“Why Would People Call Me a Villain?”

As we get ready for NaNoWriMo, Wendy Strain over at Write on Wendy challenged us to flesh out our villain in her new #WOW555 challenge. The idea would be for us to focus on his/her motivation. This year, the finish to my trilogy involves a villain who doesn’t really see himself as a villain. Perhaps those kind are the worst. Now the story.

He rolled down the window and carefully looked through his binoculars. It was the third day in a row that he had seen this child playing in the park, carefree, alone and unprotected. None of the nannies bringing kids to the park after school even acknowledged her. He decided to follow her today, just to make sure he’d have enough time to get away before her loss was noticed.

He watched as she slowly picked her way through the park, apparently headed for home. He thought about getting out and walking as he followed her, but decided against it. If anyone caught him, he wanted to be able to fly out of there. He didn’t think a 7 year old girl would notice that he was following her. He also didn’t think anyone else would even notice that she was being followed so he decided to chance it and keep using the skimmer.

He shook his head sadly to himself as he thought about that. A cute young girl that no one cared about. “It’s almost like I’m doing her a favor,” he whispered under his breath.. She’ll have someone to take care of her once I pick her up.” He didn’t think about what he would be putting her through, of course. He just knew that the boss needed a girl like her for a special customer. If he did his job well, he’d be rewarded. And now he justified his actions with this fantasy that she’d be taken care of.

He followed her carefully, never getting closer than a half a block to her. She looked at at every flower bed along the way and stopped to pet every dog and every cat she saw. She was just craving attention. She needed someone to give her that attention; she needed someone to love on her. This one would get lots of attention where he would take her; she would have plenty of men to love on her.

He smiled to himself as he thought about it. As he thought more about it, he began to feel slightly heroic as he thought about how he would be rescuing this poor deprived child. As he grew more and more self-assured that he was actually doing the little kid a favor, he got closer and closer without realizing it. Suddenly he realized that the skimmer was right next to the girl. She recognized his presence and he decided to take her now.

“Hey honey? Can you help me? I’m looking for my dog.” He described one she had played with a couple of blocks ago. “Have you seen him?”

She smiled as she nodded without saying anything. “Where is he then?” he asked.

She pointed back the way she had come. He breathed deeply before his next question. “Can you get in and help me find him?” He opened the door and she came in without saying a word. He closed the door behind her and smiled. He was glad she was so young and trusting. She would be safe with him now.

Check out the other entries this week at the Write on Wendy Challenge site!

Mission to Mars!

This week’s #5MinuteFiction prompt puts us on a Mission to Mars. The prompt is: “Your character has been selected to be on the first four person ship that will land on Mars. It’s nearing time to arrive. Now what?” All three stories are intense. One begins with a mystery. Another has murder lurking at the landing. Mine is the private diary of one of the travelers. I’m sharing mine here. Be sure to go to The Writing Network to vote

June 28th – Touchdown in 3 hours. About the only good thing about being the 4th most important man on a 4 man ship is being able to write about the trip. the next report isn’t due until after touchdown, so I’ve got three hours to describe the progress. Ironic isn’t it? The fame I’ve sought all my life, but I’ll never get to experience it. I hope my kids enjoy the profits from the book. One way trips do have their limitations.

John and Martha are busy checking the gauges. The whole thing runs by computer, but they have to look busy, don’t they? John, the captain. Haughty little jerk, isn’t he? “Do this. Don’t do that.” Sure he’s the captain and he’s supposed to give orders. I can’t help but wonder if Napolean would be more easy going than John. And Martha. Oh so beautiful. She runs around like she’s the queen bee. The only reason she really came along was for the kids. Someone had to populate Mars. Alright, enough griping. In spite of John’s ego, he does have things well in hand. He guided us through that asteroid field with lots of skill. Hold on, diary, I want to take a glance out the window.

Touchdown in 2 hours. Dates don’t mean much here on the ship. When we land, it will be day 1 of year 0. We will set the time. We will be preparing the way for future travelers. Perhaps some day people will come to visit Mars, not be forced to take a one way trip. There goes Juanita. She’s not too bad. She’ll manage the landing. She’s been practicing forever. She could do it blindfolded. She’s also good breeding stock. Is it crass to put it that way? They needed to check out our fertility if we wanted to start a colony. I’m just glad that John gets Martha and I get Juanita. Juanita isn’t stuck up.

Touchdown – 5 minutes. Nerves are setting in. Was it really worth it to make this trip? Sure, my parents are still young enough to care for the kids. The matchup sure saved me the pain of dating after Belinda died. But here, forever. No time for regrets now. Checking the suits to make sure they’re airtight.

4 Minutes. The nerves are fading. John is leading well. Juanita is landing this thing beautifully even in the dust storm.

2 Minutes. Bracing now. Will we survive the landing? Will we establish the colony?

Touchdown. We can see out the windows now. It’s barren and bleak. We’ll have to find ways to develop crops. But it’s beautiful. Time for me to send out my first report. The “Fantastic Four” has landed and now the work begins. Martha’s getting ready to disembark first. Maybe, just maybe, we;ll find a way to get along.

“Hello Earth! We’ve landed. 1st Mate Martha is getting ready to leave the capsule….”