Eli

Eli's belly gurgles as she paces back and forth impatiently in the living room when she hears familiar footsteps trudging up the stairs. She breathes a deep sigh of relief. But what normally should have sounded like a sigh of relief instead came out as a low growl no human could make. She picks up a deck of cards from the table then sits indian style on the floor. She fans the deck in her hands and moves some cards around, a few at a time, as if she was playing a game or doing some sort of magic card-trick.

"I mustn't look too eager" she thinks. "It might... encourage him."

Well, this is my first foray into LTROI fan fiction. It is centered several months after the events in the film, but it will include my own OC Vampire, Alexander. He is younger than Eli by quite a large margin, and yet was turned at seventeen. This is not an attempt at a pairing or a self-insert; simply an expression of how i think Eli would react around another of her kind after not seeing one for so long. Oskar is alive and well but for the first several chapters, will not play a large part. Indeed, the first few chapters will simply be how Eli and Alexander react.

I've built walls
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain
I am a rock, I am an island
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock, I am an island
And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries
Simon & Garfunkel, "I Am A Rock"

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 1, scene 3

Five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

Right on cue, "knock-knock" sounds are heard from clock-like mechanisms within the meter indicating the 3-kilometer mark had passed and the newly added fare amount is displayed on the front panel.

That would mean only 12 more kilometers to... what was it again?

Originally the idea for this story was in response to Wolfchild's "Voices Alone" story at this thread.

Although I did like Wolfchild's story and thought it was well wriiten, I had a few disagreements particularly his opinion what might have gone through Eli's mind when she first met Oskar at the jungle gym. At the end of my post I made the comment, "Of course this is your story and viewpoint. I would have written it entirely differently." to which he replied, "Then, by all means - you should. :)"

I took this as a challenge and what you see here is the result.

I'm staying true to the concept, "What would Eli be thinking thoughout the film where she was present?" Although this is a story in response to another story it should be good as a standalone whether or not you've read Wolfchild's "Voices Alone". I highly recommend reading it it is an excellent story. I just happen to have a different take.

So without further adieu I present, "Echoes Within"

“So, you’re willing to have the echo, huh?” Dr. Goodwin strode into the conference room, a rolled sheaf of papers sticking out of one pocket of his doctor’s coat, a freshly lit cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth.

He smiled, pumped Jed’s hand and gave him a pat on the back. “Howya doing, Jed?--no need to get up. You don’t mind if I smoke, do you?” Without waiting for an answer he stepped over to Eli, who had turned away from the window toward him, and shook his hand, too. “Good to see you, kid.”

Chapter X

Thursday, December 19, 2002 – 10:25 a.m.

“Good morning. Markle, Regan & Walsh.”

“Hi. I’m trying to reach Roger Carson.”

“One moment, please.” Jed was placed briefly on hold. Then a new female voice, this one somewhat older and carrying a haughty, british accent, came on.

“Mr. Carson’s office. May I help you?”

“Hi. My name’s Jed Inverness. I need to speak with Roger.”

“Does he know why you’re calling?”

“No. I’m a neighbor of his. I need a little legal advice.”