Author's Note: Rated for bad language... I read the book "The Stand" and
I've also seen the movie (both being very good) and thus I was inspired.
Scary thought, huh? But please just read and review. :-)
Summary: An eighteen year old girl, Josephine, survives Captain Trips. She then goes out on her own little joyride, not caring about the stand that is about to take place between good and evil. But what effect will she have on this world plagued by disaster and chaos?
Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with "The Stand" or Stephen King... although I wish I had outstanding talent like he has.
*~*~*
The End is Never as Bad as It Seems
Chapter 1: June 20- The Session
Josephine sat on the small cusiony blue chair and fidgeted with the hem of her black shirt. She knew everyone was there but she didn't really see them. Her mind had quietly slipped away from reality, leaving its chaotic messiness to be dealt with by anyone but her.
"Josephine?"
The voice was there, but to her it was nothing but a distant echo that, in a moment or two, would disappear.
"Josephine, are you listening?"
No, I'm not listening, she thought to herself. Well, actually, she had to be listening to something if she heard that, so she wasn't completely in her own dazed world. She would zone out sometimes when she was sitting in that circle with those five other people who would go on and on about how they were cut off on the highway earlier that day. Josephine always had trouble listening to people complain. It wasn't a strong point of hers.
"Josephine!!"
There it is again, she thought, that annoying voice. Can't that woman just shut up already? She would give anything to just be able to snap her fingers and make the voice disappear.
A woman's hand lightly touched her shoulder, pulling her out of whatever semi-dream world she had been in.
"Don't fuckin' touch me." Josephine, who had been in a foul mood all day, said as she looked up and swatted the hand away like it was a fly. The blond woman next to Josephine recoiled her hand and looked to the glasses- wearing, clipboard-holding, brunette who sat across from them.
"Josephine, don't use that language here. You know it's not permitted." The brunette said as she shifted in her seat.
"Whatever, Nancy. And for God's sake, if you're going to call me by my first name, please call me Joey." Josephine said in annoyance. Along with complaining, she really disliked being called by her full first name.
"Please... Joey..." the woman said awkwardly, "I told you to call me Mrs. Andrews. And this is a group therapy session. And you're part of this group, so please participate and don't just doze off into your own little daydream." Mrs. Andrews spoke softly even though she was completely irritated and fed up with all of Josephine's games that she had played in the past month. The woman didn't like Josephine too much but no one could ever tell... The woman made a good therapist. She analyzed emotions as a career, so shouldn't she be good at hiding them?
One of the people in the circle coughed loudly.
That's when Josephine looked around at the others, including Mrs. Andrews, who were, by now, all staring at her. And she stared right back.
First in the drama-filled circle was Mrs. Andrews, the therapist. Josephine swore she was the lost twin of Julia Roberts, but Josephine thought she was evil anyway. Josephine hated when she would try to dig deeper into her thoughts and probe her subconscious. And she hated how Mrs. Andrews would question her on every word she would say. It made Josephine feel less than human and sometimes embarrassed.
To the right of Mrs. Andrews was Soccer-Mom-of-the-Year, Mrs. Pegman. She was a lanky brunette with short choppy hair that stuck out in all directions. Josephine wondered if her rich husband ever cheated on her because she was so consumed with her own world and well-being. She was a soccer coach and her two small children, Matilda and Freddy, were the epitome of brattiness, taken after their mother, of course. Mrs. Pegman once commented on hurting her two children and when asked why her answer was because they were horrible children and they deserved it. Mrs. Andrews was quite shocked and Mrs. Pegman rarely mentioned her kids after that.
Then there was Mr. Dougly. He was an old black man in his mid fifties. He was a kind, soft-spoken man who rarely talked, but when he did, it was usually about his dead wife who died on their honeymoon. Everyone guessed that was why he was there, to get over the loss of his wife who died over thirty years ago.
Next to Mr. Dougly was Jack. Josephine couldn't remember his last name. It was too long. He was a spoiled, twenty year old, momma's boy who constantly mooched off his rich parents. Josephine had to admit he was handsome, but he was conceited to such a degree that it made her sick to her stomach. He would constantly brag about women he had been with. Josephine wasn't quite sure why he was even in that place. He seemed like a normal man other than the fact that he truly believed the world revolved around him. Josephine swore she would one day find out why he was around.
And then came, yours truly, Josephine. She had deep red hair that was always pulled back in a pony tail and she was short for being eighteen. Only five foot three. Her neglectful parents were filthy rich yet she took pleasure in looting people's garages and cars. Not to mention she was so good at shoplifting that some store owners watched out for her and she was a pick-pocket. To sum it all up, she was a kleptomaniac. But even though she could be cynical, sarcastic and sometimes evil, she was still a human being and generally treated people the way she would want to be treated... on her good days, that is.
To the right of Josephine was twenty-five year old Wendy Eberly, she was the bulimic of the group. She was once a shapely, pretty blonde until, one time in high school, someone called her fat. She took it to heart and then began to eat poorly and induce vomiting. Finally, when she passed out on her bathroom floor from lack of food, her parents took her to see a doctor which then led her to being part of, what Josephine called, "this fucked up Brady Bunch" (she got kicked out of the group one day for saying that one). Even in her state, Wendy still had her pride and she was still had her greatest asset of all: her intelligence. She was always a bright girl who had a wonderful future ahead of her.
And finally there was Hector Davis, whom Josephine called "Hec" for short. He was a muscular, nice construction worker but he was in group therapy, so he must have had some kind of problem, and he did. Several years back he caught his wife cheating on him with his own brother. After she left him, he went into a deep depression and thought he wasn't good enough for the world. He even tried to commit suicide on several occasions. And since then, he had become part of the group. Josephine liked him a lot. He was kind of like a gentle giant.
"Would you all stop staring at me." Josephine said. They all looked away and then focused on Mrs. Andrews who always directed the topic of conversation.
Mr. Dougly sneezed into the handkerchief he was holding and Wendy coughed. She had been coughing intermittently throughout the entire session.
Josephine looked out the window to a telephone line near by. She would've turned her attention back to the group, except a crow had caught her attention. It stared right at her. It's beady eyes bore right into her and she couldn't look away. She had seen more than one crow in her lifetime, but this time something felt... different. Odd.
"Well," Mrs. Andrews said, clearing her throat and catching Josephine's attention, "time is up for today. And besides you all should go home now and get some rest. Seems like a few of you have that nasty flu bug that's going around. See you all Thursday." It was Tuesday. She would have to go to therapy three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Josephine never understood why the schedule was the way it was.
Josephine glanced out the window again only to find that the black bird was gone.
Everyone got up and went their separate ways. Except for Josephine. Mrs. Andrews held her back, saying that she needed to talk to her.
"Next time, Ms. Kenndler, I expect you to participate." Mrs. Andrews said firmly but then she saw Josephine roll her eyes in annoyance and the woman's glare softened a bit. "Or at least listen to the others. Please."
"I do listen. Just not as much as you would hope. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going home." And with that, Josephine walked away from the woman, completely unknowing that the few times people coughed and sneezed that day they were spreading the germs of the deadly superflu to everyone but her...
*~*~*
Author's Note: I'll update this when I can since I have other stories I'm working on as well. And if anything, anything at all, is ever off or wrong, let me know and it will be corrected. Review!! Please?
Summary: An eighteen year old girl, Josephine, survives Captain Trips. She then goes out on her own little joyride, not caring about the stand that is about to take place between good and evil. But what effect will she have on this world plagued by disaster and chaos?
Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with "The Stand" or Stephen King... although I wish I had outstanding talent like he has.
*~*~*
The End is Never as Bad as It Seems
Chapter 1: June 20- The Session
Josephine sat on the small cusiony blue chair and fidgeted with the hem of her black shirt. She knew everyone was there but she didn't really see them. Her mind had quietly slipped away from reality, leaving its chaotic messiness to be dealt with by anyone but her.
"Josephine?"
The voice was there, but to her it was nothing but a distant echo that, in a moment or two, would disappear.
"Josephine, are you listening?"
No, I'm not listening, she thought to herself. Well, actually, she had to be listening to something if she heard that, so she wasn't completely in her own dazed world. She would zone out sometimes when she was sitting in that circle with those five other people who would go on and on about how they were cut off on the highway earlier that day. Josephine always had trouble listening to people complain. It wasn't a strong point of hers.
"Josephine!!"
There it is again, she thought, that annoying voice. Can't that woman just shut up already? She would give anything to just be able to snap her fingers and make the voice disappear.
A woman's hand lightly touched her shoulder, pulling her out of whatever semi-dream world she had been in.
"Don't fuckin' touch me." Josephine, who had been in a foul mood all day, said as she looked up and swatted the hand away like it was a fly. The blond woman next to Josephine recoiled her hand and looked to the glasses- wearing, clipboard-holding, brunette who sat across from them.
"Josephine, don't use that language here. You know it's not permitted." The brunette said as she shifted in her seat.
"Whatever, Nancy. And for God's sake, if you're going to call me by my first name, please call me Joey." Josephine said in annoyance. Along with complaining, she really disliked being called by her full first name.
"Please... Joey..." the woman said awkwardly, "I told you to call me Mrs. Andrews. And this is a group therapy session. And you're part of this group, so please participate and don't just doze off into your own little daydream." Mrs. Andrews spoke softly even though she was completely irritated and fed up with all of Josephine's games that she had played in the past month. The woman didn't like Josephine too much but no one could ever tell... The woman made a good therapist. She analyzed emotions as a career, so shouldn't she be good at hiding them?
One of the people in the circle coughed loudly.
That's when Josephine looked around at the others, including Mrs. Andrews, who were, by now, all staring at her. And she stared right back.
First in the drama-filled circle was Mrs. Andrews, the therapist. Josephine swore she was the lost twin of Julia Roberts, but Josephine thought she was evil anyway. Josephine hated when she would try to dig deeper into her thoughts and probe her subconscious. And she hated how Mrs. Andrews would question her on every word she would say. It made Josephine feel less than human and sometimes embarrassed.
To the right of Mrs. Andrews was Soccer-Mom-of-the-Year, Mrs. Pegman. She was a lanky brunette with short choppy hair that stuck out in all directions. Josephine wondered if her rich husband ever cheated on her because she was so consumed with her own world and well-being. She was a soccer coach and her two small children, Matilda and Freddy, were the epitome of brattiness, taken after their mother, of course. Mrs. Pegman once commented on hurting her two children and when asked why her answer was because they were horrible children and they deserved it. Mrs. Andrews was quite shocked and Mrs. Pegman rarely mentioned her kids after that.
Then there was Mr. Dougly. He was an old black man in his mid fifties. He was a kind, soft-spoken man who rarely talked, but when he did, it was usually about his dead wife who died on their honeymoon. Everyone guessed that was why he was there, to get over the loss of his wife who died over thirty years ago.
Next to Mr. Dougly was Jack. Josephine couldn't remember his last name. It was too long. He was a spoiled, twenty year old, momma's boy who constantly mooched off his rich parents. Josephine had to admit he was handsome, but he was conceited to such a degree that it made her sick to her stomach. He would constantly brag about women he had been with. Josephine wasn't quite sure why he was even in that place. He seemed like a normal man other than the fact that he truly believed the world revolved around him. Josephine swore she would one day find out why he was around.
And then came, yours truly, Josephine. She had deep red hair that was always pulled back in a pony tail and she was short for being eighteen. Only five foot three. Her neglectful parents were filthy rich yet she took pleasure in looting people's garages and cars. Not to mention she was so good at shoplifting that some store owners watched out for her and she was a pick-pocket. To sum it all up, she was a kleptomaniac. But even though she could be cynical, sarcastic and sometimes evil, she was still a human being and generally treated people the way she would want to be treated... on her good days, that is.
To the right of Josephine was twenty-five year old Wendy Eberly, she was the bulimic of the group. She was once a shapely, pretty blonde until, one time in high school, someone called her fat. She took it to heart and then began to eat poorly and induce vomiting. Finally, when she passed out on her bathroom floor from lack of food, her parents took her to see a doctor which then led her to being part of, what Josephine called, "this fucked up Brady Bunch" (she got kicked out of the group one day for saying that one). Even in her state, Wendy still had her pride and she was still had her greatest asset of all: her intelligence. She was always a bright girl who had a wonderful future ahead of her.
And finally there was Hector Davis, whom Josephine called "Hec" for short. He was a muscular, nice construction worker but he was in group therapy, so he must have had some kind of problem, and he did. Several years back he caught his wife cheating on him with his own brother. After she left him, he went into a deep depression and thought he wasn't good enough for the world. He even tried to commit suicide on several occasions. And since then, he had become part of the group. Josephine liked him a lot. He was kind of like a gentle giant.
"Would you all stop staring at me." Josephine said. They all looked away and then focused on Mrs. Andrews who always directed the topic of conversation.
Mr. Dougly sneezed into the handkerchief he was holding and Wendy coughed. She had been coughing intermittently throughout the entire session.
Josephine looked out the window to a telephone line near by. She would've turned her attention back to the group, except a crow had caught her attention. It stared right at her. It's beady eyes bore right into her and she couldn't look away. She had seen more than one crow in her lifetime, but this time something felt... different. Odd.
"Well," Mrs. Andrews said, clearing her throat and catching Josephine's attention, "time is up for today. And besides you all should go home now and get some rest. Seems like a few of you have that nasty flu bug that's going around. See you all Thursday." It was Tuesday. She would have to go to therapy three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Josephine never understood why the schedule was the way it was.
Josephine glanced out the window again only to find that the black bird was gone.
Everyone got up and went their separate ways. Except for Josephine. Mrs. Andrews held her back, saying that she needed to talk to her.
"Next time, Ms. Kenndler, I expect you to participate." Mrs. Andrews said firmly but then she saw Josephine roll her eyes in annoyance and the woman's glare softened a bit. "Or at least listen to the others. Please."
"I do listen. Just not as much as you would hope. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going home." And with that, Josephine walked away from the woman, completely unknowing that the few times people coughed and sneezed that day they were spreading the germs of the deadly superflu to everyone but her...
*~*~*
Author's Note: I'll update this when I can since I have other stories I'm working on as well. And if anything, anything at all, is ever off or wrong, let me know and it will be corrected. Review!! Please?