Chapter 3 -- Scribbler's Corner

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Date Posted: 20:26:58 01/24/02 Thu
Author: huntess
Subject: Chapter 3
In reply to: huntess 's message, "Overtime" on 20:16:40 01/24/02 Thu

Chapter Three:

Quencie woke to see her clock, which was silent as can be. The time was 2:47 p.m. �Damn!� Quencie moaned. She lifted the covers and slowly sat up on the edge. �I�m gonna be late for the first time in how long?� she asked herself. �I can�t believe it...I�ve been late for 3 days straight now!� She stood up and dressed quickly. She left her apartment at 2:54. She knew there was no way of getting there before 3:00 p.m.

She drove through town, taking as many short cuts as she could. �I can, at least, shave off a few minutes,� she said to herself. �Kitty will probably be there...wonder what�s on the radio...� she droned and turned the knob. �Great! Alanis Morrisette...�It�s like rain on your wedding day...a green light though you�re already late...it�s good advise that you just didn�t take, and who would have thought it�s been worse�!� she sang along. �What a great song for this moment!�

She parked in her usual spot and trotted to the small office and the gate. �Hey, Quencie!� Kitty said. She was already at her post. �You�re thirteen minutes late!�

�Thanks for telling me!� Quencie drolled, sarcastically.

�Welcome!� Kitty laughed. �You overslept, huh?�

�Yep.�

�That�s terrible. You better check in quick!� Kitty told her.

�I�m there, Kitty!� Quencie trotted off to the main office. She checked into work and took her post before the General made his rounds. When he came up to Quencie, she could feel butterflies taking wing.

�Quencie! Why did you come late!?� the General�s voice boomed.

�I overslept, sir!� Quencie answered.

�What?!� the General said, enraged.

�Sorry, sir!� Quencie added.

�You�re gonna work all day tomorrow, soldier!� the General ended. He stormed away quickly. Quencie was so upset, she was crying tears more from pain than sadness. She was tired of working so much and for so long. She wanted to do something about it, but she didn�t know what she could do.

�Quencie?� Kitty asked in a low voice. �You tried, remember?�

�Yeah, I tried.� Kitty placed a hand on Quencie�s shoulder. �Thanks, Kitty,� Quencie added. She strode into the small office and monitored the action at the gate through the window. Her eyes and face were crusted with tears. She frantically wiped them away, but finally went to the restroom, attached to the office, to wash her face and freshen up. She stepped outside, and resumed her work. Just before her shift was over, the intercom blared:

�All soldiers of the late shift must report to the throne room. There will be a meeting for the Grand Ball that will be held for tomorrow. I repeat: All soldiers of the late shift must report to the throne room, now!�

Quencie and Kitty both moaned. They were exhausted, and wanted to get home before day light. They stormed to the meeting place, enraged, and ready to smack anyone who got in their way. �Why?!� Kitty whined.

�I�m afraid to ask!� Quencie said with a yawn. She struggled to keep her eyes open. �I�m gonna die!� she added as she stretched.

They stood together in the massive room. �I wonder if we�ll get to see the Prince!� Kitty whispered with excitement.

�Quite frankly, my dear, I don�t give a damn!� Quencie quoted in a whisper. Kitty giggled softly, and saw the General glaring at them. She cleared her throat, which told Quencie of their observer. After everyone on the late shift arrived, the General stepped up to the throne and announced the truth to why they were called.

�Welcome, and thank you for coming!� his voice boomed. �As you know, the Grand Ball is tomorrow! There will be tight security! There will also be guards posted inside! The Prince, himself, has chosen a select few to guard the inside. Two of which will be directly by the throne! Only the best is what the Prince wishes, and the BEST is what he�ll get!� his voice echoed. �Any question?!�

�Just one, sir!� a voice called. �Who are the lucky two, sir?!�

�That will be revealed tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m.! Come at that time, please! Quencie! You better make perfectly sure you wake up!� the General said to embarrass her.

�I will, sir!� Quencie said in a cocky voice.

�Don�t get cocky with me, soldier!� the General added, pointing a thick finger at her.

�I will, sir! Oh, I mean, I won�t, sir!� Quencie said trying to suppress her laughter. The other soldiers weren�t very successful.

�What are you thinking?!� Kitty asked with gritted teeth.

�Well, I figure, if I have to work tomorrow, maybe I can get kicked for a few days or
something.� Quencie explained.

�Yeah, you�ll get kicked! Straight to the Wolf�s Hour! What if you get fired, and Jonny finds out? Wouldn�t he tell the were-wolves what you�ve been doing?� Kitty asked worriedly.

�If he did tell them that I worked with cats, I�d tell them it was to spy on them, and maybe get to the Prince. Hell, if he wanted me to, I could take out Maxi...dear old Maxi pad! Ha!� Quencie said mischievously. She held a grin for two seconds. Then her frown took over.

�Really?! Wow! You are good!� Kitty cried in an almost horse whisper.

�Please, Kitty. Those bastards won�t ever put a paw on me or nothin!� Quencie bragged. She folded her arms and waited impatiently for the meeting to end. At one point, a sentry of the Prince jogged up to the General, whispered in the fat man�s ear, and jogged back through the door. �Oh, boy, what now?!�

�Quencie! I have orders to send you on a session...or two!� the General announced louder than needed. �You are to make up for time you lost yesterday! Now, get a move on! Colonel Monae will monitor your work!� he said nodding to the Colonel.

�Aye, aye, Cap�n, sir!� Quencie said in a mocking voice.

�Make sure she works �til she drops, Colonel!� the General growled.

�Yes, sir!� a large mocha skinned man said with a salute.

�You ain�t �lion�!� Quencie said, looking back toward Kitty, as she walked out of the room. Kitty looked worried. Quencie just winked.

�She�s in deep, Kitty,� a young woman said.

�I know, and there�s no way out of it,� Kitty admitted. �I wish there was something I could do.�

�Sorry.� the woman added in a low, pitiful voice.

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Replies:

Chapter 4 (in completed) -- huntess, 20:35:36 01/24/02 Thu

Re: Chapter 4 (in completed) -- SoHee, 06:14:24 01/27/02 Sun