writingprincessblog

[writingprincessblog]

!!!! Important Announcement !!!!

Hey guys!! I'm writing this post to announce a ......... hiatus. Though I’ve been enjoying writing, posting, and chatting with all you lovely people, unfortunately, this final year of school is already crushing me. So, I’ll be away for a while—but I’ll still drop by from time to time. Hope my stories keep you entertained in the meantime!! Feel free to drop your thoughts or fav moments in the comments—I’ll still be around to read them whenever I can. Happy reading!!!

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

!!!!NEW SIDE BLOG!!!!

Hey guys!!! I had actually created another blog a while back. (I literally forgot all about it) Its just a side blog where I would be yapping on different things and will be posting and reblogging on random topics. If you want, you all can check it out! Its my crazy cozy space. Hope to entertain you guys!!!!!!

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Thank you, guys for taking part in the poll. And also thanks for the encouragement. Okay then, now that am on a teeny weeny break from school, lemme gather the courage and look at my messy docs. *pulls out a stack of tiny stickers, paras and codewords I don't even remember*. *sighs*

Stay tuned anyways, guys!!!!

Also, feel free to drop your plot predictions or any wild ideas — what do you think is going to happen next? Or are you totally confused and need clues? Just comment, ask or message me. I would love to chat about it and would appreciate some help on the plot. hehehe.

-Aurora

Hey guys!!! Hope you all are fine and healthy. First of all, I apologise for disappearing suddenly. Well, school these days is just stressful and frustrating. Now that I got a teeny weeny break time, I will try to start writing again IF nothing comes up. Thank you, guys anyways for all your love and support. Stay tune for updates tho! And pls check out my ongoing series.

Btw guys, since I am not getting much feedback and reaction on 'Her Guilty Conscience', I am kinda losing the interest and am thinking if I should drop it.........What say?

Thanks a bunch, you wonderful people!!!!!

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Hey, guys!! I'm back with another (attempted) comedy. I wrote it in a hurry, so I fear it might be a teeny weeny bit messy. A few of the events, I guess, are exaggerated too. Please share your thoughts on this story and suggest me ways to improve. I hope you all enjoy it, and please pardon any errors. Happy reading!

Ps. This post is extra special as I’m celebrating my survival for a year on Tumblr.

A Quest for a Midnight Snack (Anniversary Special)

“Mr. Evans, I swear I thought it was next Thurse-!”

I stopped midway through my apology speech for forgetting my history exam as I looked around to realise it was just another of my nightmare and I am safely in my room with the said exam being held next week.

Rubbing my still sleepy eyes, I looked over at the clock. It was already 1 am! BUT I still have a truck load of slides to gobble up. I wish there was something called waking pills too so that I could keep my damn eyelids open for a few more hours.

Closing the lecture I was watching prior to dozing off graciously over my desk, I walked into the washroom and stood before the mirror. Dark eye bags, pale and oily skin and messy bird nest hair. Wow! What a beauty I am! I let out a humourless laugh.

“Maybe I should ditch college and start making horror short films. I could even break the internet as the next Annabelle.,” I gasped dramatically. “Just imagine the money flowing  in then! I can be a millionaire!” I chuckled creepily.

After spending five minutes contemplating my current student life and imagining the things I should have done instead, I splashed my face with water, brushed my hair, and returned to my workspace. Books piled over at the study table while a whole bundle of loose sheets scattered over the bed along with a few of my electronics, pillows and plushies. 

“WoW!! Looks like a tornado passed through the room.” And with a sigh, I began to tidy up.

After a few minutes, I stretched my tired body. It was 2.30 already. I just want to dive into my bed. It has been one week since I slept peacefully. Leave sleeping, I can’t even remember the last time Jess and me met up for lunch! 

Work can wait, I desperately need a short nap for few hours. But then my stomach growled. Fine! Food first, sleep next. And I bet I would go unconscious once my head hits the pillow.

I ambled into the kitchen and searched for a packet of instant noodle. Suddenly I felt something moving at the far end of the counter. My ears perked up. I gazed at that shadowed corner. Ok, this was scaring me out. Just yesterday, I overheard those elder ladies next door gossip about some murder that took place in this house, years ago. Not that I believe such supernatural entities, but the eeriness and the stillness of the hour still gave me goosebumps.

Taking a pan as a weapon, I slowly moved towards that said corner. I lifted the utensil up above my head and hit the counter. The loud bang against the marble echoed all over the empty room which even scared me. And to add to my panic, a cockroach appeared from that exact spot and directly flew towards my face. I screamed at the sudden sight of the horrendous insect and walked back, not noticing the table behind me. As a result, I accidentally hit my toe at its sharp edge. Screaming with pain I fell down face down while the pan in my hand hit my shoulder blade. I laid there sprawled on the cold floor for sometime as silence eloped my abode once again. All I wanted was to eat…………

Eventually, I settled on the couch with a bowl of noodles, blissfully watching my favourite show. Moments like this were rare luxuries amidst my juggling of part-time jobs and endless assignments. Laughing once in a while at some of the scenes, I comfortably emptied my bowl,  even noisily drinking the soup. There, my poor tummy was at last satisfied.

Humming to myself, I washed the dish and was about to dash to the bedroom by turning off the lights in the kitchen, (am scared of the dark) when something caught my eyes. A shadow. A silhouette. At the glass window of the balcony. I gulped as I stood still for a few beats, thinking whether to counter the god-knows-what-it-is or  practice my national level racing skills and zap to my room. But wait….what if its a burgler? Or even a serial killer?

After contemplating for a minute, I took a smart decision by taking Mary, my roommate’s baseball bat and advancing towards the shadow. I tiptoed silently towards the glass door. Swinging it open with a jerk, I slashed the bat in the air like a sword letting out a war cry and hoping to catch the intruder with a surprise. But- there was no one there. A cool wind outside rustled the leaves of the nearby branch which reached the balcony. Goosebumps erupted,  both due to the chill of the night and fear. Trying to squint my eyes, I search in the dark night. Not a soul at sight. Guess, the roach incident left my indicator on for suspicious activities.

I let out a loud yawn. Yep, that’s the cue to fall on the bed. But wait-. Suddenly, as tried to retire into the house, someone caught a hold of my hoodie. No. Hell, no! I shall not die today. I still have ten dramas tο watch and twenty places to tour, plus am not married yet. Nope, there are hundred reasons for me not to die tonight. Without any second thoughts, I slide out of the cloth and dashed inside without a second glance.

Banging the door of the bedroom, I bounced onto the bed like a kangaroo and fanatically looked for my phone. I threw all the pillows all over the room and turned the sheets while all the plushies went flying in the air. Where is that dang thing when I need it? What if that man had already entered the house? What if he got hold of the kitchen knife or what if he already had a machete?

And hence, I took the second smart decision. LOCK THE DAMN DOOR! Scurrying towards the door which I left ajar, I didn’t notice the tangled bedsheets around my ankle and thus, with a loud thud, I elegantly landed on the floor, hitting my head. Yep, that did it, my eyelids drooped and I slowly slipped into the world of darkness.

A few hours later ~

The soft warmth of the sun tickle my skin as I slowly woke up. Wait, why am I cold? Scratching my head, I sit up on the floor and scanned the place. Why am I in a- Wait!!! Then, suddenly, my brain started functioning properly as I remembered the last night’s incidents. And instantly, I glanced at the door. It was still slightly open, just like I had left it in the fiasco. The gap wasn’t enough for anyone to enter. Deciding to investigate like a brave woman I am (not), I shakily advanced towards the door and outside.

Running my eyes all over my lonely abode, I can confirm that everything is normal. Too much normal. Innocently normal. As if nothing happened. I walked towards the balcony and gasped at the sight……. My favourite hoodie, gifted by my mom in my last birthday was hanging on the  extended branch….

“Wow!! At least I caught my assaulter, didn’t I, Mr. Branch?” I murmured sarcastically, as I snatched my precious hoodie. And just I was about to go back, my eyes fell on a sap green overcoat hanging on the clothesline against the glass door. Max’s. He must have forgotten it after the meeting yesterday. 

“And here is my intruder.” I announced, so done with the whole thing and cursing myself in 1042025 languages. After last night, I solemnly swear to never pull an all nighter. I had enough adrenaline rush. All just for a Quest for a Midnight Snack.

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Oh mah god!!!! Its a year already?!!??! Time really flew with wings. I really had fun on this platform. Thanks everyone for sticking with me and all your love and support. I hope I would be able to bring out more fun stories and series.

Thank you a bunch, all my silent and loud readers.

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Her Guilty Conscience : Masterlist

Audrey, a simple young woman with a loving family and a comfortable life, is thrown into turmoil after a single incident shatters her little world. What once seemed like a peaceful existence becomes a tangled mess with no way out. Struggling to resist the temptation of easy success and the darker paths life offers, Audrey must navigate through a journey filled with tough choices and growing danger. Will she make it through? What challenges lie ahead? Read 'Her Guilty Conscience' to follow Audrey as she battles her inner demons and faces the harsh realities of the world around her..............

Episode 1 A Murder in the Bunglow

Episode 2 Shattered and Rebuilt

Episode 3 Mis Understandings

Episode 4 Job and Jitters

More to come........

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys!!! Hope you all are fine and healthy. First of all, I apologise for disappearing suddenly. Well, school these days is just stressful and frustrating. Now that I got a teeny weeny break time, I will try to start writing again IF nothing comes up. Thank you, guys anyways for all your love and support. Stay tune for updates tho! And pls check out my ongoing series.

Btw guys, since I am not getting much feedback and reaction on 'Her Guilty Conscience', I am kinda losing the interest and am thinking if I should drop it.........What say?

Thanks a bunch, you wonderful people!!!!!

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Happy new year, folks!!!!! Hope 2025 would be kinder!!!!!

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys! So, this is the next part of the story "Her Guilty Conscience". I am posting it a bit earlier than I intended to. I would suggest to read the previous parts before reading this. Also, pls share your opinion about this story. Hope that you all enjoy the story and pls pardon my errors. Happy Reading!

Ps. Happy Christmas to y'all!!!! And a Very Happy New Year too!!!! Hope 2025 works out well for all. (A bit early for the wishes ik, but anyways.............)

Previous Episode ~

Her Guilty Conscience

Episode 4 Job and Jitters

Flashbacks :

“Hey Audrey ! Two beers at table 2! HURRY UP!”

Balancing two big jugs of beer, Audrey shuffled among the crammed tables and served them at the table present at one of the corner of the dingy restaurant. She immediately retreated back to the counter without another glance at the customers of that particular table - Two menacing men with tattooes covering all over their arms and piercings and rings that gleamed under the feeble light of the restaurant. Audrey wiped her sweats as she sat down for a while looking at the tables for any more orders.

It has already been almost a month of her working at the restaurant. The restaurant present at the further and darker part of the city was a common rendezvous of the local goons and other several dangerous people during the nights. The morning shifts comparatively were less frightening with less crowds and filled with people with normal common lives. Meanwhile, the evening shifts usually included visits of several tough and intimidating men who would have good long chats upon drinks and some snacks. Audrey naturally preferred the morning shifts but sometimes had to work at nights too. During those shifts she would always be on her guard with a Swiss knife tucked into her apron. She felt relieved that she could at least give a fight using her boxing skills in case things go south. 

The loud and cruel-some guffaws of the two men  whom she just served filled the little space of the eatery. Audrey was covered by goosebumps. Her mind lingers in the memories of the risky conversation she had with her brother just after he returned from his trip, three weeks ago.

“The experiments that they showed us were splendid. We were awestruck by Mr. Brown’s expertise in handling those instruments. And you won’t even believe……” The excited boy animatedly talked about his outing to his sister and aunt. 

Mrs. Thomson listened to his blabbering, while not understanding half of the things he spoke. On the other hand, the young girl, just nodded with a smile, while her mind was distracted somewhere else. Anytime, now, he would shift the conversation to her new job.

“And he even didn’t let me ask about it. He reminded me of Audrey……” 

What if he reacts aggressively again?

“Audrey? You follow me?”

What if he makes her leave the job? No, what will she do then? She needs cash in a short time. Joy is still in college and after that, she would be going to London for atleast three months. She is counting on her to gather half of the start up amount by her return. If she is to leave the job, how would she - 

“Audrey? AUDREY??!!”

She jerked out of her trance to find both Lucas and Mrs. Thomson worriedly looking at her. 

“Where are you lost, sis? Here, you go. I was talking of the gift I brought for you.” He extended a little Swiss knife toward her. “Saw it in a shop there. Don’t worry, John paid for it after losing a bet with me.” He chuckled at the memory as Audrey slowly took the small weapon from him.

But Mrs. Thomson continued looking at her and tentatively asked her, “Is everything alright, love? You had been deadly quiet for a while?”

Audrey shook her head and replied, “Nothing, aunt. Just tired, I guess”

Lucas took a sit beside her and said, “Take care of you health, sis. Here, have some of Aunt's delicious turnovers. Oh! And that reminds me…..” He took a bite of the pie Mrs. Thomson had prepared for him. Audrey held her breathe, knowing what he was going to say.

He looked towards her and spoke, “What about your job? All I had heard was that you were interviewed by some creepy lady and surprisingly, were hired. How is it going now? Tell me all about it. Is the restaurant near my school? I can drop by sometimes, then.”

Audrey swallowed her nervousness and replied quietly, “Its going good. The pay is all right. I work as a waitress and sometimes as the cashier too…….”

“That’s great, then! Where is it located?”

“Its….uh…..” She hesitated, fumbling with her fingers, “Its in Ether’s Road. In the central part.”

Lucas’ bright smile dropped a bit hearing her answer as he stopped chewing and looked at Audrey with wide eyes.

“In the Ether’s Road? But - but isn’t that place the hot pot of trouble and crimes.” He asked with wide eyes, looking from Audrey to Mrs. Thomson.

“Yes, it is.” She replied calmly, taking a deep breathe while the old lady grew anxious.

“So? You still took the job at that place, knowing the availing dangers? Look I am not blaming or questioning your decision, its just-." Lucas said softly as he slowly held his sister’s hands.

“I know.” Said Audrey, gathering courage and looking into his eyes. “You are just looking out for me. I appreciate your concerns. But most of the things that we hear about that place are just the exaggerated version of the real picture. Yes, there are a number of criminals and gangs residing there but at the same time, it is also a residence of many normal and respected people. Moreover, the business is quiet and peaceful, with people coming in for a hearty meals and drinks. I even noticed many business tycoons arriving there for some hushed meetings while being heavily dressed to avoid recognition. Its just the late night shifts…….. Most of the tables would be filled by men who give out scary and dark aura. It does fill me with shivers and goosebumps but nothing actually happened during the last two weeks. They just eat and drink and leave. Mostly not caring of the surroundings and the other irrelevant people........"

Lucas still seemed unconvinced by her recital when Mrs Thomson poked in, “Oh, Lucas dearie! Stop being so worried. I too was apprehensive when she told me about that place and I insisted to pick her up the next day." She suddenly coughed a bit. "Sorry. This cough is getting worse.......*ahem* Where was I? Oh, yes! When I arrived, I was surprised! It was not as half bad as I thought. Yes, those grubby men did look menacing but they didn't intend to do any harm They were more interested in their own conversations.”

“You went there too? Well, I do believe in what you guys are telling me. But still those men can be unpredictable, Audrey. What if they hurt you? Or do something else?”

“That they won’t” Audrey replied, confidently, “You remember about the creepy owner, Carla when I first told you about my interview? Well, at first I thought her to be rough and up to no good. But instead she is the complete opposite. She is such a sweetheart. She made sure of my safety all the times, knowing I am not used to the rough environments. She navigated me through the tasks the first two days and watched upon me like an hidden guardian. Yes, she is rude but her intentions are pure. She knew that I won’t be ready for a rash crowd and took time to train me to handle them. And besides, she seems to have a way with the risky crowd.”

Lucas nodded and asked, “And the other staff? How are they towards you?”

“Well, its just me, another girl and two men. The lady, Susan is a relative of Carla and was jobless until she was offered this job by her aunt. She is friendly and takes Carla's role of looking after me as an older sister in her absence. I don’t know much about Josh. I had minimal interactions with him .He too doesn’t bother much about  anything else other than his work in the kitchen and never ever joined us if we staff have a round of drinks together sometimes. On the other hand, Will is friendly. He is actually from the Martin's Plaza. You know, the place where Aunt Margaret lives. He has to work three jobs to provide for his little family. Poor guy. ”

Lucas slowly nodded his head, taking in the whole information. He glanced at Audrey and said, “Hmmm......... Though that place sounds pretty much normal, I can’t help but feel anxious for you, Audrey. However may the people be, threat and danger are always lurking in the corner of that area. The number of crimes reported there is truly concerning.”

“I know, brother” Audrey said affectionately, as she reached over to hold his hand, “Just five months more, I need to save a little more money to start that business with Joy. Also, I need to wait for her to return from London after settling some official matters. You remember, don't you, her granny who lived there? She recently passed away last month and left a sum of money for her. She said she will be engaging that money in our business start up. Its a meagre sum but atleast we got some funds. In the meantime, I have to do this job to gather the remaining money for the tools and rent. And it isn't that bad, at least I can easily take care of the household expanses and pay for your school too. If you demand that I should start looking for another job, I already did but…….there was none for a college dropout like me. Moreover, I can manage this. Don’t forget. I used to be in the boxing club in college. I can at least knock down some jaws and bones in case something really happens.”

With a long sigh, Lucas slowly said, “I just want you to be safe. And I trust you.” He gleamed at his dear sister. “Anyways, this serious discussion has made me hungry. How about dinner? And yes, I demand another apple pie, Aunt. Oh! I just missed your cooking. None of those camp food can be compared to the most basic of your meals…….”

He kept on praising Mrs. Thomson’s cooking while the old lady lowly chucked while shaking her head. Audrey, on the other hand was at ease for her brother’s approval of working at the doubtful environment. But she does know that she really need to be quick on her feet all the time there. She may have assured Lucas but she herself couldn’t shrug off an eeriness at that diner.

“HEY, GIRL! I AM CALLING YOU!!” 

Audrey was quickly pulled out of her trance as she realised the men had been calling for a while. She rushed at her table with a tender smile.

“Yes? Do you guys want to order something else?” She politely asked, trying her best to ignore the burning glares and uncomfortable gazes of the men.

“Yes, another round of beer and make it fast, girl!” One of the men snapped at her.

She ran back to the kitchen and prepared the beer.

“Those men have been drinking since the last two hours.” Susan said as she at the other end of the small room prepared a tray full of fries and ketchup. “That must be their fourth round.”

"Fifth exactly. I am starting to wonder how are they not dumb drunk yet.” Audrey replied as she lifted the bulky glasses.

“Oh, they are professional drinkers. I don’t think they would stop till they hit ten.”

“Well, I am glad that there aren’t much crowd tonight. With Will out of station and Josh on leave, I think we would have gone nuts serving, preparing the orders and working at the register simultaneously.”

“I agree. You better hurry now with the beers. And be careful, can’t have you in trouble now, can we?” She winked at her.

Audrey rolled her eyes as she walked out of the room. Yes, Susan often jokes about her being fragile and ignorant of the rough side of life after learning the fact that she was from the outskirts, the residence of the well to do and respected people. It amused Susan whenever Audrey pointed out things which were strange in her eyes, yet so common in that area. Yet along with the jokes, Audrey knows she often keeps a close eye on her, especially in the night shifts. And thats what encourages her to go on with those shifts.

Just as Audrey placed the glasses on the table, the tiny bell at the door rang. She turned to find a man entering, his face hidden beneath a black bucket hat and the collar of his long coat turned up. He was tall, with a well-built frame that seemed to fill the room. What caught Audrey’s attention most, though, was the dark, mysterious aura that surrounded him. He moved with a quiet confidence, like someone who was used to being noticed without trying. As he stepped into the room, Audrey noticed the men at the nearby table shift uncomfortably in their seats, eyes darting nervously toward him, even trembling slightly. It was as if his presence unsettled them in a way Audrey couldn’t quite place. Without a second glance at anyone, the man walked toward the secluded booths in the back, disappearing into the shadows as Susan quickly followed, notepad in hand.

After a while, those bluffy men stumbled out of the restaurant after paying for the dozen of beer they had gulped. Audrey let out a huge sigh and just as she was about to retire to the kitchen to have a break, the bell chimed again, announcing the arrival of yet another customer. She turned to welcome the customer with a polite smile which soon turned into a wide exited grin as her tired eyes brightened up upon seeing the very familiar person.

“Surprise!!! I was just returning from the library. Thought to drop by and meet you. ” Said her brother, while placing her bag down on a chair and pulling her into a hug. Releasing her, he looked around the place acting his best to be nonchalant and merely curious. But Audrey knew better. He came to check on her since it was the first time she was working in a night shift after his return. After his scrutiny, he looked at her and gave a sheepish smile looking at her stern face.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I ain’t gonna rob or something.”

Shaking her head, she replied, “If you are done inspecting my workplace, mind taking a sit and ordering something?”

“Oh, yes, yes ma’am!” He hastily sat at the nearest table and took the menu. “Uh! I will take the cheese hamburger and a diet coke.”

“Ok. Your hamburger will be ready in twenty minutes and I am not gonna give you any cold drinks yet. You recently recovered from a fever.” She said while walking towards the kitchen, ignoring the poor boy’s whines.

But as soon as she entered the room and started on assembling the hamburger, Susan ran in from the door and hastily prepared a club sandwich. She placed it on a tray and gave it to Audrey.

“Audrey, be a darling and take this to Booth 3 while I go down the basement to bring a bottle of rum!”

She dashed out of the door as Audrey slowly walked into the other part of the eatery. She had never been into this part since it was generally occupied by the notorious gangs for their secret meetings. Will and Susan were the ones who would uswally wait in that part. She took a deep breathe. She only has to keep this tray on the table and walk back. Susan can handle the rest.

She walked into the room and spotted the only occupied booth in the hall. There was the mysterious man whom she saw entering the restaurant earlier and another thin and scrawny man sitting across him. She walked towards the table and put down the sandwich and was just about to escape when the man spoke.

"Hey," he said. His voice was low and smooth with a bit of a teasing edge."I haven't seen you around before. You new here?" 

Audrey glanced at him quickly, her nerves rising. "Yeah, just started," she muttered, trying to avoid eye contact. He had taken off his coat and hat. She could see his features now. His face was sharp and chiseled, with high cheekbones that gave him a slightly angular look. His soft blond hair locks fell over his forehead just enough to shadow his piercing blue eyes. Had she met him anywhere other than this place, she would have been sure of him being a model or even a young respectable businessman.

The corner of the man’s lips lifted a bit when he found her staring at him. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning her with a casual, almost lazy interest. "Hmm... Carla got a pretty one this time, huh?" he said with a small smirk. The other man lowly chuckled but one glance from him shut him up.

Audrey’s stomach tightened at the way his eyes scrutinised her. Trying to keep an unbothered demeanour, she curtly answered. “Excuse me, but do you have something else to order? I have other works to tend too” she replied, her words curt as she coldly looked at him, trying to suppress her growing nervousness.

The man’s smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "A hard worker, huh?" He leaned back slightly, “What’s your name, sweetheart? Or are you too busy to share?”

Before Audrey could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment. Susan appeared in the doorway, holding a bottle of rum, and her eyes flicked from the two men to Audrey. 

“Two women at table 1. Hurry!”

It was a welcomed interruption. She gladly walked towards the exit without another glance, releasing a deep breathe. In the kitchen, she immediately peeked at the restaurant. No one other than Lucas. Susan deliberately made that excuse to send her out, not that she was complaining. The man did manage to give her goosebumps. 

After a few moments, she heard footsteps outside the door. The blond man again wrapped in his dark long coat and hat walked out, followed by the other meek man. She could see Lucas giving a curious glance at their retreating backs, probably surprised to find such ordinary people instead of huge and scary musclemen. Chuckling, she went back to the finished burger and placed them non a tray when the door opened and in came a worried Susan.

“What was Tyler talking about with you?” Looking at Audrey’s confused expression, she asked again, “The blond one with blue eyes?”

“Oh, Mr. Mysterio? Nothing that important. Just messing with me, asking me my name and stuff……” she shrugged, folding a napkin.

Susan moved towards her and held her shoulders, “Audrey, look….” She let out a sigh, and spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words. “Listen, the men who choose to dine in the secluded booths don’t just come here to eat. They don’t just sit and chat. They’re trouble, and trouble follows them wherever they go. So, do your best to stay out of their sight and remain unnoticed……… Especially, from Tyler. Keep to yourself, do your job, and stay clear of any unnecessary attention.”

“Yes, I tried to do that but he - “

“Yes, I know. I sensed your discomfort. And that’s why I am telling you. Most of the people coming here late at night are shady. And the people going in there for having some hushed conversations are just bad news. Thus, be on your guard while going in there.”

Audrey nodded to her whispered warnings. She was anyway careful during these tensed shifts, trying her best to keep off the malicious crowd but now hearing to Susan’s words, she planned to avoid that hall like plague.

Although Audrey was caught off guard by Susan’s sudden warning, she knew that Susan was only trying to look out for her. Unlike Audrey, Susan loved the dangerous, mysterious atmosphere of the diner. She was an adventurous young woman who had learned to navigate the shady crowd with ease after being in that area for a long while. While Audrey was careful to keep her distance from the dangerous shadows, Susan seemed to thrive in it, enjoying the thrill of testing boundaries. Audrey couldn’t help but feel warm and appreciative of Susan’s caring side, even if she didn’t always understand her carefree attitude.

Clearing her throat, Susan turned towards the dishes, humming a tune under her breathes as she transparently tried to lighten the tense air in the kitchen. Audrey too chose to return to the hamburger to save the girl from being embarassed. She picked up the tray and walked out to the pouting boy whose eyes brightened up at the arrival of his dear sister.

“Here you go, sir. Your cheese hamburger.”

With a gleeful nod, he pounced upon the fast food and started shoving it in his mouth messily. Audrey laughed softly and sat across him.

“Its delicious! My complements to the chef!!!”

“Complements accepted!!!!”

After swallowing a few bites, he looked at her and asked, “Aren’t you gonna eat? I mean you anyway had to make dinner at home, now that Aunt is bedridden. But since we are already at the eatery, we can have the food here itself."

Before Audrey could reply, Susan came out with two trays of fish and chips, another hamburger and two cokes. “Dinner is served!!!" She chirped happily, "Well, it almost midnight and since there's no one else coming in, I would say that's the end of tonight's business. ”

Noticing Lucas’ puzzled look, Audrey quickly introduced Susan and Lucas.

“Here, you go another burger to fill your tummy. Don't worry the meals are on me.”

“Thanks.” Lucas said, giving a polite smile.

“So, you are Audrey’s overprotective brother.” She said, trying to start a conversation. “Honestly, I imagined you to be more muscular. But your cute, so no complaints.”

Audrey rolled her eyes as Lucas choked on his burger, his face turning bright red.

“Yeah, real cute,” she said, grinning. “Wait till you manage to swallow that without looking like a tomato. Then maybe Susan will have second thoughts about your adorableness.”

Susan snickered. Lucas flushed an even deeper shade of red and awkwardly shifted in his seat. He muttered to Susan through a mouthful of food, his cheeks puffing up like a chipmunk, “Thanks, I think.”

"Alright, alright, enough teasing," Audrey said, leaning over to ruffle Lucas's hair. "He’s already had his fair share of embarrassing moments for the day.”

And thus, their light hearted conversation continued throughout the meal, with Susan and Audrey occasionally teasing poor Lucas.

"You sure, you can go all alone? We can drop you." Audrey asked as they closed and locked up the restaurant. Lucas managed to grab a cab for them while Susan announced that she would be staying at Carla's tonight.

"Yeah, its just in the next lane. Just a short ten minutes walk. Now stop being a worry wart and go!"

"Okay, then. Walk carefully. Thanks for the meal. See you tomorrow. Bye!"

"Ciao, girlie!" Replied Susan, disappearing into the darkness.

"She seemed nice. And this place is pretty much normal too." Said Lucas, as they both walked towards the vehicle.

" What? You expected some musclemen, bodybuilders and wrestlers to crowd here? Told you so, its nice. And about Susan." She replied, as they entered the vehicle. "She, being ten years older, plays the role of the elder sister I didn't know I needed. She really is sweet and kind. But don't tell her that else she would break your jaws."

"Ouch! Okay, I change my opinion. She is violent!"

"I agree. Oh! By the way, lets make a detour at the pharmacy. Some of Aunt's pills just finished yesterday. "

"Aye, aye, captain!" He replied, jokingly and addressed the driver. "You heard the lady! Drive away!~~~"

The cab drove away, filled with the sibling's laughter. On the other hand, the engine of another black car rose to life. The car which was silently parked at the other side of the road had the windows tinted black, concealing the man sitting inside.

"They just came out, boss..............They drove away.............. Should I follow till the destination or - ?" The man spoke with a drawling voice and waited for an answer. Receiving an order, he nodded and instantly, drove along the street following his target..............

Her!

-Aurora

To Be Continued.........

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys!!! Thank you veerrryyy much for providing soo much love to my stories and poems, especially 'Assassin'!! Thank you for supporting me, it means a lot.

As a thank you, here’s a teaser from the upcoming episode of 'Her Guilty Conscience' ! I’d love to hear what you think so far—drop your thoughts, theories, or questions in the comments, or feel free to message me directly! Happy Reading!!! And THANK YOU AGAIN, GUYS!!!!!!💕💕

Her Guilty Conscience : Teaser

......................."Hey," he said. His voice was low and smooth with a bit of a teasing edge."I haven't seen you around before. You new here?" 

Audrey glanced at him quickly, her nerves rising. "Yeah, just joined recently," she muttered, trying to avoid eye contact. He had now taken off his coat and hat. She could see his features now. His face was sharp and chiseled, with high cheekbones that gave him a slightly angular look. His soft blond hair locks fell over his forehead just enough to shadow his piercing blue eyes. Had she met him anywhere other than this place, she would have been sure of him being a model or even a young respectable businessman.

The corner of the man’s lips lifted a bit when he found her staring at him. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning her with a casual, almost lazy interest. "Hmm... Carla got a pretty one this time, huh?" he said with a small smirk.

Audrey’s stomach tightened at the way his eyes scrutinised her. Trying to keep an unbothered demeanour, she curtly answered. “Excuse me, but do you have something else to order? I have other works to tend too” she replied, her words curt as she coldly looked at him, trying to suppress her growing nervousness.

The man’s smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "A hard worker, huh?" He leaned back slightly, “What’s your name, sweetheart? Or are you too busy to share?”.............................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*ahem* Thats all for now!!! Stay tuned for the next episode coming soon~~~

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys!! I am back with a poem!! This one was actually written by me some three-four years ago and would be one of my first poems I ever wrote. I hope you guys like it. Pardon the mistakes (of my younger self) and pls share your opinions. Happy reading!

Ps. Please do check out my ongoing series 'Her Guilty Conscience'!

Assassin

People call me a wanderer, But I am actually a murderer. I kill people as a job; they think I am soulless. The only word that describes me is reckless.

People are selfish, nosy and irritating. So, its my duty to stop their number growing. They hire me and offer a few million bobs, And I make sure to do a clean job. For that they call me merciless, ruthless, fearless. But the only thing that describes me is reckless.

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys! Its me and I am back with another story. I attempted to make it a comedy and idk about the result since I wrote it in a rush. Anyways, hope it entertains you and makes you smile (and laugh, I hope!). Pls pardon my mistakes and suggest me ways to improve! Also, check out my ongoing series 'Her Guilty Conscience'. Happy reading!!

Ps. Its kinda a special post cause................ Its mah birthday today!!!!!! Yay!!!!! Finally 16!!!!!

Kidnapped ?

“The number of kidnapping cases in the town has surged dramatically over the past few weeks. The kidnappers seem to be targeting vulnerable school-going teenagers and are demanding huge ransoms. The police have been—”

The television snapped off as Sasha yawned loudly. Her friend and classmate, Lily, shot her an irritated look.

“Why did you turn it off?” Lily asked, clearly frustrated. “This is important. The kidnappings are getting out of hand. No one is safe, especially us teenagers. Remember Rose? The girl from the junior section? She was abducted last week, and her parents had to pay a million dollars as ransom! Thankfully, she was returned safely, but she’s still dealing with a lot of trauma….”

Sasha, chewing gum and with her eyes half-closed, responded with a bored tone. “Lily, this is starting to sound like a lullaby. If I have to hear one more ‘kidnapping is serious’ speech, I might just fall asleep.”

Suddenly, she stood up and began putting on her coat. Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Where are you going?” Lily asked, her voice, an octave high, tinged with alarm. “You can't just leave now. It’s not safe out there.”

Putting on the hoodie, Sasha let out a scoff and replied, “This mumbo-jumbo won’t scare me off, Lily. Nothing will happen to me, relax! You are very well aware of my self - defence skills. If the kidnappers do manage to grab me, they’ll need to book a therapy session for themselves afterwards. Anyways, I need some fresh air. Going for a walk and will be late.”

She walked out of their room, leaving Lily behind with a face frozen in shock, her mouth slightly open. She was torn between believing in her friend’s skills and fearing for her safety. Shaking off her premonitions, she hoped for Sasha’s safe return.

Sasha lazily walked along the narrow alleys towards the nearby gym. It had been five days since their school closed down for the safety of the students. She had been bored being cooped up in their tiny hostel room with only Lily to chat with. Not that she hated her, but there were times she wished to tape her mouth and tie her up in the dark storeroom at the ground floor. But, she controlled her inner psycho to spare the already disturbed girl from the trauma. 

She reached the main road and found most of the little shops closed, save the huge malls and restaurants. The road was too less crowded as only adults strolled while casting a few glances at the young teen, walking all alone. She felt uncomfortable and fastened her steps.

“People, just mind your own business! Never seen a girl walking alone? They look at me as if I would run at them at any moment and attack them like a wild raccoon. Chill! Get a life, folks!”

She mumbled aggressively as she crossed the road. She just reached a turn when suddenly two arms grabbed her and a hanky was pressed over her face. She struggled and managed to step on the assaulter’s foot with all the strength she could manage. The man let out a shrilly scream and fell sideways. Sasha tried to run off when another pair of hands again grabbed her and this time forced her down on the pavement.

“You fool! Looks like you forgot to put the chloroform. Quick! Use the spray instead!” He yelled at his fallen partner as he tried to keep Sasha’s leg from flying towards his chest.

“Trying!” The other man strained. “She kicked damn hard!”

Sasha tried to serve a backward kick at the man above her when suddenly a gas was sprayed right at her face. Her body started to feel heavy and her eyelids started to drop. The sounds of the men’s groans and bickering started to fade as darkness slowly eloped her.

Groaning from the heaviness and mild pain in her head, Sasha slowly opened her eyes. She was in a dark room that looked hastily thrown together, with random objects, cans of paint, and thick dust scattered everywhere. The space had been decorated in a way that aimed to be a haunted basement-like interrogation room but ended up more like a poorly planned Halloween party. Sasha tried to get up from the wooden chair but soon realised that her hand and legs were tied to it. They were so tight that she could not even raise them from their positions. She heaved a frustrated sigh and tried to wriggle around to free herself but to no avail.

“So, the fighter is awake!”

A voice boomed from the doorway. Sasha’s head shot over that direction to find a man standing there with his hands behind him, posing like James Bond. She also recognised the two loons behind him who were the ones who ‘kidnapped’ her. The main boss coolly entered the room and walked towards the tied girl placed at the centre of the messy room. Suddenly, somehow his heavy boots slipped and he crashed down face-first on the concrete floor. Sasha laughed out loud as his henchmen ran forward to pull him up.

“Who the hell poured my hair gel all over the floor??!!” The boss growled as he looked over the other men.

“Sorry, boss. Ran out of grease. And Liam broke the cap, so it spilled everywhere,” one replied.

The man pointed a finger at the two and angrily said, “Shut up, Jimmy! I will handle you two later. First, let me see this little tyke over here.” He turned towards Sasha who was silently sitting and watching over the whole scene intently as if it was her favourite show.

“You made a big mistake girl of coming out of your house, that too alone. Now, let me see……….. First, we shall call your father for a huge ransom and while he sends it over, let us have some fun shall we?” The man chuckled darkly but soon grew confused looking at the girl yawning instead.

The girl cockily replied, “First of all, neither are we at a war nor an apocalypse. So, I can come out whenever I want and no one can stop me. Second, I am an orphan and have no one to pay that hUgE rAnSoM. Third and lastly, as a kind suggestion, please train yourself and your clowns before trying this kidnapping business.”

The men were taken aback. The man, referred to as Liam earlier asked, “How do you know that it is our first time doing this?”

“Just a guess.” She replied nonchalantly.

“ENOUGH!” The leader growled again. “You girl! Don’t try to act smart. We know that you are not an orphan.” He pulled out her school pass card which included her name, her parent’s name, and their addresses. “Got this from your pockets. Now, be a good girl and tell us the phone number of your dad, or else you don’t even want to know what we can do to you.” He said in a shrilly sweet voice as he took out a gun from the pocket while Liam brought over a mobile phone from a nearby desk.

Sasha cursed at her clumsiness of forgetting to put her card away since she was sure that her class notes must have been along with it too as she kept them together in her pocket last week while visiting her teacher. She sighed and dictated a number as Liam typed. He called the number but hung up with a puzzled expression. After a moment of tapping on the screen, he looked up with a nervous smile.

“Boss, it ran out of minutes last week.”

All heads in the room turned toward him, and after a moment of silence, the room erupted with different reactions. Sasha giggled, Jimmy looked frustrated, while the boss glared at Liam as though he was about to rip his head off.

Jimmy, trying to salvage the situation, said meekly, “Wait a minute, boss. Let me bring your phone from the charging point.”

“Can’t you fools do anything properly? Move it!” the boss roared, his face turning red.

Sasha, who had been laughing at the chaos, now began to feel sharp pain as the ropes dug into her wrists. She wriggled in her chair but couldn’t move, the ropes biting deeper with each attempt. She clicked her tongue and cleared her throat.

“I already told you guys that you need practice for this stuff,” she said calmly, addressing the boss, who was still glaring daggers at Liam. “So, rule number one: Check the ropes of the kidnapped person, BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO TIGHT! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WOULD GET YOUR BOUNTY, BUT YOU WILL DEFINITELY GO TO JAIL IF I DIE!!"

Both men flinched at her sudden outburst. Liam hurried over and loosened the ropes binding her hands and upper body. She sighed in relief and examined her wrists. The marks would take days to heal.

“Show me,” Liam said, holding her wrists. He examined them with outmost care while making pained expressions as if he was her old fussy grandma, while the boss watched him with wide eyes as if he was watching a bear doing ballet in a pink tutu. “Wait, let me grab the first aid.”

As he rushed towards the door, the boss grabbed his jacket and yanked him back.

“We’re the bad guys, you doofus. We kidnapped her. We’re supposed to hurt her, not babysit her.”

“But boss, she’s just a kid—”

“Enough! Where’s that other idiot? Did he forget his way downstairs or did he decide to build a new device from the scratch?”

“I’m here, boss!” Jimmy panted, handing over a battered phone that looked like it had been through a war—taped up, with a cracked screen barely holding on. The boss grinned maliciously at the girl sitting in the chair watching the whole drama, showing his dirty yellow teeth.

“Now, girl! The number. I don’t have all day. The cargo of new automated rifles and bombs is gonna come soon. We have-.”

“Boss, what cargo?” Liam interrupted as Jimmy smacked his head. The poor chief closed his eyes in frustration and opened them again.

“Number. NOW! Come on, open your mouth! Or else!!”

 He aimed his gun at Sasha. The girl rolled her eyes and dictated the number again.

The man waited as the call rang. After a few moments, someone picked it up and he let out an attempted growling evil laugh which instead came out as a shrill voice like a crying donkey.

“We got your pecious daughter.” He said gravely, in a deep voice, “She is fine but not for long. We need a ransom of two million dollars. Deliver it after an hour at the verandah of the 7th house in Balming Lane. Oh yes! And if you try any funny business, your daughter shall pay for it.” He cut the call abruptly and wickedly smiled at Sasha.

“I heard you asked for one million for Rose. You know, that girl kidnapped last week from the school grounds. You all went broke that quick?”

Before the boss could answer, Liam beat him to it.

“No, that’s not us! You are our first. That may be the Bla-.”

He choked as Jimmy hit his stomach with his elbow. The kingpin sighed frustratedly and turned towards the men and pulled them back to the door. He pushed them out and closed the door with a bang, leaving Sasha in the semi-darkness. She left a long sigh and bent to untie her legs. She stretched them and tried to stand up but alas! Her legs were too weak and thus, she went down, face first onto the concrete floor.

“I hate my life sometimes. I really wanna murder those dumbheads now!” The poor girl quietly mumbled as she lay there splattered on the floor like a squished cockroach in the darkness.

“Quick! Get the girl!” 

Sasha woke up with a start. She couldn’t even remember when she fell asleep. She was still on the floor and could hear some panic yells outside. Before she could get up completely, the door flew open and the boss and Jimmy rushed into the room. Jimmy held onto her arm and jerked her up when numerous footsteps marched towards the room and came at the door, the Inspector, along with his troops.

“Release her and surrender yourself. You have nowhere to go.” The policeman ordered sharply.

Sasha suddenly felt something cold against her head and realised Jimmy was pointing a gun at her.

“Come on, sir. Don’t be foolish.” The leader replied, chuckling. “Let us go and the kid lives. Also, release my other man you had captured from that house in Balming Street.”

As the two parties exchanged heated dialogs and threats, Sasha, on the other hand, grew impatient. She doesn’t have time for this. She has to go now. The loons have already wasted much of her time. She has to watch her favourite show with Lily and she is already late!!! 

An expert in basic karate, Sasha swerved a high kick at Jimmy right into his face. As he moved back, holding his swollen nose, Sasha gave a quick punch at the kingpin’s face and pushed him down the floor. The constables strode into the room and put the goons into handcuffs. The Inspector approached her with a wide smile.

“Well done, kid! You do have both brains and brawn, eh? Good thinking for giving my number instead. Your father would be proud. I was just talking about you with him this morning.”

The leader who was being steered towards the door stopped at his words and said, “Your number? Wait, she TRICKED us?”

“Yes, you have been tricked by a 13-year-old, man. The number she gave was mine. You threatened me, not her parents. Whew, that was some good thinking, eh?” The Inspector replied, patting her head.

Though she was enjoying the praises and acknowledgment, her favourite show was still on her mind, “Ummm…… Inspector, can I go now?”

“Certainly, dear. You can go. But be careful. I don’t think it would be only these three behind all these kidnappings. There may be another big gang behind them instead whom these lunatics were trying to copy.”

Sasha waved goodbye and rushed out of the door at her full speed.

She was right. She was late. It was already evening and the sun had already set. Five hours late. Lily is gonna eat her head for her lateness. As she walked down the lane, she turned her phone on (which she managed to snatch for Jimmy before leaving by smacking his head) and traced her location. It was a half an hour’s walk to the hostel. Oh well, there is no vehicle around. Might as well have an evening walk. She strolled down the semi-dark lane.

While following the map, Sasha was thinking about Lily’s reaction to these mishaps. She could see her being paranoid with her eyes bulging out. She would probably spend an hour questioning her, lecturing, and then emotionally blackmailing her into promising her that she would not get out of the house without her. Sasha chuckled while imagining the scenario when she would finally reach the part of her narration when Jimmy kept her at gunpoint. She would positively faint. Lily was anyway a big scaredy cat.

As Sasha was lost in her thoughts, a black van screeched and stopped in front of her as she was about to cross the narrow road. Two bulky men came down and rushed towards her. Before she could comprehend what was happening, they seized and threw her at the back of the van. Getting inside, they locked the door and the van started to move. Sasha panicked at the sudden and violent action and started serving kicks and punches at the men. But alas! This time she failed as the men immediately grabbed her arms and legs and secured her at the seat. It was confirmed that they were seasoned wrestlers as she could feel her arms being ripped off due to their steely grip.

“Quite struggling, girl! It’s of no use” One of the men spoke in a deep voice.

“Who are you guys? Last time I remember I did not have any unpaid loans or debts.” Sasha said, breathlessly.

“Shut up. We ain’t loan sharks. We are the Black Birds. And you are our hostage.” snapped the other man.

“WAIT!! So, I have been KIDNAPPED-?” 

“Quite yelling, girl!! Wait, is that the batch of the Shooting Star Academy on her boots? That fancy school where all the kids from wealthy families study?” He addressed his partner who seemed confused.

“From where we kidnapped the last girl? The blond one? Man, we hit a jackpot again!”

Both the men chuckled as Sasha took a long breath. Are they the original kidnappers who had spread the terror among the households? The ones who kidnapped and traumatised poor Rose? Well, Sasha fears no one. She is ready to face them. How different will they be from the previous one? Just need to be extra cautious and use more brains this time. But she knows for a fact that it is gonna be a long episode again and she just can’t wait for it to end. She just couldn’t believe her broken luck. Here she was, sitting between a notorious gang, once again, KIDNAPPED.

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys! So, this is the next part of the story "Her Guilty Conscience". I would suggest to read the previous parts before reading this. Also, pls share your opinion about this story. Hope that you all enjoy the story and pls pardon my errors. Happy Reading!

Previous Episode ~

Her Guilty Conscience

Episode 3 Mis Understandings

Flashbacks :

The whole hall was filled with grunts and huffs and shouts of instructions. Audrey, drenched in sweat delivered a feeble punch towards her opponent which she easily avoided and instead landed a tough hit to her stomach. Holding her stomach from pain, Audrey motioned a time off as she got off the ring and walked towards her bag while removing her boxing gloves. Joy, her opponent and also her friend followed her.

"What's up with you? You seem distracted."

Audrey sat on the bench and while replied, wiping her sweats , "Nothing. Just thinking about some way to earn money."

Joy plopped herself beside the slouching girl and reached for her own bag.

"What did you think about the idea I gave you? Did you tell Lucas?"

"Rejected it even before I could complete." Audrey, scoffs, " Says that its illegal and won't hear a word against it. He even started giving me a cold shoulder since to stress his point. Well, he is not wrong and moreover I am not even that skilled to take this risk."

Joy laughed, "He has matured over these months, huh? Looking after his elder sister. Well, how about you visit that restaurant? That one whose advertisement we saw. "

"Yes, thats the only option left for me now. Lucas managed to get a part time job as an assistant in a book shop. Its my turn now. I will visit that restaurant tomorrow. I just hope this works.” Packing her bag, she again looked towards Joy with a hesitating eyes and said, "Joy, I have been thinking about something for quite a long time and now I am going to take a big decision......."

"WHAT THE HELL AM I HEARING, AUDREY?"

Lucas barged into the room. Audrey, who was helping Mrs. Thomson in the kitchen flinched and turned towards the fuming boy with a sigh.

"What happened, dear?" inquired the old lady, who was surprised by the outburst of the usually calm boy.

"Its nothing big, aunt-" Audrey began.

"NOTHING BIG?!” Lucas interrupted, glaring at his sister. " Aunt, you won't even believe what she did. Its outrageous. Its not acceptable."

"What is it?" the confused lady asked again, worried from the flickering tension between the siblings.

"She. Dropped. Out. From. Her. College." Lucas said, fuming in anger.

"So what, if I have?" retorted Audrey, ignoring the gasp from Mrs. Thomson. "Look I am older than you. I can well decide what to do and what not to. You better not meddle into my affairs."

Lucas scoffs, "So, after this 'thoughtful' decision, what are you planning to do?" He angrily continued, "Oh, yeah! Join that illegal fight club and then what? Dive into a mafia business? Is this your brilliant plan to earn money, tainting our family’s honour—"

“Don't. You. Dare. Complete. That. Sentence. Lucas Johnson" Audrey roared furiously. Lucas flinched by the sudden shout but held his ground. "I am not that stubborn and narrow minded to ignore your concern and warnings. For your kind information, I have already found a vacancy of a waitress in a restaurant in the other part of the town.I will be going there tomorrow .”

"But dear, isn't the decision of deserting your education too drastic?" Mrs. Thomson asked gently.

"No," Audrey replied with growing impatience. "I’ve thought long and hard about this decision." She looked at Lucas. "Look at you, getting so worked up because I left college, while you—didn’t even tell me you had a study tour and now can’t afford to go, even though you were excited about it months ago. And what about that science program your teacher specifically chose you for?"”

Lucas's anger softened as he slowly understood, "Its different. Those are not that-"

"Important? Oh, save it. I’m your sister and know you better than you think," Audrey said bitterly. "This tour to the research lab would have helped you learn and meet that scientist you’ve always admired. You worry about my education, but do you think I could focus on my studies knowing that the money could help my little brother achieve his dream?”

"Oh, dear, but I heard Michel and Lily taking about you having a dream of being a surgeon." Mrs Thomson intervened.

"Yes, I did say that but.........that was only to get their attention and praise, which were only reserved for their 'perfect' son, not for their daughter who changes her interest every other day. At least, pretending to have a clear aim for a successful profession enabled me to spend time with them, even though I wasn’t interested in those talks about the future. Now, there’s no point in pretending anymore, now that they—now that they—“

Not being able to continue any further, she threw the kitchen towel on the counter and rushed out of the room. Mrs. Thomson and Lucas remained at their places, a brooding silence lingering between them.

Lucas’s anger transformed into sympathy and concern for his sister after their heated exchange. He remembered when his athletic sister suddenly decided to pursue a career as a surgeon. Their parents had been relieved as they gave up hope for her to excel like him. Her smile during discussions about future plans had hidden many emotions he was unaware of. She had endured a lot. Being overshadowed by her brother’s perfectionism and neglected by their parents had driven her to take a drastic decision, forcing herself to love something she had always hated. He had been surprised by her choice but had eventually dismissed it. Now, he felt guilty for not understanding his sister’s struggles. How much had she suffered? How many emotions had she bottled up? He was relieved she made the choice to free herself. Educational pressure is hard enough if you can cope, but it’s even worse if you don’t love what you’re doing. He understands…

He looked at the bed where Audrey lay, or at least pretended to. Her muffled sobs into her pillow were heart-wrenching. His heart ached with each sob. All he wanted was her happiness. Maybe letting her free from this burden was for the best. Their conversation replayed in his mind. She had never used the elder card before. She always treated him as a friend and respected his decisions. This was the first time she asserted her seniority. He glanced out the open window, his eyes growing heavy as sleep eluded him.

"Can we talk?"

Lucas tentatively asked his sister as she served his breakfast. She glanced at him with red puffy eyes and gave a slight nod as she sat across the table.

"Ummm...........sorry for my outburst yesterday. I should have kept in mind that you are elder than me and also know and understand things better than I do. I should n’t have doubted you" He finished and nervously looked at the girl. 

With a deep sigh, she replied,"I am sorry too. I should have informed you earlier before taking this decision."

"No, its ok. I mean, I- " He hesitated. "I thought we shared everything, every secrets, every thoughts?"

"We did. Its just......... Somewhere we just couldn't connect well. I found my comfort in other sports and activities while you were too preoccupied with your studies, exams, exhibitions, olympiads, etc. You did great in all of them, getting prizes here and there. Mom and dad were so proud, so was I. You got the praises and proud looks. And of course who would even glance at the useless girl with no clear future plans, who switches interests day to day?”

"But as time progressed……. I don't know. I kind of craved for their attention suddenly. Remember my first football match? I wanted their presence there but you had to go to that coaching institute. They went with you instead. I don't blame you, its just I.........." She broke off.

Mrs Thomson stumbled into the little kitchen, while coughing. She looked over the table where they two were conversing and reading the serious atmosphere there, she excused herself and walked away.

After sometime, Lucas said, "But - but you hated the idea of being a doctor. You hated the hospital and the stench itself. Why did-"

"Oh! Isn't it obvious? Dad always wanted a surgeon in the family. But you instead opted for research. So, I thought to try it out. At least, he would then fuss about me and try to have those lengthy conversations with me like he had with you."She said, acidly.

Pausing for a moment, she chuckled and said, "You have to admit I succeeded quite a bit. I did get my sweet time with them. But now........I think its better to drop the idea. The ones for whom I initially started are no longer here. So, whats the use? Dropping out from there will save some money. Oh! that reminds me, how much do you need for that tour of yours?" 

Lucas who was staring at his plate, listening to her open up, looked up, "No. I won't be going."

She smiled, "I know how important that trip is and besides, me dropping out of that college will save a lot of money. I can easily afford to send you. Get the necessary information and tell me tonight." 

With that , she stood up and started to walk away when she felt herself being held from behind as soft sobs filled the room.

"Oh my crybaby ! What happened?"

"I am sorry, sis." Lucas chocked between his tears, "I had been so focused on being so perfect that I didn’t even notice you dealing with such problems. I am sorry for doubting you and shouting at you. I promise to be more supportive and understanding."

Audrey turned to face her teary-eyed brother. She gently ruffled his hair and smiled. "It’s not your fault at all. I guess I took the wrong approach to get attention, being too desperate. But I’m really proud to have such a caring and understanding brother."

Lucas managed a shaky smile. "And handsome too," Audrey added with a laugh. "Now, stop crying. You look like a mandrill."

"Audrey!" He whined as he wiped his tears. "Can you stop teasing me for once." After a pause, he spoked again with hopeful eyes , "So, are we okay, now? Lets just promise to share everything with each other instead of keeping mum. Pinky Promise ?” He brought out his little finger.

She laughed and intertwined her own finger with his and said, “Yes, for sure! Now come on, quickly eat your breakfast. You are getting late. Even I have to rush to that restaurant for that job."

With great urgency, Lucas inhaled his breakfast. As picked up his bag, he went over to his sister and gave her a tight hug. 

"All the best! Don't be nervous. You will definitely get that job." He exclaimed, as he ran off down the street.

"Glad that you siblings had patched up" 

Audrey flinched and looked back to see Mrs Thomson standing at the staircase with a tender smile, dancing on her lips. She didn't even notice her coming down.

"Well, we all make mistakes, knowingly and unknowingly. Its just that you should been brave enough to claim it. I am really proud of him. He really grew up."

"That he did. And you too, Audrey. It was really brave and mature of you to take those risky decision. Also, I am really pleased that you both have taken these responsibilities, although you shouldn't-"

"Oh, aunt!" She interrupted "Why shouldn't we take those responsibilities of sustaining this household? You have already done so much for us. Its our turn now. By the way, you should be going to the doctor today. Your coughs are getting worse."

"Yes, yes, I should and I will." She continues, with a playful stern tone "But now, young lady, shouldn't you be running to that restaurant instead of lecturing me?"

"Oh, shoot! I have almost forgotten!"

She dashed into the house, changed her clothes and ran out as the old lady laughed at her antics.

At the dingy eatery in the heart of town, Audrey sat nervously in a small cumbersome office which reeked of cigarettes. A middle-aged woman sat in front of her, scribbling notes, while chewing a gum noisily. The small restaurant, though recently opened, was doing fairly well, attracting a steady flow of customers despite its modest size. The real concern was the area. Audrey had heard numerous disturbing rumours about crimes and other unsavoury activities in the nearby streets. As she looked out at the shabby, dark lanes, those unsettling stories came flooding back. Despite her apprehension, she needed this job desperately. It was only for a month or two, and after that, she planned to leave and start a business of her own with Joy. She was lost in thoughts about her future plans when a sharp voice broke her train of thought.

"So, you a dropout?" the woman asked abruptly, putting away her notes.

"Yes," Audrey replied.

"Then you’ll be working full shifts here?"

"Yes, I’ll do my best."

"Who’s your boss?"

"Sorry?" Audrey asked, confused by the question.

"Aren’t you in a mob?" the woman asked impatiently.

"Umm... no?" Audrey quickly added, "What are you talking about?"

The woman’s expression shifted to one of surprise. She scrutinised Audrey for a moment before asking sharply, "You’re not from around here, are you?"

Audrey hesitated before answering, "No... I live in the outskirts.”

The woman shook her head disapprovingly. Audrey could feel the cold sweat forming on her forehead. Had she said something wrong? Was she going to lose the job opportunity?

After a moment of silence, the woman handed Audrey a register and said, "Fill these details out and start from tomorrow. We’ll see if you can handle it."

Audrey signed the papers, feeling uneasy under the woman’s scrutinising gaze. The woman’s smile as she left the room was anything but reassuring.

Once the door closed behind her, the woman darkly chuckled to herself. Lighting a cigarette, she leaned back in her chair and exhaled a ring of smoke.

"Poor girl. She doesn’t even know what she’s getting into. This place is a breeding ground for trouble, full of rough characters unlike the respectable folk she’s used to. I wonder........"

-Aurora

To Be Continued.........

Next Episode ~

[writingprincessblog]

Hey guys! So, this is the next part of the story "Her Guilty Conscience". I would suggest to read the previous parts before reading this. Also, pls share your opinion about this story. Hope that you all enjoy the story and pls pardon my errors. Happy Reading!

Previous Episode ~

Her Guilty Conscience

Episode 2 Shattered and Rebuilt

Flashbacks :

The house buzzed with laughter and chatter. The table was alive with jokes and laughter, the clinking of cutlery punctuating the siblings’ playful arguments.

“And you know, Dad, she didn’t even notice that the teacher was standing just behind her, watching her doodle his caricature! Oh! You should have seen her face. HAHAHA!” The young girl laughed as she recounted a funny incident that she had encountered at college.

Her father chortled as he finally rose from the table, finishing his meal. He walked over to the couch to grab his bag as his wife hastened to bring his coat.

“Try to come home early, honey,” she said to her husband as she fixed his shirt. “Don’t forget Margaret is coming over this evening.”

“Yeah, yeah. I will… try. Anyway, it’s not like she is coming because she missed us,” the man replied sourly. “She will be here just to remind us about the 'rights' she and her family have on this house.”

“Oh, honey, she is your cousin—”

“Well, I have enemies better than her. Let’s just drop this topic. And yes, before she arrives, tell Lucas and Audrey to clean their rooms.”

He picked up his watch, smiled at his wife, and cast a final glance at the children, who were currently squabbling over the last piece of pie.

“Little tykes,” he muttered as he stepped out the door to start yet another hectic day at the office.

“Bye, Joy. See you tomorrow.”

The young girl walked down the lane after parting ways with her friend. She skipped her way to the bus stop where her brother was already engrossed in a book. She ran up to him and playfully smacked his head. Startled, he looked up with a frown.

“Audrey, just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can abuse me whenever you feel like it!” he cutely complained.

She gasped. “Abuse? Man, it’s just my style of greeting. Come on! Stop grumbling like an ancient grandpa.”

Just as Lucas opened his mouth to retort, the bus rumbled to a stop. Audrey’s laughter bubbled up as she grabbed his hand and tugged him onto the bus, her energy infectious despite his scowl.

“How was your day?”

“Great, but the teacher set yet another test for next week.”

“Oh? So that’s the reason behind your salty mood? Well, doughnut worry! I have full faith in my little brother. You will definitely pass with the highest marks.”

“Enough with the flattering. By the way, how were your tryouts?”

“Great! I got in! I managed to save most of the punches and landed a few hard hits on my opponent. The poor girl had to be rushed to the medical room. Anyway, the coach was very pleased with my performance.”

“Good to hear that. But you should do something about that black eye and swollen lips before Mom sees your clown face and faints from your 'exquisite beauty.'”

“Why, you punk. Come here. Let me break some of your teeth and add a natural blush to those cheeks—”

Their playful banter continued throughout the ride as they shared gossip and secrets. They had a precious bond where neither could survive without the other. They were friends who fought, taunted, comforted, and laughed together. They had each other’s backs and were possessive of one another.

Audrey was 19, and Lucas was 17. Lucas was a bookworm, while Audrey was more of a sports enthusiast. Recently, she had taken an interest in boxing and joined the club. Despite juggling her changing interests, she managed to maintain good grades to avoid complaints from her teachers and parents. On the other hand, Lucas was the top student in his class with sky high marks on every test and exam. Though he appeared meek, his tall stature and cold stare were enough to intimidate anyone.

After a 15-minute ride, they finally reached home. But as they neared their house, they were surprised to find a gathering nearby. Curious, the two teenagers approached the crowd to find their neighbours gathered around Mrs. Thomson, a kind old lady from the other part of town who was a good friend of their parents and whom they warmly called "Aunt." She was crying hysterically, and when her eyes fell upon them, she threw herself on Audrey and sobbed uncontrollably. Audrey was taken aback; she tried to soothe the crying lady as she noticed the other people gathered giving them pitiful stares. What on earth was going on?

It was Lucas who voiced the question. “What’s the matter, Aunt? Why are you crying? And what’s going on?”

“Well, she brought some news. Very bad news,” one of the neighbors spoke up. “I can’t even believe it.”

“What? Wait, Aunt, come on. Let’s go inside. Mom will comfort you.” Audrey tried to guide her inside. “Dad will be on his way back in a few hours, too.”

“N-no!” Mrs. Thomson choked between her tears as she stood straight and stared at her and Lucas with her tear-stricken face. “They can’t help anymore because—

they are dead. They met with an accident two hours ago.”

The rain fell outside the window in a comforting silence, but it sharply contrasted with the storm raging in their minds. They soon learned that their father had unexpectedly come home during lunch when he should have been at the office. The neighbours recalled that he seemed to be in a state of panic as he rushed inside and soon came out with his wife and some of their belongings before hastily driving away—God knows where. Later on, it was discovered that they had met with a tragic accident where they both died on the spot.

Relatives arrived soon after the funeral, but their intentions were less than kind. They claimed the land and the house, coldly evicting the children. The siblings, overwhelmed by grief, were unaware of the property issues and too distraught to fight for their rightful share.

No house, no parents, no support, no hope. The kids sat on a bench in a park, huddled together to keep warm in the chilly wind. Out of compassion, Mrs. Thomson took them in. Though old, she did her best to provide for them.

Audrey was shocked by the whole ordeal. She cried day and night for months. Her constant smile was long gone, replaced by the shadow of helplessness and sorrow. She was nowhere near the young, cheerful girl she had been years ago. On the other hand, Lucas was no better. While Audrey slipped into the darkness of depression, he remained in a state of denial. He would wait for hours in the drawing room or at the door for their parents to arrive with apologetic smiles on their faces, making different excuses for their sudden absence. But deep down, he knew that they were long gone to a place from which they couldn’t return.

It was only due to the love and care provided by Mrs. Thomson that the two children were able to move forward. Slowly, as time progressed, both of them accepted the inevitable and moved on with their lives.

5 months later ~~~

Mrs. Thomson soon faced difficulties in taking care of the new family. The parents had saved quite a sum, but it was nowhere near enough to suffice their day-to-day needs—the household necessities, Lucas’s school fees, Audrey’s college fees, etc. As the money dwindled, the household’s struggles became evident. The old lady tried to keep the fact hidden from the poor kids by using the meager pension she received every month to cover expenses. However, the difficulties were already noticed by the siblings. They decided to help the kind lady who had become their guardian during their worst.

“We should find some ways to help her out. She is already old, and her health is failing. How about we get some part-time jobs to scrape together some extra cash?” Lucas suggested as he paced up and down the small room that they shared in the little cottage.

Audrey, who seemed to be deep in thought, stirred and, glancing at her brother, cautiously spoke, “Well, I had been thinking about a solution. I do have one. But.........I don’t think you would like it.”

“Oh, yeah? Try me.”

“Well, Joy mentioned a new club on the next street. She said that, along with the bar, there is also some kind of arena for fights. Many people come to bet their money and—”

“Wait, wait, don’t continue. I see where this is going. Look, Audrey, I know that you are physically fit and all, and also you are in that boxing club but this doesn’t mean that—”

He glanced at her, bewildered.

“That you would fight there…”

-Aurora

To Be Continued.........

Next Episode ~

[writingprincessblog]

Hello, guys!! Hope you all are healthy and good. Soooo, I am back with another story. This one had stayed in my docs for quite a long time. And since nowadays my studies have made it difficult for me to even breathe, I decided to post it in parts. Hope I didn't disappoint you.

This story may be a bit dark themed and the language may be very poor ( I prefer to call it my 'bRoKeN eNgLiSh') in some parts cause my brain had stopped functioning. This bit is the teeny weeny first part of the story. Anyways, happy reading! Enjoy!!

Her Guilty Conscience

Episode 1 A Murder in the Bunglow

Present Day :

The clock chimed in the great hall, adding to the eerie silence of the bungalow. Not a soul spoke, not a mouse stirred, not even the figure near the balcony in one of the bedroom upstairs moved a muscle. Her eyes drooped with sadness as she looked listlessly outside the window.

The bungalow, surrounded by thick forest, stood alone in the valley. No one would come to disturb the inhabitants or to check if anything happened in the bungalow. The night was still, the wind whispered among the leaves, the animals down in the bushes drew their lazy breaths and in the house, the girl shivered, not due to cold but anger, sadness, guilt and many other emotions which are licking her insides, burning her inside out. Her milky skin glowed in the moonlight as she sat by the railing, huddled in one of the chairs. Her long hair fell over her pale face, which she did not bother to remove as her hands tightly clutched her pretty dress, fully spattered with……….blood.

Yes, his blood. Her brother’s blood. His body still lay in his chamber in the same corridor, a knife pushed into his back. And the most dreadful thing was.......

She was the one who killed him.

-Aurora

To Be Continued........

Next Episode ~

[writingprincessblog]

Hey Guys! I am back with another story! Please pardon the grammatical errors and mistakes. Also, do share your opinion and suggest me ways to improve my writing. Thank You! Happy Reading!

The Stories The Sparrow Told

The newspaper that particular morning had ruined my mood. Being a peace lover, the news of war and bloodshed disgusted and depressed me. How can people display such a cruel side, just for the sake of petty materialistic things! I thought to go fishing after breakfast but alas, I suddenly lost interest in that activity. So, instead I went and laid on the flower bed in my Granny’s garden, my favourite haunt, during my visits at her place. The flowers bloomed and swayed and danced in the morning wind. The long trees offered some kind shadow from the scorching heat. The stream, nearby flowed as the waters gleamed like thousand crystals in the morning sun. I inhaled deeply the fragrance of the wild flowers as one thought came into my mind - ‘Spring at last arrived!’

The birds chirped cheerfully as if talking to me. I knew not the language but tried to interpret the cryptic message that they tried to exchange. I knew not what they saw or where they saw but one thing I could do is close my eyes and imagine…….

The little sparrow flew through the open blue sky and rested on a water bath near a modest little cottage. Quenching its thirst, it looked around and found a stout little lady hovering near the flower garden. Her golden locks shone like gold in the sunlight. Her blue dress suited her pale complexion and also brought out the bright blue colour of her eyes. She smiled at the sparrows and glided towards the house when the gate creaked and entered a handsome young man with a charming and mischievous grin. The girl ran into his open arms with glee. They smiled ear to ear and looked to each other with love and adoration. With an exchange of sweet words and loving playful gestures they walked into the house.

The witness of this heartwarming scene chirped happily and flew away to continue wandering and hunting for worms. The humans are content with their relations. Their eyes showed their deep love which illuminated the whole estate. It was better to build a nest on their roof and live there. There will surely be enough worms in the garden and the maiden will surely not reproach a petty boarder. It would indeed be fun to live there.

Indeed, fun it was. But just like every good things, this love story too had to see its end….. One morning, a soft melodious humming reached the sparrow as it was hovering around the garden. Not able to resist, it soon landed near the lady and started to sing along with her, nuzzling its body against her soft palms. A creak of the gate, suddenly, interrupted their song. Maybe, the man again, with his dashing smile. Alas! No some other human with a harden look and white hair. He brought out a letter and handed it to the lady’s outstretched hand. She smiled but the brute did not even glanced at her again and went out. How rude!

She sat on the armchair and opened the letter. The sparrow, annoyed by the interruption, went beside her and complained and requested to continue the unfinished song. But lo! She was no longer cheerful! Tears filled those pretty eyes as the smile slowly vanished! She ran to the house as tears finally made their way out of her eyes. The letter remained clutched in her hand, held tightly over her chest. The sparrow flew over to the window and saw her throw herself on the bed and sob uncontrollably. Why? Was it that old brute? It KNEW something was wrong with him. Should have poked him with his beak as soon he arrived. Now that, the lady started to cry he would of course do it the next time he saw him.

Days passed by. The young man did not return. Did he get lost in the way? The lady too did not smile like before nor did she come out. The lawn became sad as if it was already winter without any snow. The sparrow knocked the glass but was only shooed away by her. Why? Did she not like him anymore? She used to sit by the fire and bawl her heart out. His tiny heart broke looking at her miserable state. Oh! How he wished the man would come back and console her! How did he miss those moments the beautiful couple spent together!

But neither did the man come nor did the smile. But came the time for the sparrow to move away. He was very sorry! God knows what happened between the couple. The letter!! Yes, something in the letter! Now that he realised, he understood why she cried. Many a house received that gruesome letter which claimed their happiness. The man never returned and the wife and the children cried. The same fate had fallen on this household too. What a lovely environment did the couple live in!! He would surly miss it. May the man come back and may she smile again. 

Suddenly, a rustle of wings woke me up from my slumber. I opened my eyes to find a sparrow perched on my knees. It looked old but what surprised me was the quizzical look it gave me. My brain full of the thoughts of the dainty household interpreted the sparrow’s look as if it was asking - ‘Do you know what happened?’ I played along and said, “My dear sparrow, the war  took many lives and blundered hundreds of happy houses. This one was no different, just their love was too strong to bring out the pity from a symbol of nature like you.” The sparrow nodded (or I may have imagined) and broke out into a melodious song. I again drew a long breath and enjoyed the harmony of its song with the rustling of the leaves and the gurgle of the water. I closed my eyes and continued to listen and interpret these songs. To enjoy the STORIES THAT THE SPARROW TOLD……

-Aurora

[writingprincessblog]

INTRO POST

Hello guys!! Welcome to this blog!!!!!

Who am I ?

I am Aurora (pen name) and am currently 16 years old. Yeah, I am still studying in school but as a hobby, I write time to time. So, I may appear with a story once in a while and then disappear for a looong time during exams or due to study pressure. English is not my first language. So, pardon my spelling and grammatical mistakes.

What I read ? / My favourite reads

I don't really have a favourite genre since I read anything that comes in my way. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Ruskin Bond, Secret Seven, Famous Five, etc. are some of my favourite reads and also I am a huge Potter Head (I have read all of the books in the series!). Other than these I read a mixture of tales from different authors from genres horror, comedy, sci - fic, etc.

My writing history

Honestly, I don't have a proper 'writing journey'. Its just I was interested in storytelling since my childhood. I officially started writing at 12 years and joined the social media at 15 to share my works. I am an amateur and am working on my growth as a successful author.

What do I write?

I write stories and series on random topics. They may be inspired by movies, books, my dream, nightmares or even day to day activities. I also don't usually write on specific genres since they are just random and purely based on my imagination and instincts.

My posted works

Poems : Death ? Assassin

Short Stories : A Job Well Done The Stories The Sparrow Told Kidnapped (comedy) A Quest For a Midnight Snack (comedy)

Series : Her Guilty Conscience (thriller) (Ongoing)

Hope I can entertain you all with my stories. And I request for comments and even critiques, along with all your love and encouragement.

Thank you for your support! Feel free to ask or chat with me and also suggest prompts and all!

-Aurora