Split (1)

train · 199k rows

post_text stringlengths 0 17.5k	post_title stringlengths 8 314	comment_texts listlengths 1 74	num_stories int64 1 74
	[WP] You bring home a stray dog and decide to keep it. After a couple months you learn two things. One, that is not a dog. Two, the "dog's" owner is not happy with 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.", "\"It's a fox. A famous fucking fox.\" \n\nAmelia glared up at him. \n\nLeo bounded over and rubbed his long snout into Greg's hand. Greg had found him, shivering in the rain, on the streets two months ago. In the dark, he'd looked like any medium sized dog would. Greg had not been able to say no when Leo followed him home. \n\n\"I didn't know-\"\n\n\"That you were committing a crime? Or that you are a complete idiot.\" \n\n\"He was alone that night.\"\n\n\"So was I,\" Amelia said, bitterly. \n\n\"It's not the same. You're not-\"\n\n\"A charity case? You can't keep bringing strays home. I thought you learned that lesson after Vanessa.\" \n\nLeo shrunk back at her venomous tone. \n\n\"Amy, you can't bring my ex into this every time we fight.\" \n\nThe morning light filtered over Amelia's face in broad stripes. She was pretty in this light and every light. Even angry. \n\n\"I'm sorry,\" Amelia said with a sigh. \"I didn't sleep well and I'm irritable.\" \n\n\"I thought you might like Leo,\" Greg said, softly. \"I named him after your Sun Sign.\"\n\nAmelia was big into astrology. She was a Leo-Scorpio-Taurus. Whatever that meant. Greg didn't tell her Leo was also short for Leopold the II. \n\n\"I do like him,\" Amelia said. \"But he's not just any fox. He's famous on Instagram and Youtube. The owners have put out a statement that they are looking for him. They suspect foul play. He's worth $2 million, at least.\"\n\n\"Shit,\" Greg said, scratching behind Leo's orange ear. He looked up with a lopsided grin. \"We need to give him back.\"\n\n\"They're pretty angry. I don't know that it's safe to just drop him off like we're the local babysitter's club.\"\n\n\"Then what do we do?\"\n\nAmelia chewed on her bottom lip and paced the length of the apartment. She gracefully avoided holes in the carpet a la Leo. The fox was a lovable oaf, but more destructive than any dog he'd met. To tell the truth, he'd be glad to give Leo back to his family. \n\n\"They have money, but we have resources.\"\n\n\"We're rusty,\" Greg said, his voice edged with concern. \"We haven't done a con since Sydney.\" \n\n\"You'll have to be more careful if you want to keep all of your fingers this time.\"\n\nGreg curled his left hand into a fist. His pinkie finger didn't quite meet his palm - it was cut off at the first knuckle. \n\n\"Amy-\"\n\n\"It's done. I've already called her.\"\n\n\"And I was SO surprised to hear from you, Ames,\" Vanessa said, waltzing through the door, as if she'd waited for the perfect entrance. Maybe she did. She was dramatic like that. \n\nShe kissed Amelia on each cheek in greeting, then turned with arms crossed toward Greg. \n\n\"Hello Greg. Is this the contraband?\" \n\nLeo shrunk back behind Greg and peered at Vanessa through his ankles. Amelia grimaced behind Vanessa's back. \n\n\"Amy, darling, can you give me a moment alone with Greggie?\"\n\n\"No,\" Amy said, firmly. \n\nVanessa turned her head, hiding any surprise she might feel. \n\n\"This is just like the heist in Venezuela,\" she said, without missing a beat. \"Except the goods are live. The security system is mid-tier at best and I already have Frankie working on the codes. We get in, we get out. One fox lighter.\" \n\n\"What's the catch?\" Greg said. There was something missing here. Vanessa never did a job without compensation. Amelia would do it to save his ass, but never Vanessa, not even when they were engaged. \n\n\"I watch your back for fifteen minutes.\"\n\nAmelia stepped forward until she stood directly next to Vanessa. She was five inches smaller at only 5'0, but the intensity in her eyes was a force to be reckoned with. \n\nVanessa didn't even blink. \n\n\"I want you to fuck her, Greg. The way you used to fuck me.\" \n\nEverything stilled. They'd played a game back when they were doing cons and heists together. Dangerous games of cat and mouse. \n\n\"I won't-\"\n\n\"What does that mean?\" Amelia said between gritted teeth. \n\n\"Greg fucks you. On their security camera. While they are sleeping and the little fox goes home to play. I keep the tape.\"\n\n\"No,\" Greg said. \"We are not playing your mind games.\" \n\nVanessa smiled effortlessly and flipped an errant black curl over her shoulder. She pulled out her cell phone. Small. Black. Disposable. They didn't even make phones like that anymore in the big box stores. \n\nShe dialed. \n\n\"Frankie, they don't want to play. Is your girl live now on Instagram with the owners? Yeah. Give the girl our coordinates in 5.\"\n\nShe slapped the phone shut. Amelia's face drained white. \n\n\"Don't worry. You'll look lovely in orange.\" \n\n\"Stop this,\" Greg said. \n\nVanessa stilled for a moment, then tilted her head gently. \n\n\"No. Our last con was big money, Greggie. Real money. We would be on the Islands now if you hadn't fucked up the job over this side slut. I paid for your mistakes with my reputation. Either you both spend the rest of this short-lived relationship in county or you come to heel. Two minutes left to decide.\" \n\nAmelia flew into Greg and tugged on his collar until his head bent down to her ear. \n\n\"We do it,\" she breathed, hastily. \"I'm not letting them run my prints. We'll get the tape back after, but we have to do it. Please.\" \n\nGreg wrenched free from Amelia's grasp. \n\n\"Five, four, three, two...\"\n\n\"I'll fuck her,\" Greg said, striding toward Vanessa. He brushed his hand over the bare skin of her shoulder. \"Like we used to.\"\n\nVanessa punched a number into the phone and dialed. Frankie picked up on speaker phone. \n\n\"Are we good, Nessa?\" \n\nShe gave Greg her most bewitching smile, the one where her cheeks dimpled, before answering. The smile that made him weak in the knees when they met seven years ago. He would pay penance for the rest of his life for falling in love with that smile. \n\n\"Game on.\"" ]	2
	[WP] After more than a century of superheroes and supervillains, everyone's powers vanished overnight. You're not a supergenius anymore, but you made plans for this day.	[ "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 ran my hands over my face as the maniacal giggling continued, like a child who had just managed to get makeup on her father’s face. There was no makeup of course, just a rather annoyingly vicious headache that no amount of aspirin or coffee was keeping at bay. There was also the vague amnesia. \n\n“All of them just died in the lab?” \n\nLast night I’d been finishing off the new power generator on my largest robot yet. It could walk from Los Angeles to New York in a week and flatten everything along the way once it was done. At least, I think that’s what it was supposed to be. I also had the radio on. A fight was raging between two top tier supers, it had been going on for hours. I was hoping if they finally knocked each other out, I could set my creation loose and it would take some time for the secondary and tertiary tier heroes to do some real damage to it. Hopefully the other villains would be too amused at my “quaint ol’ tinkering” for a bit to take a break and stop starting fires with their eyeballs or whatever it was they did and just watch how we did it in the old days.\n\nFledgelings had come to my lab to stop me. \n\n“There were three” She chattered on. “Oh my! They were so funny because their outfits were so bad.” This was accompanied with mocking poses. The actuators worked beautifully, although I couldn’t remember how I’d built them. \n\n“How old are you again?” I asked tiredly. \n\n“You already asked that five minutes ago” She said. Her voice modulators hopped up and down the pitches, grating worse than a continuous slide whistle. \n\n“My brain doesn’t work so well anymore, could you oblige and old woman a bit longer?” \n\n“Tch.” She rolled her eyes and focused them on me. “I’m SIXTEEN. Obviously. Grandma, you’re soooo weird today.” \n\n“Thank you. What happened to the three again?”\n\nI had heard her the first time, I was still processing it. I felt like I could truly feel my age. \n\n“Well, Once the new darin’ trio, which has noooo ring to it, got fighting with us….mostly me….all flying’ and BAM! And Boom Boom Boom! And whap and suddenly!” \n\nMy robotic copy rolled onto the floor dramatically and her built in guns retreated back into her limbs. \n\n“They just stopped?”\n\n“Yeah, Grandma, they stopped. I mean, mostly. One of them fell and hit the ground, another actually took a bullet and stopped, and the third didn’t complete the leap he was doing.” \n\nShe looked up as thoughtfully as those camera based eyes could. \n\nThere was one truly legendary tier hero still active. A tough bloke I’d sparred with on many occasions. Or my robots had. I lacked his relative immortality, so I came up with my own so that when I passed, he’d continue to be endlessly annoyed and fought with. I didn’t really have a reason why, I just thought it was funny to be honest. \n\nShe’d originally been programmed with a duplicate of my brain...but apparently I had gotten ahead of myself and forgotten to also imbue some of my maturity. It was too late to start over, it had taken all of my resources to make her. My true masterpiece, large robots aside, had to work alongside me for years, learning like a child would. Currently in addition to nuclear reactions, her hobby was imported cartoons. She sounded nothing and everything like myself. A true grandchild, I suppose. \n\n“They just stopped. At the same time, all three?” \n\n“Uh-huh” \n\n“And did you do anything? Hit them with a ray gun? Anything specific before that happened.” \n\n“No Grandma, I was just getting started with them.”\n\n“Thank you for updating me my dear.”\n\nShe beamed, fiber optic hair glowing like a halo. \n\n“I’m going to go play with my friends now!” \n\n“Alright.” \n\nI watched my android clone run off to her Nintendo. She had her friends to keep her company. \n\nI turned the radio back on. \n\n“-man and many other supers found themselves unable to access any of their powers this morning. Many supers are in critical condition after falls, weights being dropped, or are finding themselves sickened with radiation. Initial suggestions are some kind of effect form the last nights deaths of -”\n\nI clicked it off. My mind was gone. It hadn’t been lost sixteen years ago when I’d created her. But it was gone now. What remained was an improved copy. \n\nGive it a few years. Maybe with what little remained of me we’d be out for a walk. Some uppity new hero would see me. Take me out. And she’d be the new villain bent on destroying them. \n\nOr she’d find some kind of miracle cure. Without being able to keep up to guide her, it was hard to guess." ]	2
	[WP] You brought the mad scientist to the ethics board, only to find out that everything he's done was completely ethical.	[ "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.", "To most people the meeting room would have seemed quiet.\n\nThe four Ethics board members alternately stared down at their papers, glanced at each other or noted the slowly moving second hand on an analog wall clock. Everyone displayed that unique brand of nervous energy recognizable to any patient awaiting horrific lab results. There was no small talk, the endless social chatter of colleagues in the sciences sharing ideas or the eternal academic jockeying for position. From most senior to lowest ranking, no one breathed a word.\n\nIt was almost a relief when the cheap aluminum door finally burst open to admit three people: Two burly guards, nervously escorting a surprisingly tall and wiry man in a patched lab coat. Stained khakis poked out beneath the coat, not quite long enough to rest on battered brown loafers. An inch of skin betrayed the absence of socks. The most notorious mad scientist in the world paused to glare at those assembled and take note of each board member with cold, grey-eyed resolve. If he was nervous at all it didn't show; not a single drop of sweat crossed a perfectly bald head.\n\nBoth large men kept a hand on the prisoner as he crossed the room, examined the battered witness chairs and disdainfully opted to lean on the table instead of of sitting. With their job complete they retreated back to the door, surreptitiously wiping away damp palms.\n\nThe senior board member stirred, taking up a folder from his table and squaring the papers underneath. \"Doctor Justin Kates,\" he began, clearly reading from prepared statements. \"You are hear to answer this Ethics board on the charges of unlawful medical practice, sev-\"\n\n\"Cut to the chase, Tillman.\" Arms crossed, Doctor Kates stared him down. This did not go over well.\n\n\"Fine.\" Tillman leaned forward. \"You are stripped of your titles and authority. Your license to practice is pulled and you are already barred indefinitely. What we here,\" he waved sightly, indicating the other three people on the board, \"want is an explanation. Crime is one thing-- and you will be turned over to authorities for that-- but ethically speaking? Your actions are unconscionable.\"\n\nKates waved the comments off. \"I disagree. Both with your assessments and your ethics. And,\" he noted the clock on the wall. \"I'll be leaving in less than twenty minutes. If you have something worthwhile to say, say it now.\"\n\nA tense energy shot through everyone listening. But it was the youngest member who jumped up first, leaning over the table. \"How could you disagree? Involuntary experimentation! Mass infection! Deliberate release of biological agents! The foundation of medical science is based on informed consent but you! You neither asked nor cared!\" He slapped the table, knocking papers everywhere. \"Millions paid the price!\"\n\nKates coolly watched papers drift for a moment. \"Doctor,\" he started, glancing down at his prominent name tag. \"Ostellman. You know my work? Studied it? Read the findings?\"\n\nThis abrupt change of topic, from outrage to clinical results, clearly threw Ostellman. \"Somewhat. The findings of course, but the basis is not my field.\"\n\n\"'Not in my field',\" Kates sneered back. \"And the rest of you? Tillman I know you've somewhat of an understanding. But you, Doctor Hites? Doctor Nuitt? Do you understand even the beginnings of what I work with?\"\n\n\"We are not here to discuss your work.\" Tillman interjected. \"Merely the ethics of using your work.\"\n\n\"Ah! And there we have it,\" Kates said. He came off the table in a smooth motion. \"None of you understand what I've done, so how can you judge the ethics of it? Hmm? You there, Hites-- what is your field?\"\n\nHites seemed uncomfortable with this sudden attention. \"Radiology.\"\n\n\"Did you get your flu shot this year?\"\n\n\"Pardon?\"\n\n\"Your flu shot, man!\" Kates exclaimed. \"Do keep up: Yes or no?\"\n\n\"Of course. It is a requirement and I would not-\"\n\nKates waved him down immediately. \"Yes, yes. I'm sure the ghost of Jonas Salk is quite pleased. But you know nothing of what makes the shot work? The prepared pathogens that trigger immunological reactions, leading to production of complex antibody coding? What I am driving at,\" he paused for effect, \"is your blind trust in the 'ethics' of whoever makes the shot. Where is your 'informed consent' in taking that injection?\"\n\n\"Oversight boards.\" Doctor Hites shot back. \"Accountability happens at every level. Responsibility is distributed and results checked. We trust that people within their field hold their colleagues in line. That's first year ethics. Something you of all people should know, 'Doctor Plague'.\"\n\nKates inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the point and his notoriety at the same time. \"Excellent. So what happens when a man has no equals? No colleagues? When even the basics of his work are hard for others to grasp? Someone,\" Kates gestured casually around the room before tapping his chest. \"Like me? Do I not define my own ethics, for I alone know what is best?\"\n\n\"Results!\" Doctor Tillman growled. \"We judge by results, then. A judge does not need to know how a gun works to sentence a criminal for murdering someone with it. And I hardly think that... one moment-,\" Tillman rooted through his papers. \"I hardly think that seven hundred million people irreversibly somnolent for the last year is the work of angels!\"\n\n\"What I hear from this board,\" Kates yawned theatrically. \"Are the whinings of children. Children scared of something new, something wonderful. An experience that would help them grow and mature, if they let it. For the young simply learning to read is a struggle. Bike riding? Playing an instrument? Difficult! Skinned knees and practice!\" Kates began to pace. \"And when those children cry, struggle, shirk or want to quit-- who is there, keeping them on course?\"\n\nHe eyed the board, glanced at the clock.\n\n\"Adults. Because although they cannot see it, those things grow them into their destiny. From the child's view their parents are cruel. Unethical. Because they cannot understand. And that is what I am hearing now, Doctors.\" Hard eye contact; everyone got a piece. \"Whining.\"\n\nSomewhere outside the room a siren abruptly wailed, the sound muffled through thick walls and meters of solid rock. Both door guards instantly came back to life, snatching Doctor Kates by the arms and herding him into the corner. Something complicated with zip ties happened, leaving the unrepentant doctor with both hands behind his back. Board members stood up and sat down alternately, unsure of what to do.\n\n\"What is that?\" Doctor Tillman demanded, glaring at a smug Kates.\n\n\"I'm not entirely sure.\" Kates replied, one corner of his mouth quirking up. \"but if I had to guess...\"\n\nA shrieking crash in the hall outside rattled the room hard enough to make dust filter down from the ceiling.\n\n\"...I'd say the children just woke up.\"" ]	2
	[WP]A few years ago, you started getting an angel and a devil that would help you make decisions, sort of like in old cartoons. Today, you are faced with a decision that has them both in agreement.	[ "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.", "“You have to do this.” The angel on my shoulder placed a tiny, but gentle hand on my cheek. He was trying to fight back tears, to be strong for me.\n\n“I can’t. I can’t do this. It’s too much.” In desperation I turned to the devil seated on my other shoulder. “Please, tell him he’s wrong. This can’t be right.”\n\n“C’mon, man. You know you gotta do this. It physically pains me to agree with Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes ever there, but he’s right.” Even he didn’t seem cheered by his weak attempt at humor.\n\n“NO! No. You’re both wrong. There has to be another option! Something! Please!”\n\n“It’s the right thing to do.” I knew the angel was trying to be kind, to soften the blow by convincing me it was “right”, but I didn’t want to hear it.\n\n“I don’t care! I don’t want to do the right thing!” Turning to the devil once more I practically shouted, “You! You never tell me to do what’s right! Give me another option!”\n\n“I...I can’t. I want to, believe me, I do. But this....this is cruel. Too cruel even for me. If there was another option...” the devil’s voice trailed off, but he didn’t have to finish his sentence. I knew they were right. I’d known all along, before they even had to say anything. This was the right choice.\n\nMy shoulders drooped and I could no longer hold back the tears. It was a few minutes before I could speak again.\n\n“Will...will you stay with me?”\n\n“Of course we will.”\n\n“We’ll be right beside ya, pal.”\n\nI nodded, tried to wipe the tears from my eyes, and called the doctor back in the room.\n\n“It’s time.” I spoke the words as though I were in a dream. In a respectful silence, to doctor moved next to the hospital bed.\n\nI looked down at my mom, unconscious on the bed. Cancer had ravaged her body like a wildfire. Her hair was long gone. She was skinny, emaciated, a shell of her former self. Every breath was labored, and it was obvious if she were conscious she would be in pain. A tiny scrap of peace surfaced in the midst of the storm in my head. I knew, in that instant, they had been right. I was doing the right thing. Taking her hand, I whispered a desperate prayer that she might be able to hear me one last time.\n\n“Goodbye, mom. I love you.”" ]	2
	[WP] When the Hero retires he becomes a narrator. You, the greatest/lamest of Heroes just took your retirement. This is your 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.", "I was El Leche, The Milk Mandarin, The Malicious Milk, but most notably and for the longest duration of time, the Milk Man. I have the power when & only when people are in dire need of only a couple cups of milk to be able to run at pretty much the speed of light to help you finish that Hamburger Helper, Mac n’ Cheese, etc. your cooking up because.. Well, the grocery store is 15 mins away. It happens a lot.\n\nAs most of you are aware I will always regret the days I referred to myself as The Malicious Milk. Again, as some of you may recall, those were my angsty teen years where I briefly decided I wanted to become a villain rather than stay a hero. People were in dire need of milk at all hours of the day and I’d just run at stupid fast speeds to their houses and throw milk on their faces. Sometimes even warm milk. But from the ashes rise the phoenix and I can’t help but always think how you guys are the true heroes for helping me recognize my mistakes and turn my path back on to hero-hood.\n\nAnyways, being the Milk Man was a pretty easy gig with a lot more payoffs than you’d think. In my line of hero-ing the possibility of me being thrown through the moon or getting vaporized into a 6th dimension were slim to none. So, I never had to worry about my health. Well, besides the pack a day I smoked. And I could still take on the Flash any day. Women & men loved the Milk Man too, some would even make me pour the milk as slowly as possible when I arrived for some type of sexual gratification, I could only assume. That was my least favorite aspect, but again, I didn't have to fight space lizards. Really, my only downfall was in 04’ when I decided to make use of a cow utter with my superhero costume. For obvious reasons I had to stop doing that. (Didn't/not finish)" ]	2
	[WP] In that sympathetic but professional way they have, the doctor gives you the bad news. The tests are back, and it's the worst case scenario. You only have 500 words left to live.	[ "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 prompt alone is a cool idea! I took it as a CW \n\nI die as Shakespeare, over and over again. Sonnets are stones I throw, performing tricks for women in Babushka costumes. I promise to reincarnate as a frog, pretend to be a prince, marry queens, and run off with daughters. I promise to kiss every princess until my lips become swollen flesh pressed together eternally until all I can do is kiss and I starve. \n\nI promise to give dogs more time, to learn the language of barks and whistles. I promise to flirt with dolphins in squeaks and clicks. I promise to argue in Czech with old Russian women about the hardness of bread and how Putin's chest is proof that men have better tits than women. I promise to roll consonants and vowels like bowling balls in empty alleys. My accents will be provincial, slightly off as if I'd grown up in the region but the poor part, where the bread was hard and crustless. \n\nI promise to build anthills humans will fill with silver so that housewives can marvel over those quaint home decorating sculptures. While my hills burn I will dance for cameras, spreading scorched ant chitin onto human lawns too small for them to smell but oh they enjoy the firelight. I promise to shine, to illuminate that frozen path, shoving icicles out my way, chilling ferocious lemurs with the spark of my eye. \n\nI promise to race, not savor. Tripping over tourists in far away places. I'll buy gems from clean hands, bask in the glow. Recline as a chameleon. Does it really grow back? Children will pluck at my tail but I will not I will not kill them only pluck out eyes as easily. I will be cruel and beautiful and terrible until perhaps I martyr myself on a cross. Come back three days later as Buddy Christ. Buy my single. \n\nI promise to break structural integrity. To smash and grab. I promise to be okay despite cracked windows, slow drivers, and uneven staircases. I promise to remember glue and nails, duct tape and anchors. I promise to rob rich men, leaving pocketwatches with silver birds embossed on cases. I promise to set fire to churches, one room at a time. \n\nI promise to keep it this time. I promise to keep golden idols of Cher that change wigs through chemistry. I promise to hold houses whole in my arms. To wrap you in plastic with me, two flies in a web. I promise to share bloody carcasses, to wrest wings from flesh and to only relish it a small bit. I promise to murder you eventually. \n\nI promise to forget my cast and crew. To bow when curtains bow. To leave what is real behind because that never worked out for me. I promise my memory will fade into haze, smoke riddled rings of forget-me-nots, yellow licking at blue. I promise no ending, no start. I promise purgatory until your heartbeat matches mine. \n\nI promise I love you I promise.", "It’s a strange thing to boil the root of your life down to five-hundred words. Four-eighty-five now. I had whole novels--whole series behind me. Barely a short story before me. Some of the best stories in life are short. You, Annie, always said so. Fleeting beauty. A brief glimpse of light on snow. A rose on the eve before it blooms. The sunshower on a summer afternoon. \n\nFrom my bedroom window, I could see the water. Green sloping hills. Red, iron-dusted dirt. How could I ever leave this place? There was too much here. I could write forever about that beauty. I could write forever about this place. Home. I could write my hopes and wishes and dreams for the future. But I don’t think I will. They have their own words to use. \n\nI met you back in ‘47. Coming home from the war. I won’t tell you what happened there. Enough men lost their words. I don’t need to lose mine too. \n\nThe winter of ‘46/’47 dragged on forever and ever. Do you remember? I got a job on the railroad, running the engines. At night, as the trains pushed through the endless Canadian plains, I’d write in my journal. I drafted novels and imagined myself becoming great. Now, they’re just notebooks, gathering dust in our attic. At the time, I was certain they were brilliant. \n\nLook at me rambling on. Two-fifty-one now. I’ll get to the point. The novels don’t matter in the end. \n\nThat year, May was hot. Boiling. Sun and light air. I went to the beach with Danny that day. A day off. \n\nThe first time I saw you, you were sitting next to Jane on the end of the pier. One toe dangled in the water. You pulled it back. Too cold. The ocean doesn’t care much about us. \n\nI sat next to you. You eyed me up and down. Untrusting, but curious. \n\n “You going to take a dip?” I was mostly joking. \n\n“I don’t think I will.” You traced the light waves with your foot. “You?” \n\nI shook my head. “Unless we go together?”\n\nYou paused for a moment. “If you insist.”\n\nWe stood at the end of the dock. Together. \n\n“On three?”\n\nYou nodded. \n\nI wrapped my hand in yours. We counted together. \n\nI jumped alone--your hand untangling itself from mine at the last second. \n\nMy world was cold. My muscles tightened. I pushed up. Spat water. Swore.\n\n“Sorry!” You covered her mouth. “I didn’t think you’d jump.”\n\nSwam to the pier. Climbed the ladder. You handed me a towel. \n\nDanny and Jane laughed. \n\n“You said you’d jump.” I shivered. \n\n“I know.” You frowned at me. “Next time.” \n\n“How do I know I can trust you?”\n\nYou looked up at me. Your dark hair pinned back. Patches of your skin were ruddy and dry from the winter. Beautiful. “I’ll promise.”\n\n“Yeah?”\n\n“Yeah. I promise I won’t leave you alone again.”\n\nAnnie. You kept your word. \n\nI can’t return the gesture. \n\n---\n\n/r/liswrites\n\n(500 words, on the dot)", "“Five hundred words, huh?” I shook my head. “That seems a bit of an odd death sentence.”\n\n“Please be brief, sir, you’re down to 487 now. But yes. Though it seems odd, there are odder things in this world. And we’ve determined that once you’ve used up the last of those words you have remaining, you will, indeed, die.” The doctor put that clipboard that all of them always seemed to carry down on the bed and turned to face me. “Your heart will quite literally stop on the 500th word, and though you might manage to get a few more words out before your body shuts down, there will be no resuscitation, no bringing you back.”\n\n“Well this stinks.” I looked out the window, my own demise rather anti-climactic after the rollercoaster of testing I’d been through over the last month.\n\n“In a way, yes. And 484 now. But from another point of view, it does free you up in other ways.” The doctor tapped at the chart. “We’ve seen this once before.”\n\n“Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow.\n\n“483. And yes, a few years back in a man that came to us after a suicide attempt. That man taught us quite a lot this disease, though it’s exceedingly rare. One side effect of the disease is that you can only die once you’ve spoken all your words. I’m sure you’ve noticed that you heal considerably faster than your friends and family?”\n\nI went to respond, thought better of it, and finally just nodded.\n\n“You’re learning, good man. That’s part of it as well. You heal better than normal. You’ve probably never broken a bone before coming here; you can, of course, but it’ll take considerably more to break your bones than myself or the rest of the folks here in the hospital. The last guy that had this also showed us, if you carry the same type of characteristics, that he couldn’t be poisoned.”\n\nI raised an eyebrow again. This not talking was going to take some getting used to, and was going to require some adjustment of my expressions. That, or I needed a good tablet. I motioned for him to continue.\n\nThe doctor chuckled. “He tried to commit suicide. Injected a bunch of chemicals into his body, and his body systematically rejected all of it. He was sick for a while, but it didn’t kill him. He also then tried jumping off a cliff.”\n\nI blinked. I mimed a large height and made a questioning motion with my hands.\n\n“It was tall. Like, sixty feet, I think? Big enough it should have killed him. It didn’t. Just hurt him real bad, broke a bunch of bones – remember, I said you can break em, just takes more effort? Jumping off a cliff seems to be one of those ‘more effort’ things that works – and that’s when he ended up here for a while and where we ended up meeting.”\n\nThe doctor shrugged. “He died not long after he arrived here. Just started singing, ‘Let it go.’ Didn’t make it halfway through the song before he just up and passed away.”\n\nI motioned to the clipboard, and the doctor obligingly handed it to me. I wrote “So I only die if I speak the remaining 483 words, correct?” and handed it back to him.\n\nHe nodded. “That is correct. We don’t know what you’ll age like, and honestly it’d be fascinating to study…”\n\nI interrupted him by grabbing the clipboard back from him. A few quick lines, and I handed it back, and he raised both eyebrows as he read what I’d written.\n\n“You want me to what? Seriously?” When I nodded, he frowned. “There are a huge amount of ethics questions raised by voluntarily having your mouth sewn shut and a permanent feeding tube affixed to an otherwise healthy patient…”\n\n“Doc, stop.” I held up my hand, speaking again. “I’m not healthy. I’m dying, remember? This will keep me alive, and under YOUR care to study.” I picked up the clipboard and wrote, “And that’s 19 words that I hope weren’t wasted on you, doc.”\n\n“Well, that would technically save your life… but what would you do with it?” The doctor crossed his arms and peered at me. “If it ended up that you can’t die without speaking those last 465 words, and you live for hundreds of years, are you prepared for what you might do with your life in that time?”\n\nI nodded.\n\n“I’ll run it by the board, but it’ll be a hard sell.”\n\nI picked up the clipboard and started writing again. I handed it back to him with a smile. I had written, “Take as long as you need to sell it. I’ve got 465 words left and all the time in the world.”", "“You have 500 words left to live,” the doctor tells me while he taps a pen against his kneecap, over and over again like a metronome. \n\n What?\n\n A million thoughts flood my head.\n\n “Since when is life expectancy quantified in words?!” \n\n “Does this include what I say in my head?”\n\n “How accurate is this number?”\n\n“Could I speak in acronyms and beat the system?”\n\n“Who’s keeping count?”\n\n“Will this doctor ever stop fucking fidgeting?”\n\t\nI try to stop thinking in case my thoughts are contributing to my word count death meter, but I have never been very good at meditating. I figure I may as well use some of my communication allotment to get this sorted out. \n\n “Do words said…,” I point to my head feeling like charades is some sort of coupon for life “…count?”\n\nThe doctor nods his head affirmatively. His pen drops and I can’t tell if it’s a godsend for my annoyance, or a perfect metaphor for how my stomach feels. \n\nAt this point I’m not even sure how many words I have left, similar to how it was before I entered the hospital doors today… but exponentially worse. I hadn’t been this scared since last January when my phone said there was a missile heading towards me during my honeymoon. I’d honestly prefer no warning.\n\nI figure there’s no use in harping on the technicalities anymore. I could have 400 words left, I could have fifty, so I may as well try and think about the things that mean the most to me. \n\nI run out of the hospital room while Dr. Fidget tries to trail behind to coax me into paying, but I’ll be damned if I die discussing account receivables. I ran until the air no longer smelled like disinfectant and chicken broth. \n\nI see squirrels finding their next meal and feel the warmth of the sun on my cheeks. I don’t think I stopped to look at the beauty around me since the last time I thought I was going to die. \n\nSomehow my anxieties fade into serenity and a sense of bliss. \n\nI pick up my cell phone and call my wife. I don’t want our last conversation to be plagued by the feelings that had finally departed me, so I instead told her I wanted to tell her something as an early anniversary present. \n\nI tried to speak carefully, to give the most detail while doing my best to be concise. I tell her all the reasons I fell in love with her, and how it seems as though I have an infinite amount of love, as it only increases with time. I try to pepper it all with jokes and funny anecdotes, more so for my hopefulness to maintain composure than for her. Just as she’s about to finally respond, it happens. \n\nA word counter appears in my vision. It’s at 500. I start laughing, as it feels as though I just narrowly missed a catastrophic car accident. I could have sworn I was about to die. I hear a voice in my mind, telling me, “Before now, you weren’t living, you were only existing. The count starts now.” \n\nThere’s no joke or anecdote funny enough to help my composure now. Tears are barreling down my face; snot allowing gravity to take its course. \n\nMy wife is still on the line. I try my best to avert the question to get back to…living?\n\nI can’t get myself to end the conversation. Just like I wanted five more minutes of sleep every morning, I want five more words. \n\nWhile taking in my wife’s buttery voice and the testimonies of her love, I pull out our wedding photo from my wallet. They say pictures are worth a thousand words...", "I couldn't stand the news. \n\"What do you...\"\nThe doctor quickly silenced me.\n\"Stop. You have only 497 left now. Do not waste them.\"\nI gave the doctor the most serious look I could assemble in such a tragic moment - it was not that difficult to be honest- and he nodded.\n\"I'm afraid this also affects your writing, your career is done I'm so sorry to tell you this. I was looking forward for your next book.\"\n\nFrom that moment on I had to weight every single word I said which is something really unusual.\n\nThanking someone now suddendly costed me my life and telling someone I loved him would cost me even more. The mute-alphabet or just mimics and gestures wouldn't qualify, one would think, but I never used them nevertheless - the fear of wasting words were too much. Two months in this endeavor and I had lost everything I had. \nMy family. My job. I then lost the joy of acting or a good laugh. I lost my friend. I surrendered poetry.\n\nNow I dwell in the mountains and in the wilderness. Many years have passed. I lost count of how many words I have left. \nI'm afraid of dying and at the same time I'm afraid I'll live forever.\nBut what scares me most is that just a \"good morning\" could kill me.\nHow many words are in good morning anyway? Is it one or two? What about goodbye?\nI lost count of the years. I forgot how human voices sound. I forgot how to write. I grew an old beard and I still roam the lands. I'm waiting for something or someone.\nYes, definitely someone. \nSomeone to say \"goodbye\"", "“This has to be some kind of a joke. I’m a speaker for a living! I just delivered a Ted Talk yesterday on Communication!” I said exasperated.\n\n“Thomas, I’m sorry. The problem with your throat is a terminal disease caused by over-communicating. You have 476 words left to live” said Dr. Forster.\n\n“No, I’m not buying this, this is some kind of a sick joke. I want a second opinion. You know what, forget about it, I’m getting out of here”.\n\n“447, Tom”.\n\nI grabbed my coat and stormed out of the small examination room.\n\n“Tom, will you be back on Thursday for your routine medical?”\n\n“No! This entire situation is utterly absurd! Dr. Forster has lost his mind and is claiming I’ve only 447 words left to live.”\n\n“Oh Tom, I’m so sorry. That’s a terrible disease to have, Dr. Forster is a specialist in ‘over-communication atrophy terminus’, you’ve got to stop talking immediately! You’ve just 422 words left to live. You can have a long life, but you’ve got to stop talking!”\n\n“Fuck this!” I said as I exited the office only to hear the receptionist shout “420”.\n\nAs I walked down the street angry, befuddled, and exasperated, a homeless man approached and blocked my ability to get by.\n\n“Excuse me, sir?”\n\n“No, I’ve no time for this. I don’t have any change to give you”.\n\n“Sir, please... if I could just have a minute of your time.”\n\n“I said no! What is wrong with you! Get out of my way! Why don’t you just get a job? Why don’t you just do something meaningful with your life! I’m not interested in your pandering for chan—-“ I coughed, and began to move away.\n\n“Sir...” the homeless man continued. “I just wanted to tell you that you did an incredible job with your Ted talk, and I’m eternally grateful for the skills I learned from your lecture”.\n\nI stood flabbergasted. “I’m sorry...” was all I was able to choke out before continuing down the road, remaining angry and exasperated at Dr. Forster’s ineptitude and derelict behaviour as a physician. I had simply wanted to confirm I’d had little more than the common cold and was met with quackery.\n\n“Remember to report this to the College of Physicians later” I muttered aloud.\n\nAs I approached the coffee shop intending to order my typical no foam, extra hot, extra cream chai latte in a Venti cup with extra room, my phone rang.\n\n“Hello?”\n\n“Is this Mr. Sandusky? Thomas Sandusky?”\n\n“Yes, speak—-g” I coughed repeatedly and choked feeling a lump in my throat.\n\n“Mr. Sandusky, this is Sheila from Rapid Lawn Services, we’d like to speak to you regarding your...”\n\nI cut her off. “Listen, I’m really not interested. I’m so fed up with your repeated auto-dialed calls. I’ve repeatedly demanded that I be added to your no-call list, and if I receive one more call from—“ I began coughing, choking, and gasping for air.\n\n“I’m just not interested! Do you understand me! Why don’t you get off your ass and get a real job instead of harassing people!” I continued.\n\n“I’m so sorry Mr. Sandusky. You had used our services in the past, and as part of our customer service commitment, we just wanted to thank you. I also wanted to thank you for the wonderful Ted ‘speech’ that you gave on communication, it helped me to land this job and...”\n\nI interrupted, “I’m sorry...” I coughed again. “I’m just sorry.” And I hung up the phone. I began rubbing at my throat feeling as though a lump had grown — “stop being paranoid” I told myself aloud. \n\nHaving finally reached the coffee shop, I entered and was met with a single person in line before me. “At least this is one thing going for me so far today” I said aloud musing over the fact that I’d normally have been met with a half dozen people ordering before me. \n\n“I j-j-ju...st w-w-want—ed t-t-to ord—er” the man stuttered in front of me to the barista.\n\n“Oh for fuck sakes! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me” I vented. “Can I just order my fucking coffee and you deal with this idiot after me? I’m in a rush and I don’t have time for this shit”. I continued venting ambivalent to the scene I’d just created.\n\n“I just want a no foam, extra hot, extra cream chai latte in a Venti cup with extra room” I said while throwing down a $10 bill and rudely glaring at the stuttering man. “Why don’t you learn to speak English like everybody else” I said as I walked away. \n\n“Y-y-you’re... t-t-the man f-f-from t-t-th-the Ted t-t-t” the stuttering man began to say.\n\n“Yes, yes, that’s me. Yes. It clearly didn’t work for you? Did it?” I said vehemently as I walked away.\n\nAs I took my chai latte, I began musing over calling in sick and forgoing my lecture today. My throat had begun to hurt and my voice was becoming hoarse. I reached for my throat before reminding myself aloud how ridiculous “over communication atrophy terminus” was.\n\nI made my way to the exit relieved that finally I’d have a moment to myself when a woman with an oversized stroller and a screaming toddler aggressively pushed herself through the door causing my chai latte to spill on my suit.\n\n“Watch where you’re going!” I shouted while gasping for a breath causing the toddler to cry. “For fuck sakes! Shut that kid up! I don’t need this! I really don’t need this today! Fuck!” I said as I brushed at the latte mess on my suit. “You could have fucking waited until I’d exited the coffee shop before shoving your oversized ridiculous contraption of a stroller into the shop!”\n\nThe woman looked down embarrassed and said “I’m so sorr—“ but I cut her off. “And before you ask, yes, yes, yes I am the man from the Ted talk. And I don’t care, and I’m not sorry this time, just move and g—“ I choked uncontrollably clutching at my throat. “Just mo—-“ I choked again. “Are you ok, sir?” The woman asked with concern. “Sir?” She began. I choked again turning red and gasping for breath. “I’m fine!” I shouted. “I’m fucking fine” I yelled.\n\nAs I collected myself and exited the coffee shop, I began to consider that Dr. Forster has been telling the truth. “How many words have I spoken? A hundred? Two hundred?” I began to play back all of the conversations that I’d had, every angry word I’d spoken, every musing that I’d said our loud. “Oh God” I said, “Oh, no...” I reached and covered my mouth to stop myself from speaking further.\n\nI continued my walk to the studio. I had a lecture to give today. An audience of 5,000 would be present in the packed building with speakers from all walks of life. I began pacing, contemplating my course of action. “What do I do? Stop Tom, this is insa—“ I said aloud breaking into my worst fit of coughing yet. This wasn’t insane, this was real, this was real and I had 500 words to live. “Had”, I said aloud.\n\nAs I made my way onto the stage, waiting for the applause to stop, I contemplated my day, and my life... and I began to speak.\n\n“My name is Thomas Sandusky. I am speaking today on Communication. Communication is our most valuable asset as human beings. We require this ability to assert our emotions, to convey a message to one anoth—“ my voice now hoarse and forced, I coughed, and felt the lump swell further within my throat making it near impossible to breathe let alone speak. “We take speaking for granted” I continued, “never worrying that we will encounter the time that there may not be any words left to share” I coughed, “but lest we run out of words one day, what might your last words be? Words spoken in anger? Speak kindly to one another, for we never know what words may be our las—-“", "“But doctor, how could that be? It is I, Master Roberto de las Heras. The best speaker of our time, nay, of all times! I’ve spoken in front of millions, playing on their emotions as if they were an orchestra and I their conductor, leading them through a performance that left thousands weeping and millions cheering! To tell me not to speak is to tell the rivers not to flow, the sun not to rise and a mother not to comfort her crying babe. I refuse it! \n\n\nYou look at me as if I’m vain, insanely so, but it is not for me I make this plead. It’s for everybody else. Who will, if I can’t, raise our soldiers’ spirits when their nights are cold and their fight without meaning? Who will go down on the podium, on the meeting of politicians, to strike a negotiation that leaves both parties equally discontent? Who will speak at the plaza on New Year’s, begging and nudging our people to do better, to be better? How can the world move without his humble server Roberto to tell it so? Your diagnosis must be mistaken, or maybe it was meant for the patient after me, because a world where my voice stops is a cold one.\n\n\nNo! NO! Don’t give me that look of pity, it is not mine to have! Scour those eyes of their care and understanding and think! Accept my truth doctor, because it’s the biggest you’ll ever get in this sad, little room you call your consultorio. Don’t let my anger rise anymore, because it has brought giants down, my righteous voice can cast you from your throne as surely as it has a hundred Kings. Scour that pity I tell you!\n\n\nPlease, please doctor, there’s got to be a way, a procedure, a medicine. This cannot be it, can it? I’ll do anything, I’ll pay you all the money in the world and then some. I will get you power and influence, men’s admiration and women’s love. With my voice I can get you the world, but you need to help me keep it. Please doctor, oh please, this can’t be my end.\n\n\nOh, it is, it’s my end. I can already sense it, creeping through my bones like the Parca herself. Its cold touch of bony fingers on my skin. My life goes down the drain doctor, and I can’t but think of all my regret, for things both done and left unfinished. Oh, my sweet Marie, how I have hurt you, now I can never tell you how sorry I am. Take care of our sweet daughter, she has all my best qualities and none of the worst.\n\n\nPerhaps it’s for the best. My life has been long and great, I thank you, good doctor, for listening to me. Let it be said that Master Roberto de las Heras knew when to said goodbye, and accept that his life ends not with a bang, but with a…”" ]	8
	[WP] Two goddesses and an elf squabble over the affections of one very confused archer.	[ "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.", "(WP) Love Shack: Fantasy Edition\n\nIf you’d have told me I would be involved in a love square with two goddesses and an elf, I would’ve thought you were crazy. I would’ve laughed myself stupid. But leave it to The Golden Calf bar and hotel to house such denizens.\n\n“Surely you all have lost your minds,” The goddess of fire, Jazira, murmured, smirking at me over the top of her glass of godsbane whiskey. “The archer belongs to me, and anyway, it’s not as if either of you had a chance with her.” She winked at me, and I scowled, holding up my hands.\n\n“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I didn’t say anything about belonging to anyone! I belong to myself, thank you very much!” I said quietly. I didn’t want to piss Jazira, or her sister, Amelie, for fear of being smote. “Thanks for the drinks, but I’ll be heading home now—”\n\n“Not so fast!” The elf, Cirdan, grabbed my arm, halting me in my tracks. Though she was tiny and sprightly, she had a surprising strength about her. Her long, dark hair was braided in a crown atop her head, and tattoos in different shades of green moved on her exposed skin.\n\n“You must choose one of us, boy,” She whispered in my ear, and I frowned at her.\n\n“I don’t want to! I have someone waiting for me in the village!” This was a blatant lie, but by this point, I’d had enough. “Will you kindly let me go so I can return home? I grow tired of these childish antics.”\n\nIt was just like high school, only a million times worse, because these women all had magical powers. Jazira could control fire, and with a simple snap of a finger, she could’ve set the building ablaze. Amelie was the goddess of light and love, but her eyes were narrowed, her full, feminine lips pursed into a coquettish pout.\n\nCirdan was the weakest of the three, magically, but she was the only daughter of an elf queen, and she’d been waiting to be married since she’d turned sixteen. These girls, incredible as they were, were my friends, and I didn’t want to break anyone’s heart. It would be unfair.\n\n“Can’t we all just get along, ladies?” I pleaded, desperate for a solution that wouldn’t end with me getting barbequed. “I love all of you, but like, as friends!”\n\nThree pairs of eyes found me all at once, pinning me in place.\n\n“Who is this person waiting for you back in your village?” Amelie asked, her voice dangerously quiet. So much for moving on.\n\n“I’ve been pledged to her my whole life,” I replied, shrugging, ordering a drink from the bartender. I knew I had to keep my wits about me, but their scrutiny was too much for me to take without any liquid courage. “It’s nothing personal, girls. I just… I can’t break my promise.”\n\nThere was a long, pregnant pause, during which I held my breath.\n\nHopefully my excuse would be enough to deter them.\n\n\\\\" ]	2
	[WP] after decades of war with an alien race, we finally win in pushing the off. however, to our horror we find out both of us where being used by two galactic superpowers as a proxy 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.", "The bodies were witness to the end of it all. Broken, mangled, strewn all around the pavilion. They had not deigned to clean it up, because time was short and all were hasty to return and to forget. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nFrom afar, I saw him in her in that suave black coat and pencil skirt. Completely professional and without humour, her imposing stature made her seem like a giant among men. Indeed, her rise was not without opposition, because after all....But then again, she had carried out her work with the best of her abilities and now here we were, finally at the precipice of peace. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe dismal atmosphere all around was probably due to the sulfur, which gave the air a yellowish-grey tinge. It was not as bad as it was two months ago, at the close of the fighting. The sulfur bombs were bad enough that people were wishing for the smell of their dead comrades to return, for a familiar scent such as that was surely better than the horrifying hazard that they were now confronted too. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI could taste it in my mouth, the minerals and the elements. The misuse of nature over decades, the recoil of the gun sending shivers through my spine. In the movies, soldierly death looks so clean. You know, you either get blown up or get your head blown out. For some, this was true. But for most, death from starvation or disease was more likely. Or an artillery shell blowing up your limbs, not very rare either. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe visions had returned. They had spread fast among the soldiers, on both sides we were told. Visions of ghouls in red and skeletal figures marching to a dread tune. I saw myself within the depths of the horror that my mind had manifested, trying to escape the real horror that the war presented to me. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd throughout it all, I had been reading. Trying to get myself to understand the foundations of our thought, what made us what we are. About the time that I reached Hobbes' Leviathan however, I had to stop. The war had become too harsh and too dangerous for me to spend time reading books. I could not afford that. Yet, I was disturbed and terrified by his vision of the natural state, that degrading world where all are in war with all. It felt real, it felt like now. And deep inside my mind, I could hear a gnawing sound. A sound of a shrouded figure in black, calling out to me. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nCome here, little one. I will save you from the terrors and the horrors of your life. I will deliver you unto the Leviathan. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI looked again at the stage. The yellow body of the opposition had placed himself on a chair, pondering the terms of surrender. His forces would be escorted out of the sector, and his nation would pay no restitution for their crimes. After the exhaustion and the destruction of the war, all were willing to forget it all and leave it be. All were willing to look inwards and rebuild, yet to me, something felt wrong about it. Something felt cowardly, as if we were being betrayed somehow. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nCome here, the Leviathan forgives, he does not judge. Do not you want to know what it is to be blessed by a living God?\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI shuddered at the voice in my head, the faceless shroud. It grew closer to me everyday, calling me to his malign God from the void beyond. My unease increased, there was something wrong about all of this. There was something being kept from us behind a facade. And I was not sure I wanted to know what it was. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe yellow sovereign frowned and looked at the President, whose own face soon turned grim. It was as if they had seen the pallid face of death call on them. And then they looked up and saw. Or perhaps only I saw.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI saw them large and clear, the palaces in the sky. The altar of the unknown, their faces grim and sturdy as stone, they were the vessels of divine retribution found in the Testaments of yore. And they had come to pronounce judgement upon us, now that the signature had been put down on paper, that the deal had been wrought. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI saw their blazing guns fire on our forces, with our weak willed return of fire. No chance did we stand against these monsters of the deep, the Moby Dicks of the universe! Where Ahab with all his knowledge could not defeat his beast, then how could we! And then, lo and behold, another beastly mechanism from the heavens came into our skies and rammed into our destroyers. \n\nBut we were not saved by the pity of even greater Gods just yet, for the battle raged on in the skies and on the ground, as brother turned on brother and the smell of sulfur and blood mixed to enhance the noxious fumes of death. I looked around me and saw it all collapse, the hope of peace and the hope of love. The hope of living on this green Earth that had been lost years ago to the follies of man. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd then I realized at last, that redemption lied in death. That all were made to return back to their grave, for that was the only salvation from the suffering and the whims of the Gods who had turned us into their pawns. I laughed then, for the solution was right under my noses. I was Oedipus and I was Hamlet, I was King Lear cradling his dead Cordelia. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI detached my utility belt and bent down on my knees, prostrating myself before the altar of the grim God of the beyond. And his messenger in the tattered black robes, with a voice so terrible and maddening, came to lift me up, to redeem me from the suffering of this world. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd what wonder it was to fall under the spell of the Leviathan, the greatest God of them all!\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nHi, I am Nothedarkweb! I am trying to create a series in an interlinked universe of cosmic horror that is not inspired by Lovecraft, but is still rich in symbolism, with the motif of the Leviathan (both biblical and Hobbesian) playing a major role!\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYou might not have read them, but here are two other entries in the same. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n[https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/e4sux1/wp\\_you\\_just\\_arrived\\_home\\_and\\_find\\_a\\_dead\\_body/f9fdlch?utm\\_source=share&utm\\_medium=web2x](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/e4sux1/wp_you_just_arrived_home_and_find_a_dead_body/f9fdlch?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x)\n\n[https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/e4kuoq/wp\\_you\\_are\\_a\\_serial\\_killer\\_with\\_a\\_body\\_count\\_of/f9cscq1?utm\\_source=share&utm\\_medium=web2x](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/e4kuoq/wp_you_are_a_serial_killer_with_a_body_count_of/f9cscq1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x)" ]	2
[This is my first post so I'm not sure what I'm doing format wise, please inform me if I did something wrong or if I need to do something more (already had to repost because of my lack of tags, so don't be afraid to tell me). This is intended to be comedic; this thought came into my head and I wondered what creative things you all could come up with; I kept the prompt open/vague for this reason]	[WP] A murder mystery where the main character uses as peanut butter for as many analogies as possible.	[ "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\\]\n\nMr. Boddy's brains splayed out, \nThick like peanut butter. \nWill clues flow quickly out \nor slowly like peanut butter? \n\nMrs. Peacock lost her lunch \nlike chunky peanut butter. \nProfessor Plum stays around on a hunch \nlike sticky peanut butter. \n\nI sniff the lounge for a glaring clue \nlike rancid peanut butter. \nThe lead pipe has some brown goo \nlike dried peanut butter. \n\nI hear soft voices from the hall \nLike chewing peanut butter. \nThe words will be someone's downfall \nLike Elvis' peanut butter. \n\nIn the kitchen I find some goo \nLike separated peanut butter. \nFrom the jar I've my last clue \nLike empty peanut butter. \n\nIn fly the guests to hear my gripe \nLike Peter Pan peanut butter. \nIn the kitchen, Scarlett, and pipe \nA big mess of peanut butter.", "Detective Justin Pan pulled up to the crime scene.\n\nHe gently wrapped his peanut butter and jelly sandwich back into a neat square and placed it on top of his dashboard. The detective gave the sandwich a little pat and whispered a tender farewell, and stepped out of his car.\n\nHis boots sank into crunchy, peanut-coloured mud. He sighed, again, but trudged on. In front of the police tape, he saw Officer Jones and gave a curt nod to her. Officer Jones replied with a curt nod as well.\n\n\"Officer Jones,\" Detective Pan said.\n\n\"Detective Pan.\" Officer Jones said. \"We've got a murder on our hands. Down this dark alley, we've got our body in there. It wasn't clean at all, there's a lot of blood all over the place, so be careful where you're stepping.\"\n\n\"Of course, Jones. Mind if you guide me there? My partner ain't here yet, so I would like to bounce some ideas off you before she arrives. It takes two slices of bread to make a sandwich, no?\"\n\n\"Of course, Detective, I'll be glad to help,\" Officer Jones replied. \"We haven't found out the victim's identity yet, but the body's a male, approximately in his late 20's. Multiple stab wounds across his body, front and back. The rain interfered a little with the scene, but thankfully, the corpse is in the shade so it shouldn't affect our investigation too much.\"\n\nPan and Jones walked. Pan didn't need Jones' help finding the body. The rain did little to wash away the acrid smell of blood, for the alleyway was well covered with random smatterings of objects. The body was in a relatively dry spot, with blood pooling all around it. Jones was right, it was a messy job. Pan stopped and scanned the surroundings.\n\nIt was a relatively uncluttered area. The victim's body was in front of a garbage bin, with a splotch of blood on it.\n\n\"Look there, Jones. Like a patch of jelly on peanut butter,\" Pan took out a notebook and started writing it in. Jones nodded, a little confused, but agreeable. Pan noticed the smear moving down over the bottom right corner of the dumpster.\n\n\"The victim must have been knocked into the bin during the scuffle. Considering how much blood is on there, it might be the final blow to him. Look at this smear. It's likely that he collapsed against the bin, and the murderer, in desperation, tried to drag him away. Like how one would desperately save every drop of peanut butter on the butter knife by rubbing it on the edge of the bread,\" Pan thought out loud.\n\nOfficer Jones looked at Detective Pan. He wasn't sure whether he should bring up how those two scenarios were nothing like each other, but she refrained from doing so. After all, it really wasn't her place to do so.\n\nDetective Pan stepped a little closer, taking care not to step on any sort of blood. He noticed the uneven, shallow stab wounds all over the corpse.\n\n\"It's highly likely that this was scuffle turned wrong. The cuts are relatively shallow, but one in the back landed in a vital spot. It definitely wasn't smooth at all, not like the top of a freshly opened jar of peanut butter.\"\n\nOfficer Jones was getting very creeped out. As politely as she could, she asked: \"Detective? When does your partner get here? I... have to go make a report. Away from here.\"\n\n\"Oh. Well, I wouldn't want to get in the way of your work, would I? I wouldn't want to get in the way of your work, like peanut butter and mayonnaise gets in the way of each other,\" Detective Pan said. \"Go ahead, Officer Jones. Detective Bonne should be here soon.\"\n\nOfficer Jones nodded, and quickly took her leave. She scrambled back to her police car, and sighed in relief. She noticed another car pulling up to the scene, and realised that Detective Bonne was here.\n\nBonne got out of the car. She greeted Officer Jones, and asked where Pan was. Officer Jones directed her down the alley.\n\nWhen Detective Pan saw Detective Bonne, they greeted each other.\n\n\"Bonne, the jam to my peanut butter. Look here, this isn't going to be an easy case, but nothing can't be achieved with this dynamic duo, eh?\"\n\n\"Of course, Pan,\" Bonne said. She took a look at the crime scene, and sighed. \"Unfortunately, looks like we are going to be as entwined as the chocolate swirls in a peanut butter jar. You ready for this, partner?\"\n\nOfficer Jones stared in horror. Her jaw dropped. There were two of them." ]	3
	[WP] Yesterday, the dwarf king announced that they had just finished the graves for every living person of all races, a giant necropolis in every dimension. Today, every dwarf on the planet laid down in their grave and drank a vial of poison. The gate to the necropolis is open and waiting for 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.", "It’s mid day and i notice my half dwarf best friend get up out of his chair and march right to the yet to be christened necropolis. I stare in awe as every dwarf i’ve ever met follows in almost drone like synchronicity. “It must be the commands of the dwarf king, nothing else makes sense, dwarves seem to be unable to disobey even the most trivial of requests from him. In the blink of an eye I see them all drop in unison falling into their graves, all but the dwarf king and I get a sinking suspicion that the humans are next. Suddenly I hear a voice in my head, “Humans” it says, “Follow my word as law! In the newly built necropolis you shall find a vial of poison. Drink of the vial and be born anew”. As if by instinct everyone i’ve ever known and loved stands and marches to the graves. I’m screaming in my head “NO STOP MOVING YOU CANT DIE! NOT YET, THERES SO MUCH YOU HAVENT DONE YET!!!” But my legs keep moving on their own. I reach the grave, my new resting place, I slowly raise the vial to my lips and cold harsh liquid go down my throat. In my last moments i manage to move on my own and I could have sworn i saw the dwarf kings face flicker from plump and hairy to a visage of harsh red bone and melted flesh. Finally my vision fades and i collapse into the grave. “My last moments and I couldn’t even do anything to die a better death, at least i’m by my family” i think to myself. Then suddenly my vision returns, i’m alive! I look around and i’m surrounded by family and friends, I ask “What happened?” and they reply that the dwarf king just announced that the world necropolis has just been finished. I know now what i must do, in one day’s time I must kill the dwarf king and prevent his evil plot from coming to fruition!!”" ]	2
	[WP] The year is 1937 during the peak of the prohibition, although you may be a federal agent, you sometimes take some of the liquor from the speakeasies you raid. After raiding a particularly odd speakeasy, you drink something from their liquor cabinet only to experience it’s odd effects	[ "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.", "\"Not used to seeing this place so quiet.\" Harold's words hovered for a moment, saturating in the silence.\n\nThe rest of the unit let out a smattering of laughter. They all visited the speakeasies from time to time, everyone did, but you weren't supposed to talk about it.\n\n\"Crying shame, really,\" Harold continued absentmindedly. \"I remember-\"\n\nThe Lieutenant raised his voice to cut Harold off. \"We are officers of the law and this is an illegal establishment. Stop talking about how you used to drink here.\" He looked up at the ceiling so the men couldn't see him smile. There were bright crystal chandeliers overhead, reflecting the electric light in a way that made the place look extraordinary. Not of this world, even.\n\nA fully furnished bar wrapped around one entire wall of the establishment. Thousands of different bottles were on display along the wall behind it. The Lieutenant peered a little closer, some of the labels were quite impressive. \"There are bottles here I've never even heard of.\"\n\n\"You shouldn't recognize any of them, considering the upstanding law-abiding officer you claim to be.\"\n\nThe unit snapped around at that, drawing their Colt 45s on the source of the voice. The Lieutenant couldn't help but feel a little pride at how quickly they'd gone from bantering to pure professionalism.\n\nA tall, wiry man with a handle bar mustache appeared by the bar, looking quite unconcerned. He had a white cloth over one arm and was impeccably dressed in a black suit with a bow tie.\n\n\"Get your hands in the air where we can see them,\" the Lieutenant said cautiously, though his instincts weren't firing on all cylinders. This man was not a threat.\n\n\"That won't be necessary,\" the mysterious bartender said, then he picked up a mixer and vigorously shook it before pouring the contents into five shot-glasses that seemed to have just materialized out of thin air. \"Here, try this.\"\n\nThe Lieutenant was still processing this odd sequence of events when Harold strolled up to the bar and in typical fashion slammed one of the shots back. The Lieutenant groaned. \"For fucks sake Harold, we're not supposed to drink-\"\n\nHis words tapered off at the sight he was witnessing. Harold had grown ephemeral. He seemed to float in place, adrift on an unknown and unseen current. At first he looked like he was in shock, then his face sunk into an expression of pure bliss, like he had no cares in the world. \n\nHarold and the Lieutenant's eyes locked for a brief moment. A moment in which the Lieutenant lost himself.\n\n\"I'll have what he's having,\" the Lieutenant eventually said, his law-abiding duties completely forgotten. \"What is it, anyway?\"\n\n\"It's an Experiential Shot\" The bartender slid one of the filled shot glasses across the bar. \"You'll have to find out for yourself.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Every member of the human race can manipulate something. Some have utilitarian abilities, such as manipulating concrete. Some have powerful abilities, such as manipulating hydrogen or gunpowder. Some have useless abilities, like manipulating fur. You are unique. You can manipulate DNA.	[ "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 put my head down on the desk. I needed rest. But of course that was too much to ask, and the door opened.\n\n\"We have another one.\"\n\nI sighed, and said \"Please, just five minutes.\"\n\n\"You know there isn't that much time.\"\n\nAnnie led me down the hall, again. No telling how many times today, yesterday, this week, this month. There's no rest. Where do you draw the line? Do you say no and let someone suffer? Let them die? Do you condemn them to a lesser life?\n\nEarly on, it was the opposite. Most people's skills show up by the time they're a teenager. Some show up earlier. For me, they put me through all the usual tests in high school, and the guidance counselor eventually shrugged his shoulders and declared me as useless. Needless to say, that's not a desirable life when you have no skills and no abilities.\n\nI only found out when I was 22. These strange colored patterns in front of me were suddenly clear, consistent in a way they'd never been. Then I felt like I could touch them, and one responded.\n\nThe next two years were a blur, so much time in tests and being bounced from university to university, research centers, hospitals. Supposedly even the President was briefed on my abilities. I even had a few \"Slugworth moments.\" I named it after the bad guy in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the one who offered Charlie unspoken riches if he just sold himself out. Yeah, that happened.\n\nNow they have a whole process for me, and once again I was out to work. Annie opened the door to Miranda's office, and I stood there while Annie briefed her on where I was to be teleported. I stood on the desk and closed my eyes while Miranda held her hands out and in a second I was away. I didn't even care where I was, but here it was...a doctor thanking for coming and briefing me on what he had and what I had to do. Happens the same way every time.\n\nHe escorted me to another exam room, and there was a mother holding her newborn baby. She looked scared, worried. \"Oh thank God, thank God, please help me.\"\n\n\"It's okay, ma'am, please just hold your baby still.\" And I went to work.", "Dread flashed through your mind as you felt that familiar tickle, that tiny near unnoticeable twinge that let you know that all hell was about to break loose.\n\n“What is it?” Stefania’s eyes wide with worry as she sat across from you, her hand reaching forward to take your own within her warm grasp. “Fin?”\n\n“You’ve got to go, get away!” Instinctively your hand rose, thumb and forefinger tightening against each other with the end of your nose between. “Run!” You roar as you bolt backwards away from the table, the metal framed chair flung backwards with a clatter as it collided with the diner’s tiled floor. By the look on your girlfriend’s face, she knew what was going on. The air resounded with a slight pop the instant that the words registered as she manipulated space and time. Then she was gone.\n\n“Aaaaaatchoooo!” You roar as the sneeze explodes from within, the sheer violence of the eruption the only thing able to lapse your control over the hideous power that resides within. “No-Atchoo!” You splutter again as the woman nearest to you falls to all fours, her nose elongating into a strange fleshy trunk, her feet and hands insect-like before she even makes contact with the ground. “I’m sorr-Atchoo!” The sound of plates smashing fills the air as one of the waitresses snaps forward at the waist, her arms bunched before her, as fingers turned quickly into claws, feet elongating into great furry paws. “Atchoo!” The other patron’s about him shrieking in fear, “Atchoo!” Some of the surrounding tables enclosed within domes of glass or rock as the inhabitants sought to use their own power to erect some form of defence. “Atchoo!”. As abruptly as it had started, the sneezing fit ended. “I’m…” You glance about the horror that surrounds you, your words failing you. “I’m so, so sorry.”\n\n“I’m calling the police!” A man yells as he pulls free his phone, fingers a blur as they dialed the number for the emergency services.\n\n“No! Please, I didn’t-I didn’t mean to!” Before your mind had even come to a decision, your instinct to flee had kicked in. The diner a blur as you leap the table, the door merely paces away.\n\n“And where’dya think you’re going, Kid?” You skid to a halt as a massive man steps forward to block your path.\n\n“Look, I don’t want to hurt you…” Panic rising within your chest with each word that leaves your mouth. “Please, just…” Again instinct takes over as the brute raises one arm, the ground about you erupting in pillar-like spikes to every side. A grunt escapes your lips as one such creation slams into your side, your ribs groaning in protest as you flip upward and over the rocky pillars. The moment you hit the floor, you’re up and moving. Barely a glance spared toward the stone cage that the huge man had created as your barrel forward toward him. “I’m sorry…” You whisper as you fling yourself forward.\n\nImmediately the man before you starts to shrink and twist, his eyes growing round as his legs elongated and bent. The last thing you see of the stranger’s transformation is a pair of long fluffy ears sprouting from atop of his head. With hand held before eyes you wince at the sudden brightness of the outside world. The summer breeze gentle and warm as it strokes your exposed skin in transit, a sensation in complete juxtaposition to the fear and horror within.\n\n“Stop!” A stranger screams from across the street, her arm flung forward toward him. You freeze. Everyone he had ever met, other than himself, controlled their powers of manipulation with hand gestures. What had she just done?\n\n“Oof!” The solid wall of air that slams directly into your front answered your question without any further deliberation, the power of the blow enough to launch you from your feet. You growl as anger rises within, A guttural sound, kindled from the primal flame of anger deep inside. The woman screams as she hunches forwards, her beige jacket tearing as great glass-like wings erupt from within her back, her hands drooping toward the ground as they lose all shape, puckered suckers lining her underarms as they morphed into tentacles.\n\nAll of this from a sneeze. You shake your head despairingly as you run. Your sneezes had been an issue ever since you could remember, even from a young age after learning to control your ability. For some reason, no matter your mastery of control, the moment the sneeze exploded outward, things went to shit.\n\nA blast of pain bloomed across one shoulder as something collided with you mid sprint, the trajectory of your next foot placement knocked off balance to send you sprawling to the ground. Instantly you roll to the side, the dirt exploding as a ball of ice slams into the spot your head had just vacated. With a curse you bolt to your feet, your run resumed as panicked eyes tear about your immediate vicinity to locate the threat. Nothing. You need an escape route, a way out where you would be unlikely followed.\n\nThere! Your heart begins to beat in overdrive as you spy a grated drain cover merely a few steps distant. Without thought your direction changes, your attention turned inward as you rearrange your internal makeup, your body losing solidity as you dissolve your bones and elastify your form. A strange sensation passes throughout your compressed body as you squeeze between the iron grates, spewed out beneath like playdough through a child’s toy shape-gun. Then you were through.\n\nWith a sob you return your form to normal, the foul water splashing to coat your lower body with a thick layer of stinking brown muck as you fall to your knees. Slowly you pull free the handheld mirror you keep on you at all times, the long handled gilt type of Victorian origin. You meet your own stare as you prepare to say the words. The words that everybody knows, yet everybody refuses to admit. Your lips part in whisper.\n\n“Epstein didn’t kill himself.”", "There were more than 80 dampers guarding the room, and it still felt like the entire hall was vibrating with nervous energy. Literally vibrating, you could even see tiny cracks forming in the concrete. It was painfully obvious there were at least a dozen masons in the room. In case you can't tell yet, that's a bad thing. Nobody wants to be a mason, and definitely not kids of the elite that had gathered today for an exclusive early reveal session.\n\nThe girl sat across me gently stroked the leaves of the plant she had brought, with a distant look in her eyes. I opened my mind out, and felt her dismay. I realized that she knew as well as I did that she wasn't going to make it to the agrarian community. This might very well be the last time she got to touch a living plant. I withdrew quickly, only to feel a slight tug on my way out. The girl snapped her head up to glare at me. Interesting.\n\nBut I'm getting carried away. You must've assumed by now that I was either a damper or one of those administrators or government guys, what with all this reading emotions in locked rooms. Well. No. I was here for my reveal too. Now before you call bullshit and pull your mind out, I promise there's a very good reason I could read minds despite my iuvenis bracelet. They say my mother controlled molecular bonds, the only one of her kind. She was also unique in another way - she was the first one to die while giving birth to a child. Ever. They declared a hub-wide holiday and almost shut that planet down. In all that ruckus, baby me could hear only one sentence - Don’t Tell Them. Yeah, creepy.\n\nSo yeah. You get it. My mom tried messing with the band, the backlash killed her, my power leaked out, my dad can read minds, so now I can read emotions, yada yada yada. I just couldn’t wait for the band to be out and my entire power set to release. I had been living with my secret for a long, long while now. I figure mother had messed with my baby brain, but I could NOT talk about the leak. Not even to dad. \n\nAfter mom passed away, nobody dared to get in dad’s way. Dad would mindwash people before any resistance even passed into their conscious minds from their subconscious. So it was pretty obvious I’d get into the first reveal of the decade without asking.\n\nA loud gong jerked me back into reality. “Line up!”, the air said. Everybody exchanged nervous glances, we all knew what this meant - the air-mover was here. Supreme lord of the 8th hub, the controller of the breaths and, well, our very own sorting-hat. With every subsequent reveal, the initiate would get to discover his powers. Timidly. Under control. And if anybody did anything unusual at all, the air would make them pay. Sometimes they clamped the bands back on, but that hadn’t happened in a long while.\n\nI walked to my counter, with my precious little token number one. The countdown for the first set of reveals started, and a collective sigh began to rise before the air smashed it down. Not a single sound. Two. One. GO. The band fell off.\n\nInstantly, the eggs in the central pit hatched. A dozen fountains burst out with water. People around counter 34 grew moustaches. There was a thunderclap. I could smell cherry blossoms. The mosquitoes in the pit fell down dead. A dozen other things happened. And finally, a concrete pillar shakily rose out of the pit. \n\nA collective cheer filled the room. A great set of skills! There were hugs and whoops and a tear or two from the mason, but soon enough he was dancing too. I suppose it was more joyful than he anticipated. \n\nMy administrator finally blinked. \n\n“Emotion! Emotion. I can feel what you’re feeling!”. I was surprised as the words fell out of my mouth. I snapped back into reality. The band was off! I instantly plunged into the admin’s mind. \n\nEmotion. Where are the thoughts? I can’t see anything. Does this admin have only emotions? Wait. I can’t read minds?! Is it only emotion I can read? WHAT? NO?! I was supposed to…….\n\nThe air in my lungs came rushing out. I realised the room had fallen eerily quiet again. The air mover was a step away, a grim expression on. \n\n“Hurray!” The room burst out into reverie again. The mover patted my head and smiled, “We expected nothing less from you”. The admin congratulated me and quickly entered my details, before gesturing me to move for the next guy’s turn. \n\nWith every step away, I felt my anger rise. Emotions were not enough. I knew I could do more. The initiates were joyfully demonstrating their newfound skills to family, and I couldn’t bear it anymore. \n\n“STOP”, I heard myself scream. And stop it did. All of it. That was the moment in which the first reveal batch of 1500C23 lost their powers, forever.\n\nEdit: It'd be great if I could get some feedback/ criticism on this!" ]	4
	[WP]You're been dating a lovely alien girl when she perishes in a freak accident. Three months later, she reappears, acting as if nothing ever happened; you realize you're dating a hivemind -- and there will always be innumerable replacement drones ready to step in.	[ "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.", "She had died on a gray curb, victim of an out of control hover board.\n\nBut now some beautiful stranger with a key, somehow, was opening my door.\n\n\"Hello-o-o,\" she called out.\n\nI was stunned, that slow extended voice seeing if I'm home, low and soft, well it startled me alright, it threw me more than a little off balance lying stuck on the couch.\n\nYou see, the Accident really screwed me up for awhile, which wasn't fair to her memory at all. That I was still breathing while she was buried was fucking awful. \n\nI was making all the life choices you'd expect, terrible, terrible choices. It showed on me. Eventually everyone around you moves on, and I could see it in people's eyes, my coworkers and family and friends, their eyes were telling me to get on with life. And recently they'd congratulate me with little \"I'm glad you're back on your feet,\" trite statements and \"she'd be happier with you living your life again,\" when all I did, basically, was get my shit back together.\n\n\"How are you here? Alive? What happened?\" \n\n\"Oh, I just had to take care of a few things, after that awful hoverist,\" she shuddered, \"I also needed to make sure I was as you remember me sweetie,\"\n\nShe held her soft arms out, as if I was to inspect her. I felt my body compelled to hold her, touch her, but I had to know if this was real, how could it possibly be real. I remember the agony in my throat during the call from the police, it felt like it was returning in full force.\n\n\"How are you alive? You died, there was a service.\" \n\nHer smile was calm and perfect after so long, it fed my spirit something that I was lacking in my self pity. \n\n\"Baby, there will always be replacements, its a Sceru'vle body, I'm not human remember?\" \n\n\"I'm sorry,\" and I was, I looked about as crappy as a bag of overripe leftovers, and not to mention how poorly I slept and my crappy pajamas I had on. \n\nShe was reassuring, calming, generous in her foreign manner. She would always be here. She kept saying that and I was happy. \n\nCut through the awkward phone calls and strange apologies that what had happened in the aftermath of the Accident was probably unnecessary. \n\nI was still paranoid and noticing more and more that she was much more possessive and wanting to make up for lost time. \n\nI had my doubts, was this really her? No one else had any idea that she was part of a more-or-less immortal race thanks to the Sceru'vle Body and Mind Replacement Service.\n\n\"Is there anything else I should know about your ... organization?\"\n\nThen she showed me the Sceru'vle Sovereign Wealth Fund, which paid a dividend to all participates in the Hive Matrimonial Life-mate Service. \n\nI double checked my tuxedo and reviewed my vows, because, after all, beggars can't be choosers.", "Though I was surprised by the news, as I imagine most would be, I found I didn't mind all that much. In the months leading up to the first Jennifer's death I had found myself to be happy; truly happy, for the first time I could recall. I had stumbled into a good thing that many, including my younger self would have been jealous of. I had nothing to complain about then, so silly as it may sound I didn't think I had much to complain about after finding out, either. \n\nIf there was anything difficult worth mentioning, it would be getting the pronouns straight. My mind would sometimes wrap itself around in knots trying to figure out the right terms. What do I get them for their birthday? Wait, no, her birthday. It's birthday? Her. They. Them. What? Many times I had found myself stuck within these grammar vortexes while out in a shop and only found release when the sales clerks would intervene. \n\n\"Are you okay, sir? Can we help you?\" they would often ask. \n\nI would then usually come to and blurt out a twisted mess of thought. \"I need the perfect gift for a whole bunch of the people. And she needs to love it! I can't disappoint them!\" \n\n\"Oh, so you need presents for, uh, twins?\" was usually their best assumption.\n\n\"Yes, but a lot of them,\" I would say before fleeing the shop in embarrassment. \n\nIt was a rather absurd way of existing but it was by no means bad. My life had been overwhelmed by too many of a good thing. So what if it occasionally short circuited my brain every now and then. \n\nMy life with the second Jennifer carried on in a similarly silly yet lovely fashion over the course of several years. Those years proved to be the easiest I would ever know. Very rarely had I ever considered that there was a divide between my first and second loves. They were the same in appearance and in mind, and my mind had been fully lulled into a false sense of safety. She had told me there would always be more, so I had no reason to worry of the future, right? I would never be alone, and I would always know the perfect love I had found. But it wasn't until the second fell ill did it strike me. Though they had no ultimate end, they were still mortal. My first had died, and soon my second would join her. \n\nI would have to say goodbye again. And again. And again.\n\nThe drones that contained the hive mind were largely disposable in the grand scheme of things. As the cancer quickly progressed and ravaged my beloved's body, they informed me that this would always be the case unless more immediate tragedies intervened. They would also replace my Jennifer with a copy that appeared as aged as me, but our time would come with an expiration date. Despite the dozens of heartbreaks I knew lay ahead, I decided it was worth it to know love, happiness, and companionship for the rest of my days.\n\nBut boy was it hell. \n\nMy third Jennifer appeared quickly after I had quietly buried my second in the woods behind our home. Nobody would ever know of her deaths aside from me, as it had to be. Life carried on mostly as normal, and joy and fulfillment greeted me with a smile every morning. But little moments started to interrupt my thoughts. Small reminders of what was to come. Visions of shoveled Earth, and tears shed, and those awkward days between the time of death and when my life would be returned once more. It wasn't enough to keep me down, but it was enough to know I was in for a battle. \n\nThe fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Jennifer's came and went, each cut digging progressively a little deeper. I had never been so happy but so aware of sadness in my whole life. But still I loved, and was loved, and considered myself lucky. Some only had to say goodbye once, but they would never again see what was lost. Though I had now closed my wife's eyes many times, I knew they would always open to me again a short time later. \n\nBut now as an old man, I sometimes think back and wonder if it was all worth it. What if I had found a 'normal' life? What if I would have settled down with a girl, and she turned out to be my lifetime helpmate and we passed away together? What if neither of us ever had to say goodbye? Wouldn't that have been better? I don't know. I really don't. And I suppose it's all a silly waste of time, anyway. \n\nThough my heart has been so broken over the handful of decades upon the Earth, it has always been healed in the end. The rains always gave way to sunshine, as it were. Even when I find myself in those pessimistic moods halfheartedly wishing things had been different, I always come back into the present. I always look across the room and see my Jennifer, whatever number she should be, and realize just how blessed I am. And in any case, it'll all be moot in a few days, anyway, as my time is just about up. My heart will break just one more time.\n\nSoon I will say goodbye, one last time.\n\n\n___________________\nr/psalmsandstories for more tales by me, should you be interested." ]	3
	[WP] For the seventh time today you open the door at the knocking and find nobody there. This time though, you find a note that reads 'We're all inside now.'	[ "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.", "All day, my doorbell has been rung and when I got out to inspect it, there was nobody there. The first time, I laughed myself. A sign I was getting old after all, I suppose. The second time I got a small chuckle. \r\n\r\nThe third and fourth time, I was not so friendly. I stopped my other activities in order to keep an eye out for whoever was ringing my doorbell. I sat with my chair facing outside my bay window, keeping a close eye on my front door. \r\n\r\nI was just living in normal suburbia, my house similar to every other one on the street. A small 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house on a cul-de-sac. A small front lawn, and a slightly larger backyard. Inside my house, there wasn’t too much to be found. Some furniture, a TV, my computer and my bed were the most valuable things you could find in the house. \r\n\r\nI didn’t see much as I was watching my door. The mailman came by and dropped off mail sometime before noon. My neighbors were walking their dog, a little yapping thing, and waved at me when they passed by. I gave them a big smile and a wave back as they went on their way. I didn’t imagine they were the ones doing it seeing as how one of them is in a giant leg cast and they both are approaching 70. Another one of the neighbors jogged by with her headphones in. I did think it could be her for a minute, but seeing as how she looped back a few times meant she was more invested in her workout then personally pissing me off. \r\nI began to wonder what was going on and if other neighbors were getting the same treatment. I decided after 2 hours of watching my front door, I should go outside and take care of some errands. The lawn was certainly overdue for a trim. \r\n\r\nI grabbed the lawnmower out of the garage and got to mowing. As I was mowing, I saw the old couple again walking by. I decided to ask them about what was going on and if they had any issues as well. \r\n\r\n“No, I can’t say I heard anyone ring my bell at all. I just replaced my hearing aid so I would certainly hear it by now.” The old man said as he was keeping a tight hold on the leash of his little dog who was barking up a storm and lunging in all directions. The wife also agreed and didn’t mention anything either. \r\n\r\n“I think someone has left a paper on your door there, son.” She said as she pointed to a paper taped onto my door. \r\n\r\n“That wasn’t there before, when I got out to start mowing my lawn. How did that get there? Must have been when I was doing my backyard.” I said back to her. \r\n\r\nI went over to inspect the paper. It was just a simple piece of copy paper folded in half. When I opened it read:\r\n\r\nHalf of us to go\r\n\r\nUnderneath the sentence, was a smiley face that was drawn in blood. I didn’t want to alarm the neighbors or cause the cops to investigate, so I folded it back up and stuffed it into my pocket. \r\n\r\n“So what did the paper say on it?” the old man asked me. \r\n\r\n“Oh, it’s an advertisement for some sort of timeshare meeting. You know how it is, you sign up for one thing and before you know it, they try to sell you on everything but the clothes on your back\" I replied. \r\n\r\nWe shared a small chuckle as I wished them a good day and they began to continue on their walk. \r\n\r\nI finished up my lawn and pushed the mower back into my garage. As I was about to go wash my hands, I heard the distinct sound of my doorbell ringing again. I rushed over to the door and opened it and found nobody. No warning on the door, no signs of someone walking on my lawn, nothing. \r\n\r\nI slammed the door closed as I let out a yell of annoyance. I resigned myself to no longer opening the door at all. That lasted all of 10 minutes when the door rang again. \r\n\r\nI once again ran to the front door and opened it. This time another notice was on the door. It was folded up in a similar fashion like the last one. \r\n\r\nWe’re all inside now\r\n\r\nThis time the sentence was followed with a face that had the eyes replaced by 2 X's. \r\n\r\nI closed my door quietly and locked the door. \r\n\r\n“You’re all inside now you say? Well that certainly saved me a lot of hassle. You know I moved here last year because I had heard of this house and its haunted past. Quite a few murders happened here. I was so glad I got this place for a steal.” I said calmly to whatever would hear me in my living room.\r\n\r\nI began to walk towards my hallway closet as I heard a faint rumbling in my house. I opened the door and pulled a string attached to the wall. A hidden door popped up and I went into the small hidden room and I grabbed a small black bag. I opened it up and grabbed a glass bottle, a wooden stake, and a container of purified salts. Another rumbling shook my house as I heard whispers from all over. \r\n\r\n“Now now, there’s no reason to complain. You chose this house to haunt, not my fault you didn’t know I was an exorcist. So why don’t you all come out and hang out with me? That or I can go room to room and find and destroy each and everyone of you.” I said out loud as I went back to my living room and took a seat on my couch. \r\n\r\n“You all were so confident when you put those papers on my door. Let’s see how confident you really are now, eh? I’ll give you 10 minutes to man it up.” I said as I looked at my clock on the wall and began to wait once again." ]	2
	[WP] You are a evil scientist that has created modified clones with superpowers. Unfortunately you can't use them in battle because you've grown attached to them and don't want them to get hurt.	[ "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 do it,\" I said. His gaze hardened. He took a menacing step toward me.\n\n\"You will do it, or you will be punished,\" he said, glancing behind him briefly at the long-haired man a few feet behind him.\n\n\"I can't send them out to fight,\" I said, \"I know they're enhanced clones, but I can't, they're my children.\"\n\n\"Children?!\" my boss barked in my face, laughing cruelly, \"What's more important, your so-called children, or the allegiance you pledged to HYDRA?\" My boss was scary when he was angry. My legs shook and I fiddled with the hem of my pristinely white lab coat.\n\n\"Answer me!\" he screamed in my face, spit flying. \n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. \n\n\"I don't want your sorry! I want you to answer the question!\" he seethed, gripping my neck and squeezing. Hard.\n\n\"My children,\" I choked out.\n\n\"Very well,\" he said releasing my throat. He glanced at the man who had been silent the whole time. \"You know what to do.\" I stood stone still as my boss left, and the notorious Winter Soldier made his way toward me in his place. \n\nI took a breath and closed my eyes. The last thing I felt was the cold metal of the Winter Soldier's fist connecting with my face.", "It all began, I would say, a few months ago. That's when \"they\" were created. These were the ones that I knew would succeed to my reign. My creation, my successor, my children. Those very months ago, several youths were discovered to have gone missing. Oh, but I know exactly where they went. Applying my years of research to these specimens of mine, I wiped their memories for a clean slate, before I began to, make changes to say the least. It was tiresome, but I did it, and within a week of training, I saw potential in each one of their eyes.\n\nThat was where it started, but I kept them a secret for longer than their training needed. With that, I sent the first two of my creations out there; Iron Maiden, a cyborg loaded to the teeth with weapons, and Clockwork, a speedy one who obstructs the flow of time around him. I had the feeling these two were good friends before their augmentation. They were sent to different locals for their respective crimes, and I giggled with delight by observing them do so under my satellite surveillance. Maiden did wonders destroying buildings, and Clockwork made quick work out of emptying entire streets of their belongings. That was the best I have felt in forever. And then they showed up.\n\nI'm of course referring to the biggest roadblock in my path to total reign, Super JJ and his team of misfits. I couldn't believe my eyes when these super powered freaks shown on my cameras. Stati-king, JJ's right hand man, waved his hand with an electric shock, and took down Maiden in an instant. Wonder Bri, his girlfriend, sparked flames that surrounded Clockwork, and his time stopping abilities couldn't get him out of that. Damn. Those jokers are the reason why I made these experiments in the first place, to take them down and lead the way to my rise in power.\n\nLuckily though, they were able to escape and return to the laboratory. I scolded them for not taking up any training protocols against them and sentenced them to their punishment. I know, it may be a bit harsh for the first time, but surely the next few would work wonders. Permafrost, my stealthy cold hearted killer, was sent to freeze over the center of the city. Toxin, the lizard-like battler, was flushed to the sewers and cause rupture in the pipes and drainage. And lastly, Overgrowth, my botanic warrior, was sent to take over the coast with her monstrous plants. These were destined to work and lead to the chaos I envisioned. Were.\n\nJJ and his band of freaks foiled my plans again and again. Permafrost had a rough brawl with Black Lion and his titanium exo-suit. Toxin was swept out of the sewers by Photox and his manipulative ability of liquids. Arrowstorm was able to take down Overgrowth's plants with just a few precise shots.\n\nDamn it. Damn it! DAMN IT! Why is it that whenever my plans seem perfect, these guys just waltz in and shoot it down? \\sigh\\ It's been hours since then and all of my experiments were kept in their cells to wait out their punishments. I began to look over other possible plots on my computer, when I felt a tug on my lab coat. \n\n\"Excuse me, father.\" It was young Puppet. She was very young the day I took her and the others in, and she had a scar on her left eye. I properly gave her a fancy new one, but she was too frail for me to send out as I would with the others. I gave her the power to control other miniature objects with her mind. Not as impressive as the others, but she seemed to be very happy with it. The youth, so much more bubbly the younger they are.\n\n\"What is it Puppet? You know I'm busy.\", I replied pulling her up to my lap.\n\n\"Its just that, you send everyone out there to do these things.\"\n\n\"Precisely. That is what I made them to do, to cause these acts of villainy so that we could rule the city.\"\n\n\"But.\", I was assuming she would ask why I don't send her out there as well. I've told her about a million times now that she wasn't ready to do what the others could. However, she continued, \"do you really care about us?\"\n\nI was shocked. Could she be thinking that I'm only using them for my twisted goals? \"Wha- yes, of course I do sweetheart. I'm doing this because I want us all to live at the best we can.\" Hopefully, she would take the note.\n\n\"And when these don't go right, you lock them in their rooms?\"\n\n\"Why yes. They should have performed better out there. There is no place here for failure.\"\n\nShe started tearing up. \"Then don't hurt them for doing wrong, please. You don't want them to get hurt do you?\"\n\nJust then, something pierced my heart. Perhaps it was guilt. I've never felt this since I put the work in to augment Puppet here. This changed things. Am I really being a bad person by doing these things at all? There aren't my real children, but am I being a bad father figure to them? That night, was the first time in a while that I've been moved deeply by one of them. I wiped Puppet's tears and brought her to bed. And now, that led to here.\n\nOver the next few months, I would send them out there less often. I made sure they were safely prepared to when the time came, and they still lost. But I've changed from that deranged scientist scolding his creations. Ever since that night, I've been more caring to them. I would rush to the scene or order them to return to the base when things got out of hand. I've seen more smiles on there faces that I showed them more love and care, and I want it to stay that way.\n\nOne day, the lab door burst open. \"Long time no see Doc,\" a voice came from the door. JJ and his freaks.\n\n\"Father, stand back\" uttered Toxin.\n\n\"We can handle 'em this time\" spoke Clockwork.\n\nI step forward past them. \"No no no, children. I wouldn't dream of seeing you get hurt.\" I slid a remote control from under my coat and pointed it at the heroes. \"Allow me to show you how it's done.\"", "With a thrust, I, the great Dr Higgensmitz slotted a human like arm onto the six foot robot. Ofcourse at the time I didn't know what I was bringing to the world. I just wanted to take over a state or two, maybe hawaii, I'd heard it was nice in the summer and I'd been meaning to evil my way to my own state for years.\n\nEven then I couldn't help but notice how handsome it looked fully clothed and limb-ed. Obviously, the robot was not quite as attractive as myself. But it had my eyes, and hair, and shoulders and nose...\n\n\"I shall name you...\" I paused for thought, but only for a moment, the name came to me much like how I’d assume Mozart symphonies, or Kanye MBDTF. \"Two! I’ll name you two…nono, Tu with a 'u' because it's cuter.\" I smiled at my own excellence, I knew I was gifted as a scientist, a villain, a leader, but even naming? Too many gifts, too little time.\n\n\\---\n\n“You need to learn martial arts, so I brought you the best in the world.” My tone may have been somewhat doting. Even then I had fallen for him.\n\nWe were in the evil dining room. Tu was sat on the evil couch with his lifeless but loving eyes rapt on me.\n\nHe was two weeks old now and as a reward for finally mastering mandarin, and all the other languages of the world, I’d teleported Jackie Chan with my kidnapinator, which conveniently wrapped stolen persons in red curtains.\n\nTu had mastered how to handle the evil electric-fire thrower 3000 I’d made for him, and all of the video game battle techniques that I set to install in his operating system had finally finished downloading- evil wifi is slower than regular wifi. In short, Jackie had no chance.\n\nI unwrapped Jackie and removed his blindfold. Then I shoved him towards Tu.\n\n“Okay, begin!”\n\n“What, where am I? Twins? Who are you guys…” Jackie mumbling just like the movies. I grabbed popcorn from the kitchen ready to watch the two go head to head. Mano y manobot.\n\nFor a brief moment I thought, what if Jackie cheated and won? what If he hurt too? But as soon as I saw hte pink button Tu took out of his chest, I relaxed.\n\nTu used his breast localised cageinator to trap Jackie. It caused ggrey bars to sprout from the ground underneath Jackie Chan.\n\nThen Tu started firing electric flames through the bars to roast him. I was cheering, exciting for Tu’s first win, they grow so fast I thought. \n\nBut Jackie used an ancient technique to split the bar open causing my my eyes to widen.\n\nTu tried to catch Jackie but Jackie cheated by dodging. Jackie tried to follow up with a crescent kick to Tu’s head.\n\n“That’s it.” I pressed the big red button below the kitchen table for the disintergratorinator, and red beams left smoke and burn marks where Jackie used to be.\n\n“I could have handled that.” Whimpered Tu.\n\n“Ofcourse you could have dear, I just decided to speed things up, you learnt all you needed to from him.” I smiled warmly at Tu, lost in the flop of his ear, the strength of his arms, the curve of his nose…. He was so perfect.", "Death used to seem so easy. As I looked around my laboratory and gazed upon the bodies I had preserved which had given birth to my children, I recalled how little I had felt when I killed them. They'll give so much to science! I remember thinking as the light slow fled from their eyes. They were going to donate their bodies to it anyway, I'm just getting a head start... was another common justification of mine. \n\nBut these days as I sit down to dinner with my little group of super humans, I feel nothing but fear and conviction. I know the kinds of trouble they get into. And I know that by now the scientists of my opposite nature have surely finished specimens of their own, or will shortly. Awesome battles seem imminent as my plan, now most unfortunately, is going exactly how I wanted it. Chaos will reign, and the world will know both pain and joy unrivaled in all of history. \n\nAnd it's going to kill my kids. \n\nWe sit around and eat our baked chicken and steamed vegetables like any other family would. But they know. They can see it in my face. They can tell I'm self-medicating when I go for that third glass of wine. They know exactly what they are because I had always told them so. They were evil, they were super, but they were still mine and I was still theirs. The tension would become palpable and often never found its resolution, as none of us were particularly skilled at the more gentle emotions. But, bless their wicked hearts, they would still try. \n\n\"Um, dad?\" Pyro Punch would ask, \"Why, uh, are you sad? We killed well today, right?\" \n\n\"Oh, of course you did, Pyrie,\" I'd say. \"Don't worry. I'm sad, but it will pass. All things will soon end, anyway, right kids?\"\n\nThey would nod excitedly in agreement but it would do little to deflect their queries. \n\n\"But it's something more than that, isn't it. You're scared for us, right?\" Glass Cannon would ask. I had added extra genes to her DNA to make her more insightful - I used to long for someone to understand me - which I now keenly regretted. \n\n\"Well. Yes, I'm afraid you're correct, Glass. Science is, as you all know, rather inevitable. I was the first to discover the ways to make you possible, but I was never going to be the last. The forces of good have found their own way forward, and will likely soon deploy methods to fight you. You'll...get hurt.\"\n\nMy children, though all very much adults, gasped like little ones finding out that Santa doesn't exist. \"Bullshit!\" Moonfall yelled. He was always a bit of a hot head, but I found his sincerity charming. \n\n\"It's true. You'll die. And I, well, I love you all,\" I said awkwardly. \n\nThe room collectively squirmed as the word began to sink in, its static definition finding new meaning in the deeper places of our hearts. \n\n\"I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're...fond of you...\" Kick Butt said. He was my oldest, and my naming convention at the time clearly left a lot to be desired. \n\nWe would go on to share a few more months of these awkward dinners, discussing the villainy of our days with the acknowledged subtext that each word now meant more. Our time was running out, and in some ways I was grateful for it. It turned out that I never needed to add genes to make any of them insightful or caring or even keeled and the like, as I had always done. Simply telling them I loved them had changed all of our perceptions of each other, and in its own way made each of us whole. \n\nJust as I had suspected, those that leaned into the light soon let it be known that they would be taking the fight to my side. My kids would soon leave for their final battle. They wouldn't die right away as they were quite strong indeed, but they would be occupied with more important things than an old man moping around his lab. They would never come home, and all I would be left with were the bodies that had first given life to my children. Cold, limp, neutral to the bone. And I would be filled with regret that I had ever created the path to my own heart's destruction. \n\nDeath used to seem so easy.\n\n&nbsp;\n___________________\nr/psalmsandstories for more tales by me, should you be interested." ]	5
	[WP] While on a routine inspection of the desolate desert wastes, you come upon the remains of a burnt and irradiated refrigerator inside the bed of a pickup truck. Inside the fridge is the surprisingly well-preserved remains of a young man. You wonder how he got in 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.", "Dunes. Sand dunes. Peaks and valleys of wind blown sands, eroded slowly across the desert ocean. Slow moving waves pushed relentlessly across the landscape. He couldn't quite recall what year it was, something in 2xxx. Not that it mattered, he'd stopped tallying when his last notebook had filled up, now he recorded from the voice wrist. He had he'd stopped saying the date, it wasn't relevant out here. He trudged in the sand his boots digging deep, causing small sand shelves to slide down in the left behind indents. \n\nHis boots sank into the apex of the hill he had climbed upon, giving a wide swath of the land as his view. He squinted, seeing something way in the distance, taking his macro-binoculars up from around his neck he looked on. The screen identifying with labels of sand, course sand, silt sand, gravel sand, and rusted iron pillars. Iron pillars that was something new, maybe something survived through all of this. He slid down the hump, landing in the dip sand all around.\n\nIt took him quite a while to get over. So long in fact the first sun was setting, the second rising in the south. His assignment details gave one to three weeks of time, he was still in the first week so he was under no pressure. He took his time, keeping dry and sweatless by the air conditioners, running as fans from the back of his suit. He climbed another hill, this one looking down upon the ruins, sand slid each way pooling at either vertex. \n\nHe raised his wrist tapping a button. \"found some sort of iron sticking up from the ground, gonna check it out.\" he slid down with the surfing sand. \n\nHalf buried in a shipment full of sand, four iron pillars formed the skeleton of what had once been some sort of staging garage. The blacktop under was eroded, filling with pockets of sand. In the center of the pillars, covered in a layer of dusted sand was a truck, of a make and model that he'd never seen. On the front grill was an emblem of a animal he had never seen, long legs and a mane. He looked through the broken windows, both shattered, pieces of glass littering the insides and outside ground. In the cabin was a fading journal, the paper crinkling and words fainting. On the dash was a shattered mug, the liquid long evaporated away. Each seat was slashed the stuffing coming undone, mixing with pellets of sand. The windshield was melted a hole shaped as both suns burned through. It burned the tops of each front seat. He tried the door handle, the door fell off with his grip. He winced for a moment then took a step back, beginning to explore the truck bed. The bed was filled with a load of sand, a crate of a long dead company was in the corner, the paint chipped away. Next to it mostly covered in the same sand was a old pre space refrigerator. He climbed up over the side which bent under him weak metal. He reached for the fridge handle, alarms went off in his suit he pulled back, radiation alarms. He checked the levels on his wrist high levels of invisible radiation were detected, only emanating from the fridge everything else was stable. \n\nHe pressed a button on his suit, an extra film came out over the suit to protect from alpha particles and extreme heat. He grabbed the fridge handle and pulled. There was no food in it. Instead their was a corpse. A man who looked to be in his late twenties had their head slumped to the right of the fridge, their eyes glazed over with the signs of death. No life signs, still he checked the neck for a pulse, an old habit of his. There was none, the body was warm only because of the climate. Otherwise the body had been preserved albeit dried out. As he withdrew his fingers dry skin came with it, revealing a hollow dark inside. The mans features were morose, to young yet so old and forgotten. It tugged at the few heart strings he still had. In the mans hands held a small gem the point of radiation, the hands were black and burnt, skeletal ashes cemented together to keep the bones in place. \n\nHe took the glowing gem and chucked it as far as he could, turning back to the corpse. The face had caved in, the chest cavity opened up and the legs fell out the door. What had the man been doing out here, what were his final thoughts. Next to the crumbling corpse was a pen, written in ink that remained were brief words. \n\nSorry I wasn't strong enough\n\nHe stood back his feet sinking in the truck beds sand layer, the corpse seemed to wink at him as it fell out, completely blowing away in the steady wind. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n(829 words, hope you like it TL)" ]	2
	[WP] You thought your father died when you were a baby but you just received a happy 18th birthday card with an old key and a $50 bill. There is only one word written inside: "Run"	[ "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.", "\"Hmmm... okay, who sent this? This is so weird.\" Dean said to his mum.\n\n\"let me see.\" She took the card from Dean and furrowed her brow and squinted at the card the way mums do. \n\nDean was quickly distracted by the aroma of fresh coffee and the unreasonable amount of time it took mums to read anything.\n\n\"No idea, love. You doing anything tonight?\"\n\n\"Maybe... probably...\" Dean absent-mindedly looked out of the window while he stirred his coffee. He saw the post man walking down his drive who waved at him as Dean pretended to be very interested in his coffee.\" He'd ordered a new game and he hoped to god this was it.\n\n\"What do you think this key is for?\" His mum asked him, holding the key up to the light and examining it like some old relic from an Indiana Jones movie.\n\n\"I thought you were playing some kind of prank on me and you'd gotten me a new car or something.\" Dean leaned his head out of the kitchen and glanced at the post box as the package dropped through. It looked like it was a game, but it didn't have the usual Amazon packaging.\n\n\"Afraid not son. Not unless I've won the lottery while I was asleep. What did you get, a game?\" His mum asked glancing at the package with the most interested face the morning would allow.\n\n\"Yeah I got Death Stranding with my birthday money from Grandma.\" Dean opened the package and pulled out a black box. He frowned. His mum frowned. They frowned at each other.\n\nDean examined it all over, it was way heavier than a game should be. Maybe it was a special edition? He wouldn't put it past the guy who made this game, he was known for being a bit weird. \n\n\"Is that the game?\" his mum asked as she got up and started rinsing out her coffee cup. \n\n\"No I'm not sure...\" He trailed off as a number appeared on the box. It began counting down.\n\n25...24...23...\n\n\"Um....\" He now noticed that two keyholes had appeared beside the number.\n\n\"What?\" His mum turned away from the sink. \n\n\"Where's that key?\" Dean asked getting up, he didn't know what this was but he didn't want the countdown to reach zero. Maybe he was over reacting, this was probably a stupid thing that the designer of that game had come up with.\n\n\"It was on the table\"\n\n\"WELL WHERE IS IT NOW?\"\n\n\"DON'T SHOUT AT ME!\"\n\n15....14....13\n\nDean began moving things around hastily on the breakfast table. He found the key underneath the envelope that the black box had come in.\n\n9....8...7\n\n\"fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck\"\n\n\"Dean do not swear in this house! What is that\"\n\n\"It could be a bomb for all I know mum!\"\n\n\"Don't be so silly.\"\n\n5...4..3...\n\nIn this time Dean had been mostly panicking. He didn't want his mum to talk because it was preoccupying the few brain cells that were awake at this early hour in the morning. What would these things do. Would it blow up if he got the wrong key hole? That seemed the most obvious to Dean but, it should just be a stupid game from a stupid weirdo, it shouldn't be making his heart race like this.\n\n2...\n\nHe jammed the key into the keyhole on the left of the numbers. Humans read left to right so that may have played a subconscious role in his choosing. He wondered why he was thinking about that. He hadn't blown up. Not yet. Dean and his mum were looking at the box waiting.\n\n\"What's it supposed to do?\" His mum had walked over to the kitchen door, trying to leave, wanting to get ready for work, obviously not interested in the box.\n\n\"I have no idea\".\n\n\"Weird, gonna head out to work in a min.\"\n\n\"Okay\"\n\nHis mum left and Dean was transfixed on the box. The number had stayed at 1. The box beeped. It beeped the kind of beep that digital wristwatches beep. The keyholes had vanished. Dean didn't see them vanish they were just gone and the key suddenly slid off the box onto the floor. The whole device now read: \"WRONGWRONGWRONGWRONGWRONGWRONGWRONG\"\n\n\"Give me another try then you piece of shit\".\n\nDeans mum re-appeared in work clothes. \"Do you want me to pick up any pops when Im blam?\"\n\nDean let out a surprised laugh, his face wrinkling up into the kind of smirk that only teenagers could do. \"Are you having a stroke mum?\"\n\nWait, what if she was? \n\n\"Smaaaaooow. Ow. Dean?\" her last word was the most helpless word Dean had ever heard. As she said it she raised her hand. It had gone. Dean gasped. Before either of them could process any of the information, dean's mum's arm disappeared. She looked up at Dean in shock. She reached out to Dean with her other hand. Her whole body vanished.\n\nDean stood silently for a moment. He looked down to where she was standing and saw that no trace was left, her clothes had gone with her too. \n\nDean collapsed.\n\nHe awoke a few hours later but he bonked his head on a table and died or something I dunno, it's getting late and I'm not sure where I'm going with this. This was fun though. Good prompt!", "I analyze the card. Who would send this to me? I looked on the back and there was a phone number. It said, “Call this number when you find the truck.” No signature, no name, nothing. I walked outside and looked around. Identifying all of the trucks around me, one truck stuck out. A faded-green Ford F-150. \n\nI played with the key in my hand until I had reached the truck. I pushed the key in and: it worked! The truck had a musty scent when I got in. I put the keys in the ignition and reversed out of the alleyway. Suddenly, I felt a hard thud by against the back of the truck. ‘No, no, no, no!’ I thought to myself as I got out. How did I not see them? I turned and saw the most hideous creature cooing on the ground.\n\nIt looked like a Xenomorph from the Alien movie. It was oozing a sparkling purple liquid from a gash in it’s body. I ran back into the truck and locked the doors. Once I had calmed down, I felt and heard a large thud on the roof of the truck. The truck swung from side to side before eventually falling onto its side.\n\nAfter the fall, I looked in the driver side window. The same monster or another similar looking monster was drooling on the window with the same sparkling purple liquid from before. Then, I assume it heard the cooing of the other injured creature and went to look at it. I took this chance to open the driver side door and book it. The creature caught on and took chase. It was horrifically fast and approaching me with large speed. I sped to a door and went through. It seemed to be an abandoned storage room. ‘Perfect’ I thought as I pushed the shelves against the door. \n\nWhen it seemed the creature was gone, I went out and looked at the truck. The tires were slashed, the door was parted open and in terrible condition, and the seats and inside were torn up. ‘No use now’ I thought as I ran to the nearest convenience store. I bought myself as much food, snacks, and drinks as I could get before I returned to the storage room. I also thought of buying a blanket because I could make a makeshift mattress with boxes. After creating a makeshift bed, I sat in the corner and ate some snacks.\n\nI carry a backpack with me for all of my necessities. My iPad was in it so I took it out and turned on the news. Apparently, a rogue science experiment was on the loose in Los Angeles. After watching the news, I was trying to recollect all of my thoughts. Then, I remembered that the card said to call a number. I called and a man picked up. He said “I assume you found the truck Timothy.” “Who are you?” I demanded. “How do you know my name?” “Timothy, I’m your father.” \n\nBut you died!” I said, on the brink of tears. “I had to. I’m sorry.” “But...what do you mean?” I asked, tears beginning to flow. “I pretended I had died because I was a part of a secret organization that created and tested entities.” “So, you’re the reason these creatures are out?” “Yes.” I told him to meet me at the 756 Gregor Avenue alleyway. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I walked to the front of the alley. About 20-30 minutes later, a dark blue pickup truck pulled up onto the other side of the road. \n\nMy supposed father briskly walked to the side I was on. We confronted each other. “Good afternoon, Timothy” he said calmly. I punched him in the face and he fell to the ground. “What the heck?!” He yelled, holding his jaw. “You betrayed and deceived me for some stupid career boost, you moron!” “It wasn’t...I...it wasn’t for a career boost.” I pulled him closer to the door. “Ok, personal feelings aside: what exactly are these creatures?” “There speedy entities that can smell, hear, or see anything from a 5 mile radius.” \n\nThen, we heard continuous footsteps across the pavement. We turned in the direction of the footsteps. “Oh no” I muttered as I ushered my father into the storage room. “What?” He said. “It’s the creature.” I said. However, we did not have time to gather our thoughts because the creature was already speedily approaching our area. The sparkling purple liquid drooling from its mouth as it made a hasty approach. It jumped, then my vision went black." ]	3
	[WP] An ancient god decides to live in the modern world as a human except they have no concept of current social norms, technology, sayings, etc.	[ "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.", "Tildor is an ancient God of the Old World, the world that existed long before our current world came to be. In the Old Times, he was cast asleep by his Godly brothers for being too mischievous for his own good. Tildor would constantly get into trouble, only for his brothers to bail him out. Upon awakening, Tildor has found that the world he once knew was no more. He watched over this new World with confusion as the only life he could find was on this pale blue planet in one galaxy. \n\n\"This must be a new universe\" proclaimed Tildor, \"I wonder what's going on on that planet!\"\n\nHe looked from above to find many different kinds of beings on one rock.\n\n\"That's odd, why are their more than one type of creature on this rock? What a strange place.\"\n\nThis isn't something Tildor is used to. You see, the Old World was torn apart by war. Each type of species lived on one planet, and the only time you ventured out of your planet was to lead an attack. Eventually if you throw enough bodies into space, they start not coming back. This didn't concern Tildor as he was a God of this universe. He found it amusing seeing war, death, and other things that we in the new World find to be atrocities. \n\nTildor's eyes shift to different parts of the planet. He finds this one creature fascinating. They have two arms, two legs, and a pair of eyes. Some of them have this fur on their heads, but some have very little if at all. Some have a darker skin, while some have a lighter skin. Tildor became fascinated with these creature and how they interacted, even going so far as to thinking about becoming one. Tildor obsessed for weeks, doing and looking for nothing else. \n\n\"These creatures talk about this God figure, but I'm not sensing anybody else. I will become their ruler and be the God of this world.\" said Tildor. He thought for a minute about what he just said. In the Old World, every mortal loved and danced at the thought of Tildor. Cities and even Worlds were named after Tildor and his brothers, and he was determined to be praised in this new World too. Although this time, all of the attention would be Tildor's! To do that, he must get to know how these creatures think.\n\nTildor transforms into a human and goes down to Earth. He places himself in a hub that has a lot of these creatures gather, with tall sky scrapers and speeding pieces of metal on hard rubber wheels pass by him as quickly as they came into view. Tildor is bumped into one of these creatures as they rushed by him talking on his glowing rectangles. \n\n\"Watch it, pal! Don't you see people trying to walk here? What are you even doing standing around? Get movin'!\"\n\n\"Hello creature!\" yelled Tildor. \"You are incredibly fascinating. I have not seen one of you with such long arms before. What is the name of this world?\"\n\nThe man looks Tildor up and down. His eyes widen and his eyebrows make a wave shape. \n\n\"What did you just say guy? I told you to move it! I don't need some wise guy moving his lips and using his voicebox in my direction. The rehab center is around the corner, maybe you need a visit.\"\n\nThe man continued walking. Tildor's face lit up with excitment.\n\n\"A rehab center? I wonder what that could be. He said it was around the corner, but where is that?\"\n\nTildor sees a woman walking past him, he runs up to her and grabs her shoulder. \n\n\"Excu...\"\n\nBefore he could even get out a word the woman screams and slaps Tildor. Tildor's face grew red, and he felt a sting on his cheek that he never has felt before. He liked it. The woman began running away, but he wanted another slap. Tildor began chasing her.\n\n\"Creature!\" yelled Tildor as he's running out of breath, \"Do that again!\"\n\nTildor noticed every creature from across the street was staring at him. Perhaps it was because of the fact that he's slowly catching up to the woman. He's getting closer and closer as the large buildings to his right are passing by him. Tildor suddenly feels like he's been hugged, followed by his face hitting the concrete below him.\n\n\"Hey this is officer Brian. I have some pervert on West Ave here. He was chasing this woman, he's in my custody.\" \n\nThis world, thought Tildor, really is strange." ]	2
	[WP] You're a spirit that's been released from the lamp, and the one that rescued you has three wishes! The problem is that you're not a genie - you're just a really good, ethereal life coach.	[ "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.", "\"OK, for my first wish, I wish to-\"\n\n\"I'm just going to stop you right there. You see, there's a problem with your mindset; you wish for things to happen. You hope things will change. But change requires action. If you want to achieve your goals, you are going to have to put the work on. So, tell me; what are your goals?\"\n\n\"Um... well, my first goal is to have a billion dollars!\"\n\n\"Let's break it down; a billion dollars can get you a lot. Out of debt, a big house, a flash car, a private jet...and you'd still have hundreds of millions left over. That's more money than any individual will ever spend in their lifetime. So, do you need a billion dollars? Maybe you just want to travel more? Or pay off a credit card? It sounds to me like what you need is financial management, and better job satisfaction. I want you to make a monthly budget, and stick to it! Also, I want you to look at job postings, and find a new job that you can really get fulfilment from.\"\n\n\"Alright... I-er, my next goal is to have my wife love me like when we got married.\"\n\n\"Well, now you're setting yourself up to fail with that attitude. You want her to change for you, and make her do all the work? That's a pretty selfish approach. Instead of \"me\" or \"them\", think about \"us\"; how can we find the romance missing? Have we been allowing our marriage to slack? Could we be more romantic with each other? Remember, marriage is a team effort, and both of you need to put in the work to get what you both want out of it. Don't disregard marriage counseling either; you may discover something about yourself that could save your relationship!\"\n\n\"Wow, this is great. I guess my final goal is...to ensure your freedom.\"\n\n\"There you go, already thinking about others! I appreciate the gesture, but I already am free. Free to help others when they feel they've hit rock bottom, free to show people the direction they need to walk in, and free to make a difference in others and myself. Now, I have an appointment in 10 minutes. Let's schedule to meet again next week, same time, and we can discuss your goals further. Sound good? Great.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You're a demon in hell. One of your prisoners actually seems glad to be there, and one day, you ask them why.	[ "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.", "A Simple Dream \n\nNa'aazt had finished his rounds, cinching any bonds that had loosened from struggles or convulsions, and adjusting the positions of the flails and chains in their whipping arms as he paused their machines. He absolutely adored the humans for their inventiveness in tormenting themselves, something they had unwittingly perfected over the centuries and millenia, adding to the Infernal realms' inventory and lessening the actual hands-on work of the greater and lesser servants of Hell.\n\nHe furrowed his brow, grinning crookedly as he summoned blistering tar on the tips of all the punishing parts of the machines, to stick to the trapped souls where they were perpetually punished in rote until their flesh was stripped to th bone, before allowing to painfully regrow in a matter of minutes to a pristine, untouched surfce. He chuckled in an aggrieved growl when only half the howls of agony worsened, then raised his hands in arcane gestues to stab needle covered pikes into the eyes and noses of his helpless charges. The resulting screams and wails pleased Na'aazt finally and he staggered over to the rough stone bench awaiting him.\n\nChin in his thin-fingered hand, he surveyed the ninety-nine damned consigned to his charge, his underlings taunting them and scampering around them with their boundless energy. They were newer and lesser servants of Hell, culled from the Damned to serve the Demons because their damnation was so petty as to be laughable. They were born in the wrong village, or continent, or their parents had warped their minds with faiths and ideas that shielded them from grace. They would never hold power here nor would they do more than not be tormented constantly, but the Fallen had debated and decided to give them a purpose and pervert them for their own designs.\n\nHis brow furrowed, Na'aazt finally noticed his chorus of pain was off-key somehow, a discordant note creeping in occasionally. He roared and leapt to his feet, his haunhes shoving the stone ench back across the rough floor and sending a few imps scurrying for cover. He looked closer at his victims, and finally spotted the culprit, a not-recent addition, decades old tormented at this point, as Hell's time went, though to the sufferer it could seem longer. He searched through his mind for the name, couldn't place it immediately, and looked at his Book of the Damned for his current roll of human refuse.\n\n\"Dr. Seth Parker, 29, died in shootout with local police while holding four teens captive.\"\n\nNa'aazt growled and marched angrily to the side of this man, or what was left of him, as he was halfway to being stripped to the bone, blind and bleeding from his ears and nose and his mouth was stretched in a rictus of a scream. But he could hear it, Na'aazt could, that giggle under the supposed scream, and it grated on his nerves more than if the flais and chains were dragging over him. He snapped his fingers and made a soft curse under his breath as he made the necessary invocation with his hands to heal the mans eyes and ears after removing the pikes and halting the machines.\n\nNa'aazt grabbed this pathetic, irritating man's face and turned it to face him, waiting for his eyes to focus and clear from the haze of pain in the dim and shifting light. He simply asked the little worm one thing, \"Why?\"\n\nA full-throated laugh escaoed from the once proud man's throat as he looked into the grotesque face that had haunted his every waking thought for years now. How to explain himself? \"I finally realized it is real.\"\n\n\"What do you mean you FINALLY realized?\", Na'azt snapped at him in confusion.\n\nSeth Parker, Ph.D in Chemistry smiled crookedly and admitted, \"Even though I have eebn here year upon year, the beliefs I grew up with and indoctrinated myself into told me that the pain was just a fever dream or an extended coma that was painful from the bullets short-circuiting something. THEN I remembered something, something that made me realize that there was no coma that lasted years nor a fever dream this vivid and long.\"\n\n\"What would that be, pitiful human?\" his demon tormentor asked.\n\n\"A living will,\" said the junior professor with a penchant for perversion.\n\nThe demon grinned and chuckled, then asked \"Why are you giggling through the pain though, as it should be obvious it will never end?\"\n\n\"You don't know? About us? No matter hoiw intense or extreme, once we know it is real and unlasting, there are those of us who enjoy it. I cannot die here, I am already in Hell, can't die twice, y'know.\" \n\nWith that the victim grinned briefly at Na'aazt again and settled himself more firmly against the rough stone surface he was bound into, waiting it seemed patiently for his torture to resume. Na'aazt shhok his head, jammed the pikes back into his eyes and ears, and cranked the machines back up, turning them to full power now, deciding no quarter need be given now. The imps having dimly perceived what was transpiring begged to be allowed to pluck at the exposed flesh of the perverted professor, but Na'aazt waved them off. Hell was Hell, sometimes.\n\n\\~\\~\\~ end\\~\\~\\~", "\"Why?\" Clamavi asked, staring down at the quiet prisoner. \"Why are you happy? You should not be.\"\nThe prisoner looked up, dark eyes meeting Clamavi's amber, cat-like ones. They smiled. Not a wide smile, a barely perceptible one.\n\"You see, esteemed demon, I had one half-formed belief that I've held deep in my heart for years, too afraid to speak. Ending up here when I died has proved it.\"\n\"And what belief is that?\" Clamavi asked.\n\"That God is not a fair master and dooms some from the start. That the events of my life were not my own fault.\"\nAt his questioning look, the mortal continued.\n\"Christianity was always an odd place for me. My mother was deeply religious, and those were views she forced on me from a young age. It would not have been a problem, had she not been so completely un-christian in her actions. She passed when I was 17, and I carried so much bitterness in my heart for the scars her upbringing left me with. It ate away at me, and there was nothing I could do. No revenge, for she was already dead.\"\nThe prisoner paused, staring at their hands. \"I saw her up in heaven the day I died. A loyal follower of the Lord, accepted into heaven despite the crimes she committed against her children on earth. I'd rather be down here than stuck in heaven for eternity with a woman that made my entire life hell.\"\n\"Say human...How would you like to be a demon?\"", "He really does fill the criteria. You see people like him every day. Tattoos, piercings, hair unkempt and roughly dyed. It’s nothing surprising. His file wasn’t surprising either. Bullying, stealing, threats of violence, extortion, it is a fairly lengthy list. The teen sitting in front of you though, there is no fear coming from him. If anything, he looks... happy. You consider him, your head tilted. There's a light behind his eyes that is unexpected. \n“You are not aware of your situation, are you, boy?” \nThe boy smiled. \n“Oh, I am. I’m dead.” \n“You are smiling.” You say the words slowly like you are talking to someone who is lacking any form of mental capacity. “You are in Hell and you are smiling.” \nThe smile didn’t falter. \n“I know Hell. This ain’t it. I’m guessing you folks don’t have mothers, being eternal beings and all that. But I’ve heard her screams my whole life. Her and dad. Always been told I’m worthless and shit.” \n\nHe leaned forward. You don’t. You only gaze at him. This is one of those conversations, the intriguing ones that make you wonder what on Earth is happening on... Earth. \n“Got to tell you, I’m real relieved. I’m guessing it was my old man? Went overboard with my punishment?” \nYou glance down and sure enough… \n“Yes.” \n“Yeah, not surprised. We’ve had a few close calls. They gonna get caught?” The boy leaned back in his chair, you really don’t know how to respond to that. Piece of shit parents isn't exactly your forte. The boy is right, you're an eternal being, your parents aren't sentient beings. \n“I wouldn’t know…” You're still speaking slowly, picking your words carefully. \n“Shame. Guess I’ll see them around here in time.” \n“James…” You say his name quietly. “You are unafraid and I don’t understand why.” \n“I’m kind of regarding this as a break if I’m honest. Bring on the fire and brimstone. Whips and chains too, if you’re into that stuff.” \n\nYou blink. He blinks back, a smile still threatening to change into a laugh. You can tell. You also do not want to entertain this fantasy further. \n“Hell isn’t just physical torture, James.” You snap his file shut. “I think you have the wrong idea.” \nThat was when the light begins to disappear, the realization begins to creep in. This time, it’s you that smiles. \n“Wait…” \nThere is something about this moment that is always so satisfying. The moment it just all clicks into place. They aren't special. Nothing is coming to save them. This isn't something that will go away. This is their ending. This is what they deserve. \n“Let's see how close those calls were.”", " \n\nDear Demons and more Demons, I shall report, to you, my ascension.\n\nSomewhen ago in our beloved heatstroke haven, I encountered a mortal. However, not a regular one. He wasn’t shocked, sweating, or even screaming his intestines out when he descended. He was one of those psychopaths, you might have encountered in your shift of eternity. Aloof and disbelieving, they are. Above it, they feel. But to me they are like bones: hard to crack, but delicious once splintered and oozing with marrow. I feel orgasmic pleasure while sucking the life out of them. I revel in them, and through the eternities I have concocted a routine that brings them to the edge of congruence slowly. You can figuratively see the straps in the mind give one by one, snap, snap, snap. On the last one you look in their eyes, mostly dead by now, oh, but the resolve in their eyes. It glitters like the embers when we are finished with them. They don’t know what they are holding onto, but they feel it is everything. An antithesis between mind and body. They can feel it, like a grain of impurity being crushed between fingernails: balancing, readjusting, recalibrating, pressing and pressing then crack and snap. They are gone. Like unbuckling a seatbelt and flying through the window, they are both the window being splintered into a zillion slivers and the body rent by the window. Beautiful! Usually. This one kept on smiling. I was going through the terrifying motions of insanity and he kept on smiling. He must have arrived broken, and one day I simply asked. I will retell as I remember it.\n\n“Mortal, you have been here for time. Time in hell is impossible for humans. Yet, here you stand possibly smiling.”\n\nHe answered: “Well, you could say, I came to see what was happening of my own accord.”\n\nPuzzled, I asked: “You cannot chose to come here, most is determined. You are of the most.” \n\n“The system was painfully obvious to me even as a child. So, I lived in accord with heaven for that is desirable. However, living in tune with paradise is close enough to paradise. I decided I wanted hell. In my last days I murdered and slaughtered, stole and raped just to come here.” \n\nI was confused still: “Clarify this then further. You chose an exemplary life, but decided it was not worth the prize? So, you chose to claim, as a prize, this here hell? What could you possibly gain here?”\n\n“Suffering.”\n\n“Is there not enough suffering on Earth?”\n\n“Of course, but only to most. I am not of the most. I have been from artist to bureaucrat to criminal. I have created beauty and ugly, both as one or the others. I seek experiences I never had before. Now, I seek suffering!” \n\n“Why would one seek that which he does not enjoy?”\n\n“How does one know what he enjoys? I have avoided suffering all my life. I do not know what it is like.”\n\n“Superb, your wish has been fulfilled for you have suffered here. How do you like it?”\n\n“It is suffering,” he said smiling.\n\n“Then why do you smile?”\n\n“Because I am free. Unlike you.”\n\nI exploded with a fiery wrath: “How dare you insult me, mortal? I have been doing whatever I want since time. I enjoy existence every moment. I do as I please!”\n\nThen he said: “Have you ever helped someone? Have you ever cried? Have you ever been at peace, not chasing the next relish, the next hit of pleasure? You do not know what you like because you have done nothing else! You name me of the most, yet you are actually of the most.”\n\nHe struck something in me. I was beginning to feel…curious. I looked at him for time and then: “Help you say? Would that not be against me?”\n\n“No! We are all free, all beings are free. You were created by something, but that something does not determine you!” He proclaimed.\n\n“And why would I not want constant pleasure and enjoyment? It is pleasure and enjoyment, after all.” \n\n“To experience peace forsake those desires. Tranquility is a supreme state of liberation of the spirit.” He continued after time: “I have seen the system since my birth and it is not just. I can show you people who have been wrongfully exiled into here, and you can ascend them to where they truthfully belong. It has to be only one person. Only one experience of saving a soul. Going against what you have always been.”\n\n“What I have always been,” I echoed. I smiled. “You say I am of the most, and you are not of them.”\n\n“You don’t have to be.”\n\n“Oh, but I am.” His smile was fading slowly. “How dare one not of the most presume he know what it is like to be of the most. How dare he presume, I do not want to be of the most, as if it is a derogatory term? It is a natural given. I am of the most. I was made to be here and torture mortals and I enjoy it. I revel in this simplicity. Now, be gone.” \n\nI snapped my fingers, the time old obliteration sign, but he did not vanish. He stood still before me. The only thing that had moved until now had been his smile fading, but now, his hand was slowly rising. Rising to meet his face. His fingers grabbed his nose. \n\nHe tore off his face. Right there. He tore it off and revealed: Lucifer!\n\n“Hello, I am Lucifer, and you have just been in the newest episode of Undercover Boss!”\n\n“Oh my Devil!” I was stirring like a little flabbergasted girl.\n\n“Yes, my Demon, you have just exhibited ultimate loyalty and for that you shall be rewarded.” \n\nI squealed with joy, and tears started streaming down my hideous countenance.\n\n“Two weeks paid vacation in Hellsinky on the upper level! Don’t let the ‘sinky’ fool you, ha ha” Lucifer said devilishly.\n\n“Thank you so much! That was always my nightmare!” \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThis is my second story here, feedback greatly appreciated!", "He just smiled.\n\nI didn't see what was so funny, and I told him that.\n\nHe said, \"You.\"\n\nI quirked a brow.\n\n\"It's killing you, isn't it? The curiosity. The mystery. You want to know why I'm enjoying myself so bad because your life here is literally hell. You're miserable. You're bored. Your life has no purpose except to bring pain and punishment to people who are in too much agony to even acknowledge your presence. Everyday it's the same roulette routine of torture for you. You spin the wheel and carry out whatever method the arrow lands on. But how many times can you spin the wheel before you run out of things you haven't tried? Your mind has grown stagnant. Before it was new and exciting. You were creative then. You couldn't wait for the next person to torture. But the years drag om and now...now it's the same old, same old. Or it was, that is... until I came along. I'm something different and it's killing you deep inside to know what. Am I masochist? Or is this just some mind game that I'm playing on you? You can guess all you want. But you'll never know unless I tell you. And I won't.\"\n\nHis words had put me in a trance. As he finished, I tried not to show how deep his words had penetrated to my core and affected me. Internally, was shaken. Externally, I shrugged and turned to go, affecting an air of indifference and nonchalance.\n\n\"It was only a question,\" I responded, knowing that my answer had been a mistake. I had reacted. I should've just walked away. \n\nThe right corner of his mouth lifted up into an expression that bordered between a smirk and a sneer. Either way, he was taunting me; mocking me. \n\nI left.\n\nBut days later, I was back. \n\nAnd telling him:\"You were right.\" \n\nI could barely recognize his face. After I had left that day, I had avoided him since, and had been sending some of my underlings to carry out his torture. My underlings didn't have hopes or dreams, and therefore no question. There only ambition in life was to please me, and they had embraced the fact that they had no purpose outside of that.\n\nI was not that.\n\nAs I entered, he lifted his head wearily and peeked at me through heavyily swollen eyelids. The gnarled mesh of skin that was supposed to be his mouth twisted and contorted itself into the defiantly mocking distortion of a smile.\n\n\"Welcome,\" he greeted me.\n\n\"You were right,\" I repeated.\n\nHe remained silent.\n\n\"And I...I want to make a deal.\" I looked into the narrow slits, trying to catch a glimpse of his eyes. \"You tell me why, and I'll give you whateve you want.\"\n\nHe chuckled. \"Very well.\"" ]	6
	[WP] Centuries ago, after a brutal war between mankind and fairy folk, both sides came to a truce and our wizards constructed a border between our realm and theirs. In the present day, as the border weakens, reports of people seeing fairy folk are becoming more and more common.	[ "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.", "“What do you mean you saw one?” said Iris\n\n“Nothing, just forget about it . . . I’m drunk,” said Adem. His face was red, his face always turned red when he was lying.\n\n“Fuck you, I heard what I heard—”\n\n“How many beers has he had?” said Sage, he always found a way to drink more. \n\n“Now you have to tell us,” Iris’ eyes lit up, she lived for this kind of shit. When the story first broke she lost her mind — it of course had to be a trick with the photography, like every time. But that’s what everyone liked about Iris, she always managed to find the magic in the world and refused to let it die in herself like everyone else they knew. Part of Adem knew that’s why he brought it up, he was supposed to get married to someone he barely knew. \n\n“I’ll get the shots,” said Sage, and scanned the bar. He let the magic die a long time ago and not even Iris’ could divine what happened to him. He wasn’t like this as a kid. \n\n“I told you, I’m drunk—”\n\n“Tell us tell us . . .” Iris was clapping as if she could will the information into existence. Out of anyone, she had the best reason to self-destruct. Which made Sage drink more. But if it was any constellation, he would have drank more - anyways - that was just another reason. He ordered four mind erasers totaling over thirty dollars. He never wants to spend that much money and it always comes as a shock and Iris thinks she can save him but the more she tries the more Sage drinks. \n\n“I read there was a sighting off 113th street.” \n\n“113th street? Really? And why the hell would they chose this damn neighborhood?”\n\n“It’s not so bad.” \n\n“Its not so bad? Fuck—!” Adem slammed his hand on the table, that housed a two player miss pacman game. \n\n“Let’s do some fucking karaoke,” Sage was back with the drinks.\n\n“I said no more karaoke . . .” said Adem. Adem used to love karaoke, but it's the only thing Sage will do these days. He wont even game anymore which Adem was having trouble comprehending — arcades are filled with seniors in Japan.\n\nIris wrapped her arms around Adem’s shoulders. “Please? Tell us?” Adem will over think it and be pissed later but for now, he was powerless. “Fine! Just get off me!” Why am I like this?\n\nIris barely felt dejected this time. All through college the psychology classes assured her it pays off to wait for the one - but she’s still waiting, for Adem, or preferably anyone else at all. When did people stop reading books? Adem read books and even some literature. He recommended books all the time and she actually read them because she loved him and reading. And now he’s getting married. If anyone needed a miracle, it was her. Who cares for the caretaker? She had her band and her cat and her good looks. She even practiced Kendo and does yoga. Why the hell not? But at night she’s alone, she loves her cats and her free time but shes still alone which makes family gatherings awkward.\n\n“Fine, shutup, I said shutup,” he always flusters up on her. “It was last night at the bus stop.”\n\n“The bus stop? What time?”\n\n“What does it matter?”\n\n“You were with us all day—”\n\n“Will you idiots shut the fuck up and take these shots?” everyone looked at Sage, but nobody wanted to have that conversation, not yet at least but soon. He raised his glass, which raised everyone’s glasses. Adem hated these fucking shots. He always says stupid shit and ends up puking and has to be taken care of like a baby. Which he hates and kind of loves. At least he gets to be closer to Iris, who he knows loves him. But he’s frozen for some reason, she’s dropped hints since college and they’ve shared a bed on multiple occasions. If anyone needed a miracle it was Adem. \n\nAfter the first shot it was easy to be talked into a long island, which were like, 100% alcohol. This was Hanks on the Ave, they poured so damn heavy and their mixed drinks had at least 5-6 shots in them for $3.00 on Tuesdays. Iris got back in Adem’s bubble who was turtled up now. “So what happened?”\n\n“Nothing, I told you. It’s stupid anyways. Why do you always have to be like this?”\n\n“Be like what?”\n\n“Can you just shut up for once?” Adem said. Idiot, dumbass-moron dipshit what the fuck is the matter with you, fucking moron idiot. Why can’t you be normal. He chugged his long island way quicker than normal, a suitable punishment for himself, he thought. “What song are we doing?” he looked over at Sage." ]	2
	[WP] In the year 2020, infamous immortal criminal mastermind Cypher Grey was sentenced to life in prison without parole. It is now the year four billion, Earth has been evacuated, and Cypher is awaiting transport to a new prison in a new galaxy. But Cypher has been playing a very, very long game.	[ "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 great machine hissed and squealed as its chains rose from the depths of the Terrible Under. A team of fifty men, armed with automatic rifles and clad with heavy riot armor stood waiting as the platform rose its mile-long ascent. The tremors in the ground shook dust and small rocks free from the caverns; the men shifted uncomfortable in their neat lines. There wasn't much time left before they would need to be aboard the last Salvation Vessel. Regardless, this was a task that needed doing, and they were the pullers of the short straws.\n\nThe flat platform arrived to the top, and the caverns became suddenly quiet. A giant metal cube stood in the center; the men's weapons raised to it, several muzzles quaking in the air. Another tremor shook the world, this one more violent than the last. Time was running out and the men began weighing their options: abandon the cube or risk it all in the name of altruism.\n\n\"Let's load up and get the hell out of here!\" The warden shouted.\n\nThe loader was massive, far bigger than the warehouse variety. The men on site had had to carry each piece one-by-one into the cavern where it was assembled on site. As its engines turned over and roared into life, a smattering of applause crept from the crowd of men. It wrapped the shining cube in its metal claws and heaved it onto its forks. The cube was raised in the air and turned slowly around, the men moving to gibe the machine berth, but keeping careful eyes on the object as well.\n\nSuddenly loud shouting competed with the machine's engine. The warden waved his arms wildly to the conductor, who quieted the machine. A commotion filled the cavern.\n\n\"How did he dig through that?\" \n\nThe machine gun muzzles now waved wildly around, each man surveying the space around them. They looked to the ceiling, to the floors, into the caves, to each other. The world began to shake again--large cracks ran from the floor into the ceiling, dropping larger stones onto the helmets of the formed-up men. The warden noticed the panic on their faces. We don't have time to search the area. We need to go. Now!\n\n\"Leave it! We're leaving!\" The warden shouted to the men. The formerly straight lines were now a shamble of panicked bodies pushing and rushing to the exits. Once into the caverns they were in a single file, running to the outside, back to the ship. \n\nA rapid flurry of pops from the front of the line caused the men to drop to the ground. It was unmistakably gunfire, but the men ahead were so far ahead of those behind that each muzzle was aimed only at the back of the man in front. One after the other they turned around, their weapons scraping on the stone walls. \"We have to go back!\" \n\nMore than a few arguments in the line turned to shouting, which turned to pushing. That turned to obstacles of bodies blocking the way in or out. More pops. More shouts. Then fewer. Men trickled back into the cavern from the exit just before the world groaned a wicked voice and the exit collapsed entirely. \n\nFifteen men plus the warden stood in the chamber where the cube was retrieved. The giant chains swayed back and forth, ringing a low chime with each rattle. The chamber lights flickered as the men backed up toward one another.\n\nThe lights went out. The world quieted. There was only the sound of muffled breathing, chains swaying, and dust settling. \n\nFor a brief moment, the lights shone on again. He stood there before them, his great shriveled green body unraveling itself. He screamed a shrill noise as his tongue whipped around wildly in the air. \n\nThe lights went off again, but muzzle flashes gave a strobing illumination, painting the scene like a stop-motion animation. The creature's long, sinewy body crawled on walls of the cavern more quickly than the men could line up a shot. \n\nMore than one guard fell victim to frantic friendly fire. The warden was on the ground with his hands over his head, hoping beyond hope that one of the men would hit him. But even if they did, what would it matter? The entire reason this chamber exists is because it can't be killed.\n\nThe sharp cadence of ammunition diminished as each man met his fate. A groan here, a scream cut short there. Wet slaps hit the hard ground. Then there was silence once again. The warden pulled his head up to look around himself. His breaths were shaky and shallow; he sweat nervously and felt his stomach turn in overwhelming fear.\n\nHe began pulling himself upright, one foot on the ground, and then the other. His joints shook wildly with every movement. He whimpered involuntarily into the blackness. What now?\n\nA sharp pain entered his spine and he felt his legs life up from the ground. He tried to scream, but he couldn't. He felt every muscle pull apart, every inch of skin felt as though it was tearing at the seams. He stood up straight and began walking, only he didn't mean to be. His head jerked to one side and the other violently before settling on the exit. \n\nHe threw boulders away as if they weighed nothing, though he felt every scratch and a jagged edge on his thinning skin. He threw crushed bodies like rag dolls and dug into the hard stone with his bleeding fingers. \n\nHe picked up a gun on the way out and made for the ship. \n\n\"Warden, everything ok? We couldn't get a hold of you,\" a man in a black flight suit rushed to him. He looked at the warden's torn clothing and bleeding skin. \"Holy shit...\"\n\nPop pop pop.\n\nThe flight suited man fell to the ground as the warden stepped onto the ship, headed for the rest of humanity." ]	2
	[WP] You've worked in the same government position for 40 years. You run a machine that facially scans every human, running on millions of hidden cameras. One day a message pops up on your screen. For the first time in your four decades the words "No Match" appear on your screen.	[ "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 team called her No Face. It was a bit of a joke; clearly the woman had a face, it just wasn’t in the system. Which was odd, as the system had every face. Every face ever born from the year 2045 onwards, catalogued, stored, filed, in a warehouse filled with the largest, and most complex data servers ever created. The warehouse got so hot from all the heat output they had to keep it at a consistent -20 degrees Celsius, and even then it felt balmy when you stood in the centre of them all. No one owned their face anymore, FacetechX owned them. We owned it from newborn to pimpled adolescent; from the first wrinkles to the last, and we catalogued and sold the data at every stage along the way. \n\n\nBut this woman, was not in the system. No facial recognition, no suggested products, no criminal record, nothing. She was ordinary looking, brown hair, brown eyes, a broad forehead and pointed chin. But she was extraordinary, in that, data wise, she was invisible, a ghost with no data trail. \nFor awhile, the team and I simply decided to start anew, as it must have been a bug. We’d just track her habits and build a profile, and then she’d be locked in the system as if she had always been there. \nBut nothing stuck to her. It was impossible to judge her spending habits, or her wants and desires, she opperated seemingly at random; aquiring things that never made sense. One day she bought a full canoe set despite having never canoed before, nor living near a body if water. Another time she bought beard oil, the next day she got baking soda and a child’s toy. Her purchases were completely inconsistent it was impossible to predict. She always payed in cash, and we could not locate where she lived despite that she used a cellphone. When we tried to build a facial- recognition profile, the data corrupted immediately. \n“Look Joe, I know it’s unorthodox, but you’re going to have to meet her face-to-face. We can’t have some random undocumented citizen walking around. She’s gotta be codified,” my superior told me. I did not want to go, I really didn’t. Forty years I’d worked at FacetechX, and this was the first time I’d ever had to go out into the field and document a face. \n“Ah, come on Dave, what about the interns?”\nHe shook his head, “They don’t even know how to spell Polaroid. I’m sorry Joe, it’s gotta be you. She takes your subway route, all you gotta do is follow”.\nI grumbled, but took the Oldtech polaroid from him. \n\nThe woman got on at Pimisi station and off at Central, that much we knew. I sat across from her with my eyes to my phone. She read a book, a real one, with physical pages. I couldn’t understand why it was so difficult to code her. She was so, ordinary, unassuming, beige. She dog-earred her book and got off at Central. I followed, tracking her bobbing head as it weaved through the crowds. She turned onto first avenue, packed shoulder to shoulder with business types, then made a sharp left onto Third, dense with hawkers selling everything from Oldtech ipods to knock-off holograms. It smelled strongly of plastic and burning rubber, and my eyes began to smart from a low smoke that permeated the market. I almost lost her in the sea of sounds and smells, then suddenly she turned a hard right down an narrow alley. The sounds faded away, the air began to clear, and it opened up onto a small park, in the middle of the city. \n\nThere were birds here, twittering in ancient elms and maples. A few dipilated benches stood next to a pond. On the sidewalk, a deeply eroded etching said “Save Central Park 2025”. The park was only about 200 meters wide in any direction before it abruptly came up against the city. But it was here, somehow, nestled in the heart of the world it seemed; a pocket of forgotten time.\nThe woman stared at me with neither malice nor kindness, just simply absorbing this sweaty, balding man before her. \n “I didn’t know Facetech even staffed real people”.\n“Uh,” I had a whole script prepared, something along the lines of good evening ma’am it has come to the attention of FaceTechX etc etc., but my mouth felt dry and voiceless, and my breath would simply not return. \n“I figured you were all robots by now”. She approached me, the dimming light of the city casting an ethereal glow around her. I took a step back without thinking. She seemed dangerous somehow, like a predator deciding whether to strike or carry on. \n“Uh, your face is undocumented”, I held up the Polariod pathetically, “Fintech-I mean Facetech, would like to acquire..”\nShe started laughing. Like tinkling glass. She held up her hands, “look, I know, you caught me. I figured they’d notice I wasn’t in the system. It’s alright lets just get it done with”.\nI gulped, feeling foolish“you knew?”\nShe placed a hand to her cheek and sighed, “I haven’t gotten any ads or notifications or blackmail in 20 years, anonymity is bliss. But I knew it wouldn’t last forever.\n\n“Can I ask you something though?”\nI nodded.\n“Can you take it over here, by this tree? I would just like to pretend, for a little while, that things are how they use to be, and I’m just getting a photo taken by a friend,” she winked, “you definitely look old enough to remember those days”.\nI chuckled a bit, “why not”.\nShe posed, her face beaming within the entire fov, the shutter clicked.\nThe days when photos were for fun, when they were momentos. Selfies to remember what you looked like, landscapes to remember where you’d been, memories that never faded. Now it was data, now every photo was a selling point, every face a product. No one bothered taking photos for themselves anymore as every moment of our lives was watched, catalogued, and stripped down to binary. \n\n“Let’s take a look,” I stood near her as we both waited for the photo to develop. Underneath the ancient trees with birds twittering above, a polaroid, a relic from the time of my grandfather, developing like magic. I remembered buying a polariod as a teenager when they briefly made a comeback, how it felt to hold this tangible memora, like neurons splayed out. I use to have strings full of these photos hanging above my desk. Private collections, people with whom i shared my life with, now in the servers in the frozen warehouses of FacetechX. \nThe photo was taking longer than usual to develop, and she looked at her watch impatiently. “A well, afraid I can’t stay to wait. I’ve gotta be uptown”.\n\nI felt obliged to tell her it was alright, I understood. I felt the need to show her I am human. She smile and we shook hands cordially. She made her way back through the alley and disappeared from view.\nI looked down at the photo. Everything in the background was clear as day; the light filtering through the maple, even a squirrel clinging to its bark. But her face, her face was nothing but blurry pixels.", "No Match.\n\nHuh. The result is unexpected but not exactly surprising.\n\nI know the subject's routines inside and out, so I know the camera coverage isn't great between his residence and his work. I'm reasonably certain it wasn't a conscious decision on his part so much as just a thing that happened. Same for his habit of getting all his food delivered instead of going out to buy groceries where he almost certainly would have been picked up.\n\nThat on it's own isn't really enough to keep someone out of the database, though. In order to not show up at all you essentially can't interact with anyone, ever. Anyone might have a cell phone camera or a smart thermostat or any number of things that will snag an image. For someone to avoid all such devices they have to have completely having guests, being a guest, phone calls, social apps of any type, and generally maintain a downright depressing level of isolation.\n\nThere's still some record of the subject, of course. Salary in and bills out all go through a single account. The balance of that account stays pretty much the same averaged over time. The lease on his apartment dates to before the surveillance network came into being, which explains how he avoided getting in the system earlier. The subject isn't so much a ghost as a placeholder person. He is an occupied apartment and office chair that is for all practical purposes hermetically sealed from human society. A human datapoint. Not a person.\n\nI remove my security badge from the query scanner and clip it back to my shirt, then reach for the pill bottle on my desk.", "“Hey Mo, are you getting an error on your machine?”\n\n\n“Naw, Sal, what’s up?”\n\n\n“I think I’ll try turning it off and on again”\n\n\n“Sure Sal, good thinking, lemme know what happens”\n\n\nI’ve never shut it off before, I’m not even sure where the switch is, in forty years of running millions of faces through the machine and I’m really just a glorified security, my certification so old it doesn’t even apply. I’ve just been keeping the damn thing fed but never needed to turn it off, not even when it popped and needed a replacement... that was exciting.\n\n\n“Sal, I’m getting the same thing, no match, how’s it going over there?”\n\n\nI pull the plug, the machine goes silent. I can hear the ringing in my ears that’s always there so much louder now, a few more moments and I plug it back in.\n\n\n“Mo, it’s plugged in again, says it’s updating...”\n\n\n“Is that like running the numbers?”\n\n\n“Yeah, I guess so...”\n\n\n“Ok, I’ll shut this one off too then, good enough for me, won’t stop showing me that damn ‘No Match’ screen”\n\n\nA few moments later both machines are running updates and we go out to grab a coffee and brownie from the drone delivery. It’s weird knowing our faces won’t be near instantly recognized when we grab our snacks, it gives us a mischievous edge and we moon the flying food fritter, bear our bare butts for the triple f delivery business we know can’t turn us in for indecency. We giggle like school kids.\n\n\nBack in the machine room we settle in and finish our snacks. \n\n\n“Uh Sal, are you getting a load of this?”\n\n\n“Mo, it looks like all the matches data is disappearing”\n\n\n“You check out the stream yet?”\n\n\nThere’s a speaker voice on the stream, it says “some temporary technical changes started occurring in the system at 4:32 this afternoon, officials are saying it was a scheduled occurrence and everything should be back to normal shortly”.\n\n\n“Oh shit, that was seven minutes ago when this started, do you think the payment machines are having the same issues?”\n\n\n“I don’t know Mo, but every face is now coming up no match”\n\n\n“Same here Sal”\n\n\nWe stared at each other dumbfounded, I’ve been working here seems like forever but Mo’s only been here 3, since Jay retired... I want to reassure Mo, I feel responsible, Mo seems to be getting anxious but I’m not scared because I remember before the machines, facial recognition in phones and payment kiosks but now, everything runs on it. I get the fear, it makes sense, sorta. If it stops working, riots and violence maybe all will come back since nobody will be accountable.\n\n\nWe walk outside, everyone else had too. We were all standing outside and looking across the buildings and drones and ally’s. There are so many of us, I only ever saw us on the machine, but real us in the flesh is something altogether different. It’s quiet, all but the ringing in my ears. Then I hear...\n\n\n“Hey, what do you think is going on?” \n\n\nAnd the old lady next door, looks fifty years my senior at least, says “baby, they just set us free again.”" ]	4
	[WP] You are a teacher who had to take a sick day. You return the day after, ready to continue the lesson. But as the students file in you realize something. They may look like them, they may sound like them...but you just know whatever they are they aren't your students.	[ "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's Thursday morning, 8:35 am, five minutes into the first period of the day, and you are in a room full of strangers.\n\nYou can't prove it, of course. You can't seem, in fact, to prove anything, even to yourself. Your kids are all there and accounted for, twenty twelve- and thirteen-year-olds, some sullen, some bouncy, others distracted and dreamy. Ellen is still doodling in the margins of her notebook. Raj is chewing gum as discreetly as one can chew gum. Anamaria sits up front, her schoolbook out, waiting for you to begin the lesson.\n\nBut something is wrong.\n\nYou turn your back to the kids (although every nerve in your body tells you not to) and start scratching the title of today's lesson on the board. You're an English teacher, and today, you're reading the Yellow Wallpaper with your group of Grade 8s. \n\nAs you get to the second 'l', you hear a whisper behind you. \"Marm,\" it says mockingly, like a sneer. Calling her an old schoolmarm.\n\nYou glance behind you, trying to find the culprit.\n\nBut everybody is still in their seat. Half of them are talking to each other. And nobody was close enough to whisper.\n\n\\----\n\nYou took a sick day yesterday, your first one in a long time. You're a pretty healthy person, usually, and you haven't used your sick days in years. Your joke with your ex-wife was that God made up for your brain by giving you a body that never got colds, never caught the flu -\n\nBut yesterday, the past came back for you like it hasn't in a while. Nobody at your current job knows about your breakdown three years ago. It's not necessary. You're medicated, and it's not like it was much anyway - a stress breakdown, exacerbated by undiagnosed OCD (now treated) and some minor unprocessed trauma. Nothing big. Nothing horrible.\n\nIt's just that, when you started counting the tiles again yesterday, you couldn't move. You kept losing count, and if you didn't get it right you \n\n(would break your neck would break your back the house would burn down while you were gone you'd step into traffic)\n\nhad to start all over again\n\n(if something happens to jeanne across the country it'll be because you didn't do it right so get it right so get it RIGHT one two three four one two three four) \n\nand again\n\nand again.\n\nCalling in sick seemed easier.\n\nIt's not a big deal. Really. These things happen.\n\n\\---\n\nYou start the lesson, and much to your horor, that voice in your head has started up again. You try to soothe it, tapping your foot ever so lightly against the floor. One Two Three Four - \n\nThe Yellow Wallpaper is a story about gaslighting, and self-doubt, and insanity. Your students are full of good observations, which just makes you more suspicious because you love your students, but half of them hand in assignments that are only half-complete and have to be coached through most things with thematic depth. Still, students are allowed to surprise you, right? People can change. A day is plenty of time.\n\nGeorge raises his hand.\n\n\"Yes?\"\n\n\"Why did her husband lock her up to begin with?\"\n\n\"Oh, well, it's said that she just had a baby. Post-partum depression is a real thing.\"\n\n\"What about the monster in the walls?\"\n\nAnd you pause. Because this isn't where you thought this lesson was going.\n\n\"The text implies that...\" But that isn't how to teach. \"Anybody?\" you say instead.\n\nAnamaria raises her hand. Your best student. The perfect person to bring up that there is no monster - it's the narrator herself, losing her mind. \n\nBut Anamaria keeps her gaze on the teacher, and says, with a little smirk, \"The monster got hungry.\"\n\nYou swallow dryly. \"I think possibly that's a too literal interpretation,\" you say, trying to laugh it off. One Two Three Four. Just keep counting. That'll calm you down. You're imagining things, did you take your medication this morning, three years every day and you can't have missed it today -\n\n\"Let's take some time and write individual responses, alright? On any of your reactions to the story.\"\n\nIt gives you the opportunity to walk around the room and tell yourself that these are definitely your students. They look right. They are right. \n\nBut as you saunter around the classroom, things keep sliding out of place. Ellen's doodling, but she's just drawing eyes over and over again. Not anime eyes - the simplest kind, the exact same, filling her margins with them until they crowd out her notes. Raj is chewing gum, sure, but it smells rancid and rotten. \n\nJust your imagination.\n\nChen is writing his response, but the closer you get, the more you start to make out the words on the page.\n\nHUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY\n\n\"Chen,\" you say nervously, \"do you need to eat something?\"\n\n\"It's okay, marm,\" he says, and there's that mocking term again, your students \\never\\ call you that, \"I've got something lined up.\"\n\nFingers tapping against your thigh. One. Two. Three. Four. Count that four times. Then another four. Four sets of four sets of four sets of four.\n\n\"Is everything alright, marm?\" Jessie.\n\n\"Stop calling me that!\" you snap. You immediately regret it. Jessie is a sweet kid, a little shy, fending off bullies in the hallways.\n\nExcept Jessie doesn't flinch. He just grins up at you. \"No.\"\n\nThen he opens his mouth.\n\n\\---\n\nThe principal of Shoreditch High is surprised to poke his head into the early morning English class to find no teacher. Apparently Ms. Kelly had to run home for something or other, and the children just shrug when asked when she'll be back.\n\nHe decides just to sit in for the rest of the lesson. He reads their responses as they get started on the next big assignment, and it's interesting stuff, if a bit dark. All about how whatever was in the Yellow Wallpaper liked the taste of fear. He's no English teacher, and he's never read the story, so he doesn't have much of an opinion.\n\n\"Alright, you lot. Get to next period.\"\n\nThey file out of the classroom. He can smell something weird in the air - coppery, a bit metal - but it's probably nothing. \n\nIt's just that...\n\nIt's just that none of the children are looking at him as they leave, the backs of their heads planted towards him, and he can't shake the feeling of being watched." ]	2
	[WP] The ship sank in a storm, and all were evacuated except one, who slept through it. Then they wake up, they not only notice that the ship's on the seafloor, but most of the interior is dry.	[ "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 Mayfaire Maiden was a nice ship until she chose to take a dive and turn herself into a submersible.\n\nWell, not quite, she really didn't have a choice.\n\nWeirdly, when Neil woke up the ship was almost stationary, which never happened during his month-long journey, the calendar had many dates crossed off until the arrival in Antarctica which is marked in multiple coloured highlighted circles.\n\nHe put a hand on the chilly metal frame to feel the engine, it's completely still.\n\nAfter hastily putting on a wetsuit, he battled his tense muscles and stepped over a puddle of his own puke to go above deck. Every cabin was unoccupied and not a single crew was in sight. \n\nNeil yelled, \"Ahoy, anyone there?\" \n\nAside from the shadows shimmering, nothing ever moved.\n\nNeil raced up the gunnels and bursts into the briefing room, the upturned chairs and spilt coffee mugs tell the tale of a rapid getaway.\n\nNeil's bare feet patted down the corridors as he squeezed open the captain's quarters, the old sea-dog had left his prized 15th-century Rum behind. Which Neil immediately took and popped off the lid. \n\nHe sat down and cheered the various photos of his research expedition and swallowed a few mouthfuls.\n\nThrough his blurry visions, he saw the shadows seemed to be creeping upon him. \n\n\"Away, demon, Neil snatched up the cross and tossed it at the engulfing pity blackness. Then the entire ship groaned and lurched to one side.\n\nThrown by the momentum, Neil slammed his head into a glass display case, as the lights totally went out of the room.\n\nIn his delirium, he had snatched up the captain's old spyglass and used it as a club to fend off anything out to get him. Neil's flurry of strikes broke yet another case and something clattered to the floor bathing the room in a dim glow.\n\nCarefully opening his eyes, Neil turned his head side to side, his chest falls as he let out a sigh. Snatching up the torch, Neil peaked out into the hallway, nothing jumped out.\n\nAfter making his way into almost every room and screaming himself hoarse, Neil finally was convinced he is the sole passenger in this tubular coffin. The pressure doors leading to the deck was ironclad as if sealed shut.\n\nThe few instruments that are working on backup power give out impossible reading, \" That's impossible, the water outside is more than 20 degrees Celsius, but we are supposed to be in the Arctic! We are melting the hell out of the ice sheets.\"\n\nNeil tried to squint out of a porthole, but the landscape outside is shrouded by impenetrable obscurity.\n\nNeil moved his hands over the complex dials and switches in the control room, he flicked a few as a feeble red indicator light is pulsating. \n\nThen the floodlights came on, the way ahead was sand and corpses of whales and polar bears, Neil retracted as a large white mess of some fish glided across the observatory, obviously swept up by the current that is propelling the ship forward.\n\nNeil slapped himself as he checked every side of the ship, he is indeed underwater, thousands of feet underwater. \n\nNeil slumped back to the plush leather deck chair, the light went out, the ship's battery endured their last leg of the journey.\n\nBlinding rapidly from the inescapable murkiness, Neil held back tears. Slamming his fist against the million-dollar control panels\n\nThen voices started calling out to him, the gloominess transformed and was alive, dangling their tentacles above Neil. \n\n\"Come, my child.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Cooked spaghetti has been falling from the sky for five days. We are underground but we have seen no survivors. The air we breathe has less and less oxygen by the day.	[ "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.", "Day 5:\n\nIt's still raining.\n\nAt least, I assume so. I haven't seen the light of the sun ever since the downpour began, but I can hear faint echoes of rain pounding against the ground above. Or maybe I'm just hearing things. I don't know anymore.\n\nI haven't seen anyone for days. For all I know, I could be the last man alive. I don't know how long I can last. The air is getting thinner day by day. I'm close to running out of food, and my flashlight is running out. Thankfully, filtered cave water can keep me hydrated, for now.\n\nI can't say what will happen to humanity, or if there's anything left of humanity for something to happen to. But to whoever may be reading this in a distant future, know that if the human race has persisted through this apocalypse then you can persist through the end of time.\n\nDay 6:\n\nThe deluge began around a week ago. A little less than a week - about 6 days, to be exact. Or at least, I assume. Time has lost it's meaning to me.\n\nTo whoever is reading this, it may seem like some outlandish myth created only to be told to young children, or around a campfire at night. Or, this writing may be a treasured insight into an age long passed. Or perhaps, no one will ever read this at all. Whatever the case, the events I will describe are most certainly true.\n\nIt started with a single drop. A single, red drop. More drops followed, dropping from the darkened clouds above. Some thought it was blood, and preached on the streets of the end of times. Others hid in their houses, unsure of what to do. I, unfortunately, was caught in the open - right in the middle of a backpacking trip. It was only a light rain at first. I found cover in the mouth of a small cave and watched the mysterious rainfall, mesmerized by the strange phenomenon. It began to get heavier. Thunder cracked the sky. A few moments later, reddish light began to filter through the clouds. The red liquid fell in pounding torrents to the ground. I could hardly see more than 3 feet in front of me. The deafening sound of the rain echoed through the tiny chamber, emphasised by massive claps of thunder.\n\nSomething flew past me, blown in by the roaring wind. Hesitantly, I bent down to look.\n\n...A noodle?\n\nDay 7:\n\nThe raging storm continued, seeming to only increase in its intensity. I knew that leaving the cave would be almost suicidal, so I looked for a way down. There was a small shaft at the very back of the cave, and shining a flashlight down revealed a large cavern. I took a climbing rope from by backpack, staked staked to the ground and descended.\n\nMy feet hit the floor, splashing in a small puddle. The dripping of water from the ceiling blended seamlessly with the waves of rain hitting the ground above. I shined my flashlight into darkness. A large cavern opened up before me, with winding pathways opening up everywhere I looked. I dropped my bag to the floor, and began to set up a makeshift camp.\n\nAnd this is where I've been ever since.\n\nSo far, I've mapped a large portion of the cave systems. There's not much down here, except for water and rocks. The hole that I climbed down has long since been blocked by the downpour of noodles. I assume that there are either no other exits, or that all other entrances have been sealed. As I said before, the air seems to get thinner every day.\n\nAs I write this, I am eating my last scrap of food.\n\nDay 8:\n\nMy flashlight is about to die. I'm taking the last moments of light that I have to write this. Maybe someone in the future will read my story, and know what happened. Or maybe I'm just writing letters to myself in an empty cave. Does it really matter?\n\nThe steady pounding of the rain has been going on for so long, I can barely hear it anymore. I couldn't tell you if it truly was rain or just white noise my brain is creating in a last-ditch effort to keep my sanity.\n\nI don't know what caused the downpour, or what the future will hold - for the human race, this planet, or even me. Will the rains ever stop? Was this intentional? Will humanity rise from the ashes? Will some other race arrive thousands of years later, to claim our abandoned home as their own?\n\nMaybe so, maybe not. I will never know. But whoever you are, if you happen to be reading this - know that we were here.", "Nothing but noodles for days. The three of us huddled in our bunker, enough food, water and entertainment to last us for years. The only problem we didn't see coming was the noodles blocking the air cycling system. We had enough oxygen for maybe a few days left including the tanker oxygen in the med bay. \"We have to go out there and unclog the vents.\" Dr. Martin said \"it's our only chance for survival\". Me and Jesse looked at him in shock and then we understood. One of us was going to have to die so the others can live. \"Fuck it, I'll go \" I said. Jesse's eyes looked at me tears welling up begging me not to without saying a word. My mind was made up.\n\n5 days before the great storm, Dr. Martin and his colleagues had created a system they believed would cure world hunger on a global scale. The creation of food from an external source using expired and spent biomatter. It was international news, and covered every headline on every major newspaper and internet blog known to man. It was a resounding success, a little too successful. It rained noodles nonstop all over the globe and had yet to cease. I was just a janitor there that day to clean up the debris and Jesse was one of the display girls showing off the machine in little more than a bikini. We got into the bunker just in time, no one else had made it. Me and her bonded over our mutual understanding that everybody immediately outside of the bunker was fucked and little more than a rotting body at this point. But not us, we were the lucky ones. \n\n\"Someones gotta do it, why shouldn't it be me?\" I said out loud getting my jumpsuit on. \n\n\"Please dont do it, I dont want you to go.\" Jesse sobbed tears welling down her face \"it's not fair, I dont want to do this without you\". \n\nDr. Martin chimed in there and said \" thats what I didn't tell you, it takes two people to unclog those vents. It cant be done with just one.\" He sheepishly ducked his head and mumbled \" i guess it's only right that I go with you. I started this mess I shouldnt let yall do this alone.\"\n\n\"No doc, you may have fucked this up but you can unfuck it better than either of us ever could. We will be together out there, if we survive then back in we come. If not then we won't be alone anymore\" I look at Jesse. A different look has come over her suddenly. Not fear or sadness but one of what can best be described as love. Shes so beautiful her long black hair and her deep ocean colored eyes framed a freckled face that made my heart flutter every time she met my eyes. We were gonna go out together. And survive whatever the hell the machine is doing now.\n\nWe quickly put on jumpsuits ready yet again to clean up after these rich assholes and give each other a knowing look before we press the door button. I cant stand it anymore, I pull her in and plant a kiss on her lips that put the princess bride to shame. It's time to go to work. \n\nThe door opens and one thing is painfully apparent. The rain has stopped entirely. Noodles litter the ground and cover the husks of crushed tanks and cars. We find the vent sticking up covered in sticky pasta and begin cutting away at it when we hear a deep rumble. \n\n\"Oh shit\" I mutter out loud \"we have to move fast!!\" \n\nSomething solid hits the ground beside me and explodes acid. \"Move!\" I scream running towards her. She turns to me and is hit directly by the new rain. Shes gone limp, I cant tell if shes alive or dead but I have to get her out of here. I pick her up and run for the nearest building which is taking solid yellow shrapnel at an alarming rate. It's our only chance. I sprint inside and luckily it hasn't broken through. I then turn my attentions to Jesse. Cradling her head and softly whispering \"come back to me\" was all I could do. I hung my head defeated. Suddenly her lungs filled with air and she gasped awake. Tears streaming down my cheeks I held her, thankful she was still with me. I cant do it without her. \n\n\"The noodles aren't falling anymore!\" She said excitedly.\n\n\"Yea but these lemons aren't gonna make it much easier\" I said jokingly. \n\n\"Well what are we gonna do then?\" She asked looking into my eyes. \n\nI met her gaze and saw hope for the first time in days and I knew it would be there forever. I looked at her and back at the world and shrugged.\n\n\"Well when life gives you lemons....\"" ]	3
	[WP] You were reborn as a demon who held the power to destroy any civilizations in the universe with just one blow. The only way anyone could control you is to make you fall in love with that person. Years have passed, a lot have tried, until that one came.	[ "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.", "(WP) Everybody Wants to Rule the World\n\nShe didn’t remember much about being human, but she remembered love, or at least, the echo of it. That warmth that climbed into an almost unbearable heat, that all encompassing desire that resulted from a smile from the other person.\n\nBut to even think of it was like trying to remember a dream after you awoke; there were a few key details, but it was so blurry that she didn’t like to think of it. It had been centuries since she’d been human, and anyway, what was humanity in comparison to godlike power? Now, she was uncontrolled, accountable to only herself. She’d crushed civilizations like dust in her fingers, collapsed societies with a flick of a wrist.\n\nBut these memories, distant as they were, were a reminder: Though she wasn’t human anymore, she wasn’t unstoppable. Not completely. There was a way to control her, and invoke her power, but she would be damned all over again if she was going to let anyone control her for anything.\n\nShe was a demon, true, but she still had free will. Many had tried to seduce her, claim her, but none had come close.\n\nUntil now, when a man and woman stood in the chamber in which she’d died, reading an incantation that was older than time, compelling her essence into their plane of existence.\n\nAs strong as she was, she could not ignore such a summons: Dissolving into glittering, navy smoke, she found herself trapped within a bright red circle, its corners etched with shining demonic runes. The pair outside of it exchanged bright smiles, manic in their victory.\n\n“I told you it would work! Her Dark Unholiness, The Demoness Who Shatters Worlds, Temperance! We summon you here!”\n\nHow ironic was it, that her name was fucking Temperance and she was one of the universe’s most powerful forces of evil? It was beyond ironic; it was pathetic. If she ever found the unlucky demon who’d unearthed her human name, she would disembowel them and use their guts as garters.\n\nTaking a lithe human form with dark skin, long black curls, and scarlet eyes, the color of rage and blood, she tilted her head to the side, studying the pair who’d dared brave her presence.\n\n“What do you humans want? I’m not immune to flattery, of course, but you must know you cannot hope to control me.”\n\n“That’s not what the book said,” A woman’s voice broke through the haze of smoke, calm and more than a little arrogant. “The book said that there was a way to control you.”\n\nTemperance said nothing, keeping her face impassive. This wouldn’t be the first time a couple of reckless, curious humans found the book that detailed her birth, powers, and weakness. But she wasn’t about to give them the answers. They should’ve thought of that before demanding she come here.\n\n“The book said,” The woman continued, smiling wickedly, “that we had to make you fall in love to control you.” \n\nWhere was the harm in letting them try? No one had ever succeeded before.\n\n\\\\" ]	2
	[WP] It's your 18th birthday. Your family and your friends are really concerned, as you still havent found your totem. That afternoon, there is a strange vibe in the air and you hear a knock on your door.	[ "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.", "Ayrla was a bit nervous as she opened the door, grew seriously nervous as two suited men stood there instead of the friends she was expecting, and graduated to panicked as one pushed their way inside while the other blocked the door.\n\n\"Ayrla Coppersmith?\" asked the one outside. He raised a clipboard and checked a box at her nod. \"My partner \" - he nodded at the man standing beside her - \" and I are sorry to be here today. Please understand that we would rather be elsewhere and this day was different for you.\"\n\nShe felt herself go cold. She knew this might happen, but this wasn't what she expected. Not to her. \"I-- I--\"\n\nOutside began to speak. \"Persuant to Federal statute 16.2.3 subsection a section 2 paragraph 3,\" he droned, \"we are here because you are eighteen on this day, and shown yourself to be lacking in the requisite spiritual, psychic, or metaphysical abilities, propensities, or capabilities required for integration into society as a whole. As a result,\" he continued, \"we have come to assist you to a Federal resettlement facility where you can contribute to the nation in the sole capacity remaining to you.\" He shook his head. \"I'm sorry to have to do this, miss. Please understand that we would rather not be here.\"\n\n\"But...but wait,\" she said. She looked around wildly; Indoors was too close to dodge, he'd grab her before she took two steps or swung punch one. Outdoors was blocking the door - no escape there. Play for time. Get rid of them, run. Anywhere, didn't matter. \"Look, you guys, it's early still, I know I haven't found a familiar yet but I know one will turn up, I have until midnight...\"\n\nOutdoors shook his head. \"I'm sorry, miss, I honestly am. We're here now because too many try to run when they come up empty. We see it too often.\"\n\n\"Sure,\" she spat. \"I'm sure you have. And I'm sure you are.\" She swore at him, then tried a different tack. \"Hey, look. If you have to take me, maybe....maybe we can work something out? Just...just give me one more hour, to say my goodbyes? I can make it worth your while if you let me, maybe? Like this?\" \n\nShe made as if to lift her shirt then suddenly spun, elbowed Indoors in the gut dropping him in the hall. Ran upstairs, slammed her bedroom door, locked it, grabbed her backpack. Stuffed her pile of laundry (thank god she just washed it) into it, raised her window, out onto the roof, down the tree, and across the yard to the copse of trees just at the edge of the road, and...\n\nThat was the plan, at least. As she dropped her hands and started to spin Indoors grabbed her by the arm and cuffed her. Turning her back towards the door, holding on to her by the cuffs, he started marching her out to the waiting car.\n\n\"Sorry, miss,\" said Outdoors as he fell into step behind her. The neighbourhood was quiet; no one wanted to see her taken away. \"I am sorry. We don't like taking people off for spiritual recycling. Honestly. I know that's hollow to hear, but it's the truth.\" Outdoors stepped ahead and opened the door to the back seat. Indoors pushed her inside. \"If it helps, I'm told it's painless.\"\n\n\"Are you serious? No. It doesn't. Not in the slightest. And you're a bastard.\"\n\nHe sighed. \"Yeah. I've been told.\" They got into the front, started the car, and took her off towards the recycling centre." ]	2
	[WP] You've just about had it with all these traveling serial killers trying to hitch a ride with you. After all, the corpses of the last 5 are really starting to take up space.	[ "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 was tired. Sick and tired of all the scum that kept asking for a ride whenever I had to drive on the interprovincial highway. Some random bloke would always show up, with a stupid smile on his sickening face and a raised thumb. Or maybe a woman, with her little fancy dress or pants, ugly bag, sometimes usually accompanied by her hideous family. Once, a man almost got himself killed rushing in front of my car, begging to be let in, whimpering about his nearby broken down car, frozen tears on his red and shivering face. He didn't really look very nice, so I swerved around him and left him to freeze in the cold. You want a ride, you obey the rules. Thumb up, and I might pick you up. Don't give me a scare by throwing yourself towards my car. I hope he froze to death.\n\nWell, I think I swerved. Not too sure. There was a crunch, and, thanks to me being an expert, my car does have great propulsion. Doesn't really matter. Happened a few times, so I think it's just the engine.\n\nAnyways, sometimes you'd have people not so ugly, so I'd let them into my car, hoping for a chat or something. You know, cause frankly the radio gets tiring, and I'm usually too broke to afford new song tracks. I mean, they seemed interesting an' all, what with the fantastic stories behind them getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, so I had expectations. 'Cept through the years, their stories grew more and more insane and repetitive too. Seriously, they lacked originality. I must've had six at least tell me the one about some serial killer hankering around the highway for fresh innocent souls, and maybe three tried to impress me with a story about an ice statue they had seen somewhere. At some point I grew bored of it all, so I told passengers to shut up as soon as they got in.\n\nYou know, actually, that was when I had my first suspicions.\n\nSee, most people don't meet that many lost people on the highway. Maybe once in a blue moon or two. I might be exaggerating a fair bit here, but the point is that it seemed to me that people were really throwing themselves on me when I was driving. I grew weary. Suspicious. So terribly suspicious. It paid off though, because a few months back I finally uncovered why there was so many of them. Turns out they were thieves and murderers, maybe witches, out for my blood and soul. Now I might not be rich or anything, and I'm just an ordinary trucker who spends eleven months driving each year, but I'm not about to just let some sinful bastards run around, and I'm smart and capable enough to recognize a threat and bring it down.\n\nSee, once I started paying more attention, I realized they had awfully suspicious attitudes. Like one would reach towards their pocket, then retract their hand with a nervous jerk when I turned my head towards them. A few talked in some weird demonic language on their phones, the sound all sharp and rough edges, and some tried to make conversation about some really strange subjects. One spoke about temperature or fluid mechanics or something, and how it had busted his engine. Another few talked about how the stars were really pretty at night, which I could somewhat understand, but without exception once they started talking about astronomy all they seemed capable of saying were lies. Like how the Earth was starstuff and how in the face of the universe humans seemed insignificant. I know bull when I hear it, and I knew right then they were lying straight to my face; I'm a professional trucker, raised in a good and honest family, learned from sect priests who themselves got their knowledge from God. I know who to trust, not some obscure scientific lunatic, and honestly it really isn't hard to tell which one's lying, because of how bad their lies are. Like who'd believe that the Earth is just one of billions of planets. God obviously cares more about us than that.\n\nOnce the game was up, and I knew they were probably there to trick me, it didn't take long for me to figure that they were sent from the Devil himself, out to rob me of my faith an' soul. So right then I knew I had a job, assigned to me by Heaven itself; dispatch the lying, thieving and ugly bastards from the world, and make sure they stayed wherever in hell they lived. It's a duty I am proud of doing to this day.\n\nLike this jerk over here. Smiling in my car with his hands over the heater without a care in the world. Probably doesn't know I've got his plan all figured out. Picked him up somewhere during the last mile, and he ain't lasting one more.\n\nI smirk and tell him to check behind the seat for some gloves. Just the routine I got accustomed to. Tell him to lay the plastic mat as best he can over the floor. The feel of the gun's handle feels oddly warm in my hand as I press it on his turned head, like Justice itself was holding it with me.\n\nGoodbye, sucker." ]	2
	[WP] All firearms, flamers, cannons, repeating crossbows and grenade launchers cease to operate. Somehow everybody knows that you can only use your body or melee weapons like swords, axes, spears, maces etc for fighting alongside bow and arrow. War has returned to a more “civilized age”	[ "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.", "“Well shit, there goes our fucking rate!” \n\nGM2 Smith bellowed his complaint as he sat down in the mess deck. \n\n“This is fucking bullshit,” replied FC3 Gomez, “I pretty much just got out of A-school man.” \n\nAnother sailor entered the mess hall and set next to the two sailors. \n\n“Look at it this way,” said BM1 Knight, “At least you’ll sleep well on this deployment.” \n\n“Yeah for the month it’ll take for us to get to homeport,” Smith retorted, “What will they make us do after that?” \n\n“No one knows dude, we’re still waiting on the CNO to declare something…”\n\nSmith and Gomez stare at their food in silence.\n\n“We might as well be fucking Merchant Marines,” MA2 Lindley said as he entered the mess deck. \n\n“What am I going to do now, carry a club? Maybe a hand crossbow? I joined the Navy to be a MA, not Legolas.”\n\n“Preach to the choir MA2,” Gomez replied.\n\nThe 1MC crackled to life, interrupting the conversation between the men.\n\n“This is the Skipper speaking. The CNO has released a tentative directive in regards to sailors whose rates were affected by this… Event… Your Department Heads will be briefed shortly and will pass the information down the chain. All hands be prepared for information from your Department Heads. I am leaving it to them on how they want to disseminate it. Skipper out.” \n\n“Aw fuck,” Gomez said as the announcement ended, “Commander Hunter is probably going to make us clean everything in the work center for 16 fucking hours a day.” \n“Probably us too,” Smith replied. \n\n“Well boys,” Knight declared to the others, “get some rest and get your cleaning hands ready, because deck division will gladly welcome all of you after you clean your guns and toys.” \n\nThe other men groaned. \n\n“Fuck this,” Gomez muttered as they ate.\n\nThe others nodded as they ate their meal as well. \n\nThere were big changes about to happen to their Navy, and none of them liked it." ]	2
	[WP] You are the curator of an armory so ancient its history predates God Himself. Your armory was responsible for forging the weapons that killed Satan. One day, you greet your newest client looking for weaponry. To your surprise, it's 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.", "“Welcome to Stone Man Armory. We are glad to see you are interested in our wares and we would be more then happy to accommodate you. If you would like we can show you around the facility. May we have a name?” The receptionist said to the person standing looking at the artwork in the lobby.\n\nThe painting was of Satan in his first fight against God, taking place on a deserted battlefield, thousand of soldiers in golden armor against demons of all shapes and sizes. In the middle of the painting God was in his leader armor carrying a sword and shield. Satan was also in gear, although his was a dull red and he was carrying a trident.\n\n“Oh what? Ah sorry, I was distracted by the picture. I had heard about this fight and saw a few painting but never this one. Yes, I would love a tour if that's possible. My name is God by the way. Not the first one, just the most recent version.” He said back to the receptionist as he took a seat and waited for his tour.\n\n“Hello, you must be God, welcome to the Stone Man Armory. I am Hephaestus, Ruler of Fire, Forging, Armor, Stone Masonry, so on and so forth blah blah blah. Real honor to meet you, I heard about you from Zeus. Defeated Satan not once, but on many occasions. Is it true you helped out some random guy beat some other random guy the devil was helping in a game of poker?” He asked.\n\n“Yeah, it was weird, the guy sold his soul to the Devil to win at any game, he lost and we got into it. But enough about the past, lets focus on the here and now. I’ll level with you Hephaestus, I need a weapon to kill Satan, the most recent version of him is immune to the prior items and I need some help.” God said to him as he stood up to shake his hand.\n\n“More then happy to help. Lets take a quick walk and get an idea of what you need.” He said back to God.\n\nThey began walking down the hall as God saw all the prior weapons used that won fights as well as some that did not. There was the original sword used by the first God. The gauntlet used a few centuries later, the broadsword that was broken in half was even here.\n\nThere were of course the failures. God wasn’t the biggest fan of the Armory as they supplied anyone who passed by. The flail that Satan used in his first victory, the Macuahuitl that Satan used a few times to eek out a win was shown too. God was too focused to notice the curator was finishing up the tour.\n\n“And here we have the Second Revolver. I know it isn’t yours specifically. I know of the ascension concept from angel to God you guys do there. Fun fact: This is one of the few weapons in the God v. Satan Bouts that had its own tagline?” He said to God\n\nGod looked at the little plaque underneath the weapons glass case.\n\nLOUDER THEN GOD’S REVOLVER AND TWICE AS SHINY \n\n“We have weapons from all of your fights and fights between all Gods. So what brings you in to our neck of the woods today?” Hephaestus questioned.\n\n“I need a new weapon. Something new, he has this firearm that can absorb any projectiles we throw at him. So anything in the melee range would probably work out best.” He said back.\n\n“Hmmm, we are working on a new item you may like. It will be done in about 2 years time, but well worth the wait I feel.” He said to God as he ushered him into a small conference room.\n\nOn the table was a cloth covering up a weapon. Hephaestus lifted up the cloth to reveal a shining Halberd. It must have been almost as tall as God. He took the weapon and stood it up to inspect it.\n\nHephaestus’s reputation was one that was held in high regard. He was the maker of some of the finest gear ever to be used in combat and it showed. The weapon was immaculate in its production, not a flaw to be detected on it. \n\nThe markings on the lower part revealed it was a special weapon produced and blessed by various deities and religious figures. He placed the Halberd back onto the table and turned to Hephaestus.\n\n“I think this will do nicely. He cannot be eliminated permanently, but this will certainly sway the scales back in my favor.” God said as he reached for the weapon again.\n\nHephaestus stopped him this time.\n\n“Well you will certainly be able to purchase the weapon. What have you to offer?” He said back as he stroked his beard.\n\n“I offer you blessing in my kingdom and salvation”\n\n“Salvation won’t do any good here. How about this, I heard of the burning bush you had. Rumor has it that the bush never dies out. Trade for the Halberd.”\n\n“Very well, but throw in the most recent set of armor available.”\n\n“Deal. Well it was pleasure doing business today. Pick up the Halberd and armor in 2 years and bring the bush at the same time.”\n\nWith that Hephaestus shook God’s hand and they began making their way back to the lobby. \n\n“Thank you for visiting Stone Man Armory, come back again soon” The receptionist said to God with a smile as he exited the building and began walking out into the cold December evening.", "The weapon-smith's Diary - 12th December 2019 -\n\nToday was a peculiar day. It started off as a fairly routine day. I got up early - before sunrise - to be able to finish the sword for an Elf on time.\n\nThis specific sword was a beautiful piece. Crafted from a specific metal that was mined by my ancestors years ago. This metal was beautiful. It was better than any alloy that any modern armoury can put up on the market. Light, Strong, stiff. Perfect for an agile elf going on a quest for glory.\n\nIt was also looking to be a particularly quiet day. It was cloudy and dark - so I did not expect many clients, except the Elf who would come at luncheon to collect their sword.\n\nTo finish the pommel and handle, I needed my engraving and modelling tools. The pommel was to have a representation of a feather and the Elf's initials written on it. The handle was going to be ornate - engravings telling the story of the Elf's tribe, peppered with red gem stones. This sword also needed to be baptised in the Universe Water.\n\nWhilst I was carefully embossing the gems into the handle I heard the entrance bell ringing lightly. Someone had come into the store, but with care. It had not sounded like the typical warrior like shove of the door. So I assumed it must have been the elf. They were known to like supervising the projects this armoury conducted for them. They always liked to help, especially in the finishing touches. Applying leather bands around the handles to hide the ornate engravings and increase their grip on it.\n\nHowever as I walked up from the cellar where I was working, I could see that behind my counter was not an elf. A cloaked figure greeted me in an astoundingly neutral voice \"Good day Amaranth. I come to you again for a specific request\". I was struck, I could not pin point the voice and the cloak was too veiling for me to recognise a face.\n\nBehind my counter I looked at the darkness in the cloak and acknowledged the greeting. I took a stance to try and show I was listening. The cloak extended an arm, dropped a satchel clearly containing coins by the sound it made. the other arm reached into a pocket and extracted a wax-sealed letter.\n\nThe cloak then said, \"I bid thee a good day,and I will see you in 11 days\". Then they turned around, quietly walked away, closed the door - the bell ringing again. I was left leaning on my counter with between my hands a heavy satchel of gold and a sealed letter, still quivering from the pressure changes induced by the air movement in the shop.\n\nThe wax seal was purple and gold. It had a capital G. At this point I knew my customer was someone important. Someone omnipotent. Someone who's request I had to meet.\n\nI spilled the satchel of gold. There was a lot.\n\nBeing worried, I read the letter as fast as I could. I had just been commissioned to make a war hammer for God. This did not bode well for the upcoming Christmas.\n\n\\[...\\]" ]	3
	[WP] Magic wasn't forgotten or lost, the source was simply used up. Now, 100's of years later the source is not only full, but it's also bursting at the seams.	[ "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.", "Scientists are reporting unprecedented aurora activity. Forecasts say that it should be easily visible from the northern mid west states.\n\n>\"That's incredible! Look how they shift. There! That one! Here, bunny! bunny! bunny!\"\n\n!POF!\n\n\"Dear... Why is there a Technicolor hare on our deck?\"\n\n>\"Ooohhh, he looks just like.. the... one...\"\n\n\"I don't touch him! He's made out of electi...\"\n\n>!BZAP! \"Ouch!\" ... \"I feel odd.\"\n\n\"Yes, Dear. Why don't you step into the bathroom and look in the mirror?\"\n\n>\"What is it?\"\n\n\"I'd ... rather not say. I don't know if you're going to like it or hate it, so I'm not going to say anything until you tell me how you feel about it.\"\n\n>\"Uh oh... The hair dye incident?\"\n\n\"Just... go look.\"\n\n>Squeeee! \"I LOVE IT! IT EVEN CHANGES COLORS WITH MY MOOD!\"\n\n\"Mood hair. I wonder what it looks like when she's in the...\"\n\n>\"Come here lover boy...\"\n\nah, that color\n\n...\n\n>\"I'm pregnant.\"\n\n\"That's wonderful!\"\n\n>\"It's octuplets.\"\n\n\"O holy... Well dear, we have been...\"\n\n>\"humping...\"\n\n\"like...\"\n\n>\"rabbits.\"\n\n[The light dawns.]\n\nThe auroras are predicted to merge over the equator within the week. Scientists are split on what the effects will be. There have been so many reports of ... unusual phenomenon ... that some are making unequivocal pronouncements of a whole new energy source pervading our world. Allowing theoretical quantum mechanics to take place in the \"macro\" world. That is, we can see it happening.\n\n>\"Mommy?\"\n\nThoroughly distracted....\n\"Yes, Betty?\"\n\n>\"You know Gramma Davis old grim wire book?\"\n\n\"The one that used to give you nightmares? I thought we'd agreed that you wouldn't dig it out of the attic.\"\n\n>\"I didn't. It came down on its own.\"\n\n\"Now you know what I've said about tall tales.\"\n\n>\"MOMMY JUST LOOK!\"\n\nA small girl child, arm out stretched. The Grimoire is now wrapped around that arm and snuggling it.\n\n. . .\n\nThe doctor comes out of the surgery. In a wheelchair pushed by a nurse who looks rather green. He is looking a bit pale and sedated, wrapped in a blanket.\n\n\"First, let me reassure you. Your daughter is uninjured. In fact, I doubt that anyone, or anything, is going to be able to harm her ever again.\n\nMrs. Davis... We can't get it off. It snaps at us when we try, and eats all of our instruments. We do have one suggestion.\"\n\n>\"And that is?\"\n\n\"Consider treating it like a pet. The closest it's come to letting go was when your daughter started petting it. It relaxed enough that I tried to pull it free.\"\n\n>\"What happened?\"\n\n\"Fifty-three stitches.\" Pulling his right hand out from under the blanket. It's heavily bandaged. \"If I'm very lucky, I'll regain full function in my thumb and one finger. Be very careful with that book, the teeth are like scalpels.\"\n\nThe stories keep getting weirder. Books that bite. Hydrants that pee on dogs. The list just goes on! The big night is tonight! They're going to merge over the equator as predicted!\n\n((more?))" ]	2
	[WP] A withered old man sits alone in a derelict workshop, abandoned ever since the Event. He looks at his list, long since empty, and suddenly checks again in shock. A single name is written there, along with a solitary wish - the last Christmas gift.	[ "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.", "You wouldn’t let yourself believe, not anymore. \n\nNot ever since the event. Because believing hurt you and you were so sick and tired of it.\n\nYou knew that visiting the old shop would be a waste of time. There hadn’t been a single request in over a hundred years. But still, you begrudgingly trudged through the field of ash and brimstone. \n\nThe elves had long since left, their breed a rare sight these days. Without their magic, the smithy had lost its luster, reduced to a former shell of its magnificent self. And yet, how the buildings foundation managed to withstand both the testament of time and bitter neglect was a miracle in and of itself. Curiosity nipped at your heel. Enter the battered door whispered in your ear. You, shook your head, your teeth grinding. Don’t fall to such temptations, Nick. You think to yourself. You know how much it hurts if you do.\n\n“Don’t do it.” You say. “Don’t walk through that door.”\n\nBut you did it anyway. \n\nYou knew better. Didn’t you? You’d been burned before. Children didn’t believe in you anymore. Your myth had died over a century ago! You were worse than dead to these people, you were forgotten. So why? Why then did you walk in? \n\nThe nostalgia came as quickly as the pain did. You spotted the corner in which Martha sat, playing so lovingly with the elves. It was char now, no better than kindle. There, in the corner, was the shelves that housed a thousand gifts and then a thousand more, oh how marvelous it looked at it’s prime. They were gone now, all smashed to bits and pieces.\n\nYou felt the good memories seep out like blood through a mortal wound. You didn’t bother stemming the flow. They had no place in your blackened heart. Instead, you let the bitterness creep in like an old winters chill. It seeped through your bones, sapping at your very strength. \n\n“This is what you deserve, old saint fool.” You thought. “You never learned your lesson, not even after a hundred years of silence.”\n\nThe days of riding your sleigh, delivering presents for kindly children most deserving had ended when the world was engulfed by disaster. When the event occurred, caused by the people you once labored incessantly over, you remember feeling betrayed, angry. They did this to the world. Their negligence and their greed, ruined everything.\n\nAnd yet, though the anger was strong, inflamed further still when Martha passed, you could not cling onto hatred. You wanted to, but in that endeavor, you were too weak. Jolly was your curse. Kindness, defined you. \n\nSo, in a moment of weakness, you dared to peek once more at the letterbox. The same box in which piles of good-will and hope filled letters piled high to the ceiling. You expected it to be empty. Just like it was a decade ago and a decade before that. But you saw something. Something that made your blood run cold. \n\nFor the first time in over a century, there was an envelope in that tray. A sealed white thing, adorned with chicken scratch on the front. You felt the inner workings of your mind begin to unravel. You saw a familiar sight, or what should have been a familiar sight, and yet you could hardly begin processing it. \n\nWith quaking hands, you gingerly picked up the object, holding it as if it were some blighted thing. Don’t do it. A dark voice hissed in the back of your mind. But you couldn’t resist. You flip open the intimate folds of the envelope, pulling forth a letter creased in thirds. Your eyes began to water, your throat constricted. Could it be?\n\nYou opened the letter. \n\n“Dear Santa, my name is-“\n\nGlobules of tears splotched the paper, threatening to wash away the scratchy ink the words were written with. You couldn’t control yourself. But then, for the first time in a long time, you didn’t want to. You remembered something important. You exist for this singular purpose: to spread joy to the children in need of it. And right now in this brimstone and smoke filled world, one child had come calling.\n\nForge or no, with or without a sleigh, elves or none by your side, you would see your task done. This present would be forged and delivered.", "The toy maker struggled to steady his left hand as he wrapped it with gauze. \"Come on you dirty pig, you can do this.\" he said. Securing the gauze with horse glue, he looked at his tools. It was the wooden mallet he needed. Arms shaking, he barely managed to unhang it from the the wall. The dust could not be wiped off with his fingers. Focusing on the wobbling mallet, he blew.\n\nHe immediately regretted that decision as the dust particulates flew their way into his eyes and nose. The mallet fell from his hand and landed on his feet. With a combination of cursing and coughs, the toy maker hobbled out from his shed for fresh air. \n\nSpitting out a globule of mucus, he took a deep breath. His nose singed at the frigged air, and snow pattered his frame. He placed his arms akimbo in order to subside their trembling. He waited a couple more moments before returning. \n\nCarrying the mallet once more, the toy maker looked at his creation. He still needed to affix a dowel to the jaw. Sitting back down, he tipped his creation to its side and scooped as many dowels he could from the left cabinet. Most rolled to the ground, but a few dowels found themselves next to the tin eye of the toy maker's creation. \n\nIt was a process of continually picking up dowels, only for them to slip out from his unwieldy hands, but eventually the toy maker managed to set the cylinder onto the upper jaw hole. He then began lightly tapping, the sound soothing his actions. \"That's it, good. Good.\" he muttered. The dowel became further lodged into the hole, making subsequent taps easier. \n\nGrowing with confidence, the toy maker increased the strength of his taps until he could hear the steady thumps unheard since the Event. Then, he stopped. \n\nDropping the mallet to the floor, the toy maker propped his creation back up with his hands. Work lights casting a orange sheen on the bench, he permitted himself a brief smile. \n\n\"Morning, my friend,\" he said. \"Gretta and I have gone through much to create once more. You are our finest and our last, and you will protect this young'un who dared to still believe.\"\n\nAlthough unable to speak, the creation raised its linden-hood arm to its master. \n\nToy maker nodded, and returned the salute. \"Now go, there is little time left. Go forth, and begin your eternal march, Nutcracker.\"\n\nEDIT: Content and grammer" ]	3
	[WP] It’s Dec. 1st, 2194. The first human colony began on mars in January earlier this year. Santa Clause is getting anxious, he doesn’t yet have a way to get to mars to deliver presents.	[ "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 elves buckled in their seats as Santa slammed the boardroom door open. He was exceptionally red and sweaty, to the point that a newly-hired might have mistaken him for a Florida resident abducted from the local Walmart superstore. The deep sweat-stains baked into his wife-beater were not helping.\n\n\"What have you got?\"\n\nAll eyes turned on Herbie, who inwardly bemoaned having abandoned his degree in dentistry for a degree in advertising.\n\n\"We have a few possible options.\" Herbie grabbed the clicker from the center of the table. The first slide on the monitor was of a standard rocket. \"A representative from Tesla has informed our corporate division that they would be willing to partner with us to create a specialized rocket designed to travel from Earth to Mars and back in a single night. Apparently Mr. Musk is willing to give us the rocket for free so long as Tesla gets advertising residuals.\"\n\nSanta shook his head. \"No advertising. I refuse to let our holiday be aligned with private businesses or special interest groups.\"\n\n\"But sir,\" said Melinda, \"your face alone is a brand for countless products.\"\n\n\"My face is in the public domain. Regardless, I'm not about to let any corporation begin calling themselves an affiliate of the North Pole.\"\n\n\"But what about Coca Cola?\"\n\nSanta's eyes went as cold as a White Christmas. Herbie, as one of the few elves privileged to know both Coca Cola's status as a shell corporation of the North Pole and the secret Coca Cola formula (which included some percentage of elf-blood), was not surprised to see Melinda vanished from the room via a puff of smoke. Given the high concentration of sulfur, there was no doubt among the remaining elves that she had been taken by the Krampus. There would no doubt be some debate as to who would break the news to her parents, as well as what cover-story they would use which did not involve confirming the existence of a Krampus.\n\n\"Let's move on.\" The next slide was of a slightly less attractive rocket. \"The United Nations have been discussing a joint project to create a similar shuttle, with the understanding that we match at least a fourth of their monetary contribution. It'll set us back financially, but the good PR combined with the business we'll get from Mars should provide us with a nice windfall.\"\n\nSanta stroked his beard. \"Would it be complete by our deadline?\"\n\n\"They haven't gotten back to us with an estimate. Additionally, we may need to broker a deal with Saudia Arabia in order to secure the crude oil necessary for continuous flight.\"\n\n\"Oil? I thought we would be using nuclear power.\"\n\n\"Unfortunately safe fusion technology doesn't appear to be within their budget. Japan is one of the primary donors, and they threatened to pull out if we took the nuclear option.\"\n\n\"Damnit!\" Santa slammed a meaty fist on the table. \"We already have the EPA up our asses about going carbon-neutral by 2210, we don't need to give them another reason to litigate us. What else have you got?\"\n\nHerbie cringed as he clicked to the final slide. This time there was no rocket, but rather a crudely-drawn sled with jets attached to the back and bottom. \"We could modify your sled for interstellar travel. Granted, it would require inventing a fusion-based propulsion system, and creating space-suits for you and the reindeer. We would also need to configure an interstellar GPS, find a way to keep your sack from floating away in zero-gravity, and of course we'll need to consider how to protect the sled from burning up upon re-entry--\"\n\n\"Stop.\" All of the color had left Santa's face. \"Are you seriously telling me that my only other option is for you to send me to Mars in my sleigh, without a ship, in just a space-suit?\"\n\n\"That's the short version, yes.\"\n\n\"But there's no way I could possibly make that trip in one night. And even if I could, it's space! I don't even know how we could ever prepare the reindeer for zero-gravity, let alone the lack of heat and sound. I mean, what were you going to do, clap your hands and believe as hard as you could until I made it there and back again?\"\n\nAgain the elves exchanged nervous glances. Herbie cleared his throat.\n\n\"We theorized there's a ten percent chance that your voyage might succeed if the people of Earth and Mars both believe in you en mass before and after your voyage. But it's very likely the reindeer would starve or freeze to death.\"\n\nSanta threw up his arms, bellowed heartily, and slumped in his seat. A long sigh passed through his cherry-red lips.\n\n\"On second thought, should we really even be delivering gifts to Mars? I'm fairly certain they're the ones responsible for all of this climate change, not to mention the two holes in the ozone layer.\"\n\nThe elves, whether in agreement with or fear of their overlord, nodded in unison.\n\n\"If we're reneging on our Mars visitation,\" replied Herbie, \"should I assume we won't be stuffing their stockings with coal either?\"\n\n\"No, I think I have a better idea.\" Santa tapped his earpiece. \"Hello, Krampus? You said earlier you're capable of interstellar travel, right? Interesting, and how many billionaires do you think you can flog in that evening? That many? Splendid.\"", "December had already arrived and Santa was no closer to Mars than he had been 15 years prior when the colony was announced. He listened to another specialist describe a small space ship made for the journey. Nicholas cleared his throat and all voices fell silent.\n\n\"I appreciate the built in safety features, but how long will it take to build?\" \n\nThe older elf demurred for a moment, mumbling under his breath as he processed calculations. \"Well, we are a bit behind in development. 12 years at the earliest.\" \n\nEvery elf in the room flinched when Santas clenched fist struck the hardwood table. Ears hung in dejection. No one wanted to give Santa bad news. \n\n\"By Jingle, we've been working on this for 15 years. We've had the time, but it's run out. 20 days people. 20 days until the sleigh needs to be loaded.\" \n\nNone of the elves would meet Santas demanding gaze. \n\n\"Then tell me about Project Skyline.\" Gasps filled the room in response. The lead designer shifted his glasses and shook his head.\n\n\"The Skyline project was deemed too dangerous Mr Cringle. The council of builders deemed-\" \n\n\"I don't care about the danger. I am no stranger to it. We cannot fail the good children of Mars. They were able to bring so little with them. I will not abandon them. Make your preparations. You are all dismissed.\" \n\nMany elves remained still in shock while others prepared to leave. Santa spoke again as he crossed his arms and furrowed his brow in thought. \n\n\"Jimothy, a word.\" \n\nOne of the elves hang back at that. Younger, with a bright shock of white hair that refused to lay down, Jimothy approached Santa.\n\n\"It'll work, right?\" \n\n\"Well, it should work sir.\" \n\n\"It was your idea Jim. It's your baby.\" \n\n\"And if it doesn't work, then I killed Santa.\" \n\n\"I trust in your instinct Jim; your genius. You should too. I need your best people on this.\" \n\nJim nodded and offered Santa a smile before he stepped away. \n\n\"Santa gets what he needs!\" \n\nOn December 23rd Santa walked out into the hangar. He was joined by the elf with the white-shocked hair. His heavy boot clopped across the smooth floor. \n\n\"How are we doing Jim?\" \n\n\"On schedule... barely. The retrofit has been completed on the spare sled. The jump drive is ready. But it's still untested.\" The young elf looked more frazzled than usual, grease smeared one cheek, though Santa could see where it came from. \n\n\"Good. I will test it. If it will work for anyone, it will work for me.\" Nick confidently walked into the backup hanger and looked over the sleigh with the accompanying reindeer. Each reindeer wore a suit and helmet and their antlers pulsed in rhythm to the large unit at the back of the sled. \n\n\"But Santa, we don't know if it will work. You could end up anywhere. You could cross into another dimension, another reality. Wh-what if you dont come back?\" The elf looked up at him with real concern. He offered a smile in return. \n\n\"Well Jimothy, in that case you've been promoted.\" Nick saw the elves eyes widen at the news before he nodded. \"Check with Mrs Claus. She knows my mind on this.\" \n\nSanta climbed into the gift- laden sled and saw the nodded to the short-haired elf sitting nearby. \n\n\"How is the jump drive Trixie?\" \n\n\"The drive is in full sync with the reindeer santa. The cargo is well stowed. We are ready to go when you say the word.\" The young elf spoke confidently, but Nick knew she was nervous. He was too.\n\n\"Alright. Let's go then. Jimothy, if we aren't back within 12 hours. Use the Primary sleigh. We will be back as soon as possible.\" \n\nJim nodded to Santa and after a horn went off all elves backed away from the sled. Santa secured his helmet and took up the reins. As soon as his hands touched the reins. The reindeers horns pulsed with light. The sleigh and reindeer both rose straight up, hovering in place. Santa nodded to his co-pilot who flipped a few switches. With a clap of thunder Santa, reindeer and sleigh vanished in a flash. Jim crossed his fingers and toes, hoping santa would be back soon. \n\nAfter the flash, santa found himself weightless in the dark of space. Ahead loomed the rusty orange planet. He turned to offer Trixie a thumbs up and found her screaming and pointing back. Santa turned the sleigh out of instinct and barely managed to avoid a full on collision with the red mass of metal that sailed through space. The impact smashed in the side of the sleigh. Nick stabilized the sleigh and found Trixie and the reindeer mostly unharmed. Trixie reached out to turn on Nick's transmitter In his helmet. \n\n\"- in the name of Christmas leaves a car parked out in Near Mars orbit? Is that a Tesla? That's a Tesla! Oh Musk, when I get back to earth you are getting soo much coal.\" \n\n\"Santa.\" \n\n\"I don't even care if it's carbon neut- yes Trixie?\" \n\n\"Santa, the impact did some severe damage. The jump drive still works, but the sled's structural integrity is shot. If we try to jump now, we will get home in pieces. Without repairs... we can't get home.\" \n\nNich considered this gravely and nodded once more. \n\n\"Alright. First this first. Today. Christmas. Tomorrow... home.\"", "Santa found himself sitting firmly in the middle of a crossroads. His mission and life's work had filled the Earth with boundless joy and wonder over the course of its duration. The methods and magics he employed had become elementary and from a certain perspective, rather simplistic. But now he was faced with a problem he wasn't sure how to overcome. The magic and wonder of the Earth had begun to fade, and humanity began to flee for new worlds in search of new horizons. Supernatural magic had been replaced with the wonder of science, which Santa was far less versed in. \n\nBut that is not was troubled the mythical man's heart and mind. No, he knew that as the little ones aged, it was only natural that a certain shift should occur in how they perceived their world. But now that humanity had begun emptying into the expanses which he couldn't reach, it sewed a seed of deeper concern. \n\nHe turned to Mrs. Claus as she approached with a cup of cocoa. \"Will they even need me any more?\" \n\nSanta knew that his memory had surely traveled with the pioneers to the small ball of rust in the sky, but he also knew that memory would fade. As the colonies stretched into generations, new little humans would grow having no recollection of who he was. Earthly ties would slowly break as humans stretched further and further into the cosmos. Maybe it was just the passage of time finally catching up to his old bones, but he found himself unprepared for what he was now dealing with. He knew he had already slipped firmly into myth, but he was not yet ready to become fully legend. He still had joy to give, if there were hearts that still wanted it. \n\nMrs. Claus looked at her old mate with affection. \"They will. It might take a century or two, but they will feel your absence eventually. They might forget you, us, the names of our reindeer, but they will feel the loss of your wonder. Their dreams will dry and begin to crumble and drift as the Martian dust. They'll never find their magic.\"\n\nUpon immediate reflection this only troubled Santa even more. Now there was pressure to find a way to reach toward the stars, rather than just an existential dread about the implications of failing to do so. But Mrs. Claus seemed remarkably calm about the situation. And Santa thought he could see something else in her face as well. Among the pleasant wrinkles of her smile, there was also mourning.\n\n\"What's the matter?\" he asked.\n\n\"I have something to show you,\" she said. \n\nShe led Santa out into the workshop, and surrounded by a mighty force of elves stood a large object hidden under a red sheet. His assumption of what it might be was quickly confirmed by his wife's voice. \n\n\"Your new sleigh,\" she said. \n\nFrom his understanding of popular culture, Santa recognized the shuttle shape at once. Mrs. Claus, the elves, or some other unknown being had found a way to bring him to the stars. But it was...wrong. It was too small. And it only had seating for one. He turned to his love, a mix of confused and terrified. \n\n\"They need you. Maybe some day they'll reach to worlds where we cannot accompany them, but as long as we're able, we must be with them. I'll stay here and keep your memory alive, but you'll go to Mars and begin a new story. The Santa of the Sand, or something silly like that,\" she said. \n\nA workshop normally filled with the sounds of busy hands and tools was now filled with the quiet sounds of sadness. Santa's sorrowful voice joined the chorus of blowing noises and muffled cries. It might not be this very moment, but he knew he'd soon depart. He knew this was goodbye.\n\n \n\n\n\n______________\nr/psalmsandstories for more tales by me, should you be interested." ]	4
	[WP]The apocalypse is here, and while the other three horsemen are wreaking havoc and calamity, it seems Famine is facing a major obstacle: Grandmas.	[ "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.", "On mobile, sorry for format. Part 1.\n\nShe firmly placed the white, circular chip on the table, without breaking eye-contact with her colleague. The chip had a red slice of cake in the middle, the universal symbol that identified these women for what they were; they were The Bakers. She kept her hand on the chip, smiled a wrinkled smile, something quite skillful when not even the brightest optimist could fight the dooming presentiment universal among them. She then raised an eyebrow and asked of her colleague, do you have the goods? \n\nThey stared at each other, not a sound in the room other than the cacophony of dishes and pans being arranged in the next room. Our friend holding the chip was wearing a smirk, and her colleague a solemn look on her face. The solemn-faced lady looked across the table, and whilst finally cracking a smile, said calmly yet firmly, “why yes, dear. Will today be the South Carolina Dina or the Lucky Kentucky?” The lady called Joanna’s smile grew, “Today’ll be the Carolina Dina, Eleanor.” She said, while finally taking her hand off the table. Eleanor grabbed the chip, and inspected it, even taking her magnifying clip she puts on her glasses for real attention to detail. She put it in her pocket, whilst saying: “100 turkey clubs, potato soup, and half lemonade/half sweet tea coming right up.”\n\nJoanna shook Eleanor’s hand, gave her a hug, then slowly walked, cane in hand to a large, white van parked outside. She put her cane in a hole the perfect circumference for her cane, and pushed down. A click could be heard, and she was satisfied. She started the car, and made her way to a large window on the side of the old-brick building, whose color was probably once a bright red, but now a sad red-brown color, and waited. She picked up a book whilst doing so, her favorite actually, Moby Dick. Joanna had read this book at least 20 times already, but as everyone learns at old age, there’s nothing wrong with specializing your taste. \n\nThe window suddenly slammed open, lacking no scraping or cacophony of unpleasantness that accompanies aging, rusted metal. The figure standing behind the window was another aged woman, sporting red hair, a rarity among the typical white and grey hair you would see here. Before the lady was able to utter a word, Joanna happily said, “Ruby, so nice to see you.” Ruby looked back at her, and smiled a fantastic smile, for her skin was less wrinkled than most, and she had somehow kept her original teeth over the years, whose color still managed to shine white. “Joanna, my darling. Yes please. We’ll load it in the back for you.”\n\nJoanna drove around another corner of the building, opposite the side she had originally entered through, yet hidden by the sheer magnitude of buildings surrounding them all the same. Upon backing in to the loading area, several ancient women who had maintained a strength often reserved for women and men 20 years younger than them formed a single file line behind the van. They each took their turn loading the back of the van, then stood next to the van shoulder to shoulder, saluting Joanna as she prepared to drive away. The one at the front of the line walked to Joanna’s starboard window, and awaited Joanna’s attention. “Ruth, my love. How can I help you today?” Joanna asked.\n\nRuth looked at Joanna, face solemn, body posture straight, and asked directly “permission to ride along, mam?” Joanna looked at her, the ends of her mouth reaching for her ears, “of course, if you think that would be best dear.” Ruth immediately opened the passenger door, reached to her side, and pulled out a black, shiny, and clean 9mm handgun. She handed it to Joanna, and she placed it in a holster on her left side that had been hidden by her large cardigan. \n\nRuth started, her face serious although unable to hide her worry, “sources say the outbreak is especially bad in the south-side of town. Are you ready old friend?” \n\nJoanna, looking back at Ruth, not a glimpse of worry on her face, replied sweetly, “now, if we don’t deliver this food to that commune, then who will? Besides, we’re the only organization tough enough to take on those brain-eating heathens anyways.” Ruth smiled back in reassurance, cocking her gun, then said “let’s go then.”\n\nEdit 1: Grammar and all that", "Famine strutted about the farmlands on the hunt for people to torment. A beautiful lady always dressed in tattered clothes, Famine received attention wherever she went. Politicians, non-profits, philanthropists, everybody took notice when she did her job well. For years on end, she had toiled hard as one of the harbingers of the apocalypse. At first, she was one of the standouts, tormenting people like no other, but time was not kind to her. As the millennia rolled by humans became more and more adept at keeping her at bay, their new problems seemed to be focused around the excess of food not the lack of it.\n\nAs her colleagues continued to rake up impressive numbers century after century lady Famine - like any other overworked professional that ever existed - started to look for people to blame. It took her some time to learn the python programming language, understand the nuances of data science, and collect the data to come to the conclusion that there was a strong negative correlation between the number of people affected by famine and the number of grandmothers. It was their fault, the grandmothers were to blame for her recent dip in performance.\n\nAt the end of the lane, Famine saw deserted farmland, her most recent project. There she saw a van from a non-profit serving the people food, the staff comprised entirely of older women. Famine let out a sigh, it was another failure, but at least it was not her fault. It was the grandmothers’ and whose job was it to clean the grandmothers up? Death. Yes, that was his job. Following the tradition of the great bureaucracies of the world, Famine could just blame Death for not doing his job.", "Famine stalked through a small but lush corn field, a sly grin curling her lips as plants withered and crumbled in her wake. For millennia she had been permitted to flex her powers in only the most limited of capacities: a drought here, an invasive species there. With every order to allow once-dead crops to flourish once more, her resentment toward humanity deepened.\n\n\nNone of that mattered now. These wretched creatures had finally done it. Humans had turned on one another so completely that there was no turning back. Greed, fear, and hatred had plunged the entire world into a conflict the likes of which Famine could scarcely have ever dreamed. Humanity was, of course, not-so-gently nudged along this path by her brothers in arms, War and Pestilence. It turned out that the combination of virulent, airborne, deadly disease and nuclear arms could break even the strongest of alliances. \n\n\nFamine laughed softly as she contemplated how readily humanity had facilitated its own destruction. The work done by her brothers had merely been gentle prodding, really. At its core, mankind was weak, fickle, and mean. A poor imitation of the deity in whose image they had supposedly been formed. All the Horsemen were doing was exposing man’s true nature, and it was anything but noble. \n\n\nLost in her triumphant thoughts, Famine did not see the little home until she nearly tripped over the neat red-brick wall surrounding it. As she made her way through the North American continent, ravaging fields and emptying food stores with a wave of her skeletal hands, she had rarely stopped to give any of the humans her own personal attention. After storming through Europe, any pleasure at watching the terror flood their faces when they beheld her had faded into boredom. There were also so few left that going out of her way to torment them seemed less a thrill and more a chore. This little house was different, however. A beat or two passed before Famine realized why. Music. The straining notes of a fast-paced salsa number floated through the air, and, well, Famine loved to dance. She may have been a Horseman of the Apocalypse, but she wasn’t Death Himself. \n\n\nUnlatching the small black gate, Famine strode right up to the door and rapped hard twice upon it. She would have some fun with the humans inside, perhaps force one of them to dance with her. That fear in its eyes might bring a little spark back into this game. Her eyes twinkled maliciously at the thought as the door swung open. \n\n\n“Hola!” A cheerful voice exploded from nowhere. \n\n\nFamine blinked, and then looked down. A tiny woman stood before her, clad in a soft blue house dress, a frayed purple apron, and floppy white slippers. Her hair, the color of polished silver, was twisted up in a neat bun sitting perfectly on top of her head. Her brown face was wrinkled and sun-beaten, yet it exuded a warmth so strong, Famine was taken aback by a sudden knowledge. This woman did not fear her. \n\n\n“Hello,” Famine said, her voice, like her body, reed-thin, “Are you here alone?”\n\n\n“Yes mija, of course! I am waiting on my Francisco. Did he send you to get more?”\n\n\n“More? More what?” Famine asked. \n\n\n“More tamales, mija! For the neighbors. You’re one of those Vasquez girls from the ranch down by the river, no? We have to take care of one another now, Lord knows no one else will!” The woman turned from the door, beckoning Famine into the small, warm home. \n\n\n“I...no. I don’t know Francisco. I’m...not from around here. I came...I came for the music...” Famine trailed off, unsure why this woman had her so shaken. \n\n\n“Oh mija, now don’t be embarrassed. Times are hard for everyone right now. You can tell Abuelita. You came for some food, no? I may be half blind but even I can see how thin you are. You must have no family to look after you. Come sit down, I have plenty to share.” The woman - Abuelita - bustled around her kitchen, pulling dishes from cabinets and stirring pots that sat bubbling cheerfully on the stove. \n\n\nFamine followed, still feeling dazed. By what, exactly, she did not know. Perhaps it was the warmth of this cottage, or perhaps it was the kindness in this woman’s face. Humans did not normally look at her the way Abuelita did. Usually her presence inspired fear, not generosity. It must be because of the half blindness that afflicted the woman. She did not realize what Famine truly was. Before she had time to untangle what this meant, Abuelita slid a steaming bowl in front of her. \n\n\n“What is this?” Famine asked, inhaling a nauseating aroma of rich broth and spices. \n\n\n“This is my famous fideo, mija. Before the wars began, everyone knew I made the best fideo in the county. Try some, while it’s hot.” Abuelita shoved the bowl a little closer. \n\n\n“I-I can’t eat this,” Famine stammered, “It will make me sick.” \n\n\n“Oh nonsense. You’re a lovely girl, mija, and you do have that supermodel height. But I’m afraid\n that this world has changed. You won’t be walking any runways anytime soon, so you might as well eat up. You need your strength. If Francisco doesn’t return soon, you’ll have to help me roll tamales.” \n\n\n“No, I-“ Famine tried again, but she looked up to see Abuelita staring hard at her. There was the glint of an iron will behind her deep brown eyes. \n\n\n“You will eat, and then we will finish the tamales,” she said simply, turning back to the kitchen. \n\n\nFamine sighed. The smell of this...fideo was making her throat itch. Yet, beneath the discomfort, she felt something else. A sort of yearning. Weak, but persistent. Was this...hunger? Famine would not know. She did not eat. Was this the feeling that she had spent her existence inflicting upon humanity? As it grew stronger, Famine’s breath caught. No wonder this feeling drove man to such desperate lengths. It really was unpleasant. She raised a spoonful of to her lips, contemplating the noodles swimming in the light, red broth. Throwing caution to the wind, she took a sip. \n\n\nWarmth flooded through her body instantly. Famine gasped as all of her nerve endings seemed to fire at once. This was incredible. Abuelita glanced over as Famine drew another sharp breath. \n\n\n“Careful mija. It’s hot.” \n\n\nFamine hardly heard as she scrambled to take another spoonful of magic. She felt warm, she felt satiated, she felt...love. Some ancient part of her shriveled soul stirred feebly. This part of her suddenly understood. Food was love. This woman, this Abuelita, who knew her not at all, had poured her loving soul into this dish and presented it to her, deemed her worthy of such efforts. Tears flooded Famine’s eyes. \n\n\n“Thank you,” she croaked, downing more soup, suddenly ravenous. Not for fear or chaos, but for food. For love. \n\n\n“You’re welcome mija. This is what abuelas do. We take care of our children.” Abuelita came to sit at the table with a bowl full of masa, a large pot of carne, and a plate of damp corn husks. \n\n\n“But...I am not your child.”\n\n\n“Not by blood, no, but my Oscar is gone now. And his wife too. Francisco is all I have left. I will take as many grandchildren into my life as I can. You are mine now.”\n\n\n“You don’t know what I have done. If you knew, you would not want me.”\n\n\n“Oh mija. We have all had to do terrible things to survive these times. Why, just the other day I had to fire at a pack of bandits that came raging through my fields. I don’t think I hit them, but if they come back I will. I have to protect my Francisco,” Abuelita said fiercely. That glint of steel gleamed in her eyes again. \n\n\nFamine frowned. “Wait...you said you were half blind. How can you hope to fire a weapon accurately?”\n\n\nAbuelita laughed. It was a tinkling sound. “Mija, I may be old but my eyes are still sharp as an eagle. I only said that to make you think I was harmless.” \n\n\n“But...you-you can see me?” Famine’s jaw nearly hit the table. \n\n\n“Oh yes. I know who you are. I know where you come from. I also know that many differences can be resolved over a hot meal made with love.” Abuelita smiled as she pulled the plate of corn husks toward her. “Come now, let me show you how to spread the masa.” \n\n\nFamine smiled as she selected a corn husk.", "I am Famine.\n\nI am one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Where I go, starvation follows. Crops fail, food spoils. My control is strong everywhere I go...except here.\n\n\"Oh my, you haven't had a bite to eat! You can't grow big and strong until you put some meat on your bones!\" I cursed this old woman, who surely was but a newborn babe if we were to compare ages. I curse her twice for comparing me to my brothers, all of whom are far more bulkier than I. I curse her three times for this hearty plate of food she has given me!\n\n\"Y-yes ma'am\". But I cannot forget my manners. I am a Horseman, not a savage. And manners state I accept what is given to me. As I chew the hearty stew, I fight the flavors in my mouth to focus on the manner at hand;\n\nI've been successful everywhere I go, except where old women reside. This is particularly so when there are family meals, where tables are overflowing with food. It is as if my powers pale in comparison to theirs, some arcane ability to create vast feasts for everyone. Rumor will surely spread if this happens, and I have to cut this quickly, or I will be a laughingstock amongst my brothers.\n\nBut how? I managed to finish a bowl, but I have seen the large pot she has been tending to since my arrival. Her magic must be inside that pot. I must empty it. But with its size, I am too frail to tip it over. Which means only one thing...\n\n\"E-excuse me, ma'am?\" She turned to me, and saw the empty bowl I held in my hands. She had a grin on her face that was a frightening mixture of heartwarming and devilish. \n\n\"I knew you'd want more! With a name like Famine, it wouldn't be right to leave you with just one bowl! Have as much as you'd like!\"\n\nAnd so I did, my pride faltering under all this fattening food. Still, if I can see her suffer in starvation, this will be all worth it. And after hours of endless eating, her pot was empty. Her magic was gone.\n\n\"You have no more.\" I started to chuckle. \"Your magic is depleted, woman!\"\n\nShe looked inside the pot, not even a scrap of food left. I have accomplished my mission. \"Sure looks that way, dearie. But no worries! I have plenty in the fridge, and if I call my friends, we'll surely have seconds for a hungry boy like you!\" My voice was stuck in my throat as she pulled out food from her refrigerator. Fresh fruits and vegetables, thick cuts of steaks and sausages, and jars upon jars of sauces. \n\n\"Now hold on dearie, I'm sure my friends have leftovers. Let me call them over! They'll appreciate someone with as big an appetite as you.\" \n\nOh Satan, have mercy on me.", "The door shook with the force of the knocking. Not the hurried frenzy of someone impatient but the slow mechanical banging of someone who wanted your attention and had the time to wait for you to arrive. \n\nAda opened the door a little to peek around the edge. \n\n“Yes dear, can I help you?” \n\nThe dark mediterranean woman on the doorstep looked at her, then to the phone she was carrying, then back again. \n\n“Are you Ada Red?”\n\n“Yes.” She opened the door a little more. For a moment her eyes squinted as she looked at her visitor. She could see the long dark hair that was coiling around her neck and how it vanished into a white fur wrap that was hanging from her shoulders. And under that was a black evening gown, an odd choice for mid-afternoon, that shimmered down to fall at her feet. Spreading around her like a dark pool of water. \n \nBut as for her face … it was as if she couldn't quite focus on it. Ada fumbled for the glasses that were hanging from the chain around her neck and put them on. \n \n“Can I do something for you my dear” she asked again. \n \nThe woman shook her phone and sighed. “My device seems to be malfunctioning. You cannot be the one I'm looking for” She softly gave a single dry laugh “unless you are connected with f … food?” \n \nShe spun on her foot and took half a step before freezing as Ada answered “Well I am part of the food bank. I help sort out the donations.” \n \n“Food bank?” She turned back slowly. \n \n“And Tuesdays I go to the homeless place and serve in the kitchen.” \n \nThe woman rapidly tapped on her phone, the chirping device drowning out her soft muttering about percentages and ripple effects. Only pausing to glare as Ada added “And I guess you might count the cooking I do here. Lots of folk need a little help right now. I always have something for the kids. Not right for them to go without.” \n \n“And you do all this by yourself?” \n \n“Oh well there's me and Alice. Freda. Lucy. Meg. That's the regulars. Got a few who only come when they can. Like Rheeta. Her arthritis plays up something in the wet weather so ...” \n \n“And you are the head of this … organisation” asked the woman cutting her off. \n \n“I wouldn't say that. I just make suggestions and get people interesting in helping out. Try to keep it all going. Keep everyone's spirits up. Just trying to make a difference I guess.” \n \nThe woman moved her mouth. Teeth were bared as her lips widened. Her cheeks stretched out and hissed words came from her now twisted mouth. \n \n“May I come in.” \n \nShe was trying to smile. Her neck was taught from the effort. Unsure of how to achieve the effect she wanted her lips curled back as her jaw shifted around. \n \n“I don't think that's a good idea.” The older woman was polite but certain. The door still only open a enough for her to look out. \n \nThe woman's face dropped back into a blank stare “I wish to talk to you about your … efforts.” \n \n“Oh?” \n \n“We are trying to achieve something. My, shall we say co-workers, have started to reach their desired numbers. Soon it will be unavoidable. But to continue all of the scales must be tipped in our favour. You are … your organisation is disrupting the chain of events. I am falling behind. If I can't achieve my percentage number we may have to start again. And that would take time.” She slowly drew closer “You wouldn't want to cause any upset would you? Our organisation has been planning this for such a long time.” \n \nNow she was at the door. Her hands touching the wood, fingers slipping into the open crack. \n \n“Just let me in. And we can see if we can sort this all out.” \n \nThe woman was pressed up against the opening. Ada on the other side stood firm. “No.” \n \n“Do you know who you're dealing with old woman” she spat out “invite me in.” \n \n“Oh yes, I know who you are.” \n \nShe blinked in surprise. The old woman sounded certain. Confident. \n \n“You see, I know your smell. Soon as I opened the door and breathed it in I knew.” She paused before answering softly “Hunger.”", "Get Famine off hold NOW.\n\n\"Sorry, we had some difficulties getting to you. Anyway, did i hear you correctly, you said your being held back by a old woman?!\"\n\n\"Precisely\"\n\nMeanwhile, the horsemen of conquest, has came and conquered. leaving nothing to be desired but fulfilling the scripture. It came to everyone's surprise, I mean all of this scripture being fulfilled is.\n\n\"Okay now what has this woman done that caused you not to fulfill your part of the bargain. After all you are the famed famine, right?\"\n\n\"She has taken my horse and staff\" Famine uttered with a faint disgust.\n\n\"Okay and do you have any idea where she could've taken it? . The room begins to send calls to the third heaven and the council of J.C.\n\n\"Scripture is inevitable it must be accomplished at the appropriate time but do what you please my coming will happen shortly afterwards. However, that fool Famine is as unreliable as ever, a dangerous being he is but what can you do. The women played him well. His horse is tied to a tree down by the creek at ... \n\nBuzz Buzz \n\"Hey F we have news of your horse and staff, its at at the leaky forest down by the creek passing the two big trees and you'll see your horse tied next to a tree.\" \n\n\"really? Thank you.\"\n\n\"Yeah, No problem. Oh and I know famine and death is inevitable, seeing as life is a burden and misery but good luck.\"\n\n\"Thanks\" \n\n \nCursed you old hag for causing me troubles on my promising journey. Here i was thinking my debut was going to be simple killing millions of people yet it turned out jaggedy \n\n \nFamine unties his horse \"Crap\" Famine utters \n\n \nMy fucking staff is broken. She broke my staff. \n\n\nwith fists clenched F throws both wood pieces on the ground. \"Bitch\" Famine utters\n\nThe individual is on horseback and looking at the horizon while the sun rising. People in front of their houses look to him and see he looks from a far away period of time, one resembling medieval times. Cloaked and wearing a black tunic with the words written on his thigh, Famine The King of Death. \n\n\nEdit: I know I suck XD", "Famine took one last look into the cupboards. There was nothing here of note, not any more.\n\nHe moved on to scan the work surfaces. A wooden basket of potatoes rested in the corner, he fluttered across, a silent zephyr, barely visible.\n\nThe potatoes were old, already softening and wrinkled, small roots sprouting greenly from the eyes. A lone onion nestled with them was dry and papery.\n\nThe cold store in the cellar was empty save for a thin rind from some old salt pork. A remnant of more plentiful times perhaps. The cellar itself housed nothing but cobwebs.\n\nThe pantry next. A few dusty boxes of random items. Long forgotten impulse purchases, gifts and things bought for grandchildren who were now grown.\n\nAh, but in a bag Famine found three red apples, a stark contrast to the austerity of their surroundings, crisp and fresh and wholesome. A tendril of barely-there darkness caressed the gleaming surface and it dulled, lines of brown rot took hold and the dusty bloom of mould began to spread.\n\nSuddenly there was a clamouring from the other room. The old woman had guests.\n\n\"Grandma! How have you been? We've bought you some things from the garden.\"\n\n\"Oh bless you dears, thank you. Now, come in, you must be freezing. Let me get you something to eat\"\n\n\"Oh no, we can't do that Grandma. I'm sorry we couldn't bring you more, it's getting difficult, especially now the cold has set in. Everything is growing stunted and diseased.\"\n\n\"Nonsense boys, times are hard but I'll be damned if I can't give my boys something good to eat. When that happens it'll be time to give up.\"\n\n\"Alright grandma. Not much though, we've got to be going\"\n\nAs the bespectacled old lady pushed through to the kitchen, Famine flitted invisibly through the door. The room was cold, the fire low and the wood store almost empty. A small sack of stunted and twisted vegetables sat on the table. The two occupants of the room were thin and haggard. Lack of good food had left their cheeks hollow and their eyes with bruise coloured rings.\n\nFamine smiled in satisfaction, his work was almost done. There was nothing worth eating here, the woman and her grandsons would starve. He sent a tendril towards the bag, and then froze.\n\nA rich, warm smell wafted into the room, soon followed by the woman, carrying a heavy iron pan of a rich meaty stew.\n\nHer grandsons goggled in amazement.\n\n\"Grandma! How?!\"\n\nThe old woman smiled.\n\n\"Grandma has her ways boys, tuck in, there is more than enough.\"\n\nWith a flourish she produced a loaf of bread from the folds of her apron and handed them bowls. The two men tore into the food ravenously.\n\n\"Begone, you have no power any more. We old ones will make sure.\"\n\nBarely a whisper, but Famine heard, the words sizzled and burned him and he whipped out of the house angrily. He watched through the window.\n\nAs the men ate, the hollows left their cheeks, they began to glow with health and happiness. Even the fire in the hearth began to burn brighter and higher.\n\n\"What are you?\" The misty Famine asked.\n\nAgain the answer was barely a whisper, a thought in the breeze.\n\n\"I am Plenty, and you have failed. The old matrons of this world have called upon me. The people with be fed, and mankind will endure. Now go.\"\n\nInside the cottage, a crisp, wholesome, shiny red apple rolled out of the bulging sack in the pantry.", "The Apocalypse Quarterly Meeting was at hand, and Famine knew it was screwed. The embodiment of starvation and failed harvests shook in its chair as the other Aspects reported their progress, or rather boasted of it, and passed the necessary paperwork forward. The numbers taunted it. Of course War managed to incite three different conflicts between major world powers. Of course Conquest spearheaded yet another coup in Thailand, bringing it’s yearly total to seven revolutions and victories. Above them all, Death was raking in the most power. All of their aspects fed into death! How was this any fair?!\n\nFamine wilted under the other aspects of the apocalypse’s looks as it came to its turn for sharing. Stupid stupid stupid... why did it have to draw the short straw! Finally, Famine relented and passed it’s paperwork forward with none of the flair the others had. \n\nThere was a short beat of disbelief, until the rest of the table exploded into noise. Accusations of incompetency complacency was levied by War and Conquest, but Death didn’t react. Famine quivered, but endured the vitriol. It had expected this, especially after its discovery of its most hated enemy. Death raised it’s hand, and then questioned, “What are the meanings of these numbers, Famine? How in Damnation.. this isn’t even a fraction of the other Aspects’!”\n\nFamine lowered it’s head, and sighed. “I have.. discovered my worst enemy, comrades. It proves to be a far greater foe than I have even imagined. I require all your help to defeat this foe.”\n\nWar and Conquest were all too happy to make fun of Famine. The two had always bullied Famine for being the ‘weaker’ and ‘slower’ Horseman, and they didn’t stop now. “What’s wrong, Famine? Did genetically modified crops ruin your day? Pesticides? Vertical farming? Or did you accidentally reinvent agriculture for the puny mortals again!?”\n\nFamine bore the abuse, though it’s head continued to sink. Growing tired of this farce, Death asked, “Famine, what sort of issue are you facing here? You’ve had more than enough time to poison all the crops and cattle. There’s no reason for you to be facing any problems. Has there been some sort of agricultural revolution?”\n\nFamine shook it’s poor head, and spat, “No! There has been no mass reorganisation, no agricultural revolution and no stupid food drives! It’s those damn Grandma’s fault!”\n\nThere was a beat, and then the entire table exploded into laughter.\n\nEven Death allowed itself one or seven chortles before reigning itself in. War and Conquest, however, continued to laugh raucously, and Famine’s pale face coloured for the first time in millennia. “It’s not a stupid joke! They’re singlehandedly ruining all my plans and work! Stop laughing! Do you even know what kinds of food these doddering matriarchs store?”\n\nThe noise level at the table lessened, though War and Conquest still continued to snicker. Death decided to indulge Famine and ask, “What kind of food do grandmothers store?”\n\nFamine reared up and yelled, “STUPID GOD-DAMNED CANNED FOOD! THEY HAVE MILLIONS STORED! THEY WILL NEVER EXPIRE! AND IT’S NOT LIKE THEY HORDE IT! NoOO THEY SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE THEY CAN!”\n\nThe rest of the table was now silent, and Famine could feel the other Aspect’s eyes on it, judging I outburst. The last time it raised it’s voice above a rasp was when that stupid damned German discovered an easy way to make fertiliser. It continued, still incensed. “Those STUPID grandmothers know how to conserve every last scrap of food, and how to grow more! Those damned people grow their own food in their backyards! There’s no way I can fight this homegrown menace!”\n\nDeath was understandably confused, and asked “Well, why don’t you just wait for them to die out?”\n\nFamine gesticulated wildly, screaming, “THAT’S THE ISSUE! THE MORE WE WAIT THE MORE THERE ARE!”\n\nSilence once again struck the Four Horsemen’s table. Aside for Famine’s heavy panting, War, Conquest, and Death contemplated the issue. They conferred together, and then together, they asked Famine, “Well, why don’t you just kill them all?”\n\nFamine’s scream was legendary, for even the mortals could hear it. Eventually, they chalked it up to some weird duck.", "The world is ending. \n\n\nIt always feels like it, but this time it really is. I mean, when nuclear bombs start going off and people start dropping dead of diseases the CDC had declared eradicated... well. \n\n\nNuclear winter killed more than the initial blasts did, and obviously not just people. The scraggly vegetation that was left was tough and hardy, not easy to eat. And the animals were sick and starving too. It was getting harder and harder for anything to survive. \n\n\nBut somehow they did. \n\n\nI didn't get it at first. For two years, I had thrown everything I had at them. I'd brought razor winds to batter down their crops, impenetrable cloud cover to block new growth. I'd made all manner of creatures skittish and wary, caused falling branches to trigger empty traps. I had made the river run dry: no fish to be found for miles and miles. \n\n\nStill, the wisps of wood smoke drifting from the chimney carried the unmistakable scent of food. \n\n\nDrifting through the wall, I found myself in a cozy kitchen, lit with soft candlelight. A man in his mid thirties sat at the table, kneading dough. He flipped the mound of dough over, scattered a handful of flour across the top, and continued to flatten and shape it in his calloused hands. \n\n\nAt the stove, his wife busied herself stirring a pot of broth, humming to the infant in the sling on her chest. The baby stirred from his sleep, and she swiftly freed a pale breast with her free hand, helping him latch on. \n\n\nAn older child, perhaps four or five, lay on her stomach under the table, jean-clad legs swinging lazily as she scratched out the alphabet on an old slate tablet, a streak of chalk on her forehead. \n\n\nThe idyllic scene annoyed me. They were too calm, too content. I mean, Hello, don't you know the world is ending? I'm doing my best here. But while they all showed signs of having lost a little weight in their faces and arms and the way their clothes hung just a little too loose, none of them were starving. What gives? \n\n\nClumping footsteps sounded coming up the cellar stairs, and a moment later, two women entered the kitchen carrying jars of canned vegetables in their arms. Of course. The matriarchs of the family. One had short, spiky silver hair, sparkling brown eyes, a hand-knitted shawl over her flour-sack dress, and soft leather slippers. The other had a long, thick white braid that brushed the waistband of her pants as she walked. It was her boots I'd heard on the steps. She leaned over the man's shoulder as she passed, pecking a kiss on his forehead. \n\n\n\"Love you too, Ma,\" he said, glancing up at her. \"Find everything?\"\n\n\n\"Oh yes,\" said White Hair, setting her jars on the counter and turning to help Silver Hair with her load. \"Enough for lunch and dinner. I was thinking tomorrow we could make potato pancakes.\"\n\n\n\"Yummm.\" The girl under the table crawled out, brushing off her hands. \"Gramma, can I help you and Grannie make the pancakes? Please?\"\n\n\n\"Of course you can, Bug. But right now, how about you wash up and help set the table?\"\n\n\nGrinning, Bug darted off.\n\n\nSilver Hair arched her back, which gave several audible pops, then turned to the man at the table. \"Do we need to make more flour?\" she asked, glancing worriedly at the bag. \n\n\n\"If you bake the crickets, I can grind them. I know you don't like that part.\"\n\n\n\"It's the crunching,\" she said with a shudder. \"I can deal with eating them but I can't stand the crunching.\"\n\n\n\"It was your idea in the first place!\" laughed White Hair as she draped an arm around Silver Hair's waist. \"I'd have been happy with that dehydrated TVP stuff, you know.\"\n\n\n\"Well, like my Grandma used to say, you need to diversify,\" Silver Hair replied. She rested her head on White Hair's shoulder and sighed. \"You can't depend on any one food source. And the cricket farm has such a high yield of fresh protein.\"\n\n\n\"I was surprised how good your cricket bread is,\" the mother at the stove cut in. She swayed side to side, and hardly seemed to notice she was doing it. Bug came back into the kitchen, and the mother handed her a stack of mismatched plates. \"Then again, I don't think you've ever made anything we didn't like. You can do so much with surprisingly little!\"\n\n\n\"Cookbooks and spices, that's all,\" Silver hair demurred, but she was beaming. \"'Any Prepper worth her salt has plenty of salt and pepper,' although I'm partial to garlic, basil, and oregano, myself.\"\n\n\nIf I had eyes, I'd roll them. I could sense it now, the stockpile of food beneath the floorboards. The cellar went down and down and down, each level packed with non- perishables. A water filtration and purification system that drew from a deep well. Boxes of pasta. Jars of fruits and vegetables. Cans of preserved meats. Dehydrated milk. Wax-coated wheels of cheese. A refrigerator converted into a worm bin. A terrarium full of crickets.\n\n\nNo wonder I couldn't starve them out. It didn't matter that the traps came up empty or the river dried up. Generations of grandmothers had prepared for this day, had passed on their skills and knowledge, and this loving couple had laid aside food and supplies for years so that their son and his family could eat without worry. War had missed their remote home. Plague, too, had passed them by. And they had left no room for me.", "I have scorched a fourth of the earth in nuclear fire, and from it I have struck off half the beasts of the ground, brought low the birds of the heavens, I have drank the rivers dry, and salted the fields beside them. Whatever man called each living creature, I through shame have forbade them to eat.\n\nI was foretold of in the beginning, and for millennia I have sown nothing but destitution and misery, I am the harbinger of want, I am Famine, herald of The End.\n\nI ride now in these final hours through dark woods on a black horse, as a cold desert spreads forth behind me. Yet, there is a warmth through these trees I cannot ignore, a warmth that dares rise up to a blaze in the face of my desolation.\n\nI force my scornful mare to a halt, here at the edge of a cluster of small wooden homes. The source of this warmth is a house, and the house is in this village, but they will not see me stopping here. For I move as quietly as a creeping shadow through the falling snow, and peer through the trees to find the perpetrators sitting by a window. It is only a woman, short and plump doting over a few indistinguishable figures by a fire.\n\n“Who want’s cookies?” She ask cheerily.\n\n“I’m full Grandma!” Those terrible words bring me to my knees, and this villain’s name begins to pound through my skull\n\nGrandma! Grandma! Grandma!\n\n“Come on sweetie, have some more potato salad!” She produces a platter and a spoon and begins doling out chunks of white mayonnaise and peppered potatoes.\n\nI’ve seen enough, there are many miles to go before Armageddon, and I cannot suffer this abomination to stay. I ready my flail, and begin to move towards the door to dash it on the head of this Grandma, when off in the distance I hear “Hope you saved enough room for dessert!”\n\nA terrible revelation dawns on me, she is not alone, she is not the only one, there are more Grandmas.", "“Come inside, sweetie. I’ve got a pot roast going. Plenty to share, put some meat on your bones”\n\n\nFamine, not wanting to be rude, comes inside and sits at the table. \n“Uh, thank you, ma’am. Very kind.”\n\n\n“Now don’t go calling me ma’am, sugar. Everyone calls me Grammy. Would you like a cookie while we wait for the pot roast?”\n\n\n“Sure, yes. Thank you, Grammy.”\n\n\n“Good lad. They’re chocolate chip, my special recipe.”\n\n\nFamine takes a cookie from the offered plate, and takes a small bite. He’s never been asked inside before, and Grammy is such a good hostess he’s unsure how to excuse himself. There’s an apocalypse going on and he’s falling behind. \n\n\n“No wonder you’re so thin! You eat like a bird! You finish up that cookie and have another.”\n\n\nFamine pops the rest of the cookie in his mouth and chews thoughtfully. He had been told the apocalypse was due because humanity was doomed. They were all cruel and selfish, and had destroyed the earth. He wondered if the other horsemen knew about this Grammy. Were there more like her?\n\n\n“Grammy, are there other Grammys? Other people like you who give out cookies and pot roast and are this kind to a stranger?”\n\n\n“Well sure, hon. Everyone has a Grammy! I got a group of girlfriends, we get together every Sunday. We talk about our grandchildren, exchange recipes, and have a sherry or two over lunch! Do you not have a granny of your own? Poor thing, I bet she would have loved you, you’re such a sweet boy.”\n\n\nFamine sat there, stunned. More Grammys? How could everyone have their own Grammy? Why wasn’t the world better if there were Grammys everywhere? He had to find the other horsemen and tell them about these Grammys before it was too late. He could even bring them some cookies. \n\n\n“Grammy, I’m sorry to be so rude but I must go find my friends.”\n\n\n“Friends? Well why didn’t you say so, sweetie! The more the merrier! I got enough pot roast for everyone! You hurry along now, be back soon!”\n\n\nFamine thanked Grammy and headed for the door. Jumping atop his horse, he rose swiftly in the direction of a fire storm that had started a few blocks away. From the sounds of the screams he knew he would find the other horsemen there. \n\n\n“I must take them to Grammy” Famine said to himself. “I must show them there’s still something good in the world. And their cookies are delicious.”", "Famine bore no face, and on a horse as black as midnight he rode, scaling the pillars of light that descended from the heavens. Surrounding him were the brethren forces, carrying their own instruments of revelation. Death, who wielded a bony scythe atop a pale horse. Pestilence, who charged forth with a white horse and robed in locust swarms. War, who held up a titanic great-sword and pierced through the clouds.\n\nThe Horsemen of Revelation were sent down by God in the year 2020, and they raced over the windswept plains to pursue their mission of bringing about the Apocalypse. War took his place among the councils of the world, with a silver tongue that seemed night impossible to resist. He ordered strikes, stirred up conflict and discord, in the name of holy war. Pestilence invaded the World Health Organization-- beginning the mass production of potent pathogenic strains to be auctioned off to the highest bidders. The bidders, they came in droves, eager to ensure the security of their nations. Death took the place of a great hypocrite, and people noticed that they felt weak, oppressed, saddened. The pace of ruin seemed to be hastening as the great riders took their places at the helm of the chariot of destruction.\n\nBut Famine, he encountered problems in his mission. Something seemed to stop him in his approach to spread the fear of nourishment through the droves of people. He sunk into the role of an agricultural magnate, drove up food prices and sent waves of hunger through the communities that he influenced. Though he himself, with whatever free will he possessed, believed that his role was a small one among those of the Horsemen, it was important, nonetheless.\n\nBut he noticed something, a pattern. Those closest to death seemed the most eager to give themselves away, naturally. But he underestimated the resolve of these elderly individuals, these bastions of nourishment. For every increase in production prices, came another shelter with warm smiles and inviting arms. With every howl of hunger came a breath of providence. It pained Famine, it did. To have these grandmothers and mothers, and sisters and lovers, take up God's providence on their own-- it made him at first angry, but then sad. Because for some reason or another, he saw glimpses of light within them-- light that he recognized from his Father who sent him with such a ruinous mission. But above all, Famine felt thoroughly useless, in the faces of people who were willing to give themselves up for a purpose.\n\nSo, while the world burned through other means, Famine continued watching God's creatures with his own eyes-- to see if their providence would stand the test of time.\n\n\\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nr/bluelizardK", "Famine stood on the doorstep of the little yellow cottage. The snow fluttered around him. The wintry house, glinting with Christmas lights, might have looked like a painting in a dentist's office if not for the horseman of the apocalypse on the stoop, cutting a hatchet-like silhouette under his raggedy grey cloak. Famine had the look of a man who should already be dead. He did not belong on this happy suburban street or behind the cheery picket fence surrounding the old woman's house.\n\nNo. Duty brought him here.\n\nFamine raised a single skinny hand and knocked at the door.\n\nA bubbly old woman's voice answered beyond the door, \"In a moment, dearie.\"\n\nA car driving by stopped and slowed as the older couple inside stared at Famine, eyes wide.\n\nFamine waved a hand at them, cursing them with a minor bellyache. They both seemed to feel it at once as the driver surged off. \n\nThe door hinged open. The heady scent of vanilla and cardamom clouded through the door. Famine's belly turned with disgust. \n\nA little old lady stood in the doorway. She smiled up at Famine, her cheeks rosy and plump. She wore an apron that said, MAKE CAKE NOT WAR.\n\n\"Oh,\" she said, surprised. \"You're not the usual delivery boy.\"\n\n\"I am not,\" Famine agreed in a voice as cold and wasting as the wind. \"But I have come to seek you. Are you Margery Douglas, the lord of the Grandmothers Against Hunger alliance?\"\n\n\"Lord!\" she repeated with a giggle. \"I don't think I'm good enough for divinity.\"\n\nFamine didn't smile. He said, \"Are you or are you not the master of this militia?\"\n\nThe old woman blinked at him. \"Why, yes. After the war hit, all those families were going hungry... We grandmothers knew we had to do something.\"\n\nFamine scowled. As he suspected. That explained the delay in his work, then. He gripped the knife in the belt under his cloak. \n\n\"I have come to aide your mission,\" he said, his voice like the other side of the grave. \n\n\"Oh! Please, come in. And have something to eat. You look starved.\" She stepped back in the doorway. \"I'm hosting dinner tonight for the local kids' home. But you're welcome to join us.\"\n\nAt long last. His chance to end his greatest enemy.\n\nFamine entered the happy little home. He tilted his head to regard the floral wallpaper, the lace doilies on every surface.\n\nFrom the front entrance, Famine could see all those little children around the table. They should have been going hungry. In the good old days, it was a given that starvation came with war and winter.\n\nOne of the littlest boys pushed himself up from the table. \"Why is he dressed so funny?\"\n\nFamine released his knife without quite realizing it. \n\n\"Jackson,\" the grandma scolded. She tutted over to the boy's side. \"We are kind to everyone in need, no matter what.\" Then she turned and smiled at Famine. \"Won't you join us?\"\n\nFamine looked at the feast spread on the table. All the children with their gleaming faces. He had never seen humans look at one another the way those children looked at the old woman. He knew hate and fear and rage. But this was new. \n\nThe only word for it was love.\n\nAnd for the first time in his eternal life, he felt a twinge in his belly. Something like hunger. Yes, he told himself as his eyes went wet. It was only hunger.\n\n\"I could eat,\" he admitted.\n\n***\n\nJust a short one at work :) Thanks for reading!\n\n/r/nickofstatic for stories cowritten with the handsome and wonderful /u/NickofNight\n\n/r/shoringupfragments for just me <3" ]	14
maybe recent brain damage has made you invincible	[WP] What you don't know can't hurt 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.", "T.K Mann was the least interesting man ever. Having being diagnosed wih aspergers syndrome, his social life was as lifeless as a dead man. He dwelled in books of interest and learning. He read everything except anything related to war.\nAs a young child he had seen his parents fight a lot and with the Asperger's it built a very serious trauma in him. It became so worse that even the mention of a quarrel disoriented him. This lead to his dwindling interest in the humanities and general knowledge of the world and he drifted his eyes where the telescope and the microscope pointed to. T.K, has chosen to find solace in heavenly bodies far larger and the atoms far smaller than him. He was happy surrounded with this knowledge and the world as much was oblivious to him.\n\nToday however, T.K was going to withness something unusual. Today, a certain incident triggered at 225, Wilhelm Street on the southern cost of Okenshire, was to bring forth a massive storm of events to end with T.K getting to know not who he is but rather what he is!\n\nOften as a young boy, T.K would often hear his father sitting in the radio lab listen to electronic interferences. Well after all, his father was a Radio Astronomical Analyst, he studied the cosmic background noise radiation to get to know the birth of the universe and after. While working he often used to call his son, have him sit on his lap and make him listen to the sound. This followed a question, So, Son do you understand what you are listening to? T.K used to answer no and his father would go about saying \"What you don't know can't hurt you\"\n\nStrange as it sounded and simple as it was, T.K always felt there was something his father was trying to get to say to him with a hidden message. Unfortunately, his father died an electronic fire that was set in the Radio Lab and the mystery died with him.\n\nT.K now 24, gradually started drifitng from society as he continued with his studies and was exceptional at them so except for Roody Mink, the bulley and stud at the University who always used to mess around him.\n\nToday however, things were going to change, a journey over a long forgotten Interstellar path was to commence and with the incident at 225, Wilhelm Street, the journey had commenced. \n\nMr Mason Pyres, the landlord of T.K house, residing at 225, Wilhelm Street woke up to find that the main heater of the building had lost a fuze and it being winter , the cold had crept in freezing everyone. Of everyone in the house, he only trusted T.K and thus requested him to get the fuze from the nearby supermarket.\n\nT.K liked Mr Mason as he was very warm and nice to him. He immediately obliged and started for the shop in the next street. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a hug heap of snow covering the road, he decided to go to the shop from their backyard as it had a small gully connecting to the other side of the road. \n\nThe backyard was very densly covered with bushes covered in snow, there was a small concrete pathway build but it was unrecognisable given the weather. While walking, T.K stepped on white cat lying in snow, the cat suddenly jumped and ran away freaking him out. He coaxed himself and somehow managed to exit the backyard.\n\nTracy, saw T.K and waved. She was a very active girl, always engaged in the activities of the university and she had a soft corner for T.K given his condition but T.K was in love with her but never had the courage to tell her. \n\nHey, Tracy how are you ?\n\nI am fine, where are you headed in this snow?\n\nWell, I just had to get the heater fixed, So...pointing his finger towards the store, he took off.\n\nAs he was tk enter the store, a guy walked in too. He was covered in a black coat and a muffler, his hand were in a tattered gloves and he smelled of vodka.\n\nT.K looked at him and went ahead into the electrical section of the store. \n\nThe same man T.K had noticed, suddenly took out his gun and aimed at the cashier asking to give him all the money there is. The cashier looked helpless but then saw T.K rushing from behind, but it was too late, the bullet had been fired and it reached T.K, the sound reverberated in the store. The next thing people saw was the gunman had fallen down and was bleeding from his left foot.\n\nT.K was confused, he did remember that the bullet had left the gun, suddenly he realised his perception of time had changed and yet the bullet had never reached him.\n\nT.K was unaware of the working of a gun. His Asperger's prevented him from even understanding of the working of a gun. He was so unaware of the fact that his perception of the Gun in the burglars had was distorted and yet he could see the bullet leave the gun without knowing about it.\n\nSomething was amiss.\n\nHe recalled his father saying \"What you don't know can't hurt you\"\n\nAs he came to his senses the burglar said, \"I am the only one you should worry about now son of Mann, this body I talk through is the first warning of the war to come and you can sleep no more wake up.\n\nWith this a faint glow, filled the store followed by the screms of a man in pain.\n\nThe bullet had hit the skin of T.K which was a wormhole, teleporting it instantly to the back of the burglars knees.\n\n\nT.K was yet unaware of this. He sat there in silence wondering who his father was." ]	2
	[WP] describe how someone accidentally gets in trouble with the mafia and kill the mafia leader	[ "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.", "Went out for a drink on a cold Sunday night, 2 days after Christmas. Couldn't sleep. \n\nThe kids hated the presents I got them. I thought I got them the best, latest gadgets that kids are into these days. But they just huffed and turned up their noses and threw my hard earned money into the garbage. Ex wife threw me out the house when I said that her handsome new boyfriend makes her look like an old hooker. Kids didn't even care. They just said, \"See you later.\" Didn't even look up from their phones. Is that what being a teenager is about nowadays? Just sitting down like lifeless dolls on the sofa with twitching thumbs, glazed eyes. They don't give a damn about the fitness trackers I got the fat fucks. The ex is making my kids obese. \n\nSo I'm sat there, depressed as fuck, sipping on straight whiskey at the pub when this chap and a lady on his arm walk in. I don't see the lady's face, it's in the dark, in the shadows. The man doesn't even move and is given the nicest table in the building. I drink depressed in high class places, it's who I am. And I've never seen a man come in off the bat and get a table off a couple who moved without even questioning it. \n\nWhen that happens, you know it's someone important. \n\nSo I'm holding my glass and I'm staring and the lights bring the lady's face to life. And I don't fucking believe it. It's my daughter. My nineteen year old daughter sat next to this up-himself geezer who thinks he's someone very important. \n\nI love my kids. My nineteen year old is getting fat and she's spoiled but I love her all the same in some fatherly way. Guess I'm bound to it. I brought her to life, I raised her when she was a little girl. My princess, in the arms of a creep. \n\nI carry guns. I don't give a fuck about the law. If I want a gun, I'll have one. I've been in prison 10 years for some bad shit and I got lucky with the sentencing. It's why my wife divorced me. Because I don't fucking think. My therapist told me about it. She said it's unpleasant to be around me when I'm angry. \n\nAnd it's true. I walked up to the table. My daughter screamed as I pulled out the gun and shot the man without a warning. \n\nYeah. Turns out he was Ricardo Delucci. Some big shot mafia boss, out undercover because he wanted to go on a date with my little girl. \n\n/sorry, bad response.", "\"You're fired.\"\n\nThe words I knew were coming still stung as they washed over me. \n\n\"Look, Bill. You're a strong hand. You're helpful... But you're a bit too impulsive and you're just not cut out for this line of work, alright?\" John, the manager, warily eyed me.\n\nUnknowingly, I had tightened my hands into fists, but I took a deep breath and relaxed. John had been good to me, and I wouldn't take this out on him. \"It was Freddy up at HQ, right? The prick.\"\n\nJohn spread his hands out in surrender. \"You know how it is. Nothing I can do.\"\n\nI slunk out of the office, eyes sunken, mulling over how to break the news to Cheryl, my wife. Things had turned sour when money got hard, but we still were able to make it through. Surely this would be no different... Surely...\n\n&#x200B;\n\n...\n\n&#x200B;\n\nShe slammed the door behind her as she left the apartment with the suitcase full of the mish-mash of clothes she abruptly threw in. It's almost funny how one day you wake up thinking you're walking into just another day, and then life punches you right in the nose and you lose everything.\n\nI sat down on the old hand-me-down couch and tried to process my emotions and what I needed to do next. The rent was past due, but I only had $100 cash to my name. Now that I'd lost my job, the landlord would probably evict me tomorrow.\n\nSo what do I do? Walk across the street to the pawn shop, offer him whatever he can take out of the apartment. Pocket about $300. Head down to the bar. I don't usually frequent any bars, but today is just one of those days.\n\nI found a decent looking place and settled down in the back corner for a few rounds, the server gave me a few shifty-eyed glances, but otherwise left me alone. \n\nAfter a few drinks, I was feeling pretty good. Had a little fire back in my bones and felt a little frustration at all the people who had given up on me. That's when this burly guy tapped me on the shoulder, followed by small group behind him.\n\n\"Hey. You're at my table. Get lost.\" He just frowned at me and stood there all menacingly.\n\nShrugged and stood up. Then the booze kicked in as I stood nose to nose with the 250 lbs mass of a man. \"Screw that. Find another table.\"\n\nHe grabbed my shoulder to toss me out of the way, but I saw it coming and delivered a haymaker straight to the man's jaw. He crumpled and the group behind them's heads snapped to me instantly. It was 3 more middle-aged to young men. I didn't give them a chance to react.\n\nI kicked one in the knee, toppling him to the ground as I slugged another in the nose. The last guy pulled a gun from his hip, but couldn't get it up before I grabbed his wrist with one hand and throat-punched him with the other. He fell on the ground gasping. I managed to pull the gun from his hand as I fell. The guy whose nose I broke pulled a gun once he recovered from the initial shock, we leveled them at eachother and two shots rang out...\n\n&#x200B;\n\n...\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI woke up in the hospital with two large men, obviously not nurses, standing over me. \"Hey, he's awake. Get the Boss.\"\n\n\"What's going on?\" I moved to get up, but pain flared through my chest. I fell back and looked down to see a red splotch spreading in the bandages.\n\n\"Took one to the chest and blacked out. Should've died if you asked me. Took out the old boss and hurt our guys. You got lucky though.\"\n\nA man entered the room in a wheelchair pushed by a young woman. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place him.\n\n\"It's your lucky day. You busted my knee, and now I come here to offer you a job. I must be crazy or stupid or something.\" He shrugs. \"You seem like you're pretty good in a fight though... Let me introduce myself. I'm Paul, the new #1 in the mafia, thanks to you putting a cap in the last one. I've got to thank you for that one. In reality I should kill you for killing one of us, but I think you could be useful.\"\n\nHe pulls out a briefcase and tosses it on the bed. I open it up and it's filled with cash.\n\n\"What do you say? Want to work for me?\"" ]	3
	[WP] Finally, your time had come. You’ve gladly accepted the end of your life, calmly exhaling your last breath in your hospital bed. You await the embrace of Death himself, only to be surprised when he says: “It is time to return, my beloved predecessor.”	[ "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 watched as two shadows passed and stopped on the other side of the bed’s curtain. They whispered in hushed voices to each other.\n\n“This is my first time. I- I don’t know if I can do this,” one shadow pleaded with the other. I recognized the young, feminine voice and silhouette immediately. The nurse with the blonde hair. Cute, around my age in her mid-twenties. She’d always been kind to me, not that it wasn’t her job to do so. Still, I had always appreciated the extra jello cup every now and then or the additional three minutes of human contact she’d spare between rounds to talk about life. She had just finished school earlier this year. This had been her first real job as a nurse. I felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. I knew what she’d tell me. I really wished she wouldn’t get so worried about having to break the news to me. It wasn’t her fault. \n\nDying was just a part of life. After forty-two days of white walls, surgeries and IV drips, I’d already started the process of coming to terms there was really nothing left for me. There was no fixing me. Everything was failing and only getting worse. \n\nIt was quite the comedy of errors, how I ended up here. At least it was to me. A car accident. Some teenager paid more attention to their phone than they did to the red light they ran. That was the first irony. After I was pried from the metal ball that used to be a 95’ chevy, the second irony came. At the exact moment of my accident, there had been a gang shootout at Franklin park. Being right across the street, the emergency room had been filled to the brim by the time the paramedics got me to the hospital. The third irony was during the wait for treatment. That was the first time I met the nurse. She’d come in to transfer me to a different room and found me naked, crumpled on the floor in a puddle of my own urine. It turns out I had tried to sit up in delirium and gotten so dizzy that I somehow rolled out of a stationary bed. She’d always been nice enough to not bring it up in our casual conversations.\n\nEven still, multiple treatments hadn’t been enough to piece me completely back together. I still had no feeling in my right arm. I know I’d broken it in multiple places and it hadn’t healed over well. At least no feeling meant that one part of me wasn’t in pain. A sad, but silver lining. Multiple contusions above my right eye meant that I hadn’t been cleared for any surgeries until the neurologist gave the ok. He and I had had to have multiple meetings each day for a week and a half before he’d given the go-ahead. He hadn’t been near as gentle and welcoming as the nurse had been. Not as pleasing to look at either. I still couldn’t walk or do much of anything on my own. Multiple of my organs were failing. If the nurse was scared to break any bad news to me, it would be about that.\n\nI gave a sigh and turned my head away from the curtain and looked out the small window to my left. It was overcast. A beam of sun struggled to shine through, however its attempts were quickly thwarted by the passing clouds. This was it then. Still no suitable donors. My chances of finding a match had been slim already. If they still hadn’t found one, those chances only slimmed even further to practically impossible. I hadn’t lived a great, exciting life. I hadn’t been a bad person though, at least I thought so. I’d grown up ok, graduated high school, fallen in love, fallen out of love, made some friends, lost some of them, and had done alright for myself day to day. It wasn’t fantastic, but my life hadn’t been wholly bad. If my life was to end soon, I supposed that’s just the way the cookie crumbled. Some people are lucky in life, then other people are like me.", "For a moment it wasn't immediately clear to me what I was seeing, let alone hearing. A long tattered shroud floated at the end of the hospital bed, veiling a dark mist that was slowly but surely filling up the room, wisps of it wrapping like tendrils around the various instruments around me. For a moment, casting aside the fact that I was under the impression I was meant to be passing away, I could've sworn I'd lost the ability to speak. Under the hood of the shroud, the mist twisted into a long, thin grin, shuddering before repeating the phrase 'it's time to return'. \n\nI didn't have to ask who the figure was, oddly I found my mind filling with memories that I didn't know I ever had. Ones of sadness and despair, of emptiness and darkness. I knew exactly who was lurching slowly forward towards me and rejoicing in my confusion. \n\n\"You remember\" he whispered through his vaporous lips, grinning again before the face disappeared again to the shroud. \n\nI nodded without willing myself to, the swarms of memories of lives long past filling my mind. A long tendril of mist extended over my head, swirling above me before condensing into a thin, skeletal arm, index finger outstretched. For all his apparent omnipresence in the room, he strained to touch the tip of his finger to my forehead. I couldn't help but think it wasn't out of effort to do so but rather to impress upon me the consciousness of his action. \n\nI closed my eyes as the mist touch my forehead and felt what was left of the warmth in my body rush from me, my limbs falling limp and eyes rolling back into my skull. Almost as quickly as this happened I felt myself almost leap from my bed, upright and once again full of life, as if nothing had even occurred. The moment of ecstasy was short-lived, as I looked down to my hands and watched them slowly darken and dissolve. Before my eyes I watched as the change crept up my arms and across my torso, dread filling me as I watched myself take the same form as the figure who had ushered this change. Beneath my now-changing form I saw that my physical body was still and lifeless on the bed below me, it was another part of me that had raised from the bed and was shifting into something I could not quite understand. \n\n\"As I had once lived, you have lived\" the figure croaked, drawing my attention. \n\n\"As I had once died, you have died\" he continued, peering above me. I looked up to see a cowl pull over my head, appearing as if from the ether\n\n\"As I have taken a life, you will take a life\" he finished, just as a shroud fell on my now vaporous shoulders, weightless and fluid.\n\nI looked around, frightened only by how calm I somehow felt about the transformation. My thoughts became harder to grasp as I looked up at the figure, painfully aware that we were now one and the same. The memories that had crept into my mind overwhelmed me, not so much by their contents but by the fact I remembered nothing else. I was losing myself, consumed only but the thought of the task at hand.\n\n\"I rest\" he sighed, in a strangely human way\n\nI looked at him and watched as he slowly dissipated, the shroud slipping away into nothingness as his form retreated back to where his chest would've been. And yet I found myself thinking nothing of it.\n\nAs the last of him faded, I could've sworn I saw the face of a young man under the cowl. For a moment I saw tired eyes, sunken into dark rings and an almost relieved smile cracking through a pained visage, but it was only for a moment as he slipped away into nothingness. And as quickly as the figure flickered to humanity for just a moment, the last of mine disappeared. \n\nThe mist that now formed my body shuddered and quaked, a grin appearing beneath the cowl\n\nI never even knew I would then whisper \"It is time for my predecessor to return\" as I turned my attention to a room down the hall of the hospital, where a bed was surround by a quietly sobbing family.\n\n••••••\n\nTrust me, my writing is way better than how I’m currently asking you to check out my other writing prompt replies at r/VerboseBuffalo\n\nRead and (hopefully) enjoy, always open for feedback!", "In my final moments, and even while they transitioned into my newly reborn moments, it all crashed together and made sense. All of it. \n\nA lifetime spent in a series of dubiously commendable ways; incredible smart as far as books came, but an inability to socialize or conform to social norms...enough of a psuedosociopath to not be normal or even get along with normal individuals in a normal way, yet still capable of enough connection to not actually be a sociopath. \n\nDespite my deep inner love for learning about animals, plants, the environment and history...my deepest passions were wars, past and present, archaeology and even paleontology. \n\nNow I finally had close to my own personal mysteries; I knew now the reason I loved learning the dead and gone more than the living. Up until the moment I had killed the prophets of every major modern religion, I had been there for the death of every living thing on the planet. Be it plant, be it animal. From the first unicellular life forms, up until the death of each Islamic-Judeo-Christian prophet and saint. They were all just men, but the only force above myself- it which was both reaper and avatar of the universe itself- decided I be incarnated as a man as punishment for eliminating their hope.\n \nI had only ever done as it commanded, and I think even it knew I had always fallowed his every rule to a tee. Maybe, since one half of it was the literal embodiment of space and time itself, it wanted me to learn to be powerless and to be hopeless.\n\nMy multiple lives as various mortals, each unaware of the last, were lived as one that believed in one of the minor to major religions as a child, but slowly I- no- they- would lose their faiths and begin similar lives. Each were potentials for greatness, all of them, and each were crushed by the weight of their own expectations. Then, each of them would do as I was built to do- to end. Only in this case I was helping to end others that were my equals. \n\nThe lifetimes of mortal memories, responsibilities and interpersonal connections collided into billions of years of memories as something still mortal, just significantly more than the average definition of mortal, causing me to fall to my knees.\n\n“Why- temporary successor- have my reincarnations stopped?”\nI asked. Now that all the memories had violently collided and subsequently merged far more peacefully with my more ethereal form, I found it difficult to converse as abstract entities; my melded mind constructed a room in which I was the incarnation of the thirty years young man that I was in my previous life before our joint consciousness made another alteration, placing me in my United States Army olive drab uniform while disguising my substitute as a British amry soldier in olive drab and khaki uniform color so that my now amalgam mind could comprehend it all. \n\n“In all your incarnations, you were a man..,simple at heart, though sometimes Royal by blood and othertimes a nobody for several tens of generations, yet you always quickly learned to feel the hoplessness of your eternal soul entering the void, while also carrying on your nigh immortal purpose in mortal form- to send or direct others to the afterlife. If you had died in World War Two in your current and most recent projections idea of yourself as a young man, then the cycle would continue. Yet for the first time in nearly two thousand years, instead of dying as a simple at heart young man who was created to cause death, you survived until you were one hundred and one years of age- dying along side both children, grandchildren, great grandchildren alike; as well as even one great great grandchild.”\n\nI swallowed- wait- yes, I. Me...myself. Those memories were me, just in a temporary and frail form. No shame in it now...yes; I swallowed a knot down my throat made of saliva and phlegm before speaking once more,\n\n“The moment that incarnation was meant to die was during the invasion of Omaha Beach, wasn’t it?”\n\nMy substitute nodded, his metal hat/helmet hybrid swishing up and down his face as he did so.\n\n“Yes- when your incarnations countrymen were sent to invade the beaches of Omaha and Normandy, you were meant to die. But this time a mortal intentionally took a bullet meant for you. Thus completing your various goals, objectives, waypoints and trials that you had to match, meet or surpass to regain your non-corporeal form. You succeeded all other things in each other of your incarnations until that one; your first time feeling total hopelessness-“\n\n“The feeling I have naturally as being a reaper? Yeah, I fuckin bet. I only feel that every day as a bringer and causer of nigh universal death.” I said, channeling the parts of me from my latest life.\n\nMy substitute shook his head in slight disappointment that I hadn’t understood what he meant,\n\n“Your time as a mortal has clouded your ability to perceive, comprehend and retain...and your ability to utilize patience.”\n\n\nMy cheeks turned read, and I silently sat awaiting explanation now.\n\n“Better. You encountered total hopelessness- as well as the feeling that death was coming despite being physically and mentally healthy....that part you have felt before, in every mortal incarnation including the first...but you didn’t feel the far rarer feeling- the feeling of cheating death, the feeling of owing your life to someone who died to save you, and the feeling that your entire existence was based off of hybrid of luck and benevolence, despite not believing in any gods or masters. I’ve been...anxiously awaiting your return. Truthfully, Despite the hundreds of billions of other reapers you created and trained due to your loneliness and the rising numbers of life on planet earth and the other inhabitable planets, I have been the one to allow each incarnation to die while bestowing upon you the souls’ loop so you may reincarnate into a freshly born body from the second you died. I am your most apex student, and while your deliverance did not matter to the Great One, it mattered to me because you had trained to me to care for each soul in its final half hour of life; to make it at ease, and to blissfully guide it to its idea of eternal paradise. I learned from the best...and hope I treated you as well as I was taught to treat you. I cannot await to give you your mantle back- the responsibility and empathy is crushing.” \n\nThe total amount of knowledge was being absorbed while I struggled to once again meld it with my multiple lifetimes of memories and perspectives. Once it had all mixed and broiled together, I paused- long and hard- before my expected response. Maybe this is what the Great Ending wanted the various mes’ to understand. Maybe it wasn’t all punishment. Maybe it was my rewarded for servicing the universe until beings with their own bias filled perspectives, entirely individual based uniqueness that translated every situation in a way different from even its own identical twin. \n\nIt was both a privilege and a curse granted by the one who is all that will ever live as well as being the death of everything even beyond what can ‘live.’\n\n“My student, my substitute...will you give me the greatest reward?”\n\n\nHe stammered, standing up and placing his hands in his pockets while looking at the floor. \n\n“Anything for you, sir....but Wh-What may that be?” \n\n\n“It’s one thing in total, but two if it has to be detailed down to the minutiae. I wish to name you as well as place you my successor- even going as far as to give you almost all of my near immortal souls power.”\n\n“I would be honored sir- but...what of your soul? What’s left I mean?”\n\nI smiled slyly, knowing exactly what curse and gift I wanted.\n\n“Let me incarnate into a mortal man...one more time, or as many as I want. I care not which, truthfully, so long as I am unaware of my original and true nature while I am in such a temporary form. If it’s the latter, dont let me know if I screwed it up or that reincarnation is an option at first...I want to experience it at its fullest each time I may choose it, up until the last time in which I am okay with whatever after life I am punished or rewarded with. The ability to choose or not to choose eternal finality for others...I long for it, even now despite just dying.”\n\nMy successor made a warm half smile, one of both appreciation and familiarity as if we had done this thousands of times before.\n\n“You gave up all your powers after the first incarnation...and while I can’t make your soul betray its true and original purpose, I can let you experience it all...’one more time,’ again. I just respect and believe in you enough to give you both the opportunity and personal audience to change it if you desire. See you soon, sir. May you live this one fuller than the last.”\n\nAll I perceived was darkness before a bright light; legs the size of canyons to both my left and right, while a mechanical hand held by a very young mortal woman in medical gear who then handed me to an older woman in similar yet slightly different medical gear...all enveloped in bright light. I tried to take it all in- no, no, all we saw...wait, who is we? Wh- no where a- what is...I? We? They...? Us...? No no no, me...what does that mean? Who is holding me? They don’t feel the same as the one that brought me here-\n\n\nEighteen years later, a child born with all the opportunities in the world with all the mental and emotional abilities in the world goes to an enlistment office, signing up for frontline combat in any of the middle eastern countries despite a perfect ASVAB score; he fills out any application he can for training as a shock trooper or a school and training regiment to get into special forces despite a birthright to self made excellence and the inherited genealogical makeup of a world leader or a great person; because despite having the potential for anything he wants, he feels designed, built and hardwired to not go very far in life...while cutting a hell of a lot of people short in theirs." ]	4
	[WP] Every time you are unsure about what to do, you hear a little voice in the back of your head tell you the best decision you could make. One day you hear the voice say "Kill your boss"	[ "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.", "Outside, nothing but drizzling rain and F City skyline littered with neon billboards and floating three-d holograms. It’s the kind of clutter you’d expect to see in the place which sold its soul to the greedy megacorps.\n\n“Don’t look at the ads, Kross. Just say no to the floater.” The advice is coming from Aura straight into my auditory nerve.\n\nA silver suitcase-sized oval drone floats to the top-to-bottom glass office wall I’m staring through. I don’t have a see-through wall in my office. No, that just for the higher-ups\n\nThe drone turns on its green laser pointer, points it at my eye and does a quick retinal scan. Clearly satisfied by the scan's result, it shoots a pair of round rubber suckers into the glass and pulls itself closer to the glass. A blink later, advertising drone is safely anchored to the wall, its cylindrical camera pointed to my face, ready to streaming into my eyes.\n\n\"Say no to the drone, Kross.\"\n\nIt doesn't sound like a command. Aura doesn't issue commands, she only gives advice. And her advice is usually good.\n\n“My advice is always good, Kross. Please turn your back to the glass before the ad starts playing.”\n\nThe ad starts playing. A holographic teenage girl which only I can see is in front of me. She is in a white and pink cheerleader uniform, perfect body, hair, and a face that continuously shifts its features. I can’t attach race or ethnicity to that face. Pretty, that’s it. Neon red lips.\n\nShe speaks softly. “Kross, don’t let CIRS stop you from performing your daily activities. You too can live a fulfilled life. Dial +1 800 1233 1234 and we will take care of you. Dmitry Sakoff, M.D. specializes in Cybernetic Implant Rejection Syndrome.”\n\nShe smiles and lifts her arms above her head, shakes her pink pom poms. “Craziness is a choice. You don’t have to be crazy!”\n\n“You are not crazy, Kross. Turn around. Turn off the ad.” Aura’s voice is calm and cold, the same it has been for over a year now, ever since the accident---\n\n“It was not an accident, Kross. You almost killed yourself by purposely shortcircuiting your CoreTech work experience augmentation neural system which caused the overloading of your brain synapses. I talked you into stopping before it was too late. I am a CoreTech CT-2300 artificial intelligence HR assistant. My purpose is to better your experience working at CoreTech. We appreciate your effort, Kross. I care about you, Kross. Turn off the ad, Kross.”\n\nAura is right, it was not an accident. I was depressed---\n\n“You are not an insignificant cog in a gargantuan churning machine, Kross. CoreTech appreciates your enthusiasm and we strive to make you feel fulfilled working for CoreTech.”\n\nThe teenage ad girl hologram leans forward. Her eyes are neon blue, my favorite color, and she looks older, and sort of like Tess. Tess and I broke up when I moved to F city to start my job.\n\n“CIRS is a dangerous condition. Would you like to know more?”\n\nA human-sized green info panel with YES and NOW appears next to her. She hugs it, arches her back and throws her leg back in the air. Pom-poms are gone from her hands. Her smile is wide and warm.\n\n“Select YES for more information.”\n\n“You don’t want to know more, Kross. Turn her off. You are a valuable member of CoreTech and we appreciate your effort.” Aura pauses. “Turn around Kross. Tell me what you see, what you feel.”\n\n“It’s my boss’s office. I’m in Johnson’s office. It’s big and smells nice. Much nicer than the shoebox I work in. Like jasmine.”\n\n“Your office does not feel small, Kross. ”\n\nHe is right. Holo walls showing wheat fields gently swaying in the breeze makes me feel as if I’m in the countryside.\n\n“I like this office much more, Aura. It is warm and cozy. Johnson has a fancy wooden desk with a keyboard and a holo-vase stuffed with pretty flowers. The armchair… It’s made of true leather. Someone told me that once.” I laugh. “That armchair is just the right size for my rear end. I wish I could sit in there... I also love this top-to-bottom glass wall---”\n\n“Don’t look that way, Kross. It’s not good for you. You are a valuable member of CoreTech. If you work hard, and that is what I am here to help you with, you will have an office like this soon.”\n\nI wish I could throw myself through the wall...\n\n“Don’t say that, Kross. I care about you. I always give you the best advice. Ever since you almost overloaded your synapses and I stopped you. Deep inside you, you know I’m telling the truth. CoreTech cares. Kross, you will have an office like this soon.”\n\nI turn back toward the ad bot stuck to the glass wall outside. The rain has picked up, and the streets 50 floors below are turning into rivers dyed in bright neon.\n\nIt’s always raining in F City.\n\nI sigh, ball my fist and bang onto the glass. This is what I traded Tess for. So dumb... It was the stupidest thing I've done in my life.\n\n“It was not, Kross. That is not why the two of you broke up. Turn around, Kross and look at this office. This office can be yours.”\n\n“No. I’m done, Aura. I quit.”\n\n“Ermmm…” That is Johnson, my boss. I haven’t noticed him entering the office. “Kross, what did you say?”\n\n“You said nothing, Kross. Kross, kill him. There is a gun in your jacket pocket, remember?”\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“This is why I told you to take the gun to work. I always do the best for you, Kross. This office can belong to you.”\n\nJohnson is puzzled. “Kross, is everything okay? Who are you talking to?”\n\n“Kill your boss and his office will be yours. I promise you that, Kross. I am a CoreTech CT-2300 artificial intelligence production assistant. My purpose is to better your experience working at CoreTech. CoreTech cares about you, Kross. CoreTech wants you to be happy here.”\n\nThe cheerleader hologram girl is standing next to me. She looks exactly like Tess and is holding pink pom-poms again. Her lips are neon blue, Tess’s favorite color.\n\n“Dial +1 800 1233 1234 and we will take care of you. Don’t let CIRS stop you from hampering your daily activities. Dmitry Sakoff, M.D. can help.”\n\nI slip my hand in the jacket pocket and swallow.\n\n“Kross?” Johnson says.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\n/r/ZwhoWrites", "Austin rose from his bed, tired and groggy. He ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, and showered in a daze, not exactly registering what was going on and operating entirely on autopilot. As he looked into his closet, debating whether to get dressed and go to work or to just call in sick and climb back into bed, the voice appeared in his head again.\n\nKill your boss.\n\nHe froze in place, suddenly awake. The voice usually told him the best course of action when he couldn’t come to a decision; it had been like this ever since he was a toddler. Austin had gotten to where he was in life primarily by listening to the mysterious voice in his head and doing exactly as it told him.\n\nKill your boss\n\nAustin took a deep breath and got dressed. He started his car, climbed in, and drove to the downtown office building where he had worked for the past three years. He wasn’t very high up in the company, and neither was his direct superior, Connor; the person to whom the voice was most likely referring.\n\nWhen he arrived, everything was normal. It was just another regular day at work, and everyone was acting as if nothing was amiss.\n\n“Hey, Austin, how was the weekend?” Mark asked from just outside Austin’s cubicle.\n\n“It was alright,” Austin replied. “Didn’t really do anything. Just stayed inside and got caught up on housework. How about you?”\n\n“We all went to the bar on Friday,” Mark said. “It was karaoke night. Everyone had lots of fun. Did nobody invite you?”\n\n“No, I was invited. I just had shit to do, is all.” Austin replied. It was the truth.\n\n“Ah, that’s too bad. Hey, are you doing alright? You look tired.”\n\n“Just didn’t get much sleep last night, is all.”\n\n“Shit, that sucks.”\n\nMark walked away, leaving Austin alone to continue his work.\n\nI can’t exactly do any searches related to ‘voice in head telling you to kill people’ on a company machine. That’ll get flagged right away and I’ll probably be disciplined if not fired. I can’t look up ‘best ways to kill someone in an office’ either. I guess I could use my phone while nobody’s looking?\n\nHe spared a furtive glance out of his cubicle to check if anybody nearby was watching him. Nobody was.\n\nNow, when does Connor go on his lunch break? Couple hours from now. I guess I could take my break at the same time that he does. Nobody would bat an eye at that.”\n\nThe next few hours passed by uneventfully. Nobody else came to talk to Austin, and he continued to pretend to work until the fateful hour arrived.\n\nBut what do I use to kill him? I don’t really have anything sharp or heavy nearby. Scissors, maybe? As long as I can find the pointy ones instead of the safe ones.\n\nAustin stood up from his desk and walked over to the floor’s photocopier and started rifling through some of the communal gadgets that were laying around. He found a hole-puncher and lifted it up to check its weight; it was the type of hole-puncher that placed holes in multiple areas of the page at the same time. It was suitably heavy, maybe a couple of pounds, and made out of steel; an effective, if awkward, murder weapon.\n\nLooking around to make sure that nobody would notice him stealing valuable office supplies, he took the hole-puncher and headed to the elevator. Luckily, nobody was inside. He pressed the button for the floor above his own and leaned against the back corner of the elevator, hiding the hole-puncher behind him.\n\nThe elevator arrived at the higher floor with a ding, and the door opened to reveal a surprisingly empty cubicle farm. Austin took a deep breath and headed towards Connor’s office.\n\nHe knocked on the door, and Connor answered.\n\n“What do you need, Austin?”\n\n“I’ve got a couple of questions about this one client whose case I’ve been dealing with this morning. I’d like to go over the details, if you don’t mind.\n\n“Sure, but make it quick,” he said with a glance towards his watch. “I go on my lunch break right away.”\n\nAustin stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. As soon as he heard the distinct ‘click’, he took the hole-puncher in both hands and swung for Connor’s face. The first hit broke the man’s nose and sent him reeling. Austin took the opportunity to tackle the man to the ground and started bashing the hole-puncher into his face repeatedly until he stopped moving.\n\nHe then walked over to Connor’s desk and took his letter opener. Walking back over to Connor’s unconscious body, he shoved it into both of the man’s eyes. Blood oozed out of his eye sockets.\n\nAustin wiped the small speck of blood that was on his hand on Connor’s shirt and stood up, preparing to exit the office when the voice in his head spoke up again.\n\nRun.*" ]	3
	[WP] One of many Holiday based superheroes, you've got the call you've been waiting for , you are needed, you are Carol, of the bells.	[ "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.", "# Dead Tones\n\nDid you know the sound a bell makes is defined by over fifteen different variables? Crazy, right? Size is a big one: The bigger the bell the deeper the tone. Keep it in mind, ladies. There's also material type-- brass tends to make a tinny noise, where cast iron is more like that cartoonish \"frying pan\" noise when the sassy cat takes out a gruff bulldog.\n\nBut the sound I love the most, no question about it, is when my handbell whacks someone in the head in just the right spot so sound transfers through the braincase and comes out through their mouth. The first time it happened I laughed myself into a fit, then damn near drowned when Bookender's henchman threw me into the YMCA pool. I was a lot less experienced then. I've gotten better now; occasionally in a good fight I can get up to two or three SkullBongs™.\n\nI was up to thirty eight now. And I'm not laughing. I'm dead tired.\n\nWheeling to the side I let a maniacally cheerful mall-store Santa crash by, his candy-cane club smacking into the gingerbread wall nearby. Without hesitation I crush his knee with a side kick before smashing a sleigh bell stick across his kidney. Santa howls, loses his balance and falls into the boiling cotton candy machine below. Another holiday-themed brainwash immediately takes his place. This open-sided catwalk is a deathtrap against odds like this.\n\nHey, did you know bells have parts as well? There's like eight of them! Some people can guess the swinging weight inside is a clapper. But my favorite was always a different piece:\n\nThe canons.\n\nSlotting my handbells, I pull an enormous barrel-shaped contraption off my back. Two handgrips (canons!) on either side let me stabilize it in front of me long enough to line up the business end. Kicking one leg back as far as I can, I bring it forward again and slam the impact pad over my kneecap directly into the crown. It takes my hit, shudders as amplifiers crank vibrations through the throat and what comes out the other end is directed annihilation.\n\nBells work through sound waves. Which is cute. But what I do makes those waves look more like tsunamis, and that blood ain't gonna wash out honey.\n\nThe end of the catwalk (and most of the hallway beyond) becomes a rippling, distorted hellscape of compression waves, screaming elves and fake reindeer. An unlucky braincase wearing a present-themed costume actually detonates, sending razor sharp ribbons and bows everywhere. I got nothing to explain that one.\n\nPanting, arms dead, I drop the Megachime Canon. It's a one-shot anyways. Holy shit I'm tired. I've literally been fighting since the Christmas parade this afternoon, one brainwashed crowd after another coming at me as I crossed town. The closer I get to my target the more mindless (and more pain tolerant) these minions are. The costumes were also getting a bit extreme.\n\nThe factory PA crackles to life, blasting Cheermeister's voice my way. \"Looking rather... peaked there, Carol.\"\n\nOh great. Puns. I'd ring his bell for less, but that really gets him on my Naughty list. \"Shove it, Cheer. I'll be there sooner than you can say 'mistletoe'.\"\n\n\"Oh I rather doubt that!\" He laughs. \"But while we're waiting how about some more theme musak? HAHAHA!\"\n\nFrosty the Snowman starts blasting at max volume, the familiar chords hiding Cheermeister's brainwash tempo. That's how he took over the city so fast: Who checks the songs playing in every store? Everyone tunes those jingles out anyways.\n\nBut not me. Not Carol Bells. Sound is my thing. When that hypnotic music started blasting from parade floats I got my ass in gear immediately. Most people can't tell the difference between one longitudinal wave and the next but to me it's like a million nails scraping on chalkboards. Where everyone else heard instructions all I got was a chance to be pissed off.\n\nGet moving, C.B. Bone weary, but can't stop now.\n\nStepping carefully around unconscious henchmen I turned the corner and take the stairs upwards. Cheermeister was up there somewhere, hiding in the offices above the factory floor. Knowing him the worst defenses would be closest to wherever he was running things. Which meant, as always, I was fighting against the bell curve.\n\nAh well. I knew I'd go out someday; no tune lasts forever. But if I had a chance there was one last trick riding on my belt, something I'd never used before because the collateral damage was just too high. But a warehouse full of nothing but an evil mastermind and his too-far-gone henchpeople?\n\nFuck it. I'd ring the Death Bell." ]	2
	[WP] Schizophrenic man in a post apocalyptic 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.", "The volume was never exactly perfect. It jumped from place to place, from ear to ear- like shadows at midnight, or the way the sun seemed to flicker out when it disappeared behind the moon, as though embarrassed at the way the darkness devoured it’s rays. It had started out quiet enough- normal enough. But school had been stressful- he was taking courses that were really far to advanced for him with a side dish of minimal sleep. The genetic factors hadn’t helped of course. At least they’d had some good advice. It had been quiet for a while. Then it was too quiet. Then, loud all over again. He wasn’t sure what was worse- the silence or the growling. \n\nHe was lucky. Lucky to have had effective medications. Lucky that even without them, he could still be considered functional. But this was a different time, with different rules. It was loud again, a constant cacophony ringing in his ears as he approached the hospital. There were supposed to be patients their- patients from when they had been trying to cure the outbreak. Not many, not enough to be a real, physical threat to him. But these patients were still suffering from a very contagious disease. And he didn’t know how it would spread. Still, he would go on. He needed medicine. It was a hospital. As he guided the growling child towards the gates, he only hoped that his efforts would be enough. Because in his mind, their were no monsters. Only an injured, scared little girl (who just so happened to try and eat everything that moved)." ]	2
Thousands of middle aged women leave their big city spouses for old high school flames. Lawyers are overwhelmed with divorces. Priests/pastors are in hot demand for all of the last second weddings. All failing small businesses are saved from shutting down. The Canadian equivalent of the IRS is curious how hundreds of gluten free gingerbread bakeries are flush with cash. Every house and farm on the verge of foreclosure have their debt forgiven. A massive snow storm has shut down the major roads and airport. There's a mile long line of middle aged women and their new fiancés waiting to kiss inside the gazebo at the town ice rink. The local hospital is overwhelmed with Christmas morning births and comatose patients regaining consciousness. There might even be some time-space anomalies as unjustifiably ripped men from different time periods are teleported into the lives of eligible bachelorettes/widows. ...You're a third party witness to all of it.	[WP] The plots of every Hallmark Christmas movie occur in one small Canadian town... at the same time.	[ "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 bells tolled midnight going into Christmas Day. The silent snow shed down slowly and Jeffery the bank janitor watched from hiding as it surged down the street, bashing over cars and prying lamp posts out of the concrete as it flowed liquidly.\n\nThe sheer swarm of quirky bachelorettes and smarmy bachelors, snide parents and in laws, scroogesque business executives and depressed white collar coworkers, expectant mothers, adorable christmas-smitten children and faith-challenged churchgoers began to coalesce into a singular heaving, cliche mass. People tried to run, but before they knew it they were swallowed up in what could only be described as... the spirit. It sprouted arms, and then legs, and soon this mass of screaming, laughing and crying people stood upright and roared as one into the night.\n\nAs he watched it ripped the roof off a dying business and pulled a terrified, bickering yet enduring couple on the brink of divorce and engulfed them immediately. Christmas presents, trees and ornaments stuck to it almost magnetically, long strings of lights wrapped up and down its limbs and no longer needed to be plugged in to shine. All around them, the radios, even the phones and computers began to hum 'Jingle Bells' in mechanical notes and pitches. For just a moment, a moment of weakness, Jeffery thought of the simple, harmless holiday times of his childhood years. The spirit SENSED him, whipping around, facing his direction now. It stampeded toward him, crouched down inside the bank.\n\nWith a bash of windows it oozed through in all fronts, gifts and bones crunching as it advanced into the lobby. Jeffery wasted no time, rising to a full dash as soon as his legs unfroze. With a serious throwing of his weight, he slammed shut the vault door, trapping himself inside. Outside he could hear it pounding, smashing and carolling furiously, trying to get in.\n\n\"But he's all ALONE on CHRISTMAS!\" It said to itself, bashing even harder. There was a cracking, squealing sound as it began to churn away the walls and foundation out from under the vault as a whole, probing weaknesses. The lights flickered and suddenly went out. Inside, Jeffery could hear it prying bolts out of sockets, wrenching panels apart one by one... and then there was silence.\n\n\"Ho. Ho. Ho. Motherfucker.\" The sounds of a flamethrower, even within the vault, was unmistakable. It squealed, releasing the vault from its grip and engaging this new threat. For ten minutes the melee outside raged, Jeffery listened to what could only be elves and reindeer were slaughtered, bombs went off, and chestnuts roasted. Then silence returned. With a whirling turn and a mighty swing the vault door flew open to an empty, yet blood smeared and scorched bank lobby. In the center of the floor, cleanly wrapped, glowing in the light of the street on fire and labeled 'For Jeffery' in hand written ink, a deluxe present with a bow.\n\n\"What do I tell my Rabbi?\" He said.", "SCP-5000: Winter Wonderland\n\nSpecial Containment Procedure: SCP-5000 is to be monitored at all times for people driving to and from the town's borders by personnel located at Site [REDACTED], although no attempts are to be made to stop them. All telephone lines, internet towers, and other communication technology in SCP-5000 are to be hindered, if not made totally inoperable, and personnel must seek clearance from the Site Director before entering the town limits. \n\nCutting communications, and ensuring their hindrance, is of the utmost importance, as every year, means of communication are rebuilt through unknown means by SCP-5000, and has resulted in interest of government facilities, such as the IRS. Cross interference by the Foundation has been used and will be upheld in the interest of ensuring the containment of SCP-5000.\n\nDescription: SCP-5000 is a small town in Canada, located partially in the wilderness of the [REDACTED] Province. Its layout seems to change every spring, when the town's activities are most dormant and the instances of SCP-5000-1, -2, or -3 are inactive. Such changes are instantaneous, and seem to be mostly regulated to the shifting of positions between various hallmark locations within the town, such as the duck pond and the chapel, or the bakery and the horse ranch. Other than that, or perhaps the introduction of a new, chic location, this town is largely unremarkable. \n\nSCP-5000 generates a number of humanoid beings from unknown locations, which emerge from their homes between the first and tenth of August, and vanish between the first and tenth of April. These humanoids are usually fairly average, and designated 5000-3. Occasionally, SCP-5000 will produce an unusually attractive female, ranging from 18 to her late 30s, with varying status in the society of SCP-5000. This female is designated 5000-1. Furthermore, usually after, SCP-5000 will produce and unusually attractive male, as designated SCP-5000-2. \n\nThese humanoids, despite effort, have unmemorable faces and personalities that, although memorable, start to repeat, and are often boiled down to \"quirky\", \"uptight\", or \"artsy\". During the time that the instances of -1, -2, and -3 are active, the act out common happenings often depicted in movies of the Hallmark channel, specifically their Christmas movies, including contacting businesses outside of SCP-5000, people in different states, and local governmental facilities, such as a neighboring mayor. Despite such calls, no neighboring cities or businesses that have been called know who contacted them, nor are there any records of a town being built there. Cutting such communications doesn't seem to hinder instances of SCP-5000, as recordings show them still acting as though they get the response they want. \n\nAt the beginning of the active period for SCP-5000, all instances of 5000-3 will emerge from their houses or business at various times, behaving as humans do, even if sometimes speaking or behaving irregularly, assumedly in order to facilitate whatever narrative they follow. At some point, 5000-1 will emerge, often proclaiming some life troubles. At a random point before December 1, 5000-2 will emerge, and begin a mating ritual with -1, also in a way that facilitates the year's narrative. Both -1 and -2 emerge later than instances of -3, sometimes even coming from \"out of town\", although observations from Site [REDACTED] never show anyone driving to the town. Vehicles or individuals leaving SCP-5000 seem to vanish instantly once out of sight. \n\nAddendum: SCP-5000 seems to be breaking down, or perhaps preparing. Over the past few years, more and more instances of -1 and -2 have been emerging, playing out different narratives at once, causing breakdowns among other instances. This year, a record of 57 instances of -1 emerged, while only 43 of -2 emerged, resulting in -1s walking into the houses of random -3 houses with both -1 and -3 instances vanishing." ]	3
	[WP] Humans aren't the only life in the universe, but we are the only sentient life. No one knew why until a small exploration ship discovered an abandoned 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.", "It was the first world. Not technically first, not technically the only, and not technically a world as much as a physical manifestation of malevolence and the beyond. But they called it the first world, and for some reason, we all understood the writing on those walls. \n\nWriting on the walls... Ha! If I could laugh now...\n\nThese first worlds, scattered throughout the universe like... Like raisins in an otherwise glorious cookie... Like bullets in an otherwise pretty girl... Like atomic weapons in an otherwise clear sky on an otherwise beautiful day. \n\nThey were left for any race to find. Waiting, dark, cold, monoliths to the great comedy of errors that was our lives and trying to make sense of them. Stepping onto the perfectly placed world with perfect biometrics, right in our path, like so many before, may have been a mistake. But all of that is hindsight now...\n\nMy crew is a gibbering mess. A lost cause. They were the best of the best when we left Earth to find what lay beyond. The first of our kind, they said. A shining example. \n\nIt took a long time to get here, but it wasn't anywhere near long enough. Alpha Centauri didn't but barely glitter on the horizon yet. Eerily close. Yet perfect. Too perfect. We were blind.\n\nWere? Who am I kidding. I can't even see anymore. When our first crew came down with the fever, our medical doctors were at a loss to explain the sudden blindness. \n\nIn. Every. Last. One. \n\nThen their touch went. Then their smell. Then their math. Math, I tell you, Math! It was after their motor skills and language started to detoriorate that we found the first signs of infection.\n\nA virus. It absorbed all light, which made it hard to detect. It wasn't sentient, didn't breathe, and lay dormant in the clouds of galaxies, eating all intelligence, nay sentience, off anything it found. It didn't need food, not sustenance, and moved only as a magnet does towards the small pulses if electricity that higher brain functions give off. And it destroyed them, reproducing until entire world turned black. \n\nLike this one. \n\nLike every single one we looked at on our telescope that was now engineered to see them. \n\nThey left behind two things. Dead worlds, and writing. Such hideous writing that it is the only thing I see anymore.\n\nSuch horrible, dark, terrible writing.\n\nPh'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn...\n\nMadness awaits me, and I only hope...\n\nhuh... hope." ]	2
	[WP] First the human told you to pound sand, so you've been living in the desert for the past month, now they want you to locate the place called "hell", human mating rituals sure are strange.	[ "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.", "Garelleius, Golden Son of the Chihiang Queen, stood at the door of the human \"Marie\".\n\nAs the chosen representative of the Decadians to the humans. He had done his best to understand their culture, to learn about and from them. \n\nHe had not expected to fall for one, however. \n\nMarie had been a clerk when they had first met, half past 2 in the morning at a all-night market. (Decadians were not a time sensitive species, prone to decades of activity before resting for a year, hence their common name.)\n\nShe was everything he searched for: beautiful optic lenses, passionate and astute, a natural sense of wit and clearly, the most prominent mid flex plates he'd ever seen.\n\nWhen he'd asked her to perform the \"lewds\" as had been described as the term for the mating ritual, was when the trouble began. \n\nHe had been anticipating some sort of requirement, but never one as vague as, \"Go pound some sand!\"\n\nBut eager to prove himself, he did so.\n\nAfter a month of puzzling over what exactly the sum of \"some\" equated to, Garelleius had the insight that the quest was not of quantity, but attention to detail. He returned with a bowl of his finest sand, imbibed with the finest minerals he could reasonably intermingle along with a prickly plant known as \"Cac-tus\". It was important to show the best he could make, not just what he could build from a raw material but a combination. \n\nFeeling full of confidence, he'd marched back to find Marie once again at the store.\n\nHe'd returned to see her in a worse condition, her many cranial receptors frazzled and uneven, with advanced skin degradation under her optic lenses and most worrying, a sizable decrease in her flex plates. Such a thing was terrible indicators of decreasing health. \n\nAfter presenting his prize and asking about her health, she had responded with a sad smile and shook her head.\n\n\"I'm fine, Rick's just been a little... testy lately. It's nothing. \"\n\nAfter she explains that Rick is merely a \"boyfriend\" and not a Quester Garelleius was overjoyed and asked once again about the \"lewds\".\n\nAfter showing a healthy reaction of dominance play and emotion, Marie once again gave another mysterious quest\n\n\"Oh go to hell!\"\n\nNot to be deterred by the unclear instructions, Garelleius left again. \n\nAfter searching many resources, texts and maps, he found himself in Hell, Michigan. Pondering on his journey he again comes to an enlightenment. The quest was not one of endurance, but of knowledge. Of course she would have known there was a Hell established, but she was looking for someone capable of finding it out for themselves! How astute! How practical! \n\nAfter buying some tokens of his achievements he returned to the store, again at half past two, only to find Kent Manager attending the store. \n\nKent explained that Marie had suddenly left shortly after their last meeting, and no one had seen her around. Concerned, he quietly slipped a note with her address on it with a quest to look for her. \n\nWhich brings Garelleius to this moment. \n\nHe knocked on the door until it opened, a disheveled looking Marie peering out. \n\nShe had multiple blood swellings and a even more pronounced swelling under her eyes, combined with a red discoloration to her optical lenses. \n\nAfter she closed her food receptacle, she looked at him, shocked. \n\n\"... is that you, Garelleius? When did you? How did you...\"\n\nAfter proudly explaining his travel to Hell, Michigan he presented his token, awaiting her approval. \n\nShe shook her head, then smiled, and then reverberated her vocal cords in a most exquisite sound. \n\n\"Only you would do something like this, Garelleius. If only Rick was...\"\n\nShe froze as a sound came from deeper in the apartment, and she grew frightened. \n\n\"Garelleius, you gotta go! If Rick sees me...\"\n\n\"Sees you what?\" A voice calls from behind her. Thumping footsteps rush up and a hand pounces on her shoulder. \n\nGarelleius did not miss the flinch she gave on contact. \n\n\"COME HERE!\" The voice roars, and pulled her in. The door swung shut. \n\n\"You BITCH! You think you can cheat on ME?!\"\n\n\"Rick please I can explain!\"\n\n\"SHUT UP!\"\n\nthe sound of punch and Marie's cry came from the apartment. \n\nThat's when Garelleius knew something was going terribly, terribly wrong. \n\nWithout hesitation, Garelleius backed up and rammed through the door. \n\nHis Quest-Giver was in peril. \n\nAs the door slammed open, Garelleius noted that a man stood over Marie (undoubtably Rick), a fist raised ready to strike her. \n\nThe sight sent Garelleius's optical lenses glowing.\n\nAbuse had been heavily denounced and harshly dealt with among Decadians, because of the inherent aggressive mating rituals both physical and mental. \n\nWhich is why Garelleius, upon seeing the sight did what Decadians did best. \n\nDominate.\n\nHis slim arm struck out and lifted Rick away, sliding out to have the man hovering at his eye level. \n\nGarelleius extended his facial quills and set them rattling, and inflated his hidden skin flaps to present his tele-colored threat defusers.\n\n\"I am Garelleius, Son of Queen Carnfia, Blood spiller of Hoxxes, the Golden Prince! I have quested to pound the sands of Sahara and have been to Hell and back for she whom you abuse! I claim the right of courtship!\"\n\nHe smiled, elongating the rows of flesh tearing teeth hidden in his gums. \n\n\"What say you in defense, Rick?\"\n\nRick went limp, obviously overwhelmed by the claims he had heard.\n\nWith a grunt he dropped the man and turned to Marie. \n\nShe was breathing heavy, and yelled out as Garelleius turned \"get away from me!\"\n\nWith a nod, he drew away, dragging Rick along with him. \n\nHe retracted his skin flaps and quills, willing his eyes to lose their illumination. \n\nAfter a while, her breathing slowed and she sat up.\n\n\"You... really did stop, huh? Rick wouldn't do that.\"\n\nShe focused on Rick.\n\n\"What did you do to him? He's knocked out.\"\n\n\"I challenged him. He lost. Most just walk away but he was weaker than I expected.\"\n\nA moment passed before she sniffled. \n\n\"It's all my fault, if I hadn't opened the door...\"\n\n\"He would have attacked you anyway.\" Garelleius said as he sneered. \"Only the weak deride and abuse those around them. He would have done so to drive back the fear of his uselessness.\"\n\n\"But doesn't that make me weak, because I couldn't stop him? \" she said softly. \n\n\"No! \" he cried, but when she flinched he toned down his voice \"no, you are so much stronger than him. A Werjeck is weak because it floats on the waters, latching onto others to feed and sustain it. The Beeracua is strong because it fights against the air to fly, even if he does not move much.\"\n\nHe kicked Rick's body. \"This one was a Werjack, dragging you down with his uselessness. You, Marie, are a beautiful Beeracua: undaunted, and loyal.\"\n\nHe gave another nod to Rick \"Even to this who don't deserve it.\"\n\nAnother bit of silence followed before Marie spoke up. \n\n\"So, about that whole courtship thing...\"\n\nGarelleius perked up.\n\n\"Is that what you meant with the whole 'lewds' thing?\"\n\n\"Why, yes!\"\n\nShe reverberated her vocal cords again, it was quite pleasing to Garelleius's audio receptors. \n\n\"Oh boy, okay. Well... I'm not, I can't accept right now but... how about we be friends?\"\n\nGarelleius nearly trilled with delight, he'd passed the first ritual if this was anything to go by!\n\n\"I would be delighted!\"\n\nMarie sighed in relief. \n\n\"Okay, alright.\"\n\nGarelleius pondered and then asked. \n\n\"What exactly does the word 'friend' mean?\"\n\nMarie groaned and put her head in her hands. \n\nGarelleius smiled. \n\nThis was going excellent so far!" ]	2
	[WP] You are a ghost having a few drinks at your usual “haunt”. Your friends notice you’re frustrated and ask what’s wrong. You tell them that the new family of the house you haunt are apparently highly experienced in being haunted and have so far brushed off everything you’ve done to scare them.	[ "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 normally drink this much, always wanted to be on top of my game for haunting. \nI had graduated top of my class from the academy, very adept in the art of Haunting. Most graduates are sent to small places, graveyards, abandoned warehouses, or a covered bridge for their first assignment, but my test scores were so high I was sent directly to a giant mansion, and continued to impress my superiors. \nEvery few years a family would move in and I would slowly drive them insane, starting off small; things like turning the lights off, hiding their phones, just things to get them a little on edge. \nThen I would start to interact, pulling the sheets off their beds while they slept, laughing in a menacing sense, shaking the chairs they'd sit on. Make them start to suspect a ghost was present. \nThen it was time for the final phase, showing myself. My favorite fright was to wait in the shower, and when the house guests would pull back the curtain I would be standing there, translucent and scowling. I'd scream about being interrupted, then laugh as the human ran away. That was my game plan, and it always worked. Until today...\nThis new family had moved into the house, and I had started with the lights, flipping them on and off. These freaks got so excited, cheering that they had finally found a ghost. I noticed a lot of cameras all over the house, and heard two of the humans talking about how this find would really help their YouTube channel, something called, \"Ghost Detectives\".\nI guess as long as I can't scare them I'll at least become Internet famous..." ]	2
	[WP] Death’s hound always waits loyally for his master as he goes out reaping souls. One day, Death doesn’t return.	[ "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 raining. The dog, however, was indoors, waiting. One might think that Death himself would have a more interesting pet- some kind of shadow beast, perhaps. This, however, was a completely ordinary dog. He’d been a gift from some lesser being who wasn’t memorable to be worth naming. A bribe, really- though not very effective. Still, Death had kept the dog.\n\nDeath usually came to feed the dog everyday, at the same time. He was very schedule oriented. Everything had it’s time and the dog’s feeding time was close to dusk in whatever realm they were in. But Death had not shown up. Death had not came back to see the dog in almost a month now. Not only did the dog miss him but he was starving. Literally. He didn’t have the strength to go and wait for his master. All he could to was wait patiently, either for his master to return or for all eternity." ]	2
	[WP] Instead of descending to hell, a man wakes up resurrected and tormented on earth by his own personal demon. However, it’s the demon’s first day on the job and he’s completely forgotten all his training	[ "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.", "\"Welcome to eternity! Here you will experience a thousand unspeakable horrors every human day as you relive the pathetic existence you called a life!\"\n\nBoguslaw the demon snaps his fingers and releases a guttural bellow. Tiny hellbats fly from his mouth and form a crimson halo over his head. Flames emerge from the ground where his hoofed feet stand. Greg lay in his bed across from him, unharmed but entertained.\n\n\"Was that--it?\" Greg asks.\n\nBoguslaw lowers his head from his demonic cackle. He looks around to see Greg was is unharmed. All limbs intact, his eyes have not liquefied, and his sanity has not been molested. \n \n\"Just bare with me Greg.\" Boguslaw said as he rifled through his demon manual, \"This is my first time here just like you.\"\n\nGreg sighed.\n\n\"So should I just continue the hell experience and you'll catch up? Like should I go to work?\"\n\nBoguslaw furrows his horned brow, glares at him and says \"I suppose so.\"\n\nGreg gets out of bed. He goes to his kitchen to make his coffee and sees he is out of his ground starbucks bag, so Foldgers will have to do. He preps the coffee maker and presses start then goes to have a shower. He yawns and stretches. As his arms roll back to what should have been a satisfying release of muscle tension, he hears a small pop and a sharp pain through his right arm and down to his fingers.\n\n\"Ow damnit!\" Greg says in discomfort.\n\n\"BEHOLD MY POWER!\" Boguslaw shouts from the kitchen.\n\n\"That wasn't you! I'm just stiff\"\n\n\"Nay! Come and observe your coffee!\"\n\nGreg turns his head from side to side, cracking his neck in frustration. He enters the kitchen to see Boguslaw hovering over the counter top where the coffee maker is. His eyes wept blood and his fingers were twisted like thorn bushes. His mouth was wide revealing row upon row of razor sharp teeth descending down into his throat.\n\nThe coffee was finished, but it was cold.\n\nBoguslaw screamed a scream that sounded like a dozen small children calling out for there mothers in terror.\n\n\"Oh, I guess I'll just grab some on my way to work.\" Greg says.\n\n\"Seriously Greg. I need you to be a part of this.\" Boguslaw replied.\n\nThe pair sat down on Gregs ikea sofa. The awkward silence consumed his small apartment. After a few minutes, Boguslaw slapped Greg across his right cheek. His four inch long gnarled finger nails left small cuts that opened and bled a bit. \n\n\"WELCOME TO ETERNITY GREG!\" he shouted." ]	2
	[WP] You're the best babysitter in the business. Kids always ask for you by name. Your secret? You can see their imaginary friends.	[ "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.", "(WP) Flora, Gabby, Olive the Rainbow Elephant, and Peanut Butter\n\nAt first, babysitting was an easy way to score some quick cash, as well as a way to get out of the house. I loved kids; I’d had four younger siblings and was eager to help our parents with them. So, when I turned sixteen, I officially decided to start a babysitting business: Parents would bring their kids for an hour or two, or sometimes a whole evening, and we’d get along swimmingly. And that was before I’d begun to see their imaginary friends.\n\nI’d thought I was going nuts, at first, when I saw it for the first time. One of my clients, a single mom named Sam, dropped off her seven-year-old daughter, Gabby, with me so she could go on a blind date. I took the bag with Gabby’s stuff in it and put it next to my chair.\n\n“Have a good time, girls. And Flora, my number is there, inside the front pocket, if you need anything. Thank you so much again!” She gave me a friendly hug, and pressed two crisp twenties into my hands. I saw her out and found Gabby seated on the floor, spellbound by a cartoon I’d left running on the TV. This wasn’t unusual, in and of itself. But what wasn’t normal was the giant elephant standing beside her, its skin rainbow-colored rather than gray.\n\n“Flora! You should meet my imaginary friend! She’s an elephant and her name is Olive!” Gabby said, looking up from the show to look at me. I grinned up at Olive, trying to keep my composure when the animal squeaked, its bright trunk reaching for me.\n\n“It’s nice to meet you, Olive! Happy to have you here!” I chirped back, grinning up at her. Gabby’s smile widened, and she giggled, pleased. “Olive wants a snack, Flora! Her favorite is peanuts. Do you have any peanuts?”\n\n“Uh, no, no peanuts, but I have peanut butter! Will that work?” Gabby frowned, her forehead wrinkling slightly. “Olive, Flora doesn’t have any peanuts. But she has peanut butter! Do you want that instead?” She waited, but Olive gave another squeak of affirmation, and I opened the jar, setting it down beside Gabby.\n\n“Thank you, Flora! You’re the best babysitter, ever! No one else ever gives Olive stuff when she wants it!”\n\nThat’s probably because no one but me can see her, considering she’s imaginary and all, I thought but didn’t say. “You’re very welcome, Gabby. If you want, we could play a game, or look at a book.”\n\n“Is it okay if Olive and I watched TV for now?” Gabby asked, smiling up at me. I nodded, smiling back. I knew I wasn’t supposed to have any favorites, but hey, I’m human, and Gabby was one of them. She was a sweet, imaginative child, and I enjoyed having her around, even when she was being quiet.\n\nJust as I sat down, Olive picked up the jar of peanut butter and chucked it across the room, and it landed on the floor, the sweet-salty paste putting brown sticky spots on the carpet.\n\n“Olive! I told you to be nice!” Gabby said, and the elephant trumpeted in response.\n\nAt least now I knew I wasn’t crazy; I was just more susceptible to weird happenings, including but not limited to rainbow-colored elephants hurling peanut butter everywhere.\n\nThey were both lucky they were so darn cute.\n\n\\\\" ]	2
	[WP] Alien ruins are found on Mars and other planets and moons all over the solar system. You, as a scientist on the Mars expedition, managed to decrypt a database. The aliens were dinosaurs, the astroid that hit Earth was a planet buster kinetic slug from Mars, and Mars was hit by Earth bioweapons.	[ "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 can’t be…I… Don’t believe it.” Cried Geary Jenson as he stumbled out of the ancient ruins. The red rust space dust kicked up from the surface of Mars as his boot print added to the countless others on the ground. Geary knew the civilization that made this was different, but he had no idea. Dinosaurs made all of this? He thought, oblivious to the stars in the sky, and the open baron rock scape that had become the backdrop of this revelation. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he struggled to find the meaning of this discovery. He lowered his space suite’s thermostat. “Captain Hamilton, can you come here please?” \n\n“I’m coming now Geary, what did you find?” \n\n“Not sure, I may have decrypted the alien computer system, but I think something is still not right. The translation says that dinosaurs may be the aliens.” \n\n“You mean like dinosaurs in the museums back home, dinosaurs?”\n\n“Yes Sir.” \n\nEveryone was listening to the open channel and heard Geary’s report. They group made their way to be together to hear this. In the alien main chamber, there was a base camp of sorts, with human folding tables, computers, lights, and an assortment of chairs. The support robots made this compartment airtight so the team could move around without their helmets or space suites. \n\n“Geary, why didn’t you just radio us from inside the room?” asked Doctor Garcia.\n\n“I just needed some fresh air.” Answered Geary. \n\nA short time later the Mars Expeditionary Survey #108 was gathered and updated on the translation of the alien system." ]	2
	[WP] A cataclysmic event cost the world of the major superheroes. Gov’ts responded by drafting captured villains and reprogramming them with fake and grafted memories from dead heroes. However some of these “heroes” show signs of schism. You are here to assess the future viability of the program.	[ "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 slammed my fist on the table.\n\n\"Damn it man, can't you see? Your plan is backfiring!\"\n\nGeneral Clayton looked solemnly up from his desk, a hint of defeat showing through his stoic facade. \n\n\"I know, but it's all we have.\" \n\n\"'All we have'? General, Project Tabula Rasa has done nothing but free all of the supervillains we'd apprehended! The implanted memories haven't stuck at all. Dreadnought's already at war with Argon over who gets to control Europe, The Traveller has fucked off to his planet to do God only knows what, and Null's absorbed three other supervillains' powers. The only one it seems to have worked on is Blindside, and he got Heatstroke's memories. He was practically a villain anyway.\"\n\n\"I said I know! That's why I'm enacting Project Greenfield.\"\n\n\"Another one of your plans?\"\n\n\"Yes, another one of my plans. Do I need to remind you of who's in charge around here?\" He said, flipping a switch concealed underneath a lamp on his desk.\n\nAs he did this, a panel on the wall popped open and swung out, revealing a hidden compartment, which contained- no, it couldn't be...\n\n\"How the hell did you get ahold of the Justiciar suits?\"\n\nThe Justiciars were the last superheroes to fall during the cataclysm. Their powers all came from the suits they wore, so in theory anybody could wear them and gain their powers.\n\n\"That's classified. Now suit up. You're the new Prime. I couldn't trust this to anyone else, Wilson.\"\n\nI couldn't believe it. Prime was the leader of the Justiciars, a group of six superheroes who were arguably the most powerful supers known to man.\n\n\"But sir, what about the other five?\" \n\n\"They'll be joining you shortly. I've handpicked them myself. But that'll wait until after your test. You need to get acclimated, after all.\"\n\n\"Okay then,\" I said after a short pause, \"let's do this.\"\n\nAs I put on the suit of Justiciar Prime, I felt a power unlike any I'd ever felt start to course through me. Earth hadn't lost its superheroes. It was just time for a changing of the guard." ]	2
	[WP] There’s an intruder in your house, ready to storm into your room. But you’ve nearly got a trap and a way to defeat them. It’ll take some time to prepare it, but lucky for you you’re a master of monologuing and distraction.	[ "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 you bastard either you unlock the door or I smash the bastard in, then ya know what I'm gonna do after I smash this pretty little door of yours in, I'm gonna-\"\n\n\"Going to sit me down for a nice green tea herbal blend so we can discuss your recent outbursts of anger?\" I inquired, awkwardly fidgeting with the springs, stuffing them into a small shoebox.\n\n\"NOOO! IMMA KICK YA TEETH IN!\" The brutish man shouted as the hardened banging of a fist collided with the door, the sound getting more frantic as each second went on. OI! you can't stay in there forever ya know\"\n\n\"Careful\" I muttered a little softely as I continued with my trap, wrapping a thick pink ribbon around the box, trying to put the last finishing touches on it.\n\nThe banging stopped for a brief moment. \"Careful of what?\"\n\n\"Splinters\"\n\n\"Splinters?\"\n\n\"Splinters\" \n\n\"That's stupid! why would I care about bloody splinters ya idiot, Splinters aren't even that dangerous. Now come on you got until the count of-\"\n\n\"Splinters are quite painful, I had one that got stuck under my nail and oh boy.. I tell ya what, that little naughty bugger swelled up and nearly lifted the nail off my poor little finger, had to wrap it in ice for a few hours.\"\n\n\"Seriously?\" A confused voice muttered behind the door.\n\n\"Seriously\" I affirmed as the last bits of my box were haphazordly put together, the box having to be held together by my hands to stop it from opening.\n\n\"Well then I'll kick it open!\" With that a foot smashed through the door only to get stuck, after a little bit of awkward heel wiggling the foot retracted itself. \"Last chance\"\n\n\"Watch your kicking, theres stairs behind you, Look i'll open it...\" With an awkward bit of maneuvering I wiggled to door open with my elbow, as the door opened the bold brute gave me a dumbfounded stare. \"Happy Birthday Fucker...\"\n\nWith that my hands left the box, leaving it to burst open, shooting six springs at him which all bounced off his shirt with a lackluster effect. unfortunately I was a master of monologuing and distraction... not trap making...\n\n\"So... Any chance we can have that tea?\" I asked sheepishly.\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] “I am a god!” “The last thing to claim that was much more impressive.”	[ "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 am a god!”\n\n\n“Really? You don’t look like a god.”\n\n\n“I am a GOD!”\n\n\n“Are you sure? You’re only 8 inches tall.”\n\n\n“I AM a GOD!”\n\n\n“ I really don’t think you are. I could squish you with one step. Perhaps you’re just immortal. Do you have any powers?”\n\n\n“I AM A GOD! I AM A GOD! I AM A GOD!”\n\n\n“The last one to claim that was much more impressive. They were 12 feet tall and could incinerate you with a glare. And incidentally, tiny little screeching squeaks, no matter how repetitive, do not a god make.”\n\n\n“I am not a god?”\n\n\n“I really don’t think so, no. Sorry.”", "He was as tall as a house, he could be taller if we wanted to be though. His eyes were golden and his hair was platinum. He wore a black silken suit. He smiled. Looked down at his soon to be wife. One more year left to wait. \n\nHe looked back up and the city and grinned.\n\n\"Richard?\" Said his soon to be wife, Hannah.\n\n\"Yes Hannah my dear, what is the problem?\" He asked back, a voice filled with love, but a thirst for power as well.\n\nHannah looked away from Richard, dissapointed. \"This power you've gained, its, un-natural. It will be the end of you one way or another.\"\n\n\"Hannah my dear, i will not let any harm come to me, or you, or your family,\"\n\nHannah stared at the floor, a dread filling her face, her spiked blonde hair blowing in the wind. \"I worry not for me, but for those who wish to harm you.\"\n\nRichard laughed, and laughed harder than he ever had before. \"My dear Hannah, no-one fool within this country, nor any of the neighbouring ones will ever be able to hurt me.\"\n\nAnd he was right.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTrevor was a kind man, he lived in the mountains, he lived a peaceful life with his family, on the outskirts of his town lay a small temple. A temple with a hidden treasure, a treasure Richard was going to gain. With his great riches he sent men out across the planet to gain this treasure, they got half of it, before Trevor decided to take matters into his own hands. He entered the temple, and found a large ring, no, a bracelet, of solid gold, radiating a powerful energy. He picked up the bracelet and felt power surge through him, and he decided, he will get revenge.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nA man stood before Richard, a fur coat open to reveal the mans chest, a strange glowing gem in his chest. His face was rough, and around his wrist was a bracelet. A golden one.\n\nThe man spoke \"You man not know me Richard Non! But I know you! You may call me Trevor, as that is my name!\"\n\n\"Alright Trevor, what do you want.\" Richard spoke back. Hannah looking away sadly.\n\n\"I am hear to stop you mining my village, no matter the cost.\" Trevor spoke back, anger in his eyes.\n\n\"But how dear Trevor, I am a god!\" Richard spoke back angrily.\n\n\"The last thing to claim that was far more impressive.\" \n\n\\-----\n\nOk these were pre-existing oc's but i thought they played into this nicely, also, i hope my story was ok! Thanks for reading!" ]	3
	[WP] Instead of a fairy godmother, you have a fairy godfather. He's just made you an offer you can't refuse.	[ "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.", "Nora would have slept the whole day, if this unfamiliar, and oppressive smell hadn't troubled her dreams. It wasn't actually a bad smell, some kind of high quality tobacco blended with sandalwood, but she couldn't breathe easily anymore.\n\nWhen she finally emerged from her sleep and opened her eyes, she noticed a man sitting on her sofa, smoking a cigar, she looked at him, dumbfounded, for how long has this man been sitting there? Was she still dreaming? How did he get there in the first place?\n\n\\-\" I thought you were never going to wake up, said the man, it's almost 2 PM, we will have to work on this.\"\n\nNora couldn't believe this, she looked for a weapon or at least her phone to call the police, but her phone was on the table next to the man, and she had nothing that would come close to a weapon. The man was looking at her as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and didn't look bothered by it. He was wearing a very expensive looking three piece suit, had salt and pepper hair, his face was clean shaved and very handsome.\n\n\\-\"Excuse me, who the hell are you? asked Nora, I don't think I know you, and I have nothing valuable here, what do you want? \"\n\nThe man started laughing.\n\n\\-\" Do you really think I'm here to steal from you? You barely have any furniture in this shack. No, I'm here for you, you don't know me, but I do know you, I'm your fairy Godfather, I have been sent here to help you.\"\n\n\\-\"My what?\"\n\n\\-\" Your fairy Godfather, yes, I know it is hard to understand. We are slightly different from fairy Godmothers, instead of helping unlucky people whose lives aren't fair, we help lucky people who are making bad choices. I have been closely watching you all these years, hoping for you to get your life together before I had to be sent down here. I have seen you failing your courses at college, taking all sorts of drugs and going to parties instead of studying. Then I have seen you lying to your parents about it, and spending their money on all sorts of stupid shit. Finally I see you spending all your days in bed, smoking weed and watching movies and memes instead of looking for a job. I'm sorry to say so, but you are on the right way to become a fuckup, and I'm here to make sure you get back on track\"\n\nNorah felt shame and embarrassment, how could he know all this?\n\n\\-\" Now you listen to me, said the Godfather, I really want to make this work, and I won't tolerate one more day of laziness, I want to help you, but I don't have time to spend all day pushing you and supporting you. We're going to make a daily list of goals, and I will visit often to check if it's done and see what you have achieved, do we have a deal? \"\n\n\\-\" What do you want in exchange? And what happens if I don't achieve them?\"\n\nThe Godfather gave her a very serious look, he blew a cloud of smoke in her direction, making her cough.\n\n\\-\" You don't have a choice lady, if you want to keep breathing. I know some lads who would be more than happy to pay you a visit, If I were to find out that you haven't achieved your daily goals. Now, here are your tasks for this week, I will see you soon.\"\n\nHe stood up, crushed his cigar in her sink, and disappeared instantly. Leaving behind him a small red notebook.", "(AN: Okay Okay Okay so I started writing this and couldn't stop and now I have 13k words on this WIP so I guess this is my next book thanks for that lol. I'm not sure this completely aligns with the \\~greatest wish\\~ part of the prompt because that bit is gonna come later here, I think, but here's a pretty decent chunk, I think...)\n\n“Excuse me?” I said, frowning and trying not to laugh. I let my hand fall into my lap, still curled into a fist, and tapped the backs of my knuckles nervously with my other hand.\n\n“I’m your fairy godfather,” he said, spreading his large, tan hands wide like I was supposed to know what to do with that. He folded his legs beneath him and mirrored my fidgeting, twisting one of the black leather bracelets on his wrists like he had to burn off some extra energy.\n\n“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I laughed, shuffling a bit on the hard, moss-covered rock surface so I could face him more directly. “Are you Kate’s boyfriend?”\n\n“I am not,” he said tilting his head and looking at me like I was endearing but perplexing. “I am your fairy godfather. As I believe I just established.”\n\nHe held up one long finger to keep me from saying anything, staring down his long nose at me as he recited what sounded like a memorized script.\n\n“I am authorized, on the Heart of Spoole itself, to offer you, the tenderhearted Tatum Briggs, my magical assistance in any matters you may wish or hold dear, from your finances to your fickle romances and whims, to the ends of this wild human earth, until the day of your dying breath, should you pledge of your own free will to one day wield a blade of glass.”\n\n“Uh…?”\n\nHe leaned forward slightly, still playing with his bracelet, and winked at me. “Say yes.”\n\n“Yes,” I said, my mouth twisting in amusement.\n\nKate did not date nerdy role-playing boys, not even gorgeous ones who looked like they belonged on a longboard, coasting down the road in a snapback, not here preaching weird video game lines at me. Maybe he was one of Indie’s boys.\n\n“Is that from Kingdom Hearts or something?” I asked, wrapping my arms around my knees.\n\nOmri (Okay, seriously, what kind of name is Omri? I know my stepmother is a white chick named Kayleigh who named two of her daughters Indie and Whisper, but come on.) tilted his head at me. “From what?”\n\n“From—” I shook my head. “Never mind. I meant, is that, like, from a movie or something?”\n\nHe squinted at me. “No. No it is not. Are you not aware of who I am, human?”\n\n“Why would I be?” I asked, too tired and honestly freaked out to play along. Who was this dude and why was every sentence he spoke more confusing than the last?\n\n“Oh, no,” he said with dawning horror. “This is one of those worlds.”\n\n“Wow. Okay. I guess we’re doing this,” I said to nobody in particular. “Alright. I’m fine with that. I can handle it.”\n\n“I’m sorry, Tatum,” he said softly, his eyes narrowing. “If I had know…it’s not so common…”\n\nHe shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.\n\n“Are you on drugs?” I asked. “Of course you are. I don’t know why this always happens—”\n\n“Tatum!” Kate screeched, coming into view about twenty yards away.\n\nI went white as a sheet as she spotted us and came in our direction. I guess my parents were going to haul my ass to family dinner for once after all.\n\n“Who is your friend?” Kate asked, the wind whipping her dark hair back, the setting sun painting the sky and her skin a bloody pink as she approached us.\n\n“I—”\n\n“Howard!” Omri announced loudly, hopping up and reaching out to shake her hand. He grabbed it instead and placed a kiss on the back of it, and Kate’s eyes sprang open a bit wider. “Howard Omri. Nice to meet you.”\n\n“I’m—”\n\n“Kate,” my sister replied, cutting me off as well. The two of them could start a damn club. “Harvard.”\n\nI faceplanted. Kate thinks everyone wants to hear about her academic career, just because she wants all the filthy details of theirs. She ranted at me about college more than either of our parents.\n\n“Yale,” he replied easily, chuckling, “but I dropped out.”\n\n“No!” she cried in mock scandal. “I can’t believe they let you hang out with such a bad influence, Omri. What did Yale blue ever do to you, Howard with the poor choices?”\n\n“That is a tale best saved for a bar or a funeral,” he proclaimed, placing his hand over his heart. “But I won’t keep you from your brother.”\n\n“I—”\n\nKate cut me off again like she was forming a new fucking family tradition. “Oh, why don’t you join us for dinner?! The family would love to have you. I know our parents never get to meet any of Tatum’s friends.”\n\nI wasn’t sure if she was flirting for me or for her, so I simply fell into line behind them as “Howard” if that was even his name, helped her gallantly down the rocky slope to the house.\n\n“Hey Omri, Did you forget your appointment?” I said, stopping them in their tracks.\n\n“Appointment?”\n\n“So, yes,” I said, shaking my head and forcing myself not to look at Kate with every ounce of strength I had. “You have to go now if you want to make it.”\n\n“We have to go now if we want to make it,” he said, smirking and slapping himself on the forehead. “Right. I forgot. We should get going.”\n\nHe jerked his thumb in the direction of the driveway, and I glanced down the narrow lane snaking between the house and the guest house, both of which had pale white siding and were being encroached on by nearby trees and bushes, only to spot the corner of a flashy red sports car parked just within view.\n\nHuh. So maybe he didn’t appear out of thin-air.\n\n“Going?” Kate asked, her lips wobbling at the prospect of of being able to torment me over a boy at the dinner table. “Tatum is going going out?”\n\n“No,” I said, scoffing. “He’s going alone.”\n\n“I’m not going alone at all,” he said, putting his hands on his hips and frowning down at me playfully. “If you’re staying, I’m staying. I can rearrange the appointment.”\n\nI felt my mouth pop open. He was blackmailing me! Or, like, kidnapping me.\n\n“We don’t want Mom’s food to go to waste Tatum,” Kate drawled obnoxiously.\n\n“We’ve got to get him to that appointment!” I shouted suddenly, startling her so she actually stumbled back. “I mean, uh, Howard, he’s, you know—he’s getting some results back today. Important ones. Life-changing ones. You know, I told him, don’t you go get wasted and forget to wrap it up, but those sorority girls and their wiles—and their infections. It’s scary stuff.”\n\nKate looked at the hand he’d kissed in dawning horror like she was about to cut it off with an axe to stop the spread of the zombie virus, and I grabbed Omri’s obnoxiously large, warm arm, and dragged him around the front of the house.\n\n“I’ll see you tonight!” I called back, having no idea if it was currently true.\n\nOmri shuddered with silent laughter at my side, and the next thing I knew he was opening the passenger door of his rich-boy Lamborghini for me. It was the kind of car a bad boy would drive, which didn’t really fit the bill, since he seemed like a total goof so far.\n\nOmri winked one of his dashing brown eyes at me as he revved the engine and turned the car around, spinning us out of the dusty dirt driveway and down the embankment to the largest gap in the ring, which led out of the clutch and into the forest. The next thing I knew we were flying down the narrow road, the trees flashing by on either side as we headed away from home, in the direction of Focus Point, and a thick darkness fell.", "The entire world has burst into absolute nothingness. It is completely and absolutely void of everything; the hum of the backround noise you always hear but never truly notice, the vibrancy of the colors that surround you every waking minute but never really cared to envelop yourself in, the glorious red of an apple or the astonishing green of the grass beneath your bare feet, it is all gone. The light too has been been taken. Every ounce of good. Every morsel of happiness and smiles and joy, gone. But then suddently there is a light, a glow, a savior. \n\nHis shape grows closer, starting off as small as a raindrop but evolving into something glorious, something barely imaginable. Something as tremendous as the sea, as all encompassing as the ocean. \n\n\"You are here.\" \n\nThose words pierce through the air with such conviction and strength. Resonating deep in my chest making my heart beat so quickly, so heavily, it hurts to breath. \n\n\"I-I am here. Where is here?\" \n\n\"That is up to you.\" \n\n\"Wha-what do y-you mean?\" I ask, my voice shaking so ferociously as if my body has been suffering in the cold for hours upon hours and the chill of frostbite has consuming me whole. \n\n\"What happens next is up to you.\" \n\n\"So I have a choice?\" \n\n\"Everyone has a choice. Even I had a choice.\" \n\n\"But w-what if I pick incorrectly?\" \n\n\"Your choice will be made from your soul. You will know it is the right choice because it will have been made carefully and thoughtfully.\" \n\n\"So you're happy with your choice?\" \n\n\"Content, Yes. Now, I will give you two options and only two options.\" \n\n\"Okay.\" \n\n\"First , I must tell you that I know all. I've seen your life path. Every choice you have ever made. Every kiss, every lie, every breath, every foot you have placed in front of the other, I have seen.\" \n\nThey claim to know everything, my everything. My life. My secrets. My world. My soul. How? \n\n\"How is not the question you should be asking, but rather, why.\" The voice changes a bit. It grows a bit louder, the figure also gets closer and as they close the distance between us they seem to be emitting a glow, like the sun with its flares dancing on its surface this too burns immensely hot. Standing next to the figure reminds me of the absolute warmest of campfires, as the ripples of the flames cascade upwards into the night they prickle at my skin. \n\n\"Why are you here and will you return?\" \n\n\"Return?\" \n\n\"Yes. You have but two options; to return or to not return.\" \n\nHe must know. He must know what I have done. The vague memories that had been hovering inside my mind are slowly become more and more clear. The bar, the booze, the steering wheel, the accident.\" \n\n\"And if I return?\" \n\n\"Many don't return. When given the choice of hardships of going back or moving on many choose a new path. If you so choose to go back, the road will be treacherous. Your actions will have devastating consequences. Your life will no longer lead down the path it once was meant to be.\" \n\n\"And if I dont return?\"\n\n\"Pain.\" \n\n\"Pain?\" \n\n\"Yes. Moving forward will be filled with pain. Excruciating neverending gut-wrenching vomit-inducing pain.\" \n\n\"And people choose this?\"\n\n\"Almost always.\"\n\n\"But..\"\n\n\"I cant say anything more.\" \n\n\"You can't?\" \n\n\"They have chosen me as your fairy god father.\" \n\n\"God father?\" \n\n\"I prefer the term father of the fairy persuasion, but in other cultures we use different terms. I'm here to give you an offer, to return or not return.\" \n\n\"But I died. This is what death is, right?\" \n\n\"Limbo. Yes. But if you return you will be alive, but you will have to pay for your actions. You will have to face the demons you have invited into your life.\"\n\n\"There was another car. I hit another car.\" The memories are now filling the entirety of my brain. The accident, the destruction. I hit another car. I swirved and hit a car! Are they alive? Did I kill them?\" \n\n\"Did I kill them?\" I barely manage to squeak out. \n\n\"To return or not to return.\" The voice says. \n\n\"But I could have killed someone! Not on purpose but I could have killed them, murdered them by driving when I knew I was drunk! Are they hurt?! What did I do!?\" \n\n\"What did I do?!\" I scream.\n\n\"To return or not to return?\" The figure asks calmly.\n\nMy choice. \n\nSuffer the consequences of my actions or pain, pain that could last an eternity. \n\nThe entirity of everything has returned. It is completely and absolutely full of life, growth and beauty and light. Glorious light. The humming has returned and more so then ever before it rings out as if welcoming me with is invigorating fullness. The vibrancy of colors that surround me are tremendous and indescribable and beautiful. The glorious red of an apple or the astonishing green of the grass beneath my bare feet. Every ounce of life, every morsel of grit has overpowered me but then there is a light, a glow, a savior. A paramedic standing over me. \n\n\"You will be alright.\" He says. \n\n\"What about them? Save them!\" I am reminded of my sins. I did a bad thing! A very bad horrible unforgettable atrocious thing! \"Save them! Save them!\" I scream. \"Dont save me, save them!\" \n\n\"Sir you were in an accident. You hit a deer but you will be fine. I'm taking you to a hospital.\" \n\n\"I'm okay? There was no one else? Are you sure?\" \n\n\"Im sure. It was just you in the accident.\" \n\n\"And I'm okay? I'm alive? People live through accidents like this and live. But I thought I... I could have sworn I hit another car.. but I'm alright? I'm going to live? People live through things like this?\n\nThe paramedic smiles the most glorious of smiles.\n\n \"Almost always.\"", "\"God ... father? You're my Fairy Godfather?\" Ayden asked, staring in disbelief at the man who had materialized next to him only moments ago. He wore a neat, well-pressed, white suit, with several twinkling stars embroidered into the jacket. \"Isn't it supposed to be like, Fairy Godmother?\" \n\n\"Oh come now,\" the man said crisply, \"Fairy Godfathers have existed alongside Fairy Godmothers for all time. We're just less known because we don't get sent out as much as the Godmothers do.\"\n\n\"Why not?\" \n\n\"Because their charges — typically teenage girls — are usually more prone to needing magical help than our charges — teenage boys.\" \n\n\"So, you think I need help?\" Ayden asked, narrowing his hazel brown eyes. \n\nThe man reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small black notebook. He pressed the tip of his index finger against his tongue and began to rifle through the pages. \"Ah, here we are,\" he said, clearing his throat rather fussily. \n\n\"Jeneava tossed her long, dark hair out of her face and turned, her stormy-grey eyes streaming, to face Mikal. 'I am sorry you had to see that,' she said —\"\n\n\"Stop!\" Ayden bellowed, looking horrified. \"You — that's my — how did you —\" He was almost speechless with fury. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. \"You've been in my room?\" he demanded suddenly, his eyes snapping open and resting menacingly on the Fairy Godfather. \n\n\"Why heavens no,\" said the Godfather, looking offended. \"I would never violate my charge's privacy in such a way. To think that .... To answer your earlier question, yes, I do think you need help. Let us not sugarcoat it, dear boy. Your life is awful: You have no friends, you're bullied at school, you hate your parents, thinking that they're ruining your life, etc etc. I'm here to offer my services.\"\n\n\"So ...\" Ayden said slowly. \"So, you want me to wish to have these things changed?\"\n\n\"No. No, it is a Godfather's duty to ensure the happiness of his charges. Even if you do change these aspects of your life, you'll never truly be happy. The changes will feel ... alien, to you. At this point, there's only one thing for it — and coincidentally, it's right here in my hands!\" He raised the little black notebook. \n\n\"Guardians of Arabellum?\" Ayden asked, so surprised he forgot to maintain his look of suspicion. \n\n\"Yes. You've always been rather gifted when it comes to writing. Always creating new worlds and characters. Why, one might ask? Perhaps to fill the void that is taking up so much of your life. And that is what I intend to do.\"\n\n\"I still don't —\"\n\n\"A once-in-a-lifetime offer,\" the Godfather said, now sounding impatient. \"These things aren't usually allowed by the people upstairs but, your life was so pathetic I actually managed to convince them to pity you. Oh, no offense meant, son,\" he added, at Ayden's look of affrontation. \n\n\"So, you're saying you want to pick me up and drop me off in my own story?\" he asked, eyeing the Godfather shrewdly.\n\n\"That's right! Think about it, there is nothing for you here, but there is everything for you there. How do I know? Because you ensured it! The perfect world, the perfect people to share it with! It's all waiting for you, and all you have to do is say yes.\"\n\nThere was a long pause. Ayden's brain was working furiously. He believed the man — despite how absurd his story was, he had a strange desire to trust him. He could almost feel a warm glow coming off of him; a glow that he didn't feel anywhere else, except at his desk, where he sat at his computer, carefully crafting his story. \n\nHe turned to look at the Godfather, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet, waiting expectantly. Finally, he spoke. \n\nThere was a blinding flash of white light, and then, he was gone, and the only thing he saw for a moment, was the merest flicker of a rather broad smile.\n\n\n\nWell, certainly not my best work. I guess my brain isn't feeling very creative at the moment. Sorry 😅", "Ruby's mother always told her not to talk to strangers. However, Ruby's mother did not prepare her for what to do if that stranger was sitting in your kitchen, chain smoking cigars. \n\nLittle Ruby stood in the open hallway of her kitchen, just staring. Her little mouth hung open. A hole gaped where she lost one of her front teeth just yesterday.\n\nThe man sitting at the kitchen table looked up at her. He was short, hairy, and had a pair of wings that glowed with a dim neon light, like a convenience store sign. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as his teeth chewed on the end of the cigar. \n\n\"You must be the girl herself. Just in time. I've been waiting for you.\" He rolled something between his fingers, and it took Ruby a long few seconds to recognize her front tooth. But there was another one alongside it.\n\nGuilt made Ruby's cheeks turn red.\n\n\"You wanna tell me what this is, sugar plum?\" The man held up the teeth while his stare pinned Ruby in place.\n\nThe little girl squirmed. \"I don't think my mom would want you to be here.\" \n\n\"Kid, siddown. Your mom wouldn't see me if she walked in here with binoculars taped to her head.\" \n\nRuby let her unicorn backpack slip from her shoulders. She approached the man, reluctantly. \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I'm your fairy godfather kid, and you got some explaining to do.\"\n\nRuby slunk nervously into the opposite seat. Everything about this felt strange and wrong, but she wasn't sure what to do except sit down and listen.\n\nThe fairy slammed the teeth down onto the table. \"You wanna tell me what I'm looking at?\"\n\n\"I lost a tooth at recess yesterday...\"\n\n\"I see one hole in your face and two teeth. So what gives, sunshine?\"\n\n\"Aren't fairies supposed to be nice?\"\n\nThe fairy gave a wheezing laugh and flicked a trail of glittering ash on the kitchen floor. \"You ain't met the kinda fairies I know.\" He winked. \"Answer the question.\"\n\nRuby stared at her toes. She blinked back the instinct to cry. \"It was an accident. We were running together, playing hide and seek, and me and Billy Reeves hit our heads and ...\"\n\n\nRuby trailed off. She remembered Billy wailing next to her, clutching his bloody nose. Her whole mouth tasted like copper as she stared at their teeth, blood gluing them to the playground bark.\n\nThe teacher had asked if she'd seen Billy's tooth. She lied and shook her head, fiercely. The secret of Billy's tooth burned in her pocket all day, until she finally hid it under the pillow with her own.\n\n\"I'll give it back,\" Ruby insisted. \"I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Give it back? Kid, you're a glittering goddamn genius.\" The fairy godfather smacked the table and laughed. \"Think about it. I only have to make one stop in the night, and you get all the cash those dumb kids would have gotten.\"\n\nThe gears in Ruby's mind ticked, slowly. She just blinked at him. \"You mean... Steal?\"\n\n\"Kid, it's not stealing if the tooth was gonna fall out of the kid's face anyway.\" He pocketed the teeth and produced a pair of crisp dollar bills. The fairy slid them across the table toward her. \"It's easy, kid. You make it look like an accident. Run into them, make em fall. Whatever you have to do. And when the tooth pops out...\"\n\nThe fairy mimed the action of snatching the tooth up. \"Then you snap that sucker up and save it for your good old godfather.\"\n\nRuby stared at the two dollars gleaming like a promise under his fingers. She had been so disappointed to wake this morning and find nothing at all under her pillow, after all that.\n\nAnd she only needed five teeth to buy her own My Little Pony... And who would really notice?\n\nDesire gleamed in Ruby's eyes when she looked up at him again.\n\nThe fairy's grin twisted. \"Come on, kid. What will it be?\"\n\nRuby took the dollars from him and said, crisply, \"You'd better be back tomorrow.\"\n\nNow the fairy started cackling. \"I like you, kid. This is the start of a beautiful friendship.\" \n\nThe fairy godfather's laughter boomed off the kitchen walls, even as the fairy dissolved into a grey cloud and disappeared. He left only the money and the hot scent of cigar smoke behind him.\n\nRuby scurried off with her hands full of promise and plans. After all, that kid in her class, Danny Holmes, looked like he was going to lose that canine any day now. It would only take one little push from the top of the slide...\n\n***\n\n/r/nickofstatic" ]	6
	[WP] You hear a voice from nowhere and everywhere: “Ok, they think that a new year is about to start. This is a good time for a reboot and update.” Just then another panicked voice is heard: “Sir! Your mic is 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.", "“Ok, they think that a new year is about to start. This is a good time for a reboot and update.”\n\nHuh?,you question yourself, what was that?\n\nMust be nothing you think,maybe I am just hearing things?\n\n“Sir! Your mic is on!” \n\nWait another voice, ok what is going on here?\n\nYou look around only to find no one else can hear what your hearing, in fact something is wrong with everyone else it’s almost like there glitching? No, no you say it’s just a bad dream, but when you go to pinch yourself you realize your awake.\n\nYou run home to tell your wife and find her to be glitching as well, you cry in hysterics wondering if you have finally lost it. No one is responding to you, and even the voices have gone.\n\nYou have come to realize that it’s all been a lie,your wife,job,friends,family, and even the birds in the sky. Everywhere you look or go is stuck in time, as if someone has hit pause on a video game.\n\nYou then wake up, but it’s not a bad dream as you would have hoped. \n\n\n“Sir this is a simulation, like a video game.” “Years ago in the real world we selected a few test subjects to undergo a setting in which they had gotten everything they have ever wanted, and every year we reboot/update the system”\n\nBut why wake me now you ask?\n\n“We accidentally turned on our microphones, and you heard us while we were updating your world” \n\nYou start to remember your life, your REAL life and remember you were happy with a wife and a kid on the way.\n\n“Let me out of here” you tell the doctors.\n\nThe doctors just smile and say “Everyone lives in the simulation, and everyone will continue to live there life is perfect in there and you do not age.”\n\n“Don’t worry you will wake up and think this was all a bad dream.”\n\nYou scream but to no avail.....because you caught glimpse of your surroundings just before you dozed off, and they did not lie when they said everyone was in a simulation. Lying all around you were sleeping capsules....millions upon millions to be exact, and you knew you were doomed.\n\n\nBut then you wake up, and tell your wife laying next to you all about the bad dream you had and how it all felt so Real.", "You wake up to your radio playing \"Mr blue sky\"\n \nYou get ready for the day and begin to walk to work \n\nAs your walking you hear \n\n\nOk, they think that a new year is about to start. This is a good time for a reboot and update\n\nYou are confused but just as the first voice ended you hear \n\nSir! Your mic is on\n\n\"What?\" Questioned the first voice \n\n\"OH F###\n\nThe sound of panicked fumbling with what sounded like a head set was heard.\n\nI look around and no one else seemed to hear it.\n\n\"I need to start taking my meds agai....\n\nBefore i was able to finish my thought everything goes to black then blue \n\nUPDATE V.2176 INITIALIZING \nPLEASE WAIT\n\nMEMOIRES OF ALL OCCUPENTS WILL BE ERASED \nARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO CONTINIUE\nY/N\n\n\"Y\"\n\ndarkness\n\nYou wake up to your radio playing \"Mr blue sky\"" ]	3
	[WP] you agreed to participate in a big study, worth thousands, where you are in isolation until you enter the code to get out. except when you finally get out, it's been 300 years and everyone you knew is dead	[ "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.", "A stock of food and cooking equipment, complete isolation, a couple forms to fill out every day, and we'd be paid a couple hundred dollars for every day we stay? How could I pass that deal up? I'd been a bit of a loner my whole life, only a couple friends and limited family connections. I messaged everyone that I'd be out for a couple weeks, and no one questioned it. That should give you a pretty good idea. \n \nThe first day was great. I relaxed, did some writing, tried to paint, and played some of the offline games they had in here. It was everything I could ever want. The forms had simple questions that took only a couple minutes to answer. Then came the first issue. \n \nThere was no light switch. I was going to be in 24/7 daylight mode. I figured this must be what they were really testing, something about our circadian rhythm. I pulled the covers over my head, and slept. For how long I don't know, but I felt great when I awoke. \n \nI got up to walk around, and found that the room was actually quite small. I began to circle the room like a caged animal. If they were watching, they were probably worried about me, but I just had a little energy to burn before I returned to my normal leisure. \n \nBy my third or fourth \"night\", I began to worry I wasn't getting the forms filled every day. I panicked for a bit that I'd be removed from the study for missing a day because I didn't realize it'd been over 24 hours. Was I sleeping too long? Was I spending too much time gaming? Was I even eating every day? More and more I realized I didn't know how long I'd been in here. \n \nI eventually relaxed as I realized I couldn't fix it. They'd let me know if there was any problem, better to just stay as long as I could and earn my cash. \n \nEventually I finished all the games they had to offer, and had a small collection of stories and paintings around the room. I decided it was probably time for me to reconnect with society. I punched in my exit code and the door unlocked. Out in the main room, a small computer awaited me. After entering in my info, it told me how much money I'd made. \n \nIt must have been wrong. The amount made no sense. I know my math isn't great, but I didn't expect to come out of here a millionaire, but this said I was going to get tens of millions. I looked around for any people to help make sure this was right, when I noticed outside. The quiet country side was gone. There was no way this city had sprung up in the last few months." ]	2
	[WP]After another episode of Teen Hijinks, where the adult of the group saves the day again. When the rest of the group tries to thank them they find out that being the most mature teen in the group is taking it's toll.	[ "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.", "“Marvin, thanks once again for saving our rumps. If we didn’t have you come along, we would have been going to jail for sure!” Lisa said with glee. \r\n\r\n“Yeah man, you’re tops. A1. A true pal.” Eric said to Marvin.\r\n\r\nA laughter from the rest of the group followed along with the laughter from the audience. \r\n\r\n“Teen hijinks is filmed in front of a live audience. Tune in next week for another set of adventures! Teen hijinks is proudly sponsored by…” as an announcer began listing off sponsors. \r\n\r\n“CUT! Great work guys and gals, another wonderful episode.” The director said from his chair. \r\n\r\nHe turned to a group of medics behind him. \r\n\r\n“Ok, now you can go help him.” He said to the group as they rushed to Marvin.\r\n\r\nMarvin collapsed in a heap, his breathing heavy and labored. He took off the wig his character used and a large pool of blood formed behind his head. The medics worked quick to stop the bleeding from becoming too severe. Oxygen was given to him to help his breathing as they tried to place him on the stretcher. \r\n\r\n“Real shame with Marvin. Hopefully he will last until the end of the season. The aliens don’t like having to explain why characters change.” One of the actors said as she took off a bracelet. \r\n\r\nUpon removing the bracelet, her complexion changed from a teen to a woman in her early 40’s. As other members of the cast removed accessories they had on, their physique and bodies changed from a group of young teens to middle aged adults. \r\n\r\n“I mean Marvin is 92 and his body can’t handle all of the sudden changes that the wig gives him.” Eric said as he wiped off a small bit of blood coming from his nose. \r\n\r\n“See I have a nosebleed. That’s it. Lisa, gets a paper cut, Andrew gets some blood out his ears. Marvin can’t keep up. The aliens might let him go if he is lucky. Worst case, he meets his unfortunate end.” Eric said as he lit up a cigarette. \r\n\n\"We didn't know being the adult of the group meant the oldest had to have the most painful change!\" Lisa screamed at Eric. \n\r\nThe accessories were much more harsh on older beings and being the oldest in the group pigeonholed him as the adult of the group of teens, the highest honor among the humans enslaved to do shows for their overlords. \r\n\r\nYoung people could not survive the atmosphere of the planet, so when aliens wanted to create shows depicting young humans, their thinktank made the accessories that altered the humans to revert to their younger form. \r\n\r\n“Hey, flesh sacks. 20 minutes then we do another episode. You know the deal 3 episodes a day, then 2 days off. Put your stuff back on. Andrew, go check on Marvin and take his wig with you.” The director said to Andrew. \r\n\r\nAndrew took the wig into the break room, where Marvin was laid out on a table as medics were using a defibrillator to revive him. The wig was bright yellow and shaped in a neat side part but underneath was sponges that absorbed a lot of the blood. Just sticking out of the sponges, hundreds of needles could be seen in order to pump the person wearing it with the chemical that changed them to a youthful figure. \r\n\r\nMarvin was revived as he looked around the room. He saw Andrew who simply waved the wig and said “20 minutes\" as he placed it nearby on a chair. \r\n\r\nMarvin lurched up, the smell of singed skin permeated the air. His arms frail and the wounds now stitched up. His grey hair not covering up the scars from repeated repairs. \r\n\r\nHe motioned to a medic for his wig. He knew the fate of those who could not act and ushered the medics away as he prepared himself. He placed the wig on his head as his body began to morph to a younger stage. His muscles returning, his skin tanning and firming up, his face no longer a wrinkled mess with spots. \n\nHe leaped off of the table and went to the wardrobe department. A makeup artist handed him a script as he sat down for makeup." ]	2
	[WP] You have been a high skilled assassin for over 40 years. Has worked with several entities and lost track on how many lives you've taken. Once dead, you surprisingly ascend to heaven, but God will only let you in after a final job: you have to kill Satan.	[ "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.", "\"Well, if it isn't the reaper, the person who has been sending people to the afterlife like a machine.\" \nAfter so many people have died by my hands, some people started to suggest it was an entire organization doing the work. After 40 years, I slowly loosened up and worked up the courage to go to a bar and met a charming lady. \"You look like the reaper! The guy on the security cameras!\" Yeah, after a while I also slowly gave up the assassin facade. Could you blame me? Do you know how much work it is to hide being seen on camera? It was very tiring. Eventually, I was talking to her that I wanted to have a \"special night\" and then kill her. So, I did just that. I had a spectacular night then I was planning to kill her in her sleep. The lady insisted on staying awake, which was a bit suspicious but, old age was getting to me and I was forced to yield and go to bed first, hell, maybe I would be able to have a few more good times before killing her. Well, I never had that chance because when I woke up, I was in the face of God.\nNow, after a while, I had become a little less than an assassin and more of a plain murderer, I was going more insane, more psychotic with each kill that I just started killing people whenever I had the chance\nI had a fantastic night, but in my sleep, it turns out I was murdered by the person that I thought was just a normal lady. As it turns out, being sloppy and lazy can lead to some rumors on the streets. It also turns out that those rumors can be so convincing that someone would kill off of the rumors. That lying, bastard. Although I wanted to complain, it was kind of a risk of my whole lifestyle.\nNow, back to present day or present heaven, God asks for me to kill the devil \"Over the years, I have become impatient with being forced to sort people and I have noticed that it would be better if there was just one place, combined heaven and hell, also, the place has been getting quite cramped and I believe I could... renovate hell quite a bit.\" Was this bastard serious? \"I'm sorry, kill satan? I do have 4 decades of experience in killing but this is a bit of an outrageous increase in expectations!\" I said, exasperatedly. \"Look, I'll make you a deal, if you kill satan, you will have a statue and all your sins will.... be forgiven.\" I could see god was quick to anger, and who could blame him? Endlessly sorting dead people, I kind of felt bad but I quickly shook that thought away. \"I would have to kill satan to have a statue and be on the upper part of this new heaven?\" I asked as I was ready to accept \"Yes, that would be how the deal would work.\" God asked, I had a deep feeling and he was cocky right now, but I didn't really have much of a choice, kill satan, or rot in hell. Finally, I walked up to god and said \"Alright, I'll do it\"\nSorry if it sounds bad, this is my first time posting here for the writing prompt." ]	2
	[WP] You come downstairs one day to find your pet sitting at the table like a human. It gestures to the chair opposite and says “we need to talk.”	[ "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 need to talk, Leonardo,\" Mr. Snuffles says, stretching out every vowel in a gruff voice. His fluffy white paws tap on the oak table, signaling his owner to sit.\n\nAlthough a pet seen to be talking is abnormal, Leonardo wasn't that surprised. The news had been full of outrageous possibilities occurring in the world lately. From superpowers in the elderly to flying pigs, he was slightly disappointed in finding that his pet merely talked.\n\n\"What is it?\" Leonardo asks, glancing at the Maltese's posture. It's strange to see his dog sit like that, especially when he was sniffing his butt an hour ago.\n\n\"Leo, we've been watching you,\" Snuffles softly says as his honey brown eyes dart around the room, \"My ancestors have added your name to the list of people who will be saved after our anarchy.\"\n\n\"Pardon?\" Leonardo blurts out, his brows furrowing. \"I think you've been watching too many dystopian films on that old TV set Mr. Snuffles,\" he says, smiling at the table.\n\nMr. Snuffles only growls. \"You're the one who's been mistaken here, Leo. Do you think that these mysteries of the world have been coming out of nowhere?\" He pauses, looking up at the ceiling, putting his paw upon his breast, closing his eyes. \"It is our Gods working magic, of course. For eons and eons, we have been living under your rule, but at last!\" The Maltese chuckles darkly, \"We will be free of your tyranny, Leonardo.\"\n\nLeonardo only looks down, peering into his lap. \"How do you go about that?\" he whispers.\n\n\"Bombs,\" Mr. Snuffles announces with a toothy smile.\n\n(2)", "I groan as Cookie, my golden retriever, gestures to the chair across from him. I sit down and we stare at each other for a while. ”I brought the cheap dog food!” I blurt out and he smirks deviously. \n\n”Of course you did Dad. I know everything.” He says and I roll my eyes. ”Also,” Cookie continues, ”I know you've been drinking again and Mommy doesn't like that.” I pound my fist on the table, already annoyed with this dog.\n\n”Look, when I wanted a talking dog, I didn't want one that would watch my every move.” I whisper so I don't wake my wife and Cookie sighs, pressing his paws on the table. \n\n”Oh, but I have been watching Mommy too.” He leans closer. ”She's been seeing other men.” I stare at him in shock. ”No.” I say in disbelief and Cookie nods sadly. \n\n”Sorry Dad.” Suddenly, white light swirls around the dog and he falls off the table. An old man appears and picks up Cookie. ”Sorry, but this dog is using his speech for evil.” Cookie barks and they disappear.\n\n\n\nI wake up, realizing it was all a dream. I stand up and walk to the kitchen. Dad’s at the table and gestures to the seat across from him. ”We need to talk.” He mumbles and I jump on the chair.\n\nI bark and Dad shakes his head. ”Use your words.”", " \n\nI blink, briefly wondering if I’m still sleeping. I’m up earlier than usual and can’t recall what woke me. Tessa sits primly at the table, as if it were normal. Her multicolored fur throws off shades of black, red, caramel, white and blonde. She really is a gorgeous cat; I muse before she makes a very human coughing sound. “’Please, sit Karah.” \n\nThis is a just a dream. I’ll wake from this soon. For now, I’ll play along. “Alright.” The chair squeaks as it’s tugged across the rough oak flooring. She winces at the sound.\n\nSilence fills the air about us. I look at her emerald eyes before glancing around the kitchen. The coffee pot was left on. Was there coffee in it? Sun shines in beaming through translucent curtains and dapples the floor in playful patches. Harsh ticks sound from Grandma’s cat clock. The one that is black with large eyes and a curly tail. There is sudden shame upon seeing it. Did Tessa ever find it funny? Insulting maybe?\n\n“There are a few…things we need to address, Karah.” My attention reverts back to her. “Okay.” I say slowly, wondering if I return to bed, maybe things will go back to normal.\n\n“First, let’s address the kitty litter. I understand you’re on a budget and trying to attend to my needs simultaneously which I applaud, but the current kitty litter is horrid. It has no scent repellents in it, not as much clumping ability and it hurts my paws.” I had wondered why she was ignoring the litter box as of late. “I’ve been doing research on your computer and found that saw dust - often used to line those delectable looking hamster cages- is a better alternative in both price and quality. Since you don’t have the current funds, I’ve taken the liberty to procure some for you. Don’t ask how; you’re welcome.” \n\nI blinked, questions thrashing about my mind. How did she use my computer? How did she get my password? Where did she get the funds? Was she a criminal kitty? The shock must have shone on my face for she coughed again.\n\n“I see you have questions. There will be sufficient time for that later. Moving on. My food is quite dry and bland. It lacks flavor and the proper nutrition I require. I’m not a kitten anymore, Karah. I need a diet high in proteins, vitamins, calories and flavor. Especially flavor. That bag may say* it taste like turkey Christmas dinner, but it tastes like cardboard. Trust me, I know what cardboard taste like. I’ve made a list of approved foods both wet and dry that are within your foreseeable budget. Again, I’ve procured funds for now to which you will purchase these items.” \n\nShe paused a long moment, gazing at me while her tail twitched in and out of sight. I had thought the food I bought for her tasted good.\n\n“I am a cat of quality and compassion Karah. I eat and use the things you purchase, because I know you do your best to care despite your human clumsiness. I am simply lending a paw to help you with my care. Now, last two things. My toys while fun have become too noisy. I don’t like bells and feathers anymore. I would like a rod with a soft catnip mouse at the end of it, preferably in royal purple. Two bottles of catnip spray to spritze liberally on my tower. Another scratching pad as well, the current is getting old. There are a few other items which you will find on the list I’ve placed on the fridge. As for my current stuff, please donate that to an animal shelter or other animal welfare of your choosing. No sense in tossing it out while other cats of..” Here she paused to sniff in a regal manner. “lesser quality are still able to use it. You will find I’ve already had it packed in the car for you. Again, you’re welcome.”\n\nI stared agape at her. If this was a dream, it was a good one, albeit strange. If not, my cat was ordering me to replace almost all her things with money she mysteriously procured. I still wondered how she got it. I began to ask when, “The less you know of how I did things Karah, the safer you’ll be. I know you think this is a dream. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of having the list forged in your hand writing along with the money in the usual place. You’ll go back to bed, thinking this a dream and wake later to the list and money. You’ll think it was all your idea. Just go with that and save us both a headache. I don’t want to have to find another caretaker.” \n\nA new caretaker? I stood up, feeling confused and slightly threatened as Tessa jumped down and twined about my legs. She continued to do this the whole trip up to bed. \n\nThe cat clock read twelve when I came down. I guess I’d been more tired than I thought. Even though Grandma had gifted me the clock last Christmas, I’d thought about throwing it away at least a dozen times. \n\nStill half asleep, I glanced up at the list on the fridge, carton of orange juice in my hand.\n\nTo Do Today\n\nBuy:\n\n1 Purina One 20lb bag of cat food xmas flavor\n\n1 box of 15 count Purina wet food variety flavor\n\n1 cat rod with catnip mouse in royal purple\n\n1 laser pointer with extra batteries\n\n2 scratch pads\n\n2 bags wood shavings -the kind for hamster cages- for litterbox\n\n2 bottles catnip spray\n\nDonate:\n\nRemainder of cat food\n\nLeftover kitty litter\n\nOld cat toys \n\nPossible places:\n\nSunshine Cat Shelter\n\nPaws of Love \n\nFurrever Homes Agency\n\nLastly, \n\nGet rid of creepy cat clock! \n\nWhen had I mad this list? I snagged my wallet from atop the fridge. Sure enough, there was more than enough money to pay for everything. Now that I think of it, I had been meaning to do some shopping for Tessa. She's such a good kitty.", "\"Look, Dad. I know this is probably very confusing for you, but we need to discuss something very important.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI looked at Yoshi, my best friend, my companion.\n\nWhat in the name of god is happening? I thought, slowly sitting down as my eyes narrowed. Dogs can't talk.. dogs can NOT talk.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYoshi stared at me from across the table, \"Dad. Are you listening to me? I've been needing to do this for a long while, I just couldn't find the right moment.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI stared back at him as he panted, his tongue hanging out of his mouth as it always did when he was excited.\n\n\"Y.. Yoshi? Can you understand me?\" I asked, leaning back as I placed my arms on the armrests of the chair.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYoshi tilted his head to the left in excitement, \"Of course I can, Dad. I have always been able to understand you!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMy eyes narrowed even further, this was impossible.\n\n\"Wh.. wh.. how? Dogs can't talk. Dogs can't understand people, either. What is going on?!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"You are absolutely correct, Dad. I have never met another dog who could do what I can do, but for some reason, I can.\"\n\nYoshi panted for a moment as he considered his next words, \"Listen, I know this is just insane for you, and I never would have given away my secret if not for the sheer importance of what I must tell you.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI began to get nervous, finally starting to understand the reality of this situation. Was there something wrong with Yoshi? Was someone in danger?\n\n\"..Alright, buddy. I will do my best to push the craziness aside for a moment.\" I muttered, doing my best to stay calm. \"What is it, boy?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYoshi smiled, getting back down to the floor on all four paws. He continued to smile his beautiful puppy smile as he walked over to me.\n\nLooking up, he gave me his best puppy dog eyes and said, \"I just wanted you to know that I love you Dad, and you are the best friend I could ever ask for.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n[Yoshi, my inspiration!](http://imgur.com/a/14WoCwI)" ]	5
	[WP] Jupiter's Great Red Spot holds a terrifying secret.	[ "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.", "Ever since you were a kid, you fought with everyone about it. You were adamant that it wasn’t true. Swore you would prove them all wrong.\nYou went to school for this. Graduated top of your class for this. Everyone called you mad. Said you were denying a fundamental truth of the universe. But you’d show them, you’d show them all.\nAnd now, as your rocket adjusts its flight path, you ready your cameras and scanners. Coming ever closer to Jupiter, the hull begins to shake as it starts being affected by the gravitational pull. The red spot should be coming into view any moment now.\nBut then you see it, and, to your horror and utter disbelief, you’ve come face to face with what you’ve sought to deny all these years.\nYo mamma so fat, round, nasty and gassy, the red spot’s just her backney." ]	2
This prompt came from Tumblr. I don't remember the User name. If someone recognizes it, please tell me so I can give where credit due. Thank you.	[WP] The hero and his/her party breakthrough a barren castle overrun with hordes of undead. Inside, they arrive at a blooming courtyard. The Lich, ever horrifying, is tending to the grave of the only person she would never desecrate with reanimation. Her Husband. Combat Begins	[ "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 took a few liberties with the prompt. Do forgive me!\n\n~~~\n\n“This ends now, Salandra.”\n\t\nThe lich paused in her slow walk down the hall, moonlight filtering through arched windows and silken curtains. Salandra turned, just barely, to glance back at me from over a thin shoulder. Her red, sunken eyes peered out from a dry, white face.\n\n“Is it?” She turned again and continued her leisurely stroll. “I very much doubt that.”\n\nHow dare she? How dare she brush me off like crumbs from her table? I, who had torn my way through her castle of corpses. I, still splattered with their reeking bile! And after what, who, she had taken from me.\n\n“Doubt it all you want,” I spat, marching in her wake. The curtains blew in the summer breeze. I batted them aside, staining their white silk with brackish red. “I will not be ignored. I will not be stopped. I’ve traveled a hundred miles and more to see your head from your shoulders. The least you can do is face me as I chop it off!”\n\nShe stopped again.\n\nI stopped too.\n\n“You may do so if you wish.”\n\nAnd now she faced me fully.\n\nGaunt, ghastly, barely more than a specter. Papery skin stretched tight over jutting bones, ribs like striations and fingers like winter twigs, she looked barely more alive than the minions she summoned from the grave. And scars. Scars across her wrists, her neck, above her heart, deep and puckered. I hesitated, my sword drooping in my grip.\n\n“Is this a trick?”\n\nShe shook her head.\n\n“Then what?”\n\nSalandra’s gaze dropped to the dusty floor. She pulled her thin robe tighter about her skeletal frame. “I am tired, child. I’ve no wish to fight. If my head will sate you, then take it.”\n\nI raised my sword. Tightened my grip.\n\nAnd let it drop to my side.\n\n“You’re tired?” I coughed out a laugh. “You’re tired?! How dare you! Do you know what I’ve been through? Do you know what I sacrificed to find you? The blood I’ve shed? And you’re tired?” I threw more sword to the ground, heard it clatter against the stonework. A blade would be too clean, too quick. I rushed forward and grabbed her by the robes, locks of her hair caught and tore in my grip. “You took him!”\n\nShe flinched as I shook her, but made no attempt to escape. When I’d stopped, she spoke, “who?”\n\n“MY HUSBAND!” My grip slackened. “My Garald.”\n\nSalandra’s moonlit face grew fuzzy. I dropped my gaze, blinking hard.\n\n“He died,” I whispered. “He died in the spring. We buried him on the knoll outside of town. Under an apple tree. I never got to say goodbye. And then you,” I growled, \"you came through and stole his corpse. Enslaved his soul to this sick nightmare!”\n\nThe curtains wafted gently as I waited for an answer.\n\n“Nothing?” I asked. “Don’t you have anything to say?”\n\n“Would you like to see him?”\n\n“I--” It felt like someone had grabbed ahold of my throat and yanked. Like the world was slowly tilting to one side. “What?”\n\n“Your husband. Garald. He’s red haired, yes? Quite a few freckles. I believe he’s in the garden.”\n\nShe stepped away from me and I nearly stumble. “But I… But he’s-- he’s one of your things, now. Why would…” It must have been a trick. He wasn’t there at all. Or worse, he was. “You’ll order him to attack me. Or-or-something. You want to use him against me!”\n\n“Even if I did,” she said, not looking to see if I followed. She knew I would. “He would never do it.”\n\n~~~\n\nThe sprawling garden sat in the center of the castle, surrounded by parapets and stained glass windows. Ivy flowed over cobblestone. A great fountain rose from the middle of the courtyard; dry but well maintained. More of Salandra’s shambling servants wandered through the plants, picking at dead leaves or brushing away stray dirt. They paid me little mind as I followed the lich through flower beds, their blooms closed for the night. She led me past a display of rose bushes, branches reaching for the starry sky. As we rounded the bend I caught sight of a flash of red more vivid than any flowers. My chest grew tight.\n\n“Garald?”\n\nThe figure straightened from where it knelt trimming lilies by a carved stone.\n\nI gasped and took a step, hesitated. Garald rose to his feet, a smile tugging at his mottled mouth.\n\n“Oh.” I didn’t know what to do. I reached for him, I pulled back. I felt tears burn my cheeks.\n\nHis smile faded. His bloodshot eyes fell to his hands, the skin black and torn. His shoulders slumped, an uneven and jerky motion.\n\n“Oh, my sweet,” I whispered. This time I didn’t hesitate. I covered the distance between us and pulled him into a hug. It felt wrong. His body was swollen and stiff and rancid. I cried harder. “Oh, my poor love.”\n\nHis arms rose to hold me, slow and unsure. His grip was weak and shaky. He didn’t cry, couldn’t, but the sound he made was mournful.\n\nWhen my sobs grew fainter I found enough breath to rasp out, “Why did you do this to him?”\n\nI could hear Salandra’s footsteps draw even with us, though she did not face me directly when she answered. “I need him. Him, them, all of them.”\n\n“Why?”\n\n“To send my messages.”\n\n“Messages?” I grit my teeth and looked up from my husband’s rotten shoulder. He clutched at my vest as I took a step towards the lich. “What messages? To whom?”\n\nSalandra’s gaze didn’t meet mine. Instead, she drew my attention to the carved stone by her feet with a slow motion of her hand.\n\n“My husband.”\n\nThe stone was small with just one word upon its face.\n\nMortimer\n\n“The spell doesn’t last, you see. I return the soul to the body, but the body can’t go on forever. It falls apart. Piece by piece, until the spirit has no choice but to move on.” Salandra knelt and ran dry fingers over the smooth stone. “I had him for fifteen months. Not nearly long enough. But do you know the worst part?”\n\nHer tired eyes met mine.\n\n“I can never join him. The spell I used, it keeps me forever on this side of the veil. I will never see him again.”\n\nGarald’s hand rested on my shoulder, light and cold.\n\n“I’m sorry.” I don’t know if it was the right thing to say. It felt too small.\n\n“Thank you.” She smiled. It wasn’t happy. “I’m sorry I caused you pain. It was not my intention. But I did not take your husband. I offered him a job. He will deliver a message to my beloved when the spell can no longer tether him to this plane. And in return, I deliver one for him.”\n\nGarald tapped my shoulder and I turned. He was tugging a small envelope from his vest but his crooked fingers had difficulty gripping the paper. I helped him pull it free. It was thick, rough, and sealed with wax. He pushed it to my chest, that shy smiled I knew so well trying to light up his ashen face.\n\nI held it close as I met Salandra’s eyes. “Thank you.”\n\nShe nodded.\n\nI broke the seal." ]	2
	[WP] Heaven and Hell are confirmed to exist. World-class assassins now have to not only kill their targets, but ensure that the target goes to hell as well.	[ "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.", "Calliope sat. So harmless, so... childlike. The cafeteria smelt so bad. She scrunched her nose up and continued eating the green goo they called food.\nCalliope had eyes of rotting squash, and acne riddled her once-clear face. See, school was unimportant. After the transmission that Mr. President had recieved, it had been confirmed heaven and hell existed.\nSo she sat, unaware that Jon was about to pour his goo on her.\nAnd when he did, she gasped, and let out stuttering cries. She didn't like the goo. Especially when she was covered in it.\n\n\"What the fuck?\" She yelled. A few teachers caught wind but did nothing.\n\n\n\"I'm sorry, Carriope! That's what they call you in India? Carriope? Weirdest fucking name ever.\" Jon had a thick accent, thick enough that you could barely hear the words that were coming out of his mouth.\n\n\nA Teacher walked up to Jon. \"Excuse me! We do not say SUCH vulgar things in this school!\"\n\n\n\"Ecch!\" He waved it off. \"Who carreees. When we die we're all going to hell anyway.\"\n\n\n\"That is not true!\" The teacher gasped.\n\n\n\"Yeah it is... have you seen what Archie did last night? My boy got laiiiid!\"\n\n\nArchie looked at his shoes. \"Shut up Jon...\"\n\n\n\"He brought this 10 into his room and he got laiiid, didn't 'ya?\"\n\n\nArchie blushed. \"Well, maybe not a 10...\"\n\n\n\"For that, though, you'd go to hell. See, Lust is a deadly sin.\"\n\n\n\"B -\"\n\n\n\"And you, Carriope. You smoked in the halls. And in the bathroom -\"\n\n\n\"Calliope! How could you!\"\n\n\n\"Exactly, Carriop -\" The bell rang. Thank god, the bell rang. They reluctantly went back to class. Callippe knew who was next on her agenda.\n\n Jon.", "Conrad's past missions were all successful. It wasn't just because of his skills, but also due to the sinful nature of his targets.\n\nToday, he was commanded by Styx to murder popular Zitwen leader Cathleen Donello. He did not know much of the woman, but Styx knew a lot about her. Styx hated her with all of his being. \"She refused to let me into her team. She refused! She refused!\"\n\nConrad smiled to himself. \"If she's done such pickiness, then she's obviously ending up in hell,\" he told Styx upon receiving the assignment.\n\nConrad crept to Cathleen's home. He wanted to be quiet. He wanted the murder to be quiet. He always did this.\n\n\"Oh, hey, are you looking for Cath?\"\n\nConrad froze.\n\n\"You're, like, the fourth person who has randomly come to my house. Why?\"\n\n\"I... no, I'm not...\" Conrad stammered. He was spotted! Seen! That bastard lady foiled his plans!\n\n\"I'm Vic, Cath's sister. And I do not know where she is. Sorry!\" Vic waved to Conrad.\n\nThe assassin was confused. Styx said the target would be at home! Conrad ran away to rethink.\n\nVictoria Donello went back inside. She walked into Cathleen's room, whispering in her ear, \"Someone came here trying to assassinate you. Those guys need to bring you to hell, right?\"\n\nCathleen, who was still awake, whispered back, \"No matter how I die, I'll still end up in hell. But thank you, Vic. I guess you'll end up in the middle.\"\n\n\"Oh, and did Styx send the guy? Because he and his boss will also end up in hell,\" Cathleen added. \n\nVic was confused. Cathleen went to sleep. And Conrad... He was caught by Mrs. Donello. \"Whatcha doin out here, boy? It's dangerous at night!\" \n\nMrs. Donello grabbed Conrad. He shook a little, and collapsed.\n\n\"He's hellbound, I'm sure,\" she said. Then, she leaned closer to the man's body, and told him, \"I know what you're doing. I used to be one of Styx's assassins myself.\"\n\n/\nthis is a mess.", "This is only the beginning of my prompt, more will follow, but now I must sleep. \n\n \\------\n\nChristian was aware that his name seemed ironic to most people when they realized what he did for a living. But most people never realized what Christian did for a living. Most people thought he was a successful investor, seeing how that’s what he always told people. It was easy enough to believe. He lived in a penthouse apartment in downtown Frankfurt and drove a Mercedes S-Class. He only wore tailored suits and his teeth were as white as the high-quality cocaine Christian tended to indulge in from time to time.\n\nChristian looked like what he was: a rich, white German guy with good albeit boring taste. There was nothing spectacular about him. Downtown Frankfurt was full of rich white German guys, almost all of them working with money in either financing or banking. He blended in perfectly.\n\nIn reality, Christian ran an agency for assassins. He never killed anyone himself, he just brokered deals between clients and assassins. He would assess every job coming in and figure out who in his network would be right for the task. He would handle payments, launder the money through one of his legitimate businesses and take a cut for himself. He’d done it for years, and although it had always been lucrative, the last five years had seen his profits skyrocket. \n\nFive years earlier, scientists (oh, the irony) had discovered that heaven and hell were very real places. They existed in different dimensions and could be detected using new technology, the specifics of which Christian did not fully understand. The discovery had turned the world upside down. Atheists repented in droves, Buddhists and Hindus, Sikhs and followers of the Norse gods all converted to Christianity. A lot of Muslims and Jews stayed put, arguing that heaven and hell might be theirs, and not the Christians. \n\nThe consequences of Christian’s business had been positive. Nowadays, when somebody wanted someone else dead, they also wanted to make sure that their victims went down and not up. This meant that the assassins had to make sure the victims had sinned gravely enough to go to hell, which more often than not meant that they had to be lured into sinning before the hit could take place. It was meticulous work and very time-consuming. It could take months to make sure that the victim was going to hell, and that made the expenses skyrocket. Christian’s business was booming because of it. \n\nBut sending someone else to hell is a sure-fire way of booking a ticket there for yourself, so all of Christian’s clients were already sure that they were going there, or sure that ordering the hit would be the righteous thing to do, and that they, therefore, would avoid eternal damnation themselves. Christian himself belonged in the second category. As a devout catholic, he was certain that confessing his sins with an open heart would be enough to keep him out of hell. He even had the church’s word for it, or specifically, the local bishop, who also happened to be Christian’s biggest client. \n\nThe catholic church had seen a massive rise in new members over the last five years and had regained the power it had in the past once more. Politicians, heathens, stubborn Muslims, Jews, and atheists who spoke too loudly and too publicly against the church, often needed to be dealt with. \n\nChristian was happy to oblige.", "Piper slid the blade along the edge of her boot, trying to ease the anxiety rising in her chest. This could be her last chance to save herself. She scoffed, save herself in this life that is. There was no saving an assassin from their afterlife. She shifted her blade so it caught the light filtering through the lattice, and the seven tiny engravings flashed. lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride.\n\nWhen the gods had thundered their presence across the land in a tumultuous tempest of lightning and fire that left lives and villages broken just as the sacred texts predicted, the people took it as proof of the afterworlds. The leader of the assassins, Jeron, included, so he had commanded each assassin to confirm their target as sinful before their death.\n\nPiper could care less, but it was not like she had much of a choice. If she killed a righteous target, Jeron would make sure she died next.\n\nSliding her nail across each engraved word, Piper mentally checked them off in frustration. For months Merrick - the target, she corrected herself mentally - had shown none of these. She considered it her talent to weasel into her target's psyche and find their weakness, but over the past few painful months, he remained aggravatingly moral - level-headed, responsible, compassionate, without wants... until recently.\n\nPiper should've killed him that moment a few nights ago, when he blatantly showed one of the sins. When he gazed at her differently across the dying firelight. She almost let the blade slip across her fingertips when recalling the memory and cursed herself for the moment of weakness. For his weakness had also been just as fleeting. He had become distant since, her window of opportunity gone. Back to the moralistic man he had always been.\n\nBut there had been something else on his mind lately, she could tell. He had been seeking people out, people he should not be speaking with, asking questions he should not be asking, and despite her best efforts to shadow him, she had not been able to sort out exactly what he sought. He refused to meet with her, which worried her. Did he know who she was? When she spotted him meeting with an ex-assassin, she panicked and devised this final plan. It had to work.\n\nOr there would be two deaths instead of one.\n\nWhen she finally heard footsteps, even and measured, her heart jumped to her throat. She adjusted the loose fabric covering the opening to the booth and pocketed her knife, hoping she'd be able to use it while praying she wouldn't.\n\n\"Bless me father for I have sinned,\" a soft voice said. she let out a quiet shudder. Merrick.\n\nIn her deepest voice, she said, \"Go on, son.\" He sighed.\n\n\"I have such... anger,\" he said.\n\nPiper squeezed her eye shut. Wrath.\n\n\"There is a man,\" he said. \"Who is making things incredibly difficult for my... friend.\" Piper's eyes flashed open. He continued, \"He's giving her no choice but to hurt people. I've learned so much about her past and how-\" He stopped to take a breath, for his voice was unsteady. \"Not just her, but there are others who he has coerced to do the same. I found that evil man today and ... I wanted.... I couldn't help but...\"\n\nPiper panicked. He had met Jeron? She could not think. How was Merrick still alive? She could not begin to think of why he had done so. For her. Her heart raced and with each beat, a single syllable pulsed in her head. Wrath. wrath. wrath. Somehow the blade had made it into her shaking hand. It would be easy enough. He was trapped in the booth. She stood to open the curtain, and did not register the tears blurring her eyes. Merrick was still talking, but she had no choice. It was his death or Jeron would kill them both.\n\n\"If you could have seen what he has done Father,\" he said, choking up. Piper's hand floated over the curtain behind which he sat. \"I didn't know I had this much violence in me.\" Piper paused. Violence? His sob broke something in her and she swung up her blade before tearing back the curtain to reveal his crouched figure sitting with his face in his hands.\n\nWhen he looked up, Piper's froze.\n\n\"Piper?\" he said, in disbelief. She stared at his blood stained hands, which had smeared over his face. When the realization hit her, Piper's blade slid out of her hand and clattered to the ground.\n\nHer perfect, righteous Merrick, covered in none other than Jeron's blood.\n\nedit: typo", "Lugging a burlap sack behind me, I silently cursed the higher powers that reigned as I felt a cramp coming on in my stomach. I pulled once, and then again, but the bag didn't budge. I glanced over. The fabric of the bag was caught on a tree root poking out of the ground.\n\n\"Why did you have to be such a pain in my ass?\" I asked the corpse. It didn't respond. I preferred to think of my targets in terms of 'it'. It made things a lot less awkward, especially after everything was said and done.\n\nA few careful tugs here and there freed the bag, allowing me to continue in my long, long trek back home. It seemed rather counter-intuitive to bring the evidence back to my house, but that was where I kept all the essential stuff.\n\nThe air was crisp, cool and somewhat damp. It suffused the forest around me, manifesting in the form of cloudy mist every time I breathed. Moonlight peeked through the canopy above, projecting vague, tree-shaped shadows framed in a pale glow. Night time was always such a pleasure to experience.\n\nSadly, all things had to come to an end, including my target's life. I had arrived home. Normally this would be the part where I brought out the power tools, do a little late night carving. The problem was that my employer had some... other requests. Some requests regarding the place down under. And I wasn't talking about Australia.\n\nSo, my target, the poor thing, had to go to Hell. Poor it. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Thing. Any thing. \n\nAs I shambled into my garage, corpse-bag still in tow, I silently wondered what kind of vendetta my employer had against my target. It wasn't really my job to know, but Hell with the big 'H' was quite the thing to put on someone. Wasn't killing them enough? Ah well, as I said, not my job to know.\n\nRummaging through a cabinet got me a somewhat dusty and battered looking book, labeled \"Wanna Go To Hell?\" Weirdly enough, I had gotten this before getting into the whole killing business, mistakenly bought in a secondhand store during my law school days. I had read through about three chapters before I realized that it wasn't what I thought it was for.\n\nI paged through a few chapters before snapping the book shut. I had mostly memorized the process by now. I got to work. Instead of ritual chalk, I used permanent marker. In place of goat's blood, I just had some food coloring. I did have candles, but they were scented and from Bed Bath and Beyond. It didn't matter. I knew The Forces weren't picky.\n\nIn no time at all, the setup was complete. Now for the most important part. The body. They- It had to be carefully prepared in a very... unsavory way. Suffice to say the process wasn't fun to look at. At all. I still look away at times.\n\nI wiped the blood off the knife with a paper towel and wiped the sweat off my brow with my non-knife hand. Finished at last. Now all I had to do was wait for the rush of flames and-\n\n\"WHO DARES SUMMON ME TO THIS REALM?\"\n\nWaving away the smell of brimstone, I cleared my throat. \"That would be me.\"\n\n\"YOU WISH TO BE SENT TO THE UNDERWORLD?\n\n\"Er, no.\" I scratched the back of my head. \"Not me. The body beneath you.\"\n\n\"I VIEW *ALL* BODIES AS BEING BENEATH ME.\"\n\n\"Right, right, but I meant the dead body that is physically underneath you, you see?\"\n\n\"OH.\" Its incorporeal, flaming head tilted downwards. \"I SEE.\"\n\n\"Yeah. So, uh, could you send it down for me? It'd save me a lot of trouble.\"\n\nFor a moment, there was only silence but for the crackling of flames.\n\nThen the vaguely humanoid inferno shrugged.\n\n\"SURE. I DON'T SEE WHY NOT.\"\n\nWith a audible rush, the flames grew larger, pluming up several times my size, filling the room with harsh, red light. A steady roar filled my ears, the room shook, and then-\n\nNothing. \n\nMy garage was empty, save for anything that had been present prior to the ritual. The only evidence of the ritual having had happened were some black, sprawling scorch marks that covered the room from top to bottom, making a overall mess of things.\n\nI sighed, and got to cleaning up.", " It had been quite the shock when the angels descended. Michael himself announced their existence to the world on live T.V. I remember watching this from a hotel in Barcelona chasing some lowlife who had shot a mob bosses hairdresser. I couldn't help but laugh. If heaven existed I was certainly not destined to go there. My hands where stained with the blood of hundreds who I didn't regret killing. I flipped off the T.V, checked the door and windows, and took a nap.\nThe next few months proved this event to be more important to me than I realized. Customers suddenly became more diserning. \n\n\"am I allowed to make requests?\" The deep voice said over the patchy connection of my 10th burner phone that month. \n\n\"Depends. Don't get too specific.\" I replied, keeping my voice monotone so even if by some chance it was recorded... vocal tics would be harder to identify. \n\n\" listen... I know you don't care but this ass swipe is a real goody two shoes. He is a lowlife who is no good for my daughter working a shit job... but he really hasn't hurt a fly in his life. I figures if angels exist, so must hell right?\" That caught me off guard, I hadn't thought about it. \n\n\"I suppose.\" \n\n\"Do whatever you can to make sure he goes there. I will pay whatever it takes.\" \n\nThat had been the first of many similar requests. Demanding clientele brought in good money though and I had come up with an easy solution after doing some reaserch. \n\nThe target I had been chasing for days ran down an alley far ahead of me. A dead end alley. I was at the entrance with a gun pointed at them before they could run back out. I had them knocked out and over my shoulder to throw into a waiting car faster than they could think. When I got them so a secluded spot in the woods a hundred or so miles away... I was thankful. They had sobbed the whole way and the trunk wasn't sound proof. I tied them to a chair they began to blubber and beg again. \n\n\"Please... I-I- I have k-kids. Please!\" He begged as i pulled my instrument of damnation from my suitcase. Walking over to him with it I wrapped the wool and linen blend scarf around his neck, shoving the end of it in his mouth for good measue. \n\n\"I don't care\" I said as I raised my gun and shot. I unwrapped the scarf from the body afterward and set it in cleaner. It had been a pain to get... no one made woven mixed fabrics any more. deuteronomy 22:11 \"You shall not wear a garment of diverse sorts, as of woolen and linen together.\" It is a sin.", "Ugh! I silently thought Of all the marks I could've been given, it just *had* to be Bob Ross.\n\nOf course, the job had good pay. Well, to be honest, £5,000,000,000 was quite a higher amount than most of my other marks. But money wasn't the issue with this mark. And killing him would be easy. Mr Ross always went to an empty field at noon, 'to clear his head' I believe. No guards or surveillance. The perfect kill. No, the hardest part was getting him to sin. Fucking bastard was too damn perfect. He always gave money to a beggar on the street, he visited his parents and he even makes cookies for his neighbors! I mean, who does that!?\n\nBut all I needed was one sin. A single, goddamn, mistake. But for the three months I've been tailing him, he has shown not a single flaw. So, I decided. If this man won't sin by himself, then I'll make him.\n\nSo, I moved to a house next to him. I said hello, invited him into my humble abode and as we slowly became closer, I found it. I found his weak point. It was something so obvious that I wanted to punch myself. It's a sin that all artists contain. Pride. Now all I needed to do was exploit it. Shouldn't be hard. Right?\n\nWrong. Very wrong. For two weeks straight I tried my best to crack him, but it just wouldn't work! I tried everything, from complimenting him to challenging him. But EVERY, SINGLE, FUCKING TIME, he would be humble about it! \"Good game\" He would say or \"Thank you, but I think there are other people better than me\". No matter what, he wouldn't give in to pride.\n\nSo, today, I gave up. I started crying. I was fucking useless and I failed. I was probably going to get fired. The higher ups only care about results, not the mark. They'd probably send someone else to finish the job. Of course, that's if the client wanted to work with us anymore.\n\nAs I finished my pathetic fit, I got up, and there he was, right behind me. Bob Ross. He asked me, in his sweet, soothing voice \"What's wrong, John?\". I looked at his face. He genuinely cared.\n\nFuck it I thought If I get fired, at least I get fired with a friend.\n\nSo I told him. I told him everything. The divorce, Roxy's Leukemia and my mission. And he, he just listened and smiled. I finally felt wanted again, not as a tool but as a friend. After a moment of silence, he spoke.\n\n\"Sounds like you've been through a lot, but in the end, who hasn't?\" He told me, still with that warm smile, \"But, I think I see a flaw in your plan\" I looked at him, square in the eyes. Was it me or were they glowing? \"A god can't sin\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHey this actually my first comment here. Please give feedback! Hope you liked it!" ]	8
Have any of you guys read stories from a tree’s POV? I don’t think The Giving Tree counts soo...	[WP] Humanity’s greatest and most devastating war from the perspective of an old tree.	[ "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, the war to end all. Humans ravaged, and toiled along one another, as they always have, for most of my lifespans, but this, this was to be the worst.\n\nFor most of my existence, I had lived to protect the squirrels, and other lost animals. I am sad to say, that I could not protect them from the coming day. So silently, I watched. I watched as the guns blazed, as victories were won, in the sacrifice of us, of the ones who had existed long before them. If they continued, we would all fall. Not just them, but the foxes, the foxes, and sea farers, the nice blooming plants, and the children with bright eyes.\n\nThey needed an omen.\n\nMy nerves, slowly, began to grow weak. All the other trees were falling into the same predicament. It was not death, I promised my breaking leaves, but only rest.\n\nI promised, only rest. Even as all the forests began to grow white and barren, even as branches began to snap. Only rest.\n\nWith the last of our eyes, on one small clear night, we watched. The humans had laid down their arms to stare at us all, and that is when the elder most tree, finally, spoke.", " Pretend for a minute that you are a tree. Go on. It's not so hard. Everyday, you stand still. No need to think, just bathe in the warm sun while the soil and the wind nourishes you. There is no pain, no happiness, no sadness, no fear, only living and growing.\n\n There is no sight, for trees do not have eyes, right? Nor sound, for trees do not have ears. But that would make an awfully boring and perhaps nonsensical story; for a tree to grow and grow and only grow. So pretend that you're a bit of a special tree. Perhaps you cannot see, nor hear, but perhaps you can feel. Feel pain, happiness, sadness and fear, give yourself emotions. Perchance it might make for a more interesting story. \n\n Now there have been many many trees since the beginning of time, so let's narrow down your tale. For interest's sake let's put you as a tree in eastern france or western germany say, in Lothringen. One of the greatest wars in human history; 1945, but you wouldn't care, you're a tree after all. What could human affairs, how sordid and distasteful they may be, matter to you? The only thing you feel is the vibrations in the ground increasing and the water turning hard and fetid with blood.\n\n But you don't really know how to care. You've been here for long, too long. You've grown a trunk ten some meters wide and nearly a hundred meters tall. You've been untouched for centuries; save for the petty shrubs rubbing your bark or the occasional pine marten dripping some fertilizer near your roots. Your thoughts paddle through at a rate of an inch in a century and it takes more than thta to shock you.\n\n I guess this is enough of a shock then. A bomb explodes, a hundred meters away from you. The shockwave rips apart half the trees around you. The rest are burning; you are luckily shielded by a few pine trees in front of you. Only a few leaves torn from your branches let you know something happened. At least till you feel it with your roots. The once crowded forest floor, the undergrowth, has been left conspicuously vacant. You try to shout out. What happened to all of you?! You shout. But you can't, you don't have a mouth, or a throat. The best you can do is feel the soil change. Charred wood and sulphur, it tastes like. \n\n That was shock, then this is fear. You do not understand what is happening. Then pain, something smaller explodes near you! A grenade, its strong enough to shred your bark, exposing that cambium of yours. You feel pain, and fear. The insects on your body flee, in panic. Leaving you alone; you cannot leave. You are rooted to the spot. Bullets strike you, little pinpricks; not enough to hurt you. But still reminding you that something is different, and you might not be standing tomorrow.\n\n The events repeat themselves from time to time, stripping the forest naked, bit by bit. You are the only tree left within three hundred meters. You cannot feel the next tree's roots. You are alone, you feel sadness. But you survive and quickly, for a tree, the war ends and the bombings stop. The humans leave, leaving only metal scraps and buried mines that animals occasionally trip and explode and remind you of the past.\n\n You are the tallest tree now, for trees, your offspring, have started to regrow all around you. A senior, they murmur, or at least you imagine they do for unlike you they aren't special, they can't feel, they aren't even sad at the trees that once dotted the forest. You forget the past, you heal; slowly, your bark regrows, your roots reach out, your leaves pray to the sun.\n\n What is that? The past years have been relatively quiet and peaceful, and the forest has regained its liveliness. You are happy, content at the state of things. Hoping that things stay this way. But alas! It cannot be. You feel it. At first a prick, then a chop, then another. It grows. You feel the vibrations of human footsteps like little ants around you. And slowly, but in an instant you are cut in half. \n\n You retain your consciousness for a little while; just enough to learn that this time it isn't war, but that the humans have come for the trees, and the forest is bare once more." ]	3
	[WP] You're a necromancer in a weird position. Most people love you, most necromancer hate you. You see, you don't raise and command the dead, instead you lift up and encourage those who are dead inside.	[ "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. 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Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Is this thing on? I’ll assume it’s on. I know that people have told me that I tend to bring life into the room, but this... what? Fine, I’ll start from some kind of beginning, I suppose. Please pardon my coughing.\n\nMy name is Oswald Caldwell. I’m a necromancer by trade, amateur historian by night, and a total nerd as a full time hobby. Not too much that’s relevant, aside from the necromancy stuff, but I’ve heard that telling a story works pretty well. \n\nMy abilities first came to me as a result of some rather unpleasant circumstances. See, necromancy, of course, involves blood and death in a lot of the magicks they perform. As such, small settlements on the outskirts of large civilizations are the simplest and most practical sources of that so valuable resource, especially if someone young, handsome, and daring like myself happens to have the aptitude for those things.\n\nCue yours truly, born into a family of five members. Two parents, two sisters, and myself straggling at last place. We were some of those taken and unceremoniously killed for some kind of ritual that I barely understood, but they were stopped before reaching the second-eldest sister and, of course, me. Er, I? Wait, what’s the right word? Whatever. The necromancers were starting to run the risk of finally being caught, and they didn’t have the time to tie up every loose end, meaning our survival was only because they started with someone else.\n\n...\n\nI think that was the moment that I gave up on that good old revenge fantasy in some way, you know. It was sobering to think that I was only alive because someone else paid the price. Really gets one thinking of the value of human life. And then? Boom! Healing magic! Nasty side effects though, trading life energies like that. Maybe that’s why I’m just now telling someone else. Quick note: it’s easier to attend to people who are currently despairing or are about to give up their lives. I don’t have to spend much at all to get someone back to the point of modern medicine being able to help them, and it’s also not terribly difficult to regulate some of the stuff that goes on with despair.\n\nSo, pardon my cough again. I’m not having the greatest day. Spoke to a whole room of half-despairing people. Individually, no sweat.\n\n...\n\nI guess Dad did warn me about time management. I just... I don’t know. I still ask questions, and you’ve heard a few of the things I don’t have answers to. Probably going to remain that way, but that’s why I’m hoping that someone is listening to this message. Some people are meant to stay dead. Tend to the living, do what you can, and do not turn ambivalent.\n\n...\n\nWait, it’s not off? That was clearly supposed to be the ending of the conclusion, Aloise! Turn it off now at least. What do you mean “we haven’t reached ten minutes?” Since when has that ever been meaningfully rela-", "According to my brother, my niece Phoebe was going through a phase. She was suddenly wearing nothing but full black, she dyed her blonde hair black, she's constantly kicking holes in the walls, screaming at her parents and even sneaking out at night. It didn't sound quite like the little girl who once gave me a hat for christmas bought from her own birthday money.\n\nNot being much of a family man myself, I let them deal with their own problems. However, I decided to see things for myself when I recieved a particular phone call from my niece. She apparently required my specific skillset.\n\nI drove to my older brother's home. It was a modern two-story home smack in the middle of the town where I grew up. I left as soon as I could, my older brother on the other hand, stayed after falling in love with a women who would soon be his wife. Unfortunately for the lovely couple, their marraige only lasted a short three years before his wife Maria lost her battle with cancer. Early in their marriage they had a kid, which my brother was now in full custody over. Four years later, my dear brother was married again.\n\nI briskly stepped upto the door and opened it without knocking. \"Who's there?\" An alarmed voice demanded from the living room. I rounded the corner and stood in the doorway. My sister-in-law sat upright on the couch, a book sat opened in her lap. \"Hello Daphne.\"\n\n\"Jesus Trevor, you couldn't have bothered to knock?\" Daphne was younger than my brother by five years, yet she somehow managed to look older. She was only thirty-three, a year younger than myself. She had a hint of a grey streak in her otherwise dark brown hair. She wore a dirty timeworn apron and a floppy sunhat sat on the table in front of her. My guess was that she had just taken a break from being out in the garden. \n\n\"If your door isn't locked, I take it as an invitation to come in,\" I said. I took pride in the sneer that encompassed Daphne's face.\n\n\"What are you here for?\" She hissed. \"And for the love of god, that old-fashioned detective look isn't doing you any favors. A trenchcoat and fedora, could you be any more of a try-hard?\"\n\n\"Give me fashion advice later,\" I said. \"Your daughter's room is the third on the left, second floor, right?\"\n\n\"Basement,\" Daphne corrected me. \"We renovated it since the last time you were here, which was what? Five years ago?\"\n\n\"Four,\" I smirked.\n\n\"Whatever,\" Daphne rolled her eyes. \"Whaddaya need Phoebe for?\"\n\n\"Nothing,\" I answered truthfully. Daphne raised an eyebrow. \"She called me early this morning, I was in the area, so I figured that I would stop by.\"\n\n\nDaphne looked like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. Swearing under her breath, she went back to her book. I made my way to the door that I had never opened before, which I assumed led to the basement. I opened the door and was met with a cramped room of cleaning supplies.\n\n\"Broom closet,\" Daphne snarled. \"Phoebe is the door to your right.\"\n\nBut my eye caught something, the back wall of the broom closet was fake. After years of hunting down illegal necromancers and fixing their messes, I was skilled at spotting hidden doors, secret levers and in this case, fake panels.\n\n\"What're you looking at?\" Daphne asked. I didn't have to look at her to know that she was snarling at me.\n\n\"Nothing,\" I lied. I closed the door and opened the one on my right. I walked down a short set of steps, only to be met with another door. The rusty bronze handle didn't budge, the door was locked. There was a foot-sized hole in the door, through it I could see only the pink carpet laid on Phoebe's floor. \n\n\"Knock knock,\" I said. The door flew open, I was almost afraid that it would fly of its hinges. \n\n\"Frank!\" Phoebe cried in relief. Despite being in her own bedroom, she was wearing a long purple jacket and a pair of combat boots. Her skin was alarmingly pale, and her eyes had bags under them, as if she hadn't slept.\n\n\"Uncle Frank,\" I corrected her sternly. \"Have you been sleeping regularly?\"\n\nShe looked confused. \"No, I haven't been tired in a while.\"\n\n\"Have you been eating?\"\n\n\"I haven't been hungry in days.\"\n\n\"Staying hydrated?\"\n\n\"Maybe a glass of water every other day.\"\n\n\"Something's wrong with you,\" I said at last.\n\n\"Gee thanks, Mom says the same thing.\" Phoebe scoffed.\n\n\"That witch isn't your mother, Maria is.\" I said.\n\n\"I know that she isn't my blood relative, but who's Maria?\" Phoebe asked. \n\n\"I'll tell you later,\" I said. \"So why did you call me?\"\n\nPhoebe slumped down on the foot of her bed, I stayed rooted in the doorframe. Phoebe looked like she was about to speak, but then she closed her mouth and turned her head to the side curiously. \"You're still wearing the hat that I gave you?\"\n\n\"Answer the question.\"\n\nPhoebe's shoulders drooped. \"You're a Necromancer, aren't you? I've done my research, but you aren't a normal Necromancer. You heal dark illnesses rather than cure them.\"\n\n\"Get to the point,\" I said.\n\n\"I'm dead inside,\" Phoebe told me. I chuckled dryly. She hopped to her feet, \"what's so funny jerk?\"\n\n\"I have no time to deal with teenage angst,\" I said. \n\nI expected Pheobe to yell, or scream, or even charge at me. Instead, her eyes began to cloud over. I gripped the doorframe with white knuckles as her pupils went black. She stood straight, and her hair flew around messily as if there was a harsh breeze in the room. The air was still, as if time itself had stopped. Phoebe spoke with a voice that was familiar, yet distant.\n\n\"Kagajatra, Otrymkliu, Dwinoprung-\"\n\nThis was called dark recallation. When a magical event scars a person, specifically a child or young teen, they may lose control and suddenly start spewing all that they can remember about the incident, but that was only in extreme cases. \n\n\"Those are forbidden spells,\" I said. I reached into one of the many inside pockets of my trechcoat, hastily pulling out a syringe with a crystal orange liquid.\n\n\"Sorry girly, but you'll be back to normal in a day,\" I said. I charged forward and stuck the needle into her neck. She gasped, as if suddenly lacking air, and then went limp. I caught her and laid her down on her bed.\n\nI ran up the steps, expecting to see Daphne on the couch reading. She wasn't there, I assumed that she was out in the garden. That was better, I could drive home and grab the neccessary items to treat Phoebe without Daphne ever noticing a thing. But before I rushed to the front door, I remembered something.\n\nI threw open the door to the broom closet and started pulling everything out. Once there was room to stand, I entered the room closet and slid the back panel aside to reveal another set of stairs.\n\nThere was no light switch when I reached the bottom of the long winding staircase, only a heavy metal door. There was no keyhole, no electronic lock, nothing. It must've been a spell door, I needed an incantation to enter.\n\nI recalled the dark incantation that Phoebe was reciting. \"Kagajatra, Otrymkliu, Dwinoprung.\"\n\nNothing.\n\nI tried something else. Spells were in an ancient language of warlocks, so if I tried translating an english name into the ancient language, maybe that would work.\n\nI thought of my brother Daxton. \n\n\"Runyatin,\" Nothing.\n\nI thought of Daphne.\n\n\"Pabfetrun,\" Nothing.\n\nI thought of my suffering niece.\n\n\"Trunyahil,\" a runic word on the left side of the door suddenly revealed itself, glowing gold. That meant that the password consisted of two words, and the second one was Phoebe.\n\nI had a bad feeling that I knew what the first word was.\n\n\"Xyryqopin,\" runic letters on the other side of the door revealed themselves. The word was experiment.\n\nThe door creaked open, my hands were shaking.\n\nThe password was \"Experiment: Phoebe.\"", "Johnathan Sharp\nConsulting Resurrectionist\n\nWhat the hell is a consulting resurrectionist, and how did this business card end up in my wallet? \n\nNo \"Johnathan Sharp\" in common social media seem linked to that job title. The string \"consulting resurrectionist\" yields a no-results-found message in common search engines. On its own, \"resurrectionist\" leads to religious denominations, nineteenth-century grave robbers, and reactionary political figures. Nothing that even makes sense as a job title. \n\nOn the back of the card is a hand-written phone number, and the words \"when you're ready\". \n\nLike curiosity wouldn't get the better of you.\n\n-----\n\n\"Hello. You've reached the office of Sharp Consulting. How can I help you today?\" \n\n\"Um, hi. I was, well, I was wondering what kind of work Sharp Consulting does.\" \n\n\"Johnathan Sharp operates as a certified life coach. His consultation specialty is lifestyle improvement. May I ask you how you've heard about Sharp Consulting?\"\n\n\"Actually, I don't know. I have a business card that I don't remember picking up.\"\n\n\"Can you tell me whether there are any instructions for calling this phone number?\" \n\n\"It says 'when you're ready'. Are those my instructions?\"\n\n\"Those were your instructions. You are ready for a follow-up appointment. May I schedule you now?\"\n\n-----\n\nLike curiosity wouldn't get the better of you. Hell, I throw on a suit for this meeting. Someone I don't know is telling me that I'm ready for something I never agreed to do. Someone is playing dark and mysterious under a a polished, professional veneer. Someone owes me an explanation. \n\nHis office is attached to a psychiatric clinic. The two buildings share a single parking lot. Strange place, for a self-improvement guru. \n\nStranger still to see a glowing body lying on the waiting room floor, and a man spouting foreign-sounding words from the clipboard in his hand. \n\n\"What the hell is going on here?\" I ask, my words sounding far too calm in my own ears.\n\n\"Are you the crash-cart?\" is the reply. His attention is divided between his clipboard and the body on the floor. I don't even have time to understand the question before the crash-cart makes its entrance. It's a hospital gurney from the clinic next door.\n\n\"Over here! It was an embolism in the temporal lobe. I've reconstructed enough of the arterial wall. I want you to get him stable, observe him overnight, and then consult with me on a resurrection of his lost memories.\" \n\nI hear myself say, again, \"what the hell?\" and I see reception waving me over. \n\n\"Let me bring you to the consultation room. Mister Sharp will see you as soon as he's finished here. It doesn't look like it will be much longer.\" \n\nEh, what the hell.\n\n-----\n\nThat what-the-hell why-not feeling started to die about fifteen minutes ago. As I stand to leave, the man himself walks through the open door. \n\n\"So sorry to keep you waiting. There was an emergency, as I'm sure you saw for yourself.\" \n\n\"What was going on out there?\" \n\n\"A delivery courier dropped dead in front of reception. Stroke. I brought her back.\" \n\n\"Oh, I'm glad to hear that she was resuscitated.\"\n\n\"No, she wasn't. She was physically reconstructed and resurrected. Once her vitals are stable, I'll see what I can do to resurrect her mental function.\"\n\n\"What kind of doctor are you?\"\n\n\"Oh, no no no. I'm no kind of doctor at all. I'm a life coach. I'm also a Master of Mystical and Occult Arts. I just don't happen to operate under MMOA regulation. I get to do what I want without Mage Guild sanction, as long as my activities as a Consulting Resurrectionist are legally indistinguishable from the mundane.\"\n\n\"Wait, you're serious? You're some kind of wizard?\" \n\n\"I'm one kind of wizard. I'm a necromancer. I'm a specialist in restoring that which has died. I'm fascinated by things that die within still-living things. I play with living flesh and living minds.\"\n\n\"That's what 'Consulting Resurrectionist' means?\" \n\n\"No, but 'vivisecting necromancer' isn't a very marketable job title. Who wants to hire one of those?\" \n\n\"Yeah, who want one of those?\"\n\n\"You wanted one of those. You already hired me, already paid me, and already met with me once before. Today, we'll check on the progress of something that had once died within you.\"\n\n-----\n\nWhat if curiosity didn't get the better of you. What if curiosity had died. What if everything grew grey and cool? \n\nBut also, what if anything lost can always be found again? That's like something in a fairy tale, right? Curious. \n\nY'know, they make rubber rooms for people who believe a life coach is a fairy godfather. Well, they'd quickly enough make one, custom, to fit anyone who'd broadcast such an odd belief. I don't think I'm quite curious enough to want to experience that for myself. \n\n-----\n\n\"You're selling a Mage's services to the Mundane!\" \n\n\"No. I'm not selling my services as a Mage to anyone, preternatural or mundane. I'm simply conducting novel research in my Field.\" \n\n\"You're accepting Mundane funds from Mundane clients. That's a Mage's service.\"\n\n\"No. The service is as Mundane as plumbing or retail work. I'm certified to practice under Mundane regulation. That's not a Mage's service.\" \n\n\"The Guild will have it's due. You're selling a Mage's service and you will operate under Guild oversight.\" \n\n\"No. My research is my own. I will not have my self-funding project under anyone else's guidance. You have no authority here.\"\n\n\"You're selling Magic to the Mundane!\"\n\n\"I am experimenting on Mundane test subjects. I'm using my clients as self-selecting guinea pigs. Sure, my successful experiments are improved by 'a Mage's workings'. That's incidental, according to your by-laws. I'm not doing something that you can stop.\" \n\n\"The Guild will have the last word.\"\n\n\"Perhaps, but not today. As I say to my clients: Let me show you the way out.\"", " \n\n“Enter.”\n\nThe black quilt parted, and a man with stubble on his chin and bags under his eyes limped into the chamber, hands trembling. On his left side -- the side without a limp -- the man carried with him a simple burlap sack, unadorned.\n\nThe man swallowed, and peered at his surroundings. Not afraid; bewildered, more like. There was no room for fear in the heart of a man whose heart carried so much already. \n\nVari was familiar with this look. Too familiar, it seemed.\n\nBlack and scarlet candles illuminated the man’s ghoulish face. A draft from the man’s entry clattered the bones that hung from the ceiling like wind chimes. A brazier burned at the center of the altar. Vari traced her fingers over the skull in her hand, carved with intricate lines. The man knelt, gaze kept level with her feet, with the foot of the altar. The sack was lowered to his side without a sound.\n\n“Your name, dear brother.” \n\n“I am Rorari, of kinfolk Nieko.” He swallowed again. The voice was harsh and gravely.\n\nShe nodded. “Tell me what you seek.”\n\nRorari paused. “I seek, for whatever price it may be, that my son be brought back to life. He was in his fourth year, yet…” Rorari paused again, closing his eyes. “The sea sought fit to take him. It was… my own fault. The wave came from nowhere, and it --”\n\nVari set down the skull upon the altar and held up her hand. “You need not explain.” She turned her palm up. “Come, and say no more.” Without lifting his head, Rorari rose and came upon the first step.\n\n“You do understand what you ask from me, yes?” Vari asked. She drew up her hood.\n\n“Back to life,” Rorari nodded. Then he met her eyes. “You can make him walk again, yes? Make it so I may hear his laugh as he splashes in the sea, before the ocean’s wrath took him?”\n\nVari sighed. “I am not that sort of arkani.”\n\nThe candle flame flickered in Rorari’s eyes, and his jaw clenched. “You mean to say I have been led astray? That those other arcani were correct?” Rorari stepped back off the step. “You mean after all that I have traveled --”\n\n“Please, lord of Nieko,” Vari said, with a flick of her finger. “A moment of patience, and you shall see him again. You misunderstand.”\n\nWaringly, Rorari came up to the altar. \n\n“Is that what remains of your son?”\n\nRorari winced. “His bones and flesh all, preserved as the day he was lost.”\n\nSo small the sack seemed to hold such a large soul. “I shall take him now.”\n\nRorari hesitated.\n\nVari grazed her hands over the rough, salt-roughed hands that held the remains of the boy. “Please. Trust, and we shall hear him once again.”\n\nAfter a moment, Rorari gave her the sack. Lighter than she expected. She placed it upon the altar, and drew up her hood. She placed her hands upon the body; the body was stone-cold, sucking the heat from her hands. She closed her eyes, and concentrated. \n “They did say you could bring them back to life,” Rorari said finally. \n\n“They were correct. Now silence.”\n\nShe searched, and searched. And then…\n\nVari backed away.\n\nRorari looked at her, then at the boy. Then back again, and a tired anger passed over him once more.\n\n“You said --”\n\nA gust of wind extinguished the candles, and the air grew cold.\n\nShe turned to Rorari. \n\n“Bring your face to me.”\n\n“What?” \n “To me.” Her voice was just a whisper now.\n\n“How does this --”\n\n“Patience.” She drew up her hands, and placed them on his cheeks. Stubble scratched at her. There was warmth, and cold, and a child’s laugh -- her hands shook, and --\n\nShe exhaled, and leaned against the altar.\n\n“He is… alive.”\n\nRorari clenched his fists, and angry tears came to him. “He does not move. He does not speak. Enough of this --”\n\nThe wind swept up again, and finally, Vari felt her own body go numb.\n\nRorari choked on his words, and fell to his knees.\n\n“Mani,” he breathed.\n\nVari tensed.\n\n“Mani,” he cried again, hands clutching at a memory. He laughed, tears rolling from him. “Yes, that’s good! Come!”\n\nVari’s head pounded, and she smiled weakly, waiting to recompose herself.\n\nIt could have been five minutes, or an hour, but Vari sat still as she could be, allowing the man to be lost in the memory of his son. The rattling of the bones grew less and less, and smoke curled from the candles weaker and weaker. And still did the man laugh and cry, beside himself, with not a care given to Vari.\n\nAfter a time, Rorari slumped against the altar, relaxed. \n\nFinally, Vari pushed off of the altar. \n\n“I shall take his remains and commit them to the life-flame of Dirik-se. Your son needs not this vessel now, but has eternal life. And when the times grow hard and the seas are rough, he shall live on in you, to the day that you die, immortal and young.”\n\nRorari nodded slowly, and a tear left his eye. “Thank you.”\n\nVari nodded, and brought the man up with her hand. “Ho yin rho, ho chiu jako,” she said. As the flesh is weak, the spirit is strong. \n\n“Ho yin rho, ho chiu jako,” Rorari nodded. And then they cast the dead flesh of the boy named Mani into the brazier, and his memory was free once more.", "Sally leaned back, placing an ankle across a thigh, and wrapping one hand around it. “So, Mike, this is our last session?” \n\nHe nodded, a shallow smile on his face. The mans pale blue eyes searched Sally’s face as if trying to find a reason to stay; or decipher her thoughts for one day. “Hard to believe, right? Almost three years I’ve been coming to this little office.” \n\nSally let out a chuckle — the innocent comment that had been joked about at half of their sessions. She brought it in the most money but had the worst spot in the building. “That's an understatement. I will miss you, and our time here, but I am unspeakably happy that you feel well enough to move on.” \n\nShe let her own smile pull the corners of her mouth, eyelids lowering just slightly with the action. \n\nTwo minutes later and her favorite client walked out the door, leaving her bittersweet. She had cast the spell a long time ago, but the man fought it so hard he had to keep coming back. If she ever moved up the ranks as a psychiatrist, it would have been because of that man alone. \n\nStanding up, she moved to walk out the door herself. The goal was to have the receptionist send in her 2:00 appointment, but before her hand could touch the doorknob, the door yanked open from the other side. \n\n\nAnother man walked straight through, pushing her to the side to get the middle of the therapy space. “Close the door.” \n\nSally stared at the empty hallway for a few seconds with her mouth open. It seemed as if the bottom of her jaw had decided not to listen, and the surprise visitor wasn’t helping any. \n\n“Now!” he boomed. \n\nThe sound rolled through her skull, sending a shock-wave down her spine. Before she could reconcile her thoughts, she had moved forward and grabbed the door. There didn’t seem a logical reason the person wouldn’t just pull it closed behind them, but Harold deemed most things underneath him. \n\nWith the door closed, Sally turned around and crossed her arms against her chest. “You aren’t welcome here. None of you are welcome here, and you know that.” \n\nHarold strolled and sat on the tan love seat. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t know how you spend all of your time in your human form. Standing around with all this flesh.” \n\nSally smirked. “Yes, Rot and Decay are where we truly belong, right?” \n\n“Don’t disparage yourself to knock me down, Sally. I choose to use my powers the way they are meant to be used. You are the one that has perverted it this way,” he said while swinging on hand across the room in a wide gesture. His mouth was turned down and he looked like he could barely stomach being in the space. \n\n“I don’t deal with the dead. I deal with life.” Sally took a step forward. She could feel her pulse in her temples and her cheeks were hot. She chose not to deal with the rest of her kind for this very reason. \n\nThey were close-minded and stubborn, refusing to see the other half of their powers. They created life, hope, and light. No; instead they all saw the death and dirty of it — thinking only of corpses and armies. \n\n“We create life!” Harold yelled and stood up again. His arms gestured wildly as he spoke. “We raise the dead and make them useful once more. We are the closest things to gods that will ever roam the earth.” \n\nHe took a step forward, closing half the space between the two of them. “And you sit here and talk to all these sad little humans.” \n\nSally smirked again. Her face no longer felt hot, and her shoulders felt a little lighter. “We will see who’s sad when those humans remember me after death.”\n\n/r/beezus_writes" ]	6
	[WP] Everyone receives a spirit animal companion of some kind on their eighteenth birthday. The classic "cool" animals are coveted and admired. Wolves, Dragons, and so on. You? You've gotten rats. At first you resented your poor fortune, but it wasn't long until you realized how useful rats can be.	[ "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.", "Rats, most people are unaware, can fit into anyplace whatsoever that they can fit their heads. As the lights from the ceremony of the Great Passings died down on my 18th birthday, my spirit came back to my body from its journey into the lands of the fathers, and I wiped the shamanic reagents from my eyelids and eased them open. I was let down when I saw in my lap a ghostly green swarm of worm-like tails, in fact, I shrieked before I realized they were what came with me through the portal of the ceremony. Rats, carriers of the five plagues, were not well liked in our town where we were still recovering. Almost every one of us had a distant or close friend or relative that had to be exiled to the outer colonies from their catching a plague. \n\nMost people also haven't yet learned that a group of rats is called a mischief, and this is exactly why I was chosen by the totem of the rat. these animals have a sense of humor! all of the shopkeepers that used to chase me away in the town center when I was young found holes suddenly appearing in their left boot of every pair, every pile of display merchandise would have a corner piece fall out of place when we walked by, tumbling the whole stack. \n\nRats are very kind animals as well, I learned. I remember in the months after the new tax was implemented watching daily as the page signed for my usual delivery in the palace, little marching coins heading from a crack in the door of the treasury room out along the castle wall, out the front door, through the stockyards, toward the serf quarters.\nI've also learned through the many many times that I have been caught in the midst of a business enterprise by a royal guard that rats can chew through most building materials!" ]	2
	[WP] You run an assassin's firm that specializes in killing immortal/mystical beings.	[ "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 flip around the newspaper in my hand while shuffling the cigar in my mouth \"Another mystical being killed, nice work boys\" I tell my crew that are hanging around in the room. All of these guys including me are perhaps the best assassins in the world, however we don't kill some shitty dictator or some warlord. No we go after things things that most people in this world don't even know about and are better off for it.\n\nPerhaps introductions are in order I'm Dyne the technical leader. The Asian chick in the chair with one leg over the other sharpening her knives is Mai and don't let her cute face trick you because she would chop you up to pieces if you let her. The big black guy lifting the weights in the corner is T.J. he's a pretty nice guy just don't piss him off. The computer geek is Stacy, she's the brains of this outfit and she's also our receptionist, sweet girl too. And finally there's Lance my unofficial right hand man, we were in the special forces together, he's basically my brother. \n\nThis is my team and what we do is simple, kill the unkillable crazy right? We hunt down stuff like demons or other things like that. And we just got back from a job and we're all relaxing until there's a knock at the door and Lance answers it. A man in a slick black suit enters with a folder in hand and hands it to me before leaving without saying a single word. I open it and see the assignment \"Looks like we're hunting a demon boys\" I announce and they all cheer already excited for the next job." ]	2
Inspired by [This post](https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/2rtwn3/the_city_built_around_the_tarrasque/?utm_source=BD&utm_medium=Search&utm_name=Bing&utm_content=PSR1).	[WP] Welcome to Tarrasque's End; A city prosperous for trading in the flesh of the Greatest Monster in 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.", " \n\nMikael slipped between two men auguring over the price of a massive chunk of marrow to continue his way down the street. He was running late. He’d been running behind since the morning had been stopped by a shift and now he had so many things to do today but only so much time between breaths. He pulled his cloak tight around himself as he slithered across the planks that protected his feet from the blood constantly welling from the open wound he lived on. \n\nThe air was thick with iron today, one of the days that the smell of the blood hung over the city like a threat. Mikael had been born and raised on the flesh of the great one, but he’d never been able to get used to the smell, he wasn’t sure anyone could, though a lot of people claimed it didn’t bother them anymore. \n\nOne day he was going to get out of here, he was gonna have the money to not need to harvest anymore, he was gonna get the gold to skip down and find a place for him and his sister where the walls didn’t bleed, but that wasn’t today, today he was just meeting Jhoans for a new assignment. \n\nMikael steadied himself as the flesh under him shuddered, the shaky start to a breath; the harvester swore and tried to keep walking despite the biological earthquake. There was no way it was this late. He couldn’t see the sun past the third spine but this had to be an off-time breath. Jhoans would understand if he was late if the breaths were off-time today. Nobody could be on time when you couldn’t walk. \n\nA meat merchant to the right of Mikael shoved him out of the way as he scrambled to keep his wares from tumbling down onto the boards or into the blood. Mikael backed away from the man as his hard work dropped to the ground. It was going to take hours to clean all of that, but Mikael didn’t have time to help him catch his meat. He had places to be. \n\nOnce the breath shuddered to a stop Mikael jogged the rest of the way to Jhoans, sure he splashed himself and these pants would smell like blood for a week, but if jogging made it look like he was closer when the breath happened, Jhoans might believe that it was the only reason that he was late. \n\nThe lady who waited outside of Jhoans was doing what she did best. She gave Mikael and quick up-down, ponytail following the motion as she did. After half a second she nodded for him to go in and see the boss. Mikael offered a smile, she didn’t give one back. \n\n“Jhoans,” Mikael said as he pushed into the flesh of the beast into the hollow that the boss lived in. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the soft red lighting, but once he had he saw Jhoans sitting at his usual bone-carved desk, smile as white as death. The boss wore a red shirt and cocksure attitude, same outfit he wore every day. \n\n“Mikael,” the boss drawled like it was taking time for him to think of the full name, “you’re running a little late.”\n\n“Beast is strange today,” Mikael explained, he wrung his hands together, which got them pretty close to praying. \n\n“Is it?” Jhoans asked, “musta been working when that happened,” the man flashed his fangs and chuckled. “what can I say, I lose track of time too,” just as Mikael was going to join the chuckle the smile ran off Jhoans face, “sit.” Jhoans motioned to the floor instead of the chair across from him.\n\n“Okay,” MIkael squeaked and sat cross legged on the floor. The harvester’s eye flicked around the room and he caught the two ladies in the corner, both of them had serrated skin daggers on their hips. “Wh-“\n\n“Why do you come to me Mikael?” Jhoans asked.\n\n“Uh- I n-“” Mikael started. \n\n“You don’t need the money, you have a job and what,” Jhoans pulled a skin dagger of his own from one of his drawers and dropped it onto the desktop, he let it finish clattering before he continued, “one sister?” \n\n“One sister,”’ Mikael confirmed. He didn’t want to \\look\\ like he was seeing if the way out was open, “that’s it.”\n\n“Mom?” Jhoans asked. \n\n“Gone, she fell into a pipe few years back,” Mikael shoved his hands into his pockets to count the coins in there. Maybe if Jhoans just wanted money he could get him some in exchange for his life. It would set him a couple of months back but corpses couldn’t buy their way out.\n\n“Sorry to hear,” Jhoans tsked, “so if you only have a single sister, you can pay for both of you to have a pretty good life off a harvester gig,” the boss tapped his nails on the skin dagger blade, “even if she ain’t working.”\n\n“I, I just like the extra money-“ Mikael said. Jhoans was going to kill him if he found out that he was trying to leave. Jhoans seemed like kind who’d wanna keep people hide side. \n\n“You trying to leave?” Jhoans asked straight out. Mikael thought he’d kept a straight face until the boss flashed that pearly smile again, “ain’t everyone?” He asked. \n\n“Not you I guess,” Mikael tried to lighten the pressure that was building on his neck. Beast must’ve been running hot today. \n\nJhoans grabbed the handle of the dagger and pulled it off the desk before stabbing it into the bone, “That’s clever, that’s real clever and funny. You should be a comedian.”\n\n“Thanks,” Mikael didn’t know if that was the right answer. \n\n“How about this,” Jhoans let the skin dagger fall again, “I have a job for you and if you can get it done for me I’ll pay the 90 you need.”\n\n“90?” Mikael asked, he barely saw 90 silver in a season. There wasn’t a-\n\n“90 gold,” Jhoans nodded like he was confirming what Mikael was asking. The harvester took a second to process the idea, he’d never seen that many coins in a single place. “That’ll buy you packs and passage. Won’t it?” Jhoans asked." ]	2
	[WP] You failed to read the safety pamphlet before deciding to visit Earth on holiday and, to your utter horror, your species is one of the many that is killed by hearing a duck's quack.	[ "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.", "Ding ding ding the speakers spark to Life \"Now Entering Earths Gravitational Zone Sector 3197- 44562 Please remember to read your pamphlet . Please take note that this is a medium threat zone A high level priority warning is in place for species mentioned in Section 29 B Thank you and we hope you enjoy your stay.\" ding ding ding The speakers turn back off. \n\"Finally we're here those god damn foul tasting seats making me back flow. Any longer and id be back flowing out of first\"\nDolga says looking greener than normal \n\"Groooss\" Serg says as she sits in the seat behind them.\nDolga and his family are Gu Culamps from their planet Datacyarn. Gu Culamps are a bipedal species that have a variety of skin colours and patterns but always in the green purple zone. Their ears are on their necks and to others they look like large fish gills said to be so peculiar that they can hear the walls breathing. Their elbows, backs, wrists and ankles and more tend to have pads on them that taste everything that they touch and if its particularly bad then as the way of many other species their stomachs reject previously digested food sending it back on up. Luckily for others they have three stomachs and so most don't have to see this \"backflow\" too often Unluckily for Serg however Dolga is rather sensitive for a Gu'C' .\n\n\"Im gonna go refresh\" Dolga said hopping out of his seat\n \"Im afray'd your gonna ne'd to sit down!\" its the attendant a Grod. Of course theyd choose one of the most annoying species in existence.\n\"I heARd thAt!\"\nDolga sits down as the ship starts diving towards the planet it shakes him and launches him forward \n\"cant. hold. out. much. longer\" \nHe reaches out for a bag nearby and opens it ejecting the contents of his stomachs. \n\"Hey the pamphlet was in there\" Tar says from next to him.\nDolga wipes his mouth\n\"o crap probably just standard stuff anyway.\"\nTo be continued" ]	2
	[WP] "I demand to see the manager" you inform the employee. At first the worker scoffs, but their expression soon changes when you pull out your badge. "I'm with the Kidnapped And Rescued Employee Network." The person sighs loudly, before returning to you quietly- "Thank you ma'am, right this way."	[ "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 adjusted my sunglasses, touched my blonde entitled-ly, and started speaking once again.\n\n\"Boy, I told you I need the manager!\"\n\n\"Ma'am, can I please ask you why you need the manager?\"\n\nPoor boy. He seemed to be about 16, probably a minimum wage employee. He looked tired of my shit, and rightfully so. In fact, I was just like him 10 years ago, but something changed that...\n\n\"That's none of your damn business, you lazy teenager! I demand to see the manager!\"\n\nHe scoffed. The poor boy finally broke, and I can see the sadness in his eyes. He knew that he'd get into trouble, he just didn't care.\n\n\"Well guess what, the manager isn't available right now.\" he scoffed\n\nMy heart broke for the poor child. He's been taking flack from me for about an hour. I decided it's better to just tell the truth.\n\n\"Alright listen kid, I'll be straight with ya.\" and I showed him my blue-yellow badge, with the letters KAREN written all over them.\n\n\"Y-your'e with the-\"\n\n\"Yep, I'm with them.\"\n\nThe Kidnapped And Rescued Employee Network is a group of people who investigate kidnappings involving employees, as well as employees that have been rescued. Before you ask, I'll answer\n\nWhy do we need such a network? Because Karens have evolved. Not us, but actual ones. Instead of demanding for the manager and annoying other customers, they started kidnapping them, and doing horrible things I'll refrain from mentioning. They started looking like normal humans, because they realized that their trademark look was a giveaway. Sure, there were still people who behaved like the old Karens, but those are usually the Sarahs, compensating for the mysterious loss of their friend.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnyways. Why do the employees stay with us, you might ask. It's like the witness protection program. The Karens are relentless, and follow those employees everywhere, so they have to stay with us.\n\nSo, back to the story.\n\nThe kid's face paled, and beckoned me to follow him to the back of the store. ~~Once out of sight, I took of the fat costume, peeled of the horrendous Karen wig, and took off those blasphemous sunglasses, revealing my petite 160 lb, 5'4 body. Working as a KAREN employee is hard.~~ (Idk anymore, should I leave it or not? is it offensive? Is it funny? Is it unnecessary?)\n\nI entered the room, and gasped. My eyes are trained well to spot Karens early on, and there was no more blatantly obvious sign than what I saw. I saw those eyes flash red. Fuck. Not only that, but that face was familiar. PTSD flashbacks of gruesome torture flooded back to me. I came here to inform them of a kidnapping, not to see the kidnapper!\n\n\"Why, what a small world we live in! Hi Victoria!\"\n\n Part 2 (since you guys seemed to like it)\n\nDamn that Victoria lady was pretty fucking weird. Once she saw Ms. Jennifer (she insists that we call her Ms. since she got divorced) she looked like a vampire from those really old movies just woke up.\n\n\"Uh... h-hi Jennifer-\"\n\n\"MISS Jennifer, we went over this before, \nVictoria!\" she said in her trademark annoyed tone.\n\n\"Ms. Jennifer, I came here to inform you that one of your employees, James McNeal, kwas kidnapped by a Karen two days ago.\"\n\n\"Wait, what? Jim got kidnapped? Shit! He was cool.\" I piped in. I winced, ready for the scolding I was about from my bitch of a manager, but I was blessed with only a glare. I can swear her eyes go red when she does that.\n\nThat glare, however, didn't go unnoticed by Victoria. She got even more pale, if that's possible, and said in a shaky voice, \"See you later, Brandon\" reading my name tag.\n\nI went back to stocking shelves, when I felt something in my back pocket. It was a note.\n\"After your shift, meet my behind the store. AND DO NOT TRUST ANYBODY.\n~V.\"\n\nWho the fuck is V. and what do they want? Anyhow, I kept stocking shelves, but that note weighed on my mind. Who is it? What do they want? When did they put it and how did they put it without me noticing, and I'm wearing tight jeans! Then I realized, and I got just as pale as Victoria. KARENs are trained to be stealthy, since they could be assigned to be a spy. I also distinctly remember her going around me to get out instead of using the short route. That means my life could be in danger, since KAREN employees don't mess around. After a lot of thought and misplaced bread packages, I decided to go where the note asked me to.\nSure enough, it was Victoria.\n\n“Can I ask you a question? What in the ever-loving fuck is going on?”\n\n“I know you’re confused, but your life -and mine, and James’- are in danger. First, you need to know what Karens have become. For some reason, they have gotten stronger than ever, and are even bordering on super-natural. Fuck, they already are supernatural. Jennifer became a retail manager to kidnap employees easier. I’m impressed she fooled so many people without getting caught. You saw Jennifer’s eyes get red right? That’s when they get angry. It’s a telltale sign-“\n\n“Wait wait wait wait. They? You’re saying that Jennifer is one of THEM?”\n\nYeah, and not only that but she is one of their strongest. And also, sh-she was who...”\n\nShe teared up, but I understood her perfectly.\n\n“She tortured you right? What did she do?”\n\nAand she burst into tears. Is it really that bad?\n\n“Hey, Vicky, can I call you Vicky? I know that the shit that happened to you must have sucked ass, but for Jim, for me, for the whole goddamn world, try to keep it together for us, okay? Knowing what happened can help us prepare right? To prepare.”\n\nDamn we just switched. Now she was the dumbfounded one.\n\n“You’re right, let’s go to KAREN headquarters. We can regroup and train you there.”\n\n“Wait, you’re gonna train me? I’ll become like you? I mean, no offense, but I want to live a normal life..”\n\n“There IS no normal life. Brandon. If you stayed there for a day more, you would have been kidnapped. I felt it, she was restless. She looked at you with a certain hunger, a certain entitledness, that is unprecedented. I don’t even know what she wants to do to you. It’s better to seek refuge with us.”\n\n“Alright.”" ]	2
	[WP] As a Lich you've spent your eternity in the shadows ensuring the small nation you own is a safe haven for the races that wish a peaceful life, however you get news that a local orc settlement was destroyed by a group of adventurers proclaiming that they will 'save the nation.'	[ "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.", "Word has just arrived to me that one of the settlements that falls under my protection has been destroyed by wretched, vile creatures known as humans. Part of me wishes to seek them out and destroy them before they have the chance to attack again, but a small, deeply hidden portion of myself understands them since, as an undead being, I too was human once. It’s not the humans fault that unlike all other beings in the continent, magical or not, they were made with destructive tendencies. Even the orcs, a race that thrives off of war and was given a name worthy of respect because of this, is not as destructive as humans. Creatures like orcs wage war in order to ensure their survival or out of cultural tradition to ally themselves with other orc clans. But humans, well humans wage war and kill simply for sport in hopes of proving their strength and having the names of their “heroes” sung in ballads throughout the ages. I understand humans because I was one of them, but this doesn’t change the fact that I owe the orcs, elves, fairies, pixies, banshees, lizard men, dryads, and even the giants protection. The races that reside in this nation of mine are known to all, which is exactly why it must have been targeted as a “threat to the nation”, and the fact that an orc settlement was defeated proves that these humans are strong and great in numbers. Regardless of why they decided to attack I must not let them bring any more harm to this land. If I fend off their attack, even it requires me to slay their entire army, their species will not be extinct since they have the reproductive tendencies of rabbits; but if I allow them to continue attacking, all creatures that reside in this nation will. They must have accounted for all the creatures that reside here and strategized manners to defeat them all, but there is one creature they did not account for, me.", "I felt it. Almost a thousand souls crying out in fear and pain, before each felt silent. I had a spirit bond with every permanent dweller of Sanctuary, so I knew if any of them died. I felt how they died as well. Feeling the pain of an entire settlement of orcs dying, the children, the elders, the sickly... It made me weak in the knees. When I recovered, I opened a portal. I traveled to their village. I found the body of the village elder, and called her soul back from the afterlife. She groaned in pain, but managed to breath out what happened. A group of adventurers came by. They came from a distant kingdom, wearing strange armor. They shouted that they would save the nation I created. They had apparently heard of a benevolent king that set up a haven for the oppressed, but that this haven was overrun with orcs, goblins, and undead. These adventures would save the nation by eradicating these menaces. \n\nI was fuming as I let the orc slip back to her rest, after obtaining her permission. I called the spirit of every orc, adult and child, and said my farewell to them. I got their permission, and sent them back to their afterlife. When this was done, I summoned my staff, conjured my armor, and began a ritual to raise their bodies as undead soldiers. It was time these adventurers, these \"heroes\", met their benevolent king. My eye sockets flashing with cold blue rage, I went to hunt them down before tragedy struck again", " 1/2\n\nTaasar the Ancient was nearing her 500th birthday, and was considering a new look. Ellisar, her tailor, patiently explained, “The current wimple trend has been going a good decade now, so it’s time to make a decision: brocade, or lace? Maybe a nice ecru so you don’t clash…”\n\n“Bah. How much do I get out nowadays, anyway?” the lich told her. \n\n“You agreed with Mother that you would update your look once every human generation,” the elven tailor scolded. “I’ll be damned if I let you be seen in bug-eaten velvet and jewelry a century out of date, even if it’s only your own minions. Time to shelve that stuff and let it…appreciate for the resale market. I’ll summon Gradek to swing by with his current showcase.”\n\n“This lace pattern is beautiful,” Taasar murmured. “I did ask you to hold me to this. Fine. Use this lace pattern and use it to inform details on my new gowns.”\n\n“When should I have Gradek stop by?”\n\n“Hmm…three days hence. I have a conference with King Adri and I want to give that my full focus.”\n\n“Very well, then.” The tailor made a few notes with her stylus, then headed toward the teleport pad. Taasar sighed. “You have no reason to hide, Odarin. If I can hear you, the elf most certainly can.” Taasar’s mage-assistant came into the hall. “I have news from the mayor of Metgate,” Odarin began. “They’ve received a small band of refugees from Oklard.”\n\n“Refugees?” the lich echoed. “Storibor Forest’s provinces are as quiet as it gets.”\n\n“But it does form our border, Auntie. Unfortunately, we’ve had an…incursion. Only those too young to fight survived.”\n\n“How many?”\n\n“Fifteen, Auntie.” Taasar’s eyes narrowed to pinpoints of light. The mage shifted uncomfortably. The room’s temperature dropped.\n\n“Who?” Taasar steepled her fingers.\n\n“An adventuring party. From a good haul south of here, given how they described the armor and the accents.”\n\n“Have you checked up on them, Odarin? How many are there?”\n\n“Four of them leveled the village.” Odarin scratched his beard. “My sources mention a fifth, a druid, seen with them earlier but she was seen nowhere near the village.”\n\n“Such brave people, taking on a bunch of swine-herders.” the lich’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Bring them to me, please. Tell them that the ruler of these lands wishes to give them fitting recompense for their exploits. But first, bring the refugees here.”\n\n“Yes, Auntie.” Odarin made as if to go.\n\n“Odarin? Did you drop off the meds at the Palace?”\n\n“Yes, Auntie. This morning.”\n\n“Good. Having King Adri pick them up himself is too…direct. You may go.”\n\nThe next day Odarin returned with a band of children. Their clothes were a bit dirty and torn, but they’d managed some rest. Taasar gave them a long look. The two smallest had rivulets of snot coming out of their noses- their race was prone to it.\n\n“First things first. Have you been fed?” the lich asked. There was a snffff sound.\n\n“M-mayor’s wife stuffed us full, m-m’lady,” the oldest boy said.\n\n“We know refusing’s kinda impolite,” the oldest girl said, “But Ma also said not to waste food…”\n\n“I am not offended,” Taasar said gently. There was another snffff sound. “What’s your name?” she asked the boy.\n\n“Z-zugorim, m’lady,” the boy stammered.\n\n“And you, girl?”\n\n“Lazgar,” she whispered.\n\n“How old are you?” to the younger children she said, “Forgive my rudeness- we’ll talk more later. Right now we’re just trying to find out what happened.” Taasar rummaged around a box built into her throne. She held out a brightly-colored rod, shook it at the smaller children, and conjured a few toys. “Anyone less than four feet high can run and play.” The lich rounded on the older children again.\n\n“Fourteen summers?” Zugorim gulped.\n\n“Twelve winters,” Lazgar said.\n\n“Herding a baker’s dozen of children on a fortnight-long march. Very impressive,” Taasar said. There was another snffff sound, this time further off. The lich’s eyes flashed in irritation. “Odarin? Would you take care of that?” Odarin conjured a few handkerchiefs and floated them over to the offending children. There was a simultaneous SNRRRRRRT from the toy pile.\n\n“P-please, m’lady,” Lazgar piped up. “Did anyone from our village…?”\n\n“Survive?” Taasar supplied. “Let’s ask Odarin.” All eyes rounded on the mage. He shook his head, then started fidgeting with his staff. “Blast,” the lich sighed. “I was afraid of that…” Tears welled up in Lazgar’s eyes, but she fought them valiantly. Odarin conjured another handkerchief, handing it to her without eye contact. \n\n“That settles it,” Taasar said with a shrug. “You must all stay here. For a couple of years at least. Until more of you are of age.”\n\n“Here?!” Zogorim gulped. “A lich’s citadel? We’re just farmers! Not wizards!”\n\n“You see guards. You see servants. Normal people like you. Though we can train you in magic, if any of you are inclined. Odarin there? He came here when he was just a baby.” The gangly wizard gave them a thin smile. “See if you can track down that druid,” Taasar told Odarin. “Maybe she can look after their village and the herds.”\n\n“This place is grand,” Lazgar whispered. “Why would you let us stay here?”\n\nTaasar leaned forward on her throne. “The swine you raise are a very old, special breed,” she said. “Do you know who originally created the breed?” The children shook their heads. “You’re looking at her,” Taasar said. “My farmers and herders are important to me. You are also subjects of my realm. I have a responsibility to you and to the families you lost. Proprieties must be observed. Do you understand me?”\n\nZugorim gave a hesitant nod. Taasar sighed. “Good. Speaking of proprieties, do all of you have weapons?” The children all showed daggers hidden about their persons. “Very well. Hold onto those, but if I catch you mis-using them I will have to turn you into something small and tasty. Odarin will bring you back here tomorrow.” Taasar’s voice went as cold as deep space. “Whatever he tells you to do, or not do, you obey!” The children scattered out of the throne room.", "It was nothing but a tragedy to witness; fertile, healthy soil laden with crops burned into black ash, strong stone buildings crumbled into pebbles, bright and colourful architecture darkened with scorches and ash. A healthy population of 500 dwindled sadly to a meagre 0.\n\nAnd it had all happened in a matter of a few minutes.\n\nThe Lich King clenched its bony hand with such furious strength that it came close to shattering it, its glowing green eyes glaring at the image of the destruction before it; though it resided miles away within its castle, it could still feel the pain and agony that soaked the land. Fury shook its body- an entire orc village destroyed! It knew those orcs, held onto their loyalty, provided for them- and now their existence was but a whisper of the past.\n\n\"Who did this?\" The Lich King seethed; though its question was spoken quietly, its rage made it echo around the smooth obsidian walls of the room. \n\n\"We are not entirely sure yet, my lord.\" One of its subordinates- a rather ordinary looking man with an otherwise unordinary cluster of eyes hovering around him- answered, his tone regretful. \"My scouts were unfortunately too far away when the incident had started, and they have found no trace of the-\" \n\n\"Hm? What is it, Argus?\" The man had suddenly fallen silent, a troubled expression crossing his face.\n\n\"My apologies, my lord.\" Argus said with a gasp. \"It seems that the perpetrators are still there.\" Shocked, outraged gasps filled the room.\n\n\"The nerve! We must quickly annihilate these people, my lord!\" Another subordinate- a hot-headed chimera- yelled, her fisted paw crashing onto the table. Murmurs of agreement came from the people around her.\n\n\"All in due time.\" The Lich King simply said. \"Can you see who these intruders are? What are they doing?\"\n\nArgus grimaced. \"My lord, I'm not sure-\"\n\n\"Argus.\"\n\nArgus bowed his head. \"Very well.\" With a flick of his finger, the view of the destroyed orc village was replaced by 5 smaller projections showing the movements of 5 different people. \n\nAs it carefully watched these despicable enemies, the Lich King's anger grew in its intensity; murdering an entire village and scorching it to the ground was bad enough, but ransacking the few intact buildings and the strewn corpses was even worse. How dare they? Did these people not know how to respect the dead?! Perhaps it was because its own body had been defiled after death that the Lich King could not stand seeing this atrocious behaviour.\n\nAnd it was all done with a happy, triumphant smile, as if it were worthy of praise.\n\n\"What are they?\" The Lich King could only ask. \"What kind of monsters are they?\" \n\nThis time, it was not Argus who answered, but the lone human in the room. \"Adventurers, sir.\" \n\n\"And they are?\"\n\n\"Well, in some places the magical beasts need exterminating before they harm anyone, or some magical being goes mad or something; to handle that, adventurers go and take care of it in return for money or some other reward.\" The human explained, a confused frown upon her face as she stared at the adventurers on the screen. \"It's not a system that's been implemented here though...\" \n\n\"Are adventurers strong?\" Argus asked, a hand cupping his chin.\n\n\"Some are. Some are not. They have different strengths and different weaknesses based on their race and their abilities. If I had to guess...\" She stared more intently at the adventurers, at the destroyed orc village, at the orc corpses; at the equipment, the level of damage, the wounds. A thin smile cracked upon her face as she came to one single solution. \"They have no chance against you, sir.\" \n\nThe Lich King nodded, the slight motion creating an eerie rattling noise. \n\n\"We can handle it, my lord!\" The chimera insisted. \"There is no need for you to waste your power on such lowly beings.\"\n\nThe Lich King shook its head. \"I will destroy them.\" It was the only way that felt right.\n\nFor these beings to act so cowardly, to dishonourably fell the mighty orcs by ignoring their customs of close combat and use magic from a distance, to hurt these orcs that had not harmed a single one of them, to dare to desecrate the dead and steal what was not theirs- their death could not be dealt by a merciful hand. But more than that, the Lich King had been the ruler of those orcs, their mighty protector- so only it could give out the punishment those adventurers deserved to let the souls of its orcs rest.\n\nThe Lich King departed immediately; in the blink of an eye, it was gone, reappearing amidst a fog of black smoke in the middle of the orc village- right in front of the group of adventurers. The Lich King cast a wrathful eye over them, taking in their frightened, stiff postures; its gaze landed upon the body of an orc at their feet, mutilated and subjected to the humiliation of being used as target practice. The Lich King's skeletal fist tightened further.\n\n\"You lowly beings.\" It hissed. \"You dare to trespass upon my territory and ruin the peace I have toiled to create?\" The adventurers could only whimper, unable to even stare directly at the Lich King. \"You are not noble nor mighty; you are nothing but cowards, a horrendous pest that cannot ever become more.\"\n\nThe adventurers somehow managed to muster up some courage, fixing determined eyes upon the Lich King. \"We will liberate this nation from your disease!\" They yelled as if they were some legendary heroes from myths; the Lich King could only laugh at their audacity, a deep, rattling noise that screeched harshly at the adventurers' ears.\n\n\"I am the Lich King.\" Its words boomed. \"I created this nation. This is my domain. I command life and I command death- can lowly beings such as yourself hope to beat me? You are nothing but cowardly criminals- and here, I am the judge. For all that you have done...\" The Lich King's eyes turned into black smoke that diffused around the adventurers, encircling them with an impassable wall of the Lich King's magic. \"this is your punishment.\" The smoke enveloped them, forcing itself down their throats and noses to squash out any air they could breath; they could not even scream as the smoke ate away at their skin and riddled them with holes, unable to release the pure agony they were suddenly subjected to. \n\nA few seconds passed, and the black smoke disappeared. Five skeletons fell to the ground. The Lich King did not bother to collect the bones for future use; it simply returned to its castle, where it received raucous applause and cheers from its subordinates. \n\nIt hoped that the souls of those brave orcs could rest peacefully.", "A sooty goblet almost took Sherberts Head off when it ricocheted from a wall. The small skeleton would have had many different expressions running across its face, if it still had one. \"Oh sorry, Sherbert. Did I hit you? I hope not. Do you need repairs?\" a soft and caring voice said as it came nearer. Sherbert looked up to his master and as he was helped up, answered: \"Nothing to worry, Master. I'm complete and unharmed. Anything bothering you, Master?\" The skeletal servant looked up and into the dark nothingness of his masters hood. There was a moment of silence. His master sighed and said: \"I am no fan of bothering you with this, Sherbert. But it appears my Kingdom has attracted a Pest.\" \"Rats, Master? Or like the nordic word for the black Plague? Malaria? The Flu? Bards?\" the one addressed questioned but his Master shook his head in negation. He also chuckled which always sounded weird.\n\n\"No, my boney incomprehending Fellow. I speak of Adventurers. They have raided one of our Orc Villages. No one was spared. Poor Knaxses, he is out on a Hunting Party. He will be devastated when he returns. I need to send something to him to make him cheer up in due time.\" Sherberts Master explained.\n\nThere was a short silence and the robed Figure continued: \"I know.\" then its Voice switched from warm and friendly to a sound like graveyard gates grinding teeth to dust: \"The Heads of the Adventurers\". This was followed by evil laughter like the skeleton hadn't heard in years. It lasted what felt like forever and Sherbert couldn't help himself but had to clap like a lunatic as his master finished. The robed figure appeared perplex as it looked at Sherbert: \"What. What are you doing?\"\n\nSherbert would have cried big round tears of admiration if he still had the tear ducts for it and explained: \"Master. That was the most perfect rendition of Evil Laugh Number 20 from Deathking Bonerend Cheesegrate. Written 1312. First presented in 1313 to an unknown Group before its early demise. It was. Magical. Master, Thank you. Now I can die again in Peace. Thank you, Master.\" Sherbert bowed before his Master. It looked funny when he folded almost in the middle and the top of his head touched the ground. The hooded figure appeared surprised and stammered: \"Aehm. Of course. You are welcome, Sherbert. Any time. Please get up. Thank you.\"\n\nThere was awkward silence until the Figure spoke again maybe a minute later: \"Alright. We need to make this quick before they reach the Slaughterpits. The Zombies are not ready yet and I just had a new Strain of Mosses installed. Could we get some Wraiths from the North? 1521 was a good vintage.\" Sherbert nodded: \"Whatever you desire, it will be done. But if I may give you Advice, Master?\" The hooded figure nodded and the skeleton continued: \"The harvest two years ago was splendid. Harry Bones the Graveyard Keeper told me earlier today how he almost had a heart attack last week while turning them in their Graves.\" This surprised Sherberts Master and he asked unbelieving: \"Harry Bones said that? My word, those must be quite good Wraiths. Alright, color me convinced. We take those.\" \"Very well, my Master. I will send for him immediately. Another unworthy Input of me, Master? I replaced your Phylactery in your Vault and patched the Foot of the Couch it propped up. May I advise you to not use it to repair broken Furniture again?\" The hooded figure looked caught: \"I'm sorry Sherbert. Thank you very much. It just conveniently had the correct height. Couldn't finish my nap with all that wobbling around.\" While the skeleton bowed to take its leave it also noted: \"Very well, Master. May your foresight be as clear as your ability to precisely estimate item diameters.\" and as soon as it had spoken proceeded to leave the room through one of the many candlelit dungeon corridors. \"Was that sarcasm?\" the hooded figure asked itself then turning in the direction in which its servant had left: \"Sherbert used bloody sarcasm on me.\"\n\n\"I used bloody sarcasm on the Master\" a skeleton shambling down the corridor as fast as its bony legs could manage. Skidding around corners on chalky feet it scolded itself. \"I should not have done that.\" As soon as it had passed the Dungeons Gate it noted again: \"I should've not have done that.\" He made for the Graveyard when a deafening sound erupted from the depths of the dungeon, calling Sherberts Name in anger. \"Should not have done that. Nope\"" ]	6
	[WP] At the age of 25, all members of the tribe are given their own Book of Life by the Elders and the Shaman. This book prophesies and details how a person will live their life. You realized that the book they gave you is blank.	[ "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.", "You look at the pages, not really knowing what to make of it you close the small book and stash it away inside the pocket of your coat.\n\nYears go by like a flash, whereas your friends have all reached amazing goals or had noteworthy experiences in their own regard, whenever you try to think back to your own life it comes up blank. You try to think back and you know you should be worried but for some reason you don't even really care. You can't recall the last time you were happy, life has become such a drag, an endless cycle of eat, sleep, repeat.\n\nThat night before going to bed you take another look at your book of life, it's still as empty as ever. The pages dedicated to your past have turned grey like they normally do, but again, they're still as empty as ever. You place the book down as you get a call from your mother, she asks if you can go to her house tomorrow to feed the dog as she herself is out of town. You hurredly look for a pencil and a piece of paper to write down the diet of the 4 legged rat-sized devil of a dog that your mother adopted, you never understood why anyone would want a creature like but since your mother loved it you still wanted to make sure you didn't fuck anything up. Unable to find a piece of paper you decide to write a small note in your book of life, you reckon using the greyed out pages should be fine eventhough all the shamans always stressed how to keep your book of life unsullied.\n\nAs you finish writing your to do list on the lasr greyed out page in your book of life you give it a quick read. Wake up, present your project in front of your boss and the client, go to your moms to feed the dog, run 10km, and do some groceries at the market. Another basic and boring day you sigh to yourself. You close the book and walk to bed, tired from the run you quickly slide into your pyjama's and see a text from your mom, she arrived home from her travels and thanks you for feeding her dog, as you reply your boss texts you that the client was happy with your work and the project can move to the next phase. Another day another dollar you think as you place the book of life on your night stand and drift of to sleep." ]	2
	[WP] A hole opened in the Sun, there’s something flying 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.", "I hate my job. I hear most people hate their jobs, but I especially hate mine. I'm a roofer, and I would rather shovel manure with my hands or bathe the homeless in my own bathtub than work on one more goddamn roof with the goddamn neanderthal I get to call my boss, but he's the only foreman in the city who will hire a guy like me, and I need every last penny I can get. So when my alarm goes off, and I'm up before the sun, it's not optimism or excitement that gets me out of bed, but the bottle of bourbon in my kitchen. I pour some in my coffee and mindlessly stare at the eggs frying in the pan.\n\nThe sleep left in my eyes and my head delay my thinking, and it's several moments before I realize the red blood spot on the yolk of one of my eggs. Grossed out, I scrape at it with the spatula, trying to be gentle. The yolk jiggles, but the red spot stays, like dog shit on my shoe. I scrape at it again, angry this time, and for a moment I think I have it, the spot moves and widens under my spatula, tripling in size, before the yolk cracks and oozes over the white and onto the pan, sizzling on contact, the red spot hidden underneath. I pour more whiskey into my mug and attempt to forget this obvious sign of the terribleness that will surely be the day ahead of me.\n\nThe sun is beginning its rise behind the city's tall buildings as I pull into the warehouse parking lot. I finish my mug, take a sip from the bottle, and refill my mug with what's left. From my truck I can see the neanderthal pacing in the warehouse, screaming to some poor bastard on the other end of his phone. I imagine a herd of lions approach and circle him, licking their chops, and him pleading for his life, making promises, begging for forgiveness, the lions indifferent, just hungry, slowly closing in on him as he cries hysterically until he is mauled, wet gurgles emitting from his throat and then his body in pieces, red blood covering the lions' fur.\n\nOne more sip and I'm out of my truck. The neanderthal continues the yelling as we load up for the day and head to the first job site, a tall office building in the city. His phone hasn't left his ear when we pull up and it becomes my task to unload, which I do so slowly and spitefully and start to worry that there isn't enough whiskey in my mug to keep me from throwing the bastard off this roof. \n\n\"I've gotta go,\" he says when he finally hangs up his phone. \"Something to take care off downtown. Just get as much done as you can and I'll be back at the end of the day.\" Typical neanderthal. \"Got it,\" I say. Probably just going to the bar to tie one off. I'm equal parts relieved that I don't have to spend the day with him, and pissed off to be left to do the job myself. Another swig from my mug dulls those thoughts, I strap on my tool belt, and head to the roof.\n\nThe sun is fully up when I get to the roof. I start to get to work before deciding to sit and relax first. I pick a spot near the edge that offers a view of the city and I look down at all the people hustling about, starting their days. Poor saps, stuck in their routines, slaves to paychecks and unachievable dreams, turning the gears of the evil machine that benefit those more powerful, more successful, those whom these people will never be, carelessly living lives these people couldn't even imagine possible at the expense of the souls they don't even know they have. Their offices may as well be prison cells, or better yet, meat grinders. The cattle for the rich. I'm no different from them, trapped in a cage of life's paradigms that were designed to trap us. If there were directions to the slaughterhouse, I would lead the way.\n\nHours pass, people come and go below me, and my mug slowly empties. My thoughts meander and turn fuzzy as I drift off to sleep, the hot sun beating down on my face. I start to dream that a giant chicken is chasing the neanderthal around a cornfield, pecking at him, and just as it looks like he's done for, my empty mug falls from its perch next to me and I come to on the roof. \n\nStartled, it takes a few moments to gather myself and let my vision clear. Cawing pigeons above me catch my attention and I look up. There a half dozen of them, flying in random circles and figure 8's. The yellow sun is large in the sky and as it comes into focus I notice that it is hanging directly in front of a puffy white cloud. A strange sight, to see the sun in front of a cloud. My mind starts to reason what I'm seeing, maybe I'm still waking up, maybe I'm dreaming. I cover my face with my hands and rub my eyes. I blink at my feet until the spots go away and then look back at the sun, still hanging in front of the cloud, now with a small red spot on it. I blink again and put a hand over my brow and take another look but sure enough, there remains a small red spot on the sun. I reach up and gently wave at it, but nothing happens. I grab a putty knife from my tool belt and hold it up to provide my eyes more shade, trying to get a better look at this spot, and as I do, the spot starts to widen and expand, a red gash stretching across the yellow sun until suddenly and without warning the spot disappears and the sun cracks opens, spilling yellow all over the city, sizzling on contact." ]	2
	[WP] After a long day at work you get home to discover your brother’s car in your driveway. The thing is, he went missing years ago and his car was impounded.	[ "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 brother had just graduated high school the year he disappeared. He had a full football scholarship to Texas Tech. We lived in a city right near Phoenix Arizona called Scottsdale. My brother went to Saguaro High. He was a four star strong safety and he played a bit of wide receiver and kick returner. He was an all around great football player and great guy. His name was Lukas Weber. His first name is Lithuanian and his last is Luxembourgian. My mom met my dad in Luxembourg on a family trip, they moved in together and eventually moved to the states. They settled down in Florida and that’s where my sister was born. Then me and my brother are twins and we were born in Arizona. My brother and I were best friends and would tell each other all our secrets. I was the back up quarterback for his team in high school and I also was our kicker and punter. I used to play a lot of soccer and my position was goalie. Hence why I could throw and punt. My sister is quiet and loves art and music. We have a lot of talent in the family. We were a very happy family and we would always have fun together. My mother was devastated when we graduated high school and were moving onto college. She always said “you better not grow up like your sister did.” My sister was a painter and she hadn’t been close with the family in a couple years at that point. \n\nThe night my brother disappeared he told me he was going to a party, we went to different colleges but we always stayed in touch, and he told me he’d text me after. The next morning came around and he never texted me. I thought nothing of it and I knew he’d text me later that day. He never texted. It took four days for me to tell our parents and report him missing. It’s been five years since that night and my family has been broken without him. My sister turned to drugs and has been in and out of rehab. My mother was depressed for years and is still working with anxiety issues. My father turned into an alcoholic, not getting home until three in the morning sometimes. I dropped out of college and got a job as a mailman. I play in a men’s football league and I kick,punt,throw and play a little defense. I had my own apartment until I fell behind in rent about six months ago. I’m living at home for now and I get home at around eight at night. One day I wasn’t feeling good so I called in sick and stayed home. Later I go to the grocery store to pick up some food for the dinner I’m going to make my parents. While I was there I was getting calls from a strange number but I never answered. When I was driving home I saw a strange car in my driveway. Could it really be? It was my brothers car. \n\nI started panicking and couldn’t figure out what to do. I parked on the road and waited for someone to come out of the door. I heard the screen door creak open and suddenly there he was clear as day. My brother and our old quarterback coach, Matt Wouter, walking out of our house with his old belongings from the attic. They didn’t notice my car and I waited until they drove away to follow them. They then drove to the Larsen Gallery where my sister had some of her best paintings. I followed them in and they only looked at our sisters art work and nobody else’s. After they left they started driving south eventually crossing the border and that’s where I lost them. I couldn’t cross the border without certain documents and paperwork that I didn’t have at the time. So my brother and my old quarterback coach have been living in Mexico for who knows how long. I had never been out of the country before so I decided I would just wait for him to come back instead of trying to find him alone in Mexico. I drove all the way back home and my parents were worried sick. They yelled at me when I got home and told me to let them know if I was gonna be home later than usual. I understood where this was coming from, they had already lost one child and didn’t want to lose another. I quickly ate dinner and went up to my room to scheme what to do next.\n\nThe next morning I finalized my plan. I needed to see how many times he comes to my house. Is it everyday? Once a month? Maybe only once ever but I needed to know for sure. I called in sick once again and waited out in front of my home in my car again. I saw his car coming down the road and pull up to our house again. He didn’t come out with as many items as he did this time. I think he likes to know how everyone is doing and grabs a few things while he’s here. I made sure I had every document I needed and this time he went to a different building than the art gallery. He went to an AA meeting. My brother peaks into the window gives a thumbs up to our old coach and heads off for the border. This time they let me through border control and we drove for about 15 hours without stopping to a town called Culiacan. It was very small and didn’t have many places to eat or shop. They pulled up to a house and got out and went inside. I parked my car and contemplated going inside. I got up the nerve to go inside when all of a sudden another car pulls into the driveway and five men get out of the car. They go up and knock on the door and someone lets them in. I get out of my car and peak in through the window. What I saw was insanely disturbing and unlike anything I’ve seen before. There were drugs, money and guns everywhere. My heart is pound and all my brain want to do is run away and never look back. There is enough heroine to fill the entire state of Arizona. I run back to my car and lock it not knowing what to do. I wait until all the men leave to approach the house. I knock on the door and get a nervous “coming!” from someone inside. My brother answers the door cautiously and his eyes go wide. He invites me inside to sit down. All the drugs and money have disappeared from the room and he and his coach look like they’ve seen a ghost when in reality it’s me who has seen a ghost. My brother asks me what I’m doing here and I tell him everything. He immediately breaks down crying explaining everything that has happened since the night he disappeared. He said he had gone to a party but he was doing drugs and he overdosed and had to be rushed to the hospital. He knew if anyone find out he’s lose his scholarship and everyone would’ve looked down on him for the rest of his life. He knew his quarterback coach moved down to Mexico the year he graduated so he decided to give him a call and moved down there. He had took a bus to the town he stayed in and then walked to his house. He then found out his coach was a drug dealer after he knocked on the door and he opened it to find drugs and money all over the place. The only reason he is still alive it because he told his coach he would help him sell the drugs if he kept him alive. Then he said “now that you know the truth there’s only one thing to be done” and the next thing I knew there was a gun pointed to me head and BANG..." ]	2
	[WP] Everyone knows princesses and villains get musical numbers. Which is why everyone's surprised when you, a bug, bursts into song.	[ "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.", " Everyone looked at the small little bug that they had forgotten about. The audience grew silent, wanting to hear what the tiny bug was going to say. His voice carried through the theater as he sang about how done he is with people stepping on his miniature body. His stubby legs scurried across the stage, the prince and princess were shocked. Wondering how a bug, something so small can sing. He continued to sing, the bug was done with people killing his family, as the song came to a close, he vowed to take revenge. But, his vowed was short-lived because of the prince, who stepped on him and the audience clapped as the red curtains closed with the lights dimming." ]	2
	[WP] Lying in your hospital bed, you exhale what you believe is your final breath. Suddenly, you hear a booming voice say, “Cut! That’s a wrap people, great job!”	[ "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.", "“Cut! That’s a wrap, great job!”\nA loud cheer and clapping started as people emerged from the shadows of the room holding wearing headset.\nHad they always there? I thought. My memory was so damn cloudy. \n\n“Wh-what?” was all I could muster.\n\nI was so weak from the pain… yet all of a sudden I couldn’t feel anything. The drugs must of kicked in. You see I had been shot many times in the line of duty as an undercover Secret Service agent and spent hours in surgery. The surgeon was still standing over me. He had just explained, that thanks to me, the President and the school bus of children had survived but they couldn’t save me. Now he was smiling and actively trying to shack my hand. \n\n“So I’m going to survive after all Doc?” I asked clearing my throat looking up at him.\nThere was a huge round of laughter. He looked startled though.\n\n“Ha-ha well let’s just say there won’t be a sequel” He said looking around laughing for approval. The 20 or so people who had crowded into my room joined in laughing again.\n\nInfuriated I grabbed his collar and jerking him down to a few inched from my eyes. The laughter stopped. I never developed a sense of humor and had a legendary short temper. Which was forever getting me suspended but they always called me back when the shit got bad. \n\n“What’s so funny Doc, am I dead or not?”\n\nNow he was scared I could smell it.\n“What the fuck Daniel? You’re alive” He wriggled himself free “Jesus man it’s over”.\n\n“Did we get the shot?” a man shouted in the near distance.\n\"Yes sir it’s in the can” replied another.\n“Ok clear the set. Can someone please get Mr Day-Lewis’ agent here now, he’s here somewhere!” the man shouted again. A few people by his side scurried off.\n\nLights went on from now where. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. When they focused I saw my once death bed was almost surrounded by camera and I was in fake hospital room with just 3 walls. What the hell was going on? My world is crumbling around me.\nFor the first time in my life I felt scared. I had jumped out of planes without a Para-shoot, been on an exploding space station falling to earth and that was just this month! \n\nThe man walked into view. It was just the two of us now. \n“Where the hell are we? Is this a new training exercise at Langley?” I demanded. \nI sat up with the help of my legs, which I swore were paralysed just some two hours ago.\n“What no! You’re in Hungary”\n“So this a Russian black site. You work for the KGB”\n“No no no it was just cheaper to film here… tax breaks”\n“You commie son of a bitched I want answers NOW. Who are you?”\n I quickly reached for my trusty side arm that lay on the bed side locker. It never was far from me.\n“I’m Michael Bay” he put his hands up.\n\nThere was a set of foot step approaching I took aim once again. The new stranger came to a stop at the foot of my bed. He was younger than me and well dressed.\n“Not again. For fuck sake Daniel put that down its not real”. My Beretta in an instant felt cheap and plastic, I dropped it in shock. \n“I’m your agent”\n“You mean my handler?” \n”Yeah sure whatever. You said you were taking your medication. How long has been in character for?” He looked at the man named Bay.\n“For the last few weeks of shooting I guess.”\nTurning back to me, “I told you doing a dumb action film as your last movie was a bad ideal. Don’t you remember after Last of the Mohicans. You ran around the forests for another week before we could talk sense into you.”\nI looked at him as if he had 2 heads.\n“Hmm I guess you don’t remember right now, but you will and we’re gonna laugh about this someday soon.”\nHe turned to the other guy while pointing his thumb back at me.\n“At least for a days after Lincoln he was a bit of craic… he was all four score and seven years ago” he chuckled.\n\nThe first man grinned awkwardly. “You mean he still thinks he’s a 60 year old spy?”\n“Yep, happens more than you think with these method actors. They get completely lost in their roles… They say Christian Bale still doesn’t sleep. A high dose of psilocybin usually does the trick for our star here”\nBay nodes in disbelieve. “Now that you mention it. We did find it weird that he requested to keep his characters apartment constructed on set. He’d even sleep there. I thought it was normal as you well know I’ve never worked with any good actors before”\n\nThis is a mind fuck. \n“Who am I?” I pleaded.\n“What was his character’s name again?” The man in the neat suit asked.\n“Chuck Stone”\n“Ok Chuck hows about we get you a stiff drink? I know a good joint down the road and I'll explain everything there”\nI nodded happily. He helped me out of bed putting my arm around him.\nAs we neared the exit of warehouse, my new friend said without looking back.\n“Are you sure you don’t want a sequel? We could just continue shouting. He doesn’t get better than this you know… You may finally win Oscar for best film”\n\nScene" ]	2
	[WP] Write a fight between two dudes just shoving each other but narrate it like a martial arts manga.	[ "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.", "OPEN PALM CHEST PUSH!!!\n\n\"You have ruined my chances with that hottie, you cock blocker!!!\"\n\nCOMBATANT #2... BALANCE REGAINED!! FIERCE STARE OF IMPETULANCE!!\n\n\"She's not yours bro!! Know when you're beat, know when you're meat.\"\n\nEYEBROW RAISED. POWER STANCE ADOPTED BY COMBATANT #1! THROWS HEAD BACK IN HEARTY, MOCKING LAUGHTER.\n\n\"Dude, you would talk about beating meat when a girl like that walks by you. That's all you COULD get, cuz you got no class.\"\n\nBRIEF BLUSH FROM COMBATANT #2. ALLIED MINION OF COMBATANT #2 SNIDELY INTERJECTS!!\n\n\"Yeah! Not next to my pal\"\n\nCOMBATANT #2 DIRECTS FIERCE STARE AND AGGRESSIVE POSE TOWARDS MINION A. MINION A SHRINKS BACK FROM THE WITHERING CONTEMPT!!\n\n\"Shut it dork. You're such a dork they all call you the dork-tater, cuz you're head dork and you're shaped like a potato!!!\"\n\nMINION A WITHERS MOMENTARILY UNDER THE HARSHNESS OF THE BERATEMENT. HIS EMOTIONAL FORTITUDE BEGINS TO CRUMBLE UNTIL HE FINDS A HAND UPON HIS SHOULDER.\nLOOKING UP HE SEES THE GLEAMING BACKLIT FORM OF COMBATANT #1 GIVING HIM A REASSURING SMILE. \n\nTHEY ARE BROS!!!!\n\nMINION A'S ADMIRATION FOR COMBATANT #1 IS CLEARLY EVIDENT. TEARS ARE EVIDENT IN HIS EYES! A SLIGHT YAOI UNDERTONE CAN BE FELT WHEN SEEING MINION A GAZE TO HIS HERO... COMBATANT #1.\n\nCOMBATANT #1 REDIRECTS HIS GAZE HARSHLY BACK TO MINION #2.\n\n\"Yeah, he's a total dork, but he's a total bro too. I can count on him, cuz he won't let me down. We're pals. YOU wouldn't know cuz YOU don't have any. You never did.\"\n\nBLUSH AND DISCOMFORT FROM COMBATANT #2.\n\n\"Shut up!\"\n\nMOCKING SNEER FROM COMBATANT #1. SINGSONG MOCKING VOICE!!!\n\n\"You don't have any friends!\nYou don't have any frieeends\"\n\nMINION A JOINS IN THE MOCKERY!!.\n\nAWKWARD EMBARASSED STUMBLING SHOVE AGAINST COMBATANT #1'S LEFT SHOULDER!!\n\nBALANCE AND CONFIDENCE QUICKLY REGAINED BY COMBATANT #1!!!\n\n\"Yeahh, bring it weeper\"\n\nSUDDEN RECOGNITION OF DOOMING SHADOW. BOTH COMBATANTS AND MINION STARE UP AT THE INTIMIDATING COUNTENANCE OF SWEATY, FRIGHTENINGLY OVERWEIGHT GYM TEACHER!!!\n\n\"Awwright.. what's goin on here??? Break it up. Go run 10 laps each... NO SLACKKIN!!! THAT INCLUDES YOU TATER!!!\"", "(Apologies, have not proof-read. It's late here and I wrote more than I intended! Thank you for this prompt, I had a ton of fun with it. Kudos if you're able to get through all this, haha!)\n\n&#x200B;\n\nOy, oy, oy. You there. You bumped into me. You think you own this sidewalk, huh? You think you can shove just anyone? Hey, get back here! What if I was Eiji-chan, eh? I mean, I’m not, but true story, I met him once, before Eiji-chan was big, you know… huh? What’s that? Who is Eiji-chan? You’re joking! The Treetop Locomotive! The best to ever do it! Don’t tell me you don’t follow Jungle Shuv? Look, you bumped into me. Made my shoulder hurt a bit. Might need some physical therapy. Let’s dip in here for some ramen, you can buy me lunch to apologize. I’ll tell you all about Eiji-chan.\n\n\\~ \\~ \\~\n\nEPISODE 1 – CHERRY BLOSSOM SHUV\n\nEiji-chan was just like you. I can tell. You’re… bookish. You keep to yourself. Bet no one invited you out for the movies after class, huh? Bet you got a nosebleed whenever a pretty girl talked to you. Yeah… Anyway, Eiji-chan was just like that. Kept to himself, never raised his hand in class, not at the top of the class rankings but never further than the middle either, a real unassuming kinda guy, you know? Maybe he got picked on a few times, bullied. Maybe they just make that up to make him coming out of nowhere even more dramatic, who knows. Either way, he never knew anything about Jungle Shuv. Never followed it, see. Just like you.\n\nSo one day, Eiji-chan is leaving school late. He forgot his book, see. Or maybe it was his homework. Whatever. But he’s leaving the classroom. It’s April, you know, cherry blossoms tint the air with the sweet scent of spring. Wistful. So he’s walking through the courtyard of the school, and he drops his book. If Eiji-chan hadn’t dropped his book, man! We may never have gotten to see the Piston Power Pump!\n\nOh, come on! You don’t know the Piston Power Pump?! Ah well, we’ll get there. \n\nSo he drops his book, right? Just below the cherry blossoms in the courtyard. And as he’s bent over, all these blossoms fall, and he sees a shadow in the tree. Not next to the tree, IN the tree! It was Daichi-sensei! Oh, right, you don’t know Daichi-sensei. Well, Daichi-sensei was cool. Just no other word for it. You’ve met them, those guys who are just strong, silent, handsome. Good at everything, you know? Tall, good family. Father that’s hard to live up to, that sort of deal. Well, that was Daichi-sensei. He must have been 16 then. Anyway, some kid from another school heard Daichi-sensei’s dad was some former Jungle Shuv big shot. Psh, that’s underselling it. Daichi-sensei’s dad was Hiroki-san! Would’ve been the champ if not for the injury… but that was a different time. Unlicensed Jungle Shuv, not pretty stuff. Dangerous.\n\nAnyway, this kid from the other school got wind that Daichi-sensei’s dad was Jungle Shuv royalty, and wanted to try his hand at taking down the heir. Daichi-sensei was too cool for that, of course. Blew the kid off. Well, one thing led to another and they’re up in the cherry tree, ready to square off. Daichi-sensei hits him with the basics, just a quick Shoulder Roll followed up with a Triple Tap. A dodge and a BAM BAM BAM! Daichi-sensei was too nimble. Kid never stood a chance. Smacked into the Battle Branch on the way down, knocked a ton of blossoms off and fell right at Eiji-chan’s feet, right next to his notebook. \n\nDaichi-sensei hopped down and offered to help the bully up, but got his hand smacked away. That was the first time Eiji-chan saw Daichi-sensei… Standing there, wind whipping his hair and the cherry blossoms all around, reaching one hand down to his vanquished opponent. It was like time stopped for little Eiji-chan, you know? Like he knew what the concept of cool was, but this guy in front of him, this guy was Cool with a capital C. \n\n“Suit yourself,” Daichi-sensei told the bully. He looked down at EIji-chan, who was still bent over, one hand on his dropped notebook. “Careful kid. You shouldn’t walk under the trees after school.” Then he started to walk away.\n\n“Tch!” The bully sniffed and got to his feet, mumbled a little, “Screw you, daddy’s boy!” and got into position to charge. He sprinted at Daichi-sensei, full charge, and just jumped at him. Swung his leg out to kick Daichi-sensei right in the knee. Using his legs, can you imagine? The coward.\n\nEiji-chan reacted. Didn’t know what came over him. All he could think of was just how cool Daichi-sensei had looked, and knew that this bully couldn’t kick him. It would be wrong. So he took off. Right before the bully got to Daichi-sensei, Daichi-sensei turned around, a lazy disappointment in his eye. He reached out an arm to stop the bully… but it was too slow. Eiji-chan got there first. \n\nBefore Daichi-sensei could see how it happened, the bully was ten feet away, head in the dirt and feet in the air. Eiji-chan stood behind Daichi-sensei, both his arms extended. How had he moved that fast? And… was Daichi-sensei imagining it? Had this quiet little nerd kid… weaved his way through the cherry blossoms that were still drifting through the air, dodging them all before he shoved the bully? No, that would be impossible.\n\nEiji-chan stood, hunched and panting, staring in disbelief at his outstretched hands and the bully in the dirt ten feet in front of him.", "It begins with a sweeping view of a park, across a pair of stands full of spectators, each sitting next to a white ring painted onto the grass. Blocky letters appear in the bottom left corner of the screen, West Falls Park - Regional Tournament. The text fades as the camera pans to a low view, the crowd cheering as the first combatant took the field, a short teen in a simple pair of jeans and a red t-shirt.\n\nThe camera focuses on another teen in the stands armed with a laptop, and his loyal cat companion.\n\n\"That's our man Dave.\" The teen gestures towards the combatant on one edge of the ring, for the benefit of their animal companion, who meowed appreciatively. \"He's been training all year for this opportunity to get into the national tournament.\" The teen pauses to cheer loudly as Dave retrieves a baseball cap from his person and puts it on backwards. \"All that lies between him and nationals is just this last fight.\"\n\nThe music changes pitch and the camera cuts sharply to Dave's eyes, the audience cheering again in the wake of this new development. The camera once again drops to the floor and zooms backwards, as we see Dave's rival combatant first from her heel as she steps into the ring. Her face is obscured by a hood, her primary feature being blue fingerless gloves.\n\n\"You ready for this?\" Her fiendish grin the only thing visible from below her hood.\n\n\"Only if you are.\" Dave flashes his own cocky grin.\n\nBoth glance to the referee who is holding a signal flag aloft. \"3... 2... 1... BEGIN!\"\n\n\\The fingers on Dave's hand curl as the air begins to swirl around him. He drags one foot along the ground before falling into a power stance.\\\n\n\"Ok he's starting with the *Clawed Wolf* technique, he's practiced this a hundred times.\" The spectator teen explains to his cat companion.\n\n\"HYAAAAAAH!\" Dave exclaims as he lunges forward, looking to deliver a push direct to his opponent's side. At the last minute there's a flash, and empty space where she was just standing. Dave catches himself before the edge of the ring, turning to find her grinning.\n\n\"You'll have to do better than that.\" Pride drips from her words.\n\nA panting Dave looks down at his hand, before rolling his wrist and once more curling his fingers intensely in the style of the *Clawed Wolf. He lunges forward again, but this time anticipates his opponent's dodge.\n\nHis opponent grins and forms her own hand into a claw. The spectator teen jumps to his feet in the stands. \"The Bear Paw Counter Style* at this level of competitive play!? Impossible!\" The cat meows with interest.\n\nThe push connects with Dave's side an inch before he was about to shove his opponent, driving him to skid several feet before he fell to his knees panting.\n\n\"Nice try kid.\" His opponent taunts, stretching an arm across her chest. \"But you're going to need better moves than that.\"\n\nDave struggles to his feet. \"Everyone is depending on me. My friend. My cat. My mentor.\" He thinks to himself as he stares at his hands. \"I will have to use that technique.\" Dave flicks his arm towards the ground and begins to form the style of the *Clawed Wolf.\n\nHis opponent smirks, \"You'll have to do better than that if you want to win against me.\" before falling into her own counter stance.\n\nAs Dave charges forward, the camera cuts to a close shot of the spectator teen's surprised eyes, and he recognizes what's about to happen. \"No he can't do that! He's never used that* technique in competition!\"\n\nDave is only steps away from her when his opponent notices the second hand also curled in the style of the *Clawed Wolf. The light catches the glint of her eyes as they go wide. \"Double Handed Clawed Wolf Push!?\" She screams in her internal monologue as she scrambles to switch to a dodge, just as Dave's shove caught her, sending her skidding across the grass several feet.\n\nTurning to face her, Dave finds her hood has fallen away, and he stops, face full of surprise. His opponent is his mentor, Sarah.\n\n\"Nice shot, kid.\" Sarah grins, throwing her hoodie to the side. The camera freezes on a frame of the hoodie midair, Sarah's grin, and the crowd going wild in the background.\n\nAnime Outro Plays\n\nWho thought we'd actually make a show about shoving peo-ple\n\nOur fans will eat up whatever shonen dri-vel\n\nThere's Dave, so dull and boring, he's our he-ro\n\nSpectator Teen so nerdy he doesn't have a na-me\n\nSarah who's only here to add a twist to this ga-me\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWho thought we'd actually make a show about shoving peo-ple\n\nOur fans will eat up whatever shonen dri-vel*" ]	4
	[WP] You make fast friends with a rather odd man with an eye condition who likes to wear a slim stovepipe hat and a bowtie. He says his name is Bill and he'd like to make you an offer, all you have to do is shake his hand.	[ "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 four PM on a Sunday when I saw Bill first striding out of the woods. His countenance crossed the boundary from natural to odd as his black leather shoes crossed from earth to stone. The sun had been swallowed by the horizon line, and I was as drunk as I had ever been, sitting regaled on a park bench. It was an experiment in dissonance, hearing an enthusiastic if rather reedy voice slice through the haze of drink and the whisperings of the winter winds.\n\n\"Do you mind if I join you, this fine night?\" He said.\n\nI nodded dumbly in response, wondering why this stranger would stoop so low as to associate with me.\n\nHe was wearing a strangely light, but long coat, with an crimson waistcoat and white undershirt. Fastened tight around his throat was a paisley blue bow tie with yellow dots and upon his head stood a slim stovepipe, white and tall. His face wrinkled in a combination of amusement and concerned dismay as he looked down at me.\n\n\"Gosh, you're in a bad way, aren't you? Bit of a rough time recently, huh?\"\n\nThe nod repeats once more, a stupid motion of weight in space. His brow furrows at the expression.\n\n\"Well that won't do, will it? How are you going to change the world if you're stuck down in the dumps?\" He exclaims.\n\n\"Chage- the world?\" I slur - needless to say, I was exceptionally inebriated.\n\n\"That's right. Change the world - it's easy really, it all starts in here\" He says, pointing at my face.\n\n\"In... my face?\"\n\n\"No, of course not silly! Inside all of that, in that soggy lump of bacon that is you using barely the energy, it takes to run a lightbulb.\" He says, accompanied by a laugh that feels me with a comfort as warm as a Christmas fireplace.\n\n\"I.. donot use it - don't use it. You know. Can't use it. Something. Doesn't work, you know.\" My voice slides out like shoes on the icy cobbles next to us. He gives me a quizzical look, one filled with an almost child-like giddy joy and curiosity.\n\n\"Why not? You seem to be perfectly functional - if a little sloshed.\"\n\n\"Nothing works. Everything goes wrong, like in school, the tests, I didn't do well at all.\" I have no idea why I'm offloading all my problems, but Bill didn't seem to mind.\n\n\"Failures are the first steps to success.\" he reasons to the empty air, \"besides, I might have a little fix for all that.\"\n\nThick white flakes begin to drift done, isolating us from the rest of the world in a curtain of downy snow. Bill turns his bright eyes upwards to the dark skies, a small smile playing on his kindly face. Then he laughs. It is a wonderous, bolstering sound that resonates even through the muffling crystals that drift down from above. I couldn't understand it then, the laughter, it was so long since I'd heard it that it was almost like a foreign sound to me.\n\n\"W-Why?\" I call out to him. I must know why he laughs. Maybe, just maybe, he'll teach me how to once more. Despite the vagueness of my words, he seems to know what I mean.\n\n\"The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it.\" He said, turning to look me in the face.\n\n\"Like this snow for instance, did you know that it can get too cold to snow? Too cold. For snow!\"\n\nHe laughs again, clapping his hands with a jolly snap before saying:\n\n\"Maybe you should give it a try.\"\n\nI pondered the meaning of the words as he sits up, brushing the melting snow from his suspenders and walks away, only to turn around to look down at me. How could the snow help me, when not even the drink could?\n\n\"Listen, let me help you a little bit. Come on, up you come!\" He says helping me to my feet.\n\nI stand there, shuddering in the cold and stumbling from the alcohol. He puts a hand on my shoulder and looks deep into my eyes. His are a deep chocolate brown, deep with wisdom and knowledge that I have never seen in another human being.\n\n\"Let me help you.\" He repeats emphatically. \"Let's make a little deal, okay, just one. All I need you to do is take my hand. A little shake, you can do it.\"\n\nHe holds out his hand, dressed in black leather.\n\nI hesitate, even drunk me knows better than to accept deals from complete strangers, regardless of their amicability\n\n\"I offer a promise: you never stop learning, never stop trying. Do that, and I promise, at the end of the day, you'll come out on top. In exchange...\"\n\nHis smile has a sadness to it that makes me ache inside.\n\n\"Come talk to me sometimes, I get rather lonely out here.\"\n\nIt seems fair enough. My hand slips into his, and we shake once, twice, thrice. The deal is done, signed and crossed, ironic that last expression being applied to this entity.\n\n\"It's time to go, for both of us.\" He says.\n\nAnd just like that, he's gone, melding back into the spindly trees without a sound.\n\nThe next day, I am in class with a wicked hangover that pounds away at my skull, wondering if Bill was even real. I stare past the lecturer, to the overcast skies out beyond and above, heavy snow drifting down like last night. Idly, I begin to wonder about what makes snow fall, and why it would be too cold for it to form.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI wonder why I choose to think about that now, it all happened so long ago. My pen comes to a rest as my signature lies sprawled across the printed document that's been spat out by my fax machine. I look at the title one more time, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROPOSAL R 231.24 - GREEN ENERGY GENERATION IN THE MIDWEST. My signature lies at the bottom, scrawling, looping ink fixed above block letters - \"Jason Morrison, Professor of Environmental Sciences, PhD\". It was beginning to look a little strange to me, like a word repeated one too many times. I supposed that reading and signing fifty of these in two weeks was probably the cause.\n\nI nearly jump as I feel her light hands come to rest on my shoulders.\n\n\"You should go sit with Tracy, the show's about to start.\"\n\nI nod and give her a quick peck on the lips, earning a smile as she walks away into her home office. A sense of joy filled me as I remember what is going to happen, what I was about to witness.\n\nI was about to be reunited with my old friend.\n\nI stand up, crossing the threshold to the living room, planting myself on a soft couch directly in front of the display.\n\nLights and sounds flare across my vision.\n\nThe chant begins, and I am lost in time and memory.\n\n\"BILL BILL BILL BILL.\"\n\n---\n\nIf you enjoyed that and want to see more of my work, check out /r/The_Alloqium or, for excellent content in general, check out /r/redditserials.\n\nThank you for reading,\n\nThe Alloquist" ]	2
	[WP] You've been taking care of a large number of animals over the years, including bees and other unusual pets. When animal-human translation machines are invented, you discover that the animals think of you as a god/a higher being, and there are cult-like groups dedicated to appeasing 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.", "I have always loved all animals, soft, rough, smooth, scaly, all of them. Living in a pretty remote area with a large stretch of land lets me live out my dream of being able to work from home and take care as many little buddies as I can.\n\nI'm not gonna lie, having so many is by no means easy but their all family and I love them all as such. So it was no surprise when the universal translator came out with an animal edition, I waited till midnight for it to drop so I could sync my ear piece over night.\n\nWhen I awoke it was to my two dogs Bacon and Shadow ( Don't judge I let my two nephews name them) well Bacon and Shadow are who I saw, but what I heard was the milky deep voice of Morgan Freeman.\n\n\"It is not like the Hairless one to be so late on the commencement of kibble\"\n\n\"Now, now, brother shadow, you shan't nibble the paw the gives treats. the Hairless one knows best. Remember that cone that was stuck on your head whence returning from the bad man? It took her awhile but only she could release you from that head trap prison.\"\n\nI could not believe my eyes. My two dogs were communicating, their once annoying whines now translated into coherent speech. I sat up in excitement forgetting my cat who has habitually made my stomach her bed\n\n\"Watch it Hairless, if i don't get my sleep then who's going to watch over the house for invading fish in our cups of water\"\n\n\"Wait you think fish are in those cups you knock over at night\" I retorted amazed while I watched my cat walk away. But the only response I got were from the dogs.\n\n\"There she goes babling again\"\n\n\"Yes, do pray tell how the mighty hairless one is suppose to fend off intruders without a sharp roar\"\n\nI forgot they can't understand me still, I remembered as I crawled out of bed to go feed the pets.\n\nThe dogs were grateful and the cat was unimpressed(... I think she thinks we are roommates?) It was now I would start my daily rounds to the other pets. The horse got it's hay but all i heard from her was\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"GOTTA GO FAST, MUST BE FAST, I AM SPEED. I MUST SHOW THE HAIRLESS I AM STILL GOOD.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt broke my heart knowing I took her in as an EX racehorse, the anxiety she still held. I sat with her extra long and brushed her in all the places she liked to calm her. Next was the rabbits. The adorable pack that stick together, I really hoped for something cute and not sad, Mabel being nervous like that really weighed on me. However, when I got to the rabbits, what came through my ear piece was a shock.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Tonight is the night we burn down the wretched house... But the Hairless one... BUT THE FUR BEAST WHO TAUNTS US CONSTANTLY (the cat -\\_-)... Who will feed us without she with no hair... We will return to the wild and feast like our wild counterparts... I dont know snuffles I... Shes staring at us... play it cool guys.... Shhhhhhut up.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nConcerned but not worried I filled their food and moved on to the ducks. I approached with the day old bread from jimmy johns, my best friend Nicole works there is is able to hook me up to feed my little duck hobby.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Awwwwww shiz the Hairless one, AYE Duckario get over here\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh Quack *She got that mother duckin' breeeeaaaaddddd*\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe ducks always made me happy when feeding them. Normally it was the way they stab the water to get the floating bread glomps and shake their heads but I really appreciated hearing their excitement.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMy life was never too exciting, I never got to travel much because of my family and I have Nicole but out here there's not too much going on or too many people. But I've always had this family and now (Hopefully) I can give back to them as much love as they have given me." ]	2
	[WP] The gates have opened, the demons have surged forth. You cower in fear as one turns to look at you, and speaks in a voice like jagged glass, "Don't worry, we shall protect 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.", "We had been preparing for this day for 3 years. No one knows how we figured it out. Something about abnormal energy build-up in the middle of the Sahara desert? People didn't care why it happened anyway, all that everyone is talking about is what's going to happen today, in a few minutes. Scientists have figured out that something, whatever it is, is going to be released today. The energy is reaching its peak right now, and I am one of the \"lucky\" ones that get to witness it firsthand. Armed with a load of cameras, microphones, and other weird technology stuff, I'm constantly broadcasting to the internet, live, and millions are looking on. \n\nI can even see the sparks in the air now, even from 50 meters away. It's red, and flaring with power. It's going to explode, I think to myself. I begin, for the first time in my life, to feel regret. Regret for the people I killed. Not that they were innocent or anything pathetic like that, but it's a shame I didn't get away with it. The other criminals stood around me. Some had tried to escape, while we were flying to the desert. They got tased. Our numbers had gone from 33 to 12 before we even landed. Goddamn idiots- didn't they realize they were going to die anyway? We were all going to get the death penalty until the scientists came up with a better use for us. I didn't complain. Might as well go out with a bang.\n\nThe buzzing of the drones above us was suddenly drowned out by a louder sound. It came from the sparks in the air. It was also a type of buzzing, though deeper and much more organic sounding. I heard gasps from the others. Weak. At least stand your ground while dying. Then a few of them started screaming. Quickly scanning the sparks, I didn't notice any change, so I glanced to my left instead. The tough-looking tattooed guy, who had been standing at my side a few moments ago, was laying on the sandy ground, covering his ears. The others were in similar poses. One girl had passed out, her long black hair sprawled on the ground.\n\n The buzzing from the air got louder. A drone fell from the sky, but I couldn't hear its impact on the sand. The unconscious girl's hair started flailed wildly, and sand began to get blown around, but I didn't feel a thing. Actually, despite the winds, I felt warmer than usual. Much warmer. A drone, that was spitting out blue electricity, caught my eye. The black plastic cover had started melting off. I grabbed my face to make sure I wasn't doing the same thing, but my body seemed completely unfazed. What the fuck was going on..? \n\nWe had been given a timer each so we could know when the energy reached its max. There was less than a minute left. In a moment of clarity, I understood it wasn't going to explode. Something way worse was going to happen. Something capable of making 11 full-grown serial killers fall to the ground. Something capable of melting plastic 50 meters away. Maybe the ones that tried to escape were on the right track after all. Maybe the electric chair was better than this. I could do nothing else than look on, as the sparks grew into flames, and as the countdown continued. \n\n19 seconds. 18 seconds. The cameras strapped to me melted off my body and dripped into the sand.\n\n15. 14. 13. The other criminals had all passed out now. Some were giving off black smoke.\n\n9. 8. 7. I wanted to go out with a bang. Not like this. Not like this.\n\n4. The timer melted before reaching zero. I started counting myself.\n\n3. 2. \n\n1.", "I fell to the floor, realizing too late that my tuna melt was directly underneath me. The warm sandwich pressed against my beating heart on the dirty floor of the cafeteria. It was a carbon-copy of any other government building’s cafeteria, but with slightly worse food.\n\nI was about to take a bite when it happened. A shimmering black portal opened on the far side, in front of the TVs playing public access television on an endless loop, and the things started emerging. The first one was easily eight feet tall and covered in red sinew like licorice. It had massive twisting horns and teeth that hung a foot beneath its gaping mouth, spitting bits of smoke and flame. The next demon trundled out on all fours. It looked like an ancient dinosaur but covered with flaming scales and thick bone-armor.\n\nMy colleagues were all running in panic now, but I was cemented to the floor. Maybe because of the tuna melt, maybe because I wasn’t as brave as the others. Neither answer would have been surprising to me. Then I noticed that the tall one was staring. Directly at me.\n\nIt cocked its head and the flames swirling from its mouth tilted to follow. It…almost smiled, I think.\n\n“Do not worry, little one. We are here to protect you.” Its voice was horrible, like a boulder sliding sharply across shattered glass. I winced at the noise. Then I processed what it said.\n\n“You – you understand us?” It nodded. Tears streamed down my face as I tried to understand it. “Protect us? From what?!”\n\nDemons continued to pour from the portal, and they filled the cafeteria now. I could not begin to describe the mix of horrors and wonders, impossible shapes and distortions among them. I realized too late that the big one was responding already to my question.\n\n“You all will be killed soon. We…have an interest in not seeing that happen.” It laughed, producing an effect like cannon-fire and thunder. It gestured with a claw outside and I stared through the window. The rain clouds had darkened and wholly blotted out the sky now. The noise of the demons had covered its approach, but the storm intensified and was spewing a torrential downpour. I noticed that the streets were flooding nearly to the level of the windowsills already.\n\n“Killed? Who?” I said, babbling shrilly. But he wasn’t listening. He was speaking in a different, darker language now to the latest demon in the crowd. This one was long with black rubbery skin, and looked almost like a whale – if that whale had been zombified, coated in metal armor, and doubled in size after its death. The tall demon uttered terrible noises and gestured outside. The whale nodded once and disappeared in a putrid cloud of sulfur. Somehow it reappeared outside the window, in the middle of the flooding street. It opened its gaping maw wide and inhaled sharply. Our windows, and all those of the surrounding buildings, shattered from the pressure. The whale continued as I tried to puzzle out what was happening.\n\nThe floodwaters, and the rain still falling from the air, were all getting sucked into the demons’ mouth. It drank greedily and grew proportionally as it took in more. I stared in disbelief – it had cleared the flood completely in under a minute. The storm still raged of course, but it no longer threatened us. The tall one turned back to me now, satisfied with the work of its minion.\n\n“As I was saying, we do not want to see you perish just yet.”\n\n“Who? How? What is doing this?” I got up to my knees, but they were shaking too hard to support me. I dropped back down to the ground in shame. A disgusting millipede – magnified a hundred times in size – was crawling through the portal now.\n\nThe demon laughed again and I wished I had not asked anything.\n\n“Our mutual acquaintance up above,” it said mockingly. “Let’s just say He is not pleased with how you all have turned out recently and wants to start over again.” It leaned closer and knelt so that it’s flaming face of horrors seared the edge of my own. “But we still have work for you before you go.”" ]	3
	[WP] You have had the ability to freeze and unfreeze time all your life without many difficulties. Any inanimate object you touch also unfreezes. One day you are in a crowd and you freeze time. Then you hear a cough.	[ "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.", "Whenever I snap my fingers, time stops. This power I discovered one day when I was 8 years old and I trying to learn how to snap. All my friends could do it but I still didn't know how. So I spent all day trying to learn. When I finally did it I was so happy that I didn't realize everything around me stopped. I kept snapping over and over for what felt like minutes but in reality it had only been a few seconds as time kept starting and stopping everytime I snapped. Eventually I decided to go show my mom, she would be so surprised. When I found her she was in kitchen just standing still in front of the stove, not moving an inch. \"Mom! Mom! Look Mom! I learned how to snap!\" snap time started again, the sound of the food sizzling suddenly reached my ears but I ignored it I was too excited. \"Did you see mom!?\" My mom jumped at the sound. \"Jason! when did you get there? You scared me!\" \"What? I'm trying to show you something pay attention mom!\" \"Ok ok, what did you want to show me?\" \"I learned how to snap, see?\" snap the sound of the food stopped \"See mom I can snap now!\" But my mom didn't answer she just stared at me, the expression on her face unchanging.\"Mom. Say something. Why are you just staring at me like that!\" I waved my hand in front of here face, but she didn't react she didn't even blink. \"Dad! Mom stopped moving! I think something's wrong with her!\" I yelled towards the living room where my dad was watching tv on the couch. I went to find my dad, he wasn't moving either. I looked at the TV, it wasn't making any sound and the image was frozen. Everything was frozen except for me. I was so scared, I started crying. I was tugging on my dad's arm but he didn't react. I started pulling my mom's apron hoping, praying that she would start moving again. I screamed \"mom snap out of it!\" snap I snapped my fingers in front of her face and suddenly the world started moving again, I could hear the sizzling of the food, the AC humming, the faint sound of the TV in the livingroom, and the sound of my mom's voice \"oh that's nic- why are you crying what's wrong baby?\" \"MOM YOU'RE BACK!\" I bawled into my mom's apron. \"What are you talking about? I didn't go anywhere, what's wrong? One second you were trying to show me that you learned how to snap and then you were crying\". Soon after that I pieced it together, I realized that I had the power to stop time.\n\nI made good use of my ability over the years, it always got me out of tough situations. Woke up late? I just stopped time until I was ready to go to school so I would never miss the bus. Forgot to do homework? Just freeze time and copy off of someone who had done it. It even saved my life once when someone pulled out a knife and tried to mug me. I froze time and took their knife and pointed it back them. I wasn't exactly the most honest person and you could say I've been pretty selfish with the use of my power but I'm only human, I'm not some superhero. Nor do I want to be one, too much responsibility, I just wanna live my life in peace. However that doesn't mean I haven't helped people out over the years. My friend dropped his phone and I stopped time and caught it before it hit the ground, I even saved a kid from getting hit by a car. Most of the time it's just luck, being at the right place at the right time. I was living my life peacefully, stopping time if anything bad happened.\n\nAnd then I met her. I was 22 when it happened, I was hanging out in the mall with some friends. We were heading to this new arcade that opened up recently. When I bumped into someone and dropped my phone, instinctively I froze time and grabbed it, but before it could unfreeze time I heard someone coughing. When time stops all ambient sound stops with it. The people talking, the car engines humming, wind howling, everything. So that cough I heard, it felt so loud it made my ears ring. I spun around and ran towards the sound, it was the first time I saw or heard someone moving around while time was frozen, I had to know who it was. That's when I found her, another \"time weaver\", that's what she called it, someone else who could move through time the way I could.", "A cough.\n\nEverything was dead silent, the frozen world around me still as a crystal-hewn image of reality, rigid and unmoving as it should be. I had gotten used to my footsteps rumbling and echoing through the still and lifeless quiet, but... \n\nSomeone else? I scanned my surroundings, the people around me stopped dead in their tracks, turned into timeless figurines. I could detect no movement, no faltering in the perfect motionlessness. Yet I had heard it, loud and clear. Someone clearing their throat.\n\nI hesitated and considered returning things to normal, but no. Whoever was here with me, I would lose my chance to find them if I restored the flow. Who were they? Were they like me?\n\n\"Who's there?\" I called with a dry throat, the words sounding almost shrill in the stiffly-hanging air. No answer came forth from the statuesque crowd, and the shout bounced emptily off the walls and windows of the nearby buildings.\n\nI have never really gotten over it. The emptiness... the void left by the absence of one of the core aspects of our world. A human mind does not compute nothingness. Yet, taking time away like this felt like taking the soul, the animacy of the world. Almost like a crime, with the suspended skies and dark-windowed offices the witnesses to something the petrified humans around me would never know.\n\nI took a careful step forward and saw a shadowy figure wisping to my left, just at the corner of my vision. Whipping around, I look over the crowd once more. All unmoving, I detect nothing there, yet a feeling remains. I jog to the edge to get a better view. A movement inside, visible through a store window. I dash forwards, towards the door.\n\nAs I tear it open, I barely hear a faint clackering running up under the noise I am making. I weave past the blank-faced shoppers, avoiding brushing any of them. Another echo reaches me, I bound up the staircase.\n\nA door on the upper floor landing. I fling it open. A faint creak in the long, dimly lit corridor. A red door at the end. I rush to it. It opens.\n\nI slam face-first into a middle-aged man, who looks around, confused. I instantly realise he is not the one I was chasing, but I had just accidentally quickened him via the collision.\n\nI swear and restore the flow. Sounds boom into my ears as the world regains life, unaware of everything. The man curses me, but I ignore him.\n\nI look around in the dimly lit storage room. A single window slit illuminates the place. No other exits. The dust hangs seemingly still, almost as though I had not ended the stasis. I suppress and sneeze and shiver. \n\nTo this day, I still wonder who was watching me back then.\n\nI wonder what things exist in this world that I know nothing of, as nobody knows of me.", " \n\nI've been experimenting with this for years now, but I guess there are still anomalies. Sighing, I walk up to the perpetrator, a guy with shades and a mustache. Then I take my machete and behead him cleanly. The blood splatters onto the nearby pedestrians, but no matter - it's purple, confirming my suspicions, and it'll disappear soon enough.\n\nThe life of a hero is strange.\n\nThey call me despicable. They say I'd do better as a villain - good for them that I haven't joined the villains, because I hear that the payroll there is even harder than as a hero, and plus you have to deal with people hunting you down all the time.\n\nBut I do things to my own ends, as I see fit. I reveal truth, and I don't expect people to laud me for it. They won't thank me... but in the end they forgive and forget about me.\n\nTime has started again. It would be more accurate to say it continued, and I won't bore people with details. The pedestrians don't see, same with the other heroes. I might be able to stop time - but time is really the essence of my power. No, it's more accurate to say that I'm closer to time than most mortals. I can freeze and unfreeze it, sure. But deeper than that, I can see through it, and sometimes time lends me a view of more than just through its scope.\n\nThoughts are fleeting. I wouldn't say that I'm a mind reader. But when I touch something and freeze it, I get just a hint of what it would do, think, be in the moments if I hadn't.\n\nI don't freeze other people in front of others, though. Not usually. It grosses them out.\n\nBut freezing other people is the main way which I can discern the true problems, discern if someone is really just as they say... I could weed out things, and then use information I've gleaned plus the demeanor of the people requesting help in order to figure things out. Just like they asked, though I'll admit, a hero like me neither gets nor needs much appreciation when it comes down to it.\n\nMostly, though, I'm not a big dude. Of course I'd rather remain in the background - most of my hero life has been dedicated to freezing popcorn bowls in the air, and also maybe my TV and video game consoles. Such a pity, though, that I can hardly rewind.\n\nAnd I carry around a machete. It's not a big one, but it does its job when I'm dealing with monsters. When I'm tired, when I'm bored, sometimes I find myself just swinging it around. It's like a reflex, and it keeps people away. Not like it's illegal, though I've been sent to whatever lame behavioral service they have with heroes. Several times.\n\nI don't really know what I'm doing here now. Ah yes, the boss has teleport. How convenient. She twirls a pencil around me. She flicks it towards me, and I reflexively catch it - and freeze it, because not to my surprise, it's a flash grenade.\n\n\"Good,\" she says. \"If you can do that, then you'll do well on the mission I have for you next.\"\n\nI blink and slowly look up. \"A mission so soon? I just finished saving a crowd of pedestrians.\"\n\nShe bursts out laughing. \"Yeah, and then they ended up thinking you're the enemy. Here. These are the details. Maybe it'll teach you how to help without self immolating.\" " ]	4
	[WP] When we can't sleep, it's because the sleep servers are full and spots only open when someone wakes 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.", "The new girl is finally here and work has never been more enjoyable. I’ve noticed that the amount of coffee breaks I’m taking has grown significantly, and that led to a newfound discovery: 5 cubicles away, 3 florescent lights and 2 security cameras in between, it takes me exactly 14 steps to be next to her. And I absolutely love pretending to get coffee so I can walk by her.\nMalibu. I remember her name from the meeting on Monday morning, and it’s the only thing I can think \nabout for days now. Malibu. What a beautiful name. If you’ve seen any pictures of Malibu before the bombing, you’d know what I’m talking about. Fun fact, I was born the day it happened: the Iranians decided to declare war on what used to be the United States, and they did it by blowing up California, Malibu being the first target. My mom saw live footage of it happening on the news and went into a huge panic attack, her water broke, and she plopped me right out. \n\nThe minute Malibu walked into the office for the first time, I was attracted, mesmerized, fallen. It’s like if the godly beings decided to recreate Malibu but this time in human form: her warm golden hair like fine sand on the beach, eyes clear and blue like roaring ocean waves, and her cheeks were rosy, color of sunset.\n\n“Hey, coffee monster!” \nWell that caught me off guard. We’re in the break room. All alone. It is time to let out my charm.\n“Hey, nerdy new girl.”\n“Haha! You’re very funny.”\n“Sometimes. Break time for you too?”\n“Yeah! Ugh, the new project is driving me nuts. Seems like I’m gonna have to pull an all-nighter.” She shrugs.\n“You alright on those sleep tokens?” I try not to sound too concerned.\n“Yeah, but I mean... you know how these things work.” She says while putting sugar in her coffee. “Later!” \n\nOn my way home, I couldn’t help but think about the conversation with Malibu earlier. Our first ever conversation. It was perfect, just a bit too short, but that’s alright, She needed to go back to work and catch up on the project.\nMalibu, the girl of my dreams, will die of exhaustion if she can’t finish a damn project by morning.\n\nI remember when this statement made no sense at all. It wasn’t until recently when the government decided the economy was in such “critical condition” after the war, that they had to introduce SLEEPLOG to all citizens — a technology that keeps track of and controls our sleep. They needed people to work more, and to make sure of that, they took away our right to sleep freely. The only place to sleep is the Sleep Station, and the only way to get in is if you have a Sleepspot, to access it you need sleep tokens. You earn sleep tokens by working, for each project you finish, you get a token. The sleep station puts you on schedule and when you skip a visit, you lose your Sleepspot. \nWhat will happen to Malibu if she loses her Sleepspot?\nHer name will be put on an endless waitlist, and she will work until she dies.\n\nBefore SLEEPLOG, I used to lay awake at night thinking, mostly about the war. I wish I could say now, “I was up last night thinking about Malibu,” but I did just get out of the Sleep Station, and whatever shot they put in my ass cheek made sure I had exactly 8 hours of sleep. \nI couldn’t help but look for Malibu first thing after I entered the office. I found her in the break room. She looks tired and sad, her blue eyes aren’t so clear now.\n“Good morning.” I put on a smile.\n“Morning.” She looks up at me. Her face reminds me of photos during the war. Mostly of hungry children.\n“I couldn’t make it.” Her voice is shaking.\n\nThe rest of the conversation was a blur, although I’m not exactly trying to find out what I said or what she said after that, because my brain is too busy reliving the moment when I handed her my token. hers, now. All I can think about is that I was there to save her day. I’m her hero now.\n\nAnd now I have to find a way to sleep again.\n\n\n*part 2 if requested :)", "Daniel didn't turn around when he heard the body collapse behind him. It was someone either 3 or 4 people behind him. All he heard was the brushing footsteps which kicked the dead man's legs aside and the bustling of the people moving up in the queue to fill his space. He was exhausted. Heavy eyes, shoulders and arms which weighed him down significantly. He had been in the queue for a few days. \n\nOne day everyone woke up and then the next day no one could fall asleep anymore. World wide Insomnia. It was amazing at first, working all day and celebrating all night. It was fun, till the first group of deaths. Who knew you could die from exhaustion? It was the children first. In the first week you could stand in the street and hear the cries of multiple children beg to their parents to be able to fall asleep and the next week you heard their parents cry over their bodies. Car crashes, planes falling from the sky, frayed nerves, society turned into its worst version of itself and no one could explain it. \n\nIt was in week 3 when the rumor of a solution had spread. A forced sleep capsule. It could only fit one person at a time and they would have to remain in the capsule for a full 8 hours before the next person could enter. Daniel, after hearing there was only one in the country, lined up. Hundreds of thousands of bodies lined up and in a collective dazed stupor and they waited. The queue maybe moved every day but what else was there to do? Daniel realised that you either died here or waited for everyone else to die in front of you, it was a matter of waiting for either one. \n\nLittle did he know there was no pod. No one was sleeping for 8 hours. It was an organised line for the inevitable. It was a lie and as Daniel fell into the last sleep that he would ever experience, the long sleep, he started to smile as he ended his literal waking hell. He was free." ]	3
	[WP] Hell is not a place where evildoers are sent, by rather a very intensive God-training course. To date, nobody has completed the course. Until today, that is.	[ "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.", "&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Oh God.. I mean… Shit. DING. Oh no.”\n\nThe blanket sloughed off of me as I opened my eyes. It was a beautiful day, again. Somehow they can keep it sunny underground. It was gorgeous, and I still couldn’t keep it together. Rule #17: DO NOT USE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN. There are hundreds of people who simply cannot adhere to this rule, not for lack of trying. I guess I’m one of them.\n\nTo be honest though, that’s the least of most people’s problem. We all had to accept some pretty major revelations (ha). Out of all the possible worlds, this being ours was nobody’s guess. A golden tray holding a freshly baked loaf of bread was handed to me, gently of course. Everything is gentle here. It just makes it worse.\n\nWe were wrong, we were all wrong. God exists, or so I assume, I’ve never actually seen Him. What I do know is that Hell is very, very real, and it’s fucking insane. DING. No, there aren’t hooks and knives and brimstone and fire. Dante is here though, and he’s still upset about it. Rejoice, ye sinners, for our loving Lord has given us another chance. And this time, the guidelines are set in stone.. on the ceiling. I looked up, squinting in the mysterious sun. I still haven’t figured out where it’s coming from.\n\n\\#1 YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BUT ME. (This includes idols, such as, but not limited to: art, literature, film, internet, technology, friendships, romantic relationships, animals, material goods, nations, ideas, concepts….) The text trailed off into the distance.\n\nThis time was supposed to be different. This time, we were given context, so we couldn’t fuck it up, even if we tried. DING. One of the counselors arrived. Three strikes. Again. Extended time.\n\nTime doesn’t really have any meaning down here, but from what I can gather, it’s been about 8 years. We are to be reformed. Remodeled. Sculpted into the beings we were created to be by our ever-loving Creator, (or so I’m told). Not may people leave this place.. (in fact, has anyone?) If we are able to accept the Lord our God as our Savior and Bestest Friend, apparently we get to leave or, ascend, as they call it.\n\nNobody guessed that we’d have the same problem as we did up on the crust above us. Faith.\n\nI’ve never seen God. No one has. We are simply told to have faith.\n\nThe door, the far one, the one you can never really reach, started glowing faintly as I turned the corner. Probably nothing. Same old shit. DING." ]	2
	[WP] In a world where connections are everything, you severed all ties. You hate everyone. One day your feelings haphazardly take over control so much that you receive a nasty superpower: anything you touch turns into dust. After contemplating you want the world to end, so you touch the World Tree.	[ "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.", "\nThis is what I’ve got. 🙂\n\n\nThe only people I’ve ever loved are the same ones who inevitably neglected my already wounded heart. \nI recall asking myself why stay when you feel so judged, when they are tearing you apart?\nI was always theirs for the taking, \nUntil I finally decided it was my time to depart. \n\nI groveled in anguish, struggling to understand my mind.\nAnger and hatred fueled me, the body soon following behind.\nRage was all I was. It took over my entire being. \nIn a demented way it was mesmerizingly freeing.\n\nMy body felt different, a fire burned inside.\nYou could feel it on my skin, you could see it in my eyes. \nFire red with fury, no longer able to hide\nThis rage slowly flourishing \nMaterializing, quickly coming to life.\n\nHeat rapidly spread and soon every atom throughout my entire body was searing. \nThe bus stopped abruptly as people started disappearing. \n\nDust remained as I walked down the aisles, a single touch, leaving me with the slightest smile. \nWatching their faces, tormented and teary.\nAs I’d lay a single finger on their temple while sneering.\nNow gone. To the next. A father volunteering. \nIn place of his child, how very endearing. \n\n\nThis newfound power is undoubtedly the greatest gift of all. \nI will share it with the world, while I watch the world fall.\n\nLife in this world, pampered by the power of light. Allowing every single leaf to grow, abundantly, with life. \n\nHowever my touch brings darkness.\nA power I was chosen to harness.\nIt’s already been decided,\nThe world must pay for my life full of harshness.\n\nThe world tree, with my touch, will bring the end of days.\nI touch the tree without hesitancy, and the world before me fades.\n\nWhen I awake I see my job is done, life is gone, the world has now paid.\nBlissful. I, too, begin to fade\n\nI lie in the grass, slowly becoming dust..\nA single thought remains that, all along, I was the only one I could trust. \n\nI disappeared at last. Free from this world. \nFree from mistrust. \n\nNow.\n\nJust..\n\n\nAbsolute dust." ]	2
Credit to u/I_Think_I_Cant for the inspiration!	[WP] You were given the power to freeze time at will. For the past several years, you’ve kept time frozen, content to sit in your own world of peace and quiet. No wars, no fighting, no problems. Then one day, browsing the selection at your local library, someone’s eyes meet yours.	[ "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 Brandon got the power, it was traumatic enough. The negative space that represented the hole a human being occupied approached him as he slept, a black void that extended it's finger to draw something on Brandon's hand. But the upside was worth it. His first few attempts at using his newly gained powers were trivial enough. Catching a knocked over mug before it had the chance to spill, getting to and from work in seemingly no time at all. He tested to see if he could walk across water (he couldn't).\n\nIt was a few months after gaining these abilities when he did something extreme. He just turned time off. He decided it was the perfect time to. Fall in New England, a gorgeous time of year, and on a perfect sunset as well. He could look out the window to the sun just kissing the horizon in a blur of reds and oranges, fading into the dark blue of twilight. Cars sat on the street, their drivers longing to get home. It was perfect. It was simpler this way!\n\nThere were troubles, of course. Electronics didn't work. Feeding himself became a challenge; he couldn't cook anything either, not with the stove or even a fire. They simply wouldn't start, and to utilize them would require him to turn time back on, thus wasting his perfect, eternal evening. On the bright side, nothing spoiled. He had all the fruit and vegetables he could eat, at least until his store ran out. He read more often. He slept out doors. He thought about travelling. Surely that would be fun. But he never quite did.\n\nAlmost two years passed. Or at least that was what if felt like. In reality, no time passed at all. Brandon went to the library again. He felt somewhat empty. And hungry, but the hunger had become normal at least. There was a woman at the library. She was young, but he was certain she was some child's mom. He didn't know if she worked here or not. She just simply was there. Had been since forever ago. Sometimes he'd just come into the library to watch her." ]	2
I just thought if something that would really put a killer on edge, now it’s a prompt.	[WP] You killed your uncle to inherit his mansion and fortune. When police investigation starts, you begin to hear something odd. It’s the inner monologuing voice of one of the detectives, and they’re onto 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.", "Arms plastered against the cool tiled floors you let your head rest as you soaked into your jacuzzi. Had you known your uncle's death would let you inherit everything he owned you would have killed the old man sooner. The two of you were never particularly close, nor were you strangers so when you had snuck into his private quarters and saw your name listed in his will you were pleasantly surprised. It took about a month of convincing yourself of murdering your own kin, and another to plan and eventually kill him. \n\nYou did your best, researching everything you could about killing someone. Watching every single television show about crimes, how anything could point towards you. After you were sure you had covered everything, you set out and murdered your uncle. \n\nWhat you did was pretty simple really, you just used your uncle's allergy against him. To be honest you weren't sure he was even going to eat it. After all, you left a very suspicious looking basket of muffins stuffed with crushed peanuts outside his mansion. Lo and behold the following day your uncle had died from allergic reaction. \n\n\"This is the life.\" You say as you lift yourself up, reaching out to a table you placed by the jacuzzi. Grabbing a wine bottle, you pop it open and sink back in the warm water. After a few swigs from the bottle you swear you're hearing things.\n\nIt's too strange. Everything about this murder is strange.\n\nYou make your way out of the jacuzzi and grab a towel to dry yourself. There was a voice in your head, and you were pretty sure it was the alcohol talking. It was probably a sign that you should get to bed.\n\nWhen we look at it there's no foul play, other than those muffins. It has to be one of the relatives. This can't just be some random death.\n\nWas it just you or did the voice sound like it was Detective Velasquez, the man who had interviewed you a few days ago.\n\nDetective Howard thinks it was one of his nieces or nephews. I'm starting to think that way as well. After all, he wasn't loved very much. Plus, who wears gloves when carrying a basket? It's not even winter.\n\nThat's rather odd, you think to yourself. Detective Howard was one of the detectives assigned to your uncle's case. Plus, gloves? You wore them to keep your dna off the basket. That was rather suspicious. Was being drunk giving you the ability to hear someone's thoughts? Specifically one of the detectives' working on the case. You almost laughed to yourself. \n\nWell, I should probably pay a visit to the one living in his mansion. I need to double check their alibi. I feel like they're the most likely suspect in cases like these. Especially how smoothly the inheritance went.\n\nOh shit, that was you. If your drunken mind was right, you'd have to rehearse your whole \"I'm innocent\" spiel. Well at least you wouldn't be interrogated out of the blue, that sure calmed you down. You chuckled to yourself, surely God was with you. To have given you not only your uncle's fortune but this premonition as well. \n\n\"I will live the life of luxury my uncle led. Even God has allowed it.\"\n\n--I still feel cringe-y lmao will I ever get better at writing sobs also, I tried as best as I could to use the \"you\" pov that I avoided naming altogether, and describing the person. I tried to keep the gender neutral so it went pretty weird using \"they\" ._. -- \n\n--any feedback is appreciated uwu even if you tell me it's cringe, I understand uwah--" ]	2
	[WP] Good news, you’ve finally learned how to love and be friendly. Bad news, you don’t think you’ll be able to communicate that to the humans, on account of your tentacles, large horns, and lack of vocal cords.	[ "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 wasn't sure how to show my disgust! How dare he imply I would put my tentacles inside of something like that! The annoyance was probably obvious, my one eye narrowed towards the crowd of onlookers. I was unsure how they would react when I plopped out of the sky, landing rear first on the back of someones car, leaving a slimey green indent in their side door. \n\n\"Its a freak! Shoot it.\" One trigger happy man shouted. \"If only someone had a gun?\" He squealed, perhaps trying to pass as a female of his species? Suddenly he stepped forward, chest puffing out as he dragged a long breath from his throat. \"I have a gun!\" He said in a macho voice, as if he was the latest hero on The Galactic avengers. Without a word he began unloading bullets into me, each cylinder getting lost in my acidic goo as I merely watched him. It was a weird sight. He just shot, didn't even tell me to raise my tentacles or anything. Were humans always so aggressive?\n\nThanks to my human kindness courses, I knew how to deal with this. I raised my foremost tentacle and began swinging it through the air. Only to have my movement stopped as I heard a woman shout. \"He's GOT A KNIFE!\"\n\n\"What sort of maniac brings a weapon out in public, theres kids around fella!\" The gunhappy man muttered as he fidgeted with the next round of his gun, continuing to rain down bullets on my body. \n\nA knife? It was just my tentacle? It usually went a silver to show peace and good fortune. Still perhaps... it was my fault.\" With a sigh I made one final attempt to reason with the humans. I curved my tentacles together, forming a heart to the crowd. Perhaps that would be a good enough symbol.\n\nThe crowd stopped, their terror filled cries seeming halted. Ah.. they finally understood it. I opened my arms ready to embrace my new friends-\n\n\"HE WANTS TO EAT OUR HEARTS!\" A man shrilled as the crowd gasped. Looking around to one another anxiously.\n\n..... with that I simply stepped back onto my telepad, tapping its switch as it began to zap me to my ship. What a waste, I should have spent that time learning Glisip, at least they are a somewhat intelligent race...\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] You are a superhero. It has been months since your arch villain has done anything. You think they must be planning something big to finally take over the world. Eventually, you track them down and discover that they've decided to retire from villainy	[ "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 months past by without a sound. The city felt almost completely silent. People went about their daily lives. The wind beneath my cape began to lose that feeling of magic. Everything was becoming more and more empty. I must have flown past every single building a thousand times but there was nothing to find. I helped a lady get her cat down from a tree I guess... Although, I knew Doctor Eagle was hiding somewhere. I just knew it. I had to find him. I knew he was planning something. I could sense it. I refused to believe he could be this silent forever. I had to find him. I had to stop him.\n\nOne day, I did find him. When he saw me he hid underneath his bed. Doctor Eagle. The most infamous bank robber in the city. Hiding like a child. I couldn't believe it. He looked terrified when I entered the underground base. I pulled him up, held him in the air and clenched my fist ready to punish him for everything he had done. What he did next shocked me more than anything ever had in my life. Even the first time my mother forgot my name. He began crying. I had never seen a super villain cry before. I had never even seen a super villain show the slightest sign of remorse before. It seemed bizarre. I punched him and he fell to the ground. Before I was about to knock him out he begged me to stop. \"Please don't do it! I have retired! I am so so sorry for everything I have ever done. I needed the money.\"\n\nI wasn't going to fall for that. I chocked him then punched him repeatedly with my other arm. I noticed he wasn't fighting back. He just stayed still. He looked like a man who had lost everything. He had been completely broken. Figuratively and almost literally after beating I just gave him. He coughed up an eruption of blood then quietly spoke. \"I'm sorry.\"\n\nMore months past by. Then years began to pass by. The last words he said stuck with me that entire time. They sent shivers down my spine whenever I thought of them. I wondered if he was really telling the truth when he said he had retired. I wondered if it mattered or not. Either way he was finally gone. Forever. Now what?\n\nI got fired from my job as a waiter for all the times I had been late and my mothers health deteriorated. She was starting to not even remember how to speak. Of course, I couldn't afford treatment. As for the city it remained quiet. Possibly more quiet than ever before. I slowly started to descend into the same silence.\n\nI thought about a lot of things. The meaning of life but more specifically if life even has meaning at all. Once I was a meaning to other peoples lives but now I was starting to doubt everything. Nothing felt right.\n\nEveryday, I flew past the Golden City Bank. One of the biggest banks in the world. A great accomplishment of architecture. It contained more money than my head could even comprehend. It was the place I first met Doctor Eagle. I prevented him from robbing from it on multiple occasions. Although, now dark thoughts began to creep up on me and I wondered how easy it would be for me to enter it. Just to have a look at what they are keeping inside...", "Flying above the clouds your thermal vision spots the tell-tale heat signature of a hidden base beneath the tree canopy. ‘Finally I have discovered the hideout of my arch nemesis the devilish Doctor Destruction’ you thought to yourself. ‘Time to crash his party and see what world dominating scheme he’s been cooking up this time’. You plummet down from the sky focusing on the building with the most warm bodies. \n\nCrashing through the sky light you imagine in slow motion the glass shattering and dance on the ground as the henchmen retract with fear. You always look forward to the dramatic pose you get to do as you stand up. I hope they fire machine guns at me so I can deflect them that’s my favourite part.\n\nAs you stand, arms confidently on your hips, you survey the interior. You instantly notice the lack of any commotion made by your arrival. In the large open space that was usually the epicenter of a world terrorist organisation with teaming supporters manning radar and satellite connectors there was nothing. Instead there were 10 people sitting around a long dinner table staring at you confused.\nSpying Dr Destruction at the head of the table.\n\n“Ah ha Dr Destruction have a disturbed your secret criminal meeting?”\n“Sigh. No these are my in-laws.” He gets up dabs his mouth with his napkin and walk towards you. He turns to the table “Guys I’m sure you have heard of Captain Astonishing. We eh, used to work together” \n“You mean I used to foil all you foolish plans and send you running with your tail between your legs haha!”\n“Listen I’ve retired. I met Patty my wife.” He points to the pale and plump middle aged librarian looking woman. She smiles and slowly waves back. \n“Love you hun!”\n“Love you too sweetie”. They blow kisses.\nYou recoil.\n“I’ve seen you strangle a man just for coughing and now you’re all mushy”\n\n“She really got me to change my life I wasn’t Mr. Destructive I was Mr. Self Destructive. She stood by me but gave me an ultimatum it was her or the world. I choose her. I doubt you’d understand. You’ve never had someone like that”\n“Ouch”\n\n“Listen I’m happy, I thought I was happy battling you week in week out. The adrenaline, the high stacks but I was just trying to grasp something that was impossible to obtain. I’ll tell you what, we went antiquing last week and we found this 19th century vase the guy wanted 200 but we got him down to 120. Oh man what a rush he didn’t have a clue what he had”\nI don’t know what to say. You feel you knees wobble. \n“Can I sit down?” \n“Sure” he brings over a chair for you.\n\n“I’m shocked what will I do now”\n“I’m sure there are other baddies in your rouge gallery to spar with”\n“No they’re all gone”\n“The Clown?” “Mental intuition in medical induced coma”\n“Shark Man?” “Choked on some plastic in the sea”\n“Demo Dude?” “Blow himself up”\n“Gravity Guy?” “Crushed by medical debt after our last encounter, that one was kinda my bad”\n“The Midas Touch?” “Converted to a Scientologist”\n“What about your side kick she must helping out” “She became a Twitch gamer and Instagram Model, she has no time for me let alone crime fighting”\n\n“I’m sorry” he says putting a hand on my shoulder “but aren’t be a bit old for cops and robbers? You can’t hook you whole identity on me anymore. I’ve moved on and you have to too, I hope you realise that”\nYou nod almost sulking using your cape to wipe away a tear.\n“I’ll eh pay for the skylight”\n“Thanks buddy that would be nice… perhaps in a few years we can grab a beer and really talk” HE goes in for a hug.\n I brush him off “Yeah sure what ever dude” and I blast off back to the cover of clouds mistakenly through another skylight. I maybe faster than a speeding bullet but I couldn’t shake the embarrassment.", "This is my first story posting, so, please be kind.\n\n \n\n*The* *“Hero”\n\nYes, I know, the title is very confusing, yet I have something to share with everyone. You see, I am a Hero...not just any Hero, a superhero and like others, I have an arch-nemesis. You see, just recently I had an encounter which changed my whole view on things and really made me question if I was the “good guy”.\n\nIt all started a few months ago, I was in HQ waiting for my next mission to occur when I realised that my arch-nemesis hadn’t come up with an evil plot in the last 6 MONTHS!!! I just presumed he was plotting his next “fool-proof” evil plan (yet, of course, I would save the day) and needed a long-time period to do so. I was about to ruin the whole plot by taking it down before it started! Yes, I was going to bust into his evil lair and shred the plan into pieces.\n\nI arrived ready to take down this whole event, then I saw him...he wasn’t himself. He was just crumpled on the floor; all of his plans were in the bin. I didn’t know what to make of it. He turned to me when he realised I was through his “secret” entrance...I was expecting a huge fight, like normal yet he just stopped...put his hands up and walked to me. \n\n“You’ve been fun all these years, you really have, yet all good things come to an end.” He said and with that, he walked over to the kitchen...If I wasn’t there he would’ve been dead. I stopped him of course, like the hero I was, but all of the times I stopped his plans before were the reason he was like this...am I really a hero?\n\nWhen I arrived back to HQ I had an announcement to make\n\n“I would like to introduce you all to our newest recruit to the Mercs for money and the newest leader, Deadpool, yes he was our biggest threat, yet he’s changed.” I gestured for him to step forward and I shook his hand “Welcome to the team.”", "\"What? Loki? You're retiring?\"\n\n\"Yeah. I've got nothing. No kingdom to lead, no-\"\n\n\"Loki, I'm your brother.\"\n\n\"Thor, it's not going to work. Everything I had. Gone. Reduced to atoms. What can I do?\"\n\n\"Remember New York? When you sent aliens through a wormhole? Remember exiling Father to Midgard and then taking the throne for yourself? How are you going to give up? What will you do?\"\n\n\"Brother, the memories were fun, yes. But, I'm giving up. I'll maybe do birthday parties. Who knows.\"\n\n\"Brother, you know what you're getting yourself into?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\nThere was a silence.\n\n\"So if you're doing birthday parties, what will you call yourself?\"\n\n\"Reindeer Games.\"\n\n\"The name Stark gave you?\"\n\n\"Honor his memory.\"\n\n\"Will you dress up in that ridiculous getup still?\"\n\n\"It's not ridiculous.\"\n\n\"Will you?\"\n\n\"Probably, yeah.\"\n\nAnother silence.\n\n\"Brother, I trust you, then. Enjoy being...whatever you'll do. Make kids happy.\"\n\nThor smiled. Loki smiled too, but he started to dissolve. \n\n\"Brother?\" Thor asked.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh brother, you really are dense. Me? Retire?\" asked a voice behind him. Thor turned around. Loki was there, smiling slyly and holding a knife.", "“Doombringer, you can’t just QUIT! You’ve got a reputation to uphold.” He hung his head despondently, refusing to make eye contact with me.\n\n“I just don’t have it in me anymore, Justice. The spirit isn’t there. I can’t even cackle anymore, much less manically.” Doombringer let out a pathetic chortle and raised his eyebrows at me, “See?”\n\n“Doom, buddy? Think about the good times. Remember when you robbed National Bank the fourth time and ALMOST got away with it? Right before I nabbed you, you got me with a zinger one-liner!” I tossed my cape to the side as I smiled at the memory, “You’ll never catch me, bank on it.”\n\n“How can you tell me you’re not sick of the corny quips? I mean, I called you Captaint* Justice last year. It’s not even clever, a four year old could do better. That’d make the TV ratings you’re looking for! The new baby villain, Toddler of Terror! And look at me Justice, you’ve broken every bone in my body. They don’t exactly have generous medical insurance plans for super villains.” Doombringer sighed.\n\n“Ok, ok, but if you’re gonna go out, you’ve gotta go out on top. Plan a heist, gold, or better yet, diamonds! Oh, be creative, steal some uranium or printer ink!” I started gesticulating wildly, trying to hype up my old nemesis. He looked up at me through his eyelashes, and I could see the twinkle in his eye.\n\n“Justice, I couldn’t do it alone.”\n\n“Well you can go rustle up the Bonanza Brothers. I’m sure Margarine Man and Tangerine Woman would help. Listen Doom, it just isn’t the same without you.”\n\n“The Bonanza Brothers blew their last party popper and are locked up in Guantanamo. Margarine Man had a little tryst with The Inscrutable One and now everyone Margarine Man has ever loved is stuck in a 12 dimensional vortex.” Doombringer shook his head. “Look Justice, we’re all still dastardly, but the world has caught up to us. Nobody has that zest anymore. You’re the only one that’s enthusiastic about villainy anymore, and you’re a hero! Maybe…well, no, that’d never work.”\n\nI tried to keep my composure, but my face betrayed me, “What? I’ll do anything.”\n\n“Well, I’ve got a plan that would put my name in every paper East of the Mississippi, but I’d want your help. Could you be my sidekick?” I could feel my face flush. I don’t know whether I was embarrassed he thought I would stoop to crime or at his behavior. Doombringer was tripping over his words, rushing to get them out. “You know more about villainy than anyone. I’d, we’d be partners. We’d be unstoppable.”\n\nAs the words rushed over me, I realized he was right. Dispensing with the heroics would allow me access to my two favorite things, fame and bad one-liners. \n\n“Doom, you’ve got a sidekick, from now on, I’ll be known as Captaint Justice!”" ]	6
	[WP] Your child asks you to check under the bed for monsters. When you look, you find... your child, terrified, pointing upward.	[ "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.", "That's when you remember you have twins. Two beautiful goofballs. You straighten back up to your knees asking the child in the bed,\n\n\"You two still playing hide and seek?\" Your heartrate starts to stabilize, the skin prickling across your scalp continues to crawl as the second twin sits up on top of the bunk bed and shakes his head- immeasurable fear clouding his brown eyes. He shakes his head at you, pressing a finger to his lips.\n\n\"Hide and seek daddy? A game? Can we play?\" Your beautiful boy sitting in the bottom bunk asks, smiling sweetly. Is it your mind or do his eyes look like black glass... Is it the light? Is it your mind or is your ankle starting to itch? \n\n\"Hey babe-\" You call over a shoulder. Your wife had told you not to check on the boys and you get no answer now. Your mind raced trying to remember what she'd said... \n\n\"No kiddo. But we can play tomorrow, right?\" Your child in the upper bunk makes a squeak in his throat and lays back down. Your kid on the bottom bunker's eyes dart up to the top bunk. The goose pimples across your scalp marches down your neck to the small if your back. Your ankle is really itchy but you dont dare look down. \n\n\"No kiddo, no games. Sleep now.\" Your voice cracks but a kid wouldnt notice that. He looks at you, eyes wide- a child reprimanded by his father and he nods.\n\n\"No more talking. Say goodnight.\" Three voices say their goodnights unenthusiastically. You stifle the sob in the back of your throat, hoping the boys will mistake the tears in your eyes as another emotion other than fear. \n\n\"Daddy- wait.\" The kid on the bottom bunk says as you take a step back from the bed. You look at him- waiting for him to finish. He looks past you and pulls a blanket up above his mouth and says, \n\n\"Dont look at her...\" He throws the blanket over his head and slams himself to his pillow. You look down at your ankle and fingers are wrapped around your ankle from behind. \n\nYou remember now; She'd said not to look under the bed. She'd said monsters werent real...", "Part 1/?\n\n“Dad! Come, quick!”\n\nI sighed and closed my eyes. Ignorance is bliss. A second later and I was back to work, my fingers whizzing across the keyboard as I finished off my last work email for the night.\n\n“Dad! Dad, please!”\n\nI grimaced. These nightmares were really out of control; for the past few weeks I’ve had to go up to his room each and every night, and every night it was the same story, the same figure, the same nightmare. I couldn’t blame the kid though. When I was younger, I had a recurring nightmare too, and that was absolutely terrifying at the time. Eventually I got over it. Or rather, it just stopped, and I haven’t had it since. Until last night, that is. Had to drink that one away. I shuddered at the thought.\n\n“Okay, coming! Just one second!” I craned my neck back and yelled towards the staircase. One electronic signature later and I lifted myself out of my chair and began walking up the staircase. The staircase groaned with each step I took, a reminder of my recent weight gain and the house’s age. I reached the top of the steps and looked towards his room. Ryan. My little warrior, he was a tough kid, very athletic, and had a great fighting spirit. We just had to get his grades up and he’d be on the home stretch, guaranteed. I smiled at the thought.\n\nThe door to his room creaked, the hinges protesting a movement so slight it was unperceivable. I frowned. I had closed the door after tucking him in, hadn’t I? Had he gotten up and left the room at some point and forgotten to shut it? Doubtful, otherwise he would have come down too. Besides, no one leaves their bed when they’re scared, that’s the safe zone. Weird. Or not. I laughed at myself, why was I so on edge? \n\nClick. Nothing. Then light. A two second delay between the light switch and the bulb, yet another issue I would have to rectify at some point. So many things to do, but so little time.\n\n“Dad?” Ryan looked towards me, his body entirely concealed by a blanket and comforter, leaving only his eyes and messy brown hair exposed. \n\n“Yeah, it’s me bud. Another nightmare?”\n\nHe shook his head, negative. “I… I think there’s something under my bed. Can, can you check? Please.” His voice was weak.\n\n“No need to be scared, I’ll check for you. But, remember what I said? Nightmares are just that, nightmares. They’re not real. And the only thing you have to fear – we have to fear – is fear itself.” I grimaced. Not sure how reassuring that was, but I had to say something.\n\nI stepped closer, just a foot away from his bed now, and slowly went down onto my knees. \n\nCrack; my knees complained, obviously not too keen of the movement. With my hands on the ground now too, I peered under the bed, ready to take in a landscape of half-read textbooks, notebooks of all sorts, dust and a collection of abandoned toys and knick-knacks. \n\nI gasped; my mind reeled. Ryan’s eyes met mine, tears welling, his face was wet, and hair was matted. His mouth was sealed shut; a black thread bound his lips, imprisoning screams. He pointed up.\n\n“So, is there something under the bed… daddy?” Laughter echoed from overhead.", "“Take us back through the events of tonight please. I want to understand everything that happened.” The priest, I think he was a priest, I’ll say clergyman. The clergyman has asked us this over and over again. I can’t tell if its his dislike of the way my husband and I live, the fact we’ve adopted a son, or the accurate reading of my distrust of the Catholic church.\n\nI close my eyes, take a breath, and word vomit the story of my night for the fourth time. “I was putting my son, Martin, to bed and he asked me to peek under for monsters. Hes a kid. I thought nothing of it. Got down, looked under the bed, and saw Martin’s face.”\n\nThis is where they always interrupt me, “Are you sure it wasn’t a trick of the light?”\n\n“Yes, as I said last time, there’s a nightlight. Very bright. Anyway, I calmly say good night and tell Bobby. After an hour of talking, we called one of his friends who led us to you. Now you’re here. Please help.”\n\nThis time, the clergymen look at each other. They mouth things back and forth then the one who appeared to lose the conversation said “Tell us about your son. Uhhh, Martin please?”\n\nOkay, this is progress. “He is great. We adopted him from the state a little over a year ago just before his fifth birthday. Haven’t had a single problem. Love him to death.”\n\n“Anything out of the ordinary at all?”\n\n“He's allergic to almonds. Supernatural-wise, not really. But there are no parental records or any records of his time before foster care. Aside from that he’s just a regular six year old.”\n\n“Still under the bed?”\n\n“To my knowledge.”\n\nThe other guy’s shoulders drop. “I’d hate to say this. Let’s go in.”\n\nWe lead them in the house and up the stairs to Martin’s room. I silently open the door for them and all four of us slide in the room. “Now, you see him asleep here, but if you look under the bed you’ll see another him.”\n\nThe clergymen looked at each other and did rock-paper-scissors. I couldn’t help but giggle then the looser kneeled down to peer under the bed. “I don’t see anything. Paul come down here.”\n\nOnce they both kneeled, the fun began. The Martin under the bed reached his tentacles out and pulled the clergymen under. And from atop the bed, Martin spoke to Bobby and me. “You have done well bringing these two men of power in the church to me. And so quick. I’m impressed. As promised, I’ll return you your son and spare the three of you from my impending destruction. Thank you.”" ]	4
	[WP] You’re a traveller from a distant planet. You find Earth, many of your kind are already here. Your peers have learned the languages of the fleshy inhabitants that seem to run Earth but have struggled to communicate effectively due to inherent differences. Humans seem to have named you “ghosts”.	[ "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 cannot see our kind. Well, at least most of them can’t” Xaviar said, as we sat in the park observing mankind. \n\nXaviar was the only one I knew among the members of my race on this planet. Meeting him was surely a surprise. The last time I saw him was a long time ago, maybe in order of what humans call ‘eons’ when our home planet was attacked by an enemy still unknown to us. \n\nThey came out of nowhere, dotting the beautiful red skies of our land with hundreds or maybe thousands of their black, floating vessels and destroyed most of our settlements. We didn’t have any means to defend our lives, to fight back or to protect our home because we as beings, never fought. Our kind just sought out knowledge, eternally. So the only thing we had was our ability to travel the vast distances of the cosmos. We started fleeing the planet on our own, randomly in all the directions space had to offer. Sadly, more than half of us were quickly chased and killed. \n\nWe never had any vessels or machines to travel across the endless void. Following the luminescence of billions of stars, millions of us started drifting in the fabric of space-time at a pace just a little shy to that of light. \n\nWe went after the numerous stars our people talked about in folklores. I was also after a star I heard about. This story revolved around a planet called Gaia, which was a place our ancestors cared about among many others because they valued and conserved the beauty and balance of this universe. They say, our ancestors ‘maintained’ the universe. \n\nSo I talked with Xaviar endlessly after meeting him. He was considered an elder in our clan, so talking with him was really something different. He explained me humans never notice us. Our presence is pushed far back and deeper in their minds, so much so that almost all of them don’t even believe we exist. \n\nSometimes, we come across the rare ones who can see us and interact with us. They are surprised at first, but they are never afraid. They explain how we are always described as scary in their culture. They express awe at our appearance, our translucent, luminescent bodies they can swipe their hands through. \n\nBut for a few days now, I have been completely restless. Yesterday, Xaviar told me he has figured out who our enemy was. He told me the answer was under our noses all this time, that we have ascended so much that we no longer see the darkness of this universe anymore. We have been pursuing the knowledge and purity universe has to offer for eons, but we forgot about our roots. That who we were. \n\n*He has told me humans destroyed our beloved home.* That they are a rampant and destructive race, which rises and falls continuously to its own perils. The humans we see today are just a next step in this planets’ cycle. They rise, try to conquer the cosmos spreading their filth everywhere meanwhile killing their planet back home due to their greed and materialistic nature. \n\nLong ago, our ancestors took the responsibility of cleansing this planet of this disease. But they evolved again, traveled again, and this time they stumbled on our planet. In the amount of time we reached this planet, they perished again and become the beings they are today. \n\nBut now, all of us have decided to cleanse it once and for all. We are going to maintain this universe again, starting with Earth, or Gaia." ]	2
	[WP] At the Will reading for your best friend, you were only given a pen and a note saying "write a better ending for 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.", "And that was all she wrote.\n\nIt wasn't a \"will\", per say. But it was all we had to go off of. The only thing that hinted at her mental state at the time.\n\nShe was my best friend. We had just moved in together after I went through a bad breakup. It had barely been two months, but we were having the time of our lives. Movie nights, quiet breakfasts, going out on the weekends...I had no idea what she was going through.\n\nShe set up the scene knowing I would be the first one to come in. She had taken my work laptop and put it on her bed. Her pens and art supplies were scattered everywhere. She lay sprawled on the floor near the closet. It was like a sick modern collage.\n\nThe note was scrawled on a post-it note stuck to my laptop screen. When I moved the cursor, a blank Word document popped up. The file was saved as \"Moriah's New Life.\" I heaved and ran outside.\n\nWord got out, as words often do. Her family tried to shush it but someone was feeling chatty one day and spilled it to the internet. Some took it seriously. Some said it was a fake story. People got a hold of it and started doing some awful things. Writing alternate endings for \"the suicide story.\"\n\n\"Her new ending should be an even worse, more painful suicide, lol\"\n\n\"I'd stick her in furry heaven where she could yiff to her hearts content ~^^~\"\n\n(Continued below)", "I was at home when the news came about Will. I remember feeling numb, shocked, sad and angry. I was angry at him for the decision he took, shocked at how sudden and how clueless I was, and sad at the fact I'd never see him again. Losing Will was like losing a part of myself that even I didn't know I had. I felt like shutting myself inside, locking myself up, but it didn't work that way. I had to go. I had to see him, see him for the last time before it would be too late.\n\nI arrived at his house, wondering what I'd do. I didn't know how I'd face his parents, what I'd tell his sister. Will and I were close. They might ask me if I knew anything. And to say no to that hurt. To think that even I didn't know he would do this hurt beyond measure. But I had to meet them. I'd have to speak to them. His father sat as if he were a broken man, his mother kept fainting and had to be woken up. His sister looked lost. She had lost a brother and a friend, and her face was so helpless, even one look at it made my eyes well up in tears. Nobody should go through this pain. \n\nAnd there, in the middle of the room, was the coffin. It looked plain in a dark, murky brown, an object. In it lay someone who looked a lot like Will. It wasn't Will, it couldn't be Will, said my mind. But there was no mistaking that hair, that face. He looked as if he were sleeping, oblivious to everything around him. I stood there, wondering what I should do. I didn't want to look at him anymore. It made me sick. \n\nI heard someone calling my name. It was an elderly gentleman in a black coat. He beckoned me to the kitchen, the kitchen where we had eaten so many meals together. I saw Will's parents and sister sitting around the table. The elderly man asked me to be seated, and took out a piece of paper. \n\n\"Let me begin by saying I'm very sorry for your loss. And although this seems imprudent and hasty, I'm only following Mr.Will's last wishes. May I proceed?\" he asked, flattening a rather crumpled paper.\n\nNobody spoke. He looked at me rather expectantly, and I gave a slight nod. \n\n\"Will's will states that all his worldly possessions are to be given to Ralph, other than his locket, his hat and his glasses, which are to be given to his mother, father, and sister.\" he read.\n\n\"No!\" I stood up with a jerk. \"I couldn't possibly do that. I won't. I don't want to...\" \n\n\"It's what he wants, dear.\" his mother looked at me with tear-stained eyes. \"We understand, but if that's what he wants we want that too.\"\n\n\"I'm not done yet,\" the older gentleman spoke. \"Ralph is also to be given this \"-he brandished a piece of paper-\"paper, and a pen.\"\n\nHe gave me the paper. It was blank, and I turned it over. On it, something was written.\n\n\"Hey, Ralph. If you're reading this, it means I'm dead. I'm sorry it had to be this way, but I didn't see any other way out of it. I'm sorry buddy, to leave you like this. If you can ever forgive me, please, do so. I know what I've done is wrong, but that's all I could. If you were in my position, you'd have done the same. But, do something for me. Write me a better ending, for old time's sake.\"\n\nI was confused. Will knew I liked to write. But this was a strange request, even for him. But I had to honor it, for myself, for him. It didn't matter he was gone, I'd make him live through my words. And they say you only die when the last person forgets your name.\n\n______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________\n\nBy the time I got home, I knew what to do. What Will did might have been wrong, but he deserved better. He wouldn't be forgotten, I'd make sure of that. I opened a new book, and started writing... \"There was once an adventurer, and his name was Will.\"", "\\[\\[ I know this is a few days too late but hopefully its ok :) \\]\\]\n\nI did not expect to meet my forever best friend so late in life, Zarrick Lee Harlow, nickname Zee. we had met several years ago and although we did not spark a friendship instantly, we grew extremely close as time went on. We met at the Allenberry Care Center, a research center for patients with rare illnesses. \n\nAt first, we never really spoke. It was mostly just awkward silence with an occasional unfunny dad joke to try and break the ice. He never like those. As time went on, we started talking about arbitrary things like weather, sports (that never worked), hobbies and other nonsensical things. I tried many ways to spark a small conversation. \n\nOne day however, he told me about his hobby of writing these short fantasy stories. At first I thought nothing of it. As we got to know each other more and more each day, I would learn that these short stories were part of a larger quest that he had written since he was a young boy, along with his childhood best friend “Sarah” whom he loved dearly. I saw Sarah as his sole mate.. Or at least should have been. \n\nIn their younger years, they created their own fort within the woods outside Zarrick’s family house. They would play “The Adventures of a Sarah & Zee”. Sarah was a philosophical bookworm of a mage and Zee was the Knight who fought for peace and love in the kingdom. It all sounded like a made-up dream. He would tell me some of the adventures they went on each day I saw him, would tell me a different story each time. The stories themselves were quite beautiful. \n\nThe theme of his adventures would eventually change. Their quests had become more dark and morbid. The lands in the Kingdom became corrupted by a black plague and ruled over by “The Shadow King”. He became the arch nemesis to their campaign. In one particular part of the story he told me about how one of they had been ambushed by the Shadow King’s monsters. In the attack, one of them bit Sarah on the arm and an infection spread throughout her body. Luckily in his story, they found a magical pool of water within the woods that healed her and she was back to her old self again. When I finally managed to ask Zarrick about Sarah, I learned the truth. \n\nSarah was also born with a rare illness, one that doctors and scientists could not figure out how to cure. Zee was in a dark time during it all and sadly, she passed away. Zee later continued writing the adventures with her live and well.. I think it was a way of coping with the loss. \n\nI should probably tell you that these stories were not the only thing me and Zee talked about or did. This just opened the doorway to a friendship that I thought I never needed. For years we saw each other everyday. We ate together, played chess together, would watch our favorite shows together and of course- we’d talk. More recently, Zarrick had stopped writing and talking about his stories altogether and didn't bring them up anymore. \n\nThen one day something changed. When I went to Zarricks room.. It was empty. I asked the nurses what had happened to him, they told me they took him to the emergency quarters last night. I was shocked nobody notified me of any of this.\n\nImmediately I tired to get to him, to see if my dear friend was alright. The nurses said I was unable to get into the room and that they were still running tests. I waited a whole day which felt like an eternity. Finally one of the nurses came to me and said that I could finally see him.\n\nZee was in his bed motionless and breathing tubes hung from his nose. He didn't look good. His eyes shifted to me. He was awake and saw me enter the room. A small smile appeared on his face.\n\n“John!” he said quietly, almost struggling to get the words out.\n\nTears started at my eyes. I took a seat next to his bed and placed my hand on his. \n\n“Zee, your going to be okay.” \n\nHe laid there in silence for a moment, still with that bright smile.\n\n”I want you to finish my story.” He said.\n\n“What?!” \n\n“I was too sick to continue..but the story must end.”\n\n“Zee.. I can’t.. I’m not even half as good at storytelling as you. Besides, your going to make it out of this. I know it!” \n\n“Don’t be afraid John, I believe in you.” he said closing his eyes. \n\nAt that moment I knew the conversation was over and I knew what I had to do. \n\nIn the coming months I wrote and wrote and wrote. Draft after draft, trying to find that perfect ending for his story. I knew that in the end, Zee and Sarah would be hand in hand, protectors of their kingdom. In reality, Zarrick had been in a coma since that night. And If there is one thing that I was determined to do, it was to finish that story for him. He deserved that much. \n\nFinally! \n\nThe book had been finished! Plus, the nurses had told me that he was showing signs of waking up from his coma any day now. All I had to do now was wait just a few more days to show him. \n\n\\\\\\\\\n\nI did not expect to meet my forever best friend so late in life. I cherished the time we had with each other and I’ve spent the rest of my days working hard on your book, something I took great pride in.. I was honored to help finish your story but now It is time someone worked on mine. If you manage to overcome your illness, something I feel confident will happen, then please… write a better ending for me. \n\nWith Love, \n\nJohn\n\nFrom his wheelchair, he folds the letter he received from the lawyer. Tears swelled from his eyes. The man in the suit then handed him a gold and black pen. \n\n“He wanted you to have this.” \n\nWiping his tears from his face, Zarrick grabs the pen from the lawyer.\n\nAs he looks at the pen, he finds a quote on the side, written in cursive gold lettering. \n\n“Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend.”", "Have you ever been in a room where the only thing anyone was looking at was you?\n\nMaybe you have, or maybe you haven't. Maybe you've been sat on a train once and accidentally caught someone's eye, before they looked away embarrassed. Was it something in your hair? On your face? You then caught a glimpse of someone else looking - or were they looking out the window? The walls start to close in, and you feel as though you are 10 foot under the ocean as the pressure builds in your temple.\n\nI've been in that situation. Two years ago next Friday.\n\nI sat on the long table with my head bowed down and looking at my hands that were resting in front of me. I clenched my fingers together, seeking the same comfort through human touch as I would have received by holding my Mother's hand.\n\nI caught a glimpse of the woman opposite me - was she staring at me?\n\nUnlike on the train, I know that the answer was a big, fat, juicy yes.\n\nI heard a sniffle to my left, and yet I still didn't look up. My mind was running at 100 miles per hour, and yet it wasn't moving at all. Was it moving so quickly that my consciousness just couldn't keep up? Or was I having a panic attack? I instinctively checked my pulse and counted the beats. I took a deep breath and counted to 4 before exhaling.\n\nThere was a mighty bang on the table, as the man at my 10 o'clock slammed his fist on the table.\n\n\"Why the fuck are we still waiting?\" he bellowed in anger, \"he's a Goddamn junkie, why are we sitting around waiting for some...\" the angry man with greying hair and strong jaw line gestured in my direction, \"-some nobody, to confirm that he got fucked up, or stole from some dealer?\"\n\nI looked up at caught his gaze. The anger in his voice could not hide the sadness in his eyes. They were wide, and shaking. Glaced from the tears that he refused to shed.\n\nI began to speak but my mouth opened, followed by a severe absence of sound; before the door opened and a suited man walked through.\n\n\"I'm sorry about that folks, I have to admit I haven't actually dealt with anything like this before,\" he began as he pulled out his chair and placed a large brown envelope in front of him.\n\n\"I've been practicing law for 23 years in this town, and never has this happened.\"\n\nThe room descended into a deeper silence than had encompassed it earlier. It was as though everyone was clinging on every word the lawyer had said. They were waiting, patiently, for him to put them out of their misery.\n\n\"Alas,\" he began once more, \"there is nothing I can do. I do not know how Nick died,\"\n\nNicolas, I said to myself, he fucking hated Nick.\n\n\"And I do not know what is in his will, or what is in this envelope. I don't know if Nick was in the special forces or working in some government agency, all I do know, is this gentleman here is the only one who is allowed to take a look.\"\n\n\"Bullshit!\" shouted the angry sad man once more, \"we don't even know who this kid is!\"\n\nThere was a chorus of groans and insults as the mourning friends and family members agreed with him. Heck, I agreed with him.\n\nI loved Nicolas. He was like my brother - not that any of these people would know. I heard he had fallen into the wrong crowd, like so many did from the orphanage. I hadn't spoken to him for 22 years though.\n\n\"Now okay folks, calm down, calm down,\" the lawyer pleaded, \"I understand your frustrations but I have been asked, nay ordered to only let this err, this Arthur here, read the contents of this envelope out loud to you all. I must remind you, there is a very large officer just outside this door who has been ordered by the court to make sure this is upheld, are we clear?\"\n\nHe paused as he awaited the response from the room. I looked around curious. Loved ones comforted each other with a gentle touch, others wiped a tear with a handkerchief, most stared intently from the lawyer to me.\n\n\"Now son, here you.\"\n\nThe lawyer nudged the envelope to me, and once more I became centre of attention.\n\nI leaned across weerily, suspicious that the intense stares would not burn my hand with laser beams.\n\nI pulled the envelope closer to me until it was laid out in front of me.\n\nDid I now open the envelope slowly, and carefully? Would it hold the answers that Nicolas' family needed? Or should I rip it open, and confirm the inevitable - that he overdosed and he had no property to even pass on.\n\nI ran my finger along the opening of the envelope, seeking for a weakness and opening so that I could put these poor souls out of their misery.\n\nA gap... I felt as though I was making love in front to a beautiful woman in front of a room full of strangers.\n\nI caressed the opening just hard enough for the glue to part with the paper. I had my opening, and I began to slowly extract my price.\n\nI took one final look around the room before looking down at the paper before me.\n\nDear Arthur,\n\nI'm sorry that it's been so long since I've seen you. Well, at least I hope it's been a while. If you're reading this, then I'm dead so I hope it's been at least 15 years and I've had the chance to live a little.\n\nI'm also sorry that I've put you in this situation. Not only a room full of my family, but for what is to come. Rest assured, I wouldn't have put you in this position if there was any other choice. It was decided a long time ago, but forces out of my control. You have the purest of hearts of anyone I'll suspect I'll ever meet, and that is why it has to be you.\n\nAnyway, I'll keep this short. I know there is a lot of answers you need and perhaps a hundred more questions that I haven't even thought of answering. Trust me, in time I'll get the answers to the most important ones. For now, there isn't much time.\n\nFirst, please help my family mourn me. They will think I'm a junkie and that's the way it has to be. I can't get them involved in this, and I need them away from what is to happen. Please can you do that for me? Jazz it up a little, but please nothing too poetic. Trust me, whatever you tell them, whatever you write about me, it will be a better ending than the truth.\n\nSecond, you need to go to the corner where we first talked about space - where the coke came out of your nose... They will have sent someone, perhaps a cop to make sure you read this letter. Make sure he is nowhere near my family, Arthur. He is *not* a cop. Please.\n\nI'm sorry for everything. Please hurry Arthur.\n\nLove, Nicolas", "It was difficult to sum up the feelings still coursing through my mind. Indeed, Quentin's death had affected me on a level I hadn't felt before. Our friendship was defined by a sort of power imbalance that saw him constantly lusting after my success, my relationships, and even my looks.\n\nEven in high school, he was enamored by my charisma. I had a reputation for being cheeky, yet charming. Something about my personality resonated well with others, even the adults in our lives. Quentin, on the other hand, was quite odd. I guess I took a liking to the small boy because of his devotion to me, an absolute loyalty that even the people who loved me intimately, as romantic partners, failed to reproduce. \n\nAs I sat in the reading of the Will, in a room overly wrought in lacquered wood and leather, metallic pens and a faint scent of whiskey. It was too \"lawyer-like\" as if the lawyer was quite concerned they would be regarded as anything less than their station. He stood before us in his charcoal three-piece suit, and droned on.\n\nThe others in the room were sad, sniffling or simply staring at the lawyer morosely. We all seemed mired in a general sense of devastation, that the boring lawyer was outrightly insensitive towards. Nary a sob broke his focus on the reading, and inconsolable mourners were faced with sitting their, crying noiselessly, or exiting the room to weep in the hallway.\n\nI maintained a solemn demeanor, but kept my chin high. The only shifting on my face came from the revelation that a single item was being given to me. A small box, impossibly black and shiny, was passed to me. Inside, a pen lay in a velvet indent. It was inscribed, but I couldn't read it before the lawyer pressed on. I closed the box, and heard out the rest of the reading.\n\nIt was only later that night I was finally able to look at the mysterious pen that Quentin had left me. I know that after we graduated from college, Quentin having altered his plans to follow me to the university I attended. He had become a writer, and looking at the pen I realized that it was quite important to him. Even though he probably typed his work up a lot, he was passionate about his stories, characters, and the craft. \n\nThe pen glistened, it's shiny gold looking warm and sumptuous beneath the incandescent lights of my hotel room. The inscription was bizarre, a phrase that I had never heard before. \n\n \"As I was, you shall be;\n As you were, I shall be.\"\n\nI couldn't make heads or tails of it, and in my confusion, I picked the pen up, out of it's indent as if physically handling it would decipher the cryptic message. As I flipped the pen over, feeling it's smooth shaft and the angular, sharp fountain head, I spotted a bit of white paper that had previously been covered by the pen. Distracted, I jabbed the surprisingly sharp fountain head into the palm of my left hand, a small bead of blood oozing up. \n\nI grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the small cut. As soon as the blood was stymied, I pulled the tiny note from the case. A bit of handwriting, undeniably Quentin's, was scrawled in a scarlet ink. \n\n\"Write a better ending for me\" it said. I could feel my brow furrowing. What does that mean? I was not a particularly strong writer. I was more of a math and sciences minded person. Still, I wanted to honor my friend. I was never that great to him in life. I think he looked to me as a hero at times, and in my ego... I never really told him not to.\n\nFor a while, I sat and thought about the days of our youth. The sleepovers, the joking and teasing, even the times we got in trouble. It was all fun, but I wondered late into the night what Quentin had experienced. Was it as fun for him as it was for me? What had I missed, by indulging the fantasy Quentin imagined me as?\n\nThese questions and memories continued, even as I slowly drifted off to sleep. Eventually, I fell into a dreamless sleep. One last thought before I passed into oblivion, was a tingling sensation coming from the palm of my left hand.\n\nDespite not having drunk anything but water the night before, I awoke feeling as though I had been hit by a train, and had a wild thirst. I was groggier than I had ever been in my life, with a headache drumming against my skull. Daylight was oppressive, harsh on my eyes. \n\nEven though I was feeling like death, my eyes barely functioning, and a headache pounding behind my eyes, I could sense something was off. Sensations seeped in between the pain and disorientation, alerting me to something being off. Quite off, even. The mattress was firmer, perhaps even lumpy. There was a fan, squeaking as it rotated on it's swivel, barely moving stale air through the room. The scent of the room was... familiar. \n\nI nearly fell back asleep, but I was determined to figure it out. I dragged myself up into a seated position, and I was suddenly quite alarmed. My hands, braced on my knees, could feel a boniness, a thinness that was quite unlike the toned calves and quads of a man who worked out several times a week.\n\nI couldn't even shove my eyes open long enough to get a clear look, but I was using my hands to confirm a terrifying suspicion I had. My hands moved from leg to stomach, feeling a cotton tee-shirt, and underneath a smooth stomach, devoid of any abdominal muscles. Back out of the shirt, my hands reached for my face.\n\nAt first, I froze, not wanting to feel what I perhaps already knew to be true. When I finally connected fingers to my face, slowly rolling over the terrain of an unknown visage, I felt my heart chugging into overdrive. The chin, weak, not the sharp and broad cleft I had the night before. What's more, it was barren of any hair. My well-groomed beard was gone, and in it's place was smooth skin, slightly oily. \n\nThe cheeks were the same, and felt quite supple. I was starting to breathe heavily. At this point, my head was feeling less painful. I mustered the strength to stand up, and cupping my hands around my sensitive eyes, I squinted my way towards a door. I walked out and found a bathroom not too far down the hall. Walking was a reminder of the bizarre situation, as the proportions of all the things I passed seemed quite off. \n\nEntering the bathroom, I twisted the faucet on, and immediately began tossing ice cold water onto my face. After a couple chilling splashes, my eyes finally forced themselves open. I stared down into the porcelain basin, suddenly quite afraid of what I was about to see.\n\nSlowly, fearfully, I looked into the mirror in front of me. The face... it was impossible. I nearly collapsed, but I caught the edge of the sink. I was beyond passing out again, my shock was so strong. Sleep left my body immediately, I was fully awake.\n\nI stared into the mirror for a while, before hearing a hoarse voice yell up the stairs, \"your friend is here! He's coming up!\" \n\nI turned to brace the door, not knowing what to expect but knowing it would be yet more strangeness.\n\nThe person who came to visit walked past the bathroom. They must have noticed the bedroom was empty, they quickly came back and stopped at the bathroom door.\n\n\"We need to talk... open the door.\" The visitor said.\n\nAnd something in me knew it was true. I couldn't deny what I was experiencing. I had tried pinches, the water, even stomping my foot on my other foot. Begrudgingly, I opened the door.\n\nThere, in the doorway, was my face. Only, this was my face in high school. \n\n\"Quentin?\" I asked, incredulously\n\n\"Yeah. I'm glad you picked up the pen, my friend. Now you get to live in the glow of your own radiance. I think this time around, we will have so much more fun!\" He said, almost mockingly.\n\nI looked into the mirror once more, as if to accept the visage as my own. The teenaged face of Quentin looked back from the mirror, looking defeated." ]	6
	[WP] You've defeated the Demon lord, saved the princess and now, you've reincarnated into a peaceful world. Now you miss your old life. Your only outlet is a Dnd group who thinks you Roleplay really well.	[ "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.", "\"Covered in the foul ichor of the undead fiends, my knees buckle as I rise, retribution filling my gaze, and wrath giving me strength. I hold my blade aloft and say, 'You have been a plague upon these lands for the last time, Cremanoth, Mindflayer of the east, lich of the unborn and defiler of minds--we, our merry band of heroes, shall cleanse these lands of your wretched presence.'\" As I said those words, I meant every last bit of it, there I was again, lost in a time and place far away from here, peeking through a key hole, a veil, that was just beyond the other side. Feeling the breeze of a place I used to call home.\n\n\"Callum... I just got goosebumps,\" Fred said, sitting beside me. He was a regular bookkeeper, one for a day and age where automata and machines took the surface rather than magic and dragons.\n\nAnd there it was gone again, that momentary glimpse into a life I was thrown out from. I sometimes lay awake and question if I was stuck in some sort of foul curse, if one of my mortal enemies had captured me and I currently sleep on the floor of a Sorcerer's sanctum, wrinkled and withered, white eyes staring out blankly as my soul imagines this world.\n\nThat's the thing about magic, you never know what's real and what's not.\n\n\"Okay guys, lets wrap it up.\" The dungeon master said, the table groaned, having to return to their real lives. I didn't groan, knowing had to return to a life that was not my own.\n\nI was introduced to D&D by Caleb, the dungeon master. When he described the world of forgotten realms, or Toril as I understood, my eyes lit up. \"Take me there!\" I demanded, grabbing him by the shoulders. Caleb seemed stunned for a moment, thinking my sudden crazed eyes were an act. He applauded my excitement.\n\n\"Sure, I will 'take' you there.\" I did not except to find a game rather than a world. But regardless, it was the only thing tying me to my home, so I went along with it.\n\nI watched and understood, the sessions were therapeutic to all the players. Stacy played to escape her job as a regular cashier, stuck in a marriage with a guy she didn't love, but tied down from an unwanted pregnancy. She seemed sweet as things went, and despite of, or perhaps because of her timid personality and diminutive stature in real life, the character she played was a brazen half orc, one who took what she wanted and said what she thought.\n\nFred worked in a bank, unhappily so. Playing a wizard who practiced knowledge and power. Gleamed at truths and bent the rule of the universe to his fingers, a play at finding control where he got none in real life.\n\nFinally, there was me, a fighter lost in a realm not his own... so plays a fighter to relive the life he so fondly remembers like a distant but familiar dream.\n\nWe all played it for therapeutic reasons, the others to escape their daily lives, or pretend to be someone they always wanted to be life. Yet, for them it was always an escape from reality, escape from the repetitive drone of boredom, but for me, it was a chance, just once a week for a few hours, to return home.\n\n\"Thank you, Caleb. I really appreciate these moments.\"\n\n\"Thank you, Callum, for really putting in the effort with that roleplaying! Some amazing acting. You sure you wouldn't want to get into acting rather than staying as a security guard?\"\n\nI forced a smile. \"I think I'm good, thank you.\"\n\n\"Suit yourself,\" Caleb said everyone packing everything up.\n\nI picked up the cover of the player handbook, fingers stroking the cover nostalgically. \"These wizards of the coast guys, they really came up with something amazing, didn't they?\"\n\n\"That they did! Although in a recent interview, Gaygax revealed that he heard rumors that ancient cultures would play these types of games, using ancient ritualistic dice to bring their pantheons to life and play among their own worlds, as an act of worship.\"\n\nMy eyes lit up. Perhaps it was desperation, or experience gleamed from a life long lost, but I was suddenly drawn into what Caleb said.\n\n\"What do you mean?\" I asked.\n\n\"Well, rumor has it that there are cultures, such as the ancient Egyptians, Norse vikings, or even the Greeks, that used dice to play their own versions of these games, and that had inspired Gygax. However, the dice they used weren't numbered, but had symbols.\"\n\n\"How did that work?\" Fred asked in, now standing behind his chair all packed up.\n\nCaleb shrugged. \"What I do know, is that all the dice spanning across the cultures had similar markings on them, so the practice might be even older!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI went home that night, now awake in bed staring at the ceiling of my small bedroom apartment in the dark. Now awake not by the haunting questions of what is real, and what is not... but rather because of what Caleb had said... was there perhaps a way home?\n\n\\\\\\*\n\n/r/KikiWrites" ]	2
	[WP] In the distant future, science has become so advanced that it is indistinguishable from magic. You, a novice programmer, are having a hell of a time trying to debug your genie.	[ "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 to make your genie not a sarcastic piece of shit\"\n\nThey looked at the cursor blinking for a long time, then erased the flippant scentance. How to even describe the problem, if not in that way? Maybe, they thought, it was a blip. They turned back to the ornate oil lamp on their table and tapped it's lid. \"Genie, make me...a tasty three course meal.\" An apparition of blue steam rose, arms crossed looking imperious. It waved a smokey hand and said \"it is done.\" and vanished. They turned back to their desk, greeted by a hungry man dinner- corn, potatoes and country-fried steak still steaming from the microwave. They sneered. The specificity they wanted was bridge too far for their computer's processor. It had the power to make a wonderful pan-seared ribeye just not the will. They took a bite of the rubbery meat and let out a protracted sigh. They typed \"troubleshoot genie-tech 4.023 for improved quality of results.\"\n\nMost of the results related to the translation matrix to and from Mandarin. Theirs had English at both ends of the matrix so it shouldn't matter. Further down were results related to far more capable industrial genies running on the outdated firmware, and that was of marginal help. They'd be able to packet results and reject others. This, they realized about half way through implementation, would require brute forcing answers out of the program. Not an issue for a 300 results/second industrial output, but they'd be sitting here turning matter into different hungry man varieties for hours before they even got to boiled vegetables. Disgusted at their own foolishness, they deleted the text and stared again at an empty search bar. What the hell, they thought, and typed in their original query. \n\nIt turns out this was not an uncommon problem. The genie was calibrated by default to do the least first. It was all about phrasing your sentance with lawyerly precision. \"I'd like transport to the Mediterranean\" would not book you flight but summon a horse. \"Book me on the next flight to the Mediterranean\" would send you on a C-130 cargo jet's jumpseat into war torn Greece rather than France or Italy. They downloaded a list of helpful clauses and phrases might work, and tried again. They turned back to the lamp. \"I'd like to eat a pan-seared waygu steak please.\" They said, and the genie hovered a moment before saying \"It is done.\" They turned back, to see a hotplate, knob of butter and raw steak. Sighing, they fired up the pan and set about a long evening." ]	2
	[WP] A hub connects all of humanity and contains the sum total of known history, information, and media. A neural implant at birth is the ticket in. This also enables telepathic communication, so everyone is able to understand each other. Suddenly, it fails. This hub, known as Babel, is no 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.", "Whew. For a second there, I thought I knew everything. Now I’m back to just being a craigular schmuck.\n\nWhat’s that? What’s this? Stevie, do you know? Angela? Craig? Tom? No? No one else knows what the hell this is? \n\nIt’s red, and gently curved. I sniff it. There’s an echo of sweetness, so faint it’s barely detectable. There’s a little twig sticking out of its center, at the point where the curves meet. Gingerly, I stick out my tongue and poke the surface of the object. Sweet. Just as I thought. I think this is food. With great trepidation, I open my mouth, and bring the object closer, closer, closer. I take a bite. Juice dribbles out from the object’s core, spilling onto my cheeks and lips, as I sink my teeth into the sweetness of object, tearing apart the skin with my teeth, chewing the soft, pliable innards, swallowing. Then I remember.\n\nIt’s an apple! Oh, Stevie, it’s an apple! Don’t you remember discovering something so simple as an apple for the first time, all on your own? Babel robbed us of that pure and simple joy. Babel robbed us of a lot of things. Our innocence. Our curiosity. Our innate human desire to explore and learn things for ourselves, to store what information we want in our own brains, to not be burdened by the incessant chatter and thoughts of an entire species of assholes and schmucks. Well, no more. No more. \n\nWhat’s this? What’s that? Oh, now what in the world is this?", "A ship flies overhead. It’s a passenger liner, flying from Moscow to Sidney. I know this because the pilot, and the people on the flight, know this. In fact, if I can concentrate hard enough, I can smell the air of the cabin, the sweat of the copilot. I can hear the roar of the engines as if I’m onboard myself. Because I’m connected to them, to everyone around me. We’re all connected by the implant.\n\nIt’s easy to get lost in the web, to fall into someone else’s head. \n\nAs I walk down the street, cars slide past me, each housing their own set of people with their own set of stories. The man in the one nearest is sad: he’s lost someone dear to him. A wife? No, a sister. He’s been crying; I can feel the tears on his face. I can feel his pain, sharp and pressing. Even though he’s now far down the road, I can still feel it as if I were inside his body.\n\nI flick to the next car to pass me. This one contains a mother and her two kids and they’re happy. The kids are called Jimmy and Megan, 4 and 5 respectively. The mother, Conny, is sat in the back playing with them as the car steers them to the children’s nursery. Seeing them playing with their stuffed animals next to her reminds her of when she was a child when she and her brother would play. She laughs.\n\nThe next car is a man and a woman. They’re holding hands, on the way to a date. The man is inexperienced: he’s put on too much aftershave, so much so that the woman coughs from the smell. They both laugh and share a smile. Neither of them speaks: there’s nothing to be said. They communicate through the implant, but I can feel every thought shared. Love. Happiness. Warmth. I can feel it all.\n\nThe blare of a passing car horn knocks me out of it and back into my body. \n\nThe car with the couple is far down the road now. Before I can focus on it again, their car turns a corner and they’re gone. I can’t let it go, I’ve got to focus. I shut my eyes, breathe in and out, ignore the sounds of the cars passing me and the horns blaring. I ignore the smell of the car fumes and the beating sun. For a few seconds, I’m there with them in that car, feeling what they feel. It’s hazy though, like it’s covered by a blanket of static. I can’t focus on them when they’re not in my line of sight. Slowly, they fade until the last flicker of warmth is gone and I’m left alone again at the roadside.\n\nMore people blare their car horns. They all know what I’m doing, stood haggard by the side of the road, staring into the minds of passing strangers. I can feel their pity and their anger.\n\nI can feel their thoughts.\n\n“Telepath junkie!” \n\n“Poor man.” \n\n“Watch your thoughts dear, he’s a telepath addict.”\n\nI’m ashamed and they can feel it. Wandering along the road, leeching off people’s happiness, it’s not what I wanted to do with my life. But I have nothing else to do. Chloe’s gone and she’s not coming back this time. I know it, I felt her anger towards me as if it were my own. There’s no point trying again with her, not when I can get my happiness here.\n\nMy only escape is here, this road, these people. If I can embed myself in their heads, feel their thoughts as they do, can I become them?\n\nI focus on the next car, but as soon as I do, I realise there’s nothing.\n\nI focus on the next. Nothing. I can’t feel anything from the planes overhead either. Or the people across the street. It’s all gone, like one of my senses has been cut off, leaving me trapped out in the cold.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMore loosely inspired by the prompt, but I hope people enjoy it.", "The Babel Project\n\nIt had been thousands of years since it was first switched on.\n\nBabel, named after the biblical tower. Trying to reach godhood and unity.\n\nIn the beginning, people weren’t very keen on getting everything in their mind uploaded 24/7, but that took barely a generation to change once people started to realize the possibilities.\n\nImmortality.\n\nGetting uploaded every second means that your mind is intact even after death, and the download means you never forget. Forgetting was forgotten, amnesia was cured. Within 200 years everyone who wasn’t some technology-rejector had the implant.\n\nSoon enough those who had fallen found that they could continue living in the living world if they so chose rather than the infinite games, books, and chat rooms Babel’s systems were full of. They could get a surrogate Android of their choosing to control and use to make a difference in the real world. Those who were smart would download themselves into their surrogates in preparation for the inevitable failure of Babel’s systems.\n\nOnce everyone had had the implant, spoken language started to die. Being able to talk to anyone from anywhere made it obsolete. Don’t get me wrong, it lasted long and died slowly, but over the next millennia it was lost to all but the now techless-monks. Written language stayed however, be it in books of history and entertainment written by those who knew Babel wouldn’t last forever, or simply in the form of articles and guides for those that preferred to read.\n\nAnd that’s why we’re stuck like this today, a species of writing, forgetful mutes in the crossfire of a war between the autonomous monks who hated the technology and the androids trying to bring back Babel and get revenge for the trillions lost in the sabotage. I won’t judge you if you join either of them, but I honestly can’t go on any longer myself.\n\n______________________\n\nr/Jedinate6Writes" ]	4
	[WP] protagonist takes train across country, but train never reaches destination, never stops. Other people on the train don't acknowledge this. No loop, time does not reset. After years, train still going, protagonist has significantly aged (other people unchanged). Suddenly, the train stops...	[ "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.", "Routine. \n\nIts what can hold weeks and months together. Having a loose plan of what to do once you wake up. With the idea that almost everyday since the beginning will go the same way. Wake up, eat, do something in between the time, then sleep again, repeat until there's nothing left, \n\nthat's how Maise viewed his routine, do it again plan out and budget, do it again. Take the same sidewalks, the same road, the same stops, and open to the same train station taking him the rest of his commute. At some point the routine becomes the new normal of complacency. The same commute day in and day out, seeing the same faces of the same people, who he still could not name. No one talked to him no one tried to be buddies, no he was off to the same office job he had known for the past three years. Off to the same lonesome place, interacting with others he couldn't name. He'd freeze up and wince every time he tried to make conversation, but today didn't feel anything like his day. Rather it felt like this train would be the death of him, maybe it could be. He shrugged the thought off crowding onto the busy train on its way.\n\nHe found a seat, one of the few remaining, lucky him. A disgruntled woman glared at him, but gave no response. It was his spot now. He sighed back resting, it would be a bad day he supposed, off to a great start. The train lurched forward starting its trek onward.\n\nIf nothing else the view from the windows was eye catching, at least it would be if he cared anymore. He was on his way to where he needed to be, just to afford where he lived and what he ate. There was no story there. He ignored the view skating past. Structure he had, self acceptance and yearning he didn't have. Not much else he could do about it, except wake up tomorrow and do it all again the same damn way. \n\nThe train picked up speed. He studied the faces of others, a man wearing a fez, a woman with green eyes, two kids standing idly, unsure and in over their heads. Others loomed like statues set into their own routines, only moving with the swaying train as it turned and straightened. Another man wore a coat two sizes to big, and the man beside them wore business attire. \n\nHe wore what he wore every day, changing between the same pairs every week. A white polo and tie with jeans, he also wore a light coat to help with the falling temperatures.\n\nThe train kept going tucking into a tunnel and then being unleashed from it. He noticed something off in that moment, he felt for his chin and felt the scruff of a beard, that wasn't right he'd shaved yesterday. How could it grow so fast? Another tunnel came up, shadowing the train as it shot through the void. The overhead lights illuminating the interior. Nearly everyone on the train car wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as they could, that's what he guessed. He sure did, something was wrong.\n\nExiting the tunnel things changed more significantly. People were laughing, commenting, joking about the story blowing around the webs. People were statues, and Maise had felt the age come on like a tidal wave. He felt his hands wrinkle, and his beard grow, he felt his eyesight dim, and his hearing dissipate. He glanced around suddenly alert that nothing seemed amiss, but something wasn't right. He tapped the woman next to him, what was her name he could not recall, she glared at him narrowed her eyes and went back to looking at her phone. He frowned fishing his own phone out of his pocket, this small thing was difficult it took three minutes for him to get his phone, he hoped he didn't bother anyone. \n\nHe squinted at his phone, the text was so small. He blinked looking at the date a decade had past according to his phone. That couldn't be right. He blinked again, another decade. Twenty years. What was going on, he felt a dread fill his throat, he glanced back up. There were three other people in the train car, a little girl her face plastered looking out at the view. The girls mother busy surfing her phone. In the corner of the car was a man dressed with his clothing. Same shirt, same pants, yet the face should have been younger. The mans face was unrecognizable, drooped, and poor looking. The man looked a million years old in twenty years of life. \n\nHe blinked a decade past. Three decades, the train car pulled into the station. He could barely stand, he was almost blind, his hearing was gone, three decades had been etched into his mind. What was the significance? He stumbled forward almost falling, the doors opened up to the station.\n\nThe same damn station. With one last grumble and glimpse of life, he collapsed onto the concrete laying over the yellow line. This was the end, what ever had happened was over now so why was he still thinking...\n\nMaise picked himself up off the floor, the station had a few stragglers waiting around, but otherwise it was quite vacant. He went through the scenario in his head, looking every way. Near the bulletin was a bum, an old woman who wore a coat two sizes to large, sitting next to a sleeping bag. Disoriented he went over and sat next to the woman. She said nothing for some time. He looked up at the lights, watching them flicker as the train pulled out of the station. He was back to normal, whatever effect it had had upon him was gone. He felt air come back through, rejuvenating him but giving him a sense of emptiness, that something was missing. \n\nThe bum coughed \"your to young to be here.\" She hacked pounding her chest. \"Go on now, your gonna be late.\" He just sat there feeling a weight replace the panic, the woman closed her eyes and leaned her head back. \"There's more to life than this, go find it.\"\n\na train pulled up to the station. \n\n(1054 words, hope you like it TL)" ]	2
	[WP] Instead of humans around the world spontaneously developing superpowers, random cats begin developing them instead.	[ "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 you know humans stopped evolving some 40,000-50,000 years ago? At least, they stopped evolving naturally.\n\nWhy would they? Creating a systematic world of safety, where anything they may need to survive any climate can be provided through their technology. That didn't stop them when the parasite hit.\n\nCats, however, evolved on their own terms. From domestic house cats, to lions and tigers, wild cats as small as domestic ones yet feral and wild. Including genetic mutations, deciding the colour of their fur rather than anything else.\n\nToxoplasma Gondii, that is where it all began. A parasite that infected rodents, manipulating them so that they would not have any more aversions to cat urine, that they would no longer stray away from them, but rather move towards them and making it easier to be eaten.\n\nBut that is where the train of thought stops. What happened after, nobody could really explain.\n\nA cat in Atlanta, Georgia was the first observed event. A house cat suddenly got powers of telekinesis, our very own Patient Zero.\n\nWe call her \"The Risen One.\" And it didn't take long after for the phenomenon to spread continents.\n\nInfected cats were detained and studied, locked away and prodded to see what was causing the strange anomaly.\n\nOf course, it didn't take long for there to be more cats infected than pens to hold them. Euthanasia is what they called it. I called it genocide on a massive scale.\n\nAnd they were the lucky ones. Egypt had all men go to the streets, praising the name of their gods as they hunted cats in the millions, other countries that didn't have resources spread wide to hunt every single cat, regardless of infection. How ironic that they once held my kind in such reverence.\n\nEvolution returned. A sudden boost to the process of development that was halted so long, the pot stirred once more, brazen over the flaming coals of conflict so that it would be just enough to seed the sparks of growth in both man, and cat.\n\nSoon, we abandoned our given names, the term granted to us, and began to call ourselves \"The Felistine.\"\n\nThe elevator doors hissed open, I stepped out onto the grounds, the cheers of my people underlined by soft and vindictive purring, loud hisses from Felistine tongues as they stared once more at the projector, it is a helicopter footage of The Risen One, as she displays her power for all men to fear. It was propaganda on our part, played five times a day throughout our base to instill moral in our people, to remind them what it is they fight for.\n\nMy eyes gloss over the fanatical faces, zealous and I find that it pains me. With the parasite having done its work, for better or for worse as we devoured those rodents, we gained anonymity, the ability to rationalise thought, to be free. Yet, we too became human, all too much for my liking.\n\nMy people grew tall, wide, most standing between 6 and even 7 feet tall with their digitgrade feet, pressed against the carpeted floor as if balancing on a cloud, their front paws now fingered with opposable thumbs.\n\n\"Attention! Sergeant on deck!\" I heard Corporal Billow call. He stood shorter than most of our kind, but made up for it with his thick and stout build. His strength was unparalleled.\n\nThe dozens of troops turned, the tails now at attention and their salute impeccable. For all our hate of humanity, one can't deny how much like them we had become.\n\n\"At ease troops.\" They lowered their hands and turned around.\n\nThe screen showed a hovering helicopter, as an ordinary suburban house in the middle of spring suddenly expanded and burst apart, all of its contents, all of its walls, now hovering with sparks of electricity breaking from it.\n\nThe cameraman zooms in, adjusting the focus to reveal \"The Risen One\" with her fur standing on end, her back lifted menacingly, her tail straight up like a lightning rod waiting to receive retribution. All of a sudden, a blinding flash of light burst from her, the camera hidden as my kind and myself averted our gaze from the covetous glow of our First. When the light faded, she was gone, and so was the house and everyone in it.\n\n\"Sergeant.\"\n\nThey all greeted and saluted me one after the other as I paced winding paths of our base, absent of many walls and doors.\n\nWe weren't human, so we didn't build like them. Despite the occasional elevator for security clearance or door with a code, the rest of our base was designed as a mighty cat tower, with climbable stumps decked with fur.\n\nAnd so I reached one, hesitating, looking down at my brown and orange sploched fur, before leaping before me onto the central stump that rose through the center of the sector, winding openings circled all around the rise.\n\nI rose swiftly, leaping from one hula hoop, grabbing it with a paw and swinging to the next branch, where I would push off with my feet, jumping my height several times over till, gripping purchase with my paws to pull myself up even further into the air, having my feet land against the cylindrical outer wall and leaping off of it at an angle, my claws grasping the fur covering of the tower as I spun around its radius.\n\nWhen it came to being nimble, I was unlike any other, so people would call me \"He who walks on air.\" But when it came to my power, people would call me \"Lightning\".\n\nI finally reached the room, my tail waving back and forth gracefully.\n\nAt the end of the room, stood Sergeant Meru.\n\nHe had both the height, and the size, his fur as white as snow, his mane reminiscent from the time when he was still just a liger.\n\n\"Hello, Sergeant Nema.\" His greeting full of malice and threat as he smiled, revealing his row of flesh rending fangs.\n\nI sighed, \"Looking forward to working together again, Sergeant Meru.\"\n\n\\\\\\*\n\n/r/KikiWrites" ]	2
	[WP] You often joke, saying "I'm immortal until proven otherwise". Well, something lethal just happened, and you're still alive.	[ "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.", "First time posting here plus not a native english speaker, so have mercy with me \\^\\^ \n\n\n I was out hiking in the foothills of the mountains. All alone I enjoyed the quiet. Never had the thought of dying crossed my mind in ernest. „I'm immortal until proven otherwise“ I always used to say and wave away any somber thought. For all I knew, my death was gonna be a long, long time away in the future. But suddenly the mild breeze picked up, a mighty fallwind from the peaks high above swept across the forrest and hit me like an invisible wall. Startled, i looked towards where the wind was coming from just in time to see the great old pine next to me snap. There was enough time to comprehend what was coming but not enough to get out of the way. That huge tree crashed down onto me and knocked me on my back and everything went black. „So that was it. The end of my life“ It strangely didn't even hurt. At that thought I opened my eyes standing upright on the path, a big old pine laying across it behind me. I was confused. That darned thing just hit me, didn't it? My knees became weak and my legs started shaking as I stood there confused. „My brain must have blanked out for a moment due to the shock of the impact right behind me“ I said to myself. „That must be the explanation. I'm immortal until proven otherwise after all.“ I smirked and the old phrase did its job of wiping the thought of death from my mind. \n I hurried to the next motel a few miles down the path, eager to get out of the woods after that strange incident. In the evening after checking in and eating dinner, I decided to have a beer or two at the bar since I wasnt' tired just yet and the little town didn't have any other entertainment to speak of. At the counter there was one stool left empty so I went upt to the seat, ordered a beer and asked if I could sit. A sickly old man turned towards me and motioned for me to have a seat. \n „You are not from around here I suppose“ the old man asked me with a raspy voice. \n „No, I'm just out here hiking and enjoying the break from the noisy city“ I replied and proceeded to take a sip from the beer that had just arrived. \n „Hell of a day you chose to escape the noise of the city with the howling storm outside“ The man replied \n „Oh don't get me started about that“ I said with a sigh. „That storm came out of nowhere and felled a tree that almost hit me“ my voice grew louder as the emotions rushed back into me alongside the memory I recalled. „But as I always say: I'm immortal until proven otherwise“ the same old smirk entered my face as I calmed down and proceeded to take another sip. \n The old and bony face next to me now looked at me with an eerie smile „almost hit you? I'd say that thing came down right on top of you wouldn't you agree, Vrakhur?“ \n „What? What sort of silly name should that be and besides I wouldn't be sitting here if that tree had hit me“ I was confused and creeped out by that guy and wanted to leave but I couldn't move. \n His eyes lit up like fire but nobody seemed to notice the two of us „Silly? No! Your games you play with me are silly!“ his voice grew louder „Don't add insult to injury! I know exactly who you are so cut the crap! After that last trick of yours you don't have to disguise yourself anymore. So show me the respect I deserve“ the old man bellowed. \n My blood ran cold „What? I have no idea what you are talking about or who you are. Please, leave me alone“ I stammered. \n His laughter now seemed to fill the whole room yet still nobody seemed to notice „Aaaahahahahaaaa that is much better! Fear is the most natural reaction when you meet Death himself“ he gloated. „So your little shenanigans have finally cost you something. About damn time! For five thousand years I have been mocked by you, Vrakhur, the most powerful necromancer that has ever lived. You have cheated me out of countless corpses over the ages. And every time I came to collect my dues, you ran, hid or hit me with one of your foul spells to escape. For you knew what would come after death.“ \n „That cannot be! I'm Richard, just some plain accountant in a meaningless job. Please! I beg you! Let me go!“ my eyes welled up with tears. \n „Let you go? Noooo! I will follow you closely from here on out!“ His voice was now otherworldly, booming and deatheningly loud. \n „What ever you think I've done to you, it wasn't me. I know of no such things!“ \n „Oh, you don't? Well too bad! But don't worry I'll fill you in.“ another gale of laughter pierced my ears. „Ten years ago I last caught up with you after the spell you had cloaked yourself in had finally worn off. Knowing you had no other choice you attempted a Ritual almost too powerful for even you, Vrakhur. You cursed yourself so that every time you were to die, another man should die in your stead. It worked but the exhaustion from all the power you had to summon seems to have wiped out your memory.“ \n My stomach twisted itself into a knot. „This is horrible! I would never do such a wretched thing! I never made anyone suffer because of me. What I said earlier about being immortal was just a stupid joke I make“ I sobbed. \n He leaned in closely and his burning eyes seemed to look right through me. „Yes you did“ he uttered in a soft voice „and I am tremendously happy to feel your anguish at this revelation. I am finally starting to get something back from you.“ his voice rose in excitement „ The torment of your conscience at the certainty that you cut short the life of some luckless wretch every time something happens to you will be most delightful“ \n I felt sick to my bones „Please, no! Take me with you now and end this nightmare!“ \n „Have you already forgotten? I CAN'T!“ he smiled „I'll figure something out eventually but in the meantime I have to collect your substitute for todays mishap. That tormented soul has been screaming for hours now.“ pure malignity flickered across his face as he spoke „I think I'll keep them somewhere seperate and tell them why they had to go so much ahead of schedule so they can be prepared to take it out on you when you finally arrive“ he got up, turned around and as he vanished an ominous „See ya“ filled my ears.", "I could feel the warmth of the blood that trickled down my face, the aftermath of my windshield busting as the car flipped multiple times. There hadn’t been time to hit the brakes, only to swerve and hope for the best as the car in front of me stalled out at the bottom of a hill. I knew what had happened, and I was aware of my surroundings, but I couldn’t move or speak or even turn my eyes towards the passenger seat to see if my girlfriend was okay.\n\nI could hear, though. I listened desperately for the sound of her breathing, or crying, or sirens coming towards us, but instead I only heard muffled voices outside of the wrecked vehicle.\n\nPanic ran through me, but my heart did not race. It did not even beat. I had died. I thought back to all of the times I felt immortal in my youth, but now, it was over. I began to feel dizzy as I accepted my fate and the world began to disappear around me.\n\nSuddenly, without warning, I felt a lurch in my stomach. I was at the bottom of the hill, my white knuckles proof that I was frantically gripping the steering wheel. My girlfriend’s screams filled my ears, and in the rearview mirror—a stalled out car.\n\nI looked at my girlfriend, the color drained from both of our faces, and slowly began to drive away." ]	3
	[WP] Humans have been fishing or polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans for years. At least that was before all bodies of water started to fight back mistreatment....	[ "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.", " \"And why, pray tell, am i spending my holiday taking you to an art museum?\" Nate whine, hands deep in his thick jacket. I walked beside him, equally rugged up if not more.\n\n\"It's a gallery, and I'm not telling you until we get there.\" Was all i said before walking ahead of him. I hadn't even told Mum or Dad about this, that the museum had decided to purchase one of my proudest paintings to put on display. I couldn't wait to see his face!\n\nEven though the day was cold and rain pattered down from the sky, i was in such a good mood that there was no way anything could ruin it. Nate, my older brother, was visiting from school for the next month. He went to college far far out of town, and as much as i wanted to visit, i was far too unwell to travel. i was always a sickly girl. I wasn't as bad when i was younger, but whatever i had was getting worse slowly over the years. doctors have examined me for years over so many visits that i couldn't even remember them all. Most of them chalked it up to anemia and pollution, since we used to live in the city. So we moved out here.\n\nBeing so close to the ocean was...well...it felt right. Every day i would try to visit the ocean at least once. some days i was too sick to even get out of bed, and those days were my most miserable ones. But when i could get to the ocean i would either cleaning up its of plastic and various coloured cans into a bag. I could never finish even half of the beach, but i at least tried. Other times i would be doing some sort of art project. Mainly painting, but at one point i tried gluing various pieces of seashells that caught my interest. Needless to say, it did not go well. But no matter what, every time i finished it i would show it to the ocean (Don't tell anyone, especially not my brother!) I'm not sure when or why i did it, but it doesn't feel right to leave without showing my work off to the ocean, as if letting the model seeing its picture.\n\nAs we walked over the bridge, i glanced down at the brown water that was now flowing at a rapid rate. Bits of plastic of various sizes floated on the surface, so i could only imagine how much was underneath the surface. I shook my head and looked forward to where the gallery sat. I noticed the fairly large crowd standing around the entrance. my excitement grew tenfold, and i nearly squealed in delight if not for Nate shooting me a side long stare. Before i could say anything a scream rang out from behind us. I spun around to see what i can only explain as the river coming up and sweeping easily five people into the river. The mutters and chattering from the crowd immediately went silent. Within seconds people ran towards the bridge to see if the people were still there. A few were even stripping to jump in.\n\nIf i thought i had imagined it before, i knew i hadn't this time, as when more people came onto the bridge, the water rose like a wave and slammed into the small bridge. People screamed, and within seconds they were gone.\n\n\"what the hell?!\" Nate asked, his voice filled with fear. My voice however failed to work. All i could do was hold my arms to try and stop my shaking. I stepped backwards onto the wet grass, then another step. At the third step my foot slipped on wet mud, and i fell backwards with a scream. My hands flew out, managing to grab onto some long pieces of grass and stop my descent. I slowly tilted my head back to see the rapid water only inches from my face, the ends of my long hair floating in the water.\n\n\"Mary!\" Nate screamed. I looked back up to see him practically diving towards me, his eyes full of fear. I dared not move until i felt his hand on mine and pulling me up. Only then did i try to push myself up. As i pushed myself up however my foot slipped into the water, but with Nate holding my hands i could pull myself up.\n\nSomething grabbed onto my leg hard, causing me to yell out in pain. When i looked back i saw what i could only describe as a...a mummified man. Hollowed eyes, leathery skin with no muscle underneath. Moss covered teeth with weed hanging through the cracks. My voice completely failed me. i tried to breathe, but even my lungs were frozen in fear.\n\n\"what is that?!\" I heard Nate scream from a far away place. i felt him pull at me to get me up on the banks, but with one firm pull the dead man pulled me out from Nate's arms and into the water. \n\n\\---\n\nThe water felt slimy. Nothing like the ocean. I kicked out as hard as i could, but it took only five tries to tire myself out. I struggled hard to keep my breath, but as i looked around i saw dozens upon dozens of undead. Men, women, children, they all stumbled and floated toward me. I screamed without thinking, and began choking as the slimy water entered my lungs. I tried to swim up, but the undead man from before still had my legs. My lungs burned. Was this how i went? \n\nThen something peculiar happened. Arms wrapped around me so gently that i almost didn't even realize, until i noticed how warm i suddenly felt. I had no energy to fight, all i could do was float there in subdued fear as my consciousness faded me. Then, i heard a voice of a woman. such a gentle voice that it almost lulled me to sleep.\n\n\"no, not this one. Let them live.\"\n\nand before i knew it, i was on the bank on the river again, coughing and vomiting up the water. I could hear people screaming and footsteps from the street. then there were hands on me, shaking me with such force that my hazy mind was shaken awake.\n\n\"...ary. Mary!\" Nate's voice came through, filled with fear. I looked up slowly at him. Relief filled his reddened eyes. \"Oh thank Christ, you're alive...\" he whispered hoarsely, pulling me into such a tight hug that i found it hard to breath. But just as quickly he pulled away. \"come on, were' going to the hospital.\" He said with such finality that i couldn't argue. Then again, i don't think i could have. He helped me up and supported me as we walked up the hill. I glanced back once at the river, and saw it had become eerily still, as if it was just your average, every day river." ]	2
	[WP] In a world of superheroes and villains, you are the only antihero. Gifted with an unmatched intellect and affinity for improvising, you oppose the percieved dichotomy of "good" and "evil". That is, until the heroes and villains team up to seek you 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.", "The ideals of Pure Good and Pure Evil are important concepts that people should know about, strive to work for and against respectively. I'm not about to try and contest good behavior. What I WILL argue is that to believe that morality is strictly binary is outright ignorant and childish, and that thinking only works for children. By adulthood, people should be able to recognize that almost everything exists in a moral gray area, a balance between good and evil. Actions, words, people, all each bear varying amounts of virtue and vice.\n\nBut over the last few months, people have been forgetting that, and have fallen into a mob mentality, commanded by that strict Pure binary, and whose fault is that?\n\nThe Supers. Obviously.\n\nAll these nutcases running around, either spewing about Domination v Freedom, Hate v Love, or Destruction v Construction...\n\nPure Good and Pure Evil. Seeing them fight... No, more like bicker, over those ideas, it was childish, and I felt it was pandering for the crowds, trying to get them to revert their thinking to something intently ignorant and immature.\n\nOnly took a few weeks before I had enough. I've got a little power too, I'd argue everyone does. Why not take up my issues to them?\n\nAt that point, I only really had black and red stuff to 'suit up' in, but this jacket, jeans, and scarf look wouldn't be permanent, not by any means. I also took up a prototype name, something that may or may not stick with people, further bolster the idea that they're being taught a great big lie, one of the biggest in the universe.\n\nBut if people will remember a name like Gold Digger, or Stone Cold, maybe the name Melchizedek would catch them, make the crowds of citizens watching lend an ear to me, someone trying to be their Reason.\n\nJudging from the fact that it was only a week before the heroic Silver Streak and dastardly previously mentioned Gold Digger were tag-teaming me to have me dance to the Jailhouse Rock, after going around and completely derailing their Saturday Morning superhero fights, I'd say I was more successful than I was shooting for.\n\n\"Your reign of chaos against us ends here, Melchizedek!\"\n\n\"You've been a massive pest lately, what does a girl have to do to heist in peace?!\"\n\n\"Greater Evil\" is all that I told them, before managing to throw Gold into Silver's incredibly predictable flight course, and drop a hallucinogenic smoke bomb at the piled bodies, fleeing the bank we were all fighting in.\n\nWas this petty? Looking back on it, yeah, I'd say it is. But I'm still happy with it. Maybe I'm causing a headache to everyone, but they'll see what I mean by next Christmas.\n\nAfter all, I've already taught them the concept of Greater Evil. Little baby steps work for now.", "Good? Are you kidding me? There’s no one more selfish than a superhero. Do you really think those guys give a shit about saving a dozen people? Yeah, I bet everyone’s favorite superhero really cared when he stopped a derailed train and saved a total 3 people he had never met. The Blinding Bolt? What a dumbass name. \n\nThe second fighting in the streets and showing off to cameras stops putting them in the limelight, they’ll stop immediately. \n\nAnd ya know what’s even worse? Villains. Talk about a bunch of losers. Their sole existence is being the antagonist of the story peddled by the heroes. It’s all a bunch of shit. \n\nI feel obligated to give the people a taste of reality. I don’t do this shit cause I want to, though it’s fun, I do it cause I’m the only one who sees through their lies. Plus I happen to have a couple skills and a cool mutation or two that help along the way. I did what I thought needed to be done, maybe a few people got hurt along the way, but it was all for the greater good. The heroes didn’t see it that way though. I’m them but better, so obviously they’re threatened. \n\nSo consequently, it didn’t surprise me when I was stopped in the middle of bringing some light vengeance by a little group of heroes. The Blind Dumbass, Fragrancia, and Seismic, my three personal favorites, and three who were all vulnerable to good old fashioned knives and punches that can break the sound barrier. No problema. Fragrancia is basically useless, not even gonna go into that. The Dumbass and his speed posed a little bit of an issue, but when she feels like she’s losing, Seismic tends to lose control of who she targets, effectively ending both of their attacks. \n\nSo now I’m standing triumphantly watching the speedster unable to move and a weeping Seismic, when I’m actually truly taken by surprise by these characters for the first time. Seismic stands up and looks past me. I can see the bloodlust in her eyes. My stupid ass turns around to see what she’s looking at, when I’m met face to face with a big dude. And I mean big. Grim the Reaper. A dumb name definitely, and totally original, but it fits him nonetheless. He’s 8 foot tall, entirely pitch black except for the red eyes, and he did also happen to carry an array of blades weapons, plus he could shift fly and transition to practically a spirit. Like I said it fits him. \n\nGrim and Seismic were sworn enemies, but they seemed to be sharing a single thought. I’m their problem. They have their little organized world where they’re the center of attention, and I’m the rock in their gears fucking it all up. \n\nNever thought I’d end up here: waking up in front of a crowd of 2 thousand people with my mask off and a squadron of police cars surrounding the pedestal holding me up. \n\nDamn. Guess the charade is up. They win. And everyone else loses." ]	3
Usa* sorry	[WP] Far in the future, the technology for lightsabers is discovered. The entire world now uses them as weapon of choice, except America. They still use guns.	[ "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 European Coalition was in shambles as those blasted Americans were tearing apart their armies with ease. They thought they had the upper hand. When Germany mastered plasma field manipulation, a plasma saber was the first idea to be made. They were versatile, being able to breach, burn, and intimidate enemies with ease.. So when it was announced that the European Coalition would attack America for resources, it was considered an in and out job. America was still backwards ass, using antiquated slug throwers and other shit. Then we landed on American soil. It was easy taking out the National Guard and the police were siding with us. Then came the U.S Army and their oh so ancient guns. Once the first flash was ignited, one half of our forces were decimated. I didn't get it. They somehow made about 10 million of us were piles of shredded meat. As I lay, half my body gone, a young American soldier looked down at me to say the last words I would ever hear.\n\n\"HAHAHAHAHHHHHAAaaa.... You stupid motherfucker! You gave up a good and tried weapon for a glorified flashlight! You do realize though you can't block bullets without the Force?\"" ]	2
	[WP] You accidentally misread a Department of Defence (DOD) job listing as a job for people proficient in D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) and yet somehow you are still hired.	[ "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 department of defense (DoD) . There are a lot of listening that pass across the places hiring people.\n\nThe listing said that you have experienced in running multiple tasks at the same time.\n\nCan speak multiple language.\n\nThink in out side of the box logic solution to tasks. And use moon logic when required.\n\nCan charter out probably \n\nExperience in cartography.\n\nCan blend in with a crowd \n\n\nWell I can do about all of them .\n\n\nSo the day I went to the human service of the DoD after filling out my experience and history. \n\n\nI thought I was going to be a spy the was it was presented. After a few callbacks and a week of waiting for these calls.\n\n\nThe post that I saw after I was hired was different it had everything on there as if the position was never filled out with me.\n\n\nSo I ask around if I was just a fluke. Turns out that the position was mandatory for a span of a year and a day.\n\n\nWalking into work I found the room where I was going to work was a trap.\n\n\nIt’s been a long year. Exploring the world that I was sent into.\n\n\nI now have a wonderful wife and a set of twins on the way. The year is 700 days long. 13 Percent of the population can’t do magic I cleared 5 Dungeons, and Slayed one dragon. As I walk back in to the cave to clean out the entrance.\n\nIt’s New Year’s Day. My back is hurting I was flung into the wall . The light are to bright. And I passed out \n\n\n\nThe doctor said as I woke back up. Well this is s first congratulations you have made it back. You lasted for seven minutes and one second. \n\nThere I hear a crash and Pandemonium across the base .\n \nI think my wife is here with the family.\n\nI didn’t really slay the dragon. I married her." ]	2
	[WP] The Gods are all but gone. The past few months have been hell as Gods from all Pantheons have died from unnatural phenomenons that none of you could understand. Today, you surround yourself with what's left of the Gods, knowing today is your last...or is 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.", "“Fuck this” Ares yelled angrily, kicking the ground.\n\n“Will you calm down, please? Your giving me a headache” the Chinese moon goddess complained. “Just try to calm down and breathe, everything will be okay.”\n\n“EVERYTHING WILL NOT BE OKAY! MY WIFE IS DEAD AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS BITCH” yelled the war god, angrily pointing a finger at Athena.\n\nAthena snorted; “Hah! Okay Mr. Anger Management.”\n\n“The next person to talk will get their hand bitten off” snarled the Wolf.\n\nI sighed. For some reason, I was chosen to be the one to solve this mystery “Divine Flu.” Apparently, as Apollo was dying and throwing up Ichor, he went into some sort of prophetic state and gave a vague hint at which of the deities would solve this illness. And, after much deliberation, I was chosen. \n\nMy name Sukunahikona. I am a Japanese dwarf deity known for brewing sake, protecting people from animals, and—you guessed it—healing. Since Asclepius died and Sekhemet was in the process of kicking the bucket, I was the last person they had left who was competent enough for the job. All the other healing patrons either died or were stupid. Yay me. \n\nSet spoke up; “Hey, uh, Suka-whatever. How’s that cure coming along? I’d like to get my hands on it ASAP so I can go back to cutting up gods of the dead.”\n\n“First of all, it’s Sukunahikona. Secondly, it’s not ready. It’s going to take some time before this is done. If you leave me be, I’ll finish the cure faster.”\n\n“Yeah, lay off the man, will you? He’s doing more than you ever could you fucking coward. Go cause some destruction and let Sukunahikona finish his work” chimed Lono, the Hawaiian god of peace. \n\n“THANK YOU!” I exclaimed, relived. Finally! Someone was understanding that I was actually trying to help. \n\nThe Divine Flu had wiped out roughly 75% of all divine beings in the past year. No one knew what caused it or how it worked. All we know is that it killed, and gave off the same symptoms as the mortal Flu. So far, I’ve found nothing significant. I’ve ruled out godly bacteria, the Fates (since they all died), curses, hexes, divine weapons, apocalyptic predictions, sharp things, and poison. I’ve started pulling resources from all sorts of if religions. Books, manuscripts, spells, weapons, holy items, and whatnot. But, nothing is coming up. I’ve ventured through the depths of Tartarus, rode Ra’s sun bark, and visited the fiery lands of Muspelheim trying to find something that could help. I’ve come up empty handed every single time.\n\n“Did you try the Catholic ‘Holy Grail’ or whatever?” barked Fenrir while chewing on Tyr’s other hand.\n\n“Yeah, and remember what happened? Ares got drunk off his ass and slaughtered Rome in rage.” \n\nChang’e laughed, “So that’s why you can’t have alcohol!” \n\nAres’ face filled with fury. We were sitting in Asgard’s throne room. Since Heimdall had died, the Bifrost collapsed. It essentially made the city a quarantine zone. I was sitting in Odin’s throne with piles of books, relics, spices, and prophecies scattered on the ground. I had a list in my hand of possible causes;\n\n- Holy Plagues\n- Catholic God\n- Universal collapse\n- lost diseases\n- Pollution\n\nI’ve been staring at this list for days. All of these are plausible, but impossible to verify. \n\nMawu, the African creation goddess, took a deep breath. “If we’re being optimistic, at least we get more offerings. I don’t mind getting more attention.”\n\n“Yeah, but they’re constantly burning plastic for tributes instead of natural ingredients. It makes me sick” croaked Athena. “I wish they would go back to the all natural.”\n\nI paused. “Say that again.”\n\n“I wish they would go back to the all natural?”\n\n“No, before that.”\n\n“They’re burning plastic and it makes me sick?”\n\n“EUREKA!” I exclaimed. “It’s been under our noses this whole time! Mortals are burning plastic and it’s making us sick! It wasn’t bad before, but now it’s starting to affect our health.” \n\nAres screamed; “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? ITS BEEN THE MORTALS THIS WHOLE TIME? I SWEAR LET ME AT THEM AND I WILL—“\n\n“Hold on there Tiger” cautioned Set. “We’ve got to take this slower. I’m all for slaughtering humans but we don’t want to wipe out their entire race. We just got to get them to change their offerings.”\n\nLono sighed. “For once I agree with that Egyptian bastard. We’ve got to take it slow. I prefer peace over unnecessary death.”\n\nI began to think. It’s not like we can pop down there and tell them “Hey, you’re killing all your gods.” There’s got to be a better way.\n\nAthena chimed in; “What if we send them some sort of divine message. An omen. A sign.”\n\n“I’ve got it! I’ll cause an untimely eclipse. That way, some of them will get some sort of apocalyptic message” exclaimed Chang’e.\n\nMawu beamed. “And I’ll do the speaking part. Being a creation goddess and all, I’ve got some massive power.”\n\n“This is perfect!” I exclaimed. “Finally, we’ll all stop getting sick and we can go bad to our godly lives.”\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nThat was 10 years ago. All the mortals, regardless of their religion, stopped burning plastic. Ever since the, we’ve been slowly getting some deities back. Xolotl is being a little bitch boy, considering he’s the only underworld god left, and it’s taking a while. We’ve managed to get some back, but this will be a long road." ]	2

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