#AtoZChallenge - Nudge Her Into the Car

Hey y'all! My super-awesome co-author Dan is filling in for me for a couple days while I finish writing my application to grad school. I leave you in good hands. Have fun!
See you Wednesday,
~AJ

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

N:
"Mrs. Klímová, I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience, but get back in the car."

"I'm sorry, dear?" responded the lady. "I'd rather go in-"

"No time!" Andy's mom interrupted, shoving on Mrs. Klímová's arm abruptly. It sent her teetering back into rear seat of the vehicle, umbrella and all. Andy's mom slammed the door and stopped for a moment to glare at the approaching men, who paused upon realizing they'd been made before picking up their pace.

Mrs. Klímová, finally realizing something was amiss, locked her door and peered out the rear window. Andy's mom hopped in the passenger front door and looked at the driver, only to realize to her dismay that he was a doughy boy, barely eighteen, in an ill-fitting chauffer's uniform. Hardly someone she could count on in a tough spot.

"Out!" she barked, in clipped Slovak. He turned to look at her, foggily uncomprehending. Andy's mom mulled her word choice again, and tried a different tack. "Go, find help," she said, reaching over him to push open his door. She all but ejected the confused man, slid ungracefully over into the driver's seat, and slammed on the gas. The driver's door slammed itself shut as the car lurched into motion.

"They're almost here!" said Mrs. Klímová from the back seat, alarmed. Andy's mom looked up in the mirror to see that the men had nearly reached the car, but they weren't about to catch up now! She continued to watch, belatedly worried about the young man, but saw that the two pursuers had turned and hailed another car, whose lights flickered on maybe a hundred meters down the road.

Muttering something unprofessional under her breath, Andy's mom turned her attention to her driving and realized they were coming quickly to an intersection. She racked her brain for her limited knowledge of Bratislava's streets and tried to make a decision in the dark and rain.

What should Andy's mom do?

Obey protocol and find somewhere to report in.

Outdistance her pursuers in the city streets.

Obscure her path by looping back around.

Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)

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#AtoZChallenge - Mugging Escorts

Hey y'all! My super-awesome co-author Dan is filling in for me for a couple days while I finish writing my application to grad school. I leave you in good hands. Have fun!
See you Wednesday,
~AJ

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

M:
"A mugging! That's what this situation calls for!" Andy exclaimed, and in the other room his mother looked up from slicing potatoes.

"A mugging, Andrew?" She murmured to herself. "My my, what trouble you're getting into." She smiled as she slid the potatoes into the pot, remembering the old days -- and her old life -- in the secret service.

It was the late 80's, in Bratislava, in a castle above the river in the middle of the city, where she had been stationed as an intelligence officer to assist in protecting a diplomat. Or was it a dissident? Andy's mom suddenly felt a bit of uncertainty.

Shaking her head, she searched for clues in her memory. She remember it was night, and raining, when the person-of-interest's car drove up. The security detail was preoccupied with something, so they had sent Andy's mom -- though this was many years before he was born, of course -- down to the car to meet the woman, a Mrs. Klímová. It was the night that Andy's mom first got a taste of action, a night that changed the course of her life.

"Welcome, Mrs. Klímová," she said through chattering teeth in her best Slovak, keeping her coat closed with one hand and holding out an umbrella as the middle-aged woman -- only a little older than I am now -- stepped out of the car.

"Oh, don't worry, dear, I speak English fine," the woman responded in a comforting American accent, taking the umbrella in her own hand. "Let's get inside, shall we?"

At that moment, Andy's mom finally noticed the two men in trenchcoats who had appeared under a streetlight. The dark silhouettes were walking towards the women already, hands in their pockets and purpose in their strides, and Andy's mom's heart leapt into double-time.

They had the air of muggers, but what would muggers be doing here? The castle was in a rather isolated district of Bratislava!

What should Andy's mom do?

Make Noise to call for help.

Take Note of their posture and prepare to attack.

Nudge Mrs. Klímová back into the car and take off.

Hello! It's a pleasure to write for you. Please leave a comment indicating your one vote for the direction of the story, and I will tally them tonight to prepare tomorrow's post!
~Dan
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

2016 #AtoZChallenge - Loud and Demanding

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

L:
"My name is Sir Andrew, from the mammals, and I demand that you release Queen Eileen!"
The Lizard King turned his head toward Andy, and also both of his creepy iguana eyes. His eyes twitched around the room independently as he spoke, "Why should I obey? She is mine now."
"She is not! She belongs to the furry creatures! You must return her or we'll continue to attack the castle."
The King turned one eye to the window, as T-Rex tossed a chipmunk back over the wall. "That's not going well. I tire of you, human."
Sir Andrew put his hands on his hips and did his best impression of his five year old sister and demanded, "Wait! What do you want from us?"
"The Queen. And war."
"But war is bad!" Andy said.
"I am bad. And I am done with you. Guards!"
The two snakes slipped back into the room. One wound his tail around Sir Andrew's arm.
"I'll be back, King!"
"I'll count on it," the King said. He turned languidly back to the scene out side his window and the snake pulled Andy out of the chamber.

What should Andy do?

Somehow Make the snakes let go.

Mug his snake escorts and get away

or Make a go at heading up the stairs.

OK go ahead and vote! My pal Dan is taking over to write for the next couple days so I can write my grad school application. I leave you in good hands :) Dan will write before he goes to bed tonight, so vote quick!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - The Reptile King

Late post! Busy day. Vote on :)

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

K:
Andy stood up out of the hay, put his hands on his hips in a brave fashion and said, "I demand to see your King!" Several of the smaller reptiles paused in their running about when he spoke, but did not stop to speak to him or point him in the right way.
So Sir Andrew approached a Triceratops that was using her horns to move logs and sticks into a large pile and said, "My name is Sir Andrew, of the furry creatures, and I demand to see your King!"
The Triceratops snorted and rumbled, "He's in the castle. Enter through that gate and up the stairs. You will find his chambers there." And with that the dinosaur turned back to her work, ignoring the presence of the human inside the castle gates.
Andy ran into the castle and up the stairs. At the door to the chambers were two hooded snakes, with capes draped about their hoods, and bands of gold on their fangs. When Andy walked up he saw a bead of poison form at the point of a fang. He stopped short.
"Hello. My name is Sir Andrew of the mammals. I am here to speak to your King about returning our Queen to us."
One snake entered the chamber and returned shortly saying, "The King isss busssy.. You will ssspeak quickly, or you will feel the pain of my fanggsss..."
Andy bowed slightly, keeping a sharp eye on the snake's position, and entered the chamber.
To Andy's surprise, the King of the Lizards was an Iguana! His bright green stripes seemed out of place against the dark grey of the castle walls as he lounged in a window overlooking the battle. One eye swiveled toward Andy while the other looked at a Pterodactyl delivering a message through the open window.
"Can I help you?" the King said.
"My name is Sir Andrew, from the mammals..." Andy began.

How should Sir Andrew proceed?

Loudly demand the return of the Queen

Speak of his Love of the Queen to win the King over

or Leave the room, because that guy is scary!

OK! Voting closes at 5:30am MTN/7:30am EDT. You know the drill. Let me know in the comments where you think the story should go, and I will take it wherever you tell me to!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
___________________________________________________________________
If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge: Jump into the castle!

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

J:
Sir Andrew surveyed the scene inside the castle walls. A massive T-Rex was near the castle gate, terrorizing all mammalian creatures who came near. His deep roars shook the castle walls. A Brontosaurus took up most of the rest of the main courtyard, with his long tail sweeping across the open area, almost penning the T-Rex into position. Small reptiles ran hither and thither, carrying out various tasks or waiting to be directed. In the close corner of the scene was a giant pile of hay. Sir Andrew ran along the rampart until he was situated just above the pile, took a deep breath to steady himself, and jumped off the wall onto the pile of hay.
"Oof!" he said as he landed clunkily into the pile. A very tiny little reptile came out from its burrow in the hay, looked at him in stark surprise, and scurried off to another corner. Andy burrowed into the hay a bit to further consider his choices.

What should Sir Andrew do?

Run into the Keep proper,

Walk up to a reptile and demand to see the reptile King,

or Do his Knightly duty and start doing away with the reptiles.

I've always wanted to use the phrase 'hither and thither' in a story :D
You know the drill! Vote in the comments below on where you think our hero should go next! Voting closes at 5:30am MDT/7:30am EDT so I can write the next bit before work tomorrow!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - Into the fray!

Good morning, everyone! Are you all ready for the second week of A-Z? I hope everyone's Challenge is going well :)

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

I:
Sir Andrew drew his sword, took a deep breath, and jumped down Into the mass of snakes. They cleared just enough space for his feet to land and he hit the ground swinging. With great precision the dashing Sir began smashing at the heads of his foes! One after another he walloped them with his giant plastic sword and each snake fell prone to his Intimidating sword skills.
It wasn't until there was only one snake left that Andy realized that the squirrel had come down with him and had started pushing each snake off the rampart as he rendered them incapacitated. It was just Sir Andrew, and a giant hooded Cobra.
"Ssssoooo... This iss the great Sssir Andrew... Come to ressscue your Queen. Well. You've beaten my sssssnakess.. Let'ss see how you do with the rest of the reptilessss.." And with that he turned and disappeared into one of the garrets, before Andy could reply.
"Quick, squirrel, let everyone know I've cleared it up here! I'm just going to go.."

Where shall Sir Andrew go next?

Jump off the rampart into the castle?

Follow that Jerk snake?

or Just continue along the rampart to help others get in?

There you go! Leave your vote for what Sir Andrew should do in the comments below! Voting closes at 5:30am MDT/7:30am EDT on Tuesday! Am finding writing in the morning to be working well, so y'all get some extra time. Have a great day!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
________________________________________________________________________
If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!