[WP] Write the first chapter of that book you've been putting off.

Once again the quiet morning stillness was interrupted by the soft trill of bells, signaling someone was at the front door. For the second time in less than a two hour period I found myself dreading whoever was standing behind the thick oak paneling, carefully wishing they would simply go away. When instead I found myself exiting the kitchen door and treading across the hardwood floors to the door, I silently cracked it open just long enough to peer out into the early morning sun. I let out a huge sigh of relief, having caught sight of a particularly familiar patch of reddish brown hair that always seemed to catch the sunlight just right. Flinging the door all the way open, I smiled at the willowy young lad; who was dressed in a pale blue porters uniform and trying extremely hard to compose himself as he fidgeted nervously on the front steps. “Rigel, what brings you by today?” “Got a package for ya, Miss Crane. I’ll be expectin’ it’s from yer father and such, miss.” Rigel replied in a bit of broken English, already rummaging into the leather knapsack at his side, while his cheeks turned an amazing shade of scarlet. Sure enough a few seconds later, he pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper and twine that had been covered in dozens of fancy stamps and stickers. “Bit early though, miss. With the Professor just leavin’ and all.” ‘And missing too.’ I thought gloomily, allowing my mind to wander briefly before Rigel snapped me out of my musings by effectively clearing his throat. It took me a moment to compose myself long enough to remember what he had been saying, but I flashed him a brilliant smile and reached for the package. “Yes, Father’s always been so meticulous before about whatever treasures he would send back, claiming he spent days combing bazaars, rare vendor stands, and any strange shops he came across for just the right piece. Shall we see what he sent this time?” I asked moving from the doorway into the main hallway, before carefully placing the package on the small wooden table just near the entryway to the parlor. Rigel peered around the door, already appearing awestruck before I even had a chance to open the package. He watched as I carefully cut away the twine and wrapping paper, before placing the paper inside the table’s single drawer where a heavy stack of identical paper already laid. “Beggin’ yer pardon, miss, but do ye think it might be another statue the Professor be sendin’, to be addin’ to yer collection?” “I do hope so; though I am afraid I will run out of room soon.” I replied pulling open the top of the small lavender colored box that now rested on the table, my gaze momentarily swinging to the open parlor where behind the thin layer of glass doors stood nearly three shelves worth of different porcelain animal figures gracing mother’s favorite cabinet. The huge collection had long ago surpassed her small shelf of fine china dishes. Turning back to the table, I peered inside the small box to see a small porcelain elephant resting on top of a light blue silken pillow, but something about the elephant was different from anything I had ever seen before. Instead of the typical light gray wrinkled skin, this elephant was pure ivory in color with skin smoother than a babies bottom it had a blue collar wrapped around its neck that was embroider with flecks of different colored gems; but the strangest part was that its back hinds legs where perched on top of a large blue ball decorated with dozens of tiny yellow stars. Gently lifting the elephant and its pillow, I placed them both upon the table next to the box realizing how much smaller it was than any of the other statues father had sent over the years. Picking up both the elephant and the pillow, I carefully made my way into the entryway of the parlor heading for the cabinet when Rigel’s voice sounded from the open door. “What is it, miss?”
Glancing over my shoulder towards the door, I sighed seeing Rigel’s head barely poking around the door now. “Rigel, please come inside, you know you are more than welcome inside.”
“Oh, no miss. That wouldn’t be proper and all, especially without ye havin’ a chaperone present and such.” Rigel replied turning beet red before pulling away to vanish from the door frame entirely. Rolling my eyes, I turned to place the elephant carefully back into its box so I could show it to Rigel when another voice rang out from just beyond the door. “Here now, young man, whatever are you doing gawking around that door this early in the morning?” Came the embittered voice. Blanching at the sudden interruption, I slowly made my way to the door, peering just around the frame to see a wizened, hawk-like older woman standing on the sidewalk between the two houses just behind Rigel’s tall frame. ‘Oh, just perfect.’ I thought recognizing the old woman’s voice before I even confirmed her identity. Coming to a rather quick decision and wanting to get rid of the old biddy before she could question Rigel further, I placed the box just out of reach behind the door and stepped up fully into the doors frame. “Thank you so much for your concern, Rigel, and please thank Mr.Lorrix as well. I’m sure he would appreciate the extra effort you went to in ensuring that my package arrived safely and was not damaged in transit.” Glancing from Rigel’s shocked faced to Ms. Pierce’s. I pressed a small note into Rigel’s outstretched hand in the pretense of turning him around as I leaned closer to his ear and whispered for his benefit only. “For your mother and little sister.”
“Thank you, miss.” Rigel replied still clearly stunned as he was now forced to face Ms. Pierce head on. “Be happy to tell him for ye, miss, I will; but I was just doin’ me job, miss.” Rigel quickly scurried down the front step and hurriedly moved down the street before Ms. Pierce could say anything more on the subject.
I waited patiently for Rigel’s form to disappear from the street before turning my gaze back to see Ms. Pierce still standing on the sidewalk her hand now resting on her hips as she gazed up at me through piercing steel eyes in quiet accusation, which seemed to be the norm for her these days. Frowning down at the old woman, I nearly expected her to pick up her rant when a strange noise intruded in on us, one that I had only heard once before but the nearly unmistakable sound was enough to make me want to disappear back into the relative safety of my house without more than a second thought.
Instead I kept my gaze firmly planted on the narrow cross junction leading down my street, when sure enough from the far right corner turned a strangely cylindrical mechanical carriage. The sun beat down onto a heavily polished silver emblem at the front of the carriage that seemed to be a strange combination of winged bird and large cat, from the emblem a network of light bounced onto the bright red and gold color scheme drawing far more attention to its sleek design which already seemed to scream ‘Here I am.’ I watched in dismay as the ‘auto-car’, once again pulled to a stop directly in front of my house, before the engine died with a little wheezing sputter. Slowly the carriage’s doors opened and two silhouettes emerged into the morning sun, before they both began moving up the sidewalk carefully skirting around Ms. Pierce, who hemmed and hawed with offense at being ignored until the taller of the two men suddenly looked back over his shoulder at her. Without another word, she made a quick beeline for her front door, slamming it shut with surprising force for such an old woman.
I blinked at the spot Ms. Pierce had been standing in before my gaze swiveled towards her house watching with amazement as one by one the curtains in her house began to drop into place obscuring the world from her watchful gaze. Scowling I turned back towards the two men. “I cannot say it’s a pleasure to see you both so soon after our last encounter, Mr. Wilkins. What brings you by today? Any news on my father?” I asked making them both stop short of the front steps.
The shorter of the two, who had just yesterday introduced himself as Mr. Wilkins, was dressed in a sharp charcoal suit with a gray tie, his dark hair waving as the large umbrella he clutched was slowly popped open and placed over his left shoulder to keep the sun from beating down on him. The taller of the two, who still had yet to speak, had been introduced as Mr.Blythe. He also wore a dark colored suit with a single white tie, and a small brown derby hat that barely fit on his head.
“Miss Crane…” Wilkins bowed, his voice dripping with sweet kindness that belied the truth behind his words. “…We are sorry to impose on you again so soon after the unexpected blow from out last encounter, but we felt it imperative that we locate any information that your father may have left you, subconsciously or not.” He continued straightened back to his full height.
“Yes, well one must be allowed time to let the news sink in, Mr. Wilkins. Seeing as I have had less than twenty-four hours since our last encounter to process my fathers’ disappearance, I am a bit confused as to why you are back so soon, and still avoiding my question.”
“Again forgive us, but unfortunately there has been no new development on his current whereabouts but we have learned that two others have gone missing as well, His apprentice and a member of your father’s team.” Wilkins hedged ignoring the unexpected visit portion for now while he tried to steer control of the conversation back towards himself.

/r/WritingPrompts Thread