The Scarlet Lady - Writing Prompt
Prompt: An object triggers a memory from your character's past - what is it?
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The bustling city of London never failed to entrance Trixie Tricks. The people riding their new penny-farthings, men in tuxedos, even the darkening smoky skyline left Trixie with a smile on her face.
“C’mon Cheshire, let’s find somewhere to stay the night,” Trixie said to her robotic cat.
“Meow,” he simply replied.
Adjusting the feather tucked into her brown top hat, she slowly made her way through the ever-growing crowd. The sky drastically became darker, and soon droplets pattered down against Trixie’s tailed leather coat.
Worry flashed across Trixie’s face, “We need to find somewhere soon, I don’t want you to rust on me.”
Picking up the small cat, she tucked him under her coat, and began searching for somewhere to take shelter. Spotting a pub titled 'The Captain and Quill' at the end of the street, the pair quickly made their way. Grabbing a window seat, Cheshire jumped out of Trixie’s arms and yawned, showing off his metallic teeth.
“I know you’re tired bud, but we have to wait for it to stop raining-”
A burst of light flashed across the sky, followed by the roaring sound of thunder.
“I guess we’ll be stuck here awhile, huh? Let’s see if we can get some food.”
Out of nowhere, a waiter placed a bottle of lager on to the table. Seeing the look of confusion on her face, the waiter gestured to a large man smoking a cigar hidden in the shadows of a private room.
“He sent it for ya’,” he stated casually, “Enjoy.”
As the waiter walked away, Trixie picked up the bottle and read the label, 'The Scarlet Lady.' As she gasped in horror, a flash of lightning blinded her.
As another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, Trixie noticed how everything around her was slightly higher up than she remembered.
“Triiiiiiixieeeeee, come to granny!”
Turning in the direction of the sound, Trixie could see her grandmother, Olivia Tricks, downing a bottle of 'The Scarlet Lady' and then letting it crash against the floor.
“Granny?” Trixie squeaked in a higher pitched voice.
“Dearieeee, get granny another bottle of lager would ya’? Be granny’s little angle for me,” she said sweetly as she attempted to walk towards her.
Words began to spill out of Trixie’s mouth that were not her own, “But, there isn’t any lager granny – you drank it all…”
“Well then, wa’ about the scotch?! Surely we’ve got scoooootch!”
“You, you already drank it all-”
“No I did not! Trixie you better not be lying to me, you know I don’t like liars in my house!”
“I’m not a liar granny!”
“Oh be quiet child! Don’t make me come over there!”
“I don’t like it when you’re angry please stop-”
Thunder rumbled across the sky.
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
“Granny please you’re scaring me-”
“Arghhhhhhhh!”
The bottle of Scarlet Lady she was holding was suddenly thrown across the room and hit the fireplace with a bang, as the crash of lighting rung throughout the room. Shaking her head, Trixie came back to reality. Cheshire had been mewing in distress as he rubbed his steel head against her head.
Calming her breathing, Trixie stood and picked Cheshire up and walked out of the pub, leaving the Scarlet Lady behind without a single word.