Why Him??
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
April 24, 2008 8:16pm CST
Hello everyone! I've hit a bit of a wall...it's actually a big steel iron wall! lol. I started a story a long time ago, and I just edited it last night for the first time in a while. I really enjoyed it so I thought I would continue with it...but I need a little help before I can. I need some ideas/suggestions...
My question is...WHY would people want a guy (he's about 20) dead? They kidnapped him, they're holding him, and they want him dead. But I don't have a reason for it. This guy is a good guy, so he didn't steal drugs from them or anything like that, he's good. A friend suggested maybe he knows something...but I don't know what he could know. I thought maybe he witnessed something, but I'm still drawing a bit of a blank.
So ANY ideas you can give me, I'm listening!!! Anything that pops into your head, please share! =) Thank you very much!
4 people like this
7 responses
@ozzeth (940)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
1- he is a witness or he is a secret agent!
2- Just for a trip. Looking for someone to play with and they found that 20 years old guy.
3- Someone jealous to him or he offended one of the guys who took him. OR one guy that he offended related to the guys who took him.
4- His father is in trouble and killing him is a part of revenge.
5- He is a son of the richest citizen and took him for a ransom and after will kill him.
6- OR the people took him is misidentified him. Wrong identification..
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Well they live in a small town, and even though you don't know a ton about them, they are a humble family. They aren't really rich or anything like that. The boy works in a store in the town. And I don't think this would just be a random thing for "fun." I've written it so the bad guys are really smart and organized. They know what they're doing, and they have a reason for it...they have a reason...I don't! lol
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Apr 08
lol! Well since this story has already been started anf formed I can't just all of a sudden make it a fantasy or anything like that =P So no powers and no werwolves lol. He isn't gay, he wasn't just taken...I want a reason =P I've pretty much decided I want him to have some kind of information...but I don't know what info that could be.
2 people like this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Could always assign it to random violence. That fits the current world, sad but true. -_-
In terms of fiction though, if he didn't "do" anything wrong... maybe make it something seemingly innocent. A classic is that he saw too much but I know of many fictions that have a young male doing this.
Other ideas
- Could be an heir or family member of an influential person (seen/read that)
- Could have a destiny ahead of him (seen/read it, more fantasy though...)
- Mistaken identity
- Revenge between the guy's father and the kidnapper (seen/read it)
- Punishment for betraying a family or honoured code (read this more so...)
- Genetic or family abnormality, hence termination
- Political or other family reason, "nuisance", scapegoat
2 people like this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Apr 08
- Insult against another family
- Perhaps doing nothing wrong is a crime in the society the story takes place.
- He's being (or been) copied and the dirty side of "replacement" is going on
- Survival of the family line... the strongest/best child can only live
2 people like this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Well it's not going to be anything fantasy like or supernatural. The story has already been started and is pretty far along. Can't all of a sudden make it something like that! =P hehe.
And I have considered the father/son thing. But again, I'm having the same problem as if the boy had info. What did the dad do, why is he the enemy of this person?
2 people like this
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I've run into many problems like this trying to write over the years--for instance, in trying to set up a fantasy war campaign, I found myself at a loss as to why the two or more sides were at war in the first place. If any of us gives you the idea--then it's like we stole it from you in a sense--it's gotta' be your idea here... But, let's try and put it in perspective for you--what if the guy knew who raped you--or knew of some ultra-powerful celebrity or politician who was a pedophile, better still he knows where some of the real power in our government is at...
What is something that is terrifying for you to know? That's where'd you'd want to start.
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
29 Apr 08
(sighing, chuckling, and rolling eyes--all at once at you, at myself, at the situation, and at the general ambiguity of language altogether...) Most mayors do, and certainly must, live in the town they are mayor of...
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I haven't even thought about using something that would effect me. Hmm....something that I really hate. Well I defeniatly hate people who hurt children in any way...animals too. But I'm not sure exactly what I could have be the big problem.
Hmm...I will defenaitly have to figure out who would be after him. Maybe someone in charge of the area...here's a question (might make me seem stupid lol. I hope not). If I had a mayor of the town, would he necessarily have to always live in that town? Or could he live somewhere else?
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
29 Apr 08
He could witness a murder.
He could witness bank robbers taking off their masks before they get in their getaway cars.
He could have a relative that stole money and they think he knows where it is or they're blackmailing the evil relative to get it back.
They could just be sick and sadistic and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A relative of theirs could have been killed by a relative of his and they want to do payback.
Those are the ideas that popped into my head.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I do like the bank robber idea, but I'm not sure I would be able to do that with the how I have already set up the town...bu thmmm....maybe I could make it that the boy went to a neighboring city or something. lol. But what state as small towns and cities? =P
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 May 08
Lots of states have small towns and cities. Albany, NY is a city, but a few miles away, I went to a job interview on a dirt backroad little town. I think lots of Southerns states that we traveled in as kids had small towns and cities. Population maps could help you. Take care
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
2 May 08
oh wow! new york would be awesome! lol. I'm sure there was something bad he could see in NY City! =P *not judgin ny, I would love to visit it!* lol. Thanks for the help writers!
1 person likes this
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
25 Apr 08
that sounds like a really good story and i think that i have something that might work but its something like what your friends said...maybe he witnessed a murder and someone else was with him whenever he did and they saw it too or the killers thought that he saw it and they are trying to get the other friend to come forward so that they can hae the both of them and they are aying that he won't live unless the friend comes to get him...so that they can capture them both...
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Even though that's a good idea, I'm not sure it would work with my story now. When the brother didn't come home, his siter went looking for him...and because of it got picked up by the same people who have her brother. She has nothing to do with whyever they took her brother, but got took because she kept asking questions and trying to find him.
2 people like this
@Soccermom22 (12)
• United States
25 Apr 08
It could be that they think he witnessed a murder, but they really have the wrong guy. Or maybe something happened a couple years ago that he knew about and then he was in an accident and a brief coma. When he woke up, he had lost his memory and had to start his life over.
2 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
25 Apr 08
He was walking along the side of a wharehouse that is situated next to the water. As he gets closer to the wharehouse he hears some commotion. He very quietly walks up to the side of the wharehouse and puts his back against the wall. He leans around and what he sees makes him sick. There are three thugs holding a man down and there is a fourth one who looks like the head. One of the thugs has a needle in his hand and is getting ready to stick it into the man they are holding down. All of a sudden the good man sneezes before he can even control it. He jumped back against the wharehouse wall. It was too late and all three of the men were after him. They left one man there with the man who was on the ground. The chase was on.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Your welcome. I thought that something like this would be a reasonable reason for being kidnapped. From the other responses you have some good ideas to work on. Good luck on continuing your story. 
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
28 Apr 08
It defeniatly would be a reason someone got taken! lol. See a murder could never be good for anyone, for a few reason. If I do make this the reason, I'm going to try and think of a way I can make it different, at least a little different! I don't want my story to be like other ones! =P Thanks again!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Thank you very much for the very specific idea! I appreicate that! I defeniatly like the idea of him happening upon something like this, and accidently getting caught. I'm not sure I would want a sneeze to be the thing that gets him caught, but i'll figure it out! Thanks again!
1 person likes this
