Starlet

I am currently working on a short story anthology. Today’s post is the (very rough) beginnings of one of the stories. The story prompt comes from The Amazing Story Generator by Jason Sacher.

Prompt: Spoiled by a lifetime of luxury, a television star gets trapped in a parallel universe.

I don’t know exactly how it happened. I really don’t care. One minute I was walking down an alley trying to get away from paparazzi, the next minute I felt strange, like I walked through a sheet of water, but I wasn’t wet. I felt some fat raindrops hit my face, and I looked up in confusion. The sky was dark and threatening, the complete opposite from a second ago. That’s some crazy weather change, I thought as I wiped my face off. There were people sitting in the alleyway who hadn’t been there before. I was startled, but homeless people were an inevitability downtown.

I reached into my back pocket and took out my wallet. I looked for some ones to hand out, but I only had weird play money. Well, it wasn’t like any kind of money I’d seen before. I took out a few bills and handed them out, stunned looks on the people’s faces. I peeked around the corner to see if anyone was waiting. No one was there, except the normal pedestrian traffic.

Things looked…strange. It wasn’t anything like I remembered, with lots of neon signs and people with expressionless faces, but I hadn’t been really paying attention. A hand rested on my shoulder, and I jumped, turning around. It was an elderly man from the group squatting in the alley.

“We can’t accept this, miss. It was very kind of you, but we can’t take it. They won’t let us.” He put the cash back in my hand, a frightened look on his face. He looked around and relaxed when he saw no one was paying attention. I looked over my shoulder as well, but seeing no one, I turned back.

“Why can’t you take it? It’s mine to give to whomever I want,” I said, trying to push the money back into his hand.

“Are you a stranger here, or are you just damn ignorant, girl?” He hissed, shoving me away. I was dumbstruck. What was wrong with this guy? When I gave money out, usually people blabbered on about how grateful they were. I usually only did it around cameras–good PR starts with your own actions, really–but a good deed was a good deed.

“What is wrong with you?” I stuffed the cash back in my wallet. “Fine, you don’t want it? Don’t take it! I won’t waste my charity on you.” A pained look crossed the man’s face. Was it because he wanted the money now? Anger grew inside me, but turned to ice when I saw the color leave his face, a look of terror spreading. He was looking just over my head. I didn’t want to turn and look.

“They’re coming,” he whispered. “Run.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I took off down the street, unaware of where I was going. I never looked back, even though I heard the screams of the people in the alley. I ran and ran and then I felt it again–like a wall of water. I gasped, everything back to normal. I squinted into the sun, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. I slowly turned and looked over my shoulder, but found nothing out of sorts. I walked back to where I’d crossed back, but found nothing amiss.

I don’t care how it happened. I have to get back. There was a reason I went wherever I went. I know there’s something more waiting for me. I’ll go back to the alleyway tomorrow. If I don’t come back, I’m sorry your favorite shows will be cancelled, but there’s something going on. I finally feel like there’s a reason for me. I’m leaving this note just in case. Be careful in the alleyway between the Smithwick and Tailor buildings. You might find something you aren’t ready for.

XOXO.