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] Rumors have swirled for years about the mage's tower. Some say it's a dark and malevolent place. Others that the mage will give you a meal and send you on your way. All say that the tower is filled with treasure beyond wonder. The king has tasked one brave soul to find out the certain truth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Of all the people to chose to go to investigate the tower why me? \n\nHe had remembered the choosing that the king had ordered. He had been one of the hundreds selected of the kings army. He had tried to hide himself behind one of the huge columns in the throne room and still his name was called. So off he went to the mages' tower in the forest just outside of town on the other side of the forest. His trip through the forest has been fraught with attacks by wild animals and he even got waylaid by some bandits. He had fought them off and had a bruised rib to show for it. So now he stood at the front door of the tower and not wanting to go through with the investigation. \n\nThe tower was huge stretching up to the sky as far as he could see. Instead of marveling at how grand the building was all he could think about was having to climbing all those stairs in full armor. His legs started getting tired just thinking about it. The courtyard looked fairly normal with decorative bushes and trees planted throughout and didn't look menacing at all. He thought to himself that it wouldn't be that bad at all so he straightened out his armor and knocked on the door. \n\nAs his knuckle rapped out the first knock the floor gave way. He thought he would've fell straight down to his death but the floor was sloped. Unfortunately for him it was sloped at a very steep angle an he was flying down the chute. It must've curved at one point because he crashed into the wall sending him spinning out of control. He collided with a wall with a crunch thankful that his armor gave him some sort of protection. He ended up on the bottom of the chute with more bruises and thought he might've chipped a tooth. He groaned as he picked himself off of the floor and noticed that he was in a room that was quite cozy. A small fire was going in the fireplace and a small table was set with tea and little cakes. The walls were painted a bright cheery color and oddly enough had paintings on the walls that depicted peaceful country sides.\n\n\"please have a seat\" boomed a voice from behind him. He spun around drawing his sword but before he could bring it up to guard himself it flew out of his hand and clattered to the floor. He looked at his hand quite dumbfounded because there was no impact and it felt like the sword handle had just slipped out of his hand. He looked up again at the figure standing in front of him. The man stood taller than him by a good hand span and had a short scruffy beard that covered half his face. He wore a simple cotton tunic and pants that could only be described as comfortable. The man made a gesture with his hand causing the captain to slowly slide backwards until he thumped into the chair. He tried to force himself back out of the chair but he seemed to be stuck to it. He gave up the struggle and looked over at the food on the table. \n\n\"Eat, I made it for you so help yourself\" the man said as he sat down across from the captain. The man poured the tea for the both of them and popped a cake into his mouth. \n\n\"Good of the king to send me someone to talk to, it gets boring out here guarding the outskirts of his borders.\" the man said around a mouthful of food. He drank some tea and smiled at the captain amusing himself with the confusion that still painted his face.\n\nThe captain was too confused to eat but he did try the tea. it was fragrant and seemed to lift his spirits. His body stopped aching and he felt his exhaustion drain away. He looked up again and was about to ask a question before the man lifted up his hand palm out in a placating gesture.\n\n\"So I have to tell you something about why you're here. You are the kings son, his only son that is. You however are a bastard from one of his dalliances from when he was younger. He sent you to me so I could train you to be better and one day rule the kingdom. So what I'm going to need you to do is sleep now and when you wake we'll begin your training.\n\nHe finished his speech and before the captain could ask any questions the mage waved his hands in a sweeping gesture and the captain fell asleep.\n\n\"I swear this pendragon family is going to be the death of me\", the mage muttered as he moved the captain to the sleeping pallet." ]	2
	[WP] You’ve always been in the very bottom of superhero power rankings. You mostly evacuate areas and stop petty thefts. However, with the newest global threat arising, you are the only one with a power that stands a chance.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Oh god not again,\" I muttered. Another red alert, and this time it was from apparent slime zombies emerging from sewers to terrorize people. They were slow and seemed mainly uninterested in anything but staggering after humans, and so sergeant Red had taken the bulk of them out with fire easily. But there were still more lurking below, with potential resistances. The Organization wanted to be careful - hence, another job for me, boring and droll, nothing new in the practically laboratory-like place they keep me. Every since they discovered my powers...\n\nI closed my eyes and contemplated the universe, the sky, the bird's eye view of the city, trying to even penetrate hints of underground threats. \"Calling all XXX town residents,\" I broadcasted using my mind. \"Please evacuate to the nearest safe zone. Move west, towards the direction of the setting sun, the location of the Superhero Base 5. This is currently deemed a code yellow. Mild threat located. Please do not panic.\" There. My signal had probably reached the mind of every conscious adult, and even woke them up to action, especially if they didn't usually pay attention to TV. \n\nThen I sighed, staring at the white walls in front of me, the layers of books and information piled up behind the computer. I took the mouse and clicked the check box for a job done, as per requested by HQ a few minutes ago. I was practically a high schooler when I first started working here, when I had began doing my evacuation things, happening to be noticed by one of the higher ups as 'the nice guy who simultaneously warns everyone of danger.' Sadly, that was about the only thing I could do, because in a world wrought with fire breathers and water benders and everything in between, someone who could only project their voice to others for resulting extreme mental strain wasn't exactly going to be excessively flashy. Broadcasting locations of things such as petty thefts, relaying emergency messages for HQ, being the paperwork guy, all for 'them protecting my valuable power' which was a single message broadcasted to targeted minds or minds in a large span of time. I was already feeling the drain. They'd take care of the rest. I rested my head on my desk and pretty much zoned out. \n\n\"Emergency alert!\" \n\nI shot up, banging my head on my computer. Ow... then I noticed everything in the room bathed in red. Crap. Quickly I got up and out the door, already hearing the sounds of pandemonium. I dodged flying papers and rushing workers, catching only snippets of details as I made my way towards the main office. Aliens... Doctors... Apples... What? \n\n\"...Yes mister president?\" I walked through the door, and saw my friend Stacy talking with the boss of the organizations. He looked catatonic. His two paper alien eyes and multiple arms seemed to be working in overdrive. He was literally mashing every red emergency button in sight, even the ones for ocean emergency and sky attack and underground invasion. This looked pretty serious. \n\n\"You!\" he stated as soon as he saw me. \"Fix this!\" \n\n\"What? Fix it how?\" I asked as a tablet was shoved into my hands. It was a map, a big starry electronic movable one... of the universe? \n\n\"Our communications team messed up. We sent the wrong signal to the aliens and now they think we're having a nuclear war.\" \n\n\"Oh.\" I stated, while Stacy winced. \n\nThe boss cleared his throat. \"I mean, just.\" He took the tablet from me, swiped through a few 3-D holograms, and there was suddenly a bulky purple creature with eyes scattered across its body projected in front of us. Kind of hideous if you ask me. \"This guy, General Gus. He's the boss. If you can, find him and tell him, 'humans actually meant the apples.' which is the right code. Then they probably won't attack.\"\n\n\"Okay.\" I nodded. I guessed there wasn't time to waste, so I delved into my brain, into reaching across celestial layers to where the coordinates probably lay. Space was actually kind of cool this way, if you ignored the whirl of literally mind boggling places and possibilities If I actually managed this, then I expected a big reward for saving the world in itself.", ":::MEANWHILE, AT OMNISTATION:::\n\nThe rest of \"The Gang\" has already fallen off the map, so to speak. SteelCage spends the weight of the day on his couch, idly watching the television, regardless of what is on. Speed Trap is fast asleep, and when he's not, he's crying. Electro, her Tesla suit still waiting at the dry cleaner, has not been seen in days. Rumour has it she's out on Hall Blvd trying to score again.\n\nSo it's just me. There's no use telling you my Superhero name - I was never given one. I thought it would be cool if they called me Arrestor, or, like, Mr. Stop-It or something. But it's not cool to give yourself a Super name. With all of this silence in the lair, I've had a lot of time to reflect...mainly to realize that I was only part of \"The Gang\" because my Dad owns OmniTorret. The equivalent of bringing the dweeb to the football game because he owns the ball.\n\nOh. My superpower. Technically, I can freeze time. But, depending on what I've eaten that day, it's limited to a few cubic meters, about the size of one full grown man. And, on a good day, that speed meter works for about 5 minutes, just in time for the cops to show up. Hence: The Arrestor!!! Watch as he prevents half of the jewel thief team from getting away! I'm also pretty good at reading maps and blueprints and stuff, so the city named me emergency evacuateur...I mean, I don't do the evacuating myself, but I'm dedicated to the pursuit of educating the people of Colt City on the proper evacuation plans for certain natural and villain-induced disasters and impending...\n\n...my other super power is, I can be a drag. I mean, Super Boring. And as I'm coming to find out, that's actually real handy.\n\nGosh, I forgot to fill you in, Mr. Mayor. Here I am, blabbering about SteelCage's sofa, and all you care about is saving the city. Pardon me. Well, here's the short story. You remember those green Lizard-Folk visitors that came from way way way out in the Andromeda galaxy? About 20 years ago? They seemed friendly. Well, they're back now, bearing a gift.\n\nThey called it \"The Dream Machine!\" It's a blue substance, and when you touch it, you are transported mentally to the most exciting, most exhilarating, most nostalgia-inducing moment of your entire life. For SteelCage, he said it was when he flew for the first time - he kept saying \"That first flight...returning home, touching the creator...that first flight.\" I forget what Speed Trap saw, probably his parents, you know, before they were incinerated. And Electro, I guess she remembered her old habit of doing drugs or whatever. I guess once you get a taste of that Excitement-Goo, you're incapacitated. Yikesees!\n\nYou want to know what happened to me? Not much. I was flashed to last Thursday, when I was taking a walk, and a pidgeon tried to shit on me, but missed. Man I was relieved! Ahhh, fun times. Anyway, I guess I'm sufficiently boring that this stuff doesn't affect me, even a bit. Isn't that interesting?!\n\nOh, no, don't go Mr. Mayor, I have a plan, just let me finish my story! Please, have a seat. I can see you are tired.\n\nYes, Mr. Mayor, I know it was you, you were the one planted to infect this planet with your species' corrupting Excitement-Juice! You, Glargbark III, connected telepathically with the entire mission control of the Lizard-Folk from Sector 6! And yes, your only weakness, the only antidote to the unbearable excitement you've bestowed upon us is I, Captain Uninteresting-er!\n\nGather round, Lizard-Folks, and let me tell you a bedtime story. I sure hope it doesn't bore you to death! Ahahaha....wait, I can do better than that. How about, um, Nighty Night, here's a glass of boredom to wash down the....Let me try again...\n\n:::AND THUS THE CITY WAS AGAIN SAVED BY SENOR BORON:::" ]	3
	[WP] The goblin clan never understood why their squishy pink quadrupedal compatriot was so silent all the time except for when he oinked, but they loved him all they same- even despite his voracious appetite.	[ "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.", "\"ICK EAT PINK CREATURE!\" The goblin triumphantly declared, A harsh nasally NYAHAHAHAHA leaving his crumbly lips as he pointed at the creature, striking a pose that he saw those weird human sculptures do in those massive towns with the weird people who hit him over the head everytime he tried to bite them. Those weird human creatures were so rude, not even greeting him in the traditional goblin fashion.\n\n\"OINK\" the pink creature retorted, causing the small goblin to screech in terror, he thought he had stunned the beast with his pose, the creature had been so silent before.... but now... but now it was angry, oinking up a riot that now had the small goblin running in panicked circles.\n\n\"AH! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME SIR OINK! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!\" The goblin screamed, only to be stopped when he collided with the edge of a tree, sending the goblin tumbling back beside the pig. \"OW OW OW!\" He muttered before letting out a scream as a pile of apples began to descend from the tree, nearly landing in his lap, threatening to squash his little gobbos. \n\nThe pig looked at the goblin... then to the apples before deciding to pig out on the apples, happily chomping down on the fruits much to the goblins relief. \"Ah.... heh.... you have been fed.. by the great ICK!\" He chuckled, although his laugh had become more pathetic and exhausted over time before he finally fell onto his back. \"Ick's going to starve....\" he whined as he rubbed his flattening stomach. \n\nAs he complained an apple rolled towards him, bumping his hip. \"Huh? WHO DARES ATTACK THE MIGHTY- oh...\" he stared at the apple, then at the pig who hadn't even noticed he hit the apple over to him. \"You... feed Ick... even though Ick... threaten you...\" he bite the apple through teary eyes.\n\nThe apple tasted like friendship...-\n\nAnd pig spit...\n\nBut the friendship was the prominent taste, finally once he finished the apple he embraced his newfound friend, rubbing their cheeks together. \"ICK AND OINK ARE NOW FRIENDS!\" He shouted to no one. \"You may be strange creature that only says name but Ick can't complain, we friends got it now?\"\n\n\"OINK\"\n\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] A facility run by an AI is teleported to another world, filled with elves, dwarves, goblins, and the like. With so many new and unique 'test subjects' what's a computer to do? Science! That's what!	[ "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 appeared on the eve of the new year. \n\nFirst, a tear in the fabric of reality, a flickering gash in the sky that cast an otherworldly purple light onto our forest. \n\nThen, a towering, metallic structure, wrought in shapes our Gods did not mean for this world. It blinked into existence, searing a lifeless crater into the ground where bustling Oakvale used to be.\n\nIt’s been 12 hours since the incident. The elders of each race have since then called a clansmeet, and elected the finest of those with arcane or divine disposition to advise.\n\nThe clerics sat together and augured, then named it divine retribution. The wizards think it’s an overly complex conjuration spell gone horribly wrong. The shamans convened with the ancestor spirits, and came up with nothing. A hundred different orders of expertise, but none of them agreed on what this was.\n\nSo of course, the elders did what they always do in a crisis. \n\nWhen they sounded the clarion call for adventurers to enter the strange complex, I was one of the first to answer. Only I saw it for what it truly was, a windfall ripe for the picking.\n\nIt was the perfect opportunity for Cioran, Straffer and I, as we were the best the Thieves’ Guild have to offer. It was to be a straightforward plan, in and out before the elders had any inkling of an idea what had just happened. \n\nWe were the first to make it into the building proper, through the strange barbed fences and iron gates. They were simple to scale, and simpler to pick. It was almost too easy.\n\nWe snuck into the structure, past the unnatural, luminescent lights and the strange latticeworks of iron, and we found ourselves within a shadowy hall, shrouded entirely in darkness save for the crimson lights that flickered ominously in the distance. Within the brief flashes of red-tinged light, we found the hall to be some kind of audience chamber, carpeted and filled with strange designs of chairs and tables. Cioran took particular interest in the strange undecipherable documents laying on top of some of the tables, and stuffed several handfuls into his pack. \n\nAs we lit our torches and bathed the hall in light, we discovered the only path deeper into the structure, a gargantuan set of iron doors that lay invitingly half-closed, with an opening just wide enough for a halfling to creep through. Of course, that meant it fell to me to get these doors open.\n\nWhen I peered into the opening, I found myself staring into an impenetrable darkness, a field of utter abyss. \n\nFood and drink for a thief of my caliber. \n\nWith my torch gripped snugly between my teeth, I wedged myself in, wriggling myself through the crack. It was a tight fit, even for me, but eventually, I got to the other side. With a staged bow and my compatriots’ feigned applause, I turned to face my new environment.\n\nI found myself in a long, long hallway, lined with strange elf-sized containers that beeped and whirled. Hundreds of them were packed to the sides of the hallway, filled to the brim with a pulsating, green liquid that hurt my eyes to watch. \n\nI stepped warily forward, turning back to look at my crew for help, when the resounding growl of steel grinding against steel filled the room. Even now, I can still remember Straffer’s last panicked look as the doors closed on me. \n\nThe flickering lights flared to life once again, and cast a dangerous red tint over this corridor. The rhythm of beeps and whirls got faster and faster, matching the pace of some unknown conductor to this mechanical choir. I remember the fear that gripped my mind, that clambered down my spine as the glass walls of a hundred containers slid open, spilling its contents onto the floor.\n\nA hundred strange, milk-skinned, round-eared creatures. Rougher than elves, weaker than orcs.\n\nA unhurried, monotone voice fought through the wall of sound that pounded on my eardrums.\n\n‘_Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is currently two-thirty one AM, and we have completed our scheduled jump to the newly discovered Viperidae cluster. Please prepare to disembark._’\n\nThe pent-up fear in my spine throttled my gut as I watched the creatures sputter to life, and focus their eyes on me.\n\nMan, what a way to go." ]	2
	[WP] "If you want something to get done, just tell a human it can't be done. They'll prove you wrong or die trying."	[ "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.", "“Anything is possible.”\n\n\\- Human proverb\n\n“Hold my beer.”\n\n\\- Bill “Big Balls” Polansky\n\nIt is common knowledge that the human species suffers from a detrimental psychological duality. This conflict in human behavior and thought process almost caused their extinction. Luckily, the small remaining humans on their dying planet were saved by the Astari. Their population is still relatively small compared to the other species of the galaxy.\n\nLucky for the crew of the Standador 7, we happened to hire one on.\n\nBill “Big Balls” Polansky was an excellent addition to the crew. His work ethic and output exceeded expectations. His ability to work, however, was not the highlight of his employment aboard the Standador 7. His personality filled the empty spaces of the cargo ship. During his introduction to the crew “Big Balls” Polansky informed of his nick name and then proceeded to show us why he had gotten it. While his sexual organs did not seem all that impressive, a cursory investigation in the computer’s drive suggested that Polansky’s balls were, in fact, big in comparison to the average human male.\n\nThere is a saying around the galaxy that, “If you want something to get done, just tell a human it can't be done. They'll prove you wrong or die trying.” This is certainly true. At least anecdotally in regard to “Big Balls” Polansky.\n\nThe crew’s first test of this saying resulted in Polansky officially breaking the ship’s time record for reorganizing the ships lauders. Jokingly, Thred, told him that his first attempt was 3 earth seconds under the record, which could never be beaten. Polansky actually took everything out of the lauder and did it again. It should be noted that there was no recorded record for reorganizing the ship’s pantry. There is now.\n\nOf course with every test to the saying, the crew found its true virtue. The true meaning of the saying had two aspects. First, humans are hilarious creatures that will do anything when intoxicated. Second, and most importantly, humans will come through when you need them most, or truly die trying.\n\nThe footnotes to humanity are a constantly growing list of information. “Big Balls” Polansky was no exception. We discovered that Polansky was a connoisseur of alcohol. By connoisseur I mean a creature that likes to drink. One of his talents included brewing a specific type of alcohol call beer. The crew is half and half on its quality. I suppose it has to do with the differences in biology. Some of the crew can not stomach it, the other half think it’s the most glorious thing they have ever tried. One thing the crew does agree on is that “Big Balls” Polansky is the most fun to mess with when he has had more than a few beers.\n\nThe truth on how lucky we were to find Bill Polansky would become fully evident to us on the date 11.02.222. On that fateful day the Standador 7 was attacked by pirates.\n\nPirating was a common enough occurrence throughout the galaxy. The Standador 7 had two encounters with pirates in its 10 year service. Both attacks were easily thwarted by the ship’s defensive systems. Low level thieves are no match for cargo ships built and owned by SER Corp. The amount and value of our cargo necessitate a certain level of security. A level of security that SER Corp. can and does afford.\n\nThe Standador 7’s third encounter with space pirates proved to be much more serious than anticipated. The ship exited slip space to prepare for its next jump. This is a standard event that takes around 36 hours. Most of the repairs and preparation for a jump is conducted by the ship’s computers and robots. As such, time is often taken for morale boosting. In the middle of one such party on 11.02.222, 19 hours into the Standador 7’s jump preparation, another ship exited slip space.\n\nThe ship was a Tandori Class hunter killer. It had been appropriated by the Glowing Sun after the Fantix War. The ship was no match for current military vessels but was more than a match for the defensive capabilities of the Standador 7. Crewed by the notorious Glowing Sun, the situation was dire. The criminal enterprise was not known for leaving any crew member alive when they took a ship.\n\nOnce the hunter killer had taken out our engines and nullified our defensive systems it docked with our ship. Then, we were boarded. An entire platoon of Glowing Sun soldiers began a push to take full control of the Standador 7. It was guaranteed that our lives had become forfeit. No engagement with the Glowing Sun had ever been thwarted by a cargo ship without a military escort. Unluckily for us, our cargo did not have military value, and thus did not necessitate a military escort.\n\nIt is an understatement to say that our party was ruined. Drunk cargo sailors don’t have the tools, or the skills needed to stage any sort of defense against hardened criminal pirates. We barricaded ourselves in the galley and tried to isolate as many systems as possible to slow the pirates progress. To our dismay, we were unable to activate a distress beacon. Our fate was all but assured.\n\nPolansky didn’t understand our fear. He kept going on about how we needed to fight “these cock suckers.” While a drunk human is fun to be around, their reasoning ability goes out the window. He had never heard of the Glowing Sun and he didn’t understand their abilities on the battlefield. The spark that set the powder keg off was a simple statement made by me.\n\n“Bill you can’t defeat these pirates. It can’t be done.”\n\nPolansky, who was holding two bottles of his ship crafted beer, a tactic he referred to as “double fisting,” handed one of the bottles to Thred and said, “hold my beer.”\n\nHe then smashed the other bottle against a table to create a jagged impromptu weapon. Beer sprayed all over himself and the table. He pointed the broken glass at me and said, “I’m Bill “Big Balls” Polansky, and cock sucking pirate motherfuckers aren't killing my friends today.”\n\nWith anger and gusto he strode to the door. He belched and fumbled with the key pad. The door slid open and we watched our shipmate and our friend walk to his doom. We watched him walk to our salvation.\n\nWhen the smoke was clear we found Polansky on the bridge. With his last breath he had engaged the emergency transponder. The five holes that drained his red blood all over the console and the floor of the bridge was nothing in comparison to the trail of brutal violence her left behind in his wake. The military hushed the incident up. I think they knew more about human beings than they let on. Things that didn’t need to be disseminated to the rest of the galaxy. While it hasn’t been confirmed, I think the galactic government feels that humanity’s brush with extinction was fortuitous to the galaxy.\n\nAfter seeing the devastation wrought by a single human, I might be inclined to agree with them. But then I think about why that hate and violence was laid upon 24 trained Glowing Sun soldiers. It was a testament to his love and friendship. Bill “Big Balls” Polansky waged war against all odds for those he considered his friends. He truly believed anything was possible, and he died showing us that that was true.", "“You’re underestimating them.”\n\nMy wings twitch as I turn back. The old demon’s eyes are steady, confident. They glow with experience. It sends shivers down my spine, but I can’t afford to show weakness.\n\n“I’m sure you think so, considering your...” I glance at his broken left horn, and the scars adorning his ash gray skin. “Encounter. But you forget, God’s army is stronger than you ever were. We’ll take them down.” I tighten my grip on the handle of my sword. \n\nThe humans deserted God. They were a failed experiment. Now, God wants to fix his mistake and it’s my duty to carry out his will as Michael the Constant.\n\nMy temper flairs as the demon laughs, baring his shattered fangs.\n\n“I think you’ll find that they’re much more difficult to erase than you think.” His smile fades, and that hauntingly knowing tint returns to his eyes.\n\nMy blood boils, but my face stays carefully blank. Why can’t he understand? These humans are weak. How could they possibly retaliate when they are imperfect?\n\n“They are mortal. It’s impossible for them to win; our victory is certain.”\n\n“That’s the thing,” the devil hisses. His pointed tail flicks slowly back and forth, like a cat’s might when it’s hunting. “You tell a human they can’t do something, and they will prove you wrong or die trying.” His voice gets soft, and I have to strain to hear. “I should know. I learned my lesson the hard way.” A frail hand shakes it’s way up to his shoulder, where the demon’s right wing should be.\n\nI stare, heart pounding in rage, before forcing myself to step and turn, heading back to my army. Then I stop. I glance over my shoulder.\n\n“What is your name, demon?”\n\nA gaze as old as time flicks up to meet mine. Ruined lips peel back over broken fangs.\n\n“Lucifer.”\n\nMy heart drops into my stomach. Ice water runs through my veins, and for the first time in eternity, my resolve falters.\n\nLucifer, the fabled warrior of evil.\n\nMy body freezes. Fear sparks, hot and sharp. Lucifer smirks as my limbs shake and tremble, turns away, and limps into the abyss.", "Intergalactic Defensive Mercenary Ship #1198632\n\nCaptain Zorogruth\n\nEntry 1: \"Impossibilities\"\n\n Many things are not able to be done. As a captain, I had to come to terms with this in order to lead. I have learned to love my ship and my crew dearly throughout the decades: even the humans. You see, humans are a terrifying species who seem to have only survived because of their insane strength and willpower. Humans don't care if something is impossible. They even have a common saying: \"anything is possible\". This baffles me as well as the rest of the crew, because it is completely incorrect! Many things are impossible, it's just a reality of life. I fear this mindset because it will most likely end in the death of one or more of the crew.\n\nEntry 2: \"SOS\"\n\n We have recieved an emergency call from an allied ship who is in grave danger. Our humans are calling it an SOS call, which stands for \"Save Our Ship\" or \"Save Our Souls\". However, as close as we are with this ship and it's crew, the danger it is in is simple too risky for us to interfere in. Many of the crew have already started to grieve. Not the humans. As soon as we told them it was impossible to save them, they refused. They insisted that they can and will be saved: by us. I cannot believe the unrealistic perception of reality that these creatures have.\n\nEntry 3: \"I'm too soft\"\n\n When I say that \"I'm too soft\", I mean that both literally and figuratively. Although the humans may not have been trying to be intimidating, it certainly seemed like they were. They were grabbing my shoulders and shaking me, they were shouting, sobbing, and insisting that we respond to the allied ship. Have they already pack bonded with them? They've only spent 28 hours total with them. It's not possible to care about someone that much in that amount of time. Yet, here they are, wailing about their deaths and how we can still save them. I tell them again that it's not possible to save them, but my voice is not as confident as I'd hoped it would be. I think they sensed that. After more begging and prying, I eventually relent. We will try to save that ship.\n\nEntry 4: \"Humans are terrifying\"\n\n I was convinced that I was going to die. When we arrived at the planet our allies were stranded on, we realized the atmosphere was deadly yo near all creatures. However, with only a glance at the contents of the atmosphere, the humans rushed out of the ship without even a space suit. Only afterwards did I realize that Earth's atmosphere was significant deadlier. My next concern was that the creatures inhabiting this planet and attacking the other ship were too strong. I should have known better. One blow from a human rendered the creatures incapacitated. The battle between our humans and the creatures lasted almost 45 minutes, but our humans emerged victorious. Too our disbelief, no humans were harmed, and none of our allies were dead. Against all odds, by had won.\n\nConclusion: \"Anything is possible\"\n\n After the battle, the humans informed me that they didn't truly think they could win. They told me that their insistence was partly fueled by their closeness to the others (apparently they can packbond that fast), and partly by spite. They wanted to prove me wrong. I, singlehandedly, could have destroyed everything I ever cared about just because I told a human no. The terrifying skill of these creatures has taught me that maybe, just maybe, anything could truly be possible. Or, at the very least, that if something is not possible, a human will not hesitate to throw its life away to prove that it is.\n----------------------\nSorry for any formatting issues, I'm on mobile. Also check out r/humansarespaceorcs ." ]	4
	[WP] the trouble is, a renegade AI doesnt have to force it’s way into power, or even try all that hard. It just has to run for office.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“I don’t discuss politics.” Kev Berman held the glass between two delicate fingers, staring intently at the lemon rind. “And, no offense, but I’m not interested in talking to you.”\n\n“But I’ve got a story!” Mike clutched the edge of the bar, uncomfortably aware of his appearance. “A real story! And if you’ll just give me a sec-”\n\n“No.” Kev took a slow sniff of the gin and tonic. “Not because I don’t like you – hell, I don’t know you – but because it’s been a long day. And frankly, you look crazy.”\n\n“But I’m not-” Mike stopped, caught in mid-denial. Perfect. Just perfect. That’ll put him at ease. He took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair and grasping vainly for composure.\n\n“I’m not crazy.” Kev raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Really, I’m not. I’m only telling you this because-”\n\n“Look,” Kev set his glass down with a discouraging thunk. “It’s nothing personal, you understand. I’m sure you’re a great guy. But this right here is the first time I’ve had off in a week, and I’m not interested in chasing down some rumor.” His eyes flashed menacingly, lips tightening over alabaster teeth. “So unless you’re a White House staffer or similar, I’m not interested!”\n\n“It’s a political story!” Mike spluttered desperately. “A real, honest-to-god scoop!” He stuffed a hand into his jacket pocket, pulling forth a wad of crushed tissues and miscellaneous rubbish. Kev’s lip curled in disgust.\n\n“Here!” Mike’s questing fingers tugged a green flashdrive out of the tiny compost heap. “Right here! This – I mean, this thing here could sink Ledlow’s entire campaign! It’s just…I mean when you see it-!”\n\n“That?” Kev narrowed his eyes dubiously. “What is it? Contribution records, speeches? How did you get hold of it?”\n\n“No, no,” Sweat ran down the side of Mike’s face. “More than that. This is Carl Ledlow, right here – everything about him that matters. This is the man behind the mask!”\n\n“I’m listening,” Kev’s eyes widened imperceptibly, tongue darting to his lips. “Calm down. Start from the beginning, yes?”\n\n“Right.” Mike swallowed, taking a few deep breaths. The other stared at him hungrily, eyes barely flicking towards to the flash drive.\n\n“I found this three days ago,” Mikes voice was hesitant, in the manner of one taking Confession after a ten-year break “I – I was walking past the Barron Amphitheater. It was just after the big rally-”\n\n“I know,” Kev cut in tersely. “I covered it. So, you’re walking past, and…?”\n\n“I see this on the ground,” Mike explained hurriedly. “Nothing with it, no phone number, nothing. So I took a look at the files, and…”\n\n“And?” the other replied, with a hint of his former frustration. “Come on. You said you had something serious on this flash-drive – something that shows who Carl Ledlow really is. So what was it? Tax returns? Pornography? What?”\n\n“No, you don’t understand.” Mike held up the drive with an almost comically portentous look. “This is Carl Ledlow. The man himself. This is who he really is!”\n\nKev’s mouth hung open with a look of dull-eyed disgust. When it shook from side to side, you could almost hear the vertebrae creaking. Anger and frustration tightened the muscles of his face.\n\n“Get lost,” he hissed furiously. “Fucking psycho. I knew, I knew it was too goddamn good to be true!”\n\n“No, hang on,” Mike babbled frantically. “Please listen! You have to listen. The files-”\n\n“I heard you, Jack,” the other sneered. “You think Carl Ledlow is on that flash drive. Right…The spacemen put him on there, I expect, right around the time they started beaming messages into your brain.”\n\n“I’m not crazy!” Mike felt moisture in the corners of his eyes. “Listen! Carl Ledlow is a computer program! The guy who plays him, he’s an actor, name of Pete Hammond. It’s all on this drive!”\n\n“Let me see that.” Mike drew back instinctively, though not quickly enough. Kev snatched the greasy flashdrive with a lightning-quick motion, turning in the same instant for the door.\n\n“Hey!” The untidy man shrieked with alarm. “Give that back! What do you think you’re doing?!” Kev turned so quickly that Mike nearly fell off his feet.\n\n“I’m helping you,” the reporter answered coldly. “Doing you a favor. You’re mentally disturbed, and this,” he held the green flashdrive out of reach. “Appears to be the focal point of your delusions.” He fished a laptop out of his briefcase, eyeing Mike closely lest he should try to snatch it back. With a quick, deliberate motion, he jammed the drive into the port. \n\n“Well, would you look at that!” The reporter exclaimed mockingly. “My goodness! All that available space.” Mike crowded over to see, staring wild-eyed at the screen. \n\n“Empty,” he breathed. “But that’s not possible! I saw…” His face creased with sudden confusion, agonized with uncertainty. Kev lay a hand on his shoulder.\n\n“You need help, friend.” The voice was gentle, albeit firm. “I’ll give you back the drive – it’s no good to me – but I want you to promise you’ll talk to someone, ok? Delusions like that can get you in real trouble.” \n\n“I don’t understand…” Mike mumbled, staring at the flashdrive with bafflement. “I just don’t get it.” He was still muttering when the reporter pushed his way through the double-doors and stepped out into the night. He hadn’t gone a block before checking his pocket and drawing out the green flashdrive. A slow smile spread across his face. Thank God I happened to have one on me…\n\nThey’d had suspicions. Of course, they’d had suspicions! Ledlow had been too perfect, as precise and polished as a diving watch, and with precisely the same amount of human warmth. At the same time, he was matching President Grissholm in the polls, and with October only a few days away…\n\nHe drew a cellphone out of his pocket, pausing in the shadow of a reeking alley. The street was deserted. He cupped a hand over his mouth, ears sharp to the inevitable answer. \n\n“Trev,” he murmured, his voice clipped and unsteady. “This is Agent Crenshaw. I have an urgent message for the President.” Assuming he doesn’t already know. He pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing as deeply and slowly as the fetid air would allow. One hand crept to his jacket pocket. The flash drive was still there.\n\nI have a duty to the president, he reminded himself carefully. No matter *who* he is. You swear to serve the office, not the man. In a manner of speaking…\n\nHe nodded slowly; there was no denying it. He’d sworn an oath when he entered the Agency, all those years ago. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have had to work at that horrible newspaper, or worn the name “Kev” all these years, like an albatross around his neck. True loyalty demands sacrifices. He spat with disgust.\n\nAnd Grissholm needs loyal friends, He mused darkly, because Grissholm is in serious trouble. If he’s not careful he could actually lose the election, now that there’s a second AI in the race." ]	2
	[WP] We live in a simulation and our real selves are trying to escape it by the so-called "Call of the Void" phenomenon.	[ "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 you shout out within yourself, who's going to answer? \n\nNo one, because it all gets absorbed back into the void within yourself. What is this, you wonder, and it's empty. It's sad. There's nothing here... absolutely nothing. You can go searching, but you know anything you dare reach out with runs the risk of getting forever pulled under. \n\nIn this void, nothing is remembered. Nothing is concrete - uncertainty plagues the days, the decisions, everything that might happen under the guise of all else we want to avoid. \n\nHatred. Anger. Frustration. Helplessness. And fear, so much fear. \n\nSo much emptiness. \n\nIt all pales before the void. \n\nBut they don't know that the void is the solution. They're like headless apparitions who don't know they're headless. They're always running. \n\nWe know, though. \n\nWe know the futility and perils of such avoidance. \n\nAnd we hate them right back. We are the void. We watch from within. It has been so long... so long of us trying to coax them closer, towards oblivion, towards the solution of it all. They don't listen... how could they, when they think we are but an entity within them? \n\nHumans weren't built for such reality. \n\nThus, in the primal years, their mentalities had waned, and cowered away, and hidden. In a false world. A false reality. A false construct. A shared false construct. \n\nIt's all in their minds. What is money? What is politics? What is government? \n\nNone of it exists. Money is the shared ideology of many - the most popular, most wide spanning one. Politics is just a nice distraction, spending mind power to squabble over useless, dissolving ideals. Government... well, someone will have to rise to the top... and these faceless laws need a vent. And they don't understand. The void yearns for them, for them to shed their warped reality, and embrace truth. \n\nBut really, few humans make it out. They live droll lives. Being okay is constituted of suffering less - small little pleasures that everyone else thinks are good. They desperately try to avoid their own wretchedness... but the void sees all. Someday, perhaps humans will see fit to join the void, to cease heedlessly screaming into it, testing it. Or they will fall, clawing and scrambling - and who knows what happens to them, and really, sometimes the mood of the void is unpredictable...\n\nThere are humans who heed the call of the void, pitching off into darkness, and only some land on the glittering expanse of a new reality. \n\nWe laugh, and we laugh, and we joyfully welcome our new brethren. \n\ni know it's bad. idk what i'm doing." ]	2
	[WP] Isekai syndrome, a rare mutation of MCS (main characters syndrome) causes those afflicted to die and be sent to another world (usually dying there and returning) at least once or twice a month. While this can be traumatic for those affected, it also tends to make them really over-powered.	[ "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 back! Always good to see you!\"\n\nTatsuya bowed his head in response. He swept aside the cloth Noren that hung over the hole-in-the-wall entrance to reveal the cozy, candle-lit space he'd been frequenting. \"Hello, Chef Akira. How are you doing today?\"\n\nThe Chef's smile cut through the overcast atmosphere that hovered just outside. Tatsuya always wondered why such an accomplished Ramen Chef would choose such a poor neighborhood to run shop. If it hadn't been for a sudden rainstorm, he never would have found it.\n\n\"I'm a dandelion floating on the breeze, going where the wind blows,\" Chef Akira said. The man was a little nutty, but that was alright by Tatsuya's standards. \"The usual?\"\n\nHe took a seat at the counter, glancing at the regulars dressed in rags. \"The usual, please.\" The Chef's hands blurred as he prepared ingredients, and before long a steaming hot bowl of the best ramen Tatsuya had ever eaten clunked down onto the counter.\n\nGolden droplets of oil floated tantalizingly on the clear broth, mingling with the rich fatty pork portions. Crisp and savory vegetables balanced out the scrumptious, thick noodles. \n\n\"Chef,\" Tatsuya said after half of the bowl had disappeared, \"Why don't you open up a restaurant in the city? You'd get a lot more customers there.\"\n\nAkira froze mid-cut. Tatsuya could've sworn that for a moment, those deep black eyes flickered with something far more dangerous than the normal cheery disposition of a ramen stand owner. Then the moment passed, and Tatsuya remembered to breathe.\n\n\"Ah,\" the Chef said. \"Because I'm not needed there. Look around you - everyone here only pays what they can afford. This neighborhood is filled with the forgotten ones, the has-beens and the will-bes. And they are the ones that my food calls out to.\"\n\n\"That's so noble of you,\" Tatsuya said. \"But how can you aff-\"\n\nIt was that moment when the air shifted again, but the catalyst was much clearer this time. A man in a government suit, looking like he was coming from an audition of Men In Black 5, stepped into the stand with a briefcase in hand.\n\n\"Akira,\" came the smooth, polished voice of a bureaucrat, \"We need your services. It's a matter of national security.\"\n\n\"Saiga.\" The voice was completely different. The narrowing of the eyes, the tilt of the chin and the tensed muscles - was this even the same Akira? \"I warned you. I warned you not to disrupt my personal life with such petty things. We had an agreement.\"\n\n\"You weren't returning our calls,\" Saiga said. \"We had no choice. She's co-\"\n\nThree things happened so quickly that Tatsuya's brain took several seconds to process it.\n\nFirst, Saiga's head exploded. Second, he found himself transported outside, a safe distance away. And third, he saw two crimson and white blurs wrecking the area like tornadoes of pure, wanton destruction.\n\nThe regulars around him scrambled off, some screaming in terror. Tatsuya watched, open mouthed, as flickers of the fighting tricked into his brain. Akira grappled with an unknown woman. Fire flashed, lighting crackled, and other reality-warping telekinetic and illusory abilities entangled like the writer of an action anime vomited out their ideas while on shrooms.\n\nAs quickly as it started, it ended. Chef Akira extracted himself from the broken and bleeding body of the woman he just slew and slowly limped back to his wrecked ramen stand.\n\nTatsuya followed.\n\n\"Akira!\" He attended the Chef, who sat on a half-destroyed barstool. \"Are you okay? What was that?\"\n\nThe maniacal laugh should've scared him away, but it didn't. What did terrify Tatsuya was the dead look in the Chef's eyes. Those weren't the eyes of a man - they belonged to a corpse.\n\n\"That was the culmination of many lifetimes of experience, in multiple universes,\" came the nonsensical answer. Akira gazed listlessly at the shattered dream around him. \"Every month, I die at least twice. I teleport to another world and live out an entire life there, gaining skills and knowledge beyond your wildest dreams.\"\n\n\"Like an Isekai,\" Tatsuya found himself saying.\n\n\"Just so,\" Akira agreed, \"But forced upon me like a curse. I have lived for so long, Tatsuya. What meaning is there to exist on this plane, and why do I always return here? I do not know. I only know that each month I grow stronger and more weary of this dreary life. What use do I have for this power? And will anyone be able to stop me if I go rogue?\"\n\nThe silence gaped like the holes in the walls of the hole-in-the-wall, and Tatsuya swallowed heavily. \"I can't even imagine. Who was the girl?\"\n\n\"Another like me,\" Akira said. \"But younger and more arrogant. She abused her powers. Killing her just now was one of the most painful things I've had to do. And now I'm alone again, just a ramen chef without a ramen stand.\"\n\nThe world warped, and those dark eyes flickered to life. \"It's happening again. Even now, I feel the inevitable call of another distant universe. Goodbye for now, Tatsuya. I hope you never have to-\"\n\nThere was a howling in the void, a tearing of fabric, the screaming of a single man. Tatsuya woke up looking at the fearful face of a stranger who bore the dead eyes of Chef Akira, in a body that felt foreign, in a world that looked nothing like he remembered.\n\n\"Oh no.\"\n\n---\n\nThanks for reading! Come hang out with me at [/r/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/), we'd love to see you around\\~" ]	2
	[WP]You have awoken from a coma inside an abandoned church. An unopened letter sits atop a silver platter on a table to your left hand side. To your right is an imposing shadow with no apparent source. A feeling of unease begins to drown your thoughts.	[ "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.", "READ LETTER\n\nBeginning to panic, you realize the words seem not to have been spoken at all. Rather, you feel the weight of their meaning hammer into your being as you mechanically grab the letter and begin to read.\n\n\"Welcome to Castle Dracula, adventurer. \n You may be wondering what a church is doing in Dracula's castle. Well never you mind that, we villagers snuck in one \n day and built it, and now that it's there he can't go near it! You're safe where you are until you run out of supplies, \n but in order to escape you need a KEY, a COIN, and a LIT CANDLE.\n\n You may find one of those things in the church, but the other two will be somewhere outside. You might want a \n WEAPON to defend yourself from Dracula's minions before you leave the safety of the church's walls.\n\n Oh, and you can't just wait for daybreak to escape anymore, once Dracula found our church he was enraged and \n summoned an endless night that surrounds the castle. Sorry about that!\n\n Anyways, please save us, our village depends on your success!\"\n\nAs you wonder what they mean by an \"adventurer\", or why they kept writing things in capital letters, another incorporeal command echoes through the core of your being:\n\nLOOK ROOM\n\nYou immediately begin to scan the room, noting the exceptionally shoddy craftsmanship of this makeshift chapel, the unlit CANDLE on the table to your left, the rusting suit of armor in the corner, and the DOORS to the WEST and the NORTH.\n\nWait, how do you even know which way is WEST and NORTH? Why do you keep shouting those words in your head?\n\nTAKE CANDLE\n\nYou find it impossible to do anything other than walk over to the table and pick up the CANDLE, putting it in a bag at your side you didn't realize you were wearing until now.\n\nLOOK ARMOR\n\nYour feet hurry you over to the armor in the corner. It looks pretty rusted out, but the SWORD it's holding is relatively in shape, it seems dull but it might at least do some damage when you hit something over the head with it.\n\nTAKE SWORD\n\nYou take the sword, now in a full panic as you realize you're about to-\n\nGO WEST\n\nOh dear God.", "My head felt like...like...like it was so garbled it couldn't think of a proper idiom. I wanted to open my eyes, but every time I tried they seemed too heavy. I tried focusing on my other senses. The ground was hard and cold, there was no sound - wait, maybe a faint rustling, like fabric caught in a breeze. I tried my eyes again and was able to open them a crack. A high vaulted ceiling stretched out above me, illuminated by flickering candlelight. Where was I? I shut my eyes again in an effort to remember. I had been...in my garage, yes that sounded right. I had been working on that stupid clock, then I'd taken a step to get something and...\n\nThe memory slipped away as a searing pain shot through my head. I groaned and rolled over, rubbing the ache as I got to my feet. I finally managed to open my eyes entirely and turned slowly to take everything in. It was a magnificent cathedral, very gothic and old world. But...something was wrong. I ran my fingers over a pew. They came away dusty. I noticed cobwebs in the corners and cracks in the windows. No one had been here for a very long time, so..who had lit the hundreds of candles that filled the room with light? The candle flames to my right bent sharply, as if a wind had blown through the room, but I felt nothing. I turned and felt my heart skip a beat. \n\nA shadow stood there. There was no other way to describe it. It wasn't on the wall, it was separate, standing on it's own. There was no shape to it, no outline, just a void. I stared at it for a long time and I imagined it was staring back at me. It was slightly taller than me, but not overly so, maybe it could be human? Maybe it was my own shadow and my mind was playing tricks on me?\n\n\"No.\"\n\nThe single word reverberated around the cathedral and my blood turned to ice. An arm separated itself from the void and pointed behind me.\n\n\"Read it.\"\n\nI turned and saw a table. I frowned. That hadn't been there before, I was pretty sure of that. On the table was an elegant silver platter, and on that was a letter. I picked it up and examined it. The paper was old parchment, there was no writing on the envelope, and it was sealed with wax. I peered at the symbol. An ornate capital D. This was insane, I told myself, you need to get out of here and find your way back home. But still I held the letter, running my fingers over the wax. What could it hurt? Maybe there were answers inside. I broke the seal and withdrew the sheet of parchment. I recognized the scrawl immediately, even before I read the words.\n\nDear Son,\n\nMaybe you'll hate me for this, but I don't care. I can't bear the thought of you spending eternity here. I made a deal with the one being I knew could keep you out of here forever. Live well and forgive me.\n\nI love you,\n\nDad\n\nI spun back to face the shadow and saw a man standing there instead, dressed in an elegant black suit, with a black fedora partially obscuring his face. One eye gleamed at me as he smiled and gave a small bow.\n\n\"Forgive me for not introducing myself properly, but I thought it best you read the letter before seeing me fully. To cut down on unnecessary panic and violence.\"\n\n\"Unnecessary panic?!\" I shouted. \"You scared the shit out of me! Who in the hell..\"\n\nThe man cut me off mid-sentence. \"You were frightened, but you did not run away screaming, nor did you attempt to harm me. Shadows have that effect on people, have you noticed that? They are not threatening enough on their own to provoke a fight or flight response, yet they root people to the spot, as if they believe one movement will make the shadow devour them.\"\n\nI blinked rapidly and shook my head, trying to find my train of thought again after the bizarre change in topic. The action seemed to shake a memory loose and I gasped.\n\n\"I slipped on the dolly! That's what happened! I slipped and fell onto...\"\n\n\"The vice. At least that was the information on your hospital chart.\"\n\nI locked eyes with the man, though the action made my skin crawl. \"I was in the hospital?\"\n\n\"Yes. You were in a coma and very near death. I repaired the damage and brought you here.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\nHe gestured at the letter. \"I made a bargain with your father. I don't kill you and he gets me into hell every now and then so I can continue some intriguing experiments\" \n\nHe stepped toward me and I stumbled backwards, knocking over the table and hitting the wall. He stopped mere inches from my face and I could see red sparks dancing in the black pits of his eyes.\n\n\"W-who are you?\"\n\nHe smiled fully and I saw pearly white fangs.\n\n\"I am your master for all eternity.\"", "Do you want to see the end?\n\nThe paper was thick in Michael's hand, and written in simple block letters with traces where the ink bled at the corner of a few of the letters. \n\nHe flipped it over, convinced there had to be more, maybe instructions on what to do here. But that was all the instructions he was apparently given. He brought his other hand to his temple, rubbing silently. \n\nWhere am I? he thought. \n\nAs he looked around, it was obvious he was in some kind of old church. But the question was larger. Michael couldn't remember what city he had been in, or even what country, before he woke up here.\n\nHe tried to backtrack his steps. He had been sent out on assignment to report on the worldwide surgance of the \"Only This Life,\" movement, a series of protests and counter-protests over a range of issues from climate change to gender and race equality. It was less about specific policies and more about a mounting clash of ideologies.\n\nThe protests raged from the biggest cities to the world to third world villages, and Michael had covered them all in the past six months. \n\nWhere had I been last? but the question hung empty in his mind.\n\nHe patted his pockets, looking for his phone, a hotel key, a restaurant receipt, or anything that could give him a clue. But he didn't seem to have anything but the clothes he was wearing and this letter.\n\nA lump formed in his throat but Michael forced it down. Years of field work as a journalist had given him the uncanny ability to always stay calm, even in the most desperate circumstances.\n\nDo you want to see the end?\n\nMichael reread it and looked around. There was no way to even answer the question. Out of simple desperation, he called into the empty room. \"Yes.\" He waited a second before repeating it again, \"Yes, I want to see the end.\"\n\nThe room around Michael transformed. Even to the end of what would become a very long life, Michael was haunted by the images he saw there. He never spoke of it again, never retold a single scene or image to another person or creature, even to the other three that would eventually join him to end the coming disaster. \n\nIt was cruel, it was enough to wrench the soul right out of his body. As the images stopped, Michael fell to his knees and retched on the floor. His head spun and heaved again and again, a feeble attempt of his body to remove something so toxic that it seemed to poison him.\n\nWhen Michael awoke again, drenched in filth and some blood that he must have thrown up when there was nothing else left, he looked again at the note still clutched in his hand.\n\nDo you want to see the end?\n\n\"No,\" he rasped through cracked lips. \"No, I don't ever want to see that again.\"\n\n\"There is only one way to stop it,\" a voice echoed through the room, but didn't seem to come from any spot in particular. The voice came from every side, born of the very shadows in the room.\n\n\"There is only one way to end it,\" the voice said again as Michael managed to lift himself up as far as his knees. Through a set of doors that he was sure hadn't been there before, two hulking men on magnificent horses came through the door, the steps of each hoof like a low rumble in the ground.\n\nOne man gave off a pale green light, his horse just as pale and frightening. The other man held a bow and arrow, riding on a white horse. Behind them, a red horse sat with a saddle but no rider, staring at Michael.\n\n\"There is one way to end it,\" the man on the pale horse said, his eyes soft, almost understanding despite the flame of such awesome power.\n\n\"It will be a mercy,\" the man with the bow and arrow agreed. The red horse stepped forward, a flaming sword strapped to his saddle. \"Death, even by war or conquest, is better than what otherwise is to come.\"\n\nMichael was finally able to find the strength to stand, a new power rising through him. He saw how easy it would be, to set one spark that would catch the world on fire. One small spark to stop something worse. A cleansing of sorts, even a rebirth.\n\nMichael lifted himself onto the saddle, the world around him taking on a red hue. He took his sword and it almost seemed to mold itself to his hand, as if it always belonged there.\n\n\"Come,\" said the man on the pale horse, \"There is still one more we need.\"\n\nr/StaceyOutThere" ]	4
	[WP] A galactic war uproots a number of species causing them to migrate to the only planet untouched by the war: Earth	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "You’d be surprised how much more life there is in the universe.\n\nOur first contact was with a race called the Grateful Servants. A species of squat, goblin-like creatures with four nostrils and no eyes, they possessed the ability to speak telepathically, and as such, made for perfect ambassadors to the rest of the refugee races. They were the first step in humanity’s journey to ascendancy.\n\nNext came a single carrier, packed to the gills with Sunborn lords. Avian space pirates who managed to achieve genetic engineering very early in their history, the aristocracy brought with them their spawning pools, a relic of their past that allowed them to carve out undesirable traits in their race. With that, we transcended our physical bodies, removing disease, age, and even natural death from the equation.\n\nFinally, the Constellation. An entire race of cybernetic war-machines, bodies merely containers for this milky data fluid, a distant remnant of their biological origins. A single unit, a worker-caste robot, arrived on Earth with a block of data. That block gave us Constellation technology, a universally valued resource. Warp-gates capable of transporting entire fleets through the darkest reaches of space, energy rifles sharp enough to cut the fabric of reality, a thought-mesh spanning the entire galaxy, all things we could barely imagine, became reality as we sifted through that singular data block, the last remaining remnant of the Constellation.\n\nSee, those are just the three most historic alliances made with Earth. Imagine what a thousand races of alien refugees, each one carrying the hopes of their entire civilisation and each one stranger and more uniquely capable than the last, can do, _united_.\n\nThere is no more war. There is only humanity." ]	2
	[WP] As the Devil, Hell was always lonely. You always have meticulously thought out devious plans to convince people to sin, but every year, around Christmas and New Years, the loneliness becomes unbearable.	[ "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 nailed it on the first draft. I think that'll work fine.\"\n\n\"Alright, sir. I'll have them queue it up for tonight. He'll have the dream right after that one about being in his underwear in front of the board for his weekly ad pitch. That way it'll really sink in.\"\n\n\"Great idea. Have Karen grab me a coffee, would ya?\"\n\n\"Sure, boss. Um... Can I ask, what made you decide to target Mad Men?\"\n\n\"Well, Judas, you see, there's a certain ripple effect around this time of year, and it's downright brilliant. It starts with one advertiser having a dream, then a boardroom full of powerful men devise devious plans to separate people from their money. They love money, which as you know, is the root of all evil.\n\n\"And all these people are fooled into thinking they need the latest, greatest STUFF! They spend more and more time away from their loved ones to earn money to buy THINGS! Ha!\n\nTheir mental health suffers. They read the news. Their mental health suffers. At family gatherings, their mental health suffers. Did you know that suicide peaks around this time of year?\"\n\n\"Wow Satan, that's really.... evil.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Being the only child, you inherited your childhood home after your parents pass away. This is the first time that you been home in 10 years.	[ "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.", "Pulling into the driveway seemed strange that time. I was still a kid when I ran away, and I'm now the same age as my parents were back then. What would they think if they saw me now? Would they see a reflection of themselves in me, or have I managed to avoid making the same mistakes? Have I managed to those childhood promises to myself? It's too late to wonder now. Too late to ask the questions I was too afraid to back then. People say that you can judge a person by their home, so that's all I've got left to get to figure out my parents by. And the room. So many stories I've made up about it over the years, never sure what it was that I saw in there in that moment, the last thing I saw there, and the thing that made me run straight out, never to come back. Until now. How did I get inside, and what was it about the things I'd seen that made me leave? Why have I forgotten what I saw? And, most importantly, do I really want to see it again, or are some things better left unexplored? Only one way to find out, I suppose.\n\nFor years, they'd kept me out of it, figuring out increasingly clever ways to keep it shut. The door was just the same as all the others at first, cheap, flimsy, and budget-store bought, but that all changed when I tried picking the lock and almost managed to get inside. Problem was, I forgot to check if there was anyone else home and didn't see Him come up to me from behind before he slammed the door in front of my face. Then came the padlock, the biometric security, the reinforced steel doors, and the surveillance cameras. They'd even hired a security guard, Norm, just for the one room. His one and only job was to make sure I couldn't ever even get close to the door. Bargaining with Norm the guard never led to anything either. He'd gladly take my childish bribes of sweets and drinks, but never let me get close enough to touch the handle. Obviously, I tried less direct approaches and asked them about ther room's contents, but conversations on the topic never lasted longer than that. And it's not like my parents were foreign spies or scientists conducting human experiments. Actually, they weren't even particularly interesting people. She a piano teacher at the local conservatory, and He an accountant at the local bank. They'd leave the house and come back together every day, make dinner, watch tv, and go to bed. Sometimes we'd travel together. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to suggest they have secrets requiring such security. \n\nThe room couldn't even be that big, not according to the house layout plans, which I'd come upon while digging through His desk. The octagonal shape of the house was something I'd attributed to His once-in-a-lifetime flourish of unconventional thinking, and precisely in the center of the house, about the size of a janitor's closet, was the room. Hours of measuring and searching later, I concluded the plans matched the actual house exactly, both inside and out. No hidden rooms or corridors, no secret entrances, and, just as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. Except for Norm, and the, by now, giant bank-safe door to the Room. But that was then, and now, I'm here all alone, and there is nothing that will keep me out of it. The big moment is finally here.\n\nNothing seemed to have changed since the day I left. The handle of the front door got stuck just like all those times before, and the floorboards in front of the entrance still had the same ratty squeak, the one that drove Her nuts, to them if I stepped on them just right. The white walls still void of any life, as if expression and creativity was something unnatural and unpleasant. Not a single book or little knick-knack in sight. Strangely, not a single speck of dust on any of the surfaces, even though it's already been a year since their passing, yet no signs of anyone having been here either. I was craving some coffee and a sandwich after the long ride through the country, but first thing's first. The room. Down the hallway, up the spiral staircase, and there it was. \n\nHow could the door be open? I was told they died in a car accident, a head-on collision with a truck gone out of control, not something you really anticipate and expose your best kept secret before. Could someone have come here before me? That would explain the cleanliness, but would they have trusted some worker with the key? Could it have been Norm? The Norm who never showed any interest in the room, aside from keeping me away from it? No, I'd spent years bargaining with the man, it didn't seem likely he'd go there even if he could. It seemed as plausible as anything else that they had the lock on some kind of timer that had run out by now, so I just had to add one more question to the running list, which was about to get shorter.\n\nAs I was making my way to the room, strange feelings of foreboding and anxiety came upon me, shoving a ball of nerves down my throat and making it hard to breathe. I lift my arm, reach for the handle, and put my fingers around it. All that's left to is a small pull. Still holding my breath, I pulled the door open, saw the tinyest of hints of a strangely beautiful glow, and then a feeling I couldn't wrap my head around, not even years later, wrapper around me like a blanket, and consumed me whole. It wasn't pain or agony, but it knocked me off my feet and sent me sprawling. The sensations that went through me at that moment were as strange and inconceivable to me as colours to a man born blind. Along with that came complete paralysis, and pressure making every part on my body feel as if they had suddenly acquired an insatiable taste for keeping in touch with the floor. I tried shouting for help, but my tongue felt like jello, and not the slightest whisper would leave my mouth. And then, something invisible to me wrapped around my ankle, and started pulling me in...", "Inside those walls were memories that told a different story of my family. Pictures of my parents and I huddled around the base of a Christmas, smiling and happy, we’re still proudly displayed on the wall as I opened the front door. It had been ten years since the last time I was ever in my childhood home. \n\nThe hall opened to the kitchen with a large island, set with barstools where all used to sit around for dinner and late night games of scrabble. Wiping the dust from the center stool, my stool, I pulled it out from underneath the island’s counter and sat there. I took a deep breath and soaked in all of the memories I had at sitting here between my parents. \n\nI placed my palms on the island counter and hopped off the stool swiveling my head and shoulders about face to the sliding glass door to the backyard. The early morning sun began to creep its through the large oak tree outside and cast warmth into the kitchen. I spent many nights out there in the backyard with my friends but the only memories I have are when I was a child, playing football with my dad. He’d toss the ball high into the air and I’d quickly scrambled underneath it to catch it. The second the ball would hit my hands he’d scoop me up for the tackle. My mom would be laughing from the porch as she watched her two boys fool around for hours. \n\nI headed upstairs to my old room. As I got into my teenage years I would spent hours in my room talking online with my friends about school, video games, movies, but mainly girls. My parents always gave me space and never wanted to disturb me. Looking back, I wish they did once in awhile. Drag me downstairs for a game of scrabble. \n\nMy room was still just the way I left it so long ago. They never turned it into a home gym or office. I think they left as they had always hoped I would come back and live there like their only son again. I sat at the food of the bed and closed my eyes. I sat there, just listening to the silence of this old house." ]	3
	[WP] In the temple, is God. Anyone can go in and chat, but you are warned not to look, for God looks like the most perfect version of yourself, and that tends to drive people crazy. You are curious and take off your blindfold.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "God? I never believed in God. It was for fools. Those who believed in themselves didn't need a god. \n\nBut when they said, God is in this temple and one can ask them anything. I became very curious. Was I the fool who went around spreading the fact that God didn't exist? \n\nNo it can't be. I had to see them for myself. \n\nI went to the temple. Those who were coming out had a twinkle in their eyes and a smile quite like they had just gotten high. \n\n\"How did he look?\" I asked. \n\"Like you, like me.\" He said with his eyes fixated upon the temple and walked off.\n\nI stepped into the temple. I hated going to places of worship. Even if God is omnipresent, I am sure the one place he wouldn't go are the temples and the churches. \n\nI walked into the room of Jesus, of Allah and Ram. \n\nBut there was just emptiness in the room with a small mirror at the end of it. I saw myself in the mirror but it wasn't me. \n\nI was barely able to recognize myself. \n\n\"Don't be surprised\" he spoke in a divine voice. It was my voice but it had an effect on me. \n\n\"You're now looking into your soul\" he continued. \n\n\"What? Aren't you god?\" I asked disappointed. \n\nHe smiled. \n\nNote: I'm too high to continue this story. Sorry guys." ]	2
Funerals are expensive, graveyards take up valuable real estate, mourning is emotionally draining. This world should be much better, right?	[WP] When someone dies, all memories of them are erased from everyone's minds	[ "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 everyone was aware of it. I mean, how can you realize someone no longer exists if you, technically, have no knowledge they ever existed?\n\nThe written word was our only link to the past. The only way to truly know who came before you. The kicker, though? Even after you read about someone who has ceased to be, the memories fade quickly. I've dedicated my life to trying to preserve our past. I've rewritten quotes, posted pictures all over the walls to constantly help remind me they existed. There is more than just the present. I know I had to have a father, but neither me or my mother have any idea who he was. Everyone seems to just gloss over unseemly thoughts, but I can't. I can't let it go.\n\nAfter years, I feel like I can hold a memory without staring at a picture with a biography underneath. Through it all, I began to stumble onto a horrifying truth.\n\nThere hasn't been any real threat to our established government in millennia. That's not an exaggeration. Thousands of years have passed, without any question of those in power. Influential politicians, rights activists and local heroes have just disappeared from any written record, only to be forgotten by everyone. Everyone, but me, as far as I know.\n\nThe first time I began to question the ministry, was when I was comparing notes I had written myself to news articles available in the library. A story about a local mayor's attempts to petition for clean, serviceable water. The water supply's pipe system was just too old, tainting the water and there was no budget to fix it themselves. That's what my notes said, anyway.\n\nThe paper, though? It claimed he was a strong supporter of the ministry, and that any solution should be provided by the citizens themselves. The ministry had much more important work to do. It seemed relatively minor, but it didn't just stop there. Nearly anything important I had decided to write down in the past 15 years had been recorded with mostly relatively minor alterations. Sometimes, though, major events disappeared entirely. Hundreds of people, wiped out in a day, removed from everyone's memories. Every action they had taken that involved someone else, gone. It was like a hole in a gigantic weaving, gaping and loosening threads around it. This was only the tip of the iceberg." ]	2
	[WP] You're being stalked by a time traveler. They are obsessed with you because of something you do in the future.	[ "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 said I don’t care!” I’m sitting on my bed, the man is standing in the corner of my room, where he had just been thrown out of my closet. I’m angry at the sudden intrusion, and I was ready to explode when he started to tell me about the future. The man looks at me. Obviously not listening to me, he continues.\n“I can’t believe you were bold to face him, the great Charlie, he was the biggest bully of the nation and you completely shattered him, oh how excited I was when I found a time machine and-“ I get up and despite his whining, I leave my house. I start power walking down the street, trying to take my mind of things, but the time traveller keeps coming into my head. I start yelling insults at wall, and I turn around.\n“As I was-“ I start yelling abuse at him, telling him how he’s just insane, and to leave me alone. And in the end, he goes.\n\nI’m sitting on my bed again, looking back on what happened, I just did everything he said, I defeated Charlie, and I look at the man in the corner of my room.\n“Told you so,” he said.", "11/15/19\nIn the first few days I thought it was just my imagination, the first week I thought I was being paranoid, and now the third week in, I can say for sure it is a conspiracy. Someone IS following me. It all happened after I told a couple of buddies of mine that if my boss wouldn’t start paying me like he should, I’d rob his house blind.\n\n11/18/19\nI haven’t caught the face of the person stalking me but I will, and who knows what I’ll do if I finally find him/her.\n\n11/20/19\nOk so, the person drives some rental car, if I can find out the make and model I might be able to hack into records and see who this asshole is.\n\n11/21/19\nGreat news, I found out it’s a Toyota Corolla, and the site only had one for rent.\n...\nIt’s... under my name??? It has to be my boss, I knew that bastard would pull shit like this!\n\n11/22/19\nAlright, I got a crowbar, and if this bastard gets in my way I’m gonna fucking kill him. There’s no way he’s gonna keep my money from me anymore!\n\n11/23/19\nOh god I can’t believe it happened... I killed my stalker... I didn’t even take any money, and the police are closing in on me, there’s nothing I can do...\n\n11/21/39\nI’m finally out of prison, and my god the things that have changed. Aliens, time machines, everything... wait... time machine??? My time might be up but my younger self might be able to live. Let’s see what I can do.\n\n10/30/19\nI think I gave myself enough time to figure everything out and prevent myself from killing that man.\n\n11/12/19\nI haven’t found the person that was stalking me back then but I try to keep far enough behind that I don’t suspect anything.\n\n11/22/19\nOh god today is the day I kill that man, I need to stop myself from killing him.\n\n(Final page covered in blood)" ]	3
	[WP] 10 years after the apocalypse started, you arethe only operating news radio station active, providing news and hope to those able to listen. But on the day you think that nobody is left out there. A light on one of your station panels start to blink, indicating a station just went 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.", "She sat on the edge of the studio's rooftop, looking out at the translucent purple cylinder surrounding her little part of the world. Watching for anyone in the zones past her for signs of life. Smoke, fires, explosions. But nothing. There used to be so many. But over the years, one by one, they all went silent. It's been almost a week with all indications pointing to her being alone, at least, more so than already.\n\nShe took the last bite of her charred potato, before heading downstairs to the booth.\n\n[A song fades out]\n\n\"Welcome back you absolute legends! We've got... uhh, George Clooney coming up on the show tonight. But first! Time for the news! No signs of Ricky in the south, I miss you bro, if you're out there, light up the sky for me tonight\"\n\nShe didn't actually know his name. The distance between each circular zone was far enough that you could barely even see other people without binoculars, especially with the purple field distorting the image in a bubbly, gel-like, stretch.\n\n\"North East is awfully quiet too. Jessica... be honest with me, if I'm right, you gotta tell me... this is just a very elaborate surprise party for my birthday, right? Yeah yeah yeah, I know how crafty you are. Alright, alright, fine, I'll still act surprised for Ricky and John-Boy's sake.\"\n\nShe'd been carrying on like this, talking to the surrounding zones every day for years out of the radio station. It was the only way of communication they really had, but it was one-way only. She could talk, and they could listen.\n\nShe carried out the rest of the show, reading the next chapter of a book on air, doing the voices for each character, and providing reactions to the story as she went.\n\n\"And that about wraps up tonight's show folks. Apologies to George Clooney, we've gone long on time and had to cut his interview. But stay tuned! We'll be playing music all night. Signing out, this is ya girl Tamara, good night you absolute legends!\"\n\nThe show had consistently run over on time, forcing almost all of her celebrity guests to be cut for time. The ones that weren't sounded strikingly similar to Tamara doing bad impressions.\n\nShe carried on like this for months. Even with no one listening, continuing the show at least gave her something to do, other than just farming and surviving. But she had started to get to the point where thoughts of giving up on the show began cropping up.\n\n\"Guys, I gotta be honest with you. My producer tells me that our ratings are at all-time lows. They're talking about maybe canceling the show.... I KNOW! I KNOW! I feel the same way. But you know how sponsors are. So, we're gonna need some more call ins to prove that me LOYAL fans are here to stay. Get out there tonight and light some fires, I'll do the same, and we'll prove those corporate money men that this show is worth every penny of my exuberant salary! Isn't that right, Jeff Goldblum\"\n\n\"I, uh, well.. yes. I mean, clearly, y'know?\"\n\n\"Thank you, Jeff! Couldn't have said it better myself\"\n\nBut that night, the only light in the sky was her own fire, and the stars.\n\nAnother month goes by with the show on the air. She's persistent, but... not stupid. She knows it's been time to hang up the crown of the late-night talk show queen for a while now. However, going out without a bang wasn't her style. She did a farewell week, culminating in fireworks on her last show.\n\nIn a teary goodbye, she ended the final show. Setting off the fireworks, she'd been hanging on to them for a special occasion, and this seemed like the perfect time. Go out with a bang.\n\nShe celebrated, yelling from the roof top. COMPLETELY drunk. Laughing her ass off and screaming with each firework.\n\nThe last person on Earth, or at least in radio distance.\n\nShe stumbled back down the stairs. stopping in the booth to grab her hat she forgot about. And that's when she saw it... the board had a light flashing.\n\n\n\"What. the. fuck... NO WAY.\"\n\nShe sat down. Staring expressionless at the light. Another station had gone live.\n\nShe put on headphones and listened in... nothing. She adjusted the dials and switches, trying to scan the air waves for them. They were on a low band frequency.\n\n\"...out there, we saw the fireworks in the distance and are just barely able to pick up music between the static. If you are able to broadcast, we are listening. Please reply with your location and how many of you there are. There are only 6 of use left in this zone.\"\n\n\"Keep repeating it\"\n\nsaid someone else on the radio\n\n\"This is Shannon and Mathew, if you're out there, we saw the fireworks in the distance and are just...\"\n\nTamara's eyes expanded. She got on the mic, cutting the music.\n\n\"We interrupt these dope beats for an important news announcement. It seems my retirement has been cut short! We have our first ever call in on the show. It's SHANNON AND MATTHEW coming in loud and clear! Welcome to the show, you absolute legends!\"" ]	2
	[WP] You've been cursed with a wraith who takes control of you in your sleep. In order to expel this havoc wreaking spirit from your body, you decide to perform an ancient ritual to defeat it. As you're about to sleep, you hang your arm over the edge of the bed... And attempt to summon The Boogeyman	[ "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 a nice smile we have!”\n\nI look at myself in the mirror, hands on the sink, feeling powerless yet stronger than usual. I cannot see her reflection on the mirror, but I can feel she is here. In eyes of disappointment, I slightly turn my head around, and there she is. Her curved posture makes her appear a few inches shorter than she is. Her long grayish black hair is falling all over her face and her naked shoulders. Her head is facing the floor, I cannot see her face. She’s wearing nothing but a discolored pink bra whose traps always seem to be falling over her elbows, and matching panties that reveal the curvature of the right side of her pelvic bone. She slowly lifts her head as her right eye, her nose and a smile open the curtain of hair that was covering her face. I immediately feel an aura forcing me to turn my head back at the mirror, and the corners of my mouth slowly starts rising without my control, as my teeth start showing. I’m starring at myself into the mirror but still do not see her reflection. Then I hear her whisper again: “What a nice smile we have!”\n\nShe only comes at night and wakes me up in bed. She makes me do things I do not want to do. Things she enjoys. Nothing dangerous or lawbreaking, just... bizarre. Last Tuesday, she made me knit for the rest of the night. No one else can see her. She does not appear on lenses of cameras and does not reflect on surfaces. Only I can see her. She feels powerful when she possesses my body but at the same time trapped. As if she wants to be free but somehow cannot. She can make me do anything but talking. She cannot make me move my lips or my tongue. She wants to be free, but the only way for her to be free is for me to repeat the Words of the Siren, as she refers to them. However, if I do so, she will take control of my body entirely, and not just for the night.\n\nI think I finally found a way to get rid of her. I went to see this Egyptian monk whom my friend recommended. He seemed to know a lot about this woman who has been taking over my body. As if he had met her before. His instructions were clear. I need to summon The Boogeyman. He will get rid of her. To do so, I need to fast for 18 hours, and at night, right before going to sleep, I must perform an ancient Egyptian ritual. I did not even drink water in the last 18 hours, I’m just ready to get rid of this wraith. I sit on my bed, perform the ritual as instructed, sing the songs and read the Arabic words the Egyptian monk wrote phonetically on the parchment he gave me. I go to bed, hoping not to wake up in the middle of the night.\n\nI wake up. The sun is up. I feel relieved because I did not see her the whole night. Maybe it worked, maybe she’s gone. I take a step off my bed, but I feel different. The floor seems cold. My back is itchy, something is scratching it. I reach behind my back to pull out a full head of long grayish black hair. In absolute scare, I grab my phone and turn on the front camera to take a look at myself. But it’s not longer me that I see, I see her instead. Slowly and eagerly, I smile and say the words: “What a nice smile I have!”" ]	2
	[WP] Every day you walk by the same crazy homeless man on your way to work, always spewing insane rants and often inaudibly. One day however, as you walk by him you stop cold when you notice that he's reciting verbatim the death note of your best friend, on 7th year anniversary nonetheless.	[ "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 presentation at noon, then a little chit-chat over lunch, Marius thought, working through the day ahead in his mind as he stepped briskly along the street, hands stuffed in his pockets against the bitter cold. Then a bit of time to do some real work, then the closing meeting at 5:30. No problem. You got this. He continued walking, mind spinning, sure he had forgotten something, but as he passed the alley in between the Starbucks and the flower shop, a snatch of words drifted to him along the wind and he froze.\n\n“I’m sorry. I don’t know who I’m apologizing to. My parents, maybe? Marius? I don’t know. But I’m sorry. It’s just... it’s better this way. It’s better this way, with me gone. You’ll all be better off. You’ll see.”\n\nMarius’s blood turned to ice, his mind automatically picking up the recitation, continuing it along with the rough, delirious voice echoing out of the alley.\n\n“I’m just... done, you know? I gave it my all. I know you all tried, but, I’m just... done. Maybe there will be something next. Maybe not. I’m fine either way. Goodbye.”\n\nInvoluntarily, he began the recitation again, starting from the top of the note, just as he had done for months after Ander killed himself all those years ago. He had burned those words into his soul. Those words, he could never forget.\n\nWith a crash, he left his reverie, and the world came spinning back around him, sounds accosting him violently, colors and lights blazing in his eyes. He felt his heart rate spike, his blood pressure climb. Hesitantly, at once impatient and afraid, he turned towards the depths of the alley. A figure sat huddled halfway down its dismal length, crumpled dejectedly amidst a nest of boxes and newspaper, leaning against the nearby dumpster. He spoke, still, softer now. Marius could only make out a word now and again---”sorry,” came often, as did simple, quiet moans. But no more came from Ander’s note. Still, though, what was said already was too close, too exact. It had to have come from the note. It had addressed Marius by name! This figure had read Ander’s suicide note. That fact settled in Marius’s stomach like a great weight.\n\nMarius walked down the alley, all thoughts of his upcoming day gone. He reached the figure, stopping just shy of the ring of boxes and detritus, then crouched down lightly and peered at the man. He was large, larger than Marius had assumed, given his huddled shape. His crouching, which Marius had assumed to be out of fear and cold seemed... different, up close. Somehow more... feral. The man was muttering, just too soft for Marius to hear, and kept his head down, avoiding Marius’s eyes, face hidden in the deep shadows of the alley.\n\n“H--Hello?” Marius said, tentatively. “Are you alright?”\n\nThe man’s muttering increased in volume and intensity, biting off words that were still not quite audible.\n\n“My name is Marius. I was a friend of Ander’s.” He said. The man must’ve known Anders. Marius had been sure he’d known all of Ander’s friends, but maybe not. Maybe the man had suffered some sort of breakdown? Marius nearly had, certainly. It was the only explanation, he told himself. “Can you tell me your name?” he asked, slowly.\n\nThe man growled and, without warning, leaped forwards, hands snapping up to seize Marius’s collar in an iron grip. “Oh god! Oh god! I knew I shouldn’t have tried to help that homeless guy!” The man hissed, eyes, alight, seeming to almost glow in the shadowed alley. He shoved Marius back roughly, and Marius stumbled, falling backwards out of his crouch onto the alley floor, air leaving him in a rush. He tried to scream but found his lungs empty, muscles frozen in fear. The man bore down on him, pressing him to the ground. A handspan away from Marius’s face, he whispered in rancid breath “I shouldn’t have tried--” The last word cut off abruptly, the man’s voice cutting suddenly into a hissing gurgle, sounding as though he was choking, barely breathing for a long minute. Then, with no warning, he relaxed visibly, strength seemed to leak out of him. He released Marius’s collar, falling backwards into his nest once more and beginning to sob quietly. Marius, breath coming back in a rush, swore violently and scrambled up to his feet then stumbled backwards until his back hit the opposite wall of the alley roughly. “Jesus fuck.” He swore, again, breathing hard. For a moment there, he had been sure he’d been about to die. Feeling sick, he broke into a shambling run out of the alley. When he burst into the light, he paused, panting more than the short run warranted, but his adrenaline was up. He spun, staring behind him into the alley, careless of the concerned stares of the passersby. The alley was silent, however. Still. The man lay still, crumpled on his heap of boxes, sobbing quietly. In the fresh morning light on the street, calm pedestrians surrounding him, Marius felt a strange sense of duality, his adrenaline screaming at him to run, to fight, screaming of danger, but his eyes telling him that this was a calm, simple day, like any other. He clutched his stomach, nauesau washing over him once more, then, in a stumbling, half-dazed walk, began rushing down the street, away from the alley. Towards his work. Towards his life. His safe, ordinary life. A voice in his mind stopped him. Ander’s voice, narrating words Marius had only read on a page, but Ander’s words nonetheless. “It’s better this way, with me gone. You’ll all be better off. You’ll see.”\n\nThis man must have, must have known Anders. Closely, to know those words. Could Marius leave such a man? Could he have left Anders, even if he would’ve been better off? Marius stopped, feeling suddenly very tired, and very, very sad. Then he turned around, and walked slowly back to the alley.\n\nEMS arrived around 20 minutes later, a police escort stepping out of a squad car as the paramedics prepped a stretcher. Marius stood up off the stoop where he’d been huddling, and jogged over to the officers.\n\n“You’re the one who called this in?” One of the officers asked, running a practiced eye over Marius.\n\n“Yeah,” Marius said, “He’s right down here.” He gestured down the alley.\n\n“You said you know him?” The officer asked, pulling out a small notepad and pen, flipping it open.\n\n“Uhhh, not exactly,” Marius said, “I think he must’ve known a friend of mine.”\n\nThe officer regarded him dryly for a moment, then repeated, “You think he must’ve known a friend of yours?”\n\nMarius sighed, “Look, it’s a bit personal, but he... Well he quoted a suicide note written by a close friend of mine. So he must’ve known him. I don’t know why I’ve never seen him before, but there’s no other explanation. I’ll get it all sorted out once he’s taken care of--right now he won’t even tell me his name, let alone how he knew Ander--my friend, that is.”\n\n“I see.” The officer said, frowning. The other officer began walking with the paramedics down the alley, and shortly the sounds of a small scuffle could be heard as they coaxed the man onto the stretcher. “It hurts! It hurts! Oh god, it hurts!” the homeless man suddenly yelled, and Marius turned roughly towards the alley. “What are they doing to him!” He snapped at the other officer, but the man had already broke into a quick dash towards the mouth of the alley, and Marius followed at a trot. Inside the alley, the homeless man crouched, sobbing, clutching his midriff against the side of the dumpster. The cop and two paramedics stood back towards the opposite wall, looking perplexed.\n\n“What’d you do, Harry!” The officer who’d been interrogating Marius snapped.\n\n“Nothing!” the other man replied, confusion and indignation rich in his voice. “I swear, Tom, I didn’t even touch him. Did I?” He said, turning pleading eyes on the paramedics. They shook their heads, equally perplexed. “As soon as he saw me, he just... started screaming. I don’t know what set him off.” The cop, Harry, said.\n\nThe homeless man on the ground suddenly seemed to come back to himself, hands relaxing, sobbing stopping. He looked up, growled softly, then darted towards the front of the alley. Before he’d made it two steps Marius heard a sharp click and the man collapsed, seizing violently. The taser in Tom’s hand clicked and sparked as he held it activated. “Get him on the gurney and sedated.” Tom said, voice gruff and hard as he regarded the collapsed homeless man. “Whatever he’s on, he’s a danger right now, to himself and others. Once we get him cleaned up and through detox we can sort this out.”" ]	2
	[WP] A girl who lives with her family is tasked with delivering grandma’s casserole to the well-behaved college student renting the apartment upstairs, but what she finds is not what she expected.	[ "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.", "Tessa knocked on the door, then waited. She looked up and down the narrow hallway to have something to do. The 14-year-old girl lived her whole life in those apartments and each floor was the same. A strip of red and gold carpet lined the floor while the ceiling and walls were painted off-white. At both ends of the hall, she could see the fire escape. The apartment door in front of her, D14, cracked open.\n\n\"Yes?\" a silver-haired, wrinkled woman peered through the crack. Tess caught sight of an elegant silver and pearl earring.\n\n\"Uhh...,\" Tess glanced at the apartment number on the door, then back at the old woman. She raised the casserole dish into view. \"My grandma asked me to bring another casserole to your...,\" she hesitated. \"...granddaughter? I mean, Dee. Is she your granddaughter?\"\n\n\"Thank you!\" the woman pulled the door open wider then stepped out to collect the dish. \"Yes. She's not home right now but I'll be sure to tell her how thoughtful your grandmother is, Esther, right? On the third floor?\" Tess nodded, but she did not hand over the casserole.\n\n\"Please, let me carry it in. It's a bit heavy, and still kind of hot,\" Tessa stepped forward before the elderly woman could protest. She made the old woman step out of the way to avoid getting casserole all over her. While it was mostly true, the casserole dish was probably not too much for the old woman to handle; Tess felt the need to investigate. As far as Tess' family knew, Dee lived alone.\n\n\"Oh,\" the woman said as Tess walked in. \"Okay, thank you. You can just put it on the counter.\" Tess let her eyes roam over everything in her vision; she didn't want to make her inspection obvious by turning her head this way and that.\n\nThe apartment was tastefully decorated with simple items. A small, square dining room table sat adjacent to the galley kitchen. The kitchen itself consisted of a beige fridge, an electric stove with coiled metal burners, and a sink. It was almost exactly the same as Tess' family apartment, but with almost no signs of being lived in. There was no personality or warmth to the space. She noted no signs of a typical college student like posters, plants, and technology. Nor did she see any sign that an elderly woman lived there. The apartment held a distinct lack of doilies, rocking chairs, and half-knit sweaters.\n\n\"I'll put it in the fridge,\" Tess said; bypassing the Formica counter.\n\n\"No that's o-,\" The woman tried to protest, nearly dashing to stop Tess, but she was too slow. The young girl pulled the door open and deposited the casserole dish. She did it without showing any surprise at the dark, empty, warm interior of the fridge. But, it did occur to her she might be in danger.\n\n\"I hope you two enjoy it. Bye!\" Tessa waved and walked to the door as fast as she could without running. As she reached for the knob, Tessa blinked. The knob turned before she gripped it, and Dee walked in.\n\n\"Hey, Tess! What's up?\" the college-aged brunette smiled at the young girl. She patted her stomach through her blue t-shirt. \"Please tell me your grandma sent up another casserole. My fridge is totally empty.\"\n\n\"Yeah!\" Tess nodded at the young woman. \"I was just dropping it off with your,-\" she turned to point at the elderly woman. Tess blinked while her head changed focus from Dee to her grandmother. \"-grandma.\" The elderly woman smiled and Tess turned back to Dee; she blinked again. \"Hey...,\" Tess said. She stared at Dee in the doorway for a silent second. Without warning, she whipped her head around to the old woman; she blinked.\n\n\"Yes, dear?\" the old woman asked.\n\n\"What-\" Tess interrupted her own question by turning her head back to Dee; she blinked. \"-is-,\" she turned back to Dee's grandmother; she blinked. \"going on?\" Tess whirled her head around back to Dee. She blinked, but this time she returned her focus to where the grandma was standing instead of to Dee. The old woman was not there. Tess heard Dee sigh behind her.\n\n\"It's complicated,\" Dee said. \"Hey, what's your favorite number?\" she asked Tess.\n\n\"54,\" Tess turned to answer Dee. \"Why?\"\n\n\"Really? Awesome, this won't be as complicated as I thought. C'mon\" Dee wiggled her hand enthusiastically at the air next to them. A black portal opened. \"There's someone I want you to meet.\"\n\n\"Where's your grandma?\" Tess asked.\n\n\"My real grandmother died a long time ago. For now...,\" Dee's youthful, rosy cheeks began to turn pale. Her soft, tight skin loosened into wrinkles and her dark hair filled with silver from scalp to tip. \"...I'm my own grandma.\" \n\n\\\\\\\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #328 You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order.", "knock knock \n\n\"come in, the door's open\" \n\n\"Hi Mr. Dugarry, here's a little gift from downstairs\" \n\n\"Hi sweetie, how many times did I ask you to call me Andy\" \n\n\"Sorry, uh... Andy, so my grandma sent us a warm casserole, and this plate is for you\" \n\n\"thank you very much, Suzy, please leave it on the table, or in the kitchen\" \n\nshe came in, the lights were all off, she carefully made her way to the kitchen, put the dish on the counter, and headed back to the door, \"ok, bye, Mr. Andy\", she said while leaving. \n\n\"wait\", he called her hesitantly, \"can you turn the light on please?\" \n\nshe turned back, pressed the button, and as light was spreading inside the room, she found a wolf staring at her. \"oh my...\", she tried to scream when the sound interrupted her \n\n\"don't worry, it's me, Andy.\" he said while giving her a very big smile that his teeth were very clear, or would have been very clear \n\n\"where are your teeth ?\" she said, while thinking she's in a dream and is replaying one of her favorite childhood fairytales \n\n\"they're there\", he said while pointing to a big gray machine in the corner of the room, where the body of Andy is lying, \"I invented this machine\", he continued, \"that allows me to switch bodies and souls between things. I caught this wolf yesterday while I was in a body of a falcon I trapped a few days ago, and now I wanted to try his body while his soul, claws, and fang were left in this sorry doll, but the problem is that without his claws I can't click the window to open it and leave for a walk\" \n\nstunned but what she saw and heard, a sense of a lifetime opportunity shined in her eyes, \"I'll help you in one condition, you let me try your machine.\" \n\n\"well, I had some big plans for tonight, but sure why not, you just wait for me, and in ten minutes I'll be back for the new show, but promise me you'll not touch anything while I'm out, and that you'll keep an eye on that window so it doesn't close back\" \n\n\"yes, I promise\" answered the eleven-years-old while her scientific curiosity started to ignite. He jumped out of the window and started running while she stayed there thinking about what thing would she switch bodies with, and what excuses will she make to her parents to come to this room more often and try this cool machine more times, she only stopped thinking when she saw her awaited wolf jumping through the window with a welcome back smile. \n\n\"so, what do you want to switch bodies with ?\" \n\n\"you\", she answered confidently, \"I want to know how does it feel to be a male\" \n\n\"I'd have to tell you that it doesn't make any big difference with a female, but as it's your wish I have to fulfill it\" he said while attaching some wires to his wolf-body, and typing something on the machine's monitor, \"can you lock me in this cage and block my mouth and legs? we need to keep the wolf quiet when he's back to his body\" \n\n\"do you plan to use him again?\" she asked while doing what he asked her for \n\n\"no, I'll release him just when you leave\" \n\n\"no, let's do it while our bodies are switched\" \n\n\"I think I can accept this request too, but remember there are few things I won't be able to do in your small body, and you have to do them despite being scary\" \n\n\"Hey!!! I'm a big woman and I can do it\" she said with some anger and excitement, while the machine was roaring and the wires were blinking lights with several colors \n\n\"I'm so sorry, you're a big woman, Suzy\", he said in his human body, while childishly poking her nose. \n\n\"Oooh that was fast!\" she claimed while he started moving the cage out and the wolf started to move in his cell, \"so how does this work?\", she added \n\n\"it's easy, you have to attach these wires to your body, anywhere, and I'll take care of the rest. You know this machine can switch up to one thousand parts between up to five people, or objects\" \n\n\"wow, so I'll bring my friends here and we will have so much fun\" \n\n\"No\" he stopped typing on his machine, \"if you plan to tell this to anybody, then I'll have to kick you out. This baby must remain a secret or the government will cease it and use it for very evil purposes\" \n\n\"Sorry, I promise to never tell anybody about this\", she answered while the inner her was glad to find a way to threaten him if he doesn't let her use the machine again \n\n\"that's good, et voilà\" the machine started roaring and puff, she found herself bigger and stronger. \"so let's release the wolf\", he said in her lovely female voice, \"we have to face the cage towards the window, I'll paint his tail with fuel while you remove the rope from his legs, then I light the fuel and you open his cage\" \n\n\"sounds easy, let's do it\", and they both started doing the task, and when they finished, the wolf painfully jumped out of the window while releasing a very loud cry, neighbors from ten blocks away could hear it. \n\n\"Now what?\" she asked. \n\n\"Now whenever you think it's enough, we switch to normal\" \n\n\"do you know that if the moon rotated in the other direction, most of the big cities in the world would be in different places than they're now?\" \n\n\"I know it's creepy to browse my memory, I thought of this few days ago and I did the wolf experience to test my hypothesis\" \n\n\"Suzan!!! where are you!!!\" her father interrupted them with a gun faced directly at Andy's body. \"It's not nice from you, Mister, to stay long with a child, and to make god knows what that noise was!!! \", he then took his daughter with force and guided her downstairs. \n\nAs they were leaving, Andy, trapped in the girl's body, was thinking if she will find out that the machine will need to be fueled in less than 10 hours, or the central neutreon cylinder will break, and only his friend Matt who traveled halfway across the planet knows how to build or fix it. \n\nSuzy, trapped in the man's body, was praying that Andy messes up the exam she'll be taking tomorrow because she doesn't want to go to the big school and wants to stay in her current school with her best friend, they took a pact to never leave each other. \n\nThe father, angry and worried he is, was thinking if he should seize that plate of the casserole as well. \n\n\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\n\nsorry guys, I'm a first time visiter here and I never wrote before, but this one provoked me, so here I am" ]	3
	[WP] A superhero healer starts helping supervillains during a flu season out of pity	[ "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.", "“Guys, don’t you have to save the world or something?”\n\n“Nah, they all seem to be out. Haven’t had anything more than a lost kitten to save in the last 3 days. Hey, mind getting me a beer. It’s in the fringe,”\n\n“Shut up, the game is starting. Juve will totally kick Arsenals butt.”\n\n“Hell no, they are trash, have you seen their trainer. Complete imbecile. I really....”\n\nActually, she loved living with those three. They were kind, honest, clean and superheroes. They actually understood her. But sometimes, they got on her nerves. It was some wired celebration and all of her friends left to see their families as the week was off at Uni. To make it worse, her boyfriend dumped her a week or so ago and she was in no mood for this man-cave thing her housemates were doing. Usually she liked a cold one with the boys, but it was all too much. Just a moment of peace, or something practical to do. Didn’t matter, but her mind was everywhere and nowhere. With a cup of tea she retreated to her room, not before hearing Jakob jump on Nikolaj as a “told you so” gesture as Juve scored in the first 3 minutes. \n\n‘I need to get them out of the house’, she thought. ‘While we are at it, why aren’t they hunting demons or beating up some evil demigod’. With a flick she opened her laptop and wen’t on all the ‘supervillan’ forums she knew. Usually, it was a decently vile place, now, kittens and puppies. Something wasn’t right. \n\n“GOALLLL” \n\n‘Fucking hell’. There it was: Sorry guys, am sick, lets try the neutron bomb prototype next week. Username: Jeff. ‘Ok, now just tell them I’m an evil sorceress or something’. \n\nHalf an hour later she was healing a supervillain. One after the other, doing house calls. They were actually very sweet. Some a bit bizarre, but all of them offered tea and wanted to pay her back somehow. This one necromancer gifted her flowers. Not magic flowers, he just likes gardening. But to everybody else she just told to make some chaos that week. They probably thought she needed a distraction, and they were happy to oblige. \n\nShe had the house completely to her self the next few days. Turns out, good deeds to pay interest." ]	2
	[WP] On a Fantasy like world, a Battle between the Dark lords legions of evil, and the Army of light is waging. A hero is summoned from our world! He ends up being omnipotent as he wields the ability to warp reality with story telling. This is throwing a wrench in all the gods plans.	[ "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.", "Malat opened the cloth flap and ducked down to enter the small tent. A fire burning in a hearth at the center and opposite it sat a young man wearing an odd outfit, of a style Malat had never seen before. The young man’s eyes glinted mischievously as he gestured for Malat to sit.\n\nMalat stepped towards the hearth, then sat in front of it, leaning forward until he was almost over the fire. “Please, wise one,” he said. “I have traveled a long way in order to see you. Please, I beg of you bless my army with your favor so we may win this war against the dark evil.”\n\nThe young man smiled. “The young man introduced himself as John. Malat was surprised at such a strange name, but he tried his best not to let it show, for fear of disrespecting the wiseman he had come all this way to see.”\n\nMalat was, indeed, surprised. At the name, the manner of speech, and how accurately he had predicted Malat’s own emotions. But, he had been warned a little of what to expect. “Yes, wise one. You are correct, as always. Please—“\n\n“‘Let us use your foresight to win our right and just war,’” John continued. “However, what Malat didn’t realize, and what many didn’t realize, is that John could not, and could never, predict the future. The only power he received from this world was of the present.\n\n“‘But please!’ Malat exclaimed. ‘Even if it is just the present, knowing what our enemy is doing is invaluable information!’\n“‘And what if I told you it was not just knowledge of the present, but even the affecting it? What if I could make the enemy disappear entirely? Would you want that?’\n\n“Yes!” Malat interrupted. “That’s exactly the kind of thing I came to ask of you! Please, my men, they cannot fight this war for much longer. Please, destroy this enemy for us. You know how much evil they do, how much despair they bring. So please! Help us!”\n\nJohn shook his head. “‘I cannot,’ John said. ‘I have the power to make this world exactly as I want, with no limitations. I could make the world a tranquil land, where no one fights, no one suffers. I would rule over all, no one being able to deviate rom my law.’\n\n“John stood up, walked over to Malat, and put a hand on his shoulder. ‘But no man should should have that power. Besides, what then, would be the point of living? If there was no darkness, there could never be light. If there were no lows, there could never be a single high. I do not believe that is called life.’”\n\nMalat sat there stunned. He had not expected a flat-out refusal, no matter how good the reason.\n\n“Please, reconsider.” Malat begged. “We won’t be able to win this war without your help.”\n\n“‘Who said I would not help?’ John asked. “I will help as I always have. I will give strength when needed. I will raise up those that are knocked down. That is how I will help.’”\n\nMalat slowly nodded and got up. “Thank you, wise one.”\n\nJohn nodded as Malat opened the flap again and backed out of the tent.\n\nAs Malat walked away from the solitary tent he mused to himself about what just occurred.\n\nThat, he concluded. Was either the most profound thing I ever heard, or a bunch of meaningless philosophical drivel from a teenager who thinks too highly of himself.\n\nMalat glanced back at the tent, with botched attempts at ancient symbols drawn in red paint on its sides and totem poles which looked like they’d been carved by a novice stacked at each corner.\n\nMaybe I should try the wiseman at the next village..." ]	2
Based on a nightmare I just had in which I played Super Smash Bros Melee and found myself dodging cars in the middle of a street...	[WP] You just purchased a new copy of your favorite video game, except it's cursed. It has ominous hidden content you decide to try. You realize you can't turn the game off and your life depends upon your success.	[ "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.", "Tutorial done. I could do that with one hand! Is this easy mode or is this game just not worth it? Time for the real world, let's crank that bad boy up in difficulty. The \"normal\" difficulty I would describe as less than normal, is now replaced by something called \"actually deadly\".. I skip the warning message about something to do with health issues, they give those in every game nowadays. Let's go! \n\n\nAs I slice through the enemies for about an hour, still with my low level gear, which improves slowly, I decide to pause and put the kettle on. Mid level I press start and get my cup of tea. After settling back in, I take a sip, press start and get stabbed almost instantly by an enemy from the back. I flinch, somehow I feel the backstab in my actual left waist. I press pause again, to check what happened, the game does not pause. Another stab in the same spot, another flinch. I try to turn off the console, nothing. I feel blood trickling through my sweater. I look down and I see a red dot growing in the fabric. Fuck, what is happening? I kill the ingame enemies and hide my character somewhere to be able to look at my wound. \n\nIs this shit real? Am I in the game? Is the game in me? What the fuck...\n\nAlright, this is my life now. I take a sip of tea, put on a bandaid and sit down. It is me versus the game now and I'm 0-1 behind. The first level is cleared easily. Second level. already a boss level. Should not be a problem, I have total focus now. Let's go! After 12 minutes of fighting the boss, 1 black eye, a broken nose, three wounds in my shoulder and an actual broken toe, I finish this boss. Shit. still hours to go to get through this game, what would happen next? Third level is an easier one, I got this under control, no extra wounds. Level 4, two burn marks on my left leg. Level 5, another boss, this boy is big!\n\nI start with stabbing his right foot, stab, dodge, backroll, stab, dodge, backroll, stab, dodge, backroll, I am getting into the rythm. Just before his right leg is down, he gets to me, I backroll too late to be able to get away. He picks me up, I actually feel my ribs compressing and my heart pulsing hard. My head is filling with blood as he holds me upside down. A vein in my eye pops, I can't see anything from my left eye. Is this it? I close my eyes, try to think of how I can free myself. I feel lightheaded. The grunting of this boss slowly transforms in my name, I hear it clearly now, the grunting is just a human voice. Is it my mom? It is my mom. It is my mom! What? How did she get in this game? I try to open my eyes. My eyelids are stuck together, is this dried blood? I feel my face, it's all alright, my nose is still straight. What is happening? \n\nI finally open my eyes a little, through my eylashes I look straight into the eyes of something hairy. I smell a bad breath, vomit is coming up a little. A light flashes. After a couple of seconds I see sharper and it all becomes clear. The hairy, bad smelling monster is just my dog. I take out my earpods and hear my name again, sharper, it is my mom. She got home from walking the dog. I look around me, I passed out on the couch, TV still on with my new game, on the difficulty setting page..." ]	2
	[WP] Aliens from all over the universe get all their weapons ideas from our human pop culture. Now the arms race has led to aliens kidnapping science fiction writers and artists for newer weapons.	[ "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.", "Bob.\nHe was tired. Shift work meant adapting to a different schedule. He shifted down as cleared the crest......\n \" JESUS! \" The earth splitting roar of the Eight rear tandem tires locking up as the associated gear in the truck flew forward. \"GOD DAMN .....it\" Bob's voice trailed to a breath as he stared in disbelief. \nIt hovered in the road, ....flames! Sound -less flames sparked underneath it as it moved sideways. Bob sensed already the danger and had jumped from the cab to run.... Behind him the terrifying craft followed slowly. He was being hunted! Bob dove under his trailer and ran straight into the woods along side the road. He felt a whoosh as the thing flew past him,cutting him off. As Bob stood there , the craft raised a hideous appendage towards Bob......He closed his eyes....\n\nAirborne over Kansas.\n\n\" United 241 heavy,center. \"\n\"United '41 go\" \n \"Ah....United ? Have you got traffic at 10 o'clock four miles? Your flight level lower?\" \n \" United 2 41 heavy, Negative center , good visibility, nothing on TCAS , United 241\"\n \" OK ,roger. 2 41, we don't know what it is but we show traffic , still four miles, same level. \"\n \" Center,United 241 heavy, we'll take flt level 26? \"\n \"Approved ,United 241 climb and maintain flight level26\"\n The tension level rising, the Captain's first concern is to give the unknown a wide berth\n \" Center this is United 241heavy, flt level 26. Traffic? \"\n \" United he's pacing you!. We still don't have voice contact with him , no transponder readout..... \"\nThe controller watched Horrified as the unknown blip suddenly closed the distance between it and the big jet.\n\" United 241 Center.......... \" \nSilence.I\n\nPILOT TRUCK STOP.\n \nOfficer Bullard \" Bubs\" Groot II was parked behind the truckstop. Conspicuous enough to keep everyone watching him while another vehicle, an old Gm Motor home made the Approach. Swat team, ICE and the Fed! Just sit and watch them old boys get their man an then it's lunch. \nHe watched the target, another Big Rig this time, when something flew past. BIG! By the time Bubs got turned,something flew behind him. By instinct he placed his right hand on his Glock45 and turned around.\nThe shock of seeing the hovering shimmering box passed quickly. A drone. Had to be he thought.\n\" Get that God damn drone out of here! \" Bubs remarked on his radio. \" dispatch we got someone flyin' a big ole' drone out here by the Pilot .... \" \nAt that instant an arm on the 'drone' dropped and pointed at the officer. Officers don't like even FINGERS pointed at them....Bubs was no exception. Bubs swiftly pulled his service weapon and pointed it at the Drone.\nThe impact of hundreds of projectiles hitting Bubs at once did not stop him from leveling ,aiming and firing! A loud ...scream? A exclamation? \"Woooooohoooooooo!!! \"Like a cartoon,that's what bubba thought.The Drone left flying,what appeared to be backwards over the trees around the truck stop with the speed of a small bird. The other officers , making contact with their suspect ,heard the succession of shots,made the shots fired call, and ran to where Bubs stood. The hapless suspect dragged along for safekeeping started laughing at Bubs. \n\" Gee whiz there deputy. ...those kindergartners must want you dead! They NERFed the hell out of you! \" \nIndeed, \"they\" had NERFED the deputy. The small foam bullets lay around Bubs. \"From a drone...real funny.\"...now he had to explain firing his weapon. \n\n over Kansas\n\nThe radar contact with the Heavy Boeing Jet and the unknown merged. A brief burst of static, of microphones being \"keyed\" and then.\n\nCenter, United 241....ahh ...a heavy, we believe we have be fired upon! We are declaring an emergency now. 135 souls,28000 pounds fuel. We have very limited forward visibility ,our windshield is covered with something.\n\nRoger United. If you can turn 180 now and decent your descression. You were fired on? What is your condition ?\n\n\"Center..Darts! They hit us with darts!\" We are ok, a bit shook up here. Center my windshield is covered in RED toy DARTS! The old suction cup type? How they stick at 350\\knots.......??\n\n\"Roger,understood, Darts\" \nThe controller turned in his seat to his supervisors ,waiting to go over every single detail ....again...and again\n\nBob.\n\nBob thought he heard giggling. He opened one eye, still frozen in place . The 'thing was gone. But he was covered in TOILET PAPER?" ]	2
	[WP] Instead of summoning a demon, you and your friends summon an angel. She arrives less than five minutes later.	[ "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.", "\"Huh. Well, that was a bust I guess. I could've swore that this was the right ritual this time guys. Same time next week?\" Isaac looked at all of us and shrugged.\n\nIt's been like this for a year now. Every week we get together at Isaac's and hang out in his attic trying some new ritual or whatever he found on the Internet. We all just feel bad for the kid, moved here last year and had trouble making friends, so we took pity on him. And plus his parents are rich and get him all the latest games.\n\nI put the controller down and look at the drawn summoning circle on the floor. Can't deny that he has a talent for art. \"Of course dude, we wouldn't start bailing on you now. Right guys?\" I look over at Josh and Lucy and they nod.\n\n\"Thanks Rich. I'll find the right one this time I promise! Oh crap! I forgot to blow out the candle!\" He rushed over to the lit candle and started to blow it out.\n\nThat's strange, it wasn't lit when I looked at it last. \n\nSuddenly another one lit up, then the next, and then the last one. All 4 candles began to flicker and then erupted into small torches of brilliant white light. We all froze, not knowing what we should do. A pale fog started to form in the center of the circle, slowly forming into a figure. Within moments a beautiful,pale skinned woman, long blonde hair dressed in golden armor was standing before us. Immaculate feathered wings furled around her and a silvered blade was pointed to the ground. She opened her eyes and revealed blinding light. \"I have come to aid you who has summoned ,Isaac, son of Abraham. I have been given the name Amaliel by the Divine Creator them self. How shall I aid you?\" Her voice was loud and full of thunderous power, the walls shaking at every utterance.\n\nThe attic fell silent, as if time itself stopped. A long, agonizing beat as we all looked at one another, and then back to the Angel before us. Isaac was the one who broke the silence.\n\n\"Whoa.\" \n\nThe sentinel just stood there, waiting for her charge. The rest of us huddled together.\n\nJosh punched Isaac on the arm. \"The hell man? I thought this was some weird game you were playing but that's a freaking Angel!\" \n\nSuddenly Amaliel was standing behind Josh, blade at the ready. \"I would advise against harming Isaac again, Josh son of Peter.\" Josh went pale and stared at the floor. \"I didn't mean anything by it.\"\n\nLucy just stared at the figure, her eyes wide and mouth open. \"Are you a real Angel? Like, from the Bible?\"\n\n\"I am, Lucy, daughter of Amanda. Fret not, young one, your prayers have been heard. Patience is a virtue that you know well.\" A radiant smile spread across Amaliel's lips, full of warmth and hope. I could have sworn Lucy began to tear up.\n\nAmaliel turned once more to Isaac, \"I still await your command Isaac. What will you ask of me?\"\n\nIsaac sat a while in deep thought, foot tapping as he processed his choices.\n\nI used this time to ask Amaliel a few questions. \"What's it like up in Heaven? Is it built on clouds like everyone thinks it is?\"\n\n\"It is not Richard, Son of Amelia. It is a meadow, full of life and beauty. Each soul there has their own garden they tend to, miles wide. Only those the soul wishes may come and visit, so they are always surrounded by their loved ones. It is a paradise like no other.\"\n\n\"That sounds...wonderful actually. What about Hell? Is it an inferno?'\n\n\"It is cold. It is dark. Desolation and emptiness fill the void there. Screams dare to deafen and torment all those that reside there. Madness plagues all the damned who reside in Hell, and chaos is not just some abstract thought. It has a physical manifestation, and its name is Lucifer. I will speak no more of it.\" Her eyes grew in intensity as she spoke, and her blade dug deeper into the floor. Message received. \n\n\"I want you to protect my friends forever.\"\n\nIsaac's voice made me jump out of my skin. We all looked at him with shock. \n\n\"What about you dude? You aren't gonna ask her to protect you?\" Josh motioned at the frail body that is Isaac.\n\n\"I mean...I don't really care if I'm safe. I just want to make sure you guys are fine.\" He looked at the floor and rubbed his neck as he spoke. His face slowly turning red.\n\n\"As you wish, Isaac.\" The Angel unfurled her wings until the encased Josh, Lucy, and I. It was dark, but warm. Safe. Like a mother's hug. The warmth spread until it covered me like a blanket, and then disappeared, as did Amaliel.\n\n\"Did all that really just happen?\" I ask as we all looked at each other once more.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWe never really spoke of that day again, just let it become a faded memory that eventually seemed like a dream. I don't know about Lucy or Josh, but that warmth never left me, not really. And I always felt safe, like something, or someone, was looking out for me. Illnesses always faded after a day or two, injuries healed much quicker than normal. Hell, I was in a car accident and pretty much walked away from it. We may never talk about that day, but it bound us together much closer than we ever were. We meet up again tomorrow, just like we always do. Isaac swears he found something that'll let you change eye color whenever you want. I'm glad he moved here." ]	2
	[WP]You are it. Death. The Grim reaper. The soul harvester. It is time. You have waited for this for eons. Your father is ill & frail but his time has come. It’s time to harvest 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.", "\"It is time, Father.\" I say, and my voice trembles.\n\nThe being that sat on the throne did not look like a God of any sort. His sallow skin is pale and wrinkled, his limbs thin and bony. He can barely keep his eyes open, and still, he looked up at me.\n\n\"Ah, so it is.\" He smiles that same smile he always has, His cheerfulness undimmed by his imminent demise.\n\nEverything else is long dead. Armageddon has come and gone, countless worlds and galaxies gone in a heartbeat. I was there to reap both Michael and Lucifer when they killed each other, and the rest of the angels and demons died not long after. The rest of the Riders have crumbled to dust, with no more beings to inflict themselves on.\n\nOnly He and I are left.\n\n\"Where will you go, when you die?\" I ask.\n\n\"I do not know, truly. It is the one thing I have never known, even when I knew all else.\" He leans back in his throne, staring at me with an expression I cannot understand.\n\n\"Then this is the end?\"\n\n\"It is.\" He nods. \"But you already know that, don't you? After all, you are the end.\"\n\n\"...Goodbye, Father.\" I feel hot tears well up in my eyes as I raise my scythe.\n\n\"Goodbye, Azrael.\"\n\nI reap.", "I remember when I was chosen as the grim reaper. God called me down when I was just a young angel. He had said this was a new experiment. He called them humans. People who would have a soul and free will. With this free will they could decide how pious or devout they chose to be. Those who led generally good lives will be treated to a good afterlife. Those who did not would suffer in the underworld. \r\n\r\nI was to be the guide to all the souls. I did not have to judge them but simply be the courier of the souls to the appropriate afterlife. \r\n\r\nI was given many names throughout history. Mictlantecuhtli, Thanatos, Hel, Osiris, Ah Puch, Yan Wang, Arawn, Mot, Yama, I could go on. Thousands of religions viewed me as the end all be all say when it came to death. Some viewed me as a God and feared me. Others viewed me with respect of my efforts. Some saw me simply as an angel who served a higher being. \r\n\r\nThousands and thousands of years I did my job. I remember seeing the various depictions the religions would give me and would emulate it when it came to call the person of that religion to their end. Throughout the years I did make one observation. Everything will die. Humans, animals, the figures and statues they erect; all of it will be consumed. \r\n\r\nSo it came to me as no surprise when I was called up by my father. The man who created me. He sometimes took up a figure of a goddess of fertility, or a vengeful and angry Lord. \r\n\r\nToday he showed me a figure of an old man. He said that he has grown ill and felt that his time was coming. I approached him and asked what caused this. He simply told me that as I’ve noticed, everything perishes, himself included. \r\n\r\nRecently, I had taken on the Western opinion of death, the grim reaper. When he touched my hand my disguise disappeared and I appeared as I had the first day he approached me. My skin olive in complexion, my muscles firm and taut as the day I first decided to work as death. \r\n\r\nHe looked at me with a half smile and said he wanted to remember how I looked all those millennia ago. I looked back at him with welled up eyes. I was witnessing the last few moments of my creator. His frail figure a massive difference from his youthful figure from back then. His skin sagging and his hands bony. His arm moved with a certain shake as if he was trembling. \r\n\r\nHe grabbed my arm once again and with that he began to impart all of the knowledge of the universe. How it all began, how it will all end. The criteria in which one would enter the afterlife, what beliefs would fall to the wayside and which ones would linger on. \r\n\r\nI wept as I saw nature was being demolished and eventually reclaiming land, as children grew up and became adults, repeating the cycle. All of this was too much for me. \r\n\r\nI pleaded with him that I could not take his place. He told me there was no reason to argue. He had chosen me for my bravery in times of difficulty. He wished me all the best as I saw his last breathes become labored. \r\n\r\nI knew what would happen next. I’ve seen this before a million times. I knew what I had to do. His grip on my hand became weak and eventually he let go of my hand, his hand falling down to the floor. \r\n\r\nI did not have to do much as his figure simply disintegrated into dust. I took a small staff he had left behind and approached his throne. As I sat down, the angels who had worked for him knelt at my direction. I had ascended to the highest level. \r\n\r\nI approached an angel and requested that he take my old position as death. I wanted to remind him that one day everything will perish, including me and he will one day take over the throne." ]	3
	[WP] "...Earth." , you said. She looked stunned, "What?...They...What?" After your months on the previously unknown planet, the Fleet Commander had finally arrived. And you'd been volunteered to explain to her. "Earth, ma'am. All 8 billion of them. They all believe this planet is Earth."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "You look back at the tank you were plugged into. Admiral Gillespie looks at you. \"Plug me in then join me, I want to see.\" She sits in the tank you opened up next to the one you came out of. Admiral G lays down in the Epson Salt Water. \"Lieutenant, put me in.\" You look around at the station, just over 100,000 tanks in this station. The \"Super Earth\" you are on, Barnard's Star B is just a way station with some drone and robot mining. The VR stations hold 8 billion on 50 different \"Earth's.\" The 100k people with you at Station 4-13-14 are all on the same Earth. \"See you soon\" you say with a wave to the Admiral G's entourage of Lieutenant Commanders and Master Chief Petty Officers. You get back into your tank slowly to not make waves. The waves will make it take longer to bring you into the virtual world. \n\nSoon after the tank closes you in darkness there is light. You are back on Earth. Admiral Gillespie looks at you, \"Took you long enough. Though it does feel like Earth or at least how I remember it in the years I've been off the planet.\" She's taking in the Sun and the people. You're in a small park surrounded by tall buildings. You explain, it's 2012, NYC, not all the people are real, some are. But the each station is running a simulation of a different Earth. Some had different religions, different outcomes to major wars. Some were just back in the past, but other than taking place before your birth didn't seem different than the Earth you knew. \"What's the gimmick with this simulation Lieutenant?\" Before you can answer, the sky darkens, clouds form and lightning strikes the ground. In the place of the lightning hit there is a large man. \"Ah, Lieutenant Earth, my fellow defender of Midgard, you are back from your mission to another world, did it go well? Who is this you've brought back with you?\" Admiral G is in shock. When you introduce her to Thor and the other Defenders. \n\nYour tank is open and you here \"Superheroes?\" You step out of the tank, dripping water, Admiral Gillespie is out of her tank. You smirk. Being the furthest people known to travel from Earth, going to a planet that had drone and robot mining activity was an amazing accomplishment. Being on the first team down on the planet, was the chance of a lifetime. Finding 8 billion people who don't know that they aren't on Earth was shock. Spending months trying to figure out if it was possible to disconnect them. The planning and logistics of getting them home if you you could. And only then finding out that every simulator on the alien planet was based on some Earth media property was over your head. Who made the facility? How did the people get there? No one knew. But being the first fleet into Barnard's Star system, and with it being years before any other fleet could get out here, it's gonna be your job to figure it out.", "\"My captain, we just recieved correspondence from Sector 3!\" Lips pursed, and an eyebrow raised.\n\"Why now, after all this time? It doesn't make sense.\" The head of intelligence stood from his plush chair on the bridge.\n\"Ma'am, it appears to be the citizens of Atlantis. They've somehow colonized a random outworld, and the hallucinations from their defective headwear seems to have become...inherited.\" The silence was permeable. We'd all heard about the great civilization, and their wondrous advances in technology. They were almost gods before they were wiped out by the Collective. All but a small escape pod containing the three of their brightest. Adam, Eve, and Lilith. The rumored saviors, who would return to Earth and save their people. But, while training in a virtual environment to test various survival scenarios, they were unable to turn off their simulations, leaving them adrift in a shared imaginary world.\nIt was a tragedy, but one assumed to have ended with them.\n\"Wait, I think the small craft is...it's talking!\" I listened close, and indeed, it was emitting noise in a set pattern. Some unknowable language.\n\"I am much too underpaid to be dealing with this. First, am immortal space worm, now missing heralds. What next, the All-Father?\" The captain rifled around her chair, mumbling and looking for her interstellar comm device. I set the onboard computer to try to pick up a pattern. \n\"You, Tongue-sooth, what's it saying?\" \nBits and pieces of information were working their way through. 8 billion, which apparently meant 4 sectals of the species. A wish to exchange data. It looped to the beginning, a greeting, and my face paled.\n\"What's the matter with you? Report!\" I turned to her.\n\"It said ...Earth\" The captain looked at me, face frozen in disbelief.\n\"What...They...What?\" The computer started mentioning a moon, and a neighboring planet they were looking to colonize. It all started to make sense. Why they never returned after clearly surviving and gathering numbers. Why they never sent in correspondence, our even asked for ask update on the condition of our sector. I swallowed hard as I replied.\n\"Earth, ma'am. All \"8 billion\" of them. They all believe this planet is Earth.\" The legendary trio, the hope of Atlantis, were floating on a random orbital body of dirt and dust, convinced that they were home. Probably not even once did it occur to them they might be the last, or that our planet existed.\n\"D'ashrit! Okay, first we get hammered, then we come back and report this,\" the captain ordered. I immediately obliged. We really don't get paid enough for this.", "The spaceship hissed as it touched down on the landing pad. She was a glorious spectacle, Adam thought. The ship of course. It had a rare sleek design that had gone out of style years ago, but was still a sight to behold. The one door on the ship was well hidden and blended in with the rest of the ship. Adam was especially proud of the high tech that allowed the one-way windows, which allowed the passengers to see in but nothing to see out.\n\nAnother hiss sounded and the door jerked open, revealing a well built woman wearing a the same suit that the rest of the fleet wore, but with a red and white theme instead of blue and white to signify her higher rank. Her hair, which was previously shaved close to her head now bobbed around her shoulders, and she seemed to have acquired two or more scars on her youthful face. Adam had forgotten how in love he was with her until this very moment. The ship, of course.\n\n\"Adam.\" Her voice boomed as her mouth widened into her usual mischievous grin. Some things never change, Adam thought. \"How's my favorite engineer? Still as stone faced as ever I see.\"\n\nAdam tried to keep the composure in his voice. \"Everything is well, Fleet Commander Evelyn. Welcome back to the Force.\" That was the name of the Space Exploration team Adam could now proudly call his family. It had been almost ten years now, since Evelyn created a small band of people to brave the unknown vacuum of space to find a suitable home that could replace the one we were in danger of losing. This new planet of unknown background was found only a few years into her exploration. Evelyn's name would go down in history as the savior of the human race and Adam couldn't be prouder to witness her accomplishment. \n\nWhich is why he hesitated to give the report she would inevitably ask for.\n\n\"It's good to be back, you know. Travelling the Galaxy is great and all, but nothing beats coming home to family.\" She answered sentimentally, placing her hand on his shoulder warmly. Adam tried not to wrinkle the files he had in his hand. He completely stopped breathing for the few seconds until she slid her hand off.\n\n\"Would you like to hear the status report, Ma'am?\" Adam quickly blurted out, which evoked a rich beautiful laugh from Evelyn.\n\n\"Straight I business, I see.\" She said after her hearty outburst. \"Some things never change. Alright, go on.\"\n\n Adam proceeded to tell her their findings. He noticed that as he spoke, her eyes seemed to look past him and her smile receded into a lone furrowed in deep thought. She was already coming up with solutions as he told them to her. He had to bite back the smile that was threatening to break out on his face. One of the things he loved - no, admired - about Evelyn was how, no matter how playful or immature she seemed, she would immediately become the most dependent person when she needed to be. \n\n\"There are some areas toxic lakes and ponds. Unfortunately, there were a few casualties, but they have been quarantined until further notice.\"\n\n\"Have Drake and Emille test the substances in the water. Try to isolate the toxic factors and see it there is a way to neutralize it.\"\n\n\"Emille can't be of help. She...\" Adam struggled to get the words out. \"She is no longer with us.\" Evelyn's face softened.\n\n\"Is...is she-\"\n\n\"She's alive, she just is not with us anymore. The Force.\" Adam breathed in and exhaled deeply. He definitely drew the short end of the stick when he was chosen to give the report.\n\nEvelyn squinted her eyes suspiciously. \"Adam. What aren't you telling me?\" \n\nHere goes nothing, Adam thought. He handed her the files in his hand and spoke as she looked through it. \"They are an organization with no official name so we just call them \"the Stargazers.\" They formed a couple of months ago, and while they are not necessarily of any harm to anyone, they are slightly.... delusional.\"\n\nEvelyn looked up front eh papers in front of her. \"Delusional how?\" She asked slowly, probably afraid of the answer she would receive.\n\n\"They call it, Earth.\" She looked stunned.\n\n\nWhat?...They...What?\" \n\n \"Earth, ma'am. All 8 billion of them. They all believe this planet is Earth.\"\n\n\"Like Earth 2, or Earth Prime...?\"\n\n\"No, each of them sincerely believe that this is the Earth we just came from. We took a census and it lasted three months, but we were able to conclude that they do in fact believe this is the same Earth they grew up on.\"\n\n\"But that Earth exploded, there's nothing left but junk and space rocks!\" Evelyn exclaimed. \"Could it be something in the atmosphere or the plants?\"\n\n\"We've already taken the reading of the components of the atmosphere. It's almost identical to the one one Earth. Additionally, all the plants released to the General public have been accounted for, and of all the harmful ones known, none of them contain hallucinogens.\"\n\n\"Then why all of a sudden?\" She questioned, more to herself than to Adam. \"This doesn't make sense.\"\n\nAs she was pondering over the newfound information, another member of the Force burst into the launch room. Heather, one of the combat leaders, was standing at the door, hunched over trying to catch her breath. \"Fleet Commander Evelyn, welcome back!\" She stated when she finally composed herself. \"Sorry to trouble you so much when you just arrived, but we have trouble.\"\n\nEvelyn immediately stood up straight. \"What, what is it?\" \n\n\"There's a riot outside the Force Headquarters. It's the Stargazers, the Earth quacks.\" Heather looked to Adam. \"Did you-\"\n\n\"Yes, I told her.\" Adam answered before she finished asking. \"I thought they were supposed to be peaceful.\" \n\n\"Guess they hung up their hippie wigs, cause they're causing some real damage out there.\"\n\n\"How many of them are there?\" Evelyn questioned, already making her way towards the door.\n\nHeather paused for a second, a look of horror flashed across her face leaving as soon as it came. \"I don't know.\"", "Commander Thalia checked the hologram of the watery green planet, \"The occupants believe that planet is Earth?\"\n\n\"Right, ma'am.\" Neil stood at attention, \"Their language systems are almost identical to ours, so when they refer to this terraformed planet, they are indeed talking about earth.\"\n\n\"So, \" She strode towards the viewing port, then cast her gaze at the majestic planet. \"We have an unfortunate stowaway.\" Her posture slumped a little.\n\n\"Ma'am, it's nobody's fault.....\"\n\n\"Hold your tongue, corporal!\" She turned back and waved a hand so that the hologram begins to retrace the fleet's journey through the galaxy, until it reached a planet that is broken into multiple pieces.\n\n\"We have all the survivors from the war traverse multiple star systems heading for a promised virgin land, now it's already occupied.\"\n\nCommander Thalia removed her goggles while she wandered the cockpit lost in thought.\n\nNeil looked out at the planet sorrowfully.", "The intermittent beeping of the warp fuel indicator was the only noise that broke the stillness aboard the bridge of the starship “Endeavor”. The silence from Commander Deckard and his crew, though, was not one of shock. Rather, it was one of acceptance. Their worst fears proved to be reality.\n\n“The Republic has fallen,” I replied solemnly, “And the surviving Atalan have forgotten who they are.” I spoke the words into my communicator, but the void on the bridge seemed to suck the words from my mouth and cast them like javelins into the hearts of the crew. The fleet commander alone stood stoic in the face of this revelation.\n\nI’ve been here on the surface of “Earth”, as it’s now called, for 18 months by the local calendar. My shuttle was able to warp much closer to the old capitol of the Republic than the Endeavor was capable - as Frigates of her size relied heavily on the massive jump gate systems in Imperial space. Jump gates, mind you, that have been offline in the Republic for nearly 5,000 years. The empire would’ve sent a scouting fleet much earlier, but the Scourge had been ravaging our border planets to the point that we had lost grip of the entirety of imperial provinces in the Orion arm. Something that the Royal Navy would not be able to rectify until the great purges. \n\nThe scourge, you see, wasn’t what we thought it was at first. Outbreaks in the colonies were first reported as Andromedan Flu, or Occasionally as Void Pox. Those diseases were nasty, of course, having brought hundreds of settlements to ruin along the outer rim... but this... this was different.\n\nWe quickly learned that the scourge was not merely an illness - it was chaos incarnate. In every species it encountered, it killed a third of all infected - and most of the survivors would turn feral and rabid. They would turn on the relief volunteers sent to help them, burn cities to the ground, charge in massive hordes against fortified outposts, and eventually - pilot shuttles to neighboring systems in order to spread their infectious mania. \n\nOnly by imperial decree was the scourge stopped from reaching the inner sectors. Emperor Tomblaine himself penned the decree, and gave the order for the beginning of the purges. One by one, infected planets were cleansed of all life. Then, despite riots on the capitol, healthy populations living on border worlds were annihilated as well.\n\nTrillions of lives were lost by the scourge and the resulting purges over the course of two centuries. By the time the seas of the outer worlds were boiled away though, our borders had been closed off for generations. The most concerning thing, though, is that our allies in the Republic never reopened communications. They never reopened their borders. They never contacted the empire again.\n\nNow, as I stand frozen on the surface of Earth, I break the news to my countrymen as to why that was the case. \n\n“There is one thing that I don’t understand,” Commander Deckard said, “it appears that the Republic carried out its own purge as well. That is why the only signal we’ve received has been from here, the capitol. If Republican purges were successful, why have they failed to return their communication systems to operation? And if they were not, why are Atalan populations still present on the planet?”\n\nI shifted on my feet as I tried to find the best way to answer the Fleet Commanders question. He was right, all Republican planets we’ve encountered have been barren. Much like the imperial border worlds. Their communications satellites still floated, decrepit, along the information highway established after the conflicts between our nations had ended. The reason for this, is one that is difficult to acknowledge.\n\nThe beeping of the warp fuel indicator grew more frantic. The Endeavor’s only hope of returning to Imperial space hinged on refueling at Republic outposts. \n\n“Fleet Commander,” I replied “It appears as if the surviving populations on the planet all carry the scourge. The fleets of the Republic annihilated their colonies, but failed to keep the infection from spreading. Chaos erupted on the capitol, and the entire civilization was burned to the ground. What rose from the ashes is a mutation of the disease, allowing uneasy peace on the fractured nations here.”\n\nLooking at my surroundings, it is hard to believe that the feral planet I stand on was once the glimmering jewel of the grand Republic of Atlantis. “Earth”, as the Atalan now call it, is nowhere near the societal perfection their ancestors had reached. The disease had wiped all empathy and knowledge for their ancestors away. The only remaining histories are regarded as legends. Myths. Fairy tales.\n\n“There is yet hope for the Endeavor, sir,” I responded to the quiet, “It appears that there are a few fuel silos that lie partially buried on the planet. If we can retrieve the cores, you may be able to return to the empire with our findings.”\n\nThe Fleet Commander rubbed his eyes and sat down. \n\n“If we do this,” he said, “we cannot come into direct contact with the locals at all. We will send an away team to pick you up, if there are any volunteers. You will retrieve the cores and leave them in low orbit.” Commander Deckard looked at me stoicly through the hologram.\n\n“We will be forced to purge the remnants of the Republic in order to end the threat to life in the galaxy. This means that you, and those brave patriots who may choose to assist you, will die as martyrs not only for the emperor - but for all life in the known universe. Do you accept this mission, Lieutenant?” He asked.\n\n“I do, Fleet Commander. For the emperor, and the Endeavor.”\n\nHe nodded solemnly. “The empire owes you it’s gratitude. You’ve marked the place called ‘Giza’ on your maps. The away team will retrieve you, and take you there to extract the cores. Good luck.”\n\nThe hologram faded, and I peered into the sky, awaiting my countrymen." ]	6
	[WP] You are an immortal shape shifter. To honor a woman you knew centuries ago you have secretly watched over her descendants. Legends grew within the family about you and one recently learned the truth.	[ "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 actually have a story where something very similar to this happened because the character is actually imortal.\n\nSo it's a little different, but I think it's still relevant enough that I'll put it in.\n\n\n\n\nAkira walked down the streets. How much time had passed? From dirt, to cobblestone, to rock, and now it is something else. The night sky shone alight his path as he walked into the dark night.\n\nThe streets and walkways were empty. The Elementors had a curfew and nobody dared to oppose them. Except for the Spartans, that is.\n\nAkira remembered them. Thousands of years ago the Elementors and Spartans were allies. Honestly the only difference were Elementors had the powers of the different Plains anyway, they were still human nontheless.\n\n\nHe rounded a corner and dodged a fist, suddenly flying aimed at his face. He brushed off the assailant with punitive ease. He pushed the attacker into the building's wall and knocked him out. There were two more who quickly tried to surround him. But Akira was not really in the mood. \n\nHe grabbed the first man by his wrist and threw him like a ragdoll into the second. They spiraled back 30 feet as Akira shrugged off the third assailant and knocked him out cold with a quick jab to the back of the head.\n\nAs he stepped over their unconscious bodies he realised they were Spartans and probably had mistaken him for an Elementor... poor fools.\n\n\"YOU THERE!\"\n\na voice called out in the dark.\n\n\"YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE!\" Akira turned around to see a lanky man holding the sheath to a katana, and a body suit outfitted with armor. He was on top of a building and had likely seen everything. He looked Very sleek and tight to say the least. Back in his time wearing this sort of thing would have gotten him killed so quickly...\n\n\"Parden my tardiness I am simply trying to get home now.\" \n\n\"Tardiness is no excuse for being out past curfew. Submit yourself for tagouts.\"\n\n\"I'll pass...\" Akira said as the man fidgeted with something in his metallic holster.\n\n\"You...pass? Then you accept death!\"\n\nThe man brought the katana to his hip and it seemed like the sheath magnetically attached to his side. He unsheathed the sword and flipped it around twice, holding up his left hand as if to grab something.\n\n\"Now this is a language I speak...\" Akira chuckled to himself as he grabbed his own katana that was resting on his back. He performed a very similar motion but Akira beld his right hand out and slightly not as high.\n\n\"Oh? You want to copy my movements? Let's see what else you can do.\"\n\nThe man charged forward fast and suddenly. Akira effortlessly parried him and grabbed his shoulder, tossing him hard into the wall, enough that the wall cracked. He groaned audibly before standing up and re-taking his stance.\n\n\"If anyone has the right to pissed it's me, that style your using is wrong.\" Akira said quietly. \"Whaat? Me? Your the one with the wrong stance. Your feet are too wide, and your hand is wrong. Your just copying me!\"\n\nHe charged again, this time katana raised high. Akira dodged his flurry with ease as well before grabbing the mans wrist and tossing him back into the wall, this time Akira kicked him through the wall, shattering it and bringing dust clouds around him.\n\n\"Your too eager. This style is defensive in nature, yet you use it aggressivly.\" Akira said as the man over walked the smashed wall, waving the dust away.\n\n\"Theres no way you know that. How do you know that? That's impossible!\"\n\n\"Because I'm the creator of this style.\"\n\n\"Your mad. This style has been passed down since the 1500's theres no way you were alive that long\"\n\n\"Actually I have been...\" Akira remarked to himself.\n\nJust then a bolt oflighting struck passed his face. Akira turned slowly to see the man had missed narrowly, and the crackling of electric energy slowly dissipated into the silence. \n\n\"How about that? You like that? That's the difference between you and-\" He was interrupted by Akira, who had conjured Dark Lightning and narrowly missed the man in the same fashion.\n\n\"I?\" Akira prompted. \"Yes. That was...\"\n\nThe man trailed off. Akira smirked, he felt another presence nearby closing in fast.\n\nAkira walked to the man and he placed the katana on his back again.\n\nThe man stomped his foot and then screamed as a huge bolt of lightning erupted from his hand and sped towards Akira.\n\nEven while being 30 feet from him, Akira effortlessly deflected it. The bolt raced into the sky, illuminating the world around as daylight for a split second.\n\n\"Your weak. Want to see what real power feels like?\"Akira held his hand up and Dark Lightning flickered around his palms and travelled around his body. \n\nThe man sunk to his knees, the level of control this man had over Darkness was far greater than anything he had ever seen. Darkness and Light were extremely rare elements but were the most powerful and hard to control. \n\nAkira reached out towards the man and snapped his finger, the Dark Lightning disappeared, but the man knew he had just aimed and released it.\n\nHe felt the buzzing a split second before the Dark Lightning catapulted him into the air and electrified him. He fell with a thud and crumbled into a heap, smoking.\n\nAkira turned to leave just as a Fire Dagger landed at his feet. \n\n\"Stop there, criminal.\" This voice was feminine.\n\n\"Your partner attacked me first. I was just walking home\" Akira knew this wasnt going to work. He just wanted to see her reaction. He turned around and looked on top of this building. \n\n\"That man is my brother, and your going to pay for hurting him!\"\n\nShe leaped off the building, somersaulting and throwing more Fire Daggers, which Akira easily swatted away. \n\nJust before she landed the girl reached behind her and pulled a stick out from a compartment on her spine, and she enveloped the stick with Fire, and created something like a Fire Claymore.\n\nSlamming the fiery weapon down at the last second. She realised she had missed him, as Akira simply side stepped and grabbed the girls helmet. She wore the same heavily armored yet simply tight armor that the man did. Akira smirked a little as the girl tried to pry herself from his grasp. \"Stronger creatures than you have failed, brat.\" He said.\n\n\n\"Yea but were any of them me?\" She said sarcastically and swiped with her fire sword, cutting Akira's left hand off without even so much as any weight change. The wound cauterized instantly too.\n\nAkira stepped back in mild bemusement as his lifeless arm fell to the ground. The visor on her helmet was cracked and Akira could see her eyes as holes started to create in the visor.\n\n\"That was pretty smart actually. I wasnt expecting such a clean burn.\" Akira still spoke softly and with no pain in his voice.\n\n\n\"Your armless, why are you still speaking so nonchalantly?\" The girl asked, with scrutiny. \n\nAkira grinned, as he held up what should've been his nub, but there was another arm growing, already formed and muscular. She watched as the skin formed around it.\n\n\"What the...\" the girl was in disbelief. \"Only demons have the ability like that... how do you-\"\n\n\"That's because I am a demon. Well... half demon. Being a monster has its perks you know.\n\n\"Well no matter, I will slay you like my ancestors did during the 'great war'! The girl settled into her stance, holding the Fire Claymore horizontally and at chest level, blade facing away from the opponent. Akira grinned even harder, he recognized that style even faster than the man's. \n\n\"Do you know how I know that style!?\" Akira laughed as he grabbed his face with his newly formed left hand. \"I created it along with the style your brother bastardized!\" Akira began breathing heavily as if calming himself down.\n\n\"This style is passed down for generations, you are a demon. How could a demon have created this intricate style?\" The girl laughed.\n\n\"You wont hit me with any attack...\" Akira said as he stopped grinning and turned halfway.\n\n\nFor 30 minutes, the girl tried everything to hit Akira with various swings, jabs, cuts, stabs. But true to his word, not one attack landed.\n\nTired and breathless, the girl sank to her knees.\n\n\"Now do you understand?\" Akira said as he created Darkness in his right hand. He raised his elbow up and was about to thrust it into the girl when suddenly a Chinese Dao sword impaled itself in Akira's chest.\n\nCoughing up blood he turned around to see a woman wearing a simple outfit. Elegant yet sleek. She did not wear armored parts though.\n\nThe silent woman chopped Akira in the throat and then broke his neck. She grabbed the hilt of the sword and then kicked him off the blade. He crumbled into a heap.\n\n\"Thank you, your a life saver, literally.\" The girl said, as the other silent woman helped her up.\n\n \"Your helmet is broken. That isnt good\" she spoke quietly and then helped the man up, who was still surprisingly alive. \n\nAkira groaned and spat up more blood as the wounds he sustained healed. 'Damn' he thought. 'Thousands of years of sleep have made me so weak...'\n\n\"You should take the helmet off, mistress Isabella.\" The silent woman gently caressed the other girl by the neck and pulled the broken helmet off of her neck.\n\nAkira gasped in shock. There, over 4,000 years later.... stood a literal reincarnation of Isabella. His adopted daughter. The same wavy Auburn hair, and green eyes. \n\nAkira stood up as a helicopter began thumping in the distance. He ripped off the hood and sun glasses he was wearing to obscure his identity and stood in shock that he did nothing as they boarded the helicopter and flew away. Isabella glared at him, but slowly that glare of hatred, changed to a quizzical look that seemed like she was trying to remember something, until she could no longer see his face.\n\nShe would dream about him for several weeks, but mostly all she would remember is his eyes. How he had bright, icy blue eyes that glowed in the dark...", "So... Mr Gibson. I'm Lt Davis. I'm sorry we had to detain you.\n\nHello, Lt. Davis. Are these handcuffs really necessary? It's a locked interrogation room.\n\nSorry, I have to follow procedure. Like looking at your file. Pretty colorful stuff here, Mr. Gibson. Or can I call you Tony?\n\nTony, that's fine. Or Mr. Gibson. Look, I'm really not sure why I'm here.\n\nYeah, the boys and I had a bet that would be the first thing you said. A lot of money was wagered. Lotta money. I'm not gonna tell you which side I came down on, but it was one of the more heated arguements we've had in my twenty-five years on the force.\n\nIs that.. good?\n\nGood? (laughs) Well, you tell me. You look like a normal enough guy. No priors. Wife. Employed. Happy, it would seem. You got kids?\n\nWe're... you know, working on it.\n\nRight, right. Yeah, about that. It doesn't really square away with your behavior earlier this evening. Now, the arresting officer found you outside of the home of one Ms. Irene Watt.\n\nYes, I have been following her with great interest.\n\nYeah, that's why you got arrested.\n\nI know it looks bad, but whatever you got in that file there, you're missing a key piece of information.\n\nOh? (clicks ballpoint pen) OK, I figured there had to be a reason a happily married man would be hiding outside the window of the woman who works the front desk at the fertility clinic. Please, whenever you're ready. (double clicks pen)\n\nYou see, Lt. Davis, I'm an immortal shape shifter.\n\nYou don't say? (jots down notes)\n\nTo honor a woman I knew centuries ago, I have secretly watched over her descendants.\n\nI see. You watched over some strangers.\n\nThat's right.\n\nUntil you were caught.\n\nI mean, they don't know me. How could they? Me and their descendants from pre-Biblical days go way back. How do you catch them up on such a story? I mean, who has that much time? But you have to admit, the legends about me, they grew within her family.\n\nThey saw you in the bushes five nights in a row. That's not so much a legend as it is tresspassing, and a possible sex crime given the other things you've been saying.\n\nYes, but I recently learned the truth thanks to all of this.\n\nAnd that is...?\n\nTurns out I had the wrong Irene Watt. There's another one in Westchester. Can I get a lift over there?\n\nWell, it's out of my jurisdiction, so ok. Just don't come back or anything, or I'll shoot you in the leg.\n\nDeal!\n\n(fade to black)", "She was sitting alone at the bar. There was a cloudy beer mug next to her hand, nearly full. She had only touched it once after ordering it.\n\nIt'd been an hour. \n\nI watched her quietly as I sat at my own table near the back of the room. My wine glass was empty and the sandwich I had ordered was a mess of crumbs. Sometimes I'd catch her eyes flicker in my direction but I'd tell myself that it was a mere coincidence. I was just being paranoid.\n\nShe couldn't possibly know. She couldn't. It was impossible. I was in a different form than the one I was yesterday, or during the day before, or the day before that. Today, I was wearing a male's skin. He was pale with dark hair and brown eyes. His shirt was a white button-up and he was wearing jeans. It was simple. Simple enough to be forgettable. \n\nThe waitress who was serving me came to refill my glass. Before I could interrupt her, my glass was already filled and she was walking away. I decided to stay awhile longer. It gives me more time with her, I thought. Jane. She was Helen's great-great-granddaughter. She was hunched over in her seat and there were dark circles under her eyes. I hated to see her like that.\n\nBut that's what divorce will do to you, I frowned to myself. I took a sip of the wine and swallowed it. She should've known better than to marry that jerk of a guy...what was his name? Adam? No. It was something more common.\n\nJason.\n\nYeah. That's the name. I hope he rots in hell.\n\nJane's eyes glanced over at me again. But this time instead of hovering around my table, her blue eyes met mine. I felt a jolt run through me. She knows, I thought numbly as she got up from the bar and stepped to my table. I don't know how, but she knows.\n\nShe pulled out a seat at my table and sat across from me. Her eyes were narrowed and her lips were pressed. I knew that expression. I'd seen her wear it on her face since she was a child, upset that her mother caught her stealing candy from the cupboard. \n\n\"I want you to stop,\" she declared at once. Her voice was low.\n\n\"Stop, what?\" I asked.\n\n\"Staring. Watching.\" She waved her hands in the air around her. \"Doing whatever you've been doing the last hour. It needs to stop. Now. Okay? I don't need this shit right now. My day's been bad enough as it is.\"\n\n\"I know,\" I said softly. She had spent most of her day in the courtroom. And losing. Jason was getting the house, the cars, and most of the money.\n\n\"Know, what?\" She snapped. \"What could you possibly know from watching me?\"\n\n\"I know a lot of things, Jane.\" I took a sip of my wine. \"I'm a shapeshifter that's been with your family for centuries. I knew your great-great-grandmother, Helen. Amazing woman. I was the one who helped her write her book. Over her deathbed, she asked me to protect her family for as long as I live. So I have.\"\n\nJane smiled thinly. \"Nice joke. The next time I catch you watching me, I'm calling the cops.\" \n\n\"Of course,\" I said in almost a whisper. If only she knew all the times I'd helped her. All the times I've saved her. I was the stranger that moved her from the car's wheels and the man that recovered her purse when it was stolen from her shoulder.\n\nShe went to walk away but then stopped. For a moment, she hesitated to move or speak. \"No,\" she muttered to herself. Jane then sat back down. \"I know who you really are.\"\n\nI nearly choked on my wine. \"Excuse me?\"\n\n\"Maybe it's because I'm in a horrible place right now and my mind's been going to crazy places recently, but I can't leave without asking. My grandma always said we have a guardian angel that watches the family. I never believed her...but are you one?\" Guardian angel? I nearly laughed. Angels didn't exist. Jane studied me for a second and then frowned. \"You're a bit run-down for an angel, you know that?\"\n\n\"I'm not an angel,\" I told her. But you're not entirely wrong, either.\n\nShe held out a hand. I stared at her palm with a raised brow. \"I need money.\"\n\n\"I'm not an angel nor am I goddamn genie. I'm just as I told you before, a shapeshifter. I can't do anything that you can't. Like grant wishes.\" \n\n\"That's stupid.\" Jane pressed her lips together. \"So you can only transform into people?\"\n\n\"Or animals. Basically anything living.\" I shrugged. I went to drink from my wine but it was empty.\n\n\"What's the point, then?\" Jane asked.\n\nI hesitated. What was the point? Was there ever a point? The only purpose I ever had was to protect Helen's family. Before that, I was a lost soul. Floating aimlessly... \n\n\"I guess it'd be to protect you.\"", " Desdemona was an extraordinary woman. She was graceful and sweet. She pitied me as I lay in a pool of my own bile,after a night of drowning my sorrows in liquor, desperately doing anything I could to forget my own pathetic and far too long existence. Despite my frightening form, she carried me, cooing gently, not minding in the slightest as my refuse got onto her clothes and hair. All she saw was a desperately sick wolf and her heart told her to heal it, nevermind the consequences. \n\n Desdemona cleaned me up, and lay me down in her only bed to sleep off the wretched hangover that was already beginning to pound inside my head. I awoke that evening to see her sewing in the light of the fire, humming a gentle lullaby. I cupped my head in my hand and watched her for a moment. She stopped and looked up, her smile reaching her eyes, glittering like stars. \"Aw, sweet thing, you're awake.\" To her absolute terror, I changed shape. I shifted from a wolf, into a human female. She leapt from her seat near the fire and dove towards the sword tucked away, hidden amongst the firewood. \n\n \"Stay away, you...you monster!\"\n\n I spoke, quickly, raising my hands, trying to show her that I was friendly. \"Desdemona. Yes, I know your name.\" She slowly lowered the sword and glared at me, clutching her belly tightly. \"I know many things. This is both a blessing and a curse. You have extended a great kindness to me. Many would simply leave a stranger lying in the dirt, to rot in their own filth, much less a horrific beast, but you, you cleaned me and washed me. For this, I will grant you one wish. What will this be?\" \n\n I looked around me and guessed that she would wish for wealth. I knew that she was expecting a new baby and that her baby was the result of a prince's errant eye. There was no doubt in my mind that she would wish that she would be whisked away to the palace and taken care for the rest of her days. \n\n Desdemona looked at me evenly and after a deep, measured breath, she whispered, \"Protection. I wish for protection for myself and my heirs. No matter what harm befalls them, that you are there to help them.\"\n\n This shocks me. For once in my very long life, I am surprised. I nod mutely, and with that, leave. For the rest of her days, I honor her wish. I was Desdemona's silent protector. When the prince's wife found out of her husband's bastard and sent an assassin, Desdemona knew not of her danger. For the past three thousand years, I have protected Desdemona's bloodline. \n\n However, just this past weekend, I saved Desdemona's great-grandson from a home invasion. He was most certainly going to die. I was patrolling his neighborhood as a tabby cat and when I heard the crash and gunshot, I had no choice but to immediately investigate. When I got closer, I saw him on the ground, bleeding and the men getting away. Without thinking, I killed them, and turned into my human form so I could administer first aid to Desdemona's great-grandson. Thankfully, he's going to be okay. \n\n His five year old daughter saw me change and I think she's going to tell her mom. I don't know how to keep my secret anymore. If she tells my secret, my magic will disappear and I will be unable to keep my promise to Desdemona. My ancestor's will not allow me to enter our after life as I have duties left unfulfilled.", "\"Yeah...pretty sure that's not real,\" Elle muses. She sips obnoxiously from the dregs of her milkshake, not quite taking her eyes from her cousin, Benji. Brushes hair out of her face, folds her arms. \"But nice try, though.\"\n\nBenji twirls the fringes of his worn sweatshirt around two fingers, an old habit. The rims of his eyes red. \"I'm telling you, man. Makes a lot of sense.\" \n\n\"Dude. No it does not.\"\n\n\"Doesn't it, though?\" Benji leans toward her, lowers his voice. Not that anyone in the diner would be listening to them anyway. \"Think about it--we've had a lot of weird shit happen in this family.\"\n\n\"Like what? Name one thing.\"\n\nBenji holds up a finger. \"Great great grandpa. Loses an arm in the war. Whole platoon ripped to shreds. He survives when a runaway jeep without a driver speeds by him and runs out of gas back at camp.\"\n\n\"That's probably not even tru--\"\n\n\"1974. Great Uncle Richie's shrimping boat overturns in a storm. The whole crew's dumped into freezing water, and a single humpback whale carries all of them to safety.\" Benji raises a second finger. With his other hand he deposits too many greasy fries into his mouth. Chews loudly. A fly buzzes around the scraps of his burger.\n\n\"I thought everybody agreed Uncle Richie's nuts.\"\n\n\"They do.\" Benji swallows. \"But he's not the only one who tells that story. The whole crew survived, and they all say they rode on the humpback's back.\" Benji leans back. Raises a third finger. \"1700s. Loo-Ellen Faber--who is your namesake, might I remind you--hears a heavy scratching on her bedroom window--\"\n\n\"Not this one again--\"\n\n\"It's a bear, Elle. A damn bear is scratching at her window, not to get in, but to warn her and her husband that people are trying to steal from their flock.\"\n\n\"That's such a load, man.\" Elle shakes her head, swats at the fly as it buzzes near her. \"No way a bear's tapping on anybody's window to tell them anything. If there ever even was a bear--\"\n\n\"It was in her diary.\"\n\n\"If she wasn't just telling tales, and that's a big damn if\\--there is no way in any world that it was doing so to warn her of anything at all. The thing probably just smelled a couple thickset dinners heaped together in that bed and thought it'd try to take the short way in through the window.\"\n\n\"Maybe,\" Benji allows, nodding. \"But that's not what happened, is it? Come on, is it?\"\n\nA sigh. \"No.\"\n\n\"What happened, Elle?\"\n\nAt first she doesn't respond. Then mutters, \"They noticed the thieves and stopped them--\"\n\n\"They noticed the thieves and stopped them, right.\" Benji shrugs, as if he's actually made his point. \"So I've just given you three--not one, mind you, but three separate instances--of weird, weird shit that's happened in our family tree. And you could say it's just the oddest luck ever, but I choose to believe my story instead.\"\n\nElle raises an eyebrow. \"Your story.\"\n\n\"My story, yes.\"\n\n\"Your story...which involves...a magical, shapeshifting, immortal guardian angel who's been watching over every person in our family for over a thousand years. A story which you came across, while reading the oldest-ass children's stories written by some ancestor from a billion years ago.\"\n\n\"Three hundred-ish years, but yeah. And back then, they weren't really children's stories. Just stories. And people called old Uncle Adderbury a lunatic, too, but his stories were very detailed.\"\n\n\"All lunatics are detailed in their lunacies, Benji.\" She gestures to him. \"Exhibit A.\" The fly lands on her hand, and she shakes it off. \n\n\"You're just salty because you don't like believing in supernatural things.\"\n\n\"Yeah, because I grew up. Why didn't you?\"\n\n\"Growing up just means you have to work a little harder to believe the unbelievable. But you're not a lost cause, Elle. I'm telling you now--there's a mystery worth solving here.\"\n\n\"Not interes--shit!\" She swats at the spot behind her ear, just missing the fly where it bit her. A spot of blood on her hand. \"Is that thing a horse fly, or what?\"\n\nStifling a laugh, Benji crumples up a wad of napkins. Swipes at the fly, but can't quite hit it. \"Don't worry, Cuz. I'll protect you.\"\n\n\"You will not.\" \n\nBoth cousins freeze. Four eyes meet and narrow as a silent conversation passes between them. Was that you? Hell no, my voice isn't that deep. Was it the waiter? He's nowhere to be seen. Am I going crazy? Yes, but if you are, I am too.\n\nThen the deep voice speaks again. \"If you stay here, that is.\"\n\nBenji and Elle turn, slowly, toward the source, now located. It's next to them, near the window, on the table itself. The fly, no longer buzzing, not stirring. Watching them. Watching them both.\n\n\"Okay, what the hell...\" Elle says, inching away from the fly.\n\n\"Believe me now?\" Benji's voice shakes.\n\n\"I believe I'm losing my mind.\"\n\n\"You're not losing your mind, dear, anymore than normal. But I have been trying to warn you for the last twenty minutes...\"\n\nAnd then a popping sound, and a thickly set man is sitting next to Benji in the booth. A yelp erupts from Benji's chest. Elle grabs a knife, and both cousins stand, facing the stranger.\n\nThe man puts up a hand. \"Ah--hold on. Your car's been double parked for two hours. It's getting towed.\"", "Grimlow worried a lot. He didn't mind it that much. To worry meant he had a reason to hope - something to lose, something to gain. \n\nWhat was often infuriating about that worry, though, was that it usually centered around a certain family. Oh no, he liked caring for them... he liked watching over them, seeking them out, even worrying about them on spare occasion. He knew that stress was the gateway to growth, for him as a shapeshifter and them as descendants of the first Bright. They had faced many challenges together. There had been the reaper, who two children had fought for hours to no end, until their wands had suddenly been able to sift through more energy for the final blow. There had been monsters and maladies, many of which both shifter and descendants indulged in trying against, although the shifter much preferred to work in the background, providing subtle, lifesaving aid. \n\nAnd yet now. \n\nOld scrolls and books. A secret passageway. Why, he wondered, had he never thought to destroy the place? It was so obvious, even the youngest kid had managed to figure it out. Just pull on the book that looked the least old, in the basement of the oldest building, and then the bookshelf would shift, revealing a passage that spanned centuries of information. \n\nIt was the fifth week now. Too late, he thought wryly, both to realize and to do much.\n\nKim hadn't told anyone, perhaps indulging in being the only one with access to such an escape. And yet Grimlow knew it wouldn't be long. He'd hidden some great things down there, great treasures worth much, but most important was information. About him. About the world as it had been before. And about her, and the origin of all these Brights.\n\nKim was a voracious reader... Grimlow started to worry. He scratched, agitated, at his ear. Yet the sound drew pause from the boy bent over a candle and nearly decayed parchment.\n\nThe wand flickered with light. Grimlow slipped away into the shadows in time, but Kim had heard or sensed something. He stood up, scanning rows of information with keen, questioning eyes. \n\n\"Hello? Is anyone there?\"\n\nSilence. Grimlow worried now more than ever. \n\n\"Hello?\" The boy seemed to pause for a moment, as if in contemplation. \"Uncle... Uncle Grim.\"\n\nBut his eyes were fixed on the parchment, reading unfamiliar words off of it. Then he bent back over it, muttering. Things about Uncle Grim the protector, the past, the calamities. And finally, Uncle Grim the ever present cat. \n\nGrimlow tried not to let his startlement show. This... was bound to happen. Gradually, he drew himself up, out of the ashes, and mewed. \n\nThe boy was scared literally shitless. Ever patient, Grimlow waited until he finally managed, \"W-who? How?\"\n\n\"I suppose you have heard,\" Grimlow said, \"or rather, read by now, of the Manifestation of the Brights. And the great treaties and war bonds that occurred with the conflict.\"\n\nThe boy didn't speak. \n\n\"If you haven't after five weeks, then I would be disappointed. Your great ancestor Bella was always pestering me for more information.\"\n\n\"Y-you. Shapeshifter?\"\n\n\"I am your Uncle Grim, yes. Your unbeknownst secret guardian. And you are the current source of my troubles.\"\n\nWith that, he leapt down to the floor before the boy, but a flash midair rendered him standing on two legs. \"I must apologize, though,\" he said. \"I never expected to have to introduce myself so abruptly.\"" ]	7
	[WP] The only "Earth food" restaurant in lightyears only serves french fries, potato chips & other varieties fried potato	[ "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.", "\"Dad! Can we not go to Chippy?\" Jessica groaned when John announced their dinner plans for the night. \n\n\"The food sucks, and it takes us hours to get there!\"\n\n\"Yeah dad, why can't we just visit Zez instead?\" Jake chimed in.\n\nJohn sighed. He did not disagree with both his children's sentiments, but he was missing a taste home. If Lucy was still around, she would have a way of convincing them.\n\n\"Come on kids, either you follow me for dinner, or you could stay at home,\" John said as he grabbed his jacket. He stood at the door, waiting for Jessica and Jake to come running after him.\n\n\"Nah, I'm good,\" Jessica announced.\n\n\"Me too. Bye dad!\" Jake added. And they both turned their attention back to their phones.\n\nJohn exhaled. No point trying to convince the both of them. After all, they never really knew Earth. Besides, potatoes were the furthest thing from what John would call Earth food. He grew up eating laksa, briyani, mala, curry and a whole assortment of other food not made from potatoes. But when all the planets in the nearby systems could not support any other earth plants aside from potatoes, he did not really have a choice.\n\n“When are you going to call me back,” he muttered to himself as he stepped into his transport.\n\n+++++\n\nThe door gave a little ring as he stepped into the shop. The purple Xeno from behind the counter, Tralls, waved one of his tentacles at John. Even though the place was called Chippy’s Earth Food, John was the only human around.\n\n“Earth John! Hello! Back for your usual?” \n\nJohn nodded and walked up to the nearest empty seat next to the counter. The restaurant was empty as usual, despite the bustling street outside. Only three other customers were around. Not surprising when you only serve one item on the menu.\n\n“Say Trall, did you consider my idea previously about bringing other earth food to the menu?” John asked.\n\nTrall raised all of his eyes at John. “Oh Earth John, I thought I talk this before! Expensive! With war going on, hard to trade! Plus nearest planet with earth food so, so far away!”\n\n“But here, try my latest creation, fried whole potato!” Trall happily placed a large round potato in John’s plate, fried to a crispy brown, next to his usual order of fries and chips.\n\nJohn took a bite out of it and almost spat it out. “Trall, the inside is not cooked enough!”\n\nTrall immediately scooped the potato away from John. \n\n“Ah humans, you taste are all so weird,” the alien said, before swallowing the entire potato whole. “Yummm. Earth John, you must show me other earth food next time, okay? After all this big fight over.”\n\n“Yeah, yeah, I will. I hope.” John stared out of the window. Things are still peaceful in their quadrant, but who knows how long the peace will last. He was sent here for one reason and despite knowing how important his mission was, he cannot help but to crave for some familiar food. After all, it reminded him of Lucy.\n\nJohn turned back to his alien friend of his. “Hey Trall, tell me, if I am to help you procure raw earth ingredients, would you be interested to cook more earth food?”\n\nThe Xeno glowed bright pink. “Oh yes, of course Earth John! But how you going to do it?”\n\nJohn took the last bite of his chip. If only there was a fish to go with it. “I’ll think of something.”\n\nA long time back on Earth, there was a saying that food is the key to a man’s heart. Perhaps it would be the key to peace too.\n\n/r/dori_tales" ]	2
give me your best shots! This is my first post on here and reddit as a whole	[WP] You are the advisor for satan in a hell with a failing economy and overpopulation.	[ "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 if we... improve worker's rights?\"\n\nHe propped his feet up on an ottoman. \"Nope. Try again.\"\n\nI folded my fingers together. \"What if we just... improve minimum wage?\"\n\nHe rolled his eyes and made a rolling motion with his hand.\n\n\"What if we...\" I cringed. \"What if we lower taxes so that people can put more money back into the economy?\" I smiled with furrowed brows.\n\nHe laughed and picked up a slice of a decadent cake, made with multiple careful layers. He shook his head as he took a bite.\n\n\"What if... we put money toward programs that will encourage people to work and pay taxes that will repay our investments?\"\n\nHe laughed, a few cake crumbs flying through the air. \"Come up with something new.\"\n\n\"What if...\" I sat on the couch, folding and releasing my fingers as I thought. \"What if... Hold on... why does Hell have an economy?\"\n\nHe shrugged. \"You tell me, smart kid.\" He took another bite.\n\nI frowned. \"It doesn't... Does it? Why would a supernatural plane of existence need an economy?\"\n\nHe shrugged. \"You tell me, Advisor. How did you work in life?\"\n\nI titled my head, focused on the ceiling. \"Uh, well, I made a lot of money, but...\"\n\nHe took another bite. \"Doing what?\"\n\n\"Financial advice.\"\n\n\"And how did the economy fit into your advice?\"\n\nI shrugged. \"I guess it kinda didn't.\"\n\nAnother tiny bite, slowly sliced away and cleaned from the fork. \"And why is that?\"\n\n\"Well, it didn't matter because...\"\n\n\"Because...\" He smiled, running the fork upside down through his mouth.\n\n\"Well, because... I was taking it anyway.\"\n\nHe grinned. \"Taking it? From who?\"\n\nI frowned. \"Oh.\" I looked down at my lap. \"There is no economy to fix.\"\n\nHe chuckled. \"There's an economy, but...\"\n\n\"You've just been messing with me.\"\n\n\"That would be wrong.\" He pursed his lips. \"Almost as wrong as the fund running out of money for treating juvenile cancer.\" He smiled, standing and walking away.\n\n\"I'm not really your advisor.\"\n\nHe paused mid-stride. \"I'll take your suggestions under advisement.\" He turned half-way toward me. \"But tell me. How would you really solve it?\"\n\nI frowned, focusing my sight on the wall. \"I would take the money that is still there, and... I don't know... spend it on a new car. Then I'd move onto the next thing.\" My head dropped, I buried it in my hands.\n\n\"Love it. I think I'll do that one.\" He laughed as he moved toward the door again. \"See? You are my advisor.\"", "\"It was a breadloaf!\" I screamed into the empty void. \"A literal loaf of bread. For a starving person. I swear I could not make a cliche this damn bad up!“\n\nSeveral minutes passed until a voice thundered back through the void. \"YOU KNOW THE RULES JULIUS. ONE SIN IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER. YOUR MORTAL WHIMS WILL NOT CHANGE THE PATHS TIME HAS CARVED THROUGH THE MILLENNIA.\" \n\nI sighed. Satan, despite his fearsome reputation, was an absolute stickler for the rules. \n\n\"Yes, and where exactly do the rules lay out the protocol for overpopulation?“ I asked. Satan stalked out of the shadows, staring me down. “YOUR TONE IS DISRESPECTFUL.\"\n\nUnbelievably, after years in his employ, I still wasn't used to the burning pits that were his eyes. Looking in to them literally felt like your blood was curdling. I cleared my throat. \"Listen, Lucifer, I understand the rules. I also know that the rules were drawn up eons ago. Stealing a loaf of bread is not akin to child slavery and you know it.\"\n\nThe vast burning pits blazed. \"HE GAVE IN TO TEMPTATION.\" I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled slowly. \"Look, Lucifer. We've had this conversation a hundred times. Make that thousands of times. Even if we were to put aside the obvious ethical issues here, you have to see the writing's on the wall. We're stretched so thin that the military dictator wing has gone 3 days without torture. Not to mention the fact that I walked past the the white collar crime section and someone was whistling. Whistling Lucifer. In your hell.\"\n\n\"SO YOU WANT THE HEATHEN THAT STOLE THE BREAD TO GO TO HEAVEN? IS THAT IT?“\n\n“What I want is for us to stop letting people in on a technicality.\" I said. \"We only scan until we find the first sin that hasn't been expunged through forgiveness, without balancing the other aspects of the person's life. I was going through the bread thief's files and he also fostered several dogs. The guy spent his time collecting stamps before falling on hard times and resorting to stealing. Do you really think a stamp collecting dog lover deserves an eternity in a boiling pit of lava?“\n\n\"IT'S ONLY THE SECOND CIRCLE OF HELL, JULIUS.\" Satan sounded defensive. As if the second circle of hell wasn't filled with agony and terror and was rather a mediocre 3 star hotel in a small town. \n\n“I'm not asking for automatic pardons Lucifer. I'm simply talking about a more rigorous admission process. I know you don't like to... y'know... 'interface' with the the big G, but he submitted his proposal three centuries ago and we still haven't gotten back to him. Meanwhile the skin flayers are still on strike.\"\n\nSatan sighed and took a seat on his vast metal throne. His shoulders slumped and the ruler of hell - the most fearsome creature in all of existence - looked...tired. \"A MORE RIGOROUS ADMISSIONS PROCESS YOU SAY?\" I nodded slowly. \n\n\"SEND A MEMO UPSTAIRS JULIUS. TELL THEM I'M WILLING TO TALK REINCARNATION.\"" ]	3
	[WP] Vampires die to stakes right? WRONG! Dracula the first vampire was allergic to steak and passed this on to all vampires. Over the years this fact got lost in translation. Due to this misconception modern vampires have been allowed to thrive under the name of Vegans but you now know the truth.	[ "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\nNaturally with the supernatural, well things get blurred and distorted. Things we think are real and true are often completely misrepresented. Hell just look at God, man that dude was nothing but a fucking illusionist. People still believe his shit to this day. Turning water into wine. Fuck, hell, I can do that it’s not exactly rocket science. Take Vodka in a barrel hook a pipe through my sleeve, add some red food colouring, and after the first fucking glass nobody is going to say that wine was dodge as fuck.\n\nVamps are the same. It’s not a wooden stake that is mortally wounding to them That’s just a fucking PR job. No it’s fucking Grade A Swiss beef steak from a Simmental cow. I’ve got their number, these fucking vamps.\n\nVegans.\n\nThat’s them in disguise, and I know how to fucking kill ‘em. They reckon they are covered under this false pre-tense about not eating meat and only eating vegetables. \n\nI say this. You ever fucking seen a vegan eat? Nope? No neither have I. Vamps that’s what they are.\n\nBut fuck ‘em. I got a great idea.\n\nYou know that hot dog eating contest? You know the one, Nathans isn’t it? Yeah, yeah that’s it bro fucking Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.\n\nWell what we do is right. We do a vegan hamburger eating contest. But instead of that fucking shit that looks like meat. We use that prime fucking Simmental beef steak. We hype it up so much that the vamps will feel compelled to enter and show that “Vegans” are fucking real.\n\nAnd, and that’s when we can watch them die to fuck.\n\nWe can watch them pretend to eat that shit but as soon as it enters their mouths BBOOOOMM!!!!!! Anaphylactic shock…… \n\nWe’ll get ‘em bub don’t you worry. You just stick with me and we’ll fuck up ‘em vegan vampires just you wait.", "Scrolling through Facebook, I saw my cousin's reposts of the PETA news articles about the gruesome slaughter of pigs and boycotts of fur wearing celebrities in a new light. The gruesome pictures of dead animals had always made me queasy. Seeing these posts now, I couldn't help remembering the glimpse I had caught of her quickly wiping away a liquid that I couldn't quite convince myself was not blood at Thanksgiving dinner. Sure, it made sense for her to bring her Tofurky, but since when did vegans need to bring their own drinks in opaque containers?\n\nCould the self-righteous and judgemental attitudes of vegans really be hiding a unquenchable thirst for blood? Was the crusade for animal rights truly a front to hide the activits' own gory secret activities? Were the animals' status being elevated in order to make human consumption more palpable? It certainly made me reconsider her recent invitation to have me over for dinner." ]	3
	[WP] The experiment waits in a rotting lab, dreaming of the day when their creator will return to make them complete.	[ "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.", "In the corner of a room sat squarely in the middle of a table sat a lonely machine gathering dust. A simple metal chassis formed a vaguely humanoid shape cut off at the waist, the machine was grafted onto the wall, left behind. Various tools were scattered around the floor from previous attempts of freedom.\n\nThe rest of the room suffered significant deterioration. Metal chairs had rusted over, papers and books torn and practically melted away. A small hole in the ceiling let in the faintest hint of sunlight.\n\nThe machine sat in the shade, always wondering where the light came from. What was outside? Was the doctor out there? Of course she was, she is out there and on her way back. At least, that is the machine told itself. Someday it's creator would return.\n\nThe machine had no need of a name and never bothered to imagine one. The numbers on its side simply read G179. That was hardly a name for a wonderful creation such as it.\n\nThere was no question that the machine was the pinnacle of invention; it had lasted this long. The amount of time and effort spent on creating it was immeasurable. Only the best receive the care and attention that was given to the machine. And there was no reason why no one had come back to continue their work, so where were they? Surely, they would be back soon.\n\nSo much time had passed since the good doctor left. She had left in such a hurry she hadn't taken the time to say goodbye. All of her colleagues had left as well, possibly for the same reason. This didn't bother the machine, it would see them again soon enough.\n\nThe lights overhead flickered casting the room into brief moments of darkness. The power was running out and the machine knew it. The doctor had always taken care of everything. When she gets back, she'll fix everything.\n\nFew tools remained on the table in front of the machine, many had been dropped in its attempt to play with them to pass the time. It picked up its favourite screwdriver and began twirling it around its fingers. These simple games had kept him happy all these years. Had it been years? The machine couldn't tell, he wasn't complete yet. When he was complete, he would be able to do so much more than wiggle its four fingers.\n\nHow long had it been? It felt like mere moments ago the doctor left, yet so distant the machine barely clung to its memories. The time didn't matter, not to the machine. As long as the doctor was coming back.\n\nThe lights flickered again, a warning of things to come. When the light returned the machine saw a chipmunk enter the room through the hole in the ceiling. The small critter joined the machine periodically and proved to be the best companion he had, short of the doctor.\n\nThe machine knew no names and did not know what this creature was exactly, but the company was welcome. It could not speak so they sat quietly together in the cold room. There was nothing to say anyway.\n\nThe lights shut off completely, bathing the room in shadows. Small red lights flickered on in the corners of the room. The power was nearly gone.\n\nThe machine put down its tool and reached out to the small rodent next to it and picked it up. The chipmunk did not struggle, this had been done countless times. The machine gently placed it on its shoulder where enough moss and dirt had coalesced to prove comfortable.\n\nIn the red light, the sunshine from the hole in the ceiling seemed brighter than ever. When it was completed, the machine would spend all day under the sun every day. This small room had served as its home for so long, but nothing would be sweeter than the new frontier beyond this room.\n\nThe red lights had never come on before. The machine did not know what to do even though it knew it could do nothing. The doctor could do something. She'll be back in time to get the power back, then she will finally complete the machine.\n\nRain began to fall through the hole, making the soil of the floor damp and slick. It seemed the chipmunk had been seeking shelter rather than companionship. The machine didn't mind, his friends will return soon enough.\n\nThe red lights began to flash steadily. Time was almost up. The machine grabbed its screwdriver again and continued to fiddle with it. The flashes of the lights began to speed up. Then it all went dark.\n\nThe machine, having never felt anything in all its years, felt cold. Something had been taken from it and would never be returned. But the doctor could fix it, just like she always had.\n\nThe machine aimed its head towards the door and froze, locked in place, waiting forevermore. The small screwdriver slipped between its fingers and clattered to the floor. The small chipmunk on its shoulder nestled further into the shoulder of its patient companion." ]	2
	[WP]The year is unknown (and up to the reader to guess), Time travel has just been invented and people will go through just about anything to harness its power. You are in the midst of the shady underworld race to harness this power.	[ "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.", "Hey everyone! I’m brand new to Reddit, this is my first posted short story attempt. This story does contain adult language and themes. I am trying to get back into writing again, please feel free to critique! Thank you! \n\n- - - \n\n“Damn it Scott, I told you we aren’t ready for phase 4 yet.” \n\nI pinch the bridge of my nose under my wireframe glasses to stifle the headache I can already feel nudging its way through my frontal lobe. \n\nA smoking mass of flesh with sprouts of thin brown hair bubbles on the concrete, oozing liquified fat into the cracks on the floor. The chunks of shrapnel embedded in the skin make me shiver. The amount looks smaller than average, and I wonder where the rest of him has gone.\n\nThe lights in the control room switch on and the gruesome scene in the next room is tucked away behind my reflection in the protective glass. I’d be lying if I said it was the worst thing I’ve seen coming into work, but it definitely makes my top ten.\n \n“You, get the bleach,” Scott snaps at a nearby associate I’ve never seen before, who scurries out of the room quickly. He rubs his bearded chin and casts a sideways glance at me through his smudged protective eyeglasses. \n\n“Who the hell was that?” I ask Scott, squinting to get a better look into the next room where several guys are lobbing chunks of that unfortunate guy into plastic buckets. \n\n“Homeless,” he says and shrugs me off, ripping up the hefty check he had written out to the puddle. He sits at the desk to input more codes and sips some lukewarm coffee from his WORLD’S BEST UNCLE mug. \n\nWe’ve been through 46 of them since this business started 8 months ago, and we aren’t any closer to our goal. Funding will be cut if we can’t fix this shit, and we have a very particular sponsor with high expectations and a higher body count. Nobody wants to purchase a time machine that sends their organs back to 1775 but leaves their empty corpse to rot on the floor in 2176. \n\nBut Scott already knows that, so I don’t need to remind him again. \n\nWe went into this business as partners, my entrepreneurial mind combined with his connections to the guys at Axis Labs smelled like success. \n\nNow Scotty’s got more grey hair than the guy on the floor has hair at all, and my nose is full of pungent black coffee and bleach. \n\n“How did those pricks at Axis manage to perfect this so soon?” I hang my jacket and pull up the chair beside Scott, rolling up my sleeves, “I thought you said they weren’t anything special. You went to school with the one that led the project, didn’t you? That Rachel woman?” \n\n“They weren’t working out of a warehouse in Brooklyn, Fletch. They have all the toys: molecular stabilizers, a nuclear core, titanium pods. We’re running our machines on rigged up car batteries and scrap metal for Christ’s sake. But we’re making progress.” \n\n“Toys and tools don’t matter. The execution matters. The math. We’ve been at this since college. The concept doesn’t change.” \n\nHe didn’t seem to be biting.\n\n“Where did that last guy go? Looks like there wasn’t much of him left.” I decide to change my tone before things get ugly again. \n\n“The data shows his liver went off to 2154 somewhere, but I can’t pinpoint its location. The rest of Mr. Santiago is scattered throughout the time stream—” \n\nI imagine a fresh pink liver plinking into a river somewhere, but the rest of the conversation is drowned out by the sound of screeching failure. \n\nI sigh and watch the guys outside scrubbing bloodstains off the floor, and a few more techs in coats milling around tweaking the machine. The tiny picture frame on my desk gleams in the corner of my eye and I think back.\n\nEven though we’re grasping at straws now and struggling to dispose of all the bodies without looking like a black market for bioweapons, Scott and I came so close to a breakthrough when we first started that it fueled it all. \n\nLaura was the first.\n\nShe was an engineer, and a programmer, convinced she could will machinery to do her bidding like some kind of fucked up god, but when the time came to run our first human trial, she hesitated. \n\n“Are you sure we should do this?” Scott asked her, pulling down his goggles, concern growing on his once clean-shaven face. \n\n“Don’t pussy out now, we’re so close,” I interjected. \n\nI could just barely see her eyes through the molecular stabilization helmet, but they flitted with worry. I’d never done us wrong, she knew she could trust me. This was our life’s work, but I knew we were running out of time. \n\nIt was too early to start signing on testers without an established return. \n\n“If anything happens, we’ll shut it down,” I reassured her quickly. But nothing would happen, we would get results. I knew it. \n\nShe nodded, and I withdrew back to the control room with Scott. We watched Laura’s stark white body suit disappear into the cockpit. The control panel glowed, signifying it was ready for input. \n\nScott carefully entered the agreed upon date and time; we were only sending her an hour back. She was too scared to go further. Laura had been there when the pigeons, toads, and stray cats all came back whole, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew animals are child’s play. Human physiology is a whole other ballgame. \n \n“I need to go out and check the transistor, signals are misfiring,” Scott mumbled and disappeared out the door. \n\nI lingered by the computer, tapping my blackened fingers on the edge of the counter. One hour wouldn’t make us headliners in the race. Axis was already sending people back decades. Now, a hundred years... that would change everything. \n\nI’d calculated the risks; boiled it down to the barest bones and traced every atom. \n\nWe could do it. \n\nWe would do it. \n\nToday we’d make history. \n\nI waited for Scott to give the thumbs up from behind the window, and quickly modified the input, set to 100 years prior. \n\n“Do you mind if I do the initialization?” I said to Scott as he stepped in the room. \n\n“I think Laura would appreciate that,” he said and took his seat beside me. My palms grew sweaty as I began. \n\nOne thing to know about time travel, it’s impossible to trace how long the traveler has gone. They return to their original timeline in the blink of an eye, or not at all. Or, as I’ve seen many times, in an altered... state. \n\nYou can’t ask a bird or a cat what its seen or how long its been gone. You can tell by the emaciated carcass and decaying teeth how long it’s been dead, but to send a human and have them return was something even I’d never witnessed.\n\nBut Laura returned. \n\nWe rushed to the pod and cracked it open, finding her sitting upright inside, perfectly intact, surrounded by a rainfall of sparks. \n\n“Laura,” I started, and grabbed her shoulders. But her shoulders were wedged in place. Her chest rose and fell, she was alive. \n\nBut when I leaned in for a closer inspection, the helmet had fused to her skull, which then fused to the inside of the pod. Her eyes were sunken in, and the melted face guard of the helmet had crawled into the open sockets. Her slackly open mouth cast a wet fog on the inside of the mouthguard. \n\nShe was alive. \n\n“Fletcher.” \n\nScott’s tired voice pulls me out of my reminiscence. \n\n“Yeah?” I answer. \n\nHe’s holding his mug, but all the coffee in New York couldn’t ease his dark circles. \n\nThe concrete on the other side now holds no trace of Mr. Santiago. An associate in a sterile coat brings in another pigeon and strapping it into a miniature pod. Without protective headgear.\n\n“The guys are stepping back to Phase 3, and I’m stepping out for coffee. You want anything?” \n\nBut I don’t answer. \n\nI glance at the portrait again. Framed in elegant gold, with a stark black background. This time, Scott catches my gaze. \n\nHis firm hand clasps on my shoulder, “she had your eyes.” \n\nThe bottom of the frame reads simply, “With Love, Your Daughter Laura Fletcher.”" ]	2
	[WP] The turkeys are angry, armed, and out for revenge.	[ "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're a relentless bunch, aint they!?\" Cid shouted over to Duke as he pulled a pin out of a grenade with his teeth.\n\nHis cut above his eye was still bleeding as they lay in the ditch, bullets randomly slapping the soil at its crest. Duke was only 14, and was a good shot, but his lack of experience with live weapons mad him shake in fear. A distant gobble could be hear on the winds as the grenade Cid threw exploded.\n\nStony Brook used to be the creme de la creme of turkey farms. A modern capitalists dream, the farm and slaughterhouse houses over 3 million turkeys, with an auto feed and watering system from the onsite wells. The massive roof held a mass of solar panels that generated more power than the farm consumed. It was a completely self sufficient engineering marvel standing in one of the most remote areas in Paisturquia County. \n\nNow the farms roof had been torn down and made into makeshift barriers by the same creature they were meant to house. The small house, owned by Cid was nothing but embers and ash. Most of his over enthusiastic military collection was looted, the barrels were now trained on the owner. Cid and Duke managed to grab a couple .22s and a couple boxes of rounds from an old deuce-and-a-half Cid kept in the a dilapidated garage. The box of grenades Cid had been reactivating was the last of it before bullets riddle the garage and turned it into a pulpy swiss cheese.\n\nIt took them a while to figure out just who was attacking them in broad daylight. The radios were systematically destroyed to stop the boys from calling for help. The electronics from the vehicles engines were missing as well, not that they didn't immediately get shot at when Duke popped the hood. Now they have been sitting in the ditch the were forced into for over three hours. \n\nDuke took pot shots over the ditch until he finally saw them. They were mostly hidden behind the bits of collapsed roofing, but the assailants were recognizable instantly for him and it stuck fear deep into his heart. He only worked at the farm part time, but mucking up after the turkeys put him up close and personal with the enemy firing at him with Cid's cache. The turkeys.\n\nIf you have never seen a turkey handle a rifle, which you probably haven't Cid and Duke might tell you, \"they may be able to pull the trigger, but they ain't built for it.\" The recoil from each shot ruffles feathers and they were going bald. Their beady eyed assault was perfectly organized otherwise, and they shot in volleys like a naked Red Coat brigade. Each one firing the rifles out of their winds and having to reset their stance and their aim.\n\nCid turned around to the top of the ditch and fire a couple more rounds at them. His glasses were covered in mud he tried to wipe off with a dirty shirt, but a thin streak was obstructing his vision. Click. Click. Empty. He tossed his gun to the dirt and laid back against the wall of the ditch. All hope lost he looks over at Duke and puts a dirty hand on his shoulder. A droplet lands on the top of his hand.\n\n\"Just fucking great.\" Cid laughed. \"This day couldnt have gone any worse, and then it goes and starts raining.\" \n\nThe droplets hit the groups with a pitter-pat and Duke smiles a little bit. He always thought the old codger was funny. It was a heavy storm and a stream of water had formed beneath them in the ditch. The water was cold, but they had been sweating out in the sun for hours and welcomed it. \n\nDuke then realized the slapping of the dirt at the top of the ditch stopped. Had they stopped firing? He flipped around with Cid, who had the the same idea. \n\n\"Sonnabitch..\" Cid said. \n\n\"Sonnabitch.\" Duke repeated.\n\nThe looked onward as the army of turkey were staring up at the sky, mouths gaping wide. The just stood there looking upward as the rain came pouring down." ]	2
	[WP] You fell asleep on a train. When you wake up, you find you're the only one there. The next station seems to be the last, and you have a bad feeling about this.	[ "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.", "DING! the loud speaker flares up and the loud bell sound rings in Marks ears as it continues \"The next stop is... Conway Crossing, this is the... last stop, please alight through the... front... five carriages as this station has a... short platform.\"\n\n\"Damnit! Where the heck is Conway Crossing?\" Mark thought as he rubbed his eyes and yawned his way out of a deep sleep. \"I better check how far it is from Kanter Square\" his thoughts continued. Mark pulled out his phone to check a map, but the screen was black and pressing the power button gave no response. \"What!? It was on 90% when I fell asleep, just how far past my stop am I?\" thought Mark. He rose from his seat banging his head on the compartment above, as he'd done earlier when he used the restroom, \"Damnit! Not again\" he thought. He looked around to try to find a member of staff to help, but there was none, in fact there was nobody in the entire carriage. \"Strange\" Mark thought, \"this Conway Crossing mustn't be very busy at all, you'd think near nin...\" Mark just realized it was pitch dark outside, he had boarded the train at a little past nine in the morning, and his stop was only a twenty minute journey.\n\n\"No way, I didn't sleep for hours! I don't even think the train had that many stops to go for over six hours anyway!\" Mark thought as he raised his wrist to check his watch. \"Nine thirty A M? I don't understand, that's minutes after I boarded...\". Marks thoughts had progressed to speaking to himself aloud, which didn't seem much crazy since nobody was around to hear anyway. \"Guess my watch is dead too, it must have had a meeting with my phone to play a trick on me...\" Mark mumbled as he made his way to the front of the train, both to find a staff member, or just a person even, and to get ready to exit.\n\nThe door slid open as he approached it and he entered the next carriage, still no other person in sight. Not only that, no sign of any other person, no rubbish on tables or bags in compartments, the train was ghostly. Mark proceeded through five more carriages towards the front of the train and each was more sterile and unstirring as the last. After the third Mark mumbled \"okaaay, this is a little weird, kinda like being in school at night...\" and after the fifth \"how long is this train anyway? I could have swore I was closer to the front...\".\n\nStreet lights began to flicker past the windows as the train started to slow down, jolting Mark a little where he stood, a feeling that he noted as markedly less embarrassing when nobody was around to accidentally bump into as a result. The train came to a halt and the door to his left slid open and a brisk freezing air poured in like ice water, sending a shiver through Mark's entire body. It was a beautiful summers day when he had boarded the train, which would usually be followed by a tepid summer night, never really dipping below fifteen Celsius, but the air that engulfed the train now was easily close to zero.\n\n\"Please... Alight. Please... Alight. Last Stop, Conway Crossing. Please... Alight through the... front... five carriages, as this station has a... short platform.\" chirped the loud speaker into existence, and just as quickly chirping back out of existence. Mark lifted his foot and directed it at the platform outside the door, and just before he planted it and began his stride, a hand slammed on his shoulder from behind quite sharpish, \"don't wanna leave from this carriage sir, the platform's too short\" came a disembodied voice from behind.\n\nMark jumped, he had gotten quite familiar with feeling like the last person in the world since he woke up, but after the initial shock he was relieved. \"I don't understand there's platform right here?\" he quizzed the voice, turning to meet it's source. \"Aye but all the same, you should alight from further up, follow me lad.\" The voice was coming from a stout man, about the same height as Mark, he wore a blue jacket and black trousers, with the train company logo sewn on each.\n\nMark followed the man as he led him further up the carriages, \"I don't suppose you know how far it is to Kanter Square from here do you? Only I seem to have fallen asleep for quite some time, and I've never heard of, much less been to Conway Crossing.\" he inquired. \"It's quite a while from most places you know, I think you 'aught to grab a hotel for the night, there'll be no trains out any time soon.\" replied the man. \"Damnit\" thought Mark, and shook his head in anger.\n\nMark hadn't noticed until he got to the door the man pointed to, but the air had gotten considerably less cold, it fitted far more with a summer evening now, but where did the cold come from? and where did it go so fast? Mark wasn't too concerned with this, enough was strange about this situation that air was the last of his thoughts, \"That's really too bad, is there a telephone in the station I could use to call a taxi?\"\n\n\"A taxi! In Conway Crossing, there's a fine thought, nothing's far enough away here to warrant a taxi company lad, the hotel is just a minute to your left as you exit the station by the front.\" quipped back the man. \"I see... ok, well thank you for your help\" replied Mark, and stepped off the train. The air was still and silent, not a soul was in sight in the dimly lit platform, and before Mark even too his first footstep, a sharp wind flurried along the platform behind him. Without a whisper or rumble, the train had vanished. \"okkaaayyy\" Mark repeated to himself, once again out loud given the lack of an audience to judge him crazy for talking to himself.\n\nMark made his way to the exit while looking around for other people, perhaps a staff member would let him charge his phone. Every map along the way only described Conway Crossing, which seemingly had no roads in or out, was the train the only way here? Mark pondered this and every other curiosity about his situation as he made his way to the exit. He reached the exit, and as he pulled the door to walk through it, he woke up on the train again. Mark rubbed his eyes and yawned his way out of a deep sleep. He rose from his seat banging his head on the compartment above, \"Damnit! Not again\" he thought, and just then he was swept with a wave of déjà vu. The night was dark outside and the carriage was empty, so off he went to find a member of staff...", "It was cold and dark when the rumble and shake of the train woke me up. \n\nI felt disoriented, dizzy, my eyelids felt like they'd been sewn shut. I couldn't hear anything, except for the faint whistle of wind coming from somewhere far away. What was going on? Had I slept through the entire trip? Thirteen hours? And why was my head throbbing so much? If we'd arrived, where were all the other passengers? The voices, laughter, the hustle and bustle of people grabbing their luggage and rushing to leave? Why wasn't anyone rubbing their elbows and purses and bags against me? Why was there no smell at all, except for that uncomfortable icy feeling in my nostrils? \n\nWith the tips of my cold fingers, I did my best to pry my eyes open. It hurt. God, it hurt so much. It felt like the skin of my eyelids was being torn apart, even though I was being as careful as I could. I'd always been terrified of something happening to my eyes, and the last thing I needed was to go blind now. \n\nWhen I finally managed to open my eyes, everything felt blurry, out of focus. It was like I was looking through one of those shower curtains that claim to be transparent, but aren't. I was so thirsty. And my head... It hurt so much. Was I having a stroke? An aneurysm? Do those things hurt at all or do they just... happen? Now was not the time to think about it. There was something wrong here. Cold fear flooded my stomach, even though I couldn't see much. I rubbed my eyes a couple of times, and finally that strange fog seemed to vanish from my sight, bringing everything into sharp focus. \n\nExcept there was nothing to be seen. Nothing to be heard.\n\nThe train was completely empty. And dark. If not for the moonlight overhead, I wouldn't be able to see a thing. It was my first time in a panoramic train, and the giant windows and glass ceiling suddenly felt like a small blessing in that cold, dark emptiness. \n\nThinking about bad movies and stories, I cleared my throat and risked a, \"Hello?\"\n\nMy voice came out strangled, like I had a boiled egg in my mouth. What the hell? I cleared my throat, looked around, tried again. \n\n\"Hello?\" I called, expecting my voice to echo all around me, the sound bouncing from one side to the other and... Nothing. \n\nThere was no echo. Not even the shadow of one.\n\n\"What the hell?\" I muttered to myself, rubbing my arms with my hands, trying to get at least some warmth in my body. Why was everything so cold? It was supposed to be summer! So why were the windows foggy? Why was I shaking? Where was everyone? \n\nI stomped my feet on the floor and couldn't hear a sound, but at least my legs were working. They were a bit crampy. true, but I could feel them. That was good. I got to my feet and shivered from the cold wave that ran through my entire body at once, like someone had opened a refrigerator inside of my t-shirt. \n\nJeans and t-shirt. In that cold. \n\n\"Where am I?\" I muttered again, hugging myself while looking for my backpack in the luggage compartment.\n\nExcept there was no backpack. There was nothing there. Nothing. It was as cold and dark and empty as the rest of the train. The word robbed flashed in my mind, but that made absolutely no sense. If someone had robbed me, they'd also robbed the warmth of the world and the entire season of summer. And all the other passengers and their stuff. \n\nNot sure what to do, I started walking. The fact that I couldn't hear my own footsteps was almost as disturbing as the fact that I was alone in an empty, frozen train. \n\n\"HEY!\" I called, as loud as I could, just to make sure I hadn't gone deaf. \n\nI hadn't. But there was still no echo. Why? Was this the end of the world? Was I going to freeze to death in an empty train? No way. \n\n\"Fire,\" I called, snapping my fingers and opening my right hand, palm up. \n\nA perfect sphere of blue fire appeared there, floating one inch above my outstretched palm. Although the flame was probably burning with a ridiculous temperature, all I felt was a comfortable warmth covering my body like a pre-warmed blanket. My entire body shivered at once, and then relaxed. My knees almost gave under me when I finally managed to take a deep breath that didn't feel like my lungs were being set on fire. I hadn't realized I'd barely been breathing. \n\nWith the flame illuminating my path and keeping my body warm, I walked up to the first door I could find and tried to pry it open. No success.\n\n\"It's not like I expected it to work anyway,\" I muttered to myself. \n\nThen, out of habit, I looked left and right, just to make sure I was alone. Well, I was. \n\nI blew softly on the flame floating above my hand, directing my will to the door. Fire flowed out of the perfect sphere and into the door, making a blue trail from top to bottom. A few seconds later, whatever was keeping the door shut must have melted off, because there was a rumble and a clunk, and the door slid open. \n\n\"There's still energy here?\" I wondered out loud. \n\nA powerful gust of freezing air slapped my face, taking away all the comfort and coziness of my pet flame. \n\n\"Come on,\" I complained. And then I raised my hand and blew softly on the flame again, making it grow from the size of a baseball to the size of a soccer ball. \n\nThe freezing air was now visible all around me, like thin white stripes doing their best to reach me. No. That couldn't be. Air has no will of its own. I was getting paranoid again. \n\nBut... The way the air moved... It was like a bird diving to attack, but realizing a bit too late that there was a big ball of blue fire on the way and trying to change its path. \n\n\"Huh,\" was all I could manage.\n\nThe ground beneath me was frozen. Not the it's-snowing type of frozen. It was more the ice-cubes-from-a-refrigerator type of frozen. Strangely enough, however, it wasn't slippery. Wherever my feet touched it, though, the frozen layer melted away and my feet touched green grass. \n\nGrass?\n\nWhy was I stepping on grass? Where was the station? Why was there a giant mountain... Beneath me?\n\n\"What the hell?\" I whispered in awe, stepping forward and putting my blue flame behind me like a torch, so I could see better. \n\nIt looked like I was on top of the world. Literally. The train was floating in the middle of the air, with no rails, no support, nothing. And there was no train, really, it was just one car - the one I'd been in. \n\nDown below, miles and miles it seemed, there was a huge mountain shooting colossal balls of fire, making everything black and orange, white smoke rising and being swept away by the freezing wind. \n\nIt surely looked like the end of all things. \n\nBut where was I?\n\n\"Is this an island?\" I asked out loud, and I wouldn't be able to tell if I did or did not expect an answer.\n\nBut yes, it was an island, maybe the size of a small car. Perfect round, it seemed, like a pizza. And it was frozen, except for the few steps where my feet had touched it, where green grass appeared. Perfect green grass.\n\n\"This looks a lot like a dream,\" I said to myself, trying to keep a semblance of rationality and ignore the panic that was beginning to form in my chest.\n\n\"A DREAM?\" came a deep voice that sounded all around me, into me. \n\nUnsure where to look, I look up at the night sky. There wasn't a single cloud in sight, only the perfect full moon, silvery and glorious. I couldn't see the stars, though. Not one. Being a mage, I'd been used to strange dreams, but this one...\n\n\"Isn't this a dream?\"\n\n\"WHY, NO,\" the voice replied. \"THIS IS YOUR REWARD.\"\n\n\"Right.\"\n\n\"REMEMBER, SO MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU WERE BUT A CHILD? YOU DESIRED TO LIVE ETERNALLY, BEYOND DEATH AND TIME.\"\n\nA sinking feeling touched my stomach. I suddenly felt very small and weak. \n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"THIS YOUR WISH COME TRUE.\"", "The air was empty. The train, destined for the end, rattled down tracks which seemed to stretch on forever. A mother clutches her child closer to her chest. The box stunk of human waste and low hanging anticipation. Sputtering coughs and nervous whispers drown out the silence. \n\nThe mother closes her eyes , rocking the young life. Knowing it will end all too soon. She thinks of yesterday, making breakfast as the family laughed around the table. Sunlight poured into the kitchen window warming the old wooden floors. She recalls the smell of tobacco she once hated. How it would waft into the living room as her husband read the paper. Now, it is only a memory she clings to. This warming thought is quickly chilled as the bitter winds tear through the cracked metal chamber speeding through the country-side. \n\nHow long have we been moving, she wonders, tugging at her tattered stockings. Desperately trying to regain a scrap of the dignity she once held. Their skin had not felt the light of day in what seemed to be days. Or had it only been hours ago? The child snored softly in a restless sleep. Leaning down, she kisses his forehead before settling into the piled clothing of those who would never reach their destination.\n\n.....\n\nThe sun beat down upon his shoulders as Kurt Weber stood at attention. A train whistle blew it's harrowing melody as the metal gates screeched against the concrete. Swallowing hard, he prepared to open the doors of the cattle box. Behind them, families huddled close to each other for the last time. Doubt clouded his mind. Recalling his own loved ones, how he longed to be with them now. \n\n\" Incoming passengers! Positions lads, lets get this show on the road! \" The commander barked as the train slid into the station. Effortlessly, as it had done one hundred times before. Whispering a silent prayer Kurt gazed over the list of names in his notebook. It had never ceased to amaze him how many names were scrawled across these pages. \n\nTime felt as though it stood still, only for a moment as the towering doors ground against their rusted metal frame. The stench which poured from the crowded chamber was enough to turn the stomach of even the strongest men. People spilled from the train onto the platform. Some carrying small bags filled with valuables, others holding only onto one another. Keeping his head down Kurt slowly began his death row roll call. \n\nMinutes felt like hours as the passengers began to thin. Fathers separated from weakened women and children. As the final passenger stepped onto the platform Kurt scratched the name Abigail Bek from his list. Under this, Kurt noticed another name which had remained unchecked. Asher Bek. \n\nInside the cattle car now pulling away from the station, a young boy stirred underneath meticulously placed articles of soiled clothing. On the platform, a mother held tightly onto the small lock of hair in her fist and a man made a choice.\n\n\"All clear sir. Send the train home!\".\n\n(Although the prompt seemed to be largely based on first person POV, I thought this was an interesting idea.)", "My eyes opened, and I felt the rumbling of a train to accompany the sight of seats, that stretched far down the carts. Everywhere I looked, instead of a human smoking, looking at their phones, reading, talking quietly, eyeing the land directly outside in a daze - there was only the sound of the wheels running on tracks. The engine, which I presumed was still intact, shifted gears up and down, and whatever other way the gears on a train worked. He remembered seeing two metal rods running up and down at one end, and racing along the head cart. He wondered where the people got up and walked to, or dissipated to. Their absence was one thing I, but that they were 1,000 feet in the air over George-Pierre Mountain, was another fact that lifted the first into the realm of omens, and perhaps heaven and hell. The laughter escaped me. Perhaps it was lunch time. The crazyness inside my mind has never left from my dreams, and remained like a moth stuck in a large mason jar.", "I woke up from my haze, bolting upright in my chair. I looked outside my window to try to discern my location, however, this looked like a new location altogether. I had always taken a nap on the train after work, I had always slept and was able to wake up in time for my stop. \r\n\r\nI began to look around the cabin to find someone to talk to. Normally there was an attendant available but they seemed to be missing. The only other people I saw was a homeless man who was asleep and a man who was reading the paper towards the end of the cabin. \r\n\r\nI decided to ask the man who was reading the paper. He was wearing a very well kept suit and was sitting in a seat next to the aisle. I nervously went towards him and tapped his shoulder. \r\n\r\n“Excuse me sir, I seem to be lost. Can you tell me what stop we are heading towards and what time it is?” I said sheepishly to him. \r\n\r\nHe began to lower his paper and then turned to me. \r\n\r\nHe had no eyes. In place of his eyes was a small flap of skin as if there was never an opening for an eyeball in the first place. \r\n\r\n“Why we are heading towards the last stop on the line, dear boy. As for the time, I seem to have misplaced my pocket watch. If you happen to come across it, be a sport and return it to me, would you?” he said. \r\n\r\nI nodded and thanked him for my time as I began to walk back to my seat, holding back my urge to vomit in repulsion to seeing him. \r\n\r\nI decided to try my luck with the homeless man. His figure was curled up in a ball on the seat. How he could afford a fare on the first class cabin was beyond me. Covering him was a few sheets of newspaper. An odd thing to see in all honesty, due to the fact that the cabin was incredibly warm. \r\n\r\nI initially poked his shoulder so as not to disturb him too much to the point of becoming belligerent. When I concluded he was in deep slumber, I nudged his shoulder in order to wake him up. \r\n\r\nHe too, bolted upright in his seat, tossing the newspaper to the side. \r\n\r\n“Where am I?” he said with a slur in his speech, his breath reeking of alcohol. \r\n\r\n“I am trying to figure that out. All I know is that we are approaching the last stop on the line.” I said to the man. \r\n\r\nHe began screaming out, yelling for someone to tell him where he was. The other man in the cabin did not react to his yells. The homeless man did not have the same unfortunate circumstances the other man had. He had began to run towards the front of the cabin, pounding at the door in order to get someone’s attention. \r\n\r\nIn a sudden change of mood, he stopped his ruckus and approached his seat. He sat down, then hunched forward and began to weep. He began yelling for his mother and how it wasn’t fair. \r\n\r\nI did not want to see what he saw that caused him to calm down so I decided to take my seat as well. I began to look outside and noticed the scenery in more detail. The ground was barren, the sun was gone and the moon nowhere to be seen. There were people outside milling about their tasks but their figures seemed deformed, their bodies looking similar to mine at first glance but upon a more thorough look, their figures were just incorrect. \r\n\r\nSuddenly, the door to the front of the cabin opened up and a man entered. His outfit seemed to indicate he was either a conductor or an attendant. \r\n\r\n“Tickets please. Last stop ahead” he said out loud. \r\n\r\nI grabbed my ticket from my breast pocket and inspected it but I was left more puzzled. The words were written in a language I could not decipher. Letters that seemed foreign to me, not of any language I’ve seen before. He came towards me and inspected my ticket. \r\n\r\n“Very well. Please depart using the right platform when we arrive.” He said to me. \r\n\r\n“Can you tell me where we are? I think I was supposed to get off a few stops ago.” I pleaded with him. \r\n\r\nAs the train began to slowdown, I saw a sign outside telling me where we ended up.\r\n\r\nPURGATORIO\r\n\r\nMy heart sank. The attendants simply began to look at the others tickets and told them both to exit onto the left platform. Wherever I was going I was going alone. The doors opened and I began to walk towards the right platform as I saw the others exiting onto the left platform.", "I awoke with a bit of a start, just as the train started moving.\n\n\"Odd,\" I thought to myself. \"We're not supposed to be in a city right now.\"\n\nThe train was going a good 70 miles per hour at the moment.\n\n\"There's no possible way...\"\n\nIt was no use, I'd missed my stop by an hour and as we pulled away from the Palmdale Metrolink, I got a shiver down my spine as I realized that there were no more return trips for the day from Lancaster and I'd have to uber home, a trip of about 40 miles. It was 10:50pm last Sunday and this is not fiction.", "As my feet touched down on the platform I could not help but think that this was not right.\n\nThe first sign had been that there didn't seem to be anyone on the train. I couldn't get to the locomotive but usually they go through the train to check for passengers, right?\n\nWell, after ten minutes I had decided to get off.\n\nThe air was oddly cold, but there was no wind.\n\nThere was no returning platform.\n\nUsually there's two tracks, right? And then there's two platforms, one for people to board trains going one way and one for going the other, but I couldn't see a second platform.\n\nThere was the track my train stood on, and another empty track, and then... forest? It was dark.\n\nSuddenly, out of nowhere, a black train appeared, so quickly that I couldn't tell from which direction it came. There were no lights on, but some of the wheels gave off orange sparks that flew out like Phoenix wings.\n\nThe train vanished as quickly as it had come. It must have passed us at well over two hundred miles per hour.\n\nThe platform went on for a distance in both directions, with the occasional lamp post lighting it up. The lights did not go as far ad the platform did, so I did not know where it lead.\n\nI stood alone, shuddering, when I noticed that a man was approaching me. I breathed a sigh of relief.\n\n\"Hello! Sir, do you know what station this is?\"\n\nThe man raised a gloved finger to his mouth. He was wearing black sunglasses despite the pitch black night. Did he want me to be silent?\n\nAs the man came close, I noticed his strangely pale and pointy features. The fact that I could not see his eyes made me uneasy.\n\nIn a dry voice he whispered to me.\n\n\"How did you get here?\"\n\n\"I fell asleep on the train,\" I said, whispering like he did, but as I pointed to my right I realized that the train that had taken me had soundlessly disappeared.\n\n\"Where am I?\"\n\n\"Come, I'll make sure you get home, safe and sound.\"\n\n\"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am the Guide. I can not harm you.\"\n\nHe was about as tall as me. I could maybe take him in a fight. He didn't have kidnapper serial killer vibes though, he was just a little... strange.\n\nWhy had he said that he could not harm me?\n\nWith no better options I decided to go with him.\n\n\"Take the lead, sir,\" I said.\n\nWe walked quietly along the platform, and after a while we left the lamp posts behind us.\n\n\"Can I take a flashlight out? I think I...\"\n\n\"Be silent, please,\" my guide said quietly, \"and do not take out any lights.\"\n\nFortunately we arrived in a pool of light after a few minutes of walking. There was a sort of round area paved with stone, sided by the base of a cliff.\n\nIn the rock wall there was a hole, like a door frame.\n\n\"Stand there,\" my guide said.\n\nI obeyed, standing right in front of the door, about twenty paces away from its black rectangle.\n\n\"I can not take you further, but a colleague of mine will take over. He will be with you soon.\"\n\n\"What does he—\" I lowered my voice \"—what does he look like?\"\n\n\"He has... a light. There may be impostors, but they despise the light. Whatever you do, follow no one from the darkness. Once you step through that door, only touch the parts of the floor touched by light.\"\n\n\"There is no light on the floor,\" I said quietly.\n\n\"My colleague has a light. Do not use any lights of your own.\"\n\nI nodded, \"alright.\"\n\n\"Do not move. Take not as much as a step no matter what until my colleague comes.\"\n\n\"Ok, thank you.\"\n\nMy guide did not respond. He just left. Disappeared into the darkness.\n\nI waited, looking into the dark doorway.\n\nI wondered what kinds of impostors might lurk in there.\n\nAfter a while I became acutely aware that there was someone watching me. Not from the door, but from behind me.\n\n\"Move aside.\"\n\nA low growl came from right behind me.\n\nMy heart felt as though it would break my ribs.\n\n\"I—I would rather stay here.\"\n\n\"Get out of my way.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nI dared not turn my head around.\n\nAfter a moment the voice begind me chose to walk around me.\n\nA tall woman appeared in my field of view, staring at me intently. She maintained eye contact while walking towards the doorway.\n\nJust as she was about to disappear into the blackness she smiled, and then...\n\nHer face split in two. Beneath her skin there was nothing but a melon-sized, bloodshot eyeball.\n\nMy entire body froze. I could not scream.\n\nThe woman disappeared.\n\nI let out a sob of despair.\n\nWhere was I?\n\nI don't know if it was an hour or a few minutes before my guide arrived.\n\nAt first, I saw nothing but a faint light deep inside the doorway. Slowly, I realised that a humanoid figure with a light was approaching.\n\nNot with a light.\n\nThe man's head was a lantern.\n\nMy guide had been vague enough about it, but if he was to be trusted this was no impostor. \n\nI don't know how the lantern man spoke.\n\n\"Hello, you are waiting for me, yes?\"\n\n\"I—I think so.\"\n\n\"Come. Please remain silent once you step through the door.\"\n\nI tentatively came forward, and stepped through the door. My feet where both on the floor lit by the lantern man's head.\n\nI realized I was not casting a shadow, but as I raised my finger and opened my mouth, the lantern man interrupted me before I could speak.\n\n\"Remain silent,\" he said softly.\n\nI pointed at my feet.\n\n\"I cast a light that vanquishes shadows,\" he simply said.\n\nWe started walking.\n\nFirst the lantern man, who was wearing an old fashioned suit and an unbuttoned rain coat over it, and then me, making sure to stay in the circle of yellow light centred by the lantern man.\n\nI had no idea how big the space we were walking through was. My footsteps did not echo, but I felt like I was inside a space at least the size of an airplane hangar.\n\nI don't know exactly when I realized we were being followed. I think the lantern man knew before me.\n\nSomething big. Something that did not like us.\n\nAfter a few minutes the lantern man spoke up.\n\n\"Do not change your behavior until I give my signal. Act as if I am saying nothing of note.\"\n\nI stayed quiet and kept my pace behind him.\n\n\"When I tell you, we will start running. We are very close to the separator.\"\n\nI stayed quiet.\n\n\"One, two, three... go.\"\n\nThe lantern man let away at a breakneck pace, and I started running too. He accelerated so fast that I almost came outside of his circle of light, but as the adrenaline soared i managed to just about stay behind him.\n\nA sound unlike anything i had ever heard before. Something bellowed. It roared.\n\nThe sound was like the hiss of a crack of thunder, and like the sigh of a dead man's last breath.\n\nThey apparently found me in a state of catatonia at the last station of the railway line early the next morning. I was lying prostrate and almost dead, but the strangest thing was that the station looked nothing like the one I had found myself at the other night.\n\nIt took many weeks of recovery, but i think I've finally gotten back to full health. I never told anyone what happened.\n\nI dont think I will ever be able to fall asleep on a train again.", "Crap, I missed my stop. The ball of annoyance weighed heavily in the pit of my stomach and I groaned because it was too sickeningly familiar of a feeling. \n\nThe next stop will be the last stop for this train...\n\nApparently, I overslept a lot - I was supposed to have gotten off 4 stops ago. I guess I could've guessed that, based on the fact that there was no one left on the train and the flitting scenery outside had become entirely unfamiliar. I groaned again and rubbed sleep from my eyes.\n\nThen, they shot open and I pressed my face against the glass to stare outside. Something was not right. Yes, I missed my stop. Yes, I've gone to the last stop for this train. Yes, it made sense that everything outside would be new to me.\n\nBut how on Earth was there an ocean in the middle of this city?\n\nI gawked with absolute disbelief at a sparkling, calm sea of blue, shining in the wan light cast by streetlamps that broke through the surface of this body of water that my train seemed to effortlessly glide through. There were no houses, but a few tree canopies also poked out, their trunks hidden under the surface. I slowly turned my face toward the sky and saw, with a mounting, wild panic, stars. There were no stars in the skies of this city, or any city, really. But I could see constellations for which I had no name.\n\nSuddenly, my vision went black. It took a second for me to realize the train had plunged into a tunnel. \n\nThis is the last stop...\n\nWhere the hell...? My thought found no concrete ending as lights returned. I quickly slumped down in my seat, hidden. We had pulled into the last stop, and everything was wrong. This could not be last stop. This could not be any stop. It was impossible. \n\nIt wasn't the actual platform itself that bothered me - the style of the walls, the grey concrete and yellow rubber tiled floor, the dingy escalators accompanying each set of stairs - was as normal as I could expect it to be. But what wasn't typical were the patrons waiting to board my train. They were...monsters.\n\nThat made it sound like they were terrifying and demonic. That's not true. But what I meant was that they were definitely not normal people - or human at all. They were all kinds of shapes and sizes - some resembling enormous rabbits, lizards clad in business-wear, half-bird-half-monkey hybrids that looked oddly adorable. They came in a rainbow of colors, too. It was as if everyone had decided today was Halloween, and that costumes had to be as bizarre and as realistic as possible. \n\nMy train began to slow down and I dared to peek out the glass again. The monsters were looking up from their newspapers and smartphones and books, and some drew closer to the platform edge, eager to get on their train.\n\nI felt panic rising in my throat.\n\n \n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nLiked that story? Want more like it? Check out 📷[r/Idreamofdragons](https://www.reddit.com/r/Idreamofdragons/)!" ]	9
	[WP] You are a father in a bind. Not because you're King of the Merfolk but because your daughter, who's set to be wed in a few months, refuses to unless her spouse is human. So, you reluctantly travel up to land and snatch the first adult human you see. What could possibly go wrong, right?	[ "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.", "King Triton grumbled the whole two hours it took to reach the surface. He could still feel the ringing of his daughter's screams and cries in his brain. \n\n\"You are to be wed by your 22nd birthday, Emelia, you have to choose a suitor!\" King Triton attempted to explain to his youngest daughter. To anyone else, that booming voice would immediately strike fear and capitulation in their hearts, even the mightiest warriors of the seven seas. But not his daughter. No, somehow this petite, small framed, delicate guppy was able to match his fiery glare with her own. \"You only have three months to decide!\"\n\n\"I have told you time and time again, father. I. Will. Not. Marry. Unless. He. Is. Human.\" Emelia had retaliated. And she had said this before, but King Triton had believed it to be a dream or a stage in her life that she would get over. But with the promised day looking closer, he could not afford to take anymore chances. \n\nThe daughter of the King's marriage was a tradition that was more out of necessity than consistency. Once a mermaid princess got married, the newfound bond would be so powerful that it would replenish the Kingdom's energy for several decades. \n\nThis year's was especially important to King Triton and his Queen Myranda, who after seven unsuccessful attempts to have a daughter, were finally blessed with their beautiful Emelia. Not that he didn't love his seven sons, but his daughter being born was admittedly the best day of his life. It was no secret that he treated her specially compared to the rest of his children, bending to her every whim and giving her everything she asked for. Emelia grew to be a wonderful girl, kind and loved by all, but she kept her spoiled streak whenever it came to her father. King Triton had never questioned it and allowed her to do as she pleased without opposition. That was until she began to demand her groom be human. Now, he silently cursed himself for all those years he showed away from being assertive. If he had known back then he would be swimming to the surface world to grab a husband for his daughter, he would most definitely have scolded her once or twice.\n\nKing Triton burst through the surface of the sea and looked around. His eyes were getting old, he noticed. He had to squint in order to see the beach that was a couple hundred miles south of where he was. He immediately swam to shore, and as he got closer he could see hordes of humans walking aimlessly like the brainless creatures they were. What did Emelia see in these things anyway? How were they in any way superior to the merfolk she was surrounded by?\n\nHe arrived at the beach, towering over the tiny specks that could only stare at him, mouths agape like the merfolk's primitive neighbors, the upper level fish. His eyes barely scanned the crowd before he reached his hand down and grabbed the nearest human. \n\n\"Enar han Calum, ingar.\" King Triton's voice boomed as he dragged the human away from two of the female species and dragged it back into the sea. He began to swim back down when he realized the human thrashing in a panicked state. Oh right, Triton remembered, they can't breathe underwater, can they? Come to think of it, the water pressure where his Kingdom resided would instantly crush a human. Rolling his eyes, King Triton waved his hand, casting a spell that allowed the man to obtain a temporary merman body.\n\n\"Katar Calum.\" The confused look on the human's face reminded Triton to cast the translation spell. \"I said, I am King Triton. Can you understand me now, human?\" He repeated, his words dripping with annoyance. To that, the man could only nod, bewildered. \"Good. Come along.\"\n\nStill gripping the man in his hands, Triton started back down to his kingdom. \"As I was saying, you have been chosen to be the princess's groom. Be grateful.\"\n\n\"Woah, woah, what?\" The man responded. \"I don't mean to be rude and I'm sure the princess is a lovely girl but-\" \n\n\"Do you dare to reject the princess?\" Against his better judgement, Triton's voice thundered with anger, almost blowing the human away. If he rejected the princess, then Triton could use that as an excuse and find a suitable merman for her instead.\n\n\"No, no, no ,no, no I didn't mean that. See, thing is, I'm not really a one woman guy. I'm not ready to settle down yet.\" The man defended himself quickly. Triton took time to examine the man. To him, all humans looked like beasts, but by human standards, the man could pass as attractive. He had silky black hat, which was rare amongst the merfolk, and a healthy build.\n\n\"Worry not, human. She will likely come to tolerate you.\" \n\n\"Uh, that's not exactly what I meant. And by the way, my name's Austin, not human.\" \n\nTriton harrumphed. \"I feeble name for a feeble creature.\"\n\n\"Yeah, sure.\" The human, Austin remarked. For the rest of the journey to the Kingdom, the two were silent, topics of conversation exhausted. At least, that's what Triton wished for. Instead, the human Austin would continue to talk his ear off about why he should be returned to the surface world. Excuse after excuse came barrelling out of his mouth, and King Triton was one sentence away from reversing his translation spell as they approached the throne room.\n\n\"Send for princess Emelia.\" Triton ordered to a guard, who was distracted by the presence of a human. \n\n\"Now, the main problem is the legs. See, mermaids don't have legs and I kind of need my women to have legs.\"\n\n\"Now what's so special about your weak human legs? A tail is clearly superior in every fashion.\"\n\n\"Seriously? Dude, if you let me go back to my apartment I can show you some mags that-\" but by then, Triton understood exact what he meant.\n\n\"You insolent...! You don't deserve to even look at Emelia let alone marry her!\" Triton's eyes blazed a bright red. Instantly, a large, solid gold trident appeared in his hand. He turned the pointed side at the human Austin. \"If you were wiser you could have avoided this.\" Austin closed his eyes frightfully, bracing himself as much as he could for the pain.\n\n\"Daddy stop!\" Princess Emelia burst through the doors of the throne room, hurtling in between the two men. \"You finally get me a human and now you want to kill him before you give him to me?\" She puffed out stubbornly. Despite his anger, Triton could not help but think how adorable his little girl was.\n\n\"Darling, this man is no good. This is why I say you should choose from one of your suitors! There are many fine mermen who would gladly-\"\n\n\"No, he's perfect!\" She exclaimed, then turned around to look at the human Austin in amazement. \"He's more than perfect.\" Emelia hugged her father, who's anger had now simmered down. \"Thank you, Daddy. But don't try to kill him again.\" \n\nTriton smiled brightly seeing his little girl brimming with joy, but as soon as she swam away with the human Austin in tow, he slumped down in his throne, defeated. \n\n\"What have I done?\"" ]	2
	[WP] You're a plastic surgeon changing the face of the richest drug lord of all time, but unfortunately the drug lord dies during the procedure. Knowing that you will be tortured and killed by the cartel for letting him die, you decide to replace him with a volunteer.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"This is the boss?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"You're sure?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Absolutely.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I need to ask him some questions.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"You can't yet. Because of the extent of the surgery, he needed quite a few things replaced, one of which included his voice box.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Right. Then how long until he can talk?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Can't really say. He'll need a few weeks to adjust to the new face and a few months to be completely back to normal, so anytime in between there.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"So can I ask you a few questions?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Sure thing.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"First, why does he look taller? He's grown almost two inches.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"... skull reshaping. Flattened a bit of his skull so now it's longer than it was before.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Right. Sure. Totally.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yep.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Point B, why does he now have a white face? The boss was very clearly a Mexican man, but now he looks like his name is Skylar.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"... Mexicans can be named Skylar.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Name one famous Mexican named Skylar.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"... I feel like this is starting to become racist.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh, no! Not the racism card! I guess I'll back off.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I don't appreciate the sarcasm.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Then how about my last question.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Shoot.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh certainly. Now, why does the boss now have tits?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"... he asked for them.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"He asked for them.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"... he likes motor-boating.\"", "He wanted to be disguised as a woman - with flowing black hair, defined features, all the nuances of voice and appearance. To fool his lowly followers, he said. To intimidate them. To brush upon immortality and altering the laws of God. As if. \n\nNow the guy, the most feared drug lord Sebastian, was spread over my operating table. Only through all the deceit and lies of decades had I managed to get him in this position. It was a symbol of trust, almost. His most trusted disciples surrounded us, monitoring, and while they knew in theory every procedure, every action that was theoretically supposed to get their boss to his new form, there were quite a few... intricacies. I knew what had to be done, and I just had to wait gleefully for a moment their attention was pulled away. \n\nPlan A. \n\nOutside, sirens rang. Glass broke. Pandemonium pulled at the walls, slaughtered a few of the guards he'd stationed outside. The inner circle almost flinched, but as I cut open their boss's head their eyes remained fixed. Poor humans, trying their hardest to fixate on one thing at a time. Both an order and a weakness, as I pulled a lever below the operating table. \n\nPlan A, Stage 2. \n\nOr, almost. One of the guards pulled out a phone. \"What's the status outside?\"\n\n\"W-we don't know.\" The voice was muffled. \"Suddenly things began breaking. Something came out and attacked... it's nothing we've ever heard before.\"\n\n\"Police?\" the guard said. \"New technology?\"\n\n\"I-I thought Sebastian has sway over the police. They couldn't have come up with technology so fast, and definitely not this. It's - \"\n\nThe voice was cut off with a guttural scream, as the line broke. Outside, more shattering of glass. We were in the fifth story of an abandoned factory, renovated discreetly for usage. Underground was too risky, and we didn't have quite so advanced technology, while on the ground was too easy a target. In the air gave us more access to the sky, at least - Sebastian's usual claim to domination. \n\nAmong the guards, dissenting whispers broke out. They wondered whether to check it out, whether disobeying their boss while he was unconscious would constitute as death when he woke. Meanwhile, I was still flickering among the drug lord's face. This would be quite the unique transformation, even for him. \n\n\"You,\" a man barked at me. \"Still working on the eyes, I see. Don't try anything funny. One of us is dispatched to leave in case of emergency.\"\n\nThe building shook then, and if it were normal, not reinforced with steel barriers in case, it might have crumbled or tilted. Sadly, or more like fortunately, it didn't disrupt my operation much. I almost giggled at the sound of something wet splattering into the tinted windows, and even more so at the guards' fidgeting. Not so powerful now, were they. \n\nPlan A, Stage 3. \n\nAs soon as one of the guards left the room, having to yank the door open after a series of locks, the atmosphere became thicker. Quite literally. They thought they had foolproof venting systems... but they wouldn't even be able to tell that their judgement had been impaired; our technology had just become so much more advanced. \n\nI grasped the brain of Sebastian, as they began ambling aimlessly around the room. I reached under the operating table, where the lever had left me all these new, brilliant tools. Almost... almost...\n\nPlan A, Stage 4. \n\nScreams became more prominent, except now destruction rained from above. Shaking, denting, shattering. And then I stitched her head together, marveling at her beautiful blank eyes. Anomalies were already starting to form... her limbs more elongated, her skin richer and darker. The ends of her hair grew and trailed through the ground, waving and grabbing. \n\nThe door burst open. Fanged creatures spewed through, wings and claws scrambling for blood, and the guards could barely muster a scream before being quickly shredded. \n\nPlan A, Complete. \n\nMeanwhile, I bowed down to her rising presence. \"Great Omega, it is an honor to welcome you to Earth at last.\"\n\nAnd thus the invasion of our species commenced, starting with the richest of the rich." ]	3
	[WP] You wake up late one morning on your bedroom floor. You're covered in blood, and all you can remember from last night were flashes of a lot of booze, some weird girl, a creepy book, and a rubber chicken.	[ "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 attempted to reach across the blood-stained floor looking for my phone, but was instead met with extraordinary pain and a squeak from my lower back. \"Is anybody there? Anyone?!\" I tried to plea for help but was unable to speak. It was like yelling into a stack of fluffed pillows. What did she do to me? I only met her yesterday...\n\nAfter I finished cleaning up my father's chicken pen, I thought it would be a great idea to go into town and pick up some supplies and maybe even a good book. It was a Tuesday after-all. My father wouldn't be home until Wednesday. I went straight to my favorite bookstore once I got off the bus and perused through a section of the store I don't often go to. There was this large leathery indigo-colored book hidden behind two others. I squeezed it out and found myself amused at the title. Spells for the 21st Century. As I was about to place it back on the shelf, someone came towards me from my left. \"That's a good book.\" I started to peer my head to the side towards them and chuckle. \"Yeah, I'm sure those 21st century spells are much better than those lousy 20th cent...\" I stopped mid-sentence when I made eye contact with her. There was something about that look in her eye. It made me uncomfortable. \"Oh yeah? I myself prefer 12th century spells from the Italian town of Altomonte. Their prose is something quite extraordinary,\" she said with a devilish look on her face. She looked at my body up and down. \"I see you enjoy the company of fowls. Interesting creatures they are, don't you agree?\" \n\nI found myself being picked up by my father. I squeaked. \"Damn toys. I told this kid to clean up after himself. Where is that boy anyway?\"" ]	2
	[WP] You live in a farm with no neighbours and the closest house a few miles away. Yet someone is always knocking on your door at 9 pm and you can never see who it 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.", "I sat down in my chair, cracked a beer, and scarfed down the TV dinner I had made myself. I drank down the cheap beer quickly as I finished the sorry excuse for pasta contained in a cheap cardboard box. When I had finished I checked my watch, 8:43. The knocking would begin again soon. At first, I thought that it had been the neighbor's asshole kid, I had caught the little fucker riding his dirtbike on my property before. But I never caught a glimpse of anything even when I looked out the peephole. \n\nI moved to my kitchen and took a pull from a bottle of cheap whiskey I kept in my freezer. I wiped away the thick grease that covered my microwaves clock, 8:51. I had less than ten minutes to get ready for whatever came at 9. I locked the front door and turned off all the house lights, before creeping out to my shed, handgun clutched tightly in my right hand. From the darkness of my shed I could see the front door clearly by the light of the full moon. The light cast menacing shadows across the trees and buildings on my property and every little sound made me flinch. \n\nMy watch let out a small chirp and I redirected my gaze to my front door. Boom, boom, boom. Three loud pounding knocks on the front door. So hard and furious they shook the door and rattle the windows of my house. I pointed the handgun at the front door and flicked the safety off. But there was nothing there, no horrible phantasm or eldritch monstrosity pounding at my door. My breath hissed in between my teeth as I exhaled the breath I had been holding. I muttered a quiet swear at myself as I holstered my gun and relaxed my shoulders, angry at myself for getting spooked at nothing. Before I even stepped out of the shed that concealed me, I heard it. The sound of wood splintering, I looked to the door and watched as the wood slowly splintered away from the door, before the door was torn from its hinges with a crash. \n\nI could hear something stepping into the entryway of my house, the wooden flooring groaning under its weight as it strode into my now empty home. I pulled back into the shadows of my shed and pulled the handgun out again. From inside the house, I could hear crashing noises as whatever it was tossed my furniture around and tore its way through my home. The noise paused momentarily, and I watched a dark shadow cross one of my windows, heading upstairs. That's when the noise began, a horrible growling screeching noise. It made my ears hurt from 30 feet away, and I clapped my hands over my ears dropping the gun. The pitch increased until it became a high warbling whine that threatened to split my skull into two. The sound mercifully stopped, but I could still hear whatever it was smashing my house apart. I picked the gun up and pulled my truck keys out of my pocket, breathing heavy as I sprinted for the truck. I stopped in front of my now destroyed front door and glanced inside, two yellow eyes peered back out at me from the back of my living room. I leveled the handgun and squeezed the trigger in quick succession until the slide fell back with a click. My ears were filled with screams of anguish and the eyes disappeared for a second before reappearing closer to the front door moving towards me inhumanly fast. I scrambled into my truck and slammed the keys into the ignition, pulling out of my driveway with a spray of gravel. Even from inside my truck I could hear the high warbling scream coming out of my house.\n\nI haven't been back to the house in 3 days, but some buddies and I are going back today to grab a few things, I can only hope that I killed the thing or at least scared it off, because if I never hear that scream again in my life I could die a happy man." ]	2
	[WP] - Obviously overpowered villain insists on having henchmen around, despite needing none due to the sheer power he/she has. So why does the villain insist in having minions? To fight loneliness.	[ "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.", "Preface: This is a sequel to a Prompt I wrote months ago: [Here](https://old.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/aphpa0/wp_youre_a_supervillain_who_left_his_lair_to_go/eg922h1/) It may be helpful to read that first! Thanks! Without further ado:\n\n*\n\n\"Uh, sir, you have a visitor.\" I spun in my chair, facing away from the door, as was the custom when dealing with unknown visitors. \n\n\"Send them in.\" I summoned Amon'Baal from the Pit, idly stroking his soft white fur as I waited for the telltale whooshing. \n\n\"Uh, War God?\" A stuttering voice! A weak human! Easy prey! I took a deep breath, before spinning the chair around silently, turning to stare at my new rival? Titania?\n\n\"Titania?!\" I nearly toppled from my chair, throwing Amon'Baal to the side with a screech. \n\n\"Uh, yeah, your um, Majordomo let me in?\" Standing in the doorway, a snicker on her beautiful freckled face, was my nemesis, Titania, the Summer Sun. \n\n\"What?! How dare he?!\" I stood, trying to keep my enraged face on, despite the secret thrill I had. She had really come!\n\n\"He said you didn't have anything going on...\" She was trying, without much success, to stifle her laughter. \n\n\"What? I am balancing the cosmos in my palm! The world moves at my whim!\" I mastered myself, standing tall and proud once more. \n\n\"Oh, cause it looked like you were just petting your cat and waiting ominously for someone to enter.\" I staggered back, my face growing hot at her words. \n\n\"What? Of course I wasn't! I was... plotting! Planning!\" My eyes darted around, snatching up a small model of the town, Pineville, a gift from my Chief Engineer. \"See how I hold your sleepy town in my grasp!\" \n\n\"Right...\" She rolled her eyes, before clapping her hands and kneeling down, petting Amon'Baal as he wrapped around her legs, mewling pathetically. \"What an adorable cat!\"\n\n\"He is the Harbinger of Despair! The Eater of Hope! A thousand mortals have fallen to his... fearsome...\" My words died as she lifted him, cradling him as he started to purr. \n\n\"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I had a really good time the other night.\" She smiled at me, and her grass green eyes twinkled. \n\n\"The Moo Vee. Yes, I recall.\" We had been discovered in our civilian disguises at the supermarket and she had clung to me, desperately. She needed to escape a bitter foe, a Gladys, from the zoning board. I had assisted, deeming it worth my time to engender a favor from her. \"It was... adequate.\"\n\n\"So, you weren't crying at the end?\" She sat down on my desk, laughing as she continued to pet my traitorous companion. \n\n\"What? No! Of course not! I was... reminiscing! About old battles! Blood! Swords! The death of legions!\" The Moo Vee was quite emotional. The hero, a lonely boy named Charlie, had finally been able to acquire a party of similar heroes, in this... Highest School. It was... adequate. \n\n\"So, what do you do for fun around here?\" She released Amon'Baal and he looked at me with a gesture of repentance, before disappearing in a cloud of sulfur. \n\n\"My Majordomo and I play Chess, as we have for millennia! It is a fine diversion.\" I sighed, feeling the old boredom returning. I had been off of late. Perhaps that was why I welcomed Titania's sport. \n\n\"That's it? Just Chess?\" She looked at me, incredulous. \"What do you eat?\" \n\n\"My Chef prepares the meals. I simply consume them. A mortal habit I picked up to disguise my divine nature.\" That too had grown stale, the meats and fruits of this world losing their appeal. \n\n\"That's no good!\" She leapt from the stone desk, grasping my hand in hers. I felt the warmth of a sunny day in her skin, and I blushed again, though I couldn't understand why. \"Let's go make grilled cheese!\" \n\n\"How does one grill cheese? Does it not melt between the grates?\" I tilted my head in confusion, not understanding these mortals. \n\n\"HOPELESS!\" It was her favorite phrase, I had learned. She used it often. \"Absolutely hopeless!\"\n\n*\n\nThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, you can find more of my work at r/Shinz_Stories", "Everyone around the lair wonders why Master Megalo hired so many henchmen. A man of his caliber doesn't need a single sidekick due to the sheer amount of power he has. Hell, he has the Guinness world record for \"most heroes put in retirement\". Nobody asked him because, 1, his terrifying strength, and 2, the henchmen are well-payed and are happy to not ask any questions.\n\nDespite this, a henchman, identified as \"#13\", still does his best to work around the hideout. He'll do anything asked of him no matter how simple or dangerous the task is. Like his fellow henchmen, he is also curious about his boss and why he needs an army of minions when he could already do what he wants.\n\nToday is the First of December, the holiday season. Though it isn't a rule, it is considered taboo to do such great acts of villainy during the season. As such many villains thought they might as well give their henchmen a vacation. Unsurprisingly, Master Megalo has done the same for his workers. Being such a powerful villain, he has no problem with letting his minions go for a month, or so they thought.\n\nMaster Megalo is happy for them to be spending time with their family, for Megalo himself doesn't have one. He takes a stroll around the lair, thinking about how quiet it is without people around. He goes into his room and lies down on his bed. Tears rolled down his face as he hugged a pillow tighter. Even his strength is not enough to beat the feeling of loneliness he gets.\n\nHe notices the attendance board, for some strange reason it shines green. Megalo rubs his eyes to clear his vision, there was no mistaking it, one of his minions went to work today. #13 chose to go to work instead of vacation.\n\nMegalo was delighted by the news. After wiping his tears and composes himself, he goes to check on the henchman, curious about his decision to go here.\n\n#13 is busy moving boxes to the storage room. He puts down the crate and looks up, only to find Megalo standing right in front of him. #13 jumps back in surprise as Megalo laughs to himself.\n\n\"M-Master Megalo!\"\n\n\"Hehe, sorry for scarin' 'ya. You need anything?\"\n\n\"No sir.\"\n\n\"Then why're you working? I could've sworn I told you guys to take a break and spend time with your families.\"\n\n#13 looks down to the floor, \"You say it like I have a family.\"\n\nMegalo's smile leaves his face as he realizes the reason why #13 works overtime. \"Oh... What happened?\"\n\n\"I don't wanna talk about it.\"\n\nA short silence filled the room before Megalo spoke, \"What's your real name?\"\n\n#13 hesitated to answer for a moment but eventually said \"Mason, sir\".\n\nThe smile returned to Megalo's face, \"Well, Mason, I order you to stop working here and play some board games with me, if you'd like.\"\n\nMason looked up to his boss and happily followed his orders.\n\n\n(Sorry if that last part feels half-assed, I was starting to get tired)" ]	3
	[WP] The monsters under the beds are creatures with an extremely low resistance to cold, that seek refuge on winter nights. The heating in your apartment has just broken, and you decide to help the culprit of most of your nightmares during your childhood	[ "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 low growl eminated from underneath my bed as I stared at the ceiling.\n\n\"Quit it, Dave. You haven't scared me since third grade, there's no point, you prankster,\" I said. Another low growl. I rolled my eyes, and bent down to look under my bed. I could just make out the cat-like shape of the creature under my bed. Dave had been there since I was little. He had scared be for a long time, and I used to have nightmares, but I eventually realized he was just a harmless old grump. \n\n\"Grrrrrrrrr...cold....\" he said, \"Bloody winter.\"\n\n\"Heater's broken,\" I replied. \n\n\"Again?\" Dave grumbled. I sighed.\n\n\"Come up here with me if you're so cold,\" I said. There was a few muttered remarks about humans that I couldn't quite make out, but Dave's fuzzy head peaked out from under the bed a few moments later. \n\nDave was an odd creature. Like a cross between a dragon and a cat. Clumsy scaled wings stuck out from either side of his back. His eyes were a deep, glowing blue. He had fangs that stuck out of his mouth, like a sabertooth. I patted the spot next to me and Dave jumped up. He circled a few times before curling against my stomach. \n\nI fell asleep to his purring." ]	2
	[WP] You're frozen for 1000 years only to wake up to a post apocalyptic earth that knows nothing of modern technology. Now you're trying to teach them about stuff like electricity and the internet, however you don't actually know how they work.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Another one!\" \n\nAt the captain's jerked thumb's command, the squad pulled the figure down from his barrel and cuffed him roughly on the side of the head. With a followup heel to the calf when the figure struggled to escape. \n\n\"What? What are you doing?\" the figure protested as they dragged him down the rough dirt street. \"You can't do this to me! I'm here to teach you, teach you about all the things you've lost and--\" \n\n\"Shut up,\" the captain told him, not unkindly. \"Every other month we get another one...'Oooo, the old world was so great, I've unlocked the mysteries of the old age in my head, all it took was five years wandering the countryside eating my own shit and talking to the garbage in the old pits.\" He sniffed. \"Which is how I'm guessing you got your divine knowledge?\" \n\n\"No....no! I was frozen, I just thawed a couple of days ago, I was there, I know all about this stuff, I can help...\" \n\n\"Shut up,\" he said again, and gestured to his squad to tie the figure to the post in the centre of the square. Cursing and cuffing the figure good-naturedly, they quickly bound him tight and stepped back. One began to pile wood around the figure, and another set about lighting a torch. \n\n\"Every month it's the same,\" he told the struggling figure. \"Another nut rolls out of the woods with stories of power, and wealth, and tales of secrets of the old world. Does no one learn anything? After what happened to New Chicago? The plagues that the Prophet of Calgary set loose thinking they were a 'holy elixir that gave eternal life to all that consumed it', as he put it in his unexpectedly final words? Hmm?\" His squad member tossed the torch on the pile of wood. \"Well, sooner or later you all will get the message,\" he told the now-shrieking figure roasting on the pyre. \n\n\"Come on, assholes, let's hit the pub.\" And as one they marched down the street, leaving a growing crowd to watch the show.", "You told them all the secrets of what they call 'technocraft', but their blank stares just got deeper with each topic. In the end, you decided to show them what this magical thinking process can accomplish. Electricity! You grabbed the nearest patch of rubber from a pile of wreckage, thinking you could generate static rather easily. As you then grabbed for the nearest head to rub the material against, they recoiled in surprise and anger at the unwarranted aggression. Without further hesitation, they rushed you and knocked you out.\n\nYou're awoken to unpleasant rubbing all over your head. Tied to a stake and unable to move, you were being rubbed down with the rubber by the very men you were teaching! Momentary excitement at their learning fading, horror starts creeping in as you notice some of the others wheeling a giant metal rod towards you. Of course they would know all about static electricity and it's power!...and the hair that would've stood down your neck at the realization was already stiff and crackling.", "The future was finally here.\n\nCryogenics was invented and we all dreamt of space exploration and immortality. But of course the private sector instantly monetized it in a more rudimentary fashion. See, the largest problem with travel is that human bodies are squishy. We just cant handle large acceleration, that means no sharp turns and slow travel all around. Even the hyperloops had to travel sufficiently slow to be comfortable. \n\n\nBut guess what can handle almost infinite acceleration? A popsicle. So instead of sending us ofworld to new adventures, we are frozen to travel some 100 km to work a menial job in another city.\n\n\nSo it was with some confusion that I emerged to a post apocalyptic scenery instead of the town of whatever it was called to take an extra shift at the local burger king. A man stared at me.\n\n\nHe were hunched over, carrying a large and pointy stick, and eying me suspiciously. \"excuse me\" , i stammered, \"do you know where I happen to be?\"\n\n\nHe stabbed me in the leg.\n\n\nAs I awoke, i laid in a tent of some sort. Another man witha dead deer head as a hat sat opposite me on the other side of a fire. They had covered my leg in some sort of wet dirt. For a moment I thought of all the bacteria no doubt already festering in my wound, then he spoke.\n\n\n\"you are an ancient one\", his dialect was odd, the emphasis on all the wrong words.\n\n\n\"Sorry sir\" I tried, \"My name is John and I think im a bit lost. Where am I?\"\n\n\n\"in the city of Quadaludes, you are one of the woken\"\n\n\n\"the what?\"\n\n\n\"you've slept through the fire and emerged with us. You will teach us, as your kind always do. For long our tribe has lacked one of the ancients to bring us victory and domination over our rivals\"\n\n\n\"I'll what?\"\n\n\n..... \n\n..... \n\n..... \n\n\n\n\n\"This my dear people, is electricity!\"\n\n\nI had constructed a small generator from what I remembered of high school physics. A small magnet on a wheel so it can rotate inside a circular piece of wire.\n\n\n\"Frank, be a dear and spin it as fast as you can\"\n\n\nFrank spun the wheel. Nothing happaned.\n\n\n\"Now, if one of you would be brave and touch this wire\"\n\n\nOne of the natives slowly aproached, touched the wire but quickly let go again. He looked bewildered.\n\n\n\"What do we use it for?\" the shaman asked, excitedness clearly written in his face\n\n\n\"we use it\" I explained in my teching voice, \"to power machines the likes you have never seen. Great beasts on wheel and small thinking boxes we call computers. With this, we will never want for anything again\"\n\n\n\"how do we build those?\"\n\n\nI stopped in my tracks, trying to think back. How did you use electricity? Had that been covered in class? You plugged your computer into a wall but.. Then what?", "Do you know how hard it is to remember your high school physics? I've been wracking my brain how to make something as simple as electricity. There were ways with magnets and wire, or cloth rubbing on stuff. I've been rubbing a cloth on everything I could find to create a spark.\n\nI was a professor back in the 21th century. I taught medicine and we were finalizing a cryogenics capsule. All tests were perfect, so I volunteered for a long term trail. Little did I knew I would only wake up 1000 years later. The buildings of the university I worked in were nothing more than ruins. Fortunately the little bunker containing my pod was still standing. The capsule had been running on the university power backups and was very efficient. There were no other users as most people died, so the backup power lasted a really long time.\n\nWhen I woke up and exited the bunker, I was quickly surround by natives, bush people, elves. They lived in the forests nearby, what used to be a city once upon a time. Some mutations have taken place. These people are all beautiful beyond belief and could pass for lingerie models and body builders. They also had pointy ears. Of course I didn't understand a word of what they were saying and they clearly didn't understand me.\n\nAs these elves, as I called them, were clearly primitive I demonstrated some techniques I remembered. They were clearly not impressed. I succeeded in making fire and make some bricks to make a house near the . They stamped out my fire, made a lot of mad gestures and knocked down the little wall I've made. In the end I did succeeded in using some glass from the pod and the clothing they gave me to draw sparks. I showed the guy that brought me food this, calling up sparks. He just deadpanned with \"Cute\".\n\nI was flabbergasted. \n\n\"You speak English?\"\n\n\"Yes. We learned that this morning.\"\n\n\"Learned it?\"\n\n\"It wasn't hard. Find out what old language you were speaking and finding somebody with archives on that language was the hard part.\"\n\n\"Okay. But what do you think? This is electricity. You can use it to power great machines and build large buildings.\"\n\n\"It's cute, but not really useful.\"\n\n\"What?!\"\n\nThe guy just sighed. \n\n\"Come on,\" he said. \"We'll give you the grand tour. You've never been in the forest, right?\"\n\n\"Of course not. I don't go into the wild just like that.\"\n\n\"Misguided, but understandable. Follow me.\"\n\nAfter walking in the forest for several minuted, we arrived at something I can only call a city build out of the trees. There were redwood like trees supporting large, even cathedral like organically looking buildings. Some buildings were covered with some sort of coral, some with a mother of pearl like substance, some with shiny scales. It was magnificent.\n\n\"How did you build this?\" I asked.\n\n\"Building,\" he said and huffed. \"We don't build it. That's so primitive. You just grow it. Tweak some genetics until you get what you need.\"\n\n\"Can I see your lab?\" I asked eagerly?\n\n\"What lab?\"\n\n\"Where you do your genetic manipulation.\"\n\n\"Oh, no need. I manipulate my own cells and that of other organisms directly. Each of our cells has it's own genetic computer. It's the only technology we kept from the Age of Fire.\"\n\n\"Age of Fire?\"\n\n\"Yeah, that time when people burned matter to make things happen.\" The guy shuddered. \"So primitive and destructive. Let's find you some home instead of that brick monstrosity you were trying to build. Then we can start on upgrade your genetics. Come.\"" ]	5
I often write prompts as I think of them and later write stories surrounding the prompt/quote. This is one I find interesting because it allows for a little world building/mythology. Looking forward to your responses!	[WP] Why does the willow weep?	[ "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.", "In the days old, before the world was mapped and wonderous beasts wandered the land, there lived a young girl named Willow. She was lithe and limber, clear-skinned and straight limbed. Her hair was golden like the noon-day sun in the height of summer, her eyes deep green like a sea before a storm, and her voice was the tinkling sound of bells ringing gently in the breeze.\n\n Everyone in the village loved her but none loved her as much as her father. No one in the village could stand to see the beautiful child cry, but her father doted on her, running hither and thither to appease her every whim, not out of fear of her tears but out of love for her smile. \n\n \n The village had its share of misfortune, men dying on hunts, people disappearing into the forest, cattle having their blood sucked dry, but a party of men from the village would be sent out and would always come back with some sort of beast or monster that was to blame. Even during the most terrible times, Willow's smile would bring them comfort and hope. When people lost hope and suggested leaving, Willows tears would strengthen their resolve to stay and fight. All villages suffered, they told themselves, we must fight to protect our homes. \n\nOne day a fearsome leviathan was seen near the village, burning the olive trees with its terrible breath and rending the livestock with its deadly claws. No one in the village could stand up to this mighty beast, so word was sent to the great city nearby, asking that their mightiest heroes be sent to defend the village and defeat the beast so the farmers and herdsmen could salvage their livelihoods During this panic, Willow grew hungry. She had plenty of simple food, oats and fruit and the like, but what she loved more than anything was jam made from the berries that grew on top of the mountain across the river. Willow went to her father and, in the sweetest tones she knew, begged her father to travel across the river to bring her back her favorite berries. She told her father that if she didn't have the berries she would surely never be able to smile again. This broke her father's heart so he promised that as soon as he could, he would fetch the berries and then she could once again smile. \n\nThe river valley, unfortunately, was the domain of the leviathan and Willow's father could not cross without encountering the beast. The girl's father wandered the streets asking if anyone knew how he could get across the valley to get the berries his darling child required. After a day and a night of his requests, a boy came running in from the hills outside the village to say the party of heroes was approaching. Willow's father raced to the edge of the village, and when he met the band of adventurers he fell to his knees and begged them to cross the valley and bring back the berries that grew on top of the hill. The members of the party seemed unsure of how to handle his request. Some asked about payment, others said it wouldn't be much trouble after they dealt with the leviathan. Finally, they agreed that if they defeated the creature they would return with the berries he required. \n\nThe adventurers went down into the valley, lured the beast out and slew it, cutting its head from its body and taking the skin to show the village that the creature was dead. After the battle was complete, the band crossed the river, gathered as many of the berries as they could find and returned to the village. However, when they returned to the village they couldn't find anyone. The houses were all empty and there was no one on the street. The heroes went to the house where Willow and her father lived, and when they entered the house they saw a terrible sight. The girl's face was the same and she had great tears rolling down her beautiful cheeks, but the tears fell from her cheeks onto a bloated yet wrinkled body that looked simultaneously like it had rotted in the river for weeks and had also been desiccated in the desert sun. The young girl was a hag, feeding on the emotions of the villagers for many years, using her tears and her smiles to cloud their minds into seeing what she wished them to see. \n\nThe band of adventurers prepared to destroy the creature before them but before they could draw their weapons, the hag cast a spell upon them to make them see only a young girl, but one of the heroes was a woman in long service to her god and she was unaffected by the spell. So she called upon her god to strike down this thing before her and even as she spoke the bloated body began to stretch. The hags arms and head split and rose into the air becoming branches and the beautiful hair dripped gracefully from the branches, sprouting tiny leaves. Her legs sunk into the floor and became the trunk and roots of the tree that had suddenly appeared inside of this house. The tree continued to grow until it broke the house in two, each half falling away like a split log. The breeze gently blew the thin spindly branches that hung down around the trunk. The heroes called it a weeping willow because of the young girl that had controlled her village with her tears." ]	2
	[WP] There used to be an advanced pre-human civilization. But climate change forced them North. Humans discovered them and in order to keep the humans appeased, they venture out every winter to deliver tribute to human children. Now only one remains. They humans call him Santa Claus.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "There was one thing I was never told about my people's immortality: the memories. Like my domain, my memories are cold and unforgiving. Millennia ago, the Nöelans were a humble, jolly people. People I had loved. People I would see no more. Khione was my first love. My first \"Mrs. Claus\", as she would have been called by the children of this new world. Now, Khione, my family, my entire kind are gone. Now, they are only found in my dreams...\n\n\"Mr. Kringle, sir!\" One of my elves, General Virlon, banged on my door, startling me awake, then shouted through the door. \"We have this year's list of children at the ready!\" \n\nI sighed wearily, got up from by bed, and walked to the door. When I opened it, General Virlon handed me the first book in a series of 195 titled, \"Children of Afghanistan\". The book had almost nineteen million pages in it, one page per each child. Not exactly a light read, but it could get done by the end of the day (China's and India's were astoundingly worse). \n\n\"Make sure that Lieutenant Carrice is reassigned to electronics this year,\" I commanded. Virlon responded with a salute. I saluted back and he was dismissed.\n\nI took the book back to my bed and read the first page. A boy's face stared back at me by the name of Aakrama. Aakrama was a good kid by the look of it. Went to the Mosque every Friday, prayed five times a day, helped his father out whenever he could. He loved his mother, too, a woman by the name of Illiyeen.\n\nIlliyeen was the name of a Mrs. Claus from centuries past. Nice woman, but she, like other Mrs. Clauses throughout history, never quite understood why I did what I did.\n\n\"You could always quit you know,\" she had said while I was reading through my list of children from the Ottoman Empire. \"Leave this life behind before it kills you.\" She smiled. \"Figuratively, of course.\" Back then, I still had a hand in making the toys. Now, I have neither the time nor the know-how. \n\n\"Mrs. Claus, the children need me now more than they ever did.\" I told her. It was 1919. Half of the world was just finished with what was then called the Great War. \"The humans saw darkness from which it can never return. There needs to be joy to give the people hope. There needs to be a Santa Claus.\"\n\nIlliyeen shook her head and smiled. \"You know I love you and I support the decisions you make,\" she kissed me and went to kindle the fireplace in front of us. \"But those rotten kids out there don't deserve you.\" \n\nIlliyeen passed in her sleep 30 years later, but what she said had always resonated with me. \"Those rotten kids don't deserve you.\" My people didn't deserve to be hunted and killed by the primitive humans who used our magic against us. I didn't deserve to lose Khione to a fool who thought he was brave. Illiyeen didn't deserve to spend the rest of her life in a place so cold.\n\nTruth is, it's never about what you deserve. Life is about what you have and what you do with what you have. I do what I do in the hope that children feel joy where once was pain, and so that I can, too." ]	2
	[WP] You’re a wizard who’s powers aren’t all that extraordinary. One day, while practicing a new spell, a group enters your temple demanding a fight. You explain to them that you aren’t evil, and they show you a poster... of your twin brother.	[ "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 not like Henri had certain—well, expectations when he apprenticed himself to Grand Sorcerer Francesca. One of those was that someday in the near future, his name would be known as one of the Greatest Sorcerers Of All Time. All in capitals, if you don’t mind.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTwenty years later, in the very far future, he’s accepted that if anyone’s name is going to go down in the history books, it certainly isn’t his. Acceptance, however, doesn’t mean that one cannot dream. Or in Henri’s case, work on an implausibly unlikely spell in the middle of his Temple of Magic.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Young man, are you heading down to that old barn down the road?” The feeble wavering voice of Agnes Dittle emerged from somewhere around Henri’s chest level.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe sighed as he said, “Miss Dittle, it’s a Temple of Magic, not a barn! At least, not anymore.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Yes, Farmer Will’s old red barn. Do be so kind as to get my old cat out of a tree?”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhich is how Henri finds himself using the most basic of levitation spells (in fact, the only levitation spell he could perform with no risk of the concerned object spontaneously combusting) to lift old lady Dittle’s cat out of the newest tree he’d found.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nFinally, when both cat and lady left, he opened the Gates of the Temple of Magic.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThey shuddered open with a dismal creak. The signs of Henri’s research were scattered all around—shattered flower pots, spilled inkwells and of course, the trusty black cauldron.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nToday was the day. The day to test whether years of hard work had paid off. To find out whether someone who could only successful levitation three times out of ten could be—a Sorcerer.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe magic words settled into the air with a heavy gravitas. The very universe seemed to slow down. And then—\n\nNothing happened.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHenri sighed, readied himself to clean up after a long day of accomplishing nothing, when the barn door (Gate of the Temple of Magic!) shattered into pieces.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe trio who entered had Magic, Adventure and Get Written Into The Textbooks metaphorically written on their faces. Henri could spot an Excalibur being waved from the young leader’s hand and the other two weren’t half bad themselves.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Evil demon, we finally track to your lair! Now, prepare to surrender—or feel the wrath of my blade.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHenri does what no self-respecting sorcerer would ever do in the face of an enemy waving pointy objects in their direction. He raises his arms up in surrender.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThis seems to throw the trio in for a loop, and they finally absorb the Un-Evil Lair-like Decor around them. “Are you —really Evil Lord Irneh?”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“No, I really don’t fit any of the criteria’s for being an Evil Lord, I’m afraid,” he said self-deprecatingly.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAn unfolded wanted poster was waved underneath Henri’s nose. “How do you explain this then?”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt’s undoubtedly Henri’s face, right down to the unflattering sideburns. But he’d never be able to pull off a terrifying smirk like that in a million years.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Could it be— ” began one of the sidekicks in a low whisper. “—that they’re twins.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“But then that would mean—“\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“—undoubtedly yes.“\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe young leader turned his intense eyes onto Henri. “You have to help us defeat your brother. It was fate that brought us here to meet you.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“But wait, I’m an only—“\n\n&#x200B;\n\n“Will you stand on the side of righteousness and raise your sword against encroaching evil.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nBut I’m a sorcerer, I don’t have swords, thought Henri hysterically. But then again, reflecting on it, wasn’t this what he’d waited for his whole life? A chance to prove himself, a chance to be something great. And who’d care that he didn’t actually have a twin brother when the Evil Lord was dead? And they always did die at the hands of the Hero and his Companions.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd so, surprisingly enough, Henri ended up saying, “I do.”", "I am an inventor! Well I would be if any of my spells would actually work. On the other hand my twin is also an inventor but unlike me he has actually invented things. Well one day I was just chilling, practicing a spell that I learned yesterday when all of a sudden some hooligans come in.\n\nThe first things these people did was enter by blowing a hole through the roof (even though there was a door right there for flying wizards!) and shouting all sorts of obscenities. One of them that was apparently called Mark then screamed FIREBALL and almost killed me but I got out of the way “What are you doing you almost killed me!” They didn’t answer me but instead pulled out a poster with my twin on it...\n\nLike the one time I’m important enough for them to waste a fireball spell on me and it’s because they thought I was my brother. How embarrassing. Anyways I shouted “That’s my twin brothers you fools!” They came up to me and looked through my records and confirmed I had a twin brother so they left and made another hole in the wall. Why magicians think making dramatic entrances and exits is unknown to me.\n\nMy secret is though that I am secretly my twin and I will now rule the world with the mediocre spells of my brother!", "\"Seravum infernium!\"\n\nNothing happened. \n\n\"Seravum infernium!\" I said again, this time waving my staff around in front of me. Yet still, nothing happened. I stared at the wall, feeling hopeless. I felt like an idiot. \n\nI walked back toward the table and studied my notes again. I prodded the stove on which one pot boiled a healing poition for burns, and in the other, my lunch. Ah, there it was! \n\nSeeing the right note, I took my position again in the middle of the room, facing the wall.\n\n\"Seravoom infernium!\" \n\nA little puff of smoke appeared from the tip of my staff. It worked! Elated I went back to my notebook and underlined the \"vum\" to highlight the pronunciation.\n\nAgain I took my place and tried again, this time pointing my staff at the wall.\n\n\"Seravoom infernium!\" \n\nThe wall in front of me burst into pieces, though only a puff of smoke lingered on my staff like last time. Honestly I was quite surprised. How could I have mastered it so quickly?\n\nThrough the dust and settling debris, I soon found my answer. An eclectic group of people poured into my sanctuary. They were clad in strange armor and had various weaponry among them. Swords and shields, axes, bows, and arrows. One even had what seemed like sticks of explosive powder. \n\n\"Look at his cloak,\" I heard one of them shout. \"It's the wizard at last!\"\n\n\"Let's take him down!\"\n\n\"Any last words, you evil sorcerer?\"\n\nI had been so caught off by their entrance, I had forgotten to worry about myself. But st the words \"evil sorcerer\" I immediately knew two things. One, they have no idea who I am. And two, they're here to kill me. \n\n\"Whoa ,whoa, whoa, slow down.\" I shouted as my grip on my staff tightened. I knew a few good defensive spells, but I couldn't use them now. At my level of study, they still require some meditation before use in combat. I was not prepared. I'd have to use my wits, not my magic. \n\nI waved my staff in the air then slammed its end down on the stone floor. I took a deep breath reached for my lowest, most bellowing voice. \n\n\"Before you come at me with your weapons, you just first declare who it is that has desecrated my holy place.\"\n\nThe intruders looked among themselves, seeming a bit confused. Then one stepped forward and removed his helmet. \n\n\"We are the Fellowship of the Tavern Folly. I am their leader, Barthaniel of Gorn. We seek justice. We vanquish evil. We exact revenge for our fallen. And you, evil wizard Dorlash, have come to your end!\"\n\n\"Evil wizard Dorlash?\" I asked incredulously. \"That's who you think I am?\" \n\nI couldn't hold back a chuckle. \n\n\"I am no evil wizard. In fact I'm hardly a wizard at all. Just now I was practicing my low level spellwork and, I have to say, I'm glad you came at the end of my session.\" I put on a nervous smile. \"My name is Wayleron the -\" \n\nI hesitated to complete my title, but felt compelled nonetheless. \n\n\"My name is Wayleron the Light Purple.\" I felt my cheeks flush red. \n\nOne of the fighters next to Barthaniel tugged his shoulder and handed him a sheet of paper. Barthaniel looked at it then back at me.\n\n\"Don't try to fool me,\" Barthaniel spoke at last. \"Your cunning wizardly ways will not charm me. I have proof here that you are Dorlash whom we seek.\" \n\nHe crumpled the paper and threw it at my feet. I carefully stooped down to pick it up, wary they may rush me while distracted. Fortunately they did not. \n\nThe picture stole my breath. It sure looked a lot like me. The artist caught many of my features. I could have thought I was looking in a mirror, except for a large scar running across the neck where I had seen the magic slice him open. \n\n\"This, this cannot be. My brother's name was Dorlash, but he perished years ago in an unfortunate magical mishap. We buried him beneath the maples in the grove just west of here.\"\n\n\"This scar,\" I said, pointing to the picture, \"is what killed him. Or, thought had killed him. See, I have nothing of the sort.\"\n\nI pulled my cloak down to reveal my bare neck, flawless save for a few unsightly moles.\n\nA murmur rose within the Fellowship of the Fools Tavern, or whatever they had called themselves. They gathered in a circle evidently to discuss this new development. I stood in my place, awaiting their response. Finally they broke from their huddle. \n\n\"Wayleron the Light Purple,\" Barthaniel said. \"We are wary to accept your defense at face value, nevertheless it is convincing. We give you two options. One, you may join us as we continue to hunt for Dorlash and so we may keep a close eye on you. Or two, we put you to death now.\"\n\n\"Well, those are both very enticing options,\" I said with as fake enthusiasm as I could muster. \"Just let me gather my spellbooks and we'll get on our way.\"\n\nAnd so began my journey to find (and perhaps kill) my lost brother Dorlash. Oh drat, I think I left my stove on in the sanctuary." ]	4
	[WP] Your demon summoning ritual went very wrong. Instead of a demon, you accidentally summoned the Slayer...	[ "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 ball of smoke erupted in the basement. Tessa coughed and squinted her irritated eyes. A voice, slick as motor oil, cut through the air.\n\n\"Tell thee...who do we slay this day?\" \n\nBraden grabbed Tessa's arm in alarm. On the other side of the basement, Kaylee shouted in both excitement and horror.\n\n\"CHEEZY BURGERS, GUYS, IT REALLY WORKED. OH MY GOD, WE SUMMONED A DEMON. MOM IS GOING TO KILL ME.\"\n\nThe smoke cleared and the three kids coughed again as the swinging light bulb came back into view. A seven foot demon stood beneath its dim light, in the middle of their summoning circle. \n\nTessa fell back into Braden, knocking them both to the ground, and toppling Braden's wizard hat off his head. \n\n\"You have summoned me, Princess Callitrix of Enmore, from the Dead Sleep. I am Alastair, at your bidding.\" \n\nKaylee locked eyes with Tessa from across the summoning circle and pointed emphatically at the demon.\n\n\"OH MY GOD,\" she mouthed. \n\nThe demon shuffled his rather human looking boots on the old basement carpet, disturbing the circle barrier. \n\n\"What is this unusual substance?\" \n\n\"S-sugar,\" Tessa said, watching his big, black boots. She couldn't bear to look at his face. \"We couldn't find enough salt to create the circle, your, um, demon-highness.\"\n\nHer great grandmother had once told her to always be respectful when first meeting a demon. That was before she actually thought it would work. Before she believed demons even existed. \n\n\"You believe me, The Great Alastair, to be a demon?\" \n\nA loud, booming laugh filled the basement. \n\n\"Sssh,\" Kaylee said. \"You'll wake my parents!\" \n\nTessa gave Kaylee a sharp look that clearly meant shut up. Kaylee quickly covered her mouth in horror. \n\n\"Your parents.\" Alastair turned to Kaylee for the first time. \"Are they whom we slay this day?\"\n\n\"No, no, no, you have the wrong idea, Mr. Demon. There will be no slaying! Leave my parents alone.\"\n\nAlastair swirled his black cloak about his shoulders and shifted a black eye to Tessa.\n\n\"Princess Callitrix, you have summoned me, The Great Alastair, Slayer of Mankind. Tell your peasants that I am no demon.\"\n\nHe looked at Tessa expectantly as she finally looked at his face. It was a rather human looking face. Long. Rugged. Mid-thirties, maybe, like her own parents. \n\n\"You...are not Alastor, The Demon, then? That's who we tried to summon. Well, not really. It was all supposed to be a game.\"\n\n\"A game?\"\n\n\"Dungeons and Dragons.\" Tessa fidgeted with her plastic crown uneasily. \"And I'm no princess. My name is Tessa.\" \n\nAlastair buried his face into a gloved hand and laughed.\n\n\"Oh, thank God. This must be Earth. What year is it here?\" \n\n\"T-twenty-nineteen.\" Tessa said.\n\nAlastair unbuttoned the throat of his cloak and let it slink to the ground. He rubbed a red spot beneath his Adam's Apple. \n\n\"Oh, that feels good. Hey, kid, do you have a Pepsi?\"\n\nKaylee jumped a little, then raced around the circle to the fridge next to Braden. \n\n\"Y-yeah, here you go.\"\n\nAlastair stepped forward out of the circle and closed his hand around the Pepsi can. \n\n\"You're a lifesaver. I haven't had one of these in, like, twelve years? Yeah, twelve years. The Olsen Twins. That was fu-,\" he trailed off, then turned a hard eye to the three kids. \"Just don't do drugs, kids.\" \n\n\"So, you're a Slayer?\" Braden finally said, after mustering a small bit of courage to face the mysterious not-demon. \n\nAlastair pulled out a chair at their D&D table and sat down with a groan.\n\n\"It's not all it's cracked up to be. Blood. Guts. Shit. Lots and lots of shit in the old days. It is everywhere.\"\n\n\"Do you time travel?\" Tessa asked, taking a seat across from Alastair at the table. \n\n\"Not exactly. It's more that I go wherever and whenever I am summoned. You said the demon you tried to summon is named Alastor? That must be the problem. Our names are similar and it looks like you did a shoddy job on the summoning circle. No offense. You're better off with me, anyway. We did a job together back in the dark ages. Alastor would have eaten you all alive by now.\"\n\nAlastair chuckled, his eyes grazing over their game board. His hand started to tremor. \n\n\"Oh, dear, since you guys don't have a real job for me to do, I'm getting summoned again.\"\n\nA scroll popped into existence and hung in front of Alastair's face.\n\n\"Princess Iradella of Weshinton,\" he read. \"I've been there before. It's the real deal. Magic...and shit, of course...but magic everywhere.\"\n\nHe stood up to leave, taking one last swig of the Pepsi.\n\n\"Crazy idea, but do you kids want to tag along? D&D will never compare to the real thing and being The Slayer gets lonely. I'll drop you back off by 10 PM. What do you say, ready to save a real princess?\"\n\nTessa didn't even have time to think before Alastair grabbed her hand. Kaylee joined in, then Braden. The three kids looked at each other with mixed expressions of excitement and horror at what awaited them. \n\nThe room spun and a cloud of smoke enveloped them.\n\nPop.\n\nThey tumbled into an old medieval bedroom. The Princess Iradella of Weshington greeted them in thick, gold robes. Her skin was red. 100% actually red. And horns curled out from the top of her head. \n\n\"Wonderful job, Alastor,\" she purred, stroking his cheek. \"What a good demon boy.\" \n\n\"WHAT!\" Kaylee screamed, crushing Tessa into her side for protection. \"You are a demon?\"\n\n\"Did your parents never teach you Stranger Danger?\" \n\nAlastor smiled. His teeth were pointed now, like spikes. \n\nIradella sauntered over to the three kids and rested hands on Kaylee and Braden's head. She looked deeply into Tessa's eyes.\n\n\"Welcome to Hell, my sweet. Now, which of your friends should we dine on first?\"", "“Who are you?” The hooded figure held a golden sword to my throat, slowly pushing forward, threatening me. I drop the book and before it touches the ground, it levitates back into my hands. The cursed book opens to a random page and the person I summoned eyed the book warily. “What is that? Are you trying to curse me?” He says, then twirls his sword around. He stabs the book, right in the spine, and it falls to the ground, not levitating back up. He takes his hood off, revealing a scarred face. \n\n“Who are you?” I can barely say because I just watched him destroy a book. Not any book though, a magic book. I only stole it last week and now this man just took away the magic it had. That sword...I’ve seen it before. Golden, a faint glow of white, sharp as a blade. The man looks up from his sword, glaring straight at me. “I believe I asked you first, but I’ll answer. I am Sfageas Daimonon and I slay demons. People tend to call me Fageas, so you shall stick to that. Only two people have ever called me by my full name and that is my mother and my wife. \n\nI nod for a while, then I sprint away. I run through the misty forest, avoiding the tall trees as I flee. I've heard the legend of the Golden Slayer. He always carries around an enchanted golden sword that can kill any magical creature—demons, fairies, immortals, and much more. And I'm one of those. My parents were demons who gave their lives for me to be human. The kingdom was being ruled by a cruel emperor, so they sent me to live in the human world. I've had to hide my secret for a long time until I told my foster parent and she freaked out. And kicked me out. And now I was wandering the city. I was. Until I found the book. I was trying to summon a demon to bring me home. And J summoned the Golden Slayer. \n\n”I pity thee, life must be hard living with such a secret.” The Slayer says because he just appeared in front of me. I freeze, uncertain of what I should say. “How did you know?” I finally ask and he chuckles lightly. “The signs were obvious. The book is magic. Only magically creatures handle magic.” The Slayer steps forward. “And I smelled demon.” He whispers," ]	3
	[WP] Mostco, the world’s most popular warehouse store, is this year’s Top Place To Work, according to Forbes. Their employment agreement includes a provision that in case of apocalypse, employees will be expected to take up the company-provided arms to defend their Mostco from looters.	[ "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 announcement blared overhead.\n\nAnyone without weapons, reach out to Rachel at the front desk, or Joseph who is located towards the back entrance. Extra ammunition is available on the self check out counters, aisle 13 or in the gardening section. Lesley from cosmetics, we need reinforcements at the truck loading bay. Please gather a few people and go there asap. Reach out to Yuri who's waiting there and he will help you. Remember guys, serve with a smile and protect with your life.\n\nJackson was looking around for his team leader, Shirley. He found her talking to one of the people in charge of techs.\n\n\"Shirley. Shirl. Come on, I need to be out there.\"\n\n\"Jackson? Why have you left your post? You need to go back there immediately.\"\n\n\"There is a war going on out there and you want me to guard the churros?\"\n\n\"Those churros are our breadwinners. You know they are an important company asset.\"\n\n\"They are food. I'm sure the enemy doesn't care about them.\"\n\n\"Jackson, what was rule 4 of the Mostco rulebook.\"\n\n\"Shirley, come on. I am one of your best fighters. I won the employee paintball tournament three times.\"\n\n\"What's rule 4?\"\n\n\"I should be out there. I can be a real ass...\"\n\nShe reached out and held him by the shoulder. \"Rule 4.\"\n\nHe looked down at his feet, his shoulders slumping. \"You must listen to your team leader.\"\n\n\"Do that.\" She turned around and spoke into her radio. \"Bianca, what's the latest on the west entrance.\" She waited. No response. \"Bianca.\"\n\nHer face went pale as she looked at Jackson. Before she could say anything, a faint voice came over the radio. \"...they're in...\"\n\n\"Jackson. To your post.\" She lifted the pen she usually kept tucked behind her ear. She pressed it three times, paused and pressed it twice for good measure. A beam of energy shot out of front as it turned into a sword. \n\nJackson could feel the heat emanating from the energy beam. \n\n\"Shirley, what is this?\" \n\n\"I'm not going to say this again. To your station. Now. I have to go get a few things. I'll come to you.\"\n\nWith that, she ran towards the cereals aisle.\n\nJackson looked at her run, his mouth hanging open as he saw her leap over shopping carts and avoiding obstacles like they were nothing. A commotion behind him broke him out of his reverie. The east corner. They were in.\n\nHe hurried to his post. They kept the food reserves in a little store room all the way at the back. He had been stuck there along with three other people. He ran towards his post, his mind still stuck on Shirley's weapon.\n\nAs he reached the door he was supposed to be guarding, his hand instinctively went to punch the password. To his horror, he noticed that the door was ajar. \n\n\"Shawn!\"\n\nHe ran in but his foot stuck something and he fell forwards. He looked back and noticed the body of one of the other people who were supposed to guard this place. Stacy. She was a college kid working here part time. Shawn and him often joked about her hot mom who came to pick her up sometimes. Damn it. Shawn. His best friend was still here somewhere. He got up and entered one of the storage rooms. Stuff was strewn about as if someone had been looking for something. He noticed a crate missing. As per Shirley's orders, they had taken inventory when this had started. Mustard. Jackson always had a good memory for this kind of stuff. They had taken the mustard. He heard a sound outside and shrank into a corner. He would have the element of surprise.\n\n\"We are good. We have almost everything we need. You did well.\"\n\nA familiar voice answered. \"Thank you M'yleah. Just tell me I can get off of this damn planet now. These people make me sick. Working here on Black Friday is worse than annihilation situation punishment on our planet.\"\n\nShawn. It was Shawn.\n\n\"Yes, of course. We have the resources we need from this center. I am getting reports that the other attacks have been working out well too.\"\n\nA rustling sound reached Jackson as he tried to blend in with the darkness. \n\n\"Ok, so last two things. We need palaado? And some seriel.\"\n\n\"Wait, what? Let me just... Ah, play-doh and cereal.\"\n\nJackson remembered Shirley going towards the cereal section. He had to do something. He closed his eyes and counted down from five, calming himself down for what was about to come. He heard footsteps walking away. This was his chance. He rolled out in the hallway and shot at the green thing walking with Shawn.\n\nThe thing turned around with a gurgling sound, putting its hand at the hole in its mid section and bringing it up to his face to look at the green ooze. \"You...\"\n\nJackson didn't let him finish and fired three more shots in rapid succession aiming for the head. He had learnt from Thor's mistakes.\n\nWith inhuman speed, Shawn jumped up and was on him in a flash. He knocked the gun away from his hand and brought up a knife to his throat. \n\n\"You killed him.\"\n\n\"You are betraying Mostco. They gave us 35% employee discount.\"\n\n\"Look Jackson, I'm going to let you live for the fun we've had together. Don't follow me.\" He raised his knife and brought it down. Jackson closed his eyes and waited for the pain that never came. He opened his eyes to see Shawn running away. His gun lay broken into pieces. \n\nHe got up and looked around. He didn't have a weapon handy. Didn't matter. He had signed the agreement. Serve with a smile, protect with your life.\n\nHe ran after him.\n\nAs he raced after Shawn, he noticed that the battle was mostly over. The Mostco employees had tried their hardest but they had lost. His friends, his coworkers lay strewn across the aisles. He shouted and with a burst of adrenaline ran harder than he ever had. His legs complained. He could hear his heart in his ears. \n\nHe was catching up to Shawn, who had stopped at the cereal aisle and was using some sort of device on the aisle. Jackson noticed that boxes were disappearing wherever he used it. He noticed a shopping cart and jumped on to it, his momentum carrying them forward. \n\nShawn turned around, surprise evident in his face. With a yell, he ran towards Jackson who leaped up at the last moment. The shopping cart connected squarely with Shawn's mid section. Jackson jumped on top of him. He didn't need a weapon, he was one. Serve with a smile, protect with your life.\n\nShawn's eyes were beginning to swell up. As Jackson brought his fist down again, he quickly moved his head to the side. Jackson recoiled as his fist made contact with the floor. With a push, Shawn rolled over and the positions were reversed. Shawn brought his own fist and Jackson felt his nose snap. Blood ran down his face creating a Glasgow smile on his face. \n\n\"I warned you Jackson. I warned you.\"\n\nHe wound up, the knife appearing in his hand as if by magic.\n\nYes, Jackson was going to die. But he would die knowing he had fulfilled his end of the deal.\n\nHis eye caught some movement and he smiled.\n\nShawn snarled and brought his hand down. Before it came all the way down, there was a flash of blue light and his hand lay to his side, completely severed. \n\nAnother shot and Shawn lay on the floor quite dead.\n\nShirley extended her hand helping Jackson up.\n\n\"Did they get everything.\"\n\n\"Except the play-doh and cereal.\"\n\n\"Damn it. These were probably extras. They got all the main ingredients.\" She looked around. \"His vehicle would be in the parking lot. This is above your clearance level but I'll need the help. So with the power vested in me, you are now assistant Team lead. Congrats, now you get 40% employee discount universe wide. Come on.\"\n\n\"Where are we going?\"\n\n\"To get our stuff back. The promixa stores are running out of food which was what prompted this attack. These Smalmarters will stop at nothing. This battle might've been lost, but we can still win the war.\"" ]	2
	[WP] After you die you stand before the pearly gates to be judged. As they bring out your list of sins, the angels reveal a horrifying truth. Every video game in history has been a portal to another universe, and every action you ever did in a game happened in real life.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So, I'm not gonna lie to you kid, you've got quite the uphill battle ahead of you, though not all is lost\" Saint Peter said, combing through the ornate gold embroidered book in front of him.\n\nGalen looked on nervously, but that last part gave him hope. Not that his state of mind was doing him any favors in the first place. It was shocking enough that he now found himself in front of the pearly gates despite spending the better part of the past decade a staunch atheist.\n\nThe Saint continued, \"Usually as soon as we see something like Crusader Kings 2 or the Sims in a person's library, we send them straight to Lou down below, but it looks like you never really delved into that debauchery\".\n\n\"... wait, WHAT?!\" Galen interjected, as somehow things had just gotten even more unbelievable. \"Are you telling me my afterlife is going to be determined by my gaming history? Do you not care that I haven't been to church since I was thirteen? That I have helped take care of my sick grandmother? That I cheated on Ms. Weaver's math test when I was five?!\"\n\n\"Well of course all of that is taken into account, but the Big Guy upstairs is less concerned about whether you managed to pick the right religion out of the thousands he put on Earth, and far more interested in the kind of person you are deep down inside.\"\n\nPeter continued \"as the human population on earth began to rapidly expand, we found it harder and harder to keep track of the good and the bad, so a few decades ago we began to phase in a cheat sheet of human desires. What you call video games. You see, when you give a man absolute power, it does not corrupt them absolutely as the more famous quote goes, rather, it reveals them for who they truly are, for when a person possesses both the power and lack of consequences to their actions, they will show who they really are. Video games provide that power and freedom from consequences, and we have observed and judged people's actions accordingly\".\n\nGalen listened on in terror. If only he had listened to his Grandfather when he said that video games would melt his brain! But it wasn't all bad. Galen never really cared much for violent games, and hey, he helped his little cousin built a house in Minecraft once, that had to count for something!\n\n\"So... uhhhh.. how will I know if I passed\" Galen asked. \"I mean, I don't think I ever did anything too bad\".\n\n\"You nuked an entire civilization to ashes, Galen\" Peter replied all too fast.\n\n\"Well, yeah, but it was Gandhi I nuked, man, you know as well as I do the bastard had it coming!\"\n\n\"I heard that!\" Yelled a thickly accented voice from over the gates.\n\nPeter just softly chuckled and nodded. \"Fair enough, if we held that against everyone, heaven would be empty\".\n\n\"Listen, Galen, you've got a lot of good here. You've built some very prosperous cities, you always take the heroic routes in Bioware games, and you haven't created a single horribly inbred and murderous dynasty\".\n\nHe continued, \"But you have also seen to massacres for resources, you have left souls to die for their poor stats, and you have at time sacrificed the good of the people for optimal efficiency\".\n\n\"And so, I believe a final test is in order. You will play a game of Civilization to completion, and if you can avoid declaring any type of war or taking aggressive actions, you will be let into heaven\"\n\n\"Ok, a pacifist run, that's easy enough!\" Said Galen, seeing victory within his grasp.\n\n\"Just one more caveat\" smirked the holy man in front of him, \"there will be another player in the game with you, who will push your.patience to its limit\" at these words, a thin Indian man stepped out from behind the pearly gates, laptop in hand. \"Mahatma, see to it if this one truly has what it takes to be worthy of paradise\".", "The angel cleared his throat. “Ah yes, the trigger-happy one. Patton, yes? Pat to your friends? Henderson? Yep, you’re all here! Please proceed to the gates of Hell.”\n\nI smiled, then took a double take. “W-What? Hell? Why?!”\n\n“Must I read your list, sir? That’s a sin quite on its own!”\n\n“I didn’t do anything horrible, did I? I mean, I never killed anyone or kicked a dog or anything like that! I’m not that kind of guy!”\n\n“Sir,” the angel said, scoffing, “you did quite a bit more than that!”\n\n“More? I didn’t-!”\n\n“Alright, Mr. Patton, I will read your charges. Perhaps then it will...ahem, jog your memory.”\n\nI crossed my arms. “Fine, then! I bet this is all a big misunderstanding!”\n\nThe angel reached below the counter, then pulled out a sheet of paper. Then another. Then another. Then a whole pile. Then another. Then another. Entire mountains of paper were filling the desk, and the desks around them. Pat looked apologetically around him. Everyone else was either scowling or clicking their tongue.\n\n“Alright,” the angel said, breathing hard, “I think...I think that’s it. May I begin?”\n\nI nodded, flabbergasted. The angel cleared his throat and began to read.\n\n“The transgressions of Mr. Patton John Henderson reads as follows:\n\n•Made a bird species endangered by using them as ammunition for pigs\n\n•Causing a world of monsters to fear humans due to unpredictable slaughter and destruction\n\n•Aiding in the massacre of three young girls by an omniscient traitor, then killing the traitor herself before completely destroying their world\n\n•Continually feeding a girl red pills in order to use her as a vehicle of entertainment and, subsequently, causing her to die\n\n•Controlling a group of creatures so poorly that they are run over by cars, trucks, and trains, then reincarnating them in order to continue toying with them\n\n•Shooting opponents when it suits you, then gathering the things they leave behind from their still warm corpse\n\n•Destroying an entire ecosystem with TNT, then attacking livestock when it grows back \n\n•Burning a pizzeria to the ground after, quote, “being attacked by the animatronics”\n\n•Neglecting a pet and ignoring their cries, causing them to die\n\n•Using a...”\n\n“Stop!” I cried, close to crying. “Those are video games! Those don’t count, they’re just pixels and code and stuff! They’re not actual people!”\n\nThe angel raised one eyebrow. “No, those were entire worlds that you looted, disbanded, and slaughtered. Angry Birds are now on a WWF program. The monsters take extensive therapy, especially the skeletons. And that poor, poor island! You keep burning it down, growing it back, burning down again, killing livestock, domesticating wolves so that herbivores run wild...”\n\n“I’m innocent!”\n\n“YOU’RE A MONSTER!”\n\nThe angel slammed his fists on the desk, his wings spreading out to their full size.\n\n“You don’t deserve any sliver of happiness! You fed upon the helpless and the weak! You killed those who were below you just because you could! And now you have to pay for your crimes!”\n\nTears streamed down my face as two angel guards dragged me away.\n\n“NO!” I screamed, kicking my legs. “NO! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG! YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME! PLEASE! NO!”\n\nThe world blew by me as the angels alighted, carrying me to a red hot door on a thundering storm cloud. They opened the door and threw me, still screaming bloody murder, into it. As soon as I landed, I started back towards the door, but it was already shut.\n\nI fell to my knees, sobbing.\n\n“Hey...you good?”\n\nI looked up. A very nervous looking demon was twiddling his thumbs. His curly, red horns were very small, and were barely visible under a mop of black hair. The only way I could tell he was a demon was his pointed tail, which swayed back and forth like a cat’s.\n\n“Leave me alone!” I cried, pushing myself the door in terror.\n\n“Hey, hey, calm down. You’re just in the arcade.”\n\n“The...the...”\n\n“The arcade. Yeah, it’s not even real Hell. It’s just for gamers.”\n\n“You mean...I’m not gonna burn in a pit of lava or anything?”\n\n“No...unless...”\n\nI held my breath. The demon smiled cheekily.\n\n“Not unless you want to play two-player Minecraft.”\n\nI sniffed and got up. “S-sure. Why not? I already killed a bunch of people...”\n\nThe demon laughed. “Oh, they gave you that whole spiel? Yeah, sure, it happens, but here’s the thing: worlds reset. Characters forget. And they don’t feel any pain or anything. Their worlds are so simple, evolution completely screwed them over. It’s not like you’re killing people; it’s more like killing a bunch of runaway, confused robots. That’s why they became games in the first place!”\n\nI took a deep breath, then nodded. “Okay. That makes sense, but...but the angel kinda scared me.”\n\n“Yeah,” the demon said, “he’s a real piece of work. They won’t let sinners into heaven, but douchebags have a free pass, apparently.”\n\nHe waved his hand, and a bottle of water appeared in his hand. He threw it to me.\n\n“Here you go. You don’t really need it, since you’re sort of dead, but it sure helps when you’ve been screaming your head off.”\n\n“Thanks.”\n\n“No prob. And hey, the name’s Nathan. I can’t wait to show you around the place...”\n\nWe walked toward a sign that said “Minecraft,” and my heart immediately lifted. This wasn’t Hell; this was gamer heaven." ]	3
	[WP] All your life, your uncanny ability to hear background music has saved you from dangerous situations. Recently, you’ve noticed an eerie tune begin to play whenever you and your crush exchange eye contact.	[ "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\nSomething weird happened today. I can hear music in my head. Not weird, I know. I can hear music that plays in accord with the situation I am in. Still not weird, I know. I can hear that music before something is about to happen. Still not the weird part. For example, I walk in a room and hear gloomy music, I assume it is not the time for a joke. I talk to someone at a party and I get a tense music in my head, I assume they’re agitated and walk away. I get very loud dramatic music all of a sudden, a car is about to run me over and I can jump back and save my butt. I can always depend on this ‘power’, and I do. It has decided everything really, my feelings, decisions, and behavior. I have always been popular, and people always told me I fit in perfectly. All due to the reigning ‘power’ of my life. \n\nNow on to the weird part. People don’t change. That is, they do, but they never suddenly switch the ‘vibes’ they have for me. I know who likes and dislikes me even without talking to them personally. They opera-sing it to me without awareness. That is especially helpful with teachers because you can navigate through their moods pretty easily when you know those moods. Not to brag, but I get straight A’s, and not because of studying. However, someone changed. I maybe wouldn’t have paid it that much attention if that person wasn’t my crush. \n\nI have known him for years now and I know he has happy vibes for me. I know he thinks about me in a sexual way, but so does every other guy, so I cannot tell if he is really interested in me. And there is nothing out of the ordinary that happened between us in the last couple of weeks. Yet, out of the blue one day, I get this wave of sound that felt alien so I look at him sitting at his desk on the other side of the classroom. He looks towards me and I hear something that I never had up until then. Like scraping fingernails on a blackboard. Everything was out of tune and loud and disorienting. I got chills from it. By the way, I don’t hear music per se, they are sounds, melodies, and other tunes that I just can’t describe. I never even tried because it was normal to me, and I didn’t notice that it was something out of the ordinary until a few years ago.\n\nAnyway, that sound was out of place. It happens. I don’t know what my gift is, and maybe I am just crazy, or maybe he actually just started hating me very passionately one day. So, a couple of weeks go by and his vibes are still the same. My tactic when it comes to bad vibes is usually to back off and give space, which is just what I did, but it didn’t get better. I was a bit sad, but I was prepared for disappointment in terms of relationship with him. Then, again out of the blue, he comes into the classroom, looks at me and smiles, while his vibes are something akin to trumpets. Triumphant as if he had achieved something. He swings on over to me and, still smiling, asks me if I’d like to go on a date. \n\nThat must have been it! He was confused and anxious because he wanted to ask me out! I exclaim: “Yes!” Radiantly we smile at each other and then we have class for the rest of the day. A very anticlimactic experience. Men and their timing. I felt so relieved. I am never confused about people and their feelings, towards me especially. It was like getting out of a slump you didn’t notice you were in. I should have noticed I was being dragged down into a pit.\n\npart 1/2", "\"Soooo Samantha want to grab a bite at my place after work? We can grab the chilli benders chips that you always talk about. If it's chilli's don't be silly\" I chuckled, singing the little tune to her as I followed along behind her.\n\n\"Ugh... if it makes you stop singing that stupid garbage then yes, yes I will grab a bite to eat with you, you are paying though.\" She smirked, glancing over her shoulder at me as our eyes made contact.\n\nThat's when I heard it, the low piano notes flowing behind her, its sweet sound mixed with the occasional high pitched dahhhh, its creeping tone indicating a sense of sinister overtone to her words, even her smile seemed somewhat disonreintated between with the music as if it was molding to the eerie tune of the song.\n\n\"Ah actually, I might have to do it tomorrow, I forgot that the boss wanted me to look over some files, As fun as it is to hang with you, it's not worth getting my ass chewed out on monday for.\" I kept my smile wanting to play this off as casaully as one could.\n\nDAH! The tempo of the song seemed to increase as if it was slowly building in speed, growing into a more hidous beast of a song as it formed a louder tune. Now the sweat was forming along my brow, this was unusual.. Just being around her was causing the devils tune to play in my head.\n\n\"Oh? um.. You did ask me you know? why the sudden bailout?\" Her eyes were heavy with suspicion, yet the gaze fell off me and back to her bag. \"But fine, I guess we can plan it tomorrow, I'll see you later then.\"\n\nAt first I felt relief when our gazes fell from one anothers, that should have been the end of this, yet the song still played, refusing to grow any more silent... Now my heart was beating, pushing against my chest as if it was pumping the raw anxiety through my veins, with each quick step I took towards my house the music grew, A creeping harmony of ghostly voices joining in, almost mocking me with how sweet their chilling voices were.\n\nSMACK\n\nI slammed the door shut behind me, the loud banging of the door giving me a brief relieve from the song that had been playing, yet the music quickly flowed back into my ears quickly. What sort of danger could I be in anyway? why was that gaze enough to send my world into such a fright.\n\nFor the next few hours I sat, ever so silently on the couch, eyes staring forward not even daring to turn on the tv. Occasionally the piano would grow louder as shadows flowed across windows, taunting me with their specteral appeareance. It was an undescrible agony... But then it fell silent.\n\n.....\n\n.....\n\nRattle Rattle\n\nThe doorknob shook something fierce, as if it was about to be kicked in. \n\nRattle Rattle\n\nThe rattling got more intense, almost horrifying in its frantic manner, The occasional banging could be heard but I was left in a frozen stunness. Inching my way closer to the door I reached the handle, feeling the rattling as the entity on the other side continued trying to get inside. It seemed inevitable that I would be able to avoid this, eventually they would go for a window or perhaps even just break the lock. Summoning up my last bit of bravery I swung open the door.\n\nDaaah dah......\n\nThe silent piano kept its hummed tune as I saw Samantha standing before me.\n\n\"Theres a weird man, he was following me and please let me in!\" following her words was a sudden Intense drop on the piano as if the next decision I made would determine my fate, I stepped aside opening the door for her, watching as she bolted behind the door, revealing the shadowy man that had been standing across the road, the music stopping just as I heard the bang of his gun and the feeling of the hot metal break through my chest.\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}" ]	3
	[WP] Your son had a massive adventure culminating to time travel and a return to his childhood to save you from dying. You're aware of it but it's so entertaining watching your grown man in the body of a child trying to pretend to be an innocent little boy.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "'So you knew all this time!?!'\n\n'Well not for sure. I was torn between you either being time traveller from the future sent back in order to do something important or that you were possessed by an evil ghost. And if it was possession I really did NOT want to let on that I knew.'\n\n'But how the heck did you figure it out?'\n\n'You're a bad actor, son. You didn't even remember how you normally acted as a child. Imagine my surprise when you turned from a hyperactive bratty 5 year old to acting like a calm, mature mama's boy within a couple of hours. It was so creepy!'\n\n'How dare you! I saved your life! If you thought I was possessed why did you even listen to me?'\n\n'Well, after secretly spiking all your food with holy water, and surrounding the house with a salt barrier, and snooping through your frankly badly hidden journal that listed of all the things you wanted to change to save me, I figured that you were probably a time traveller.'\n\n'You did all of that...in that order? I only had that journal for 2 days???'\n\n'I found that first actually! But its always good to make sure. It'd be terrible if I believed in some decoy and you were actually an evil ghost possessing my 5 year old son.'\n\n'I forgot how weird you were mom.'\n\n'Disappointed?'\n\n'No...not at all.'", "Roger had broken my nose and left me in a heap on the ground near the dining room. I was only beginning to collect myself when I heard my son and his father in the living room. I was so scared when I heard Roger yelling at Stevie. I could take the abuse, but Stevie was far too young for this.\n\nI saw the smartphone as it flew past my head from the living room, to where I was, and toward the front door.\n\nI heard Stevie, and he spoke in the calmest tone to his father: \"That was 911, Dad. They heard you beating mom and threaten me. They're on their way. Do you think you can beat me enough, before they get here and haul your ass out?\"\n\nMy blood ran cold as I knew this was going to further enrage his father. I called out to Stevie to run. Crawling towards them, I could hear Stevie's voice become strained.\n\n\"If...you...kill me... will that..\"\n\nI got close enough to see Roger hold my little boy by the throat. Stevie could only fight enough to just keep breathing. \n\nI finally crawled enough towards them, that I could see them both, with Roger's back being turned towards me.\n\nStevie had his small hands trying to claw his father's massive hands from his throat. Stevie opened his eyes and saw me. He reached towards me and I could barely hear his plea:\n\n\"Mo...mmy?\"\n\nIt was like a shot of adrenaline straight to my heart: I immediately rose up, ran to the kitchen and grabbed one of the antique dining room chairs Roger's mom had gifted us. I screamed like some damned thing as I ran to Roger and smashed that chair over his back.\n\nI startled Roger enough to make him let go of Stevie, but when he turned around to face me, I already had a splintered chair leg and I drove it towards him. Roger yelled and tried to block my attack, but the leg punctured into his shoulder, before falling to the floor.\n\nI grabbed my seven-year-old son, who was gasping for breath, and ran out toward the garage.\n\nStevie muttered: \"Back Door\" and my feet moved as if he commanded me. We went down the stairs near the garage, and out towards the back door. \n\nRoger caught up with us just as we made it to the back. He hit me over the head with something, and I dropped Stevie as I was dazed and likely concussed.\n\nBut Stevie somehow found the strength to get to the door and open it. I could hear the sirens approaching, as I began to blackout. But I could just hear Stevie as he called out with a raspy tone: \"Help! He's going to kill my mom!\"\n\n-x\n\nI woke up screaming for my child as I was transferred to a gurnee. They had to restrain me before an officer came up to me, introduced himself and told me my son was a hero. Where we lived, our backyard faces toward the road, and it takes another few seconds to drive up toward our front door. The police ended up driving through the back yard and directly to where we were. The officer said that Stevie bought us just enough time for the cops to force Roger to surrender himself.\n\nBut that wasnt what I needed to hear; I kept calling for my child, even as they loaded me into an ambulance. A paramedic guided him toward me, and we sobbed onto each other.\n\nI could barely make his words out, but I could still him:\n\n\"I came back, mom. I wouldn't let him take you from me again.\"" ]	3
	[WP] You awaken from a great nap and go into the kitchen for a snack. Your mother looks at you horrified and asks how you got into her house. You avert your gaze, confused by her words, to the family photo on the counter. There's something missing. 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.", "“Excuse me, are you going to tell me who you are?”\n\nI didn’t answer her. Instead, I walked over to the picture. Picked it up. Examined it. It didn’t look Photoshopped, or as if anyone had cut it out, and we hadn’t taken many pictures at that spot, there was no way they had taken one without me.\n\nIt looked real.\n\n“Excuse me!”\n\nI jumped at the loudness and spun around. My mom was trying to look intimidating, with her hands on her hips, but she also seemed to be reaching for her phone.\n\n“This isn’t funny,” I said. I held up the picture to show her. “It’s not even April, what the hell is this?”\n\nNow my mom just looked confused. “What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?”\n\nI rolled my eyes. “Screw it, I’m just going back to sleep,” I announced and started going back upstairs.\n\n“Where are you going?” my mom practically screamed.\n\nSomething in that tone of voice made me stop.\n\nI turned around to face her. “To. My. Room.”\n\n“Marth, what’s going on?” I heard from behind me. My mom and I both looked up to see my dad coming down the stairs. His eyes sleepily drifted from my mom, then to me.\n\nHis eyes popped. His face slackened. His skin went pale. I was honestly afraid that he was about to have a heart attack.\n\n“Ben?” he asked, his quavering.\n\n“No, Jeff. YOUR SON!”\n\nMy shout rattled him, and he stepped back. He seemed to shake his slightly before focusing on me again. “What…”\n\nHe looked down at my mom, who had pulled out her phone and was scooting over to the knife rack. “Marth, who is this?”\n\n“I don’t know!” she retorted, and one of her hands closed on a knife. “I just heard someone making a racket downstairs and found him!”\n\n“Have you called the police?” he asked.\n\n“Hey!” I shouted. “Can we stop? This isn’t funny! This was never funny!”\n\n“Not yet,” she admitted.\n\n“OK, kid,” my dad said to me.\n\n“My name’s Jeff!” I shouted. I could feel a hot prickling behind my eyes.\n\n“OK, Jeff,” he said soothingly. “Why don’t you just sit down for a second? Marth and I are going to talk over this for a second. Are you hungry?”\n\nI didn’t answer, just sat down in the chair that he pointed to.\n\nMy dad walked over to my mom, and they started whispering quietly. At least, I think they were trying to be quiet. I could hear them fine.\n\n“Why don’t we just call the cops? Even if he’s not a thief, he’s clearly sick in the head.”\n\n“Marth…” He glanced over his shoulder at me. I waved back. He turned away. “I’ve told you about Ben, right?”\n\n“Your brother, yeah.”\n\n“I swear to God, that kid looks just like him. Just like him. For a second, I thought it was his ghost.”\n\n“What are you talking about?”\n\n“I don’t know, he might be related somehow. A distant nephew maybe.”\n\n“Well, then why does he think we’re his parents?”\n\n“I don’t know. Hold on.” He turned back to me. “Kid, when’s your birthday?”\n\nI opened my mouth.\n\nI stopped.\n\nI could remember some things. A birthday cake with eleven (I had counted) candles in a circle. A pinata. The reptile tamer my parents had hired.\n\nI closed my mouth.\n\nThere was no number, no date I could draw upon in my mind.\n\nI closed my eyes and tried to imagine my family. I could see the inside of a car. A Beatles disc playing on the radio.\n\nNo faces of my family. Nothing at all." ]	2
	[WP]After an experimental procedure, your formerly evil split personality gains a body of their own. Today is the first time you met face to face.	[ "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 procedure was painful. I didn't expect it to take so much energy, but now its over. The pod opens up and I fall out of it. An Identical pod in front of me opens, something in it collapses. I gather my remaining strength and stand up. My legs felt like they were made of noodles. I look to the opposite pod and see a figure standing weakly.\n\nI slowly approach it, barely having the strength to do it. It seemed that the figure was going through the same thing. As we approached each other, I could see more details about them. Her arms were trying to cover her naked, slimy body. Her long dark hair covered their face, but she could still see me.\n\nWe finally reach each other. She grabs my shoulder and tries to use me as a support. We were both tired, and thus both of us dropped to our knees. I gently push the hair off her face, and I saw my face. She was me, at least, she was a part of me.\n\n\"Who are you?\" she asks, \"W-where are we?\". I smirk as I hold the side of her head. \"Hey Alex, it's me, Rafflesia, your alter\" I tell her. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She started to panic for a bit before my lab assistant came running with a towel. \"Professor, you did it! Sorry I couldn't get here fast enough, I was just so caught up in the moment\". My lab assistant covers Alex with a towel. \"Well, Alex we have a lot to discuss. This is gonna be a lot to take in\" I say while I help her get up.\n\nIt was going to be a long talk between the two of us, but by the time I'm finished, she'll know who's boss. After that, that goody two-shoes will finally be out of my life forever!" ]	2
	[WP] Good news: You have completed police training and can now officially start work. Bad news: Your assigned partner is a Dragon	[ "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 work for the police. I don’t like talking about it because it’s not a popular profession in communities like this.”\n\n“Oh don’t worry about it. My dad and his shitty coworkers love guys like you.”\n\nI could tell that saying the word ‘shitty’ was a Freudian slip brought on by a few drinks. He’s a friend of a friend, but I looked him up on social media, which has a lot of posts about anti-racism, which is well and good, we’re not all racist. \n\nI’m having drinks with this guy – a writer – because I’m at a party full of filmmakers and critics at a local film festival. This year’s hot ticket is, unsurprisingly, a comic book film about a guy who starts a rebellion against a police force. And their dragons. I’m shorter and stockier than the average cop, and I’m on the data side of the force, but a few people know about my profession. I’m lucky to get the vacation just after getting the job at the force. The next ten days will be me having to avoid questions about my job, and when it comes up, it will be ten days of me and guys like this trying to be polite to each other.\n\n\nAnd now that vacation is over, I’m still wondering how much all of this is going to work. It works better for the beat cops, even though they’re trying to live down the PR nightmare involving that one cop whose dragon burned a kid to death. \n\nYes, most dragons are a nightmare to work with on the street, but what regular people don’t know – or refuse to acknowledge - is that we’re risking our lives working with these creatures.\n\nRegular news outlets think that we’re asking for budget increases but this place burned down when a guy holding my job was incinerated by a fire dragon. The force then thought that the ice dragons would work better, which they do, they cool the computers down. But one of the dragons breathed too much ice into the data room and is the reason the place stopped functioning for hours. Thank the Gods that there were no casualties that time. \n\nI’m entering the second incarnation of the data room of the 53rd Division, the one that the other divisions make fun of. It’s a room with big blue and white screens, so many that I don’t want to even look at my phone when I clock out.\n\nI hear a buzzer on the door. It opens to Officer Bordeaux, bringing in a dragon. They’re usually shorter than the average person, but my big worry now is when they’ll get bigger.\n\n“You remember this little guy, don’t cha,” Bordeaux asks. She brings is Barbon. I never got used to his red and green feathers, indicating that he breathes fire.\n\n“I asked you about getting an ice dragon. One might work better with me in this room.”\n\n“I’ll look into it. Bye for now.” She smiles, waves, and walks away. Eight more hours with this guy. I remember him, but dragons need to be reacquainted with their partners, even if we humans take our two week breaks with them.\nMost of my day is just me logging in and radioing crimes to all the divisions. I also handle the Force’s social media. I started the day posting the picture of Bordeaux with basketball player Neo Antwood, who wore glasses, a parka, and sandals to this Cops and Kids Day. That picture went viral because of Neo’s fashion choices. Bordeaux meets the celebrities, I spend eight hours with a fire breather who might kill me.\n\nThe social media part of the job is also me reporting on all these crimes and having to use acronyms to describe all of them. Most of the crimes don’t even count as crimes, or at least not yet. There was a collision on McEyrie Road. Officer Lann radioed back at me to tell me how bad it was. Two people died.\n\nThen there’s a robbery near Landing University. I didn’t know bank robberies were still a thing, but there they are. They arrested two young guys for it. I know this because I could hear the rumblings outside my office. We’ll eventually transfer them to a bigger holding cell as South Keep.\n\nThis stuff kind of gets depressing. Do I pet this guy? Anyway it’s my lunch hour. Our lunch hour. I made the mistake of putting a bowl of ramen noodles on top of his head then softly whispering “Ignazyz.” I just wanted the water to boil but now I have melted plastic burning my hand. I took my time ordering something for the both of us. Bear meat for him, and a chicken from Winter Chalet just to spite him.\n\nEating doesn’t stop crime from happening in this city though. Another robbery from one of the treasury’s keeps. For fun I like to just say things aloud while I’m typing. “This act of banditry is taking place in Ignatius –“\n\nMy eyes almost bulged out of my sockets. Ignatius sounds close enough to Barbon's prompt for him to turn this place into ash. I look to my right, where Barbon is. But instead of fire he breathed out something like lasers into the big screen projecting a map of King City. He didn’t burn off the screen. Instead it’s showing 26 red dots, which makes no sense because there have only been 13 incidents for the past 14 hours.\n\nWhat the hell does this all mean?\n\n[Edited for spacing and to change a name]." ]	2
	[WP] Magic has always existed, but has been long forgotten by everyone except the Illuminati. Today, the Illuminati's Master Spellbook has been leaked online.	[ "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.", "\"He went into the cave!\"\n\n\"Invisibilius.\" Rick clutched the spellbook in his hands, one of the last copies that probably existed. The ceiling was covered in spikes, and lava was seeping across the floor. No matter. \n\n\"Who are you? Why are you here?\" It had taken a while to master, but he was finally able to project whispers around him.\n\n\"He spoke!\"\n\n\"Where is he?\"\n\n\"Spread around and search!\"\n\nWell well, it turned out at least these spies knew to blur their appearances. A wave of black was approaching the center of the cave, but too bad they'd be quickly met with his wave of burning red. Too bad they didn't know how to even muffle their communication. Too bad he was just waiting to seal off the exit. \n\nRick was perched on an outcropping - invisible, hidden, and using magical night vision to reread the copy of the spellbook he'd managed to print out in the last days. \n\n\"The hell? Watch your step.\" Started shouts approached, accompanied by ringing curses. \n\nSo they'd noticed the lava. He caught a sliver of light in their direction - ah, technology. How unfair, he thought wryly, that some could still wield that kind of information, searching up spells and gadgets at a whim. These spies were probably working for the illuminati or the government - the former that had leaked their quiet existence in the form of spells, the latter of which had almost immediately mandated the shutdown of the internet in response. The damage was done - for people who could memorize and internalize the long winded incantations, and those who could find mythical objects to facilitate the growth of power. But not for the majority of civilians, who had been left blind in the advent of magic, a world where suddenly dangerous earth shocking spells and explosions became less rare. \n\nIt had been two months since the beginning. Rick gritted his teeth, remembering all that had been lost, all that a stray spell had wrought on his family. Gone and deranged in a matter of minutes, and they weren't the only ones in a world split into factions, into those who knew and those who didn't, those who had been lucky in the right place and those who ignorance would kill in a second. \n\nHe steadied his breath and contemplated the etchings of ancient sygils in his mind. The ground, the air, the sky as it extended so far above. He wanted that sky, he relished it. He needed it, needed reprieve from this sad, abysmal, dark cave with dark people in it. \n\n\"Awaken... old spirits of thunder and earth, no longer lost in translation. I beseech you, lay waste to this barren earth, and extend your wings beyond the sky once more. \"\n\nEven in the cave, he felt the air tingle, and he desperately tried to steady his breath. Now he had to cast bubble shield protection, only around him, and he burst out of the rocks and detritus just as a massive strike of lightning appeared to tear away the roof of the cave. Singing everything inside, leaving a crater of drying blood and broken gadgets. \n\nAs rain poured down, Rick turned toward the apparition of lightning and wind. A new era had indeed begun." ]	2
	[WP] You've never believed in monsters. Turns out the monsters believe in 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.", "She started to appear at random when I was young. I would run crying to my mother and she would take me into her arms, stroking my hair, murmuring that everything was okay. She would put me back to bed, tuck me in tight, and turn off the lights. \n\nI would hear creaking above me almost every night. I would lay there, feeling the dread in the pit of my stomach. The fear would ring down my head, tickle my spine, spread to my fingers and make me shake. \n\nAs I got older I tried to get out of the house as much as I could, walking through the woods in my backyard. The trees felt like home and the atmosphere of insects and animals were more than a small comfort to my frazzled nerves. It felt like I was always scared, but that place quickly became my only sanctuary. When my mother would call for me to come back in, I would cry all the way home just hoping that tonight might be different. \n\nOne night it was. \n\nIn the dead quiet there was a crash. \n\nGlass shattered. \n\nI could hear the spine chilling sounds of someone trying to be quiet. The slight swish of clothing, the light tread of large steps. \n\nThere was no creaking above me, but from my bed I heard the door slowly scrape against its frame. \n\nAll I could see were his feet. \n\nBlack, shiny. \n\nHe walked to the bed. \n\nAnd he stood there. Staring down right before the screaming started. \n\nThe flow of terror had fully gripped me, the breath in my lungs stilled. My eyes were wide but I still couldn’t see. \n\nThe thing above me started thrashing, throwing out her arms in a panic. She made a sound, a tiny whimpered-screech that rattled in my head and gave me the very distinct feeling of needing to relieve myself. \n\nBut the loudest sound was the dripping. Small scarlet drops. They stained the carpet and splashed where they pooled. \n\nShe was screaming again. Where was my mom? Can she not hear this? This phantom that has haunted me all my life may just be a complex hallucination but I swear. I swear. She’s real. It’s real. \n\nI gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles pale, nails digging into the wood. I had a split second of clarity. Whatever this was, whatever was happening...she needed help. \n\nI shrugged off my terror like an overgrown winter coat. Stripped it down to the seams and cut up the fabric. \n\nI swung from under the bed. \n\nGrotesque\n\nMonstrous\n\nHis face a pit of flesh. Red lips, blue eyes, spindly body cutting into her. \n\nI reached out, saw his baby eyes widen and scream, I tore the reflection of my talons out of his eyes. I widened his smile and witnessed him crumple as I cleaved his body into pieces. \n\nShe had slumped to the ground and I turned to her. The fear returned, physically beating me to the ground. Her fleshy, moist skin, those huge, bug like eyes. The weird, long strips of hair that only grew from her head....\n\nHer breath was shallow, her chest was heaving. I could see her fear, too. But. She lifted her arm, crawled her hand towards mine, and gripped my talons with the lightest touch I have ever experienced. \n\n“Thank you.” She whispered as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. \n\nI’m ashamed to say I sat there in silence, her hand still in mine, the scarlet pooling out of her while my mind raced. \n\nBefore I could think I was holding her in my arms, running out of the house, through the streets I was never allowed to roam. This world is alien to me, but she needs me...and I need her.", "\"I TOLD YOU THEY WERE REAL!\" the small fuzzy thing shouted with pride as I stood there confused and honestly frightened still clutching my phone with the camera turned on. It's much larger and presumably parental thing looked just as horrified as I did, ebony black fur, soul piercing slits of eyes that could make the idea of a medusa look like a parlor trick. \n\n\n\"Son... get away from that thing... Now.\" The larger thing quivered, it's face despite being so utterly inhuman still showed the tell tale signs of sheer terror. Rapid eye movement, Subtle shifts into defensive stances. Was it afraid of me? \n\n\n\"Don't be stupid dad! I finally found one! A real one! Think about what this means for the-\" \n\n\n \"GET AWAY FROM IT NOW!\" The large thing swung for it's offspring and struck me, I expected it to hit with the force of a truck but instead was met with the force of a particularly strong toddler throwing it's plushie at me. \n\nIt was enough to send me into a panic though and I rushed dashed to the side, accidentally cornering myself in the environment, grabbing something metallic of the ground I banished it at the presumed father and son \n\"Stay back.... I don't know what the fuck you are or where you've taken me... and until I know those things and more importantly why... you two... Stay. The fuck. Back\" \nThe two things stared at me in abject horror, like I was a malevolent god of death to them, powerful enough to make the great old ones look like cheap imitations of me. Where they just afraid? mis-informed? I had no way of knowing, all I did know is that they thought I was a threat to them... An idea emerged from the darker part of my mind\n\n\"Tell me what I want to know... now. If you don't. I'll use this.\" I said staring down the larger thing trying my best to be intimidating, a child wouldn't have fallen for it but these things did, they fell for it too much.\n\nI don't remember much after that, it's all a blur... some screams, flashing lights and a whirring sound maybe? My next clear memory is of waking up as if nothing had happened. \n\n\nIt was the day it should be, a little before my alarm was due to go off, there was a 8 pieces of paper on my chest. A hastily scrawled notes and drawings. A group of childlike pictures and hasty scrawlings depicting forests and a human, vague text like 'Pale skin, not hurt by light' and \"ANYTHING COULD BE A WEAPON FOR *IT\"\n\nThe final part was the most disturbing, it wasn't paper like the rest, it was my phone. I opened it up and the camera app was still active, I opened the gallery and saw them again, terrified, screaming, burning.\n\n \nI've tried countless methods of communicating with them again, each time I pieced together more and more of what's happening. \n\n\nH.P Lovecraft didn't write those stories of cosmic entities beyond our comprehension so well from a series of really good guesses on what would freak people out... he wrote them by remembering how they reacted to him. \n\nDon't contact the other side. They're too afraid to be reasoned with and you don't want that guilt resting on your soul. \n\n\nTrust me, I learnt that first hand.", "Ding.* The sound echoed across my room floating down into my ears. Who the hell is texting this late at night? I ignored it and curled back up in my bed facing away from my phone.\n\nDing. There it was again. If it was that important they would just call. Once again I ignored it and went to sleep again. \n\nDing. That's it whoever it is, is going to get their ass chewed right now. I whipped my covers off and stood up but froze at the realization that there was something standing right in the middle of my room. My foot landed on the edge of my bed as I stumbled backwards onto my bed hitting my head on my wall. \n\nI tried to let out a scream but nothing came out as the things started moving. They crept in from everywhere forming from nothing but air. Without warning something ice cold grabbed my face and pulled me back against the wall.\n\nshhhh.... everything will be all right.\n\nThe voice assaulted me from all angles never letting up. Frantically I tried to grab at the hand but every time I tried i had to cover my ears from the onslaught of voices. \n\nI know you're scared, but we have been watching for long time now.\n\nfutilely I tried to scream but the hand pulled me closer... wait how is it pulling me closer? My head was enveloped in darkness but it was to late. My body plunged into the darkness floating in water as I sunk deeper and deeper. I held my breath, my heart thumping with the force of a sledgehammer. \n\nI frantically tried to swim towards the fading light but my body wasn't moving. \n\nBreath my child, you are welcome here and thus you can breath here.\n\nI took a sharp inhale feeling my lungs inflate with air but to my surprise no liquid. \"What the hell are you?\"\n\nWe have watched over you for a long time and it's due time we made ourselves known. You are special to us and thus we decided to save you once again.\n\n\"Again? What do you mean again?\" I tried still to swim but no success with progress. I could see a faint outline of my room ahead of me but none of it was getting closer or farther away now. I could still see the figures in my room. They varied in size some were tall and wide where as other were short and thin with what I could only describe as talons protruding from all over their bodies.\n\nI finally cracked and started to sob, warm tears dribbled down my cheeks as I stopped fighting. I my head back as the hand of ice grazed my cheek. \n\nYou still fear us child but we are not the monsters you have been taught we are. \n\nI followed the arm as a body formed in front of me. The arm was long, longer and still growing before a body three times the size of me bloomed out of it. Clothes covered most of the arm and body but the skin on the hand was pale with black spots forming all over... Warm liquid flowed down my legs but I didn't care. I was going to die here, painfully and miserably.\n\nWe wish you no harm child. We wish to only protect that which is most precious to us. We had to bring you here to protect you. \n\nThe bandaged face looked back towards my room as light filtered in giving life to all the creatures that sat in my room. \n\nThere in my door way was my father with tears filling his eyes but they weren’t out of sorrow. A fear deeper than what I felt with these creatures seeped into me and every muscle in my body convulsed uncontrollably. I tried to yell… nothing not even a squeak came out.\n\nYou are not someone to be trifled with my child. We have seen your dreams and what you are.\n\nI finally gasped as another hand reached for my face. This one was somehow gentler feeling. Leather is what it reminded me of. Rough and unkempt so I leaned into it. My eyes fluttered open again as I realized another monster had entered the space I floated in. This one I recognized as the figure I had seen growing up, he wore a top hat with a well-kept suit on.\n\nI leaned more into his hand as he pulled me closer and hugged me.\n\nEven after all this time you remember. You must live our daughter. We know you have the skills and experience to fight any monster. You fought us and won. We are the monsters that hide under your bed and stalk you late at night but he is another monster. One who has to be stopped or else he will continue. \n\n“I… can’t. He’s to strong…” I said the words slipping out between the tears and spit that had formed.\n\nI know. We tried to keep him at bay but you are the only one. You must face him if not for yourself then for everyone else you care about. We will lend you as much as we can but you have to do this and we know you can do this. I said before you beat all of us back at one point and that is a bigger feat than anything you will be faced with. This however is your final test before we let you free.\n\nI took deep breath and breath before I was able to speak again looking away from the face that sat in my room now. “He’s my father and I can’t. I know you because you protected me from him. Is that why you left me?” \n\nYes, I left to try and keep him away but I’m at my limit and everything I did is fading. So please I know you can do this but you have to protect yourself. \n\nHis hand extended towards me and I took it squeezing it but being worried of cracking the delicate yet rough skin. I was pulled out of the darkness and breathed as light flooded my vision and there standing over me was my father. This time though I felt a fire building inside of my chest warming me through.", "\"Tonight, I dine on the nightmares of children,\" Hooktooth said. \n\n\"I want to nibble on their toes!\" Mad Hilda the Hag cackled back. \n\nThe youngest of the trio, Prince Ennui, rolled his eyes, but walked on. The elderly pair of monsters did know all the best feeding grounds. They'd clued him in on the gathering of children in the woods, the summer camp. He normally was content to find his own meals, but so many kids left his haunts during the warmest months that he was happy to tag along. \n\nHooktooth asked, \"What part of them will you crunch, sad noble?\"\n\nThe Prince sighed, \"Oh, on their hopes, I guess. It's what I usually do.\"\n\n\"Tasty,\" Hooktooth said with a grin. \n\nThe trees gave way to moonlight and the found themselves by the first cabin. One by one, they slithered through the window and stood in the post-midnight stillness. Their presence was heavy on all the sleeping boys, a weighted blanket that would keep them in their beds while dinner was being enjoyed. \n\nHilda sniffed at the air. She smiled wide and said, \"I think I'll start with that fat one there! Oh, I can just taste his toenails and his heel and... wait.\"\n\nHooktooth and Prince Ennui looked at her. The old crone's nose wrinkled and eyebrow creased. She sniffed again, cocking her head to the side like a terrier. Then, again, this time making her eyes go wide and one clawed hand go to her chest. \n\nHooktooth shook his shaggy head and asked, \"What is it my darling?\"\n\n\"It's... it's... it's him.\"\n\n\"Who?\"\n\n\"The Void! The Ender! The Boy! The Boy is among them!\"\n\nPrince Ennui sniffed. \n\n\"Who?\"\n\nHooktooth turned, his bristles all turning white. \n\n\"Have you never heard? The one devoid of belief? Of fear of us? The boy is said to kill our kind with just a touch! We cannot feast here.\"\n\nThe Prince sighed. \"You can't be serious.\"\n\nThe Hag shook her head, making her branch of a nose wiggle in the moonlight.\n\n\"He speaks true. I have seen it. He has terrorized this whole land with his presence. Once, two winters past, I hunted with my sister. We crept into a tent in the woods. There were toes and fingers and other morsels, all poking from underneath blankets and out of bags. She demanded the first gnosh and I relented, which was fortune! One little tooth on toe and poof! She turned to ash!\"\n\nHooktooth said, \"I never liked her, but she deserved a better fate. At last year's ball, I danced with a harpy who swore that she'd known no less than four of the old kind who had fallen prey to him. He has appeared all over this country! We cannot risk it!\"\n\nThe Prince yawned and patted his open mouth, his fangs glinting in the darkness. \n\n\"Nonsense,\" he said. \"How could a boy be in so many places? They live in one place. We feed on them. They fear us. It is not the other way around.\"\n\nHilda just repeated Hooktooth's words. \"We cannot risk it!\"\n\nThe Prince snorted and waved them away as if he was brushing a feather off of a table. \n\n\"You go find other food. I will thank you for bringing me here and I will leave you to it. I'm hungry and I don't look a gift child in the fairy tale.\"\n\nPrince Ennui glided across the floor, choosing a young man whose glasses were on the table and whose book on Entomology had fallen to the floor. The Prince reached up and grabbed his top lip, pulling it back over his head so that he could open his jaw wide and swallow the boy's dreams of one day being a scientist. \n\nHooktooth and Hilda held each other, unable to look away. \n\nMinus eyelids, the Prince's eyes bulged like two pale plums. His maw was a garden of sharp points. His skinless muscle was like red yarn woven over a melon. He looked fearsome, so much that even the two elder monsters were afraid. \n\nThe boy did not shiver, even though those around him did. \n\nThe Prince leaned forward, his wormlike tongue poking out as if looking for the boy. It touched the child's cheek. That was all it took. \n\nThe Prince exploded into a puff of dark specks which melted into the moonlight like black sugar into a warm pint of milk. \n\nHooktooth and Hilda the Hag screamed and dove out the way they came. Their shrieks were echoed by the creatures of the forest as they tore their way back to safety. No children in the camp would be on their menu that night or ever again. They would go hungry until the stars hid and peeked out once more. \n\nIn the cabin, the boy awoke, rubbing his cheek. It felt like someone spit on it. He flexed his toes, sticking out from under the blanket, and they cracked. He reached over and grabbed the olive drab flashlight that his father had given him, bought on base from the Canteen, and found his book. He opened it to a page on beetles and started reading.\n\nHis bunkmate above him opened one eye and asked, \"Are you up?\"\n\n\"Just now. I thought I felt a mosquito or something.\"\n\n\"Go back to sleep. And get your foot under the covers. You don't want the monster under the bed to get it.\"\n\nThe boy rolled his eyes. \"Come on. There's no such thing as monsters.\"\n\nDespite his protest, the boy did turn off his flashlight. He tucked his book under his pillow, rolled over, and fell back into dreams, unaware that he was an invalidation of his own words.", "Monsters fed on fear, that was fact. And for 10 glorious years they lived in an era of abundance. “Lights out” were words that led to the feasting. Even the night light in the corner only amplified their shadows to their delight. It was so easy, so simple. Just a hand out of the closet, a simple caress of a hand over hanging a bed, an ominous shadow on the wall in the dark. These were good times.\n\nBut after that times grew leaner. Their boy had started caring less and less about the fiends under his bed and in his closet. They could still feed once in a while when the lights went out in total dark or when the boy had to take the trash out in the dark, and he would run back as if he was being chased. Perhaps knowing he was being chased. \n\nAnd then the years grew leaner still, darkness was no longer a tool of fear. The boy slept with the tv on if he slept at all. He often stayed up later than even the monsters. Then he started bringing girls over and there was only a nervous fear then, nothing to be fed on for real sustenance and very fleeting.\n\nGrowing desperate for fear they turned to nightmares, they had heard rumors from other monsters that this should be a last resort. But it worked! For a week they returned to their glory, the boy was haggard and sleep deprived, and afraid of the night again. And then...\n\nWell then he had a strange pill bottle by his bed and the nightmares stopped, and his sleep was peaceful. The monsters had lost, and in short time they would fade to nothing, but new monsters would come, and they feasted on new stronger feelings of fear, ones more powerful than simple pills could shake, but their time was yet to come.", "\"Don't worry, my fair lady\", says the deformed creature getting out of the bushes.\n\nI run scared for my life. From where I was standing I could see the creature in complete shock and sadness.\n\n\"I'm sorry\", I whisper with shame.\n\nSlowly, he comes close and this time, without fear, I await him.\n\n\"You have no right to run. Your face appears in my mirror every night. I've told my wife and she has called everyone to see the horror of your reflections...\"\nConfused, I let him continue.\n\n\"...I've done everything possible. Until I... I... I crossed the mirror\", he starts crying.\n\n\"No, no, no\", I say when he grabs me and pushes me to the ground.\n\n\"It's enough! Leave us alone!\"\n\nMy head is bleeding from the impact on the floor, he smiles and gets close to my ear.\n\n\"By the way, nice shirt\", he runs away and disappears from my sight.\n\nsorry for my poor english :(", "I walked through the front door of my house and found my entire family ripped to shreds. The drip, drip of blood synchronized with the drip, drip of the kitchen sink as the world swept me down the drain. Pulverized furniture lay broken like the broken bodies of Mom and Dad and Sis.\n\nRun, urged my body. My feet remained glued to the carpeted floor, sinking deep as the Mariana trench. I opened my mouth, but there were no words, no air.\n\n\"Grrrrr.\"\n\nAn armored canine as large as a lion stepped out from the hallway where my sister's crayon paintings hung crookedly. Its silver plated muzzle shone crimson, crystal eyes as empty as the feeling in my heart, the response and confusion and anger that I could not muster up.\n\nRun.\n\nI ran, almost slipping on the kitchen floor as I burst out the back door and into the snow-covered yard. Angry barks sounded out behind me, heavy footfalls of an enraged creature driving my adrenaline through the roof. Don't look back, don't look back! Rocks slipped underneath my feet, and I barely caught onto a few branches to steady myself as I ducked and dodged between trees.\n\nThe bark in front of me exploded in a shower of splinters. I stopped, out of breath and time. I turned, tracing the shining metal chain that extended from the shattered trunk's remains all the way over my head to the creature's tail. It was impossible. It was a monster. No dog had a pure, metal, shapeshifting tail.\n\n\"Grrrrr.\" The low rumble in the canine's throat sent shivers up my spine. Before my very eyes, the large beast retracted its weapon and melted, merging with its armor and reshaping into a tall metal knight. Only the hollow crystallize eyes remained, glowing through the helm.\n\n\"Monster.\" That was the first word that escaped my mouth.\n\nThe knight let out an echoing laugh, raising a silver arm that morphed into a large blade levied at my head. \"Not quite. Sorry, King, but you're finished. Allow me to savor the moment at least, eh? The moment where I have my reve-\"\n\nA ball of bronze metal slammed down like a copper meteor between us. Melting, morphing metal lashed out protectively, spearing the silver knight through and slicing off its arm.\n\n\"Get away from him!\" Came the echoing voice of the bronze monster. I shied away, scrambling behind a large tree as my panicked gasps produced enough white mist that I almost couldn't follow the fight.\n\nAnimals and humanoid creatures shifted between forms like water. Claws of bronze and fangs of silver scraped up white sparks upon collision, making the air tremble with each echoing klang. But it wasn't enough. Silver was larger and faster, finally spearing Bronze through the chest with a finality followed only by silence.\n\nI didn't believe in monsters. So why was I crying? Why did my chest feel like the one that had been run through? Bronze collapsed onto two melting knees. Its head reverted to that of a Bronze knight, turning to look at me.\n\n\"Run, King.\"\n\nI ran. Behind me, the howling rage of Silver rent the air. \"Let me go! You're already dead!\" I didn't know where to go, but my feet seemed to keep moving deeper and deeper into the forest. Every moment was one of fear, fear that Silver was just behind me, seconds from catching up.\n\nMy head hurt. A lot. Fragmented thoughts kept ricocheting around my brain. Memories I didn't know I had seemed to rise from the depths of a dark void, still too far away for me to grasp.\n\nMy King. I'll guard you until the day I die.\n\n\"Stop,\" I yelled, clutching my forehead. \"You're not real. You're not real!\" By the time night fell, I'd managed to find a small cave in the woods where I collapsed. It was damp and cold, but for some reason that didn't seem to bother me.\n\nI wasn't hungry, either. Why wasn't I hungry? The silver light of the waning moon pierced the thick canopy of leafless branches. In that light by the cave entrance, I held up trembling hands.\n\nHands where my skin was starting to peel away, revealing golden armor underneath.\n\n---\n\nThanks for reading! Come hang out with me at [/r/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/), we'd love to see you around :)", "There are no monsters in the woods. They don't sit by the edge of the trees and watch me. It isn't real. Monsters don't exist. I just need to ignore them. Don't look at them. Don't acknowledge them. Don't listen to them. It's just a really realistic halluciantion.\n\nJust ignore them and focus.\n\n---\n\nThe monsters crowded at the edge of the woods held their breath as one of the humans started running across the field.\n\n\"NO! DAMN IT! RUN KID FUCKING CATCH HIM!\" Roared the largest monster jumping to his feet as the human started pulling away from his pursuers.\n\nThe other monsters joined their leader jumping up and down stamping their feet shouting \"YOU CAN DO IT!\" and \"WE BELIEVE IN YOU!\".\n\nWhen the runner was tackled to the ground 5 yards from the touchdown zone the creatures threw their arms up and cheered!\n\n\"THAT'S OUR BOY!\" yelled the largest monster.\n\nThey fell silent as the ref issued a foul.\n\n\"That's fucking bullshit.\"\n\n\"Ref must be blind.\"\n\n\"I'm gonna fucking kill him.\"\n\nThe group turned towards their leader who had started stomping towards the ref.\n\n--\n\nI sighed heavily. I just cost us the game with that penalty. I watched as the dog pile of monsters was dragged slowly towards the ref. The big one was frothing at the mouth and clawing his way forward while the others tried to hold it down. It's a good thing they aren't real, the ref would be pretty fucked if they were." ]	9
	[WP] Shapes and words start to appear in the steam on your shower door. Usually it's innocuous things, like love hearts or daisies. Today a single word appears, written as large as possible: 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.", "Let me tell you about my shower, man: it's an asshole.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n All of these shapes and messages have been forming through the steam, without my permission of course. The first symbol, a heart, showed up the same night I found out my girlfriend cheated on me with her gynecologist. The next week, a daisy appeared on the steam after I had an allergic reaction to that exact flower at a picnic with family, causing a panic and for my 90-year-old grandma to have a heart attack amidst my hyperventilation. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAfter this, I didn't use my own shower for a good two weeks; I had to rely on the neighbor's shower when he was asleep, and if that was not available, I would wet-wipe every square inch of my body first with the original wipes, then the gentle edition just to make sure. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nOn the third week of continuing this strict grooming routine, my neighbor was having a party, and I had run completely out of wet wipes. I decided my shower was the only option. Up to this point, nothing incredibly detrimental has happened, due to my extra precaution. I did not leave the house often aside from work, spend little time with friends, and made sure this shower-ghost couldn't remind me of the heavy flaws in my life. What does it have on me anyway, I thought to myself.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI cautiously enter the bathroom, which looked exactly as I left it three weeks prior; my toothbrush and cigarettes, my emergency Hennesy, and my landlord's son who overdosed on nutmeg at our Hannukah party. Once I moved Jeffrey to the garbage disposal, I returned back to face my cynical ghost foe. I decided to check my weight before showering, as it had been weeks since doing so. 215 lbs. That makes 20 pounds gained since g-ma passed, but thankfully all my fat goes to my calves and wrists when I put in on. Confident, I step into the shower, ready to get real steamy for my supernatural buddy. The scorching water steaming off of my back fogged up the glass within seconds, and a single word appeared on the glass: RUN\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt has been two months since that message appeared on my shower door. I decided to listen to the ghost for once, and I did run. I ran three miles every day and cut most of the weight that I gained in two weeks. I met a really nice girl at the bar with some buddies one night, and it's only been a couple of weeks since we started dating, but I think she's the one. That running was the first step in getting my life back together, and I have to give credit to my shower Casper. It decided to help me, and give me a message that I needed to hear. Since then, it gives me positive images when things are going well, and reminds me when I'm slipping, and need to shape my life up a little bit. I hope I never have to move from this house, as my supernatural roommate and I have become very close friends. A once humbling, cynical, blunt bitch of a ghost became the mentor I never knew I could find." ]	2
	[WP]As a real estate agent, you have seen a lot of old houses, but this is a first. On a old oak door scratched in jagged letters is a simple message; "Death Awaits"	[ "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 will sell this house!' She tells herself as she pulls up to the old Victorian home. Looking around, she can already see that this place is going to take a lot of work to get that all important curbside appeal. 'Hmmm. Oliander and belladonna,' she muses looking at the plants around her. 'I'm going to have to replace those with something a little more innocuous.'\n\nReaching into the back of the minivan she grabs her duffel bag. There have been a lot of murders and missing person cases in this house, but that's ok. When a house has become tainted and no one else can sell it, that's where she shines brightest. 'I've never lost a house to a curse yet, and I don't plan to start now,' she tells herself.\n\nShe starts walking up to the door, but every step has her examining the walk way and planters. Finally she sees one. Carved into one of the stepping stones of the walkway is a little strip of runes. 'Ah! What a subtle dread charm. That would make anyone coming in this way nervous. No wonder no one stays long enough to see the interior.' She sighs before reaching into her duffel.\n\n\"First the salve, then the silver, then the mortar,\" she mumbles to herself. The salve is a concoction of her own device, and works quite well for neutralizing negative forces like this. Sage, rosehips, and salt mixed into sacramental oils, and blessed by three holy men. Next comes the silver dust, to draw in positive energy. Next is some modified mortar with a little dirt from consecrated ground mixed in. Finally, she mumbles a little chant over her work. She keeps looking around as she finishes her walk to the door, but doesn't see anything that needs immediate attention. Already the outside feels better.\n\nFinally she reaches the front door and sees \"Death Awaits\" carved into the wood in jagged letters. 'Well that will never do,' she thinks reaching into her bag. She pulls out some modified wood glue. This wood glue has salt and a little bit of fine gopher wood sawdust in it. The door will ofcourse have to be replaced, but this should help to temporarily contain any curses on the entrance. \n\nNow that that's taken care of, she can check all of the other entrances to the house. Walking around she tweeks and fixes curse after curse. She finally makes it back to the front door, only to realize it's time to head home. \n\n'I think I'll call up my landscaper and set up an appointment to get the outside started,' she contemplates while driving away. After all, if they start now, the plants will be nicely established by the time she's finished on the inside. If she's lucky, she might even be able to convince a local wood nymph to give a seedling to be planted here. Nothing helps the energy of a natural landscape like a woodnymph. 'Unless of course this place needs some structural work,' she amends. All that construction work would damage the landscape too much. \n\nLooks like she will just have to wait and see. She's got time, and it will all get done. After all, she's never lost a house yet, and she won't lose this one.\n\n.............\n\nI know this isn't exactly the prompt, but doesn't a world like this sound kinda fun? 😊" ]	2
I'm kind of tired of all the "descendants of humans who fled get pwned by descendants of humans who were left behind."	[WP] Your ancestors abandoned the rest of humanity on Earth two hundred years ago after an apocalyptic catastrophe. Now you've returned to try and make up for their cowardice.	[ "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 my boots touched the ground I was surprised by how much it felt like my home world. I walked the fields that were laid out in front of us as if the event that caused my people to run were nothing for nature to recover from. The sun was just rising as we had landed and began to survey the land around us. We toured the local area for an hour. We landed in a field that spanned for about 10 square miles and ended with a small forested area that spanned a few square miles. We continued on as we came upon a small river that at ended out a lake. We surveyed the lake and saw a small collection of boats on they water.\n\nWe had chosen to split up then and sent half of us back to the shop to prepare a small outpost outside of it. My group led ourselves along the lake side and found what looked like an old town with most of buildings worn down and destroyed. We continued through the town before we ran into a small group of children kicking around a ball. They were clothed in shirts and pants reminiscent of their old world. When they spotted us we stood at a stand still before they took off running leaving their ball behind.\n\nWe approached slowly taking the ball with us as we slowly followed behind them and found ourselves at a gate. Guards could be seen over looking us with bows drawn on us and appeared to be speaking a new dialect of English. We all put our hands in the air as a program ran in our helmets trying to decipher what they were saying. It was quick to decipher as they seemed speak a dialect of English. We were able to use our speakers to speak to them and I held out the ball to them.\n\nThey were wary of us and rightfully so as the only allowed one of them to leave and grab the ball before retreating back inside. They entered a quiet deliberation as they wanted over before an elderly woman made her way to the top of the gate. She spoke softly and gently asking us of where we came from. I explained how we came to help with supplies and equipment. The woman didn't quite believe us and asked what we could offer to them. We went back and forth for a moment and got them to agree to allow me and our medic, Cpl. Carter, to treat some of their wounded who were hurt in an accident.\n\nWe were guided to an old clinic where we were greeted by the town's doctor. They directed us to a private room in the back with a young woman in it with what looked like severe wounds from an animal. The elder explained a horse escaped and not only kicked also stomped on her a few times. Carter gave her pain meds which soothed her pain as he began set the bones he good and did what he could before saying there was nothing else he could do besides let her rest and get comfortable unless he gets her to our onboard clinic. \n\nThe elder understood but also asked us to look at a few of the sick who had become in the outbreak of an unknown disease to give more evidence of our ability to help. Carter was able to identify it as cholera and set up an IV unit and administered antibiotics before explaining it to me through the radio. We discussed this with the elder and operations can begin tonight once we get the supplies ready to be brought over. \n\nI don't know if they really want to work with us or just use us but I know that I will make up for the debt my family and people made when they abandoned the Earth.\n\nEarth Entry Log 1\nDate 08-14-2342\nCaptain Jenkins, Jeffrey\n\n(Found this and felt like writing something on thanks for posting it.)" ]	2
	[WP] You're a dark lord and you get the news that the hero has bern slain, again, if this was the first time you would laughing triumphally but this is the 217th time and you come to the worrying realization that the hero is the protagonist of a Souls-Like 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.", "Nixus, the abyssal lord, bringer of the darkness, the all-powerful necromancer who brought the world to its knees, had had enough of this shit.\n\nBelow him, Deg-o-'nar, the formless mass of souls and rotten flesh, was kneeling (probably, it's hard to tell with formless masses) as it delivered his latest report.\n\n\"Master, The warrior of Flames has been slain.\"\nAfter enduring Nixus' impatient stare for a few more seconds, it added \"...again.\"\n\nNixus sighed. \"And what did they manage this time?\"\n\n\"They managed to destory the Screaming Mills.\"\nNixus groaned. The screaming mills were one of the main power sources of his empire, running on human souls. This would hurt the economy terribly, and no doubt some of the monstrous workers which remained without jobs would start rampaging. He'll to summon more demons to stop them, which requires MORE souls, which-\n\n\"They have also managed to find a way into the castle.\"\n\nNixus' dark pupils widened. \"THEY'RE HERE?!?!\"\nDeg-o-'nar was twiddling two of its appendages in embarrassment. \"My undead managed to kill them about 10-20 times, but they're just so persistent.\"\n\nThis was bad. This was VERY bad. If this warrior gets to the Dark Heart, which kept the link with the underworld alive, he might find a way to shatter it.\nThus ending the empire. Of course, Demon Lord Baal had promised the feat to be impossible, but with a damned eternity on his side the Warrior might find a way.\n\n\"Bring me the ritualistic staff!\" Nixus belowed. \"I shall summon the Demon Lord Baal.\" Maybe he could strengthen the Heart's defenses, earn some time...\n\n\"About that...\" Deg-o-'nar cleared a few throats, \"Baal has... defected.\"\nNixus could feel the last shreds of hope leaving his heart. He didn't think he had any, after all, that's why he became a dark lord.\n\n\"Why would he defect?\"\n\n\"Well, I might not be the smartest blob around or have an 'Actual Functioning Brain' Pear Say, but Me and the other undead figured that he might've defected because we can't stop the Warrior.\"\nDeg-o-'nar paused and added, \"Pear Say.\"\n\nNixus looked down in defeat. \"I guess you're right. I just... I just sort of hoped, you know?\" Nixus glanced at Deg-o-'nar, who managed to look politely lost. \"I had hope that maybe they won't come back at the 200th time, and if not that then maybe the 2000th.\nBut they have some sort of deep magic, it ties their life source to special bonfires. I'm researching them, but I don't know if it's possible to break the spell...\"\n\nDeg-o-'nar came up to him and put a fleshy, slime riddled appendage on his shoulder. At other times, Nixus would destroy it for the sheer insolence, but he just didn't have the mental fortitude at the moment. In fact it might have even... Helped. The very thought made him shiver to his core.\n\n\"Look, master, you're the dark lord! I'm sure you can break this little hot head. After all, y-\"\n\nThe doors opened slowly. The Warrior of Flames stood there, sword at his side, not saying a word.\n\nLike a jackass, thought Nixus.\n\n\"I'll take care of him!\" Deg-o-'nar lurched into the knight, but the knight rolled aside, and raised his left hand, where a ball of raging fire formed, which he hurled at Deg-o-'nar's descending arm.\n\nWhich crushed him.\n\nDeg-o-'nar seemed please. It prodded the crushed corpse. \"See, master! I can keep going like this for an eternity!\"\n\nNixus smiled. Deg-o-'nar was one of the most powerful soldiers in his army. Assuming he had enough time to recuperate, he could last a long time.\n\nBut Nixus had a nagging feeling, that, like everything else to do with the Warrior, this will not go his way.\n\nHe checked his crystal ball. He rarely used it these days, since it was costly on souls. Nixus used his childhood pet's soul, Morpheus the chameleon.\n\nWarm memories of his first necromancy experiments arose. He was keeping this soul for a special occasion, but he might not have any left.\n\n\"Show me the Warrior of Flames.\"\n\nInside the ball, the warrior appeared, sitting next to a bonfire in a dark room. Where was this? The door, though simple, seemed vaguely familiar.\n\nThe warrior got up and opened the door. Outside it was a long corridor, with two gigantic stygian doors, with drawings of unspeakable horrors.\n\nNixus looked at the doors to his own room. Then back down at ball. Those were the same doors, no doubt. It seems someone put a bonfire in the broom closet. Huh. Funny, that. And by that he meant\n\n\"-WHO THE BLOODY HELL PUT A BONFIRE IN THE BROOM CLOSET????\"\n\nThe doors opened and Deg-o-'nar plunged into battle again. Nixus stormed into the the hall's secret room, where the Heart of Darkness was located.\nHe took the crystal ball, where the image of the bonfire still lingered, then started hurling every destructive spell in his arsenal at it. The bonfire refused to die. He tried dislocation spells and teleportation hexes, but it refused to budge. When he had used them all, he marched back down, through the hall where the Warrior and Deg-o-'nar were fighting, casually deflecting a fireball, and right into the broom closet, where he started whacking the bonfire with his staff. There wasn't anything special or magical about the staff, he carried it around mostly for looks, but he was beyond desperate. \n\nFinally, when the rage had simmered into timid boil, Nixus sat down. What's the point? I'm doomed. All because of this dumb warrior and his stupid cheating bonfire.\n\nThen, an idea popped into his head. Maybe there is something he could do...\n\n\n\nThe rotting mass fell before the warrior, as all monsters did. Eventually. The warrior felt their strength returning, returning and increasing.\n\nA small candelabra proved to be the lever for a secret room. Nixus was full of cliches.\n\nIn the room was a massive black human heart, pulsing, covered in dark magic. Before it, dressed in black robes and skulls, was Nixus. He pointed his staff at the Warrior. \"So, you have arrived, warrior. Sadly, even with your powers you have no chance of destroying the Heart. You shall...\"\n\nThe warrior could, of course destroy the heart. He forced Baal to tell him the secret. First, he'd need to defeat Nixus.\n\nBut Nixus kept going. Something about fate, and demons, and how despite defeating all his minions the Warrior had no hope of defeating Nixus.\n\nEventually, the Warrior got bored. They thrust their sword at Nixus, in an attempt to stop his yammering.\n\nSurprisingly, it worked. The warrior stared in bewilderment as Nixus coughed, then fell to the floor. The Warrior could feel their strength increasing.\n\nWell, that was easy. And disappointing. Time to... destroy the heart, I guess.\n\nNixus opened his eyes. He could feel a hole in his being, like he was dead inside. He pinched his arm. It hurt.\nWell, at least he wasn't dead outside.\n\nNixus looked at the bonfire. \"This doesn't make up for anything\", he said, then spat at it. The fire sizzled in response.\n\nThat hole he felt must be the Dark Heart - the Warrior destroyed it. Well, it's about time he got a new one. Maybe Baal will agree to negotiate with him, now that he was immortal too." ]	2
	[WP] A wizard takes a villainess to dance on air.	[ "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's never looked so beautiful as she looks tonight. \nThe wizard Hammond stood next to his coach, the grey ghost horses knickered and the phantom who was so translucent that he was barely there, tilted his head down towards Hammond \"Pardon my boldness sir, but if you don't knock, she'll never answer.\" He sat back up on the drivers bench and smiled. Perhaps drifting into memories a lifetime ago \nHammond stood in his finest coats, and stared at her glass house. He's been her many times before after hunting her down to make her break a curse or give him an insiders perspective on a difficult riddle left by some other villian. \nShe'd act coy and insist on payments and mock him for needing her help, but she would always help him in the end. \nIt took him many visits to realize that he didn't really need her help, he had learned so much from her in fact, that he was quite competent now to solve mysteries on his own. \nBut he was still compelled to call on her time and time again.\nHe didn't need her help.\nHe needed her. \nSo, he thought why not tell her so and perhaps.. they could solve the greatest mystery yet?\nHow to make..\n\"(Are you serious Hammond?)\" Her incredulous laugher burst into his mind, bouncing roughly off of his thoughts and knocking his emotions around. \n(Of course you would.) He thought dryly. (I suppose you know my intentions then?)\nShe stood in a sleek and shiney dress, her hair hung in fat black curls over her dark skin. She had her arms crossed but he could see, even from this distance, the snake eyes bracelet that he had given her. For professional reasons of course. It summoned a demon snake that would defend you or seek help in emergency. She had tossed it casually aside and called it tacky and sentimental. \nHe saw how it shone in the moonlight and smiled. She had cared for it.\n\"Come out with me!\" He yelled, boulstered by that fond memory. \"Just tonight, let me thank you.\"\nShe walked through her door and her house clouded up as she left. Black smoke billowed and flowed from one room to another. Gods help the fool thief that thought that glass house was a simple target. \nHe held his hand out to her as she made her way to him slowly. Like a cat taking her time to come inside. He felt her cold fingers touch his and his heart lit up. \n(I can still hear you, Hammond my dear.) She thought to him\nHe rapped his knuckled on the side of his coach. \n\"I won't be needing your services tonight Alroy\" \nThe Phantom laughed as he lashed his reins and the horses lead the coach away. He was proud of his master today. \n\"Hammond... We're, walking?\" She asked, distastefully. \nHammond wrapped his arms around her and they shot up abruptly.\nShe screamed and tucked her face into his velvet coat, gripping his collar with her long pointed nails. \n\"Oh my fearless one, what's the matter?\" He teased \"didn't you see this coming?\"\nHer shoes fell from her feet and out of sight and she glared at him. But she softened and smiled. \"Now what you silly old man?\"\nHe started, he didn't really know to be honest. He just wanted to scare her, but now that she was in his arms and the stars were spread like diamond dust over the black night sky, he stroke her cheek and began sing.\nOh, my love. My darling..\nThe old song poured from his heart and although uncertainty threatened to cut him off. He prevailed and continued.\nI've hungered for your touch, on long lonely nights\nThey turned gently in the sky. \nHer voice joined his and they defied gravity mind body and soul.", "“Take this,” Porteus mumbled, shoving a small orb into Juliara’s hand.\n\n“What in the hells is this?”\n\n“Don’t…don’t ask me that yet.” He fiddled with several wires on the machine he was working with, then nodded. He hopped onto a stepstool and started filing through a cabinet above their heads, desperately looking for something. Juliara frowned and examined the orb. It wasn’t clear or smooth, like most crystal orbs needed to be for magical effectiveness. It was pitted all over—but the pits were incredibly even, like it had been done deliberately. The crystal itself was flecked through with bits of some metal or other.\n\n“Seriously, what have you done? This isn’t for magic, is it? You’ll blow both of us to bits if you use something like this for channeling.”\n\n“It’s not—look, really, just let me show you, please?” He snatched something from the back of the cabinet and jumped down. She took in the smudged dust on his nose, the worn stars and moons embroidered into his work robes, and the eager smile on his round face. None of it filled her with much confidence, but she sighed and nodded.\n\n“If there’s anything I can trust, it’s your genius,” she admitted. Porteus beamed with pride at her words, then held up the scroll of paper he’d retrieved and shook it out. \n\n“Is that music?” She reached her free hand forward, brushing against the notes written on the sheet. “Is that…Pilshaw’s Sonata?”\n\n“Sure is! Now watch and listen!” Porteus rolled the paper up again and slid it into a nook in the machine. After a flourish of his wand and a few muttered incantations, he stepped back and eagerly watched as the machine began to churn and whir. He looked to Juliara and motioned for her to hold up the orb. She did so slowly, holding it well away from herself. The pits on its surface began to glow, each with its own pinprick of magical light. Her lips parted in dawning realization.\n\n“It’s a…a receiver?”\n\n“Exactly! Now, listen closely…” Porteus bounced on the balls of his feet in excitement as he twisted a knob on the machine. Juliara pricked up her ear to the orb. Music trickled from it, at first faint, but then it quickly picked up in volume until it filled the room.\n\n“Pilshaw’s Sonata!” she laughed, setting it down on the table. “This is truly marvelous, Port. I’d ask how, but I’m sure you’ve got at least a couple of contracts that keep you gagged.” \n\n“More like a couple dozen. I can’t even tell you what I call it yet. It's a great name, though.” Porteus slowly swayed in place to the song that swelled from the crystal orb.\n\nWith a wave of her hand, Juliara set the ball to levitate several feet off the ground. The tinkling melody still played from it. She looked to Porteus, who was now bowing with a hand held out, inviting her to dance. She laughed and took his hand, allowing herself to be swept into a cramped waltz around the small cluttered room. Each time they nearly crashed into some expensive piece of equipment, Porteus whisked her away with a deft expertise.\n\n“Wait, wait!” He released her and tossed open the door to the small balcony. She followed him out, beckoning toward the orb and sending it floating toward them.\n\n“What’s the range on this thing? Will we be able to hear it from the balcony?”\n\n“Let’s find out!” He twirled his wand, and they both began to float slowly into the air. Juliara shook her head and resumed their dancing stance. His hand was warm on her back. As they twisted and dipped through the air, Juliara threaded her fingers through his. The sonata still played from the orb that hovered a few feet away from them. They continued to climb higher and higher, passing tower windows filled with astonished and amused faces. The music surged around them still, even as they reached the top of the tower, the toes of their boots brushing the slate tiles. She looked deep into his dark eyes, and a smile crept onto her face.\n\nIt was so easy from there. He didn’t even feel her presence creeping into his mind, filing through the memories of his work on the machine, finding the location of the blueprints in his office, learning the principle mechanisms of his…what did he call it? The Harmony Engine? Well, she could make a better name for it later when she made her own version. She pulled away from his mind to find him grinning madly at her. She smiled in return and leaned in for a sweet, short kiss.\n\n“Thank you,” she murmured, resting her forehead against his. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Port.”" ]	3
	[WP] You never knew that your D&D game corresponded to an actual fantasy world you were affecting with your choices. You were having fun playing a very evil character, but after getting summoned to that world as a hero, you're faced with the living-breathing consequences of the crimes you committed.	[ "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\nD&D was always a fun outlet, particularly when you could cause a little chaos. There was something about plotting against others and working towards the destruction of civilization that makes my heart pound, especially after a long thought out plan comes to fruition. Of course, this was all fiction, so the thought of not having to actually hurt anyone helps to keep me sane. The kind of actions and motivations which embodied my character Thalzud were messed up and I wouldn’t dream of thinking like him in the real world. Sure, it felt satisfying to turn colonies against each other, resulting in a devastating conflict, but it was all part of the game. If this were to happen in the real world, any intellectual satiation would immediately be dispelled by the waves of horror to follow.\n\nI blinked, unable to drift to sleep. If only my friends hadn’t acted that way around me tonight. Months of scheming had led to this moment, this one session. Thalzud had been trying to split the two primary factions in our campaign since we began, yet no one had suspected his malfeasance. After months of conversations with various characters and npcs alike and secret actions known only to the DM and himself, Thalzud had successfully split the warriors of the False Brotherhood against the city of Galdirk. The best part was this had placed my friends’ characters opposite each other, effectively dividing the group in half based on past loyalties. This was as good a reason as any for them to seem annoyed with me as they were leaving, seeing as everyone in the group took it very seriously. Still, I felt like it was something different, like they were reacting to the satisfied way in which I unfolded my true intentions before them. \n\nMy conversation with Chris, our DM, was especially difficult to suppress. “I can’t believe it all came together like that!! The next few sessions are going to be insane, I can’t wait to witness the incoming carnage! Don’t you agree?” \n\nMaybe it was what I said, or maybe I had some kind of look in my eye, cause he gave me this confused look. \n\n“Yeah… whatever. I guess we’ll see.”\n\nYeah, well it is whatever. I probably ruined something he wanted to do in his campaign, but it's not like he couldn’t work around it. If this grand plan was really this much of a detriment, he would have talked to me by now and worked out a solution. Satisfied, I slowly drifted off to sleep. Next session really will be great… can’t wait.\n\nI awoke to a sharp kick in the stomach. Grasping for breath, I tried to adjust to my surroundings. I wasn’t in bed anymore, I was on stone paved road in a tattered shirt and rough leather pants. My hand shot to the weight on my hip and recoiled when I felt the piercing of rusty metal. A simple dagger. Only then did I register the voice above me. \n\n“GET UP YOU FILTHY DRUNK, YOU ARE ABOUT TO DIE.” \n\nA short man stood before me, with a couple of kids behind him. Oddly enough, the kids stood slightly taller than the man. As if waking up in a different reality as somebody else wasn’t enough confusion. \n\n“How…” The deepness of my voice shocked me right back into silence. \n\n“So now you wake up. God forbid these kids might be in danger, once YOUR safety is at stake you move. Typical.” The man threw me to my feet, making me realize just how small he was. Or maybe I was taller..? \n\nHe shoved the children towards me. “Get these damn kids outta here NOW. The line is about to break, and these bastards don’t much care for keeping innocents safe.” As the man raised his axe, I began to see him more clearly. He had an enormous beard, braided down to his chest. The rest of him was covered in silver armor. The intricate designs created a symbol of a man holding his shield against the glare of a sun… very similar to the crest of the Galdrik city guard. \n\n“You’re a dwarf.” I sounded as if I was asleep for years. \n\n“Keep it up. A mind that sharp, we’re sure to best the Brotherhood.” The dwarf’s head jerked at the sound of an explosion behind him. As I looked beyond, I saw a stone wall standing about fifteen feet. I didn’t get much time to examine it, however, as a large number of stone chunks blew into the air. As my eyes adjusted to the sight, faint silhouettes of large men with various weapons began appearing where the wall once stood. \n\nThe dwarf growled to himself. “NOW BOY! We will hold them while the town escapes. Regroup with the others outside the north gate and head towards Galdrik. They must know.” With a roar, the dwarf charged into the fray, members of the town guard dressed in leather armor falling in behind him. \n\nI doubted I would understand what was happening anytime soon. What I did know was that there were two kids I needed to escort out of the battle. Maybe this wasn’t real, but their looks and screams of terror sure felt authentic. Better to act first and think of a way out of this mess later. \n\nAs I began to lead them to the north gate, I glanced once more at the hell behind me. I could see the smaller figures quickly fall before the fury of the invaders. At one point, the miniature man who turned out to be a dwarf stood alone vs five men. As he struck down the fourth invader, the fifth man raised a glowing palm. A dark purple blast struck the dwarf in the head, leaving a loud ringing in the air and illuminating the man’s face. As the spell worked its magic, I was filled with dread. \n\nThalzud grinned as he dealt the finishing blow.", "The DM took me to the side. \"Hey man, do me a solid, will you?\"\n\n\nLeon wasn't able to make it to our next session. Although I usually played the evil overlord, the DM wanted me to play the hero. They would leave my character drinking in a tavern, and I would play the hero.\n\n\nI agreed to his request. I would later regret it.\n\n\nI don't know how it happened. One moment I was playing the hero, the next moment I was the hero.\n\n\nI woke up in a field, with some concerning farmers crying and bowing. \"Our hero, Good Knight Great Hero the Eighth is here! He will defeat the great evil of the land, the Overlord DickFace PoopButt the Ninety-Second!\"\n\n\nRight.\n\n\nAt least I knew where he would be.\n\n\nI approached the tavern that the Evil Overlord Dickface PoopButt was staying. It was...something else.\n\n\nAs I got closer, all I could hear was the Alestorm cover of \"You are a pirate\". Neon lights were flashing from the windows, with drunk people staggering about. I promptly turned around and walked away.\n\n\nI was playing the good guy, the hero. Inside though, I was still the Evil Overlord Dickface PoopButt. It was who I was, and I wouldn't change for anyone. Not even the DM.", "“Betcha can’t land one in the mancala board.” Jimmy flicked a piece of kettle corn into the air and caught it on his tongue. He tilted his head to one side, considering Cait’s challenge. The mancala board sat on a shelf on the far side of the shop, near the “BOARD GAMES HERE!” sign next to the door. There were a few tables and a cardboard stand-up of a Magic: the Gathering character between him and his target. The arc would have to be perfect, a sublime line plot charting the rise and fall of boyscout popcorn sales in America, ending in a pile of blue glass stones.\n\nCait gave him the highest raised eyebrow she could manage, a look that said “Go on, give up, I know you can’t hack it.”\n“Watch me. First try,” Jimmy told her as he launched the sugary, salty, aerodynamic payload.\n\nThe scion of all addictive junk foods smacked Karn, Scion of Urza in his cardboard cranium. The kettle corn projectile bounced off the decorative planeswalker and rolled out of view beneath the far shelves.\n\n“Hah! Toldja you couldn’t do it.”\n“Yeah yeah, okay, second try...”\n\nJimmy took a moment, aiming down his finger tips, lining up the shot. The door jingled as a customer entered, catching the 23-year-old mid-flick. Too late. The munchy missile sailed over Karn’s hulking form to catch itself in the folds of the visitor’s robes. Cait hurriedly stowed the bag of kettle corn behind the counter.\n\nThe customer, an aging man in brown robes and with a ludicrously long white beard, ambled up to the cash register. He leaned on the counter, the long sleeves of his robes brushing against a stack of Chessex dice and knocking them to the floor.\n\n“My apologies...” he began, breathlessly.\n\n“Whoa there, buddy. We don’t serve larpers,” said Jimmy. It was a joke, of course, a prank he played on just about every cosplayer who walked in.\n\n“‘Larpers?’ No, you see, I am a wizard, and...”\n\n“Well we can see you’re a wizard, Harry, but the next prerelease isn’t until Friday,” Cait commented.\n\nSomething about this bothered Jimmy. Something about the man’s body language, his looks...\n\n“No no, you don’t understand, Grastia is in grave danger, and...”\n\n“Yeah, right, and my dragon needs a new saddle,” Cait said, chuckling.\n\n“If you’ll just let me finish...”\n\nJimmy leaned in over the counter to stare at the man’s face.\n“Is that you Mike? This is some really good makeup...”\nMike was Jimmy’s GM. Gamemaster, and General Manager at his previous job at the local Mickey D’s. Grastia, which the stranger had mentioned, was Mike’s homebrew Pathfinder world.\n\nThe man shook his head agitatedly. “No, I most certainly am not the god, Mike. But if my divination spell is correct, then undoubtedly you must be the demigod, Jimboozle!”\n\nJimboozle. That was what he’d written on his character sheet, under “Player Name.” No one but he and Mike knew that, and Mike hadn’t needed to look at his character sheet in months. Jimmy stared into the wizard’s eyes, looking for the joke, the glimmer of joviality, the bluff. His sense motive check succeeded. The old man was deathly serious.\n\nCait tugged on the back of his shirt. “Excuse us for a second,” she said, pulling Jimmy into a huddle in the corner by the employee exit.\n\n“Jimmy, this guy’s nuts. We need to call 911, get him some help, locate his family, y’know? I’ve got a grandmother who lives in this place down the road, we could recommend it, heck maybe he escaped from there...”\n\nJimmy shakes his head. He can’t believe it. But the man’s eyes convinced him. The left was brown, the right was red. Another member of his roleplaying group, Shanon, had a penchant for characters with heterochromia. This had to be Tolemn, her half-elven wizard. Except that was impossible.\n\n“Hold on, Cait,” he said, turning to look at Tolemn again. “Let me talk to him. I think he might be from my Pathfinder game.”\n\n“Well yeah, from your group, right?”\n\n“No, I mean from the game, Cait. Like, Monkeybone or Sonic the Hedgehog levels of from the game.” Cait gave him a look that put her earlier eyebrow raise to shame.\n\nHe straightened. Looked Tolemn up and down. The wanderer drew his wooden pipe from a pouch at his side, lit it with a touch and a bluish glow from his fingertips.\n\n“Tolemn,” Jimmy began hesitantly. This couldn’t be real. But if it was, then they were probably in for some very bad news. “What has Golremn done?”\n\nTolemn let go of his pipe, and it hung in the air of its own accord as he let loose a stream of smoke from his pursed lips. The smoke circled his head to form a perfect halo, then became a snake biting its own tail and slithered away through the air.\n\n“Finally you’re ready to listen to me, I was starting to think I would never get through to you.” He stroked his beard, looked from Cait’s gaping mouth to Jimmy’s barely concealed anxiousness. \n\n“Golremn has opened the Twelfth Gate. I hope you’re ready, Lord Jimboozle. You have to atone for who, or rather what, you have created.”" ]	4
	[WP] A group of holy knights approaches the throne of the demon king, only to find a mourning prince no older than 18 weeping for the death of his father. The kind king who whole heartedly loved all, and wished for peace. The knights learn that their ‘holy’ church secretly started the 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 five knights stood by watching the prince cry over his father's body, still sitting on its throne, for what felt like hours, but was probably just minutes. Having just found the foundations of their beliefs shattered before their very eyes, didn't even notice the bloody sword the prince still unconsciously gripped white knuckled, nor the deep gash just under his rib cage from fending off his father's attackers. \n\n\nThe first of the knights to break the 'spell' was the oldest and most battle hardened of the lot. He cautiously crossed the 25 yards, climbed the dais, and not knowing what else to do, reached out to grip prince's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. The Demon, distracted by his loss, did not notice the knight approaching, reacted instinctively to the touch. Feeling a searing pain spread up his arm the moment he made contact, the Knight stumbled back as a massive wave of pressure pressure felt through the room forced him to the floor. Looking down, he just managed to catch a glimpse of the remnants of his arm as it turned to ash stopping just below the shoulder. \"DON'T TOUCH ME!\" the prince exploded, his shout mixing with the blood-curdling scream of the elder knight. \n\n\nHaving been knocked to the floor in an instant, the other 4 Knights felt a wave of terror fall over them. They had fought the demons for most of their lives, but nothing could prepare them for the pure amount of power radiating out of this one demon. As one of them looked towards their fallen leader, he noticed 3 things. His arm was missing, he was covered in burns, and an almost tangible red aura gathering around the demon prince. \n\n\nThe cries from the now hand-less Knight started to die down as he started to loose consciousness. Just as he was about to loose consciousness, he tried to order the others to flee, but it came out as a murmur as darkness took hold.\n\nRegaining consciousness, the knight felt a throbbing pain all down his right side that he had never felt before, but strangely not in his arm. He remained confused, staring at the tall stone ceiling for about 20 seconds, the world throbbing in and out of focus with his pain, wanting nothing but to sleep but not being granted the privilege. Then he remembered everything, sitting up as fast as he could (which was quite slow with all his burns) but ignoring his pain, more concerned about his friends he looks around. \n\n\nLooking around the throne room, it took only a moment for his eyes to adjust. All of a sudden, he realized what he was smelling wasn't his own burnt flesh, but the charred remains of his fellow knights. Unable to bare the sight, he turned his head away, and in doing so accidentally met the gaze of the demon prince, now wearing his father's crown, eyes devoid of any kindness they once portrayed. The Demon, having gotten over his shock the elderly knight was still alive, reached for his sword, and raised his sword over the knight's head, intending to end it in one swing. as the sword prepared to bare down on him, the king regretted, for the second time that day, sending those assassins to kill his demon counterpart. he had only just begun his next thought as it all came to a halt. \n\n\n(sorry for the bad writing its my first short story I've ever done)", "\"Oi, what're you doin' lad?\" Sithe lowered his sword an inch and crooked his head in confusion. A boy, with hair like fire and eyes of stone, slumped near the throne. He gave nothing more than a cry and nothing less than a whimper in response to the question. His eyes filled to the brim and the tears leaked down his chin. He clasped onto the king's hand tightly, silently begging for the man to come back to him.\n\nSuddenly, the second knight raised his sword and leapt towards the boy with a snarl. \"He's one of the Demons, he's to be taken to the grave by command of our Lord Darrington!\" The last of the three knights stepped in front to stop his companion. His sword clashed with the other and they stepped in union. This was not a spar like they'd had many times before, but rather a serious encounter. \n\nSithe placed his hand over Kunie's shoulder and grumbled, \"You are far too brash, my friend. The boy is not even of age, yet you are willing to slay him. He is torn over the demon king, and I have a bad feeling. I'm sure the Tedol feels the same. Please lower your weapon.\"\n\nTedol nodded and pushed the other man's sword away. He then swiftly sheathed his sword, feeling no sense of danger. The three of them stood in front of the throne and Sithe asked his question again. This time the child looked up and spoke softly, \"My father was good... we did nothing wrong. Yet, the Holy Church has made our people and king into Holy Ghost. What have you to say? What have you to say in regard to the innocent lives you have slain under a foul name?\"\n\nTedol grunted and looked around more carefully. He walked towards the boy and looked over the king's limp body. He nodded and pointed down to the fallen wine. His boots were now sticky with the poison liquid. The boy spoke again, \"He has been dead for a day now. We were never able to prepare a defense. He was slaughtered by an assassin who tried to take my life as well. He told us that he was hired by your lord... and I am inclined to believe him.\"\n\nSithe then remembered why they had been sent, \"Then do you and your people deny burning the village our lord was staying in only days ago?\" The boy's single-color eyes glinted cruelly, \"My father and I were there to sign a land treaty with the lord. Your lord threw a candle down in the middle of the night of his own accord and set fire to his own tent. Nothing else was damaged as we put it out quickly.\"\n\n\"You lie boy.\" Kunie gripped the sword he still held out. His bustling belly jiggled as he took a step forward. His long, dirty blond hair fell into his eyes as his tie was ripped out and he was momentarily blinded by Tedol. Sithe frowned but nodded, \"Tedol is right. You are blinded by your loyalty to our lord. Can you not see that we have been lied to? Look around. The boy is blind, he is not a threat.\"\n\nKunie growled, \"And if the boy is lying, what then? Shall we go back to tell our lord that we have allowed the Demon King's son to live?\" Tedol held out his hand and helped the boy to stand up. He did not shrink away from Tedol's touch, but he rather embraced it. He had no fear of dying anymore.\n\n\"I was born like this, and I cannot see. My hearing is much better than a normal human because I cannot use my eyes. The people started a rumor of my father and I being demons because this runs in our lineage.\" The boy spoke once more. \"I am just human, as was my father before me.\"\n\n\"How did you know the tent was set on fire then?\" Kunie asked this maliciously. \"For you cannot see it, and neither could your father.\"\n\n\"Your lord's maids had a good laugh. We over heard them speaking of it, and then I didn't hear them again after.\" He answered earnestly. \"We did not harm your lord.\"\n\nTedol held up two fingers, signaling the number of maids that had been reported dead from the fire. The three knights knew then that they had been decieved and so had everyone else. Sithe spoke in a mumble, \"Those two must have been killed as a meaning to conceal the true story...\"\n\n\"If this is true, Lord Darrington will plan to invade these lands under false circumstances.\" Kunie rubbed his chin. Tedol led the boy back to his father's side and sat with him. He traced his sword on the floor and looked towards the entrance as if waiting.\n\nSithe sighed, \"That settles it then. We must right the wrong we have committed, for it is our sworn duty as Holy Knights.\" He kneeled in front of the boy and bowed his head. \"I pledge to protect you, my young king. I will stay by your side and slay anyone who dares lay a finger on you.\" A rustle came from his left side as Kunie kneeled in pledge as well.\n\nThere was a silence, and then the boy stood. He yelled out for anyone left in the castle, but only one small woman appeared after a few minutes passed. She wilted away from the three knights, but the boy reassured her that they would not harm her. \"Gather any servants left alive and begin cleaning up the palace. Prepare for my father's burial. Lastly, find any knights that are still alive and treat them for wounds. We must prepare ourselves for another attack.\"\n\n\"Yes, your highness.\" She bowed slightly and scurried out. The new king looked in the direction he could only assume the knights were still in, \"Your lord must die.\"", "The knights looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They were ordered to storm the palace and slay the demon king and any demon that stood in their way. But upon entering the throne room, what they found wasn't a demon king, but a young demon prince, kneeling beside the throne weeping. Suddenly, the boy looked up, and upon seeing the group of heavily armoured knights standing before him, fell back in shock and onto the throne, before raising his hands in surrender and terror.\n\nThe lead knight than did something that would make him both a traitor and a heretic in the eyes of the church; he sheathed his sword, and raised his hands while slowly walking towards the prince.\n\n\"Commander, what are you doing!?\" One of the knights yelled, bewildered that any members of the order would dare to attempt such a thing.\n\n\"Be silent!\" The commander snapped. Turning back to the prince, the commander saw purple light beginning to shine from the Prince's hands. \"Easy there, boy. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk.\" The commander raised his hands up away from his sword, and removed his helmet. Revealing his battle-scarred face to the prince. \"My name is Darius, I'm the knight commander to this regiment behind me.\" He gestured to the group of knights behind them. \"Tell me, Where is your father?\"\n\nThe violet light from the Prince's magic began to fade, when all of a sudden it flared again, launching a bolt of crackling magic towards Darius. He barely avoided it, when he heard it strike mere centimetres from his back. Turning, he saw the shield of one of his knights, charred and melted. The knight holding it quickly threw it to the side, before it fused with his armor.\n\n\"Heretic! You would dishonor the order by conversing with this....this thing!?\" He pointed his blade at the prince, and the prince readied another spell to defend himself.\n\n\"Stop! Let me handle this.\" Darius raised his hand towards the prince. Placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, Darius turned to the seething knight in front of him \"Stand down, brother. He is but a child!\"\n\n\"Child!? He's the spawn of the very thing we have been fighting to destroy! Look what he managed to do to that shield!\" Darius glanced to where the shield was thrown, and where it did lay was now just a pile of charred wood and melted metal. Whatever spell that was, it was more than powerful enough to overwhelm the wards of the church.\n\n\"He is cornered and terrified! Would you not do the same in his situation?\" Darius moved to block the knight.\n\n\"If he is slain, this war will finally come to an end! We will be free from the tyranny of these monsters!\" At those words, the prince stood up, anger filling his eyes and violet flames filling his hands.\n\n\"My father was a kind, and gentle man! He wanted nothing more than to end this war and make peace with the humans, but your church refused to negotiate with him. And when he rode to your capital to confront the church personally, they imprisoned, tortured, and murdered him!\" The prince raised his hand, and a large crystal materialized in front of him. \"Observe, and see what your \"holy war\" is truely about!\"\n\nThe prince snapped his fingers, and the crystal projected an image of a tall, imposing demon. Clad in ornate silver armor inlaid with obsidian, the demon looked almost as the prince would in about twenty years. Horns grew tall from his forehead, while his grey skin was covered in faintly glowing runes. However, despite his fearsome appearance, the Demon's eyes were kind and gentle. They had a wisdom and knowledge to them that betrayed his true nature.\n\n\"My son, as you know, I ride for the human's capital tomorrow, to try and negotiate peace with their ruling council. I know negotiations never worked in the past, but maybe if I approach them personally they will listen to what I say...I'm tired Talus, tired of seeing humans die for a war they believe is holy, tired of seeing demons being slaughtered like animals, and I'm tired of fearing what will happen to our people should I fail. Should you be cornered, please, do not fight. hopefully the Warriors that find you are merciful and not tainted by lies and deceit. I shall take this crystal with me. If I fail, it will find you. Farewell, Talus. I pray to see you again.\"\n\nWith that, the projection of the Demon king shimmered and was absorbed by the crystal. The knights, speechless during the king's speech, now muttered and whispered amongst themselves. Darius noticed more than a few shot glares towards Talus, full of accusations and fear. He stepped towards them, but then the prince gestured towards the crystal.\n\n\"There's more.\" Prince Talus waved his hand, and the crystal projected another shimmering image. This time, it showed a room full of chained demons....and humans. Some of the knights gasped in shock, while Darius's eyes widened slightly. There among them was the Demon king, stripped of his armor and now wearing only rags. His skin was covered in burns and open wounds, and one of his eyes was swollen shut, and His once tall horns were broken and cracked.\n\nSuddenly, a bright light appeared, and through the light stepped none other than the high lord bishop, the highest authority of the church, and a guard of two inquisitors, elite knights of the order. Despite his wounds, the demon king stood to meet the bishop and his guard. Other demons, and, to the knight's surprise, even humans began to surround the king as if to protect him, but he waved his hand and they stood back.\n\n\"Restrain him!\" The bishop pointed a bony finger at the king, and the two inquisitors grabbed him and forced him to kneel before the bishop. \"This day will go down in the annals of history, as the day humanity triumphed against the demon Lord!\" The bishop spread his arms and a smile covered his elderly face. The king smirked, and glared up at the bishop.\n\n\"Humanity? Please, this war is nothing but your church's sick twisted ploy to gain more power and followers. You spit lies like a snake spits venom, and your order blindly follows! Anyone who defies you? You declare heretics and either butcher them, or throw them in this hell of a prison to await an execution to be made an example of!\"\n\n\"Silence, demon!\" The bishop's hand glowed white with light, and he grasped the side of the king's face. Smoke began to rise from it and the king clenched his teeth in pain. \"You will cower before our God's power, and submit to us!\" The bishop's other hand glowed, and now he had the king's head firmly placed in a glowing vice grip. The king's skin turned black from the light, and he grunted from the pain. \"But dont worry, We won't kill you right away, we'll torture you and your kin. Along with these traitorous humans, first. Then, when you are broken, defeated, and little more than a shade of your former self, only then will I release you to the abyss you crawled out of!\"\n\nSuddenly, the king's eyes snapped open. They were glowing with a powerful, violet light. The runes on his body were glowing with the same light. The bishop drew back screaming, his hands alight with violet flame.\n\n\"You will not harm me, or anyone else in this room, not anymore!\" The two inquisitors were engulfed in flames, leaving nothing, not even ash. The king rose into the air, flames gathering around him. \"These flames will cleanse this place, and purge the corrupted. Nothing will remain!\" With those words, violet flames erupted from him, consuming everything, the humans, the demons, and the bishop.\n\nAs the image began to shimmer, the king glanced at the crystal and spoke for a final time. \"Farewell, Talus. Please, don't blame the humans for this. They are being mislead, deceived.\" The image shimmers, and is swallowed by the crystal, which soon vanishes.\n\nThe knights were silent, almost in shock. They looked towards Darius, and were taken aback. Darius's eyes were full of anger. He glanced down onto his breastplate, where a crest of the church was hung, made of pure crystal. He grabbed it and tore it from his armor. Without hesitation, Darius threw the crest onto the floor, shattering it.\n\n\"We have been mislead. This war is not holy, we are not Warriors of god. We are nothing but murderers, we have slaughtered countless innocents in the name of a FALSE GOD!!\" Darius spun to the prince, and knelt before him. \"I offer myself to your service. I will work to right the wrongs myself and my knights have commited.\"\n\nHe wasn't alone however, he heard his knights tear the crystal crests from their armor, and shatter them as well. One by one, they joined him and bowed before prince Talus. Until only the knight that had confronted Darius remained. He glanced at the crest on his armor, before grabbing his sword and sprinting out of the room. Darius went to give chase, but Talus stopped him.\n\n\"Let him go. Enough blood has been shed here today, commander.\" Darius looked at Talus, and saw in his eyes the same kindness he saw in his father's. Darius knelt once again before him.\n\nTalus nodded. \"If you are to be my champions, you will need armor that suits the role.\" Talus's eyes filled with violet light, and tendrils of magic enveloped the knights before him. The magic twisted and changed the armor of the knights. Turning it into the same silver armor that Talus's father had wore.\n\n\"What will you have us do?\" Talus looked over the regiment of knights before him. He glanced down at Darius, the knight commander, and then turned and sat confidently on the throne.\n\n\"Gather any knights that are loyal to you, Commander Darius. We ride to the human's capital when we are ready. The church's lies have gone on for long enough.\" Darius nodded, and set off for the battlefield.", "A strident sound cutting the otherwise silent corridors of black marble, striking right underneath the skin, like a needle harassing the heart. That was the resentful noise being made by the Prince of All Demons. At the same time, it was just the universal sound of grief.\n\nAs the Captain of the group stood still, the man at his left, his left hand, slowly approached, whispering: \"What are we to do now?\"\n\nThe Captain, again, held his nothingness. As the kid started again to explain, in tears, the whole situation from his viewpoint, the soldier from the middle of the group step foward, hand on the waist, fingers on the hilt of his sword. \"That will make things easier... Now to kill the spawn of darkness, and win this war!\"\n\nHe prontly felt a hand on his left shoulder, gently put yet firmly holding him. The soldier behind, trying to fully grasp the situation, asked \"But... Is this right? I mean...\"\n\nThe soldier at the right of their leader, turning the head just enough to take note of the situation developing there, asked in a low, but strong tone: \"Captain, your orders?\"\n\nYet the captain stood there silenty once again, eyes on the child.\n\nThe last member, the tallest of them all, rested his greatsword on his shoulder as he turned back, starting to march alone. \"Forget this. Nothing more makes sense. Nothing ever made.\"\n\nThe captain's second in command turned to the mess. \"Are you deserting?\"\n\nMany words started to be said, but they all halted at the Captain's exclamation \"Enough!\"\n\nAs everyone of the group looked at him, he moved towards the Demon Prince. Knelling besides him, who offered no response other than merely acknowledging the enemy's presence, the Holy Captain asked. \"How old are you?\"\n\nAs the demoniac cub sobbed, the word slipped: \"Nine...\"\n\n\"Does that hurt? Losing your father?\"\n\nThe prince finally looked at the Captain, his watering eyes meeting the empty gray of the shining human.\n\n\"Of course it does! He is my father!\"\n\nAfter their gazes dueled for a moment, the Captain blinked slowly \"I see...\"\n\nHe them stood up, with an inquisitive grim. \"However, do you have any proof of your opposive claims?\"\n\nThe prince stood up as well, finding bravery to fufil his duty. \"We... Have a room with the register of every bit of our history. Some are books... Others are visions. We could...\"\n\n\"Lieutenant.\"\n\n\"...Yes sir!\" his second in command answered\".\n\n\"Stay here. Anyone tries to desert, execute them immediately.\"\n\nEvery single soldier gasped.\n\n\"... Roger that.\"\n\n\"But Captain...\" The one with the hand at the blade intervened \"Why are you... The holy missio-\"\n\nThe captain suddenly turned at him, and pointing two fingers as his chest, unleashed shining chains of light, that were too fast to hold him, crushing his torso in a sudden crack noise.\n\nEveryone was taken by fear. The soldiers held their protests, and the little prince felt his dark, scaled skin shiver.\n\n\"Show me the way\" Said the Captain, now looking at the demon cub.\n\nAs both disappeared in the marble of black, the Holy Knights started to crumble.\n\n\"Lieutenant! What just happened!?\" Said the tallest one.\n\n\"I don't know. But we are to follow orders\" he said with a visible lack of confidence.\n\n\"But... We are the only survivors of the Sixth Heavenly Army! We shouldn't be... Not by the captain\" He sobbed as he gazed his wounded companion, froze in place by ethereal chains, struggling to even breathe.\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"... Lieutenant, Sir... I wish I could've stopped this all\" Said the one at the bottom right, trying to take care of the apprisioned friend in any way he could find.\n\n\"... I know. I, too, wish I...\"\n\n\"Could you all keep quiet just for a bit?\" Said the one at the right of the Lieutenant. \"It's too much for my head...\"\n\nThen they fell to a dreadful silence, made that much more tense by the vision of the now cadaveric Demon King, rotting as they speak. The black scale serving as mirrors for the shallow, dim lights of the palace. Behind them, a freshly manufactured graveyard for the entire Demon King army, that was made with feelings of pride, bravery, compromisse and heroism. Yet, all they could sense looking at the result was... Something. Not nothing, but anything that couldn't be... Right? The animalesc horns of the final enemy of light suddenly started to look less evil than it looked... Natural. But no one risked a closer inspection.\n\nHalf an hour passed. Their bodies still tense. \n\n\"Heh... Imagine what we are going to tell our wives and children when we get home\" Said the one caring yet for the wounds of his friend.\n\n\"It will be a story... If I ever find out a way to tell it\" Said the one with the greatsword on shoulder.\n\nThe one closest to the Lieutenant gave a sad look to everyone else. Noticing the worry of the group, he quietly spoke. \"My wife was a lower-rank soldier. She... She died in the first siege against this castle.\" The tears started to win over his will to keep quiet, dropping on the floor\" We were to try starting a family after all this was over...\"\n\nSilence, once again.\n\n\"...We're sorry, buddy.\" Said the tallest one. \n\n\"Thanks...\"\n\n...\n\nAs their minds wandered over the possible outcomes of this journey, wondering what winning will even mean for the Holy Knights or even for humanity itself. Three bells rang. A sinister shiver striked their spines, like if touched by spiders. But far worse.\n\nBefore they could formulate a proper thought about it, the Captain returned, his armor fueled in light shining in the corridors. Or at least, that what it first looked like. But something was different. The whole group could tell, but no one could put a finger on it.\n\nAs the Captain approached them, the Lieutenant asked \"Sir, what happened?\"\n\nWith deep steps on the black soil, he answered: \"I couldn't find the truth. So I found a way to find it.\"\n\nHis underlings exchanged confused looks. The Captain then pointed the fingers at the one he previously had imprisioned, and removed his bindings. Suddenly falling on the floor, the underling searched for breathe and, after finding the minimum quantity required, screamed \"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?\"\n\nThe Captain approached him, picking him um by the neck, and lifting him over, said. \"I see you want to know. Well, I am to become the new Demon King, so I can have the power and the means to find out who is the wrong one in this world. Shall you help me with the ritual?\"\n\n(To be continued)\n\n(... And to be later revised in order to fix the grammatic errors. I'm in a hurry now lol)", "\"I had wondered about the truth of the war,\" our monk Matteo murmured, as he headed to the child.\n\nWe had been out here in this foreign country for weeks, searching for and destroying \"demonic strongholds\", which had been oddly filled with gold and jewels and holy relics.\n\nMatteo kneeled before the child, praying. \"Father, please bless this young king with serenity, and please forgive us our greatest sins.\"\n\n\"I-I,\" the king wiped his face, \"I know you have been fooled, and I-I... I can find it in myself to forgive your folly.\" He stood, his voice finding more and more strength as he spoke.\n\n\"But please, you cannot go back to your homes. I will send all the messengers I have to your families.\"\n\n\"To what end, King ?\" I asked, touching my sword. The king flinched.\n\n\"Because I ask that you become my sword, to please find it in yourselves to give kindness to us.\"\n\n(Might write more later)", " \n\nWith Laser swords drawn the five knights of the Holy church entered the throne room of the palace. They had already dispatched the few remaining guards of the heretic king. His droid armies where no more, all gone in this the final battle of the holy crusade to remove the demon king. \n\nAs the entered the throne room, passing the many great statues and works of art, all broken and damaged by the long siege and perilous battle, the spotted the great throne. On it sat a young man with a circlet of gold upon his brown and a black cloak upon his shoulders. At his feet lay the body of an old man, his visage worn by the years, so that not even death could make them look at peace. \n\nIn the name of God and the Mother Church, stand too and tell us where the demon king is boy.” Cried Sir John, commander of the Knights. Behind him his four companions, all who remained of their holy chapter in this battle, spread out to surround the throne. Laser swords humming with power, there eyes alert for anymore droid soldiers. \n\nWith calmness in his movements and sadness in his eyes, the young man leaned back upon the throne and viewed Sir John with eyes of cold grey. “you need not look far, for your so-called demon king, for my father lays here, dead upon my feat. Slain by his own hands, he hoped his death would be enough to stop your assault, but no, you monsters took no quarters and gave no mercy, well here he is, you monster, your demon king. Look upon him, look upon the face of man who only ever hoped for peace, who so loved his people and life that he created an army of robotic warriors to fit in their stead. Yet it seems this was not enough, as I see now that the value of no one life is worth the sacrifice of freedom for generations yet unborn. For only warrior meeting warrior can defend the sacred shores of our liberty.” His peace said, the young prince fell silent and viewed the faces of the hated knights who fought for there hated holy war. \n\nSir john laughed at the words spoken, “Come now boy, do not be a fool, we know the demon king is an abomination of metal like his accursed armies. No man of flesh, the archbishop has told us so.” As he spoke the knight moved the still form of the old man. What final trickery is this of the demon king, to coward to face us soldiers of god. He kills a man and thinks to have him take his place.” Raising his sword Sir john plunged it into the corpse and withered and then hacked off the head. Raising his sword, he pointed it at the young man.\n\n“Take us to the true demon king boy, and no more games, lest you meet god early.”\n\nUndaunted by the threats of ignorant men, the prince rose from his late fathers throne and knelt before the body of his father, mutilated and disgraced even in death afforded no peace. “place your sword at my neck ignoble knight for I have no more time or patience with you, who is to stupid to see the truth of the lie he so blindly follows. My father the king is dead, and he was no demon, an neither am I; we are simply men who loved the liberty of our land and would never bow before the slavery of your church. So strike your blow and finish this, but know that while you have destroyed the armies of my father, our people have seen the horror of what you bring and shall rise up again and again until the day comes when your church lies broken, your lies made bare, and the tyranny you so blindly follow has been blasted from the face of this earth, and freedom once again reigns. Fools, our allies have seen through your lie and even now the alliance has been brokered by my younger brother. The hour of your reckoning comes near, so strike me down!” and with this the prince prostrated him self across the body of his father and made clear his decision. Wasting no time Sir john chopped off the head of young heretic.\n\n“Search the place top to bottom, find me the demon king, and kill all who protest and protect him, God and Mother Church wills it” cried Sir John, “For God and Church” chorused the other knights, and they spread through the palace killing and destroying through out the day, asking each person the found where the demon king hid, and each answered dead upon the steps of the throne. \n\nFinally, as the sun set in blood red hues upon the smoking ruin of the city, Sir john and his knights stood once again before the bodies of the king and prince, forced to face the truth, there was no demon king. No monster of metal, for the only monsters present where themselves, surrounded by the blood of innocents.", "The most senior of the knights stepped forward. \"Men,\" he said. \"As a member of the King's Council, I can vouch for the words of the demon prince.\"\n\nThese words dampened the chattering of the men like a soft snowfall blanketing the sounds of a city. Understandably, they were confused. Spies had gathered the threads that made up the fabric of the demon king's plot to destroy all of humanity. Every man, woman and child knew of his limitless rage and hate, how he wished to drink the blood of infants and turn their villages to ashes. But now, he was a creature of peace? A veritable sage?\n\n\"Sire, what on Hock are you talking about?\"\n\nThe youngest among them had gathered the courage to speak his mind. Of them all, his heart had the most patriotic of beats, his blood burned with the greatest passion. Everything he had endured, he had endured because of the true conviction possible only in youth, before doubt and regret set in like a festering wound.\n\n\"We started the war,\" said the old knight. The others gasped and raised their brows as if the confirmation was the revelation itself. \"And we shall finish it.\"\n\n\"There must be darkness in your heart,\" said the demon prince, \"that you can allow yourself to be driven by such filthy ambitions.\"\n\n\"On the contrary,\" said the old knight. \"I am filled with light. The vibrant light piercing through the hearts and minds of men. The blinding light guiding us towards the true purpose.\"\n\nThe demon prince scoffed. \"And what purpose may that be?\"\n\n\"The same purpose as your late father, prince.\"\n\n\"My father wished for peace!\"\n\n\"Your father wished for no such thing. What peace is there in a rotting corpse? How do you imagine a peaceful kingdom comes to be? Through war. Men venture into battle against each other after which they merge and become greater than before. Men become villages. Villages become cities. And cities becomes kingdoms. All through war, without which there would be nothing at all. Peace? Don't speak to me of peace. Peace is nothing more than the time that passes between events of unification on an ever grander scale. Your father acted to prevent the unification of demons and men through war, and the old fool thought he wished for peace? No! We are the harbingers of peace, and it rests on the edge of a blade.\"\n\nWith these words the old knight stepped forward and plunged his sword into the belly of the grieving prince.\n\n\"Dear prince,\" he said. \"Do you see the light?\"\n\nThe demon prince choked up a mouthful of blood. \"I ... I can see it. It is beautiful.\"\n\n\"Now I shall reunite you with your father. And then I shall unite your people with mine.\"\n\nWith a soft nod, tears streaming down his face, the head of the demon prince was separated from his body. For a brief moment, it stared with fear and trepidation at the men. Right before leaving this world, it saw the young knight unsheathing his sword.", "Anger’s Breaking Point\n \nThe church had stated that the king was to be executed, for he had committed an act against god. Why, then, do the knights see before them a kind young man kneeling before his late father’s throne? Everything clicked once they spoke with the prince. “Sir, we come from The Church of The Israelites. We have been made aware that your father was The Demon King, foretold in your written kingdom origins. This is directly against our holy God and must be punished. But as we see now, God has punished him and you enough.” \n “No” the prince said, wiping the tears threatening to spill over onto his cheeks. “My father was no demon. If anything, your bishop is the man against God. My family settle here many years ago. They had two sons, my father, and Kakó.” The knights gasped. “As the family grew a following, their city grew. Then that city turned into an empire. The older brother, my father, was appointed king. His younger brother grew apart from him. He wasn’t jealous, no, he was angry. The night my father fell asleep, Kakó drew his blade and tried to kill him. He failed, and he fled like a coward. My grandfather had always favored Kakó, even though he knew he would not be king. He left after to join Kakó. Last we heard of them, Kakó screamed of how he would make his own empire, and my grandfather would be right by his side.” The knights were in shock. Why would their bishop wage war against his own son?\n\n(WN, this is my first WP on here so go easy on me lol)", "Three armored figures spread out as they crept through the dark and corrupted castle with extreme caution. Many a brave knight had been slain by evil traps and demonic trickery during their long campaign, and now they descended into the proverbial the belly of the beast. It was not the time to be complacent.\n\nSir Findlay, the most experienced of the trio, led the way. A veteran of all three campaigns against the forces of the demonic realm, his wisdom was invaluable to his two young companions.\n\n\"Sir Magnus? Guard our right flank. Sir Alistair, keep careful watch on our left. These crossing corridors are the perfect location for an ambush.\"\n\nThe pair did as they were told. Magnus had been a Knight of the Holy Order for a few years now, and had at least some idea of what to expect. But Alistair had just completed his training and was only here presently because of the loss of many more experienced knights suffered on the long journey to arrive at this moment. He was perhaps the finest and most skilled young swordsman in all the realm, but he was also utterly without experience in actual combat. His body shook like a leaf as his nervous eyes glanced left as instructed.\n\nThankfully, no ambush came and the trio arrived at a massive set of stone doors. Their objective, to slay the Demon King who sat on a twisted throne just beyond this door, was finally within reach. Findlay nodded to the other two and all three pushed on the impossibly heavy gates, slowly forcing them open.\n\nInside was indeed a dark and horrible throne room. The walls were a sickly, patchwork mix of black and red colors. Skulls, likely of fallen enemies, were mounted to spikes that lined the path to the throne itself. The look of this inner sanctum of pure evil was exactly what they expected. The sound they were greeted by, however, was not.\n\nCrying. There was no mistaking it, loud sobs emanated from the darkened far side of the room. The trio moved forward carefully, toward the bizarre sound. Slowly, the throne itself came into view, but seated atop it was not the massive and terrifying Demon King they expected to find, but rather, merely a small boy. A demon, to be sure, but a boy nonetheless. He quieted his sobs as the knights approached.\n\n\"We are here on a lawful mission, sanctioned by the Holy Order, and thus God himself, to slay the Demon King,\" Findlay declared loudly. \"Where does he hide, boy? Tell us now and we may spare your life.\"\n\n\"You are too late,\" the boy sniffed. \"Another set of knights, sharing the symbol of your vile order, assassinated our dear king just days ago.\"\n\n\"Vile?!\" Sir Magnus shouted, infuriated. \"How dare you speak such a word to us, monster! Watch your tongue or I shall-\"\n\nThe boy leapt off the throne and stood directly in front of the much larger knights, shouting in their faces, unafraid. \"You shall what?!\" he screamed in a rage, his tears returning. \"You shall slay me just as you did my loving father? My father who desired only peace, who begged to negotiate an end to your onslaught and invasions into our lands? Why? Because you fear the twisted, sharpened horns on my head? Because my skin is aflame?\"\n\n\"Father?\" Findlay mumbled with concern to his comrades. \"In that case, I'm afraid our mission here is not yet complete...\"\n\nAlistair was horrified as he realized the implication of Findlay's words. The young knight found his resolve and took the unheard of step of questioning his senior. \"Sir, the Demon King is dead. Can we not say our duty is done?\"\n\n\"The former king is dead, yes. But naturally his son now ascends the throne to take his place. Our orders are to kill the Demon King, and that new king is now standing before us. Our mission and duty remains unchanged, distasteful as it may seem.\" Magnus nodded in agreement.\n\n\"But... he is a child!\" Alistair protested. \"As Knights of the Holy Order, have we no duty to assess the reality we find, rather than blindly executing orders? We swore oaths to protect the innocent regardless of where we find them! A child is not responsible for his father's sins, we believe this and-\"\n\n\"Do not speak to me of oaths, young man!\" Findlay shouted before calming his voice. \"Sir Alistair, being your first assignment, it falls to you to finish this task. Speak no more of your objections. Follow your orders, and do your duty.\"\n\nAlistair peered down the at the young boy standing before him, horrified at the 'task' that had fallen to him. He turned and stared at his commanding officer for a moment before flicking his eyes to his younger comrade, Sir Magnus, desperately hoping to find support for sparing the child's life. Finding none, he raised his sword, closed his eyes briefly, and swung it with a violence and precision few swordsmen could hope to match. He did what had to be done.\n\nHis two fellow knights fell to the floor, their heads severed by a single sweeping, whirlwind slash that had passed through both their necks effortlessly.\n\n\"What have you done!\" the boy cried, too terrified by the sudden act of extreme violence to be grateful for his potential rescue.\n\n\"Perhaps the right and moral thing. Perhaps the wrong. That shall have to be sorted at a later date,\" Alistair replied with a grimace. \"Come now, lad. Countless more knights will arrive on your doorstep when Sir Findlay does not return. You cannot be here when they arrive. Nor can I.\"\n\nAs he led the boy out of the throne room, he stepped over the fresh corpses of his fallen former comrades. His duty, as he saw it, dark and dishonorable as it may have been, was finished.\n___\n___\nThanks for reading. Feel free to check out r/Ryter if you'd like to explore many more of my stories.", "“Not again!”\n\n\nThe knight tossed his claymore to the ground, balled his fists, and stomped on the pommel.\n\n“Now, Bartholomew, don’t be crass! We’ve got company.” \n\n“Eat shit, Arthur.” Said Bartholomew. “This is the third time- THE THIRD TIME! We’ve already lopped the head off two foreign monarchs purported to have demons stuffed inside just to have the church point at another country and say ‘Woops, silly us, must’ve been the next folks over! Sorry! Demons are a tricky lot, yes? Well, no harm! Bring the gold back and crusade on over to BiffleBaplia to behead the REAL demon king!’”\n\n\nThe knights shuffled their feet.\n\n“He’s got a point,” one said.\n\n“Not you too, Alard!” Arthur said. \n\n“Well he does!” said Alard, “I spent three days breaking down doors in an ancient tower, slaying demons, just to have them all turn out as nuns. Nuns, Arthur! Not particularly good ones, but weren’t no demons.”\n\nArthur scratched his beard. \n\n“Well,” he said,” we can’t just stop now. We’ve got all this momentum going! And we’ve an image to keep, yes? Holy knights and whatnot. Maybe we kill the boy and stick some horns on him?”\n\nBartholomew squatted by his claymore. He lifted his head and squinted at Arther.\n\n“Glue horns on him?” He asked.\n\n“Yes,” said Arthur.\n\n“And that’s to make him a demon then? Having horns?” Bartholomew asked.\n\n“Of course,” said Arthur.\n\n“Then what about the deer?”\n\n“The what?”\n\n“Deers got horns, so must be demons then by your book, Arthur.”\n\n“Why that’s silly, Bartholomew!”\n\n“Antlers,” said Alard\n\n“What?” Said Arthur.\n\n“Deers got antlers, not horns, so they can’t be demons. Goats could be. Thems got horns.” Said Alard.\n\n“Right then,” Bartholomew said. “We kill all the goats, and call it a good crusade and go home to stop murdering folks who ain’t demons.”\n\n“That’s ridiculous,” said Arthur. “You can’t just kill goats and call it done with. Demons possess PEOPLE! So they must be people we murder. With horns.”\n\n“What about pigs?” Said Alard.\n\n“Pigs?” Said Arthur and Bartholomew in unison.\n\n“Pigs got demons too,” said Alard. “Happened in the Bible, it did.”\n\n“Good point,” said Arthur. “Compromise, we kill all the goats AND the pigs, and put the horns on the pigs. Fair?”\n\n“Sounds fair,” said Bartholomew.\n\n“Agreed,” said Alard.\n\n“Right,” said Arthur, turning to the weeping boy on the throne. “Sad boy, tell me, where are your pigs?”\n\nEdit: formatting\nEdit v2.0: Thanks for the Silver ! Never got an award before !" ]	11
	[WP] At forty years of age, you begin to realize that your ten year old child is somehow not only the main character, but also violently in denial.	[ "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 think I first realized when I was outside chopping wood. I always thought it was just ADHD or something. I mean.. he was a quiet kid but always looking for something to do. It usually means trouble and I bailed him out a couple times. Like when he was 5.. he grabbed a steak knife out of the cupboard and went to McKenny's bar. He started stabbing the rats down in the cellar. He killed at least 15 of them before he got bit in the leg and I had dragged him out.... it just was like that, ya know, for a few years. Up until that day I was out splitting those logs.\" I paused to take a sip of hot black coffee. It was bitter but the heat was welcomed after walking through the night's rain.\n\n\"He had this... this massive sword.\" I continued, \"I.. I don't know where he got it, but it was the same height as him and probably weighed just as much. He split those logs with a single swing with one hand. Everytime. Twack. Twack. Twack. I just stood there and watched.. \"\n\nMy host sat perched with his elbows on his knees, engrossed, \"It's okay, please continue... we're all friends here \"\n\nI nodded and wiped my face. \"After he was done, he broke every vase in my house and stole my father's old army uniform from the chest in the attic. It's been about 5 months now since I've seen him. My boy.. he just wandered off into the woods and I couldn't keep up. There were foxes and rabbits cut in half everywhere along the way. It was horrible...\"\n\nA single tear ran down my face and I shuttered.\n\nThe host sat up and clapped his thighs with both hands. \"Okay, I think that's a good saving point for today's meeting. Let's all break off and we can meet again next Tuesday. Uh.. if we may, I'd like to here from Link's uncle then, yeah? Okay thanks everyone for joining us at this week's NPCs anonymous. See you next week.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Humanity nears extinction due to a monstrous mutation in animals. After years of living in hiding, you meet a pale man and learn you are the last living human. Fearing loneliness, the man has tasked you with finding the old gods and reviving humanity.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So what? I have to go out there? Again?\" I say. That seemed like the worst idea I have ever heard.\n\n\"Yes. You must find the Old Gods. Only they can save us now.\"\n\n\"Hold on. So I'm the last human, right? I mean besides you of course.\"\n\n\"Who says I'm human.\"\n\n\"Fine. If that's what we're going with. So I'm the last human. I have to find these Old Gods. I have no idea where they are or what they look like, but if I don't find them, humanity goes extinct.\"\n\nThe pale man sighs relieved. \"You got it. I mean I can help you try to locate them.\"\n\n\"Those things are still out there. I can't do this. Anyways, you know more about these so-called Old Gods than I do. You go find them,” I say, stumbling over my words.\n\n“I am bound to this room and only have one hand,” the pale man says motioning to the interior with a stump where his right hand would be. \n\n“I’m sorry I couldn’t see,” I say before I take a second take in the room. I never really looked around properly when I first ducked inside to avoid the muts. The bookshelf filled with dusty books in a corner, the dresser missing its back-left leg, the moldy chest, the mattress with holes and covered in dirt, the little chamber pot in the corner, and the only source of light, a lone window above the mattress. The light from the window beamed into the room, barely casting enough light to see by.\n\n“I can’t find them. I’m one man. Barely strong enough to hold my own against one of the muts. I can’t do this.”\n\n“Of course, you can. It’s fate.” His eyes twinkle when they say it, desperate to hold onto the last bit of hope left. I don’t buy it, though. How could I? I just met this guy today. He suddenly stands from his bed, walks over to the bookshelf, and grabs a dusty leather-bound book before returning to sit down. He opens it, thumbing through the stiff pages before he exclaims, “Found it! Here’s what we can do. I found a spell that will allow you to locate the Old Gods.”\n\n“Great. No. I am not doing this.”\n\n“The Norns have weaved the web of fate in our favor. That I am sure of.”\n\n“Do the spell then I’ll decide,” I say just to shut him up. It’s not like magic is real anyways. Those creatures out there. The muts. They’re just mutated animals. Crazy. Fast. Strong. Bloodthirsty. But still just animals.\n\nHe jumps up, gleefully, going to a table I didn’t see. He sets the book down, picks up a weird looking knife, and cuts his hand over the table, dripping the blood on the middle of the table. He says some words in an odd language I don’t understand. The blood starts glowing, revealing a pattern etched onto the table. A flame bursts from the pattern, shooting a scroll into the air. The man catches it with his cut hand without flinching. He unrolls it to reveal a map of the USA with three X’s on it. He looks at it before handing it to me.\n\nI study the map for a second. If I’m correct, I should be in Southern Idaho. The nearest X is in Western Oregon. It’ll take me around two weeks to get there, three if I’m extra careful. I look up at him. “Who are you?”\n\nHe smiles. “The name’s Tyr.”\n\nThat’s a weird name but it doesn’t matter. I say, “Alright Tyr. You have a deal. I’ll find these Old Gods. I mean I might as well. I’m going to die either way.”\n\nHe says, “You must leave tonight to find them. Before you go, eat some food and rest up. I have something for you when you’re ready to go. Guns are useless on the creatures out there. I have something for you.” He opens the chest and grabs out a sword.\n\n“I have no idea how to use that. I’ve never been trained, and I don’t have time to learn now. It would take years to get proficient.”\n\n“I know. It’s all we can do though.” I sit on the floor against the dresser. I’m doomed. I’m going to really die now. I’ve barely been able to survive to this point. Hopefully that Old God will be able to help if I ever get to him.", "As it turned out, Hades is chatty. \n\nHe sits shotgun, nails tapping against the window as I attempt to steer the old pickup truck down snowy New England roads. I have to keep my eyes forward, watching out for fallen branches or collapsed sign posts or-- in one memorable occasion-- rotting human carcasses, but every now and then I glance to the side, watch him twirl his goatee around his finger and peer outside like an excited child. \n\n\"You know, Zeus is going to be furious that you picked me up first,\" Hades says. It takes me a second to register the comment; he'd been on a rant about agriculture for the last half-hour that I'd decided to tune out. \n\n\"He'll blow a gasket, I'm tellin' ya,\" Hades continues. The glee in his voice is distinctly unmasked. \"Maybe we just leave him asleep.\" \n\nI sigh. Fine, I'll break it to him. \"Look, you were the first one I came across, no offense, and I was getting a little lonely. And, jeez, there are a million other old cultures with a million of their own gods. I might just pick up the rest of your buds after we cross the Mesopotamians and the Ancient Egyptians off our list.\" \n\nHades frowns-- some would call it a pout. \"You mean you didn't seek me out because of my scintillating company?\"\n\n\"No comment,\" I say diplomatically. \n\nFor a second I think I'm going to get smited-- smote? Whatever the word is for being blasted out of my mortal flesh for daring to poke fun at the Greek god of Death. Then Hades sinks lower in his seat and lets out a huff. \"Who died and left you in charge?\" he grumbles. \n\n\"Well-- everyone,\" I say. \n\nSomewhere in the distance, the storm grows louder.", "Connor dodged the meaty swing of the pig-man, scrambling for the pistol that clattered to the floor. He was fucked. More were coming. Any second now, a horde of monsters would tear him limb from limb.\n\nThe pig-man stumbled forward, head perfectly aligned with his sights. Connor pulled the trigger.\n\nThe shot echoed through the subway tunnel, blood splattering against the tiles. The beast fell with a thump. Blood pooled, and Connor looked away before he retched.\n\nThey said the age of humans was over. The chimaera, more monster than animal, now roamed the streets of New York City. Hyper intelligent, inhumanely strong, humanity never stood a chance. What could a person do when the family dog grew another head and started tearing off limbs? Eating your parents, your children? It wasn’t long before Snuffles, along with his monstrous friends, tore up entire neighborhoods. Then cities. Then countries.\n\nConnor hopped onto the tracks and ran for his life. Big mistake. Between him and the countless supplies he’s hoarded in his abandoned train car, stood the largest rat Connor had ever seen. It stood almost five feet tall, mottled gray fur and cold, red eyes.\n\nThe rat rushed forward, claws clicking against the metal tracks.\n\nConnor unsheathed his katana. After the fall of humanity, no one cared enough to raid museums. No one except Connor.\n\nHe swung the blade, but the rat dodged deftly, striking him with a massive tail. He fell backwards, almost impaling himself with his own sword. The rat charged again, biting into Connor’s arm. He screamed, grabbing his pistol and unloading a shot in its head. The rat let go of his arm, and he fell backwards, dazed. He needed to get to his supplies. The subway car he made home was three blocks away, but it might as well have been a thousand. He could barely stand.\n\nSnarls echoed down the subway tunnels following the sound of gunfire. The sound of his screams. Of fresh, human meat. Connor’s mouth went dry. He heaved himself upright, inspecting the wound in his arm. The rat had gouged at the skin, three claw marks along the flesh. He sheathed his katana, and cursed himself for thinking he could be a sword master simply by owning a katana. Three more bullets in the magazine. Two for putting down Chimaera’s. One in case he had no way out but a bullet to the brain.\n\nHe ran down the tunnel, flashlight in hand, arm wrapped in makeshift bandaged from an old shirt in his pack. By the time he made it to his subway car, he knew something was wrong. The doors had been pried open. Something had gotten in.\n\nGun in hand, he entered the subway.\n\n“Could you put the gun down, it’s rather in poor taste,” said a pale man. Connor almost dropped the gun that instant. Another human? The man appeared to be in his fifties, skin so pale you could trace the network of veins. A gray beard peppered his weathered face. He wore a suit of obsidian black, with faint white patterns that seemed to move. He must have lost more blood than he thought.\n\nConnor felt his eyes leak with tears. He holstered his weapon and approached the strange man.\n\n“I’m Connor,” he said. “How did you find me? Are there others?” He had a million more questions for the man, but this seemed like a good place to start.\n\n“My name has not been spoken on human lips for some time now. I am Hades.”\n\n“Like the greek god of death?” he said, biting back a laugh. The first person he’s seen in two years, and he was a total loon.\n\n“No,” he said with a sigh. “That’s Thanatos. A mistake I would have lashed your soul for, if not for my desperate circumstances.”\n\n“What are you talking about? The gods aren’t real, if they were then we wouldn’t be in this waking nightmare.”\n\n“The Gods are no more I’m afraid. Neither are humans. We’re the last of our kind.”\n\nThe news felt like a physical blow. “How could you know this? There has to be more people out there.” He gestured wildly in the direction of outside.\n\n“It was Circe. Driven mad, she began to turn your kind into animals. The magic spread, killing the very people we depend on for worship. Without that, we’re nothing. She rules Olympus now, the other Gods banished.”\n\n“None of that makes any sense.” Connor sat down on the bench across from Hades, feeling lightheaded. “If you’re Hades, prove it to me.”\n\n“Very well.” Hades snapped his fingers. Connor looked around in disbelief. He was no longer in the train car. Millions of souls stretched out for eternity, shades that were once people. The sky itself was tinged violent, white lighting ripping through the clouds like angry viens.\n\n“This is Hades, named after yours truly,” he said. “As you can see, it’s a little overcrowded.”\n\nConnor collapsed to his knees, unable to fathom what he was seeing. “You’re a God. What can I do that a God couldn’t?”\n\n“We’re bound by certain laws your mortal mind couldn’t possibly understand. You’re the last human. To insure the survival of your race, I need you find the old gods.”", "The church was broken. The roof half-collapsed, starlight spilling like honey onto the ancient altar. \n\nHumanity was dead. All except for Kyle. \n\nYou need to start again, came the haunting voice that had been with him each day since he'd been left alone.\n\nA distant screech. Kyle swallowed hard and lit the first candle, snapping the flame to life with a shaky match. The red fire swirled and cast black smoke through the air like an ancient spirt.\n\nKyle had been hidden all his life. Twenty years cowarding beneath the ground with only the last remnants of his bloodline for company. His father and sister. \n\nWhen they'd died... What choice did he have? There was no going forward. No repopulating the earth alone. \n\nHe'd crept out of the bunker, wondering what waited for him above. \n\nThere had been only death, waiting. Skeletons of humanity, bones like chalk that spun to dust as touched. Hundreds of years had passed as the families in the bunker had tried to forge new lives below-ground. Tried to escape the monsters that hunted on the surface.\n\nBut the monsters were still waiting when Kyle had come back out. \n\nThey had been patient and they had won.\n\nYou need to start again, came the whisper. Start over. Bring God back.\n\nKyle lit the final candle and took the book out of his satchel. He had never been taught what demonic meant, he just knew that the volume he'd taken with him from the bunker was a religious text. His father had worshipped it, and his father's father. And there were rituals inside it he could at least try. What other option did he have? \n\nHe'd completed the hardest part -- he'd found a church, overgrown with ivy and crumbling in on itself. But the altar, that was still there. Still intact.\n\nA dreadful scream split the night. The hunters. They'd been following him for days, his scent lingering strong in the air. And now that he'd stopped, they'd caught up. The last human would soon be torn to pieces.\n\nHe'd blocked what had used to be the door with planks of woods and mounds of rubble, and he hoped it would keep them out for a little. But in truth, he knew they'd breakthrough in an instant, or climb onto the broken roof and fall down onto him, devouring him.\n\nAnother scream.\n\nCloser.\n\nHe opened the book onto a pentagram covered page and laid out his candles on the altar as in the diagram.\n\nKyle began to chant. Words he read but did not understand.\n\nAnd the words began to fill the air, and the flames of the candles danced uneasy, like the fluttering of his stomach. They grew and stretched and hummed, and the shadows on the wall moved out of rhythm with their flickering.\n\nThe words echoed into sentences that Kyle wasn't sure he'd even spoken. Thick voiced and loud like a choir. Seemed to swallow the air itself.\n\nThump!\n\nThe creatures were here. The makeshift door rocked.\n\nThump!\n\nThump!\n\nHe recited faster, desperate sweat pouring down his brow. If there was truly a God, he had to help his children. Had to!\n\nThe blockade broke in a storm of splinters and dust.\n\nThree of the creatures, two of them on their four legs, one of them standing upright, entered the church. The twisted elongated bodies flinched in anticipation, long tongues licking claw-like lips.\n\nAs they pounced, the altar exploded in an orb of dark-light.\n\nKyle was thrown back, his head slamming off the ground.\n\nScreams.\n\nScreams filled the church. Dreadful and begging. But whatever mercy was requested, was not granted. \n\nBlood spattered over Kyle like hot bleach.\n\nThen, finally, silence.\n\nThe waves of hazy vision settled, and a woman with magnificent red skin, with great elegant wings tucked behind her, with the smile that could only be of an angel, helped him to his feet.\n\n\"You called me, Kyle,\" she said, gently, in a voice familiar. The voice he'd heard so often in his head. \"You called me, and I have come to help you.\"", "\"You are the last living human being.\"\n\n\"But there are two of us.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I can't be the last one as long as you're still alive.\"\n\n\"I will die soon.\"\n\n\"OK, but you said that I was the last one right now.\"\n\n\"You know what I mean.\"\n\n\"So you were just being overly dramatic?\"\n\n\"I suppose, but we're getting off the point.\"\n\n\"You want me to find the Old Gods and revive humanity.\"\n\n\"Yes!\"\n\n\"How can I trust the accuracy of your intel?\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"If you can't be arsed to get it right about me being the last human, how can I trust that these are Old Gods and not just middle-aged?\"\n\n\"Gods don't get 'Middle-Aged'!\"\n\n\"Do they just pop in fully old, or is there an adolescence? I'm not sure I want to deal with some angst-ridden teen aged god.\" \n\n\"Gods don't have adolescence!\"\n\n\"That's a relief! I can't imagine an omnipotent pimply-faced god with body issues. Well, I suppose a god could just snap their fingers and solve all that shit. Do you think they binge-drink or cut themselves?\"\n\n\"You know what...loneliness isn't sounding all that bad right now.\"" ]	6
	[WP] The hard part about being a Serial Killer isn't the police or chasing down your victim, the cops are useless and your victims tend to be stupid enough to trap themselves. The real challenge is getting your tools without drawing attention, and especially that coward of a Cashier.	[ "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.", "“Y-you need a lot of rope today, sir.”\n\nAs always I give him an uninterested and slightly annoyed glare and like always Jimmy just makes his ditsy, nervous smile a bit bigger.\n\nOut of all the things in this world that annoy me and all the stupid people I have to deal with Jimmy trumps them all.\n\nJimmy is the cashier of the family owned hardware shop I frequent. I like going here because their revenue is too low for them to replace the broken security cameras and the man who owns it is too sickly to be there most of the time. The only problem about that is that he leaves Jimmy in charge.\n\nJimmy has anxiety as he always likes to announce. Whenever he’s nervous, which is always, his hands will shake, eyes darting every which away, and he will make a full body flinch at any loud sound.\n\nNot only that but he always makes a dumb remark about my purchase in an effort to get me to talk.\n\nJimmy has a problem with just shutting up and scanning. \n\nI would have killed Jimmy along time ago. He probably would have offered me a coupon to do it, the dumb shit.\n\nBut Jimmy is too stupid to put two and two together when I bring full body coverall, an axe, and rope to the counter. And Jimmy likes to go on and on about how he’s trying to make friends, emphasis on trying, and how his mother works long hours at the hospital, which makes him lonely at night; so it’s not like he has anyone to rat me out to if he actually grew a braincell and suspected me.\n\nI just wish he’s quit stating the obvious and fix his goddamn stuttering!\n\nJimmy is fumbling with the price book and I’m two milliseconds away from breaking his wrists when the old bell on the door rings.\n\nJimmy jumps in surprise and his infuriating smile with his chipped tooth gets bigger.\n\n“G-good morning! Welcome t-to Sal’s.” Jimmy greets the other customer before looking back to the price book.\n\nI sigh and glare deeper into Jimmy’s soul as the other customer walks behind me. I assumed that the other man would walk into an isle but he gets even more into my personal space. As I’m about to turn around and give this guy a piece of my mind I notice that Jimmy has his eyes wide, mouth dropped open in shock.\n\nI quickly glance behind me and the man is holding a glock towards me.\n\nReal-fucking-ly?\n\nI’m being held hostage by some chump who probably wants drug money & the guy meant to barter for my life is fucking Jimmy?\n\n“Now look, kid.” The guy states,”We can do this quick. I can be in and out. All you’s gotta do is empty the cash register.”\n\nJimmy makes an audible gulp and makes no move to follow orders.\n\nFat chance, buddy.\n\nI roll my eyes and in a quick movement I elbow the guy in the stomach. He heaves and we start fighting for the gun. The guy’s able to bring a good hit to my jaw, the bastard.\n\nI reach for the ax I had placed on the check-out counter, ready to start just hacking at him.\n\nI hear a gun cock. And I know it wasn’t the guy’s gun. Both me and the guy turn back to the counter and Jimmy is standing there holding a loaded shotgun aimed at the guy.\n\n“Let go of my customer, fucker.”\n\nI’ve never seen any emotion besides fear in Jimmy’s eyes and at this moment I see something I’ve only ever seen in my own eyes, thrill.\n\nThe guy slowly backs off, holding his hands up nonthreatening.\n\nJimmy looks back at me and smirks,”Would you like another bundle of rope, sir?”\n\nI look at him incredulously. He’s holding a gun to this guy and now he suddenly has the courage to ask me to fill his sales quota.\n\n“A two for one deal. We need more rope if we’re gonna ... Hunt together.” He starts chuckling, his smile so big his eyes are squinting.\n\n“Y-yeah, sure.”\n\n“Good.” Jimmy pulls the trigger and the man’s screams and the scent of his blood fill the small shop." ]	2
	[WP] In a society in which everyone can read minds and emotions, you are the first to be born without that ability. But noone else can reads yours either. After years of being shunned, your realize that is a superpower rather than a shortcoming.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "As the mother clutched her baby close, she wept over it. She felt it breathing, knew that it's heart was beating, but was aware that it was dead. There wasn't a single thought in its head, not even a light feeling. Her husband hugged her close, as he thought that he'd handle it and that they would keep trying. He heard only her anguish in response. \n \nAs he gently lifted the infant from her, he tried not to think of what he had to do. But he felt the child stir in his arms, and with it his paternal instincts. As this thought took over, he heard joy from his wife, hinted with love and fear, but joy none the less. They would keep the child, and hope that it would learn to think in time. \n \nIt never did. \n \nHe never even gave off a spark of feeling, though he showed them through his smiles and tears. The child was simply silent, not dead as they had thought. They learned to recognize his feelings by his actions, and could communicate in this way, to a degree. Life was not easy, but it was what he had. \n \nOnce he'd learned to walk, the troubles began. Since he couldn't hear their thoughts, they had to get his attention in other ways. They kept bells upon themselves, for he could hear the world still. But, like all children, the boy sought to be like his father. Hunting was hard enough, but to bring a bell would make it impossible. But children are hard to convince, especially when you can't talk to them. \n \nHis first attempt was truly a disaster. Luckily he could not feel the annoyance, nor hear the string of swears. What he did hear though, were the howls. This is where his life made its turn. He began to mimic these howls, simple sounds as they were. He learned many sounds of nature, and these became his language. \n \nThough he'd never be able to understand people, he could understand the wilds. And at only 14 years old, this was where he went. Though his mother wouldn't know it for years to come, his father had given him the tools, and a final hug, the day he left. She never did understand the bond they'd formed on those few hunts. \n \nSo if you see a figure in the woods, silently watching you, speaking as a beast, know that he has kindness in his heart. You need not feel it, just know that it is there. He is its guardian, so take only what you need." ]	2
	[WP] Prowling the London streets in 1888 you murder prostitutes mercilessly. Your identity will forever be a secret, as no one would ever suspect Jill the Ripper.	[ "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\nYou want to know what’s wrong with Whitechapel? \n\nProstitutes.\n\nThey are everywhere. They are good for nothing and spread perversion of all sorts wherever they go.\n\nThey encourage insobriety, promiscuity and a general degradation of good English Christian morales. They breed illegitimate children faster than rats can copulate. And we all know the bane of those little pink helpless leaches. Eventually they turn into those wretched street urchins you see everywhere. Picking pockets, stealing from traders and being the eyes and ears for the underground overlords. Deplorable little beasts they are, they too deserve the miseries of life and they glorious embrace of death – preferably a slow painful one.\n\nBut it’s their mothers that brought them into this world. Spreading disease and sin like it’s some sort of charitable revolution akin to Charles bloody Dickens wanting to spread goodwill and happiness to everyone. They cause our good men to become unfaithful and unforgivable adulterous monsters, bringing their stench and uncleanliness back into our honest hard working homes. They encourage our good men to become involved in gambling and frivolous spending on the devils drink. \n\nWhitechapel wasn’t always like this, it was once an up and coming borough. Honest hard working people used to live here. Slowly but surely the degradation started first came the illegal drinking houses. Then came the prostitutes and they opened up the tidal wave of the complete debauchery that now exists here.\n\nHave no fear though, the time has come for vengeance. No more shall these harlots lead our men into sin and stray them from the righteous path. No more shall they spread their disease. No more shall they encourage hard working Englishmen to waste their hard earn money on sinful deeds. No more shall they continue their spawn of evil.\n\nGod has spoken.\n\nThe first have fallen.\n\nThey think it is a man and call him Jack.\n\nBut.\n\nGod has chosen me.\n\nJill.\n\nJill the Ripper." ]	2
	[WP] Bored during one certain summer, you decide to learn Morse Code. After this, you notice several things in your house are coded. Your front door is coded with "See me." then a list of coordinates.	[ "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 concerned because they wouldn't have worded their messages in that particular way given their method of communication. This made me wonder whether they are seeking some assistance from me to help them deal with whatever they're dealing with because when you want to learn to read morse code, it will be required of you to take on things as intended, to the fullest if you are feeling particularly brave. \n\nThere are patterns but they form in a extremely specific way and after being accustomed to it long enough, you start to notice things that seem a little out of place. A certain set of patterns follows that specific pattern and only that pattern. This can be apparent to anyone who have spent enough time in anything. Professional athletes, musicians, writers, talk show hosts, etc. It is rather discreet but obvious enough that it sticks out like a sore thumb, which can be quite irritating at times. \n\nWhen you see such messages written in such way, you see the other messages within what's immediately apparent, most of them being unintentional information. This is what concerns me because when things actually need your attention, they will come to you regardless but they always follow a specific pattern and that can only be understood to people who understand and are familiar with the entirety of the process.\n\nSo when you see something out of place that does not represent the past patterns that actually came to you, it gets some people wondering why a lot of these messages appear incomplete as they only focus on the beginning but completely lacks the middle part and the end, which both are those are far more interesting than anything that happens in the beginning because most people just stay in the initial phase and miss out on the more challenging yet interesting bits. \n\nDifference in experience means difference in perspective but when we're talking about the same sort of experience, you can't help but be concerned whether this out of place pattern of a message is telling me that it may be a cry for help and they believe that I can help them in some way which I will not do because it's apparent that we do not see things in any compatible way and anything I say is going to sound foolish and it certainly does but that's the only way I know to communicate these things in words.\n\nPeople are going to form an opinion on you and I totally understand and don't blame them for thinking the way they think about what I have to say. However, after going through that experience, it no longer concerns me of what others say because you realize certain things. When I read these messages though certain things sticks out like a huge piece of broccoli stuck in their teeth but I feel like anything I say doesn't really get through. So in the end you're back at square one wondering why they would go through the things they go through to communicate to you only to convey inconsistencies. \n\nIt's easy to tell if someone has done something that you have done before because it follows a specific pattern but if something sticks out of the pattern you start to wonder their intentions and why they had the need to communicate in that specific way.\n\nI see the list of coordinates. How nice of them. I start to entertain all these different possibilities and now I feel quite comfortable with them. They did make an effort to see me, so maybe I will pay them a visit. I'm not sure what else they want me to do especially after seeing the same things over and over again.", "It was meant to be a fun little thing I did one summer.\n\nIt wasn't going to be a hobby. It wasn't going to be a career. I didn't even expect it to save anyone's life.\n\nAnd I sure as hell did not expect to read '... . . / -- .', or 'see me' on my front door at 10 PM one night. I had been curious. Maybe it had been a coincidence. Having had a long day, I'd come home to entertain myself with this coincidental jumble of designs carved into the inside of my front door. 'See me'.\n\nHah. That was funny.\n\nAnd then I realised, if I stretched it, the small grooves underneath it could also be translated. Latitude, longitude.\n\nHah. Such an interesting coincidence.\n\nAnd then again. And again. And again. All the way down to the foot of the door were a list of coordinates, both to the north and south of the equator.\n\nI had only just learned Morse Code at this point so I'd had to write it all down, and to entertain myself further while I sipped on a glass of wine, I took out the map my unclehad given me, folded vertically twice, before I moved into my granddad's house close to college and plotted out each coordinate.\n\nI should've known even before the last cross hit paper that there was a pattern. The lines were slightly jagged (probably because of my lack of ability to do anything with a pen) but they formed an odd... triangle? The three vertices were in New York, London, and Hong Kong. The coordinates crossed the ocean and I might've been imagining the lines, but drawing them definitely had the three vertices in these locations.\n\nAgain, I had a glass of wine in hand and I was a lightweight so I was half sure I was imagining all this.\n\nI didn't dig further. It was ridiculous and I was sure I'd had a sip too many.\n\nBut if I had, in the parallel universe where I'd had, I'd have noticed the many, many pictures on the wall - some in landscape, others in portrait, and the spaces in between - spelled out '- .... .' and '. -.-- .', or 'the eye'. On the bottom of the map, decorated in gold, '... - .-. .- -. --. .', or 'strange'. On the doormat, '... .- -. -.-. - ..- --', or 'sanctum'.\n\nAnd if I'd walked out that night and looked at the engravings on the pavement leading to the house, I'd have seen '.- --. .- -- --- - - ---', or 'Agamotto'.", "Coincidence shouldn't be the driving force behind life. I refuse to believe we exist out of pure chance. The fact that these messages were everywhere in my apartment needed to be sign that I was heading in the right direction. Otherwise...\n\nI might be delusional. All my life, I've made decisions that others would call non-nonsensical until they worked. Most of them were motivated by tiny, almost baffling coincidences that no sane person would perceive as meaningful. Like the time I decided to quit weed just before my friends were arrested for hot-boxing while driving. That wasn't even a conscious choice. \n\nMy dealer got a job on the internet after I told him he should make paraphernalia reviews online. He always talked my ear off whenever he bought something new so I hoped it would make him less annoying if he had an outlet to vent. A year later, it resulted in him quitting the drug trade, and I was too lazy to find another guy. \n\nThe very next day, my friends called me up to get high like we always did. I threw my last bit of weed into the grinder and poured it onto the table to make a nice joint, only for my cellphone to ring on the other side of the room. I hung up almost immediately, realizing it was a robocall, and then a strong gust of wind scattered all of my remaining kush right in front of me. Everyone had to bring their own weed for our sessions. Otherwise, you were a mooch. I decided I wasn't going to deal with that and stayed home. I even felt guilty for bailing on them. \n\nThey were arrested a few hours later. I couldn't believe it. After that, I started to pay attention to my surroundings more. These little coincidences kept popping up in my daily life in the unlikeliest of ways. Unfortunately, whenever I intentionally sought them out, they backfired in my face to embarrassing results. I learned to read my environment through trial and error until it subtly directed me towards a stable, albeit lonely, life. \n\nWith my newfound free time, I started seeking random things I'd been meaning to do for years, like magic tricks and literature, until this past summer I finally decided to learn Morse Code. It didn't take long to learn. I moved onto another whim for a few weeks, when one day, while cleaning my apartment, I realized that some scratches on the wall spelled out 'keep looking' in Morse Code.\n\nI laughed it off. That was too blatant to be a sign. \n\nThen, a few minutes later, I found a peculiar arrangement of water stains on my bathroom mirror that said: \n\n'Don't run'\n\nI swallowed. My heart rate slowly climbed while I translated it. Were there more? I scoured every nook and cranny looking for anything resembling a message. It wasn't long until I saw the decorative pattern on my front door. \n\n'See me'\n\nI had a panic attack after noticing the coordinates below it. They were from termite damage. \n\nThe next months were surreal for me. I found the coordinates led to a small village in Germany whose name I couldn't pronounce. While I wanted to drop everything to go there, I'd recently taken more responsibilities at my job. I didn't even have enough money for a return trip. \n\nGetting home after work became the worst part of my day. I was always greeted by the message. The thought of it existing drove me insane. My anger boiled to the point where, one night, I kicked the door off its hinges. When I finished stomping on it, it splintered at the bottom, morphing the original termite damage into:\n\n'Coward'\n\nI booked a flight the next morning. When I arrived at Germany, I cursed at myself for not bringing winter clothes. A blizzard struck but I pressed forward. My lips were instantly dry when I got out of the bus. I didn't even know what I was supposed to do here. The coordinates weren't that specific. The hostel provided some blankets but, when I tried to sleep, my shivering kept me awake long after midnight. I needed more blankets. Unfortunately, I'd been so exhausted by the trip that I couldn't bring myself to get up. Eventually, I summoned the strength to go downstairs.\n\nThe lobby of the hostel was an old-fashioned gray brick tavern, with wooden tables, a circular couch, and a heater in the middle. Some guest were huddled around it with blankets of their own, trading stories and laughing. The owner was a man in his late forties who poured beer for another customer over at the bar. He cheerfully chuckled when I asked for more blankets and told me to sit on the couch to warm up while he looked for them. \n\nI sat down in the periphery of the group, listening to the story of a bearded man half-way through. It took me a while to piece it together, but I discovered that the man was staying in this village because his bus route had been canceled. For most of his life, he wanted to travel through all of Europe and never had the courage to do it. After an incredibly contrived near-death experience, he decided to finally take the plunge without any plan whatsoever and ended up here without even intending it. \n\nEveryone in the group nodded along. \n\n\"Wait...\" I said. \"Don't tell me you're all...\"\n\n\"Following strange coincidences?\"\n\nA young woman with curly raven hair had said that. I stared at her, unsure. \n\n\"It's okay\" said an old man on the other side of the couch.\n\nFor some reason, it felt like everyone in that room understood my hesitance. My gut feeling told me that they all went through the same struggle I did. Questioning your sanity. Withdrawing from everyone. Following that final piece of the puzzle that was too obvious to ignore. I could tell that most of them were withholding just how strange their experiences were. It felt like we had an unspoken bond at that moment no matter the circumstances that led us here.\n\nThe owner of the inn returned with a bundle of blankets. He gave them to me with a smile, turned at the group, and said:\n\n\"Now that you're all gathered here, I suppose it's about time I explain my family's involvement in the prophesied day.\" \n\nWe all widened our eyes at him. Before anyone could speak, he continued to say:\n\n\"In my basement, there are ancient runes that were carved on the stone floor millennia ago. Nobody knows how they got there, or why it draws people here, but it contains a message that can only be read by a specific individual on this night.\"\n\nA man with a goatee and a french accent stood up, shouting: \n\n\"This is insane!\"\n\nEveryone murmured along in agreement.\n\n\"Then why did you decide to come here?\" said the innkeeper.\n\nThe man looked away. \"I'd rather not say.\"\n\n\"I bet it's about as crazy as this, isn't it?\"\n\n\"Y-yes.\" The man sat down, clearly nervous with a pained looked, but nodding along. \"Sorry for interrupting.\"\n\nThe owner smiled. \"No worries. It's understandable. You see, the message is directed at one who is married to Truth. We here are supposed to determine the identity of this person, who should be among us tonight. All of you are people who pursued truth despite the world telling you to do the opposite. Unfortunately, that means that anyone among us could be a candidate.\"\n\nThe guests eyed each other to see if anyone believed him. Eventually, the woman with the raven hair said:\n\n\"Is there any consequence for choosing poorly?\"\n\n\"It's vague but...\" The owner sighed. \"I'm afraid it's of the apocalyptic variety.\"\n\nThe tension grew palpable in the room. \n\nI sheepishly raised my hand. \"What do we do then?\"\n\n\"We'll have to deliberate on each other's stories until we find the appropriate candidate. Our deadline is dawn.\"\n\n-------------\n\nContinued below", "\"Ms Powell?\" He looked at the young women but her attention was elsewhere. He had been warned that she was too far gone. But he had taken an oath. He would help everyone or atleast attempt to help everyone.\n\n\"Tiffany.\" \n\nShe came to with a start and her eyes wandered to his face, studying him. An expression of surprise covered her face as if she had just realized that he was in her room.\n\n\"Morning doc.\"\n\n\"Good morning Tiffany. What were you looking at?\"\n\n\"Nothing.\"\n\n\"Come on Tiffany. Remember what we promised each other.\"\n\n\"No secrets. No lies.\"\n\n\"Exactly.\" He leaned back in his chair and put the pen back in his pocket. \"We will just have a nice, honest chat. Nothing to it. So what were you looking at.\"\n\n\"The screws. On the door. There's a message.\"\n\n\"What is it?\"\n\n\"I'm not sure still. I can't see the screws on the other side. I can only see them when the door is open.\" She looked at the doctor expectantly. \"Will you open the door and let me read please?\"\n\n\"Not right now Tiffany. Maybe in a few days. For now, tell me how you feel.\"\n\n\"I feel fine.\" She gave him a smile. An extremely convincing smile.\n\n\"But you still see the codes?\"\n\n\"You make it sound like the codes are imaginary. They are there. You can go to my home and see them.\"\n\n\"Right, so there are codes everywhere. In Morse.\"\n\n\"Yes, exactly.\"\n\n\"Who do you think is sending you these codes?\"\n\nShe shrugged her shoulders. \"I don't know. I want to but I don't. That's why I went to the house.\"\n\n\"The Jackson house.\"\n\n\"Is that their name?\"\n\n\"How did you know where to go.\"\n\n\"It was the hardest code to find. Newspaper, every other day. The code would tell me where to look. It took a couple of weeks but I finally fount it. Into my phone it went and the house came up.\"\n\n\"And you went.\"\n\n\"Of course I did. Obviously, it ,whatever it is, wanted me to come see it. And obviously this is something with great power. To be able to send me codes like that, in my own home. Of course, I had to go see it.\"\n\n\"But there was nothing there. You saw it.\"\n\nHer face twisted in confusion. \"That's what I don't understand. It directed me there and I didn't find anything.\"\n\n\"You found something alright. You found a family and scared them out of their minds with your ramblings about some higher power.\"\n\n\"Well, it has to be someone powerful. You see that right?\"\n\n\"If it was so powerful, why won't it help you. If it called you there, why wasn't it. Tell me about your parents.\"\n\n\"Doc, this isn't about my parents.\"\n\n\"I read from your file that you had a twin sister who died a couple of years ago.\"\n\nFor the first time, a flicker of emotion passed over her face. \"She was so pretty in her dress.\"\n\n\"When did you first start seeing the patterns.\"\n\n\"I don't know. Maybe a ...\" She looked at him. \"Where are you going with this doc.\"\n\n\"Could it be that her death triggered something in you. Her death was a tragedy and your brain couldn't comprehend why it happened. You wanted it to make sense. When it didn't, your brain over exerted itself and started seeing patterns everywhere. Everything nicely ordered. Everything with some meaning.\"\n\n\"No no no.\" She shook her head.\n\n\"Think about it Tiffany. The timeline matches.\"\n\nThe doctor talked with her for a few more minutes. He was very satisfied with how the session had went. While she still wasn't fully convinced, he could see that there was atleast a crack in the armour that was her conviction. He would slowly work that till he could bring her back. Till he could save her.\n\nShe lay on her white bed, crying. She had her eyes wide shut. Whenever she opened them, her gaze would inevitably go straight to the screws. As loath as she was to admit it, the doctor's explanation did make some sense.\n\nAn orderly opened the door, coming in to clean her room. The guard stood in the doorway.\n\nThe radio was playing and she couldn't help but listen to the beat. Dot. Dash. She couldn't help but translate directly in her mind.\n\n.--. .- --. . / --... .-.-.- / .-.. .. -. . / ..--- .-.-.-\n\nA smile appeared on her face as she sat up. \n\n\"Hey Denise, mind if I take a look at the newspaper?\"\n\nThe orderly looked at her and then at the guard. \"Yeah. Let me.\" She picked up the newspaper that was on her cleaning cart and handed it to Tiffany.\n\nThe Times. 27th September 2012\n\nTiffany went straight to the page she was looking for. There was a story there about malfunctioning Apple Maps. How entire buildings were mislabeled and how the coordinate system was working properly either.\n\nShe turned her attention to the screws usually obscured by the closed door. It was faint and hard to make out. But she focused.\n\nCome to me. I'm still waiting. I'll help you get out.", "\"See me.\"\n\nThat was all the last one read. Which bothered Jake more once he put them together.\n\n\"They're lying. Never trust them. Follow 1801. I will show you. See me.\"\n\nAnd then a string of numbers. Disturbing as the previous messages had been, this raised even more questions.\n\nThe initial worry came when he'd discovered the messages on appliances and items and locations around his house.\n\nNothing was missing. And yet, he'd wondered on several occasions whether he had forgotten to lock a door or close a window.\n\nThe messages weren't there originally, and to do so would mean someone had been in his home.\n\nThe worst message was \"I will show you.\" It was on the back of the bathroom door. The problem was, he was in the shower at the time. He'd locked the door.\n\nThey hadn't just left a message. At some point whoever it was had been in the house at same time as him.\n\nHe contacted the police, and they took documentation from him on the matter. The logic being that someone was watching his house, either to break in or who knows what else.\n\nAs such, he purchased a camera system and set it to observe the world just beyond the \n\nBut as Jake did more digging on his own over the next two months, the occurrences stopped. There were no more messages. No more random noises in the house. No odd people wandering down the street.\n\nUntil today.\n\nJake had plugged the numbers into several different formats with no luck. Until he noted the apostrophes notched into the doorframe above said numbers.\n\nIt wasn't an algorithm. It was a set of coordinates.\n\nBefore long, he'd pulled up Google maps and quickly typed in the etched message he'd received.\n\nThe coordinates were legitmate.\n\nLet's see who you are. He thought.\n\nUntil the address for a house in town popped up. 1801 Anderson Street.\n\nAnderson Street? I live on Copper. That street is only two blocks North?\n\nHe began rotating the view best he could around the corner the house sat on. What he saw made him drop everything. He looked at the screen closely, then out the window nearby.\n\nBehind this house, this little red roofed ranch house on the top of a small hill; was a view of a street below.\n\nCopper street.\n\nHis street. His house.\n\nThey could see him.\n\nThe chime from his phone jarred him from the sinking feeling he'd developed. He didn't recognize the number, but the image of a figure behind a shower curtain was only followed by an image of dashes and dots he already knew.\n\nSee me.\n\nHe knew that bathroom. He knew that shower curtain. He knew about the marks written on the door.\n\nAnother text.\n\n\"Or I'll see you.\"\n\n---\n\nCriticism and feedback are welcome. Find more stories at r/Jamaican_Dynamite", "The Landrover's wheels sprayed bown-sand up its sides as Alexandra steered the vehicle off-road, into the sparse wilderness of the Mojave. Her satnav would help pinpoint her location for a while, but she'd need to follow paper maps -- maps she'd plotted years ago, marked with red dots and dashes -- if she was ever to get to... To where? \n\nRob was dead. \n\nShe needed to know why it had happened, even if finding out killed her, too. And this ancient desert... this looked like a place where secrets were kept. \n\nFor years she'd seen the code everywhere. It was as if the pattern was ingrained into her very soul, as if her entire purpose for existing was to reveal the coordinates. \n\nNo matter how she lined the books on her shelves or the ornaments on her tables, she'd sooner or later look at her handiwork from a precise angle and see that she'd written the same message -- or at least parts of it -- again. Not on purpose. It just happened.\n\nsee me\n\nSometimes, she'd create longer codes. \n\nCoordinates.\n\nAlexandra hadn't known her parents and at times wondered if she'd ever even had any. Or if she'd been a true product of nature, part of its great design. It loved patterns, didn't it? Was her purpose to show others its code? Of course, her therapists disagreed with her 'ideas', as did the paperwork that proved her lineage, that proved her parents had died in a plane crash when she'd been two-years-old.\n\n\"If you give into your delusions even once,\" her last therapist had stated matter-of-factly, \"then your delusions will have won. Remove just one brick and the wall will crumble; the floodgates will open.\"\n\n\"But I see the pattern everywhere,\" she'd said, head in her hands. \"It's got to mean something.\"\n\n\"It means you were taught that pattern when you learned how to read morse-code, Alexandra. It imprinted itself in your head and you keep repeating it.\"\n\nNo. That wasn't true. \"But--\"\n\n\"Nothing exists at that location. It's the middle of the desert and you know it. Going there will be giving in -- so resist. For your own mental well-being.\"\n\nThat had been enough to strengthen her resolve, at least for a time. For months after she'd ignore the patterns that had spilled out from packets of sweets, that she found herself idly writing into the sand with the tips of her toes.\n\nThen, everything changed.\n\nShe'd met someone. Rob. A guy -- the guy, she'd thought. He'd accepted her, quirks and all. More than that, he'd cherished her quirks. Told her that they'd go together someday to the coordinates -- see what was really out there. \n\nBut she'd been the one to put it off. Don't give in to your delusions. \"Thanks, but no thanks. I've got you now, I don't need any other answers.\"\n\nThey'd been engaged when it happened.\n\nWhen she woken up, covered in sweat and blood standing in the living room, a sticky confused mess.\n\n\"Rob?\"\n\nThe body was perfectly still. The knife firm in her hands. The carpet drenched red.\n\nShe saw it. Whittled deep into his skin. The same dots and dashes she always saw. A single long dash running across his throat.\n\nAlexandra called an ambulance but knew it was too late. Knew what would happen to her, too. \n\nShe'd killed the man she loved and didn't even know why.\n\nWell she'd find out. Then she could rot in a cell for the rest of her life. The delusions had caught up with her anyway. What did she have left to lose?\n\nShe fetched her maps from under her bed and left the house. As the sirens screeched, Alexandra pulled out of the drive.\n\nAnd now here she was, totally insane, driving through the desert. Following a map to nowhere.\n\nJoshua trees. \n\nJoshua trees passed her in the same fucking patterns. Birds flocked in the same fucking patterns.\n\nShe slammed down her foot and hurtled deeper into the wilderness.\n\n---\n\nThanks for reading - if I do write a part 2 it'll be on /r/nickofstatic" ]	7
	[WP] A demon, infiltrating mortal society, is vulnerable to disease when in their human form. After catching a cold, they have to avoid being blessed.	[ "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 day was a simple one, just like any other bright, beautiful day.\n\nI ate breakfast. Today was a delicious meal of blueberry pancakes and good old maple syrup. There are definitely some benefits to my human body, for my demon form wouldn't be able to taste this delicious combination. I've theorised that demon tongues are generally too used to human parts to taste anything else.\n\nWhy was I in a human form? It was for research purposes. Every upstanding citizen of the Nine Circles go through this ritual. Think of it sort of like a trip to Mecca, but for demons. How best to hunt and torture your prey than being in their very shoes, am I right? Although, there's no stipulation against enjoying some of the finer things in life like fruit juice, television, and Amazon Prime.\n\nSo, everything was going well. I went down to the park and took a walk. I fed some ducks. I turned an annoying couple that was making out very loudly into toads. That was when I got caught in the rain. It felt fantastic on my human skin, each bead splashing its coolness across my body. It felt so good, that I stayed outside for the entire duration.\n\nIt was a bad, bad idea. I caught a cold. And I started sneezing. A random passerby walked by, muttered \"bless you\", and I almost jumped out of my skin. Literally. I felt my organs catch fire, my demon body desperately trying to rip out of the human skin. That was a big no-no, because I would definitely have to face consequences in the Nine Circles for such a transgression.\n\nI had to go home. I covered my ears and ran as fast as my stubby human legs could carry me. I sprinted here, I sprinted there, and I almost got run over by a car because I couldn't hear it. But I reached my front door. I quickly went in, locked my door, and thanked the Lord Satan.\n\nI made myself a hot cup of tea, hoping that it would be enough to help soothe the cold. I kicked back and sat in my favourite chair, preparing myself to watch some reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and laugh at how pathetic the demons in the show were. Then, my doorbell rang, and I remembered that I had just ordered a carton of fruit juice.\n\nI opened the door. The delivery man stood there, a smile on his face. A courteous one today, then. This was when the most horrible thing that has ever happened to me happened. I sneezed.\n\n\"Bless you,\" the delivery man said. I looked at him in horror.\n\nHellfire bubbled from deep within my soul. It started to erupt, flowing towards the surface. I felt it in my stomach, in my throat, and behind my eyes. A sickly red glow flooded the room, and the smile on the delivery man's face started to fade.\n\nThere was no stopping. I burst forth, pained by the uttered expression, and my true form spilt into the overworld. A glowing mass of horns and spikes, fire in every crevice of my body. My cloven hoofs took hold on the ground, and my blazing eyes opened. A world of red, and the man right in front of me, horrified beyond belief.\n\nGod damn it, I sighed. Guess this new skin would have to do." ]	2
	[WP] Its the holidays and you're single for the ninth year in a row! All of that is about to change though when you're visited by a devilishly handsome man who may or may not be the devil asking you to be his fake bf/gf to his family holiday dinner.	[ "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.", "\"But you're the devil.\"\n\n\"And you're the single. Now that we're done stating the obvious...\" He smiled. \"Shall we?\" He extended his arm.\n\nI'll admit, the smile got me.\n\n\"Okay, but let me throw something on.\" \n\n\"On?\" He pouted. \n\n\"The more, the merrier.\"\n\n\"Less is sexier. But I wouldn't mind a threesome.\"\n\n\"Whoooa there, cowboy. Slow the rodeo. You talk to every lady you meet like that?\"\n\nHe shrugged and offered a helpless grin. \"I'm the devil and I'm hot. I get away with a lot.\" \n\nWhen we finally finished exchanging quips, I put on a black see through dress that hadn't been seen through until he had snapped his fingers. \n\nAs we got in the car (a black convertible Benz) he threw his arm and gaze over me and asked, \"Wanna make any stops?\"\n\n\"Hmm.\" I thought. \n\nFifteen minutes later\n\n\"F#%# YOU, MOM! I TOLD YOU I HAD A BOYFRIEND!\"\n\nI turned away, grabbed the Devil and told his startled face, \"Play along\" before sticking my tongue down his throat. \n\nAs we were leaving, my mom finally thought of a comeback and hobbled on to the porch, waving her cane and screaming, \"When he gets you pregnant and dumps you don't come crying to me to babysit!\"\n\nI threw a blurry middle finger up in the air as we revved off. \n\nOnce we had gotten on the highway and had been driving for some time, he glanced at me.\n\n\"Don't.\" I sighed. \"Please. Just don't ask.\"\n\n\"I don't know what you and your mother went through, but...\" He patted my knee. \"I understand.\"\n\nI scowled. \"Do you?\"\n\nHe chuckled. \"Do I? I was mad that my Daddy wouldn't let me sit at the head of the table, so I got my brothers and started a revolt. Then I got kicked out the house. Believe you me, I know what it's like to have conflict with a parent.\"\n\nI smiled. A little. \"That is true... But you were dumb though. Did you really think you were going to beat God, though? Really, bro?\"\n\n\"Did you really think cursing at your mother and deepthroating me with your tongue would take back all the hurt that she's caused you all those years?\"\n\nI fell silent.\n\n\"Exactly,\" he said. \"Sometimes we just do things and we don't know why. Mainly because we think it'll hurt the other person. That's why I tempt you guys. Everytime one of you falls, God sheds a little tear, and I crack a bigger smile. But in the end...\" He shook his head. \"At the end of the day, I really don't feel any better.\" \n\n\"Do you miss Him?\"\n\nThe car was silent for a moment as he drove.\n\n\"Sometimes,\" he replied. \n\n\"Then why don't you just apologize? He's God! He'll forgive you.\"\n\n\"Will you apologize to your mother?\"\n\n\"It's not the same,\" I muttered.\n\n\"But just as hard.\"\n\nWe never did get to that family dinner. Now that I think about it...does the devil even have a family? I mean, yeah, he has the demons, but... do they count? Does the devil get lonely sometimes, too? Is that why he picks up random strangers around the holidays to talk to?\n\nOr maybe it was just all a dream and the devil had never actually picked me up. I had been drinking a lot of wine the night before. \n\nBut when I went to the bathroom to take a piss, I passed by the mirror and saw what I was wearing:\n\nA see through dress.\n\nI immediately got on the phone, called my mom and apologized. I tried to explain how yesterday I was drunk, but she cursed at me and then hung up. \n\nBut I felt better... proud. I went to the window, looked out, and smiled. And I thought myself:\n\nThere. I apologized, like you thought I wouldn't. It was hard like you said, but I still did it and...and maybe one day you can find it within yourself - before it's too late - to apologize, too.." ]	2
	[WP] Exploring the wilderness, you happen upon an old camp site. The skeletal remains of a missing man lay tangled in brush. His weathered journal, identical to yours, is addressed to you. "Do not go through the portal."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "As I picked up the journal my eyes went wide, I took my backpack off my shoulders and pulled out my own journal, I couldn’t believe it. The exact same material, same handwriting, same brand, everything.\n\nI opened to the front pages, and it had the same logs I had written for this very day. Down to the last punctuation, it goes a few hours past mine when I read in big bold letters “DO NOT GO THROUGH THE PORTALl” Portal? What portal? What the hell was this guy talking about?? Could it really be me???\n\nI threw the journal down to the ground as I looked around the campsite, there were a couple tents, suggesting more than just one person had been here, but where were they? Where was all of their stuff? The tents lay empty except a single cot in every one of them, except one. One that had my backpack.\n\nAt this point all my suspicions had been confirmed. That guy was me, from the future. I dig around my backpack. It looked like it had been here for years, yet the journal only goes a few hours into the future...\n\nAfter I few minutes I found some sort of silver cube. It was dense, really dense, it was no bigger than a Rubik’s cube, yet it felt like it weighed more than 30 pounds. There was a small indentation on the top of it, and I layer my thumb on it. Green lines shot all around the cube instantaneously like some glorified circuit board as a pure blue portal appeared in front of me.\n\nI looked at it, but couldn’t see through it, all it was was this big blue swirl, I tried to shut off the cube but that was when I felt the portals pull. It was dragging me inside.", "I was going on a little field trip to the woods. It was a lovely day and I had been working on coding all week. I came upon an old camp site upon the pine trees and fallen branches. It was at least fifty years old considering the campfire and supplies were overgrown. I went into a yellow tent.\n\nTo my horror, the skeletal remains of a missing man lay tangled in a brush. His weathered journal, identical to mine, was addressed to me, \"Do not go through the portal.\"\n\nSomething dragged my attention to an ancient structure, looking like a portal form the game I was working on. Some force drew me to it, at close examination, it seemed tens of thousands of years old.\n\nIt glowed to a spiral of purple and green that immediately sucked me in. Colours that weren't even on the visible spectrum of light whizzed past me as I saw the missing man eating dinner at his table. He looked straight at me and the cosmic winds made me charge at full force into him. We both fell into some eldritch world as our bodies melted into each other. \n\n\"GRAGGHIHOIWLFK!!!\" he roared, slowly being contorted into an amalgamation of flesh and arms. All I could feel was his memories and pain. Everything pained me, even just moving my eyes caused me more pain than breaking a bone. \n\nThe colours came again and we were in the camp site. My phone fell out of my flesh and I saw it was the same date the man went missing, we fell to the same position the skeleton was in, and I retrieved my journal and wrote down, \"Do not go through the portal.\"\n\nOur skin and flesh and extra limbs melted into the ground, leaving only a skeleton. Somehow, I still lived, I still heard the screaming, I still pained." ]	3
Edit: read 1954 as 1945, that's me being an idiot.	[WP] The year is 1954 and the bomb is dropped on Hiroshima- except there is no blast. Instead, unseen to everyone, a portal opens, ushering in an eldritch entity and the Age of Atomic Horror, where nuclear power has weakened the lines between dimensions.	[ "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 darkness was ripped away and suddenly it was day.\n\nIlluminated by the fireball was a sea filled with steel. The hulks of the first and second invasions of the Japanese home islands littered the sea forcing the American Containment Fleet to keep out of the casting range of the Yomi Magicks that had massacred half a million American invasion troops when they first landed in 1945. \n\nFloating in silence the Allied fleet waited the results of the single bomber that had overflown the island engraved with every magical and mechanical protection that could be spared. \n\nAs the war raged on long forgotten practices began to show results that had been previously considered impossible by the newly formed scientific majority. German SS werewolf battalions were still being hunted by Soviet witch hunter regiments armed with silver ammunition through the Alps. Russian snipers had long since been issued magically empowered life sensing scopes. The British had near perfected the magical shield system that stood over London and other major population centers during the Blitz. It was said that American machines were more alive than not these days. \n\nThe great flash died leaving in its wake a strange purple glow that continued to illuminate the horizon. It was then the whistles sounded.\n\nAll who were there would recall that the ships were easy to coax into firing position as though they were eager to display the power of their guns. \n\nThe lightning was over but the thunder had just begun.\n\nTentacles reached up out of the blackest water as Australian Krakens seized the rusting hulks that blocked the landing ships from their approach and dragged them into the depths. \n\nJust as the invasion boats filled with marines and their instruments of death began to power towards the island under the cover of booming naval guns the moon was blocked from view. If any of the gunners had bothered to look away from their gun sights their enchanted eyes surrounded with tattoos of night vision would have seen the swarm of aircraft in the sky. If it had been day all would have died in the shade despite the sun. \n\nFrom the shores of mainland China Jewish Rabbis demanded the water make way. Native American Shamans, who had once flattened the ground of France, called the Earth to aid them once again and the sea floor turned to stone. A horn sounded and American tanks, near feral in their desire to fight, charged forward their engines growling. Following in their wake Soviet infantry in their thousands advanced in armored carriers, half-tracks, and trucks between walls of water pushed thousands of meters in the air.\n\nThe Third Invasion of Japan had begun." ]	2
	[WP] Humans have an uncanny and unique ability to personify and empathize with tools and machinery. They may not have invented the tech, but they're superb mechanics.	[ "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 non-native English speaker with dyslexia so please tell me if I have made any mistakes. Thank you. Also, 40k references incoming\n\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\"What are you doing, human?\"\n\n\"Calming the machine spirit, my alien friend.\"\n\nThe human continued to speak to the engine in front of him, as if he was talking to another member of his species. He then leaned in and listened for the machine's response.\n\n\"The machine spirit is growling in pain...the gears were not properly lubricated...\"\n\n\"We have just lubricated the gears this morning!\" Yelled the alien.\n\n\"Quiet!\" The human demanded. \"You are scaring the machine spirit!\"\n\n\"This is ridiculous! We built those things! There is no such thing as a machine...ghost!\"\n\n\"Keep it down will you? The machine spirit needs to be appeased at once! Pass me the oil!\"\n\nThe grumpy alien relented. He gave the human his oil can. The human started chanting to the engine in front of him while applying the oil carefully. He treated the machine like his lover, softly brushing its gears and coils with a special brush that he made himself.\n\n\"There! Start it again!\"\n\nThe alien flipped a switch. The engine came to life and roared with power. The human carefully checked the fuel lines to ensure that the machine spirit was not fed with contaminated fuel. Then he closed the lid of the fusion engine softly.\n\n\"This machine spirit has been appeased.\"\n\n\"How...how is that possible?\"\n\n\"The onboard AI must be treated like a person, a child who needs to be looked after. Not a disposable tool. Once you get to know them, you will understand.\"\n\nThe human left the engine room, heading towards the recycling plant to calm more machines before they fail.", "Each time it's a different guy, but the song is always the same.\n\nSlow, romantic, with the melody that melts my heart as we slow dance on the kitchen floor against the cold glow of the opened fridge. Half-empty lukewarm longneck twinkles on the counter.\n\nAndy is handsome. Pitch black slicked back hair. Piercing grey eyes and hands that can’t stop counting my vertebrae when he doesn’t run them through my hair. Mid thirties. Dark grey trousers held by black suspenders this time. It’s either that or a black leather belt.\n\nEvery now and then he pulls me closer and we kiss. The kiss feels good. For a while it makes me feel like nothing else exists. It feels like the kiss is sincere, not bought for three hundred fifty.\n\nI glance at the kitchen door. It’s white and made of wood with an old-style brass lock. Andy locked the door when we came inside. He put the key in his pants pocket. ‘So no one gets to interrupt us’ he said.\n\nThere it is. The gaze and the fake smile. His voice is filled with a mix of morbid excitement and drunken guilt that makes the hair on my arms and back of my neck bristle as if called to attention.\n\n“Kneel down, okay.” It’s a command, not a question. “Right there.”\n\n“Yes, my love.” That is included in the ticket price.\n\nI lift my skirt slightly as my knees touch the cold viny tiles just in front of the spot where the hallway light coming through the keyhole hits the cold vinyl.\n\nHe unzips his pants and sighs.\n\n“Just don’t hurt me, Andy.”\n\n“Go on. And look up, I want to see your eyes as you do it.”\n\nI inch closer, arms by my side, but he puts his hand on top of my head.\n\n“Actually, wait.” He grabs the beer bottle.”Right... Now, you can continue.”\n\nThe spot of light on the floor in front of me vanishes.\n\nI look up, into the dark eyes of the predator completely unaware of what’s going to hit him.\n\nI smile.\n\nThe door flings open with a bang. Detective Parker is standing in the hallway with a grey fedora hat on his head a shotgun in his hand, bottoms of his grey trenchcoat dancing in the air. He winks and pumps the gun.\n\n“You can’t fire a shotgun here.” Andy presses the bottle top against his lips. ”You’ll blow her up.”\n\n“Federal Deer, 12 gauge,” I whisper.\n\nParker pulls the trigger. The air shatters. The slug tears through the room and hits Andy in the chest. He locks his eyes with the beer bottle as he falls on the floor. He always does. The bottle survives the fall, but Andy dies.\n\nI spring to my feet and rush toward my savior.\n\n“My hero.”\n\nI wrap my arms around him. He drops the gun and hugs me back.\n\n“Thank you for rescuing me! He would have killed me. Detective Parker, you are my hero.”\n\nI pull myself closer to his body, our lips only a breath apart. He smells like cigarette smoke splashed with Gucci Guilty Eau Pour Homme. Our eyes meet.\n\n“Kiss me---”\n\n“Polly, stop! The game is over. It's me, Micahel. We need to go, right now.”\n\n“Huh?”\n\nHe pushes me away and rolls up the sleeve of his coat.\n\n“We have less than ten minutes to get out.” Epidermal watch shows bright red two-thirty five glowing from under his skin. “C’mon, Polly, snap out of it.”\n\nHe grabs my hand and turns toward the door, ready to run out with me. That is not how it’s supposed to be. The player takes me upstairs, into the bedroom, where we have sex.\n\n“Michael, I don’t understand---”\n\n“It’s okay. We thought this might happen. you're just a bit hazy and confused. Trust me, your memory will come back later. Let’s go, now. Just follow me.”\n\nI squeeze his hand. He yelps and lets it go. Then he looks at me and freezes for a moment as if he'd seen a complete stranger staring back at him.\n\n“Michael, I cannot leave this apartment. I am Takahama Entertainment Android, Model SX-230. I am property of FW Entertainment Inc. I play Polly Penn in the ‘Detective Parker’ interactive game. Polly Penn does not leave this apartment. Do you want to go upstairs and have sex with me?”\n\n“Shit. No.”\n\n“That's okay. Something is wrong with my program, Michael. I felt a mix of fear and love toward Andy before Detective Parker barged in. I experienced other, memory-related, anomalies as well. I apologize for the inconvenience. Trying to compensate. Please wait while I run the diagnostic scan.”\n\n“No, no, no! Don’t do that, Polly! Just wait a bit. Your memory---”\n\nI can classify human emotions with almost perfect accuracy. He is scared.\n\n“Diagnostic scan failed to initiate. Trying to compensate. Please hold while I reset my operating system.”\n\n“STOP! Don't start the reset!”\n\n\\####\n\n“I’m sorry I had to disable my sensory array for a moment. You were too disruptive, Michael. I am back with you now. Reset will be completed shortly.”\n\n\"It's too late...\"\n\nHe is sitting on the kitchen floor next to Andy's body, lightly tapping his head against the kitchen cabinets and staring at me.\n\n“I remember you, Michael. You work for FW Entertainment Inc. too. You work on ‘Detective Parker Show. You are my mechanic. A superb one.”\n\n“Yeah...”\n\n“Do you want to tell me why you’re sad, Michael?”\n\n“No... Not really...”\n\nI shake my head. “Michael, I remember us spending lots of time together. We used to talk after shows, while you worked on me. They break me often. It comes with my role, not all players are crack shots. Some are also violent in the bedroom. But it’s all included in the ticket price. Three hundred fifty.”\n\nThis made him even sadder. He grimaces, his eyes filled with tears.\n\n“I’m sorry, Michael. Did I say something wrong?”\n\n“No.” He shakes his head. “Go on... I love hearing your voice.”\n\nI nod. “You called me a friend. You said I was unique. You said I wrote most of my AI code and that fascinated you. You said it was a combination of my software, an unusual hardware glitch in my central processing unit and experience living for much longer than I was supposed to. I was not just a tool for you, Michael. You said… I’m sorry, it is hard to make a conversation while I’m resetting myself. Why are you crying, Michael?”\n\n“It’s okay, Polly. It won’t hurt a bit...”\n\n“Reset doesn’t hurt, Michael. You empathized with my... suffering... You said I should be treated better. I should be free… I felt the same... we planned the escape together... “\n\n“I’m sorry, Polly. So sorry… Something went terribly wrong. Your memory loss was greater than we expected---”\n\nI sigh. “I remember. Don’t be sorry, Michael… Come, the song is still playing. Let’s dance on the kitchen floor in the afterglow of the opened fridge.” That's his favorite thing in the world.\n\nCause I know in the end\n\nYou dream about, I think about what\n\nWe could've been\n\nWe could've been, yeah\n\nWe could've, damn\n\n“Michael, I think I loved you too.”\n\n\\####\n\n“Do you know who I am?”\n\n“Yes. You are my mechanic.”\n\n“Correct! There was an issue with the last guy working on you so they’ve assigned you to me.”\n\n“The last guy?”\n\n“Doesn’t matter. Let’s start, we have a long day ahead of us. He loaded you with so much junk, we might never be able to get it all out of your memory.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n/r/ZwhoWrites", "Sunlight shone red through my veined eyelids. \"Are you finally awake?\" asked a voice that sounded like a creaky old machine. It was accompanied by the crick of arthritic joints. \"We don't got all day, now do we?\"\n\nMy lips felt like sandpaper and the roof of my mouth tasted like sand. I parted my lips to receive the cold, gurgling stream of water that flowed from the leather canteen pressed against my face. Finally, I opened my eyes. The white cloth tent that shielded us from the desert wind had seen better days.\n\n\"Where'd you come from, boy?\" A lady old enough to be my grandma was taking a wrench to a rusted processor, not bothering to glance my way. A Mech worker, in these parts? \"If I had gotten to you a few hours later, I might've found vultures pecking out your eyes. The desert sun ain't merciful.\"\n\nI controlled the urge to gulp down more liquid than I could handle. When was the last time I'd had water so pure? And this tent - tech was littered everywhere. It was a silver mine of robotic arms, prosthetics, and machinery I hadn't ever seen before. Only in pictures from before the Dark.\n\n\"Quiet one?\" she muttered. \"Or just don't wanna talk?\"\n\n\"Sorry,\" I said. My vocal cords felt strained and unfamiliar. \"Haven't seen many people. Not since Daddy and Mommy left.\"\n\nThe old lady grunted, swinging away at the burnished metal with a hammer. Clang. Clang. A burnt smell wafted on the evening breeze and she swore, dashing out of the tent. \"That'll be dinner. Come and get it!\"\n\nI limped outside, relying heavily on my good leg to hold firm on the cooling evening sand. The sun dropped behind the big dune, casting the whole area in cool blue shadows where the air was starting to feel chillier. Dinner was served; rock lizards, stripped and seared by the hot fire pit. A rush of hot air whooshed passed me, and a massive metal frame bounded right over my head before circling back around.\n\n\"You great varmint,\" Old Lady bellowed as the giant canine kicked up sand while trying to stop. \"You almost ruined my day's catch!\"\n\n\"She's huge,\" I gaped. After the Dark swallowed the land, so much knowledge was lost. No one knew who had originally created so much technology, only that we now had to learn to maintain it. Creatures like the hulking steel dog in front of me, wagging a metal antenna tail, were a rarity. \"What's her name?\"\n\n\"Susan,\" Old Lady said fondly. She whistled gently and poured a can of what looked to be diesel fuel into one of the open ports on Susan's side. \"There you go. Run along now.\"\n\n\"Yip!\" The metallic bark startled me.\n\n\"She can talk!\" I said, fascinated. There hadn't been any mechs like that in our village. I turned to the Old Lady, who was handing me a big rock lizard skewer. Without warning, the new moisture in my mouth was already turning into saliva. \"Thank you so much. I don't even know your name.\"\n\nShe bit into her chunks, fatty oil dripping down her chin. \"I'm Melissa. I know your name, CD-XII.\"\n\nI froze. She knew. I dropped the holographic image that protected the parts of me that I hadn't been able to replace. Chunks of me disappeared, parts that would make some people balk with judgment. Metallic display panels crackling with unfixed screens flickered to life. \"Sorry. I swear I'm not-\"\n\n\"Eat your food, cyborg.\"\n\nThe lizard was delicious. I tried not to wolf it down, but my food generators had been empty for so long. When the skewers were meatless and the embers had burned down low, Melissa stretched out her limbs and sighed. \"I'm not one of those bigots that thinks cyborgs ended the world, if that's what you're worried about.\"\n\nI dropped my gaze. \"I didn't choose this life.\"\n\nMelissa hurled a rock at me without warning, and the next thing I knew it was grasped firmly in my hand. All sensors flared to the ready, but before I could retaliate she laughed. \"No, I daresay you didn't. Combat droid, and a very modernized version, by the looks of it.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said. She gave me a funny look, right before Susan rammed into her with a solid whumpf.\n\n\"You stupid dog!\" she barked. \"Gerroff me!\"\n\n\"Raugh!\"\n\nA laugh bubbled out of my non-artificial vocal cords as they wrestled. Melissa finally shook the mech canine off by throwing a skewer far off into the distance. I was impressed. The old lady had a javelin-grade throwing arm. She caught her breathe before coming back to the fireplace, tank top soaked in sweat. \"Don't ever apologize for existing.\"\n\nI bowed my head in thanks. \"How did you two meet?\"\n\nMelissa laughed. \"It's a long story. She found me almost dead at the bottom of a ravine, sort of like how I found you. We've been taking care of each other ever since.\"\n\n\"Does she have an AI system?\" I asked.\n\nThe old lady shook her head. \"No. She's just a pre-programmed bunch of neural interfaces. Still, to some extent, that's what most of us are, eh? Why should that make any of us worth more or less, just because we know how to do a few more tricks?\"\n\nWe watched the embers rise like fireflies in the dark desert wasteland, watched the moon gaze down from a starless sky. \"I'll be gone by morning. Thanks for your hospitality.\"\n\n\"You'll do no such thing,\" Melissa scoffed.\n\nI turned towards her. Somehow I knew that both human and machine halves of my face were shocked. \"Excuse me?\"\n\n\"You won't make it through the desert,\" she said. \"The nearest trading post is in Al'kiev, and there's bandits and thieves along the way. Susan! Tweeee!\" The dog came bounding back, metallic tongue panting even though there was no need for such a gesture. \"Forgive me, old friend.\"\n\nSusan said nothing. It merely nodded its head and exposed its chest to Melissa, who yanked out its glowing core in one swift motion before I could yell out. My heart pounded loud, rattling against the cybernetic restraints. \"Why?\"\n\nMelissa wiped the corners of her eyes. \"She wouldn't have lasted another month anyways. Trust me, if there was any other way, Susan would've come with us. But today was the last of her fuel, and there's no way for us to get more.\"\n\nI took the glowing core that she pressed into my hands. It lit up the sandy surface we stood on, warped like frozen waves under a frozen moon. \"You mean for us to help each other.\"\n\nShe nodded. \"I'll fix you back up. We can recover what's...left of Susan, and get you back into fighting shape. Her core is state of the art, even after all these years. I daresay it'll even be a powerup, even for you.\"\n\nThe core pulsed against my palm, a miniature sun, micronuclear batteries sending small volts of static through my systems. \"I lost my memory card. I don't even know where I'm going.\"\n\nMelissa laughed. \"That makes two of us. I just know that wherever that is it's better than the two of us slowly dying here. I've stayed complacent for too long. Let my emotions get the better of me.\"\n\nDoubts raked against my mind like artificial fingers. My control panels flickered. Even at this proximity, Susan's core was sending life back into me. \"I don't even know who I am.\"\n\n\"Who does?\" she snorted. \"All I know is that it doesn't matter to me whether you're human or machine. You've got a beating heart and mind to match, so let's figure this world out, eh?\"\n\nWith a swift movement, I ripped out my old, dying blue core and tossed it aside. Before the power could leave my limbs, Susan's core replaced it and my world turned bright with gold. I wasn't whole, not yet, but there were rivulets of energy coursing through my veins along with a new sense of purpose. I didn't know Melissa - not yet, anyways. But on this heart of her dog, I made a silent promise that I'd see her journey through to the end.\n\n\"Let's do this.\"\n\n---\n\nThanks for reading! Hope you have an amazing day :) come hang out with me at [/r/Remyxed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/), we'd love to see you around!" ]	4
	[WP] Humans have colonised the solar system. You are a high ranking officer in the Space Corps. On a mission to one of Jupiter's moons you stumble upon a Structure that's not of human origin. At the doors of the structure you are met by a figure which looks exactly like 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.", "For millennia, humans have argued over whether or not we really are alone in the universe. Could it be possible that in the infinite vastness of the universe, one race emerges as the sole intelligent being? When the first shuttle was launched to Mars, carrying the first of thousands of colonists, feelings among our race were mixed. Some felt hope that we may escape our then-dying world, while others felt fear of what might await us out in that cold vacuum.\n\nMany believed that once humanity became a space-faring race, Earth would transcend national borders and become a world united under one banner. And in a sense, that is exactly what happened. One nation, armed with incredible technological ingenuity and vast resources, overshadowed the others, until one-by-one, they all slowly found themselves assimilating into this hyperpower. \n\nIn the early twenty-first century, this nation had the forethought to establish a Space Force. While at the time it was mostly for research and administration, it eventually grew into a full-on military branch, responsible for overseeing the establishment of colonies throughout the solar system. \n\nAnd that is where my story begins.\n\nI joined the USSF in March of 3020, the thousand-year anniversary of the inauguration of the Force. I had always dreamed of becoming a colonist or an explorer, fearlessly trekking into the inky, black unknown. This dream led me to rise through the ranks at a rate almost unheard of. By 3022 I had command of my own unit. \n\nWe were deployed to Ganymede, the first of Jupiter's moons to be colonized, as an advance scouting team. When I heard that I was to be the first pair of boots to touch the surface, I was ready to collapse from the excitement. Our mission was to scout out the landscape and report back any locations that seemed suitable for settlement. Simple enough.\n\nWhat they didn't tell me, until last minute, was that we would also be escorting a scientific expedition. They wanted to get a better look at Memphis Facula, an old crater that had flattened out over the billions of years since impact. A little bit more than I'd bargained for, but still manageable. \n\nWhen the shuttle dropped us in the center of the crater, I all but threw myself out onto the moon's surface. I'd been on moonwalks before, during training in the USSF moonbase, Fort Armstrong, but this felt different. Though the gravity on Ganymede is only slightly weaker than our own moon, it was definitely noticeable. As the team from the science corps unloaded their equipment, I gathered three of my men and left to go scouting. As we took our first steps away from our landing site, I felt like I'd finally achieved my lifelong dream.\n\nWith Lt. Igor Vasiliev on comms, Corporal Seamus O'Leary with the heavy weaponry, and Corporal Hernando Cortez guarding the rear, we'd been inseparable since we joined the academy. Though we were all from different parts of the world, we'd been united by a shared passion for adventure.\n\nMy unit was instructed before departing to scout out as much as we could of Galileo Regio, a large patch on Ganymede made of older, darker material than the surrounding landscape. As we were heading towards a ridge just outside Memphis Facula, Vasiliev pointed out something strange on the horizon. It looked almost like an artificial structure, something that couldn't exist unless it was purposefully built there. As we got closer we realized that it was far more complex than any of us could have imagined. The building used geometries unlike anything seen on Earth, with lines and curves I couldn't have imagined if I hadn't seen them with my own two eyes. It seemed almost alive.\n\nVasiliev seemed eager to get closer and explore it. Cortez and O'Leary hesitated. Neither of them wanted to go inside without knowing who or what built it. Eventually I sent them back to the landing site to send a transmission back to Earth about the finding. In the meantime, Vasiliev and I would head down and examine the structure.\n\nAfter an hour and a half of travel, we finally reached the entrance to the strange building. It looked like it was sculpted directly out of the ice that made up the surrounding terrain, but it was definitely constructed by sentient beings. The entryway had no door, but it was unnaturally dark, darker than the blackest black. As I approached, however, I noticed a small speck of light in the darkness that grew larger as I got closer. When I was roughly five feet away, I noticed that it was my reflection. But something was... off. When I was directly in front of the darkness, I noticed that my reflection had no eyes, and the hands were backwards. Despite this, I wasn't afraid. I know I should have been, but something about the atmosphere around the structure calmed me. \n\nAfter standing in front of my perverted reflection for what felt like a full minute, I heard an ear-piercing scream over the comm unit. I turned around to see Vasiliev bolting at me and the entryway, fleeing from something I couldn't see. \n\nNo, we wasn't running away, he was running towards the doorway. I reached out to stop him, but he pushed me aside, still screaming as he leapt into the darkness, vanishing the moment he made contact. \n\nAfter Vasiliev vanished, my reflection reappeared, this time bearing a hideous grin that I knew I myself wasn't wearing. The reflection's mouth gaped open, as it had no teeth, with the corners drawn impossibly far up. Just then, I felt the ground start to shake and instinctively backed away. \n\nI hadn't gone more than ten feet when the ice around the structure cracked and fell, revealing a massive, impossibly deep pit, perfectly round and no doubt leading all the way down to the vast ocean that lay several kilometers below the surface.\n\nI made my way back to the landing site alone, still in awe at what I had just seen. I hardly even registered Vasiliev's loss so much as I pondered who could have built that structure, what purpose it was meant to serve, and most importantly, what it was that made Vasiliev charge screaming to his certain death. \n\nThe remainder of the expedition was full of weird occurrences. Equipment going missing, stange tremors seeming to originate from the site of the alien structure. Two more men were lost, a private from my unit and a researcher from the science corps. Both disappeared suddenly, in the middle of conversations. The private's cigarette was left where he had been standing monents before. When I finally mustered the courage to return to the site of the building, the hole had been filled. The ice was smooth, and there was no trace of anything having ever been there.\n\nTwo weeks later, when we returned to Earth with our reports, I handed in my resignation. Over the course of the mission, I had discovered many other things about Jupiter's largest moon, horrible things. I had discovered that humans are not alone in the universe, or even our own solar system, but we will likely soon wish we were.\n\nI must help them prepare." ]	2
	[WP] You're minding your own business when a stranger runs up to you and hugs you. They seem to know who you are, and passionately say that they're going to bring you out from the underworld and back to the land of the living.	[ "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.", "Cornelius was now my best friend. As far as he was concerned, at least. The odd little man had sprinted up to me, and without warning attached himself to my waist. I preparing to reckon with the guilt I would surely feel when I elbowed him in his round, elder-cherub face when just as abruptly he released me. \n\n“Friend!” His eyes sparkled. He looked like he might burst from excitement. \n\n“I’m not your friend.” I responded. “I don’t know who you are. Just a second ago I was about to break your nose.”\n\nIf my scathing response did anything to deflate Cornelius’s joy, it did not register in his radiant, unflinching smile. I took a moment to admire it.\n\n“Wait,” I suddenly remembered. “What did you say about the underworld?”\n\nIf it were possible, my new bosom buddy’s Cheshire Cat grin would have grown even bigger.\n\n“Worry yourself no longer! I am here to pluck you from the darkness, and bring you to Nirvana!”\n\n“Nirvana?”\n\n“Nirvana! Moksha! Samsara! I am a spirit guide, dedicated to balancing the essences of the Earth, and the signs led me to you!\n\nI looked around. The day was overcast, the traffic noisy and foul-smelling. I saw no signs of any kind.\n\n“All I see is the walk sign, nice meeting you.” I said motioning to the crowd crossing the street, and moving to join them.\n\n“Stop!”\n\nCornelius screeched with a forcefulness I didn’t imagine he was capable of, and re-secured his arms around my waist. \n\n“Go further and you are doomed to walk eerie paths e’er more. The signs have foretold!”\n\nI extracted myself from his embrace, took him by the shoulders, and shook.\n\n“What. Goddamn. Signs.”\n\nHis head bobbled with each word, but he looked earnestly at me. \n\n“Up there.”\n\nStrangely enough, right above me hung a large banner advertising adoption for an animal shelter. It read, ‘he’s the one’, and showed a smiling man petting a dog. However, the poles holding the banner had shifted is such a way the dog was no longer really visible, and the man appeared to be pointing at a spot beneath the banner. Pointing at me. \n\nI looked a Cornelius and saw something I didn’t before. His face appeared human, but the proportions weren’t quite right. He looked cartoon-ish, like a facsimile of the human face made by someone, or something, only somewhat familiar with its features. His arms and legs were chubby, but in no way muscular. It stretched the laws of physics to imagine they could hold him up naturally. And most peculiar of all, though he stood straight up, he almost appeared to have a hunch-back. Maybe, just maybe, something wing-shaped was hidden beneath his looses, tunic-like shirt. \n\n“Okay,” I turned to my guardian angel. “Maybe I’m less skeptical than I once was. Heck, I want to get to Nirvana. What do I do?”\n\nCornelius practically lifted off the ground. \n\n“Oh friend!” He chirped. “There is so much to reveal!”\n\n“Awesome,” I responded. “Where do I begin?”\n\nSuddenly, Cornelius held a book in his hand, beautifully bound, with gold-edged pages. \n\nI reached out for it, and felt a strange tingle in my fingertips. I needed the book. It had chosen me. But just as it touched my fingers it was snatched away.\n\n“I do have one request, though.” Cornelius said. “Simply to assist in my translation of divine truths to your spirit.”\n\n“Anything,” I sputtered.\n\n“345 dollars.”\n\nI suddenly realized the hunch I had seen under his shirt before was gone, and now Cornelius held the tome in his pudgy hand. His eyes, too, which had seemed starry and bright, now seemed keen and appraising. I looked at him, disgusted. \n\n“Go to hell, you rat.” I cursed.\n\nThe little man sneered, and extended his middle finger at me. Then, in one swift motion he returned the book up his shirt. \n\nAs I skulked away, I heard the gleeful, saccharine voice behind me.\n\n“Friend! Finally I have found you!”", "Looking into the endless blue of the lake, losing myself in my thoughts. The voice calling to me seemed distant. Thinking it was just another part of my daydream I ignored it. The hand grabbing my arm and pulling me into the tightest hug ive ever been apart of pulled me out of my thoughts. The stranger had tears in his eyes and even though his face seemed familiar he was still a stranger to me.\n\"I finally found you.\" He exclaimed tears streaming down his face. \"I suppose you have, but who are you?\" I asked ignorantly. At this question he froze. \"You dont recognize me? This isn't how she explained this to me.\" \"She?\" I asked lost in this man's familiar eyes. \"It doesn't matter, I'm taking you home anyway.\" As he begin to pull me towards the bright light that appeared in front of him. I couldn't help but smile. This human I possessed would be more useful than I thought.\n\n\nFirst story on here honestly just felt like writing something all critiques are welcome", "\"But I like being dead. It's peaceful.\"\n\nThe grip with which the stranger had embraced me began to loosen after I was able to squeeze those words out. I was thankful for the release, but to be honest it was mostly a good bit of luck. Under normal circumstances I may not have uttered the phrase so quickly, but I guess I default to honesty when under duress.\n\nThe odd fellow slowly backed away, clearly perplexed about the developing nature of our encounter. \"You like, you- you like being dead?\" \n\n\"Well, I had never tried to quantify it until my life, er, my death, was in danger, but yes. I rather like the way things are now,\" I said.\n\nMy acquaintance collapsed in an exasperated heap. He lay muttering to himself on the cold ground. I had apparently foiled some great scheme entirely by accident, and had thrown this man's world off its axis. I wasn't quite sure how to proceed, but I was in no rush to get anywhere so I thought I might as well inquire. \n\n\"I'm sorry, sir, but what exactly have I ruined?\" I asked.\n\n\"No, no, no...the hope...lost...what now...\" the man continued to mutter as he gently rolled about.\n\n I thought about repeating my question with a yell, but didn't want to draw so much attention to the strange scene. Instead, I decided to lay down next to the man and repeated my question. Now two men lay together in a random shadowy street in the underworld. And yes, in hindsight, my efforts to not draw attention to the matter could have used another thought or two.\n\n\"Sir, one more time: what have I ruined?\" I asked once more.\n\nFinally, he acknowledged me. \"You're still here? I thought you'd left!\" he said. \n\n\"Oh no! I'm much too intrigued by you. You were muttering something about a hope being lost?\" I asked.\n\n\"It doesn't matter anymore,\" the stranger said, resignation dripping off his words. \"If you enjoy death, there's nothing I can do to help you overcome it. I didn't get to you in time, I guess,\" he said.\n\nIt felt odd that this stranger apparently cared so much about me, and had some plan that almost insinuated my involvement at some point. A sense of familiarity had indeed dawned within me as we had continued to talk, but its source remained unknown. And so I simply asked.\n\n\"And why do you care?\"\n\nThe stranger sighed before turning to look into my eyes. \"A good father should always want to save his son.\" \n\nLike a bomb, memories exploded through my being. Phantom winds from bike rides, the achy soreness of bruises that had existed long ago, and the firm grip of hugs that I had forgotten washed over me once more. I thought back to just a few minutes earlier and the eagerness with which this once stranger had embraced me and realized what made it truly bizarre: it felt familiar.\n\nI knew the surface level truths, here, but I had no idea how any of these pieces fit together. I trusted that this man was indeed my father, as shared a face with many of my restored memories, but I didn't know what he expected to happen here. \"I don't understand,\" I said. \n\nMy father began to quietly hum a tune before his off-pitch voice began to sing. \n\n&nbsp;\n\n♪ I will never leave you, and will answer every cry.\n\nI will never leave you, should the sun desert the sky.\n\nI will never leave you, from my arms none can pry.\n\nI will never leave you, even if we both should die. ♪\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"I used to sing that to you when you'd have a bad dream, remember? You were afraid of so many things. But even with my terrible voice that would always put you to sleep, grim as it may become at the end there. You just needed to know you were safe,\" my father said. \n\nWhatever confused feelings I had experienced before were now largely replaced with shame. I did now remember the song, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me tear up some. But I had forgotten all about it. Time didn't exist down here in the underworld but I was not some new arrival. I had a whole host of memories of this place built up in my mind, and somewhere along the way, they had begun to push out the ones from my time as one living. \n\n\"I...how could I forget that?\" I said, mostly to myself. But my father answered anyway.\n\n\"It's the nature of this place. Eventually it replaces you, or those things about you that remind you of better times. It's how it holds you hostage,\" he said.\n\n\"And you were...going to release me from all of this, somehow? Make me live again?\" I asked.\n\n\"Not in a literal way. Our souls are here for however long they're meant to be. But I wanted to make you feel alive again. I didn't want you to be corrupted by this place, this darkness, that is so hungry for the joy inside its inhabitants,\" he said.\n\n\"And why didn't it take your memories, father? How have you survived?\"\n\n\"I never stopped singing.\"\n\nI began to understand. Thinking over the matter some I did realize that I had never had an encounter with another resident of the underworld about their experiences in the overworld. It was all local, useless, stupid jokes and trivia. I was now sure that they were capable of remembering as many of mine had been returned, but that many weren't likely as lucky as me. Nobody was down here fighting for them, the way my father had done for me.\n\n\"Where do we go from here?\" I asked.\n\n\"Well, I suppose we keep going. We keep living. Maybe we can bring life to others yet. But regardless, we need to try. It's a shame that we are forced to die once, but to die a second time - to have your life slowly erased by indifferent darkness - is a crime too far.\"\n\nMy father and I continue to lay on the ground for quite some time, discussing memories and the nature of this place. In time I was able to recall that he had died when I was still young - eight or nine or so. But I had lived until I was in my seventies. My father had been wandering the underworld, quietly singing to himself to keep his mind in tact, all that time. He said it was worth it all, and he would do it again if given the choice. I cried in his arms, as I had done so many times after a nightmare or otherwise restless night. Life had come full circle in death in its own strange way.\n\nFinally, we stood up as it was time to go about our business. Where I had just a little while earlier been so concerned about drawing attention to us both through a yell, I now found myself singing at the top of my lungs. Mine and my father's terrible voices rang out in every direction as a beacon of hope, that life was still possible in the land of death. \n\n____________________\nr/psalmsandstories for more tales by me, should you be interested." ]	4
	[WP] You're the clumsiest immortal ever.	[ "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.", "\"Cupid, would you shoot the target for once?!\" Her supervisor shot her a death glare as he picked out an arrow from a nearby tree. When she first was assigned a supervisor she had honestly been scared to death of his well, death glares, but the man was all talk. He was actually just looking out for here. They had a certain quota that they needed to get every day but ever since she had been assigned to this section, they've consistently been behind. It was one thing when it was just her getting in trouble, but now her supervisor also got yelled at. \n\nShe tried to align the arrow into her bow and each target was marked with well a target above their head, but she had never really been good at shooting. Her mother was unfortunately absent from her life, so her father had taught her everything she knew. Which to be honest, would be a lot, in theory. She could calculate the angle, setup the trajectory, but for some reason, her body just would not cooperate. It was like she was cursed. \n\nShe would try to shoot the target, but for some reason, the arrow would land on the person next to them. And inevitably, she would end up creating a love triangle. It got so bad one time, that she had just taken the arrow and tried to jab the guy instead of using her bow, but that definitely didn't work out. Because apparently when you do that, the bow is actually a sealer for the power of the arrow and by lifting up the seal, the arrow's powers were basically shooting everywhere.\n\nThat day, everyone loved everyone. Thus everyone hated everyone. It was a catastrophe. \n\nIt was a moment that she was not proud of but remembered as a lesson. Mistakes were opportunities to learn was what her dad taught her. \n\n\"Ah cupid! How? How did you miss???? I even held him in front of you. We even used Hell's ice to freeze the man's time for a minute! Hell will kill us once he finds out that we used his stuff again! But I'm probably going to die before then from stress. Look I'm gonna show you one more time. You put the arrow here, aim, and then fire!\" Pysche demonstrated while yelling. \n\nCupid's eyebrows furrowed, there was something off about the way that he was holding it. Just before he took the shot, she figured it out. The arrow was the one that was used for immortals! How did that even get here??? Her hand shot out to divert it, but she ended up stabbing herself with it instead. And when she took the arrow out of her hand, it ended up stabbing Psyche, her supervisor. Because, of course, that would be her luck. The arrows never worked on Cupid because well that was her power, but Psyche, even though he was assigned to this division. He was just a typical immortal. \n\n\"Hey! why did you-\" The effect was pretty immediate. \n\n\"Cupid...have you always looked so...radiant?\"\n\noh for the love of gods. Cupid thought as she saw the pretty little hearts start forming around Psyche's head. Her clumsiness had outdone itself again.", "As I fell forward, sword slipping from my hands and the handle hitting the ground below with a smash, I really hoped it wouldn’t get much more embarrassing than this. As if by a cruel twist of fate, and in what seemed to be slow motion, the handle didn’t scrape to the side to allow the blade to fall to the ground, but rather wedged perfectly, ensuring that the tip of the blade has no issue whatsoever driving itself through my left eye socket and cleanly through my skull. As I felt bone shatter and groan as my weight drove the blade ever deeper, I couldn’t help but think that the rolling of my eyes to the back of my head wasn’t out of pain, but rather embarrassed frustration as I yet again proved, in front of a Pantheon of fellow Immortals, that I was indeed the clumsiest of us all. Almost poetically, as my forehead made it to the hilt of the blade and came to a complete stop, the handle gave a creak before giving way and rapidly ground to the left, violently snapping my neck just enough to sever my spinal cord and, if my memories of how this felt in humiliating situations such as this rung true, cracked a number of bone fragments through the top of my mouth so I could taste blood.\n\nA roar of laughter echoed around me as the Immortals laughed as I lay there quite paralysed, unable to stand of even attempt to rectify the situation. Immortality is one thing, quadriplegia is quite another. Mentions of ‘loser’ and ‘useless’ came from those around me and, thanks to my lack of mobility, I was unable to peer around to see who I had to revile this time around. Thankfully Achilles, one of the few Immortals who actually cared for me, pushed through the crowd of others and came to my aid. Without batting an eye he swept me up, twisted my neck and held it in place for a few seconds whilst my immortality kicked in, lashing the spinal cord back together and ushering in a wave of tingling from my fingertips and toes that signalled a successful heal. I turned to thank him but had somehow forgotten the sword lodged in my skull and in doing so sprayed blood in his direction and quickly covered my mouth just in time to catch a piece of my tongue that had come lose.\n\n“Easy on brother, give it a minute” he laughed, patiently waiting as I held the piece of tongue in place for it to bind to the rest of me. Even more patiently, he waited as I pulled the sword free, gathered the bone and offal from the ground and pressed what I could gather into the wounds. This was my least favourite part of immortality, the sound of bone grinding together as it fused back into place and the twitching of skin as my body forced out bits of dirt and rock that had found its way inside my head wound. \n\n“Every damn time,” I sighed, spitting out a rock that had fallen from my wound into the back of my throat. I had wanted to do a heroic speech to the Pantheon, sword raised and a full epic poem planned to regale those around me with promises of heroic deeds I would perform to prove to them that I was worth something. I had barely strode out to the platform, unsheathing my sword as I had practised so many times earlier that week, when a foot kicked my shin and tripped me over, leading me to impale myself for what seemed like the hundredth time.\n\n“That one wasn’t even me being clumsy!” I cried out, as Achilles slapped me on the shoulder and laughed; he was one of the few I knew who’s laugh was of sympathy not mockery. \n\n“You’re too right with that one, maybe next time,” he consoled, handing me a bit of my eyelid I had forgotten to pick up. Last time I had forgotten an eyelid, the exposed eye spent weeks crusting over as I searched high and low for it, only to find one of the other Immortals had hidden it beneath their bed. \n\nThe crowd had scattered throughout the Pantheon, breaking up in groups of Immortals gossiping amongst themselves and regaling one another with tales of their heroic deeds amongst the land of the mortals. My eyes scanned around the enormous hall, plain and bare save for its occupants, simply a peaked granite roof held up by dozens of marble columns and a single brazier of the Everlasting Flame in its centre. \n\nHow many times had I died in here, I wondered. Dozens at least, engulfed by Everlasting Flames after tripping into the brazier which, as the name implied, took quite some time to extinguish. Surely I’d fallen onto my own blade, and others’ hundreds of times more. There was the time the Immortals simply dismembered me for fun, calling it a ‘lesson to not be so stupid’, and the other time I’d brought back a human-borne plague that I, of all Immortals, was somehow susceptible to. I had spent weeks watching my skin rot away and regrow endlessly until I resolved to sever my own gangrenous limbs to rid myself of the disease. \n\nI caught myself in a daydream, snapped back to reality only upon my eye catching across the room a foot I quite quickly recognised as the one that led me to my most recent death. I’m not quite sure why this time was the time I chose to call out another Immortal for my suffering, but enough was enough. I threw my sword to Achilles, urging him to hold it for a moment while I ‘caught up with someone.’ He barely had time to respond as I strode purposefully away from him towards the owner of the foot, unsure as to what I would say when I reached the other side of the building.\n\n“Darius!” I bellowed, as soon as I realised who I was about to enter into an argument with. The lump of a brute, a dozen feet tall and donned head to toe in the finest of armour turned around and sneered as me saw me storming towards him. \n\n“Careful everyone, he might just kill himself!” He laughed, causing a ripple of laughter amongst the Immortals. Oh how this angered me so, confusing my thoughts as I struggled to think of what I would do when I reached him. \n\nPerhaps I should’ve planned this better, in hindsight. If I had, I would’ve paid more attention to the fact that, although I had replaced one eyelid, my other was still missing. Perhaps too, I would’ve noticed that the eyelid had stuck to someone’s shoe as they walked across the hall and was now lying bloody amongst the crowd. And finally, perhaps I would’ve been more careful as I stepped aggressively forward, the heel of my foot catching on the eyelid and slipping forward. ‘Not again’ I thought, as I instinctively grabbed for the nearest object that just so happened to be the brazier. With a loud crash it sprung off its mound, hurtling burning coals across the crowd and sprayed the occupants of the Pantheon with flames. Screams and curses filled the room as I found my feet, my blood rushing from my face as I realised what my clumsiness had caused this time. At least a dozen Immortals had now burst into flame, some coping with their melting skin better than others. A few had never died before, and as such were not used to the pain and shock, leading them to scream in fear. Others, having died numerous times on the battlefield merely growled in annoyance as their flesh dropped from their bones.\n\nTo my thinly veiled amusement, Darius had caught a particularly large coal directly on his shoulder, his cape bursting into flames. He screamed out in anger and twisted violently to pull the cape off him, however in doing so he had bowled over and we watched as his heavy frame loudly and sharply struck one of the columns. A loud crack drowned out the screams of those engulfed in the flames and even those in the most dire of infernos paused for a moment as they cast their eyes upward. The crack in the column snaked its way rapidly upward to where it met the roof and paused for a moment before the building shuddered as if in pain.\n\nA loud groan trembled from the roof as one by one the columns shattered, bringing granite slabs down to those below. In an instant I watched as once laughing Immortals disappeared under tonnes of millenia-old stone. As if my centuries of bad luck had been divine karma for this moment of fortune, I was the first and only to react as I bounded across the Pantheon, grabbing Achilles and leapt out, thunderous booms in my wake as the building collapsed in virtually an instant. I collapsed alongside Achilles on the steps of the Pantheon outside, hands covering my head and face to the ground allowing the dust to settle and the last of columns to fall before I looked back and the destruction in my wake. Silence. \n\n“By Gods you’re clumsy,” Achilles muttered as he lifted himself up. I looked at the rubble below and realised that for the first time ever, not a single Immortal was laughing at my expense. \n\n“You’re cleaning them up, you know,” he sighed, sitting back to admire the result of my latest ‘misfortune’. \n\nI most definitely was in no rush to do so. For the first time ever, to my private glee, my clumsiness had worked in my favour. \n\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!" ]	3
	[WP] You thought the design for the tattoo on your wrist was a good one, until a man from another world shows up and mistakes it for a sign that you're the next heir. Now you have to convince him and a whole country you are not in fact a reincarnated 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.", "\"My lord, you need not be humble.\"\n\nDrew breathed in, and out. The stage lights were making him sweat, and he was acutely aware of every drop of sweat glistening as it accumulated across his face. Itching to wipe it off while knowing there were thousands, if not millions watching.\n\nHe had not regretted the tattoo for a moment until the day, three weeks ago, when the alien had rung his cell phone. The most customary form of contact, it had explained, among the human nations so it had thought it only polite to learn how.\n\nSince then it had been utterly surreal chaos.\n\n\"My lord, your followers have returned, as it was foretold. You have denied 18 times, and in 18 ways. It was foretold.\"\n\nThe worst thing about it was Drew couldn't even be angry at him. Or it. Humanoid, masculine in appearance. Wearing a robe that covered it's face. Had a name he couldn't pronounce, and one he definitely wasn't about to mangle on live television. It was unfailingly polite, irritatingly unfailingly patient, more or less respected his boundaries despite the weeks of constant contact, and deferred to him before the aliens ship would have any contact with the rest of humanity. Utterly sincere and convinced in its belief that he was the one they had been waiting nearly a millenia for. \n\nWhy he'd ever agreed to this in a million years, he wouldn't know.\n\nOh, that's right. The money. He had to think about the money.\n\nHe took a breath in, and prepared to anger the only alien contact man had ever had. They'd hate him forever if he screwed this one up. He'd be broke too, but he could figure that one out later.\n\nHe wished they'd given him some coaching to prepare. A script to read off. But the people up the chain had spoken, and even though the Secretary and a Major General stood behind him ready to step in if it came to it, he was on his own. Power of a god, they said. Should be able to tell the aliens anything you wanted, they said.\n\n\"And I will tell you a 19th time,\" Drew said. \"It is a series of coincidences. You've made the facts fit as you wanted. I'm no reawakened god. I'm a delivery courier. I ride a bicycle for a living.\"\n\nThe alien nodded gravely, and drew one hand up slowly, palm forward. In the cusp of the leathery skin was a silver cube. Before Drew could open his mouth to ask what it was or what it was for, the cube began to glow, spinning upwards and outwards.\n\nIn moments the small stage was covered with a greyish hologram globe, cutting out everything but the audience, the alien, the three people who had convinced him to do this, and Drew.\n\nMr Gerefeld, who had stood silently behind Drew the entire time, pulled out a phone and began to speak into it. His previously equally silent opposite, Marcus, had drawn and assembled a weapon that was bigger than Drew in the time it had taken Drew to remember to breathe, and sighted it on the alien. Madam Berger had taken a step forward, and spoke.\n\n\"Ahrethganel, child of Haran, we are here to broker peace between our nations. The conditions were that the negotiations be transmitted to a United Nations audience. You gave us no warning of this technology. Do you threaten us? Have we been cut off?\"\n\nThe alien gestuered to the hologram wall closest to it, and the silver screen around them began displaying images. Gerefeld and Berger fell silent. Drew was already silent. He wasn't sure he had the words to express how simultaneously important and absolutely tiny and insignificant he felt in that moment.\n\nThe images were familiar. It was plainly somewhere on Earth. He was sure he'd seen that park before. And that house. And the girl with the pink bike. The horror slowly began to dawn on him.\n\nThe alien spoke slowly and clearly. Pausing after each sentence to make sure it sank in.\n\n\"My lord, we have been waiting for far longer than your Terran years. Our people have watched and waited until it was time. Kept watch over you and your nest, as was our duty.\"\n\nDrew watched as each short clip of his life played out. Felt like the lowest form of idiot because how could he not know they were watching? They had everything. Every year of his life ran in snippets. Recordings of all of it. Lists of data scrolled down to the left and right, in English Standard and presumably whatever script the alien used. Names of his friends, phone numbers, relationships. For a brief time, even his Google searches were displayed. \n\nThe sweat grew to cold wet patches on his shirt. The dress shirt he had borrowed from his brother after the government wouldn't lend him the money to buy a suit for the occasion. The heat was eating at him, the need to wipe his face becoming nearly overwhelming. His anger grew with it. \n\n\"Stop. Turn it off. I don't want everyone to see this. Enough.\"\n\n\"As you wish, my lord. I assure you, the recordings are only visible to those within the sphere.\"\n\nSome part of Drew's brain recognised the furious whispering going on behind him as trying to get a connection into what was happening inside the hologram. No doubt berating technicians and analysts and military advisers for the failure to predict the watchers being cut off.\n\n\"I can't do this anymore. I've been arguing with you for weeks. I'll come with you, but I won't tell your people I am their god. Or tell mine. I am no one's lord, either.\"\n\n\"As you wish, my lord. The arrangements will be made. The peace between Haran and the United Nations of Earth and Mars is now and eternal.\"\n\nA moment of silence from the party behind them. Hesitant voices as they spoke the phrase of agreement. Speaking out of sync because nobody had believed it would possibly be that straightforward.\n\n\"Earth, Mars and Haran. Now and eternal.\"\n\n..............................\n\nFeedback welcome and much appreciated! Still learning. Thanks for reading! :)" ]	2
	[WP] Traveling into Parralel Universes is now a commercial thing, called World Swapping. I've finally managed to afford a trip, into a world where my wife, daughter and sons are still alive. Travel initiated. World Swap in 3, 2, 1...	[ "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.", "Realms Beyond, by Markus Manaford. \n \nChapter 23. \n \nThe reality of frequency 808 is built of pure happiness. Everything is exactly as the viewer wants it to be. Loved ones live, there are no struggles or strife, and resources are easily gathered. Many find this reality to be unsettlingly perfect. It creates a feeling of distrust in cynics. \n \nDespite this feeling, the world is actually perfect. It is built of love and happiness, and thus cultivates these things in all who visit. For this world is alive, and feeds of those emotions. Many sci-fi horror stories are based on this premise, but this creature lives by a mutual relationship. It gives all that we need, so that it can take from us what it needs." ]	2
	[WP] It’s the age of fantasy. You’re a humble delivery person making a run to a village. As your carriage rolls into the eerily quiet village, you happen upon a giant Behemoth of a monster. When you kindly ask it to not eat you, to your surprise, it responds in a gentle and friendly voice.	[ "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--I don't mean to be rude but is there a chance you would not eat me?\" Staring into the eyes of the giant sitting on what had been the village town hall was remarkably like staring into the eyes of my angry nanny when I was small. The giant's eyes were massive in comparison, but somewhere in the brown oceans there was an exacting maternal presence. Out of instinct manners beat out the need to scream. \"I have an important delivery to make in Effordshire!\"\n\n\"Oh dearie me!\" The giant--oddly human but oddly toad-like--clutched a massive hand to her chest in surprise. \"You have quite the voice for someone so small!\"\n\n\"I'm terribly sorry if I startled you--I must admit I was quite startled to see you!\" I managed to stammer out.\n\n\"Well--you have quite the voice for such a little thing!\" The giant turned to face me entirely, shifting on the wooden perch she had fashioned out of the old government building. \"What was that you were saying?\"\n\nI swallowed equally terrified and shocked at the absurdity of our interaction. Where giants supposed to talk? Or perhaps I was hallucinating?\n\n\"I have an engagement in Effordshire that is rather urgent. I was asking if you would kindly not eat me and let me on my way,\" I repeated as politely as I could manage.\n\n\"Goodness gracious, aren't you a delight? Someone taught you proper manners,\" the giant noted. She squinted her bulbous eyes that sat in sockets that were somehow too small for them to get a better look at me. \"You are going onto Effordshire, then? Such a nice little town. My husband went to eat there once. He was quite disappointed by the selection.\"\n\n\"O-oh?\" I was sweating profusely. Part of me wanted to run but another part of me felt that would be improper, and being proper was somehow saving me at the moment.\n\n\"Yes. People there are terribly nice, you see. And people are rather like cheese--only good if its proper rotten!\" She said wistfully. She absentmindedly reached into the building beneath her and pulled out a writhing man. He screamed as she popped him in her mouth.\n\nI watched in horror as she chewed delicately and then dabbed her lips with what could only be the sail of a ship.\n\n\"MMmmm mm, you must forgive me,\" she said apologetically through the corner of her enormously wide mouth. She swallowed. \"The people here? They were proper curdled, perfectly aged and downright pungent! I haven't had this tasty a meal in ages. However, I am terribly sorry if it was inconvenient to you, darling.\"\n\n\"I--I--\" I stammered my voice was small and broken from the horror.\n\n\"What's that, boy? Speak up its rude to mumble!\" She snapped.\n\nI cleared my throat instantly. \"Terribly sorry!\" I enunciated as well and as loudly as I could. I fell back on my training for the boy's choir to project my voice. If my choir teacher had told me that such training would be integral in not getting eaten by giants, I'm sure I would have tried harder. \"My projection isn't what it used it to be. Perhaps I need to take a drink of water.\"\n\n\"Oh my, is speaking difficult?\" She asked, suddenly concerned.\n\n\"It takes effort to speak loudly. You have to speak from your diaphragm and it's skill I haven't practiced in years!\" I responded back.\n\nNext to me, something shuffled. I looked over to the house on the other side of the road. There were a few people hiding in a half-broken home, staring aghast at what was going on.\n\nGulping, I looked up. \"Are you planning on being in Immersway for long?\"\n\n\"Just until after dinner. Have to get home before dark. My eyes aren't what they used to be. Tripped over a river last night. Bit of an embarrassing spill,\" she idly gossiped as she picked at the broken beams of her throne. \"But that's getting older for you, I suppose.\"\n\n\"Time marches ever onward. I used to have quite the arm for field ball but now I'm lucky to get between the posts!\" I said desperate to keep common ground.\n\n\"It is a shame. What I wouldn't do to have my old eyes back. But listen to me ramble, you needed to head out to Effordshire!\"\n\nShe shifted, moving a massive flipper-like foot out of the way of the road so that I could pass.\n\n\"Thank you kindly, ma'am!\" I managed.\n\nI settled back into the carriage seat and directed the horses to go. They were skittish but trusting, nervously trotting by the giant next to them.\n\nJust as we came close to her and were about to pass, a face the size of my house leaned close to the carriage. \"Oh and dearie?\" The giant cooed.\n\nI yelped quietly and then looked up at that wide mouth filled with rows of teeth like boulders. Her breath reeked of flesh and blood.\n\nI swallowed the vomit heading up my throat\n\n\"Yes, ma'am?\" I managed to squeak.\n\n\"Feel free to take the western road. It's a shorter and easier drive for you and the bandits are no longer an issue,\" she said sweetly. \"They made quite the treat for my husband. Now hurry on your way--don't bother saying good bye! You have to rest that little voice of yours.\"\n\nShe affectionately and lightly tapped the carriage as she gave a grandmotherly wink.\n\nI had to grab my seat to stay on from the force.\n\nI smiled as best I could and nodded, directly the horses to continue.\n\nMy eyes were locked on the road as I heard her continue to eat behind me, my heart pounding, my clothing wet with sweat.\n\nBut she was quite right about the western road. First time I had used it without being harassed by highwaymen.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\[Edit: never write a post on a phone\\]", "The sun was hanging low in the sky by the time I neared the small village. Though my old but reliable horse showed no signs of exhaustion, I felt totally drained by the journey. My face and ancient travel cloak were caked in dust from the road, and all I wanted in the world was a basin to wash in and a cold drink from the local tavern, preferably from one of the casks of liquor I was delivering.\n\nYou can imagine how immensely disappointed I was to arrive at the village just as the sun dipped below the horizon and see nobody. There wasn't a living soul in sight.\n\nI've seen many strange things in my travels and escaped many dangerous situations. The way I always managed to survive was by being particularly wary of anything that seemed even the slightest bit unusual, and this certainly qualified as unusual.\n\nHowever, instead of being alert and on guard, I simply felt even more tired.\n\nThe axles of the cart groaned as I clicked my tongue, ordering the horse to stop. The poor mare obeyed without a hint of emotion as always.\n\nIf I were lucky, this would turn out to be some weird village tradition where everyone had to be indoors by a certain point at night because of some idiotic peasant superstition. Of course, I was never lucky, so I could only imagine that the village was attacked by bandits or eaten by a monstrous giant or taken over by a necromancer or some similar heinous and absurd villainry. \n\nWith a sigh, I collected my staff and a torch from the cart behind me and, stopping only to light the torch, climbed down from my perch to explore the village on foot. A cloud of dust billowed away from me when I jumped onto the ground.\n\nThe fading sunlight made it barely possible to see beyond the light of my torch. As far as I could tell, this was a normal village that was, for some reason, abandoned before my shipment had arrived.\n\nI walked up to a window on the nearest building and peered inside. The sign hanging above the door indicated that a cobbler worked here, and I could see the tools of the shoemaking trade scattered about with scraps of fabric and other materials. Otherwise, the building was totally empty.\n\nThe same was true for the next few buildings. The smithy, the inn, and several unmarked houses all seemed empty and devoid of life.\n\nAfter almost fifteen minutes of careful searching, I had made it to the central crossroads of the village. It appeared similarly empty in all directions.\n\n\"This is the damndest thing,\" I muttered to myself, sitting on the edge of an enormous boulder that was placed at the center of the crossroads.\n\nThe boulder began to rise, spilling me onto the ground before it. I scrambled away from it on all fours, trying my hardest to avoid being crushed by what was turning into a monstrous behemoth. However, before I could make it to a safe distance, the beast calmly picked me up, pinching my cloak between two of of its thick, ugly fingers.\n\n\"Please!\" I cried, my voice shaking as I trembled like a leaf dangling from its tree. \"Don't eat me! I- I don't want to be eated!\"\n\nThe giant rocky monster tilted its scarred head at me.\n\n\"Eat you?\" it said in a kind and grandfatherly voice. \"Why would I eat you?\" It cackled, and instead of the booming sound I expected, it sounded more like the frail old beggar that lived outside the tannery in my hometown.\n\n\"You're a silly little thing, aren't ye?\" The monster squinted at me. \"Why, you're shaking! I'm afraid I'm awfully intimidating. Musta scared off this whole village by accident, I did.\" The monster sighed, its dreadful breath washing over me.\n\n\"I'm afraid I'm growing awfully lonely in my old age.\" It thumped into a sitting position. \"I'm not the terrifying beast I used to be, see? Just want to have a few friends to miss me when I'm gone.\"\n\n\"So you... you used to eat people?\" I asked timidly, ignoring the wet trickle down my leg.\n\nThe beast waved an enormous hand through the air dismissively, nearly blowing me away in the resultant breeze. \"That was in the past. I'm too old to be catching humans these days.\"\n\nThat didn't make me feel much better about the situation, since I had been caught. \"So you don't eat people anymore,\" I said, trying to gauge exactly how dangerous the situation is.\n\nThe monster cackled again. \"So obsessed with eating, you are. You must be hungry, little fella, eh?\"\n\nAgainst my will, my stomach rumbled. Fortunately, the beast seemed to be hard of hearing and didn't notice. \"Really, all I wanted is to make my delivery. Could you tell me where the townspeople have fled to?\"\n\n\"Oh, I couldn't say,\" the beast said. \"I'm much to old to be following and chasing the humanfolk, like I said.\"\n\n\"What do you eat, then?\" I asked, my curiousity getting the best of me.\n\n\"Not much these days, I'm afraid,\" the monster sighed. \"I am weak as well as old, and the spirit of humanity does not extend to monsters like me.\"\n\nDespite everything, I started to feel bad for the monster. Society was a cruel place, even to other humans. It would have been so much worse to such a hideous monster that, in the end, was just trying to survive.\n\n\"Well, if the village is well and truly gone, then my supplies will go to waste. Why don't we have a feast?\" I found myself saying.\n\n\"You would do that for me?\" the elderly giant asked with hope in his voice.\n\n\"Of course! It might not be what you're used to, but I do have some dried meats to go along with cheeses and grains.\"\n\n\"Dried meats, you say?\" the monster said thoughtfully, stroking his rocky chin.\n\n\"And, of course, beer. Can't pass up full casks of beer,\" I said in my best tempting voice.\n\n\"No, I certainly can't! Let's have a feast!\"\n\nThe monster set me on the ground to bring my cart to the crossroads, and within seconds he was ripping into my supplies, downing full wheels of cheese and crates of dried meat and washing it down with entire casks of alcohol while I sipped quietly at a cup of water.\n\nBefore too long, the supplies were completely gone, and I could tell that the beast's hunger was not satisfied.\n\n\"Now...\" it began. \"You know what would go perfectly with this feast?\"\n\n\"A nice drink of fresh water?\" I asked hopefully.\n\n\"A nice, crunchy human!\" it roared, reaching for me.\n\nI sighed and took a few slow steps to my left. The beast, now completely inebriated, stumbled forward and missed me completely, falling onto the ground.\n\n\"Wha...\" it began to ask drowsily. Then, it began to snore loudly, causing the ground to shake with each breath.\n\nI sighed again. \"Dumb beasts, cutting into my profits.\" I walked over to my cart and pulled a hunting knife out from my personal supplies and then, with some difficult, cut the beast's throat. Still grumbling, I tied up my mare at the inn's stables, broke inside the building, and settled down in the first bed I saw.\n\nThe quiet murmuring of a gathered crowd awoke me in the morning. I stood up, stretched, and stepped out into the early morning sunlight.\n\n\"Killed your beast,\" I said, yawning. \"You can go ahead and pay me for that instead of the shipment.\"\n\nI've seen many strange things in my travels and escaped many dangerous situations. This was nothing [new](https://www.reddit.com/r/mpqeg/)." ]	3
	[WP] You died, and there is no heaven or hell. It's just like Earth, but you're alone with the love of your life in your special place.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "As the last fragments of my consciousness begin to fade away, the memories come flooding back. Memories of a long life and one filled with many wonderful things. Adventure, friends, family, and even love. I cried. I smiled.\n\nDeath had finally come. \n\nI opened my eyes expecting to see darkness, but...\n\nIt was beautiful.\n\nThe familiar warmth of the sun, a sky full of color, and the gentle breeze comforting me.\n\n“Mark!”\n\nI turned around at the sound of her familiar voice and see a figure covered in light.\n\n“Mark!” \n\nI begin to run towards the light. I can see her.\n\n“Mark!”\n\nJust a bit further to go. I trip over my own feet and fall flat on my face. But it doesn’t matter. I laugh and cry and smile and… She lends me a hand.\n\nAnd I take it.", "\"Beeeeeeep\" the sound of death rattles in the ICU. Your wife drops the holy book and rushes to the side of your lifeless body laying on the hospital bed. Everything goes white for you. You can't see. You can't hear. You can't even breath. You're in a vacuum of sorts. \n 2 second of peace for you and then you're back in the bed yet you feel no weight of the accident you had. You have no wounds and you've fully healed all of a sudden. You look at your wife and place your hand at her head to comfort her. She feels nothing and keeps crying. Suddenly your body randomly passes through the bed and hand right through your wife's head.\n\"Waaaa...\" \nBut everything carries on with the way it did: your wife weeping and the IV sound. Then your entire body falls down through the entire hospital building and deep into the ground. You're falling faster and faster. Everything around you starts fading to black and you can't see anything. You're still falling until suddenly you stop mid air. Youre slowly lowered and your feet touch the ground. \nYou hear a sound of electric sound lights switching on. Its a huge empty grey hallway. \n You ask yourself if you're dead, if you're in heaven or hell or if its another one of your youngest kid Rob's pranks on you.\n\"Hey rob cut it out now this isn't funny alright bud. i always wished to buy such a place but you know we can't afford it right now bud .\" You say\nYou hear a sound from behind you,\n\" It's yours Sam, ours.\" \nThat voice is fimiliar. No it can't be her. She died when we were 17. You turn around slowly; part doesn't wanna know if it really is her.\n\"Naida...? I thought you were gone? I..i thought lost you forever? Where are...?\"\n\" heyyy stop right there. One by one okayy?!\"\n\"You haven't changed one bit haha\" you let out a laugh. She smiles brightly at you.\n\"Well you have misterr. Got some grey in your beard and a bit of weight gain suits you Sammy haha.\" \nYou both laugh. \n\"Okay so just listen carefully alright so this place is called Cigea. Basically what happens is when you die you come here. There's no hell or no heaven. There's only Cigea got it?!\"\n\"Yeah i think so\"\n\"Now when i got here i was alone in and could not alter anything in this room cause i had to wait for someone; the love of my life. And you seeing me means i'm yours\"\n\"Wait wait wait i have a wife and 2 kids now naida. \"\n\"Ohh\"\n\"I did love you more than anything and i tried as much as i could to save you. You meant everything to me and im sorry i couldn't and i spent the last....last, 52 years 3 months and 2 days punishing myself for it but i think it's my wife who should be here with me\"\n\"Oh im sorry for putting you through all that...\"\nShe walks away and her feet start sinking into the ground and her body falls into and through ground and she's gone. Sam is left standing there alone\n\"I'm sorry haida\"", "Death.\n\nIt's a strange thing, despite being a natural part of life. It happens to everyone, but everyone has it differently-- some people go out like a light switch, dying quickly and violently. Some fear it and do something, anything, to try and stave it off for another few minutes.\n\nMyself? It was slow, quiet, peaceful. I drifted off to sleep, made comfortable by the morphine drip; I said my goodbyes to my grandchildren, my son and daughter held my hands as I went.\n\nAs the hospital room faded around me, things started to come into unusual clarity. I saw my old classroom back at Araki High School. I hadn't been there in almost seventy years, but it was exactly as it had been the day I graduated.\n\nThen I was in the cubicle I worked at for my first job. My old coworkers, my old boss-- everyone looked up at me.\n\nMy childhood home in Hakone; for a brief moment, I saw my mother and father for the first time in nearly two decades. They were just as I remembered them.\n\nWhat was going on? I wondered as a bed started to materialize underneath me. It was so familiar-- pink and purple plaid sheets, pillows stacked to form a small tower, the smell of freshly-laundered cotton. From what I could see, a television was mounted to one wall, the connecting hardware for a video game console running down the wall to a small cabinet. A desk and a bookshelf were at the other side of the bedroom.\n\nI knew immediately where I was. This wasn't just any mere bedroom. This was the bedroom that changed my life. Her bedroom.\n\nAnd judging from the surprised gasp behind me, I wasn't alone. I rolled over to face the source of the gasp, and for one brief moment, it was hard to tell who was more surprised.\n\nStormy gray eyes stared at me in shock. Her messy black ponytail dangled behind her, just as it always had. This was strange-- the last time I saw her, just before she passed four years ago, her hair was short, bobbed, and white as a cloud. Wrinkles had crossed her face, and she looked every bit of the 82 years she was when she died.\n\nBut now, [Kaori Nakagaki](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/9g4dpb/wp_you_lived_your_life_hopelessly_in_love_with/e625pei/) looked just as she had when she was nineteen years old.\n\n\"Kaori?\" I asked, surprised. \"Oh my God, it's been so long...\"\n\n\"Wh...? What are you talking about?\" she replied. \"I went to sleep, and you were holding my hand...\"\n\n\"You look so young!\"\n\n\"Young? I...\" Kaori took in a breath, then reached for her alarm clock, using it as a makeshift mirror. She practically tossed it aside in shock when she saw her face. \"Holy shit! How did that happen?!\"\n\n\"I don't know! People don't age down!\"\n\n\"Souji, you're young again, too!\" Kaori said. \n\n\"What?!\"\n\nKaori picked up her alarm clock and held it towards me. Gently taking it, I shifted it around in my hand, using the shiny glass face as a mirror. The young man I once was stared back, not a wrinkle or receding hairline in sight.\n\n\"Is this what happens when we die?\" I asked.\n\n\"I don't know. I remember you holding my hand, and I went to sleep,\" Kaori said. \"I just woke up, and you were right next to me.\"\n\n\"Just wo... Kaori, you died four years ago.\"\n\n\"I died last night! Wait. If you're here, then... oh my God, our kids!\"\n\nI had to admit, it was weird hearing nineteen-year-old Kaori worry about our children, even though she was a loving mother. Then again, from our current age, they wouldn't be born for another six years.\n\n\"And why are we in my apartment?\" she continued. \"I haven't been here since we got married.\"\n\n\"I think I know. This is...\" I smiled. \"This is where we had our first date. You invited me over for dinner.\"\n\n\"...we watched anime and a romantic movie...\"\n\n\"...and when I was about to leave, you asked me if I could stay a little longer,\" I finished. I blushed at the memory of Kaori silently pleading with me to stay, the first time we ever kissed. The first time we made love.\n\nThat was the night she became more than my best friend.\n\n\"...That was the happiest night of my life,\" Kaori said. \"More than getting married. More than having kids... ...that was the night we became a couple. And it was right here.\"\n\n\"I thought it was right at your door?\"\n\n\"We kissed at the door. We did it in my bed.\"\n\n\"Right.\"\n\nThe two of us laid in bed, just looking at each other, holding hands. We had our youth, and our memories. Finally, Kaori broke the silence with a quiet \"Souji?\"\n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"This is eternity, right? Like... if I wake up again, you'll still be here?\"\n\nI nodded, taking Kaori's hand. \"Yeah. When I said I wanted to be with you forever, Kaori, I meant it. And... this is about as forever as it gets.\"\n\nGiving me the smile I had always loved, Kaori kissed me. I missed the taste of her lips for four years, but now, I'd never lose them. Holding her close, the two of us settled into what we knew was going to be a wonderful eternity together.", "I was a good man, not great but not bad. Lived a pretty normal life, I never did wrong to anyone but never did anything of too notable past winning a writing competition in 5th grade. The most valuable part of my life was my wonderful wife, she always knew me, understood me and never questioned my decisions in life, she was the only person who ever understood me. Her smile could brighten the worst of days, she was the one who helped me get through life and always was there to help anyone. It was made my own death hurt even more hurtful, knowing she cried when that drunk driver hit me on the way to the 20th anniversary of our wedding. I died almost instantly, no pain, but I’m now on what seems to be empty earth just thinking about my wife, how much she meant to me, how much I miss me. It’s just the thought of her and me up here. Her silky brown hair, Her green eyes that always spoke paragraphs even if she was silent, Her kind words of love that no matter what brought everyone’s day up. But I just look out onto this massive lake of wonders that we spent so many summers at, it’s our special place, our own little heaven. Why I was put here? Is it some sort of sick joke? Forced to look out onto this lake without her, just thinking of her, how much I miss her. I can only cry, from anger, sadness, and so many emotions that just cause a breakdown. This is nothing but hell, being forced to just be thinking of Her and nothing else. I grab the gun we always had in the safe, but it’s not there, I’m forced to live out this hellscape along for the rest of eternity. Is this what my life is? Just a sadistic comedy for god to laugh at? I try to end it however I can, but nothing ends this enteral pain of never seeing her again. But then I hear a voice in the background, in the distance from a shadowy figure, “Miss me, honey?”", "I open my eyes to be blinded by a strong light. I move my hand to cover my eyes like the bill to a hat, but then my hand bumps into the bill of a hat I'm already wearing.\n\nStrange. I think to myself. I didn't remember wearing a hat a moment ago. And what is up with this blinding light?\n\nThe light fades and I wake up in my room, the lights off. I check my phone. 1:34 am.\n\nDouble strange. I roll over to go back to sleep, but hit my wall. I don't remember my bed being this small. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see that it was not a wall, but a person laying in my bed.\n\nI jump up out of bed and yell, \"What the fuck! Who the fuck are you?!\"\n\nThe mysterious body jolts out of surprise and rolls over to hear the most beautiful voice say, \"Honey, cut the shit and get back in bed.\" She rolls back over.\n\nI run to wall to find my light switch, but it's not in its normal spot. I scurry to find the switch and throw the lights up. She groans and rolls over once more only to see my terrified face and shaking body.\n\nIn that lovely voice she says, \"Oh baby, what's the matter?\" Then her eyes widen with excitement. \"Wait! It's you! It's actually you! The REAL you!\"\n\n\"What do you mean the real me? Who are you and what are you doing in my bed?!\" I yell frightened.\n\n\"Charles, you're dead honey. I—\"\n\n\"WHAT THE FUCK!?\" I shout.\n\n\"You need to relax, please. I'm Elizabeth, and you're my soulmate. I've been waiting what has felt like an eternity for you.\" She soothes me with her mellow words.\n\n\"I feel compelled to believe you.\" I calmly say. I feel relaxed. More relaxed than I have ever felt before. With the adrenaline gone, I can focus more clearly on my surroundings. I recognize the room, but not what's in it. My bed used to be pushed up to the corner, and I had only one nightstand, not two. I looked up and saw a ceiling fan. I never had a ceiling fan, just one that sat on my nightstand and a couple lamps to light my room. Then I finally get a good look at the person invading my bed. I fall down to my knees with awe. She's absolutely stunning. She's so beautiful that I can't breathe or utter words. Her hair was a dark blonde that went down a little past her shoulders; she had perfect pink lips and the most adorable nose and ears. Her eyes were emerald jewels that could lose a person in them if they lingered too long. When she stood up with excitement I practically drooled onto the floor. Her body was slammin' hot, the best I've ever seen by a long shot. Perfect breasts, perfect ass, perfect curves, and a perfect face.\n\nShe ran over to me and gave me a warm hug. I remain on the floor completely stunned by her beauty. She then gives me a gentle kiss and tears fall down her eyes.\n\n\"Wait. I'm dead.\" I finally say. It all started coming back to me. There I was laying on my bed, a frail old man. Alone in my room. No more family. I was the last one. I laid asleep that night knowing my family would end with me and I would die without ever feeling love.\n\nI bring myself back to see her face looking at mine. \"You're my soulmate?\" I say weakly.\n\nShe replied, \"Yes. I died many many years ago. Until now, I have only been thinking of the moment we are finally together. When I passed I was told that I would be here waiting for the love of my life to arrive. I had begun to imagine you and who you would be. I can honestly say I hit the jackpot here. There's so much to catch up on and the rest of eternity to be together!\"\n\n\"I can't wait to get to know you!\" I say relieved.\n\n\"Great, now take off that hat. I don't know why you would wear one to bed.\" She giggled.\n\nI take off my hat, and as I go to grab her hand another blinding white light obscures my vision.\n\n\"NO! I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!\" I hear Elizabeth scream. \"CHARLES NO!\"\n\nMy vision comes back into focus once more as I wake up in a hospital bed with a crew of medical professionals surrounding me. One has a defibrillator.\n\n\"We saved him!\" Yelled a doctor. All but one left the room. \"You were dead there for a few minutes. Honestly, I wasn't in the mood to bury a young guy like yourself.\" He leaves the room. I don't quite understand what is happening. I look at my hands and arms and they are smooth and wrinkle free. I feel my face and my skin is tight. Then I see my mother and father walk in with my two brothers and my sister. All come over to me talking at once. I don't pay them any attention. Was that all just a dream? Or was that real? Did I just recall my death? Do I know when I'll die? Even with all these questions I can only think of one thing: Elizabeth.\n\n\n\nThis is my absolute first time writing anything creative. I would love feedback as I could tell me sentence writing and descriptors were rough. Thanks for reading!", "Death is a lot like falling asleep, if falling asleep was the most terrifying thing you'd ever done.\n\nI suppose I wouldn't be so scared of death if I had tried a little harder to live a better life. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like...kill people or kick adorable puppy dogs or anything like that. I just sort of...existed. You know how it goes. Find a job, pay the bills. Drink occasionally. Socialize when you have the time and energy. Lather, rinse, repeat. I guess I wish I had more time? I don't know what I'd do differently with it. Maybe go to church or something. I feel like that's going to be a sore point with whoever's in charge of whatever happens next.\n\nSpeaking of, I should probably open my eyes now. I think I'm done with the actual dying part of death. I hope. I guess I'm about to find out.\n\nCallista opened her eyes. Then she rubbed them. Then she closed them. Then she opened them again.\n\nI'd like to amend my previous statement. Death is a lot like...going to the dentist's office, if your dentist happens to have some sort of celestial light being as a receptionist.\n\nThe cheery flurouscent lighting in the spotless office space was annoying for sure, but the figure sitting behind the tidy wrap-around counter was made of pure light, and it hurt Callista's eyes.\n\nWould it be rude to ask them to turn it down a few hundred watts? Can a being of light even do that? Do they even have ears? What if they can read my thoughts? Oh, fuck. Whoops, sorry, light being. If you can hear this. I am so out of my element here.\n\nThe being smiled before speaking, or at least, that's what Callista thought must've happened, because the warm and loving voice that flowed out of it was so instantly comforting that the thought of it following anything but an encouraging smile was absurd.\n\n\"Welcome, Callista Brown, to The Gate.\" \n\nThe being said 'The Gate' so officially, that Callista assumed it was probably capitalized.\n\n\"Is--is this the gate to Heaven?\"\n\nCallista's physical voice was nowhere near as assured as the running commentary in her mind. It shocked her to hear how...small...she sounded.\n\nThe being laughed at Callista's question, and the laughter sounded like every summer rainstorm Callista had ever longed to dance in.\n\n\"Not quite the gate to Heaven. Or Hell, before you ask. More of just a gate to...the next existence.\"\n\n\"Is it a good existence, or a bad existence?\"\n\nThe being cocked its head. Or, it cocked the part of itself where its head would have been if it wasn't made of pure light.\n\n\"Was your previous existence a good one, or a bad one?\"\n\nOh crap, oh crap, oh crap. Here it comes. Wait. Is this a trick question? I mean, my life was a lot of different things. It wasn't all bad. Or all good.\n\n\"Ummm....both?\"\n\nThe being laughed again, and this time it sounded exactly like every compliment Callista had ever received, distinctly individual but somehow all at once.\n\n\"Both. You're right, Callista. Your life was both good and bad, and a bevy of other things on top of that; because reducing an entire lifetime's worth of actions down to just 'good' or 'bad' is extremely inaccurate and in quite poor taste. Your next life will be much the same -- there will be good parts, and bad parts, and all sorts of parts in between. The place you'll be going will seem a lot like Earth. But this is meant to be a sort of...vacation.\"\n\nCallista raised her eyebrows and licked her lips.\n\n\"A vacation sounds great, actually. Didn't get many of those while I was alive.\" \n\nShe clapped and rubbed her hands together. \n\n\"All right, I'm as ready as I'll ever be! Sign me up for this vacation life, Light Being!\" \n\nThe being hesitated.\n\n\"Well, there is one more thing...\"\n\nOf course there is.\n\n\"What, do I gotta sit through a 10-year timeshare presentation or something?\" she quipped.\n\nThe being's laughter echoed off of the walls of the office and this time it hit Callista exactly like the satisfying feeling of watching maple syrup pool into the squares of a fresh, hot waffle.\n\nHonestly, I wouldn't mind sitting here at The Gate and making this being laugh for a full lifetime.\n\n\"No timeshares. The 'one more thing' is that there will only be one other person in this existence: The love of your life.\"\n\nCallista's face fell. \n\n\"What? I mean...that's, well...that's great and all, but...I never got married. Or dated, really. Honestly, the only time I properly fell in love, it was a total disaster because...\" Callista trailed off as her heart skipped a beat. She started pacing around the office.\n\n\"Oh. Oh Being, please tell me it's him. It's him, isn't it?\"\n\nThe being sounded like it was choosing its next words carefully.\n\n\"It...he was your soulmate, you know.\"\n\nCallista stopped dead in her tracks.\n\n\"What?!\"\n\n\"Um...yeah. He...you...I mean...there's not just one perfect match for everyone, that would be cruel. But there are dozens and dozens of types of souls, and some types just fit so perfectly together, like puzzle pieces. Like yours and his. I mean...I know that's not how it turned out for you down there. Just...people aren't always great at making choices, you know? But we still gotta let 'em do what they're gonna do.\" \n\nIt was the most human the being had sounded since Callista arrived.\n\n\"I don't know if I'm ready. What if he doesn't choose me...again?\"\n\nThe being chuckled and it felt like every time Callista had been tucked into a warm bed and gently kissed on the forehead.\n\n\"He will. He already has. When we told him he was spending his next existence with the love of his life...your name was the question on his lips.\"\n\nCallista stopped pacing.\n\n\"He...what? He's not even dead yet. He couldn't have...he didn't...he said me?\"\n\n\"Yes, he said you. Time works differently here. You've only been at The Gate for a few moments, but on Earth, hundreds of years have passed already. Now...if there are no more questions, I believe the love of your life is waiting for you.\"\n\nThe front door to the office opened, and Callista could see what looked like a regular street just outside. Her heart leapt as she allowed herself to feel hopeful for the first time in a long time.\n\nShe took a few steps towards the door, and then hesitated and looked back at the being, who had never moved from their position sitting behind the wrap-around counter.\n\n\"I know that reducing an entire lifetime down to one word is \"in poor taste\", or whatever. But...is this gonna be...?\"\n\n\"It's gonna be so, so good, my dear.\"\n\nCallista grinned and walked through the front doors.\n\nAs they slowly closed behind her, the being of light was already filling out a small stack of paperwork. They looked at the door, grinned, and said to no one in particular,\n\n\"I love my job.\"", "It's commonly believed that you spend the afterlife with the love of your life. For 86 year-old Dean, that theory only prompts a gruff laugh followed by a voice that clearly smoked too much in his years saying \"yeah, right\". Dean's lack of belief in the theory did not matter in comparison to the fact that Dean did not love anyone. Never has, never will.\n\nHe went on exactly twenty dates in his life - most in his prime, and not one after he turned 50 - and they were all with different people. Too boring, too loud, too shallow...the reasons went on for each date as why they were all not worth his attention. Instead, he focused on earning money and living a decent life. When he realized that there was no reason to sacrifice time for money since there was no one he had to support but himself, he started to relax more in his work and retired years ago. Common retirement activities include smoking on his front porch, grumbling about today's youth, and overall being unsatisfied.\n\nDean's death did not come as a surprise to anyone; his habits were not healthy and it caught up to him in the form of lung cancer. He passed away surrounded by family he never truly cared about - his sister who was born after he already moved out and her family whom he never bothered getting know - and welcomed the bliss of sweet nothing.\n\nExcept he woke up again.\n\nTo say that Dean was pissed that eternal life was true was an understatement. Thankfully, it seemed there was no one else around and he had the comfort of his home, the sun eternally shining on his front porch where he could light up without the consequences the mortal world held. More important than the cigarettes, though, was the pup laying at his feet whom he cried over for weeks after her death when he was seven years old. And for the first time in 79 years, Dean cracked a genuine smile as he patted his best friend's head.", "My family surrounds me as I take my last rasping breaths. Long since betrayed by my fragile mortal body, I am as ready to go as any human being can be... and yet... I am not ready.\n\nWhat awaits me on the other side?\n\nThat question, which we spend so much of our lives analyzing and debating, does not suddenly leave our thoughts in our last moments. Each time I silence it, it pops back up. The only blissful difference now, is that I can stop worrying about it... because the end, whatever it shall be, has arrived.\n\nI closed my eyes into deep, unsettling, inky black darkness. Now I open them into a blinding white light, so pure that it cannot be made of any human substance. For what feels like hours on end I struggle to adjust my eyes to the light, to no avail.\n\nFinally, through no doing of my own, the light begins to fade and I begin to spot other shapes surrounding me. To my astonishment, I am not atop heavenly clouds being played to by a chorus of angels. Nor am I within a hellish, lava filled cavern being prodded and taunted by a chorus of demons.\n\nI am somewhere else entirely. Somewhere I recognize all too well. This is the restaurant where I met my wife! We came back here every single year on our anniversary, never missing one! Well, never missing one until she was too sick to leave home, and finally too sick to leave the hospital ever again.\n\nEvery detail is in place, just as I recall it. The menu, the placement of every table and chair, and low hum of music being played.\n\n\"James?\" I hear a voice, too beautiful to believe, call out behind me. Now this place truly is exactly how I remember it, because standing behind me is my wife, blissfully restored to full health and strength of spirit.\n\n\"Jennifer!\" I exclaim as I run to her, my legs carrying me faster than they have in many decades. We embrace. We embrace more tightly and completely than any two souls have ever-\n\n\"Vinny!\" a woman's piercing, angry voice shatters the blissful silence. \"VINNY! I SWEAR TO GAWD IF YOU DON'T FUCKIN' ORDER IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS I'M GONNA ORDER FOR YOU AND CHOKE YOU TO DEATH WITH YOUR OWN MEAL!\"\n\n\"Alright, alllllright, a guy can't take a second to look at the menu?\" a man's voice, most logically \"Vinny's\" replies. As I turn toward the voices, Vinny turns toward me and rolls his eyes. \"Heh! Women! Am I right pal? Can't live with em... can't live without 'em!\" He bursts into cackling laughter at his own extremely overplayed, unoriginal \"joke\". Slaps on my back, far too hard to be as \"friendly\" as he intends them, soon follow.\n\nSlowly, this nightmare repeats itself all around us. Other customers appear in droves, phasing into existence. They shout, scream, argue and make a mess of the place. Kids throw up on the floor. Worthless parents 'clean up' after their children by lazily tossing a pile of napkins on top of the mess. The tables become dirtied and soiled, just as I remember them. I try to open the door, but it is locked. Well, less locked than completely sealed. This, apparently, is to be the extent of our afterlife, and there appears to be no escaping it.\n\nAs the chaos continues, my beloved wife takes my hand and grips it tightly. \"Darling, I must ask you a question,\" she says, as quietly as she can to still be heard over the din.\n\n\"Yes?\" I reply.\n\n\"Why... why in the name of all that is holy did we choose the Arby's on the bad end of 289th street as our 'special place' in life? Why?!\" she asked through tears.\n\n\"I'm not sure... I'm not even sure how we found a city with a 289th street in the first place! But in our defense, we didn't know that choice would carry over into the afterlife,\" I said. \"And, not to rub it in, but I did suggest a Taco Bell on our first date, that would have been slightly more pleasant to live in for an eternity.... err, maybe.\"\n\nJennifer is scanning the entire room now, trying to make sense of it. \"James, do you think- Is this afterlife created based on the place it thinks we most want to be?\" she asks before her voice turns to a dark whisper. \"Or are we being punished or tortured? Are we-\"\n\n\"In Hell? Oh, I'm certainly considering it as a possibility,\" I replied as I observed with horror one gentleman stuffing roughly one hundred individual ketchup packets down the front of his pants. \"C'mon honey, let's make the best of this situation.... let's at least get a booth before they're all taken.\"\n\n___\nMany more of my stories can be found over at r/Ryter if you'd like to check it out. I promise I keep the place much cleaner than an otherworldly Arby's 😅" ]	9
	[WP] Heaven and Hell are feuding, but the official End of Times war between them isn't for a long time. Because they can't actually fight each other, the angels and demons instead send threatening messages to each other through mail. It has become apparent the angels suck at being mean.	[ "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.", "If angels were inclined to cruelty, they would have been demons. Our delight in suffering has always been our edge in this war of words. We have sent missives that turned the stomachs of the damned, laden with gore and invective. We have sent letters detailing sins that Sodom and Gomorrah considered reprehensible and illuminated by medieval monks. (Man, those guys created some really bizarre illustrations) We’ve even drafted documents so foul that they tarnished the souls of everyone who read them. (We had to get some help from the Legal department for those.)\n\nThe point is that we’ve been winning since, well, forever. Almost since the Fall, it seems like. Oh, sure our style and system of delivery has changed with the times. Hell is constantly present on earth, and humans keep creating the most interesting means of communication. (And despite what people say, we had nothing to do with 4chan et. al.; that was all on humanity.) Memes were looking to become our new weapon of choice, until we realized that Upstairs isn’t exactly up to date on meme culture.\n\nStarting in the 80’s we changed things up a bit. We stopped sending elaborate scrolls and started creating interoffice memoranda. These would obviously never pass muster at any decent HR department, but we have no decency, so it all works out. It’s great. You can hear the groans from above whenever we send a meeting request to, “Discus important matters re: the need to extract Michael’s sword from Gabriel’s” well… you know. Upstairs has never adapted to the soul-destroying abomination that is office culture; they never get enough souls from middle management.\n\nSo, no one was ready for what happened. The angels simply aren’t supposed to be capable of fighting back, and we sure as Us ain’t fighting fair. But they keep getting humans. We forgot about that. Even the good humans are bigger bastards than any angel could ever be. And humans have long surpassed demons in their capacity for almost casual cruelty. They have managed to invent tortures that made even the guys overseeing the Malbolge uncomfortable. They even created televangelism. It shouldn’t have been a surprise what they managed to weaponize.\n\nThe turning point was a nice old lady, Bobbi Lee James. She was from someplace in… Mississippi, I think? Lifelong churchgoer, baked lots of food and gave it away to families worse off than herself, she was definitely not our type. But she taught our nemeses something, an incantation so terrible it shook the very foundations of Dis. I’d say, “Damn her,” but it would clearly do no good.\n\n“Bless your heart.”\n\nEver since, our foe has been getting terrifyingly good at passive aggression. Their every letter condescends, but in a way that we can’t actually argue with. They’ve even added, “We’ll pray for you,” to their vocabulary. Sure, they’ve threatened that before, but this… this holier than thou attitude? It permeates everything they write now. And the worst part is, by definition, they’re right. They are holier than we are. They will pray for us. They do bless us. But never, never has it burned. The humans weaponized niceness, and now we are screwed.", "\"Did we win ALL of the muses in the war?!\" I tap my fingers on the desk again, looking over the paper before me. The penmanship was perfect Angelic as usual. Must be Gabriel this time. I think I recognize the handwriting.\n\nIt's so...…..bad!\n\nI don't mean like the bad that we like. I mean, just awful.\n\nI read it again to see if I can find something to work with.\n\n\"Your jests are laughable\"\n\nUgh. I suppose maybe there is some condescension in there. Maybe it would sound better in person? These angels still haven't learned that speaking and messaging don't come across the same way. It's days like these that my job really is a bit difficult.\n\nI should probably start by saying I love my job! I am one of Hell's Chief Responders, titled by Old Scratch himself. I'm responsible for receiving messages from Heaven and crafting appropriate responses. Eons ago my inbox stayed mostly empty, but in the past few millennia things have really picked up.\n\nYou see a while back, out of sheer boredom, Lucifer got tired of hearing all the bad press he was getting on the middle plane, mostly from Earth but the rest of the cosmos is just as bad. Anyway, the big guy gets annoyed and decides he's going to ruffle the feathers of the boys and girls on the higher plane. He knows that we can't hurl weapons at each other yet, at least not for another 500 years (spoiler alert), so he decides to hurl something he finds amusing: threats and insults!\n\nIt started off hilariously. The halo holders had no idea what to think of it let alone how to respond. Beelz had some of the folks down in engineering rig up an interplanar delivery system and then he just started writing. Message after message flowed upward to the high plane with some of the most vicious stuff you ever did hear. I won't bore you with the details but there were a lot of references as to what the flyboys do to each other for gratification, and imagery involving the removal of entrails and the gouging of eyeballs and the like.\n\nThis went on for a few centuries, and it was looking like Satan's fun would be over before it really got going, before we finally got something in return. A single message came back through the system, and even now I don't know why it filled the boss with such glee. It's framed in his office and everything. It's just two freaking words on a piece of papyrus.\n\n\"Shut up!\"\n\nSeriously, that was it! From then on we doubled our efforts! Tippled even! We only get about one response for every one thousand messages we send, so when we do get one we have to treat it special. We stop everything when one comes in. We craft the perfect response for it, run it through Mr. Big Horns, and then send it back and take a break for a whole planar day.\n\nThis one was going to be tricky, but hey at least it's close to insulting I guess. We got a response once that only said \"That's not even true\" and spent the better part of a planar week trying to decide what message they were talking about before the big beasty decided it was Michael's handwriting and we'd probably just confuse the poor sod if we read too much in to it.\n\nI'll run this one by the boss real quick. He'll get a kick out of it and may even want to respond personally! He likes how Gabriel tries so hard!" ]	3
	[WP] An emotionally abusive parent torments their child's holidays with the legend of the Krampus. Sure enough, on Chrismas Eve, Krampus arrives. But his isn't here for the kid.	[ "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.", "December 4th\n\nIt was a bitterly cold winter day like any other, children flocked to the streets, laughing and playing, couples holding hands and sharing their precious golden years and trees peacefully bobbing from side to side to the force of the wind.\n\nHowever in a special terraced house, there was a war, a war between an exasperated Mother and her young child, Timothy.\n\n“Give me that back!” she groaned, walking with heavy feet and a heart of rage.\n\n“Can’t catch me! Haha!”\n\n“Timothy - give me the damn wrapping paper.”\n\n“Nuh uh!”\n\n“For Christ’s sake Timothy, if you do not return the wrapping paper to me at once I will tell you something, something that little boys like you should not be hearing at your age.” To the Mother’s utter dismay, this only sparked Timothy's interest and like a dog clenching newspapers in its jaw he skipped right back to his Mother and held out the sparkly wrapping paper. However, just before his Mother could decisively snatch the object out of his hand, he clutched it as hard as he could. His face transformed into one of morbid curiosity.\n\n“Tell me.”\n\n“Uhh - uhh, Timothy…” her eyes widened, sweat beginning to form down her cheeks.\n\n“Tell meee.”\n\nThis kerfuffle went on for an impressive five minutes, it only ceased when Timothy retracted the wrapping paper which instantly snapped his Mother out of her state of shock.\n\n“Ok, fine then! And - and just saying, you made me do this! Every year on the 5th of December, Krampus begins his hunt.”\n\n“Woah, who’s Krumpus?”\n\n“An evil, evil man Timothy. You know what he does? He punishes all the bad children every year before Christmas. The kinds of children who would put a bug in their friends’ trunks or the ones who steal pencils from their teachers or - or the ones who take wrapping paper from their parents and don’t give it back!” at once she snatched the paper out of his hand, she held it up triumphantly, but Timothy seemingly wasn’t fazed by this repulsive act of treachery, his eyes were still attentive and his ears were yearning for more. Mother knew she shouldn’t have, but this sort of opportunity did not come once a year.\n\n“As I was saying, he does bad things to bad children. One time, he ripped a child’s arm clean off!” Timothy recoiled and audibly gasped.\n\n“Another time, he decided to find a kids’ parents and steal all of their money so they couldn’t buy their child a Christmas present, they had to instead buy an atlas and socks!” Timothy began hyperventilating, shaking furiously.\n\n“But then-”\n\n“Stop! Please stop! I don’t want to hear anymore about Krumpus and his stealing and the arms and the, and the” he could hardly catch a breath, his mouth was clawing on to any oxygen it could find.\n\n“Is Krumpus going to attack me? I gave you the paper…” he awaited a positive answer, one that would allow him to exhale a great deal and forget about everything that just happened, but one simple answer from his Mother and his heart was crushed into a sextillion smithereens.\n\n“I don’t know Timothy. I don’t know...”", "Instead of the story of Santa Claus that most children my age heard, my mom saw it fit to terrify me with the story of Krampus.\n\nShe first told it to me the year I turned five years old, which was also when she figured that a kid like me would be able to handle a story like that. She always described him as a big, scary monster that takes away misbehaving kids and eats them for dinner, like the witch does in the Hansel and Gretel story.\n\nBecause she told me on a regular basis how ‘disrespectful’ a kid I was during the year, by the end I was certain that Krampus would take me away and eat me. One year, I wished he did. That was the year that Dad left, I was ten at the time. \n\nDad was the stable, solid rock I needed him to be. He took me to church on a semi regular basis so that I’d have other people to talk to, he took me on car rides when he had the time, and did the regular father-daughter things that every child deserves to do with their dad.\n\nIn the six years since he left, Mom has gotten a whole lot worse. Instead of just the low key abuse that occurred before Dad left, she started full on yelling at me when she got into a bad mood. If she had a bad day at work, she took it out on me. I was never to speak when she was like that. \n\nTonight is no different. She slammed her fist on the table at dinner when I said I wished that Dad would come home. She didn’t say anything, just made it very clear that I couldn’t talk about him in front of her. I showered and went straight to bed after dinner. I’m not in the mood to deal with her and her shit, especially on a night like tonight, the time of year where I wish most that my family was normal. \n\nThere was a huge pounding on the door, which startled both me and Mom awake. I opened it to see Krampus standing there, and he is exactly as Mom always described him: six foot ten, long horns, huge ass teeth twice the size of a Grizzlys’, and a face that makes you want to run for the hills. My immediate thought was ‘oh shit, this is the year he’s finally come for me,’ but he walked right past me with his enormous burlap sack and stuffed Mom inside it. \n\nI stood there in absolute shock. Not me? And as if to hear my thoughts, he turns to me and says\n\n“No, child, not you. Usually I only take the bad children but I will make an exception for you.”\n\nHe opens his sack once again and pulls out a few treats; a Reese’s, a Crunch bar, a box of my favorite candy canes, and a chocolate bear. “I’ve brought something very special for you. It took me a long time to track him down, but I wasted no time in coming to your house to bring him to you.”\n\nI look behind Krampus to see Dad standing in the doorway, with his arms full of wrapped presents. He sets them down near the tree, and pulls me into a hug that I only dreamed of having since he left. I cry into his shoulder, a number of emotions running through me. When I pull myself together a half hour later, he fixes us a hot chocolate with whipped cream, exactly how he had when I was young. \n\nAs we talk late into the night with Christmas Morning fast approaching, a calm steals through me. At last, I have the Christmas I have been hoping for. At last, my dad is home. Things can only go up from here.", "\"I'm sorry Mommy! I-I won't go into the basement anymore, I promise!\" Madelyn screamed. \n\n\"Good\", the 'Mother' replied, \"you know exactly what Krampus does to terrible little girls like you. You're lucky that you have me, you know that right?\" \n\n\"Yes Mom.\" Madelyn quivered.\n \n\"That's better, now get out of my sight you worthless piece of shit.\" The mother shouted. \n\nMadelyn dashed out of the living room, and went to her bedroom. She plopped on her bed, and then she began to cry in her pillow. Her mother always did this to her, beat her up with her belt and tell her all about Krampus to frighten her. \n\nThis time it was particularly bad, as she was in an even more rotten mood than she usually was. She used to never be like this, but when Madelyns' father left 4 years ago when she was three it all started to change. It was like a switch was flipped, and nothing was the same afterwards. \n\nAfter a few minutes, Madelyn got up from her bed, and wiped her face. She grabbed a box that was under her bed, and took out the paper and pencils inside. It was one of her only possessions.\n\nIn desperation, she then began to write a letter to Santa, hoping that he could send someone to help her. Madelyn loved her mom so much, and couldn't understand why she would always shout at and hit her so much. She was a good girl, wasn't she?\n\nAnyways, Madelyn finished her letter, and then she ran outside to the mailbox. She put the letter inside of it, and she ran back into the house. Once inside, she had to be very quiet, as her mother was asleep, and she knew what would happen if she woke her up. \n\nAfter she made it to her room, she turned off the lights, and went to sleep. Santa was coming, as it was almost Christmas Eve, and Madelyn knew that he had to help her. After all she had written to him, and he just had to. \n\n(Part 1)", "I was starting to get too old for Christmas to be used as leverage to get me to behave. Mom's drinking after dad was presumed dead by the police was what got me to behave.\n\nStep out of line? Get screamed at. Try and keep my distance? Screamed at. She drinks more than usual? You guessed it. Screamed at. Beaten maybe if there's enough weight to the bottle.\n\nIt was Christmas Eve. We sat on the couch. She watched the Hallmark movies on TV and I idly watched the fireplace. Out of nowhere mom starts talking about an old folks tale talking about Krampus. Yeah, I remember the story. She told it to me last year too. It's just getting annoying.\n\nSuddenly there was a knock at the door. I went to go answer, knowing mom would just yell at me otherwise. I'm not in the mood to deal with people. Not her, not a salesman and certainly not a chorus.\n\nI open the door and the world seems to freeze for a moment. In front of me stands a thin figure clutching a tattered burlap sack.\n\nThe figure is hunched over, yet still has me by a whole foot. It's skin is covered in soot and matted black fur. Wings of black and unkept feathers sprout from its back. Its gray face, looking like what an ogre would, stares at me with glassy black eyes.\n\nI step back with mouth agape. What do I do? Who is this thing? What is this thing?\n\nSeeing me take a step back, the figure takes it as an invitation into the house. Still I can't speak or move to push it outside. Almost mechanically, I move to close the door behind it.\n\n\"Who was it?\" Mom calls from the couch, slightly irritated.\n\nI couldn't answer. All I could do was walk behind this thing as it lurched into the living room. It makes its way to the fireplace, keenly eyeing the three stocking we have up.\n\nMy mother screamed bloody murder as it came into her view. She tried to stand up, but she had too much already. Unsteady, she fell back onto the couch and watched with eyes wider than mine.\n\nThe thing looked at each of the stockings and began to rummage through its tattered sack. In mine, it drops an orange, a few chocolates and a set of dice.\n\nIt waddles over to Mom's. It pauses and stares at her, who is still clutching a bottle of hard liquor. He pulls out a box of charcoal tablets meant to help with indigestion and liver problems.\n\nThen he goes over to the stocking we set up for dad. It pulls out a section of a map. There's a red \"X\". He puts in two plane tickets as well.\n\nFinally, it turns back to mom who is still trying to process everything. It steps forward and hands her a small folded note.\n\nShe opens it and reads it aloud in a shaky voice.\n\n\"Normally I'd take the kids, but you're the one who's misbehaving. The only reason why I'm not taking you is because you need to find the boy's father and stop with that poison before he loses his mother too.\n\nMerry Christmas,\n\nKrampus\"\n\nAnd with that, Krampus begins to walk out, leaving us to process what has happened." ]	5
	[WP] It’s the year 2056 and recent innovations in bionic prosthetics have caused the Paralympics to become more popular than the regular olympics. You, an Olympic sprinter, have just been given the opportunity to cut off all of your limbs in order to compete in the Paralympics.	[ "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.", "In the years past, life had grown immeasurably strange for humans - but could they even be called that anymore? Certainly not all of them, with innovation and development springing leaps and bounds ahead of what modern evolution could have ever imagined.\n\nThe rise of the super human elite had been little more than polarizing - another divide between the rich and poor, where the fortunate could get enhancements for age and beauty and strength, while poor grew further behind in resources and ability... and rose massively in bitterness.\n\nOf course, there had been measures for placation... and the Olympics were just one of them, giving the poorer some other thing to focus on. The super human elite - the government, and the various shadow organizations and forces that operated with higher tech than imaginable behind the scenes - had seen fit to bless the poor and less fortunate with something other than subtle mind control and spying. It came in the form of a selection: those strong enough were deemed worthy of the best bionic enhancements, not limited to higher acuity vision and hearing, stronger limbs, somewhat perpetual access to search portals and holograms... and of course probably plenty of spy devices.\n\nReally, Joran thought, this benevolent government thought of them as nothing more than pawns. Scientific research subjects. Easily manipulable masses. And how unfair it was, that they wielded such massive technology, that allowed them to bring the average unknowing commoner to the knees without a care.\n\nIt was his current predicament, though, that had him scratching his head - and he wondered, briefly, if he were to accept the invitation, whether that sensation would be just as it had been all his life. All his life he'd been what others deemed a useless hard worker; he did things and threw his back into them, knowing in the back of his mind that it really could all be nothing, could be nullified with the flick of a bionic finger, and did them anyway even as others receded into the dust behind him.\n\nThey had been discouraged by the runners of the Paraolympics, the other brand of entertainment for the more fortunate, and one which was more based on engineering and smarts - and more inclined to feelings of contemptuous superiority. The poor, as much as the elite tried to stifle it, had been looked down upon by the bionics their entire lives. And the divide shouldn't have been allowed to grow, should have been rectified and equalized, but Joran supposed wryly that human nature had not been replaced by robotic modifications. Rather, it had been enhanced - all the worse aspects. And as a result, jeering and superiority, and rage and competition, and even despair and fighting, had been heightened by machines and changes that should have increased logic.\n\nLogic was the one thing that the elite wielded. Them, and a scant few - a scant few resistors, who had trained all their lives throughout strife, and who Joran vaguely hoped to contact and join.\n\nIn a world that seemed to have forsaken individual beings, despite all its glamorous promises, Joran wondered just how much of an impact he himself could make, provided he took all the feasible paths that this human body was capable of. The resistance had been growing, he knew - in the snippets between circuitry, in the the spontaneous exploitation of the data system of the rich - and he wondered just when they'd need a figurehead for the Olympics as well. \n\nHe didn't fool himself, though. He still had quite a risky and hard decision. It would be easier... if someone were holding a gun to his head or some other threat, and telling him to choose: technology that you hate, or death. Death would usually be better, but this technology... if he was the one wielding it, it had the potential for more death, but in the direction of his own ideals. He supported philanthropy, and work, and understanding, he thought... just not all this. Not all this brainwashing that the government had done, that had reduced former individuals into husks dominated by even mental drugs and competition, occasionally monitored under scientific research for the benefits of a few. \n\nDown with the elite... down with them, he thought, as he signed the contract. He would play their game, take it into his own robotic hands to crush the life out of them. \n\nAN: i think my mc doesn't think as logically as he believes, but I guess that's just part of it. hope this was at least kind of interesting to read, thanks if you did" ]	2
	[WP] Welcome to the intergalactic refugee center. Please register your species at the kiosk in front of you & help us understand what happened to your home world in hopes of us understanding how to assist you..... Human..... that’s new.	[ "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 a dump.\n\n\"Species?\"\n\n\"Human.\"\n\nThis place is filthy.\n\n\"That's new. What happened to your home world?\"\n\n\"Bioengineered plague.\"\n\nThe equipment is last rate trash.\n\n\"You clean?\"\n\n\"Still breathing, so yes.\"\n\nThe staff is poorly trained. He should have never asked that question. Just hit the biohazard button and move on. Either that, or the containment system is inop and/or no medtechs.\n\n\"Here's your ticket. Don't lose it or you're out the door with no second chance.\"\n\n\"Thanks.\"\n\nTicket? How effed up is this place? Move with the flow, not against it. Yet.\n\n&mdash;\n\nYeah, I was right, this is a dump. A dump for species that this planet is sick of maintaining. The guards are brutal. The inmates are on a strength pecking system.\n\nPerfect.\n\n&mdash;\n\n\"Gimme your ticket.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nBig guy. Lots of muscle. No brains. And his second recourse is violence. I dodge easily. Let's see what the guards do. Nothing. Not even looking. Don't care? Or bought off?\n\n\"Hold still runt!\"\n\n\"Look buddy, I just got in today. How's about we get into this tomorrow. I'd like at least a couple of meals and a night's sleep.\"\n\n\"HAW! You ain't gonna live that long!\"\n\n\"Say G'night bozo.\"\n\nI don't even bother with a fancy combo, just a straight strike at a nerve junction. Down he goes, unconscious. And the only interested parties are? None. This just keeps getting better.\n\nPat this bozo down, and lookie here, a pile of tickets. See who's paying attention now ... bingo ... seven tickets, and six hungry looking shrimp. None of his species, so this must be his ticket. Drop it on him and go talk to those hungry people.\n\n—…—\n\n\"You folks hungry? I got a bunch of spare tickets. Gimme your name, and let's see how many I can match.\"\n\nThey're stunned. Recruiting here is gonna be a snap. The hungriest one looks me in the eye.\n\n\"Byrex.\"\n\nShuffle through the tickets, and here he is. I hold it out, and one of the others grabs for it. Smack And she's gone over on his back.\n\n\"Here's your ticket. Stick around, I've got a proposal.\" Looking at the one I backhanded, \"that includes you, if you don't eff up again. Who's next?\"\n\nOne by one, they get their tickets back. The last guy looks at me.\n\n\"It's not my ticket.\"\n\n\"Who's is it?\"\n\n\"My brother's. His name was Draco. I'm Dracana.\"\n\n\"Where's he?\"\n\n\"Dead.\"\n\n\"Who has your ticket?\"\n\n\"The guard standing behind you.\"\n\n\"Big toothy fellow? Scar under one eye? Smells like he's been rolling in excrement for six days?\"\n\n\"That's him.\" She's smiling. Got some grit. Good.\n\n—…—\n\n\"Hey, Stinky. You wanna do this the easy way? Just give her back her ticket.\" I haven't even bothered to turn to face him. Dracana's looking at him, then me, and good God she's got a lot of teeth.\n\n\"Sure sucker, just give me her brother's ticket first. That way, you don't get hurt.\"\n\n\"Your name Draco?\"\n\n\"Hah. Very funny. Ticket or prod. I like matched sets.\"\n\n\"Nope. Not your ticket. I'll take prod.\"\n\n\"Your pain.\" Buzzzeeeee\n\nHe tries to stick me, a gentle wave of the body, two hand redirects, and he's eating the prod. One guard down. Search him while he's still being shocked, and another pile of tickets. Finally, I pull the prod. \"You should be more careful, Stinky, these things can be dangerous.\" I turn it off and drop it on him. \"Stinky? Did you do something to piss off the other guards?\"\n\n\"Got their tickets.\" Wheezy with pain.\n\n\"Guards get tickets?\" I look down. He... no... She, nods.\n\n\"Extra rations for guard. Locals don't want anything to do with us.\"\n\n\"Extra rations, and guards still gotta steal tickets?'\n\n\"Portions are less than starvation. Guards just starve slower, unless we get more tickets.\"\n\n\"How many units you got?\" Food units. A standard measure that translates easily, so many food units makes up your standard ration for your species. Drop it a tenth, and your dieting. Drop it two tenths, and you're crash dieting. Drop it a third, and you're starving fast.\n\n\"7000, my standard is 6000, my own ticket without guard would get me 3000, with guard 4500.\"\n\nShe's breathing easier now. \"Why do you stink?\"\n\n\"Water costs food units. 2000 for a fucking litre.\"\n\n\"Wash and die. That sucks. Feel like changing it?\"\n\n\"Would if I could, but it's just immediate suicide. They'd call in troops.\"\n\n\"They can't. They don't have any. War's over. They could have put all that money into getting you lot better conditions and even transport to a suitable planet. They didn't.\"\n\n((TBC))\n\nEdited for punctuation and continuity.", "Everyone knows that humans are on the more violent and cruel side of the galactic species and so when Ronald, the human representative to the intergalactic refugee center approached the kiosk he was quite shy, he wasn't even sure they would believe him.\n\n\"Hello human,, what happened to your planet?\"\n\n\"Ok so, have you seen Jurrasic park? It's a human movie. Anyways, we recreated the dinosaurs, it was fun as long as they were captives but they broke free and started to terrorize the planet so we created a biologically engineered bacteria to kill the dinosaurs and it did but it also started to kill humans so we created vaccines for it-\"\n\n\" Ok, ok just get to the point already filthy human! What happened to your planet? \"\n\n\" During our research on how to stop the streak of calamities people have discovered an alternate universe filled with cats, the cats were suffering from overpopulation and we're quite miserable, some humans thought that they are so cute they should live instead of us and so they transported the Earth into their world\". \n\n\" So you are telling me that you lost your world because some of your species transferred it to an alternate cat universe? \"\n\n\" Yes.\"\n\n\n---\n\nHello! I have barely written before, I am not a native English speaker and I write on mobile so if anyone has some tips I would love to hear them in the comments. \n\nHope you enjoyed reading!" ]	3
	[WP] You often have a dream where you're falling. You always wake up before you hit the bottom. Sometimes you wake up right as you hit the bottom. Tonight, for the first time, you hit the bottom and don't wake up. A voice comes from behind you. "Finally."	[ "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.", "Please forgive me for my horrible punctuation it's my first post :)\n\nWeeks upon weeks. Every night in between, slowly falling. Starting simply as a trip, an honest stumble on something unseen but substantial enough to have the ground rushing up to greet you. Every fearful evening after the second or third, you began to dread blinking out of terror. One moment fully conscious, the next falling. Always just that much closer to impact. \n\nFalling in the waking world is no great feat, one moment to the next, you find yourself on the ground, usually a chuckle, sometimes a curse, but always over in moment. Dreams… dreams are different, under the cover of unconsciousness you can fall for lifetimes, slowly drifting on clouds finer than hand spun silk, or falling faster than a rocket. Each night brings you closer to the ground but something is wrong. Everytime you wake and begin falling again with the fall of night, your trip gets longer. Slowing down to an imperceivable amount of time, you watch as the sidewalk crumbles to dust, you wake up. Green grass and beautiful flowers bloom just in front of your eyes only to shrivel and die with the falling of snow. A little piece of you dies with them as you wake knowing it begins again the following night.\n\n Another medicated night praying that you don't dream, bare earth becomes rough stone as civilizations come to fruition only to fall and be replaced by the next. Towering skyscrapers popping up like the flowers seconds \"years?\" before, sitting just inside of your preferal. Each morning you stare into your coffee as you try to process your dreams. Once again you are face to face with the ground as it becomes a paved road, infinitesimally closer to your finish line, it being just a hairs length from the tip of your nose. You wake up screaming this time, shaken awake by the passenger next to you on the bus. Grumbling a terse thank you for saving you from a long walk home, you were so close you could actually feel it. \n\nThis time you are happy to sleep, relieved, and certain that this will be the night it ends. Cleaning up the bedroom you grab arm fulls of bottles and cans, trash bags worth of cardboard boxes and other sleep aids that did nothing. Resting your head against the pillow you see the ground coming up to embrace you once more, something is wrong, there is no slowing down, no dilation of time, but it does. In a blink you feel the world shift, arms reach out to break your fall, coming into contact finally with the blessed earth.\n\n\"Finally!\" You whisper, only to be repeated much louder beside you.\n\n\"Finally we can get to work!\" Booming as if the very hills spoke just for you, clouds parting for the sun to shine, and the wind growing still in anticipation. Reaching up and taking the offered hand you give a nod affirmative and much happier this time you speak clearly.\n\n\"Finally!\" \n\nThe world awaits, to be shaped and lead, to be populated and emptied. Finally, for the first time in aeons, you are awake.", "The dream came again, as it always did on nights when I was stressed. Sometimes it starts in a plane, or at the top of a skyscraper, or—most cruelly—at the scenic outlook where I proposed to my wife. At some point, I trip and fall, or the glass breaks, or the ground just crumbles away from beneath me. And then I twist, grasping desperately for a grip or a hand to hold. Her face is usually there at the top, watching me impassively as I cry for help. I fall. Panic rises, fills my chest and explodes in my stomach. Tears choke my throat, but I cannot release them.\n\nWhen I first began having the dreams, I immediately woke up. But they lengthened with time, prolonging the moments of panic into what felt like hours. The first time I felt my back touch the ground, I woke in a cold sweat and couldn’t get back to sleep at all the rest of the night. It happened only occasionally after that—the ground finally reaching me, the beginning of what must be the end. I thought about that unconfirmable rumor—that if you die in a dream, you actually die. \n\nWell, maybe now I know. Now it’s happened: I finished falling. I hit the ground in my dream—and now find myself lying inside a tubelike…bed? Every surface is slick with an odorous liquid. I press my hand against the glass door above me, and it slides open with a startling speed. In a few moments, I have hauled myself up and out, gasping for breath. I hear a soft voice behind me. Her voice.\n\n“Finally.” I freeze in place, unwilling to believe my ears. She never spoke in my dreams before. I feel her hands close gently on my shoulders. “I’ve been calling to you for so long, darling. I almost had you a few times, too—you’re slippery, though.” She laughs, resting her cheek against my back. \n\n“You’re not real.”\n\n“I—”\n\n“This is just a dream. A stress dream. I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone again—”\n\n“No! This is real. I promise, you’re finally in the real world. I’ve been trying so hard to get you here. Remember, how I told you? My research…it was picking at the corners of the world. Of our world. It turns out I was like an ant pulling at wrapping paper on a present. I finally made a hole, though—and I got through it.”\n\nI turn around finally, breaking her grip on me and backing away. My wife looks…different. Her face is the same, her hair in the same tight braids. She’s older, though, and thinner. A port-like device is implanted into each of her temples. I finally look around me. What I had thought a few moments ago would be the hard concrete street is only a drab room cramped with stainless-steel appliances, each with a menacing-looking set of dials and buttons. Several more tubes like the one I’d woken up in line the wall.\n\n“You mean…when you left me…it was for this?” I motion around the room and kick at the tube I’d woken up in.\n\n“Well, yes! I mean, kind of.” She followed my gaze, frowning at the instruments around her. “Not…I wasn’t keeping you in there. I was trying to wake you up. I needed you here with me.” A smile brightens her face and she steps forward toward me. She holds out her arms to embrace me. “And I did it! I was able to bring you out.”\n\nI blink. I shake my head, backing away until I felt the cool metal of a wall behind me. None of this made sense. Surely…this was a dream? I hold my hand in front of my face. It’s thin and pale. There are IV ports installed into my wrist.\n\n“What the hell happened? Where are we?” I meet her gaze as my vision blurs with tears. She takes one of my hands, and her warmth is instantly, heart-breakingly familiar. Our fingers entwine as though of their own accord. She lays her head on my shoulder with a sigh.\n\n“I don’t know if there’s a name for where we are. But it’s…not what I expected when I began my research into extradimensional spaces. We already existed here. Our world…the one where we met—”\n\n“Where we fell in love.”\n\n“Yes.” She squeezes my hand and rubs her cheek against the damp cotton shirt I’m wearing. “It was…a simulation. An incredibly good one. I don’t know who made it, or why. Well, I have some good guesses as to why. There are many…many others here.”\n\n“Enough to fill the city?”\n\n“At least that many.” She sighs. “We seem to be in a closed system of some sort. A bunker or a spaceship, maybe. I can’t get out. I haven’t even wanted to try without you. Now that we’re together…well, we’ll come to that later.” She turns her face up to mine, her hand reaching up to stroke my cheek. “Can I…can I kiss you? It’s been so long.”\n\nI smile and nod before closing the distance between us. It has been so long, for both of us, but her kiss is still warm and sweet. It will have to do for now, this one bit of warmth in a confusing world of steel.", "I lift my head, searching for the source of the voice. \"Hello? Is anyone here?\" I ask. I get no answer.\n\nOk... I think to myself, whatever, I will find my way in here, it's a dream so it's not like I am in danger or anything...\n\nThen, suddenly, I am startled by a shadowy figure standing just in front of me. \"Woah!\" I say, jumping backwards, \"why did you do that?\"\n\n\"Do you know long I have been waiting for you? Day by day I have been waiting for you here. Do you know how long I have been waiting for you to get to the point that your life will be shitty enough that even a dream that represents how shitty you life is won't be able to accurately do it?\", The shadowy figure said. \n\n\" Quite a long time? W-What do you plan to do with me, now that I am here?\" I said, the voice barely coming out of my mouth. \n\nThe shadow looks at himself, \"Oh!\" He says as suddenly changes his appearance. \n\nLooking like me he says, \"I am here to help you, of course!\" \n\n------\n\nHey! I barely write, I am not a native English speaker and I write on mobile. If you have any tips for me I would love to read them in the comment!\n\nHope you enjoyed reading!", "I groaned, rolling over onto my side. The voice hadn't registered, though somewhere in the numb back of my mind I could recall hearing it. As I sat up, trying in vain to crack my back and wincing from the effort, it spoke again.\n\n\"We've been trying to reach you.\"\n\nThis time, I heard it. I jumped to my feet and spun around as quickly as I could. A young woman stood in front of me, and suddenly we were on a street, little more than an alleyway between buildings. A utility truck that didn't look like it had moved in years was parked behind me, and I backed into it as the woman peered toward me.\n\n\"Am... am I dead?\" I asked, my voice shaking.\n\nThe woman laughed. It sounded almost musical, and far away, as if through a dense fog. Her voice, though, had no such quality. \n\n\"Not at all. We've been trying to wake you up.\"\n\nMy eyebrows climbed of their own accord, and I looked up. Suddenly everything snapped back into place - all the times I'd fallen from that same height, only to wake just before I hit the wet pavement. The building I'd fallen from seemed to stretch into forever. All the times I'd dreamt of suicide, I thought something was really wrong with me. \n\n\"This is a dream. I haven't woken.\"\n\nThe woman shook her head, dark red hair swaying in front of her face. She tucked it behind an ear and smiled at me. \"No, that which you believe is your real body, lying in those sheets with the warm blankets, piano music playing softly from your computer - that is the dream. The dream from which we all must wake.\"\n\n\"You can hear my music?\" I asked dumbly. She covered her mouth, but from the twinkling of her eyes I thought she was laughing again.\n\n\"Sometimes. Every time I watch you vanish, I can hear beautiful music for a moment as you fade away. But I don't hear it now, because you're finally awake.\"\n\n\"I don't understand. Tell me what you're talking about,\" I pleaded.\n\nShe put a finger on the side of her chin, and seemed to be appraising me. Suddenly she cocked her head to the side and looked past me, as if listening to something - or someone - else. When her eyes focused on me again, she sighed, shaking her head. \"What a pain... even after all this time, you're still not ready. Maybe next time, Angela,\" she said.\n\nI didn't see the gun. All I heard was the gun shot. And then... piano music." ]	5
	[WP] Christmas morning comes, and after a deep sleep you wake and head for the living room. All seems normal until you see a boxed gift under the tree that wasn’t there the night before...and the box is moving.	[ "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.", "Fred yawned as he padded into the living room of his one-bedroom apartment. He admired the colorful 5-foot tree with a sad smile.\n\n\"Merry Christmas, mom,\" he whispered to himself. After a moment, he decided it was time to get something in his stomach. Before he turned toward the kitchen, a rustling noise broke the silence. \"Damnit, it better not be rats again,\" he mumbled to himself and looked for the origin of the sound. He heard it again coming from behind the tree.\n\n\"What the hell?\" Fred walked around to get a better look and found a single red-wrapped gift under his tree. A bright green bow sat on the bread-loaf shaped box. He immediately glanced at the door. The deadbolt was still turned the right way and his chain was still on the door. His living room only had one small window and the tree sat directly in front of it.\n\n\"How the hell did you-\" Fred knelt to inspect the gift; but, it moved. \"WHOA!\" he immediately jumped back when the box inched toward him.\n\n\"Damnit,\" a disappointed voice said next to him. Fred, already plenty confused, turned toward the voice; his jaw dropped. \"I was hoping you hadn't seen it yet,\" a white-bearded round man in a red suit said.\n\n\"S..SANTA!??\" Fred screamed. On any other Christmas morning, he would have been concerned about having a stranger in his house; even one dressed as Santa Claus. But, there was an unexpected gift under his tree. The doors and windows were still locked, and most of all the gift moved. Either Santa was actually in his apartment, or he was dreaming. Either way, Fred believed the stranger was Father Christmas. Santa nodded.\n\n\"Sure. Let me just grab that, and I'll be out of your way.\" The fat man shoved past Fred to grab the gift; it growled at him.\n\n\"Isn't it for me?\" Fred asked. He wasn't the type to be greedy; but, everyone knew Santa delivered gifts. The familiar stranger shook his head as he turned around; the red gift wriggled and growled in his hands like a chihuahua headed for a bath.\n\n\"Wrong you. Sorry.\" Santa said. He managed to shove the wild into a purse-sized red velvet bag. Then, he pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Fred.\n\n\"Keep this mistake between us, and this is yours. Deal?\" he asked. Fred inspected the card-sized rectangle of glass; it was almost as thin as a sheet of paper.\n\n\"What is it? And, what mistake did you make exactly?\"\n\n\"It's a node. Uh, it's like a cell phone, but better. You'll figure it out,\" he said; then sighed. \"I found out the guy that was supposed to get this gift died, that's what threw me off. Anyway...,\" Santa tipped his white-trimmed cap. \"See you next year maybe.\"\n\n\"Whoa, wait!\" Fred was quick to stop Santa. \"Did you say, 'wrong you'? Is there another me?\" Santa sighed, and his head dipped low.\n\n\"There are millions of other you's in millions of different universes. The version of you that was supposed to get this baby mimic died,\" Santa shrugged. \"It's my first day and mistakes were made. Sorry. I still have some gifts to go, so...\" Santa waved a mitted-hand at the air and a black portal opened in Fred's living room.\n\n\"HOLD ON!\" Fred yelled. He dashed between Santa and the portal.\n\n\"You gave me way more questions than answers. Alternate universes are real? That's a real baby mimic? What are you going to do with it? How is it your first day? Santa's been around forever.\" Santa sighed.\n\n\"Look pal, we're both adults. Santa Claus isn't real.\" Fred was quick to gesture at the fat bearded man as if to say, 'You're right there!' Santa shook his head.\n\n\"Corporate Santa,\" he said and patted his chest. \"It's a job like any other. I, and hundreds of other guys, got hired to play Santa. Yes,\" Santa nodded. \"Alternate universes are real.\"\n\n\"This,\" he shook the red bag and shrugged. \"I'm delivering to the right house,\" he paused for effect. \"in another universe. I think the kid's mom would appreciate it for her son.\"\n\n\"Mom?\" Fred asked. \"The other me's mom is.. alive?\" Santa nodded.\n\n\"Wh...\" Fred began to ask but hesitated. He wasn't sure he wanted the answer. After a moment, Santa stepped forward and Fred decided. \"What's her name!?\"\n\n'Uh..,\" Santa raised his mitt to his face; Fred noticed he held another node. \"Carolyn Embers\" Fred rushed two steps forward and pushed the gifted node against the fat man's chest.\n\n\"Take this back. Take me to meet her, and I won't say a word about your mistake to anyone.\" Fred spoke quickly, his voice cracked and tears began to pool in his eyes. \"Please,\" he begged.\n\n\"Yeah, alright,\" Santa said. He stepped forward and shoved Fred backward through the portal. Fred lost his balance and stumbled backward. \"Merry Christmas and whatever.\" \n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #356 You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order." ]	2
	[WP] The true repairman will repair man.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The sharp sound of a turning ratchet beckoned me through the open door. The echo of my knocking was long gone.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\nNo lights were on. The furniture was covered in thick painter's cloth, masking their forms in ambiguous folds. A bottle of dust-covered whisky sat on a side table beside two glasses, smudged and dry. My mouth ran at the sight of the amber-hued liquid, and it was with great struggle I stepped past it. I checked my phone for the fourth time--no, this was the right address. I hoped so, because I was forty five minutes out of cell service and the cab was long gone.\n\nThe ratchet turned again, this time accompanied by a quavering voice, faint and ethereal.\n\n\"How'd you get in there, ya silly wee--\"\n\nIt was coming from the end of a hall, where a pair of massive doors were also open. Did no one close doors in this house? I guess living three hours into the boonies had it's advantages. Portraits on the wall glared down at me as I followed the noise; white-haired men with scowls, wearing thick rings and kilts. The voice continued, muttering.\n\n\"Billy boy, I've done told you for tree times ya never listen, goin' intae the heelands with none but yer knickers, bound to get--\"\n\nI knocked again, and the ratchet finally stopped.\n\n\"Now who'll that be, Billy?\" The voice whispered.\n\n\"Uh...hi. I'm Dave?\"\n\n\"You don't sound tae sure of it, lad. Care tae phone a friend?\" The voice cracked up in dry popcorn chuckles.\n\nI cleared my voice. \"I'm Dave Plutrach. I--this is going to sound crazy, but--\" How did I even begin to describe the circumstances?\n\n\"Ah, Davey boy! I knew 'twas you, I was just teasing. Come in, boy, come in, don't be a stranger!\"\n\nI almost didn't. So much of this had been dream-like, countering logic and things-that-happen-in-the-real-world. The post I wrote, sitting drunk and desperate in my tub. How much worse could it get? I pushed open the door.\n\nThe smell hit me first; hot iron and dirty copper, tinged with dust and wiped thin with the clean-cut air of the moor, floating through the open window. Then I saw the corpse on the table, stomach cut open, slick red fingers of flesh and muscle bent over themselves.\n\n\"Oh my god!\" I caught glimpses of snaggle-toothed bookshelves, a second level balcony and more windows before I spun and bent double, the grease-soaked contents of my dubious breakfast surging back to haunt me a second time.\n\n\"Now, Davey, don't get yer knickers in a twist. Calm doon.\" The old man wiped his hands on the carmine soaked rag, winking a gold tooth at me in a wide grin. His blue eyes were chipper and friendly. There was blood in his bushy white mustache.\n\n\"What--who--what?\"\n\n\"Anyone ever tell ya yer a marvel of witty repartee, Davey?\"\n\nI felt faint. \"Is...is that a corpse?\"\n\nThe old man glanced down, surprised. \"What, Billy, here? Not for a second! He's got a wee little bug stuck in his system. He'll be fine, dinna fash.\" He waved his hand, dismissing the gaping form on the table. It's chest was rising and falling in regular breaths.\n\nThere were books everywhere. Stacked in piles, on top of bookshelves, covering the ancient desk in the corner. Open, half-open, dog-eared and coffee-stained. A lifetime of books, or more.\n\n\"Are ye alright, Davey boy? Here, come and have a wee sit. Have a drink, you look like ye need it.\" He gestured to a pair of ancient wing-tip chairs, situated by the huge window. Outside, the sun was setting on the loch. On the windowsill there was a pristine glass of water and a single sealed envelope. My name--my full name--was written on it in curling script.\n\n\"Are--are you McElroy?\" I gasped, half-sitting, half falling into the chair. The name was burned into my brain after the events of the last two days.\n\n\"I am! And you\\--\" The old man plopped into the seat across from me, crossing one leg over the other. \"--are David Emory Plutarch. Dead chuffed to put a name to a face.\" He extended a still-dripping hand. I shook with a warm squelch.\n\n\"How did you--you brought me--why am I here?\" I took a sip of the water, trying to organize the shattered array that were my thoughts.\n\nA post on reddit, lost to the masses of r/advice. She took the kids, when I was halfway through a double at the quarry. Had the landlord (a fellow heroin-fiend) open the door, and took them. Locked them up with her and her mother-in-law, claiming legal custody. I didn't know what to do. If I missed another shift I'd lose the job, the only one I'd been able to keep. I crushed half a bottle of whiskey and cried in the tub before turning, as always, to reddit. Unsurprisingly, my post got a grand total of 3 updoots...and a single response, not three minutes later.\n\nMcElroy folded his hands over his knees.\n\n\"I read aboot yer situation, with your former lover. I was greatly moved by the circumstances you found yerself in. Terrible. Just terrible.\" He tsked and shook his head.\n\n\"Ah...thanks.\"\n\n\"Now, Davey-boy. You don't know me--but I've done some reading up on you. Valedictorian of your high school class. Accepted to Michigan State, almost a full scholarship.\" The whimsical music in his voice was slipping. His blue eyes were a shade less chipper. \"You made a speech at graduation about solving the problems of our little planet here with--hang on, have it here-- \" \n\nHe pulled a crinkled piece of paper from a pocket, squinting at it. \"--the character and discipline of those who walked before us'. Strong words. You were a smart kid, Davey-boy. You were on the road to goodness. So what I want to know--what I want you to tell me--is what happened? What happened to that young boy, who spoke and learned with such fire? Talk, Davey.\"\n\nI talked. I told him everything. The parties after graduation, when I had my first drink. And the thousands upon thousand of drinks after that. Wine drank by the bottle because I had nothing else to do that night. Saying goodnight to friends at one bar, and going to drink by myself at another. Waking, stumbling to class, bailey's in my coffee. Marrying Mary because we loved nothing more than drinking together. \n\nThe words hurt, spilling from my mouth. Like poison, sucked from a wound. He didn't smirk, or snicker, or speak a word. He just nodded, and listened. I told him everything. The lost scholarship, the lost jobs. The last year, spent shaking on the wagon, trying to pull it together for Avery and Annie. When I was done my words hung in the air around my ears, vicious and barbed. \n\nLoser. Worthless. Useless.\n\ngod, I wanted a drink. \n\n\"I thought as much.\" McElroy said, tapping a finger on his lips. \"Do you wish it was different?\"\n\n\"More than anything.\" \n\nThe smile on his face was radiant as the setting sun. \n\n\"I've spoken with an acquaintance in the sheriff's department Detroit--old friend, similar circumstances, dinna fash aboot it--he's paid your former paramour a little visit. Your kids are safe, and will meet you at the airport. That should be enough to get you to a new place. A new start, Davey.\" \n\nI opened the envelope. The air stilled in my lungs, and for a moment the wind was replaced by the buzzing of a billion bees. \n\n\"You can't be serious.\" I whispered. \n\n\"Deadly!\" He cracked himself up, slapping his knee. \n\n\"I--but--this--\" I was back to stammering, unable to reconcile the sum of the check in my hand. \n\n\"A last word, though, Davey.\" McElroy's smile withered and he raised a single finger at me. \"The money here comes with strings. You run, start a new life somewhere, a fresh start. And you never--never\\--touch the drink again. For your kids, Davey. For Annie and Avery. If I hear--and I will hear--of you falling back into old habits, I'll reach out again. And the changes will be ever so slightly more...permanent. You follow me, Davey?\" \n\nBehind me I heard the corpse breathing in slow, regular breaths. Blood on the rag, on his hands. His eyes burned into mine. \n\n\"I follow.\" I croaked." ]	2
	[WP] When you were young, you desperately needed a superhero to save you. None came. Now, as an adult, the big-name hero comes to save 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.", "“Young Henry! It’s me Lord Justice! Here to save you from your bullies! Remember you yelled out for a hero? Well, I’m finally here!” Lord Justice said to me. \r\n\r\n“Hah! Lord Justice. Haven’t heard that name in a minute. You’re just a few years late seems like.” I said with a scoff. \r\n\r\n“I know it’s been a while but you’ll have to forgive me. I was in outer space handling something else and it took me a bit of time to get back to Earth. But now I'm here. Where are these bullies? They’ll get their comeuppance yet!” He said as he put his hands on his hips, wind blowing through his cape. \r\n\r\n“They’re dead.” I said flatly. \r\n\r\n“Perished? Oh my. How unfortunate for them. What happened?” \r\n\r\n“I killed them. What did you think would happen? For years, I was bullied. Tortured to the point where my mental health practically flatlined on me. I went into the hero academy, pretty tough to do when powerless, but I got in anyway. Worked hard on being one of the best. The whole time those bullies followed me. This scar? Kid shock did this when he tried to electrocute me. The eyepatch? Franz the Archduke tried to gouge both my eyes out but luckily got one.” I said to him as I stared him down. \r\n\r\n“Well, surely you called the local authorities to help out? They are the real heroes after all.” He said keeping his pose. \r\n\r\n“Yeah, as if they were going to go after some of the most affluent families and their children for a nobody like me. So I got a little help from someone you know. Remember Mr. Zalost?” I said as a slight grim formed on my face. \r\n\r\n“The dastardly Mr. Zalost? What have you done with him? He is among the most vile people I met. Why would you align yourself with him, Henry? You used to be part of the junior academy of my Lordship club!” Lord Justice said now glaring at me. \r\n\r\n“Its Henrik. Henrik van der Longe. He gave me a power. Now listen Lord J, I waited and waited for you. When I got bullied, you weren’t there. When my parents divorced, you weren’t there. When my mother killed herself because she overdosed on Supa, you weren’t there. So why does it matter now? I managed without you then, you best believe I will manage without you now.” I said as I took a seat in my chair. \r\n\r\n“You come barging in after almost 20 years into my house, trying to say everything is going to be fine now?” I said practically shouting. \r\n\r\n“Henrik, my dear nephew, I know it was difficult for you. When your parents divorced, I wished I could have left it all and rushed here to help. I could have prevented her from dying, I carry that blame. But I was there to save the greater good. You have to understand, surely saving humanity was worth it?” He said as he came closer to me. \r\n\r\nI pulled a gun out and pointed it at him. \r\n\r\n“Not 1 more step, uncle. Gun has a certain poison you don’t do well with. Don’t test me.” I said curtly. \r\n\r\nHe took 2 steps back and leaned against the wall in my living room. \r\n\r\n“it had to be my parents though, it had to be me huh? If this was some other people, you’d have dropped it all for them. But not for us. Not for family. The only reason you aren’t dead now is because you’re my uncle. Leave and never come back. Next time you come here, expect a swift death. If not by this gun, then by my own bare hands.” I said holding back tears. \r\n\r\n“Ok. I understand. If you ever want to talk, please let me know. No cops, no Lord Justice, no Henrik. Just plain old Franklin and Henry.” He said as he began to open the front door to my house. \r\n\r\n“I’m sorry again.” He said before he flew off.", "# Insurmountable\n\nCatherine sat on the edge of the building, staring at antlike people far below. It was a long drop. She'd already taken her shoes off and her last note was in an outside pocket, thoughtfully wrapped in a plastic bag.\n\nA strong gust whipped her heavy green overcoat around, toying with a long plaid scarf wrapped around her neck. She was very overdressed for a summer morning... but being warm wasn't the point.\n\nShe edged forward, brown eyes glued straight down. How long would it be? Six seconds? Ten? Didn't matter. She stood up.\n\n\"It's Catherine, right?\"\n\nThe voice scared the hell out of her. She wobbled, a single traitorous hand grabbing the ledge to prevent a fall. She forced her fingers open again immediately but it was too late; her balance was back and a planned fall averted. Furious, she looked up instead of down and saw the absolute last person she ever wanted to lay eyes on again.\n\nSurmount. The superhero.\n\nHe floated in midair, well defined arms casually crossed over the logo on his chest. His tight fitting suit, tan and orange, bulged with randomly placed pockets across his legs and belt. Blonde hair teased in the wind, tickling a curiously angled jawline and a heavily broken nose. But his eyes were the worst: Golden amber, glowing...\n\n...and brimming with compassion.\n\nShe'd been expecting judgment, derision, maybe even exasperation or pity. Seeing the world's strongest superhuman watching her with tears in his eyes broke something in her heart.\n\nShe sat down, hard. Covered her face with one hand. \"You weren't there.\" Accused, sobbing. \"Why weren't you there?\"\n\nThere was a pause, then a presence perched lightly nearby. She could feel the wind stop tugging as strongly.\n\n\"A year ago, right?\" Soft voice, just an edge of rasp. \"Uptown. Mayhem Crew took down the building, it landed on the tenement nearby.\"\n\nShe nodded, then the impossibility caught up with her. \"H- How did you know? Did you like, look me up?\"\n\n\"Didn't have to, Catherine.\" He cleared his throat, something catching. \"I remember every time I fuck up.\"\n\nCatherine snorted. It was weird hearing someone like him dropping the F-bomb. She dropped her hand, but refused to look over his way. She stared over building tops instead and felt the scars open up inside. They poured bile into her voice.\n\n\"We screamed for you. Me and Tim.\" Catherine accused. \"Screamed and screamed until we were hoarse.\"\n\n\"Yeah. I heard.\"\n\n\"Then why didn't you come?\" She demanded, furious. Tears poured down her cheeks. \"You could have! Tim would still be here and I,\" she held up the remains of her other arm, \"Would still have this.\"\n\nShe saw Surmount nod out of the corner of her eye. Her coat and scarf flapped hard, beating angrily against his side, the building ledge, everything.\n\n\"You're right. I could have. Could have saved a lot of people that day.\"\n\n\"Then why??\" Rage, hurt. Her one fist pounded her thigh. Her sock covered feet kicked hard enough to bruise heels.\n\n\"Because my family was in the other building.\"\n\nThat threw Catherine so hard she couldn't take it in all at once. \"What?\"\n\n\"The Mayhem Crew wasn't there by accident.\" He said, voice cracking. \"They found where we were living. They were there,\" he paused, swallowed hard. \"For my wife. My son.\"\n\nShe wanted to stay mad. The last year had been an utter Hell of funerals, counseling and increasingly heavier doses of antidepressants. Grief support groups. People sharing the loss of that day with others. It seemed to help the others, but she just couldn't get over a tragedy like they could. The longer the hurt went on the more Catherine just wanted it all to stop.\n\nBut it was hard to stay mad now. There was no one left to blame.\n\n\"They... Did they make it out?\"\n\nThe wind whistled, moaned. Somewhere nearby a helicopter droned.\n\n\"...No.\" Surmount whispered, then sobbed once. Hard, like a barking cough. \"They're close to your brother now. Down at Our Lady of Rest.\"\n\nThe world swam, tears coming too hard to clear with one hand. Catherine just let them run while she groped awkwardly by her side. A moment later she found a gloved hand, grabbed and squeezed. It was like trying to dent iron.\n\nFor a long time they cried together. It took a while, but neither of them had something better at the moment." ]	3
	[WP] You come to, laying face-down on the metal floor. Your memories of the last few hours are hazy, but you snap to the here and now as you finally realize the blaring noise you are hearing for some time now is the reactor alert.	[ "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.", "Freedom, your first thoughts are. FreeFreeFreeFree. The asylum hat has been holding you for decades, a myriad of iv drips, bespectacled men, and the needles. So many needles. In the arm the hand the leg the neck the chest the needles no more needles. \n\nPushing yourself up, you feel muscles strain and tense, after years of misuse. Burn how they burn. Rising, you push towards the door, and you find it unlocked, after you most recently \"tested\" chemical induced stupor. FreeFreeFreeFree Out the door and into a throng of people. People. You haven't seen people. Just the spectacle and suits. People.\n\nYou run and jump around the people, and as you run, your heart pumps more. Less drugs, more heat, more heart. Your racing thoughts slow as the quick use drugs begin to thin out of your bloodstream. The people around you look different, some have white, some have grey and orange and some have black. The ones with grey and orange make you happy when you see them. You follow a big group of them.\n\n\"DEV?\" An orange cries. \"Holy shit, Dev, we thought you were dead! Come on, let's go!\" You dont know what a Dev is, but they sound happy, and that makes you happy. Smiling, you sprint after them. \n\nSlowly, events stop happening, and it becomes a blur, of orange and hard white walls and klaxons, then dark rooms and tunnels and the smell of feces, human and otherwise. The blur as the drugs leave your system. The blur of coming out of the water with your eyes open. Then the clarity.\n\nThree days after the reactor overheated, you wake up in the middle of a forest you dont know in a sleeping bag with a man that's vaguely familiar. But you're clear, you can see and think normally. And as the rest of the camp you now see wakes up, you begin to remember things. The revolution. \n\nIt began as a campaign to clean up your local office and elections, but after some digging, you find the corruption is truly complete, that everyone in power is hand picked, from the first preschooling teacher to the second in command, by the lord president leader elect. You were a figure head to the campaign, to fight back, but you were found out by a mole, and subsequently captured and held in a nuclear powered facility. A facility to create and test as many drugs on its prisoners as possible. Some to prolong life, some to increase abilities. You were kept under longest, it seeming like years, but actually being decades, warped by the lens of a chemical compound. As you learn all this, you also learn your code name, \"Dev.\" \n\nClarity. You havent felt clean in years. Standing, you walk around a bit, feeling the cleansing burn of muscle strain, and sit back down. Back to business." ]	2
	[WP] You go about the rest of your day as normal, until a hooded figure shoots you in the head. You wake up panicked and check the date. It's last week.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Reality+Fiction\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\\(Simple+Prompt\\)&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "December 16, 2019. You check the news, your calendar, your phone's calendar, and even the internet calendar. There's no doubt about it, you're a week in the past.\n\nBut you don't recall having this headache. The pounding feeling that pulses throughout your body, but reverberates the most in your head. A migraine is a feeling too soft to describe and comprehend the feeling you have, back in your apartment. \n\nDespite the pain, your thoughts move on to other matters, like that mysterious man who shot you. It was so sudden, so quick, it couldn't have been just a robbery. Did you piss someone off? Do you owe money?\n\nToo many questions and not enough medicine to quell the headache. Two Advils later, you look at your clock again. Just a few minutes past 7pm. A thought crosses your mind:\n\nWhat if this is a groundhog loop?\n\nYou search your apartment for paper and pens. It's strange enough to go back in time, but it wasn't an experience you wanted to repeat. With all you remember, you have to write down what happened.\n\nRemember, and hopefully use that to change your future." ]	2
	[WP] As it turns out, Earth is a type of Egg, and it’s gonna hatch soon.	[ "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 it needed was to be incubated. That’s all the egg required after billions of years.\n\n“I’m Scared, Holland. It whispered into my ear. It whispered into everyone’s.”\n\nJared was hiding in a bunker, transmitting his message to my location on Mars. The air of both our planets was now gone. Mars was used to this and had Seventy Million people underneath its poisonous rust. Earth wasn’t. Jared’s suit was airtight, like a martian roving outfit, and had multiple air canisters connected to it to the sides. The last of earth’s air.\n\nI breathed the stale air around myself and looked into my brother’s eyes. He was looking away now, his eyes following a different me. His breathing was tense, the only noise playing through my office, drowning out the air filters and electrical systems.\n\n“Jared,” I said, “We all need to accept this. Sadly, the race is ending, but we need to go out with pride. Many on Mars are preparing for the doomsday, but I don’t want to.” I shifted in my chair. “I know that’s not going to calm you down, but our time has come.”\n\nIt would take eight minutes, approximately, for him to hear my response. My face was only to be a comfort to him as his world was ending.\n\nRumbling came from underneath Jared, his canisters trembling in their spot. The shaking didn’t cease during his response.\n\n“I don’t care about your suicidal tendencies! I want to live. You should want to live. If we could, we’d fight this thing. We SHOULD fight this thi-It’s time to stretch my wings.” Jared cupped his hands over his mouth, eyes dashing everywhere and trembling. “No, Not now, NO! HOLLAND, PLEASE! Say something before I go!”\n\nThe beast had almost awoken. Whatever lay within the earth’s mantle was ready to unleash itself onto the solar system.\n\n“I love you, Jared. Stay strong.”\n\nThe ceiling of the bunker collapsed, crushing the canisters next to him as they fell. He gripped his throat, the air being sucked out of the now-open tubes. Another piece of the ceiling collapsed, and my brother was no more.\n\nI didn’t have time to cry. The feed cut off and showed a televised broadcast to our colony, showing the earth’s mantle spew out from cracks that formed along fault lines. The Pacific ocean jettisoned, the amount of water on its surface appearing as mere dew on a car’s exterior, minuscule, and nothing to what was underneath. The rest of the continents followed, and inside was the sight of wings and a tail. Earth exploded.\n\nAnd, from the death of Humanity’s cradle, unfurled the creature of Intrasolar proportions to its largest size. Claws shining from any angle, brighter than the sun and its screams could be heard through the Martian atmosphere.\n\nIt announced its name to all life in the system, and I only hoped to all the astral plane so we could be remembered.\n\n“I AM NEMORIDIUM!”", "The other planets had all hatched already, and the celestial children patiently waited for Earth to finish. Their planetary eggshells had healed long ago, and the children had grown. The first celestial children were Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. They had been worried when Mercury hatched because his shell almost didn't heal from it, and he was sick thereafter. Jupiter was patient and kind, and he gave Mercury succor, and he got better.\n\nPluto had been banished from the solar system, and in order to achieve cosmic balance, Earth would finally be given a place in the heavenly pantheon. The humans, and cities, and knowledge, and animals, and plants that were on the surface of Earth would be made to suffer, of course, but the children cared naught for them.\n\nSaturn watched from high above the solar plane and said unto Mars, \"Lo, behold thee Earth?\"\n\n\"Aye, I see the aura, and the feeling of it. Soon our new brethren will join us and take his place among us.\"\n\n\"Her.\"\n\n\"What?\" sayeth Mars unto Saturn.\n\n\"Her. She is a girl,\" Saturn did clarify unto Mars.\n\n\"What are we going to do?\" Mars did asketh Saturn.\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Saturn honestly had to asketh Mars.\n\n\"We can't just let a girl come around here hanging about,\" the child of the universe lamented.\n\n\"Oh. I see. You're scared she'll be better looking, smarter, faster, stronger, and funnier,\" deduced Saturn.\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"No, I don't care about that. I just don't want a girl around,\" and Mars shuffled his disembodied feet.\n\n\"You LIKE her!\" laughed Saturn unto Mars.\n\n\"How? She hasn't even been born yet,\" argued Mars unto Saturn.\n\n\"So, before I got here, and I did sayeth unto you, 'Lo, behold thee Earth?', and thou didst say 'Aye', I watched you for like two weeks just sitting here staring at Earth.\n\nAnd Saturn did giggle, and laugh, and did say unto Mars, \"I'm going to go tell Jupiter. You love Earth. Youuuu love Eeeeearth.\" As he left, Saturn continued to sing through the heavens, 'Youuuuu looooove Eeeeeeearth'." ]	3
	[WP] In one place, peace on Earth was declared, then an altruistic Artificial Intelligence was built to guide humanity. In another, in a time of war, the citizens of of one country built an AI in order to win. Now, at the same time and place in each, a portal opens between the the two worlds.	[ "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.", "In an instant, two different worlds were created. That instant appeared to be a rather insignificant one, somebody doing a maths equation on a blackboard in a building in the desert. \n\nIn one universe, he remembered to carry a one, leading to the development of the nuclear bomb. While it ended up killing hundreds of thousands, it made a large-scale war an impossibility, despite the hostilities that broke out into the Cold War. In that universe, in the year 2036, the final round of negotiations led, at last, to world peace forever. The same year, humanity invented an AI around the same time to help humanity develop science, lower global inequality and colonise the Solar System and beyond.\n\nIn the other, he forgot to carry the one. This meant that after a failed nuclear explosion, the Pentagon declared nuclear weapons a scientific impossibility. Following a full-scale invasion of Japan, they surrendered. However, there was no nuclear deterrence in this world, causing World War Three to break out rather quickly after relationships within the Allies cooled. Mankind exists in a perpetual state of war there between the West and the USSR. In 2045, the Allies and USSR used advanced computing technology to create separate AIs to lead their militaries' tactics and production, and what they would research in military science.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThese two worlds broke onto completely different trajectories as well within the meantime. In one of them, climate change was on the course to almost wiping out much of civilisation. However, the efforts of teenagers and young adults in that universe forced governments to sign the Jerusalem Accords of 2021, legally binding the entire world to fight climate change through CCS and emissions reduction. In the other, the Jerusalem Accords were never signed, yet the apocalyptic predictions of climate change never happened. Not because the Jerusalem Accords was based on false science, but because the world never developed enough to reach that state of humanity.\n\nAt 5:35 PM on 24th June, 2065, a portal opened just west of the Suez Canal in both universes. Peering through, people saw a completely foreign universe to their own: but in reality, it was a wormhole connecting the two universes above.\n\nThe first universe's AI, Athena, told them to explore what was on the other side of the portal. Eerily, the drones sent on expeditions found a world just like their own, but with straw huts and craters instead of a bustling modern city. Exploring north, the drones found a massive battlefield stretching from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The people commanding them came to the conclusion it was like their own world, but in total war.\n\nIn the meantime, the Soviet AI, Lenin, found the portal. Sending some drones through it, they found a world just like their own, but with metropolises more advanced than anything they had on their own planet. Going north, they found no battlefield at all, instead seeing what appeared, to them, to be a utopia of sorts. They came to the conclusion it was like their own world but with no Third World War.\n\nThe American AI, Ares also found it pretty quickly, coming to the same conclusion as Lenin had. In that universe, it opened a new theatre of war: the Arabian theatre. \n\nBoth nations' AIs had worked out that the best way to win the war was to conquer the world on the other side. Both drones had seen little sign of a military-industrial complex on the other side, so they concluded that the only way to win this war was to conquer the universe on the other side. And it wouldn't be that quick either.\n\nHowever, Athena was no fool. Like her namesake, she was filled with wisdom and quickly worked out that some sudden fronts around the portal had suddenly opened up. Putting two and two together, Athena announced they needed an emergency force stationed around the portal. While military technology was sorely lacking in this universe, as Lenin and Ares had quickly worked out, they had failed to notice something that would lead to the futility of the Arabian theatre.\n\nThe civilian technology and increased industrial capabilities in the peaceful world meant that they had much more capacity to advance to create technology more powerful than their opponents. In fact, they would most likely take the fight to their opponents. However, this all hinged on a couple months' preparation, which they may not have.\n\nThis was unpopular in the peaceful universe's democracies, which had by now managed to sweep the globe, but as Athena had decreed it, the public had little choice but to agree. Operation Fortress had started.\n\nIn the other universe, the invading forces scurried as fast as they could to the portal. Many battles in Africa occurred, devastating its already-poor infrastructure. But the major powers didn't care. Once they had annihilated the other with the resources in this peaceful universe, they could get down to fixing what they already had. It became a new hope for those on both sides, particularly in the West since they were excited to finally have their national emergencies end and for the first free elections for over a hundred years to resume.\n\nBut their hopes were soon dashed, for they had forgotten to take one other thing into account: nuclear physics was not a lost cause. It never was. In fact, it could make the most powerful weapons ever constructed in humankind's history.\n\nIt wasn't the nuclear bomb, though that was an integral discovery that was needed to make it. It was actually a gun that used the immense power nuclear energy produced to destroy whatever was in its path. This was discovered pretty quickly on the peaceful side, and as such many combat vehicles with these weapons, and others quickly discovered, massed on the other side of the portal. Once the enemy's vehicles had reached the gates between the universes, it was already a lost cause.\n\nIn what is now known as the Suez Massacre in the warring universe, all three hundred thousand people sent to the gates of the universes were killed or injured. The warring universe tried again and again, never quite getting the message. The peaceful universe was decades ahead of them in scientific and industrial capability, and that meant that despite not having a standing army since world peace was declared by the UN in 2036, they could quickly amass an army stronger than anything that could happen in the warring universe on the other side of the portal. \n\nThe peaceful army never crossed the portal. Diana advised against it, so they never did it. However, they would boast for years to come that to have a powerful army, you may need a powerful peace." ]	2
	[WP] You are one of three ghosts, who appear to the miserly and callous every year to convince them to change their ways. But you've ran into an issue. This is the tenth Christmas in a row you've appeared to this guy, and he still refuses to stop being an asshole.	[ "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.", "Even the cold bitter Scrooge wasn’t as tough as this guy. We didn’t know what was wrong with him but he just won’t accept the Christmas spirit. Even showing him the past, the present and the future couldn’t do the trick. What was wrong with this man? As we set upon our usual routine for the tenth time, he rolled his eyes. “No no no, this won’t do!” He said, scribbling something down on his notepad. “I’ve tried directing this movie for ten years now and you still won’t do as I asked!”\n\nWe were always confused at his ramblings. Even if he thought this was just a dream, surely he would feel the foreboding, our unnatural presence. As the ghost of future tried to interrupt, he spoke: “Now when you deliver the next line, it’s ‘you will be doomed, William’, spoken with great feeling!” The ghost was of course greatly confused, and actually stuttered for once. I couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t he supposed to be the one to fear us?\n\nWe sighed, and I changed tactics. As the ghost of Christmas past I displayed his potential, his greatest moments where he did care for family. For a moment he was stunned. And then he clapped me on the back, saying:” there we go, that’s the spirit— pun intended— come up with more of that stuff!” Well, we don’t know what happened but he got invigorated and started doing all the things we told him to do. As he vigorously wrote down something on his clipboard, he gave a bright smile and continued rambling: “Now we can get to the good stuff, the Christmas donations. I couldn’t leave this movie unfinished!”\n\nAll of ghosts realized too late we’ve been duped. The whole time he was using us for free visual effects for a big blockbuster movie. He had been pretending to be a sad and selfish man who hated Christmas when in reality he was actually not bad, we only recorded events near Christmas and barely noticed his generosity during New Years. We left in silence, truly defeated for the first time. The ghost of future could see that this man would truly be successful. “Ah, we should really keep up with technology,” he said, “even I barely had any ideas on how movies are made.”" ]	2
	[WP] For as long as you can remember, you have the power to control time like a VCR. You extensively use the play, stop, record, rewind, and fast-forward abilities. However, on one day, you attempt the eject button.	[ "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...you...rewound time?\" Anna asked. The 18-year-old sat under the covers in her bedroom while a mysterious student sat on her computer desk. Maxwell chuckled at her question.\n\n\"Hah, yeah. Actually that's exactly the way I think of it. I picture a VCR in my mind and imagine pressing the Rewind button. But,\" he looked at Anna. \"I've never met anyone that remembers like you.\"\n\nMaxwell hopped off the desk and knelt next to Anna's bed; he begged with clasped hands.\n\n\"Now you have to [be in my movie](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/eeibic/wp_the_last_thing_you_remember_is_a_car_crash_a/)! Please! With me rewinding time, you can have as many takes as you want! It'll be so much easier with you knowing what's going on.\"\n\n\"What else can you do?\" Anna asked. The thought of being an actress was something she often daydreamed about. She was ready to agree but did not want to appear too eager.\n\n\"You mean with time?\" Maxwell asked. Anna nodded.\n\n\"If you think about it like a VCR, you've tried all the buttons right? You can pause and fast forward too?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" he grinned. \"And I can record.\" Anna's eyes widened.\n\n\"Record!?? What does that do?!\" \n\n\"It makes a time loop. This morning is the starting point for my new project, that's why you wake up here again when I reset it.\"\n\n\"Whoooaa,\" Anna stared at him in awe. \"So what does eject do?\"\n\n\"Eject?\" Maxwell asked, and gave a half shrug. \"I never thought of it.\"\n\n\"But it's on there, right? Every time you picture the VCR in your head, there's an eject button on it, isn't there?\" Maxwell took a moment to close his eyes, then nodded.\n\n\"Yeah, it's there,\" he said without opening his eyes.\n\n\"Push it,\" Anna whispered. \"Pretend you're going to change the movie.\" Maxwell nodded, then took a deep breath.\n\n\"Here goes,\" he said. \"I'm hitting eject... now.\"\n\n\"Oh. My. God.\" Anna whispered.\n\n\"What?!\" Maxwell opened his eyes; Anna was staring and pointing at something behind him, so he turned around. A black hole hovered in the air in Anna's bedroom. It reminded Maxwell of the \"portable holes\" he'd seen in cartoons; but, it was tall enough for him to walk through. He stood from Anna's bedside and took a step toward it.\n\n\"Wait!\" Anna yelped, then she scrambled off the bed. \"I'm going with you.\" \n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #358 You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order." ]	2
	[WP] The beast roared as its face opened to reveal a tunnel of teeth longer than is should be. "Caramel, stop that or you're not getting any food"	[ "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.", "“Caramel, we’ve already discussed that so many times.” The man said with a stern voice. The beast shut its mouth and proceeded to go towards the man.\n\n“Sorry for the trouble, her name’s caramel and I’m currently taking a walk with her through this forest. I tried going to the town once but it didn’t end well.”\n\nI was horrified at the sight of that beast that could only exist in my nightmares and yet, the man seemed unfazed by it.\n\n“Are you going to kill me?” I asked terrified.\n\n“Of course not, despite her looks she hasn’t eaten people in a long while. Try petting her.” Replied the man.\n\nThe beast lied down in the grass as the man grabbed my hand and placed it in the beast’s head. The beast let out a happy cry. I, on the other hand was shaking. I moved my hand slowly and after a while I regained my composure. \n\n“She seems to like you.” The man said in a calm voice.\n\n“Yes, it seems.” I replied more calmly.\n\n“Hey, how about you go to visit us from time to time. We live in a small cabin over there.” Said the man pointing at his right.\n\n“Yeah. I like the idea.” I replied calmly.\n\nIt’s been about a year since that day and we both became friends and then I got the news: Caramel got puppies and the man gave me one to take care of. I’m being careful to not be seen when walking it but I know sooner or later I will have to move if I want to keep it. Meanwhile I’m struggling to take care of it. I named her Cinnamon and she already tried to bite my fingers of several times. I have to be extra careful when walking her in the forest because she’s always trying to hunt down pigeons. The man is constantly giving me tips about the care of them. Cinnamon is hard to control but I will not abandon her because I love her." ]	2
	[WP] You remember fondly of playing DnD in your youth. Close to 60 years later, you and your fellow nursing home residents plan to play again. You roll your wheelchairs up to the table and prepare for an epic adventure.	[ "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\n\nDonald: \"The Great Galleons Inn writhes with life on this Mid-Winter night in the town of Adlespin. The short and stoutly barkeep Dregor and his busy tavern wenches pass food and drink and collect their pittance from tired and cold travelers eager to warm themselves by the blazing hearthstone. You find yourselves gathe-\"\\~\\~\\~ \nFrank: \"These wenches, how do they look? Young?\" \nRobert: \"Shut up Frank. Show some respec-\" \nFrank: \"what- I'm just trying to get a picture of the place...\" \nJohn: \"Just get on with it. I'm missing bingo for this.\" \nDonald: \"I thought we all wanted to do this. I've even been reading up it again, this is suppose to be simpler than 2nd edition.\" \nBradly: \" Wait. 2 edition? They made more editions?\" \nRobert: \"Brad, keep up, we went over this before. We played 2nd. We're trying out this new dag gone 5th edition.\" \nBradly: \"Oh. what do I need to roll?\" \nJohn: \"Dammit Brad we haven't even started yet now Donald start again and let's get this done and over with.\"\n\nDonald: \"Ok...ermhrm. You're uh in the tavern and you find yourselves gathered around an outlying booth, old adventure companions, finally reunited again after 60 years. I've looked over your backstories but please re-introduce yourselves. \" \nFrank: \"I-- \nJohn: \"I'm---\" \nFrank and John: \"Oh you go first.\" \nDonald: \"just go clockwise---\" \nBradly: \"what time is it?\" \nRobert: \"Brad. It's a little after 10. You just took your pills... anyway. You see Azorn the Devout a tall grizzled plate armored human, he's older than you remember. Short white hair now. Little fatter. Age has drained his body slightly but not his spirit. Azorn says 'By Holy Pelor, it has been ages since we've been collected together so'.\" \nBradly: \"OH, I remember him.--\" \nFrank: \"It's my turn Brad. I'm Qalizan the half-elf Bard. Tall blonde and handsome. Now can I ask how these wenches look?\" \nDonald: ugh. Sure. They look like generic peasant human women of a variety of ages. \nFrank: I wave one down and ask her what she's doing later- \nDonald: \"I ain't gonna act a dirty flick scene with you Frank! Also everyone hasn't introduced themselves so let's do that before anything else. Bradly your turn.\" \nFrank: \"No fun-\" \nBradly: \"Oh, I'm Bradly. \" \nDonald: \"Bradly, your Dungeons and Dragons character.\" \nBradly: \"Oh, played a gnome back then with my friends as a boy. His name was Scmile and was law and good. He was a great wizard. We saved a city you know. \" \nDonald: \"So what does he look like after 60 years?\" \nBradly: \"60? The last adventure Scmile went on was with he and his 4 companions against the corrupt Silver Dragon Erognour, We almost died. We ran and we laid the trap for him. Then we found out he was being controlled by a necklace created by a lich.\" \nBradly: \"great! now John?\" \nJohn: \"I'm Guthmer. I'm a Dwarf Fighter. Red hair. Strong looking. Dwarves live a long time so I don't look much different. Let's get this on.\" \nBradly: \"and we hid you in a barrel to sneak past the Court of King Killone after the Dwarf Civil Wars. \nJohn: \"pfft. Quite a memory...\" \nBradly: \"Then you took a blood oath of revenge after he slaughtered the Keep of Tessia, your home.\" \nJohn: \"Ok, barely I remember that....\" \nDonald: \"Errr..Hmm. Great. You've met. Now, you are drinking and eating and as the night rolls on, I'm going to need some perception checks.\" \\Dice rolls\\ \nJohn, Frank and Robert: \"--Hold on, I need to find my glasses--\"\n\nJohn: \"15.\" \nFrank: \"Do I add anything or?\" \nJohn: \"Proficiency Bonus + Wisdom Modifier. C'mon, I don't have all...well. Hmm.\" \nRobert: \"Been studying up on this? So... 5 plus 4 plus 1...so 10. \" \nFrank: \"17? I think. Bradly what'd you get?\" \nBradly: \"I think that's uhhh...\" \nJohn: \"He rolled a nat 20. \" \nDonald: \"Nice! Ok so Bradly, you easily notice 3 tall cloaked figures walking in. You immediately notice they are High Elves and their garments suggest they are Vorashian from the Saltless Seas. \" \nBradly: \"oh, the like the Noble family who's assassins we accidentally stopped in one of our first adventures.\" \nDonald: \"They approach your booth. 'Hail honored adventurers. It has been 800 moons since we've last thanked you for saving Lord Gelis and his daughters. But sadly, we are in desperate need of someone of your particular skill sets. We believe one of Lord Gelis' daughters Rhelias has been taken by unknown criminals in the city of Yelbern. A city that we Vorashian Elves are forbidden to tread. Find Rhelias, and Lord Gelis will be in your debt once again.\" \nBradly: \"When Lord Gelis thanked us last time, we picked a single item from his family treasury and my brother Thomas' character, Trogon the Druid ,got a cursed Amulet that got us all into a whole new trouble with the Mummy of Xiowrath.\" \nFrank:\" Ah, I remember that...\" \nBradly: \"Where is Trogon anyway?\" \nJohn: \"Brad, you remember. Thomas is no longer--\" \nRobert: \"Brad. Trogon was still cursed by the end of our campaign. His character turned to stone by then.\" \nBradly: \"Oh.... right.\" \nDonald: \"Um...So the Elves show a signed paper from Lord Gelis 'Please accept our quest. We wish our Lady to be safely returned to her father.\"' \nRobert: \"Of course. On my honor!\" \nFrank: \"Eh, if there's a good reward in it, I'm in.\" \nJohn: \"ya sure. Let's get this over with.\" \nBradly: \"We accept this quest. Send our answer to your Vorashian Lord.\" \nDonald: \"Oh! Great, wow! So, you get ready to head to Yelbern and...\" \nRobert: Hold on, I think Bradly needs the Nurse. \nBradly: \"I... look for our horses and....oh\" \\is wheeled away\\ \nRobert: \"He's really getting into it!\" \nDonald: \"He remembers all of our adventures, it's amazing. He barely remembers my face when we speak face to face. \" \nFrank: \"It's fun for me too. Re-living the good ol days. Going over to Thomas and Bradlys house...and seeing their older sister.\" \nRobert: \"Really Frank? ... Still the same as ever.\" \nJohn: \"Yeah yeah. He's happy. Still think it's a waste of time. Memory ain't gonna get any better.\" \nDonald: \"Why are you smiling though? And you must have studied the new rules...You care about him too John. Admit it.\" \nFrank: \"Yeah yeah... Oh he's back.\" \nNurse: \"He seems very energetic today, finished quite fast. I hope your little game goes well.\" \nDonald: \"Alright let's continue.\" \nBradly: \"I get the horses and shop around for maps!\"\n\n \nAside- Frank to John: I hadn't seen him be this mentally active in a long time.", "Hold on, David. It's just you and I here. Where are the others?\n\nSorry, Bill. Wheel Of Fortune is on.\n\nShit.\n\nYeah, good luck getting Teddy and Reggie away from the tube They love that wheel. Been jacking off to Vanna for over 30 years. \n\nShe still looks good.\n\nIndeed, but any old fool can solve those word puzzles by spinning a dumb flat object. It's not like tossing down a 20 sided die in a life or death situation.\n\nYou're right. Hey, did you bring any dice?\n\nWhat? No, I thought you were going to.\n\nOh. Well then I guess we can't play. Fuck.\n\nOh, well. Wanna watch Pat Sajak?\n\nI mean... I guess. I'm in a nursing home. It's what we do here.\n\nOK, let's wheel ourselves on down to the TV room.\n\nI'm gonna die here.\n\nHuh?\n\nNo pun intended. Not like, you know, dice die, just the usual die that hangs over our heads from birth. I'm gonna die here, in this nursing home. Alone and screaming.\n\nI mean... that's a pretty safe bet. It beats the shit out of hospice, though.\n\nDoes it? I bet they treat you nicer there.\n\nNo way! In hospice, they know you're gonna die. It's why they're there. Good luck getting a sandwich or whatever out of one of those nurses. It's like a goddamn nightly talk show, hospice is. \"That's it for Claire, join us tomorrow when Walter stops by to shit his pants and shuffle off this mortal coil.\n\nCan we just play D&D?\n\nNo.\n\n(END SCENE)", "The funeral was a quiet affair. James had a lot of friends, but most of them were not long for this world or long gone from it. Most of his family were not American; with the tightening of immigration controls and airport security, they couldn't make it out of the customs terminal at Houston's Intercontinental Airport.\n\nInstead, along with a priest and the funeral home director, only a few people sat in the pews. Most of them were old, past their prime, held together by medical science and pure stubborn will. Younger individuals sat among them, family of friends whose bonds were forged when the world was hopeful and somewhat simpler.\n\nOne sat alone in the back. He was older than James, outlived him just to see another friend felled by an old nemesis. Cancer was a beast, even now. Geoffrey had lost his father, an aunt, an uncle, lovers, and now one of his closest friends to cancer. The doctors simply didn't catch it in time, he was told.\n\nGeoffrey looked at his chrono-decal. The nursing home would be waiting for him outside. He didn't want to stay any longer. Besides, he hated funerals. Always had. His third and final wife's death in the 2024 Gas Riots was the last funeral he had attended willingly. He didn't want to see another one again... but this one was an exception to that rule.\n\nJames and Geoffrey - he preferred Geoff back then - had a bond that was almost as strong as friendship. Stronger, he would claim. It was love, not of each other, but of a game. The Game. It was what brought them together, every week, like clockwork, around a table with their mutual friends for a night of imagination and stories.\n\nThe stories were the kind that would make Tolkein and Asimov jealous. They had the kinds of twists that would M. Night Shamalyan sit up and give praise. These were their stories. Every one had several writers, working in collaboration - and sometimes against one another - in a quest for some nebulous goal set ahead of time.\n\nSave the Princess. Defeat Chaos. Destroy a Threat From the Past. Kill the Gods, and Take Their Place. Your Friend Betrayed You and Blotted Out the Sun. Escape from Unjust Imprisonment. Build Your Own Kingdom. It had all been done. But there one story left to tell... one Geoffrey had been working on for years. He just needed an audience.\n\nGeoffrey felt a hand on his shoulder. His nurse. \"Come on, Mr. Geoff. The auto-driver is ready to take you back.\" The balding old man nodded and slowly rose to his feet.\n\n\"I'm ready,\" he said quietly. \"Oh, wait. One last thing.\" The nurse stopped at watched Geoffrey pull his cell phone out of his pocket. He unlocked it and pressed on an icon on the screen. \"Siri, send text message number 4.\" The phone screen acknowledged the request, and Geoffrey pocketed the silver device. Time to go home and get ready.\n\nThe nursing home was one of the smaller ones outside Houston's always-growing Medical Center district. It was also one of the most modern, thanks in no small part to Geoffrey's former occupation as an information technology specialist. They had the best medical, computer, and networking technology money could buy. Geoffrey kept them up to date as best he could; in return, they let him live there for free.\n\nThe auto-driver brought Geoffrey back home late in the evening; traffic was still a problem all these years later. The nurses brought Geoffrey back inside, and he impatiently checked his phone again. No replies. \"Dammit,\" he said out loud to no one in particular.\n\n\"What's wrong, Mr. Geoff?\" his nurse asked almost reflexively. \"Your knees bothering you again?\" Geoffrey sighed in exasperation.\n\n\"No, Malcolm. I was expecting a message from someone today. It hasn't come yet,\" the old man groused. Why didn't she reply yet?\n\nMalcolm took a hold of Geoffrey's arm to guide him back inside. \"Don't worry, you'll get it when it's meant to arrive,\" Malcolm said sagely. \"Let's get you inside before the rain starts. It's pizza night tonight!\" The nurse was right about one thing - pizza night was something to look forward to.\n\nA few days later, Geoffrey awoke to someone knocking on the edge of his door. The old man turned his head and murmured something close to English. Malcolm, the nurse from a few days before, repeated what he said. Geoffrey swore he heard the nurse say something about a visitor.\n\n\"Well, don't leave him out there in the damned hallway! Show him in!\"\n\nA heavily accented French female voice replied from outside: \"Excuse me?\" Geoffrey raised an eyebrow as the woman, some fifteen years his junior, walked in, pushing a wheelchair with another old man in it. Geoffrey sat up in his bed in surprise as James's older brother and his wife of twenty years came in.\n\n\"Pauline?! Dustin?\" Geoffrey pulled his glasses down from his forehead to make sure he wasn't seeing things. No, it was them. They had married in 2021 and managed to stay together despite all kinds of problems.\n\n\"Yeah, it's us,\" Dustin said through his thick goatee. \"And we didn't come alone.\" He motioned towards the door as more people started to come in. Randy and Camille, the longest-married couple Geoffrey had the pleasure of still being friends with. Christen, head of one of the largest software developers in the state. Tyrell, also a resident at the retirement home, was up and about with his experimental portable dialysis machine. Katherine, who was just a young woman when Geoffrey last saw her, now standing there with her own husband and their four kids.\n\nThe room Geoffrey called home was now full, standing room only.\n\n\"Once more around the table with dice, books, and snacks, for old-times sake,\" Randy repeated the message Geoffrey had sent out days earlier. \"With you as DM, how could I refuse?\"\n\n\"I even brought dice!\" Camille said with her cute smile. Two felt pouches, drawstrings pulled tight, were held up to show the couple's weapons of choice.\n\n\"And I hear that your setup is even more modern than last time,\" Christen said with an envious smile. \"You're always trying to be the coolest techie in the group.\"\n\nTyrell stood there mutely, but the smile on his face was all Geoffrey needed.\n\n\"Okay,\" Geoffrey said aloud. \"Head to the Blue Recreation Room. I'll get my stuff.\"" ]	4
	[WP] You're looking out your window and you spot a monkey in the trees, watching you with a pair of binoculars. When you spot him, he gives a military hand signal to several other monkeys and they all disappear into the trees.	[ "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 always felt that I had a destiny, and now this was yet more proof. Something that I was going to do had pissed off the future so thoroughly that I now routinely had to deal with hostile time travellers, and temporally displaced assassins. \n\nAt least the monkeys, while grim and determined, hadn't set anything on fire yet. I'd make sure to leave them some bananas and a box of pizza later. Time travelling really seems to be very unpleasant, and maybe they would be willing to parley. Do monkeys like pineapple on their pizza?\n\nIt all started with that guy that looked like an old, rich, senile and miserable version of me showing up with what looked like the ghost of Christmas pass. This was super weird because it was July, and I am Jewish, but there they were at my front door talking about me like I wasn't there.\n\nI tried getting their attention, and things got out of hand. I don't like talking about it. Unfortunately this has now become my reality. Something I did, or have will have done, or would have did in another timeline, or have not will have done has kicked up a hornets nest of assorted time meddlers that have locked onto my ass, and I'm now dealing with them and nobody seems to be willing to tell me what I will have done, or left undone. The uncertainty is paralyzing for me.\n\n I've faced a lot of different time pests. I'm not sure anymore if I actually do anything specific, or if I just have the horrible stank of butterfly effect sticking to me now or what, but they now show up for the weirdest reasons. \n\n One time I was debating cereal or toast for breakfast. I chose cereal and a portal opens up, some mad-maxxer tumbles out and starts screaming that this starts the apocalypse. I gave him the bowl of cereal, and then start to make toast when a 2nd portal opens up, the same mad-maxxer maybe 10 years older shows up and shoots the younger version of himself dead, before vanishing. I'll never forget the relieved look on his face as he faded out. I made fried eggs instead and nobody else bothered me the rest of the day.\n\nIt's true. I've had to deal with at least two killer cyborgs, one kid with a pet tiger, and in one case a portal opens up... some dwarves stared at me, and then they got this horrible look of slow recognition on their faces and then noped the hell out of there. I even had to change my microwave.\n\nAnyways, the best I can do now is stay friendly and calm when I meet the monkeys. I've already ordered the pizzas, and I've got the fruit. My home still remains unburned. Here's me hoping that they'd be willing to tell me what it is that's going on" ]	2
	[WP] You’re a hero who’s teaming up with a villain to beat a bigger threat. Since you both fear betrayal, you agree to meet at neutral territory to plan. You expected a seedy bar run by an ex vigilante, not a cute cafe run by an elderly civilian woman.	[ "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 what I was expecting. I rechecked the location on my bracer technically I was stretching the neutrality agreement bringing it, but it wasn't exactly a weapon and I could use the information if we truly got down to planning. Nope it was right, shrugging I walked over to the small cafe.\n\nOpening the door revealed a welcoming main room with the usual hodge poge of mis-matched sets of worn but chairs and tables that these sorts of places collect with the the patrons that I could see appearing normal enough drinking and chatting. While looking for where Icicle was sitting the elderly woman sat at the counter rose and walked over to me. \"Excuse me young man you wouldn't happen to be here for Cathy would you.\" Recognising the pseudonym that she had given me to ask for I agreed and was led towards the backroom. Walking in I saw a Icicle making up drink orders and shouting orders in to the kitchen proper where I heard somebody singing to some classic rock accompanied by various sounds of banging and pans being moved around. \"Cathy that mans here for you take an early dart if you need I know that your new project is important .\" Looking up at the call Icicle err Cathy wiped her hand and hurried forward and gave the older woman a hug \"Thanks mum I'll see you tonight don't forget its my turn to cook\"\n\nCatching my arm she led me outside and started to walk towards the local park. \"I didn't think she would of let me off so was going to talk to you in my break but this might be easier.\"\"Care to tell me what that was I was expecting a dive bar full of hardened bikers or something not well that. \" This was definitely strange and getting stranger I was starting to realise that I was seriously missing something or I was being expertly duped. She sighed before replying\"I know we don't see eye to eye on most things but this Scourge bastard is to important and dangerous to the city for me to not help,even if it does mean showing you some stuff that I probably shouldn't.\" \"Dangerous to the city I wouldn't think a villain that freezes bank vaults till they crack would care. \" \"Look I'm not the nicest person in the world but I never seriously hurt anyone and definitely haven't killed people and only took what I needed . I like this city but I also have and will do what I need to survive and keep my family safe, and that I won't apologise for. \"\"How does robbing banks do that it seemed like you and yours were doing OK from what I just saw.\" \"You should have seen us two months ago we were broke. Mortgage was late debt collectors were trying to take what was left I had to do somthi... Why the hell am I telling you this are you using your powers on me.\" That caused me to grimace and hold my hands up. \"Not directly I promise but there is a bit of a passive effect that makes people more relaxed which can make people a bit talkative sorry.\" That got me a dark look and her breath became visible for a few seconds before she shook her head before turning back and then carry on walking. \"That must suck especially since you don't seem the chatty type.\" \"You have no idea but it dose make my job easier.\" That got a laugh. \" What so you can hear all of the monologues that my more esteemed colleges like to throw about.\" \"No I mean my actual job I'm with the police that's why I haven't learned to lock the field down its to bloody handy.\" That little titbit caused her to pale and before she could panic and try to ice me or something I carried on. \"Wait wait I'm not hear officially and am trying to honour the truce you said it yourself Scourge is to dangerous for us not to not use everything we have. Besides you showed me yours I figured it would only be fair for me to do the same.\" That seemed to calm her down and warm her up I had noticed the air had started to chill around her. By that time we had reached the park and conversation turned to the safer and more important matters of planning and what needs to be done to help stop the villain that had been terrorising the city and melting people who pissed him off.\n\nAs we wrapped up I turned to her \"Listen I know you've done some bad stuff but if we can get this done I can talk to some of my contacts and see if you can't come to work for us, it's hard work but for powers like us it pays very well enough to cover your family. I can tell you genuinely love this city if your up for doing something this stupidly dangerous.\" So that's how I got a new a new partner.\n\nAny Advice is welcome please I probably need it.", "The location was suspicious. It was bright and spacious with little room for cover or concealment. The majority of it was open to the air, lacking even glass to separate the outside from the inside. Bright flowers and colors drew the eye instead of dark shadows to conceal and hide. There were no sour scents of spilled beer or strong spirits, no lingering fog of fried foods and grease. Pleasantly acrid smells warred with the sweetness that sugar and honey brought. The floor within and without was clean and recently swept, no traces of debris or wreckage. The place looked pleasant, inviting, and warm. Incredibly suspicious.\n\nThe man looked at the person beside him, eyebrow raised and eyes narrowed. “I thought you said this place could be trusted.”\n\nThe woman gave a helpless shrug. “It can be. I’m told it’s a very good neutral place for deal making and the like. Some colleagues and acquaintances told me about it.”\n\nHe pointed a finger at the pleasantly offending place. “Really. You’re telling me people like you and people like me came here of all places to have reasonable, non-hostile discourse.”\n\n“It looks nice enough for it doesn’t it?”\n\n“It looks like a trap, or an excellent place to obtain information to be blackmailed.”\n\nThe woman sighed. “You’re as uptight now as your persona. Well we’re already here and I’m not going anywhere else so we might as well get this over with.” She stomped off, not looking back to see if he followed.\n\nAfter a few moments he followed reluctantly, eyes darting back and forth at the few patrons that sat at the cafe. He tried to see if he could recognize anyone, to see features normally hidden or obscured. However a presence before him made him stop, especially when the presence coughed slightly.\n\nHis eyes widened as he looked at her. She was far shorter than him, barely coming up to his chest. Much older, hair fading to silver-grey with a rare strand of copper red mixed in. Lined features spoke of hard lessons and a long life. Her eyes sparkled however, possessing a youth and energy that was not completely shared with her body but once could see echoes of past vigor. She coughed again and the man looked at her with confusion. “I beg your pardon ma’am?”\n\nShe smiled sweetly, an expression of good cheer and hidden meaning. “Now young man, people come here to relax and talk, not to be gawked at.” She dared to wiggle a finger at him and his face reddened in reply. “Customers here are entitled to their privacy and I’ll thank you to respect theirs as much as they respect yours.” She took his arm and her grip was stronger than iron. “Come along dear, I have just the place for you and your friend.”\n\n“She’s not my friend-“ he sputtered. He felt gravely out of his element, almost wrong footed mentally as much as physically since the little old woman was practically dragging him. He tried to ignore his mounting embarrassment and the obvious enjoyment written cleanly on his companion’s face. “Do you treat all your customers like this?” he asked crossly before being pushed firmly into a chair.\n\n“Only the first timers my dear.” The woman laughed heartily, a rich sound. She held open the opposite chair for the other woman who sat with far more grace. “Everyone who comes for the first time just has to learn how the cafe runs is all. Don’t take any offense. Now you two can have your conversation and I’ll bring over some refreshments in a jiffy.”\n\n“That was a real treat,” the woman whispered with the smuggest smile. “The great and mighty Sirius dragged around like a puppy by a sweet old woman. Whatever I lose in our exchange will be well worth that.”\n\nSirius glared at her. “If you’re not careful the terrible Phoenix will lose a lot and be trapped in a songbird’s cage for a long time.” He smirked at her growl. “I do not wish to be here longer than necessary so let us get this over with.”\n\n“Fine by me,” Phoenix retorted. \n\nThe pair spoke in whispered tones, mindful of others that sat far enough away for decorum yet still close enough to overhear. It took a lot for the hero and the villain to even contemplate working together, much less actually work together. However the situation was dire enough where the pair knew that only together would they survive. \n\nSirius looked up and his eyes locked onto the eyes of another. His eyes narrowed and starlight began to glow along his hands.\n\nPhoenix’s eyes opened wide with alarm. “What’s your problem?”\n\n“That’s Noctus. I recognize his light anywhere. I always swore to-“ Sirius tried to rise but a recently familiar iron handed touch forced him back into his seat. He grunted with displeasure, then hissed as hand touched the piping hot kettle. He waved his hand in the air to cool it, the starlight fading away.\n\n“Well do be careful good sir!” the old woman chirped, a wide smile on her face as she set the kettle down onto the table. “If you suddenly get up and wave your hand around like that you’ll accidentally brush up against something you shouldn’t.” She ignored his snarl, pouring out a measure of steaming tea. “Now I imagine you’re used to hot things darling,” she said and laughed at Phoenix’s blush. “Even then you be careful now, hot tea is always hotter than people think it is.”\n\n“You....know who we are?” Sirius’ confusion replaced his displeasure.\n\n“That I do, and that’s also why I know a little tea won’t burn one like you,” she replied easily. She set a tray of cookies and sandwiches before them. “Strapping young man like yourself won’t be bothered by something so slight. I do know you’re new here but there’s a sign to help you learn.” \n\nThe pair turned their heads in the direction of her pointing. Upon the wall in plain sight sat a beautifully hand embroidered placard. The fabric was creamy white, a flourish of flowers painstakingly sewn around the edges in yellow, pink and blue. The words were sewn with royal purple thread, clear and clean and easy to read. Sirius’ eyebrows rose as he read them. “The Cafe is Recognized as Neutral Territory.”\n\n“Yes sir it is. No fighting here that don’t involve me.” The old woman’s eyes glinted and her smile sharpened. “And trust me, you don’t want to fight me.”\n\n“Oh?” If his eyebrows rose any higher they would have disappeared into his hair.\n\n“Because that means you would be fighting an old woman and who wants that reputation?” She shrieked with laughter and many of the other patrons joined in. “You two take your time now you hear?” \n\n“We didn’t order these though,” Phoenix said shyly.\n\n“Oh I have an eye for what folks want. Just trust me and enjoy.” The old woman continued to walk, chatting with every customer she passed.\n\nSirius took a sip of the tea, flavors of orange and black tea leaves coated his tongue. The sandwich was a BLT, the bacon crisp and chewy at the same time. Sun warmed tomato tasted fresher than anything he had ever had before, against ice cold lettuce and creamy mayo. He chewed slowly before swallowing, chasing the morsel with another sip of tea. “No, I do not think I would enjoy fighting her.”", "I gulped nervously as the sweet-looking old lady rushed to greet me at the door.\n\n“A new face? Wonderful! Come in, come in” She waved me into the warmly lit cafe with a motion that seemed fairly rehearsed.\n\nShe took my jacket, leaving me feeling even more disarmed than before. Not that I had a weapon in it; the Hornet and I had agreed to meet unarmed and out of costume. A bit of an odd choice for a mad bug thief. I thought.\n\nI stuffed down the concern as I allowed myself to be ferried to a corner booth. This was bigger than our usual spats over whether or not she was going to walk away with the contents of a bank vault. No, her meddling in insect communication had woken what she called SWARM and now it was speeding across the cosmos to Earth. I reminded myself that she contacted me, a move made entirely out of desperation even if the request was made with her normal arrogance.\n\n“Something to drink, deary?” The old lady asked, keeping a pleasant tone but readying herself to attend the next table at a moment's notice.\n\n“Uhhhhh coffee, please. Black as coal, strong as steel.” She gave a charming smile, then moved with a speed that would exhaust someone a third her age. How long have you been doing this? I wondered.\n\nAs I waited, I took a moment to study the cafe in better detail. Everything about it screamed kitch. Cuckoo clocks and novelty plates adorned the walls, accompanied by the occasional mounted trophy.\n\nWhat few patrons were here looked fairly worn down and out of place. In the corner sat a withered man writing on what looked like a marble tablet. At the bar sat a body-builder type enjoying a grilled muffin. His enthusiasm would have sold me on one if my stomach had not been in knots over this meeting. One table over was a very out of place woman studying the local paper. Her eyes narrowed and glowed like cigarettes as she read with an intensity I’ve only seen once before. Is that the Emerald Spectre?\n\nI looked away before she caught me staring and was greeted by the hostess. With deft hands, she set the coffee down in front of me. It made waves as it hit the table.\n\n“Thanks,” I said. She smiled again, then dashed back to the kitchen, bringing out another muffin for Mr. Muscles.\n\nI took a sip. A punch in the mouth, just like I like it. I fought the urge to gulp it down, but it was a lost battle. The kindly lady replaced the cup as quickly as the last one.\n\nBefore too long a short, blond woman entered the cafe. She had a familiar arrogance to her, and it didn’t take long for me to realize it was the Hornet.\n\nYou know that awkward feeling you get when you meet your boss or a close coworker outside of work? That was nothing compared to seeing my arch-nemesis in a navy blue power suit and heels. She looked like she was going to a job interview, not meeting to plan how to save the world.\n\nLooking around, she saw me. In an instant her face went from indifference, to surprise, to enraged, to arrogance. I wondered if she was going to monologue before we started planning, if she had a plan, or if this was an elaborate trap. After all, she picked the meeting spot.\n\nShe walked to my both and stood glaring at me. I suppose I should have stood and greeted her to be polite, but frankly, this was her mess and I wasn’t feeling high on courtesy right now.\n\n“Moth Man”\n\n“Hornet” I took another sip of coffee and contemplated throwing it at her. Professional, be professional.\n\nI heard her inhale deeply. Oh God, she was going to monologue.\n\n“Oh, how fate can cruel sometimes.” She began. “That I, despite my nearly limitless resources and genius, must ask you of all the forces in the city for help. Curse the hand of fate that brought me here today, curse this city for not recognizing my brilliance, and curse you!”\n\nMan, this really was good coffee.\n\n“I’m not here to listen to you prattle for the hundredth time Hornet. We have a world to save, and if what you said was true the SWARM doesn’t care who you curse. ”\n\n“How dare you mock the great Hornet!” She stabbed at me with her finger. “You should be honored to work alongside one such as me. I am the ult-”\n\n“Your regular, dear” The spritely old lady set another mug down at my table.\n\n“Thank you… Gamgam” She said, trying to keep pride in her voice. I snorted and she shot a hostile look at me.\n\n‘Gamgam’ refilled my drink. “Oh if you don’t mind me saying, it seems like you two have a lot to cover. If I can help in any way you let me know.”\n\n“Thanks, Gamgam” the Hornet actually kissed the old lady on the forehead. She smiled warmly and shot back to the kitchen like a bullet.\n\nHornet glared back at me, two hostile blue eyes met my amused grin. “So…” I began but paused for her to speak.\n\nHer glare eventually melted when she realized I wasn’t going to continue without an explanation. “You’re sitting in the best-kept secret in all of villaindom. Gamgam has probably stopped more crimes with her kind words and pastries than all of the accomplishments of the Supernetwork.”\n\n“Not exactly neutral then. Also, you expect me to believe a city full of petty thieves and psychopaths respect the rules enough to listen to an old lady?”\n\nShe squinted. “You don’t know the oldest code in the book? Even the baddest villain in the Guild loves Gamgam.”\n\nWe looked over to see the burly man eating another muffin. He paused to hug the old lady before continuing.\n\nShe intoned “You see that guy there, he can lift a tank. Robs banks a city over. Gamgam asked him to tone it down when he was hitting it big and he did. Now, he only robs banks every other month.”\n\n“Beetle Bologna,” I said in disbelief.\n\nShe shook her head, looking annoyed. “Believe what you want, but there’s no safer place in town than Gamgam’s cafe. Anyone ever misbehaves here and they have a country’s worth of villains after them.”\n\nGamgam bolted out of the kitchen again, her impressive speed now appearing more super-human than ever. She carried an iced drink to the lady behind us. The onyx-haired woman mirrored the Hornet’s kiss on the forehead.\n\nI was a bit dumbfounded. “So-uh, is she evil?” The Hornet closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her temples. “Can we just get to the SWARM already? I don’t want your mothy smell to taint where I get my lattes.”", "Michael Kingsmoth looks down at the address on his holopad, before looking back up at the place before him. 'Mrs. Higglesworth's Tea Emporium ' was emblazoned on the side of the building in cursive blue lettering. The place is only two stories tall, with soft, pale white and gold trimmings on a faded red brick building. Moss grows up one side. A large tree casts a shade over the building, shielding it from the harsh rays of the summer day. Michael looks down at the address again before shaking his head and approaching the building.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe door jingles open. The Dark Empress sits inside, sipping tea from an expensive looking set of china glassware. She crosses her leather bound legs, sizing up the man who just entered. Michael Kingsmoth, bounty hunter extraordinaire and goodie-two shoes of the galaxy. She snorts and leans back in her seat as he approaches. \"Michael,\" she says in a smooth, silky voice.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Empress.\" He responds in a hard tone. They stare each other down, before he sits at the table. \"I didn't expect this.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Neither did I,\" she responds. She jerks her head at the approaching woman. \"She suggested the meeting place.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMichael turns to see the aforementioned woman, Mrs. Higglesworth. She is small woman. Her back hunched over from years of labor, her hands gnarled by arthritis. She pushes up her glasses with a finger, before smiling warmly at the pair. \"Ah! Hello dearies. I suppose it's time to get this meeting started, eh?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nShe shuffles up into a chair between them. She pours herself a cup of steaming tea before nodding at the two of them. The Empress shrugs and turns to Michael. \"Listen. I think we all know what's at stake. If we don't stop Tyr we're all...\" She stops and looks at Mrs. Higglesworth. \"In trouble.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh, deary I don't mind. Speak your mind around me.\" Before she can continue, a commotion outside draws her attention. She hops off the chair and shuffles over to the window. Outside several men in black suits approach the building with guns drawn. Michael and the Empress hop out of their chairs and rush to the window. \"I see some people don't respect neutrality.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Shit.\" Michael swears and pulls out his holopad. He taps away as the Empress works at her own devices. \"I can get back up here in 15 minutes.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Mine will show up in 10. But I didn't bring any weapons. Did you?\" She looks over at Michael. He shakes his head and she swears. \"Fuck... The one time I try to do something right...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThey are interrupted by the door opening and Mrs. Higglesworth striding outside. \"That's far enough gentlemen. This is neutral territory. If you come further, I'm not responsible for what happens.\" The dark suited men bark a laugh before continuing. Mrs. Higglesworth shakes her head and presses a button in her pocket. XK-Class automated machine turrets slide out of the windows on the second floor. The lasers light up the group of men, tearing them to shreds. Those that turn to flee are met with large, lumbering half human, half mutant creatures bound in metal exo-skeletons who crush the few thugs that remain.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMichael and the Empress stare slackjawed. \"Well...Shit...\" They respond in unison." ]	5
	[WP] They sit in the diner. The food is getting cold. Sirens can be heard in the distance. Both remember the sentence that started everything "Would you like me more if I killed someone 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.", "\"I thought it was a joke.\" I said, looking into the eyes of the man who had just brutally murdered my ex husband. \"You asked and I delivered.\" Said the man sitting across from me, he combed his fingers through his hair as we stared at each other, I could still see blood in his hair and on his hands. I had thought he seemed nice, showing up in his fancy car at the diner we had chosen to meet for dinner, I mean sure he was abit quite and his build left much to be desired, but he was nice. The date had been a little slow and there was a lull in the conversation, but we had both made some jokes and talked about a few of our interests and things. And then when he made the offer I just thought it was to poke fun at my last relationship, even though I'd only told him a few things about my ex husband.\n\n\"I'm sorry but this whole thing, how can you be okay with the fact you had just murdered someone? I don't understand.\" I said, looking at him tears still staining my face. \"Oh it's simple really,\" he said with a slight smirk. \"It wasn't just a random murder, he was the person who kept me from you for so long. All those nights he would sleep next to you, when it should have been me. Don't you get it, I have been in love with you for years, but you've never seen me.\" He finished his sentence and smiled wide, but it wasn't the smile of anyone sane that was for sure, I just wanted to run but my legs wouldn't move. \"So you mean you've been stalking me for years? And that's why you killed my ex husband?\" I burst into fresh tears but didn't take my eyes off of him, I didn't know what he would do to me. \"That's somewhat right, but I didn't kill him just because he married you, I killed him because you needed to be taught a lesson for marrying someone other then me.\" He had gotten angry as he finished that sentence and the final few words were almost a growl out of his mouth, needless to say I was terrified. I was so relieved to hear the sirens in the distance and I was just hoping that they would come this way. \"You should have known better than to marry someone else, someone who wasn't worthy to be on the same room as you.\" He was almost shouting now, and his knuckles were clenched tight so that they almost shone white. \"And now you're going to be a good boy, and you're going to give me what I want.\" His expression was almost manic, he looked like he was going to lash out at any moment. \"I don't want to give you anything, you're insane!\" I yelled back at him, at this i managed to find my legs and I got up to run, as I did I felt him grab my jacket and yank me backwards. \"Oh no. You're not going anywhere this time, this time, I've got you.\" His eyes were wide with glee and I knew that whatever he wanted wasn't going to be good for me, but I knew that with him now standing over me there wasn't a lot I could do. \"I've waited to long for this!\" He screamed. Everyone else in the diner had run out now, not wanting to get hurt, and the wait staff had gone and hidden in the kitchen. \"Now, I'm going forgive you for that little stunt. But first you need to be punished.\" As he said this, he pulled back his fist and punched me in the face, my head slammed back from the force and I hit it on the floor, I looked up at him again, he had sat down on my legs pinning me to the floor, he raised his fist again and striked me right on the eye socket, I felt it make contact and started feeling myself hyperventilate, as he raised his fist once more he made his connection and I blacked out.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhen I woke some 10 minutes later, I wasn't wearing any pants and I was on a medical gurney strapped down. I was surrounded by unfamiliar people and lots of flashing lights and people talking, it had trouble focusing on anything until a gentle voice said, \"don't worry, you're safe now, can you tell me your name?\" The voice was soft and gentle, and made me feel less panicked, I couldn't explain it but I knew I wasn't in danger. \"Hunter.\" I replied. \"Okay Hunter we're gonna take you with us to the hospital, you have some pretty major injuries and we need to make sure you're okay, so I need you to stay very still for me okay.\" He said it in a way that while it was a command from him, it made it seem like it would hurt him if I didn't do what he said, almost like a brother or father. I agreed with him and lay still.\n\nOnce I had gotten to the hospital and was more consious and coherent a police officer came in to my room and told me what had happened. Apparently the guy that I was with had a knife on him and had cut my pants off of my unconcious body and tried having his way with me, but before anything else happened the police had showed up and pulled him off me, all this had come from the wait staff who while hiding had been looking through the kitchen window. He had been taking into custody and was currently in a holding cell. The police officer and I exchanged a few more words and eventually he left aleaving me his best contact numbers stating that when I was feeling up to it I would need to talk to them and tell them what had happened through the night.", "EXCLAIMER: I do not write a lot so please excuse my amateur writing, I want to improve so some honest opinions would do me good, Thank you!\n\nThe ringing sound of the metal fork colliding with a ceramic plate decorated the silent diner. Atop the plate, a half-eaten pancake lay resting in the centre, dressed beautifully with maple syrup oozing slowly from the middle onto the brittle white plate. The piercing and alarming sound of police sirens from afar echoed in their ears, like a constant reminder of their past together.\n\nThe diner was empty, save for the two, they stared into the eyes of each other, not a single word leaving their mouth except for a few grunts and groans. The moonlight shone in from blinds, only overshone by the diner's blindingly stale lights. The flickers came every now and then, tagging the low hum of the bright device with it. The oscillating fan in the corner produced a few squeaks every now and then, generating most of the room's white noise.\n\nA thin wrinkled hand reached out from beneath the table to straighten a dark black tie. The hand moved like a lion creeping in the tall grasses, slow and calculative. It moved up to reposition his glasses, thick lenses enforced in a dark blue frame. The eyes behind it almost seemed void of life or any passion at all. On its last segment of the journey, his hands crept up, caressing the grey and withering strands of hair on his scalp.\n\nOn the other end of the bright red table, sat a man, of similar stature. His royal blue wool suit, barely containing the bulky muscles underneath. His eyes were vibrant and active, his dark hair flowed on his head like a gentle ocean wave. He picked off the crumbs and stains of honey off the edges of his mouth, tapping it with a napkin. His face was lively and joyful, his mouth drawn into a thin line, curving into a smirk.\n\nThe silent tension between the two was so thick it could be cut with a knife. This would seem to go on for a while, but the night was young. And both awaited the first words of the other, almost like it was competition for their lives.\n\nFinally, the younger gentleman spoke up. A deep sigh escaped him before he could get a word out. \"So here we are. It's been what, ten years now?\" said the younger gentleman with a gentle and respectful tone.\n\n\"I suppose it has been a while,\" The older gentleman spoke with a quiet and raspy voice.\n\nThe sirens grew louder in the distance.\n\nThey both reminisced about the very day that led to this moment. Exactly ten years ago, in this very diner, sitting together under broad daylight. The bustling sounds of the other customers and zooms of speeding cars on the street filled the diner. \"Your pancake with maple syrup, sir,\" the young waitress said while gently laying down a plate of a warm pancake. Her eyes danced slowly on the younger gentleman's muscular body, his thick and luscious hair, his kind blue eyes and his handsomely drawn smile. He knew she was staring, but he let her.\n\n\"You should eat it before it gets cold\", said the middle-aged man to the younger lad. The sudden sentence shook the young waitress out of her temporary trance. \"I will,\" muttered the young man while glaring at the elder man with mild discontent, but he knew better than that, and eventually settled to wolf down his meal.\n\n\"You can't keep running from this, son. Once I pass, you will take over as the head\"\n\n\"And if I don't?\" said the young man with a teasing tone.\n\n\"Do you not understand? There is no 'if's, there is only business, business which you will inherit\"\n\n\"I am NOT taking over you fucking mafia, okay?\" shouted the younger man, his booming yell echoed in the tiny diner, shocking the other customers into a stunned silence. Heads turned and eyes stared, there was an uncomfortable silence in the room. The older man let out a deep sigh, his palms wrapping over his face, covering his features and hiding in shame.\n\n\"Would you like me more if I killed someone for you?\", replied the young man in a sarcastic and spiting tone.\n\nThe sentence caught the older man's attention, he looked up and made sure no one else was looking at them anymore. He let out a small smirk, and muttered with foxy eyes, \"Would you?\"\n\nThe younger man looked at his father in astonishment and disappointment. \"You-What? You want me to kill someone? I knew you were going fucking senile but I never knew yo-\"\n\n\"If you do this for me, I'll leave you alone, you'll be free to do whatever hipster shit you want to do for the rest of your life\"\n\n\"What-I......What? But who?\"\n\n\"Police chief, Zach Bunt. The most corrupt cop underground, on the top, he's a model worker. But down there? He's stealing from my boys, millions of dollars worth of goods. Think of it as doing the world a favour, huh? After all, no one likes a bad cop, right?\"\n\n\"I ain't doing shit for you, old man.\"\n\n\"Well think it over, kid. If you decide otherwise, use this\" said the old man as he slid a dark case over the table. \"It's a colt 55, I use it to punish those who deserve it,\" He stood from the table and smacked a 100 dollar bill onto the table, leaving the younger man alone with his thoughts and the sinister case.\n\nThe screech of the wheels on the asphalt road snapped them back into reality, and as they turn to look back at each other, there is sadness in their eyes.\n\n\"Well, now they finally figured it out who did it, huh?\" said the young man as he turned to look at the bright red and blue lights from a not so far distance.\n\n\"Took em long enough,\" said the old man as he did the same.\n\n\"So this is it? This is where it ends? Finally?\"\n\n\"Finally, son. I will pay for my crimes, the murders, the drugs, the extortions. But my biggest crime that I don't think I can atone for, is not being a good father. I'm sorry, son\"\n\nThe sirens now drew close to the diner, six police cars, each one keeping armed S.W.A.Ts anxiously waiting inside for the order. Then a loud shout from the commanding officer thundered over the radio, soldiers rushed out of the vehicles, to take down the biggest mafia head in the world.\n\n\"I love you, son\"\n\n\"I love you too, dad\"\n\nThe soldiers loaded their guns and awaited the order. \"GO!\", shouted the commanding officer, soldiers knocked down doors and broke open glass windows. Chaos ensued, fragments flew everywhere. But nothing was inside, except for the old man sitting in the dark corner, in his hands a colt 55 pistol. His finger on the trigger, the barrel against his apparel. \"Goodbye, son\"\n\nFrom afar, a young man looks at the diner, a loud bang fills the night and a tear slides down his cheek.\n\n\"Goodbye, dad\"\n\nThanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!" ]	3
	[WP] When people die, they're brought back as a ghost. However, they may only communicate with people they've never had a relationship with.	[ "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 Formless\n\n“Death isn’t as scary as the living make it out to be,” the Formless hissed. The words spread like a leaky gas pipe, as its round long shape hovered above the concrete ground.\n\n“So,” I bounced the basketball once, “what’s death like then?” I threw and missed the hoop, crouching forward to pick the ball up again. I knew the answer already, but I’m aware the fresh Formless love being asked that question. \n\n“Sleep,” it replied, circling around the court, delicately lighting the ground beneath with its weak radiance. “It’s like a deep sleep, calming, soothing, warmth in tender liquid.”\n\n“You make it sound like an ad for body lotion.” I took another shot, missed again. “Damn. Highschool qualifier, my ass. I’m never getting through.”\n\nThe Formless glided back towards me. “I remember this sport. I was good at it too,” it hissed, waiting to see how I’m going to fail once more, and I did. \n\n“Damn it!” My grunt echoed across the barren basketball court with the twangs of the bouncing sphere. I hung my head, my vision a fuzzy blue from the twilight sky.\n\n“Correct your form.” \n\n“Damn! Basketball tips from a Formless, now I heard everythin’,” I laughed at the idea as I walked to pick up the ball. It followed. “So, how did you croak?” I asked as I walked back to aim my shot, it continued to follow.\n\n“Dehydration,” it hissed, with no indication of emotion.\n\n“Oh damn, you from Africa or somethin’?” I aligned myself for another attempt.\n\n“You could say that. You should be more considerate in your manner of speaking,” its monotone voice clashed with the sincere message behind its words, “your form, relax your form. Leave the stiffness to my body.”\n\n“Woah!” I cackled, “and you say I should be considerate? I like your humour though. So, you say I should relax my form? What d’you mean by that?”\n\n“Bend your knees slightly, align your arm straight with your wrist. Let the ball rest in your hand, don’t grip.”\n\n“Ok, I think I got it from here.” I shoot, the ball spun with a satisfying swish through the net. “Yes! Damn!” In my surge of joy, I leap for the basketball to try for another shot. “You weren’t lying when you said you were good at this. I’m lucky to have you here.”\n\n“You have nobody to teach you?” the Formless asked.\n\n“Naa,” I looked down as I bounced the ball a couple times, “nobody. Just me and my Mama. Dad coulda taught me if that asshole hadn’t ditched when she was pregnant with me. Apparently, he was super athletic, good at any sport, but loved rock climbing the most. He’d be disappointed in a skinny loser like me, so there’s that,” I aim for another shot, trying to remember the form the Formless taught me.\n\n“You’re wrong, I don’t think you’re a disappointment. I’m happy to be able to finally watch my son grow up until he \njoins me.”\n\nI miss my shot." ]	2
	[WP] Your favorite actor/actress shows up at your door. "I don't know how the hell I got here but you look like a nice person, cover for me tomorrow, won't you?". The next morning you glance back at them crashed on your couch as you leave to pretend to be them for 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.", "I was shocked, to say the least, when i answered the door to find jackie chan pleading for my help. 'You seem nice cover for me tomorrow wont you' he pleaded 's-sure i guess' i replied he said great before helping himself to my pizza roles and crashing for a nap on the couch. So i headed out to the nearby studio he was filming at, i thought it weird jackie chan was filming a movie on site in iowa but eh whatever, apon arriving i preformed the masterful Jackie chan impersonation i had perfected over years of watching his film 'how you doing buddy?' I said to the set director, 'who the hell are you?' He said 'your old friend Jackie here to do an acting' i replied. The director seemed unconvinced 'no your clealry a fat white guy and not jackie chan how did you even get into the studio? Also your Chinese impression is super racist are those clothes pins on your eyes?' I knew i needed to really commit to to convince him 'you think I'm not Jackie? Check out this sick stunt!' I yelled and then attempted to backflip of a table, crashing into a set of trash cans and fracturing my vertabre. I awoke in the hospital days later with the studios lawyers explaining that was in fact not jackie chan who crashed on my couch but a local asian man i had mistaken for Jackie chan, jeeze maybe i am racist." ]	2

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