Chapter 1

Chloe sat looking out the window staring at the orange haze coming from the city lights. This will be her first trip to the city and Chloe was the happiest she had ever been at that moment. The events that led up to this very moment may not be approved by today’s society but she took the chance she was fatefully given. Chloe has been one of those unfortunate girls that were given the bottom of the barrel in almost everything in her life. Her sister Michele was given the beauty, finesse and class of the family and Chloe had the terrible fortune to be the awkward one.

Friday morning her mother and father left for their four week trip to see her sister Michele, leaving Chloe behind to take care of the house and chores. After two nights of sitting around the house waiting for time to pass Chloe sat looking out her bedroom window out at the night sky contemplating on where her life has gone. She sat wondering why she was sitting there. Did her parents really need her around? Was there any real reason to stay home cleaning a house that no one was sleeping in? Was there any reason she couldn’t go on a trip of her own?

That’s when she decided to do something brave for the first time in her life. Chloe took her small savings and booked a trip to the nearby town of Galisha.  The trip would not be a long one just a quick two week journey. So Chloe packed a small pack and boarded the train to Galisha dreaming of the journey that lay before her. Chloe sat on the rough leather seat that was her own. Across from her sat a man wrapped in a massive ball of clothing. A bit confused over the man’s choice of dress Chloe tried to get a better look at the man’s facial features but after a few failed attempts sat back in her seat with a silent thud. This was going to be a long trip.

Chloe sat bored to death waiting for the time to pass quickly. The train ride would be a two day trip and Chloe found that her first hour into the trip was not as pleasant as she thought it would be. Confined in her cabin, across from her sat a man she did not know and with nothing to do but twitter her thumbs or sleep Chloe decided to succumb to the latter.   

Slowly Chloe fell asleep staring out the window as the trees rushed by.  As she began a quite tasty dream about exotic pastries and meals and then she was startled awake by a deep whimper.  The mass of cloth had fallen from the man’s face and draped down his side. Chloe was amazed at the sight that she saw before her.

She sat staring into the face of a devilishly handsome man. He had deep brown hair that was neatly trimmed, soft round eyes that darted back in forth under their concealing lids and his plump, soft rosy lips beckoned to be touched.  Then there it was again. The soft whimper that startled her from her sleep was coming from the sleeping man. The man was having a horrible dream by the appearance of distress that he wore on his face.

Chloe reached out and laid a hand upon the man’s forehead. He was burning up and no wonder as he was layered in a stuffy arrangement of cloth. Slowly Chloe began to remove the layers of clothing from the man’s shoulders setting them beside him one by one. Twenty-two articles she removes from him and she was a little startled by the amount.  

Once she had removed the mass of clothing she sat staring at the man before her. His cheeks began to lose their pink blush and he let out a gentle sigh. She felt a strange force tug at her and found herself reaching out and laying the palm of her hand on the man’s left cheek. A strange energy serge through her from the contact with his cheek and it startled her and she quickly retracted her hand back to her side.

Retreating back to her seat Chloe spent the rest of the night waiting for sleep to come again. Her eyes fixed on the man with a paranoia that he would wake at any moment and find her staring at him.

The next morning she awakes to find the handsome man staring at her in amazement. “I beg your pardon Miss, but did you remove my shirts in the night?”     

Still trying to come fully out of her sleep Chloe sat up and simply stared at the man. It took her a few seconds to realize he was speaking to her before she responded.

“Why yes Sir, you were burning up something terrible and having quite a horrible dream. I felt it my duty to make you comfortable sir as I saw no one else here to assist you.”  Chloe sat quite proud of herself and her ability to help the man whose name she didn’t even know.

The man sat staring into her eyes, and it was then that Chloe saw the deep tenderness they held. A soft caramel brown highlighted the dark iris and the gentle pull of his lids gave his face the look of aged man. He must have been no older than twenty one years but he had that look of wisdom on his face that one can only find with age. His mouth sat in a slight grin that lit up his eyes and melted Chloe heart.

“Well miss I must thank you. I vividly remember a horrible dream I had last night of burning in a fiery inferno and then I was rescued by a soft angel. I must believe that I dreamed you into existence for that’s what my heart believes. My name is Phillip O’Sullivan and I am pleased to meet you.”

Extending his long slender hand Phillip took Chloe’s hand into his own and placed his lips on her hand. Her skin tingled from his touch causing a fire to pulse from his touch up her arm through her chest and down to her toes. Then there it was again. That strange energy from the night before. As he held her hand in his she thought she was losing her mind. She could feel the energy travel through her arm from contact of his skin on her own. It felt like electrically charged water coating the outer layer of her arm. She stared into Phillips eyes as she felt it pass her elbow and she saw the recognition in his eyes as he realized that she could feel the energy.

Taking her hand back Chloe sat silently smiling back at Phillip, the look of recognition gone. A few seconds later she felt quite foolish and thanked him for his gratitude and trying to take the spotlight off herself she asked him about his unusual choice of dress.

A small chuckle rose from the depths of his throat finding Chloe following the curves of his fine jaw bone down to the opening of his shirt imagining what lay hidden beneath. The simple thought of his explanation brought a large smile to his face.

“I was told I could only bring one bag onto the train without being charged. So I took all the clothes I had in my second case and put them on. My dear you should have seen the look on the conductors face! It was a combination of utter rage and a frustration. The poor fellow grew so red I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel or hemorrhage out. Alas, there was nothing he could do but sit me in my seat and he walked by my door so frequently before we departed I felt it best to just deal with the sweltering heat than his ill temper.“

A small giggle escaped from behind Chloe’s lips and this brought an even larger grin to Phillip’s face. There was something mischievous about his smile that left her a little concerned with the man she was now traveling with. Chloe couldn’t help but feel that this was not a chance meeting. Something in her told her that she and Phillip had a wonderfully long journey ahead of them.

And thus began Chloe’s pleasant train trip to Galisha with the company of Phillip. 

Author's Note

This is something I just drummed out one late night.
Please share comments and thoughts. Thanks!

Reviews

[Ink Stained]

Beginnings are difficult. Many authors have stated that they rewrite the opening lines many times. You might shorten the early exposition or move it deeper inside your story. Begin with action or opening dialog. Once the couple begin to talk is when I felt the story start to take off.

By the by, I put in a smidgen of a story I worked on her. If you would like to, review it. Also, I need to have some writer's cafe "friends". I'm over here in Florida and resuscitating my "writer's fantasy". Good luck on your book.

[Kat Loch]

Ooooh. It kept me hooked the entire time. I loved it! The beginning is a little rocky, but a slight tweaking and it'd be perfect.

But, otherwise, it was amazing and I'm certainly going to keep reading. :)

[K.M. Lucero]

I agree the beginning needs work and I plan to revisit it later after I get the whole story out of my mind. :) Thank you for the review!