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weather_green
Writing makes me happy and I enjoy reading your feedback...
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weather_green
• 453 reads

(Survival) Chapter Eleven: Weakness

Lionel stormed out of the rugged structure, into the dust filled street. He walked swiftly to get away from his men and everyone else. This was a moment of sadness and with his ruthless demeanor, which was the last thing he’d want to expose- weakness!

Lionel walked for miles into the abyss of red dust. It smelled like death not because of the misery the world was in. He was used to it. But because he lost his most trusted friend, his companion, his soul mate—Emery.

“Is she really gone? No! That’s not possible!”

He muttered under his breath as large drops of tears trickled down his shriveled dry skin.

His eyes felt blurry, his stomach churned at the thought of her gone. It took every shred of his being to keep it together when John Castor gave him the news. He had to. No one ever saw his soft side but Emery.

His brain was trying to come up with alternate scenarios where Emery was still alive.

“Maybe she was another imposter. Castor is an idiot! He made a mistake again. It can’t be Emery!”

He screamed as he slammed his hands against his sides over and over, as if he were trying to beat himself senseless over the news she was gone.

Suddenly he stops near an abandoned house on a narrow street. Most of the houses here had a charred appearance like huge fire had ravaged them. But this one was mostly intact but stood tall where just one side wall partially broken, exposing parts of its skeletal structure.

Lionel slowly walked in through the broken side wall. This time, his back slightly hunched, his shoulders drooping forward, his head tilted, his mind lost in thoughts. He no longer looked dreadful, just a man who felt helpless.

The living room was dark, covered with dust and cobwebs yet splendid with a large crystal chandelier holding on from the last few shreds of the ceiling canopy or what was left of it. He fell on his knees clenching a heavily folded photograph. He slowly opened it crease by crease, fold by fold to unveil his lady love. It was a picture that he took of her 10 years ago on their first date. She dazzled in an embellished red halter neck dress. Her chestnut brown hair tied up in a bun with some loose wavy strands, perfectly framed her oval porcelain face. He began to reminisce...

********

It was 2020. He had just been promoted as the CEO of a top finance firm. His chiseled face, romantic hazel eyes and macho physique along with his charming personality, high intellect and “go getter” attitude was making him incredibly famous. From making millions to guest appearances of popular news outlets to appearing on magazines covers as the “most eligible” bachelor Lionel was on top of the world.

He had no time for love or friendships. Growing up in foster homes after his father killed his mother and went to prison, Lionel learned at a very young age that love was for the weak as he believed that it softens one and makes them vulnerable, something he was a master at concealing.

Sometimes, that’s what it took to survive in those rough foster homes, never flinch, and look straight in the eyes of the abuser. Let them know you are not backing down. Lionel lived solitary and led a lonely life. He only did what he learned to do best—manipulate and bully people into getting what he wanted. But on the night of December 24, 2020, that changed.

It was a corporate party. All the big suits, the who’s who of America’s corporate world were there. Lionel sat at the bar, making small talk on the possibility of acquiring yet another piece of prime real estate to add to his collection.

Lionel’s wandering eyes landed on a young, tall brunette in a suit. He was amused and immediately walked towards her.

“Hi, I’m Lionel. I’m sure you have heard of me” Lionel smirked with his smug attitude oozing through his voice.

“Look, I don’t care who you are, and no, you are not getting into my pants tonight. I’m just here to do my job!” She quipped with a straight face and piercing eyes.

“Can I have a name at least?” He smirks again this time with a little desperation.

“Emery, now please go away! I have to find my boss.”

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“I just moved here from the New York office. I’m the new Executive Assistant, would you like my resume too?” Emery snapped and she looked around impatiently.

He laughed and nodded as he backed up, still looking at her but he knew he could not take no for an answer.

He pursued her all night and she finally agreed to go on a date with him the next day when she found out that he was the boss and she could probably score some favors since he so desperately wanted to sleep with her.

They meet the next day at the Ocean Club. He looked charming in his Armani suit, rugged beard and she stunned him by wearing a long-flowing satiny red dress.

The dinner meal started with Lionel bragging about his accomplishments and Emery pretending to care. It slowly changed when Emery opened up about why she really moved to LA. She was trying to get away from her abusive fiancé. The one time she let her guard down and trusted someone with her heart.

Lionel felt a connection he never did since his mother. After dinner, they walked down the beach. The sky was clear with twinkling stars, the air felt cool and fresh. It was just him and her on the soothing waves of the ocean. They talked all night about their dreams and ambitions, their past and future. He realized how much he had in common with her and how much she felt like home.

Over the years, they strictly kept their relationship under wraps. Emery meant business when she was at work and Lionel could not feel any different. Privately, it was a different matter altogether.

Over the next fours years, Lionel and Emery shared everything together, and there wasn’t anything Lionel would do for her. And just when things couldn’t get any better—the world came crashing down around them.

Time passed where survival was of the utmost importance, but Lionel had changed. Not against Emery, but he changed to the point where he saw an opportunity to control what was left around him. But to do that, he needed people he could trust to be his eyes and ears.

When the war hit, Emery helped him lead his organization and kept everyone in line. Lionel remembered his last conversation with her when she offered to be his eyes and ears.

“Emery, it is too dangerous for you to infiltrate that group. I will send someone else”

“No! I can do it. Besides, I don’t trust anyone else for this job. It has to be done right and fast. Leila is a tough one. I have to be there to see things with my own eyes. Don’t you trust me?’

“I do! It’s just that, I’m worried with something happens to you.”

“Arggh! I’m not a child, besides, John Castor will be there as well. He can watch my back. This is our one chance to break Kirkland and his minions. And if I can fool that dim-witted Monique into her believing I’m Leila, then I can fool Kirkland as well.”

A week after their conversation, Lionel sent two men to infiltrate Kirkland’s base of operations, and the first opportunity they had, they snuck up on Leila, who gave them quite a fight before she was beaten senseless and brought back to Lionel.

After a few hours of manipulation, hair color dye, a haircut and makeup, Emery transformed herself.

After a deep kiss and longing embrace, Emery said to him as she held his face in her hands, “I love you. You know that right? I’m doing this for us and our future”.

Lionel smiled warmly and kissed her. “ I love you too! Be safe!”

Lionel had to choke back the tears forming in his eyes. He just sent the only woman he ever loved to a possible death.

*********

He shut his eyes again and thought harder this time to contemplate on what must have transpired. The pain she experienced as Monique took her life, the fear she felt as she learned that she was going to die. Lionel’s brokenness was morphing into rage. Rage that would not satisfy until he had Monique’s and Kirkland’s head on a platter. He blamed Kirkland’s existence and Monique’s stupidity for her death.

Lionel charged back to his organization. This time, he won’t just be a ruthless mafia lord, but a full blown monster. Grief and anger had consumed his mind and he was a madman on the loose, on his way to kill and destroy everything in its path.

“Castor! Where the fuck is Castor?” Lionel roars.

Everybody is terrified as they have no idea why their boss is so mad. They know better not to piss him off.

“Sssir, he is not here. I can go find him for you..” One of the guards stutters.

“If he’s not here, I have a mission for you. I want Monique before me—NOW!”

“Yes Sssir, of course. I-I-I will pull her out. Get her now. Tell her it’s urgent.”

’Yes please! I have a surprise for her.” Lionel smiles as he flicks his gun with his fingers.

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Challenge
20 words
Create a 20 word poem. It can be about anything at all. Just make sure to do your best and dream big!
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green in Poetry & Free Verse
• 69 reads

It’s not what you think

Longing through seasons

To hear those magical words..

.

.

.

.

.

“You’re hired!”

6
2
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Challenge
15 Word Rhyming Challenge
Write a coherent 15 word sentence with as many rhyming words as you can. Let's see if anyone can make all 15 rhyme with each other! Try not to repeat the same word twice! Make it as silly as possible.
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 19 reads

Their plan

Ann Chan’s Bhutan clan

ban man plan..

ran bran tan sylvan sedan fan,

began van.

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Challenge
Six Word Story
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 69 reads

Grip of death

Death didn't care

she was Queen

#undermeyou

six word story. This post wont let me post under 15 words..end of rant.

14
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Challenge
Challenge of the Month VI: April
Something to Lose. What does it feel like to cherish something or someone with every fiber of your being? Is it terrifying, as though any second it could disappear? Or is it a source of comfort, solid ground to stand on, an anchor? Write about having something to lose. $100 purse to the winner. The best entries will be shared with publishers. Fiction or non-fiction, poetry or Prose.
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 53 reads

Angel

We never met, we never knew each other

Although, I wish we did

Yet we were bound together, by the very fabric of life

That could hold two beings as close as possible

I loved you even without knowing you

I know you did the same.

I was once alone,

Crushing under the burden of duty to others

Overwhelmed by the complexities of relationships

Struggling to find a meaning

To whom I'm suppose to be

Everything I did, I wasn't good enough

Everything I was, I felt unsure

Eventually, I felt no more...

Then you came along.

With your brief existence in me,

You thought me to love

I began to feel again

Felt such tremendous joy

That I did not know was ever possible

Colors of spring were never brighter,

Sound of music was never so melodious

You changed something in me forever

For the first time,

I began to love

Myself and YOU.

Nothing will ever change,

Even though you’re gone

I will forever be in love with you

I will forever be your mom.

10
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Challenge
Humanities Worst Problems
Humanities Worst Problem. Can be any form. Limit of 50 words.
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 56 reads

The human Ego

Good is never enough,

Perfection is what we want

Even if it costs the Earth, it’s Sanity.

We will wreck everything in our way

Bargaining with peace

For a better tomorrow

A tomorrow that will only shine for us.

If things go wrong, don’t fret

Humans are superior after all.

6
0
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Challenge
in 15 words, describe a moment or activity you've shared with someone which makes you love that someone even more.
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 38 reads

Post dinner ritual

- Uno, wine, laughter and chatter, sinking myself in the softest comforter and warmest embrace.

13
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Challenge
Write a sensual poem. Theme: AUTUMN. Include the words: delight, daring, umber, frost.
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green in Poetry & Free Verse
• 72 reads

Autumn’s romance

Stay with me darling,

Make this moment last a little longer

I wish the time could stay still

Let your touch, my senses conquer

My daring heart yearns for your love,

My famished soul seeks refuge in your arms

Let me gaze into those beautiful hazel eyes

Until the umber turns to gold

Your touch is tantilizing

Underneath my skin

Your smile brings delight

and a dimple on my chin

Don’t let the winter’s frost

Bother you darling,

I will keep you warm.

You and me, a force together

We could beat any storm

#sexyhazeleyes #soulmate

9
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Challenge
A haiku sonnet is four connected theme haikus concluded with one rhyming couplet. (Haiku non-rhyming 3 lines 5/7/5) The subject is 4 1people who have changed your life. $25 prize.
November1
Profile avatar image for weather_green
weather_green
• 49 reads

Influence

He once emboldened me

To spread my wings and soar high

Only to clip them

Mother disapproved

My every attempt to please

Until I gave up

Random stranger showed

What freedom and love felt like

I braced my new wings

My daughter of steel

Always expressed her strong-will

She inspired me

My past was dark, I could not let go

Then the storm settled, I found my rainbow.

7
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Challenge
Write about a dream you had
Everyone has to of had at least one dream, the one that stays with you and have trouble forgetting. Write about that dream however you want, most dreams don't make sense so don't worry if it doesn't. It's your mind being free while logic is asleep. Can't wait to read your posts so please tag me!
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weather_green in Dreams
• 40 reads

Snakes and a house

There is big house in a middle of nowhere. Tall green grass and weed growing all around it. I am walking towards the house but never get to it. The house seems to move away from me, so I run towards it but in vain. I hear hissing sound all around me and within no time, snakes of all sizes and colours start crawling towards me, I try to get away from them, but they follow me. There is a man standing at the door of the house, he reaches out his hand, but I never get to it. I end up falling in a pond that was well hidden by the grass with snakes all over me. This is where I usually wake up with a racing heart and sweat all over my body.

Been having this dream since I was a teenager..

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