First 250 Words Blogfest

A couple of weeks ago, Elle Strauss hosted a First 250 Words Contest. I was fortunate enough to be one of the finalists. Today, she's hosting a Blogfest so everyone can share their openings. Here's my entry, the opening of Across Two Universes:


            After standing so long under the hot stage lights, Paul would have crossed the wormhole without a spacesuit for a drink of water. The greenroom was down the hall, but crew members dashing around and setting up for the next scene made the backstage area an obstacle course. As he reached the hallway, a costume programmer yanked him off to the side.

            “You’re Paul Harrison, right?” she asked. “Your sister’s at the back door. She says there’s a family emergency.”

            He removed his sweaty face mesh. “Just her? What’s wrong?”

            “She was too upset to say.”

            Dad and his sister had been shopping for supplies to be sent up to the spaceship; why wasn’t he here too? Frowning, Paul sprinted down the corridor of narrow dressing rooms to the back. Cass peered through the security window. Mascara was streaked across her face, and auburn hair tumbled around her head. After he let her in, she clung to him so tightly her jacket became entangled in his holoprojectors.

            “What’s up, Sis?” He strained his ears to follow the onstage dialogue. “I have to go back before my next scene.”

            She looked up at him, her blue eyes glistening. “Mom’s in the hospital.”

             Shit. A spasm of itching crept over Paul’s arms. “She was fine at lunch. What happened?”

             “I don’t know!” Cass released him. “Dad got a call from one of the ushers saying Mom threw up and passed out.”

            “I’m right here. How come no one told me?” 

I hope you enjoyed that! To visit the other blogs participating in this contest, please check here.