Honk If You Like This Story
Wherein I send you the beginning of a story and you get to vote whether I keep writing
This is an experiment, just for fun. Here’s the opening of a fictional story. If you want me to continue this story, please comment “Yes”. If I get enough votes, I’ll continue.
HINT: A lot of people have to vote yes or I will just move on and never again mention this…
ONE
In the beginning, Lola and Dann walked towards the canyon, crossing the dry creek bed again and again. The many low trees hid the exquisite beauty that awaited them, but after an hour of hiking they reached the end of the canyon and they were surrounded on three sides by soaring red rock walls.
Lola was the first to break the silence. “My name is Lola,” she said.
TWO
“I’m Dann,” he said, returning the favor of an introduction. “With two Ns.”
Lola lifted an eyebrow. “Two Ns.”
“Yes.”
“Is that an important distinction?” she asked.
“Apparently it was to my parents. Could we get started? We don’t have much daylight left.”
Lola nodded. She slipped off her backpack and detached a small shovel from the back of it. She pointed to the only tree within 200 yards, a twisted 15-foot high antiquity. “That’s got to be it, right?”
Dann nodded. He was already pacing 20 steps to the north from the tree’s trunk, as the message had instructed. He remembered every word:
At 3:30 p.m. on February 7, there will be a woman with waist-length hair at the Wilson trailhead. Do not say a word to her until you reach the only tree at the back of the canyon. Walk 20 paces to the north. Dig there until you find what we buried.
THREE
Dann reached for the shovel. “Do you mind?” he asked.
“Have at it,” said Lola.
As he started digging, Lola asked, “Did you receive a note, too?”
“Yep. Meet a tall guy with a beard. Say nothing. Go dig a hole.”
“Was your message engraved into a solid gold bar?”
She nodded. “Heavy as shit.”
“Why are you in Sedona?” he asked. The ground was softer than he expected, and he was already making decent progress.
“Because it has a gas station.”
Dann stopped digging. “I don’t understand.”
“I was driving from Phoenix to Moab and needed gas. After I went inside for food, the gold bar was on my dashboard.”
Dann thought about this for a moment. “That happened today? What time?”
Lola thought about it. “12:30 or 1.”
Dann shook his head. “I got my gold bar about 11 a.m. this morning. How would anyone know that a woman with waist length hair would drive through town two hours later?”
FOUR
The shovel made an odd sound. Just as it did, Lola’s phone rang. Without thinking, she pulled it out of her pocket and answered. “Put me on speaker and please ask Dann if he remembers your name,” said a man’s voice.
She obeyed and repeated, “Some guy wants to know if you remember my name,” she said.”
“It’s Lola,” he said.
“Perfect,” said the voice. “Please keep digging. You are just about there.”
Yes!!
I'm intrigued. Yes keep writing.