Dear Diary

Written words...

She was jogging home from her aerobics dance class. She was tired, but blissfully so. It had been a decent day.

Down Winzelberg considered herself normal. Or at least as normal as normal can be. She wasn't unusually beautiful, and she wasn't unusually ugly. She was simply an average young woman at the age of 23 who liked to wear makeup she thought made her prettier. She had only recently graduated college, and was living with her best friend as roommates. She worked a desk job for a company and had aerobic dance classes every other Saturday to help her stay in shape and have some semblance of a social life.

It was one of those days that had started out bright and sunny, but eventually clouds had crept up to engulf the sun. As the sky darkened slowly, Down jogged a little faster. Thankfully the sidewalk wasn't crowded, because it meant she didn't crash into anyone as she tripped.

"Dang it!" She said, her day had been going so well. She looked for what she'd tripped over, and her eyes came to rest on a small blue book.

She was about to just jog away and murmur to herself about people being stupid and littering, but instead she picked it up, put it in her bag, and brought it home with her. She didn't know why...

It was intriguing for some peculiar reason. She was curious of it, in a way she couldn't tell why.

"I'll take it home with me, then figure out whose it is and return it to them." She said to herself.

"And read it too..." The truthful part of her mind admitted.

It was a peculiar diary, more of a journal actually.  There were detailed notes about occurrences that occurred each day. Some normal, some wonderful, some helpful, some... Horrible. She flipped through the pages, curious. And then she stopped and stared.

4/11/13; 4:46 pm - Car crash on Regals Street, 14 people injured and hospitalized, 4 dead

"This is today's date..." She thought to herself.

She looked up and down out her window onto the street below. Regals Street.  She looked at her watch. 5 seconds until 4:46...

The second she didn't expect it-- it happened.

Screams echoed in the street below. Down looked out in horror, feeling as if she held the murder weapon in her hands. Shaking, she turned the page. Something sinister drew her to the wish to read what came next.

4/11/13; 4:46 pm- Down Winzelberg reads this entry.

Down dropped the book like a burning bolt had pierced her hands. Something... Bad radiated from it. Something awfully terrible. She felt a horror begin to clutch her being. A frantic. Stabbing. Guilty, horror. What was going on??

A page suddenly fluttered over on its own accord. Down screamed.

Another.

Another.

Another.

Rapidly they turned, like a spastic wind was pushing them until it reached its destination.

A blank page.

Down had pressed herself against the wall.

No. No. No. This is weird. What is happening?? Why? What? How??

Listless, nonsensical and fragmenting thoughts.

That was when ink began to seep into letters.

Neat, perfect cursive like on all the other pages...

4/11/13; 4:47 pm- Down Winzelberg,

The said woman screamed again, and not waiting to see what had been written, ran into her bedroom which was nearest. Locking the door. Terrified. Not knowing. Then a strange growling came from behind her. She didn't want to look behind her... Curiosity had given her enough that day... But it was too much.

She turned-- and screamed for the last time.

Max got home.

Max was short for Maxine... But Max was fine thank-you-very-much.

She'd not had the best day at work, but whatever. It was over. She'd decided to suggest a movie night to her roommate, Down Winzelberg (odd name, but nice girl), since neither of them had to work the next day. They could stay up late, get up late. Just like they did before they started living on their own and acting all "responsible".

Max flung her bag onto the floor and grinned, trying to decide a movie. But then she realized the awful silence... And the smell.

A bloody smell.

Oh no... There was that feeling. The feeling like, this isn't happening. Why would it? We're not the 'somebody else' this happens too... So Max walked cautiously and reluctantly further into the apartment, stopping at an out-of-place thing.

A blue book.

Had Down bought it that day? Why was it on the floor? It looked... Handwritten? A journal?

Max bent to pick it up to read it out of sheer temptation, before promptly dropping it and running to Down's room.    

4/11/13; 4:47 pm- Down Winzelberg, beware of the monsters under your bed.

Author's Note

Please leave reviews on my chapter version of this in my book Short Stories. :) Much appreciated. ;) Thanks for reading!! ^_^

Reviews

[Ees]

I like the way that the story is opened- jogging home from exercise and blissfully tired. I know that feeling and I like that feeling. Good to start out with something that is relatable and even better that it is relatable in a good way!

I don't like the name Down. It isn't normal, it isn't a name. It doesn't make sense to you. Is it a typo? Dawn would make a lot more sense to me.

This: "She was simply an average young woman at the age of 23 who liked to wear makeup she thought made her prettier." reads a little funny, you may want to break it down and make it simpler.

"It was intriguing for some peculiar reason. She was curious of it, in a way she couldn't tell why." you say too much here, we don;t need the "in a way she couldn't tell why"- it seems like excess to me, that part is kind implied with everything else that you have told us.

There used to be a tv show, I don't remember the name of it, but it was about a guy who got tomorrows newspaper today, or however you want to call it... this reminds me of that. It's a tried topic, but it's a good one. I don't think it's overdone and I enjoyed reading your take on it.

You rush the interaction with Max, slow down, right it out. I'd like to hear them talk. Let Max talk about her day the way one would to a roommate.

Creepy ending. I can imagine this going further and the characters going further too. Nice work. I love this type of concept.

[InsanityWriter]

I personally like the name Down, and the strangeness of her name kinda reflects the strangeness of her fate. Reading back, you're right about Max's intro, I'll get back and fix that part when I have time. Thank you for taking time to review my work. :) I hope you'll read more!!!

[Ees]

No problem. I am sure I'll read more.

I find it hard to believe that a Down would see herself as normal. haha, your call though.

[InsanityWriter]

Names don't define people. :) Thanks again!!

[Ees]

Names do define people- particularly when in literature. That I am sure of, of course if you like Down, that's okay, but the origin of the name, then needs to be explained in the story. I'd encourage you to ask other writers on here about the name thing if you won't take it from me. It is only that it is so unusual that it has called attention, if it were an average name it wouldn't need to be explained or would it bring to mind conflicts in the characterization.

I was looking up a name on a babynaming site a few days ago and they had the surveys under each name that gave average impressions of names based on a few questions. Names give people, whether good or bad ideas about them.

My cousin's name is Seamus- see you got an image.
I have a friend named Jarraj- see another image.
My dad's name is Dick- you know he's over 50 just by that nickname for Richard.
My mom's name is Amy- not as distinct an image- it's a relatively common name.
Maryann- sounds older doesn't it? And what about Lisa or McKenna- two different ages pop into your mind.

Anyway... I think I have made my point the best that I can and I really am only trying to help.

Good luck, have fun!

[InsanityWriter]

I actually didn't get any images... I'm probably just weird though. XD I really do appreciate your help, I'll keep it in mind. Thanks!

[S. Wright]

I think this is my favorite. I love Stephen King and horror stories, and this made me think of him. :)

[InsanityWriter]

Thanks. :) I love the horror genre as well.

[The dark story]

intriguing,thrilling and shockinlgy breathtaking which just made me sit right at the edge of my seat to read what's next. amazingly stunning write!
marvellous job!1

[InsanityWriter]

Thank you for reading. :) I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and review my work!! (:

[Leslie Philibert]

This has a kind of horror/Steven King kind of feeling, written well, and the short lines increase the tension to the end - you do well here !

[InsanityWriter]

Thanks so much for your kind review!! ^_^

[RachelReaper]

That sounds like a book Tom Riddle would like to have possession of... sorry, Harry Potter reference on your comments. Anyways, the book was interesting, and now I'm curious, was the book the cause of death or did the book simply report the cause of death?

[InsanityWriter]

The book tried to warn her, but accidentally caused her death. Thanks for reading!! I'm glad you enjoyed it. ^_^

[RachelReaper]

:)

[Death Girl]

WOW I LOVE IT! This is amazing and it is so just wow amazing write. This is the best piece i have read all day and i have been reading a lot of peoples work today. I just love it. On question did she die you never really said that but it was kind of implied so i just wanted to make sure about that. Great job and keep up the good work.

[InsanityWriter]

Thanks for reading, and to answer your question, yes she did. I left it a little open ended though for your imagination. ;) Thanks again!! ^_^

[Eileenws]

Very scary. Nicely done. I like her name. It foreshadows her fate.

[InsanityWriter]

Thanks. :) I'm happy you enjoyed it! (:

[Lina Grey]

captivating, creepy, creative :) well done dear

[InsanityWriter]

Thank you. ^_^

[Lina Grey]

:)

[Alexander Rodgers]

I must admit this was...AWESOME. Captivating for sure, had me on the edge of my seat and it was so messed up! And I thought mine was creepy lol. Creative and flowed great, good job!

[InsanityWriter]

Thanks for reading!! I'm glad you liked it. :)

[chaotic katie]

I loved reading this piece, especially the end. "Down Winzelberg, beware of the monsters under your bed". This whole piece captivated me. very creative, fantastic job!