Narrative idea 1

Over Christmas i started to think about my narrative. I read a few chapters of verious short storys but i decided to dive in and start writing a few chapters:

Chapter one: Fear of the uknown

Gray held in the smoke from his last cigarette for a moment, savouring its rich flavour and subtle textures in his mouth before finally releasing it slowly through his nose. He stood for a moment, pondering how such a small and simple object could provide so much sickly pleasure before turning his gaze skyward. He was stood in a small clearing in some woodland in the Lake District, it was a warm summer evening, and the moisture from the early summer shower still hung in the crisp evening air.
Gray always found the lakes a novelty; it was one of the few places left where you could actually star gaze. The night sky had long since become drowned in a proverbial sea of light pollution.

Almost nostalgically, he drew a last drag on his cigarette and prepared to put it out. It was then he noticed a figure out the corner of his eye slowly and cautiously approaching him from behind. A small smile ran across Grays face as he threw the cigarette off into the dark with one hand and slowly drew his small taser gun from his long leather jacket with the other.

“You know, I’m not an expert, but I’m sure one of the first rules in sneaking up on someone would have to be NOT to be seen. But hey, that’s just me.” joked Gray, turning his head to meet his guns target.

The stunned figure stopped and slowly raised his hands. “Don’t you know smoking is illegal in this country?.” He said with a stern voice in an attempt to be equally as cocky.

Of course, Gray knew full well it was illegal to smoke. It had been over 12 years since the government had finally outlawed the activity long known for its ill health effects. Though like many illegal activities, people still did them. Though now you where hard pressed to find somewhere that wasn’t lased with some kind of sensing device that could detect a smoker a mile away. And if they didn’t get you, any remains of a cigarette were more or less instantaneously DNA scanned and cross referenced on the DNA database. So you could light up on the morning and be eating a nutritious, but flavourless prison meal by the evening. However despite this, Gray always managed to enjoy at least one every so often. And to him each one tasted like it was rolled by god and handed down by jesus.

“Felix, what part of ‘don’t be late’ do you not understand?” Gray responded, keeping his taser gun trained on the person claiming to be Felix, an informant he had been exchanging information packages with for a number of months.

“Couldn’t be helped Gray, needed to make sure I wasn’t followed. And before you ask, no I wasn’t.” Felix said taking a cautious step forward.

Gray was quick to gesture with the gun so he would move no closer. In his line of work, gray knew that it was better to be overly cautious than trusting.

“I went into the woods and got it. I sat down to seek it. I brought it home with me because I couldn't find it.” Gray said slowly so to not make any mistakes. Before they met, they both decided upon a pre determined riddle to confirm to both of them they both were who they said they were.

Felix paused for a moment before answering; making sure the riddle had been recited precisely. “A splinter” He said finally.

“Right then! Now all that’s cleared up, shall we get on with the show?” Gray Said holstering his weapon and walking up to Felix to shake his hand. After some momentary pleasantries it was down to business. From inside his jacket pocket Felix revealed a small rectangular transparent object, similar in size and shape to a piece of gum. Hesitating at first Felix handed it over, his eyes fixed on Grays all the while.

After staring at the object for what seem to Felix to be an eternity, Gray final placed it a small plastic case and placed it back into his inside jacket pocket. It was then that he noticed Felix’s stern gaze still fixed upon his own.
“Relax my friend, as we have discussed, you don’t exist.” He whispered.
“With all due respect, do you have any idea the potential of that information that’s on there? If anyone knew...”

“If anyone knew...” Gray quickly replied. “If anyone knew, we would not be having this convocation, nor would we be breathing.”

“That’s my point, we would both be dead, and its fucking lucky we have got this far!” Felix bluntly replied.

“Now now, Mr Felix, language... there is no need to become hysterical. You’re forgetting that unlike yourself, or indeed most people on this planet, I don’t fear death.” Gray calmly replied, slowly turning and walking away.

“Well you’re a braver man than me Gray.” Felix replied leaning against a tree to take the weight of his tired feet.

“Bravery?” Said Gray, stopping for a moment. “Bravery has got nothing to do with it.” He began slowly and almost in a whisper. “Why do people fear death? They fear it because it is the one thing they can’t control and it is the one thing that is certain in this life. What scares people is the unknown. They don’t know, how, why, or when death will come for them. Are people brave to face death? Yes. But I’m not like most people.”

“Oh yeah...?” responded Felix in a sarcastic tone. “So come on then, what make you so different?”

Gray paused for a moment, buttoned up the last few buttons of his jacket, placed his hands in his pockets and as he started to walk away once more he replied; “Because unlike most people Mr Felix, I know EXACTLY how and when I’m going to die.”


Chapter 2: Ticking clock

The monotonous hum of the scanner slowly circling his head had almost become hypnotic, even relaxing. But the sterile smell of the air was a sobering reminder to Gray of why he was lying on this hospital bed as a large 3D brain scanner did one more orbit of his cranium. Gray had long since become familiar with every nuance of the machines 5 minute scan cycle.

The machine completed its cycle and retracted back towards the wall. “All done.” Announced the doctor over the speaker. “You can put your clothes back on and come on through while the computer compiles the image.”

Gray went behind the privacy screen and retrieved his clothes and belongings from the draw in the wall. He walked out the scanning room and into the opposite control room. The control rooms lights where dimmed, and was instead bathed in the soft glow of computer screens. The young attractive doctor sat in front of one small screen that was slowly compiling a 3D image of Grays Head.

“Well doc, what’s the prognosis?” Gray said in a sarcastic tone. “Any chance that miracle you said I needed has popped up?”

“Well...what can I tell you that you don’t already know Lucien?” Said the doctor as she pushed herself away from the desk and slowly spun around on the chair. She motioned to the large wall and the back of the room which housed a large display screen. Pressing a button a small control pad next to her brought up the finished scan of Grays face.

“Fetching chap.” Remarket Gray

Playing with some settings the Doctor began peeling back the layers of the image one at a time. First the skin, then the muscle tissue to reveal the skull. The skull then faded away to reveal the brain. Which the computer then highlighted in various colours to highlight the different sections. A portion of the brain then faded away to a 50% translucency to reveal a dark ominous shape buried within the brain tissue.
“Its mass has increased 5% since the last scan.” She said as the image began to slowly rotate.

“Yeah...it has an annoying habit of doing that.” Replied Gray slowing walking up to the screen for a closer look.

“It’s only going to be a few days now Gray...” She said softly.

“Sunday I figure...” he chuckled. “The day of rest...ironic huh. Hey, is there any chance they could grow me a new brain? If they can do ears, skin and hearts you think they could rustle me one up? I mean everyone always said i was never a full shilling so it won’t take that long to do!”


The Doctor shrugged off Grays attempt of a joke but did have a momentary ponder if they could grow a full brain. After all, “Off the shelf” Organs had been available for the past 9 years or so, fuelled by phenomenal lines of people desperately needed organ transplants. The size of the lines had been growing exponentially since the turn of the 21st century, mainly due to tens of millions of ageing baby boomers hitting 60 and hospitals having to deal with vast numbers of diabetes, heart disease, and a host of illnesses related to ageing. It became far more practical to simply grow a replacement part than wait for one. But the doctor only let her mind drift for an instant before she responded to Gray, choosing to ignore his joke and attempt to have an serious convocation with him.

“Did you think much about what we talked about last week?” She said after a short pause.

“What? About preparing? Yeah...I did mean to go visit your physiologist friend...but...”

“But?” She quickly replied.

After a short pause Gray smiled, turned to her and said; “...yeah, the strip club proved the more temping mistress.”

“Gray, this thing is growing by the minute, you could set your watch to it. It’s like clockwork. And you’re not the least bit concerned?” She said in a stern voice.
“I find it strangely comforting doc, it’s like a nice warm blanket.” He replied smirking to himself. “And I’ve been keeping busy, doing things I’ve wanted to do, like yesterday; I went up the lakes for the afternoon to do a bit of soul searching on my own.”

“And did you find anything?” replied a quite surprised doctor.

Gray smirked. “Yeah...i found something alright.” He said, discretely tapping the small plastic case that was still snugly nestled in his jacket pocket
“But forgive me doc, your right, I should prepare myself, get my house in order as they say. So, that’s why I must part your fair company as its going to be a big day!” He said motioning towards the door.

Before she could answer, Gray already answer the question that was on her face.
“Trust me doc, your best off not knowing, but ermm...keep your eyes on the news this evening.” He said, whispering the last part before opening the door. He gave the doctor a quick wink and he was gone.