outsider" so who will notice my disappearance.

So this is why I decided to write this note, as a way for someone to know the truth to what happened to me and Veronica, and also to what goes on in this town. The blocks are now up to my neck and light is running out, I wont last much longer when it turns completely dark. I'm afraid , I will be left alone with my thoughts and the process will be slow and painful but at least the truth is out there. I am gonna put my pen down , close my eyes and sing my favorite song, goodbye....

Carl Novell

Every Picture Tells a Story

Sitting in a small living room Daniel sat on "his" armchair looking over at his brother Roy entering the room with a cup of tea in hand and asking "The usual today I suppose", Roy nodded in acceptance before sitting on his own chair ; a couch that he sat sideways on. On went their newly bought large modern 50 inch television that was lofted up on the wall and placed specifically in the rooms center for Roy's OCD reasons. The old shabby television was placed in the corner of the room and used as nothing more than a dust gatherer and a place for Roy to throw his dirty tissues on, or "Snot rags" as he called them. Roy turned on a show about conspiracies, Daniel then preceded to take out his laptop before muttering "Here he goes again" as if talking to a third person in the room.

As they both sat in front of their different screens off went the the television. Roy looked over at Daniel and asked "What happened there, did you do something?", Daniel replied with a laugh emerging on his face "No I didn't maybe its a conspiracy Roy, they know what you are watching", "Ye ye" replied Roy. After a couple of minutes, off went Daniels laptop, much to amusement of his brother "What was that you said a minute ago bro?" Daniel walked out of the room to check on the electrical switch board but everything seemed in order, all the lights were working and appliances also. It was just Roy's television and Daniel's laptop that would not turn on.

Daniel went to make another pot of tea while Roy was trying desperately to get his beloved T.V back on, switching around cables and trying different plug sockets hoping the fuse just went in the one they were using. "Nah the stupid thing won't turn back on, give the company a ring Daniel", "I'm not talking to them you know how much I hate that crap, nothing ever gets sorted" responded a disgruntled Daniel. "Right so bro let's settle it the old fashioned way" Roy asked in hope that Daniel would fall for it. "Go on then" said Daniel before they held their fists out and had a game of paper rock scissors which Roy of course won. "Every time with the paper bro, every time"

Daniel took out his mobile and in annoyance dialed the Television companies number first but there was no answer, he rang up about his laptop then but again no answer, "Everyone must be avoiding us today Roy", Roy responded while waving his arms out as if confused " What is going on today bro". The two stood up pacing around each other thinking what to do next with their non-productive day, "Wanna order some takeout Roy?" asked Daniel but as soon as he finished his question the T.V and laptop started turning on and off repeatedly and in tandem with each other. The boys stood in bewilderment, wondering what was happening here before it stopped for no longer than the count of ten and then started again.

"Just plug the whole lot out Daniel" said Roy, as to which he done but it had no affect on the flickering screens. The brothers looked at each other before Daniel noticed a laughing sound coming from the wall that was parallel to the hanging T.V "Do you hear that? It's coming from the wall I think" Roy edged closer to the wall leading with his ear while responding to Daniel "I do actually bro I fucking do" A loud scream echoed right into Roy's leaning ear as he jumped back bumping into his brother , knocking him over a bit, "Easy there Roy" said Daniel, "Did you not...did you not hear that fucking scream bro" replied Roy, "No what scream, is this another one of your jokes to get me to believe in a conspiracy?" Daniel asked which Roy replied "No there was a big loud stupid screech that almost deafened me, lean up against the wall and hear for yourself". Daniel leaned in to the same spot and to his disbelief he heard "Leave now or never at all" in an old woman's voice.

The voice wasn't coming from the wall but from a picture hanging on the wall. It was of an old lady sitting in the very room that the brothers were in. Daniel took the picture down and read the back of it; "Nancy Kirwan " it read, but who was she thought the boys, before trying to listen in again. Roy noticed a picture next to it that had "Kirwan fruit and vegetable shop" as the name of the shop, "Doesn't that shop look exactly like this house we just bought bro?" said a curious Roy, "It sure does, it sure does alright" answered back his brother . They hung back up the picture of Nancy and went to go down to the guy who sold them the house, who lived at the end of the road "I knew it was too good to be true, the price, the location, everything about it just seemed a little off" Daniel remarked as they left the room walking towards the front door.

As Daniel closed the hall door a smashing sound rang out from the living room "What was that it sounded like a glass was broken" he shouted out. They rushed into the room of the noise where they saw Daniel's laptop screen smashed into tiny fragments and on the T.V was writing in red ; "Leave now or never at all", Roy looked at his brother "Whoa shit just got real bro", Daniel had a face of perplexity mixed with anger "My fucking laptop I just bought it, how did this happen, how?". Roy shrugged his shoulders as this was all the interaction he could muster at this time. "And your T.V who wrote that, this is all getting a bit too creepy for me who's this bitch Nancy Kirwan and why are there pictures laughing and laptops smashing" Daniel shouted in a high pitched voice "I d..d..d..dunno bro but forget the laptop i'm more worried about what the writing says, what if it is actually true" Roy said shakily. 

After a couple of nervy moments of the boys standing in a puzzled silence they decided this time to leave and not turn back no matter what happens. They stepped out the front door and to their amazement everything was different, the people were all dressed like it was the 1920's, the air was filled with a musky industrial smell and look, and the roads had only a rare automobile that drove up them. Daniel turned his head to look back at the house before tipping Roy on the shoulder "Look at this Roy", Roy turned around and at the front of their house was a sign that read "Nancy Kirwan's Fruit and Vegetable Shop"

It's what we do

‘Hey hun’, he greets, ‘hey babe’ she responds as she hops in the car and leans in for a kiss on the cheek, faking a smile.  ‘’How was the big presentation?’ he follows up, not remembering, nor particularly caring what it was about. ‘Ah it was fine, was worrying about nothing last night’. Another lie, it’s what we do.

‘You see that article on Mr. Pumpkin this morning’? He asks curiously, as their daily commute home from their 20 year one-company careers hits another traffic jam. He started on the factory floor, winning promotion 5 years later, due another next year; he now has an office where he can show off his employee of the month awards framed on the wall. He is running out of space. She works as a receptionist at a local Non-profit helping the unemployed get back to work.  It’s what we do.

Continuing the conversation he pulls out the paper, the headline read; ‘Pumpkin enterprise profits soar!’ with a picture of the boss and his son, the general manager, arms around each other, smiling, stomach bursting through his shirt, buttons popping and hair receding. His son just bought his third car; he’s only 24 years old and next in line for the big boss job. It’s what we do.

She looks at the paper and reads the article as the car slowly rolls down the road assembly line, before hastily braking as the lights turn red, her head bumping the ceiling, but it’s okay she doesn’t really mind. ‘You know I don’t know why they always look to put people down in their articles. Mr Pumpkin is a good family man; he treats his workers with respect and he’s in church every week like the rest of us.  If you asked me he’s earned everything he’s got! His grandfather built that company from the ground up!’ She doesn’t really like Mr. Pumpkin and she knows he doesn’t either, but he’s up for promotion next year, so they don’t really mind. She smiles and agrees with her husband, just like he thought she would; another good deed for the day. It’s what we do.

They pull up outside the school and their daughter gets in the car slamming the door. ‘What’s up honey?’ they ask. She sits with her arms folded, face in a crown. ‘I told you Mr. Elkins always leaves us out early on a Tuesday’. ‘Oh I’m sorry honey but the traffic was really busy today; there was no way around it…and look what I have’, the father says, eyes beaming as he hands over a small box  wrapped in pink paper, her  favourite colour. ‘What is it?’ she asks, forgetting all about siting alone for 20 minutes, after all it’s a safe neighbourhood she didn’t really mind. ‘Open it and see’, the mother excited shaking the box. She ripped it open and her jaw dropped, glued to her chest. She couldn’t believe it, almost jumping with excitement; the new phone was here or at least the new model. It came early, before the rest of her friends. The parents smiled; they couldn’t afford it but she was happy, how could they not? It’s what we do.

The girl buried her head in her phone, where they were going didn’t matter; her friends were in the screen, strangers outside. ‘Imagine in only 20 years we’ll finally have enough for our dream house, out by the lake…maybe you could finally finish that novel’, the husband says. She looks at him and grabs his spare hand and smiles once more, this time for real, before sighing. She thought about many things; mainly the future and the present. Cursing how they couldn’t afford their dream life sooner while planning their 2 week holiday abroad, always the first two weeks of August each year. Her boss knew her schedule; she didn’t even need to book it off in advance. ‘I don’t feel like fixing up anything, do you?’ she asks her husband, who nods in agreement.  ‘The usual?’ He asks, not even waiting for an answer before pulling in to make the order. Handed out by Joe with a smile, it was Tuesday after all, half price. It’s what we do.

The long drive home continued through red and green, daughter quiet in the back, dreams thought unseen.  The sun hid behind the clouds and the wind howled, winter clicking up a gear. It changed quickly, dark and starry skied. Headlights on, better safe than sorry, then off, hearts fluttered with panic.  Cars passed beeping, they couldn’t understand.  Happy to be home holding up the world no longer, their ease all too fleeting.  They parked in the same spot, just outside the door, but when off went the lights, they realised it was open. Flush faced with shaky hands they could not hide, but the daughter, in another world ran inside. In they went as the door slammed behind, pushed by 

a force from outside. On went the lights but the home was empty, furniture gone, comfort a distant memory. From the stairs down came a shadow, what they saw was neither friend, nor foe, not even fiction. It was a mirror the shape of a tall man, everything seen was only reflected, their own selves mirrored stood before them; three bangs rang loud. Another three thuds one by one hit the ground; killed by their own reflection. Shuttling forward slowly like death, footsteps reaching down to the ground, off with the phone, hardly a fret. It’s what they do.

There was an alarm ringing and a dog barking, it came from the mansion down the street; it belonged to Mr. Pumpkin. He walked down the road and saw a figure staring straight at him, slowly turning, but it too was merely a reflection; a walking image of all that lays before it. As the mirrored man walked down the road the streetlights above flashed and burst, neighbours peeked out their windows, they hardly flickered. Mr. Pumpkin waked into the house, everything gone, pictures of the family smashed. Nothing but bodies lying still, their blood painting the carpet, he rang the emergency services and stayed until outside they flashed. No one else had seen what Mr.Pumpkin had, but then only Mr.Pumpkin could see his own reflection. He saw a therapist for a week, stayed home from work but was soon bored. He hired a new replacement, promoted from within, his longest serving employee gone.  No severance, no bonus to be paid, Mr. Pumpkin saved more money, forgot their names. It’s what they do.

Side Note ;  This story was written by my brother Michael, who is working on something writing related himself at the moment, which I will inform you of when the time is right ;)

Mystery on the Train

I always had a fear of public transport, there is just something about them that never clicked with me. Hundreds and thousands use it everyday, we all hop on a bus or train or some sort of underground system to reach our destination of choice. I never liked it, and did all I could to avoid using it right up until I had too.

Married to my beautiful wife for ten years and only twice have I ever used public transport, a few really bad panic attacks while riding the local transport system had put me off for life. I know they say you must conquer your fear to get rid of these attacks but they were so bad I just didn't wanna risk it, and over time the fear of having one while on a bus or train again grew deeper and deeper so I just avoided them. In everyday life there was no other problems, I mean I was able to function as good as any other and I drove which was probably the weirdest thing.

Our 10th year wedding anniversary was coming up, she always loved the idea of a rail trip, sort of an inter-rail idea. Me being me always felt disappointed that I could not give her that so for our special day coming up I decided that this was the day I am gonna face my fear because the love I have for my wife outweighs the fear of a panic attack. So I went ahead and booked it and a week before our anniversary I surprised her with the idea, she was over the moon, absolutely delighted. The smile that morning on her face I still see now whenever I close my eyes.

The morning of our trip I was starting to feel my thoughts getting out of control, racing towards the worst outcome but I would bring them back by looking at my wife and how happy she was. As we boarded she clenched my hand, she knew not to talk about it and this was her way of saying that she is here for me. I was surprisingly alright as we got our seats at the very back, I hated the idea of people sitting behind me and also it was much more quiet down there. When it took off I started to feel a little shaky, nothing as extreme as I imagined but still I knew I was stuck here for a few hours at least and that idea actually disturbed me, but on we went.

Two hours in, I wasn't feeling so great but didn't want my wife to know. I found out that we had a short stop in forty minutes and that was of some relief to me, I could walk around and refresh my thoughts. We reminisced about the good times we had and the first time we met thirteen years ago at a cafe after I turned around, bumped into her, and spilled my decaffeinated coffee all over her work shirt. We laughed about it on the train the exact same way we did when it happened all those years ago, that's what made us special nothing ever changed.

OK first stop was here and we got out to stretch our legs and also take a look at some old castle walls that was a landmark for this area. The dizziness I was feeling on the train was starting to lessen as I took in the fresh air and held my wife close, trying to "enjoy the moment" whatever that meant. The time came to board again and I was feeling alright about that, it was dawning on me how silly I was being over the last few years and that I let this fear control me for so long.

I don't really remember the next half an hour, all I recall is that I felt something that I didn't in a long time - peace of mind. I remember going to the bathroom and when I came back my wife was lying there breathless, I asked for help fast but nobody could do anything. She was gone, dead, and I have no idea what happened. I lost my wife and developed an even further fear of public transport.

This is the truth officer I swear......