6 January, 2026 Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 2974 (Part 12) | Prompt: norm (norma)
@justclickindiva
Posted 4d ago · 18 min read
@justclickindiva/6-january-2026-freewriters-community-baade591edca3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Part 11 (The Beginning of the End): Recap:
"Quiet. It's me. I'm far from dead," Lyle wanted to shout, but dared not.
**"But how?"* Daniela's voice trailed off when he interrupted, placing a finger to her lips. *
Although dark, she could smell and feel him as his body pressed closer. "I love you, Daniela. No matter what. Never forget that."
All her instincts told her to scream. But she didn't. Instead, trembling, she nodded in silence as she thought she heard him murmur, "you're my ticket out of here." What an appearance!* But she didn't question as he handed her some clothes and slipped on her shoes.*
There should have been a guard at her door. Instead, the empty hallway invited them to move quickly. Within minutes, the quiet turned to chaos. He jerked Daniela's hand and led her through an empty hall, then around another corner. Neither stopped to think the ease in which their escape felt. They kept running.
Lyle's only concern was to distance himself from Olivia. What she offered wouldn't protect him from The Boss, no matter where he relocated. The instant he opened the back door and pulled her outside, weapons pointed in their direction.
Trembling, Daniela broke free from his grip the moment she spotted Olivia. She couldn't run fast enough as she fell into her arms, once again. She didn't dare look back, so she didn't see Lyle this time surrounded by officers.
Olivia led her a few steps away from the scene. "I took a chance he'd come for you. I allowed the guards to let him in. You don't know how important you are to his survival."
Breathless from the ordeal and confused, Daniela searched Olivia's eyes.
"No, Lyle wasn't dead. But I needed The Boss to think so. His henchman led us straight to the warehouse that day after the confrontation on your front lawn. Lyle had already betrayed the man and was scheduled to testify about his operations. But I suspected he'd renege because of his own worldwide involvement, so placed him near you. I had to keep you in the dark to see how this would play out."
"So you put me in danger instead. I'm just not understanding all this." Daniela swooned before falling from Olivia's grasp. Not from the commotion, but from missing two menstrual cycles.
Daniela woke and stared again at the stark, blank walls. Same hospital, different room. She turned to see Olivia sitting next to her bed.
"How do you feel? The doctor informed me you were pregnant. Did you know?" She didn't give Daniela time to answer. "In any event, you'll need time to process this and your life going forward given Lyle won't be available for you. In the meantime, we need those ledgers you discovered in the cup board."
"No. I didn't know. These past few months were stressful." Daniela didn't want to talk about Lyle, but was forced to. Pregnant? That wasn't in her plans. It felt like months had passed since they were intimate.
Olivia noticed her distress, so steered the conversation to business, cleared her throat, then proceeded to tell her Lyle's true identify, background.
She began with certainty and expertise.
"Lyle Reddingham was born Arturo Rossi in Apulia, Italy. At a young age, in the poverty stricken area, he was abandoned and left to his own devices. He fell into the hands of traffickers. Out of sheer will, I suppose and luck, he survived. Supposed alias are numerous. He's smart, cunning, and intelligent, especially given the fact that his operation evolved internationally from several ports. The invisible network he built in just twenty years is impressive. We've been trying for years to follow the money trail, but can't find the evidence. From his personal profile, and in my opinion, he's plagued with unresolved demons."
Olivia paused after the last statement to gauge her reaction.
Daniela remained quiet, half-listening while mulling over Lyle's introduction at the bar. Temporarily putting aside her shame, her voice crackled.
"He interrupted my being drugged by the man sitting next to me. Perhaps he recognized the attempt to traffic me. He said that he saw the vulnerability in my eyes and mannerisms. Perhaps he intervened where there was no one to do the same in his childhood. Save me from the fate he then dealt others. That last part I don't understand. Evidently, he now has no heart to cause other innocents to suffer the same fate?"
Olivia tried to avoid following Daniela's gaze. She can't overlook that, she thought. The reality of her predicament could no longer be avoided. Cutting her off, Olivia pinpointed and reinforced precisely Daniela's current dilemma. "Save you from one creep only to entangle you in a serious, life-threatening situation of his own creepy making."
Daniela could only turn her head toward the window. Perched on the sill was a black bird. Or was it a crow?
While she reflected on her marriage and Olivia attempted to explain further his motives, across town, Lyle sat quietly in the corner of a holding cell contemplating the secret in the attic.
Part 12 - Divine or Daniela Intervention:
Sitting in the cell thinking, Lyle's pulse quickened. This past year hadn't gone according to his exit timeline. A hot breath spread across his neck as is last words with The Boss materialized. He lowered his gaze as though unconcerned, but anticipating the man's wrath from within. His vindictiveness knew no bounds, as he'd previously witnessed.
The stench from the crowded cell shot up his nostrils and drew his ire, reminding him of the filthy, overfilled spaces once confined to.
Besides, he wasn't safe behind these bars. Not from him. However, even at his upper level, The Boss was still labeled a middleman. Lyle gambled on securing excess of his future needs and lost. The ways to an end hadn't panned out. Only by surpassing The Boss could he extricate himself from that heartless monster. The only viable pathway to independence.
Using the cartel's funds to legitimize his own enterprise was a gamble. But the only way to finally put the past behind.
Shadows from chains around his wrists while others enjoyed themselves at his expense nearly evoked suppressed tears. He held them at bay. they couldn't change his past.
One painful image he recalled was only of a tall, imposing figure who turned away from him. Whispering to another man, the person his mother called his father extended his hand to accept euros. Reaching for his father, the man immediately stuffed a rag in his mouth and bound his hands. He couldn't cry out, but tears flowed as he noticed a starling perched on the windowsill before taking flight. Don't leave me too, he cried silently.
The next moment, his parents were gone. It was a few days later he learned he'd been exchanged for traveling funds abroad.
Of no use was remorse or anger over matters he couldn't control at the age of ten. All he knew was that now he belonged to another not of kin. The fact that he survived from victim to controlling his own fate was a testament to his tenacity.
Once he pigeonholed the finality of his imprisonment, he studied and absorbed the logistics of the trafficking business, realizing the inefficiencies and loopholes of international borders with regards to moving any type of "cargo".
Drugs and weapons were mindless. The faces of workers confined to a fate he knew well began to tear at his innards. Using others along the way in the manner he'd been used satisfied the urge for blind revenge. For a while. And he knew one day he'd have to disappear.
Slowly, out of the corner of his eye, the cell grew smaller as two inmates moved from behind, headed in his direction. He understood why their hands dug deep within their pockets. He wanted no trouble, but wasn't one to back down.
"Did you see that? The new guy will be ripe for a June Bug" the tall uniformed guard whispered, then laughed and nudged his partner. They both turned their heads away from the cell Lyle occupied. One twirled his collapsible baton while the other whistled as they kept moving past the cell.
Defenseless, Lyle rose quickly, pushed the cot toward the approaching inmates, and retreated until his back touched the wall. Help wasn't expected from neither inside or out.
Lyle didn't ask how one of the inmates obtained the blade he flashed in his direction, nor why the other inmates moved to form a line and cover the front of their cell.
He only knew the end of his time had come.
His thoughts immediately flew to Daniela and the note he slipped into the pocket of her pants at the hospital. She wouldn't disappoint. She couldn't.
Inmates stood watching intently as though participating in a collective payday.
Bars on the outside of the cell rattled amid the silence inside. Lyle breathed a long sigh. All he could do was raise his hands across his face in defense.
The first cut to Lyle's wrist only slashed his shirt as he thrust his foot forward. It met the inmate's knee, immediately dislodging the knife and disabling him. But the second inmate joined in. He retrieved the knife and moved quickly toward Lyle to finish the job.
With one man down, Lyle was expert at one-on-one. Gaining control of the knife was his only thought. They exchanged jabs as other inmates standing against the bars cheered. Before the inmate attacking could gain momentum, Lyle pushed the cot against the man's body causing the knife to fall.
"Take that back to The Boss," Lyle hissed as the bloodied second inmate rose to his feet before wobbling away.
Through the commotion, Lyle didn't see Olivia standing outside the cell with the two guards watching the scene play out.
"Get him out of there," Olivia ordered one of the guards.
At the same time Olivia arranged for Lyle to be removed from the cell and released into her custody, Daniela was waiting on her release orders from the doctor.
While sitting patiently, she glanced at the wall clock. Her father would arrive soon to take her home. She rose to gather her clothes, then sat on the bed and dressed slowly. Pulling up her pants, she noticed a bulge, so reached inside. To her surprise, a piece of paper was lodged there.
Reading the note, she paused for a long moment at the end. Signed Lyle. You meant to write, "Arturo", didn't you, she thought to herself, then tossed it near the edge of the bed. Shaking her head violently as if to unread his message, she whispering, "I can't. There's more than myself to consider. I'll not endanger both our lives further for a man who has no heart and can't decide whether he loves me or not."
Instantly, a small quiver she couldn't determine its origin interrupted her thoughts. She shuddered. "I've done it royalty this time family. I've reinforced your view of my instability. I can't just return home from this mess and pretend all is well," she mulled over.
As though an afterthought, she grabbed the note, then gasped! The nerve of him, she thought trembling. Still, she read it carefully a third time. Sensing a thaw of her resolve, thought gremlins intervened and hammered her brain attempting to loosen the emotional grip Lyle still held.
But they couldn't. She'd already decided her next move. And it wasn't by no means the norm.
[to be continued]
For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of @daily.prompt/6-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2974-norm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2974: norm; together with the prompts listed below:
@daily.prompt/14-march-2026-freewriters-community-daily-writing-prompt-day-3042-cant-find-the-evidence" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">14 March 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3042: can’t find the evidence
@daily.prompt/5-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2973-has-no-heart" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
@daily.prompt/4-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2972-reinforced" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
@daily.prompt/3-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2971-cant-overlook-that" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
@daily.prompt/1-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2969-what-an-appearance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
@daily.prompt/22-december-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2959-the-last-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; and
@daily.prompt/21-december-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2958-the-secret-in-the-attic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
Sentado en la celda, sumido en sus pensamientos, el pulso de Lyle se aceleró. El último año no había transcurrido según su plan de fuga. Un aliento cálido le rozó el cuello al recordar las últimas palabras que había intercambiado con El Jefe. Bajó la mirada como si no le importara, pero anticipando la ira del hombre desde lo más profundo de su ser. Su rencor no conocía límites, como ya había podido comprobar anteriormente.
El hedor de la celda abarrotada le subió por la nariz y le provocó ira, recordándole los espacios sucios y repletos en los que una vez estuvo confinado.
Además, no estaba a salvo tras esos barrotes. No de él. Sin embargo, incluso en su alto rango, El Jefe seguía siendo considerado un intermediario. Lyle apostó por asegurarse un exceso de lo que necesitaría en el futuro y perdió. Los caminos hacia el fin no habían dado resultado. Solo superando al Jefe podría liberarse de ese monstruo despiadado. El único camino viable hacia la independencia.
Utilizar los fondos del cártel para legitimar su propia empresa era una apuesta arriesgada. Pero la única forma de dejar finalmente atrás el pasado.
Las sombras de las cadenas alrededor de sus muñecas, mientras otros se divertían a su costa, casi le provocaron lágrimas reprimidas. Las mantuvo a raya. No podían cambiar su pasado.
Una imagen dolorosa que recordaba era solo la de una figura alta e imponente que le daba la espalda. Susurrando a otro hombre, la persona a la que su madre llamaba padre extendió la mano para aceptar unos euros. Cuando se acercó a su padre, el hombre le tapó inmediatamente la boca con un trapo y le ató las manos. No podía gritar, pero las lágrimas le brotaban al ver a un estornino posado en el alféizar de la ventana antes de alzar el vuelo. «No me dejes a mí también», gritó en silencio.
Al momento siguiente, sus padres se habían ido. Unos días más tarde se enteró de que lo habían intercambiado por fondos para viajar al extranjero.
De nada servían el remordimiento o la ira por asuntos que no podía controlar a los diez años. Lo único que sabía era que ahora pertenecía a alguien que no era de su familia. El hecho de que pasara de ser una víctima a controlar su propio destino fue una prueba de su tenacidad.
Una vez que aceptó la irrevocabilidad de su cautiverio, estudió y asimiló la logística del negocio del tráfico, dándose cuenta de las ineficiencias y las lagunas de las fronteras internacionales en lo que respecta al traslado de cualquier tipo de «carga».
Las drogas y las armas eran insignificantes. Los rostros de los trabajadores confinados a un destino que él conocía bien comenzaron a desgarrarle las entrañas. Utilizar a otros por el camino de la misma manera en que él había sido utilizado satisfacía el impulso de venganza ciega. Durante un tiempo. Y sabía que algún día tendría que desaparecer.
Poco a poco, por el rabillo del ojo, la celda se fue haciendo más pequeña a medida que dos reclusos salían de detrás y se dirigían hacia él. Entendió por qué metían las manos en lo más profundo de sus bolsillos. No quería problemas, pero tampoco era de los que se echaban atrás.
—¿Has visto eso? El nuevo va a ser presa fácil para un June Bug —susurró el guardia alto de uniforme, y luego se rió y le dio un codazo a su compañero. Ambos apartaron la vista de la celda que ocupaba Lyle. Uno hizo girar su porra plegable mientras el otro silbaba al pasar junto a la celda.
Indefenso, Lyle se levantó rápidamente, empujó el catre hacia los reclusos que se acercaban y retrocedió hasta que su espalda tocó la pared. No esperaba ayuda ni del interior ni del exterior.
Lyle no se preguntó cómo uno de los reclusos había conseguido la navaja que le mostraba, ni por qué los demás se habían colocado en fila para cubrir la entrada de la celda.
Solo sabía que había llegado su hora.
Sus pensamientos volaron inmediatamente hacia Daniela y la nota que le había metido en el bolsillo del pantalón en el hospital. Ella no le defraudaría. No podía hacerlo.
Los reclusos observaban con atención, como si participaran en un reparto colectivo de botín.
Los barrotes del exterior de la celda traqueteaban en medio del silencio del interior. Lyle dejó escapar un largo suspiro. Lo único que pudo hacer fue levantarse las manos para protegerse la cara.
El primer corte en la muñeca de Lyle solo le rasgó la camisa, ya que él lanzó el pie hacia delante. Este golpeó la rodilla del recluso, lo que le hizo soltar el cuchillo de inmediato y lo dejó incapacitado. Pero el segundo recluso se unió a la refriega. Recogió el cuchillo y se abalanzó rápidamente hacia Lyle para rematar la faena.
Con un hombre fuera de combate, Lyle era un experto en el uno contra uno. Su único pensamiento era hacerse con el cuchillo. Intercambiaron golpes mientras los demás reclusos, de pie junto a los barrotes, vitoreaban. Antes de que el recluso que atacaba pudiera cobrar impulso, Lyle empujó el catre contra el cuerpo del hombre, haciendo que el cuchillo cayera al suelo.
«Llévaselo al Jefe», siseó Lyle mientras el segundo recluso, ensangrentado, se ponía en pie antes de alejarse tambaleándose.
En medio del alboroto, Lyle no vio a Olivia de pie fuera de la celda con los dos guardias observando cómo se desarrollaba la escena.
«Sácalo de ahí», ordenó Olivia a uno de los guardias.
Al mismo tiempo que Olivia disponía que sacaran a Lyle de la celda y lo pusieran bajo su custodia, Daniela esperaba las órdenes de alta del médico.
Mientras Olivia se encargaba de que sacaran a Lyle de la celda y lo pusieran bajo su custodia, Daniela esperaba las órdenes de alta del médico. Mientras esperaba pacientemente, echó un vistazo al reloj de pared. Su padre llegaría pronto para llevarla a casa. Se levantó para recoger su ropa, luego se sentó en la cama y se vistió lentamente. Al subirse los pantalones, notó un bulto, así que metió la mano dentro. Para su sorpresa, allí había un trozo de papel.
Al leer la nota, se detuvo un largo rato al llegar al final. Firmada por Lyle. Querías escribir «Arturo», ¿verdad?, pensó para sí misma, y luego lo tiró cerca del borde de la cama. Sacudiendo la cabeza violentamente, como para borrar su mensaje, susurró: «No puedo. Hay más cosas que tener en cuenta además de mí misma. No pondré en peligro aún más nuestras vidas por un hombre que no tiene corazón y que no sabe decidir si me ama o no».
Al instante, un pequeño estremecimiento cuyo origen no pudo determinar interrumpió sus pensamientos. Se estremeció. «Esta vez la he fastidiado de verdad, familia. He reforzado vuestra opinión sobre mi inestabilidad. No puedo simplemente volver a casa después de este lío y fingir que todo va bien», reflexionó.
Como si se le hubiera ocurrido de repente, cogió la nota y ¡jadeó! «Qué descaro por su parte», pensó temblando. Aun así, la leyó con atención por tercera vez. Al sentir que su determinación se desvanecía, los duendecillos de su mente intervinieron y le martillearon el cerebro, intentando aflojar el control emocional que Lyle aún ejercía sobre ella.
Pero no pudieron. Ella ya había decidido su siguiente paso. Y no era, en absoluto, lo habitual.
[continuará]
Para mi tema, me inspiré y utilicé la publicación de @daily.prompt de @daily.prompt/6-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2974-norm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2974: norm; junto con las indicaciones que se enumeran a continuación:
@daily.prompt/5-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2973-has-no-heart" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
@daily.prompt/4-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2972-reinforced" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
@daily.prompt/3-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2971-cant-overlook-that" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
@daily.prompt/1-january-2026-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2969-what-an-appearance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
@daily.prompt/22-december-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2959-the-last-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; y
@daily.prompt/21-december-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2958-the-secret-in-the-attic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
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