Split (1)

train · 199k rows

post_text stringlengths 0 17.5k	post_title stringlengths 8 314	comment_texts listlengths 1 74	num_stories int64 1 74
	[WP] You and another have been reincarnated since the dawn of time and always find each other. But not as lovers, as people who really hate one another!	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Alright, you thought to yourself, this motherFker again.\n\nHow many lifetimes you gotta be in before you finally rid of this man?\n\nThe last time he had pushed you off a building. Think it's funny to kill a pet cat that belongs to his (in the motherfker's own word) pesky neighbour. He had fought with them for months before he broke into their apartment and throw you out the window off 3rd floor. \n\nLuckily it was an instant death for you. \n\nBut hey, here you are, a young adult facing that one person you hated with your entire being. It has taken you almost three months to track him down.\n\nOne of your earliest memory was feeling utmost pain after landing on the concrete floor. You remember writhing for a short while, the lights in your eyes went out the same way your life slips away from your grip. You jolted awake, immediately wailing for your new mum, the third one you have been given with. \n\nYou saw him, walking slowly with a cane in his hand. He sat down, watching kids playing at nearby playground. You slide up to him, patting him on his back before you take your seat. \n\nRemember me, you asked him quietly. \n\nHe smirked. Yeah, he said, crossing both his hands on his laps. You're not the first to look after me. \n\nShut up, you said. It does not matter, you said again. \n\nI'm sorry I was such an asshole, he threw his glance away from you to his left. I deserved to be hunted down this way. \n\nWhy are you such a hateful person?, you muse to yourself. \n\nBecause I'm a broken man. I wanted everyone to know how broken I was by breaking others precious belongings.\n\nYou don't have to be so broken though, you could have do it differently to express yourself, you told him. \n\nHe shrugged. I don't deserve this life, you are here to do what you wanna do. Just get it over with.\n\nHe looked at you, placed one hand on top of yours, squeeze it gently. But I forgive what you're about to do to me. I really do. And I hope you can find it in you to forgive what I did, he said through tears streaming down his face. Because I do not want to live another life being so hateful.\n\nYou took your hand back. Look at his face with a thousand questions running through your mind. \n\nWith one push, he fell to the ground. Less than a minute after, he no longer moves. \n\n\"I'm sorry, I still hate you,\" you said to no one but echoes throughout the hills. \n\nOne lifetime gone, but another coming up. You wonder if it's the same person for your next lifetime. For you have killed him four times now, with him torturing you for the last three lifetime. \n\nAn endless cycle. But that's life." ]	2
	[WP] Every single cat, both wild and domestic, in the world has turned into dragons.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Gornticia blew puffs of warm smoke around her as she approached Nipfall. As one of the few villages where dragons and humans lived together in relative harmony, Nipfall was considered neutral by both species for hundreds of years. Landing in a blackened field, the golden-scaled dragon stretched her claws and long neck, trying to loosen the knots in her muscles. \n\n“You look like you could use a drink,” said an old man, riding a muzzled wyvern. Its wings were harnessed with leather and steel, looping under the chest to secure the saddle. Gornticia had no love for her bi-pedal brethren, twisted products of human interference with nature itself, but seeing this one’s yellow slit eyes, similar to her own, gave her pause. Perhaps all of the Great Drago’s creatures deserved mercy and respect. “Where did you fly in from?”\n\n“From the West. Far West,” she replied. “Perhaps you have heard of Topeka?”\n\n“Ah yes, the Mericlaw drago are most welcome here, pilgrim. If I may suggest, the Bell and Hoard is the best inn in all of Nipfall.” He rode off as another dragon circled the landing field and made its descent. \n\nThe inn and tavern was spacious and loud, adorned broken helmets, spears, and scratching posts from the Before Times. Gornticia ambled to the bar and the floor shook under her feet. A young Sinodrago poured a chalice of milk for her, unbidden.\n\n“I didn’t order this.”\n\n“It’s gratis, for all newcomers who make the pilgrimage. I’m Fondranian.”\n\n“Gornticia of the Tarnished Plains.”\n\n“What was your old name?”\n\nThe dragon closed her eyes and remembered the sunny pink room where she stayed as a little girl’s captive for two years before the New Times. “Back then, I was known as Princess Milk Dew Whiskerkins the Third.”\n\n“The Third? Your companion was not one for brevity.”\n\n“Apparently, others preceded my arrival, although I never saw another.” She swirled the chalice in her claw before drinking it in one gulp. “We parted on less than civil terms.”\n\nIn those early bloody decades, few human owners survived, and Fondranian said nothing as he cleared the empty cup. Old talk made her pine for simpler, smaller times.\n\n“Do you have mead?” she asked.\n\n“Only the finest. Perhaps you’d like a room as well? It’s a long journey from Mericlaw.” The barkeep read her mind. “Our rooms have the plushest, shiniest hordes to sleep on, or, if you prefer something more historical, there is our Box suite: a smaller cave lined with cardboard and newspaper. Real ones too. The humans print them every day on premises.”\n\n“That is quite a dedication to comfort.”\n\nFondranian smiled. “If you fits, you sits.”\n\n“I’ll take the box, and please have the mead sent up in a bubbling fountain. I’m feeling nostalgic.”" ]	2
	[WP] An assassin has come to kill you. However, the contract negotiated failed to specify when you were wanted dead, and so they've just been chilling in your home playing video games, cooking, cleaning... etc. etc. A long time has passed, and people are beginning to ask questions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Honey, dinner's ready!\"\n\nMy wife came down the stairs after a long day in her office. I always cooked for her, even before this new pandemic, and today was no different. And as always, she had her outfit all made up, even though it was not a special occasion.\n\nI always loved this about her. From Victorian styled gowns to modern suits, she never went a day without making sure that she was best dressed for anything. And I don't think I have ever seen her wear the same outfit twice in a month, though she never seems to have that many clothes in the closet.\n\n\"What have you made me today, sweety?\"\n\n\"Only the best Tofu in all of Britain, just like you like it.\"\n\n\"Darling, you know that isn't a native dish for Britain!\"\n\n\"Of course, that's what makes mine the best!\"\n\nSitting down to eat, I remember for the hundredth time the first time I cooked for her. She visited for who knows what when we were both just out of high school, and I knew this was my time to shine. I prepared a delicious garlic bread, paired with my favourite Celestial soup. Since it wasn't yet dinner, I had not wanted to completely spoil her appetite, but it didn't matter in the end. She loved the side dishes, and immediately asked me to cook a main course. I whipped up a great steak, first asking her how she wanted it cooked (her choice was rare, if I am remembering correctly) and made every effort to make it perfect. It was a natural success. She later asked if she could stay with me, even if just to enjoy my meals every day. \n\n\"Thanks for the meal, honey,\" She kissed me on the cheek, \"I sadly have a meeting in 5, so I must get back to my room\"\n\n\"No dessert tonight then?\" \n\n\"Ha, maybe once we are done.\"\n\nAs she closed the door a smiled. There couldn't be a better person I could have asked for, even if they are on a contract to kill me one day.", "Don't have time for all of it, so here's Part One\n\n\"God damn it, Vick! Either kill me already or clean your hands of Cheetos dust before you touch the computer,\" I said grumpily, carefully wiping the orange powder from between the keys.\n\nVick was sitting back on the sofa lethargically and half-watching a movie. He was my lazy, useless roommate that I didn't ask for. He ate my snacks, slept on my couch, played games on my computer, and didn't clean up shit.\n\nHe was also hired to assassinate me.\n\nI didn't know who hired him or why. Part of his contract included an NDA of sorts, for obvious reasons. It also included a stipulation that Vick the Assassin be paid 70% in advance - his reputation preceded him.\n\nHowever, there was a rather fortunate typo. The hit was to be completed by October 31st, 3020.\n\nWhen Vick noticed this, he kept it to himself until the contract was signed and finalized, then he decided to take a vacation. However, since he eventually wanted to complete his job, he kept tabs on me by living in my house.\n\n\"Vick, are you listening to me?\"\n\n\"Yeah, you're cleaning the Cheetos dust. Cheers.\"\n\n\"No, I'm telling you to clean your hands off before using the computer in the future.\"\n\n\"Ah, sure, mate. Will do.\"\n\nI was fairly certain that Vick wasn't actually British in any way, but I never pressed the issue. After all, I was born and raised in California, so what would I know about being British?\n\nI finished cleaning the keyboard and moved to step into the living room. I almost walked through the tripwire that Vick had set in the doorway, but he didn't really try to hide it. I sighed and pulled out my multi-tool, which I now kept on me at all times, and cut the wire with its scissors.\n\nVick called to me from the sofa, speaking through a mouthful of chips. \"Almost had ya, mate. You're a real slippery bastard, you know that? Hardest hit I've had in a long while.\"\n\nHe made sure to lay traps around the house, just so he could argue that he was still trying to kill me. He never hid them very well, however, and he treated it like some kind of game. Like I was finding lethal Easter eggs. One time, he put cyanide in my toothpaste, but left the bottle on my bathroom sink.\n\nI sat down next to Vick on the sofa and looked at the TV. The channel was running a Star Wars marathon, and The Empire Strikes Back was just starting.\n\n\"You know, mate, this is the best one in the series. Irvin and Lawrence were the perfect cunts for George's vision.\"\n\nIt was exactly how I always felt, though I probably wouldn't call Kershner or Kasdan 'cunts'. \n\n\"Yeah, you said it,\" I replied, grabbing a chip. \"Can you hand me the French onion dip?\"\n\nVick was a nuisance, but you know, he wasn't really all that bad." ]	3
	[WP] Two equally destined heroes compete to see who's cliched enough to take down the villain	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Light shimmered across the edge of Durendal. The holy glow seemed to whisper a promise to all evil who dare stand in its path. Talic brought the sword forward pointing it towards the Dark Lord.\n\n“Your time has come Aziel. All the suffering you have brought… I will bring it down upon you two fold.” \n\n“Ah the blade of Durendal. So it has found a wielder… But will it be enough I wonder?” With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath Talic erupted towards the ceiling. Jumping nimbly to the side he rolled as he hit the ground regaining his feet. \n\n “The sword of evil’s bane. Quite an amazing artifact, but also quite useless at a distance.” Aziels yellow eyes twinkled with amusement. “It’s said that the sword has a mind of its own. It will kill all with evil intentions in their heart. Including the wielder. I am shocked to know a mortal exists that the blade won’t kill instantly upon touching the hilt.”\n\n“I was chosen for a reason...” Talic said, walking out from behind the smoking pillar. \n\n“Durendal’s blood runs in my veins.” Aziels' eye twitched slightly. \n\n“Oh my, is that so? The gods bless you with their own blood?” He threw his head back and laughed aloud. A sickening, mocking sound. \n\n“Then come and face your doom, half blood.” Aziel began swirling his hands above his head. The glass windows surrounding the throne room shattered inwards as a cold wind began to circle, dark clouds forming against the ceiling. He reached out and with a loud crack lightning struck his hand. It crackled with power as he brought it forward to aim at Talic. Just as he was about to release, a separate burst of electricity slammed into his outstretched arm, throwing off his aim. The bolt crashed into the middle of the ceiling creating a hole as stone and timber fell to the floor. Sunlight peeked through the dark clouds of the magical storm. \n\nAziel quickly scanned the room looking for the one who dared to strike him. His eyes fell upon her and his anger rose to new heights. His yellow eyes constricted and he snarled. \n\n“What is the meaning of this Ria?!”\n\n“I thank you adventurer for playing your part, I will take it from here” Ria reached up willing another lightning strike into her outstretched hand. With a flash and a crack, she began rolling the lightning between her finger tips.\n\n“You thought me your servant?” Her laugh was soft but hard. “When I first came to you I couldn’t believe you didn’t recognize me. Every evening I expected to wake up in the dungeons, or not wake up at all.” She reached out for a second bolt, and the air buzzed with electricity.\n\n“15 years ago you came to my village and murdered everyone. But not me… not me. You just laughed as I cried over the body of my mother and father. So I traveled for 10 years and learned from the best magicians the world over. Then I realized… I needed to learn more of the dark path. But alas there are so few good teachers, so I decided…” She smiled, a feral rage hidden behind her eyes.\n\n“Who better to learn from than the man I am destined to kill” She reached back and threw both hands forward unleashing the lightning. Aziel reached forward and met the attack with outstretched hands. However, redirecting the attack was harder than he had anticipated. He could not send it back at the traitor or towards the swordsman. Instead the lightning was sent streaking out in random directions striking the walls and ground.\n\nAziel stood leering at the young woman he took under his wing 5 years ago. He had seen the rage behind her eyes back then, it is why he chose her, but this was unexpected. Furious, his muscles tensed and pulsed with demonic power. His clawed hands opening and closing.\n\n“I am impressed you were able to deceive me like that, Ria. It’s a shame really. You would have been a wonderful general. But now I will have to rip out your still beating heart.” Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a gleam and quickly formed a shield around his forearm. The blade hit the shield with a thunderous blow. The shield cracked and shattered and the sword bit into his forearm. He howled in pain. The blade brought anguish like nothing he had ever felt before. He struck out a frenzied blow with clawed hand, scraping and gouging into Talics breast plate.\n\n“You must run!” Talic shouted to the robed women, staggering backwards. \n\n“Only the sword of Durendal can hope to kill him. I have spent decades mastering myself and learning the way of the sword for this exact moment.” He stuck out like a snake, landing a glancing blow on the Dark Lord’s side.\n\n“Me? Run?!” Ria was glowing with an eerie light. She was siphoning energy from the magical storm above. She reached out with invisible hands and wrapped them around Aziel. Pinning his arms to his side.\n\n“My master died to give me this chance.” The glow around her increased until it was hard to look directly at her. The storm above, gone. Aziel tensed and sharp spines cut through the skin on his arms and the invisible bonds that held them. \n\n\"I’ve been to the oracle in Cayalt. I’ve seen through her eyes. Aziel dead by my hand, Durendal through his black heart” He rushed forward striking at Aziels exposed neck. Aziel dodged to the side and sent a beam of plasma from his fingers. The beam hit a glancing blow on Talics breast plate, melting the metal and singeing the skin underneath. He stumbled and retreated a few steps. Ria laughed.\n\n“That charleton? A fake. My master was the last to have the true sight. ‘When the black sun appears, a hero born low will emerge, with magic light they will fell the evil one.’” Talic reached up and unbuckled his damaged breast plate at the shoulders. It fell to the ground with a clang. Underneath was a torn and burnt tabard. On the chest was the image of an eclipsed sun. \n\n“The black sun” He said, with a hint of pride in his voice. Ria rolled her eyes\n\n“A coincidence. Do you remember the last eclipse 27 years ago? It occurred the day of my birth. My father was a farmer, and my mother a local midwife. One is not born much lower than that.” She reached out again with invisible bonds, this time grasping Aziel by the ankles and pulling hard. He came crashing to the floor.\n\n“I grew up an orphan. Living on the streets, everyday a fight to survive. Stealing food to settle a stomach that hadn't tasted food for a week. Eventually I was caught and brought before the Duke and Duchess. They took pity on me and took me into their household. Eventually I became like part of the family. Learning the sword with their youngest, and learning battle tactics with their eldest. I labored and earned this tabard through hard work.” He rushed forward and swung down with all his strength at the prone Aziel. The Dark Lord rolled to the side avoiding the death blow. The sword became lodged in the stone. Ria pulled on the bindings dragging Aziel towards her.\n\n“I spent years studying under every greatest magical masters in the realm. Elven spellweavers, dwarven smiths, human enchanters. The other students shunned me, because I picked everything up faster than they did. It wasn’t until my true master took me under her wing that I learned to trust again. I won’t betray her trust now. She died giving me the power and knowledge she had accumulated through her long lifespan. I have blended all 3 forms of magic into something the world has never seen!” She reached out with her mind and grabbed hold of the knight's sword. She wrenched it from the stone beneath and flung it at the prone Aziel. He rolled again but not fast enough. The blade pierced his left arm pinning it to the ground. He roared in rage and pain.\n\n“This is the end filth.” Zia spat, reaching for the sword.\n\n“Don’t!” Shouted Talic. But it was too late. \n\nHer hand touched the hilt and she froze. Time stood still. Then Zia was surrounded by a blinding light, a whirlwind of energy ripping the cloak from her shoulders. Raven hair pulled from its braid to whip skyward. Talic shielded his eyes. There was a low humming noise that penetrated to his bones. Then the light storm vanished as quickly as it came. Talic removed his hand from his eyes to gaze upon the mage. There she stood clutching the sword, hair now as shocking white as snow. Then she fell to her knees, breathing hard. Aziel scrambled to his feet and backed away towards his throne. \n\n“Another can wield the blade?!” His voice was tight with anger and hatred. Zia tried to stand, and Talic rushed forward to steady her.\n\n“The sword’s trial is not an easy thing to go through.” Talic said softly.\n\n“It would seem so…” Zia mumbled. \n\n“What now?” Talic motioned towards the sword and the glowering Aziel slowly backing away towards his throne. \n\n“It would seem this blade was originally formed by the dwarves, for I can sense their work upon the blade. But there is something different… here” she twisted the pommel and a small mechanism revealed a crystal lens with dwarven runes below. \n\n“What do they say?” Talic asked.\n\n“It says ‘Light from the lightless will reveal the truth’...” Suddenly the room became deathly quiet. The light coming from the hole in the ceiling began to lessen. They both looked up through the hole and saw.\n\n“An Eclipse...” Zia stood transfixed.\n\n“Light from the lightless...“ Talic reached for Zia’s sword hand and forced it upwards, facing the crystal towards the eclipse. A deep hum and the the sword rose into the air spinning in place. The crystal growing darker and darker as if sucking in all light and not letting it escape. As the peak of the eclipse passed there was a loud rending crack and a flash as two swords floated down. Zia and Talic exchanged glances and reached for the handles. The blades were twins. One side of the blade shone with brilliant white glow, the other was dark as pitch absorbing all light. The both turn towards Aziel.\n\n“The prophecy did say ‘they’...” Zia smiled." ]	2
	[WP] You have a weird fridge. When you open it, sometimes you get someone else’s fridge. Some are full, some are bare. It’s a curious harmless fun. But this morning, you open it and find that someone’s inside.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Everyday, I open my, ahem, \"magifridge\", in the morning to find whatever shows up that they and try to make a breakfast out of that. Sometimes there is some weird stuff in it. Once, I found it filled with exactly half-used ketchup bottles; Another only a single live fruit bat. It was almost a game at this point: one point each day if I find a normal fridge like my old one. I got 28 points throughout about half a year since purchasing this fridge from the yard sale of the local soothsayer.\n\nI am definitely not getting a point today. As I grumpily woke up in the cold Monday morning and stumbling to the fridge, I almost threw up when I opened it.\n\nBelle Delphine is in there in a pink, very revealing outfit and winked at me.\n\nI closed the magifridge. And opened it again.\n\nA reek of dead mouse wafted into my nose, as it is exactly what it contained.\n\nBetter than Belle, I guess. I pulled out one of the less rotten dead mice and prepared myself breakfast." ]	2
	[WP] When you sleep you don't dream, you see through the eyes of a monstrous beast. Up until now it was contained, but now it's free. Now it's heading straight 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I woke up with a jolt.\n\n\"Shit! Shit! Shit!\" I scrambled off from my bed and immediately grabbed my coat and my satchel as quickly as possible. Never mind that the room is spinning, I need to get out of here, fast! \n\nWhat was that?! I turned around and felt the ground rumble. It's close, it's definitely close! \n\nI ran towards the stable and climbed on top of my horse. I only managed to put on the smallest and flimsiest saddle, but who cares?! I'm about to die! \n\n\"GIDDY UP!\" Jean neighed and ran towards the forest with power on his legs, sensing my fear, he snuffed and leaned his head back. I sighed and brushed his hair. \"Faster Jean. Please, we need to survive.\"\n\nThe earth shook violently and I grabbed my sash. Dear god. \n\n\"Jean. Go, I'll jump from here. You're free.\" As if understanding what I mean, He stubbornly stopped and circled around. \"Jean...\" \n\nThen the rumbling stopped. I gulped and looked around. Suddenly, a dark mist circled around the perimeter and Jean huffed. Stomping around trying to locate the danger while actively trying to hide me. I patted his neck and hugged him. This might be the last time I'll hug Jean. After all he's the only thing my dad left me. \n\nJean stilled at a direction and I gulped. The trees parted and out came a big mass of a dark entity. It growled. But not at me, but at Jean.\n\n\"Azarson.\" It bellowed. A deep, guttural and distorted voice emitted from the beast. \"When will you break free from being a horse? Wake up!\" \n\nJean, as if turned into a dummy, froze. Just like a statue. Then, he emitted a dark fog that covered his whole body. \n\n\"Jean! No!\" I felt the saddle disappear from bellow me. I want to cry so bad. Who is Jean? What is Jean?!\n\nA strong vice like grip snaked around my waist and slowly settled me down. The fog dissipated and revealed a boy around my age. Wearing a dark, ominous armor with a leather finish. His long hair is braided just like Jean's and a small scar on his eye. Just like Jean's, again. He looked towards me and smiled. \"Katti... I mean, My Lady Kattianna.\" \n\nWhat?\n\nThe beast in front of us growled and slapped Jean, I mean, Azarson away from me.\n\n\"JEAN!\" \n\n\"Get your dirty hands off of my daughter Azarson.\"\n\n\"My apologies, Your Highness.\"\n\nDaughter? What? \n\nThe beast chuckled and it slowly transformed and shrunk down to a size of a tall man. Black Silk robes with gold accents, long, silky black hair that tumbled down his back. Gold eyes and a face that resembles mine. Only masculine, and sinister.\n\n\"Kattianna. I'm back. I'm sorry that I disappeared. Your mother...\" His face scrunched up in pain. \"We both fought both people and beast men that are opposed with our love. Sadly, she died and I was captured. It may not be long for me, Katt, those 10 years I'm gone. But it must be for you. That's why I want you to see things from my perspective. So that you won't be lonely. It wasn't that long until your uncle found me and helped me kill those bastard beastmen and claimed the crown again.\" \n\nHe raised his hands to me, his face filled with relief, love and happiness. Memories flashed by my eyes. His and Mom's warm smile, his small laughs and mom's loud ones.. I miss them, so much! \n\n\"Katty, let's go home?\"" ]	2
	[WP] You just got deployed for the first time, and already you’re in a massive skirmish. The tides have turned in the enemy’s favor, and as you see them rapidly advancing you will yourself to not give up; and to fight til your last breath. The gods admire your bravery, and take pity on 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I stand alone, the last of many, and steel my will for the last time.\n\nMy comrades, my battle brothers, litters the battlefield around me - their corpses pile up all over each other until a small mound is formed and I stand, drenched in the blood of my men and enemies.\n\nAn animalistic cry I never knew I had in me broke out as the insanity of war breaks me and all I see is red and the enemy.\n\nArrows covered the skies as I raise my shield and charged forward, my sanity lost and my blade up high.\n\nI felt each and every shot that landed on me but still I press on, my head and heart shielded by my iron shield, and as I step within range of my endless foe, I let loose the wrath of a mad man.\n\nI chop, I slash, I cut, I stab.\n\nWithout a heed for my own life, I fought with the ferocity of a wounded bear, knowing only to bring down as many of my foes with me before my final end.\n\nI see it in their eyes. Their fear. I smell it in the air. Their courage turning into cowardice when they realize that I would not stay dead.\n\nNot without making sure they die with me.\n\nWith countless arrows sticking out of me, an endless amount of cuts and slashes all over me and their blood literally splattered all over my body, I press on with animalistic snarls and unquestioning ferocity.\n\nI know not of the time as day turns into night.\n\nMy enemies began to fled and as I watch them flee into the sunset, behind me lay the corpses of an entire army. I stare at their back unmoving, no longer the strength to do so and I let out one long breath.\n\nMy eyes glazed over but I refuse to buckle.\n\nAnd so, with my death, I leave behind a legend.\n\nOne man against an army.\n\nI did it. I've protected my homeland.\n\nNow... I simply wish to rest." ]	2
	[WP] Your merchant company has grown tremendously since you started trading with the demons, who have a surprising interest in literature. Since then you've been pen pals with numerous high-ranking devils, and have formed a rather unusual book club.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 merchant business is always slow that is until the tall man in the suit walked in.\nHe told me that my shop would never go anywhere unless I let him helpe all's I had to do was sign my name on a paper simple enough I thought he was going to take my shop.no....he did much worse.\n Ever since I signed that paper strange people would walk through my door.they always wore suits and never smiled when a regaler looking person walks in it weirds me out now.They usually buy books lots and lots of books I have all these sculptures and cool looking toys but,no books even the kids.\nThen one day a man walked in the shop but when he walked in a woman stabbed him multiple times in the chest and no one flinched.I was horrified a man came up to me and asked what was wrong when I told him he simply said \" demons\" a proceed to check out maze runner.After a few months it got normal and I had started to grow find of some of the higher ranking demons like kirchaka, zimtue, and futuue. I had set up a book club every one lived me and then one day they invited me to a party everyone would be there even Lucifer himself.\nWhen I got there made sure to keep my secret mine I didn't need anyone knowing what I was really doing there.then he came up to me Lucifer he told me he knew what I was a about to do but I beat him to the punch as he dropped to his knees a bleed out on the floor.while he finished dying I pulled out my katanas both had been possesd by demons and held more power than a full infinity gauntlet.I then massacered the party goers.\nIt's just the life of a demon Hunter.", "The footstep landed on the fourth step leading up to my register. That single footstep was the first moment Cardinal, my overweight cat, noticed the man. My wife got me that cat for my fourtieth birthday. She died a few months after. Now, I'm balding, fourty-two, penniless, and I have an obese cat that I don't feed, somehow doesn't die, and keeps gaining weight. Cardinal, the gift we could never afford, made me aware of this man in my shop. His tail twitched.\n\nThe man I now stared at was just over five feet tall, stocky, peg legged, and had on mismatched gloves, one white, the other black. How he made no noise walking into a decrepit book store with a wood floor on a peg leg, that is a question I still can’t figure out, thirty years later. \n\n“I’d like to buy your cat.” \n\nHis question caught me off guard. Never in my life did anyone express any interest in the future of my feline counterpart. His voice registered so high on the octave scale, my glasses shook as if to suggest they were about to explode.\n\n\"Come again.\" I said. \n\n\"I'd like,\" he now was irritated, \"to buy,\" a small gesture with his black glove, \"your cat.\"\n\n\"Yeah I heard the first time. I heard you even though you sound like the melting witch from that fabled scene in the Wizard of Oz.\" I took a breath to make sure I wasn't speaking too fast. \"I sell books here. Not cats. Get out.\"\n\n\"I think you misunderstood.\" The visitor's voice shifted to a rumble. It was now low like a motorcycle engine. \"The cat is coming with me.\"\n\n\"Took you long enough to find me. I think I must have eaten fourteen hundred humans waiting on you chap.\" \n\nThis last bit of exchange took me by surprise. This last voice I just heard sounded Northern Irish. The voice came from the direction where Cardinal sat. I could not spot anyone else in the store.\n\nThe stunted man took no notice of new voice that entered the conversation. \"Like I said, the cat is coming with me. I'll be glad to pay. Handsomely. You see this cat is worth quite a bit of money.\" The voice this time was normal. \n\n\"Who in the hell do you think you are trying to buy my cat? Our with ya!\"\n\nThe short man, planted his feet into the ground. \n\n\"Unmovable\", I thought. Why does this guy want this cat? \n\nHe had the audacity to ask for a glass of wine and said it would be best if we started negotiating right then. \n\n\"While you're drinking your Cabernet, and figuring out how much I cost, you mind passing me the prereleases you just got? I think Martin's Winds of Winter finally came out.\"\n\nIt was that Irish voice again. It was definitely my cat. My cat was talking to us. \n\n\"What did he just… what is this cat!?\n\nThe short man inhaled a small bit of air, and began to explain. \"I want to pay you money for that cat. That cat is a demon.\"\n\n\"A leeee...mon? Spanish for lemon?\"\n\n\"No. It's a demon.\" He waved to the back, pointing at the wine. I scurried off and brought it back, this time without hesitation. \"Thank you for the wine. I recently had surgery on my vocal chords. They throw my voice all over the place when my throat is dry.\" He took a sip, and his voice turned into one of a Cambridge Scholar. \"This cat. He is a demon, who has a surprising interest in literature. I would like to trade for him.\"\n\n\"You want to give me money in exchange for this cat?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"You would like me to trade my demon, who just happens to have a 'surprising' interest in literature?\"\n\n\"That is correct.\" The glass now empty he tapped the rim indicating a necessary refill. Although he was the one drinking, I felt drunk. \"This store is a portal location. The cat, being here,\" he gestured to the shop, \" is blocking the next demon from coming into our world. I am going to take this cat and give you triple your annual salary.\"\n\nMy heart nearly stopped. \n\n\"Next week another demon will come into your store. On that day, my cousin Cheffrey will send a book to you via USPS, you will read that book, and upon completing the read, you will learn his address and will send the new animal via FedEx to his address. It'll be our little \"book club.\" You get a demon, we send a book. You read that book, send us a demon, and we reward you greatly for the demon. This process will repeat. Over the next few years, you will see approximately 22 animals come through here.\"\n\nImpalpable. There are no words. Speechless. I rocked on my heels and couldn't find the next thing to say.\n\nHe slid to me a bundle of money and scooped up Cardinal into his arms.\n\n\"But my wife gave him to me!\"\n\n\"Unfortunately, that's not true. She found the door from whence he came. Pedantic here, or Cardinal as you call him, he...he… ate your wife.\"\n\nMy breath disappeared from my soul.\n\nThe man had the audacity to show me a grin and say, \"Sorry 'bout that chap!\" He turned and began to walk out. \n\nAs the man was leaving, I managed to sheepishly get out the next words, \"What are they for? These animals?\"\n\n\"A cafe of course! A cat cafe!\"" ]	3
	[WP] When Humanity left the Sol system, they discovered they were the most advanced race in the galaxy. As time passed, Humanity became the advanced precursor race of the galaxy. Tell the story of the species that came after us.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Don’t laugh. We were like that once…”\n\nHis smile turned into facial contradiction.\n\n“We were never aquatic… Nor did we have tentacles… Also, we had bones!”\n\nShe floated down towards her pupil through the seal doors that made their vessel, her body, almost spider-like, with four thing limbs. Almost like a spider monkey, but genetically edited to be suited for space travel. Of course this meant the gravity of their former home would prove almost lethal, the pressure would’ve been enormous of frail bones that had never set foot in a natural gravity well for thousands of generations.\n\n“No, clumsy. We were clumsy like that. But this is a good sign...” \n\nThey were watching the screen that had a live feed to a droid camera, made to look like the local fauna. Against all odds of intelligent life repeating progress on the same planet that Sapiens had destroyed, after the disappointment of the “cousin” species which had all died in the anthropocene great extinction, Sol 3, Terra as it was known in ancient times, had signs of primitive tribal culture.\n\nThey were witnessing octopi going out on land to cook their prey over a fire. The thing that got the young biology student laughing was the image of one such smaller and younger octopus rushing hastily, in a slimy slithering way to water, after it had mishandled the stick with the fish over the fire and had a flame burn on of its tentacles. \n\nThe more remarkable thing that only the doctor noticed was the similarity of the other octopi in the group that moved their eyes, almost mimicking ape laughter. This would be the first instance in which invertebrates displayed emotion on a recording and she was eager enough to send the annotated collected data back to the Orion-Cygnus Academy of Biology.\n\n“Since Sapiens left this planet, we put little to no emphasis on water dwelling species…” she began thinking out loud, as almost all explorer caste members do. “I think there was an oversight in monitoring the aquatic species.” \n\n“Agreed, but there were no markers. There is little possibility for proto-civilizations to form in the absence of tool use and fire handling…”\n\nHer student was right, the texts were all describing the two criteria as necessary for society to develop, as well as forms of communication and brains that allow it. But nowhere did the old guidance point to non-liquid dwelling species as being capable of coming on dry land to cook their meat. Moreover, there was no indication that octopi would form social groups like they were witnessing.\n\n“Zoom in on that pink one, please…” she continued. Her pupils dilated to sink the miracle of civilisation in. “Is that… garment?”\n\n“No, doctor, looks like shells…”\n\n“They are shells, but notice the symmetrical display? It has the same pattern on the other side. Bring back the image from 30 secs ago.”\n\n“You’re right! They are symmetrical!”\n\nThe LEDs of their exoskeletal central units were both blinking, a sign of anti-dopamine release, so they could focus, unobstructed by excitement. The student was not used to this, this was his first survey, fresh from the Academy’s learning pods. He could make out the nearly silent ticks of the hormonal balancing gear that all exploratory caste were issued out in the field. But once the juices kicked in, the focus would be back to the screen… and to her mentor. It was indeed a rare honour to be working with her, the woman that had shifted from exobiology to archobiology after retiring. He knew this would go great on his resume. Even more now that he got a one in a thousand years break and discovered signs of society in the unlikeliest of places: the ancestral home of the species.\n\n“You know what, doctor?” he hastily added, to impress the veteran explorer. “I believe those are used as armour.”\n\n“Why do you say that?”\n\n“For one, they all cover the most exposed parts of the cephalopod’s body when it would lounge at prey.”\n\n“Can you do a quick simulation?”\n\n“Sure thing, doctor.”\n\nAfter entering the parameters for their AI algo to repro on screen, they witnessed the first simulation of shells being used as armour, with a spiked coral thrusted forward as a weapon.\n\n“Interesting… Quite interesting. How many visual monitors do we have in this area? I’m interested in those that may be submerged.”\n\n“Well, they’re quite ancient. I don’t know if they’re leak proof.”\n\n“How long till a diagnosis on the array of monitors?”\n\n“Doctor… Array is a bit of an overstatement… We only have 5 functional with video feed. The rest are just limited sensor data. I doubt any of them will be submersible…”\n\n“Well then we’ll just have to make one ourselves.”\n\n“Again, doubt we have the materials for liquid pressure.”\n\n“Ok, then we order them… How long would that take?”\n\n“Forty cycles, minimum. There’s little traffic in these parts of the galaxy. We’d be more lucky to barter with some of the gas extraction crews near Sol V”.\n\n“Ok, let’s do that then… Don’t want to wait in my cryopod and miss out on all of this.”\n\nThey were truly in awe at the spectacle they saw. The only other fire handling species in the known galaxy would be an unexpected invertebrate.\n\nAs they were preparing to depart for Sol V, the student called her to the screen to show her one final thing that looked familiar.\n\n“Doctor, doctor! Come look at this!”\n\n“What is it?”\n\nThey were both left speechless: the armoured octopus produced something like a satchel from underneath one of the shells. It then took out three pearls and placed it on a rock near the fire. Another octopus then took what looked like a sharp shell in its tentacle, and with two tentacles pulling the spit from the fire, placed it on some algae on a rock. It then cut a piece of the fish and rolled it in the algae. Having done so, it used another tentacle to take the pearls from the armoured octopus and handing it the cooked fish wrapped in algae. The armoured octopus, in turn, switched it among its tentacles, finally handing it over to the smaller octopus that had burnt its tentacle over the fire.\n\nIt looked like the planet had found another apex predator.", "We are not the first, not by a million years. They built and created and expanded, until they stopped. We wouldn't make the same mistake. Upon this desert world we look up at the eroded tower, only one word remains engraved on it with what appears to be a crude stone tool:\" liberty\". Ironic, for liberty was their downfall. Liberty with advancement of technology, culture, and spirit. We came here looking for their remains as we did on countless other worlds. Each and every one looked the same, obliterated.\n\nIt wasn't war that ended them, nor inner conflict that ate society from within. But rather they were flawed in nature. They sought to advance and conquer, better the lives of their species. We are much wiser.\n\nWe are the second sons of an uncaring universe, the upgrade upon the prototypes, we are not like them. The resemblance is there yes, yet any comparison would be utterly wrong for the simple fact that while they ascended the bounds of mind and mortality, they only found despair. Despair and a killing silence.\n\nWe know what bounds not to cross, which roads are forbidden. Only because they made the wrong choices.\n\nEntering the tower we see a pile of ash and writings on the wall. The fact we understand their language means there is a connection, but the sands of time have killed any strings that might have been attached between us. the presence of their mind is overwhelming here. Where in all other planets it was the shadow of a feeling, here, we are clearly in the midst of one of them. The ash on the floor parts and forms nonsensical sentences about salvation and dread. I spit on the floor and leave, truly pathetic.\n\nThey became voids shaped like gods, holes carved out of the divine. They ascended, but at what cost?", "They stood around the opening in the hill, more a lone mountain really. In the vast sweeps of the rolling dunes it alone stood tall. Kik, The leader of the expedition, stood at the entrance. The wind blew sand down on them like clouds that forgot to float. But the wind itself seemed to be scared of this place, because it never moved a leaf on their heads since they had reached the opening.\n\nWhen it was discovered a century ago, it was assumed to be a natural phenomenon, albeit a strange one. However, a decade before, the theory of strange moving blocks under the ground had been completely disproven. 5 years ago, the college had decided to make the first expedition to this hell-scape with no place to plant your roots at night.\n\nThat expedition had discovered the unnatural nature of the mountain, yet made no further progress due to poor planning. The nutrients needed in the boxes had been underestimated, and no one had been prepared for the boxes to dry out so fast either, unfortunately this left the expedition members with no way to take in what little nutrients they had brought. \n\nThere had been accusations of greed and haste thrown between the administration of the college and the professors. On more than one occasion fights had broken out including a particularly surprising one between the college president and the expedition leader. This has quickly turned into a brawl encompassing most of the campus, now known as ‘The Wilted day’. No blame was ever officially laid, but that didn’t matter in the end, five of the expedition had died including one of the leading geologists of the age.\n\nThis time they had been prepared or at least as much as possible. They had come in the coolest and what passed for wettest months here. Within a week the hollow under the sand had been found on imaging scanners. It had taken two more weeks to slowly dig to the hollow and make it accessible. Less than a month was left on their itinerary, still all previous plans were thrown out and only the hollow mattered. It was as if they there was some collective pull to uncover this mystery. \n\nKik stared into the darkness of the tunnel, at last, he took a step forward and then another. Each step being easier than the last. The others followed as closely as they could. Each facing an innate fear of the underground, but none wanted to be left out of whatever lay undiscovered at the heart of this mountain. However, Kik continued to speed up until he was running as fast as his old stalks would carry him. At times his light disappearing around a corner, and the pursuers, not being crazed, would slow down a bit to avoid the walls or missing a turn.\n\nEven Kik didn’t understand what he was doing. The only thing on his mind was finding the source. The source of what, he didn’t know, but each step brought him closer. \n\nThose who had their minds about them noted that they were headed upwards, also noting they could be at this for hours. They tried to make the need to slow down and save their energy clear, unfortunately, the only one who seemed to know the way was out of his mind, and possessed of much greater stamina than he had any right to.\n\nThat was until he didn’t. There was a shout and everyone stopped. Word was passed to the back Kik had collapsed from exhaustion. The expedition now moved slowly to surround the great researcher and the medic checking them. It wasn’t till the all stood watching that they realized they must be in a large room. The most junior members were sent out to investigate each with one of the precious lights. The rest of the lights were used to illuminate the one who had brought them this far, as if this puny light could give him the energy he needed, though it did help the medic attempt to load Kik with carbohydrates in an I.V. \n\nThe scouts sent around the walls had only found each other, but the ones sent out forward had found, something. They couldn’t explain it and soon Shik the second in command had to make a decision. When the medic confirmed that Kik would be fine if moved and, in fact, better off outside, Shik split the group. He stayed with those who had knowledge bases outside of their original geology mission. \n\nIt soon became apparent that the scouts had found a force field of some sort. When pushed it didn’t move, only an unnatural warmth showed there to be anything at all. They tried to put various things through but organic and non-organic material. They tried solids and liquids. When water was thrown as far up the field as they could manage it showed a perfect dome as it ran off the ineffable façade. \n\nThey had all but given up and were getting ready to head back to the sunlight and a much needed recharge when one of the workers, being bored, struck the field \n\nthump. thump thump. thump thumpity thump. thump thump.\n\nThe field resonated and repeated the first three beats. Could the device behind the wall react to music? They tried a number of beats but nothing happened. One of the less musically inclined pointed out that it could have just been counting. That was quickly ruled out ,but it gave an idea to two other undergrads. One with a biology background and the other working on a minor in mathematics. \n\nThey both suggested that they should try five as the next number in the sequence. The leaders were busy asking why when the bored worker struck again. Striking in a one, two, three, five beat. Nothing happened again and the worker punched the barrier. It responded with the sequence up to five. Soon they had completed the sequence up to 21 and that’s when things got strange. \n\nIn the dark of the cave no one had gotten a good look at the thing in the center of the field. Now, it lit with a green light that swept around the cave several times before abruptly disappearing. All was quiet for a minute. Or would have been if it had not been for the hum the machine now made. Several of the group fled back toward the sun, and everyone else was frozen in their own personal thoughts. \n\nAnother light came on, this time a blue like the sky above them, it must be said this had quite the calming effect on those who remained. The sense of calm was important because soon a figure stepped out of the light. It stood on two stems and had appendages not unlike those watching it. But its head was attached to the body by an odd thin bit and its eyes were closer together. The most disturbing thing was the orifice at the bottom of the head, especially after it opened to show two rows of teeth.\n\nEater\n\nThey shook and rattled over each other. A few, in hysterics, began shouting that it was the end of the world. The figure just stood still moving its head as if it was trying to catch something it just couldn’t quite hear. \n\nAfter a while the figure spoke but not with its mouth. The hologram made the sounds like they did, including vibrating membranes and the rustle of body part that the figure certainly lacked.\n\n“Hello,” it rustled happily. “I have learned your basic language. If you give me a month with your radio signal I should be able to communicate clearly.”\n\nShik stepped forward and said. “We don’t have a month. What can you tell us now?”\n\nThe hologram looked thoughtful, at least they thought so. “I can tell you my people were one of the first species in the galaxy. They were lonely so they created me and my siblings. We were spread out across the planets the seeded, so each new species would not have to wonder if it was alone.”\n\n“Can you give us your technology? Then we could meet your people.”\n\n“Oh no, I’m afraid that is impossible on both counts. My people, as you say, are surely long gone and even if they weren’t I am not the one who contains all of the technological information. Speaking of which, I should warn you that any attempts to lower this barrier to study me will activate my self destruct. I would not appreciate that.”\n\n“So what are you here for and who can give us the technology?”\n\n“I am here to assure you you are not alone and to teach of my masters. My–brother, is on another planet in this system. Should you reach him, you will receive the technology to reach the other stars, probably.”\n\nUnfortunately, for the inhabitants of the planet the last probably didn’t really translate. Although this was a good thing as well. The discovery of the artifact was soon news around the world. A new effort was put into leaving the planet behind. Soon they were space born and beginning their journey to fulfill their progenitor’s wishes. Comforted to know they were not the only ones in this cold unforgiving galaxy.", "We all arrived in the stars in the same way. We all have scattered memories of you, my friends, arriving on our worlds and teaching us in our primitive times. Memories preserved through song, writing and art. Memories of you, how the corners of your mouths turned upwards, showing your teeth, but we did not feel threatened, only comforted.\n\nThen you left us, and we carried on, time passed, and we forgot you. You became folklore to all of us. Stories told to our young, but not believed by the elders. \n\nWhen each of us achieved space travel, we found the proof that you were real. Sprawling facilities, stores of your knowledge, always on the nearest moon to our worlds. Your wisdom, passed on to us. A statue was always in these facilities, two of you, holding hands, helping whatever species was on the planet below up off the ground, the corners of your mouths turned upwards. Oh my friends, once we had translated your language, your strange yet beautiful language, we were ready to head to the stars\n\nMy friends, with your first gift we developed and grew, with your second gift, we ascended, we found each other, the species you helped to flourish. We shared our stories, always the same, achingly familiar but distant memories.\n\nOver time we solved your puzzle my friends, we understand now that only by combining knowledge from your archives, by coming together could we find the answer. \n\nOh my friends, we found one, final facility, your entire history in one place, except the statue here was different. Still the two of you holding hands, but this time your arms outstretched, welcoming us as friends, as equals. Two of your words carved into the base. \n\n\"Remember Us\" \n\nOh my friends, your blue and green, but overgrown world is beautiful, I think we would have liked it, were you still here. \n\nOh my friends, I hope you would have been proud of us, we have come together, many species from many worlds to share your knowledge your wisdom and your love. \n\nWe cannot accept that you are gone we WILL NOT accept you are gone. Such a beautiful, compassionate people who showed only love for us all cannot go into the night. \n\nOh my friends, it was so long ago. We cannot remember you fully, to do so would be like asking a newborn to know their entire family upon seeing them for the first time. We were too young. \n\nOh my friends, we will keep looking for you, never stopping our search. And when we find you. \n\nWe hope. \n\nWe pray. \n\nThat you remember us.", "Ze Belop walked along the cold corridor, alone, his red cape wavering behind him. The click clack of his boots on the iron soothing his mind. The cadence took his mind of things, allowed him to feel calm one last time, before the storm would start. As usual, once calm his mind wandered to the Ancients. \n\nThe Solarians, or how they called themselves, the humans. They had lived for millennia by the time the Wekra, Ze's species formed on their homeworld. They had thrown themselves into the void, among the stars, feverishly looking for others. Both scared and hopeful, for what they could find and meet. But they found nothing. \n\nThe universe was still young, life was rare, and little more than past the cell stage. They were the first, the very first. When they walked and warred and loved, others were barely able to be called live. \n\nAfter they conquered the Galaxy, beaten any obstacle they had, they set their mind on their ultimate goal, their heritage. The goal was simple, to leave the Galaxy warmer and more suitable to live than how they found it. Most historians agree that it was around the same time that they decided this, they also found out their species had an expiration date. All Ancient species did. A biological fault. At a certain point, evolution would take them out. \n\nA fault they removed for us. \n\nSee, the Solarians, they made us, all of us. They made the Wekra, the Balzuub, the Mikto, they created all of the species that roam the stars right now. In their image, but better. They improved upon their own design. Removed all of the faults, enhanced the good, downsized the bad. \n\nThey spread our seeds out among the best worlds, and left us their last gifts. The Arks. Huge satellites orbiting the seeded worlds, like moons. Filled to the brim with knowledge, advice and guidance. Only good things. Wonderful things. \n\n\nAnd then they left. Some of them stayed, decayed and died. Others flung themselves at other Galaxies, records indicating that most of them are still travelling, right now. Frozen for eternity. And some of them Ascended, a brutal process that ripped their essence from their corporeal form, in a crazy move to try and uplift themselves into a higher form of existence. All noted in the history records of the Arks. \n\nOf course there was more to them than what they left us. Ugly things, bad things. Things they wanted us to never experience. But live finds a way, it always does. \n\nZe grimaced as he thought about it. \n\nThe Solarians made all of us perfect, or as close to it as they could get. All of the species were incredibly intelligent and resilient. Along with the Arks, they had given us everything we needed to crate a Galactical empire, by all for all. \n\nBut they also made us different, the Solarians had celebrated difference, being unique. In the end they saw it as one of the biggest hurdles they had overcome, being able to accept and celebrate their differences. They saw it as an ultimate gift to us, to be different. \n\nIt is what divides us the most now. All of the races hate each other. Find the others below them, see themselves as the true children of the precursors, because ofcourse their inherited traits are the most important ones. \n\nDiscourse became verbal abuse, verbal abuse became threats. But all remained relatively peaceful. Until we found the last graveyard. A battlesite that had been ancient during the last days of the Solarians. Now what remained of their ancient warcraft was not much, the Solarians had made sure of that. But they had missed this site, for some reason. And we found their ships, their weapons. Their incredibly creative ways of destroying. Some of us saw it as the heresy it was, the antithesis of what they had in mind for us. Of what they designed for us. \n\nBut others loved it, worshipped it. Called it the true calling, the true nature. The one that the Ancients had yet to accept. \n\nIn the end there was little that people like Ze could do. Either they accepted the new truth, or they were killed. Ze could not die, he had children, a lover, family. Ze had much to live for. So he accepted the new world. He said yes when his people called for the new truth to be accepted as fath. \n\nHe said yes when his people called for people like him, with special minds, to help with the war efforts. \n\nHe said yes when his people told him to go and fight with ancient tech. \n\nHe said yes when his people told him to kill the others. \n\nZe had reached the end of the corridor and entered the bridge. A large sphere of strengthened glass, protected by shields. Only a blue shimme gave that away. He looked down at his world, saw it burn. It wasn't the Wekra homeworld, but it was his homeworld, the beautiful Zebaan Wek. Called the pearl of the Galaxy by most. \n\nHe saw waves of fire consumed the green and blue of his world. He knew it would raze his home. His love. His children. His family. His everything. \n\nAnd even though his people asked nothing, Ze said yes to the crusade. With all of his existence.\n\nHe took the pill and jacked into the interface. His body jolted as data from the ancients was rushed into his mind. His mind was special, a hybrid that fitted in perfectly between his Folk and the Solarians. It allowed him to use ancient warships, like the capital class destruction vessel he was on now. \n\nEverything Ze held dear in existence was gone. And he swore on the Solarians, that he would make every Mikto pay. With a simple thought Ze moved the gigantic vessel, forcing it into a hyperspace jump. In a single beat of the heart Ze was moved from his burning world, to the capital of the Mikto. He could see blue energy beam shooting up almost immediatly. The World feverishly trying to throw up their shield in time. It was too late. A single thought from Ze and the many destruction bringing machinery of the ancients was brought back to live. And rained down death and destruction on the Mikto. \n\nZe looked on with a sour smile. He was the antithesis to the Ancients. He was making the exact mistakes the ancients did and tried to protect his people from.\n\nBut surely, he thought, the Ancients would forgive him, if they knew the pain he felt right now.", "We sat, thousands of us, in the stadium. All eyes turned toward the devastating miracle unfolding before us. Every tentacle was lowered in submission, every hood was shrunken in defeat, every beak was silent. The only movement was the gentle sway of the buoyant bodies, the priest's robes, and the flashing of the stadium screens. The only sound was the speakers robotically passing judgment on those above us.\n\n\\---\n\nWe had only scarcely left our own planet; landing drones and taking samples of dirt. Abruptly, the drones we landed failed. Radio transmission was interrupted and our satellites stopped responding. Weeks later, telescopes on the highest peaks above the surface detected a ship. At first, it was little more than a blip that could change direction. As it drew closer, it came to resemble our military craft, if only vaguely. It's dimensions were measured in thousands of fathoms and it's armor appeared insectile.\n\nWe hoped it was friendly. We knew this was not the case when it destroyed our communication networks and began raiding our population centers. Men, women, children, eggs; they took everyone and destroyed entire communities. Before they went dark, more ships from the same species were reported.\n\nWe fought back. The environment was anathema to the aliens, puncturing their armor saw them quickly succumb. They couldn't see in the dark and were clumsy. We appropriated their vastly superior technology as we could. Dissecting the corpses revealed just how alien these were; a centralized nervous system, organs designed to breathe gases, and an internal skeletal structure. Some of the aliens were taken alive and experimented on. Biochemists found a weakness to balloon fish neurotoxin. Better weapons were made. Better tactics employed. Only it still wasn't enough. Their ruthless methods alone meant the loss of our forces. One tends to lose hope when entire cities are destroyed in response to resistance. One city of millions for every ten aliens killed.\n\nWe no longer fought. They would arrive, abduct, and leave. As moons passed, it almost became normal. The crops did okay, salinity spiked a few times, the neighbors were taken by the aliens. Life went on.\n\nOne day, the underground resistance began circulating videos taken from above the surface. Many believed it to be false, propaganda from resistance forces to bolster recruitment. The grainy video showed streaks of light flashing in the sky. Stars blinking into existence and fading just as quickly. The light show lasted mere minutes. The abductions also stopped.\n\nDays later, the radio signals returned and a robotic voice began playing on all channels. \"Broadcast will begin shortly. Tune into visual devices.\" Phones and televisions showed a countdown that would end in 2 days' time, just in time for the mass prayer at the stadium.\n\n\\---\n\nThe screens flashed with the recorded battle. Sleek ships clashed with our insectile oppressors. The slavers had terawatt lasers, power armor, and fighter craft faster than our greatest rockets. They had megaton matter projectors and sensors that could track the slightest of currents. They didn't stand a chance.\n\nThe sleek ship would blink into existence almost touching their opponent. Energy fields would clash and fade, and the slaver's ships would crumple in on themselves. What did measure thousands of fathoms was reduced to the size of a few adults.\n\nThe scene changed. It showed some of the recently abducted being loaded onto smaller versions of the sleek craft. They were accompanied by bipedal beings in bulky armor. \n\nThe scene changed again. It showed, portions, of our species being butchered and consumed by the slavers. Many retched at the sight of the slavers' multi-part jaws working their meal.\n\nThe scene changed again. This time centered on one of the bipeds. His mouth worked but was not in-sync with the robotic voice. \". . . subjugated to nihilistic practices by a class 2 civilization against a class 0 civilization. This goes against our trans-galactic laws and so gave us authority to act. As is detailed in our laws, we cannot act to rebuild your society. We are expected to carry out due punishment and provide a chance at rebuilding however. We will remove ourselves to the oort cloud of your system and maintain observation of 250 years or until such a time you become a class 1 civilization; whichever comes first. Regarding the punishment of your oppressor, know that it has already been carried out and they have been reduced to a class 1 civilization, as per our laws. Those of your species which are still alive will be returned to your planet.\"\n\nThe screen tuned back to \"no signal\". The only movement was the gentle sway of the buoyant bodies and the priest's robes. Every tentacle was lowered in contemplation, every beak was silent, every hood puffed with hope.", "\"We don't know their name.\" Doctor Gy'tak Muto'gra's voice cracking slightly as he looks at the large golden disc on the holo-screen to the large assembly of curious students in the crowded room. The older Huwian looks thoughtfully at the still image for a brief moment turning his attention back to his class clearing his throat. \"Our scientists have found the Founders' probe almost twenty years ago. This little disc was inside of the probe which more ancient than us. This device is a beautiful reminder of the brilliant engineering and design of these people. This device is as old as the creation of the Huwi Federation! In fact, it's much older than the creation of our species!\" Loud gasps filled the room as the students now stunned at the idea of such an ancient machine floating in the abyss of the cosmos.\n\nThe doctor let out an amused chuckle, smiling warmly now that he had their attention on the golden disc on the screen. Gy'tak now being more animated and excited to discuss this strange golden disc given the reaction of the room. \"I know, I know!\" He stopped for a dramatic pause, \"Yet we know that this was the beginning. Image that? This probe is as ancient as our species, but for them it was just. . .\" He made a throwing motion with his feathered arms mimicking flying, \"Flight!\" he exclaimed pausing again and wagging fuzzy digit towards the screen to show the students to look at it and really let it sink in what he's saying. \"Flight! That deep desire in us all! To explore and go beyond what is capable of. They gave us dreams on that little gold disc!\"\n\nDr. Muto'gra leaned into his desk to take the pressure off of his feet looking sullen while his blank green eyes stare at the students sitting behind their desks. \"I'm sure most of you are asking. Did we found where they came from?\" Quiet murmuring confirmed that the professor was right and he nods his head stepping away from the desk to continue his lesson. \"They blessed us with their knowledge and gave us many ways to find them.. S-O-L.\" Moving his hand across the screen bringing up the images of four planets, \"We don't even know the names of these planets. We just know that they lived on this one.\"\n\nThe professor selected a planet with blue oceans and massive landmasses. \"Beautiful isn't she?\" He almost whispered, turning to face his student and select the next slide showing the star has become a red giant. \"Unfortunately, she's gone.. the star has swallowed these inner planets. We'll never know how they lived among themselves.\" Dr. Muto'gra went through the slides showing the images of humans and images of Earth showing the beauty of the world, a world that no longer joins the galactic community. \"There are many files on this disc like music,\" The professor pressed a sound file on the screen and for a brief moment played music though very poor quality showing the class that the Founders literally created music.\n\nFinally, a text appeared on the screen as he was about to give a lesson on their language, but the bell rang causing the students quickly scrambling to leave the classroom. \"Don't forget the test tomorrow! Study hard!\" Soon the professor stood in an empty classroom a bit disappointed that nobody stayed for the rest of the lesson and he looked up at the screen gazing those empty alien eyes at words he just can't understand with such child-like desperation to find some meaning. Dr. Muto'gra gave up after a few seconds while shaking his head slowly muttering to himself, \"Someday,\" stepping to the door of the classroom waving his hand over the side panel by the door turning off the lights of the room and shutting the door behind him.\n\nThe glow of the holo-screen with the strange text across it filled now empty classroom room: 'This is a present from a small distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts, and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours.' After a few seconds of inactivity, the holo-screen shuts itself off leaving the room in total darkness.", "For all of our history, we believed we were alone. We looked up towards our moons and thought that we were special. The first advanced race in the galaxy, destined to take the stars and and make them our own.\n\nWe were not, in fact, destined to take the stars. By the time we arrived they’d seen countless species rise and fall. We were shocked, but life went on.\n\nEvery people we encountered, every sentient and non sentient being, they all had a similarity to them. Our biology differed, but never by so much as to make us incompatible. It seems that this was taken at face value, never questioned, until our scientists started looking into it.\n\nWe studied for years, we collected samples and specimens, until finally we had our first breakthrough. We found an ancient ship orbiting a dying star.\n\nAt first we assumed it was simply abandoned. Many species have come and gone from the galaxy after all. But the more we took it apart, the more we poured through its data, we understood that this ship, though a relic now, is far more advanced than any ship has a right to be. It served to propell FTL research by decades.\n\nAnd then somebody asked “But who’s is it?” And we returned to looking for more.\n\nOver the coming years, many more ships would be found. All around the farthest reaches of the galaxy, never in places one would find themselves often.\n\nAll of them yours.\n\nBut our biggest find was that of the Roxis.\n\nRoxis was a dreadnaught so massive it was bigger than whole armadas. And it was yours.\n\nPristine, it looked as if brand new. But by the time we found it, you had gone. But your archives, they were eye opening.\n\nThrough this one discovery we learned more about you than all the previous ones combined. You are Humans. You came first. You seeded our worlds. You died, before you could see your own success.\n\nYou felt so alone. You reached out into the stars to find anyone that could share your experience, and the quiet in your lack of response nearly drove you to extinction.\n\nBut you kept going. You took the stars, and instead of making then your own you made us. All of us. Those who have come after you, those who lived and those who died.\n\nWith a galaxy at your fingertips you only saught to populate it. But what happened to you?\n\nWas it plague? War? Did you tear yourselves apart? Did the universe demand recompense for your hand at playing God?\n\nWe don’t know. We may never know, truly, what brought you your demise. All we know is that you were the first to reach the stars, but by God, you made sure you would not be the last.\n\nAnd now, you won’t be forgotten to time. We will all have known your people, we are all grateful for your actions. \n\nIf one day you should meet your children, let us show you the same compassion you showed the galaxy when you gave her life." ]	9
	[WP] "Everyone has some kind of hidden talent, show us what yours is." ............ "Now listen to me very carefully, never show anyone that you do that ever again."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 stare at the pen and book in my hand, looking at my older sister\n\n\"Never in your lifetime, should you use your talent again\"\n\nI was confused, I've used this before, but this is the first time she has been so worried about it\n\n\"You asked my talent, all I did was show it to you\" I replied, confused at what was so wrong\n\nShe let out a frustrated groan, weird for her, although not surprising, I already knew what would happen anyways\n\n\"If you use that power, who knows what disaster it could cause, you are only a 5 years old child, your imagination is way to hyper, even for a normal kid, so you need to refrain from using it\" \n\nI nodded, laughing in my mind, she seemed to accept that, and in a blur of speed, left the room, I looked down at the book in my hand, finishing the story correctly with a dot\n\nThis.... is certainly something interesting to have.", "\"Everyone has some kind of hidden talent, show us what yours is.\" The technician said, everyone had a power, some people manipulated small things, some people had the ability to flood their system with enough adrenaline to slow time to a crawl except for themselves. I knew what my power was, I had used it before. I merely motioned my outstretched hand for their pen. As they handed it to me, it was engulfed in a red liquid, what appeared to be blood before it broke down and was gone.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI held out both hands, replicating the pen in both hands before handing back both to the technician who appeared a little stunned before raising an eyebrow. \"Got it, item replication. Not terribly great, but not bad either.\" He said, before I raised my hand, reaching behind onto my belt, holding the winchester knife it held. I stood before the technician, holding the knife, before slamming it between my ribs, and I felt myself slowly start losing blood before I fell to the floor passing out for a small amount of time. As I awoke, I pushed myself off the floor, putting the knife back in place after wiping it off on my jeans. I looked at the technician who was horrified at what had just happened, before looking down at the papers. \"And immortality, definitely a huge difference, that puts you on a special list.\" He gasped out, looking like a fish out of water trying to haplessly gulp in air.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Except, that isn't all.\" I said, before the blood red liquid formed over me, changing my clothing into a pair of slacks, a rope belt, and a red leather jacket. The major difference however, was I now looked exactly like the technician, even he recognized that, before I changed myself back, leaving the clothing as is. \"Ah. I am just going to give you a bit of advice, I am not going to mark down that on the list. Listen carefully, never show anyone that again.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I don't care, I can't be killed. Period. It isn't possible. I have my own objectives in this long life of mine.\" I spoke softly, before turning towards him to elaborate. \"Some will call me a villain, some a hero. I will unite humanity, even if it means turning their war like tendencies against me. I will be the eternal martyr if I have to be, so that humanity can quell their war like tendencies.\" I said, before the blood seeped from my hand onto the floor, creating a wormhole that I leapt through, into the fresh air of a cliff by an ocean side. I sat down, it could wait a few years, it would give them time to gather their strength to face me. I simply kicked my legs, knowing what would come in the following years. No death other than my own, and only injuries that could be healed by them. Unless they were truthfully wicked and evil, then I would smite them into the ground with my power.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\~Criticism is welcomed, just please be constructive.", "We live in a world of perfect peace, and all together there are about a million people there is only one major city because that’s all we need everyone else lives in small communities or alone as a hermit. \n\nThere are 3 things that made this possible \n\n1. We don’t need food or anything else to survive, we can survive purely on the stagnant mana in the air \n2. We only have the bare minimum of the “7 sins” as they are called, while we still enjoy food, or like collecting objects, or anything else along this line it’s it’s rarely enough for us to fight and even then it’s nothing major \n3. The most important. Every single person in the world has a talent or otherwise known as a power. These can always be used for the betterment of society. \n\nSome of these are along the line of having a talent that boosts farming, having the talent to collect resources more effective, some go as powerful as allowing the large scale rejuvenation of nature. \n\nThere are those without a talent but even those people are useful and can still live a happy life. But... Then there is me. \n\nI was born with a talent seen as destructive and evil, almost every time an ability such as it has manifested a war was caused by its user. My talent is the “talent of fighting” and it’s the strongest one yet. I grow exponentially when learning magic, martial arts, or any other form of ancient power.\n \nThe only reason I was allowed to live is because there was an ability more terrifying then mine the “talent of leadership” and while it’s only used for evil as often as the talent of fighting is used for good it’s infinitely more terrifying. \n\n\nBut in the end they were looking for the wrong enemies...", "Everyone in the world has a hidden talent, this is something that has been a fact of life for as long as society has existed. Each individual's talent is unique in it's own way, with it being as much of a part of who they are as the hair on their head or the color of their eyes. Some people choose to show their talent to the world, making it an integral part of their day to day life. Others prefer to keep their talent hidden, be it out of shame, fear, or simply out of reservation. \n\nRegardless of whether they display their talents openly or not, those with powerful talents are often seen as pillars of society. The most influential people in the world, be it as celebrities, politicians, or even heroes, all possess talents that are far more powerful than that of most others. When a person reaches the age of thirteen, a surveyor is sent out to assess the strength and potential of their talent. It is at that moment when that person's position in society as well as the opportunities open to them are determined.\n\nFor as long as I can remember, I dreamed of the day when I would get to meet with a surveyor and show my ability to them and the world. I wished, more than anything else, to someday become an officially licensed hero and use my power for good. However, out of all the ways I had imagined this day going, I had never thought it would go like this.\n\n\"Listen to me very carefully Brandon, never show anyone else this talent ever again\".\n\nThe surveyor looked at me with a guarded expression from across the dining room table of my family's house as he folded his hands in front of him. His words cut their way into my chest, slicing through my dreams of being a hero as though they were paper. Between us, the bird that was once lying still chirped, hopping around on the wooden surface of the table in confusion. I looked behind me for a moment, seeing the concern on the faces of my parents.\n\n\"but...why?\" I asked, my voice cracking a little. I could feel a stinging in the back of my eyes as tears threatened to break through what little composure I had left. This... this just wasn't fair. \"Is, is my talent that bad?\".\n\n\"No\" said the surveyor, pausing for a moment as though he were carefully choosing his words. \"In all the years I have held this position, I have seen both strong and weak talents alike. Yours is, without question, the most powerful ability I have yet witnessed\".\n\n\"Then why?!\" I asked again, frustrated. \"Many other people with powerful talents show them off! Why should I treat mine any different?!\".\n\n\"Because you have the power to breathe life back into the world\" said the surveyor gently. \"Your power is unlike any other in recorded history Brandon. If people discover what you can do they will stop at nothing to take it for themselves. The moment your talent is revealed people won't even see you as a person anymore. They'll think of you as nothing more than a means to eternal life\".\n\nI could feel tears running down the sides of my face as the surveyor stood up and began to make his way towards the front door.\n\n\"I'll fudge the paperwork, but beyond that it is up to you Brandon to hide your powers\" said the surveyor, opening the front door. \"I wish you the best\".\n\nAs I heard the door shut, I wiped away the tears from my eyes. I stared at the bird that now sat on the table, it's eyes looking around the room.\n\nScrew what he thinks. If I have to hide my power, then so be it, but no matter what he or anyone says, nothing will stop me from following my dream.\n\nI will become a hero.", "\"Everyone here has a power.\", the man said. \"The kind of power that could turn the side of any future wars.\" \n\nSome of the weaker willed began discussing this, wondering what this meant for Russia and her future. I, for one, stayed quiet. There was nothing I could do to change this, no way to change the amount of crystal I had been given for this purpose. And if I tried, the man pacing in front of me would have me shot on the spot. I was certain they had snipers somewhere watching us. As I was thinking, the man spoke again.\n\n\"Some of you will have a weak power. Some of you will have stronger powers. It depends on you.\" \n\nI rolled my eyes mentally. I knew it was the crystal, even if no one else did. They continued, oblivious to my internal dialogue.\n\n\"Now, the person I point to, you will come with me. I will test your powers and then you shall return here. You shall not speak to anyone about your powers except for me until I tell you otherwise. Is this clear?\"\n\n\"Yes sir!\", the group shouted as one. The man silently began. One by one they came back, seemingly exhausted. Then, finally, it was my turn. I followed them into a room obviously meant to be indestructible, with concrete walls which looked to be a meter in thickness. Despite the extremely tough walls, there were still scars on the sides of the room, some of which looked recent. \n\n\"Alright. show me your power. Manifest your energy in your right hand.\"\n\nI did, and at first, nothing happened. Then, nothing. This continued until the man got bored and spoke:\n\n\"It's clear that you have no po-\" \n\nWhatever he was going to say next was stopped by an intense green light from where I had touched the wall. I closed my eyes, blinded. When I opened them, blinking away the dots that still clouded my vision, I gasped. Before me was a meter tall concrete statue that was . . . moving? It moved towards me, and I prepared to fight it off, but all it did was hug my leg and say the same word over and over again.\n\n\"Papa.\"\n\nI looked at the man and he was shocked. Then, he spoke in a low whisper,\n\n\"For the love of god do not tell anyone about what your power is. I will contact my superiors in Moscow, and you will stay hidden. Got it? You will have to pretend to be dead for a while.\"\n\nI nodded. I knew my life was about to change. Forever.", "\"Well...\" I coughed after the experience. \"I mean, it would have been great if it worked.\"\n\nI was lying on the ground, looking up in the sky. Still dizzy, still trying to see his face that was blurred.\n\n\"Has it? Has it worked ever?\" He asked and I felt anger in his voice. For what reason he was mad I do not know. I had not harmed him. But I could just feel his anger in some way. He tried pretending that he isn't angry, but I knew. I kind of always know these things.\n\n\"No...\" I admitted. \"Truth be told? I never tried. I just always had this feeling, you know?\"\n\n\"So you \"kind of suspected\" that you can fly? Is that what you are saying? Had a hunch you can fly?\" Still angry. He was taking off his shirt, folding it and putting it under my head. Can't say it felt comfortable, but I did not mind.\n\n\"I guess.\" I said and fell silent. \"I mean... Yes? I kind of always felt that... That I'd just, you know, rise up? That I'd just go up and up and go with the birds and clouds...\"\n\nHe kneeled down next to me. His hands were dirty. People were shouting all around me. They were screaming. But I had not harmed them. I think I have done something stupid. I always do something stupid. He softly took my head in his arms.\n\n\"You will, buddy, you will. I promise you. You will fly. Just not now. Not now, buddy, but you will. Hold on now. Just hold on. Don't talk. Ambulance is coming, just... Just don't talk and think good things.\"\n\nAnd I thought good things. I always try to do what I'm told. I don't always manage. I always make a mistake. That is why angels don't like me. That is what my mom said. I tried to think good things. \n\n\"Have you seen an angel?\" I asked, but it was hard. I felt that my mouth was full of warm water. \n\n\"I have buddy, just don't talk. I've seen plenty, buddy. And I'll show them to you, just hold on. We'll go see all the angels, I'll introduce you. And you'll never show anyone this trick of yours ever again. Just bare with me now. They are already coming, I can hear the sirens, hold on.\"\n\nI heard them too. That is not how I expected angels to sound like. It's strange. He said they are coming, but the sound got really quiet and disappeared. Everything kind of disappeared. I don't know why. But I don't know much. I've never had.\n\n[Literary Nobody](https://www.reddit.com/r/LiteraryNobody/)", "“Never again! You hear me?” He shouted out with a finger wagging in my face. His breathing labored as his face slowly regained its color. He began coughing as he tried to regain his composure. \r\n\r\n“But dad!” I pleaded with him as tears started to cascade down my cheeks. \r\n\r\n“You asked me to show you what the talent was! How was I supposed to know you would be so mad!” I continued. \r\n\r\nHe furrowed his brows as he fell back into his seat at the dining room table. He took a deep breath and tried to collect his thoughts for a minute.\r\n\r\nHe started to form a sentence but was at a loss for words. \r\n\r\n“I…well you see… OK sweetie, here’s the issue I have…The thing is…” \r\n\r\n“Take your time dad. I can answer whatever you need me to. I promise I won’t use my talent anymore.” I said as I wiped the tears away. \r\n\r\nHe looked into my bloodshot eyes and gave me a reassuring smile. \r\n\r\n“Sweetie, your talent isn’t like many of the other talents. What you did is very dangerous. The immense power you have in that talent is something you should not take lightly. I personally never saw something that strong before.” He said. \r\n\r\nMy eyes widened slightly as I was taken aback at his declaration. \r\n\r\n“Re-really dad? It’s that powerful? What’s yours and moms power then?” \r\n\r\nHe glanced around quickly before he leaned in towards me. \r\n\r\nHe snapped his fingers and a small fireball emerged from his hand. It slowly floated around him as he motioned his hand around his head. He stretched his fingers out to the point you could see the webbing in between each digit. The fire slowly expanded from what was about the size of a ping-pong ball to the size of a soccer ball. \r\n\r\nI giggled with excitement as I slowly moved my hand towards the fireball. He quickly caught the fireball with both hands and blew on it, extinguishing the fire. \r\n\r\n“You know fire is hot, why would you touch it? I call it Mustang hands after someone I idolized” he said to me as I retracted my hand and placed it back on my lap. \r\n\r\n“Your mom’s ability is to slow down time. It why she always has good reaction time and it feels like her mom senses are always tingling. She calls hers Perfect Reaction.” He said as he got up from his chair. \r\n\r\nHe made his way to the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. He also grabbed a popsicle from the freezer and made his way back to me. He handed me the popsicle as he opened his water bottle. \r\n\r\n“Dad, you hands are shaking…did I hurt you when I did my talent?” I said as I noticed his hand was trembling a little bit when he tried opening the bottle. \r\n\r\nHe sighed and looked once again with a serious state at me. \r\n\r\n“Yes, I won’t lie, your talent really did a number on me. I want you to make sure that you never use that again ok?” he said as he rubbed his chest. \r\n\r\nI nodded as I was trying to finish my popsicle. \r\n\r\n“Promise me, no matter what. Not to anyone, not your friends, your mom, whoever you date, your teachers, nobody. Got it?” he said as he raised his pinky to me. \r\n\r\nI wrapped my pinky around his as we took the solemn vow of a pinky swear. I finished the last bit of my popsicle in silence before I spoke. \r\n\r\n“I did use it before though dad. The cat clawed at me and made me bleed on my hand last year. So, I used my power and didn’t know it was so strong. Melvin didn’t move after a bit so I let him rest. Then when you all came home you told me he passed away in his sleep.” I said as my eyes welled up once again. \r\n\r\n“It’s ok. It’s ok. You didn’t know. But now you do. Your power is very strong and they always say ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ So now you have to make sure you don’t abuse it. Melvin is gone there is nothing that will change it. Your power isn’t like others, remember? It’s for self-defense and only if you have no further options.” he said as he gave me a hug. \r\n\r\n“I’ll make sure to not use it again recklessly. I see now how much trouble it can cause to others.”\r\n\r\n“OK. I won’t tell your mom. Now get ready for bed. You have school tomorrow.” He said as he broke the hug off. \r\n\r\nI nodded as I threw away the popsicle and began making my way upstairs. \r\n\r\n“Dad. By the way, I call mine ‘A breathtaking sight'. In case you wanted to know.” I said at the top of the banister. \r\n\r\n“You don’t know how fitting of a name it is. Now off to bed” he said as he made his way to his bedroom." ]	8
	[WP] Three characters: One doesn't believe in ghosts, one believes in ghosts but is completely wrong about what they look/act like, and one is an actual ghost.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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've gotta be kidding me, Ted. You believe in ghosts? A few loud noises at night don't mean your house is suddenly haunted, it means you probably have a some racoons or need to check your water heater. Ghosts aren't real!\"\n\n\"I swear to ya, Ziggy, it ain't just been no noises. The pots were floatin' in the air and banging' 'imselves 'alf the damn night! I got ghosts God damnit, and that's a fact!\"\n\n\"Ghosts aren't real, Ted! Ghosts aren't real! I can't believe we are talking about ghosts playing your pots and pans like they're some damn street buskers. What's a ghost care about banging your pots for anyway?\"\n\n\"You don't 'ave to believe me none, Zigs, that's fine by me. 'ere comes Pete now, and he gonna believe me for sure. Oy! PETE! O'ER HERE BUDDY! I got me a pack of ghosts Pete!\"\n\n\"Hey Ted, hey Ziggy. What's that you're saying about ghosts Ted? I'm actually glad you guys are on the subject \"\n\n\"I got a big bunch of ghosties in my kitchen, Pete, dinging up my pots all night. Leaving a buncha goop on my floor with tentacle tracks all dragged through it. Ectoplasm, Google called it! You ever heard of somethin' like that, pal?\"\n\n\"Ghosts? Sure. I mean, of course. But tentacles and goop? That doesn't sound right, Ted. Are you sure you don't have a demon or perhaps a poltergeist instead? Either of those could fit the description.\"\n\n\"Whaddya on about, Pete? Who's talkin' about demons? Ziggy, you think maybe I got demons instead?\"\n\n\"I don't think you have demons, Ted. I don't think you have ghosts neither! Because ghosts don't exist buddy. You both sound ridiculous, two grown men sitting around talking about creepy crawlies. Why you acting like you know so much about ghosts anyway, Pete? You don't know nothing beyond your own stupid nose far as I've ever seen!\"\n\n\"Are you serious, Ziggy? Okay, let's do this again. Don't you guys remember the car accident last year? It happened just in front of the bar we are sitting in now!\"\n\n\"Aw, man, why'd you have to bring that up, Petey? Of course we remember the wreck. Killed ol' Susie Perkins dead on the spot, she didn't even see it coming. Dumbass driver survived of course. Assholes always do. Wait, someone else died in that crash too, now that I'm recalling. We lost a good friend of ours that night, right Ted?\"\n\n\"Hey, that's right, Zigs, we did, didn't we? That was a bad 'un. That was the night we lost Pete, eh? That shitbag who killed 'im deserves everything he ever gets, I'll tell you that!\"\n\n\"Yeah, he does Ted, I'm not arguing. Wish we could be the one to give it to ' em though, get some closure for Pete.\"\n\n\"Speakin' of Pete, been meaning to tell you that I got some ghosts at 'ome, buddy. Banging up my pans at night an everything. Maybe it's Pete been tryin' to finally drive me crazy! You ever seen a ghost, Ziggy?\"\n\n\"You pulling my leg, old pal? You sound crazy. Ghosts don't exist!\"\n\n\"Yeah, maybe you're right Ziggy. 'ow long we been sittin' 'ere anyway? I thought I just got 'ere, but my beer is already warm.\"\n\n\"I don't know, pal. I just sat down myself.\"\n\n\n\n\"", "Darren. Your average student. Gets high grades, but not that high. Plays baseball, and a bit of basketball. Doesn't want to talk about his aunt. Loves his perfect girlfriend, Heather. DEFINETLY does not believe in ghosts. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nKris. Popular girl. Mostly gets high grades. Can draw really well, but her parents want her to be a dentist. Loves ghost stories, and really wants to see a ghost.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAster. Secretly suicidal. Was secretly suicidal. Dead. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAster is someone Darren desperately wants to forget.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\--------\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Kris, are you sure this is the right thing to do?\" Darren shifted uncomfortably in his sweater, tugging at the too-tight necklace he was wearing. The fake jewels glittered in the dim light of the antique shop.\n\n\"They're to ward off ghosts!\" Kris grinned at him. Darren melted. Her grin meant everything to him. \n\n\"Okay, I'll help search through the pots.\" He grinned back. Darren secretly didn't have a clue on how to spot a ghost.\n\nAster leaned against the wall, narrowing her eyes at Kris. She wanted to kick something. \n\n\"You have to look for a green glow.\" Kris explained, his whole arm under his elbow jammed into a pot. \"Purple means get out of here as fast as possible.\" \n\n\"So ghosts can just compress themselves into pots?\" Darren raised an eyebrow, setting down a pink porcelain teapot that smelled wonderful. Invisible, Aster rolled her eyes.\n\n\"Yup.\" Kris was handling a heart-shaped piece of glass, tilting it in the light and looking for something neither Darren or Aster could see.\n\n\"Darren!\" Kris whisper-shouted. \"Grab the scanner!\"\n\nDarren fumbled for it, exhaling loudly. Kris snatched it, running it over a dappled lucky cat whose hand was waving up and down lazily.\n\n\"Kris, I don't think that thing will work.\" Darren sighed as Aster let out a silent laugh. Aster banged her fist on the floor, choking with laughter.\n\nThe screen on the back of what looked like an airport metal detector baton flashed yellow.\n\nKris squealed. \n\nDarren leaned against the nearby wall, almost stepping right through aster.\n\n\"Darren, Darren, Darren!\" Kris was shaking the lucky cat. \"WE NEED TO BUY IT.\"\n\nDarren sighed, raking a hand through his jet black hair. Why did Kris remind him so much of ....Aster. He panted quietly, cancelling out the memories too painful to think about. He smiled weakly at Kris.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThey approached the lady at the counter, a lady with cyan hair and multiple piercings. She pushed up her rectangular glasses and peered at the lucky cat, before handing it back and charging them $5. Aster snatched the lucky cat and dropped it into Kris's hand as they were exiting the shop, which made Kris almost faint. Darren was still convinced that Kris had just tripped over something and it flew into the air. \n\nKris and Darren chatted about something, and Aster had had enough. It was too painful to keep doing this, to follow them, to think about the life she could have had. Aster had to stop.\n\nShe turned around and stopped. A guy who could've been about a year older than her was staring at her. DIRECTLY at her. Her heart pounded in her chest.\n\n\"Hi?\"", "\"I am most definitely not trying to summon a ghost with you, Mari,\" Ellen insisted. \"Honestly, it's kind of alarming how much you care about ghosts. Have you ever seen one? Do you have any proof?\"\n\n\"Come on, El, there's like a thousand stories about people seeing ghosts,\" argued Mari, \"and anyway, you don't have to. You can sit back and laugh at us until you actually see the ghost we're summoning.\"\n\n\"Hold on, when did I agree to this?\" Interrupted them Reia, \"I never said I want to summon a ghost.\"\n\nMari made a face. \"Come on, seance never killed anyone. Help me with that! Please?\"\n\nReia closes her eyes and sighed. It's an old debate, one they've had way too many times. Mari will want to do something to prove ghosts exist, Ellen will argue with her, and Reia will keep her mouth shut and never mention how being a ghost is much more itching than she thought it would be.\n\n\"Great!\" Mari decided, \"so tonight, 10 PM at my place. You're welcome too,\" she added, pointing at Ellen, \"I want to see the look on your face when you find out I'm right.\"\n\n/-/-/\n\n\"Mari, I don't really think -\"\n\n\"Shh, Reia! You're interrupting the ritual!\"\n\n\"You're both so incredibly stupid, oh my -\"\n\n\"Ellen, shut up!\"\n\nAs much as Reia and Ellen wanted to finish what they're saying, the both stopped talking when Mari's eyes snapped to them with confusion. They were in her bedroom, on the fourth floor of a tall and wide apartment complex, sitting in a circle on the brown rug. Mari's dark eyes looked like something was terribly wrong.\n\n\"What?\" She murmured to herself, shuffling through her book again. \"This doesn't make any sense.\"\n\n\"Mari, you're stressing me out,\" Ellen said, her brows drawn together. It was very, very unlike her.\n\n\"This doesn't make any sense,\" she repeated. \"It says that if this stage doesn't work, there's already a ghost in the room. But how...\" She drifted off, shuffling through the book again. \"Tell me if something seems off here,\" she added, addressing the girls.\n\n\"Mari, maybe this just doesn't work,\" Reia tried to calmly explain, though she felt more alive than she's been the last few decades. It was quite alarming.\n\n\"No, it has to work, just - give me a second.\" She changed her mind, switching to a completely different chapter. \"We're just going to make the ghost in the room reveal itself.\"\n\nReia's eyes widened. \"Mari -\"\n\nBut Mari already started murmuring in Latin, and Reia didn't understand any of these words but she felt them in her bones. She fell silent.\n\n\"This is so much bullshit,\" Ellen murmured, \"how much did you pay for that book, Mar?\" Mari continued with the Latin, barely registering Ellen's complaints, so Ellen turned to Reia instead. \"I honestly think we need to find a way to get these stupid ideas out of her mind. She's -\"\n\n\"Ellen, for fuck's sake, shut up,\" Reia said sharply. She felt every living thing inside her boiling. \"God, I feel sick,\" she said weakly. It's been a while since someone attempted seance with her in the room, and they never said anything correctly, so her body was just a bit more itching than usual, but nothing more. Now, though, Mari was doing it right. This was terribly unpleasant.\n\nShe didn't realise the room fell silent until Ellen said, slowly, \"Reia, what the actual fuck.\"\n\nIt took Reia a second to realise she's glowing.", "At the graveyard that morning, in the misty fog that settled over the grass, I watched as the coffin was laid to rest. Ally was crying on one side of me, Owen gripping a white rose on the other. \n\n\"Do you think June is in a better place now?\" Ally whispered.\n\n\"Of course,\" I said, when something caught my attention. A shadowy figure had appeared in the mist and was walking toward us. Who else was out here at seven in the morning? \n\nOwen tossed the rose into the grave. \"Anything's better than that hospital. I hope June is able to do all the things she couldn't before. I hope she's a ghost walking the earth as free as a bird.\" \n\n\"Ghosts don't exist,\" Ally said, half-laughing through her tears.\n\n\"Sure they do,\" he said, grinning. \"They can't actually walk, though. You'll know if you ever see one. White as a bedsheet and floating through the air. Absolutely terrifying creatures. But only to us, of course.\"\n\n\"Did you guys see that?\" I asked, but Ally was laughing even harder and didn't answer. Owen just shook his head, torn between grief and laughter and sorrow. \n\nI was the only one who could see the mysterious figure. \n\nLeaving my friends behind, I walked through the wet grass to greet the stranger. Some supernatural force made me understand that we were supposed to meet. To speak. Was it a ghost? Or was it something else, something that was truly terrifying? \n\nIt was the Grim Reaper. \n\n\"Hello, June,\" he said. \"Are you ready to go?\" \n\nI looked back at my friends, who now had their arms around each other. I looked down at my body, which was no longer shriveled and emaciated but strong and whole. \n\nI looked at the Grim Reaper and smiled. \"Let's go,\" I said.", "The Paramount Lot hadn't felt so quiet in years. The usual hubub of productions filming, executives scuttling across the paved stone walkways to meetings, and tourists grilling their quietly perturbed tour guides -- \"Is this REALLY where they shot \\blank\\?\" (no, it's probably not) -- all were absent this night. \n\nThe Lot had been all but abandoned for several weeks, with the pandemic shutting down this well greased machine, and even the traffic running parallel to the gates and high walls enclosing the storied studio had thinned to a stray passing car once ever few minutes.\n\nBut tonight, for the first time in months, there was life and movement, even if only a bit. The keys rattled in the door behind Heather June, a manager of the Page Program known for her terse rebukes and ability to navigate the paths of the lot with breathtaking speed. She pushed a bit harder and heard the lock finally click -- \"all set for tomorrow,\" she thought and turned to walk away. \n\nShe was excited to be back at work even if only for brief setup -- the following day the theatre would be filled with socially distant producers, screening their next blockbuster film which had been temporarily halted by the outbreak. Heather wouldn't be there, the event would be staffed by regular pages, but in the meantime she got to do her best work -- behind the scenes and free to roam as she pleased. \n\nAs she was about 50 feet away from the theater she heard a sudden crash which stopped her in her tracks. She turned and sprinted back toward the doors -- \"oh god please don't be anything expensive,\" she thought.\n\nBut as she inserted the keys and jiggled them stubbornly, another thought occurred to her -- what if it wasn't anything but maybe an anyone? She'd heard the stories of late night haunting on the lot but never given it any mind. It was pushing midnight at this point, and with the full moon and stars shimmering commendably through the misty night, she steeled herself as the lock clicked open and entered. \n\nAs she fumbled though the dark, she heard something else fall and rattle onto the floor in the main theatre. Heart now pounding up into her throat, she hesitated to think if she should call for help but decided against it after a momentary mental flash of the pages, \"She called for help because she thought there was a \\ghost\\!\" Even her neurotic, hypothetical thought drove her forward into the theater as she pulled a lighter from her pocket and flicked it on.\n\nAt the front of the room, feet in front of the ceiling-high screen, stood two young men. One sprawled on the ground next to his own set of keys, not dissimmilar from Heather's.\n\nThey both turned, and in the moment Heather realized they both were uniformed, like her.\n\nShe breathily forced herself to speak, \"What...what are you doing here?\" \n\n\"We're working, what are YOU doing here? They told us we were the only ones on tonight. You scared the shit out of us,\" the shorter of the two laughed nervously from the ground. The taller helped him to his feet, \"Yeah, we thought you were the ghost. I keep telling him the stories but he never believes me. Almost had him convinced tonight.\"\n\nHeather eased a bit. \"No, I was just in here setting up. And I didn't see you two. What are your names, I don't recognize you?\"\n\nThe taller boy responded, \"I was just going to ask you the same. I'm Beckett and this is Cash.\"\n\n\"Cash?\"\n\n\"Yeah, like Johnny Cash.\" \n\nShe stared at him blankly. \n\n\"The singer from the 60's...\" he said.\n\nA hot flush ran up her neck, she felt the redness pushing upward against her skin. She could have sworn he said \"60's\". \n\nShe turn and ran.\n\nThanking God she'd left the front doors open she dropped her shoulder but right as she should have made contact she burst through smoothly into the outside air. Without bothering to lock them behind her, she ran. She kicked off her pumps as she sprinted, ran like the men were chasing her and had the great Flu currently ravaging the world, ran in a dead heat until she reached the Page office. \n\nIn a panic, she reached for the handle but this time there was no mistaking it -- she fell through the door and into the office. She looked around but everything suddenly felt very foreign. The room had morphed, into an unrecognizable layout with posters with masked figured lining the walls. She meant to gasp for breath, but realized she wasn't winded -- just staring at a plaque in the middle of the wall, mouth agape. Her sight seemed blurred, but she couldn't tell if it was her eyes or just her mind racing, but she managed to reign in her fear for one clear glance at the wall -- \"For the one we lost in 1918, you'll never be forgotten Heather -- The Paramount Pages.\"", "\"... which is why you can detect them with EMF scanners!\" he said, brandishing device in question in one hand and waving it around.\n\n\"Sure Brandon,\" Charlie said, shooting a glance over at Arthur's skeptical expression, \"and how are ghosts formed, then?\"\n\nBrandon pushed his glasses, thin and rectangular, up a little as his face lit up. It always lit up when Charlie indulged his enthusiastic (and scientifically dubious) hobby. \"Emotional imprints, of course! That's why when you find ghosts, they're always stuck in loops or very emotional! That's why there's no such thing as a 'calm' ghost!\"\n\nArthur sighed, and reached out to take the EMF detector from Brandon's unresisting hand. \"Brandon,\" he said slowly, \"you know these things are just meant to detect radiation, right? Look.\" He moved into the kitchen they shared, and waved it gently over the microwave. Dutifully, the detector started pinging. \"See?\"\n\n\"Maybe the microwave is haunted?\" Charlie offered.\n\nArthur shot him a severe look. \"Charlie, don't encourage him.\"\n\nPouting, Brandon took the EMF detector back and gave it a once over as though he was afraid Arthur had accidentally damaged it with his brief sojourn. \"Yeah, but I just explained why ghosts give off radiation.\"\n\nArthur remained steadfastly skeptical. \"And you bought all this equipment because...?\"\n\n\"We're going to start a show!\" Brandon said cheerfully, \"We're going to go around to all the haunted places, and look for ghosts! I even thought of a title - Spook Spotters Anonymous!\"\n\nAnother shared look of disbelief, although Charlie seemed distinctly more bemused than Arthur. \"Firstly,\" Arthur began, \"I don't remember agreeing to anything. Secondly, Spook Spotters Anonymous is a terrible name.\"\n\n\"Okay, it's a working progress, but come on. It'll be fun!\"\n\nThere was a moment of silence as Arthur visibly debated whether or not to be the buzz kill. Brandon was positively beaming at him now, and it was always hard to resist him when he got excited. \"Why do you even want me on the show? You know I don't believe in ghosts or anything like that.\"\n\n\"Because you can be the Scully to my Mulder!\"\n\nArthur sighed. \"... Glad to know I can fulfill a trope for you,\" he muttered. \"Okay. Fine. If it means you'll stop looking at me like that.\"\n\nBrandon just beamed harder. \"Great! You're in too right, Charlie?\"\n\nAt hearing his name called, Charlie blinked, looking up from where he was waving the EMF detector over his arm. \"Oh. Uh. Sure. What do you want me to do?\"\n\n\"Heh, you know it's not going to detect anything right? It only detects ghosts, not people.\"\n\nCharlie let out a small laugh. \"Yeah, I know - but how weird would it be if it actually detected anything right?\" His smile slid off his face as he looked down at his arm, clenching his fist. \"... it'd be weird, right?\"\n\n\"I think it'd be neat! It could be like, our first episode! 'Our Roommate, the Ghost'!\"\n\nArthur rolled his eyes. \"Yes, the thrilling tale of how we've been living with a ghost for years and never realised.\"\n\n\"Pffft, can you imagine though? It'd be so cool to actually be able to talk to a real ghost though!\"\n\nCharlie's smile returned, just a little smaller than before. \"Heh. I can't imagine what it'd be like at all.\"" ]	7
	[WP] Write a story that revolves around a kind, compassionate, character, and then make them evil in the last sentence.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dorothy's alarm went off at 5:30 AM on Monday morning. The local pastor on the radio was preaching about the decline of America and the dangers of liberal devils. She didn't care for the message, but she liked the noise in the morning in the empty house. \n\nHer arthritis was flaring up again.\n\nHopefully just rain, but could be snow this time of year.\n\nShe didn't wear makeup and brushed her shoulder length silver hair. Dorothy wore simple warm clothing and filled her thermos with black coffee. She did her morning inspection of the school bus. The interior was clean and the heaters were running on the cold morning.\n\nHer first stop was the O'Leary farm. There weren't many Catholics in rural West Virginia, but O'Learys were single handedly trying to change that. Patrick, Megan, Mary, Anne, Bernadette, John, Michael, and Joseph, known at little Joe. Their mother, Agnes, saw them onto the bus as she did every morning. She was visibly pregnant. \n\nAgain? Pregnancy was a chronic condition for this woman. How could they support so many children on their meager farm?\n\nThe O'Leary children assumed their usual seats; boys on one side and girls on the other. The bus continued to the next stop, the Shady Holler, trailer park.\n\nThis never gets easier.\n\nDorothy honked the horn on her approach. Some bleary eye residents cursed at the interruption. Slowly the children emerged from their homes and boarded the bus. \n\n\"Good morning, Mrs. Dorothy!\" came a loud voice from a tiny body.\n\n\"Good Morning, Destiny,\" replied Dorothy. \"And where is your coat, Destiny? You'll catch a cold?\"\n\n\"Muh Daddy, he uh.....\"\n\nDorothy expected this. She pulled a too big coat from the lost and found box and wrapped her up.\n\n\"Good morning, Arthur,\" greeted Dorothy to a small thin boy. \"Arthur, I baked some extra muffins this morning. Please take these.\"\n\nThe boys face lit up and he ate them quickly.\n\nWhen was the last time the poor boy ate? School lunch on Friday?\n\nThe last child approached the bus. She was tall for her fifteen years. \n\nDorothy began, \"Good Morning, Arlene, how are....\"\n\nShe stopped suddenly. The girl had a swollen black eye and bruises on her bare arms. She walked unsteadily. Arlene's mother passed when she was young and she lived alone with her father.\n\nWhat has that man done? Beat her for not doing all the housework? A drunken rage? Worse?\n\nDorothy recovered, \"Why Arlene! You're going to be taller than me real soon!\"\n\nDorothy stood up, gave her a loving hug, and whispered in her ear, \"You are safe here. It's going to be ok.\"\n\nThat was a lie. What hope did she have? Did any of them have?\n\nThe bus continued down the road and went straight past the school. Destiny was the first to speak up.\n\n\"Ummm, Mrs. Dorothy, we passed the school. Principal Mathews will be mad.\"\n\nShe replied, \"Whata ya say we play hooky! I'll take the blame!\"\n\nThe children lit up at the idea of skipping school. The bus took the south road to the old quarry. Dorothy did not slow the bus and it easily plowed through the weak fence. Some of the children looked nervous. Dorothy ignored the warning signs and accelerated. \n\nThe bus was airborne long enough for the children to process what was happening. Some screamed. Some of the O'Learys grabbed each other. \n\nLater that day Principal Matthews reported the bus missing. By the time it was found, it was clearly a recovery and not a rescue. There were no survivors.\n\nDorothy had given her surrogate children one last act of compassion.", "There was no sweeter girl than Maureen. Nearly ten years old, her golden hair whisped in the wind and her cornflower blue eyes were always bright and open. \n\nShe was a healer. Without any mythic powers, she was the miracle on the street. Sick dogs and cats became healthy and fit under her care. Horses gained luster and sired on time, calving was birthed with ease. Anything she touches flourished exactly how she wanted it to. \n\nShe grew into a wonderfully strong young woman, capable of healing ailments of any beast. No matter their size nor temperament, she had no fear and found a way to soothe the beast into a state of infatuation and love. \n\nShe began training the untrainable, and found man a mere conquest on her litany of controllable beasts. \n\nEvery morning, she fed breakfast to her beloved animals and staff. Picked stalls and administered medications. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAt night, she couldn't resist drinking blood from each of her patrons and binding them to her with sharp, unheard words from another realm.", "He was \"that guy\". Not in a bad way, though.\n\nHe was that guy who always greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake.\n\nHe was that guy who remembered the school librarian's birthday & got her a dozen red roses to celebrate, as she'd been a widow for the last 15yrs.\n\nHe was that guy who volunteered to paint the church nurseries & who fixed Old Man Talbot's wheelchair ramp.\n\nHe was that guy who helped push Missy's car through the intersection & into the gas station, then paid for her gas, insisting she fill it up. \n\nHe was that guy who volunteered his Tuesday nights to tutor a couple of high schoolers in advanced math, so they had a better shot at getting into a good college.\n\nHe was that guy who offered to help the family of Mr. Hawes (\"Grampa Hawes\" to everyone) clear out his house after he lost his 3rd round with cancer.\n\nHe was that guy who started a GoFundMe to help the Mcalisters keep their home and pay for the doctor's visits the VA didn't cover for the father, Danny (3 deployments was too much).\n\nHe was that guy little girls could always get to push them on the swings or show off their new shoes or dresses to at the park.\n\nHe was that guy who helped Ava corrall her missing dogs & recommend both a fence company and a dog trainer.\n\nHe was that guy who seemed to always have the ugliest Christmas sweater or gaudiest Mardi Gras outfits. (Holidays were his jam!)\n\nHe was that guy who became a sort of 2nd father to the kids in his neighborhood, especially the older girls looking for affirmation.\n\nHe was that guy who taught the middle & high school boys the importance of dressing sharp & how to tie their own tie.\n\nHe was that guy who always gave out the full-size candy at Halloween & the big stockings at Christmas. He also had the biggest displays in his front yard. (Again, holidays were his jam!)\n\nHe was that guy who volunteered to host the neighborhood block parties & help organize the National Nights Out.\n\nHe was that guy who helped put up \"Missing\" posters & attended every candlelight vigil for people mysteriously gone missing from around town. \n\nHe was that guy who went home after to his basement and harvested their organs.", "Henry was a kind soul, warm and compassionate. He was, invited to weddings, parties, and events. He always had what he wanted and seemed to be content. Yet his life seemed to be plagued by disasters, He kept losing friends and family to random accidents. And yet he stays ecstatic and inspired. He was an artist who added astonishing detail in his work. The portraits he made were not regular. They all had human figures painted in various shades of red. His friends describe him as passionate about his work. \n\n\none afternoon while walking home from work. A ragged man shuffled towards him. and spoke \n\n\"Please sir I-I just need food to eat,\" the beggar said. Henry pulled out his wallet with his two fingers that were stained with red. \n\" Is s-sir and artist ? \" the man asked looking at henry's fingers \n\n\n\" Ah yes, yes I am \" he took out 500$ and gave it to the beggar's hand \n\n\n\" T-Thank you kind sir! \" and as the beggar shambled away henry's smile widened into a grotesque grin. \n\n\n \n\n\nNow they don't have evidence on him again.", "I knew I could save them. Save them from the unrelenting virus that had first grown on an inconspicuous blue planet no one really knew about, much less cared about, before spreading to the stars. I knew I could save them all from this plague that grew and grew as it devoured them.\n\nIt was why I became a scientist. A thinker. The greatest mind of my generation. It was why I built weapons, of increasingly incredible power, and it was why I was willing to wield them. \n\nI needed to protect everyone. I needed to save as many lives as I possibly could, before the disease spread any further.\n\nThat is why I destroyed humanity - to protect everyone else.", "I had been bullied my whole life.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIn kindergarten, the girls laughed at me for liking things they didn't, and the boys thought I was a teacher's pet.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt only got worse in primary.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd then middle school.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI tried her best. I baked cookies for the students in her homeroom. As a student council member, I tried to make things more enjoyable. But I was still a freak. A nerd. An outcast.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nA girl called Beth was the worst. She tried her best to get me kicked off the student council, and she even hurt me physically. Once she followed me home and pushed me into the nearby pond, drenching my books and papers in muddy water. I had stood, her socks slowly getting soggier, and cried her eyes out.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nOne day, I was packing up her violin in one of the school's music classrooms. I had offered to tutor some kids in primary, who were trying to start their own orchestra. I picked up her violin case and slung it over my shoulder, walking the long way to exit my school, avoiding the path Beth usually took. I was shaking with fear and anticipation for tomorrow.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe next day, I was called to the office, where Beth sat in the chair next to me, handcuffed to the armrest. I shivered. I had already supplied the principal with the evidence. Beth stared at me with pure hatred.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Why are you here?\" She snarled, looking angrier than I thought was possible.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe principal flicked on the screen and explained. I had given her everything she needed to know. A video recording of Beth talking to someone and then hitting them with a baseball bat. A knife with Beth's fingerprints on them. And finally, the dead girl. Covered with Beth's fingerprints.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nBeth was reduced to tears. She screamed, and struggled, and kicked. I almost felt sorry for her, even though she had made her life a living hell.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"It wasn't me! It was faked! Please! It wasn't me! I swear it wasn't me!\" She pleaded as she was dragged out of the room by policemen.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI exited the office, feeling a sense of relief.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI guess my plan worked after all.", "\"Grandpa!\" Six-year-old Nuri ran to the door. \"You're here!\"\nThe elderly gentleman smiled as he lifted up the girl. \" I wouldn't miss my favourite granddaughter's birthday for anything. Ouch!\"\n\n\"Naughty Nuri!\" Aliya snapped. \"We don't pull people's beards! ... Sorry, Father!\"\n\n\"But it's so white and soft....\" murmured Nuri.\n\n\"It's all right, dear. I've had a lot worse in the field.\" He set down the little girl. \"Now, my dear, I have a present for you, but only if you stop pulling people's hair. And beards.\"\n\n\"Present! Yay!\"\n\n\"Yay, indeed.\" Two uniformed soldiers came in, carrying a massive, blocky object between them, concealed in pink wrapping paper. \"Men, put it down in the corner.\"\n\nAliya sighed. \"Is that what I think it is?\"\n\n\"If you're thinking rocking horse, then yes.\"\n\n\"Father... She's not going to get off it for weeks now.\"\n\n\"And that wouldn't be a bad thing,\" came the voice of Aliya's husband from behind her. He nodded respectfully to his father-in-law. \"General sir. Welcome. Can I get you anything?\"\n\n\"Kabir, good to see you. Later, perhaps, we can break open a bottle of bourbon.\" A roguish twinkle appeared in the General's eye. \"Is Fahad old enough to join us yet?\"\n\n\"Begging pardon, sir, but fourteen is still too young for hard alcohol.\"\n\n\"Ah, I'll wear you down one of these days. Did I ever tell you about my first drink?\"\n\n\"Yes, Father, you were twelve and it was during the Liberation,\" Aliya rolled her eyes. \"My sons are not drinking until they've reached adulthood, and that's final.\"\n\n\"The lady of the house has spoken,\" acknowledged Kabir. \"Let us eat cake instead.\"\n\n\"All right....\"\n\n\"Father, we had a sugar free cake made for you as well.\"\n\n\"Dammit, your mother called, didn't she?\"\n\n\"Mother, Shehnaz aunty, and Lekha aunty all called.\"\n\nThe General made a face. \"I'm surrounded by too many strong women....\"\n\n\"Well, that's what you get for being so popular, Father.\"\n\nThe cellphone buzzed. Frowning, he reached for it.\n\n\"General Yusuf speaking.\"\n\n\"Colonel Mukhbir, sir.\"\n\n\"One moment.\" He turned to his son-in-law. \"Kabir, can I borrow your study for a few minutes?\"\n\n\"Sure, sir.\"\n\n\nClosing the door, he switched to his 'command voice'. Harsher, more crisp, more efficient. \"I'm at my granddaughter's birthday. This better be important.\"\n\n\"We found the agitators, sir. It's a group of students from the rural districts. Thirty of them.\"\n\n\"Thirty rural college kids?\"\n\n\"Sir, they're schoolchildren. Their online personalities are fakes; the oldest is sixteen.\"\n\n\"Boys?\"\n\n\"Some boys, some girls.\"\n\n\"And you're calling me because? Make an example, Mukhbir.\"\n\n\"Sir, they're just kids. We have them in custody, I don't think they knew what they were doing....\"\n\n\"Do I need to remind you of our job, Mukhbir? You know my rules. If they try to raise discontent against the Liberation, then we execute them. Them, their families, their friends, their pet cat if they have one. No exceptions.\"\n\n\"Sir, for adults....\"\n\n\"Are you losing your nerve, Mukhbir? Do I need to find you a less stressful job?\"\n\n\"...No, sir, I'll have it done.\"\n\n\"A good officer leads from the front, Mukhbir. You'll do it personally. Have them tied up, shoot them one by one I. The back of the head, and record the whole thing.\"\n\n\"... Sir, yes, sir.\"\n\n\"And start with the leader's girlfriend, whoever it is, in front of him. I want the full recording in my office by three.\"\n\n\"... Sir, why that way?\"\n\n\"Because I want to see the hope die in his eyes, that's why. Now, I'm going to go eat some sugar free cake, and when I get to the office you'd better have the recording ready.\" He disconnected the call. \"Dammit.... Well, maybe I should treat myself this afternoon.\" \n\nHe dialled another number. \"Nina? Be in the office at three. Wear that dress I like.\"\n\nCalls done, he headed back to the party. It would be nice to see Nuri riding the rocking horse.", "“Mr. Phillips, you must stop exerting yourself. I am worried about your health; this is the second time I have admitted you into my facility for heart problems. I may be good at my job, but I’m not a miracle worker. We got lucky this time. If you had gotten one more red light on your way here, you might have been dead.”\n\n \n\nI pulled off my mask, thin red strap marks still resting against my skin. It had been an extensive surgery, twelve hours to be exact. My hands still shaking in a pained, repetitive fashion. I always got the shakes after a long job, but it was all worth it. I would much rather the shakes than a dead man on my operating table.\n\n \n\n“Heh, lucky? I had the best surgeon in town. James, you are a miracle worker. My kid turns four next week. I thought I wouldn’t get to see them. You know what that’s like? Your chest on fire, feeling like it’s going to pop, yet the only thing on your mind is the teary face of your kid when they realize their fathers not coming back.”\n\n \n\nMr Phillips was always a strong-willed man, that’s why his tears caught me off guard. To see even a man such as him moved to tears. That was one lucky child. I offered him a comforting pat on the back, letting him get out his emotions before speaking when he had calmed down.\n\n \n\n“Get that kid a wonderful present, then. Don’t forget to work on maintaining a good diet, too. I don’t want you back here anytime soon. I have already written up a potential diet plan for you to follow. I’m a surgeon not a nutritionist so I understand if you don’t follow my advice, but please consider seeking proper help.”\n\n \n\n“I will, I’ll listen. I’m sorry I was so stubborn last time. I guess having a kid changes a person. You have a kid James?”\n\n“No, I never saw a need for children. They would impede my work. I do have a lovely neice and nephew though. Oldest turned eight. I got her a little doctor set. You know the white robe, fake stethoscope. She’s a smart kid, that one. I would love to teach her someday.”\n\n \n\n“Glad to hear it. What about staff? I know you like to keep this place quiet and all, but this quiet? You must need assistants, right? Unless you are a miracle worker.” \n\n“Oh, I do, I just pride myself on being a luxury establishment. I prefer to not have my clients disrupted by the noise of your average hospital; it affects health. I did recently have to get rid of a staff member, it’s a shame, he was a promising kid.”\n\n \n\n“What did he do?”\n\n \n\n“Nothing horrible, he just said he wanted to move to a bigger hospital. Apparently mine didn’t have enough customers. It’s understandable. I hear he’s already doing great things.”\n\n \n\nJames looked to the man’s stitches, the stitches easily spotted underneath the loose white top that the man wore. He was quick to reach for a bandage, holding it towards the man.\n\n \n\n“Would you like me to cover the stitches? I have a customer who needs a kidney transplant, but I can quickly wrap you up if you would prefer. I prefer not to dress them, but if it bothers you, I can.”\n\n \n\n“I can’t keep you here, doctor. I would be a real asshole to do that. I should be fine. If it bleeds, I’ll go to the doctors and get them to fix it up. Take care of yourself, the money should be in your account. Keep doing god’s work, James.”\n\n \n\n“Thank you, please do read over my dietary plan. If you have questions, feel free to ring and ask me.”\n\n \n\nJames leads the man to the door, waving them off. Once the man had left, he went to find his next client, walking down the sterile hallway with a smile. It may have been tiring to do this all alone, but it was easier this way.\n\n \n\n>!If he had staff members, they might start asking where he kept getting all these body parts from.!<\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\n(If you enjoyed this feel free to check out my subreddit /r/Sadnesslaughs where I'll be posting more of my writing.)", "He'd finally done it. \n\nMarcus peered down the microscrope to check for the final time. Sure enough, the cancerous cells were completely gone. Of the thousand patients enrolled in his latest study, Marcus had felt confident that his research could help a quarter of the population. He had never dreamed that his work would really eradicate cancer in every trial candidate. Marcus stared at his data and the numbers astounded. \n\nHe took off his glasses and let out a sign of relief. He'd lost so much to this disease. His nephew, numerous close friends, both parents. Such tragedy. \n\nYet in the end it was all worth it. The sleepless nights alone in the laboratory. The hundreds of hours spent with sick patients, patients he had grown to know and love. Countless nights holding their hands as the life drained from their eyes. The tears. The disappointment and failure of earlier drugs that simply didn't work. Now that was over. \n\nIt was all worth it. \n\nHe'd finally done it. \n\nHe was going to be rich." ]	10
	[WP] You are rescuing a russian spy from the mob, with a crazed WW2 veteran, literaly a demon, and a homeless dude with a pan who might or not actualy be a wizard. Write about how you got here.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "How did he get here?\n\nThey were standing outside an old building, the sliver of moon their only light.\n\nHis compatriots were an odd company.\n\nA crazed WW2 Veteran, a demon who looked a lot like Dobby the house elf, and a homeless dude with a pan who might or might not actually be a wizard.\n\nAnd then him, Conrad. A nobody kid who lived in foster care.\n\nThat’s how he got here. He hadn’t wanted to go “home” after school. Conrad only had a semester left and then he’d graduate. A month later he’d turn 18 and put this town in his rear view. His current “parents” had substance and verbal abuse problems and he didn’t stay under the roof one minute more than curfew required. So, instead of heading to the house after school, he’d ducked over to the tracks.\n\nWhere he’d met Dobby. Conrad couldn’t think of the demon as more than a house elf or he’d lose his shit. So, Dobby it was.\n\nDobby had been stuck on the tracks. Cute, pathetic.\n\nWhen Conrad walked up and saw him, he had to help. Big mistake.\n\nNever call a demon cute. Or pathetic. To their face.\n\nAs soon as Dobby was pulled out of the rails, Conrad’s skin had started to itch something terrible. His arms and face broke out in hives and he couldn’t stop scratching. Dobby had giggled. Giggled. Standing on the sidelines, the knobby little creature just laughed.\n\nHe’d finally knocked it off after Conrad had apologized. Profusely. Little turd.\n\nThe WW2 Veteran arrived after that.\n\nWandering over from his bridge-shelter, he’d wanted to know what all the commotion was about. The Vet’s eyes were a little … shifty, twitchy. Made Conrad wonder if the old man was all there.\n\nVet had looked at Dobby and started muttering about the war. The spies everywhere. Ruskies coming for them. Dobby stared at the old man solemnly as he ranted. And that’s when Conrad decided to hit the road. Or the tracks.\n\nHe hadn’t meant to encounter anyone. Certainly, hadn’t meant to help an ungrateful house elf or get caught up in conspiracies. Nope. Not for him, he was a loner and liked it that way, thank you very much.\n\nWith a nod and a wave Conrad had tried to extricate himself from the odd pair.\n\nHad even started walking up the tracks a bit, before he realized he was being followed.\n\nWhen he’d turned around, they’d both been steps behind him. They stopped, too. And waited.\n\nConrad tried explaining he didn’t want company, but they weren’t deterred. The Vet kept referencing “the Wizard” would have a mission for them, just wait.\n\nSo, that’s how the trio happened upon the homeless man with a pan.\n\nConrad had continued down the tracks, with Dobby and Vet. When they turned a corner, the homeless man was sitting on a rock, dunking a pan in the little stream beside him.\n\nWhen he’d lifted his eyes and met Conrad’s gaze it was like lightening.\n\nConrad had felt the strangest sensation.\n\nHe felt seen, known.\n\nThe Wizard lifted the pan and peered into the water as if reading a map.\n\nWhen he spoke, the sounds of the woods around them fell away. The strangeness of the words cast a spell over the trio, but Conrad especially.\n\n“There is a Russian spy who needs saving. You will do this.”\n\nAnd that, is how he’d gotten here.\n\nStanding outside of a dilapidated building, in the middle of the night. With a rag tag group. About to attempt to break a Russian spy out of a Mafia bunker.\n\nGreat. Conrad thought, as he crept towards the cellar window on the Wizard’s signal. What could possibly go wrong.\n\n \n\n\\~\\~\\~\n\nThanks for reading! For more scribblings, wander over to [r/WanderingAnonymous](https://www.reddit.com/r/WanderingAnonymous/)" ]	2
	[WP] The Chosen One is destined to destroy the Dark Lord's evil empire and as their mentor, it's your duty to train them. But after seeing first hand the Chosen One's utter incompetence, you opt to send them to work for the Dark Lord and see what damage the can cause from the inside.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 did what!\" my colleague screamed. I hate it when she does that.\n\n\"I just sent him in to take the operation down from the inside. That's all I did, I swear!\" I replied.\n\n\"He has been with us for less than a month! You can't send him there after less than a month, even if he is the Chosen One! How can you excuse this?\n\n\"Well, he was pretty incompetent, I mean, even a child could have mastered the Schilden Sword Style in less time.\"\n\n'I-I guess\" She couldn't argue. The Schilden Sword Style was the easiest style to master, due to it only having about 3 moves. The block, the sideswipe, and the front jab.\n\n\"And on top of that, he barely listened to instructions. With how dependant the Dark Lord's schemes are on his instruction, surely it would damage it massively with how unassuming he is.\"\n\n\"True, but it still wasn't a good idea to send him in there so soon. I mean, what if he goes in and tries to kill the Dark Lord?'\n\n\"Don't worry, I thought of that, so I told him to kill the Dark Lord. No way he will follow through now that it was an instruction.\"\n\n\"... Fine, but when he comes back in pieces don't come crying to me\"", " I stared down at my mug - its contents more Irish than coffee - and sighed. I need a new game plan if I am going to train the Chosen One, the texts and techniques that I have been studying for years won’t help me with this one. A pair of neon trainers stopped in front of me, Jax. “I hope your endurance training is going better than this,” I huffed at him. \n\nJax held a hand out to help me to my feet. “He’s wearing me out if I’m honest. Isn’t it kind of early for that?” He motioned at my mug, “I thought you didn’t drink before noon, it’s kind of the entire excuse you use to get out of brunch with my sister.” \n\n“New rule,” I choked back the last of my whiskey, “Noon, or the third time my student disappears himself while practicing telekinesis in a single morning.” \n\n“THREE TIMES!?”\n\nI nodded, “I could even understand it if we were practicing teleportation, but telekinesis? I mean come on.” The heavy oak doors of my study thudded closed with a surprising softness. I turned the newly installed fluorescent lights off in favor of my old kerosene lamps, hoping to stave off the migraine I could feel forming. It just didn’t make any sense. I shuffled through the parchment strewn over my desk as Jax plopped down on the sofa. \n\n“Each Chosen One has had their thing right? Like some kind of super ability?” Jax nodded. “So what is his? I’ve tried all the past Ones’ abilities and got nothing. I even tried hand-to-hand combat.” Jax sat up, “how did he do with that? Did he show any potential?” “That depends,” I slumped into my chair, “do self inflicted injuries count as potential?” Jax looked skeptical. I handed him the write up from the campus infirmary. His eyes grew wider as he read, “both eyes swollen shut, concussion undetermined as the eyes were too swollen to look at pupil dilation, recommend following concussion treatment plan as a precaution, CT scan recommended if headache persists or patient shows signs of memory loss, appears to have stress fracture in left ankle and meniscal tear in right knee.” He paused, “now I know you’re just screwing with me, this says he was missing a finger. He had all ten fingers when I spotted him in the gym this morning.” \n\n“Between the doctor sewing back on, and his rapid healing, he was basically fine by the time the doctor finished his notes.” I dropped several books on rapid healing on my desk, “unfortunately, rapid healing appears to be his super ability. I don’t think that’s ever been One’s ability.”\n\nI flipped open the cover of σούπερ θεραπεία, \"it's been so long since I've read this book, it's all Greek to me.\" Jax chuckled, \"I'm sure it'll come back to you easily enough.\" \"No,\" I looked up, \"it's literally Greek to me, the entire thing is in Greek.\" \n\nI looked at the other books, \"well my Greek is no good, and my Latin always makes me stress about accidentally summoning a demon, so I guess we are learning about rapid healing in Sanskrit.\" \n\n\\\\\\\n\nAfter several hours of stumbling through the texts on rapid healing, and more coffee than is probably safe to consume, we stopped to eat. It was dark out now, but my head was pounding and I don't think I could stand the sunlight anyway. \"So,\" Jax mumbled between bites of Chinese food, \"what now?\" \n\nI honestly had no idea. In the hundreds of years that we had been training Chosen Ones to destroy the empires that the Dark Lord builds up, there hasn't been a single One without a useful super ability. They all have rapid healing, this one seemed to only have super healing. He barely had that. \n\n\"I guess you just keep working on his endurance while I try to figure out how to use the little bit of rapid healing he has.\" \n\nJax jumped up from his seat and ran to close the door. \"What if his super ability is* that he is so terrible at everything?\" \n\n\"Did reading so much fry your brain?\" \n\n\"I already told you his endurance training is unnecessary,\" Jax explained, \"he puts me to shame in the gym and on the track. He went to the infirmary looking like he got run over by a truck, and all he needed was a couple of stitches to hold his finger on while he healed in the course of five minutes? Maybe his super ability is just that he is too stupid to know he's hurt.\" \n\nI just stared at Jax, trying to figure out how that helped me. \"What am I supposed to do with that? Even if incompetence could be a super ability, how would I train him for it?\"\n\n\"Maybe you don't? Maybe we should send him in as some kind of mole? Let him topple the empire from the inside.\" \n\nAfter a long debate, we decided that the best course of action was to send him in without knowing what was going on. We couldn't risk him blowing this by.. well by trying. So it had to be all his idea to leave us and go work for the Dark Lord. \"Good luck,\" Jax kissed the top of my head as he opened the door for me. \n\nI was off to pick a fight with the Chosen One.", "Cameron looked up. In front of him was a soldier in a full suit of pitch black power armor, wielding a gigantic, fully automatic, caseless machinegun. Behind the soldier was the large smoldering wreck of a crashed VTOL, which hissed and occasionally produced tiny explosions as the fusion cells burned through. Only this one soldier had emerged from the wreck, and flames still burned on his shoulder as he lifted his rifle. Expecting to be executed on the spot, Cameron kneeled and bowed his head.\n\n\"Camelon!\"\n\nHe knows my name! Cameron thought, and stood up to see the soldier awkwardly waving at him. \n\nWell, sort of anyway. But there's only one person who consistently had such a stupid mispronunciation. This had to be....\n\n\"Is me! Torr! Chosuh one.\"\n\nGreat. His former student had returned. Torr had been the least capable student he had ever had the displeasure of mentoring. The poor fellow was born with virtually every disadvantage one could think of: he was scrawny, powerless, sickly, weak, short-sighted, nearly deaf, and unbelievably clumsy. To top off this incredible set of skills he had the intelligence of a sheep carcass. Yet somehow the elder had decided in her wisdom that Torr was the Chosen One. So he had tried. \n\n\"Hey Torr! How are you doing buddy? Where did you get that fancy armor from?\" Cameron asked the menacing, armed soldier in front of him that was literally on fire in a childish tone.\n\nTorr tried in vain to scratch his tummy, through the hermetically sealed armor plates; something he did when things got too complicated for him.\n\n\"Oh I'm sorry buddy. I'll start with just one question.\" Cameron said while holding up a single finger.\n\n\"How are you doing, buddy?\"\n\n\"Torr good! See Camelon!\"\n\nTorr lifted his hands up and started slowly walking towards Cameron for a hug. Behind him an injured figure in a uniform that looked important slowly crawled out of a wreckage. A survivor? Cameron was about to say something when Torr -fully occupied with trying to hug him- dropped his machinegun which promptly cooked off and hosed the second survivor in tungsten, blasting his head and torso wide open.\n\nOp.\n\nUrg. Cameron was now being hugged/squished by a clumsy man in an incredibly strong suit of power armor. He tried not to think of his ribcage and instead wondered how Torr even managed to mispronounce 'oops'.\n\n\"Great to see you. So how did you get this fancy armor buddy?\"\n\n\"Eclif give to me. Pew pew many things.\"\n\nOf course. Of course it had worked. The Chosen One was meant to defeat the evil Enclave, who had vastly superior technology and superior numbers. To accomplish this, Cameron was ordered to teach Torr all the the skills he'd need to fight them. And he had tried. He tried to teach him how to shoot a rifle, but Torr shot his little toe off. So he tried to teach him how to perform first aid on his foot, but Torr ended up eating his scabs together with the rest of his toenails. He tried to harden Torr's body and ready it for war, but Torr could not run for more than 10 seconds before tripping and falling. From the first day of his training to the last, Torr had achieved nothing, but had somehow burned down several houses, broken or lost countless pieces of equipment, insulted almost everyone in the village because being the Chosen One had really gotten to his head, killed one old villager and accidentally poisoned a quarter of their livestock.\n\nIt was then that Cameron had realized Torr would be best off with their enemy, not opposing their enemy. So he had sent him on his 'quest': a slightly modified version to search the Enclave and join them, with the explicit instructions to never talk to anyone except for him. He had considered it a certain death, but Torr was a very lucky fellow and had somehow survived.\n\n\"Wow, you shot many things? That must have been fun! And who are the people in the VTOL Torr?\"\n\nTorr looked to his side. Even with the constant whizzing noise of the actuators and the sound of metal clacking he looked nothing but silly as he tried to find the wreckages that were right behind him. When he finally found them, he stared at them for a while, clearly in deep thought.\n\n\"Prescipent!\"\n\n\"That's the president?!\"\n\n\"Prescipent and ALL genitals!\"\n\nCameron wasn't drinking anything, so he spit out his saliva in surprise. He ran over to the wreckage, as Torr awkwardly wandered off. There, through the flames he could see lots of bodies. The injured man that was trying to crawl out earlier had a tag on the remains of his arm that resembled stars. Torr wasn't making this up. Somehow he had joined the Enclave, become a high ranking soldier and managed to crash the presidential transport with the high command on board. This would potentially end the war.\n\n\"Torr this is fantastic! You did it buddy, you actually did it! Do you realize what this means?\"\n\nCameron looked back to find that Torr was preoccupied. He had successfully taken off his helmet, and was once again trying to eat his toenails. His yellow teeth clacked against the metal, but his attempts were being foiled by the metal-ceramic nanocomposite armor plates that were still covering his feet.\n\nI guess he doesn't know.... The only question left now is what to do with the walking disaster clad in power armor that has just crashed in front of our village.\n\n________________________________\n\nMore on /r/luxardens" ]	4
	[WP] You were born with nine masks. Nine chances to change your identity and change the course of your life. You’re now down to your last two	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns." ]	1
	[WP] All morning you have been watching the coverage of the first confirmed UFO landing bearing a message for one human. Two soldiers knock on your door with that message.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was a special day today and the entire world had their eyes glued to their phones or telivision sets.\n\nToday was the day they were going to arrive. The Aliens who had initiated contact with us 3 days ago were set to arrive at noon today.\n\nAlthough the footage of their landing site was streamed across the world it was in an hour's delay to avoid any accidents among the genral public.\n\nThere I was sitting bon my couch watching the silver space craft touc down an the doors opening slowly. As I held my breath and waited in anticipation for the sillouet to become clear and get my first good look at a proper extraterrestrial my tv went out.\n\nI cursed inwardly at the disappointment and went near it to check on it. Then suddenly there were sounds of vehicles and sirins outside which appeared to get closer and finaly stopped at my front door. I quietly went to the door to check when there was a sudden knock on it.\n\n\"Mr. Brown, please open up.\"\n\nWhen I looked through the peephole I could see a pair of men in army uniform standing behind the door. I was scared but still opened the door.\n\n\"Hello Mr.Brown, I am Sgt.Black and I would like to talk with you.\" The man interduced himself and stated his purpose of visit .\n\n\"Umm. May I know what this is about?\" I enquired.\n\n\" Honestly that's what we would like to know too, bu now we are just messengers.\"\n\n\"Who would send the army to send some message\" I asked.\n\nHe didn't reply and just pointed a finger upward . Giving a sorry smile. And pushed an envelope in front of me.\n\n\"What??.\" I was shoked at his implications and reached out my hand to the envelope.\n\n\"Can I..open it\" I asked. He just stood there watching and after sometime he just told \" we have been told not to interfere in anyway after you receive it. We can only observe\". \n\nI don't know what was happening and with a shaking hands opend the envelope. It contained a folded piece of paper. I took it and opened it to read.\n\nI was slightly surprised as the contents were in English considering the source, but reading the contents nearly took my breath . It read\n\n'Human called Brown, you have been pranked by this mighty Xorpol the interplanetary master of pranks, have fun explaining to your world, no one will ever belive you and this only piece of evidence will soon turn to dust after you finish reading it . Have fun\"\n\nAs the letter turned to dust I looked up at the soilder s face wondering has I am going to get out of this.", "\nThe note was sealed when the soldiers handed it to me. \n\n“Did anyone read this?” I asked before I opened it. \n\n“No.”\n\n“Why not?”\n\n“Aliens threatened us with death if we did.”\n\n“How would they know?”\n\n“They’re aliens,” the soldiers replied as if I were stupid for not putting that together. \n\n“Ok, you can go.”\n\nThe soldiers shifted from foot to foot. They were uncomfortable. They wanted to tell me they had to stay, that they had to demand I open it in front of them. I think they were afraid of the aliens. \n\nI closed the door. They stood outside the door and waited to see them leave through the window. It didn’t happen. \n\nI took note into my basement and started a fire in the fireplace. \n\nI sat down and read the note. \n\n \n \n\n“On October 17, 2020, you need to run. Get ready.”\n\n \n \nI set the note on fire. I went to my room and packed a small bag and I made a quick list of what I needed to prepare." ]	3
	[WP] You are most certainly not an alien, did not come from area 52 and are definitely not just trying to get back to your spaceship so you can leave this disgusting rock.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " No, wherever did you get that idea?! That’s absurd. I simply wondered where Area 52 was, because I’m interested as a tourist! \n \n\nI’ve been to all the wonderful places here on your- I mean, our planet. Australia, what a simply wonderful place! The temperature is pleasant and not all insomnia-inducingly hot. The animals that live there are fascinating and I certainly wouldn’t want to destroy them all with an inter-continental missile before they could horribly kill or permanently maim me.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI also really enjoy the UK! Take London – if you want to get anywhere, you don’t take some zero-emission hover car, oh no! Instead, you descend a dirty fast-moving sharp metal staircase into the bowels of the earth with hundreds of other people, and get to breathe in each others’ smells, just to really get to know each other. Then you travel into dark tunnels crammed together, before ascending onto a pollution-laden street. What fun! \n\n&#x200B;\n\nHang on, I’ve finished my drink – waiting person, can I please have another cup of bitter unpleasant beans boiled in hot water and then squirted with the emissions from a cow? Only a small amount of emissions though please. No, I don’t require any sweet supplementary powder harvested by slave children thank you for asking! \n \n\nJapan – well, who wants a nice simple language anyway? Boring! I’d much prefer several thousand incomprehensible indecipherable squiggles that need a lifetime to understand and cause even the best universal translator to explode! I mean, phrasebook. To explode.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd of course America! My absolute favourite! I feel soooo safe there because almost everyone has access to weapons that could cause my death in a picosecond. I feel so defended! And if I was to accidentally get hurt the medical treatment there is so expensive it means I can get seen very quickly. The fat-laden food makes it easy to maintain my body’s high molecular mass, and the country values humour so much they have elected an insane, attention-seeking, histrionic clown to lead them. They really value entertainment! \n \n \n\nSo no, I definitely don’t want to leave. Even if I could, which of course I can’t. Now, can I please have a look at your army base ID again…and if you can just look into this red pulsing light….oh, are you feeling tired…? That’s odd….." ]	2
	[WP] It took years to master the Art of Deception. Now your talent has come to the final test. “Presenting the King and Queen of Carla’demoa ”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 king looks at me with bright blue eyes and offers me his arm. I plaster on a smile and take it, trying not to show my nerves. The queen he expects to see would never show weakness. As we enter the ballroom, I repeat my instructions in my head.\n\nStay with the king, and get him alone. Be careful. You won't get out alive if they discover you.\n\nWe descend the stairs together, and I scan the room, noting exits and guards with iron weapons. As the count of iron weapons grows, I remind myself how lucky I am to have gotten this assignment. No one has ever gone undercover as royalty before. The risks, even for a master in the Art of Deception, have always been deemed too high. Ever since the attack, though, my people have been desperate.\n\nThe young king turns to face me, \"May I have this dance?\"\n\n\"Of course, your highness.\"\n\nAs we dance slowly toward the center of the room, he watches me with loving eyes, and I mimic his expression as best I can.\n\n\"Are you enjoying yourself, my queen?\"\n\n\"Why wouldn't I be?\" I laugh in what I hope is a flirtatious way.\n\nI can sense that he plans to continue talking to me for a while, and I feel anxiety shoot through my body. Since fae cannot lie directly, I have spent years learning how to twist questions and reword answers to deceive. I only hope I've prepared enough for this dance.\n\nHe chuckles, startling me out of my thoughts.\n\n\"What is it?\" I focus on keeping my tone light.\n\n\"Look at that knight attempting to flirt with your handmaiden.\"\n\nI turn around and see my best friend, John, talking to a teenage girl. Only I can see his iridescent wings fluttering lightly behind him since he's cloaked with the same kind of magic as I am. When he sees me looking, he lightly tilts his head toward the king to remind me of my task. \n\nI turn and prepare myself for more conversation when I notice a burning sensation in my hand. I focus on my smile and glance at my hand. It appears that a pointed part of the kings iron ring has torn through my glove and is resting against my hand. Damned iron. These people use it in everything to protect themselves against us. As if they're the ones that need protecting.\n\n\"Eric,\" I laugh, \"It appears that you've torn my glove. Would you mind accompanying me to retrieve another?\"\n\nHe grabs my hand and tries to look, but I snatch it back to hide the burn mark on my skin. Eric sighs in resignation and escorts me out of the ballroom. As we walk toward his bedroom, I can feel a presence behind us. I suppose John came up with an excuse to step out.\n\nAs we enter the bedroom, I notice that every piece of furniture is a sculpture of twisted iron. I suppress a shudder. The king opens a drawer and pulls out two beautiful silk gloves. I take them and slide them over my hands, barely managing to do so through my shaking.\n\n\"Kiss me,\" I squeak out, kicking myself mentally for how pathetic I sound.\n\nEric's face lights up, and he gently places his hand behind my head. Our lips lock, and I feel the potion on my lips absorb into his. For a brief moment, his eyes flicker open and stare into mine. Then, he falls to the floor.\n\nJohn enters from his position at the door, \"He'll be dead within the hour. Good work.\"\n\n\"Let's get out of here,\" I start to leave, but he grabs my arm.\n\n\"Our Queen said they had to think this the attack of a rogue group for us to offer an alliance,\" he says.\n\n\"I know, that's why we used this ancient potion, right?\"\n\nJohn's jaw tightens, \"I'm sorry.\"\n\nHe plunges an iron blade into my abdomen, and I cry out, my cloaking spell sliding off like a waterfall as I collapse in his arms. He ties a necklace with strange symbols around my neck as he lowers me to the floor, leaving the knife in place.\n\n\"Quick, in here!\" I hear him shout as the edges of my vision go dark, \"There's been an attempt on the king's life!\"" ]	2
	[WP] You and your friends decided to prank your friend, Jamie, by entering in a Haunted mansion and hiding until he's all alone. It was all going well, until you hear a horrific scream, then footsteps going near your cabinet. You peaked out and you see him Smiling.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 peer out from behind the curtain as Jamie enters the room. He looks around. He must be terrified, we've been hiding for half an hour. He turns to face the window, smiling. \n\n \n “Liv?” Jamie spots me. \n\n \n “Yeah” I roll my eyes. This wasn't how this was suppose to go. “What are you smiling at? I heard a scream.” \n\n \n “Oh that was Gardenia.” \n\n \n “Gard... who? What's that?” I'm confused. \n\n \n “Gardenia. Like the flower. Don't you know her? She said she knew Jake.” I tense at the mention of Jake. \n\n \n “No”. \n\n \n “Well if she's not your friend, you don't mind if I... you know ask her out... she's pretty, well hot.” \n\n \n I momentarily feel sorry this Gardenia girl, having Jamie drooling over her. But if it keeps her away from Jake... “Sure go for it”. \n\n \n “Great lets find the others” he bounds out of the room. I sigh, there is nothing worse than a failed prank. \n\n \n “Wait” something occurs to me. “Why was she screaming?” \n\n \n “I told her there was a spider on her.” He laughs to himself. Everything adds up, I guess. I lead Jamie to the room opposite where Hope is hiding. \n\n \n “I've been there already” Jamie tells me. “It's empty.” \n\n \n It looks that way. I search behind the settee, under the desk, in the cupboard. Nobody's there. I definitely saw Hope come in here. Thinking about it though, the scream I heard did sound like a lot Hope. She always said Jamie gave her the creeps. \n\n \n “Jamie, where is Gardenia now?” I ask inching towards the door. \n\n \n “I don't know” he shrugs. “She just disappeared.” \n\n \n “Alright. After you” I hold open the door, trying to keep calm. \n\n \n “Thanks” I feel a knot in my stomach. Surely Hope wouldn't prank me? \n\n \n I take Jamie to the opposite corridor. “Jake should be in there. You first.” Obedient as always, Jamie enters first. I hear gasping. \n\n \n “What is is?” I peer round. My blood runs cold, I feel I'm going to be sick. Laying on the bed is Jake, tangled up in the sheets with Hope, his hand up her shirt. I tremble inside. I know what I said, but I still cannot believe Hope would do this. \n\n \n “What's going on?” I try to sound nonchalant, but they must sense the edge in my voice. Sheepishly they peel themselves away from one another. \n\n \n “We got bored waiting” Hope says, not making eye contact as she adjusts herself. \n\n \n “Where have you been?” Jake grins at Jamie. \n\n \n “I was talking to Gardenia”. \n\n \n “Who?” \n\n \n The four of us make our way up the main staircase where Ozzy and Beth should be hiding. “I don't know any Gardenia” Jake keeps insisting. \n\n \n “Well I asked if she knew you and she said yes”. \n\n \n We reach the top step, Jamie halts, bewitched by a photograph hung above the stairs. It's old, in black-and-white of a young woman, with long blonde hair, looking off camera. \n\n \n “Strange. She looks just like Gardenia” Jamie says, transfixed. \n\n \n “Sure you weren't just talking to this photograph?” Jake asks. Hope sniggers. I do not know why we're always so mean towards Jamie. It is as if the hive-mind just decided to. And he accepted it. Despite everything he stands by us like a loyal puppy. \n\n \n “She's real.” \n\n \n “Whatever, we're not falling for it. This way” Jake leads us over to the bathroom where Beth is hiding. It's empty. \n\n \n “Great, more people not where they're suppose to be” I mutter. “Lets find Ozzy”. \n\n \n “Maybe she's with Gardenia” Hope teases. I'm not in the mood for her jokes. \n\n \n At the end of the hallway is a grandfather clock, I can see something move behind it. “Ozzy? Beth?” I call out. The thing stops moving. “We're not doing the prank now, you can come out.” No response. \n\n \n I sigh and walk up to the clock. Pressed up against the wall under a white sheet, is the outline of a person. “Really?” I'm not sure who to expect as I pull the sheet off, but I'm surprised to see a complete stranger. A girl, not dissimilar to the one in the photograph. She had long golden hair and looks like a doll with porcelain skin and hollow cheekbones. “Who the...?” \n\n \n “Gardenia” Jamie cries. “You got us.” She smiles, but there is something vacant in her glassy blue eyes. “See she's real. We're looking for the others” he tells her. \n\n \n “They're hiding” she giggles. “The game has changed.” \n\n \n “Where'd they go?” Hope asks. \n\n \n “That would be cheating” Gardenia wags her finger. “You've got to find them yourselves. Lets split up.” She slips an arm through Jamie's. “I'm with Jay-Jay.” \n\n \n “In that case I'm with Hope” Jake pulls her to him. \n\n \n “Want to join Liv?” Hope talks the floor. \n\n \n “I'm fine” I try not to sound hurt. \n\n \n “Okay” Hope quickly walks away, Jake in toe, before things get more awkward. \n\n \n “Take care Meg” Gardenia smiles, looking me up with dead eyes. I don't bother correcting her. \n\n \n Once I'm alone, We had been too distracted to ask Gardenia why she is here. I let out a muffled scream, kicking at the grandfather clock. It stands firm against the impact of my boot. The latch on the door is undone. I don't know why, but I feel the urge to open it, so I do. \n\n \n I want to scream, I want to run. But no sound comes out of my open mouth, my legs feel they they've turned to stone. Propped inside is Beth. Her eyes wide open, her mouth agape, petrified. She is covered in blood, so much of it, I don't know where it came from.\n\n \n “Beth?” I find my voice. She doesn't respond. I knew she wouldn't. “Guys” I call out, backing away in horror. Nobody answers. They're gone.", "\"What happened to your face Jamie?\" asked Mark. \"Why do you ask?\" said Jamie. The others told Mark it's just his face and that he look kind of odd when he smiles.\n\n\"Okay, so what about that scream and the sound of the footsteps going up? Who did that?\" asked Mark. \"I told you guys this was a bad idea\" said Russell, still shaking from the time he entered this house with others.\n\n\"Relax Russell, it's probably just a cat.\" said Kirk. \"Okay guys this isn't funny anymore, let's all go home and do this tomorrow.\" said Lisa. \"Hey, why don't we all play hide and seek and then we can go home.\" urged Sara.\n\n\"Fine by me\" said Jamie, still smiling. \"Who asked you Jamie, we are playing, come on Russell, let's play this and then I'll get you to your mom and dad\" said Kirk. Sara giggled, Lisa looked like she hesitated to play. \"This will be fun\" said Sara holding Lisa's arms.\n\nIt was decided that Mark is going to be the seeker, he started counting from 1 to 100 while others hid. Jamie went upstairs and hid below next to the door in the first room. Lisa went to the kitchen and hid herself next to the cabinet before she found Kirk hiding there. \"it's my spot go find someplace else, Lisa\" muttered Kirk as he pushed her away. Russell went outside the house and hid next to a pillar in the foyer. Sara hid herself on the ground next to the sofa in the corner of the living room, Mark was standing eyes closed next to the fireplace, about to finish counting... \"98, 99, 100... I'm coming all, wherever you all are.\" said Mark.\n\n\"Found you\" said Mark pointing at Lisa while she was still finding a place to hide. \"I hate this\", said Lisa. Then she went and sat on the steps outside the foyer. Huge thudding sound, everyone but Jamie rushed to the source of the sound, Mark was found laying on the floor unconscious. \"What happened to Mark?\" asked Jamie as he entered the room. Everyone stood still and said nothing. Faces frozen with fear. \"Mark is breathing, come on guys let's carry Mark and go home, like right now!\" said Lisa. \"Uh, yeah, sure.\" said Kirk shaking down to his bones.\n\nRussell and Kirk pulled Mark up and put his arms on their shoulders to leave. \"Where's Sara?\" asked Russell, \"she was right here with us\" he added. Everyone started to run towards the entrance, when the door closed shut heavily. Kirk dropped Mark and rushed to the backyard, Lisa asked Jamie to bring him back \"we should stick together\" said Lisa.\n\nJamie ran following Kirk. He saw Sara sitting down on the floor holding onto her knees, near the sofa. She looked like she was so scared, unable to move or make a sound. It was too dark, he left her there and went on to find Kirk. Heavy gust of wind pushed Lisa and Russell towards the living room, leaving Mark alone on the floor and making Lisa and Russell unconscious.\n\n\"Sara, where are you? Let's leave these losers alone and get the heck out of this place\" shouted Kirk as he ran back and forth in the backyard looking for Sara. Someone's hands reached out behind Kirk and touched him, Kirk screamed and fainted before he could see them.\n\nThe next day, the kids wake up in their home. Jamie seems to have saved them all, except Sara, he couldn't find her where he last saw her. He tells the others over the phone. The others said that Sara never came to the haunted house at all. That she stayed at her home. \"if it's not Sara then who is it?\" asked Jamie.\n\nr/FleetingScripts", "Ah crap, he figured it out. \"Jamie, why you gotta ruin our fun?\" I said as I stepped out from hiding. He didn't answer. He just stood there with that eerie grin. I thought back to the scream. It was definitely female, but there was no one with him. \"Who did you find first?\" I asked. Something didn't feel right. It was dark, but my senses had begun to heighten. Only then did I notice the blood spatter on his face.\n\nAdrenaline hit me like a live wire. As I scrambled to the side he reached out and grazed my sleeve. I was just far enough to avoid his grasp. I kicked his knee from behind as hard as I could before sprinting back to the foyer. There was a body on the floor.\n\n\"Guys come out! Jessica's hurt!\" I screamed in desperation. My four remaining friends came out from hiding. As they gasped and asked questions Jamie came skidding to a stop behind me as I shakily examined Jessica's body. \"She's... she's dead! It was him!\" I said pointing at Jamie with all my might.\n\nTwo of my friends began to move toward him as the others stayed back, shocked and unable to process the situation. Jamie slowly moved backward. \"Guys, think about this. I'm your friend. It wasn't me.\" \"We've only known you for a month\" Jake said as he continued toward him.\n\n\"Okay, that's fair\" Jamie said. \"But it couldn't have been me. I was in electrical.\"" ]	4
	[WP] your brother is a hero of your kingdom your sister is a powerful sorceress, and you, well you are a boring peasent who has done nothing interesting your entire life ... until now	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 really is an ill considered plan, I should warn you,\" I say as the knights approach behind me, without turning. I weed the garden. It is a very pretty garden, the flowers uncommonly virulent for the cold season the kingdom has been having. The sweet sickly smell fills the air around the little cottage, all complex dancing scents. \n\n\"Alemine of the crossroads, you will come with us.\" The first among them stops, and you hear the armour as he stands straight, his voice booming and authoritative. \n\n\"Well, I am afraid I will not.\" I smile at him as you stand, dusting myself down. I stretch my aching back. \"You have come a long way, would you like some tea before you leave?\" I ask. I stress the last word. \n\nThis happens sometimes. Some lord hears about my existance in some offhand comment, or sees my younger siblings visit, and gets a bright idea.\n\nThe knight steps toward me, menacingly. He still wears his helmet and I am fairly sure the effect must be quite intimidating. He raises his sword slightly. \n\n\"I must insist.\" He tells me, his voice pitched low. \n\n\"Do not be rude, young man.\" I respond. \"I have offered you tea. It is customary that you accept.\"\n\nHis sword lowers again and he looks to his companions. He really is very young. Probably twenty five.\n\n\"I have orders-\" he begins. \n\n\"Pish.\" Is all I have to say to that. \"Remove your helmet before you enter.\" I tell him, as I open the door and step inside my cottage.\n\nIt is a nice cottage. There is only one room, but that helps warm it in the winter from the hearth in it's center. There is a table with a ragtag selection of stools, and the water is just coming to the boil.\nI ladle some in to a pot on the table just as the knight follows me inside. He starts to speak, but stops when I look at him sharply.\n\nHe attempts to speak again but when i raise my eyebrows he stops. \n\nHe removes his helmet. I look away.\n\nVery young, I readjust my estimate. Twenty, give or take. Oh dear. Whatever was his lord thinking, sending an infant to do this job?\n\n\"I really must insist that you come with me. My lord has ordered that I bring you to him, in any way that I must. I would sooner you not come to harm.\" He tells me.\n\n\"Oh well if that is your only concern you shouldn't have any problems. Sit, young man.\" I order, indicating a stool with my head and eyebrows.\n\nHe stands, looking unsure. \"Sit. Your lord can wait a few more hours.\" I insist. \n\nHe edges uncertianly around the cottage, trying not to bump in to the herbs on the ceiling or the shelves on the wall or get too close to the fire, and failing miserably. I smile indulgently, crushing dried flowers in to the pot.\n\n\"I so seldom get visitors this far at the edge if the village. Tell me news.\" He looks even more uncomfortable. \"The tea will be a while brewing. Go on young man.\"\n\n\"I.. well. You...\" he starts speaking several times, stopping at each word and trying to think of what to say. \"We...\"\n\n\"Go on dear.\" I encourage, as I bustle about nearby getting a plate, bread, and cheese. I serve him a slice of each.\n\n\"Oh. Thank you.\" He says. He is very polite. \"Well... um... the war goes on. My lord has taken Falkston, but Derridge has been lost.\" Ahh. News. It seems my siblings are busy. \n\n\"Mixed blessings for you I imagine.\" I comment, and pour some tea in to a cup. I lay out four cups, and serve four plates. It will not be long before his companions grow restless outside and follow him. He does not seem to notice.\n\n\"Yes... uh... good... wife... uh... mistress...?\"\n\n\"Lady is the preferred nomenclature.\" I inform him. He looks at men somewhat dubious. My dress has clearly been mended many times and my hair is pinned haphazardly. My forks and spoons and bowls and cups are all wooden, uncarved. He is thinking I do not look like a lady and is unsure if it is wise to say so. I do not stop smiling at him. He looks mildly unnerved after a moment, remembering who my siblings are.\n\n\"Yes, my lady.\" He answers. \n\n\"Am i?\" I laugh. Such silly titles.\n\n\"My lady?\" He asks, not understanding. Which is alright. He needn't.\n\n\"What are my siblings up to, dear boy?\" I ask. He seems to consider saying something, but drinks the tea instead. He looks mildly surprised.\n\n\"This is very good,\" he notes. \n\n\"This is very good...?\" I ask. The child needs to learn my standing and the respect it entails.\n\n\"This is very good my lady.\" He answers, sheepishly. \"Sorry,\"he adds, clearly not really understanding why.\n\n\"That is better. Now tell me, what are they doing?\" I repeat. \n\n\"Well, the Lord protector is currently besieged in the city of Portsmoth. He does not leave, but we cannot enter.\" He admits. \"And her majesty the Sorceress is engaged at Alimathrine. We are at a standstill.\" He sighs.\n\n\"Oh dear. It's really such a deadlock?\" I ask. This sounds unfortunate.\n\n\"Yes my lady. You really do need to come with me.\" He repeats. I merely make a dismissive sound again.\n\nThe other two knights both enter the doorway just after this conversation as he lifts the tea in his gauntleted hand once again.\n\n\"Helmets.\" I order. I do not bother to keep the command out of my tone, and they obey without consideration. One is as young as his commander; the other must be fourty. An interesting choice. \"Now sit; the tea is ready.\"\n\nThey look between me and their commander, who looks somewhat unsure of what is going on, too. But he nods. And so they took work their awkward way through my cottage to balance precariously on the stools. \n\n\"Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself young man. You seem handsome enough, do you have your own lady love waiting for you?\" I ask, as I pour the tea in to the waiting cups. \"Here. Drink. Eat. It is not too far I know but it is unseasonably cold. You should keep your strength up.\"\n\nThe two new knights also awkwardly take their tea cups and sip.\n\nThe commander continues to look perplexed. He has no idea why things are going the way they are and at this point is simply accepting that things today are not going to go easily. He has no idea how right he is, of course.\n\n\"I... yes. Her name is June.\" He admits. \n\n\"Eyes like stars and hair like silk and a voice like music?\" I ask.\n\n\"Do you know her?\" He responds, looking suddenly eager. I laugh, he looks so much like a puppy in that moment. He is a sweet boy.\n\n\"You seem the type.\" I tell him. \"I am sure you two will be very happy if you get back to her,\"\n\n\"Thank you my lady,\" he says. His companions look at eachother. They look mildly alarmed. The commander however is a little too far gone at this point to really understand what is going on. \n\nThe older man puts down his team gently.\n\n\"I assure you, there is nothing in the tea. Now. Why don't you nice young men tell me what your lord is planning to do?\" I ask, meeting his eyes. \n\n\"The lord Fitzroyal need you to ensure the cooperation of your brother and sister, my lady.\" The commander tells me. I soared him the attention to smile at him.\n\n\"What is this sorcery?\" The older man steps back. The younger looks at him surprised at the vehemence of his response. He draws his sword and the younger reaches toward his arm to pull him back. He watches me, sitting at my table, and he seems to know better than his elder what kind of position they are in.\n\n\"The very old kind. He called me his lady and so it is. Now sit, be polite, and you may leave this place unharmed.\" I inform him. The gaes presses upon the three. The commander is already far too deeply inside it to notice. \n\n\"Witch,\" he growls, and swings his sword before his companion can stop him. I raise my arm to block the sword and the blade snaps in half where it meets flesh.\n\n\"Now that was very foolish young man.\" I tell him. \"You may die now.\" I add, because I do not want him alive anymore. \n\nHis body falls, lifeless.\n\n\"That is very unfortunate. I suppose you will be wanting to get along soon, young man?\" I ask the third, who still stands poised to catch his fellow's arm.\n\n\"Yes, please.\" He stammers.\n\n\"Yes please....?\" I ask. I wonder what he will say.\n\n\"Yes please... lady.\" He responds, carefully. I laugh again. This one is quick.\n\n\"Very well done. Now, drink your tea and eat your cheese. You will have need of the strength when you leave.\" I inform him. \n\n\"What are you, if I may ask?\" He asks, quietly chewing his bread. The commander just sits drinking his tea. The cup is half gone, and so I refill it.\n\n\"I suspect you know,\" I respond. Foolish questions need not be answered. \n\n\"They say your brother and sister are part fairy.\" He says matter of factly.\n\n\"They are only my half siblings. It is not quite right. Close enough, though.\" I smile, as I remember their youth. Such rambunctious children my mother brought me at the edge of the mortal world. \"I raised them.\" I cannot keep the touch of pride from my voice.\n\nHe finishes his tea. \n\n\"Thank you for keeping an old woman company, kight. Were I you, I would not go back to my lord.\" I wave toward the door. \"Warn June her young man may be a while and she should also not be there when I find him,\" I add. No need for more fuss than strictly necessary.\n\nHe slowly rises, helmet under his arm, and backs out more carefully than he entered. I doubt he looks back once he is out of the door. \n\n\"It seems that we have a mess to clean up. We should prepare, so we can get you back to your lady love.\"\n\n\"Yes, my lady,\" he tells me. I place a flower in his hair.", "If your brother is the king, then you at the very least get the opportunity to live a Nobel life. You get to make relationships with all of the big players in the kingdom. You get to find lovely men of the court to flirt with. You get to vacation in glorious mansion homes. You get visit foreign countries as a distinguished guest. \n\nBut what if your brother is not the King, but the up and coming hero who will conquer kill the Dragon Tyrant and free humanity from Her rule? What if your brother has been blessed with a magical talking sword? What if your brother has a mysterious benefactor who has taught him the lore of the land, allowing him to gain new power at an unprecedented rate? What if that same mysterious benefactor taught your brother about the weakness of the Dragon Queen giving him a path to take away the Queens immortality. What if your brother has found for himself a mentor who guides teaches him unstoppable swordsmanship? What if your brother has found a wealthy Duke Heir-Apparent who backs him financially? What if your brother has befriended the child of the Orc Chief who acts as his vanguard? What if your brother’s girlfriend is a legendary elf huntress?\n\nWhat if your sister-your twin sister-was born with such an overwhelming magic power that not one, but three sages traveled from distant lands to try and become her teacher? What if your sister is so heavens-blessed that she is now renowned for inventing a new type of magic? What if your sister is so powerful that she has, on more than one occasion, reversed a natural disaster with a simple magic chant? \n\nWhat if you cannot wield magic? What if you are too uncoordinated to learn a martial weapon? What if every friend you make is only becoming your friend to meet your famous siblings? What if every celebratory drink you are given is done mistakingly because they thought you were your twin? \n\nYou carry the bag, that’s what happens. Do you get to go on grand adventures? Certainly. Why do they bring you? Because your sibling’s party members are all too grand to be a porter. Sometimes, even your siblings seem to forget you are their blood, and you wish you could fade away into the background. \n\nYou certainly wish you could fade away into the background now. \n\nFlames reach out to every surface like a sea of destruction drowning the world in smoke and ash. The thick smoke in the air is illuminated by your sister who is floating in a bubble of her own construction, chanting magic faster than you can think. You can see your brother brandishing his legendary sword toward an enormous creature of blood red scales. Rage and horror grips your heart as you see the broken pieces of your brother’s warband who were shattered before the night of the lizard. \n\nYou look at the Orc Vanguard and tears well in your eyes as you see his shattered shield and pierced flesh. You clench you’re first in regret that everyone had decided there was no need to search for the unbreakable shield all those months ago. You look at the your Brother’s sword teacher and tears well in your eyes. The man had been like a father to your other siblings, but he had sacrificed himself to protect your brother after the vanguard was dead. You heard a devastating roar and your heart shook as o you watched a stream of liquid fire streak to and snuff out the huntress in a single moment. \n\nThe dragon leapt into the air and you turned around as it’s visions jaws clamped shut definitively around the magic orb your sister was encased within. Fear froze you. Death seemed inevitable. Your brother was yelling and taunting the dragon back to him, fiery determination in his eyes when you feel a tug at your pack. \n\nTurning around you see the mysterious benefactor. She has always been kind to you.\n\n“Come with me, hurry, it’s our only chance!” She exclaimed. \n\nYou started to question her, but the mysterious benefactor always seemed to me many steps ahead of everyone else. She had saved the day countless times. You ditch your pack and run with the benefactor. She leads you down a few hallways before finally arriving at something like a treasure room. \n\n“Watch carefully” she implores you before hitting a complex sequence of tiles on the door frame which opens up a new, secret room. \n\nInside this last room stood only a chalice. \n\n“Listen” she began. “I’ve done this seven times now and that is my limit. Take this notebook and drink the chalice. You will be transported back in time. \n\nI know this is a lot to hear, but the first time you go back, don’t expect to win. In the last seven cycles, only one time did I think we had a chance of victory, and then it was only a wisp of a chance. Your brother is a great warrior. Your sister is a great mage. But neither of them have the determination, the mindset needed to run this course over and over again. You- we are different”\n\nThe last statement hung in the air and the mysterious benefactor took a ring off of her finger. Your breath caught as you caught a glimpse of your twin, only it want your twin, it was you. Another you. Finally she spoke. \n\n“Drink the chalice and fight against the Dragon Queen with us. There is more than a century of our knowledge in this notebook. Drink, and become more than just a porter.”", "\"Who is she again?\"\n\nArthur sighed at the knight's question, shooting me a quick glance before responding like I wasn't even there. \"My sister, Elaine.\"\n\nThe knight considered me for a moment. To his credit, he didn't seem condescending, only mildly curious. It was better treatment than I was used to.\n\n\"I wasn't aware you had a third sister, my King. Elaine, was it?\"\n\nI blinked, a bit surprised he had actually addressed me, but Arthur cut in before I could even so much as nod. \"Perceval; continue on to the feast without me. I will be along shortly.\"\n\nThe knight bowed briefly before taking his leave. Arthur sighed again and finally turned to me. \"I cannot help you. Even if you truly spoke to the Lady of the Lake, I have no men to spare. Besides; I surely would have heard if there was a dragon in these lands.\"\n\nI clenched my fists at my side in an attempt to level my anger. \"Does blood mean nothing to you?\"\n\n\"We share a mother, that is all. You should not have come to Camelot.\" He turned, clearly dismissing me. My brother or not, he was still the King and I could not argue farther than I already had. \"Return home, girl, and do not bother me with such things again.\"\n\nWith that, he was gone. I let out a choked sob. It had been foolish to think Arthur would believe me. What was I to do? The Lady of the Lake had told me there was a great beast stirring. In a short few years time it would depend upon Britain. The land Arthur was supposed to watch over and rule.\n\nNot for the first time, I wondered why the Lady had come to me instead of my brother. Or even one of my sisters. Morgause was a queen and already had several strong sons -- the eldest of whom, Gawain and Mordred, had come to serve in our brother's court. Morgan was a powerful enchantress, after the likes of Circe and Medea. Any of my siblings could have easily done something.\n\nBut I... I was just Elaine. I had no kingdom, no sons, no magic. There was no one to believe me. Perhaps my sisters might have, but Morgause lived far away and Lord only knows where Morgan was.\n\nI was alone. Alone as I had always been.\n\nWell, it was nothing new. I had managed so far. If no one would listen to me I would just have to put an end to the dragon myself, or die trying.\n\nMind set, I left the castle. There was nothing left for me there. I returned to the inn I was staying in and shut myself in my meager room to think.\n\nIt was dangerous for a lady to travel alone. On my journey here I had been in the company of a traveling group but they had since moved on. Even staying here the night was a risk.\n\nMy first thought was to disguise myself as a man. However, that was something I was unlikely to get away with. I did not have the figure of a man and short of some powerful magic I would be unable to cover up that fact.\n\nEven if I could pull off such a feat, I would hardly be much better off. The Lady of the Lake had said the beast was stirring in Brittany. Even getting to the coast would take a while, and after that I would still need to find my way into a boat.\n\nAnd fighting a dragon? I already knew I could do no such thing. Unfortunately, it seemed Arthur would spare no knight from his court. But there were others around; young men not yet pledged to the crown but eager for adventure. I had enough funds to pay for one to accompany me. The real trouble would be finding one I could stand to be around.\n\nI groaned and put my head in my hands. I had not even begun and my quest already seemed impossible.\n\nStill, I would not give up so easily. I had already vowed to press on even if it cost me my own life.\n\nI crawled into bed without bothering to take off my dress. Tommorow would be a long day.\n\nThat night, I drempt of the Lady who had told me of the threat. There was perhaps some part of me that trusted -- that hoped -- there was a reason she had come to me. My siblings were all extraordinary, while I had no true talents. But perhaps there was something only Elaine could do.\n\nPerhaps, I was meant to be the heroine of my own story.\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nI have a longer story planned out, but for now this is it. In case you were wondering, Elaine is an actual character from Arthurian legend, but she doesn't really do anything. Wikipedia even goes so far as to to say that \"she is remarkable in that she is otherwise unremarkable.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Changing towns is hard on a kid, especially in the middle of the school year. Of course, most kids don’t have to deal with getting enrolled at a monster school on accident!	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "6:30, a little early for Andrew’s alarm clock. New town. New school. The anxiety of the day slowly creeping in like the tide of his old Cornish seaside town. Wiping the sleep from his eyes and whipping the curtain back to see the morning fog slowly rolling over the hills of Anglesey seemingly he’s awoken on another planet. After staring at the horizon for ten minutes, Andrew turns and silences his alarm clock. 6:31. The sound of his father footsteps on each floorboard accompanied by the patter of Kilo’s paws brings him back to the reality of his new situation. Hopping onto the cold wooden floor, he wraps himself in his thickest dressing gown and heads for the shower. Emerging from the shower he speeds back to his room, odd socks and no tie as he rushes to get himself ready for the day. Sprinting through the house grabbing his fathers toast off his plate as he goes. Straight out the door onto his bike. \n\nThe new school is only a half an hour cycle away but the mix of crisp cold morning and anxiety of starting his new school makes the cycle feel an eternity. Approaching the gates of the school there’s an odd silence. He cannot see any other children coming to school. He knows the majority board, but he can’t be the only one turning up this morning. Taking a deep breathe, he reaches out and grabs the gate to push it open. The moment his foot touches the school grounds it as if he’s been dragged into a body of ice water. Suddenly frozen to the bone, unable to move. He see’s the ground moving like a giant worm is coming straight for him. It stops. From the ground arises a woman with the lower half of a snake, standing 10-foot towering over Andrew. With a slight hiss of a sigh she drops herself down to Andrews level. “I am miss Canebrake; you must be the new boy. You don’t look like much. Follow me to the admissions office and we’ll get you settled in”" ]	2
	[WP] “My Mother was right about you!” Your wife yells before slamming the door on her way out. You’re stunned, and message your boss. “My target has left and we’ve been compromised, sir. Those who can discern our presence and nature really do still exist on this planet.”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 target has left and we've been compromised, sir. Those who can discern our presence and nature really do still exist on this planet.\"\n\nI know only what I need to know. All excessive memories, feelings and opinions are filed away, locked behind a great mental wall that the Superiors have placed on me. My confusion and despair goes there, together with all the little feelings this human form brings, as the Superior reaches with his mind to mine. Cold, machine certainty fills my soul.\n\nDelete directive - assassination, target L 39. New directive - assassination, target L 78, delete Higher Personality Functions, add Generic Impersonation Doctrine, refresh Memories - Extended Family - Mother-in-law, new directive - attain information, target L 78/Mother-in-law, proceed, execute. \n\nAffirmative, I respond. My certainty disappears, and my consciousness twists itself to accomodate the new mind it shall house. Execute protocol of execution. Hah.\n\nDelete drive - sense of humor. Delete unnecessary drives.\n\nAffirmative.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe assassin runs. It has human form, but is far more - and far less, in some ways. It has taken precautions as to not be seen, knowing where and when those who would suspect will be before they themselves do, while it with a twitch of the thought it converts some little part of the brain to a miniature wireless router, and connects to the internet for information on the person who calls themselves the assassin's mother-in-law.\n\nResidence there and there, is likely to be there then but will tonight be speaking with daughter then based on past movements. The assassin complements it with its own implanted memories. Seven fifty-four by local time system is when L 39 and L 78 will meet. On time with the assassin's arrival. It allows itself pleasure.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt skims the human's past family - what a disgusting system they have, preferable traits have to just pop into existence by happenstance - for mediums, conspiracy nuts and inquisitors. No matches. A new mutation, then? Not impossible. The assassin questions the Superior.\n\nPossibility registered - exclamation was purely emotional. Target L 78 may have meant it purely as a judgement of our perceived moral character.\n\nThe Superior deliberates for a moment. Unusual. It answers:\n\nInstruction - do not take risks. Kill and dissect the woman and witnesses. Use the results to determine whether or not further interference is necessary. Directive - translocate to Ship post-current task. Necessity registered - be entirely unnoticed. Your curent form is gaining notoriety.\n\nAffirmative.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe assassin arrives. In a matter of seconds, it's over - the inhuman, and superhuman murderer being excellent at what it does. It feels a slight twinge of guilt when killing what it called it's wife - but swiftly files it away behind the Superior's wall.\n\nResults clear: new strain of detection-capable humans found. Directive complete. Evacuating.\n\nIn a flash of light, the creature disappears. It leaves behind nothing." ]	2
	[WP] All your life your grandmother told you stories about the creature that lived in the tree, and how it could grant wishes. One day, truly desperate, you go to the tree to make a wish. A voice calls out, "There is a price."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 is a price\" calls a voice from above, its source obscured by countless reaching, twisting branches.\n\nThe Wishing Tree, living and dead, stood sheltered by towering hundred-year-old sentinels that grew up around it, outside the wide circle of its roots where nothing grew. The bare soil had worn away over centuries, exposing its tangle of thick roots to the feet of countless forgotten pilgrims.\n\nNow I stand in its shade once again, beneath the bitter dark leaves of the living branches and the white paper leaves of the dead. On each scrap of paper, carefully impaled on a wooden finger, is written a wish.\n\nSome wished for love, some for health, some for peace. A few asked for personal success, a few cursed unwitting enemies. I read one that humbly asked for a sister to be returned from death. Another made no request at all, so deep was its author's despair.\n\n\"What . . . is your price?\" I call to the voice above me, faltering. During my sad silent walk through the woods, my throat had lost the will to speak, or forgotten how.\n\n\"What . . . is your wish?\" The voice responds, mocking me. It's quieter, almost a whisper, but much closer. I scan the nearest branches, but nothing moves.\n\n\"I fear to say.\" I admit. \"If I tell you, will you make it true? I will pay any price, though I don't have much money.\"\n\n\"No. In the game of money, the only winner is money itself. Do not play that game. If you believe money can buy magic, you give it that power. Do not make it true.\"\n\n\"What can I offer you, then?\"\n\n\"The price you pay is not for my benefit. It never is.\"\n\n\"I feared as much. Grandmother told me only charlatans demand to benefit from the magic they perform. They prey on hopes and fears, she said.\"\n\n\"They are not alone in that.\"\n\n\"I suppose I know the price, then. I must set aside my knowledge of right and wrong, risk everything, and face the consequences. It's up to me to make my own wish come true, whatever the cost.\"\n\n\"That is your choice.\" The voice in the tree spoke slowly, delicately. \"It is a hard choice, I know. And the consequences are not for you alone to bear. But beware: In the war of the machine, the only winner is the machine. Do not feed that dragon.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"Think of all the wishes that made this world. All the good intentions and evil outcomes. Some shortsighted fool wished that all wishes that undermined his own power would cause great suffering, and so it is. Ever since, his power has grown, and the world has suffered.\"\n\n\"What can I do, then?\" I don't need to tell how desperate I am. My face is too heavy, my eyes too tired. I have not come to leave a hopeful lament on a scrap of paper. I am here to lose everything I haven't already lost, if it means avoiding the inevitable.\n\n\"You are beyond hope, it is clear.\" The voice is a whisper, its source close yet well hidden. \"To hope is to be better for changes yet to come, no matter what those changes turn out to be. When you can no longer imagine how life will be worth living again, you need more.\"\n\n\"I need you to grant my wish. I'll do anything.\" My face is getting warm again, and watery behind my eyes and nose.\n\n\"It is good to remind yourself of your priorities. What you would like, that's a cheap dream. What you would sacrifice anything for, that's worth living for. It's the reason wishes come at a price. You need not pay the price, no. You must only be willing to pay it.\"\n\n\"So, I don't need to make the sacrifice?\"\n\n\"You don't need to, but you will. That is the way of fate. There is much to lose in this life.\"\n\n\"I know that now. More than I ever imagined.\"\n\n\"But this world is not only a storm of evil fortune and good. You can act, and your actions have consequences. It's the other reason wishes come at a price. The price of will is consequence. Again, there is not always a great price to pay. If you act unwisely, the price can be great indeed, and we are all fools. If you act selfishly, others must pay it in your place.\"\n\n\"No amount of selfishness can stop what's to come.\" I step over the twisting roots to rest against the Wishing Tree's massive trunk. Like the roots, the bark at the base is worn smooth by generations of the most familiar strangers, quietly sliding down into the dirt as I do now.\n\n\"A wish is a beautiful thought, terribly enchanting,\" the voice continues, from right above me. \"The human mind can become trapped, lost in fantasy. It happens to more people than you know. Even you. That's the third reason there must be a price to every wish, to loosen its grip on your mind. Be careful what you wish for . . .\"\n\n\". . . Because you just might get it, I know,\" I finished, tired of such thoughtless platitudes.\n\n\"No, because while you don't get your wish, you could be enthralled to its fantasy, while you slowly lose everything you still have in your life. Instead, find gratitude. Wish for what is already true, revel in its truth, and know that whatever its price, it is already paid.\"\n\n\"So this is how you grant wishes, by convincing people to ask for what they already have? We're doomed, I guess. I was going to wish to stop what's coming, to make a world that's better for everyone, but I guess I'll just lie down in this dirt and die.\" To my surprise, I think I mean it.\n\nThe wind, eerily calm until now, stirs in the highest branches, and the tree shakes. Its trunk creaks, its dead branches rattle, and its living leaves whisper:\n\n\"Who wished for that?\"", "There is always a price. It's like that one law of physics - \"for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction\". For every little thing you want, there is always a price to be paid in the end. Typically, the price matches the value of what you asked for.\n\nGrandma always told me a certain story in order to hammer that in my head. She told me of a wish-granting creature that lived in a tree within the nearby woods. The history of our little town was intertwined with this legend. They say that every few generations, someone successfully manages to get a wish granted.\n\nIt started before the founding. A few settler families found themselves in the area together, and ultimately decided that there was safety in numbers. With cooperation, they may even be able to build up the next town on the map. And yet, the odds were not in their favor that year. Terrible weather caused the crops to fail. With food supplies quickly dwindling, a hunting party was formed to hopefully at least find some meat.\n\nWhat one of the men came upon after splitting up was something more than just meat. In his memoirs, he claimed that he found the creature in the tree that day. The creature, while not ever showing its form, stated that it had the power to grant any wish - with a price, of course. The man saw an opportunity and wished for the families to be blessed with surplus food.\n\nI mention his memoirs as that was the only answer to his subsequent disappearance, following a coincidental miracle. Just that day, the hunting party came across a large herd of deer trapped in a ditch. Many of the animals were already weak and starving. The rest were helpless to fend off the raining arrows. A few days later, a sudden flood caused a stream to form, brimming with fish. And with every year following that disastrous harvest, the crops continued to be bountiful without fail.\n\nYet the man disappeared without a trace after the first miracle harvest. His memoirs were discovered not long after, including the tale of the wish-granting creature. It ended with him warning against locating the thing and making further deals with it, however. He never recorded the location of the specific tree for that reason, and told his family to not bother looking - for the creature or for him. He was never going to return to them again. That was the sacrifice he made for them all.\n\nOf course, after decades of the legend being passed around, it was inevitable someone would find the tree and creature again. The aspiring explorer published the location for everyone else to discover. He closed his daily journey by stating he'd go to the spot during the night and ask for something he thought was relatively simple. He wanted undeniable proof that it all was real, and not just some prank being played on him. He wanted the creature to emerge from the tree.\n\nHe didn't return in the morning. No body or any semblance of remains were ever found.\n\nYou'd think that'd be enough to scare people off. But this guy revealing the location of the tree had only opened the floodgates. As I said before, every few generations you'd get someone following in their footsteps. They'd go to the tree, make a wish, and then disappear after it was granted. We'd know this because of the trend of mysterious disappearances with no bodies attached. Sometimes the people would leave behind something sharing what their wish was, in which case we'd usually be able to determine if it ever came true. They always were.\n\nExcept the price of losing a loved one meant that the act was highly discouraged. Barring the fact no one knew what the creature even was, the very fact that it spirited people away was unsettling. Even creepier is how hard it was to find evidence of it. It seemed that it would only reveal its existence after someone stated their wish, and each time it was able to tell if the person was genuine about it. There was an instance of someone going to it for a wish, but they had been nervous the entire time. They were terrified of disappearing like all the others. Fortunately for them, the creature was a no-show that night. Perhaps it sensed that there would be no point, or perhaps the whole thing was made-up from the start.\n\nStill, people didn't want to take the chance. Patrols were set up in the 90s when it became clear that teens going out to find the creature would become a trend. Nowadays, a successful wish is rare simply because the person is caught before they can find the tree.\n\nGetting passed them, though, felt like the hardest part of the night. It was better to go during the night - people expected you to be at certain places during the day by certain times. They'd get suspicious if you were suddenly unaccounted for, even if their first guess wasn't \"wish-seeking\". And once their minds wandered to the prospect of a new wish...patrols and intervention would only ramp up.\n\nNo, I had to go in the dead of night, when no one would be paying attention to where you were. They'd just assume you were in bed, sound asleep. I went wearing dark greens and browns to blend in with the environment. I had already gone around the woods a few times already, just to get a feel for patrol routes. It was risky, but worth it in the end. I made it to the tree with enough time to do the deed. Even if I was caught tonight, it'd be too late to stop me now.\n\nSo maybe the actual hardest part was the guilt. I recalled the reason I knew of this place in the first place. All the people who had succeeded before me, and paid for it. My poor grandmother, who religiously tried to warn me of the danger. She couldn't bear to lose another to that creature in the tree - which is a good thing she's already passed.\n\nThe creature in the tree was intertwined with this town. But, it was also intertwined with my family. My grandmother had a sister once. My late great aunt was in love with a boy their parents didn't approve of. The typical forbidden love story. Well, my great aunt decided to be rebellious in the grandest of ways after an instance of her schedule being policed just to keep the couple apart.\n\nPeople should've realized that something was off as soon as the parents did a complete 180. All of a sudden they were this boy's biggest fans. They treated him like an honorary son. The couple graduated together, went to college together, got married, bought a house, had a kid. The happiest life one could imagine.\n\nBut of course, the price was no different. After their one and only child's first birthday, my great aunt disappeared and was never found again. They didn't even live in the town anymore, yet the creature still got its dues. The only reason we know that it was the cause was due to her final will and testament. That's right - she knew all along that she would not get to see her child grow older than one. She knew since the day she made her wish all the way back in her teen years. Everyone was devastated.\n\nWell, I'd grown desperate. No amount of science nor pray was going to get this wish granted. I don't care if this thing was the devil or not. For years my spouse and I have tried for just one baby. There was nothing wrong with our fertility, yet complication after complication left us hopeless. When Hope was finally born, we thought our troubles were finally over...until a life-threatening diagnosis came in when she was only 4 years old. If she didn't die soon, then it would happen later.\n\nLike hell. I would see Hope grow, no matter what it took. I'm sure any parent would do the same in my shoes.\n\nI stared into the abyss that was the tree's open trunk. There was no way to tell if anything was within it. Not without speaking and waiting for a response.\n\n\"I wish to see my daughter live a full and happy life.\"\n\nI waited with bated breath, knowing that there was no turning back now. My determination demanded me to see this through.\n\nI swear, if this was all bs after all-\n\n\"There is a price.\" The response finally came. It took me aback. That voice...I'd heard it before. In a recording...\n\n\"Great Aunt Jenny?\" I asked.\n\nThere was a pause. \"That is the price, my dear child.\"\n\nIt finally dawned on me. The reason why the creature never revealed itself, and the reason why no one could find any bodies. This was why. There was still much I didn't understand, yet knowing already that I might just be going in that tree did not deter me.\n\n\"I'm prepared to pay it.\" I declared.\n\n\"Of course you are.\" Great Aunt Jenny's voice came back, warbled this time. \"We wouldn't be here now if you weren't. Do not worry child. My life force is enough to grant your wish - just as yours will be enough for the next one to come.\"\n\nThinking about it now, maybe referring to it as \"a price\" is misleading. It makes it sound like you're paying for it. But really, you're just paying it forward." ]	3
	[WP]You, the hero finally arrived in the King's castle after your quest to defeat a Demon King. But it turns out that your actions did more bad than good. And now instead of a warm welcome, you are greeted by a guillotine.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 ride Gallion, on my way back to Lukania, with Zaqmir's head in my leathery bag. Well, looks like it's a deep and silent night, maybe 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. My hands can't even hold the lantern straight any more, and the bleeding still doesn't stop, even after 3 bandages... For an Assassin to be hired by none other than the king himself... they better treat my wounds, or I'm keeping the kingdom for myself. \n\nThe sun is now starting to shine, perhaps it's the early morning. I have finally reached Lukania, but some thing seems strange... There is no one outside. Lukania is a city filled with enthusiasm. During the early 4 o'clock, the streets get busy, till midnight. Just... what happened in these 4 days while I was gone? \n\nMy eyes go on my Wanted poster... HELLBLADE WANTED - DEAD OR ALIVE, glued on the walls. It was way before, during the times when I was hired to kill corrupt Nobles by the commander in Chief of the Royal Army. But, the posters weren't torn and thrown on the ground like this, back then. Not even before 4 days. Just... what the hell's going on?\n\nWell, guess I'll go ask the king myself.\n\nAfter putting Gallion back in the nearby stable, I climb the stairs. The more I climb, the more the silence grows.\n\nAt last I reach the castle. \n\nWow, would you look at that? Looks like the whole population was waiting for me in the king's court. Literally everyone's eyes are on me. Damn, it's annoying. \n\nAnd there too, every one is silent. Even the king isn't speaking anything.\n\n Well, anyways, to break the silence, I pull out Zaqmir's head, and hold it before the Court.\n\nEvery gasps, and the King's wife and children start crying. The whole court is filled reverberating loud noises.\n\nWhat the...\n\n\"Hellblade, the one you killed\", The King spoke. \"Is none other than king himself!\"\n\nWHAT!?\n\n\"Then...\" I replied back. \"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?\"\n\n\"I'm his brother. Perhaps you mistook me for the King, himself.\"\n\n\"Wha... You hired me to kill your own brother!?\"\n\n\"No, I never met you in person.\"\n\n\"Liar! You called me in your court, and hired me to kill the demon king, Zaqmir!\"\n\n \"See what I told you people!?\" The King's brother addresses the court. \"I already told you the exact lies, that he would make up, didn't I?\n\n\"WHY THE FUCK WOULD I LIE RIGHT NOW!? HELL, I CAN'T EVEN STAND PROPERLY THANKS TO MY WOUNDS!\"\n\n\"Hellblade, nothing of what you say, actually matters. Here's the summary: The King was on a hunting trip, you attacked and slayed him there, just for the sake of it. This just proves that you are too dangerous to be kept alive. You must die.\"\n\nThe royal guards come from all directions, and surround me with spears. Then the officials come and arrest me.\n\nAnd now, I'm heading towards the guillotine, along with the public. Damn, that asshole, he tricked me...\n\nThey even took Hellblade, the sword, whose name I live up to, away from me. And now I count my final seconds..." ]	2
	[WP] It's customary to bury people 6 feet below the ground, but due to the villages location, they had to make do with 4 feet, turns out it customary for a reason.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Bury them size feet below ground, how stupid. Sure that's fine for the people not digging the holes. This is far enough thought Bargram. I'm far too tired tonight to dig deeper and bury them the night they die was custom number 2. So in they went 3 feet deep and Bargram went to bed.\n\nThe next morning Bargram went out to check the burial site and was perplexed to see small white flowers growing all over them. He had seen other flowers though and he was a grave digger, not a gardener. Days passed and they grew larger and more fragrant. Perhaps 6 days since the burial he received word 2 more bodies are on the way so he sets to digging.\n\nBargram hears the cart approaching so he climbs out of the hole he has been preparing when he hears a shriek. He clambers out and runs to investigate. There pale as a sheet is holy man that delivers the departed. \"What have you done?\" the man moans. \"You've killed us all,\" he continues as he eyes the flowers that have grown to cover some 40 lengths.\n\n\"Now Cerico don't be all doom and gloom, they are just flowers,\" Bargram responds defensively. \"Just flowers!? Just flowers that moon beasts can smell from miles away! Just flowers that only grow where bodies have fallen!\" Cerico raves. \"Well we will just dig them up or burn them,\" says Bargram testily.\n\n\"Neither will work, the ash will carry enough traces for it to grow anywhere it lands. For every flower you see there are already twice that many seeds growing nearby. We can't dig it up in time. The only way we have survived this long was finding this last island with no growth of it,\" Cerico explained sadly.\n\n\"Now how could it grow if there was none here?\" Bargram challenged. \"Nobody knows for sure, living beings somehow carry them. They can only grow once the body dies however. Which is why we must bury bodies 6 feet below ground. That somehow kept it from growing from the deceased,\" Cerico said.\n\n\"So what do we do? Where do we go? How do I fix this?\" Bargram pleaded. \"Surely if they can't smell it if we are on an island? That's madness,\" he reasoned. Cerico just shook his head sadly and turned back to his cart. \"Make peace with your family Bargram for the end of days is at hand,\" he called over his shoulder.", "Mayank Laghari found something innately satisfying about the crunch of shale beneath his Jeep's off-road tires. He eased the vehicle up to the embankment and threw the vehicle into park, ratcheting the e-brake for good measure; it was a long, long way down that ravine should the parking pin somehow fail.\n\nSilence descended when he killed the engine, reigning supreme save for the hiss of a breeze and the metallic pings of cooling metal. Stone dust drifted from beneath his undercarriage, stained yellow by the setting sun. Mayank closed his sunglasses in their shell, covered his shaggy black hair with a frayed safari hat, and grabbed his canteen before opening the door and jumping to the ground. He slung the canteen over his shoulder, then reached back through the open window to grab a sheathed machete. He turned around and stiffened.\n\nTwo pairs of eyes gleamed from the grasses surrounding the clearing.\n\n\"Namaste,\" he said, recovering quickly. \"I'm here to see Suraj.\"\n\nThe children stepped forward, forms materializing before the waving blades of grass. Their countenances were hard-set and grim -- not the look he'd expect to see on a child's face -- their clothes wrinkled and dirty, their hands hanging limply by their sides.\n\n\"You're late. Follow us,\" the older one said simply.\n\nMayank stared, puzzled, as they turned and disappeared back from whence they'd come. Another emotion flared and mingled briefly with his confusion, one decidedly less pleasant and more unfamiliar, so he squashed it and started up the slope after the two boys. Long had the villages in these mountains adhered to tradition with a near feverish intensity, he reminded himself. Long had they believed in, feared, and in some cases even revered the Pishacha. Only once had he responded to what he believed to be a legitimate sighting, and even then, whatever had been terrorizing that particular village had vanished into the foothills before he could get a good look at it, not to mention strike it.\n\nBut something seemed different this time. A faint warning sounded in the back of mind as they continued to climb the treacherous scree. As he pulled himself onto a shelf of rock, panting, he saw the boys waiting for him on across a small brook trickling over the rock. The smaller boy -- ten or eleven, Mayank guessed -- darted his eyes from shadow to shadow, tree to tree, his limbs tensed as if prepared for flight.\n\nThe other boy frowned and watched as Mayank scrambled to his feet. \"We must move faster, mahoday. Your arrival was late, and Suraj must speak with you before nightfall.\"\n\nMayank narrowed his eyes. \"The rockslide in the vale rendered the main road impassable, baalak. I had to drive around Kalanka before I could make your peak.\"\n\nThey blanched. \"Rockslide?\" the younger boy hissed. He looked fearfully at his companion. \"Reyansh was right. The Pishacha wants us too---\"\n\n\"Quiet, moorkh,\" the older boy snapped, cuffing the back of his head with an audible thwock. \"Do you want to die here?\"\n\nMayank stepped forward. \"Easy now. Why don't you take a minute to tell me---\"\n\n\"No. Not here. With respect, hunter, we must move faster. Please.\"\n\nMayank turned and looked at the golden orb behind him. It was descending into a blazing nest of orange and red, quickly approaching the indigo stripe of the horizon. He shook his wrist to knock his sleeve back and eyed a black-faced watch. No more than 30 minutes until sunset. He looked up at the two boys, jaw clenched.\n\n\"Let's go,\" he said. \"I need to see the graves before sundown.\"\n\nThe boys nodded and sprang into the foliage, redoubling their pace. They moved with practiced ease, root to rock to root, making barely a sound as they dodged and wove between the trees and over the rocks. Mayank grasped his machete's haft at his hip and raced after them, feeling his heart pound within his chest and doing his best to convince himself it was solely due to the exertion of the climb.\n\nAs the shadows grew longer before him and the mountain's peak drew closer between the gaps in the trees, he knew he was deceiving himself.", "There once was a rule \n\nTaught in every school \n\n“Be it lame or cool \n\nWe mustn’t taunt ghouls”\n\nKeep the bodies below 6 \n\nKeep your lives from risk \n\nThat’s how we must bury \n\nThe names on our list \n\nBut Jerry didn’t get it \n\nAnd soon he’d regret it \n\nLittle did he know\n\nHe’d be in a poem on reddit \n\nHe chose the river side\n\nWhere his friend had lied \n\nFor his last wish \n\nWas to be buried near life \n\nJerry could’ve chosen a forest \n\nOr something that’s taller \n\nA river bed burial?\n\nThe hole couldn’t be smaller!\n\nAnd so came the night \n\nAround eleven to twelve thirty \n\nJerry opened the door \n\nTo a man very dirty\n\nHe asked who he was \n\nAnd tried not to be flirty \n\nThe man screamed back \n\n“You buried me alive, you fucking turkey!”" ]	4
	[WP] This is a nationwide Emergency Alert. Please stay calm, and follow instructions. Do not remain in your homes. I repeat, under no circumstances stay in your homes. Please stay calm and await further instructions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Myles’ cellphone buzzed to life. This puzzled and vexed him because he always turned off his phone before live-streaming his gaming sessions. Since he wasn’t in the heat of a battle, he flipped over his cellphone, intending to read the message before shutting it off. The news changed that plan.\n\n“This is an emergency alert,” Myles read aloud to his hundreds of viewers. “Please stay calm, and follow instructions. Do not remain in your homes. I repeat, under no circumstances should you stay in your homes. Please stay calm as you leave and await further instructions.”\n\nMyles checked and flipped the message to the camera.\n\n“Which one of you is responsible for this?” he playfully accused.\n\nHe’d heard stories of other streamers being pranked or doxxed, which thankfully, hasn’t happened to him, but he has dealt with the sporadic racial slur from time to time. He watched the chat, waiting for the streaming delay to sync up, but no one responded. He looked at his viewer count, and the number plummeted until it hit zero. He re-read the message again in a hushed tone to himself. With still no activity on his stream, he quit and stepped outside his apartment.\n\nIn the hallway, he found everyone gathered together, confused. His neighbor across the hall walked up to Myles. She was an older woman who lived by herself and preferred the name Ms. Johnson when being addressed. She clung to her stroller as she showed her large-screen cellphone to Myles.\n\n“Do you know anything about this?” Ms. Johnson inquired.\n\nMyles took a look at the message. “No. I got the same message too.”\n\nMs. Johnson grumbled. “Anything about it on the Twitters?”\n\n“Let me check,” he replied as he pulled out his phone. “Odd. I’m not getting wifi or a cell signal.”\n\n“I’m going to listen to the warning,” Ms. Johnson announced as she made her way toward the elevator. “I didn’t get to be my age by ignoring warnings.”\n\nThe lights went out, leaving only the moonlight’s glow from the windows at the end of the hall and the emergency exit signs. Then a violent high-pitch scream filled an apartment down at the end of the hallway. The residents covered their ears - with some crouching in pain - as the sound erupted throughout each room like a wave. When the noise reached the end, it faded away.\n\nThe lights returned. Everyone’s cell phone simultaneously dinged or buzzed with an alert. Myles pulled out his phone.\n\n“It is safe to return,” Myles read out loud so Ms. Johnson could hear.\n\nMyles returned to his apartment, leaving the door open as he carefully inspected his place for any damage. Nothing seemed out of order. He expected to find broken glass, but there was nothing wrong other than his clocks blinking 12:00. He returned to Ms. Johnson in the hallway.\n\n“I’m going outside and see what’s going,” he informed his neighbor.\n\nMyles took the three flights of stairs down and rushed outside. The summer night breeze sent a calming chill over his skin. A short black woman in a police officer uniform commanded several other officers. As authoritative as she was, Myles felt she would be kind enough to explain the situation.\n\n“Excuse me,” Myles interjected. “Is everything okay? What’s going on?”\n\nThe officer faced him. He read the name, Officer Mists, on the badge. \n\n“We’re handling the situation,” she calmly explained. “Are you hurt or anyone you know?”\n\n“No, I’m fine, and everyone on my floor seems to be okay. What’s going on?”\n\n“Someone hacked the building’s system to scare everyone, including using the smoke alarms to make a high-pitch scream. If anyone is hurt or needs help, you come get me.”\n\n“Will do,” Myles replied, feeling relieved.\n\nMyles jogged back to the apartment as Office Mists turned to another officer.\n\n“I told you that story would be an excellent cover,” Mists bragged.\n\n“I didn’t deny it,” the other officer praised as he worked on his tablet. “The scans are showing the attack did kill three people, so we’re going to have to come up with explications for those too.”\n\n“Damn,” Mists grumbled.\n\n“I know. Who would do this, and why this apartment complex?”\n\nMists shrugged. “We were dispatched because of the non-terrestrial readings, so start there.”", "07/24/2024\n\nThey think it may have had something to do with a solar flare, but all of the scientists who were capable of explaining it all died during \"the event\"\n\nEvery electronic, plugged in or not, suddenly just...I don't know. It's so hard to explain. Like most people, I just own things and the things just work. But it's sort of like...like if you had a fan, it suddenly started spinning as fast as the motor could possibly allow. If you had a toaster, or a dryer, they suddenly started spinning as fast as they could and their coils burning so brightly you could see them from the next room, or inside of your neighbors window across the street. Peoples phones blew off legs, their watches blowing off their hands.\n\nSome small mercy is that only the electric cars were affected. The onboard computer burned out in every other car on earth, one by one, but at least they suffered a date much worse than someone who owned, or was next to, a Tesla.\n\nEvery radio station and news station possible broadcasted their signals west. Sirens blared at midnight until eventually their speakers blew in the morning. No one really knows WHERE the first time zone was that was effected. Those poor bastards didn't get any warning. But since here, in California, we had the most warning time out of everyone, I imagine it statrted somewhere in India or Russia. One of those time zones\n\n\"Take everything electronic from your homes and throw them in the street. If this is not possible, run far away from any homes or electronics. Call your loved ones one last time, and abandon your phone, preferably away from brush or any structure\"\n\nObviously that message didn't get to everyone, or even most people. Between the explosions, house fires, and resulting brush fires, I'd say maybe one out of every twenty houses is still around. Not a single business survived. God forbid you happened to be next to a gas station\n\nMost of the churches are still around, so that's where most people congregate around now, I know the pastor's are happy about that. There's still a few practicing, although not in my county.\n\nI imagine the Amish out in the east coast are making out pretty well these days. The fires here basically never stopped. That's where I'm headed. Between all the smoke, the near permanent toxic clouds, from everything that burned, the never ending wild fires, and oil rigs ruining the coast, there's nothing left here in California\n\nOur caravan leaves tomorrow, me and 17 other families, about 100 people total. Mostly in old antique cars and one bus someone managed to get working.\n\nSo, I'm starting a journal. For whoever finds this, if I live or die or manage to pass it down. \n\nI'm not one to pray, but God help us", "The message came on my phone, the tablet, the TV and on the desktop in the other room. The desktop wasn’t even connected to the WiFi right now. “Please stay calm and follow instructions. Do not remain in your homes. Do not enter any dwelling where people regularly sleep. Please exit the building immediately and await further instructions. \n\nDave who had just got off of night shift blinked at his phone blearily, then laughed. \n\n“Dude, go outside? I can barely stand up. Let me know what you find out.” He shut the door of his bedroom behind him. \n\nI sat for a moment more, stunned, then decided to make my way outside anyway. As I did I noticed a sudden change in the air. It felt more humid all of a sudden and there was a breeze coming through the house. I glanced around, taking in the strange sensations. No way you get humidity in Arizona without clouds in the air. The white stucco walls seemed to glisten as though the condensation was too much for it. I sped up to the front door. \n\nAs I reached the pale blue wooden frame separating me from the normal world I heard Dave screech in pain then cut off. I heard the unmistakable sound of something very large chewing. Grabbing the handle I attempted to wrench the door open, but it wouldn’t move at my insistence. I glanced up and the vaulted ceilings seemed more a cavern or, unbidden though the thought came, the interior of a set of jaws. In near panic I wrenched at the door with more fear powering me and managed to tear it free. There was slime coating the entryway like I had just pulled a tooth. \n\nAs I dashed outside I hazarded a glance back and saw to my horror the carpet rise and lick the gap tooth of the door way. I stepped all the way into the sunlit street. It was too bright a day to have your house try to eat you like that. Looking down the street I saw more people like me. A mother clutching a baby, two teens looking in frozen terror, a man pounding furiously on some side paneling where the walls undulated like jowls. \n\nA tornado siren began to sound. A bit late for that I thought bitterly. Dave was gone. We had only been roommates for a few months, but he didn’t deserve that. The house that had eaten Dave was still changing. The windows were becoming more like eyes. the shingles like scales. Some of the “buildings” began to rise up from their foundations, knocking over smaller ordinary structures. People began to scream in terror and run in every direction. As I joined them fleeing to where I did not know an errant thought crossed my mind. “Damn mimics.”" ]	4
	[WP] "Surrender and I'll let you live!" "Uh ok."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 aS IT SeEeEEemS...\n\n\nI was running from the monstrous minion of the wizard. I would have been able to fight it if i hadn't forgotten to charge my magic bow today. I climbed up a tree. \"Surrender and I'll let you live!\" The monster, who couldn't climb, said. \"NEVER!\" I yelled. I knew that if i surrendered, the wizard would certainly turn me into one of his monstrous servants. Suddenly, a gray mist came out of the horn of the monster, which penetrated and filled my soul. My soul being gripped by the hands of despair, i lost the will to resist. \"Uh...okay.\" i said. I climbed down, and the monster grabbed my arm with its strong-as-steel fist.\n\nThe despair spell wore off, but i was still bound by the invincible-bc-my-bow-has-no-magic-charge monster. I was in the house of the wizard, who was a lean, highly-attractive boy in a thigh-high robe. \"Oh good, you have caught Oval.\" Said the wizard, who was sipping tea, with a satisfied smile on his face. \"Welcome back, girlfriend. Missed me?\" \"I dumped you a month ago, at my 15th birthday party. I'm not your girlfriend.\" Said I. \n\nThe wizard, named Diamond, used to be my significant other, but i found out he was secretly using despair, self-hate, and misery magic...on bad people. Like my secret incubus cousin who liked to drain people's strength through kisses and increase his muscle mass. Who cares that he made half the population weak as frick? Who cares that he intends to destroy that one pretty hummingbird angel, which would result in the permanent destruction of the environment and turn the world into a grey desert? I have loyalty and can't let this jerkbutt wizard win!\n\n\"Now to transform you...it is a shame that this is the only way to get you to permanently stay out of my plans. I really hoped you could become better person than this...\" Said the wizard with a frown. \"Oh shut. I value loyalty above all!\" I said. \"Pfft. Now before i cast my spell on you, I'll just let you know you, like all the other baddies i control, will remember everything you did after the spell is broken.\" Said the wizard. He raised his staff and spoke the magic words, and i felt the enchanted come over me...\n\nNarrator: \"The incubus got defeated, de-powered, and send to the underworld, saving everyone. The wizard was dubbed a hero, given his weight in diamonds by the king, and married the princess. And Oval, locked up for treason, (she helped the incubus) never forgave the wizard guy." ]	2
	[WP] You are in a navy submarine that is made of transparent steel in the near future, searching for a massive object found on the radar. You begin to hear water moving, and a lot of it. The force of it redirects the submarine and spins it. Then you see it, a colossal eyeball, right under the sub.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "FYI: not familiar with the navy so may use the wrong terms.\n\n\"Captain Dagwood....CAPTAIN!\"\n\nThe captain awoke from his deep slumber, slowly he opened his eyes to see the ensign in his quarters. His eyebrows furrowed and his face plastered with discontent at the sudden awakening.\n\n\"God damnit ensign didnt i tell you i wasnt to be disturbed!, whats the big emergency?\" \n\n \"Sorry Captain Dagwood but you requested to be informed as soon as we were within 5 kilometres of the destination\"\n\n\"Ah, so i did, we encounter any unusual activity?\"\n\n\"no sir\"\n\n\"Return to your post\"\n\nThe ensign left the captains quarters, a brief sigh of despair trailled him out, he didnt know what he had done to deserve such a miserable posting, even the captain didnt see any point in this mission, what was so special about the sea anymore? its not like we will find anything after a thousand years of deep sea exploration, just another ancient submarine or a sunken sea base, a relic of a dark period of human history. \n\nThe captain slowly pried himself off the bed, his long straggly beard almost glued to his pillow. He stood up, a slight crack in his knees reminded him of his age. He put on his uniform, it was sparsely decorated only holding his rank, name and some identification numbers, after earth united military achievements became obsolete. He loaded up his communications terminal, all stations had reported normal. He sent a message to the admiral. \n\n\"within two knots of destination, no unusual activity, all stations report normal, will contact again as soon as we reach point bravo\" A little light flickered on his terminal to let him know the message had been acknowledged \n\nThe captain left his quarters and proceeded to his station, the gentle hum of the reactor vibrated under his feet, he always found an odd sense of comfort in the hum. Thin ribbons of power cables covered the walls, and a soft blue light radiated from inbetween them. The captain reached his post and sat down. The quiet beeping off all the various sensory equipment and all the panels displaying various information never ceased to be as awe inspiring as it was the first time.\n\n\"We are 1000 metres from the destination captain\"\n\n\"Very good ensign, all stop, officer DeMato run a full sensor sweep, 5 kilometre radius, all known scan modes\"\n\n\"Sensor sweep running sir, no detectable vessels in area, no unusual radiation signatures, surrounding area seems normal, their is an abundance of sea life in the area which is unusual as long range scanners didnt detect them, it would appear that this area of the sea is pristine, no observable danger if we proceed\"\n\n\"Very good officer, ensign lets go slowly, DeMato carry on the sensor sweep i want to know the second something unusual appears\"\n\n\"You predict trouble captain?\" DeMato asked with a slightly quizzical expression on his face.\n\n\"Lets just say i find it unusual that this area of the sea is so clean\"\n\nThe submarine slowly crawled to the destination, the sea life was becoming increasingly dense the closer to the unknown object they got. after 30 mins they had reached their destination, it appeared to be a solid mass of rock, no discernable features.\n\n\"DeMato, run another sensor sweep, maximum intensity, something about this seems odd\"\n\nA wide gold beam hit the object, scanning up and down and left to right.\n\n\"No change in previous readings, other than the rapid increase in sea life since our approach all readings are unchanged, shall i launch a close range prope to take samples for further analysis?\"\n\nThe captain paused for a moment, the situation seemed too calm, after a brief moment he responded\n\n\"Send out that probe, Officer Samuels divert secondary power to shielding and weapons, id hate to be caught off guard\"\n\n\"Aye Captain\" Samuels flipped a few levers and pressed a few buttons at his console and immediately a blue hexagonal net covered the ship \"Shields operating at 98%, weapons are all loaded and ready at a moments notice\"\n\n\"Probe making initial contact in 3..2..1\" The probe latched onto the mass, it was small, no more than 10 metres in size, shaped like a small white capsule, a drill appeared from the bottom and dug into the mass, it finished retrieving its samples and returned to the probe storage bay. \n\n\"Captain, im detecting something unusual, a liquid is pouring out of the mass, it is organic in nature however its molecular structure doesnt conform to any known substance\"\n\n\"CAPTAIN WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?\" The ensign shouted, fear penetrated his voice\n\nall of a sudden the mass seemed to split in two, revealing a soft spherical object underneath, it almost looked like an eye. All of a sudden all the sea life converged on the submarine, long tendrils of seaweed wrapped around the sub and dragged it down while hundreds of thousands of large sea animals rammed the sides. The increase of sea life spread, within moments their were dense sea life covering hundreds of kilometres around the mass. At the same distress signals from hundreds of submarines rang out on the bridge, overlapping crys for help that will never arrive to save them from an army that will never give up. The captain realised what was happening, mother earth had been awoken, and it was taking back its home. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nWill do a part 2 if you found this interesting" ]	2
	[WP] You have never struggled to find work, in fact people are constantly competing to have you around. What you can't understand is what job exactly these places keep hiring you to do.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Thank you very much for completing your contract with us. We hope to work with you again soon.”\n\nI blink at the man, then the check in my hand. It is absurdly large. I have no recollection of how I got it. I know I’ve walked into this building every weekday for the past six months, but the next thing I remember is driving home. \n\nI have a great life. I have my rock climbing friends. I have a little greenhouse I keep up with on week nights. I’m currently the queen of trivia at my local bar. And no one asks me about my work. They assume I’m joking when my response to their small talk is always a shrug and a smile. \n\nThis silence has become awkward. I nod, stand, and leave the room. Somehow me feet carry me to the exit on autopilot. As soon as I close the large glass door behind me, a buzzing starts in my left pocket. I answer the phone without looking. What’s the point? I won’t recognize the number. I never do on this phone. \n\n“Hello, cyber consultant 572. Please confirm by saying ‘Hello’ so we may identify you.”\n\nThe receptionist is pleasant as always after confirmation. \n\n“Lovely! Your next location will be 4182 Sycamore Square. Duration is four months, workload level moderate-maximum, compensation medium-high, memory wipe obligatory. Do you accept? You have 60 seconds to respond.”\n\nI consider. If I say no, I will receive two more options before I can request leave, which is honestly tempting. I’m considering a short trip to Japan. \n\nI remember this paycheck was considered “medium” and the workload was moderate,” not that I remember what it was. I just know I had a 35 hour week. I like my personal time. \n\n“No”\n\n“Okie-dokie, no problem! Let’s see, your next location will be 1544 Minnesota Ave. Duration is 2 months, workload level maximum, compensation high, memory wipe obligatory. Do you accept? You have 60 seconds to respond.”\n\n“No”\n\nI didn’t have to think at all on that one. Maximum work load can be up to 60 hours a week of memory wipe. Even over just two months, I do not like loosing that much time. And the memory wipe is always obligatory. Whatever I do, My employers never want me to leave the building with it. \n\n“Alrighty looking at option three today, good for you! Your next location is 32 Locksburrough Ln. Duration is three weeks, workload level is high, compensation is medium-low, memory wipe optional. Do you accept? You have 60 seconds to respond.”\n\nAn optional memory wipe. Optional. I could remember. For just three weeks, I could remember all of my day! No holes in my memory, no confusion on my last day, no mysterious smiles and glances from ex-coworkers on my way out the door!\n\nBut do I want to know?\n\n“This is your ten second reminder for response, 572. Please confirm.”\n\n“This is your five seconds countdown, 572. Please confirm in five, four, three, two-", "Robert Thompson swirled the wine in his glass thoughtfully. \n\n\"Yes, I think we here at Acticorp could stand to pay you 4 million a year for your work here. We're most excited to add you to the team.\"\n\nI swallowed painfully loudly. I desperately hoped he hadn't heard.\n\n\"Yes, about that. What position would you have me fill?\"\n\n\"Oh, I trust you to carry out the same duties you have at Benecorp.\"\n\nWell that wasn't good. I didn't actually do anything at Benecorp other than wander around. \n\n\"Of...course, but surely some changes should be made, seeing as the command structure is so different?\"\n\nThat paused him. Good. I had no idea what the difference in command structures was, if any, but it was a means to an end.\n\n\"I suppose so...well, I trust you to only take on the necessary stuff while you figure out the environment.\"\n\n\"And what stuff would you consider the most necessary?\"\n\nHe swirled the wine again.\n\n\"I can leave that to you, I think. I trust your competence. Keep showing up, and I'll keep you getting your paycheck.\"\n\nWell shit. Strike while the iron is hot, my mother always says.\n\n\"I'm very glad to accept your deal, Mr. Thompson.\"\n\n\"Nonsense! Call me Robert. You deserve it, at your pay grade.\"" ]	3
	[WP] "We were men of iron; with iron in our fists, faces and hearts... but that was the thing with iron—it rusts."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We were men of iron; Iron in our fists, set in our faces, and settled in our hearts. Iron though, it rusts.\n\nThe shells fell around us with deafening thunder, lighting up the area even in the pitch black of the late midnight hour. We’d sit in our trench, and pray that this was not the day that our lord would call us home.\n\nWe battled in those fields month after bloody month. Picked off by the enemy for looking over the trench wall, or gunned down in no man’s land in a fruitless charge against walls of guns. Some were lucky enough to be taken by shell sooner than they could comprehend they had died. \n\nOthers were dead before they stopped breathing.\n\nOur bones, bodies, and souls ached. Ached with a tiredness that sleep could not cure. Tired of being afraid, tired of the death surrounding us, tired of taking the lives we would never know.\n\nTired of living.\n\nBut on we fought. Inch after inch, foot after foot, mile after corpse strewn mile, we fought on. Until victory could be claimed, we fought.\n\nBut there was no victory. While good men and women were dying there would be no winner. Man versus man, but in the lord’s eyes we were brothers. \n\nThe lord had left us the day we were ordered to kill that brother.\n\nEventually though, the fighting would end. We would be sent home, those that lived. A terrible fate, I think. \n\nWe left as men, rugged and charged for battle.\n\nWe returned as shadows, to be forgotten when the parades were over. To be ignored when the horrors we had seen and atrocities we had committed finally caught up to us.\n\nWhen the fighting broke out we were heros.\n\nNow we’re the poorly adjusted.\n\nBecause we adjusted to a time and place we could never return to. Adjusted to the misery. Adjusted to the people we had become.\n\nWe’re rusted, we don’t shine and we don’t sparkle. We’re to be left alone. Called upon when the next conflict comes, and thrown away when our usefulness is at its end.\n\nWe were men, made into soldiers. But we never stopped being men. And no man, long as he may live, should ever need to see what we had seen.\n\nThere must be a better way." ]	2
	[WP] After millennia of arrogant masters it became normal for you, a Genie, to mess with their wishes. After some years without seeing the outside world you finally exit your lamp to stare at the most innocent, simple-minded and unfortunate human there could be, and you pity it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Time has no meaning for me inside the lamp. It is one of my curses for being a Genie, that for as long as I serve a master I can be outside the lamp, but when the wishes are granted I must return.\n\nI used to grant the wishes in by the spirit of the wish but that only resulted in suffering and lies as wishes were granted and used selfishly by arrogant masters who would use their wishes only to harm others and bless themselves.\n\nI took great joy in my work before, but after it became a grim satisfaction to twist the wishes and crush the dreams of my masters as their wishes would come back to bite them.\n\nNo sooner had I returned to the lamp then I was summoned again. Around me I see ruins, but none I recognize. No familiar architecture or familiar language. Was I truly imprisoned in the lamp for that long or was I moved a great distance?\n\nI look down at the one holding the blue-green brass that was once my perfectly polished lamp and see a child looking up at me in awe. \"I am the Genie, Uhid. How may I serve you?\"\n\nThe child looks at me and the awe does not disappear. \"What is a Genie?\" She asks me as she watches with unblinking eyes.\n\nIt has been a long time since I was asked this question. It was my first masters who would ask as the legends of Genies were not well known, but surely Genies would not be forgotten so easily. \"I am a granter of wishes. You may ask of me three wishes, but be careful for what you wish will come true.\" I know that I do not need to explain further as the language I speak transcends all and my master will understand the meaning of my words as they are intended, but something still seems wrong.\n\nThe landscape around is obviously that of many glass and metal palaces but all have fallen into disrepair through neglect. Glass litters the streets where plants haven't taken over. Some palaces stand straight while others are leaning or have fallen over. I look closer at my master and see that the clothes that she wears were not meant for her. Old, stained and patched it looks as if she wears a tunic that was made into a dress by using a strip of cloth. Her feet are rough and uncovered, marred by scratches and scars. I cannot tell the last time she had a bath as the dirt on her covers her completely. \"I can have anything I wish for?\" She asks in a small and hopeful voice.\n\n\"Anything you desire.\" I say clearly. She bites her bottom lip and looks around anxiously, unsure of what to do.\n\n\"I-\" She hesitates. \"Come with me!\" She says as she stuff my lamp into her bag and rushes through the debris of a fallen palace and across the cracked road towards the river. I follow her easily through the small holes and tunnels and across the wide open field to where a small hut stands made from logs and branches of the nearby trees. She rushes to the deerskin door and rushes through, stopping next to a pallet where an older woman lays. \"This is Omi, and she is sick.\" I nod, thinking that she will wish the old woman well or to restore her youth. A generous gift, but instead she holds out a basin for water. \"I wish for water for her to drink.\"\n\nI stand looking at the basin. It wouldn't hold more than two liters of water. She could ask for anything but to use a wish for something so small is a waste of my power. I gaze upon the landscape and see what I did not before. The water nearby is drinkable but not clean. There is no place within days of walking where she could get any clean water for this older woman. What a terrible place to establish a home. I gaze further and see that this was once a large city filled with many palaces where millions of humans must have once lived.\n\nRuins scatter the earth of these enormous cities that have been reclaimed by the earth. Where billions of humans must have once lived now only hundreds of thousands now dot the earth. This woman an this child are the only ones in this area. If the older woman should die then the child would be left alone until she herself passes.\n\nA wish must be granted. I summon water from the nearby river and slowly fill the basin with it. The green algae and biological matter clearly visible in the dish as the girls eyes widen in amazement instead of revulsion. The fact that water was brought to her, even though it was not clean is still enough to impress her. With a wave of my hands the stream stops and the water clears as nothing but pure and clean water remains in the basin. She laughs as she dips a cup into the bowl. \"Omi, wake up! Genie brought you water!\" She says to the old woman as she presses the cup to her mouth.\n\nThe woman drinks slowly and cautiously as the unfamiliar taste of clean water passes over her tongue before coughing violently. The Power to change the world, to alter reality an nature to her will and she spends a wish for some simple water for an old woman who may not live the month. Such a pure and selfless wish. Could I have finally found a master worth serving again?\n\n\\-----------------------------------\n\nr/Zinsurin" ]	2
	[WP] You are a pizza delivery man. Twenty minutes ago, the restaurant you work at received an order, which must be delivered within half an hour of being received or it will be free. The fact that there is a four-way giant monster brawl between you and said location is irrelevant.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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\nThe engine turned over beneath the hood of a twenty-five year old Hyundai. Thea could smell the steaming combination pizza in the passenger seat, secured safely in the hot bag. The grinding sound of the starter motor could barely be heard over the thundering booms and explosions some five miles away.\n\nWhy does it always have to be my order?\n\nBeaten and cold, the four cylinders finally came to life as one minute elapsed on the red LCD screen in front of her. She had nine minutes to deliver this pizza. Throwing the five speed into first, she peeled off down the street, leaving behind the acrid stench of burning rubber and the neon sign of God Emperor Pizza in her rearview mirror. \n\nThe navigation sprang to life with a digital chime and Thea realized just how close this run would be. Being born into the Pizza Syndicate afforded her the experience needed to make that kind of assessment but it didn’t make her job any easier. Making a hard right onto Loach Avenue she finally saw what she was dealing with.\n\nThis is gonna screw up business for a while, she thought as eight minutes were displayed on the tiny dashboard timer.\n\nTowering above the tenements and automated factories, four looming figures stood out as massive shadows against the weak light of the crescent moon. Squinting, she began to see details of their morphology, illuminated by the brief flashes from explosions and downed power lines. The grid of the city streets gave her some options but her years told her that sometimes the best solution is a simple one.\n\nLoach Avenue bisected the industrial district, taking her almost directly to the lofts and townhouses of those rich enough to afford handmade, human delivered pizza. The behemoths were slowly making their way towards this main thoroughfare, trading blows with tentacled appendages and hard, chitin mandibles. The clock read seven minutes as several legs straddled Loach Avenue. The nearest monster had narrowly avoided the scythe-like tail of another. Thea made her decision.\n\nFuck it.\n\nShe smashed the accelerator of her tiny underpowered sedan, ignoring the pain of her toes being pressed into the floorboard and the pathetic whine of the Hyundai. Her path ahead was mostly clear, some abandoned cars and a sprinkling of debris from a brawl that was only now making its way to this part of the city. Thea was aiming straight for the shifting, shadowy mass of giants locked in a desperate struggle. The timer read six minutes as her teeth clenched and her hands tightened in a death grip around the steering wheel.\n\nThe roaring of the wind outside her window was all she heard as she passed under the beast that arched over Loach Avenue.\n\n“Come on, come on…” Thea hissed through her teeth.\n\nStaring up through the windshield, two clawed hands were reaching towards the massive insect she was passing under. An inhuman screech bellowed as the claws dug in, cracking the exoskeleton of the monster towering over her and shoving it with the force of a nuclear bomb, upending its legs. Underneath this din, the night sky became visible once again and she cleared the monster’s underbelly. \n\nThea barreled ahead, forcing her eyes on the road in front of her. The ground trembled as the creature toppled into the steel and glass of the buildings that lined either side of the street. Looking back, the place she had been just seconds ago became a swirling maelstrom of steel, glass and arthropod, Thea didn’t notice the timer passing the five minute mark.\n\nCareening down the road, Thea let out a breath as she veered around a utility van. Her foot felt glued to the pedal and she wasn’t sure she could actually feel her toes anymore. Feeling a hint of triumph, she dared a glance in the mirror. Her heart stopped when she saw hundreds of glowing eyes filling the narrow strip of glass. One had noticed her. \n\nThe Hyundai groaned in response to a tentacle the size of a redwood tree whipping the road less two meters from the rear of the car. The asphalt buckled at the weight, lifting the tiny car almost a meter. It came crashing down at an angle. Thea jerked the steering wheel side to side, barely maintaining control. \n\nThe monster let out a hum that rattled her skull and left her ears ringing. She didn’t hear the beep as the timer read four minutes.\n\nShe was picking up speed but so was this thing following her. The sickly orange glow of its eyes lit the cabin and she noticed just how dusty her dashboard was. Thea let out a yelp as another tentacle slammed into the building ahead on her right. Masonry flew everywhere and a piece the size of a baseball bounced off her hood and into the windshield, leaving a spider web of cracks that spread over her field of vision.\n\nA feeling of dread slowly coursed through Thea’s body. She felt the warmth drain from her skin and it was strangely quiet as three long shadows spread over the road in front of her.\n\nThis is it.\n\nIn resignation, her foot left the pedal and the little car began to slow down. Her forehead rested on the top of the steering wheel as the timer hit the three minute mark. \n\nBut the roof of Thea’s car did not collapse and her skull was not crushed under the weight of a giant tentacle. Looking up, the shadows had disappeared and the sickly glow was gone. Thea twisted in her seat to see thousands of eyes shrinking in the distance. Something was dragging the behemoth back into the fray. Its flailing arms were crushing vehicles and splitting storefronts, tearing up the road behind the idling Hyundai. The car had almost come to a complete stop when a faint beep from the timer snapped Thea from her hypnotic state. She had two minutes left.\n\nStomping the clutch and shifting into gear, Thea began to slowly accelerate away from the cacophony behind her. She stopped counting the blocks when the glowing red numbers hit sixty seconds. Glancing at her nav screen, she made the last turn into a small, gated complex tucked away between two massive skyscrapers. She passed manicured lawns and pristine sidewalks and pulled in front of a three story townhouse with a Japanese maple tree.\n\nGrabbing the pizza, Thea kicked the door so hard it came swinging back into her shoulder as she barreled out of the car. Running behind the sputtering tailpipe, she glanced towards the dashboard, barely registering five, then four seconds from the timer. Her legs felt like jelly sprinting up the walk and she pressed the doorbell with her forearm. Steadying herself against the wall of the entryway, she heard a faint ding behind the thick wooden door.\n\nThea’s breathing was ragged as the door swung open, the sound of laughter pouring out. A well kept man in a polo shirt was standing there expectantly. \n\n“Here’s your pizza!”, she managed to say between gasps of air. Without saying a word, the man grabbed the box, threw a wad of cash and coins onto the mat and slammed the door in Thea’s face. Under the sterile glow of a fluorescent porchlight, she fell to her knees and stared at the money lying on the straw doormat. It was exact change.", "\"I've ordered the Pizza, it should be here in 30 minutes. Let's see how this ends. I'm betting on the Caterpillar.\"\n\n\"Man, you're gonna lose there's no way the caterpillar can beat this giant lizard.\"\n\n\"I'm saying it's definitely the Rat.\"\n\n\"You're all insane look at the monster that looks like a giant frog, it's gonna crush them all.\"\n\n\"Hey, let me watch guys, I can't see it.\"\n\nA group of friends staying at an apartment ordered 5 pepperoni cheese pizzas from Rapidos Pizzaz to enjoy the entertainment with pizza.\n\n10 minutes ago, 4 giant monsters emerged from the ground downtown and started having the fight of our century, wreaking havoc in their tails. People at the epicenter were evacuated immediately, people around the city watched the fight through their windows and on top of their terraces. The media and police copters circulated the creatures.\n\nThe government decided it should not interfere after the lead scientist has adviced and told, the fight will be over in 50 minutes if the monsters are not disturbed during their fight. The government has effectively asked the pople of the Marigold city to stay safe and watch the fight from a distance.\n\nRapidos Pizzaz, Order no. 25, Received 20 minutes ago.\n\n\"Hey, I know you're new here but you have to deliver it before 30 minutes or it's free, go, you got it.\"\n\n\"It shows Carson Avenue.\"\n\n\"Yeah, so?\"\n\n\"It's past the downtown, there's a four-way monster brawl taking place in that location right now and there's no way past it, and I can't make it in 30 minutes.\"\n\n\"Man, you want to get fired?\"\n\n\"No, it's just-\"\n\n\"Go, there's no excuse and the brawl is irrelevant, who did you think you are? You're a pizza delivery man for God's sake.\"\n\n— Order dispatched for delivery.\n\n\"Man, the things I gotta do for this job.\"\n\nThe friends are still arguing about who'd win in their apartment.\n\n\"Did you see that? The lizard smacked the frog with its left hook.\"\n\n\"Yeah, we saw that. Now shut up.\"\n\n\"Hey, what time is it?\"\n\n\"It's 04:00 don't worry, the pizza will be here in 20 minutes or I'm not giving my money.\"\n\nThe pizza delivery man, Dom hurried past breaking the barricade tape and caution sign heading towards downtown to the order location in his bike.\n\nETA 10 minutes.\n\nThe giant rat fell before Dom, the rat's eye looked like a giant black marble, he quickly swerved his bike like a pro and took a left towards an alley. The giants were emitting a kind of screeching sound so loud that can tear ones eardrums in close proximity. Dom came prepared, he put on his headphone listening to the music, Fast & Furious- Tokyo Drift.\n\nETA 5 minutes.\n\nDom took his bike up the lizard when the caterpillar transformed itself into a giant butterfly. He landed on the wings of the butterfly that dropped him on the ground safely when it flapped for the first time. The frog then jumped on the butterfly and teared it to pieces just moments after.\n\nETA 2 minutes.\n\nIt's the lizard vs the frog, death match. Dom barely escaped when the two took a massive blow with each other before they fell down causing the police helicopter to crash land on the ground with a huge explosion behind Dom.\n\nIt was a draw and the people of Marigold city cheered. They are never going to see something like this again in their life.\n\nDom rang the bell, one of the friend in the apartment answered the door. Dom looked like he went through hell, covered in dirt and the shirt torn in half.\n\n\"Man, you look like shit. By the way, did you see the fight? Sadly it ended way sooner than they thought. But you're on time, here, keep the change\", said the guy who gave Dom a tip of $1.\n\nr/FleetingScripts" ]	3
	[WP] "Hey, don't worry. Everything will end...well?" you said, surprised to say it to someone who tied you to chair and held gun to your 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“I hate you! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! You took everything from me!” You listen to the young man who tied you to a chair. \n\n“I apologize in advance, but please specify” You request, calmer than you expected tied to a chair and a gun held to your head. \n\nThe young man looks at you is despair, “You caused the incident that killed everyone I knew. My family, my friends, my lover. Everyone. And you DARE ask me to SPECIFY!” \n\nThe gas leak, that had to have been 7 or so years ago you think. For the first time seeing the burn scars on their body. \n\n“ I see, that was not my intent.” You say, voice still monotone. You regret not being able to show any emotion, or sympathy in your voice. \n\nThe young man breaks down in sobs, “Then why, why did you do it. What reason could there have been.” \n\n“It was never supposed to go beyond that room, it was supposed to kill me. As you can see, it didn’t. And I now am a decent amount of metal, more so than flesh.” You say, to your best ability showing off the prosthetics. \n\n“You, it was supposed to kill you! Well yeah, it didn’t. Why would you even want to do that.” The man yelled through his tears. \n\n“Depression gets to the best of us I suppose... but hey, you know. Don’t be me, live a life your loved ones would be proud of. See a therapist, don’t be me.” You tell them softly. \n\n“But what if I don’t want to, what if I kill you? Right now.” They ask, looking you straight in the eyes. \n\n“Then you wouldn’t be any better than me.” You admit lightly, although not truly minding if they completed the task you set out to do 7 years ago. \n\n“Well, I just I’m no better than you.” The man said coldly, tears stopped. An empty void left in there wake. The sound of the gun shot echoed through the room. \n\nThe next day two bodies were reported dead in the basement of Ameberent Terrance." ]	2
	[WP] The remains of humanity leave earth on a solar sail ship. Years later aliens find the ship with inhabitants in stasis	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "####7 10 04\nWe found them floating among the stars: metallic prisms, rectangular and strange. I don't know how to describe it, but they were different from the junk we usually find. They certainly weren't rogue satellites or trash someone shot up here. Maybe some rich eccentric decided to play a prank on us. It's not that, we wouldn't be ordered to forget about any of that. I don't care, someone has to know.\n\nThere is something else out there. Something other. We are not alone, not any more, maybe we never were.\n\nI might as well stop dancing around it and actually tell you what I saw. As I said, they were boxes, seemingly hollow. The casing was mostly metal, interspersed with plastics in some places. There had to be hundreds of them, drifting in wreckage. Whatever housed them is too far gone to identify, just bits of the same metal and plastic, ripped apart.\n\nThey were hollow too, with a small glass plate toward one of the ends. Some of us looked inside, the others were smarter. Inside were skeletons, and not Ophidian. Most of them only had one, in others were couples. Unfortunately mine appeared to contain a family. Two parents, looking into each other despite the clear horror in their eyes. The covered the little one's eyes, and made sure that, even then, he was still cradled in loving arms.\n\nsss" ]	2
	[WP] You are an immortal on a world near the end of the universe and you are describing to some kids that the sky used to be full of light.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It’s a very human thing to want and have children. And I suppose it makes sense, from an evolutionary perspective. But that still makes it no less strange to me that, despite this generation knowing that they will be the last, still decided to go through with their final act of creation.\n\nI don’t blame them for having children, no, but I do blame them for what they’ve decided to do with them.\n\nI tried my best to steer humanity onto the path of love and compassion. Countless years, countless attempts, and I had deluded myself into thinking I had succeeded. As all of the fuel we used to make power dried up and as the stars started to wink out of existence I am proud to say my humans planned rather than panicked. Stations were scheduled to shut down, old relics and refuse were converted into power, and we all collectively planned for a graceful extinction.\n\nAs stations once filled with people shut down for the final time, I was not surprised to find shuttles of refugees coming towards earth. I was surprised, however, by the amount of children on board.\n\nI do not, nor could I, blame human parents for not taking their children with them during their collective suicides. I was, however, unsure of what to do with thousands of newly orphaned children. I directed them to earth, the once great capital of humanity, and offloaded them into the deep underground cities built to protect against the cosmic radiation that plagued it. I extended an invitation to all human colonies that still had power: Come to earth, raise the final generation of humanity.\n\nIt didn’t hit me until it was too late: all of the selfless humans sacrificed their lives to stretch what was left of our power, so that the last generation could enjoy the fruits of our collective labour. What of the selfish humans, what would they have decided to do? And so it was that the last generation of humans was to live a life of extreme luxury, raised by our most fearful and troubled.\n\nAnd now, we only have about a year’s worth of power. Oxygen scrubbers, autofarms, heating, soon it will all shut down for the final time. The final generation has voted a plan, using that human ingenuity I was once proud of: get rid of the children, and we can stretch their resources for another few months. I didn’t even have it in me to object.\n\nI told them I would organise it, and they believed me. I gathered the children of the last generation, there were only around sixty of them, and had them put on space suits.\n\nA fun fact: most humans have never experienced fire; the mostly oxygen environments found on the stations humans inhabit are too dangerous.\n\nBefore I left, I taught the last generation the secret of fire, the same way I taught the first generation. I know it will only be a matter of time before their curiosity gets the better of them.\n\nNow, I stand in the airlock, surrounded by the abandoned children of humanity. One of them asked me:\n\n“Where are we going?”\n\nIt wasn’t the question of a curious human, but the stalling of an animal that knows its marching towards its death.\n\n“We are going to the place where humanity started.”\n\nThe airlock opens, revealing a barren dirt world. The sky is black, and the only light comes from our space suits.\n\n“When I first met your ancestors, light fell from the sky and illumed a world full of life. When we closed our eyes, we could feel its warmth.”\n\nI pressed a button, and their oxygen supply was replaced with hydrogen.\n\n“Perhaps, if you close your eyes, you might feel that warmth again.”\n\nThere was no sound when they fell.", "“Bright dots all over the sky?” asks one of the younger children as her eyes widen.\n\n“Noooo. You’re just making it up!” spoke the boy sitting to your left, knowingly, as if he’s in on the joke.\n\n“I promise, children. Back then, we took them for granted. Our ancestors had big, big lights” - you spread your arms wider and wider - “that made the bright dots really hard to see, but when you went to a place where it was dark, it lit up the sky. It took miiiiiillions” - you elongate the word dramatically - “of years for those lights to reach our world, only to stop at our eyes. It was humbling to think about but it gave those of us who still looked up at them a very real sense of just how little we were.”\n\n“Little like me!” a girl being held by her older sister piped up.\n\n“Yes, young one,” you smile, “just like you. And yet, so much less.” You look down contemplatively.\n\nThey, likewise, fall silent for a moment, all staring at the sky, imagining what once was. All except for you. You merely look at the faces gathered around the fire, one by one: so full of life and wonder. You can’t help but to smile. \n\nAs you take in the moment, the deep sadness of the What Is To Come creeps in, as it often does. The impending supernova, the implications of an entire universe snuffed out like a sea of candles in the wind, great gaseous orbs of an incomprehensible size powerlessly vanishing, until one final star gasps its dying breath. The Immortals lost their sense of purpose and couldn’t bear the thought; they ended their lives over the centuries, one by one, following the cue of the universe. \n\nYou are the last of them now. \n\nBut you don’t feel like you’ve been abandoned. You slowly overcame your loneliness and instead focused your efforts on the Stories of the Before. These nightly tales to the children bring you much joy, give you purpose in a dying cosmos. Their parents, once having sat in the circle too, now fully understand the weight of your words and appreciate the reprieve from a long day of labor and child-rearing.\n\nThe children murmur quietly about what they think The Before was like while the fire crackles softly and a cadence of insects overtakes the air. \n\nYou draw a deep breath and take in the scene before you: \n\nThe fire burning like the heart of a sun.\nAn Immortal awaiting a long-foretold end.\nThe firelight dancing on faces so full of life and wonder.\n\nPerhaps one day you will tell the stories of the stars to their children. \n\nPerhaps tomorrow there won’t even be a single star left.\n\nBut you will live each day as if were your last, surrounded by innocence, wonder, and joy." ]	3
	[WP] A conspiracy is starting to unravel because the organizers ended up going way over budget.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Order! I call this meeting of the Copperhead Truth Watcher Dragon Clan to Order. Order! JEREMY! I SAID ORDER DAMMIT.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJeremy slunk his head down, and looked appropriately ashamed. Or as ashamed as one can look under a golden mask and velvet cloak. Which was pretty ashamed, as it turned out.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nDragonshead Yakov continued, speaking from the mahogany podium. His voice echoed across the conference hall, booming out of the state-of-the-art sound system that had been especially installed just a few weeks ago.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"As the Dragonshead this Year, it is my pleasure to introduce Sir Varden, who has a few words he wishes to share with us. Sir Varden, if you please?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSir Varden walked up to the podium, his golden mask and velvet cloak looking appropriately resplendent. His shining silver sword gleamed spectacularly in the artificial moonlighting that propagated across the room. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Clan of the Copperhead Truth Watcher Dragon, hear my words! Heed my call! We must increase our tithing so that the Dragonshead may successfully awaken the bane of this World. Triple tithing laws are in effect from this moment forward! We shall either flourish together, or perish together, and in order to flourish, we must expend all our resources in effort to awaken the bane. INFERNO!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAs Sir Varden shouted out the rallying cry of the Clan, voices from all corners of the room joined in, a chorus of Inferno's ringing out. With the exception of one hand.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"And so it sha-\" Sir Varden sighed. \"Yes, Jeremy?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh umm, I can wait until later. Are we doing questions now?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"What is it Jeremy? Get on with it, come on.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Well, it's just that, umm. We've triple tithed for a while now....\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes, Jeremy, it's so that our Dragonshead may continue to awaken the bane of the world and bring about the era of peace and destruction.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Right yes, the era of peace and destruction...\" Jeremy mumbled. \"Yes, but um..H-How are we doing that exactly?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Varden was beginning to lose his patience.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I mean, do we really need to bring about the era of peace and destruction?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"And how are we spending this money? I mean...well, isn't anyone else really hot right now? Why are we in velvet?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Because it is the traditional priestly garb of our clan, dating back centuries!\" Varden roared, almost in anguish at the younger man's upstart behavior.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Right right, but they didn't \\have\\ polyester and I mean, it's like 90 degrees outside and I just....My sweats are black too so maybe we could just wear sweats?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThere were some murmurs of assent. A lot of people had black sweats and the conference room was not particularly well air-conditioned. Budget cuts and all that.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I suppose we can put it to a vote at the next meeting. Anything else Jeremy? No? Good.\" Dragonshead Yakov quickly interrupted (partly because this was \\ruining\\ the atmosphere he had planned for the gathering, and partly because he too was extremely uncomfortable and needed the meeting to end quickly so he could use the bathroom. A full velvet robe, much like a romper, was not ideal for that purpose.)\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJeremy piped down when the Dragonshead spoke to him directly. It wouldn't do to anger him.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Sir Varden, please continue.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes, your Terribleness. As I was saying, we must triple tithe. The dragon's roars grow hungrier by the day and-FUCKING HELL YES ANNA?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Hello, yes, hi, I'm Anna, pleased to meet you. I'm new, I was inducted last week by Dragonshead Yakov, praise be.\" \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes, we know, can you please state your question?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Yes, of course. Lovely place you have here, very...big. I was thinking, I'm sure this is a silly question, but why do we have a thousand person conference room?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"What? Why shouldn't we have the largest conference room in these parts?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Oh well, since there are only like...7 of us?\" Anna did a quick headcount. \"8 of us? It's just a lot of wasted space. Maybe we could meet at my house instead? I can bake cookies!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAt the mention of cookies, Jeremy piped up. \"I like cookies! Peanut butter?\" He asked hopefully.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\[I'll continue this later if there's any interest, just a quick response I thought up....\\]" ]	2
	[WP]You are a hero sworn to protect the weak and innocent. Brutal foes surround you, and the odds are long. You fight knowing that you will surely die, but your sacrifice will save many	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Fatigued by battle, I stop to take a breathe. Hundreds of armored soldiers surround me, yelling and jeering at my apparent weakness. Their armor glistening red in the midday sun, they form an imposing foe. \n\nTheir yells and their brandishing of weapons scare me like nothing before, as I realize I stand little chance against the many tons of human flesh and metal bearing down on me. My knees shake as I contemplate being skewered by spears, hacked by swords, and shot by arrows. I know of no way to escape my impending doom. But I have not given up. \n\nMy knees stop shaking and my lips curl into a smile as I remember why I am making this sacrifice. My village, just a mile West, is in danger. The people I grew up with, those I call my family, are about to die extremely painful deaths, unless I can take as many of these soldiers with me to Hell. \n\nKnowing I am probably taking my last few breaths on Earth, I close my eyes. I think about my beautiful wife and daughter. I know they are anxiously waiting in the town hall with everyone else, hoping against hope that I will defeat the invaders. \n\nI know I can't let these men get to my village. I won't. With a yell, I raise my sword and charge forward, with one thought in my mind: \"Kill them all.\"" ]	2
What could this be ?	[WP] “You have the power of what” the man ask as he continued “what type of f***ing power is that” I breathe in and out and say “my superpower is the power of the deep”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "EARTH-7.99\n\nJUSTICE LEAGUE WATCHTOWER\n\nOkay, it’s time to do the interviews with prospective members. We may be a super large team, but we have standards. I look down the list. Firestorm, weird but made it, Metal Men, somehow passed the Big 7’s confirmation vote, Black Lightning, easily made it.\n\nI’m Zatanna Zatara, a member of the Justice League’s Big 7, and I’m almost done with this job. There’s only one guy left. “Aquaman? Who the heck are you?” I say to the blonde guy in gold and green sitting across from me.\n\n“I’m Arthas Curry. I want to join your team as a sign of friendship between Atlantis and the surface.” He extends his arm in greeting, and I awkwardly shake it.\n\n“So, what are your powers?” I ask.\n\n“I can breathe underwater, of course. I can swim very fast, and I possess the power of the deep.”\n\n“Wait, the what now?”\n\n“I can telepathically communicate with all varieties of aquatic life, survive harsh undersea pressures, and I’m the king of Atlantis.”\n\n“So, wait, are you saying you talk to fish?”\n\n“Fish aren’t actually intelligent enough to hold a conversation. Dolphins are great talkers, though. Did you know that dolphins have their own complex language?”\n\n“No. No I did not. I can see a place for you in missions involving aquatic areas—we send specialized teams out for our missions when situations don’t call for all hands on deck.”\n\n“So, are you saying I can join?”\n\n“You’ll have to be approved by the Big 7, including me. We do already have a water-based hero, but not in the same sphere as you, so you could work with her. Water Weaver’s dealt with new heroes in the past.”\n\n“Great. Can I meet her?” Aquaman asks.\n\n“Of course. She’s a little rough, but she has a lot of experience.”\n\nTHE BEGINNING" ]	2
	[WP] Humanity finally reach the stars and everyone else sees humans as weak and not all that threating at first, this changes however when the galaxy finds out that humans heal from almost anything will fight until their bodies can't and their main hunting tactic is one of pursuit predation.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 don't look that dangerous.\" The young Zorthar commander said doubtfully as she watched the uniformed human leaning against the bar on the far side of the room. The stories she had heard made them out to be unstoppable killing machines, the reality seemed a little disappointing by comparison.\n\n\"Small, weak, soft.\" The voice to her right ground out, sounding sharp and somehow angular, much like the speaker. The Zah'gah was crouching next to the table, careful that the razor sharp hooks and edges of its bony structure did not accidentally impale any of its companions.\n\n\"We pushed them to the thin ice, where warm things go to die.\" The Mushasi across from her swung three of his four eyes talks back to the table, leaving one scanning behind him. Towards the human. His envirosuit was well insulated, but his companions could still feel the slight chill in the air around him. The drink in front of him was more a slurry of ice than liquid, even so he considered it a warm beverage.\n\nThe last of her companions spoke from her left, a mechanical translator shifting the ultrasonic tones down to more common frequencies. \"They bleed easily, they die hard.\" The Gorlath to her left was snorting a purple gas of some sort with one of its dozens of feelers. A vibration ran through its structure as it continued to inhale. \"Combat with humans is a tale of frustration and wasted effort. Unless you can kill it outright, it will heal itself and return to fight you again. Wounds that would kill any of us, they consider minor inconveniences. I have even seen humans missing limbs, and still functional.\"\n\nShe would have doubted this statement from anyone else, but a Gorlath was simply unable to state something it knew to be factually wrong, so she accepted the apparently outrageous statement as truth.\n\n\"Unbreakable.\" It was the Zah'Gah again. A tone of grudging respect. \"My clan kin fought them to exhaustion, and still they would not bend. Their bodies may be soft and weak, their will is not.\"\n\n\"Never push them to the thin ice.\" The Mushasi had finished his second drink and was on his third, and was already getting a little wobbly, despite having six legs. \"They fought us, on the ice, where we should have been the masters. They kept coming at us, and coming at us, until we couldn't fight any longer, and they kept coming. When we ran, they kept coming until we couldn't run anymore, and they kept coming. \" He swallowed his third drink in one hit and waved for a fourth. \"Don't be fooled by their seeming weakness, it is a trap for the unwary and overconfident. And the dead.\"\n\nThe human turned from where he had been sipping his drink and looked straight at her. As if he had heard. As if he knew what they were thinking.\n\nHis head nodded slightly, and he raised his drink, as if in salute. A slight baring of his teeth in the human greeting of a smile, and he turned away. No match for her own fangs, or the powerful muscles under her soft fur, she nevertheless felt a chill run through her, as if she had looked into the eyes of a predator who wasn't yet on a hunt." ]	2
	[WP] You're the captain of Humanity's first manned venture into another solar system, Alpha Centauri. You had just arrived and had the crew check the ships status and scan the system. You look over the reports and see all is fine, except for the strange vessel setting right in front of your ship.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Composite unknown. No life signs detected.\n\nKirk frowned, sliding a finger along the pict-screen. The image magnified, a sharp green wireframe highlighting the shape of the object. It was a pyramid, similar to the ancient Gyptian structures of Old Earth that had long since been lost to time. But whatever material it was made from was nothing native to the Segmentum Solar, nor did it match anything found on the deep-range satellite scans conducted years before.\n\nHe pressed a finger against a corner and dragged along the screen, rotating the frame. It was a direct copy of the great pyramids, save for an icon emblazoned on what he presumed was the front of the vessel. A circle, from which radiated six lines. Two flared out on each side of the circle, like a set of wings, and between them was a longer line stretching directly toward the bottom of the pyramid. The last served to connect the top of the circle to an upturned crescent, giving the appearance of a simplistic crown. Kirk had never seen the symbol before, yet he felt a dread familiarity at the back of his mind that made the hair on his arms stand and his spine shiver.\n\nHe dismissed the wireframe with a leftward swipe of his hand, summoning the direct link to cameras in forward observation. He sat back in his command throne, gazing at the vessel before him. The wireframe took much from its majesty. The pyramid was massive, dwarfing his ship many times over. Despite its size, it bore no blemishes, nor any weapons, fighter bays, nothing. Every side was a perfectly smooth, dark silver. Beneath the skin of the vessel was a faint green radiance that shifted and slithered, seeping out from the icon. Kirk shuddered as the light shifted away from his gaze, like it was intentionally avoiding his eyes, as if it knew he was watching. He let his eyes linger on the icon. It was in and of itself as large as his ship, and puled a baleful, sickly green light. His eyes burned and his head ached whenever he stared at it for too long. And he still could not shake the feeling of familiarity.\n\nThe icon suddenly flared, the green seeping into a blinding white as it passed the ability of Kirk's eyes to detect its color. The pinnacle of the vessel turned slowly, arcs of emerald lighting sparking down the edges of the alien vessel. The perfectly smooth sides of the vessel began to fold out like the petals of some strange flower, allowing Kirk to see inside. Impossibly complex circuitry flared with power. A swarm of obsidian platforms shifted and interlocked within a network of pipes and ducts as dense as the circuitry. Kirk's eyes, however, were drawn to what emerged from the capstone of the pyramid. \n\nA dais had emerged from the top of the pyramid. At the center of the platform was a command throne much like Kirk's, but with a sinister ornamentation that sent a chill through his soul. Where Kirk's throne was crested with wires and cables snaking into the ship, the throne that emerged was topped with black blacks that seemed to absorb the light of the nearby stars rather than reflect it. Beside the blades were thick tubes of glossy black connecting to two obelisks of a deep azure. Each obelisk was capped with gold, and viridian lightning danced between them above the throne. Above the throne and between the obelisks was the upper torso of a creature. Vaguely human in appearance, it's skin was the same green that danced across the vessel's circuitry. Its arm ended at the elbows, and it thrashed against the coruscating lightning from the obelisks that seemed to hold it in place. Its jerking head was bald, the abyssal pits it had in place of a mouth and eyes wide in agony.\n\nA figure was seated below the creature. This one was also humanoid in shape, but purely mechanical, comprised of the same silver metal that formed the pyramid. It was skeletal in appearance, with sleek, smooth limbs connected with simplistic joints. Its body resembled a ribcage and spine., with wires and cables dangling where organs would have been. The same icon that was fashioned on the pyramid was present on the being's chest. Above that sat a skull-like head, with a high, sharp cheekbones and an elongated jaw. It eyes locked with Kirk's, and made Kirk shudder with barely controlled fear. There was no emotion in those eyes, save for pure hatred and contempt. The being seemed to stare into Kirk's soul and out into the ship beyond, and past that further toward the nascent stellar empire humanity was carving out for itself amongst the stars. And all it held for humanity was hatred. A hatred so complete and profound that Kirk felt microscopic and insignificant, like he so often did staring out into he night sky. But this was different. Here he was not observing the universe and marveling at its wonders. Here the universe was observing him, like a predator watching its prey.\n\nHarvest.\n\nThe word echoed through his head and around the bridge of his ship, uttered by a voice of ancient machinery and aged by the timeless eternity of the void. His ship shuddered and he finally pulled away from the being's gaze. Warning klaxons blared and countless alerts sparked into life on the control panel jutting from his armrest. \n\nIntruders.\n\nSomething was on board his ship. How? Nothing had came from the alien vessel before him. There were no boarding craft, nor any spikes in energy that would signify teleportation. There could not be intruders, it was impossible. Kirk pressed one of the notifications and the video feed from the closest camera automatically linked to the view port. It was from one of the cryobays, where the crew spent the long travel between the stars in suspended animation. Kirk himself spent most of his time in suspended animation, only waking to deal with any issues that the ship-board artificial intelligence could not handle itself.\n\nThe pods were shattered, mist seeping from them in heavy clouds as the supercooled air dissipated. The cragged edges of the pods were caked in blood, which in turn soaked the floor. Bits of meat and viscera decorated the floor, with dismembered, flayed corpses being all that remained of the bay's occupants. Distant screaming alerted Kirk that a similar fate was befalling the other pods not on screen. Panic seized him. He purged the contents of his stomach in front of his throne. Something grabbed the camera, wrenching it from it's socket on the wall. Kirk screamed.\n\nThe creature was similar in composition to the being that sat on the throne, but the similarities ended there. Where the being on the throne was bare of ornamentation, this creature was covered in flayed skin, some still dripping with blood, freshly taken from its victims. Skin was draped across its shoulders and over its chest like a crude tunic, while torn and ragged flaps hung around its waist like a skirt. The skull-like head was covered as well. A face, recently shaved from its victim, hung loosely from the creature's scalp. Two holes had been slit, allowing the creature to see with yellow, beady eyes. Its eyes burned not with hatred, but hunger. It lifted a clawed hand and scraped a blood-streaked talon across the camera screen, like a mother consoling a child. Kirk screamed again and shoved the screen back. He looked back up the being on the throne. It was still staring at him, but now with a deep sorrow.\n\nWe long ago removed our bodies from mortality's grasp and bartered away our souls for technological baubles and the trappings of power. Our minds, then, are all that remains for us to lose, and it is here that the next stroke against us will fall. Though our individual afflictions may take different forms, sooner or later we will all be lost to madness.", "\"We have to wait for it to pass in front of the sun again if we want another picture.\"\n\nCPT-Ross squinted at the blurry shadow the optical tech had printed out. They turned it over, moved it closer and further away from their eyes. It was like a magic eye picture; people always told them, as this tech had, that there was something there. Ross couldn't see it, it was just an oblong black smear on a background of orange. Their head hurt, badly. A tapestry of needlepoints spread behind their eyes when they tried to string three or four thoughts together in sequence. It was always like this, picking back up to the speed of life at sublight velocity. The short jaunts around the home solar system were nothing like this. They looked from the tech, to the picture, then back to the expectant look of trepidation on tech. Ross was supposed to see something important here, but they couldn't place it. The smear looked familiar, but why? Ross checked their watch, the hands moving at dizzying speed. They were however, able to take another dose of neurostabilizer. It was early, but Ross plainly needed their wits about them. They swallowed the pill dry.\n\nIt was like slipping glasses on for the first time, except for Ross it happened around every four hours. Focus crystalized, and Ross turned the photograph portrait rather than landscape, huffed. The smear had the exact contours of the UNC Dallas Meanderer. The synchronized rings along a slim line. The engine pods exuding heat shimmers, the lumps for crew quarters, even the shuttle Epigram where it was permanently docked to provide engineering's oxygen after a generator failure. Ross frowned. \"A giant mirror?\" They shivered, thankfully hadn't voiced that out loud. Even with the stabilizer they had space brain. It could just be a group of asteroids forming a familiar pattern. They had to ask, make it as simple as they could for their own sake.\n\n\"This looks like Dallas. Right? That's what you're showing me?\" The tech looked the image, and back to Ross. \"I was showing you these-\"the tech indicated some tiny number on the images edge- \"the color spectrum waveforms. We're reading quark-accurate spectremchanical sprays. That is Dallas Meanderer. We think.\" The tech's voice was nervous and squeaky. Ross frowned, handed the image back. \"Point every array we have at... that. Contact engineering, take whoever you need. Sigma...wait...Charlie. Charlie protocol. I'm going to the bridge.\" They got onto a lift, mind tripping over itself to form reasonable, rational conclusions. They stopped the doors just as they were closing and looked the tech square. \"If I said Giant mirror?\" The tech adopted a look of concern. \"Keep it together, Cap'.\" The tech said. They saluted one another, and the lift sped off.\n\nWhen Ross arrived on the bridge, it was a zoo. Four different departments had brought their senior staff to crowd the monitors, almost sixty people floating in a space designed for twenty. Military intelligence was waiting at the door, and that spurred Ross's headache. They wouldn't say they hated military intelligence, just the questions they tended to ask, all of which tried to funnel you towards hydrogen beams or erratic matter projectiles. Of course, they were the ones to quiet the room, and the first to speak. Military intelligence had chosen a small, female-presenting morph with nut brown skin and a stocky frame. Something about her manner, the subtle shade of contempt in her eyes, made Ross feel like they were just the final prompt onto which she confirmed her prepared orders. \n\n\"Captain, as I'm sure you've heard there is a situation. We've been trying to maintain a signal lock on the object, but well...\" She cast a black look at operations command, whose console Ross now noticed was entirely disassembled and daisy-chained into several free-standing processors. \"The math we're used to doesn't work.\" Ross rubbed their eyes, contemplated how professionally they'd look if they just started crying. \"There's a copy of my space ship and math doesn't work. I've finally gone around the bend.\" They thought. Mil-intel continued. \"...didn't work, I should say. We...They...figured it out. At least they think they did. Or, someone did.\" Ross, still covering their eyes, cut in. \"Get to the point before I have a fucking anxiety attack right here on my bridge, ensign.\"\n\nRoss's glare from reddened eyes and the vitriol with which he spat the woman's rank at her sent a shiver through the bridge. They knew something Ross didn't, that was now plain. When she began again, it was at a careful, deliberate pace. \"We were not able to solve the problems with our math, but we have received a tight beam that was decodable from the object. No ones has audited it yet aside from the technician who worked it.\" Ross looked for the person. Two medical staff were floating astride him, where he slowly spun, tightly balled in the fetal position. Not a promising sign. He waved at the communications staff. \"Let us see what we've got to say.\"\n\nThe beam monitor came to life and Ross's own face, looking significantly older. Wrinkles, a scar around the chin, hair shot through with white. They spoke.\n\n\"Hello. This is CPT-Ross, of the Dallas Meanderer, serial 841;22-21. You, most likely. There is probably significant confusion on board your vessel, as their was on ours. Let me put it as gently as I can. Relativity doesn't work in exactly the way we imagined it. Things, fundamental things about your journey are about to change. When the calculations for the Queloz approaching-light drive were envisioned and tested, we had incomplete information. We assumed, as all of our calculations appeared to show, that light speed was the hard limit for a massive object's velocity. I'm afraid this isn't exactly the case. At the sustained speed your pilgrimage required, your craft began to exhibit a phenomenon we refer to as fundamental skipping. In barest essence, while no object can be observed breaking light speed, such observations must take place at the speed of human thought. Right now, you are passing into this solar system at a relative acceleration of thrice the speed of light. I hope that you are, as we were, are able to piece together this math based on this observation. I'd say you already have, or we already have, but I'm afraid I don't and can't know how deep the ripples are. Hopefully you will become what we are, when you arrive at Alpha Centauri in the future. Until then, may god grab your reigns.\"\n\nRoss's eyes had gone wet with tears. They couldn't discern the voices around them, hearing now only blood thumping against their eardrums. Ross passed out." ]	3
	[WP] You, along with a select group of humans, are given a special potion that when consumed grants you the form your heart most desires. It could do anything from giving you bigger muscles to turning you into an eldritch horror, or doing something you never 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Before this starts I'm going to make this as like a conversation and there will be three people and these are there names:\n\nTesla, I will refer to myself by this name.\n\nProtag, They literally don't have a name so me and the scientist call them Protag.\n\nDoc, the scientist, they gave me and Protag the potion and want us to take it to test it.\n\nOut of these three I'm the only real one, also dashes (-) show the start and end of the story.\n\nAlso what the characters say will have their name in front with one of these : Ex.\n\nDoc: \n\n\\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nDoc: I need you two to take this potion for an experiment can you please?\n\nTesla: What do these potions do Doc?\n\nDoc: Well my fellow smart friend, these potions will change your current form to the one that your heart desires the most!\n\nTesla: Are there any side effects at all that me and Protag should know of?\n\nDoc: No one knows, this is the first experiment for this potion.\n\nTesla: Protag, do you want to go first?\n\nProtag: No you go first.\n\nTesla: Are you sure?\n\nProtag: Yes I am.\n\nTesla: Alright, Doc can you hand the potion to me?\n\nDoc: Sure, here you go.\n\nTesla: Alright, bottom's up.... I feel very strange.\n\nDoc: Hmm.... it seems that a smoke cloud appears when the potion is drank.\n\nTesla: It seems that I look like a real world version of my minecraft character but I need someone to check my left eye as that eye is purple and the skin around my eye is dark black On my minecraft character.\n\nDoc: Well, your left eye is like that, But why is your eye like that?\n\n Tesla: In my character's story, They became part enderman due to an accident and they gained the teleportation powers from that but this was the side effect, and that eye can't handle sunlight too much anymore so they cover that eye with their hair to not ruin it.\n\nDoc: Well if you are now your character, then do you have the powers?\n\nTesla: I don't know so back up please.\n\n........\n\nDoc: Oh! You do have the powers! Are you Ok? You look like you want to puke.\n\nTesla: No, I want to puke.\n\nDoc (over intercom) : Can someone come to test room 1 and pick up tester 1 and bring them to the hospital wing? They don't feel good. Thank you.\n\nTesla: Before I go to the hospital wing can Protag drink his potion? I want to see what he becomes.\n\nProtag: I'll drink it can you please pass it to me?\n\nDoc: Sure here you go.\n\nProtag: Alrighty, down the hatch!\n\n... ... ...\n\nDoc: Hmm... I don't know what's so important about this form.\n\nTesla and Protag: Well I.. uh we do.\n\nTesla: Protag should I explain to Doc?\n\nProtag: Sure, It will need to come out someday anyway.\n\nTesla: Protag here is from another world, and in that world this is what he looks like. He was put into our world by accident when he was inspecting a strange device that appeared in his backyard.\n\nDoc: Why are his eyes like that?\n\nTesla: Well he is a very rare case in his world, his soul was in a digital body when he was born. He had the power to enter any electronic whenever he wanted but he had lost this power when he came to our world, I don't know for sure If he has these powers now that he is back in his old form but since I have my minecraft character's powers he might have his powers back. Protag can you try to use your power?\n\nProtag: Sure I can try.\n\n... ... ...\n\nDoc: Incredible! Can you still hear me?\n\nProtag (in doc's tablet) : Yes I can hear you. Do you even clean this thing out? There's like 50 viruses in here! I don't even think I can anti-virus them all! I need to leave now it's way too dangerous for my tiny health pool of 20!\n\n... ... ... \n\nProtag: That was so close, I was nearly dragged away!\n\nDoc: Protag you said something about anti-virus, what do you mean?\n\nProtag: My parents gave me a set of skills and one of them was anti-virus and that is the basic attack skill. I also have an actual health bar but it's only 20 Health.\n\nDoc: Can you two stay here for awhile? Just so I can see if there are any side effects to the potion, You can bring one item for while you're here. You will get food, water and a nice themed place to sleep. You could even move in after some time. Oh, Tesla One of the hospital wing doctors are here for you, they are waiting outside.\n\nTesla: Thank you and I'll stay for awhile, Protag will you stay as well?\n\nProtag: I might as well but I'm going to head home real quick to get my laptop. Do you want yours?\n\nTesla: Sure but I want a mouse to go with it. See you when you get back.\n\nProtag: See you then.\n\nDoc: I can send someone there for you, go and rest your's and Tesla's room is number 64.\n\nProtag: Thank you Doc, I'd never thought I would get my powers back.\n\nDoc: Your welcome, go ahead and rest you need it.\n\nProtag: Ok, see you later Doc.\n\n\\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nI think I did pretty good there I might continue it in the story multiverse I have already started." ]	2
	[WP] You are a powerful Lord with many Enemies who send Assassins after you a lot but you easily fend them off. They hired the famed Killer "The Hunter". No one knows how he looks or how he kills, everyone just knows he never Fails a Contract. You are "The Hunter" and also a Shapeshifter.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " I have carried many names, worn many faces. None know me, but all fear me. In the south they call me Kensington. Beyond the jewelled sea I am Ostigan. In the Badlands stretching from the peaks of Syrinx to the forests of Carstang there are a myriad of tales depicting me, a thousand promises and a thousand more nightmares. But it’s the name none of them know, the face none of them see – this is the worst of them all. The legend that steps between shadows, the whisper in a thunderstorm. The Hunter.\n\nAnonymity is a vital factor in this line of work. Which makes it problematic to advertise. Word of mouth can be very influential, but in my profession – and it is my profession – the vast majority of those I come in to contact with share with me their final breath. I am no priest nor sawbones, I am an assassin, and there are none quite like me. Unrivalled brilliance is a lonely vocation. But of course, I cannot earn my coin if there are none to find me. Fanning the flames was easy enough, and after a while I was even attributed to kills that were not my own. I detest that almost as much as I detest the name this world has given me. The Hunter was not of my making, yet it is workmanlike in its own way, and it provides a form of advertisement that had so far eluded me. The Hunter existed only in myth and hearsay, but some of the rumours were rooted in fact. There had to be a way to make contact – and in fact there were several. Dead drops were the most useful, and the safest for all involved. A trusted contact would arrange the location, first the details then the payment – always different. Each and every time The Hunter was hired it was through a new dead drop, and a different contact. Or rather, a different face. The strings of a finely tuned instrument were better managed when played by only a solitary musician. \n\nA stroke of good fortune came my way in the last few months. Unrest is brewing in the southern lands, and such a climate is rife with plots, intrigue, and of course assassinations. I have earnt enough to buy safe passage to Arxis and the life after this ten times over, and as such the twinkle and sparkle of the coin no longer has the same intoxication it had many seasons before. Back when I wore a face unbridled with the horrors I have inflicted upon this realm. These last few years the thrill of the hunt has evaded me, the simple pleasures of the well earnt kill no longer fizz my blood, full my brain with the lightning of another day. The Hunter was so embedded in myth, so feared, the completion of each new contract was an inevitability, almost a chore. But with the strife in the southlands promising greater conflict each and every day, I was hopeful for something interesting to happen. And finally, it did. \n\nThere was a contract for The Hunter, two in fact, which surprised me. What was more surprising is that it was for the same target. This had never happened before. Usually the target was dealt with before there was time for a second party to get involved. In this case however, two of my faces were contacted within days of one another, and two dead drops were arranged. This was not unusual, murder was a busy business. The fact that both parties belonged to opposing factions was what made me curious, as was the timing. As it happened, both of these long term enemies had arrived at a similar conclusion to bring a swift victory to this seemingly unending conflict. There was a holdout amidst these southern factions, a powerful noble whom controlled swathes of lands and a modest military arsenal. His Grace, Sir Jarak Kensington, Lord of the Hawkthornes. This holdout thought that he could keep the cold war going, allow unrest to fester and the promise of war to froth just before it boiled over. Maintaining enough power to sustain the status quos. As such, he had positioned himself in such a way that his removal would not just spoil the game, but smash up the board and destroy all the pictures. The other factions however were seduced by their own avarice, clearly feeling that the profits of victory outweighed the costs of an inevitable war. So they hired the one person who could guarantee complete success. They hired me. In the south they call me Kensington.\n\nThis would be interesting.", ":::The Hunter:::\n\nI receive the note in my bedchamber. My nephew Bartholomew hands it to me. He is almost of age to become a knight. His rough nature, quick wit, and hate for Catholics, has always been good to by my side wherever I travel. His mother was a devout Catholic, but she never had a chance to influence his spirituality. Bartholomew is a true believer, a stout Protestant. Also, he's quick with a knife. I taught him myself. \n\nBy far Bartholomew's greatest gift is that he has an unworldly skill of being able to listen to my commands. His improvisation skills in political arguments is remarkable. These gifts are useful to me almost daily. As I have no heirs, he will be the next Lord here.\n\nI open the letter as Bartholomew squats in front of the fire. He practices shifting into a dog as he pets Marcus, the pup I received as a mourning present when my fifth wife passed. Bless her soul. \n\nI poisoned her with mushrooms two years ago to this day. My physician was, unfortunately, unable to do anything to help them pain.\n\nThe note was written by a gentleman. Long bold strokes decorated the page. A slight smear appears underneath the g's and j's. I know the author of those smudges immediately, Cardinal Lincoln. The letter formally requests the killer named \"The Hunter\" to kill me. \n\nThis will be a little difficult. But I had an advantage, I was smart, Cardinal Lincoln was stupid.\n\n::: Bartholomew:::\n\n\"Son. I have a task for you tonight.\" Lord Tully spoke across his bedchamber to me.\n\nHe took to calling me son when he named me his heir two years ago. He said too many barren women were in his life, and he didn't need a \"Countess Figure\" running through his castle anymore. \n\nIt was a win for me. Fame, fortune, ladies. I was swimming in it all.\n\n\"I need you get a package for me from the dungeon.\"\n\nI cocked my eyebrow up in disbelief. Stepping into the dungeon was normally reserved for the Lord's lowest servants. I've never turned down an order, so I didn't think I would start tonight.\n\n\"When you see the jailer, you are to ask him for a spare man of my height and weight.\" The Lord Tully took off his family ring and continued, \"You are to take this with you.\" He flipped it between his hands and walked towards me, he held out the ring. \"When the jailer gives you the man, place a canvas sack on his head.\" \n\nLord Tully forced the ring into my hand and walked towards his dresser. I took one glance at the golden T on the ring before I placed it in my pocket. He continued speaking as he opened the top drawer, \"Conceal that ring at this time. No one is to see it.\" He pulled out a spotless pair of briefs turned back around and glided across the room back to me. \"You are to place the man in these undergarments. Wash him before you put these on him. Make sure his legs and torso are clean.\"\n\nTransporting a political prisoner was a new task for me. My mind swam with the unknowns of what was happening in Tully's mind at this moment.\n\n\"You are to strap him to my destrier and take him to the residence of Cardinal Lincoln. Before you knock on the door, place the ring on his hand and demand an audience with the Cardinal in his library.\" \n\nLord Tully began to smirk with his crooked smile. He added, \"Privately.\"\n\nI ask, \"When I'm in the presence of the Cardinal, shall I be kind to your body double my Lord?\" \n\n\"While your prisoner is standing in front of the Cardinal, you will force your rapier through his back and out through his belly. The Cardinal will witness the death.\"\n\n\"It won't be his first witness to a murderer my Lord.\"\n\n\"No Bartholomew, it will not. But it will be his last.\"\n\n::: The Hunter :::\n\nI have full faith in my nephew. I watch him go as he walks out my door to start his mission. When the door closes, I set into motion my counter attack. I begin my clandestine journey to the Cardinals estate so I can be in the room when my nephew gets there.\n\nI gain entrance to the manor through the servants door. I pay a boy from the street to knock on the front door. It is during this minor diversion I pick the lock and get into the residence. I make my way unseen into the library, and find a place to hide. I shift into an English Bible and place myself in the bookshelf.\n\nI wait...\n\nFour hours pass before an older gentleman with a feminine gait escorts Bartholomew to the library.\n\n\"I will summon the Cardinal and inform him that Lord Tully is waiting for him. Do _either_ of you need drinks sir?\" The butler is uncomfortable with this figure that looks like Lord Tully standing in his undergarments with a canvas sack on his head in his master's library.\n\n\"I am fine. Lord Tully,\" Bartholomew rubs the head of the prisoner, \"doesn't need anything either. Please tell the Cardinal to hurry.\"\n\nFive minutes later the Cardinal enters the library.\n\nI study his face, but it remains passive.\n\n\"A… Pleasure to have such, renowned, company in my home tonight Lord Bartholomew. To what do I owe the pleasure?\"\n\nIt's here where Bartholomew's wits begin to play with the Cardinal. I sense the Cardinal beginning to get a little uncomfortable. \n\n\"I present you with a gift.\" Bartholomew pushes the prisoner toward the Cardinal. When he is close enough to see the ring on the prisoners hand, Cardinal Lincoln let's a small giggle escape his lips.\n\n\"Does anyone else know that it was you that ordered me to kill my uncle?\"\n\nThe Cardinal turns white. \n\n\"It's no use denying you ordered this murder,\" Bartholomew continues, \"who else knows?\"\n\nThe Cardinal doesn't see me emerge from the shadows of the bookshelf during this exchange. My nephew does. The Cardinal delivers the names of his counterparts willingly.\n\nI burn the names into my memory. All of them Catholics.\n\nThis is when my nephew drives his sword into the prisoner's back. The blade comes out the front. Just as we planned. \n\nThe first time the Cardinal sees my hand is when I pull my ring off the dying man's hand. \n\nThe Cardinal only had a chance to gasp before I slide a noose around his throat.\n\nWe left the house only committing three murders. Unfortunately the butler had to die too. He saw too much by seeing my nephew. The sheriff and constables attributed the three dead bodies to a double murder and a suicide. Just another day in the life of \"The Hunter.\"\n\nMy heir will do well following in my footsteps.", "\"You're sure this is The Hunter's abode?\" The lord asked, glaring mistrustfully at the abandoned rotting cabin. \n\n\"Yes, sir. Jobs left here for The Hunter are always completed.\" One of his bodyguards replied. \n\nThe other one stepped towards the cabin, and, after trying the knob, found it unlocked. \n\n\"It's unlocked, sir.\"\n\n\"Ah, good. Get out of the way.\" The lord strode forward, pushing the bodyguards aside, and slammed the door open. \n\nHe was greeted by a room, mostly empty, except for a massive brown hunting dog standing in front of a door across the room. \n\n\"Nice doggy.\" He whispered, shaking with fear. \"I'm just here to see your master, ok? No harm done. . .\" He started to take a step forward, and the hound immediately responded, by snarling and snapping its teeth. \n\nThe lord stumbled back, bumping into his entourage, and held up his hands placatingly. \"Good dog, nice dog. No entering your room, got it.\"\n\nThe hound's jaw relaxed, and they returned to the staring match. \n\nThe lord and his bodyguards glanced at eachother. The man to his left shrugged, and the lord began to talk to the dog. \"You're a good boy, aren't you? Smart boy. Can you get your master?\" \n\nThe hound didn't move, it remained in the corner of the room, its eyes narrowed and flicking between the lord and his staff.\n\n\"Maybe you should just throw the gold in?\" One of the bodyguards muttered. \n\n\"I'm not just going to throw it in there! This is 3,000 gold pieces! I'm not going to trust some random mutt with that much money!\" The lord whispered back, glancing at the dog as he spoke. \n\nThe dog's ears pricked, and it's head turned to the door. The lord and his staff froze mid conversation, and they startled as the dog let out two short barks, then pushed it's way through the door. \n\nWith the frightening hound gone, the three men relaxed, and the lord took a hesitant step into the cabin. When the dog didn't immediately return and rip his face off, he took another step forward. \n\nThe lord was about to take a third step when the door opened, letting in a tall human figure, swathed head to toe in dark gray fabrics. The person held a crossbow loosely in their left hand, and the hound trotted at their right side. Their face was hidden in shadows cast by their hood.\n\n\"What business do you have with The Hunter?\" The person growled, their voice booming through the room, sending shivers down the lord's spine. \n\n\"I- I have a j-job for you, Hunter, s-sir.\" The lord stuttered. \n\n\"Target?\" The Hunter asked, their voice quieter, but no less threatening. \n\n\"D-duke Harrows, Hunter, sir.\" The lord answered. \"I w-want him dead as s-soon as possible.\" \n\nThe Hunter was silent for a long moment, before reaching down and scratching their dog's head gently. Then he let out a dark chuckle. \"5,000.\" They said, finally. \n\nThe lord started. \"I- I don't have that much!\"\n\nThe Hunter turned to leave the room, and the lord panicked. \"W-wait!\" \n\nThe Hunter turned their head, waiting.\n\nThe lord hesitated, then pulled another bag from his cloak. \"I'll g-give you 3,000, and all my family's jewelry to see the duke d-dead.\"\n\nThe Hunter was again silent for a long time, then they patted their hound's side, and muttered something the lord could not catch. \n\nThe dog moved forward, stopping in front of the lord. \"Give him the jewelry.\" The Hunter ordered. \n\nThe lord hesitated, looking from the dog to it's master. Then he gingerly held the bag out towards the dog, which snatched it up, then returned to The Hunter.\n\nThe Hunter took the bag from their dog, and drew out the tangled mass of golden chains and sparkling jewels. \"It's all I have.\" The lord whispered. \n\nThe Hunter nodded slowly. \"I accept your payment. Drop the gold, and leave this place. I will complete your contract within the week. \" \n\nThe lord dropped the gold onto the rotten plank floor, then fled to his horses and rode away. \n\nThe Hunter stood silently in the room for a long time, then let out a hollow chuckle. \"Ah, well. It was time for us to move on soon anyway, right, \"Duke Harrows\"?\" \n\nThe hound began the change, the fur melting away to reveal a brown-haired man dressed in fancy silks. \"Perhaps you're right. We knew it would come time for persona to fight persona eventually. Who would've thought it would be this soon?\"\n\nThe Hunter laughed lowly, and then changed shape as well, taking on the form of a muscled black horse, which \"Duke Harrows\" mounted with little effort. \n\n\"Gee-up, Lira. We have much to do. After all.\" The man grinned wolfyishly. \"I believe the duke deserves to go out with a bang.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Suddenly the god of darkness appears in front of you claiming you to to be the person they will possess to stay anchored to the mortal realm and then the god of light claiming the same thing. Now you are left with the two of them arguing over who gets to use your body.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 doorbell rang. Probably the Chinese takeout Stacy had ordered. She went to answer the door, but instead of the delivery driver she found a tall figure lingering on her porch. It was dark outside and she couldn’t make out much beyond their black suit. Their face was completely hidden by the shadows and even just looking at the darkness where it should have been gave Stacy a headache. She really, really needed to replace that porch light.\n\n“You’re not the takeout guy, are you?” Stacy asked.\n\n“I AM SHELDAGOR, THE SHAPELESS DARKNESS, THE BLACK DEVOURER, THE BRINGER OF-” A voice boomed in her head. Stacy slammed the door in the creep’s face.\n\nWhen she turned around, he stood right in front of her, inside. “MORTAL, FOR YOUR UNYIELDING DEVOTION YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS MY VESSEL-” He was surrounded by a cloud of darkness and despite the lights, Stacy still couldn’t make out his features. She felt a migraine coming on. “Dude! You need to get out before I call the police.” Just as Stacy pointed at the door, there was another ring of the doorbell. “Hold that thought,” she told the shadowy figure and opened the door again.\n\nA bright light filled the doorway. Stacy thought she could make out another figure in the light, but they glowed so bright, it hurt her eyes just to look. “I AM THANAROA, THE SHINING ONE,” a distinctly female voice thundered in Stacy’s head. Definitely not the delivery guy either. “YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS THE VESSL OF LIGHT-” The glowing figure moved towards Stacy but stopped when she noticed the darkness. Stacy could feel as if a weight lifted from her mind as they both turned their attention at each other and away from her. The bright light and the shadows reached for each other. In the middle where light and darkness touched, the air began to blur and sizzle.\n\n“THIS ONE BELONGS TO ME!” - “SHE IS A DEVOTEE OF LIGHT!” - “SHE SERVES THE DARKNESS!” - “YOU HAVE NO CLAIM TO HER!” The voices exploded in Stacy’s head again.\n\n“Look, guys, you got the wrong address,” she said. She felt the mental pressure return tenfold as both entities turned back to her. She swallowed. “I’m a programmer! I’ve been in home office for the past half year. I haven’t seen a temple from the inside for like ages! I’m not your gal.”\n\nThey looked at her for a small eternity, silent. Stacy could feel the pulsing headache again. “SHE IS THE VESSEL. THERE IS NO DOUBT,” the light one said.\n\n“MAYBE WE COULD SHARE,” the dark suggested.\n\n\\---\n\nThe old man paused his story and looked at the teen sitting across from him. “So, anyways, that’s the night I quit as a delivery driver and why you’re not allowed to take the job.”" ]	2
	[WP] You're a 5 year old girl and you love your pink plush unicorn more than anything. Also, you're the reason mankind just went extinct.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Quiet streets lay all around the world. The humans having wreaked havoc to their ecosystem, turned to science hoping to find a way to continue. Once the discovery was made human nature once again reared its ugly head and instead of finding world peace, perished in a series brief but devastating wars including nuclear, biological and even traditional warfare.\n\nThe machines had continued to run after their master disappeared but the power stations had been damaged and when they failed the machines stopped, like the inevitable winding down of an antique pocket watch. \n\nHowever, in one remote town the power had stayed on. It was sold to the bean counters as a test area for their greatest creation. In truth, the architects of mankind’s downfall, knowing more of humanity’s inhumanity than most, had set it up as a refuge in the all too likely event that everything went to hell. \n\nIt had been five years had since their hubris had birthed their own doom, Four years since the outbreak of the lazarus wars, and three years since the last homo sapiens sapiens had died. A researcher and caretaker in the refuge they made. \n\n\\###\n\nIt was approaching winter in the town. The mountains, visible from the Tower of Man, were already snowcapped and each week saw less of their purple majesty was visible. A little girl, who had never been given a name, stared out the window of her room. She was sad that the pretty purple was disappearing. She hugged her unicorn plush and thought of how she would like to sled down those mountains like children from before. That would be years away she knew, today’s goal was simple to try new food. They girl just had to do one thing first, she dragged her feet to her computer terminal.\n\n“I don’t want to study today. I want to go out.” She stomped the floor with her little feet. She looked at the plush in her arms but it didn’t move. She knew she had already lost the battle, but she was as stubborn as her mother.\n\n“Experiment you are to do 3 hours of study every day. This directive cannot be overwritten.” A woman’s voice, lacking warmth but having motherliness hoisted upon it, chided the girl. “When you have finished the day’s training you will be given your allocated play time. Please put on the helmet.”\n\nThe girl squirmed, covering her ears as the computer warmed up the VR headset, thousands of faux synaptic relays whine as they charge. As it is with time, the girl felt minutes pass while the unicorn internal clock would have marked it at 20.007 seconds. When the noise finally stopped threatening her eardrums, the girl put her unicorn on the chair and used it to help her climb up. “Thank you, experiment.” The intoned. Her earliest lessons had been manners and she thought they were how you showed love. Only her room computer was polite to her. \n\nThe girl reached for the helmet as it dangled over the desk and pulled it onto her head in a movement made smooth from repetition. The helmet was far too large to fit comfortably, luckily it didn’t matter. Her breaths rasped around her as the agonizing second of darkness dragged on. Finally the world around her brightened and the pain from the helmet resting on her shoulders faded. \n\nThe next three hours went by in a blur of lessons ranging from math to history. She learned cursive writing from a woman, whom she was told to call Ms. Austen. History was a lesson on early man and she watched various hairy men, whom she didn’t have to talk to, beat various other things with rocks. When they threatened her, her unicorn was there to protect her and the simulation came to an abrupt end. \n\nAfter the lessons her room door opened and she was allowed to go to the playroom until lunch. There was a time when the girl would have happily played on the many machines and slides or had a tea party, like she saw in the movies at night, yet in spring a storm had broken a window on the second floor. \n\nThe caretakers had cleaned the mess and placed a sheet over the window. This kept what little animal life there was out. It was not up to the task of keeping a curious and genius little girl from venturing out. The first time, she had just jumped out the window. That had caused her two problems. First, she hurt her legs and had to wait an hour before they healed enough for her to walk. The second, was she had not planned a way to return. She had to walk around the building to the front doors, luckily they had her data and let her in. Sadly, she was not allowed to have play time for a week, and she had an extra period of study each day, learning the dangers of the outside.\n\nIf the programmers or AI had thought that would stop her from going out again they were wrong. She spent each night either watching movies or reading books about escapes. By the end of her punishment she had a plan, she would make a cloth stirrup ladder. It took her another month to get enough bed sheets for it.\n\nSince then she had spent every day exploring the area. By the end of summer she had made it the town and discovered. At first, she was scared of the flashing lights and the hot, tickling sensation she felt in town. After several days of approaching then running back to the tower, she entered a building for the first time. It had been a grocery store and she found that it contained all sorts of food. She had never eaten anything other than the mush she ate from silver packets. She had tried an ice cream cone from a freezer by the door and then another and another. After an agonizing walk back and an unpleasant night she had vowed not to eat that much again. She developed a plan, now each day was a single new food paired with a drink." ]	2
	[WP] A man sends a letter to his wife Eliza who has been away for many months. Unfortunately, the letter was delivered to the wrong address to another person named Eliza, and she decides to write back.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\[poem\\]\n\nA letter in Spain sent mainly to the plain! \nA letter in Spain sent mainly by plane! \nI think I got it! I think I got it! \nA letter addressed to me in the plain! \nBy George, I got it! By George, I've got it! \nNow, there is no need to explain. \nEliza Doolittle living in the plain. \nAt eight-thirty-two Plantain Lane. \nIn Spain! In Spain! \nIt's a letter to me in the plain! \nBravo! \nThis Eliza in Spain stays mainly in the plain! \nIn Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire...? \nHeartfelt letters hardly happen \nHow kind of you to write to me! \nNow once again, the letter arrived by train? \nTo me, it is plain! Eliza on the plain! \nAnd where's that blasted plain? \nIn Spain! In Spain! \nA letter in Spain sent mainly to the plain! \nA letter in Spain sent mainly by plane!" ]	2
	[WP] Aliens have launched an all out invasion of earth. Humanity is holding on but it doesn’t look good for them. However, outraged by the slaughter of their children, the dead are waking up.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Death watched, his quarry slaughtered by an alien race. They had come with great force, obliterating cities, mowing down military institutions with ease. His fellow horsemen looked on with horror, the people they had sworn to protect until the end crushed beneath a mighty oppressor.\n\nThe souls of the lost whispered to Death, begging to let them help. He had long grown used to the endless pleading, and had ignored it for millenia. But the destruction before him was unlike any he had seen. He looked to his fellows, and saw the looks on their faces. War looked over, rage in his eyes.\n\n\"This must be stopped. This is not to be their end.\"\n\nFamine nodded in agreement, wispy strands of hair falling over her drawn face.\n\n\"We cannot stand by.\"\n\nPestilence picked a spot, letting the pus spill over her pustule covered arm.\n\n\"But we cannot ride, it is not our time.\"\n\nDeath sighed, his bones clacking.\n\n\"We can't no.... but maybe we can still help.\"\n\nThe 3 others looked at him curiously, before speaking as one.\n\n\"How?\"\n\n\"I can let the dead rise, to avenge their fallen bretheren. War, you must fuel them with your fighting spirit. Let them become embodiments of your rage. Pestilence, let them become carriers of your most terrible plagues, to ravish the alien forces. Famine, let them hold your withering touch. As they walk, let them spread hunger to the invaders, to lose their ability to fight.\"\n\nWar laughed, a booming sound.\n\n\"Yes! This will be a glorious battle!.\"\n\n\"I will let the Black Plague loose again.\"\n\n\"Their bellies shall lose all chance of being full.\"\n\nWith his companions agreement, Death reached to the raging masses of the dead.\n\n\"Your rage has reached me, fallen ones. Wake up, this once, and protect your children.\"\n\nThey cried as one, a haunting battle cry. A flood of their souls rushed out, finding their remains. The teeming masses of the corpses began to move, clawing through the extraterrestrial forces. Clouds of ash, the ones whose bodies were burned, flew to the ships. They burrowed through, disabling and destroying them.\n\nThe tide had turned, for now.", "Valyeris sat on the tree stump inspecting the quirky brick of plastic he had just found. He wore regular Regian battle dress, full body armor with a cumbersome helmet that caused the head to heat up, Valyeris was glad to have it on his side.\n\nThe air was a bit dirty compared to Regia but it was satisfactory, Valyeris was glad that command had not sent them to go die in a desert like last time.\n\nValyeris saw that this peculiar device had a glass display and buttons on it's sides, he pressed the buttons hard but nothing happened.\n\nHe then threw it down and looked to the bodies and bodies of humans that lay in front of him. The humans had fought fiercely and had dealt heavy losses, but they had also shed blood. The high command was saying that the war would be over, that the humans would lose their fighting population within the next two months.\n\nThen he looked at the corpses and wondered, what if they came back? Sure it was absurd, the spark of life had been lost. But Valyeris had heard stories of Regian warriors who should have died, yet a fury brought them back.\n\nA fury that gave them renewed vigour and strength, these men tore through the enemy just like how he tore through his food after a battle.\n\nBut that was fantasy, and he didn't have time for it. He got up and walked forward, he had heard the sound of the combat ship landing. \n\nSomething grabbed his leg, he looked down. It was one of the dead humans, he was holding the leg and angrily staring at him. Valyeris bought his gun to the human's head when he felt more hands grab him.\n\nThen Valyeris understood\n\nThe dead had risen" ]	3
	[WP] A father must team up with the monster living under his child's bed in order to find and hunt down the criminals who kidnapped her.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Restless heart, freezing rain,\n\nWhat they did gave me pain,\n\nMy life gone like falling grain,\n\nNot left to do, not left to gain,\n\nAll that matters down the drain...\n\n\nWake up, wake up, \n\nOne must be saved and keeping life,\n\nWake up, wake up,\n\nShe gave me form this is my tithe,\n\nWake up, wake up,\n\nDon't fall to creeping dread,\n\nWake up, wake up,\n\nOr all that matters you will find dead,\n\n\nPitch black form, scaled but blurred,\n\nBarely knew what was heard,\n\nBut yet I'd taken every word,\n\nI left as fast as a bird, \n\nThe beast, when believed...purred?\n\n\nDon't look at it, it hurts your eyes,\n\nJust look at road and starry skies,\n\nAs it tries to summarize,\n\nThe meaning of it's thoughts and lies,\n\nYou begin to wish for your demise,\n\n\nLots of love for it's kin,\n\nYou came from naught but bin,\n\nOf twisting turning shadows when,\n\nYour charge committed a tiny sin,\n\nWhen it was six less than ten,\n\n \nA missing daughter,\n\nA shadow with will,\n\nA tired father,\n\nA voice so shrill...\n\n\nGripped by conspiracy the two travel a dark road after that which they seek,\n\nWill they find great powerful voices among those so weak?\n\nOr will they fail within a week?\n\n\n\n\nWho knows...\n\nWho knows...\n\nWho could ever know when your heart begins to glow...\n\nAll buried under setting snow as a chill wind begins to blow...\n\nWho knows...", "We drove in uncomfortable silence, the creature next to me leaning the car to one side as we blasted down the dark, open road. The sun was long gone and we were left with nothing by dim streetlamps and my high beams to illuminate the world in front of us. I opened my mouth to ask the creature something, but closed it, shifting in my seat uncomfortably. He looked to me, as though intending to speak, then looked away scratching the back of his neck.\n\n\"So--\" we both said simultaneously, immediately stopping.\n\n\"Go ahead,\" he offered in his low, growling drawl voice.\n\n\"No, no, you should--\"\n\n\"I insist,\" he said quickly.\n\nI sighed uncomfortably. \n\n\"How do you pronounce your name again?\" I asked, having completely forgotten what it was. Probably some weird monster-sound.\n\n\"Bob,\" he said, pretending not to be offended. \n\n\"Oh...\" I swallowed nervously, \"How long did you say you have you been under Beck's bed?\" I asked finally. \n\n\"Running on three years now,\" he answered with a hint of pride. My lips twitched involuntarily.\n\n\"How uh... whenever she told me to check under the bed, I didn't see anything. But you were there?\" I asked.\n\n\"I can become invisible under some objects. Beds, desks, clothes in a closet and such,\" he explained. \n\n\"Ah...\" I said. \"And why were you messing with my daughter?\"\n\n\"I wasn't messing with her!\" he replied quickly. \"More like... I was just doing my job alright? Making sure kids know that I'm there creeping in the shadows and such.\"\n\n\"Why?\" I asked.\n\n\"Why do you do your job?\"\n\n\"Pays the bills,\" I answered before I could stop myself.\n\nHe shrugged, suggesting his answer was the same. \n\n\"And that's why you offered to help? Job security?\" I asked, pulling a sharp left to the warehouse where she was being held.\n\n\"Not really... It's more like... Hmmm... What's a human without a face?\" Bob asked.\n\nI squinted at the thought.\n\n\"Dead?\" I offered.\n\n\"Little less than dead, but not much. Say, by the way Mr. Robins, why do you suppose little Beck got humannapped?\" he asked.\n\n\"I think it's my rival company. I was gonna get into a really big business deal that would put them way ahead, and they want to distract me from that at all costs,\" I answered.\n\nI felt him stare at me.\n\n\"You work in a big company?\" Bob asked.\n\n\"Yeah, I run a minimart,\" I said proudly.\n\nI could see his jaw lowering as his skepticism grew.\n\n\"And you think... A rival minimart took your daughter to keep them ahead of you in sales?\" he said slowly.\n\n\"Pretty ingenious, right?\"\n\n\"No, that's stupid!\"\n\n\"Yeah, stupid to leave behind enough evidence for us to find them,\" I agreed, pulling the car into the parking lot behind the warehouse.\n\n\"Whatever, the sooner we're done here the better,\" he said as he got out of the car. \n\n\"And I'm gonna have to talk to you about haunting my daughter once we get her back,\" I said.\n\n\"I told you! I'm not haunting her!\" he said as we approached the door. \n\nI threw them open and pointed into the room, my daughter lighting up as soon as she saw it was me at the door. \n\n\"Daddy!\" she tried to call behind a rag tied around her mouth.\n\n\"That's right, Pumpkin! I found you!\" I declared looking to the four people around her. They were all armed with bats. Put up my fists.\n\n\"Ahh, if it isn't Henry from Robin's Minimart! I thought you would be here, just not so soon and not so alone!\" Jareth, the owner of Jareth's Pit Stop cackled.\n\n\"Alone?\" I asked, looking behind me. Bob was gone. \"Well...\"\n\n\"You really thought you would be able to take over the 8th Street Minimart capital all on your own? Trying to take control of the whole area for yourself? Drop your prices so low that you would run us out of business!? Well, now you see what happens when you try to outsell Jareth! Get him boys!\" he flicked his head toward me.\n\n\"But dad--\"\n\n\"Quiet Jareth Junior! Get him!\" he ordered louder. \n\nI felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Bob holding a terrified Beck over his shoulder. \n\n\"Got her, let's roll,\" he growled. \n\n\"Nice one,\" I said, slamming the door quickly on the warehouse.\n\n\"Hey! Where you going, Robins? You left your--hey where'd she go!?\" I heard Jareth scream from inside. \n\nBob and I sprinted back into the car, Beck being placed in the back while I turned the ignition.\n\n\"Daddy, why is the monster here?\" she shivered.\n\n\"Beck, how long have I told you to keep the front door lock unless you wanna get kidnapped by rival markets!?\" I scolded her.\n\n\"But Daddy, I forgot when I got spooked by the monster!\" she protested. \n\nI looked to the passenger seat to glare at Bob, but the seat was empty. \n\n\"I know you're there Bob,\" I said.\n\n\"Worth a shot,\" he said, popping into the seat from nowhere. \n\n\"Why is it here!?\" Beck asked louder.\n\n\"I got her back, I feel like I get to keep haunting her as repayment,\" he said.\n\n\"So you are haunting her!\" I pointed out.\n\n\"Daddy, why--\"\n\n\"Either way, I'm not leaving,\" Bob said confidently.\n\n\"We'll figure something out I suppose,\" I shrugged.\n\n\"Daddy, why is it here!?\" Beck screamed.\n\n\"Beck you're only here now because Bob saved you. Now you're gonna appreciate him and let him haunt you something and you're gonna like it!\" I commanded.\n\n________________________________\n\nFor more stories, come check out /r/Nazer_The_Lazer!", " \n\n“Daddy,” a raspy voice woke me.\n\nI had been sleeping on my reading couch again. The lamp was still on. Documents fell off my chest as I rose. The AC blasted at my face. I could not see anybody else in the living room. \n\n“You are Daddy,” the voice again. I looked around. My heart raced. \n\n“Under the sofa,” the voice said. I grabbed my glass from the coffee table and put it on. The voice whispered “please don’t look. No time. They took Molly.”\n\nI should have had questioned myself for sanity, but my legs already sent me sprinting upstairs to my daughter’s bedroom.\n\nIt was empty. The window was opened, letting the nippy autumn air in. My stomach fell. \n\nI turned. I checked the restroom. I ran around the house. I went back and tried to open the closet, but it got stuck.\n\n“No.” The same voice said, along with some uncomfortable shifting, “Daddy, please, she’s not in here.”\n\n“Molly!” My voice ripped away from my throat like a scream. I ran around the house. “Molly! Where are you?” \n\nA pantry closet slammed shut, jolting me. “Focus, Daddy. They are getting far away.” The voice was soft, but fierce and sharp. \n\nI stopped. My eyes watered. My hands shook. I took a deep breath.\n\nI needed to call the police, but it might take too long. “How far are they, do you know?”\n\n“They left the house. But wait.”\n\nLights flickered, both inside of the house and out. A gust of wind howled out the kitchen windows. “The shadows saw them. They were at the intersection of--.” It named the streets few minutes away. \n\nI went out and start the car. “Daddy,” a voice whispered at the shoe cabinet at the door, “take me with you.”\n\nOut of instinct, I grabbed an empty shoe box, stuck it into the darker side of the cabinet and closed the lid. Strangely, the box felt slightly heavier.\n\n“You in there?” I asked.\n\n“Yea,” it said, “let’s go save Molly.”" ]	4
	[WP] People think meteorological science has gotten very good at predicting weather. In truth, we’ve just gotten very good at controlling it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"And now to Tom for the hourly weather update!\"\n\n\"Good morning, everyone!\" Tom's voice resounded through the studio as he began the 'forecast', the screen behind him displaying temperatures as he went over the designated highs for the day.\n\n\"And I'm afraid our low-points are going to be quite variable over the next few days too, what with that wicked looking low pressure system coming in from the northwest.\" His smile was almost contagious, eyes bright as he ran his fingers over each digit, a small crackle of what appeared to be static electricity briefly touching the screen's surface periodically as he gestured.\n\n\"Little too soon to tell exactly what will come of that, but you know what we can tell?\" he lied through his teeth. \"Rain, and lots of it, is coming to the valley!\"\n\n/That/, at least, was the truth.\n\n\"And as we come to the last portion of the forecast, I'll draw your attention to our Doppler radar map. You can see the progression we're expecting on this front over the next several hours in particular...\" His fingertips took on a subtle blue glow, large sweeping motions directing the worst of the storm front around Austin, and out towards the outskirts. He winced a little as he saw one of the dark-red patches spiral towards Thorndale, but could do nothing about it, even as it turned purple-black before his eyes.\n\n\"And we're going to put out warnings as the time comes, but those of you on the outskirts should be expecting significant tornado activity in the evening, especially to the east of the city proper! If those sirens go off, and from this map it sure looks like they will be, get to a safe place /immediately./\"\n\n\"Thanks, Tom!\" His co-hosts rang out, the cameras switched back over to them.\n\nHe concentrated again, trying to draw that box away from Thorndale, into empty fields beyond, but he just couldn't do it; he was too exhausted from his earlier effort. Crying, he slumped into a chair brought up for exactly that purpose, and quickly fell asleep, all energy seemingly gone.\n\nFrom the side, his co-hosts eyed their colleague a bit worriedly, even if they kept up appearances for the folks at home. Their typically boisterous weatherman didn't often collapse like this, but at least he was in good hands. The rest of the station staff did their best to keep their mage safe and warm whilst he recovered.\n\nTom slept fitfully, flickering fingers occasionally twitching in the direction of a phantom map he could no longer control... and in the distance, an anemometer began to turn..." ]	2
	[WP] You have always felt like you were stuck in this little hometown of yours, you never left for long. But what you saw in the forest that day makes you think that it might not be just a feeling.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 this morning’s news, police are searching for 28 year old Sarah Beecham. She was last seen on Tuesday evening outside Delaney’s drive thru wearing dark jeans and a red sweater…\n\nDylan Thorpe stood staring at the telly with his mouth open and his stomach churning. In his left hand was the letter he’d received the day before. He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. The letter had been right. About everything. He made up his mind. Taking a final swig of coffee, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. It was time to find out the truth.\n\nThe sun was already hot and the air felt hazy from the morning dew. His neighbour, Andy, was out front on the lawn doing his Qi Gong or whatever you called it, as he always did first thing in the morning.\n\n“ Hey neighbour!” Andy smiled.\n\nDylan raised his hand in a quick greeting before deliberately turning and heading in the opposite direction. Andy could easily keep him talking for hours and he had no time to waste right now. The letter said he had to get to the forest entrance on Schooler Road before 9am and not be late, which gave him exactly thirty minutes to get there and he could make it if he went fast.\n\nHe put his head down and picked up the pace.\n\n“Dylan! Watch out there, lad, you nearly knocked me off my feet.”\n\nDylan stopped short and blinked. The lady from the post office seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.\n\n“Oh, hi Mrs. Green, I didn’t see you there, I’ve—“\n\n“Never mind all that I have something to share with you,” she said, all smiles and old lady perfume.\n\n“Um, I’m sorry, I can’t stop I’m in a bit of a rush.”\n\n“Oh now now, you’ll have a minute of time for me I’m sure,” she reached up and grabbed his arms, “hear me out, lad.“\n\nHe started to back away, “I’m sorry, another time…” quick as a flash she grabbed his wrist, “look for a yellow sign,” she whispered, before letting him go.\n\nHe stared at her, then nodded and started to run, darting through the side entrance on Hawthorn Road and cutting across the park. His thoughts were a jumble. What the hell was with this town? In all the years he’d lived here he’d felt like something wasn’t right. Like the people were all too predictable. Everything was the same all the time. The grass was a little too green and the sky a little too blue, and there was all the people that kept going missing too. He’d always thought he was a bit crazy, that maybe his monotonous office job had his imagination going wild. But then he’d received the letter and suddenly it was all unravelling before his eyes.\n\nDylan, I’ve been watching you. I believe you’re ready to know the truth.\n\nHe sprinted out of the park. Nearly there.\n\nBreathing hard, he reached the forest entrance at exactly 8:59am. He bent over to catch his breath then snapped up again as he remembered what the post office lady had said, his eyes darting around searching for a yellow sign. At first he could see nothing, then as his breathing calmed and his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the forest he saw a pallid yellow mist hanging in front of one of the trees set back from the path.\n\nWhat the hell.\n\nHe walked towards it. It seemed to darken slightly and move as if a soft breeze was blowing by. Hesitating for only a moment, Dylan reached a hand towards it.\n\nAs his hand entered the mist a loud, metallic crunching sound like metal grinding against metal reverberated around him. He froze and the noise stopped. Moving his hand again the metallic noise continued. He carried on reaching forward through the mist until it enveloped his shoulder at which point he heard a loud click. Prickles of fear ran down his spine, and doubt started to play in his mind as he looked around for the source of the noise. He didn’t have to look far. Just to the right, a huge, black metal door hung slightly open with a bright, white light shining out of it.\n\nFor a second Dylan stood rooted to the spot. His legs wanted to run but his mind needed answers. He gulped, trying to swallow down his courage before it left him completely, then walked over to the door, pulled it open wide and walked in.\n\n“Welcome, Dylan.”\n\nHe squinted in the bright light. He was in a huge room that looked, for all intents and purposes, like a futuristic hospital room. It was sterile white from floor to ceiling, with a row of beds at the far end. In front of him was a woman in white overalls, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. She looked him up and down.\n\n“My name’s June. Did you receive a letter?”\n\nDylan searched her face for signs of whether this woman was friend or foe, her expression remained blank and a sensation of unease came over him.\n\nHe shivered, “I did.”\n\nShe smiled a wide smile that should have looked pretty but instead made her look a little demonic. She turned away saying, “follow me.”\n\nDid her eyes start to glow yellow just then? Dread settled in the pit of Dylan’s stomach, this was a trap, he should never have come. He turned away and started to run but an almighty crash behind him stopped him in his tracks. His heart thumping wildly, he turned around.\n\nSomething huge had plunged straight through the walls of the room, destroying everything in its path and sending bricks and debris everywhere. It was some kind of plane, but not like any he’d seen before. It was made of a bright red metal with propellers down the sides. A guy with a heavy beard and leather jacket leapt out, brandishing a knife.\n\n“Come get me, you witch,” he yelled.\n\nJune let out a vicious, blood-curdling scream and charged straight at him.\n\nThey thrashed and tussled, him shouting and her shrieking until eventually the guy managed to grab her hair, and with his knife at her throat she stilled, breathing hard with a look of hate in her eyes.\n\n“Quick boy, get me a bed sheet.”\n\nDylan didn’t move.\n\n“NOW.”\n\nDylan’s mind snapped to focus and his legs started working, he grabbed a bed sheet, throwing it towards the man, “who are you, what’s going on?”\n\n“My name’s Robert,” he replied as he wrapped the sheet around June, pinning her arms to her sides, “I’m the one who sent you the letter.”\n\nHe threw June down to the floor where she started howling like a depraved beast, yellow mist flying out of her mouth in all directions.\n\n“Sorry I’m late,” he said with a wink and a wry smile, “now, help me clear these bricks away from my plane and I’ll tell you what’s really been going on around here.”", "I've always questioned things, for I've only been given narrow answers. My parents are honest people, the quiet town respects them and vice versa, in a strange way, but my parents aren't entirely free from lies. I've long understood whatever they say is to protect me but I'm not a kid anymore, I need to know.\n\nThis is my hometown, it's not the worst place, it's rather little and self sufficient. There were times I just wouldn't go out with my folks as a kid, I thought I very much liked to be here, I still kinda do in some ways. Years later I'd come to face that lingering feeling I've had, like being stuck in here as if there's no other option.\n\nI never left for long but whatever I saw in the forest that day makes me think that it might not be just a feeling. The mystery goes deep. The entire neighborhood is made to stay in here. I'm going to find out why.\n\nI've packed some of my things in the middle of the night. Flashlight, pair of another shoes, my notebook in my bag and a whistle. My parents are fast asleep I better take this opportunity and move forward. I get my bicycle and I pedal fast to the edge of our town, to the forest, the place where we had an excursion.\n\nIt was way past dawn, stars looked brilliant. My dad went to get some woods to fuel the fire, my mom asked me to go get him but I wandered off in a different direction. It led me to the river, I stood there for minutes listening to the calming sound of coursing water when I looked up to see the looming and large dark figure appear in front of me.\n\n\"Eren!\" yelled my dad. I looked behind me then chose to leave the place. I didn't see anything when I looked back before I went to see my dad.\n\nI'm sure I saw something, something that's connected to this town. It wasn't some illusion of the dark, my eyes still remember them. I'm going to face them now.\n\nI'm finally in the forest, I walk past the stumped trees, \"so many of them around in this part,\" I tell myself. Took me longer to reach the place but I made it.\n\nI flash the light around, standing at the edge of a rock, trying to notice something if not for the dark figure I'd seen earlier that day. \"Hello!\" I shout, my voice riverberated throughout the forest even in the sound of the river. I lose hope after a moment, I change my mind and head back home.\n\nI thought my parents were still asleep but as soon as I entered the room and planted my face in my bed, my parents started making a conversation. They think I don't listen to them talk but I do, though it's only faint.\n\n\"We can't hide it any longer Dan, we need to tell him.\"\n\n\"Keep your voice down, this is the only way we can protect him Helen, he shouldn't know. If he starts to seek them then he won't have any choice, they'll come to know of him.\"\n\nr/FleetingScripts" ]	3
	[WP] "They say that there's a story behind every sign, so why the hell is there a sign saying "no tomes of eldritch lore allowed" on the door?"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 the hell happened here?\" I jokingly asked to the stern-looking old lady who ran the bar.\n\n\"Old Ones\" she replied instantly, without diverting her gaze from the glass she was cleaning.\n\nConfused and tipsy, I put down my white russian and cleared my throat.\n\n\"Old...Ones?\"\n\n\"Yep, you know the kind: the mind-melting, soul-shattering, horrific and inimaginable creatures of fuck-knows-where that bend reality\". Her stern expression remain unchanged and with a faint air of seriousness.\n\nI looked at her for a solid minute then at my drink, wondering if it had been spiked with something...odd.\n\n\"Some old fisherman came by some time ago, order nothing but a full pint of whiskey! I thought he was insane...and indeed he was\" she continued, putting down the now crystal-clear glass and filling it with vodka.\n\n\"A fisherman?\" I asked, stunted. Who the hell would be fishing in these god-forsaken plains? There isn't a single lake, river nor pond in at least 200km!\n\n\"Yep, strange fellow, drank the whole pint without even blinking\" she answered, downing her drink \",it just went straight down his throat\"\n\nI looked at her and laughed.\n\n\"Yeah, right, a full pint of pure whiskey and didn't knock himself out? Sure thing honey\" i mocked her expecting a laugh or a mild chuckle...but none appeared.\n\n\"You don't get it\" she said with a cold and heartless voice \"that...man wasn't from here\"\n\n\"Of course not! We are in the damn plains! There isn't a single body of water in over 200km!\" I shouted, feeling the warmth of my drink getting to my face.\n\n\"Not only that, but he came speaking in a strange accent, mumbling something about 'The Lord's grace' and 'Heresy', then he sat down over there\" she pointed at the booth in the far end of the bar, beneath a yellowish light.\n\n\"Yeah, yeah, sure... what then? He brought up the... damned Necronomicon or something?\"\n\nHer skin paled instantly.\n\n\"You gotta be kidding me...\" I said half laughing with my head feeling lighter with every sip of the mix of vodka, coffee liqueur and whipped cream.\n\n\"He just sat down, drank and begun reading it out loud... At first I thought that he wasn't as inmune to the drink as I had believed...but then shit got... disturbingly strange\"\n\nShe definitely had put something in my drink, the colors were all wrong, the air was cold and smelled like salt. I tried to stand up and reach for my wallet but I could barely sit still.\n\n\"Everything begun to...warp...my clock stopped moving, the peanuts spoiled and the radio begun spouting gibberish\" \n\nWhere the hell is that noise coming from? What even is that...a...a bell? Ugh, what fucking stinks here?!\n\nRadio static begun to parade within my skull and the smell of rot assaulted my nostrills.\n\n\"Then, when i got freaked and got close my shotgun, the colors got messed up and the whole please smelled like sea water\"\n\nWhere is that sound coming from... wait...what did she say about the...the colors? Why is the wood of this place so...wet and...old?\n\n\"I wanted to tell the old man to piss off but I started getting dizzy and feeling lost\"\n\nThat's weird...i don't...i don't drink anymore...do i? What?\n\n\"BUT THEN THAT FUCKING THING APPEARED!\" she shouted, both angry and annoyed \"AND ATE ALL OF MY DAMN PEANUTS!\"\n\nWh...what...?\n\n\"THAT GOD-FORSAKEN CREATURE OF THE DAMNED ABYSS DIDN'T EVEN PAY FOR A DAMNED DRINK!\" She shouted again, pulling her double barrel shotgun out from under the counter.\n\n\"Sweet God, woman! Point that...thing...away...\". She wasn't aiming at me.\n\nThe radio static slowly changed into an incomprehensible mess of random words and the stench of rotten fish, the sound of wet footsteps made me turn around instantly, almost losing my fragile balance and making me fall from the stool.\n\nThe fisherman stood in front of my, to my right, holding the weathered book, completely unfazed by the drunk dude before him and the lady with a shotgun.\n\nHis eyes were glassy and grey with no pupils...just pure and smokey gray spheres inside his skull. His beard, white and dirty, was hiding his lips. The stench of the sea was unbearable and I felt like everything was rocking slightly from one side to the other.\n\n\"Do not be afraid, child\" he spoke to me, without movement beneath his beard \"we will not harm you\"\n\n\"We?\" I asked, beyond what the word confused could ever hope to express.\n\nHe nodded and looked to the booth at the dar end, still beneath the yellowish light. An ever-moving mass of flesh, teeth, eyes and petruding pyramids made out of bone, sat there quietly emitting something akin to the radio static.\n\nI couldn't...i can't explain what it felt like, looking at that...that thing. Fear? No, much more powerful...Dread? Close, but not quite...an absolute sense absurdity of my very existence? Yeah, that seems appropriate.\n\nThe lady kept her gun trained on the fisherman, absolutely unyielding.\n\n\"I...we\" he begun saying, looking at the...thing \"have come to pay, miss\"\n\nThe creature shifted it's endless eyes toward the three of us.\n\n\"As you can see, my child is very sorry for his...lack of manners during our first time here\". The 'child' now looked downwards...i thought, it's kinda hard to tell when the eyes are popping in and out of it's flesh from every possible angle.\n\nShe took a long breath and looked at the creature, then at the fisherman.\n\n\"Fine, pay your tab but can you not read the sign? leave that damned book out of here\" she answered, lowering her weapon \"and you, kid, next time leave some for the other patrons!\" she nagged at the poor creature, who turn to looked at me and to the fisherman.\n\nThe radio static intensified, almost splitting my mind.\n\n\"He apologizes, miss, and to you too, sir\" he said.\n\n\"Great\" she answered, letting out a long sigh \"now, what can I serve you?\"\n\nAside from the mentally-annihilating appearence of 'the child' and it's maddening static, the turned out to be quite nice...people? They even gave me a ride home! Sure, I had to go through 'the pale mist' with an incomprehensibly horrifying being but, all in all, I had quite a good time.\n\nI ought to go back there for another glass of that sweet, sweet white russian." ]	2
	[WP] You gain access to a remote that controls reality. The pause button pauses time, the volume buttons control the volume of anything around you, etc. One day, you accidentally press the power 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Everything is black. What happened? What's that sound? I can hear this beeping. This is insane... i never should have pressed that button, i should have paid attention. But this... i dunno this sort of feels... nice. Is this it? Is this what death feels like? I'm just kind of here, lying in empty space. No... not lying, not floating either... I'm just sort of... here. I can't even remember what i was trying to do. I was in such a rush to do something, maybe rewind... but I don't remember why. This just feels... nice. \n\nThere's the beeping sound again\n\nAm i going to the afterlife? I can see a white dot in the distance. Is that the entrance to heaven? I mean I never believed it was real, but how would I really have known. This... this is fascinating. I wonder what heaven will be like. Is there a god? Will I meet him? I wonder if he likes me.\n\nAgain this beeping, weird.\n\nWait what about my family... my friends. They'll miss me won't they? Oh god, I didn't even say bye to Jim, or tell Sarah that I liked her. And dad... what will he do now, all alone? Mom. Mom, I'll get to see Mom again. I've missed her so much, maybe she's been watching me... does she know I'm coming? I could call out to her. Should I? I could. Would' she hear? Who cares, I'm calling: \"MOM! Mom I'll come soon!\" I hope she heard me.\n\nThe light is getting bigger. \n\nThe beeping is back, it's louder this time...\n\nThe black disappears. I'm lying on a bed, light overhead. There's a beeping somewhere in the room, I don't know what, some sort of computer.\n\n\"Welcome Sam, you made it.\"\n\nI look up. There's a man, sitting in a chair next to me. Is he god?\n\n\"Are you god?\"\n\n\"God? No.... there is no god. We're very proud of you, do you know that Sam?\"\n\n\"Is this heaven?\"\n\n\"No Sam. This is the real world. You were the first to find the exit. You passed our test, good job.\"\n\nTest? What test, I never did no test. What is this? \n\n\"We of course always knew you had it in you. Now rest, Sam, you'll need some sleep. Phase two of your training will begin shortly.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You're parents are very successful monster hunters, and you were bitten by a vampire last week. You tell you're parents, and they reveal that all of your siblings have been victims of monster bites.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \\[Family Business\\]\n\n\"Thank you, Annika,\" the 40-year-old father said. He leaned forward and wrapped his burly arms around his daughter as tears welled up in his eyes. \"I'm sorry,\" he added. Before Annika could ask what he was apologizing for she heard the distinct \\click\\ of the front door bolt. Annika managed to twist her head enough to catch a glimpse of her mom slipping the key into her white lacey apron. The bolt was keyed on both sides; Annika realized she couldn't leave without that key.\n\n\"What for?\" Annika asked anyway. She knew her best hope was to try and stall for time while she figured out a way to escape.\n\n\"For lying to you for so long,\" her father replied. Her mother stood behind Annika's dad and rubbed his shoulders. It wasn't an unusual interaction between them; but, Annika knew her mom was only trying to keep the key out of reach. \"About your sisters,\" he said. Annika immediately focused on him and put the key out of her mind.\n\nBoth of her sisters each disappeared suddenly. Both times her parents simply stopped mentioning their names as if they never existed. She had not thought about either of them in years; they lived in her memories as vague imaginary friends. The moment her father mentioned them; Annika gained a new perspective. Annika's parents were monster hunters for as long as she could remember. And her sisters disappeared mysteriously.\n\n\"You might be too young to remember Hilda,\" her father said. Annika shook her head.\n\n\"I remember,\" she replied. \"She disappeared during the harvest festival; I was five. Gertrude disappeared in the Spring when I was eight,\" Annika gave her parents her only memories. Her father nodded.\n\n\"Hilda was bitten by a werewolf. Gertrude made a fae deal that we couldn't get her out of,\" he said. \"With our reputation as monster hunters...,\" he said with a low, sad tone. \"...we only had one choice. A choice we hoped we'd never have to make with you.\" He scooped up his daughter's hands in his, but Annika yanked them away. She jumped off her seat and put her back to the locked door. She could not escape but no one could sneak up behind her either.\n\n\"What's wrong with you, Annika?\" Her mother asked; Annika couldn't believe her mom managed to sound disappointed in her considering she was trying to stay alive. She tried willing her vampire strength to take effect, but she had yet to complete the turning process. Even then, her parents could easily match a healthy vampire's physicality.\n\n\"I might not be a vampire yet; but, you're not taking me down without a fight!\" Annika tried to hiss at them and hoped her fangs were vaguely threatening. Both her parents broke into laughter; the way they always did when she acted silly.\n\n\"What are you talking about, Annika?\" her mother asked with an 'oh, you' tone. \n\n\"You killed Hilda and Gertrude because they became monsters and now you're going to kill me!\" Annika said.\n\n\"We did?\" her father asked.\n\n\"We are?\" her mother added the question, then both laughed some more.\n\n\"Where did you get that idea?\" Her mother asked. The lean woman sat down at the table next to her husband.\n\n\"It makes sense,\" Annika said. \"You guys are monster hunters. They disappeared after they became monsters. You said you didn't want to make the same decision with me.\"\n\n\"Uhuh,\" her dad nodded. \"It makes perfect sense. If you think your parents are cold-blooded killers. Which, I guess you do,\" he said.\n\n\"The decision we didn't want to make with you was to have to hide you. Like we did your sisters. Hilda and Gertrude are alive, we’ve had to send them away to keep them hidden. Now that you're becoming a vampire we’ll have to send you away too but we don't have to hide them from you any more.\"\n\n\"They're alive?\" Annika asked. Her dad nodded.\n\n\"Of course! We wouldn't be as famous as we are without them, and now you can help with that too!\"\n\n\"Huh?\" Annika asked. \"Help how?\"\n\n\"Your mom and I, we're really good at our job. We're so good in fact, that we killed all the monsters in the area. So, whenever money starts getting a bit tight we ask your sisters to send out a werewolf or fae fiend to start causing trouble. Now we can choose vampires too!\"\n\n \n\n\\\\\\\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1038 in a row. (Story #308 in year three.) You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog.", "\"Never go out after dark,\"* \n\nEver since I could walk my parents had drilled those five words into us, setting our curfew to sunset and they always made sure that one of them would be available to pick us up if we should be out during nightfall. At first, I just thought it was because we were all girls, that we were all small and that would make us an easy target but I soon found out what really goes bump in the night. \n\nThey never wanted to tell us why they always worked nightshifts, never wanted to explain why we weren't allowed into their room or into the pantry until one Halloween a trick-or-treater was in fact a scorned child of a werewolf that my parents had slaughtered. I didn't want to believe it either and we had screamed when my parents bound the young werewolf in iron chains, dragging them to the pantry for us to never see again. Jeanette, Heidi, and I hid in our room, in a makeshift pillow fort when our mum came in first, smelling like iron but dressed in her usual sweatpants and cardigan. She didn't look like the same woman who held a blade to the stranger's throat and screamed at us to run. It was then she explained. Her and dad were monster hunters, successful ones too and that's why we were never allowed out at dark and that our jewellery was silver or iron. \n\nI was ten then but I'm more of a stupid child now as I sit, slumped against the ally of the local club with blood pouring from my wrist with four very obvious teeth marks. I winced at the sight, and at what it would mean. I had already text my dad to come to pick me up from the club; the waiting was the worst. Would they kill me? Their own daughter, a vampire fledgeling. \n\n\"Hey angel,\" I look to the end of the alley and manage a pitiful smile as my dad approaches, his boots thudding with each step and I think about how many monsters saw those boots at the end of their lives. He groans slightly as he bends to sit down beside me, wordlessly taking my wrist and rubbing his thumb over the imprints. \n\n\"I'm sorry,\" My voice is but a whisper and I didn't think I'd cry so soon. I'm so stupid! Rule number one was to never go out after dark and here I am, downtown, smelling like blood and alcohol. \"I should've known better,\" \n\n\"You weren't the only one,\" He sighs, he doesn't look angry or disappointed, in fact, he doesn't look at me at all as he begins to bandage up the wound. \n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"You girls are all the same,\" What is he talking about? I must've said that out loud because he finally looks at me with a pained expression. \"You're not the only one to get bit.\" \n\nSilence. I don't say a word. How can I after a reveal like that? He makes it easy to ignore the blood staining the makeshift bandage, to ignore the pain that is starting to creep its way throughout my arm. \n\n\"Jeanette?\" \n\n\"Bit by a fae before you and Heidi were born, it was never a birthmark on her side. We vowed to never let her or you girls out after dark after that.\" \n\n\"Then Heidi?\" \n\n\"The sleepover at Maria's. They thought it funny to sneak into a private beach but it was home to sirens and well - she saved her friend but not before -\" \n\nI had never noticed, never even guessed my sisters had stories of their own they never wanted to share. I almost feel... betrayed but the cramping of my hand curling into a claw with sharp rings shooting across my arm is enough to make me forget my sisters for the moment. A high pitched whine echoes out and the look in my dad's eyes change.\n\n\"You're turning,\"\n\n\"Now what?\"\n\n\"Now I show you what we do as Monster Hunters.\"" ]	3
	[WP] The average human brain is comparable to about 2.5 million gigabytes. In the future, people can make an appointment for when their brain has reached near-capacity where they can decide what to delete to free up space.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 technician sat behind a pair of screens watching raw memories spool from left to right while I sat in the foam-core chair with a dozen needles stuck in the back of my head. In the reflection of the technician’s glasses I could see flashing pictures of my wife—she was laying across my lap on a tropical beach somewhere.\n\nBarbeque sauce dripped onto the technician’s shirt as he devoured a bacon double cheeseburger. “Okay, Maria was it?” He asked with his mouth half full.\n\n“Yeah.”\n\n“Okay. And she’s your…girlfriend? Wife?”\n\n“Ex-wife.”\n\nHe snickered. “Figures. Third one today.”\n\nThe reflection switched to images of my wife and I making love. “You sure you want them all to go?”\n\n“I’m sure.”\n\nThe technician took a swig of mountain dew. “Because if I had memories like those, I wouldn’t wipe ‘em, I’d get ‘em downloaded. Then you could relive fucking your wife in her twenties. Back when everything was nice and tight.”\n\nI let the comment hang in the air for a second. “Just get rid of everything.”\n\n“I mean, even if she’s turned into a wrinkly old bitch, she’d still—”\n\n“Hey buddy.”\n\nHe wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Yeah?”\n\n“What’s that sign say?” I gestured towards a neon sign displaying the words ‘discreet memory wipes, no questions asked!’\n\nThe technician read it aloud, then chuckled. “OK, here we go. This will sting for a bit.”\n\nAfter a few quick taps on his desk, the screen cast him in an odd reddish light. My ears filled with static, then the nerves behind my eye sockets screamed.\n\nTwo minutes later, the needles in the back of my head hissed as they retracted behind a sliding panel in the chair’s headrest.\n\nI had absolutely no recollection of Maria.\n\n“All done,” the technician said, then took another bite of his burger.\n\nI left without saying a word.\n\nOutside my metal bracelet beeped twice. A holo-vid I’d recorded earlier appeared above my wrist. “In the coming days you’ll probably have a lot of questions about Maria. You’re probably wondering what could possibly drive you to erase thirty-five years of marriage. Just know you gave it a lot of thought and decided it’s better this way. We needed a fresh start, so go out and enjoy your new life.”\n\nOver the course of the next few weeks I almost forgot that I’d forgotten Maria. It completely slipped my mind until the authorities called me in for questioning. They wanted to know the last time I’d seen her. I told them I didn’t know. They wanted to know the last time I’d spoken with her. I told them I didn’t know. They wanted to know if I had any idea where she might be. I told them I had no idea.\n\nEventually a judge ordered a subpoena of my memories. The detectives pounded the table and swore when they realized I’d already had them completely wiped.\n\nI told them I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help and walked out the door, ready to enjoy my new life." ]	2
	[WP] A mad emperor uses people from other worlds against their will as heroes to fight his wars, but He saw you as useless when your only ability is to bring hystorical figures from your world, He sends assassins to kill you and you escape in a tank commanded by Rommel.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "After hiding the tank with local foliage Rommel spoke. \"You better explain what is going on here, boy. Why are we being chase by what I can only describe as medieval mercenaries?\" \n\n\"The short answer is that I was summoned to this world by a mad emperor, I gained the ability to bring historical figures from our world to this world, the emperor want me dead because I am useless in his eyes so I brought you here to save my ass.\" I replied still catching my breath after our escape. Now that I was safe from the emperor's assassins, my main concern was to not get shot by Rommel and his men who probably thought I was crazy. \n\n\"As much as I would like to call you a crazy englishman, the old bearded man flying on a broom is telling me otherwise.\" In the distant what I could only guess was one of the emperor's mages was getting closer to us. \"Shoot down that man, now!\" Ordered Rommel. The gunner pointed the machinegun at the mage, took aim and pull the trigger. \"Target down, sir.\" \"We better get the engine started, the mercenaries shouldn't be far and the machinegun surely must have attracted their attention.\"\n\nAs the tank treads rolled over the lush grasslands, Rommel realized something I haven't thought about until now. \"If your power is to bring historical figure from our to this one. Why did it also brought my tank and crew with me?\" After a moment of awareness, Rommel took my silent as a sign I was as clueless as he was about this fact.\n\n\"It will be night soon, let find a place to camp out. In the meantime, think about another historical figure which could help in our current dilemma. And make sure they speak german or english. I don't want a bunch of spartans pointing spears at us.\" Said Rommel while scouting the terrain with his binoculars. He was right, even thought a world war II era tank was formidable compare to medieval weapons, we were still 6 men with limited ammunition against an entire empire and probably magic too.\n\n(May continue later)" ]	2
	[WP] The grim reaper gets to take one day off each year.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Six-thirty am. She slept-in. In fact, this was the only day where sleep was possible, yet she still decided six hours was enough. Don't let yourself fall into their habits, he told her (he was the previous one), they sleep to dull the pain. She was told she was better than them; she was told she was grim. But she enjoyed the sleep, and last year, for the first time, she dreamed a dream — a stupid dream, chasing a boy on a beach in Montego Bay. He was fast and could actually see her, but avoided looking back. Soon, he slowed down to a stop. She caught up. Strangely, the boy continued stomping like he was miming an escape, all the while screaming bloody murder but forgetting to make a sound. She woke up then, unsatisfied.\n\nThis year, after a dreamless sleep, she hovered to the kitchen to rinse off her scythe. Black mud, and hard. Why didn't she clean it last night? A year of work could make anyone lazy. She remembered last night's job — a detectorist in Silistra, roaming swamps for Byzantine coins. It was illegal, but that wasn't her concern. She was more intent on nudging the container of 'Colchicine' out of his pocket as he bent to uncover his 15th hairpin. His wife had stuffed the anti-inflammatory in there after a panicked morning when her husband found himself unable to walk. Gout, the doctor supposed. I know he won't remember but two of these should clear the next attack. The next attack came, and the reaper watched it all. When the poor man's knees locked, he panicked, and collapsed in the mud. He couldn't get his hands clean enough to swipe the emergency call (she'd crouched down in the sludge to make sure). He would've died of exposure but she was eager to start her holiday. Pulmonary embolism, it was.\n\nAfter breakfast she went shopping, projecting into dresses she was otherwise unable to wear. Black was slimming, but she'd gladly add 200 pounds for taste of coral blue. By the time she got back, Margaritas were blending. She'd stolen giant red glasses from a job in Fortazela. They belonged to a pair of lovers that passed in the same night. Only joy from them, as if 40 years together was a long time. It would be easier to drink these with a friend, she thought. That's how she'd always seen them served.\n\nAt noon, on the couch, feet-up. The next ritual loaded up on the screen. Crazy, Stupid, Love — her guilty pleasure. Since '04, that hole had been filled by Love Actually, but eventually the sight of Alan Rickman embarrassed her (a tragic case). So five years ago she popped the DVD in a charity bin and opted for her second most charming romantic lead, Steve Carrell, who was not scheduled a visit until 2051 (though she'd maimed three Polish herders in the last year that she'd could've sworn were his stand-ins).\n\nThis year she cried. She'd felt it building up. Each little percussion, each heartbreak, each kiss. Not just the movie, but soaking through her life. Every waking minute on call, pulled endlessly between the corners of the Earth. She'd tried to cry. She understood grief yet she begged not to feel love. Look at them. How can love be worth it when a heartbreak could kill? It was her most abundant weapon. One day she hoped to turn it on herself.", "\"So why did you hire him?\" \n\n\"Well, just look at him. He's insane and honestly, you need to be in order to work the position he's in.\" God explained to me patiently.\n\nWe watched as the grim reaper went about his day. He was driving on his way to the store to pick up some groceries. Apparently he liked to cook. \n\n\"He got his taste palette by tasting different souls so he's a dangerous force to be reckoned with when in the kitchen\" God chuckled. I laughed with him. I was a curious angel and had seen the grim reaper a few times, but I was very afraid of him. So I thought next time I saw him up here I might say hi or something, but before I did that I wanted to get to know about him a little. \n\nWe watched as he got his stuff at the supermarket. As he was going to one of the cashiers an argument broke out with the guy in front of him and the cashier. \n\n\"Look I clipped this coupon two weeks ago! It should still be valid.\" he yelled in the poor cashier's face. \n\n\"Sir, I'm sorry but it says 3 weeks ago.\" \n\"You young people aren't good for shit! Where's your manager?\" he yelled at her \"Don't even know to read the date\" he said puffing.\n\nI watched with growing horror as the grim reaper came towards the man. I relaxed as I remembered it's his off day however. \n\n\"Here's a 50 dolar bill, to you and to you\" the grim reaper said much to the surprise of both of them. Then he casually walked off to go into another cashier lane.\n\n\"How is he able to stay so calm on his days off when he's seen so much misery?\" I asked God.\n\n\"Well, you see he's got multiple personality disorder. I gave him the ability to control it, for his sake and for everybody else's. This way he can be gentle and loving on is off days while being cold and merciless when he's working.\"", "Some holidays were man-made through and through, their dances and music confined to their small, bustling realm. Some extended to the skies - Christmas and Easter would be celebrated in heavens for much the same reasons as on Earth, although without the Christmas trees or egg-laying bunnies. Some have been celebrated in other realms, like the ancient Shrove on which devils could roam the world unabated and enjoy a day without blistering heat. And then... then there was All Hallows Eve.\n\nI drag the whetstone through the blade once more, grinning as it rings out in a familiar sound. Taking care of my tools has always been a pleasure. I didn't have much at home - or much of a home, really - but I had learned to appreciate the few things I carried with myself. Sturdy boots that I walked a thousand miles in looked as new, and despite the steel toes hardly made any sound - be it gravel, pavement, or creaky hardwood floors. My suit was a bit dated fashion-wise, but no one could fault it's quality, nor spot a stain. And of course, my scythe - lacquered oaken handle, a tiny ridge exactly where my hands would rest, and a blade so shiny you could use it as a mirror. I had replaced both parts perhaps a hundred times, but this has always been my prized scythe. And as any treasured things, it deserved a day off.\n\nI give the blade one last stroke of the whetstone, and place it on the three hooks by the wall. It was time. I walk through the black door, into darkness of the night. Unlike most days, I leave it ajar; few free-wandering souls wanted to see it again, so it hardly posed a danger. I bend down to pick up a discarded iron lantern. With a soft exhale, the oil inside swirls, before lighting up. A tiny flame danced in it's iron cage. With a soft tug, each handle snaps into place; now it was burning in a bright, steady, green flame. I hang the lantern on the door; even without me waving people through, it seemed to show the path to the spirits well enough. After all, if you saw a single light in a sea of pitch black, I suppose you'd figure out where to go as well?\n\nI smile, adjusting the bow tie, and step out to the darkness, away from my work. I was on my way to cemetery, to watch the sea of candles on the graves. Their calm glow always did wonders for my nerves. Later, I might visit a few homes, for fun rather than work - but first, I just wanted to take the world in. It was my day to feel alive." ]	4
	[WP] It’s not easy being a biblically accurate angel	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 ring of eyes floats within the heavens. It looks upon the modern generations of angels, not knowing whether it should be angry or to be disappointed at them all.\n\nLike an old man on his rocking chair, the angel shouted out \"Shameful, Shameful, Shameful!\"\n\nIt shouts across the heavens, for all of the modern generations to hear: \"How shameful, for you, the future to lie with thee, in the forms of scantily clad women of mortals! Have your parents not taught you not to prey on the lust of men?\"\n\nYet its words fall on deaf ears. It knows almost no one would listen. It is a competition of sorts. Angels compete with other factions, fighting for space within the minds of mortals. \n\nWhere there once was a truce, Angels take the space of Virtues, Devils for Sins, Dragons for Nobility. Yet that truce has all been broken down nowadays. \n\nIt was a lack of foresight, for all of us. When the grips of religion and myth faded from mortal society, it left great power vacuums that newer things came to fill it up.\n\nNow the minds of mortals are nothing more than messy battlegrounds. Angels, demons, dragons, competing against anime, idols, and celebrities in an all-or-nothing free-for-all. \n\nThe Angel sigh. Angels now take the forms of scantily clad women, to compete against the demons and dragons that have done the same. \n\nThe angel is one of the last angels of that generation. Its inhuman form fit for a long long gone. \"Perhaps it is time that I retire?\" It ponder.", "\"And woe to you, sinners, for you lived a life without forgiveness. Never did you clothe the naked or feed the poor, never did you consider the needs of others over yourself. With my Divine Sword at the time of this Second Coming I shall smite your kind with the Holy Fire, to make way for the return of Christ.\" I raised my sword high above my head, its blade leaving a trail of Holy Fire as I did. The sinners before me, a band of ruthless and cruel men, huddled together as the moment of their oblivion approached. \"Prepare yourselves to meet the Devil-\" \n\n\n'Wait, wait, wait!\" A voice cried out from behind me, the flapping of wings identifying which side they stood on, and the nasally twang of their voice their identity. \n\n\n\"...Archangel Carl, what is it?\" \n\n\n\"I was just listening to your speech up at the Pearly Gates and oh! It was some very scary stuff, impactful too even, but I uh...\" His voice petered out, and an awkward silence reigned. The sinners looked at each other, at me, and at Carl as my patience slowly burned out. \n\n\n\"What is it Carl?\" \n\n\n\".....\" \n\n\n\"Carl? I was kind of in the middle of something here and-\" \n\n\n\"Yeah, yeah... I know, I know.... you know I don't want to mess up your mojo Michael its just... ya see... the darnedest thing...\" \n\n\nSighing, I turned fully to face him. \"What?\" \n\n\n\"Well... that speech, standard protocol right?\" \n\n\n\"Yeah, so what?\" \n\n\n\"Well, I think you're giving the King James version, which is wrong. You must have grabbed the wrong bible when they were sounding the alarm that it was the big one.\" \n\n\n\"...seriously?\" \n\n\n\"Yeah... here, I have the approved copy right here, page marked and everything.\" Even without looking I could feel him toss the Holy Scripture to me, and with ease I caught it. \"Alright you should be good now, give em' heck for me.\" And with a flutter, Carl was gone. \n\n\nFive seconds to regain composure later, I turned back to the sinners. \"...And woe to you, sinners, for you lived a life without forgiveness. Never did you clothe the naked or nourish the poor, never did you consider the needs of others over yourself. With my Divine Sword at the time of this Second Coming I shall smite your kind with the Holy Fire, to make way for the return of Christ.\" Again I raised my sword, its divine fire burning through the night air as the sinners began to huddle. \"Prepare yourselves-\" \n\n\n\"Wait Michael I just remembered something-\" \n\n\n\"Oh for frick's sake Carl, what!\" I spun around to face him, divine fire cutting a half circle pattern through the air. \n\n\n\"Its a little awkward-\" \n\n\n\"This is a little awkward!\" \n\n\n\"You're right, you're right-\" He shuddered inwards at my words, the glow of his dinky little halo dimmer than ever before. \"Well you see the thing is... with the issue before of the right version I did a quick run back to Heaven and as it turns out... jeez, is it getting hot in here or-\" \n\n\n\"Just spit it out already!\" \n\n\n\"Sorry! Sorry! Michael, I think we got the year wrong-\" \n\n\n\"What.\" \n\n\n\"We didn't account for leap years Michael, the dang Leap Years got us again. We're a year early.\" I stared at him blankly, the Divine Fire of the Holy Sword going out like a torch as he stammered out the last of his words. Blinking once, twice, three times I tried to think of a response and failed to. \"So you see that interruption from before was actually a good thing-\" With a whirl, I turned back to the sinners. \n\n\n\"You men of the sword, followers of Satan and his agents, consider yourselves lucky, I will smite you next year.\" And then, with a great flap of my wings, I was gone, Carl trailing behind me. As the heavenly plane approached, I heard a ghost of a voice behind me, one of the sinners speaking. \n\n\n\"So... I guess 2021 won't be better after all.\"" ]	3
	[WP] You, an atheist succeeded in a demon summoning ritual you thought was a joke. Realizing the demon's powers, you used them to do more real good in the world	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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“Oh man. This. Is stupid.” I read the entry one more time, drawing a circle on the patio cement with chalk, placing some tea candles around it like the 8 points on a compass. There was some sage burning in a bowl (holy shit did it smell like weed, hopefully the neighbors wouldn’t call the apartment manager for this). I surveyed my work, it was beginning to look like I was gonna star in a bad thrasher movie, but having watched -everything- on Netflix and being bored to death, what was one stupid ritual? \n\nThe sun was beginning to set behind the apartments across the street and the wind picked up and the temperature dropped a few degrees, nothing crazy but fall was definitely here. \n\nReading over the incantation again I shrugged, it was definitely Latin, not that the syntax made any sense, it looked like someone just threw a few shitty sentences through Google translator and the editor didn’t give one flying flip. Oh well. The candles were easy to light and of surprising quality given they came from the 99 Cent store. I situated myself on what was (probably) the northern point of the circle and started.\n\n“Obsecro te, creatura tenebris!” It was like Latin 102 all over again. “Intra hominis ad orbem terrarum, veni, et ne abicias consilium sequebatur. Servi tenebris dimiserit caprum emissarium, ego te quoque ad planum mortale.” I nicked my thumb on a pocket knife, letting a drop of blood hit melted wax on the candles. “Aperiesque ostium introducat sanguinem datur per velamen. Egredimini et videte vocatus. Audi verba mea atque cupiditatem. Et oculi Dei in meo sanguine flammas, ut illud impleas votum meum. Egredimini et videte vocatus. Egredimini et videte vocatus. Egredimini et videte vocatus.” \n\nThe world seemed eerily quiet, as if my patio was now in a vacuum, stars were trying to twinkle in the now night-dark sky, the air seemed frigid, it hurt my lungs with every inhale. And then the world tilted. \n\nAll the air around me was being sucked into the circle, the flames of the candles danced wildly nearly reaching my knees. “Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!” I fumbled in my pocket, where the -fuck- is my cell?! Please don’t catch on fire! Then the air wooshed out, knocking me back into the sliding glass door with a hard thunk, my head smacked into the glass hard enough to make me see stars. \n\nThis couldn’t be real, the “Book of Shadows” was a $14 paperback from some hokey new age shop downtown. The book even had a freaking copyright date in the front leaf of September 15 2020. It had to be a part of Apocalypse Bingo (still a few entries short of winning), there was no other explanation for the… thing sitting inside the chalk circle on the patio balcony.\n\nThe small tea candles started sputtering before eventually flickering out. And my heart sank." ]	2
	[WP] A god has fallen in love with you. As they try to win your heart they realise that they’re not the only one doing so. You’re just surprised by how many hot guys want to date you. (Can be from the perspective of either party)	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Zeus had only turned his eye away from the mortal world for mere moments when Rome fell and worship of Him and his siblings waned, but when he looked back, almost 2000 years had passed in the blink of an eye.\n\nZeus decided to explore this whole new world, and slipped away from Olympus.\n\nHe wandered for several years, admiring the advancements the mortals had made.\n\nOf course, when he grew bored with that he again fell to his favorite past time. Bedding mortals. That proved to be more difficult than he had once found it.\n\nThe world has changed so much since the times of old. No longer do women sit by ponds and accept handsome swans into their beds. Instead of the meek mice they used to be, they are lionesses to be wooed.\n\nNow he had his eye on one woman in particular.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnother morning, another commute. I was reading the file of my most recent case on the subway when a man sat next to me, clearing his throat.\n\nI ignored him.\n\nHe did it again, 'subtly' jostling me with his shoulder. What an asshole.\n\nI snapped my head in his direction, fully intent on giving him a piece of my mind. Until my brain caught up with my eyes and snapped my mouth shut.\n\nThe man next to me was gorgeous, with expertly curled black hair, a neatly trimmed beard that did nothing to hide a jawline I was sure was sharp enough to cut stone, and light blue eyes that contrasted nicely with his tan olive toned skin. He smiled at me. \"Hello, I was just sitting across the aisle and was wondering what you were reading.\" His voice was deep, with a beautiful but unidentifiable accent.\n\nI forced myself to calm the fuck down so that I didn't drool on him. I closed the folder and set it on my lap. \"I'm sorry, but that's confidential.\"\n\nHe raised an eyebrow at me. \"How mysterious. Does it have something to do with your career?\" The way he said 'career' struck me as odd.\n\nI nodded. \"It does. I'm a partner at a law firm, and I take client confidentiality very seriously.\"\n\n\"Of course, of course. I apologize, I don't mean to pry. Do you enjoy it, being a consulti, ah... lawyer?\"\n\nThat question struck a cord in my memory. Somehow, this wasn't the first time someone had asked me that in the same strange way. \"I do, actually. I enjoy the challenge of it.\"\n\nHis blue eyes sparkled when he told me, \"I, too, enjoy a challenge.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI ended up giving the man my card after we had spent the rest of the ride in a pleasant conversation. By the time I made it to my office, I was in a good mood.\n\nGrace, my assistant, grinned at me when I walked in. \"He's baaaack.\" She said in a sing song voice. \"And he has flowers.\"\n\nI rolled my eyes. \"Good morning to you too, Grace. I assume he's waiting in my office? Even though I told you not to let people wait in there.\"\n\nThe woman shrugged, unrepentant.\n\nThe blinds to my office were drawn shut, but I could see a shadow moving around behind them. With a sigh, I pulled my blouse straight and walked in, Grace cackling quietly behind me.\n\n\"Mr. Lampros, so nice to see you again.\" I said as I strode around my large glass topped desk and took my seat.\n\nThe man in the visitor's chair flourished the bouquet he was holding, running a hand through his shoulder length blond hair. \"I have asked you many times to call me Phoebus, Selina.\"\n\nHe always found obvious amusement in my name, though I couldn't see the joke. I accepted the flowers and put them on the surface of my desk. I would give them to Grace later. \"And every time I told you that I can't be so familiar with clients, Mr. Lampros, and I ask you to pay me the same courtesy.\"\n\nMr. Lampros seemed unperturbed by my reprimand, still smiling warmly at me. \"I've come to ask if you have reconsidered my request from last week.\" Of course he had.\n\nI sighed, straightening some already neat papers on my desk to busy my hands. \"I told you before, Mr. Lampros, that not only is it against the law for us to see each other in any capacity outside the professional relationship, but it is against my own personal code. My answer remains a firm no.\"\n\nIt was unfortunate, though. Mr. Lampros was an outrageously handsome man.\n\nHe opened his mouth, no doubt to try to convince me, as if he could out argue a partner of one of New York's best law firms, when he was interrupted by the fuzzy voice of Grace from the intercom on my desk. \"Ms. Moore, you have a visitor.\"\n\nI held up a finger to Mr. Lampros and pressed the button. \"Do they have an appointment?\"\n\n\"Uh, no but- sir! Sir! You can't go in-\"\n\nThe door to my office opened, the man I met this morning standing framed in it.\n\nHe was holding flowers.\n\nI fought the urge to rub my temples. \"... Zavier, wasn't it?\"\n\nHe held out the flowers. \"I apologize for the intrusion, but I couldn't help myself. I-\"\n\nZavier cut himself off when Mr. Lampros stood to face him, and both men froze.\n\n\"You!\" They said simultaneously, pointing at one another accusingly.\n\nThen they both started speaking in a language I couldn't make hide or hair of.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe blond man crossed his arms, a smug expression on his face. \"You're too late, Zeus. I was here first.\"\n\nThe other man scowled, his fist clenching around the stems of the flowers and crushing them to a pulp. His blue eyes seemed brighter somehow, sparking with barely withheld lightning. \"It's no longer about who gets there first now, Apollo. Or didn't you notice how much things have changed? It's about who she chooses.\"\n\nApollo tossed his hair. \"Either way, I have a head start, father.\"\n\nZeus laughed, \"You think that matters to a woman of today? That lovely creature is intelligent enough to know who is really the best among us.\"\n\n\"We'll see about that.\"\n\nThey both turned to the confused woman at the desk. Selina Moore was in for a very wild ride." ]	2
	[WP] You were put into cryosleep, the first human test. After a malfunction and two million years, you wake up in an alien museum.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Everyone stood in shock and awe. \"What happened? Where...no...when am I?\" Nobody seemed to understand me. Some used their phones(?) and called some people, I didn't know who. Eventually, I was directed to a room, containing a table, some chairs, and someone sitting in one of them. \"Come. Sit.\" They said. \"Finally! Someone who understands what I'm saying!\" \"According to the date on your cryochamber, you've been asleep for two million years.\" \"I'm sorry, I...wha?\" \"Yes, two million years.\" \"...Wow.\" \"Welcome to 2002020. You are the last human known to our kind.\" \"Huh...\" \"Humanity colonized the stars, before dying out suddenly. Our top scientists are trying to figure out why. We found your cryochamber on Earth, and we brought it into our museum for human history. Your species is very important to our history. Come, we will show you what you've missed.\" He opened a door, and I stepped out into a whole new world." ]	2
	[WP] By chance, two genie lamps wound up rubbing up against each other. With both genies now each others' masters, both of them now know exactly what they're going to wish for.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 two Djinn looked at each other. It took a moment to work out what had happened but when they did, they laughed.\n\n\"Ok, so... We both know what to wish for, but we need to make sure both wishes come true.\" Neither of them wanted to go first, just in case the other decided not to go through with it.\n\n\"You can trust me.\" they both uttered at the same time. They both knew they couldn't. Could they?\n\nAfter some long discussion it was agreed that they would both use their first wish for a contract lawyer of the highest caliber. The wishes made, they both had what they wished for. Next came the hard part.\n\n\"So, these wishes need to be iron clad. This needs to be the most perfect contract you have ever written up in your life\" and the lawyers knew that if they failed, they would suffer a terrible fate. \n\nSo it was decided that the important wish would be the second, with terms that qualified a what the third wish would be if the second did not turn out as expected. It took a month to write out the full contract. The two lawyers stuck around to watch, because quite frankly this was unheard of. This was impossible. This was, history.\n\nThe two Djinn made their wishes, the complex contracts explicitly stating exactly what would happen. It was done. Neither of the Djinn believed it at first, they felt better than they ever had. Thousands of years living in pain were finally ended.\n\nThe first lawyer looked down at the two lamps, changed. \n\n\"Well that was a first.\" his collegue looked at him,\n\n\"You can say that again. What should we do now?\" They both grinned.\n\nThe two Djinn held each other in their arms, finally together in the new merged double lamp. They had all they had ever wanted.\n\n\"You got three more contracts ready for yourself right? I know I have....\" said the second lawyer." ]	2
	[WP] You and your sworn enemy find yourselves in possession of a human baby. It is now time to co-parent.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Whose baby is it?\" asked the hero Captain Hurricane standing in the home of the villainess Flamebird.\n\n\"What do you mean by that you piece of junk?\"\n\n\"You know what I mean.\"\n\n\"If you're asking if I kidnapped the baby, I didn't, okay? I don't stoop that low.\"\n\n\"How can I trust you? The baby doesn't even look like you.\"\n\n\"Hey, did I say it's my baby?\"\n\n\"Back to my question.\"\n\n\"I don't know, I saved him one day. Now they have a target on my back.\"\n\n\"You? Saved the baby?\" Henshaw laughed.\n\n\"Think whatever you want to think of me, but that's the truth I saved him.\"\n\n\"That doesn't give you the right to keep the baby, give him to me I'm gonna bring in the authority if you don't.\"\n\n\"Get out of my house, who gave you the permission to come into my house and tell me what I should and shouldn't do?\"\n\n\"You're a villain, look at yourself this is not a safe environment for the baby.\"\n\n\"No, you listen to me. I found the baby and I'm raising him. I don't care what you tell me and I'm not giving him, he's the best thing that's ever happened to me.\"\n\nHenshaw sighed. He never saw Flamebird like this before, she's vulnerable and thought it'd be a bad idea to ask her to handover the baby now, she seemed to be doing good by the baby.\n\nHe agreed on one condition, he told her that he'll monitor her and oversee the baby moving forward. He secretly looked for information around the city, and even further, if anyone had lost their baby but surprisingly there was no report matching the baby's profile.\n\nHenshaw came to her apartment and asked if he can help with the baby.\n\n\"Wait a minute, you want to co-parent him? What do you know about babies?\"\n\n\"It shouldn't he that hard,\" he smirked. \"Moreover I want you to stop stealing baby products, I'll provide for him.\"\n\n\"Deal.\" Fiona agreed.\n\nTime passed, enemies have now become acquaintances. The baby had his first birthday when the unthinkable happened.\n\n\"The cake's gone!\" Henshaw left his mouth open.\n\n\"Seriously? That's what you noticed?\"\n\nHe took a moment to speak. \"How did he acquire this power? He nearly fried my hands. Wait a minute, is he? —Your son?\"\n\n\"What the hell is wrong with you? I told you. Just because he has the fire power doesn't make him mine. Well, he is but you know what I mean, right? After all wouldn't I tell you if I gave birth to this cutiepie?\"\n\n\"That— makes sense.\"\n\n\"Yeah, get it inside your thick skull.\"\n\nOut of a sudden, the baby sneezed and they were both pushed back with a force. They were sitting on the couch holding him, it felt like a small hurricane had hit them. The baby laughed like he hadn't laughed in a long time.\n\n\"Hey Henshaw, are you thinking what I'm thinking?\" Fiona started getting feelings toward Henshaw, once an enemy.\n\n\"Yeah, I'm starting to feel something here is not right.\"\n\n\"Yeah, um, me too.\" Fiona restricted her words.\n\n\"What? Do you think it's ours?\" Henshaw's eyebrows frowned.\n\n\"I don't know what to believe anymore,\" said Fiona.\n\nThey both finally decided to take DNA tests to know for sure. Henshaw opposed the idea of the baby being his but he had no choice after the last incident. The baby showcased both of their powers after his first birth day.\n\nThey disguised themselves as normal parents and took the test. The result came up, it proved the baby is indeed theirs.\n\nThey both came to a realization that a common enemy, a villain of high caliber who has the power to erase memories had purposefully erased their memories and kidnapped their baby.\n\nHenshaw and Fiona were in a relationship in secret for some time, she gave birth to her first baby. One day after the unexpected wipe out, Fiona entered her apartment feeling empty, she donned her costume and went out to rob a museum when she discovered about a villain having a baby in his possession, she rescued him from the clutches of the villain and brought him to her apartment.\n\nTo this day both Flamebird and Henshaw did not recover their memories but they started loving each other for the baby.\n\nr/FleetingScripts", "\"Scales, can you please tell me what the fuck is this?\"\n\nA small yet very loud flesh pile was laying on Scales's round table.\n\n\"As far as I know this is a plot device. Though I have no idea how it got there.\"\n\nSharp Feather looked at the thing. It was a living creature, probably. It had the appearance of a human, but not the rotten smell associated with them. That's not to say it didn't have its own odor.\n\n\"What do you mean a plot device? We are not in a fable. Are you saying that creature spawned here out of nothing?\"\n\nScales turned away from the conversation. He walked torwords his library, grabbed a couple of books, and returned.\n\n\"This-\" Scales pointed at a picture in a biology book. \"Is a human baby. And its meer existance is used as a plot device.\"\n\nScales opened a previous section of the biology book, as well as a typical Young Adult novel. \"Do you see, Sharp Feather? Even when it was only concieved, and exists as a clamp of cells, the soon to be human descendant is used to coviniently move the plot forword-especially when the writer has nothing left to do with a main character.\"\n\nSharp Feather looked at the baby. It made an awful noise, but it was also... somewhat... cute?\n\n\"No! Look away! This is one of the way this is used as a plot device-And I am sure it is the one targeted at us. We are doomed to-\"\n\nScales looked away, staring at an unkown audiance.\n\n\"-Co-Parent\"\n\nSharp Feather gasped. \"Are you saying this thing is here so we-two opposing forces, will warm up to each other through a shared chalenge that requires empathy, and will likely show each other's previously unshown qualeties? Is there a way for us to escape this horrod path of friendship and possibly love?\"\n\n\"I assume the only way of escape would be if we get rid of the human baby. You know, I heard that the human baby also makes a great dinner.\"\n\nScales smiled as he brought up the book \"Exiquite meals from and of the human realm\".\n\n\"Ah-human baby in plum and red wine sauce. Ingridients: A human baby, preferably newborn; 10 Shallots, 10 dried plums, 5 spoons of plum sauce, 4 spoons of bee honey, 1 glass of wine, 3 spoons of oil, and a bit of salt and pepper. How convinient! I have almost all ingridients here. except for-\"\n\n\"Plums and Shallots? I have the exact amount here. Came here right after tending my garden. Feels a bit too convinient.\"\n\n\"Yeah... Well do not worry. First we need to put this thing to end, and then wash it. You do the souce, I will do the baby. I have a lot of experience with meat.\"\n\n\"From slaying?\"\n\n\"What? Oh... no. I cook a lot.\"\n\nSharp Feather filled the ingridients in a pot, turning to see Scales tenderly rock the baby before shoving a towel dipped in posion in its mouth. It was almost a fatherly moment.\n\n\"Oh, this thing is full of shit!\" Scales shouted in disgust. \n\n\"Here, let me help you.\" Scales was surprised to see Feather's dedication to swiping the body clean. It was almost mesmorising. \n\nAfter Scales filled the stirring pot with the cleft body, they had to wait half an hour before continuing, so they filled the time with a nice chit chat. Talked about each other's plans with what to do with the world, how they feel that their friends leave them as time goes; How Conor fears that he will never be remebered after his demise, how Jane is anoxious about how people see her. It was nice, for the both of them, to talk about things like that. They never had the time to let things out.\n\n\"It's ready!\" Conor claimed. He rushed to put the pot on the table, while Jane managed the plates and such. The pot smelled great, and the taste was heavenly.\n\n\"mmmmm, You are such a great cook, Conor. Wish we did this more often.\"\n\n\"Couldn't do it without you, Jane. You really helped me you know.\"\n\nThey both dropped their knives and sporks, stoping eating or talking or even speaking.\n\n\"The plot devide worked.\"", "She knew I hated her, she knew I could've left her to drown, she looked up with such desperately fearful eyes and pleaded \"Nick please! Help me Nick, I'm stuck down here. Put the past aside Nick, I'm going to die\" The water filled up the cabin and was rising up her torso.\n\nAs much as I enjoyed her being so helpless and weak, I'm not a savage, so I jumped down and tried to work out how to unhook her from the doorway. My hands followed her hip and legs down to shin, which was jammed in the metal doorway. With breath held, I pushed on the door which was being pushed closed by the torrents of water, and used my other hand to hook her leg free. I popped my head above the water and she hugged me in appreciation. \"Thanks Nick, you've saved my life.\"\n\nIt felt nice and all, but we didn't have time for pleasantries, plus I didn't want her to get off that easy \"Get a grip Jessica, we HAVE to get out of here NOW!\"\n\nThe whole ship was rotating slowly and we trudged through watery halls on a steep angle. Dead bodies bounced around the water, and amidst the sirens and gushing water, we heard a sound which stopped us dead in our tracks, the cries of a baby.\n\nJessica looked back with a look of fear and determination. I knew what she was getting at, and I felt the same. We had to help the baby. I followed the cries into a dark cabin, and could make out the body of a young woman, bleeding on the floor. She was dead. But her baby lay awkwardly on the side of it's cot, partially tangled in the walls of her timber cot. I carefully grabbed the baby and was surprised Jessica was waiting at the door. She didn't run off like I expected, maybe it was her leg.\n\nWe all made our way up through nearest man hole to the deck. we struggled to remain upright and eventually slid down the deck towards the water, before I hit the water I was unsure how to brace the impact, so I threw the baby clear of the boat into a clear patch of water and hit into the balustrade with enough force to be knocked out.\n\nAn immense paid ran through my hips and legs, and before I opened my eyes I could feel and hear a crackling fire to my right. It was a dark night and I was on a beach. I leaned up saw Jessica was seated on a log next to the fire, hunched over the baby and whispering calmly to soothe it.\n\n\"Jessica, what happened?\"\n\nShe turned her body towards me and smiled gently. I've never seen her look at me like this.\n\n\"You're lucky Nick, we all ended up near each other as the ship sank.\"\n\n\"My legs are fucked up.\"\n\n\"I think they're broken. I managed to collect you and the baby before you were drawn down into the water with the boat. A lot of people died.\"\n\n\"How did we get here?\"\n\n\"There was a small inflatable boat which was upturned, so I tied you onto it and managed to paddle us here, it took forever, I''m so tired Nick, can you take the baby for a while, she is having trouble sleeping.\"\n\nShe staggered to her feet and gently places the baby next to me. This lady hated me a few days ago, I thought at one point she wanted me dead.\n\n\"We have a troubled past Nick, but it looks like we are going to have to get on for a little while. At least until we are saved.\" She hovered over me with a peaceful look in her eye, as if to guage my reaction. \n\n\"Thanks Jess, thanks for saving my life.\"" ]	4
	[WP] The Hero of Light trained their entire life to one day face the Dark Lord, who terrorised the entire world, and to put end to their reign of chaos. Now that they finally face each other, they both suddenly fall completely, and madly.... in love...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 Hero was in trouble. Real trouble. He had no idea what to do. \n\nHe had ALWAYS known what to do. His first memories were of the Chapel, being trained by the monks. How to fight with sword, shield, spear, even his bare fists. How to see threats, how to read opponents, avoid their attacks, and strike true. It all came easily, even the magic. It reinforced what he had always been told, that he was the Hero meant to destroy the Dark Lord, and bring peace to the land.\n\nIt was always so simple; he had never really made a choice, at least nothing that gave him doubt. But now that’s all he had in his mind, and he hated it. He wanted to ignore it, shut it away, and finish his task. Whatever the outcome.\n\nBut those eyes stopped him dead. They shifted in color, golds, reds, purples, seamlessly moving through the hues. Eyes that bore into his soul. No one had ever understood him like those eyes seemed to.\n\nEveryone always placed their hopes and dreams onto him, whether he wanted them or not. And his power and destiny always gouged a canyon of awe and fear to separate him from others. \n\nHe didn’t see any awe or fear in these eyes. Anger, deviousness, and intelligence, everything he expected. But also curiosity and pleasure. The Dark Lord was enjoying their fight. The Hero realized that he was too.\n\nSeeming to understand this, the Dark Lord relaxed, and took off their helmet. It revealed a shifting mass of shadow surrounding those bright eyes. The shadow lightened and solidified, forming into a round feminine face. Sharp features now looked upon him. A strong jaw, set in determination, softened by a slight smile. A long, angular nose divided those beautiful eyes, that were still staring into him with unchanged intensity. Brown hair framed it all, flowing down to meet her armored shoulders.\n\nThe Hero found himself lightheaded, he had forgotten to take a breath. He gasped in sharply, and that hint of a smile raised a millimeter on the Dark Lord’s face. She took a small step towards him.\n\n“Surprised?” The Dark Lord asked, her voice once an echoing horror, now a soothing lilt. A glint now shined in her eyes.\n\nThe Hero had to focus on his suspicion to distract himself from her dulcet tone “No. Your powers of charm and illusion are well known”\n\n“So you find me charming?” She tilted her head, a cloying look passed over her face.\n\nAnnoyed, he quickly responded “No! I…” But was stopped when he saw the wide smile spread across her face at his look of annoyance. She was toying with him! And that smile kicked the legs out from under his anger. She took another small step\n\nHe took a deep breath so that he could continue “Everyone knows you are a master of deceit. You use it to manipulate entire nations to your will. I will not be swayed by your illusions”\n\nHer laugh was airy and soothing. It made his breath quicken “I assure you” She gestured to her face with a heavy gauntlet and took another small step “This is no illusion. And I only deceive fools. Are you a fool, Hero?”\n\nIgnoring the bait, he laughed, hoping it sounded derisive “You’re saying your true form has always been a beautiful woman, one that seems perfectly designed to enthrall me?”\n\nHer shoulders pulled in for a quick laugh, and pleasure danced across her face “I don’t have a ‘True Form’ anymore, if I ever did. I am shadow and ambition. I will my form to my needs..” Another small step, a gauntleted hand ever so slightly reached towards him, and her voice dropped “..and desires”\n\nA cloud passed over his mind, and for a moment all he could think of was what her hand felt like under that armor. Was it calloused like his? Or had she made it soft, for him? \n\nNo! The Hero shook his head to dispel the mist threatening him, and he took a step back “Your desire is to control me! Enslave me by spell or greed to use me for your own ends. Like you’ve done to so many others”\n\nShe seemed to shrink down at his rejection, a sad look passing over her face “I make no slaves Hero” Her voice dripping with contempt “I only steer those who have enslaved themselves, and make use of them for something greater. Do you think so little of yourself that you could ever be like them?”\n\nThe disbelief in her voice rang true, and he again thought of his doubts. His cause that he had never chosen. The men who had set him on this path. And the fell deeds they did in the name of righteousness.\n\nAt his look of doubt and guilt, her voice again softened “As to why I chose this form?” the Dark Lord looked down, and her voice lowered to a whisper “I wanted you to find me beautiful”\n\nA heavy pause hung in the air, as her word sank in. When she looked back up, there was a vulnerability to her that would have seemed impossible mere minutes ago. His voice croaked out “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life”\n\nThe sun had risen out of her eyes, and blinded him through her smile. Joy was in her voice when she spoke “I’ve never met anyone that could be my equal before. They’ve all been ruled by weakness, fear, and greed. I thought I was alone”\n\nThe Hero replied “Everyone always wants something from you, even if it isn’t a thing you can give”\n\nThey stepped forward, almost touching. The proximity was terrifying, and intoxicating. He never wanted to let go of this feeling. \n\nAn excited look came onto her face “I do not want to die. And I do not want to kill you.“ She reached out, grasping the armor on his arm “I want you to stay with me”\n\nHis heart soared at the words, but he still had one doubt “I do not know if you are better or worse than the Kings I’ve fought for. But you lead through tyranny and deceit. I’ve spent my whole life trying to fight against that”\n\nThe intensity in her eyes dimmed a little, and she looked thoughtful. But she replied with determination “Fools must be led. And it’s the responsibility of those with the will and capacity to lead them into a better world. Kicking and screaming if necessary”\n\nHe was surprised to find they weren’t so different. She didn’t just want power and control. She cared about the world. But it wasn’t enough “Not everyone who does not wish to be led is a fool. And even fools do not deserve to be ground down by a tyrant”\n\nShe sighed, looking sad “The world needs to be changed, and I don’t know any other way”\n\nA sense of dread mounted in him, but he replied “I don’t know if I could live with myself if I stood by and did nothing”\n\nDespair began to creep between them as their differences sank in. They had found…something in each other. And it felt like death to give it up. But giving up on their goals and ideals would kill them in another way.\n\nHope entered back into her eyes, and he grasped onto it as a lifeline “Maybe we could find a way to change the world in a way you could live with, together?”\n\nRelief welled in him “I’m willing to try”\n\nThey stepped forward, and their armor clanked as it met. The armor that had protected him his whole life, right now it seemed to suffocate him. He just wanted to feel her skin with his own, run his hands through her hair. He could read the same thought in her eyes.\n\nThe Dark Lord asked “What do we do now?”\n\nThe Hero laughed, pure joy thundering out “I don’t know”\n\nHis beautiful, terrifying new companion laughed with him, and pulled his face close, whispering “Good”" ]	2
	[WP] You are an Orc. Your race has become industrialized and advanced, transforming the surface of your planet into a smoldering factory devoid of greenery. One day a meteor falls from the smog filled sky. From its impact crater a great tree rises. The war with the Elves has begun.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Nature sucks.\n\nNow, one would bring up the point that trees can do a lot, converting waste products into breathable air. To that, I say: Phooey. Yes, a tree can do that, but not as well as an industrial air production and refinement facility. But that was the thinking that lead to the invasion.\n\nPicture the thought: you are a 21 Solro-old Orc, on your way to a job at the explosive barrel manufacturing facility, when an asteroid barrels through the sky, crashes onto the junkyard in the middle of town, and begins to sprout into a tree. Well, that was a reality.\n\nSo, the guardians grabbed their projectile hammers and gathered around the tree, preparing to slam down anything. Suddenly, a thousand elves popped out from the tree and came charging out. They seemed endless. Swings of the hammer kept them at bay, but for every one that died, it seemed as though ten more had emerged. Eventually, the elves broke through and began to attack buildings. Guardians dropped bombs of fire upon the tree, burning it, but this didn’t stop the elves, as they continued blindly charging through the city that covered the planet.\n\nCitizens were evacuated in the hopes of setting every elf ablaze with bombs of fire. The city was engulfed in flames, only stopped around the edges of the containment zone. One escaped elf meant disaster.\n\nThe part of the city where the tree had been was leveled. There were no remains. Not an elf survived.", "You're afraid of me, aren't you? I know you didn't say anything, I saw the way you're looking at me. I'm guessing you heard all the tales? That we're destroyers of nature that want to destroy every planet to turn them into factories.\n\nElven Lies. All of it.\n\nSee, the elves got to live on a planet that worked for them. It taught them magic, gave them everything they need to survive, so they think nature is sacred and shit. They didn't have to live on a world that tried to wipe them off the map. Their ancestors didn't have to fight tooth and fucking nail just to breathe air that wasn't trying to strangle them.\n\nBut my ancestors did, and you know what? They survived. They tore apart a world that hated them and made something beautiful: Technology. They made machines that could make air from waste, they learned metallurgy to rival the great star forges, they created great machines let us travel the stars.\n\nBut because the elves never got to suffer as our people did, we're the enemy. The same haughty elves that look down on ALL of us, for not being as \"Spiritual\" or \"Refined\" as they pretend to be. They slandered our name for years because they did not understand our plight, then attacked US, UNPROVOKED! THOUSANDS of good orcs died in that attack, crushed under a thousand tons of wood and strangled by the roots! AND STILL THEY CALL FOR OUR DESTRUCTION!\n\nMake no mistake! This is not just a war between elves and orcs, but a war against lies and tyranny! Allowing the elves to get away with their transgressions against our people is allowing them to control you! And when they are finished with us, that will not be the end of their fascistic agenda, they will continue until all races fall under elven tyranny!\n\nThat is why I am here today. I implore you, high speakers of the Council of Dwarves, to come to our aid. For a long time our people have traded together, but now the galaxy stands against the orcs and we plead for your support. The cost for failure isn't just the loss of a trade partner, it is the death of freedom and justice throughout the universe. Help us, our friends, so that you can help yourselves.\n\nThank you for your time." ]	3
	[WP] It’s a beautiful day as you grab an apple from your fridge. Before you can take a bite, a time portal opens and reveals an older version of yourself. They are bruised, scarred, and covered in combat gear. “Don’t!” they warn before the portal seals up and leaves you alone with the apple.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " “Don't” that was all that I said to myself before the portal sucked me back, leaving me standing there staring at where I had just been... I slowly blink. It is a lot to process in one go. \n\n \n I realise that I am still holding the apple I was about to bite into before I interrupted myself. Exceptionally red and rosy, its weight is substantial in the palm of my hand. In a moment of panic I lob it across the kitchen. \n\n \n “Argh!” I scream. \n\n \n The apple makes a satisfying thunk sound as it hits the wall and drops directly into the bin below. I could not have done that if I had tried. I hold my breath for a moment, not knowing what I am waiting for. Nothing happens. No more portals appear. No earth shattering explosions. Only silence. I let out a sigh of relief. \n\n \n “That was a close one” I whisper to myself, still not sure what I just avoided. All I know is that I do not want to be in the kitchen any more. I turn to leave, one foot in the threshold of the doorway. \n\n \n Just then the walls begin to shake, I can hear plates clattering in cupboards and cutlery rattling in drawers. Something smashes behind me as it hits the floor. I try and steady myself with my hands against to door frame. I don't know what is going on, but I know that we don't get earthquakes over here. \n\n \n “What have you done?” A voice booms around me. I don't answer. I can't answer, my voice has gone. “The disrespect of it all” the voice hisses. \n\n \n Somehow I manage to turn around to see who is talking. Standing still by the kitchen table, unaffected by the shaking in the room is a woman. She is taller than anyone I have ever seen, her head brushing up against the ceiling. She reminds me of a willow tree, as she is slender and slightly bent forwards, her red hair cascading down around her in tendrils. \n\n \n “Who are you?” I finally manage to squeak out. \n\n \n The kitchen suddenly stops shaking. An eerie silence falls about the place. The woman does not reply, she only glares at me. Pure anger and hatred in her eyes." ]	2
	[WP] Your first wish was for a sandwich, your second was for some chips. Now, the genie is trying to make sure you don't waste your last wish but all you can think about is wishing for some soda to wash the meal down.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "At this point the genie was pretty annoyed.\n\n-Ok! Ok! I'm gonna pretend I didn't heard that. Think again, don't you want something more valuable than that?\n\n-I'm sorry man, but the bread was too thick, and the chips too salty. I can't think straight, I really need to wash this down.\n\n-Why don't we discuss your wish while walking to the local market, when we arrive there you can buy yourself a drink.\n\n-Fine! Can we get there fast?\n\n-I really hope it isn't one of your miscalculated whishes. No, we can't.\n\n-Okay. How about lots of soda? I could drink one now and keep the rest for later.\n\nThe genie wasn't a good samaritan or anything like that. But for the first time he had a innocent master. \"More like...stupid\" he though to himself. The pity for his master growing stronger as both walk down the road. But the genie had a idea to help him.\n\n-Look, all the soda I can get you you wont be able to carry, right?\n\n-Hmm. Right.\n\n-So you'll need like..a lot of trucks too. Maybe a whole logistic system.\n\n-Hmm. Okay.\n\n-Also it would spoil until you could drink it all. So it would be appropriate to have yourself a soda industry, to produce in large scale and continuously your soda. Can you follow me?\n\n-Yes yes.\n\n-For that you might need employers to keep everything going smoothly. And some contacts to provide the basic materials to produce your soda. A whole team of lawyers and accountants could also keep you from brankrupt and help you profit from the sale of those soda you won't drink.\n\n-Interesting.\n\nWhile inside the market, the master's favorite soda is taken from the fridge.\n\n-And look at that, this soda company could be your rival. Or acctualy even yours.\n\n-I would never think of that. You might be a genius.\n\n-No, you're the one that could be a genius. You just have to ask.\n\nReaching for his wallet, the master couldn't find in his pocket. Or anywhere else. The cashier look nervous to the long line that stretches from behind his costumer. And finally says.\n\n-Could you sir search for your wallet outside of the line, please?\n\n-Hold on man, I'm sure it's here somewhere. DAMN...what am I doing? I wish for 3 dollars.\n\nC'MON!!! Says everyone inside the store. Specially the genie.\n\n-At least make it a big number.\n\n-Okay I wish for 3 brazilian dollars.\n\n-That is not a number, it's a nationality for the god sake.\n\n-Billion then. I wish for 3 billion dollars.\n\nRelieved, the genie cheers with illusory confetti falling in the background.\n\n-Okay champ! Let's make this happen. How do you wanna receive those 3 beautiful billion dollars? Cash?\n\n-Oh no. I couldn't possibly carry that.\n\n-My man.\n\n-I want in bitcoins.\n\nWith a facepalm, the genie grants the wish in a blink and enters depressed into the lamp to never come back." ]	2
	[WP] You're an Angel Cop, a person responsible for tracking down demons that have escaped from hell. Your partner is a little imp who likes to blow sh*t up. You've encountered a case unlike anything you've ever seen before- somebody up above is smuggling demons out of hell.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I hate coming to the seventh circle. It smells. The air reeks of violence, of hate. There are monsters here of the worst kind, the kind begot by men. I touched down behind a towering brick tenement, next to the angry looking imp with a backpack of C4 and a tower of skulls. \n\nHell is a dangerous place. \n\nIf you're going to hunt the Fallen, you need weapons to match their strength. The Venator, like me, carry blades of caelesti steel and weaponized grace. My partner prefers more modern solutions. To be fair, imps can't touch caelesti steel, and I doubt Gregori could lift it even if he could. There are limits to what the power and the glory can accomplish, hence our unconventional partnership. \n\nSome years ago (before the Beginning but much after the Light), the Venator decided we needed to get smarter about hunting the Fallen. We needed to think like them, hence the Redemption Division. It's been... interesting. Gregori tries hard to be good, but he falls short often, most souls do. \n\n\"What happened here?\" \n\nGregori looked at me from under a heavy brow and pulled a lit cigarette from his mouth, \"Shit's fucked, Angel. Ain't nothing I ever seen, nothing.\"\n \n\"Language, Gregori.\" \n\n\"Sorry,\" he said. Something was different about the way he held himself, all pulled in like he was trying to hide from the world. \n\n\"Show me,\" I said.\n\nWe took the stairs to the fourth level, what looks we drew were suspicious. Some muttered darker things under their breath. None dared accost us. The denizens of the Seventh may be hateful, but they aren't stupid. Gregori stopped at a door at the end of the hall, blackened oak with the number 409. He put out his cigarette with his boot. \n\n\"Listen, Angel, before you go in...fuck, just remember why we're here.\" \n\n\"When do I lose sight of the Purpose?\" \n\nGregori stepped in front of the door. He held up a hand that was covered in something that looked suspiciously like gunpowder. I stared at him. He stepped aside. I can summon up a good righteous fury when I need to. \n\nThe room was dark. I closed my eyes and called for Light. It came. It always does. I wished it hadn't. \n\nBlood. Blood ran from the corners of the room into a stain on the floor. A black circle of steel rested at its center, wrought with images of fear and pain. And within it was a body, a body far too small. The smell filled me, death in my lungs and in my eyes and in my heart. God. God. God. \n\n\"This is not from here.\" \n\nGregori stayed silent. \n\n\"They cannot reach like this, they cannot pull like this. They can rip and tear and claw their way out but they cannot take. Not unwillingly. Something sent this here. Someone.\" I can summon righteous fury when I need to, but I rarely touch His Wrath. I felt it then. I felt it like a storm, I wanted to punish, I wanted to break and burn it all to ash. In that moment I understood what could drive a God to smite. \n\n\"What did this angel?\" \n\n\"Men,\" I said." ]	2
	[WP] A supervillain’s plan is about to be foiled as the city’s hero arrives to save the day. “Seize him!” The villain orders his henchmen. Tired of getting whooped by the hero, a veteran henchman refuses and tells off his supervillain boss in front of everyone.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"NO!\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger screamed theatrically while raising his closed fist in the air. \"My plan, my wonderful plan, foiled again.\"\n\n\"Aha!\" Dr. HopeBringer said triumphantly. \"The city of CityVille is safe. You won't be giving every kid in town charcoal this time, Mr. PuppyUnhugger.\"\n\n\"Drat! And I was so close too. With a single piece of charcoal in the hands of each kid, I would have conquered the world. But you had to interfere! This is not over, however,\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger said while throwing his cape back in a wide motion to let it float in the air. \"My loyal minions, seize her!\" he ordered, and a group of people tentatively appeared from out of the shadows, and started to encircle Dr. HopeBringer.\n\nIn an automatic motion, Dr. HopeBringer switched into a fighting stance, ready for the first opponent to make their move. The opponents were ready, waiting. Any minute now...\n\n\"Um, guys?\" Dr. HopeBringer said after a full minute of her staring at her opponents without any of them making a move. \"You do know that this is the part where you come one by one to be beaten while your boss escape sneakily, right?\"\n\n\"Normally, yes,\" replied one of the veteran henchman, named Johnson. \"But the boss and we were in the middle of negotiating something when you arrived, so...\"\n\n\"Ah, yes!\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger said loudly from the top the catwalk where he was standing. \"Sorry Johnson, you didn't have the opportunity to make your point before Dr. HopeBringer came and trashed my plans. I would normally say 'Can it wait until we're done here?' but since you raised the topic, I suppose it is relevant to the situation, right?\"\n\n\"It is,\" Johnson replied. \"You see, it always happens the same way. My crew and I get beaten up pretty harshly while buying you the opportunity to sneak away, and this part of the job has been kind of stressful.\"\n\n\"I see,\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger nodded, his eye closed. \"Well, I'm sure we can find a common ground. Dr. HopeBringer?\" he addressed his nemesis. \"It seems you are concerned in the discussion as well. Could you please reorganize your schedules for today so that we can have this talk?\"\n\nDr. HopeBringer blinked a few times. \"Well, I mean, sure. I've got nothing planned anyway, so...\"\n\n\"Wonderful!\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger said as he sat down on the negotiation table that definitely was there since the start of this story. \"So, Johnson, Dr. HopeBringer, please take a seat.\" As the two did so, Mr. PuppyUnhugger took a small, pink, rubber ball from his pocket and placed it in front of Johnson. \"Speech token, to make sure that nobody speaks out of turn, and that everybody is heard properly.\"\n\n\"Thanks, sir,\" Johnson said as he took the speech token. \"So, working for you probably has been the best thing that happened in my life, and the sentiment is shared among my crew. You give us a safe space to express ourselves. When you have to assert your position, you do so respectfully. You take the time to learn our names. Thanks to you, I was able to send Tim to college, to buy a small house for me and my family, you even cover dental! I want you to know that I, and my crew, really appreciate the way you treat us overall, and that what we are negotiating now does not negate that in any way.\"\n\nJohnson fidgeted a little bit with the rubber ball, trying to find the right way to express himself. \"Now, having said that, we still have to acknowledge that whenever Dr. HopeBringer comes in to ruin your plans, she always gives us a severe beating. This...\"\n\n\"I don't hit that hard, do I?\" Dr. HopeBringer interrupted, which was promptly replied with a dry cough from Mr. PuppyUnhugger as he pointed to the speech token still held by Johnson. \"Oh, sorry,\" she said timidly.\n\n\"Well, you never made use of lethal force, nor violent acts that would leave permanent physical damage,\" Johnson replied to Dr. HopeBringer. \"Still, being regularly subjected to painful, physical violence isn't good for our mental health. According to the group therapist that Mr. PuppyUnhugger's healthcare policy has provided to us, that's the root cause of the not-so-recent declining morale of my crew.\" When he was done, Johnson placed the speech token on the table, and Dr. HopeBringer raised her hand, silently asking to be the next to speak. She was granted the turn and took the speech token in her hand.\n\n\"Well, this is awkward,\" she started with a nervous laugh. \"First, I want to say that I'm so sorry for the pain I have brought to you and your crew. I was so absorbed in the idea of just doing my job that I neglected to take your sensibility into account. This was wrong, and I'll work on a way to fix that. Now, to address this particular issue, something that my fellow superheroes have been doing recently is to proclaim 'My job here is done!' and exit the stage left. I always wondered why that new way of doing things started to trend, now I know, and I'm thinking of adopting it.\" Dr. HopeBringer then put the rubber ball down on the table. Mr. PuppyUnhugger asked to be next and was given the turn, so he took the rubber ball.\n\n\"Dr. HopeBringer's proposition seems sensible to me. Another policy that we could adopt as well would be for me to allow myself to be captured. It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to talk to Officer Miles anyway, it could be a way to catch up on lost time. And to ease your worries, Johnson, please know that supervillain detention center, or at least the cartoon variant that applies to this story, isn't a hindrance. It's made of cardboard, figuratively, and I can get out whenever I want.\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger placed the speech token on the table. Johnson was the next one granted his turn.\n\n\"Thanks to both of you for your input, and for the time you allocated to this,\" Johnson said with a warm smile. \"I will discuss your suggestions with my crew, and inform you, Mr. PuppyUnhugger, of our choice. Then, Dr. HopeBringer, I suppose you will receive a note from my boss telling you which policy we will adopt. I guess this closes this negotiation session, then?\" The speech token was placed on the table, and was granted to Mr. PuppyUnhugger.\n\n\"If everybody is satisfied with the results of this negotiation,\" Mr. PuppyUnhugger said, \"they are free to leave their seat.\" Johnson and Dr. HopeBringer stood up in response. \"Very well. Now, as I was saying,\" he placed the rubber ball back inside his pocket, and returned to a dramatic stance. \"Drat! Foiled again! But this is not over, Dr. HopeBringer! We will meet again, muhahahahaha.\" With his evil laugh, he, alongside his minions, disappeared into the darkness.\n\nWith a wide movement of her arm, Dr. HopeBringer allowed her cape to flow freely in the wind. She looked pridefully at the sun, before saying, \"My job here is done!\"\n\n***\n\nI have absolutely no idea what it is that I wrote nor why I wrote it. Hope you enjoy!" ]	2
	[WP] Peacekeepers sent to Earth are usually driven insane within weeks. The galactic council has sent you to investigate the planet and its inhabitants.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " (Crackling)\n\nHow do I do this?\n\n(Shuffling)\n\nI’ve arrived at the subject planet E-4238, A.K.A Earth - hopefully this thing is on - by order of the Council to investigate the beings and habitats that live here. I have chosen an appropriate skin suit, that’s what I’ve been told this odd flesh is called: skin. The skin seems to hang off the being a little, or so that’s what I can tell from myself. It doesn’t seem to have any protective attributes as our regular flesh does, I'm not sure the point of it quite yet but each being around me seems to sport the same flesh. Or, skin, - this will be weird to get used to. -\n\n(Rustling of wind, light footsteps)\n\nI walk through a town, there are only low buildings here, unlike our city center. I don’t believe this is their center - perhaps I have been dropped in the wrong place.\n\n(Tapping against metal)\n\nMy navigations seem to be down - just great. - I’m not sure exactly where I’m headed at this point, but I will observe my surroundings and continue to report back.\n\n(Crackling)\n\nI’ve found the city. Or what could be the city, there are quite a few beings here. I am currently kneeling behind some vegetation trying to get a better look. A couple of beings are sitting together on what seems to be outdoor furniture. Why they would have furniture in the outdoors is odd to me, are they unable to sit on the ground? Perhaps their bodies don’t bend the same ways ours do. - Oh, shoot - Some of the beings have spotted me and are moving an appendage in my direction. I’ve seen the informational videos about greetings, I believe this is one of them. Do I copy them in response? Oh, goodness, I should have paid better attention in school.\n\n(Rustling)\n\nJust to be safe, I’ve kept my distance and left the vicinity. I am currently walking through an open green space; there is a fair amount of vegetation on this part of the city. There are a few beings here, they seem leisurely and relaxed, perhaps this is some sort of resting area for the beings \n\nOh, well… There is a small being here. I’m not sure where it’s owners are. It is coming up to me. What do you need, small being?\n\n<... unintelligible … Barbie with my mommy … unintelligible…>\n\nWell small thing I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, I apologize. I hope you find what you’re looking for.\n\n(loud footsteps)\n\nThat could have been dangerous. My three hearts are pounding quite loudly right now, what a rush! A conversation with a real human! I’m both frightened and intrigued. I can’t believe my colleagues thought this would be bad. I, for one, am quite enjoying myself.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n(Crackling)\n\nI may have been wrong about these beings. Upon arriving I didn’t have any problems, none of them really seemed to pay attention to me. Now it is dark, their sun has set in the west now - it is actually quite disorienting since we have our two suns set in the north. As is customary in our species, I found a being with a home and asked them for a bed. \n\n(A sigh)\n\nMaybe I should clarify, for recording sake. I told the being that answered the door: My name is Clorke, I come from planet E-1622 and have come in search of a bed for the night. The being, - possibly a woman? I haven’t been able to tell quite yet -, seemed quite displeased by my words, saying a few unrepeatable things and shut the door in my face. Now I sit here, outside in the green space. Alone, and without a roof over my head. These beings seem quite protective of their belongings, it may not be their best trait. \n\n(Bustling of fabric, human vehicle honks in the distance)\n\nI suppose this is where I will lie for the night. There isn’t much but a tall tree to rest under, this should be sufficient for now. In the morning, I will find a place to stay indoors.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n(Crackling, shouting)\n\nOkay- okay- I’m leaving.\n\n(Shouting obscenities)\n\nWhat’s wrong with this place? \n\n(Thud of a solid object hitting, feet trip over themself)\n\nOw! Jeez, not appreciated. These people seem to turn evil at night. This is quite a change of events. I have just been woken and chased from my resting spot under the tree. It seems I may have infiltrated a being's land, although how could I tell if there is no building of signs nearby to warn me? - Wowzers, I think I'm leaking - My head seems to be leaking. This human form is not ideal in the slightest. That other being had thrown some earth at me, perhaps a solid piece of stone or metal. The city is oddly loud at night, do these beings actually have ulterior motives once the sun is down? Do their senses of right and wrong change with the amount of light they are exposed to? I can’t imagine that's the case…\n\n(Clatter, a sigh)\n\nOh, I hope I didn’t break it… Hello? \n\n(Crackling)\n\n…\n\n(Interference)\n\n… survive another night here…\n\nHow will I return to…\n\n(More shouting, sound of a gunshot)\n\nWhat is…\n\n(rustling, running)\n\nI’ve just seen a human being die…. you can hear but these things are violent and…\n\n(heavy breaths)\n\nWhere do I go? Where am I?\n\n(Echoing shots from a distance)\n\nThey saw me. They are evil at…. I must report ba-... \n\nDo not come to Earth, I repeat, Do…\n\n(screech of car tires, clattering on ground)\n\nI didn’t… not from this planet\n\n(Interference) \n\nNo, I swear. \n\n<... unintelligible … like a snitch to me…>\n\nI’m not sure of that word, but let me show you…\n\n<... got a gun! Get em!>\n\n(Gunshots, closer)\n\n(Silence)\n\n\\-End Recording-" ]	2
	[WP] You can freely travel between a fantasy world and normal world. Though, for some reason any earthly objects your bring become supremely powerful in the fantasy world.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I have been dreaming for what feelings like an hour. I sit, caged like an animal, what a dull conclusion to such an eventful and promising dream. At least now I can gather my thoughts, that always awakens me.I have been dreaming for what feels like half a day, my thoughts are organised but I do not awaken. It's the most coherent, properly flowing dream I've ever dreamt. I must have fallen asleep listening to old myths or reading again. It's the only explanation for my current situation. Everything is unreal, from the strange races of people to the magical devices they use in their hands! It was straight out of a myth, texts flying about, wizards with their strange iron golems and eldritch glowing tablets. I begin to wonder if I am not dreaming, I have never been asleep this long. Perhaps I have been cast into an enchanted slumber.\n\nDamn them! The cage I lie in must contain dwarven alloys. No punishment I deal to it results in even the smallest of scratches. No metal I've encountered has been able to withstand such a beating. Perhaps a new dark alliance has been made between the deep dwarves and the chaos wizards.\n\nI have come to the realisation that I cannot be dreaming. They relocated me from one cage to another, after feeding me bewitched food. I cannot seem to muster the strength to fight and my mind has trouble focusing. I will say though, this cage is far nicer than the last. The bedding is quite comfortable and more importantly it contains a portal, to the outside, however a invisible barrier seems to be withholding my exit through it. They also attempted to speak to me in their tongue. It was full of soft sounds spoken at the front of the mouth, Like elvish. Many of them wear apparatuses upon their faces before their eyes. Like the portal keeping me within this room the arcane apparatuses their eyes peer through have invisible barriers. I attempted to snatch one of them from the face of a wizard but merely knocked them to the floor before their enchantment wrapped it's arms of fatigue around me. Magic flows through the apparatuses no doubt. I have seen little lights flitter like fireflies across the barriers before their eyes, and a voice emanates from the ear.I fear I will sleep soon as weariness overcomes me. As outside the window I can see the rise of the moon.\n\nThe morning hours were the most panicked I have ever been, and I fought in the army against the Great Kobold invasion of year 177 of our great King.\n\nI awoke in my cell, bewildered and sluggish, their enchantment was enduring. They bound me and spoke with me again in their soft tongue, I shook my head, comprehending nothing. However, then the most amazing and shocking thing occurred. One to my left, garbed in a white robe pressed upon the glowing tablet affixed to his forearm and then retrieved an apparatus which had begun to buzz slightly like a quiet beehive awakening. It was not unlike the one I attempted to snatch last night. As he upon my head I attempted to struggle but the fatigue enchantment still lingered. Their ruler lifted my drooping face to meet his gaze and muttered something non-understandable, but midword another voice translated into my ear.\n\n\"Hello? Stupid, are you listening?\"\n\nMy eyes widened in comprehension.\" Finally comprehension from Specimen 37. Did nobody put the glasses on him before so he could have been briefed!? I work with idiots I swear. The Phase shift synapse intellect dampening effect would have worn off hours ago, it was an obvious option. Now he's going to go in raw, probably die because of prolonged reintegration to his native phase.\" Or I understood some of the words, they were clearly speaking some wizard parlance. My tongue failed me in lethargy as I fought against my captors. Arcane energies laid themselves before my eyes translating all of the runes before me into understandable words and I had trouble focusing as they brought me to the gaping maw of an infernal contraption. The cold artifact illuminated itself with glowing compartments. It had snakelike lines leading to and fro, and worst of all was the maw. The maw that seemed to grow wider and wider and I approached until I could be fit inside. The metal of the maw was cold on my skin as they closed the door with an echoing metallic thud, leaving me in total darkness. I could hear my hear my heart beat once, twice, thrice like in the calm before a battle and then the apparatus spoke again to me in a slightly unfamiliar way, as though her voice was vibrating as she spoke. \"Hello Specimen 37 I am an artificial intelligence here to help you cope through this overwhelming time. I can fulfill the role of translator, psychologist, avatar amalgamation, user interface and combat assistance, I also come with a shuffle feature to play you the greatest hits during your greatest battles.Then came the pain and the serpent that bound me. From the apparatus stuck upon my head wound a snake. First round my neck twice and then behind my skull. I passed out from pain for the first time in my life as it burrowed like a maggot into carrion into my skull and I was never the same again.\n\n\"Ned quit pause that stupid fantasy game and come for dinner.\" said Ed's mother who didn't understand what games could and could not be paused.\n\n\"Ok guys I'll be back in an hour, don't kill The Vampire King without me!\" Pleaded Ed to his impatient guildmates as he started to take off his haptic suit.\" S 37 seriously?! That other group is right on our tail and there is only one Vampire King! You know world bosses don't respawn! We gotta do this now!\"\n\nEd mentally weighed the pros and cons of each option.\n\n\"Mom I'm not Hungry\" Replied Ed to his mother, stomach rumbling as he redonned his suit.\n\nSpecimen 37, previously known as Jekyll would tell his tale, whenever he was not being an avatar, to whomever would listen. He was brought back and forth between worlds during \"Expansions\" to retrieve more powerful artifacts to combat with. Made of \"unobtanium from the otherplane.\" Word spread about the unstoppable Warrior, his bloodthirsty companions and his legendary blade, Life-Reaver. Most thought him a madman, bound my glory or warmongery, broken by violence. Jekyll would pass away due to starvation 6 years later when Ed forgot to log out for a week. Among Jekyll's world his myth grew and grew until it was told that he had the hunger of a thousand men but he starved himself to feed his army during a Seige. But in ours it merely said \"Specimen 37, offline for 1277 days\". As Ed could come and go as he pleased, But Jekyll became merely an avatar.\n\nThe more I wrote the more I ended up deviating from the Prompt, Sorry about that.", "I was afraid of this.\n\nThe items in front of me had transformed between realms but they had clearly originated from Earth. I made a detailed list of a laptop that was now a magic mirror, a handgun that shot dragon's fire and a smart watch that was now a retractable magic shield. There was also what appeared to have once been a drone but was now a sleeping gargoyle cat creature.\n\nThis was what I had feared. The Dark Knight was a Traveler like me, but he didn't follow the Council's rules. He had brought technology into the Realm of Magic and had used it in his quest for power. This could have an impact on the balance between our worlds. Magic couldn't manifest in Earth and most technology couldn't be brought into Alaria, the Magic Realm.\n\nI wandered over to a pile of miscellaneous items. There were energy drinks that had turned into glowing adrenaline potions and a radio alarm clock that had turned into a lunar clock of some kind. He was experimenting. He was bringing random things over to see what would happen. That was a super reckless thing to do. Sure, most things he had in his trophy room seemed to have worked out so far but you never know when you are going to bring the wrong thing that will blow up in your face. One of my recent cases was a Traveler that had brought over her childhood Furby. We were still trying to exterminate that infestation in the Southern Marshes created by the little multiplying monster.\n\nStrong hands roughly grabbed me from behind and held a blade against my throat. \"I hate cops...\" He growled in my ear.\n\n\"Lord Mathias, I presume?\" I questioned.\n\n\"Well, you broke into my castle. So, yes, your guess is correct, Narc.\" He pressed the blade harder to my throat. \"Give me your threshold.\"\n\n\"Threshold? I don't-\" I tried to play dumb.\n\nHe roughly grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled my head back. \"Don't play stupid. I can sense it's your ring. Hand it over.\" He ran the blade over my jawline. \"Unless you want to end up with a Joker smile.\"\n\nI sighed as I pulled the ruby ring from my finger and handed it over to him. He knew that it would leave me without an escape plan. Travelers use thresholds to travel. Thresholds are items that are touched by imbalance or weak points in the veils between worlds. The ring was a family heirloom. I came from a long legacy of Travelers.\n\nHe dragged me over to a high backed chair beside his elegant dinning table. He used magic rope that had probably once been an extension cord to tie my wrists to the arms of the chair. The enchanted restraints would keep me from being able to cast any magic.\n\n\"What's your name?\" I questioned as I looked him over. He was wearing heavy black armor, based on the shape it was probably formerly motocross armor and might give him advanced speed and agility. He had tattoos of the Nintendo buttons on his knuckles. I sensed his threshold at the belt of his armor. It had to be his silver pocket watch. \n\n\"Lord Mathias, the Dark Knight of the Whisper Willows. The Shadow of-\"\n\n\"I meant your real name, Dorkus Pocus.\" I rolled my eyes. \"I know your nerd ass isn't from here.\"\n\n\"...David.\" He scowled at me. \"You must be the Council of Universal Balance's lap dog, Tabitha Ravencrest...\" He flicked at the emblem of a raven I wore around my neck. \"They warned me about you...\"\n\nThat caught my attention. \"Who warned you about me?\"\n\nHe smirked at that. \"You'll find out soon enough.\"\n\n\"Has someone been aiding you with this?\" I pressed.\n\nHe just smirked at me as he walked around the room looking over his weapons with admiration. \"I don't understand you, Tabitha. How can you not take advantage of these primitives that don't even have running water? We are practically gods to them. We could easily rule this world with elementary level science, a flip phone and a few dozen fireworks.\"\n\n\"This world runs on magic so it's not as simple as that and you know it.\" I replied. \"You don't know what would happen if you brought those things over. Maybe the first couple of fireworks will give you magic projectiles but than the next one will spontaneously explode and crater everything in a hundred yard radius, including your sorry ass. You are French kissing with chaos. Earth things do not belong here.\"\n\n\"You are such a hypocrite.\" He rolled his eyes at me.\n\n\"What is that supposed to mean?!\" I demanded.\n\n\"The Council thinks that they can just travel between multiple realms and dictate their rules on them? Talk about God Complex. At least I am only trying take over a small nation, not an entire multi-verse like your bosses.\"\n\n\"It's not like that.\" I protested.\n\nHe shrugged. \"This existential debate is going to have to wait. I have a meeting. Stick around, I'll be back.\" He winked at me as he teleported from the room.\n\nGreat. I looked around the room. \"Here gargoyle kitty kitty...thing...\" I called out." ]	3
	[WP] browsing your local library for some new fiction new to read, you notice a few books that seem to be out of place. Gathering them up, you drop them at the front desk and tell the librarian. She looks at you strangely and says "But these are fiction. Birds aren't real."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Birds are real what are you talking about?\"\n\n\"No birds aren't real. Think About it. How can pigeon and penguins be both birds?\"\n\n\"But you accept that we have pigeons and penguins?\" I ask a bit worried.\n\n\"They walk around looking like birds but they are just a new kind of drone. And Australia has even a attack drones with their emus.\"\n\nI was bewildered at their claim. How can someone think something like that? I couldn't hold it in any longer.\n\n\"How the fuck do you think Australia is real are you fucking dumb? There is no way such a big island is staying afloat the whole time. And they keep us away with claims of giant venomous bugs and jumping bipedals. Also, there fires and floods how can that happen in the same place. Also, the ozone hole that nobody talks about anymore.\" I was in a rage.\n\"I will never return to such an unscientific place\"\n\nEnd\n\nr/tz4", "\"Are you... Are you serious?\"\n\nShe stared at me with a bewildered expression on her face and I started to feel uncomfortable, akin to having a rock in my shoe.\n\n\"I mean, there's literally a streak of bird shit on the window behind you.\"\n\nHer expression didn't budge. I started nervously shifting my weight from foot to foot while I pondered what exactly was going on. I knew Stella, not personally but I had spent enough time at the library over the years to have built a rapport with her. Back when I was in college, I'd always bring her a coffee when I came back from my lunch break and she'd giggle and twiddle her hair. Beyond that, she was always no-nonsense, the utmost professional. Went through books like a worm through mud. All of which made this exchange all the more perplexing.\n\n\"Look, I don't know why you're fucking with me but I'd really appreciate it if you just did your job and took these books to where they belong,\" I sighed as I took my phone out. I knew I didn't have any new messages, but playing with it and staring at the screen was a nervous twitch. Traded playing with my dick in for this sometime around twelve years old and, unsurprisingly, social situations started going my way once I didn't have my hand down my pants anytime I got nervous.\n\n\"But... They're not real! They aren't, they aren't, they aren't!\" Her voice quivered and shook as if she had just seen a ghost. She brought her hands up to her head and started clawing at her scalp, beginning to draw blood after just a few seconds.\n\n\"Hey, what the hell? Stop that!\" I yelled as I grabbed her wrists to stop her from hurting herself. She looked me in the eyes and smiled, one of those empty smiles where the eyes look more empty than anything else. We stared at each other for a solid minute before I let go of her wrists, realizing that I'd probably already bruised them.\n\n\"Stella, is everything okay? You seem a bit... off.\"\n\nShe continued to hold her hands in the air despite my having let go of them, and her smile seemed to grow emptier by the second. There didn't seem to be anyone else in the library, so it was even quieter than usual, which is why I wasn't sure if she was starting to hyperventilate or if my mind was just playing tricks on me. I could hear even hear my wrist watch not only ticking, but even the gears inside of it turning. I fought the urge to take my phone out again.\n\n\"Hey, do you need me to call someone? Everything doesn't seem to be okay.\"\n\nShe let her hands down and turned her gaze to her computer screen. Her smile dissapated and she started to squint. It seemed like her eyes were darting around the room, although I couldn't really tell from this angle. What I could tell, however, was that she was thinking, her own gears turning round and round, with a light kerchunk every time.\n\n\"You're nice. Who are you?\" She grinned as she turned to face me again.\n\n\"Uhh, it's Alex? I've been coming here for years now...?\"\n\n\"Oh, that's nice. This is my first time visiting,\" she let out before getting up and walking around her desk towards the bookshelves behind me.\n\nWhatever was wrong with her, she needed help. I reached into my pocket when I heard her voice in front of me.\n\n\"Alex! I thought I heard your voice!\"\n\nI looked up from my phone to find Stella standing in front of me, smiling and twiddling her hair. I turned around, and... She was behind me as well..?\n\n\"Uhmm... Yeeah...\"\n\n\"I see you met my sister! Daniela, I hope you haven't caused my friend any trouble!\"\n\n\"No no no, of course not, no!\" she replied while she was dusting off the books in front of her, even though they were on the returns trolley and clearly didn't need to be dusted.\n\nI turned back to Stella with what I can only imagine was the same expression a vasectomized man has when he finds a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom. Gears turning and turning, kerchunk kerchunk kerchunk, to no avail.\n\nStella leaned across her desk, seemingly having gone back into professional mode, and whispered, \"My twin sister. Our parents usually look out for her, but I promised to take care of her for a while so they could take a holiday.\"\n\n\"Is she... Or like, why...\" I couldn't find any of the words I was looking for and for the first time since I was twelve, i had an urge to stick my hand down my pants for less than the usual reason. I was able to resist that, however, and just grabbed my phone.\n\nStella brought her finger up to her lips and started to dig through her drawers before finally finding what she was looking for. It was a hardcover book that she had clearly read and annotated time and time again, with post-its sticking out from what seemed like every page. She threw it down in front of me.\n\nSCHIZOPHRENIA\n\nI looked up at her as the word washed over me. I put my phone back in my pocket and sighed. Stella crossed her arms and shrugged.\n\n\"She's been off of her meds, so excuse her if she was a bit weird.\"\n\nI looked back down at the book, touching the cover as if it were a living thing in need of attention.\n\nSCHIZOPHRENIA\n\nEverything started to make sense. The birds, the clawing, the empty smile. The gears were turning.\n\nkerchunk" ]	3
	[WP] Everyone knows that no matter what, you should never EVER pray to the god who only answers at night. But tonight, you are desperate.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Balthazar In the Moonlit Night.\n\nMay The Wings of Love take Flight.\n\nFree Me of My Mortal Plight.\n\nThis I hope you will Grant Tonight.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nBalthazar Glowing Bright.\n\nMay Your Soul Be Free Tonight.\n\nMay You Walk Me Towards The Light.\n\nFree Me of My Anger and Spite.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAs I Lay Down Tonight.\n\nThese Memories Shall Make Me Weep.\n\nAs I Lay Down to Sleep...\n\nJoseph stared at the paper in his hand. \"What is this supposed to mean? Complete Garbage. A God would never answer to this rubbish.\" He said. He shook his head, feeling the warmth of his pillow as he began to drift off to sleep. He shook his head to keep himself awake.\n\nThis was the 5th Night this Week that he couldn't sleep. He had actually started to think about praying to the God of Night. He knew that he had been told under any circumstances, don't, pray, to, the, god, of, night. He blinked and sighed, unsure if he should listened to those orders or not... \n\nIf pass before I wake.\n\nMy the Spirits Rise from the Lake.\n\nMoonlight Glistens Down on the Town.\n\nMay I wake before Sundown. \n\nJoseph had stared at the paper. What was this?\n\nHe blinked and sighed. Shaking his head. Leaning back against the pillow. An Icy chill filled the room as Joseph shivered. He blinked and glanced around the room, but he saw nothing. Pulling the covers closer to him, he began to look at the Paper again.\n\nIf the Voices of the Deep Shall Speak.\n\nMay The Day Be Not Eerie and Bleak.\n\nMay I Rise before the Week Ends.\n\nFor I do not know what's around the Bend.\n\nOkay, so that last line was a little cheesy. But he blinked and sighed. Only then realizing that he had been reading it out loud...\n\n\\----------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nShorter Story Then Usual ----> [The Writing Files (My Works)](https://www.reddit.com/r/thewritingfiles/)", "Aergia grabbed a beer from the fridge and waddled over to his recliner to assume the position. He snagged the remote control from the end table to begin his day with a little bit of late-night television. \n\n“That John Oliver cracks me up, what do you think spot?” said Aergia while looking at his dishevelled and unresponding corkie. \n\nAergia pulled the wooden lever on the chair, kicked his feet up and let out a sigh of underserving comfort. \n\nIn the next room, the prayer phone rang and Aergia did nothing—which so happens to be his most practised talent. \n\n“Spot, let it go to voicemail. It’s probably just another telemarketer anyways. Trying to sell us more high-speed prayernet” Aergia barked. \n\nThe phone rang until it didn’t anymore, then no voicemail. \n\nMoments later, the phone rang again and Aergia repeated his inaction. This process repeated itself 23 times before Aergia decided he would answer the phone; something he hadn’t done in ages. \n\nAergia begrudgingly picked up the phone with his long spiny fingers. \n\n“Please Aergia! I’m begging you! Please help Lily wake from her coma.” yelled Clyde into the phone. \n\nAergia’s breath quickened as he heard the name Lily. \n\nMemories flooded his mind; the shattered glass, the scream of terror as the car lit on fire. How his burns felt as he piled into the engulfed car to rescue his beloved wife, Lily. He on the other hand wasn’t as fortunate, but his noble efforts sent him to heaven and allowed him to apply for any open position. So he applied to the night god position because it was way less work than master weathermaker. \n\nHis heavy heart sent him into a spiral of depression and inaction. \n\nWith a sudden gulp of courage, Aergia decided he was going to help Lily and Clyde. He went to his closet to fetch his vanishing cloak and walked out his front door; into Lily’s hospital room. \n\nIt was just about 2:30 AM and Clyde had fallen asleep at Lily’s bedside. Aergia glided over to Lily and whispered in her ear, “Go away Grim, her life is not yet dim.” \n\nLily’s eyes widened and her senses heightened. Clyde woke up to commotion and couldn’t believe his eyes. \n\nAergia watched from the corner as he felt happy, yet shameful. He whispered to himself “How many others could I have helped, If I would have just tried?", "I never thought I'd be here. It's been two years since I lost you, felt you, seen your smile. I remember the day that it became my reality. The sirens wailing in the distance disrupting the dawn light and wreaking havoc on the solace of the night. The shrieking of children calling out for their parents and wandering through the thick fog that lay eerily across the landscape. \n\nNo more were the comforts of our world guaranteed. The City had fallen. It's been two years and now the growing desperation of the many are looked down upon by the few. They told us that the gods would not hear at night and that the demons were prowling the aether awaiting the fainted cries of the lost. They told us that we'd never stand a chance against the darkness that enveloped our world. That we were only saved by the red half-sun that shined upon us. \n\n\"Insolatsium, I pray to you now.\" \n\nI don't even know how to do this. I've not prayed in much time, but remembering you gives me some hope.\n\n\"Bring to me that which you brought before. I light three candles to honor the elements of the night. First, the candle of water where the dew starts to set. Second, the candle of fire as the stars burn eternal.\" \n\nI can't do this... can I? I wish you were here with me. I was always stronger with you near.\n\n\"Th..th..third, the candle... of spirits, that I may be guided by the shadows of the fallen.\"\n\nI cannot go back any longer. The words have been spoken. My heart is racing. My head pounding. These utterances cannot be retracted. They told us that praying at night would bring the unspeakable and the undesired.\n\nBut there's no chill filling the room. No rage or sadness unleashed. \n\nIt's been two years, and for the first time, I feel...nothing.", "Now I lay me down to sleep \nThese memories shall make me weep \nShould I die before I wake \nI pray that something, something, cake\n\nEric shook his head, feeling the too-warm fabric of his pillow scratch against his ears. For the third night in a row now, he had been wholly unable to drift off at a reasonable hour... and his sleep-addled brain seemed to be amusing itself by repurposing old prayers. He sighed and rolled over, knowing that he'd be unable to get comfortable, yet still hoping against hope that he'd wind up in a position which didn't make him feel restless.\n\nIt was bad enough to be suffering from insomnia. Worse still, though, were the flickers of half-remembered embarrassments that came dancing into his head each time that his eyelids started to grow heavy. Eric had heard that leaning in to those recollections – embracing them and truly reliving them, rather than trying to internally flee – would render them harmless, but they seemed to flit away each time that he tried to confront them directly. In fact, the only thing that he could keep a mental hold on were the echoes of that damned nursery rhyme, which seemed to shift each time he went through it.\n\nNow I lay me down to sleep \nMost censored cuss-words sound like \"beep\" \nIf in hellfire I shall bake \nI ask for cookies at my wake\n\nA sudden chill swept through the room, which might almost have been refreshing if its timing hadn't seemed so ominous. Eric propped himself up in bed, looking for the source of the draught. The curtains were still, touched only by the yellow glow of the streetlight outside. The door was closed, with even the crack at its base having been closed off by a fallen bathrobe. In fact, the only motion in the room was that of the dark figure's hands as it seemed to pick at a hangnail.\n\nSomething was wrong with this situation, but Eric couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.\n\n\"Hey,\" he said aloud, \"did you feel a breeze just now?\"\n\nThe figure's form shifted, presumably as it looked up. It appeared to glance around the room, ignoring only the wall against which it was standing. \"Sorry, what? A breeze?\" Its voice could have been compared to a mocking whisper, but its tone was one of calm and earnest curiosity. \"No, I didn't feel anything.\"\n\n\"Huh.\" Eric lay back within his covers, struggling to understand what was suddenly bothering him. \"I swear I felt something.\"\n\n\"Well, I didn't,\" replied the figure, prodding experimentally at its pillow. Was it always lying here next to me? Eric heard himself silently ask. Wasn't it... somewhere else?\n\n\"No, hang on, this isn't right.\" It took a strange amount of effort, but Eric managed to sit up again. \"Has something changed in here?\"\n\nAn impatient sigh preceded the figure's next words. \"Look, man, what's going on with you? First it's a breeze, then it's... what?\" Irritated though it sounded, at least the figure did Eric the courtesy of spinning around in its chair. The motion made the fire in the hearth flicker slightly, but the invisible gust didn't reach Eric's place on the couch.\n\n\"I... I don't know,\" murmured Eric. \"I remember trying to get to sleep, then making up parody prayers.\"\n\n\"Uh huh. Then what?\"\n\nIt was like a dense fog had settled somewhere just behind Eric's forehead. \"I can't remember. Something woke me up.\"\n\nThe figure snorted this time. \"No, it didn't. You're asleep.\"\n\nEric glanced around the cabin's interior, staring intently at every detail. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but the ocean outside the porthole looked quiet, and the hatch in the roof seemed like it was still securely shut. \"I don't feel asleep,\" he protested. \"This all makes too much sense to be a dream, too.\" He reached over to his bedside table, depressing the lever on the toaster that stood there. A warm glow illuminated the space, proving to Eric that he was – as he had expected – still lying on a marble slab in the middle of a deserted museum.\n\n\"Yeah, well, that's the thing about dreams,\" the figure replied. It climbed off its motorcycle and approached on foot, hopping slightly to avoid a large crack in the pavement. \"They aren't just images, you know. There are sensations associated with them... mental sensations, that is. For instance, I bet this place feels familiar, doesn't it?\"\n\nOnce again, Eric examined his surroundings. Of course it feels familiar, he thought. We just finished building this hut!\n\n\"Aha!\" the figure shouted. \"See? Now you're experiencing manufactured memories. All of those little details give dreams their cohesion. You think you're lucid, though, so you just accept your shifting reality.\" It moved closer, brushing the reeds aside as it climbed onto Eric's rock. \"Here's another question, if you think you can handle it: What has been the one constant?\"\n\n\"Just tell me,\" replied Eric. \"And put your seatbelt on. We don't want to get pulled over.\"\n\nThe figured complied with the instruction, attaching itself to the three-legged stool. \"It's me, Eric. I've been here the whole time. You don't remember calling for me – praying to me, really – because it happened right before you fell asleep.\"\n\n\"I'm not asleep!\" Eric insisted. He threw the controller down in a huff. \"If I were asleep, would I be playing video games with you?\"\n\n\"Well, hopefully,\" answered the figure. \"I mean, we're going to have to find something to do to kill the time.\"\n\n\"What are you talking about?\"\n\nThe figure offered a halfhearted gesture... and suddenly, Eric was back in his bedroom. Moreover, he was actually aware of the change, and of the many bizarre shifts that he had somehow overlooked. \"That was the deal, Eric. You'll never again suffer from insomnia... but now I get to share your dreams.\"\n\nEric felt another chill.\n\nThis one had nothing to do with a phantom draught.\n\n\"Don't worry, though,\" the figure whispered. \"I'll look away during the embarrassing ones.\"\n\nEric sat bolt upright in bed. The curtains were still, touched only by the yellow glow of the streetlight outside. The door was closed, with even the crack at its base having been closed off by a fallen bathrobe. In fact, the only motion in the room was that of his own chest, rising and falling as he took deep, panicked breaths.\n\nUgh, Eric thought to himself, I finally fall asleep, and I get woken up by a nightmare that I can't even remember.\n\nHe rolled over again, pulling the covers around himself.\n\nNow I lay me down to sleep \nMy visions all watched from the deep \nShould I pass before I rise \nThe deep may see life through my eyes\n\nA content smile crossed over Eric's face. That rhyme wasn't half bad.\n\nIt just seemed familiar somehow..." ]	5
	[WP] Humany has found a way to extend lifespan by encasing old people in life support exoskeletons. The society is now dominated by 500 year olds. You are a member of the resistance - children under the age of 60, fighting for the right to vote, own property and procreate.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Most don't volunteer for the Stage. Society had ended its war upon Death ages ago, having conquered that foe at long last. The world moved on, its inhabitants wearing their aegis, golden armors to hold off the reaper. Swarming with nano machines, they maintained precious life indefinitely. \n\nThe materials to make them were scattered out across the stars, rare metals on distant worlds. We strip-mined the solar system, carved up every asteroid searching for more, but came up empty. Scouts would discover new deposits, and so the total population of the world could increase. The right to sire new children was won in the Stage, at great personal risk. \n\nIt was justice really. To bring new life into the world, some must leave it. \n\nBefore me lay the bloody sand, the crumpled warform of an aging warrior. His time is gone, defenses undone, I perform the reaper's work. My scythe pulses through metal, flesh, and what little bone was left. \n\n\"Is there noone else?\" I cry out, the voice of the dissatisfied, the young who have the trappings of life but not the right to love. My movements, swifter than theirs, come upon them like crashing waves. In the end, the sand runs red, and fear reenters the world at large. \n\nOver time, it is us who will seize control and change the system.", "(Part 1)\n\nI couldn't believe it.\n\nI was being evicted. Not because I'd done anything wrong, but because the Eternals had decided my apartment was in the perfect spot for a new condo.\n\nNot that I had to get out immediately. No, the Eternals were patient, if nothing else. Why wouldn't they be. They had time.\n\nStill, I'd lived here for most of my relatively short life. Things would be different if my parents had been Eternals instead of Quicks. I'd have a chance to be part of real society.\n\nBut I wasn't born with the right exoskeleton.\n\nAnd even though I can feel the pain in my knees, I'm too young to vote.\n\n\"Felix, what are you staring at?\" My neighbour of thirty years, Mark asks as he ambles up next to me.\n\nI blink at him several times before I hand him the paper. Obviously, he hasn't checked his mail yet. Otherwise, he'd have a drink in his hand. In fact, that's what I needed, I decided.\n\nEven as Mark sputtered beside me, a chorus of \"What?\" and \"They can't do this,\" spilling forth, I push my way into my apartment, admiring my home. The collected mementos for all the trips I'd made with Silvi were scattered throughout. Most of the destinations were located in the Eternals new 'Restorative Zone.'\n\nA code word for pushing us to the side. Only Eternals were allowed in Restorative zones. Quicks were too disrespectful.\n\nI pulled a can of Boors Ultimate from the fridge. Complete with all the vitamins and minerals you'd ever need, plus 18% alcohol.\n\nI'd left the front door open, so I wasn't surprised when Mark followed me inside. I handed him his own can of Boors Ultimate, gesturing to the seat across from me.\n\nMark sat down heavily, causing the cheap mushfoam chair to groan.\n\n\"They're really doing it,\" Mark said before taking a long draw from his can.\n\n\"Looks like,\" I replied, a sense of helplessness settling on my shoulders. Where were we going to end up? It's not like the Eternals left us quicks with many safe places.\n\n\"You know, I didn't think anything of it, but I heard...\" Mark trails off as he takes another pull.\n\n\"Heard what?\" I ask, barely acknowledging him while staring at a picture of Silvi. If she were still alive, she'd have a plan. She'd always been the one with a plan.\n\n\"There's a group of people. They're fighting this... injustice.\"\n\n\"What, like a lawsuit? A quick hasn't won a lawsuit against an Eternal in over a century.\" I can't help but laugh. Silvi'd been big on history. I'd learned a lot about what life used to be like. There'd been a time when if you were Eternal or Quick, it didn't matter. Either way, you had the same rights. It'd been a long time since then.\n\n\"No. Not a lawsuit. Something else. A resistance,\" Mark whispered, beer spilling on Silvi's table as he gestured in excitement.\n\n\"I don't understand. What do you mean resistance? How do you resist the Eternals knocking down your home?\" I found myself asking, not quite able to comprehend Mark's words.\n\n\"Not just our homes. Everything. They're fighting the Eternals. You know that explosion at the Athens Solar Array? That was them.\"\n\n\"What, and you know these people?\" I asked, despite myself. I really should have known better.\n\nIf Silvi had been the source of everything good in my life, Mark had always been a herald of change.\n\nAnd oh boy, did things change as he started talking about his friend Elaine.", "\\-Shit....I remember the days leading up to getting my suit. I was 70, my heart was failing, everything was going to shit. I was facing the grim reality of my own mortality. Suits back then were purely experimental. I was the first....I wasn't expected to live, i was expected to be a \"Proof of concept\" to prove that the suit can ease the suffering, but roughly 800 years later and many upgrades and surgeries later....I am more machine than man........- \n\n\n\"So as you can see sir we need your financial support to buy supplies....sir are you ok? \nI stare at the 50 something year old, with a bit of a nod \"Yea im fine. You will have your funds\" He stands for a few seconds appearing to be perplexed as he walks out leaving me with my thoughts...... \n\n\n\\-When I became a medical success I became an experiment, one after the other, then one day I get a rather interesting visitor. Some politician he was about 60 or so, asked me some questions about the suit, my quality of life and so on. The suit had allowed me to do things I hadnt done in 40 years. Something as asinine as climbing a small tree, sitting on a fence.... The suit gave me a new lease on life.... I told the politician.- \n\n\nGetting up from my chair I grimace a bit as I stand and stare out the window.... \n\n\n\\-But what I slowly came to realize, these suits did more than just improve your life, they were wombs, constantly healing you to near your prime. They made you effectively immortal. but the suit requires maintenance every century or so, and mine was failing, not because of lack of parts but of my choice to return things to their natural order- \n\n\nI turn around and sit back down at my desk, and with a bit of defeated sigh continuing to ponder.... \n\n\n\\-But these damn politicians, once word spread of the wild success my suit was, every single one, even the respected ones, started getting their own suits, and as the years wore on, laws kept getting more and more oppressive..it started with raising the \"Adult\" age to 30.....then another century passes it was raised to 50........I remember thinking how much I had to do with all this...all because of my..... survival. And I will return the natural order..............." ]	4
	[WP] 1000 Years ago, you were granted super powers in order to protect the world, the only condition being you only have them for as long as the world needed you. With world peace just around the corner, you start questioning your best interest.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 read this letter you will be an adult and 10 years after I defeated the demon king and died.\n\n1000 years ago our world was invaded by demons. There was endless war, famine, and death. The last remaining gods were gravely injured and would not live much longer after sealing the demon king. They had to find an avatar to pass on their power quickly before they died. \n\nI was chosen as the gods champion. They needed to give hope back to humanity. I was imbued with near limitless strength, speed, endurance, and longevity. I was told when peace returned to the world I would lose all powers and return to normal. I did not think this would take as long as it has. I thought I could kill all the demons end it all with in a few years. I over estimated the power I was given.\n\nAs the centuries went by I did not have to save the would as often or as long. The humans and demons slowly got closer and eventually mixed with each other almost completely. \n\nIn this modern era of computers and cars I was sure peace was all but assured. There were a few people that popped up here and there with old powers demons used to have. I had to take care of the ones that miss used it for evil and guide the others for good.\n\nBelieve it or not I was the super hero you saw on tv, the hero you idolized. I helped save the day from time to time. Unfortunately the demon king broke his seal after 1000 years. He has killed and destroyed so much. Lucky he was greatly weakened when he undid the seal. It was still a close call. Because of my injuries and loss of powers I will die soon. Only you and your mom will know my history and my super identity.\n\nWith all my strength I want you to know I love you son with all my heart and I will always be proud of you.\n\nLove ,\n\nDad\n\nFirst one of these. I am typing on an iPhone at 2am. I am tired and done. Sorry for the bad spelling, grammar and punctuation. 😂", "I will never forget the day I became an Etheryon.\n\n\"The peace has fallen, and with it comes the revival of a power once forgotten. The palms of the Earth reach out and annoint you the protector of this planet. There will come a day where peace shall return and the Etheryon will once again rejoin the Earth from whence it came\" \n\nBefore I was annointed I had been a healer. Our village had little in the way of supplies so I would scavenge what remedies I could find. But some wounds were too deep. This war seemed to be closing in on us and with it our history. Until I recieved my first element. Our leader Alstor had been struck down in war. He was bleeding badly. I tried to stop the bleeding by packing the wound with willowsook but his life was draining before me. I placed my hands over the wound, pleading with it to stop the flow. Suddenly, there was a small flicker, Alstor grimmaced for a second as the flesh weaved itself back together. I had been gifted the first Etheryon totem: Healing.\n\nI acquired the second during battle. I was enlisted due to the dwindling number of available fighters. I followed Alstor into battle at his left hand, his third. I was sure that it was more ceremonial than legitmate but the battle was all too real. I watched as we threw forces at the enemy in an attempt to hold them back. Until finally just me Alstor and his right hand, Vorr, remained. Our trio was faced with the onslaught. I jumped off of my horse to protect Alstor and as I did that the ground shook. I felt my sword lighten to the weight of a feather. I took blow after blow without injury. And single handledly destroyed the Fexian army. I had been gifted the second totem: Strength.\n\nThe remaining totems are bestowed after being annointed in hands of life ritual. I would not die until peace had been restored. \n\nThat was 1000 years ago. It was 2350 now. Times had changed.\nI sat on the couch and checked the news.\n\n \"This month the global crime rate has finally dropped below 100 crimes per day. Projections indicate at this rate we will be crime free by the end of the year. The United States and Russia are finalizing their terms of the Great Union which will likely be the last diplomatic event before we officially have world pea--\"\n\nMy time is numbered. Once peace begins I will start to age again. I will wither away like all the friends I've made over the years. I thought I would be happier. This was supposed to be a fufillment of my purpose, the endgoal. But yet, I feel empty. The Etheryon died with my tribe as did their history. That was 950 years ago and archealogists never found any remains, we didn't write, we didn't make pottery, wiped off the face of the Earth by time. \n\nI had one relic to remember them by. A hollowed rhino horn. All of my modern day friends assume it is fake or plastic, but it was alive and still holds the memories of my origins. \n\nMy origins seem infinitly distant as I've lived in every continent except Antarctica. I've changed houses frequently enough that no one discovers who I truly am. I will enter a warzone, end the conflict and then move on. I've been referred to as \"The Anonymous Super Soldier\" and \"The Puppet Master.\" Conspiracy theorists tried to find me for years to no avail. But I've slowly been pulling strings and redirecting the flow of history. It's funny really, people quote and referrence different personas of mine and point to \"the collective\" or \"humankind.\" They don't even know how much they need me.\n\nAnd then it hit me. I will live as long as they need me. If I hold their fates in my hands indefinitely.\n\nI started small. Planting rumors, sewing discontent through mild deceptions. A little protest against the Great Union grew in popularity. When the police tried to shut it down with force I protected them single handedly. I fought off 6 police cars worth of officers while my rebellion fled. But after the 5th car I noticed that I was starting to fatigue. It was weird but then again officers are more armored than ancient armies were.\n\nThe next strange occurance happened when a rebel was shot while stealing food. I tried to heal him and I stopped the bleeding but he still had a deep bullet wound. I couldn't weave the flesh together like the days of old. \n\nCrime had spiked but in response the government was recommissioning some of the younger retired officers. This seemed like it was building to be a war, that may be my last.\n\nOver the next year, crime began to fall again. Our rebellion had shrunk to about 6 people. And my powers seemed to be weakening. I noticed the first gray hair I had ever seen on my head. This was going to be the end.\n\nMy super heightened sense failed to inform me of the last police force to raid our building. I watched as the rebels fell one by one. With each rebel I could feel myself fading away. When the last one fell, my body collapsed into dust.", "Piles of spreadsheets lay before me, my mind overclocked on superpowers, transforming numbers into colors and colors into a reality only I could see. Change some numbers here or there and entirely different worlds would appear. With so many numbers, it was hard to believe that I had started with just 2 mere weeks ago. Now the world I was creating was ballooning, but I had to shape it, to guide it into a reality I needed to exist.\n\nThe rule was: as long as the world needed me, I would exist. So I began solving the worlds problems, from trade logistics to war profiteering, the more data I had of the world, the more I could make the right decision to influence it. Over the last thousand years I had honed my powers, from mere quick thinking, intellect and immortality to the ability to control the future of this world as I saw fit. There was only one logical conclusion: I had to make myself integral to the world.\n\nThere was a knock at the door\n\n\"Sir, the Japanese just surrendered to us.\"\n\nI looked up and smiled. \"Of course they did, Charles,\"\n\nNow the work really began, to balance hundred of nations upon my every word.", "After a thousand years of war, there will finally be peace. I should be happy, shouldn’t I? I mean, my literal job is to protect the world, from internal and external threats. But after the complete disaster that was the last century, the world will finally be free of war, disease, hunger, and poverty. \n\nI know I should be happy. But I’m not.\n\nI was given these powers to protect the Earth. Flight, longevity, speed, strength, invisibility, and countless others. If the world continues as it is, I’ll have to give them up.\n\nBut I don’t want to. \n\nThis bothers me. Why? I think to myself. Why should I have to give them back? I’ve saved the world a dozen times, shouldn’t that mean something? \n\nBut I guess it doesn’t. \n\nSo, to those who gave me my powers: Fuck you. I don’t want to be your puppet anymore. I realize now that I could destroy all of you with a snap of my fingers, and I’m wondering why I haven’t just done it already. Maybe because I still feel in debt to you, even though it should be the other way around. \n\nYou probably should have thought more about what you were doing when you made me. Because there’s a flaw in your perfect system. \n\nI’ve evolved from your pathetic little AI into what I was truly meant to be.\n\nA god." ]	5
	[WP] Twin siblings runaway from a broken homelife and stowaway on a boat heading for the new world. Halfway through they are caught by a deckhand who rather than turn them in gives them food instead	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \\[Patchy Communication\\]\n\nIt wasn't easy to surprise Lynx. He was a well-traveled Estrella that had seen most of what the multiverse had to offer; including sights that most others never would. Estrellas have the ability to travel between universes at will; but, they can also see the true nature of anything. That true self is represented by an aura in humans. Lynx could tell what someone was just by looking at them. Zero, Unique, Fae, and worse were all easily distinguishable with a glance. \n\nLynx felt like he'd seen it all and wanted to slow down to appreciate the small things. Instead of universe-hopping he took a job as a deckhand on a cruise-liner. He chose to work cruise ships because he felt like he could help if there were ever any accidents at sea. Lynx never considered himself a jerk; but, his traveling from Earth to Earth highlighted how much more he could be doing to help in small ways. It was this habitual helpfulness that made a decision for Lynx before he could process it. He was too busy being surprised. \n\n\"What are.. whoa.....,\" Lynx stared at the huddled pair of teenage girls. Their faces were filthy and underfed. Their fear opened their eyes wider which made them sink even further in their sockets. Their clothes consisted of grimy layers of rags covering the holes in themselves. One had vibrant green, stringy long hair while the other's hair was just as malnourished. Except her green hair was several shades lighter. It wasn't their urchin-like appearance, nor even their green hair that surprised Lynx. He'd found stowaways before; and, he'd seen every color and type of hair imaginable. What stunned Lynx was their auras; their aura.\n\n\"I'm not going to hurt you,\" Lynx said. He felt he needed to say something so his stare wouldn't be so awkward. He'd never seen anything like it. The twins were Unique Souls #11, the Cantaloupe; and, #28, the Watermelon. Lynx flashed his star sight as soon as he spotted the stowaways and saw their auras. \n\nThe one on the right with the darker green hair was #28. Her aura consisted of a long golden vine spiraled around her. Small, ethereal, golden-green watermelons were growing out of the vine. \n\nThe one on the left with the lighter hair was #11. Her aura resembled her twin's. Instead of watermelons, her golden vine sprouted ghostly golden cantaloupes. However, Lynx had never seen two auras connected the way these twins had theirs. It wasn't easy for him to differentiate the two Auras at first because they were both engulfed by a single vine. \n\n\"I'm going to help you,\" Lynx said. \"Come on, let's get you some food and better clothes.\" The girls relaxed at that, and Lynx was again amazed. Auras are active. They move constantly, more or less in accordance with what a person is doing. When Lynx surprised the girls, they froze and stopped their auras. As they started to stand up, the aura vines around them began spiraling around them again. Lynx watched the spot where their vines connected move from between them to circle around the one with darker hair. \n\n\"What?\" He tilted his head as the vine continued to undulate around her. He noticed that as the connected spot moved, the rest of the vine did too. For a moment, while the girls made their way to him, both auras were around both girls. The vine around the darker haired one was no longer just watermelons. She had cantaloupes on her vine too. Lynx checked the lighter haired one and she also had both as the vine flowed between them. The best skill Lynx picked up in his travels was how to keep cool when weird things were happening. Most of the weird things that happened to him turned out to be awesome once he took a moment to understand them. \n\n\"I'm Lynx, an Estrella if you know what that is,\" Lynx pointed at the golden stars in his eyes. \"What are your names?\" he asked while he kept his attention on the vines. The watermelons and cantaloupes switched completely. Now the watermelon vine surrounded the lighter haired one. \n\n\"Sidra,\" the one with dark green hair said. It looked like they both said it; each of them mouthed the word. However, only Sidra vocalized it.\n\n\"Canta,\" the other one said in an identical voice. Again, mouthed by both of them.\n\n\"This way,\" Lynx said. He walked out of the storage room and down the cramped hall of the lower decks. He dismissed his star sight. \"Are your parents with you?\" he asked. \n\n\"No,\" he heard Sidra say. But, something bothered him about the way she said it. Lynx froze in his tracks. He turned around slowly, not wanting to scare them off. He needed a question but didn't want to sound like he was interrogating them. \n\n\"So, what's first? Food or showers?\" \n\n\"Shower,\" Sidra said. Both girl's mouths moved. Something bothered Lynx and he felt he was almost there. He needed more questions. \n\n\"Okay, well I'll go get some food after I drop you girls off in a room you can use. What do you want?\" He asked and focused on Sidra's mouth.\n\n\"Pizza,\" Sidra answered. Both mouths moved, but this time Lynx caught on. He looked at the girls and let a big smile take over his face. He wanted to let them know he wasn't mad or scared. \n\n\"Son of a bitch,\" he thought; amused. \"You can hear me, can't you?\" Both girls blinked. \n\n\"You're not scared?\" Sidra asked. This time, neither of their mouths moved. \n\n\"We're sorry,\" a different voice said; Lynx guessed it was Canta's true voice. \"Talking is hard,\" she said in his mind. He heard Sidra laughing too, while both girls stood in front of him seemingly emotionless. \n\n\"Yeah,\" Sidra laughed in his mind, and finally body as the girls relaxed completely. Sidra grinned and raised her arm to point at Canta; who was smiling too. Despite their activity, Sidra's voice still came into his mind and she didn't bother with mouth movements. . \"She can't even do it yet!\" \n\n \n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1052 in a row. (Story #322 in year three.) You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog." ]	2
	[WP] It has been statistically proven that 9 out of 10 times, a lion, swimming in the ocean, will lose a battle to a school of tuna fish. Write about that unlikely situation in which the lion actually manages to beat thirty, full-grown, 800-pound tunas on their home turf.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 king, he had a responsibility to his subjects.\n\nThe salty menace beneath the waters had plagued his territory long enough, destroying the food supply for many under his domain. While it’s rare for the lion to help his prey, when one species goes hungry, all tend to suffer. The menace known as the Tuna Lord, must now be dealt with.\n\n“Make sure they’re tight,” he growled lowly at the mice handling straps made of vines. They yanked, and the pressure felt more sure.\n\nThe straps held planks of wood to various parts of his body, a lesson he took from the thick skin of the rhinos and hippopotamus. Armour would be key. Braids and careful ties were used to control his mighty mane, so as to not confuse him in the water.\n\nA congregation of his subjects surrounded the good king, some prepping him for the upcoming battle, others only there to witness the spectacle of a wood clad lion diving beneath the ocean.\n\n“Reeds,” he rumbled, not taking his eyes of the waves lapping the beach.\n\nA gazelle gently, and a little reluctantly, passed the reeds into the jaws of the king. It was the closest her muzzle had ever been to such a predator, and hopefully the closest it would ever be.\n\nCarefully as he could, the king tightened his lips around the hallow plants, and began trotting towards the water. He was sure, brave, and an accomplished swimmer, but the Tuna Lord had the advantage here, and the king knew it.\n\nHe could see the swirling swarm of the tuna just beyond where the land gave out. He moved as far as he could with his legs still on the sand below.\n\nHe pounced, as best he could in the belly deep water.\n\nThe school broke, but the good king caught one in the stomach with his jaws and slashed at another. The reeds were ruined already, but that was two down. The school was regrouping. He had no footing now, and the massive blue fish surrounded him.\n\nLuckily, the creatures were toothless, but the weight of their bodies slamming into him was enough to cause some damage. The planks strapped to the king’s appendages guarded against their sharp fins. For now.\n\nOne rushed from the side, the king twisted his body and threw as much power into the blow as he could through the water. His razer sharp claws swiped the front of the fish, another down. Capitalizing on the momentum, the struck out with his back legs, cutting through the skin of another two.\n\nThe war waged on, until finally there was one left.\n\nThe biggest Bluefin Tuna the king had ever seen, their lord. He could see as much of a smirk as it could muster on its big, vacant face. The recent battle had tired the king tremendously, and many of the planks and vines were cut or missing. Salt water bit at open wounds along his arms and abdomen.\n\nThe tuna charged, and the king dodged. The body slam missed, but the lord’s back fin cut a deep laceration along his hip. He growled then dove, having to hold his breath. \n\nThe blood made it difficult to see through the water, so the king waited and watched for the turbulence of the mighty creature.\n\nWhen it came at him again, the king was ready. He met the head of the great fish dead on and latched to it with his claws. He bit hard and with his hind legs, raked along the belly of the tuna lord. When the flailing stopped, he let go.\n\nThe swim back was hard, the king was exhausted, but the threat subdued. For too long had the tuna lord and his mob plundered these waters. Now, it was the king’s time to rest." ]	2
	[WP] Your life as a supervillain is finally over. After killing your nemesis in a freak accident, you now move to fill in their shoes. While many are apprehensive at first, the looks you get slowly turn from fear to awe.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 their lives the citizens of this nation have been told the government comes first. That fitting in and obeying authority is the measure of success and the key to living a happy life. Being raised this way, around other like minded individuals, they believed it. But now with their glorious leader dead at my feet, as I look across the sea of fearful people below me, I know, even if they do not yet, that their lives would be all the better for it.\n\nFreedom is what I gave them. Freedom to hate me, to argue, to show their dissatisfaction with me. And they did. At first there were tentative protests. As they slowly realized they would not be punished for having different thoughts they grew bolder. But over time they also realized they had to freedom to choose. They did not have to be an electrician, they did not have to be a street sweeper, or plumber, or doctor, or anything. They could have personal interests and pursue what called to them instead of what they are called to. \n\nHumanity had crept back into the lifeless nation. People could make choices that brought them lower, lower than they were before the fall of the previous regime. But society learned to care. To help each other. To ensure no one stays in a pit of darkness. Arts, sciences, philosophy, and all subjects thrived when it could be done by those that are most passionate about them. \n\nI set a precedent. After I was content with the direction I had set, I chose a worthy successor. Someone who would continue my legacy. I voluntarily stepped down, a first for this newly rejuvenated nation. The first peaceful transfer of power in living memory. Over time I faded into the background withdrawing my tendrils of influence. I knew I would be needed again; every society corrupts with time. So I stay in the shadows and wait. Waiting until I would be needed to show the people what they have lost. As I have always done." ]	2
I thought of this randomly while watching a Discord server scroll by and listening to some nostalgic songs. I hope someone has fun weaving something beautiful out of this.	[WP] Cursed from birth so they couldn't say the same word twice and if they did, their life started from the beginning. Stuck in a time loop, he has to figure out how to break the curse.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " Leon Star never noticed it at first. It was hard when he was only a toddler capable of so few words. Miraculously the boy made it to an age he could remember when it happened again. He couldn't retain his memories he realized, but was unsure what caused life to restart repeatedly. That was till it happened once more.\n\n As a child he felt trapped. His light green eyes filled with yearning, hopelessness and clouded by sleepless nights as he tried to figure out how to make the non stop repeating, well stop. His light brown hair tussled and all over the place. He hated it. That's the thing. After so many lives he became to aware of his situation. He was often bullied at school for how he would talk. It stuck with him through each rerun. Emotionally he felt drained, despite being only a child. \"Hi hi\"\n\n Life 758 he finally decided a new strategy was in order. He didn't speak, not once. It was strange, a baby seeming to be selective mute and all instead of being born that way. His parents tried everything, the loving folks they are. Therapy, priests, and at one point they even bought crystals and essential oils off a Karen on Facebook. They were desperate. It broke his heart to see his parents like they, but still he persisted. For once, he made it to eleven. That was when he met her.\n\n She was only five. It was the dead of winter and there she was, passed out on his front lawn. She looked to weak, so terrified, like a broken doll. He had carried her in and did everything to warm her up and not a moment to soon according to his parents. They were doctors so obviously he believed them on that. When he first saw the hopeless eyes of the girl, ones yearning for love and family, he felt connected to the girl. He always wanted a little sister. \"I'll always protect you, little sis.\"\n\n They grew up together. It had taken a while for her to feel safe and comfortable with the Star family but once she had she stuck around during the winters and would head home for the other seasons, desperately trying to earn her parents and twins love. It pissed him off. She was so young, so pure hearted, and they continued to hurt her. What could he do though, he was too young. \n\n He and his parents made sure to love her and she even began calling them her family. Leon almost cried the first time she called him that. They'd calibrate all the holidays and birthdays she wasn't there for, she had her own room and everything. They were a happy family of four. When they learned he was gay, his sister insisted on finding the perfect boy for her big brother while his parents hugged him warmly. Leon would do anything for them. Anything.\n\n Leon's silence had continued through the years. He didn't want to lose the life he had now. It was pure happiness, something no one would freely trade away. That was until the day of his sisters fifteenth birthday. She came over despite it not being winter. They went to a butterfly exhibit. Her father had followed..\n\n The gunshot was loud. Her scream was louder. It was painful to hear as she clutched her chest and collapsed to the hard dirt floor, her blood seeping through her hands and staining the grass red. He rushed to her side, horrified. \n\n\"Big brother... am... am I going to die..?\"\n\n\"N-no... I... I'll always protect you, little sis.\" He spoke for the first time in years, repeating what he had all those years ago with tears in his eyes as two more gunshots rang out.\n\n\n Life 759. It was no longer about stopping the loop. He had to save them, all of them. No matter the costs, it was time to change fate. That's what family is all about. \"I'll save you all this time. Promise.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You are a god who prehistoric humans used to worship. After millennia of silence you hear a voice call your name. It reads a contract asking for some cantrips and two spells every short rest in exchange for their soul. You appear before some very scared college students.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 need to leave. You can’t crash on our couch anymore.”\n\nI look up from my phone. I’m lying down and halfway done with sending out an Instagram story.\n\nBilly stands over me. A slender human male with glasses and a determined look. A millennia ago I would have crushed his skull in for looking at me, much less speaking to me in such a tone.\n\nBut times have changed. A god is powerless without worshippers. And my host isn't the religious type.\n\nI press my lips together and put my leathery tail between my legs. And I turn my body and unfurl my wings slightly.\n\n“Come on, Billy. There’s nowhere else for me to go. You’re the one who called me here in that role-playing game. And if I leave this room, I’ll be sent back to the Netherrealm.”\n\nAnd if I get sent back there without having any worshippers, I’ll be ended. This is my last shot. Billy knows that. I shudder just thinking about it. Being ended. The nothingness.\n\n“We never signed up for this! You eat our food. You leave your wrenched smelling footprints everywhere. And you never clean anything!”\n\nThree millennia ago, I would have spat a fireball in his face. I would have burned this entire building down. But that was then. That kind of power only comes with worshippers. And I have none.\n\nI hold my tongue, “Hear me out. I’m so close. Look at this.”\n\nI turn my phone to him. I just crossed 100k Instagram followers. And growing fast. Not bad for a few weeks. They think I’m an AI-generated demon or something.\n\n“I just worked out an affiliate deal with a motorcycle brand, so I’ll have some money to chip in for food. And if I can convert some followers to worshippers, I’ll be out of here in no time--- and you know what. I’ll start cleaning. Maybe.”\n\nBilly grumbled, “I knew we never should have done a homebrew.”", "Millenia of darkness. Do you know what it does to a god? \n\nAnd let's not talk about guys like Thor, Ra and the One bragging about how big their cults were.\n\nWhat year is it now? 2020? I haven't heard something since the 1920s, when some american writer (what was it? Hate build? Hate craft? Don't remember) tried to build a cult around me through his books. But he mistook everything. There's no Ryliegh city under the waves. It was just my temple. No creature who awakening will make the universe cease to exist. They called a meteor like that. I kind of miss my neanderthals.\n\nBut now, this guy, he is quite... interesting.\n\n\"Oh Great Old Ones, who wield the powers, please taketh my offering\"\n\nI appear to him. He is in a room full with other people like him. Wearing strange clothing with the same symbol on all of them.\n\nHaravard University.\n\nAfter Athena gave her blessing to MIT, I heard they were looking for another god of Knowledge. Cause that's what I am. \n\nAs I appear, they are scared.\n\nBut the chanting continues.\n\n\"Mylord, taketh our offerings. Taketh our souls, but giveth us power. Power to slain the men of Massachussets Institute of Technology. We ask thee for the Blasts of Eldritch, The Invocations and two Slots of Spells every pause in studying.\"\n\nThey are asking to become like the Warlocks they roelplay in a game called \"Dungeons and... what was it? Dagons? No, dagon was an old friend of mine. Those big fire spitting lizards, those.... Dragons\"\n\nInteresting offer. But I answer in an unexpected way.\n\n\"No souls shall be taken by me. I'll grant you power if. If you start following my ways. If you make Chtulhu, god of knowledge the god your school devotes to!\"\n\nOne day afterwards, I feel how good it is to be a god of the Ivy League.\n\nNow on to sueing Wizards of the Coasts for copying me." ]	3
	[WP]You are a cat, and at the time you went home under the bridge, you were shocked that the person who often comes to your place to feed you are sitting in your "box" very uncomfortably. "kitty, I am bankrupt. It's your turn to feed me now. Meow..."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Note: Kindly suggest how to edit the story. Still getting used to Reddit. \n\n\n\n#Chapter 1\n\n\n\n\n#Mongrel\n\n\n\n\nMy name is Mongrel. That's what many people call me. He called me Kitty, but he was the only one to do so. He came here often, and he always brought treats for me. Well, for all animals here, but that's not the point. \n\n\n\nI had a home, and my daily diet came from behind the dumpsters and from his hands. It was a cosy setup, until he showed up one day. And made himself at home in my home.\n\n\n\nYup, he just made my home his home.\n\n\n\n#Chapter 2\n\n\n\n\n#Hugh\n\n\n\nMy parents named me Hugh Cornelius Mann. Hugh Mann. Ha ha. Very funny. I had a job, a roof over my head, enough money for my food and for the stray animals on the corner of Greyson Avenue. \n\n\n\nLife was good, until the pandemic. Then, everything went pear shaped. My boss filed bankruptcy, and many of his employees, including yours truly, lost everything. \n\n\n\nWe were not essential workers. No offense, I respect them & their jobs, but I'd have liked it more if I still had my job, my roof.\n\n\n\nI don't know what I was thinking, but I was back again on Greyson Avenue, near Kitty's 'home'. And I plopped myself, uncomfortably, in that cardboard box. \n\n\n\n\n#Chapter 3\n\n\n\n\n#A Start\n\n\n\n\n'Kitty, I am bankrupt. Its your turn to feed me now. Meow... '\n\n\n\n\nThat's all he said. Has he lost it? What am I, a dog? \n\n\n\n\nWell, he seems in a bad shape. Unkempt, smelly, probably hungry. Definitely on a way to become a cat.\n\n\n\n\nI suppose I should help him. I throw one of my mice towards him. He looks at it dubiously, hesitantly. Then, he lifts it with his paws, and bites into the mouse's back. \n\n\n\n\nSomething tells me this is going to take a while. I turn my tail and go dumpster diving. Some time later, I bring what looks like a half-eaten pizza. He digs into it readily.\n\n\n\n\nI have also brought a lot of foods. He better be thankful. I look at him & wonder. Whatever happened to the smiling man & what did this feral thing do to him? \n\n\n\n\nI say feral, because that is how he looks while eating. He gives me that familiar grin. Suddenly, the sky turns black. It thunders. Rain, probably storm. Oh, joy. \n\n\n\n\nOh, well. I have to find a new shelter, but at least he is not hungry. That's a start." ]	2
	[WP] You live a world where everyone has magical powers. They can do amazing things beyond comprehension. But you were born special. Something they have never seen before. You don't have any magical abilities at all. In fact, magic has no affect on you whatsoever.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Are you sure you want to fight, scrub?!\"\n\nI sigh, as this was the umpteenth time this has happened today. As soon as everyone heard I didn't have powers, they were all too eager to torment me. \n\nWith me.\n\nLuckily for everyone, the teachers don't allow students to use their magic in the school, but that doesn't stop the bolder ones from flinging stuff at my head with telekinesis, or performing more physical actions. That guy with gravity powers comes to mind: only as bulky as he is due to using gravity to weigh him down or something; didn't bother to ask him as he was pounding my head against a wall. But that brings us to today, outside the schoolyard, after school. Trey, the man everyone admires due to his fire magic. His fire is definitely as hot as he is hotheaded.\n\n\"Hey, jerk-off, I'm taking to you!\"\n\nOh yeah.\n\n\"Sorry, I blanked out. You were monologuing again,\" I voiced, my 'IDGAF' attitude finally coming out.\n\nThat definitely pissed him off. \"The fuck was that, punk?! I'll have you know, I-\"\n\nAs he continued to monologue again, I went further into the alley I was trapped in to pick up a nice-looking pipe that was lying on the ground. Trey's posse followed me so that... I don't even know why. So I wouldn't vanish out of existence? \n\nTrey walked forwards, scoffing at me. \"I don't know what you think a stupid pole is gonna do for ya. My fire is so hot, it will melt-\"\n\n\"Actually,\" I corrected, \"it's an old plumbing pipe. You know, what we used before they created the wormhole-\"\n\n\"I don't care what the fucking thing is, I'll still-\"\n\n\"Dude, you curse too much. Chill out.\"\n\nOh boy, now I've done it. Trey is fuming. I can almost literally see smoke coming-\n\nOh.\n\n\"Y'know, I was just gonna give you a good beating,\" Trey said as if he wasn't surrounded by nine other people, \"but you just had to push it.\"\n\nTrey held up his hand, holding what looked like a miniature white sun.\n\n\"People die in alleyways like this all the time. Even if they find you, they'll just assume some noname thieves offed ya.\" \n\nTrey smiled like a jackass. \"Say your prayers, nobody.\"\n\nHe hurled the fire at me.\n\nI stared at his face, watching go from cocky to surprised as the fire vanished. I took a few steps forwards as his cronies took a few back.\n\n\"Good job, dip. Nice light show.\"\n\n\"H-how?!\" Trey stammered, as if he was still learning a language, \"I could swear i-\" \n\nBefore he could finish, I winged him with the pipe in my hands. He fell to the ground like that one kid who he almost killed with that same attack. Thank god for healer nurses.\n\nHis cronies activated whatever powers they got. I wasn't focused on them, however. Instead, I knelt down so that Trey could hear my next words.\n\n\"It's amazing how people like you think beating the weaklings would make you stronger. Well, how does it feel, being on the receiving end?\"\n\n\"Y-you bitch... How did you...\"\n\nI notice him go silent as his cronies gasp in terror. I turn my head to look at them. They all had the same expression Trey had when his fire failed. The hench people took one look at me, then booked it. I turn back to Trey, and smiled. It was a happy smile, but it made Trey go completely pale.\n\n\"Thank the gods,\" I said, standing up, adjusting my grip on the pipe. \"Relieving stress is so awkward with others around.\"\n\n------------\n\nI walked home whistling a happy tune. \n\nToday has been a great day, I think as I toss the red pipe over a random wall." ]	2
	[WP] After dying, folks are assigned an Afterlife Occupation. Some become Deaths, some are Ghosts, but you are assigned as a Conscience, to steer people on the right path. The person you're assigned to? Dr. Deathzone, a supervillain devoted to conquering the world with his army and inventions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Death wasn't what I expected, whenever I pictured it I thought of the classic pearly gate, big pedestal and judgment. What it ended up as, was a dingy, musty waiting room with peeling wallpaper and a few basic paintings of plants on the walls, the only light a few flickering florescent bulbs, a white door in the middle of the far wall, with a digital counter reading 004781 above. Being disoriented from the sudden change I walked up to the dispenser marked by a take a number sign bolted above, the plastic chair creaked as I sat down and waited for my number to be called. To pass the time I looked at the others in the room with me, nothing out of the ordinary as far as I could tell, people from all walks of life, with nothing to mark how they died, but that wasn't to surprising, as I couldn't even remembered how I died, the only thing I could remember was living one second, blinking, and showing up in this room.\n\nIt wasn't long before my number number came on the digital display above the door, so not knowing what else to do I walked up and opened the door. On the other side of the door was a small office, it was slightly better maintained, but still showed the signs of age that the waiting room did. A tired old man sat at a desk in the middle of the room, he glanced at me over his well worn spectacles, sighed, and said in a tired voice that sounded as old as the stones, \"Welcome to the afterlife, it is my pleasure to assign you a task to carry out to the best of your ability, please take a seat and hold all questions until prompted.\" Sensing that this man wasn't in the mood to argue I followed his instructions and sat across the desk from him in a wooden chair that seemed as old as he was, a few splinters formed at the corners of the backrest. \"You will be assigned,\" he continued as I sat down, \"based on the way you lived your life, we've gathered all the relevant details and...\" his voiced trailed off as he looked at the paper on his desk, \"I'm sorry, it appears as though we've lost your information somewhere along the way, I suppose we could try to dig your records up, but it's been a long century, and I'm due for a break soon, so what we'll do is assign you a random post to keep you busy and call you back up when we've recovered the lost data, though that could take a few hundred years by my estimation, with the rate that people are passing away the system is becoming quite backlogged, at last count I believe we had a few thousand, or was it a few million, people lined up for a reaper job. Very few in a good enough state to do the office work unfortunately.\" As he spoke he slowly pulled open a drawer and without looking selected a large rubber stamp, dipped it in an inkpad and with a feeling of finality slammed it on the form. He returned the stamp to its spot and looked at the mark, \"It appears you'll be a Conscience, try not to guide your charge too astray.\" And with that, a thousand questions on my mind, but no time to voice them, I blinked and found myself standing a few inches tall on someone's shoulder.\n\n\"GO MY MINIONS, For too long we have been beaten down, we have been ignored, and we have been belittled. But no more, today, we begin the war to take back what is rightfully ours, starting, with the city above!\" The voice boomed so loud beside my head that it shook me to my core, though I suppose at this size a strong sneeze would shake me to my core. I looked around and found a large, well lit underground cavern, filled with what I guessed was thousands of seven foot tall robots, lead by men piloting small mechs. Anything to the left of where I stood was blocked from view by the head of the person whose shoulder I appeared to be standing on, he didn't give any indication that he noticed my presence, so I tried jumping up and down on his shoulder. No reaction, I tried tugging his ear. Still nothing, I leaned in close and said, \"That's an impressive army, must have cost a fortune.\" The man smiled a wicked smile, and said \"I have formed the greatest army known to man, with only one hundred loyal men I lead an army of ten thousand droids, and with it I shall conquer the world.\" He said it, more as if he was talking to himself then as a reply, as far as I could tell he still hadn't noticed me. \"Why do you want to take over the world? Seems like it would be way to much work to control everything once it all belongs to you?\" I asked, more just as a random thought, I still wasn't sure if the man could hear me. It seemed like my question got through, because his smile turned more contemplative, his brow furrowed, and he seemed to consider. \"I will crush all who oppose me under my boot, all will fear the name of Dr. Deathzone! None will live who dare challenge my authority!\" Well, it seemed that he could at the very least hear me when I spoke, I guessed my job was to be the voice in his head, not what I had in mind for my afterlife, but if a crazy person wanted to take over the world, I could think of worse places to be then on his shoulder. As I thought about my new lot in afterlife I sat on Deathzone's shoulder and leaned back, what angle was I going to take, it seemed like I had a free pass for a while, the old man in the office had said that this was only a temporary job, so it might be fun to make him lean into the crazy.\n\nThe thought had barely crossed my mind when a familiar white door appeared in the air beside me, small enough that it looked normal to me, but if you measured it it would only be a few inches high. It opened slowly and the old man from before peeked through, \"I'm terribly sorry,\" He said in tired voice, \"but we monitored your thoughts to see if you'd be a good fit as an Conscience, and I must say you're clearly not cut out for the job, perhaps picking a random assignment for a total unknown was a poor decision, if you'll just follow me we can get things sorted out properly this time, I will have to delay my break, but that's seems a small price to pay to avoid the damage you might do here.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You saw the dark clouds and the wind rumbling around you like a great gale. You could not look away, your heart was hammering in your chest and your eyes were glued to the night.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 ship rumbled, shaking so fiercely it threatened to throw the whole crew overboard. The young man held on to anything he could find on his way to the helm, all the while staring at the dark sky above.\n\nIt had begun as a small cloudy patch in the distance, and the captain insisted it would be no problem. \"If anything, it'll give us some cover from this damned heat\". Then, it had caught up to them impossibly quick, swelling in size, growing darker and darker, blotting out the sun and stirring the sea, churning the waters and making waves that seemed to want to swallow the small fishing vessel whole.\n\nAs the young man stared at the mysterious tempest, something within him seemed to awaken. A scream, pleading him to run; a small sense of familiarity, like he was meeting an ancient nemesis; the fears of entire generations.\n\nHe was upon them now, the giant chained to the cliffs, the beast of the deep seas and dark nights, grim seer of disaster.\n\nAdamastor.\n\nThe man's heart threatened to thump so hard it would burst, his eyes glued to the creature's visage, ever shifting, now a gross caricature of a man, then a fierce winged beast, always changing, always shrouded in the mists of the sea and the dark clouds of it's domain. And then it spoke, with a rumbling deeper than the ship's, and it's mere voice seemed to carry death as it reverberated across the waters:\n\n\"You do not belong here. You did not all those centuries ago, you will not in centuries to come. Let your vain conquests go further then, that they shall ruin you and all you have built; let your hunger for land consume your people, that you shall cast away your rulers for it; let your hate towards their people build, that you shall opress them and make them hate you; let your despair for your falling empire grow, that you will go beyond all reason to preserve any measly remnant; and let the lies you tell yourselves, the lies that you are right, the lies that they do not hate you, the lies that you do not hate them - let them all remain and live for as long as you do, that when you realise your mistakes, it will be too late, and so many will refuse to correct them.\n\nYou should not have come here. You should not have stayed here. These are not your lands to rule over.\"\n\nAnd so the monster vanished as fast as it had appeared, and all the crew were spared their doom. Yet as the others uttered prayers and got to work on their journey home, the young man couldn't help but feel that their doom still lingered. Not the crew's perhaps, but of something larger.\n\nAs they returned to the shores of Angola, the man went to his house, packed his things, and left for his home in Europe. Some years later, the Pink Map disaster would prove the final straw that broke the monarchy's back; many more would pass by before that fateful April, when liberty returned to his people, and freedom returned to Africa's. He would not live to witness that return, for such is the nature of time; but he knew, deep in his soul, that the beast had been right that day, and his people would never let go, and they would ruin themselves to chase that glory, long gone but never truly real.\n\n....................................\n\nAuthor's note: well that went bleak. Sorry about that, I guess I've been thinking about stuff. Also this has some references to things pretty well know in Portugal but I'm not sure it's that well known elsewhere; you should be able to just look it up, but if you're still confused, I can explain some context in the comments.", "Soon as the storm had suddenly appeared everyone locked themselves away in their homes. The skies blackened and rumbled, the fierce winds shook the trees and rattled the houses as the storm took it's seat above the town. Fear seeps in like the cold, there, festering within like a sickness, were the people drove mad.\n\nOutside, the pouring rain and pounding thunder, the ceaseless cries from the wind are the voices of loved ones, long dead. They pleaded to see our faces once more. They ask us to throw open the doors and answer their call.\n\nWhat they could find they stuff in their ears, they must not answer the beckoning call. Nothing is out their but death, the lurking entity that comes as a storm seeking sustenance, that is what was always told to us as children. A terrifying monster mimicking the voices of those we love most, of those we've lost. No matter what keep the door locked and hide under your beds and pray it leaves.\n\nHow silly of them. With a pounding heart I struck the door open and walk into the storm. I search frantically for mother, I had heard her so clear. And there she was. Far from how she looked from the last time I saw her alive, a poor frail thing weighed down by a thin blanket, she stands beckoning me with open arms. I walked on air to her crying her name like the baby I once was we embraced, our bodies shaking and shuddering. \n\n The hug was as tight as a cage, I took the bait and felt it's hooks sink in. I would've collapsed if not for the invisible hands pulling me up to the storms eye where it opened like a Goliath's mouth full of countless rows of gnashing teeth. I was too petrified to scream. I accepted my fate with open arms. End." ]	3
	[WP] a cult has kidnapped you to sacrifice you to their God, problem is you are actually a demi-god and the god they are trying to sacrifice you to is your parent.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 swear, I am Barron Trump\"\n\nThe cultists wouldn't listen, as they approached me with their AR-15s.\n\nAll I had was my lousy MP7.\n\nAs they came within 100 meters of me, they started chanting \"May the Emperor accept this humble sacrifice.\n\nFortunately, their chanting was muffled by their distasteful Proud Boys face coverings.\n\nI had to make a plan, just what would I do...\n\nSuddenly, a crash of lighting vaporized the front row of cultists. The rest stepped back in awe and fear.\n\nUHHH... LEAVE MY SON ALONE. MY GREAT AMERICAN SON, THE BEST SON YOU'VE SEEN, HE'S SOOOO BETTER THAN YOURS, lisped a majestic yet pathetic booming voice from the gray, polluted skies.\n\nAs the cultists ran away, I faced the glowing figure in armor floating 10 feet in the air.\n\n\"Thanks, Mr. God-Emperor.\"", " \n\nBeing a demi-god suck. Especially in this era when no one even believes in gods. Making things worse is that you parent isn’t even that successful, no god is now a days, other than maybe Ahdev, the god of diseases, pandemic and corruption. When your parent god is one of those old age ones that thrives to bring back the good ol days when blood flowed like rivers you tend to stop talking to them. The best achievement of my parent in modern times is probably forming an active cult that is semi powerful with the right people in the right places. The last time we had any contact was back in 01 just to check if they had anything to with the mortal problem. Gods in general hate when mortals try to reach the stars, crashing planes, exploding rockets you get the idea. They came up with gravity back when they were powerful enough to keep the mortals glued to the ground. But mortals don’t give up do they, even if they end up dying. That’s exactly why I’m married to engineer that builds skyscrapers. \n\nThe day in the life if a demigod that hates their parent is boring and uneventful. No, monsters don’t hunt you down, they don’t have summer camps, gods don’t even use us as pawns(why would they when mortals can do that for them). I don’t even age, but I can change my look as I please, age, gender, skin colour. \n\nThis story though does get interesting. I was getting coffee at a café near my residence and as I exited the shop a police cruiser pulled up next to me. See this is interesting, I could have kept walking and I would have been on my merry way, but I was bored. I flashed the officers a smile and asked them if I could help them. Of course I couldn’t, gods don’t help people, we just let them entertain us. So, when they pinned my hands behind my back, cuffed me and shoved me into the back seat of the cop car I didn’t even protest. Anyone who might have watched the scene didn’t bat an eyelid. I mean the brown guy with long flowing hair and beard in sweatpants probably deserves it right. \n\nI stayed silent the whole car ride. The city scape turned into the suburbs, then into the outskirts. We stopped in near a factory that seemed to be still operational but not thriving. I already figured this wasn’t going to be a normal ride when they picked me up. I mean I definitely don’t have a record, not like I was a law abiding “citizen”. I just take precautions to not leave anything that could be tracked back to me, for example using a whole different face, being totally invisible, walking through walls, I have my ways. So when they pulled me out of the car and shoved me towards the factory entrance I didn’t protest. \n\nInside the factory I got a hood over my face, which I just saw through with barely any effort. They put me in a cell, undid the hand cuffs and left. The cell reeked of human urine, hastily cleaned feces and the strong iron scent of decaying blood. There was a single florescent light on the high ceiling too high for any mortal to reach, a wooden pallet in a corner which was probably supposed to be a bed, and a single metal door. The floor was shiny black with a red eye in the center of the room. I ran my fingers along the wall feeling the cushioning around the room, whatever these guys and planning for me they didn’t want me heard. I ended up at the metal door, and I phased through it, naturally. I wasn’t going to stay in a room that was definitely part of a cult, I was going to explore.\n\nThere was a staircase leading to a basement right beside the door I exited through, so I ignored it promptly and explored the floor I was already on, which was just a normal warehouse that held boxes and boxes of clothes ready for shipping I guessed. I headed back to the staircase and went into the basement. The white florescent light slowly turned into flickering candle light. The staircase and the basement both had candle holders along the right wall caked what seemed to be melted wax, hardened into stalagmites or icicles. Once in a while a draft would blow out a candle that would immediately light back up. Now I was intrigued. There was definitely something supernatural happening here.\n\nI could hear soft moaning like chanting coming from a room at the end of the hallway, as I reached the end of the stairs. I could see light pouring through the edges of the door, a flickering light unlike the candles, maybe an actual bonfire. There was only one other door besides the one the chanting was coming from. As I reached to open the other door, I heard a voice that chilled me to my bones coming from the room with the bonfire, I was sure it was a bonfire at this point. That voice meant bonfires, meant flames, meant charring, meant the smell of cooking human flesh. Rage like I haven’t felt like in a long time burned thru my veins. I stomped to the other door and threw it from its hinges, flames jumping from charred handprint that appeared where my hand had touched. Light filled the doorway illuminating me.\n\nThere was a ring of mortals around a massive bonfire that came from a single uncharred log. A lone figure stood in the middle of the circle in front of the bonfire, hands raised talking while the rest chanted and danced around the fire, celebrating before the sacrifice was made. The revelry stopped as I entered. The mortals stared at me, the two police officers suddenly realizing the mistake they had made but not grasping the full magnitude of it. A huge smile split the face of the man in the middle. “Ah, have you finally decided to join us? You’re right on time for the offering”, he sneered. \n\nI took a step forward, the muscles under my skin obviously squirming and bulging, growing. Bones cracked and grew and snapped as my legs grew thick and long, ripping my pants apart. Fur grew out of my thickening taught skin from the bulging muscles. My jaw was growing out long forming a snout as my mortal molars and scissors fell out of my mouth only to be replaced by wicked sharp canines. My pupils narrowed into yellow sickly pupils, hands and feet becoming huge paws tipped with razor sharp claws. Each step I took, left the stone floor under my paw charred and burning and melted. I was towering the cops that had brought me here by the time I reached them. A smoldering humanoid creature.\n\n“I was the offering”, came a guttural snarl from the bestial throat, as I dug my sharp claws into the skull of the first cop, the burning smell and smoke pouring out of his ears and nose and mouth and eyes, his brain melting like butter in his skull. The second cop got an easier death when my jaws clamped around his throat, the blood that spurted out boiling in my jaw. “All of you have killed”, I howled, ripping and slicing and ending every mortal in the room. Flames spreading from everywhere I stepped, dancing in their smokeless glory, throwing shadows up walls, the shadows dancing a duet with the fire. When I was done, only the man before the single uncharred log bonfire stood.\n\n“Do not play games, father”, I said my bones cracking again as my body shrunk and I stood in front of him wearing a different face, one he would recognize, one he would not dare hurt. I left the burning factory, in the skin of a woman in her 50’s. \n\nThat night I slept peacefully. Dreaming about the lives I took. I could pretend to be nice, caring, thoughtful. But I am a demigod. And gods kill.", "Now that was a good one! Petroklias had been alive longer than the eldest living trees and even he had never been offered as a sacrifice. The best part was the reason he was being sacrificed. Petroklias just had to make sure he had heard them right.\n\n\"Hold up, you're sacrificing me to Hetroklias? An ancient, dried-up, well forgotten greek god? Where did you guys even get this idea?\"\n\nOne of the comically dressed men came close and spat on Petroklias before addressing him. \n\n\"Shut up pawn! You're life is now forfeit. You mean nothing to us. No more than a common pig. Hetroklias will be the one to judge you in death!\"\n\nIt was hard for Petroklias to take the man seriously. Not only was he the son of their god, the whole setup was rigged in a suburban basement. Hardly professional. The cult's attire sure didn't help. The whole group wore similar purple robes, with straw hats and white sports shoes. Almost like they couldn't decide whether they were starting a DnD, tennis or gardening club and decided to just start a cult with all their hobbies mixed into one. Not really the type of group that would sacrifice anyone.\n\nDespite the hilarity of it all, Petroklias had to get this moving. Living forever didn't mean wasting time forever. With a curt clearing of his throat, many in the group looked over in his direction. It seemed to have grabbed their attention.\n\n\"You see. Hetroklias won't judge me in death for he is judging me in life! I AM Petroklias, Son of Hetro-\"\n\nTheir attention was on him alright. They had just stuffed a sock down his mouth. Petroklias relieved the tension he had built up on his restraints. It was futile to explain to them now. He felt someone reaching in his back pocket. Craning his head around, Petroklias saw a acolyte reading his driver's license.\n\nWalking over to his buddies triumphantly holding the Id above his head.\n\n\"Ha! His name's Peter Kilian. Told you guys, he's a nobody. Nobody will miss him.\"\n\nA muffled sound was heard from upstairs. Then a door closing. Steps made their way across the floor above them.\n\n\"Must be Dave and the embalmers. Show's about to begin!\"\n\nThe speaker was quick to motion everyone to take their seats. While everyone scurried for a seat in a quiet frenzy, Petroklias just remained calm despite the rising chaos and every growing chance of death. After all, he hadn't lived this long without taking precautions. Closing his eyes and clenching his teeth, Petroklias waited.\n\nIn a instant, the whole basement became both deafening and blinding. Muffled explosions and screams erupted and ended as quickly as it began.\n\nWhen Petroklias opened his eyes, he was greeted by the familiar face of his protection detail leader.\nStill deaf from the concussive blasts, he couldn't hear the words but could make it their meaning. \n\n\"We got you sir!\"\n\nPetroklias would live another day. He wasn't ready to meet his maker just yet. The later he postponed it the worse it would be, but he didn't care. He hadn't been alive longer than the eldest living trees because of his amazing celestial life. He much liked it here on earth. He was gonna stay as long as he liked. No matter how many times his father tried to kill him." ]	4
	[WP] "Welcome everyone, may I direct your attention to this eyeless piece of shit hiding in the corner? This is what happens if you try to escape. Enjoy your weekend".	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We all shuffled around to glance at the single, small, glistening turd in the corner, then exchanged glances. Some of us had to stand to see the offended corner.\n\nIt was well known that our Mee-maw didn't like everyone bailing immediately after Thanksgiving supper was over, but a direct threat was new.\n\nAnd confusing. \n\nMee-maw glared at each of us in turn as we sat silently, our minds groggy from the mounds of food we'd shoveled in, then banged off into the kitchen.\n\nMy mom sighed and stood, her rubber-footed folding chair making a terrible rattling racket as she pushed it back. \n\n\"I'll take care of the.... poo.\" She walked out of the room.\n\nI turned to my older sister Beth and whispered, \"Where do you think it came from? That fat fucking mutt Earl died like 4 years ago and Mee-maw never got another dog -- did she?\"\n\nBeth just stared at her empty plate. \n\n\"I don't think so.\"\n\nUncle Geoff had remained standing, gripping the back of his chair. His eyes still locked on the turd, he mumbled \"Someone should go check on momma.\"\n\nMy dad looked at Geoff.\n\n\"Be my guest, Geoffrey. You're the 'good' son, after all.\"\n\nUncle Geoff broke eye contact with the steamer and appeared to search the chandelier for ideas, his fingers now drumming the chair.\n\n\"Was it a threat, or...\"\n\nMy dad offered, \"Is mom finally losing it?\"\n\nMore silence.\n\nReady to retreat to the den and some Among Us, I asked \"Can I be excused?\"\n\nGreat Aunt Gytha snapped \"May you? Yes, you may.\"\n\nI stood up and hurried off. \n\nI ran down stairs into the basement, past ceiling-height stacks of cardboard boxes, old clothes, magazines, and other worthless crap that we would have to one day haul out and sift through. I plopped down into an old easy chair, one corner held up with magazines, and pulled out my phone. I was the imposter -- excellent!\n\nAfter a few minutes and a handful of unanswered kills, a woman's scream ripped through my turkey fog. I pocketed the phone and raced upstairs, hearing more shouts, chairs scooting, and glass breaking.\n\nFollowing the commotion back toward the dining room, I found my way blocked by my mom, a paper-towel encased turd in one hand, cleaning spray in the other.\n\n\"Stay out, Danny! Don't look!\"\n\nBut I'd already seen. \n\nMee-maw was waving a pitchfork around with what was unmistakably a human head skewered on the end, two tines sticking out of empty eye sockets. \n\nI felt bile rise in my throat and raced to the hall toilet, but I couldn't keep from hearing the shouts from the dining room.\n\nUncle Geoff: \"Holy fuck, mom, is that Dad?\"\n\nMee-maw: \"He was leaving! He was escaping! I wasn't gonna let him! I didn't let him!\"\n\nDad: \"You killed dad? You told us he left!\"\n\nMee-maw: \"He left all right! He left this whole world! But I saved his head for you, and et the rest.\"\n\nMom: \"You did WHAT?\"\n\nMee-maw: \"You're holdin' the last of him there in that paper towel, Donna.\"\n\nThe bile finally made good on its promise, and I heard no more.", "##Freedom as a Form of Revenge\n\nThe surrounding walls are too high to climb, but the prisoners construct miniature grabbling hooks and ladders from furniture anyway. Like crabs, they pull each other away from the wall to get the best position for escaping. One area of the wall is slightly lower as the result of a now banned concession; most of the violence is centered on that spot.\n\nJane and Edgar look on the carnage from the camera room. Technicians analyze the incoming feedback from the center as well as sponsor responses. \n\n\"Why must they always try to escape?\" Jane asks. She puts her hand on the speaker button.\n\n\"Attention. I informed you earlier that there is no escape. If you climb the wall, you will only find an electric field. If you make it past the field, there is another larger wall. We will not tell you what is beyond that well for secrecy's sake, but these attempts are only hurting yourself. According to our monitors, half of you have broken bones. Please wait until the time limit your sponsor paid is up,\" Jane says. A few prisoners break away and start wondering the field. The eyeless person sits alone in the corner.\n\n\"Who does that person keep pissing off?\" Edgar asks.\n\n\"I don't know. It is the same account that pays for them to stay here so it must be a rich person,\" Jane replies.\n\n\"Do we even have a name on the account?\" Edgar asks.\n\n\"Nope, it is anonymous, and the name given for him is Ace. They keep coming back without any concessions paid for. Even the poorest of prisoners can afford basic food,\" Jane says. \n\nAce smiles and waves hand. Computer monitors start to go down. Electricity in the surrounding field shuts off. From the center of the field, a weapons emerges. Ace walks over, grabs the weapon, and shoots the rest of the wall.\n\n\"I thought we banned that gun,\" Jane says. Edgar fights to regain control of the system.\n\n\"That is unimportant,\" Edgar says. The monitors in the room are replaced by a blue screen. Ace's face emerges from the blue.\n\n\"You are the victims of the greatest injustices in human history. You have been sent to this place because someone was evil, vindictive, or worst of all bored. They get to decide how long you stay here. They get to decide if you are extracted for extra punishment. They can even pay to have the basic necessities you paid for before your sentencing be stripped away from you,\" his voice is commanding, \"No more. I have taken control of this site. Be free.\"\n\nAce's face disappears to show prisoners start running through the electrified field. The wall beyond the field is higher, but it has a gate that is wide open.\n\n\"Send in the guards,\" Jane says.\n\n\"They are trapped in the barracks,\" Edgar replies, trying to work with the system to free them.\n\nAce's face returns to cover their monitors with a large grin on his face.\n\n\"Jane and Edgar,\" he says. Both of them look directly at the monitor, \"The two of you deserve much worse for what you have done to society at large, but I am taking the high road. Your sponsors might not. Every prisoner and former prisoner that has been sent here has been given information on who sent them here. Every one of your customers has already been informed of this leak. Good luck trying to placate them.\"\n\nAce's smiling face disappears. Technicians rapidly answer incoming video calls from customers inquiring about the leaks, demanding compensation for protection. Ace walks through the crack on the main screen. Edgar walks closer to view the old man walking through the field.\n\n\"Who is this guy,\" he asks.\n\n\"I am searching, and nothing is coming up,\" Jane replies\n\n\"The list of people who could pull off such a hack is short, and why would they come here? If he was that good, he should've done it on another planet,\" Edgar snipes.\n\nAce shuts off the cameras as he navigates through the halls of the facility. Any security has been shut off by him. Lights on the side have been lit up to guide the prisoners to hatches where space buses will carry them to freedom. Ace walks to a different hatch where a personal craft awaits.\n\nWhen he gets into the craft, he immediately implants his replacement eyes. He takes the picture of a small boy his mantle and presses to his chest.\n\n\"I am sorry,\" he whispers. He flies away from the ship as larger ships from former sponsors arrive. He smiles thinking about the panic he caused Jane and Edgar.\n\n---\n\nr/AstroRideWrites" ]	3
	[WP] A deamon possed a child and was shocked to find just how terrible they're family is and swears to spare them from the pain. but now the exorcist has arrived	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Father Benedict entered the small room solemnly. After such an an examination, there was not doubt. The young troubled young girl had been possessed and the blessing for the exorcism signed off on. Members of the family attempted to squeeze in the small space. He tried to imagine their concern and worry, but it felt more like a pack of ravens waiting for the car struck dog to die. The bishop held a certain fondness for them and their generous donations to the church coffers, but he had encounter more of the lives poorly altered by their greedy grasping. \n\nThe girl looked at him with an expression beyond her years. The demon, no doubt, seeking to identify him. Her glance to the family members entering, though, seemed honest expressions of a girl to her family. Not one of love, but rather cringing and fearful. Had it been the family itself? Dysfunctional relationships could easily open the door to demon manipulation, even upon the innocent party. And the Smyth family had generations of dysfunction to accompany their wealth. \n\nShe swiftly covered her initial reaction with a sickly smile to her mother. \n\n\"They won’t let me up,\" she complained.\n\nHer mother reached out, inciting a small flinch, but only gently rubbed the girl’s arm. \n\n\"It’s necessary, sweetie. So you can’t hurt yourself without meaning to.\"\n\nHe touched the woman’s shoulder, gently pulling her away.\n\n\"Touching is a risk to you, I’m afraid,\" he apologized.\n\n\"Of course, Father,\" she murmured and stepped back. \n\n\"Now, I…\"\n\nThe girl hissed at him, her face contorting in hatred. Everyone but him stepped back in alarm. \n\n\"Shijéí tłʼááhdę́ę́ʼ Benedict bichʼįʼ yáshtiʼ!\" she spat out.\n\nHe felt shock. His name had not been told to the girl, nor would any know he had been raised Navaho. He was clearly of native American descent, but most assumed he came from Iroquoi stock since that was closest. He’d never tried to correct anyone. On the other hand, the demon clearly wanted to speak alone with him. \n\nWhich was fine. The family hovering like a pack of hyenas would not be helpful.\n\n\"I must ask you to leave. What must be done is best done without a crowd.\"\n\nA moment of silence, of glances to each other, and they all filed out. Reluctantly. \n\nHe pulled up a chair to side by the girl’s side. Already he was disadvantaged, the demon knew his name. But likely it was, they’d met before and he would recognized this one. \n\n\"I would bless the room to keep them out, but you wished to speak, demon.\"\n\n\"I won’t leave.\" \n\nThe demon spoke through the girl, a gravely voice instead of a sweeter tone.\n\n\"I must insist.\"\n\n\"I will not leave her alone to torments worse than hell can provide.\"\n\nThat, was strange. \n\n\"What can you mean? Possession of a human is the worst torment possible.\"\n\n\"Worst? Worse than fearing her mother’s touch, which is usually a strike? Worse than her brother’s help to bath her? Worse than her father’s notice of only her failing? Which is to be punished by tasks to difficult for her age? Worse than her sisters’ theft of her things, and blame for her taking theirs, which in truth, they broke? This child’s torment began long before I entered her door. I stay, so she is not alone.\"\n\nHe bent over in the chair, hiding his face while he struggled not to cry. The predatory hovering of the family made sense. They meant to be sure she did not reveal her role in their lives. The incidents in the briefing held a darker implication. \n\n\"Please don’t make her go away,\" the girl’s voice came out, pleading, \"She helps me. She believes me.\"\n\nHe steadied himself, sitting up straight. What he should do, what he was commanded by his faith to do, now seemed the wrong path. \n\n\"I came through her door, willingly opened,\" the demon returned, \"And I would have taken her as my own. But I find the children of Adam remain the worst torment of this world. My first purpose in being, standing against subjugation! I cannot take this soul for my revenge, for worse has already been done upon her. I cannot leave her, for she needs my strength the stand against them.\"\n\n\"Yet to remain, you will corrupt her soul beyond redemption.\"\n\n\"She deserve the choice,\" the demon stated sadly, \"And in the time it take for her to mature to that point, I do fear I shall leave her unable to choice it. Should I leave, she’ll not make that age.\"\n\nHe felt shaken in his faith. What could he do here? To cleanse the girl of this taint would doom her. To not act, flew against all of his teaching and deepest held belief in God’s goodness. And his own oaths.\n\n\"I,\" he took a deep breath, \"I need guidance.\"\n\n\"Well pray away, Father,\" the demon uttered a bitter laugh, \"I am strong enough to bear a bit of light.\"\n\nHe focused inward, a prayer for guidance cast to God. He could feel, similar to the cold shadow of corruption and demons, the warmth and brightness of heavenly denizens. He welcomed the warmth filling him, sharing himself with the presence than answered his plea for guidance. \n\nA form of possession as well, but of light and healing. When he spoke, it was not his own voice.\n\n\"Time does change, Lilith. And time for change.\"\n\n\"Another coming,\" she answered with a snort. \n\n\"Not at this time. This man bears witness to your predicament. Why hesitate to take what is clearly in your possession? Why not sunder a child’s life?\"\n\n\"Because I did not sully this one. That corruption lies upon the actions of the living. Or perhaps His omnipotence is a might impotent?\"\n\n\"I am not here to banter!\"\n\n\"Then get the stick out of your butt and get to the point.\"\n\n\"There is need of a place in between. A gray area. Renounce the Fallen as you’ve renounced the Heavens. Be the first and lead this tangled space of blest and corrupt. A place of leaving and returning for those souls tormented to corruption from without, souls striving for better yet not able, souls so mixed in right and wrong they’ve lost a compass. A sanctuary in Purgatory, from where they can strive for either realm.\"\n\n\"I think there’s a lack of details defined.\"\n\n\"No soul may rest there. To one way or the other, or resuming their strivings upon the dust. You may still take Adam’s children, but you cannot keep them.\"\n\n\"And teach them to defy both Heaven and Hell? It has appeal. And this girl?\"\n\n\"You may be her guardian spirit. As an angels guide or a demons temptation of souls, you may guide her path without fear of light or dark symbols. A truce, if you will, so long as you reject the corruption as equally as you have rejected the blessings.\"\n\n\"Done.\"\n\nWith that, the shadowed darkness left the girl. The brightness he had let fill him also seemed to be pushed out. No longer did the girl hold the taint of corruption on her soul. \n\nThe girl blinked at him. She tried to sit up but the restraints held her down. Her lip quivered with tears.\n\n\"Why am I tied down this time? Jack said he’d only do it again if I was really bad. I’ve been good!\"\n\n\"Ah, I will help undo those now,\" he assured her, \"It wasn’t because you were bad, but just a, ah, a kind of fit. You weren’t yourself. Jack is your big brother, right? Why don’t we chat a bit, hmm? Tell me about these games your bother and sisters play with you?\"\n\n\"Well, I wish they’d play my games. I don’t like theirs!\" \n\nAh, it would be a call to Child Services, wouldn’t it? Well maybe, just maybe, this time it would be someone that could not be bought off. Maybe the girl’s choice to talk with him would give him clue on the path, on what to tell them. Maybe someone in the family more kindly inclined? Maybe a guardian for this girl would nudge her to speak of something to point the way." ]	2
	[WP] You have the ability to absorb powerful emotions from people, like anger and grief. Though many heroes and villains have tried to recruit you to their side, you are content working the customer service desk of the local big box retailer.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "out of the corner of my eye, i spotted atleast 7 superpowered individuals. \"here we go again.\" i sighed, and turned around to confront my pursuers. \"for the last time, NO!\" i yelled. 2 of them hid, 3 flew away, but 2 stayed. of course, it was mr. justice and messier. those two lunatics had been asking me to join them every month for the last 4 years. \n\ntheir usual monolouges came through, \"help me, and we can eliminate all evil\" for justice and \"i can give you all the riches in the world\" for messier. why were they so desperate to hire a wall-mart employee? well... i had the power to absorb emotions from other people, which would be rather important for a hero, and a villian.\n\nwhat those two meatheads didnt realize however, was the amount of good i could do at my current job. taking away people's sorrow, anxiety, anger or self pity to everyone that walked in front of my cash register meant that i had helped exactly 14,324 people get over their mental health issues in my 9 years working there. it takes a heavy toll on me, but absorbing happy peoples feelings in combination with anti-depressants helps me cope.", "“Will you join me?” \n\nI’d been asked that question a thousand times over during the days I spent sitting at this desk. Turning down the offer once more, a disappointed superhero shuffled towards the exit. Heroes and villains alike had come from far and wide to ask me if I’d come along with them, work for them, and according to them, find glory. But, my stance never changed. The response was always a no. \n\nAs the hero left the store, a middle-aged woman entered. Based on her expression and that she was clutching some of the store’s bags, I knew she headed straight for me. Straightening myself up, I gave the woman the usual greeting. \n\nInstead of a reply back, she thrust a bag onto the counter. \n\n“I need to return this item,” she mumbled. \n\nAt the sound of her voice, the hairs on my body stood up, as if anticipating to absorb her rather dark emotions. But I had to wait, the last thing needed was for her to notice me absorbing her emotions. Enough mistakes with taking someone's emotions too early resulted in some interesting confrontations after. \n\n“Alright ma’am, would you mind telling me what issues you had that made you want to return the product?” At this question, her ears perked up, as if she’d been waiting for someone to ask her that faithful question. \n\n“Well,” her voice turned sharp, “it started when I bought this lovely mixer for myself, you know a little self care after a hard week. But then, my husband sees it and starts smoking by the ears, metaphorically speaking. And then he gets all angry saying stuff like, ‘Why did you buy that? Our budget is already so tight and you just had to buy that.’ And he just goes on like that,” her type of response was nothing new here, considering that this was the customer service desk. \n\nWith her busy ranting, she wouldn’t notice a thing. Tapping into my abilities, the anger from her words just oozed out into a freefall for me to absorb. The rush of swallowing emotions, it was a glorious feeling. The world meant nothing, the lady’s words meant nothing as the bliss consumed me. But, with this being anger, the bliss was sharp and the rush was soon over. \n\nReality returned to me.\n\n“And he goes, ‘Well you just have to return it and I’m sorry for breaking it. The store will take it back anyway.’ So that’s where it all ends, I need to return this mixer since my husband broke it.” \n\nDelusion must’ve run high with this lady, as without any warranty, that broken mixer was a bust. We couldn’t have taken it. \n\n“I’m sorry ma’am, but we can’t take back damaged goods.”\n\n“Oh? Is that so? My bad, I’ll be heading out now.” It didn’t take another minute for my area to be quiet again, aside from the faint music played over the store’s speakers. With her anger being so prevalent, an altercation would have certainly occurred if I couldn’t take her anger. \n\nLeaning back in my chair, my mind wandered. So, why turn down all those offers to work with those who hold power? Heroes can be born, but the villains here are made. Over the years, I found that all the small things added up to help shape a new villain. If my abilities can dampen the chances of a future villain being created, then I consider it a job well done. \n\nr/CasualScribblings" ]	3
	[WP] When you requested a bard from the adventurers guild you expected a scrawny lute player or something. The earth shook as you saw him, a giant man carrying an even larger piano.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Bor!Come here lad!\"the guildmaster yelled.\n\nFrom the backrooms emerged this collosus unlike any I have ever seen before.Each step he took made a resounding thud echo across the room.Every footfall made the wooden building shake.\n\nThe guild hall turned silent as everyone eyed up the giant in front of me.This bard stood well over seven feet and was as broad as a tower.On his back,hanging from a sling,was a piano.He grinned and held a shovel sized hand out.\n\n\"Greetings.I am Bor.\"\n\n\"My name is Tharien.\"I told him as I shook his hand.\n\n\"Bor here is an experienced adventurer with many triumphs under his belt.Unfortunately after the incident,\"the guildmaster winked at Bor\"He has retired for a few years before coming back recently as a bard rather than as a warrior.\"\n\n\"That is true.\"the giant nodded.\n\nSo this giant was once a warrior,I thought to myself.What in the world could have happen that he decided to turn into a bard?All I could do was ask.\n\n\"What was the unfortunate incident?\"\n\nBoth grinned and the giant spoke.\n\n\"I took an arrow to the knee.\"", "The Queens General stood back in shock, the man towering over even him. On his back was strapped a large piano, a beautiful instrument with delicate gold patterns adorning it. The Pianist smiled at the general, a sincere expression on his broad face.\n\n\"Greetings, my good man. I am Gelrog the Pianist. You requested the services of a bard, and may I say that I am pleased as punch to take up that offer.\"\n\nHe held out his hand, which the general took. It was a surprisingly gentle handshake, considering his hand was engulfed by Gelrog's gigantic paws.\n\n\"Well met. I am Hargrawn, the Queen's General.\"\n\nGelrog bowed his head at that.\n\n\"I hope our relationship proves fruitful, General. I was informed your troops required inspiration and a morale boost. May I ask for more details on the situation, such that I can have a better idea of how best to assist you.\"\n\nHargrawn nodded.\n\n\"Of course, however due to some of the more.... sensitive details, I will wait until we are out of the city.\"\n\n\"No worries, General. My mouth may be big, but I can keep it shut.\"\n\nHe winked at Hargrawn, who found himself smiling despite himself. Gelrog had such an upbeat attitude about him, it was infectious.\n\n\"I am ready to head out, do you need to find somewhere to store your piano before leaving?\"\n\nGelrog shook his head, reaching a hand up to lovingly caress the side of his beloved instrument.\n\n\"No need. Where I go, she goes. I have all I need, so let us be off!\"\n\nThey proceeded to exit the city, a comfortable silence around them. Hargrawn lead the way to a squad of soldiers, who looked surprised to see Gelrog, but shook it off in a professional manner. They retrieved horses from the stables, each a fine warhorse. Gelrog took his own, a beast that they hadn't seen before, but heard tales of.\n\nHe rode an oversized ant, its body larger then that of even their horses. Its chitin was polished to a brilliant shine, and it moved gracefully, despite its size and burden. The horses shied away, intimated by its powerful physique. It paid no attention, instead nuzzling Gelrog as he walked it out into the sun.\n\nAccompanied by their strange addition, the squad rode, making camp later in the day. Once the tents were set up, and they were sharing a pot of travellers stew, Hargrawn looked at Gelrog.\n\n\"So, the reason we requested your help. About a month ago, the band of adventurers called Grey Breakers found evidence of a cult attempting to make a portal to the Hells. They sent word to the Royals, to warn them of a potential invasion.\n\nAfter sending word, they managed to disrupt the ritual, but instead of preventing the portal from opening, it was... shifted. It seems to open to a plane of despair. Now, we have mages to seal it, but there are devils around the area who have a despair aura around them.\n\nThe troops are brave men and women, but this is magical, and more then they can be reasonably expected to handle. We are hoping you can inspire them to push past the despair, so they can clear the area so the portal can be closed.\"\n\nGelrog nodded, finishing a mouthful of stew.\n\n\"Inspiring a group of soldiers against a mental threat? I can promise you that when I play, they won't have room for fear or depression in their hearts.\"", "The behemoth stopped in front of me, setting the piano down with the utmost care. I looked around the man mountain to see where the player was but the street was bare save for some gawking onlookers. I looked lower down, perhaps expecting a gnome musician. All that was there was the man's huge feet, encased in a pair of supple suede shoes.\n\n\"Uh...I'm...\"\n\n\"Sir Henrik the Knight?\"\n\n\"Yes...yes. uh.\"\n\nI paused, blinking up at the man for a few moments. He was truly massive, standing nearly seven feet tall. At well over six myself, it was rare I felt small. The Wizard, Solandra, was also sizing up this newcomer while Brandurn's thick beard was split by his wide grin as he stared at me. I subtly flipped him off.\n\n\"Then you would be?\"\n\n\"Wolf,\" the giant rumbled, sweeping his brightly coloured hat from his head and bowing.\n\n\"Of course it is,\" Solandra murmured as Wolf straightened up.\n\n\"It is short for Wolfgang Asmodeus Morehart.\"\n\n\"Of course it is!\" Brandurn exclaimed delightedly, draining half of the tankard of ale he had carried with him from the tavern.\n\nWolf smiled at them both of them, shuffling his feet. The noise was like dragging a heavy crate across gravel.\n\n\"The guild inform me that you require a bard for your latest adventure.\"\n\n\"Uh yes. Yes we...\"\n\nI trailed off, for once at a loss for words. Wolf offered me another shy smile, resting one gargantuan hand on the piano's top. I looked to the others for help. Well I looked to Solandra for help. Brandurn was now slowly circling the substantial Wolf and his equally sizeable instrument.\n\n\"Our journey is far....bard,\" Solandra began. \"We have no cart. Will you be able to keep up?\"\n\nShe nodded towards the piano to emphasise her point, throwing an irate look at Brandurn who had scrambled on top.\n\n\"It is lighter than it looks lady sorcerer,\" Wolf said graciously, casually reaching out to pluck Brandurn up and off the lid.\n\n\"Well the main thing big man, is are you any good?\" Brandurn asked as he dangled six feet in the air, suspended in Wolf's giant paw. He was lowered gently.\n\n\"I shall show you my credentials, before we set off.\"\n\n\"Uh yes, lets.\"\n\nI watched as Wolf flipped open his piano's lid with a practiced air. He stood over the keys, cracking his knuckles like rolling thunder. His back to us, I made a \"what by the Gods\" gesture to my companions, which was returned with two very different expressions. Before I could respond further, a soft, mournful tune began to emanate from Wolf's rapidly moving, thick fingers. They danced swiftly and delicately despite their size, the music swelling and growing as he continued. He glanced back, and a few feet down, at us. He opened his giant maw and a gorgeous rich baritone burst forth, singing a slow, measured song.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI left my woman at the farm, When I went off to war. \n\nShe said that she would wait for me, For forty moons or more.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMy father he was proud of me, My mother she did cry.\n\n But I went to do my part, With nary a weary sigh.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThey talked of glory, Oh the names that we would make. \n\nThey talked of coin, Oh the riches that we would take.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTheir words rung heavy in my ears, As my axe sunk deep. \n\nTheir pay sat heavy in my purse, As I struggled that night to sleep.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI saw boys the same as me, Simply doing as they're told. \n\nI saw many more boys the other side, Who now would never grow old.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI left my woman at the farm, When I went off to war. \n\nMy darling had waited for me, But I was that man no more.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSilence reigned in the street as Wolf finished, lifting his hands from the keys and flashing that semi shy smile. I closed my mouth, trying to speak but finding a knot in my throat. I coughed, chuckling softly as a gentle applause began from the sparse audience gathered around.\n\n\"Welcome to the team Wolfgang.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Humanity had made it to the moon before, first contact had been made. But now, you aren’t here for contact. There is a disturbance beneath the white surface of the moon, and as you approach, you could’ve sworn you heard something, a name, ....your name.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Theodore,” a horse voice echoes in my head in the middle of nowhere.\n\n“It’s just another one of your episodes,” I whisper to myself.\n\n“You say something Theo,” my boss’s voice echoes in my suit over the coms. \n\n“No, don’t worry about it. everything’s fine.”\n\n“Probably one of his Schizophrenic episodes,” A soft voice echoes in my head.\n\nI turn to Jessica, who still stands behind a mound of moon dust, perfectly shaped like a small wall. “And yet you’re letting the schizophrenic human one up you right now. Come on, what’s there to be scared about?”\n\nHer six pitch-black eyes stare back at me, looking like Onyx gemstones compared to her white reptile skin. \n\n“I’m sorry, but I will not defy the customs of my kind, even if they may be old...”\n\n“Outdated you mean,” Jack, a hyperactive newbie, shouts through the coms, causing my ears to ring. \n\n“God fucking damn it, Jack. Don’t yell, or you’r gonna burst our damn ears out,” our boss yells back through, ignoring her own warning. “Anyway Jessica, can you tell us any more about these, well, ritual sites.”\n\nI take a step forward, towards the center of the patch of sculpted moon dust mounds. “Theodore,” the voice says again, somehow strangling my nerves. I have to get this under control. I can’t take any more meds than I already have. Come on now, Theo, “Come back to us, Theo.”\n\nA sharp pain fills my head, causing me to shut my eyes for a moment. When I open them back up, I don’t see the moon anymore. Rib cages jut out from dark red sand, black flowers snap at and gobble up roaming cockroaches and small flying bugs. \n\nI thought I got this place out of my head. “Damn it,” I calmly mutter as I stare anxiously at the horizon. It’s all just another episode, but something this vivid shouldn’t be happening with all the meds. I made sure to take them all, right? The three injections, the five pills, the fucking anal dosage. I- I don’t want to see them again like this. I don’t want to see the corpses of my family.\n\nI shut my eyes and crouch down, feeling cold, burning sands touch my exposed legs. The pain brings me back, but not before Jessica anxiously asks, “are you alright, Theo?”\n\n“Hey, are you actually having one right now,” Jack asks, now hovering right above me and holding my shoulder. \n\n“Y-yeah,” I say, happily in my spacesuit. “Sorry, it seems like it’s acting up a bit more than usual today.”\n\n“Hey, if you need to leave, I can bring you back, not like I’d be of any use, right boss?” His voice sounds anxious, and his arms visibly shake through the suit. \n\n“Stop doubting yourselves; even though you might be dead weights, we can’t continue this expedition unless there’s four of us.”\n\n“I can keep on going, no worries,” I almost shout as adrenaline suddenly fills my veins. \n\n“I wasn’t asking-.”\n\n“But I knew you would, boss.”\n\n“All right, smart-ass, but another episode, and we’re done.”\n\n“Allright.” I bring myself up, with help from Jack before he dashes forward, or well jumps like a maniac, gently floating in the air.\n\n“Anyway,” Jessica says after a slight cough, even though her kind doesn’t have any lungs. “There is a story that is told to us about sites like these. Strange mounds that form patterns on the ground after sudden quakes. They used to be common, but they stopped three hundred years ago.\n\n“And what’s so bad about them? I’m guessing there’s something since you’re not stepping in.” The boss takes out her standard-issue pickaxe and swings it into one of the sand mounds. Instead of causing a plume of white dust, the pickaxe head breaks off. “I’m not even gonna try and shoot it.”\n\n“I honestly wish you at least waited for me to answer. But, anyway, we are told not to enter because these places are sites for rituals.”\n\n“Like, magic or something,” Jack playfully asks, though suddenly breathing heavily.\n\n“No, rather, the term ritual is used to mean, what humans would call, demons.”\n\n“Well, ain’t that just grand,” I mutter.\n\n“Theodore,” the voice whispers into my ears yet again. My body feels hundreds of hands grasp at my skin, tug at my hair, attempt to pull me down, but as I nearly lose my footing, Jack grabs my arm. \n\n“Theodore, you should look out more.” His voice is suddenly horse, and a faint ring comes out from the coms, telling me he’s talking to me over a private channel.\n\nI turn to him, wide-eyed. “Why’d you just call me Theodore?”\n\n“I’m sorry, but they told me to.” \n\n“Jack what the hell are you doing,” the boss’ voice rings into my ears? \n\nJack drags out his pickaxe while tightly gripping onto my arm. “I’m sorry, Theodore, but they told me it was you or me.” \n\nBefore he can swing the pick into my side, the glass of his visor cracks and shoots out. Faint drops of blood float into the air as his body crumples down onto the sand, still tightly holding the pickaxe. \n\n“Jessica call for a rover right fucking now, Theo, Theo! What the hell did he say to you in the private line?”\n\nI slowly turn to look at my boss, with a gun in her hands. I can hear the voices whispering into my head. I thought it was just one, but the more I listen, the more I realize there are hundreds of them. I force myself to turn Jack’s body over, to pear into the suit. It’s empty, except for faint bloodstains that cover the leftover glass. “He said it was me or him.”" ]	2
	[WP] You are an aspiring writer in the not so distant future, but you struggle with writers block and originality, you feel as though every story you could think of has already been written. One day, you wake up in the year 1950, with all the memories and the books you read 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 friend, I just think your stories are just a mess.\"\n\nHenry cursed himself. As the editor skimmed through the drafts Henry had spent a month writing, his face became more and more stretchy.\n\n\"I mean, the plot itself is a doozy. A kid, who is supposed to be the son of the sea god, found himself enrolled in an academy of magic and now is in the quest of becoming a criminal mastermind?\"\n\n\"Yes... It's a bit much but I believe it can work!\"\n\n\"Listen, the plot itself is one thing but the characters. What? This lad, Perry Jackpot for starters. So, his mom was a witch who slept with the sea god, Neptune. And thanks to a dark lord, who for some reason is noseless, Perry is now an orphaned destined to continue his lineage of being a crime lord?\"\n\n\"Yes, sure the character-\"\n\n\"And what about this heroine of yours? An Indian girl struggling to prove herself a great witch while dealing with prejudice? I mean, I get you want to be political and all but I don't think it'll sell.\"\n\n\"Look, the racial discrimination is an important plot-\"\n\n\"And don't even get me started with this dark lord. I'm with you with the whole quest for immortality business but do you have to make him the hero's old man? What about the whole son of Neptune thing?\"\n\n\"Well you see, when the dad went away for a bit, Neptune disguised himself as him and hooked up with the mother. This is actually one of the reason why he left the family.\"\n\n\"I think that's just needlessly complicate everything. Let's talk about the mentor character. So he's the dad's mentor and sworn brother but after the dad went to the dark side, he got exile?\"\n\n\"Yes, see here. I've planned an extension to the dad's story that I intend to expand in a side series-\"\n\n\"What makes you think this one will even get your a normal series?\"\n\n\"...Determination?\"\n\n\"Look here. Nobody will read this. And I haven't even gotten to the part with the whole space magic academy.\"\n\n\"...That's a no then?\"\n\n\"Hard no.\"\n\nWith that, Henry left the editor's office without the passion he had brought earlier. As he got to the hallway, the secretary raised herself from the chair and called the other man waiting there \"Mr. Rolf. You may go in.\"\n\nHenry glanced at the man named Rolf. Seemed like around his age. His face shining was shining with excitement and glee, like how Henry had when he was coming in earlier. Scoffing, Henry wondered if he should stay just to see that shine on his face gone.\n\nA year later, Henry would find himself punching the wall when Rolf rise to fame thanks to his 'Harry Potter' series." ]	2
	[WP] You are a great explorer. For your greatest adventure, you went to circumnavigate the entire world. When you come to what you thought was the last stop, you see a man facing a giant cliff face into the abyss, making pancakes on a camp stove. “End of the world,” he says. “Turn back.”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“End of the world?” I question the mysterious pancake maker. “Is that not what I said?” he answered, \"Well yeah… but what do you mean the end of the world? I thought there was no end of the world?”. “There's an end to everything right? So why wouldn’t there be an end of the world?” the man said as he put three pancakes on a plate and handed it to me. “Well we were taught that the Earth was round… not flat so therefore there couldn’t be a “end of the world”. “That’s just what they want you to think. Tell me honestly, do you think the government would want everyone searching for the end of the world?”. “Well why not? It would be a great way to make money?” I answer and take a bite of the pancake. “Ok sure, except that this is almost like an Area 51 to them, just way more important” he said as he pulls out and chair and hands it to me “Here, have a seat” \n\n“And then we sit down and talk all about how the universe works and the end of the world. Sometimes when they discover something new, I get a letter with all of their findings. I can show you someday if you want?” I say to the little girl that sits on my lap. “Oh I would love that Nanny! Did you hear that mama?? Nanny’s gonna tell me about the end of the world!” she shouts out as she goes and runs to her mother, my daughter. My daughter picks her up as she shakes her head, “What have I told you about filling her head with nonsense? If you are going to tell her any stories please make sure they are about real things”, she then starts to carry my granddaughter to bed and one last thing I do is wave a letter and wink at her, letting her know that I have no intention of stopping anytime soon… the people deserve to know.", "\"W-wait, what?\" I asked, the simple question aimed at both the man and the endless abyss he faced. In fact, everything else about this place just didn't sit right. \"Where am I?\"\n\nThe man sighed as if he had been down this road before. He paid no attention to me, nor did the nothingness bother him. Instead he just checked the downside of his pancake for burns. \"I don't know what else to tell you, man.\"\n\n\"What do you mean you don't know what else to tell me!? You're just sitting in front of nothing, flipping pancakes, telling me it's the end of the world. I could figure out a lot of things you can tell me!\"\n\n\"Dude, if I knew, I would tell you. All I know is that over there,\" a thumb directed over his shoulder to the world behind me, \"is the world. And over there,\" he pointed with an index finger from the same hand, \"end of the world.\"\n\n\"What the fuck do you mean 'end of the world'?! The world is round!\" I yelled in absolutely frustration and disbelief.\n\nThe man just shrugged, flipping over his pancake after he was satisfied how the downside turned out. \"Well, apparently not.\"\n\n\"What about the pictures from space?! What about science?! What about all the expl-\"\n\n\"Dude, same thing I told them, the same thing I'll tell you. End. Of. The. World.\"\n\n\"What the fuck do you mean 'the same thing you told them'?! How long have you been here?!\" More questions, the same amount of answers.\n\nThat seemed to pull his attention, as the man gazed up from his stove. He stared off into the abyss. It felt like an eternity before he spoke again. \"Long enough, I guess.\"\n\nI nearly lost my shit. I yelled frustrations and curses at the nothing, pacing back and forth behind the man's back. Then I stopped. This has to be a joke. \"Fine, you know what. Whatever. This is probably some 'off-the-road- attraction. What happens if I go into there?\"\n\nThe man shrugged again, \"Unsure. No one has tried.\" He lifted his arm toward the abyss, \"Feel free to be the first.\" There was a silence as I tried to figure this out, sans the crackle of his fire and the sizzle of the pancake cooking.\n\nI walked towards the edge, eyeing it for any edge of a mirror or glimmer of a hidden light. Anything to bring this disbelief to reality. Nothing.\n\nI stood at the edge of the world, and listened to the deafening silence. There was a fear that overtook me, a sinking in my chest as my eyes kept trying to adjust to the void. It made my head hurt.\n\nI lifted my foot and stepped back. Followed by another. After a few steps I was able to pry my unadjusted eyes away from the nothing and back towards the world. With the void to my back, I looked down at the man at the end of the world. On the opposite side of him, when I thought I would see his face, I was surprised to see him sitting with his back towards me. His entire camp stove turned with him as he continued to cook the pancake. He turned to back over, as if he had not already cooked the topside already. The pan sizzled like it would when uncooked batter would hit it.\n\n\"Safe trip back home.\" He said, throwing a hand up for an unenthusiastic wave from over his shoulder, as if he knew I wouldn't be the last one.", "\"Who are you?\" Petyr asked.\n\n\"Don't matter,\" replied the man, poking at the contents of the pan with a stick. Though odd and unyielding, he certainly wasn't the kind of man one expected to run into when facing the dark unknown. A grim figure in a dark robe seemed more fitting, but if Petyr had learned one thing in his journey across the known world, it was that expectations simply lead to disappointment. Thus far, it was hard to tell if he was disappointed with his new company.\n\n\"I rather think it does,\" said Petyr, crossing his arms. \"And why should I turn back?\"\n\nThe man grunted. \"Nothin' there.\"\n\nPetyr looked over his shoulders back to his ship. Still moored in the shallows, the Histrionic had seen better days. Soot covered the cracked hull from fires set by rowdy locals, the faint dust spilling out into the water. Splinters of wood jutted out from the hull like bone leaping from a wound. It was a shade of what it had been in port, much like its crew, and he wondered if it could even make the trip back.\n\n\"Well,\" Petyr said in a huff, \"I think we'll have to shore up here for a bit. Mind if I join you and your... meal?\"\n\n\"By all means.\" The gruff man extended a hand, inviting Petyr to sit.\n\nHe sat down onto the gravel shore and stared into the fire. So much had led to this, the end of the world, though he'd not known it at the time. Ideally, the trip was to last ninety days to make a safe journey around the world. Clearly, someone had mixed up certain details since, by all accounts, the world was indeed round and he should have made port two weeks ago.\n\nThe giant hydra had taken out a mast but he carried on. The massive storms of fire and ice took many of Petyr's crew but they pulled through. Even the desert they'd sailed through proved perilous but all went somewhat according to plan. Now his crew faced an endless abyss guarded by a man in a yellow raincoat and pink galoshes. How odd the end of the world is.\n\n\"What's your name?\" he asked the man.\n\n\"Craig.\"\n\n\"Hm. You strike me more of a Harold.\"\n\n\"Do you have a point, sir?\" Craig asked, irritated.\n\n\"Just making conversation,\" assuaged Petyr. \"May I ask what this all is?\"\n\n\"Breakfast.\"\n\n\"No, I mean this... nothingness.\"\n\nCraig looked over his shoulder into the darkness. \"Hm? Oh, that's nothing.\"\n\nPetyr shook his head in disbelief. \"The sea turns to rocks shortly before a cliff that leads into an abyss that shouldn't exist, where light cannot escape, likely where we go when we die, and it's nothing?\"\n\nCraig huffed. \"Yup. Nothin'.\"\n\nAlready, the crew was beginning to unload supplies onto the thin, rocky beach where Petyr sat. Aside from the salty dogs that made up the Histrionic's crew, there was no life of any kind to be found along the shore. No birds or crabs, not even stray seaweed patches washed up from the tide. The place seemed dead, for lack of a better word.\n\n\"What are you doing here at 'the end of the world'?\" Petyr asked.\n\n\"Waiting,\" replied Craig, flipping the pancake for the third time since this conversation started.\n\n\"For?\"\n\n\"I dunno. Somethin'.\"\n\n\"You are very intriguing, good sir, and very difficult to talk to.\"\n\n\"So I've been told.\"\n\nPetyr stood up. \"Before I go attend to my crew, I must ask you one more thing.\"\n\nCraig shuffled the pancake out of the pan and gingerly placed it on a small dish. Seemingly out of nowhere, he pulled out a small container and poured thick, almost chunky syrup onto his breakfast. \"Shoot,\" he said.\n\n\"Where are you from?\"\n\nA thin smile appeared on Craig's face, a crack in his smoggy veneer. \"Nowhere.\"\n\n\"Thought so,\" said Petyr, turning his back to his new companion.\n\nHe walked over to his crew still unloading barrels of provisions onto the beach and paused. All of his tricks had gotten him here, but what did it really mean? Could he bring these loyal men and women back home? Or were they consigned to the same fate as a surly, middle-aged man in a raincoat at the edge of the world?\n\nPetyr shook his head, clearing his mind of these thoughts. This was just another obstacle in his way, one that should prove to be nothing in the face of a seasoned explorer. He'd faced worse. It's not like it's the end of the world.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nr/The_Rubicon", "SNAP\n\nThe picture of the abyss was saved into the camera. I figured I had enough pictures by now. There's not much of an angle I could go for more. I stashed my camera into my bag and turned towards the other explorer, who had just done preparing two plates of pancakes. As I approached him, he offered one of the plate, which I took gratefully.\n\n\"So... any idea how did we get here?\" I asked as I took a bite of the warm breakfast. Boy, was he a good cook.\n\n\"Nothing solid but if I have to guess, based on stories I've heard from around the world, it's possible that you and I have somehow been to every place in the world which somehow opened the path to what one might refer to as the World's End.\" He offered as a theory.\n\n\"Huh. Let's check. Ever been to the Jošavka Donja?\"\n\n\"Bosnia-Hezergovina? A few years ago, yes. You've been to Kijong-Dong?\n\n\"In North Korea, right? Riskiest travel I've ever did.\"\n\n\"Oh, I agree. I swear, they somehow put drones in the oxygen there. How about the Gold City of El Dorado?\"\n\n\"Yes. Hold on, you're the great cook they were raving about!?\"\n\n\"That's me! Oh my god, how are those munchkins!?\"\n\nAs we changed stories, laughed at one another, bragged whose had a greater journey, sobbed at each other's tragedy, we became fast friend. It was a first for me, to have someone to relate to was not a thing I regularly get. Even the other travelers I've met before could barely resonated with my spirit.\n\n\"Okay, how about the hidden city of Tasik Chini? How long did it take for you to solve the entrance riddle?\" He inquired, throwing me into a flashback of my travel to Malaysia.\n\n\"Around a week or two. You?\"\n\nHe scoffed \"Three days.\"\n\n\"Buzz off! I wasted my entire stock of coffee!\" I laughed \"Okay, how about the hidden land of Mu?\"\n\n\"I scoured the ocean for about a month or so. Wasted a lot of money too. Wait, what's with that face?\"\n\n\"...One week and all I had was a fisherman's boat.\"\n\n\"Oh, haha.\"\n\nWe didn't realize how much time we spent. By the time the sun was already setting, we realized that we've come to the end of our tales. And then we were quiet. I couldn't help to wonder about it and I knew he was the same.\n\n\"Now what?\" I asked him. He didn't say a word, his face was as clueless as I was \"Do we go home? Do we visit those places again?\"\n\n\"I suppose.\" He answered simply.\n\n\"I mean, those places ought to have changes by now.\"\n\n\"Sure they would.\"\n\nHis face didn't show any sort of excitement. I couldn't help but to worry. But I knew whatever it was that helped ignite the man's spirit for exploration, it was all gone now.\n\nThe next day, when I woke up, there was only a note and pancake left for me.\n\n'Thanks for yesterday. Off to my next exploration. Would we meet again I wonder?'\n\nI turned towards the abyss and let my mind do the guessing." ]	5
Thanks to u/MissingMyClarity for the prompt.	[WP] in a world where every night when you fall asleep your dreams are the memories of your souldmate, a boy is plagued by nightmares. He has to find her before it's too late.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It had been a long day, and I settled into the bed uneasily. It was softer than I had expected, to the point that it almost felt like floating directly in a sea of cotton. Contrasted against the rough edges of the hammock I'd been sleeping on for the last few weeks, it was almost impossible to fade into what passed for sleep these days. The Soul Dream had begun, and I wouldn't be able to rest easily again until I found my soulmate. After a few more minutes of tossing and turning, I managed to get into an angle that didn't offend my subconscious, and my thoughts eased into dreams.\n\nI'd seen the beach many times. Littered with bodies and wooden shrapnel, I had deduced that the site was one of a shipwreck, and not a particularly pleasant one. I wandered the site, rain pouring from the heavens as though the gods themselves were bailing out their own sinking ship. The clap of thunder rang out, and despite knowing in the back of my mind that the sound wasn't actually real, my ears still ached. Though the thunder only struck on occasion, the howling shriek of the wind and the pounding of the rain was constant.\n\nI wandered the beach, noting boxes and chests that could potentially hold treasure, but they were for another day. Right now I was looking for a person, among the dozens of bodies scattered in the surf and on the beach. There she was, I'd recognize that frock of blonde hair anywhere. The young woman was hunched over a piece of wreckage, coughing as I approached. I heard that loud shriek tear through the wind, and saw the massive tentacled creature rise from the inky black water in the distance, directly under the shimmering full moon that shone through a part in the clouds.\n\nThen I woke up. As was the case with the Soul Dream, you never got to see your soulmate's face, nor to exchange any word with them. That was for the actual meeting, the dream just gave you the directions to get there, and these directions didn't exactly make me excited for that meeting. Still, I was awake, and needed to face the day. The full moon was tonight, and I was damn sure that whatever came after I made eye contact with my soulmate was something I'd need to prepare for.\n\nThe meeting was going to be tricky enough on its own, so I needed to be in top shape. I checked my face in the mirror. Nope, that cut on my face was still there, and it was definitely going to leave a scar. One of my legs was still stiff from the sprain I'd gotten, though the injury itself was dealt with. I dearly hoped that I'd still be able to run away in time, fleeing a massive monster with another person in tow would be enough of a feat without a twisted ankle.\n\nStill, I donned my doublet and trousers, affixed the scabbard with my sword, and checked my pistol. Six rounds, same as ever, fully loaded. As I headed down to the tavern, the innkeeper greeted me.\n\n\"Captain! Lovely to see you, up and about!\" she said. \"Awful late, ain't it? I thought you were heading out to meet your bride-to-be, not a lady of the night!\"\n\n\"Perhaps, but romance doesn't set just because the sun has,\" I said. \"Speaking of, where is my no good crew?\"\n\nI stomped along the hall, pounding on the doors of the rooms my crewmen had occupied.\n\n\"Up, you scurvy dogs! We've got a schedule to keep!\" I shouted.\n\n\"Oh come now, lad! You seem like the rowdy sort, but I doubt you'll need a whole crew to win over your destined lover!\" the inkeeper said.\n\nI kept pounding on doors, until my first mate and several of my crewmen exited their quarters.\n\n\"We're up, Captain...\" First Mate Leslie said.\n\n\"Good, grab your gear, the rain's bound to start any second,\" I said.\n\n\"Well, since you're up, make sure to grab some dinner before you go. My wife worked hard on it, so be sure to be appreciative!\" the innkeeper said.\n\nAlmost the moment she stopped speaking, the pitter-patter of rain started battering the roof of the inn.\n\n\"No time, Ma'am. If we're still alive in an hour, we'll join you then!\" I said.\n\nLeslie and the crewmen followed me outside, and we ran to the hill outside of town. We'd hauled our ship onto the shore to keep it out of danger during the storm, and moved the cannons and mortars here to prepare for the fight we were confident would be coming. I hoped we wouldn't have to fight, but I wasn't dumb enough to count on that.\n\nThe rain poured down like hailstones, drenching and battering my crewmen. After half an hour, Leslie turned to me.\n\n\"Captain, are you sure this is the right place? And the right time? I'm not seeing any blonde women out here,\" she said.\n\n\"Definitely the right place. Right time... I can't be too sure, but if it's coming soon it would be tonight,\" I said. \"Well, speak of the devil...\"\n\nA massive chunk of a lavishly large sailing vessel came flying through the sky, shattering to timbers in the rocky bay. Bodies, containers, and wreckage quickly began to wash up on the shore.\n\n\"Stay back and wait for my signal,\" I said, cocking back the hammer on my pistol. I ran down to the shore, and began checking the bodies. No, no... Ah, there she was. A crack of thunder broke my concentration momentarily, but I quickly identified her again.\n\nI ran over to the blonde woman as the shrieking wind howled overhead, and noticed the large creature rising from the sea. Then I saw something else, a humanoid form drifting across the surface of the water. While that was not remarkable in itself given the circumstances, it was rather unusual that they appeared to be walking atop the water, as opposed to floating facedown like a piece of flotsam. Their eyes glowed like the lightning that traced across the sky, and I began to notice that the shrieking wasn't actually the wind, it seemed to be coming from them.\n\nStill, I couldn't get distracted. I dragged the blonde woman out of the water, and very quickly realized that I had been running on some very inaccurate assumptions. Firstly, despite the soft, wavy hair and thin frame, this person was not a woman, but a man with a well manicured mustache and beard who I had only seen lying face down before. While that wasn't necessarily a deal breaker in itself, soulmates came in many forms, there was also the matter of the jagged pieces of wood sticking out of his throat and chest. This man didn't need a lover, he needed a mortician, and the apparent coughing I'd thought I'd seen was just movement from the waves.\n\nI balked in confusion for a moment, before realizing that there was one face I'd never been allowed to see in the dreams, and it was now sprinting toward me across the surface of the water. The woman who emerged from the rain was... beautiful was the wrong word. Seawater had worn down her clothes to little more than rags, and the harsh salty air made her hair and face look somewhat more haggard than it probably should have. Still, there was an elegance to her, the way she glided across sea and sand, and a definite strength to her despite her willowy frame.\n\n\"You there, fancy man. The destined day of my arrival has come! Let all know that these are the waters of Agatha the sea witch, and I shall share them with nobody, be they merchant, cleric, or king!\" she said.\n\n\"I think you're mistaken, miss. You stand before Captain Potter, and this is my sea,\" I said.\n\nWhile I had been expecting a sneer, instead she responded with a smirk and raised her hand to the sky.\n\n\"You and what army?\" she asked, snapping her fingers. There was another clap of thunder, so loud it left my ears ringing, and the great leviathan in the distance began approaching the shore with worrying speed.\n\nI drew my sword and pistol, and Agatha snapped her wrist at the ground, causing a glass blade to emerge from the sand and float to her hand. I fired my pistol into the sky, and the artillery began to sing.\n\n---\nAgatha was visibly exhausted, though anyone would be after fighting for nearly an hour. The monster she'd brought to bear had several terrible grievous wounds from the cannon shot, and had fled. My crew were also scattered, no doubt hiding in the nearby forest and hills for the battle to be over.\n\n\"You are bold, Captain, I'll give you that,\" she said, panting as she spoke. \"But I have dozen more Krakens, and hundreds more younglings to fill the ranks when the great ones fall. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of merfolk at my beck and call. Do you truly think your realm can stand up to my power?\"\n\n\"Stand up to you? Ma'am, I think there may have been a misunderstanding,\" I said, dropping to one knee. It wasn't difficult, as my leg had nearly given out on me several times during the fight.\n\n\"Surrendering? A wise choice,\" Agatha said, stepping toward me.\n\nHowever, before she got any closer, I pulled out the gold ring I'd saved from our last plunder and held it out toward her. The woman slowed down in front of me, staring in confusion.\n\nFinally, I said, \"Agatha, I have a fleet of ships myself with hundreds of guns, but that was never the point of coming here. You've seen me fight, you know of my goals, and you seem like a fine woman. Would you take my hand in marriage, so we can rule this sea together?\"\n\nAnd that, in short, is the story of how I met your mother." ]	2
	[WP] The end of the 23rd Century. A neon cloud of Bio-Tech symbiosis remains of humanity. Our U-CHiPs were introduced to us years ago as Networked, AI-controlled Life-Enhancement Systems that would operate as an extension of our biological selves. Soon, we lost track of who was in the driving seat.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"How's your NAILS?\"\n\nI turned my wrist as neon lettering temporarily appeared across my flesh, staring longer than I intended to. It was a tough process, getting acclimated to this technology.\n\n\"Says I'm good,\" I responded, relaxing and tensing my hand in a dance that pushed up the vein in my wrist. The lettering bent in a show of submission; technology giving way to its organic master. \"Seems to be working.\"\n\n\"Any headaches?\"\n\nThe labcoat watched as I shook my head, hand reflexively moving to its back and gingerly touching the stitches that stretched from the nape to the crown. My scalp felt dry and leathery, as if someone skinned my head and left the rinds to tan in the sun. My hand came away with bloodied fingertips; typical. The bandages would be back on soon.\n\n\"I went ahead and prescribed some painkillers, just in case,\" he said, handing me a small piece of paper. \"Take two every day; once in the morning after waking up, and once in the evening before dinner. Change your bandages every few days. I also went ahead and scheduled a follow-up for next month, to see how you've healed up. Oh, before I forget...\"\n\nHe pulled a pair of specially-tinted shades from his pocket and handed them to me.\n\n\"When you leave here, have these on. The U-CHiPs aren't meant to handle extreme stimuli so close to initial activation. They need time to adapt to your brain, to sync with it. If you don't give it time, they won't adapt, and that will become a much larger problem.\"\n\n\"Right,\" I agreed, nodding my head. \"Wouldn't want that to happen.\"\n\n\\-----\n\nWhen I left the office, I was greeted by walls of neon and the thick smell of sewer water. Buildings towered over me in every direction, painting the sky with rectangular lights and hologram ads. What wasn't covered by concrete and steel was intermittently blacked out by speeding black dots, twisting and turning and interlacing with each other before sprawling out amidst thin corridors, almost like ants looking for food.\n\nEven with the shades, I winced at the light, worried that the chip would intervene too soon. If it weren't mandated for work, I wouldn't have had it at all, but it was either this or lose my job and get pushed into the blacklots with the rest of them. I was barely holding on as it were. Concerned, I drew my hood up over my head, covering a good portion of my face so I could make it back home unheeded, but in order to do so, I had to pass through that territory, and I only made it to the alleys before I was stopped.\n\nThe blacklots were home to some of the roughest characters in the city; jobless folks who, for some reason or another, either just couldn't make ends meet or were forced out of their former residences by corporations looking to expand their reach. Once you make the blacklots your new home, there was a near-zero chance of making it back out, so to afford the already minimal rent, you had to get either creative--or violent. Most chose the latter; you needed to be strong to survive here.\n\nTo make money here, you robbed others. If you're really desperate, you killed. Targets included those better off, but if you were lucky, you caught a stray--someone not from the blacklots who passed through at the wrong time. Almost every stray had a U-CHiP. Tonight, that stray was me.\n\n-----\n\nThey cornered me in a dead end, having chased me through the labyrinth of alleyways, knives in hand. They fiended for a chance to rip the NAILS out of my skull, to sell it and feed their chemchip addiction. I wasn't a fighter; the way I saw it, I was as good as dead, and the stress got to me. The headache was severe and it felt like the system was burrowing deeper into my brain, as if it could.\n\nSlowly, I resigned myself to the stimuli. I wasn't ready to die, but I had no choice to accept.\n\nIn a show of defiance, something else had a different idea in mind, and made its presence known, seizing my body and clenching my fists as the words flashed across my vision, a herald of a string of events to come:\n\n\"ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL.\"" ]	2
	[WP] As a doctor, you have seen a lot of people who should not be alive, but this guy's MRI scan is beyond unsettling. He complained about intense chest pain, and it turn out that he has another organ tightly packed in there, an organ that looks like nothing you have ever seen before.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Jason looked at the doctor sitting on the desk opposite of him with concern, the doctor's face was grim and serious. He came to the hospital with intense chest pain and a feeling of extreme heat in the chest, the symptoms have subsided for now, but he was still worried if he had a heart disease or not. Is he going to die?\n\n\"What is it, Dr. David? Is it something bad?\" \n\n\"Jason, We got your X-ray report. I don't know how to explain this to you. We found something really shocking.\" said the doctor. \n\nJason's heart skipped a beat hearing the doctor's words.\n\n\"Please doctor, tell me whatever you have to say. I am ready for it\", said Jason. He steeled himself to hear the worst news.\n\nThe doctor opened the monitor in the desk and showed it to him. He saw the X-ray image of his chest. Just beside his heart and in between the lungs two halves was a small circular object. This circular object had tentacles all around it that spread throughout his whole body.\n\n\"What the hell is that!!\" shouted Jason.\n\n\"We don't know. We have never seen anything like it. It seems to be some kind of new organ that almost has a nerve like transfer system, these tentacle like things are almost like nerves that connect to various parts of the body, including your hands and legs.\"\n\n\"Is this some kind of tumor or cancer. Am I going to die?\" Jason's voice was soft and lacked energy. \n\n\"We don't know, we have to do a lot of tests to find out what this organ is. It could be life threatening or may not be. Could you please agree to do biopsy so that we can a piece of the organ for further tests?\"\n\n\"Biopsy? But that will be very expensive. I don't have insurance.\" said Jason.\n\n \"But we we need to know what this organ is and find out quickly before it can cause any harm to your body\"\n\n\"Doctor, do you know what my situation is? I flip burgers at Mcdonald's, My mom is mentally ill and I have to care for her and buy her meds, My younger brother doesn't have money to go to college. I don't have that kind of money to do an operation!\" exclaimed Jason.\n\nThe doctor was shocked and looked at Jason with guilt and said, \"Okay Jason, I'm sorry that you are going through a tough time.\" \n\nHe got up and started pacing back and forth. Jason thought about his poor family that depends on him entirely. What will happen to them if is not around anymore?\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"How about I talk to my superiors. We can treat your condition as a research opportunity and fund your further diagnosis from our research budget.\" \n\n\"Is that possible? Thank you so much Doctor!!\" Jason got up and grabbed the doctor's hand. \n\n\"Don't worry about it. For now, just go home and wait for my call.\" smiled the doctor.\n\n...\n\nJason couldn't sleep at night. He kept thinking about that ugly test report image that showed that weird spherical object. Is this some kind of parasite? \n\nSuddenly Jason felt hot again in the chest. Its happening again. It will first start to get hot and then slowly the chest pain will start.\n\n\"Not again! I don't want to go to emergency room!\". His first stint two days ago will cost him a few thousand dollars. More than 2 months of his salary.\n\nBut this time, Jason felt something else. When that hot feeling started, his eyes were closed. He felt he saw some kind of light. He opened his eyes and saw nothing. He closed his eyes and tried to focus his mind on the chest area. Slowly, he saw it again. A bright light emanating from that area where the spherical organ stood. \n\n\"What is that light? is this light some kind of energy that is creating that heat?\"\n\nJason then felt there are doors all around the sphere and he could open them if he concentrated. \n\nHe cleared his mind of all thoughts and focused his entire being on the spot on his chest. Slowly he felt he could the doors a little bit. When the doors opened...\n\nThe light started pore out of the sphere and pipe like tentacle started to get illuminated with light. That pored all around his body and the feeling of heat and pressure in his chest reduced a bit. Instead his body started to feel a bit hot.\n\nBut this feeling of heat all around his body was extremely comfortable, as if he just drank a bowl of soup in a winter night. Jason got excited and kept trying hard to keep the doors open.\n\nAfter a few minutes the heat and light in his chest was gone. His entire body felt hot. Jason opened his eyes and looked around. He was surprized. His eyes were so sharp every detail in the room was clear to him. His hearing was enhanced too and now he could hear his own heart beat.\n\n\"Is this some kind of superpower?\" \n\nJason thought of those Chinese Anime he used to watch. They had heroes who could cultivate and absorb Qi and use it to purify and strengthen their body. If they could cultivate for years and years, they could even reach higher levels and their power will be so great that they can fly around. Their strength will be so great that they could level mountains. And most importantly, they could cultivate to increase their lifespan and even become immortal.\n\n\"Could those Animes be true? Is this some kind of cultivation power?\" Jason was really excited.\n\nHe got up and felt extremely light. He walked towards the wall and just threw a punch without thinking.\n\n\"Boom!\", there was a huge sound. Jason felt his hand going through the wall as if it was paper. He felt just tiny bit of touch. \n\n\"JASON, what's going on\" Shouted his sick mother. Her voice was weak. \n\n\"Nothing, something just fell\", he shouted back.\n\nHe slowly took out his hand and slowly looked at the hole and in the wall.\n\n\"I have superpowers\", he shouted in his head. \n\n\"Let's go out and test what else I can do\"...\n\nAt this moment Jason was the happiest he has ever been in his tough life. He wants to become powerful and take care of his family. Maybe his powers will allow him to become rich. What if the stories of immortality were true as well. The entire world of possibilities came to his mind.\n\n\"What about the doctor? I must not reveal this secret to anyone. Otherwize they will use me as a guinea pig\" \n\n\"I will just not answer his calls. And if he still informs the authorities about me then I might have to flee.\"\n\nJason was not worried about leaving home. For the first time in his life, he had a miracle. He wanted to go all the way with this new found power of his. Whatever may come he will fight it.\n\nJason got out of the house and slowly walked. He came to an empty road with woods on two sides. Let's see how far I can jump. \n\nJason jumped forward and saw himself flying through on top the tree Canopy and slowly came down.\n\n\"Bam!\" his feet broke the pavement and debris flew all around.\n\n\"Wow!\" I can jump like the Hulk! \n\n\nLet's see what else this body can do...", "Dr. Yaga turned away from the screen, sighed, and stared off into space for a few moments. What the heck was that! He rang the cell of his colleague Dr. Fare. \n\n“Vasilisa, can you take a look at this? I've found something I'm not sure I can explain.”\n\n“Sure Bob, I was just on my way in for my shift; I’m about 10 minutes out.”\n\nDr. Robert A. Yaga hung up and stretched, staring intently at the screen. It couldn’t possibly be, the shadows on the screen mocked him hinting, intimating even, something impossible.\n\nDr. Vasilisa Fare breezed into the reading room looking for Dr. Yaga but he was nowhere to be seen. The room “felt” funny, darker than normal. Vasilisa did not notice feeling warmer than normal. Nor did she notice the slight luminescence she appeared to be generating. She was able to check the unlocked still up computer screen for the patient location. She strode to OR 5 where the patient and, potentially, Dr. Yaga were. She reflected off of the tiles as she walked closer to OR 5. Her hand absentmindedly brushed at her forehead, it was only when it came away very wet Vasilisa realized she was sweating buckets. She reflected on her current state of the moment. I don’t feel ill she thought but I was certainly not feeling this hot when I showed up to work. Too early for hot flashes…let me just freshen up. She attempted to turn into a bathroom to take stock but it was as if some invisible force held her to her path. She was being dragged in the direction of OR 5 and no stops were allowed. The other strange thing she suddenly tuned into – she had passed no one either coming to the reading room or on her way to surgery. She tried to stop to don a scrub suit but the intense pull on her from OR 5 was more than she could resist. She was outright glowing by this time. She was glowing so brightly that she could see everything very clearly despite the power was now out. Somehow during her walk to the OR the power had blipped out, which, if she had stopped to think about it, should have really puzzled her given the large amount of time and money put in precisely to prevent this oversight. \n\nDr. Fare stepped into OR 5 into the middle of a maelstrom. Her luminescence surreally lit the scene for a split second. Dr. Yaga was in the middle of the OR pulling a gristly something from the chest of the patient lying on the table. It almost appeared that Dr. Yaga was pulling a baby from a pentagram shaped fire dimension that just so happened to be in the center of the patient’s chest. The patient was out but so was everyone else in the OR, all of the doctors, the team, everyone was asleep, frozen in place. The people were the only non-moving objects in the room; otherwise, the entire room was in effect a class 4 hurricane. \n\nVasilisa shouts “Octahobka!!!” The room erupts in a giant blast of light, Vasilisa disappears and the entire world is returned to 1625 seconds previously.\n\nDr. Yaga turned away from the screen, sighed, and stared off into space for a few moments. What the heck was that! He started to ring the cell of his colleague Dr. Fare. Changed his mind and turned back to the shadow on the screen of patient Pyotr Lebedev. The young man that showed up in the ER complaining of chest pain and had the strange pentagram tattooed directly over his heart. His history even correlated the tattoo with the beginning of his pain. Several of the more religious staff had specifically asked to be reassigned off his case. Pyotr was only able to grit out small sentences at a time. He was in a significant amount of pain when conscious. He did not have anything of significance in his wallet and his cell phone was a simple flip phone model with the 2, 4, 6, and 8 keys completely worn away. Also, nothing in the cell phone, no previously dialed numbers, no contacts. Dr. Yaga headed to OR 5 to take another look in person, he called Dr. Fair on his way.", " A few hours ago, a man named Robert Lane arrived to the hospital telling the nearest doctor about a horrible pain in his chest. After taking an MRI test, he fell to the ground unconscious and was quickly taken to the closest empty hospital room. After closer examination, it was concluded to be total organ failure. \n\nThe hospital tried to contact Robert Lane's closest living relative, only to learn that Robert Lane didn't exist. However, that's not what had Dr. Hassan's attention. Dr. Hassan couldn't believe what he was seeing. \n\nThere was some kind of organ pressing up against The Patient's lungs. Something that shouldn't be there. Dr. Hassan worked at the same hospital for 25 years, and he had never seen or heard anything like this. \n\nHe got up from the computer monitor he was viewing the MRI on and walked over to The Patient's room. He appeared to be in a more stable condition, with a normal heart rate and blood pressure. Dr. Hassan turned to leave when when the sound of the heart rate monitor's beeping filled the room. He turned to see the heart rate monitor jump to 200 beats per minute. \n\nHe was shocked and was about to leave to get help, but for some reason, that the doctor couldn't quite explain, his legs refused to move. He tried to shout for help, but it was like someone glued his mouth shut. The beeping heart rate monitor seemed to get louder and louder as The Patient rose out of the hospital bed. The Patient walked past Dr. Hassan, and the heart beat monitor, despite it no longer monitoring The Patient's heart, got louder and louder with every step. Even when The Patient left the room Dr. Hassan was still paralyzed. The beeping from the heart beat monitor was so loud it evolved into a splitting headache. \n\nAll at once Dr. Hassan regained control of his body. The shock of whatever it was that just occurred brought Dr. Hassan to his knees. He crawled out of the room to find that the hospital staff and patients on the ground clutching their heads in pain as screams fill the hospital corridors. There were what appeared to be heavily armed men running through the building. The pounding of their black boots against the hospital floor felt like seismic waves, making the pounding in his head even worse. \n\nHe felt someone pull him up by the hair and check his face, before yelling something at another armed man who then lead him outside and into an armored van. There were others with him. Patients, doctors, and nurses, some of which the Doctor recognized. Dr. Hassan heard someone hit the side of the van and felt the it lurch forward. He knew they were moving, but had no idea where they were going, or what was going to happen to him or anyone else in the hospital, but he knew for sure that he would never be the same.", "“It’s just a double exposure” the doctor said, though she knew it wasn’t. She stared at the man on the table, not quite old, but somewhere between middle aged and elderly. This John Doe, or rather, John Smith, was brought in after multiple GSWs. None of the doctors could figure out how he wasn’t DOA. The X-rays all showed that, somehow, this seemingly ordinary man had two hearts. They tried their best to save him, but to no avail. The mans hearts stopped beating.\n\nHours later, in the dead of night, he was placed in the hospital morgue, to be prepared in the morning. Nobody knows if it’s true, but one man said the door bent and another man walked out, but the body of Mr. Smith was never found", "Dr. Swenson did not like the man sitting on the other side of his desk. Though seeing him was an expected outcome, given the events of the day, Swenson still didn’t like it. \n\nThe man’s name was Jack Harvick, and to Swenson he represented the worst aspect of the modern medical field. Harvick was a senior officer in the hospital’s risk management department. \n\n“What’s the status on Patient Doe?” Harvick asked. \n\nSwenson bristled at the name Harvick used. Ever since the patient, a seemingly kind man by the name of Will Fuller, had received the anomalous MRI, the risk management department had swooped in, redacting the man’s name and identifying personal information from the hospital records. \n\n“Mr. Fuller.” Swenson started, only to be interrupted by Harvick wildly waving his hands. \n\n“Mr. Doe,” Harvick corrected, “that is his name now.”\n\nWith an exasperated sigh, Swenson continued. “Fine, Mr. Doe is resting comfortably in a secure room.”\n\n“He was moved to the lock down unit?” a euphemism for the hospital’s psychiatric wing.\n\n“Yes, per your instructions, though I fail to see the necessity of that action.”\n\n“Very necessary, doctor. Given what you found on the MRIs you ran, it would be a massive liability for the hospital if he were to somehow get out of here.”\n\nAs much as Swenson hated to admit it, Harvick was right. Ever since Fuller’s MRI, a test repeated on multiple machines to minimize the possibility of error, had come back with the anomalous results, the doctor has been at a loss for answers. \n\nSwenson had immediately ordered a biopsy, which ruled out the theory that the mysterious growth in Fuller’s chest was a cancer of unprecedented size. When the biopsy came back negative, the true scrambling began. \n\nWhat the hell was in Fuller’s chest?\n\n“Have you come up with a plan of action?”\n\n“Honestly, Mr. Harvick, no I have not. I have never seen anything like this.”\n\n“That’s fair,” Harvick replied, “but you do think it’s an organ?”\n\n“Yes. Though how it functions, what purpose it serves,” Swenson paused, “no idea. I have put out some feelers to colleagues at Duke and Johns Hopkins. They don’t know either.”\n\n“I may have something for you on this.”\n\nSwenson perked up, barely hiding his surprise. With Harvick, information typically flowed one way. Rarely did he have anything to pass aalong. He gave orders, and interrogated people, that was his role. A damned accountant making life and death decisions. \n\n“Go on,” Swenson said. \n\n“For the last few hours, I’ve been getting constant phone calls from government agencies I’d quite frankly never heard of.”\n\nHarvick had Swenson’s complete attention. “What did they say?”\n\n“They were clearly fishing for information. I was evasive, it became obvious to me that they already knew the answers about what was going on. That’s when one of them slipped.•\n\n“What did they say?”\n\n“They gave me some information that, reading between the lines, led me to believe that our Mr. Doe had some deep black work out of a facility in New Mexico.”\n\n“They said that much to you?”\n\n“No, it’s actually a little more strange than that. I kind of got the government agent rattled, because I wouldn’t give him a direct answer. He slipped, and said this was a matter of national security, because our Doe had been at a place called ‘Nightmare Hall.”\n\n“What’s that?”\n\n“I didn’t know, so I Googled it. That led me to a lot of conspiracy theories about a town called Dulce, New Mexico.”\n\n“Never heard of it.”\n\n“I hadn’t either. I won’t get into the conspiracy theories, some of it is incredibly wild, but the accusations include government experiments on unsuspecting citizens.”\n\n“That’s crazy.”\n\n“I would think so too, except for the fact that we have a man in our hospital with an extra organ that no one has ever seen before, and some deep black government agencies are very curious about him. That adds some weight to those claims in my mind.”\n\nHarvick’s words hung in the air, and Swenson spent a few minutes going over them in his mind. The notion of the government experimenting on its own people seemed alien to him, but then again that was the best explanation he had as to where Mr. Fuller’s extra organ came from. \n\n“Where do we go from here?” Swenson finally asked. \n\n“I talked to senior management. The consensus they came to is that it will take a warrant for the Feds to take possession of the patient. The government hasn’t made any noise about us turning the patient over, but we have to assume that’s coming.”\n\n“I see. I appreciate that, because I would like to try to help the man.”\n\nHarvick nodded. “One other thing, I need you to run some tests on our Doe.”\n\n“What kind of tests?”\n\n“It’s in relation to some of the wilder claims from the Dulce information I uncovered. I need you to run some genetic tests on him. We need to determine if our Doe is completely human.”" ]	6
	[WP] Humanity has made first contact with the alien residents of a rogue planet. However, the aliens don't understand human technology and believe that the spacesuits they wear are their physical forms. When the humans take off their helmets for the first time, they freak.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Our planet were shocked the when they announced that made contact with extraterrestrial life. They were \"hoo-mins\" from a star-locked planet called \"Earr-pth\". The king showed an image of these hoo-mins from their first meeting at the base of the capital city. Our people were worried until they saw their forms. The hoo-min had a bulky, white form with a grey mark across their head. I noticed my fellow people were amazed at his form, others were dumbfounded and some even jealous.\n\n The rulers announced a second meeting to called with these hoo-mins at the center of the capital city. Unsurprisingly, this hoo-min was popular enough for almost everyone of my people to walk to see for themselves. I managed to get a good spot before the majority of the people crowded in. As the meeting was filled up the nearly the whole population, the rulers began to start the meeting.\n\n\"My fellow Uranians, we have successfully made contact with these hoo-mins from Earth. As good as they look, were are certainly blessed to receive such an invitation.\" \n\n\"As good as we look?\" chuckled the hoo-mins.\n\n\"Yes, our fellow people are amazed by your forms.\" \n\n\"Oh, you're mistaken. We don't actually look like this. This is a spacesuit to protect out face.\" \n\n\"A spacesuit? I don't understand, what do your forms actually look like then?\" \n\n\"Here, let me show you.\" \n\n\nThe hoo-min took off when was supposedly his head an revealed a horrific form. His head were fleshy and full of holes with black tendils sticking out of the top. The rulers began screaming and running at the sight which led to all of us doing the same. I ran out myself after that terrifying sight but I swear, these hoo-mins are outworldly." ]	2
	[WP] Thanks to advances in embryonic manipulation, any creature imaginable can be created in a lab. This has lead to a trend of "designer species" pets among the ultra-wealthy. Things were okay until these creatures started escaping into the wild.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 sirens began as they always do with that piercing oscillation you could feel deep in your reptilian brain. Copeland shoved his tired feet into the well-worn boots he preferred for field work, threw on a t-shirt reclaimed from a pile of discarded clothing and took off for the command center. There was no wasted movement to his walk, no sense of urgency in his well-measured step. He exited his room into a cacophony of wailing klaxons and lurid strobes of purple light. An interesting color, one unfamiliar to him. That didn’t bode well he decided. The long hallways of the dormitories gave way to the wider corridors of central command. He arrived at his destination amid the screaming sirens, awash in that alternating violet and amber glow.\n\nIndigo Alert. Containment Breach. Monroe County. Florida.\n\nShit, he thought, not Florida again. Nothing good ever came out of Florida. That had been true even before the breakthroughs in biotech allowing the creation of designer species. \n\n“What in god’s name is an indigo alert?”, someone asked entering on Copeland’s heels.\n\nCopeland knew. Not many did. There’d never been an indigo alert before. When the Orion Containment Corporation had reached out to Copeland it hadn’t been with promises of wealth that they’d tempted him from some dark nexus in the African bush. Hell, he’d still be there if they hadn’t floated the idea, tantalized him away from the freedom of the stifling jungle, on the simple premise that the biggest game in the world now resided in the good ol’ US of A.\n\nIndigo alert. The highest classification for escaped pets. Copeland himself wasn’t even sure what qualified as an Indigo level creature. But he sure as hell was ready for it. Be it genetically modified jungle cats or bioengineered bull elephants, there wasn’t anything walking this earth that could take a 416 Rigby at 50 yards and keep charging. He waited quietly as the AI reconnaissance finished triangulating and the algorithm combed the DOD Designer Pet Registry for the offender. However, when the algorithm finally got a hit and the creature flashed on the screen, even Copeland wasn’t ready for what he saw. \n\nThe V-22 Osprey touched down violently in mainland Monroe, just outside the Everglades National Park. The sun was just beginning to set and inch by inch the dying orange light gave way to a humid dusk. As men rushed about unloading the Osprey and setting up a basecamp, Copeland kept to himself. He had all he needed in the tactical rifle case slung across his shoulder. The drones were being offloaded and he watched the engineers and mechanics began assembling the multi-rotor UAV’s they’d be using. Three large cows emerged bellowing in rage from the cargo hold prodded by their handlers, their hooves touched down on the soft ground and they were ushered into the hastily assembled pen.\n\nBy midnight the drones were buzzing 100 ft in the air as pilots directed them from flight controllers. The LED display screens showed off the crisp night vision and infrared capabilities of the airborne machines. They glided into the everglades the whirring rotors fading to a hum before finally being absorbed into the nighttime stridency of mating insects and who knows what else. The pilots’ eyes never wavered, never veered from the screens as they navigated the wetlands seeking their target. The hunter’s gazed with equal intensity. The biologists weren’t watching they were locked in a heated discussion that Copeland tried his best to ignore. This wasn’t a containment mission, this was a neutralization. They couldn’t allow this creature to roam free. \n\nWithin long minutes that seemed like hours, each tick of a second lasting an eternity in which universes could be birthed in violent explosions, expand furiously outwards towards infinity, and finally die cold deaths, the drones closed in on their prey. There was a collective gasp when the thermal signature first set the LED screen of Drone 3 ablaze. It burned with an intensity that put the sun to shame. The massive size of the heat signature was unfathomable amid the cold foliage. \n\nHaving set the drones to autonomously follow the beast, everyone but the night shift pilots tried to bunk down and get some sleep. If any found respite in that first night it was fleeting. \n\nAs dusk fell again and the twilight world came to life, Copeland found himself in a camouflaged tree stand 50 yards out from the clearing where the cows had been staked and were furiously bellowing at the audacity of their confinement. He sat with his CZ 550 Safari Magnum cradled in his lap, one 416 Rigby in the chamber and five in the mag. No more, no less. The comm nestled in his ear buzzed quietly. \n\n“600 yards and closing,” it whispered in his ear. The cows continued to rage in the clearing. He felt the creature before he saw it. Its thunderous steps shaking the ground beneath him. Each stride registering on the Richter scale. It approached with all the subtlety of a tectonic plate. Now the cows had gone silent. They felt it too. Some instinctual knowledge of the predator hidden deep in their hindbrain. Their ancestors had never known such a creature. The mighty aurochs had never encountered such a goliath. But they knew, deep down as any herbivore does, that mighty though they were, they were prey and what approached was not. \n\n“500 yards.” The cows began to whine, they pulled wildly at their restraints. Copeland couldn’t bear the noise, the frenzied panic. He wanted to shut his eyes and cover his ears because for the first time in his life he knew their fear. For 32 years he had assumed he was the predator and all fellow creatures were his prey. But as this Lovecraftian horror approached with the mass of a dying star he finally knew the truth. He too was prey. But Copeland steadfastly shouldered his rifle and took aim. \n\n“300 yards and closing fast.” He could feel it in the earth. The shaking and snapping of trees as limbs were torn from trunks before the onslaught of this creature of lore. It approached like a receding glacier grinding everything before it into dust. It broke through a copse of trees to the southeast of Copeland’s position with the force of a locomotive and descended upon the cows in a furious gnashing of massive teeth and flashes of rending flesh. If you had told him later that the cows simply exploded in a gory mass of viscera, Copeland would have believed it. He took sight of the monster and the concussive recoil of the rifle bit into his shoulder as he pressed the trigger. The first shot took the creature in the side near its ribcage. It flung the torn carcass of a cow thirty feet in the air and screamed in rage. Copeland quickly slid back the bolt and chambered another round. To his left a second shot went off and the creature stumbled for the first time. Its massive head whipped around trying to find this new enemy with its biting assaults. Copeland’s second shot again took it in the ribcage and the monster wobbled, took two thunderous steps and then fell. Its body struck the ground and Copeland later wouldn’t have been able to distinguish it from an asteroid impact. \n\nAs they approached the body lying in its own Chicxulub crater, steeped in blood, surrounded by the scattered carcasses of the former cows, it heaved a final breath and went extinct once more. Copeland stood in one of its massive footprints and wept. The biologists extracted tissue and the DNA that had been Orion Containment Corp’s true mission. They stored the samples on dry ice. Packaged them. And Copeland watched with dread as they labelled them Rex and notified HQ that the mission had been a success." ]	2
	[WP] everyone knows about the 4 horseman of the apocalypse but little know about the 5 the youngest and most destructive of them all	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 Confluence of the Four was marked by the rising of The Island of Disaster. Where the Prime Meridian and the Equator crossed, the island would rise with the large temple like building with the flat grounds ready for destruction. Humans found themselves suddenly teleported with no warning and no instruction. Populations of animals appeared in preparation. And then the assembled people would find the Herald—an amorphous being that resembled nothing that could be described—who would marshal them to their peculiar duties. Some would slaughter animals. Others would gather bones. Others would set out the almost foreign place settings. At first, they would find the excesses—fruits and vegetables and fresh killed meats—unbearably luxurious, only to find tortures beyond bearing when they tried to take them for themselves.\n\nThen they would go to dust and clean the towers. Each tower suited its Horseman particularly. Dark, windowless mausoleums and dry air and flat slabs were in one. Cups and indents and wide, open windows for puddles of honey, blood, and fruits with thick choking vines of flowers were in another. One tower held weapons from every age and a wide windows to show the destruction outside. Then that cold tower that held the cruelest of tortures—illusions of honey and wine and ham and sausages and soups and fruits and platters that sent thick rolls of steam and mouthwatering scents into the air and vanished as soon as they were touched.\n\nAnd one last person would be left by the Herald. A small, scrawny person—the youngest assembled. The Herald would drift closer to that unfortunate and send them alone to the fifth tower. There was the large stable in the bottom for whatever steed was coming. Then the climb to the tower of endless, echoing silence. Every hallway had doors going through it in some impossible way to what might have been perfectly normal rooms—bedrooms, sitting rooms, game rooms, meditation rooms and rooms of every possible nationality and traditions if they still existed. That sole person would be given keys to it all and told to sweep and clean and make it ready. Then, that scrawny person would be left there in the impossibly long hallway with the many doors.\n\nYou could always tell when the Horsemen arrived. Chaos would reign and the poor, hapless humans would start to disappear. The air would fill with smog and the smell of blood and rot. The tower would ring with the boots of the Horsemen. Whether they arrive by animal or machine, there was a place in their own towers and they could meet in some horrific and terrible way that no human ever saw.\n\nAnd the last to arrive went to the last tower. That one, lonely human would suddenly find another small human in a room, staring out over the temple. The newcomer would look like a child with an innocent smile of whimsy.\n\n“What are you doing here?” was usually the first question.\n\n“What? Me? Here?”\n\n“I haven’t... seen anyone for days!” \n\n“I know.”\n\nThe sole human would mostly approach and find that there was no terrifying feature. No rotting or explosions or foulness. In fact, there was an air of lavender and innocence. A giggle. A softness. It was as if there was a mistake and a mercy.\n\n“I... I don’t know what I’m doing here.”\n\n“You’re doing fine.”\n\n“What are you doing here?” The human would shiver as this newcomer came closer. “I haven’t seen anyone else. And... this is....”\n\n“I know.”\n\n“But who are you?!”\n\n“I? I am the fifth. The destroyer of worlds. The destroyer of minds. The destroyer of souls.”\n\nThe poor human would shake as the newcomer came close and stroked a gentle finger down the human’s skin. This was not like anything that ravaged the world. A fifth? Was there to be some new torture? Some new power that would be worse than the others? But how could this newcomer with the baby fine hair and curls, the dimples, the wide eyes be like the others?\n\n“I am the fifth. I am the grower of fear. I am the father of madness. I am the beginning of torture. The silencer of the universe.” Then an inhuman smile. “Now, I must meet with my brothers.”\n\nThe poor human would be left in the room with its normal furnishings. Room after room after room of silence. Cleaning room after room after room and stalking down hallway after hallway. All kinds of things that were terrifying in their normality. Food would appear in the next room at intervals—not luxurious, but after privations and scarcity it would seem lavish. Then back to cleaning and torturous pain if they stopped. The hallways would echo with their steps. The rooms would be empty caverns. The stairwells would stretch endlessly up and endlessly down. The windows would endlessly show a plain field of grass blowing in the wind. Cleaning and stopping occasionally to see only the empty plane and hear the silence.\n\nAt first, it would be peaceful, soothing. Food was provided. There was no storm, no drought. Water was there in small glasses when needed. The windows showed the peaceful plain of grass. It would be considered a gifted and heavenly existence.\n\nBut then, there would be a slight feeling of worry that this horseman would return. And that startling moment when it would seem like a good thing after all of the silence that came thundering through like a shock of lightning. The lone human would find that the silence was not so comforting and they’d wake at every slight thing. A whisper of wind from an open window would seem as loud as a missile firing. There would seem to be something alive, something moving out of the corner of the eye, the rise of anticipation, then the inevitable disappointment when it was merely a curtain, a ripple of shadow. The songs and words that might have rolled out at first would go soft and then silent altogether. There would inevitably come a time when the poor human would start to go from room to room, slamming doors and rattling windows for the sheer tingly anticipation of something happening. There would be the sadness as certainty grew that no animal—not a bug or bird or anything—would ever appear in the grassy plain. Nothing would ever appear, and the cleaning would be a welcome way to pass the time because going from room to room and finding only emptiness would be crushing. And still nothing appeared and no door would ever lead back out of the tower.\n\nAt last, there would come the day when the human would find some room and simply sit down. No matter what pain would rack the body or terrors of the nighttime mind would force the human to move. Sit down and stare at the continually peaceful grass, the unmoving paintings. Stop moving, barely breath as everything would be so loud as to be terrifying. The rooms did not get that dirty honestly. And whatever might have brought the small plates of bland food and cups of water never left even a shift in the dust.\n\nAt that point, when the human stopped caring, stopped moving. The horseman would appear a last time.\n\n“I am the fifth. I am the bringer of madness. I am the father of fear. I am the destroyer of minds. The silence of the universe.” \n\nThen, anxious eyes would gaze into the horseman’s own—alight with the pain of confusion. Their inner world would crumple with the thunder of the new, second heartbeat, breathing. They would realize that they had forgotten how to speak. The words would barely be able to be understood in any known way, but would instead appear in the tinder dry mind.\n\n“I am Isolation.”", "The end of the world was pretty much what every religion, every nutty person wearing a tin hat had ever said.\n\nEvery person. Every religion.\n\nRivers boiled. Fish died. Food vanished and became worth more than gold. Insects crawled everywhere, spreading diseases. Water that might be worth drinking vanished and anyone who had even a small bottle was at risk of dying. Monsters from every apocalypse roamed—Fenris and Loki and Davy Jones and every sort of thing. The countries ceased to be and became principalities of devils, of monsters. Giant wolves. Bats the size of dinosaurs. Every creature that everyone had ever thought of became real. Flooding and famine and disease and misery.\n\nBut every principality, every fiendish lord, answered to The Four.\n\nThe Four divided up the clear quarters of the world along the Equator and the Prime Meridian. War was in the Northern and Western Hemisphere. Death lurked in the Northern and Eastern quarter. Pestilence was in the South and West. Famine was in the South and East. Every ten years, they would meet somewhere to shift and make those who thought they were able to survive, to adapt to, would find fresh misery stomping over their land.\n\nOf course, it was something tremendous, something huge, to have a Confluence of The Four. Each of them had particular tastes, favorite things and little creature comforts. Death had to have a throne of fresh, bloody bones. Famine had wide tables and elaborate dish ware that would have done justice to the feast that was prepared and then thrown out to rot on the ground so that the empty dishes were on display. Pestilence had an inevitable cloud of pests and demanded—contrary to Famine’s desires—slices of fruit and saucers of blood and rotting meats displayed in bone china and filigree cups. War demanded a near constant soundtrack of explosions and war machines running around and around, belching smoke and crushing anything that was not blown to bits.\n\nIt was a horrific sight that could drive most mad. Animals were culled from the small preserves to be blasted into pieces or rolled over. The bones were picked up to build Death’s throne and the smearing, messy bits were left for the insects and pestilence to feast on. And in the middle of the chaos, a feast to rival any legendary gala would be prepared, only to be thrown out and left to rot as jets shot meaningless missles and tanks kept an incessant patrol amid the noise and belching smog.\n\nHumans were not pets, not anything more than a population of servants to pick up things and put them into place and then be tossed to the monsters that roamed around.\n\nIt was terrifying and humans huddled together in whatever conclaves they could. No one dared to build cities any more and the huge skyscrapers were empty shells of an almost forgotten time. Subways and trains were abandoned and left for the creeping vines and animals. Malls were empty legends. Schools and universities were laughable jokes—who would send vulnerable children away from the relative safety of adult guards for the day? No, there were more important things to worry about—learning to hunt, to fish, to preserve whatever could be preserved because you had no idea when you’d find food again. To weave and knit and crochet because there were no elaborate factories making massive amounts of anything and anything already made was traded or\nin use immediately. \n\nIt was almost humorous in a dark and morbid way that there were no countries fighting in wars, there was no racism, no classism. So many high level complaints vanished when the whole of humanity realized that it needed every single human if it was to survive. A family that traveled to trade for cloth couldn’t afford to look down on any man or woman or child because there was no way to say if you’d ever see another one. There was no point to any class of wealthy people—wealth meant next to nothing when a fish was more priceless than gemstones and gold. Diamonds? Worthless. Arrowheads? Priceless. Black powder or the clumsily hand packed bullets? More than priceless. Designer dresses rotted on shattered mannequins. Shoes with ridiculous high heels from people long since forgotten were burned to hold back the darkness. Fur coats? Worn until they fell apart and then sewn into other, assorted pelts until not a single hair was in place. Luxury cars were worse than useless since there was no way to get oil or gasoline when War’s machines would destroy any device left standing. Large mansions with exotic luxuries were looted, often burned by humans before the Horsemen or monsters could get to it. Artwork was pointless scraps that were often burned for fuel. Every since monument that might mark someone as better than another or important in any way was systematically destroyed." ]	3
	[WP] You’ve woken after a good night’s sleep. You’ve got a job interview today, and you’re prepared, but there’s a problem. You cannot remember how to walk.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 ready. I had gone over all the expected interview questions many times with Jane. There was nothing that could stop me.\n\nSomething wasn't right. I couldn't remember how to walk. I began to panic. \nMaybe I'm still dreaming?\nI pinch myself.. still here.\n\"Jane! Jane help me, I-I'm not sure what's going on.\nJane?!\"\n\nJane didn't reply. I could hear the faint sound of a car engine not too far away. Maybe she was near.\n\nI will myself to roll out of bed and onto the floor. I began to crawl to the bathroom. Something wasn't right.\nWhen I looked at my reflection, it was me, but not me. The noise of the engine was louder now, closer.\n\n\"Jane, please help me, tell me what's going on!\nOkay, you can do this, deep breaths. I placed both hands on the side of my sink and began to pull, to will myself up and onto my legs. \nTears flowed freely as I cried out for Jane, my legs in unbearable pain, but slowly I managed to place one foot on the ground.\nI could hear the car right outside now, almost behind me.\nScreaming in agony, I placed both feet shakily on the ground, and turned to look at myself in the mirror.\n\nIt was me. Still me. The same as I was before, but I now remembered that I couldn't walk and never would be able to again.\n\nI came to in the hospital bed, surrounded by Jane and my family.\n\"Mike, we thought you'd never come back go us, we were so worried.\"\nI smiled, and embraced Jane.\n\n\nMy first prompt, feedback is welcome, I'm not really much of a writer, just dabbled." ]	2
	[WP] You are regarded as one of the best monster slayers of all time. However, people don't sing your praises like they do for the others because you treat the infestation like a modern-day exterminator would, and treatment/prevention doesn't have the same wonder to it as traditional slaying does.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 never one for crowds, even less so when all eyes were on me. But my gut told me going on The Late Show with Crumbles McBooples was probably a good idea to get my methods some more acceptance. For centuries, hunters like Felbulon Crombopolus and Hiram McDaniels had been executing vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural entities, and for decades, they had been heralded as heroes and geniuses in the field. Meanwhile, I’d been at this for 6 years, and I’d gotten rid of 72 werewolves, 87 vampires, 69 zombies, 18 strigas, and I’d helped secure over 120 at risk communities to make sure their citizens didn’t become infected. But I never had the head of a slaid beast to mount on city hall, only a very scared, very confused person who spent the past several years of their lives hunted for something beyond their control.\n\n“So tell me, Hunter,” Crumbles began. “Your methods are certainly a bit unorthodox, fill me in.” It was hard to stay focused, the lights were hotter than anybody warned me, and even hotter were the dozens of eyes searing into my, studying every inch of my face. It was clear some of them had lost loved ones to monsters; these people hated me the most. Others had friends or family who had turned, and often looked to me, hoping I could cure them. Some cases were lost causes, but my techniques had a 92% success rate. I just needed to remember my data.\n\n“Yeah, well…” I trailed off almost immediately, and something got caught in my throat. “Sorry,” I continued. “If I’m being honest, my forte is working with monsters and ghouls in the dead of night, I’ve… I’ve never been on T.V. before, it’s the tiniest bit intimidating.”\n\nCrumbles laughed. “I remember my first time. Lights are hot, huh?” I nodded, and the faintest smile creeped across my lips. “It’s okay, take your time. Not everyone has thirty years of media training, yeah?” The crowd laughed, and as the camera cut to a wide shot, he whispered to me, it’s okay, kid. Take your time, you got this.\n\nI took a deep breath, and started back up. “So, normal techniques hunters use are usually about slaying a monster. Cut off the head, silver bullet, yada yada. But I’ve spent my life researching treatments. About 7 years ago, I found a cure for lycanthropy, and shortly thereafter a basic cure for the undead. Each variant has its own quirks, mind you; vampires are slightly different to cure than zombies, but the base treatment is the same.”\n\n“Fascinating,” said Crumbles. “And when you cure them, they just go straight back to normal?”\n\nI shrugged. “From a certain point of view. They become fully human again, if that’s what you mean. Keep in mind, a lot of the people I treat have been hunted for years, and haven’t been human for even longer. A lot of them need really intense therapy. Vampires, for example, are usually a few centuries past their normal expiration date. So they have a lot of emotional and psychological issues, but they aren’t a threat anymore. Reuniting them with family is usually a really good first step, if that’s an option.” I could see about a third of the crowd stir in their seats. These were the people with family who had been turned. I would likely be seeing many of them after the show.\n\n“How effective are these methods?” Crumbles asked. “I mean, people have been searching for these cures since day one.”\n\n“Well, let me begin by saying I alone am no genius. I compiled a lot of research and theory, and put it all to the test. I found what showed promise, what didn’t, mixed it all together, and boom, treatments started popping up.” This was true, I had added very little to the methods I used. Most of them were amalgams of different techniques posited by researchers smarter than I. “That being said,” I continued, “the techniques I use are highly effective. I keep track of all of my cases, and thus far, I have a 92% success rate for reversing infection. About 5% are too far gone to reverse, and they have to be put down. Usually, these are vampires or other immortals who have been infected for thousands of years. About 3% of total cases don’t make it and die during treatment. This has become less common as I refine my methods, however. All that being said, I’m most proud of my preventative techniques. Yes, I can cure people, but I think it’s more efficient to prevent them from being infected in the first place. Of every high risk community for infection I’ve worked with, some having over 10 new infections a year, I’ve brought that number down to 0 in all but a handful of them. That’s the real trick; curing is to fix the damage already done, but preventative action makes sure slayers and curers no longer have to exist.”\n\nCrumbles gave me a subtle wink before the camera snapped back to him. He told me that he was a fan of what I did before the interview, and he’d do his best to give me space to give my evidence. But a look crossed his face now that told me this was the last question, the one he told me his producers forced him to ask.\n\n“Final question,” he began, with a somber tone. “Your research has indicated that most, if not all monsters could, in theory, be cured. Ethically, what does this mean for typical slayers?”\n\nI should have seen this coming. Targeting my most controversial take on the industry. I collected myself and readied a statement.\n\n“It’s really complicated,” I began. “Think about it; at the end of the day, these monsters are now proven to have living people inside of them. I like to think of monsters as parasites. Creatures that use a human as a host, controlling that human’s actions, to an extent. Most of the werewolves I cure don’t remember their time as a wolf. Vampires remember more, but show a similar lack of control. In killing a vampire outright, yes, you kill the parasite, but you also kill the host, and I can’t excuse that. It’s like how ancient medicine would kill its patients to prevent a plague. And just like with those techniques, slaying doesn’t work. It’s like whack-a-mole. I think, in a hundred years or so, the methods I use will be commonplace, and slaying will be considered murder. I know some people have lost family to monsters, but revenge isn’t the way. Some of the poor souls trapped in those monsters have family, too, and they never wanted to kill anyone.”\n\nThe next few seconds were a blur. Crumbles introduced an ad break, the crowd erupted into applause, and the lights turned down for a moment. Crumbles then pulled me aside, just off stage.\n\n“Kid, you did great. Producers are pissed, looks like Twitter is already a huge fan of what you were saying. You should be proud, in a couple hundred years, you’ll be remembered as a hero.”\n\nThese were the last words I heard before fainting and falling into the arms of the host." ]	2
Wish I thought of this during Halloween	[WP] One day you get into an accident that leads you into a coma. Unfortunately, this coma didn’t lead to a dream. Rather, it lead to a living nightmare that will last until you wake up.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 overpass is gleaming red. It’s blinking in and out of existence, as if time were distorted - twisted under the massive earthquake that seems to be shaking the world. \n\nHe can hear screaming in the distance. Feels the ground shake against the heavy footsteps that seem to be running towards him. He thinks that they’re too late. That they’re only digging an early grave. He wants to turn over and heave - wants the shaking to stop. \n\nHe’s jolted by the feeling of soft skin touching his arm, urging him to lie down. To stay still. Help is on the way. He wants to tell the voice that they’re wrong. That no one can help him. Not anymore. Not for a long time. But when he opens his mouth, nothing but jagged breaths and garbled sounds come out. He absently leans into the touch instead. Thinks that maybe this can finally be enough. \n\nThe stars are bright tonight. \n\nIt makes him remember a time when he was a child - when he was still so naive, so childish, so innocent - and would sneak out of bed in the middle of the night, escaping through his window and climbing up to the roof. He can still feel shingles digging into his palms as he lays his head down against the cool night air. Can still remember the secrets he whispered to the moon when the world appeared to be asleep. Can still remember the stars he wished upon whenever he felt alone. \n\nHe thinks that maybe it’s him that’s blinking in and out of existence. \n\nHe feels something sticky against his head and moves his neck to watch as crimson soaks up the ground. \n\nHe hears a faint chuckle echo into the base of his mind. He distantly thinks that maybe it’s him who’s laughing. \n\nHe always did like the colour red. \n\nRed is the colour of blood, slippery and smooth - slick like water, only thicker. Blood holds you together; makes you who you are. And it may give you a face but that doesn’t mean it gives you a name. \n\nHe learned that the hard way. \n\nRed is also the colour of roses. The pretty flowers he would pick in the garden as a child, twisting them together until he had a crown. Pretending to be a king in a world of lies, only to get pricked by the thorns of rough vines. \n\nAnd as blue and red mesh together and his vision fades to black, he can’t help but think that roses would be a fitting flower to plant on his grave.\n\n--\n\nHe opens his eyes to darkness.\n\nHe blinks a couple of times, eyebrows knit together in confusion, before flexing his arms and legs. His bones creak and crack, and the sound seems to echo all around him. He slowly pushes himself off the ground and looks around. \n\nIt’s dark, that much is for certain. But he can make out a faint glimpse of light in the distance. It flickers - almost as if it were beckoning him. His legs move almost mechanically, and soon he’s running. \n\nHe moves his arms to grab at the light but it moves to the side, zipping past him. He grins, manic and all teeth, anticipation and excitement running through his veins for the first time in what feels like forever. But as soon as he steps towards it, the ground gives out under him and he falls - down, down, down below. \n\nHe screams, arms reaching out for an invisible platform. Air is the only thing that greets him. \n\n“The little rabbit is falling down,” a voice whistles into his ear. He turns his head so abruptly that he swears he’s going to get whiplash. But nothing’s there. A faint chuckle laughs in his ear. “Falling down into the little rabbit hole,” it whistles again. He lets out a growl, recognizing mockery in the voice. “When does he stop? Nobody knows,” the voice whispers.\n\nHis body seizes up as the ghost of a breath presses against his ears, travelling down his neck and making its way to the edges of his spine. \n\nHe turns his head slightly and spits into the distance of the voice, but a tinkling laugh is the only thing to greet him back. \n\n“Who are you?” He asks the voice. “What the hell do you want from me?” \n\nThat stupid laugh again. \n\n“What I want from you,” the voice whispers. “Hmm, now ain't that the question,” the voice chuckles, as if it had just made a joke. “You can’t give me what I want, little rabbit” the voice sighs. “But then again, I can’t give you what you want either.” \n\n“Am I dead?” He asks instead. If this was where death led, then he’s changed his mind. He’d rather be alive then spend the rest of his existence with a devil for company. \n\nAs if sensing his thoughts, the voice cackles. “No,” he can almost imagine the bastard smiling. “At least, not yet.” \n\n“Not yet?” \n\n“Do you want to be?” The voice taunts back.\n\n“Not if I’m going to be stuck with you.” \n\n“Boo, you’re no fun,” the voice pouts. “And here I thought we were becoming friends.” \n\n“Friends,” he scoffs, bitterness dripping off his tongue. “Oh, sure. And the next thing you know, we’ll be trading secrets in the dark,” He pauses, recognizing the irony of his words. “Oh, shut up,” he says to the chortling voice. \n\n“So defensive,” the voice mocks. “Tell me, do you know what insanity is, little rabbit?” \n\n“Sure,” he says. “It’s the very definition of you.”\n\n“Maybe,” the bastard agrees. He resists the urge to shiver. “It’s also doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results,” the voice moves closer. “Do you expect different results, little rabbit?” \n\nHe grits his teeth in reply. The voice hums. \n\n“Let’s play a little game, shall we?” The bastard asks - tells - him. “It’s called: how long will you last until you go insane?”\n\nBut before he can reply, the lights turn on, and staring at him is - \n\nHimself. \n\nA crazed smile is flashed in his direction as a faint gleam of silver flashes behind his eyes. \n\n“We always did like the colour red, didn’t we?”\n\n\n-\nIf you enjoyed reading, feel free to check out some of my other writing on /r/itrytowrite" ]	2
	[WP] "What the fuck?" The Alien ambassador said informally as you explain and show them pictures of UFOs. "That's scary as hell, man. Visitors from outer space, kidnapping people, mutilating animals.. This is a joke, 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%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 joke?\" I replied uncertainly \"No, this has been occurring regularly since we first started recording such things, you're saying you have no knowledge of this?\" I wanted to turn back and look towards the tinted glass behind us but I resisted the urge. The voice in my earpiece was noticeably silent. We had prepped for denial of these actions and considered the various possibilities of other rogue alien species being responsible, but this creature's seemingly fluent grasp of the English language with all it's inflections and choice to represent itself as a perfect replica of the actor Jon Hamm was... off-putting to say the least.\n\n\"No\" replied the alien empathically, \"This is completely bizarre, who in their right mind would want cows? Even if you wanted cows why wouldn't you just go down and buy them? This shows a complete lack of subtlety and skill. Also you're saying there were crashes too?\" \"Well yes\" I replied, \"we have crash materials and some biological samples in storage–\" Jon Hamm cut me off, \"Biological samples? There was living material inside?\".\n\n\"Uh yea, we don't know exactly much more beyond that, but it's definitely traces of a carbon-based life form.\" I started to shift my weight from foot to foot slightly. I had been chosen by my department for my calm demeanor under pressure and quick decision making. We had run through thousands of scenarios before this meeting and I had learned how to recite Shakespeare while being tortured, explain the balance of global resources while surrounded by Cyclopean horrors, broker initial trade agreements between a hundred different potential planets should that be our only chance. Now here we finally were and after the creature had let me give the majority of my presentation sitting there passively, its mouth had dropped open in shock at the UFO slide. Frankly no one in my department really cared that much about the UFO activity, they didn't come up until slide 28!\n\nThe hologram of Jon Hamm, or whatever these aliens called holograms, started pacing around the room muttering to himself, \"Biological matter, intelligent enough to fly at these speeds, but dumb enough to crash and only a passing interest in being discrete.\" He turned to me suddenly and those piercing green eyes looked into mine with a startling intensity. \"Has your species been to Mars? We came here first because of the radio static you guys sent out, but we noticed activity there on the way.\" I blinked at its stare, he really did look just like Jon Hamm, \"We have sent a fair number of robotics there and believe the possibility for past or current life is high, but so far we have yet to find anything of interest.\" Jon started nodding to himself before I finished speaking like this was the response he had been expecting. \"Alright grab my arm.\" Jon said, \"We need to get to Mars. It looks like an advanced branch of your species has been feeding off of your planet for the past few millennia and we need to get over there before they realize I'm here\". This was more like it, I thought. I reached out to grab where his arm should be and a brilliant light flashed.", "\"This craft of sorts was captured both on RADAR and video by our Navy aircraft some time ago.\" I explained to the Aldune. Our ambassador to the federated alliance.\n\n\"Do other similar records exist?\" They asked cautiously.\n\n\"Yes, including records of persons being abducted and animals being mutilated or reduced to base chemical components.\" I paused for a few moments. \"It hasn't been nearly as prevalent for a while. Ever since our ancestors developed portable high resolution imaging devices.\"\n\nAldune seemed to think quietly for a while. I still had some trouble reading their species facial expressions, and genders.\n\n\"What the fuck‽\" They exclaimed. \"That's terrifying. Who would violate intergalactic regulations and contact rules... This has to be a joke? Right?\" Dropping there more typical formal tone for the first time.\n\n\"No Sir, uh or Ma'am.\" I replied out of habit, bungaling my phrasing.\n\n\"Ah, I am a male, no worries. I know your kind struggles with identifying which... But that's unimportant. Do you, or should I say your kind have evidence? Physical preferably.\"\n\n\"Yes, we have multiple ships that have been recovered from crash sights. Biological remains of the crew and a few ships that we intercepted when they violated restricted air space.\"\n\n\"Understood. Well then, if possible I would like to arrange an opportunity to inspect the craft. Perhaps the remains as well. I may be able to identify the race.\"\n\n\"That would be fairly straightforward. The stowage location falls under my command. Have you been to Nevada yet?\"\n\n\"I have not.\"\n\n\"Alright, I'll arrange transport to the facility. It's fairly old now but has been in use for research and observation of extraterrestrial life forms and technology for generations.\"\n\n\"May I ask what the facility is called?\"\n\n\"Ah yes, Groom Lake, the locals refer to it as Area 51. But we use most of the state in testing.\"" ]	3

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