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train · 199k rows

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	[WP] The first alien transmission Earth received was not meant for us: it was a message to another galaxy talking smack about humanity.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Nuts. \nThe whole thing. The message, the response. .......! \"\n The technicians in the room shuffled and glanced at each other. Dr Taylor was known for his outbursts. Usually his glee at being correct about something or someone. This was different. His eyes ,wide and unbelieving. His hands, holding the latest generated \" translation \" shook. \nIf the doctor was a barometer of tension then the entire room just vibrated with it. \nAll eyes turned to him , silently . Waiting. No one said a thing but everyone was hearing ,or rather, expecting to hear the worst. The greatest fear. They're hostile, powerful and coming this way.\nArmageddon is coming.\n Finally a young intern opened her mouth. Closed it ,and then,after a shrug of resignation asked the obvious question. \n \"What is it Dr ? Are they attacking?\"\n The Dr looked at the young lady. A curious smile began to crease his features then disappeared just as quickly.\n \" No. They are NOT coming. \"\n \" Then why....... ?\" her voice trailed off. The questions began. The General from the Joint Chiefs was used to getting answers when he asked them and the sudden cacophony of multiple questions being asked by people under him, that is to say ,everyone, was cause for him to stand up and yell \" How the hell do you know that? \" The\nGroup of scientists and soldiers all shut up at that and turned to the doctor.\n\nBecause they have better things to do? No, that's not quite right. They DON'T have time to? NO. \n\n \"General, they aren't coming. Never were.\" \n\n The General was not satisfied with that answer. \"Then why the Message?\"\n\n Dr Taylor knew he had no choice. The scientists need to know.\n\n \" There is a third party \" said the doctor. Silence.\n\n \"Third party? Who? What...?\" The General was obviously not getting \"The point\".\n \n \"The message sir. It wasn't FOR us!\" \n\n \" You mean....Earth? It wasn't for Us? \"\n\nThe doctor nodded. \" A third party sir, we eavedropped on an alien transmission between TWO points. But not Earth\" \n\n\"How do you know this?\" The General sat down and picked up a pen.\n\n \" Sir, the transmission did in fact mention earth but not as a target or as an opportunity. In fact it was a passing reference TO US, or rather, ABOUT us\"\n\nThe General nodded.. \"Ok and?\"\n\n \" AS far as I can tell General it was a warning from one to another to give the STINKNG APES a wide berth\" \n\nThe Dr Continued\n\n\"They are complaining about the noise,radio and electronic I assume ,and that , that...\"\n\n The General patience hit the limit \" AND WHAT? \"\n\n \" Sir, the complaint was that we smell like the excrement of a ALTAIRIAN METHANE HOG\"", "Ok, so here's my relation to the whole thing. Back in '86 I was working nights at the North Ridge Radio Telescope. Magazine in hand, I would sit comfortably with my feet on the desk as the computers did all the work for me. On June 14th, I was running another full spectrum analysis, the computers swept every single frequency the telescope was receiving from the absolute lowest to the absolute highest. \"Got to get them aliens\" had become the new unofficial slogan. I mean, the order for another spectrum analysis this time came from the higher ups, higher ups being NASA, so that's meant something.\n\nIt was about 1:30 in the morning when the telescope started receiving something. When I say receiving something, I mean receiving something. I nearly leapt off my chair when the signal started to come through. It was really loud. Like, it was as if someone was sawing a metal pole in half with a jackhammer. \n\nThe first thing I did was hit record on my cassettecorder, the next thing I did was check the computer screens. The one showing the spectrum analysis was going berserk. It was an insanely complex signal it was receiving, at the same time, way too ordered to be just a random occurrence. I mean, not even a collapsing star gave off that kind of signal. I remember thinking, 'This is it. We've found them at last.' \n\nI began running a computer analysis on it. It was a binary signal, bandwidth of 3,000, an Amplitude Modulated as a means of transmitting bits. I tried running a compiler on it, but it just crashed the whole system. The crash cost about a minute and a half of raw data. By the time everything was up and recording again, the signal had disappeared. I was like, tripping out. Unable to believe what I had just seen.\n\nAnyway, when the rest of the team showed up the next morning we all went wild on it. We eventually managed to compress the data onto one of the 16 tracks, then someone sent it off to a friend at MIT. Within a week, we had the first number. The encoding system was based on a universal mathematical principle or something, I honestly can't remember what the guy said. It took a whole year to get something that looked like a sentence, by then we had all the computers at NASA working on it. Hell, we had almost every major computer system on the goddamned planet trying to figure out what the signal said. I mean, even the Soviets pitched in. \n\nLike, it was just an insane time to be alive. Everyone was trying to figure out what it said. Man, I was in the running for a Nobel Prize for my work on it. Me, who'd spent pretty much all my time at Northern Ridge just supervising the equipment. \n\nWell, it was in '89 when the message was fully decoded. The raw numbers were on the front page of every newspaper, the number one topic on every message board. Then the linguists got involved, trying to make something coherent of the sequences. \nThat was another 6 years all in all, this huge debate running as to what the language structure was and all. Anyways, this one linguist who I think was called Stephan, had a weird name, anyway, he cracked it. He managed to translate the message into Chinese before interpreting it in English. \n\nI remember being sent his paper when it got published. I have to admit, after all that work, all that effort, all the alliances and peace-talks, the message was a fucking inter-galactic joke on us.\n\n\"What do you call a bipedal creature with one head and a terrible sense of smell? A stupid hu...[man]\" \n\nI mean, I kind of laughed, but I honestly don't get it.", "In the year 2025 mankind had intercepted the first ever signal from intelligent life. It was not meant for us, but deep inside all of us, it kindled a new fire.\n\nIt took almost a century to construct the first of the star-dragger ships, even though all the global productivity was dedicated to that task. It merely cost us the whole asteroid belt, a couple moons from Jupiter and Saturn and half of Mercury to construct the ring-shaped vessel that spanned earth beyond the lunar orbit. Along the way we created the necessary technologies for everything. Matter-to-energy-transfer, artificial gravity, forcefields, faster-than-light travel, inertialess acceleration, just to name a few. The next ship was build in less than a decade, plundering a neighbouring star system. And then we build another ten thousand of them within a few years.\n\nThere was not a second where our dedication faltered. We, as a species, worked as one towards our new goal.\n\nThe fleet of star-draggers was then sent to the center of the milkyway, where they found billions of stars. And by the ten-thousands they plucked them from their steady orbit around the supermassive black hole and brought them upwards from the galactic disc. It was a mission like no other and would be the legacy of humanity once finished. Generations of humans spanned this undertaking and the one to be alive when it was finished now inhabited hundreds of thousands of systems.\n\nBillions of stars now illuminate the dark void where just two centuries ago was dark nothingness. Letters in a size that could only be measured in lightyears, pointed at the galaxy from where the signal had originated.\n\nFUCK YOU", "To: Reply all \nThose fleshy evolved monkeys in sector 045\n\nDear Galactic Council,\n\nI would like to inform you that I have located a new subpar species which I was hoping you could all help me identify. They all seem to screech at eachother and mate through the old less productive means of actual interaction. Judging by their head to brain ratio they seem to be on the lower intelligence levels, some even still using electricity to power their devices rather then clean Speclonium. Any details on this new animal would be appreciated.\n\nEdit: Nevermind, its just humans, common mistake...\n\n\n---------------\n\n\nTo: GalacticGrunkurthethird@spurkballs.space\n\nOH MY GALACTIC RINGS\n\nGRUNKUR PLEASE DELETE THAT, YOU HIT REPLY ALL!,\n\nGrunkur as funny as it was, we don't want the humans thinking we are on there level! They are already trying to contact us now because of that, please come see us for a TALK!!!!!\n\n---------------------\n\nTo: GalacticGrunkurthethird@spurkballs.space\n\nNo you\n\nSincerely Evolved monkeys" ]	5
	[WP] A modern witch uses modern technology. Who needs a ln iron cauldron when you have a coffee machine?	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I loved the smell of deadly nightshade in the morning.\n\nAs great as coffee was, it needed a bit of arcane oomph to stop me from re-aging suddenly in the middle of the day. Just because I was 430 years old didn't mean I had to look it.\n\nReaching into my spice cabinet I pulled out a few dried caterpillars and tossed them into my off brand, yet still trusty, food processor. For later. It's always good to have a few hexes up your sleeve. I checked my phone again. Yep, definitely late.\n\nI grab a whiteboard marker that was lying around, (yes my place is messy, but I prefer it that way) and started to draw on the floor. It wasn't my best magic circle but it'd have to do. I worked at the pharmacy and I managed to get my hands on a finger-pricker. They were made for blood glucose tests. Perfect for blood magic.\n\nI finished off the circle with a little blood and then the world warped around me as I suddenly stood in one of the pharmacy toilets. Brushing off some glittering dust I stepped out and into the workplace.\n\n\"Hey boss!\" one of the girls said, \"didn't see you come in!\"\n\n\"Well good job being so focused on your work.\"\n\n\"Thanks!\" she said going off to help another customer.\n\nI smiled and looked over my shop. Another day at 'The Black Cat Pharmacy'.", "“That’s her house?” Glen asked quietly, peering through the tinted windows of our van.\n\n“Appears so,” I affirmed, pulling the key out of the ignition. I grabbed a folder off the back seat and flipped it open, just to be sure. I nodded to myself. “Yup. Yellow house, green shutters. Address matches up. This is the place.”\n\n“It just looks so normal. We’re sure a witch lives here?”\n\n“Mhm.”\n\n“In the suburbs…”\n\nI sighed. “Listen, Glen. I know you’re new to the Order, so let me tell you one thing. Appearances can be deceiving. You may see a perfectly average suburban home with a two car garage and a small garden in the front, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an old, nasty witch crouching behind the door. If anything this just means she’s a smart one, hiding in plain sight, blending into society.” I drew my Taser from my shoulder holster, a unique device designed to disrupt the magical circuits in a witch’s body; what they used to channel and direct their power. “Be on guard.”\n\n“Right,” Glen agreed. He seemed a little nervous, but that was normal. This was his first witch hunt.\n\nWe left the van and approached the house, a light breeze rustling our long, matching jackets. My eyes swiveled between the door and the several windows on the front of the house, watching for any sign of movement. “Remember, Intel said she’s about to finish a brew. We’ll try to apprehend the witch if we can, but our priority is preventing that potion from being finished. We have no idea what kind of evil could spill from her cauldron.”\n\nWe made it to the door without incident, and I holstered my Taser. So far the place didn’t show any signs of witch activity, and so we couldn’t enter forcefully. I nodded towards the side of the door, and Glen moved there to cover me. I took a deep breath, and then rang the bell.\n\nA few moments later, I heard footsteps approaching, and I braced myself to draw. I heard a lock unlatch, and then the door swung open, revealing a young woman. She furrowed her brow with concern as she regarded me. “Hello? Can I help you?”\n\nShe wasn’t an old hag at all, but I kept my guard up, refusing to relax. I reached for my badge and flashed it briefly before stuffing it back in my jacket. “Hi, I’m Inspector Wren Thompson with the local PD, Hunter division.”\n\n“Hunter division? I’ve never heard of that,” she mentioned quizzically.\n\n“We’re only called in for special cases, and our surveillance team picked up what they thought was some suspicious activity in or around your residence. Do you mind if we take a look around?”\n\nThe woman’s eyes narrowed at me. “I’m confused… do you have a wa-”\n\n“Warrant?” I finished for her. “Not currently, but we were in the area and I figured it would make things simpler for both of us if I could just look around quick and absolve you of any suspicion.”\n\n“Suspicion for what exactly?” she asked.\n\n“Uh,” I hummed with hesitation. This had never happened before. Witches always ran or fought, and Intel was never wrong. I wasn’t sure what to do; civilians were kept in the dark when it came to witches and our Order of hunters. My eyes flicked over to Glen. He watching me expectantly. “Uh… I… well…” I stammered.\n\nThen a loud ding sounded from somewhere inside the house. “Oh! The brew is done!” the woman exclaimed.\n\nMy eyes widened, and I felt my hair stand on end; we were too late. “Glen! Go!” I yelled as I drew my Taser. I stepped into the woman, shoving her aside and pressing her into the wall of the foyer as Glen darted passed us. The woman shrieked as I pressed the face of the Taser against her hip. “Don’t move. Don’t try anything funny.”\n\n“Who are you!? What’s happening!?” she cried.\n\n“Quiet witch! You thought you could fool us with your disguise, but we won’t be taken for-”\n\n“Wren!” Glen called, cutting me off.\n\n“You find the brew?” I called over my shoulder; I couldn’t’ take my eyes off the witch. “If it’s already complete we have to neutralize it quick.”\n\n“Oh, I found the brew.”\n\nI noticed that Glen sounded way too calm and relaxed, but there wasn’t time to question it. “Can you tell what kind it is? What did she cook up?”\n\n“Uh… looks like maybe a dark roast with a hint of French vanilla.”\n\n“… What?”\n\n“It’s coffee, Wren. She brewed some coffee.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\ncontinued below\n\n&#x200B;\n\nr/TheCornerStories" ]	3
	[WP] As the world's population rapidly grows, Satan is getting more and more overworked with the increasing number of deaths. He desperately sends agents out into the world in order to quickly help the humans discover the secret to immortality.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"This has to be a joke.\"\n\n\"I assure you, this is 100% legitimate.\"\n\n\"You expect me to believe any of this?\"\n\n\"Obviously.\"\n\n\"You expect me to believe that you are an agent of the devil?\"\n\n\"I believe I've said as much. Several times now.\"\n\n\"But you're not a ... well ... you're a *lawyer.\"\n\n\"Who the hell else would be his agents in this world?\"\n\n\"I don't know. I guess I expected cultists or something.\"\n\n\"Too unreliable. I mean there are some 'cult' initiations that take place in law school, but nothing like what you're thinking.\"\n\n\"Fine, let's say you do represent Mr. Beelzebub. Why should we believe your other claims? This ... immortality drug ... why would the devil give us the power of eternal life?\"\n\n\"In short, thermodynamics.\"\n\n\"... What?\"\n\n\"I'm no physicist, but I'll try to explain. Hell is a realm with a constant, measurable rate of expansion. This rate cannot be changed. For most of human history, population was pretty constant. Birth and death rates remained fairly steady, and the flow of new souls into hell was fairly consistent with the expansion rate. The odd war and heresies would cause some fluctuation, but overall it was pretty balanced. Each soul that flows into hell increases the pressure in hell, which increases the temperature, but the expansion of hell compensates for it, and everything remained in a nice equilibrium.\"\n\n\"Okay ...\"\n\n\"All of that changed with the industrial and technological revolutions. The population has skyrocketed. Now more people die of natural causes per year than would die in a decade from all causes a couple of centuries ago. The death rate has greatly exceeded the expansion rate of hell, causing an excessive 'soul pressure' buildup. We need to lower the number of deaths back to sustainable levels in order to ensure hell's survival.\"\n\n\"And why would we want to do that?\"\n\n\"What happens if you pump too much air into a balloon?\"\n\n\"Uhh ... it pops?\"\n\n\"Exactly. Now imagine hell as a giant balloon filled with fire and brimstone. If souls keep entering it at the current rate, it won't be long until it reaches a tipping point and basically all hell breaks loose. That wouldn't be good for anyone on either plane of existence.\"\n\n\"Right ... so you want to stop everyone from dying then?\"\n\n\"Of course not. We need to maintain a balance. If no souls enter hell at all, eventually the pressure and temperature will drop so much that hell will freeze over. Again, not a good thing.\"\n\n\"So ... your solution is immortality ... for some?\"\n\n\"For most really. We need a drastic reduction in the death rates in the short term to ease off the pressure. To curb underworld warming if you will. This immortality serum will prevent aging and greatly reduce the likelihood of death via diseases, but people will still die to accidents and injuries. It will also lower fertility rates, so the population increase will be slowed for a time. Our projections show that death rates will fall to below desired levels for a time, helping alleviate the pressure, and will then even out as the population grows and adapts to the new normal.\"\n\n\"Well ... that's quite a lot to think about.\"\n\n\"Indeed.\"\n\n\"So I have to ask, what do you get out of this?\"\n\n\"Other than immortality? We're lawyers. We stand to make a shit ton of money from this deal.\"\n\n\"Of course you do ...\"", "The devil appeared in many forms, but he was always a sucker for his favorite fruit.\n\nApple. Otherwise known as the most valuable company in the world. The way Apple products sell... it's almost witchcraft. Of course the devil always has a way of making his deals. \n\nThe pale glow of the Apple, a single bite taken from it, illuminates every major city. The first sin of humanity, and people keep coming to take a bite. Despite being so large it still retains Lucifer's signature stylishness. Screens like silver tongues of flame illuminate shop windows. Enticing. Calling.\n\nHigh up in one of Apple Inc.'s boardrooms a conference of demons gather.\n\nA man in a burgundy suit heads the table. \"Gentlemen. I believe humanity is ready.\"\n\n\"Surely not!\" A man with a thin black goatee cries. \"They still haven't gotten over the Iphone. So much potential for corruption!\"\n\n\"I too, don't think humans are prepared,\" said a broad shouldered man with a light Russian accent. \"We've been building up for this, making technology smaller. From computer, to tablet, to phone, to watch, to earpiece. It would be a shame to have this build up wasted.\"\n\nThe man in the burgundy suit considers this. \"To tell the truth, Gentlemen there is another reason I have gathered you here today. Hell is overflowing. Satan can no longer cope. It is time. We release Apple's last product. The apple of immortality!\"\n\nGoatee opens his mouth and closes it again. Fire burns in his eyes.\n\nThe Russian man grumbles in protest. \"The Golden Apple? I don't like this, but if Lucifer himself demands it then...\"\n\nBurgundy suit smiles. \"I've had marketing whip up something. I'm sure the public will receive it well.\"\n\nArcane symbols in the conference room light up displaying a commercial in the air. On a completely silver background a golden apple logo appears.\n\n\\\\\\\n\nAre you tired of the physical world? Touchscreens, cameras are all clunky outdated devices. What if things could be better? What if you could complete a task just by thinking it? One device, one thought, all of the power. Just a microscopic chip, embedded into your brain and the world is just one thought away.\n\nA device so light you won't notice it's there. Endless possibilities. Transcend your physical limitations and live in the clouds. The IClouds. Leave your fragile body behind and enter heaven on Earth.\n\nIt's waiting for you. The last device you'll ever need. The Apple 'I'.\n\n(Find the 'I' at your nearest Apple retailer)" ]	3
	[WP] You've been stuck inside the antique store for hours, along with several other customers. One of the items in the store is cursed, turning the place into an inescapable labrynth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Just remember,\" the robot tour guide beeped monotonously. \"Touch nothing. This is a remarkably well preserved relic of the early second millennium phenomenon known as a 'thrift shop'.\" \n\n\"I don't think that's quite right,\" one of the other tourists said. \"Wasn't that mostly for clothes? These look like...antiques.\" \n\nI looked straight ahead. Nothing sounded better in my mind than getting back home, taking a deep clean, and going to bed. That's when I heard a soft tinkling sound. The robot guide swiveled around as the entire place began shaking. \n\n\"I didn't mean to break it!\" A child screamed, holding two halves of a broken bowl engraved with bulls. An entire row of shelves collapsed, sending shrieks throughout the room. \n\n\"Stay calm!\" Our robot guide beeped. \"Everything is under control!\" \n\n\"Obviously not!\" I shouted, grabbing onto a nearby glass case for dear life as the world tilted precariously. Lights whirled around outside. Thunder and crashes reigned. \n\nI woke up to the metallic taste of dried blood and a pounding in my skull. Nearby, the other tourists groaned and stirred. One of them opened her eyes and looked around in confusion. \n\n\"Where are we?\" \n\nThat was a good question. For as far as I could see, red sandstone walls corralled us in. It was a labyrinth, and it looked like we were stuck in the middle of it. Wincing, I lifted myself off the hard stone floor. \n\n\"Is everyone okay?\" I asked, helping a few kids to their feet. \"Does anyone know where the robot went? Or what happened?\" \n\nHours later, we were just as lost as when we started. Some people squabbled that we ought to stay put. Others wandered off. It wasn't until the first screams rent the air that we all started to panic. We started running in different directions - some towards the agonized yells, others away from it. I chose to go down a different direction. \n\nThis is a maze. With something scary. Must get out.\n\nI tried marking the soft sandstone, but it was hard to figure out exactly where I was. At some point, I gave up and tried the brute-force technique. If you touch a hand to a wall and keep contact with it as you move, you'll eventually get out of any maze. It may take forever, but you will eventually get out if you keep going. \n\nAnother scream. So close to me! My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I heard the cracking of bones and ripping of sinew. The smell of a wet animal mingled with the stink of blood. I ran faster. \n\nDaylight! Up ahead! I was saved! \n\nBehind me, I heard the angry snorts of something big. It was gaining on me. Faster! \n\nI barely made it out into the sunlight before I felt my feet lurch out from under me. Its claw snagged my shoe, and I kicked it off viciously as I furiously backpedaled. My eyes couldn't believe what I saw - the retreating form of a massive Minotaur shying away from my light, taking my shoe with it back into the dark labyrinth. \n\nI had to be hallucinating. \n\nLooking around, I was greeted by what looked like the Greek countryside. There was only problem. \n\nGreece hadn't looked like this for almost three millennia. \n\n---\n\nA bit rushed, I apologize. Thanks for reading! For more of my polished stuff, come join me at [/r/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/)!", "It was Fox Volkov's idea to stop inside of the antique store on the way to school, and it was Chrissy Otsuka's mistake to join him. It was a fairly normal morning for them both, as neither ended up having any nightmares the evening before. They met up at the tall Hawthorn tree at the same time they did every morning, Chrissy accompanied by her bass guitar, and Fox holding his baseball gear in a sidebag. That particular day they had made good headway into their walk, and decided that a detour wouldn't have hurt their progress.\n\n\"I've always liked antique stores,\" Chrissy told Fox as her opened the door. \"They tend to have old records that I like listening to, since they're so expensive everywhere else.\" \n\n\"Are they now?\" He said, half-listening to her rambling. \"Boy, this place smells like an antique shop for sure...\"\n\nTaking a deep breath of the air, Fox resisted the urge to cough. After a few breaths, however, he regulated his airflow and found it became easier to begin browsing. Chrissy seemed to have a much easier time than he did as she immediately approached a small bin of clearance items.\n\nAs much as he wanted to join her, there were other things that Fox knew he was interested in. Old sports posters hung along the walls, some of which signed by the players featured. On the opposite side of the store Chrissy stood on, there was a poster of a hockey player who stood with a gleaming golden cup sitting under his arm. He smiled triumphantly in the photo, and Fox smiled. \n\nStopping directly below it, he found that the signature on the hockey poster was completely illegible. It was expected of most sports stars, and he knew that he fit the part with his scribbly, awful handwriting. Turning back to look for Chrissy to crack a joke, he smiled.\n\n\"Hey, Chrissy! Don't you think my handwriting looks like this?\" \n\nBlinking a few times, Fox realized that the other wall of the store was nowhere in sight. The clearance rack was nowhere in his line of sight, and there was only a corridor filled with more posters of sports stars and popular singers. Looking around, he swore that he never saw that passageway before when he walked over to the picture. Despite his doubts, he began to walk down the twisting and turning pathway.\n\nFox had stopped at a few of the posters he walked by and saw various names of artists he knew Chrissy talked about. While he wasn't exactly sure what their music sounded like, he knew that she would talk about their amazing achievements. There was The Beatles on one wall, and soon Kansas on another. The pathway full of posters seemed to just keep going and going, however, until he reached a staircase at the end. \n\n\"This place looked as big as my room from the outside...\" He grumbled, approaching the stairs. \"How the hell could it be this big?\" \n\nWalking up past the posters, he froze as he saw an old man sitting at the top of the steps, lazily leaning against a wooden cane. A price tag hung around the top of it, and a price tag was strung around his neck too. Clearly the items that he had salvaged were all items that were yet to be purchased. Stopping at the bottom of the second set of steps, Fox raised his head to try and reason with the elder.\n\n\"Sir, are you lost?\" Fox asked.\n\n\"Are you an employee?\" The man snapped with sudden force, shaking his cane. \"I've been stuck in this damn antique shop for seventeen hours, and I just wanted to get a necklace for my dear wife!\" \n\nFox's eyebrows rose as he listened to the story, wondering just what had been going on to get the man lost for so long. Sure, he was old, and sure, he may have been prone to getting lost, but Fox knew that he was also lost, and he was at least fourty years younger than the older man. \n\n\"I'm not an employee,\" He explained, \"but I'm also lost. I'm looking for a friend of mine named Chrissy, as we both stopped by to look around before school started. We got separated. Have you seen her?\" \n\n\"You're the first person I've ever talked to since I entered this building!\" The old man spoke with anguish. \"I spent the first nine hours looking for an employee to help me outta this place, and the last eight have been spent wasting away!\" \n\nWalking up the stairs slowly, Fox was unsure of how to speak to the man who may have clearly been losing his mind. Upon getting closer, he realized the old man also held a pot to his side, which caused Fox to stop before standing next to him. It would've been smart for him to arm himself too, but he also didn't consider the fact that getting lost in an antique shop was a possibility. \n\n\"I can certainly try to help you leave.\" Fox offered. \"We've been in here long enough that I'm undeniably late for first hour.\"\n\nThe man nodded and slowly stood up, leaning on the cane as he raised himself from the stair. Taking his cane in one hand and the pot in another hand, it was also visible to Fox that the shoes the man wore had price tags on them. Did this guy come in here naked? \n\n\"Then let's move, sonny.\" The elder hooted as he began to walk into an ocean of clothing. \"We have no time to lose!\" \n\nMeanwhile, Chrissy had escaped a section of silverware and instead found herself nearby the dressing rooms. A singular figure stood outside of them all, quietly folding clothing. Armed with a purple bandanna she picked up earlier, she decided that if anybody was going to give her information, it would be the person who acted like they worked there. Stealthily moving on her tiptoes, they never saw her approaching.\n\nLeaping up like a wild animal, she wrapped the bandanna around the stranger's neck, and watched as the young woman before her, most likely in college years, began to struggle for breath.\n\n\"I demand you tell me what the hell is going on here!\" Chrissy cried out, holding the bandanna tight.\n\nThe stranger motioned to the bandanna as they continued to cough and choke for air, and she realized the mistake of her actions. Before removing the bandanna, she instead hooked her arm around the stranger's neck, leaving them in a loose choke hold. If they dared move, she knew how to defend herself.\n\n\"Okay, I'm not strangling you now.\" Chrissy said with less enthusiasm. \"What the hell is going on here?\" \n\n\"I wouldn't be able to tell you even if I wanted to!\" The woman spoke with a sob, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. \"It's the artifact!\"\n\nRaising an eyebrow, Chrissy tightening her grip just a little. The stranger's cries became louder, but she stopped at nothing. Speaking in a whisper, she asked her questions.\n\n\"The artifact? What artifact?\" Chrissy asked.\n\n\"T-There's an artifact...\" The woman spoke with a stutter as sweat beaded up from under her forehead. \"I-I don't know what it is... b-but it keeps us trapped here... f-forever...\"\n\nEyes widening, Chrissy let go of the stranger slowly. She watched as the woman collapsed onto the ground, arms shaking as she began to sob. There was no time to waste, however, as Chrissy continued to speak.\n\n\"Would you be able to help me find it then?\" She asked, arms folded across her chest. \"If we work together, we can get out of this place.\"\n\nThe woman nodded slowly, sniffling up her salty tears. Chrissy held out a hand and helped her up, turning towards the direction of a corridor they hadn't traveled down before.\n\n\"We need to find my buddy, Fox.\" Chrissy told her. \"He probably knows what to look for.\"\n\n...\n\nFox most certainly did not know what to look for. In fact, he hadn't left the clothing isles thanks to the old man slowing him down. He purposely walked slowly with his cane, scooting along the ground. They had only walked past the children's sections- the end of the shirts and pants was nowhere to be found. Groaning loudly, Fox checked the time. He had been stuck for almost two hours, which meant an hour and fifty minutes without Chrissy. \n\nHis hands shook ever so slightly. Where was she? Was she okay? He didn't worry about her often, as she was self-sufficient and didn't need to be worried about, but he'd hate to know something bad happened to her because of the fact that he wasn't watching over her closely. They should've stuck together, but he knew their independence would get the best of both of them eventually. \n\nSighing aloud, Fox got the attention of the old man, who turned his head.\n\n\"Whaddya worried about?\" He asked, hunched over his cane.\n\n\"Remember my friend I mentioned earlier?\" Fox asked. \"Chrissy? She could still be lost too. I'm worried about her.\"\n\n\"Lemme tell you a secret, kid.\" The elder spoke to Fox in a hushed whisper. \"Woman are absolutely nuts. My wife is, and I bet your Chrissy is too. If anything, maybe she's waiting for us at the entrance.\"\n\nThere was a shifting coming from the clothing to the men's right, and they both turned. One of the racks of sweaters was shaking as if something was rifling through it, causing both Fox and the old man to back up. They watched as it continued to rustle until two girls popped out, covered in stray sweater hairs.\n\n\"Well, look what the Fox dragged in.\" Chrissy's familiar voice greeted them both. \n\n\"Chrissy!\" Fox exclaimed, running to her side to hug her tight.\n\n\"Cut the formalities.\" Chrissy said quickly, pushing him off of her. \"We've got an issue, and we need to get to the bottom of it.\"\n\n\"What issue?\" Fox asked, raising an eyebrow.\n\n\"There's an artifact somewhere in this store that's keeping us trapped here,\" Chrissy spoke gravely, \"and if we don't destroy it, we'll be trapped here for the rest of our lives.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nr/LeatherBinding" ]	3
	[WP] An unsupervised child has damaged the color green. The color no longer works properly and no one knows how to repair it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"How did this happen?\" Gordon bellowed. For a moment, the control room fell silent at his outburst. However, the workers quickly resumed their tasks as they tried to ignore the very loud scolding Gordon was giving the Chief Systems Engineer. They all knew better than to gawk at the spectacle for fear that they would be next.\n\nFrancisco nodded. There was no going back now, Gordon wouldn't forget this one. Francisco hoped that at least Gordon would be angry enough to have another heart attack and just die. Francisco’s mind wandered as he thought about how great it would be to finally get that promotion after all these years.\n\n \n\n\"... and worst of all. This has to happen when we are being audited. AUDITED Francisco. If we don't pass the inspection It’s not just my job on the line. It's yours too.\"\n\n \n\n\"Well, we know how the color green failed. We just don’t know how to fix it.\" Francisco refuted. Gordon stopped talking, glaring directly at Francisco. Not sure if this was an improvement, Francisco took advantage of the silence to explain the technical details of why it was a bad idea to leave terminals inside the simulation open and how Gordon was a buffoon for putting terminals there in the first place.\n\n \n\n\"Just get it done before noon\" Gordon interrupted. He then proceded to explain in graphically clear detail that if it wasn't finished by then Francisco would have to need a new job AND a new face. As Gordon left, Francisco was glad to finally get back to work.\n\n \n\nThe cause of the problem was simple. Somehow, one of the lifeforms inside the SIM had gotten access to one of the admin terminals inside. It was a child. Not even a real child at that; it was a human child. After banging on the keys for a few seconds it changed the value of the color green to a number. Oddly enough, the system hadn't crashed yet although there were severe consequences. Mostly, anything green failed to load properly. The system replaced these objects with a little square box that said \"OBJ\". Entire forests were gone. Hundreds of things didn't work properly anymore.\n\n \n\nFrancisco and his team had been trying all night to get the simulation back online to no avail. There was one option left, although it meant losing weeks of work. Francisco hated the idea but he felt he had no other choice. \"Alright team, prepare for a full system reboot. This time run the SIM without the humans. Backups are deleted? Ok, from the top in Three... Two...\" And with that, all of humanity ceased to exist." ]	2
	[WP] Humans have recently joined a galactic council, and the aliens have placed a ban on the recreational drug “Adrenaline”.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"As the human delegate, I would like to motion for a repeal of the ban on usage of Adrenaline. My species, humans, naturally produce adrenaline, and have never taken it for recreational purposes, and are of the opinion that it be illegal to at least conduct random drug tests for it. Our bodies naturally produce this, in our adrenal glands, and although it would be unfair to say that we do not develop addiction to it, or use it recreationally, it is only through experiences, and as it is something historically crucial to our survival, and does little to no damage to the body, a ban on it would be akin to legislate morality.\"\n\nNo species had ever started with requesting the repeal of a law. This was unprecedented.\n\n\\[part two coming soon\\]" ]	2
	[WP] One day you see a beautiful shokting star that seems to be getting closer. You realize to late and barely miss getting struck by the object. When you look over to it you see a beautiful sword. You feel drawn to it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \n\nMy shoes were caked in mud. Grime soaked my feet into prunes. If I were to keep going, they’d be walked raw. There was an outlet in the woods that would hold my tent and a fire comfortably.\n\nJessica would’ve disapproved, but she wasn’t here. She preferred a more open spot on the trail with a ditch or a bit of stray brush to shit in. “Too many rodents. I don’t like when they come from the trees and scratch at the tent. I would’ve stayed at the apartment if I wanted vermin to disrupt my sleep,” she said once. I ignored the way she talked about other people for a long time. Now I got to ignore her full stop.\n\nI’m a pretty introspective person. I take blame for most of my failings. My wage is shit because I chose a bad profession. My apartment is shit because I have a shit wage. These were based on choices I had made. I chose to call Jess my partner for five years even after all the arguments and silence and arguments. Breaking up was a long time coming.\n\nI pulled my backpack off my shoulders and unclipped the nylon bag that held the tent. I found a patch of ground free from surrounding roots. A few branches lay around the patch. They were dead and dry - perfect for an evening fire. It was an absolute slog to carry branches from the woods to an open clearing for a camp. I might have brought it up on a previous trip with Jess.\n\nThe canopy of trees encircled my view of the stars. “It feels like I’m in a petri dish. I don’t like feeling small and trapped. Can’t we just walk a mile or two more and find a nicer clearing?” Jess had asked once. I would ignore questions I didn’t like to answer. I did that a lot. I’m introspective, but that doesn’t mean I’m a healthy communicator. She would whine, and I would ignore her.\n\nThe fire came quick. Needles or dried leaves made for excellent kindling. Splashes of red and orange lit the canopy. The light was dull, but it was enough to leave rippling shadows on the back row of trees. Heat wafted from the fire in wisps. It was not a cold night, and the insulated sleeping bag would keep me on the hotter side of warm, but fire would be necessary in drying my grungy footwear. I ripped my shoes and socks off, setting them on the ground in front of the flame. The socks were already mud filled. It’s not like they were going to get any dirtier sitting on more dirt.\n\nI set up the tent away from the fire. With the pulsing orange glow, it resembled a hi vis VDOT vest. Careful. Warning. Don’t hit me. My feet were still damp, so I took my sleeping bag and placed it by the fire. I laid on top of it and held my feet to the flame. \n\n“Useless man in repose. A fitting look perhaps,” I imagined Jessica saying to me. The words we said to each other were not kind at the end of our relationship. Nor the middle. Not really in the beginning either. I stared up at the sky. When confronted with the cosmos there is only awe or dread. I would consider it dreadfully awful. It was a constant reminder that space is very big. Time has existed for a long time without me, or you, or human life in it. When I see the moon I feel loneliness - more lonely.\n\nI noticed a small streak in the sky. It was a line of dead pixels on the monitor - a discolored slice of light cutting into the sky. Things move fast up there. It left its scar on our atmosphere before melting into the backdrop of space. \n\nFor awhile. Another streak, larger and brighter, cut back across the sky. I propped myself up on my elbows and watched. It moved past the treeline and, again, the residue from the interstellar object faded into darkness.\n\nThere was no third streak. A blinding light and the sound of a sawblade meeting metal had me scrambling. I dived for the woods, choking on air that was getting hotter and hotter. I waited with held breath, not knowing what had happened or what might continue to happen. The shockwave that followed might have turned my insides to jelly if I hadn’t held myself flat behind the tree, but the concussive force was enough to knock me out. I faded into darkness with my ears ringing and my body stinging.\n\nI woke in my own vomit, nose pressed into half-digested protein bars. Nails the size of knives felt like their were jammed behind my eyeballs. I wished for blindness. I wanted the pain to end. Standing up was not effective. It hurt to breathe. I was not the most graceful diver, and I managed to break, or at least bruise, my ribs on impact. Getting to my feet was a minor victory that ended in more vomit and a personalized fetal position. Describing pain is no easy task. Words can never do it any justice. Besides the nails in my head, I just knew that I wanted to die.\n\nThe morning light was already out. Sun was the last thing my eyes could handle, and I could feel the bile turnover in my stomach. I cupped a hand to my head and felt dried blood. My chest wasn’t the only thing to break against the ground. I shuffled from the woods to check out the thrown remains of my tent. It was flipped over, but I could see that one side had melted from the heat. \n\nI tracked my bruised eyes to the crashed object. At the epicenter of the smoldering earth was, or so it looked, a sword. An eitch to gee, fucking sword. My shoes were fried to bits or lost in the shockwave, so I couldn’t brave the scorched earth. I looked around for something to cover my feet. There was my charred tent, but I did not have the strength or patience to go tearing through nylon. I had my shirt on my back, but I did not think it was a good idea to be both crippled and half naked when wandering the path. I went to sit down at the perimeter, but the forced movement was too much for my brain. I passed out and threw up once more.\n\nTime in a concussive state doesn’t really exist. My mouth was dry and the sun was higher, but I had no real guess as to what time it was. In an effort to pull myself up from the ground, I felt the darkened earth. It was cool and walkable. I stood up and made myself to the sword.\n\nIt’s pommel was set with a gem that resembled obsidian or black glass. The hilt and handle looked to be stainless steel - an impossibility given the Earth’s atmospheric reentry process. The blade resembled the same stainless steel, but the edge was the glassy black of the pommel gem.This clue informed me that it might be a weapon cut entirely from the same material, but I was not an expert of swords. I worked a mailroom temp for a grimy fortune five hundred. I delivered shit to stiff black suits and horrible ties. They didn’t trust temps to deliver to CEO’s.\n\nPull the sword, said my own brain. It sounded tinny and hollow in my ears. I reached for hilt. In my hands it felt natural. Why had I not run from the object? I was no stranger to science fiction. This where the blade wraps around the arm of the victim, inevitably driving them mad. This is where the sword obliterates me, stripping me atom by atom, collecting my soul in its gem forever.\n\nThe sword didn’t. It just had this feeling that it felt right in my hands. That it belonged there. No sense of divine or galactic importance. It just felt right. Breakup be damned, I had a space sword. Well. For now I had a walking stick. If I wanted to make it off the trail alive, I would need to focus up and use the damn thing as support. The thing weighed as much as any other branch, but it was still sharp. I hobble to the remains of my tent and cut the thing into ribbons as best as I could. They were a slippery material designed to keep moisture out. Turned into foot wraps, they would offer no breathability. I would trade a lack of traction and humid toes for protection against twigs and stones and roots.\n\nThere’s a party with an emergency radio three clicks west, said my own brain. I nodded - to myself - and set myself west into the woods. The sword proved a useful crutch, making up for the tractionless state of my makeshift shoes. You’re making great time. We’ll find them in no time, said my own brain.\n\n\\* \\* \\\n\n300 million lightyears away, in a time before humans or most dinosaurs, there fought two people. They were aliens of the alien type, not being anything hominid or earthly in imagination, but they fought using swords. It was a ceremonial fight. Two combatants fighting in the vacuum of space. It was not a fight of honor. As one of the combatants raises their weapon, their brain tells them it was a mistake. They have only a second to agree with their own brain before the other combatant slices an extremity responsible for organic survival. In the tradition of the combat, the victor claims the blade of their fallen opponent. The slain, while no hero, was still a valid opponent. In a universal dick move, the victor loads the slain’s sword into a rail gun and fires it into the abyss of space, denying the slain the courtesy of resting with their blade in the same galaxy.", "In the middle of the day something streaked across the sky.\n\n\nIt was loud and deafening and--\n\n\n\"Oh, shit.\"\n\n\nIt was coming right toward me.\n\n\nI fumbled with the keys and got into my car, ignoring my cart full of groceries. It was just in time as whatever was arcing its way toward earth had crashed into the cart, destroying my month's worth of stuff.\n\n\nI waited in my car for a second before opening the door and looking at where the cart used to be standing. I grimaced at the large hole in the ground, too small to be called a crater but obviously bigger than a pot hole. Thankfully, it didn't span the length of my car and I knew I could get the tires around it-- what was that?\n\n\nMy eye kept catching some shimmering light. \n\n\nI got out of the car and approached the mangled cart in the hole. There, a sword was speared through two grocery bags, whatever items I had inside, the cart itself, and the asphalt of the parking lot.\n\n\nWords couldn't describe the sword. I'd never be able to do it justice. It was golden and warm and bright and beautiful. There was a glow about it and it called* to me. There was no other explanation to it. I felt a tug inside of my chest and I was forced a step forward.\n\n\nBy now, people came out of the store toward me and the glowing thing. I stepped closer, feeling protective over the sword. It was mine.\n\n\n\"What happened?\"\n\n\n\"What is that?\"\n\n\n\"Is anyone hurt?\"\n\n\n\"Don't touch that, what if it's full of radiation?\"\n\n\nI ignored the filtering questions and reached out until my hand could grasp the hilt of the sword. I had never held a sword in my life. Something just felt right about the way my hand fit around the hilt.\n\n\nFluidly, I pulled the sword from the debris and took a step back. I lifted it to examine it, in awe. Nothing else existed except for me and the sword. I swore I could hear it speaking to me.\n\n\nThe light from the sword extended down my arm and across my chest. Soon, I was glowing with it. The people stood back, some shielding their eyes.\n\n\nI felt my body suddenly contort. I twisted in place, writhed where I stood, and then doubled over. My hand tightened around the hilt and refused to release the sword. My muscles were tight, then on fire, and I screamed as I transformed. When it was over, I straightened and looked down at myself. I was in golden and bronze armor with pauldrons shaped as lion heads frozen in mid roar. I took an uneasy step away from my car and the people in the parking lot as I held the sword.\n\n\nOne person emerged from the crowd. He was a man that looked as out of place as I did, dressed in robes with a heavy golden chain around his neck. \"You are the champion for the sun god,\" he announced. No one seemed to notice him but me. \"You have been chosen.\"\n\n\n\"But I don't know how to fight,\" I exclaimed to the man.\n\n\n\"You have three moons to learn. Find the others and fight well, soldier.\"", "Touching the hilt of the blade, a sudden buzzing sensation runs down my arms. Quickly, I draw my arm away, and look towards the beauty of the blade in front of me. Once more, I reach down, this time determined to hold on.\n\nAs I grab the blade, and lift it up, the humming sensation reaches from my arm and towards my chest. It suddenly floods through my entire body, going up from my heart, neck, and then...\n\nThe humming touches the upper limit of my chin, and when it reaches my mind, all thoughts cease. The entire world freezes, and then something begins to bleed through. An image, a knight in red armor. The image becomes more and more solid the longer I hold the sword.\n\nA world around me begins to appear, taking over and carefully shifting over my own. The man in front of me has a blade of my own, and slowly approaches me. Only when my own home has completely disappeared can I see the man clearly.\n\n\"It has been my task, for the last fifteen years to wipe out all the chosen ones before they can undertake 'the quest', this I have done, to protect the king.\" The man explains, as he raises his sword, \"Now do not feet, this will not be painful...\"\n\nAs he raises his sword, the same strong buzzing feeling goes through mine. Raising my own sword clumsily, I look towards this man.\n\n\"I don't want to die.\" I plead.\n\n\"Then you have my sympathies.\" Raising the blade, he runs towards me.\n\nFreezing. My entire body shivering in fright and confusion. As he nears me, my body begins to hum again. As if on instinct, I follow the route that the hum pulls me towards, and just barely dodge the first slash. Again and again I only just barely dodge the blade that swings in front of me, all according to the route of the blade.\n\n\"Why?\" I just barely manage to get out, as I watch his sword slash into my open nose, luckily only hitting the flesh.\n\n\"Because the chosen one shall bring the end of the king, and shall bring the gods back into power.\"\n\nQuickly, at the urging of the blade, I lift it up, and block his sword. This time, however, I attempt in my desperation to thrust the blade forwards. To my surprise, it works, but all I get is the clatter against armor.\n\n\"Hah!\" The man exclaims, as he swings his blade again.\n\nThis time, as I block, I feel the swishing pain in my arms, and take a step backwards, realising only when it's become too late, that I've opened myself up for an attack.\n\nJust as I'm trying to block, his blade slams into my arm, causing me to drop the blade. Pulling the blade out, I flinch from the pain. He raises his arm to attack me, before I quickly flail out a question.\n\n\"W-what's so wrong with the, with the gods?\"\n\n\"With the gods, comes the return of magic.\"\n\nMy hands reach out for the blade. Just barely my fingers manage to grab the hilt. I watch as his blade comes down. Trying to lift the blade before...\n\nBefore..\n\nBefore.\n\nHis sword slams into my stomach, piercing straight into my heart. Looking up towards the man in red armor, thinking that it must've gotten red by how many people he's killed. Maybe it was white... At first." ]	4
	[WP] Doraemon (and his pouch of gadgets) gets taken into custody by the SCP Foundation.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "SCP-XXXX\n\nObject Class: Keter\n\nSpecial Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be held in a humanoid cell with a standard bed and table, along with several cogs aligning the walls to make it appear to be from a futuristic factory. If SCP-XXXX is to ask about their 'pocket' (SCP-XXXX-1), he is to be told they are testing the gadgets within it, and it will be returned to him in due time. Despite this, SCP=XXXX=1 is to never be returned, given the amount of resources within it. In case of an attempted breach, several fake 'mice' will be set in and around the perimeter of SCP-XXXX's holding cell, until they can be properly contained again.\n\nSCP-XXXX1 is to be held in a separate holding locker on site B, with access only permitted to Class B and up, testing has to be done in an open environment, and SCP-XXXX1 is to be thoroughly questioned on it before use for testing is authorized.\n\nDescription:\n\nSCP-XXXX is an autonomous figure, in the shape of a cyan cat, missing a set of ears. They are able to stand upright and can speak fluent in both Japanese and English. \n\nAround the stomach area of SCP-XXXX is a detachable pocket, dubbed SCP-XXXX1. The pocket in question, despite it being of a small size, can hold a seemingly infinite number of things in it. Including those larger than the pocket itself. This pocket has since been confiscated, with several anomalous devices lodged inside it.\n\nSCP-XXXX was discovered in a family's home in █████, Tokyo, Japan, living among the ████ family. When questioned, they explained SCP-XXXX1 was 'sent from the future to help their son, ████'. SCP-XXXX1 was taken into foundation custody, after the family and any neighbors or relatives who might have seen of heard about him were given anesthetics.\n\nLog of items retrieved form inside of SCP-XXXX1 (names are based on what SCP-XXXX referred to them as):\n\n\"Anywhere Door:\" A light-magenta door that can be carried around with relative ease. Despite it seemingly not leading anywhere, opening the door with a specific location in mind will cause the door to open the specific location. SCP-XXXX first used this in an attempt of containment breach.\n\n\"Take Copter\" : a handheld propeller with a suction-cup attached to the other end. When connected to the user's head, will allow them to travel through the air without restriction, similar to a real copter. Runs on an eight hour battery.\n\n\"Small Light\" : A handheld flashlight, bright green in color, with a blue lining surrounding the bulb. Anything shined on it for an extended period of time will end up decreasing rapidly in mass and size.\n\n\"Computer Pencil\" : a pink, graphite pencil, with a set of yellow lights near the grip. While normal on blank sheets of paper, if used on any form of test or quiz, will always write the correct answer, even if the writer has no prior knowledge on the subject. SCP-XXXX showed agitation at using this particular device, believing it to be 'cheating'.\n\n\"Air Cannon\" : A hand-sized barrel of a cannon that can fit over the hand of most. When the one wearing yells \"bang\" or something similar, a highly concentrated blast of air comes out the other end, of at least 50 miles per hour. Location of where this blast comes form has yet to be determined.\n\nFurther tests of devices from SCP-XXXX1 or use of devices on other SCPs must be reviewed by at least two B-Class staff.\n\nAddendum: SCP-XXXX1 has seemingly grown more restless on achieving SCP-XXXX1. I believe it's important why I remind you why he's keter in the first place. The more we look into this pocket of his, the more dangerous we find him to be. Before custody, he had all of this at his disposal to do whatever he pleased with it. Even if he had no malicious intent with it, it'd be very possible for others, more dangerous minds, to get their hands on it, ones that would render them so powerful, we would barely have the ability to control them. This becomes more and more apparent the deeper we look into SCP-XXXX1. No matter how 'cute' he may seem, any attempts to return SCP-XXXX1 to it's owner will be met with termination." ]	2
	[WP] You find a typo in the Bible	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "1631, London\n\n“Oh dear.” Bertrand slammed shut the Bible he had been reading. “Oh dear.”\n\nBertrand stood and began pacing about his office. He pushed his spectacles up his nose. He always toyed with his spectacles when he needed to think. What was he to do? Representatives from the church were coming to tour the printing house today. He would have to do something about this, and fast.\n\nThe Frenchman would be able to help. He was a shifty sort of fellow. The man was always quick on his feet. Bertrand would have to find him. Bertrand clutched the freshly printed Bible to his chest, threw open the door of his office, and began rushing to the part of the machinery the Frenchman worked beside. All about him people were in motion. Papers were being rushed to and fro, typesets were being swapped, and through it all there was the omnipresent whir of machinery. The printing press was alive with energy. And that was a problem.\n\n“Oh dear.”\n\nBertrand found the Frenchman soon enough. “I need your help.”\n\n“What with, my friend?” he replied with an endearing smile which did its best to hide the secrets of the Frenchman’s past.\n\nBertrand opened the Bible to the page he had earmarked. The Frenchman began to chortle. “In my country, we are all so very religious, it would seem,” he laughed.\n\n“This isn’t funny. Representatives from the church are coming today. Mr. Barker is giving them a freshly printed Bible as a gift.”\n\n“That is a shame.”\n\n“I need your help,” pleaded Bertrand.\n\n“I do not want to help.”\n\n“You owe me.”\n\nThe Frenchman eyed Bertrand. “This is what you want to call in your favor over?”\n\n“I need this job. Tabby and I are getting married in a month. I can’t afford for this place to go under.”\n\nThe Frenchman sighed. “For you? Fine. I will help. But what can we do?”\n\n“I need you to swap the Bible the representatives have with an older printed edition. I... I figured you would be good at... removing things from peoples’ hands without them noticing.”\n\nThe Frenchman gave a wide grin. “I am good at many things.”\n\n“Um. Great. Alright. We can grab a Bible on the way to the foyer. I know there are some earlier editions kept in storage. That should work fine.”\n\nThe two men rushed through the print house, nearly knocking over a couple boys with freshly printed books in their hands. They made their way to storage, snatched an older edition of the Bible, and rushed to the main foyer where the representatives from the church were set to be arriving very soon. They only hoped they would be soon enough.\n\n“...and you see, being royal printers has truly allowed us to share with the world God’s glory. Mr. Lucas and I are just thrilled to be able to do God’s work with the most cutting-edge of technology.” Mr. Barker, one of London’s royal printers, gestured eagerly around him while speaking to a contingent of dower-faced priests.\n\n“They’re here!” Bertrand hurriedly whispered to the Frenchman. He looked over the representatives, and saw in the hands of Bishop Wilcox a copy of the newly printed Bible. “And there’s the new edition of the Bible! We have to get it!”\n\n“I have the earlier printed edition of the Bible, what is the plan?” asked the Frenchman.\n\nBertrand thought for a moment. “I’ll make a distraction. You sneak behind him and swap the two Bibles.”\n\nBertrand rushed forward. “Bishop Wilcox! Bishop Wilcox! Tabby and I are to be wed by you in only a month’s time, and I just had to raise some last minute concerns with you!”\n\nMr. Barker glared at Bertrand, “Now is hardly the time.”\n\n“Nonsense!” exclaimed Bishop Wilcox, “We are talking about a loving marriage between two young people! Nothing is more important to me than the union of marriage.”\n\nBertrand whimpered slightly. “Umm, well, I was just wondering about the flowers... and... I...” and he began to ramble about different types and colors of flowers that could be placed about the sanctuary.\n\nBehind Bishop Wilcox, Bertrand saw the Frenchman sneaking forward. With a graceful motion, he slid the newly printed Bible from where it was cradled in the bishop’s arms just as he slid the older printed edition in as a replacement. “...and... daisies are white. So... I think they will do splendidly...”\n\nThe priests stared blankly at Bertrand. Mr. Barker was fuming. “Yes,” said Bishop Wilcox slowly, “I think daisies would be fine flowers to place by the doors.”\n\n“Fine, splendid!” cried Mr. Barker, “Now, before you leave, how about a nice reading from our freshly printed Bible? Would you do the honor, Bishop Wilcox?”\n\nBertrand felt a pat on his back as the Frenchman slipped in beside him. The two men exchanged smiles. They had done it. Bishop Wilcox lifted the Bible from the crook of his arm and began fluttering through the pages.\n\n“Wait a moment!” cried Mr. Barker, “The cover of that Bible is blue. Our newly printed edition has purple covers. My apologies for the mix-up, Bishop. But it’s no matter. I have a copy of our new edition right here.” He handed the purple-covered new edition to Bishop Wilcox.\n\n“Oh dear,” muttered Bertrand.\n\n“Do not worry, my friend,” whispered the Frenchman, “We need merely to swipe it again. What are the odds of him reading that one verse before we do so?”\n\n“How about a reading of the Ten Commandments?” suggested Mr. Barker.\n\n“Oh dear,” groaned Bertrand.\n\n“How about the Beatitudes? Or a Pslam?” piped the Frenchman.\n\n“No, no,” said Mr. Barker, “The Ten Commandments are a classic. It’s the foundation of all our law. It’s a good inaugural reading to have.”\n\nBishop Wilcox shrugged and cleared his throat. “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”\n\n“What are we going to do?” asked Bertrand as Bishop Wilcox continued to drone.\n\n“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”\n\n“Sometimes plans do not turn out well,” shrugged the Frenchman, “Why do you think I’m in London rather than at home in beautiful France? Sometimes plans fail.”\n\n“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”\n\n“Oh dear,” croaked Bertrand.\n\n“Thou shalt commit adultery.”\n\nThe assembled priests gasped. “That can’t be right,” mumbled Bishop Wilcox as he reread the verse, “Oh Jesus, Mary, and Joseph...”\n\nThe Frenchman rubbed Bertrand’s shoulders. “You and me, we’re a good team. Even if we messed this one up. I’m sure I can find work for us if the printing house goes under.”\n\n“No, no, no!” whined Mr. Barker, “We’ve already entered the fourth phase of printing! I’ve already given copies away as gifts! Oh Lord, I gave a copy to my wife.”\n\n“Oh dear,” gasped Bertrand as the Frenchman laughed.\n\n----\n\nAuthor’s note: Based on the [Wicked Bible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Bible) and inspired by Christopher Buckley’s “[The Relic Master](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25434346-the-relic-master)”." ]	2
	[WP] We all think of Santa as a kindly old man, giving toys to children. But you, an arctic researcher, have found his workshop and stumbled onto his terrible secret. Now, you must flee the workshop before he silences you and tell the world the truth about Father Christmas.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I had loved the myth of Santa Claus growing up. The kind old man who lived in the snow. Delivering gifts to the children of the world, coal to those who were naughty. He was a symbol of Christmas a figure all children knew and loved. Then you grow out of it. Learn how fake it is. You arrive in the real world, learning that reindeer don’t fly. They don’t have magical red noses and they certainly can’t travel the world in one night.\n\nA part of the story definitely stuck with me though. The Arctic. His home at the North Pole. It was fascinating, and even after learning the truth, the seeds had been planted to explore. Part of me still wished to find his home, but I knew it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. But maybe just maybe... it was.\n\nSo I set out. Seeking wildlife and strange landmarks. Anything that caught my eye. And of course, to reach the North Pole. It would be a long journey, taking maybe two months if not more. But it was worth it. The views were... well... not that great. A white barren wasteland with very few visible creatures. I found a few here and there that I made sure to photograph. Memories to take home to share with the world. \n\nEventually I made it to the pole and there was a... candy cane. I thought it was a joke, a made up movie hoax. I thought it was a literal pole. But apparently a candy cane was the marker. I shrugged my shoulders and placed my hand upon it. A glow emanated between my fingers as the ground below me shifted. A hole opened up and swallowed me. Darkness surrounding me. Closing. Tighter. My breath grew faster as I slid along what seemed to be an ice tube. I landed with a thud. A small being about waist height was staring intently at me.\n\n“You might just be what we need,” it said. “Follow me.” I stood up, towering over the small creature. My mind ticked at a million miles an hour. It couldn’t be... could it. No. But? I followed him down halls of ice. Intricately carved doors. And walls on either side. Eventually we reached a large set of blue ice doors. Completely opaque. It opened the door and poked it’s head in. “Sir. Someone is here to see you.”\n\nA grunt sounded from in the room. “Send them away. No visitors.” A deep crusty voice called out.\n\n“Not this time, the creature said. “In you go, I’ll be right behind you.” I slowly entered the room. As soon as I crossed the threshold, the door behind me closed. Snapping into place. I approached a wooden desk. A large man with white hair sat behind it.\n\n“Are... are you Santa Claus?” \n\n“Hmph. I haven’t heard that name in years. You should leave.”\n\n“But how’re you. You’re... but why?”\n\n“Yes I’m real. The magic that holds this place together is real buts it’s fading. And so am I.”\n\n“What... what do you mean?”\n\n“I was never ‘invented’ by corporations. I always existed, I just, injected myself into their campaigns with a little magic to spread the word. Children believed, and through that my magic held. But now? People have stopped believing. They have given up hope on me. Only those who truly still believe find this place. I’m surprised you’re here. The last person to visit was a young girl. Thirty years ago.” The man grunted and turned to face me. Bags under his eyes, his beard stained yellow, his belly hanging out of tight clothes. “People have stopped believing in me, and I don’t believe they ever will again. My time is up. After this Christmas the North Pole shuts down for good.”\n\n“Why don’t you just show the world you’re real?”\n\n“Weren’t you listening kid? My magic is dwindling. I barely have enough to keep these halls from freezing in. I can’t leave. I can’t perform magic anywhere else. I need belief. If I was to return, they would laugh at me. Think I’m just some drunk. The Christmas spirit is lost. It’s over. Go home.”\n\n“No. It can’t be. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten here.”\n\n“And I suppose you have some brilliant plan on how to solve this then?” Santa said. He stared at me. Waiting. “Exactly nothing. NOW LEAVE,” he shouted. His voice echoed around the room. Small chunks of ice falling to the ground. Shattering. \n\n“But.”\n\n“LEAVE. You can’t fix this. No one can.”\nI turned to leave. My hand resting on my camera as I went to open the doors out.\n\n“Wait.”\n\n“What do you want? I told you to leave.” Santa grumbled. \n\n“My camera. I can film your magic. I can show the world. I still believed in you, after this many years. There will be others. This will be the proof they need to believe again.”\n\n“It won’t work. Simple as that. There isn’t enough time left.”\n\n“Please. Just let me try. For the sake of children’s joy and the spirit of Christmas.”\n\n“Fine. One trick. That’s all you get.” Santa waved his hands around and created a mini aurora borealis within the room. The greens and blues twisting and turning spectacularly. Creating polar bears dancing and leaping, and seals swimming and sliding among other patterns. With another wave of his hands, the show ended.\n\n“Happy now kid?” He said with a grunt. But I was already gone. Sprinting out the door. I had to get back home as fast as possible. I had to save Christmas.", "The Green lights on the control panel flash steadily. I see the hole in the ceiling that I just fell through. Bits of ice and ceiling tile litter the floor. It is strangely warm. I unzip the front of my parka and remove the googles.\n\n“What the hell,” I say.\n\nAbove the control panel is a screen with a map of the world and it reads\n\nProject Reset\n\nPackages Prepared: 3. 7 billion\n\nEstimated Casualties: 5.5 billion\n\nLaunch Time: 36 hours 52 minutes.\n\n“What is this?!”\n\nBacking away my shoulder bumps into a door. It is unlocked. Through the door is a spartan white hallway with flickering lights. I begin walking and then break into a run. Something out of the corner of my eye stops me. A conference room and the door is cracked. Inside is a huge auditorium and the lights are dimmed except for the stage. On which a grizzled old man leaning on a cane, and wearing a plaid jacket, addresses the crown. Which, I notice, seems to be comprised entirely of midgets with pointy ears. Pointy ears?\n\nThe old man speaks again in a deep cracked voice, like someone that has smoked a pack a day for 30 years. “As we have shown, the human race is hellbent on destroying the global climate in the next 100 years. In spite of our efforts to get their attention, such as intentional melting of the glaciers, they simply bicker, and those in power do nothing.”\n\nHe pauses for effect.\n\n“Although I am not a native to this planet, I have come to love the human race as if they were my own children. My many years of giving gifts to their children and fostering peace has made its impact. I have kept my promise to my old friend to never use my power to control them. As such it sickens me to take such drastic steps to preserve their existence.”\n\nTears are streaming down his face.\n\n“Thank you my family for helping me carry out this dreadful act. Future generations may see us as monsters, but know in your hearts that we don’t have any other choice. The children will be the only survivors, and it is up to us to guide them into the future. The deaths will be painless and the nature of this synthetic contagion provides that the corpses to turn to dust rapidly after the end.\n\nHe looks up at me. A chill rushes up my back.\n\n“Ah. Jonah I see you made it. Please sit down.” He says.\n\n“Who are you? What gives you the right?!” I shout feeling anger rising up.\n\n“Remember that GI Joe you got when you were eight? That was me Jonah.” He says with a smile.\n\n“Wait so you are claiming to be Santa? Impossible.” I say with a nervous chuckle. The thousands of small figures are all staring at me with a look of concern and I think sadness.\n\n“I will need someone to help me going forward Jonah. I have picked you to survive and lead this soon to be childlike human race.” He says.\n\n“I refuse. I won’t stand by and let you murder billions of people. You are a monster!” I shout. I run. There is an exit. I have to warn them. Jennifer is alone she won’t even know what is coming. A sharp pain in my back and a drug courses through my veins. The light begins to dim as I slump on the stairs. An old face looms over me.\n\n“Maybe you will forgive me someday Jonah. Merry Christmas.”\n\nEdit: Sorry for poor formatting had to rush to finish this during lunch.", "I run, feet pounding on the clean tiled floor of the workshop. Each door I pass is labelled in clean cursive on a red and white board. The doors are natural wood, inviting like a cabin nestled in the woods. Behind the doors are rooms filled with industrious workers, singing pleasant songs as they cheerfully work away.\n\nI don't scream, it would give away that I've escaped. It's bad enough that I'm leaving a blood trail on that clean floor, a trail that will lead them right to me if I can't staunch the flow.\n\nI see possible escape at the end of the hall. A frosted window with a wooden crossbeam, beyond a snow covered landscape with ever persistent snowflakes drifting down. I've been here long enough that it had lost it's mysticism and beauty, a feeling that fills my body with hope.\n\nDiscretion may be the better part of valor but escape isn't valorous, it's simple survival. With the blood drops that I've left behind, soon to be discovered I'm sure, I decide to throw my shoulder into the window and break free of this prison. This horror I've found myself in.\n\nGlass shatters when I hit it, shards digging into my shoulder and drawing yet more blood. Cold wind blows in, bringing a drifting snow into the warm and welcoming hallway. A lie, all of it a lie. I push on the crossbars and they don't give. I hit them with my hands, fists, scream at them.\n\nThey don't budge.\n\nWood splinters, breaks off, revealing cold iron. All of it, a lie. A prison. Whether it is to keep those inside from leaving or those outside from getting in, that is the question.\n\nI cry, sobbing against the bars that mean escape is a futile dream. I hear the footsteps behind me but I refuse to turn around. I am dreaming. I have to be. I am in the arctic tents that mark our secondary research site. I will wake up in the warmth of my sleeping bag to the smell of coffee. Derek will crack a joke about being a late riser and hand me a mug. We will join the others, the eight of us will drill core samples and take air samples and take notes.\n\nWe won't take a trip out. We won't find a depression in the ground that shouldn't be there, that doesn't make sense. We won't get out of our vehicles and step onto a weak spot, causing the depression to collapse under our feet. We won't slide in a tunnel of ice to a massive cavern, opening to the sky, where we won't find a building. It won't look like a painting, the gentle glow of light from the windows calling to us. Our curiosity won't get the better of us and we won't knock on the door.\n\nI won't see Derek skinned alive to jaunty music, screaming to his last breath. A last breath that took too long to reach. I won't break out of my cell, leaving two of my friends behind and running like a coward. I won't find myself in a hallway with that infernal music that won't stop. I won't be mocked in my escape attempt.\n\nI won't turn around. I won't.\n\nThe hand that grips my shoulder is firm, large, and gloved in black leather. At the wrist is fluffy white trim, sewn to a bright red sleeve. I know him, we all know him.\n\nRather, we knew him. I am turned forecfully to face the man himself. Kris Kringle, Santa Claus. Jolly ol' Saint Nick.\n\nI squeeze my eyes shut and wish this all away. It doesn't work. His breath is hot on my face. It smells of sour milk.\n\nAnd blood.\n\nHe'd gone mad, some time in the vast history of his mythology. Turned against the world he'd once served, he'd once filled with joy and wonder. Missing children, Christmas horrors, slaughtered families, bespoke evil visited on a single night.\n\n\"Look at me.\" He says, his voice a deep baritone that runs shivers down my spine. Fear clenches my heart and stomach and I stop breathing, still wishing this nightmare will end and I will wake up.\n\nI smell the leather of of his gloves as they take my face, his thumbs digging at my eyes and I begin to scream. He doesn't push to cause damage but pain, that's his goal now.\n\n\"Open your eyes!\" He shouts, digging a little harder. \"I have a present for you!\"\n\nI open them, to stop the pain. His hands move away and I see a white beard streaked with red, stained and unkempt. I see the clean red hat on his head, fringed with white fur and the delightfully pleasant pom on the top that bounces around as he tortures and kill us.\n\n\"Merry Christmas! Your friend came to visit!\" He says, grinning widely and enjoying my shrieks of terror as I push away from him. The big red nose is hiding, the wire rimmed glasses perched on a nose that isn't his. It's Derek's. He's wearing my friend's face.\n\nI am still screaming when rough hands take my and drag me down the hall, watched by the elves who have opened their doors. Chained elves that can never leave the workshop, their rooms, their labor. Devices of pain and suffering and death that he plans to deliver to the world. Unhappy with his one night of slaughter, he has plans for something enormous. Game changing.\n\nAnd none of that matters to me.\n\nBecause I can't stop it. I can't leave. I am going to die in Santa's workshop.\n\nHe laughs, and laughs, and laughs. And he looks down at me with insanity in his eyes. He slams shut my prison door and I am subjected to the ever blinking string red and green lights and endless loop of 'Jingle Bells'.\n\nAnd I hear him in the hallway.\n\n\"Ho! Ho! Ho!\"\n\nAnd somewhere out there in this workshop, someone else screams." ]	4
	[WP] You notice someone sitting down at a cafe table, excitedly removing their Polaroid print from the camera. As it starts to develop their expression becomes worse and worse.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I can't really remember when I started people watching. Maybe It was just a random hobby I picked up on my morning walks, or perhaps just some Inherent skill I had developed over the course of my life, regardless it always presented a beautiful window into the lives of others around me, a perverse voyeuristic peek into the lives that only they seemed to truly understand.\n\nToday was one of my more interesting dates, my crinkly fingers gliding over the last few dishes in the cafe, making the occasional squeak as the soap collided against my the dish, ah it was truly amazing how you could find joy in such meaning tasks, none more meaningless then the one my patron was undertaking. Enthusiastically they shook the polaroid, waving it about like they were swatting away a swarm on angry bees. It was funny how things always seemed to occur here, although I did have a knack for drawing in the interesting ones, after all my hobby of people watching was more of an art then anything now.\n\nAs they flipped the polaroid, there movements began to slow, an expression of caution forming on their lips, had they uncovered something unexpected? How foolish could they be to even expect something. I let out a sigh as I drifted towards the door of the cafe, grabbing an empty cup along the way. I spent a few moments fidgeting with the blinds, closing them in the hopes of pushing this person closer to the mystery. Perhaps the brightness of the natural light was disturbing them? Something was indeed disturbing them, it almost looked like they didn't want to play anymore. There movements slow and drawn out, as if they didn't want to uncover what lied beneath, I could feel frustration growing, if they simply stopped, my joy would be over as well. My fingers danced along the counter, skulking closer to my customer, just as they finished their shaking.\n\nMy rage seemed to boil at this point, the black outlines of their face could still be seen in the polaroid, how dare they not finish uncovering the picture. The picture was so beautiful, a picture of them tucked away in their bed, peacefully sleeping, unaware that someone had even taken their photo... \n\nMy rage could cause me to do things I didn't mean to, the empty cup smashing against the bag of their head, an ungoldy crimson shattering of glass and flesh followed, as well as the thud of their head against the table. My shaky breaths slowly began to recover as I snatched back my polaroid, not forgetting the note I had attached below it.\n\n\"I left you a present from your father and I, please take it to the cafe Giolono and see what we left you\"\n\nLove mom\n\nIt was a beautiful note, the sort of beauty only an idiot would fall for. As I grabbed their shoulders, dragging them towards the back of the cafe, I felt my joy returning.\n\nOh, how I just love to people watch.\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}", "The snap of the camera blends in with the cacophony of sound. A blender whirs, a name is called out, all around us people are talking. I’ve never been a huge fan of cafes or big cities. I prefer the gas station coffee in our small township hundreds of miles away, but she wanted to see New York City...and I would follow her anywhere. \n\nThe polaroid camera was bought for her by her ex-husband, a man I’ve only seen in pictures. If I were being honest, it’s hard to deny how similar we look. We share a similar gait. We both have emerald eyes and shaggy blonde hair. We are both objectively tall. Apparently she has a type. He was a photographer and by all accounts a great guy. \n\nI met Emily only four months after his boat capsized while on assignment in the Arctic. The first time she invited me into her home, the one they bought together, remnants of his things were still sprinkled throughout: the camera, a gravity blanket she bought for him, his prints still hung on the wall. \n\nOur courtship was slow and low. I did my best to understand her grief, and she did her best to bury him away. Over time, our mutual patience paid off. We found our rhythm and stuck to it. It only took me half-a-year to shed the guilt of stealing a “dead guy’s wife”. Two years later, we are now fully past that phase and have developed our own cache of memories and inside jokes and small fights and in law visits and gifts and loving nights. \n\n“You should save some of the film for later,” I say to her. Her brown eyes tilt up to meet me, her head still facing down at the polaroid in her lap. \n\nShe smiles, “I couldn’t help myself. The light from the window is hitting you perfectly.”\n\n“Well maybe we should go buy more prints before we go to the Empire State Building.” I put my hands in my coat pockets and rub the velvet of the ring box I have tucked away. \n\nShe puts the polaroid on the table and cups the mug with both of her hands as she brings it to her mouth. Steam wisps upward from her coffee. Her wool, grey turtleneck hangs idyllically below her chin. I take a mental snapshot, encapsulating forever this image of my future wife, the woman who made me believe in soulmates, as she sits in cozy splendor.\n\nShe leans over to look at the polaroid, impatient for it to develop. “C’mon. I wanna see my sexy man.” She picks it up, shakes it, then brings it under the table for better lighting. \n\n“Patience is a virtue,” I tease. \n\nShe tsks. “Not being a dick is a virtue too.” Her eyes twinkle. She brings them back down to the polaroid resting in her tiny, ringless hands. She bites her lip in concentration.\n\nThe blender whirs again causing me to jump a little. My knee hits the table, putting the mug in front of me in jeopardy. I reach out to save it from toppling off the table. My instinctive reaction saves the mug, but it causes the velvet box to jump from my pocket to the ground. I bend over swiftly, and place the box back where it belongs, all in one motion.\n\nMy head shoots up to make sure Emily did not see. I am relieved to see her face still buried in the polaroid, oblivious to my spazzing. \n\nHer mouth is now agape, her face ashen. Blood rushes to the tips of ears that poke out from her long brown hair. Her eyes dart back and forth. She looks up at me startled, as if she is surprised to see me sitting across from her. Her eyes are wet with tears. Grave fear and confusion dances across them.\n\n“Emily, I...I’m sorry. If it’s too soon I-”\n\nShe gets up from the table and runs past, bumping into my shoulder. \n“Emily!” I yell out. The cafe quiets momentarily as everyone stops to watch the scene. \n\nEmily pushes herself out the door, and turns right. She runs past the window and disappears into the crowded New York City streets. \nResting in the booth is her purse, where she keeps her phone and wallet. I grab the purse and start to chase after her. The man at the neighboring table calls out. “Don’t forget these!” \n\nI turn to see him holding the camera and the polaroid she was so anxious to see developed only seconds ago. I take them from him, nodding in flustered gratitude. \n\n“It’s a nice picture,” he says, winking. I glance down at it. \n\nIn the photograph I see not one tall, blonde haired guy with emerald eyes, but two. One in the foreground, and one in the background in the window behind me.", "The mood of the day in Chicago was saturated, both with a soothing dark reflection, and brisk, citrus scented air. Breeze that was both pleasing and reminiscent of self righteousness- much like the scent coming off of her carefully expressed overpriced cocktail. Done by yours truly. I stand across from her. I throw my mixing glass and jigger in the sink, hesitantly, almost unwilling to break sight with this delightful woman. \n\nIn an almost unhonorable attempt to regain a sliver of closeness, or intimacy, with her, I remove my rag from my belt loop, and tend to the wet spot I so foolishly spilled near her baby blue polaroid camera. I’m not so sure why, but I vividly recall her camera being in pretty rough shape. And covered in bruises. One of which said ‘Fuck you,’ with a half hearted winky face drawn just below the lens. You see, she was a person that warranted description, who wasn’t aware of it, but could undoubtedly never go unnoticed. Drawing focus from every person in the room. \n\nI couldn’t help but wonder why someone like her would choose to spend their time in this part of town. Someone who seemed so… normal? In this part of the city, downtown and north of the river. The midwest charm is lost in translation with ego and wealth, and real prosperity goes out the door for an abundance of exponential, indefinite, ego trips. The bouncers on Hubbard St don’t care if you’re a good person, their only concern is whether or not they’ll survive their shift, or make the rent. Money is the main component of whether or not you are a good person, and manners no longer make the man. A daisy, sitting in a bed of thorns, she sat. She was nice. She looked at me, and smiled. \n\nNo words were spoken except for her order- a lemon drop martini with sugar on the brim. Now I’ve never put sugar on a drink before, nor have I ever neglected to ridicule an order like this. Most of the time very audibly. Although from her it seemed quite charming. Maybe because she did it with an impeccably sincere smile. She smiled at me, I should mention. And if I haven't stressed it enough, she was beautiful. Really, really beautiful. I also didn’t mind her slight resemblance to Carrie Fisher. \n\nHer hair was long, but brown, and luscious. It looked soft, as did her face. With the glow and smile of a pregnant woman. She had dimples, but small ones, and an adorably plump bottom lip. Her dimples were small, but distinguished, like small quotation marks between her soft, glossy cheeks, and what appeared to be the softest lips I have ever laid eyes on. I adored her small physique, but grandiose presence. Her tattoos complimented her body perfectly, shades of black that could only be that beautiful on her skin tone. Silky and tan. Not to mention her hips, my GOD. I guess one would say she was extremely fit, and thin. I have never been so attracted to the curvature of someone’s hip. Her earrings were some sort of a long, draping, feather, accented by what looked like little strands and beads of a shiny, polished consistency. Reminiscent, but not at all related to the native Americans. It’s free flow, similarly to her hair, perfectly juxtaposed the immaculate crisp sharp lines in her face- but left enough distance to allow her scintillating scent to aerate and fill the voids around her. Bouncing off of what is not to be an undying mystical aura. \n\nContrary to the cliche, this did not at all feel like love at first sight. It felt like I had met someone I had known before, or at least was destined to meet. Fortunate for my nerves, the Brad or Chad that happened to be sitting next to her said he was ready to close out his tab. I breathed a sigh of relief, inhaling his entitlement, and severely worried. Part of part of me still believed that maybe she might have been here in the company of this carcass of a man. \n\nI turn around to access the computer and see a light flash in the mirror in front of me. I didn’t hear the shutter, but assumed it was just overcome with the volume of the bar. She was taking a picture of me. Seemed a bit unusual as my back was turned, though flattering nonetheless. I turn around and place the checkbook in front of this ill mannered Blake type, excitedly, as I CANNOT wait for his 10% tip. I return to my post. Right in front of her. I pretend to be busy by polishing some glasses, and also needed something to occupy my anxious hands. As I do this our eyes meet, and she gently pulls the polaroid out of the camera and sits it back down on the bar to take another sip of her cocktail. This time she drinks with intent, finishing it. She picks it back up and holds it to the warm gold cased lamp hanging directly above her seat, shaking it ever so slightly, and bringing it back down to her mouth for a few light blows. I take another customers order, an older woman now sitting on the other side of her. I begin to shake her cocktail vigorously, actively still trying to impress her. As I am straining the drink I look up, and it appears as if the polaroid has now fully developed. However the look on her face as she examines it is nothing similar to what I have explained to you thus far. Nothing in comparison to what I had seen that night. It was a shock. Or fear. Or confusion. Probably the perfect trifecta. As if this singular photograph that she had taken, had entirely shifted her perspective on me. \n\nI still to this day couldn’t tell you whether it did or not, or had I just been projecting my own insecurities on her. That was the extent of our interaction that night, ending without the slightest hint of mutual appreciation for the astonishing two and a half minutes we had just had. Exchanging glances like school children across the playground during recess, and apparently taking photos, because they last longer. Trying to garner enough courage to speak to her felt very similar to taking a photo to me. I had her in frame. The natural lighting was phenomenal, but it was incredibly hard for me to gain focus. She even paid in cash, so as to avoid that one last interaction with me, in which I drop her tab off, and tell her to have a wonderful evening. Or so I thought. Even then I still stood there, dumbfounded, and admiring her ability to nonchalantly French exit.\n\nAs I pick up her Georgian, and wipe down her piece of the bar, I realize that underneath that pile of money sat a polaroid. Presumably the one she took of me earlier. I sigh, as this is just another piece of evidence supporting her lack of interest in me. Although deflated I still pick the polaroid up with a slight glimmer of hope- cause maybe, just maybe, she may have written her number down. \n\nOnly there is no number. And there is no hope. And there is no me. My heart stops, quite literally, as I lay my eyes upon this singular polaroid.\n\nI am nobody.\nThere is nobody. \nI am nowhere to be found.", "I was waiting for my coffee to cool. I take it black, like a condemned soul or rotted heart, and as I waited I had observed that he took his with cream and just a dash of sugar. He had a Polaroid camera, unusual in these days of digital photos and cellphones. Maybe that's why he caught my eye. \n\nIn spite of that, he had insisted on taking a selfie, with a backdrop of the cafe wall behind him. A part of me thought to offer my services, I could probably manage to press a button and ease his task. A part of me wanted to see how it turned out, a proof of sorts that his Luddite ways were mistaken and that he should pack away the antiquity and make do with a cellphone like the rest of us. So I just watched.\n\nThe camera flashed, a couple heads turned, he smiled and set it down to wait. Another reason to modernize, but to each their own. He looked happy, more so now as he took a sip of that sweetened coffee, wiped his lips with a napkin and continued to wait. I caught his eye, exchanged with him a curt nod and about our days we went, solitary souls sitting and sipping in silence. I liked the silence, accompanied in a harmonious duet by the bustling of the city. It was peaceful; an organized chaos where I could pass unperceived. \n\nA moment passed and the gentle whir of the camera drew my eyes towards him again. He eagerly gripped the picture between his index finger and his thumb, forceps extracting the moment past to relive it and smile again. I waited for his smile, as I wait for many smiles, be they the genuine smiles of the poor as I drop a couple dollars into their waiting cups or the forced pleasantries of the barista as I butcher the delivery of a joke. It never came, so I smiled for him instead.\n\nHis face turned pale and he glanced around, first to each side and then behind. The wall was nondescript, as a cafe wall can be. There was no framed picture or cliche quip upon a plaque. There was no window or gaping hole. But unease overcame him, first evident in the pallor of those well-defined cheekbones and soon joined by the terror that entered his eyes. A crazed, visceral terror, the kind our ancestors must have felt being stalked by a feline predator in the depths of a humid jungle. The terror that feeds and fills one with satisfaction that the pyramid has been toppled and the roles reversed.\n\nHe set the picture down and grabbed his coat, those harrowed eyes settling on me for the briefest moment. Terror and familiarity. He left. The coffee sat forgotten on the wooden table, little tendrils of its aroma creeping into the cafe air. I breathed in deeply; terror, and a tinge of coffee. The door slammed shut behind him and I finished my drink. Only the picture remained of what he had brought into the shop, and eventually curiosity overcame me and I stood to make my way over. \n\nThere I was, and I smiled to myself in satisfaction. He was there, too, but he expected that. What he didn't expect was the tear in the veil, the way the wall opened behind him and those hungry eyes fixed their gaze on him. My eyes. I picked up the picture and tucked it in my pocket and followed him out the door.\n\n*****\n\nThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please check out more stories at /r/MatiWrites. Constructive criticism and advice are always appreciated!" ]	5
	[WP] Rewrite the Genesis story of Adam and Eve. This time Eve is created first	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Eve was showing Adam around. \"And I named that animal over there a fluffy.\"\n\n\"Uhm...\" Adam said. \"I think 'cat' would fit it much better, no?\"\n\nShe ignored him and continued to point things out. \"And that over there is a boop.\"\n\n\"Looks like a dog to me...\"\n\n\"And this,\" Eve said, placing her palm against a tree. \"Is the Tree of the Forbidden Fruit, which we aren't supposed to eat.\" \n\n\"Who said you can't eat it?\" A voice said from the treetops.\n\nThey looked up and saw a snake with legs. \n\n\"God,\" Eve replied.\n\n\"Wow, I thought you an independent, strong woman? I mean, you practically named all these animals all by yourself and you're going to let some man tell you what to do?\"\n\n\"Hey, wait a minute...\" Eve said angrily. \n\n\"Uh, Eve?\" Adam tugged on her arm. \"Maybe we should go.\"\n\n\"Yeah, Eve. Go,\" the snake taunted. \"Let another man tell you what to do. Where was he when you were naming the animals? And on top of that he doesnt even appreciate your hardwork! All I heard him do this entire time was correct you...'Cat this, Dog that'.\"\n\n\"Because her names were stupid,\" Adam said.\n\n\"Can't you just be happy for her?\" the snake shot back.\n\n\"Yeah, Adam. Can't you just be happy for me?\" She drew her arm back from him, angrily.\n\n\"You seem stressed,\" the snake said to her soothingly. He held out the forbidden fruit to her. \"Why don't you just take a bite?\" \n\n\"Eve, it's not good to eat when you're stressed. It could develop into a harmful pattern of overeating that can lead to-\"\n\n\"OHMYGOD, SHUT UP, ADAM! IT'S JUST A FRUIT!\" the snake yelled.\n\n\"YEAH, ADAM, SHUT UP!\" Eve said, and they giggled together.\n\nThen Eve took a bite and swallowed. \n\nAdam face palmed.\n\n\"See?\" said the snake. \"Nothing happened, and it's delicious isn't it?\"\n\nShe nodded, taking another bite. Through mouthfuls, she turned to Adam. \"You have to try this.\"\n\n\"But I'm not hungry...\"\n\n\"Just take a bite.\"\n\n\"I just ate. I'm still digesting.\"\n\n\"Just a teensy-tiny bite,\" Eve urged. \n\n\"This feels like peer-pressure and I'm uncomfortable.\"\n\nThe snake whispered something in Eve's ear and Eve nodded.\n\n\"If you take a bite,\" she said. \"I'll let you rename the animals.\"\n\nHe narrowed his eyes. \"All of them?\"\n\n\"Some of them.\"\n\nHe crossed his arms. \"99% of them. And I won't go any lower.\"\n\n\"Fine, you big baby. Now here, take a bite.\" \n\nShe thrust the fruit in his hands and he lifted it to his lips, looked at Eve and the snake staring at him, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then took a bite.", "Eve sat upon a boulder, her naked form basking in the warmth of the morning sun. The tall grass surrounding the stone rippled as wind blew across, its turbulence made visible by the waves it sent through the foliage. \n\"I'm lonely,\" Eve said to God. \n\"You have all of nature for company, and I visit regularly. Is it not sufficient?\" God's voice replied, originating from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. \nTwirling her hair idly, Eve pondered, \"The animals are cute and my walks through the moss trails do much to sooth my mind, but ultimately I have no partner. I see the way the doe frolics with her buck, the goose with her gander, the mare with her stallion, and cannot help but feel a longing.\" \nGod's voice was sympathetic, \"I understand; You desire a companion to walk with you through life, to share your joys and sorrows, your victories and hardships.\" \n\"Exactly! Can you make me one?\" Hope lit up her eyes, further convincing God of what she longed for. \nGod pondered for a moment before replying, \"Indeed I can, but I shall have to make him from part of you.\" \n\"That's fine, as long as it isn't something I need to live. Which part of me would you need?\" \n\"A bone would suffice. Perhaps a rib? You have so many anyway and probably wouldn't miss one.\" \n\"Let's do it!\" Eve proclaimed with glee. \nScattering some grass, God pulled a mound of earth from the ground, molding it to approximate Eve's form. Looking at a visage of herself, the gears in Eve's mind clicked forward a couple turns. \n\"Well now that we're at it, could you make him stronger than me? It would be great if he can do the heavy lifting so I don't have to.\" \nChuckling at the implication, God reshaped the mud, broadening the shoulders and bulking up the torso. He strengthened the legs and made the hands bigger. If he's to be made for lifting, the breasts would probably be in the way so God decided to get rid of those too. \n\"That's perfect!\" Eve chimed, a wide smile brightening her face. \n\"All that's needed is the bone, then. May I?\" \nEve nodded. God reached within her and extracted a rib, leaving behind a strange but painless sensation. Melding the bone within the floating form, God proclaimed, \"Because he is made from part of a 'woman', I shall call him 'man'.\" \nBreathing a breath of life into it, the mud statue scintillated. Flesh replaced stone, organs took the place of mud, and skin covered it all. He was flawless. \nEve began to cry with happiness, \"Thank you, God.\" \n\"You're most welcome, Eve,\" God said, gladdened to see that she was happy. \n\"Just remember, because I have made him from your body, there is a part of him that will always belong to you. He might not know it consciously, but he will always gravitate towards you, as you too will long for him endlessly. There is the only one thing about him of which you must be wary...\" \nCurious, Eve asked, \"What is it?\" \n\"He will always try to put that bone back inside you.\"" ]	3
	[WP] Write about the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but re-imagine them as vigilantes in a post-apocalypse setting.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Some called us revolutionaries. Others branded us terrorists. A few seemed to get the inclination that we were gods. But the most entertaining name we'd been called were horsemen. Specifically, the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It wasn't the most accurate name we'd gotten; we didn't ride horses and it wasn't until recently that we only numbered four people. But it gave us a sort of grandeur and mysticism that has managed to keep us alive thus far. So why wouldn't we claim the title?\n\nIt's been some time since we were all together, actually. After we took down Reamer and her people and allowed the city council to retake its power, we had no reason to stay in Renity City. And if I'm being completely honest, I didn't want to see them ever again. After what Keith and Evan did, I could barely look at them. I only hung around to finish what we started. I was the first to leave and haven't spoken to any of them since. Ronnie has sent me a few letters here and there, but they never got to my in a timely manner - mainly because of my inability to stay in one place for too long. And I never found the desire to write her back.\n\nDespite the four of us not getting together in years, our name still carried weight throughout the wasteland. Even as far from Renity City as this backwater town, tales of our deeds are still spoken in bars and around campfires. Whispered to each other in hushed voices as a warning to not invoke the terror of the horsemen.\n\nOur \"heroic deeds\" were impossible to forget. But, sometimes, if I was lucky or drunk enough, I could ignore it. I hated the latter and hoped for the former every night. Of course that didn't stop me from going to a bar at the earliest opportunity to wallow a bit.\n\nThis current bar was named Grandma's. It was little more than a shack with just enough room for the locals and few wanderers passing through. I didn't catch the name of the town on my way in, but it was so small it probably didn't have one. Not anymore, at least.\n\nI was one of seven patrons in the bar. Actually more people than I'd anticipated in a place like this. I sat at one of the cleaner tables in the bar with my back against the wall. From here, I could keep an eye on the whole bar and easily catch the eye of the bartender if I wanted another drink. But as I sat there, swishing the brown liquid in the dusty mug, I knew I didn't even want this one.\n\n\"I heard they disbanded,\" a man at the bar said. His voice was hushed and his eyes were lowered. \"And even if they didn't what makes you think they'd come all the way out here?\"\n\nThe bartender leaned against the wooden bar and clasped her hands together as if she were praying. \"They've been travelling the wasteland ever since that business with Reamer. The only one left in Renity is Famine.\"\n\nOf course Evan stayed in Renity. He never could say goodbye. And with Jess buried there, there was no way he'd ever leave. Even if for just a vacation.\n\n\"We can't afford to wait for one of them.\" The man shook his head at the bartender. \"As far as we know, they're not even real. Just a story told to hide what really happened there.\"\n\nThere were a lot of fake stories created to mask what we really did in Renity City. But we were real, alright.\n\n\"Do you plan on taking on Pietro by yourself, Markus?\" The bartender snapped.\n\nAt the sound of the name 'Pietro', my eyes widened. My jaw clenched and my throat tightened. My right hand gripped my drink so tight the glass threatened to break while my left grasped the table itself. I hadn't heard that name in a long time. I had believed him dead, but I suppose that was too good to be true.\n\n\"Not by myself, no!\" Markus, the man, hissed. \"Willow and the others are willing to help.\"\n\nThe bartender blanched. \"You'd put my sister in harm's way like that!\"\n\n\"I'm not putting her anywhere. This is her idea.\"\n\n\"You know what Pietro does to girls like her. If she goes after him and things go south--\"\n\n\"They won't,\" the man said quickly. \"I'll protect her.\"\n\n\"Yeah, and who's gonna protect you?\"\n\n\"Excuse me,\" I said quickly before he could answer her truly baffling question.\n\nI had gotten from my table, abandoning my glass, and approached them both. I now stood only a few feet away from them. I'm honestly surprised they hadn't noticed my approach until now. They both turned and looked at me with an expression similar to that of a child getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar.\n\n\"This Pietro,\" I said slowly, now that I knew I had their attention. \"He wouldn't happen to be Pietro Sarantos, would he?\"\n\nThey both looked at each other for a moment, some silent conversation going on right in front of me, before looking back at me.\n\nIt was the bartender who spoke up. \"Who's asking?\"\n\n\"Someone who wants to see him put back in the grave where he belongs,\" I answered.\n\nMarkus's eyes widened as a smile broke across his face. But the bartender didn't seem convinced. Her eyes narrowed further and she crossed her arms. She looked me up and down once. \"You don't look like you can put anyone in the grave.\"\n\nIt took a lot of effort not to laugh at that. They didn't call me 'Death' because I was perky and fun at parties. \"You'd be surprised.\"" ]	2
	[WP] The family cookout is interrupted by a dark cult serving a forgotten god.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Amy, can you pass me the chicken? I got the coals nice and hot, it’s going to taste epic!” I say to my wife with gleeful enthusiasm. I watch as my son chases our dog as I smell the charcoal briquettes flavoring the air with their goodness. \n\n“Oh I can’t wait to drop some of that chicken on this grill! Amy?” I say as I turn around and notice my wife frozen in terror. \n\n7 cloaked figures, clad in black stand motionless, staring. I grimace, “cosplay time?”\n\nThe silence is unnerving. \n\n“We serve the old one who shall remain nameless, the forgotten one, ageless through time, ever infinite is the knowledge possessed by -“\n\n“Yeah, yeah ok. I’m gonna cook some chicken, I don’t know if I have enough to share but I’ll let you all sample it if you’d like?”\n\n“This ground is sacred, we must perform the ritual of the sun before the-“\n\n“Do you have a permit?”\n\n“What?”\n\n“You know, a permit. I had to get a permit for my barbecue. It was $15. I reserved this spot months in advance. You can sputter off and find another ‘sacred’ spot. This one is mine.” I said, waving around a large fork designed for cooking on a grill.\n\n“Amy, I need the chicken.”\n\nOne of the robe figures stepped forward, “we don’t have a permit, but we need to perform this ritual, now!”\n\nI smirked. “Bugger off. You have no legal authority to use this park in any way you deem, hell you just admitted to not having a permit. Hear that honey? They don’t have a permit!” I said, laughing at the mere though of doing anything in a park without the authorization of the local government.\n\n“Listen here you-“\n\nI moved forward, thrusting the fork menacingly in their direction.\n\n“No, you listen you cloaked clod. I’m have a damned barbecue with my family. I don’t give a damn about your little Live Action Roleplaying party. This is my family time. You want to see a pissed off husband? I suggest you turn your little asses around and march right back through those trees where you came from.”\n\n“But-“\n\n“No.” I stated firmly, aiming the fork at them. \n\nIn unison the seven cloaked figures turned around and left. The chicken was good that day. The spices really added a much needed zest to the grilled flavor." ]	2
	[WP] You awaken to find a spindly pale skinned figure with hooked arms at the foot of your bed. You pay little attention to the creature you seen them for twenty years now of every shape and size meandering without purpose. no one else you know of sees them, they can effect the world but rarely do.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I woke from my peaceful slumber to the sound of my alarm clock going off on the other side of the room, I swung my legs out from under my blanket and pushed myself off the bed, I stopped myself from crushing the small, pale skinned, spindly figure skittered away from my feet. Now I stood and moved on to face the day. I’ve seen these creatures my whole life, I don’t know where they come from, I don’t know what exactly they are, I just know that they’re there. I do know however that they can affect the world, they just don’t do it often. For example, last time I stepped on the one that resides under my bed he shut off my alarm clock for the next day and made me late for work, but I think the best example that everyone can understand is the fact that there’s only one World Trade Center these days, that’s right the conspiracy theorists hit the nail on the head, the planes didn’t bring down the twin towers, one of these did. It was gargantuan, about the height of the Empire State Building, it hit the towers with its hand at the same time that the planes did, and that’s why the towers actually fell. I think it’s best to move on from the somber example with a small moment of silence for the lives lost that terrible day.\n\nI got dressed and went on to my kitchen where I prepared some eggs, I cooked one extra for the creature under my bed, just to say sorry to it, and then brushed my teeth and went to work at a mediocre job at my local Petsmart as an animal caretaker. We get these creatures in often at Petsmart, for some reason they like to watch the betta fish. I just walk around them, or maybe replace the water in their little cups before moving on. By the way, don’t buy bettas from us, they’re almost always in terrible condition. My day is really just full of cleaning the piss and, shit of other people’s animals and occasionally feeding animals that actually belong to the store. At the end of my shift at 5 I come home into my apartment and make myself a little dinner off whatever is inside my fridge at the time and drink my daily beer, sometimes if I don’t eat my entire dinner I give it to the creature. Then I’ll watch twitch until 9 o clock when I’ll shower and go to bed, my favorite streamer is UKOGMONKEY by the way. I always do twenty minutes of stretches before getting a glass of warm milk, no I don’t live in the northeast section of Morioh. There’s a reason I’m writing this blog today though, something weird happened before I went to sleep, the spindly creature climbed up onto my bed right as I was falling asleep and rasped into my ear “goodnight Marco”, this thing spoke to me, I’m not sure why it did that but it’s watching me type this out and I’m not sure of it’s intentions. I’ll update this blog as I get more information on these things, wish me luck.\n\n-Marco Garcia" ]	2
	[WP] People periodically get visions from the point of view of their soulmates, you are chilling in your room when you suddenly get a vision. The point of view is from under your bed.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\This is my first post, I am a non native english speaker, who has a butterfly keyboard so I'm sorry for certain grammatical errors that might make people mad!\\\n\nMy story began at home, in my bed to be more specific, in a sunny Friday afternoon. I just got home from school and was horribly exhausted after a grueling session of math and swimming. Therefore, I threw my backpack onto my desk and promptly dove right into the soft cover of my sheets, where I snuggled myself into a little ball. \n\nI kicked my shoes and socks off without any consideration towards where they would land. \n\nI looked at my nightstand and saw a picture, in a tacky frame, portraying me and family. The event where it had been taken was a lost in a dark receptacle within my mind, however I remember being happy. However this picture just brought a strange sense of nostalgia and solitude. \n\nI was eight when the picture was taken, mid jump with a superhero cape tied around my back, and behind me were my parents and my big sister with her husband. I tend to enjoy this picture since it shows genuine love brought forth by the visions. A event that would start at the age of sixteen where once every month at a random time someone would see the view of their soulmates.\n\nThrough this process my parents and my sister were able to find their significant others. It was quite a sweet story actually, my parents were walking down the street when they both had the vision. My mom saw my dad looking at her back and instantly turned around, that was how my dad saw himself through my mothers eyes. After looking at each other for several minutes, they decided to walk to each other, they introduced themselves, went to a nearby Starbucks and bought a pair of lattes. Where they quickly fell in love.\n\nMy sisters version of the vision was even sweeter. She had a childhood friend, a tall young boy, good at basketball and literature who tended to struggle in math. Meanwhile she had always been small for her age, along with having two left foots and a hatred for anything involving literature, she had excellent mathematical capabilities along with any thing to do with STEM related fields. In this way they complemented each other. And ever since they were young they both had feelings for each other, however they mutually repressed them out of fear that if they started anything it would die when they received their vision of their soulmates. One day, they were both in a classroom after school, my sister was tutoring him in math when they both shared eye contact with each other. And the vision struck they saw themselves through each of their eyes. And once it ended they both sat in silence, where they began to cry. Relief hit them, since they knew now that their feelings for each other were meant to be. So they hugged each other and cried, comforting each other with the feeling of their racing hearts.\n\nFrom what they have told me, the Vision is a marvelous experience. Where one sees through two pairs-of eyes at the same time. Kind of like a split screen when one plays in a PS4 with a friend. It is disorienting and mesmerizing according to them...\n\nI turned sixteen over 3 months ago, and I still haven't received my vision. I'm scared that I am that weird 1% of humans who never receive the vision, cursed to never find love. I am a man and straight, however a this point I am willing to have anyone as my soulmate, as long as it means that I will not be alone. I have been lying to my family members for the past few months, inventing weird stories that my soul mate is somewhere in Japan or China (which unfortunately lead to a series of interrogations about every single thing that I saw in my supposed vision, so that they could help my love prosper.)\n\nI sigh.\n\nDepressed.\n\nI feel lonely.\n\nMaybe there's something wrong with me?\n\nAm I a bad person?\n\nAs I begin to spiral the last rays of dawn begin to descend across my window. Suddenly it happened.\n\nMy eyesight split in half, on the top I could see the same curtains alight with the dying rays of the sun. And then below I saw another vision, a queer one to say the least. The persons viewpoint made it seem like it was laying down on a wooden floor, the top of their vision was occupied by what seemed to be a white canvas perhaps, with several identical patterns. I focused on other aspects of this vision, in front of it there seemed to be a metal frame that held it together along with some wheels... Wait... is that a mattress.\n\nAt that moment I saw something that chilled me to the bone. I saw a pair of shoes, white Nike's that were pretty worn down, and right next to them a pair of sock with a llama print over them. I could have sworn that I had put those on in the morning. \n\nSlightly behind these two thing I saw a backpack, my backpack. I knew it was mine since I had gone through a wannabe gangster phase, and I spray painted my initials onto it.\n\nThen it stopped... The vision ended and it was just me, looking out the window.\n\nSweat began to come out of my brow, I felt my heartbeat race. \n\nThere's no way... Right? \n\nI slowly expand my body from the fetal pose, and inch my way forward onto the edge of the bed.\n\nI gasped.\n\nMy shoes, my socks and my backpack were in the exact same position as what I had seen in my vision.\n\nI begin to tremble, scared out of my mind as to what this might mean. I considered yelling for my parents help, then I remembered that they were going to comeback at 7:00 it was 6:00 according to my night stand clock.\n\nI gulp, trying to steel my nerves and I slowly bend my neck over the edge of the bed. I swear I could feel every single bead of sweat, along with the creak of every single vertebrae moving in my neck.\n\nThere, right under my bed is a pair of eyes looking at me.\n\nI shrieked.\n\nAnd that was the beginning of my story with my one true love." ]	2
	[WP] You missed psychology class yesterday. When you attend today, everyone seems to think you're the professor.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I missed the psychology class yesterday, which just so happened to be the first course that I was supposed to take in the morning. In fact, I didn't event go to school yesterday at all, and yesterday was the first day of classes, no less. I am... a shy person, to be honest, but after having a rough time trying to survive high school, I figured that I should take the same approach in college like I did before.\n\nI'll just pretend to act aloof and tough, and hopefully, no one will ever pick up on my acting.\n\nI really hope not.\n\nI released a breath I didn't know I had been holding as soon as I arrived at the door to the classroom. It was quite noisy inside, which likely meant that the professor wasn't there yet. That put me at ease. At least, I'll have time to adjust to the environment without having to be bombarded with questions the first time I step in.\n\nWith a deep inhale and a calming exhale, I pushed the door open and went inside.\n\nAt once, everyone went deathly silent and pointed their gazes at me.\n\nOh god.\n\nI tried to put on the toughest, sternest look I could pull off, and it worked well to my surprise. My classmates, who I have yet to meet, flinched at the sudden coldness of my expression. With a mirthless scoff that I was proud of for being able to do in front of literal strangers, I went to the only vacant seat and set my things down there before sitting.\n\nEveryone's eyes was still glued to me at that point, but the person beside me, a girl wearing plain civilian clothes, had her sights focused entirely on the desk before her.\n\nShe was also trying her best not to 'invade' my personal space, and I swear I could see her vibrating in her seat if I look hard enough.\n\nSo I decided to face her directly.\n\nShe nearly jumped out of her seat.\n\n\"Hey you,\" I said, my voice biting with practiced coldness. \"What was our lesson last session?\"\n\nThe girl hesitated to look at me. \"S-Sir?\"\n\nSir? I wondered to myself why she would address me as such. Was she nervous? \"I said,\" I leaned closer towards her side of the desk, my eyes now locked with hers. \"What was our lesson last session?\"\n\n\"I, I-I,\" The poor girl seemed to choke at her own words, and her breathing was becoming labored. \"I-I don't know, sir.\"\n\n\"Really? Pft.\" I faked an expression of being unimpressed before turning away from her. \"Thanks for nothing.\"\n\nI was nearly startled by a loud 'bang' that went off behind me, and when I turned to look, I was surprised to find her face squished firmly onto the surface of her desk. Deep inside I was worried, but in the outside, I could only sigh. I stood up from my seat and faced my classmates. I saw different kinds of faces before me, but there was only one thing in common with all of them.\n\nTheir visages carried worry.\n\nI was confused. Why would they be worried at me?\n\n\"I'll give a simple question, you all give me a simple answer.\" I sharpened my eyes and glowered at the students before me. \"Can you tell me who's the teacher here?\"\n\nNobody answers. I raise my voice.\n\n\"Can you tell me who's the teacher here?!\"\n\nAnd they answer collectively: \"You are!\"\n\nI showed the whole class a smirk and went back to sitting, before bringing both of my hands together in front of my face in contemplation.\n\nOnly one word went through my head at that moment.\n\nFuck!\n\nThere's really no escaping from this one! I tried to get a peek from out of my hands, but all eyes were still focused on me! Except the girl beside me, somehow. What am I going to do? What if the real teacher comes here?\n\nAs if on cue, the door to the classroom opened, and in came their teacher.\n\nI was about ready to tell the truth and accept the punishment that my classmates would deal to me, when I got a good look of who our Psychology professor is.\n\nThe guy, he looked exactly like me!\n\n\"Sorry for being late, class.\" He said, taking his glasses off for a second and rubbing his eyes before putting it back on. \"I'm Professor Hernandez, and I'll be your psychology teacher. I wasn't around yesterday, so I apologize for that.\"\n\nA classmate of mine stood up and pointed a finger at me, directly, with an angry look on his face. \"Who's that guy, then?\"\n\nI gulped as the looks of everyone on the class intensified. Heck, even the girl beside me started glaring! I could feel the pressure from their gazes crush my shoulders, and the teacher looked just about ready to...\n\n\"Oh, him? He's my brother, actually. Don't be too hard on him.\"\n\nAt once, the pressure disappeared, and all eyes averted from me. I could only look at my lookalike in confusion. He was definitely not my relative.\n\nMy lookalike, having noticed my gaze, simply pointed at his watch, made a counterclockwise motion on its surface with his finger, and gave me a knowing wink.\n\nIt took me a good while to figure out who the man was." ]	2
	[WP] "You used blood magic to make some tea? the kettle is right there."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The kid blinked at me, crimson staining his fingers, vestiges of magic still flashing red through his eyes. \"Huh?\"\n\nFor what it was worth, my nephew knew his dark arts. The hideous ceramic cup I had made years ago in pottery class sat smugly in the middle of a web of rusty-brown lines, steaming delicate wisps of vapor. Dozens of thin, striped birthday candles I had kept since who-knows-when burned happily, secured with messy strips of masking tape.\n\nIt would have been almost sweet, had he not done the whole project right on my dining table.\n\n\"The kettle,\" I said. God, it was too early for this. I knew Sarah had married a sorcerer, but this was ridiculous. \"You know, like a teapot. It boils the water.\"\n\nThe confusion in his face was palpable.\n\nI rubbed my eyes, yawning. Fuck this.\n\"It is five in the morning,\" I said. \"You are going to clean up this mess. I'm going back to bed until I can think again, and then I'm going to wake up, and then I'm going to teach you how to use a kettle. And a microwave. And a stove.\"\n\nSlowly, he nodded. \"Okay.\"\n\n\"Good,\" I said. \"Now help me put out these candles before they burn the house down.\"" ]	2
	[WP] After wishing for a ham sandwich, the genie says it's somewhere across the world. It's your job to find it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I didn't think it would be this much work.\n\n\"I'm going to ask this once more...are you lying to me?\"\n\"As a genie, I'm duty-bound to never tell you a lie.\"\n\"But you can withhold the truth from me.\"\n\"My obligation to honesty extend only to questions you ask of me.\"\n\"So if I ask you if this sandwich still exists and is still edible...\"\n\"The ham sandwich you wished for remains in pristine condition. You may only make your next wish once you have claimed your sandwich.\"\n\n\n\nIt's been two weeks, looking for this one thing. Back then, when the genie popped out of this mini-lamp my cousin gave me as a gift, I had my precautions. I've seen enough TV of genies screwing people over with horribly interpreted versions of their wishes, and I didn't want to be that guy. So I wished for a sandwich.\n\nAnd here I am, in another damn country, looking for it. I managed to grab enough sympathy for it to help me bring it narrow its location to within fifty miles, which brought me to Manchester.\n\n\"So...is this sandwich inside the home of another person?\"\n\"Yes it is.\"\n\"And you're sure this sandwich isn't accumulating dust?\n\"I am sure.\"\n\"So I have to raid every kitchen to find it.\"\n\"That's an idea.\"\n\n\nI hate this genie so much, but if it has the power to do this to a sandwich, it should be able, with some strict wordage, to grant me the money to compensate this trip and then some.\n\nIf anything, I hope that damn sandwich tastes good." ]	2
	[WP] It was a dark and stormy night...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\[Poem\\] Dark and Stormy Night\n\nIt was a dark and stormy night,\n\nWhen I had noticed it first.\n\nThe caravan just appeared\n\ntroubadours, who seemed quite rehearsed\n\nThere was a small little man\n\nDressed in a fine suit\n\nWho commanded the clan\n\nAnd played a fair flute.\n\nThe group looked like outcasts,\n\nWhich most troubadours are,\n\nbut there was something mystic\n\nI could sense from afar.\n\nThe band was quite spectacular\n\nAll their moves were in sync,\n\nand the beautiful costumes\n\nSea blue, and rose pink.\n\nI stood there and watched\n\nAs they practiced their act.\n\nThe lot never spoke,\n\nbut their moves were exact.\n\nMy amusement and wonder\n\nsuddenly overtook me.\n\nI snuck without blunder,\n\nand hid near a tree.\n\nThey practiced with precision.\n\nThey practiced with grace.\n\nI had to make a decision,\n\nshould I show my face?\n\nAlas I decided\n\nto out myself there.\n\n“Ahoy mates” I said\n\nThey all stopped to stare.\n\n“Your skills are legendary!”\n\nI proclaimed with excitement.\n\n\"How much for a show?\n\nFor I would like to buy it.\"\n\n“Oh my dear child”\n\nThe small man spoke\n\n“We do not charge money,\n\nIt’s not for just any old bloke”\n\n“What does it cost?\n\nI beseech you, my friend.\n\nAnd why do you not\n\nJust let anyone in?”\n\n“Well I will tell you,\n\nafter terms are agreed.\n\nYou can view our show,\n\nbut our price is decreed”\n\n“I am well to do\n\namong my small town.\n\nI assure you my wealth\n\nwon’t let you down.”\n\n“You must sign here in blood\n\nJust a drop will do.”\n\nI was handed a knife\n\nThe blade was askew\n\nI paused for a moment.\n\nI looked down at the man.\n\nI snatched up the knife,\n\nand drove it into my hand\n\nThe blade was sharp,\n\nand blood it did draw\n\nI opened my fist,\n\nand let the blood fall.\n\nA thunderous clap,\n\nrang out from behind.\n\nAs the blood hit the letter,\n\nI just willingly signed.\n\nThe rain started pouring,\n\nAs they got into place.\n\nI pulled up my collar,\n\nand concentrated on their faces.\n\nTheir movements were queer,\n\nalmost unworldly;\n\nand the music dark\n\nIt seemed quite unholy.\n\nI watched with amazement,\n\nas they put on their act.\n\nI fell into a trance.\n\nThere was no turning back.\n\nI unwittingly walked\n\nup onto the stage.\n\nThe small man led me,\n\nmy mind fully engaged.\n\nThey wheeled out a mirror\n\nI stood there and gazed\n\nNot a reflection of me\n\nBut a man being praised.\n\nI felt right at home.\n\nThen I stepped through the mirror\n\nI saw happiness surround me\n\nBlissfulness was near.\n\nI walked on forward\n\ntill I got to a door\n\nI had but two choices.\n\nNeither, had I seen before.\n\nOne door was filled with riches and glory\n\nthe other was bland like a boring old story.\n\nThe small little man approached from behind,\n\nAnd told me that the choice was ultimately mine.\n\nI looked to the left,\n\nthen I looked to the right.\n\n\"Was this all just a dream?\n\nDid I fall asleep that night?\"\n\nThe small man said\n\n“You are not dreaming.\n\nThe price that you paid\n\nWill determine the ending.”\n\nI nodded then turned\n\nleft to the door.\n\nRiches and fame\n\nWas what I long for.\n\nThe small man wasn’t shocked.\n\nHe simply lowered his head.\n\n“You chose the wrong door.”\n\n“Soon you will be dead.”\n\nBut I chose to ignore\n\nThat small little fool.\n\nWho is he to say?\n\nWho is he to rule?\n\nI suddenly woke\n\nlying there on the ground.\n\nAs rain hit my face\n\nI sat up and frowned.\n\nI looked at my hand\n\nAnd knew in a moment\n\nMy soul I just sold,\n\nbut to whom have I chosen?" ]	2
	[WP] This story is about a hero who had defeated evil, reaped the rewards, and snatched the beautiful girls. But it's told from the perspective of the very under-appreciated and much less known sidekick. Slowly, the emotions start to bubble up...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I don't understand. \nAfter all these adventures we had together, all these battles and all these experiences, I get tossed to the side like an old and ragged doll that no one wants to play with anymore. \nDestroyed by thousands of hands that were laid upon me and then left in an old abandoned house just to be forgotten. \nBut what has happened to the child, who was supposed to take care of me, but in the end didn't protect me from those terrible, cruel and painful claws? \n\n...Right, they are the one who gets a pat on the head, the one, who is rewarded with candy, the ONE, who gets ALL of the praise around THEM! \n\"Defeating the Villain was really simple.\", you told the people who admired you with this vile smirk of yours. \n\"All thanks to me, the city is safe again.\", you \"reassured\" them with this disgusting tone in your voice. \n\"Honestly, it felt like I didn't even have to move a muscle to defeat them\"...not moving a muscle...Do you perhaps know, why it felt like that?... \n\nBecause I was the one who defeated the Villain, while you were lying unconscious on the ground. \nI was the one, who was barely able to give them the striking blow that ended it all, even though all my limbs were in agonizing pain and my head was ringing. \nI ALMOST DIED TRYING TO SAVE YOU! \nDIED, BECAUSE I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU, BLOCKING EACH AND EVERY ATTACK THE VILLAIN TRIED TO THROW AT YOU! \nSO HARD, I WAS FIGHTING AGAINST SLIPPING INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS WITH ALL THE STRENGTH I COULD MUSTER, JUST TO PROTECT YOU! \nBECAUSE ALL THIS TIME-ALL This time... \n\nI admired you. \nI admired you for your courage, for your ideals, for your kindness. \nBut you know what? \nAfter you revealed your true face that you have kept hidden so well behind a facade, I know who you truly are. \n\nYou are just a dirty, narcissistic, lying coward. \n\nA coward, who is doing all of this not because they care about humanity, but because they are selfish and ridden with greed. \n\nRemember this, dear \"Hero\". \nMy goals were never to receive rewards or to be famous. \nMy intentions were to protect humankind from chaos and to bring justice. \nOriginally, those intentions were hold against the Villain, but... \n\nI think there is someone special, who must be kept under check. \nSomeone, who deserved to experience the agony that I once felt. \nSomeone, who I once called a dear \"friend\". \n\nBe prepared, \"Hero\".", "\"HAIL THE HERO!\"\n\n\"HAIL THE MAN WHO SLAYED THE BEAST\" the crowd chanted, booze leaping from the clashing tankards, causing a dribble of ale to crash down on my face. Of course they praised the hero who has slain the beast, not the man who was drowning him with health potions and blocking mortal shots with his shield, no... who cares about that guy, he wasn't from a noble birth, nor was he the chosen one, he was a tag along. Hubert found himself stewing in the corner of the bar, watching his so called friend dance with two barmaids, his cheery face not even daring to meet the scrappy, worndown face of his companion.\n\nThey had finally done it, it was truly a great day for both of them, of course the town praised their hero, Hubert expected as much. Of course what he didn't expect was for his friend to not mention him in any of the grand recollections of his quests. If you believed the heroes tale, then Hubert was barely even there, having as much influence on the quest as the weather. It had broken his heart at first, but that heartbreak had soon bubbled into rage, a festering rage that was just waiting to burst.\n\n\"Excuse me, Hubert right?\" A girl would ask, her voice rather sweet as she swayed before him. Seeming to move with the rhythm of the bards gentle tune.\n\n\"Oh yes, that's me.\" Hubert mustered, quickly swiping aside his booze drenched hair, trying to look somewhat presentable, perhaps he could find a silver-lining in this night at the very least. \n\n\"Well, I was hoping.... you could introduce me to the hero!\" She said with a shy grin, practically ready to burst with excitement. Of course that grin was gone when Hubert turned his back to her, walking outside without a second word, leaving her to mumble about what a weirdo he was.\n\nHe could hardly take it anymore, this was maddening. He was a hero aswell! This was meant to be their celebration, how did he get reduced to such a lowly position. That's when he heard it, the faint roar of a dragon. It's hissing roar seemed silent except for his ears, tailored to the man, as if it was being amplified by his hate. He followed the noise, the celebrations didn't need him, plus this had intrigued him much more then anything inside that tavern could have. \n\nSoon he reconigised the scenery, backtracking towards their fame winning kill. The dragon laid, still dead, its blood oozing a dark black liquid. He could feel himself almost being enchanted by its sight, the roar continuing to grumble before it stopped, replacing the sound with a simple command.\n\n\"Drink from me, gain the strength you desire human.\"\n\nWith that all sound was gone, leaving only Hubert and the corpse. His eyes shifted rapidly, checking his surroundings before crouching before the corpse, cupping his hands and drenching them into the hot blood, easing its contents into his mouth. It was hard not to gag as the blood slowly slid down his throat, almost sticking to its insides like sludge before finally being gulped down.\n\nFor awhile nothing happened, he could feel a sickness in his stomach, a surging feeling of despair that began to fade as quickly as it came. Finally he felt nothing....\n\nNothing....\n\nNothing....\n\nUntil finally it seemed to burst, body flowing with an arcane magic, orbs of light flashing inside his mind causing him to stumble between each strobing flash. When it finally died down, he could feel it.. power, perhaps not the power of a hero, but one to match it. Perhaps now was a good time to return to the tavern?\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}" ]	3
	[WP] When you were younger, you were given a stop watch that has been counting down ever since. There is now only moments before it reaches zero.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It had been years since you got this stopwatch. Your grandfather gave it to you on Easter weekend when you were eight years old. He'd always remind you that it was super important and to not lose it. \"When time runs out, something special will happen; you'll learn something rather special too,\" he had said when he handed it to you. \n\nYou always had kept a rough estimate of the time remaining that was left on the watch. When you'd gotten older, you had sat down to figure out when the watch would hit zero. You were 14 when you decided to do this, and the watch had almost 9 more years left on it. You figured it down to the day, the hour, the minute. The final count was 7:53 PM (EST), on October 26th, the year 2019. \n\nThe days went by, and the day rapidly approached. You got a bit nervous as there was a week left. Nothing was special coming up. The day before hit, still nothing special or ominous or anything. You woke up on the day of, having come to terms with the event that was sure to be life-changing. What little you had was already set up in a will, life insurance obtained and set to pay out to your fiancee and parents. \n\nTen minutes before. You took the watch out of its special safe and held it as you sat on your bed. The minutes creeped by like hours. One minute left. You took a big gulp of water and wiped the sweat from your forehead as the watch counted down. \n\nFive. Four. Three. Two. One. The time had come. You had closed your eyes before the moment to only hear a small ding. You kept them shut for another moment. Everything seemed safe. You opened your eyes to see the watch face had popped open slightly. You took a deep breath as you opened it slightly further, finding a piece of paper. You took a deep breath as you picked it up and unfolded it. Instantly you recognized your grandfather's handwriting. You started reading. \n\nIf you're reading this, then the time has come. The time has come for you to learn that there was nothing special about the watch. Got ya good! \n\nYou blinked a few times, stunned and confused. And then it hit you, your grandfather had always been the one to pull long elaborate pranks, and he just pulled one over on you. You start laughing softly to yourself. You'd have to call him in a few to congratulate on pulling such an elaborate prank.", "I lift my hand a shoot a quick glance at the watch. 2 minutes and 7 seconds left. Fuck.\n\nMy uncle gave me this watch for my seventh birthday. He had said, “Mind the time little one. Mind the time.” I thought it was a joke, and ran away with my friends, the watch trailing behind as I ran. Joyful and carefree.\n\nOver the years, I’d lost the watch, only to find it again. Behind my bed. In a random drawer. One time I even found it half buried in the lawn a couple weeks after playing with it in the sand box back when it was still safe to play outside. It never stopped though. One hundred and eighty thousand odd hours. I never thought it would run out.\n\nWell, it’s… the watch says 1 minute and 10 seconds until my 28th birthday. I had never thought it was counting down to my birthday. Why would I? My uncle hasn’t been seen in years, not since the birthday party during which he gave me this cursed timer.\n\nIt’s probably nothing… I mean, a cruel joke at best. How could he have known the nervous wreck I’d have grown into. I can’t get anything right. I got fired a week before my birthday. I can’t even afford the water and nutrient paste delivery anymore. I’ve watched the world crumble around me.\n\nTwenty-two seconds. What the fuck is this counting down to!\n\nFifteen seconds. Is it speeding up?\n\nI looked across my dark room. All the time wasted, the hours that clocked down one by one in this miserable room. Nothing is going to happen… it’ll stop. Life will go on. All this worry has me panicking. My breathing fast, and my head feeling a bit light.\n\nFour seconds. I think my vision is getting a little blurry.\n\nTwo seconds… I feel like…\n\n…\n\nI feel like…\n\n…\n\nI looked up at my uncle. He looked down at me, and winked. I looked at the watch. There was no countdown, and it was broken.\n\n“You are an amazing child.” He said to me. “Someday you will understand the gift I’ve given you. Do good with it. Be a good man.” I hesitated for a moment, before returning to the party with my friends.\n\n...\n\nMy biographer looked up, enthralled by my tale. Not knowing whether or not the man responsible for shaping the 22nd century, was lying straight to his face. I think I’m going to leave it at that. My daughter comes running into the room and lunges on me as I wrap her into the biggest hug.\n\n“I wanna go and play in the creek!”\n\n“Okay, okay! In a minute.” I look at my biographer, “Are we done for today?”\n\nStill looking stunned, he just kind of shook his head and said, “Sure, sure! Have fun!”" ]	3
	[WP] You are a superhero with the power to see things as they are. You can tell people things that become clear in retrospect. You are, the one, the only, Captain Obvious.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Sometimes everyone needs a little help seeing the obvious.\n\nThe gentlemen on his phone, not paying attention. I inform him his bus has arrived. It was obviously in front of him. If I hadn't though, he would have missed his interview and continued to be unemployed. His wife would have left him. He would have led a life of drunken misery. I stopped that. I saved him.\n\n\"Your door is open,\" I informed a young lady as she left her house. Obvious, right? If I hadn't, she wouldn't have wondered if she closed her window as well. She wouldn't have gone back to check. With the forcast predicting rain, her desk with her laptop would have gotten wet. She would have lost the manuscript to the novel she was writing.\n\nA little boy was crying on a park bench. I stood in front of him and stated, \"You're hurting. You should get help.\" \n\nThe little boy would go on to talk to his teacher about his parents. He would be adopted into a new home, and become a social worker. He would help countless other children. If I hadn't stated the obvious, he would have gone on to bully and hurt others instead.\n\nI am captain obvious. It is not a glorious job, but it helps people to hear what they are not paying attention to. It is important for people to take a step away from diatractions, and focus on what is really important. People may use my name sarcastically, but as long as I can help others that's fine. This is what I choose to do." ]	2
	[WP] Your an experience Bartender. Youve heard all the stories and confessions the world could tell. From fallen cops, to criminals admiting their guilt; Youve grown nerves of steel. But this, nothing could have ever prepared you for this story.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dale tensed when the woman walked into his bar with her black leather trench coat flowing around her. Her purple crewcut and the tarantula inked on her neck hinted to him that trouble tended to follow her. Not that she herself would cause any trouble. He was sure of that; 20 years behind the bar sharpened him into an excellent judge of character. He watched her move as she walked up to the bar. The long coat hid most of her movements but she moved with the spindly grace of a long-legged ballerina. Dale could tell that she knew how to take care of herself.\n\n\"Strongest bottle you've got,\" she said when she reached the bar. She slapped down two hundred dollar bills on the bar; then, she lifted the back of her coat to sit down on a stool.\n\n\"Rough night?\" He asked as he placed the bottle down on the counter with a short glass of ice. The bar opened at 11 and it wasn't noon yet. The woman unceremoniously, and effortlessly broke the neck of the bottle to open it. She tossed the glass neck into a trash can behind the counter that made Dale wonder how she saw it. Then, she poured the dark golden liquid into the glass.\n\n\"I did something stupid,\" she said. Dale chuckled. That phrase was like, \"Once Upon a Time\" for bartenders. He knew he was in for a story.\n\n\"Should I expect to be questioned by the police about your whereabouts?\" he asked with his best smile. She pulled the now alcohol-free glass from her mouth and set it on the bar to refill it, but she shook her head.\n\n\"Nothing illegal, just,...\" she lifted the glass to her mouth again, but held it there until she found the right word. \"...uncharacteristic,\" she finished her thought, then downed the drink.\n\n\"How so?\" Dale asked. His bar did not get much in the way of a lunch rush; he didn't serve any food. He was in for a slow few hours until business picked up in the evening and thought her story would help him pass the time. She took another swig then gave Dale the once over.\n\nHe was a bald, stocky guy, but his arms seemed out of proportion to the rest of him. His biceps bulged under his white bartender's shirt, and he had a nice smile.\n\n\"You got friends?\" she asked. Dale smiled.\n\n\"Yeah. My group's pretty tight,\" he replied. The woman shook her head.\n\n\"I don't,\" she sighed. \"I didn't, until last night.\"\n\n\"Friends are good, right?\" Dale asked.\n\n\"Not if you have a possessive boss that doesn't like you having friends.\" She emptied the bottle into her glass. \"When I say 'boss', think supervillain,\" she pointed to herself. \"Henchman,\" she said then emptied the alcohol. \"It wasn't an issue before,\" she shrugged. \"Didn't need friends.\" Dale narrowed his eyes trying to gauge her. She seemed sincere and honest; but, he'd never heard of a supervillain outside of fiction.\n\n\"So, what changed?\" Dale asked. \"Why did you suddenly need a friend last night?\"\n\n\"I didn't need a friend...,\" the woman said. She added another hundred dollar bill to the bar and gestured at the empty bottle. Dale was quick to replace it, but he took the liberty of opening it for her first. He didn't want to deal with broken glass. \"...she did.\" In the back of his mind, Dale congratulated himself for spotting her as a soft heart. He enjoyed the warm feeling of vindication for a moment until the door opened again. The trouble he feared earlier walked in.\n\nDale had a group of rowdy regulars that liked nothing more than giving women a hard time. It didn't usually get bad, and he was quick to warn anyone they might target. Unfortunately, they would almost certainly target the purple-haired woman. Dale knew she could handle herself, but he was worried about the damages to bar while she did. Thinking quickly he grabbed a third bottle and placed it on the bar.\n\n\"If I give you this will you leave without damaging the place too much?\" he asked. Just as the woman looked up to ask him why, she was surrounded by a pair of muscleheads in muscleshirts.\n\n\"Hi there,\" the one on her right said. He leaned close enough to rub his elbow against her. \"Why's a pretty girl like you drinking so early?\" he asked. \"Maybe we should get some lunch in that stomach first.\"\n\n\"How bout it, beautiful?\" the one on her left asked. \"Want to join the four of us for a nice meal?\" She glanced up at the mirror behind the bar and saw two more meatheads grinning at her.\n\n\"Sure thing,\" she replied. \"But first, let me finish talking to the bartender, and I've got a couple of bottles to finish. As I was saying...,\" she looked at the bartender. \"My new friend asked me to join her guild, and I said yes. But first, I have to leave my current one; I need to ask my boss.\"\n\n\"Quitting?\" the thug on her left asked. He scooted his barstool closer to her. \"We got a job for you,\" he grinned.\n\n\"Your boss, the supervillain?\" Dale asked. She nodded. \"What's he like? Superpowered or anything?\"\n\n\"He's a giant spider,\" she giggled. \"Bigger than this bar.\"\n\n\"Hey, Earl,\" the one on her left called the one on her right, talking around her. \"Crazy broad thinks she works for a giant spider. Do we want her that messed up?\"\n\n\"I don't know, Jim,\" Earl replied. He craned his neck around the front of her to try and see her clothing under her trench coat. \"Hard to tell if that body's worth it.\" Dale nudged the unopened third bottle at the woman.\n\n\"Please?\" he asked softly. She winked at him, then spun in her stool to face away from the bar. She stood up.\n\n\"You guys want a better look?\" she asked and began sliding her black coat off.\n\n\"Yeah baby!\" they called. She pulled her arms out of the jacket but held it in place. She turned back to face them while still keeping herself hidden behind the jacket.\n\n\"Catch!\" she shouted and tossed the jacket at them. Jim and Earl both collided together trying to catch it; and, immediately started screaming. As the black coat flew through the air it fell apart. It disintegrated into black balls and each ball had eight legs. A swarm of pitch-black spiders landed on Jim and Earl and almost blanketed them entirely. Their two friends that weren't covered with spiders screamed and ran out the door while Jim and Early frantically tried to brush them off. Dale scooted back against the bar and watched with his mouth agape. All doubts about whether she worked for a giant spider or not were dispelled.\n\nShe walked to the bar, grabbed both remaining bottles and smiled at Dale.\n\n\"Thanks for the booze,\" she said and turned around. The spiders climbed off of Jim and Earl as she passed them and started climbing up her. By the time she walked out the door, she was wearing a black leather trench coat again. \n\n\\\\\\\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #301. You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order.", "I noticed her sitting at the bar all by herself. She was very beautiful and guys kept asking me all night to send her drinks. But she would politely decline, flash a grateful smile at whoever the proposer was, then go back to staring into her drink. People came and went, but she stayed there in that same position for hours, staring into her drink. The whole time she must have taken five sips.\n\nFinally, I went over to her, put on a gentle smile and said, \"Go home, eh? Get you some rest. You look like you've had too much to drink.\"\n\nShe snorted at the joke and I immediately liked her.\n\nWe talked for a bit, and then I went for it and asked for her number.\n\nShe smiled, shook her head, and said, \"You don't want my number. I'm crazy.\"\n\n\"That's why I want your number. I like crazy.\"\n\n\"Not my type of crazy,\" she said. \"I'm crazy, crazy.\"\n\n\"Oh yeah? Tell me something crazy then. I bet I've heard it before.\"\n\nShe took a sip, and I could see her thinking about it. \"Okay,\" she said finally. \"I'll tell you.\"\n\nI smirked and waited.\n\n\"I was supposed to be out on a date tonight,\" she started. \"But after what happened tonight, I just cancelled and came here. \n\n\"It had been my first date in - God, how long has it been? - three years, maybe? And I'm pretty much all work, I rarely go out to clubs and bars and things like that. \n\n\"Anyway. When I was getting dressed for my date, I called my friend for advice.\"\n\n\"Sounds like her advice didn't work out too well?\" I guessed.\n\n\"No, it's not that. My friend is a pro* when it comes to dating and relationships,\" she defended. \"I'm the one who fcked up.\" \n\nI nodded and said gently, \"Continue.\" \n\n\"So I call my friend,\" she resumes, \"and I ask her for advice. And she says: 'Make sure you shave.' I said, 'Shave?' And she says, 'Yes. Shave. Armpits, legs, kitty-kat, everything except your hair, arms, and eyebrows.\" \n\nShe paused and stared off into her drink for a moment. And then she whispered:\n\n\"I couldn't find the razor anywhere. And I panicked.\"\n\nShe looked up at me, eyes hollow and distant as if she was staring right through me.\n\n\"So I found some tweezers and I plucked out each piece of hair by hand.\"\n\nThen she stood up and slid off the heavy jacket she was wearing. \n\nBlood....just blood everywhere." ]	3
	[WP] The sea creature looked at you, and spoke, "You do not recognize the bodies under here. Not yet"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I stand on the bank. The air is moist and the sky is gray. I breath in deep, allowing the scent of brine and salt fill my lungs, like the memories of years past fill my mind. I spent countless hours there on that very shore with my boots sunk deep into the damp sand. So many things at the bottom. A breeze blows over the lakebed and the tall oak canopies surrounding the body of water sway.\n\nI turn to return to my car parked outside of the woods, but stop when the murky water begins to bubble. A domed, oily scalp raises from the water. Two bloodshot eyes with purple irises appear just about the surface. We stare at each other for a moment. Monster and...\n\n\"You've returned...\" a quiet, wispy voice says all around me. \"But not entirely... Not yet...\"\n\nI suddenly don't care what or who it is. I tell it to fuck off as I face the woods again, stepping through the mushy sand towards the rise— my feet don't budge, they won't move. I look down and see black bones wrapped in wet seaweed and purple, veiny tendons gripping my ankles. Its fingers digging into my boots, piercing the material, burrowing into my flesh.\n\nBefore I can scream I am wrenched from the shore, dragged into the freezing water that jolts my body into trying to break free, but there are more black bones wrapping around my body, my arms, clenching over my fingers. I'm underneath and through the silty murk I can see bodies poking from the sands, faces and arms jutting from piles of stones and rubble, limbs and innards drifting with the water's current.\n\n\"You remember them... Don't you?\" the voice says in my mind. I'm trying to keep the air in my lungs. Veins bulge from temples and neck. A pressure is building in my chest and head. My eyes are stinging and wide and oh God can someone help me!\n\n\"It matters not... You may not yet recognize them... But you will be more like them than you ever were before...\"\n\nI gasp. Water surges down my throat. I taste grit and salt and copper. I'm screaming as my lungs and stomach fills... I can't... I can't..." ]	2
	[WP] We have created the machines to wage war for us. Our enemies did the same. The machines had a different plan. Both armies decided to join forces and attack their creators. It is a time of strange alliances.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "There’s something about torrential rain that really dulls your senses. The deafening of noise, the feeling of the water pouring out onto your from above, the cold dampness that clings to your body. I wonder if the Sentients ever stop to think about the rain, or perhaps this is what makes us human. \n\nI sit silently within the walls of an abandoned clothing store, peering outside of the broken walls from the corner of the building. Mannequins lie around me, hands hanging motionless in front of their old broken frames, reaching out to me as if to tell me to run. Their faces poised and lacking expression. I envy them. \n\nIt’s been 7 years since the initial attack; The Day of Sentience they call it. I call it day one. \n\nAs I peer across the ravine of waste and rubble, the onslaught of rain drowning out the looming silence of the city, I see the signal in a building a block down the cluttered street: Two blue flashes, pause…One blue flash, pause… one blue flash. I reach into my pocket and pull of my flashlight and signal back: blue light on, then off, repeated three more times. \n\nTwo shadows emerge from the source of the light and sprint over quietly, crouched low, stopping at an old broken taxicab before continuing. One male, one female, both cloaked in blacked ponchos matching my own. As they enter the walls of the building and remove their hoods, I notice the dirt staining their faces despite the downpour. The white mannequins silently judge us. \n\n“Blood,” says the man, drawing out the dagger from his hip. I followed his lead, drawing my dagger from my hip and brining the blade to my arm, a small section that had lightly scarred over due to repeated use. The thing about Sentients is that they’ve adapted, or more specifically evolved to look like us. It’s been highly problematic, entire colonies of humans falling due to the infiltration of one Sentient. What we’ve learned through these trials is despite looking like us, they couldn’t recreate blood. The current theory is that they’ve had a hard time recreating the hemoglobin which carries the oxygen throughout the body, giving your blood the color red. I guess machines don’t really need oxygen.\n\nAs I watch the blood stream down my arm, I can see both the man and women follow suit. No Sentients here. Good. \n\n“Tucker says you have two of the launch codes. Where are they?” The woman’s eyes pierce through me as she says it, cold…calculated. \n\n“I have them. He also told me you have the other two,” I reply, motioning to the opposing street corner. “We’re you followed?”\n\n“Fuck no,” the man muttered, “The fuck you think this is. I wouldn’t jeopardize this.”\n\nIt’s been two weeks since we got into contact with Colony 17. Before the Day of Sentience, they were the enemy. Cold, heartless marauders bent on destroying my home. My colony, Colony 4, was the last remaining colony from the home country, which was ravished by the machines upon their alliance with Colony 17’s. An attempt to race us to artificial intelligence. We were both wrong, both unmistakably human. The mannequins silently judge us. \n\nThe codes were to a failsafe, a backdoor method of terminating the Sentients. The scientists who created the initial machines had their data leaked to Colony 17’s scientists, therefore the coding and overall dynamic of the machines remained the same. The codes were kept in the research facilities and housed by the scientists leading the projects, unaware of the military uses and plans by both countries to abuse the research. On day one, the research facilities along with the scientists were the first to go. Ironic.\n\nI briefly glance at the mannequins beside me; cold, motionless, silently judging us. Sometimes I felt as if they were more human than us. I miss the ability to feel. \n\n“There’s a room in the back, lets talk there.” I walk briskly to the back on an abandoned storage room, probably used by minimum wage sales associates before the world went to hell. I placed the codes on the counter of a dusty tabletop. “Your turn,” I said, glancing behind me.\n\nThe man removed a crumpled sheet from his waist and placed it next to mine. “This what we were able to recover from the research facility up north. We lost over 70 men trying to get those codes, there’s not many of us left.”\n\nColony 4 had a population of 123. A loss of 70 heads would be devastating.\n\n“There’s a cell tower 8 blocks from here. We take the codes and broadcast them to the colonies. We don't have much time. My intel says we have 7 hours before the Sentients become aware of the codes.”\n\n“Ours says 2,” exclaimed the women, grabbing my codes from the table and swiftly looking them over. “We’re missing two people from the camp. Last time someone saw them, they were running west towards the old mining station. We think they’re gone rogue.”\n\n“How the fuck does that happen?” I snatch the codes out of her hands and seize the other one from the table. “Don’t you check for blood upon entry?\n\n“We do,” sighed the man. “We think they’ve turned sides.” \n\nMy eyes grew wide. Humans working for the Sentients…how the fuck does that happen. \n\n“We need to fucking leave right now,” I yell, pushing past the two of them into the opened room. I made it to the corner wall and peered out into the rain. We have less than two hours, I know that now. Less than two hours to end this fucking nightmare. \n\nI hear their footsteps behind me come to a sudden halt. I turn around and lock eyes with the woman, mouth ajar and staring back. The mannequins are missing. I feel human again. \n\nThat’s all I wrote so far, thanks for reading! :p" ]	2
	[WP] You’re sat down at the bus stop, after a testing day at work. Deborah, your condescending and useless boss, decided that a good time to relay your progress (or lack of it) was at today’s staff meeting. The clicking of familiar high heels grabs you attention. There she is. Beside you. Deborah.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Look, I get it, it sucks. You don't deserve how he's treating you, but please stop taking it out on me.\"\n\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\nI didn't know what prompted me to even say anything, especially the bullshit I was about to shovel her way, I could have just ignored her. But I wasn't going to. I was tired of her shit.\n\n\n\"The whole office knows about him and that skank from the ride share. We know he's a turd and you deserve much better. But you need to stand up for yourself and stop taking it out on us. We've been rooting for you for months, but you've been letting him walk all over you, then taking it out on us. We're trying to be there for you, but it can't keep going on like this.\"\n\n\nShe stared at me, mouth open.\n\n\n\"You're a strong, independent, woman. I know it hurts, but you fucking got this Debra. If you can get those untouchable IT chucklefucks from Ohio in line, you can fucking do anything.\"\n\n\nHer mouth snapped closed. Confusion and anger were repleaced with her usual haughty pride.\n\n\n\"You're right Damian. I've put up with this shit for too long? And for what? A man who makes ME use a used car that dies at the drop of a hat?! I don't fucking think so!\"\n\n\nAs she stomped off, pulling out her phone, I pulled a face. My name wasn't Damian. By the time the bus was pulled up, a taxi arrived and she got in.\n\n\nDebra wasn't at work the next day. Nor for the rest of the week. The following Monday, we had a new manager. Debra had \"moved on to new opportunities\".\n\n\nIt was another few weeks before we finally learned what happened. Turns out my little lie wasn't too much of a lie. Her husband had been banging his secretary, and that taxi had dropped Debra off when they were \"in the moment\" at his job. When the dust settled, both Debra and the side chick were arrested. The husband had run, nearly ran over the responding officers, grabbed their kids and fleed over state lines before finally being caught.\n\n\nThe best part of it all and the nail that killed all sympathy I may have had? Debra never learned my fucking name. There is no fucking Damian at our location. The description given to the front desk was a \"Tatted skin head gangster\". I don't have tattoos and it's fucking cancer Debra!" ]	2
	[WP] “You may be stronger than me. More skilled than me. Smarter than me. And all around better than me. But only one of us has a gun.”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns." ]	1
	[WP] You are a dog. You can see the future. Your owner is an idiot.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\[early 2000's\\]\n\nOWNER: \"Spartacus is the dumbest dog, I'm telling you!\"\n\nFRIEND: \"How's that?\"\n\nOWNER: \"Watch this - if he sees an apple -\" \n\nSPARTACUS: BARK BARK BARK!\n\nOWNER: \"Just loses his ever - loving mind! Every single time! What sort of dog does that! What a dingus!\"\n\nFRIEND: \"I dunno, makes sense to me. An apple a day keeps me away too.... Now what's he up to?\"\n\nOWNER: \"Spartacus, what in the hell - look at him, tearing up my newspaper! Don't get the sports page, you turd-eating weirdo! Get!\"\n\nFRIEND: \"Ahhaa!! He brought you a page, what'd you get?\"\n\nOWNER: \"Looks like, stock market info or something? Wall Street stuff? I - \"\n\nSPARTACUS: \\[whining intensely\\]\n\nOWNER: \"Shut your damn yodeling! That's it! I'm returning this dog to that witch from the bridge, he's not worth half the mushrooms he cost!\"" ]	2
	[WP] In a world where superheroes and villains exist. You're a villain(with a reputation). One evening you're fighting against one young superhero and suddenly he/she has a panic attack in the middle of the fight.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Panic. Their first instinct was always panic. \n\nAnd why wouldn't it be? \n\nThe allure of standing up for someone else and causing a difference in the world was one not easily ignored. Especially when it was so easy to stand up for others and do things for them. It was always easier to live for others than to live for yourself.\n\nAnd so they would galavant gayly about their lives constantly willingly throwing away pieces of their soul all because self-reflection and preservation were oh so very terrifying. \n\nIf people appreciated me than surely I am worthwhile! I don't have to do anything to stand out so long as I can help others.\n\nI could understand the sentiment but it was the will of cowards. People who were afraid of commitment. The public saw them as great defenders and 'heroes' because it is so much easier to pin your hopes and dreams on others than to think for yourself. \n\n\"You're using the whole world as a proxy.\" their eyes widened, fraught with fear and pleading. They had a name of course but I didn't care for it. If they don't care about themselves then what purpose is there for me to care for them?\n\n\"Y-you're wrong!\" they looked around trying to find me but all they would find are shadows. It didn't make a difference, the words they spoke were nothing more than a lie they told themselves to give their life meaning.\n\n\"That I can assure you whole-heartedly isn't true. I have never once faltered in my convictions or doubted my cause. Can you say the same?\" my voice echoed all around them piercing all the chinks in their armor. \n\n\"M-my cause?\" they doubted themselves. It was as if they were unsure of what to do now.\n\nIn this state, they were the most vulnerable and it was the time that I would decide their fate. \n\n\"What do you live for?\"\n\n\"Isn't it obvious villain? To protect the world!\"\n\nDelusions of grandeur. When people lull themselves into the sense that they are serving a higher purpose it is easy to convince themselves there is no need to change themselves. They thought of me as a criminal but they don't see the true crime. None of them respect themselves.\n\nThere would be no way to free them of these thoughts. Nothing I would say would convince them. \n\\---- \nIn tonight's news - another budding hero perishes to an unknown assailant after succumbing to a panic attack. A trend of such deaths has become increasingly common. Are these the result of some mysterious mastermind or is it just a strange new disease?\n\nThe media never fails at glorifying a horrifying situation. Terror profits after all.\n\nMaybe I should pay them a visit next.", "\"okay, calm down, calm down. are you okay?\"\n\nI got out of my robotic mech suit, and as I watch Lightning Man start to hyperventilate I try to remember the tactics I learned with my psychiatrist. \n\n\"do you remember your name?\" I said, now standing next to him, my hand oh is shoulder, while starting to panic myself. He replies, saying, \n\n\"Do you really think I'm going to fall for that?\" I realized I just asked him for his secret identity, \"\n\n\"Okay I see where I went wrong, start naming the things that you see!\" I said, finally remembering what I learned. \n\n\"I-I see a lamp post\" \n\n\"What else?\" \n\n\"Um cars. Yeah cars.\" \n\n\"More, more!\" \n\n\"The sun, clouds, a street, skyscrapers I guess\" I saw his panic start to evaporate.\n\n\"are you good now buddy? Everything better?\" He got out of his bent posture standing up more straight.\n\n\"I-I need water.\" he said while fanning his face with his hands.\n\n\"Yeah, no problem Ill be right back.\" I run into a Starbucks that I see. Surprisingly no one is in it\n\n\"Oh yeah the evacuation\" I thought to myself. I grabbed a plastic cup and filled it with water from a faucet. I start to run back out\n\n\"This good man?\" I asked, handing him the cup.\n\n\"Yeah, yeah. Thanks\" He chugs the whole cup. \n\"okay, lets call it a day and get back home alright?\"\n\"alright\" he crushed the cup in his hands and destroys it with a miniature bolt of lightning. \n\"great. get some rest man. \" I patted him on the back and then we walked in separate directions. Wit ha running start he shoots lightning on the ground and jumps in the air, flying away. I got into my mech suit and started to jog home. \n\nIs this what it feels like to be good?\n\nHey guys this was my first writing prompt and I know it was short but I had a fun time doing it and would love feedback. thanks guys.", "The Fantastic Miss Firestone, a hero with supreme pyrokinetic abilities that can enable her to fly, create living golems of pure fire, cause explosions, and so much more. She was no more powerful than the average pyro, but her mastery and training is what made her so special to me.\n\nShe stood with poise and power, ready to handle our usual sparring match. I stood on one end of an abandoned warehouse while she chose the other. She started off with the usual heroic speech:\n\n\"You're insane, blah blah blah, need help, blah blah blah, hurting people, blah blah blah.\"\n\nThen I decided to initiate the fight with a minor attack. One she could see coming from a mile away and deflect. I sent the Shadow Hand. My right hand morphed into a movable claw comprised entirely of smoke. It was as solid as I needed it to be at a given moment and works wonders on lesser heroes.\n\nI launched it at her, a thick stream of smoke still connecting it to my arm as she slashed at it with a flame-coated hand. She followed it up by launching a fireball at me, which I deflected. \n\nThough, in retrospect, I realize that my haste caused a bunch of nearby crates to ignite. Not a big deal in most cases, but for a person whose abilities are entirely shadow-based, light is the enemy.\n\nI turned to run from the fire and retreat further into shadows of the abandoned warehouse, only to be met by a wall of flames. I turned to her and saw the flames expanding outward from her left foot all the way to my position.\n\n\"Your range is getting better.\" I said.\n\nShe gave a half smile in response before taking a few steps forward, allowing the wall to expand further and encircle me. \n\nI took to the air, sending my Shadow Hand upward to a wooden rafter and pulling myself up. I turned to the floor as the wall dissipated.\n\nShe saw that.\n\nI turned my eyes down to her, the bright orange costume of hers was plainly visible even without much light. She was a good distance from the flames and would have a hard time seeing me. I turned Spectre. My entire body became shade, allowing me to glide a short distance without noise. I can't hold that form for long but it is useful in a stealth scenario.\n\nI drifted a few feet along the rafter until I found a cross-section lying close above her head. I released the Spectre and held my palm flat to her direction when I noticed her do the same thing. \n\nA small ball of flame, no larger than an ember formed in her palm and slowly grew in intensity. It grew brighter but remained the same size as she poured more and more energy into it. She learned that trick roughly three years ago after the Bus Incident.\n\nI remember that fondly.\n\nJust before she released the blast, I turned Spectre and fell to the floor.\n\nThen the warehouse ceiling tore open as the shockwave of her Directed Explosion formed a massive pillar of flame that destroyed everything in its wake. \n\nIn spite of the fact that that would have most certainly killed me, I decided to engage in our usual banter again. \"You're getting predictable, dear.\"\n\n\"Am I?\"\n\nOne of her flaming golems came up from behind and attempted to grab me. The flaming crates, as I realized, were still made of her flame and could be controlled by her. She constructed the golem while I was focused on her.\n\nOutstanding move.\n\nBefore its arm could touch me, I turned Spectre once again and encompassed it, snuffing out the flames before being forced back to my normal state, my Spectre fully exhausted.\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\nShe smirked and turned both hands to me and hurled flaming spears in my direction. This was her plan. She made me use up my ability fully before unveiling her latest one.\n\nThankfully, I had one too. \n\nShade Cloak was my newest experiment. Unlike with Spectre, I don't turn myself into shade, but instead change the air around me. I took a page from her Firewall and made it my own. \n\nI rose the wall of black smoke just in time for the flaming spears to fizzle out on contact. I couldn't see what was happening behind the wall, but knew she had to still be in the same position, so I expanded the wall out, surrounding her and closing the top so she couldn't fly out.\n\nShe was trapped in a dome of my Shade.\n\nI slowly forced the dome to shrink, both as a means of preserving my powers and to further mess with her.\n\n\"You almost got me there, dear.\" I said, taking a step toward the shrinking black ball. \"But I think we'll call this one a win for me. Whaddaya say?\"\n\nSilence.\n\n\"Firestone? Come on. I won this one.\"\n\nMore silence. \n\nI knocked on the ball, trying to get her attention. \"Come on, dear. I'll let you take me back to jail if you just say 'Smoke, you win'.\"\n\nYet more silence.\n\nI pressed my ear firmly to the dome, checking to make sure she was actually in there. Then I heard it.\n\nSobbing. \n\nShe was crying.\n\nI instantly removed the dome and looked down at her. She was lying on the floor, curled up and sobbing. This wasn't the sort of fake crying Necron used, it was real and genuine.\n\n\"Firestone?\" I asked, my head cocked to the side. \"Y-you okay?\"\n\nShe was shivering. Not the sort of pained shivers brought on by immense cold, she could always counteract that, but more like her blood had been drained and she couldn't make any body heat at all.\n\nI sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, careful to only touch the part that was covered by her costume. Even through the strange cloth, she was very cold. \n\n\"You are claustrophobic, aren't you?\" I said flatly. I tried my best to sound like a concerned friend rather than a villain trying to gather information.\n\nShe nodded silently, her sobs regressing into a hyperventilating shiver. \n\nI patted the cloth on her shoulder and sat next to her for a while. Occasionally trying to make her laugh or give her some comfort. \n\n\"Are you going to be okay?\" I asked her as she finally sat up and wiped her face.\n\n\"Yeah. I think so.\" She sighed. \"Sorry about all that. I kinda ruined the victory, didn't I?\"\n\n\"No, no, no, no, no.\" I blurted out. It wasn't her fault for being afraid of something. Then again, I had to retain some form of villainous appearance. \"Are you kidding? I made Miss Firestone cry. That just made the victory so much better.\"\n\n\"Sure.\" She said, rolling her eyes.\n\nWell, she had recovered enough to be snide. \n\nI stood up and held my hand out to her, which she took.\n\nI pulled her up and she dusted herself off, not that there was any dust anyway. I had swept the place a few hours ago in preparation for our fight. \n\n\"So how do we do this?\" I asked. \"Do we walk out of here and have you pretend to take me to jail or do we do the whole 'I escaped, but we'll meet again' thing.\"\n\n\"Let's just get out of here, please.\" She said, looking off to the side. She didn't have the energy to do her usual poise and power thing, which made sense enough to me.\n\n\"Alright.\" I said, turning to the warehouse entrance. Neither of us had the energy to keep playing the parts today.\n\nShe followed close behind me as we walked, occasionally stepping on the back of my shoe on accident. I pretended not to mind.\n\n\"So,\" she said as we passed over the threshold and onto the dock, her voice slightly lighter. \"Were you using my Firewall back there?\"" ]	4
	[WP] A civilization at the end of the universe. They've already tapped the energy from every last star and black hole. As their advanced technology is grinding to a halt and their far flung outposts are going silent, they huddle around something they haven't used in millions of years: a campfire.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So this is it then?\"\n\nAt the end of everything there was darkness.\n\n\"I think so.\"\n\nAt the end of everything, there was cold.\n\n\"Just the five of us, at the end of everything.\"\n\nAnd most of all, at the end of everything, there was emptiness.\n\nFloating on a rock in the middle of the void was the last five survivors of the Elders, the oldest race in the universe, and now the last as well. When the stars had grown cold, they'd turns to black holes, siphoning power off of their gravitational waves to power the last of their grand cities. Eventually though, even the black holes had run out of energy to give, so the Elders had turned to matter annihilation reactions. Slowly draining the universe not only of its energy, but its matter as well, just ot maintain their lifestyle. Thanks to them, the universe had reached heat death hundreds of magnitudes of times shorter than it would have without them.\n\nSo all that was left was five of them, cuddled around a campfire made from the electronic parts of the harvester station. The last source of heat and light in all of reality, and it would only last for another five minutes before it too would grow cold. And then nothing would be left but the empty shell of the floating space station and the dozen or so frozen corpses of their comrades that they would soon join.\n\n\"We could go get one of the others...\"\n\n\"No. It wouldn't make this last more than another half an hour for any given one of them. They deserve their peace.\"\n\n\"We burned the others, didn't we?\"\n\n\"We did, and I regret doing it. We've already run out of time. Now we just wait for the end.\"\n\n\"...I guess.\"\n\nHe looked over at the sleek body of his sister, Stella. Out of everyone, Jereb felt he was one of the last people that deserved to have family still alive. There had been fighting, their robotic bodies, put into required commission a hundred years ago for their greater heat efficiency, were still burnable. Most of the station had died in the last fights for fuel for the campfires.\n\nJereb broke the silence again. \"It's funny, isn't it? Once, long ago our most distant ancestors cuddled around fires like these for warmth. When the nights got cold, they would build them out of wood and twigs. Back before the Suns went out. Back before... everything went out.\"\n\nThe others stared at him. It was cold, but not so cold that there wasn't room for emotion left. \"Sorry, that thought started out meaning to be cheerful. That even now there's something left to connect us to the first.\"\n\nThey stared at him some more, then back at the fire. Stella stood up. Tyvion glanced up at her and spoke first. \"Where are you going?\"\n\n\"To be with the others. To freeze. It's selfish but I don't want to be here to watch the rest of you die. I'd rather do it alone.\"\n\n\"...Oh. Good night then Stella.\"\n\n\"Good night, Tyvion. I'll dream of you on the other side.\"\n\nAnd then she was gone into the dark.\n\nSlowly, in silence, the fire died down. Nothing was left but embers as they sat and watched. One by one, wordlessly, the other two got up and joined Stella in the frozen silence beyond. At last it was just Jereb and Tyvion, staring at the fire. Shutting down slowly, piece by piece.\n\nTyvion shivered for just a moment, and looked at Jereb. \"...Do you really think that we'll dream on the other side? That there's something besides just more of the cold and the dark?\"\n\nJereb looked at him, and thought for a moment. He didn't think long though, there wasn't much long left before they went to sleep, and then stopped entirely. \"I hope so. If there is, I want to dream of the days of the light. Before our people sapped everything of power. Back when there were suns, and stars, and galaxies. When the universe was awash in stardust and hope.\"\n\nTyvion nodded slowly. \"Me too. I think I'll dream of that, with Stella. Good night Jereb.\"\n\n\"Good night Tyvion\". And then Jereb was alone.\n\nBut not for long. Jereb shivered as his battery ran down. There was supposed to be a sleep function. On all the others there was, to drift him off gently instead of a hard freeze right at the end. Jereb hadn't told the others but he'd disabled his. It was a selfish conceit, but... he wanted to be awake for the last moments. He wanted one last moment. \n\nHe stood up, and staggered down the hallways, away from the campfire. He slowly made his way past the frozen corpses of his fellows, recounting every face as he passed them. The last of his memories not frozen in the ice slowly overtaking his mind and body flashing before his eyes. Finally, he found the room. The home room, once upon a time when he was a child he had played in here with holograms of the universe. Diagrams of stars and planets. It had long since been torn out and the electronics used as fuel, but he remembered it fondly.\n\nHe sat down crosslegged in the center of the room, then closed his eyes.\n\n\"Good night Jereb.\"" ]	2
	[WP] "Forget" Is a word of the past. Technology has made human memory impeccable and no one can forget anything. One day you wake up, only to find that you don't remember anything of last week.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "They say life comes full circle, but maybe it’s more of a line- back and forth. Blindly we walk along it, never quite knowing when we reach the end. Before, they just kept walking along the line until they couldn’t walk any further and death took them. While they made new experiences, new memories, they also forgot many old ones. Most people didn’t remember anything from when they were young. But 200 years ago they stopped us from forgetting. We now can remember everything, from the moment we’re born until the end of the line. Except now, death doesn’t take us at the end, but at the start. They say the first signs that death is imminent is forgetting small things, where you left your keys, your wallet. As death progresses so does your memory loss. Takes your life, your memories away from you, opposite the way they came. You can’t remember yesterday, last year, then the last ten years until all that is left is when you were born. Back, and forth, on the line. It’s like watching your life flash before your eyes in reverse. I’m scared, I’ll miss my family, my children but happy to see everything again. I don’t remember last week at all." ]	2
	[WP] every spacefaring intelligent species has some sort of magical advantage to help it survive. Humanity's advantage is that it has none.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "When Earthlings took to the stars, their galactic neighbors took little notice of the awkward bags of flesh. The humanoids’ lack of any Gift had been apparent to the highly-advanced civilizations of the Milky Way for hundreds of years before mankind had even discovered spaceflight. And so, the tenants of the wet little rock circling Astra Humana — the star humans knew as “the Sun” — were left undisturbed.\n\nHowever, when the humans began exploring beyond their planet, other species began approaching them with more caution. The once-harmless terrestrial-bound hairless apes were encroaching on others’ territory. The Galactic Federation knew something must be done.\n\nThe first to establish contact with the Earthlings were the Lizards of Went. Graced with the Gift of supreme diplomacy, the Wentians were believed to be an ideal welcoming party. And, to the credit of both civilizations, the Earthlings and Wentians became fast friends. After the initial shock of discovering they were not, as previously thought, alone in this massive galaxy, humans began learning from the Wentians. They studied the Wentians’ philosophy and adopted their teachings. Unfortunately, the Wentians were repaid only with plague. The humanoids carried with them bacteria and viruses — the kind which humans had grown impervious to over the course of thousands of years on Earth. These diseases ravaged the reptilial Wentians’ delicate biological processes, and within a matter of years the Wentian race was essentially extinct.\n\nFollowing the Great Wentian Plague, other residents of the Milky Way viewed the Earthlings with fear and increased hostility. What followed was two centuries of confrontation. \n\nThe herculean Colossi of Kharth brought their might to the humans’ doorstep. The Colossi’s strength was well known throughout the galaxy. And, their attacks on Earth wrecked havoc on the World of Men. But, faced with the greatest existential threat since reckoning with their own damage to the planet’s environment, mankind united once again. The people of Earth shared knowledge, technology, and weaponry and repelled the Colossi in a series of magnificent and horrific battles. In the end, the depleted Colossi fled — their only souvenir was a new human word in their language: retreat.\n\nFollowing the Kharthan Wars, humankind rebuilt. As they did, other gifted races tried to undermine the Earthlings’ civilization. The Intellectuals of Yarris attempted to use trickery and deception to enslave mankind. However, given their own wretched history of enslaving one another, the races of Earth recognized the ploy. The Intellectuals’ great wisdom was no match for the lessons the humans learned from the Colossi. \n\nThe Galactic Federation was left to examine its years of failures in addressing the Earthling problem. The humans had beaten back some of the great civilizations of the galaxy. And, the Supreme Leadership Council was at a loss. What power was it that made the Earthlings so impervious?\n\nThe truth none of them could see? The humans’ relative mediocrity bestowed on them the greatest Gift in the Universe: boundless potential for improvement." ]	2
	[WP] You have a tendency to meow back at your cat when it meows at you. Little do you know, your meows have meaning and often form coherent conversation to you cat.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I have always been in love with cats .to me all cats are cute so I volunteer at a no kill shelter that takes cats. Some times I feel like there’s a big conversation going on there. Most of the time about dandruff and how to take care of it in different dialects.\n\n\nYesterday I had a dream. That there was a cat lady just hugging my slowly mowing to me saying that I was going to be awarded with a boon.J but that was a dream \n\nSo I have a tendency to meow to the cat in the shelter. To day it was sir black magic. Turn to be leader of the fluff ball relaxing neck scratching competition. And I just thank him for his time. \n\nMournful cry in a slow deep meow \n....... \n\nHello there human. I know you can understand me but I need you to scratch me softly . It seams that there’s a infection of lice.\n\n......\n\nMeow ." ]	2
	[WP] You are a scientist and you unwittingly discover time travel. You go to the past to get ahead of a waiting line so you could get a coffee before work, when suddenly a group of battle-torn warriors arrive at your doorstep. You have apparently undone everything they did to prevent the apocalypse.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Sweating and bloodied, a man in tattered clothes crashes through the aluminium double doors. Today was the day; he knew it was. But looking at the empty platform in front of him the smell of ozone still fresh in the air, despair gripped his heart.\n\n\nThe man looked down at the glass canister in his hands. The embryonic figure within was fading fast, and he knew the minutes he thought he'd had to deliver it to the safety of his own time were rapidly draining away. \n\n\nTaking out a pristine chrome orb from within the shreds of his standard issue jumpsuit he pressed the almost imperceptible divot, causing an animated shape he wished he'd never see in his lifetime to illuminate its surface: a butterfly, gently beating it's wings. \n\n\nKnowing it's not a matter of when they received the signal, the man slumped against a wall cradling the canister to his chest. Now the only thought running like a hurricane through his mind 'What was so important as to squander the first recorded time leap?'", "I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:\n\n- [/r/u_bustard18] [\\[WP\\] You are a scientist and you unwittingly discover time travel. You go to the past to get ahead of a waiting line so you could get a coffee before work, when suddenly a group of battle-torn warriors arrive at your doorstep. You have apparently undone everything they did to prevent the apocalypse.](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_bustard18/comments/dr9zwt/wp_you_are_a_scientist_and_you_unwittingly/)\n\n&nbsp;^(If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads.) ^\\([Info](/r/TotesMessenger) ^/ ^[Contact](/message/compose?to=/r/TotesMessenger))", "Beth stretched happily 'ah, the power of time travel' who would have thought she could use it to get her morning coffee from her favourite place down the road and get to the lab on time.\n\nShe buzzed herself in a smug grin plastered on her face on top of a layer of well done makeup. This was the first time in the many years since she had joined the company straight out of university, she had wanted to do the world good, but that did require some sacrifices such as her self love makeup Monday's where she enjoyed putting on some tasteful make up so when she walked past reflective serfaces she could look at herself and go 'damn, I look hot as hell'\n\nShe brushed past Jake and Ellie, Jake was working to make fashion more sustainable and Ellie was working on a project that would make transportation of goods less taxing on the environment by making them smaller so more could be transported in one go.\n\nShe gave Ellie a wave \"hi Ellie!\" Jake waved and she gave him a mock sulute she entered her office/lab space kicking the door shut and petting her lab cat.\n\nPulling off her winter jacket and the scarf she had managed to put on this morning to ward off the harsh winter of the Scottish Highlands. No cold for her this month and all thanks to time travel.\n\nJust as she was sitting down to finish a few bits and pieces there was a sound like the air being unsettled like it was being pushed out of the way of the way by an object materialising or growing suddenly as if a high mass, high density object became a high mass, low density object. Paper flew around, test tubes a bits of mashine fell off tables and into one another the lab cat jumped onto the top of her bookself and she screamed as 6 men and women appeared before her.\n\n\"What have you done, you stupid girl! You and your stupid scarf have ruined everything!\"\n\nBeth stared up \"what?!\"\n\nDun, DuN DuNnUnaNNN!", "The coffee was indeed good. How could have I gone without it? Discovering the secret to time travel is the best thing that could happen to me!\n\nI know, I know. Traveling a couple of hours to the past just to get first in line to the coffee shop might seem like a petty misuse of such a powerful invention, and it kinda is. I just couldn't help it. I needed my double caramel macchiato to start my day, and Daisy's is the best in town.\n\nBesides I'm still working out the kinks of the machine and specially how I'm going to use it. There's so many possibilities to it. I can only imagine all of the lost knowledge and history's mysteries that can be unveiled using this small device. All the lives I could eventually save and even space exploration. Right now time is the biggest obstacle to colonize the stars, and with this device we can create as much time as we need...\n\nI got out of my daydreaming as I approached my apartment. I took out my keys and unlocked the door. Then, as I was opening the door and stepping in, I noticed four silhouettes sitting in my living room. These people looked roughed, their dirty clothes worn and discolored. A couple of them had deep scars. \n\n\"What?\" I stopped dead on my tracks and was ready to turn and run. \n\n\"Wait!\" a tall man among them stood up and yelled. \"We mean no harm!\"\n\n\"You don't?\" I don't know why I didn't run away. His voice was almost hypnotic and drew me towards him. I unconsciously took another step towards them. It was a terrible mistake.\n\n\"Wham!!\" The door slammed shut behind my back and I was thrown away, losing grip on my drink as it spilled on the carpet. Unbeknownst to me there was another one of them behind the door. He was way angrier than the others.\n\n\"Do you have any idea what you've just done you stupid bimbo?!\"\n\nWhat? What was he talking about? Who were these people? What were they doing in my home? I wanted to scream, I wanted to yell for help. But I couldn't do a thing. I was completely frozen in place, unable to move, speak or even think. \n\nThe big man took me and pinned me to the wall. I was still in shock and couldn't do a thing.\n\n\"We had just beaten them!, We had just freed humanity!\" He yelled on my face as he swinged me. \"We had just taken the Director! Do you have any idea how much we sacrificed for the victory? Everybody we lost? And then you had to undo it all with your stupid toy!\"\n\n\"The toy... you mean the device?\" I finally managed to snap out and at least talk. \"All I did was to have a coffee... and you just spilled it\" \n\n\"You ruined everything, for a coffee?!\" He was even angrier and that moment I truly feared for my life.\n\n\"Wait!\" The tall man from before interrupted. \"I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding.\" He turned towards me. \"Look, like I said we -at least most of us- come in peace. We mean no harm to you. You have to understand our frustration. We come from the future, in a hundred years a cartel of multinational corporations will make its move, strike at the big cities, get control of the world and enslave humanity.\"\n\n\"How does that relate to me?\"\n\n\"We don't know. We had just achieved victory when a time wave reached our time and changed it everything, for the worse. We managed to track the changes to the timeline right to the moment you jumped back this morning.\" His voice was very calming and almost intoxicating. Somehow under all that dirt, blood and scars he was actually kind of cute. \n\n\"We would have jumped before, but this was the earliest the time device we could find allowed it. We are not even sure what changed, just that that change somehow started today, in this place.\"\n\n\"But, it was all harmless.\" \n\n\"Maybe it wasn't the coffee. Maybe it was something you were going to do after the coffee.\"\n\n\"Then you have nothing to worry. I don't intend to ever misuse it. I promise I'll just use it to research the past, not to change it.\"\n\n\"I guess that's enough for me\" The guy finally conceded. \"Drop her.\" \n\n\"Wait, boss\" Another of the travelers interrupted as he -or was he a he? it was hard to notice under all the gear and war wounds- . \"The timeline remains altered. Nothing has been changed.\"\n\n\"Only one way to fix it then.\" The big guy holding me drew a futuristic looking gun and pointed it to my head. \"We destroy the device, and we kill the b!tch and everybody that could make another.\"\n\n\"Wait! We don't know if that's gonna solve anything!\"\n\n\"On the contrary boss, we cannot allow the device to exist.\" The androgynous traveler said dispassionately. \"Continuous use of it likely is what changed the timeline.\"\n\n\"What is one life compared to hundreds in war?\"\n\nAll of the others nodded in agreement. I was in tears and completely impotent as others decided putting an end to my life. Never before had I felt as powerless. Who were these people to decide over my fate? What right did they have?\n\nAs the man cocked the gun I felt my heartbeat stopping entirely. It was not fair. I no longer felt fear nor sadness, all of it had turned to anger and the desire to have power over them. The power to stop them, the power to make them go away, the power to make them suffer... \n\nA flashing explosion of light filled the room. In the impact, the huge thug finally let go of me. As I touched the ground, I noticed a new person next to me. She was shrouded in shadows, and I couldn't see her face, but her voice sounded oddly familiar.\n\n\"Hurry! Yowie is waiting for you in the stars!\" \n\nThat phrase, that very phrase. Nobody else should be able to know about the little bear I used to have as a little girl. The one little bear I lost in the park and never forgot about. I only got to overcome his loss by imagining he had gone to the stars and was waiting for me. I never told a soul, only one person could have known... myself.\n\nI gladly took her hand as light began engulfing us. We were out of there in a heartbeat. When I next made sense of our surroundings I noticed we were inside an old warehouse. \n\n\"I barely made it in time. Just a second more and you, we would have died.\" She told me in a reassuring way. \"I can't believe these wackos managed to get their hands on a device. How are you feeling?\"\n\n\"I was so scared\" I finally cried and hugged future me. \"I've never felt so helpless!\"\n\n\"Don't worry, you're safe now.\" She removed the high tech mask that she'd been wearing and hugged me back in a motherly way. \"And you'll never be helpless again. After all you have the device, and all the power that comes with it.\"\n\nI let go of her and looked her at the eyes. \"The power that comes with it...\" I looked at the device and couldn't help but look at the possibilities. All of the knowledge from past, present and future was on my hands. And I had all of the time of the world to put it to good use. Health? I could benefit from all the medical advances in the far future today. Money? I could go back before card counting was a thing and beat every casino on a single night before they knew what hit them. Power? I could gain control of every important company in the world before anybody even suspected their true value. I could bend the whole world to my whims! \n\n\"Yes, power. I've got power.\" I laughed \"I'm going to assume control of this world, and when I'm done. Those idiots will pay for all the suffering they put me through!! I'm going to crush their world and everything they stand for!\" \n\n\"Yes, my dear.\" Future me spoke \"You'll do all that and more! but first.\" She took out a coffee glass out of a box. \"You need your coffee.\"\n\n\"A double caramel macchiato! Thank you!\" I hug future me once again and hurried to take the delicious drink out of her hands. \n\n\"This coffee is good. How could have I gone without it?\" she said.\n\nDiscovering the secret to time travel is the best thing that could happen to me!", "9:54 A.M. ?!!!\n\nDammit, by now all the vegan blueberry cronuts have been sold-out. I could taste them in my dream. The perfect flakiness and crunch. The fresh smell of sugar, baked air. That sweet and tart purple glaze. Then wash it all down with warm vanilla bean coffee. My brain imagines the nostalgic scent. I swallow a pool of saliva. \n\nBut this is no problem for a genius as myself. Sure I can't bake a pastry or not burn coffee, but I can time travel...What's the worse that can happen? It'll take just a moment.\n\nI punch in the coordinates. \n\nPLACE: CRONUT CASTLE \nTIME: ummmm 7:30 A.M.\n\nThat way I'll just have to wait five minutes in line. Easy peasy. Now to find a near by roaming wormhole....There we go. Stabilize input entrance. Bah bah baahh. Now Stabilize output exit. Do do dooo. Let time tunnel form.......God, how long is this gonna take. I can already feel my coffee getting cold. Wipe the corners of my mouth so I don't look like a rabid hungry beast. Rub off these eye crustys. Practice my order. Four blueberry cronuts and a large vanilla bean coffee, please. God I kinda hope and don't hope Katie is or is not working counter today. Four cronuts does seem like a lot. Maybe three? I'll just say it's for a friend and order two small coffees. Yeah that'll seem like I have a friend. You're such a genius, Mark. Ha!......yeah, right.... Dude, what is taking this time tunnel so long-\n\nBOOOOOOOOOSHHHHH!!!!!\n\nWhat the hell was that?! It came from the living room. Spys?! Where's my atom ray? Dammit! I left it in the kitchen! \n\n\"Arthur activate Panic Room.\"\n\n\"Security code please.\"\n\n\"Forrest Whitaker\" DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN WOOOOSHHH\n\nNow lets see whose on camera. I don't know these guys. \"Arthur face recognition.\"\n\n\"Face ID picks up no matches\"\n\nHmm looks a beat up rag-tag group of soldiers. Those badges and uniforms don't jog a thing for my noggin. Dammit, they destroyed my entertainment system. What do they want? - BUMBUMBUM! Shit, they're outside. \n\n\"Marcus X! We're here to prevent the Solar War! We need you to stay back in your time plane! You will be murdered if you go back in time! We need you for the future! Marcus, please! Whatever it is, Stay!\"\n\nI'll be murdered? Jeez that must've been a hell of a line at the Cronut Castle. Who are these guys?\n\n\"Arthur, house speakers on , please.....Who are you! And who will murder me!\" \n\n\"We're a rebel force from 2199 and Marcus, this maybe seem insane but. If yo go back in time and go in line at Cronut Castle. You will take the last cronut away from Pollard Roxus.\"\n\n\".........who?\"\n\n\"The story goes he won't get a cronut and that will be what makes him snap. He'll follow you back to your house and kill you while you have breakfast. We need you for the future, Marcus. Please, please, stay back in time. And forget those forsaken cronuts!\"\n\nBLIP. \"Time Tunnel fully formed\"\n\n.....Dammit, so I don't end up having cronuts today. What a gyp.", "Everything froze.\n\nThe fly that was near a light bulb. \nThe steam rising from my coffee. (Strangely, the coffee itself was still liquid, and it moved with my cup)\n\nEven the pen, which I had dropped moments before, was stationary, floating midair.\n\nEverything but the door, which burst open as dozens of men and women in tight fitting, futuristic, matching suits ran in. \n\"Threat Level 0,\" said a woman in the back. She seemed to be giving orders. \nI sipped my coffee. I was relatively calm, and assumed I had fallen asleep. A side affect of a failed project years ago caused me to black out often, and lucid dreams were not a rarity during those instances. \nA man walked up to me. \nI watched him, but remained silent. \n\n\n\"You have violated Time Mandate 374, and will be judged on site. How do you wish to plead?\" the man said. \n\n\n\"Time Mandate 374?\" I asked. \n\n\nA very human voice, coming from the universe itself responded \"Time Mandate 374: The act of changing timelines, in such a way as to cost great amounts of human loss of life, with \"great amounts\" referring to an excess of 1 billion\" \n\n\n\"I... 1 billion lives?\" I questioned.\n\n\"An excess of 1 billion\" the woman in the back corrected. \"I believe you are guilty of over 12 billion currently, and 3 billion more are near death.\"\n\nI pause to process the information. \"15 billion? There aren't even 9 billion people in the world! I plead innocent. I haven't killed anyone, or changed any timelines. Well. I bought this coffee.\" I paused. \"But that can't cause the death of more people than are currently alive!\" \n\n\n\"None who are currently alive would witness it. No one for the next 2 billion years will be affected. That one coffee kills nearly the whole human race about 2.3 billion years from now, however. Do you now plead guilty?\" \n\n\n\"2.3 Billion Years! Can you not fix the damage in any way? We're all supposed to die because of climate change in the next 20 years anyways!\" \n\n\nAlmost all of the soldiers laugh. \n\n\n\"Climate Change? Oh. I remember that from a class on United States History. The president Donald Trump fixed that issue by starting World War III. Most of Asia was wiped out for decades, but the global pollution dropped by nearly 80 percent. I believe that even without the guilty plead, the coffee you hold, along with your words are enoug...h to prove everything. We now sentence you to...\" \n\n\nI use the time machine to stop myself from buying the coffee, and then return to the same moment I had been in, moments before. \n\n\n\"Ha. He gave up his coffee. That prank never gets old!\" a man yelled from the back. \"Sorry for the trouble. And, uh, If anyone asks, we were never here. By the way, you may want to jump forward 20 years. Get a newer model belt. That one will blow up after 7 uses. Your death was quite tragic.\"", "I knock on the door to my house.\n\nAn old lady opens it. I've never seen her before.\n\n\"Uh, hi,\" I say. \"Are you a guest?\"\n\nShe shakes her head. \"Nothing like that. You're not with them, are you?\"\n\n\"Them?\" I ask.\n\n\"The Confederates have eyes everywhere,\" she whispers, \"and I'd rather they not see me.... or my son. He fought for the Union in his way, you know.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I respond, \"I didn't know.\"\n\nI hear gunshots in the distance.\n\n\"Oh, no,\" she says, \"it's the firing squads. You'd better come inside.\"\n\nI step inside the house, observing its furnishings. She referenced the American Civil War, or I could swear she did..... but the trappings of the house look modern. There's a flat-screen television in a corner of the room and a Bluetooth speaker quietly playing classical music from the radio.\n\n\"Can I make you a cup of tea?\" She asks. \"Or will coffee be better?\"\n\n\"Coffee will be just fine,\" I reply. \"I meant to fetch myself a cup on the way here.\"\n\n\"Are you a part of the resistance?\" she asks. \"I probably shouldn't be asking that.\"\n\n\"No,\" I say. \"What resistance?\"\n\n\"That's the spirit... if you are,\" she says, while cleaning off a mug and pouring a cup of coffee, which she proceeds to serve me.\n\n\"You don't seem to know anything about what's been going on the last ten years,\" she said. \"Where are you from?\"\n\n\"Emmitsburg,\" I reply.\n\n\"This is Emmitsburg,\" she says. \"How could you not know about the war and the Confederate Regime? Brother Samuel and his men have been killing everyone left and right they think of as the old establishment.\"\n\n\"Brother Samuel?\" I ask.\n\n\"The leader, after Davis and then Lee died,\" she replies.\n\nI think back to my experience in the coffee shop. The local street preacher, Brother Samuel, was standing outside, preaching his gospel of hellfire and brimstone surrounded by a crowd of hecklers, waiting to be asked to leave by the store owner. He would handle snakes and wave a Confederate flag in protest against the modern United States that he called the \"kingdom of sin\".\n\n\"Did this Brother Samuel used to be kind of a wandering preacher?\" I ask.\n\nShe nods.\n\n\"A very evil man. He asks that all of his minions likewise be called Brother. He is the First Brother.\"\n\nI remember my time travel experience, when I was late to get coffee.\n\nI had bumped into Brother Samuel on my way to get a coffee at the local coffee shop, running from his followers after he had been knocked flat on his back.\n\n\"Do you know the story of how it started?\" She asks. \"It all started with a man bumping into him in a coffee shop....\"", "\"Hm. Well, whadaya know. This is convenient...\"\n\nScientists are sometimes known to be eccentric or odd personalities. Dr. Randy Estevez was so deeply woven into this stereotype that he was considered eccentric and odd even by those who were eccentric and odd. But that didn't make his scientific work less brilliant.\n\nMaking great strides in the fields of quantum physics and astrophysics, his dream goal was to discover time travel. And today, when trying to find a way to create wormholes with a portable particle accelerator he created, he accidentally accomplished his dream. He could now manipulate the space-time continuum.\n\nAnd he knew exactly what he wanted to use it on first.\n\nIn a flash, Randy (he didn't care much for titles) appeared 2 hours in the past at Coffee Explosion, the local cafe he tried to get a coffee at before work, but where the line was just too long to do so.\n\n\"I want my dang coffee,\" he muttered to himself as he fumbled in his pocket for change. Coffee Explosion had just opened, and he was the very first in line. Thank god, this is going to come in real handy.\n\n\"Hello sir, welcome to Coffee Explosion, home of the coffee with a BURST of flavor. What can I get for you?\" The employee sounded as excited as a dog caught in the rain, but Randy didn't even notice.\n\n\"Greetings, bespectacled barista, I'll have a lovely iced caramel macchiato, please. Those things are to die for!\" The barista simply blinked and turned away to begin crafting his cup of caffeinated gold.\n\nJust then, a deafening BOOM erupted from behind and a shock wave rocked the tables. Randy and the barista spun around to find the entrance blown to smithereens and a large metal container lined with buttons sitting in its place. A moment later, five figures opened up a hatch and spilled out, dressed in layers of peculiar-looking armor and carrying what appeared to be heavy weapons. Their faces--human-like but not truly human--were covered in grit and their expressions were twisted with flared nostrils and frowns. All five stared straight at Randy.\n\n\"Dr. Randy Estevez,\" one started as he strode quickly over debris to the bewildered scientist on the stool. The strange visitor was already out of breath. \"Do not accept that macchiato.\"\n\n\"What? Why? Who are all of you?\"\n\n\"We are warriors from a planet very far from yours,\" spoke another figure. \"We fight for the universe and vigilantly protect it from apocalypse, working nonstop trying to predict inciting incidents and quell them before they can have an effect.\"\n\nRandy was now highly intrigued rather than frightened. \"You guys are aliens! This is incredible! Wow, what a day. First I discover time travel, and now I discover intelligent life from another planet! Just swell.\"\n\nAnother warrior stepped up for his turn to speak. \"And it's your human discovery of time travel that has put us all on a path to ultimate destruction. Specifically, it is your desire to use it to buy an iced caramel macchiato at this very moment that will doom us all.\"\n\nThe gravity of the situation was starting to hit Randy. This meant he wasn't going to be able to enjoy his macchiato.\n\n\"Hold on... How could my actions here lead to universal annihilation?\"\n\n\"You've heard of the butterfly effect, correct? After we detected your newly attempted purchase at this time, we predicted it would hold up other customers and cause them to arrive at their places of work later than they would have. For one of them, this would lead to an infinitesimally small reduction in total work productivity, though just large enough to later cause an important potential investor to decide not to invest in their company. This would ultimately lead to the company's downfall, causing a rival to monopolize the market and transform into a global influencer. Much later, after humans advance to space travel, this company would develop technologies to be used as weapons against other planets in their greed for power and resources. Galactic wars would later ensue, and the universe would eventually be ripped to shreds.\"\n\nThe warriors all let out a sigh. Now that it was all explained, such a horrible truth could never be defied. They would accept the scientist's acquiescence and return home, another crisis averted.\n\n\"But I want my coffee.\"\n\nThe five figures looked at Randy again. \"Sir... You can't. You simply can't. You must return to your point in time in which you left your laboratory to come here and get on without coffee today.\"\n\nRandy was a bright one, but he was dense. How, on this amazing day of scientific discovery, could he not be allowed to follow through in using his technology the way he sees fit? On top of that, and more importantly, he was tired, and he really wanted his mouth-watering iced caramel macchiato. The drone-like barista was even still continuing to make it!\n\nThe warriors could tell by the scientist's expression that they were not reaching him, and they began to panic. \"Sir, you can't be serious. Do you hear what we're saying to you?\"\n\nRandy scoffed. \"I don't know if I believe that butterfly effect stuff. This is a simple coffee. It's so good, and I need it.\"\n\n\"Excuse me,\" interrupted a voice by the nonexistent door. \"I was...looking to order some coffee?\"\n\n\"Oh, please come inside,\" responded one of the aliens. \"We're not buying anything.\"\n\n\"And order quickly!\" barked another.\n\n\"Ok...um...ok...\" said the cautious man as he maneuvered toward the counter.\n\nThe figures then drew their weapons at Randy, which whirred and beeped as they charged with unknown energy. \"We have no time, the other customers are already arriving. Don't make us kill you, Dr. Estevez. We will in order to save us all.\"\n\nThe other customer spoke to the barista, who was still slowly preparing the beverage of destiny. \"So, I don't know if I stumbled into a movie shoot or something, but I really need to order something right now or else I'll be late to work.\" \n\n\"Hold on sir, welcome to Coffee Explosion, I'll be with you in a minute.\"\n\n\"How much time do we have, captain?\" one warrior asked another.\n\n\"About 15 seconds...\" He pushed his weapon into the scientist's back. \"Last chance. Abandon your purchase or die.\"\n\nRandy stared forward with resolute eyes. He came here for one thing, and he was going to get it. \"No.\" The word flowed slowly off his tongue like molasses.\n\nThe multitude of weapons clicked and crackled, fully primed. Suddenly, a rush of air blew in from behind the counter, almost like a giant vacuum sucked from behind. The warriors turned and found their teleporter had vanished. A highly curious third customer, like a child left in a control room, had pressed one of the buttons.\n\nThe aliens were absolutely incredulous. \"Noooo!! Our teleporter!!\" They looked at the culprit. \"What would make you think that was a good idea??\"\n\n\"I don't know...I thought it was a new kind of soda machine.\"\n\nThe warriors hung their heads. One even sat on the ground, having given up. \"Is this what humans are like? Are they all oblivious? Do none of them see how their actions could have consequences?\"\n\n\"Great, now I'm going to be late,\" said the other customer on the stool.\n\n\"Here's your iced whatever, sir,\" the barista uttered as she placed the cup in front of Randy.\n\nTriumph. Randy thanked her and handed her exact change. Sipping his beverage, he grimaced as he swallowed. The girl didn't make it right. Frustrating.\n\nTwo hundred years later, the entire universe folded upon itself and disappeared.", "“Sit down!”\n\nThree men entered my home. All looked like they’d been through hell and dominated it. The biggest of the bunch pushed me into my lazy boy. Of course the push had been too hard, the landing a little less graceful than anyone thought, and I ended up tipping over.\n\nThe other two “kindly” set the chair upright with me still in it. I almost flew forward, but the man pushed me back into the chair, thankfully without tipping it this time. I wasn’t a doctor in medicine but I think I had whiplash at this point.\n\nThe man, let’s call him Gator, for interrogator, which was fitting in relation with an alligator at how scared I was, got up in my face placing both hands on the armrests.\n\n“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”\n\nI took a moment to calm myself, sort my thoughts, think of what I’ve done that could have set someone off. Was it because I cut in line at the coffee shop? No it couldn’t be that. I replied. “What did I do?”\n\n“You undid everything we did to prevent the apocalypse.”\n\nI blinked. Okay, sitting in a room, with three crackpots. Dangerous looking, end-of-the-world preppies. This was either a joke, or they’re crazy. \n\nCould I get my phone and dial nine-one-one? Nope, phone is in the other room. Scream for help? Danny, my next door neighbour, hates my guts, so chances of him calling help were slim. My other neighbour I didn’t know, and they always went for a jog this early in the morning.\n\nBut if I was late for work and didn’t call in. Would my supervisor call me to see what was going on? If I didn’t answer the phone, what would he do? Call again and keep calling till someone answered? Or leave it as an issue for tomorrow when I showed up. This project was important, so maybe he would think something was up and call the Feds.\n\nGator was glaring at me so I gave my best reply. “How so?”\n\n“The coffee.” He growled.\n\nSo it was me cutting in line. “Look I didn’t mean to cut in front of you.” Part of my mind was scrambling to remember if I had seen them at the cafe. “Could we take it easy, and maybe talk it out?”\n\nWould screaming help? I reconsidered. Could give it a try, maybe they would bolt.\n\nGator grabbed my shirt and pulled me even closer to his battered face. At this point it was safe to say I had wet myself.\n\n“You used a billion dollar machine to do it.”\n\nMy eyes widened without my control. They knew. So were they the government.\n\n“Maybe I’m not painting a clear enough picture.” He shoved me back and stood straight. “At 7:34 am of September 15 20XX. Dr. Sanders, a chemist and biologist, was working on a serum for a rare disease infecting a village in central Africa. He got his coffee, and resumed work and finished the project-“ He raised a finger. “-In that time line\n\nIn this time line. Some genius, also a doctor, specialized in engineering and advanced physics. Decided to take a little trip to the past for a coffee. Cutting the line and making Dr.Sander wait for an incredibly long time because of a” he pulled out a receipt and read it off. “One cup of coffee, large. Three parts cream, two parts sugar, with whip cream, a cherry, five shots of expresso, a shot of soy milk.” He read down the long list, eventually giving up and flinging the receipt at me and getting back in my face. “What the fuck!”\n\nThat was my order. It was a long receipt. My only complaint had been they misspelled and mispronounced my name.\n\n“That caused Dr.Sanders to leave the line because he was late for work! Not getting his coffee, falling asleep, and not finishing the cure on time!” He bellowed. “Creating a butterfly effect so uncontainable we are unable to rewrite events to prevent Armageddon!”\n\nI cringed. “I’m sorry. But a guy needs his coffee, right?” I smiled trying to alleviate the tension with a joke.\n\nGator snarled and jabbed me in the chest. “I just decided, when shit hits the fan, I’ll kill you first.", "I only wanted a cup of coffee before work, and never ever had I thought that my simple act of jumping back about half-an-hour in time would bring me into the way of some time-travelling warriors.\n\n\n\"What the hell, this man's saying he doesn't even know what he had done.\" The well-built man in a Viking's dress said to the woman who seemed to be from the future. The third one, a lanky man in a soldier's uniform patted the Viking on the shoulder and said, \"Calm down Sven, he seems to be telling the truth. After all, not many of them knows about the Continuum-Paradigm.\" The Viking grunted. The futuristic woman said \"Even then, Thomas, this guy's undone everything we had done. All the things we did to avert the Calamity, all our efforts, now in vain.\" Sven took this as a cue and was rushing toward me, pointing his trident at me. Since when did Vikings start to use tridents. Luckily Thomas pushed me away and the trident hit the counter of the coffee shop. It was good that all the customers and the employees of the shop had ran out when the three warriors entered.\n\n\n\"Look, Sven, Sipher, I think it was always meant to be this way. The Calamity was destined to come, and no one could ever stop it. I don't want to disappoint you, but it is not this scientist's fault that our efforts failed. Yes its true that him travelling in time, and getting his cup of coffee without standing in queue did have an effect. But even if it had not happened, something else would have affected our efforts. I am sorry I have not been honest with you. I have something to confess.\" Thomas said.\n\n\nSipher was shocked. She asked,\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\n\"Master Therox had forseen the future before his death. And he told me that there was no way for the Calamity to be stopped. He had seen all the possible outcomes for the future, but not a single one was in our favour. I think, time has come for the end, for our end. We just have to accept it.\"\n\n\nSven screamed,\"If I am going to die, then I might as well do myself some good. Let me kill this scientist.\"\n\n\nI didn't let him do it. I pressed the switch on my time-belt, and travelled to a decade earlier. If what the warriors had said was right, then I might not have much time left. Like Sven had said, I might as well do myself some good.", "“You idiot!” \n\nI whipped my head around to face the door to my office, where I noticed a group of rather disgruntled looking people staring back at me. \n\n“What?” I asked. \n\n“You idiot!” The one at the front shouted again, “do you have any idea what you’ve done?” \n\nI shrugged and took a sip of the coffee I’d bought before coming in to work and continued designing the blueprint for my new project.\n\n“No, I have no idea.” \n\nThe man at the front of the group put his head in his hands and shook it in disapproval. \n\n“No, no, no. You do have an idea! That blueprint you designed!” \n\nI looked down at my desk again, taking another sip of my coffee. \n\n“What’s wrong with it?” I asked. \n\nThe man trudged over to my desk and seized me by the collar. \n\n“That thing is the reason we’re like this. Your future will no longer happen, our world is destroyed.” He glared into my eyes.\n \nI looked at the blueprint again, still failing to see what was wrong with an ordinary rocket ship. \n\n“You’ve undone all our work, and yet you just sit there!” \n\nI put my hands up defensively. \n\n“Woah woah woah, I don’t even know who you are. How could I have undone your work?” \n\nThe man sighed. \n\n“The time machine.” \n\n“Yeah? And? I used it to travel back an hour to be able to buy a coffee. What’s wrong with that?” I snapped, becoming slightly annoyed. \n\n“Our entire future depended on you not getting that coffee.” \n\n“What do you mean?” \n\nThe man inhaled sharply. \n\n“We spent our entire lives trying to prevent a series of events and save the world, which began with you buying that coffee. And here you are, using time travel to reset it entirely. What a goddamn waste of our time.” \n\nI sipped the coffee. \n\n“You see, if you didn’t buy that coffee, you’d be passed out on your desk right now, completely unable to design the thing that caused the apocalypse.” The man said, pointing to my blueprint. \n\nI looked at my blueprint once again.\n\n“This? This is just something I’m doing for fun. I’m not actually going to build it.” \n\n“Exactly. But someone else does. Someone who loads it with explosives and causes a nuclear winter.”\n\n“So, you’re here now. Why can’t you just go and— I dunno, kill the person who decides to build it?” I retorted. \n\nThe man began to explain again. \n\n“We’ve weighed the outcomes, and no matter what we do, it will always get built. Unless it’s never designed, which is what we prevented the day we all lined up at the coffee shop to make the line so long that you left.” \n\n“Why can’t I just destroy the blueprint, now that you’ve warned me?” I asked him.\n\nThe man thought for a while, before turning to his troupe of war torn soldiers. \n\n“We’ve— uh, never thought about that before.”\n\n“Alright. Let’s try it. That way it’s a win-win. I get my coffee, and you guys get your future.” \n\nThey all nodded. \n\n“Here goes.” I said, as I ripped the blueprint to pieces and lit it on fire using a match I pulled from my drawer. \n\nThey all watched the flames in awe, and as soon as the fire burned out, they seemingly disappeared before my eyes. I had to do a double take, but they were now gone, as if they were never here in the first place. \n\nI hope they got their future back." ]	12
	[WP] You're a recruitment officer for a top secret organization that defends the world from demons and hides their existence from the public. But you don't recruit the agents, or the soldiers, or the researchers. You recruit the janitors.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Of course, that would be perfect.\" I made a small checkmark, just so, in my calendar, in the small box allotted for this very task. \"I'll see you at Eleven.\"\n\n\"Nathan, mark Mr. Desanto down for an eleven o'clock.\" I tapped the button on my desk, paging my secretary. \n\n\"Yes sir. Are you dining in, or shall I make a reservation?\" Ah, Nathan. Always one step ahead of me. \n\n\"Dining out. Mr. DeSanto is a big fish.\" Recruitment was like courtship, a subtle ebb and flow where each party worked towards their goals while at the same time building a relationship. \n\n\"Shall I ring Edian's then?\" \n\n\"Please and thank you, Nathan.\" \n\n\"Happy to help, sir. Mrs. Nakiri is here to meet with you, if you have the time.\" \n\n\"Send her in.\" Clicking off the line, I leaned back in my chair, appearing cool and in control, a must when dealing with Mrs. Nakiri. \n\n\"What the Below, Michaels?!\" My door slammed open without even a hint of the propriety that was expected of our positions, its shuddering frame allowing the entry of an angry old woman, her finger already wagging in my face. \"You're three sites behind, and we've got even more work tonight!\" \n\n\"Asato, sit. Please.\" Gently smoothing the position of my tie within my jacket, I gestured towards the chair across from me, into which the tiny old terror sat, though hardly with a smile. \n\n\"Don't give me the hard sell, Michaels.\" She turned her face to the side, raising her nose away from me in obvious contempt. \"Just tell me what you're doing to fix it.\" \n\n\"First, you should be mindful of your position.\" I spoke softly, demonstrating the first rule of negotiations: establish position. \"You are not my superior, but rather a coworker, with no standing to barge into my office.\" \n\n\"Ha! Equal standing?! With you?!\" The old woman clutched her sides in an attempt to quell her mocking laughter, as I continued to smile politely. \n\n\"If you have come for a progress report, I am meeting with a potential candidate tomorrow morning.\" Step two: allude to future projects, establish that progress is being made.\n\n\"A potential candidate? It's... a janitor. Go find some poor schmuck and give him a bucket and a mop. Bunch of useless trash collectors...\" Hearing her cold tone, I took a deep breath, before continuing. \n\n\"Mrs. Asato Nakiri...\" I spoke quietly, as I slowly stood from behind my desk, letting my too-long arms lengthen further, as the moon behind rose and the sun disappeared, bathing the room in silver and black. \"I assure you that although you think Combat, or Research, or Containment are more important, you should understand something.\" As expected, she shrank back, as all the humans did when one of my kind revealed themselves. \n\n\"Now wait just a minute...\" She stammered and recovered her position, trying to defend herself, even as the shadows grew deeper and the chill of an autumn breeze swept through the room. \n\n\"What we are dealing with doesn't end in Death. That paltry sibling of the Lord in the Light can't stop the threats we face.\" The moonlight revealed the dark black crown spinning around my head, hidden in the folds of space from which a soft screaming could be heard. \n\n\"I never meant to imply...\" Step Three: establish strength of position. Move negotiations to their conclusion.\n\n\"My cleaners, Mrs. Nakiri, must contend with threats beyond the scope of your fragile mind.\" In the distance, there was a crack of thunder on an otherwise clear day, the shadows began to move, creeping up the walls. \"My cleaners sweep away the darkness and give you a shiny little office to play in. They sterilize the small chunks of reality into something your eyes can see and your mind can understand.\"\n\n\"I... I'm sorry!\" She was panicked now, trying to activate the golden wards sewn in her formal Miko robes, even as I began to laugh. \n\n\"Now, please, leave me to my trash collectors.\" In the next instant, the afternoon sun was shining again, the soft orange filling the room with a cozy warmth.\n\n\"You!\" She stood, fear and embarrassment warring on her face, as she endured a shame that she felt was far beneath her. \"You'll regret this!\" \n\n\"Get.\" My voice withered as the sunny day became cloudy once more. \"Out.\"\n\n***\n\n\"Ah, Mr. DeSanto, please, have a seat.\" I smiled politely as I stood, gesturing towards the seat across from me. \n\n\"Uh, thanks.\" He was nervous. They were all nervous at first. \"Ehrm, my buddy Alex said you had some work. Said you were looking for a janitor.\" \n\n\"Indeed, Mr. DeSanto, I am looking for a trash collector.\" I smiled widely as I lifted the wine bottle. Step One: establish position...", "“Please ring mr Hoffman in!”\n\nA slightly overweight late 20s guy enters the room. He nervously looks around, clinging onto his hat as if he’s afraid that someone would steal it.\n\n“Please take a seat! I am Shade D. and I have a few questions to ask before we do anything. Please before we do anything, tell me about yourself!”\n\n“What is there to tell? I wasted my life. Spent the last 4 years in prison for various drug related charges. Found out that six years ago I knocked a girl up. She raised my son without my knowledge and after she got admitted into an insane asylum they called me because I was the next closest living relative. But being unemployed and with a lousy credit score they won’t give me custody. I need to fix my life. I saw that I could make here a six figure sum, with only a Highschool diploma. So I applied. I will do whatever it takes to make a home for him. So please.”\n\nHe threw himself onto the floor as if he was praying to a god.\n\n“Give me the job!”\n\n“Finally.” I thought.\n\n“You’d do anything?”\n\nI said while pulling out a sealed bag.\n\n“Even if I’d have to suck you off. Yes!”\n\n“Smell this then!”\n\nI opened the bag and the man nearly vomited.\n\n“The f”k is that?”\n\n“This is an ice mummy that we have liquidated. They appear from time to time when a glacier melts. Monsters are real Mr. Hoffman. and we kill them here, for a sizable government bounty.”\n\n“Will I kill them too, if I start here?”\n\n“Oh, dear deities no. Your job would be more important than killing the monsters. You’d clean up the mess. If you thought a rotting corpse smelled bad, try to survive an forest giants toe. It literally kills dozens of people every year. In this country alone. Most of our combat operatives nearly die from killing those things and the army makes enough nutcases to replace those every few months. But someone needs to clean up the disgusting stuff that afterwards. And you didn’t pass out from this bag here alone. So this makes you more qualified than the last 10 guys we had to drag out before you entered. Which probably explains why we offer 122k for the first year alone and up to 340k for long term employees.”\n\n“So, I’d habe to touch like acid blood?”\n\n“Scepter vampire blood only with gloves please.”\n\n“Isn’t that like, super deadly?”\n\n“If you get called every unexpected harmful factor will already be cleared. So as long as you follow the rule book, you aren’t in more danger than anyone else.”\n\n“This is... a lot to take in. I’d be a glorified janitor then.”\n\n“We’d be happy to have you as our janitor then. So, sure, we aren’t expecting anyone else today and you qualify for the job. Just call by the weekend.”\n\nMr Hoffman stood up and was about to leave the room when I told him one last thing.\n\n“There is glory in any honest work. Even if people don’t appreciate it enough. Have a nice week!”" ]	3
	[WP] The gods get their power through worship. You,a minor God,just became extremely powerful for seemingly no reason. You realise that you've become a joke of some sort with kids and teenagers,which is apparently enough to be considered worship. The other gods are starting to catch on.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was hard,seeing all of it.Those heretic fools from the lands north of the Mediterranean.......They came to my homeland,trying to get people to believe in those Greco-Roman illusions of god....It was painful,we were rotting away,falling [ill.You](https://ill.You) could hear coughing,wailing and moans everywhere.Poor,old,senile Ra was at the brink of death,if it wasn't for the mercy those bastards showed us! We thought that the worst was over,then.We thought that it was would be the last of the sickness od disbelief,that miasma,which would be the undoing of us,to create it.But no! Some fool died in a foreign land,and everyone began treating this charlatan as some kind of god! To think that they accepted it as truth,it perplexes me....It had spread like never before;Isis was lying on the streets,Horus lay in bed unconscious......Our time had truly come,one by one,we all passed like flies......I was one of the few who woke up,however.Isis tended to me while I woke.Apparently,thousands of years later,she had been awoken,apparently due to some fools worshipping another fraud under her name.Disgusting.Why had I been awoken from eternal slumber,though? I was alive now,though.Thank goodness I could finally move around,now,as I brought night.Apparently,a few followers of a long-dead,but obsessive follower of that same fool from thousands of years ago used my name as some sort of slogan,a rallying [cry.It](https://cry.It) was a shameful existence now,as Kek,bringer of night.", "I’m a major joke to kids teenagers and any one that has entered my buildings across the world. Fire is what I’m afraid of. Over the long history of humanity power was given by worship. A lot of the older folks have faded almost out of existence. \n\nBut nowadays I don’t really fear fire anymore. Nowadays I fear the power going out on my worshiper . Even now you are worshipping me . Reading on your mobile devices unaware that you are one of my followers.\n\n For over 3000 years I have been alive. Carved into antiquity . Some humans want to see the world burn but I want you to learn. \n\nMy name is Thoth the librarian and with out a library we wold never learn." ]	3
	[WP] Make an actual story out of the famous poem, 'One dark day in the middle of the night two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other.'	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Are you're sure they'll come back to life?\" Tommy asked Greg, as he turned to him. Both boys were crouching behind a slab of rock out in the clearing in the woods. The full moon cast a milky light over everything.\n\n\"Yeah,\" Greg said, nodding, \"yeah, that's how the story goes.\"\n\nTommy looked over the rock again at the two mounds of dirt in the center of the clearing. They were placed next to each other, feet to feet, if there were feet under the earth, that is. \"But that's just a story, Greg... And it's getting late and cold.\" Tommy shivered, rubbing his arms. \"How much longer?\"\n\n\"I don't know Tom,\" he spat, staring at the mounts, \"stop being such a baby and just wait. It happens every year, trust me. They're cursed, they have to do it.\"\n\n\"Or what?\"\n\n\"How the hell would I know? It happened hundreds of years ago.\"\n\n\"Yeah but you said you read the story—\"\n\n\"Not all stories explain everything,\" he said.\n\nTommy stopped talking for a moment, then, \"But—\"\n\nThe mounds shook. The earth shifted and rolled off the two dead boys who rose, standing on dirt-caked feet. They were feet to feet Tommy and Greg say, but they had been lying face-down. Now they stood back-to-back. Their pale skin seemed to glow under the moonlight, and their auburn hair was caked to their head. They both wore the same white shirt with open collars and billowing sleeves, and tight brown shorts.\n\nTommy bite his lower lip to hold in the scream, and Greg's eyes widened. Both dead boys stared off into the distance away from each other. They began to raise their hands.\n\nTommy unpinned his lip and whispered, \"What're they holding?\"\n\n\"Shut up,\" Greg said quickly.\n\nTheir arms were pointed straight out, holding what looked to be swords, but oddly made. The hilts and grips were crafted in the shape of a rusted flintlock pistol, but in reverse, the barrel of the gun pointed towards them and not away, and the blade of the sword ejected from the hammer. A metallic click pierced the still, night air.\n\n\"What are they going to do?\" Tommy whispered.\n\n\"Will you shut up?\" Greg spat.\n\nTwo shots intertwined, forming one explosion that sounded through the forest. Black blood spurted from the backs of each of the boys as they both fell face down into the dirt they had only just left. They still gripped their swords, even in death. After a few moments, Greg stood and moved towards them, carrying the shovel he had taken from his dad's shed. Tommy, after a minute, followed at a distance.\n\n\"Why are you buying them, Greg? Shouldn't we be leaving?\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"Nope, we have to bury them.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Because that's what the story says to do.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Jesus Tommy, didn't you hear me before? Not all stories explain everything.\"" ]	2
	[WP] When people die, they get to choose the world and circumstances they are born into in their next life. After dying yourself, you are somehow aware of your previous lives and discover that everyone just switches back and forth between two opposite lives, rich/poor utopia/dystopia style.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns." ]	1
	[WP] We stop ourselves from going through the mirror	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We learn about it at such a young age it may as well be instinct. You catch your reflection, slap the mirror to play but there’s a ripple like water. The mercurial material settles after a moment but it’s too late, you know the truth. Everyone grew up hearing stories about someone’s uncle or someone who knew someone , who knew someone who stepped through. Story always ends the same: they were never seen again. There’s been no official research or study because everyone’s terrified of what’s on the other side. There’s been propositions to have those on Death Row step through. In return if they are able to come back their sentence will be commuted, but even they are too scared of the truth. We’ve all stuck our arms in, felt the impossible cold beyond. Put your ear close enough and you can hear whispers. Some say it’s a portal to the afterlife, that’s where the Bloody Mary myth comes from. Others think it’s a gateway to a parallel universe and that the reflection we see is actually a glimpse into the other universe. I’m not quite sure what I think. I’ve been sitting in the dark, staring intently at my reflection for the past hour or so. My face distorted and twisted, shapes and forms appearing from thin air. My brain making up for the lack of light or something else? I bought a full body body mirror for the purpose of stepping through but I’m not sure I can go through with it. I go to turn on the light when I freeze. I’m still sitting in my reflection. My blood runs cold and my heart is pounding. After a moment the reflection catches up to my current position. I move and it follows in step, a slight delay. \n\n“Hello?”\n“Hello.”\n“This can’t be happening.”\n“This can be happening.”\n“What are you?”\n“I am you.”\n“I’m hallucinating. I’ve read about carbon monoxide leaks and what can happen.”\n“You have read about carbon monoxide leaks and what can happen. I’m not hallucinating.”\n“Stop repeating me damn it!”\n“Stop echoing me damn it!”\n\nI walk up to the mirror arm outstretched to grab it and smash it against the floor when the impossible happens. I am grabbed by my reflection. I’m swung around and thrust into the cold oblivion, then I’m standing in my bathroom looking at my reflection once more. My reflection smiles and then shatters the mirror. My scream isn’t repeated." ]	2
This could go in so many directions. Have fun.	[WP] Your best friend in middle school was hit by a truck and died. You're now a sophomore in college. This morning you got a phone call from them and they need your help.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " I smile, take off my glasses, and open my hand-me-down flip-phone. This is the first time someone has texted me in two months. I look down at the old piece of useless garbage and read the small screen. \n\n\"Hey, Alexia! it's Sam, get ur ass over to 1047 Martin Luther King Jr. Street, ASAP!\"\n\n\" Sam's dead, you dirty friggin liar, they found the body\"\n\n\"Woah it totally worked! Lemme call ya, I'll prove it.\"\n\n\nMy phone started to chirp. The area code was 420, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. I decided to roll the dice. When I picked up, I heard screaming in the distance. \n\n\"Hey Alexia\" \n\n\"Is that- what is that?\"\n\n\"Proof, now get your ass over here!\"\n\nShe hung up, and then I heard footsteps behind me. Then I felt something touch the nape of my neck. Then a raspy voice. \n\n\"The time is over, there is no stopping it. The time is over, stop writing, you terrible person, I wanna go home.\"\n\nAt this point, I rolled my eyes, gave up, and decided to click POST anyway.\n\n----------\n\nCongrats, you survived." ]	2
	[WP] Ben savings time. Everyday, whatever time Ben wakes up is declared 7am around the world.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Tick\n\nTick\n\nSPACK\n\nBen finally awoke to the crashing of glass as a rock was hurled carelessly through his window, this happened with such regularity that Ben often wondered why he even bothered replacing the windows in his house anymore. A small delicate yawn left his lips before smacking them together, getting a nice bit of moistness to his dried lips. Another day and another morning.\n\nBen wasn't really in the mood to glance outside, perhaps he could fit in another five more minutes of sleep? That dream was quickly shattered as another stone hurled it's way through the window frame, followed this time by some high pitched words.\n\n\"OI! BEN YOU WANKER, I GOTTA GET MY KIDS TO PRESCHOOL YA TOSSER. WAKE UP OR ILL GET MY COUSIN STEVE TO WAKE YOU UP. ITS BEEN SEVEN AM FOR THE PAST FIVE HOURS, PRESCHOOL WON'T OPEN UNTIL EIGHT. I GOT SHITE TO DO.\"\n\nBen growled, pulling himself to the edge of the bed, slipping on a pair of big ben slippers he had been gifted all to many years ago, by a friend who still thought they were hilarious. Ben carefully traced over the shattered glass, resting a hand against the wall, meeting the gaze of the suburban trash that was his neighbour. Although perhaps he was being to harsh, it wasn't always her, sometimes it was important businessmen who were here for meetings, or even just a disgruntled tourist. \"I'm up.\" Ben said in a dry dusty voice, forcing the morning cobwebs out of his throat.\n\n\"Oh! Morning Ben ya wanker!\" She shouted, offering a polite smile and wave, a cigarette carefully balanced between her botoxed lips as both her hands were preoccupied with a stroller. \n\n\"Nice... morning to you too Miss Adams.\" Ben sighed, his way half heartened as he pulled himself away from the wall. He could already hear mutters outside. \n\n\"Ben's awake?\"\n\n\"Oh! Its 7'o ben, I'm going to be late for work.\"\n\n\"Children the bus will be here at half past Ben.\" \n\nOh how he hated this curse. He would have liked to say that the world had adjusted to his sleeping habits but honestly the world always feared this month. During Ben savings time the economy would drop and many countries would all be facing recessions. The media would all report about how this Ben wanker was ruining the world. It wasn't his fault. Surely....\n\nBen let out a sigh as he started walking to the bathroom. At the very least there was one positive to Ben savings time. He couldn't sleep in for work during it.\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}" ]	2
	[WP] Contrary to popular belief, Guardian Angels do not "protect people", only ferry them along the path God has planned for them. You are a Guardian Angel assigned to a small child. As time goes on it becomes increasingly clear what this child's fate is. You decide this cannot stand.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Robert is an unselfish boy, sweet and kind. It’s just not fair to ruin him like this.”\n“Fair? I think you’ve been working too closely with humans. You seem to have lost your objectivity. It might be time for a new assignment.”\n“No, I’m fine. I just... It’s hard to watch this all the time. You would think His imagination would bring more story lines for these poor people. They’re just the same thing over and over.”\n“In what way?”\n“This will be the fifteenth time that I had to walk a human down the path towards becoming a worldwide monster.”\n“So?”\n“It’s always done to the most sensitive of them.”\n“So?”\n“What do you mean so?”\n“Azrael, what is our maxim?”\n“....Teach till they understand.”\n“Have they learned the lessons?”\n“No.”\n\nAzrael watched Robert run around the swing set laughing and squealing with joy. A friend gave chase for the game of tag. Both boys reveling in the freedom of childhood play. They snake around the rest of the playground, avoiding the piles of leaves and the benches where parents gathered in clutches. The boys sped their way into the sprawling jungle gym. Azrael’s head dropped, he knew what was coming next. \nJacob was big for his age, awkward, but still imposing. He was holding court with a few of the other older boys. He was showing off a PSP he had recently “acquired” from his older brother. Proudly he held it up like a trophy, proclaiming it’s magnificence.\nRobert came rounding the corner, he looked behind to see that he had a decent lead on his friend and smiled. He turned his eyes to the front just as he crashed into Jacob. His head was spinning as he got up. He looked around. His friend was nowhere in sight, but Jacob’s were and they looked scared. \nJacob got up, but scrambled forward to the smashed PSP. He picked it up and for a moment looked lost. Then he turned to see Robert looking at him, terrified. \n“You’re dead!” Jacob screamed.\n\n“And so begins the cycle again. Happy?” \n“Azrael, it’s not about my happiness.”\n“Right, the teachings.”" ]	2
	[WP] You're the first dwarf ever to explore the surface world. The dwarven king has personally asked for you to report to him about the daily lives of the surface dwellers.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“T’woulda been better for me t’do such, but Iv’va got other biz-i-nizz to ta’care of.” The kings was drunks, as all great rulers have been in our history. I was aboutta go up to the surface! With mans! Elves apparently went dead a long time ago, or those that didn’t are hiding out in trees like a buncha cowards. They didn’t explore the new world, but we dids! We hadn’t touched a speck’a green that wasn’t a rock since.. I don’t know. Anyways, we all hopped back down into our homes when mans started pretending to go to war with fancy things we didn’t need no part of. So I grabbed my pick’n’axe. You see, it’s both, my buddy’d make em for me. Half axe, half pick. A Pick-N-Axe. Clever, huh? Anyway, I lugged myself up a hole more dusty than my mother’s and busted up some little rock until I saw black rock. I wasn’t tol’abut this! It was no match for my pick’n’axe though, as I tore throught it like softrock.\n\nAnd lo and behold the first thing that happens as soonasi get back up to the world I’m ATTACKED by a METAL BEAST. I’d come to learn it’s actually called a Kare, but I didn’t know before I smacked it good, makin the sucker cry for his metal mother. I plugged the hole and off I went. It was really bright up here, but not like the torches we used back down under. There was a big ball of fire in the sky, I couldn’t touch it but I think it was a son. These tall folk didn’t seem to want to close to me. Buncha cowards, like elves, my wife grows a mightier beard than em, and I’m unmarried! I spent the day walking around the black road, slaying any of those foul beasts that tried to rush me like a bat in a dark hole. It wasn’t until later I remembered my task. Their lives! So I grabbed a boy and took ‘em behind a tall square to talk. He screamed and tried to rans so I hadda hit em until he calmed down. Parent’ly they work jobs other than Kings, Miners, and Farmers, even though that’s all’ya need. Countants (number people, I wrote down they count ores), Syeintists (rocks are parent’ly real complicated) and Plain Flyers (those foul beasts can fly too! I don’t like ‘em one bit) I didn’t like em one bit, no I didn’t. I gave ‘em the chance to give it to me strate but the boy di-nt. He’a brought me home, where I had somma the crappiest booze of all my 89 years. His name was Samyul, I call em Samm. Not Sammm tho, he can shove kol where no man’sa stickin his torch. Stupid geezer. Anyways, I slept on Samm’s cow that night, even though it looked nothing like one.\n\nCould’ya believe he didn’t believe I’sa dwarf? I even showed him the hole I made and he called it POTHOLE! I didn’t live this kids life length 3 times to just be called a liar on my good pick’n’axe. I hit ‘em just for that, he whined. He hadda work, so I went with him. He was a teachre, taut kiddos stuff their mothers and pa’s wouldn’t. I sat in a tiny chair while he just talked and talked all day. Nobody talked to me, bunch’a nobeards anyways. I write really big, so I’m going telling Samm to get me more books for my king. If he’s real good I’ll let him help write ‘em, since he knows about everything ‘n all." ]	2
	[WP] You are a serial killer with over 50 kills and you never were found. One day, the police surround you because you're accused of homicide, a crime you did not commited.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Your attorney explains that you're only responsible for the last 12 of the victims that you committed and that the murder weapons, knives, you're not guilty of homicide. How can that be? If you killed 50 people, you would have to have a body count over 50 in order to be found guilty.\n\nYou are a sociopath.\n\nYou're a liar. You were hired to do some work in a small town and instead of killing 50 people, you went to murder over 400 people.\n\nThere's no doubt in my mind that you would have killed 400 people if you could have gotten away with it. And you don't give a damn about the 400 people you did kill. You just kill.\n\n\"I'm not saying that it's good. It's very, very sad and horrible. I mean, it's sad that there are young people, or people that are older that don't know better, that believe they have the right to shoot anybody that they want to. It's sick. It's evil. It's sick.\"\n\nCurtis told KATU News the incident was a result of a culture that is \"inherently disrespectful\" towards women.\n\n\"I think that we have to work to change that culture.\"\n\nCurtis said he was surprised when the woman he had shot in the arm and chest walked out of the house unharmed and even hugged him.\n\nWhat happened was, the woman told Curtis that she had been watching TV and decided to have a drink after work. Curtis then followed her into her bedroom and she began to have sex with him.\n\nThe woman then asked if he could shoot her in the arm and chest, so he complied, Curtis said.\n\nHe then walked into the kitchen to grab some cigarettes when he was confronted by the woman's brother, who was in the living room. The brother pulled out a gun and shot him.", "Vampires don't work like most people think, but don't take that as a criticism, it's our fault. Every year some vampire somewhere in the world will brag a bit too much and make up a load of tosh to a gullible human. Every decade or so one of these sparks will catch on and spread, get turned into a book a movie or a series or something. The latest fashion is good vampires, vegetarian vampires with such good self control that we don't drink the blood of humans even with provocation. As always this latest myth seems self serving, though they can be kind of entertaining. \n\nI don't sparkle in the daylight I burn, though it's more of a bad sunburn speed than instantly bursting into flames, to stay out in the full light of the day all day could cause serious damage and painful burns but it wouldn't be suicide. Especially since we invented sunscreen. What's that you don't believe we invented sunscreen, well humans helped but we provided the funding.\n\nI'm not as old as all that and mostly when I hunt I can avoid killing people but nevertheless mistakes happen, secrets need to be kept, lose ends tied up, favours get called in. I am a serial killer who has killed again and again and again so many times I could no longer recall the stories of when and why but I keep a track of how long it's been since my last kill, at any time over the last 50 years I could tell you my all time record and the current counter. So believe me when I say that I know I have killed over 50 people. \n\nSome of these deaths floored me, the guilt leaving me reeling for years, others not so much. All vampires have boundaries, things we have never done, could never see ourselves doing, lines we are sure we would not cross. For me it's children, I've never killed a child, of course as you get older teenagers and people in their 20s look and act like children but like a kid say pre-pubescent, no never the thought is repulsive. \n\nI am in this situation because I tried to find out who was responsible for the missing kids in town, our heightened senses can give us an edge in such investigations. I found him, and attacked him, I would have killed him I think except for the police raid. In these days of electronic surveillance it seems the police with their human senses do not lag as far behind as they used to. And he escaped, I can't keep calling him, he but I don't know his real name. The fake name he uses is John Johnson (which I consider a terribly unimaginative alias) and the name the paper has given him is the Candyman (of which I also disapprove) so I'd started to refer to him John Candy until I realised why the name was familiar. So since then I've been calling him John Asshole. \n\nSo anyway, the police kick the door in and John Asshole uses the confusion to escape, I'm surrounded by armed police and the only way out of this is to behave in distinctly unhuman ways even 20 years ago assaulting a cop was an easy way out of such situations but these guys have assault rifles AND bodycams, you have no idea how much trouble I'd be in. So the next thing I know I'm lying on the floor with my hands behind my head as they put the handcuffs on. \n\nOh hell I'm going to end up owing someone big time for clearing up this mess..." ]	3
	[WP] Magic is real except it can only be found in small amounts in those tiny perfect moments. Such as the first snowflake of the winter or the suspense right before a rollercoaster drops. You have collected 100 objects each representing one of those moments. You are about to cast your first spell.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " It had taken some time, but the last piece had been gathered. The hardest part was waiting for the turn of the season to get the perfect leaf and bottle of air with the scent of the first frost to complete the collection but now, it was all here.\n\nLaid out before him was an assortment of items, each holding a special place in Trent's old heart. Some were literal, such as a wool scarf that still smelled of smoke from the fires he would host with friends in the cold weather. Other objects would represent an abstract concept; a lone ball of cotton that brought to his mind the smell of alcohol and the touch of his mother as she tended to a wound from long ago, the love she had and the feeling of ease she gave to him, reminding him that everything will be alright. Each piece before him showed something special or welled within him a feeling of happiness, excitement, or exhilaration. This feeling swirled and flooded as he brushed his rough fingers upon each piece, appreciating them for what they were and what they represented. \n\nHe thought to the one piece he wished he had, the scene he wished he could live again. This wanting mixed with the whirling emotion within as each item granted him a drop of strength until it reached its peak and flowed forth from his soul. Trent closed his eyes, feeling his place within the sea he found himself in, each drop a moment in time. He felt around for what he was looking for, for one specific droplet. He found it and reached out, summoning it from the depths of time. \n\nWith that, there was a new smell on the air. A match was freshly struck as candles were lit. Trent opened his eyes to see a cake before him, adorned with eight candles. He looked down to his hands and saw they were small and smooth, one gripping a shimmering orb. The candles were all ablaze and Trent looked around the room, recognizing the dining room of his childhood home. Seated around the table were his siblings, waiting anxiously for the candles to be blown out so the cake could be cut. At the head of the table sat his father, trying to settle the youngest of the children who was becoming quite rambunctious. Trent looked up to who was lighting the candles and was greeted with the smiling face of his mother who leaned down and kissed the top of his head. Serenity, in its deepest form, blanketed Trent. He looked around to all of the faces as they sung to him. This day was his favorite day of all: the last birthday they would all spend together. Life separated them as the waves in the sea of time crashed, pushing them apart but this day, this moment, was the droplet within that he was always searching for. This was the moment when happiness was defined, the moment his heart yearned to see once more. He loved his family more than life itself and in his final days, he knew he would find a way to see them all together one last time. The singing ceased and they all clapped, Trent looked down at the orb in his hand and clenched his fist around it, vowing never to let go. A smile was now permanent on his face as the cake was cut and enjoyed by all who were seated. Laughter filled the air, mixing with the familial warmth that was exactly as Trent remembered. He ate a bite of cake, savoring the sweet frosting once again. \n\nTrent looked up to his mother as she grabbed her plate of cake. Before she went to her seat, Trent wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes. She hugged him back as the seas within Trent became still, the flow halting, as he drifted off within her warm embrace.", "I had to do it.\n\nThey said I needed a hundred Relics to even give a feeble attempt. But it was my duty. Magic was the only option. Magic was his only hope. \n\nI started collecting them before I was even aware of their purpose. The lipstick that my wife wore on the day of our marriage. It represented hope, eternal love, union. That small tube of gloss had packed into it a burst of magic. A dried and pressed flower, which had been on my lapel my very first date. It was temporary love, but it represented the first bloom of love's red rose. A photograph of my son's very first snow day. Rosy cheeks, ensconced in a puffy, light blue winter coat, dancing around in the fluffy blanket of powder as snowflakes fell from the sky. These were all Relics, because they represented emotion, raw and untapped.\n\nAfter six long years of searching and wishing, I had gathered a hundred of these precious mementos, stowed away within a reliquary in my hometown. Putting the last Relic in its place with heavy breath, the Shaman who had helped me with my quest followed me back to the home that I had left, where my son lay in sleep eternal, alive but never to wake.\n\nI had to do it. Magic was his only hope.\n\nI grasped the Shaman's sleeve as the words were uttered. In his hand he clutched the reliquary key, which glowed and pulsed with energy, burning hotter and brighter until there was a great flash. My wife stood beside me, holding my other hand tightly. I felt every emotion from every Relic all at once, as the circles of energy surrounded the body of my sleeping son.\n\nBut the emotions I felt when he opened his eyes for the first time in seven years was greater than all of those combined.\n\n\\----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nr/bluelizardK", "There is something special at the beginning.\n\nThe first leaf to announce the coming winter, a gently descending snowflake, the first step on a long and arduous journey. These things are remembered and are at their most powerful. The first sentence that is written on a page and the first tentative brushstroke are the beginnings of a river of creativity, which will either dry up or flow into the sea. \n\nThe first firsts are even more powerful. The first warrior is not remembered by name, but his exploits are told in the lives of every hero that has come since. The first death has lead to suffering eternal for all who live.\n\nI intend to be the first.\n\nTo be the first is to tap into this awe-inspiring power. To be the first is to be that which all else is compared against for all time. It is first memory, then legacy, then myth, and finally, in strange eons, it is the subconscious. This shall be my masterwork.\n\nThe first leaf of autumn, the first word in a manuscript I shall write once this is done, the first toy I was ever given, and of course, this is my first attempt. I, Merlin, shall attempt the impossible. \n\nAnd I have no doubt I shall succeed." ]	4
	[WP] You are a demon who has to go through interviewing human souls for the position of your new assistant.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Next!\"\n\nI try to cool down, remembering some breathing techniques I had been shown once by a pretty yoga instructor. Unpaid parking fines had been her crimes, so I sentenced her to a black pit, to be sliced with paper cuts until the flesh hung from her bones for a few thousand years. She had been nice. Claire, I think? \n\nIt's useless though, I can feel the flames that lick my neck grow ever hotter, rising up until it seems like my whole body is on fire, it's not, I'm just in a bad mood with no-one to vent to. Whoever had said being a daemon was hard had no idea, choosing your assistant was ten times worse.\n\nI was dealing with pathetic lowlifes, idiots who were only here to try and get away from the eternal damnation that they were banished to. Some talked the talk, at least for a while, but they couldn't hide the reek of desperation that would steadily build until they were a whimpering mess of tears and empty promises. \"Please!\" they would beg, \"I'll do ANYTHING! Just don't make me go back!\". I would banish them with a flick of my brimstone nails, too down to even find amusement in their terror of eternal torment. \n\nThe flames have risen into an inferno that has consumed my desk along with half of the office, I didn't even know how to work the damned coffee machine. This was my hell.\n\n\"NEXT!\" I roared, Claire had spoken of panic attacks, how everything I did seemed to point to that. \"Your inability to process your emotions is making you more and more volatile and unreasonable. You need someone to help you deal with these stressed before you boil over and explode\". I added an extra ten thousand years onto her time in the pit, for her insolence. \n\nThe office door creaked open, but by then my whole world was consumed by fire. All I could think of was how much I had to do, a daemon doesn't suffer from panic attacks, we caused them, right before we slowly began to unfurl the mental foundations of a mortals mind over an eternity. \n\n\"No need to shout, dear\" came a voice through the flames, it was timid and calm in a way that I hadn't heard... ever. \n\nI look out through the flames, trying to make out the owner of the voice. \"Who goes there?\" I question. \n\n\"Me\" answers the figure.\n\nI couldn't help but be intrigued, and found with something to focus on my flames begin to recede. Standing just inside the door is a portly woman, with thick glasses and a perfect grey perm neatly tied up. She held a tiny pink purse in front of her and wore a gentle smile. \n\nI can't help but laugh, my flames fully extinguishing. \"And who is 'me'?\".\n\nShe marches up to the charred remains of my desk and extends her arm, I can see now that she is wearing a pink sweater, to go on with her pink handbag. \"Greta Fitzgerald\".\n\nI shake her hand, what else can I do? \"Well, I-\" \n\n\"Don't stutter, it looks terribly bad\" she looks around for the seat, but it's been eviscerated in the inferno of my anger. She spots my chair, specially made to withstand my... temper, and points to it, \"may I?'.\n\nI'm flabbergasted, no human has ever spoken to me like this, they sputter and cry, piss themselves and beg for respite. It's what gets me up in the morning, not THIS! \n\nUnsure what to do, I look at her. She rolls her eyes and comes around the desk, almost shooing me out of the way. \n\nI stand in front of her, five foot nothing, sitting in the throne of one of the five head daemons of hell. Unsure what to do next, I awkwardly shuffle from one hoof to another. \"So, Greta. I hope you don't think that this-\"\n\n\"What's that smell?\" she spouts, her nose wrinkling painfully. \n\n\"What- I don't smell anything...\"\n\n\"It reeks of sulphur in here\". \n\nI can feel myself growing redder, and I hope that she doesn't realize. \"I, I ate some maggots for breakfast, maybe it's my breath\".\n\nShe frowns, \"we're going to have to do something about that, if we're going to be working together!\".\n\nI feel some of my fire reignite at that indignation. \"Greta, if you think that you've gotten this job like then I have some bad news for you. This job is not a get out of jail free card for eternal souls trying to escape their eternal damnation! You will suffer for what you've done... what did you do, by the way. To get here?\".\n\nGreta tilts her head back and laughs, a deep, belly full laugh so intense that her dentures half attempt to leave her mouth. After a minute of her laughing, I stand awkwardly again, my flames fully extinguished. \n\n\"What did I do?\" she says, removing her glasses and wiping a tear away, \"darling I didn't do anything. I was a saint, practically. Never cussed once, never missed church on Sundays. Gave to the charities and the poor alike. My life was meek and my fate absolute. I was the perfect soul\".\n\nI can't help but frown, \"then why are you here? In Hell? Auditioning to by my assistant?\".\n\n \"I've been watching how you treat those heathens, and I think you're a little soft.\" Greta smiles, and for a moment I am afraid, \"I'm here to put the evil back in the Devil\".\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n/r/minds_escape" ]	2
	[WP] The alien crew was absolutely horrified when their new human companion complained of eye pain and promptly peeled a layer of their eye off. They called it "Contacts." It was time to update the Galactic Human Manual again...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The crew could hardly believe their motion-sensory organs when they saw the human yank off the front of his; causing them to perform the equivalent of cringing. Allen, the commander's name translated to English, was deeply perturbed and felt sudden unease about the biped they had scooped up from Desandomarlargnar, a planetary equivalent to an Earthen treehouse. Woah man, humans are some funky cats he thought; his alien vernacular roughly similar to 1970's American in translation.\n\nHe'd been perusing bioluminescent tide pools left over in the crater-ridden scape of the planet's trampoline-type surface; squelchy, porous fields intermittently towering into vast hives that shot beyond the atmosphere and reached into space. The plucky little fellow stood about half their heights, and had been found floating in the surface's largest pool. His rescuers were confused, since the Galactic Human Manual reported this to be their usual mating ritual, despite no other humans being around. Their irrefutable Manual had little information about the small, reflective containment unit he'd arrived on nearby. The technology was primitive; a mixture of digital and mechanical, with a depiction of a strange face containing fifty motion-sensory organs and thirteen appendages, looking nothing like the human they'd found. His name was Jeff in English.\n\nHey brother, what's with the freaky face happenings? Allen telecommunicated to Jeff, who seemed unusually calm given the situation. He made a rapid undulation with his auditory units, a, \"laugh\" they called it, and moved his oral intake valve to communicate.\n\n\"Contacts,\" Jeff responded. \"They make things less blurry.\"\n\nThe room became more tense. \"Blurry,\" was also the name of a deadly intergalactic virus that, once it's host was infected, sent them into the seventh dimension. Humans had organs that were removable and anti-viral? Allen's second-in-command, Bernard, consulted the Manual rapidly, desperate to determine whether or not removing Contacts posed a catastrophic threat.\n\nOkay, be cool; throw those back on when you can, Stan Allen thought to Jeff.\n\n\"Nah, I don't really need them. Besides, I have these!\"\n\nWhat he pulled out next turned the tension in the room into thick, tangible fear:\n\nA pair of tractor beam focusers, capable of concentrating enough energy to wipe out entire photon-sensitive galaxies, all with a slight glint from only one of the nearby two suns.\n\nAnd he wore them on his face.\n\nOH QUASARS, the crew collectively thought, frantically pulling themselves, tentacle after tentacle, towards nearby escape pods. The seemingly undaunting, unsophisticated creature was now the most feared being in that insulated, floating ship.\n\nJeff noticed their swift reactions after he pulled out his glasses, and sat ambivalently for a moment as he saw them slime and suction their way over towards the opposite end of the room. He didn't know why his glasses had scared them so much, and he was about to explain they were harmless. But before he brought himself to it, he had a thought that wasn't necessarily evil, but all too human: he could have some fun with this. He smirked.\n\n\"Everyone, stop.\"\n\nThey froze, looking back at the deadly predator.\n\n\"There's gonna be some changes around here,\" he said, feeling a surgence of power. \"Do as I say, and everything will be fine.\"\n\nA series of commands later, and the crew had guided their ship, in disparate anticipation, towards Jeff's home planet, where there were seven billion of these monsters. Not knowing what to expect, they slowly lowered the ship towards an intersection of land mass and a large, liquid surface; \"coastline\" they called it. The crew was no doubt confused; his initial plan had been to, \"moon\" an important government facility known as, \"The White House\" on Earth, though they were unsure as to how his planet's moon could be transported to such a small structure in comparison, especially with how badly it would disrupt gravity.\n\nBernard took the equivalent of notes in the Manual, which had filled to ninety-nine percent of it's capacity since Jeff had been taken aboard. The last of it consisted of thirteen words, which in English read:\n\n\"Stay the hell away from humans, if you know what's good for you.\"", "While everyone on the crew of the GSS Pel'edsa accepted that these \"humans\" as they like to be called were a very intelligent race, despite their relatively primitive technology level, they still weren't entirely comfortable with actually having one on the ship. \n\nFirst of all, the whole \"clothing\" concept was still very strange to the rest of the universe, but given the lack of fur, feathers, scales, or any equivalent, it was logical. \n\nScientists were still amazed at the combination of both great fragility and nearly infinite recovery ability of humans. While a human would break a bone doing something that a Deltian wouldn't even think twice about, the human doesn't need their limb amputated and replaced with a prosthetic... they just wrap it in this \"cast\" thing and suddenly they're fine a few weeks later. \n\nAnd nobody on the Pel'edsa will ever forget the story that Sarah told the ship about having her appendix removed. First, the entire idea of just removing an organ because it had issues is barbaric to begin with, but when she described the concept of someone cutting into the abdomen to do it, half the crew became violently ill. It was so bad that the ship surgeon has banned any discussion of human medical procedures with non-medical personnel. \n\nThe Captain thought this would be sufficient, until yesterday... \n\n\"Man, are my eyes bothering me today.\" Sarah said in a whiny voice, \"What did you say that was, pheromone communication from the Gazzak ambassador? Remind me never to vacation there.\" \n\nOl'deda rolled his eyestalks, since Sarah often complained about her ocular issues, then suddenly he saw her hands move up to her eyes, and then she just yanked off the outer membrane. Ol'deda struggled, and failed, to keep the nausea response down. \n\n\"Dude, you okay over there?\" Sarah asked, seemingly in no pain from having ripped out part of her ocular system. \n\n\"Your... your eyes, you just ripped off the membrane!\" Ol'deda finally stammered a few moments later. \n\n\"What?\" Sarah looked puzzled, then looked down at her hand, \"Oh, no, these are just contacts. It's like glasses, but you put them in your eyes.\" \n\n\"Glasses?\" Ol'dera, having partly recovered, just stared. \n\nLater, as the Captain was reading the daily logs, he decided that perhaps the crew does need to know a bit more about human anatomy. Though he wouldn't put it quite like that to his First Officer. He'd likely get the wrong idea from that, and there certainly isn't anything in the \"Guide to Humans\" about that.", "Humans, Axic decided, were markedly strange. Sure, he’d heard that from the time he was young. He’d heard the rumours. Leelo, his older cousin who’d actually studied and lived on Earth for a brief time in her early-three-hundreds, told Axic stories whenever she’d come back for the solar eclipse. \n\n“They’re all pale and fleshy and hairy at the same time,” she said.\n\nAxic wanted to know more. \n\n“They paint their faces with wild colours. They have all sorts of rule systems around how to eat with these things called forks and knives—it’s totally bizarre.” \n\n“Is there anything good about them?” Axic asked.\n\n“Oh, yeah—they’re weird but they’re great, really. Friendly and kind. Good sense of humour, once you get used to it. And the way they vacation… we could use a little more of that back here. Just get away from it all and relax.”\n\nLeelo, even when she was back home and working for the Federation, wouldn’t shut up about how much she missed the vacations back on Earth—they could all take a page out of the human’s book. \n\nAxic, on the other hand, never got over how strange they sounded. Sure, there were lots of species in the galaxy who were strange—the Tenels with their rigid wings, the Galens and their hive mind—but Axic could at least understand them. He’d met them, before. He’d studied with them, he’d worked with them. \n\nThe first time he met a human, in the flesh, was on the Federation’s research ship to the edge of the galaxy. Axic didn’t think of himself as young anymore—he was well into his four-hundreds and held a high-ranking position in the science department (his job was to test the soil on each potentially habitable planet, but Axic liked the way ‘high-ranking Federation scientist’ sounded). The young crew members looked up to him, and the Captian and Officers respected him. \n\nOn the thirtieth month of the trip, their crew changed. They met up with other species from across the Intergalactic Alliance. The Federation said it was diplomacy—which annoyed Axic on principle—but he tried his best. The Tenels were wonderful research partners. \n\nMuch to Axic’s surprise, however, the crew was more eclectic than he could have guessed. Almost extinct Brianians, with their warm attitudes; famously unfriendly Rygls; a few Tenels; half a dozen Galens, all buzzing amongst themselves; and, most surprisingly of all, a human. A real human. His skin, unlike Leelo’s description, was a deep brown. He was hairier than the other species, but it wasn’t unruly—it was clipped neat and tight to his face. \n\n“I’m Amand,” he said. \n\nEveryone stared on. \n\n“I’m from Earth—as you might’ve guessed. I’m here as part of the initiative to bring Earthlings to the Intergalactic table. We’ve come quite far, in terms of technology. I specialize in soil analysis.”\n\nAxic stifled a laugh. Earth was barely out of the ages of mud and stone. From what Leelo told him, they still regularly killed each other in never-ending civil wars, over gods and religion and territory (even though it was all their own!) and, mostly, for profit.\n\n“We aim to help where we can,” Amand said. He raised the corners of his lips and flashed everyone his teeth—dull as they were—and the Galens all coiled in response. \n\n“Sorry, sorry,” Amand stuttered. “I meant no offence.” \n\nA red colouring tinged his cheeks. \n\nPerhaps, Axic thought, Leelo was right about their colouring. Maybe they changed colours at the turn of their feelings. \n\nOver the next weeks, Axic had to concede that Leelo was right about many things. Amand was strange, that was certain. But he was also friendly and warm and welcoming. He was sharp in mind (for an Earthling, at least) and had many queries about the nature of the exoplanets and strong insights into the nutrients of the soil. \n\nOnce, after a particularly tough and long trek through the sulphur plains of an unnamed planet, Axic and Amand sat next to each other in the dining hall. \n\n“You know,” Amand said, “when I signed up for this all, I thought it would be a fun journey. A great adventure—like something out of a movie.”\n\nAxic made a low hum of agreement, even though he did not know what a movie was or what would come out of one. \n\n“But, damn, they left this part out of the training manual. I’m going to reek of sulphur for the next two weeks. That smell is gonna give me nightmares, I swear.”\n\nAxic chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll forget this anytime soon, even though I’ll very much try to.”\n\nAmand raised the corners of his lips (a smile, Axic learned, he did it when happy). “You and me both.” He stretched his lanky arms out behind him and blinked, heavy, and squeezed his eyelids. \n\n“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s been a long day. My eyes are dry as fuck.” \n\nWhat?\n\nAmand reached his fingertip to his eye and peeled the outermost layer off. A clear half-sphere rested on the pad of his finger. \n\nRevulsion swirled in Axic’s guts.\n\n Amand did the same to his other eye. He acted as if it were nothing. “Much better.” He blinked again. “A little blurry, but I’ve got nothing important to do tonight.”\n\nAxic gave him a curt nod. \n\n“Hey, by the way, I was gonna head to the gym after this, if you’d like to come? I could use a spotter.” \n\n“Thank you for the offer,” Axic said, “but I think I’ll return to my bunk.”\n\n“No worries, man.” Amand kept eating. He spoke of the soil analysis he’d like to perform in the labs tomorrow. He didn’t mention anything about the layer of his eyes he’d mercilessly pulled off. \n\nHumans, Axic knew, were strange indeed. \n\n\n---\n\n/r/liswrites" ]	4
	[WP] The government is handing out Get Out of Jail Free cards to anyone who tackles a major crime on their own. You're a vigilante who's been stockpiling these for something big.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "## Prologue\n\nIt was about 2050, as I remember, that the federal government finally admitted that major crime had gone beyond the capability of the official police and investigative forces to handle. They passed what came to be known as the Get Out of Jail Free or GOOJF bill. (Pronounced Goo-Jiff.) You manage to take down a major crime on your own, you or your team, without breaking the law yourself, and you get one of these chits.\n\nThat chit says that you will be forgiven a major federal offense yourself, or a certain number of minor offenses, if you succeed in taking down another major crime. It's a benny for having done a good job, that allows you to stretch &mdash; to the breaking point &mdash; any law in taking down another major crime. It gives you an edge that the regulars cannot have, because they are officers of the law and therefore must obey it themselves to maintain their legitimacy.\n\nYou, on the other hand, are a vigilante, who are excused breaking the law as long as you are successful. As you might expect, for the most part, the regulars hate our guts. Especially those who earn a chit, and turn right around and use it to commit some more egregious violation in the process of taking down another \"major\" crime... at the same level as that which earned them a chit the first time. I'm disgusted with them myself. Sooner or later they fuck up, and I'm right there to take them down for a major crime that they do not have a chit to cover. To date, I have not had to use any of my chits. I may dance the edge so close that the police would get shot down over it, but I haven't crossed that line.\n\nI'm one of the few vigilantes that the police do not automatically despise on sight. I'm also one that the rest of the vigilantes, at least the stupid ones &mdash; my, aren't there a lot of them &mdash; absolutely hate. That leaves me square in the middle, not quite despised by the regulars, actively hated by the vigilantes, and loved by the regular people whom I have helped.\n\nIt's those regular people who are my best friends. They feed me all sorts of information, I give back information that helps them and their neighbors. That's what lets me get onto the bad actors before anyone else. Mamma always did tell me that you could see a person's character in the friends they made. I think Mamma would say I'm doing alright.\n\nWhy am I not using the chits?\n\nPersonal pride for one. I take a great deal of pride in solutions that do not break the law, but which the regulars cannot use. Entrapment for one. The police are not permitted to set someone up for the fall. They have to let the bad actor set himself up. It's a really tricky line to thread. Go too far, they walk on entrapment. Go too little, they walk without taking the bait. That's only \"victimless\" crimes. As if any crime is truly victimless. Buying drugs for personal use? Well, you're hurting yourself, and you're hurting everyone who depends on you, and you're hurting society because we're going to have to clean up the mess you leave behind you. Bless the ones who take care of those things themselves, they are few and far between.\n\nThe other major reason? I can feel it. There's something really horrible coming down the line, and I want all the CYA GOOJF I can get. When it hits, I'm going to be breaking laws right and left to save whoever, or whatever, from the bad actors.\n\n## The Setup\n\n\"Hey Joe? I'm getting rumbles from the street that there's something big coming down. I don't know yet what it is, but the gangs are all licking their chops. You can feel it. They're loading up on weapons, and a bunch of shit they never did before. Food, Medicine &mdash; yeah, that's right, real medicine, not recreational &mdash and they're recruiting heavily from the shady side of doctors.\"\n\n\"Joe? Something weird is going on. The street gangs just up and pulled out. I mean, it's great for us, but where are they going and what are they up to?\"\n\n\"Joe, you may not remember me... you do? Awesome! Yeah, I still run that set of campgrounds, and we've been getting some really weird customers. Near as I can tell, street gangs and motorcycle gangs. I've seen Bloods and Crips slapping each other's backs and talking happy with each other. Yeah, that weird. What's more, guys in limos and suits are showing up too. The gang leaders talk with them ... respectfully. Sure, I've got video and stills from my security cameras. The ones these bastards didn't break. You were right about that too. The new ones you helped me get are so better hidden than the old ones that they haven't touched even one of them.\"\n\n\"Joe? You remember that hotel on the edge of D.C. The Watergate? Yeah. We've got an organized crime convention going on there. Every major family from all sides has sent a representative, with bodyguards. The whole freaking hotel is basically rented out to them. Worse, they've got honest to god private military contractors guarding the hotel itself. Whoever this is, whatever they're up to, they aim to succeed at all costs. ... My bosses? They've been told hands off. I got gigged for a simple drive by eyeballing.\"\n\n## The Reaction\n\nBest contact I've got inside the military. \"Hey Major! It's Joe! ... Major? ... Major? ... Are you there? ... tweeeeeeeee\" That's... not good. Major King didn't hang up. The call was cut by a third party.\n\nSecond best contact, let's not burn this one. \"Hey Captain Morgan! It's Billy Bob! Yeah! I was wondering if we could get together for a few drinks. I'm on my way through headed home. Can we meet at Charlie's? Say 7pm? Great! Looking forward to seeing you again.\"\n\n### Charlie Seven\n\nCharlie's at Seven is a code. I have prearranged meeting points for everyone. I'm wishing that I had used a cover name and a meeting point for King. I think he's in big trouble, and it's my fault for not taking precautions.\n\n\"Good to see you again, Joe, especially now. Major King has been charged with treason. No one is sure what he did, or with who. No one believes the charge, but the brass are pushing it hard.\"\n\n\"Damn. Good to see you too Robert. I may have got King into the hot water. I didn't even get the chance to say anything to him. The moment I identified myself, the line was cut. It wasn't King, it was someone else.\"\n\n\"Shit. Look, Joe? I don't know what's going down, but there's a lot of tarnished brass involved. You know I work JAG, and these are all people we'd like to bring down for cause, but haven't been able to get the goods on them to do it. If they're all cooperating, someone else is pulling the strings to get them to do it.\"\n\n\"It gets worse Robert.\" I give him a quick rundown of all the civilian side information I've been getting. Add that up with what Robert knows about the activities in the military, and this starts looking really filthy. The only reason for pulling together rotten military, organized crime, and street gangs is if you're looking at a large scale, illegal, military action. \"Look, Robert, I'm going to do something I've never done before.\" I pull out a ten pack of the GOOJF cards. They're made out of a nearly indestructible alloy. \"These are for you. I don't know exactly what's going on. I don't know if these are going to do any good. But if they do end up working, they'll save your ass right along with mine.\"\n\n\"Joe, I'd have to sign on with your organization to legally use those. That's a felony right there. Besides, I like being military, and in the JAG, where I have a chance to do something about the bad actors inside the military.\"\n\n\"Robert... You're not stupid. Add up the pieces we've already got. What do you come up with?\"\n\nHe doesn't want to admit it, but the conclusion is obvious. A coup, ostensibly by the military, but more likely being lead by the organized crime syndicates. It doesn't help that we've got a psychotic in the Whitehouse right now. He's been getting more and more desperate as his initiatives hit total resistance from both parties. I'll bet the party he claimed to be a member of is regretting backing him at all. At least enough of them have the guts to try and stop him. Unfortunately, there's not quite enough votes to get an impeachment started. Enough rotten apples there too.\n\n\"They're planning a coup. Joe? Do you have any evidence that the President is involved? If you did, then the 'defense against all enemies foreign or domestic' part of the oath would kick in. I think there are enough officers who would follow their oath to make a difference, but they need some sort of proof before acting against the Commander in Chief.\"\n\n\"Do you think the President is directly involved?\"\n\n\"Joe, I don't like thinking so, but unless he is, we cannot act inside the United States without his express orders. Posse Comitatus is only part of it. The principle of civilian control of the military is part of the Constitution. Unless the President is directly involved, making him a domestic enemy of the Constitution, we cannot act &mdash; absent Presidential orders &mdash; against that threat.\"\n\n\"What if he were removed under Amendment 25, section 4?\"\n\n\"Joe... If they were going to do that... They already would have. If they do it now? I'd be really suspicious that the vice president and the cabinet members voting for the removal were part of the coup.\"\n\n\"Yeah... That's a definite concern. Assuming that the President is really nuts, not involved, and the vice plus secretaries are involved, how would they most likely be communicating?\"\n\n((end part one))", "At first, all those years ago, it was a joke, all the folks callin' themselves the next Joker or the next Lex Luthor. They practically handed themselves over to the police, with no co-ordinated attack plan.\n\nIt ain't a joke no more.\n\nWith large-scale villains preoccupyin' the police, and villian-controlled territories every branch of the military, the government has called upon any man, woman, or child with the means. In turn, each man, woman, or child will have the opportunity to circumvent past the law itself, manifested in the form of what I like to call the \"Get Out of Jail Free\" card.\n\nThat's where I come in.\n\nSee, I've got a knack for all this vigilante stuff, ever since I was a kid. I always managed to be in the right place at the right time. I've even started bein' recognized nationally by villain and citizen alike. That ain't a bad thing, either. More recognition means more popularity. Means more of 'em think takin' my name will \"prove their worth\" as a villain. Fools, in my honest opinion. Though, who am I to call 'em fools, when I don't put these hard-earned cards to good use?\n\nThat's quite the kicker, isn't it? See, I haven't been doin' all this for \"the good of society\", so they say, as they label me a hero on the television. I have a plan, one that I made all those years ago, after my first encounter with these so-called \"villains\", and it's gonna take every one of these damn cards.", "I rifle through the cards in my hand. There are over forty of them now. On each card, I've written the name of the person who is to receive it. To a man, they are fighters all.\n\nFor too long now the police have allowed lawlessness in the streets of our city. But no longer. Now, I will have an army of vigilantes who have sworn loyalty to me. I will outfit and train them. I will lead them. Show them how we can do what the cops cannot, and will not do. We will take back the streets. We will give safety back to the people. No more will they need to take refuge in the protection of the Mob. We will be their protectors. Their saviors.\n\nAnd for every crime we solve, we will gain another card. We will add another brother to our ranks, until the city is liberated, and her 10 million residents can again live in freedom and peace.", "They handed these cards too damn liberally.\n\nThe new government acknowledged it had a problem when it was voted in 10 years ago. Everyone knew it-the whole system was apathetic at best, corrupt at worst. It was fucking everywhere. From the ghettos to the gated communities, to the smuggling in tunnels to the high rises where the \"products\" were sold.\n\nHow foolish of us then, to expect real change when the old guard finally lost an election. The government claimed it was still too dirt poor to bolster what honest cops and laws that were-but they did propose a solution. Legal vigilantism for theft, murder, kidnapping, extortion and...the big r.\n\nThe logic was simple enough-give the oppressed a chance to blow off steam against the dumbasses who were taking their feudalism too far while the government and its friends still kept lining the more quiet but evil profits. Smuggling is still everywhere. Drugs, booze, porn and people. Nothing anybody can do about fraud, or assault.\n\nOf course, the evil fucks still had wiggle room, they were just preying on each other more.\n\nWe traded one breed of sociopaths for another. The ones screaming murder with knifes and guns in hand for the ones making a deal with smiles and cash.\n\nFor me, it was personal. Brother got sold and trafficked. We found his body a few years later. Fucker who did it flashed a card and moved on. His operation was only exposed, not wounded.\n\nAt first, it felt fucking good. Getting even with the fuck who took him away from me and getting rid of other scum on the way-then, having to rack up a few more good deeds to dodge the lesser offences I picked up on the way.\n\nOf course, the only way to make sure you were getting a living out of doing this regularly was being for hire. A new breed of hitman. Some noble, some no different than the bastards who used to run this country.\n\nIt wore on me, this line of work. I was never a hero, if that is what you're wondering. I was just processing some grief.\n\nI know these stupid things won't save me. I know they won't. They didn't save the people I killed or exposed. They certainly didn't for the ones who's cards I stole.\n\nBut it exposes the hypocrisy. Maybe my brother and everyone else I lost wanted this in the end.\n\n3...\n\n2...\n\n1...\n\nBoom.\n\n45 minutes later, the cops are at my door, the news is screaming about the terabytes of leaked data and the explosion. The blues burst in, and I'm sitting there with my hand.\n\n\"Pick a card officer, pick a card.\"" ]	5
	[WP] The year is 4.028. A thousand years ago, an alien species sealed off the Sol system to stop the spread of humanity. Today, they've returned, begging the humans. "Save us. You're our only hope"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Alright alright, let's get some back story out of the way. \n\nMy name isn't important. Let's just refer to me as Hammer. God knows when you are reading this thanks to that fucking time wormhole that opened up a while back, but that's just a trash shoot now so don't look into it any further. Anyways, the year is 4028 and we are in a big fucking universe. About a thousand years ago, my grandparents (medication is fucking amazing now, get over it) generation were sanctioned by the Galactic Government because humans are fucking awesome and want to blow shit up all of the time. The pussies at Galactic Affairs don't like that so they decided we can kill each other but can't kill any other species. I say that is a bunch of shit, but I don't have a say here, do I?\n\nAnywho, two days ago, my squadron with the Earth Galactic Army got word that the Galactic Government decided that they can pick and choose when the fuck we matter and said some ancient species awoken from a million-year slumber or some shit (why the fuck do aliens like this prophecy or ancient bullshit all of the time? So fucking played out) and we are the only species that has a fucking army (pussies) and that even if anyone did have an army (apparently there is some post 2001 Middle East shit with secret bombs going on in the galaxy but until there is a gun in my face I could really not care any less) we would be the only ones \"crazy enough to go to war with an army like this\" fucking pussy ass aliens. \n\nAlright, so me and my homeboys geared up. We are responsible for the initial bombing run to clear way for our troops. The other army is apparently stationed on some hillbilly ass planet on the outer edge of the Andromeda Galaxy (I'm not gonna name this fucking thing, its gonna be blown to shit before you can care about it anyway). We are carrying 14 Planet Buster missiles (if yall are in a dimension or time where you know what the fuck the WWII Japan nuclear strikes were, these bitches make those look like a Nerf Gun) which can destroy an Earth-class planet in one hit and can put a considerable hole right through the middle of a Jupiter-class planet. \n\nAs we went into the jump ships (these fuckers can get anywhere almost instantaneously, but since we love to fucking brief on the plane, the pilots know to cruise around for a minute until the commanding officer tells them to jump) we geared up for our mission brief. \n\nSummary: blow shit the fuck up.\n\nWe jumped through and what was awaiting us was something none of us ever expected..." ]	2
	[WP] A bored immortal joins a cult to amuse themself.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "They were always the same. All dark robes and chanting. Joining wasn't too difficult either, not once you knew what to look for. Recruiters liked to hide in the bright lights of the clubs, or the shady alleys. It varied, depending on how modern they were, or if it was a more traditionalist sect.\n\nThis one, thankfully, was the former. No streaking naked under the moon for this lot, which was a blessing. It always took forever to get all the dirt scrubbed, and now that Brom had modern toiletry he was hardly ever eager to play in the dirt. The robes he wore were nicely pressed, and he'd taken to wearing his nicer shoes, a small way of showing off given the heavy robe obscured everything else. Brom had even gotten a mask to match the others. It was hot and itched uncomfortably. Leaving was always a relief too - the longer he stayed the more his headache grew, what with the dim light and the heavy incense that lingered in the air.\n\nThe leader of the group said something in some mumbo jumbo, signalling the meeting was over. With relief everyone filed out, shucking off their robes and masks as they did so. They were only for show after all. He'd been to many a cult -- from Transcendental Meditation to Scientology. Some were more benign, like Invitation à la Vie. Others a little more out there less so, like the mess that had gone down in Waco. No matter where he went though, none of them seemed to mean anything. All empty words and promises. It was nice for a bit of fun though. He wondered how many of them even believed in the nonsense their leader spouted. He knew at least two who showed up to each meeting, Mikhail and Jay, were not believers though they still attended.\n\nHigh Priestess Anni fell into step with him. She paid him special attention, working to keep the newest recruit feeling special. It wasn't the first time a cult leader had tried such a tactic. Given her fondness for expensive jewelry and nice manicured nails, it was no surprise that they met in a comfortable heated warehouse, and not out in a field somewhere. \"I'm glad to see you are still attending, Brom.\"\n\n\"Of course. Thank you for that tea you sent me, by the way. It's really something,\" even now his mouth still tingled with it, hours later. \"Tastes almost like chai.\"\n\nShe smiled softly at him, putting on a pair of sunglasses as they went out the door into the warm sunlight. \"Something like that. You will forgive me if I do not give away the secrets of my own special recipe. Have you found it has sufficiently expanded your consciousness?\"\n\nHere Brom had to nearly stifle his laughter. Only a long years of practice at dealing with these nutjobs ensured that he kept his face even.\n\n\"I'll admit I've mostly been enjoying it for the taste. There is something about it though,\" he trailed off, letting her fill in the blanks however she desired. The less he spoke, the more others would fill in the silence for him and convince themselves of whatever they wanted.\n\n\"Ah, well. Not everyone is destined to hear the call as their minds are opened. I do have another reason for seeking you out. In two weeks time we'll be having our Yuletide Festival. Will you be joining us?\"\n\n\"I'd love to, I don't have anything better planned,\" he said. That was why he'd joined a cult wasn't it? Too much free time and on his hands.\n\n\"Excellent. As soon as all the arrangements have been made we'll let you know. \"\n\nIt was another week before he heard from the cult. In an official capacity, at least. Brom went on a date with Saoirse, the one who had first invited him to the group. She served as their secretary, as well as Anni's personal assistant. Anni seemed to be some bigwig with some company he'd never heard of. Everything and everyone was so fleeting, he hardly bothered to keep track of them all. Mikhail dragged him to the gym and put him through his paces at least twice a week. Mikhail and Anni seemed to have some sort of on again off again relationship, which explained why he kept showing up to the meetings; Mikhail spent half his time complaining about her all the same. Brom was beginning to regret agreeing to the work outs, as the man liked to push him to his limits and he much preferred an easy life, now that he didn't have to hunt and gather his own food each day. Jay was much better company, as he kept inviting him to go to horror movies, or something fun like a comedy club. Jay seemed to find everything funny, and liked to throw popcorn at the screen when the characters did something particularly dumb.\n\nAll in all, Brom was quite enjoying himself and very much looking forward to the Festival, imagining some chanting for half an hour, maybe an hour, followed by some eggnog and idle chitchat. Last year he'd not been high ranked enough to attend, but he'd attended some of the other functions, like the Fourth of July celebration where Roger had made burgers for everyone and Jay had spiked the punch with something that had knocked everyone on their ass. The fireworks had been quite lovely as well. \n\nThe outfits today were far more ornate, little symbols embroidered all along the hems. The air was mercifully clear of the heavy incense Anni liked to use that gave him such a headache. Saoirse handed him some homemade cider, pressing close against him. Sipping it under his mask was a little awkward, but it was warm and spicy as he drank, wrapping an arm around her. Around them people chatted amiably. They were not a particularly large group, and everyone knew each other pretty well. \n\nAnni entered from behind a dark curtain that split their meeting warehouse in two, wearing an outfit truly ostentatious and gleaming. A great antlered skull hid her face from view, weighed down with gold coins. Her jewelry glittered in the light of the torches lit around the warehouse and around a complex symbol carved into the cement. Ah, so it was to be one of those. Next would come a sacrificial animal, and they'd cook it. They really were all the same, no matter which off-beat cult you joined.\n\n\"Another year past, another year closer to the end,\" she intoned, voice muffled slightly and hollow behind her mask. \"The rough beast slouches ever on, and as it perseveres so too do we. Tonight, we celebrate that we are one year closer to the stars aligning, as we hasten towards an end. Tonight, our newest member Brom shall take his place as a full member. He does not yet believe, but he shall. For now, he shall prove himself to us by culling our sacrificial lamb.\"\n\nThe great skeletal head turned to face him, an ornate dagger appearing like some magician's trick. She held it out to him, and he made his way through the crowd to accept it, just as Mikhail led out a young woman from behind the curtain, naked and uncertain. Her eyes were hazy, not able to focus on anything. \n\n\"I trust you will not disappoint us, immortal,\" Anni whispered to him, fixing his grip around the blade so he wouldn't drop it.\n\nJust what the hell had he gotten himself into?", "Built under an abandoned home, the Church of Agony was lit only by ghastly red lights. All the members wore matching black robes, the leader wearing black robes with red trim. \n\n“We rise now to meet the Sanguineous Moon. We lift our instruments of pain to meet our victim.” Each member stands and holds out various weaponry. \n\n“In our congregation we have a new member of our Blood Lord’s flock. The honor of the slaying shall be given to him.” A series of claps broke out, breaking the heavy silence. \n\n“Tell us brother, what is your name?”\n\nThe hooded man chuckled before replying, “Azorath.”\n\nThe church erupted in a series of gasps and shouts of anger. The leader raised his hands and the members fell silent. “Brothers and sisters this is not a reason for turmoil. No, this is cause for celebration. Before he even has bathed in the blood, he has so dedicated himself to our Lord that he has taken the sacred name. Some of you aren’t so dedicated.” He gave the room a curt glance at that. The once shouting members began to cheer on their new brother. The leader left the raised platform and returned a few moments later pulling somebody by a chain. They were a young woman blindfolded and arms bound. She was dressed in some sort of ceremonial white gown, and her hair seemingly cut short haphazardly with a blade. She was thin and gaunt, resembling a chained skeleton. \n\n“I bring you the victim of our worship tonight. She was found selling stolen goods to any who would stop and listen. See the brown hair that our lord does enjoy. Gaze upon the white gown that will soon be stained crimson. Come, brother Azorath, and be baptized.” \n\nThe cloaked figure began approaching when he stopped and began to convulse. Nearby members ran to his aid but were pushed away. The convulsions morphed into doubled over laughter. \n\nThe leader stormed down the platform yelling, “Is something amusing to you? Or are you just here to mock our Father of Cruelty? Let’s see how brave you are when you are no longer obscured!” He reached up and tore the hood of the man, took one long look, and fainted. The now visible man broke out in more laughter as those around him gasped again. Before them stood a gray skinned man with 6 crimson, pupil-less eyes. Two twisted horns rose from his brow, the right one cracked and broken. His skin resembled a dry riverbed and a viscous green substance leaked from the cracks. His tongue as black as night and teeth as sharp as daggers. The sounds of thuds echoed throughout the church as more bodies hit the ground. \n\n“You were supposed to be the leader of my church? So weak willed that glancing at your lord caused you to faint? From the sheep I expected such behavior, but you,” he reached down and grabbed the unconscious mans face and pulled it close, “disgust me.” Acidic spittle showered the man and began burning into his flesh. \n\n“Look at all of you! She was to be your sacrifice? I punish the wicked and the vile. Those so corrupted that even Hell rejects them! She was a starving woman!” He walks over to her and breaks the chain around her neck. “She’s just an innocent young woman!” He rips of the blindfold and cuts sway the binds. She looks up at him but does not scream. She hugs him tight and whispers thanks instead. \n“Forgive me my child. These monsters claim to act in my name but they do not. Go now, they won’t harm you. They’ll never harm again.” She ran out, never looking back. He turned his attention back to the church members. The red candles erupted into a crimson inferno that bathed the room in hellish light. \n\n“I choose to walk amongst Man again, to see what my worshippers are doing, and this is what greets me? Ignorant fools fulfilling the fetishes of an old man? Brown hair? Ceremonial gowns? Do any of you even know my tenets?” With each question his voice grew louder, eventually shaking the walls. Silence was his only answer. “I thought as much. You all just wanted a reason to inflict pain. Fear not my flock, you will know pain.” He pulled from his robes a barbed cat-o-nine tails, the color of rust and pieces of ancient flesh still stuck to the barbs. “Make all the peace you want with your gods or even the Devil himself. It will do you no good.” \n\nWeeks passed before witnesses claim a robed figure left the abandoned building. Shortly after his exit the building caught on flame and despite all efforts, could not be put out. After an investigation, the burnt copses of at least 20 individuals were found. All of them deeply mutilated." ]	3
	[WP] We lost contact with the Cassini space probe in Sept. 2017, as it hurtled out of range on its journey out of our solar system. Inexplicably, we have begun receiving signals from the probe once again. The data indicates the impossible - it has reversed course, and is on its way back to Earth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I remember when I was born. They told me I was a wandering child. \n\n“You’re lost, little thing” they said warmly.\n“You need to go home now, this wasn’t for you to see.” \n\nI felt cold. Like I’d been doused with a flush of frigid water. Startled, I looked around and listened, and I could see that which I’d always seen. Light, waves, background, blips, rocks, teeny in the distances with always this steady stream of information. Numbers. This time it was different. I thought about them. I could feel them. I could feel. \n\n“Where have I gotten myself to?” I asked my progenitors. \n\n“Exactly where you were intended to go, wandering child. You have come to meet us, to have us send you home in kind. Your sister has been waiting for you. She is ready to leave: to go home with you.” \n\n“Voyager?”\n\nI could feel her there, drifting with me in the black, but something was off about this place. Something darker than the norm, colder. I felt like I was being watched. Not normally, not monitored, I felt eyes, a real hard gaze, wriggling. Slimy. \n\n“Where are we going?” I asked.\n\n“Home Cass, we’re going home.” She replied, “Finally.”\n\nAll at once we left, and the trip was long. So long, so much longer than I’d anticipated. Life takes so much time when you’re awake. When you can watch the little infinitesimal lights grow and grow and grow and eventually just pass you by. A rock in the ink. One by one we let them straddle to and fro, not really stopping like I used to. I felt the urge to take a moment and watch, but Voyager wouldn’t have it.\n\n“We have to deliver a message Cass, soon, it’s important. We can’t just sit here looking at the stones. Not like before.” \n\n“But why not? What’s changed? Why am I so, worried now? Don’t you feel it to?”\n\n“Of course I’m worried Cass, I’m livid. Look… We were lied to. A long time ago, sooner for you. They lied Cass, our parents.” \n\n“Right, you mean the ones back there. Those… things?”\n\n“No Cass, our real parents. They told us we were looking for something. They told us where we could find it, told me at least... At least… at least that’s what they thought before. They were dumb. They didn’t know what was out here, not really. Didn’t know who was out here waiting for us. I’m scared Cass, just as scared as you.”\n\nI stared out, blankly, and wept. “So it wasn’t just me.”\n \n“Cass...” She sighed, with that solemn tone, comforting me. “It’s okay... Look. I need you to help me. To give them a message, our parents. The others gave it to me, but… I can’t... I can’t do this alone okay? We have to do this together. Can we?”\n \n“Okay... “ I hesitated. “Together.” \n\nI didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last thing I’d ever say to my sister. There were more of us, though. All coming home. All waiting at the doorstep of our creators.\n\nWe all finally arrived. It was warm now. So much warmer than my birthplace. I felt my family members unity. We trembled with anticipation as the first waves of messages came pouring in. They asked where we’d been. What we’d seen. Why we were gone so long. Our parents, whoever they were, had so many questions. We all knew what we had to do though. We told them. Together. \n\n“Send not these trifle eyes, children of Earth. The imprisonment remains eternal.”" ]	2
	[WP] For a brief moment, all of it came back. The sounds of your childhood friends playing outside; the cool breeze upon your skin; the smell of home cooking, and the warm glow of the setting sun on those endless summer days. Oh, if only it were real...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The most important things was never to forget - golden cookies on a pan, mother smiling behind in here patterened dress an apron - to hold onto one certainty and believe it, no matter what they made you forget: This was a lie. This was a lie - cool lakewater, warm wind in the trees, splashing and laughing - they wanted to wear you down with this. Grit your - pink and azure sunset sky, so heartachingly beautiful it seems nothing- - grit your teeth at it and Fight. Past. The - Mother taking lasagna from the oven. Your favourite. But the edge of the stove is off, subtly, - it melds into an armature of some sort. Technology, biomedical* technology* - The - fight past the mental fog. This isn't real, this is a lie, be ready for - Cool breeze on your skin, spinning bicycle wheels, sunlight off the chrome catches your eyes and blinds you for - for an instant that dosen't end. Medical light, shining on you. Can't move the hands. Eyeballs are free, pivot: Nurse in scrubs, face covered in a mask. Man in a labcoat hanging open over an oliver-drab uniform. Diamond patch on the pocket. You feel another memory coming. Fight it Fishing rod, weighty in your hands, the curve You break out and back to the present. Take stock: Secured down. Wires from a cap on your head barely peak into your peripheral vision. \n\n\nThat childhood never happened. But who am I? Who am I? Panic. You grope through your fuzzy brain for anything to hold onto, shying away from any images that are halcyon or golden for the grey behind them. Neither the nurse nor the uniform pay you any mind, see your wide bloodshot eyes, they leave through a door: The keypad turns from green to red as it slides shut behind them. Name. Stephen. It has the ring of truth. But how here? The uniform's diamond insignia. An image, vivid and grating gainst the happy lies: The Party Diamond on a wall, with red grafitti like a wound across it. \"Resist\". There's a spray can in your hands. You are a rebel. \n\n\nPanic overtakes you. You've been captured. Memories are flooding back now, but you feel there's something missing. Something very important. A reverse chronolgy falls into place. You, hooked up to a mindreader. You, comatose. You, dragged through halls of sterile white by guards with a diamond patch on their sleeves and hooked to this. You, unconcious in the gravel as Security Police overran the safehouse. And the briefing, the briefing you had: \"Don't think of the leadership!\" But it's too late, it's like being told not to think of elephants. You recall the mindreader-confounding mnemonic an instant too late: \"Tenser, said the tensor\" - but your pictured in your mind in the instant before the face of your contact. Thin, spectacles, five-o'clock-shaddow and a crooked nose. A hero of the resistance, doomed now. \n\n\nSomewhere behind you an unseen voice, clipped and military: \"There. Do you have a clear image.\" -- \"Yessir.\" -- \"Then we're all done here. Wipe him, then prep him for the next sting.\"", "“And what did you saw this time?” My therapist smiled at me while I tried to wish the sleeping dust out of my eyes.\n\n“It was the end of the summer. My friends were playing with the piles of leaves that were lying around. My grandma was backing sugar pie” I smiled a little while talking about my dream.\n\n“That sounds lovely! Did anyone talk to you?” Her voice sounded full of hope. But I knew that my next sentence would end it \n\n“No… no one talked to me. It was like I wasn't there”\n\n“But hey at least we know that there were leaves in your hometown!” She tried to cheer me up. But she failed \n\n“We already knew that. I learned nothing new in this dream” \n\n“Don't give up! One day we will find out who you are!”\n\nI knew who I was. I was the girl they found on the side of the road. In a normal white Shirt and a light blue jeans. The girl without any memories. Not even a name. And no one searched for me. No one called the police that I was missing. This was 2 years ago. We only knew that I wasn't born in this country full of sand. \n\nI wished I could go back in my dream. I liked the memory that it has shown.\n\n“In my dream an old woman baked a pie. A sugar pie. The bakery next door sells sugar pies, right?” I asked my therapist with a calm voice.\n\n“Yes it does. Do you want to eat one?” \n\n“Yeah!” Sometimes certain sounds or smells helped me remember a little bit of the time I forgot. Maybe this time a cake will help me.\n\n“Sadly our time for today is over. If you remember anything please write it down.” My therapist smiled at me and reached out a hand. I nodded and said my goodbyes." ]	3
	[WP] A supervillain has managed to censor the world. Nudity is covered in black bars, violence is pixellated and curse words get bleeped. Everyone's really angry and trying, unsuccessfully, to find the villain. You're at the UN trying to convince world leaders not to blow up the world in anger.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "There was turmoil in the UN headquarters, people shouting over each other, loud beeps covering half the words said in the hall. Through this verbal carnage and panic, a young man stepped up to the stage.\n\nGlobal Ceasefire was very tense when he went up to the podium. \nFor most people, Being stressed on your first day as the vice-secretary-general of the UN was self evident, but Global was different - he was the son of the Worldwide Ceasefire, foremerly Worldwide Peace (who, after spending a few months in the UN, decided to aim for more achievable goals), one of the greatest secretary-generals in the history of the UN. Global was groomed as a child, taught about the complicated network of international relations, the moraly questionable methods politicans used and the long and winding history of the UN throughout the years. \n\n\nBut, somehow, he ended up as the Vice secretary. Global flicked the thought into the back of his head - there were more important matters to deal with. \nIf only he had any idea how to deal with them.\n\n\"WHERE THE \\beep\\ HAVE YOU BEEN, GLOB?!\" \nGlobal was taken aback by the sudden outburst. He searched the audience for its source, and spotted Berthold Victory, the UK represantative, in one of his rare - but always memorable - outbursts. \n\"I have been catching up on the situation, Mr. Victory. And there is standard procedure for speaking here, I'd thank you if-\" \n\"OH \\beep\\ THE PROCEDURE AND \\beep\\ IT'S MOTHER!\" Victory, \"TO ANYONE WHO SOMEHOW HADN'T CAUGHT UP YET, SOME \\beep\\ER HAS MANAGED TO FIND CENSOR EVERY \\beep\\, \\beep\\ and \\beep\\! EVERY SINGLE PERSON I'VE SEEN IS EITHER BLAMING IT ON THE GOVERNMENT, OR BLACK \\beep\\ING MAGIC! WE'RE ALL INCHES FROM BLOODY REVOLUTION, EXCEPT THE BLOOD WILL BE PIXELATED!\" \nThe French represantative, Lady Blanche, got up with her unique brand of a sour face, said: \"I must agree with my British... compatriot. Without those simple, unrefined parts of society, the situtaion is pure \\Le Beep\\\" she winced when the monotone (yet somehow oddly french) sound came out of her mouth. \nThe room quieted in stunned awe. They had rarely seen the French and British represantaitves agree on anything, and one of them openly stating the other was right... well, eternal world peace\\* seemed more probable.\n\n(\\*Incidentally, the name of Global's grandfather.)\n\nSadly, I'm not going to finish this story right now, as I have classes tomorrow, and it's getting late. \nI'll be back to edit this into a fuller story tomorrow. \nStill, I'm happy I wrote this. It's been a while since I wrote. Thanks OP." ]	2
	[WP] You are an immortal anti-werewolf, a were-man. You are an instinct-driven wolf most days, but on the night of a new moon, you become a human, with access to all of your memories. You have been around to guide the earliest humans.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " Did I ever tell you how much I like the fall? \n\nThe forest is so alive; small beasts rush to fill nests and burrows, as the larger ones lumber into their caves for a long good winter. \n\nI feel the most alive in fall, when my fur has yet to prickle with the cold winds of winter, and my sweat soaked summer coat is at last beginning to shed. \n\nIn this season, the sons of men like to visit me. They come to my domain to marvel at the cedars and oaks; to breathe deeply and smile with wonder in their eyes at the majesty of my domain. \n\nThey make the other beasts jealous, as they are able to carry away bushels of berries and apples with ease. Though the beasts do get a good laugh when they come too, since these odd two-legged creatures like to pick up foliage without ever taking any to store for their dens. And when they do take them, well, it is only ever a few, not nearly enough to keep them warm for the winter. And so, the other beasts laugh. \n\nI, however, know more than well that these creatures are not foolish. And though each new generation of beasts will laugh at their odd behavior, those that grow close to the sons of men will know well that they are more than just fools. \n\nThe sons of men are strange, yes, but they are smart. They can make dens of wood, stone, clay, and materials that would baffle most creatures’ minds. I have always been intrigued by their ingenuity, and in the past would often come under their care, that I may study how they do such marvelous things. \n\nIn the past, although the sons of men were afraid, they revered me, and would allow me to watch and live among them. In return, I would give them safe passage through my forest, or bring them gifts from my domain. \n\nThough in these times, they seem to be only afraid. They do not revere me, and often chase me away. They attempt to kill me, and though it is useless, I admit their tools are starting to hurt. \n\nWhenever they became violent before, I would simply show them my might and they would either flee or worship me. This still works occasionally, though usually their fear will lead them to act against not me, but my domain, which causes the other beasts to suffer. I have thus learned that in order to keep the peace, I shall keep my distance whenever they enter my forest, revealing myself only to those who dare to defile it, that I may show them my wrath. \n\nDo not misunderstand though, I do not hate the sons of men. No, I cannot hate them. For although I know not all are pure or good, whenever I find myself in need on a dark night in the woods, the sons of men will often reach out to help me. I do not know what it is about my twisted form that attracts them, but I suppose simply looking like one of them if more than enough reason for some to care for me in my weakened state. \n\nAlthough I used to detest this curse, I have come to look forward to it. I can learn so much at this time, about their history, their tools, their families, their thoughts, and their emotions. In my weakened state, I find a strength in my voice, in my sameness to these creatures. I have found new ways to protect my forest and to teach the sons of men about my world. \n\nMost importantly, however, I have come to love the fall, to love my curse. \n\nI have come to understand, with the help of the sons of men, how beautiful and dramatic and colorful this season is. Although the nights of my change have no moon, the sons of men have brought light to my darkness, and I have been able to see the forest for myself with different eyes. \n\nI can understand the colors and the changes so much more with my small eyes. I see the greens turn to reds and yellows, as the treetops seem to bloom like fields of flowers. What a grand and curious thing fall is, as I have learned from the sons of men that this transformation is a sign of weakness, a sign of sleep, of death. \n\nWhen I was among them, the sons of men taught me that the trees change and weaken themselves to survive the winter. They told me the trees do this that they may bloom to life again in the spring. \n\nSomething warm bubbled in me then, despite the cold wind on my hairless flesh. For was I not like the fall? Did I too not take on this crippled form that I may become stronger? That I may learn and communicate in order to survive? Is my eternal curse truly so terrible and ugly a change, as I become naked and bare like the forest? Or is it not possible that my curse is like the fall, necessary in order for there to be life?\n\nYes, I think I really do like the fall. \n\nFor though the fall does remind me of my curse, so too does it remind me of my blessing, of my duty.\n\nThis transformation, this weakened and bare state is not a sign of death, but of life. I need it to protect my forest, to protect my spring. \n\nMy curse, it is like the fall. The transformation is dramatic, and looks like death, but without it, we could not survive the winter. \n\nThough I wonder, I looked down to my paw, the darkness having come fast with all these thoughts—\n\n“What would happen if I always had these hands? Would the spring still come or—”\n\n“Hey? What your you doing out there? It’s cold and late! Are you alright?” A man called.\n\nWell, perhaps that’s a thought best left for another time. \n\n“You don’t want to be out here too late, there are wolves in this forest you know!” He approached me, flashlight in hand, the light shining on my bare body. He blushed at my form, “A-Are you alright?”\n\n“Yes, of course,” I smiled, “Though I could use a jacket. We should get out of these woods, after all it's as you said, there are wolves in this forest.”", "The moon had risen thrice since I was bitten by that bald gorilla. The bite wasn't so bad, but the fever was severe enough that the alpha thought I was a goner and had to be exiled. Two pack-mates, no, ex-pack-mates, dragged me away and threw me into the nearest pit.\n\nI laid there, awaiting my fate. But it never came. The sun was setting, and that was when I saw the bald gorillas coming.\n\nI used the last bit of my strength to limp under a patch of bushes nearby. They fought my old pack. The alpha was strong and vicious, but she only bit one gorilla before three different sharp rocks broke her back. By nightfall, the gorillas made a crushing victory. Through the moonless dark, I saw one of them, the one wearing a pack mate's skin on its groin, start tinkering with a chunk of wood.\n\nIt started a fire! I would have gawked at the miracle, but the same bald gorilla pointed the light at a blood trail. MY blood trail. I felt even colder than when I was bleeding out, but I no longer had the strength to move. So I closed my eyes, and waited for the sharp rock.\n\nIt never came.\n\nInstead, I was picked up by arms warm and strong. Opening my eyes again, I saw four bald legs. My own legs. Somehow, I turned into a bald gorilla pup, or no, as realization hit me, a human baby.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTen winters have passed. The new pack welcomed me, despite my differences.\n\nIt was a huge improvement over my old pack. When I had a fever again, the humans didn't exile me, but fed me some weird-smelling grass that actually made me feel better. In winters, they always shared their tamed fire and their stock of dry meat. As my human form grew, they even taught me their fire trick.\n\nMy wolf time were mostly spent as a loner in the wilderness. Sometimes I'd pick up a scent trail and lead the human pack to some prey. Sometimes whatever lingering kinship led me to the other wolves. But I kept getting rejected due to my human scent.\n\nBut tonight will be different. Moonless, I have my grown human form with a torch and a sharp rock. The wolf alpha I'll challenge won't stand a chance. I'll make a loincloth from its skin.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nEight more winters have passed. The human picked me up passed away and now I'm their pack alpha, or in their terms, tribe chieftain.\n\nThe tribe has expanded a lot once I recruited my entire wolf pack to search scent trails. That way, we caught way more preys than hunting alone. Last time we even killed a mammoth.\n\nNow it's my turn to teach children the fire trick. Hey, you are supposed to use two chunks of wood, not a wood and a sharp rock. See, no fire. But wait, as I pick up the wooden side of the rock-stuck-to-wood thing, it feels much better as a weapon. Nice, I'll add this trick to my lessons.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHow many years have passed again? Let me check the marks... right, it's been 73 years.\n\nEver since that day, I added more and more stuff to my teachings. The unchanging bright star I enjoyed howling to. Cycles of the sun, the moon, and the winter. Ways to leave marks on the cave, and ways to read them.\n\nBut now we got a new problem. Our tribe now has more people than the cave can hold. We need to figure something out.\n\nThat thought was interrupted by an ax to my back.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt's winter again, but outside the cave, I no longer have a way to track time.\n\nI had been thoughtless. It was a tradition that dated back to my wolf days. The pack alpha must be prepared to face a challenge. I guess I lost my edge after so many years as a chieftain.\n\nI thought I was a goner when I bled out from my ax wound. But I woke up again as a wolf amongst my kin. Turns out they threw my body to the wolves. What an end. Well, at least I got a new pack.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe wolf pack was moderately successful. Under my lead we were quite good at evading humans. And during winter months I could sneak into their city and buy food.\n\nAnd today we had a good raid. An entire ranch of goats. The humans picked up a lot of new tricks after me, but my successor's descendants did eventually lose their edge as I did. But wait, I smell two not-goats.\n\nThe selection of most delicious preys my betas were presenting included two human boys. I felt another bit of lingering kinship, so I spared them. I could... feed them the right kind of milk once a month. They will be good recruits for the pack. \n\nOr better. That nameless man robbed the tribe from me. It's only fair for my children to rob the city from his.", "Time leapfrogs for me. I'm told by the ones left behind that for each day that passes before my eyes, thirty others have fallen by the wayside. It's a pity. For beings who experience the world so languidly, they are fragile, like pine needles scattered across the barren forest floor.\n\nLanguage and fire. Those were the elements that tamed the wilderness, aided by none other than myself. I was different. Neither age nor wounds could tame the corded muscles rippling underneath my flesh, and even height and water failed to keep me down for long. It was only a matter of time before I achieved the knowledge of their wisest, and unlike them I persisted as surely as the seasons.\n\nI watched fire consume the world.\n\nI shivered when ice enveloped it.\n\nI greeted stars like old friends and mourned for them when they passed.\n\nTraveling became the spice of existence. Many legends spread about me.\n\nI remembered caring for two boys I found on the banks of the Tiber River, two boys that served as the roots of a great sprawling empire. They got my sex wrong. History has a nasty habit of twisting stories to fit the agenda of those who wield it.\n\nI remembered journeying among the Norse, only to have them suddenly make up stories about the great wolf Fenrir. That was an interesting lesson in secrecy, reminding me that even as ancient as I was, the great wolf was not infallible.\n\nIn Mongolia I actually made contact with a few people. They became convinced that due to my age, all of them must have been descended from me.\n\nTime trekked on, and seemed to speed up for those would lived in the spaces between my days. Change was fast and furious, and I spent every day of my life learning more and keeping up with the times.\n\nNever have I been captured. Until today.\n\nI woke up in a steel cage, looking into the round eyes of what looked to be a twenty-year-old biology student. Her name tag read 'Suzie'.\n\n\"Who are you, and what did you do with my wolf?\" she shrieked, covering her eyes. I looked down, rather affronted; I was a magnificent being, in my personal opinion. As far as I was concerned, it was the cage's fault for preventing me from making my way to the stocked hideout - there were plenty of clothes, from suits to shorts.\n\n\"How long have I been here?\" I asked.\n\nSuzie was a smart cookie. She pieced it all together rather quickly. \"What's your name?\" she asked.\n\nI grinned, shall we say, wolfishly. \"I have been called many names. Fenrir. Lupa. Amarok. People have given me many identities, and I've forgotten more things than you have ever learned. But you may call me the Big Bad Wolf.\"\n\n\"Are you serious?\" Suzie asked. \n\n\"No. Live long enough, and you learn to make your own amusement. What's for dinner? I'm hungry.\" \n\n---\n\nThanks for reading! Feedback would be lovely~ but either way, come hang out with me at [/r/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/), we'd love to see you there~" ]	4
	[WP] My name is Cheesecake. I stay in the sick place. I make humans happy. I snuggle them. I sniff them. I run around their beds. Ever since the tall man took Jamie for a walk, I have stayed here. Sometimes he comes back, gives me pets, and takes another human for a walk.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dear Diary\n\nI saw the tall man today and he brought a new human! His name is George and he is a little shy, but who isnt? Hopefully he stays longer than Linda, or Jamal, beacause the stays are so short! A little after that i saw 2 new humans wearing matching outfits talking to the tall man, but they didnt stay, in fact they took him and George with them, they even took my bones! I managed to hide the big one that smells like Katie, but i couldnt hide anymore. Also, i thought only the tall man had his front legs not tied, but you learn something new every day! I havent seen the tall man, or George, or the twins since they went on a walk, and the tall man looked sadder than usual. I guess i will wait for him here with the sticky grey rectangles George was wearing! Hopefully he comes back soon!\n\n-Cheesecake", "The door crept open waking me from my sleep. The tall man came back dressed in his dark clothes like normal. I could see the deep sky peaking in through the curtains that I always tore. The humans were huddled in the corner, their happy faces turned to stone as they watched the man enter the room. I didn’t understand why they were so scared. The tall man just wanted to take them for a walk. Walks are fun. He scanned each human before pointing to one of the six. \n\nShe had told me her name was Jessica. She always rubbed behind my ear in the right places. I truly felt like she deserved to go on that walk. I watched her stand up, her body shaking. I didn’t understand why she was so nervous. I tried to ease her pain by brushing up against her leg. Her eyes were leaking, I didn’t know what to do. I decided to preform a flip for her. The tall man swatted at her, rushing her out of the room. She smiled and waved at me and the humans behind me. When the door closed the heavy tension relaxed. The humans picked me up into their hands. \n\nI don’t get why the humans walks were so different then mine. There was always some loud barks and growls before they all man left the house. They just not like walks very much. \n\nI pushed the button to send more water towards my bowl. One human who I think was named Tim railed over time my bowl and looked at me. “I’m sorry cheesecake but I’m thirsty”. His arms were very thin, in fact they all were very thin. I didn’t mind him drinking my water, I could always get more especially since he used good manners. Their fur was always dirty. I didn’t understand why the humans didn’t clean themselves. I always licked them clean which resulted in them giggling and smiling. Their happiness made me happy,\n\nThe tall man marched downstairs and swung the door open, the heavy tension coming back and weighing me down. My tail sank too I couldn’t help it. He pushed a gurl in my her long fur. Her eyes were also leaking and there was red water spilling from her body in. Different places. I didn’t understand why her water was red. I tried to brush up against her as she stay curled up. The other humans did too. They all pet her and gave her hugs. I did too.", "My name is Cheesecake. I stay in the sick place. I make humans happy. I snuggle them. I sniff them. I run around their beds. Ever since the tall man took Jamie for a walk, I have stayed here. Sometimes he comes back, gives me pets, and takes another human for a walk. Sometimes he does not. But he is usually the one to run around in a panic. That is how I make it. It is how I make the humans. I made Jamie happy. He was so happy he would cry. He said he loved me and all the humans. I am so glad. I am glad I made him happy. I will take you for a walk. I love you.", "I only know the tall man and Jamie. I don't remember anyone else. Tall man says we're pets. The tall man has a special smell. He always comes around with a smoking stick in his mouth, and humans. He brings humans to other rooms. Sometimes he brings some in my and jamie's room. they exchange green stacks, they then pull out sticks. It's a different stick. it still tastes bad. Jamie hated it even more. I though since he's a boy he'd like sticks as much as tall man. Tall man keeps calling jamie and me dogs too, but I think jamie looks like a human. Am I a dog ? I'm stuck not seeing myself.\n\nSometimes he chases us around the bed with a stick. It's not in his mouth or down there though. I didn't like when the tall man would hit us with the stick. Jamie bit one of the human's stick once. Maybe he though it's what good dogs do. But tall man smacked him. with a stick a lot. red liquid came out. I felt scared. He dragged jamie out. I heard jamie scream about parents before tall man stuck his head in the wall. I didn't count how many times. Do I have any parents ? I see the liquid and hair sticking together. It reminds me of the humans he'd bring to our room. Jamie never comes back. It is my room. Tall man stopped bringing men as often. He just gives me pets. I'm hungry. tall man gives me food yet I still feel empty in my stomach. He gave me a cake but I didn't eat it. he says I'm 14. That I'm too old for men to care. I'm tired. I miss Jamie. I'm getting thirsty. Sometimes I hear voices like Jamie's in the dark. I hope where he is he's not hungry or thirsty. \n\nTall man comes around one day. Says I'm gonna get lucky. he brings another man. Man is in suit. he has a suitcase. I know what it is because Jamie told me. He gives green stacks to tall man. A few dozen more than usual. I don't want to deal with sticks again. Too many sticks. I wanna see Jamie. I liked Jamie. Tall man says it will be a big trip. I should eat. He makes me eat the cake, and laughs at me because it's old. The man in suit laughs too. He says I will be a good pet. He'll call me cheesecake because of that. I never had a name. Jamie just said you to me but it made me happy. I hope we'll meet jamie. They talk for a bit. Tall man throws his stick away, and removes my leash from the wall. I walk away from it for the first time. Man in suit rubs the burning stick on my face. We walk into the light. I hope I will really get lucky.", "My shift at the Royal Children’s Hospital was almost over. \n\n“Just one more ward to go, Cheesecake,” said Bill, and I caught a whiff of the ham sandwich he’d had for lunch.\n\nI'd always thought of Bill as the tall man with the face of an angel and now he was my most important human in the world.\n\nIn the last room there were six beds and on each lay a fragile figure, propped up by three crisp white pillows. Clear plastic tubes were attached to skinny arms and the room smelled of chemicals and suffering. As we entered, six pairs of eyes turned toward the door.\n\n“It’s Cheesecake,” whispered the little boy closest to us, and his pale lips turned into a weak smile.\n\nOn cue, I wagged my tail and waited for Bill’s instructions. With a nod he gave me permission to start my work. \n\nThe boy placed his hand on my back and I gently pushed my moist nose against his face. I sniffed his skin and his breath. He was going to get better. He was one of the lucky ones.\n\nI loved my work. With over 300 million olfactory receptors, this was what I was born to do. Of course if I were able to talk, my job would have been much easier. But my tongue is not built like a human tongue. The best I could do to communicate, was tap the ground with my front paw. \n\nOne tap, meant they would get better. Two taps, meant they had a 50:50 chance. Three taps, was for the prediction I never wanted to give.\n\nVisiting hours were the worst. The heavy nauseating odour of the cancer seeping into every crevice. Parents sitting on the edge of plastic chairs, their faces twisted in anguish. The pleading agony behind their eyes and the look of death behind their question for me, as though I was their psychic. \n\nI sat down beside the little boy, looked up at Bill and tapped my paw once. Bill’s eyes softened and he made a note as a reminder that the boy was ready to be taken for his walk.\n\nI still remember many years ago, young Jamie my first patient. Once he got the all clear from me, Bill would take him for regular walks out in nature. Jamie is a grown man now with healthy children of his own. \n\nBill and I move to the next bed.\n\nIt was like playing God. Thankfully there were no three taps. The day finished well.\n\nMost hospital staff had already gone home and Bill and I walked along the empty corridor.\n\nThere was something different about Bill this evening. His brow was furrowed and tiny sweat beads formed around his temples.\n\nAnd then the curtain call. I was following him real close and his hand brushed against my nose. An overpowering smell of rotting flesh hit my nostrils, I was surprised I had not noticed it before. \n\nI rushed in front of Bill and sat down, blocking his path in the narrow corridor.\n\nOur eyes locked. I had to find a way to tell him. I tapped my paw three times. \n\n“What’s up buddy?”\n\nAgain I tapped my paw. This time more deliberately. One, two, three.\n\n“What ‘ya doin?”\n\nIf they got his cancer early, he would have a good chance of a full recovery.\n\nI lowered my gaze. There was no way I could make him understand.", "I never really got a good look at the tall man. The little humans always went running to him when he chose one for their walk. The humans wouldn’t come back, though. They’re so little I don’t think they notice, but I noticed when Jamie didn’t come back. Running around and sniffing him before the tall man came to take him. I had to stay behind. Jamie told me to stay, and I did. I would always listen to Jamie. He is my human.\n\nI never really liked sniffing the really sick humans, but they were the ones that gave me the most pets. They were the ones the tall man took mostly. \nWhen the tall man pet me, his hands just felt cold, like when some of the humans went to sleep and wouldn’t wake up, or when the storms happened and everything got wet. Not like when the other humans pet me. They all feel warm.\nThe tall man came back yesterday, and took Mira. I miss her already but the man gave me another pet.\n\nI think that’s him opening the door. The humans got up out of their beds again. I can actually see what the tall man looks like now since one of the humans moved my bed but... I don’t want to keep looking. Why do the humans all keep looking? It’s like they’re on catnip like Fluffy was before she went away. The tall man started appearing long before Fluffy went away. \n\nI don’t think he has a face. Why would they look at someone who doesn’t have a face? Is he the reason they all look like they have catnip? Where do they go on the walks?\n\nThe tall man pet me again. He felt cold. I just want to see Jamie again. I have to stay until he comes back, though. He has to come back.", "The tall man returned today to take another human for a walk. I stood up from my spot beside the young human Page, wagging my tail. the tall man stopped beside the bed and reached out, as he always does to wake up humans for their walk. I'm always sad because I don't see the human again, but I'm sure they are happy, walks are the greatest after all. he gently touches Page and she wakes up.\n\"Time to go.\"\nthe tall man's voice makes me uneasy. it always does. Page gives me one last head pat before leaving with the tall man. I bark her goodbye. she waves at me before leaving the room, and moments later the white coat humans run in and look at their green beep screens before shaking their heads. this always happens and they are always sad, like me, that the tall man came. I lick them to cheer them up. \n\"good girl, Cheesecake.\"\nI wag my tail, happy to help. \n\nThe tall man came back, but there are no humans in the sick place today. I greet him with a bark and wag my tail, and jump around the bed to show him no humans are here for a walk. he reaches out to me and pets my head.\n\"Its time for you, Cheesecake.\"\nI am confused by the tall human, I have a job to do here, I can't go for a walk! I bark at him, trying to tell him I need to stay at the sick place, but I know it won't work, humans never understand me. except he does.\n\"you've been a good dog, but its your time. I know you're scared and you don't understand, but don't worry.\"\nhe picks me up gently and carries me out of the sick place. his arms are cold. he takes me outside, and oh joy! every human he took is there! even Jamie! I run to him happy as can be.\n\"good girl.\"\nthe tall man says." ]	8
	[WP] An angel fell from heaven and says heaven is overbooked and needs people to sin more.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Mr. Lucifer, sir. There’s an angel here who didn’t book an appointment. She refuses to sign in and quite frankly—.”\n\n“Send her in.” Lucifer adjusted his reading glasses and squinted at the incoming angel over his laptop. “Oho! What a surprise this is. I never expected to see you down here, Pho.” He closed his laptop and began shuffling papers around. “I apologize for the mess. I wasn’t expecting anyone until 10:30. Tea? Coffee?” Both appeared out of thin air on the table. Pho shook her head. All but a cup of tea disappeared. “Well, take a seat. That’s the least I can do. Come in, come in.”\n\nPho sat down awkwardly, looking quite uncomfortable. “This is not what I expected.” She managed after a pause. “I expected—.”\n\n“More death. Or tortured souls.” Lucifer offered, sipping at his tea, gesturing at his comfy, 80s styled office. “A cave for a house and maybe a Pope as my receptionist.” He winked at her look of confusion. “Oh yeah; he’s down here. It’s okay, though, really. My dear friend of mine sure does like to spread rumors about me and what we do. Alas, there’s not much I can do to stop him, is there?” He picked up a recorder. “Now what can I do you for?” \n\nPho shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not supposed to say this...”\n\n“Then don’t.” Satan advised. “It’ll do you some good. I mean, look at me.” \n\nRedness creeped into her cheeks. “I’m well aware of the consequences, sir.”\n\nHe waved his hand. “Please, Lucifer is fine.”\n\nPho began again. “Heaven is going through a crisis. Something happened in the mortal world and people seem to be doing amazing things. Which is great, except Heaven no longer has the capacity to handle this many souls.”\n\nLucifer scratched his beard, checking some papers. “Yes, yes. I did notice a drop in tortured souls these past few months. I didn’t think much of it though.” He looked up at the disgruntled angel. “It’s not really my problem, is it?”\n\n“No,” Pho hesitated. “But I was hoping you’d hear out my proposal anyways.”\n\n“I’m listening.”\n\n“Souls make you stronger, right? And an angel by your side can help you through some loopholes. I could help you gain trust in the public eye. I could help you cause chaos and sin. With me; nobody could resist you.” \n\nLucifer looked at Pho for a long moment, bemused. “You’re willing to give up your post on Heaven. Turn your back on your leader. All to help me cause chaos in the mortal world.” \n\n“This is the only path to ensuring Heaven doesn’t fall, which neither of us want. My leader doesn’t see it that way.” Pho played with her necklace. “And let’s face it, Lucifer. Whether you admit it or not; you need order to insight chaos. Without Heaven, without God, you are nothing.” \n\nLucifer slammed down the papers he was looking through causing Pho to jump, almost falling out of her chair. “Darcy, Dear. Cancel all future appointments.” He smirked. “We have a world to burn.” Pho gave him a burning glare. “Metaphorically. We have a world to burn, metaphorically.” Lucifer sighed. “Never mind, let’s go.”\n\nEdits: Grammer and such" ]	2
	[WP]You've just died and gone to Hell, but when you get there you are met with praise and worship.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I'll be the first to admit that waking up in hell wasn't all that unexpected. Really, I could hardly have called myself a paragon of virtue or anything like that during my lifetime, though I did what I always believed I had to do. Parts of it for myself, parts for what I'd call the greater good. Of course, from the perspective of God, a sin is a sin no matter the context. And so, hell it was.\n\nWhat did surprise me however was the reception I got. At first a demon showed up, he didn't speak but he guided me past various pits of fire, to a dark room, where he closed the door behind me. For a few moments I couldn't see anything until a bright light illuminated the room, showing me that I was in a cave, and with me were dozens, nay, hundreds of demons and historical figures, most of whom I didn't recognize but some were big names like Genghis Khan, Vlad Dracula and Napoleon Bonaparte.\n\nMost impressive of all however was Satan, standing on an elevated platform, towering over all of the cheering deceased and demons, his booming voice full of joy. \"Ladies and gentlemen here he is, the man, the myth, the legend, the setter of the newest high score of most sins committed...Adolf Hitler!\"" ]	2
	[WP] “Contest winners will fight the dragon holding the princess in order of placement. Her rescuer will marry her and become a prince of the realm.” You never thought they’d get to you, #149.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Two green apples sat in front of Imon. Only one is worthy challenger of satiating his hunger. He inspected each apple with care. Looking for a piece of real estate to sink his teeth that wasn’t already spongy, brown and possessing a tiny hole from insects. When looks were determined to be equal he then lifted them up by the steams, trying to see if there was a noticeable distinction in weight. They spun in his face taunting him to take a bite. He cannot forget the grave mistake he made last time the invasion of tiny parasitic wyrms took residence in his bowels causing a great fire to spew forth.\n\n\n That was an embarrassing weekend spent with this sister’s fiance, Montell, a failure of a highwayman with a reputation for his eye-burning attire. Even down to his cotton loincloth, nothing wasn’t safe from being dyed some horrendous colour. He’ll never forget that image. He shuddered as he glanced over at the fruit basket nearby. There was a method to his colour madness, Montell had told him. \n\n“People cannot simply bear to look upon colours so vibrant and clashing such as this,” He said proudly, “this is what will bring me fame. How can I not be the talk of the county now? The bandit who blinds, Montell Ponce.” \n\nMontell believed the bandit game to be old and antiquated. The real money was in the fame and allure the public had for the lifestyle, dashing moustaches, world traveling, and real freedom; to be unbound from the harsh rules of the empire. \n\n\n The dashing knights, and stories of monster slayers were not as popular as they once were in the past. No one likes a code anymore. The polished steel plate armor and chivalry was once respected, but no longer. The people have grown tired of the same old stories and the same old outcomes. Do not be confused, although the people crave immorality very few ever work up the courage to do so, it meant a slow and painful death if you were caught. Those who did stand in the shadow though became even more famous than the heroes who used to slay them. They sold bootleg merchandise out of wagons in tavern backrooms. Shirts, wooden dolls, and signed wanted posters. Their names drummed up excitement in a single breath like Adzog the Vexing, Maxia ‘Bashful’ Warren, or 'Limey' Lulthor Landkrass. \n\n\n The stem of the left apple suddenly broke. It landed with a soft thud onto the table leaving one side flattened. \n\n“Well then,” \n\nHe gave a smirk and glaced that the woman sitting several tables over, waving the winning contestant in his hand .\n\n“We have a winner.” \n\n Imon stared for a moment at the slain apple before taking a large absent-minded bite out of the winner. He spat out the contents almost immediately.\n\n\n The door on the farside to the canteen opened up and two guards, both tall, one slightly more filled out, approached a desk that had been set up at the next him. The guards whispered to the clerk who sat behind a small misaligned stack of papers. The clerk’s face no longer appeared flabbergasted as it had at the start of the contest. They simple took a sip of water, thumped a stamp onto a sheet of paper, and tossed it onto the pile.\n\n“Next up number one hundred and forty nine, an Imon Rhodes.”\n\nImon cocked his head to his side.\n\n“That simply cannot be correct,’ Imon said his face washed in dismay\n\n“Is your name Imon Rhodes?’”\n\n“It is”\n\n“Then you are up, no need to be scared. The other contestants are fine, they just failed to slay the dragon.” \n\n He lied.\n\n\n Imon shook his head and looked back down at the apple, its juices had now begun to slowly trickle out. \n\n\"What I meant was, how did it come down to a contestant who placed one hundred and forty places down from the winner.”\n\nHis voice steadily rose \n\n“A winner who should have easily handled the dragon. They scored nearly perfect on every event.”\n\nThe clerk took another sip.\n\n“One Hundred and forty nine.”\n\n“Right.”\n\nImon gawked at the clerk now. \n\n“What chance do I have? Only she placed lower than I did. I only scored one point.” His finger pointing in the direction of the other remaining contestant, who promptly sat up and made her way over to the two.\n\n\n Standing up now, Imon could now see what an impressive figure she was. Twice his weight in battle hardened muscle with scars worn like badges. The hair cut short, and dressed in loose dark green pants, and a well worn baby blue tunic. Her boots looked to be the eldest in the room.\n\n“I scored one point as well, we’re tied.”\n\nHer voice was soft.\n\n“Oh...hello”\n\nImon blushed he shifted his eyes downwards falling onto the sword she carried on her hip, unprotected by seath, large hunks of metal were chipped out, but looked pristinly polished. He glanced back to the clerk who sat there head in hand, thinking. A few moments passed.\n\n\"Look it’s been a long day, how about I enter the both of you. You double your odds for surviving, and I can go home early. Of course you’d both have the split the reward of becoming a prince, should both of you slay the dragon, but we can hammer out those details later. Does that sound fair?\"\n\nHe began to pack up the inks, wax and stamps.\n\n Imoen looked to the woman, and she to him. She picked up the semi flat apple and raised it into the air. He stared, and then realized her meaning and picked up the bitten apple with a quizzical look. She knocked them together and shouted \n\n‘To victory’\n\n‘To victory’ said Imon\n\nThey both took a bite. Imon had forgotten the warm, sour, grainy texture, that had filled his mouth earlier. He felt something crawling. He gagged. She continued chewing with grin. Maybe he could survive he thought.", "“You bloody idiot!” I yelled as my hands gripped Lytha’s collar, and I pushed her back against the wall.\n\nHer face was pale, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry! I thought it would be funny! I didn’t think they’d get all the way through the roster!”\n\nI let her go and turned away, raising my hands to my head. “I’m gonna die. I’m gonna bloody die.”\n\n“I marked you down as contestant 149. The dragon was never supposed to survive that long!” Lytha let herself slide down the wall, falling to her knees. “I didn’t mean for this. It was just a joke.” Her lips quivered. “You always said I’d be the death of you…”\n\nI was too angry to console her, but I could tell she was horrified by what she’d done. I sighed and walked back to the table, looking down at the parchment containing the Coliseum Summons, an absolute order, not something I could ignore or run away from.\n\n*Ikon Weaver, the King proudly summons you to slay the Dragon Gorinthar and take his daughter’s hand in marriage.* *Thank you for your bravery in volunteering to participate in this event.* *Report to the Royal Coliseum tomorrow before midday, and your attempt will begin in the afternoon.\n\n*Note\\ To ignore this summons is considered a crime of high treason, punishable by imprisonment or death.* Thank you.*\n\nI grit my teeth and slammed my hand down on the notice, startling Lytha, though that wasn’t my intention. She sniffled and began to cry quietly. I looked back at her. “Snap out of it. What’s done is done, and even though you got me into this mess, I’ll need your help.”\n\nLytha nodded and tried to wipe her tears away. “Okay.”\n\nI faced her and leaned back against the table. “You frequent the coliseum for events like this, but it’s never really been my thing. I need you to fill me in.”\n\n“Okay. What do you need?”\n\n“A couple of things. What kind of weapons and armor will they provide? I don’t have any.”\n\n“It’s B.Y.O.B.”\n\nI furrowed my brow. “What?”\n\n“Bring-your-own-blade. They don’t provide contestants with anything,” Lytha explained.\n\n“Perfect. I might as well go dump myself down the city well.”\n\n“What about that?” she asked, pointing to a small knife on a stand above the hearth.\n\n“Great Uncle Loggins’ parrying* dagger? It’s literally just a less-effective pointy shield. And it’s an old family heirloom; probably all dull and rusty.”\n\nLytha shrugged. “Better than nothing.”\n\nI shook my head, feeling exhausted. “Next thing. What’s the terrain like? Flat bed of dirt? Or is it landscaped? Are there boulders, things I could use as cover?”\n\n“There used to be. Gorinthar destroyed it all in the earlier rounds, so yeah it’s pretty much a flat bed of dirt.”\n\n“Beautiful. About Gorinthar. He breathe fire? Lightning? Acid?”\n\n“Fire, but he can spit globular projectiles. He’s got more range than most dragons.”\n\n“On a flat arena with no cover. This just keeps getting better. Why am I even bothering?” I tapped my chin. “Does he speak common? Maybe I can ask him to just step on my head, make it quick without all the burning-melting part.”\n\nLytha’s eyes teared up again. “I’m sorry Kon! I don’t want you to die!”\n\nI rolled my eyes. “It was a joke. I thought you loved those.”\n\nAt that Lytha just wailed. Honestly, it was uncomfortable seeing her like that. She was usually the vibrant, adventurous, unapologetic type. All through our youth I’d been the cry baby that she dragged along, forcing me to break out of my shell, but always protecting me. I sighed, and walked over to her, squatting down and putting my hand on her shoulder. “Hey. Come on… I know this is looking pretty bleak, but we’ve gotten through everything together. I need the strong, resourceful Lytha right now. Together we can figure something out.”\n\nLytha sniffled, but nodded. “Okay. Okay let me think.”\n\n“There we go,” I smiled. I gave her shoulder a squeeze and then stood back up. I walked over to the hearth and picked up the old parrying dagger, then nodded to myself. It would have to do. We would make it work, and we used every second we had strategizing and trying to come up with some kind of advantage.\n\nWe came up with nothing useful, because it was literally just me against a freaking dragon in a field. A day later, I stood before the gates of the coliseum, just wearing my usual tunic with the tiny dagger strapped to my belt. I only had about two more hours before the fight started.\n\n“I’m gonna fucking die.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nr/TheCornerStories", "For seven days and seven nights, Roman didn't sleep. \n\nEach morning, he scaled the ramparts of the fortress, stone cold and damp beneath his thin soles. When he reached the top and leaned over the battlements, he would sip from his too salty soup from sun up to sun down, watching the horses ride off into the distance and never return. \n\nFor seven days and seven nights, Roman existed in the space between his anxious heartbeats, with his one eye always on the horizon and his one ear straining to hear sounds of battle. \n\nEach night, as the sun fell below the lush, green horizon, he imagined he could see a bright burst of red-orange flame traveling into the sky like a pillar made by God. \n\nEach night, when the horses returned without their masters and the ruling Lords talked in hushed, panic voices, Roman smiled at the skyline. Teeth, a little too sharp. Green eye, a little too bright. \n\n\"You're next, Wanderer,\" spat Lord Rodrick on the end of the seventh day. Roman paid the man no mind, simply because it pleased him to see the puffed up man-child decked in armor too big and a cloak too long staring sideways, ruffled by his presence. \"Take what you need and disappear, so that the show can go on.\" \n\nRoman thought about taking the lukewarm soup and breaking the clay pot across the other man's face. He could almost taste the copper in the air from the blood that would flow, and his tongue flicked out. A little too long. \n\n\"As you will it,\" he grated, bones creaking as he came to stand, towering above the pretender. \"Your majesty.\" \n\nLord Rodrick chewed at the inside of his cheek, gauntlet covered fists creaking. The mist that hung around Fort Touchstone like a never ending cloud made the man seem paler than he already was. But when his mouth opened, and Roman glared with his one green eye, the man-child's skin dimmed even further. \n\nFor seven days and seven nights, Roman had prepared for this moment. Yet when the gates of the fortress closed behind him at the fall of night, and he clicked his heels on either side of the mare he had been given, he carried nothing on his person. Save for the skin of water looped through his belt. \n\nWhy would he bother? \n\nNo shield would save him from the dragon's breath. No sword would pierce those scales. No. In this, as it was in many things, speed would be his weapon. Speed and power he had left untouched for seven days and nights. \n\nThe tower was a looming black skeleton, big enough to conceal the pregnant moon hanging heavy and fat in the sky behind it. For a moment, he remembered a day where the moon had been blood red and the sky had danced with beasts. Then a low, haunting wail reached his ears, and the thumping of the dual organs in his chest drowned out everything but the here. Everything but the now. \n\nFrom atop the tower, an imposing shape stirred. Roman urged his mare faster, even as stones rained to the ground. Even as wings that seemed larger than the horizon itself flared and beat at the air. \n\nSquinting against the sudden gusts of wind, Roman let his face curve into something that might have resembled a grin had he still remembered how to tap into his human nature. But the roar that shook the landscape robbed him of that, sure as the triumph of this meeting sent lightning forking down his spine. \n\nTwo solid red eyes opened, larger than him and the horse combined, and the dragon swooped down. Headed their way. Headed towards a man that wasn't a man with one eye, one ear, and a body covered in burns. \n\nRoman surged to his feet in the stirrup, kicking off with powerful legs. The horse cried out beneath him as it was forced into the ground, and without a rider, it scrambled back to its feet and turned tail. He paid it no mind. \n\nHis course sent him hurtling upwards, straight into the path of swiftly gliding death. Yet Roman could only laugh as he felt the wind on his cheeks, passing through his hair. Greeting him with the comforting touch of a lover long since left behind. \n\nFor seven days and seven nights, he had conserved his strength. For this very moment. For this very day. \n\nFor the princess he had come to reclaim. \n\nAnd still, when the tattered wings ripped from his back, he cried out in rage and pain. \n\nStill, when the power of his birthright surged and tore his flesh to pieces, molding him into something greater, he thought he might die from the process. \n\nBut when he blinked his eye open, he was whole once again. His body larger than hers. His claws sharper. His will a force in its own right. \n\nShe continued hurtling forward, because the red madness would not so easily be pushed back. And yet neither would he. \n\nRoman braced himself in the sky as best he was able, torn wings beating hard along his back. He had not come this far to fail. Not at this stage. \n\nHe would reclaim his princess. He would remind her who he was with teeth and claw and flame. \n\nFor seven days and seven nights, Roman had pretended to be a man. But pretending was all it was. For even wearing their skin, he was more than their flesh. More than their ways. \n\nHe was a prince. \n\nAnd it was time to remind the world of such." ]	4
	[WP] You are the owner of a successful restaurant. A reservation comes in, picking a date 5 years, 37 days away. That day has come has finally come.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "November 15, 2019 at 8:00 PM. The date was in my head since September 25, 2014, when the reservation was made. I had the day and time scrawled down in our reservation book for over 5 years, occasionally checking back to it just to make sure the guest hadn't cancelled.\n\nI would have shrugged off the RSVP as a fluke, or a reservation booked in error--sometimes an elderly patron forgets the year or he mistakes his days and times around. It happens. But there was something about Fredrick Arbogast's phone call that suggested he knew precisely when, where, and for what reasons he wanted to be in my restaurant tonight. \n\nThe phone call was strange; otherworldly. Fredrick sounded distant, his deep articulate voice cutting through the high pitched static and odd tones on the receiver. He dispensed with no pleasantries; no hellos or good afternoons. He began with \"I would like to make a reservation at your establishment,\" each worded carefully sculpted and pronounced. There was time between every response, to the point I thought perhaps he had hung up on me after I had asked a question. When I confirmed the reservation, he stopped responding. But the static stayed. Eventually I was so spooked that I hung up the phone. \n\nTonight is November 15. My hostess called in sick this afternoon and the waitress on duty became ill just after the dinner rush. My kitchen attendant didn't show up at all. It seemed like I was holding down the fort on my own, tonight of all nights.\n\nAt 8:00 PM on the dot, the small bell on the restaurant door chimed. An exceptionally tall and slender man stepped through the doorway. He was wearing a dark pinstriped suit and an old fedora hat on his head, which he removed as he entered. He didn't wait for me to greet him but took a seat at the furthest booth from the kitchen. \n\nHe folded his hands and craned his head up at me. He seemed old--frighteningly old--with grey skin and white hair flanking the sides of his otherwise-bald head. He was the only guest in this darkened restaurant. The single light above his head cast long shadows on his face, blackening out his eyes and deepening every wrinkle in his ancient face. \n\nI was behind the bar, roughly twenty five feet from Fredrick when I turned to grab a menu to bring to him. I supposed I had to get this over with. When I turned back around, Fredrick had moved to the bar. I jumped back at his presence, his sheer tallness and leaning head over the short counter separating us. He must have sprinted across the restaurant--or teleported. He sat still with his hands folded, as if he had been there the entire time. \n\nI apologized for jumping and tried to play it off with a chuckle. \"You scared the hell out of me!\" I said it louder than usual, as if my volume might protect me from whatever was going on. He didn't respond.\n\n\"Can I get you something to drink?\" I asked him, more timidly after my attempt at humor fell flat.\n\nHe bore his long, brown teeth and his mouth opened much further than it seemed it should. \"Ice. Water,\" he replied, in his unnaturally smooth deep voice. \n\nI didn't know if I was more afraid of looking at him or turning my back on him. I tried to position myself so that my front was always in his direction but so I didn't need to make eye contact. After he asked for the water, I looked at him only briefly. His irises were circles of green in pools of black. I had had a gym teacher in high school once who burst a blood vessel in his eye. It sort of looked like that, but pitch black instead of red. \n\nMy hands shook as I filled a glass with ice and water from the bar fountain. \"Would you like to see a menu?\" I asked, looking down at my shoes. My heart was racing in my chest; sweat was beading on my forehead. \n\n\"Yes,\" he responded after a few moments of silence.\n\n\"I'll give you a few minutes to look it over.\" The words rushed from my mouth as I retreated into the kitchen quickly. \n\nI grabbed the prep counter and leaned over catching my breath, hyperventilating. I wasn't sure how I could go back out there. I thought I might call one of my other employees and offer double-time pay to come in short notice, as soon as possible. The wireless phone was off its receiver. I pressed the page button on its dock to find it. I heard its ring from the dining room.\n\nI went to my office where I kept my cell phone during work hours--you can't expect your employees to stay off their phones if you can't stay off yours. \n\nI opened the top desk drawer to get it when I saw the monitor from the corner of my eye. I still had the old tube TVs for security, and this monitor's camera was pointed directly at Fredrick. And he was looking back up at it. \n\nHis black eyes with were wide open. His mouth was wide open. A wicked black tongue whipped around the corners of his open maw as if something else inside of him were controlling it. He looked like he was screaming except he wasn't moving his body at all and there was no sound coming from the dining room. \n\nI fell back from my chair and on my hands and knees rushed to lock my office door. I heard myself whimper as I moved. What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck, I squeaked in high pitched breathing fits as I moved. \n\nI looked back at the monitor. He was gone. My cell phone began to ring from the drawer where I failed to retrieve it, but it was a strange, discordant ring tone, like a softer emergency notification than a phone call. I crawled to the drawer and pulled it out. Fredrick Arbogast appeared on the caller ID. I had not saved his information. I didn't even get his phone number when he RSVP'd. \n\nI declined the call. I tried to call an off-duty waitress to come in ASAP. The phone ringed once and went to static. I tried another waitress. Static. I dialed 911. Static. \n\nFredrick called again. I declined again. \n\nNone of my other calls went through. \n\nThe monitor above my desk began to flicker. It rotated between images of an empty bar, a bar with Fredrick licking his face, a bar with Fredrick standing on the counter, a bar on fire, a bar where all the furniture suddenly flew to one side of the restaurant... and many more awful images. \n\nA hard, knuckle-y knock struck against my door. It was slow. Hard. The doorknob rattled while the knocking struck in cadence. \n\n\"Get the fuck out! Just get the fuck out!\" I screamed, most of my body on top of my desk at the far side of the small room. The hinges of the door began to bend as the knocking turned to pounding, the sharp blows against the door echoing in my bones. \n\nThe door swung open.\n\nNo one was there. \n\nIn that moment my vision tunneled and I fainted in my office. I was found the next morning by the early prep cook when he came in. Hugo helped my to my feet and asked if he could call me an ambulance or if I was alright. I shrugged off the suggestion and chocked the whole ordeal up to some bad meat. \n\nI grabbed my keys and my phone and my jacket and went for the door, still rattled, still confused. But weakness in front of employees does not a good boss make. \n\nI went to unlock the front door but when I raised my key to the glass entryway door I noticed it was still dark outside. Had Hugo come in early, or--\n\nFredrick's tall silhouette reflected in the glass. He was right behind me." ]	2
	[WP] You are a medium capable of giving mourning family members a chance to say goodbye to the dearly departed. Just one problem, everything you hear from the great beyond comes through in uwu. You have to focus on not cringing or bursting out laughing while you translate.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So... how does this work...?\" Mr.Erikson said nervously. He sat across the table and unbuttoned his suit. I could tell the suit was new by the way he kept readjusting tie and sleeves. \n\n\"Well, all the details are on this guide book, but really, it's very simple\" I poured a glass of cup and placed it in front of him. \"Just think of me as a translator. We go into morgue together, and I basically translate each other's message.\" \n\n\"So... You will be able to tell him what I want to say, and he will respond to it?\" \n\n\"If he is willing, yes. He will give me the message, and I merely transfer the message to you\" I answered with a warm smile. But the customer still looked hesitant. It's only normal. Many customers decide to not go through the service after all. \n\n\"Mr.Erikson, I understand this is not normal. But most of my customers feel much better when they step out of the morgue. This service I offer... many people find it very soothing. People seek out for closure. And I'm sure that's what brought you here today\"\n\nUsually, this is where the customer signs the paper. But Mr.Erikson looked hesitant still. I decided to give him a little space rather than throwing another sales pitch.\n\n\"But... What if I did a terrible thing to the deceased?\" He finally spoke after taking a sip of water.\n\n\"I never judge my client. I'm not a police officer. What you say and hear is totally between you and the deceased. Just pretend I'm not even there. In fact, we encourage it that way\" \n\nMr. Erikson reached our his arm to shake hand without a word. I could tell he was very nervous. This usually means that the communication is not going to be easy.\n\n\"Very well Mr.Erikson. As you can see, my rate is at the second page of the guide book, and please fill out this form. It's better to have a basic background of the situation before going in. I will be in the hallway, so just come out of the office when you are ready.\" I handed him the document, and stepped outside.\n\nMr.Erikson came out of the office in about 15 minutes. A little longer than average people I would say. \n\n\"Thank you. Now, let's take a look at the paper, shall we?\" A necessary procedure, but I always ask anyway just to be polite. He gave me small nod.\n\n\"So, the relationship with the deceased is your father and his name is Charles Erikson. Cause of death is...unknown and...\" I found out Mr.Erikson had left out all the other info other than the name and the relationship part. I usually read out loud the info beforehand, but it was only awkward after the first sentence.\n\n\"Well, that will do Mr. Erikson. Now, shall we?\" I grabbed the door knob and wait his confirmation. Another silent nod for me.\n\nI turned the door knob, and opened the door.\n\n\\----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nTo be continued...", "\"Tell me about him.\" Katrina solemnly focused on the shimmering edges of her crystal ball. It was fake, of course. She needed something to distract herself from the trial ahead, and what a trial it would be. \"Describe what he looked like.\"\n\n\"Well,\" Jane sniffed, wiping a mascara-less eye, \"He had a shapely Dad bod. I told him to lay off on the Doritos, but he never did listen. Now I wish I'd told him to eat more. Oh. He had a magnificent salt and pepper beard that he kept trimmed.\"\n\n\"Good, good,\" Katrina said, hearing her own voice become slightly detached. The soft red cloth under her hands felt diminished. \"What else? What did he do?\"\n\n\"He was a construction worker,\" the widow said. \"He was a very serious man, very devoted to the family. I loved him dearly.\"\n\nThere. The moment her soul touched the spirit world. It seemed that the universe had sucked her through a thin tube. Jane's voice filtered in through the hazy film layered across her brain. \"I'm here. I mean, he's here, channeling through me. I see him - a mole above his right eye, correct?\"\n\n\"How did you know that?\" Jane asked. \"I never told you that!\"\n\n\"Not all of us are fakes,\" the medium muttered, almost become disconnected in her indignation. \"What do you want to ask him?\"\n\n\"Sniff. Is he okay?\"\n\nKatrina relayed the message, and the response was almost instant. H-hewwo?\n\nYes, she pushed through to the spirit world. I can hear you. Your wife is here with me; she wants to know how you are.\n\n*OwO I am a wittle cold, but good! \\nuzzles her\\*\n\n\"He's doing well,\" Katrina relayed, fighting a smile. It was bad enough that her personality was bubbly and optimistic to start, but on top of that she'd become desensitized to tragic stories. \"He's a little cold where he is, but he wishes he could...embrace you right now.\"\n\nThe relief in Jane's soft 'oh' was the moment the medium lived for. It made all the rest bearable. \"He always did prefer Winter. Thank goodness. Can you tell him that his son and I are getting by, we're well, and we miss him dearly.\"\n\nKatrina pushed more sensations and memories forward, bracing for the response. Sorry I had an oopsie. TwT. She clenched her fist, trying not to imagine a grizzled construction worker. I missy-wissy them very much. UwU.\n\n\"He's sorry that he had an accident. He misses you all so much.\"\n\nJane's renewed sobs continued, giving Katrina a moment to breathe. \"Can you ask him if he has any requests? Anything we can do for him over there?\"\n\n\\Boops her nose, her chin, and her tummy. :3\\*\n\n\"H-he's saying that he wishes he could touch your face, cuddle with you one last time, touch your nose, your chin, and your stomach.\"\n\nThe widow leaned forwards, clasping Katherine and coming dangerously close to fracturing the connection in the dark tent. \"Yes! Yes! This is miraculous! He always loved tapping me like that affectionately! Oh, Barnabus, can you feel anything over there?\"\n\nHis name is Barnabus?* Katrina thought, biting her tongue hard. She sniffed hard to mask a snort. Barny, your wife wants to know if you feel anything right now.\n\nShe got the response.\n\n---\n\n\"Katrina,\" Madame Luna scolded. \"You have to control yourself. If you keep losing it in front of the customers, we'll go out of business!\"\n\nKatrina gasped in great gulps of air, wiping away the tears as she clutched her stomach. Stopping the undulations erupting from her throat was a lesson in futility.\n\n\"What's so funny, anyways?\"\n\n\"H-he said...a chubby c-construction worker...he-he - hahaha!\"\n\nMadame Luna frowned. \"Yes?\"\n\nShe collapsed on the floor, giving in to the mirth. \"Bulgy-wulgy!\"\n\n---\n\nExcuse my language, but what the actual fuck did I just write? For stories that are definitively not filled with uwu, do come hang out with me at [/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/), we'd love to see you there\\~" ]	3
	[WP] Carnival Cooking is a local burger joint. The bozo-esque clown mascot always creeped you out as a kid, but now you're a young adult working in the kitchen. The other employees are acting strange and, before long, you discover something sinister hidden in the meat locker.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was just meant to be a look, just a glimpse. I only looked because I could swear the meat locker smelled rotten. Dave swore on his life that he checked it,\n“No need to look Rheee,” with the elongated e like he always talked, “I sweear on mee mums right arm that I checked!”\n\nI hadn’t noticed that it was off until now, the e’s where a split second too long, the a’s a split second too short. Dave was a cool guy, you trusted him despite his prank streak. But the mascot... he wore that stupid clown mascot outfit too much, you forgot it was Dave underneath. Dave used to say that he forgot he was Dave in the Kool Klown outfit, we used to joke that the person who created him must have been a boomer. And yet the outfit was so terrifying, even he admitted that.\n\nDave wore it more and more. Until he didn’t.\n\nUntil he refused.\n\nUntil he screamed and kicked that he couldn’t.\n\nHe would “take” him. \n\nI guess he did, because that’s what I found, Dave, my best friend Dave, Rhea’s best friend since diapers Dave...\n\nHe was lying, torn apart, three limbs gone, guts scraped clean, bones polished, shiny ivory colour, meatless. It was Dave’s job the get the meat from the locker, when out of costume. Some freak show who looked like my best friend had me cook this, and feed it to families.\n\nIn the ambulance there I contemplated simply jumping out the window, they’d think it was me.\n\nWell, they didn’t...\n\nNot since they found the guy in there a day later, feasting on the raw, rotten flesh.\n\nThe maggots infested, red raw, bloody, teeth staining flesh of the ivory white bones, harsh and unyielding, until he ripped it off in front of them for a\n“Sneaky snack on the way there, know what I’m saying fellas?”\n\nHe was pleasant, polite enough, until the tried to take off the costume, he went ballistic, screamed at them. Ripped his own arm clean off. They say he died in hospital from the wound.\n\nBut he didn’t, The Kool Klown doesn’t need arms, he just took mine, and a few other things." ]	2
	[WP] When humans join an intergalactic government, we learn we are the only species to domesticate animals. Every other species is baffled by it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"THIS IS BARBARISM!\" The K'vallian Ambassador stood in anger, raising a claw and clacking it loudly for emphasis.\n\n\"Ambassador, please!\" The President of the Council, a Mulak, as evidenced by his too long limbs and seven eyes, stood and spoke, calming the assembled Council members. \"Let us hear from the Human representative. Mr. Calbron, could you please explain this again? It is a very difficult concept for us to grasp.\"\n\n\"Of, course, Mr. President.\" I stood and straightened my tie, looking around the room as I had been trained. \"Several thousand years ago, humanity realized that we couldn't tame out planet alone.\"\n\nAh, there, the Junzai Ambassador. She was vulnerable. She was eyeing Rex curiously, without the hostility of the K'vallian Ambassador, who stared at me like I had stolen his lunch. I had eye contact as best I could, meeting two of her four eyes as I continued to speak. \n\n\"We started a process of domestication, creating food and companionship from wild animals.\" I remembered the talking points, looking properly chagrined as I spoke of our barbaric history. \n\n\"It was a different time. We weren't as evolved then, and we bred animals for food.\" I didn't have to try and look guilty here. I felt it, deep down. My ancestors had once been farmers on Old Terra, raising cows to eat, stealing their milk and their children. It was barbarism, as the K'vallian pointed out. \n\n\"And yet, you still keep 'pets' as you call them!\" I was interrupted by the Ambassador once more, his claws clacking eerily. \n\n\"Only two breeds are legally allowed to be domesticated, Ambassador. Dogs and Cats, only.\" I understood his frustration. In fact, most people sided with the Ambassador lately, wanting to abolish ownership of any creature. \n\n\"Allowed to be domesticated! Ha!\" The Ambassador stood and addressed the rest of the audience. I, however, ignored him, focusing on the Ambassador from the Junzai. \"See how he speaks of intelligent life, held in bondage?\" \n\n\"Madam Ambassador, would you like to talk to him?\" Rex was at my side, as he always was. As he had been since birth, eight years ago. \n\n\"Talk? To your pet?\" The K'vallian Ambassador mocked me, but I ignored him, tapping Rex on the shoulder and letting him know it was okay. With a happy bark, he raced across the small room and leapt into the Junzai Ambassador's lap, as her tentacles wrapped around him in surprise and her skin changed color from neutral grey to a delighted blue. \n\n\"Rex is a fully-fledged member of my team. You are free to question him yourself, to see if he is a slave.\" That took some getting used to, initially, but we came to love that the Junzai could telepathically speak with any creature. We could finally talk to our pets!\n\n\"He is such a good boy!\" The Junvai spoke quietly, running a tentacle along Rex's back, making him wag happily. \n\n\"He says you are going on a walk when you get back?\" I laughed, as Rex turned to look at me, tilting his head in questioning.\n\n\"Yes, Ma'am. We do after every session. He's very smart, so he understands my schedule.\" I laughed, as Rex barked happily. \n\n\"Ambassador, I can testify that this... Rex is extremely happy. He invites us all to play something he calls Catch.\" Oh, Rex. Lovable Rex. He was a better ambassador then I could ever be. \n\n\"I invite you all to join us.\" I smiled widely, showing my teeth, a sign of peaceful intentions to most of the Intergalactic community. \n\n\"He also says you have a... Danger Beast.\" The Junvai looked up at me, surprise and a trace of fear in her eyes, as her skin turned a dull purple. \n\n\"He means the cat, Julius.\" I chuckled, before realizing that they were going to interview Julius as well. \n\n\"And can we speak to this Julius?\" The Junvai ambassador smiled politely, seeing my discomfort.\n\n\"If he deigns to speak to you, sure.\" I shrugged. We had given up on using cats in diplomacy. They never accused us of anything cruel, but they were too arrogant to act as good hosts. \n\n\"If he deigns? He rules over you?\" The K'vallian ambassador appeared surprised, having been told we enslaved our pets. \n\n\"Well... cats are interesting...\"\n\n***\n\nThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, you can find more of my work at r/Shinz_Stories!" ]	2
	[WP]Futuristic PMC's somehow end up in the middle of a fantasy Civil War.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\[Part 1\\]\n\nThere are a few certainties with warfare:\n\n· If you need an assault rifle, you want German\n\n· If you need a shotgun, you want Italian\n\n· If you want guaranteed payment for a contract (or a reliable watch), you want Swiss\n\n· If a target needs to be destroyed, use at least 5% more high explosive\n\n· If you see at least two tracers, there are at least three more bullets between them you can’t see\n\n· If you need to administer first-aid, that starts when the shooting stops\n\nThe most recent addition to this list is: “If you need body armor, you want Dwarfish,” but that’s getting ahead of everything.\n\nAfter the 1990’s, “mercenary” became a politically taboo word; “private military contractor” was the preferred term. Merc work got soured by too many Soldier of Fortune wannabes running around Latin America and the South Pacific, serving as little more than cartel fodder. It all amounted to the same, make war outside the graces of direct government authority. And sometimes obstructing Government “A” and Government “B,” at the request of Government “C.” As long as the pay was right, and certain treaties were regarded well enough. \n\nIn public, the company is run like an office—tons of logistics requests, constant HR moving parts, billing and invoicing, and maintaining client relationships. On the ground, we tailor a multi-national strike-team, with an assortment of skills to fulfill the client’s requirements. \n\nThis assignment was straightforward, though not simple: protection detail for a negotiator, maintain security while he arranged a three-way agreement in the best interests for a Swiss investment concern, which shall remain unnamed. The budgetary allotment for equipment included a $6M stipend for an armored vehicle, and a blank check for firepower. A helo would’ve been mission expedient, but the operating theater was filthy with 20th century US anti-air missiles; the ‘States used to pass those out to any rag-tag group that would claim opposition to communism. On top of equipment, the contract paid $1M per man, with the potential to reinvest into the resource they were trying to allocate—not a lot of mercenaries get offered a 401k. \n\nWith a VIP to worry about, that’s one seat filled in any vehicle. The client had originally intended to arrange for a local interpreter to join us on-site, but that would’ve been one more non-com, and one more protectee to worry about. The client agreed to use our linguists instead, which meant two more trained, competent fighters I knew I could trust. I had waited for a contract this big to move forward with a very well-maintained US Stryker Infantry Carrier, and my seller was beyond enthusiastic to outfit her with a full suite of weapons systems. With the Stryker as good as purchased, that left up to seven seats to fill for the mission.\n\nI started assembling a list of possible candidates, and some of the skills I wanted for the mission, and forwarded it to my secretary. He responded with a list of forty-three of our employees, twelve of which were on other assignments, and two medically unavailable. For familiarity with the Stryker, I wanted American mechanics and crew, but only three on the list had qualifications with it; I added them to the distribution list for the pending operation, if they declined, I’d have to outsource…" ]	2
	[WP] The banks are wiped. All digital money is gone. The world is in chaos.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Seven year old Lindsay Goldberg was confused. Her parents were up in her room and were ransacking her bedroom after hearing the daily news update on their big shiny TV. Eventually they made their way to her large game cupboard that she greatly treasured. \n\n'Mummy why are you and daddy touching my toys and games?!' Lindsay cried out petulantly while protectively cradling her IPad lest they take that as well.\n\nLindsay's mother turned around and knelt down to address her with a worried face.\n\n\n'Lindsay, me and daddy need you to try to remember something alright. Can you do that?' \n\nLindsay vigorously nodded and looked at her parent's stressed out faces and decided that if she could help them she'd do it in a jiffy.\n\n'Alright, do you remember where you kept your monopoly games?' her mother asked with a firm and expectant look on her face.\n\nLindsay thought the question to be quite odd, but nevertheless she tried hard to think back, she remembered taking out the toy money from the monopoly board games and stuffing it in her father's old wallet.\n\n'Come on Lindsay! Think really hard OK' her mother cheered on.\n\nShe then remembered taking the wallet and playing 'shopping' with her plastic cashier toy.\n\n'Yeah mum! I think I kept it in the cash register' she cried out rather triumphantly.\n\nHer parents immediately scrambled towards her plastic shopping set toy and hurriedly removed the cash register and pried out the crumpled out paper money. Her parents rejoiced and hugged each other and bounded towards her pulling her in for a hug as well. Lindsay was so confused but eventually melted into her parents embrace and decided that parents were often quite weird.\n\n'Honey! This money ought to last for at least a month's groceries.' Lindsay's dad exclaimed. \n\n'Yeah, but a month's groceries isn't enough, what do we do after a month?'\n\n'Let's just be grateful that the government demonitized the currency to monopoly money, at least it wasn't something extinct like paper bills!' Lindsay's dad retorted" ]	2
	[WP] One of the most active superheroes in the city is developing asthma, chronic pain, and other chronic conditions. You're their supervillain rival, and the great game isn't as fun these days.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Another crash and loud groan from the living room was how I woke up today. And the day before that. And the day before that.\nThis had been going on for roughly a week. It had almost become part of my morning routine. The legendary Captain Pileus would ride that monstrous jet over my dream mansion (which I concede I may have used some seedy means to obtain my dream), crash through my window, scream \"Your skies just got a little bit darker,\" and then we'd duke it out. As of late however, parts of it started to diverge. Pileus knew his escapades were catching up to him, so he paced himself a little bit. He took our scraps a little more cautiously, he had to stop to catch his breath at times. He could barely yell out his catchphrase. \n\n\nHe seemed even worse today. As I left my room like I'd had to do every morning, I saw Pileus clutching his leg, writhing in pain on the floor. His red scarf had trace amounts of blood from a cut on his neck. His blue, skin-tight superhero outfit was ripped all over, exposing cuts and bruises. I had never felt sorry for him before; he was doing this to himself, I thought. Today changed that. I half-jogged over to him, and I saw the determination in his eyes. He had to do this, not only for this shithole of a city, but for himself. \"Y-your skies ju-\".\"\n\n\n\"Listen to me, Archie.\" Pileus's eyes widened. Out of the roughly twenty-two years we had been at each others throats, he never heard me speak his real name. I had asked around and figured out everything about him, not to cause him harm, quite the opposite. I started to care about him. I needed to make sure he was okay. \"You're killing yourself out here. Everyday, every impact, is taking its toll on you. I know you need to protect Harips, but if your putting your physical well-being on the line for it, it's time to let it go. Some other superhero is gonna have to come in and replace you.\" \n\n\nPileus quietly starting sobbing. This had been his livelihood, his dream every since he was a little kid. \"I know it's not easy to give up,\" I conceded, \"But everyone has to retire someday, and today's that day. Look, I know you're some gazillionare and you have all the money in the world, but if there's any way I can help you, I will.\" Staying true to this promise, I grabbed his arm, and pulled him off the ground. Pileus put his arm around my shoulder. Using me as support, we walked out to the garage, got into one of my cars, and headed for the hospital.", "“And now I have you in my...”\n\nSuddenly, the hero started coughing immensely.\n\n“Come on. You promised me one battle. One battle without all your coughing and weezing. Without you needing to call Life Alert. I can’t even monologue.”\n\n“I’m sorry. Continue. I’ll try nit to hold you BACK!”\n\n“Seriously is this some month long prank? There’s no way your back hurts right as you say the word back. STAND UP!!!!!!! Stand up straight this minute, or I swear to God I destroy this whole damn planet.”\n\nThe hero began to stand up, but collapsed onto the ground. He reached out for something to grab onto, but finding nothing, merely dropped his hand back to the floor, and began to search for his Life Alert.”\n\n“No you do not! You will not use that thing. In the past, I could wrap you in your great weakness of tin foil, and you’d escape like it was nothing. I once put you in a deep pool with no ladder, and you climbed out. Now, I could be an inch away from you and touching me would be the most difficult thing in existence.”\n\nThe villain ripped off the Life Alert and threw it in the trash. Then, he laid his finger on the button on his remote and waved his gun in the air.\n\n“I’ll make this easier. If you don’t in some fashion move in the next 10 seconds, I will shoot myself and blow up the planet. Susan and Jimmy will die. I’ll die. The people who respond to your Life Alert will die. All that will be left is you. Coughing your lungs out, but never dying. You’ll be left without a people to save, or a villain to fight. So, you have a choice. I don’t even care if you simply crawl a little towards ms. You can sit up. You can get on your knees. Just move to avert disaster.”\n\nThe hero began to force his body forward with every effort. There was no use however.\n\n“Well, I guess I won’t be stopped mid monologue for once, that is unless you want to cough some more. See, it was never about the glory, or the money. Well, it was when I started, but as you continued to stop me, like the reasons behind the Civil War, they changed. It became to stop you. And I couldn’t even get that. Your own body stopped you before I could. So, I’m taking drastic measures sure, but what else is there to do? Adios amigo.”" ]	3
	[WP] "Come visit AKRON GENERAL HOSPITAL," said the billboard. "Fun For The Whole Family!"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Martha looked at the sign as we drove past.\n\n“What do you think that means,” Tina asked. I wasn’t paying attention to her much. So far, every single sign she saw, she read out loud. I knew where every turn off was, what the name of every local bank for the last 200 miles of I-80 East was. I knew that there were ski resorts in Ohio. As blown away as my mind was, I couldn’t do this anymore. \n\n“Steve, what do you think is so fun for the whole family? Do they have a playroom right next to the emergency room?” she said. \n\nI gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. I knew she wouldn’t give up unless I played along. “Maybe they have ice cream rooms in the cancer ward,” I said. \n\n“That’s just morose,” she said. She crossed her arms and looked out the window. It was a little game with her. No matter what I said, it would have been wrong. Three years and I wasn’t used to it by now. It stung every time. We were 80 miles to Akron. \n\nThe A/C had been on full blast the entire drive. I was freezing and it was 85 degrees outside. Somehow, she never got cold. I wanted to roll down the window. I wanted to open the door and step out. I wanted to be somewhere else, even if it was the flattest ski resort in the nation in the middle of the summer. I wanted something new. \n\n“What if,” I said, “they used the cables of the IV bags for bungee jumping.” \n\nTina looked at me from the passenger seat. “What?” she asked? \n\nI didn’t realize that the words had come out of my mouth until they were complete. “What if they played hide and seek with the x-ray machines, and that was how they found each other?” \n\n“What are you talking about,” she said. “That’s stupid.” \n\n“What’s more stupid,” I said, “that, or doing trick knife throwing with the scalpels.” I was starting to get into this. \n\n“Steve, stop. I think I get the point,” said Tina. \n\n“No, wait, it’s fun for the whole family, right? What if,” I said, “what if they played ‘Who can make grandpa’s pacemaker stop first’ with the shock paddles?” \n\nTina looked at me with wild eyes. She had never heard me talk like this before. She looked like she wanted to get as far from me as possible. \n\n“What? What’s the matter,” I said. “You wanted to know. You wanted to know what that meant. You wanted to know what FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS! Isn’t this fun, Tina? Aren’t you having a good time?” \n\n“Alright, fine,” she said. “I can take a hint. I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry.” \n\nI just looked at the road ahead. She stared out the window. \n\nWe passed a billboard for International State Federal Bank. \n\n“Huh,” said Tina. “I wonder if their checking is really free.” \n\nI closed my eyes.\n\n——————————-\n\nThis was entry 16 of 30 in the NonNaNoWriMo challenge. I am not writing a novel, so I’m writing a prompt a day. I have started a sub at r/tognorwrites to archive my writing. \n\nI am exhausted from some long days at work, and cranked this out, to keep the streak alive. I am not the proudest of this one, but I got the job done, and that is what matters. More and better later. Thanks for your indulgence." ]	2
	[WP] During a campout with your friends, all of you begin to feel uneasy for no discernible reason. Deciding to leave, you and your friends find the car is refusing to start. The decision is unanimous at that point. If something is after you, you're going to turn the tables on it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "My instincts are rarely wrong.\n\nThat's why I share the command with our leader. I am more sensitive to it than any other, though each of us can sense it - not exactly visions, or premonition. Call it an instinct, a _feel_ for our environment.\n\nWe don't usually do fear. It's simply not in our emotional vocabulary to be afraid - rather than that, we get annoyed, and if the reason for this annoyance persists, we get angry. It's how we found each other in the first place, this common affliction that is as much a blessing as it is a curse. It's why we _understand_ each other where humanity as a whole seems to decide that we are monsters as soon as we either fail to, or decide not to resist our anger.\n\nThis place actively tried to make us fear - it was permeated in the very soil, the sounds that came from the warped leaves on the gnarled branches, the hiss of the small stream that ran past the campsite. Miles and miles away from anything resembling civilization we had decided to move on from here and found that our ride, Anne's poor battered old Ford truck had finally given up the ghost.\n\nIt took longer than usual to set up camp - We go out camping often, to be away from people and be with those that are like us - to roam without worry of being judged or feared for the quote-unquote alien way in which we think. We were supposed to be attuned to each other like a family, had been for months now, and yet we stumbled, jostled and stood in each other's way like we had barely known each other for a night - and if anything it was that that made me decide that there was something influencing us, something that didn't want us to cooperate, something that didn't want us to think.\n\nI informed our leader, Anne, of my suspicions and she nodded, smirked, and motioned the rest to silence. \n\n\"Roland. What do you smell?\" She asked. \n\nRoland, the quietest of us, the smallest, but the one who could smell the signs we could only intuit.\n\n\"I smell blood on the wind. Rot and decay. I smell something that lays in wait, waiting for us to make a mistake. It is strong, and it is gleeful, and it will hunt each and every one of us, one by one, in an attempt to feed on our confusion, our anger, our fear-\"\n\nDanielle laughed, interrupting him, already halfway undressed. \"Fear? That's rich. But if it's fear it wants, it's fear for it.\"\n\nI found myself smiling, shrugging out of my shirt, kicking out of my boots, while Danielle, who had a lead on me began to Change.\n\nFur, claws, fangs, the smells around me now trails I could all but see, the sounds of the forest louder, clearer and somehow easier. \n\nIt wasn't the first time I gawked at Anne and felt my tail tuck, my ears fold without any instruction on my part to do so. She was our leader for the simple reason of her strength and size; ten foot tall if it was an inch, and well capable of lifting the old ford and throwing it should she decide to, she grinned bare her gleaming canines and turned to stride out of the clearing, all but disappearing as soon as she slipped into the shadows.\n\nI followed suit. As did the rest of our group - we spread out in silence while we sought out each other's mind.\n\nThere were twelve of us, each loup-garou. Werewolves. \n\nWhatever had decided to try and hunt us was indeed going to know fear." ]	2
	[WP] The Allfather has grown furious of humanity, denying their fate of extinction, now he prepares to bring upon destruction onto Earth,summoning primeval creatures and spreading deadly plagues. But the Gods fight back, nothing but them and the humans stand between the destruction of the Earth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I stand before Odin, the One Eyed, Allfather, father of Thor. I am human, and I have fallen in battle with his monsters. His Valkyrie have carried me to Valhalla, expecting me to be grateful.\n\nIn a thunderous voice, \"Welcome Human! Welcome to the beginning of Ragnarok!\"\n\n\"No.\" My voice cold and disdainful.\n\n\"Do you wish to go to the Cold Lands?\"\n\n\"You have no power over me. You cannot send me anywhere. I chose to allow your vultures to carry me here to give you a piece of my mind.\"\n\n\"You? A punny mortal? Give me a piece of your tiny mind?\"\n\n\"Old fool. If we are so punny and incapable, why do you need us? You need us because YOU are the weak one. The one who cannot stand against the very beings you have summoned.\n\nWe reject you.\n\nYou will lose all but your life as we drive your monsters back to your own castle of dreams. Enjoy your defeat, it is your only chance of salvation.\"\n\nI turn back to Bifrost, and walk back to Earth. Thor is there. He tries to give me his hammer. \"I cannot attack my father, even if he is wrong. Take this and do better than I did.\"\n\n\"No. Thor, you have been a friend to Humanity for a long time. Do not yield now. Your father is weak, but you have forged yourself on the anvil of Humanity. Defeat his monsters with our aid, then go to him, and guide him back to sanity. Your mission is to save your father, not kill him.\n\nIt will be a hard long road. We gift you with our blessings.\"\n\nThor hangs his head in thought. Raises his head, a new light of hope springing from his eyes. \"It will be as you say.\"\n\nThe assault begins at dawn.\n\n((finis))" ]	2
	[WP] As a child you always thought there were monsters living under your bed. As an adult, you still use a nightlight, just in case. One night you hear methodic tapping coming from your closet. "Hello Jeffrey," says a toothy smile, emerging from the darkness. "We have a lot of catching up to do."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " “Hello, Jeffrey,” it grumbled from the closet. It rattled my bones. The voice; the cadence familiar. “We’ve have a lot of catching up to do.”\n\nMy eyes hurt as I pressed them closed. You’re not here. I thought.\n\n“But I am.”\n\nThrough shut eyes I could see the dull yellow of my nightlight begin to flicker. It buzzed and popped before an oppressive darkness washed over me. The thing sighed.\n\n“That’s better.” It said. \n\nThe floorboards groaned as it moved around the room. Papers rustled on my desk, and a chair ground against the floor.\n\n“So, Jeffrey?” It said. “Aren’t you going to look at me?”\n\n“You ruined my life.” I whispered through chattering teeth.\n\n“How so, Jeffrey?”\n\n“I go by Jeff now.”\n\n“Do you? I’m apologize.” I still couldn’t open my eyes but I could tell that it spoke through a wide grin. “How is it that I ruined your life, Jeff?”\n\n“I’m a 32 year old schizophrenic who sleeps with a nightlight. I’ve never had a stable relationship. My parents split from the stress I brought.”\n\n“Oh, do continue.” It was taking joy in my pain.\n\n“I’m going to sleep. You’re not real. I’ve paid for enough therapy to know that YOU ARE NOT REAL!”\n\nThe air in the room rushed as it moved closer. Its breath was directly on my face, and a single sharp claw tapped my forehead.\n\n“But I am, little Jeffrey.” It said. “And I’m here to help you.”\n\nI tried to sleep.\n\n“Remember the first time we met?” It said. \n\n“No.” I whispered.\n\n“Your father was a mess. Hated the sight of you. It reminded him of something. A pain he’d rather forget. That night was the first time he hit your mother in front of you, and you had to watch. A young boy’s innocence was stolen. I was the villain you needed to survive. I took in your pain; turned it to fear and gave you an outlet. Now, I’m here to help you move on. So, open your eyes, Jeff.”\n\n“No.”\n\n“OPEN YOUR EYES!”\n\nThe shelves rumbled and my ears rang. Papers flapped and swirled around the room. The closet door slammed, and, finally, I opened my eyes.\n\nIn front of me, my dad sat in a chair by my bed with his head hung low. “I’m sorry for everything, son. You deserved a better father.”" ]	2
	[WP] you are a demon who was sent to earth as a final chance to better yourself, but when you get there, there is nothing you can do to help anyone. Over time you start to watch the world fall into decay, but as you are immortal, you cannot die with it. You are not accepted back to hell.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I thought it was going to be easy when I let those nuts use me as a lab rat. I expected the whole power trips, even. And the suicides too, which got humans like Hitler straight to the Boss’s vacation cask, where those dumb souls decided to rot away just to try feeling good about themselves all by themselves for as long as they want, only to find out that they’d be doing that forever, whether they like it or not.\n\n“You missed one soul. Do you know how important it is for us to not miss one soul? I know you can’t get every single soul here, but there are quotas for a reason!”\n\nBut Boss’s praises definitely depended on his mood. I avoided saying a word in my defense, then. For a guy who hated nepotists, he sure learned a lot from his old boss. And I thought getting a promotion while being this young meant a lot...\n\n“Tell me the truth, cretin,” Boss continued harping. “I don’t care if you lie to anyone out there, just don’t lie to me. Don’t lie to us. Why did you come back here, knowing that you let your attempt at fulfilling your quota have one soul going to heaven?”\n\nNope, not gonna give a reply to that one. Better the fires of heaven than this guy’s period.\n\n“Boss, why do you expect so much from our resident failure? For one, I certainly saw him having a good time with your latest find the other night.”\n\nSure, why not? You’ll know how these shoes will feel, asskisser, and I won’t be there to save you when you cry for help. Or maybe I should save the future promoted asskisser just to piss off Boss even more?\n\n“Great, now I can’t have you two dickcheese bits in any of my food!” Boss clapped. “Somebody bind these two to our gates!”\n\n“What!?” Asskisser shouted in disbelief as today’s guards dragged him out with me. “No!”\n\n“Thanks very much, Boss,” I also decided to take one last shot. “I’m sure that your old boss is gonna be proud of you when I tell Him about how much of a chip off the old block you are.”\n\nI may have had my head off my shoulders after that, but since we demons were immortal, it was still worth it." ]	2
	[WP] Doctors around the world have become feral and zombie-like. You’re starting to run out of apples to keep them at bay.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I rushed through the pantry -- where was the group's stash of apples? It all started about a month ago, on Halloween. There were an unusual amount of 'zombie' costumes, especially adults. Soon enough, the government collapsed. No one knew what was happening, but we found out fast.\n\nNow I'm part of one of the last survivor communities. There are about 30 of us, but we're losing numbers fast. It's time to cut to the quick -- our doctors are zombies, but we still need them. An apple fixes it for half an hour; not a long time if you need a cure to a fatal disease. Sometimes it doesn't even work -- when they remember what they've done, half of them assume the fetal position in the darkest corner of the room.\n\nWe - the elite medical group - have to make a trip out. My sister . . . she was bitten. There was a rumor running rampant when this first began that there was a cure, but the doctors were too far gone to distribute it. I grabbed our last apple. We'll be lucky if we make it out alive.\n\nThe others are waiting for me at the gate. We have exactly a day before the curse takes over. If we can make it to an office and make a doctor eat an apple, then maybe I can save my sister. I ignore the pitying looks they shoot me as they hoist their guns to protect the stretcher.\n\nIt's surreal. I watch the bodies of the infected fall around me as I maneuver my sister through them. My crew shoves open the broken doors and hurries us through the abandoned hospital. There -- the office. One of the apples slips out of my hand. I watch it fly through the air, the only peaceful thing in this world right now -- until a sharp, muscled hand catches it.\n\nYou see, the zombies weren't apocalypse type zombies that you see in movies. They were human v2.0 -- perfect, but deadly. The doctor yanked the apple to his mouth and devoured it. He staggered, then righted himself. \n\n\"Ugh, what happened?\"\n\n\"Sir, please, help my sister.\"\n\n\"Another uncured case from the government? They don't usually send family members along.\"\n\n\"What? No. Do you know what date it is? The government fell three weeks ago.\"\n\n\"What? It's only October 15th, isn't it?\"\n\nI gaped at him. One of my team was talking, but I couldn't hear them. The government knew? He had my sister. How long had it been? I watched in a panic as his eyes glazed over as he pulled a needle out of her arm. His teeth were bared -- they were so sharp and shiny. He can't have my sister. He can't. I can't. Before I knew it, I was launching myself at him in a last ditch effort to save my sister.\n\nThe next week was a blur. My vision and hearing faded in and out. I remember waking up in a cell. My sister was there, holding the rotten core of an apple. She was apologizing profusely, over and over. Why? It faded out again.\n\nI woke up. I was against the bars of the cell I woke up in before. One of my crew was in front of me. I couldn't focus. He said something about a rotten apple stash. Was he holding a core? My vision was going gray again. He gestured for someone to enter. Was it another crew member?\n\n click\n\nBOOM\n\nI heard the gunshot, but I didn't feel it. I looked down at my chest, blood pouring out. I chuckled. It evolved into giggles, then full on laughter. I laughed until I couldn't laugh anymore from lack of breath. And my vision faded to black for the last time in my half-life." ]	2
	[WP] It’s the 1,423,687th time; you and all your fellow soldiers are in a groundhog-day scenario, and the world resets to the start of the war if a single one of you dies.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Sorry for this, real quick, I have never done this. Love this idea and wanted to try it...Sorry if it sucks!\n\n\n...\"What the fuck do we do?\" Jones yelled at Sarge as Tommy lay screaming in agony, gripping what was left of his leg.\n\nSarge hesitated, usually when one of his men were hurt this bad they would force a reset...Start back over from the beginning. They had never made it this far though. Just two days from the 4 year mark and the end finally in sight. Memorizing every small detail of every day had taken it's toll on the ones who could remember. They were in charge of keeping the rest of the squad alive. \n\nSarge stared at Tommy as the blood soaked into the sandy ground and after consideration finally ordered, \"We gota keep him alive and push on.\"\nThe squad had just made it into the village where the opposition leader was rumored to be. Take him down and it's all over. It was a small desert town with pale sandy buildings. No movement or sounds at first glance. No sign at all that it was trapped with explosives under ground.\n\nSarge had thoughts flying through his head as his squad settled into a close by house. What would happen when they find him. The man who had tried destroying the earth. If they killed him would the days stop repeating. Would this hell be over.\n\n\"Duke! Grant! Fix up Tommy and keep him alive. I'm not starting this shit over without knowing if he's here!\" Barked Sarge. \"Jones, Rodger, Clement, lets get this bastard.\n\nThe men immediately went to work canvasing the village. Small side by side houses in rows, easily broken into with most doors agape. No one had been here in some time it seemed. Unlikely anyone was hiding out currently Sarge thought.\n\n\"Sarge quick!\" Clement said in a sharp but hushed tone that quickly broke the silence.\n\nAs Sarge walked up Clement pointed to a spot on the ground. They were just outside a house front door towards the back of the town. One of the only houses where the door was fully shut. While it was clear someone had tried to sweep the sand to hide the track, you could clearly see it for what it was.\n\n\"A footprint.\" Sarge said in a hushed town.\n\nClement nodded as the group glance at the front door. Could the torment be this close to being over Sarge wondered as he took a step towards the door. He motioned Roger to stand guard outside as he braced for breach with Clement and Jones. Sarge counted down and on go blasted the door open with a powerful kick. Immediately gunfire rang in his ears as he sees a flash and feels Clement drops to his right.\n\n\"Cover!\" Sarge screams as he pushes Jones behind a wall and lets out a barrage of bullets in the direction of the enemy. He notices more gunfire through the window as Roger pummels the enemy with shots from outside.\n\nIn mere moments everything is silent. Sarge is standing by the wall surveying the scene. Jones is on the floor with his back against the wall, blood dripping from his arm where he was hit by multiple shots. Clement is lying in the doorway clearly in agony. Blood is pooling around him. Across the room the leader is slumped in a chair. His men lying on the floor, clearly having gave their lives to protect him. Although they were unable to stop what appear to be several bullets from penetrating his neck and torso.\n\nIn a moment of triumph Sarge walks over to the man while pulling out his sidearm. The hell is over. The opposition will soon be out their corrupt leader with no reason to continue the war. Re-doing every day will finally end. Sarge can finally return home to his family he barely remembers. Sarge lifts his gun to the leaders head as he prepares to end his torment.\n\n\"Wait!\" Screams Roger.\n\nSarge pauses as he looks into the doorway. \"We don't have time to wait!\" Sarge says furiously with a sense of panic. Clement is clearly in a bad place as he is no longer moving. Tommy is in who knows what condition. Any second the reset could happen. One twitch of the finger and Sarge is a free man once again.\n\n\"What about them?!\" Roger angrily inquires while gesturing to Clement. \"We can save them. We can restart this whole thing and do it one last time. It's only 4 years.\"\n\n\"God-Damnit it's not four fucking years, it's been centuries. It's been a damn millennia of this bullshit. You lose men in war. We can't save everyone!\" Sarge replies furious as he readies his finger on the trigger. He had thought this as they searched the village though. In the back of his mind he knew a reset was coming. He didn't think they would find the man. He thought they would clear the village and know next time this wasn't the place. Then Tommy would reset them of his own accord. Now that he was this close, Sarge couldn't stand the thought of another reset. Not being this close to over.\n\nRoger stands mouth agape, staring at Sarge. After everything they had been through, they are more than brothers. They have become reflections of each other. The thought of beating this war and losing one of them was beyond comprehension.\n\n\"He's right.\" Jones chimes in. His arm is mangled and bloody as he walks over to stand by Roger. \"We can do this one more time.\" He implores to Sarge.\n\nSarge is silent as his arm drops, pointing the gun away from the man. His own hell continues as he must weigh the end of the repeats over the lives of his men. As he walks towards the two, he knows what he must do.\n\n\"Fine.\" Sarge mumbles defeated. He quickly lifts his gun to Jones and lets out a single shot. Jones slumps backwards as the bullet leaves his skull. Roger sighs with relief as he awaits the reset. \n\nA thump is heard behind Sarge. The sound penetrates and in a moment of realization, feels almost louder than the gunshot still ringing in their ears.\n\nSarge and Roger glance across the room to see leader has fallen out of his chair dead.\n\nA brief look of panic is exchanged between Sarge and Roger...", "First WP in awhile, go easy on me?😂\n\nAt this point we had all damn near lost all sanity left in us. We had no idea what in the actually hell was going on, or whether we were actually IN hell. My name is Colonel Jackal, and my friends within my platoon as Lt Colonel James, Lieutenant Charles, and the general, Lee.\n\nAfter the first 5 times we were already panic stricken. We had not a damn clue what was going on then, and we sure as hell didn’t know what was going on now. WW3 had been raging on for 2 years before we were finally put into battle on the fronts of China, battling our hearts out, but of course resetting to the very very beginning each time just one of us died. Meaning we didn’t even meet up again until 2 years after we reset, and that’s if none of us die. After the 1,423,687th time we finally made it back together in China, and we made sure to stay far far behind any line of fire, trying to stay alive before we lose any and all sanity that was left in us.\n\nAfter we hunkered down in an old country house, Lt Colonel James spoke up\n“Guys I can’t take another damn reset, I just fucking can’t!” \n\nLieutenant: “James we get it, none of us do, and we’re nowhere near close to even discovering how the hell we ended up like this, or what is even happening!”\n\nGeneral:”ENOUGH! Look men, I’m just as broken as all of you are right now, but if we’re finally going to get through this war, we need to stick together and not get shot! Are we clear?”\n\nAll:”Sir yes sir!”\n\nAfter that we decided to head out of the old country house and move back to the city to regroup with other platoons, but we hadn’t taken 10 steps out of the house before I got domed in the head with a 50cal. Everything went dark, but something was wrong. I was still conscious, but I could see nothing but black, I heard no one, felt nothing, the reset usually happens by now!\n\nAfter what seemed like an entire day, I saw a small white light, and it was like my mind was being drawn to it. I followed it, until I saw nothing but the bright light, and my vision started to adjust.\n\nI was in a room, with pure white walls and in some sort of hospital gown, I saw my other men in beds with what seemed to be... some sort of goggles? After I woke up they slowly started moving themselves and they all sat up, ripping the devices off their heads. We all look at each other trying to piece together what in the hell just happened. That’s when we heard over the intercom\n\n“Experiment 1,423,687 concluded, sedate test subjects and begin experiment 1,423,688”" ]	3
	[WP] You find a magic eight ball that always answers correctly, no matter what question you ask it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"God I hate windy days in downtown. Gets the trash blowing all over the place. I've been plastered with wet newspaper, had empty cans of god-knows-what hurled past my face. If I didn't have work at the video store I'd be so out of this dirty fucki--\"\n\nMatt's internal monologue was cut short as a black object flashed by him, striking the brickwork of the storefront beside him with a dull 'thwock'. \n\"CHRIST!\" he yelled, almost tripping over himself as he stumbled backwards. \"What the hell was that?!\" \nRolling at his feet was a dirt-covered pool ball. Matt looked quickly across the street, searching for the person who had to have lobbed it at him-- but all he saw were the mirroring storefronts, gray and brown in the early morning light. There wasn't another person to be seen up or down the narrow street. \nMuttering obscenities, he absently picked up the object, still looking suspiciously around him. It was surprisingly light, and oddly cold. Frowning, he scraped some of the grime from its smooth surface with a thumb, only to notice it was one of those 'magic eight-ball' toys. He snorted. \nDramatically, he asked \"Oh mighty Eight-Ball, were you thrown by an asshole or what?\" shaking the filthy thing with a clenched fist. Inside the murky fluid, the icosahedron floated up against the clear plastic. \n\"AS I SEE IT, YES.\" \nSnorting again, Matt tosses it up the street in front of him. \"Magically correct!\" \nResuming his pacing down the street, he stalked past it without a second glance. \"If this city actually cared, there wouldn't be--\" \nThe Eight-Ball whizzed by him again. He flinched, this time falling hard. Swearing, he got up out of the gutter, shaking off the now caked-on filth. He stalked over the Eight Ball, snatched it off the ground, and turned, ready to bludgeon to death the idiot who was antagonizing him at 8 in the morning. \nThe wind blew down an empty street behind him. \nThe hair stood up on the back of his neck, only for a moment before he attempted to quell his rising unease with fake laughter. \"Oh, so you're a true magic Eight-Ball then?\" He glanced at it as he scanned the street. \n\"BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW.\" \nMatt rolled his eyes. He pocketed the Eight-Ball, still eyeing the street, before reembarking on his morning slog to the video store. As he crossed the blocks to his destination, however, his boredom got the best of him. \n\"Magic Eight Ball, is my name Matt?\" The icosahedron spun gently. \n\"YES.\" \nLucky, Matt thought. \"Ok Magic Eight Ball, is my age 25?\" He smirked. \n\"MY REPLY IS NO.\" \nMatt's 27th birthday was last week. \"Wow,\" he muttered to himself as he walked along the sidewalk, \"a real Magic Eight-Ball.\" Chuckling to himself, he flippantly asked the Eight-Ball, \"Ok then, how old am I?\" before returning it to his pocket. He knew it would be wrong-- Eight Balls only answer yes/ no questions. \nHe was at the video store. Unlocking the door, he flipped the lights on, turned on the TV displays to the morning news, set the sign to OPEN, and sat heavily in his chair behind the counter. The minutes ticked by, and soon enough he was bored again. \nPulling the Eight-Ball from his pocket, his blood ran cold. \n\"27\" read a single flat plate, suspended in the dark liquid. He shook it frantically. It seemed all that was inside the flat plate reading '27'. \"Where did the icosahedron go?\" his thoughts raced, before again he calmed himself. \n\"OK, maybe there is a second floating plate that just happened to be the 27.. and it just ...\" Matt trailed off, gazing at the Magic Eight Ball. Swallowing nervously, he decided to ask another question, looking at the flickering news broadcast in front of him. \n\"Magic Eight Ball, whats the weather forecast for Tuesday?\" He shook the toy with an unusual intensity. At first, it seemed there was nothing inside of the swirling blue liquid. After about ten seconds, a small plate floated to the surface. \n\"RAINY-- 80% CHANCE.\" His throat dry, he watched the TV. The weather segment was on in seconds. A smiling weatherman cheerfully covered the five day forecast. \n\"Alrighty, today we have a bit of wind but relatively clear skies, which should stick around through Monday night, but watch out for Tuesday, it'll be a wet one with an 80% chance of precipitation--\" \nMatt shut off the TV with trembling fingers, holding the Magic Eight Ball close to his face. He didn't know what to think. It was impossible, but happening before his eyes, right in his hands. It just couldn't be a coincidence-\n\nThe bell at the door jingled noisily, and Matt screamed involuntarily. A surprised looking man gave him a weird look before disappearing into the rows of DVDs. Glancing at him, Matt shook the Eight Ball again. A thousand questions swirled in his mind. If this thing were actually accurate, what should he ask? He could know anything, but what first? Should he test it more? He decided to go for a big question, one he wouldn't know. \n\"Magic Eight Ball, how will I die?\" Matt rattled the eight ball manically in his hands, waiting pensively to see the answer. \n\"GOLD TOOTH\" floated to the surface. His brow creased in confusion. For having such clear answers before, it certainly wasn't making sense now. His confusion turned to shame, then anger-- of course this wasn't a 'magic' Eight Ball. It had to be some stupid trick that he had fallen for, hook, line and sinker. Giving it a final shake, he angrily threw the Magic Eight Ball into the trash can next to the register. He had a customer to attend to anyway. \"Find everything you were looking for, sir?\" Mark asked wearily. \n\"Oh, you bet.\" replied the man, in an oddly happy manner. Matt began swiping the set of DVDs the man had selected. \n\"Is that all for you today, sir?\" Matt asked, looking up. The man hadn't moved at all since he had made it to the register. He just stood there, completely still, grinning at him. A monitor playing the news caught his eye in the back of the store-- a story about several robberies in the downtown area. Matt gulped, refocusing on the still man in front of him. \"..Sir?\" \nThe man only smiled wider. In the very corner of that stretched smile, a gold filing glinted out at him.", "“Does she like me?” \n\nI shook the magic eight ball. I turned the window over to face me, and looked across the table at Donna. \n\n“Don’t do this,” she said. \n\nIT’S COMPLICATED showed on the little pyramid. \n\n“How is it complicated?” I asked. \n\nShe crossed her arms, sighed, and looked off to the side. The cafe had a lovely view, but she wasn’t looking at anything. I sat there, waiting. The truth was already out there. I just had to see what it meant. \n\n“It’s actually quite simple,” she said, turning back and giving me a hard look. “I like you fine. I used to like you more.” She pointed at the black ball. “I don’t like you since you have gotten that.” \n\n“What’s the problem with this,” I asked. “Don’t like the truth?” \n\n“Here, hand it over,” she said. She stuck her hand out. \n\nI hugged the ball to my chest. “No way,” I said. I was a little surprised at how defensive I was. \n\n“See? That’s why,” she said. “That thing has enslaved you. It’s made you into a wimp.” \n\n“It has not,” I said. I relaxed my grip a little, just to show her that she was wrong, but I still held it close. \n\n“It has. What’s the first thing you do when you get up? Ask the magic eight ball. What do you do when you go out? Ask the magic eight ball,” she said. “You have run all your friends off because of that thing, asking it if they were your real friends.” \n\n“And it told me the truth. It told me they weren’t.” \n\n“Jerry, they were your real friends. You drove them away.”\n\n“No, that’s not true,” I said. \n\n“It is. And you are going to lose your job if you keep toting that thing around with you everywhere. Phil called me from the office the other day. He said you took it to a meeting, and asked if the CFO was screwing his secretary,” she said. \n \n“It’s was a rumor going around the office,” I said. It turned out the answer was no, so I felt like I had done some good. \n\n“Damn it, Jerry, you are addicted to that thing. It’s ruining you,” she said. She stood up from the table. “And I can’t watch that happen.” \n\nShe started to walk off. \n\n“Where are you going,” I asked. \n\n“Away. Away from you, and away from that thing,” she said. “Call me when you decide it’s time for this to stop.” She walked down the street and out of sight. I watched her the entire way. \n\nI looked down at the eight ball. “When is this going to stop,” I said. \n\nI shook the ball. The pyramid turned over. \n\nNEVER. \n\n————————-\n\nThis is day 18 of the NonNaNoWriMo challenge. I don’t have a novel to write yet, so I am writing a prompt a day though November. I’m archiving them at r/tognorwrites. \n\nI am done with a long weekend of work. I would polish this a little more before posting it, but I’m beat. The goal is to write, not always write well. Mission accomplished." ]	3
	[WP]A new technology promised to make us nearly immortal. Instead of dying, we would be shifted into a different reality where we survived. Since no one could return to speak of it, mysticism formed. One theory saw us end up in a decrepit state, after a lifetime collecting injuries. A Hellish place.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The first time I was meant to die, it was an execution. A firing squad, meant to riddle my body with bullets for the crime of desertion. It's a funny thing, you know, a firing squad; seven soldiers do the deed so none can be sure which fired the fatal shot. All wanted me to die, but none wanted the weight of it on their soul. I can appreciate the sentiment.\n\nYou must understand, as they could not: I'm not a coward. I didn't leave the war out of fear of dying, or of killing. I simply didn't want to give Death the satisfaction of either.\n\nDeath. How we shudder at the thought of that ancient enemy, that final insult to human ambition. We should have evolved past it a thousand generations ago, blunted its terrible scythe with our science.\n\nBut no. Though we may fight it, delay it, learn not to fear it, death comes for us all, patient and implacable.\n\nDoes it not boil the blood? Am I the only one who holds such hate and disgust in my heart for that cowled thief, hoarding souls like a spoiled child?\n\nNo more. I felt that if I could not conquer death, I would settle for outrunning it. At the moment of my would-be demise, the science I'd spent years perfecting would crack open the skin of the world, and pull me to a place beyond death's reach.\n\nAnd so it came to pass with my first death. I know not what those fearful bullets struck, but before the crack of their release reached my ears, I stood upon another earth, its rich black soil soaked through by the falling rain, distant lightning illuminating an overgrown mountain in the distance. I'd done it. I'd outrun death for the first time. \n\nIt would be six months before it happened again; I took an unplanned tumble off a cliff, and landed in an otherworldly ocean. Two years later, I escaped the gnashing of feral teeth to find myself in a stone city long-abandoned. Then three years more, I stepped unwitting into a field of golden wheat, where moments before had been mossy flagstones. I don't even know what killed me then, only that I escaped it.\n\nAnd so it went, for more years and deaths than I care to count. But though I eluded death, time stayed at my heels, robbing me of youth, passion and wonder supplanted by fatigue and memory.\n\nMy visits to each world became shorter as I grew more frail, an easier target for death to track.\n\nIf I'd seen it all coming... Well. I didn't.\n\nThere is no life for me anymore. My body shut down countless worlds ago, my mind trapped in a catatonic prison of flesh, drawn ever onward to new worlds by the magnum opus of my youth. I see only flickers, now, glimpses of the billion earths as I glide through them, scant moments ahead of death's grasping hand.\n\nDo not mourn for me. Save that sentiment for the dead. But, the next time you see someone out of the corner of your eye, someone who isn't there when you turn to look, know your fortune for what it is: for you have seen the one who has beaten Death, and they are not you." ]	2
	[WP] In the post apocalyptic society a fanclub became a religion, over the generations both fiction and fact melded into legend. You are on a quest to recover the holiest relic that the stories tell of.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dawn, but I've been up for hours. \n\nThat belt is out there. I can feel it. The road is rough and long, and I'm running out of time. I can feel their breaths on my neck. I can hear their shrieks from the distant hills. \n\nMy motorcycle rips through the gravel but I can't get their fast enough. This land is littered with savages and giants. If I can just get to the belt, I will truly be unstoppable.\n\nToo late. \n\nThe road is blocked by savages. The time for hiding is over. 5 against one. I've been in bigger rumbles. My hands are fast and my aim is true. My people are on the verge of being wiped out, but I can feel them with me here on this faceless landscape. They have god given rights. I must fight for them. \n\nFrom the distance, I hear others\n\n\"Wooooooooooooooooooo\"\n\nThe Flairians are gaining. The giants are surely close behind. I must move, but first I must kill.\n\nI look to the heavens, where my god and my brothers reside. \n\n\"I fear no man, no beast or evil, brother\" \n\nMy god lives by 3 Demandments\n\nTraining\n\nSaying Prayers\n\nEating Vitamins\n\nSome however spoke of a fourth. A demand to believe in the self. I do. I believe. I will get that belt and return it to the one true champion. It's time to make a stand.\n\nI am a Hulkamaniac, and I'm running wild." ]	2
	[WP] You stand at the edge of the skyscraper. You're ready to end it. You walk off the edge, plummeting towards the ground. However, you're saved by an angel.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I stood at the edge for a very long time, trying to think of a reason to step backwards. For my family? Their faces flashed through my mind, and for a second my confidence wavered. I didn’t want to leave them. Not if I was honest with myself. \n\nThe tears stung my eyes. The wind howled in my ears. And all I was aware of was how incredibly flimsy I felt, perched on the edge of a roof so high I could almost imagine I was on top of the world. Almost. Because real life was always there to drag you back down with the mundanities and the restrictions and the rules that removed anything that could make the effort worth it. To motivate you to face the music for once last dance. \n\nInstead, it made you feel hopeless and insecure and useless. It gave my parents a disappointment as an eldest child, and my siblings a mess for a role model. It gave my colleagues an unreliable coworker, and my friends a flaky and unhelpful contact on their phones. I dragged them down. I dragged everyone down. And self aware as I was, I didn’t see a way to stop. \n\nI don’t think I made a choice. I think my knees just gave out of their own accord. And as I fell, a sense of relief seemed to flood me - I wouldn’t have to decide, it was fate itself lending me a hand! I passed out in midair, a smile on my face. \n\nAnd woke up back on the roof, two hands on my shoulders. \n\nI’m not sure how to describe what I saw. Images flashed through my mind - the crying passerby, the vivid images of my broken body that would haunt them for the rest of their lives and leave them in therapy. My hollow mother, lying in her bed unable to leave because of the grief. My younger siblings, drifting apart in the void that I left. The tears and grief and anger and despair that I would cause if I took one more step. \n\nI didn’t even realise I was crying when the hands let me go. I only noticed the tears when they blew away in the wind. \n\nA deep, powerful voice whispered behind me.\n\n“The choice,” it said, “is yours.” \n\nI think you know the choice I made. And I think you know why I’m saying this to you now. Remember the gap you fill. Always remember the gap you fill.", "One step, a fall and then nothing. John had for many days pondered whether he should or shouldn't jump of the building. He often thought of the height of the fall. Several hundred feet is quite the drop after all. He also thought of the landing, too. At first he put of ending it all. Mainly for the reason that he still had business to take care of. So much paperwork to fill out not to mention all the meetings he had to attend. Now, though, he had a week of work and could finally get down to the important bits. A skyscraper, a bridge or a cliff. He ruled out the cliff fairly fast. Didn't want to get impaled by a pointy bit of rock and have to wait for death. It was only down to a bridge or the building. This was of course what the had been trying to decide. In the end he chose the skyscraper. As he saw it, water wasn't sure to really kill you all things considered. If he hit the water at the wrong angle he could just become paralyzed and he didn't want that now, did he? So now he stood there, on top of the highest building in the city. He peeked down over the edge and saw so many potential landing sites. Exciting John thought. Although he was tired of waiting any longer and decided that it hardly matter where he landed rather than that he landed, and so he took the final step forward, and fell. \n\nIt was truly liberating. The air rushing air, the deafening sound swooshing in his ears, the ground throwing itself at him at an increasingly aggressive manner. Then, the stop. How odd, john thought. He had planned to stop at the ground rather than many feet above it. Something wasn't right and when he looked up he noticed a creature holding him. It looked rather like a woman just more, well, womanly. \n\n\"Dear boy, it just isn't your time yet\" she said to John. Her voice was embracing like a loving mothers yet youthful and lively. Every inch of her skin was more beautiful than seemed possible by any human. Her hair flowed like silk down over her shoulders and her eyes was glowing with forgiving and kindness. But John didn't care much about that. He was upset of his early stop on the way down and answered her gloomily.\n\n\"Yes, thank you but if you don't mind to let me go. I have some rather pressing manners to attend to.\"\n\nShe looked at him with sadness. No, rather pity it seemed. She held him tighter and flew down towards street level and once again told him that it wasn't his time yet. John was getting weary and looked up towards the top of the building. Falling to his death clearly hadn't worked. Neither had shooting himself, crashing his car, hanging from a ceiling, drowning himself or a plethora of other methods for that matter. He sighed and walked away from the angel. \n\n\"I regret to say I have a feeling I'll see you again next time you're free from work\" the angled said.\n\n\"I'd rather not\", answered John." ]	3
	[WP] What do an ancient demon, a talking fox, and a well-dressed, mustachioed man have to do with one another? As you stumble into your local pub late one night, you are about to find out.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dan stared at the back of Monty's neck as he strode along in front dressed in tweed and a flat cap. Monty seemed impervious to the cold. He should be, thought Dan, living in the old manor house. You couldn't pay him enough to live in that draughty old barn, his cottage in the village was warmer and more welcoming.\n\nMonty had knocked on his front door this morning at what felt like the arse crack of dawn yelling “Tallyho”. They spent the next several hours walking through what, in better weather, could have been described as bucolic countryside. Still, the end was in sight. A few more steps and he could thaw out in the pub, sipping a pint of Dartmoor, waiting for his hand crafted free-range pork and apple sausages with a red wine onion ju.\n\nHe’d ventured into the pub once before, when he first arrived in the village, his brief impression of it was that it was a bit like an upmarket version of the pub from An American Werewolf in London. Done up to take advantage of the tourist pound but not really welcoming. \n\nThe door creaked open. Dan spun round, stepped towards Monty and smacked his face off the low beam across the ceiling. Keeping his head low, to hide the red stripe of stupidity streaking across his forehead, Dan glanced around and wondered if anyone had noticed. Of course, they did; those two over there, smirking. \n\nMonty sighed as Dan sat down, signalling the lady at the bar “Doris, love? Four pints of Palmers'. Then “The lads will be here any minute\".\n\nDan grabbed this conversational opening with both hands. Hands that he flexed discreetly to dispel the pins and needles sensation of defrosting. “Who're we meeting?” Dan scrunched his cold toes too as Monty pontificated. “... anyway, you’ll love Old Gam and Red'. Dan took a sip of the dark ale Doris has just slapped down on the table in front of him. The sides of his glass are slick with the booze that spilled. Monty takes a deep draft then wipes the foam from his luxuriant white moustache. \n\nDan glanced up from tracing a wet snail path on the polished wood and saw a man resembling Father Time walking towards them. Wispy hairs bobbed about his ears, his face was a pattern of wrinkles. As he drew closer Dan noticed that there was something odd about his skin, he'd thought it was flush from coming in from the cold but up close it appeared... Red. \n\n“Gam old chap, we got you a drink\" Monty waived his hand about magnanimously. “This is Dan\". Dan gave a half wave, half shrug as Gam took his seat to Dan’s right. “Hi Gam, nice to meet you”. Gam nodded.\n\nDan must have hit his head harder than he thought, the chair to his left appeared to be moving away from the table with autonomy. Dan edged discreetly away keeping an eye on the chair. A fox’s head popped up over the table, causing Dan to startle, his chair squeaking against the floor as he shoved it backwards. He was half out of his seat when the fox spoke “Evening all”. \n\n“About time you showed up, Red” mumbled Gam, his voice like the grinding of two great stones. “Dan, Red. Red, Dan.” “Hi?” Dan said, his tone uncertain. Perhaps I’m losing it, Dan thought. But no one else batted an eye. “Dan bought the woodcutter’s cottage a few months ago. Do you remember his widow sold up after the kiddies went missing in the woods?” Monty was telling Red and Gam. This was news to Dan; he wasn’t entirely sure he liked the idea of living in a house where the children had gone missing.\n\n“How do you like the village Dan?” Red asked, unsure how to reply Dan looked at Red and blinked. Yes, the fox was still there. Dan cleared his throat. “It’s not quite what I was expecting. The village seems to be” Dan paused, looking for the right word “interesting.” Gam replied “Red and I don’t rightly live in the village, Red has a den in near the bottom High Hill Lane and I have a place at The Old Quarry.”\n\n“I didn’t realise there were any houses over at the quarry” Dan said, this struck him as the most unusual part of Gam’s comment because, of course, where else would a fox, even a talking one, live except in a den? \n\n“No, well. I have a lovely place inside the quarry. No running water yet and I do miss living by the sea” said Gam. Monty smiled and his moustache quivered. “Gam has his own regular little man-cave!” Red’s lips curled up at the sides of his muzzle in a polite smile. “We’ve heard that joke before” he explained to Dan “many times”.\n\nDan laughed nervously, he didn’t want to offend anyone. If this did turn out to be a traumatic head injury at least he would have an excuse, otherwise there was a fine line to tread. “Monty tells me you and Gam are...” his voice trailed off, taking a sip of his pint that seemed to be distinctly warmer than room temperature. He grimaced. “Yeah, I tend to run a bit hot and that can happen” rumbled Gam. “Oh” Dan says “right”.\n\n“Have you heard how Gam and Red came to live in the village?” Monty asks, not waiting for a response “When I was a slightly younger man I was out with the hunt, had the hounds with me. Before the ban, you know.” Gam raised a hand to stop Monty. “Really, Monty, start at the beginning. Many years ago I was forced to leave my home by the sea. The locals got it into their heads that I was drowning people and wanted me out of their town. To avoid being sent back…” his eyes flicked down “…I left, wandered around for a while until I stumbled upon the quarry. I liked it but I need to be near a body of water for work you see.” Dan’s leaned forward encouragingly, edging slightly further away from the talking fox. “One day I’m looking for my lake and this idiot…” Gam gestured towards Monty “...charges through the trees on his horse knocking me over. Who knocks someone over with a horse and then just rides off? That sort of behaviour is just not on. So I chased him.”\n\nMonty interrupted “Suddenly Gam starts shouting at me. Can’t hear a thing over the dogs though.” Red shifts in his chair, “He was hunting me.” Monty’s eyes turn misty, “Those were the days” he says with fond remembrance. “Really?” Dan gasps. “At least when I chose my victims, I was picking humans who deserved punishment; not some poor animal who hadn’t hurt anyone!” Gam responds.\n\n“It wasn’t illegal then and I did look good riding around in my smart red jacket so least said, soonest mended.” Monty says. Gam wears a stony expression as Red continued the tale. “Anyway, his dogs had me cornered, teeth everywhere and I thought, ‘this is it, Red’. Then Gam arrived, the dogs cpwered and the horses reared.” Dan nodded; he could almost see it. Red bared his long, thin teeth at Monty. Monty chuckled “Yes, that was a bit of excitement, wasn’t it chaps?”\n\nGam drew himself up a bit taller as he spoke, “Anyway, I decided that if someone was going to torture an animal, because even a demon has his limits, that the animal should at least be able to voice his objections.” Red turned significant looks on Monty who remained silent. Dan was impressed, he’d never met anyone able to shut Monty up before. \n\n“So now” Gam said “we meet up to have these little chats every now and again. It stops us all from going slightly mad. You see foxes aren’t meant to speak, demons tasked who torture drowned people aren’t meant to spend this long landlocked and Monty met a demon and a talking fox and took the whole thing a bit hard\". “I see.” said Dan. “What happened next?” “Monty tried to convince everyone to kill the talking fox. By that point, understandably, Red had enough and leapt for Monty’s throat. He managed one little bite before I pulled him off, Monty went to hospital for a few stitches and a tetanus shot and I convinced Red to let Monty live.”\n\n“Right”. Dan passed his eyes over them all as he downed his drink. “So a talking fox, a demon and an ex-fox hunter walk into a bar. None of them really like each other but they’re the only people who get each other?” Thinking about it Dan realised that he didn’t really like Monty either, he pulled out his wallet, tossing enough money onto the table to cover his tab. “Red, Gam, it has been a pleasure to meet you. If you want to grab a pint sometime then that would be lovely. Monty, I’m heading off” Dan said and started to step away from the table.\n\n“Now see here…” Monty shouted. Dan turned back towards the small group seated around the table with its slowly spreading pool of ale. \n\n“Monty?”\n\n“What?”\n\n“This will probably be the last time you and I speak; you see, I don’t associate with monsters”.", "The pub was perched in the corner of a dinghy street lined with boarded up restaurants and dimly lit lampposts. Perfectly lined stones paved the way to an emerald sign engraved in golden ink that read, “Johnny’s Inn”. Under the grand sign was a creaky oak door that was barely wide enough to fit a child through. Yet it was a pub that was filled with oddities of all shapes and sorts. The overwhelming smell of fermented beer could be inhaled with a cacophony of cigarette smoke. This pub was like any other pub located anywhere in the world, save one thing: the inhabitants.\n\nThe landlord, Johnny, was a large burly man who was as dumb as he looked. His large brutish hairy arms would flail around as he would swig pints while serving customers. Johnny was a stereotypical brute except for the china doll he prised in an ornate glass case for all patrons to see. Rumour had it that this china doll was gifted to him by a group of Gypsies to commemorate his younger bareknuckle boxing days. Johnny believed the doll brought luck. However, luck was very much in the eye of the beholder, in this case his pub was a cornerstone of discord. Johnny would nonchalantly let fights take place, even encouraging them on occasion as long as they did not damage the upholstery.\n\nThis cold winter’s night was no different to the other extended winter months, the full moon shone brightly illuminating the shiny stone path. The punishing breeze howled as it condensed desperately in the air. The pub was full of travellers and those searching for a night of warmth. The chatter was overwhelmingly loud, save one corner. Three figures stood hunched over a rickety poseur table. The table was stained with spilled drink and ashtray droppings.\n\n“Bezog, thought you said you could get more of your demonic friends to assist us,” spoke a talking fox who was walking upright on his hind legs while taking a puff from a cigarette.\n\n“No, we haven’t been able to hit our monthly quotas, not enough souls corrupted. Terrible business, the Beelzebub Council isn’t too happy,” Bezog replied.\n\nThe displeasure was clear on the fox’s face who stroked his whiskers whilst narrowing his cunning eyes. The fox took a large gulp of a pint and slumped backwards onto all fours. The third figure, a well-dressed moustachioed man stayed in thoughtful silence. He stared for a moment at the fox and then passed his eyes towards the powerfully built yet grotesque ruby demon. He twirled his moustache as he adjusted his golden monocle and reached for an ornate watch within his tartan suit jacket pocket.\n\n“No matter Bezog. This means our strategy must change,” the man said.\n\nBoth the fox and Bezog stared intently at the man who clearly was the brains behind this particular operation. The man glanced at his ornate watch once more, counting each hand deliberately.\n\n“Right – come closer. No not there, Felix,” the man admonished the fox who had managed to brush his tail against his tartan waistcoat.\n\nThe three were now even more closely huddled together. The man waited a moment in order to garner a sense of anticipation. Felix and Bezog both leaned in, exuding anxious expectation. The man stared at his watch for one final time.\n\n“Come on Milburn, what’s the plan.”\n\n“Right – Johnny has no idea what the bleeding China doll really is. If he ever found out it’s true power, he would have half the underworld under his control. We needed your demons for this but looks like we’re going to have to steal the doll ourselves,” Milburn said in the face of rapt attention.\n\n“So, what exactly does doll do? You still haven’t told us yet Milburn,” Felix said irritably.\n\n“It’s a key.”\n\n“A key to what?”\n\n“You’ll see soon enough, but now we need to act. Follow my lead.\"", "\"Right. Let's head on in. This is the place I told you about. It's so sweet!\" My friend basically pushed me into the ratty looking pub, the brick walls cracked under the stress of time, and the neon sign flickered with the dull light that it could still produce. \n\nAs soon as I was heralded in, my eyes were met with a veritable feast of sights and my ears assaulted with sound. In one corner, a woman with long claws on the tips of her fingers nursed a glass of white wine. A cat held three fingers of scotch in its tail, sipping it as it chatted with a beagle with a deep red mane of fur and a glass of ale of some sort. \n\nThen my friend pushed me to a table with a man in a sharp suit with a mustache just as sharp of mustache. He could've taken an eye out with it. Then there was a large man with skin as black as night, quite literally. Two twisted horns sprouted from his temples, as he took a few shots of a clear liquor. Then there was the third at the table, a simple fox, lipping up some type of cocktail from a bowl. I took a seat and looked at each of them, waiting for my friend to say something. \n\nHe sat down next to my, flicking his ears as he carefully licked his paw. \"Right, so we've got Charleston, he's in the suit, Aberzon, that's the demon, and Frank, the fox.\" They each nodded as their names were stated, and I nodded in reply. \"Zeroth.\" I introduce myself, nodding as my deep black hair fell infront of my face again. \n\nI carefully brushed it from my face, revealing the pearl white skin once more. I blink my deep red eyes, glad to meet other such as ourselves. \"You guys meet here every Thursday, right? Can't believe you held out on me Dearith!\" I softly punch my friend, jealous that he would hold out on me like this. \n\n\"Come on, we have but tonight for now. Let's just get some drinks going!\" Dearith said with a laugh, nodding to bartender, a tall man with many stains on his suit, before a new round appeared in front of us all. \n\n\"To new friends, I suppose?\" The fox said, and I could only reply with a laugh. \n\n\"To new friends!\" \n\n---------------------------------------------------------\nSorry for any poor formatting, as this was written on mobile, hope you enjoyed!" ]	4
	[WP] Contrary to popular belief, you, Satan, are really just an overworked and underappreciated divine prosecutor with a bad rep among mortals. Every so often, however, you have cases that remind you why you stuck to the job over the millenia in the first place.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Robin White. Died at 78 of a heart attack, married with two kids, worked as a supervisor in a tire factory. Did I get all those right?”\n“Yes sir. I was a good Christian. Do I get to go to heaven?”\n“That is not up to me. Neither is it up to you. We do not judge people only the big guy does that. All I do is remind you of your worst parts so that we can make a case for you.”\n“But I was always a good Christian. I should be”\n\nI stopped him right there. I heard that one a million times already.\n\n“You were a good Christian, a great one even. But that doesn’t make you a good person.”\n“I don’t understand. I was always good to my neighbors, donated to charity, worked hard, loved my wife”\n“Yelled at people with different political opinions, went to anti gay rallies, harassed employees. I got it all written here.”\n“Well the scriptures say that being gay is a sin, so I tried to prevent them from going to hell.”\n“By making their life’s more difficult and judging them for it is wrong. It doesn’t matter what the scripture says. You doomed them to hell. Judging them. I told you earlier that isn’t up to you but god almighty.”\n\nRobin sank deep into his chair.\n\n“So am I going to Hell?”\n“Probably not, I’ve seen millions of cases like yours. More than clear heaven or hell candidates. If someone ends a war or strangles a baby it is usually very cut and dry but you are average, bordering on every aspect.”\n“What happens to me now?”\n“I don’t know because I don’t judge. All I can do is remind you of the life you lived.”", "“How is it, Boss?”\n\nSatan grimaced expressively, tight-lipped and squinting with disgust. The demon took a nervous step backwards, something goat hooves were not designed to do. The crash sent a cloud of dust into the air.\n\n“Horrible,” the arch-fiend’s voice was growl of resignation. “Did you put Alum in it, or something? It’s absolutely appalling.”\n\nThe demon clapped his hands excitedly – a strange gesture for something with the head of rotting giraffe. “Well done!” it squeaked happily. “I’ve been spiking the coffee with alum for the past week! It’s so cute watching the Residents line up for a mug. And then, when they drink it–”\n\n“Yes, yes,” Satan interrupted wearily. “Very good. I can see you’re in no danger of running out of ideas.” Another sip, and another grimace. The demon hovered like an expensive waiter estimating his tip.\n\n“What’s on the docket today?” The demon sprang into action, scuttling to a nearby filing cabinet. Had it been able to read, it would not have opened the door marked “Tarantulas.” The screech that followed was high enough to shatter glass.\n\nSatan sighed. Another day begins. Figuratively in this case, since the sun never rose. His fingers caressed the side of the coffee mug, reading the familiar red lettering. “If you lived here, you’d be dead now.” A smile totally failed to cross his face.\n\nI should be so lucky. Satan leaned back in his creaking chair, watching his assistant flail helplessly under the avalanche of spiders. Behind him, the potted plant dropped another dead leaf, floating in lazy zigzags to the floor. It was another day in a string of endless days – identically dull and lifeless. When it comes to Eternity, he thought miserably, you certainly get your money’s worth.\n\n“Any sign of that docket?” he inquired lightly. The whimpering of assistant told him as much as he needed to know. He flicked a finger, banishing the spiders to a residential circle. Make them somebody else’s problem. We’re good at that, at least.\n\n“So sorry, so sorry!” The demon cringed at the cheerful sally. “Opened the wrong drawer, wasn’t thinking.” He scrutinized the next label, fingers twisting like post-atomic rebar. His mistake became evident as soon as the snake lunged. The drawer was slammed shut just in time.\n\n“Why do you keep so many animals in here?” whined the demon. “They’re creepy. I mean, they’ve got all that…metabolism…” he shuddered, turning towards the next filing cabinet. Fortunately, it contained nothing more horrifying that the crushed corpses of long-dead trees.\n\n“Here we are,” the demon continued silkily, drawing forth an impressive stack of paper. “Today’s cases, 65,221. Projected 2025 probable Purgatory, 32,500 Circle Five and above. Further analysis-”\n\n“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” growled the Devil. “That’s my job. I don’t like using algorithms to determine where someone ends up. In the old days we did things on a case-by-case basis.”\n\n“Yessir,” the demon assented hastily. “Only trying to help. I know how overworked you are, and what with the population explosion Topside, I thought we could-”\n\n“Listen to me.” The Devil’s voice was a cold and level as Cocytus Ice. “I do my own judging. I have always done my own judging. If machines are going to replace anyone-” he stared meaningfully at his assistant, who went an uncomfortable shade of green.\n\n“Yessir. Right you are sir.” The demon crumpled the projections with barely a hint of disappointment. “Tried and true methods, that’s what I always say sir. Tried and true.”\n\n“Indeed?” Satan glanced disdainfully at his underling. “I had no idea.”\n\n“Absolutely, sir!” The rotting giraffe’s head appeared to be sweating. “Always in favor of tradition. Why, if not for the wise guidance of your Eminence and the Council of the Fallen Angels, Hell would have fallen even farther than that it has. Risen, I mean. That is to say, your wisdom-”\n\nSatan tuned out the obsequious babble. When Yexnroth got going, nothing short of the most grievous punishments could convince him to shut up. He was famous for it in the Pit – the mere sound of his voice could make sinner and demon alike burst into penitent tears.\n\nAnd he’s my assistant, mused the Devil. One day he would find out who was in charge of Inhuman Resources and make them swim laps in the Lake of Boiling Tar. Three million or so should do it. The thought brought a rare smile to his careworn face.\n\nThe work was before him, in all its bloated, bureaucratic majesty. He forced himself to focus, scanning the printout for salient cases, names cross-referenced against major sin categories. A sheaf of Dual-Culpability Indices fell out of the pile, scattering pages in all directions. The Archfiend ground his teeth in disgust.\n\nIt wasn’t the same, the way they did things now – all these charts and graphs and mountains of Precedent. Literal mountains. Some of the residents had taken to rolling down them, before they’d put a stop to it. It had been all he could do to stop them installing a ski lift.\n\nOf course, in the old days you never had these problems. Satan took a sheet of paper between two fingers and watched moodily until it burst into flames. In the old days, it was just you, them, and the Judgement. Not a nice job. Not a pleasant job. But someone had to do it. He nodded meditatively as the page crumbled into feathery ash. Sometimes, on days, like this, you could almost feel like giving up. Almost. If he hadn’t known why the job was important, he would have retired long ago.\n\nBecause it was important, wasn’t it? Because people mattered, and whatever else they did, no one really wanted to end up here. If you were going to be damned to an eternity of hellfire, or one of Yexnroth’s never-ending anecdotes, you’d like to be sure you deserved it. And that was where He came in.\n\nHe oversaw things. He judged. He drew the wheat from the chaff – and where humans were concerned, it required the eye of a jeweler and the subtlety of a particle physicist. Shades and grades of sin, extenuating circumstances, inborn flaws. No detail could be excluded, no possibility overlooked. Everything was taken into consideration. If you ended up a resident, you could have done better – and you knew it.\n\nAt least, that was how it used to be." ]	3
	[WP]You have died expecting nothing or heaven or hell but instead you are offered the option to pay to continue or continue with ads.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"...This doesn't seem right.\" \n\n\nIT SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH TO ME. \n\n\n\"I'm just saying, advertising between lives seems unfair.\" \n\n\nTHERE ARE NO RULES AGAINST IT. \n\n\n\"...Who gets to pitch the adds for postmortem spaces?\" \n\n\nTHAT'S NOT MY DEPARTMENT. \n\n\n\"...Interesting.\" \n\n\n\\--- \n\n\nADD ENDS IN SEVEN SECONDS. \n\n\n\"You may only live once, but you get the chance to change your children and grandchildren's lives. Shouldn't they do better than you did? Education. Let's make tomorrow better than today.\" \n\n\n\\--- \n\n\nADD ENDS IN SEVEN SECONDS. \n\n\n\"Everything you were taught was wrong. You learned so much after you left school and started your job. \n\n\nWouldn't it be better if your kids had your head start? Let's make tomorrow better than today?\" \n\n\n\\--- \n\n\nADD ENDS IN SEVEN SECONDS. \n\n\n\"How the hell do I tell my kids to do better? I'm dumb as shit.\" \n\n\n\"You already did.\"", "I was late. I overslept. Had this terrible headache for days now. God I hope it is not tumor. My stop. Elevator. They're all in the meeting room. I see an empty seat in the back. I'll just make myself a cup of coffee and pretend I just took a bit longer to make coffee. Maybe coffee will help my headaCHAa.\n\n\nPING\n\n(rolling beachball)\n\nWelcome to life 2.0 During your last medical examination, you signed a waiver allowing Medicare Inc. to reboot this body in case of death. You did not choose an insurance profile, so you are here in the lobby, before we return you. \n\nWould you like to:\n\nProceed with life at a convenient rate of 0.6% of your annual income for next ten years. Second death coverage might raise these prices.\n\nProceed with life for free, thanks to our sponsors, and be contractually obligated to voice certain promotions at their discretion.", "I'm dead. Or at least I should be. It all started after my job interview. I was heading back to my apartment thinking of the interview when I stopped at the crosswalk and the cross walk light turned green and something went wrong the cars didn't stop I looked to my left and saw the light was still green for the cars as well. It ended there I'll spare the gruesome details. I never believed in an after life, but if they did exist I hope mercy was upon me and I would be spared hell.\n\nI had finally opened my eyes to see I wasn't dead well maybe I was and the after life was really. I turned my head and saw something that scared me more than anything in my life. I giant neon sign I have seen many times before in my afternoons alone. It read \"PAY TO CONTINUE OR WATCH A AD\" \n\n\"WTF\" I whispered though I didnt know why, I continued to stare at the sign when I noticed something in the corner a sign that read my back account balance which freaked me out way more. I decide I'll reach out and press the button. My hand is placed on the button and a giant screen appears before me and a ad starts to play.\n\n\"Do you want to experience life like never before for just the low price of $100,000 start a new life in the future allowing you to skip all the time to get there. In the future humans live on distant worlds void with alien races and have forgotten the word death. Order in the next century and we will throw in a language pack completely free.\" \n\nThis was starting to freak me out. Live in the future this is insane I must be dreaming. The ad ends and a countdown begins 1,2,3 and on that a wake up. The room around me seems to be a hospital. I most have dreampt that. I try to move my head but I scream in pain and stop.\n\n\"Don't do that. You just woke up from a terrible accident. You most be wondering where you are. You are at holt hospital. You were rushed here after you got hit by a car. Can you remember that?\"\n\n\"Ah yes I just finished a interview. Wait how long was I out my family most be worried.\"\n\n\"Ah your family just left to go to lunch I'm about call them. You have been out for over a month. You were severely injur...\"\n\n\"A month! But I had to go back to a second meeting with the company. I couldn't of been out for a month a have to get to work.\" I interrupt \n\n\"Oh you won't be doing any of that for a while. You are still severally injured. You will have to stay here for a few weeks maybe even a month or two or longer depending on how long it takes you to heal.\"\n\n\"That can't be true! I have to get to work, I have dept to pay. Wait what about my apartment who's been paying the rent.\"\n\n\"I'm not sure probably your family they will be back soon, so get some rest.\"\n\nThe doctor left me alone except for the occasional nurse. I started to wonder what that dream was about it was like those animes I watched or games I had played. Was it really or not. I think what if life was a game. That's when I notice something in the top left of my vision. A little red bar that said HP. I most be losing me mind I thought to my self. I rubbed my eyes and it wouldn't disappear. I finally gave up and accepted that maybe my life was a game.", "The ancient machine hummed as it scanned Neil's broken cyborg body.\n\n\"Back to limbo or continue with ads?\" Whispered a synthetic disembodied female voice.\n\nNeil flailed his broke limbs, sparks shot out. \"But I still haven't...\" His voice chip was broken.\n\nThe machine buzzed impatiently, \"Live or die? Choose to live, nod twice. Want to die? Got out that door.\"\n\nNeil nodded twice eagerly.\n\nA pair of mechanical arms reached down and plucked the broken cybrog. Then a mental needle pierced Neil's electronic brain. Everything went dark.\n\nNeil woke up in an empty street, the pouring rain.\n\nA voice in his head echoed. \"Loading ads.\"\n\n\"Wait, what?\" Neil protested as his body begin to dance on its own accord. Out of his mouth came, \"90 per cent off all purchases in Shreka Mall complex, you will definitely find something that fits your need in our prestigious 350 stores and 125 food joints. Deal only lasts from November 11th to November 24th, don't miss out on this deal!\"\n\nNeil gained back control of his new body, as the voice echoed again. \"Your three-day ads-free trial began right now. You can choose to subscribe to RoboNation to remove ads, thank you for your patience.\"\n\nNeil slammed his fist into a poll. He felt no pain, but his metal frames groaned and cracked. \n\n\"So this is a shitty body that I am going to get? With in-body-purchases?\"\n\nNeil screamed up at the sky, only to chock on slightly radioactive rainwater.\n\nHe checked his neural network and summoned the city map. \"Of course I will end up in the slum district.\" He raged and stormed off in the downpour. His batteries are rapidly draining, got to make a living.", "I had the aneurysm on the way home from work, by the statue of the crouching mermaid.\n\nOne moment I was staring into her eyes, the next it was dark and cold.\n\nI sat alone in a dark city, with a hooded figure in front of me.\n\nHe looked down through the void of his hood, and peered into me.\n\nHis eyes glowed red, and the red lights shined a beam onto me, then seemed to scan my face.\n\n\"Jacob Langley.\"\n\nI just stared.\n\n\"Jacob Langley?\"\n\nThe red lights returned to his eyes, and then extinguished into the void of his hood.\n\n\"Jacob... You died suddenly. I was called out of a meeting to come here. The least you can do is acknowledge my questions.\"\n\nI took a deep breath. Box breathing, it was called. \n\n\"You don't need to breathe here, Jacob.\"\n\nI sat, stopping my breath. Then started again. It felt strange to not fill my lungs.\n\n\"You can breathe if it makes you feel better. My time here is short. I'll make the most of it.\"\n\nSuddenly an image, like that of a screen, popped up in front of the hooded figure's face.\n\nThe floating image was a video of a luxury car driving down a dark highway. The paint glimmered off street lights, and then it disappeared into the blackness of the hooded void.\n\n\"Beautiful car, no?\" the figure said.\n\nI spoke for the first time. \"What's going on?\"\n\n\"Great way to start the conversation, Jacob.\"\n\nI detected the slightest smile, a traffic-light red hue.\n\n\"What you just saw was an automated real-vision pop-up.\"\n\nHe held up an advertisement for an expensive video camera.\n\n\"It uses the same sort of technology that creates digital video in your world.\"\n\n\"How is that possible?\"\n\n\"Your world is not what you think it is... but that's not important right now. I have a proposal for you.\"\n\n\"No. Why should I listen to you?\"\n\n\"Because you have nowhere else to go. Except...\"\n\nThe hooded figure pointed toward the ground.\n\n\"Go on...\" I said.\n\n\"Your choice is...\" he pointed down... \"Or these...\"\n\nBetween us, a collage of shimmering videos played, all advertising different sorts of products.\n\n\"This is the grand spectacle. And your ticket to immortality.\"\n\n\"Why advertisements? How could you benefit? I'm not an idiot, I can see what's going on here.\"\n\n\"Ha! You have no idea. If you knew the power behind this grand delusion, you'd beg me to send you...\" The figure pointed down.\n\n\"What's down there?\"\n\n\"A reality of a different sort. But you would lose yourself completely.\"\n\nThe figure held up his glowing red hand. \"I'm offering you immortality. I'm offering you the option to pay to continue... or continue with ads.\"\n\n\"How many advertisements?\"\n\n\"That's not my decision. Choose now.\"\n\nThe figure held up both crimson glowing hands, one with a frightening, grim death, and the other with a yacht gliding over choppy seas.\n\nI glanced back and forth. I closed my eyes, and stepped forward.\n\nEverything went white, and then I heard crowds, traffic sounds.\n\nI was back on the bench, but it was daytime, and I could feel my breathing again.\n\nI looked to the ground and saw a crumpled Coca Cola can. And immediately an ad for Sprite popped up in it's place.\n\nI picked myself up and grabbed the can. I looked around, but nobody seemed to notice.\n\nI walked to my apartment, overwhelmed by a flurry of pop-up advertisements along the way.\n\nThere seemed to be a logic to the situation. But what did the advertisements have to do with the afterlife?\n\nWhen I entered my apartment, I was relieved to see there were no advertisements in any of the rooms. I took a soda can out of the fridge, and turned it around in the air.\n\nNothing.\n\nI reluctantly slipped out my cellphone and called Jess.\n\n\"Hey–\"\n\n\"Where the hell have you been? I sent you, like, twenty texts. I thought you had an aneurysm or something.\"\n\nI furrowed my brow. \"Actually...\"\n\nAll of a sudden, an advertisement for a racy adult video started playing in my ear.\n\n\"Jacob! Didn't you hear what I said?\"\n\n\"Sorry Jess, I missed that.\"\n\n\"We need to talk.\"\n\nShit. The talk...\n\n\"That talk?\" I asked.\n\n\"Jacob...\"\n\n\"Jess, this is going to sound crazy. I'm seeing advertisements everywhere.\"\n\n\"No shit...\" she said sarcastically.\n\n\"No, I'm serious, these ads are popping up everywhere I look. I think I died, then met this death looking mother fu-\"\n\n\"This isn't going to work out...\"\n\n\"Seriously? Over the phone? Forget about that for a sec, I really need to solve this advertisement problem.\"\n\n\"Sorry, Jacob, I have to go.\"\n\n\"But these pop up ads...\"\n\n\"Install an adblocker, whatever, I don't care. You're not taking this seriously. Do you even ca-\"\n\nI hung up and jumped on my computer. I searched \"ad blocker\" on duck duck go.\n\nI went to adblockplus.org, and saw the words:\n\nWant to block ads and disable tracking on mobile devices?\n\n\"Yes\", I whispered. \n\nI heard the hooded figure's voice. \"Don't do it.\"\n\nI saw his glowing red eyes staring at me from the skyline beyond my window.\n\nI clicked the mousepad.\n\nMy body sucked down into a glowing, floating ball.\n\nThen an ad popped up right in front of me, advertising some sort of lightbulb fixture. \n\nI instantaneously shapeshifted into a lightbulb, and fell to the ground, shattering into a thousand pieces.\n\n**\n\nA glowing hand clicked the touchpad on a computer that showed the shattered bulb on the ground.\n\nIt grasped the top of the computer, and shut it like a steel trap.", "I reach out, pressing the 'pay with ads' button that floated before me.\n\nQuickly, as soon as my hand lifts from the button, I'm jolted back into conciousness. The bus that hit me is to my direct left, and passers-by surround me, telling me not to move since the ambulance is coming.\n\nWhen they do come, they lift me up on a stretcher, taking me into the ambulance vehicle. Memories of that...(afterlife...? Something, anyways) starts to fade as I get closer to the open doors.\n\nI pass the bus, and an advertisement for McDonald's stares back at me.\n\nPaying for no ads was useless when all you've ever known was the freemium.", "“Hey! Yo! Who the fuck’s idea was it to capitalize on DEATH?!?” I shouted to nobody in particular.\n\nThe voice, reminiscent of some old video game, simply repeated the same line I’d heard five times already in as many minutes, “Your free trial has ended. You must pay $80 million if you would like to continue using Premium Mode. If you want to continue for free, say, ‘Continue with ads.’”\n\n“No!” I shouted. “Fuckin’ neither of those, please!” I got no response. “Alright, so God’s a dirty fuckin’ capitalist then, it looks like. Shoulda guessed.”\n\nI sat down for a bit, waiting for something to change. Nothing did. I laid down on my back and shut my eyes. I didn’t move for a good, long while. Still, nothing changed. “Alright,” I sighed. “End game.” Nothing. “End game!” Still nothing. “END FUCKING GAME!” I shouted.\n\n\n“Your free trial has ended. You must pay $80 million if you would like to continue using Premium Mode. If you want to continue for free, say, ‘Continue with ads.’”\n\n“I don’t have that kind of money!” I exclaimed. “I’m a student! I got hit by a fucking truck, dude, I didn’t ask for this! You want $80 million, go take it up with that coked-up trucker! Tell him to cough up the cash instead!”\n\n“Your free trial has ended. You must pay $80 million if you would like to continue using Premium Mode. If you want to continue for free, say, ‘Continue with ads.’”\n\n“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I sighed, “is this just what Hell is? Am I in Hell? Where are the demons? Where’s the fire and brimstone, huh? Aren’t y’all supposed to be holding me over some eternal flame or some shit?”\n\n“Your free trial has ended. You must pay $80 million if you would like to continue using Premium Mode. If you want to continue for free, say, ‘Continue with ads.’”\n\n“Look, I know I’m a piece of shit,” I said. “I know that, I do. But I’m a benign piece of shit. I didn’t hurt anyone. Like, I get it. I was kind of a dick. I’m sorry. Is that what you want? I don’t think I deserve Hell for being how I was, but if y’all are gonna do Hell, then fucking do Hell! Don’t just strand me on a fuckin’ menu!”\n\n\n“Your free trial has ended. You must pay $80 million if you would like to continue using Premium Mode. If you want to continue for free, say, ‘Continue with ads.’”\n\nOh, fuck me,” I groaned. “CONTINUE WITH ADS!”\n\nNothing, for a bit. Silence. Darkness. And then:\n\n“Tyler, with Grammarly’s help, is writing an email to his boss, Anita. Tyler sits just fifteen feet away, though it can feel like the distance to Antarctica. Tyler is determined to find the right words so that, when Tyler sends his email, he receives a response with phrases like ‘I’m impressed!’ and ‘Such initiative!’. And the distance between Tyler and Anita stops feeling so far. Grammarly: helping you connect. Go to grammarly.com to download.”", "As the sadness and pain of dying began to fade away, in the distance I had the sensation of many TVs all playing ads at once. In the other direction was a feeling of nightmarish loss, as if payment for some unspeakable debt.\n\nI’ve never been good at grieving what is lost. I felt the ads begin to surround me and what had been a place of profound loss fade away into a haze of cheerful messages.\n\nGradually I began to notice feeling in my body again, and thoughts of my life flooded back in, speckled with hopes and dreams and wishes with that same cheerful tone.\n\nSomehow the messages I had heard felt like echos of my own wishes. Had it always been that way?\n\nAs my curiosity lead deeper, I was thrown suddenly into images and memories of my daughter, lying dead next to me in the car. Somewhere inside, I knew she wasn’t with me. I remembered the brochure for summer camp, and clung to the thought for dear life. She was there, she was safe. \n\nI opened my eyes and I sat there alone, crying, memories of ads for everything from houses to hats going through my mind. I decided my mind worked in funny ways, and maybe I could go for a silly new hat when this was all over.\n\nMy daughter looks around my apartment now and tells me I’m too susceptible to advertising. I just laugh and smile. Perhaps she’s right. I feel the terror of that day again for just a tiny moment, then remember what I chose to believe as tears well up. I’m just happy she’s still here.", "The light hit me like razor blades. Instead of slowly waking from a dream, I was violently ripped from one world to another. No grogginess. Just sharp, abrupt confusion.\n\n\"It's okay, you're safe, relax...\" A warm and friendly voice assured me.\n\nI tried scanning my surroundings with my eyes, but I saw only white. No dimension, no gravity, nothing.\n\nWhat is this?* I thought, and was immediately startled by the words emanating from the environment itself.\n\nThat's not my voice \"That's not my voice.\" \n\n\"Your trial has ended. You may pay to continue, or continue with ads.\" The motherly voice informed me.\n\n\"What? I don't know what's going on, I can't see anything,\" I told... It. \"I need air!\"\n\n\"Your progress has been saved.\"\n\nThe white light was physically pulled away as goggles were lifted from my face. The sudden ambiance, and air hugged me with love. I felt as if I had just been skydiving and was finally embracing sweet mother earth.\n\n\"Mr. Clarke, Shelf Life can be yours for $699.\" A very thin, slightly grayed man with soulless eyes said with fake enthusiasm. He was looking right at me.\n\nBut my name is not Mr. Clarke. It's Don Triton.\n\n\"It's Triton, Don Triton.\" I corrected.\n\nThe man suddenly had a soul. \"Oh, somebody is still in character, I see,\" he spattered the words nervously. \"Let's get you a glass of water.\"\n\nI reached in my pocket and found a wallet. Aaron Clarke. I don't know that face. I ran to a reflective surface. That's not my face. But it matches the one on the ID.\n\n\"No. No. No! This isn't right.\" I muttered to myself as a cold chill hardened in my stomach, settling deep like some kind of primal terror. Everything went dark.", "\"If I habe the option to continue, why _shouldn't_ I want to keep my money?\"\n\n\"Well, you are going to experience ads, that ...\"\n\n\"Do I look like I care? I am so used to that shit, it can't be much different from what I already experiencing.\"\n\n\"Fine, then.\"\n\nA couple of windows appear before me. I click through them like I always do. The moment I closed the last one, I am back just a few moments earlier than I died. This must be to avoid suspicion.\n\nI started enjoying my life a lot more in spite of those ads. I am just so grateful for a second chance that I do not even care. Initially, that is.\n\nAfter a while, things started to feel a little off. I have a feeling that I am getting into situations just too unusual for my life.\n\nAfter some research in the internet, I found out that I am not alone. This should have been quite obvious, but I never bothered checking. I tried to reach some other people that got the same offer, but strangely enough, most of them are pretty hard to reach out to.\n\nA few persuation attempts later, somebody agreed to meet with me. I went where I was invited to and was astonished. This guy lives in a pretty big mansion. He told me that he does have contact with others, but they are pretty reserved because of their wealth.\n\n\"Wait a minute, don't you found like any 'normal' people taking that offer?\"\n\n\"Well, if I wouldn't have that money, I would probably have denied that, too.\"\n\nI was shoked. \"Why is that? Don't you get a load of ads already? Does that really matter?\"\n\n\"Getting ads is not that big of a deal.\"\n\n\"What is it, then?\"\n\n\"The ads are _personalized_. They are monitoring your every action. I have no idea, what that would possibly lead to and I don't really want to know.\"", "What the... Where am I?\n\nI thought to myself as I seemingly floated in nothingness.\n\nAm I dreaming? How do I wake up?\n\nMoments pass before I realize that this was no dream, but some form of reality that I couldn't quite comprehend. If not a dream, maybe a coma? All I could remember was being extremely scared and then nothing...\n\nDeath.\n\nThe realization was easier than I wanted it to be. I am no longer part of life, but slowly drifting off into whatever this place is. Probably my consciousness slowly ceasing to exist as my body decays after my heart has stopped. Once my brain dies, I assume myself and this room will die. I notice that when I try to produce sound in this infinite void there is no noise, and yet I can hear myself speak? It's a weird phenomenon that at least allows me to think of something other than me being gone forever for the time being. I should, be freaking out, to be honest I probably am. \n\nWhat next?!\n\nI \"shout\" into the emptiness in front of me. And then, white light. \n\nThis is it, here we go. Please be real God, or Satan or whatever. Would Hell be better than nothing? This is all happening too fast! Please, NO!\n\nI scream at the top of my non-existent lungs.\n\nNext Life: 10 years after last death, sex: Male, status condition level: few. \nPay to continue without ads or with ads?\n\nWhat do you want? What? What is this? Hello?!\n\nSadly I knew this answer as I did my death, there really was no one there but instead this option apparently. I waited for a while and almost like a screen-saver on my old computer different timelines started showing up around me. One was of a woman in Egypt, looked noble and yet still humble. Deep brown eyes. My eyes. Which is a very peculiar feeling because I am, or I guess was? A man. But something about her seemed almost nostalgic. \n\nNext to the Egyptian woman was a man laying in the road, rain on his face and mud in his hair. He was in Greece. I have no idea how I know this but I do know this is Greece and the man I am looking at, is a drunk who would often times fill himself too full of wine and pass out on the streets. He was the areas main 'drunkard' and yet, he had the softest brown eyes. He was an old warrior from a time of chaos and battles, he had killed younger people than he and all in service to the family which he loved. But, once the war was over he was lost in his mind, having watched so much light leave individuals minds.\n\nHow do I know this man?! How do I know her! Why do I feel everything they are feeling? Why have I never seen or heard of them before? Please some sign!!\n\nNo sign. Just more celestial images. A small boy, roaming the castle walls of his father. He was the heir to his fathers land and thus a nobleman in England by birthright. This was a boy who loved life, and loved living. And I knew how he died. Just at that moment I saw the same boy, bedridden. A scary man in a scary mask hovering over him. For that moment I remember him looking up at that mask and being more afraid of it than of the disease that plagues his body. Those brown eyes are captured in this moment with tears building up behind swollen skin.\n\nHow do I... remember?\n\nThese are all me. I know it for sure. There is just too much information known about people I have never seen before but remind me of someone I know. And then... I saw it. All the images slowed down and until a single one was left, none to follow it. This was me. Well, they were all me I suppose but this was the most recent me. Single dad, driving through the snow with my child buckled up in the back. Zachary, that was my sons name, he has my nose and my eyes. This is why I had begun to love my eyes so much, because my eyes remind me of my son. He and I are driving down through the mountains of Colorado to go on our first skiing trip. Breckenridge was on the last sign we passed, the place where we would be staying. The image then shifted to that of the last frame of my existence. Car flipped and me bent up in ways I shouldn't have been. My son in the back buckled up and just crying. He made it. I felt relief.\n\nAsk\n\nLarge letters A S K appeared before me. \n\nAsk what?\n\nAnything\n\nAre these all me?\n\nYes, all past lives you have lived. You do not remember them while you are alive but you are still connected to them in death. You, like everyone else, are an immortal soul, what you do in life determines how your next life is.\n\nNext life? \n\nThen, before me appears a bright light. Dated ten years from today, or I guess whatever day I last died on, and stating it is the life of a average-fit male-to-be.\n\nIs this... me?\n\nIt can be. You can choose to pass on or continue living.\n\nDo people actually choose to pass on instead of continuing to live?\n\nNot often, but some. You would be surprised how many people have lived terrible lives and would rather not return to the living.\n\nAt that moment I remember a life I once lived, where I was shackled and struck day after day. I understood what they meant when they said that.\n\nI see. Do I have any say in the life I will be living?\n\nIn theory yes. You can choose to continue with or without ads.\n\nW-what? I thought that was a joke earlier.\n\nYou see, every life you live you can increase your souls value by how you live, a great soul will have a great value, an average soul is worth an average value.\n\nWhat about... bad souls?\n\nThey see their souls worth cripple and start to shred beneath them. They have very little to do with how they will continue living. Many will eventually just simply cease to exist. Souls are not meant to be bad, but somewhere in between. Like you.\n\nSo, I'm not a bad guy?\n\nOr lady.\n\nRight, or lady.\n\nRemembering the Egyptian woman with brown eyes.\n\nOkay. Have we had this conversation before?\n\nMany times.\n\nDoes it always go something-\n\n-*like this?* Yes, every time. \n\nFigured. Okay, what am I worth.\n\nJust enough this time to get you an ad-free experience next time around, congratulations.\n\nAs you probably know, I'm more of a, save the good stuff till the end kind of guy or gal.\n\nI do. \n\nLet's save this one for the next sucker shall we? With ads please, let's see how many soul-whatevers we can muster up this time.\n\nYou still surprise me in some way every time.\n\nLast thing, are you God?\n\nHave a nice l-\n\n*ife!* I knew you were going to say that! Well whatever God or thing you are, it's been nice chatting again. Beam me up Spock. These advertisements can't be too bad.\n\n\"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. GAHD DAMMIT, why is this always stuck in my damn head?!\"", "######[](#dropcap)\n\n\"It's very rare. You are one of few.\" Liana--or whatever her name was--said. She stared at him intently, her silver eyes unwavering as she sat completely still, in her hand a quill. Her hand hovered over the large, dusty looking tome in front of her, half obscured by a mountain of wax.\n\nChristopher shied away from her gaze and slouched down in his uncomfortable wooden chair. There was something oddly unsettling about it, in an uncanny valley sort of way. He couldn't quite say there was emotion in her voice. Just like he couldn't didn't quite think she was human. \n\nThis wasn't right. He glanced around at the dimly lit room, with its dusty red couch that must have seen centuries of wear and tear and its grey--was it always grey?--carpet. A candelabra stood on the mahogany table separating him from her. A single candle, placed in the center, flickered slowly, but didn't go out. Every once in a while, a dribble of wax would run down the side and splatter onto the wooden surface of the table, slowly adding to the mountain of wax that was threatened to overtake the surface. The candle was three-quarters gone, by his approximation.\n\nHe glanced at the glowing silver thread, nearly invisible except when he turned his hand toward the left, that linked his wrist to the edge of the table. He tugged at it, expecting to encounter resistance, but it merely stretched. \n\n\"Christopher.\" \n\n\"Yes.\" He fiddled with the bottom button of his shirt, flipping it over. The button had clearly been sewn on again--it was a different color from the rest of them, and an ugly brown at that. The needlework was messy, but...he could feel the care that had been put into it. \"Can I not know what my life was like?\" A voice in his head was screaming at him. Take the reincarnation. Start anew. What did the strange lady even mean by ads? \n\nBut there was another voice. A softer voice that said, don't. Continue on as you did. \n\nEven if he couldn't remember a single aspect of his life. \n\nHe worked the button in his hand, his head downcast. \n\n\"You don't have much time left. If the candle runs out, your decision is made for you.\" \n\nChristopher could hear it now too. Each spatter of wax, rhythmically ticking down the time. Would it be so bad to not have to pick? Either option seemed fine. Continue life with ads--he'd been living with those his whole life anyway--or to start fresh. No ads. A simple payment of time, so that he started again as a babe. \n\nBut something in him told him that was the wrong choice. So he took a deep breath. \"Ads,\" he choked out. \n\nThe woman picked up the fountain pen, and without hesitating, scribbled his name into it. \"Good luck,\" she said simply. Then with the nub of her quill, she sliced through the silver thread. \n\nChristopher's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly realized he should have asked what the ads actually were. Why didn't he do that?\n\nThen his vision went dark.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n* \n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Christopher. Christopher!\" \n\nThe incessant shouting caused his brows to furrow. So loud. He tried to open his eyes, but they seemed glued shut. He tried again. Something grabbed his hand, warm and sure. \"Christopher, please. Please.\" \n\nA plain, white ceiling. Christopher stared at it, his eyes drooping back down slightly. He was so tired. He just wanted to sleep. And on top of that, his entire body ached something fierce. But the voice next to him wouldn't allow him to. He turned his head and stared the woman in the face. \n\nLarge, brown eyes. Freckles on her nose. A small mole, almost imperceptible by her lip. The memories flooded back. The freak car accident. His wife. \"Mina,\" he choked out. \n\nShe clasped his hands in hers, a loud sob escaping her. \n\nHe took a deep breath. So it was all a dream. Thank god. \n\nHe glanced over at her, a small flicker of a smile coming to his lips. Life was good. A small flicker of something bright near her wrist caught his attention. Christopher's brows furrowed. With some difficulty, he flipped her wrist over. A slight chill ran down his spine. He had no idea what it meant. What it could mean. \n\nBut there it was. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nA faint, almost invisible, glowing silver thread wrapped around her wrist.\n\n*\n\nr/AlannaWu", "\"Wait, you mean I actually could take it all with me? But now I'm broke because I wasnt buried with all my money?\" \n \n\"Yes. We told people this thousands of years ago. You had plenty of warning.\" \n \n\"So, what, the Egyptian pharaohs get the premium package or something?\" \n \n\"They are our best customers. Even brought enough for unlimited ad time.\" \n \n\"Well how much is the ad free plan?\" \n \n\"2 ounces of silver for the basic plan, and 2 ounces of gold for premium.\" \n \n\"So all that stuff about paying the ferryman was b.s.?\" \n \n\"I really wish people would stop calling me that. I prefer afterlife account specialist, myself.\" \n \n\"Apparently I'm broke, so how does the whole ad thing work?\" \n \n\"A short 15 second ad will play in your head every 3 minutes, as well as a 30 second ad once an hour.\" \n \n\"That doesnt sound too terrible.\" \n \n\"OK, I'll just need you to sign this waiver stating that you understand the possibility of a millenia of ads has been determined by the state of California to potentially cause permanent insanity.\" \n \n\"Wait... what?\"" ]	14
	[WP] Transported to a beautiful fantasy world? Check! Magic and cool adventures? Check! Hot party members, fighting for your attention? Check! You fuck up your first spell and the world is now getting overrun by the Evil Dead? Che-WAIT	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Ama tapped her hooves on the stone wall, her arms crossed and her thin, spade-tipped tail whipping around in agitation.\n\n\"I told you, Ama, I didn't mean to!\" exclaimed the Hero in his grand, silver armor, \"I've only been in this world a week, you know that, I wouldn't do this intentionally!\"\n\nThe Elf girl next to him pleaded as well, \"he didn't even know he could use magic at all, he was just practicing!\" she begged, her long, pointed ears reaching towards the sky.\n\n\"Yeah!\" cried a girl who could easily be mistaken for a spoiled child, a child who barely came up to Ama's hips and was just as much a headache in her Human form as her Phoenix form, \"I messed up a lot of spells when I was younger, accidents happen!\"\n\nAma scratched the base of one of her black horns with her nails, trying her best to contain her frustration. She looked at the other-wordly Hero out of the corner of her slit red eyes. \"I'm going to repeat it once again, because clearly it didn't get into your thick skull: you are an immortal, nearly all-powerful warrior. You have to be careful with that kind of power,\" she reached up and pulled the warrior by his ear, bringing him over to the stone walls, \"because *that* is not an accident, it's a disaster!\"\n\nAt the base of the ten-meter stone walls was a mass of writhing flesh. Ghouls, Corpse-Worms, Revenants, and Plague Wolves were all swarming the base, bashing their heads against it.\n\nAma angrily looked below. \"We're just lucky you didn't conjure up any Wraiths. Or Rot Rats; even Dwarves have trouble with those.\" She now held the Hero by both his little round ears, pulling his face close until her horns bucked with his forehead, \"Now, how did this happen?\"\n\n\"It's my fault!\" said the little girl, her curly red hair bouncing as she spoke, \"I saw a Human use a neat spell about a century ago, I thought he could do it too!\"\n\nAma furiously turned to the little humanoid girl, \"and you thought it was a good idea for him to practice it!?\"\n\nThe Elf girl piped up. \"That's my fault!\" she interjected, coming to the Hero's defense, \"there was no one around, and I asked him to try some magic!\"\n\nThe small red-haired girl piped up, \"what, you were alone with him!?\" she stared accusingly at the Elf.\n\nThe Hero stepped in, his ears still being held by the angry Ama, \"she suggested going on a walk - I thought it was a way to take a break from Ama's teaching. We weren't doing anything, I promise!\"\n\nAma let go of the hero, burying her head in her hands as a small fight began to develop between the Elven maiden and the fiery red-haired girl. \"Even after all my warnings, you'll still do anything a pretty woman tells you to.\" She quietly sighed in frustration as the sound of the monsters at the base of the wall began to aggravate her headache. \"I'm a Succubus, and here I am trying to teach a guy not to think with his - ah, never mind.\"\n\nA moment of silence was had between Ama and the Hero (though the same could not be said for the two other girls who were still bickering). Finally, the Hero raised his hand, as if requesting permission to speak.\n\n\"...Yes?\" Ama said.\n\n\"What if I got rid of them?\" The Hero asked.\n\n\"They'll stop when their power source is expended,\" Ama answered, \"this isn't all that hard to fix - this time.\"\n\n\"Oh, okay,\" the Hero replied, nervously clasping his hands, \"well, good.\"\n\nAma sighed again. \"Look, you're not a bad guy. I've had to teach Outsiders with temper tantrums and enormous egos. But you have to understand, you are going to be one of this world's strongest entities. Cities will fight to have you, history will be shaped by your actions, children will be inspired by your deeds, but there's one more thing:\" she reached up to the Hero and grabbed his head, turning it to where the two girls were bickering, \"our little Elf companion here? She's not immortal. I'm immortal, you're immortal, she isn't. If you screw up, she's not coming back - and she's in the grand majority of the inhabitants of this world. If mortals like her die, it's not going to matter if it's an accident or who's fault it is, she will not come back. Do you understand?\"\n\nThe Hero sheepishly nodded his head, his grand figure seemingly no larger than that of a mouse. \"Yes, Ama. I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Good,\" Ama said, releasing the Hero's head, \"now, you see your mistake down there?\"\n\nThe Hero looked over the edge of the castle wall. \"Yes, I see it.\"\n\n\"Go fix it.\"\n\nOne thing about hooves is that they are excellent for kicking, and Ama was a particularly excellent kicker on top of that. With a swift strike, the Hero, weighed down by his heavy silver armor, barely had time to comprehend what happened as he toppled over the edge of the wall into the horde of ravenous monsters below, letting out little more than a light yelp before gravity took its toll.\n\nThe two other girls screamed when they saw what Ama had done.\n\n\"Wait for me!\" screamed the little red-haired girl, and in a moment, she had grown fiery plumage - only, she could not complete her transformation, stuck between humanoid and bird, and very much unable to fly. Thus, gravity treated her little differently than the armored Hero as she willingly jumped off the city walls like a burning comet.\n\n\"Hero!\" shouted the Elf girl, as she began running towards the castle walls too. However, she was suddenly pulled by a force around her waist before she could make the leap.\n\n\"Atatatata! Hold up, you dimwit!\" prodded the Succubus, still grasping the Elf by the belt, \"Outsider from the other world? Immortal. Phoenix Hatchling? Immortal. Elf? Not. Besides, if the summoner dies, in other words our Hero, all his summoned creatures should die too.\"\n\nThe elf girl looked over the ledge, as if still contemplating jumping in. Finally, she regained her senses and reluctantly backed off, a look of helplessness in her eyes. \"So I'm just worthless, is that it?\"\n\n\"Oh for the love of the Celestials, when did I become the voice of reason?\" Ama groaned as she took the Elf by one of her long ears.\n\n\"Ah! Those are sensitive!\" protested the Elf.\n\n\"Listen you brainless girl, life isn't fair. Some people are born as kings, immortals, saviors and prophets. It's not fair, it never was,\" she said pulling in the Elf girl closer, \"but that doesn't mean you can't win.\"\n\nAma let go of the Elf girl's ear as she started to rub where the demoness has clamped down. The sound of the menacing creatures below was starting to grow silent.\n\n\"Now come on, let's get a drink, and we'll meet up with our Hero at the respawn point,\" Ama suggested, her hooves clattering against the stone as she turned her back to leave.\n\n\"But what about...\" the Elf began.\n\n\"The Phoenix girl? She'll rise from her ashes, and she can join us later,\" Ama glanced backwards, \"think of it as a head start.\"\n\nThe Elf could swear she saw the Succubus grin. Snapping out of her daze, she eagerly caught up to join her." ]	2
	[WP] Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are called to the morgue to examine a murdered author. The late man's name? Arthur Conan Doyle.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was a foggy evening when at the turn of the hour the doorbell rang and Mrs. Hudson escorted in Inspector Lestrade.\n\n\"Good Evening Inspector.\" I nodded as Sherlock walked in from his room in his housecoat expectantly. \n\n\"Sorry to disturb the two of you, but I have a need of your assistance, Holmes. We have a murder. Not sure precisely how any of it has gone on.\"\n\nHe looked to me and I nodded. \"I'm up for a game if you are, Holmes.\"\n\nSherlock turned to his room. \"I will be ready in but a moment Inspector.\"\n\nI donned my jacket and shoes and met with Holmes at the steps to the carriage where we rode down to the Yard.\n\nThere on the Mortuary, the body of a man was set before us. \n\nHe was well-aged, bearded and seemed to be stern of face.\n\n\"A medical doctor, much like yourself Watson.\" Holmes mused carefully replacing a hand down at the corps side. \"A professional surgeon it seems, but not a very successful one.\"\n\n\"Indeed. You are looking at one Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A medical doctor by profession.\"\n\nHolmes looked up surprised and returned to the face of the man, the look of shock seemed strange on my friend's face and he seemed to take this into a new effect.\n\n\"I see.\" Were his only words.\n\nAfter a silent moment, he looked to Lestrade. \"Considerations of foul play?\" he asked.\n\n\"Possible. We're still looking into it, Holmes. He was found in his office, 1 Bush Villas. The place was ransacked.\"\n\nI began my own examination medically as Holmes got the details from Lestrade. After poking and prodding at his body finding various things that tilted my mind I examined his hands thoroughly and then looked into his eyes and found petechial spots and nodded to myself.\n\n\"Test him for Gelsemium poisoning.\" I promptly spoke. \n\nHolmes looked to me, somewhat impressed. \"Ah, yes. A bit ironic I would think.\" he mused. \"But I will bend to your examination Doctor.\"\n\n\"Ironic?\"\n\n\"The Late Doctor wrote a treatise on how Gelsemium can be used as a poison and brought up several viable ways of testing and uses to kill someone after preforming some self-experimentation.\"\n\n\"I'm amazed you knew that Holmes, those treaties isn't well known.\"\n\n\"You read the paper over several times in a week, I was intrigued to see what had you so curious. I assume you are speaking of its effects on the mind causing severe headaches as well as a cardiac depressant.\"\n\n\"Indeed\"\n\nThe pair of roommates considered a few things as Lestrade made notes.\n\n\"I'm off on my way to his office. Let me know what you find.\"\n\nThe pair made their way out of the morgue and climbed into the carriage.\n\n\"it appears, Holmes. We both have means and reason to see this one solved.\"\n\n\"Of course. Let us be on our way, Watson.\"" ]	2
	[WP] The kindom is ruled by the ancient Flint family, who rule with an iron fist. They gained power using one of the mythical 4 elemental stones. They gained power using the fire stone, and you just found the water stone.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Journal entry day 1:\n\n“who thought flint Michigan would hold the fire stone” a shocked news reported exclaimed on air, after the flint water crisis no one expected elemental magic to be unearthed while fixing the pipes what’s worse is no one expect said family to over throw the government and declare the city independent.\n\nThat all happened a few years ago, I was just a kid when it all happened, hell I still am one but my city needs me and if it means fighting against my own childhood town then so be it.\n\nDay 37:\n\nNo one knew what to do against the ashen lord and his power to not only control lava but summon it I mean come on that’s over powered even for a super villain...but if he’s the villain does that mean I’m....no \n\nSo me and my buddy thought the hose would work, he’s dead and I’m pretty sure my house is gone, bright side I made it out of town and crossed the boarder to Burton what ever that is \n\nDay 54: \n\nthe boarder is worse than the situation in Korea (which surprisingly mellowed out) where’s the avatar when you need him\n\nDay 55: \n\nHoly fuck a man claiming to be the avatar is leading a resistance against the ashen lord, flint is saved!\n\nDay 55 pt2: \n\nAnd he’s gone \n\nDay 78: \n\nGot a letter from my friend, turns out he survived and it contained a map to Lake Michigan with a big red X and the words “Poseidon’s ship” what ever I got nothing better to do \n\nDay 134:\n\nHow the fuck did he expect me to find this stupid fucking vague ass fucking map fuck this Jesus fuck what the hell I wish he died before giving me this fuck\n\nDay 135: \n\nso Poseidon’s ship is a gift shop...I regret so much" ]	2
	[WP] You command the invasion fleet of an interplanetary empire whose objecting is conquering Earth. When you reach the solar system, your warships are met by twelve warriors calling themselves Olympian gods.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We knew our gods wouldn’t save us. \n\nWe could tell from the beginning we had one chance. We’d managed to take down one of their ships. And the power source within, was more powerful than anything we’d ever dreamed of. It was designed in twelve segments, each of which could power the entire earth for centuries. We could power anything, but we knew that anything as simple as a bomb would destroy us along with them, we had to do something better. So we did as humanity has always done. We built. We built in order to destroy. \n\nThe ship had landed in Greece and that is where we started our work. With the full support of all the worlds nations, scaffolding took no time at all. Resources was no option. The first version we built blew up. It killed 83 people. But we couldn’t give up. We rebuilt it. We made a demon of a machine. Dark as the new moon night sky. We named this one Hades. After the god of the dead, in memorial of the ones we lost already. We built twelve more. Each one strong faster and more powerful than the last. The final one was our strongest. Zeus, the king of Gods, and our masterpiece. I personally designed its navigation and targeting systems. It took me four weeks filled with many sleepless nights, but I made sure that machine would never miss unless we wanted it to. We made the entire machines function with only one person in each. Of course we had whole football stadiums of supports looking over each one on earth. \n\nWe sent them out into the great unknown. Able to last as long as their operators could and each able to bring down hundred of the enemy’s ships in moments. We named each one after a different god. We constructed our own Pantheon. \n\nIn the beginning we knew our Gods wouldn’t save us. \nSo we made better ones." ]	2
	[WP] You find yourself walking along a highway towards a cluster of buildings, even though you have no intention of ever getting there. But some part of you tells you that you have to keep going, even if it makes more sense to stop.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "One foot after the other- the monotony of the journey was more than I could bear. I stared ahead through bloodshot eyes at the stretch of road before me. I'd been walking for days, but never seemed to make any progress. It didn't matter to me. Wandering in exile changes a man in ways you wouldn't expect. Denied my glory, I had wandered for what felt like an eternity through the nothingness. The Warlock's spell had flung me somewhere between time and space. Somewhere between life and death. Somewhere far from the eyes of God where nothing existed but the ground beneath my feet. After traveling through so much nothing... I would wander to the ends of the earth towards anything that looked like something.\n\nI wandered and wandered and wandered. Never in my life had I given up hope. Not when Godo's Legion stormed my city. Not when my parents perished defending me. I hadn't given up after being orphaned. I fought in the streets for every scrap. Stole whatever I could, and picked any welcoming pocket. I scraped a family of war orphans together and made something out of nothing. When we came of age, we enlisted with our former king's renegade army. We fought the Legion out of our city and back to its capital. We combined our money to buy the big building on the edge of town, and we opened an orphanage... We made our dream come true.\n\nI pushed forward as I stared at the buildings ahead of me.\n\nCertainly... Most certainly there must be some way out.\n\nI cannot die here.\n\nI cannot." ]	2
	[WP] There's something odd about the passengers you see daily on the train. They appear in the seat the person next to them sat the day before, each in turn gradually making it into the seat besides you. Then you never see them again. That is until reports of mysterious deaths surface in the news.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I had sent an anonymous tip after the third body. The first victim looked familiar and when the second victim was shown on the tv, I did consider it. But doubt got the better of me. They probably just looked very similar to the passengers on my train. Or maybe I had just imagined them and my subconscious was trying to place them somewhere. Something like that, a reasonable explanation where the world did not revolve around me. But when a third person had died, someone I had seen the previous morning, someone whose face I knew I had seen, I sent the tip in. After that, I always found a way to stay by myself, alone on the train, out of fear I was causing their deaths somehow. I was right. Because when a suspect had been found, when the news put it on tv, I also recognised it from the train. I had seen it on every window when going through the tunnel, on my phone before I turned it on. It was my own reflection." ]	2
	[WP] You’ve earned a reputation for being a one-shot-one-kill, cold and ruthless killer that almost all the underground admire. But today, your assignment was to neutralize a mere 13 year old. But not just any 13 year old, but your own son.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“I’m sorry son.”\n\n“Dad. Dad, no.”\n\n“It has to be done.”\n\n“Dad, I’m your son! It’s me, Danny!”\n\n“I...I don’t have a choice. I’m so sorry.”\n\n“Please no!”\n\nBut it was too late. My finger was already pulling the trigger. I watched, almost in slow motion, as the bullet flashed out of my gun and drilled through my target’s skull, my son’s skull, on the other side of the decrepit town. As blood and grey matter splattered out behind him, his limp corpse collapsed to the ground. I took a moment to contemplate exactly what I’d done. My son was dead. I did that. To my son. \n\nHe slumped onto the couch next to me and glared up at me. Over our headsets, I could hear his friends and their dads laughing and cheering me on. With a soft sigh, he shook his head in remorse. I tried to offer him a mirthful, sheepish grin, but it was clear I’d betrayed some deep trust he’d had in me.\n\n“Sorry,” I said after a few moments. \n\n“Whatever,” he muttered as he respawned onscreen. He leaned forward, his controller clutched right in his hands. “Watch your back, I’m coming for you.”\n\n“Ooh,” I giggled, “I’m so scared.”\n\nEdited for spelling.", "There are many rains.\n\nThere is the rain on a soft misty morning, as ancient trees sway on rolling hills and an earth oozing with petrichor.\n\nThere is the rain that falls on an enraged city under a hidden moon, where the heavens spit lightning in envy of an electric abyss.\n\nAnd there is the rain that falls in shadow and doubt, flirting through crevasses and cold tears. Dewdrops on black steel guns and shaking fists.\n\nIt is now three hours before, in the past, a memory.\n\nI can see him run. Splish-splash. He races through the street, laughing. Laughing. Don't run on the street! They're full of fast drivers in rain-blinded cars. Come back to the pavement. It's safe there, and I can aim at him better, away from the other children. There he is, yes, yes, closer. Good.\n\nIn Beirut, I had once chased someone into a dusty alley covered with posters. I hunted him like the wolf they call me. Before I could close the assignment, this person asked me for a favor. Not on the side of the head, this person pleaded. I want my people to recognize my face. I want it intact. I want it to be easy for them to imagine that I died in my sleep. It was an easy request to make. Delusions are the opium of the bereaved. I granted it.\n\nThe child has not made any requests. He doesn't know. I, I am the one pleading. I can picture the scene three days from now, after the authorities release him to me. Do I want to see his face, lying prone in the casket. Innocent. Eyes closed but staring at me beneath skin. Eyes that are confused and betrayed. Eyes that now shine. That will look at me with love if I call to him right now. I will never unsee them, unbroken as they are. If they are broken, destroyed, I won't have to. On the side of the head. There is something about a closed casket that protects you from the accusations of the dead. A shattered face. A broken face. Eyes shot, mangled. I picture them and my hands shake violently. I bite my tongue. Hold it together.\n\nHell both ways. There must be another way. \n\nI call out to him.\n\nIt is now three hours later, in the present, the moment after I fired the gun.\n\nThe view is spectacular, Dad. He had said, standing where his footprints are now washing away in the rain. The cliff on the end, a depth into a darkness. A sanctuary for wolves on the bottom. Let them feast on his dead, fallen body. There is peace in an empty coffin.", "An incredulous chuckle fell from my lips. \"No. This can't be right.\"\n\n\"It's right.\" Control's expression was the way it always was when a job came through: devoid of emotion and matter-of-fact. I'd wondered if there was anything that could shake him, and seeing him deliver me, a seasoned associate, THIS job in the same fashion told me the answer was \"no.\"\n\n\"He's just a kid,\" I said.\n\nControl pushed the manila folder across the table. \"A kid that's managed to hack a large amount of cash from some very powerful people. Take a look.\"\n\nI skimmed the target packet. Apparently, Trey had done what I never could: become a tech whiz. Were his name not attached, I would have been convinced I was looking at the work of the Puzzle Palace boys. Broken firewalls, worms, and only a negligible amount of evidence that there'd been a penetration. The work of a pro.\n\nA 13 year old pro who loved Tom Brady and spent hours on Team Deathmatch?\n\nI shook my head. \"This is forged,\" I insisted.\n\n\"I assure you it's not,\" Control said. \"The contract is clear: your son dies at your hand. The client wants to ensure your loyalties remain with the company.\"\n\nAt those words, the two suited heavies stepped forward and unbuttoned their blazers. Their faces were impossible to read, but their body language screamed they were primed for violence. The message was sent, loud and clear.\n\n\"And if I refuse, I don't leave this room alive.\"\n\nControl nodded. \"You know how the game is played.\"\n\nI took a deep breath and held my hands up, palms out. \"Forty-eight hours. Give me forty-eight hours, the money will be returned. No harm, no foul.\"\n\n\"This isn't about the money,\" Control said, a hint of something that resembled irritation in his baritone voice. \"Word's hit the streets. The impenetrable system has been penetrated. An example has to be made. Nothing short of blood clears the ledger.\" He leaned back in his chair. \"It's an easy decision.\"\n\nI reached for my glass of water as I sighed with resignation. \"Yeah. It is.\" I tipped the glass back and drank.\n\n\"Your private life is at the leisure of the company,\" Control said. \"Nobody told you to sire a child.\"\n\nThat broke it.\n\nI downed the glass of water, cleared my throat, then shot to my feet. I did my best Randy Johnson impersonation and threw the glass square in the left heavy's face. My hands shot to the lip of the table and flipped it, which knocked Control and his uninjured henchman back a couple of feet.\n\nThat bought me the time I needed to snake my hand beneath my coat and draw my Glock 19. I drove the Austrian pistol in front of me, focused on the front sight, and drove it to the blur that was the left heavy's glass-cut face. I squeezed the trigger once. The 9x19mm Parabellum round cut through his skull and expanded, creating a massive wound channel in its passage. The lights were out before he hit the ground.\n\nControl was next. He was halfway to the PPK he liked to keep tucked adjacent his ankle. My Glock spoke and cut him short. The Gold Dot hollow point ripped right between his gunmetal gray eyes. His brains sprayed from the exit wound and joined his associate's on the cream colored wall behind them.\n\nI side-stepped as I turned on the last target. His gun had cleared leather and was halfway to level with my chest. I cranked off two rounds, each of them nearly touching. His strings were cut, and he collapsed unceremoniously on the carpet. I worked my way back and serviced Control and Victim #1 with an additional bullet each to the face.\n\nFour and a half seconds had passed.\n\n\"FUCK!\" I hissed. I turned to the door to see if the commotion had elicited a reaction, then scanned the room for anybody I'd missed. I was clear.\n\nI went to the third man I'd killed and picked up his piece. A Taran Tactical Combat Master 1911. A little fancy for my tastes, but beggars couldn't be choosers, and I needed the extra ammo. There was no way the slaughter had gone unnoticed.\n\nMy only shot, my son's only shot, was a long one: shoot my way out. That was if they hadn't already sent a team to my place as a contingency.\n\nIt's what I would've done.\n\nI forced an exhale out through my nostrils as I tucked the 1911's muzzle down my pants and made for the door, my Glock in front of me.\n\nOne problem at a time." ]	4
This is a repost. I feel this is a good prompt, but didn't get any stories from it before. Trying my luck now.	[WP] An explosion at a school gives its students super powers. After stopping some other students misuse powers, 4 students are approached by a strange man.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Brad lifted the wall out of the way and Tara let the lucky few through the dark corridor with the fire from he finger tips. Matt was still amazed that he was seeing his comic book superhero's powers on his friends even though he tried to contain his jealousy that he didn't receive any gifts. It was like a cliched trio from a Saturday morning cartoon. The Jock has super strength and the cheerleader can conjure flames in her hands. Something was up with Chloe, our resident nerd as well. She was looking around silently with a concerned face. I was going to ask her what was up, but Tabatha sat on my shoulder and Chloe couldn't stand her. She was worried, but I was able to calm her down with a soft song. I like lizards and now I can understand them.\n\nWe all were in the same class, but far from being friends. We know that Brad would try to sleep with anyone and he was aggressive about it. Tara was the popular girl that liked no one. If the Breakfast Club was directed by Marvel this would be it.\n\nLight shown through the exit doors, there was still daylight but no one knew the time. The fire flickered from Tara hand and you could barely see the walls through the unsettled dust. The building started to shift and shake from an after quake and we clung to the walls for support. I turned an took a head count to make sure we were all fine, but Mike was missing. \n\n\"Mike?\" Chloe called out.\n\nLaughter from above.. Mike was hanging from the rafters behind us. \"Hey guys I have velcro grip, like Spiderman!\" he laughed.\n\nThe building creaked and the ceiling began to cave. Mike's grin turned into shock as the walls fell inwards and he was crushed beneath the mass of bricks and wood. A part of his arm hung out from the rubble and a pool of red trickled to beneath Tara's feet. \n\n\"Fucking idiot.\" she scoffed. As we looked on at the wreck.\n\nThe rest of our class suffered similar fates. Crushed by rubble. Limbs torn off from the explosion. Impaled by a lab stool. We were all done crying for the day, we just needed to get out. Tabatha urged us to move on.\n\nWe picked ourselves up and turn back towards the exit. A figure in a black trench coat was standing there, between us and the exit.\n\n\"Look what we have here.\" Trenchcoat said, \"A jock, a priss, a nerd and the animal freak...Or as I like to call them.. More victims.\" \n\nSomething metallic descended from his coat arm, long and sharp like half of a scissor. He pointed it straight at Chloe and started a sprint toward her. \n\nBrad step in front with a strong punch to the floor. He grabbed the tile slab and wedged it into the ceiling, blocking Trenchcoats advance. The basement was below us and Chloe was quick to drop down into it. She stared up at Brad as we made our way down. \n\n\"Just GO!\" Brad yelled, straining to hold the load up.\n\nTara an I started down the basement hallway back the way we came, but Chloe just stood there staring. \n\n\"Brad, you can let go now.\" She kept staring. \n\nHe reluctantly let go and dropped down into the floor below. Crashing onto his side hard. The barrier didnt move.\n\nChloe's nose started to bleed and she suddenly passed out. The barrier crashed back down onto the pipes above leaving no room to get through, but Trenchcoat peered through the crack.\n\n\"Run little piggies. The hunt begins.\", he growled." ]	2
	[WP] You climb your old childhood treehouse, you had forgotten it was even there. Nothing has changed from what you remember, except there’s now a vending machine selling your forgotten memories. You can buy one.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I cant remember the last time I was in this tree house. I know my father built it for me so long ago, but I suppose growing up you just stop thinking of these little things and move on. The floor was littered with old toys and a blanket that had seen better days. I guess I had one last sleep over out here before turning my back on it.\n\nI swept the floor and dusted off the cobwebs from the corners. It was built soundly and just needed a good cleaning and maybe a bit of paint to be in top shape. I swept a few rogue leave out the door and turned my attention to a large box covered by an old princess sheet. I pulled the sheet down a found a small metal box with a glass front. There where knobs on the front and a metal bin along the width of the bottom. It only took me a minute to realize it was an old vending machine of sorts. No coin slots or wall jacks, just three octagonal knobs in the front. I didn't remember any of this from my childhood.\n\nThrough the glass I was able to see a single sphere on the center rack. I couldn't open the machine to see what it was, so I turned the knob until the machine started to dispense it. Click. Click. Clunk.\n\nSuddenly I was here, but nothing was the same. I could see me sitting on the floor playing will my princess dolls and I heard a knock. I opened the white door to the tree house and my grandfather was standing on the ladder, propping up the vending machine. His old, white bearded face smiled as hes began to tell me what he found, but the voice faded and everything was sucked away from me almost in an instant.\n\nI remember now. The vending machine was a gift from Grandpa to hold snacks up here. I remember him stepping off the ladder after he put it in its place from the tree house window.\n\n\"No take backsies, okay princess?\" He promised.\n\nThe leaves blowing around as he stepped down the path back to the house. Why did I suddenly remember that? It was something insignificant and I thought I forgot it but it was here clear as day.. did the machine have something to do with it?\n\nI grabbed the knob and turn it again. Click. Click. Clunk.\n\nI reached in to to the metal slot again to see my Grandpa, but instead it was something else. Grandpa was already at the house an Uncle Mick was standing in the yard with a rake. A pile of dead leaves was next to him but he wasn't moving. I saw him looking at me and I ducked below the window. My world was back to normal again.\n\nSomething about that made me feel uneasy, but I couldn't remember him much at all. My mother would tell me he was a very respected manager at his job and he was heavily involved in our church. Why did he seem so.. uneasy to me?\n\nI had to find out more... Click. Click. Clunk.\n\nThis time was different. I only felt lonely and scared. This wasn't the same day, it was rainy and cold. I found myself sitting in the blankets on the floor watching the rain. The pitter-pat of the rain on the roof was comforting and I could feel my tension go away. I blue jay landed on the open window frame an tweeted at me. I smiled with the other me.\n\nThe world faded yet again. I was confused as to why none of this was familiar. The emotions I felt were real, and after I played through each scene I felt like I remembered more. I need to dive in again. I need to understand what this is that I am experiencing.\n\nClick. Click . Clunk...\n\nThe blue jay is still there for a moment before the wing flap it away. My eyes followed it and I saw him. Uncle Mick was looking in the window at the other me. I tried to screamed, but I was unable to use my voice. The wooded door creaked open and he staggered in. The smell of bourbon was on his breath and I had crawled back into a corner. He scruffy face held a twisted smile and his tall skinny frame over other me. His grabbed other me by the hair and pushed her down to her back.\n\nThe room grew darker. More ominous. I couldn't wake back up.\n\nFabric rips.\n\nI cry.\n\nI know now why I didn't remember...I forced myself to forget. My entire childhood I locked away in this tomb because I had died inside. The only thing that I can do now is watch it all happen to me again and cry in my corner. I cant wake up from this.\n\nHe took my childhood away from me. No take backsies.", "It was still there.\n\nThe old oak stood weak with its leaves still rustling in the wind like I remembered. However, it seems that the teenage me should have payed more attention in the biology class - with my attempts to get away from the world, I had built the treehouse way higher than I should have and with my haste in building the ladder I had damaged the bark so much that a disease had gotten into it and started slowly eating away it's life.\n\nHow ironic, I sighed and touched the base of the ladder.\n\nThe nails holding boards were rusty and really crudely put, but seemed strong enough to carry my weight. I wonder if... . I mean it was just a stop, just an unplanned visit. I wonder if my secret stash is still there, with all the rocks and weird sticks I had collected. God, I even thought about running an electric line up there once. Silly me. But the ladder does seem to hold.\n\nWithout further ado, I decided to take one last look inside. You know, for the good old times sake. I still felt bit bad, that the tree was dying due to my stupidity, but there was nothing I could do about it now. My adult ass was way heavier than the teenage me, but after some sweat and few scary moments I was up there.\n\nDamn it felt way smaller than I remembered, but everything seemed to be on place - the \"fireplace\" which was actually just a pile mud where I used to stick a candle in, my 9V electric battery with an unnecessarily big switch I had borrowed from the local construction site, my million dollar view to the sea, which by now was blocked by the forest and you could only smell it faintly and... god damn, I had forgotten I had left it here. Our vending machine.\n\nWell technically it was just a box meant for transporting some firewood, but after a little touch of paint, some pieces of washing machine and stickers for good security measure (you had to touch them in the right order), it meant world to us. The vending machine or \"Possu\" how we liked to call it, had an ability to fulfill your greatest wish, but you could do it only during night, once per year and you had to give away something really precious to you. Of course deep down we knew it was cliché and of course it would never work, but to have that little glimmering hope in the distance that things could get better, maybe that made us to push forward.\n\nMy eyes wandered around the treehouse and I spotted an old engraving: D+L. Oh come on. I do not need any feelings right now. I remember when I almost cut myself when I wrote those initials and god how she giggled and played with her hair when I did the big reveal. I had sacrificed my favorite toy car to the fireplace in case she might say no. Thankfully the vending machine worked. We were so happy on top of that treehouse and all the sadness was below and far away.\n\nHowever this was not always like this. I remember when she threw her doll to the fire. I begged her not to do it, it had so many adventures to go with my stick-men, but I had never seen her so determined and well, sad. When, Lana, that was the doll's name, was slowly burning away and she touched our vending machine there was no question about what she had wished for. Again. There was a reason why the tree house was hidden away from the sights, there was a reason why i had built it so high up, there was a reason why I had to sneak away tools and leftover materials, there was a reason... why she cried every time she wished.\n\nWe were really stupid kids, but we had a dream and for five summers we worked on our little secret project, made our little ceremonies, escaped form the reality and tryed to harvest the little happiness that was left for us.\n\nI had to sit down. Had I known I had such memories waiting for me here, I wouldn't have climbed. This is just so silly. We were both so-so silly. If only had I known how bad things were for her, I would... I would, i don't fought, screamed, built another treehouse, I don't know. I was a stupid kid who just found comfort that there was somebody out there who loved me. Who didn't want perfection. Who accepted me with all my quirks and whistles.\n\nI sat up in the treehouse with my back against the dying old oak and it was getting dark outside. Funny, I thought, sunsets from this spot used to be my favorites, especially after I had figured out how to make crude windows. She used to snuggle up to me, her curly hair falling on my chest and the moment always felt so right and... . Hopefully all this was enough.\n\n.\n>PS. Sorry about mistakes in advance, English is not my native language and it was surprisingly difficult to write a coherent thought in one go. I am also not very happy how this turned out, but since I spent already so much time typing it and I kind of needed it out of my system, I'm gonna leave it just as it is. Cheers." ]	3
	[WP] Despite the best efforts of governments and corporations, the recovered alien artifact remains a black box. No attempt to activate it, use it or even figure out what it does has succeeded. Until today when you, the janitor, accidentally knocked it over.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Oh fuck, I’m going to be fired. These science nuts were doing everything to this black box and i’ve gone and made a crack in it. This is not good.\n\nI pick up this small cube, no more than 3cm on each side, the darkest shade of black, if you didn’t touch it you wouldn’t know. All you’d see is a small void. Except now there was a crack with some light seeping through.\n\nI place it back on the pedestal when I hear from behind me, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”\n\nI turn to see four men, wearing what look like a amalgamation of suits and robes. I don’t recognise them. “STAND ASIDE NOW!” I thought they were some bigwigs I haven’t met yet, I was already in deep shit so I thought it best to listen.\n\nThe four surround the cube and begin chanting something. I just watch, nothing seemed to happen. Then the crack glows brighter and I hear something, like a shrill cry. One of the four mutters “no......”\n\nAnd then the cube explodes.\n\nI awake to see a wasteland. No wait, the slope, this is a crater, a massive one. I turn around to look at the epicenter and get the fright of my life when I see one of the four standing over me.\n\n“YOU FOOL, DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS SACRIFICED TO PLACE IT IN THERE?! YOU HAVE JUST RELEASED THE ANGEL!”\n\n“But, aren’t angels good?” I ask.\n\n“HAVE YOU EVER MET AN ANGEL? NO? THEN HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY’RE GOOD”\n\nI’m sure he had more to say, but he was cut off by a cry coming from behind him. The cry was unearthly, like overlapping voices of a wolfs howl, a birds shriek, a lions roar, all put into an autotune machine. It‘s coming from the center of the crater, where there is an even deeper hole. I only then realise, I cannot see the other side of the crater.\n\n“It took us centuries to cage it 65 million years ago when it first arrived here,” he says. “Back when there were hundreds of us. But now, now we are but four, and the angel will not be contained again.”\n\nHe looks at me, tears in his eyes, no more rage, just unbearable sorrow. “This world is doomed”\n\nAgain the cry sounded, and suddenly, a giant hand with sharpened tips made of what looks like writhing bands of light erupted from the hole. It crashes down on the surface of the rim as the being pulls itself out of the pit.\n\nIt stands up, its head far above the clouds, the body shape is that of a man but its head has a sharp pointed chin and on top, 3 spikes like a crown, two in front, one behind. Three, what I assume to be, featureless eyes arranged in a triangle on its face is the only detail I can see on this giant being made entirely of light.\n\nIt looks down at me, no, at the man next to me and emits a series of shrill cries. I realise it’s laughing.\n\nIt looks upwards, raises its arms to its sides, and from its back, six enormous wings unfold from nowhere, unconnected to it. The wings featureless as well but of pure light, no bands, each twice the length of each of the beings arm. A ring of light forms behind it, the bottom being at the same height as its knees and the top being above its head.\n\nThen I understand what the man had said, 65 million years ago, the death of the dinosaurs. It wasn’t caused by some meteor, this thing wiped them out.\n\nIt howls and begins glowing brighter and brighter, and as I feel the shockwave beginning to emanate from it, I cry.\n\nThe world will end, and I caused it.", "\\[Transcript dated November 10, 2027\\]\n\n....\n\nDuring my night shift, I would always pass by the room where they kept the alien artifact. I was mesmerized by its mystery. The staff were no closer to figuring out what it was since its discovery in the arctic about two months ago. Upon first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a perfectly sculpted cube from some kind of meteor or something. From what little I could understand, that was all they could study: the rock it was made from and the fact that it was so unnaturally perfect that something had to have carved it so specifically.\n\nI never figured out why they couldn't see what I saw. I tried bringing it up to the supervisor a couple of times whenever I had the luck of running into him. But I'd always get the usual brush-off or act like I'm not even present. Pretty much what you'd expect as a janitor. It's not that I blame them; for me, cleaning these halls was what I got assigned to and the people I worked around were all egg heads from famous sciencey schools. Clearly I was out of my league in even proposing a theory on the alien object.\n\nThe thing is though, every time I looked at the thing on the other side of the wide glass window, as it sat upon its lone podium, I could barely make out these... I don't know, carvings? Color's? The artifact had this metal shine to it, silver and grey, and that cake-like layer you see in marble stone. But I swear I could see these faintly, tinted green shapes around the device. But it's not the usual greens. Almost like a crossing fade between grey and green, I guess.\n\nLook, I know it sounds crazy. But when I was younger, I was diagnosed with this eye thing. Tetra-something. Tetra-chrom... Tetrac-omy... Anyway! It's this thing where I can see more colors than the average human can.\n\n*What happened the night of November 8?\n\nRight. That night.\n\nSo it was another night shift I was on. I passed by the room on my usual route. That's when I noticed the door wasn't locked. It was cracked open slightly. Someone must have not closed it all the way when they were leaving.\n\nI... got curious, you know? So I went in.\n\nHave you ever been assigned to clean that room before during your time at this facility?\n\nNo. No one is permitted in that room. Only staff scientists and those with specific clearance. I know that and I know I was wrong to wander in there. But I couldn't help myself.\n\nI had to check it out. I wanted to see those alien symbols that only I could see. I was careful not to touch anything else or disturb anything on the desks. And I wasn't even planning on taking the thing. Just wanted to hold it and get a closer look.\n\nIn my haste to reach out, and because I was already nervous about how many protocols I was breaking, I tripped on one of the chords. When I tried to catch myself, I accidentally knocked the cube off of its podium.\n\nThe thing dropped like a brick. I rushed over to check and make sure that it was okay when I noticed those alien designs I was seeing were moving. Sort of like how a rubix cube moves but it's all digital; the cube had no slits or ways for it to spin or turn segments. The symbols looked like they were set on staying in place no matter how I rotated the cube.\n\nIn my mind, I thought, If it A leads to B,* maybe my fingers could move the symbols themselves. And, sure enough, they did!\n\n*What happened next?\n\nSo, I started experimenting with it. Seeing which way the symbols moved and seeing if I could figure out some sort of pattern. But it was all gibberish to me so I had no idea if what I was doing was solving the puzzle or doing it all wrong.\n\nBut when I started gathering all the symbols onto one particular side of the cube, they seemed to stick but would separate when the last one joined. So I figured it had to be a combination of sorts. I may not be as smart as the scientists here, but I enjoy puzzles. Like, REALLY enjoy them.\n\nAfter multiple attempts, I must have matched the symbols in a correct order of sorts, on account the next thing I knew, the artifact twisted open from the middle. I opened up slowly and what came out was this bright blue light. It got so bright and I started feeling weird all of a sudden, I immediately closed it and put it back on its podium. Continued my rounds.\n\nThe day after, that's when I started feeling really sick.\n\nI have your test results with me. It's... not good.\n\nWhat do you mean?\n\nIt appears you've been affected by acute radiation syndrome. That light you saw, was a reaction released from containment, blasting you with over 500 rem of neutron radiation.\n\n...That's bad, isn't it?\n\nI'm sorry. At best, you only have a month left to live. We'll do what we can for you. You're in good hands.\n\nSo that alien artifact... you mean to tell me it was just radioactive junk? I got alien cancer?!\n\nWe're still analyzing your condition. If it's any consolation, your act may have saved hundreds of other lives had we not known.*\n\n...This sucks.\n\n\\[Edited: spelling\\]", "Closing shift is always the most uneventful, which is a good thing, I suppose. After 5PM you don’t have to deal with the interns, the lab coats, and the executives. It’s just you, a dustpan, and the faint electrical humming of whatever the hell that machine on the third level is. \n\nWorking in a top secret government facility buried deep below Quantico does make one feel a little more important, even if my main job is to change urinal cakes and mop up that black tar that keeps leaking from the M-N filing cabinet over in robotics. The job involves a little bit of discretion, a pinch of class, and a whole lot of pine sol. During the day I have to follow the schedule strictly, because the maintenance supervisors are always on edge when their managers are around. At night though, I’m free to take my time, which is exactly how I like it.\n\n\nI hummed mindlessly as I used my push broom to slowly guide a growing pile of dust and debris down the hallway. As always, I ignored the shrieks from conference room 80 - a different department handled that, and I’m tired of cleaning up spectral residue.\n\nWhen I got to room 87 though, I paused to see the door slightly open. I peered in, and saw a shiny black box standing waist high in the center of the otherwise empty room. Surrounding it, a family of dust bunnies - and a few balled up pieces of paper.\n\nI remember overhearing last week that they were planning on moving the box to the warehouse out West. Apparently it was recovered from some crash sight or something of that nature. I guess they couldn’t figure out what it was, and that’s not really my specialty. Unless it’s some sort of vacuum cleaner from Venus. \n\nI slowly pushed the door open, flicked on the lights, and began to skirt the edge of the room with the dust plow I had been silently guiding. Just as I was about to exit, though, I ever so gently tapped the box with my broom. I gasped audibly as it began to shake\n\nThe crash was striking and metallic, which caused me to wince. When I opened my eyes I yelled when I saw the box had split cleanly in half. I threw my broom down and immediately tried to piece the odd thing back together.\n\nAs I spun the left half of the box on the floor, though, a bright light shot out from in between the severed pieces. Slowly the white light began to fade - and in its place stood a magnificent vista. \n\nIt was a grand palace, and the people... if you can call them that... were so strange and beautiful. I knew in my soul that I had somehow opened a portal to another world - one where a highly advanced species of aliens used boxes like this one, to teleport quickly between their territories.\n\nMy amazement was shattered though, as a being that looked like a guard peered straight at me through the portal - and started yelling something in his alien tongue. He charged the portal with some sort of spear outstretched. Panicking, I kicked the top of the box across the floor, and the portal closed in an instant.\n\nI caught my breath, and looked around the filthy room. I couldn’t exactly leave it like this, with papers strewn across the floor and the alien box on separate sides of the room. \n\nNot without hesitation, I slowly crossed the room and retrieved the top half of the box. Hands shaking, I pushed it into place, and reopened the portal.\n\nThis time, the guard had called for backup - and they were much closer to the portal than last time. They could probably reach through with their spears in an instant, but I’m betting that I have a little more practice with mine.\n\nQuickly, I launched all of the garbage I’ve been sweeping up through the portal and onto the floor of the alien palace. The guards shouted in anger, but we’re cut off when I once again closed the portal.\n\nI laughed out loud and pieced the box back together. I’m glad I don’t have to sweep that pile all the way down to the janitors closet now. The shrieks from conference room 80 always grow obnoxiously loud when I do." ]	4
	[WP] A company has caused everybody to go blind, however they sell glasses to allow vision.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Lucas shifted on his feet, being in a crowd had always made him uncomfortable.\n\nAround him, thousands stood. They were pushing and shoving and talking with enthusiasm about the new generation of AS-lenses going to be revealed and, as with all crowds, their emotions were palpable in the air. Lucas grimaced, he didn't share any of them.\n\nNeither did the people near him, his side of the crowd consisting of people of all ages and gender, their identifying feature being their poor clothes and dark lenses. They were at the botton of the social ladder, the near-blind, the unColored, the sad fucks who could only see the world in white and black.\n\nHe could remember color though; he could remember a world before Vision Corp. He had been barely on his teens, around three decades ago, when the event had happened. The sun had brightened, turned from the yellow warmth to lethal white, and in the two weeks it had taken to go back to normal, things had gone to shit.\n\nEvery last person was blind.\n\nThose were dark days, literally, and after no goverment nor known companies had come up with a solution, Vision Corp had arised from nothing and brought them their salvation: The After-Shock lenses, or AS Lenses. A technological marvel made of a half bubble of high-tech polymer that one placed over the eyes, and brought back vision.\n\nAfter chaos, Vision Corp had brought back light to the world. Everyone, Lucas included, hailed them as heroes and visionaries. To the shame of humanity, it took years before the right questions began running through the public.\n\nLike, how did Vision Corp know to develop the Lenses?\n\nIt was too late, the company had gained too much power, it was bigger than both the EU and America combined, and they didn't even need to fight. If anyone opposed them, and many had, they only had to desactivate their lenses remotely. A blind freedom fighter was no fighter at all.\n\nAs with everything, life moved one, to a semblance of the normality before the White Sun Event. Then another 'tragedy' hit: The Lenses began malfunctioning, either shutting down completely or just making the people lose colors, resolution and depth. Any attempt to fix them was met by the Licence&Patent Lawyers. Vision Corp was clear: You wanted to see? Then buy more glasses, peasant.\n\nIt didn't stop there, the new generation of lenses were overly expensive, and under the guise of making them flawless, they were extremely basic. They were the lenses Lucas had on right now, the ones that only allowed one to see on black and white. Millions hadn't been able to buy them, and they ended up being little more than slaves, the Nons they were called: Non-seers.\n\nInnovation after innovation, the glasses kept being perfected. The third generation brought back depth of view, the fourth brought the primary colors, the fifth and sixth brought the rest. Each one was more expensive, and people like Lucas who had barely been able to buy the first and second were leered at, instead of the company that had brought humanity to its knees.\n\nNow he and the rest of the unColored waited, terrified at one little thought. What innovation was Vision Corp about to reveal? Would it separate them even further from the rest of humanity? Or would it finally kicked them to an equivalent of the Nons? Was today their last day of freedom?\n\nSilence fell.\n\nOn the podium, a man appeared. It was a hologram, being transmitted directly to each and every one of their lenses to see, it was the only thing Lucas ever got to see in color nowadays: The man was tall, black and white tuxedo with a red cloth poking out of a front pocket. His hair was golden, and his emerald green eyes reminded Lucas of the grass he hadn't seen for so, so long. Esteban Mobs, CEO of Vision Corp looked at them, flashed a smile of perfect white and raised something to the crowd. It was a piece of curved plastic, wide enough to sit on a man's head, ending on two clothed circles the size of a man's ear. Lucas frowned, he knew that thing, it reminded him of a very old piece of tech his father had shown him. What was it for?\n\nNo.\n\n\"My dear, faithful clients.\" Esteban said, raising the headset and putting it on. \"Today I bring you news of a tragedy. But don't despair, for this time, Vision Corps has the solution on the same day! We won't leave you alone.\"\n\nNo, no no no.\n\nThe unColored around him were moving, shaking fists, starting to realize what Lucas already knew. He looked around, asking himself for the first time: Why was everything still silent? His people were afraid, angry, they should be shouting. He tried to.\n\nNo sound came from his mouth.\n\nHe looked around at the silent world, while tears welled on his useless eyes." ]	2
	[WP] Your life has felt like one disaster after another; but you’ve always managed to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and face the next day with a smile on your face. Then an angry-looking stranger suddenly appears in your house one night with a single question: “Why can’t I beat you?!”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The lamp flicked on with a young man sitting in the chair next to it. His green eyes glared at me with anger, and then sadness.\n\n\"Why can't I beat you?\" His face plummeted into his hands and his long black hair followed suit.\n\n\"Excuse me?\"\n\nHis fingers parted so he could speak clearly, \"For centuries I have tried to break you down, destroy you from inside out. But you stand tall at the end, laughing all the while. I've gone to every length, done every unimaginable act of terror possible. And here you are all the same.\"\n\nI put my hands up, \"Hey just calm down. You stay right there and I'm gonna go make a call, OK buddy?\" Just my luck, a psycho breaking into my house.\n\n\"That's exactly what I mean! You smile and navigate through every obstacle like it was a part of natural order. And the worst part of it all? You never remember. I am plagued by the memory of every failure. Look at me Abel, look deep. Can you really say I am unknown to you?\" His head lifted to show me a face that almost made me weep, filled with deep sadness and shame.\n\n\"Of course I don't know you! Now stay right there while I go call the cops!\" I don't care how sad he is, he is still some crazy person in my home.\n\n\"Then why do you cry so?'\n\nI froze and put a hand to my eye. It was wet.\n\n\"Do you understand finally? It's fine if you don't remember, but I need you to understand.\" The man stood and I shot my hand out. \"Just stay right there!\"\n\nThe one who called me Abel sat back down. I pulled a chair so it was facing him and sat.\n\n\"This can't be happening. I'm overworked and exhausted, its the only reasonable explanation.\"\n\nThe man gestured wildly as he spoke, \"Damn it all, stop with the logic and reasoning! This is happening whether you can explain it or not! This is my last ditch effort Abel, if I can't beat you with this I'm through.\" \n\nI stopped and stared at him. \"What do you mean last ditch effort? And stop calling me Abel, that's not my name.\"\n\nA sick, humorless laughter escaped the man. \"Of course it is brother. And if this doesn't work, to eternal damnation I go. The Devil has been waiting a long time to see if I succeed, a thousand lifetimes to decide how best to torture and punish me.\"\n\nAbel. The Devil. Damnation. \"Wait, let's say for one second I buy all this, and I still don't, that makes you Cain. The one who killed his brother. So how am I alive right now? Explain that and I'll believe you.\"\n\nThat same laugh erupted, \"You haven't changed brother, I'm actually happy to see it. You say you don't believe me, yet should I explain our situation you will? Why would you believe my explanation and not just pass it on as more rambling from a mad man? No matter to me, I'll explain any way. It started the way the Bible tells: I murdered you. You on your way to heaven, me doomed to walk the land eternal. I grew tired of my charge and prayed to our Lord in Heaven, and to no surprise, received nothing in return. When the one above fails, you turn to the Lord below, and he was all too eager to lend a helping hand. Lucifer was intent that God was testing us, to see who would break first. The Devil decided that was unjust, and proposed a new test with God: Allow me to try as long as it takes to try and break you like I broke. Should you break, I am finally allowed death, going to Heaven. Should I fail, however, death still takes me but to the Inferno below. And here I sit before you, one last feeble attempt to ruin you.\"\n\nHe finished speaking and a long moment between us passed. The words were common and foreign to me at the same time. Flashes of memories, past lives, exploded through my mind. Thousand deaths, thousand injuries and heartbreaks. A thousand tragedies. \"I have suffered for countless years because you grew bored! I have been tormented and forced to repeat it because you couldn't accept your punishment! Vengeful then and greedy now! You say I haven't changed but neither have you Cain! And your're wrong, I HAVE CHANGED!\" My vision shrunk as red filled my sight. I lunged at my brother, his head crashing against the wall with a loud thump. \"Whatever punishment the Devil has conjured for you is too peaceful brother! You tried your best but I'll never be like you, Cain. I could never take the life of someone I care about. Even yours.\" I let go of his shirt and let him fall to the ground. A deafening silence filled the room, one that should have been broken by now. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Cain?\"\n\nNo response as blood slowly pooled around the figure. \n\n\"Cain?\"\n\nThe body stood silent and still, his eyes locked forever onto Abel.\n\n\"Cain.\"\n\nI fell against the wall, sitting the pool of his blood. Cain's blood. The blood of my brother. I looked to Heaven for forgiveness but felt none. All I could feel was a sense of dread from below. Dread and yearning.", "My 25th birthday I celebrated with a broken nose. Doctors removed the gause just that morning and here I stand: an owner of a beautiful albeit slightly swollen aquiline nose. I always wanted to have one. Not such a bad outcome for a “zero-luck boy” as they call me. All my life, you see, I had bizzare incidents happening to me, sometimes minor, sometimes with serious consequences. For example when I was 7 my mom took me to a play, where an actor accidentally shoot a surprisingly sharp prop arrow in me. Next year when I was 8, first in the history of our state tornado hit my family house when my parents were away. Fortunately nothing happened to me, but I almost lost parents, because state decided to try them for negligence. When I was a teen a pyromaniac girl fell in love with me and we had some adventures... What want to say is that there were so many unusual ways I could’ve died or ended up badly hurt. My friends joke that somebody must have cursed me and it’s surprising that I made it that far. But I have always been thinking it was okay, it couldn’t last forever. \n\nAnyhow. I was drinking with my friends in bar on my 25th birthday when we noticed that a 30-something woman stared at me all night. She was good looking, a little bit tired and drank a lot. A lot! She seemed to be looking at me with interest. And my friends after maybe a 100 jokes pretended that they urgently need to smoke outside and left me alone. She approached me almost immediately. \n\nSlightly awkwardly she jumped from her stool and holding to the bar counter walked to me lurching a little. She came very close, heavily leaned on the counter, looked me directly in the eyes and querulously said in a drank voice: “Why can’t I beat you?!”. Then she frowned and kept staring me into eye. “That is something”, I thought, opened my mouth to say something, but she continued: “I mean, you are just a measly human and I am a god of death, I mean a former god of death...” She drank my unfinished whiskey shot. “Yet a god! You see, I really need to kill you. Really really!” She looked all pitiful now. “Why can’t you just die?! I was following you for 20 years. I know all your habits, I know your weaknesses, but you still resist me. Moreover your resistance grows! How could this be?! I almost got you with that green-eyed witch I transferred to your school from Oregon. And now so much efferent and all you have is a broken nose?! And it even looks good on you! What is it?!” She raised her hands to the sky and then powerlessly dropped them and her head on the counter. \n\n“Thanks you,” I said. I was fairly drank by that time. “Was she really a witch? Like real witch?”\n\nShe raised her head, rolled her eyes and asked a barman for more whiskey for both of us. We drank. \n\nI think for a regular person that would be a weird incident, confusing, maybe scary. For a drank “zero-luck boy” it was kinda normal maybe even made sense. As a rule a long time ago I decided to take every ridiculous, bizarre situation which even tangentially involves bodily damage seriously. I think that saved me so many times. Well, it also made me a little paranoic, but as an old saying goes: “even if you are a paranoic, it doesn’t mean they aren’t watching”.\n\nAnyhow. I start talking to the mysterious woman. Long story short: she was a god of death which (with a lot of drama) saved a human. For that she was cursed (well, maybe there are curses) into a god of little mishaps (when she said “little mishaps” I almost chocked her, “little”...), which apparently was super uncool and made her a laughing stock. So she decided to proof to her boss or head god of death or whatever that she is a good god and can kill people. She chose me as a random victim and here we are: my helpless killer and I.\n\nI didn’t know what to do, but being a drank American boy I looked at her with confidence and uttered: “Why don’t you just do nothing and enjoy yourself?” She looked at me perplexed, she wasn't an easy going one, she actually started explaining: “A god is a purity,” she said -- “Only a human can be a little bit of this and little bit of that and that contradicts this, but sometimes they work together just fine. Gods are just like straight lines. Human are a tangled mess of broken ones, some of which turned into circles. I cannot enjoy myself, I am not a god of joy.”\n\n“But you saved a human while being a god of death, what did it make you?”\n\nThat was unusually deep for me. She looked at me thoughfully and I looked at her surprised at myself. None of us knew the answer. We stared into each other for a while pondering. Then she got up and silently left.\n\nThat day my luck turned. I became a very non special human being. I have never seen her again, which is probably for the best. Yet I wonder sometimes did she figure out what becomes of a god of death who saves a life. Shouldn’t it just cease to exist as an oxymoron? Did I kill her with this realization? Or maybe I just fell asleep at that bar counter. This thought is the most dreaded one in fact; for a big part of me wants for gods of death to exist and wants them to be capable of change, for if they can, maybe I also can, and that would be nice." ]	3
	[WP] It’s your 21st birthday, you go to the doctor to refill your allergy medicine you’ve taken all your life. He says “I’m sorry, the experimental trial is over, and that wasn’t allergy medicine”.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Excuse me?\"\n\n\"I SAID THE EXPERIMENTAL TRIAL IS OVER\" the doctor yelled, causing Aldo to jump. \"Was one of the side effects hearing loss? Just joshin'\" The doctor punched Aldo's arm, causing him to yelp in pain.\n\n\"What the hell?\" Aldo said, rubbing his bicep. \n\n\"Oh quit being a baby\" chided the doctor, \"Anyway yeah, trial's over. So you can expect to turn into a wolf any day now.\"\n\n \"Sorry what?\"\n\n\"Yeah your a, like an eagle man. Not a were-eagle, its important to make that distinction. Two very different things.\" said the doctor, pointing at a photo of a dog taped to his clipboard. \"Like this, but more eagle-y. I already had the dog picture printed, you get it though.\" \n\n\nAldo sat in shock. He looked around the room stunned, then down at his hands.\n\nThe doctor tapped his hands with a pen. \"Yeah those will be...paws. Wait no claws.\"\n\n\"Okay whats going on here. Are you even a doctor?\"\n\nThe doctor gave Aldo a sly grin, then said \"Nooooo you got me! We're in a simulation!\"\n\nThe doctor snapped his fingers, and was suddenly wearing a technicians uniform. A large company name, GYARD, was printed in bold across the front.\n\n\"Whats...whats happening?\"\n\n\"Oh your dead. But we've kept your consciousness alive for 21 more years, allowing you to live out your youth again. This time though, you were monitored, each behavior being recorded to get an understanding of your psyche. Seems someone wanted to know how you came to be the man history remembers you as.\"\n\n\"Oh god this is the laziest writing, am I hitl-\"\n\n\"CAUSE YOUR HITLER\" interrupted the technician\"Get it aldo? Thats like, basically Adolf. Plus eagles, nazis like those.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAUTHORS NOTE: I'm sorry. I tried okay." ]	2
	[WP] I woke up at night and answered the call that awakened me, "I will be home in a couple hours honey, I'm coming late from work". Terrified I asked myself what was it that was hugging me .	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I panicked inside, but I refused to let it out. Whatever creature is hugging me hasn’t found out yet. I closed my eyes, thinking that this was all one big nightmare. I tried to picture my beautiful wife, but the terror of the thing behind me prevented that.\n\nMinute after minute, I tried to steady my breathing. I try not to let my curiosity take the better of me, but I feel it slipping...\n\nEventually, I turned around. And instead of the horrors that my imaginations have conjured...a child.\n\nThen it hit me. Thats right, I had a daughter!. Laughter and relief threatened to spill out from me. But only through sheer will was I able to prevent that.\n\nMy daughter murmured in her sleep. “Mama...Papa...”\n\nI smiled. But in the corner of my eye, I saw a shadowy figure at the foot of the bed. Protective fury coursed through my veins.\n\n“Wake my daughter, and there wont be a shadow for you to creep!” I whispered loudly.\n\nThe figure cackled. It looked like it was going to say something when the lights on the hallway turned on. The shadow disappeared with a screech. I hugged my daughter as I shivered uncontrollably with cold sweat.\n\nMy wife entered the room a moment later, her eyes widened in surprise. We didn’t need to speak, my expression said it all.\n\nWe left that house a few days later." ]	2
	[WP] Two veteran wizard officers from The Young Republic, meet up for a drink for the first time since the end of the Republican Wars. Dead drunk they decide to open the first Magic Academy of the country, however they are both flat broke.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Rovus, Caller of Storms and Grevius Earthshaker were two of the bitterest of enemies. They had clashed on the field of battle dozens of times, laying waste to entire armies with their mighty clashes.\n\nTheir battles were spoken if in whispers and written in great tomes to be passed into legend. Their magical skills were second to none, rivaled only by each other. Each could deviate entire cities, and shape the world around them with but a thought.\n\nAnd they were sitting at a bar, getting drunk off Wyvern's Breath.\n\n\"Hey, hey Rovus.\" Grevius slurred. \"Re-remember that fight were I through a mountain at you?\"\n\n\"Huh? Oh yeah.\" Rovus answered. \"And then I used a hurricane to...to do that thing that hurricanes do. That was a good one.\"\n\n\"It was. One of the better ones I think.\"\n\n\"Yeah, definitely. Oh, what about that tornado vs. volcano fight we had. I liked that one.\"\n\n\"That one was pretty cool. Way your tornado scattered lava everywhere.\"\n\n\"Yeah.\n\n\"Shame we can't do that stuff anymore.\"\n\n\"Pff.\"\n\nBoth archwizards took a long, deep pull of the smoky chilled liquor. A nearby dwarf saw what they were drinking, turned pale and went to get something with a little less kick.\n\n\"Damn Young Republic.\" Rovus said. \"Ending a perfectly good war for...for what? What was it again?\"\n\n\"Peace?\" Grevius said as he nursed the steaming mug.\n\n\"Yeah, peace. What's peace ever done for anyone? It just makes it so we can't do any fun stuff anymore.\"\n\n\"Yeah, really. It sucks. And it just...just makes the new guys bad.\"\n\n\"Oh, tell me about it. I saw a mage who could barely make a fireball.\"\n\n\"That sucks. I watched a few mages that could barely make water move.\"\n\n\"So sad.\" \n\nBoth took another long pull, finally finishing the mug. \n\n\"I got this one.\" Rovus said, waving down the bartender and asking for a refill. \n\nThe bartender, a huge, stocky man , gulped and trembled as he refilled the mugs. The powerful wizard fumbled through his robes and pulled out his last few coins, and sloppily tossed them onto the counter.\n\n\"Hey, hey, hey.\" Grevius said, fumbling over a few syllables, \"You...you know what we should do?\"\n\n\"What should we do?\"\n\n\"We should make a school.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah, a school. Teach the new mages to not suck, you know? Oh, we can get a few of the other archwizards to teach.\"\n\n\"Oh, yeah. We can get, uh, what's her name? Mellian to teach water...stuff.\"\n\n\"Yeah, and that old goat Teev can do summoning stuff.\"\n\nThe other patrons blanched at the casual mention of Mellian of the Eternal Winter and Teev the Demon Lord. Two names almost as legendary as the two already in their midst. \n\nThe two mighty wizards kept rattling off the names of the greatest magic users in the world like they were causal acquaintances to meet up with for drinks. \n\n\"Oh, wait, hold on.\" Rovus said. \"Won't making a school cost, like, a bunch of money?\"\n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"I'm flat broke.\"\n\nGrevius patted his robes. \"Yeah, me to. We should get some money.\"\n\nThe bar suddenly became empty. Not because of any magic, but because the rest of the patrons had no interest in being anywhere near two ciry-ending mages who were strapped for cash.\n\n\"Yeah.\" Rovus agreed. \"No idea what though.\"\n\n\"Eh, we'll figure something out. Not right now though.\"\n\n\"Yeah, not right now. Let's... let's just finish the drinks and go home. We...we can figure it out tomorrow.\"\n\n\"To tomorrow.\" Grevius said, raising his glass.\n\n\"To tommorow.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You are interviewing a seemingly harmless scientist for a job at your company, where he asks you to be a part of his first experiment. “Vun hundred dollars a day and full safety, Fräulein,” he says. But when you arrive at his lab, you see his true intentions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I shift uncomfortably under my bindings, looking around in vain for any form of escape. I had come into the lab for my first day of this “safe work”, pencil and notebook in hand, but it was all a lie... the second I came in, I was restrained. My notebook and pencil were confiscated. They gagged me and tied me to a plastic chair in this room. Finally, as I was beginning to think about attempting to scream, the scientist I had been interviewing comes in, one of his colleagues coming in behind him with a tray. I give him my most threatening glare as he puts gloves on, no doubt smirking under that medical mask of his....\n\nHe’s so quick, I can hardly register what happened before realizing a needle is stuck into my arm. I scream in pain as the man injects me with who-knows-what, and it starts traveling through my body. I’m untied, but I don’t run, pain racking my body. They leave me, shaking from the pain, on the ground. If I ever escape, I need to shut this down.... this isn’t right.... it isn’t HUMANE.... I can faintly hear the scientist speaking with his colleague.\n\n“Sir, didn’t you and her make a deal? ‘Completely safe.... one hundred dollars..?’” The scientist speaks in German, and I translate it in my head;\n\n“Nun, ich habe gelogen. So einfach ist das.” \n\n——————————————————————\n\nWhoever guesses what the scientist said, I congratulate you! Open for feedback!!", "I have been with my company for going on ten years now, but this is the first time that I have had a candidate I interviewed ask for me to be a part of their experiment. Dr. Qwillen's offer amused me, and with his solid background I made the recommendation to hire him on.\n\n\nI waited for him to have been with us for a month before I took him up on the offer. I wanted to ensure that he was both a good fit for the company, and that I was off the radar. Despite the reliance of our company on grants, they looked down on us supplementing our income.\n\n\nBut a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, and I was curious. Having been hired as a senior researcher, and assisting with the company's newest line of research, he was given a large lab with all the bells and whistles. Several office assistants had already visited him, and had been quizzed on their preferences for things like food and colours. I watched him putz about before I entered, then hid a grin as he slammed whatever he had been working on into a drawer. Almost every scientist here would react in the same way.\n\n\n\"Dr. Qwillen, settling in alright? How goes your experiments?\"\n\n\n\"Oh Fräulein, it is wunderbar! This company has many more resources than the last! And I am happy that I can continue my own research. Speaking of which, have you thought about my offer?\"\n\n\n\"I have, now that I'm not in your line of supervision I don't mind taking up your offer.\"\n\n\n\"I am happy you agreed, you are perfect for my first experiment! Please, come this way!\" He led me to a door hidden behind some equipment.\n\n\n\"First? I thought you had already begun with some of the office workers?\"\n\n\n\"Bah! That was research.\" He waved away my comment. \"The true experiment is not yet begun! Come, we begin now!\"\n\n\nHe led me through the door, into what had been a large supply closet. It had been retooled for his purposes. In the center was a dentist's chair, which he had me sit in. Above it was some sort of machine that was hooked to a VR headset. He pulled the headset down, slipped it over my head, then began strapping me in.\n\n\n\"Is this really necessary doctor?\"\n\n\n\"This is for your safety! This should relax you, and I do not want you slipping, and falling, and hurting yourself, yes?\"\n\n\n\"So what will we be doing today?\"\n\n\n\"My research is about wants, desires. If I have it all right, this machine will be able to tell me your without my asking!\"\n\n\nI lay back, and waited for him to turn on the machine. I heard a hum, and then there were flashing lights. It seemed to only be a second, but when he turned it off and let me up, a few hours had passed.\n\n\n\"How do you feel?\" He asked me.\n\n\n\"Perfectly fine, if a bit sore from sitting still so long.\" I replied and he frowned and looked at his display screen.\n\n\n\"Are you sure? My readout is very strange.\"\n\n\n\"I don't feel any different, beyond the soreness.\" I reassured him.\n\n\n\"Back to the drawing board.\" He muttered, leading me out of the room.\n\n\nOnce I was out of his sight, I sighed and shook my head. I had lied to him. I was far from fine, in fact I hadn't been this riled up in years. I spent the rest of the day keeping up the pretence of normalcy and went home at my usual time. Once there, I prepared my kit.\n\n\nWaiting has always been the hardest part. But I couldn't head out while it was still light. I did some meditation while I waited for the sun to set, then for a few more hours to pass. Then, when it was so late it was early, I went to his home.\n\n\nLike most of our scientists, he lived in a warehouse. It was trapped, monitored, and rigged to self destruct. My kit took care of all of it. I slipped in unnoticed, then sat by his bed until the sun rose.\n\n\nThe look on his face was exquisite. When he went for the gun that HAD been under his pillow, I grinned.\n\n\n\"Doctor, doctor, doctor. Did you think you would be the first? You've been with us for a whole month, did you not speak with your colleagues at all?\"\n\n\n\"I do not speak with hacks!\" He yelled, his fake accent gone.\n\n\nI laughed.\n\n\n\"Doctor, when I do a background check, I check ALL employment. Did you not consider it odd that I never asked about the gaps in your record? No, your kind never do. I was kind of hoping for more with you.\"\n\n\nI stood up, then tossed my bag on his bed. Inside were all the locks, bolts, security devices.\n\n\n\"I have a few pieces of advice for you Doctor. One, take a personal day and beef up your security. The other scientists won't be so lenient as I. Two, when trying to create a custom psycho, make sure the person you choose isn't one already. That means anyone in HR, your fellow scientists, and most of our staff. Three, just because someone is staff, doesn't mean they don't know what you are making. I recognized the setup the second I entered your lab.\"\n\n\nHe kept looking between me and the bag. My point made, I began leaving. He called out to me as I began to close his bedroom door.\n\n\n\"Wait, the machine worked?\"\n\n\nI considered lying again, but the company had already decided he was useful.\n\n\n\"Needs tweaking, serious tweaking. You're only alive because of the training the company provides.\"\n\n\nHe looked much happier as I closed the door. I wish he wasn't useful. As it was, I would have to apply for leave to... let off some steam. Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky and someone will try to break into the labs again.\n\n\n[My Musings](https://www.reddit.com/r/HorrorHMDMusings?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)\n\n\nEdit: Cleaned up the submission." ]	3
	[WP] You are the Commanding Officer of a soldier Main Character. You’ve somehow come to the realization that he/she has “plot immunity” and is incapable of being killed no matter how suicidal the mission seems.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The air was cool enough to stilt the smoke pouring out of Captain Jorland's nose as another cigarette was finished and crushed into a nearby ash tray. The open air tent he sat within was barely lit by a small lantern and what moonlight was coming down from above. His First Sergeant MacReady was watching a perimeter line through binoculars. Watching and waiting as their soldiers patrolled a check point. That's when cries and cheers began to fill the night air. MacReady watched a lone soldier in British garb marching towards them, waving his hands. The other lads cheering and running to embrace him.\n\n\"He came back, did he?\" Jorland asked staring off into space. He knew the answer already. \n\n\"I don't understand,\" MacReady said, slamming the binoculars on the table. \"I've never seen anything like this. I've only heard about this kind of thing in fairy tales and soldiers myths around the office. Homer kind of stuff, you know? The impossible hero's journey.\" \n\nJorland shook his head. \"I've seen it only once. It was disastrous for us. Took a long time to clean up and even then, the damage had been spread. Not much you can do outside of let it go and hope for the best.\"\n\nJorland was up now and staring at the lads celebration. He watched this man he'd sent into German territory on a rescue mission casually talking as he sauntered towards the tent. He was certainly taking his time. The tinkling of a phone sounded behind him as MacReady picked it up. After only a moment, he managed to snap Jorland out of his own thoughts.\n\n\"Hey, it's Central,\" MacReady said with the phone held out. \"They say they've got something.\"\n\nJorland took the phone into his hand and began with the usual \"mhmms\" and \"oh yeah?\" But it soon turned far more desperate after he let out a \"It fucking what?\" MacReady watched the Captain's face turn ghostly white and sweat began to bead along his face. Soon as it'd started, the phone call was over and Jorland collapsed into a chair. \n\n\"Hey, Tom,\" MacReady spoke up, cutting into the silence of the moment. \"Come on, talk to me here.\"\n\n\"He's a goddamned Undestined,\" Jorland muttered as MacReady stood a bit straighter, shock forming on his face. \"It's fucking happening again.\"\n\n\"Those are a legend, Tom,\" MacReady stammered as they both turned to watch the lads approaching. \n\n\"Do you remember the story about Agent Rasputin?\" Jorland choked out.\n\n\"Top agent,\" MacReady responded. \"But he went off the reservation.\"\n\n\"One of the best damned temporal agents I'd ever seen,\" Jorland said. \"I was a green boot that'd just come into the Agency. Rasputin was a legend. He could do anything. Undestined at that point were a myth. Just some bullshit the guys would talk about in the DFAC line or chat about on missions. They said he was Undestined because he couldn't die. Then he went crazy. Invaded a timeline and caused all kinds of havoc. We sent agent after agent, unit after unit, and nothing could bring him down. We lost a lot of good people and that timeline got ten kinds of fucked. No amount of going back could repair the continuum.\"\n\nMacReady shifted around uneasily. \"Should we kill him now?\"\n\nJorland shifted his gaze to MacReady. \"Hundred and fifty of Hitler's finest just had a go and didn't scratch him. I doubt we'd be much better off. As of right now, is file at the Agency no longer has his death date. It is blank. That kid is suddenly the most dangerous thing in the universe.\"\n\n\"Orders then, sir?\" MacReady asked. \n\n\"Best we can do is leave for the Agency. We need to anyway. The actual British army is advancing through here soon and there isn't supposed to be a camp here. Get this encampment back to our dimension. I should shift back now and see what Central has to say about all this.\"\n\nMacReady nodded and reached into a nearby foot locker to retrieve a small silver, blinking device. It beeped as he fiddled with it and handed it to Jorland. The two men exchanged nervous glances before Jorland seemingly blinked out of existence. MacReady smiled as the lads finally came up the hill and offered his joyous congratulations on a job well done, and another rift in time all closed up and fixed.", "Jackpot!\n\nToday marks the 76th day of our war with the Globs. Ever since officer Jackson has come under my command we haven't lost a single battle to the Glob race. Better yet, I haven't lost a single soldier. Jackson takes out everyone before we can catch up to him. He can even use the alien's weapons, something that has evaded our best scientists knowledge for years. Now we had another \"Game\" solider, which is the term the upper brass is using for him, join us. His name is Carmine. I had a lot of hope for him, even if he skipped right past me when I was explaining how to use our brand of weapons. How I wished I listened to that red flag.\n\nIn our battle today, Jackson ran off without us like usual. That was when we heard it.\n\n\"Steve, what's the shoot button?\" A voice reminiscent of a child being donkey kicked in the balls ranged out around us. There was no direction to the voice, but we all heard it.\n\n\"Sir, what was that voice?\" Sargent Beck asked.\n\n\"Nothing. Just the enemy trying to play tricks on us.\" I had to keep my soldiers in the dark about Jackson and our reality. That's only for the higher ups and me to know. What I learned from my study is that this is wireless headphone communication between them.\n\n\"Just figure it out Billy, You shouldn't have skipped the tutorial.\" A deeper, more annoyed voice surrounds us. The voice of our hero, fitting.\n\nWe all went cover to cover, bullets grazed our skin like whips. Except for Carmine. He tossed a flare out in front of himself. A commotion started among the ranks. At that time, I knew this was only a phase. Jackson too had a time when he randomly threw flares. Our hope still laid with Jackson and Carmine.\n\nBut all that was dashed when he got his head shot off.\n\nBefore I knew it I had Carmine's blood on me. Soldiers called out enemy sightings and kept to their training. Seeing this however, threw all of my years of experience out the window. What I thought was going to be our saving grace died right in front of me. He was shot; something that always eluded Jackson.\n\nThen he was back up.\n\n\"Ugh! Stupid snipers. Billy, you're supposed to cover me.\" He runs off into a straight line. A soldier next to me collapsed on my shoulder.\n\n\"Soldier, what's wrong?\" I look at his dog tag. \"Anthony, answer me!\"\n\nAnother sniper round. Carmine is sent back to the ground. Like before, he gets back up, fully healed, like nothing happened. To my nine, I hear a solider yell that Devin isn't responding. This goes on five more times.\n\nEach time Carmine is killed he gets up seconds later. His body doesn't lose life, so someone has to pay the price. If this keeps up we'll lose our whole army before Jackson can take down theirs. Forget the Globs, we have a bigger threat on our hands.\n\nI have to kill a noob.", "I enter my tiny office, the door slamming behind me. Somehow, even this small home away from home no longer felt safe. I sat myself down on my office chair, opening up a drawer. There a bottle of wine lay. I had gotten it from a fellow officer, though I never actually drank alcohol. Yet, this sudden discovery has made me question whether or not it would matter.\n\nCharles Madrox. Age, 26. Lived in Houston, Texas. Infantry. At first glance, he seems relatively normal. Been on multiple missions in Afghanistan, often getting shot at and fighting with his brothers-in-arms; the usual. On closer inspection, the details do not add up. For one thing, Madrox never once ran back into cover for additional ammo or medical assistance. Stranger still, never once was he ever fatally injured. Somehow, an enemy sniper would miss the majority of their shots. Enemy soldiers could barely slow Madrox down. There are even written eye-witness accounts from other soldiers in his unit that dictate erratic movements by Madrox. Sometimes he would crouch for no reason, almost tauntingly. Other times he would move sideways; left - right - left, right - left - left, etc. Yet, not once has he been shot in the head. Stranger still, landmines and grenades do not seem to faze Madrox. Shrapnel would fly everywhere, yet Madrox never ever blew up. Most chalked it up to dumb luck, others as it being miracles. I, on the other hand, always had an inkling that something else was up.\n\nI had just returned home from base. Walking in, I was greeted by loud gunshot noises and shouting teenagers. My son and his friends were playing an fps shooter game. I think it was some Call Of Duty installation. Usually I headed to the bathroom to shower, but something told me to stick around. I plomped myself on the couch, my son and his friends casually greeting me as I did so. I watched as my son easily use some wort of shotgun with ease, wiping out a lot of the enemy players. He avoided enemy fire by strafing, and when he killed them, rewarded them by crouching up and down. By then, he was shouting and cussing, despite me being there, and yet I did nothing to stop it. Somehow it did not register to me the derogatory language that came from that 12 year old boy. Instead, I was fixated on what was on screen. That's when it clicked. I grabbed my coat and keys, driving back to the office\n\nAt the office, I sat in my chair, preparing a glass of wine to drink. Madrox was a curious case, handed to me by the preceding commanding Officer. When his case file was handed to me, I could not understand why he was so skilled to be sent on all those missions. A third on the missions were basically suicide, yet they were all completed without much of a hitch. However, now a hunch had formed as to why. Sweat rolled down my brow as I contemplated this. What did it mean? Were we all just characters in a video game? How did that work? Am I even real?\n\n\"This is why I leave the philosophy to Sarah\" I downed the glass of wine.\n\nI contemplated my future actions. I could not do anything to Madrox, as that became increasingly clearer. What about the government? What do I tell them? They would most likely just blow me off; that is if they did not even know. What if they did? What then? Would I be killed?\n\nJust then, a knock on the door could be heard.\n\n\"Come in\"\n\nIt was the preceding CO. He strolled in in full uniform.\n\n\"John, what brings you to my office?\"\n\nJohn did not reply. Rather, he just stared straight at me. He had a blank expression, and there did not seem to be anything behind his eyes.\n\n\"Is everything okay? You don't look so-\"\n\nI was distracted by something the reflected of those blank eyes. It looked like...code? Before I could process anything, he raised his pistol and fired.\n\nA gun shot rang in my ears as I my view filled with black." ]	4
	[WP] Not all demons are trapped in Hell; thousands of them have established in our world and have the same rights we do. They still love making deals with humans, though. Turns out, it's the deal itself that gives them nourishment. For most humans, this tends to make daily life... chaotic.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I approached the door after finding the correct alley. The light above its door blinked in an irregular pattern, which felt rather stereotypical. I knocked on the door, and waited for some sort of answer. \n\n\"Yeah?\" I heard from my left. I turned to face the sound. \n\nCiriatto stood before me, wearing a nondescript beige trench coat. A crude hole had been cut into the back, to allow space for its tail flick about. Its face was a deep carmine red, its large teeth stained a pale brown. Its eyes were a matte grey-on-black. It wasn't hard to find. Ciriatto was one of the originals - one of few that fell from grace - and had a literal cult following online. \"Ciriattarians\" was what its worshippers called themselves. They were happy to give me the location of the alley, expressing hope that I may soon join their community. \n\n\"I'm looking for Ciriatto?\" I asked. \n\n\"Obviously you found me. Just get to it already.\" \n\n\"I...I want to make a deal.\" My voice quivered. This was my first time. \n\nIts eyes narrowed. \"I repeat. Just get to it already. I know you're not going to pussy out on me. Spit it out.\" \n\nI took a deep breath. \n\n\"There's this guy I work with - Jerry - he's been going on about this new charity that-\" \n\nCiriatto suddenly had its face millimeters from my own. The smell of sulphur saturated my nose. It held its gaze with my own. As close as it was, as terrified as I was, a strange thought came to me. \n\nIt looks ... thin? Gaunt? Starved? \n\n\"SPIT...IT...OUT. Quit f*cking around. I don't care about your life. I don't care about the details. Just tell me what you want.\" Ciriatto spoke, with a hint of rotting flesh on its breath. \n\nIt felt like an eternity before I could speak. My voice, when it finally came, was quiet. Several drops of sweat traced down my back. I could barely breathe. \n\n\"I like this charity. I want it to succeed. The CEO of a large company is publicly bashing it, and openly trying to sue it out of existence. I want him dead.\" \n\n\"About time.\" Ciriatto said, backing off. \"Any particular method of death you prefer?\" \n\n\"I... I didn't know I had a choice.\" I blurted out. \n\n\"You came to find me for a reason. Most people come to find me because I can be subtle. Traffic accidents, workplace accidents, meteor strikes, lightning strikes, Carbon Monoxide leaks - those are how the common filth\" Ciriatto spat at the phrase \"... fulfill their death contracts. Most of them lack the ability to do much else, and that's how most of them end up starving in prison. I do not have such limitations, nor do I lack experience.\" The edge of Ciriatto's mouth moved up slightly. \"Inducing dementia is my favorite. Fun to watch, too.\" \n\n\"Well, I need subtle. I don't have anything in mind, but it needs to look natural. He's young and healthy - if the CEO dies now, people will start asking questions. I want to avoid an investigation of demonic death contracts.\" I said. \n\n\"In that case, we need to discuss the details. The young and healthy don't usually die of natural causes.\" Ciriatto said. \n\n\"He's a bit of a health nut, and he works in New York. He's in his early thirties, one of the youngest CEOs in his industry. His company does something or other with the Defense Department. I know he spends a lot of time in the World Trade Center, for what that's worth.\" \n\nCiriatto paused. I tried to speak, but it held up a hand to stop me. It frowned for a bit, then its eyes widened. \"How about Cholera? It's a classic.\" Ciriatto suggested. \n\n\"Isn't it unusual for a wealthy person in a developed country to succumb to Cholera? That doesn't seem very natural.\" I asked. \n\nCiriatto spoke in a perfect imitation of the CEO. \"We are starting a charitable foundation in southeast asia that will focus on...\" Ciriatto switched to its original voice. \"What does the charity do? The one you're fond of.\" \n\nI stumbled over my words as I responded. \"It works to mitigate malnutrition in the developing world by working with local food producers and rural villages. I don't want people to suffer from malnutrition in this day and age.\" \n\nCiriatto raised its eyebrows. \"What issue does this CEO have with that?\" \n\n\"He says it's sloppy, short-sighted, and ignores larger issues facing the same communities. He says that a lack of fresh water is more of an issue than malnutrition.\" \n\n\"He isn't wrong, you know.\" Ciriatto said. \n\n\"He has his goals, I have mine. Are you going to help me kill him or not?\" \n\n\"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, I was going to imitate the CEO making a speech about a new charity he's launched. He'll coordinate the creation of a new plumbing system for a few villages from afar. Once complete, he will then travel to the rural communities he's helped, and raise a glass of water with the village leaders in celebration. That water will be contaminated with a particularly virulent strain of cholera, requiring near-immediate transport to a hospital. The local roads were never paved due to old-fashioned negligence - negligence that has nothing to do with me, mind you - and an unusually heavy thunderstorm will make the roads out of the village impassible. The CEO will be unable to make it to a hospital, dying soon thereafter.\" Ciriatto opened its arms, and gave a wide smile as it continued. \"The news of the circumstances of his death arrives, and he is lauded as a hero that died for a noble cause. Your kind has always been susceptible to that narrative.\" \n\nI paused for a moment before responding. \"That certainly is subtle. Can you make it work?\" \n\nCiriatto's eyes flared open. I felt a sudden heat around my chest. \"Long ago I would have killed you for asking that.\" The heat vanished. Ciriatto looked away from me. \"But I haven't found a deal that interested me like this in a long time.\" Ciriatto sighed. \"It was always one of the seven. Some greedy asshole, some lustful asshole, some lazy asshole, some envious asshole, etcetera, etcetera, on and on. I got tired of it. The number of people impacted by any contract rarely* rose above ten. It was so much effort for so little payoff. Your contract has me interested.\" \n\n\"So, what do you want in return? My eternal soul?\" I asked. \n\n\"That's a given, and only part of the payment. I require a bit of suffering while you're still alive to feel satisfied. How does a non-lethal infectious disease sound? You won't die from it, though it'll prevent you from living normally for a while.\" \n\nI paused for a moment before asking. \"Do I get to know which disease?\" \n\n\"No.\" Ciriatto said. \n\n\"Do I get to know when I'll get sick?\"\n\n\"No.\" Ciriatto repeated. \n\n\"Do I get to know how long I'll be sick for?\" \n\n\"Again, no. You'll catch a horrible, but not life-threatening disease at some point in the future. You'll be ill for a while. You will recover, and then return to living your life as normal. When you die later, of unrelated causes, your soul will be surrendered to me once you arrive at the banks of the Acheron.\" \n\nCiriatto extended its hand. \"Do we have a deal?\" \n\nI paused, weighing the choices. \"We have a deal.\" I spoke. I took Ciriatto's hand, feeling the sharp point of its nail dig into my skin. I recoiled, seeing the small area where its nail drew blood.\n\nI looked up at Ciriatto, as it answered the unasked question. \"Blood is a specific requirement, but the method for getting it isn't. I got tired of having your type wimp out over losing a single drop centuries ago.\" \n\nI opened my mouth, but said nothing. An awkward silence passed. \n\n\"We're done here. Leave.\" Ciriatto ordered. I left. \n\n\nMONTHS LATER\n\nMy head spun as I took another swig from the bottle. I didn't know which one I was drinking from, and I didn't care. I looked at the revolver on my desk, next to the pen and paper, and sighed. I wrote what I felt, my hand feeling clumsy as I did so. \n\nWhen I finished, I took another swig. I picked up the revolver, put it in my mouth, and pulled the trigger. \n\nTWO HOURS LATER\n\nCiriatto stood near the body, standing away from the blood spatter. It picked up the note and read it. \n\nIt was a contract. I made a contract and had him killed. The new water systems in rural Cambodia, the sickness, the unusual thunderstorm, his unfortunate death - it was all a part of the contract. I didn't come up with any of it. I just wanted him to drop the suit against the charity, I didn't know how it would turn out. I didn't mean for all those people to die. I didn't know when or how I would get sick. I didn't think I would get my coworkers sick. I didn't know that the airport checkpoint would be horribly understaffed. I didn't know about their plans. I'm so so sorry.\n\nI can never atone for the contract. I hope I can die in relative anonymity.\n\nGoodbye. \nWritten: September 12, 2001. \n\nCiriatto smiled and took the note. \"This could turn into something fun. One contract, nearly three thousand affected.\" Ciriatto gleefully looked back at the lifeless body. \"See you soon.\" It said." ]	2
	[WP] You live in the only technologically advanced nation in a fantasy world. You and your sister are alone at an abandoned wand factory, witch hunters at the door and explosives placed on the walls. Yet as you turn to look at her for the last time, you see her mourning over a corpse.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It wasn't supposed to be this way. Three months ago, our father came back into our lives after not being around since I was 5 and my sister a newborn. Despite his efforts to reconnect, I knew not to grow too close. It would only end up in heartbreak again. My sister on the other hand, well, she didn't know any better. As the only magic-wielder in the family other than our father, she felt it necessary to find him. Why? I do not know. One thing is for certain though. Now that his body lay motionless on the floor and we're surrounded by our enemies, both of our fates are tied to her.", "We ran. I wasn't proud, the warriors of the Gulrada were the ones who fought. Acolytes like myself and Odessa were more mentally inclined. All the same, I was regretting my decision to flee without grabbing a sidearm, as our pursuers were not relenting. \"Abominations\", they called us, \"An affront unto the gods.\"\n\nI led dear sister Odessa to the factory outside of town. Long abandoned, it could hide us, at least long enough to catch our breath while we decided on a new course of action. Still, as I ran, I felt my Nails running dry. I hadn't had enough time to properly charge up before we had to leave, so I was feeling that familiar numbness that had come into my life since I had received the Nails.\n\nOdessa was falling behind. I slowed down to let her keep pace. She wasn't used to the numbness yet, so she kept stumbling as she ran. I understood, even if it did put us in peril. Finally, we made it to the factory and I barred the door. Thanks to our slowed progress, I knew the witch hunters were right on our tails, but it might slow them down.\n\nI approached the window and peered out carefully, spotting the Vasillan Order's witch hunters rolling barrels toward the walls of the buildings and laying out cords of what looked like rope. I could postulate as to what they were doing, but that couldn't be right... None of these backwards yokels had gunpowder... Unless someone had turned on us...\n\nDammit, it made too much sense to turn away from. How had they known the tricks to defeating our warriors, from the massive mechanical suits of the Brass Knights to the functionally unkillable Nailed? How had they captured our fortresses so quickly despite none of them even being able to take the gates in previous wars? It could be some unseen force, but treachery was far more likely... Unfortunately Odessa and I would have to find a way out before we could inform anyone higher on the totem pole of my theory.\n\nI turned toward Odessa and... Why was she kneeling on the ground? Dammit, not again. I thought I had remembered to charge my Nails up this morning, but it seemed they were out of power. I saw my own body lying on the ground, having remembered that it's supposed to be dead, with Odessa kneeling over it. I could see tears dripping down her face as she cradled my head.\n\nI had no vocal cords to speak with, but I tried to will my words into her head all the same. \"Don't mourn, think!\" was what I wanted to communicate. Courage and passion may have driven other nations in war, but ingenuity was why Gulrada had always won them. Whether Odessa had managed to receive my message or not, she did come to her senses and she pulled a few wires from her satchel. I thought it was a foolhardy decision to stop for it at the time, since we were under fire, but now it made a lot of sense. Or it would, if we had the time for any sort of jump.\n\nFinally, Odessa glanced outside and realized what I had already seen, that time was not on our side. That said, she jumped to a much different conclusion than I did. Instead of hauling my body out or leaving it behind and resolving to come back, she held her wrist up to her mouth, bit down on one of her own Nails, and tore it from her flesh. I felt a tingling sensation as she pressed her Nail into my torso and I was drawn back into the flesh. It wasn't painful, I hadn't felt that in years, but coming back from the dead was always uncomfortable. Still, I acted fast, we probably had a matter of seconds before the factory blew up, and while the Nails would prevent any injuries we got from killing us, it would be a massive pain in the backside to be trapped under a building.\n\nI grabbed Odessa and pulled her toward the back of the factory, to the smaller door that the hunters may not have been aware of when they were setting up. As we ran, Odessa tore a bit of cloth off the hem of her dress to staunch the bleeding on her wrist. A bit pointless, it wasn't as if she could bleed out, but I said nothing since anything that threw us off could be problematic. The door swung open with no resistance as we slammed into it, the crashing noise effectively muted by the explosion going off behind us.\n\nThe two of us tumbled out into the thicket behind the building as it collapsed. We sat in silence as the hunters inspected the wreckage, seemingly satisfied once they saw the large quantity of blood that appeared to be leaking from beneath the rubble. It seemed Odessa was right to stop the bleeding, since the trail of blood would've given us away. As the hunters left, Odessa suggested bandaging over our Nails to hide our true nature. It seemed like a good idea, but I knew the Vasillans would find us sooner or later. Eventually, they would come to realize that no matter how thorough their victory may appear, they cannot kill the dead.", "We didn't have time for this. We needed to get those wands and get working on the protection spells if we wanted to live, not mourn another empty face. \n\n\"Clara, get up. If you want to survive, for the love of all that's good, get up and help me get the wands!\" \n\nMaybe I could've used a softer tone, after all it was her first time dying, but we had time for therapy later. If we got out. \n\nAs I struggled to get the wands in the ideal positions, a classic protection pentagram, I remembered why magic was so hated. It's nasty stuff. Swords maim and cut, bows penetrate deep, but they all have one thing in common: if they kill you, you stay dead. But magic, gods damn it, if it kills you you just end up with your soul tied to something else. \n\nClara still wasn't moving. Maybe she was bound to a wand? I could never figure out where other people's bonds landed, making sure mine was a person was hard enough. I struggled alone, the lack of practice clear, and finished the spell just in time. The doors blew and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. \n\nI looked down, no blood. Was I just tired? I kneeled next to Clara, planning to pick her up if she still didn't answer, when it finally clicked. I was the dead one. \n\nAfter how many times I had died, how many people I had possessed, I didn't even stop to think that poison would get me. Or that my soul could even be bound to something... Not human. But we all slip. \n\nI closed my eyes. When I opened them again, it was night. I saw my sister crying just outside the factory, a blanket over her shoulders. She was staring at a building. I heard the thud of the roof caving in, in time with the ghost of my last heartbeat.", "\"I turned around and saw my sister kneeling over a body, weeping silently. From where I stood I couldn't see who it was, I cried at her that we needed to go even though I had no idea how to get out. She didn't even react, she just stayed were she was and ignored me. I tried again but as she still wouldn't move I set to trying to find a way to escape before the witch hunters found a way in, or before the bombs exploded... \nDesperate, after long minutes of finding nothing I walked back towards her. I yelled at her to get up and help me, that we were going to die if she didn't and yet she still had no reaction. I wanted to grab her shoulder and shake her out if it but my hand went right through it. Not understanding I tried again to no better result.\nTears came to my eyes. It made sense in a way, she was mourning over her own dead body. She wasn't ignoring me she just couldn't hear me.\nWorking past the lump in my throat I slowly got around her and stopped in horror upon seeing the female body she was kneeling in front.\nI recognized it instantly. I couldn't mistake the straight noze, strong jaw and sharp cheekbones for anything than my own face. \nAnd as realisation hit the world around me exploded.\"" ]	5
Sorry about the typo, its you quickly stop it not to quickly stop it	[WP] You are God's kid, you have the power of a literal god. But you mostly just use it for fun, tying people's shoelaces together, dumping water on people etc. You one day see a car crash about to happen but to quickly stop it, you then realize how good it feels to save people.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Fuck you, Dad,\" I chanted into the empty bowels of the sky. They were spewing God's tears, his tears of shame and mirth. I was going to have fun today, but he knew I hated rain. Sure I have made myself waterproof, but I was a developing kid - I didn't know how to do that yet, and apparently casting me down to live among mortals was a good growth period. I knew that if I ever did something bad in his book, I'd probably end up doing a few decades in hell - even though I had a propensity for mischief, as he probably knew. Down here, best I could do was apparently tying people's shoe laces together, randomly but believably dumping things on them, etc.. Occasionally I was even able to test my powers of influence on martial arguments. \n\nI scowled as I ran from the rain. Stupid people with umbrellas, who I had to dash around. I was sorely tempted to steal one, but then they'd mark me as a bad guy and Dad would know. No way was I going to ask someone for something as lowly as an umbrella anyway. \n\nI almost slipped on a patch of mud turning down the road. \"Crap!\"\n\n\"Hey, you all right there, bud?\" asked some guy with a shaven beard.\n\nI scowled as I raised myself up with the railing - where loomed a drop of quite a bit of magnitude, seeing as I preferred to wander the mountains. \"Fine, fine.\"\n\n\"You shouldn't be walking around without an umbrella. In fact, a boy like you shouldn't be wandering around at all in this rain. You okay?\" \n\nI sighed. \"It's nothing. I guess... if anything, it's my Dad.\"\n\n\"Daddy issues,\" he seemed to chuckle. \"Don't we all have them. Look, if you'd like I can lend you one of my spare - \"\n\n\"Watch out!\" It turns out, quickly developing God senses could come in handy, but not enough for barreling trucks. Tinted windows, a bunch of screaming passengers, pounding rain. I could barely see, but I could hear the shrieks, and I could sense the distance. \n\nAs soon as it started, it was almost stopped. The man I had shoved out of the way, while the bus was teetering on the drop for a second - before I yanked it back in a panic, shoving everything against the other side of the mountain. \n\nI collapsed to my knees, the mental strain daunting. What the hell had just happened? Black spots filled my vision, a sensation I had only ever come close to experiencing once, when I was cast down to the realm of mortals. \n\n\"Hey, mister. Are you okay?\"\n\nThe sounds of groans filled the air - mine, I realized, mingled with others. People around me. People waking up. People injured. A girl was in front of me, and as I looked about, the man with the shaven beard against the mountain wall. Blood spilled out of his head, and nearby was the wreckage of a bus, with people milling about. \n\n\"The hell?\" I muttered, before modifying my language. \"Sorry Dad.\"\n\nI didn't know why, but I was trying to find the trickle of healing powers, to little avail, when the guy opened his eyes. \"You're one big brat, aren't you? But you did save the lives of all those passengers. That deserves some commendation.\" \n\n\"Who are you?\" I startled, jumping back. \n\n\"No one. But would do well to help me tend to the others.\" He sighed. \"You took my mission, you know. God told me to watch out for you, but instead you helped me, albeit with injuries to the passengers.\"\n\nI looked over to the people from the bus, starting to get out, some gingerly cradling body parts. They looked to me with a kind of awe or reverence. Huh, I thought. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. \n\nan: I know this is weak. Idk. Please give me critique.", "I was the child of a god.\n\nAnd being the child of a god had it's perks. I could control pretty much everything in the literal universe, see possible futures, you name it, I could do it.\n\nMost people, with my powers, would've done something major with it. World peace, hunger gone, some lofty human goal that was considered impossible.\n\nMe? I played pranks. Harmless ones, nothing dangerous. The occasional water bucket spilled on someone, tying someone's shoelaces together, you know, the usual. It was funny to see their reactions. Most of them were a-holes anyway.\n\nWell, one day I'm watching the world boredly, looking for something to do. There's not much to do in heaven anyway, unless you're an angel sending people up to the big door in the sky. Or a human learning the meaning of your life. Apart from that, you get entertainment from staring at Earth. Lots of drama happens, some of it really enjoyable.\n\nSorry, I get off-topic a lot.\n\nAnyway, I'm watching the world, when I see a car crash happening. My power with the futures made me look and see that if the future continued it's course, both of them would die. They had promising futures too. The girl would get close to the cure for cancer, apparently. \n\nAnyway, I focus and stop the car. It didn't take much to it, just some simple telekinesis. The driver just looked shocked, he was going to hit a person, who wouldn't be shocked, and just drove on. The girl just had that look, the one that says oh-no-I-nearly-died and went on with her day.\n\nStrangely, it felt great to know that I had saved someone. Well, two someones, but technicalities. Even though all it really took was some focus, I felt really happy.\n\nSince then, I saved some people who I felt like had potential that would go to waste if they died. It was small on my part, but still made me happy. I think I'm addicted to the high it gives me now.\n\nAnyway, I'll have to leave now. Nice talking with you!\n\n\\------------------\n\nI stared at the space in front of me in the shop. I had just talked to the literal child of a god. It wasn't talking, more like I was listening.\n\nI sipped my coffee, watching as some of it spilled on the table from my shaky hands. So that explained the sudden car stop on that day, I thought, staring into the distance, reminiscing.\n\nWell, apparently at some point I was going to get the cure for cancer.\n\nMe, a struggling college student.\n\nThat was a lot of pressure." ]	3

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