Pharos One: Project ELF

An invisible killer takes the eyes of its
victim. Is this is a clue that indicates the presence of a hidden people
fiercely guarding their privacy? Punk and part-time thief Kaya Cade
narrowly escapes from this superhuman hunter. Once she was as enthralled
by stories of the fae as most children, but now as an adult the only
thing she’s sure of is that monsters are real and dreams and nightmares
are coming to life. But it may not be magic that’s summoning them.

Outside
of Irongate there is a lighthouse on top of a hill, many miles from the
ocean. A building that’s strange and lonely and out of place. Rumor has
it that a witch lives there and with no other ideas the rattled and
frightened Kaya goes there hoping to find answers, protection. or both.
What she finds is an old friend with whom she once shared stories and
adventures, but who Kaya had treated badly and abandoned when her
friendship was needed most. So will Jennifer really help find the truth
behind whatever is killing people?

In the meantime,
eleven year old Tenley Tych has lost her mother. Murdered. She would
have been murdered too but is saved by a strange woman with bright skin
that shifts like sand who claims to be Queen of the Forest.

–

This
story takes place in a contempory(ish) setting, in a fictional town
called Irongate, and is a sci-fi adventure with heavy mythological
themes and motifs. It’s a world where fantasy has started coming to life
and perhaps to take over. Whether that’s good or bad may largely depend
on our attitudes. Behind the scenes, a mega-corporation called
Meridiem, guided by a machine they call Pythia, is watching events
unfold, waiting to see how they can profit and what they can control.

This
story may be the first in a series, as I’d already started writing a
sequel a while ago and have no shortage of ideas for these characters. I
have numerous shorts that I may share in future as well.

–

Characters:

Jennifer Airhart
– Very smart, but nervous around people she doesn’t know and distracted
easily. Without a companion to encourage her and keep her focused her
big brain is of little help to anyone.

Tenley Tych
– Eleven years old, but as the saying goes you’re as old as you feel.
Never approach her from behind – she hates that. Also avoid eye contact –
she may take it as a challenge.

Kaya Cade – Punk, guitarist, and
thief. Kaya took a mean turn in her teens but has been trying to get her
life back on track. It feels to her though like the past just won’t let
go.

Sayuri Oshiro – Drummer and employee of the year at her
family run store. Sayuri is kind and supportive, always striving to keep
her body and soul clean, hoping one day karma will grant her lots of
money.

Doctor Jana Sarkis – Motherly, smart, and can kick almost
anyone’s ass. Jana’s family originated from Egypt and she gets emotional
whenever she sees sand (not really).

The Dibbles – Police
Sergeant Chauncey ‘Chance’ Delainy is a bit world worn, but not that
tough (at least not on Kaya even though he probably should be). Sergeant
Francis Daramy is originally from Sierra Leone and loves to share
stories. There’s never any point to his stories but he has a gun and
handcuffs and can make you listen.

Stan Greif – Is a perfectly
legitimate businessman with no ties to crime. He runs a nightclub called
The Mill. Amara is the floor manager there but insists it’s only a
temporary gig and soon she’ll be done with this nonsense.

Alvin Stag – CEO of Stag Corp. Laughs a lot, loves to ramble, but is paranoid and scared of something…

Titania
– Queen of the Forest. Seems to want to help some people, but those who
cross her tend not to repeat the mistake. Who knows what her plans
really are? Apart from her, obviously.

Lilian & Ella – Seem to
be Titania’s closest and most trusted ‘children’. Lilian and Ella were
orphans who fled their homes to be found and rescued by The Queen to
whom they remain steadfastly loyal.

Character Interview Questions 1

Organisations:

Meridiem – Multi-national mega-corporation with many subsidiaries and all kinds of interests such as technology, toys, weapons.

Stag Corp
– Half owned by Meridiem, the other half by Alvin Stag. A research and
devlopment whose mission was to turn fantasy into reality. Originally
they focused on genetics but have since branched into all kinds of
research.

Places:

Irongate – Originally a
mining town built around a steel mill. When the mines ran dry it
transformed into a hub for science and technology. There is a university
nearby and people often go camping or fishing by Lake Tamesis. The
Pretty Intellectuals Coven was a villified group early in the towns
history, but in truth it was just some girls who wanted to read books
and may have accidentally blown up a barn or two.