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Crystal
Adam Coddington	December 12, 1997
Short Story	Final Edition
Notice! This document was written a very long time ago. In fact, I was in the eighth grade. Do NOT use this as any judgment of my writing ability. This is merely the oldest written work of mine that I can locate. Just as in any other morning, Marcus wakes up and walks toward the bathroom stopping before he gets to the bathroom and picking up the remote and flips on channel 7 news. While he started brushing his teeth he heard the familiar channel 7 news intro music. "In early news this morning, the Darwin family jet has crashed in Taiwan today..." Marcus drops his toothbrush to the floor. "All inside the jet died, Charles Darwin, owner of the Darwin Company, and Rebecca Darwin, his wife. Their children Marcus, Lucas, and Katherine will be notified." "Katherine, I have some bad news for you. Our company is another ten grand in debt and well..." "What, Derrick?" "Well, your parents died in a plane crash last night, and they didn't live." With the most backward emotional response she said, "Get me a plane ticket to Chicago for tonight." "Lucas, get over here now!" said the woman, "In a moment." "Well, you know you're paying me by the hour." "Just get this suit tailored soon, I have to be at my lawyer's by six o'clock. "I'm going as fast as I can!" While Lucas was at the lawyer's office, they discussed what they will be doing about last night's happenings. On the morning of his parents' death, Marcus was invited to the memorial service for his family. "Well, don't worry, your sister will be there and you don't hate her do you." said Marcus's girlfriend. "But Lucas will be there, and I do hate him." "He's your brother, you can't hate him." "I do hate him. He's a greedy snob." "Yes, Lucas, It will all be over by eight." "Good,It better, you are the best lawyer money could buy." "I'll be in Chicago for the memorial service." "Good, just be as far away from the Tribune building as you can." "Jessica, look at Lucas with all his money and he is still a dork." "Marcus, shut up. Can't you and your brother just get alone?", said Marcus's girlfriend, Jessica. "Okay, I'll go over there and try to patch things up, but you have to come with me." "Okay, I'll go." "Hey, Lucas, I'm sorry for everything I've done over the years." "Hey? Brother, you still haven't learned to use proper English!" "Well, sorry!" As Marcus leaves, Lucas goes over to the other side of the great hall and talks to Katherine. "Well, I'm surprised he can get alone with Katherine." Out of the corner of his eye Marcus sees Lucas pour a powdery substance into Katherine's drink. "Pardon me, I must leave early," said Lucas. "Stop him!" said Marcus. But it was too late he had already left the hall The beep of a cell phone and the rumble of the black Ferrari's engine calm Lucas. "Yes, call the police on Marcus now." The police ram through the doors and ask for Marcus and they point toward him they immediately handcuff him. "What...the..." "You are under arrest for alleged bank robbery." "I've been here all night though!" "Tell that to the judge." In Marcus's cold damp cell he thinks about the death of his parents and how Lucas got away. "Hey, kid, your sister is on TV!" "What are you talking about?" "She is about to jump off the Tribune building!" "Holy s*," said Marcus." "She just jumped!" yelled the police officer. "No!" said Marcus. WHen Katherine hit the light post and fell to a car antennae slicing through her. Blood drips off the windshield. When the policeman wasn't looking, Marcus grabs the key to his cell and acts like he is sleeping. Later that night, Marcus uses the key and escapes from the cell. "Lucas! I've been calling you for an hour! Marcus escaped from his cell last night!" "Don't lie to me" "Have I ever? "I am going to kill Lucas now!" As Marcus snuck into his own home and waited for his girlfriend to get home. "Marcus! What are you doing here, you were arrested," said Jessica. "I busted out." They talked for a while and Jessica said she was hungry and wanted to go to the restaurant and he said he would go with her. Before they leave, Marcus hands her a pistol for protection. At the restaurant, they talk and eat. "I have to go to the bathroom. You know how to use the pistol, don't you?" "Yes, I know how to use a gun." "Good" The restaurant was barren except for Marcus and Jessica, but from behind Jessica, Lucas grabbed her. "Help!" Marcus hears, barely, and runs from the bathroom only to see the front door swinging shut. "He probably took her to his house!" Marcus runs to his car and starts it...the engine whines "God d* it start!" tries again, no luck "Start!" tries again, the engine starts, "yes" Marcus drives on the back roads to Lucas's mansion his car tries 110 but only gets close "There's his house The gates to Lucas's house loom over him, he is still driving 100 mph. Marcus's car rams through the gate and skids to a dead stop in the driveway. Marcus runs to the open door of the mansion and walks in. The room is all candlelit, and the crystal chandelier above him sparkles in the candlelight in front of him in a chair tied down is Jessica. Marcus starts to run toward her but upon the stairs above him is Lucas. "Ah, not so fast." But fast enough is Marcus, he grabs the pistol from his pocket and tries to shoot it. Click...he forgot to load it. Marcus thinks of what he can do and throws the pistol at Lucas and it strikes him in the head leaving a trail of blood on his face. Lucas falls to the floor. Marcus runs to Jessica, unties the ropes and rips the tape off of her face. "I love you, Marcus" "I love you too" They run, or try, to the hall under the stairs and sneak into the billiards room. "Jessica, hide in the closet." Jessica runs into the closet and hides. Marcus stands at the edge of the door, ready to shoot anything that moves. The door swings open with a hail of gunfire one bullet hitting Marcus in the left hand. He screams in protest. Lucas walks into the room and drags Marcus out to the place where Jessica was tied up. While Lucas was tying Marcus up, Jessica snuck up behind him and hit him in the head with a cue ball from the billiards room. Lucas falls to the floor. Marcus and Jessica jump up and hold each other under the beautiful candlelight spinning in the warmth of each other. Lucas reaches his hand to the pistol and shoots, aiming for Marcus. "Ah!" Jessica was shot in the heart. "She's dead!" With a bursting hail of profanity he takes the pistol out of Jessica's pocket and shoots Lucas in the head, kisses Jessica on the lips. He then points the pistol to his head and begins to speak. "We will always be together." then shoots the bullet through his skull.

XSLT File Version 1.2

Adam Coddington
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